‘It’s not over’

Though the Logan community may not be featured on national news for protests and racial clashes, its lack of diversity presents a unique and sometimes “uncomfortable” situation for black students.

Sheree Haggan, a multicultural program coordinator for Access and Diversity, said a higher level of awareness of race issues is something that would help create a more inclusive environment for students of color.

“I think that a big thing in Utah is just, people don’t know, and when you don’t know, it’s hard because how much can we hold people accountable?” Haggan said.

Haggan said some people of color in the area frequently experience small children pointing at them and asking, “What’s wrong with their skin?”

“It’s not that they’re being racist and think that they’re better,” Haggan said. “It’s that they don’t know. They’ve never seen a person of color.”

Haggan also recalled when she was growing up in Idaho in a predominantly white area, being nicknamed the “black friend” by her classmates.

“They weren’t my ‘white friends.’ They were just my friends,” Haggan said. “It was hard because I felt like, ‘I am never going to be one of them.’ … There’s just this invisible but visible-to-the-other-side division between blacks and whites.”

Haggan said she’s interested in creating a discussion about race that will help people of different backgrounds better understand one another.

A candlelight vigil will be held Tuesday night to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and the progress that has been made with the Civil Rights Movement will serve as one platform for this discussion.

Jasmine Lee, secretary of the Black Student Union, placed an emphasis on the educational value.

“With this event I hope we can educate and we can just fight ignorance with knowledge,” Lee said.

She said she feels there are many fellow students who don’t understand the importance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s contribution.

Haggan said Access and Diversity is sponsoring the annual event and decided to use the title “It’s Not Over” because the fight for equality still exists.

She said it will have a different feel to it than it has in years past because there is more black involvement this year.

“It hasn’t been done by a black program coordinator ever, as far as I know,” Haggan said, “So to have this event done by an African American or black person is huge because there are things that I know that previous program coordinators didn’t know.”

She said aside from performances by beat poet Rudy Francisco and members of the BSU, the event will include lighting candles, marching in remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. and singing songs such as Amazing Grace.

“I’ve been doing a little bit of research and figuring out what is the history behind this to make sure we’re following tradition,” Haggan said.

She said those in charge wanted to, “make sure we’re highlighting the celebration of his life but also that we’re mourning the loss of him as a great leader.”

Haggan said the top three priorities of the event were to spread awareness, spark discussion and create a sense of unity among those in attendance.

“The problem isn’t a person,” Haggan said. “The problem is injustice.”

She said she hopes people feel united at the event as they work to chip away at that injustice.

Geoff Andrews, Organizations and Diversity Vice President for USUSA, said it’s important for students to attend the event to honor the achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., regardless of their race.

“I feel that us as students, we should take some pride in the history of our country and what people did,” Andrews said. “We see people here sacrificing their time, sacrificing their efforts to make Utah State a better place. Well, Martin Luther King did that for our country.”

Andrews said though there’s always room for improvement on the issue of equality, he feels racism has minimal effects on campus.

“Very rarely do we hear anything; very rarely do we have issues come up,” Andrews said.

However, Andrews said events like these help the university community take steps toward complete equality, which he doesn’t feel exists yet here or in society. He said this event is different than others the university puts on.

“We do have our events, like the Howl, Mardi Gras and all those things, that are fun,” Andrews said. “But I think there are events on campus that are necessary to get students thinking, to get students to ponder and think about what happened in history.”

He hopes that reflection produces a more permanent change in students.

“Hopefully somebody can have a great time at the Howl, but then hopefully they can come to an event like this and actually be moved and make some sort of change or a change of mindset or change of action,” Andrews said. “I feel that this event could provide that.”

Haggan and Lee said in the preparation of the event, they’ve specifically tried to involve administrators such as Provost Noelle Cockett, so black students know they have someone “on their team.”

“I think it’s also something we would need to hear since we don’t hear it a lot,” Lee said.

Haggan said this event isn’t just for black people and hopes people aren’t turned off because they don’t feel they fall into that category.

“For these types of events it’s very hard to get a turnout from people who aren’t multicultural,” Haggan said. “I think that maybe they’re afraid or think they’re not welcome. There is this heavy divide between black and white that we need to get rid of, and I’m hoping this event can help us do that.”

The Martin Luther King Candlelight Vigil: It’s Not Over will take place Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the TSC Ballroom.

— m.noble@aggiemail.usu.edu