| Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated

Chapter

Hummingbird
FOUNDED MARCH 15, 1989 | STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT ALABANY SERVING AND EDUCATING THROUGH OUR DIVERSITY

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Welcome to the 1st edition of The Hummingbird a campus newsletter designed to keep you updated on the activites of your local Beta Delta Betas!

MEET THE BETAS

Alyssa Betancourt
Alyssa is a 2nd year student, majoring in Accounting. She is currently the Vice President of Finance of Beta Delta, a Student Activities Manager, an AALANA Mentor and UNV Peer Leader. Favorite Quote: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, it is that we are powerful beyond measure.

A two-woman show that interweaves spoken word poetry, sound collage, dance and film to explore critical issues facing humanity through the kaleidoscope of Hurricane Katrina..

Hurricane Season

EVENT SPOTLIGHT:

Lisa Rodgriguez
Lisa Rodriguez is a 2nd year student, majoring in Biology. She is currently the Membership Chair of Beta Delta and the Executive Vice President of NALFO. Favorite Quote:"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

Lotus M.Feliz
Lotus M. Feliz is a 3rd year student majoring in Management with a concentration in Human Resources and Womens Studies. She is currently the President of Beta Delta, an AALANA Mentor and UNV Peer Leader. Favorite Quote: "If God lets me live, I'll do more.

April 27th @ 9:17 PM Gottesman Room

Astia Lebron
Astia LeBron is currently a 4th year student , majoring in Environmental and Womens Studies. She is currently the Executive Vice President of Beta Delta and Vice President of Unity and Social Justice for Student Association. Favorite Quote: "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts."

Week of Illumination | March 1st-7th

Week of Illumination is a programming initiative created by OPBSI with the specific intent of shedding light on important issues affecting historically marginilized communities particularly communities of color. The initiative is sponsored nationwide on every campus OPBSI is recognized. On March 1st 7th, Beta Delta Chapter sponsored its 3rd annual Week of Illumination! This years theme focused on Womyn Empowerement. Thank you to everyone who made our week successful especially our very own Cardidad de La Luz aka La Bruja!

Waiting for Superman/woman?

On Wednesday April 7, 2011, New York City school chancellor, Cathleen P. Black resigned. After 95 days, a publishing executive with no background in education decided that the best she could do for the 1.1 million children that make up the largest public school system in the entire country was to step down. At the same time, New York State Education Commissioner, David M. Steiner, also announced his resignation. The head of the New York State Education Department states that the resignation is entirely coincidental. The 1.1 million students that were in Blacks hands are now in purgatory. This coincidence only signifies the turmoil of public education, especially in New York. Black criticized the overpopulation in schools claiming that the solution to overcrowded classrooms was birth control. A 2% cut in spending will prevent schools from receiving necessary funds has been proposed and passed. In New York City alone, more than 4,600 teachers will lose their job in the next twelve months. In 2011, the federal budget for prisons increased to 6.8 billion dollars. The poorest districts are closing. The schools that cannot afford to hire qualified teachers are the schools in urban areas, particularly communities of color. By closing the schools, by taking away funding and putting the funding into prisons, it is clear where our priorities lie, where we see our urban children in the future. I hope that we stop stepping down from our obstacles, obstacles that we create by just signing our names on the waivers of student achievement. I hope the true attainment and opportunity of an equitable education for all of our children, all of our nationstill has a chance. Stephanie Watts

Wingin It With Marithil

Haiku for a Warrior

Confucius Says...
Assimilation doesn't mean acceptance, and acceptance doesn't mean the struggle is over.

Head toward the sun Wear with dignity and pride The roots, the first cry.

April is Earth Month! Join the Radiant Sisters of Omega Phi Beta as we honor Mother Earth and work towards environmental sustainability. All month, we will be conducting our Betas Rock the Planet initiative, setting up bins throughout campus and collecting recycable goods. All procceeds will be donated to Nature Conservancy - the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.

BETAS GO GREEN | ARPIL 2011