Black students voice frustration over campus racism
Around 20 Black University of Maryland students gathered and expressed discontent with the institution’s response to on-campus racist incidents during an open mic night hosted by the Black Student Union in Tawes Hall on Thursday evening.
Aniya Baker, BSU vice president, told The Black Explosion that she and BSU president Bryant Reed plan to meet with university administration in the coming weeks to discuss how the university can improve the Black student experience.
“I want to be held accountable if I’m not properly listening to what my community is telling me,” Baker said, adding that she took notes during the meeting so she could take concerns directly from students to administration.
Junior English major Kelsey Ogbewe said he was angered by the university’s response to UMD’s Club Tennis team dispersing racist imagery depicting the Ku Klux Klan on the Maryland flag.
“We shouldn’t have had to find out about this through social media,” Ogbewe said when asked about UMD’s response to the Club Tennis incident. “We should have heard from our administration, from the president.”
While Ogbewe said he appreciated the university’s direct response to the issue, he also said the university should be transparent as to whether involved students will face consequences.
Another student attendee said the students involved with the tennis club should be publicly named and suspended or expelled for their actions.
One of Baker’s biggest gripes with university administrators is that they don’t engage with the Black student population.
“I have never come into contact with President Pines as the vice president of the Black Student Union,” Baker said, “Neither has [BSU’s president] or any other members of my executive board.”
Ogbewe echoed this feeling of disregard, saying that UMD prides itself on diversity but does not listen to concerns expressed by Black students, using the Nyumburu Cultural Center protests earlier this year as a prime example.
However, Baker feels Vice President for Student Affairs Patty Perillo did a “phenomenal job” of “reaching out [to] and advocating for students.” Baker said Perillo spoke with protesting students earlier that day.
“She’s reassured me, given me moments of support, and just let me know that she’s someone that I can turn to,” Baker said.
One thing the administration can do to address Black student concerns, according to Baker, is start attending Black events.
“It takes nothing to show up to a general body meeting or such an important event as this one,” Baker said.
Administrators’ attendance would make Baker more open to conversations with them, she added.
Ogbewe said students should continue advocating and “agitating” administration through continuous protests.
“Administration, President Pines, you might feel uncomfortable with… the way students are coming at you, sit in that,” Ogbewe said, “Your job is to sit in that uncomfortability and figure out solutions through that.”