& Black Bob’s Underground reopens with renovations African diaspora studies department approved by College

By Claire Giannosa giannosa@grinnell.edu

The faculty of Grinnell College recently approved a new African diaspora studies department to be implemented as early as the fall of 2023. According to the proposal for the department submitted to the Executive Council, the department will offer an interdisciplinary curriculum focused on Black intellectual culture and production through a study of historical and contemporary contributions from Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean, and will be included in the social studies division. The creation of this department comes after decades of similar but short-lived programs at the College.

Gibel Mevorach, professor of anthropology, the program lasted until 2005 and featured a robust conference series and coursework.

During her time as chair, Mevorach said the concentration as it existed was “never defined by targeting a specific audience.” Rather, she said Africana studies sought to embrace the idea that “the presence of Africanism is global, it’s everywhere.”

Students in the program had the opportunity to publish their papers in two volumes released at the conferences. One student, Fredo Rivera `06, now an assistant professor of art history at the College, wrote an essay about how African studies “was not fixed in one place,” but about how “the law has created ideas about Blackness,” Mevorach said.

Bob’s Underground reopened at an event on Tuesday, April 28. Students attended to play games and listen to music.

By Ellianna Cierpiot cierpiot@grinnell.edu

Music, laughter and the occasional toppling of Jenga blocks once again bounced off the colorful, eclectic walls that characterize Bob’s Underground, following the space’s temporary closing last semester at a re-opening cele- bration on Tuesday, April 25.

The event featured games, painting, and two student musical performances. Daniel Stewart `26 and Caitlin Ong `26 performed several original songs and covers. The duo have played sets at several Bob’s open mics before the temporary closing. Stewart, whose musical influences range from Fugazi to Elliott Smith, said he enjoys the casual atmosphere of performing in Bob’s, because it makes the stage accessible to any students who want to share their art.

“It’s really a student-run space,

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