The next step proposed by the group is to recruit Black male upperclassmen or alumni to serves as “akida” (leaders) or peer mentors for underclassmen. The akida serve as intermediaries between the lowerclassmen and the institution. Students are more likely to seek help from peers than administrators.
“A lot of male students at predominately White institutions don’t ask for help. They don’t want to appear as intellectually inferior. Some would rather flunk out than ask for tutors. The environment of some schools is not always conducive to asking for help,” said Frazier.
The akida should receive leadership training to instill mentoring and relationship-building skills. Both the akida and the underclassmen are encouraged to take an oath promising that the men will continue to uphold strong academic standards, build strong community relationships and strive for success.
“The oath is intended to instill a sense of commitment into the participating members,” Mason said.
Three other components to the program are:
• Two off campus retreats to builder stronger bonds between students
• Mandatory reflection journals to encourage self-defining
• Off campus educational learning experiences such as conferences, forums and festivals to reinforce academic preparation
Joseph Hunter, a student affairs representative at Clarion University in Pennsylvania who has been working to devise a similar program, plans to use the researchers’ findings and proposed program as a framework. “We have to engage our men of color, and they must learn to seek help,” Hunter said. “This program saved me a lot of work.”
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