Annual Alumni Pride Day Jaguars gather to celebrate

The Southern University Alumni Federation celebrated their annual Pride Day on April 1. During Pride Day alumni enjoyed a day full of events that included, a campus parade, unity rally and an Alumni and Staff reception at the Wade house.
Alumni Federation Interim Director of Membership, Brigette Rishard, said that the purpose of the day filled with celebration was to showcase the SU pride from the Alumni group.
“Alumni Pride Day was for all students, faculty, staff, and alumni to show their support and pride for Southern University, and celebrate the fact that we’ve been here for over 100 years and we want to be here for 100 more,” finished Rishard.
Baton Rouge native and 1966 Special Education graduate, Celestine Davis, who has been a teacher for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System for 33 years commented on how the university has changed since she attended.
“The struggle with economics is continuing as far as keeping the school afloat. School pride may not be as high as it was in the past but that’s partially because people are much more individualized now.”
When asked what changes she would like to see implemented at the university, Davis stated she would like to see students being better prepared to go after the jobs that they desire. Davis also mentioned that in today’s world, the level of student competition is international and that students have to be sharper than ever when applying to the positions that are out there. Davis wants students to be ready to handle such competition so that future Jaguars will be able to succeed in whatever field that they pursue.
SU Alumni Federation President Preston Castille Jr., who attended the university in the 80’s shares what he feels is the biggest change on our campus since his time.
“The biggest change is the drop in the number of students. When I was a student in the 80’s, we had well over 10,000 students on campus, and since then enrollment has dropped considerably.”
The Federation is currently seeking new members. Anyone interested may visit the SU Alumni site at sualumni.org.