New Black Student Union takes on challenges of racial equality at Cabrini

By Chris Schaller
December 9, 2020

The New Black Student Union president is ready to take on the challenges of discrimination and microaggressions that surfaced over the summer in the Black@Cabrini Instagram account.  

Sophomore, Naiser Warren-Robinson, is the leader of the Black Student Union.  The Black Student Union at Cabrini is a club within the institution that gives  BIPOC students a platform to voice experiences and difficulties that surface on campus.

With the recent awareness of campus discrimination brought forth by the Instagram page @blackatCabrini, the student body must be more aware of the racial microaggressions that happen on campus. “It’s really on us to force them to make these changes,” Warren-Robinson said. “We need to make sure these problems are addressed.” However, such a task is difficult when you are not witnessing it on campus.

Warren-Robinson believes that the students are more responsible for knowing what is going on, rather than the university. “We can’t rely on people that we have never seen on campus to know what is going on campus.” Warren Robinson said. “I can’t expect them to know the situations and understand what people of color are experiencing on this campus.” The BSU advocates to inform others about the issues that are surfacing on campus.

President, is just a title,  “We all share the same ambition, we all share the same goal, it’s not top-down, presidency is just a title.”  Warren-Robinson said.  His main reasoning for joining the BSU was that he could relate with others about similar experiences they have had. The BSU works as a cohesive unit to broaden black voices on campus and giving BIPOC students a platform on how to improve the standards at Cabrini.

Naiser-Warren Robinson: President of the Cabrini Black Student Union

 Robinson’s first semester as the BSU president is during the Coronavirus pandemic.  Nothing is normal about the 2020 Fall semester, with many classes being remote or limited in person. The BSU conducts most of their meetings outdoors by spreading out and practicing social distancing. “We still want to see people in person,” Robinson said. “that face-to-face interaction is extremely important when communicating with one another.”  With the face-to-face interactions among students being reduced due to COVID, it’s hard to understand what is going on among the student body when you are not seeing them.

Due to the unforeseen circumstances of the virus, Warren-Robinson and the BSU are taking extra steps to educate students about their organization. With the turn-out being low at the involvement fair, the BSU will have to rely on social media and outdoor meetings to grab the attention of students. Warren-Robinson send out e-mail notifications are sent out to students about any updates in regards to BSU  meetings. 

In recent months, injustices against people of color have been in the national spotlight since May. It seems as if more people, specifically white people, are becoming more aware and outraged with the racial injustices that BIPOC face daily.  “I think they’ve been trying,” Warner-Robinson said. “Caucasian students on this campus specifically have been trying.” There is a lot that still needs to be accomplished when it comes to racial equality. the students at Cabrini must be a part of the change.  Naiser Warren-Robinson steps into this role after a tumultuous year of racial turmoil in this country along with having to operate during a 100-year pandemic.

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Chris Schaller

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