Summer/Spring Edition of Ogele: The African Studies Newsletter’
The Ogele is published once during each academic year by the Africana Studies Program. Pick up a copy of the newsletter from the Africana Studies Department. |
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From the Director's Desk: “If wishes were horses, beggars might ride”
Something very positive and healthy happened during African American History Month. In the past, I generally
encourage my students enrolled in Introduction to Africana Studies to attend some of our scheduled events for
extra credit. But it occurred to me this year that the events were of such high educational value that I made
them a mandatory component for the course. I demanded the students attend at least two lectures and
summarize and analyze its cultural, social, and overall intellectual value. I was most pleasantly
surprised about the quality of work I received from my students. Their reports were thorough, informative,
and thought-provoking. Many of them did a lot of soul-searching about the nature of racial
discourse, issues of Black empowerment and how these issues impacted their lives and the rest of society.
It dawned on me that if more of our young people on campus or from the Youngstown public schools were present and asked to do something similar, we would be building a solid civic and cultural foundation which would empower them for their survival in the post Don Imus world. More specifically, I wished that our students in the Early College were made to attend similar events and report on them like my students did... Dr. Victor Wan-TaTah Director of Africana Studies Advisor: Dr. Victor Wan-Tatah and Julia Gerges Editor in Chief: Lae'l Hughes-Watkins Printing: Com Doc Take a look at the ’Table of Contents“
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Articles from Ogele Read the whole articles in the Ogele Newsletter at locations all arounnd campus!! 
Texas native Yulanda McCarty-Harris joins YSU as the new director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, she said, “If you do
not make diversity a part of a strategic plan, then it will fall to the wayside.”
Since McCarty-Harris' arrival to campus in April, it has been her mission to meet with all the organizations and groups that have taken leadership roles on issues of diversity at YSU. McCarty-Harris said she cannot lead the charge alone, “It will take all of us.” The new director met with The Office of Student Diversity, Working Class Studies, and YSUnity to gain a sense of the concerns on campus and discuss what steps have already taken place to create an environment of diversity and tolerance. McCarty-Harris said these groups and others represent the university's “stakeholders.” McCarty-Harris does not want to re-invent the wheel. She plans on assessing what various entities on campus have already done and build-up from there. She will re-visit YSU's Diversity Council's strategic plans, which took several months to complete. ... |
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YSU STARS program plans to change the trajectory of minority undergraduates by encouraging their enrollment into
graduate programs. STARS has existed at YSU for two years and change the racial make-up of students entering graduate studies
and applying for professor positions. According to data from YSU?s Office of Institutional Research, 86 African Americans,
8 Hispanics, and 967 Whites were enrolled in YSU?s graduate studies program. The enrollment statistics also include non-degree
seeking students. From July 2005 to June 2006, a total of 20 African Americans, 6 Hispanics, and 313 White students graduated
with a Master's degree. STARS Coordinator Carmella Williams said, “The goal of the program is to increase the number of
African American, Hispanic and Native American students that transition into graduate programs and hopefully on to the professorate.”
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