Unless Ramya Sinha, president of the Black Student Union (BSU), was able to share a virtual safe space alone with incoming Black freshmen, she was determined to make herself absent from their orientation. That ceremony was held on Aug. 26 and saw the Chapman administration in attendance, including President Daniele Struppa and Dean of Students Jerry Price.

Sinha’s stance followed law professor John Eastman’s opinion about the eligibility of California Sen. Kamala Harris as vice president of the United States and how academic freedom, and the right to free speech in general, is used as a constitutional shield to protect professional autonomy of professors like Eastman. Sinha further elaborated to The Panther that Eastman’s opinion is overall “racist and harmful to BIPOC students and faculty.”

“I was not comfortable being in a meeting with (Struppa and Price) when the administration couldn't even condemn racism publicly,” Sinha said. “I did not find it appropriate at all to have President (Struppa) and Dean Price attend a meeting that was supposed to be a safe space for incoming Black freshmen to meet each other and meet other alumni and students. It felt exploitive and I didn't want to be a part of their show.”

Although the orientation featured a panel of Black students who reflected on their experiences being at Chapman, freshman film production major Madison Welborn believes Sinha’s presence would have made a difference in offering “a different perspective that a lot of incoming Black students are looking for.”

Welborn echoed Sinha’s position on the need for a space at Chapman free of bias and potential threats.

“I want and need a safe space to discuss Black experiences and Black issues with people like me and get the support that I need that I know I can’t get anywhere else,” Welborn told The Panther. “Until this disconnect is resolved, the administration being there didn’t contribute to the safe environment.”

Describing the tensions with leadership as overwhelming and their involvement as merely antics, Sinha criticized the lack of accountability and commitment towards appeals by BSU. However, she did say she is excited to work with faculty, commending 30 faculty members who worked during the summer on BSU’s action plan that calls for an anti-racist culture and environment on campus.

At an Aug. 31 BSU-hosted Zoom gathering, 37 students – an alumna included – logged on for its first meeting of the fall semester.

Amid the mounting racial justice protests that have broken out over the past weeks amidst the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, members expressed their comfort with each other, shared celebratory news about job offers, good health and success in media publications. Similarly, emotions of personal distress and concerns were disclosed and received with kind words of encouragement. 

“Within BSU, I expect that we maintain open dialogue and support for all members of the community, with a focus on Black women and the LGBTQ+ community, to make sure that their voices are heard,” said Fiona Quilter, a junior studio art major. “I expect that BSU will support fellow Black students in denouncing racism, sexism and homophobia. I look forward to seeing President Struppa and Dean of Students Jerry Price take action to create change on Chapman's campus.”

Meanwhile, Justin Riley, the associate director of Student Community Support and Development, has responded to the diversity and inclusion issue by stating the need for collective responsibility among every administrator, faculty and staff to create an equitable campus environment.

“We must critically examine all of our institutional structures and diligently work to improve areas negatively impacting our underrepresented groups on campus,” Riley said. “We must commit ourselves to carrying out the values outlined in our statement on diversity and inclusion.”