BAS Archives - The Pitt News

‘A symbol of activism’: Black Action Society hosts conversation with Angela Davis

By Alexandra Ross, Senior Staff Writer • April 11, 2022

Political activist Angela Davis spoke at a Monday night webinar hosted by Pitt’s Black Action Society, and emphasized a need for collective action in fighting for social justice.

Black Action Society calls for better communication on 2020 demands

By Alexandra Ross, Senior Staff Writer • April 3, 2022

Destiny Mann, president of Pitt’s Black Action Society, said the University has made progress on the organization’s 2020 demands. But she said communication with students about how initiatives are progressing has not been frequent, nor detailed, enough.

‘History is happening’: Black Built Pitt organizers reflect on project

By Abby Cardilli, Staff Writer • March 2, 2022

The Black Built Pitt digital archive is the fourth installment of Pitt’s “Black Lives in Focus” initiative.

‘Giant of a leader’: Val Njie encourages Pitt students to grow, take risks

By Clare Sheedy, Contributing Editor • February 16, 2022

Val Njie’s mother handed her the phone in June 1968 — someone from the University of Pittsburgh wanted to schedule an admittance interview with her. She was accepted into the University a week later and told to report to campus at the end of the month.

Protestors block City traffic to demand justice for the death of Jim Rogers

By Leanna Chae, Staff Writer • November 15, 2021

In front of the City-County Building in Downtown Pittsburgh last Friday, dozens of people chanted "People's justice for Jim Rogers."

‘We do not have the space to stop our protesting’: Students discuss mental health, activism burnout among the Black community

By Abby Cardilli, Staff Writer • October 18, 2021

Pitt’s Black Action Society co-sponsored an event titled “Activism Burnout” last Wednesday with the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

Laurence Glasco: Studying the people behind history

By Millicent Watt, Senior Staff Writer • April 8, 2021

Laurence Glasco was offered a job at Pitt in 1969, for what he thought would only be a few years.

‘They wanted to be seen’: African American Alumni Council discusses BAS demands, racial justice efforts

By Punya Bhasin and Rebecca Johnson • October 23, 2020

Nearly 50 years after the Black Action Society’s famous Cathedral of Learning sit-in to demand campus reforms, Nicole Parks said Thursday it’s “sad” that BAS and 17 other Black student organizations were forced to make similar demands this summer.

‘Allow us the space to be Black’: Diversity forum talks anti-racism with Ibram Kendi

By Benjamin Nigrosh, News Editor • July 29, 2020

According to Ibram Kendi, one of the most important elements of the fight for anti-racist policy is intersectionality, the understanding of how interdependent identities such as race, gender and sexual orientation create overlapping and unique systems of discrimination and privilege.

‘The time is now’: Faculty and students discuss race, community at Juneteenth panel

By Benjamin Nigrosh, News Editor • June 21, 2020

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Equipoise hosted Friday afternoon’s "Juneteenth: A Prelude to True Social Justice and Equity at Pitt" panel.