Students maintain solidarity without a dean

Members of Yale's African-American community were stunned to receive letters over the summer informing them of the departure of their cultural dean, Kimberly Goff-Crews, BK '83, LAW '86. Despite Goff-Crews' unexpected exit, however, student leaders have managed to smoothly plan their activities, including this weekend's Black Solidarity Conference, a major event for black college students.

JULIA TIERNAN/YH African-American students have not only planned this year's annual Black Solidarity Conference, but adjusted to a new cultural director as well.

At Yale, Goff-Crews held the positions of associate dean of Yale College and director of the Afro-American Cultural Center. She now serves as the associate dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences at Lesley College, located near Harvard Square. "[Lesley] was a very good job opportunity and [Boston was] a great city," she explained. According to Goff-Crews, her new job differs from her cultural deanship in that she deals with graduate students and focuses on "administrative affairs, not student affairs."

Dr. Iona Black, a lecturer in Yale's chemistry department, worked with Goff-Crews in the Science, Technology, and Research Scholars program (STARS), which encourages women and minorities to pursue a science education. Goff-Crews founded STARS several years ago and continued to play an active role by interviewing potential participants in the program and locating faculty resources for the program. Black believes the Af-Am House and its organizations are now being managed well, despite Goff-Crews' departure. "She set it up such that it continued. That's a tribute to the person," Black said. Both Black and Goff-Crews are scheduled for the conference's Black Professional panel on Sat., Oct. 31.

Frank Mitchell, who has been involved in activities in conjunction with the Af-Am House, has taken over as its interim director. Praised by Goff-Crews as a "very gifted person," Mitchell said that he will continue Goff-Crews' dual responsibilities as a cultural director and assistant dean, which include overseeing African-American student affairs and freshman orientation programs. According to Dean Richard Brodhead, BR '68, GRD '72, "The word I've gotten is that [Mitchell has] been excellent. He has a lot of experience doing things like [planning conferences]."

Students have also offered support for Mitchell. "Frank Mitchell is doing a very positive job of filling in the position. He's friendly and students seem to be getting along with him quite well," Shana Payne, TD '99, said. Nikkena Powell, SY '00, a co-moderator of the Black Students Alliance at Yale (BSAY), an umbrella organization, added, "[Goff-Crews' departure] kind of shook us up a bit. It was unexpected. We miss her, but Frank Mitchell has been helpful,"

According to Powell, the conference is "very student-planned," though administrators like Goff-Crews and Mitchell have helped the House obtain financial support. BSAY and the Black Pride Union (BPU) co-sponsor the conference, which aims to promote social and political awareness among black students by provoking discussion and providing opportunities to display talent. Powell said that the conference's main theme of solidarity would stimulate conversation as well. She believed "examining [black solidarity] and whether it's needed, especially for the new millenium," would be an integral part of the weekend's event.

Sherrie Corbin, SY '00, BSAY Community Outreach Coordinator, described how events were designed to promote solidarity: "We initiated the community service projects to facilitate unity between African Americans of all socioeconomic levels," . Students will participate in projects on Fri., Oct. 30.

Powell also hoped to see students comparing their views on African-American identity. "I think everybody has their own definition of what it means," she said. In addition, on Fri., Oct. 30, Amiri Bakara, an integral figure in the worldwide Black liberation movement, will address students.

In the search for a new cultural dean, Brodhead said, "We are looking for a person of great character and imagination who loves students and is willing to spend lots of time working on their behalf." Powell stressed that the new Af-Am House director should be "open-minded, efficient, personable, and relate to students." Betty Trachtenberg, dean of student affairs, confirmed that a national search for a permanent director will occur very shortly. Both Trachtenberg and Goff-Crews placed heavy emphasis on the importance of a director who will maintain "a good relationship with students."

Kate Feather contributed to this article.

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