Article

Group accommodates racially mixed students

Binghamton University added the Binghamton Association of Mixed Students (BAMS) to its long list of SA-chartered organizations on Oct. 30.
Rene R. Marsh - Staff Writer

Students of a mixed background now have a group they can call their own.

Binghamton University added the Binghamton Association of Mixed Students (BAMS) to its long list of SA-chartered organizations on Oct. 30. BAMS is a group formed by six Binghamton students, all but one of mixed heritage.

Members of the group said they formed BAMS with hopes of providing a support center for students of mixed backgrounds and addressing issues relevant to people of mixed heritage.

One member of the group felt the creation of the group was necessary.

“Nothing currently exists on campus that addresses concerns of mixed students, most organizations focus on one particular culture,” said senior Yolanda Febles, a student liaison for the group, who is of Korean and Puerto Rican descent.

BAMS event coordinator, junior Jennifer Febles, also of Korean and Puerto Rican heritage, said that she developed the term “Korican” to describe herself because it embraces both parts of her identity.

“If I went to a Latin organization it wouldn’t address my Korean background and if I attended a Korean organization it wouldn’t address my Hispanic identity. That’s why BAMS is necessary because it embraces all sides of mixed identity,” said Febles.

The President of the group, Amanda Paez who is a sophomore of Jewish and Hispanic descent, expressed her difficulty in realizing with what cultural group she should identify with.

“Being 18 and a freshman in college, I experienced uncertainty about who I was, and I didn’t feel the issue of how to identify myself was being addressed on campus,” said Paez, “I was not going to identify myself by narrowing myself to one group.”

Representatives of the group said they hope to increase awareness and address diversity issues from a standpoint not currently present on BU’s already diverse campus. Their mission is to inform BU students that society is becoming increasingly multicultural.

Throughout the year the organization plans to host a number of forums and workshops concerning issues of interracial dating and marriage, identity issues for mixed people, race versus culture and breaking down stereotypes.

BAMS board members stress that they are not an exclusive, but inclusive group who are open to all BU students.

“We like to think we encompass aspects of every cultural group on campus” Febles said.

So far, founders of BAMS have received minimal opposition and have received a great deal of support from faculty and other cultural organizations.

“The formation of a group like BAMS is a good option to have on our campus because every other cultural organization is present,” said Kristin Eng, sophomore and member of BU’s Philippine American League. “I wouldn’t say it is a necessity though, but it is a good option.”

Group members said they are looking forward to collaborating with other cultural organizations at BU. President of the Students of Color Support Center, Cari-Anne Johnson said, “This is a wonderful addition to the student groups on campus, BAMS reaches out to students that other groups don’t. I would love to do a collaboration program with BAMS to help them expand.”

Black Student Union President, Yemisi Yoosuf said groups like BAMS are a good idea.

“Groups like the Caribbean Student Association and African Student Organization were not always on Binghamton’s campus, they all fell under the umbrella of BSU, but there comes a point when people feel it is time to branch off if their needs and concerns are not being addressed.”

Yoosuf said he is willing to work with BAMS concerning programs if their mission coincides with those of BSU, which are “Doing good for the students and addressing social, cultural and political issues that affect them.”