What better way to usher in the beginning of Black History Month than with a celebration? The University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Africana Studies celebrated its 40th anniversary on campus in the William Pitt Union Jan. 30.

BRENDA BERRIAN

The Africana Studies department has seen many changes over the past 40 years, beginning with its name, which was the Department of Black Studies when it was established in 1969. Positive changes the department has seen are the expansion of the department’s curriculum to include the study of Caribbean and African cultures and histories as well as African-American culture and history, and the enrollment of non-African-American students has increased to the point where some classes will have as much as 70 percent non-Black students in attendance, said department chair, Brenda Berrian.

A CAPA student was recently beaten by three police officers. We asked Pittsburghers what they thought and what they think should happen to the police. Here’s what you said:

“A man of color is always guilty by reason of suspicion. The police officers should be suspended without pay and not rehired for the simple fact that if it happened once it will happen again. Police need to be evaluated before given the job to ensure that they don’t have ethnic biases. They are meant to serve and protect, not disrespect and destroy.”

GEORGE LANE, DARIS SCHULER and GEORGE ALLEN

George Lane
Labor worker
Sheraden

Joined by about 60 CAPA students outside Pittsburgh council chambers, Black Political Empowerment Project Director Tim Stevens called on Police Chief Nate Harper to reassign officers Richard Ewing, David Sisak and Michael Saldutte to desk duty. These officers beat CAPA senior Jordan Miles during a Jan. 12 arrest outside his home.

MARCHING FOR MILES —CAPA students march into the City-County Building to deliver letters to Pittsburgh Council and Police Chief Nate Harper calling for charges to be dropped against Jordan Miles and punishment for the officers who beat him during a Jan. 12 arrest.

Carrying signs and chanting, the students marched from their school on a windy 26-degree day to demand justice for their schoolmate. Stevens thanked them for, what for most, was their first foray into civil activism.