Foothill College African American Network Newspaper 1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Foothill College African American Network Newspaper THE GRIOT A Griot is a West African story-teller who preserves the oral history of the village or clan. September 2007, Volume 9 Welcome Message from Harambee 2007: Afrocentric Rites of Foothill President Passage a Huge Success Welcome to Foothill College! You are joining a Harambee 2007 was a powerful mix of pride, love, the courage to pursue their goals. He stressed the very special community of dedicated professionals appreciation, motivation and success. The rites imperative need to give back to their community. who are committed to your educational success. of passage celebration marked the achievements Sean’s charge to African American student honor- We have outstanding programs and services that of Foothill students of African descent who were ees was a powerful motivator and springboard to are the envy of many other colleges and we want graduating, transferring or receiving a career cer- the Oath of Service. you to take full advantage of our offerings. tificate. Foot- Malcom Harvey, Foothill Class of 1999, wrote hill faculty, the Oath of Service, a pledge to academic excel- Many of us are the first in our family to gradu- staff, admin- lence and a commitment to give back to communi- ate from college. I fall into that category and can istrators and ties of African ancestry. The students recited this empathize with the challenges that you may face distinguished oath as a public declaration of their commitment related to finances, time management, familiarity members of to serve and strive for excellence in advancing with educational systems, and social adjustments. the community personal, professional and community develop- The good news is that Foothill has excellent sup- united with stu- ment. Exceptional service awards were presented port services to assist you in making informed and dent honorees to Anika Dodds, Nakeesha Ceran and Darran wise choices regarding your educational plans and and their fami- Moore for their leadership and service contribu- equally excellent instructional programs to prepare lies to witness tions to the development of campus and com- you for transfer and the workplace. the ceremony munity programs. Ujima Awards were presented that began with to Herlisa Hamp, Robert Garcia and Lorraine In addition to working hard, be sure to enjoy the a call of the drums performed by Jaliya, an Af- Dabney for their service as either employees of vibrant student life that is part of the Foothill tra- rican drumming corps. Jaliya led the processional the college or community supporter of the stu- dition. Join a club, attend cultural activities sched- into the Playhouse Theatre, which was beautifully dent success at Foothill. uled throughout the year, become a campus am- adorned with African cloth, art, and placards con- Thanks to the dedication of the Harambee’s plan- bassador, or volunteer in your community through taining historic Afrocentric quotations. ning committee, the ceremony was a clear and the volunteer center. Learning occurs outside the Gail Ortega, director of Multicultural Student memorable marker of our students’ tremendous classroom as well and you could establish new Affairs at Menlo College, led the opening libation, success. friendships that last a lifetime. which grounded the rite of passage with acknowl- edgment of the ancestors on whose strength we Have a wonderful year and please drop by to say all draw from. By the close of the libation, it was hello during the open office hours that I will hold clear that all in attendance were receptive to the each month! power that the ceremony would uniquely acknowl- edge students’ academic accomplishments and Wishing you the best, contributions to the Foothill community. Davida Vance-Lee then led the audience in a powerful rendition of Lift Every Voice. Sean Fuller, Foothill alumnus, Class of 1995, and Judy C. Miner one of the student leaders who founded Harambee Foothill College 13 years ago, urged students to set goals and have President INSIDE . Habari Gani!! . 2 The African American Network’s African American Achiever Awards Annual Student Welcome BBQ Program . 3 Highlights of 2007 Foothill BHM . 7 & Orientation AAN Calendar of Events . 8 On Wednesday, Oct. 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the outdoor BBQ AAN Executive Board . 8 new and returning stu- pit located between the district offices and tennis Meet the African American Network . 8 dents of African descent courts. For more information please call 650 949- Harambee 2007: Pride and are invited to a free bar- 7635, or visit the Intramural/Recreation office in becue for orientation to the Campus Center. Achievement . 1 campus programs, staff Faculty and Staff in the News . 2 and resources that support their academic success. Where Are They Now? . 6 Students will receive information on financial aid, 2007 Ujima Award Receipeints . 2 tutorial services and other support services such as the Pass the Torch, Mfumo and Brother 2 Brother Programs & Services Update . 4 programs. New students will also have a chance to meet Foothill College student leaders as well as faculty, staff, and administrators who are here to assist in their development. The event runs 1 Habari Gani!!! FACULTY AND Welcome to the 2007-2008 while serving in leadership positions locally and STAFF IN THE NEWS academic year. We are statewide, performing as star athletes, tutors, hon- pleased to share our fall edi- or students, award winners or scholarship recipi- African American Network Welcomes tion of The Griot with the ents. We celebrate students who have successfully New Members . entire Foothill community, transferred to four-year universities or advanced and dedicate it to new and to rewarding careers through the many certificate returning students of Afri- programs Foothill offers. can descent. This is a terrific time to be a student at Foot- Though out the issue you will find information on Don Dorsey hill as we begin celebrating 50 Foothill’s unique programs, award-wining services AAN President/Dean of Student Affairs & years of academic excellence and outstanding staff who can assist you. Activities and service as a college, the Alex Haley, the famous author, once said, “When opening of our new Campus you clinch your fist, no one can put anything in Center and Lower Campus Complex; completion your hand.” So for new students, we encourage Carleen Bruins of most major construction and renovation proj- you to heed the sage advice of Haley and open your Web Content Developer, ects; and the return of a beautiful campus environ- hand to those who reach out to you. Familiarize Marketing and Communications ment that fosters exciting opportunities for teach- yourself with Foothill programs that can help you ing, learning, and personal growth. and use campus services early so that you maxi- Carleen Bruins comes to us from De Anza Col- mize your Foothill experience. There are so many lege, where she was the Web content developer for The Griot (pronounced Gree’-oh) is published by opportunities available to you here. I encourage 7 years. Bruins has had multiple careers, including the African American Network, an organization you to take advantage of all that our campus has teaching natural science and working in public re- whose purpose is to function in an advocacy and to offer. Challenge yourself with something new lations. She has a keen interest in Web usability and support role for Foothill-De Anza Community this quarter: join the BSU, Brother 2 Brother, the developing Web sites that communicate effectively. College District employees of African descent as 2008 Black History Month Planning Committee An avid reader, Bruins also enjoys creative writing, well as Foothill College students of African de- or one of our many student clubs; volunteer in our textile arts, gardening, hiking, vegetarian cooking scent. A “griot” is a storyteller in traditional West community; run for student government; or par- and traveling. She and her husband recently vis- African culture whose role is to preserve the oral ticipate in intercollegiate athletics or an intramural ited Libya, where they witnessed their third solar history of the village or clan. They are revered sport. Take a class in a subject that’s unfamiliar to eclipse. She is looking forward to collaborating clan members who commit to memory important you. Get to know someone whose background with others to make Foothill’s web site the best events in a village’s history like births, deaths, mar- and perspective are very different from your own. community college site in the state. riages and battles. A griot embodies the collective All of these things will help you learn more about memory of the village to ensure a perspective of yourself and the world around you, sometimes in the past as well as the news of the day upon which surprising and quite wonderful ways. to base its decisions. It is in the spirit of that tra- dition that The Griot is published. Through this On behalf of the Foothill College African Ameri- publication we document and celebrate the legacy can Network and supporters, we wish you the best of academic achievement and service that Foothill for a successful school year. We look forward to students of African decent have established over seeing you on campus. Welcome — or welcome the decades. In this issue you will find articles that back! — to Foothill. focus on current and former students who have Sincerely, Matais Pouncil successfully balanced Foothill’s rigorous academic EOPS Director programs, leadership and service commitments, family obligations and the responsibilities of work Donald Dorsey, President Matais Pouncil grew up in the Bay Area, but is African American Network originally from the Midwest. He earned a B.S. in Habari Gani is a Swahili greeting for ‘What’s happening?’ Economics from Southern University in Baton Rouge and an Ed.M.