UNDERGRADUATE SPOTLIGHT
“BATES’ ACCOUNT OF HIS TIME ON CAPITOL HILL FOCUSES L ESS ON THE PRESTIGE OF THE SETTING AND MORE ON THE PROCESS. ”
opportunities to talk about what it means to attend a HBCU that sits in the heart of Charlotte, and about the students who rely on institu- tions like Johnson C. Smith for degrees and community. Those conversations were as important to him as any single policy memo. MATERNAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING Another issue that captured Bates’ attention during his internship was the crisis in Black maternal health. Recent federal data have shown that Black women in the United States are several times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related causes, even when controlling for income and education. Public health researchers and advocates have increas- ingly described the problem as a national emergency that is both preventable and rooted in structural racism and unequal access to care within health systems. Bates was drawn to these questions in part because of their impact on families in his hometown, where many Black communities face overlapping challenges in housing, employment, and health care access. Observing how policymak- ers, advocates, and health
experience. He speaks often about time, stewardship, and intentionality—the idea that how students spend their hours on campus can shape not just their resumes but their character. What comes next for Bates is still unfolding, but the contours are visible. He has expressed interest in continuing to work at the intersection of policy and community, whether through future roles in government, advocacy organizations, or higher education leadership. What is clear is that he intends to keep his college experi- ence at the center of that work, viewing JCSU not as a steppingstone but as a foundation. In one of his reflections on the summer, he wrote that the internship on Capitol Hill was “more than just a profes- sional experience.” It was, he said, “a season of reflection, purpose, and learning how to use one’s platform to create lasting change.” Brother Tyson Bates is not content simply to be in the room where decisions are made. He is intent on ensuring that when he speaks in those rooms, his voice amplifies—and that the policies that emerge on the other side leave the country more just than he found it. ♦
professionals approached the issue gave him a window into the complexity of reform, from Medicaid policy and hospital funding to implicit bias training and community-based care models. For a student who came to college thinking pri- marily about elections and campaigns, the summer internship broadened his understanding of what it means to work for justice. “It is not only about who holds office,” he now says,” but about how systems are designed, funded, and held accountable.”
by his experiences at JCSU, in his fraternity and in Washington. Within the Alpha Epsilon Chapter, he has worked to align chapter program- ming with the fraternity’s fundamental purpose of achievement in every field of human endeavor. That has meant mentoring younger brothers, orga- nizing service initiatives, and modeling academic discipline as much as it has meant wearing letters or holding titles. His recog- nition with an Advisor’s Award from the chapter’s alumni mentors was seen by many on campus as an affir- mation of that approach. Bates continues to juggle the demands of senior year with his roles in student government, fraternity life, and university representa- tion. Short videos produced by the university show him greeting new students, rallying Golden Bull pride, and encouraging classmates to take ownership of their
FAITH AND FRATERNITY Bates often frames his
journey in spiritual terms. In personal posts and reflec- tions, he has cited scripture about the steps of a good person being ordered and has spoken openly about feeling guided toward service. That sense of calling has been reinforced
WINTER 2025-2026 ♦ THE JOURNAL 17
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting