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  Critical Examination of Our Times: The State of Race on the University of Dayton Campus

  Julius A. Amin

  The idea of a symposium on race developed within a historical context of several recent events, including the nationwide racial crises beginning with Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, and the subsequent emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Amid these “headline” events was a lingering dissatisfaction of black students on the University of Dayton campus, a lack of understanding of America’s racial past, the experiences of black and white participants in the African immersion program, and my belief as faculty and coordinator of Africana Studies that we are not doing nearly enough to address the problems of race, privilege, diversity, and inclusion on campus. Following consultation with numerous colleagues among faculty and staff, it was concluded that the time for a symposium on race at UD had arrived. Soon afterwards, a planning committee was put together and members agreed that a symposium would help to focus attention of the larger university community on the seriousness of the problems of racism and marginalization on campus. We went to work and, as we say in my profession, “the rest is history.” The goal of the symposium was to study the history of race relations at the University, to understand a sense of trends and attitudes, and to outline potential steps toward building a more inclusive community. The Symposium was designed to educate, inform, and bring to the forefront conversations of race on campus. Speakers included administrators, faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Attendees came from all over campus and from the local community. The planning and execution of the symposium resulted from collaboration, boldness, ingenuity, and commitment.

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  Front Matter: Title Page, Contents, Contributors, Acknowledgments

  Julius A. Amin

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  Introduction

  Julius A. Amin

  The idea of a symposium on race developed within a historical context of several recent events, including the nationwide racial crises beginning with Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, and the subsequent emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Amid these “headline” events was a lingering dissatisfaction of black students on the University of Dayton campus, a lack of understanding of America’s racial past, the experiences of black and white participants in the African immersion program, and my belief as faculty and coordinator of Africana Studies that we are not doing nearly enough to address the problems of race, privilege, diversity, and inclusion on campus.

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  Symposium Program

  University of Dayton

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  Symposium Overview

  University of Dayton

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  Panel Discussion: Findings from Student Research

  Thomas Lewis Morgan, Patricia A. Reid, Tiara Jackson, Kwyn Townsend Riley, Joshua Steed, Gianna Hartwig, and Camila Robles

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  Alumni Presentation and Panel: Engaging the Past

  V. Denise James, Victoria Berthé, Veronica Morris, LaShea Smith, and J. W. Terry

  The Alumni Panel featured three black, Dayton-area, UD alumni: LaShea Smith, B.A. International Studies, 1991; Veronica Morris, B.A. Communications Management, 1992; and J.W. Terry, B.S. Business Economics, 2010, Master’s of Public Administration, 2013. The alumni offered insightful perspectives on UD and race from their positions as graduates, as local business people, and, for one, as the mother of a UD student graduating in May 2016. The panelists were asked to prepare a short set of responses to two questions: 1) What were your most salient experience of race at UD? 2) Now, as a graduate of the university, what reflections about race on campus can you offer current students?

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  Faculty and Staff Experiences

  Julius A. Amin, Kathleen Henderson, Versalle Washington, and Kenya Crosson

  Speakers addressed the positives and challenges of working at UD; how they navigated them, as well as suggestions for future directions to make UD a more inclusive community.

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  Keynote Address: Race, Belonging, and Academic Community at the University of Dayton

  Paul H. Benson

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  Student Panel: Solutions and Next Steps

  Thomas Lewis Morgan, Mike Brill, Shanir Carter, ShayLynn Hespeth, Emily Kegel, Devin Mallett, and Khristian Santiago

  The direction this panel was listening to students' insights regarding their experiences as students on campus.

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  Conclusion

  Julius A. Amin