Let's Talk UNLV

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This is a k u and v studios original program.

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The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 Jazz and more the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

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Welcome to another episode of Let's Talk UNLV. I'm Alicia.

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And I'm Tanya, and we're on public radio K, u and v 91.5. Today, we have a special treat. Today we get an opportunity to interview Dr. Ashton Ridley Austin. Yeah. Would you be so kind as to share with the listeners your origin story? How did you get here? How did you come to this role?

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Man, the role of General Manager in this place? Yeah. to Vegas.

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Oh, I love it so much. Oh, love it.

Unknown Speaker 0:52
I mean, the history of me coming to Vegas is a military child traveling around with my mom. And she was a single mom. In the army. She served 21 years and ended up retiring in Las Vegas of all places. And so with that started off in public radio, worked my way through 8.1, all the way at CSN as the manager of Multicultural Affairs. And for the last four years, I've been the general manager at public radio K, u and v home of 91.5, jazz and more, and the rebel HD,

Unknown Speaker 1:24
yes, no need to put a clause in the insert and edit this. Because we feel honored to have you in the studio. Thank you so much

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on your first interview, in fact,

Unknown Speaker 1:36
we're talking black history because it is February, you know, ladies and gents and all those who are listening. And so we want to go over some cool things that are happening here on campus, but also in the community. So we thank you for sitting with us and have a conversation around some of these topics.

Unknown Speaker 1:50
Also, I want to thank your mother for her service to our country. You know, I see you sis, I see you. Okay, so with that, you know, I'm looking at this black history month calendar and my jaw is dropping and the cool and amazing things that are going on on campus. Would you care to share more about the things that are happening for Black History Month?

Unknown Speaker 2:12
Absolutely. In another role that I have at the university as I am the co chair for the Council of African American professionals, and my partner in crime on that side of the house is Amani Patterson, who has been phenomenal, and really works with student organizations on campus. Oh, yeah, so definitely gotta give a shout out to Amani and mighty

Unknown Speaker 2:32
we love you. Definitely familiar sis. Got you

Unknown Speaker 2:36
and the other system directors and coordinators over there at UNLV, SDP or student diversity programs, which has really put this list of activities together. And one thing that they started off doing at the end of last month kind of preparing everybody is they actually put on some social events linking different diversity groups of faculty and staff to connect with students. And so with that, we were able to really just bring cap together, bring our sisters and brothers from university together and really just collaborate and just mix and mingle. And it really kicked off with a, what they call it a blackout side. And that was an event that was hosted in the Student Union on February 1 to kind of kick off Black History Month. And then they went into thriving authentically. I actually attended that event and with that it was an opportunity for students to connect with careers professionals kind of like a mini career fair. And within that you saw students and employers just engaging back and forth and it was a really awesome event. And they went into good trouble necessary trouble where they

Unknown Speaker 3:41
had the title by the way, come on and give an honor activist who was no longer with us but my goodness, I love the title get I'm sorry, no, no, no trouble. Yeah,

Unknown Speaker 3:51
with that they brought in the president of the local NAACP chapter and he dialogue and had some conversations with them about what activism is about. And then it went into routed intuited, which is taking place on the 13th, which coincides with you know, everything that's black and celebratory. And so that's going to take place, whereas that when that student union 135 on the 13th. But really, let's get into everything else, the Douglass day, transcribe a THON, which is on February 14, that's an opportunity where Frederick Douglass had letters that were written. And so this is an opportunity where students can go in actually type and help address some of his handwriting. Oh, wow, they're looking at his original handwriting but transcribing it so that way individuals be able to read the writings of Frederick connections

Unknown Speaker 4:39
to the past.

Unknown Speaker 4:42
Now, let me ask you this. In regards to coming up with a list, I know there's a committee but was it a joint effort of the students as well as faculty and chair people coming together to create these activities? How did you all decide what was going to actually make the list and the why behind it?

Unknown Speaker 4:56
I mean, when you really look at student diversity programs they work with The students directly. So when it comes to the clubs, the group's those kinds of engagements. For my understanding being on cap on the faculty side, SDP is more boots on the ground working with students. So it was, Hey, these are some of the ideas that we're thinking about. What do y'all think about these, and I'm sure there was a collaboration between that unit and the students to formalize the list and really make it impactful. Like the barbershop talk is something that they're doing in the student lounge area, where or SDP lounge where male students are going to get their haircuts if they wish, but really have a conversation in that kind of environment, where you flip that on the 22nd, they're going to do the Black Beauty effect, where now you have females getting in that space and doing the exact same kind of conversations. So there's things that are set up for all groups to attend to, to get knowledge and education, then you have these particular groups and particular activities, which are really focused on either males or women, and really can give them that space to conversate. And dialogue.

Unknown Speaker 6:03
And the barber shipped the Body Shop Talk is on the 15th. Correct, correct. You know, as I see these two, like my whole, like, my whole soul has

Unknown Speaker 6:11
grown up, right, all the conversations in the beauty shop and the barber shop, but some people may not be familiar with that side of of our culture, right. That's where a lot of like decisions were made, you know, politicians came together or, you know, groups came together, and they had conversations in regards to what was going on in our society and making decisions. I think it's, I love this idea

Unknown Speaker 6:31
that they put it together, and even the Beatson brunch inside the dining commons. That's something that the radio station does every Wednesday in collaboration with UNLV dining. And with that, we've been able to just build a community around Beatson brunch. And so with this, we just kind of integrated it into their plan. So it's really SDP UNLV, dining, and the radio station, The rebel HD two coming together to do Beatson brunch on 221 at 11am.

Unknown Speaker 7:01
I love everything about that. And I was looking at the black Carpet Awards on the 27th.

Unknown Speaker 7:06
And oh, man, that is the creme de la creme of black history. As far as the celebration that's gonna take place on February 27, February 27, at 6pm, inside the Student Union ballroom, and with that, it's really a celebration of blackness. So they're gonna give out some awards for recognitions of community members, students and faculty and staff members. And it's just a time to celebrate. So again, that's the black Carpet Awards on February 27, at 6pm. That is the signature event of Black History Month. Although there's these other events, that one is the one that we really, really, really want everybody to come out to, whether it's cap, whether you're a student, whether you're a faculty member, that's the place that needs to be you need to be

Unknown Speaker 7:52
not did you have to get tickets to attend the event? How do you actually just not show up and just show up?

Unknown Speaker 7:56
6pm on February 27. Okay,

Unknown Speaker 8:00
now, I'm gonna get my date

Unknown Speaker 8:03
plus one, plus one, you didn't see what I just did, but I was like, I took a picture and I sent my child I was like, son, yeah, did you know? Did you know? I

Unknown Speaker 8:11
need you to like Carpet Awards. That is amazing. Oh, man, something

Unknown Speaker 8:15
else that really stands out on this list. And it really goes out to clay tea white, on February 29. At 10am There's going to be a historic west side bus store that's going to depart UNLV Student Union and give an opportunity for faculty members or students to really get an education on the historic west side of Las Vegas. And that's again the capstone event on February 29 at 10am and there will be reservations for that just matter emailing S D p@unlv.edu. That's S D p@unlv.edu. To get more information on the bus tour taking place on February 29. Man

Unknown Speaker 8:56
my heart and soul is so so full and that's not even all week. Like tell us more. Oh my gosh. So all of these wonderful events and I love the connections to all parts of us. You know our spiritual our musical our soulful you know especially when I think about the the barbershop and the beauty piece you know, to your point like that's why a lot of bonding and growing up happened you that was where you had heard grown people compensated.

Unknown Speaker 9:23
Laughter You know, some some sorrowful moments but it was a time where people came together and connected and bonded you know, I look forward when I was a kid going to the beauty shop you know and hearing the grown ups talk but you know, we got our hair done but we also got to see the you know, the bony ephors as you said, women coming together and having conversations about relationship about church of you know about the community girl did you hear such a such such and such, everybody knew a little bit of everything because those conversations are had in the beauty shop and in the barber shop. Yeah, you

Unknown Speaker 9:55
kept you connected to your community and it kept you connected to each other. And I remember like, Did you Get

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such assessment just

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want to talk? Exactly,

Unknown Speaker 10:05
exactly. I'm sure you can relate to right. You

Unknown Speaker 10:09
know, I didn't go into barber shop cuts were done at home. But when I did I totally understand what you ladies are referring to?

Unknown Speaker 10:20
Well, I'm excited. Now, has this always been a tradition each year for events because I'm new to some of this, although I've been on campus for a couple of years, I didn't know that they had so many events that took place. So is this something new to this level that have been implemented for Black History Month, in regards to these events, when

Unknown Speaker 10:37
it comes to my understanding, when it comes to these type of events, the black carpet has always been the signature events of Black History Month for UNLV. Outside of that, there were other events that take place over the course of the month. But again, most of those are geared towards students. So with this type of radio show, and podcast, this is an opportunity to really expand that to where now faculty knows what's going on and can encourage students to attend. So it's really just more marketing and education, if you will, to the faculty side, and also by creating shows like this, where others get to know what's going on. And it's just not siloed to a student's email.

Unknown Speaker 11:15
I love that.

Unknown Speaker 11:15
I love that too. And I was looking at this Black History Month, and all the different avenues that people can take to be present. And would you like to tell us a little bit more about the Black History Month spirit week?

Unknown Speaker 11:27
Yeah, so it can, it came from a cap, meaning the Council of Afro American professionals, we had a meeting last semester. And we really were trying to think of what we wanted to do to help kind of celebrate Black History Month as a unit. And with that, we came up in conversation about doing a spirit week for ourselves, which kind of mimics homecoming week, and we were able to expand that to the student diversity programs to get students involved. So now each day from February 20 to February 23, there's an opportunity to dress up in a different way to celebrate black history, while coming together for a photo. And so if you look at the schedule on February 20, it's a sports day. So were your favorite team gear. That's when he first its roots day were African fashion to represent the rich culture of the motherland. On the 22nd of February, it's crown day, wear hats, wraps, locks, coils braids, to kind of recognize your crown, the Crown passing of the crown act. And then on the 23rd, we end like we always do at UNLV rebel Red Friday. So where are your rebel red gear, you want to have the spirit and really just celebrate everything that Shinobi and Black History Month at the same time.

Unknown Speaker 12:38
I love that. Also want to add to we didn't mention this is a separate entity, but it's also in conjunction for Black History Month. I know that the DC they're going to be hosting African American Black History dinner, I believe it's supposed to be on the 15th. So it's for students, faculty, whoever wants to come they can come out and have different cuisines that are centered around celebrating our culture. And there are a lot of decor and you know, different things that they're going to be doing within the dining coming. So I strongly encourage I believe that the event should be from six to 8pm. So you go to the first event for the barber shop. And then after you get done with the barber shop head over there and get you a bite to eat in the evening. I know because they're on the same day. So you know, that's a good thing that we have a lot of things taking place on campus, but I've I've attended the last couple years and they were really good. We have a lot of student affairs representatives that come they have partnership with housing department and things like that. So it's really always a really good event and great great food. So this year, I believe chef Josh Cosby will be serving up some great cuisine and if anybody knows chef, he can throw down in the kitchen okay, because he can throw down in the kitchen he won the competition here. My homeboy my great friend Kahless level much but he he he they were competing for the chef spotlight and Chef Josh he brought it so brought the

Unknown Speaker 13:59
heat he brought the heat that is really good because I was gonna come with expectations. You talking about you know cooking so food Black History Monday, I have expectations let's fry cat

Unknown Speaker 14:11
fish. You know, I don't know if they're gonna do collard greens or not. But I know it's supposed to be a good man. You better

Unknown Speaker 14:16
put their foot in it. Yeah. Literal foot people. Just in case somebody's

Unknown Speaker 14:21
not going to put a foot in. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 14:26
Not a literal foot. It just means make it good. Make it good.

Unknown Speaker 14:30
lists and ashes like lists. These two are weird. Going back and forth. This is what we do it I'm so glad you just let us be up.

Unknown Speaker 14:38
I'm just the guest for the ride.

Unknown Speaker 14:41
So glad you're here. I know that there is one more thing that we wanted to talk about. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 14:46
So I would be remiss if I didn't, you know, pump up cap. The Council of African American professionals we're doing a book drive for a correctional It's a juvenile correctional school that we're partnering with. And in this, we're encouraging our members in the community to purchase books to expand their library. Because one thing that we learned within the juvenile system, when individuals check out books through the library, they typically have to hold them for a month. And so with that, we're hoping to expand the library collection to give those students and young people an opportunity to expand their knowledge. And more information on that is at unlv.edu/c A P, that unlv.edu/c A P. And that's just more information on the Council of Afro American professionals book drive that we've been hosting. And the list is open until we get all the books that we're trying to get to expand their library within the juvenile justice system.

Unknown Speaker 15:49
Amazing.

Unknown Speaker 15:50
Yeah, I you know, I worked with the juvenile justice system in Hawaii, I worked with on the Hawaii youth corrections facilities and books gonna change your life, you know it and then also for kids that are incarcerated, it's a way for them to keep up, you know, so that they don't fall behind it for them to feel like normal kids that have normal opportunities. So I'm really excited that there is a book drive for them. And I think that it can make a world of difference in the life of a child. So thank you for that. So

Unknown Speaker 16:20
we've gone through our list, I want to know individually, what are we doing for Black History Month and not to mention tomorrow's love day? What you know, we have special loved ones in our lives. What are we doing? I'm doing a gallon times a little facility with my girlfriends. But will you guys go black history you and I were talking about last year we attended a festival that they actually had here in Vegas. So are individually is anyone doing anything, they're

Unknown Speaker 16:42
still having the festival again, it's February 17. And it's at the spring preserves, and they're having a black history fair, if anyone's interested. And while you get your black history on, just know the Smith Center has a wonderful repertoire of different activities that are also taking place during Black History Month. So there is no shortage of ways to come out and show up and show up.

Unknown Speaker 17:02
Awesome. And the cool thing is a lot of those events are either free or just a low cost for you to participate.

Unknown Speaker 17:07
Absolutely. So bounce you didn't you didn't catch me singing What's Love Got to do with?

Unknown Speaker 17:17
Nothing. What does it have to do with this love everything to do with you

Unknown Speaker 17:22
know, honestly. So I found that for some people, not everybody, but people who aren't in relationships, Valentine's Day serves as a day to reflect on why they alone, which is a mess, which is an absolute mess. So I would like to propose a new Valentine's Day tradition. If you are without a partner or a spouse on Valentine's Day, you are your partner and your spouse come you love you so much that whoever comes along will be jealous of the love that you give you. So that when you reflect back on Valentine's, you're like that was nice, I ate dinner here. Yeah, I got roses, and then post them pictures of you and your boo. The pictures of the things that you got from the person you love the person who loves you more than anybody in the whole world. So it's not about who's boot up. And oftentimes people just get booted for the day, and then they unglued by the next day. So it's not about who's boot up, you know, it's a it's a day of love, and you are the oldest and longest relationship you will ever have. So love the hell out of you. Treat you treat you so well. That whoever comes along is like, Well, what did you do found out and say, Well, I bought me this and I went here and they're like, oh, so So yeah, come correct. That's the expectation, right? set that expectation. So

Unknown Speaker 18:35
you turn us around and applause

Unknown Speaker 18:39
Amen. But we're not there yet. Okay, so as to how you can come up and follow behind it.

Unknown Speaker 18:43
I can't follow up behind that. Drop the mic for you. But the best that I can say for me right now, it's really celebrating Black History Month at UNLV with all the events we have going on, just being there and showing up for the faculty and the students just to see your face and kind of interact with that. So that's how I'm celebrating black history month because we have so much going on.

Unknown Speaker 19:01
And that is love lives here to love lives here too. So what's

Unknown Speaker 19:07
Alright, well, I'm hoping that those who are listening have been, you know, received some information that they were not aware. I know I'm sitting here and participating in the interview. And a lot of these activities, I did not know what's happening around campus. I think, you know, just promoting it and also just supporting and being vigilant, you may not be able to come to all of them. But just participating in one, I think will definitely be life changing for all of us. So thank you so much for sitting with us. We have a few more moments. So we are on Western studio. Right? But I just want you all to acknowledge the fact that Ash and dodge the love question, we will go back to the wild west lets us know how much time we have left in the studio. Decent I'm still up I'm celebrating black history nap. He said we have about 10 minutes. Do you want me to get your napkin?

Unknown Speaker 19:58
No, that's real simple.

Unknown Speaker 19:59
I love it Black History Month taking

Unknown Speaker 20:02
my kids out. Taking my kiddies out, let them have a good time in the city, we'll find some places to go to some places to eat

Unknown Speaker 20:10
ice cream,

Unknown Speaker 20:11
you know and love ice cream. It's whatever they want. You know, it's what ever they won't

Unknown Speaker 20:15
listen, love is you know, the funny thing about Valentine's Day is we have this idea that it's restricted to romantic love we do. But why? Because the commercial say so. Because the commercial say, love upon your people, take your kids or take your friends out.

Unknown Speaker 20:30
I love it, you know, we're doing absolutely I'm expecting to have a good time to

Unknown Speaker 20:34
you know, think about sending a gratitude letter or having a gratitude phone call for somebody who loved you and want and was there for you loved upon you, that is an opportunity for them to shoot.

Unknown Speaker 20:44
And you know, the the part that I'm just to add what you said, a lot of times we do think of it from the romantic side, but you'd be surprised there are a lot of people who struggle with that, you know that this is you know, normally a time where people celebrate and they focus on zeroing in on the love part. So check on your friends and your loved ones who may not have you know, the children or the intimate relationships and things like that, and spread love. Listen, we can never have too much love and know in this world

Unknown Speaker 21:09
and nobody This is not a measure of your worth. You know just because you're not with someone doesn't mean that you don't deserve love. This is not a measure of your worth. I'm not some made up commercially advertised thing Have you questioned in your value? Because on this one day year when they tried to hot candy and cars at you? Ain't nobody coming through strawberries like chocolate. You can listen in the words of Miley for the words of Miley Cyrus. I can buy myself flowers, right? Chocolate candy, hell, truth be told, back in the days, I claimed Valentine's Day for myself because I want the good memories right? And I want nobody messing it up for me. And I felt like I was doing them a solid because the day after it was cheap anyway.

Unknown Speaker 21:54
No problem. You know, you

Unknown Speaker 21:55
don't have no one bad downtime memory. I was like never again. And from now on when I reflect back on Valentine's Day. It's like that was nice. Meal, right? Like I went where I wanted. It's different now. Of course, it's different now that I'm married, like I can't just be ghosted. That would be crazy. And but also he's worth spending time with. That's right. You know, don't just drag anybody off the streets because you need somebody on Valentine's Day figure out whether or not they're worth your day and worth your time and worth your love.

Unknown Speaker 22:26
I am about to hit the floor. Is that a round of applause to Ashton? Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 22:35
West gave a thumbs up in the in the control room. He said thumbs up. That's That's it round of applause. I love it. So I listened. We have about I think five minutes left. We're just going to reiterate in regards to the list of data and events. Where did you say they can find the information

Unknown Speaker 22:50
so they can email S D p@unlv.edu. To get more information and details on how they can participate in the magnitude of events that are going on. Right now if you really look at February 15 Is the barbershop talk in the student union SDP lounge at six o'clock on the 15th on the 20th It's passport to success in the student union SDP lounge at 11am Beatson brunch is going to be held at the dining commons on February 21 at 11am Black Beauty effect, which Tanya enjoys and is looking forward to attending is going to be on February 22 at 6pm and the SDP lounge and that's another thing that really came this year is having the SDP lounge in the student union it's a place where students can go and get that diversified programming of things that are going on clubs have used it organizations have used it and as you can see even now there's lots of programming taking place in there. And lastly, the black Carpet Awards February 27 Six o'clock Student Union ballroom bring you plus one I am come dressed

Unknown Speaker 23:58
looking forward to that like it is my own personal Oscars. Have you I'm gonna roll through it like Viola Davis Angela Bassett like you have no idea

Unknown Speaker 24:08
27 Six,

Unknown Speaker 24:10
fresh and clean cut come through come through and show let us see what you working with.

Unknown Speaker 24:16
Love it. We always at the end of the episode lash and try to give the floor over sir I guess I know you've gone through the run through but if you want any last words for the listeners, Tanya anyone want to you just want to wrap us up anything you want to leave with the listeners.

Unknown Speaker 24:31
It's really the opportunity that to remember that it is Black History Month and to be involved, be engaged, be educated and know what black people have done for this country, essentially, and celebrate those moments and just be educated. I mean, we talked about being in higher ed and I was in a class the other day talking to students about working and being part of the radio station. But within that I told them you know your classroom is where you're going to get your hard skills but what are you doing around campus today? fill up those soft skills and so just educating and be more knowledgeable about about Black History Month is just one of those important things that you just can't gloss over if you will.

Unknown Speaker 25:11
Oh, and I'd like to add what kind of favour also I am sending you love peace and so yeah this Black History Month come out show some love to each other show some love for the people who went through the organize this. Just show some love to yourself by connecting and engaging and being in spaces where you're seeing validated love and hope.

Dr. Renee Watson 25:38
For more or less talk UNLV Be sure to follow us on social media where you can get the latest updates on the show plus great behind the scenes content. We're on Facebook and let's talk about all the podcast Twitter and let's talk UNLV and Instagram and let's talk UNLV

Unknown Speaker 25:55
you you're listening to community programming on public radio K you envy we still need a few moments to get the next show ready. In the meantime, enjoy this moment of smooth

Transcribed by https://otter.ai