FSU Voice

Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Ashley Smith Eddie Henderson leads a dance at Mr. FSU's Black Caucus

It was a bit chilly last Friday as FSU students gathered at the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations museum for an event sponsored by Mr. FSU, Reginald Keith Scriven II (pictured right). However, the cold did not stop nearly 50 students, staff, faculty, and community leaders from attending what was appropriately called the "Black Caucus."

The event heralded itself as an opportunity for participants to mingle and network with other FSU students, as well as members of the community. The event's planner believes that such events are essential for students to make beneficial contacts. "It's critical," says Scriven, "I think it's important because not only should students network on an individual basis, but they should also create a working relationship with the surrounding community.

Scriven was successful in providing the students with top-ranking contacts from FSU and the surrounding community. Ms. Olivia Chavis, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Juanette Council, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and the former mayor of Fayetteville, Marshall Pitts Jr. (pictured below), were just a few of the individuals that were in attendance.

The title, "Black Caucus," was actually chosen for a variety of reasons. Scriven explained that the name was chosen "in commemoration of Black History Month" but also because students were asked to wear all-black attire to the event. "I wanted everyone to dress the same because I believed it would help with networking. No one was dressed any different than anyone else so it was easier for everyone to come together."
Scriven was definitely correct in that assumption, as students were able to quickly make their way around the room, introducing each other and meeting new people. At one point
Scriven addressed the crowd and asked that everyone that had met someone at the event that they hadn't known previously to raise their hand, and almost half of the crowd raised their hand. He responded with "by the end of the night, everyone's hand should be up."

The former mayor also addressed the crowd and remarked about how professional all of the students looked, and how great the event was for the students. He was followed by Ms. FSU, Lisa Harris, who read an original piece that she had written. The piece was titled "A Tribute To Slavery" and presented a powerful message to the audience that while slavery was a horrifying and despicable practice, it was the catalyst that pushed African Americans to find the best within themselves.

Continued...

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