Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness papers
Biographical / Historical
The Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness (SOCA) is a committee group of the Black Students' Union (BSU). The group was established initially as the Cultural Organization for Caribbean Awareness (COCA) in fall 2005 and later renamed SOCA in April 2006 as indicated in a pamphlet found in the collection. According to the 2018-2019 prime minister of the club, Lee Deary, the acronym SOCA was perceived to be more relevant due to the Caribbean connections with the soca music genre.
Caribbean culture on campus had been represented earlier through the African and Caribbean Cultural Club (ACCC). In April 2000 ACCC merged with BSU due to intersections in their mission and membership.
SOCA strives to embrace, support, and promote Caribbean and West Indian culture on campus and within the greater Rochester community. The group sponsors various thematic activities on campus. Caribash and Carifesta are its signature events. Caribash is a social event that aims to bring together students and members of the Rochester community, in the fall semester, to celebrate Caribbean culture through music and performances. Carifesta, formally Bob Marley Expo, takes place in spring. The purpose of Bob Marley Expo was to celebrate the work of legendary Jamaican artist, activist, and philanthropist, Robert Nesta ("Bob") Marley. The event was renamed Carifesta to make it more inclusive in its celebration of the legacy, works, and contributions of influential Caribbean artists.
SOCA's other events include SOCA Potluck; Caribfest, a carnival type of event with activities such as games, movies, painting, and dinner; SOCA Saturdays; Fusion; and SOCAerobics. In addition, the group has cosponsored events on campus, such as a joint discussion on masculinity with Minority Male Leadership Association (MMLA) in November 2017.
In 2017 SOCA received the Minority Student Advisory Board (MSAB) Award for Social and Cultural Awareness, and at the 2018 Boar's Head Dinner, the group was awarded the Boar's Head plaque.
Scope and Contents
The Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness (SOCA) papers contain two series: Events and Awards. Within the Events series are five subseries—Caribash, Carifesta, Campaigns, Other Events, and Photographs—which contain materials such as banners, posters, flyers, and pamphlets. In the Caribash and Carifesta subseries are materials used in the planning and advertising of these two events. The Campaigns subseries contains materials on students' organized efforts to support the people of Haiti following Hurricane Matthew in 2016. There are also subseries for Other Events and Photographs, the latter showing events and activities such as potluck and game nights. Some of the photographs appear to predate SOCA and may show African and Caribbean Cultural Club (ACCC) and Black Students' Union (BSU) events.
The Awards series contains a Minority Student Advisory Board Award for Social and Cultural Awareness (2017), which consists of a certificate and a goddess statuette, given to SOCA in honor of their work.
Creator
- University of Rochester. Black Students' Union (Organization)
Dates
- Creation: late 1980s or early 1990s-2017
Language of Materials
English
Extent
2.58 cubic feet (5 containers)
Conditions Governing Access
For access to this collection, please contact the University of Rochester Archives (archives@library.rochester.edu) at least two business days prior to your planned visit.
Please note: Some materials may be restricted or require permission for use.
Conditions Governing Use
To request reproductions or permission to publish materials from the collection, please contact the University of Rochester Archives (archives@library.rochester.edu). Researchers may be responsible for determining any copyright questions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Transferred by the Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness, May 3, 2017.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, item date], Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness Papers, UA29, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Geographic
Topical
Bibliography
"Black Students' Union - Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness." Campus Community Connection. University of Rochester. Accessed 5 October 2018.
"Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness." (Pamphlet). Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness Papers, UA29, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester.
Work, Nathaniel. "Campus Briefs: ACCC, BSU merge into one group." Campus Times, 6 April 2000, page 2.
Subject
- University of Rochester. Black Students' Union (Organization)
- Title
- Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Mercy Salome Jemutai (Class of 2021)
- Date
- undated
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Library Details
Part of the University of Rochester Archives Library
Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Blvd.
Rochester New York 14627-0055 USA
archives@library.rochester.edu
