What was supposed to be a real talk about Carolina’s lack of diversity in student body president candidates became a space of healing for students grieving over the loss of three students.
Carolina United adapted its second UNC Real Talk event to create a space for students to express their questions, concerns and hopes for the future.
“With Carolina United, we want to focus on the community,” Christina Townsend, the co-director of Carolina United, said. “Right now the community is grieving. This is an opportunity for them to feel safe and to reflect.”
Passing out markers and sheets of colored paper with the headings of questions, fears and hopes, the Carolina United leadership enabled students to reflect on the sudden loss of Deah Shaddy Barakat, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha.
Students discussed questions of whether they felt safe in Chapel Hill, where tolerance stems from, and whether the tragedy made campus more aware of prejudice.
These sentiments traveled around the intimate circle of students that attended the event.
Sophomore Michael Howell suggested everyone try to make it personal for themselves.
In doing that, students discussed their personal experiences with micro-aggressions on campus and explained how different layers of oppression can affect safety.
“Our bubble can burst at any minute,” Townsend said of the Chapel Hill community.
