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Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 VOLUME LXXXVIII ISSUE VII SINCE 1935 www.oswegonian.com
Walters inspects use of GIFs as modern blackface Samantha Flavell Editor-in-Chief sflavell@oswegonian.com
William Rogers | The Oswegonian
Kelly Walters, established AfricanAmerican designer and researcher, visited Oswego State Oct. 16 to speak on the topic of digital blackface and its prevalence in contemporary use. The main topic of discussion was on how GIFs are now widely used as an overall accepted form of blackface and how using clips from films and TV of overemphasized gestures to characterize African-Americans adds to the overall emotion that they portray. Walters began research on this topic because she felt that, as a designer, it is important to understand how sociopolitical frameworks and shifting technology influence the sounds, symbols and style of black people, according to her event biography on the Oswego State website. “It’s just been this ongoing quest to look more critically at, and collecting a lot of the artifacts,” Walters said. “I try to figure out what those forms will take, or what it needs be shaped into, so that it becomes a larger conversation and so that we can push into looking deeply at looking back at our history but looking at our present at the same time.” Walters began her speaker session by providing a historical context to the use of blackface dating back to Billy Van in 1900, a white male who performed blackface for minstrel shows.
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Media Summit on viral voices Panelists discuss digital advocacy via social media platforms Kassadee Paulo News Editor kpaulo@oswegonian.com The 14th annual Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit presented the views of professionals regarding the theme viral voices and advocacy in the digital age. Moderated by WNYT-TV news anchor Asa Stackel, a 2012 Oswego State alumnus, a panel of four included Brandi Boatner, social and influencer communications lead, global markets brand communications manager for IBM Corporate Communications, Gina Iliev, health equity coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, Jeff Knauss, 2007 Oswego State alumnus and co-founder of Digital Hyve, and Latoya Lee, assistant professor of sociology at Oswego State.
“Our panelists were chosen because they have firsthand experience and in-depth understanding on how social networks and digital mediums can change minds, influence actions and just maybe improve lives in the process,” said Oswego State President Deborah Stanley. During Stackel’s opening remarks, he defined digital advocacy as “an organized effort to influence public reception by digital means, whether by company or individuals.” Lee said the only thing that differentiates traditional movements with digital movements are the tools. Before the birth of social media, ideas could be transferred by handing out flyers. Now, hashtags make it possible to quickly spread ideas and organize gatherings. “We need to interrogate that not necessarily everyone has a voice on
social media,” Lee said. “It also depends on how big you are, whether you have a blue verified check, whether you have enough followers to have a voice.” Knauss said that he believes one of the difficult aspects of social media is the sense that it is an echo chamber, in which algorithms figure out what someone agrees with and likes and feeds more of that type of content to that person. Their views are only reinforced rather than challenged for a balanced approach. Boatner said that the different platforms on Twitter show that different communities feel they need a specific subset to connect with others in their own community. She said there are tons of groups on social media with special interests that will advocate with each other on a certain topic.
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New SA director position remains empty until vote Julia Tilley Asst. News Editor jtilley@oswegonian.com
Julia Tilley | The Oswegonian
Student Association has officially been trying to fill its position for the director of diversity and inclusion since the beginning of the semester. This new position was created by President Omar van Reenen, who held a similar position last year as director of diversity, equity and inclusion. He said he thought it would better help the student body to have two separate positions, so he created the position of director of diversity and inclusion and the director of gender equality and women’s affairs, which is held by Lizeth Ortega. “I saw that we needed someone to tend to women’s issues, sexuality issues. That’s why I took the ‘equity’ part out of [director of diversity and inclusion],” van Reenen said. Oswego State student Jake Small was appointed by van Reenen and served as the interim director of diversity and inclusion over the summer and into October. On Oct. 2, when the senate had to vote on whether Small would be confirmed, several Oswego State students spoke up during public comments to discuss their individual concerns with appointing him to the position. Kassadee Paulo | The Oswegonian Boatner, Stackel, Iliev, Knauss and Lee (left to right) shared their views on social movements and advocacy in the digital age.
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