Though racism maybe thought of as a thing from the past, but that’s really not the case. Stan State has done a great job at keeping its commitment to being a diverse and inclusive community, but it does not mean that racism has vanished completely.
Originating in the 70s, the term “microaggression” is often described as indirect, subtle or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group such as a racial or ethnic minority.
“So, where are you really from?”, “wow, you speak really good English for a Mexican” and “can I touch your hair?” are just a few examples of what microaggression sounds like. And though it is likely to happen to anyone and everywhere, a common place for this occurrence is on campus.
When asked about her experience on the subject Mishaye Venerable (junior, Social Science), president of the Black Student Union, said: “I feel like that is more common than blatant racism to my face, it has become a norm unfortunately. I have received the line ‘If I were to ever date a black person, I would date you,’ or they ask to touch my hair, and its subtle little comments that people make is kind of like, well what you’re implying—would you ever say that to your wife?”
Another example comes from the president of the Hmong Student Association, Chi Yang (senior, Psychology), “They’ll say ‘what are you?’ and we tell them we’re Hmong, and they don’t even know what Hmong is, and they’ll just go ‘oh, you’re Chinese.’ No, we’re different, we fall under the same category as Chinese, but we’re Hmong.”
And even though they may seem like harmless questions, they can be hurtful.
Kayla Santana (junior, Communication Studies) added that her encounters with microagressions were unpleasant.
“Growing up Hispanic you could see the white people in my classes talk down about Hispanics on welfare or just always saying ‘Mexicans are poor and so they are mooching off the government.’ It was always sad and hard to hear those things when it’s not true,” Santana said. “That was my biggest thing, I didn’t like always hearing how Hispanics are using the government and that we are lazy. When some of the most hardworking people I know are Hispanics. It’s such a shame this stereotype we face and how people look at us. It’s sad.”
According to a survey that was performed at the University of Illinois, Urbana, 51 percent of the students reported experiencing of stereotypes within the classroom. Though there are many forms of microaggressions, colorblindness is a common one that is used among students as well.  
“Colorblind racism, is the new racism, in which we explain race a way, we don’t talk about it, it doesn’t matter, talking about race is taboo and it’s not politically correct. It’s a way of masking race.” Dr. Bao Lo, Director of the Ethnic Studies Department, said. “These concept things, microaggressions, are just ways to act out race-racism, without seemingly being racist. And it’s hard to label that as racism because of colorblindness.”
So, what can be done to avoid the effects of microaggressions? Dr. Tamara Sniezek, Chair of the Sociology Department, said: “I think that privileged people have a responsibility to point it out when they can, obviously if you’re the victim of it, you should point it out, if you safely can. Sadly, it sometimes is more effective when allies, people of privilege do it, but when they do speak up, it is harder for the attacker to make an argument with them.” 
Though this form of racism is hard to stop, it does not mean that it is ever too late to be informed and bring awareness to it.
BSU member Wonuola Olagunju (junior, Biology) had this to say: “Educate people more, take them aside and talk to them. Address it to the person and let them know to keep an open mind on certain things and not to be narrow minded, don’t think that just because this ethnic group did this, it does not mean everyone from that circle does it. It’s not like change is going to happen instantly, but informing people does help, and in your own community and friendship circle it does help when you let them with what you are and are not ok with.”