Cornell Africana Studies and Research Center

The Africana Studies and Research Center (ASRC) at Cornell University is an academic unit devoted to the study of the global migrations and reconstruction of African peoples, as well as patterns of linkages to the African continent (and among the peoples of the African Diaspora). ASRC offers around 23 graduate and undergraduate courses each semester.^[1] The ASRC offers an undergraduate major for students in the Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences as well as a Master of Professional Studies degree through the Cornell University Graduate School. The John Henrik Clarke Africana Library, located at the Center, focuses on the social, economic, and political dimensions of the history and cultures of peoples of African descent. It has more than 17,000 volumes.

The ASRC occupies a renovated 18,234 sq ft (1,694.0 m²) sorority house at 310 Triphammer Rd in the Village of Cayuga Heights, New York.^[2] Its interim co-directors are Eizabeth Adkins-Regan and David Harris.^[3]

History

In the late 1960s, the Black Community began to ask for academic programs and funding for ethnic studies, including the establishment of an Africana studies program. By the spring of 1969, the Administration had recruited James Turner to be the first director of the ASRC.^[4] The ASRC offered its first classes in the fall of 1969 in its first building at 320 Wait Avenue, after the subsequent Willard Straight Hall Takeover. On April 1, 1970, 320 Wait Avenue was destroyed by a fire that was presumed to be arson.^[5] The ASRC was temporarily relocated to the unoccupied North Campus low-rise dormitory 8, and was permanently relocated to 310 Triphammer Road. However, a number of irreplacable documents, including Turner's draft Ph.D. dissertation were lost in the blaze.

Subsequently, controversy arose because in ASRC's early years, its classes were not printed in the University's course and room roster making it difficult for white students to enroll. Instead, course offerings were distributed to COSEP students. As a result from 1969 to 1972, no white students enrolled in ASRC classes. In addition to limited distribution of ASRC's course offering, many classes had an "experiential prerequisite" requiring that students have the "black experience" before they are eligible to enroll in the class. In addition, enrollment in certain classes required the approval of Turner, the Director of ASRC, who would routinely fail to meet with white students who made appointments to see him at his office. On the third anniversary of the ASRC, the Board of Trustees formed a committee headed by Lisle C. Carter, Jr. to evaluate the progress of the ASRC, and three white students successfully enrolled in a ASRC course on South African history. The Trustees decided to continue the ASRC.^[6]

On April 15–17, 2010, the ASRC hosted a scholarly conference in celebration of its 40th anniversary.^[7]

From its inception, the ASRC reported directly to the Provost independent of any undergraduate college. In 2005, the Report of Visiting Committee to the Africana Studies and Research Center which consisted of scholars from Northwestern, Yale and New York University found the ASRC reporting to the Provost to be a "peculiar arrangement," and recommended that Cornell "revisit this arrangement."^[8] On December 1, 2010, Cornell Provost Kent Fuchs announced that the Center would become a department in the Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences effective July 1, 2011. Fuchs said that the shift would facilitate the start of an Africana PhD program. In response, Robert L. Harris, Jr resigned as ASRC's director.^[9]

Notable faculty

• J. Congress Mbata - founding faculty member

References

1. ^ "ASRC Undergraduate Program". Cornell University. http://asrc.cornell.edu/undergrad.html. Retrieved 2010-10-29. 
2. ^ "Africana Center". Cornell University. http://www.fs.cornell.edu/fs/facinfo/fs_facilInfo.cfm?facil_cd=4706. Retrieved 2010-10-29. 
3. ^ "Africana Center Faculty and Staff". Cornell University. http://asrc.cornell.edu/faculty_staff.html. Retrieved 2011-10-13. 
4. ^ Jones, Patricia (March 6, 1969). "Turner May Accept Black Studies Post". Cornell Daily Sun 85 (96): p. 1. http://cdsun.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/newscornell?a=d&srpos=11&cl=search&d=CDS19690306.2.1.3&e=--------20--1----%22black+studies%22-all. Retrieved 2010-10-29. 
5. ^ "Africana Fire Probe Continues". Cornell Daily Sun 86 (112): p. 1. April 6, 1970. http://cdsun.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/newscornell?a=d&d=CDS19700406.1.1&e=--------20--1----Africana+fire-all. Retrieved 2010-10-29. 
6. ^ Margulis, Daniel (February 13, 1973). "Committee Asks Expansion Of Center's Programs". Cornell Daily Sun 89 (88): p. 1. http://cdsun.library.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/newscornell?a=d&srpos=3&cl=search&d=CDS19730213.2.1.4.1&e=--------20--1----continue+Africana+Studies-all. Retrieved 2010-10-29. 
7. ^ "Africana @ 40". Cornell University. http://asrc.cornell.edu/asrc@40/conference_program.html. Retrieved 2010-10-29. 
8. ^ Stein, Jeff (December 4, 2010). "Africana Director Rescinds Resignation". Cornell Daily Sun. http://www.cornelldailysun.com/section/news/content/2010/12/04/africana-director-rescinds-resignation. Retrieved 2010-12-08. 
9. ^ Lawrence Lan and Ben Gitlin (December 2, 2010). "Day Hall Merges Africana Center Into Arts College; Director Resigns in Protest". Cornell Daily Sun. http://cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2010/12/02/day-hall-merges-africana-center-arts-college-director-resigns-protes. Retrieved 2010-12-08. 

External links

• official website