Every year, a new class of Cyclones comes to campus for the first time. There are some experiences that each of us struggle through equally: figuring out where our classes are, deciding the fastest CyRide route or deciding which dining center has the best chicken strips. However, there are some things that we each experience and interpret on our own. Only we can speak to how those experiences have impacted us. 

As college students and millennials, we are often placed in the same box. However, as we know, our identity impacts our experience. For example, look at my experience here at Iowa State University. I am a white, cis-gender male that studies agriculture and identifies as a member of the LGBT community. My identities conflict with the boxes that society tries to place me in. Each of my experiences on our campus has formed me piece-by-piece into who I am today, and I know that no one else can understand them like I do. The crucial part is that we share them so people can sympathize. 

I write today to ask you, my fellow Cyclones, regardless of race, gender, sexual identity or any other defining factor to share your experience. The Campus Climate Survey will remain open until Nov. 7 and it’s time for us to stand up and share our experiences. It is your opportunity to make your voice heard, so we can build a better, more inclusive campus for generations to come.