The YWCA’s University chapter held its seventh annual Race Against Racism on Saturday at Alton Baker Park. The race is held each year as a community event to raise awareness of racism, organizers said.
About 35 participants ran the 5,000-meter race.
“It’s just a great opportunity for community members and students to come together for the same cause,” said Stephanie Carriere, executive director of the YWCA.
Organizers said the race was a needed success for the YWCA, the oldest student group on campus and one that has receded in
importance in recent years.
It was Carriere’s first year of involvement with the event, she said, and the experience exceeded her expectations.
“It’s been a blast,” she said. “It’s been a big growth year for us.”
Carriere also ran in the race.
Alicia Soto, YWCA magazine editor and volunteer at the race, said she has seen too many examples of hatred around the campus community.
“I’ve really grown to love Oregon, and it just pisses me off when I hear incidents (of racism),” Soto said. “It gives me hope that people are making a conscious effort to participate in something like this.”
University senior Andrew Olson won the 3.2-mile race with a time of 15:42. He said the race was for a good cause, and it was particularly relevant considering the debate about diversity currently happening on campus.
The YWCA’s former executive director, Shannon McLain, who ran the event last year, said in the past guests have spoken about the cause of the event, and that the level of participation varies from year to year.
Carriere said the YWCA has lost some of its significance to the University in recent years, partly because of budget cuts it incurred last year. During the 2004-05 academic year, the group received more than $7,000 in student fees. Student government gave the group $3,241 in incidental fees for this year, mostly for administrative expenses.
A recent lack of steady leadership is another reason for the “falling out” the program has seen.
Carriere, a sophomore, said she plans to stay with the organization for the rest of her college career and will use her long-term involvement to make its efforts at providing support for women and fighting racism more visible on campus.
“I’d love for the Y to start to become the program it used to be,” she said. The Race Against Racism, she said, is a large part of that.
McLain also said she would like to see the organization become more central to students and the community. She said it is one of the oldest organizations affiliated with the University but has lost some attention because of the increasing number of other groups on campus.
Most student groups have their offices in the EMU. The YWCA is
located on East 18th Avenue near the Music Hall.
Mandee Pearson, a spokeswoman for the organization, said the location contributes to the YWCA’s isolation.
Carriere said involvement was key in making this year’s Race Against Racism a success.
“You’re not only taking a stand,” she said. “By being a part of this you’re showing your support and concern.”
Soto agreed.
“You can’t just not be involved. … You have to be conscious and aware and get involved,” she said.
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