One of Tuft’s University’s newest members to the Senate, congrats Jameelah! Learn about other election winner Tabias Wilson ’13 (featured below with the lovely Ms. Jameelah Morris) next week when he will be featured as a Campus Celeb!
Name: Jameelah Morris
Year: 2013
Majors: International Relations (concentration: Latin America) and Spanish
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
How did you become interested in Tufts?
When I was a senior in high school I went to a college fair in DC, and when I looked at the Tufts table, I was interested by the IR program and the post-grad. opportunities at Fletcher. Also, being from D.C., I wanted to be in a non-metropolitan area, and Medford had the right balance between urban and suburban.
What activities do you do around campus?
A lot! I am one of the captains of Envy Step Team, the General Manager of the WMFO radio station, the President of Pan-African Alliance, and the Senator for the Class of 2013.
Wow! How do you find time for all of that? What are some of your responsibilities?
I am not sure – it all just kind of works out. Envy is a lot of fun. As a captain, I have to organize the practice and performance schedules, make steps and teach steps. I had a radio show back in D.C., and I really wanted to continue doing it. As President of Pan-African Alliance, I help prepare for events like Black Solidary Day. I also do a lot of community-based education by holding workshops and facilitating conversations about issues like academic equity. I try to organize events that bring the community together in a fun, non-stressful way.
What is your take on how Tufts handles racial issues?
There is always a lot of conversation, but not enough action that follows. For example, diversity has been an issue during all of my four years here and nothing has really changed. There is a lot of work to be done, and part of it is education.
Why did you decide to run for Senate?
It was a long thinking process. I have worked with Senate, and have been evaluating its effectiveness for a while. I had to think about a) whether or not I had the time and b) if there was something that I really wanted to change. In the end, I decided to run because there are many projects such as research opportunities and academic equity initiatives that have started, but not developed at Tufts. The Senate has the potential to be the voice of the student body, but that potential has not been reached yet. I don’t expect any grandiose change in one semester, but I think that I can help sow the seeds that may eventually improve the situation.
Who is your hero?
My academic/professional hero is Melissa Harris Perry – I kind of what to do everything she does. She is a scholar and professor at Tulane University
You want to be a professor?
Yes. My goal is to eventually get a PhD, probably in English, or in Latin American or African-American History. My other hero is my grandmother, because she keeps me on my feet and makes sure that I remember my family and my history.
Any words for the younger Jumbos?
Don’t give up the good fight!