OSU campus leaders initiate dialogue

Time to read
1 minute
Read so far

OSU campus leaders initiate dialogue

Fri, 06/19/2020 - 13:56
Posted in:
Body

STILLWATER — With the nation transfixed by a momentous civil rights movement, OSU diversity leaders raised their voices Friday afternoon, inviting members of the OSU community to join the conversation.

The Community Advancing Conversation Virtual Panel session, the first of a monthly series, was streamed live at ostate.tv, featuring thoughtprovoking perspectives on race and inclusion from OSU men’s basketball coach Mike Boynton, OSU Police Chief Leon Jones and OSU administration and faculty members Dr. Jason F. Kirksey, Dr. Toby Nelson, Dr. Alexis Washington, Dr. Taryn Price, Dr. Leon McClinton, Dr. Clyde Wilson, Office of Equal Opportunity Director Jackson Landrum, Assistant Athletic Director for men’s basketball Patsy Armstrong and Dr. Jovette Dew, assistant vice president for institutional diversity and the third black woman to hold an executive level title at OSU.

Kirksey, OSU’s chief diversity officer, called it a special and meaningful conversation. He noted that OSU is the most decorated institution nationwide for its diversity efforts over the last decade but called Friday’s conversation a new beginning.

“This is an important first step,” he said. “We didn’t cover everything. That wasn’t the intent. The intent was to start laying a foundation for conversations amongst ourselves and within the OSU community to identify ways we can grow and build and deepen and broaden the strong commitment that’s been here at Oklahoma State.

“We’re fortunate that we have a president who has been here for 13 years who gets it, who understands it. Now we have an opportunity to build and grow and simply become better.”

Washington, an assistant management professor in the Spears School of Business, said the country is currently battling two pandemics — coronavirus and racism — and each member of the university community must do their part to combat both.

She called these kinds of conversations bridges and community builders, saying they are particularly important for this time and place.

“I think the role of college really goes far beyond the classroom,” Washington said.

“What we do here is give people that space between being a child and being your own person, your own adult. So, how we manage that window and what we teach these students is going to affect generations.”

Coach Boynton said now is the time to make a plan — not the time to run away from the problem.

“We have to be OK with people not liking to hear this,” he said. “This isn’t about personal attacks, but they need to hear that this is a real pandemic that’s been going on for a long time. And we need your help. We need you to challenge your friends when you hear them saying something inappropriate. … If you are complicit and you allow racist activities in your area, how different are you?”