Samantha Maher Sheahan
On Wednesday November 18, 2015, Saint Xavier University students participated in a rally to raise awareness about the growing issues of racism on college campuses. In response to the instances of racism that occurred at the University of Missouri, SXU’s Muslim Student Association (MSA), Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), and the African American Studies Diaspora Club (AASDC) came together for this march.
The march began at the Shannon Center and continued around the campus along the ‘Glow-Run Route.’ It ended at the front of the university by the academy bell, where students were encouraged to voice their concerns and opinions about the issues of racism on college campuses.
In interviews with the Xavierite, Hadeel Abderrhaman and Paige Samuels shared information about the organizations they are a part of and the importance of this rally at SXU. Abderrhaman is the Co-President of the Muslim Student Association and Secretary for Students for Justice in Palestine.
Samuels is the Vice President of the African American Studies Diaspora Club. Each organization is designed to raise awareness for certain minority groups. Abderrhaman and Samuels explain the goals and mission of their clubs and why it is important for other students to be aware of these organizations.
“SJP is a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, and community members that are focused on advocating for justice and self-determination for the Palestinian people. MSA was organized to establish Muslim identity at SXU and to teach people about Islam,” said Abderrhaman.
Similarly, the AASDC has goals like SJP. Each organization was created in hopes that every student would feel welcome at SXU, also as a way to maintain healthy relationships between all students attending the university.
“[The African American Studies Diaspora Club was created] to support, inspire, motivate, and encourage the African-American community at SXU, as well as establish and maintain healthy relationships within the student body of Saint Xavier University,” said Samuels.
Abderrhaman shares where the inspiration for this march came from, and why the rally was held on SXU’s campus. “SXU’s SJP is part of a bigger group called SJP Chicago which is basically a group of SJP clubs from different universities in Chicago.
SJP Chicago reached out to SXU’s SJP saying that different colleges are showing their support in everything that’s been going on at the University of Missouri involving the mistreatment of colored students on their campus and as an organization that stands for social injustice we should defiantly look into whether our school will be doing anything in solidarity,” said Abderrhaman.
Abderrhaman thought that showing this support would be beneficial for students at SXU and then decided to reach out to other organizations to brainstorm ideas.
“I then reached out to the African American Studies Diaspora Club to see if they, or the BSU, had anything planned. They then informed us about the rally. The inspiration came from trying to find a peaceful way to show our support for all of those over at the University of Missouri and a way to be heard on campus so people know what’s going on/know our school will not tolerate racism of any kind on campus,” said Abderrhaman.
For Abderrhaman, this event was mainly to raise awareness about social injustice. Students should be more aware of what it going on in their own university, and hosting a march such as this one definitely received notice..
“I feel like it’s important to host a rally such as this at SXU because since we are such a small school we’re kind of sheltered. Half of the students are either oblivious to what’s going on or don’t think that they can do anything to help the cause. By having events like these we are raising awareness at SXU about social injustice and saying that it is not OK and we will stand against it because our voices do matter. We are making is clear that racism towards any color, race, or gender will not be tolerated on campus and making it know that there are students who will speak up,” said Abderrhaman.
During the march, the students passed through the SXU diner, where people were confused about what was going on, but soon caught on and supported the marchers. With this, students paid notice to these groups and this rally.
“My favorite part defiantly had to be when we marched through the diner. At first everyone was really quiet and most were confused as to what was going on but after a few moments most caught on and started repeating the chants with us. After we walked out the dinner there was a huge applause at the end. I really felt like we left an impact on those who were in there,” said Abderrhaman.
For both Samuels and Abderrhaman, it was important to see the amount of support that the marchers received and hearing the stories of different minority groups on campus.
“I think that it’s important for students to know that they do have a say. We are definitely a small school, but don’t let that be an excuse for not speaking up on social issues like these. If a student feels passionately about a certain issue they should definitely speak up, start a dissuasion, chances are there’s a whole lot of other students who feel exactly the same and there is strength in numbers,” said Abderrhaman.
For a change to be made, students have to speak up, and this is exactly what these students did at the march. No one was afraid to speak what they were thinking at this rally because everyone was accepting to what they had to say.
“I think it’s important for all of to take the situation of racism on campuses and mistreatment of black students seriously. The only way for us to make a difference is to for us to start speaking up, start having more events like this, start saying that this is not ok and we will not stand of it any longer,” said Abderrhaman.
Julie Gardner
Senior News Editor