University of Iowa ‘black student’ group aims for ‘culturally competent’ environment

IOWA CITY - A new University of Iowa 'Black Student Advisory Committee” created after a professor in December sparked widespread controversy by erecting a Ku Klux Klan-likened sculpture on campus is hosting a community forum Tuesday evening.

The new group is charged with helping create 'an environment that is aware and understanding of the cultural differences that are present in Iowa, specifically black culture,” according to a UI news release.

Committee co-chair Jasmine Mangrum, a first-year UI College of Pharmacy student from Chicago, said the goal is to enable black students to 'achieve greatness” at Iowa without hindrance due to race or background. 'I believe that there are issues present, and the best way to start resolving those issues is to hear people's concerns and to find effective ways to create an environment that is culturally competent,” Mangrum said in a statement.

Discussion around campus diversity and inclusion emerged after UI assistant professor Serhat Tanyolacar on Dec. 5 installed on the UI Pentacrest a 7-foot-tall statue that likened a Ku Klux Klansmen robed in print screenings of newspaper articles depicting racist incidents in U.S. history.

Tanyolacar said his intention was to raise awareness of racial tensions in America and in Iowa City, but many black students said they were offended and even terrorized. UI President Mason offered an apology to the campus following the incident and vowed to prepare a 'detailed plan of action.”

'I intend to move quickly to form a committee of students and community members to advise me on options including strengthening cultural competency training and reviewing our implicit bias training,” Mason said in the Dec. 7 email to campus.

The new committee will meet monthly during the academic year and address three objectives. It will advise the president and administrators on how policies and practices impact the climate for black students. It will solicit input from students. And it will monitor progress on UI commitments related to diversity and inclusion.

UI student Ashley Lee, co-chair of the committee, said she hopes the committee will serve as a mediator between black students, the university, and the community.

'Increased attention to the issues of black existence in this country and events on our own campus have served as a catalyst and brought us together in some profound ways,” UI Chief Diversity Officer Georgina Dodge said in a news release. 'But we know that every individual experiences campus and the community in a unique manner. So it's vital that we have open channels of communication, and this committee will be instrumental in ensuring all are heard.”

Tuesday's forum is planned from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in Carver Hawkeye Arena's Feller Club room.