Mizzou Black Men’s Initiative will sponsor a Freshman Interest Group next year for black, male students. Nathan Stephens, the senior coordinator of the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center, will lead the FIG.
Upon hearing the news of the new FIG, Missouri Students Association President Xavier Billingsley initially was concerned an all black FIG could potentially promote segregation. After meeting with Stephens and becoming familiar with the details of the FIG, Billingsley said he is still uncertain about his opinion on the FIG but sees potential for something good and beneficial to come from this FIG.
“This is a very interesting concept,” Billingsley said. “It has to be careful and strategically planned to be successful. I hope that they can do it.”
Potential members of the Men’s Leadership FIG will be able to apply to the FIG through a link on the MBMI website, and the members will all live on the same residence hall floor. Stephens said though this FIG might look like it could be promoting separatism, he stresses this FIG is meant to promote success and leadership among a minority that has historically not fared well in the past.
“It is practically impossible for minority students to isolate themselves in the residence halls, classrooms or student unions to the point that they never interact with majority students,” Stephens said. “Not only this, (but) as the adviser to MBMI, I would never support such a mindset.”
Usually, FIGs are focused on academic and career goals, but this new FIG will be grouped by identity. Stephens said he will primarily focus on guiding these men to leadership success.
“I don’t think that it will necessarily promote segregation as much as it will allow the students involved to talk about their experiences as black male students at Mizzou with other black male students at Mizzou,” peer adviser and FIG leader Evan Arnold said. “I think it definitely has the potential to be a really great program.”
Billingsley said he hopes Stephens will work toward exposing the men to different experiences as he teaches this FIG.
“I challenge them to have all different types of males in this group,” Billingsley said. “You don’t want all the same kind of guys from St. Louis or Kansas City, or else it would be more like segregation.”
MBMI, the sponsor of the new Men’s Leadership FIG, works with other groups in the MU community, such as Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, Interfraternity Council chapters and the Central Missouri Food Bank.
“This is to say that we do not separate ourselves but work collaboratively with a number of diverse organizations,” Stephens said.
Stephens said he wants to build a mechanism of support for the future members of this FIG.
“The Men’s Leadership FIG will prepare incoming student leaders to the Mizzou campus through leadership workshops, academic support, community service opportunities, personal accountability and a cohort of support,” Stephens said.
