Uhuru na Umoja - September 21, 2021

Uhuru na umoja Tuesday, September 21, 2021

an ethnic supplement of The Collegian

The Black Student voice of California State University, Fresno, since 1969

Transition Back To Campus

by Zion Sanders

Zion Sanders • Uhuru Na Umoja

Being back on campus has been a new experience for incoming students, specifically last year’s freshmen and transfer classes, but the whole student body needed to adjust due to the pandemic causing the world to shift gears from in-person to online classes. Being back oncampus is new territory for some and back to familiar stomping grounds for many.

My experience of being on campus is brand new. This is my first time being at school and getting acquainted with being a college student.

The transition of coming back has been an adjustment because the last time I was on campus was my senior year of high school. Now that I am in college, it is a different experience. I have to be more independent with everything from housing to transportation. This change has allowed me to grow in all aspects of my life and come into my own.

Walking around campus and seeing everyone again has been a sense of normalcy. As we go to our classes and speak to each other from afar, I am able to talk with others about how this change from in-person

to online to back in person has been.

Jaimee Sanders, a senior, majoring in psychology and minoring in urban civic education said, “transitioning from online back to in-person has been great. It is my last year, so hearing that I’ll be able to spend it back on campus was very exciting to me. Though we are operating through unprecedented times I am excited to see what this year holds for us!” Talking with her about this transition was eye-opening. Comparing our journeys through this transition has shown the effects it’s had.

Overall, being back has made me feel ready to accomplish my goals this semester, and be involved in clubs and other activities again.

Witnessing everyone connecting again has been an enjoyment to see.

Even though we are back on campus make sure that you are following the guidelines that have been put in place to keep everyone safe. Welcome back Bulldogs!

Check out the Fresno State FAQ for more information on COVID-19 protocols on campus.

Suicide Awareness Month

by Dessalines Yamoussou

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Highlighting the causes of suicide, increasing awareness for suicide, and most importantly preventing suicide is the goal of this month. Suicide is something that has affected many of us and it is time to take a stand against it. Education on the causes of suicidal thoughts is the best way to fight against it.

This is especially important in the African American community as the subject of mental health is often taboo. African Americans historically have a mistrust of healthcare professionals because of exploitation by the United States government.

As a United States Navy veteran, I was reminded that 22 veterans commit suicide a day. While serving in the Navy, I personally knew three shipmates who succumbed to suicidal thoughts. As a Black male veteran, I have triple the barriers when it comes to seeking mental health services.

Yet, I know it is important to break the stigma surrounding suicide because it does not discriminate based on age, race, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or any other reason. Must all stand vigilant to the causes of suicidal thoughts and seek help when we feel them invading our minds.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 -34 and the 10th leading cause of death overall in the U.S. Men have a four times greater increase of dying by suicide when compared to women, even though women have more suicide attempts. Men use methods of suicide that are more lethal often choosing guns as a means to end their lives.

Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels

If you or someone you know is in an emergency situation, please contact 911.

If you find yourself in a crisis and/or experiencing suicidal thoughts, immediately call the National Suicide Lifeline at 1.800.273-8255.TALK (8255) or text NAMI to 741-741 in order to speak directly w/ a professional crisis counselor. For more information on NAMI visit NAMI.ORG/ HOME.

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Uhuru Na Umoja

Page 2

Campus Services

by Melvin Ricks

The Fall 2021 semester is unprecedented in that an untold number of students and staff that have been part of the university for more than one semester have just taken their first steps on campus as a result of the pandemic.

Because of these unique circumstances, it’s even more important for students to be informed of some of the student services offered on campus. These services assist students in a variety of ways to ease the impact of the stress and obstacles that students face during their time at Fresno State.

SupportNet The Learning Center in the basement of the library offers many helpful services to students, SupportNet being one of them. From the SupportNet website,”the team works in partnership with students, listening to their story and helping them reach their fullest potential at Fresno State.”

In a dedicated, one-on-one setting, students can explore topics such as motivation, learning styles, study skills and much more.” All students are welcome to reach out to SupportNet, but this semester it has a targeted focus on helping firstyear students get out of academic probation. They are supporting a cohort of students in a Psych 10 course, and working with students who went through early start.

All students are welcome to attend SupportNet’s workshops and they are willing to help students who have come across obstacles and issues and do not know who to reach to handle those issues or just need someone to talk to and offer them guidance.

Jamaal Washington, a SupportNet member for six years and

Hello my name is Dessalines Yamoussou.I am the Editor-inChief of the Uhuru, a Black newspaper on campus.

I was raised in Washington D.C. I am a second-year graduate student at Fresno State in the History program.

I look forward to earning my Ed.D. in Education.

In my free time, I enjoy playing video games on my Nintendo Switch. I play with my friends on the weekends. My favorite games to play are Mario Kart and Mario Party.

has been working in education for seventeen years, was eager to talk about the program.

Washington stated that what he appreciates most from working with students is “getting to know the stories connected to the students.

I don’t want to just know people through a familiar face or student ID number, it’s about being part of the journey.” for him the point of fulfillment is “going through the journey with students, celebrating when they have success, and really planning and listening when things are not going so well.”

His advice to students who are experiencing campus life for the first time is to always be proactive; routinely check emails, communicate with professors and other students about struggles immediately.

Washington’s second piece of advice is to say something. Many students are afraid to reach out because of fear and anxiety that they are the only one’s struggling or facing issues negatively affecting their mental health and ability to succeed.

Contact Jamaal- jwashington@csufresno.edu Learning Center- 559.278.3052 Tutoring Services Tutoring services in the Learning Center, like any tutoring service, offer tutoring for students in many different courses on campus.

Some of the subjects in which courses are taught are Civil Engineering, Economics, Anatomy/ Physiology, Communication, History and Government, Spanish, Physics, and Writing. To get a more detailed description of the subjects in which tutoring is offered, look at the Learning Center’s web page.

Tony Loscongo, the Tutoring Assistant Coordinator, was very

helpful in offering information on what services the learning center provides.

He invites all students to come over to the Learning Center, located in the basement level of the library, and introduce themselves, whether you need help with a course or are just looking for someone to relate with. All the tutors are current students, so do not be afraid to come down to the Learning Center. Loscongo says that the tutors, around sixty percent of their hours are on campus and the other 40 percent is through Zoom.

If you are interested, there is a lot of flexibility for those who can not attend sessions on Zoom, prefer meeting in person, or are able to do both. The courses offered at the Learning Center reflect student demand. “If you do not see a course on our list of tutoring services that are published on our tutoring schedule please come ask,”

Lonscongo said. He likes to think of the Learning Center as a third space, a home away from home where students and staff can be comfortable.

Contact Tony Loscongo- alosongco@mail.fresnostate.edu Learning Center- 559.278.3052 Student Health and Counseling Center The Student Health and Counseling Center is an excellent service for students on campus. The Health Center is dedicated to ensuring that every student has the resources they need to ensure that their health needs are met. Dr. Janell Morillo, a very welcoming and friendly woman who oversees the departments at the Center was very helpful in providing information about the Health Center. The Center is divided into

Meet the Staff

three departments; Medical, Counseling, and Wellness. For medical help, much like a small hospital, there are medical practitioners and nurses that help with anything you would go to a regular doctor for.

There is also a pharmacy where over the counter products are sold and prescriptions can be filled. A full lab is available.

There are counselors who provide individual and group counseling. Case workers work with students regarding much more serious and difficult situations such as homelessness and food insecurity.

The Wellness department sets up programs on topics such as healthy living, sexual health, and food security.

Dr. Morillo, who has been working on campus for 27 years, and in her current role for five years, says “the thing I love most about working with the Student Health and Counseling Center is that it is very dynamic. What I mean by that is that things are constantly changing, so we really have to stay on top of the services that we are providing to make sure that we are meeting our students’ needs.”

As a mother who has a son currently attending Arizona State, she says it is comforting to know that her son has access to a student health center.

Services the Health Center provides is Telehealth services which was set up as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Students can now go to the Student Health Center website and schedule a Telehealth visit via Zoom appointment with a worker and communicate your needs from there.

Contact Dr. Morillo- janellt@mail. fresnostate.edu Student Health and Counseling Center- 559.278.0276

Hello, my name is Zion Sanders, and I am a freshman at Fresno State. I enjoy reading, drawing, hanging out with my friends and family, and listening to music.

My major is Biochemistry and a minor in Africana Studies.

I am in the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) and Office of Black Student Success (OBSS) programs.

I aspire to become an Anesthesiologist, get my MD and Ph.D.

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

The Recall

Uhuru Na Umoja

COVID-19 and Mental Health

by Dessalines Yamoussou

On September 14, 2021, Californians took the opportunity to vote in the California recall election. Reports are stating Governor Gavin Newsom was able to survive California’s recall election with over 60% of voters rejecting the recall. However, the results for the election will not be certified until October. A group called the California Patriot Coalition fueled the recall election.

This group wanted to remove Governor Newsom because of the dissatisfaction they had with his policies on COVID-19, homelessness, immigration, and taxes.

Stamina for the recall election peeked when the Governor was spotted dining inside a Napa Valley restaurant after placing our state on lock down for indoor dining.

It seems this was irresponsible of our governor, but not an offense punishable by the recall.

Whatever your personal thoughts are about Governor Newsom, I hope you all took the time out to do your civic duty because our ancestors fought for these basic rights.

Now that the recall election is behind him, the governor can get back to keeping California safe from COVID-19. Black people have not always had the right to vote. Black men were legally allowed to vote in

On Wednesday, Sept. 8, the twelve ton, 61-foot-tall statue of the famous and infamous Confederate General Robert E. Lee was removed from the pedestal where it had stood for 131 years.

Situated in Memorial Avenue in Richmond Virginia, the imposing figure of the Confederate general watched over countless residents and visitors to the city of Richmond Virginia for many decades. Now all that is left is the pedestal upon which the statue previously stood, littered with antiConfederate and anti-racism messages.

The removal of the statue culminated a long process that began June 4, 2020, just ten days after the death of George Floyd, when Virginia Gov. Ralph Norton announced plans to remove the monument.

No matter what your personal opinion is on Robert E Lee, one must find it strange that there are countless statues and monuments placed throughout the former Confederacy, celebrating the heroes

Page 3

by Dessalines Yamoussou

Genaro Molina • Los Angeles Times/TNS

California Gov. Gavin Newsom meets with Latino leaders in East Los Angeles on August 14, 2021.

1870 and Black women were legally allowed to vote in 1920.

However, Black people encountered numerous barriers when attempting to exercise their civic duties (accessibility, discrimination, and other voter discrimination practices).

The barriers were so severe, that President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to eliminate barriers Blacks were encountering.

Unfortunately, these same barriers are still in existence for Black people today.

It is important Black people continue to be agents of change by exercising their voting rights at every opportunity.

If you would like to register to vote or need to check your registration status visit vote.org.

COVID-19 has affected the mental health of everyone over the past year and a half. People have experienced an increase in depression, stress, anxiety, anger, & other mental health symptoms due to the global pandemic.

Students have had to deal with the stressors associated with the global pandemic as well as adjusting to a different college experience.

The majority of college students did not plan to engage in online learning. Whether or not you are a fan of it, flexibility is a must in order to continue your education via online instruction.

Some students have had to take time off from school or drop out all together.

Rashad Flood, a third-year Fresno State student explained, “It was a strange experience. What had become normal to me was replaced with virtual classrooms and the concept of returning back to what was originally normal, became hard to grasp and abnormal.”

Students are now dealing with the uncertainty of whether they will be able to remain on campus now that in person learning has begun again.

Robert E. Lee Statue Removed

by Melvin Ricks

Marcus Yam • Los Angeles Times/TNS

Black Lives Matter supporters stand around the Robert E. Lee Monument in Richmond, Va., on Monday Jan. 18, 2021.

of a failed rebellion.

These monuments celebrate a treasonous state and treasonous individuals that rebelled against the United States of America and embroiled the nation in five brutal years of war, the most devastating war in the history of the United States of America.

Many in the South feel that statues are symbolic of a history that should not be forgotten, and as a result, there have been protests both for and against the removal of

monuments throughout the states of the former Confederacy.

When asked her opinion on the removal of the statue of Robert E Lee, Fresno State Chemistry Major Monica Harris gave this response, “I honestly feel like those monuments should still be around, it’s our history. I understand why a lot of people want them down though. It represents that horrible era, but those statues remind us of how much has changed you know.

We have history books and muse-

Luckily, there are activities students can engage in to cope with their mental health symptoms.

Relaxation activities, exercise, breathing activities, talking to someone, etc. are examples of how one can manage their stressors.

Fresno State has a Student Health & Counseling Center that students can readily access if they are experiencing distress. Dr. Bruce McAlister, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) at the counseling center, believes that the language around counseling is important because of the stigma associated with therapy.

To combat this stigma, he engages students as a counselor rather than someone who does therapy.

The counseling services offered on campus provide students a safe and welcoming place to gain insight into and learn how to manage their mental health symptoms.

Symptoms of distress can be due to COVID or other areas of concern.

If you or someone you know is interested in receiving counseling services offered on campus call 559.278.2734 or visit fresnostate. edu/health/counseling.

ums for a reason. I mean when you think about the gas chambers used to kill Jews, we still keep a lot of those monuments around, especially those that represent Hitler and Nazis. We don’t really want to forget, it’s part of the planet’s story, it’s part of us and we can’t change that.

The world is how it is now with or without those monuments. So, I feel like we should keep them out publicly to be reminded how much has changed. That’s how I feel when I go to historical museums or come across statues like that.”

The most curious thing about the monuments that have been at the forefront of heated debates, and state supreme court hearings, is that these historical artifacts were not created during the civil war, but rather decades later.

The construction of the recently removed statue of Robert E Lee was completed in 1890, more than twenty years after the end of the Civil War, and is now one of six other Confederate monuments that have been removed from the main boulevard of the State Capital.

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Uhuru Na Umoja

Staff Member of the Month

by Dessalines Yamoussou

Page 4

Student of the Month

by Dessalines Yamoussou

Meet Rashad Flood, a thirdyear student, majoring in history. He is very active on campus. He is a member of the student club Onyx.

Onyx is a club that provides a safe space for Black male students to come together and discuss issues concerning them both onand off-campus. He also attends Barbershop meetings.

Barbershop meetings are meetings held in the Thomas building room 109 Thursdays at noon to one PM.

The meetings are a Courtesy of Rashad Flood space for students to decompress from the stress of school with thought provoking conversations on a myriad subjects. Lastly, Flood is a former member of the men’s rugby team on campus.

Flood has experienced a unique situation on campus. He was a student living in the dorms and when the school went to online instruction due to Covid-19.

He was one of the students who left the state to join his family. He DY: What brought you to Fresno State?

Dr. McAlister: After I got out of high school my plan was to go to San is now back on campus and I was excited to hear his thoughts on his experience.

Diego State.

Unfortunately, a mix-up with his financial aid paperwork would Dessalines Yamoussou (DY): “Where are you from originally?” keep him from going to San Diego State. He was also accepted to Fres- Rashad Flood (RF): “I am from Los Angeles.” no State. Taking advantage of that educational opportunity, he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare and his master’s degree in Social DY: “What brought you to Fresno?”

RF: “It was the cheapest school that I had any chances of getting into, Work.

For his Ph.D., Dr. McAlister felt he could better serve his commu- especially after not wanting to play college football anymore.” nity if he earned his degree in Pastoral Counseling. He graduated from the Ecclesia University of Divinity in 2013. Dr. McAlister has accomplished a I speculated injuries might be why he no longer wanted to play football. lot in his life and I was curious if he always wanted to be a LCSW. DY: “You stopped playing football? Were injuries an issue? Is that DY: Did you know originally you wanted to accomplish becoming a what stopped you?’

RF: “It wasn’t because of injuries. I simply no longer wanted to play footLCSW? ball anymore.”

Dr. McAlister:To be honest with you, no. I knew I was going to do the B.A. thing and as I was getting close to the end of that, my head instructors Flood has since left the rugby team as well. Finally, we discussed asked if I had ever thought about going to graduate school. So I decided to the move from California to Texas. do it at their encouragement.

Meet Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Dr. Bruce McAlister who works at the Student Health and Counseling Center.

The vision statement of the Health Center states it promotes lifelong healthy behaviors and environments for students at Fresno State. During these uncertain times, mental health services are just what the doctor ordered.

My name is Desssalines Yamoussou (DY). I Courtesy of Dr. Bruce McAlister am the Editor-in-Chief of the Uhuru, the Black Newspaper on campus at Fresno State. I was excited to meet Dr. McAlister and get to know him.

Dr. McAlister was born in Madera. He now calls Fresno his home and has lived here for the last 47 years. I was curious why he decided to leave Madera to come to Fresno State.

DY: “How was the experience of leaving Fresno last year because of the switch to online learning and then returning to campus this semesDY: What advice would you give to a freshman who would want to ter for in person classes?”

RF: “It was a strange experience. I had gone from college life, living on eventually become a LCSW? Dr. McAlister: I would tell them to keep their focus on the goals they want campus and going to classes, eating on campus, hanging out with friends and going to events, to everything suddenly being online and ending up in to accomplish and develop a good support system. a different state. What had became normal to me was replaced with virtual classrooms and the concept of returning back to what was originally norIf you have any questions, comments, ideas, or stomal, became hard to grasp and abnormal.”

Lastly, a final thought from Dr. McAlister.

ries you want to submit, email them to samstewart@mail.fresnostate.edu

Flood is not the only student to have gone through a process like this. He is trying to adjust and looks forward to his time at Fresno State.

Meet the Staff

Joanna Lopez (left): Joanna goes by Jojo. She is a first-generation student and currently is a sophomore.

Melvin Ricks II (middle): Melvin was born in Georgia. He is a first-year graduate student in the history department.

Rashad Flood (right): Rashad is a junior majoring in history.