Photo courtesy of Rachel Katz
Franchesca Ramsey speaks to students about the history of race at the Diversity Summit on Thursday, April 12. Ramsey is a popular Youtuber who hosts the MTV show ‘Decoded’ that is focused on issues of social justice and diversity.

The University of Nevada, Reno’s cultural diversity committee organized the all-day Diversity Summit of 2018 which took place last Thursday. The summit addressed “challenges, changes, and solutions” of equity and diversity in higher education, and featured workshops, breakout sessions and a YouTube keynote speaker.

“We need to get comfortable talking about this stuff,” said ASUN Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Oluwafemifola “Precious” Gbenjo, who is a member of the cultural diversity committee.

“Having this day just dedicated to different speakers from all different backgrounds talking about different issues in regards to diversity and inclusion and talking about these things really starts the conversation,” Gbenjo said, who has been in her post for about a year.

According to College Factual, a company that tracks higher education statistics, 40.2 percent of the university undergraduate population identifies as an ethnicity other than white or caucasian.

Gbenjo hopes that by putting on events like this, people will start talking about diversity and listen to others that may have differing opinions.

The day closed with keynote speaker Franchesca Ramsey, an activist, YouTube star, and the creator/host of the MTV show “Decoded”. 

She has also been featured on networks such as CNN, MSNBC, and The Daily Mail.

“When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality often feels like oppression,” said Ramsey.

Ramsey also explained how crucial it is to address diversity and accepting one another as they are. One of the big issues she tackled in her presentation was the topic of privilege and how many of us have it, whether we chose it or not.

When discussing this, she used herself as an example, saying that while she did not choose to be a woman who is comfortable using the bathroom society has provided, this is a privilege she has.

Being a YouTube star, Ramsey has received high praise for using comedy to discuss important social and political issues, but she has also faced her share of backlash from the public.

She shared personal stories of when she has made mistakes when addressing diversity and advised the audience to always be cautious of the internet and if you get called out for something, always make up for it.

“The best apology is changed behavior,” Ramsey said.

Ramsey mentioned one of her videos where she did a “man on the street” style video, dressed in drag, and asked strangers whether they thought she was a man or a woman. Quickly after posting the video and receiving harsh criticism, she realized her slip and quickly apologized.

One of the audience members who asked Ramsey about handling personal dilemmas when talking about diversity was student Nicole Flangas.

“I came because I wanted to hear what she had to say because I do believe I can get more knowledge from these kinds of talks and conversations,” said Flangas. “She also talks about the really big issues; nothing stops her.”

Flangas is currently in the “Topics in Race and Racism” class of the Ethnic Studies program, which includes discussions about the power of privilege. Since taking a class like this, Flangas says her eyes have been opened to what’s really going on in regards to diversity issues on campus.

Ramsey concluded by reminding the audience that our individual differences influence the way we move through the world and that we need to have constant conversations about our diversity, inclusion and addressing privileges even if we don’t choose them.

To get involved with any of the diverse organizations on campus, please visit the Center for Student Cultural Diversity located on the third floor of the Joe Crowley Student Union.

Rachel Katz can be reached at karolinar@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @NevadaSagebrush.