October 10th: 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MILLION MAN MARCH
Join the Black Student Alliance in celebrating its 45th Annual Black Culture Week! Many thanks to our wonderful sponsors - The Department of Politics; the Department of History; the Department of Sociology; the Department of Anthropology; the Carter G. Woodson Institute for African-American and African Studies; the Department of English; the Studio Art Program for the McIntire School of the Arts; the Carl H. and Martha S. Linder Center for Art History; the Center for Politics; the Vice Provost for Global Affairs; the University Guide Service; and the University Judiciary Committee - the for all of their support in putting on this week of important events! Please stay tuned for exact times and locations!
Sunday, October 25th, 2015: Gregory Swanson 65 Year Commemoration
Monday, October 26th, 2015: The Food Migration
Tuesday, October 27th, 2015: Akosua Adoma Owusu Presentation
Wednesday, October 28th, 2015: Creative Mediums of Black Art
Thursday, October 29th, 2015: Professor Adolph Reed Keynote
Friday, October 30th, 2015: Poetry Slam with GOOD CLEAR SOUND
Sunday, October 25th, 2015: Gregory Swanson 65 Year Commemoration
Monday, October 26th, 2015: The Food Migration
Tuesday, October 27th, 2015: Akosua Adoma Owusu Presentation
Wednesday, October 28th, 2015: Creative Mediums of Black Art
Thursday, October 29th, 2015: Professor Adolph Reed Keynote
Friday, October 30th, 2015: Poetry Slam with GOOD CLEAR SOUND
The Black Monologues
45th Annual Black Culture Week!
Join BSA, NAACP at UVa, the Young Black Professionals Network, and members of the Charlottesville Community on Saturday, October 10th at the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March! College Students can attend at a reduced rate of $20.00. Sign up here!
Summer Updates
Hello all!
We hope your summers are going well! This email is comprised of summer updates that you may be interested in. Below you will find the winner of the Black Ball Scholarship, the recipients of the Black Student Alliance and I.M.P. Society: 2015 Social Justice Fellowship, information about The Black Monologues, the link to BSA executive board applications for Marketing Co-Chair and Membership Coordinator, an update on Martese Johnson's case, and general updates on our work in the past months.
Black Ball Scholarship:
Congratulations to incoming first-year student, Shadelle Gregory for receiving the Black Student Alliance Black Ball Scholarship! Thank you to all who applied, and we thank everyone who attended the 2015 Black Ball and this scholarship possible!
Black Student Alliance and I.M.P. Society: 2015 Social Justice Fellowship:
Congratulations to Laura Henderson, Pooja Datta, Malachi Richardson, Krishtine Phillips, Paula Aduen, Andrea Xisto, Antoinette Thomas, and Logan Dandridge! Thank you for your work to improve our community in various ways, and we look forward to seeing the completion of your projects!
The Black Monologues:
The Black Student Alliance and Paul Robeson Players are embarking on a new project this fall, called The Black Monologues. The Black Monologues will be a theatrical production about what it means to different people from various backgrounds to be Black, especially at UVA and in the Charlottesville community. We are currently looking for people to be a part of this project. We especially would like to fill the positions of stage manager, and tech director. We are also collecting student-written pieces to include in the production. There’s plenty to do, from lighting, to publicity, to acting and everything in between!
Let us know if you’d like to be a part of this project (or if you you know someone else who might be interested) by filling out the interest form, replying to this email, submitting a piece, or contacting Micah or Audrey. Feel free to forward this email and spread the word. You would be a major asset to this endeavor. We’d love to have you!
Update on Martese Johnson's Trial:
A few months ago, Martese Johnson joined the countless ranks of people brutalized by an over militarized and biased law enforcement agency. Though there were no decisions made in his case at his hearing on May 28th, there will be a status hearing on June 12th, at which we hope the charges will be dropped and his name cleared. If not, his trial will proceed on September 30th, and we will continue to fight until it is and until justice prevails. This fight also includes but is not limited to bias screenings for officers before they are hired, body cameras, and clear, consistent, and publicized policies that guide officers' use of force.
We thank you all for your support of Martese and more broadly of our ongoing struggle for equity and humanity in law enforcement and the American justice system.
Update on Steps Taken Since the Release of "Towards A Better University":
Since releasing the document, "Towards A Better University," we've met with administrators and law enforcement representatives in the community. We've discussed curriculum changes, orientation, allocation of resources, and how to improve relationships between law enforcement and the community. Although these are the initial steps of a long journey, we have faith that with continued pressure and continued outward engagement and support, we can indeed move towards a better university and Charlottesville community. Below you can find a more detailed timeline describing with whom we have met, and what has been discussed.
April 29th: Met with Dean Groves. We discussed possible changes that might be made to summer orientation to better prime students to engage with the topic of race on Grounds.
April 29th: Met with Board of Visitors members, namely Allison DiNardo and Rusty Conner. Discussed the Black student experience and its variations. In brainstorming ways by which to improve this, we discussed hiring more Black faculty as retirement accelerates in the next three years, expanding the physical space and access to it for Black students, and increasing funding for organizations that promote the culture of our community.
May 7th: Met with President Sullivan, Vice President of Student Affairs Pat Lampkin, and Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Ian Baucom. We discussed extending the hours of operation of OAAA buildings, changes to the curriculum, recruitment and retention of Black faculty and Black students, and the role that Housing and Residence Life might play in creating a more harmonious community.
May 11th: Met with Dean Apprey, Dean Mason, and Dean Bassett of OAAA. Discussed extending the operating hours of the Luther Porter Jackson House and making it a more open space for Black students to use, and in which to congregate. Discussed resource allocation, revamping the BSA office in the WEB DuBois Center, and how OAAA can regularly connect with more students.
May 12th: Met with Charlottesville Police Department Chief Longo. Discussed the prospect of an officer athletics league to engage local youth, and other ways officers might become more engaged with the community. Also discussed the adoption and distribution of cards, which contain information about citizens' rights pertaining to a law enforcement encounter in the community.
Thank you very much for your support in these endeavors. If you have any questions about what BSA is working on or how to get further involved, please email us anytime at bsaatuva@gmail.com. Have a great summer!
In Solidarity,
The Black Student Alliance at the University of Virginia
We hope your summers are going well! This email is comprised of summer updates that you may be interested in. Below you will find the winner of the Black Ball Scholarship, the recipients of the Black Student Alliance and I.M.P. Society: 2015 Social Justice Fellowship, information about The Black Monologues, the link to BSA executive board applications for Marketing Co-Chair and Membership Coordinator, an update on Martese Johnson's case, and general updates on our work in the past months.
Black Ball Scholarship:
Congratulations to incoming first-year student, Shadelle Gregory for receiving the Black Student Alliance Black Ball Scholarship! Thank you to all who applied, and we thank everyone who attended the 2015 Black Ball and this scholarship possible!
Black Student Alliance and I.M.P. Society: 2015 Social Justice Fellowship:
Congratulations to Laura Henderson, Pooja Datta, Malachi Richardson, Krishtine Phillips, Paula Aduen, Andrea Xisto, Antoinette Thomas, and Logan Dandridge! Thank you for your work to improve our community in various ways, and we look forward to seeing the completion of your projects!
The Black Monologues:
The Black Student Alliance and Paul Robeson Players are embarking on a new project this fall, called The Black Monologues. The Black Monologues will be a theatrical production about what it means to different people from various backgrounds to be Black, especially at UVA and in the Charlottesville community. We are currently looking for people to be a part of this project. We especially would like to fill the positions of stage manager, and tech director. We are also collecting student-written pieces to include in the production. There’s plenty to do, from lighting, to publicity, to acting and everything in between!
Let us know if you’d like to be a part of this project (or if you you know someone else who might be interested) by filling out the interest form, replying to this email, submitting a piece, or contacting Micah or Audrey. Feel free to forward this email and spread the word. You would be a major asset to this endeavor. We’d love to have you!
Update on Martese Johnson's Trial:
A few months ago, Martese Johnson joined the countless ranks of people brutalized by an over militarized and biased law enforcement agency. Though there were no decisions made in his case at his hearing on May 28th, there will be a status hearing on June 12th, at which we hope the charges will be dropped and his name cleared. If not, his trial will proceed on September 30th, and we will continue to fight until it is and until justice prevails. This fight also includes but is not limited to bias screenings for officers before they are hired, body cameras, and clear, consistent, and publicized policies that guide officers' use of force.
We thank you all for your support of Martese and more broadly of our ongoing struggle for equity and humanity in law enforcement and the American justice system.
Update on Steps Taken Since the Release of "Towards A Better University":
Since releasing the document, "Towards A Better University," we've met with administrators and law enforcement representatives in the community. We've discussed curriculum changes, orientation, allocation of resources, and how to improve relationships between law enforcement and the community. Although these are the initial steps of a long journey, we have faith that with continued pressure and continued outward engagement and support, we can indeed move towards a better university and Charlottesville community. Below you can find a more detailed timeline describing with whom we have met, and what has been discussed.
April 29th: Met with Dean Groves. We discussed possible changes that might be made to summer orientation to better prime students to engage with the topic of race on Grounds.
April 29th: Met with Board of Visitors members, namely Allison DiNardo and Rusty Conner. Discussed the Black student experience and its variations. In brainstorming ways by which to improve this, we discussed hiring more Black faculty as retirement accelerates in the next three years, expanding the physical space and access to it for Black students, and increasing funding for organizations that promote the culture of our community.
May 7th: Met with President Sullivan, Vice President of Student Affairs Pat Lampkin, and Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Ian Baucom. We discussed extending the hours of operation of OAAA buildings, changes to the curriculum, recruitment and retention of Black faculty and Black students, and the role that Housing and Residence Life might play in creating a more harmonious community.
May 11th: Met with Dean Apprey, Dean Mason, and Dean Bassett of OAAA. Discussed extending the operating hours of the Luther Porter Jackson House and making it a more open space for Black students to use, and in which to congregate. Discussed resource allocation, revamping the BSA office in the WEB DuBois Center, and how OAAA can regularly connect with more students.
May 12th: Met with Charlottesville Police Department Chief Longo. Discussed the prospect of an officer athletics league to engage local youth, and other ways officers might become more engaged with the community. Also discussed the adoption and distribution of cards, which contain information about citizens' rights pertaining to a law enforcement encounter in the community.
Thank you very much for your support in these endeavors. If you have any questions about what BSA is working on or how to get further involved, please email us anytime at bsaatuva@gmail.com. Have a great summer!
In Solidarity,
The Black Student Alliance at the University of Virginia