Sarah Fryman

Dr. Gloria Still

UC 200

November 30, 2015

#OSU2MIZZOU: RACISM LIVES HERE

On November 13th, 2015, I had the pleasure of marching and demonstrating in solidarity

with the University of Missouri at The Ohio State University. I stumbled upon this event on

Facebook when one of my friends indicated that she was going. I told my best friend Rachel

about it and we went. We were told to wear all black and when we arrived at the meeting

location, Hale Hall on West 12th Street, there were signs for us to carry around as we marched.

Channel 10 News was there, not surprisingly.

I was amazed at the turn out, considering that the event was planned on the 11th and

occurred on the 13th. I would estimate that there were about 300 people when we finished our

march in the Union. The event was organized by OSU students, faculty, and staff. OSU’s

president, Michael V. Drake, even showed up to the rally. It was really comforting seeing other

Capital students at the event, too. I am not entirely sure but I believe the students were members

of Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Kappa Alpha. Capital had a bus to shuttle students over, which I

thought was a great move.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. The organizers told us it was a nonviolent

event, but I am not naive. I know that it could have turned ugly. As a middle class white woman,

I am rarely in the minority, but for this event, I was. It was an incredible experience. I never felt

out of place or looked down on for being a part of this piece of civil rights history. I know some

may think I did it for attention or to “look good” but I genuinely believe that the systematic racial
oppression in this nation is a problem that I, as a white member of society, can stand up against.

This is an instance where my white privilege can benefit minorities. I believe it is the duty of

those whose voices will be heard to speak and act on behalf of those who are silenced.

We marched from W. 12th Street to the Oval, which is a popular and well-traveled place

on campus. People walking past us, or those in the library, frequently took pictures and videos of

our group as we chanted. Some of our chants included “O-H, I-O, racism has got to go!”, “no

justice, no peace”, “we’re with you, Mizzou”, “Black lives matter”, “Black students matter”, and

“racism lives here, and so do we”. Once we made it to the Oval, Black students, faculty, and staff

were asked to share their experiences of racism on OSU’s campus. It was incredible hearing how

mistreated and judged Black people are on that campus.

One story that particularly stuck out to me was a PhD candidate who was frequently

approached in the Oval by students believed he was a drug dealer, based only on his skin color

and natural hair. It is little things like that are so ignorant and unnecessary in our society. Most

of the stories involved students being told that they would not succeed by their academic

advisors. It was so disheartening to learn that faculty are discouraging Black students to pursue

certain studies, mostly the sciences. They are told that they would do better in other subjects and

that it “wasn’t right for them”.

The main theme of the stories I heard was that Black people need to “prove others

wrong”. One student said something along the lines that it was that we (Black people) have to be

proud of defying the doubts of their naysayers. That is the society we live in, where people need

to prove that they deserve the same education and opportunities as everyone else. That doesn’t

make any sense. Black people should not have to work twice as hard to earn a degree because
they have to deal with an oppressive society on top of their course load. I have never been told I

cannot do something that someone else could based on my skin color.

After the stories were told, we continued our march. The police were lined up on High

Street as we took the street. It was such a rush, chanting and marching for a cause that needs to

be shouted from the rooftops. I can only imagine what it would have felt like to march alongside

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s. The fact that we are still fighting the same fight as he

did is so infuriating.

We ended our march in the Union, where students, faculty, and staff held a sit-in. They

created demands for the administration to enforce and support. The main demand was that the

participants wanted the administration to acknowledge that there is a racism issue on campus and

that the administration also stood in solidarity with college campuses across the nation. By the

end of the sit-in, a collaborative letter had been written, stating, “Students have immense power

to change the world. Together, we are committed to moving forward in the fight for justice…”

(Davies, S., Adams-Gaston, J., & Todd, L., 2015). I thought it was very impressive to have made

such an impact in one night.

Another issue that the organizers spoke about was the limited diversity at The Ohio State

University. According to The Ohio State University’s Enrollment Report for 2015, only 5.63%

of enrollees, at all levels - undergraduate, graduate, and professional - are African-American.

That is such a tiny percentage, which is upsetting. Why aren’t more African-Americans being

admitted, and why are Black professors not being hired? The issue of glorifying “Black bodies

instead of Black minds” was also talked about. The organizers believe that Black athletes are

seen as more desirable than the minds of Black students by the general population. I was unable

to find demographic data in regards to Student Athletes at The Ohio State University, but I
imagine that there is larger percentage of Black Student Athletes compared to Black non-

athletes.

My eyes were definitely opened at how much I take my privileges for granted. I never

really realized how little opposition I have to the decisions that I make about my education,

whereas People of Color have to fight so diligently just to be on the same level as White people.

I truly believe education is so important, and I know it is being denied to so many because of the

way they look and how others perceive those who look that way. I should definitely be included.

I have caught myself making assumptions about people based on the way they dress, the way

they do their hair or makeup, and by the color of their skin. However, I am aware of my

shortcomings and actively make an effort to be more open minded. This issue is not going to go

away, unless someone, or groups of people, make a change.