6 minute read
Black leaders in the state of Iowa
from 2-20-23
JERRELL BATES Guest Columnist
Editor’s Note: This article is from Feb. 24 2022. This Archive is featured as a part of the NI”s Black History Month coverage.
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Black History Month: A time dedicated to the celebration of Black history, culture and excellence. According to National Geographic, the first official celebration of Black history started with Negro History Week in 1926. At this point, Black history was not recognized nationwide, but with the creation of Negro History Week, Black history began its journey towards recognization. In 1976, President Gerald Ford extended Negro History in order to give proper recognition of the accomplishments of African-Americans, and it officially became the nationally recognized month that we know today, Black History Month.
Today, we see many African-Americans following in the footsteps of the leaders of the past.
“I got involved with Black Student Union (BSU) because it was the first place here on campus that I could meet people who looked like me and were going through the same things I was,” Black Student Union Vice President Christiana Downey
“Though I have been involved in leadership positions before college, this one seemed to be so much more important because I was representing a larger, underrepresented population.”
An example of the importance of Black leadership, Downey is one of many people dedicated to service and leadership. UNI alum and Director of Multicultural Student Services at Wartburg College Krystal Madlock was heavily involved during her undergraduate career. “At UNI I was involved in the typical student organizations created for students of color, Black Student Union, Ethnic Student Senate, and I made a lifetime commitment and became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. I was on the Maucker Union student board.”
Many years later, she continues to find ways to be involved and serve her campus and Waterloo community. “My current involvement continues to be in my church, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., March Against the Darkness Board of Directors, Youth Art Team Board of Directors, Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa Scholarship committee, a member of Club Les Dames and hopefully soon the UNI Alumni Association Board of Managers.” Madlock said.
Another UNI Alum and Black leader, Yakira Sanders, has dedicated a lot of her time to leadership and was inspired by another Black leader. “My first interaction with someone at UNI was my Jumpstart pathfinder, Juana Hollingsworth. It was really cool to have a Black woman who I could look up to.” Sanders has served in many roles on UNI’s campus, including serving as the current Program Assistant for the Center of Multicultural Education.
When speaking further on her journey, and providing advice to students growing in their own leadership journeys, Sanders said, “Trust the process. Things will constantly change from a year, two years, three years, four years down the line. So just trust the process and make sure that you are holding yourself accountable to make sure that you are accomplishing those goals that you set for yourself.”
Apart from the Black excellence that has graced UNI’s campus in the past and present, there are a number of influential Black leaders in the surrounding Waterloo community. “Growing up, I thought leadership was just about being one with the ‘big idea.’ It wasn’t until I was a senior in high school that I understood I was a leader by engaging in what was happening in my school and community through volunteering and showing my support. The more I served, as a student senate representative and on the judicial committee, the more my self-confidence grew as I saw the impact of my participation.”
Mayor of Waterloo Quentin Hart said.
When asked if he ever envisioned himself as mayor, Hart said, “I did not grow up dreaming about being the Mayor of Waterloo. With each act of service, my circle of influence grew and my network of resources grew as well, leading me to greater and greater opportunities.”
Sharing similar sentiments with Mayor Hart is Nia Wilder, businesswoman and Councilwoman for Waterloo’s Ward 3. “We don’t always realize when leadership starts. We don’t always realize when we are being a leader. Leadership doesn’t have certain characteristics” Wilder said.
To her, leadership is important and a journey that we continue to grow in. “Don’t ever stop growing. Don’t ever feel like you know what the answer is. Keep seeking answers. Know that your purpose is something serious.”
Recently, the UNI campus community has had the honor of welcoming Rastafari Smith back to campus. Smith is not just a UNI alum; he also serves as the Student Services Coordinator at UNI and as a legislator in the Iowa House of Representatives.
For him, civic engagement was a part of his upbringing but he never expected to land in the position he is in now. “If you would’ve asked me seven years ago if I would be here today, I would’ve laughed at you,” Smith said. “I was never someone who would consider me to be politically engaged. I was all about social advocacy. I would protest, be at marches and speak out against things but I never saw myself running for office.”
Smith was presented with the opportunity to run for the House of Representatives and hasn’t looked back. To the young adults growing in life, Smith says, “Be authentically who you are, because that’s when your success comes.
As people of color, we bring our creativity, our uniqueness and our lived experiences to help the overarching system improve so don’t feel like you have to change.”
With the conclusion of February 2022, we have had another successful month of celebrating the accomplishments and the excellence of Black history. Our Black colleagues have continued to do great things and serve as inspirational leaders like our ancestors before us. Even though Black History Month has concluded, may we still continue to shine bright and highlight the achievements of our African-American colleagues, friends and leaders.
“I believe that the Gen Z generation is considered lazy due to the fact of the entitlement issue. Many kids think that the world will be confined to them and that everything will be given to them.”
Vox Pop
Why is our generation, also known as Gen Z, considered a lazy generation?
Quotes and photos by: Grant Gloeckner
Chatgpt
continued from page 3
Artificial intelligence operates on theft. Consider the definition of plagiarism: presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own by incorporating that into your own content without full acknowledgement.
Computer scientists call that “machine learning.”
Chatbots analyze what you ask them, evaluate responses, swipe content by others with similar requests, prompt for more information, scour the web for answers (without citation), and access data on your device if you agreed to the app’s terms of service.
And you’re worrying about plagiarism?
Getting over it
Here’s what’s in store : Corporations will invest in AI, lower wages and downsize. Corporate profits will rise as chatbots innovate everything from onboarding to operational strategies.
Consumers will interact with chatbots at all hours, without having to wait for retailers and banks to open. People can complain vociferously about inferior products and services without the chatbot losing composure or calling you a Karen
“Gen Z is considered lazy because they grew up with technology that allows them to complete tasks a lot faster than other generations. They are considered lazy just because they can finish tasks in a simpler manner due to new technologies.” or Ken.
School systems will try to ban chatbots, purchasing services to detect cheating. But results will be unreliable as AI content improves and digital natives find workarounds.
Gen Z discovered how to cheat while remote learning during the Covid pandemic. They’re loving ChatGPT. Eventually, plagiarism will morph from failing grade to reprimand.
The public will become bored with the slush pile of mediocre machine prose, patronizing authors with insight into the human condition. Their copyrighted works will continue to sell.
Infringement will remain on the books. Content owners will decide who, when, how and where original material may be used. If they can document any monetary loss, their attorneys can sue the offending parties.
A chatbot will write the legal brief and file it with the court.
“I would say Gen Z is lazy because of all the advancements in technology that we have now and how easy it is for them to access technology, like video games, computers, phones, and ipads. Kids these days don’t get outside very often, instead they sit inside all day and play video games or sit on their phones.”
“I believe that Gen Z is considered a lazy generation because of the parenting styles that they have grown up with. As in, parents do not believe in harsh punishments, allowing kids to get away with things and that is what they learn growing up.”
“I believe the Gen Z generation is considered lazy because they have grown up with easier access to everything due to technology and they grew up in homes with parents who would rather be their friends than their parents.”