Let’s start with the facts: there are 24,125 students enrolled at UO as of Fall term 2015. Among those students, 2% have identified as Black or African America, 5.5% as Asian, 9.4% as Hispanic or Latino/a, 5.8% as Multi-ethnic, and less than 1% of students as American Indian/Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. The fact is that we are in a predominantly White institution (PWI), and if you are a person of color, you are likely reminded of this fact time and time again. Through our own experiences as people of color in a PWI, we are very familiar with the feeling of being the minority on campus, and we imagine that we are not the only ones to feel this way.

Over the past year, we wanted to explore the experiences of students of color at the UO through a series of focus groups. From these discussions we learned how common the feeling of being marginalized or alienated can be. We learned that these students are often made to feel like they don’t belong, either by being the only person of color (POC) in the room, hearing someone butcher their name, or being asked where they are from (since they can’t possibly be from here, can they?). They are often made to feel misunderstood or feel unheard by their peers, teachers, and even their families.

Navigating their various identities and cultural backgrounds is a balancing act because many students of color don’t just check one box for race/ethnicity or have the same experiences as their parents’ generation. One challenge they face is having to balance cultural differences between family and friends. And what’s worse, their experiences are often called into question or disregarded, whether they are labeled as “too sensitive or over-reactive” or told that they are too focused on being “PC.” Obviously, the experiences of each racial and ethnic group are not the same. But in our focus groups we found a shared narrative of feeling misunderstood and disconnected.

So what can be done? How can we move forward? There is no clear solution for how to address these challenges. Nonetheless, from these conversations we gained invaluable suggestions for how to improve services beyond a “we support diversity” sign. These discussions also highlighted the strength of simply allowing a student of color to feel heard and understood. Regardless of your race, the focus groups highlighted the importance of showing empathy and understanding for students of color’s unique experience.

We also learned how powerful the opportunity to share our experiences can have for us as people of color in connecting with other people with shared identities. Whether it’s through a friend, a center, or a student group, the feeling of someone saying “I know exactly how you feel” or “I’ve had the exact same thing happen to me” can make all the difference. If you are feeling alone or have a raw feeling about what someone said, connecting to others who share or can understand that experience can make the difference between feeling excluded and feeling like you belong.

We hope that students of color will continue to find supportive spaces and that each individual on this campus can do their part to create a more inclusive and empathic environment for these students. One example is Racial Dialogues, which was created by members of the Counseling Center staff. Meeting every week, we work not only to support each other but also to develop our capacity for understanding and ability to address difficult situations that arise for students of color. Through such shared experiences, we hope to offer a space that nurtures reflection and solidarity through dialogue and connection.

Racial Dialogues

Carson, Ramey Room

Thursdays, 5-6pm

We will end with a quote from one of our early conversations in our focus group: “I’m very thankful to be a part of this discussion, and I, I feel so encouraged . . . there’s this sense of togetherness with people who have the same or similar experiences and it’s very uplifting and I feel like I have that courage to tell other people like, wow you’re not alone.”

Eric Garcia M.S.

Outreach Specialist, Graduate Teaching Fellow

Wing Ng

Student Mental Health Advocate and Outreach Intern