Digital Exhibits

Amber Benton oral history recording

An audio recording of an oral history of Amber Benton, Pacific University Class of 2009, recounting memories of her time at Pacific as a college student. Topics covered in the recording include: what it was like to be a first-generation student and one of very few Black students at Pacific in the 2000s; living on campus for four years; serving as an RA (Resident Assistant) in Burlingham Hall; serving as a Student Ambassador; becoming involved with Nā Haumāna O Hawai'i, Pacific's Hawaiian student club; performing at Lu'au; going whitewater rafting with Pacific's Outdoor Pursuits; being a Spanish major and participating in Spanish Club; impressions of Pacific's Black Student Union and Black Alumni Chapter after she graduated; changes she has observed at Pacific since she graduated; memories of Pacific's President Phil Creighton; how her time at Pacific connected to her current work in diversity, equity and inclusion; being the victim of a racial hate incident while she was an RA; lack of awareness or celebration of Black culture while she was a student; the value of Pacific's education and how it encouraged critical thinking skills.

This is one of a group of recordings made during a reunion in October, 2024. The recording is accompanied by a transcript.

Benton, Amber

Oct. 2024

Pacific University Archives Memory Lab

Pacific University

Student activities

African American college students

Dormitories

Luaus

Forest Grove, Oregon

1 audio file (19 min.)

English

PUA_OH_59

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Pacific University Archives

MP3

Johnson-Riley, Jenny