Outside the Knight Library, on the benches under the blooming trees, Ty Schwoeffermann looks straight ahead as though reading from invisible cue cards or searching the air for just the right word as he speaks about his place in the University community. Schwoeffermann talks with his hands, but his voice remains steady and calm, even when he’s talking about an issue he cares deeply about.
Schwoeffermann, a University senior, has been in the public eye at the University multiple times throughout the year with his political, social and sometimes controversial work on campus.
After earning the title of “Ebony Man of the Year” last week, awarded by the Black Women of Achievement, Schwoeffermann said he will continue to be involved in campus politics and generate discussion surrounding the taboo subject of racism. With that, he acknowledges, controversy will surely follow, which he is neither daunted by nor unprepared for.
“It feels good to be recognized. At least somebody is supporting me after so much negativity is being thrown at me on a regular basis,” said Schwoeffermann, an ethnic studies major and Portland native. Schwoeffermann is involved with the Black Student Union, ran for ASUO president this year and has written commentary for the Emerald.
Delia Pineda, the outreach coordinator for the Black Women of Achievement, said Schwoeffermann was selected as “Ebony Man of the Year” because of his well-rounded involvement, from politics to volunteering both at and outside of the University.
“What we look for is someone well-respected in the community, someone who is involved and looked up to,” Pineda said.
The organization began taking note of men of color who filled this description last fall. The 20 active members of the BWA then voted in what Pineda said was an almost unanimous decision among BWA staff.
“He works really, really hard to have his voice heard,” Pineda said. “Sometimes it isn’t heard because he is so political and at times controversial.”
While controversy has surrounded Schwoeffermann, he said he perceives the backlash as coming from a minority of students who want to continue to suppress the issues he is working to make more openly discussed.
“Through the Emerald and through writing I feel I’ve generated a lot of discussion of race and racism, which has been a taboo subject,” he said. “There should be some way we have civil discourse around racism.”
In April, Schwoeffermann joined many other University students at a Student Senate meeting to protest institutionalized racism. He said he believes the student unions are suffering disproportionate funding cuts.
Last November, Schwoeffermann’s column in the Emerald, “Watch out for ‘Jungle Fever,’” which lambasted interracial dating, generated hate mail, guest commentary and many discussions around campus.
“How would you feel if somebody said ‘You should have never been born,’?” Schwoeffermann said of one reaction to the column.
Schwoeffermann will continue to write about what some perceive to be controversial topics, he said, because these issues won’t go away, and because ignoring them will only create further oppression.
“We can’t say racism is done. ‘We have affirmative action, civil rights, you can vote now, you are citizens; what else do you want? We can stop talking about it now,’” Schwoeffermann said.
He said he won’t stop talking, or being involved, adding that he hopes to continue working on civil issues in the black community. He is thinking of creating an organization for either men of color or black men on campus, similar to the BWA.
“I think a lot of times, the majority of (African American men) on campus are judged as athletes and their success as athletes,” he said. “Despite what their success on the field is, it’s also important to succeed in school and community service.”
Schwoeffermann, who said he likes to read, go to hip-hop and reggae concerts, and listen to the news, said he follows the philosophy of ‘always be organized’.
“I would hope I had an impact even if I didn’t get the award,” he said.
Pineda said she is confident in the BWA’s decision to name Schwoeffermann as “Ebony Man of the Year” because she believes he has been and will continue to be a campus leader.
“On the one hand you have people who like him and on the other hand people who don’t, but they all respect him,” she said.
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