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News Click here to view our Fall 2007 Newsletter!
The 2008 James A. Perkins Prize for Interracial Understanding and Harmony has been awarded to Black Students United
(BSU) for its sponsorship of "Questions Out of a Hat," an event that brought members from nine student organizations
together to discuss diversity. On
March 25, members of groups ranging from the Interfraternity Council, Cornell Hillel and Cornell Democrats to the Gay-Straight
Alliance and Student Advocates of Palestine gathered in small groups. Each group picked questions that had been previously
submitted anonymously about race, culture, religion or ethnicity out of a hat for discussion. Robert L. Harris, vice
provost for diversity and faculty development, presented the prize to members of BSU at a ceremony April 23 in the Carol Tatkon
Center. Honorable mentions went to the Asian and Asian American Forum and to the "Celebrating the Lunar New Year"
series of events. The forum is a new student organization that was formed as a result of the 2004 "Cornell Asian and
Asian-American Campus Climate Task Force Report." It has sponsored such events as a panel discussion for first-year students
to adjust to life at Cornell and a stress-relief event that included crafts, massage and meditation. The Lunar New Year series,
developed by Frances Yufen Lee Mehta, senior lecturer in Asian studies at Cornell, included educational, social and entertaining
events from Jan. 29 through Feb. 19 to teach students about Chinese culture. The Perkins Prize, established in 1994
by Thomas W. Jones '69, is awarded annually to recognize the significant contribution by a Cornell student, faculty, staff
member or a program to advance campus interracial understanding and harmony. The prize honors former Cornell President James
A. Perkins (1963 to 1969), who increased the enrollment of minority students during the 1960s. A monetary award accompanies
the prize to help recipients fund continuing projects and programming.
WARI House proudly announces its 40th anniversary celebration weekend! April 4 – 6 2008. Please help us spread the word and locate former Warites. Visit our website and sign in: Stay tuned for details. Questions? Contact Janene Smith ‘09 – jls283@cornell.edu Renee Alexander ’74 – rta3@cornell.edu Cornell Black Alumni Association (CBAA) 2007 Student Leadership Award The Cornell
Black Alumni Association Student Leadership Award recognizes a graduating undergraduate student of African descent for
his/her outstanding leadership and efforts to enhance the lives of students and the community-at-large while attending The award will be presented at the OMEA Senior Celebration. The selected candidate will receive a $500 stipend which he/she may use to transition
into the business community, continue his/her academic study, or at his/her discretion. In order to apply for the award, eligible candidates
must send in a completed application by The award will be granted on the basis of: 1.
The candidate’s extracurricular and community involvement during his/her time at Cornell. Emphasis will be placed on service that: ·
demonstrates leadership in campus or community organizations; ·
improved interrelationships among Cornell students, faculty, administrative staff or the
greater ·
commitment to uplifting people of African descent. 2.
Completion of an essay that describes the candidate’s past activities and plans for contributing
to CBAA, The successful candidate will be notified in advance of the Office of Minority Educational Affairs (OMEA) Senior Celebration
and will be acknowledged at the event on May 23rd, 2007. The award
recipient will also be profiled on CBAA’s web site. Click here to download application.
Africana Studies And Research
Center Ground-Breaking Celebrating The Long Overdue Renovation And Expansion Project Cornell’s Reunion 2004 weekend marked the start of the Africana
Rebuilding Project. The Ithaca Journal reported,
"Optimism and a sense of accomplishment filled the air Saturday as Cornell University officially broke ground on the
brand new Africana Studies and Research Center on Triphammer Road." Cornell University President Jeffrey Lehman, who spoke
at the ceremony, was quoted as saying, "The new center will not only meet the program needs of the center, it will reflect
the hopes and inspiration of the faculty, students, staff and trustees that have brought us here today." The large turnout at the ceremony included many members of the Cornell Black Alumni Association, current
students, Africana faculty and staff as well as distinguished guests and key administrators during the founding of the Center. Other speakers included the Center’s Acting Director, Salah Hassan; James Turner,
the Center’s founding Director; Ralph T. Jackson, principal architect; David Jackson, graduating senior in Africana
Studies; Ifunanya Maduka ’04, student member of the Cornell Board of Trustees; and Regina Little-Durham ’78, President
of CBAA. Dear Cornell Black Alumni Association Members
and Friends,
With your support,
July 2005 through June 2006 was a banner year for CBAA. Our membership grew to
almost 500 with nearly half comprised of Lifetime Members. We sponsored (or co-sponsored
with other Cornell Clubs or organizations) events in NYC, Philadelphia, DC, Ithaca, and Atlanta, and formalized our unique
status as a national organization. We strengthened ways for alumni to stay connected
such as our newsletter, Cbaa1976.com website, Message Board, and Yahoo group (including email list serve). CBAA’s 30th Anniversary Reunion this past June had record attendance. It was the crowning achievement in a year marked by expanded programming, alumni interactions, and
alumni involvement. This milestone in CBAA’s history resulted
from the tireless efforts our founders and the many volunteers, officers and regional representatives who kept CBAA alive
in the hearts and minds of Cornellians. The CBAA family remains close and will
continue to thrive as long as we support each other and engage in activities that educate, enrich and enliven Black Alumni. As reflected by our motto, our goal remains to “share the vision of our education.” Our 30-year maturity, however, brings increased
responsibility for ensuring that young Black men and women, particularly those who reside in sometimes overlooked urban areas,
can continue to attend our alma mater and explore courses relevant to the African American experience. Unlike the Seventies, Blacks are no longer the largest minority student population on campus. We are an “underrepresented minority” with graduation rates that continue to lag behind those
of other populations. We must redouble our efforts to recruit and retain
talented Black students as well as renew our commitment to raising funds for scholarships and the Africana Studies and Research
Center (AS&RC). Our youth may hold the key to overcoming the famine, war,
epidemics, religious hatred, global warming, and many other problems that threaten us. Our goal is
to raise $450,000 ($150,000 annually for the AS&RC and Scholarships) by next CBAA Update Reunion in 2009. This amount may seem ambitious, but if only half of the 3,600 Black Alumni who receive this newsletter
were to contribute $200 annually, this goal could easily be met. Many of you,
spurred on to success by your Cornell degree(s), can afford to be much more generous.
Donors to the AS&RC Fund will be listed on a plaque at the Africana Center, memorializing CBAA’s commitment
for posterity. Our next fundraiser is the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater Reception
and Concert in NYC on Friday, December 1, 2006. Volunteers and donations are
urgently needed to make this event a success and to meet our goal to raise $20,000 at this event alone. CBAA’s efforts also support Cornell’s five-year, “Far Above Campaign,” which will
raise $4 billion for students, faculty and facilities. You can make
a tax-deductible donation by writing a check payable to Cornell University and completing the pre-printed dues card included
with this mailing. Or you can place your donation on your credit card by completing
the enclosed dues card. I especially urge CBAA’s lifetime members to donate
and reaffirm your commitment to Cornell. I hope you decide to become an active CBAA member, improve the lives of young
people, and donate regularly to Cornell. We particularly need members to serve
as Regional Representatives and on the Fundraising, Scholarship, Programming, and Student Relations Committees. The Executive Board and I hope you attend the General Body Meeting at Temple University on Saturday, November
11, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. to learn more and share your ideas to help CBAA make a difference.
Mitzi Young ’77
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