Newspapers / Black Ink (Black Student … / Feb. 4, 1994, edition 1 / Page 13
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''M t , iv: J.V? : : V:.- JC S' ^-v liC 3 S ■ ,i\ S ' IT ■ 5 ' ^ U ? JM Communiversity: Revising His-Story By Mebmk Mullen Ink Su^ Writer Wanted: University of N«th Carolina African-American students to dedicate their Saturdays to teaching. Communiversity, an Afrocentric Saturday School, ^XMisored by the Sonja Haynes Stone Black Cultural Center, is in need of student volunteers fw this semester’s sessions. In its fourth year of (xx>gramming, Communiversity has begun a series of classes designed to get children in terested in learning about their Afirican- American heritage and history. During the all-day sessions, students ages 8-to-12-years-old, participate in rap sessions, history classes, cultural sessions and arts and crafts. Melvin Davis: Phi Beta Kappa Inductee By Renito MttBuford ItfkStoff Writer For University of North Carolina senior N^vin Davis, beccHnmg one ctf the newest mwnbets of Phi Beta Kaj^, nati(MUil hoiKV society stirs op mixed eoK«i(Mis. “It fdt good because I tad accomirfi^ed sc»nething,“ said Davis, 21, of the induction, which to(* place last semesta-. ’’But it was also sad, because I was the only black in attendance." Davfa, a Political Science and Afirican-American Studies ma)E>r fitom Kinston, said being iodocted into l%i Beta Kapfa hasalwaysbeen oncf^his^ials. “Giaduaie and professional schocHs kxdi: at ttat,” he said. “It is representative of how well you’ve dcme.” Phi Beta Kappa is a adl^iaie honor society open to aU undergraduate students in the Colkge of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Education, Jonmalism and Mass Communication and Business Administration. One of two national hOTor societies on campus, the first chaptCT of Phi Beta Kappa ever, was established at^ University in 1904. Because many students come to collie mkI don’t meet the same level (rf success as in high school, Davis said he sees his induction as “an outstanding acc(»nplishment few myself, my family and other bladts campus.’' | Also ^xxjt Davis’ j induction was his mother, Annette Hawkins. “My mom is real proud,” he said. “It makes her happy to see pec^lein the community oxning op COTgratulating her on my accompUshments.” Rosalind Fuse-Hall, former associate dean rf the Coltege of Arts and Scitaices, said Davis j(^ the ranks (rf individuals like Harddand Harvey Kennedy of Keraiedy, K«medy, Kennedy and Kennedy law firm in Winston-Salem. The Kennedy twins, as they were known, were the fxrst Wack UNC students inducted in Phi Beta Kjqjpa. “I think it’s outstanding,” Fuse-Hall said of Davis* accompli^Mnent “It shows the level (rf academic excellence in ourcwnmunity.” Students £ffe considered fw eligibility in Phi Beta Kappa based on ooeoftworequireinents. One, a student must COTii^ete at least 75 semester hours of graded course woikMUNC withaquality point average of at least 3.750. The second option is having completed at least 105 semester hours which include at least 45 semester hours of graded course work tafcwi at UNC with a quality point average of at least 3.600. Grades that have been transfmed frcrni other ccdleges ate not considered for eligibility. The quality point average should include course work taken and counted toward a candidate’s degree, and no {Aysical activity courses and grades nw classes taken after receiving a degree are OHisidered As for his future plans, Davis wants to attend law school and later do something related to sports or become a corporate attorney. Among his choices of law schools are Harvard and Yale. Stanford and Duke are also on his lisL But whether he goes North or out to California or stays here in die Triangle “depends on where I get accqjted,” E>avis said. When Davis isn’t working to improve his “3.7plus” grade point average, he’s busy as vice president and the chair of the Service Committee of Alpha Phi Al{^ Fraternity, Inc. Davis is also a SenicH'Class Marshall, the Selecticm Chairperson for the North Carolina Fellows Leadership Development program, an emergency Justice for the Student Supreme Court and a former Residence Assistant. With all that he is involved in, one wonders how Davis manages to keep it all afloat ‘T lose sleep a lot erf the time, but I’m trying to cut back so I can enjoy the rest of my senior year,” Davis said. Kathryne Brewington, a graduate student in Pharmaceutics, said, “It’s up to the q>-and-coming middle-class to help insure the future of our people, and the children are our future.” Unlike other [nograms that focus on young people, Communiversity is unique. “We try to give the kids community building skills,” said Brewington, a Communiversity volunteer for two years.“Weare not just preaching history. We are just not preaching heritage. We are trying to make it applicable to their lives. I think that is what makes us different.” Founded by Michelle Thomas, former president of the Black Student Movement and now a graduate student in Geography at the University and senior Denise Matthewson in 1991, the program has grown. In its infancy, the program attracted only a few dozen students. Today, there are about 70 students from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area. “Communiversity was founded in response to criticism from area parents, who said that blacks at the University were not involved in the community. As one parent noted, ‘there were no black students at UNC,’” Matthewson said. The idea of a Saturday school was adapted from a similar program begun by two sisters in West Virginia. It was designed to be a whole community effort involving students, parents, children and area volunteers. This university’s program has been successful in cultivating children’s interest in their African heritage and raising their self-esteem. “When you see that a kid is understanding the concepts that you are trying to put across to them and when a child brings back a book form the library...well, you get that little warm fuzzy feeling,” Brewington said. Volunteer Lisa Pullen said I although volunteering can ! sometimes be tiring, it is well : worthwhile. ! “I get a tot out of working with the kids..iuid its fun,” Pullen said. A typical Communiversity day begins with the arrival of the volunteers at eight and the children at nine. In the next seven hours the children attend classes in culture, arts and crafts, and history. Whenever possible traditional Afrocentric ways are used in interacting with the children. For example, the children respond to African commands and always sit with the volunteers in a circle of unity. Particular attention is given to family involvement Parents and children are urged to lake lime to prepare for and discuss the lessons. Parent volunteers are always welcomed. Meanwhile, student and community volunteers are recruited mostly through word of mouth in order to find people who will be dedicated to the program. Volunteer roles are very diverse, however, with some not even seeing the children or the program on Saturdays. Communiversity’s curriculum is designed to build a sense of responsibility and community in the children, with volunteers taking a very active role in that process. For instance, senior Crystal Heilig developed the initial set of classes on the accomplishments and history of African Americans, which focused on the positives of black cultures. With the classes purposely designed to be unlike school, the of Communiversity volunteers is to try and get the kids interested in the news process. “The ultimate goal is to get the kids to value themselves in a sense of mutual responsibility,” said Matthewson. While its’ an ongoing process, Matthewson said, “I see that it’s working.” For further information about Communiversity, contact the Sonja Haynes Stone Black Cultural Center Office at %2- 9001.
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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Feb. 4, 1994, edition 1
13
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