Students discussed the societal trends of technology, music, race relations, social issues, drugs and public figures that might impact students’ self-expression Tuesday in the University Student Commons.
Latasha Russell, a mass communications major, is a work study student for The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. As a part of the work study program, OMSA administration officials require the students to conceive, organize and host one brown bag luncheon discussion each semester. The only requirement is the discussions must coincide with the mission statement of OMSA.
Russell said Tuesday’s discussion, which was her first to host, allowed her to take away different perspectives on self-expression in society and understand society’s standards and how conforming might affect self-expression. Russell said she got the idea from the Kanye West incident at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
“I would have discussions like (the luncheon discussion) amongst my friends and talk about our reactions to some (events),” Russell said.
Russell led the discussion group through multiple topics including social customs and geographical location, the utilization of blogs, videos and social networking Web sites, censorship, the lyrics in music, the use of derogatory terms, the spread of racism,
political commentary of publicized sentiments, and the role of drugs and alcohol.
Russell said two of the major topics for students during the discussion were the limits on self-expression or lack thereof and the amount of coverage certain people or events receive over others.
Jasmine Harrison, an elementary education major, said she thinks technology will have a negative impact on self-expression in the future because Internet users who publicize their opinions might offend others.
According to a 2009 study by Anderson Analytics, a market research consultancy, three-quarters of 15-to-29-year-olds used the social networking Web sites like MySpace, 65 percent used Facebook, 14 percent used Twitter and 9 percent used LinkedIn.
Education Support Specialist for OMSA Ijuanzee Isom said the brown bag luncheons are meant to give work study students professional experience, the opportunity to communicate with other students, become more involved in OMSA and university affairs, and connect with the university community.
OMSA opens the luncheons to all members of the university community. VCU Study Abroad and one faculty member from the School of World Studies has also hosted a luncheon discussion.
Isom said, given the rise of social networking, he encourages students to be aware of what they are publishing on Web sites and who has access to view their published content.
“It’s something that can follow you for the rest of your academic and professional career,” Isom said.