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The Association of Black Collegians (ABC) knows a thing or two about bridging gaps. Not only does the group tirelessly work to erase barriers at Lafayette, it joined with Lehigh University last semester to host a student-led conference titled “Breaking Boundaries and Bridging the Gap.”
Students from ABC and members of Lehigh’s Black Student Union collaborated on a town hall-style meeting where students could discuss issues of diversity and inclusion on both campuses. Hot topics included recent campus incidents, such as the deer head left on the porch of Lehigh’s Umoja House and a racially fueled episode at Lafayette’s Kirby House following the 2008 presidential election. Lafayette students also discussed their efforts to bring more diverse representation to Student Government.
“The objective of the conference was to give students an open and honest opportunity to voice their concerns with our respective campuses and what we, as students, can do to work with administration to spark change,” says ABC social chair Kyara Gray ’11 (Lincoln University, Pa.), an economics and business major. “The ABC board has been working very hard to make the Lafayette experience as great as possible for all students.”
Yaba Amgborale Blay, visiting assistant professor of Africana studies, participated in the conference and says she has been impressed with ABC’s efforts to exist not only as a social organization but as an agent of change. She also has enjoyed her time with ABC members in the classroom.
“Students have expressed a need to have more of an academic knowledge base within which to situate their efforts, and thankfully, many of our Africana studies courses do this,” she says. “These students are very dedicated and are very much interested in melding theory and practice — that which they learn in the classroom and that which they do on campus in terms of activism.”
ABC also is joining with other groups on campus that are committed to improving the student experience.
“Collaborating with other student organizations gives the Lafayette community the ability to come together as a cohesive and productive environment,” says Gray. “ABC is very excited to continue our journey of breaking boundaries and bridging gaps. We plan to return to Lafayette in the spring ready to celebrate Black History Month with the campus. We have several events in the works and believe this February will be very exciting for everyone.”
Blay agrees that one of ABC’s most important functions is community building.
“ABC is a very necessary facet of student life here at Lafayette,” she says. “The students are trying to and have been successful in building a supportive community for students of color. They have also been instrumental in making the larger campus community aware of issues that need to be addressed on campus, as well as educating the campus on a variety of issues related to race, racism, diversity, and the global community.”