Fall University Semester, of 2003 Rochester hronicleInside History Afloat This Issue Amistad, the Freedom Schooner Jack Collins gally purchasing captives from Africa Student Editor in Havana, its Cuban owners used its inner hull to hold the captives while On September 13, 2003, a group of it sailed to another location at the far students and faculty left the University eastern underbelly of Cuba. of Rochester campus to board a ship But six weeks prior to La Amistad’s docked at the harbor inlet of Buf- seizure by the U.S. Coast Guard, the falo, NY. This ship, named Amistad: captive Africans aboard escaped Freedom Schooner, despite minor confinement from the inner hull, near modern adaptations, is the historical Cuba, seized control of the men who replica of the Spanish schooner La enslaved them, and attempted to sail Amistad which was captured near the back to the northwestern coast of Cover Story shores of Long Island, NY in 1840. Africa. But at night while the Africans Amistad: Freedom Schooner Events Congress on Campus........3 Meliora Weekend.........6-7 Programs Creation of the Chronicle...9 Engineering Prep...........10 Students Academic Achievement....4 Kudos Korner................11 All who visited it were able to be on slept, the Cuban overseers, who still board with the weight of this momen- controlled the helm, navigated their A Look Back tous story in a shared American and way up the American coast where First Minority Faculty.......4 African history. slavery was still a legal practice. Upon Running ten feet longer than the their recovery in American waters, the Alumna Megan Sesma.......5 original to incorporate a modern die- two slaveholders were set free with sel engine, the deck area was surpris- possession of La Amistad, while those ingly small, roughly equal to the length who had recently fought so gallantly of a large school bus. From its narrow for their freedom were placed back in dark navy hull and the side placard shackles. rimmed in gold that reads Amistad, That history was popularized in this ship proudly dedicate its voy- 1998 by the film “Amistad” by Steven ages to the honor and the memory of Spielberg and many who came to all those denied their freedom in her visit the ship docked in Buffalo had keep. previously seen it. But they were still The Spanish-inspired ship was interested in gaining more insight originally designed as a short distance into the story beyond the scope of cargo-carrying vessel. But after ille- see Amistad, page 8 l Norman B. Burnett, Asst. Dean I am pleased to welcome you ing student developmental services are available through back for your fall semester. I OMSA: leadership training, educational workshops and am also delighted to share with symposia, scholarship and internship referral resource, you some important informa- tutorial assistance, academic advising and counseling sup- tion about the Office of Minority port, and study skills referral and support. Student Affairs (OMSA) and our More specifically, we have been engaged with many current mission. First, under the members of the college community in promoting diversity OMSA umbrella, we aim to create as an important educational value. We help to create an a warm and nurturing environ- environment that embraces and appreciates diversity as ment for all the students we serve a means to creating a truly inclusive community. In fact, and provide them with a comprehensive array of sup- OMSA is actively involved in the identification of diversity port services and activities designed to augment both speakers, the planning of community dialogues, the train- their academic and social interests at UR. Secondly, ing programs for students, as well as serving as a clearing- OMSA helps facilitate opportunities for students of house for diversity resource materials. color in their quest to connect and engage with the In one of our more recent achievements this fall, with diverse and wide array of resources available to all collaborative support from the Student Activities Office Director’s Korner Director’s members of the educational community. and Residential Life, we began a pilot program called the It is our ultimate desire to create a lasting impact on all “Emerging Leaders Program.” The ELP is designed to those who come to this university. We promote educa- increase the effectiveness of minority student leaders and tion of others not just by sponsoring services, but also organizations on campus, and to prepare them for leader- by encouraging our students to involve themselves in ship in the twenty-first century. We are particularly excited the greater community. In turn, we enjoy watching those about this program as it is tailored to the specific issues students come into their own through their proven accom- confronting minority student leaders. It is our strong desire plishments. We could not be more proud of our students that participation in this program will impact personal and our work. We are well on our way towards creating development, leadership style, networking opportunities a nurturing, supportive, and inclusive learning and living with other emerging leaders, awareness of the full range of environment through the work of our office and the work college and university resources, development of life-long of the student community. Based on our experience and transferable skills, career development, and encourage collective knowledge of retention-based strategies nation- the confidence of each student to become more active in wide, we know that this is the right formula for retaining campus-wide leadership opportunities. students, as well as assisting them reach their full aca- Getting involved in organizations and giving back demic potential. through activities is important not only for mere comfort Please know that OMSA is committed to providing sake, but also in your efforts to explore career options and these support services as a means of ensuring that stu- making future plans. Also, with so much prestige, students dents achieve their academic, personal, and career goals can be proud to support activities of the College Diversity at the University of Rochester. Specifically, the follow- see Dean, page 4 OMSA/HEOP Staff OMSA Chronicle Staff Phone: 585-275-0651 Fax: 585-473-6494 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.rochester.edu/College/OMSA Editor-in-Chief Director: OMSA/HEOP Ben Ojala, ‘95, ‘98 Yvonne Bilinski Norman Burnett [email protected] [email protected] Office Support: Student Editors Assistant Director: HEOP Linda Colburn Jack Collins ‘04 Yvonne Bilinski [email protected] Jessica Stoll ‘06 [email protected] Karen Horton Counselors: [email protected] Gladys Pedraza-Burgos Student Office Asst.: [email protected] Jorge Quiroz, ‘04 Thomas Crews Julia Elder, ‘04 [email protected] 2 Fall Semester 2003 University of Rochester Office of Minority Student Affairs Fall Semester 2003 University of Rochester Office of Minority Student Affairs 3 Congress on Campus Jessica Stoll group of African American by Professors Gerald Student Editor representatives. They were Gamm and Valeria elected to the US House in Sinclair-Chapman “Thirty years ago, there the late nineteen-sixties and presented at the stu- were nine African American early seventies, and both dent panel on topics members of the U.S. House have since died. ranging from Fenno’s of Representatives. Today, Fattah and Tubbs-Jones research methods there are four times that are currently serving in the to the motivations of number. And therein lies a House. Originally, both were each of the profiled story of political accom- to come to a lunch with pro- representatives. plishment in America.” Fenno So begins Professor called Richard Fenno’s latest Fattah a book, Going Home: “policy- Black Representatives intensive” and Their Constitu- representa- ents. Professor Fenno, tive. His who this year retired driving after a long tenure goal has in the Department been to get Going Home, Professor Fenno’s of Political Science, legislation latest book on congressional held a discussion and passed. representation, was discussed student panel on his The issue by Fenno, Fattah, and students new book this Meliora he has during Meliora Weekend, 2003 Weekend. spent much Fenno’s book dis- of his career African American involve- cusses the careers of working on is ment in politics, but are also four African American education. His biggest more than symbols—they representatives: Louis accomplishment in are politicians in their own Stokes of Ohio, Barbara fessors and students, then this area is GEAR UP (Gain- right who are always work- Jordan of Texas, Chaka a discussion of the book, ing Early Awareness and ing to better their con- Fattah of Pennsylvania, and Tubbs-Jones would go Readiness for Undergradu- stituencies and the entire and Stephanie Tubbs- to the student panel. Un- ate Programs), which tries country. l Jones of Ohio. Stokes and fortunately, Tubbs-Jones’s to “increase the access to Jordan were part of what husband died suddenly in higher education for very- Fenno termed the “Pioneer the week before the event, low-income children for Cohort,” that is, an early so she was absent. whom the opportunity to Since his attend college is not even wife had on the table (Fenno 156).” recently given He is currently work- birth, Fattah’s ing on legislation to target attendance was children even earlier and to also in doubt, let them know they can go but arrange- to college—and the govern- ments were ment will be there to help finally