THE
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
M I S S O U R I
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y More than 100 years in print
Volume 108, Issue 11 | the-standard.org The Standard/The Standard Sports
TheStandard_MSU
@TheStandard_MSU/@Standard_Sports
MSUStandard
issuu.com/TheStandard-MSU
NIc Deckard/THE STANDARD
Carrington Auditorium was filled to capacity with members of the Missouri State community participating in the open-forum type discussion of Speak Up part 2 Blackout.
Diversity discussions Students, faculty, administration and community members gathered to openly discuss race relations and how to change campus culture during Speak Up Part 2 Blackout on Saturday, Nov. 1 By Annie Gooch The Standard @annie_gooch
They call themselves Blackout — a group of Missouri State University students who have recently sparked controversy by proving that racism still lives in the campus community. Racial slurs and derogatory comments were made to the group when 35 people came together as part of the Homecoming Blackout on Oct. 18 to silently protest black rights, driven by recent fatal police shootings. To most of the community, the harassment was confusing. But for the protesters, it was nothing they hadn’t heard before. And as the comments sank in, shock was pushed out and Blackout, as well as the rest of MSU, began to ask questions:
Why does racism still exist? How can it exist at a university that takes such pride in its public affairs? What can the university do to illuminate these issues and push for progress? What can students do? Blackout hosted Speak Up Part 2 Saturday, Nov. 1, in Carrington Hall to hear the voices of hundreds of students, faculty and administration. The community was invited to attend the open forum to discuss the backlash of Homecoming Blackout and racial tensions on campus. One student at the event said, “You can’t just say ‘Go back to Ferguson’ or ‘Go back to the ghetto.’ It’s ignorant and just shows this needs to be addressed as a whole. Racism still exists.” For some, it was more personal. “This is my home. This is where I live. This is where I chose to go to school,” another student said. “Being a resident of Ferguson, I feel threatened, and this is not how I
want to be treated in my home.” And for others, ignorance is no longer an option. “People blame racism on ignorance all the time,” junior Erica Golliday said at the event. “Not knowing just isn’t acceptable to me anymore because there’s so much knowledge and information out there to educate yourself with.” Sophomore Sequena Tate was at the discussion to show her support. “Events like this are good,” she said. “You get to hear everyone’s opinion and perspective and see where everyone stands. Just because we are a university, we can’t be secluded or think that it doesn’t happen to us. “I’m not shocked, just disheartened. But in a way, I’m pleased because it definitely raised awareness. There’s always a need for this type of discussion, and we need to be involved in the community and know how to handle situations like
this.” The agenda set for the forum was to hear responses from students and faculty and to try and expose hidden racial biases. For senior Shannon Shellner, who protested in Homecoming Blackout, racial bias is something she is familiar with. “This wasn’t my first time being called the N-word. This is the Nth time. I lost track after my freshman year. So, yes. Please, be mad. Please, talk about it.” Riana Clark, who helped organize the Speak Up event, had the same experience. “I wasn’t called the N-word in high school. I was called it here as a freshman on campus. I was called it again my sophomore and junior year. And senior year. We shouldn’t experience that. The climate on this campus has to change.” And she’s calling upon students, faculty and the university at whole
MSU professor launches scientific nail polish By Annie Gooch The Standard @annie_gooch
Nail polish with a purpose is what Missouri State associate psychology professor Erin Buchanan is striving for as she released her own polish line
dedicated to promoting research and ideas in science. Parallax Polish, an indie nail polish company, launched this past August with its first set based around influential women in science. “I’ve always been into really girly things and got into the indie scene where things aren’t your average, well-known products,” Buchanan said. “I joined a group online where everybody else was making their own polish. I researched how to make it and got a lot of feedback online.” Erin Snider/THE STANDARD She explained the hard part Psychology professor Erin wasn’t making it; it was finding a way to set herself apart Buchanan released a nail from the major brands. polish line based on influenAnd that’s when she tial women in science. decided to tie it to what she loves best: science ha’ moment,” she said. “We’re education. always joking about how women in “It was definitely an ‘a- science never get any love, and it
just kind of took off from there.” In her first set, the Women in Science collection, each polish is named after an important woman who made significant contributions in science. The properties of the polish also reflect the scientist’s specific work. Buchanan said it’s a good conversation starter if someone notices your nail color. “For instance, the blue color is based on the woman who worked on the Manhattan Project — on Cobalt 60,” she said. “And the Marie Curie polish is a bright orange that also glows in the dark, noting her work in radioactivity.” Several of the women included in her line are scientists that Buchanan has always admired, like Ada Byron. u See expanded story at the-standard.org
to do so. “It needs to be more than ‘How do we help black students or Latino students?’” Clark said. “It has to be ‘How do we reach out? How do we create unity?’ “I’m not going to be here next year. But for this school to be an option for my kids to come, it can’t be like this. My kids won’t be coming here if this is how it is 20 years from now. And that’s not because of the protest. That’s because I was forced to remember that I’m black before the protest,” Clark said. She wasn’t the only one who thought the university could do more. “The race issue is something we deal with on a daily basis,” said senior Jakal Burrell-El, who also helped organize the event. “Events like our protest and this discussion should be happening from MSU and u See SPEAK, page 2
Pharmacy school enrolls first class By Briana Simmons The Standard @SimmonsReports
The first class of 30 students celebrated the grand opening of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy at Missouri State University. Missouri State Provost Frank Einhellig said mutual trust and respect led to a great partnership between Missouri State and UMKC. The collaborative program allows students to obtain a degree from UMKC’s School of Pharmacy while taking classes on Missouri State’s campus. “This region of Missouri is underserved, and there is a demand for educated people in the pharmacy profession,” Einhellig said. More than half of the students accepted into this year’s program have more than two years of pre-pharmacy work and many already have a bachelor’s degree. u See expanded story at the-standard.org
Check out the Basketball Preview inside.