Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Leah Blankenship Freshmen Maria Schoenherr of Auburn, Katie Hearn of Garden City and Matthew Green of Ann Arbor were among participants at the "Skin Deep" program for Lloyd M. Cofer scholarship recipients, Tuesday night in Kulhavi Hall. [Click to enlarge]

Racism has plagued this country for hundreds of years.

Being thrust headfirst into that struggle are the 2007 class of Multicultural Advancement Scholars and Lloyd M. Coffer Award of Distinction winners.

During a presentation and discussion of the movie "Skin Deep" Tuesday night in Kulhavi Hall, Director of Minority Student Services Traci Guinn said the goal was to get the scholars committed to diversity.

Guinn said the movie may be outdated, but reinforces the underlying message.

"It shows that the clothing may have changed, but not much else has," she said. "Many students still feel like they are one out of so many."

The movie took 23 students of different racial backgrounds from campuses across the nation and documented their interaction over the course of three days.

Detroit freshman Amber U. Johnson said the video was important and could impact people.

"It brought to light other people's battles," she said. "Not only did it show the effects of racism, but how some people feel like they might be labeled as a racist because of the color of their skin."

The group of 30 CMU students discussed topics ranging from what it means to be a "really really" white person to the effects of affirmative action, to who can or cannot use the n-word.

Lake Orion freshman Victoria Page said awareness about racial slurs is important.

"I'm not African-American, but I get offended when I hear people say the n-word," she said.

Guinn said one of the goals of programs like this is to educate the group on how to deal with all kinds of situations.

"We have a very diverse group," she said. "If one of them hears an Asian-American student being labeled or being the target of a slur, we want our students to be able to address that even if they are an African-American."

Guinn said it is important for the scholars to become champions of diversity.

Johnson said MA Scholars can spread awareness and understanding to the campus.

"If I meet you and tell you saying it isn't OK, then you'll know," she said. "Then you meet five people and tell them and so on."


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