“How does the digital climate on campus affect the actual campus environment? How does social media influence our campus?”
“Researchers in my area reject a dichotomy between “online” vs. “offline”. We think of interactions as being mediated through different information technologies, but because a communication occurs in social media doesn’t make it less real than other forms of communication. Different social media tools have such different features, they can be thought of very separately. YikYak plays a different role on campus than does Venmo, than does Instagram. Social media shapes interaction on our campus by reducing barriers to communication, which can have both positive and negative effects. We see a wide range of both help and harm from our campus social media. Sometimes it drives us apart, but more often I hope it brings us together, provides voice to those who often struggle to be heard, enrich our understanding of people who are different from us, and provides support in the reminder that we all have common ground. But that’s up to us.
I believe social media can be a tool for creating a better world, but like all tools the outcomes are based on how we use it. I’m standing in from of a Blue bus because I’m going with a group of student interaction designers to work with the city of Jackson to create new information tools and applications that can be used to improve the services Jackson offers to people, and to help people find new ways to express their civic lives in Jackson. I’m blown away by the passion and creativity of the undergraduates and graduate students in this class, and what they are doing. This is one small example, for me, of how not only can social media tools be used to create a better world, but how the university can be of service to those around us.”
“How can student here help Black Students, Students of Color, and be good allies?”
“I think one of the most important thing students can do is learn about what has gone on at Missouri, Yale, and other campuses. And, they can do that partly by not only paying attention to what activists there are demanding, but also trying to understand how issues of race and racism effect University of Michigan as well. I think the more students get involved on their own campuses, the more you can help show solidarity to other students at other schools.”
“What do you have to say to those who believe that we live in a post-racial society?”
“I’m not sure if you’re going to be able to convince everyone. But, the folks that you can convince, I mean, there are multiple ways of going about it. One of the ways is by hosting or participating in campus conversations about issues of race and micro-agressions and other experiences on campus. But, then also, protests and art have always been ways that students can help change people’s minds or at least help raise questions about these issues in a way that might provoke people to even just think deeply about these issues. There are a lot of people that truly believe that racism is a thing of the past, and that we live in a color-blind society. Whether it’s with the hashtag #BBUM campaign here a couple years ago, or the #ConcernedStudents1950 movement in Missouri, or what’s been going on at Yale, and you know, scores of other campuses, it’s that issues of race and racism are still with us; very prevalent. Racism is very harmful to not just black students, but also Muslim and Arab students, Latino Students, Mexican Americans, Asian American Students. It’s an issue that is affecting many students of color and what I would say to folks who are skeptical is to listen to students of color when they’re talking about their experiences.”
“What are some of your favorite things to do?”
“I listen to a lot of music. I’m a big hip hop fan as you can probably tell from my shirt. I’m a big fan of the Wun Tang Clan, Naz, Lauryn Hill. So, I listen to a lot of music and keep up on it. And, when I have the time, I like to play basketball, but I also like to watch basketball and football. I think watching sports, and listening to music are my two favorite activities.”
“What’s the dream? If you could do anything that you wanted, what would it be?”
“I’m accomplishing the goals that I wanted to accomplish by trying to become a historian and trying to change the world around me. But, if there was something that I wanted to do that I would love doing would be running some sort of hip hop publication, some sort of rap magazine. That would be pretty cool. I don’t know what the mission of the magazine would be, but I think what I would want such a publication to do is be able to synthesize, not only what’s going on with people who perform Hip Hop or who are in the Hip Hop culture, but to synthesize what’s going on now with the historical aspects and also the political aspects of the culture as well. I think a lot of publications now are doing a much better job of connecting all of those issues, but I think if you have folks who like to also study the history of Hip Hop, that would be great.”
“Any last words?”
“People need to get involved. Most people don’t get a chance to participate in social movements and acts of social change that are historic and we’re living in a historic moment right now. If you want to be in the history books, this is the time to be involved.”
“I’m most looking forward to get some classes done. I’m getting my pre-reqs out of the way for my major, so I’m excited! I’m also excited for some performances for my dance team, Dance2XS. I am also a model in NOIR for the fashion show in April. This is my first semester with them.”
“What’s your major?”
“Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. BCN for short!”
“What’s your dream?”
“Well, my dream job would actually love to be a professional dancer. Like, dance for someone famous like Missy Elliot or Beyonce. But, if not I have a backup plan, so that’s why I’m majoring in BCN! My grandma’s a nurse, so I’ve always looked up to her in the medical field. Hopefully, I’ll do case management or go into psychiatry.
“As far as dancing goes, how long have you been dancing?”
“I’ve been dancing for about 5 to 6 years now. All backgrounds; ballet, contemporary, hip hop.”
“What’s your favorite thing about dance?”
“Just how it allows you to express yourself. I love hitting the beats, and having music express your emotion without even saying a word by just using your body.”
“Do you have any life mantras that you like?”
“I love to read bible scriptures in my free time and apply it to my daily life. My favorite quote actually is: “I love myself- the simplest, most quietest, revolution ever.”
“What’s your favorite memory?”
“I like to look back on my first semester at the University. I was in summer bridge, so I was here over the summer and I didn’t know anyone or what to expect. It was just great having that first experience getting to know everyone and helped me grow in this university as a student, socially and just with everything.”
“Who inspires you?”
“My mom inspires me. She’s always been there for me. I look up to her. She’s always been able to push through everything and I’ve never seen her give up. She’s been through a lot, so I want to thank her for all that she’s done for me and my little brother. Every time I go home, we always try and have some alone time by going out to dinner or to the movies, or we’ll cook together. Any quality time with my mom is a great memory.”
“What’s the dream?”
“Career wise, being an orthopedic surgeon for my favorite team, the Chicago Bulls. It started while I watching game one of the 2012 NBA Playoffs, against the 76ers. We had the W in the bag, so I was confused to see Derrick Rose still in the game. Joakim set a nice screen, opening up the lane for DRose to do his thing. He attacked the paint like usual, even throwing a nice hop step to get the defender to bite…but a move that seemed so habitual turned into a nightmare. As he exploded up, Rose let the ball go to Taj Gibson on the side and slowly limped to the baseline, a hand on his knee. I felt my heart drop. It was one of the scariest moments of my life; I was just like, “No, this can’t be happening! Without Rose, there’s no way we were getting through LeBron and company.” The next day, I found out that he had a torn ACL. Before Rose’s injury, I had no clue what an ACL even was. So I remember that night I was looking up the surgical procedure for a torn ACL, videos of the different techniques used, what was the rehab process like, and when he would be back on the court. I was looking up all this stuff, and suddenly, I realized how thrilling surgery was. I could never imagine the high that surgeons must get while actually doing the procedure. I was 15 at the time. That’s been my dream ever since.”
“My more personal dream is to travel around the world. Pretty much the only international experience I had was when I went to India to visit my family back in ’06, but even then, we just stayed in one area and didn’t really go anywhere. So now, I’m really pushing for a true international experience. I really want to go to South East Asia, places like Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Latin America would be amazing too, like Peru, Ecuador, or Argentina. It would be a great opportunity to continue building my Spanish speaking skills, which I feel like I didn’t pay attention to as much in high school.”
“I’ve always wanted to do medical work abroad, something like Doctors Without Borders. I want to do service work in clinics and the hospitals in the area and help the people there. That would be such a unique experience because I’d be immersed in the culture there, and getting more professional experience.”
“What’s something or someone that inspires you?”
“I’m going with my parents on that one, just because I’m an only child and they really had the burden of putting up with one kid who had some major anger issues. Both my mom and dad worked a lot to help us settle in Chicago, make sure I was a natural-born US citizen and find a good school for me. But my constant rude behavior towards teachers and other kids made it difficult for me to get the best education that my parents wanted for me. I still remember the countless times that my mom had to come talk to the principal and the daily lectures I would get from dad. At one point, I even needed therapy to sort out my emotions, which I wouldn’t have gotten had it not been for my parents’ relentless hard work to help me in any way possible. So, it was a joint effort to just raise one annoying kid. Thankfully, I came out of that phase a long time ago! Being an only child is nice because I get all the love and attention. Family trips were definitely on the down side though, since Indian music was usually blasting through the speakers. Those moments were spent putting my headphones in and going to sleep! But I still love them so much, and seeing all the hard work my parents put in to raising me, I want to be able to live up to that and make sure they live a comfortable life.”
“What’s your favorite memory with them?”
“I don’t remember this very clearly, since I was around 8 months old when it happened. Someone was calling me down stairs in our home in India. So I started running down the hard, wooden floors, missed a step, and fell over and hit the side of my head on one of the steps. Suddenly, this huge gash opened on my forehead and it started bleeding everywhere! My parents were terrified, you know, because I was the only kid and only 8 months. I could’ve even had serious brain damage…So, they threw me in the car and rushed me to the hospital right away. Apparently, according to my parents, on the ride there, all I was doing was laughing. The whole entire time, I was laughing. They were telling me this, and I was like, “Are you serious?” And they said, “Yeah! We were holding gauze to your head, and you were just laughing the whole entire time. You didn’t cry a bit. Even when we went into the ER, you were laughing!” Now that I look back on it, what kind of relieves my stress is that I love to laugh! Maybe that’s where it started! My parents were really worried, but I didn’t seem to care at all! They said I just enjoyed all of the attention and that I loved just going for a ride to the hospital. The doctors were confused and asking my parents, “What kind of kid do you have here?” Even at an early age, hospitals didn’t scare me. It doesn’t bother me that I’ll be working in a hospital in the future!”
“What’s a guaranteed way to make you laugh?”
“Just talking to people and hearing their stories. I throw in a joke every now and then to try and lighten the mood and try to make them laugh. I can be very deep about stuff, but too much can make the conversation dry. So, I just think telling random stories is a fun way to lighten the mood! Random unfortunate stuff happens to me every day, so it’s never too hard to come up with something. As far as what makes me happy, I think just being active; especially playing basketball! That wasn’t the case when I was little; I was a very chubby kid and couldn’t stop playing Call of Duty. But after joining sports in high school, I realized how important fitness was towards my health and longevity. Since then, I have always found happiness in living a healthy lifestyle.”
“Can you tell me one of your jokes?”
“I don’t know! They’re mostly in the moment. I usually throw science jokes in there. One classic one is like, “What did one ion say to the other? I got my ion you.”
“I think an interesting thing is that I’m a transfer student. I went to Loyola Chicago before I came here, and transferring was a big deal because I was coming to a school that was three times the size of Loyola and 4 hours away from home. At first, I didn’t know my way around here. I didn’t know what these different acronyms like UGLI, and CCRB meant. I was like, what’s going on? I’m going to get lost here. That’s when I realized that joining student orgs and exploring campus on your own really helps make the campus feel smaller. GSP is a great example too, it made the campus smaller for me and helped me sort of form a squad.”
“How did your parents feel about you transferring?”
“They were actually more excited than I was! I wanted to transfer because I loved the Kinesiology program here. The school is small enough to get to know all the faculty, but big enough to get tons of research opportunities and resources for applying to grad school. Michigan also has a more competitive atmosphere, which I was really attracted to because it would continuously push me. Plus, I just wanted to get out of the city. I love Chicago, but I just needed to have a change of pace and scenery. At first I was pretty nervous, but I knew it would take a while to adjust. During the decision process, all the pros seemed to be pointing in Michigan’s favor, so I went for it, and I can honestly say it’s been the best decision of my life. I still miss my friends at Loyola and keep in touch with a lot of them. They’re still a little salty about me leaving, but they know how much I still care about them.
“Any life mantra or way of looking at things?”
“My senior quote was “The believer is happy, the doubter is wise.” Kind of inspires me to not be afraid to question things. Whether it’s in class or just questioning parts of my faith. I think the best way to learn is questioning, and that’s what this quote expresses! I also think it’s important to be honest and real with people, even if it hurts; it’s easier said than done! It definitely depends on the circumstance, but I feel like in most cases, hiding something will always come back and bite you.”
“What inspired you to get into Art and what do you feel Art allows a person to do?”
“It does so much. I think art for me is my total active expression, and that’s what inspired me to get into it, and continue. I think everyone can utilize art. I actually created this about a year ago and it was one night when I was crying over, I can’t even remember which life it was, but I was mourning with my sister on the phone, and she said, “Honestly, you should just draw it out. You should just put it on paper.” So, I did. I had an old calendar of a Norman Rockwell paintings that I used, and I think it’s kind of iconic because Norman Rockwell represents a kind of America that is very unrealistic for all Americans. My version is, I don’t know, a way more realistic and truthful America.”
“What has been the reaction to your art? What do you want people to take out of it?”
“As far as reactions go, I was shocked to see how many people were impacted by it. I want people to take out that this is our America and this is our reality. And it’s devastating. The title of the piece is “Black is an Endangered Species” showing the devastation on Black life. I have the American pie just bleeding, because that is what the American dream is to me, and Black America. If anything I want this piece to make people think.”
“What do you think people can do?”
“We need to realize that this is happening now. The revolution is happening as we speak. I don’t think we’re doing enough, only a small portion of the Black community is involved within the Black Lives Matter movement and this is the time, our time. And we can win. We are the leaders that we’ve been looking for. I would say that if my art, just putting something on a piece of paper, can motivate someone or something, that is the least I can do.”
“What would you say, for you, is the main goal?”
“The main goal is awareness. I think that if we really knew the realities of our world today, and if more poor Brown and Black communities knew their realities and what’s really going on systematically, I think we would all be involved and I think there would be more of a fight. We need to wake up, and stay awake. So, yea, I would say my main goal is to raise more awareness. If I can just plant a seed in someone’s head, just a though, just to consider more of the devastating realities of Black life, especially for people who are privileged enough not to think about it, that is the goal.”
“How can we get people to realize that Racism is still a problem?”
“That’s the million dollar question, because so many people are blind to systematic racism. Just because we don’t see it so blatantly like we used to doesn’t mean it’s not there. In fact I would argue racism is worse because it is so embedded in America’s subconscious. How can racism not be real when the phrase: Black lives matter alone is controversial? I think also a first small step you can do is to first acknowledge your privilege, to acknowledge all sorts of privilege. There are tons of resources for privilege checklists, and discussions that you can have. Also, I would tell people to use white privilege and class privilege to spread awareness and help people. You can do a lot with your voice, and people will listen. Martin Luther King Jr. said in ‘Letters to Birmingham Jail’ that that the white moderate is the greatest threat to freedom. It’s not even just the extremists or the hate groups we face, it’s the huge majority of people who are silent. Being silent chooses the side of the oppressor.”
“To students on this campus, what would you say to them?”
“I think that students here should realize that this is their problem too. With the small minority rate at this school, that does not contributing to a healthy and complete learning environment. This is not the real world. We will not be an truly elite university until we have accurate representation of the world, or at least the state of Michigan. I would also say just to join groups like the Black Student Union. We have so many resources and talks. Alicia Garcia, the co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, was here just a couple days ago and she was inspirational. That was an hour and a half talk, attending that alone does something. Also be a supportive advocate for Black and people of color students on campus. I would also say that we need to remember that there are groups on campus that want to fight back and have been fighting back. A lot of people are angry. I know I am. One of the things I do to express is art, but I am also involved in activist groups like BAMN, an org that is actively participating in movements, I was even able to travel to Ferguson with them. People are always asking, “What can we do?” But there are so many different outlets, and I think we’re overlooking them. You just need to start, and stop waiting for leaders. We are the leaders we’ve been looking and waiting for. We need to get out there, there’s opportunities to do things on days like MLK day, which is coming up. So use this time to give back, it’s a service day after all. Challenge your mind and your perceptions, take the challenge to stay aware, and there are so many resources. So many talks and lectures. We need to stimulate that thought of what you can’t see. I think that alone is a step forward.”
“The revolution is happening now, and especially with elections coming up, the change is now. This is the time. It’s always been happening, but this is the complete turning point. Lets be the change we want to see”
“So, you said that Mental Health is an issue that is very important to you?”
“Yeah, it’s very important to me.”
“Can I ask what prompted you to feel that way?”
“I guess when I got to campus Freshmen year, I realized that mental health was a bigger issue in college than it was in high school. My doctor, a University of Michigan alum, talked with me about how prevalent mental health disorders were on our campus. We talked about how the level of stress in college is so much higher than in the every day person, and we think that this is the norm. Which can lead to things like depression, eating disorders, and anxiety. We think it’s okay because we live on such a competitive campus. This topic is so important and it’s often overlooked on campuses and across the United States. We are the leaders and best, so I believe we should combat this issue head on and reduce the stigma that surrounds it.”
“What are ways you take care of your mental health?”
“I’m not an expert; I’m just a psych major. But, really by talking to people, and getting help when you need it. Students should know that depression, anxiety, or having an eating disorder is not something you have to just deal with. There are so many people out there who are willing and want to help you. I wish every person who felt like they didn’t have someone to talk to would just come to me. It’s so common for students to think that their depression or anxiety will just go away, and that’s not the way to look at it. There are ways to help and reduce it. You don’t have to struggle with it everyday.”
“As the president of Panhel, what are some ways that Greek Life tries to help with Mental Health?”
“We realized that this was a large issue amongst the greek community and across the university. But, as greek leaders, we decided that we really wanted to be the first to combat this issue head on. We have a program called Wolverine Wellness that was started a couple years ago that acts as a network to help with issues of mental health. Moving forward, we want to take on the initiative this semester and this year to create an atmosphere in greek life that’s welcoming to discussing mental health and wellness. We’re thinking of creating programs that would involve possibly getting a greek counselor or a psychiatrist; someone that’s always open for the greek community. We’re also thinking of starting group therapy sessions that would be great for students to just come in and talk. That’s what we’re aiming for; a very diverse and open environment. These are just some ideas that we’ve thrown out this semester. ”
“What’s been your best memory through Greek Life?”
“That’s a tough one. I was born in Michigan, but I’m not really rooted in Michigan. All of my family lives in Hawaii or Minnesota. So, I never really thought that I would attend the University of Michigan. When I got here, I felt really lost like most Freshmen do. I didn’t have a large friend group coming in and one of the first things that I decided to do was rush. I never thought I was going to be in a sorority growing up. None of my family was in greek life. They still make fun of me for being in it and they still don’t know what sorority I’m in “the one with the deltas?” – they say. It was just one of the best decisions that I’ve made in general. It was such a welcoming environment. It’s hard to explain to people who aren’t in greek life because the experience is just so unique. One of the things I cared about in High School was community service, and I got here and didn’t know how to get truly involved. From the get go, greek life offered that to me. My sorority in particular donates to St. Jude’s Children’s hospital and Mott Children’s Hospital and last year we raised close to $70,000 in one semester. That was just an incredible feeling to be able to be a central part of that and to give back to the community.”
“Anything else you want to share?”
“Right now Greek Life doesn’t have the best reputation due to a lot of negative attention. It can be very frustrating to some, but I see it as more of an opportunity for improvement. We have an incredible opportunity to change the image of Greek Life and to bring positivity to our campus. That is my goal as president.”
“What are some things Greek Life can do to improve their image?”
“What every person in Greek Life needs to do is remember the values and reasons why fraternities and sororities were created in the first place. Get back to the values of friendship, lifetime commitment, philanthropy, and community, and use these values and ideals in their actions and decisions. Once everyone realizes that our organizations were founded upon core ideals, we can be strong and collective again.”
“What do you think caused the veering off?”
“We lost sight of our values.”
“I like being a part of a team. I love my teammates and being able to represent the University. It’s something I’ve done my whole life so it’s a part of me.”
“How long have you been doing it and what have you learned from it?”
“I’ve wrestled since I was about 5 or 6 years old; basically my whole life. I can’t remember not wrestling. And, I think the one thing it really taught me most is discipline in life. They say once you wrestle in life, everything else is easy. There’s a lot of truth to that because it teaches you so much to discipline to diet, to follow a workout regiment, and to be able to push past pain. It’s definitely taught me to accept any challenge in my life.”
“What are some of your best memories from wrestling? What’s a memory you’ll never forget?”
“I think the best part of being in wrestling is the team aspect. So, definitely the road trips with my team here at the University. I love traveling with them and we have a lot of fun. I love being able to walk with them as one. Anytime we win a dual meet, it’s always a great time.”
“Does your family come out to your tournaments?”
“I have a very large family based support crew that come to every match I am in. It’s more than just my father. In a way, my wrestling meets are like small family reunions! At any given time I have 10+ family members in the crowd, cheering me on. My father, mother, and sisters are very supportive of my efforts to accomplish my goals on the mat!”
“What got you into wrestling?”
“I come from a family of wrestlers. My dad was a 2 time All-American and my Uncle Joe was a 2 time National Runner-Up at Michigan! Plus, not to mention, my cousin Joe is a 2 time State-Champ, my Uncle Dan is a national champ. So, I come from a family full of wrestlers. My parents didn’t really pressure me into wrestling, but they kind of put me in it to see how I liked it. I was good at it, so I kept doing it. Still doing it now!”
“What the dream?”
“Right now, I definitely want to win National title. Coming in my Freshmen year, I knew I wanted to win National title. So short term, that’s what I want to accomplish. Outside of college wrestling, there isn’t really much pro-wrestling. So, it comes down to International wrestling. I haven’t really tried my hand just yet at it; it’s a different style. But, from what I did do of it last summer, I liked it and I was pretty good at it. So, maybe long term, my dream is to keep wrestling and be able to compete internationally.”
“Any life mottos?”
“I’m a firm believer in the saying that “Hard work always pays off.” It’s not exactly the harder you work, but it’s the fact that you have to go in there and do the hard work, and then the results will come if you stay at it. We actually just heard a quote that went something like, “There is no glory in practice, but without practice there is no glory.”
“Have you ever had any doubts in your wrestling career or faced adversity?”
“The whole sport is adversity really. Having to make weight and be really strict on your diet. When you go out on the mat to verse another person, there’s nothing else impeding. It comes down to staying optimistic during the season, especially with how long it is. If you lose, you need to look at it as a learning opportunity, learn what you did wrong, and keep pushing forward. That’s one thing I think I’ve done well. Just last week, I beat an opponent that I had lost to last year, and that’s just a matter of learning from my past and bringing it to the present.”
“How do you stay positive?”
“One thing I do is always tell myself how blessed I am. I am 19 years old, and I’ve got opportunities that not many 19 year-old have. I’m very fortunate. I always tell myself, when I’m at my worst, that this is just wrestling and you’ve just got to have fun with it. You’ll only be doing this for a part of your life, so you might as well make the best of it. I try and stay very optimistic.”
“What the craziest thing you’ve ever had to do for wrestling?”
“Our training schedules are pretty nuts, especially with having to wake-up at such an early time. We have our Big House morning runs, and we do buddy carries up and down the Big House stadium. That’s very tough; especially in the winter time! We’re a winter sport, so we’re going up until it’s snowy. So, we climb up and carry people on our backs when it’s icy! It’s pretty crazy. But, it’s all hard work and it pays off.”
“I’m blessed for the opportunity to represent the block M and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made deciding to come here.”
“What made you come to Michigan?”
“A lot of people grow up in die-hard UofM families, but that was never me. My Uncle Joe did go here, he was a 2 time All American National Runner-Up, and he was always urging me on to go here. No one really pressured me too much. Out of the schools I visited, I went out west, and east coast. I just looked at UofM and saw that the training facilities were the best in the nation. I love the coaches, and I also looked at my training partners. With UofM being a regional training center, I basically have the best training partners in the nation. They say that ‘Iron sharpens Iron.’ You’re only as good as your training partners, and I figured these were the best. That was a big factor.”
“What’s one thing you always tell your students?”
“I tell my students that there are only 6 words they need to know to be happy in life. Those 6 words are ‘Quid Pro Quo,’ you get something for something. And the other 3 are really important, ‘Scratch your itch.’ Not society’s itch. Not your parents’ itch. Your itch. If you pay attention to those two things, you’ll be happy and successful.”
“What’s with all of the photos on the wall?”
“It’s like I keep in touch with my family, and I have an extended family by 2,000 children. Well, friends. 2,000 friends.”
“What do you love about your job?”
“I like getting to help people in their careers. I right great letters of recommendation and have helped many people get into many different jobs, medical schools, grad schools, etc.”
“Anything else you want to share?”
“I love my dogs. Loki and Mimi.”