From Where I Stand
We need continuous unity at TSU
Brian C. Browley
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: Forum
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I began writing this column as former business reporter Itoro Umontuen, senior staff reporter LaVonte Young, and I were on the road to Baton Rouge, La. For me it was the first time I'd been to the Gulf Coast region since spring of 2005 when I had the opportunity to visit the Louisiana Gulf Coast area not once but twice for the HBCU Newspaper conference and again later on that year for the CNBAM conference.
In short, I fell in love. At the CNBAM conference I had the pleasure of staying at the Astor Crown Plaza on the corner of Canal and Burbon Street. Anyone who knows anything about New Orleans can tell you what a privilege that was.
This time we're visiting the area with a different purpose. TSU played Southern University for the first time since 1991 and many students, alumni, and even administrators and staff were excited about attending the game. This is a unique game even though it's not an OVC game or an official HBCU classic it certainly had all the makings of one. The band, the SGA, and even we, the student press, were making our way to participate and cover this historic matchup.
Members of the SGA and other concerned students made their way to Louisiana for a much different reason initially. They made their journey to participate in a rally for the Jena 6. As a TSU student who tries to stay informed of goings on around the nation I was impressed not only by the students who physically visited Jena but those who showed support by wearing black on Thursday Sept. 20. It's rare to see so many TSU students show their concern on an issue and I was sincerely experiencing one of my proudest moments of being a Tiger.
I personally felt mixed emotions about returning to the region. Even though the crime rate has been astronomical since the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina there is an appeal to the Crescent City and the Gulf Coast region that I can't deny. So I pushed my apprehensions to the side and instead focused on the game and the events around it. In short I wasn't disappointed with my decision.
In short, I fell in love. At the CNBAM conference I had the pleasure of staying at the Astor Crown Plaza on the corner of Canal and Burbon Street. Anyone who knows anything about New Orleans can tell you what a privilege that was.
This time we're visiting the area with a different purpose. TSU played Southern University for the first time since 1991 and many students, alumni, and even administrators and staff were excited about attending the game. This is a unique game even though it's not an OVC game or an official HBCU classic it certainly had all the makings of one. The band, the SGA, and even we, the student press, were making our way to participate and cover this historic matchup.
Members of the SGA and other concerned students made their way to Louisiana for a much different reason initially. They made their journey to participate in a rally for the Jena 6. As a TSU student who tries to stay informed of goings on around the nation I was impressed not only by the students who physically visited Jena but those who showed support by wearing black on Thursday Sept. 20. It's rare to see so many TSU students show their concern on an issue and I was sincerely experiencing one of my proudest moments of being a Tiger.
I personally felt mixed emotions about returning to the region. Even though the crime rate has been astronomical since the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina there is an appeal to the Crescent City and the Gulf Coast region that I can't deny. So I pushed my apprehensions to the side and instead focused on the game and the events around it. In short I wasn't disappointed with my decision.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Eddie R. Cole
posted 9/24/07 @ 4:57 PM CST
I felt like I was there. Your description of SU's campus reminds me of TSU's 2003 visit to Huntsville to play at Alabama A&M. Though AAMU wasn't rebuilding from the likes of a Hurricane Katrina, the atmosphere was still electric. (Continued…)
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