The University of Minnesota diversity center hosted multiple \u201cstudent of color\u201d fitness classes intended for students who want to \u201ctake up space in places historically known to be predominantly white.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The University of Minnesota\u2019s Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence hosted two fitness classes for nonwhite students in conjunction with the Recreation and Wellness Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is also an upcoming event called \u201cBIPOC Community Climb Day.\u201d The adjective \u201cBIPOC\u201d stands for \u201cblack, indigenous, people of color.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The center hosted a similar climb day, which was instead oriented towards \u201cwomen, femmes, and non-binary,\u201d last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Multicultural Center Director Fernando Rodriguez told the Minnesota Daily that \u201cIt\u2019s hard for students who are first-generation students of color who are already feeling isolated to go into the big rec center and then ask for help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Minnesota Daily, the school\u2019s newspaper, also reported that \u201cTerra Brister, interim assistant director of holistic student support, said the classes are an important way for students of color to take up space in places historically known to be predominantly white, such as the gym.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hope by offering these classes that students of color will feel more comfortable exploring different forms of wellness and working out,\u201d Brister also remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The University of Minnesota is not the first academic institution to host racially focused workout events. Cornell University, for example, previously offered a rock climbing course \u201cfor people who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or other people of color.\u201d The school eventually allowed white students to attend the rock climbing course after facing media backlash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n