2008 Woodie Awards
Brothers United
Social support club helps African American men
Deunn Willis
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Campus
For students looking in, Brothers United may just look like another club on campus. But that is not the case for freshman Justin Williams. Williams joined the club earlier last semester because he saw it as a group that would relate to issues he expected to face as a black student on the Humboldt State University campus.
Humboldt County may be predominately white, but male students of color at Humboldt State have a social safe haven in the club Brothers United. With the recent increase of black students enrolled under the age of 21, the group provides events for this growing body of students such as flag football games, parties and tutorial nights.
This semester marks the two-year anniversary of the club's establishment. The group has grown over the semesters from a mere six members in spring 2006 to 25 in spring 2008.
Keion Morgan, outreach recruitment specialist at California State University at Long Beach and former Humboldt State admissions counselor, said he felt isolated at Humboldt State. "As a student of color, when I attended HSU I didn't see a group on campus that related to the struggles I faced on a daily basis," Morgan said.
"A void was missing on the HSU campus, a place meant just for African-American males," he said. Since spring 2006, the club has stood the test of time with losing founding members Morgan and Jermaine Brandon.
But you don't have to be black to join. The club is designed to lend a helping hand to any fellow student who needs it. Shawn Campbell, an active leader in Brothers United, said the group works to help locally. "We try our best to help the community because while we are in school, Arcata is our community," he said. The club has participated in the Humboldt State blood drive and volunteered its services in cleaning the Humboldt State mobile medical office.
Jonathan Marshall, an active leader in Brothers United, said the club hopes to create an atmosphere meant for all but especially black males to prepare the members for life after Humboldt State. "We are trying to make men out of boys and followers into leaders," he said.
Humboldt County may be predominately white, but male students of color at Humboldt State have a social safe haven in the club Brothers United. With the recent increase of black students enrolled under the age of 21, the group provides events for this growing body of students such as flag football games, parties and tutorial nights.
This semester marks the two-year anniversary of the club's establishment. The group has grown over the semesters from a mere six members in spring 2006 to 25 in spring 2008.
Keion Morgan, outreach recruitment specialist at California State University at Long Beach and former Humboldt State admissions counselor, said he felt isolated at Humboldt State. "As a student of color, when I attended HSU I didn't see a group on campus that related to the struggles I faced on a daily basis," Morgan said.
"A void was missing on the HSU campus, a place meant just for African-American males," he said. Since spring 2006, the club has stood the test of time with losing founding members Morgan and Jermaine Brandon.
But you don't have to be black to join. The club is designed to lend a helping hand to any fellow student who needs it. Shawn Campbell, an active leader in Brothers United, said the group works to help locally. "We try our best to help the community because while we are in school, Arcata is our community," he said. The club has participated in the Humboldt State blood drive and volunteered its services in cleaning the Humboldt State mobile medical office.
Jonathan Marshall, an active leader in Brothers United, said the club hopes to create an atmosphere meant for all but especially black males to prepare the members for life after Humboldt State. "We are trying to make men out of boys and followers into leaders," he said.
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