Rousing applause and singing voices filled Newcomb Hall Ballroom yesterday afternoon as the Office of African-American Affairs welcomed incoming black first years to the University at its annual event, "Harambee."
Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of Harambee, Swahili for "working together." According to African-American Affairs Dean M. Rick Turner, the event is meant to encourage black students to become involved at the University. New students also connect with upperclassmen who volunteer to serve as peer advisors.
"We want to motivate students, to let them know that we are here, that we are a resource," Turner said.
In earlier years, Harambee was similar to an activities fair with several short speeches, said Sylvia V. Terry, an associate dean in the Office of African-American Affairs. Today it is a nearly two-hour long program complete with skits, speeches and performances by the vocal group Black Voices.
Terry, who has helped to oversee the event for the past 16 years, said she wanted the program to be a "kick-off" for first-year students.
"I wanted it to be a little bit more, to move it from an information session, to make it an experience," Terry said. "I look at it as a wonderful connection in that way."
The program featured students who shared their experiences with the Peer Advisor Program, a group that helps students adjust to college life.
The segment's introduction was met with laughter as upperclassmen audience members interrupted student speakers with monologues sharing some of their personal experiences with their peer advisors as first-year students.
According to Patricia Lampkin, vice president for student affairs, there is not a peer advising program offered directly to all entering first-year students. Lampkin said that students from all races can take advantage of the Office of African-American Affair's Peer Advising Program.
First-year College student Malcolm Jones, whose mentor is fourth-year Commerce student and former Student Council President Daisy Lundy, said he had no apprehensions about coming to the University as a black student.
He said that Lundy's mentoring has helped connect him with the University community.
"I'm meeting a lot of great people, people with the same interests as me, the same goals as me," he said. "The event helped me get comfortable with my surroundings and put some names with some faces."
Terry said that events like Harambee and the Peer Advisor Program are meant to integrate black students into the University community.
"It is not with the intention of isolation -- we can't be sheltered, we have too much richness here," she said. "My philosophy is we are encouraging students to take hold of the University at large."
The event concluded with Terry holding up a model of the Rotunda. She said she was given the replica as a gift from "The Good Society" before Harambee years ago with a note that said, "This is your University."
Terry asked the audience, "Who's University is it?" and the audience responded in unison: "Mine"
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