Dedicated to Better Discourse

When first arriving at Oakland University in 2019, Markeal Williams says he wanted to do something to “break the spell” of people’s tendency to separate themselves into groups based on their similarities. Since then, he has undertaken numerous projects to foster understanding across the traditional barriers of race, ethnicity and political views.

A hurdler and jumper on the track and field team, Williams is OU’s campus representative for the Horizon League’s #OneHL working group, which seeks to promote meaningful change and social action. He also serves on OU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Athletic Committee; and Track and Field Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Club. This year, his hard work was recognized with an OU Keeper of the Dream Award, which offers scholarships to students who demonstrate academic achievement and leadership on diversity issues. Even his choice of major, psychology, is rooted in community service.

Williams’ community engagement work goes back to his high school days, when he volunteered with two different mentorship programs. Growing up in Southern Florida, he was accustomed to great diversity and conversations that crossed social boundaries. Williams wants to promote that same spirit at OU.

“I want to be a part of something that makes it comfortable for people to want to be uncomfortable,” he says.

For example, as part of his work with the Horizon League, Williams recently spearheaded an event that examined the topic of privilege. Williams invited members of both the cross-country and track and field teams, among whom he’s worked to foster a greater sense of unity, to discuss the privileges that each of them hold.

“These are people you see every day, but you may not fully know some of the things that they are affected by, which ultimately affects how they interact with you, how they interact with the world and the things they can achieve,” he says.

Williams has spearheaded a variety of similar activities on campus, including a banner signing event that engaged students in pledging to support unity and acceptance, a voter registration event and a Black History Month event that educated students on Black leaders’ accomplishments. Williams feels he has been successful so far in his goal of promoting dialogue between people who otherwise might never speak to one another.

“Even if they learn they have strong differences, or they have opinions that are polar opposites, they can have a conversation and educate themselves,” he says.