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Articulate, pensive and candid, John Barros '96 has created many avenues for improving race relations on campus.
In addition to his position as president of the Afro-American Society, Barros is an intern for the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program, a member of the senior society Casque and Gauntlet and a member of Paleopitus, a group of senior leaders who advise the Dean of the College and the College President.
In addition, he is a performer in the Black Underground Theatre Association and the program liaison for Cutter-Shabazz Hall.
Balancing his many responsibilities, Barros focused on the main project that lay ahead of him at the beginning of this year -- reconstructing the AAm.
Leading the AAm
Perhaps Barros' most time-consuming responsibility at the College is his job as president of the AAm.
When he ascended to the AAm presidency, Barros faced the challenge of returning stability to an organization whose leadership structure had been seriously shaken last spring.
Last year's AAm president, James Hunter '95, resigned under pressure in the wake of charges from The Dartmouth Review, the off-campus conservative weekly, that alleged Hunter was brought before the Committee on Standards to face charges of sexual assault and that Hunter was convicted of credit card fraud.
AAm Vice President Thomas Fisher '96, who has worked closely with Barros, recalled how last year's AAm "ended in controversy and in fighting."
Barros recognized that leading the AAm would be a challenge, and once he took the reins of power, he initiated an internal overhaul of the organization.
"One of the main goals of my presidency was internal cleaning-up," Barros said.
"It was something that needed to be done in order to fulfill our mission to students to act as a support and to help them excel academically," he said.
Many executives welcomed Barros' ideas to rebuild the AAm.
And under Barros' leadership, Fisher said the AAm has come a long way.
