News

King Week raises awareness

Junior Reginald Mask II asked, “If you left your institution today would you be satisfied with your education?” That was the question Mask asked during his event Monday evening, which was the apex of his week long King’s Week initiative. 

As a residential assistant, Mask has set out to make his students better. In the process of doing so he has created a week that he hopes to inspire the young men on campus to do a tad better with college life, classes and networking.

“The purpose was to give student leaders the opportunity to make themselves available to male freshmen students and push male empowerment across the entire campus,” said Mask.  

His events included,  “Don’t be a Statistic” on Monday night, “Ignorance is Death: Black AIDS Awareness” Tuesday night, Resumes and “Term Papers” on Wednesday night, “Advance your Swagger,” Thursday night and a competitive basketball game between the students and faculty, Friday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. in the Intramural Center.  Mask’s events on Monday and Tuesday focused on bettering yourself during your college career. 

Tuesday’s event featured speakers from Phi Beta Sigma, SGA, and Omega Phi Si. Although the turnout was slim; however, the message soaked into the students who attended. 

“I think he (Mask) is doing a good job as a RA, especially trying to get upperclassmen associated with the freshmen,” said Ellington Dias, a freshmen business management major. Dias added that he has made it a goal to always network.

Kiethlyn James, a member of Phi Beta Sigma, switched gears and used several personal examples in how others stressed the importance of getting students better motivated in going to class and being successful, a reaction that he wishes to happen on GSU’s campus. 

The idea for the week came from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore as UMES had a King’s Week for their Mr. UMES, said Mask. He added that he hopes this week will leave a long-term impression, not just a temporary fix. 

“I hope students will leave this week with brothers that will hold them accountable for uplifting themselves and others,” said Mask. “There aren’t enough Black men to spare for us to let them drop out and die off.”  

Mask first began his Black male initiative early this month, in which students were directed to dress professional every Monday and post their picture on Instagram with the hashtag #GSUMotivationalMonday for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Dillard’s.