Amplifying Student Voices

Magdaline, Pena-Villa is a 1st-year student majoring in Liberal Arts – Science and Math. “What inspired me to do this piece was the experience I had when I first went to a New York school. I was treated with racism by students. I wrote a story that people can relate to or get to feel connected with the person in the story. For example, many people who are going through a similar experience of racism as what the girl named Madelin went through in the story, they will feel connected with the character in the story. I also want people who mistreat others because of their skin color and their language to understand what that person feels when treating them with a difference. I am proud to let people know that we are all the same regardless of our skin color. I know that these words I said need to be heard, especially in the United States.”

Kyla Landicho is a 2nd-year student majoring in Human Services. “I want people to recognize that it takes a community and any individual to make a difference by acknowledging the steps one can take to amplify diversity, equity and acting upon them. It can start with people beholding the intersectionality and complexities many individuals in our society experience. As stated in the piece I have shared, from research to practice, we can achieve diversity.”

Fatima Butt is a 1st-year student majoring in Business Administration. “I have always loved street art: I find it beautiful, mysterious, and intriguing. It has helped me understand people and their emotions. It is often used to express emotions and get justice. It is also about freedom, creativity, analyzing, and as I mentioned in my infographic, a colorful world = a happier place.”

Hridika Tasnim is a 1st-year student majoring in Liberal Arts – Science & Math. “Racial inequality is present, and the pandemic did not stop racism around the world. The pandemic has affected everyone a lot, especially people of color and I try to convey so through this infographic.”

Kai Pena-Chavez is a 2nd-year student majoring in Liberal Arts – Social Science & Humanities. “Fear is a universal emotion, one that reflects our cultural values. My submission aims to examine Night of the Living Dead (1968) as a racial allegory that encapsulates the violence and social tensions in America during the Civil Rights Movement.”