Keene State College has recently made an effort to raise awareness about racism on campus through three workshops hosted by the college’s Multicultural Club.
This semester, KSC has provided intersectionality workshops students and staff can attend, which focus on racism and oppression.
By having these workshops, they hope to raise awareness about the Common Ground KSC Multicultural Cub.
Senior Cait Kelly attended the intersectionality workshops for a class requirement.
Kelly said, “I didn’t think race was much of an issue at KSC until I went to my first workshop.”
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She added, ”I had no idea we had a Multicultural Club here on campus.”
Kelly also agreed that the club should raise awareness by promoting the club so more people go to the meetings.
Kelly said, “We should put up more signs so people can get involved and we can get a good mix of culture into the group.”
Kelly said at the workshops they focused on and discussed the problems of oppression associated with race and minority groups. She also explained that the workshops also tried to get the members to see from the point of view of another person who is victim of oppression. The end goal, she said, is to end this oppression in America.
Harpreet Kaur, the vice president of the Common Ground Multicultural Club further explained the club.
Kaur said, “Common Ground is a club here at KSC that raises awareness of diversity through educational events and it is open to any student, faculty or staff member that wants to attend.”
She said meetings are held on Mondays at 8:30 p.m. in the Atrium Room of the L. P. Young Student Center.
Kaur said Common Ground it a good place to open up. “I can’t express myself in school, class or events. Common Ground is where I can really express who I am,” she said.
Katelyn Biron is a KSC student who occasionally attends the club’s meetings.
Biron said, “Growing up in Vermont I wasn’t surrounded with much diversity. Common Ground is a really great place to meet new people in a diverse setting.”
There are also other multicultural resources on campus that many students said they were unaware of.
Sandra Garcia is the coordinator of multicultural student support on campus.
“The office of multicultural student support can give support to students in many ways. We can refer people to different resources, celebrate who they are and where they came from and everyone is welcomed,” Garcia said.
According to the KSC website, students can use the The Diversity and Multiculturalism Office for consultation on a wide range of issues associated with diversity, multiculturalism and social justice.
Garcia also said she encourages all students of different backgrounds to go to school events and celebrate culture.
“The first Friday in May we have a culture night called the festival of colors. It is a really fun time to celebrate who people are and I’m hoping more people attend this year,” she explained.
Garcia also stresses enjoying the events hosted by the Multicultural Club.
“Don’t just come for class credit or the signature. Stay to the end and celebrate,” she said.
Events can be found on the KSC events section of the webpage and are also usually promoted around campus.
Jess Byrne can be contacted at jbyrne@kscequinox.com
