Following are some of the ways racism has shown up in the College of Engineering. These actions are endemic of a long-standing problem.
As we strive to build an inclusive and equitable environment for learning, research, service and outreach we ask you to review and reflect on these instances and consider the role you can play in creating a welcoming environment for all.
1. Assuming lower academic ability:
Faculty and Teaching Assistants (TAs) engaging in overly simplified explanations and conversations with BIPOC students.
Reflect: If you have lower expectations of, or feel the urge to oversimplify an explanation to a BIPOC student because you assume they do not understand, stop and think before you act.
Impact: Many BIPOC students have reported feelings of isolation, imposter syndrome, and lack of belonging when they experience these actions from professors, TAs and others in authority. These events can lead to lower grades and loss of opportunities such as scholarships and internships. They also often lead to higher dropout rates and academic failure among BIPOC students due to the negative psychological impacts.
2. Assuming BIPOC students have been admitted solely because of diversity and therefore do not belong:
Students refusing to partner with and work with BIPOC students. Engineering and computer science are for students of all backgrounds and ethnicities.
Reflect: If you assume a BIPOC student did not earn their place in the College and does not belong, stop yourself - you are mistaken. They have every right to be here, just like you.
Impact: Many BIPOC students have reported feelings of isolation, lack of belonging, and a lack of a sense of community when they experience these actions from other students. These actions harm their well-being and often cause them to work twice as hard to feel accepted in the College. This often leads to higher dropout rates and academic failure among BIPOC students due to the negative psychological impacts. These events can lead to lower grades and loss of opportunities such as scholarships and internships. We lose a diverse voice and perspective when this happens.
3. Questioning Black students’ right to use a space:
Calling the police or authorities on a Black student using any college space.
Reflect: If you assume a Black student using a space is homeless, an interloper, does not belong, or should prove their rights to that space – pause, and DO NOT proceed. You are wrong to question or act on that questioning of their belonging.
Impact: Such actions traumatize Black students and destroy their sense of safety in our community. This dehumanizes them and invalidates their right to be here. This often leads to higher dropout rates and academic failure among Black students due to the negative psychological impacts. These events can lead to lower grades and loss of opportunities such as scholarships and internships. The police do not inherently make everyone feel safe. It can be dangerous and in some instances life threatening for BIPOC students to have the police called on them when it is unwarranted.
4. Questioning the appearance and hair of a Black student:
Hair discrimination against persons of color wearing their natural hair at school or work is prohibited under several state laws, including the Crown Act. The U.S. House passed The Crown Act (H.R.2116 – Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act of 2022 117th Congress) to make it explicit that hair discrimination is a violation of federal civil rights law.
Reflect: If you assume a Black person’s hair is unkempt or inappropriate and feel the need to question or speak negatively about it, stop. Do not do it. Instead, ask yourself if you may be mistaken.
Impact: Many Black students have reported feeling insulted, attacked, and compelled to defend their race and themselves. Such experiences are isolating, and cause these students to feel lonely and unwanted in the College. This often leads to higher dropout rates and academic failure among Black students due to the negative psychological impacts. These events can lead to lower grades and loss of opportunities such as scholarships and internships.
5. Using racialized language directed at Black students:
The “N” word is unacceptable and is not the only discriminatory word that tends to be used against BIPOC people in formalized spaces.
Reflect: If you are unsure about referring to a BIPOC person, ASK the individual. If you are uncertain about racialized words and phrases, take time to educate yourself. The use of discriminatory terms is unacceptable.
Impact: Many BIPOC students have reported feeling violated when racialized words and phrases target them and other BIPOC people, regardless of the user's intention. As a result, many BIPOC students feel rejected and isolated and experience imposter syndrome, and lack of belonging in the College. This often leads to higher dropout rates and academic failure among BIPOC students due to the negative psychological impacts. These events can lead to lower grades and loss of opportunities such as scholarships and internships.
6. Understanding the nuances of racism in America:
Several stereotyped views portrayed in the media are false and derogatory and do not acknowledge the longstanding history of racial inequities.
Reflect: Suppose your knowledge about systemic racism in America comes from movies and entertainment sources. In that case, take the time to educate yourself before making assumptions about the BIPOC students and colleagues in your space.
Impact: Many BIPOC students have reported feeling violated, attacked, and compelled to defend their race when students, professors, TAs and others in authority apply racialized assumptions and stereotypes on them. This often leads to higher dropout rates and academic failure among BIPOC students due to the negative psychological impacts. These events can lead to lower grades and loss of opportunities such as scholarships and internships.
Your presence in the College of Engineering: Your choice to be a part of this community is your commitment to learning how racism affects those around you. It is a commitment to eliminate racist beliefs, patterns of speech, and behaviors.
Actions in resistance to inclusion for ALL are oppositional to our values.