Residential Life hosts events and student activities throughout the year. Feb. 22 they hosted Privilege Beads in the lobby of the Towers resident halls. The event was meant to discuss different kinds of privilege and how they apply to each individual.

Because of COVID-19, the residential halls did not host these kinds of events at all last year. This specific activity is done by the resident advisors (RA) during their training at the beginning of the year and it was decided that it would be a beneficial experience for the residents, according to Rachel Goodman, complex coordinator for Towers. 

“Last year we didn’t have these (events) cause of Covid,” said Eva Noble, a sophomore music education major and first year RA. “It’s nice to come together.”

In the activity, residents were asked to string different colored beads together based on certain privileges they have from five prompt pages. Different colored beads signified different types of privileges such as race, sexuality, ability, class and miscellaneous. They were asked questions such as if both your parents are alive, if you’ve ever been asked to speak for your entire racial group or whether or not you can move in public without fear of harassment or being attacked because of your sexual identity. 

After making their physical representations of their privileges, residents sat in a small group and discussed the activity and things they noticed or felt. One person noted that they liked that other people wouldn’t look at the strand of beads and automatically recognize its meaning along with it being personal to each person. Others noted that this activity could be used educationally and in other professions. 

Residents left the event with a new beaded bracelet, necklace or key chain that reminded each of their own privileges and advantages. Something they could carry with them if they so choose.