CALENDAR OF EVENTS ASU will be hosting these
events to make students aware of the different African American
organizations on campus. Monday
Pre-Professional Day 5 p.m.-6 p.m. Orientation in
Boelter Hall 5422 Tuesday Community
Service Day 12 p.m. Barbecue in Westwood Plaza, 6-7 p.m.
Cultural Affairs Commission Concert, 8-10 p.m. Onyx Orientation in
Kerckhoff Grand Salon Wednesday National
Pan-Hellenic Council Day 12 p.m.-1 p.m. Greek Yard Show in
Westwood Plaza 12 p.m.-2 p.m. African Grad Barbecue 7 p.m.-8
p.m.National Pan-HellenicCouncil Informationalin Sproul
EntertainmentCenter Thursday African
Peoples’ Day 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. ASU Orientation in Rolfe
Hall 1200 Harambee Council Fair Friday
ASP’s African Brothersand Sisters Sleep over 6
p.m. pick up at Lot 6turnaround SOURCE: African Student Union ADAM
BROWN/Daily Bruin Web adaptation by NICK IFURUNG
By Melody Wang
Daily Bruin Reporter
Imagine walking to class to the beat of hands clapping and feet
stomping.
This will come true Wednesday afternoon, as part of the African
Student Union’s annual Welcome Week.
ASU, one of the oldest cultural student groups on campus, has
planned events to introduce students to the university’s many
African student organizations.
But ASU Program Coordinator Robbie Clark said Welcome Week is
meant to target more than just the African American community.
“We would like for African American students to be
involved with our organizations, but we also want the entire
student body to know what we’re doing,” Clark said.
She said many upperclassmen still do not know what the
organizations are about.
Onyx, for instance, is a group of African American men who
provide academic and personal support for each other. The African
Women’s Collective provides similar services, but members
seek to empower themselves by reading African literature.
Clark said Welcome Week this year will be special because
different organizations will come together to introduce
themselves.
For example, all of the African American sororities and
fraternities will perform a show together while pre-professional
groups give presentations that same day.
“We’re all doing it together this year in a unified
way,” Clark said.
ASU kicked off the week Monday with pre-professional
organizations, such as Black Prelaw and the National Society of
Black Engineers, handing out information and attracting new
members.
On Wednesday, the National PanHellenic Council will hold a
“yard show,” with African fraternities and sororities
performing a step show that consists of hand clapping and
stomping.
NPHC President Jamila Small said the show is about everyone
showcasing their talents, unlike a usual step show, which is often
a competition between groups.
“There’s a whole art and history of stepping, but
it’s also our way of having fun,” Small said.
That same day, ASU will have a barbecue to raise money for its
annual African cultural graduation.
In addition, ASU members will talk about the
organization’s history and impact on students at an
orientation meeting Thursday.
“The meeting will focus on the legacy we’re
inheriting, reflecting on our history and what we’re going to
continue this year,” Clark said.
ASU, which was formed in 1989, has existed for more than 30
years under different names, but its goals have remained
similar.
At first, ASU was known as Harambee Club, then Black Student
Union and later Black Student Alliance.
“ASU is supposed to be the voice of the African community
in political, social, academic, cultural and spiritual aspects, on
or off campus,” said Kennisha Austin, ASU community
empowerment coordinator.
She added that ASU achieves these goals through organizations
such as the African Supports Program, a retention program, and
Students”˜ Heightening Academic Performance through Education,
which is ASU’s outreach program.
Fiazah Carr, the Harambee Council Coordinator, said ASU will
have a sleepover Friday to discuss issues facing African American
students.
“It’s going to be about giving answers to the
younger people from an older perspective,” Carr said.