MUNCIE, IN— Sophomore Lajayaa Henderson and Junior Gizelle Smedley are two of many black Ball State students who struggled to find a voice on campus. Both of these women came into college having a hard time connecting with their peers. Though their experiences are personal to them, many students across Ball State have had the same problems.
Ball State University offers a plethora of organizations for all students to find somewhere they belong. These communities offer benefits to each student’s college career for networking, career experience or just a safe space to come together. Many are not aware of the smaller clubs on campus that are catered to students of color. This could be due to not having general knowledge or the university simply not promoting them enough.
There are clubs geared towards students who are African-American, Latinx, Asian, and more. Although these ethnicities are the minority on campus, they still found a way to be seen on campus, but the university is not giving them a spotlight.
“I know I have a voice just as much as the other students on campus, but I don't think Ball State quite knows this. Do I have to feel like an outsider in the world and on my own campus as well?” Sophomore Lajayaa Henderson said.
Henderson was the secretary of diversity for Student Government Association (SGA) and is also a member of multiple on campus organizations geared towards the advancement of African-American students. Some of those clubs include Black Women’s Voices (BWV) and Let’s Talk About It (LTA)
She has been a member of both of these clubs since her freshman year, but is on the executive board for LTA. It is a group that focuses on mental health in the black Ball State community. It has provided her with the opportunity to “prioritize self-care and understand the feelings of others.”
Henderson decided to step down from her role at SGA and focused her time primarily on organizations she felt would make her a priority. Many students want a space where they know they will be appreciated. They may not have as much funding or as many members as others, but the value does not decrease. It may be harder to find this with a lack of recognition for certain clubs who try to attain this.
“I was in the room, but I wasn’t in the room if that makes sense. I felt like I was part of a list that just got marked off,” Henderson said, “All I could think about was if my presence ever mattered and did I even bring value to the table.”
Similar to Henderson’s experience, junior Gizelle Smedley had a rough time figuring out what her place on campus meant.
“Is it possible to feel like a ghost but stick out like a sore thumb at the same time? That’s the best way to put it. In class, I’m the only one like me and then it’s like I don’t matter,” Smedley said.
Smedley is a pre-dental and biology major at Ball State. She did not get involved on campus until her sophomore year when she heard about the Black Student Health Association (BSHA) from a friend that showed her a social media post. Social media is one of the main and only ways organizations like these are able to get the word out.
According to Niche.com, “One thing about the Black community at a Predominantly White Institution is that they are either going to find you or you are going to find them! I promise that you are not the only Black student feeling lonely and/or out of place.”
Instagram is the main platform for many of the more popular clubs on campus. Through stories, lives and the reshare option it is the quickest and most efficient way to spread news.
“I thought that the university would promote events for people of color but I had trouble finding any. I was almost at the point of giving up,” Smedley said.
Coming to college can be an overwhelming step for a lot of students. The purpose of clubs is to provide students with similar interests a space to get together and have events about various topics. Students such as Smedley and Henderson have been able to find safe spaces for themselves on campus.
“I hope that incoming freshmen and future students are able to find organizations that best suit their needs and wants. Every student deserves the chance to find places on campus that are for them and by them,” Henderson said.
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