By; Lamesha Green (whetstone reporter)
Chantz McKeller
“During dinner I walked past the station that contained fried chicken and this guy says to me, ‘I’m surprised you don’t like fried chicken aren’t you black?’” Cooper said. “I wasn’t surprised he thought I was African American because a lot of people don’t know I am Dominican, but that comment was unnecessary and ignorant.”
Many students believe racism is in full effect at Wesley College. Some suggest it may exist because of insecurity.
“In the beginning of the semester a student made a racial comment to me and some friends about Africans,” said junior Edmund Baysah. “The guy said Africans were all stuck-up individuals and that he wouldn’t socialize with us because we’re always together in a pack or tribe.”
Baysah, ?????? said the racial comment upset him.
“My friends and I were all shocked that he would say something like that to us directly,” he said. “This made me mad at the time, but I got over it because it’s not the first time I heard a racial comment about Africans and it probably won’t be the last.”
Freshman Chris Gendreau said he doesn’t take racism on campus seriously.
“I see racism on campus taken as a joke,” he said.
Gendreau said he feels more judged by students about his nationality.
“A lot of people assume I am white but I’m actually mixed with Puerto Rican and Canadian,” Gendreau said. “I feel misunderstood at times because my parents always stress the issue about how I should display both my nationalities.”
Gendreau also said students should represent their heritage in any way they choose without feeling disrespected.
Junior Amanda Jester agrees.
“I haven’t experienced any racism on campus personally, but I am aware that it exists,” she said. “I see more discrimination than racism on campus.”
Jester, who is white, said she doesn’t like either.
“Some of my friends have disliked other students because they don’t agree with their sexuality, image, or lifestyle,” Jester said. “I try to correct my friends on some of the comments they make about others, but they are entitled to their own opinions even if I don’t necessarily agree with it.”
Other students said they feel disrespected by racism.
“I am not one to stereotype, but some of the white females in my dorm hall are ill-mannered,” said freshman Tommia Broomer, who is multiracial. “There have been several occasions where I have held a door open or went out of my way to say good morning to these girls and they just ignored me as if I was beneath them or at least this is how I took it.”
Broomer said she isn’t pulling the racist card.
“I am not implying that all white females in my dorm hall are racist, but I am addressing the ones I had encounters with could possibly be towards me.”
Freshman Nirva Roney had a similar experience across the street from Malmberg Hall.
“I went to a ?????house party with some friends this semester and a few white people ahead of us went inside the party free of admission,” she said. “As me and my friends went to enter we were stopped by the host of the party and informed that we had to pay admission.”
Roney asked the host why the people in front of her didn’t pay, but she was ignored.
“At first we didn’t get a response until one of my friends asked if we were being charged because we’re black,” Roney said. “When the host nodded sarcastically, me and my friends decided to leave. This made me feel uncomfortable to realize that racism still exists and it’s the first time I faced it on campus.”
Broomer also attended this off-campus party, which made her feel uncomfortable.
“During parties thrown at Wesley soccer and football houses, there’s a bit of segregation that takes place,” Brommer said. “When I label these parties as segregated, I am referring to certain parties appealing to certain crowds and not to everyone. I am mixed with Black, Indian, and Filipino. So where do I fit in?”
Most students think racism on campus should be left in the past.
“As a people, we have come too far to belittled by the ugliness racism creates,” said junior Hawa Turay. “As for racism being an issue on campus, I don’t think it should be tolerated. Civil rights leaders, like Martin Luther King Jr. and W.E.B. Dubois, worked too hard and dealt with too much for us to still judge one another based on race.”
Chantz Mckelller 
