Bridges: Perspectives on the Cal Poly community

Video produced by Felicia J. Lee (Center for Women and Ethnic Issues) and Patricia Mahaffey (Housing and Residential Life), with assistance by other staff in Housing and Residential Life, and the Office of Student Affairs. Interviews with students, faculty, and staff explore the climate at Cal Poly from the perspectives of people of color. The video's credits give a Special Thanks to Tim Dolman, Frank Gonzales, Michele Lum, Teresa Higeya, Max Galindo, Lisa Taylor, and Robert Lee.
[00:00:15] Bridges Perspective on the Cal Poly Community
[00:00:24] Man starts reading a poem about racial discrimination and prejudice
[00:01:30] With a total population of over 30 million, California has a multitude of different cultures and ethnicities
[00:02:00] People believe that a university such as Cal Poly is diverse and inclusive, and it is necessary to ask if the university really does welcome those who are a part of its identity
[00:02:56] In recent interviews, we asked students and faculty to share their own experiences towards regarding students of color
[00:03:06] "How would you describe the attitude at Cal Poly?"
[00:03:23] Some white students say, "We're not prejudice but it's not our problem."
[00:03:38] Student of color have to take it on themselves to get the ethnic studies program here, and they were the only ones who would benefit that
[00:04:30] "I see white student looking at students of color with attitude of 'you must have had some sort of special consideration in order to get into Cal Poly.'" [00:05:14] "Can you describe some personal experience that relate to these attitudes?"
[00:05:25] Minorities describe experiencing a huge culture shock upon coming to Cal Poly
[00:06:05] As an Asian American, I don't really feel like there's anyone that I can relate my experience to
[00:06:44] When you're in a classroom and you're the only minority student, you feel like everyone is always looking at you
[00:07:40] Living in Fremont Hall, one African American student experienced a huge culture shock upon arriving when she realized that she was the only African American student in her residence hall
[00:08:38] It can become taxing to be burdened by issues and conflicts based on diversity and cultural issues
[00:08:50] One African American student describes an experience he had where the police pulled them over and implied that they had committed a crime and racially profiled them
[00:09:50] Another male student of color described a bad interaction where his Architecture professor was racist to him and criticizing his Mexican heritage, saying that he didn't belong in that major.
[00:10:25] A black male student described how white students and faculty are allowed to be angry and have a bad day, while if a person of color expresses anger, it's "how they are"
[00:13:00] "What needs to be done to make Cal Poly a more positive learning environment for everyone?"
[00:13:35] They should want to learn more about experiences that they don't know
[00:13:45] Every student should be actively involved in some club or another
[00:14:26] That's the best support system of all, is having people on campus that are your same ethnicity
[00:14:30] A professor suggests that something that Cal Poly should move towards is a closer integration of the curriculum and "formal" education aspects of Cal Poly and how it enforced cultural sensitivity outside of the classroom, on the campus and in San Luis Obispo at large.
[00:14:56] They need faculty who can understand ethnic students or minority students
[00:16:40] "What are your opinion on the challenges facing students at Cal Poly?"
[00:16:50] The anxiety of demographic changes are bringing out a lot in people
00:17:05] Video ends