Prejudice still reality, especially in small towns

Help stop discrimination on OU Campus.

Small school environments can offer a student many advantages when opposed to larger schools.

Among these advantages are small class sizes, a better chance for playing multiple sports and joining student -run organizations, tight-knit networking, closer teacher-student relations and many more small school bonuses.

Although small schools are generally a gentler step from high school to the real world, there can be downsides to the small school, small town environment.

I want to elaborate on the one disadvantage that we all have come to witness within our own small school environment.

This campus has finally begun to open our eyes to the problem of stereotyping and prejudice.

Now, this comes in many shapes and sizes as we are all too familiar with. It seems that within our culture this is a common occurrence, and unfortunately this has only recently been acknowledged on our campus. I honestly cannot think of any greater cause to support than the fight to end these hurtful acts that continue to happen everywhere around us.

Although the ending of prejudice and racist behaviors is beyond Ottawa University, I personally feel that if we just take the time to think before we speak and act it can make a positive impact, at least within our campus.

If you have to look around to check who is in the room before you say a joke or something you obviously know is stupid and wrong, just stop yourself right then and there and simply don't say it.

If we just make a change within our own lives then we are making a change in the world, albeit a small one.

So my message within this is racism, sexism, prejudice, whatever it may be, is unfortunately everywhere we turn.

It is a never ending process of ignorant behavior. Although we might not be able to change the entire world on our own, we can at least make a change within our world.

Because this is a smaller environment, it should support a better relationship among students.

We should not have this problem rearing its head anymore on our campus. Within a diverse environment we can gain more than what is taught in the classrooms.

We should take a special understanding away from college, that what we say and do can influence and build upon hate.

Always know that we can make a difference in this horrible issue by simply making a change within our own selves.