We love our little 1,100 acre campus space filled with joy, support and happiness. We call ourselves SLUzers, Laurentians and Saints. At basketball and hockey games, our favorite chant is “HERE WE GO SAINTS”, not by choice, but because we don’t have any better ones.
On weekend nights, friends argue over which exquisite deluxe restaurant they are going to order food from. They usually end up picking Sergi’s over Dominos. We laugh whenever the school sends extreme weather condition reports, because every day in the North Country is an extreme weather condition. This is so true that Siri’s favorite line, when you ask, “what’s the weather in Canton, NY?” has become “it’s not looking good outside today”.
For breakfast, we eat pancakes with syrup, waffles with syrup, french toast with syrup, and yet, Dana still sucks (sorry Bob). We work hard from Sunday to Thursday, and party even harder from Thursday night to Saturday, making security’s job the hardest in America. A typical good night is starting from the suites, making your way to the townhouses, visiting Java and ending at the Ticker.
But don’t let this fool you. Our students are the best products of the American education system. We are balanced, and we are the hopes for the future. We have immense responsibilities, for we are the future leaders that will shape and head the institutions that will govern our lives.
Even though I love this institution and almost every being that has spent some time in her residence halls, I am not too sensible as to not recognize some of her defects. There is a grave problem that lingers in the shadows our Laurentian family. You can see it clearly at the Men In Color, BSU, NASA, Carefree Black Girls, La Sociadad events and every other event hosted by POC groups on campus.
There is a growing sentiment and repeating notion flowing around the POC community at St. Lawrence. We constantly notice and recognize that it is the same people of color and a few of their close white friends that show up to POC events that particulary revolve around race, and social justice events.
Now, we do not expect the entire St Lawrence community to care about, or be passionate about, issues that POC groups deal with. However, this is directed at our fellow activists and “social justice warriors”.
We know you are present on campus because we see you in every civics class, we see you at events that revolve around gender inequality and environmental issues.
We are present at all of your events that address gender issues, LGBTQA rights and environmental justice, but you are absent when it’s time to discuss issues that specifically affect POC groups. Why is that?
See, we show up at your events that focus on gender inequality, LGBATQA rights and environmental justice not because it directly affects our sisters and brothers but because it is the just thing to do.
Our presence at your events does not have to be justified, just like freedom, equality and justice. Therefore, if you truly care about freedom, equality and justice for all, it is time for you to make an effort to show up to our events and be part of the conversation.
You are the hopes for the future and the future leaders of tomorrow, but you cannot effectively lead if you do not understand the issues that affect your fellow countrymen. You have the privilege of being on a campus that is reflection of what this country looks like. Take advantage of it. Become an active participant in race discussions.
Do not shy away from them because they make you feel uncomfortable. As POC, we do not need to hold these events to discuss racial inequality because we are living them. However, the events become powerful and meaningful when non-POC add to the conversations.
If that is not reason enough, remember that St. Lawrence is a family. What do you do when members of your family feel alienated and not heard? You don’t just sit around in comfort. You make a conscious effort to help out in any way you can. The best way for non-POC students to assist us with our struggles, is to show up at our events, the same way we do for you, in order to understand our grievances!
“HERE WE GO SAINTS!” I know we can make this happen if we raise awareness together, because we are the best products of the American education system.