Back to their roots…

Tuesday, May 21, 1996

African Student Union is small but by no means silent By Patrick
Marantal

Daily Bruin Staff

Born out of the fires of the 1960s, the African Student Union
was formed to address the needs of African-American students on the
UCLA campus.

Today, the African Student Union acts as an umbrella
organization for more than 30 educational, cultural and political
satellite organizations.

"On-campus, we outreach to any African student," said
chairperson Shauna Robinson. "Off-campus, we try to network with
community-based, political groups."

For example, the Caribbean Friends Student Association holds a
yearly Bob Marley tribute and deals with immigration issues. Other
groups, like Black Pre-Health Society, deal with educational issues
and provide a focus for African Americans on campus.

Primarily, the organization provides cultural programming, but
also provides an activist voice for its African-American
constituency.

"I’ve learned a lot about … how this university works and
deals with minorities," said Kimberly Tippens, a second-year
psychobiology student and member of the African Student Union.

"Also, since the university is only 7 percent African, it unites
us in groups where we discuss and learn and educate each other,"
Tippens added.

Since its inception in 1967, the student activist group has been
on the forefront of student activism on and off campus, members
claimed.

During the 1980s, members of the student union organized the
divestment movement at UCLA which caused the university to pull out
investments in Africa. Off-campus, members work with other
organizations on issues regarding the African American
community.

"We work with the Malcolm X Grassroots movement, and South Los
Angeles Affirmative Action Project (among other organizations),"
Robinson said. "We try to work a lot with the community because the
struggle is inclusive."

Initially known as the Harambee Club, which means "unity" in
Swahili, the activist organization underwent several name changes,
including the Black Student Alliance, before finally adopting the
name, "African Student Union."

Robinson emphasized that the name change stemmed from the
diversity in political thought and cultural background of its
constituency.

"Everyone (in the organization) isn’t African American,"
Robinson said. "The one common bond is our mutual roots in Africa
and to reconnect us to the fact that there is a whole continent
that we should be conscious of."

On the other hand, some members of the African-American
community refute ties to the African continent, pointing out their
American heritage.

"I’m a person who was born in this nation," said UC Regent Ward
Connerly. "It’s like any other kid who grew up in this nation. I
don’t yearn for some foreign land that I’ve never been to.

"Why should I identify with the African-American culture,"
Connerly added. "I’ve never had it."

Despite differences of ties to African culture, the organization
was designed to promote admission of more African-American students
to the university, according to Robinson. She said that African-
American students attending UCLA during the 1960s were few and
tended to be mostly athletes.

Now, spurred by last July’s decision to remove race and
gender-based preferences at the university level, the African
Student Union, in addition to other student activist communities,
has fought for its return.

"Affirmative action is a compensensory program meaning that it
does not fully address the centuries of slavery … and
still-present institutional racism," Robinson said. "However, it
does create a certain amount of opportunities for a select group of
individuals who get things needed to survive in the society."

But others argued that organizations, like the African Student
Union, do not want affirmative action but simply want
preferences.

"They mean that the university goes out and guarantees the
outcome by any means necessary. That to me means not affirmative
action, but blatant preferences," Connerly said.

Connerly further claimed that the policy benefits the wrong
groups.

"We’re benefitting high-income, lower-achieving, to the
sacrifice of lower-income, higher-achieving, so it seems to me that
(they) have their facts flat out wrong," he added.

While many see only the visible protest, members of the student
union contended that protests and rallies are but one of many
methods reinstate affirmative action and increase African-American
retention.

"Protest alone is not the only way to get things you want,"
Robinson said. "It’s a way to educate people, rally people and say
a statement that we’re serious.

"By itself, it’s nothing," Robinson added. "We spend plenty of
time doing phone calls, and educational forums. We do both sides,
internal and external."

Still, others argued that organizations such as the African
Student Union have become more militant and that protest remains
detrimental to their cause.

"They have every right to demonstrate, strike and do anything
but break the law," said Clair Burgener, chair of the UC Board of
Regents. "(But) we should try to listen to each other better."

In recent years, the African Student Union has taken an
increasingly active role in the debate over affirmative action.

This year alone, the organization has worked with other student
activist groups, like MEChA, a UCLA Chicana/o activist
organization, the Asian Pacific Coalition, and Samahang
Pilipino.

In conjunction with these organizations, the Affirmative Action
Coalition was formed to address gender- and race-based admissions
and sponsored the February, "Revote or Revolt" protest, which drew
hundreds of people.

"The African Student Union is a very important force on campus,
specifically in addressing the concerns of the African student
community at UCLA," said Max Espinoza, chairman of MEChA. "The
African Student Union also works well in coalition with other
student groups, which I believe is one of their greatest
strengths."

But some countered that the organization’s activist component
overshadows other, non-political programs on their agenda.

"In the African American student population, some are activists
and some are conservative," said Itibari Zulu, a librarian for the
Center of African-American Studies. "The African Student Union
would definitely be more into activism."

Still, Robinson maintained that the organization works
holistically on cultural, political and educational issues and not
on activism alone. Regardless of the various perspectives on the
organization’s focus, the one key issue motivating the union has
been the retention of African-American students in the
university.

"Our biggest goal is a 100 percent retention rate for those who
want to be retained," Robinson said. "We’ve always been concerned
about the retention of African-American students."

Recently, the Academic Supports Program, run through the
organization, has worked with the Athletic Department to establish
study group facilitators and peer counselors for African-American
athletes, who have lower retention rates than non-athlete,
African-American students.

While the organization helps educate UCLA students, the African
Student Union also extends its services to the members of the Los
Angeles area. The union’s African Education Project outreaches to
elementary and high school students in South Central and Compton to
return some of their own education to the community.

Students who participate in the community service program hold
after school tutorial and cultural presentations. UCLA students
also present Saturday schooling which incorporates academics into
cultural workshops.

"It’s a responsibility that we, as Africans, that have certain
privileges that the community at large may not have, that we return
the resources we have back to the community and retain that
connection," said Malcolm Harris, volunteer director of the
educational project.

Regardless of the difference of opinion and tactics, members
hope to continue activism and education within the African American
campus community.

"Our biggest goal is student empowerment … from having a voice
in the administration process and ethnic studies program," Robinson
said. "And (provide) a sense … on how their education relates to
their community and the necessity to give back while you’re at UCLA
when you graduate."

ANDREW SCHOLER/Daily Bruin

African Student Union members stand their ground at a protest.
Chairperson Shauna Robinson states, "(protest) is a way to educate
people, rally people and say a statement that we’re serious."