Milligan University hosted its first Campus Conversation Monday evening via Zoom. The conversation was on a very pressing issue: racial inclusion.
This conversation consisted of 21 participants and was directed by campus minister, Rich Aubrey. The conversation was based upon responses from the guest speaker, Aaron Murphy and three students.
One question that was asked by Aubrey in an interview prior to the event was, “What experiences have shaped their perceptions of racial inclusion at Milligan?”
Jeremiah Dubb, a freshman at Milligan answered, “Definitely my experience with the Goah program, when I first got here and met everyone from the Goah program, the first thing I noticed was that it wasn’t just black people,” said Dubb.
“It was different races and cultures and that really allowed me to see that this was good for this school specifically because that is what you want in a smaller school and ultimately for everyone to feel like there is a place for them.”
The Goah program is a scholarship that is entirely funded by the University and recognizes full-time undergraduate students who enhance the educational experience of all students by sharing their diverse cultural experiences.
Junior Alex Reynoso spoke on her take of racial inclusion at Milligan in an interview.
“I feel that Milligan has provided a space for racial inclusion, but they haven’t taken all the steps necessary to be racially inclusive,” said Reynoso. “However, I do believe that I’ve seen a lot of students, international students and racially diverse students take leadership roles.”
The guest speaker, Aaron Murphy, a minister and community leader from Johnson City and a graduate of Emmanuel Christian Seminary also spoke on his experiences about racial inclusion during his time at Milligan..
“During my three years at Emmanuel I learned the culture of Zimbabwe, Kenya, Liberia and Congo,” said Murphy. “I experienced community in a way I’ve never experienced community before.”
The common theme of the conversation was how Milligan can become one community and how students, administration and faculty can learn more about culturally diverse backgrounds.
The conversation focused heavily on the murder of George Floyd and how its affected the speakers.
Sophomore Shayla Stewart spoke in an interview on the matter regarding Floyd,stating that she was very saddened and angry.
“I sat back and I took in all the information and I really heard the voices of the people that were talking because there are people out there way more eloquently spoken than I am,” said Stewart. “I found a sort of solitude in that they could get the message out there that I was thinking in my head.”
The conversation wrapped up with suggestions from the speakers for ways Milligan can become more racially inclusive.
They suggested having a day where different groups share their culture and making it a priority to address racial inclusion topics.
“We don’t really get to know people until we get to know their background and where they’re from and just being able to know them better,” Reynoso said. “We don’t just get to know them better, but it helps us know ourselves better too.”
The next campus conversation will be held on October 5 on politics.
Headline photo: Alex Reynoso being interviewed on racial inclusion.