Malcolm X Institute Speaks out on Systemic Racism
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INDIANA HIKING GUIDE SEE PAGE TWO AUGUSTAUGUST 28, 30, 2020 2019 Malcolm X Institute Speaks Out on Systemic Racism COURTESY OF BACHELOR ARCHIVES A portrait of Malcolm Xspainted on the Senior Bench. The Malcolm X Institute for Black Studies has been in the campus-spotlight as of late as the issue of race has taken hold of national political dialogue. ALEX ROTARU ’22 | OPINION EDITOR • MXI Chairman and current Membership said. “It makes no sense to just take a up, simply because he was wearing a Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Rayshard Chair, said. “[It shows from] the prison knee on a person’s neck with your full hoodie,” Shepler said. The mother of Juan Brooks. These were three names in a industrial complex, and even in the way body force for no reason.” Montenegro ‘23, an MXI member, is an long-standing series of African-Americans some colleges determine whom they’re These victims of police brutality were African-American grade school teacher. murdered in police-related incidents. going to accept. There’s a danger of other people’s friends, significant others, “When she was just starting,” Montenegro However, the global pandemic enabled implicit bias [stemming from these kinds relatives, or colleagues. Warbington said, “she would have a lot of problems more people to witness the injustice and of situations].” “The main difference himself went to high-school with another with the school system itself. They would systemic racism ingrained in American between [the Civil Rights Movement victim of police brutality, Dreasjon Reed, put her in an excessive training program society, and, as a result, more people Era] and now is that people back then who was fatally shot in Indianapolis that was not required of her colleagues. have been supporting the Black Lives would just be open about their racism, on May 6, 2020, according to the Also, her colleagues would not place her Matter movement than ever before. as it was acceptable in society,” Kenny Indianapolis Star. “I took that [incident] in meetings where she needed to be in so Still, America needs to do better, as the Coleman ‘22, current MXI Chairman, said. personally,” Warbington said. “It’s that she could understand what she was response to such injustice is, as of right “However, as far as topics like police literally getting too close to home. That teaching for the rest of the year.” now, insufficient. In this sense, The brutality go, that hasn’t changed since happened in my hometown to someone I At the same time, the recent protests Bachelor sat down with various officers then. My dad, who is 58 years old, told went to school with, rode the bus with, are sparking hope that the United States from the Malcolm X Institute of Black me that everything that’s going on right and [saw almost every day].” will overcome some aspects of systemic Studies to discuss how systemic racism now has been going on for a long time. However, systemic racism does not racism, and one of the first things people affects them in their daily lives, how The difference is that today we have limit itself to just the police. For instance, can do is educate themselves on African- minor things can reinforce discrimination, cameras, videos, and all that, [which when applying for college, Lang said he American history. “Just go and educate and how systemic racism goes beyond helps society keep the police accountable felt “slighted because of the demographic yourself,” Coleman said. police brutality. for their actions].” [he is] a part of” at some institutions. At Wabash, students have many Many people wrongly assume that The Black Lives Matter protests that Lang also discovered, through his avenues to educate themselves on racism has been resolved since the Civil have been occurring since George Floyd’s internship at the St. Joseph County Health the matter. They can take any course Rights Movement Era of the 1960s and murder aim to keep police departments Department, that “Most of the health listed as BLS (Black Studies), they can 1970s. While the Civil Rights Movement across the nation accountable for their disparities come from forms of systemic join the African Students Association did better African-Americans’ situation actions against African-American racism,” Lang said. William Shepler ‘23, and the Malcolm X Institute, they can by giving Civil Rights and by protecting people. When asked about how they felt the MXI Community Co-Chair, had his attend lectures and check out books and them from overt discrimination, today’s about George Floyd’s murder, everyone African-american uncle, who was an oral movies from the Lilly Library, and they Black Lives Matter movement focuses interviewed said they were outraged, surgeon, get kicked out of a Walmart can educate their fellow students when on systemic racism, where “racism and rightfully so. “At the end of the day, because “[the staff] felt like they were they make mistakes. The Bachelor has still functions in other systems of [George Floyd] posed no threat to that threatened, because he looked like he also dedicated 3 of last week’s Opinion oppression,” Malcolm Lang ‘21, previous cop,” MXI member Leo Warbington ‘22 was going to steal or shoot the place columns to systemic racism in America. Career Service in the Era of COVID-19 JAKOB GOODWIN ’24 | STAFF within 24 hours. WRITER • On March 17th, President Just as the country went through Hess announced the suspension of historic levels of job loss and in-person classes for the remainder of unemployment, Wabash men had similar the Spring semester. Students had to problems with internship and job offers. figure out how to turn their bedrooms, Roland told me that over 80 internships living rooms, or kitchen tables into a were cancelled, and 31 job offers were classroom. Professors had to transfer revoked or postponed. One of the major the rest of their curriculum to online problems for Career Services was the learning. The entire Wabash community 140+ internships that the college helps adapted to virtual classes, including the fund every year. Morin said that the Career Services department. I zoom- Dill Fund, amongst other financial ed with Associate Dean of Professional resources, helped ensure that more development and Director of the than 80 internships were virtualized, Center for Innovation, Business, and not including the 25 internships that Entrepreneurship Roland Morin ’91 to ask the CIBE maintains for first year junior him how the Career Services department consultants. adjusted to the pandemic and what As this school year began and future happened over the summer. opportunities in what may be a post- Just as students had an idea that COVID-19 world presented themselves, classes may be online, Morin had a Career Services has changed how they feeling. Seeing that other schools were support students during the school year. sending students home and going virtual, Throughout the semester and year, there Career Services expected that Wabash will be virtual job fairs and opportunities would follow suit. After the call was to virtually meet with recruiters. Every made to go virtual, Career Services week, Career Services will hold a PHOTO COURTESY OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS immediately wondered how they would virtual Coffee and Careers event, some help students throughout this pandemic. including prizes and other rewards. One Career Service Director Roland Morin ‘91 posing with Rob Shook ‘83. The first step in making sure students other event happening this semester is knew that Career Services was there to a Professional Immersion Experience help was implementing virtual office (PIE) event pertaining to government change. In his discussions with industry and being able to speak, read and write hours so that students could talk about services. Multiple Wabash alums based in leaders and employers, Morin asked what well. Luckily, Wabash already teaches internships and job opportunities that Washington D.C. will speak virtually to skills Wabash men will need to succeed us to do these things, but they have soon were gone. Morin knew that many help students interested in public service in a post-COVID job market. It was clear only become more important in the new businesses were going to be experiencing learn about that industry. Career Services through the beginning of this pandemic reality we are in. layoffs, so he sent an email to the entire is also looking to help students gain that those who could adapt to a virtual The Career Services department had National Association of Wabash Men. certifications and other experiences that world would do well, and that ability to to change in reaction to this pandemic. Entitled “Calling All Little Giants“, Morin will help in the future. Look out for that adapt quickly is one that employers will But what has not changed is their asked alums to help talk to students announcement. look for. Along with being adaptable, commitment to help students navigate who were interested in their individual Looking to the future, the job market employers are looking for the soft skills the job market and become successful industries. 200+ alums reached out and the skills new employees need will like understanding emotional intelligence Wabash men. VOLUME 113 • ISSUE 2 THE BACHELOR GUIDE TO HOOSIER HIKING AUSTIN HOOD ‘21 | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The Bachelor has compiled a list • It’s no secret: weekend prospects of our favorite hiking spots around on campus are looking a little grim Indiana to encourage students to get Spring Mill State Park this semester. All Wabash students some fresh (non-infected) air this are looking for ways to beat the fall. Indiana may not be the first Quarantine Blues these days, and destination you think of when it comes Netflix and video games only go so far.