Cacophony

MAY2016

Tabl eof Contents From the editor Features Senior Stories Arts & Culture Editorials

The Allred Conundrum

Out and Greek

6

9

3 5 11 21 26

Black Women's Influence on Rock Music

Trying to Break into Entertainment While Black-ish

27 25

The Girl From Across The Pond

17

Realities of Being # BlackOnCampus

29

3 | Voi ce M agazi n e

FromTheEditor Dear Bel oved Readers, This is of f icial l y my l ast issue as t he Edit or-in-Chief of Voice Magazine. When I f irst st art ed writ ing f or what was Bl ack Voice Cart a Lat ina , I never t hought I woul d run t he magazine. I'm not just saying t hat t o be humbl e. I sincerel y did not want t o run a magazine. I'm pre-med. What business did I have running a magazine? However, l ike al l t hings, God has dif f erent pl ans t han what you original l y int end f or yoursel f . I can honest l y say t hat being a apart of t his magazine, has been t he most rewarding experience of my t ime at Rut gers. It has t aught me pat ience, respect , curiosit y, and endurance. It has changed my mindset on so many t opics and al l owed me t o expand my brain int o areas I never t hought I woul d go. This magazine is my baby and I'm sad t o l eave it , but I know it wil l be in good hands.

The t heme of t his issue is Cacophony. Lif e is messy, l if e is noisy, and we never know what s' going t o happen. We incl uded a new sect ion, Senior St ories, in honor of graduat ion. Here, seniors had t he opport unit y t o give t heir f inal f arewel l and share some l essons t hey l earned in t heir t ime here. Who we were f reshman year is cert ainl y not who we are as a graduat ing senior.

So f or you, dear reader, enjoy my l ast magazine. Enjoy your summer and f ind joy in what ever you do. I don't care if your working f or f ree or f ore "experience", t aking summer cl asses or t ravel ing, st aying home or st aying away. Do it wel l . Do you. I'm going t o miss you and I am genuinel y going t o miss being a part of t his magazine. Thank you f or being a l oyal reader. A special t hank you as al ways goes t o my amazing st af f . I am so t hankf ul t o each and every one of you. Thank you f or product ive Monday meet ings and imprompt u Friday meet ings. Thank you f or coming back every week. Voice has grown int o so much more t han a magazine and we have you t o t hank f or it . So t hank you. A special t hank you goes t o Kiyanna St ewart , our advisor who is one of t he great est superwomen I can t hink of . Thank you f or being avail abl e t o hear our cries and coming up wit h t he best ideas. We coul dn't have made it wit hout you. Last but not l east , t hank you t o eevery person we ever int erviewed , every event we ever covered f or al l owing us t o do what we do.

St ay l it . St ay woke. St ay bl essed.

Sincerel y,

Ijeoma Unachukwu

Special congrat ul at ions t o Prof essor Warren f or winning t he f ight and receiving t enure!

6 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Even t s

FEATURES

7 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Feat u res

w "Wathamte?elI?semnocant goyounnthro apl ay bytherul es, nomatter what. I never real ly have.

"

process, but he makes an active effort to remove himself from the teachings and let the readings and music speak for themselves, only injecting himself to facilitate discussion and help students spot connections.

However, Allred?s issues with the department stem farther than differences over course material. He found out ?through the grapevine? that the course was not being offered for the spring 2016 semester, and he was met with ?curt, PC-responses? from the department that did not fully address the reasoning behind the decision. ?I?ve probably gone back and forth five to ten different times about some of these issues and either received nothing or one of the curt responses.? To add insult to injury, the department did not get back to Allred in time for him to

apply for a summer 2016 that he was entitled to a space, and as an adjunct $900 payment he was professor, if his class is not on originally told was unpaid. the list, his income takes a hit. ?A year ago, I taught an ?I was worried and asked independent study. Adjuncts what was happening for fall don?t get paid for and again, they told me they?d independent studies, but the finalized the courses and I student wanted to do it so I wasn?t teaching anything.? He continued anyway,? He said. said. ?This semester I teach ?But I found a clause in a three sections of Intro to contract, saying I should get Women and Gender studies, at least $300 per credit hour. but for me, it seems that they I brought it to their attention were explicitly cancelling and they did a bunch of Politicizing BeyoncĂŠ and firing research and found a me, or at the very least, technicality that keeps me leaving me no way to make from being covered under money in that department.? that contract.?

After telling his students to email the department and demand the class be reinstated, he got in more trouble with the department and ultimately contacted Louis Masur, Department Chair of American Studies, who agreed to take the course in. But Allred?s grievances with WGS were not yet settled, as he was informed

Allred found out about the missing payment when he discovered that four other adjuncts in the department had also been denied compensation. Even though the course has found a home in a different department, Allred speaks on how the $900 was simply the tip on a much larger iceberg.

?I would like to teach it in WGS and have it focused in a gender program, but I just don?t feel welcome or appreciated there. They?ve never even once said ?thanks for all this publicity.??

What immediately becomes apparent is that even white privilege cannot stop Rutgers administration from doing what it does best ? marginalizing non-white academia. As Professor Allred battles with WGS, Professor Jennifer Warren wages a similar war within the Department of Communication as she fights to receive long-overdue tenure, the Daily Targum reports.

Allred believes ?there?s definitely something at play? but his work ethic will not allow him to give in or give up. Politicizing BeyoncĂŠ lives on through Allred?s Twitter, ?Bey-ond Pop Culture? podcast and live talks at

9 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Feat u res

O U T AN D byMarthaUgwu G REEK G

reek organizations are a staple on college campuses. At some point in our lives, we?ve all been exposed to the different perceptions of Greek life, whether we choose to see it as a gateway to excessive partying and bad behavior or a supportive community that fosters philanthropy, leadership, and service. However, Greek organizations are more than two-dimensional. They are very diverse and unique while appealing to a wide range of people. As a result, the population of Greek organizations are comprised of people from varying demographics, including members of the LGBTQIA community. Unfortunately, the experiences of this minority portion of the Greek life population often go unacknowledged and continue to be an issue of significant value within these organizations. As the times change and society shifts towards giving more recognition to the LGBTQIA population, the major question is how will these longstanding organizations evolve to be more inclusive and comfortable spaces for all people?

This was the main topic of discussion at the Out and Greek event that took place at the Paul

Robeson Cultural Center.

Members of historically Black and Latinx Greek organizations from all over the country gathered together to give their opinions on the state of affairs within the Greek community when it comes to the treatment and experiences of LGBTQIA members in today?s society. The focus of the discussion was on the intersectionality of the notions of social justice and the effectiveness of organization allyship, along with the personal stories of the panelists from their respective organizations.

The Greek organizations that were represented on the panel included Sigma Lambda Upsilon, Lambda Upsilon Lambda, Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho. After each of the panelists introduced themselves, they were all asked a series of questions by the moderator about their views on LBGTQIA representation in the Greek community. The main points that were made included the alienation of members and the lacking amount of importance placed on advocating LGBTQIA issues. Some members of the panel expressed feelings of hesitation and fear about revealing their identities to the

other members of their Greek organizations because they were not sure if it would be well received. They worried that their identities would cause discomfort or tension for those whose beliefs may not be accepting of the LGBTQIA community. Other panelists were afraid of being the sole representative of their own kind in their prospective organizations and having to carry the burden of educating the other members on LGBTQIA issues. Another major point that was brought up regarded the policies of many of the historically Black and Latinx Greek organizations, which often times do not accommodate everyone and are in dire need of an update in order to cater to the needs of all members. Ultimately, what many of the panelists pushed for is an increased social awareness of the struggles that are faced by the LGBTQIA community and eagerness to incorporate more emphasis and education about their issues into Greek life. They believed that as society evolves, so should the social structure of fraternities and sororities on college campuses, which goes along with idea that change starts from within.

SENIOR S

S S

a o

SENIOR S

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13 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Sen i or St ori es

T im e ?s G e t t in g ? Ha r d , But I ?m S t ill G e t t in ? I t : A Br e a kd o w n S y n o p s is o f a S t ud e n t ?s J o ur n e y T hr o ug h R ut g e r s U n ive r s it y

BY K R I S T I N HANK E R S O N

W r it t e n f r o m t he p e r s p e c t ive o f a g r a d ua t in g s e n io r w ho t o o k w a y t o o m a n y L ?s , a n d is j us t o ut he r e t r y in g f un c t io n un t il s he w a lks a c r o s s t ha t s t a g e .

S

o t he t heme f or t his issue of

Voice Magazine is al ong t he l ines of ?being yoursel f ?and ?sel f expression?, right ? Wel l what bet t er way t o express mysel f t han t o t al k about my t ime at Rut gers Universit y, HOWEVER, t here?s going t o be an int erest ing l it t l e t wist on it . This is gonna be writ t en t hrough MY t one of voice, not t hat Expos cl ass, over-anal yzing, ?oh if t he aut hor says t hat man?s shirt is bl ue, t hat means he?s going t hrough some saddening emot ional t ribul at ions,? even t hough it real l y just means t hat his shirt is bl ue, st ruct ured ass nonsense. No one is going t o be coaching me and t el l ing me what t o say. None of t hat . Just me. Tal kin?t o y?al l .

These are t he t wo cat egories t hat summed up my t ime here, so it ?s 6 what I can real l y chat wit h y?al l

about . Everyt hing el se is just st ream of consciousness. I?m not saying t hat you are going t o have ident ical journeys and st ories and shit , so pl ease don?t t hink I?m l ect uring you. Mind you, I was never good at creat ive writ ing, but we going t o t ry t his out .

PAR T 1: ACAD E M I A I guess since we?re t al king about an academic inst it ut ion, I guess I have t o t al k about academia.

Coming int o Rut gers as a f reshman in 2012, I t hought I knew what I was int erest ed in. I l oved t he brain, it s f unct ions, asking quest ions, seeing how t hings af f ect behavior, st uf f l ike t hat . So nat ural l y, I picked up a Psychol ogy major. Addit ional l y, I?ve t aken French since I was in 6t h grade, so I decided t o pick t hat up as a minor (oui, je peux parl er f ranรงais un

peu, pour ceux qui ne me croient pas). That might be a l it t l e rust y but I said ?yes, I can speak French a l it t l e, f or t hose who don?t bel ieve me.) I t ook a l ot of psychol ogy cl asses, t ook mad French cl asses, and everyt hing, but af t er t hat f reshman year, I real ized t hat t hey weren?t my t rue passions; t hey weren?t what I want ed t o dedicat e my l if e and my t ime t o. They were just t hings t hat I was int erest ed in.

Surprisingl y, it wasn?t unt il my sophomore year t hat I st epped int o an Int ro t o Communicat ion cl ass t hat I f ound out what I was t rul y int erest ed in. I knew I l iked anal yzing human int eract ions and why we do what we do somet imes, but it wasn?t unt il t hat cl ass t hat I real ized t hat it was what I want ed t o do wit h my l if e. Now here I am, t al king t o you as a senior about t o graduat e wit h a BA in Communicat ion t hrough a joint program. However, it onl y came

15 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Sen i or St ori es

MYPLANVS. RUTGERS' byJULIANAODAME- LABI

R

emember in high school, when

we thought we had the rest of our lives planned out. We said to ourselves, ?I?m going to major in this, and then go to graduate school for this, and then get a job in this.? Then we get to college, and everything changes. There were a couple of things that definitely changed for me.

I was not going to apply to Rutgers.

I don?t know about you, but Rutgers was not on my list of schools. I was expected to apply, because, well it?s Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. How are you going to live in New Jersey and not apply to Rutgers? It was annoying because it was not a CommonApp school, so I had to write a whole new essay, but nevertheless, I applied.

I was going to transfer out of Rutgers after my first semester of freshman year.

I had committed to attend another school starting in Spring 2013. I loved the school, but I did not love its tuition. In comparison, Rutgers? tuition was looking like TJ Maxx. But this other school was looking like Bloomingdale?s. I re-evaluated my life; I decided I can get the same education and the same opportunities at a cheaper school.

I wanted to study International Relations.

With the slogan ?Jersey roots, global reach?, you would think Rutgers would have the international relations major. I tried to make the IR major with similar majors. Instead, I double majored in Political Science and Communication. Fortunately, I minored in International and Global Studies. To be honest, this worked a lot better than any set IR major. It

allowed me to take a wider range of interdisciplinary classes and gave me a broader perspective on the world.

I wanted to work at the United Nations.

After attending conferences and participating in the United Nations Study Abroad Program, I dreamed of being a Foreign Service officer. However, I steered away from the United Nations and started leaning towards non-profit organizations. After interning for a New York state assemblymember, I knew I did not want to work in government. I did extensive research on education reform,

"I was not goingtoapplyto Rutgers" which instantly peaked my interest. I knew I wanted to work towards combating education inequity. As a corps member for Teach for America, I will be teaching at an elementary school in the Bronx, NY and pursuing my Masters in education.

I wanted to take over the world. I?m just kidding, this never changed. I?m still going to take over the world.

Rutgers was never a part of the plan. And now, 4 years later, I do not even know where I would be without Rutgers.

Although Rutgers changed my original plans, this new plan is better than the initial one I organized and I?m more excited for my life than I ever was before.

"I was not goingtoapplyto Rutgers"

17 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Sen i or St ori es

TheGirl FromAcross thePond byGeorgiaBennett When I was given the list of Universities I could choose from to do a study abroad placement, I made my options based on mainly two criterion.

Firstly, I wanted to go to the US, I wasn?t interested in Europe or Asia, I wanted to explore the land of hope and dreams first hand, to find out why it is believed to be the greatest country on Earth. My second criterion, was that it needed to be a big institution, full of diversity, in close proximity to big cities and attractions. At the time, my knowledge of the US was very limited, and my knowledge of Rutgers was even more so, over the past two semester many people have asked me, why a girl studying in London, would move half way across the world to come to Rutgers? Initially, I didn?t have a specific reason as to why I came here, other than the superficial fact that it was a big university that was close to NYC. In the rush leading up to my arrival, I found that I was unable to do much background research. I boarded a plane heading for Newark International, with almost no knowledge of the city I was about to inhabit, the community I was about to enter, or the people I was going to meet. For me, this was uncharacteristic, I had always been someone who planned thoroughly and was always prepared for the random permutations of events that life would throw at me, but as I took my window seat on an early morning plane heading for the east coast, I had absolutely no idea just how much my life was about to change.

My first recollection of Rutgers, were the picturesque houses that line College Avenue, seeming so idyllic that it made me feel like I had entered the Sims world. Though, I had always thought America and England were similar, as I walked down College Ave for the first time I became more and more aware of subtle nuances, that reminded me just how far away from home I really was. The houses were built differently, and they were painted, the cars were bigger, and they were driving on the wrong side of the road. I was in a completely different world, I was overwhelmed and I loved it.

I remember the tackling the unfamiliarity of the first semester, attending my first Rutgers football game, and being in complete awe at the size of High Point stadium and the amount of students who filled it, turning it into a vast sea of red and black, erupting with the sounds of foreign chants and cheers. (I don?t, however, remember the tailgate I attended before!).

I remember the first time I went to a frat part, the beer kegs, the strobe lighting, and glow paint smeared over the walls of dimly lit basements. I remember the first time I went to a Livi student Centre party, and tried to sneak in without a wrist band, got caught and had to pay $20 to get in! I

19 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Sen i or St ori es

STRUGGLE

TRA NSFORM A TIVE

UNEXPECTED

A l ot

DESCRIBE YOUR RUTGERS EXPERIENCE IN ONE WORD EXPENSI VE STRESSFUL

LIFE- CHANGING

EMPOWERI NG

I NT R O S P E CT I VE

ARTS & CULTURE

23 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Art s an d Cu l t u re

The Fake Smi l e Saad Mughal He wal k s wi t h c onf i denc e.

Nev er s howi ng weak nes s .

He wal k s wi t h s wag.

Nev er s howi ng hat r ed.

He wal k s wi t h y ou.

Nev er s howi ng negat i v e emot i on.

You as k what ?s wr ong?

He s ay s not hi ng.

The man i s dy i ng on t he i ns i de wi t hout s howi ng a t hi ng.

He s ay s he has t r us t i s s ues .

What he al s o has i s a c oupl e of t i s s ues .

Tuc k ed under hi s pi l l ow c uz he i s c r y i ng i n t he mi ddl e of t he ni ght s o he c an wal k wi t h y ou.

Showi ng y ou a di f f er ent v i ew.

Hi s br oadc as t of hi s f ak e s mi l e.

Whi c h now has bec ome hi s r egul ar dai l y l i f es t y l e.

He want s t o t el l peopl e how he f eel s .

But now i t does agai ns t hi s i deal s .

Wher e now he onl y t r us t s peopl e who c an s ee t hr ee t hi ngs .

ONE. The s or r ow behi nd hi s s mi l e.

TWO. The l ov e behi nd hi s anger .

THREE. The r eas on behi nd hi s s i l enc e.

And f or t hi s y ou c an?t us e a t i s s ue t o wi pe away t he t ear s t hat ar e s pi l t eac h ni ght c r y i ng ov er hi s l ac k of c onnec t i on.

25 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Art s an d Cu l t u re

Bl a c k Women's Inf l uenc e on Roc k Music BY ma TTHEW gAMBLE

R

ock music is one of the most popular genres of music today, enjoyed my millions of listeners worldwide. However, many have the misconception that rock music is a genre that was created by and defined by White men. Many White artists and bands such as Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Buddy Holly are considered huge influences on modern rock music. Despite their popularity; the innovations and creativity of the musical genre known as rock and roll does not point back to just them. Rock as a genre was originated and created by African-American populations, the genre itself took heavy influence from different Black musical forms such as gospel, jazz and blues.

Today rock as a genre that is seen as the domain of White males however unbeknownst to many, the earliest rock stars were in fact, Black women.

Elvis Presley is such an icon that he is labelled the King of Rock. Yet Elvis boldly admitted to taking a strong influence from several Black artists including women. In 1957, he tells a reporter from Jet (an African-American owned magazine) on the set of Jailhouse Rock that, ?A lot of people seem to think I started this business. But rock 'n' roll was here a long time before I came along. Nobody can sing that kind of music like colored people. Let's face it: I can't sing like Fats Domino can. I know that?.

The early pioneers of rock and roll can traced back to two brilliantly talented Black women named Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Big Mama Thornton. Sister Rosetta Tharpe was an extremely influential and popular figure in the 1940s and 1950s yet she is a rather obscure figure today. Tharpe was a gospel singer, a very talented prodigy who was known for her passionate singing, impressive guitar playing and immense energy. Performing at her church, she garnered a lot of attention which led to local tours eventually culminating in a record.

Tharpe was a music innovator drawing from the jazz and blues of the local Chicago scene and combining it with traditional gospel. She vigorously shredded her guitar and bellowed her voice in such ingenuous ways that it gained the attention of rock and roll greats such as Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley.

Another major influence on rock and roll, was

the great Big Mama Thornton. Thornton was a blues singer whose strong presence and snarling vocals made great impression on both Presley and Janis Joplin. Thornton was the original performer of the 1953 song Hound Dog which Elvis made a cover in 1956. Elvis?cover was one of his first major hits and led to his extremely successful and enduring career.

Unfortunately, Elvis?cover overshadowed the original song by Thornton. However, Thornton?s influence is heavily channeled through Elvis? performance. He mimics her deep, forceful and howling vocals filled with emotion, strength and energy. Thornton was also the original singer of Ball n?Chain. Janis Joplin very impressed by Thornton?s performance, also made a cover that also led to massive success but overshadowed Thornton?s original version. Both Presley and Joplin are cited as major influences in the development of rock music which also extends into metal, punk and grunge. The melancholy lyrics, loud, pulsating and husky vocals, and defiance towards conventions of those genres can all be traced back to Thornton?s influence.

Overall, Black women have had a huge influence on the genre of rock music.

The genre today is heavily associated with White males however that is far from the actual truth. The development of rock music owes heavily to African American music and artists. Also despite being seen as a White male-dominated genre, Black women played a strong role in the formation of the genre with their innovation and creativity. Pioneers such as Big Mama Thornton and Sister Rosetta Tharpe boldly mixed different styles of music to invent a unique flavor. The novelty and forwardness of their sound gathered the admiration of people of all color and made huge impressions on White artists. White artists that copied their style and reached a mainstream success due to privilege and acceptance by society.

Despite their lack of reverence compared to White rock icons, Tharpe and Thornton?s legacy still lives on in the genre of rock and roll. They along with other women of color revolutionized and changed the face of music that we know today. Let us never forget their influence and thank them for the amazing diversity in musical styles that we can enjoy today.

Bl a c k Women's Inf l uenc e on Roc k Music BY ma TTHEW gAMBLE

27 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Ed i t ori al s

Tr ying to Br eak Into Enter tainment While

by ChiChi Obi

A

s a child growing up, living in a dream world has always been my reality; to the point where I found actual reality as a dream. Nothing felt more real to me than my imagination. Thankfully, creating art was the bridge I had between imagination and the real world. As I grew up, I explored with different kinds of art to see what fit me best. I enjoyed colors and visuals, but I couldn?t draw anything more than a stick figure. I liked the sound of music, but learning it was boring. I sang in the church choir for ten years and had to sing one note for a musical play but I choked on stage fright. That was extremely embarrassing.

was taking too may classes without getting experience. My mother suggested I go out for real work, so I spent money on head shots and modeling photos. My mom went on all my castings with me until I

The only time I felt at ease was when I was acting in the school play.

I was forced into it in grade school, but it never stopped there. I truly adored escaping into someone else?s shoes that I was allowed to create. I got inspiration from famous actors all the way down to ordinary, everyday people. When I had to play a mean girl part, I took ideas from characters like Regina George from Mean Girls and from classmates who lived drama lives. I created it so that it fit6me and the character I wanted to portray. It got to the point that I

turned eighteen. I researched the business and knew almost everything about it. I networked with other people and submitted myself to as many castings as possible. The only callbacks I got where for very low jobs, jobs any non actor could?ve done. I hated the results, so changed into what I thought would get me jobs. I lost weight, tried different hair colors and wore a lot of makeup. Since I knew didn?t have enough experience and this business is based off looks, I thought I would

get at least a consideration. I?ve always heard that new actors should start off doing university short films for experience. Every time I wanted to apply, there were no roles for people like me. I didn?t take it personally, but I wondered why almost every casting call were looking for Caucasian actors. I fit a lot of the traits they were looking for, except for the color of my skin.

I applied for ?mixed? women roles, but I don?t look even closed to mixed. I sometimes edited my photos to be brighter, hoping that if they were to call me in, I could make it up in talent and they would reconsider me. The only roles I saw for black women were roles that were too old in age and bitter. I tried not to think that they based casting off stereotypes because I believed there was still a role for me.

One major call back I got was for a supporting role in a new Lifetime movie. I haven?t seen a young black role for women in a while, so I knew this would be difficult to audition for. When I got to the audition, I was one of the few dark skinned girls. I didn?t think much of it, because I was set for a goal.

After my audition, I decided to

29 | Voi ce M agazi n e | Ed i t ori al s

Real ities of Being #Bl ackOnCampus

A look at the social justice movements on college campuses and how black activists are using social media to spread awareness and mobilize.

byAal iyahRoul hac / / Phhotos byTravis Henry

Dionne Owens did not fully realize what racial relations were like on the Rutgers University New Brunswick campus until she attended a lecture event held by the student organization, Young Americans for Liberty at Rutgers University, on a Tuesday night back in February. ?When we went there were a lot of students that [seemed to have] very racist views and a lot of what they preached about [or against] were things that marginalize black people, like their negative views on the Black Lives Matter movement. They said ?people should have free speech?and a lot of that free speech was really just a front to say people shouldn?t be so ?sensitive?, when they were being the insensitive by wanting to say things that were very stereotypical about other races and groups,? said Owens who is a fourth-year, communications student at the university. The event was the kickoff of Milo Yiannopulous?s ?Dangerous Faggot Tour,? where the free speech advocate traveled from campus to campus to speak to university students internationally, about his view points on sexuality, politics and the need for free speech. ?I believe a lot of what was being said was laced in racism and I felt like that event definitely brought that out. Even during the talk, when groups that were standing up for black rights or for the Black Lives Matter movement spoke up or showed any sign of disagreement with what was being said, there was an overwhelming backlash from the audience, which was filled with a majority of white students.

There were even those who yelled Trump at us repeatedly, when we said something that they didn?t like,? said Owens.

While this was one instance at one university, there have been many like it, and they have resulted in black students gathering together to organize movements to disrupt racial discrimination, racial tensions and systematic racism on their campuses. Although student activism is nothing new and has been an exercise by black college students since the days of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the 1960s, what is new is the medium that is being used to fight injustice on campuses; social media.

The Black on Campus movement originated as a hashtag on Twitter in the later months of 2015 but became trending in February and March 0f 2016. The tag # BlackOnCampus has been used, alongside other tags, to shine a light on the social justice movements that are being held by black college students on campuses internationally and to connect with one another to organize and strategize against oppressive administrative forces. Yamiesha Bell is a graduate student at the University of Connecticut and an organizing member of the Black Liberation Collective. ?So many times we feel like these are isolated incidents but it?s part of a systemic issue and any

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