Spring Break
Can Senate lend a helping hand?
Issue date: 4/7/05 Section: Editorial/Opinion
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04/07/05 - To the Cigar,
Stereotypical stigmas have been glued on minority males, either in colleges, the working force and in the modern day "real world." All this is about to change. With the help of motivated young minority males at the University of Rhode Island these stigmas are fading away and being replaced with a more positive outlook. A coalition who call themselves the Underground Railroad (UGR) is shedding light on what it is like to be a minority male in college. Their purpose is to maintain the growth of minority males academically, socially and, by any means necessary, to contribute to the success of these individuals. Is the 21st century going to witness a new type of minority coalition? Yes, a positive one in its structure and in purpose.
Having been on the URI campus for the last two years, the UGR has managed to comprise itself of different members of all different backgrounds. The UGR is motivating other minority males on campus to join them in their quest for a more positive future. However, the URI Student Senate has declined their proposal to be recognized by the university, due to certain political bylaws. Being an all male group, the senate informed UGR, is a setback. UGR however does not want to be recognized as a fraternity due to the stigma that has been placed on fraternity life. UGR is a group that is dedicated, first and foremost, to the ACADEMIC excellence of its members. The support of the university senate committee is needed by all means; it is necessary for this group to be officially recognized.
With all this said, senate can in some way find a way to open a new door for groups such as UGR to do something positive with the aid of the university which 'hosts' it.
Oluwaseyi Omoniyi
Philantrophy Chairman
Opeyemi Odewale
Coordinator
Stereotypical stigmas have been glued on minority males, either in colleges, the working force and in the modern day "real world." All this is about to change. With the help of motivated young minority males at the University of Rhode Island these stigmas are fading away and being replaced with a more positive outlook. A coalition who call themselves the Underground Railroad (UGR) is shedding light on what it is like to be a minority male in college. Their purpose is to maintain the growth of minority males academically, socially and, by any means necessary, to contribute to the success of these individuals. Is the 21st century going to witness a new type of minority coalition? Yes, a positive one in its structure and in purpose.
Having been on the URI campus for the last two years, the UGR has managed to comprise itself of different members of all different backgrounds. The UGR is motivating other minority males on campus to join them in their quest for a more positive future. However, the URI Student Senate has declined their proposal to be recognized by the university, due to certain political bylaws. Being an all male group, the senate informed UGR, is a setback. UGR however does not want to be recognized as a fraternity due to the stigma that has been placed on fraternity life. UGR is a group that is dedicated, first and foremost, to the ACADEMIC excellence of its members. The support of the university senate committee is needed by all means; it is necessary for this group to be officially recognized.
With all this said, senate can in some way find a way to open a new door for groups such as UGR to do something positive with the aid of the university which 'hosts' it.
Oluwaseyi Omoniyi
Philantrophy Chairman
Opeyemi Odewale
Coordinator
