Future of Black Caucus secure

The Black Caucus elections announcements did not get as large a turnout as the Undergraduate Student Government elections announcements did, but the winners were no less excited.

Next year's three elected executive officers were announced yesterday by a sign on the caucus' door. Rashid Njai (junior-biology) said he was "honored" to win the presidential position. Njai was the Athletic Committee chair of Black Caucus this year.

"It brought a smile to my face (when I found out)," Njai said. "It felt very good that the community and my peers supported me."

Njai has two main goals for this year, he said, although he has many ideas and plans.

"I want to build a stronger sense of unity within the African-American community at Penn State," he said. "I also want to build a strong network with other minority organizations on campus and other white organizations. . . . I want us to realize we're all different people with similar agendas."

During his term, Njai said he also plans to "return to the roots" of the organization by taking a proactive approach to reach out to the community. Njai plans to hold everyone in the black community accountable for their actions.

If few people out of the 350 members of the caucus attend meetings, Njai said, he plans to call each and every one of the absent members to see where they were. He would also like to see more men involved, because this year women have been the "driving force" behind the caucus, he said.

The new secretary of the caucus will be Marney Dorsey (junior-agricultural science). Dorsey was secretary of the Athletic Committee of Black Caucus this year. At an officers' debate on Monday, Dorsey said she wanted to raise student involvement in Black Caucus through working with other organizations.

Because no one ran for vice president, the president will appoint someone for the position. Njai said anyone is welcome to apply for the position and he will choose the vice president from the applicants.

Yakura Coffee (junior-industrial engineering) is the new treasurer of Black Caucus. Coffee ran unopposed for the position and said he plans to make the Black Caucus run as smoothly as possible.

"I feel the executive board is going to be a strong one. From the debates on Monday and discussions I've had . . . I feel very certain about (the officers') commitment to the organization and the community," Njai said. "I feel we're going to leave this campus better than we got it."

About one-third of the 350 Black Caucus members voted Wednesday, current caucus Vice President Choendal Martin said. Usually about half of the members vote, current President Nikitra Bailey said.

"I guess it could be better because I think voting is very important," Martin said.

It is important to vote, she added, because if a member does not vote, he or she has no reason to complain about the board in the future.

The new officers will officially take the reigns of Black Caucus the week of finals, Martin said. In the meantime, they will be "shown the ropes" of their new jobs.