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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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About 200 students marched around campus in "The Darkening," a rally in solidarity with the nationwide "Black Lives Matter" movement. 

Large turnout expected for first AU teach-in on race relations

Conversations on race to take place in MGC on Jan. 24

In light of recent national events in Missouri and New York, AU will be holding the first in a series of discussions on race relations on Jan. 24 in Mary Graydon Center.

        

The event will pay homage to the 60’s civil rights movement by bringing back teach-ins, where students, faculty and staff can be educated on race issues and share ideas. 

"As an institution of higher learning, there are so many opportunities to learn,” said Assistant Vice President of Campus Life Fanta Aw, one of the event’s organizers. “We need to get together and take time to reflect and see where there is potential for growth.”

The teach-in will feature several speakers, workshops and panels facilitated by AU faculty and student leaders regarding race relations, according to Aw. 

The event will be hosted by the Office of Campus Life, Student Government’s Ethnic and Cultural Coalition, the Center for Community Engagement and Services and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

Together, the organizations decided to host the teach-in as a response to events that unfolded around campus at the end of the fall semester.

       

There were a series of negative anonymous posts on the social media site Yik-Yak, after the die-in event outside of MGC last semester, The Eagle previously reported. This prompted students to reach out to faculty members, according to Caleen Jennings, a professor in the Department of Performing Arts.

Students suggested the idea of creating an event where “like-minded” individuals could share their thoughts, opinions and experiences, Jennings said. She will be performing a short play at the beginning of the event that will provide a frame of reference for the attendees to help start the conversations, she said.

       

"I wish [the teach-in] would maximize engagement of people with different points of view and bring together similar voices,” Jennings said. “People are feeling very lost and unsure.”

        

Tatiana Laing, co-chair of SG's Ethnic and Cultural Coalition and School of Public Affairs junior, is one of the student leaders who envisioned the event.

        

“At a school that prides itself on being at the forefront of social justice issues, neglecting to talk and act on race issues basically tells us that black lives don't matter here,” Laing said. “Our issues and concerns and experiences are real, and we need to address them the same way that other social justice issues are addressed here.”

History professor Theresa Rundstedtler, who will be leading a breakout discussion during the teach-in, hopes that this event is just the beginning of an open dialogue on race issues on campus.

"I hope that this teach-in helps us to start a more robust and honest conversation about the ongoing reality of racial discrimination and inequality, both on and off campus,” Rundstedtler said. “I hope that it’s the beginning, rather than an end, to the conversation.”

        

The organizers of the teach-in are expecting a large turnout, but they did not know the number of individuals who had pre-registered for the event at the time of publication, Aw said.  The event is open to all students, faculty and staff. Those interested in attending must pre-register online. 

       

"No matter how many people show, it will be a day to remember,” Jennings said. “It will be terrific.”

news@theeagleonline.com


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