In response to vandalism incident, Mosaic Center holds day of solidarity

Max Brown, Editor-in-Chief

On April 3rd students in the Mosaic Center held “Meet a Muslim Day” to encourage solidarity and acceptance after a vandalism incident the previous week. Many students, staff, and faculty attended the event.

The event was held to encourage acceptance of Muslim and other minority communities on campus. An open discussion was hosted for students to comment on trends they saw on campus with diversity and suggest ways to foster it.

A frequent visitor of the Mosaic Center commented:

“we only see people from multicultural backgrounds…there’s a whole group of students who should be seeing this conversation but aren’t.” Several other students expressed frustration at lack of engagement from students outside the minority communities, saying that students from majority backgrounds must make more of an effort to reach out.

“Someone who has more privilege than us…they can use their louder voice. We need someone with more privilege and power to boost us,” said one student.

Student Elijah Muhammed posed the question “How can we improve connectedness?” In response, several students said that people from white, majority backgrounds must make more of an effort.

“We just gotta do our part, and hope to god white people do their part” one student commented. Students also commented on a lack of support from groups like Student Senate.

Students also reiterated the importance of the Mosaic Center, expressing gratitude that Anoka-Ramsey had this resource while other local community colleges, such as North Hennepin, do not.

President Kent Hanson was in attendance. He expressed frustration with the lack of progress toward acceptance but was optimistic about the school’s efforts to improve the situation.

“I wish we were a bit farther down the road than we are, but I have hope, I think we have a good plan. It’s a journey, and I’m glad we’re on that journey,” Hanson said.