Meet the New SG a Senators

oo© © udreview T he R eview TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 VOLUME 142, ISSUE 4 I The University of Delaware’s independent student newspaper since 1882 | udreview.com One year after noose scare, students Campus reflect on race at the university community mourns loss of student MICHAEL T. HENRETTY JR. Managing News Editor The university's staff, students, faculty and surrounding community are mourning the loss of undergraduate student Connor Mullen. Mullen, a junior majoring in entrepreneurship and technology innovation, passed KIRK SMITH/THE REVIEW away on Sunday at the age of 20. A look back on a year since the Katie Pavlich protests and alleged noose scare, and how those events still shape the hearts and minds of the university’s black “We are deeply saddened at students. the news of the loss of one of WILLIAM KEBBE black student’s voice, the two said. group strives to improve the quality of white culture that can evoke the our undergraduate students,” Associate News Editor Even though the events - and the of life for all racial minorities at the feeling of being separated from Dean of Students Jose-Luis Riera subsequent whirlwind of emotions - university. campus life. said. “Connor will be missed Junior Malik Cupitt was walking are a year removed, both Johnson The chapter will be hosting “Me being a senior, honestly, by his peers and the university and Cupitt clearly remember the talks about racial identity and what you become numb to it,” he said. back to his dorm on the eve of the community.” first football game this fall. He emotion teeming from that event. it means to be of a certain minority “It definitely has been a struggle found himself behind a group of “A lot of black students really group during the fall semester. This from freshman year until now, being Students are encouraged to students that were returning back felt threatened,” Johnson said. “A lot kind of conversation, Johnson said, comfortable with my identity and utilize the UD 24/7 crisis hotline at to campus from the game. Cupitt of kids did not want to go to class is the crux of why the gap between who I am. Who I am today definitely 302-831-1001. Walk in counseling remembers them acting rowdy and the next day, and the people that did white students and minority exists took a lot of falling and taking strides service is also available at the rambunctious, singing a rap song he go were afraid to talk to the people on this campus. It is through these to be this person." Center for Counseling & Student next to them. I could relate because I forums that Johnson hopes to The four year search for a firm couldn’t quite make out. A familiar Development, as well as the Office was one of those people.” convey what it means to be a student sense of self has not been tackled occurrence, he said. of the Dean of Students. Then, from the middle of the It was their friends and of color. alone, Menard said. Many resources, crowd, Cupitt heard a voice: classmates they saw walk up on the “For me, it’s a privilege and including the Center for Black “I would also like to encourage “Man, it’s really cool that there stage, explaining to the crowd what honor to be here," he said. “We Culture (CBC), the Multicultural students to simply look out for are only like six black kids on this it means to be black on this campus. had to fight to be here. There were Greek Congress (MGC), the Cultural each other and take care of one entire campus.” The narrative heard was one of times where we would be spit on for Programming Advisory Board (CP AB) another,” Riera said. “If students ostracization, with many students One voice from the crowd - thinking about going to college or and being a Resident Assistant (R.A) note that they have a peer in need feeling as though being black meant reading a book." have been crucial for Menard in enough to drive home a sentiment o f help, reach out and encourage Cupitt and members of the black isolation from the rest of campus Looking back on the events of setting up a support system. community have felt since Katie life. last year, senior Branham Menard These pockets, Menard said, them to connect to help.” Pavlich’s talk last year, the alleged But with Carol Henderson, remembers seeing the picture of the have provided him with numerous According to the university’s noose scare and far before those the vice provost for diversity, noose on his phone from a friend conversations with people of color statement, additional information events even transpired. announcing a diversity action and not being able to pinpoint his and white students, where they talk about Mr. Mullen will be shared “It wasn’t even that statement plan at the rally last year, Cupitt feelings. The rest of the day was about the larger racial issues of the with the campus community and Johnson said they felt their spent alone in his room, unable to university. itself that bothered me,” Cupitt when information regarding the said. “It was the underlying feelings grievances were heard. Discussions express the gravity of the situation, And in light of conservative behind that statement. They with many in administration he said. blogger Milo Yiannopoulos coming family’s memorial plans becomes assumed then and there that hip- about seeing inclusivity and a But Menard received to campus in late October, Benard available. hop music is exclusively for blacks, better understanding of the black overwhelming support from his remains wary of what is to come made by blacks, and because of that, community materialized. Targett friends, regardless of color. of it. He too was there during the other groups of people singing hip- and her staff held roundtables, “Some of my good friends who forum, the Black Lives Matter protest hop music is suddenly offensive to and discussions included a wider aren’t black or brown were actually and remembers how he and his black people. And then on top of representation of diversity in the the first ones to reach out to me,” he classmates felt. This speaker, in that, they felt okay with offending Perkins Live and Trabant Now events said. “But I couldn’t sleep that night.” Menard’s words, doesn’t promote the \ny friends, family or black people.” as well. When speaking about what kind of conversations the campus members of the university It has been over a year since the However, continuations of these it means to be black, and more should have. community who wish to share forum in response to the alleged talks have become stagnant, Cupitt generally a minority, on this campus, But if the past year indicates a story about Connor Mullen noose scare took place on the said. The transition from Targett’s Menard can’t speak for everyone. anything, strides towards a better and his life (to be included in administration to Dennis Assanis is steps of Memorial Hall. Cupitt and There are common metaphors, understanding of race are happening. The Review’s memoriam) are president of the university’s NAACP one of the reasons for the holdup, he said, that help sum up the way “On an individual level, I do chapter Garry Johnson were there, and the two hope that talks will many students of color feel on this see hints of people making strides encouraged to contact Michael among the hundreds of students, continue shortly after the president campus. and understanding more,” he said. Henretty at mhenffudel.edu. intently listening to the stories of becomes acclimated. “A fly in milk” or “walking “Even in the different departments discrimination and prejudice. What As president of the NAACP through a sea of whiteness”: No I’m involved in, I've seen baby steps. stood out were stories of a school chapter on campus, Johnson too is matter the structure of the metaphor, Small, small baby steps.” that wasn't fully inclusive of the part of the movement to talk about Menard said that for minority race more openly and inclusively. His students, it's the overbearing nature Meet the new SGA Senators NATALIE WALTON Gross said. “1 made the best choice sister was previously a senator of the president of the service group This mentality has benefited Staff Reporter coming here.” academic affairs and after seeing Interact Club. him so far as he has helped in As a student affairs senator, every thing her sister accomplished, Obichukwu “Obi” Maduka- mentorship programs, been a Staff reporter Natalie she hopes she can “connect with Lorusso plans to do the same as a Ugwu - Student .Affairs Senator programmer for the Multicultural Walton met with the winners of people” and “see how they view student affairs senator. Junior Obichukwu “Obi” Greek Congress and been the face Wednesday’s Student Government campus.” She also wants to make “I want to achieve something Maduka-Ugwu has three main goals of Destination Delaware. He also Association (SGA) fall election sure more water filters are installed that’s small, but impacts a lot of as a student affairs senator: One, works closely with the Center for earlier this week to discuss their across campus, as well as create people,” she said. patience needs to be exercised. T wo, Black Culture. vision for the year ahead. They will more integration opportunities for Lorusso also stressed the make sure everyone accounted for. Jay Patel - Student Affairs work under senior Matthew Rojas freshmen.

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