May 2018 15
CuLture & society COLLEGE & ENGAGEMENT
DAILY BRUIN UC Berkley students protest police brutality on Broadway Avenue in Oakland, California. The protestors began on campus and marched to downtown Oakland.
College is fast approaching for most of the seniors reading this column. Although college greatly revolves around discovering oneself and career pursuits, we cannot forget our community and peers along the way. I recently came across a tweet by @culanth, a cultural anthropology Twitter account, which stated, “Academics who are not politically engaged through their work are tacitly endorsing the status quo.” This reminded me that once I begin university in the fall, that I cannot neglect to weave my studies with political and community engagement. The Twitter account continues by explaining that the significance of politics is that it is “about systems of power and how they interact with, shape, and are shaped by our lives and decisions. This is something every academic can and should think about.” As students we do not necessarily have to study politics to be engaged individuals. We simply must be conscious of our surrounding political and social structures in our communities when establishing our academic knowledge. Along with being mindful of political frameworks, it is also important to find a space for yourself in college. A space is somewhere you feel comfortable - somewhere you can think freely and creatively. It is integral to anyone’s experience whether in college, or not, to find your community. If you will be attending college, every institution is bound to sponsor some form of a cultural, political, religious, interest group. Find a group you identify with and grow with it. Once I arrive on a college campus, perhaps I may join the African student association or a publication such as this one. Regardless of whatever groups I end up engaging with, I plan on acknowledging the importance solidarity and unity throughout my four years.
design by ISSRA SAID
BERKELEY COLLEGE Berkeley College Model United Nations club at a conference at New York University. Model UN is an extracurricular in which students roleplay UN delegates for nations and participate in committees.