On Aug. 14, 2020, Quinnipiac Today welcomed a new video series, “The Cut.” The video series was created as a platform for students of color to engage in open discussions about social topics. It provided students a safe place to freely have unfiltered conversations with a mentor.

It’s unclear who the creator of “The Cut” was, but the student host, former Quinnipiac student Esau Greene had talked before about how creating the video series felt like it was the right thing to do.

“These dialogues might make some people feel uncomfortable, but they’re important. You can’t turn a blind eye to them,” Greene told Quinnipiac Today in 2020.

“The Cut” talked about many topics that varied from fun conversations like the memories of their first time in a barber shop to serious topics like coping mechanisms.

The show was an amazing idea for Quinnipiac students to feel included in the community. But unfortunately the show had ended shortly after its second season. It’s unclear on why production and filming stopped, but I think Quinnipiac should reconsider starting the show again.

I have personally found that the best conversations always tend to happen at the salon or at the barbershop.

Salons and barbershops naturally have a comforting environment where conversing feels safe. They also have a diverse group of people which gives for an open discussion with multiple perspectives on a topic.

The setting of “The Cut” being put together as a barbershop already sets a relaxing tone. The  Quinnipiac student body is 79% white, with 5% identifying as Black or African American and 4.3% as Hispanic or Latino, according to Quinnipiac’s 2023 statistics. These numbers highlight the university’s diversity challenges, which can sometimes make students of color feel isolated.

But with a video series like “The Cut,” it could help students from diverse backgrounds feel more included at Quinnipiac. This series will give an opportunity to students to talk freely and not feel intimidated to talk openly on topics that they might not feel so comfortable talking about with a person not from their community.

Bringing back a series like this could be extremely educational for students and staff, providing an opportunity to hear the perspectives of their fellow Quinnipiac colored community members. It would help foster important conversations that could be uncomfortable but that are needed. Beyond serious discussions, the series could also feature lighthearted conversations that could be entertaining to watch.

I feel like as a college we need more platforms for students to feel safe to share their views on social topics. Especially students of color. It’ll also help Quinnipiac create a good example of inclusion for future color students who want to enroll and want to feel comfortable and safe in their future campus.

If this video series were to reappear I would suggest for Quinnipiac to make a version for both girls and boys. I only suggest that because it’ll help the series feel more inclusive and it will also gain a larger audience since Quinnipiac is made of 59.3% of females.

Bringing back “The Cut” or a new series that is similar will be extremely beneficial for students and as well for the professional facility of. “The Cut” is a perfect series for both educational and entertainment. It’s a series that should be worked to be brought back onto campus.