Around 50 members of the Ole Miss family gathered in Bryant Hall Wednesday to sit, talk and process everything that has happened in the nation and on campus in the week following the 2016 Presidential Election.
Photo by Shelice Benson
“Processing and Challenging Post-Election Bias and Racism” was a community conversation hosted by Ole Miss Associated Student Body, the Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement and the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation hosted the event.
There have been many emotions following the election across the country. The goal of the discussion was to address concerns people have from the results of the election and issues specific to this campus.
Winter Institute Academic Director Jennifer Stollman moderated the conversation and split the audience into small groups to discuss questions. Stollman said it is important to talk about incidents that have occurred following the election.
“We are here to try and process incidents of violence across our campus and country,” Stollman said. “What happens out of this community conversation is what we make of it.”
Stollman suggested tips for good conversation, including being present and welcoming, listening deeply to others, speaking your truth, respecting the truth of others and respecting silence.
“The University of Mississippi community rises and falls by everything we show each other,” Stollman said.
The first question Stollman asked the audience to discuss in small groups was, “Why did this election especially raise post-election anxieties?”
An audience member spoke up and said he believes the anxiety was caused by the unexpected outcome.
“It was so unexpected with the polls and everything,” he said. “It was a big surprise that caused a lot of anxiety because we were unprepared.”
Stollman steered the conversation toward talking about some of the bias incidents the country and the campus have experienced since the election.
Sophomore Shuterrica White said as an African-American female, the election of Donald J. Trump has inspired her even more.
“I’m still going to do the same thing. It’s the same day,” White said. “Actually, with Trump in office, it will make me want to strive even more being a minority.”
The third question Stollman opened up for discussion was, “Which groups are most impacted and which groups in general are impacted?”
Members from the audience said minorities, females, sexual assault victims, children and even Trump’s own supporters are the groups that have been most impacted by this election.
“I want us to think about all citizens, all community members. We’re all impacted in a way,” Stollman said. “Democracy isn’t something given. It’s something we buy into every day.”
Stollman asked the audience, “What are the reasons for why people resort to incivility or hate after elections have happened?”
An audience member said a big issue is not being willing to listen to others.
“When you refuse to hear the other side out and shut someone out, they resort to hatred, fear and uncivil acts because they’re not willing to listen.”
Finally, Stollman asked the audience members to discuss how the events that have occurred pre- and post-election have impacted them.
Freshman A’Maya Jones said her family couldn’t believe she wanted to go to Ole Miss, knowing the stereotype it carries.
“When I said I was going to Ole Miss, I got the craziest looks from my mother and grandfather,” Jones said. “If we want to solve the problem of racism, go to the most racist deep place and be the change. Be the difference.”
The community-based conversation allowed the Ole Miss family to share its thoughts, opinions, hopes and fears to work together and come up with solutions.
“We want to interrogate and understand, because that’s how we can understand these behaviors,” Stollman said.
