You’re reading a story from Sidelines 100, a project showcasing a century of student storytelling at Middle Tennessee State University. Sidelines 100 plans to highlight 100 stories from the newspaper archives this fall and spring.
This story originally ran in the Dec. 2, 1993, edition of Sidelines. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of all things Sidelines 100.
Campus administrators are encouraging students of different races to find ways to work with each other through new programs offered by the Multicultural Affairs Office.
A program about racism was held Nov. 16 through the office’s mentoring program as part of its continuing goal to educate students and faculty.
The program included a discussion and film presentation by Roderic Terrell, president of Terrell and Associates, which focused on racism and forms it takes on college campuses.
“We have a problem on campus with black and white students not interacting enough,” said Director of Multicultural Affairs Ralph Metcalf.
“The Black students seem to voluntarily segregate themselves from other students at gathering places such as the Grill and basketball and football games. The different races on campus are only existing together, not living and doing things together,” Metcalf said.
The coordinator of the program, MTSU graduate assistant Phillip Watson, was optimistic about the decline of racism on campus.
“I think racism on campus is declining as people become more aware of it and the forms that it takes,” Watson said.
Watson does not have any account for specific instances of racism at MTSU, but Metcalf still cautions students to be careful and take heed.
“Racism is not always easily distinguishable. Things we see as racism may not really be (racism), and it may be present when we least expect it,” Metcalf said.
The Mentor Program, made up of volunteer faculty members and incoming minority mentees is sponsoring the year’s programs on sexual awareness.
The Multicultural Affairs Office will also be sponsoring events during Martin Luther King Week, Jan. 17-21. Events are also planned for African-American History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March.
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