USC’s Think Twice Campaign Encourages Peace
At the SEC’s University of South Carolina, the old “sticks and stones” phrase doesn’t fly.
Sure, we all know words can and do cause pain, but when it comes to raising awareness about the effects of those words, It Just Means More to the Gamecocks. That’s why USC students have started a movement that “seeks to bring awareness to subtle acts of discrimination — which often go unnoticed — and how they enable extremism.” It’s called the Think Twice campaign, and it was put in place to remind everyone that their words matter. The campaign encourages students to #ThinkTwice about their words before they speak, act, or post.
The campaign focuses on microaggressions, which are subtle, everyday slights, snubs, or insults that target and discriminate against members of a marginalized group. Some are intentional, while others are unintentional, off-the-cuff remarks made by someone who’s not thinking twice about how those comments may come off as hurtful.
For example, USC student Vanessa Ruiz grew up being called “Taco” by her peers. She was not okay with it, but like a lot of people in high school, she felt powerless and afraid to speak up. She says, “I understand that people can be curious, but it’s the way that people ask some things that make it come off as offensive.” Ruiz is now a senior public relations major, and she wants to help students know that they have the power to speak out against microaggressions. “If we could help at least one person feel like their voice matters, that would mean the world to me.”
In a survey of 500 USC students, almost 50% of respondents said they know what a microaggression is, 78.5% have witnessed a microaggression, and 30% have admitted to using a microaggression. The numbers aren’t surprising — we’ve all said things we don’t mean, and many of us speak without, well, thinking twice. And that’s the point of this whole movement. It’s a reminder to take one second to think twice about what you’re saying and whether it could be said differently. An article written about the Think Twice campaign says, “It’s OK to admit that damn near everyone lives with unconscious biases that can in fact dictate their actions. It’s not OK to let it go on and grow into something worse. I’ll be thinking twice. I don’t want to be the reason that brilliant minds and talents hide themselves from peers and superiors who can’t seem to accept them for what they are — for what we all are: human.”
Apparently, students and faculty agree, because they’ve been stopping by the campaign’s online hub to take the pledge and share their stories. There’s also a photo challenge element to the campaign that gives participants a chance to win Think Twice swag, Amazon gift cards, and other prizes. To participate, individuals post a picture of themselves smiling and showing the hand symbol for peace, tag @ThinkTwiceUofSC and two friends, and say in the caption that they “pledge to #ThinkTwice.” One of the first people to take the pledge and participate in the photo challenge? Harris Pastides, the longtime president of the University of South Carolina. If that doesn’t send a powerful message about maintaining a welcoming environment for the nearly 1,800 international students attending USC from 95 different countries, we don’t know what does.
Like many surrounding her, senior Amanda Budd realizes just how much more it means to get people to #ThinkTwice. As she puts it, “Thinking twice before you say something is such an important thing to do. Although you may think something is humorous, it can have a negative impact on someone else. I really hope that our message reminds people of the power of their words and helps us make a stronger Carolina community for all.”
