(This editor’s note is a guest column written by former editor-in-chief, Anthony Buissereth ’03.)

Black people have built a rich legacy to support our safe passage to and through this institution over many years. Whether it was a walkout to protest a speech by George Wallace or forming groups to express our story through word, song and dance or establishing the AAS Department or the vibrant Black Greek life or sit-ins at the Chancellor’s office, our tradition has been unashamedly Black and uniquely Orange.

Being a Black student (or alum) at a predominantly white university is a complex experience. Many of us come to a clearer understanding of institutional racism as students and often experience overt racism for the first time. Yet, despite that reality, we find a Black campus community that is much like “A Different World” – nurturing, creative, resilient and multidimensional.

Most of us will be alumni for far longer than we were students. We will look back at our time on campus fondly – reminiscing about the Schine or late nights at the lab in Kimmel. We will remember all of the events produced for our student organization of choice, the hours toiling to create The Black Voice and finishing the weekend with the “Sunday Night Love Flight.”

But in our nostalgia, have we kept in touch? Have we done our part to ensure that the legacy we’ve built remains strong? Have we done enough to engage current students? Have we developed in them a healthy skepticism of “well-meaning reforms” by administrators?

Over the past year, it has been disheartening to learn that many of the most significant campus organizations and resources, including The Black Voice, have become defunct. Whether it’s a void of leadership, administrative obstacles or some combination of other failures, we know that these groups have sustained us and should be continuing to do so.

Without the active participation of alumni, our years of progress can be erased with a few cohorts of new students. A minor shift in the admissions policy or retention practices can have a dramatic impact on our presence on campus. As students, we learned that relying on the University to do the right thing was fruitless; we held it accountable. We must continue to do so.

This CBT Weekend let us recommit to the legacy we worked to build as students. With our collective efforts, we can ensure that future generations will have an experience that is unashamedly Black and uniquely Orange.

Anthony Buissereth ‘03
Editor-in-Chief, 2001-2003