African American Studies celebrates 25th anniversary

African American Studies celebrates 25th anniversaryOctober 08, 2004

The Department of African American Studies in The College of Arts and Sciences will celebrate “African American Studies: Then and Now, 25 Years as a Department at Syracuse University, 1979-2004” on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 8-9.

Department Chair Linda Carty will give welcome remarks Oct. 8 at 8:30 a.m. in Shemin Auditorium, to be followed by a panel of former department chairs discussing “The Chairs’ Perspective.” They include Harry Morgan, Afro American Studies Program director from 1972-79; David Stamps, program director from 1979-82; K.C. Morrison, chair from 1982-87; Bruce Hare, chair from 1990-95; and Carty, chair since 2000. The moderator will be Janis Mayes, associate professor and chair of the department from 1987-88 and 1995-96. Discussants will be Professor Milton Sernet and Professor Renate Simson, both of whom have been members of the department’s faculty since its inception.

From 11 a.m.-noon, a panel will give “The Administrators’ and Supporters’ Perspective” in Shemin Auditorium. Panelists will include Otey Scruggs, professor of history from 1969-95 with a courtesy appointment in AAS; Horace Smith, associate vice president for undergraduate studies and retention; Evelyn Walker, director of the Program Development Office; Jo Ann May, director of Supportive Services; and Barry Wells, senior vice president and dean of student affairs.

From 2-3 p.m., a celebration of the department’s new master’s degree in Pan African Studies will be held in Watson Theater. It will be led by Carty, AAS Graduate Studies Director Micere Githae Mugo and the AAS Graduate Studies Committee.

“The Students’ Perspective” will be the topic from 3:15-5 p.m. in Watson Theater, with a panel including Edward H. Brown Jr. ’69, G’71 and Amma Tanksley-West, ’95, G’01, among others. A reception will be held from 5-6 p.m. in 219 Sims.

On Oct. 9 from 11-11:45 a.m., the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company will present scenes from the student production of “Wine in the Wilderness” in the Katherine Dunham Room at the company’s home, 2223 East Genesee St. From 2-4 p.m. an opening reception will be held for the exhibition “Visions of Mexico/Visiones de Mexico” in the Herbert T. Williams Gallery of the Community Folk Art Center, also at 2223 East Genesee St.