Andrew E. Voris
Daily Egyptian
Members of the SIUC Black Alumni Group came to Carbondale this weekend
to celebrate their time at the University and share memories during the
group's ninth biennial reunion.
Four former presidents, John S. Holmes, Richard Reynolds, Lamar Gentry
and Hubert Avent, were recognized and presented with awards for their
services during the reunion gala at the Carbondale Civic Center Friday
night.
"It is really like a family reunion," Gentry said. "People come
together here, bring their children and their grandchildren and a lot
of memories are shared."
At the gala, each of the former presidents gave a brief acceptance speech and then the crowd ate dinner and danced.
John S. Holmes, who received a bachelor's in psychology and a master's
in community development from SIU, was the group's first president and
served from 1988 to 1991.
He said the group formed because Patricia McNeal, former assistant
director of the SIUC Alumni Association, informed him that there was a
provision in the alumni association rules allowing for constituency
groups within the alumni body, such as the SIUC marching band, to
organize and be recognized.
Holmes said that presidents of the group have tried to find positive activities for members to rally behind.
"One thing the Black Alumni Group is doing right now is awarding a
scholarship to an undergraduate who shows outstanding academic
performance, as well as contributions to the community and involvement
in student activities," Holmes said.
Gentry said the scholarship is not just for black students, instead anyone who needs and deserves it is eligible.
"It's about giving back so others can move forward," Gentry said.
"At Christmas time, he and Mrs. Morris would go to the Student Center and interact with all of the students there," Holmes said.
Holmes also discussed Carbondale during the '60s, when the community was highly segregated.
"During that time most of the African American students lived on the
northeast side of town in rooms rented from local residents," Holmes
said. "Most businesses and restaurants in town would not serve African
Americans. The Varsity Theatre made African Americans sit in the
balcony."
Gentry said that during his time as president from 1995 to 1999, he
worked to bring more reunion activities to the northeast side of town.
"We would have people show up whose families had housed Alumni members when they were students," Gentry said
Olivia Fox, an SIUC alumna and radio personality on the Olivia Fox Show
on 95.7 The Beat, in Tampa, Fla. emceed the gala. Fox has been voted
number one radio personality of the year by several different
broadcasting magazines.
This year's gala was different than from the reunion's traditional banquets held in the past.
Greg Scott, director of Alumni public relations, said guests at the
gala were asked to dress in stylish, white summer clothing as part of
the gala's "Blacks in White " theme.
The gala was one of many events that took place between Thursday and
Sunday, including a jazz concert, picnic, different workshops and sport
outings.
"Its important to note that this University has a rich tradition of
being open to diverse populations," Scott said. "This is a great way
for members to come back and pay homage to a University that really
gave them an opportunity when maybe some other institutions did not at
that time."
Reporter Andrew Voris can be reached at
andrew_voris@dailyegyptian.com
