My name is Ryan Bethune and I am a freshman that attends Stony Brook University. To start it off my first year of college was completely different from my four years of high school at Brooklyn College Academy here in Brooklyn, NY. The main aspect was the fact that I had way ore freedom than I ever had while I was in high school. I’m not talking about just the personal aspect of college, like not having anyone telling you what to do, but also the academic aspect of it. The Professors in college don’t tell you harass you when you don’t hand in assignment or remind you about them. If you don’t hand in an assignment they don’t tell your parents about. Going to class and doing everything you are suppose to do is up to you and no one else. Also the personal freedom is so great that it might overwhelm you. When your in college anything you want to do you have free will to do, but you have to be responsible for the actions you take. Its your choice if you want to go to that party while knowing you have a 9:00AM class in the morning.

In my own personal opinion I feel that everyone should go away to colege if they have the chance. Dorming in college and getting away from your parents is an experience that you can only get in college. It helps builds you as an independant person so you will be prepared when you actually go into the real world. Even though this was just the end of my first year of college dorming has introduced to me what is like to almost be an adult. You start to learn some of the challeneges and decisions you have to make when living on your own. Overall my college experience was a good one and suggest that everyone goes to college not to expand your intellect but you expand yourself as a person. While in college you will learn alot about yourself and learn how to become the person you want to be.

-Ryan Laws Bethune Freshman Stony Brook University

Recently, BCAL hosted t-shirt designers Danielle and Jewells. from Due Justice. to assist us with designing our shirts. They came to discuss what makes a good t-shirt design, view our designs and demonstrate the art of printing on t-shirts. It was a cool experience. We discussed ink colors. contrasting colors, silk-screening the actual printing process and marketing to a target audience. What stuck me was  dating a drawing can prevent a person from copying and claiming it is their work; an inexpensive way of copyrighting. BCAL members shared their t-shirt designs; the final design was a mix if two different members’ designs. Jewells and Danielle were very informative, down to earth, and interactive with their audience. I really learned from this experience about the steps for t-shirt designing and look forward to wearing our t-shirt.

By: Kevin Rodriguez

The Earth Day Celebration was a great display of the community coming together. The neighborhood came out with their families for earthly family fun. There were live performances and it was ill. I was feeling the creativity with how  they used oil cans for instruments. The demonstration showing the uses of solar energy and how much more eco-friendly it is was crazy. They used a solar panel to charge an ipod touch. The kids also  learned the benefits of recycling and how to do it through a game where there was a recycling can and a regular can and the kids had to put the trash in the right can. The kids also planted seeds and families enjoyed puppets made from recycled materials with puppeteer Ronny Wasserstom.

By Jahlena Robinson

The Black Brooklyn Renaissance was crazy. They had all types of dance from the 1960 – 2010 mixed into african dance. They were trying to say how all dances and things in the black culture are derived from africa. It was mad hot they had the stiltwalkers of Cote d’lvoire and the moko jumbie which are the tradition of Trinidad and Tobago. It was also to bring the community together. Also they were so influental that the crowd gave money for the Hatian funds.

My fellow brothers suppressed
Criticized by how they dress
This society is just a mess
trying to be the best
Just gotta get off my chest
This heavy weight we call stress
My brothas locked up for theft

In every life people stress, how they’re gonna make sucess
asking your Mom where is your Pops
Not forgetting to run from the cops
Not using any props
you know you gotta stop cuz soon
your insides are gonna pop, lock, and drop
Rapping with the flow all the girls dropping it low
and fathers leaving their kids and walking out the door

They think we are thugs running around selling drugs
But we are determined to overcome
perceptions of us being dumb
The whole world is against us Brothers
and yet still we fight one another

Musically talented they say we are
and we spend our money on big fancy cars
Although I fall I know I can
I can do this that and the  other
I don’t have to be restricted by my color

They think we are all uneducated
But I am standing here because I am not the one who ran
I am me..not a criminal
but a miracle

by Kevin R.
DeVante H.
Christopher R.
Chantelle H.
Courtney P.
Jahlena R.
Creative direction by Malachi J.