Student Leader Spotlight

Name: Michael “Goya” Robles
Birthday: April 22, 1982
Hometown: Stamford, CT
Hobbies: Spoken word, Music
Major: Music
Class: SeniorKerri: Most people know you as Goya; give us some insight on the driving force of Goya?
Goya: Well most people seem to stigmatize my name “Goya” as relating to the food product. Not many people take the time to actually find out what significance that name has within the lifestyle I maintain. I took the name Goya because of who it represents in history – Francisco Goya. He was an 18th century Spaniard painter. Some refer to him as the “Father of Modern Art.” It is the message and images he depicts of the abuse of humanity that allow me to sympathize and relate. His work explains the state of oppression occuring at that time, and how the implementation of fear plays a role in much of the unnecessary violence that plagues society. He was a rebellious figure in history, and I relate to that directly.
Kerri: What is your source of motivation?
Goya: My source of motivation is knowing that I can stand up and speak when I want. It is knowing that I have a voice and I can actually use it to empower others, as well as myself.
Kerri: Who would you say is your role model and why?
Goya: I would say that the life and death of Ernesto Guevara has played a significant and cultivating role in how I live. He realized how people at the bottom pyramid structure of a class were, and this structure still is, to present day, a capitalization on the suffering of a people. What made him so powerful of an inspiration was his ability to gain the trust of these people, unify them, and show them that it is our RESPONSIBILITY to stand up and fight.
Kerri: Do you have a favorite quote you would like to share with us?
Goya: I have two favorite quotes:
1) True freedom can only be achieved if you are willing to sacrifice your very life for it. – Unknown
2) At the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love. It is impossible to think of a genuine revolutionary lacking this quality. – Ernesto “Che” Guevara
Kerri: You are affiliated with the Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino fraternity Incorporated. What is your role?
Goya: I am currently the chapter President and one of three founding brothers here at the University of Bridgeport.
Kerri: Tell us a little about Lambda Sigma Upsilon, specifically the charter here at UB, the Abakua Chapter.
Goya: The Abakua Chapter consists of three founders: Ivan “Professional” Flores, Michael “Broadway” Robles, and Chiedu “Mancala Mandigo” Okpala. We were established here at the University of Bridgeport on November 20th, 2003. Since then, we have had one addition to the chapter, Jak “Masai” Ndombi, who crossed in Spring 2004. Abakua has a deep-rooted meaning, that allows all our chapter brothers to connect and relate. The meaning? Look it up (www.bridgeport.edu/ochiedu/abakua)
Kerri: How did you become involved in this fraternity and why?
Goya: Lambda Sigma Upsilon was established in 1979 as a politcal organization – a social fellowship. It is an organization founded by the students, for the students, and is the first of its kind. Our founders were deeply involved in the fight for social justice. Their ability to stand up and unify a people was and will always be an inspiration to me and how I live.
Kerri: What can students look forward to from this fraternity next semester and next year?
Goya: Next semester we have a couple of events that will spark conversation not only among students and faculty here, but among other campuses as well. There is a speaker from the a founder of the Young Lords Party, one of the major groups that fought during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1970s, and the step show in April. We are bringing a diverse social atmosphere, as well as a historical and cultural foundation to events on campus by our organization.
Kerri: What other activities, organizations, or clubs have you been involved with since you have been at UB?
Goya: I’ve been involved with the Latin American Club, Dean’s Advisory Council, Service for Peace, VIBE, and some know me for my spoken word pieces at random open mics 😉
Kerri: Being in a student leadership role, what advice would you give to aspiring student leaders?
Goya: You don’t like the way things are going at the school? Your dorms are ‘wack?’ You don’t like the atmosphere? Then get off your a** and get involved with something! Once you establish that, then you get the basic concept of bringing people together and speaking ONE voice. Once you can do that…then you can start speaking something that will contribute to our movement forward into helping people who struggle, because the reality is – we all can relate to struggle.
Kerri: What changes would you like to see for the Latin American community?
Goya: I would like for Latinos to know what it means to be LATINO. I’ve noticed that the Latino population, local and beyond, do not know enough of their history to understand the psychology of the culture. To understand that being Latino goes beyond a culture, to understand that Latino America has enough resources to feed their population, but it is places like the hierarchy of “America” which import huge amounts of these resources and export items that are not a necessity for surviving and living – to understand that poverty is a REACTION to those who capitalize on their greed. It is NOT in our culture to be a poor people, for Latinos and Blacks. To understand this can and will cause change in Latino communities everywhere.
Kerri: How do you balance your time between school and other extra-curricular activities?
Goya: Well, not everyone is perfect. Based on recent experience, I’ve noticed that spreading myself thin and trying to be involved in everything has actually been counter-productive. It hasn’t been until recently where I have been able to set aside specific goals and produce various ways to achieve them.
Kerri: What advice do you have on managing ones’ time between school and extra-curricular activities?
Goya: Set a goal or two, and work at completing them. DON’T take on responsibilities just to be involved, you will exhaust yourself and your sense of contribution will be almost non-existent.
Kerri: If you had to choose one event/person at UB, that has had a great impact on your life, what/who would it be and why?
Goya: It would have to be the hip-hop forum that took place my freshman year at UB. It was the first time I witnessed people come together and debate passionately about the state of hip hop, and how hip-hop is a culture verses just a genre of music. It was being in that room that made me realize that we as a people have so much power. Now we just have to use it.
Kerri: How would you describe your time at UB?
Goya: I would say that most of my education here at UB took place OUTSIDE of the classroom. I have met people here that I will know and connect to for the rest of my life. Now it is about using those relationships to change the world.