Today, universities across the nation work to increase diversity across their campuses and are often missing the opportunity to prioritize developing campus cultures and leadership that support new students of color. When I began my studies at PLU, I was blessed to arrive with a cadre of six high school friends, who knew my life story, and would complete their educations alongside me. Thanks to James Mamerto, Act Six Cadres 1+2+3+4, and my mentors in Lakewood, WA I was able to maintain a connection to a community that looked like and valued me.
My community was a blessing and outlet for my feelings of otherness that can commonly arise during the first year in a predominantly white institution. I have also come to believe there is a need for the boards, faculties, staffs and students of universities much like PLU to bring intention and energy to campus cultures and spaces that respect, celebrate and breathe in the differences among the communities they’ve worked hard to build. Maybe then we could all recognize that, as generations of students change, so must the campus culture to embrace the new community dynamics.
So how can you get involved at PLU?
One of my favorite pieces of advice was to “Build relationships, go to class, and live with the intention of pushing yourself to grow each day”. I try to live by that the best I can and it works pretty well for me. You can also support programs like the Queer Students’ retreat, Women’s retreat, Men’s retreat, and most importantly to me the Students of Color retreat! By spending time with peers and leaders in spaces like these, we may find community among those who wrestle with the feelings of isolation and struggles that we may face ourselves.
So why do students of color need their own retreat?
In my three years of attendance, I value the retreat as a 24-hour recharge that you won’t find anywhere else during the school year. By the end, I return to campus with a better understanding of my own perceptions and an intensified respect for people whose backgrounds may differ from my own. It’s an opportunity to build community with students who share collective experiences, burdened hearts, or may not feel comfortable engaging on campus. We return with a vocabulary to talk about these issues and exercises to frame our personal experiences in a broader social context.
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| Students of Color Retreat 2012 |
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| Students of Color Retreat 2013 |
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| Students of Color Retreat 2014 |
Why is this important to me?
The paradox is that I feel like spaces like the D-center are given attention by the administration and looked at as symbols that say “We’re Diverse!” While the system continuously demands that students respect the values and culture of a university that hasn’t afforded the same level of trust to its community. In order to personally address these issues, I’ve used my education to help me better understand my cultural and political environment, and develop the leadership tools necessary to work within and beyond the university. Furthermore, my intention as Diversity Director of ASPLU for the year is to build spaces that inspire people and culture to thrive. My hope is that we can create safe and welcoming spaces, where the shared stories and conversations that take place, will empower students to reshape school culture and maybe the greater society for the better!
By Miguel Smith
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