Aariyan Tooley, freshman in theatre, said she had just spent a fun night at the play with four friends when her view of Auburn changed.
"It made me more aware about racism and discrimination in this country," Tooley said. "Even though it happened to me and four other girls, I couldn't feel bad for myself."
Tooley was leaving a Nov. 11 showing of "The Glass Menagerie" at the Peet Theatre building on Samford Avenue when a truck drove past. She said the young men in the truck threw a full beer can at her and her four African American friends.
"When I looked over, I couldn't see who was in the truck, but I heard them laughing," Tooley said. "Don't take your safety for granted."
Tooley told her story to a packed crowd at a Black Student Union meeting on Monday night, Nov. 16.
More than 200 students of all races attended the meeting to show their support for students protests across the nation for reform on college campuses. The meeting was intended to promote change in the culture at Auburn University and spark a respectful dialogue among students, according to its organizers.
African American student-leaders have been organizing on Auburn's campus following student protests and the resignation of the University of Missouri's system president and the Columbia campus chancellor.
During the meeting, Brandi Williams and John Blanding, director and assistant director of public relations for BSU, presented background and facts concerning the events in Columbia.
Many are hailing his ouster as a historic example of the power of student protestors. Now Auburn's African American student-leaders are using momentum of events in Missouri as a catalyst for change on Auburn's campus.
"I looked at myself and said to myself that I was a man [before transferring to Auburn]," said Benjamin Baker, a senior in Political Science. "Since the day that I stepped on campus, I've felt less like a man."
Baker, SGA director of governmental relations, is part of the group of African American student-leaders who are pushing for the changes.
"I can't sit by and be a bystander as me and other people feel like they're less of a man or a woman," Baker said. "No more will I allow us to be on this campus and feel like we're not a part of the Auburn family, because we are a part of the Auburn family. [The African American student-leaders] are no longer divided. We are united. We are one voice, on one accord."
Baker went on to say that this new movement is about more than just African American students.
"We are not going to let this be a hate white people movement," Baker said. "Everybody is important. Every minority is important. The hispanic students are important. The international students are important. White people are important. We are going to treat everybody the same."
Shannon Arthur is another organizing member of the group of student-leaders.
"We're being critical of Auburn because we love Auburn," Arthur said. "We want future students and current students to feel welcome when they come here."
Auburn president Jay Gogue sent an e-mail Sunday afternoon concerning diversity on campus. Several presidents of many predominantly African-American organizations met last week with Gogue following the events in Missouri, according to Tevin Harrell, senior in industrial and systems engineering.
Through their meetings over the course of the last week and the meeting with Gogue, the student leaders have developed a three point plan to promote diversity on campus. Their plan focuses on the admissions process, faculty diversity and the general campus environment.
"When you apply to Auburn, we want you to feel welcome," Arthur said. "When you enroll in Auburn, we want you to feel welcome. When you step on campus, we want you to feel welcome."
Jarette Maye is the secretary of the Harold A. Franklin Society.
"Do not treat this as a fad," Maye said. "This is the way of life we have on this campus. Do not treat this as a hashtag or something to have fun on social media. Do not treat this as a way to look important."
Maye went on to urge the students not to treat the movement as a means to get attention for themselves.
"If you're going to come out, be real and have your opinions ready," Maye said. "Be a part of this movement. We need to be a family like we're supposed to be."
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