Modern racism was the topic of discussion at a student forum that took place April 23.

“There are so many supported issues which are sensitive and controversial surrounding this topic,” junior Nikki Armbruster said. “(Sophomore Iliana Krehbiel) and I wanted to do something on campus to teach the students and faculty about this important issue.”

Led by Armbruster and Krehbiel, the forum took place in conjunction with Mungano. 

The main purpose of the forum was to educate Baker’s faculty and students about modern racism and to come up with ways to control and recognize it on campus. 

Modern racism takes a more subtle approach and is more difficult to identify than classic racism.

This topic was presented on two different occasions: once for faculty and then again for students.

“The first time we presented it was just with the faculty and there were less people,” Armbruster said. “With that, we were able to get the idea out better, and it was more organized with the dialogue and ideas, so we were able to move forward better.”

At the student presentation, both of the women and senior Jonathan Vaughn were pleased to see how many students attended the forum.

"I thought it was a really good turnout for it being a Baker activity," Vaughn said. <br/>After the presentation, students were allowed to express their thoughts and opinions on the topic, share any personal encounters with modern racism. After the presentation, students were allowed to express their thoughts and opinions on the topic, share any personal encounters with modern racism. 
After the presentation, students were allowed to express their thoughts and opinions on the topic, share any personal encounters with modern racism. 

“I am really excited with how good of an attendance there was and with the participation,” senior Rachel Kilian said. “It was good for students to be able to share their experiences on and off campus.”

Kilian is glad to see discussion about this topic because examples of modern racism can be seen everywhere.

“It just gets frustrating at times because there are all of these great ideas, but there is nothing behind them,” Kilian said. “We all just get busy and do not take action. We need to go out and break stereotypes, even if it does make us uncomfortable. In the lunchroom we tend to drift to people that are like us. It is no one’s fault, it is just what is comfortable and that is what part of the problem is.”