Making space for Black students at UFV
The African-Caribbean Students Alliance (ACSA) is a new club for students who identify as Black and for allies who wish to learn more about the Afro-Caribbean culture. The Cascade spoke with club president Collins Jammal to learn more about his vision for the club.
Jammal formed the club this summer because he saw a need for Black students to come together and share their experiences at UFV. When speaking with other Black students, he found that they often spoke of microaggressions on campus, frequently wondering which incidents are worth confronting.
“It does add up over time,” Jammal said. “It was quite clear to me that there weren’t any opportunities for [Black students] to share their experiences and talk about ways they could improve things or learn from each other.”
The ACSA president also found that there was little representation within UFV’s staff who identify as Black. “I don’t see myself in the department,” he said. “I don’t see people who look like me. … It really takes away from your learning experience as a student.
“Academic institutions are not just a place where people come to read and write. There is a holistic piece when it comes to learning, there is that social piece, there is that sense of belonging, there is that confidence that comes from being able to see yourself within the institution and know that your voice counts.”
According to Jammal, ACSA is a place for people who identify as Black to feel comfortable to express their culture without feeling isolated or judged. It is also a place for allies to learn about African-Caribbean cultures, food, traditions, and ideas. They can discuss social justice issues, find community with each other, and learn how to be a good ally. They also hope to bring concerns to UFV and have conversations about inclusion and representation.
“One of the biggest goals is to have a platform where people will be able to come together and learn from each other’s experiences,” Jammal said. “There is a lot of power in solidarity, in knowing that you’re not the only one in this. Other people experience what you experience.”
Jammal originally tried to apply to form the club last year, but the Student Union Society required a minimum of 15 members to host an association. Over the summer, Jammal was able to register ACSA as an alliance with MyCampusLife as he advertised for more members.
ACSA currently meets over Zoom because of COVID-19 and has found that participation is quite low. However, they are hopeful that the group will gain momentum over time. Jammal hopes that once they have gained more members, they can create a mentorship program for students in high school.
“We can go to the schools and share with them about Black experiences in different professions, what it’s like to go to university, what are the benefits of going to university — just so the younger ones can see themselves represented,” the ACSA president said. “And also to know that, should they decide to go to university, there is space for them.”
Jammal hopes that Black students will feel safe at ACSA, leading to a sense of belonging. He wants students to feel equipped upon leaving university.
“When it comes to issues of equity, we all have a responsibility,” he said. “When one of us is oppressed, all of us are oppressed. We are all in this together, whether we subscribe to that idea or not … The sooner we start to accept that, the better we can make sense of the kind of society we want to live in.”
ACSA’s next meeting is on Nov. 16 at 11 a.m. Students interested in the club can find ACSA on Instagram, Facebook, and MyCampusLife. Students can also email Jammal or message ACSA on Instagram to learn more.
ACSA Student Association
Danaye studies English and procrastination at UFV and is very passionate about the Oxford comma. She spends her days walking to campus from the free parking zones, writing novels she'll never finish, and pretending to know how to pronounce abominable. Once she graduates, she plans to adopt a cat.