NEW BRUNSWICK,
N.J. –

The students, faculty, and staff of Rutgers,
the State University of New Jersey, will celebrate Black History Month 2012 with
a wide range of cultural, educational, and wellness activities.  This year’s observance boasts academic conferences,
film screenings, performing artists, and keynote speakers, including former
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders. 

The
following is a chronological listing of events across the university’s campuses.

Wednesday,
February 1

2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Join Rutgers students for a Black History Month kickoff event at the Paul Robeson Campus Center, Newark Campus. Contact: prccosll@rutgers.edu

Friday,
February 3

7:00 p.m. – The Black Student Union presents
“Divas of the Diaspora: Celebrating the Black Woman” in the multipurpose room
of the Rutgers Student Center, College Avenue Campus.  Dinner will be served and semi-formal attire
is encouraged. Contact: bnacarter90@gmail.com

Monday, February 6

12:15 p.m. – Rutgers history
professor and author James Johnson will discuss "Black New Jersey in the
Civil War" at the Campus Center, Camden Campus. Contact: catkarm@camden.rutgers.edu

Tuesday,
February 7

11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – The Africana House of
the Douglass Global Village provides free HIV testing in the Douglass Lounge at
the Douglass Student Center, Douglass Campus. Contact: charneyr@echo.rutgers.edu

4:30 p.m. – Multicultural Student Involvement
provides step-by-step instruction on how to attain a high GPA in Meeting Room C
at the Douglass Student Center, Douglass Campus. Contact: wilson77@echo.rutgers.edu

7:30 p.m. – The Office of Student Life and Leadership
presents “Taste of the African Diaspora” featuring the Iwa L’ewa Dance Ensemble
and poet David Mills in the Essex Room of the Paul Robeson Campus Center,
Newark Campus. For more information, click here. Contact: prccosll@rutgers.edu

Thursday,
February 9

7:00 p.m. – Comedian Jason
Weems, a semifinalist on NBC's "Last Comic Standing," offers a free
performance at the Campus Center, Camden Campus. For more information, click here. Contact: catkarm@camden.rutgers.edu

8:00 p.m. – The Rutgers chapter of the NAACP
hosts its annual founders’ day banquet in Trayes Hall at the Douglass Student
Center, Douglass Campus. RSVP required. Contact: tconov@eden.rutgers.edu

Friday,
February 10

9:00 a.m. – The Office of Student Life and Leadership
presents its annual Social Justice Symposium in the Essex Room of the Paul
Robeson Campus Center, Newark Campus. Pre-registration required. Contact: prccosll@rutgers.edu

7:30 p.m. – The Douglass Black Students’
Congress presents Jazz ‘N Java, a multicultural poetry night at the Crossroads
Theatre, 7 Livingston Avenue, Downtown New Brunswick. Interested poets must
sign up in advance. Contact: wilson77@echo.rutgers.edu

Saturday,
February 11

7:00 p.m. – TWESE, Rutgers’ largest and oldest
African students’ organization, presents its annual fashion show at the Student
Activities Center, College Avenue Campus. 
Admission: $10 for Rutgers students, $12 for guests. Contact: rutwese@gmail.com

Saturday,
February 12

5:00 p.m. – The West Indian Student
Organization presents the Mr. and Ms. RU Caribbean pageant in Trayes Hall at
the Douglass Campus Center, Douglass Campus. Admission: $7 for Rutgers
students, $10 for guests. Contact: wisoru@gmail.com

Wednesday,
February 15

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Enjoy a delicious buffet
of soul food in the Douglass Café at the Douglass Student Center, Douglass Campus. Admission: $10 per person. Contact: nicholas.kraus@rutgers.edu

7:00 p.m. – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
and the School of Environmental and Biological
Sciences Educational Opportunity
Fund present a first person depiction of
historical figure and Rutgers alumnus Paul Robeson at the Livingston Student
Center, Livingston Campus. Contact: quadeerp@gmail.com

8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – Writers @ Rutgers hosts a reading with Terrance Hayes, winner of the 2010 National Book Award in Poetry, in the Multipurpose Room of the Rutgers Student Center, College Avenue Campus. For more information, click here. Contact: rhea.ramey@rutgers.edu

Thursday, Feb. 16

7:00 p.m. – Award-winning documentary filmmaker
Aishah Shahidah Simmons presents a free showing of “NO! The Rape
Documentary" at the Campus Center, Camden Campus. For more information, click here. Contact: catkarm@camden.rutgers.edu

7:00 p.m. – The West Indian Students Association presents “Dance with WISA,” a cultural dance showcase, in the 3^rd
floor dance studio of the Paul Robeson Campus Center, Newark Campus. Contact: prccosll@rutgers.edu

Friday, February 17

7:00 p.m. – Join the Black Organization of Students for a
movie and ice cream social in the 3^rd floor dance studio of the Paul
Robeson Campus Center, Newark Campus. Contact: prccosll@rutgers.edu

8:00 p.m. –  This semester’s Arts
Appreciation Series continues with a performance of “Adventures in Fishy Waters: In Bed with the Blues” at
Crossroads Theatre, 7 Livingston Avenue, Downtown New Brunswick.  Admission: $5 per person through the Office
of Multicultural Student Involvement. For more information, click here. Contact: wilson77@echo.rutgers.edu

Saturday, February 18

9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – The Rutgers Institute on Ethnicity, Culture, and the
Modern Experience presents the 32^nd annual Marion Thompson Wright
Lecture Series featuring Dr. Joycelyn Elders, former Surgeon General of the
United States during the Clinton administration, at the Paul Robeson Campus
Center, Newark Campus. For more information, click here. Contact: mpierson@andromeda.rutgers.edu

8:00 p.m. – The Soweto Gospel Choir performs at the McCarter Theatre,
Princeton. Admission: $10 per person through the Office of Multicultural Student Involvement. For more information, click here. Contact: wilson77@echo.rutgers.edu

Monday,
February 20

8:00 p.m. – The Haitian
Association of Students at Rutgers presents a screening and
discussion of “A Look at Haiti” in room 255 of the Paul Robeson Campus Center,
Newark Campus. Contact: prccosll@rutgers.edu

Wednesday, February 22

12:15 p.m. – Author Ewuare
Osayande will discuss his new book of poetry, "Whose America," at the
Campus Center, Camden Campus. Contact: catkarm@camden.rutgers.edu

8:00 p.m. – The Haitian
Association of Students at Rutgers host a discussion of voodoo
origins and stereotypes in room 255 of the Paul Robeson Campus Center Room,
Newark Campus. Contact: prccosll@rutgers.edu

Thursday, February 23

7:00 p.m. – Black Violin, a Florida-based
classical/hip hop group, offers a free performance at the Campus Center, Camden Campus. Contact: catkarm@camden.rutgers.edu

8:00 p.m. – The Haitian Association of Students at
Rutgers hosts its fifth annual Haiti relief dinner in the Essex Room of the Paul
Robeson Campus Center, Newark Campus. Donations will be accepted. Contact: prccosll@rutgers.edu

Friday, February 24

6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. – Join
Rutgers alumni and friends for a movie screening of the Academy Award nominated
major motion picture The Help. Board of Governors Professor Deborah Gray White will lead
a post-screening discussion at Voorhees Hall, College Avenue Campus. Admission: $15 per person. For more information, click here. Contact: RUAlumni@alumni.rutgers.edu

Saturday, February 25

9:00 a.m. – The United Black
Council presents its third annual Black Student Leadership Conference at the
Douglass Student Center, Douglass Campus. Contact: eadjoa90@gmail.com

7:00 p.m. – Enjoy a free
performance of gospel music by local performers during the 30^th
annual Evening of Gospel Choirs at Voorhees Chapel, Douglass Campus. Contact: agillespie@amst.rutgers.edu

Wednesday, February 29

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. –
Enjoy a delicious buffet of soul food in the Douglass Café at the Douglass
Student Center, Douglass Campus. Admission: $10 per person. Contact: nicholas.kraus@rutgers.edu

6:30 p.m. – The Black Organization of Students hosts an
evening of jazz in the University Club of the Paul Robeson Campus Center,
Newark Campus. Contact: prccosll@rutgers.edu