“There is no one single Black student experience.”
That was the sentiment from student panelists on December 3 when Niagara College hosted its second Black Student Voices Panel.
Four students – Emmanuel Sam, Hishram Clifford, Onen Aisha Olamide, and Stanley Acholonu – shared each of their perspectives on being an NC student and their unique backgrounds and cultures.
Dr. Chris McGrath, Vice-President, Students, welcomed those joining in-person and online, introducing the panel moderator Kithio Mwanzia, Manager, SONAMI Network, Research & Innovation. Mwanzia added his own insights as an alum of Brock University and his Kenyan heritage.
The students – both domestic and International from Ghana and Nigeria – talked about a broad range of experiences, from factors they considered when choosing to attend NC, to their time spent inside the classroom and on campus. Students, staff and faculty attended or listened to the discussion on Zoom.
The panelists agreed that representation matters when it comes to seeing more people like them in NC’s curriculum, in the classroom, and in recruitment materials.
The students suggested that Orientation is the ideal time to elevate the presence of the Black Student Association (BSA) as an existing club to support incoming students’ sense of belonging. Acholonu, the current President of the BSA, talked about the work of their organization and their representation of students from Canada, the Caribbean, Africa, and beyond.
They also talked about how staff and faculty could benefit from learning opportunities about unconscious bias and microaggressions, of which the College’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team offer workshops.
“We are grateful to the student panelists for sharing their diverse experiences at the college and highlighting what the organization, faculty and staff can do to enhance Black students’ sense of belonging,” said Brooke Pasco, Workplace EDI Specialist. “We will continue to engage with insights from this event and future dialogue with Black students as well as students from other equity deserving communities, to listen and learn from their experiences to guide EDI work at the College.”
The event was catered by Chrispy African Market in St. Catharines with jollof and chicken, as well as salads and drinks provided by NCSAC. In partnership with Sustainability, Benchmark Restaurant lent mugs, plates and cutlery to minimize the use of disposables.
