Common Experience event opens up the discussion about identity

By Carlene Ottah Life & Arts Reporter

A new Common Experience event, Naturally You, will host conversations about natural hair, discussing what hair means according to ancestry and culture and how society and professionalism play a part in its presentation.

Last summer, the Common Experience Leadership Team visited the colleges around campus to brainstorm ideas for events relating to the 20222023 theme, Systems Thinking. During one of these visits, Nabila Cook, senior administrative assistant for the College of Liberal Arts, approached them about a conversation she had with a few Texas State Strutters. They wanted to keep dancing in the program but were asked to style their hair by straightening it to keep participating in the activity.

"For many people, their style, their hair represents more than just something that is exterior," Nielson said. "Like, it's connected ... to their family, to their culture, again, to their very being."

The team brought the situation to the attention of other faculty and staff, where it was revealed that such experiences on campus were not exclusive to just students.

"It allowed for a larger conversation about how can we, you know, support individuals with natural hair so that they have that sense of belonging and how can we draw in a campus-wide conversation," Camrie Pipper, assistant director of the Common Experience, said.

The event's name is a nod to Naturally Y.O.U., a student organization that aimed to help individuals lead a healthy lifestyle while embracing their natural beauty. The organization is currently inactive due to its members graduating. Using the organization's name for the event would help continue what its members worked toward.

The event will consist of two parts.

The first, a resource fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will connect students, faculty and staff with community resources like San Marcos salons and stylists, and student organizations and services. The second event, a panel discussion from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., will feature faculty, staff and students sharing their experiences of navigating natural hair.

"This event is celebrating everyone with natural hair and seeing individuals who have to use a scalp routine," Pipper said. "This is also an event for people who wear wigs, not just individuals who are Black. There are many individuals and demographics who wear wigs, so we were trying to ensure that everyone was helping foster that sense of belonging."

One of the panelists is Kelley Glover, a third-year doctoral graduate student in the School Improvement Program at Texas State. She was initially on the planning committee for Naturally You but became a panelist when Pipper approached her after she saw her class presentation about growing up in the U.S. and her experiences with internalized racism.

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