Nightlife at Oz: The Minority Experience

By: Alesha Barrett and Issack Cintron

A large part of the college experience is nightlife. Whether it be drinking and partying, or attending campus wide events, college students are notorious for wild nightlife activity. However, what does nightlife for college students look like in a small suburban town? Moreover, does it differ for students of color who attend a predominantly white institution in a suburban town? This documentary seeks to explore how students of color enjoy nightlife at just such a place- Oswego State.

We spoke with Aloaye Tisor, president of the African Student Organization at Oswego State. She spoke about how her organization and other cultural organizations such as the Caribbean Student Association, Latino Student Union and Black Student Union work to make students of color feel at home in Oswego by incorporating aspects of their culture in their programs and large events like the ‘Battle of the Designers’ fashion show held annually in April. Tisor mentioned the differences she felt in partying with her white friends as opposed to her black friends. She noted that when going out with her black friends, they went out later and they enjoyed dancing and music in combination with drinking as opposed to her white friends whose primary goal of going out at night was to get drunk.

Additionally, this documentary highlights some of the major events that happen on Oswego State’s campus in the community of students of color. From events such as the African Student Organization’s annual ‘Battle of the Designers’, to the Caribbean Student Association’s ‘Backyard Jam,’ students of color at Oswego State find various ways to integrate themselves into the campus community by showcasing and celebrating their cultures.