18 DetroitDialogue.com May 17, 2017
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How to become the first of many Viveka Borum wants to see more women of color in STEM
RHS STENTOR
Students had the chance to site-see while touring colleges in D.C. Renaissance students learned more than just the history of each HBCU.
STUDENTS TOUR HBCUs
During the visit students spent a week asking questions to college representatives and interacting with peers whom they never met By Taylor Gribble RHS Stentor The Midnight Golf Program, Empowerment Church, and the First Rate organization departed for a week-long tour of historical black colleges. The college tour is designed to give high school students a chance to see what college is like from a college perspective. For students it includes walking around campus partnered with a college student.
The tour is also designed to encourage students to envision all of the educational possibilities. “Never let someone decide your future,” said Chardonne’ B, a chaperone. During the visit students asked questions to college representatives and interacted with peers whom they never met. “It was nice to see the different campuses and what it would be like to live there,” said RHS junior Eniah Hill.
On one day students visited three colleges, being introduced to a range of careers. “I plan on majoring in law and attending Florida A&M,” said sophomore Dameon Todd. Beyond the academic aspects of HBCUs, students had the opportunity to see sororities and fraternities, as well as prominent statues and graves. Students even saw the “Q’s” step. Some plan on pledging in college to learn what the brother- and sisterhood means in that context.
OPINION
Detroit needs its own Coachella By Chandra Fleming RHS Stentor Detroit needs a new event that will show off the youth and community in a good light. A “Detroit Coachella” musical festival could be the beginning, but some restrictions are needed to prevent it from turning chaotic. Coachella is a popular weeklong musical festival that
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occurs annually in Coachella, California during the spring. Popular musical artists such as Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Martin Garrix, and Radiohead perform with hundreds of other artists. The event plays hip hop, reggae, pop, electric and rock’n roll, among other genres. Detroit already hosts several music festivals, such as the Marshall Blues Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, Movement and Tibbits. Most of these festivals, however, are for people who enjoy
Adviser: Kyle Goodall Crain Mentors: Omari Gardner & Mike Lewis
electric, blues, and jazz. If Detroit were to have a weeklong musical festival with over one hundred performers, it would need a venue and sponsorship. Three venues that could work include Hart Plaza, Chene Park and Belle Isle. These venues are large, and can hold massive crowds. Major artists already have performed at these venues, including Lil Wayne, Jean-Luc Ponty, Erykah Badu and Monica. While the promise of such
an event is there, it would need sponsors. Perhaps artists from Detroit could donate to the event or even perform; they might even bring some of their musical friends to perform with them. Another source is the city government, because the event would generate revenues for the city and also bring tourists. If this event is successful it could bring new cultures to Michigan and give Detroit a new feel. We would be known for than just automotive manufacturing. We could become known as a city that holds one of the biggest musical festivals in the world.
By Imani Harris RHS Stentor Her largest wish for people who look like her is for them to have confidence. Viveka Borum, a 36-year-old professor at Spelman College was used to being the only black woman in the room and never imagined being in the position she is in now. She’s the first-generation to graduate college in her family, born to blue-collar parents who never wanted her to work in a factory. She was “almost always the only black female in” her college courses at Wayne State University and Columbia University. “[The racial divide] was very intimidating, but I never considered leaving because of it. Failure is not an option for me,” Borum said. Lack of African American support was a struggle for Viveka, she had no one who looked like her to mentor her. No one who understood why her position was such a huge deal, and no one who could relate to her. Still, Borum pushed on. Her individuality was her driving force. At Columbia University, Dr. Borum conducted extensive research on African Americans in mathematics, and noticed the lack of diversity in the STEM fields. She also saw the lack of conversation on HBCUs producing more STEM graduates than PWI’s. Viveka wanted the world to know that Black people have been and can be successful in STEM jobs. Studies done by the National Institutes of Health show that the top ten producers of students who graduate with their doctorate in STEM attend HBCUs. Still, statistics from the New Republic show that Black people only hold 6% of the jobs See MATH on page 19 »
Staff Writers: Tori Armstrong, Camaria Beasley, Jalynn Bell, Jasmine, Betts, Cydni Bonds, Zaire Bridges, Autumn Chambers, Mark Cornelius, Kristina Davis, Chandra Fleming, Kristen Gibbs, Cinque Harris, Imani Harris, Taliah Hoye, Jasmine Jordan, Nyah Lewis, Tylar Lewis, Maisha Massey, Kayla Mccoy, Dasia Moore, Shyanna Mosley, Braia Ogletree, Shaina Petty, Makayla Rand, Tariq Reid, Semaj Rogers, Sage Sanders,, Erika Spivey, Andrea Square, A’Lyse Thomas, Taylar Williams, Inglyand Anderson, Jacob Boyd, Sheridan Branch, Erynn Brantley-Ridgew, Sasha Burts, MaKaylah Butler, Montex Butts, Tamia Calloway, Alano Carter, Catera Chambers, Djiby Coulibaly, Tavion Curry, Kynlyn Dalton, Shakyra Davis, Ma’at Dismuke-Beaver, Destiny Dortch, Meanna Durham, Cydney GardnerBrown, Haley Gilley, Naimah Green, Taylor Gribble, Dalyn Henderson, Lacie Hudson, Jamaria Johnson, Solomon Lucy, Ceara Mcintosh, Lamarea Moore, Bria Mosby, Dorillion Payne, Myiah Richards, Jordan Robinson, Joseph Roy, Sumone Spivey, Mariah Tucker, Nyree Turner, Kristen Waters, Danielle Williams