By T’Neil Gooden
The Brooklyn College (BC) Student Union and the BC Sociology communities teamed up to host their first event on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The event welcomed students to create their version of a better BC through collages.
This event allowed students to open up about their raw opinions on BC and what they would like to see implemented as the institute continues to educate students. Students used this event to make a vision board of all the needs they have not met as they continue their college experiences.
“The starting point? A bunch of unmet student needs. There are many students who feel like an oversight or afterthought, and ‘Brooklyn Collage’ was a way for them to create their big picture, an ideal version of Brooklyn College, and to look around and see that what they want isn’t so crazy,” Tyana Dixon, president of BC sociology, told The Vanguard.
Students who came to the event took the time to emphasize the disappointment they had within the school’s indoor and outdoor environment.
“Brooklyn College needs full funding to improve buildings on campus, increase class offerings in departments, and to offer affordable, healthy, and high-quality food options on campus,” Charlie Muller, a member of the BC Student Union, told The Vanguard.
This event was not just an event for these two communities; it was a time for students to express their viewpoints about the school and discuss how changes can lead to progress.
“We wanted to have this event to have people start thinking about what a better Brooklyn College looks like to them and to think about how we can make Brooklyn College better,” shared Magali Ramos, the vice president of BC Sociology.
“We thought that the best way to have this experience was to have people physically create their collective vision for Brooklyn College through these vision boards, and having those gears in their brains turning towards what they want to see here at Brooklyn College and what they want to exist that doesn’t, like an open cafeteria.”
Students were given magazines, glue, crayons, and scissors to construct a campus that reflected their utopian learning environment. When asked about what they wanted to see from BC, students had a lot to say about why they chose specific pictures.
Students spoke about the infrastructure inside the campus buildings, what they would like to see on the exterior grounds of the academic facility, and what could be added to have more healthy food options on campus.
“I talked about how I wanted healthier food options in the vending machines, and another part of a healthier campus that I want is more plants and more floral stuff around campus, maybe a garden by the pond,” Jasmine Alleyne, a freshman at BC, told The Vanguard.
“I like the pond, but it’s cold, and it’s winter now, so it’s not really accessible anymore. But this would be a pretty thing that students could get involved in, like everyone could contribute, maybe a club or something for it.”
Students took the time during this event to emphasize that individuals with disabilities need proper treatment. They feel neglected by the BC faculty. These students asked where they could receive help within the BC Student Union, as they believe infrastructure is not the only factor that needs to be fixed.
“I think it’s important to get involved in the union. We are creating a safe space for students to give their concerns and express what they’d like to see change in college, and we want to emphasize that this union is a safe space to speak up about these issues,” Muller told The Vanguard. “We are doing it together. Nobody is alone in the fight, and that’s what the Student Union is for: bringing students together to fight against issues we care about and support, love, and care for each other in the process.”
Students not only began to find a community within this event, but they were able to confide in one another through their shared standpoints and pictorial graphics on their vision boards.
“My favorite part was putting everyone’s vision board together and seeing the similarities in all of them. It was like seeing pieces of everyone come together to be a complete picture,” Dixon shared with The Vanguard.
The occasion was closed out with all the vision boards created being placed in the middle of the basement of the Student Center. Students were able to see their individual work placed into a larger communal art piece.
“Community is meant to be for us, by us. Don’t ever feel like you’re asking too much because you’re actually asking for the bare minimum. So speak up, there’s people here to support you,” Dixon told The Vanguard.
Students who are interested in joining the BC Student Union and BC Sociology can go to their Instagram pages, @bc.sociologyclub and @bcstudentunion.