BSU Newsletter #1 (1)

January 2018 Issue 1• Volume 1  BLACK STUDENTS' UNION  NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE PRESENTS:  RECLAIMING MY TIME! THEME OF THE response to a letter she wrote anything from speaking up for MONTH: about Trump’s ties with Russia. yourself in the classroom and Instead of answering the question, beyond, or taking that extra RECLAIMING Mnuchin delayed a proper minute or two out of your day to response by babbling about practice real self care. While we In This Issue... everything other than the letter, as Vassar students like to use the which called Waters to declare, term “self care” extremely often, Politics @ Vassar          pg 2 “Reclaiming my time! Reclaiming we often don’t actually take care my time!” of ourselves in the right ways to In Memorium               pg 3 reach our full potential. Whether This statement soon became it’s burning the candle at both Memes of the Month    pg 4 bigger than Waters. It became an ends in the library or skipping Getting to Know U       pg 4 inspiration to marginalized folk, meals to study, work, or sleep, we especially Black people, who get are not loving ourselves in a way Fashion & Fun              pg 5 silenced and underrepresented, that makes us better people. Artist Highlight            pg 5 whose words are twisted, and Reclaiming yourself and your ideas stripped and explained by time by loving yourself and taking Crosswords: those who think their privilege care of your needs is a radical act. Black Inventors            pg 6 qualifies them to do so. By Let yourself be radical. Let Training with Tarif       pg 7 reclaiming your time, you are yourself be loved, whether counterattacking the delaying through your own mentality or Look Back At It/ Upcoming strategies often used to avert through the steps that you take Events                          pg 8 issues at hand and protect your towards reclaiming space and credibility. It means making the time at Vassar. Dear Readers, space that you take up noticeable, because your presence and voice So, reclaim your time. The phrase “reclaiming my time” matter. It means not having Reclaim your space. had its first debut in a discussion people speak over you and Reclaim your love, your joy, and between Maxine Waters, an misconstrue your words. your energy. African American woman and the United States Representative for Your time is valuable too. “When Because, when time is of the the State of California, and Steven you’re on my time, I can reclaim essence, you can demand the Mnuchin, Secretary of the it.” Reclaiming time means answers to your questions and Treasury, during a House Financial reclaiming the style, culture, and your space. You can demand to Services Committee meeting. life stolen from our people and be allowed fulfill your purpose Mnuchin was called to speak on appropriated into pale imitations and receive the love you deserve. the financial status of the Trump that we are somehow supposed to Maxine Waters, is here to remind administration when Waters be impressed by. Reclaiming time us of that, and make it known questioned why there wasn’t a means taking control of your that we have a right to reclaim narrative, having agency in your our power.  life, and control in your choices. It  means having purpose when you make those choices - in all that you do, and refusing to put forth effort towards something if you feel no purpose when doing it; it’s a waste of time.  Reclaiming your time can mean

Reclaiming My Time! Page 2 POLITICS @ VASSAR AFFINITY SPACES AS PLACES OF RACIAL HEALING AND AFFIRMATION By: Sicily McLaughlin (2021)Affinity spaces seem to be on In order to start changing broader body, but their primary goal is toeveryone’s mind, especially on understandings of the use of affinity comfort SoC and those who maythe campuses of primarily white spaces, there has to be an enter the space as a refuge frominstitutions (PWIs). Whether you acknowledgement of traumas everyday campus behavior. Itactively participate in the perpetrated and experienced by goes beyond GB meetings andcreation, facilitation, and community members along with a into residential halls, classrooms,maintenance of these spaces, healing process. This often entails the Mug, and cultural events onsimply gravitate towards them, having difficult conversations, many campus to celebrate identity3.or vehemently despise their of which can be harmful andexistence, affinity spaces are here triggering to the well-being of those While critics of affinity spacesto stay, and for good reason. who have previously been may claim that they increase victimized. racial tensions on campus,There is no clear definition for an “student-life administrators andaffinity space, as the people that This kind of discourse cannot experts suggest that there’s roomcan inhabit and create those possibly be had without the for both retreat and interaction”spaces have varied purposes, presence of a relatable and safe- (Brown, 2016). Bringing more SoCbackgrounds, and reasonings. feeling community. Feelings of to PWIs does not translate to aHowever, most spaces have a few isolation could exacerbate the more diversified campus or anthings in common. The group emotional toils that students face open dialogue between racialthat occupies an affinity space is and halt healing processes.  For and ethnic groups. Studentsoften homogenous in some way, example, PWIs like Vassar make don’t just stumble across oneand the space is made to be a being a student(s) of color (SoC) another and automatically beginplace of healing and/or learning. isolating when you can’t find discussing the “hard-to-talk-The fact that these gatherings people who can relate directly to about” issues. Pushing for theare homogenous is a key factor the experiences you’ve had. elimination of homogeneity ofin arguments against affinity environments that help peoplespaces they believe that the Engaging in difficult conversations process trauma and feelexistence of such groups without any similar communities welcome in the name ofcontribute to divisive “identity for support would be unnecessarily “inclusion” is contradictory to thepolitics” and should be all- taxing on SoC. Therefore, actual goal of inclusive campusinclusive spaces for anyone to organizations like BSU and so many environmentscome and go as they please. This others aim to unify correspondingrequest would not be identities and give them a place to There are spaces that are alreadyproblematic if social inequality, be supported. These spaces are open to the entirety of theoppression, and marginalization places of solace for students, student body in variousof people based on their identity affirming their identity and truly moments of the school year, butdid not exist on college giving them a sense of belonging in the primary goal of affinitycampuses. But because these the middle of an institution that spaces is to comfort SoC andsocial structures do exist and are was not founded with them in those who may enter the spacenot being changed, calls to mind. However, the work is not and as a refuge from everydayupend affinity spaces are cannot be completed within the campus behavior. Investing ournecessary. In fact, affinity spaces walls of a general body (GB) time and energy into each otherhave the potential to be a meeting. These spaces are already in order to be safe, reclaim ourpowerful force in promoting a open to the entirety of the student space, and just enjoy life for a broader cultural understanding,especially at Vassar. 

Reclaiming My Time! Page 3moment is just as important as In short, the communities that We should be facing the facts offighting against the systems of SoC form inside of a larger, economic segregation in higheroppression that delegitimize the white-dominated institution are education, inequities in collegestruggles faced by SoC on the vital to the wellbeing of readiness and access to resource-campuses of PWIs.  members and those beyond who rich institutions, and attainment don’t fall under the SoC moniker. and achievement gaps1. InsteadReclaiming and reflecting on our Instead of focusing on the of worrying why there is a affinitycollective and individual sensationalized opposition space Mug Night, worry aboutidentities through this space is a towards these spaces, we should why there is a need for this kindradical display of self love, be listening to the people within of party and the struggles of SoCsomething our communities those spaces.  who have many odds stackeddesperately need to heal. against them.  Notes;  Lynn Pasquerella, “Rewriting the Dominant Narrative: How Liberal Education Can Advance Racial Healing and Transformation.” Liberal Education, 2016. Sarah Brown, “Are College's Diversity Efforts Putting Students in ‘Silos’?”. The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 15, 2016. Lindsay Schrader and K.C. Holder, “Affinity Spaces and Identity: Recommended Children’s Literature for Use in Schools”. PDF, April 12, 2012.IN MEMORIUM **TRIGGER WARNINGS: By: Jade Smith anti-black racism, murder, violence In this part of the paper, bank and take off his clothes. They beat Emmett, we want to share a gouged out his eye, shot him in the head, and tied moment of solidarity him to fan with barbed wire before throwing him in with one of our fallen the river. family members. I didn’t even know this boy was Three days later, Mose was called in to identify real when Professor Emmett’s body. His face was so mutilated that the Dunbar assigned \"The only indicator of his identity was an engraved ring - Hate U Give\" to my class. reading “L.T.” for Louis Till, Emmett’s father. His mother, Mamie, had given it to him before heSo I think we should remember the name: boarded the train to Mississippi, the last time she                                EMMETT TILL ever saw him alive.   Visiting from Chicago, Emmett Louis Till was only Mamie left Emmett’s casket open for 5 days sofourteen when he went to buy bubble gum from a everyone could see what happened to her son.grocery store in Money, Mississippi. He was dared Despite this, Bryant and Milam were acquitted onby some friends to flirt with the white cashier to September 23rd by an all-white male juror panelprove that he really had a white girlfriend. Carolyn after 67 minutes.Bryant, the cashier, claimed that he grabbed her,made advances towards her, and whistled like a While we must mourn his death, we must alsowolf at her. It would be 52 years too late when celebrate his life. Emmett, nicknamed “Bobo” by hisBryant admitted that she lied about the loved ones, recovered from polio at age five withencounter. On August 28th, 1955, at 2:30 in the only a stutter. In Grammar School he was alreadymorning, Ross Bryant and J.W. Millam, Carolyn’s the hilarious optimist who everyone wanted tohusband and brother respectively, went to Mose befriend. “Bobo” was a very responsible young man,Wright’s house and kidnapped Emmett. They drove helping his single mother raise him. These are thehim to the Tallahatchie River, where they made things he should be remembered for. Rest in Peace, him carry a 75-pound cotton gin fan to the river 

Reclaiming My Time! Page 4MEMES OF THE GETTING TO MONTH KNOW YOU Lorice Rodney (2020) Jenna Llorens-Blas (2019) Him/ Her/ Colette Cann Them:  Q: What are your pronouns, hometown & occupation? A: She/her/hers, I am an L.A native & an Associate Professor of Education & Africana Studies at Vassar. Q: What are some of the activities you like to do outside of academics? A; Quilting, taking sewing lessons with my daughter, rip sticking, driving to Cali to see family, hosting Halloween and spring festivals, and walking. Q: As a faculty member, what resources can you offer the black community?   A: Just to name a few, there is the RISE Center, which tries to offer support through small grants for students that do things that relate to race and racism on campus. On Thursday nights from 9 to 10 I have open offices hours in my apartment, Davi 100. As a house fellow, students should sit with me in ACDC! Q: What’s your favorite thing about being black? A: I love everything about being black; it makes me more sensitive, more in touch with humanity. It gives me a superpower.My friend's mother told a story about a family escaping the south. After getting left behind, this girl went to her grandmother's house on a plantation. The owner’s son called her by her first name and slapped her. She taught her grandfather how to read, and with affirmative action was one of the first black people to be recruited for med school. She was the first to go to college. It’s a story about being superheroes. We are superheroes.   Q: What does the act of reclaiming time mean to you? A: Not worrying about the future or past. Scheduling time to do what I want to do and being present by achieving what I want to achieve. Deeply engaging in activity, and becoming free from the constraints of time.

Reclaiming My Time! Page 5FASHION & FUN ARTIST HOW TO CREATE A LOOK FOR HIGHLIGHT $20 OR LESS Jade Smith (2021) Zuhiley Quiñones (2019) We try to highlight the unknown and underappreciated, whether they’re underground, on campus, or even from a foreign country. We talk about singers, dancers, actors, photographers, filmmakers and more. If you or someone you know is a black artist, or if you have a person in mind that no one knows about, email us their name so we can highlight them! In this first installment, we’re gonna go back in time. The Class of 2018 is the oldest class on campus at around 22. That means they weren’t even alive to see this Canadian appear in the American sitcom A Different World in 1987. You most likely recognized her voice in shows like The Rugrats, Danny Phantom, and Codename: Kids Next Door. At 49, she still does voice-overs for numerous shows such as Atlanta and Rick and Morty. I’m talking about the one and only                           CREE SUMMER! I selected her because while her acting is seen as her strong suit, very few people have heard of her album, Street Faërie. Released in 1999, these tracks show an array of versatility. “Curious White Boy” is about a relationship with a white boy who dates her out of white guilt. If you have Native American heritage, “Naheo” can help you connect with your ancestors. I must admit that “Deliciously Down” is my personal favorite. Listen to her songs and tells us which one was your favorite! Cree Summer at the 48th Annual NAACP Awards

Reclaiming My Time! Page 6Fill in the surname of these black inventors based on their inventions.Here's a Hint she's 20 AcrossDown Here's a Hint he's 10 Across Across1. Famous Amos cookies 3. Linkline software for EEO2. CCTV 4. Strongbox (safe)3. Resistors for pacemakers 6. Sanitary belt5. Potato chip 7. Synthesized anti-glaucoma drug7. Permanent hair curler (perm) (physostigmine)8. Portable pencil sharpener 9. ATMs and Find-My-Phone10. First shoe making machine 10. Traffic light and gas mask11. Ice cream scoop 12. Laser removal surgery for cataract lenses14. Fountain pen 13. Whaling harpoon15. Electric elevator 16. Carbon filaments18. Super-soaker water guns 17. Digital cellphone technology (2G data)23. Hair growing lotion 19. Automatic gear shift 20. Ironing board 21. Modern acoustic guitar 22. Improved hairbrush

Reclaiming My Time! Page 7TRAINING WITH Another mistake that a lot of people make in doing leg training is that they forget to train outside of the TARIF sagittal plane. There are a lot more muscles in your legs other than your quads, and if you want to build Tarif Rose (2021) mass in your legs, you need to target all of them. Try doing some more 3 dimensional work such as theTIPS TO BUILD MASS IN YOUR LEGS side lunges The legs contain the biggest muscles in your FACT OF THE MONTHbody and should be treated as such. However,people still make many mistakes in doing leg In any leg exercise that involves bending the knees,training. In this issue of Training With Tarif, I’m always be cognizant of your form. A lot of peoplegoing to try to help tackle some of these move from their ankles first which causes too muchmistakes. The first common mistake that I am pressure to be put on the knees and can lead togoing to cover is the belief that more weight injury. If, when you squat, your knees are going tooalways equates to more gains, or better results. far ahead of your toes rather than the other wayWhen performing the squat, one of the biggest around, you are likely doing them wrong. One fix formistakes that people make is overloading the this is sitting back or pushing your hips back as youweights. This often restricts them from achieving go down. This causes you to move with your hipstheir full range of motion which in turn hinders first and not your ankles, thus engaging thethe overall growth of the leg muscles. Your legs posterior chain. Doing this also limits prematuredon’t know the difference between a 25 and a 45 movement of the knees and allows for the center ofweight; they only know whats heavy for them at gravity to remain the middle of your feet.  the moment and what isn’t. Lower the weightsand aim for your full range of motion (sit backand go all the way down when you squat). 

Reclaiming My Time! Page 8LOOK BACK AT IT! Big Sibs and Lil Sibs had some FALL 2017 HIGHLIGHTS great conversations Feeling reminiscent? Here's what during their happened last semester: Meet & Greet Collaborating with the Give it up for the Brunch. CDO for our Resume POC in STEM at (11/5/17) Workshop helped the URSI How long did it take usmembers to look good on Symposium to get these name games together?  paper (11/1/17) (9/27/17) (10/18/17) The fried CSA & ASU made sure chicken bites we all were ready for their Mug Night during at Night their dance workshop Market were soooo good! (11/8/17) (11/4/17) Going to the The Kwanzaa nursing home Celebration was a success (12/6/17) with VassarGenerations was UPCOMING EVENTSthe best way to Disclaimer: Events are subject to change start the Halloween Activities (10/28/17)