After last week’s racist snapchat dilemma, Southern Adventist University partnered with Student Association (SA) to release a video titled “Recognizing Our Past, Shaping Our Future” addressing its history with racism and discrimination, and apologizing to its students of color. They have pledged to actively implement focus groups to address issues, begin the search for a Vice President of Diversity and recommit to listening to the voices of their underrepresented community.
President Smith starts the video by saying that Southern is proud of its diversity, yet the persistent question “Is Southern racist?” remains. The video continues to feature several Southern administration and faculty, including Senior Vice President Bob Young, Vice President for Student Development Dennis Negron, and Professor of Psychology Ruth Williams among many others. The video concludes with SA President Phillip Warfield representing the black students at Southern.
According to Smith, Southern plans to immediately conduct focus groups to further discuss issues and to listen--in open and honest dialog--to the concerns of their students of color and assess how the university can best address these concerns. Administration also plans to empower Southern’s diversity committee and incorporate diversity as a key consideration in the hiring process of employees.
When asked how he thought students would react to the video, Smith said, “It’s hard to know. So much of what this [the video] is addressing highlights a hidden side of students’ lives. Not all racial issues are on the surface, but they’re very real. We have to make a commitment to treat each other as we should. Some will misunderstand, but I hope we can educate, unite and reach the [aforementioned] goals on our campus.”
Warfield said, “Every February our campus seems to be on high alert. In its 126th year history, Southern has never acknowledged the pain and the shadow of its past. This video, while it doesn’t eradicate the issue, helps the campus move forward and allows students to hold the university accountable for the goals pledged in the video. I pray students will continue to seek healing and be a part of the solution. I will continue to uphold our theme for the year, “This is Us,” and what it stands for -- for a Southern all people can be a part of.”