The African American Cultural Center hosted an open forum in the Campus Cinema Friday afternoon to allow students, faculty and staff to share their thoughts following the recent police-involved shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile and the violence that erupted in Dallas on Thursday in which five police officers were killed.
The meeting was part of “What’s on the Table?”, a weekly program started in 2014 and hosted by the AACC to give students from all walks of life the chance for cultural exchanges in a safe environment. “What’s on the Table?” is normally hosted during the academic year but an emergency meeting was called to session this week.
The roughly 50 attendees formed a circle that reached to the walls of the room and another row had to be added as more people filed in. The first person to speak expressed gratitude for those who came out under such difficult circumstances and for the opportunity to hear each other. Then, one by one, others stood and attempted to come to grips with the situation which has caused a lot of pain nationally.
Out of respect, the names of the attendees and what was said in the meeting were not recorded.
Several women said that they feel new fear that their boyfriends, brothers, fathers or sons could be killed in any routine encounter with police, expressing hopelessness regarding the difference race makes in dealings with law enforcement. Others felt incapable of changing anything within the system because they lacked expertise. Some grappled with the urge to act violently.
One person accused the university of remaining silent on the issue, to which others nodded in agreement.
Afterward, assistant vice provost for student diversity, Tracey Ray, addressed the role of the university in situations like this.
“I think [the university’s role] is to be aware of how things that don’t happen on our campus but happen nationally impact our students and faculty,” Ray said. “Even though it doesn’t happen in our community, because we all have multiple identities, how we define community can vary so it can impact us in so many ways.”
Ray believes students feel powerless because younger people lack historical context to see what can be done. But, she said the university is a place where students can discover this context.
“For students especially, it’s difficult because they’re looking at these events as they happen and there’s a lot of missing context to what’s going on historically and so being a community of scholars we can help bridge that gap,” Ray said. “I think that students, via research and other applications of theory, can be a part of this as well, and that can help people to have an outlet.”
Mike Mullen, vice chancellor and dean of the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, released a statement regarding the killings of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and five police officers in the past week.
“I am saddened, maddened and heartbroken by this continued violence that disproportionately affects young black men in our society,” Mullen said. “I know that many are constantly looking over their shoulders, wondering if they will be stopped or questioned, or followed, simply because of the color of their skin. And, I know that this must become unacceptable in our society.”
Program coordinator for AACC, Toni Thorpe, better known as “Mama Thorpe,” said that “What’s on the Table?” was created to give students a space to talk. The forum encourages students to talk not just about the broad storylines that play out in the media, but also the everyday challenges they face in dealing with cultural barriers. Thorpe said they also take time to celebrate accomplishments.
“It’s a judgement-free zone and one of the goals is to help us hear our humanness,” Thorpe said. “Hearing our voice helps students in particular because sometimes you think it but when you verbalize it and it’s out there it gives power to your heart.”
Mullen ended his letter with a challenge for the NC State community.
“I challenge us, the NC State Community, to continue to work towards positive change that will one day perhaps us to avoid these senseless acts of violence that occur far too often,” Mullen said.
The Counseling Center is available 24/7 for students, and can be reached at 919-515-2423. The Multicultural Student Affairs office, located in Talley Student Union, and the African American Cultural Center, located in Witherspoon Student Center, are also available to talk to students about these recent events.
