By Sabrina Seldon
For seniors, representing Michigan State University on the Homecoming Court is the highest honor. The selection process is thorough, as the candidates must exemplify leadership qualities within their involvement at MSU.
Lily Wenkel, a political science prelaw and psychology major, and Connor Le, a history and political science major, are two of this year’s court members who bring different perspectives and experiences to the Court.
With MSU being considered a predominantly white institution (PWI), it can be hard for students of color to feel represented. Wenkel and Le have experienced this first-hand and have worked hard to become comfortable with their personal identities on a campus that may not have always represented them.
Being an adopted Chinese American raised by white parents, Wenkel knew it was up to her to create an environment she could thrive in. “You have those stepping stones with organizations and clubs to find a community that you are looking for and I think that has to do with a lot of self reflection, what you would like to get out of it and your individual story,” Wenkel said.
Wenkel is proud to have earned the role, using it to show how the campus can foster inclusivity and help students prosper in all aspects of university life.
Le has lived in the Lansing area his whole life, so representing the community is an honor. As President of the Associated Students of Michigan State University, Le felt it was important to carry on the tradition of joining the Court.
Wenkel and Le believe MSU is actively becoming more inclusive, yet, they have witnessed moments of exclusivity, often through administrative failures to address racism and harassment on campus.
Both students were a part of the Asian Pacific American Student Organization at MSU where they became more aware of the misrepresentation of Asian Americans.
“Once some turnovers happened and more welcoming people came into the roles of MSU administration, it became a lot easier and a lot more inclusive,” Le said. “I’d hope that people see that anything they want to do with the university is possible.”
In a PWI, there are cultural and progressive organizations that challenge social norms. Wenkel and Le encourage students to explore these because, without them, some might not be able to see the entirety of what campus has to offer.
“I think they do a good job at fostering an overall diverse community and creating spaces for that,” Wenkel said.
If the representation students seek does not exist, Wenkel and Le push for students to organize a club or community that represents their demographic. “When there aren’t opportunities, we are usually able to facilitate conversations with MSU, and there’s definitely a willingness to change,” Le said.
Le accomplished a great deal at MSU despite facing pushback from the student body and administration over diversity matters regarding representation.
“Anything is possible at MSU if you put your mind to it,” Le said.
Coming to East Lansing from a small town in southern Illinois, Wenkel has demonstrated what it means to build their own path and develop an environment that compliments their identity by working with organizations that promote diversity.
“I think that’s the beauty of MSU, that it is big enough and widespread enough that you can create those communities but also small enough that it feels like home,” Wenkel said.
Le and Wenkel want students to work toward overcoming their fear of rejection by joining or creating spaces where they feel represented on campus. “I knew I couldn’t complain about something if I wasn’t helping myself or doing something to help the situation,” Wenkel said. “I acknowledged the different things I wanted to try.”
As Homecoming Court members, they encourage students to boldly act on their beliefs and create an environment they can be proud of. “I just want to show people they can do it, if they take that chance,” Wenkel said.
Homecoming Court is composed of 10 to 12 students that are recognized for their contributions and involvement within the university.
“The court this year is a good representation of MSU as a whole. There is a mix of good representation of the student body within MSU,” Le said.
Both Le and Wenkel take pride in the work they have done in their three years at MSU and are excited to be able to talk about it. They recognize how much of an honor being on the Court is.
“I am proud and honored to be in the role as there are a lot of people who applied and did not get a spot,” Wenkel said.
To no surprise, Wenkel and Le are good friends as they have similar beliefs and goals. Together, they have been able to inspire each other to keep pushing for more representation. Being in Court together is a full circle moment for both of them.
“Having someone you’re comfortable with in court is very helpful,” Le said.
Wenkel and Le want underclassmen to know they can make MSU their home no matter where they come from. They believe students have every opportunity to succeed — and if those opportunities don’t exist yet, they can create them.