Black UK students should get active on campus

As my time as an undergraduate at the University of Kentucky is coming to an end, I have begun to reflect on my time spent there as a black female, especially in light of recent events and discussions about the lack of diversity and inclusion.

The university does have some work to do in these areas, but I have immersed myself into various campus organizations and believe more minority students could improve their college experiences by getting more involved.

I arrived on campus as a freshman in the fall, 2012 from Washington State. I grew up in predominately white neighborhoods there and in Tennessee, Illinois, Alabama and North Carolina, attending predominately white schools from kindergarten to the 12th grade.

I started college with two campus jobs, one at the University of Kentucky Visitor Center and the other at the Johnson Center recreational facility. I have been a part of the Arts and Sciences “Wired Living and Learning Program” and a peer instructor helping incoming freshmen adapt to college life. I was a “See Blue U” freshmen orientation leader. I interned in the UK public relations and marketing department and am the co-chair of the homecoming committee for Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow and TEAM WILDCAT.

A close friend of mine and I started our own student organization called REAL, Reaching out to Empower Ambitious Ladies, which is an interest group for Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. Lastly, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to be nominated and actually make the court for the 100th homecoming.

Throughout all these activities, I have never experienced any discrimination, prejudice or racism.

I have been a racial minority in every one of my classes and whenever other students made uneducated race comments, I proceeded to correct them. Chances are they have come from an environment where there are few or no black people and they need to be educated.

Although I do not doubt that some minority students have experienced injustice or discrimination, the university is trying to be more inclusive. For example, President Eli Capilouto was willing to cover up a historic mural in Memorial Hall to make students feel better.

However, the mural is a part of history. Don’t we want other people to know what happened in the past to remind us how far we have come? Instead, how about holding a lecture about the significance of the images so that the entire student body can know the history. Then many would not assume the mural is just negative pictures of slaves and Indians, rather than a portrayal of accurate events in Kentucky history.

Another thing that bothered me was the lack of minority participation at our 24-hour no-sit, no-sleep DanceBlue marathon, which raised funds to help with pediatric cancer.

DanceBlue is something that binds UK, as well as the state and beyond. The families whose lives we have helped through money and support are not something to overlook. This event should connect each and every UK student, but the lack of participation and support from black students was disappointing.

My goal is not to ignore the problem we do have, but to acknowledge that each black student can do more to include himself or herself into the institution.

My advice: If you are being discriminated against, it’s your job to tell someone. The office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity helps with these cases. Everyone at the university has the right to an equal opportunity to receive an education without being discriminated against.

I love UK and I want more black students from all backgrounds to strengthen the representation we have on campus. Please remember that the university can only do so much to educate ignorant incoming students and faculty. I also believe administrators are doing what they can to help.

This story was originally published March 7, 2016 at 7:56 PM with the headline "Black UK students should get active on campus."