LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Depart-
ment of Africana Studies at the University at Albany

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with its
time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those who
foster ethnic pride and enhance the profile of cultural diversity which
strengthens the fabric of the communities of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 40th Anniversary of the Department of Africana Studies at the
University at Albany, to be celebrated on September 24-26, 2009; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the Department of Africana Studies at the
University at Albany promotes excellence in teaching, research, and
service; it is concerned with the study of the experiences of the people
of Africa and the African diaspora; and
WHEREAS, Through the study of such disciplines as history, politics,
economics, culture, literature, sociology, and psychology, the Depart-
ment aims to engender an appreciation of diversity and emphasize the
ways in which Africans and people of African descent in the Americas
have constructed and interpreted their own lives and cultures; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Africana Studies was previously known as
the Department of Afro-American Studies, which was created in January of
1969; the department was part of the Division of Social and Behavioral
Sciences of the College of Arts and Science, which then became the
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences in 1977; and
WHEREAS, The Afro-American Studies Department was created by President
Collins in response to demands by an increasing black student population
which was led by the Black Student Alliance for entry level courses in
Afro-American studies; on January 31, 1969, President Collins bypassed
normal University channels and formed an Afro-American Studies Depart-
ment scheduled to offer courses in the fall of 1969; and
WHEREAS, The new department would concentrate specifically on urban
affairs and human development; the primary focus of the department was
studying the black experience in the United States, and from the start,
the department also included courses relating to African history and
culture; and
WHEREAS, In addition to its strict academic course offerings, the
African and Afro-American Studies Department served as a social support
arena; it was and is the only department in which there are a substan-
tial number of black professors providing students with needed role
models in a predominantly white environment; the department significant-
ly serves as a home for mentors and those needing to be mentored; and
WHEREAS, In 1973, the Department of Afro-American Studies enlarged its
mission to give equal emphasis to the interdisciplinary study of Africa;
in recognition of this new emphasis the Afro-American Department changed
its name to the Department of African and Afro-American Studies; in
1990, the department once again changed its name to Africana Studies in
recognition of a new widening of its intellectual focus, namely the
inclusion of courses documenting the whole African Diaspora; and
WHEREAS, Currently, the Department of Africana Studies' Master's
Program ranks second in the nation; in addition, the Bachelor's Program
ranks sixth, according to the U.S. Department of Education and Diverse
Issues in Higher Education; and
WHEREAS, Our society is greatly benefited by the purposeful efforts of
institutions who unite for the cause of improving the quality of life
for others, and who proactively work toward the goal of dignity for all;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Department of Africana Studies
at the University at Albany; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Marcia Sutherland, Chair, Department of Africana Studies,
University at Albany.