Up10 webook

January 30, 2018 VOL.19 | #10

Special Issue: Black History Month

Leading the Way The stories behind six FAU students and faculty who shape our community every day.

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Cover photos courtsey of Joshua Giron, Kevin Carver, University Communications, and Der’Resha Bastien.

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UP STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF Kerri Covington MANAGING EDITOR Katrina Scales CREATIVE DIRECTOR Celeste Andrews WEB EDITOR Richard Finkel BUSINESS MANAGER Ryan Lynch NEWS EDITOR Alexander Rodriguez 2

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FEATURES EDITOR Hope Dean PHOTO EDITOR Joshua Giron DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Benjamin Paley STAFF WRITER Nate Nkumbu SENIOR DESIGNER Ivan Benavides CONTRIBUTORS Elyscia Saint-Hilaire, Devin Perry, Destiny Harris, Kevin Carver ADVISERS Neil Santaniello, Ilene Prusher, Michael Koretzky

Eyeing Up Events Hosted by the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, these events will appear on campus throughout Black History Month.

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Teach e n O h ‘Eac One’ ce of

Offi tor of the airs, The direc ultural Aff ic lt u M & story.

Diversity hares her s , n o is m Artie Ja

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A Handprint, Not A Handcuff

Chief Sean Brammer has been serving FAU for almost 12 years bu t law enforcement wasn’t his first career choice.

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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

By the Numbers FAU has a longstanding reputation of being one of the most diverse colleges in the nation. Here’s how the numbers stack up.

A King’s Concerns Student Affairs Vice President Corey King talks what made him pursue higher education and the issues facing students today.

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Education Through Acceptance A Q&A with an NAACP member on the organization’s goals and upcoming efforts.

Building Bridges A look at the Black Student Union through the eyes of its members.

Page 14 Illustrations by Creative Director Celeste Andrews

‘Everyone’s Big Sister’

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Starting as a Student Union desk clerk, Der’Resha Bastien worked her way up to Boca campus governor. Now, she spends her days mentoring the student body and ensuring their success, growth, and happiness.

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Eyeing Up Events A rundown of on-campus events hosted by the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs that celebrate Black History Month.

Boca: Real Talk: What Are You?

When: Tuesday, Feb. 9 from 6-8 p.m.

Where: Parliament Hall Multi-Purpose Room What: Students will look at the role racial identity plays in shaping their thoughts and interactions with each other.

Movie: ‘Blackbird’

When: Wednesday, Feb. 10 from 6-8 p.m.

Where: Parliament Hall Multi-Purpose Room What: This movie showing examines when sexual orientation and race intersect and the challenges this can present.

Riding in Cars with Black People featuring Chad Goller-Sojourner

When: Tuesday, Feb. 16 from 6-8 p.m.

Where: Grand Palm Room, Student Union What: This will consist of a “humorous look at race and relations in America” featuring transracial family coach and black writer Chad Goller-Sojourner. The author was adopted at a young age by white parents and later wrote his memoir “Riding in Cars with Black People & Other Newly Dangerous Acts: A Memoir in Vanishing Whiteness.”

Katrina Scales | Managing Editor Illustrations by Creative Director Celeste Andrews

Seminar: Meaningful Conversations About Race

When: Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 12-2 p.m.

Where: Palmetto Palm Room, Student Union What: Also featuring author Chad Goller-Sojourner, this will explore how to have important discussions about race.

Movie: ‘War Room’

When: Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 6-8 p.m.

Where: Indian River Towers Multi-Purpose Room What: This movie showing will look at what happens when race and religion meet.

Lunch & Learn: Kaleidoscope

When: Thursday, Feb. 18 from 12-2 p.m.

Where: Indian River Towers Multi-Purpose Room What: Stop by for a free lunch and discuss how intersectionality influences identity.

Finale: Afro-Latino Cultural Celebration

When: Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.

Where: Grand Palm Room & Outdoor Stage What: The final Black History Month event consists of a celebration of African-American and Latino people in the U.S. Free food and dancing will be present.

*Information courtesy of the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs’ website.*

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Davie:

Celebrating Black History Month

When: Monday, Feb. 5 from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Where: Davie Student Union - Heritage Hall What: Students will commemorate and remember the contributions, achievements, and speeches of African-Americans throughout the U.S.’ history. The event will also feature “a few soul food items.”

Intersection Event: POC and Queer

When: Thursday, Feb. 8 from 12-1 p.m.

Where: Davie Student Union Student Lounge What: Join students to build relationships with people of color who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Student Engagement Series and Black History

When: Thursday, Feb. 15 from 3-7 p.m.

Where: Davie Student Union - Heritage Hall What: This event will involve a showing of the film “All the Difference,” featuring two black teenagers pursuing their dreams of graduating from college.

Free refreshments will be offered after the movie, as well as a subsequent discussion of at-risk populations in today’s society.

Information courtesy of the Davie master calendar, Erick Fernandez, and Francine Coker.

Jupiter:

As of publication time, there are no scheduled events related to Black History Month on the Jupiter campus.

For more information, visit FAU’s master calendar or Owl Central.

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‘Each One Teach One’

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Artie Jamison, the director of the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, shares her history and personal philosophy.

Hope Dean | Features Editor

A

rtie Jamison is a woman on the go.

“She’ll be home, and she’ll have to take her sons to go play ball, and then she’ll drive back here, speak at some program that’s at 7, go back home to feed her children and come back to a program that’s at 10,” laughed Peggy Joseph, associate director of the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. “She’s always available, always there to support the students.”

“It’s a really amazing office, and the fact that she’s the director of such a great group of people I think says a lot about her,” said programming intern Gabby Washington.

Jamison was promoted from associate director to her current position of director in 2016 and is what Joseph calls a “bigpicture visionary” — dedicated to her job and constantly ready for action.

The director said, “[I saw] the role that others played in my life as student affairs professionals, and wanted to give back to do that for other students.”

Jamison The director received her undergraduate degree in biology and minored in chemistry and psychology at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee. There, she acted as a hall director, orientation leader, and governor’s ambassador, as well as a tutor for student athletes. She would later receive her master’s at Southern Illinois University.

Despite being born and raised in Alabama where she said people typically go to state or local colleges, Jamison always wished to “venture out a little bit.”

“I went to Tennessee to go to school, which was like, ‘Oh, wow, you’re going out of state.’ I always wanted to do things that were different,” she said.

Growing up, Jamison said her family had an enormous impact on her mindset. This was especially true of her grandmother, who raised 10 children by herself and went out of her way to make sure that even her grandchildren had what they needed and most of what they wanted.

“Just being the strong woman that she was, working, supporting the kids … I think she was probably one of the biggest influences in my life in terms of teaching me work ethic and teaching me that the sky is the limit if you don’t give up,” she said.

She added that she still holds close that teaching today, especially in the face of worsening race relations.

“I think right now it’s a challenge … But I do believe that for every person who is emboldened by what they feel is the opportunity to say harsh words and do mean things, there are people on the other side that are emboldened to speak up for those who don’t have a voice,” she said. “While I feel saddened by the turn of events, I also feel very hopeful, because … There are lots of people who are fighting the good fight and trying to get us back together as a country and as a nation.”

Diversity is important to Jamison, especially given her position at the university. She said that she believes the university is taking the right steps as far as “embracing, celebrating, and appreciating diversity.”

Almost half (48 percent) of FAU’s students belong to a minority group or are international students, making the university the most racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse college in Florida, according to the FAU Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analysis 2016-17 Quick Facts.

President John Kelly consistently aims to increase diversity at FAU, and Jamison believes that this plan is vital for several reasons. She said that

it infuses down the chain of command from the highest level of the institution, affecting every person at FAU. On top of this, we live in a global society, Jamison noted, and it’s important to learn to interact with other people that don’t necessarily look or act like you.

“I don’t know that we always fully take advantage of the diversity that’s here. I want to encourage our students to get to know somebody different, to learn, to go into a different space...You learn so much more when you open yourself to the opportunities that the universe offers — not to stay in your shell, not to stay to your own,” Jamison said. “Take it all in. Really just immerse yourself in the cultures, in the diversity, in the opportunities to learn from other people, so that when you leave this space, you can share that with somebody else.

Jamison added that she lives her life by the African-American proverb that originated during slavery when Africans were refused education.

‘Each one teach one’ is my philosophy.”

“Take it all in. Really just immerse yourself in the cultures, in the diversity, in the opportunities to learn from other people, so that when you leave this space, you can share that with somebody else.”

- Director of the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Artie Jamison

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By the Numbers

Katrina Scales | Managing Editor Photos courtesy of the FAU library archive

1974

FAU has a long-standing reputation of being one of the most diverse colleges in the nation, exceeding the national average (14.1 percent) of black students enrolled in higher education, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.Here’s how the university’s numbers stack up.

Number of white students who’ve attended FAU:

1967

2008:

Total population: 35,179

19,559 | 55.6 percent 2012: Total population: 30,038

14,988 | 49.9 percent 2016: Total population: 30,598

13,340 | 43.6 percent

Number of black students who’ve attended FAU:

2008:

Total population: 35,179

6,156 students | 17.5 percent 2012: Total population: 30,038

6,191 students | 17.6 percent 2016: Total population: 30,598

5,851 students | 19.1 percent 8

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1974

1974

Number of personnel 2016-17: 3,331 Number of white personnel: 2,238 or 67.2 percent Number of black personnel: 419 or 12.6 percent

1967

*Data courtesy of the FAU Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analysis 2016-17 Quick Facts and the FAU 2014-15 Diversity Data Report

218 administrative managers 102 staff members 55 instructional faculty 38 adjunct professors 5 academic administrators 1 researcher 1974 01.30.2017 University Press

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A King’s Concerns As the Student Affairs vice president, Corey King keeps an eye on the student body while remembering his days as a student.

Nate Nkumbu | Staff Writer

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Ph oto co Co urte mm sy un of U ica niv tio er ns sity

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orey King has been many things throughout his college experiences.

He currently oversees programs such as the FAU Career Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, Housing, and Student Government as the vice president of Student Affairs.

But he’s also a former resident adviser, fraternity member, and orientation leader. All of those positions gave him a unique perspective when he took over as vice president.

King graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s in curriculum and instructions in 1993 and a master’s degree in higher education in 1995.

He said that it was his time as an RA and fraternity member that made him realize he wanted to work in education.

“I knew I wanted it to be a career when I was a student leader in college,” he said via email.

“I even ran for student body president (I didn’t win). I landed my first professional student affairs position and the rest is unfolding in front of me.”

Before coming to FAU, King worked as the vice president of Student Affairs at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia until 2008.

Shortly after, he served as FAU associate vice president and dean of students for six years.

When asked what brought him to Boca, he said, “I chose FAU because of the rich diversity and commitment to student academic success through graduation and beyond.”

That diversity is something King believes is vital to the college experience.

“Diversity in college opens doors to learn and grow from each other as we each bring our own cultural and diverse heritages to the conversation table,” he said. “We enrich each other through meaningful dialogue, programs and cultural celebrations that are genuine and unique, and thus make us a more holistic people.”

The vice president added that there are many issues students of color face when it comes to higher education.

“The issues facing students today, including students of color, are the financial means to go to and stay in college, the academic resources required to be retained, persist, graduate and gain employment, the soft skills that are crucial for success in the workforce and the continual challenge to remain true to one’s own heritage while celebrating the heritages of others,” he said. “These issues have been and are at the forefront higher education.”

African-American students at four-year

Corey King can be found frequently taking selfies with FAU students and faculty that he uploads to his Instagram with #drkingstagram. This was taken on an internship tour of credit counseling company Consolidated Credit in Plantation, Florida. Photo courtesy of Student Affairs Marketing public institutions have some of the lowest six-year completion graduation rates at 45.9 percent, 16.5 percent lower than the national average, according to an April 2017 report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

In the end, King hopes students find their experiences at FAU to be rewarding.

“My goal is that every student will engage themselves in the learning that takes place within and beyond the classroom, and that students will use this gained knowledge to become holistically aware of the global world around them and the complex issues that are with us,” he said. “Finally, my goal is that students will graduate becoming critical thinkers and entrepreneurs leading to innovation, collaboration, and real solutions to positively shape our world for all generations.”

“Diversity in college opens doors to learn and grow from each other as we each bring our own cultural and diverse heritages to the conversation table.”

- Vice President of Student Affairs Corey King

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Sean Brammer was in his 20s studying civil engineering before he found his calling for law enforcement.

Today, he’s the chief of FAU police, working to keep students on track throughout their college experience.

Katrina Scales | Managing Editor

A Handprint, Not A Handcuff 12

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ourteen years ago, then State Trooper Sean Brammer saved the life of a teenage boy after he collapsed in his chair at a Miramar, Florida church service.

Two years later, he began his career protecting the students and faculty of FAU. If you frequent on-campus events, you’ve likely seen Chief Brammer talking and taking selfies with students. Because, unlike city police, university police don’t just protect and serve. They also spend their time building relationships with students on campus.

Brammer said his department places value on its ability to maintain trust and respect with the student body.

“Police departments in an academic setting usually use the community policing model, which stresses community engagement,” Brammer said. “We have more community involvement on campus than a day-to-day police officer who works in the city. In the academic setting, I am able to put a

handprint on someone’s life to help them become a better citizen instead of putting a handcuff on them.”

Before law enforcement, Brammer attended Miami-Dade Community College and aspired to be a civil engineer, focusing on environmental engineering. Then, his friend was hit by a drunk driver.

In an interview with the University Press last year, he described this event as one of the reasons he became an officer.

“She was in a coma for about two weeks and a little longer than 14 days. I think that was the turning point in my career. I said you know what I need to be, I guess a grain of rice, that can tip the scale to see if I can go out there and help and save.”

In 2004, he was awarded “Trooper of the Year” by the Florida Highway Patrol for giving life-saving CPR to the teenager in Miramar, Florida. And after nine years of patrolling Broward county highways, Brammer began his tenure at FAU in March 2006 as law enforcement captain.

Before being promoted to chief of FAU police in July last year, he served as its interim chief for almost two years. As chief, he is responsible for overseeing the effectiveness of the Police Department, Parking and Transportation Services, and Security Technology Services on campus.

Since his swearing-in, he’s implemented various operations to increase public

awareness of FAU police resources.

He launched an event called “Coffee with the Chief” in 2016, a program geared toward improving police-citizen relations and building relationships with the student body. He also maintains a mentoring program for the student organization Urban Male Initiative.

Outside campus grounds the nation struggles with a stigma against police in an era where phone cameras can easily capture injustice. Police violence against black Americans is an ongoing issue, with police in some large cities killing black men more often than the national murder rate, according to a report from Mapping Police Violence.

So far, the Washington Post has tallied 68 people that have been fatally shot by police since the beginning of this year.

Brammer said his approach to policing at FAU is rooted in community engagement and respect.

“I am all about creating a culture of accountability, respecting each person you come into contact with and treating them the way you want to be treated.”

When asked why he chose law enforcement in an academic setting rather than a city department, he said: “FAU actually chose me, and I’m very happy they did.”

“I said you know what I need to be, I guess a grain of rice, that can tip the scale to see if I can go out there and help and save.”

- Chief of Police Sean Brammer

Sean Brammer is sworn in as chief of FAU police by Stacy Volnick, vice president for Administrative Affairs and chief administrative officer on July 26, 2017. Photo courtesy of the FAU Police Department

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Building Bridges

A Q&A with Black Student Union members on how they provide a discussion space for the black community.

Devin Perry | Contributing Writer

Black Student Union history director Mariam Oke. Kevin Carver | Contributing Photographer

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*The following Q&A has been edited for clarity.

Several members chose to withhold their names due to the subject matters discussed.*

T

he University Press spoke with several Black Student Union members on their upcoming Black History Month events, diversity at FAU, and racial tension in the U.S.

What is your role at the Black Student Union?

Mariam Oke: I am the black history director and I am partners with Marie, who is the co-director and we basically create events throughout the whole month of February to show the culture of the black community and Black History Month.

Can you tell me about the history of the Black Student Union on campus?

Sean: I can’t speak on the history of how it got

started, but I would say that we’re not a HBCU [historically black college university], so it’s just a place for the people of the black community to feel safe, to be somewhere that they can talk about things that happen in the community, [hear] what goes on in the national news, any discrimination. It’s basically a safe place for anyone to speak in the black community.

We’re the bridge that connects the gaps between all the different communities. Our mission is to promote unity between different cultural backgrounds portrayed on campus, it’s not just about black [people], but it’s about unity in general.

How do you feel about the diversity at FAU? Sean: I actually came to FAU because of

the diversity. I actually like people of different races. I’m more comfortable around everyone instead of being very inclusive.

How do you feel about race relations in the U.S.?

Anonymous student 1: I feel that it’s

something that should have already been

talked about, and it’s really something that’s been hidden and just come to light. Now that it’s come to light and we can talk about it, we can really reach a mutual understanding now. That’s basically what social media is doing now.

Anonymous student 2: On how each race

gets along, that’s very divisive in today’s time.

And in some communities, for instance the black community, at times we do come apart in certain ways, and it would be nice if we could all come together. But we [can sometimes disagree] on certain topics that bring us away from our goals.

Are there any personal experiences with race relations/discrimination that you’d feel comfortable sharing?

Anonymous student 3: In New York, we used

to have a program called “Stop and Frisk.” A bunch of cops would stop you and frisk you just because you look the part/look suspicious. I used to play baseball, so I used to get stopped and frisked at least three times a week just because I had my baseball gear coming home from a game, or practice, everything, just because I looked the part, you know?

So yeah, definitely some tension. It tends to be the same cops, from Caucasian descent, stuff like that. Growing up, historically, blacks and hispanic societies and environments in Bronx, New York, everyone’s pretty much targeted. It sucked, but that was the reality of it.

Naiya: For me, I played tennis, and it’s a

predominantly white sport, like I would go to tournaments and you could count the black people there on one hand. When I’d show up, they’d look at me differently and, I guess feel entitled, and you’d think “Why?”

Anonymous student 4: I live in Plantation,

Florida and [was] one of the only black people in the entire neighborhood. So my whole life, I’ve been harassed for just stepping outside. There’s been tiny, minor incidents, like having a party at our house, if a car happens to block part of the sidewalk by an inch, a police officer is at our door.

If we are making noise past 10 p.m., even at 10:05 p.m., there’s an officer at our door.

Officers would have huge fits about cars on different areas of the lawn, even after getting permission from neighbors, they’d make a huge issue out of it, and we had to have our neighbors

come out and tell the officers that we could have our cars out here.

The officers stated that it was a huge deal because of complaints from people that cars were blocking sidewalks. If you’re walking outside at 10 p.m., you can just walk around the car.

There [have] been times where my brother has tried to get into his house to be stopped and harassed for identification just to get into his own home. I’ve been outside my house when officers have been like “get inside.”

Anonymous student 5: I had [an]

experience in Pembroke Pines, Florida dealing with police officers, where they pulled me over and told me to get out of the car. They put me in handcuffs, sat me down and told me, “I smell weed in your car, is there weed in your car?”

I don’t smoke weed, and at the time I was driving my mom’s car. So they say, “Here’s the deal. We see weed in your car, we’re going to search your car, and if we find anything, you’re going to jail.”

I know they’re not going to find anything, so I said, “Go ahead,” and they started tearing up my mom’s car, and they get back in the car and drive me around the corner and ask, “So how much weed did you smoke tonight?” I said, “None.”

They asked me how much I wanted to smoke. I said “None.” They said, “You’re coming from a friend’s house, how much did he smoke?” And I said, “None, sir.”

They gave me a ticket for reckless driving, for driving too slow, and they “let me off with a warning.”

Throughout the month of February, the BSU will hold the following events: Feb. 1: A cake cutting ceremony Feb. 6: A general body meeting Feb. 18: A talent show called, “For The

Culture”

Feb. 18: A barbecue/family reunion on

the Housing Lawn from 2-5 p.m.

Feb. 24: A pool party at the Innovation Village Apartments’ pool from 1-6 p.m.

For more information on the organization and its upcoming events, visit its Owl Central page.

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‘Everyone’s

Big

Sister’

Der’Resha Bastien started as a desk clerk in the Student Union. Now, she’s the Boca campus governor, working to mentor the student body in every way she can.

Elyscia Saint-Hilaire | Contributing Writer

Joshua Giron | Photo Editor

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oming to FAU with a “get in, get out mentality,” Der’Resha Bastien never imagined she would one day be the governor of the Boca campus.

It wasn’t until her sophomore year that she knew she wanted to be more involved.

Because of her job working at the Student Union help desk, she started to interact with the campus body, quickly finding a love for helping others.

She then set her sights on a House of Representatives seat beginning in fall 2016.

What she didn’t know is that she’d have to wait to have her shot. Because all of the seats weren’t filled at the time, she wasn’t elected as a majority vote couldn’t take place.

“For three months straight I didn’t have a majority vote so I could not become part of the House. That was hard for me. I had to sit in every meeting, unable to participate,” Bastien said.

She finally became part of the House in November 2016. Four months later, she decided to step out of her comfort zone and run for governor.

But before starting her campaign, she dealt with feelings of self-doubt. Working alongside a predominately white, male Student Government, she didn’t see anyone who looked like her.

“I thought that because I was black and I was a women that it was going to be impossible,” Bastien said. “When you looked at our student body president, vice president, governor, at the time they were all white males, and I felt intimidated.”

Not sure if she should begin her campaign, she looked to her mother and grandmother for advice.

“I had my mom tell me to ‘just be yourself, express yourself, and regardless of how you look, you will get it done,’” Bastien said. “And that’s when I took my leap of faith, because regardless of what is around me, I’m going to be my best.”

She said she knew that if she worked hard enough, she could accomplish her goal. But she had some help along the way.

During her campaign, she received support from the black student body and organizations such as the FAU NAACP, the Black Student Union, the Women Empowerment Club, and her Delta Incorporated sorority.

Running against then-President protempore Marianne Alex, Bastien wanted to increase awareness of student involvement opportunities, Student Government’s transparency, and various on-campus initiatives.

When she won the election, she ensured she

had a diverse administrative cabinet, something she felt was lacking in previous governors’ administrations.

Even though she achieved her goal, Bastien said that creating the Freshman Class Council is her proudest accomplishment. Acting as a gateway for students to join Student Government, the council seeks to help members interact with FAU student organizations.

As governor, she also started Jump Start Peer Coaching, a program that mentors AfricanAmerican girls.

“I love watching the kids that I have worked with in Jump Start or Freshman Class Council grow and evolve and even work with me in the future,” she said. “Regardless of the title of being student govenor, my biggest accomplish is to invest, influence and mentor these people, and watching them transform in such a little time frame.”

After she graduates in May this year, Bastien hopes to open a youth center in South Florida and help young adults make healthy life choices.

“I want to pay it forward. I always tell people that they can be better than me and they should strive to be greater than me,” she said.

She added that she prides herself on being a caring, yet stern leader.

Bastien’s Chief of Staff Roldane Plaisir said, “Der’Resha is a very determined individual.

allow them to discourage her endeavors.

“I always tell people when they ask me, ‘I want to know how do you do everything.’ Be better than me and forget where you came from,” Bastien said. “Your circumstances do not make you who you are. But most importantly, take care of yourself; you can’t pour from an empty cup.”

Growing up in a single-parent household in an inner city part of northern Miami, Bastien said that she doesn’t dwell on her humble beginnings or

for Boca governor

She becomes everyone’s big sister.”

“I thought that because I was black and I was a woman that it was going to be impossible. When you looked at our student body president, vice president, governor, at the time they were all white males, and I felt intimidated.”

- Der’Resha Bastien on running

Boca Governor Der’Resha Bastien speaks to the crowd at the Student Government flagpole dedication ceremony. Held Nov. 14, 2017, the event honored the installation of a flagpole recognizing veterans/missing in action soldiers. It stands outside the Boca campus Student Union. Alexander Rodriguez | News Editor

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Education Through Acceptance

A Q&A with a member of the NAACP, which welcomes all ethnicities in an effort to educate society about issues affecting minorities.

Destiny Harris | Contributing Writer

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rom spreading leadership skills to informing the public of issues affecting minorities, the FAU National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter works to ensure the political, social, educational, and economic equality of all minority groups.

Each member is driven to develop community involvement, political activism, and an appreciation of people of color’s contribution to civilization.

NAACP executive board member Juwan Hayes is a junior who started out as a general member, but soon realized he wanted to have a larger impact on the campus body.

Here’s what he had to say regarding his role and the organization’s upcoming efforts.

How and why did you get involved in this organization?

I actually got involved in this organization through mutual friends who previously served as NAACP executive board members and they encouraged me to get involved. So I started out as a general body member then over the course of a few semesters I knew I wanted to make a bigger impact and decided to join the executive board.

What is the main goal of the NAACP? Our main goal is to educate the FAU community, the minority community, and the FAU student body as a whole about what the NAACP is, current events on campus, and [the] political society that impact[s] everyone.

What is your role as an executive board member?

What are the NAACP’s current thoughts on race relations/discrimination in the U.S. today?

As far as race relations, we do not discriminate nor do we believe in discrimination because America is a diverse nation. In 2018, it would not make sense to judge anyone based on race or ethnicity so we are accepting of all students who want to join our organization. But, there is a lot of race tension and we do see discrimination in our society so we make it our mission to educate the public about these issues.

Is there anything the NAACP wants the student body to know?

Specifically many people on the FAU campus get wrapped up in the social aspect of events for our organization. Primarily, we are trying to educate the public and we want people to listen about these issues. At the end of the day, we’re all friends and it doesn’t matter if you are an executive board member or just a member.

Are there any upcoming events your organization is planning for Black History Month that you would like students to know about?

Yes, we will be hosting our “Black Beauty Ain’t Skin Deep” discussion on Wednesday, Jan. 31 in the Live Oak Pavilion on the Boca Raton campus. It will be centered around the difficulty people of color in all different ethnicities have when trying to find employment in our society today.

For more information on the FAU NAACP chapter and its upcoming events, visit its Owl Central page.

My role is to actively serve as a leader spreading public awareness about important political issues like social justice and education on and off campus. I also help to coordinate events and encourage new members to join because the NAACP is for everybody, not just African Americans.

How many members currently serve on the executive board?

Currently we have 14 executive board members.

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