DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa Afro-American Cultural Center, 1968-2009 | 2009-11-16 Daily Iowan Article: "Building Community Bridges"

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University of Iowa Afro-American Cultural Center, 1968-2009

2009-11-16 Daily Iowan Article: "Building Community Bridges"

Building community bridges. 

By PARKER SMITH
parker-smith@uiowa.edu

[photo]
RACHEL JESSEN/THE DAILY IOWAN

Motier Haskins, a UI clinical assistant professor of social work, speaks with Idris Abdul Hafiz, a systems engineer with Rockwell Collins, at the Afro-American Cultural Center on Thursday. Thursday's Black Male Forum topic of discussion was " Interventions for African American and Latino Males : Empowerment through Academics, Culture and History." 


There weren't enough chairs to go around at the Afro American Cultural Center forum on Thursday night. 
   Students, professors, faculty and citizens gathered around the living room of the center, enjoyed dinner and discussed cultural issues related to Latino and African American relations and life in Iowa City and at the UI.
  The forum was part of the monthly Black Male Forum facilitated by the Hubbard Group - a task force of African American faculty and staff created in 2007 - and it examined recruitment and retention issues for minorities on campus. 
   Directed by Motier Haskins, a clinical assistant professor of social work, and Mario Duarte, an academic adviser at the UI, the forum provided a relaxed atmosphere in which people spoke openly about experiences and concerns they've had on campus. 
   The night began with a presentation of new courses offered through the African American studies program.
   Although only around 15 students are majoring in African American studies, Assistant Professor Bridget Tsemo said her classes have grown exponentially and are very diverse. 
   As the night wore on, people engaged in discussions of perceptions and stereotypes. 
  Duarte said these events build bridges among communities. He spoke about growing up in a town with limited ethnic tolerance and the ethnic diversity of his immediate family. 
   " Iowa City is one of the places where we don't get weird looks," he said. 
   Haskins called the forum a place and space for discourse to exist. People spoke about the cultural divide among blacks and Latinos and other cultures. 
   " It's important to bring together students who feel alienated," said UI freshman Martin Lopez.
   Approximately 2.4 percent of the UI population is black and 3.2 percent are Latino, according to fall 2009 numbers from the UI Office of the Registrar.   
    Other students talked about how a city even as diverse as Iowa City can be a culture shock for some small-town students who have never met members of other ethnic backgrounds. Some expressed frustration that the university is motivated to enroll students of diverse backgrounds but not to graduate them. 
   " They're tracking us coming in but not coming out" on participant said. 
    The group has been hosting monthly forums to address issues such as these since its inception two years ago. 
   Jaycee Bryant, a Chicago native majoring in social work, said he has attended forums in the past and they get bigger each time. 
   " It's important to see new faces," he said. " We need to build alliances; if we come together out voice is louder." 

[insert]
Campus Cultural Centers

Afro-American Center
Asian Pacific American Center
Latino Native American Center
Lesbian, Gay , Bisexual, Transgender Center

Source: UI Website

[insert]
DAILYIOWAN.COM 

Check out footage of the forum hosted by the Hubbard Group Thursday night.

[handwritten]
DI 14 Mar 09 p2A

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Building community bridges. By PARKER SMITH parker-smith@uiowa.edu [photo] RACHEL JESSEN/THE DAILY IOWAN Motier Haskins, a UI clinical assistant professor of social work, speaks with Idris Abdul Hafiz, a systems engineer with Rockwell Collins, at the Afro-American Cultural Center on Thursday. Thursday's Black Male Forum topic of discussion was " Interventions for African American and Latino Males : Empowerment through Academics, Culture and History." There weren't enough chairs to go around at the Afro American Cultural Center forum on Thursday night. Students, professors, faculty and citizens gathered around the living room of the center, enjoyed dinner and discussed cultural issues related to Latino and African American relations and life in Iowa City and at the UI. The forum was part of the monthly Black Male Forum facilitated by the Hubbard Group - a task force of African American faculty and staff created in 2007 - and it examined recruitment and retention issues for minorities on campus. Directed by Motier Haskins, a clinical assistant professor of social work, and Mario Duarte, an academic adviser at the UI, the forum provided a relaxed atmosphere in which people spoke openly about experiences and concerns they've had on campus. The night began with a presentation of new courses offered through the African American studies program. Although only around 15 students are majoring in African American studies, Assistant Professor Bridget Tsemo said her classes have grown exponentially and are very diverse. As the night wore on, people engaged in discussions of perceptions and stereotypes. Duarte said these events build bridges among communities. He spoke about growing up in a town with limited ethnic tolerance and the ethnic diversity of his immediate family. " Iowa City is one of the places where we don't get weird looks," he said. Haskins called the forum a place and space for discourse to exist. People spoke about the cultural divide among blacks and Latinos and other cultures. " It's important to bring together students who feel alienated," said UI freshman Martin Lopez. Approximately 2.4 percent of the UI population is black and 3.2 percent are Latino, according to fall 2009 numbers from the UI Office of the Registrar. Other students talked about how a city even as diverse as Iowa City can be a culture shock for some small-town students who have never met members of other ethnic backgrounds. Some expressed frustration that the university is motivated to enroll students of diverse backgrounds but not to graduate them. " They're tracking us coming in but not coming out" on participant said. The group has been hosting monthly forums to address issues such as these since its inception two years ago. Jaycee Bryant, a Chicago native majoring in social work, said he has attended forums in the past and they get bigger each time. " It's important to see new faces," he said. " We need to build alliances; if we come together out voice is louder." [insert] Campus Cultural Centers Afro-American Center Asian Pacific American Center Latino Native American Center Lesbian, Gay , Bisexual, Transgender Center Source: UI Website [insert] DAILYIOWAN.COM Check out footage of the forum hosted by the Hubbard Group Thursday night. [handwritten] DI 14 Mar 09 p2A