Who has traveled to Ghana and shaken President Obama’s hand? None other than Kalon Bell! I love this guy, and if you ever meet him you will too! We did this intweview via phone and I appreciated every moment. Thanks Kbellz! Check it out ya’ll!
Name: Kalon Shawn Bell
Year: Senior – 4th year
Major: Broadcast & Digital Media Communication
Minor: Ethnic and Racial Studies in this mf’
Hometown: Kenosha, WI
PGPs: He/Him/His
J: Do you have any nicknames?
K: Um … some people call me King of New York [laughs]. Nah, no nicknames … but some people call me PawPaw … like for real.
J: Are you involved in anything on campus?
K: Um … yeah!  I am involved in a lot actually. I have been President of Black Student Unity for two years. I am also a general manager at the student-run radio station, you know—giving you that live broadcast. I am also a McNair scholar, so I do undergraduate research. There’s more, but yeah, that’s what I’m involved in.
J: What is your favorite thing about UW-La Crosse?
K: By far my friends… the people, the students. Hopefully, they are life-long friends. I look forward to going to campus because I get to hang out with them; It makes my experience here a lot more enjoyable!
J: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
K: The best advice I’ve ever received was to make my bed every day. But really, you’d be surprised how a little discipline in the morning can help focus your mind on getting things done. It reminds me that the amount of success I have tomorrow will reflect the habits I own today.
J: What was your first relationship like?
K: [laughs] It was actually pretty good … Uh … I learned a lot [laughs]. I learned a lot about myself for sure. I feel like I am a better person because of it and my partner. My first relationship showed me I’m immature about a lot of things. So, that’s definitely one thing that I’ve learned from it.
J: What are you most likely doing on a Friday night?
K: On Friday night … I am most likely hanging out with my friends, most likely getting ready for a turnup – either getting ready for a turnup or already turning up; It depends on the time of night.
J: What is your dream job?
K: Ooooh … that’s a good one … My dream job would be being a filmmaker to make movies and documentaries. I don’t know what movies but something that people can view and experience – whether it be educational or what be it. It’s like painting your own stories and I want people to live those stories! That’s what I want to do.
J: If you could go on a date with any famous person, who would it be and why?
K: Mmm yum yum mmmm … let’s see … I would probably go on a date with ummm … hm … I don’t want to ruin it. I don’t want to say someone then miss out on someone else. It may sound generic, but I would go out on a date with Queen B. I really think I would like to get to know her more. She is very private about her life. I would ask her questions like, “What’s it like being with Jay-Z? If I was a multimillionaire would you date me?” I think that would be cool.
J: What is your favorite thing to eat?
K: My favorite thing to eat is … well it depends … I have like different categories. Favorite dessert is cookies and cream ice cream. My favorite meal is um … a lot of things. [laughs] The only thing I can think of is desserts. I really like sweet potato pie and I really like caramel apples. My sweet tooth runs my appetite.
J: What’s your favorite childhood movie?
K: My favorite childhood movie … It would have to be Big Green. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen it, but it’s a soccer movie about these kids that kind of suck at it, and they end up beating one of these other teams in their city. Now that you’ve reminded me of it, I kind of want to watch it again. I think it’s only on VHS though. [laughs].
J: What does your ideal day off look like?
K: Sleep in until 10:30 in the morning, get up and eat a bowl of cereal. Then I’ll probably hang out with friends. I like playing recreational sports, so basketball, football, something to be active. Then I’d probably go out to eat. I love going out to eat. I’d definitely go … I don’t know where,  just somewhere out to eat. How would I end my day? Then I’d probably go to ……….. Go turnup.  End the day with a turnup.
J: What’s your most embarrassing childhood memory?
K: Um … [laughs] probably the time when uh …. I didn’t want people to know I was going through puberty. So I was a junior in high school; I was a late bloomer. My voice was cracking; People was ribbing me. And the thing was that I was the person who did the morning announcements. I read something about an after school event and my voice just let me down. Everyone was like Kalon going through puberty and this freshman was making fun of me, but I was a junior and was like you can’t make fun of me because I’m older, but he didn’t care. [laughs] So yeah, still getting over it.
J: What are some of your pet peeves?
K: Loud chewing. I don’t like hearing people chew. Also, I don’t like when people touch things with their greasy hands, because I got a roommate who eats chicken and stuff and then he’ll change the channel with his greasy hands. In the morning I try to watch something and I get grease on my hands from the remote.
J: What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever gotten to do?
K: Kind of a hard one…  It’s between studying abroad and going to Ghana and meeting the President of the United States. I think they are both very unique experiences, both teaching me a lot. They are both something I can share with my family and even my kids and grandkids eventually. Very instrumental!
J: Describe yourself in 3 words
K: Patient, critical, easygoing.
J: What’s your favorite catch phrase?
K: My favorite catch phrase … um … um … (laughs) … I’m thinking of all the catch phrases I’ve used over the years. I’d probably say… “stay trill”–true and real.
Thanks again, Kalon! Make sure ya’ll say “wassup” to PawPaw when you see him around!Â