{ visit us on the web at www.brooklynexcelsior.com } brooklyn brooklyn college theEXCELSIOR VO LUME EIGHTEEN , ISSUE FI V E OCT O BER 24, 2011 CAMPUS NEWS Haiti the Beautiful, HASA Cuts McD's Shooting BRIEFS Through the Ugly Stereotypes Leaves Students Concerned Residents Speak Up On How BY CONOR FEBOS does the public know about it?” the most intense debate of the To Spend A $1 Million asked Rosemond. “I would ven- day, “Haiti beyond light and Councilman Jumaane Williams A passionate, determined ture to say no, and it’s a shame dark skin,” resonated through- hosted the first ever participatory group of Brooklyn College because Haiti is a wonderfully out the room as poignant, lu- budget hearing in Brooklyn Col- Students met last week in the beautiful country.” minous points were made by lege last week. Residents suggest- Student Center as the Haitian Other students who have many of the students present. ed the $1 million that have been American Student Association family in Haiti and who have “Too many people disre- allocated to the district should be addressed the misconceptions recently visited, supported gard the vast complexities of spent on building community gar- of Haitian culture and the stig- Rosemond’s statements by re- Haitian people,” said the reso- dens, installing more street light- mas that plague its reputation. inforcing the point that their lute Sophia Molieur, HASA’s ing across Nostrand Ave., and to The Haitian American family members have attractive director of media relations. put new lockers in at the Flatbush Student Association, HASA, homes and continue to live in “The media has often depicted YMCA among other things. a club that originated in 1988 fine conditions. Haiti as an extremely dark race (Source: Courier's Life Brooklyn at Brooklyn College, prides “Picturesque beaches, crys- of people, while, as you can see Daily) itself on educating and expos- tal clear water, boundless beau- by the many Haitian’s present ing students to the Haitian ty,” added Gregory Jesus Luc, today, we are a wide-ranging culture. This gathering focused a project coordinator for the culture with a myriad of com- CUNYAC Launches New more specifically on conversing nonprofit organization Spring plexities.” Android Application over the detrimental portrayal Break in Haiti who had come Others noted that the dis- Brooklyn College is building a of Haiti seen throughout the to support HASA and extend torted notion that all Haitian’s The CUNY Athletic Confer- media. his commitment to bettering are dark is both ignorant and ence along with Sidearm Sports “We want the student body Haiti with a presentation of his mindless. recently announced the lauch of of Brooklyn College to fur- organization’s elements. Joel Francois, a junior Eng- SHOCKING: Eighteen-year old Tyquan Sewall falls an Android phone application ther understand the Haitian Students unfamiliar with lish major at Brooklyn College, on to the road after an unidentified man shoots him that would allow sports fans to culture and break the negative Haiti’s beauty were presented offered his insight: “More often numerous times outside of McDonald's on Nostrand check up on updates, scores, and stereotypes often connected to with a creative slideshow that than not, the media depicts the Avenue in broad daylight last month (Media Credit: schedules regarding their favorite Haitian people,” said the clubs’ included enticing photos of the impoverished Haitian people Police Surveillance Video). teams. The App would also fea- President Nerija Rosemond. countries immense beauty. as dark-skinned, dark-eyed ture pictures to be viewed from “The media can cast a poor Unfortunately, soon af- people when it is undoubtedly BY RYAN SIT the sports games without having image of Haiti -- making our ter the discussion over Haiti’s true that light-skinned, green- to attend them. culture out to be something it allure culminated, attendees eyed Haitian’s also suffer in Frequenters of the McDonalds down the street (Source: cunyathletics.com) is not entirely.” were reminded of the devas- poverty-stricken areas around from Brooklyn College may want to order their Big In a committed effort to in- tating tragedy that took place the country.” Mac to-go. form the group – which featured on January 12, 2010: The mas- Stepping in as the tem- Eighteen year-old Tyquan Sewall sustained three Amount Of Financial Aid over 55 students on Thursday sive earthquake that shook the perature of the room began to gunshots outside the McDonalds on Nostrand Avenue Awarded To CUNY Students – the clubs’ officials broke the world. boil from this complex debate, last month and was taken to Kings County Medical Reaches Record High presentation into five areas of However, what followed curator Christie Derys shifted Center. The gunman fled through the Hillel Avenue CUNY Chancellor Matthew concentration: Haiti Beyond was a message to the Haitian the group’s attention to another exit, just a block from campus, ditching his .32 caliber Goldstein recently announced Being a Third World Country; people – and the rest of the – equally as important – top- Smith & Wesson nearby, police said. that an estimated $770 million Haiti Beyond the Earthquake; world – that Haiti survived the ic: “Haiti beyond the Earth- A sergeant at of the New York Police Department in financial aid including Fed- Haiti Beyond Light and Dark tragedy and continues to push quake.” called the shooting “uncalled for and ridiculous.” eral Pell and State TAP grants Skin; Haiti Beyond Voodoo; forward with resilience and a After extended discourse Students all over campus were rattled by news of were awarded to some 170,000 Haiti Beyond Nostrand Av- steadfast commitment. between HASA’s members the shooting, though many did not find the incident students in the CUNY system in enue (Little Haiti). “I am proud to be of Hai- and the rest of the group over hard to believe. the previous academic year. The “In picking these discus- tian descent after seeing our the remaining topics came to “I’d heard about things like that happening around financial aid received, allowed sion topics, we felt that we country bounce back after the an end, previous president Me- here,” said Hannah Marcus, Linguistics major, “I was close to 90,000 students to attend could cover a vast area of Hai- earthquake and keep moving nesky Magloire encapsulated sort of shocked I’d been so close [to the shooting] at CUNY colleges tuition-free. tian culture that has certainly forward to honor all those lost,” the sentiment of the day. the time.” (Source: cuny.edu) been misconstrued by the me- said Luc. “Haiti remembers all “The world is your culture, “I’m afraid, like anybody else,” said the manager of dia,” asserted HASA’s Vice those lost by working hard each don’t shrink yourself,” said Ma- the McDonald’s, who declined to divulge his name. President and curator of the day to improve the country and gloire. “We are all citizens of “I’m still afraid.” Brooklyn Politicians Jump meeting, Chrisite Derys. instill a lasting pride that fol- the world and should remem- The McDonalds shooting occurred outside of col- Into the Occupy Wall Street Each topic, in its own way, lows Haitian’s everywhere.” ber that this club is not just lege property and does not directly reflect on-campus Movement sparked fiery discourse between HASA’s members also to expose students to Haitian safety. This Tuesday, October 25th, De- both Haitian students and oth- criticized the many people who culture, but to expose students “I personally don’t see it as a problem,” Anthony mocractic Party Leader in Brook- ers of separate ethnicities who seemingly cared for Haiti only to the culture of the world. We Baker, an on campus peace officer, said. “It’s very rare lyn and Assemblyman Vito Lopez offered their opinions on this at its time of distress and soon are all together in this, let’s to have any incident of crime.” along with Assemblyman Hakeen pressing issue of Haiti’s image. thereafter forgot about the never forget that.” Sahar Munir, among other students, indicated Jeffries (D) and Councilman Steve Commencing the discus- country’s needs. HASA primarily meets in that the problem is not on school grounds. “I’m just Levin (D) will march across the sion was President Rosemond “It’s a shame that so many 0229 Ingersoll Hall and will shocked,” Munir said. “I feel safe on campus, but one Brooklyn Bridge to Zuccotti Park with a detailed description of people considered themselves host its next event -- “Uni- block down I do not.” to join the OWS protestors in a Haiti being looked upon as a passionate about Haiti imme- versity Men” – an event open Acts of violence such as the one seen at the Mc- day of solidarity. A lot of talk is third world country. As Haiti’s diately following the earth- to all students on November Donalds on Sept. 28 are practically nonexistent on going around in media circles on budget remains at a negative quake, but then as time went 10th at its regular location. The school grounds. The Office of Campus and Commu- whether the Democratic Party balance, the country continues on lost that sense of commit- event will be a competition to nity Safety Services reported only two accounts of ag- should embrace the OWS move- to struggle with its persistent ment and interest towards the find the ideal male on campus, gravated assault in many years. ment for political gains similar to attempt to underscore a bright- country,” said Robin Lariviere, showcasing his talents before Campus crime may be low, but for a commuter how the Tea Party was picked up er side of Haiti; a more appeal- HASA’s leader of public rela- HASA members.