A Mile in My Wedges (Shoes*)

Yesterday’s Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit was one that attempted to break down walls with a discussion of diversity and equality. Kendis Gibson, Jennifer Sanders, Dave Longley, and Michelle Garcia came together to discuss issues of race, gender, sexuality, disability and more as student moderator Christopher Collins-McNeil led them through.

McNeil opened with a joke about Gibson’s 20 years of experience (and his age) and did not hesitate to jab him a bit about his age a few more times throughout the panel discussion. He did not, however, jab Dave Longley, who graduated the same year as Gibson.

When asked how he felt about that in a casual conversation later that night, Gibson said, “He[Longley] is actually two years older than me!”

Gibson was a hit though, as were the other panelists. The discussion drew a lot of student questions, so many that the line had to be cut off before they could all be addressed in order to start the career connector panel on time.

“Topically, I think this was one of the most relevant discussions we have had. WHAT were were talking about was relevant and necessary for students to hear about, I’m so proud to be a part of this project,” said Kalie Hudson, one of the Media Summit’s two student event directors for this year.

For many people who came to the event, and even some who worked on the staff of the Media Summit, this was their first time experiencing it.

“This was my first summit experience. With having such a diverse panel this year it helped me to better understand the issues with race, gender, disabilities and LGBTQ issues that arise through different media sources,” said Melissa Wilson, who was mainly in charge of running the Media Summit’s Instagram this year.

Jeremy Donovan, a Career Connector for the 2014 Media Summit, took a new outlook on minorities in the media away from this event. “As a white male, it’s very easy to not think that racism or any other prejudice still exists because I don’t face the same every day challenges that minorities do,” Donovan said. “It was interesting and eye opening to hear stories about people still not getting a job because a station ‘already has their black reporter.’ And that it shouldn’t matter whether you’re white, black, green, or purple. If you’re a good reporter, you’re a good reporter and should be treated as such.”

A Mile in My Shoes was another one for the Media Summit history books. And as Michelle Garcia once wished for and has now accomplished, we can’t wait to get our chance to be asked to be a panelist in a Media Summit!

Photo Cred: Justine Polonski