A group of Castleton University students have taken the phrase “be the change you want to see” and done just that. They have started their own NAACP club, which will soon be chartered as an official chapter, on campus. “Different races, different backgrounds coming together for a common purpose,” student and Castleton NAACP Vice President Tajae Edwards said. Students said there weren’t many clubs or resources geared toward people of color when they arrived on campus. They believe that this group will allow students to speak up and take action, feeling more comfortable working hand-in-hand with their peers to tackle race issues on campus. “I was use to it, I was use to not having these groups,” student and Castleton NAACP President Ray Awusi said. “Every single club they had at the school was a pretty straight forward major-based club or environmental club.”These students have decided to create the space they needed, a place to have a conversation about issues of race happening at the national and local level. “It’s already hard living in a predominantly white state and then going to a predominantly white school,” student and Castleton NAACP Vice President Nadia Cox said. “It’s already difficult feeling comfortable in your own skin sometimes.”Race problems exist on Castleton’s campus today, said all three students. In conversations with alumni, they have also been told that it isn’t a new issue. “They’re really discreet,” Cox said.Back in October, the University dealt with backlash when a Black Lives Matter flag was flown on campus. One student going as far as to email the group their hateful comments. That student was expelled due to what was said in the email. “We do have a problem here at Castleton,” Awusi said. “It truly showed who in our community has these hateful views and these hateful mindsets.”Some changes they’ve brought to the school’s attention includes more representation on campus.”There aren’t that many BIPOC staff members here or faculty,” Awusi said. “We want to see that.”The group has yet to received their official charter as a NAACP chapter. They did recently submit all of their paperwork for that designation.Regardless, they hope the education and initiatives they start continue on at Castleton for years to come. “If it’s quiet that’s when it really needs attention,” Edwards said. “I don’t want it to die down once we leave or after certain major issues in the public eye die down or are no longer happening.”
A group of Castleton University students have taken the phrase “be the change you want to see” and done just that. They have started their own NAACP club, which will soon be chartered as an official chapter, on campus.
“Different races, different backgrounds coming together for a common purpose,” student and Castleton NAACP Vice President Tajae Edwards said.
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Students said there weren’t many clubs or resources geared toward people of color when they arrived on campus. They believe that this group will allow students to speak up and take action, feeling more comfortable working hand-in-hand with their peers to tackle race issues on campus.
“I was use to it, I was use to not having these groups,” student and Castleton NAACP President Ray Awusi said. “Every single club they had at the school was a pretty straight forward major-based club or environmental club.”
These students have decided to create the space they needed, a place to have a conversation about issues of race happening at the national and local level.
“It’s already hard living in a predominantly white state and then going to a predominantly white school,” student and Castleton NAACP Vice President Nadia Cox said. “It’s already difficult feeling comfortable in your own skin sometimes.”
Race problems exist on Castleton’s campus today, said all three students. In conversations with alumni, they have also been told that it isn’t a new issue.
“They’re really discreet,” Cox said.
Back in October, the University dealt with backlash when a Black Lives Matter flag was flown on campus.
One student going as far as to email the group their hateful comments. That student was expelled due to what was said in the email.
“We do have a problem here at Castleton,” Awusi said. “It truly showed who in our community has these hateful views and these hateful mindsets.”
Some changes they’ve brought to the school’s attention includes more representation on campus.
“There aren’t that many BIPOC staff members here or faculty,” Awusi said. “We want to see that.”
The group has yet to received their official charter as a NAACP chapter. They did recently submit all of their paperwork for that designation.
Regardless, they hope the education and initiatives they start continue on at Castleton for years to come.
“If it’s quiet that’s when it really needs attention,” Edwards said. “I don’t want it to die down once we leave or after certain major issues in the public eye die down or are no longer happening.”
