Black History Month events scheduled

Southeast Missouri State University has become known for being progressive in the conversation the country is having about diversity. The university has an administration that is supportive of equality, has the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner, the diversity task force, an LGBT resource center, the "Talking Booths" video and, in recognition of Black History Month, there are 12 events scheduled in February.

The Academic Support Centers is sponsoring eight of the 12 events this year, and has sponsored many of the Black History Month events in past years. Sean Spinks has worked in Academic Support Centers for three years now and has been involved with the planning of the Black History Month events each year.

"I oversee a program called Brand Academy, and I have about 26 students in my program, so my role was to invite my students to some of the programs we offer," Spinks said. "What's unique about this time around with our Black History Month events is not only are we trying to create awareness amongst the student populations about the month, but we're also trying to create opportunities about job availability, how to get career information and how to get that stuff started immediately -- not just once you graduate -- but what can you do now to start making connections, to create an environment about critical development and learn how to succeed early on in your career once you graduate."

Two of this year's events have already taken place.

"The turnout has been great, we had an event called 'How racist are you?' that was hosted by Rashaun Henry, he's in our office as well, and Dr. Shonta Smith kind of led the presentation and it was phenomenal," Spinks said. "I thought the information that was shared was necessary, and the turnout was really good. We also had another event, [The Hard Facts About Soft Skills], and so far participation has been really good."

The next event open to all students is a guided discussion called, "All Politics Are Personal: From The Fiscal Cliff to Your Front Yard" at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow in the University Center Indian Room. After that, many of the events are invitation only, but Spinks said if students are interested in attending one of the invitation-only events, they can email the Academic Support Centers and they will try to accommodate extra attendance.

"We have another event upcoming this Saturday [Feb. 13], that I'm hosting, and it's basically how to learn how to excel early on in your career," Spinks said. "And I'm having a panel come down, most of them from St. Louis, and they're young professionals, like around 30 or younger, and pretty much we're just going to talk about how they got into their career and what students should be aware of when you're trying to break into the professional environment and how to not just be satisfied when you get there. Once you get into your first job, don't think that you've made it, [think of] how can you progress and continue moving forward and reach higher levels."

Another event will be the University Speaker Series presenting Common, a poet, musican and humanitarian at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Show Me Center. A whole list of the events, with descriptions and whether or not they are invitation only, can be found at semo.edu/mlk/events.html.

"Just be open-minded with these events we have, even though it's Black History Month. We don't want any student to feel like just because we're celebrating a culture that they can't be a part of that as well," Spinks said. "A part of Black History Month is to expand everybody's knowledge about upcoming events, not just black students, not just white students, but everybody, international students, we welcome all students to come out and see what's going on. To me, that's the only way you can kind of learn about another culture, as far as being more informed. When you're more informed you can make better decisions and just kind of be wiser, so my advice is just be open and just try to take in as much information as you can so you can be more understanding as a student here on campus."