By Justin Muszynski

For some students it might be hard to imagine things like sexism and racism being prevalent on campus. Most go about their lives and come to college for about four years and never have any problems. However, for others these issues are far too familiar, either experiencing them first hand or seeing it from a distance.

If you’re one of most that hasn’t ever had any issues you might not realize the sad reality that prejudices are around on campus, even to this day.

Jeniece Hernandez, a sophomore, says she hasn’t had a problem with prejudices herself but her roommate was singled out in a class where she was the only African American.

“She was the only black girl in her class,” said Hernandez. “The professor used to say things that would refer to her being black that would upset her all the time. I don’t remember specifically what they were but I just remember hearing them and thinking, ‘that’s messed up.’”

Hernandez says despite being upset by the comments, her friend never told any administrators or faculty because she just wanted to get through the class and not make an issue of it. However, Rosa Rodriguez, CCSU’s Chief Diversity Officer, says not saying anything is the worst thing someone can do in a situation like that.

“Most importantly, don’t keep quiet, don’t stay silent,” said Rodriguez. “Go to someone and ask for help. If the student feels comfortable the best thing to probably do is go straight to who said or did something that made you feel uncomfortable, but if they feel unsafe they should either come to my office, or the office of the provost, it doesn’t really matter where as long as you say something.”

CCSU has several policies put in place to assure acceptance among the University community. According to Rodriguez these include: a non-discrimination policy, a sexual harassment policy, and a sexual misconduct policy. She says all of these have either had or are having changes made to them right now.

“We’re always making changes to these,” said Rodriguez. “They’re usually minor changes but we always have to make sure the wording is correct so everybody knows exactly what we’re trying to say. We also have to make modifications according to what laws change.”

Despite how many policies are put in place, prejudices still occur and many times go unreported. Jamie Beaver, a junior, experienced what she believed was unfair treatment of her classmate due to him being a minority.

“I knew a student who was very intelligent, but the professor assumed he wasn’t because he was African American and because of the way he dressed,” said Beaver. “We were graded on our essays, and I read a lot of the ones he handed in. They were good, and when he would get them back he would have points taken off for ridiculous things. The professor would say he didn’t explain himself very well but his papers were very clear.”

When asked if the professor was possibly just a tough grader and if that could explain it Beaver said, “No, mine and other classmates’ papers were graded fairly but it was just this one kid who would always get a lower grade than everyone else for nonsense reasons. I didn’t know we had those types of things on campus until I saw it for myself.”

Godsgift Iyen, a sophomore who maybe one of the fortunate who hasn’t had any issues with prejudices, feels that CCSU is much better off than the rest of the world when it comes to acceptance and diversity.

“I haven’t experienced anything bad when it comes to stuff like that,” said Iyen. “It may happen, but personally I haven’t experienced it myself and I don’t know anyone that has.  I don’t think it’s a serious issue on campus.”

Senior Corey Waters says while he hasn’t seen anything that he can say is definitively discriminating he has noticed something that he’s not sure what to make of.

“I don’t see prejudices as a problem on campus,” said Waters. “But when I think about it most of my professors have been white and I think I’ve only had one professor that was a minority in four years of being here. But I would hope this is just a coincidence that only I’ve experienced.”

Rodriguez, admittedly says she is aware that there may always be an issue of discrimination and rejection of diversity, but promises the school has and will always try their best to make the University community a better place for everyone, no matter who they are or what they look like.