University of Mississippi students are proactive against racism and stereotypes. Students have come from various states and countries to pursue various opportunities at the Ole Miss campus. Some have come together to make the campus more accepting to all types of races. People attend various clubs and unions to meet and interact with one another. This is a way they believe they will seek change. Some organizations are multicultural.
According to Ole Miss.Org, One Mississippi is a group whose mission is to create a shared experience for all students at Ole Miss. Hope Owens-Wilson, black president of the One Mississippi club, believes that prejudice is not only an issue Ole Miss has to deal with.
“It’s not only here, but people are so quick to say that the problem does not exist just to avoid it, “said Owens-Wilson. Being on the Ole Miss campus, and being black, she feels that the dating game is not easy.
“I like white guys, but it’s hard to fine one who admits that they like black girls,” said Owens-Wilson. “They are so quiet about it.”
“I like white guys, but it’s hard to fine one who admits that they like black girls,” said Owens-Wilson. “They are so quiet about it.”
Tirranny Nettles, a black female who is vice president of The Black Student Union agrees that the problem is not only here on campus. When she was a freshman she was a residence assistant at one of the dorms on campus. Some people consistently gave her mixed emotions.
“Sometimes I felt like I hated people and other times I loved it,” said Nettles.
Being a part of six organizations Nettles has gained experiences that she believes to be life changing.
"Meeting people who are different from you will help to kill stereotypes, create dialogue and create open minds and hearts." said Nettles. "When you come in contact with someone it is okay to dumb yourself down and say I don't understand, but I want to understand."Another organization, Cultural Connections Club also known as C3 is aimed to unite people from different backgrounds according to student organizations.org. Bethany Aiena, an Italian Caucasian who is president of this club felt that prejudice is more individual rather than relating it to the campus.
" I have met some amazing people here from all over the world, but I also know that
there have been some issues,” said Aiena.
Each person interviewed repetively exclaimed that it really helps when it comes to meeting people of different ethnicity, race, or background. These students continue to work on making the campus more diverse.
“Prejudice will always be around but try to help make people more comfortable with people of different race or ethnicity because skin color does not matter at all,” said Nettles.
“Prejudice comes from ignorance,” said Aiena. “Getting to know people who may seem different from you can open you up to a whole new world of art, entertainment, food, culture, that you never knew existed,” said Aiena.
Many people who come from the campus are not from Oxford. Aiena is from Texas.
“I came here because they have an excellent Ph.D. program," said Aiena.
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