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Afrikan Student Union at UCLA Releases Demands

by admin 10/23/2015

written by admin

Recently the African Student Union at UCLA released a set of demands to UCLA administration in the hopes of creating a more welcoming environment for African American students on campus. Here is what they said:

Black students at UCLA are consistently made the targets of racist attacks by fellow students, faculty, and administration. Unfortunately, on October 6, 2015, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and Alpha Phi Sorority, threw a “Kanye Western” themed party. Black students at the party witnessed many acts of cultural insensitivity and cultural appropriation of Black culture through costumes. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that such acts of violence have happened towards Black students and students of color in general. Throughout the past 5 years alone, there have been many racist and insensitive incidents at UCLA. In 2010, there were “Still Filthy” t-shirts being sold in the UCLA store with the Mexican symbols on them, in 2011, the infamous “Asians in the Library” video was created. In 2012, there were racist slurs written on a Latina students’ apartment door, a law professor published an article that UCLA was favoring admissions of Black and Latino Students, and there were hateful flyers and graffiti targetting Asian women. In 2013, there was a report that found discrimination of faculty had little to no support from administrators. In 2014, there was hate mail and hostility directed toward Black law students, and in 2015 there were racist stickers posted outside of the Afrikan Student Union office, and a racially insensitive party thrown. Time and time again, we see UCLA administration pushing our issues under the rug. UCLA continues to fail students of color, by not responding, or taking any steps towards the improvement of campus climate. This university has a history of a poor racial climate, and we, as the Afrikan Student Union, will not take it anymore. This year will be the 50th year the Afrikan Student Union on campus, however, 50 years later we are struggling with many of the same issues as our ancestors and elders did in 1966. This is unacceptable. The university must do all it can to make sure that Black students, only 4% of the student body, feel welcomed and safe at the university that was built on our backs. UCLA must follow in the steps of sister campuses UC Santa Barbara and UC Berkeley, to support Black students during such a critical time in our history. However, since nothing has been done in recent years, the Afrikan Student Union is DEMANDING that UCLA administrators work with Black students towards the development of a more positive campus climate by the institution of the following programs:

Annual funding for Black student Programming on and off campus. The Afrikan Student Union is one of the largest student organizations, yet, there is no operating budget, and we have to beg the university for every dollar we receive. An annual budget of what it costs to run an effective Black community will be presented to UCLA administration.
A UCLA Anti-discrimination policy. It is a shame that discriminatory and racist incidents continue to happen on campus, and those responsible do not face any repercussions. An anti-discrimination policy would outline exactly what discriminatory behavior looks like, and what the consequences are when such a policy is violated. Professor Sander broke no policy, the Kanye Western party broke no policy. This is unacceptable.
A $30 million dollar endowment to help support Black students financially, akin to the initiative that is being implemented at UC Berkeley. Many Black students must work 2-3 jobs in order to pay for the continuing rising costs of education. Funding is one of the reasons why many Black students do not apply to UCLA, and also a hindrance to many that are accepted. For a University that is as “diverse” as UCLA, something must be done to make sure that Black students are financially secure.
A commitment to the hiring of more Black faculty across the different academic disciplines. With a rise in Black faculty members, the university will see a rise in Black graduate students. Many Black graduate and undergraduate students have experienced racist sentiments from their respective departments. It will also undoubtedly lead to an increased retention rate for Black students, and other students of color.
Rebranding the Afrikan Diaspora Floor with Residential Life. Black students lack spaces where they feel safe and comfortable. The Afrikan Diaspora floor is a way for us to connect more to other Black students, the Afrikan Student Union, and the Afro-Am department. The floor should be branded as a safe space for all Black students.
The creation and support of a UCLA Afro-house. Many Black students cannot afford to live in westwood with the high prices of rent. An Afro-house would provide a cheaper alternative housing solution for Black students, that would also serve as a safe space for Black Bruins to congregate and learn from each other.
Create a student advisory board for the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Equity Diversity and Inclusion. This will make sure students are able to hold UCLA administration accountable, and also work with administration in their charge to improve campus climate.
Provide additional funding for the hiring of an additional Black admission officer to increase the amount of Black students applying and being accepted to UCLA. The University should also provide additional funding to the access programs on campus targeting Black students and students of color. These programs include SHAPE (Students Heightening Academic Performance through Education), VIPs, and EAOP.
Create a UCLA community schools in a predominately Black Area of Los Angeles. Black Students are one of the smallest populations at UCLA, and the university should be doing all it can to reach out to them. Currently community schools are 80% Latino and 14% Asian. UCLA should be focusing on its smallest populations of Black and American Indian students.
Creation of a Black Student Leadership Task Force, comprised of Black alumni, students, Faculty, and Staff. Black student leaders are some of the hardest working people on campus, and lack institutionalized support from other members of the campus community would make Black student leaders have higher retention rate, and more training.

The Afrikan Student Union is committed to make sure that our demands are met. Given the nature of our demands, we understand that it might take time to see them accomplished. Therefore, the Afrikan Student Union would like to hear an initial response by October 22, 2015, and have a follow up meeting with the Chancellor within 3 weeks. The Afrikan Student Union is calling on regular, consistent meetings with UCLA administrators to ensure the accomplishment of our demands.

It is our Duty to fight for our freedom

It is our Duty to win

We have nothing to lose but our chains
Afrikan Student Union at UCLA

10/23/2015 0 comments

Daniel Johnson, UCLA’s First BSU President

by 02/24/2014

written by

Prepared to flourish in a new setting, Daniel Johnson eagerly left his home state of Alabama to attend UCLA in the fall of 1964. Johnson entered the university wanting to demonstrate his intelligence, but was quickly taken aback after he failed his placement exams that were required for admittance at the time. He sought help through prep courses, and the following quarter he became a Bruin.

Johnson’s situation made him aware of a greater truth: just because an individual may not have the ability to do something, it does not mean they do not have the capability. It was due to his own experiences that Johnson wanted to help students like him find their way on the UCLA campus.

Johnson established The High Potential Program (HPP) as a way for students, who had the capability to be successful, to get the benefit of a UCLA education. He conceived the idea, structured it, and sold the chancellor on the program. Through a Teen Opportunity Program recruitment center located in South Central, kids were recruited for the High Potential Program. A staff of UCLA students would canvas the community for future Bruins. Preliminary assessments were conducted to define what level their admissions would be. It was then decided what kind of courses the kids would be allowed to take. Some students were determined to take university courses, while others took some preparatory courses. Everyone involved with the program was eligible for financial support and received financial aid. The program’s goal was to find students with high potential and strong leadership skills that may not have been reflected in their academics. There was also the goal of bridging the academic gap for these students and providing them with economic, emotional, and social support.

The High Potential Program eventually developed into what is now the Academic Advancement Program (AAP). AAP strives to help students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education the opportunity to succeed. Unfortunately, as the High Potential Program evolved into AAP, the ability for the program to admit students to the university was lost.

In the spring of 1967, the president of the UCLA African-American student group, Harambee, graduated resulting in the need of a new administrative structure. Johnson was nominated for the position, but he declined due to time devotion. Instead, Art Williams took the position. So how did Johnson eventually become president? “We staged a coo,” he exclaimed.

Later that fall, Johnson and Williams were not seeing eye-to-eye on different issues. As a result, Johnson and his friends legally overthrew Williams. After calling for a special election, Johnson won the position of President. It was also during this time that a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) operative was going around California to form a network of Black student unions. When approached, Johnson did not want to change from Harambee to the Black Student Union (BSU) and lose their Afrikan identity, but when put to a vote, it passed. From that point the group was deemed BSU making Johnson the first president of BSU at UCLA.

While heading BSU, Johnson felt it was important to have a place for Black students to speak on issues relevant to them. “There were no Black reporters on the Daily Bruin [staff]…there was no reporting of the news on the Black students in UCLA, except for the athletes,” explained Johnson. Sometimes members of BSU or Johnson himself would write columns that would appear in the Daily Bruin, but they had no media outlet to call their own. It was at this point that NOMMO was created.

“NOMMO was envisioned as the organ for African-American students at UCLA, the organ for African-American grad students at UCLA, the organ for African-American staff and faculty at UCLA, and the voice of the African-American community in Los Angeles,” said Johnson, “And that was the basis on which we sold it.”

Johnson appointed Marcia Brown as the first Editor-in-Chief of NOMMO in 1968. With a passion for journalism and the common struggle of minority communities, Brown seemed a fitting choice.

During the time Johnson was at UCLA for his undergraduate degree, the racial climate was thick both on and off campus. “The mood on campus was reflective of the national mood. It was a very mixed bag,” he explained. However, overall Johnson felt that the mood on campus while not overly friendly was positive and progressive. He did explain that not everyone felt as he did, but as a man coming from segregated Alabama, he felt he was in a better setting than before. Johnson continued, “We need to be doing more to get along on the campus [and] UCLA was a leader in that right.”

As Black History Month continues, it is important to recognize the different contributions that have been made by African Americans. “Not enough credit has been given to Black students for taking lead on everything,” argued Johnson.

As Johnson shows through his story, one student is able to accomplish a lot, and by recognizing the accomplishments of such individuals, we remember the progress that has been made and can still be made.

02/24/2014 0 comments

Is There Still Ways To Go?

by 03/20/2012

written by

By Christina Gabrielle Anderson

On February 25, 2012, in the Northwest Auditorium, the Afrikan Student Union hosted a Black History Extravaganza that highlighted historical snapshots of our past from Afrika to America. In eras, such as the Harlem Renaissance to the Civil Rights Movement, Afro- Americans were making progressive steps to change. But in our current era, that will one day be considered history, are we progressing as people?

From a famous speech written four decades ago by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Marques Watson a fourth year Political Science major states, “We’ve come a long long way, but we have a long long way to go.”

Some believe that Afrikan- Americans have seen some of the worst of times, but today is the best it has ever been. Banking on Barack Obama being a black president, many believe we have passed our barriers and are living in a post-racial society. While others have the same mindset of Dr. King four decades ago.

Jenae Jones, a fourth year Psychology and Afro- American Studies Major, believes that,“We have progressed, but at the same time history is somewhat repeating itself within our community.” She refers to the images we allow portrayed of Afrikan American people that reinforce negative stereotypes. Images like gangbanging, saggin’, killing, drugs and exploitation of black women. It is almost as if we are going backwards instead of forward.

However, Briana Jones, a third year Political Science Major, states that,“Being able to speak out about the injustices [we have faced] is coming a long way.” We have come “from being owned to being owner,” which is profound in itself.

Nonetheless, Black people are not utilizing this personal power. Four decades from now when ASU presents another Black History Extravaganza, people should recognize the advancement we accomplished as a people in this era rather than the setbacks. Jones encourages, “We need to turn a critical eye on ourselves.”

03/20/2012 51 comments