Well, well, well, here we are… back at the end of the semester with finals season creeping up on our shoulders. As a student body and community, Penn State prides itself on a community atmosphere and spirit. But as changes and controversies continue to rock the university, what about the #WeAre culture, and how is it changing?
What is We Are?
For those of you unaware of why we say “We Are” as a Penn State community… everything falls to tradition. Penn State was a catalyst for inclusion inside the PWI (Predominantly White Institutions) sports team advocating for Black players back in 1946. Penn State University made history as they refused to play in a game against the then-segregated University of Miami. The team was told they had to leave its Black players at home, and in retaliation the football team canceled the game instead.
The following season, Penn State was invited to the Cotton Bowl but was again asked to leave the team’s two Black athletes — Wally Triplett and Dennie Hoggard — at home. The Nittany Lions refused that request, with captain Steve Suhey reportedly saying, “We’re Penn State,” indicating that they were a unified team. The full team ended up going to the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, 1948, in a matchup against Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. With Dallas still operating under Jim Crow laws at the time, it was a game that would become symbolic of desegregation in athletics. Triplett and Hoggard became the first African Americans ever to play in the Cotton Bowl.
PSU.edu
Where is are #WeAre now?
Today, however, times have changed. When you walk into Beaver Stadium scanning your Ticketmaster student section season ticket, the audio surrounding the stadium screams about “Happy Valley Hospitality,” but it doesn’t transfer into real life. Diverse students have been ostracized through guest speakers and student experiences, the comment sections of any big-time media platform on this campus are riddled with bigotry, and the State College Police Department just got off scot-free from a lawsuit by Osagie family.
VALLEY as an organization not only prides itself on showcasing all forms of campus life but also where we are moving inside of the campus culture here at Penn State. What can the community do to continue to build a positive space where everyone is heard and included so that spaces in real-time and online are real and supportive to its students as they walk these halls?
TALK, READ AND LISTEN!
So many stories and issues that are prevalent on this campus go unnoticed because students do not ask questions on this campus and only see things through an alumni uproar, online backlash or even faculty complaining to them about certain scenarios being swept under the rug. Things were changed on this campus due to the alumni before us who chose to put their lives on the line to make this school different. So how can we do the same?
TALK: As students today, being stuck in our phones and real communication can feel very difficult. If you are experiencing an issue that you feel isn’t discussed on campus start small. Bringing dialogue to smaller groups like your friends and building out conversations might cause the community to feel like they need to address the issue.
READ: While the average student does read for class, expanding our minds and learning about what’s going on in our community is important. With ongoing issues plaguing our world today, Penn State and the State College community could be involved. Learning about these scenarios and doing your research by talking to others about it and researching by reading on these issues to continue the conversation and allow for growth to be had.
LISTEN: Within the State College community, there are so many groups of different people with different ways of how they view life. While our university is large, reaching out to one another is pertinent to building a stronger community. By listening to one another, each day the walls are being torn down and the “We Are” spirit is returning.
What are you going to do to help bring back the We Are mentality? Let us know by tweeting us @VALLEYmag.
