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The Spectator | www.vsuspectator.com
September 23, 2020
News Has VSU’s Diversity and Inclusion Department had an impact on campus? Bailey Storey
Staff Writer bastorey@valdosta.edu Since VSU’s Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion began in 2016, it has strived to make all students feel accepted on campus. “The purpose of the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion is to educate on diversity, enhance equity, and embrace inclusivity,” Director Sandra Y.G. Jones said. “We achieve that by working collaboratively with student organizations to plan and provide programming, special events, training and educational opportunities.” Some of these events include hosting Brave Spaces and Diversity Film Series, as well as events that are specific to different campus organizations, such as the Pink Out Festival for disability employment awareness month and breast cancer awareness. The department is also addressing the current state of our nation by holding Brave Spaces, and they have had special town hall meetings. “This year during the Evening of Worship, there was time carved out to acknowledge the lives of those lost due to police brutality,” Jones said. The department also hosted the Celebration of Diversity and Inclusion on Sept. 18, the anniversary of when VSU’s first two African American students entered the college in 1963. Starting this year, it will become an annual event. According to data provided by Jones, student attendance at Brave Space Dialogues has increased by 53%, and student engagement has increased from 2,393 to 2,899 since the 2018 academic year. “Each year we have seen substantial growth in our student engagement and expansion of collaborations with various areas and student organizations,” Jones said. She said the department also
BAILEY STOREY/THE SPECTATOR On the occasion that an incident is seen by the public, the department provides discussion spaces for students to address their concerns and give their opinions on an incident.
addresses personal student issues. “Racial bias and injustice is not new in our country, nor to our campus,” Jones said. “Generally, when such issues arise, my first priority is to ensure the individuals who were violated in whatever way receive the resources and services needed to ensure their well-being. After that, there is always a discussion on how the issue should be addressed.” According to Jones, many events of injustice or prejudice on campus are addressed and handled before they become public knowledge. “Balancing the responsibility of protecting the privacy of all students, as well as dealing with the collateral fallout of the offending student’s actions is a delicate balance,” she said. However, on the occasion that an incident is seen by the public, the department provides discussion spaces for students to address their concerns and give their opinions on an incident. Jones said allowing students
Harris believes that the department is heading in the right direction in its attempt to bring Blazer Nation together. “I definitely feel like they have been successful with promoting diversity and inclusion on campus,” Kaynal Davis, a resident assistant said. I think the march was a good way to kick off the semester and show that we as a university are trying to make everyone feel included.” The efforts are definitely working, he said. “Protecting diversity and inclusion on the other hand is really hard to do when you attend a university like this,” Davis said. “A lot of the people in power here are white men, from the officers, to the professors, to the faculty and staff. The Diversity and Inclusion Office can’t be there to help when someone feels like their voice is being silenced in a place like a classroom, but I think the Brave Space Dialogues they do is a good venue for those oppressed voices to talk.”
to gather and discuss their goes, it seemed as if you had to differences this way has always find those guiding lights to help been beneficial. push you. In saying that, I didn’t “It seems like they’re doing always feel that some people on a lot. It’s a very cool concept,” the campus had my best interest Hannah Thompson, a sophomore as part of their interest.” said. While Thompson has not been involved with events put on by the department, she said she appreciates the essential topics they address and believes they are helping students both in and off campus. “Being an older student, there were times I felt prejudices trying to build confidence from where I was in my BAILEY STOREY/THE SPECTATOR life,” Rocky Harris, The department also hosted the Celebration of Diversity and Inclusion on Sept. 18, the VSU alum said. “As anniversary of when VSU’s first two African American students entered the college in 1963. far as the campus
Column: Mail-in voting is the safer option Kilie Huckleby
Staff Writer kahuckleby@valdosta.edu
This election year isn’t just Trump vs. Biden, but it’s also mail-in voting vs. in-person voting due to the pandemic. 2020 has been a wild year for all of us between Kobe dying, COVID-19 blazing like a fire and this summer’s controversies, now we have to worry about voting in the election. I wish I could say that we don’t need the election, but we do. Things may get a little easier with the option of mail-in voting however, some want mailin voting to be 100%. I’ll admit, I was skeptical of mail-in voting for potential voting fraud however, after doing some research, I have found that mail-in voting fraud only takes up a minuscule part of votes. According to npr.org there have only been 143 criminal convictions within the past 20 years that are related to mail-in voting fraud. It averages to be about one case per state every six or seven years, which is a fraud rate of 0.00006%. I’ll be honest with you, that baffles me. I would
has been a 21% increase after a twoweek decline. The state reopened in July, and I’m sure you have heard that there has been more COVID cases since school has opened. So, imagine going to the polls. Keeping a hopeful eye on the future is always great, but you have to realize the reality of things, too. If you go to Walmart or favorite restaurant, you will see a number of people walking around without their KAYLA POOL/THE SPECTATOR masks. You’ll also see According to npr.org there have only been 143 criminal convictions within the past 20 that there are a number years that are related to mail-in voting fraud. of people that aren’t keeping a 6-feet distance think that it would increase. I want to experience going to the from one another. Of course, with every election, polls and voting in-person, so I Imagine the risk going to the there will always be that risk of don’t think making mail-in voting polls. The Arizona Department fraud, but I think you just have 100% should happen. of Health Services has released a to look past that and vote for According to Kaiser Health pie chart called COVID-19 Risk who you think will be the best News, 20 states have seen a rise Index and it ranks the risks of candidate to be president for the of COVID-19 numbers since activities between low risk to high next four years. they have reopened. They even risk. One risk that it showed that However, as a first-time voter, mention Georgia, in which there going to events with 50 or more
“According to Kaiser Health News, 20 states have seen a rise of COVID-19 numbers since they have reopened.” people is a high-risk factor. If you were to go to these polls, you would be at more risk of getting the virus than if you were to mail in your votes and risk voting fraud. It’s a much safer option to do so, and I highly encourage it. Voting is a way of showing our beliefs, but we need to be safe. Go ahead and vote Trump vs. Biden, but make the decision now to mail in your vote and stay safe from COVID-19.