Wednesday morning’s slight breeze and 80-degree temperature provided the perfect backdrop for Southern University students, administration and faculty to march throughout the heart of the campus chanting messages against violence and a better awareness for the university.
“I feel this march will show faculty and staff (we) students are not just focusing on attending parties and football games,” said Chassity Cristtenden, a sophomore therapeutic recreation major from Baker. “We are here to make change while learning.”
The march began on Elton C. Harrison Boulevard, in front of Seymour Gymnasium, where march participants gathered around 10:40 a.m.
By 11 a.m., approximately 200 students stepped in unison down Harrison Boulevard, behind the Southern University Law Center, past the John B. Cade Library before ending with a rally in front of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union.
“I was not aware the march was taking place today,” said Darren Radcliff, a recent graduate from the College of Arts and Humanities at Southern. “But as soon as I heard the news, I came out to show my support.”
Within minutes of its start, the march’s crowd swelled from 200 to more than 500 students who chanted, “Stop the violence, increase the peace,” to the accompanying percussions of the Southern University Marching Band, “The Human Jukebox,” who trailed the entourage of participants.
Wednesday’s march resulted from a shooting incident off-campus during the university’s first home football game against Mississippi Valley State on September 9, which led to the death of 59-year-old Freddie Jackson.
“I had faith in my colleagues,” said Niiobli Armah, president of the Student Government Association at Southern. “However, I didn’t expect the crowd to grow as we were continuing to march and (receive) 100 percent support from our faculty and the Southern University Police Department.”
Southern students, and faculty, created posters reading, “Let’s make change,” “No more violence” and “Let’s raise awareness of violence,” accompanied by the rest of the crowd who held up peace signs as they traveled along the march’s two mile stretch.
“I was very pleased when I saw the students participating in this march,” said Erma Borskey, president of the university’s faculty senate. “This march made history at Southern University and changed the students’ perspective about the university.”
SUBR Chancellor Edward Jackson walked in front, alongside the university’s student leaders, in support of the student’s concern over violence and awareness, wearing a look of proud satisfaction for the day’s events.
“This is one of the best events I have seen students from our university come together and make change among themselves, the university and the community.”
At the march’s culminating rally, SGA Vice-President Deon Dorsett thanked the university’s students, faculty and staff for their show of support in the march’s cause.
“You have just accomplished the first step of making a difference on campus and to protect the generation behind (you),” Dorsett said to the crowd gathered in the courtyard of the student union.
Shere Jackson, a senior political science major from Port Allen, and niece of Freddie Jackson, spoke as well, sharing with the crowd what the march means for the memory of her slain uncle.
“This march was not just an awareness about violence but it was also a celebration of my uncle’s death,” she said. “I believe my uncle smiled down on (the) Southern University campus today because of this march.”
“I was touched to see students coming together and actually doing something about the violence and making a difference among the university,” she said.