Students stand up for issues on campus through groups such as BLAC, Student Union and F--kRapeCulture
The start of a new semester signals the beginning of meeting new people, going to new classes, moving into new dorms, eating at new dining halls and for some, discovering new issues to protest.
With every academic year comes a fair share of controversy, and Ohio University’s student body is well equipped with groups ready take a stand for issues prevalent on campus and around the world.
OU Student Union, Black Lives Action Coalition (previously known as NewBLAC) and F--kRapeCulture are just a few of the student activist groups active on campus looking to make a difference.
Students took to the streets this past year to advocate for student worker rights and fight against tuition increases, administration decisions, racism, sexism and rape culture.
“We are fighting for a democratic Ohio University and that means a university run by and for the students, faculty and staff,” said Ryan Powers, a senior and member of OU Student Union.
Over the past couple of years, Student Union has made many strides toward increasing the awareness of the students to the injustices existent on campus, Powers said.
“Three or four years ago, the problems with tuition increases, upper administration and the Board of Trustees were not on the campus’ radar and since then, through the actions of the OU Student Union, pretty much every student knows that there is a problem,” Powers said.”It’s very obvious that our upper administration and our Board of Trustees are corrupt and out of touch and finally people know that now and are beginning to care.”
Another one of the more vocal student activist groups on campus is F--kRapeCulture. The group is a social movement to challenge, undermine and eradicate rape culture at OU, according to its Facebook page.
“I decided to become a part of FRC because they had a lot of ideals that I agree with and I liked their approach to dealing with issues,” Sasha Gough, a sophomore and a member of FRC, said.
This past year, FRC definitely made its presence felt on campus, Mailé Orr, a sophomore and member of FRC, said.
“Our march during homecoming had a huge turnout and we helped out with a poster and video campaign on consent around campus,” Orr said. “Of course we can always strive to be more successful, but as we’re a fairly new organization, organizing new events or actions takes some time.”
For the upcoming year FRC is looking to expand its methods of activism to hopefully reach out to as many crowds as they can, Gough said.
“People may agree with us but feel uncomfortable with the strong stances and actions we take,” Orr said. “But I would urge them to take a close look at the injustices that surround us every day, even minor instances of racism, sexism and ableism because people are literally dying for what they believe, for standing up for themselves and for who they are.”
As for some specific events to expect from FRC this year they have only one planned as of right now, Gough said.
“Right now, the only event we are sure will be happening is the homecoming march,” Gough said.
The 2015-16 academic year will mark the first year that BLAC will be a university-recognized group.
The organization tackles issues with racism and discrimination against black individuals, Olivia Wallace, a senior and a member of BLAC, said.
“We started out strong last year,” Wallace said. “We did a lot of work with only six to eight of us planning everything.”
One of the defining moments for BLAC this past year was “Occupy Baker” movement, Jazzmine Hardges, a sophomore and a member of BLAC, said.
This past November students, in response to the grand jury’s decision to not indict the police officer involved in the Michael Brown killing, gathered in Baker University Center to protest.
“When we occupied Baker last year for the Michael Brown indictment decision, it was completely random,” Hardges said. “I happened to check Snapchat and saw people were going to Baker. Ultimately that was where we really came together as a group.”
This fall, the activist groups will look to improve upon all the progress they made this past year.
“We are going to be spearheading a lot of campaigns that have the goal of empowering students to make powerful decisions,” Powers said.
BLAC would like to see more of a variety of protesting methods introduced, increased membership, better relationships with the student body, more scheduled events and more unity between the differing activist groups on campus, Wallace said.
“There are other organizations out there and we want to reach out to them and find a way for us to work together because we are working for similar goals,” Wallace said.
BLAC is also looking into the idea of creating a mandatory cultural competency class for all OU students and teachers, Hardges said.
“Right now there aren’t any guidelines for teachers that say that they have to take any sensitivity training or cultural competency classes, which is the same for the students,” Hardges said.
Also, some time early in the year, BLAC is hoping to host a group picnic, which would be open to the whole student body, giving everyone the chance to enjoy some food and conversation, Oliver Stone, a junior and a member of BLAC, said.
BLAC and OU Student Union were at the Welcome Weekend Involvement Fair on Sunday looking to attract freshman and upperclassmen to join their causes.
Both groups agreed there is something to the old adage, “There is always strength in numbers,” and that increasing supporters will only help them achieve their goals, which are ultimately the hope of making a change.
“The only way to change the world is to go out there and do something,” Stone said. “And I feel like student activist groups are a great way to help make that change.”
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