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Speak out

"I was never involved in any racial tension," said Willie Skaggs, a biology freshman. "As a matter of race was never an issue for me, until I came here." He is from a small, predominantly white community and high school.

But arriving on UK's campus was an eye-opening experience for Skaggs, who was exposed to to a more diverse environment for the first time.

"I realized race is a very emotional issue," he said. "For some it produces a lot of anger, resentment, fear, hostility, and sometimes jealousy."

Last night, Skaggs and many others had the opportunity to engage in an open discussion about race, ethnicity, self-segregation on campus and how to achieve racial awareness during a student Speak Out organized by the Student Activities Board Multicultural Committee and the Alliance Working to Achieve Racial Equality (AWARE).

"So why is race so important?" said Rick Jones, a doctoral candidate in political science and moderator of the meeting.

"In America you are defined by your race. When people see me, the first thing they notice is my race," said Juanita Jones, co-chairperson of the SAB multicultural committee. "I can't hide it. I can't say look at me, I'm not black."

Kelly Meget, a leader of AWARE, said there is a definite problem with race in America and the UK campus is just a smaller version of what happens every day in this country.

Many came to the agreement that race was a big issue in our society, but students said self-segregation on campus does not make dealing with race any better.

However, for some, the history of UK is not a very pleasant one.

"I knew not to expect many black students when I arrived. I did not expect to be welcomed into a university with a racist history (that's with any predominantly white university)," Ricki Jones said.

Although many minorities may not feel welcomed upon their arrival at UK, feeling like a minority is not just for black students.

Skaggs said he felt like a minority when he first came here, especially when he saw groups or organizations directed toward blacks, Asians and specific ethnic groups.

"It's a human thing for people to be with people who share the same interest and who are like you," he said. "But if you never interact with people different than you, then you can't learn anything about them or their culture."

In a effort to cross the barrier of racial lines, Dean of Students David Stockham said it was up to individuals to make the first move.

"We must overcome our own fear of each other," Stockham said, "and begin to communicate and understand the differences that make us unique."