Black convocation welcomes new freshmen

By Cynthia Lee

For the many people who gathered at Covel Commons Oct. 2 from across the campus and the community, this was the moment they had hoped would finally come, the result of months of mobilization, advocacy and plain hard work.

And so they celebrated and applauded over and over again the strong contingent of UCLA's newest African-American students, who stood up proudly to be acknowledged. Smiling broadly as they clapped were many of the alumni, faculty, staff, administrators, student leaders and community members who came together last year, determined to reverse the black student enrollment decline that had occurred over the last decade at UCLA.

Themed "Reclaiming UCLA," the fourth annual Black Convocation, hosted by the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies together with eight other campus organizations, was a celebration of this remarkable feat, a display of the academic strength of African-American and African studies on campus and a welcome by academic leaders committed to helping the new students succeed.

Cynthia McClain-Hall, who received a B.A. and J.D. from UCLA, delivered a keynote address. (Photos by Clive Phillip)

"As we gathered here last year, we were all aware of the particular challenge that we faced with respect to the decade-long decline of African Americans in the UCLA student body," Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Graduate Division Claudia Mitchell-Kernan told the gathering. "The good news is that we were successful in almost doubling the number of African Americans entering our undergraduate programs." And while the numbers are not yet final, she added, "it appears that African-American new enrollment at the graduate level has increased by 28%, from 122 to 156."

The new African-American undergraduate and graduate students taken together could well be 30% to 40% of the total black student population on campus, speculated Mandla Kayise, past president of the UCLA Black Alumni Association, a group that played a major role in responding to the crisis.

"It’s good to see so many of them here," said Kayise, "to see Bruinwalk look a little different, especially on Wednesdays, a little more color," eliciting the crowd’s applause. "Black Wednesday (a day when black students traditionally gather along Bruinwalk) is actually looking like Black Wednesday once again. It's good to see that tradition continue and be restored in some way."

Speakers stressed that progress cannot be taken for granted. "Our struggle must continue with renewed effort and vigor lest we reach another plateau rather than establish a true trajectory," said Mitchell-Kernan. "It's my sincere hope that we will be able to maintain our sense of advocacy as we continue to address the UCLA enrollment issue and the various educational challenges faced by African Americans and others who encounter problems of inclusion and equity."

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Janina Montero said campus, student, alumni and community leaders came together last year as a family, working harder than ever before through good as well as tense times. "But we learned quite a bit, and we are all ready to build on that experience, to move forward and to do better."

Listening to Sociology Professor Darnell Hunt, director of the Bunche Center, and other academic leaders encourage students to visit and get involved, freshman Lula Fecalu said she felt inspired by what she heard.

"People have made it very easy for me to feel like part of this community," Fecalu said. "I definitely feel welcomed. I applied to a lot of schools across the country, but this one was the best."