Laney work-study disparities revealed

Asians four times more likely to receive jobs on campus than African-Americans


Most community college students work. They have to. Work-study provides an opportunity for students to work on campus while attending classes.

There are 300 jobs on campus annually, including about 100 Federal Work-Study positions. According to data from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, there are disparities among who gets FWS positions at Laney.


Of the 95 students at Laney who received FWS positions on campus 2006-2007, 73 were Asian. While African-Americans represent almost an equal portion of Laney's population compared to Asians, African-Americans received only 16 FWS allotments. Latinos, whites, and Pacific Islanders faired no better.

Depending on who you ask, some blame the college, while others put the responsibility on the students themselves.

Getting work-study

"There are two ways students can work on campus. Through federal work-study," money provided by the federal government, or "through department funds. Overall, 250-300 students are employed throughout the year on campus." Robert Fleming Student Employment Specialist

"There are two ways students can work on campus," said Student Employment Specialist Robert Fleming. "Through federal work-study," money provided by the federal government, or "through department funds." There are allotments for students to work in the departments. "Overall, 250-300 students are employed throughout the year on campus."

"The FWS program provides funds that are earned through part-time employment to assist students in financing the costs of post-secondary education," according the U.S. Department of Education's website. Over 3,400 institutions participate.

In order to get a work-study position, a student must be 18 years of age. Students who cannot provide correct information cannot be hired, according to "How to Hire Hourly Student Workers: A Supervisor's Guide" for Laney College.

When school is in session, students may work a maximum of 20 hours per week. Hourly wages cannot be less than the federal minimum wage. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed in order for students to receive FWS.

The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, whose goal was "to mobilize the human and financial resources of the Nation to combat poverty in the United States" establish a new program for work-study. After the Higher Education Act of 1965 the program was transferred to the Department of Education.

The trend of Asian students getting a majority of FWS positions is not new at Laney. According to data from the state chancellor's office, the trend goes back as far as 1994. Allotments between 1992-1994 were evenly dispersed between Asian and African-American students, and other groups proportionately with the college's demographics.

"When students fill out the FAFSA, there is a question that asks if they are interested in working," explains Laney Financial Aid Coordinator Judith Cohen. "Students also have to meet a few criteria to be eligible. They have to meet the financial-need criteria, have their paperwork correctly completed and they must be enrolled."

"Financial need" is determined by congressional formula that evaluates the financial information reported on the FAFSA and determines the expected family contribution (EFC), according to the Department of Education.

Fleming said, "Students are given an amount they are expected to contribute, after their fee waiver is deducted and whatever other awards they receive. If they still have a remaining need, they are eligible for work study."

"We package them up on a first-come first-serve basis," said Cohen.

Winning the lottery

When Fleming started in 2000, work-study positions were distributed differently, and for his first two years, he "followed the old way," where students had one day in May in which they could pick up the applications.

"People would be waiting at 6 a.m. for an application," said Fleming. "It wasn't the best process. People who couldn't make it lost the opportunity."

Laney "used to have one day and they'd line up early in the morning," recalls Cohen. "It would be all Asian students. It wasn't fair.

Fleming now uses a lottery system to distribute work-study positions to students.

For most of the month of April, Fleming advertised the positions by putting up notices that students could get summer work-study applications, which had to be turned in by May 2. While he typically receives about 130 each year, this year he received 166 before the deadline.

"Sixty-six percent of the students who applied were Asian," said Fleming. "This is down in comparison to the past."

Fleming uses a random lottery to select 50 students from those who turned in the applications on time. He then checks to make sure those who have applied are enrolled for the fall semester. If not, they are bumped from the list and others are randomly chosen.

Fleming suggests this practice is fair.

"It's random selection," said Fleming. "But if you have a large population of one group of people over others, the odds are in their favor."

Occasionally students find work off campus or decide they have too many units to work, and the positions are filled randomly. This process of elimination is continued in this lottery format until all work-study slots are allotted.

Who gets work-study at Laney

"I don't know why they don't apply," said Fleming in response to why other ethnicities are not applying for work-study positions. He has made a few observations, however. When students are in the hallway waiting to get to the financial aid counter, "more Asians look at the information on the walls."

Getting financial aid is not an easy process said Laney President Dr. Frank Chong, who admits he had to "fill out FAFSA two or three times" in college.

"Obviously one can conclude that those students have figured out the system. They've learned to navigate the FAFSA and get through a myriad of requirements to get work-study." Frank Chong Laney College President

"Obviously one can conclude that those students have figured out the system," said Chong. "They've learned to navigate the FAFSA and get through a myriad of requirements to get work-study." Chong admits that it is not an easy process however.

"I would suspect that African-American students, particularly those who are first generation college students, are not aware and there is no one helping them figure out the system," added Chong.

"I would attribute internal and external variables that would contribute to that type of inequity," said Laney Researching and Planning Officer Dr. Connie Portero, who emphasizes the need for "communication." She sees disparity is due to a lack of communication to students, and a weak communication network among the underrepresented student populations, and the lack of a centralized manner of disseminating information to students as the cause.

"Internally, there is no system to monitor equity," said Portero. While the college publishes a Student Equity Report, Portero said "It is not internal," it's for the state. "We should develop it as apart of institutional effectiveness," or the monitoring of how well Laney is serving students.

Interim Vice-President of Student Services Jim Bracy agrees.

"This has not been monitored for some reason or another," said Bracy. "Now we have a situation where Asian students have substantially more work-study opportunities than other ethnic groups on Laney's campus."

Networking, not working

"It may be a situation where Asian students network more effectively," said Bracy, while other students do not."

"Asian students have a fantastic network," asserts Cohen.

"When you find this level of imbalance a college has to take immediate steps to rectify this concern," said Bracy. "It is a concerned when you see's those numbers," said Bracy, who accepts "ultimate responsibility" since he is over all student services programs.

"It's the student's responsibility," said Laney student Greg Wright, an African-American who has a work-study position in the athletics department. "But most of us don't have anyone to follow. There's no leader, no word of mouth."

Lamille Perry, a student ambassador and former ASLC Senator sees it as a lack of awareness. Perry, an African-American, thinks that most African-American students "don't know about it, or when they find out, it's too late," to sign-up he said. Perry found out about workstudy from a friend. He "filled out the paperwork and on parts I needed help with, Mr. Fleming helped me."

"Lamille told me about the student ambassador position," said Crystal Barnett, who thinks African American students don't apply for work study due to a lack of awareness. "I don't think they know about work study," said Barnett. "Sometimes they don't read the financial aid application."

But Portero doesn't think students are the ones to blame, but rather the perceptions and attitudes towards some groups of students.

"There is a negative perception towards African-American students that is not based on reality," said Portero. "We can't assume it is true until we create a different paradigm and test it. "It is often the same people creating injustice who are creating the myth to justify it," said Portero.

"It comes down to who is pursuing it and following instructions," said Cohen.

While there is a disparity, it may not be intentional. Chong doesn't think that financial aid is doing "anything wrong."

"You're doing a good job with Asian students," said Chong. "But what about the others?" he asked.

Fleming insists the system is fair, but encourages more students to apply earlier.

"My goal was to make it as fair and honest a way as possible," said Fleming. "And that's why I went with the lottery."

Why work-study?

"The purpose of work-study is to provide work learn opportunities to students as a way to supplement and meet" students financial needs, said Bracy.

Work-study helps students because it "works around students schedules," said Fleming. "For example, if they have classes in the morning, we can get them work in the afternoon."

According to Chong, work-study is an opportunity for students to learn while they earn money, while adding value to the campus through their service. While at UC Berkeley he had a work-study position and understands its' value, he said.

"Studies show that having students work on campus increases retention," said Chong. "Students learn about services they otherwise wouldn't have known about."

Portero said the disparity might also be contributing to the lack of retention amongst non-Asian students of color at Laney, particularly among African-American and Latino males.

"Work study is a financial tool here to assist our students in realizing their goals," said Portero. "Education is so expensive, even Community College is out of the reach of our students."

"For some students, by having work study on campus, it's their only way of saying to us, 'Look, we need financial assistance to make it through,'" said Portero. "If a student's on financial aid, we get first hand experience with getting to know them and their issues.

"If we can place them with their major, they get more experience within their educational goal," said Fleming.

Other employment opportunities for students

Besides work-study, there are other employment opportunities on campus. Students can get hired working for departments. Fleming wants to get departments to send him information about job opportunities within those departments. Each year, departments get an allotment of funds for assistants. These are not funded through FWS but by the college.

There are 384 students employed on campus. Forty-nine percent are non-Asian, according to Fleming.

"If you look overall, it levels out," suggests Cohen in regards to other employment opportunities on campus.

Students can also go to the Student Employment Center on the third floor of the Student Center for information about job opportunitites.

Fleming is considering new ways to get the word out to students.

"I put notices in the Welcome Center, EOPS, the Tower lobby," said Fleming. "I want to get more peole to apply." Although positions are "limited, we want to get the most people to apply as possible."

"I thought about advertising in the Tower," added Fleming.

Improving work-study

There is a plan in the works to revamp the Laney work-study program. The "notion of an Eagle Corps," according to Chong.

"We want to strengthen the work-study program," said Chong. "For work study may be students first opportunity to have a job, get training and opportunities."

"It's all about people power and taking 100 students and organizing them in a way that they will add value to the college and student success," added Chong.

Portero hopes that work-study opportunities will extend into the community, with the result being more training opportunities for students. "We should also have work-study opportunities in community based organizations," said Portero.

When Chong came to Laney in 2006, he commissioned an audit of the financial aid office that was conducted by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) in November 2006.

Among the strengths identified by the peer review team was Fleming.

"The FWS specialist should be commended for his organizational skills and coordination of the FWS Program. He effectively monitors each student's FWS wages and works well with students," according to the Standards of Excellence Report.

The NASFAA report also criticized the program for only allowing students who receive the Pell Grant to get FWS positions.

Achieving equity with diversity

"I want to consult with our African-American faculty, student, and classified leadership to get their input to make the situation better," said Chong. "I wouldn't want to assume I know the answers when I didn't even know the problem."

"Clearly Laney needs to do a better job in reaching out to African-American students," said Chong. "If it requires special workshops, targeted workshops to all students."

Due to Proposition 209 that was passed by voters in 1996 prohibiting public institutions from considering race, gender, or ethnicity, Laney is unable to save spots for specific groups of people; however, education is an option.

"Legally, you can't save spots for certain ethnic groups, you have to set criteria," said Chong. "You can't do quotas but you can do education.

"Maybe we can hire African American workstudy students to train them to help other students at least get started," suggests Chong.

Bracy suggests that the information can be shared during outreach to local high schools or during the new student orientation opposed to quotas.

"Bottom line is, it is not about quotas," said Bracy. "It has to do with how information is disseminated. It's about educating our student's about the opportunities."

"Laney should have a program based on African Americans, but for everyone. Like a Puente," said Wright."

"We used to call it affirmative action," said Bracy. "But there are affirmative 'steps' you can take to make sure more students are included."

Perry said "Everyone should get the opportunity."

For students interested in work-study positions, contact Robert Fleming at rfleming@peralta.edu or visit him on the second floor of the Tower Administration Building.
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Back to Laney Defender's Spring 2008 issue.

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Paul Robeson remembered

By Marlene C. Hurd
Defender News Editor

When one thinks of African American men associated with the Civil Right Movement many remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Huey P Newton, Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael.

Surprising enough many students do not remember Paul Robeson.

Born on April 9, 1898 in Princeton New Jersey, he was a man ahead of his time.

During the 1920's Robeson was known as the Renaissance man and a world famous icon.

Robeson was a great athlete, singer, actor, author, political activist, and scholar. He spoke and sang in 25 languages. Robeson won a four year scholarship to Rutgers University in 1915. In spite of the racism Robeson encountered while playing sports, he won 15 varsity letters in baseball, basketball and track.

Robeson lived in a time when segregation was legal in America. He still survived while African Americans were being lynched by angry white mobs in the South. Robeson fought for the civil rights of all people around the world. In 1950, the U.S. government revoked Robeson's passport--due to his international activism. It took him eight years before it was restored.

To honor his 110th anniversary, the City of Oakland is displaying artifacts and memorabilia of his many accomplishments called, "A Hero For All Time." The exhibit is located at Oakland's City Hall housed in the Rotunda. You can view the exhibit from April 9 through April 30.

The Robeson exhibit was put together by the Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee. The accomplishments of Robeson come to life though his photographs, books written, letters, speeches, album covers, facsimiles and his many theater plays.

On February 18, 2004 Merritt College co-sponsored the unveiling of the Paul Roberson Commemorative Stamp with the Bay Area Paul Robeson Centennial Committee and the United States Postal Service.

Robeson was known for his On stage performance in London, playing the lead role in Othello. He also performed in Eugene O'Neil's Emperor Jones, All God's Chillun Got Wings and the musical Show Boat.

Robeson also played a major role in the labor movement. During the 1920's, Robeson became an activist in the African-American freedom movement and the world labor movement. Robeson would use his concerts to raise money for social causes.

Karin Hart, Laney College Labor Studies Department Chair and instructor stated, "Thinking about Paul Robeson reminds me that it is both song and hard work that helps any meaningful movement to endure. He used his rich baritone voice to benefit the social movements of his time. Robeson fought racism in America, sang for peace and justice in 25 languages throughout the world, and used his talents to benefit other causes, like when he donated the proceeds of one of his musical hits to help Jewish refugees fleeing Hitler's Germany."

According to Douglas Banks, Laney College Library Tech, "Robeson advocated using art to forward political agendas". Robeson sacrificed his career and life.

He often quoted, "The artist must take sides. He must elect to fight for freedom or slavery. I have made my choice. I had no alternative."

This is one of the reasons Robeson was so loved. They saw him as a forerunner in the struggle for human rights.

One of the artifacts shows Robeson transitioning from entertainer, artist, scholar and activist. As you turn the corner of the display next to his Labor achievements and Political accomplishments located in the middle is the display titled, "We Charge Genocide."

This important piece of Robeson's work could almost be missed if not carefully looked at. Robeson and William L Patterson with the Civil Rights of Congress presented this petition to the United Nations in 1951. The document charged, "The U.S. federal government, by its failure to act against lynching in the United States, was guilty of genocide under Article II of the UN Genocide Convention."

On the opposite side of this display lays the 1949 concerts in Peekskill New York. Angry white mobs attacked attendees who attended the concert. State police turned their heads and did nothing about it.

Pat Wynne with the Laney College Labor Heritage "Rockin Solidarity Chorus" instructor remembers this day well. In 1949, she was eight years old living in Golden Bridge Colony, 40 miles north of New York City. Wynne saw the windows broken out of the buses and cars. People were bleeding. After seeing the people returning home bruised, she did not know what had happen.

Later Wynne learned that people from her colony had traveled to Peekskill to hear Paul Robeson sing. When they arrived at the concert they were attacked. Because of the colony Wynne lived in, she was exposed to Robeson's music and thought he was an icon.

Robeson died on January 23, 1976 at the age of 77 in Philadelphia. The Paul Robeson exhibit will be on display through April 30 in the Oakland City Hall Rotunda.

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What's Going On?

Laney College students share how they would improve Laney College.

How would you improve Laney College?
Students should voice concerns on what they are learning and different teaching methods. The smoking on campus is really bad. I hear it is smoke-free but there needs to be better signage. Denita Scott Film
There should be more activities for incoming freshmen, like Black College Tours. We need more energy in the environment. It makes me not want to come to school. We need more support and encouragement, too. Justin Thompson African American Studies/Economics
Laney needs more academic programs like music industry and recording engineering courses. Athletics could use more support, games should be major events to get people to participate. I had a free pass but I didn't even want to go. Ernie Rocker Theater Arts
More pride. Just because Laney is a community college doesn't mean it is not a place of learning. The feeling takes you back to high school where people only went to school because they had to. Antionette Bracks Theater Arts
This is a really diverse campus and I would like to see a lot of cultural events for the different races and backgrounds to increase awareness. There could be an event to bring people together, like a talent show, each month. President L. Davis Marketing/Sociology

Compiled and photographed by Justin Thompson and Reginald James.

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MAAFA remembered at Ocean Beach

Black Holocaust honors our ancestors who have survived ‘Middle Passage’

The Transatlantic slave trade was one of the most brutal acts against humanity in the history of mankind. Millions of Africans were kidnapped, separated from their families, and sold into slavery.

Ultimately, these prisoners of war were dispersed to three continents over a period of four centuries. It is estimated that up to 12 million Africans reached the "New World," while many more did not survive the forced journey from Africa to the Americas.




Many were thrown overboard to be fed to sharks who followed closely behind the ships in hopes of human meat; others decided it was better to seek a watery grave than to continue to face the inhumane conditions onboard, and leaped to their deaths, sometimes bringing their children with them.

To this day, sharks still swim along the same triangular path forged centuries ago.

"Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome," seeks to explain many of the adaptive survival behaviors in African-Americans communities in the United States and the Diaspora.

The atrocity is well documented and many believe that this experience, and that of slavery, is responsible for much of the psychological turmoil African-Americans experience today. A theory, known as "Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome," seeks to explain many of the adaptive survival behaviors in African-Americans communities in the United States and the Diaspora.

On an early Sunday morning in October, hundreds of the descendants of Africans who survived the Middle Passage, slavery, Jim Crow, and institutionalize racism, gathered at Ocean Beach in San Francisco to deal with the trauma and heal from the legacy oppression. The "Maafa Commemoration Ritual," is a "Black Holocaust Remembrance" which was started 12 years ago.

"Maafa is a Kiswahili term for disaster, calamity, or terrible occurrence," according to the Maafa SF Bay Area website.

This ritual is for the 200 million stolen, those unnamed ancestors whose bones lie on the ocean floor and for those who survived the passage--whose sweat fertilized the coffers of Western culture.
Wanda Sabir

"People of African Descent are invited in an attempt to honor our ancestors who have suffered through the middle passage and the lives that continue to be compromised due to racism and oppression. This ritual is for the descendents of the Africans who were unwillingly transported to these shores and elsewhere in the Americas 500 years ago," says Wanda Sabir, founder of the Bay Area Maafa Commemoration.

"This ritual is for the 200 million stolen, those unnamed ancestors whose bones lie on the ocean floor and for those who survived the passage--whose sweat fertilized the coffers of Western culture."


The program began before sunrise with a drummer-led procession through the "Doors of No Return," a cloth gate supported by wood and cloth, which symbolized the doors of a slave dungeon in which captured Africans would never return again.

"The Maafa is not a choice, it is a destiny we haven't been able to escape without returning through the fire. Travel with us there this morning."
Wanda Sabir, Maafa Co-Founder

After passing by an altar, which held candles and images glorifying African civilization, sojourners formed a large circle on the beach standing close to one another to collectively bear the early morning cold from the Pacific Ocean.

Sabir gave a greeting and welcome as the circle was completed with nearly 300 African people awaiting sunrise and reconciliation.

"The Maafa is not a choice," said Sabir, "it is a destiny we haven't been able to escape without returning through the fire. Travel with us there this morning."

Sister Sipiwe and Sister Carol Afua poured libations and led the "Maafa Prayer," as people repeated the lines in both English and Shone (Zimbabwe).



As the sun peeked out over the San Francisco hills, the group then sang the "Maafa Song," led by Brother Clint. This was followed by more libations and prayers led by Minister Mxolisi of the Wo'se Community Church and Sister Geri Abrams.



The song was followed by the Maafa Chant and Dance Cycle, which was led by the Wo'se Choir and Sister Isaura Oliviera, respectively. The dance cycle featured Yoruba chants titled, "Healing," "Love," "Freedom," and "Thanksgiving," to symbolize the journey necessary to recovery from the Maafa.



"Let go of the rage that simmers in your stomach, curdles in your throat, burns as it travels in your veins," instructed Sabir, as participants were encouraged to release their frustrations, anger and pain through screaming and yelling.



The group then headed to the water's edge for individual prayers and meditation. Some chose to silently reflect, contemplating the experience of their ancestors, while others rejoiced, hands towards the sky, as their hearts felt anew. Flowers were thrown into the ocean onto the breaking waves as offerings.



Meanwhile, children danced with the incoming waves, running after receding waters and retreating in anticipation as the tide climbed up the shore towards bare feet and tennis shoes alike.

The drums soon signaled for the people to return to the circle and the event ended with a song by Lady Sunrise called "Calling all Angels," announcements and a closing poem by Javier Reyes.



"This event is an honoring of our past and also a prayer for our future," said Sabir.

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10 Reasons to Join Your Black Student Union

10 Reasons to Join the Laney Black Student Union (BSU)

1. Black is beautiful!


2. Get assistance graduating and transferring


3. Peer support system


4. Make a difference in your community


5. Network with other Black students


6. Learn about your beautiful history


7. Improve your organization skills


8. Practice what you want to do in life


9. Learn about resources for Black students


10. Take control of your campus

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Back to Laney Defender's September 2007 issue.

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Laney Black Student's Union reorganized

Support group formed to build community on campus and encourage academic success

After a nearly eight-year absence, the Black Student Union was recently restarted at Laney College. Organizers felt there was a need for Black students to be empowered, inspired and to feel a sense of community on the campus.

Students in Dr. Lawrence Van Hook’s Black Male/Female Relationship course in the summer realized that the end of the class would not be the end of their friendship or their mission.

We felt there was a lack of unity with the Black students on campus.
BSU member Sista Ariana

The group decided that the Black students of Laney needed a support network for academic success, and dealing with life’s daily
stress.

“We felt there was a lack of unity with the Black students on campus,” says BSU member Sista Ariana. “If you look at other races, they study and hang out together, but sometimes, Black students don’t even talk to each other.”

This year, the BSU plans to organize poetry readings and open mics, guest speakers, a talent show, a film series, forums and more to “unify the campus academically and socially.”

When people work collectively it builds esteem and confidence that you can accomplish goals. You have more power as a conscious collective than as individuals.
BSU member President L. Davis

The BSU also plans to help students resolve their issues on campus.

“When people work collectively it builds esteem and confidence that you can accomplish goals,” says BSU member Brother President. “You have more power as a conscious collective than as individuals.”

The BSU meets every Thursday at 3 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Student Center and also has holds different study groups in the “Liberation Lounge,” in Room 403 of the Student Center.

Joining the BSU will give you companionship, a sense of identity and purpose.
BSU member President L. Davis

“Joining the BSU will give you companionship, a sense of identity and purpose,” says Brother President.
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Back to Laney Defender's September 2007 issue.

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Peralta African Black Student Alliance

Draft logo for the Peralta African and Black Student Alliance.

The Laney Black Student Union (Laney BSU) called for a meeting with the other BSU's in the Peralta Colleges (College of Alameda, Berkeley City College and Merritt College). On September 13, 2007, the three operational groups camp together to discuss organization, unity and action.

After opening with drumming and libations, each campus reported on what was taking place on their campuses. It was discovered that many of the students attended more than one campus. According to the Peralta District, half of all students attend classes on multiple campuses.

Students discussed actions for the Jena 6, hosting a Kwanzaa event and a Black Graduation and financial aid issues.

Out of the meeting came the concept of a district wide organization for students of African Descent--whether Black from the Americas or the continent. It was suggested that the group be called the Peralta African & Black Student Alliance (PABSA). In the early 1970s, with support from the Black Panther Party, students of the Peralta district organized the Peralta Black Student Alliance, in order to prevent the divide and conquer techniques being applied by the Peralta District's governing board.

The next meeting of the Peralta African & Black Student Alliance will be hosted by Berkeley City College's BSU. Join the PABSA Yahoo Group.
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Back to Laney Defender's September 2007 issue.

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