Aptly nicknamed “the voice of the students," The Delphian has been Adelphi's sole campus newspaper for 69 years. It has been named Best College Newspaper several times in the past nine years by the Press Club of Long Island, and staff members and writers have also won numerous awards.
We are proud to feature two of The Delphian‘s student writers in Adelphi University Magazine. You can read issues of The Delphian online.
A Voice for the Students
Talking With R. Sentwali Bakari, PhD, Adelphi’s New Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students
by Victoria Grinthal
On December 3, 2019, Ronald Sentwali Bakari, PhD, took on this role as leader of many aspects of student life at our University. Dr. Bakari earned his doctorate at the University of Northern Colorado and is also an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Before becoming a Panther, Dr. Bakari was vice chancellor for student success at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
Dr. Bakari’s expertise and experience are welcome additions to our community.
What drew you to work at Adelphi University?
Adelphi has a terrific academic and professional reputation and I’m excited to be joining an amazing academic community. Our student demographics, with respect to ethnic diversity, international, commuter and first-generation, are inspiring. I like the global atmosphere of Adelphi.
What do you want to do to help improve student life at Adelphi?
I want to enhance the exceptional work that is already being done by Adelphi University, including the student affairs division. Research continues to inform us that the more students are engaged with their institution, the more their chances of being academically successful will improve, as well as being prepared to succeed in a global marketplace.
How do you plan to interact with students?
I plan to meet with as many students as I can and make myself available and accessible to student leaders, clubs and organizations, and attend student events in an effort to build trust and positive, productive relationships.
Adelphi students should always view their vice president of student affairs as their ambassador and advocate—someone they can reach out to with issues, concerns and opportunities to collaborate on various learning experiences to help their experience here be the best it can be.
A Poet and a Mentor
Jacqueline Jones LaMon, JD, and Chotsani West, MA ’07, Take Lead Roles in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
by Andrew Zhang ’23 (anticipated)
Celebrating the diversity of each and every student on a college campus, as well as being inclusive of people no matter their background, is an important and necessary part of campus life.
At Adelphi, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is being led by two new strong and qualified leaders, Executive Director Chotsani West, MA ’07, and Vice President Jacqueline Jones LaMon, JD.
West is the founding director of Adelphi’s award-winning mentoring program. “We must all view the work of diversity, equity and inclusion as a collective responsibility,” she said.
LaMon said our current world is largely reminiscent of the struggles of the ’60s and ’70s in that we are continuing to fight against racial injustice and inequality. Yet diversity, equity and inclusion are still goals that we have yet to reach across every career discipline.
“Diversity is the acknowledgment that all our voices need to be represented—not just a few select ones,” she said. “The only conflict that arises occurs when we impose value on certain voices over others, when we discount the importance of difference and only embrace a single viewpoint as being correct, necessary or respected. I hope to build support structures for our entire community to strengthen the positive experiences they have while here, to make certain all of our community members have the resources needed to thrive.”
LaMon has been working at Adelphi University since 2006. She was an English professor, a department chair and director of the MFA program in creative writing, and an associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences.
She explained what being a poet means to her and why poetry runs parallel to inclusion.
“For me, poetry is not to be regarded as some form of highbrow declarative thinking or making empty statements. I write poetry because doing so helps me figure out the questions that need to be asked. Poetry is all about subtext, the meaning beneath the surface, the motivations for action and inaction.”
LaMon added that creative outlets like poetry allow us to both face our challenges and discover who we are: “Improvement comes with having the difficult conversations and exploring our differences with respect and civility.”