A BLACK University of Virginia student has ignited furious debate after calling out white people for being present in the college’s Multicultural Student Center.
In a video that’s been shared thousands of times on social media, an unidentified female student is seen making a “public service announcement” in the Multicultural Student Center (MSC) at the college’s Charlottesville campus, a space designed to foster diversity.
“If ya’ll didn’t know, this is the MSC, and frankly there are just too many white people in here and this is a space for people of color,” she says in the clip.
“So just be really cognizant of the space you’re taking up, because it does make some of us POC uncomfortable when we see too many white people in here.”
The video has had more than 3.8 million views since it was uploaded on Wednesday and sparked furious debate online, with some claiming the student’s impromptu speech is racist, while others say she has a valid point.
“UVA is a mostly white institution, it has tons of public spaces for studying,” one student tweeted. “[She] is simply asking that the one space on campus specifically designed to give students of color their own space (where there are not made a minority) remain so.”
“Are we really going to try and act like 200 years of institutional racism, sexism, and homophobia at UVA aren’t the exact reason why these spaces are needed?” argued another supporter.
“She didn’t ask anyone to leave, she asked them to think and be considerate.”
“If you’re wondering why a safe space is needed for minority students I’d like to remind you of the white supremacist rally that occurred on grounds 2 years ago that cause many POC to feel threatened just because of their skin color,” said another UVA student, referring to the Unite The Right rally held in Charlottesville in 2017 that saw anti-racism protester Heather Heyer killed.
But her critics say the woman of color’s rhetoric is the opposite of the spirit of the multicultural center.
“Being a parent of a mixed race student of your “University”, I’m appauled [sic] by the accepted hatred and racism expressed in the latest video of not allowing “white people” into an area,” one woman tweeted. “Segragation [sic] and hate at it’s [sic] finest.”
“If this was a white student saying this about POC they would be expelled,” another person argued. “Everyone should feel safe in a multi culture space [sic] or damn, any space!”
In a statement, the University of Virginia did not openly support or criticize the woman, but confirmed the space was intended for all students of UVA.
“In order to foster the diversity of experience and ideas that make UVA a great and good place to study and work, these centers are open to all members of the University community,” the statement read.
“They complement existing student-focused spaces such as the 1515 Building on the Corner, opened in March 2017, and Ern Commons in the Alderman Road residential area, opened in March 2012.”
On its website, UVA states the purpose of the Multicultural Student Center is “to facilitate a student-centered, collaborative space that supports underrepresented and marginalized communities, while cultivating the holistic empowerment of all students.”
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