Learning while black: The USU experience

By Dexter Summers

May 5, 2009 | "I know it's had an effect because we are creatures of observation and you can't help notice what someone looks like. If anything, it's motivated me to be better," said Black Student Union (BSU) President Paris Thomas.

Thomas and other African-American students interviewed for this stosry have voiced their experiences and struggles as minority students and shared their perspectives on diversity at USU.

Fred Ishola, a sophomore majoring in accounting and international economics stated that, "The reason I feel uncomfortable at Utah State University is because of the enormous burden placed upon me. The constant need to dispel notions of black ignorance, iniquity, and ineptness causes immense stress; consequently, every time I step outside of my home I am aware that I am not only representing myself but also representing my 'race.'"

There are many African-American student athletes who attend USU. There are 39 currently on the 2009 football roster and more than 15 who are members of other sports teams. Ishola has been asked if he's on the football or basketball team countless times, said, "The culture here is completely homogeneous. Only in Utah is every African-American man accosted with the familiar phrase, 'Do you play football?' For once, I would love to be seen as an individual who is simply interested in obtaining an education and excelling in life."

During the 2007-2008 academic years, there were 109 Black (non-Hispanic) total undergraduates enrolled at USU, making them the second smallest minority on campus. "I feel like I stand out more. If I'm late for class or if I miss class they notice because I'm not the norm," said Rica Molet, an undeclared freshman from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Justin Ecung, a sophomore studying to become an Aviation Professional Pilot from Los Angeles, California shares this sentiment. He stated that, "When I walk into a classroom, I feel out-of-place. I feel like there are very few students like me with similar backgrounds and individuals I can truly identify with."

African-American students at USU come from different socioeconomic groups, backgrounds, families, states and cities. A sophomore management information systems major from Kansas City, Kansas, Jervon Graves, said, "I came to Utah State because of the environment. My family and I thought that it would be a great place for me to get my education. There's not a lot of partying or drugs, just a great learning environment, and it will provide me with all the tools I need to succeed."

Molet said, "I wanted a new experience. Utah State seemed open and accepting. I came from a private high school where I was one of seven black kids, so I'm used to being cultured into dominate race."

The Multicultural Student Services (MSS) provides support for student success and campus multicultural relations. According to their website, the BSU, a branch of MSS, was created with the purpose to provide "support for the African-American student population and encourage campus interaction and involvement." The website further states that the BSU "wants to promote cultural awareness and acceptance of diversity." According to Graves, the BSU Vice President, "BSU is one of the fastest growing clubs on campus for the second year in a row."

"A lot of race issues or feeling like you're the only one could be fixed by having people who understand each other better. [Another solution is] having more opportunities for people to step outside themselves. Giving some other religions [on campus] a chance because we're so overwhelmed with the Mormon Church. On Sunday's, everything shuts down. It's hard because they [African-American students] are forced to fit in somewhere where they're not comfortable. Especially the out-of-state people who are black; they are more sensitive to race," says Thomas.

Although there are some African-American students at USU who are LDS, the majority, who are not, have expressed that not being LDS has had a large impact on their experience here at USU.

Shalese Clark, a junior exercise science major from West Valley, who is African-American and LDS, said being LDS has made it easier for her to date because it's not hard to find anybody with the same views and upbringing. When asked how she would describe the USU culture, she said, "A lot of people will just see it as one dimensional: all LDS people and all white people. But it's more than that; you just have to see it. I feel like they're [USU] trying to make it diverse in all sorts of ways but it's hard to recruit because there's not as much diversity."

"I kind of feel like there is no culture here, just Mormon. And they need to be more open to other religions and other people. But it would be hard to do, because a lot of people in Utah are Mormon, and the majority of people that come from out of state are Mormon too, so you never really get that diversity," said freshman Amanda Peters, a non-African American and non-LDS student from Ridgeway, Colorado. She added, "I do feel that they [African-American students] are probably feeling singled out. And it probably has a lot to do with the dominant religion here, which happens to be LDS."

Ishola said, "I feel that diversity is not wanted at Utah State University. They want to create a mirage of diversity." Based on the interviews in the article and others that were gathered, the sense that USU isn't as diverse as it could be was overwhelming.

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