Hi Alia. Of course your input is relevant and very much appreciated.
Considering what I've experienced these past three semesters, I would say that I feel differently about what the MIT BSU is. You are certainly right that it *should* be a reflection of what "you" (i.e. its members, Black people, etc.) want it to be, but that just isn't so. What I have seen is that the BSU is a reflection of what very specific people want it to be. When that does not align with what the members want, you run into problems.
i.e. our current situation
Now. I will MOST CERTAINLY give the past eboards this: they have been dealing with incredible apathy. I mean, I can't imagine, though I will soon experience, the frustration of dealing with people who seemingly don't care. But I have to wonder this:
Is it genuine apathy? or Is it not apathy at all but rather disenchantment with (maybe even rebellion against) the current system?
But back to the point...
Pulse, Ebony Affair, etc. are truly beautiful things. These are indications to me that there really is a genuine interest in people at MIT coming together to celebrate and promote a culture. But the glaring thing to me is this:
Why is all of this happening OUTSIDE of the body that was created to be its main proponent?
I think that is the issue to be addressed and it starts with BSU leadership understanding what it is people want.
Just my view.
Andre'
On Feb 13, 2006, at 10:39 PM, dagreen wrote: Ah! So you touched on precisely the point. I feel that in the recent past the BSU has been negating its responsibility to actively asses its constituency and act to its needs. I mean, 40 years ago Black people were just not here. so people put their effort into getting black people here. and they did.
furthermore, Black students were not being adequately integrated into the institution. so different programs were created, offices opened, etc. to address that issue. black students wnated to feel more comfortable at MIT and put their effort into creating a social environment conducive to that. and they did so with the following
OME Chocolate City BSU etc.
and progress has been made and is still continually being made(???).
but it is 2006. we are not dealing with those same problems. there is an office that handles minority recruitment. though we (BSU members) should help, admissions cannot be our focus.
i, like every other black person on this campus who has their eyes even somewhat open, recognize a problem on this campus, though. and interestingly enough, this one is "internal"...
I see ASTOUDING dichotomies formed/forming. Here we go (and before i get all of the emails in great objection, realize that I recognize that their are exceptions. there are always exceptions. these are generalities based on my own observations):
New House v non-New House CC v non-CC (males) Afr/American v non-AA Black male v Black female
Let's just talk about that first one for a second, the one that BSU exec hopes to address quite actively in the upcoming YEAR. Why have people told me, and I'm sure LOTS of others have heard or suspected, that they do not feel comfortable coming to BSU events because it is dominated by NH2 people? There is absolutely no reason for that (from the BSU's perspective; I completely feel where those folks are coming from) and it is the BSU's obligation to address such an issue. I mean, the BSU has de facto (I'm pretty sure I did not use that right, but you know what I'm talkinng about) ignored the MAJORITY of MIT Black students. Sure none of the event emails said "New House only", but there was no effort put forth to get them to come. Damn, let them flatly deny you. Then you can say that you tried and they honestly are not interested.
It is the BSU's duty to form a Black community. Damn. Sometimes it takes effort.
Thats part (a), I guess.
André
p.s. Makinde...this is me venting (i.e. its not directed at you)
Quoting Makinde Adeagbo : I know why the BSU started. What I want to know is, what's the point of the BSU right now.
I also feel like question #2 is part of the answer to the above question. SO feel free to jump in on anything that's relevant.
Considering what I've experienced these past three semesters, I would say that I
feel differently about what the MIT BSU is. You are certainly right that it
*should* be a reflection of what "you" (i.e. its members, Black people, etc.)
want it to be, but that just isn't so. What I have seen is that the BSU is a
reflection of what very specific people want it to be. When that does not
align with what the members want, you run into problems.
i.e. our current situation
Now. I will MOST CERTAINLY give the past eboards this: they have been dealing
with incredible apathy. I mean, I can't imagine, though I will soon
experience, the frustration of dealing with people who seemingly don't care. But I have
to wonder this:
Is it genuine apathy? or
Is it not apathy at all but rather disenchantment with (maybe even rebellion
against) the current system?
But back to the point...
Pulse, Ebony Affair, etc. are truly beautiful things. These are indications to
me that there really is a genuine interest in people at MIT coming together to
celebrate and promote a culture. But the glaring thing to me is this:
Why is all of this happening OUTSIDE of the body that was created to be its main
proponent?
I think that is the issue to be addressed and it starts with BSU leadership
understanding what it is people want.
Just my view.
Andre'
On Feb 13, 2006, at 10:39 PM, dagreen wrote:
Ah! So you touched on precisely the point. I feel that in the recent
past the
BSU has been negating its responsibility to actively asses its
constituency and
act to its needs. I mean, 40 years ago Black people were just not here. so
people put their effort into getting black people here. and they did.
furthermore, Black students were not being adequately integrated into the
institution. so different programs were created, offices opened, etc. to
address that issue. black students wnated to feel more comfortable at MIT and
put their effort into creating a social environment conducive to that. and
they did so with the following
OME
Chocolate City
BSU
etc.
and progress has been made and is still continually being made(???).
but it is 2006. we are not dealing with those same problems. there is an
office that handles minority recruitment. though we (BSU members)
should help,
admissions cannot be our focus.
i, like every other black person on this campus who has their eyes even
somewhat
open, recognize a problem on this campus, though. and interestingly enough,
this one is "internal"...
I see ASTOUDING dichotomies formed/forming. Here we go (and before i
get all of
the emails in great objection, realize that I recognize that their are
exceptions. there are always exceptions. these are generalities based on my
own observations):
New House v non-New House
CC v non-CC (males)
Afr/American v non-AA
Black male v Black female
Let's just talk about that first one for a second, the one that BSU exec hopes
to address quite actively in the upcoming YEAR. Why have people told me, and
I'm sure LOTS of others have heard or suspected, that they do not feel
comfortable coming to BSU events because it is dominated by NH2 people? There
is absolutely no reason for that (from the BSU's perspective; I
completely feel
where those folks are coming from) and it is the BSU's obligation to address
such an issue. I mean, the BSU has de facto (I'm pretty sure I did not use
that right, but you know what I'm talkinng about) ignored the MAJORITY of MIT
Black students. Sure none of the event emails said "New House only",
but there
was no effort put forth to get them to come. Damn, let them flatly
deny you. Then you can say that you tried and they honestly are not
interested.
It is the BSU's duty to form a Black community. Damn. Sometimes it takes
effort.
Thats part (a), I guess.
André
p.s. Makinde...this is me venting (i.e. its not directed at you)
Quoting Makinde Adeagbo :
I know why the BSU started. What I want to know is, what's the point
of the BSU right now.
I also feel like question #2 is part of the answer to the above
question. SO feel free to jump in on anything that's relevant.
-Makinde
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