WVSU

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Student Government

Association

BLACK HISTORY MONTH CONVOCATION

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FEBRUARY 5, 2014 10:00 A.M. FERRELL HALL AUDITORIUM, SECOND FLOOR

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PROGRAM ~
MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES
Jaida Scarborough Student Leader

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liFT EVERY VOICE AND SING"

Concert Choir, West Virginia State University

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WHY WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORy

Asia-Bryanne Greenleaf Vice President, Student Government Association

.......... POETRy
Scotty O. White Board of Governor's Student Representative, West Virginia State University

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"WE SHALL OVERCOME"

Concert Choir, West Virginia State University

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INTRODUCTION

OF CONVOCATION SPEAKER

Lili Gallagher Social Activities Director, Student Government Association

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CONVOCATION ADDRESS

Dr. Boyce D. Watkins Scholar in Residence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Syracuse University

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SPECIAL PRESENTATION

Brandy A. Jarrell Treasurer, Student Government Association

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CLOSING REMARKS

Vasilios Dianellos President, Student Government Association

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ALMA MATER

CONVOCATION

AOORESS
and Innovation,

DR. BOYCED. WATKINS Scholar in Residence in Entrepreneurship SYRACUSEUNIVERSITY

Dr. Boyce D. Watkins is a Scholar in Residence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Syracuse University and a social activist. Dr. Watkins is also the co-owner of the Your Black World Network, a digital media platform comprised of 14 websites, 500,000 social media fans and more than 100,000 email subscribers that attracts millions of affluent African-American readers per month. In April 2013, Dr. Watkins partnered with hip-hop and business mogul Russell Simmons to co-author a letter urging President Barack Obama to bring the War On Drugs to an end. The duo managed to build a coalition of more than 175 celebrities, scholars, community activists, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders supporting the initiative. Some notable supporters include Will Smith, Dr. Cornel West, and Sir Richard Branson. The historical movement attracted the attention of national and international media outlets and is credited for being one of many initiatives that led to Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement of an end to the War On Drugs. In May 2013, global food and beverage corporation PepsiCo pulled the plug on a Mountain Dew commercial after Dr. Watkins revered it as "the most racist commercial in history" in an opinion-editorial written on YourBlackWorld.com. PepsiCo also ended its partnership with controversial rapper Lil Wayne after Dr. Watkins partnered with the Rev. Jesse Jackson to bring awareness to the rapper's offensive lyrics. Dr. Watkins' commentary sparked a national conversation about racism, Corporate America and hip-hop culture. Academicians dubbed Dr. Watkins "The People's Scholar" due to his passion for addressing matters affecting the Black community. Dr. Watkins leverages his intellectual capital and extensive network of respected community activists, celebrities, scholars and business and community leaders to empower, eddcate and inform the world about matters affecting Black America. Dr. Watkins has made thousands of television and radio appearances on major networks such as: CNN, MSNBC, FOX, ABC, etc. His commentary has been quoted in a number of reputable newspapers and academic journals (online and in-print), including The New York Times, USA Today and The Chronicle of Higher Education. As a member of the Great Black Speakers Bureau, Dr. Watkins travels across the world inspiring 30,000 students and business and community leaders each year with his engaging lectures and speeches. Dr. Watkins self-published five books covering education, finance and racial disparities.

LIFT EVERY VOICE & SING ~

Lift Every Voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of liberty; Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies. Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sum of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.

WE SHALL OVERCOME ~
We shall overcome, We shall overcome, We shall overcome, some day. Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe We shall overcome, some day. ( repeat once)

ALMA MATER ~

There is a place we love so dear Its name we'll ever praise and revere; Tis West Virginia State we love, Just one more step from there is heaven above; Chorus West Virginia's praise we'll sing Lift our voices 'till heavens ring As we gaily march along We'll sing a song for Alma Mater How we love her Pride of all our loyal hearts From her we will never part Thoughts of thee will ne'er be few Alma Mater we love you

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH ~

WVSU CULTURAL ACTIVITIES .......... BE STILL ANU KNOW THAT HE IS GOU .
A musical portrayal of African American women's history as interpreted and performed by the ladies of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, of Charleston, W.va. Monday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m. Fine Arts Theatre

.......... VOICES IN BLACK HiSTORy

Sunday, Feb. 16, 4 p.m. Fine Arts Theatre

.......... Z814 NATIONAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN

The Twenty-Fifth National African-American

REAU-IN
Read-In

Hosted by NYANSA & Student Support Services, EMBODI, CIAC Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Feb. 24-28, 2014, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Room 128 WVSU Student Union