TSU students celebrate, march to Fisk University
Impromptu march culminates peacefully down historic Jefferson Street
Tiffany Williams
Copy Desk Chief
Issue date: 11/5/08 Section: Election Issue
Cheers rang and tears flowed as thousands of students marched from TSU's campus to Fisk University shouting Obama's name, just minutes after Senator Barack Obama was proclaimed as the next president of the United States.
Leaving behind an emotional rally that culminated at the heart of TSU's campus, students driven to tears ran, skipped and drove in vehicles down Nashville's historic Jefferson Street to continue celebrating, marching to Fisk University to continue the festivities.
"I am so happy, Obama won!" one girl shouted, as others followed, clapping and running.
Marchers sang The Black National Anthem, Amazing Grace and We shall Overcome as they made their way down the street, many holding hands, and chanting phrases such as, "Obama 08," "Yes we can" and "Yes, we did."
More than 2,000 students from TSU and Fisk University gathered on the lawn of Fisk's Jubilee Hall.
"It is so great to have TSU students come down to our campus to celebrate," said Russelle Keese, financial aid director at Fisk. "It is so humbling to stand on the steps of the first building erected for the education of blacks in Tennessee, watching this moment happen."
Starting on the first floor of the Floyd-Payne Campus Center, traveling to the Brown-Daniel Library and Hale Hall, and chanting through campus to settle in the Amphitheater, students marched in unison and embraced what many called a historic day.
Members of nearly all of organizations were out to celebrate, including the TSU Gospel Choir, Collegiate 100, Student Election Commission, Student Government Association and the Alpha Chi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
"Yes we can!" SGA President Patrick Walker-Reese, a senior history major from Nashville, shouted to the thousands of students present.
When SGA Speaker of the House Danny Glover spoke, several students went quiet as he addressed the crowd.
Some students, like Nashville senior Aaron McGee said it was if he was Martin Luther King Jr., speaking to a new generation.
"It was an obligation and a duty for me to come down," said Mr. TSU James Aldermen, a senior engineering major from St. Pertersburg, Fla. "I had to show love, service and sacrifice."
Others present included a crew from local news station WKRN Channel 2, a deejay from 101.1 The Beat and a helicopter that hovered the perimeter. Jefferson Street was blocked as cars honked their horns and students marched in the middle of the street.
"This is an amazing experience," said Tonja Khabir, a Fisk student. "TSU coming over was simply amazing. Tomorrow I'm going to be like, 'did yesterday just happen?'"
Metro Nashville Police allowed the students to walk peacefully down Jefferson. Perched on every other corner, the police issued verbal warnings via loud speakers within their cars.
Some gatherers popped balloons, tore down posters and knocked over trashcans in the campus center. One man fired four gunshots on TSU's campus, causing several students to run for cover.
TSU police shut the activities at TSU down by making everyone disburse around 11 p.m. This disbursement led to the impromptu march to Fisk's campus, which at press time was still in progress.
Tomorrow at noon there will be a prayer in celebration at Fisk in the campus's chapel.
Cara Anthony and Marshall A. Latimore contributed to this report.
Leaving behind an emotional rally that culminated at the heart of TSU's campus, students driven to tears ran, skipped and drove in vehicles down Nashville's historic Jefferson Street to continue celebrating, marching to Fisk University to continue the festivities.
"I am so happy, Obama won!" one girl shouted, as others followed, clapping and running.
Marchers sang The Black National Anthem, Amazing Grace and We shall Overcome as they made their way down the street, many holding hands, and chanting phrases such as, "Obama 08," "Yes we can" and "Yes, we did."
More than 2,000 students from TSU and Fisk University gathered on the lawn of Fisk's Jubilee Hall.
"It is so great to have TSU students come down to our campus to celebrate," said Russelle Keese, financial aid director at Fisk. "It is so humbling to stand on the steps of the first building erected for the education of blacks in Tennessee, watching this moment happen."
Starting on the first floor of the Floyd-Payne Campus Center, traveling to the Brown-Daniel Library and Hale Hall, and chanting through campus to settle in the Amphitheater, students marched in unison and embraced what many called a historic day.
Members of nearly all of organizations were out to celebrate, including the TSU Gospel Choir, Collegiate 100, Student Election Commission, Student Government Association and the Alpha Chi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
"Yes we can!" SGA President Patrick Walker-Reese, a senior history major from Nashville, shouted to the thousands of students present.
When SGA Speaker of the House Danny Glover spoke, several students went quiet as he addressed the crowd.
Some students, like Nashville senior Aaron McGee said it was if he was Martin Luther King Jr., speaking to a new generation.
"It was an obligation and a duty for me to come down," said Mr. TSU James Aldermen, a senior engineering major from St. Pertersburg, Fla. "I had to show love, service and sacrifice."
Others present included a crew from local news station WKRN Channel 2, a deejay from 101.1 The Beat and a helicopter that hovered the perimeter. Jefferson Street was blocked as cars honked their horns and students marched in the middle of the street.
"This is an amazing experience," said Tonja Khabir, a Fisk student. "TSU coming over was simply amazing. Tomorrow I'm going to be like, 'did yesterday just happen?'"
Metro Nashville Police allowed the students to walk peacefully down Jefferson. Perched on every other corner, the police issued verbal warnings via loud speakers within their cars.
Some gatherers popped balloons, tore down posters and knocked over trashcans in the campus center. One man fired four gunshots on TSU's campus, causing several students to run for cover.
TSU police shut the activities at TSU down by making everyone disburse around 11 p.m. This disbursement led to the impromptu march to Fisk's campus, which at press time was still in progress.
Tomorrow at noon there will be a prayer in celebration at Fisk in the campus's chapel.
Cara Anthony and Marshall A. Latimore contributed to this report.
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