• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Features
  • Campus News
  • CSUDH.edu
  • Contact
  • People
    • Staff Spotlight
    • Faculty Highlights
    • Alumni
  • Magazine
  • For Journalists
    • CSUDH In The News
    • Press Releases
    • Facts and Figures
    • Find Media Experts
    • Gallery

CSUDH News

The primary source of news and information about California State University, Dominguez Hills, its students, faculty, and staff.

You are here: Home / Archive / Features / Cornel West Speaks to Packed House at California State University, Dominguez Hills

Cornel West Speaks to Packed House at California State University, Dominguez Hills

November 5, 2012

Author, activist, philosopher and scholar Cornel West.

The ever-animated and provocative author, activist, philosopher and scholar Cornel West addressed a full house at California State University, Dominguez Hills on Nov. 1, energizing approximately 1,000 visitors in the Loker Student Union Ballroom and spillover crowds on the first and second floor lobbies who listened to his talk via live audio feed.

Best known for his political and social activism, West lectures throughout the country on issues of democracy, race, gender and class, all subjects he covered during a spirited discourse on campus.

Anthony Vincent, a junior computer science major said he had heard of West through BET (Black Entertainment Television) and attended the lecture for extra credit. He said he was impressed by West.

“He did a good job. He made his point very valid. It was relatable to everything that is going on,” Vincent said. “He’s about helping other people at the bottom that are struggling and need help. And that relates to me.”

Vincent noted that he will heed West’s advice to use his voice by participating in the California general election, “My opinion counts. I’m going to vote.”

For Jamelle Fortuné, a senior majoring in behavioral science major and minoring in Africana studies who learned about West through her studies, hearing what he had to say in person was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it dispelled some of the negative portrayals of him in the media.

“He inspired me to better. He confirmed for me the love that I have for people is worth something,” Fortuné said.

Of his recommendation to build a healthy society from the bottom out, rather than the top down, Fortuné said, “I think he meant that people at the bottom would appreciate more and would give more because they feel for one another, because everybody at the bottom has the same struggle no matter what color [they are].”

Cornel West addresses university faculty, staff, and students, and members of the community.

While his discussion generally focused on social activism and civic responsibility, he spent considerable time discussing self-examination.

“A life without self-examination is not worth living,” West said. “In the short time between the womb and tomb, the question is, ‘Who you gonna be?’”

Jamaica Carter, a senior liberal studies major, said West inspired her to continue her education and do follow her dreams.

“The thing that touched me the most was the part when he was talking about us as students, what we need to do, how we need not to just succeed, but to be great,” Carter said. “He was very well-spoken, very informative, and very straight to point about what his vision was.”

“An Evening with Dr. Cornel West” was co-sponsored by Toro Productions, Loker Student Union, Associated Students, Inc., Multicultural Center, Office of Student Life, Labor Studies Club, Sociology Club, and University Housing.

Filed Under: Features Tagged With: Alumni, Communications, Faculty, Peacebuilding, Political Science, Social Justice, Social Work, Staff, Students

Recent Features

CSUDH Mental Health Resources Expand and Adapt

CSUDH Mental Health Resources Expand and Adapt

May 11, 2022

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing hardships, college students were not immune to the nation’s widespread rise in mental health issues. Studies from the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) found that pre-COVID, one in four young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 had a diagnosable mental ... Read More

2022 Faculty Awards Reception

2022 Faculty Awards Honor Excellence in Teaching, Research, and Service

May 4, 2022

2022 Faculty Excellence Recipients CSUDH honored five faculty members during the 2022 Faculty Awards Reception on May 3 for their excellence in teaching and research, their contributions to university governance and development, and for the role non-tenure track faculty play in student achievement. Watch the event ... Read More

CSUDH Biology Professor Recognized for Research

CSUDH Biology Professor Recognized for Research

April 13, 2022

CSUDH Associate Professor of Biology Sonal Singhal has been honored by the Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE) for her research work on lizard speciation. Her paper “Strong Selection Against Hybrids Maintains a Narrow Contact Zone Between Morphologically Cryptic Lineages in a Rainforest Lizard” was named one of ... Read More

... see all Featured Stories

Footer

California State University, Dominguez Hills Logo

1000 E. Victoria Street, Carson, CA 90747
1-310-243-2001 • Send Email

Related Sites

  • csudh.edu
  • magazine.csudh.edu
  • gotoros.com

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get CSUDH News directly in your inbox

Copyright © 2022 · California State University, Dominguez Hills