Tough talks, solid results

By Kristin Suarez

PLATTSBURGH— The front page of the October 23 issue of SUNY

Plattsburgh's student-run newspaper, Cardinal Points, printed an image that many found

racially offensive. The illustration depicted a cartoon character of a black man, wearing a

graduation cap and gown, walking through a decrepit neighborhood. This sparked

conversation around campus, and created a wave of consciousness.

During the day’s that followed John Ettling’s press release addressed the Cardinal

Points controversy.

“SUNY Plattsburgh is committed to recruiting a diverse mix of students who can

benefit from a meaningful and wide educational experience for all students. Among our

strategic goals is promoting a campus that increases global experiences and multicultural

opportunities,” the press release read.

On Thursday, 5 SUNY Plattsburgh students hopped into a red van that headed on

an 8 hour journey to Baltimore, where they would attend the 107th Annual Eastern

Communication Association Convention (ECA). Dr., J.W Wiley, Chief Diversity Officer,

and Dr., Kirstin Isgro, Communication Studies Faculty of SUNY Plattsburgh, escorted

students to the conference.

“This was a great opportunity for a select few students to discuss really difficult

but important topics on our college campuses,” Dr. Isgro said.

After SUNY Plattsburgh submitted, “Let Us Get Uncomfortable”: A 21st Century

Case Study of Racial Politics and Dialogue on a College Campus, they were selected to

speak on a panel at the conference.

“At our panel we discussed social media, freedom of expression,

interpersonal/intercultural communication and microaggressions. In 75 minutes we

addressed a wide range of topics, and the students did a great job giving differing

perspectives on a difficult campus incident,” Isgro said.

The panel consisted of 5 SUNY Plattsburgh perspectives. Officer and student from

AKEBA, Shanae’ Spruill, part of the Black Student Union discussed her role in

promoting black heritage and cultural awareness on campus. President of Public

Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Flora Veitch, discussed crisis

communication this event created from a PR lens. Journalism student, Adam St. Pierre,

contemplated the role of student-run media pertaining to social justice, coverage of

protests and discussions following the controversy. Dr. Isgro explored how we learn to

co-create meaningful communication in moments of difference on an interpersonal level.

Lastly, Dr. Wiley discussed institutional conversations that were generated with the intent

to further create a diversified academic environment.

“Each of us brought a unique perspective to the panel. I spoke mainly from the

journalist student perspective. I talked about the role of journalism in creating dialogue

about social issues and also discussed the content of the Cardinal Points article apart from

the offensive illustration,” Pierre said.

During the ECA convention, students attended multiple sessions presented by

scholars, teachers, and students regarding innovative, and controversial topics in the

communications field.

“The 4-day conference consisted of academics from all over the eastern part of the

U.S, along with an undergraduate conference and a graduate conference. Our case study

actually got bumped up from the undergraduate to the graduate conference because they

felt the it was so timely and important to highlight, which was exciting for us,” Veitch

This case study came about to show how individuals, groups and institutions that by

moving towards meaningful dialogue about race and diversity can result in personal and

institutional change. The panel focuses on embracing uncomfortable conversations by

having public discussion about important social issues to further social justice, and by

sharing different perspectives in efforts to embrace diversity.

“I really enjoyed the conference. There were many other panels going on, but I'm bias

so I liked ours the best. I realized that a lot of schools have a racism problem, and we're

all working hard to fix it,” Spruill said.

U.S. colleges and universities have had a recent of rise in racially charged incidents.

One of the more vocal events was The University of Missouri, whose president and

chancellor resigned after student protested against racism on campus. Along with other

publicized events of racism, and protests at Yale, Ithaca College and Brown University.

There has been a movement among campuses for change, and justice.

“Issues of diversity and authentic deliberative dialogue are important for all of us,

but as communication scholars and students, we have a specific contribution we can

make to these conversations,” Isgro said.