Taboo topic sparks controversy at SMU

by Pat Traver, Contribution Writer/Blogger

ptraver@smu.edu

So this is the second blog I’m writing on this topic, and probably the last Blackademia post I’ll make. But the story I wrote for the Daily Campus (“Black, African or African American?”) got a lot of attention in the two weeks or so.

Because of some confusion, I decided to blog about the aftermath. But I also wanted to get my two cents in about the whole thing. As a journalist, I must write as if I am opinionless. As a blogger, I can say what I want with as much bias as I want, positive or negative.

The story was about how the new SMU student organization–African Student Association (ASA)–came into existence. As I’m sure everyone knows, there is already an Association of Black Students (ABS), so I thought it would be interesting to write a story about how the African culture is different from the African American culture.

Little did I know, I opened a really sticky can of worms, one that I don’t think many people get very close to in the media for fear of stepping on people’s toes or getting something wrong and offending someone. But these, for some reason, are the stories I gravitate toward.

ASA presidents Audrey Addo and Aden Abiye said that African cultures are different from the black/African American culture. They wanted to have a community where students from African countries can come and celebrate their cultures together. They also agreed that being educated about the rich African cultures is important for everyone, regardless of where they come from or what color they are.

ABS celebrates and educates people about the African American culture, but some people from Africa find that the issues black Americans face do not apply to them.

ABS is also the umbrella organization for African American organizations. Because ASA is new and starting our, ABS is helping them get started and establish a presence on campus. However, there was a little confusion about whether or not people wanted ASA to fall under the ABS umbrella when it is chartered.*

The question that arose was a taboo one in the involved communities, but it’s one that I think is important:

What does it mean to be black, African, or African American??

I have a long-standing relationship with ABS and its exec members, as I have been covering the organization. As far as I know, I am the only journalist who has written a publication about the black/African/African American community since I arrived at the school, beginning in my very first ever reporting class.

The story is not my best work, but it was a pretty big fish to fry for a brand new journalism student. I covered the lack of diversity on SMU’s campus, focusing primarily on the black and African American cohort.

I have to say, blogging about controversial topics is a lot easier to handle than writing stories about them….

However, I didn’t just write a story. I made an audio story, a photo slideshow AND an audio slideshow about them, too.

All reporting, audio and photos were taken and edited by me. Talk about multitasking, right?

Anyway, as a series, I really think I’m more proud of this story than almost anything I have authored..

So Why the Controversy??

I think that the best stories are the ones people talk about. The ones that make you think for yourself without leading you in one direction or another.

In this story, I was able to collect some of the most candid quotes I’ve ever gotten on the record from anyone.

I interviewed some members of ABS’s and ASA’s exec boards, and then I attended an ASA meeting primarily to get pictures and audio for my three-part media series featuring the organization, but also for any quotes that addressed the issue of the categorization of ASA.

I was very candid about my purposes, and ASA was absolutely so welcoming and gracious about my being there. They cooperated in more ways than I could have imagined: to help me with my story, ASA President Audrey Addo extended the topic of what it means to be black, African or African American to the members.

The discussion that covered more angles and points of view than I ever dreamed would be present in that one room.

I did not agree with everything that was said in the discussion, but to choose to not print one angle for fear of rustling some feathers would be unethical and intentionally slanting the story.

Instead of trying to say anything myself about what was going on, I made the executive decision with my professor and editor to just include the points that stood out as the most important and representative of the different arguments presented in the discussion.

Some people said some pretty fiery things, but I didn’t even include some of the most extreme parts of quotes for fear of shedding a bad light on anyone.

The conversation was, in my opinion, innocent and quite thought provoking. I learned SO MUCH in that half hour or so.

When the story printed, I got wind that there were some people in the black and African community who were… less than satisfied with the end result.

People accused me of misquoting and having an ulterior motive to split up ABS and ASA, none of which was true.**

They said the story made it seem as though there was already a division in the two communities at SMU. Some even accused me of trying to split them up.

However, I simply quoted people. I really didn’t say anything.

After a discussion with the exec members from some of the African American organizations, problems were resolved, the accusations of misquotes were dismissed, and they decided to write a letter to the editor clarifying the umbrella organization situation, and stating that there is no conflict or division between ABS and ASA.

I love all of them–they are truly beautiful and special individuals.

But I have never been so scared in my life!! I walked into that meeting afraid that they hated me.

I came out reassured that they still love me, and that everyone finally saw that I didn’t misquote anyone or intentionally slant the story in any direction.

Ngoma Night

The day after I submitted my story for publication, ASA held it’s first event, “Ngoma Night,” which means “Dance” Night in Swahili.

Members of both ASA and ABS joined together that chilly Thursday night on Nov. 18 to celebrate African cultures through dancing, food and togetherness.

The blend of African and black American culture and unity was truly a beautiful sight to see.

The end of the semester is upon us, so with all of that school work, it appears that the campus troublemakers are holed up as well. It’s only Dec. 3, but crime is scarce. So far, the only reported crime was on Dec. 1 at 12:31 p.m. A female student reported that a person side-swiped her car but left no identification for her to call.

Let’s take a look at this past semester instead. Three crime alerts were issued: one for an on-campus sexual assault, one for a suspicious person (the MTV “agent”), and the last for an off-campus sexual assault.

The theft count was rather substantial. From August to December, the SMU Police reported 103 thefts and burglaries. So if you have exams next week, keep those laptops and textbooks in a safe place!

Now, it can be expected that with freshmen on campus, alcohol violations are going to happen. Let’s take a look at what kind of trouble SMU’s party scene has stirred up this fall. The total sum of violations, ranging from DUIs, MIPs, public intoxications and open containers, amounts to 193.

Hopefully all who came in contact with the SMU Police will learn to act more carefully before the spring semester!

Walking around the lifeless area of Victory Park around 10 on a Friday night, we would go anywhere still serving food. Random pizza place it was: Neo, a newer restaurant owned by Olivella’s Pizza.

A creamy ceaser dressing covered light lettuce, lacking some flavor and the offer of freshly ground pepper.

The Margherita Pizza was less than fine. With no salt on the table, I stuck more to the salad. It’s times like these that I wish I kept truffle salt in my purse–that would make this perfection. A cheap house chardonnay didn’t help either.

For a late-night find in desperation of something edible, Neo is acceptable.

Where were all the black people?

by Pat Traver, Contributing Writer/Blogger–ptraver@smu.edu

Reactions to the George Bush Presidential Center

Former President George W. Bush was on SMU’s campus on the morning of Nov. 16 for what he called “the beginning of a journey”–the official groundbreaking of his Presidential Center.

In the spirit of my blog, I decided to try to get the perspective of some of the African and black American’s in attendance.

This turned out to be harder than I expected.

People gather in front of Moody Colliseum to watch the President speak on a huge screen.

While the former president was speaking, people who were not under the tent for the official ceremony under the tent watched from about a hundred yards away on a TV screen on the side of a huge van.

Out of the couple hundred people, only a handful were black.

Compared to the white population at SMU, black students make up probably less then a handful–5.92% according to the Division of Enrollment Services, but does that account for the lack of diversity? (For a student headcount by ethnic group comparison, click here.)

Ghanaian Freelance photographer Jonah Jones waited just outside the tent with the journalists, but he wasn’t after a story–he just wanted good pictures.

Jones served in the Navy under the Bush Administration, and he was on active duty during the war serving on the USS Ashland.

“I like Bush personally,” he said. “He did pretty good when he was in office, but one of his bad decisions was to go to war.”

Although Jones thinks that Bush is funny, he says that Bush sent the troops into to war too soon.

Regardless of whether or not he agrees with the former President’s decisions in office, he thinks that the decision to move forward with the Presidential Center is a good idea overall.

“I think that this is going to bring more eyes to the school and to the community, which can be a good or a bad thing,” he said. “But I think the positives outweigh the negatives.”

Like Jones, all the people I spoke with out of the more than 3,000 who filled the official tent like the idea of the Presidential Center.

Alfred Njau is a Perkins grad student from Tanzania, a country in Africa. He said that he thinks the Presidential Center is “excellent.” He particularly likes the promises of educational resources for women and girls in Afghanistan.

Marcus Rogers, National Guard, studied architecture and engineering. He loves the idea of being able to watch the Center be built over time.

Marcus Roger

“In three to four years,” Rogers said, “I plan on bringing my son here.”

When asked about the alleged political implications of having a Republican think-tank on a university campus, he said that it didn’t think it mattered one way or the other. We all have the same goals, he said–to unite people across the world.

“I’m not really into labels,” Rogers said.

I also managed to catch Bush’s former Special Assistant and Director of Scheduling Rhonda Houston on her way out of the ceremony.

“I think it’s great,” she said. “It’s a wonderful demonstration of the side of the President that people never saw when he was in office.”

She said that she feels Bush will make sure his promise of providing a nonpartisan entity will be upheld.

There were protesters in attendance, but none were of any visible minority decent.

Where were the people who disagree? Out of the handful of black people I spoke to in attendance, every last one of them said they supported the presence of the Presidential Center on campus.

However, to say that the African and black American community at SMU and in Dallas all support the Bush Presidential Center would seem ridiculous. So where was everyone?

What do you think?

Former First Lady Laura Bush made an appearance in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center today, just one day before the groundbreaking ceremony for the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

According to Assistant Director of the Hughes-Trigg Student Center David Hayden, Laura attended a donor luncheon for the Bush Foundation.

It’s unclear whether she spoke. George W. Bush was not in attendance.

Who was in attendance? Several Board of Trustee members (but not apparently the entire Board) and supporters of the Foundation.

If you managed to snap a photo of Laura while she was on campus, email us!

The end of the school year is approaching, which means that it’s almost time to sell back those textbooks. However, it appears that a few students have sticky fingers and empty pockets: two students reported their textbooks recently stolen. A Spanish textbook was taken from upstairs Hughes-Trigg last Thursday night, and a textbook that a student borrowed from a professor was stolen on Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday and Sunday, three students were referred to the Student Conduct office for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. They were also charged with drinking underage.

This month’s alcohol violation count amounts to 14 so far. Of those, 13 of the offenders were under 21.

The SMU Police Department warns students of a suspicious person who has been spotted on campus. A man, claiming to be an MTV producer and using the alias name of “Dean Kelly,” has been spotted at SMU. For more information, visit the SMU Police Department‘s Crime Alert page and click on the link under ’2010.’

"Dean Kelly"

SMU PD just sent out the following email, warning students of a man who has targeted SMU women in the past (see a 2008 story on the same guy) and tried to take nude photos of them:

The SMU Police Department would like to warn students about a scam artist who has targeted SMU women in the past and is now back in Dallas.

A man using the name “Dean Kelly” tells students he is an MTV producer and is looking for women to pose for photos. When the women arrive for a photo shoot, he attempts to get them to pose nude.  He is a known scam artist who changes his contact and social media information constantly and moves from city to city.

If this individual approaches you, please do not agree to his requests and call the SMU Police Department as soon as possible at 214-SMU-3388. You can also provide information anonymously by calling 214-SMU-2TIP or online atwww.smu.edu/2tip.

Safety Tips

• Be mindful of your safety at all times.
• Always be aware of your surroundings, especially in parking lots and garages. Have your keys ready as you approach your car, and always lock your doors after entering.
• When meeting a new friend or business acquaintance, let friends and family know where you are going. Consider a daytime meeting rather than a night meeting, and meet in a public place.
• If you are the victim of a crime or see something suspicious, call police immediately at 911. Time is of the essence in such situations.

Among the many small places on Lower Greenville is a neon sign of grapes, signaling to a small restaurant with an intimate atmosphere and bowls of comfort food.

The service is the restaurant’s low point. With one waiter working the eight or so tables on the patio, it takes a while just to get a drink order.

Fortunately, diners do get a over-salted bread to snack on while they’re waiting for some attention from the wait staff.

A crispy duck is served with spicy duck sausage–a perfect little bowl for a chilly night. The mussels are simple, though well-executed. Of course, dipping the bread in the “sauce,” aka, melted lemon butter, is the best part of the meal. Roast chicken served over potatoes are a meal to take you back to your mother’s holiday meals.

So go for a good meal, just clear your night’s schedule to allow waiting for a waiter.

As most everybody knows at this point, a female student was hit by a car on campus Monday night. The good news is, nobody was severely injured. A fractured pelvis and a broken windshield is considered lucky in light of what could have happened. Furthermore, the investigators didn’t charge files against either the driver or the victim. But this accident should serve as a reminder to pedestrians and drivers alike: Do not jay-walk, especially at areas without a crosswalk. And please, please do not text and drive. It is comparable to driving blindfolded.

Is there a bicycle pawn shop that pays a lot to thieves around here? The bike thefts continue to rack up. During the entire month of October, 12 bicycles were stolen. Locks, locks locks!

October saw a substantial amount of alcohol violations, with the final count being 67. Thirteen alone occurred on Oct. 1.

Surprisingly, the SMU police department hasn’t updated its crime and fire log since Oct. 31, which means that November is “crime free” so far! Of course, it could also mean the opposite and that they are so busy with crime and fires that they don’t have time to update the site… wishful thinking for the prior?

*Disclaimer–this post also appears on the Daily Mustang Tech Blog as a part of my Digital Journalism Professor’s study on news platforms use of the iPad.

Ebony Magazine iPad App: The 65^th Anniversay Edition:

*Pilot for future iPad editions, according to Black Web 2.0

Immediacy/Urgency:              3.5 out of 5 stars

Non-linear presentation:        3.5 out of 5 stars

Interactivity:                              3 out of 5 stars

Multimedia Content:                4.5 our of 5 stars

After 65 years of weekly publications, the special edition anniversary app marks Ebony’s first appearance on the iPad. According to Black Web 2.0, “there will be more app releases in the coming weeks and this inaugural app is just one part of their new and evolving digital and social media strategy.”

The hard copy of this edition of the magazine is packed with special photo shoots and memories of the history of the historically black magazine.

The App offers everything the magazine does, with a little extra. When you open the App, balloons float up the screen–a cute and effective way of distinguishing that this edition is special.

There are essentially three main things that enhance the iPad reader’s experience when using this App: 1) the fantastic video, audio and picture slideshows, 2) Ad interactivity and 3) the ability to share the big stories online instantly.

The best added feature only accessible through the iPad is the multi media content. There are videos from the photo shoots with stars and journalists in the creation of the special edition, picture slideshows from the past and the present and audio and video form old and new interviews.

They do an okay job of connecting to social media networks by using an option to “share” that story via email, Facebook or Twitter at the top of most of the big stories in the magazine. As far as interactivity goes in general, I think they should look into expanding reader’s options even further, and they might consider linking to some of their sources for those readers who want more.

The option to touch an ad to get more information is quite effective–I think they should consider using this feature in their stories as well.

As any pilot, the App is not without its flaws, however minor. The page number on a page and on the finder at the bottom do not match after the front cover. There is a multiple page cover and the App counts it as one page, which can be a bit unnerving when trying to navigate your way through the content.

The hard copy of the 65^th Anniversary Edition of Ebony and the App are both $3.99. I would suggest owning a hard copy of the colelctor’s edition of the magazine simply for the historic value and the creative content of the issue, but the multimedia coverage in the App adds so much value and poignancy to the stories that I think also purchasing the App is well worth the extra money.

I think we can expect some pretty cool things on the iPad from Ebony in the future.