“When a person places the proper value on freedom, there is nothing under the sun that he will not do to acquire that freedom. Whenever you hear a man saying he wants freedom, but in the next breath he is going to tell you what he won’t do to get it, or what he doesn’t believe in doing in order to get it, he doesn’t believe in freedom. A man who believes in freedom will do anything under the sun to acquire . . . or preserve his freedom.”
Malcolm X was one of the most infamous figures of his time. His rebellious nature and drive for civil equality helped create a new generation in America. People traveled from miles away to help Malcolm X and the other Civil Rights leaders in creating national change.
While Dean College may not receive the same national attention, they still preserve the deep values that the young leader preached: diversity, opportunity, and change.
The staff here at Dean College focus their time and energy in ensuring each student feels comfortable and successful. This is something you don’t see often as a college’s main goal. Most of the time colleges are focused on career readiness and academic success. Dean is a diverse and multi-cultural campus, a much different environment than many other schools in Massachusetts
Dean College also ensures each student gets numerous opportunities to showcase their skills and knowledge. This can be in their desired career, a final project, or even at a local rally. Each student here at Dean has the ability to share their ideas and knowledge with full confidence.
Finally, and most importantly, Dean College preaches change. One part of the Dean Difference is allowing students to voice their ideas and create change on and off of campus. Not only is this extremely important to the students and staff, but it’s also important for the world to know that Dean College is focused on students’ voices first.
One of the organizations that resembles these three ideas to their full potential is the Black Student Union. An organization ran by its students, the Black Student Union’s primary goal is to ensure each student on campus feels empowered and comfortable in their own shoes. I got a chance to sit down with Vice President Janet Joseph to discuss more on their executive board’s mission and successes.
“Even though I am graduating, and I’ll be leaving, I still want to come back as an alumnus and help the students of the Black Student Union feel as though they can be successful…and for me I just want to show my talent and express my voice, and show people that they can be something great,” Joseph said.
Joseph is an excellent student both inside and outside of the classroom. Not only does she receive excellent grades, but she is also constantly contributing to the Dean community. She participated in the Black Excellence Showcase last year and is one of the key planners in this year’s show.
It’s now Black History Month, and we should all take a chance and reflect on the figures who drove the Civil Rights movement. Leaders such as Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King Jr. helped revolutionize the way American society views African Americans. From the perspective of the BSU, Vice President Joseph says this month is all about recognizing the renewed empowerment of African Americans.
“It makes me feel some type of empowerment in a way because I know that during this month this is the time for me to succeed the most. Every month is Black History Month for me,” Joseph added.
This year’s Black Excellence Showcase will be streamed virtually with the theme of, “Celebrating a Black Woman’s Truth.” Keep an eye out for the premiere on the Black Student Union’s YouTube channel!