Carpe Noctem: A History of Black Solidarity and Seizing the Night

The phrase "carpe noctem," meaning "seize the night," encapsulates the spirit of several movements detailed in this article. It speaks to the urgency and determination of individuals and groups striving for change, particularly in the face of adversity.

Foundations of Black Solidarity: BONDED

In 2021, Taylor, a student at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI), joined forces with former CSU Long Beach (CSULB) student Prince Ayoola to create a coalition. This coalition aimed to re-politicize Black issues across the Black Student Union (BSU) chapters. Taylor, who had faced years of documented retaliation, stalking, and harassment at the hands of CSUCI administrators and campus police, understood the importance of solidarity and collective action. In September 2023, she was mysteriously disenrolled from all her classes after participating in campus protests, and in April 2025, she faced possible expulsion for allegedly violating the interim Time, Place, and Manner policy during her campus’ “Stop the Layoffs” rally. Despite these challenges, she persevered.

Under the guidance of SQE coordinator Gary Daniels, Taylor and Ayoola laid the groundwork for Black solidarity across all CSU campuses and beyond. The coalition was born out of a need for political action within the BSU. When Floyd’s murder set off a series of protests around the nation, Taylor turned toward her Black Student Union (BSU) for further support. She quickly learned, however, that there was little desire and even hesitancy in that space to do any political work. To alter its course, Taylor, along with former CSU Long Beach (CSULB) student Prince Ayoola, started a coalition in 2021.

Their efforts culminated in the creation of BONDED, a coalition created with two mentors in mind: Dr. James Garrett, co-founder of the Black Student Union Movement at San Francisco State (SFSU), and Dr. Abdullah. Dr. Garrett's work at SFSU led to the establishment of Black/Ethnic Studies Departments. For Taylor, having Dr. Garrett as a mentor has been a blessing. She explained that Dr. Garrett, now in his 80s, has never stopped organizing. Her work in BONDED began after she gave her first ever teach-in about the radical origins of the first BSU at SFSU. “This was the basis BONDED was founded on,” said Ellis. “If students across the state recognize their schools aren’t serving the community or their issues in the way they think should be prioritized, BONDED now exists as an alternative,” Taylor noted.

BONDED's Mission and Impact

BONDED's mission extends beyond California. “Black students at colleges in different states across America are going through the same issues we are experiencing here in California,” Taylor said. “And we finally found each other." BONDED emphasizes solidarity and recognizes that the liberation of one group is intertwined with the liberation of all. "What I love about BONDED is that we’re so big on solidarity. So often it’s about Black issues and only Black issues. But in BONDED, we recognize that our liberation is everyone’s liberation, and vice versa, and we need to ally with others along the way."

BONDED has hosted prominent figures like Kimberlé Crenshaw, a civil rights advocate and law professor at UCLA and Columbia Law School, who gave a keynote speech at one of their co-sponsored events. More recently, BONDED secured New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg as a guest speaker at their public event. “Everyone in attendance had the opportunity to dialogue. ‘How does this conversation help us? What are our gaps, and how can we fill those gaps?” “It’s been an honor,” she said.

The coalition includes BSU members, SQE interns, and students from various backgrounds. Take CSU San Marcos student Aaron Hye for instance, who is part of the CSU Project Rebound program and works with formerly incarcerated students to transform their lives. Hye, who had served 27 years in prison himself, has been experiencing extreme forms of racism on his campus. It’s caused him to become a vocal organizer and activist on his campus. “I couldn’t do any of this without the support of CFA,” Taylor said. “Having educators who were taking seriously our political climate and our social struggles has given me so much." While her alleged TPM violation case remains open, Taylor expressed that it no longer impacts her.

Embracing College Life: Orientation at UCLA

Beyond activism and political movements, embracing the college experience is also about seizing opportunities for growth and connection. New student orientation programs play a vital role in helping students navigate campus life and build relationships. Fast footsteps and competitive chatter echo around the Inverted Fountain and into the warm midsummer air. “It was definitely stressful leading up to it, but I feel like we were really well prepared,” said Sarah Darzacq, an incoming first-year computer science student. “Having a class on a Friday is not the end of the world, and it may be an opportunity for them to engage in a lecture that they didn’t think would be any of their interest,” Moreno-Alvarez said. “It made me feel like, ‘Oh, this is actually college,’” Liu said. “When we go to the Student Activity Center, we tell them about all the things located there, like the CPO office, like LGBTQ Center, etc.,” she said. Moreno-Alvarez also said he tells students to embrace their unique identities when they arrive on campus. “I think definitely it’s highlighting the experiences and the diversity that we come from and really just making sure that we can add to it,” Moreno-Alvarez said.

Darzacq said she bonded over planning class schedules with a student she met in the library. Liu also said she joined a group of new students with her orientation roommate to try a Pizookie - a pizza-sized cookie served at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery and a staple of UCLA life - for the first time. “I tried the Pizookie for the first time with people I had never talked to and people who were very far away from my major,” Liu said.

Delta Upsilon: Brotherhood and Remembrance

The bonds of brotherhood formed in college fraternities can also have a lasting impact on individuals' lives. John Philip "Phil" Harney, Illinois '46, was a proud member of Delta Upsilon. Hearing of the experiences of his college days as a DU was reminiscent of a scene from the touching movie, "Dead Poets Society." Professor John Keating played by Robin Williams whispers to his students as they gaze at the fading pictures of the boys, students from generations past, "Carpe Diem, Carpe Diem. Seize the day. Seize the day boys." Looking at a picture of my father and his "brothers" in front of the DU house, you could see the joy, excitement and camaraderie of their first experiences away from home and off to college. A time to enjoy the last days and months of their youth before heading off to war as part of the "Greatest Generation."

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My father John Philip "Phil" Harney was a proud member of a wonderful fraternity and excellent university. It was a cherished memory to hear the stories and experiences he had as a member of Delta Upsilon at the University of Illinois. Watching him describe the excitement of that first week away at college and going through rush was like it happened just yesterday. He narrowed it down to three very fine fraternities during rush week, but he always made sure to let me know Delta Upsilon was first on his list. He loved sports, and from the members of Delta Upsilon he met, he knew this was the group he wanted to join. What an exciting time to be in a fraternal organization during those years, especially at the University of Illinois. His freshman year, the Illini basketball team had the famous "Whiz Kids," the No. 1 ranked team in the country. During his college years in the DU house, he loved participating in and watching all the collegiate sports. While there, he attended many track meets watching the future Olympian and gold medal winning sprinter Herb McKenley, as well as watching Dike Eddleman, considered the greatest all-around athlete in the history of the University of Illinois. He most fondly remembered the 1947 Illini Rose Bowl Champions that defeated UCLA 45-14. This was special because several members of that champion Rose Bowl football team were his fellow brothers of Delta Upsilon. As he would proudly say, "The DUs during those years were a force to be reckoned with and a wonderful group of lads." And he was right!

Many young men of Delta Upsilon chapters across the country, along with the young men and women of that era, had their lives interrupted to serve our country and provide freedom, liberty and justice to nations across the world. My dad and many DU brothers volunteered for service, not to return the next year to the DU chapter house and the collegiate life. I can only imagine what that must have felt like seeing your fellow brothers go off to war. How difficult it must have been also for their parents. Unimaginable sacrifices by those in service and their loving parents seeing them off. Dad said the lessons he learned and brotherhood of the DU house that first year helped him face the next chapter in his life. He volunteered and joined the Army Air Corps (Air Force) in the summer of 1943 at the age of 18. He was a gunner on a B-24 Liberator in the 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron stationed in England as part of the "Mighty Eighth" Air Force. He flew many bombing missions in support of our troops during the Battle of the Bulge, as well as many dangerous missions deep into Germany. Stationed in England until V-E Day, he then was sent to California preparing for the final battle on Japan training now in the new B-29 Superfortress. Fortunately, the war ended and he was honorably discharged in the late fall of 1945 looking forward to rejoining the DU house for spring semester 1946. He would not talk much about the war, but I know he lost close friends in his squadron, as well as several of his college classmates. He never forgot the boys that did not make it back and said they were the true heroes.

Preparing to go back to classes and studying after those World War ll experiences must have been difficult, but the excitement of returning to school and seeing his fellow DU brothers was quite a joy. There were many memorable stories-too many to write about. He said the chapter house was a sight to see. In his time there, they had beautiful leather furniture and wood floors. The brothers kept the home in tiptop shape. They were all required to wear suit coat and tie each night for dinner. The pledges all had study hall in the dining room after dinner. Dad said all 60 plus members slept in one large room on the top floor. The rule was you could never shut the windows all the way for health reasons. In the winter months, you might find snow accumulating on the floor next to all the windows, but he never slept better. Dad loved to tell me about their massive Great Dane mascot named DUD for DU Dog. They would take turns marching DUD across campus and even to class. It was a great way for the brothers to meet a nice girl for the next social event.

But the social event he had the most joy retelling many times was his last Homecoming event senior year. He had invited a young girl from out of town he had met the summer before to the festive Homecoming activities. They had a wonderful time, and before she left, the members of the Illinois DU chapter house all lined up on the stairway from the dance floor to the second floor and serenaded his lovely date. This story had a special meaning because his date, Kathleen Waugh, became his future wife and mother to their eight children. Dad lived a wonderful life that ended at the age of 95 on April 15, 2020. He told me many times he would not change any of it for all the money in the world. The bonds of brotherhood forged at Delta Upsilon lasted his entire life. A close and dear DU brother Winslow Uebel, nicknamed "Shoulders," possibly the last remaining member from that class, was still in touch to the very end. If Dad was still here and could say a few words to the members of Delta Upsilon, I believe he would say, "Carpe Diem, Carpe Diem. Seize the day. Seize the day boys! Live for today. Embrace your brotherhood along with your faith, family and country.

Finding Strength and Love in the Face of Adversity: The Storm

The memoir The Storm tells the story of Chris, a twenty-one year old UCLA English Literature major, who comes out of the closet to his fraternity brothers just as the AIDS pandemic is beginning to explode in gay communities across the United States. Stephen begins showing symptoms of AIDS in early 1986, and Chris faces a difficult choice as he is certain that he, too, eventually will be stricken by the disease. The Storm is filled with heart, optimism, and love, interspersed with Los Angeles history, gay and lesbian history, AIDS history, and the backdrop of the 1980s and 1990s. It is an unflinching and, at times, raw memoir of perseverance, integrity, forgiveness, the power of love, spiritual growth, Carpe Diem, dreams, and, most of all: survival and ultimate triumph.

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The Santa Fe Desert Chorale: A Legacy of Vocal Excellence

The Santa Fe Desert Chorale stands as a testament to artistic dedication and vocal mastery, showcasing a diverse array of talented singers. With a repertoire spanning centuries and genres, the Chorale offers audiences captivating performances that resonate deeply.

Sopranos

Julie Bosworth: Described as having a voice like “a long, unbroken beam of light” (San Francisco Classical Voice), Julie Bosworth has captivated audiences from coast to coast. Equally at home on the concert stage, she has been a featured soloist with American Bach Soloists, Tempesta di Mare, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Staunton Music Festival, Mountainside Baroque, True Concord Voices and Orchestra, Baltimore Choral Arts Society, Handel Choir of Baltimore, Bach in Baltimore, and The Bach Choir of Bethlehem.
Chelsea Helm: Soprano Chelsea Helm brings spirit and sensitivity to the concert stage. Sought-after as a soloist for the concert works of Haydn, Mozart, Handel, and Bach, her “gleaming soprano” (South Florida Classical Review) has been heard most recently with the Omaha Symphony, Upper Valley Baroque, the Washington Bach Consort, True Concord Voices & Orchestra, and the Handel Society of Dartmouth College.
Kori Miller: With a soprano voice “possessing indescribable height of emotion” (Charleston Today), Kori Miller is a dynamic artist poised to grace the world’s choral and operatic stages. Described as “obviously talented and comfortable on stage” (Charleston Today), Miller is renowned for her charismatic characterizations and “hauntingly beautiful notes” (Post and Courier).
Jennifer Perez: Jennifer Perez holds a Master of Music from The University of New Mexico and enjoys a career as a concert soloist and ensemble singer. She has performed with the Oregon Bach Festival, Boulder Bach Festival, Dallas Choral Festival, Highland Park Chorale, and as a soprano soloist for the Bergamo International Culture Festival.
Savannah Porter: Soprano Savannah Porter is a native of Fort Worth, Texas and current resident of Brooklyn, NY. She has recently beensinging with award winning groups such as Conspirare, True Concord, Skylark, Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble, Clarion,Artefact, and Transept.
Kathlene Ritch: Known for her “powerful, crystal-clear voice,” Kathlene Ritch has sung with such noted ensembles as the New York Philharmonic, London Sinfonietta, and the Vienna Philharmonic.

Mezzo-Sopranos

Kerry Ginger: Kerry Ginger, mezzo soprano, is active nationally as a performer, clinician, voice pedagogue, and scholar. Currently Associate Professor of Voice at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, Kerry has appeared as a soloist with the Chattanooga Symphony, Music in the Mountains, The Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera, Phoenix Opera, Cal Poly Bach Week, Mid-Columbia Mastersingers, and the Bach Vocal Artists.
Heather Jones: Heather Jones (they/them) is an embodied and evocative singing actor who has won accolades for their stage presence and versatility. This year, Heather made their Madison Square Garden debut as a soloist with the Genshin Orchestra world tour, sang backup vocals for jazz drummer Louis Cole, and appeared in the world premiere of Paola Prestini’s opera Sensorium Ex with Beth Morrison Projects.
Kristin E. Lawler: With an eclectic range of experience Kristin finds herself hired for a variety of engagements throughout the year. As a singer her talents and training varies from classical styles such as opera, oratorio, and art song, to more contemporary genres such as musical theater, pop, blues, and jazz.
Jenna Hernandez McLean: Jenna Hernandez McLean is a music educator, conductor, and Mezzo-Soprano based in Waco, TX. Jenna has taught public school and community choirs in Texas and Oregon and has also served as a Teaching Artist with the VOCES8 Foundation.
Sarah Nickerson: Raised in a music-loving family, Mezzo-soprano Sarah Nickerson (she/her/they) loves to artistically genre-jump and brings an embodied, story-centered approach to her performances. She has been a member of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale for almost 20 years and has sung with the St. John Cathedral music program for over a decade.
Erin Roth Thomas: Praised for possessing “a voice of surprising power and emotion” (TheaterJones), and “great dignity and a gorgeous mezzo, finely finished…

Decoda: Music for a Connected World

Decoda, an artist-led collective, aims to create a more compassionate and connected world through music. The ensemble thoughtfully curates outstanding performances of live chamber music, facilitates creative community projects, and inspires the next generation of musical artists to rethink and reimagine their role in society. Decoda was founded in 2012 by musicians who first collaborated as members of Ensemble Connect, a two-year fellowship program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the NYC Department of Education.

Key Members:

Catherine Gregory (Flutist): Winner of the Pro Musicis International Award, Australian flutist Catherine Gregory has performed as recitalist and chamber musician at Carnegie Hall, Caramoor, the Chamber Music Societies of Philadelphia and Lincoln Center, Camerata Pacifica, the Moab Musical Festival, Við Djúpið Festival in Iceland and with the Southern Cross Soloists.
Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir (Cellist): Icelandic cellist Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir has appeared as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Iceland Symphony, among others.
David Kaplan (Pianist): David Kaplan is a New York-born piano soloist and chamber musician, praised by the Boston Globe for “grace and fire” at the keyboard. He has appeared as soloist with the Britten Sinfonia and Das Sinfonie Orchester Berlin, and this season makes debuts with the Symphony Orchestras of Hawaii and San Antonio.

Decoda's work with living composers, such as Reza Vali, highlights their commitment to contemporary music.

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