Workshops highlight sessions
Presentations deal with issues facing blacks
By Km Sweet
Staff Reporter
Students may flock to the night
time entertainment highlights of the
Big 12 Black Student Government
Conference this weekend.
But they shouldn’t forget to par
ticipate in the daytime, too.
Conference participants may
benefit most from dozens of daily
educational workshops, said Tara
Varilek, workshops chair for the con
ference.
“They are such a variety,” Varilek
said. “I think they are all going to be
very positive and very effective.”
About 30 presenters will hold 19
workshops during the four-day peri
od and will deal with issues facing
black students, she said.
Topics will include personal
issues like male and female relation
ships and community issues such as
living on a predominantly white cam
dus. •
The leaders of the workshops
come from Big 12 universities as
well as other universities and com
munities nationwide.
A mix of undergraduates, gradu
ates ami professionals will lead the
weekend’s workshops, Varilek said.
But undergraduates organized the
must-see workshops of the weekend,
said Alisa Mosely, entertainment
team leader.
Undergraduate presenters may
provide a new perspective on issues
often presented by faculty or staff
members at other national confer
ences, she said.
Mosely recommended three
workshops, including “Mirrors of
Myself,” led by Oklahoma
University undergraduates Alfiee
Herron and Alicia Miller.
She also suggested “My Sister
Myself” and “Leading with the
Soul,” a workshop focusing on lead
ership in the new millennium.
“The workshop will provide good
t , foresight into the direction that stu
dents will be taking into the next cen
tury,” Mosely said.
The workshops should form a
crucial part of the students ’ weekend,
she said.
“I think the workshops serve as a
primer for students,” Mosely said. “It
is like a mini-course in two or three
days.”
The following workshops are
planned for Friday and Saturday:
Friday
Session I -10:15-11:30 a.m.
■ “Economics with Julianne
Malveaux”
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The economist and syndicated
columnist will focus on issues
including public policy, poverty in
America and the labor market and its
effect on women. Malveaux is a
keynote speaker.
■ “Networking with George
Fraser”
■“Mirrors of Myself”
Led by Alfiee Herron and Alicia
Miller, this workshop will focus on
black women and their roles in
American society, including the jeal
ousy and insecurity women often feel
and the consequences that come
along with these feelings.
■ “Preparing for Graduate
Professional School”
Lawrence T. Potter Jr. from the
University of Missouri will guide
undergraduates through the process
of applying to graduate and profes
sional schools. Potter will focus on
test-taking strategies, creating a
statement of purpose, completing the
application process, financial assis
tance and following-up on potential
jobs after the application process.
Session II - 2-3:15 p.m.
■ “Generation X Without
Malcolm”.
The Rev. OsagyefoTJhuru Sekou
will lecture from his forthcoming
book, which looks at the history of
black pop culture in America and
changes since die death of Malcolm
X. He will encourage participants to
identify solutions to the challenges
facing black youth.
■ “ACTION**
Steve Birdine from Indiana
University will provide a common
sense approach to improving campus
environment for minority students,
faculty and staff members and
administrators. Participants will
receive an action .plan for improving
their campus. ,
■ “Creating Cohesive African
American Community”
John L. Harris, special assistant
to the vice chancellor at UNL, will
identify the characteristics of a com
munity, the issues and problems a
community can face in a campus
environment and how to improve a
campus environment through cohe
siveness.
■ “Building Bridges”
The focus of this workshop is to
promote cooperation between the
greek system and student govern
ment. The workshop will allow par
ticipants to set goals, organize pro
grams and activities and identify cur
rent issues their campuses are facing.
■ “African American Studies in
the 21st Century”
The purpose of this program is to
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u
I think the workshops serve as a primer for
students.”
Alisa Mosely
entertainment team leader
discuss the future of African
American studies programs at pre
dominantly white institutions.
Participants will be encouraged to
discuss needs, concerns and visions.
Session III - 3:30-4:45p.m.
■ “Health Careers Pathways
Program”
Gregory Frost will teach students
about the Health Careers Pathways
Program at the University of Kansas
in Lawrence, Kan., and how students
can reach their goals of working in
the health field.
■ “My Sister Myself”
Melanie Coffee and Angela Allen
will lead the discussion allowing
women of diverse backgrounds to
come together and share their experi
ences. The presenters will discuss the
need forpajty among black^wpmefi
on campuses, present prineipletLof
empowerment and discuss hoW those
principles can be applied to women’s
lives.
■ “Dispelling the Myth of the
Tragic Mulatto”
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concerns of America’s growing bira
cial population.
Michele Ludeman and Anna
Thomas will attempt to dispel the
negative stereotypes of the “tragic
mulatto” who belongs to two differ
ent cultures but fits into neither. The
workshop will provide a forum for
participants to discuss concerns
relating to their campuses and com
munities.
■ “Leading with the Soul”
This workshop will focus on
developing or enhancing leadership
skills in order to use experiences and
education to lead soulfully. This
interactive workshop will challenge
leaders and encourage them to share
their experiences, g' ^
■ “Successful Financial
Management”
Teresa Clounch from Emporia
State University in Emporia, Kan.,
will inform participants about per
sonal debt. Clounch will talk about
financial management and how it can
strengthen the black family. This
workshop will also teach how partic
ipants can maintain their financial
stability.
Saturday
Session I -10:15-11:30 arm.
■ “Black Love in the Afternoon”
Dennis Watson will lead a work
shop on the exploration of black male
and female relationships.
■ “Ethically Speaking”
This workshop focuses on the eth
ical decision making processes and
the role they play in student leader
ship. The workshop will include a
discussion on student leaders and
ethics.
■ “Facilitating the Empowerment
of Students”
Led by three presenters, the work
shop will give participants insight on
the process of empowerment and
advice on how to network in order to
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rights regulations, the Department of : ^
Education and internal campus
processes.
■ “Black Family on Campus, An v
Athletic Perspective”
B. Gabrielle Keith will explore
the aca4emic, athletic and social life
of a black male student athlete and
his relationship with his black cam
pus community. -
Session II - 2-3:15 p. m.
■ “HIV Prevention in the African
American Community”
Tami Robinsoh, a health educa- g
tor, will explore the impact of HIV;
mid AIDS on the African-American
community, and how HIV prevention t
can work. The workshop will foeus
on risk reduction skills and how the
black community can spread this
’“‘■'“feadership in the Next
Millennium”- ‘ •' k | v
■ “Historically Not Ours and
Presently We Need a Plan? •' v
Cheryll Sibley-Alboid from
Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn,
will talk about developing the skills
to plan for a successful college
career. Discussion time for students
to discuss their predominantly white
campus experiences will be included.
■ “Mirrors of Myself”
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