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Appalachian students at Ohio State face a number of cultural and educational challenges.
Rebecca Lane, coordinator of New Diversity Initiatives at OSU’s Multicultural Center, said providing services for Appalachian students is difficult because of the unique nature of the minority.
“A lot of Appalachian students don’t self-identify as Appalachian because of negative stereotypes,” she said.
Appalachia is a region in the U.S. that spans a number of states, including southern portions of Ohio, and is often characterized by economic depression and poor education.
Lane said the region represents more than a struggling portion of the U.S.
“Appalachia has a unique culture rich in history. People don’t always tap into that,” she said.
The New Diversity Initiatives section of the Multicultural Center addresses many of the underrepresented minorities on campus and places a specific focus on Appalachian culture, history and current issues.
The New Diversity Initiatives program provides information for anyone interested in exploring Appalachian culture and to those struggling to adjust to a more urban environment and the demands of a college education.
Shaun Meeks, a sophomore in environmental studies, said life at OSU is different from life in southeastern Ohio.
“Everything here is pretty much the opposite of home,” he said. “I’m used to wide open spaces and back roads. It’s been a major change.”
Meeks said the curriculum at OSU is difficult and the education he received in high school did not prepare him for college.
“I’ve had to work my butt off to get where I am and I’m still struggling,” he said.
Christine Ballengee-Morris, an associate professor of art education from Appalachia, said that offering scholarships to Appalachian students is important and necessary because the education in the region is not at the same level as other areas.
“Appalachia Ohio doesn’t have the same economic resources as the rest of Ohio. The schools aren’t supported in the same way,” she said.
The Office of Minority Affairs has scholarship programs geared towards Appalachian students. Scholarships such as the Morrill Scholars Program and Young Scholars Program make secondary education more available to students from economically deprived areas while helping students adjust to a more rigorous course load through academic and retention counseling.
Mike Lopreste, a sophomore in international studies from Belpre, Ohio, said some people do not recognize Appalachians as a legitimate minority.
“We get a lot of flak for getting minority scholarships,” he said.
Many people are unaware of Appalachian students being categorized as a minority, including the Appalachian students themselves.
“Often times we learn about what makes us different in terms of our appearance. Appalachian students don’t necessarily look different from the majority,” Lane said.
Appalachian students are often confronted with stereotypes that portray the culture in a negative light.
“At some point Appalachia became synonymous with the barefoot and incestuous hillbilly who carries a gun and drinks moonshine,” Ballengee-Morris said.
Despite the stereotypes, some OSU students are proud of their Appalachian roots.
“People are proud to be black, Muslim and Indian, and I’m proud of being from Appalachia,” Lopreste said.
Hannah Tyler can be reached at tyler.94@osu.edu.
