Racial Awareness Pilot Program (RAPP)

Steger Student Life Center is home to the offices of UC’s Racial Awareness Pilot Program. Established in 1985, RAPP is a nine-month-long social justice focused racial awareness program. This program was founded after insensitive statements by the white student government president recommending eliminating every African American student organization on the campus at the University of Cincinnati. This white student leader, James Baroni, sought to stop funding of these groups, stating that “these organizations would segregate the student body and replicate existing student organizations.” These statements led to student protests, the preservation of African American organizations, and the creation of the RAPP. Linda Bates Parker, one of the founders of RAPP, stated it was intended to be a place where students could explore the boundaries of race and discuss questions one has about race in a protected environment. After several decades, RAPP has helped thousands of students critically explore issues of race in America and at UC.