Campus Events: Racial Prejudice and Soul Food Night

That's Thursday the 25th, sorry.

In Reid, not Redi, jeez!

Campus Event: Haiti-Past, Present and Future

With the 4th highest African diaspora population, it is no surprise that Haiti is yet another major focus for this years Black History Month. Along with its remarkable cuisine, the country boasts a rich culture and a fascinating history.

Come listen in on Professor Woodfork's talk, as she traces Haiti's historical path and discusses the chronology of events which have shaped Haiti into the nation it is today. 

What: Haiti - Past, Present & Future!!

Where: Maxey 102

When: Thursday, February 18th 

Time: 4:30pm

-------- SNACKS WILL BE PROVIDED!!---------

More Photos from the Candlelight Vigil

 

  

Laetitiah rallies the crowd

 
 

Lindsay Olson plays the violin

 
 

  

view from the top, Memorial front lawn

 

The Candlelight Vigil

Last Thursday February 12, Whitman's Haiti Relief Initiative (HRI) and Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, in sponsorship with BSU hosted a Candlelight Vigil on the steps of Memorial Building to commemorate all those who lost their life in the tragic earthquake in Haiti, one month before.

The event began with some opening remarks by the Religious and Spiritual Life's coordinator, Adam Kirtley, who welcomed everyone and expressed thanks for coming.

BSU member Robert Crenshaw and BSUs and HRIs Laetitiah Magara look on as Adam Kirtley gives opening remarks

This was followed by a passionate, touching, and rousing speech by Laetitiah Magara, who urged us to keep Haiti in our minds in the months and years to follow.

 

  

Her riveting speech captured the minds--and hearts--of the crowd...

...and left us with much to think about as thoughts of Haiti weighed heavily on our hearts.

 

Lucia, Associate Dean of Students Mukulu Mweu, Robert Crenshaw, and HRIs founder Adam Delgado think deeply on Laetitiah's words

  We then took a moment to bow our heads as Whitman student Lindsay Olson played a touching song on the violin for Haiti.

 

Lindsay Olson skillfully plays the violin

Another sorrowful silence followed as candles were lighted...

...and many tender moments created as people took time out of their busy schedules to remember Haiti.

 

  

Then Whitman professor Katrina Roberts read the thought-provoking poem Ports of Sorrow by Haitian-American author and professor' at Brown University, Patrick Sylvain.

 

Students look on as professor Roberts delivers an excellent reading of the poem

 

Adam and I shelter our flames while meditating on the poem

The event came to a end with HRI cofounder Jack Lazar gave closing remarks and a call-to-action.

  

  

Undoubtedly, Haiti will not soon leave our minds.

 

People to Know: Henrietta Lacks

 

Henrietta Lacks and her husband

Henrietta Lacks was a poor black tobacco farmer in the 1950s.   The first immortal cells ever grown were used from her tissue sample and were given the identity "HeLa cells".

Her cell were used in many scientific breakthroughs including developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and vitro fertilization. Her cells were even sent to space during the first space missions to test determine possible effects on the human body.

Find out more about Henrietta Lacks at Smithsonianmag.com

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy (late) Valentine's Day from BSU!! Hope yours was as eventful as mine!

Behind the Scenes: More Pics from the Dances!

February 6th: The Black n' White Dance:

Olivia, our historian, plays shy and hides from the camera

Nick and I, getting picture happy

Laetitiah stands tall

Ben Wu, from the Intercultural Center, who helped made our night a success!

Me, in vertigo

January 23rd:

Yonas and Tumi discuss the playlist for the dance

Olivia, Allan, Tumi, and our advisor Nadine Knight flash their bright smiles

BSU Dance Pt 2: Black n' White

People, people!

After much request, BSU put on an unheard of second dance this semester!

As you may all recall, the speakers blew out at the last dance and while the night was saved, BSU members overheard, were texted, facebooked, and received many requests for another one. We appreciated the love and after careful planning, we made it happen! Again.

Yeah, we're cool!

As Black History Month was fast approaching, we came up with the genius idea to open our event-packed month with the dance! The theme this year for BHM is "The History of Black Economic Empowerment" and Tumi, one of our co-presidents, tossed some ideas around for a dance theme that would blend with our month theme.

Allan listening to Tumi toss some ideas around

At last, we decided on the theme of Black n' White, which not only fits our theme, but looks cool and is classic--literally.

As was to be expected, the dance was another great success, and this time when party-goers walked out of the Ballroom's double doors, they did so feeling satisfied.

Yeah, wassup!

We also raised another thirty-five dollars towards Haiti and Partners in Health for a grand total of nearly 600 dollars! Way to go Whitman, and BSU!

People to Know: Michael Eric Dyson

Michael Eric Dyson is the author of sixteen books, ranging from Tupac to Bill Cosby to Martin Luther King, Jr., on issues facing Black America. He is celebrated for his interest and discussion of hip-hop and the culture that surrounds it, as well as its roots in African and African-American cultures and its influence on American popular culture. In addition to his writing career, Dyson juggles the great responsibility of being the University Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University.

Check out some of his famous works like Why I Love Black Women, Holler If You Hear Me, Know What I Mean?, and Come Hell or High Water on his website www.michaelerickdyson.com.

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People to Know...

Name five famous African-Americans.

This statement stumps many people, not just around America, but right here on our Whitman campus. In an effort to abolish a stigma that has been created about Black people, namely that they are only basketball players, rappers, singers, football players--athletes and entertainers, essentially--and not people that have contributed to the world in many other ways, BSU is taking the initiative and addressing this issue with its People to Know in February. A big part of celebrating Black History Month is by raising awareness of Black peoples' accomplishments. Whitman's BSU is doing its part by celebrating a list of African-Americans we feel are inspiring and in some cases, not very well known.

Every week, we release at least two of these inspirational people with a brief description of their work and why they are (0r should be more) famous. These will be distributed around campus. Hopefully by the end of this month, the answer to this simple question will not only yield "uh...Barack Obama? Beyonce?" and Lil' Wayne, but some of the other less-known ones such as Michael Eric Douglas, Mae Jemison, and Michael M. Burns.

Look out for these on campus. Stay tuned.

BSU Dance Pt 1: Lil Jon and Dance for a Difference

"To the windowwwww, to the walls!"

Remember that?

Those were the infamous last sung lyrics at our BSU Dance on January 23rd. But let's start from the beginning.

The Men's Basketball game was that night and it was pretty exciting. Many of our members ( I saw Sarah, Yonas, Laetitiah...others) were there supporting our team.

So understandably, the night was off to a slow start considering when the dance started, the game wasn't even over yet.

Whitman's Justin Artis and Brandon Shaw puttin' it on at the game

But the night got better. By eleven, people started trickling in and by 11:20, the party was in full swing.

Partay!!!

Then around 11:40 pm while the crowd-pleasing hit "Get Low" was playing, the music cut leaving the crowd at a loss.

Our fantastic DJs Chris Barton and Graham of The Indestructible Space Hamsters didn't know what to do.

Graham and Chris, at a loss

Turns out we had some "technical difficulties", namely, there was too much current going through the same circuit and the speakers blew out.Thankfully, we were able to fix the problem and get the music back thumping.

view from the top

The night came to a slow but definitely memorable end as the Indestructible Space Hamsters closed with their trademark Journey's "Don't Stop Believing".

On a more accomplished note, BSU marketed our "Dance for a Difference" to encourage donations for Haiti, inspired by the devastating earthquake that left Haiti in rubbles just a mere week and some days before.


Whitman Students enthusiastically donated towards BSU's stand with Partners in Health, a non-profit organization that has been established in Haiti for more than twenty-five years!

BSU members Olivia Ware, Bao-Tram Vo and Laetitiah Magara accept donations for Haiti

Their eager donations came as a surprise and throughout the night, donations came flowing in!

BSU members Nick Chow, Allan Okello and Adam Delgado of Haiti Relief Initative accept donations for Haiti

By the night's end, we had raised a whopping 525.14 dollars for Haiti!

Yaaayyyy! Sarah Deming, our Secretary, counts the money we've raised

All in all, the night was a smashing success. We can't wait to do it again!