Being my authentic self as a Black woman at USI — a personal story

tranquility and a place to go for reflection while sitting in the gazebo.

The main attraction is the University Center. You have the east and the west with the Cone in the center. In these two buildings, you find the heart of the campus. This is the place where students come together to eat, hang out and study.

It is also where I first came to the realization that so much of the physical part of campus had changed over the years, but there was an obvious part of campus life that had not changed as much as I had anticipated.

That change was the racial makeup of the student body.

As I made my way across campus day after day, it pained me to not see more African Americans on campus. Where was the progress that should have been readily noticed when I walked across campus? It felt as if I were invading territory that was not meant for me or anyone who looked like me.

Being an African American woman on a campus dominated by white people could have been a nightmare. I was asked more than once why I chose to go to such a homogenous school.

part of it.

I remember walking across campus wearing masks and still smiling and speaking to everyone I encountered. Once the masks came off, there was no stopping me. I joined organizations, went to events and made USI my home.

I tend to speak up and explain to people that diversity does not mean a place is inclusive. So, while USI has made great strides in diversity, being inclusive is still elusive at this point.

There is more diversity on campus this year than in years past, but that is not saying much because as an African American woman, equity and inclusion are hard to find consistently here.

The university must put more effort into the latter of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. There is room here for us all. If we truly made everyone feel that they belonged on this campus, it would stand out as a top university in this state. The ingredients are there, but a conscious effort needs to be made to include them in organizations and events across the board.

BY ALICE BURNS

Driving onto the University of Southern Indiana’s beautiful campus in the Fall of 2020 was a long-awaited dream come true. Many years prior, I had attended USI, and to say it had changed, is an understatement.

The campus is the most beautiful that I have ever been on. It is lined with flowering trees and lush green grass surrounded by beautiful, fragrant flowers of every color imaginable. The lake with the gorgeous, modern Griffin Center on the other side is a place that provides

I can honestly say that, despite the low African American population, I have never doubted my decision to return to USI.

Being a woman of color has advantages that allow me to thrive even under conditions that many would find hard to. I am not a visitor to the campus; I am an integral

Once African Americans are included in the organizations and events, they need to feel welcomed and given ownership in it. No one wants to be a part of something that never acknowledges them or their contributions. That is something that will take conscious effort to start and sustain. As Ruth Bader Ginsburg said, “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”