Forum focuses on campus safety

During a March 21 campus forum, UNCG members of EBONY (Empowering and Building Opportunities in Yourself) and the UNCG chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. apologize to the university's student body and faculty for a recent fighting incident that occurred at the organizations’ campus Gym Jam dance. Photo by Yasmine Regester/Carolina Peacemaker
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Students from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University came together for a student-led forum on campus violence held at UNCG on Monday, March 21.

Hosted by UNCG’s Student Government Association, the event was originally intended to talk about campus safety and violence after several reports of sexual assault on the campus. Monday night’s forum quickly became a discussion focused on a fight that took place at a Gym Jam on the UNCG March 18.

The Gym-Jam was co-sponsored by two student groups at the university– a multicultural organization called Empowering and Building Opportunities in Yourself (EBONY) and the UNCG chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The charitable event was hosted to raise money and water for the people of Flint, Michigan.

According to UNCG officials, approximately 800 people turned out for the event at Coleman Gym, a facility which holds a maximum capacity of 180 people.

Video footage of a violent fight at the gym went viral, causing concern amongst school officials. UNCG officials also noted that a preliminary investigation indicated that people who engaged in the violent behavior did not appear to be UNCG or N.C. A&T students.

At the forum, students and faculty expressed the importance of being able to govern and control themselves, as well as hold each other responsible.

“We can’t be scared to step up for one another or try to diffuse a situation,” said Jasmine Robinson, a UNCG sophomore and SGA member.

Braylon Jones, a business major at N.C. A&T suggested that students implement more programs and events that promote love and positivity.

“Start with the narrative of love. Love is universal. How much positivity can you really get out of a dance?” Jones asked.

Students also talked about conflict resolution and the role social media plays in incidents like these. Students asked other students to refrain from posting negative images such as fights or negative comments about other universities.

UNCG alumna, Miranda Probst, reminded students that they set the tone and culture for the campus. “This brings up the question of ‘what kind of culture are you, the students creating?’