OMA Organizes Black Affinity Luncheon

By Ethan Ding and Lucy Jung

On Feb. 22, students attended an affinity luncheon organized by Black Students of Excellence, Transitions, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA). 

Dr. Trent Masiki, an Assistant Professor of Africana Studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, was scheduled to meet with a selected group of 20 students during the luncheon. However, he was not able to attend due to an illness. In his place, New Faculty Coordinator Courtney Marshall stepped in to help facilitate the event. 

Associate Dean of Multicultural Affairs Hadley Camilus talked about the selection process for students. “Generally, when I coordinate events, I seek co-sponsorship from clubs and/or affinity groups. In this case, I reached out to affinity groups that have Black students and asked if they’d be interested in partnering. Black Students of Excellence and Transitions expressed support for the event, so a total of 20 of their members were invited to participate since the luncheon was intended to be a small gathering of students.”

Camilus also explained the planning process: “I have an interest in broadening how we think about the Black experience, collectively, and happen to know somebody whose scholarship offered an opportunity to do just that, Dr. Masiki…I’ve known him for over 20 years and am familiar with his scholarship involving the study of Afro-Latino authors…After securing some possible dates with him, I reached out to some student leaders to see if they’d be interested in co-sponsoring the event.”

When asked about his intentions for holding the event, Camilus said, “I’m heavily invested in bringing joy to our students, and offering affirming experiences. The grind here is real. Seeing Black students revel in having an authentic Jamaican meal while talking about their favorite Black authors was dope…Seeing their faces as they dug into their meals was my favorite part because I know the feeling they were expressing. It’s an expression of familiarity in a place that often feels unfamiliar.”

Camilus also has plans to hold similar luncheons in the future, “Throughout the school year we celebrate the heritage and history months in a variety of ways. This won’t be the last time we have an affinity luncheon for students of a particular identity. I look forward to coordinating events of the like in the future.”