Meet the OMA’s New Student Intern

Name: Christabel Escarez

Major: Biology

Hometown: Seattle

Who I am: I like things that are ridiculous.

Interests: Reading, writing (slam poetry in particular), anything David Attenborough is/has ever been involved in.

Activities: LINCS mentor; co-President of Apocalips, LC slam poetry club (have traveled to Albuquerque, Philadelphia, and Boston with the LC team and to Chicago with the Seattle Youth Speaks team); employed at Bon Appetit; employed at LC Health Center

Why I wanted to be the OMA intern: To bring OMA to the general student body. While there are amazing, active students already participating in events sponsored by OMA, many more don’t even know that OMA exists, or if they do, have no idea where it is. I would love to (a) make OMA a more visible office on-campus and (b) find ways to engage the entire LC community. 
     I’ve heard friends say they weren’t going to an event, usually hosted by OMA, because they were white and they didn’t feel like the event applied to, or even welcomed, them. I hate that some people feel as if there’s an exclusive connotation to the word diversity. I think diversity comes from people andexperiences, not necessarily skin color (though to a certain extent, that can itself infer a difference of experience). Everyone brings their own personal culture and history to every situation they’re in and I feel that diversity and cultural awareness is rooted in the act of inclusion. I would like to promote events that not only hold this as a priority, but are also attractive to people both familiar and unfamiliar with OMA.