Throughout the month of February, the Baruch Black History Month Committee will be hosting several events to help educate Baruch students about the history of African Americans and celebrate the "excellence, diversity, and richness of black history."

With the aim of celebrating their history and showing black appreciation, Kanye West and Jay-Z's "Murder to Excellence" heavily influenced the committee's theme.

 "We came up with the term of ‘Black Excellence' as our title for this month only because [of] the whole hype of Kanye and Jay-Z's, Watch The Throne." said Mariana Bah, secretary of the Black History Month Committee. "So the ‘Murder of Excellence,' was our inspiration."

To start off the celebration, the Black History Month Committee and Baruch's Undergraduate Student Government (USG) hosted the Black History Month Kickoff Winter Fest on 25th Street on Thursday, Feb. 2.

This gave many students the opportunity learn about upcoming events for the month and enjoy a variety of fun activities, which help students relax, according to Chris Catalano, USG vice president of academic affairs.

"It's the first week back so most students are miserable, this is a good way to let students let off a little steam." said Catalano. "Sometimes a little fun can go a long way and hopefully this might just brighten up people's week a little bit."

Following the kickoff event is the "Love Bid," which will take place on the second floor atrium on Feb.7 during club hours. This live dating auction will allow participants to raise funds for Relay For Life.

The "I Am Not My Hair" workshop will be held on the same day in the Multipurpose Room from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Students will have the opportunity to talk about "the faux pas of hair display in the work place and social settings," according to the committee's Facebook page.

Students will then learn to make natural hair care products. Participants also get to take home sponsored gift bags of products donated by Jessie's and Shea Moisture.

"The girls are going to teach everyone how to make simple products, like shea butter, or things that you can make on your own," said Bah. "We're going to show everybody how to do that and we hope that we attract everybody, not just only everybody that's doing the natural hair movement."

On Tuesday, Feb. 14, the Black History Month Committee will be collaborating with Hip Hop 201 for their second annual dating game, "Playing For Keeps," which will be held during club hours in VC 2-125. In addition, there will be several prizes and giveaways.

The "Black Male Initiative Social," which is being co-sponsored by SEEK, will take place in VC 2-125 during club hours on Thursday, Feb. 16.

Following this event will be "The Divine Nine," which will be held in the Multipurpose Room from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Nine fraternities and sororities will perform a step show and stroll in order to help promote black excellence. They will also inform others about their history and give students the opportunity to join.

"There are organizations that sprung up after the early 1900s, they were a few black people in a white world.

They had the same kind of struggles that we have today basically, and they had to band together in order to promote themselves to excel, and that's what this whole month is about.," said Tsemaye Awani, chairman of the Black History Month Committee.

"It's about black excellence and they are a great example of how it is shown, they're respected throughout the community, throughout the nation, everybody knows them."

The committee is also using this  event in order to bring back the presence of Greek culture.

"We don't have a great presence of the divine nine, I know a few zetas that were here but they all graduated." said Bah.

The game show "Thinkfast - Black history Month Special" will be held in the Multipurpose Room from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Feb. 22.  

"Vote or Die – The Truth Behind Politics" will be held in VC 5-165 on Thursday, Feb. 23 during club hours. This event will include a panel of students, professors, and other guests who will discuss recent political issues.

"I came up with that one," said Bah. "We invited a few significant figures, and we have a few of our students sitting on the debate panel, and we have a few professors as well who's going to talk it out. It's the year of the election so we have to do something."

"Welcome to Idlewild" will take place on the same day. This jazz tribute event, which will include swing dancers and a jazz session, will be held in the Multipurpose Room from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

On Friday, Feb. 24, the "Five: School of Fashion" show will be held at Mason Hall from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The show will be hosted by "Charlamagne Tha God" from Power 105.1, and admission is five dollars.  

"Tunnel of Oppression," the last event for Black History month, will be on Tuesday, Feb. 28 in the Multipurpose Room during club hours.

"We wanted to show our appreciation for Black culture, " said Bah. "So we wanted to make events as far as like, something to represent so that we're still here."

While these events are meant to celebrate black history, they can draw a variety of students of all cultures, allowing them to stay engaged and participate in a number of educational and fun activities. All are welcome to take part and help celebrate black excellence.