Administration, Students Planning Virtual Forums on Race and Equality

Everyone in the NJIT community is invited to discuss racism and social injustice, as part of virtual forums on July 8 and July 17.

The first event is organized by university administration while the second is student-led. Both cited inspiration from the Black Lives Matter movement and nationwide protests about Black men and women being killed by police and even targeted by private citizens, after committing only minor crimes if any at all.

The university's event, July 8 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., is being organized by African-American members of the administration including Marybeth Boger, dean of students; Angela Garretson, chief external affairs officer; Dale McLeod, vice president for human resources; along with the staff of the Educational Opportunity Program. Access the event here with meeting number 120 730 6359.

There will be open discussion about current events and conversation about how the NJIT community can strengthen its fight against racism and discrimination in all its forms, Boger said. Discussion leaders will include a student, a faculty member and a representative of the university police. Questions can be sent in advance to blmletstalk@njit.edu.

Several undergraduate leaders of the African Student Association, Black Student Union, Caribbean Students Organization and National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) are planning the July 17 event scheduled for 4-7 p.m. There will be presentations about current events, legal issues and an explanation of the Juneteenth holiday, followed by audience comments. Access the student-led event online.

Boger, student leaders and multiple staff members, all of African descent, said the most common form of racism they experience is in passing comments made to them or overheard in other conversations.

"Have I heard sometimes, some remarks that are not too cool? Absolutely. Have I dealt sometimes with students who need to be a little better educated? Absolutely. As a dean that's part of my job," Boger explained.

Monisola Omole, a senior biomedical engineering major and president of the campus chapter of NSBE, has had similar moments. "I wouldn't say that I have experienced racism, but I feel like sometimes there is a lack of understanding," she noted.

"We're all coming together to create a forum," added Samuel Owusu, a senior electrical engineering major and president of the African Student Association. "It's not only for black people. It's for everybody to come so we can share our experiences and educate them."