This year's desegregation events came together in an amazing display of history and culture, but not without help from local outreach groups. In the celebration of desegregation at the University of Georgia, many student organizations came together to sponsor events and programs on campus.
The Black Affairs Council
Formally known as the Black Student Union, the Black Affairs Council aims to encourage black students to create programs and to reach out on the UGA campus. With 140 members, the Black Affairs council calls themselves the “socio-cultural educational arm of the African American community” at UGA.
The Black Affairs Council has many objectives as a large student organization. First, the council aims to supplement widespread understanding of the black culture and to support the ideas of the Multicultural Services and Programs at UGA. The council also promotes the leadership of black students and encourages their attendance at national workshops and conventions. Also, the BAC aims to expand the perspective of black students and highlight their skills and talents while they are UGA students.
The BAC is comprised of different committees, including the Freshman Advisory Board and the Political Action Committee.
Throughout the year, the BAC holds several events for current and prospective members. This year the Unity Ball, as part of the 50th Anniversary of Desegregation at UGA events, was sponsored by the BAC. The Unity Ball was held on Jan. 22, 2011 for people of all races to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of unity.
The BAC meets every other Wednesday at the Miller Learning Center room 248 at 5:15 p.m.
Abeneefoo Kuo Honor Society
The Abeneefoo Kuo Honor Society is a multicultural group devoted to “scholarship, leadership, and service” on the UGA campus and surrounding areas. Founded in 1977, the ABK is devoted to the pursuit of greatness in all areas and they provide “educational, career, and personal assistance to members of ABK and others.”
In Swahili, Abeneefoo Kuo means “circle of honor.” The ABK upholds their values by working with the Athens Area Homeless Shelter, W. R. Coile Middle School and the Northeast Georgia Food Bank.
On Feb. 5th, ABK held their 2011 member induction as part of the events of desegregation. Members participated in rituals and ceremonies as part of their induction into the honor society.
ABK also holds an annual spelling bee called “Play on Words” in which other multicultural organizations participate.
UGA Black Theatrical Ensemble
The UGA Black Theatrical Ensemble is a campus organization for students who are interested in drama. The BTE gives students an outlet for their talents and aims to introduce members of the audience to aspects of African American theater.
The BTE is open to all students regardless of theatrical background or previous experience. They also provide members with opportunities to work in production, costumes, design, managing and community service.
The desegregation event, “Supernatural Courage: Love, Passion, Sacrifice” was held on the night of Feb. 17th, 2011. At the event, members of the BTE celebrated courage through the art of performance.
Thanks to many multicultural student groups, the 50th anniversary of desegregation celebration events have been educational and influential experiences for many UGA students.
So what we talked about in class was how this wasn't exactly the article you were assigned. I think that's ok if you really take this in a much more detailed direction, otherwise it may mimic Sarah O's story about other multicultural groups on campus. I think it is a good start though, so I would get quotes and pictures from their events and their members, really point out why they are making changes and important to the community (for other reasons than desegregation). I would try to work in ideas of your other article in with this still, saying if the club was around 50 years ago, what was it like, what would have been the equivalent? But still a good start!
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