Faces of St. Lawrence Empowers Students of Color

As tradition, St. Lawrence University’s Office of the Associate Dean will be conducting its annual Diversity and Inclusion week March 3-8. This initiative was coined by Kimberly Flint Hamilton, Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, and her associates. During this week, different clubs will be producing various events and workshops promoting how we as a campus can be more inclusive.

Laurentians are already starting to take notice of the administration’s initiative with their latest renovation of the Student Center. Hamilton and the art department have partnered to make an exhibit entitled “Faces of St. Lawrence.” The exhibit showcases the various students of color, both past and present, and artwork by a student artist of color.

From the day it was installed, students have been in awe of the various artwork showcasing their classmates. Most of the artwork has a central theme of “Black Beauty” and adorn the models with vibrant flowers.

When discussing the exhibit, many students have an overall positive reaction to it. Students like Sam Cowles ‘22 have said that they’ve “loved it” and hope that the artwork stays up permanently. Other students like Asa Krieger ’22 have also expressed the same emotions and added that the artwork makes the Student Center seem brighter.

Although St. Lawrence has had a diversity and inclusion initiative for years, this is the first time many students have seen actual visual representation on campus. In spite of having numerous diversity events, there has been nothing to show for it. This change is almost impossible to ignore.

This huge showcase of faces allows for the St. Lawrence community to become comfortable with the idea of seeing faces of those who come from a different background than the majority. This then can develop into a conversation about race on campus, a conversation that many students try to avoid on the daily. An exhibit like this, both bright and bold, makes students want to actually engage.

Looking forward, the St. Lawrence administration should allow for the artwork to stay up permanently. Many prospective students of color visiting St. Lawrence would benefit from seeing students like themselves being represented, and then would lead to diversifying the overall population on campus.

Nadirah Croft ’21, the main artist featured in the exhibit proclaimed that she “likes seeing her artwork up there, but it is more enjoyable to see her friends, who are also in the photography.” She then goes on to say that the effects of the artwork on the people who are finally represented are the most rewarding.

The exhibit had an opening reception on March 5 at 4:30 p.m. on the lower level of the Student Center.