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(09/11/15 4:05am)
During our freshman and sophomore years at Penn, two incidents of cultural insensitivity within the Greek system created community tension and divided Penn’s campus. First was the “gangsta”-themed mixer and then the holiday photo fiasco. While both of these incidents were deeply concerning on a cultural awareness level, one of the greatest problems that became apparent afterwards was the lack of a system of recourse for both Greek and non-Greek Penn students to report incidents of potential cultural insensitivity. At the time of the holiday photo incident, we were both moving into positions of greater community responsibility — one of us being elected as the Interfraternity Council’s Judicial Inquiry Board manager and the other serving as co-chair of UMOJA and as a member of the Undergraduate Assembly. We both saw a significant issue on Penn’s campus that necessitated not just discussion, but deliberate and purposeful action. We took to this task with great care and much thought, beginning with what we wished to accomplish in creating an infrastructure to instill and preserve Penn’s tradition of culturally aware and informed freedom of expression.
(03/31/15 2:24am)
In his senior year, Rasool Berry, co-founder of UMOJA, wrote a senior thesis entitled, “The Black Student Experience At Penn: What Every Black Student Should Know.” When writing his thesis, Berry examined the legacy and stories of several black leaders who have been key to founding some of the most impactful organizations in our community. He also pinpointed the advice and lessons from their stories that could be imparted into the new generation of black leadership. In reflecting on what black leadership meant to him, Berry wrote, “The process of struggle has gradually directed the students, especially student leaders, to redefine themselves in the racial context they have inherited, as well as shift their primary focus in life from self-centered to community-centered in many outstanding cases.”
(03/26/15 6:11am)
We are running for president and vice president of the Undergraduate Assembly because we consider Penn to be more than just our school — it’s our home. As candidates, we come from different backgrounds and communities, but our decision to unite on a single ticket is rooted in our desire to represent the best of Penn’s diverse perspectives. That said, we are here to serve all of you. As we have engaged in conversations with students from across campus, we have become familiar with the most pressing issues that you feel need to be prioritized by the UA’s new leadership: Addressing mental wellness, preventing sexual assault, strengthening civic engagement, protecting open expression and bridging the gap between communities on campus.
