Baruch hosts teach-in for Haiti

Haiti awareness was revisited by Baruch at the "Haiti Teach-In" held at the college last Thursday. The event was an opportunity for students and faculty to learn about Haiti from different platforms.

Hosted by Ted Henken, assistant professor in the sociology and black and hispanic studies departments, the teach-in was an informative event that featured a panel of professionals who provided information on the troubled country and the devastation from an academic perspective.

The event began with a performance from Frisner Augustin, an artistic director from La Troupe Makandal, New York's Center for Haiti Drum and Dance. Augustin entertained the audience with musical drumming, a form of art prominent within the country's culture.

Following Augustin's performance, J. Michael Dash, a professor of French at New York University, spoke about Haiti's history and politics. As a specialist on the Francophone Caribbean, and an author of a number of publications covering cultural aspects of Haiti, he provided the audience with a myriad of informative facts and demographics.

"It's not culture, it's not nature, it's history," said Dash. "The ruins of today should remind us of the ruins of post-independent Haiti."

Lois Wilcken, the executive director of La Troupe Makandal, spoke about the negative outlook many people have of voo-doo and other spiritual rituals in Haitian culture.

"When you study the history you begin to realize that the demonization of Haiti begins during the time of becoming independent, and one way it can be demonized is through its culture," said Wilcken.

Musician and ethnomusicologist Ned Sublette changed the atmosphere with his discussion of the media's coverage and representation of Haiti after the earthquake.

His presentation of the heroic coverage of the United States aid to Haiti demonstrated his intellectual and provocative interpretation of Haiti's current situation. Sublette also pin-pointed specific stereotypical images which were which pictured after the devastation, such as looting, kidnapping and Haiti as "a sovereign nation."

The discussion encouraged the audience to think about the reality of what has happened to the Caribbean country.

"If you really want to help Haiti, befriend a Haitian," said Sublette. He added that ,"Haiti needs to be rebuilt by decently compensated labor and as much as possible."

Carolyn Rose-Avila, vice president for Policy and Public and Donor Engagement for Plan USA, also urged students to help support the nation.

Concluding the event, Professor Carolle Charles of the department of sociology and anthropology gave a heart-felt discussion of his personal tragedy, while addressing her work with Haitian women's organizations and how the earthquake impacted them.

"When I went to college there were a number of teach-ins and I remember that the best part of my education was outside of the classroom," said Henken. "I think the teach-in essentially does that, but takes the conversation deeper."