Category: Africana Studies
Student Spotlight: SIU ceremony is black excellence exemplified
Written by Simbiat Lugboso Photos by Toussaint Mitchell The lives of our people and culture are scrutinized every single day because we break the social norm without even trying. We challenge society and prove to the colonizers that although a minority, our black magic is superior. The 15th annual Black Excellence Ceremony on May 5 at SIU proved how amazing…
Read MoreClass of 2018 honored at annual Black Excellence Ceremony
Written by Simbiat Lugboso Photos by Toussaint Mitchell SIU hosted its 15th annual Black Excellence Ceremony on May 5 to celebrate and recognize over 200 graduate and undergraduate students for their academic and leadership achievements. The ceremony featured impactful speeches. Speakers like Janice Cox brought a few people to tears as she explained her journey in life as a “full…
Read MoreLyons named principal of St. Louis prep high school
From the St. Louis American: When Michael Blackshear announced his retirement in November after serving as Cardinal Ritter College Prep’s principal for 10 years, many were wondering who would be able to “fill those big shoes.” “He’d almost become synonymous with Cardinal Ritter College Prep,” said Tamiko Armstead, president of Cardinal Ritter and a former student under Blackshear. Before Blackshear…
Read MoreLockett elected SIU Student Trustee
From the Southern Illinoisan: Graduate student Brione Lockett will replace Sam Beard as Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s student trustee. Lockett narrowly beat sophomore Josie Arnett in a campus-wide student election, earning 553 votes to Arnett’s 529. The election results were announced Wednesday in the Student Center’s Missouri Room. Student trustees serve one-year terms beginning July 1. The governor designates one…
Read More2nd annual SIU Diversity and Inclusion Conference on March 22-23
From SIU: “Navigating Professional Challenges and Building Opportunities: Creating a Global Citizenry” is the theme for the second annual System Diversity and Inclusion Higher Education Conference coming to Southern Illinois University Carbondale March 22-23. The two-day conference is open to the public. The kick-off is from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 22 at the upper level of Grinnell Hall…
Read MoreStudents plan to launch social media campaign for Africana Studies
Excerpts from the Daily Egyptian and check out the broadcast interview from WSIL TV: To try to save the Africana studies program from being cut, students are putting together a video campaign to raise awareness and support of the department. … The possibility it could still be eliminated is concerning to students like Kelechi Agwuncha, one of the campaign’s organizers.…
Read MoreSIU hires Africana philosophy specialist
From the Daily Egyptian: The newest hire to the philosophy department comes as the first ever at SIU in his area of expertise; professor Alfred Frankowski is the university’s only Africana philosophy specialist. Frankowski focuses on a range of areas within that specialty, including critical philosophy of race, African American and Africana philosophy, aesthetics, post-colonialism and critical genocide studies, according…
Read MoreAfricana Studies elimination delayed; taskforce created
As the SIUC community continues to grapple with the potential impacts of the proposed university re-organization, Chancellor Carlo Montemagno announced that the decision to eliminate the Africana Studies degree program will be deferred for a year. In July, university officials proposed eliminating the Africana Studies bachelor’s degree as part of the Financial Sustainability Plan that was presented to the SIU…
Read MoreBrown pushes students to grow, succeed
The Rev. Joseph Brown, professor of the Africana Studies at SIU, was featured in the Daily Egyptian. The article offers a peek into Brown’s childhood and the impact he has had serving the students of SIU. Here are just a couple of those students in their own words: As a professor, Brown’s students say he pushes them too. “He will…
Read MoreAlumni testify in support of Africana Studies
From the Daily Egyptian: A number of attendees spoke to the board in defense of the Africana studies program. The undergraduate degree program is on the chopping block following Board of Trustees approval of the “Financial Sustainability Plan” in July. This plan would cut about $26 million from the university, including seven degree programs. The bachelor’s in Africana studies is…
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