Monday, 4/28/97 Your community is calling for your help African
Student Union needs involvement to function
By Chad Williams If I have learned one thing during my two years
of involvement in the African Student Union (ASU), it is not to be
overly sensitive. When you play an active role in any organization
that is publicly visible, you and the organization are left open to
criticism. Last year, or even earlier this year, I would have
responded negatively to any critique, regardless of how harsh,
about the ASU and the dedication of its staff. When you donate
large amounts of time that you really don’t have in the first place
to helping the ASU or any other organization, you tend to become
very emotional when someone questions what you have done. When I
opened the April 16 edition of the Daily Bruin and saw Martin
Harris’ article about the African Student Union, I said to
myself,"Oh no. This is just what we need!" While I had problems
with the article and the way in which Martin expressed his
feelings, I respected what he had to say. I am not writing this
viewpoint to directly respond to Martin’s article or denounce what
he had to say, but I do feel that some of the issues that he
brought up need to be addressed. The ASU, originally called
Harambee (Swahili for "working together") was established in 1967
by a group of African athletes. At this time, most African students
at UCLA were athletes of some kind but were nevertheless very
politically conscious. Harambee was for the most part a cultural
club and was heavily inspired by the Black Panther Part for
Self-Defense, which had a strong presence on the UCLA campus. In
1967, Harambee changed its name to the Black Student Union (BSU),
emphasizing cultural and political issues facing African people at
UCLA and throughout the country. During the height of the Black
Power Movement, the BSU was the strongest student organization on
campus. The BSU was dedicated to organizing African students into a
collective force based on the ideals of unity, trust and respect.
1969 was a critical year for the Black Student Union and African
students at UCLA. While meeting in Campbell Hall to discuss the
establishment of the Center for Afro-American Studies, John Huggins
and Bunchy Carter, members of the Black Panther Party and the Black
Student Union, were assassinated by members of the United Slaves
organization. It was later revealed that the FBI had infiltrated
both organizations and instigated the conflict that resulted in the
deaths of these two men. Later that year, Angela Davis, a professor
in the philosophy department, was fired by then governor Ronald
Reagan for her association with the Communist Party. The BSU played
an instrumental role in her defense, and as a result the university
made the conscious effort to suppress the BSU’s political influence
on campus. For several years, African students viewed the BSU with
apprehension and shied away from involvement. It was not until the
late 1970s that the BSU, renamed the Black Student Alliance (BSA)
in 1974, began to reclaim its influence and power on campus. The
BSA played an active role in forcing ASUCLA and the UCLA
administration to divest from South Africa in 1983 and 1985
respectively. The BSA also rejuvenated its commitment to providing
African students with cultural and political programming to counter
UCLA’s Eurocentric environment. In 1989, the BSA evolved into the
current African Student Union, recognizing that we are all African
in heritage, regardless of how many generations we have been
removed from our original homeland. The reason why I am explaining
the history behind the ASU is because it seems that few people
completely understand the role the ASU has played in the lives of
African students at UCLA. It is safe to say that without the ASU,
the only Africans at UCLA would still be athletes. The ASU, just as
it was when it was established, is dedicated to improving the
quality of life for African students at UCLA. We believe that it is
critical for African students to become socially and politically
conscious in order to become assets to the African community once
you graduate. Inherently, UCLA’s educational curriculum and social
environment does not do this but instead encourages individualism.
Individualism has historically been the enemy of African people and
led to disunification of numerous organizations. Without a cultural
sense of self and an understanding of the political and social
situation of African people not only at UCLA, but worldwide,
African people will cease to move forward within this society. The
African Student Union, however, is only what you make it. As an ASU
staff member, I know personally how difficult it is to reach out to
African students who, at times, seem like they have something
better to do than get involved in the ASU. I don’t know how many
times that I have passed out flyers for the ASU on campus only to
have people look the other way or throw them on the ground no less
than a second after it is in their hand. It is very frustrating
when you put time and energy into a program for the benefits of
students and only a handful attend. We can only do so much. It is
up to you to make the effort to attend ASU functions, offer your
input and make the commitment, no matter how small, to get involved
in some way. Just like our name states, the ASU is an organization
for African students. The ASU is your organization. The ASU seeks
your suggestions and criticisms as long as it is done in a
productive way. No organization can be effective unless it is
willing to change and adapt to the times, but this cannot happen
unless you make your voice heard. I would encourage any brothers or
sisters who now feel the way that Martin Harris felt at one point
to come to an ASU staff or general meeting and let us know what we
can do to improve our organization. Yes, the African Student Union
does have problems and there are several things that need to be
changed, but it must be done in a constructive way. The African
Student Union has been extremely active this year and has
accomplished many things. Earlier this year, working with various
community organizations, the ASU helped to defeat Proposition 209
in Los Angeles County. Although Proposition 209 passed statewide,
the ASU’s educational campaign against Proposition 209 and our
precinct walking every weekend did not go to waste. The ASU has had
several programs, such as Pan-African Night, Coffeehouse Open Mic
and Hip-Hop Explosion, where OutKast performed, that have been very
successful. We have also held consistent general meetings where
students have been able to discuss and educate themselves about
issues facing the African community such as the CIA crack
connection, Proposition 209, ebonics and the representation of
Africans in the media. Now is the time to get involved in the
African Student Union. If you have had any thoughts about
participating, in any way, shape or form in the ASU, now is the
time for action. During eighth week, the ASU will be holding
elections for the 1998 administrative staff. Speaking from personal
experience, being an ASU staff member has been one of the most
rewarding experiences of my life. I have had the opportunity to go
places like Washington, D.C. for the Million Man March and meet
people, such as Angela Davis, Jesse Jackson and Kwame Toure, that
would have never happened had I not been involved in the ASU. The
ASU also needs people to help with USAC elections, as it is crucial
that there is African representation in the UCLA student
government. The ASU has several programs this quarter that need
volunteer assistance and input. If you are interested in getting
involved, please call the ASU office at 825-8051 or stop by 320
Kerckhoff Hall. The future of the African Student Union is in your
hands. In the wake of Proposition 209 and in the increasingly
racially hostile climate of California, the future of African
people at UCLA is at best precarious. We can no longer remain
content to blindly accept everything that we learn in class and go
about our everyday lives as if we have no one to worry about except
ourselves. We have an obligation to our brothers and sisters who
have not been as fortunate as us to attend a school like UCLA to
pass on what we have learned and serve as role models for younger
generations. Let the ASU serve as your vehicle for not only
improving the lives of African people, but for uplifting yourself
educationally, culturally, politically and spiritually.