LU unites with rally
Nicole Zwartz
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: News
The sun was shining and the weather decent on Wednesday, April 22, but students at Lewis University were not paying attention to the signs of Spring. Gossip was burning tongues and spreading through campus like wildfire about the incident that occurred on April 16.
In recognition of this tragedy, Lewis' 77th Birthday Bash was canceled and replaced by a unity rally sponsored by the Black Student Union (BSU), the Student Governing Board and the Office of Multicultural Student Services.
According to Dawn Brown, the president of the Student Governing Board, administrators collaborated and discussed the issue, agreeing that canceling the bash was for the best. The organizations were planning on speaking at the bash until they received the information about the bash already being terminated.
"This is not a celebration," Velma Oliver, the vice president of the BSU, boldly exclaimed. "This is a statement."
The rally began at 6:45 p.m. in the Courtyard. There was a brief pause by the North Hall building, where there was a prayer said, and each student and faculty member, about 100-200 participated, repeated "Let us be a sanctified zone," after each verse. Then the participants were led past the Sancta Alberta Chapel to the university greens, where a stage was set up.
"[The rally] acted as a vehicle for students to share frustrations, anger, passion and many other emotions that had been held back during this week," said Oliver.
Another prayer was spoken, having the audience say, "Help us, Lord, to cultivate our unity and celebrate our diversity." The students and staff members were asked to wear all black during this ceremony.
"When you see a group of people dressed in the same thing, it makes others curious as to what is going on," said Brown.
"We asked that students would wear all black so that we could stand out and show support and unity throughout the rally," Oliver said. "This was not a requirement for the rally and silent walk, it was only asked for by the Black Student Union."
In recognition of this tragedy, Lewis' 77th Birthday Bash was canceled and replaced by a unity rally sponsored by the Black Student Union (BSU), the Student Governing Board and the Office of Multicultural Student Services.
According to Dawn Brown, the president of the Student Governing Board, administrators collaborated and discussed the issue, agreeing that canceling the bash was for the best. The organizations were planning on speaking at the bash until they received the information about the bash already being terminated.
"This is not a celebration," Velma Oliver, the vice president of the BSU, boldly exclaimed. "This is a statement."
The rally began at 6:45 p.m. in the Courtyard. There was a brief pause by the North Hall building, where there was a prayer said, and each student and faculty member, about 100-200 participated, repeated "Let us be a sanctified zone," after each verse. Then the participants were led past the Sancta Alberta Chapel to the university greens, where a stage was set up.
"[The rally] acted as a vehicle for students to share frustrations, anger, passion and many other emotions that had been held back during this week," said Oliver.
Another prayer was spoken, having the audience say, "Help us, Lord, to cultivate our unity and celebrate our diversity." The students and staff members were asked to wear all black during this ceremony.
"When you see a group of people dressed in the same thing, it makes others curious as to what is going on," said Brown.
"We asked that students would wear all black so that we could stand out and show support and unity throughout the rally," Oliver said. "This was not a requirement for the rally and silent walk, it was only asked for by the Black Student Union."
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