The University News
90
Celebrating 90 Years as a Student Voice of Saint Louis University
Celebrating
Vol. XCI No. 12
Years
Activist addresses universal justice Morris Dees fights discrimination
unewsonline.com
A HANDBOOK OF HISTORY The University News reflects on 90 years of student journalism and SLU history>> INSERT
SGA V.P., senators depart Resignations are ‘not abnormal’, says VP of Internal Affairs By KRISTEN MIANO Associate News Editor
Curtis Wang / Multimedia Director
Moris Dees spoke to the SLU community on Nov. 15. Dees has been an active combatant of discrimination and racism. By CHARLES BOWLES Staff Writer
Civil rights activist Morris Dees took a page from the Pledge of Allegiance in “With Justice For All,” a lecture presented to the Saint Louis University community by the Great Issues Committee on Nov. 15. Dees addressed the changing face of the United States, chronicling the discrimination of minority groups throughout his 50year legal career. “I remember the words that stuck out to me, and I think they had a great deal to do with the course in life that I took,” Dees said. “Those words were, ‘One nation... with liberty and justice for all.’” Dees discussed his Alabama rural roots and working on farms with African Americans in the fields, where he said that he began to know black people as “people.” Dees said that America has been changing since he grew up, citing that when he graduated from high school in the 1950s, 17 percent of the population were people of color. According to the 2010 Census, that number has increased to 37 percent. After graduating from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1960, Dees cofounded the Southern Poverty
Law Center, a nonprofit civil rights law firm, in 1971. During his early legal career with the SPLC, Dees said he represented a group of Vietnamese fishermen who were harassed by the Texas Knights, a branch of the Ku Klux Klan. The Texas Knights burned crosses on the fishermen’s property in an attempt to intimidate them to leave the fishing business. To stop the Texas Knights from harassing them, Dees told the fishermen to file an injunction against the Klan. The night before Dees planned to file the injunction, however, the fisherman requested that it be dropped. Dees said he then reached out to the Vietnamese leaders of the community, persuading them to change their mind, so that an injunction could be filed. Citing the Pledge of Allegiance, Dees made a plea to them to reconsider. “I told them, ‘Do not drop the injunction,’” Dees said. “America is a nation of laws designed to have liberty and justice for all.” His persuasion worked, and the fisherman went forward with the injunction, resulting in a victory for the Vietnamese community, as the Klan was ordered to end the harassment against them. See “GIC” on Page 3
Freedom Riders remembered in Cross Cultural Center By JAMES MEINERS Managing Editor
Walking through the Busch Student Center from Nov. 7 through Nov. 11, students, faculty and staff noticed something completely different on the second floor. The Cross Cultural Center was covered with black curtains, leaving the usually bright room obscured from passers-by. The CCC presented an exhibit on the Freedom Riders movement, displaying the history of the crusade from the spring and summer of 1961. The movement involved more than 400 people who wanted to challenge the segregation of interstate travel in the southern United States. “Educational events like this exhibit are so important to the Saint Louis University community because not only does it celebrate the accomplishments of the Freedom Riders in their struggle for justice, but it also provides an opportunity for students to learn about things that are unfortunately still sometimes left out of our history books,” Kathleen Otto, a student worker in the CCC, said. Patrice French, program coordinator for the CCC, created this exhibit with the help of staff in her department. She said she chose this exhibit because it is the 50th anniversary of the
rides, and it is one of the less well-known parts of the civil rights movement. “We want the SLU community to critically reflect on issues impacting our society and also realize that social change movements are started by individuals and small groups, not by a mass of people,” French said. “Although the Freedom Riders took place in 1961, I feel the act parallels social issues that our country is currently struggling with, such as economics and education.” There has been a significant response to the CCC’s exhibit. More than 700 people walked through during the five days the display was featured. French said she See “Freedom” on Page 3
Blue the Billiken Gobble gobble gobble!
Read and Recycle The University News prints on partially recycled paper.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
In the Nov. 3 Student Government Association meeting, the senate announced that Intl. Affairs Vice President Stephanie Song was resigning from her position for health reasons. According to the official statement from SGA on the resignation, Song resigned from her role on Nov. 2 due to health concerns that were only disclosed to SGA President Matthew Ryan. “The Student Government Association Executive Board is deeply saddened by the early departure of one of our valued members; however, the Executive Board fully supports Vice President Emeritus Song in her decision. Per the Association’s Constitu-
tion, the president will appoint “Stephanie fully endorsed a senate member to serve as Zang getting the position and the vice president of interna- wanted him to continue the tional affairs for the remain- work she had started.” der of the 2011-2012 academic Ryan cited Zang’s energy year,” the and rapport statement with intersaid. national and During domestic stuthe Nov. 16 Moving forward, dents as reaSGA meetfor his continue to sons ing, it was we’ll appointment. announced have the strongest “It was a that Song’s little sudden, r e p l a c e - representation in the but we’ll crement would room. ate a good be internatransition,” tional stuZang said. dent sena- - Matt Ryan Zang said tor Tommy that he inZang. According to Ryan, tends to continue with Song’s Zang was selected after an goals, and will continue to open application was sent out advertise more about SGA to the entire senate. and raise awareness on the “We had three applicants issues surrounding internacome forth,” Ryan said. tional students. In addition to
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Song’s resignation, nine other senators have resigned from SGA during this past semester. Vice President of Internal Affairs Scott Hessel said that the resignations were not made out of resentment toward SGA, but they resulted from realizations that senate was not the best fit for them. “The primary reason for the resignations was that the senators’ experience and passions did not necessarily lie with SGA,” Hessel said. Hessel said that senator resignations are not abnormal. As of the Nov. 16 meeting, five of the nine empty spots have been filled. “Moving forward, we’ll continue to have the strongest representation in the room and have senators maintain a strong connection with their constituents,” Ryan said.
Billiken basketball returns to hardwood
Shah (Yuqing Xia) / Photo Editor
Amid a crowd frantically waving glowsticks, the Saint Louis Billikens began their season with high expectations. Playing in memory of legend Ed Macauley, the Billikens destroyed Tennessee State 71-37. Picked to finish third in the Atlantic 10 by league coaches, the Bills return all five starters from last season plus standout Kwamain Mitchell. SLU returns to action on Nov. 20 against former coach Lorenzo Romar and the Washington Huskies.
Last Lecture series: Stefan Bradley speaks African American studies professor gives speech as if it’s his last By ANNE MARIE BECKERLE Staff Writer
Saint Louis University professor Stefan Bradley was chosen to deliver words of wisdom at the Last Lecture series. Every semester, students are given the chance to nominate a professor that they find to be an outstanding teacher and speaker. The Last Lecture Series is a program that asks the selected professor, “If you knew this was the last lecture you would ever give, what would you share with students?” Bradley is an associate professor of history and African American studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. Bradley said he was honored to be given the opportunity to participate in the program, and he compared it to an actor receiving an Oscar and a musician receiving a Grammy. “I’m an educator. I’m a professor,” Bradley said. “The fact that students would nominate me is one of the biggest things to ever happen to me.” Addressing a full house on Monday, Nov. 14 in the Saint Louis Room of the Busch Student Center, Bradley began his speech with a personal background of his family. According to him, sharing details of his life is a rarity, but Bradley said he found it necessary to
Allison Smith / Staf Photographer
African American studies professor Stefan Bradley was selected by the students to speak at the Last Lecture series. describe his family in order Bradley said he never forgets to accurately explain the five where he is from, especially life lessons featured in the when he is in his classes teaching students. lecture. Bradley’s “These first life are the lesson was p e o p l e one he who have made me. I guarantee that I l e a r n e d from his These are the people will teach or person- father. “Leaders I’ve learned ally influence the perlead from f r o m , ” B r a d l e y son that changes the the front,” Bradley said. “I’ll world for the better. said. tell you a Bradley few of these - Stefan Bradley said that lessons.” p e o p l e Bradley kept his lecture light-hearted, should feel as though they making many jokes that have the ability to change caused the entire room to the world, but that it will not erupt in laughter. Originally happen when people bark from from Yakima, Wash., orders from the back.
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Bradley received the second life lesson from his mother: If an unavoidable conflict occurs, it must be faced head-on and not go down without a fight. Bradley said that at first, this lesson is not applied to violence, but instead to prepare people for future confrontations. Bradley said another valuable lesson was that the further one goes in life, the more chances that person has to reinvent himself. After explaining the various stages he went through in life, Bradley said the most important lesson he learned was to “be yourself.” “You have to dance with the essence of you,” Bradley said. Bradley learned his fourth life lesson while teaching at SLU. According to him, a person should seek relevance over recognition. Bradley said he wants to be known for helping students, rather than for writing a book or receiving tenure. “I guarantee that I will teach or personally influence the person that changes the world for the better,” Bradley said. “In that way, I’ll be relevant, and I’ll be useful.” Bradley encountered his fifth and last life lesson from a pool hustler in a pool hall. Bradley said even a fool has a story to tell, and that this man had a story that would carry See “Lecture” on Page 3