When College of Fine Arts sophomore Dexter McCoy became president of Umoja, Boston University’s black student union, he said it enabled him to lead an internal transformation that would not only strengthen the club, but also its mission in bringing about racial progress.
“It was important for me to take on the leadership role . . . because I saw it as a great opportunity to finally bring about the change that so many people for so many years had been working to bring about,” McCoy said. “For some reason, other people weren’t able to do it to the extent that we’ve been able to do it this year.”
Umoja has worked to improve its image and relationship with BU since its old leadership faced issues with the administration and community in previous years.
McCoy has served as the instrumental figure behind implementing these changes. Before he became president, Umoja’s relationship with administrators had deteriorated and the black community at BU had been misrepresented.
“Umoja was known for throwing every year the first party of the year,” McCoy said. “In particular, the very last party that Umoja had the year before I got here, some things escalated and got out of hand, which caused a lot of bad press [for] the organization and really took the tension between the organization and the administration over the edge.”
McCoy declined to elaborate on the details, but said Umoja’s new leadership made changes to transform the student group’s image at the beginning of the year. Executive board members met over the summer to discuss how they would revamp Umoja.
The executive board sent a letter to several BU administrators and departments at the start of the academic year, informing them about several changes the board planned to make the student group more professional.
“We said . . . we accept what happened in the past with Umoja, and we acknowledge that this organization for years hasn’t been a very professional organization, but we’re changing that this year,” McCoy said.
McCoy said changes include meeting deadlines, planning ahead for events and giving back to the BU community.
So far, the administration has been responsive to the group’s changes, McCoy said.
Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore said Umoja’s black history celebration, which was held on Saturday, “worked like clockwork.”
“I was impressed because it was a really well-done production,” Elmore said. “A lot of the content was rich.”
Ruha Benjamin, an assistant professor of sociology, signed on as Umoja’s faculty advisor late in the spring semester. She said members have done well in rebuilding the club’s image.
“They made sure that among themselves they had a lot of unity and commitment,” Benjamin said. “It was almost as if they were running an upstart or a new business.”
Members often address issues related to modern-day racism, which Umoja member and CAS sophomore Crystal-Angelee Burrell said the group tries to fix.
“The more together the community itself is, the better suited it is to face racism externally,” Burrell said. “They sort of strive to mend internal problems, which is good because you can’t really fight racism if you can’t be true to yourself first.”
Another issue Umoja has faced is the level of tension between the student group and Student Union, which McCoy said has historically been high.
“The question has been raised multiple times, ‘Why do you need a black student union? Why can’t there just be student union?’” McCoy said. “That in general has caused a lot of issues.”
While McCoy noted Student Union has become more flexible about this issue, he said Umoja differs in that it focuses on uniting students of all races and ethnicities and educating them about the black experience on campus and in the U.S.
“For me, it warms my heart every time that I see people together . . . of different backgrounds, cultures [and] lifestyles coming together and focusing on what they have in common . . . rather than their differences,” McCoy said.
Achieving unity throughout BU’s campus, he said, would make Umoja an unstoppable force.
“Everybody who comes out of this institution will be unstoppable,” he said. “People need to realize that they can do whatever . . . they want to do in their life if they put their mind to it and lean on their community for support.”
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Dexter McCoy has officially gotten out of hand. Umoja has made missteps every year and this year is no different. The “change” that Mr. McCoy speaks of is yet to be seen. The only noticeable difference is this year’s President is more visible. Unfortunately I don’t mean that in a positive way. Dexter is never at events but his face is always on a website or doing an interview. I don’t even see a fostering of community this year. Every event consists of the same few people – a select group of sophomores. While I did not like how last year’s eboard operated fully, they at least listened to us. This year it seems like Umoja is this exclusive friends-only group. I wish Dexter and the rest of the eboard actually cares about the black community and less about their resumes and bashing previous umoja executive boards in every conversation.
seriously dude? chill outttt….
No. This dude is paying homage to himself and he’s done nothing! Every event this year has been about sex. One flyer actually said, “down to fuck? or down to commit?” Great new image you changed, dude.
I agree. I didn’t even know Dexter was president, due to his lack of attendance at the meetings. AND there is always a certain group of people there who are neither welcoming nor examples of the principles/ideals that UMOJA promote. I go for entertainment value. I don’t think UMOJA accurately represents the black student community at BU. And I think the rest of the Boston college community agrees.
Did anyone do their research on this article? Does the freepress fact check or did they get all of this story from one source – Dexter McCoy? I’ve heard 8 versions of what happened in previous years and none of that was said. Disappointed.
This is a joke. If anyone wants to know facts, I’d be happy to school them.
Signed,
Umoja President 2010-2011
Umoja Vice President 2009-2010
Umoja Social Activities Director 2008-2009
I completely agree with the previous comment (BU student 1). Knowing and previously speaking to Dexter, I feel that he is infatuated with creating his own legacy at BU, as well as his personal resume and reputation with faculty and administration. I feel that the E-board as a whole is not genially concerned with unity among the black community and rather dysfunctional in their approach to certain situations. They are solely concerned with their own opinions, and congregate amongst themselves when making decisions and also do not take ideas and suggestions by other members into consideration. They believe they ARE exclusively Umoja.
As a biracial student here at BU, I have been made by UMOJA members to feel as if I am not “black enough” to be in UMOJA. Several biracial students besides me have agreed on being singled out and suddenly “there are no slots left” for certain events or meetings, our opinions are “tainted” and we have no understanding of how it is to be a black college student. After the way I was treated last year (as a freshman), I will NEVER go back to UMOJA until I see that these opinions have changed…newsflash! They haven’t.
When black students in UMOJA tell other self-identifying black students that they’re not aware of how “it is to REALLY be black” and being biracial makes us “privileged” and unaware of issues in the black community, it’s not only damaging, but divisive and completely untrue. Alianza Latina doesn’t have issues like this! UMOJA (meaning ‘unity’ in Swahili) is an embarrassment to the BU community.
UMOJA needs to stop having parties, fashion shows and “family dinners” and look at the REAL issues for the black community at BU and nationwide.
Let me offer a quick translation for you all:
McCoy said. “For some reason, other people weren’t able to do it to the extent that we’ve been able to do it this year.”
Translation: I’m the best to ever do it. MLK who?
“Before he became president, Umoja’s relationship with administrators had deteriorated and the black community at BU had been misrepresented.”
Translation: Before Moses – I mean McCoy – parted the Red Sea, BU was lost! Doomed!
“McCoy said changes include meeting deadlines, planning ahead for events and giving back to the BU community.”
Translation: Forget a translation. This is just false. If previous UMOJA members weren’t submitting paperwork on time and planning ahead for events, SAO wouldn’t allow them to operate. Nice job bashing an institution that has been around for decades, though.
“We said . . . we accept what happened in the past with Umoja, and we acknowledge that this organization for years hasn’t been a very professional organization, but we’re changing that this year”
Translation: We sent an email to every administrator and distanced ourselves as far as possible from the executive boards of the past – AND THEN TRIED TO BUILD A LEGACY BASED ON THE SUCCESS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US. Because we are backwards. Obvi. Fashion Show that you guys look forward to so much? Been around for decades. Kwanzaa? Been here. Black History Month program? Been here. These new sexed up events? That’s all you, Dex.
I think what is most impressive about this article is the blindness. How Dexter has managed to convinced such notable community members as Dean Elmore and Professor Ruha Benjamin that he has the best interests of the black community in mind is astounding. How the author of this “article” managed to not investigate any of this “giving back” Dexter speaks of, is actually ridiculous. If this were a legitimate news source I’d call for Becky’s resignation. But at the end of the day, it’s just the freep.
Although this article may have been a little to focused on Dexter himself, I personally believe that Umoja has brought those who identify as African American in the BU community so much closer.
I was the committee head for this year’s Black History Month Program entitled “Legacy: I am a seed of the free.” Having worked closely with the e-board this year, and seen the way they delegate programs to sub-committees a lot of these comments have been unfairly attributed to Dexter – such as the flyer that said DTF. That was a Sisters United flyer in which Dexter has no direct hand in their programming. So you should take that problem up with the coordinators Chelsea Roberts and Kendrea Collins. They are more than ready and willing to listen to CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, so they can create programs and titles that better fit the audience. None of the events/discussions that the e-board put on were about sex.
As far as attendance, I personally try to attend all larger events and discussion because I am fairly busy (as well as the rest of the e-board). However, majority of the e-board has attended all events with the exception of all of the sisters and brothers united meetings. All of the e-board has pictures up on the Umoja facebook page, so if you did not see them that may be due to not knowing who they are as “another BU student” stated that he/she did not know that Dexter was president.
Now I would like to address the comments that discuss the plethora of sophomores, the “exclusive friends-only” group, and feeling of exclusion. I would like to give a personal apology for those who feel excluded. The e-board has a town hall meeting coming up soon that you should attend and raise this concern! To the bi-racial girl, I encourage you to try a sisters united meeting because the coordinators have worked extremely hard to make this sub-committee a inclusive organization. There are several women from a variety of backgrounds that all find the sisters united meetings a home. For the other comments – as a sophomore myself – I completely detest the image you are painting of those who attend. As a collective, the majority of sophomores who have a large presence in Umoja, have made it our mission to be as welcoming as we possibly can. If any of the meetings ever seem exclusive or “friends-only” that is because the bond between those who make it a priority to support all Umoja events has grown. That was the mission of Umoja this year, to build community! How can you bash growing bonds between people that look for a family and made one? That is really unfair, and really hurts. For example, with my personal dealings with the Black History Month Program majority of the performers and attendees were freshman and sophomores. That is not because we were being exclusive, that is because those are the ones who actively want and are trying to create a community that supports one another. I had upper classman tell me to my face they weren’t going to the event just because they didn’t feel like it or want to. The same advertisement was given to students across the board (as has been for all events this year) so the community that has been constructed this year is based on individuals who interject themselves.
As I previously stated, the Umoja e-board’s goal this year was to rebuild community among the African American students at BU. Therefore, those who continuously comment on the e-board being concerned with their resumes is a slap in the face. They have bent over backwards and jumped through hoops to provide opportunities to get involved in this organization and with others. Yet, NO ONE SIGNS UP! For example, I was the only one who applied to coordinate the Black History Month Program. Of the 11 people that signed up to help with the programming, only 3 actually responded to my e-mail. That is in no way the fault of the e-board that is the fault of the individual. So if you have any complains about programming or things along that line you need to check if you are offering your input or taking the opportunities presented to you.
Specifically to “another BU student” your comment, “I don’t think UMOJA accurately represents the black student community at BU. And I think the rest of the Boston college community agrees.” Is completely discredited by the e-mails from other Black Student Unions in the Greater Boston collegiate community that have flooded the Umoja e-mail. These e-mails constantly request collaborations and sit-ins on the Umoja e-board meetings because of how well this organization is run.
Although this article may have lacked some fact checking, there are more fallacies, slander, and liable in the comments posted than anything in the article. Those who commented are the ones who really need to check the facts.
Lastly, this organization will never be able to prosper if people continuously bash those who are trying to create improvement. This is the first comment that has been posted that has a name attached to it, and not a generalization/overstated assumption/one experience that has been blown out of proportion i.e. the DTF comment which wasn’t even a program put on by the e-board. None of these comments have been constructive or conducive to the growth of this organization. Almost all of these comments have torn down this organization. This is a true reflection of the roadblocks that stand in the way of Umoja prospering – people who find any opportunity to state their malicious opinions, but will not own up to them nor offer critiques that will yield improvement.
“Almost all of these comments have torn down this organization. This is a true reflection of the roadblocks that stand in the way of Umoja prospering – people who find any opportunity to state their malicious opinions, but will not own up to them nor offer critiques that will yield improvement.”
Sounds an awful lot like the Townhall meeting last year. It’s funny how people’s opinions change once they become involved in the organization.
“None of these comments have been constructive or conducive to the growth of this organization. Almost all of these comments have torn down this organization. This is a true reflection of the roadblocks that stand in the way of Umoja prospering – people who find any opportunity to state their malicious opinions, but will not own up to them nor offer critiques that will yield improvement.”
Sounds an awful lot like last year’s townhall meeting. It’s funny how people’s opinions change once they become involved in organizations.
“Sounds an awful lot like last year’s townhall meeting. It’s funny how people’s opinions change once they become involved in organizations.”
Exactly.
This is very similar to what happened to last year’s e-board. People were quick to criticize the e-board members and complained that they were not committed to their positions or the organization. The current e-board should not be bashing the previous e-board members’ efforts; it should be evident to them how HARD past e-board members worked in attempts to improve Umoja. Hopefully they realize that trying to run and organize an already damaged student union is a difficult and thankless task. The problems that people have with Umoja go way deeper than the e-board. BU’s black community has a long way to go before they can be truly united.
This is very similar to what happened to last year’s e-board. People were quick to criticize the e-board members and complained that they were not committed to their positions or the organization. The current e-board should not be bashing the previous e-board members’ efforts; it should be evident to them how HARD past e-board members worked in attempts to improve Umoja. Hopefully they realize that trying to run and organize an already damaged student union is a difficult and thankless task. The problems that people have with Umoja go way deeper than the e-board. BU’s black community has a long way to go before they can be truly united.
And so, the 99 percent has spoken. Unfortunately, I saw this coming and since there was no forum we resort to tearing down the self esteem of others via the Freep.
I say we because though there is deference in our community we are still identified as one. We all have our role in making our community one. Some take that responsibility and run with it.
Make sure your voices are heard and when in doubt the constitution can do wonders. Oh wait, that’s been changed too.
Shashay Tadesse eloquently articulated most of what I was thinking. But I just want to say to everyone who posted a comment that had nothing but negative things to say: I would love to know how you think your comments are in any way helping Umoja?
BU Student: I’m utterly confused, so please help me understand, exactly how has Dexter McCoy gotten out of hand? Because people and organizations, such as the daily free press, approach him for interviews and he does them? Or because he acknowledged that Umoja has improved since last year? Also, I don’t see how you can say there has been NO change. Let me give you some examples of the changes that I’ve seen just from last year: the beginning of the year BBQ – success. Many SENIORS commented saying that it was the best Umoja BBQ’s they had been to since they arrived at BU. I don’t know if you attended, but it was quite the party. This BBQ was a huge change, especially since last year I didn’t even know there was one. Also, I’m pretty sure Sisters United, Brothers United, and Umoja’s Bible Study group are all extremely beneficial changes that occurred this year. These are major support groups and networks that Umoja is providing for minorities at BU. Whether YOU consider these good changes, they are changes nonetheless. You also mentioned sophomores being the main people that go to Umoja events—I couldn’t agree with you more! Have you ever thought about why? I believe it is partially because many sophomores had such a bad experience with Umoja last year that we are eager to be a part of the change we hope to see in Umoja today. I had an interest in participating in the black community at BU, so I sought out Umoja events on my own. If you are waiting for a personal invite from the E-board than you probably are never going to be satisfied. I believe Umoja promotes to everybody but it is on the individual to show up.
Last, the members of the E-board could have done a million other things to build their resume, but instead they chose Umoja. Umoja is a responsibility they had to start handling throughou t the summer and is a huge time commitment throughout the year. If these people cared more about their resumes than helping the black community I believe they all could have chosen something that held equal—or even greater—value, but would be less of a time commitment. You should never question their loyalty.
BU student 3: No, actually the daily free press is paying homage to him. I doubt Dexter called the daily free press up and asked them to write an article about him. Also, how old are you? Yes, one of the flyers said DTF *gasp* we are all in college and should be able to have open conversations about sex. If I recall the flyer didn’t say “fuck” so, unless I’m wrong, saying DTF is not that serious. Also, it is the meaning that the term has behind not the actual expletive—if that’s what you’re so afraid of. Plus, BU throws Sex Toy parties every year, I doubt administration looks down on clubs that have open conversations about sex.
Another BU student: You don’t think Umoja accurately represents the black community at BU, I agree. But whose fault is that? In my opinion, it is the fault of the black students who have not given the new Umoja a chance. People made assumptions about the E-board the day they were elected! Upset because mostly underclassmen fulfilled the positions, but barely any upperclassmen ran. Please, if you disagree I’m open to listen.
BU Grad Student: I would LOVE to know the facts. But as a previous Umoja president you shouldn’t discredit Umoja and call this article a joke. Out of everyone commenting, I was hoping you would provide constructive criticism, instead you chose to be a resource to “school” everyone. But like I said, I think my friends and I would love to know the facts.
BU Student 4: What student at BU DOESN’T want to create a lasting legacy here? At a school where you are the minority and most people see you as nothing more than a number, it is imperative that we at least try to leave a legacy here on this campus. If anything, you should applaud Dexter for wanting to build a strong relationship with faculty and administration instead of bashing him for it.
Also, if you have such strong opinions against the E-board they are MORE THAN HAPPY to receive advice on how to change that. You should contact them.
Not Black Enough: I am sorry that your experience with Umoja has been a negative one. I felt the same exact way last year and it angered me that the picture I had for a black student union was not a reality. All I want to say to you is that you should voice those worries and opinions to the E-board! I talked to one member of Umoja’s E-board and she mentioned how she never knew people felt this way because nobody ever said anything. If you want to see a change in Umoja that bad—don’t be afraid to step up and be a part of that change. I had to realize this for myself this year as well. Don’t just keep complaining about it. It doesn’t help you nor does is have any effect on what’s going on.
In summary, I hope you all go to Umoja and tell them about these complaints. You all finally get an “anonymous” outlet to say whatever you want and you choose to immaturely state your comments. Great job. You are the reason the black community at BU will never actually be a community.
Lastly, I want to personally thank you Dexter. You have accomplished so much with being President of Umoja and don’t let anybody tell you differently. I look up to you and I’ve heard many others at BU say the same thing. So to Dexter, and all of Umoja’s E-board: keep it up!!
Yes, this ARTICLE is a joke. I am not discrediting the group as a whole, or any member of the executive board. I’m not interested in belaboring this topic but in the interest of providing a more objective opinion, I will touch upon a few explicit facts.
When students of color come to BU’s campus, they’re often looking for a sense of belonging and this desire manifests itself in different ways; students become actively involved on campus, find their own niche group of friends, or unfortunately become disgruntled. Often times, the burden of unhappy students of color is placed on Umoja, which in many students’ minds represents a campus resource to cater to the sensitivities of minority students. But students forget to separate the idea of Umoja as a STUDENT-RUN organization from their perception of minority relations on campus and that is what creates tension, especially between leaders of the group and its members who don’t realize how much works goes into a year’s worth of leadership. At the end of the day though, it is not Umoja’s job to make people feel secure about being a Black student at BU… there are administrators on campus who get paid support students in that regard.
Umoja was known for the “first party” and it’s true that it didn’t always end so well, but the only reason for the party was to raise funds to support everything else we did throughout the year. While bad press undeniably left a negative impression on administration and unfortunately overshadowed the integrity of the group, the thousands raised helped carry on the legacy of exceptional programs such as the Kwanzaa Celebration (awarded by the Allocations Board in 2008), annual fashion show (now in its 25th year), and several other initiatives including attendance at the 2010 Black Solidarity Conference. Past distinctions included BU’s own “Organization of the Year” (1997 – the full story is in the yearbook) and on a national level the 1991 “Daily Point of Light Award” honored by George Bush, Sr. for a volunteer program for teenagers in Roxbury. As an example of positive relations with administration, in the previous academic year Umoja worked with the Admissions Office on a high school mentoring event (Road to College), on an educational forum with the African American Studies Department (Black Masculinity in the Media), and so on. All that said, the idea that the group was in such a disorganized and delinquent group is exaggerated.
Umoja’s current programs seem to center around family- that’s cool but the concept itself, regardless of how you frame it (ie bible study, dinner in west, etc) is nothing new. Past years focused on “community building” efforts as well. We did game nights, field days, provocative but intellectual conversations, and co-hosted fun things to do like “meet and greets” on campus with artists like Janelle Monae and Bow Wow. I understand why not feeling welcomed would make you think there was something devastatingly wrong going on, but in no way did Umoja (as a group and not just individuals in it) ever intentionally facilitate disunity. Ultimately, Umoja’s purpose is more about creating a forum whereby Black students could share their experiences with each other and the BU community and less about establishing a “friendship club”. For example, there have been years where people may have despised person X as a “leader” but got along just with them as a “John Doe” the person and vice versa. And if they felt someone wasn’t doing their job, it was addressed without all the emotional antics and hurt feelings.
I can’t claim any recent executive boards were without fault in some way or another, but you’re only students helping other students. Board members have other obligations to juggle and therefore, whether or not you choose to attribute any truth to this fact, each year has mistakes. I’d like to think the current executive board has no ill intentions in what seems like an endless crusade to differentiate yourselves from boards of the past but the fact remains that the article is extremely biased in favor of students who have created contempt regarding a past in which they were never actually involved, thereby discrediting the accomplishments of several well-intentioned former members.
These are the facts. Purely and simply. Read this if you want the truth. The other comments hold their own validity but as far as what went down last year and this year, read this. Facts devoid of emotion.
What’s funny about all of this, aside from the article from itself, is that Shashay and Tori have taken the time to write these elaborate stories about how the commenters are wrong and how they are unjustifiably bashing the new e-board however they seem to forget they (along with many other sophomores) were the same ones doing the exact same bashing to last years eboard.
-Gabrielle Jeanne Marie Logan
I was going to write this but you beat me to it. Hypocrites.
The only thing I said at the town hall meeting was that I believe what is wrong with the BLACK COMMUNITY (not yelling, only way to emphasize) is that people don’t know where their responsibilities lie. I said I believe that it is the job of the upperclassmen who have semi-adjusted to reach out their hands to the incoming underclassmen. That is their only responsibility in facilitating a healthy community. It is then the responsibility of the underclassmen to take the opportunity being presented to them. If both sides don’t fulfill their responsibilities then disunity is able to be fostered. I didn’t say anything wrong about Umoja’s events or efforts. Now something I can admit that I was wrong for is equating people to an organization. As Farrah pointed out earlier, this is something that is constantly forgotten, and something I participated in last year.
I don’t think anything about what Tori and I said is, “Funny.” I think it’s sad that you and the commentator below have chosen to point out what you deem as ironies and label us, “hypocrites,” instead of looking at our comments as a sign of growth and maturity. I have no problem recognizing my mistakes. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to self reflect and realize them for the mistakes that they are. Trying to call us out, and belittling our growth to acts of hypocrisy instead of recognizing that we have realized we are fighting the same fight past e-board members have fought simply facilitates the disunity.
Oh.
Use Discretion. Some things need to remain in house.
I love you all. You are all Beautiful people!!!
Josh Reynolds- CFA ’11
good people, if you feel motivated to take this conversation in to a context where you can see each others’ faces, i’m motivated to work with you to create an honest n respectful space to make it happen. full disclosure: i plan to be at BU much, MUCH longer than any of you, so i have a very deep investment in seeing to it that we begin breaking this painful cycle asap; as my homeboy albert e. liked to say, doing the same thing over n over again n expecting different results is the definition of insanity. whether we tear each other down or BIG EACH OTHER UP (my preference), our decisions or lack thereof have ripple effects across time n space. after all of y’all are long gone living your fabulous lives, those of us at BU will be reaping what you collectively sow or don’t sow through your action or INaction at this crucial juncture. for my own sanity as a faculty member who cares DEEPLY about student wellbeing, i want us to find (or create!) new patterns of disagreeing n problem-solving that don’t imitate the corrosive trashtalk we find even among our community “leaders” (e.g. the ongoing feud between cornel west and melissa harris-perry… if only they knew! not only how painful it is to watch them go at it but how long-lasting the effects of their feud are going to be). Perhaps there are enough of you who want to start breaking the cycle n creating a new pattern in which EVEN DISSENT IS EXPRESSED IN WAY THAT CULTIVATES UNITY: i know this is a lot to ask, not least because even those who we entrust with governing entire countries DON’T HAVE A CLUE how to do this, but i’ve seen it done firsthand, so these aren’t pipe dreams; its just reality 2.0…
warmly,
prof.b
Although I agree that these comments might not have been constructive or conducive to the growth of this organization, I do believe each individual has the right to state his or her opinion. Obviously, this article has stirred up quite a bit of backlash and that in itself proves that this has been a smoldering issue. To resolve smoldering issues, you need to call a spade a spade and acknowledge the truth in these comments (no matter how big or small).
I’m a senior and from my perspective I feel the biggest issue with this article is the over-generalization of previous e-boards. I’ve had my own qualms with the organization, but some of the claims in the article are a bit harsh.
Why can’t we all just get along?