What Will We Do When We Have No Home To Come Home To?

We cannot promise you this blog will be short, but we can promise you it will be painful.

If Shaw U was a social network within itself, “HOMECOMING 2011″ would be the trending topic.

Homecoming is undoubtedly, one of the cornerstones of the historically black college experience; and this year, the Shaw Universe is so excited until they can hardly contain themselves. Every year, we gather to watch the talented football team and Platinum Sound Marching Band, the stepshow, money hungry promoters fight each other for partygoers for the “OFFICIAL” homecoming party and we all nearly burst with excitement, seeing classmates that we haven’t seen in several years. It is absolutely wonderful to be excited about the upcoming festivities and we certainly don’t want to piss on the Shaw U parade – but we can’t help but to ask ourselves the following question:

WHAT WILL WE DO WHEN THERE’S NO HOME TO COME HOME TO?

We’re not saying that we all don’t deserve a break once a year to have a good time – but we see a lot of grave dangers that are not being addressed, and we see no real or true initiatives & reformation to the Shaw University structure nor conditions on campus. We don’t see a strategic plan to make Shaw University the quality institution of higher learning that it once was. We don’t see a caring, TRUSTworthy board of TRUSTees nor do we see a sincere initiative from them or committee heads to encourage alumni and students to bond or unite under an umbrella of what should be the students sword and armor. We don’t see any effort to maximize Shaw University’s role and stature in the hearts and souls of the students and university establishment as a whole. We don’t see any efforts being made to restore its heavily damaged reputation nor do we see the desire to strengthen communications. We find ourselves continuously asking why Shaw chooses not emphasize academic excellence or sustainability efforts? Why not recognize some of the outstanding faculty and students or notable alumni who are achieving their goals and doing well in their respective communities?

The problems that we have witnessed at Shaw have been in existence for a while now and to be honest, we don’t like what we are witnessing. This is not what our ancestors fought for, got expelled for, and sacrificed their future for. Our ancestors fought and died for a dream that we see now shattering in front of our very eyes.

With the absence of promising new leadership that once filled the university with hope and gave students a voice, chaos has struck in a way that it has never struck before. It has turned from an establishment with one unified goal and a plan, into a chaotic gathering of different individuals disconnected from the Shaw U main theme, each running their own shows that are not part of original agendas that were once promised, nor the main goals which we once fought and sacrificed for, fighting the managerial establishment and even the board itself.

Sadly, we are failing to unite, which is the main objective of creating the Friends of Shaw. Statements from hate are being hurled by fellow alumni (and others) without real consultation or open discussion about the issues at hand. We are large in number yet most are completely silent. Alumni aren’t willing to become a part of the National Alumni Association nor are they actively getting involved. Significant issues (IE: tornado fundraising efforts, the Gary Insurance debacle or Dr. Irma McClaurin’s abrupt departure) are appearing and disappearing without a discussion or an evaluation process.

To those who hold Shaw near and dear to your heart, you must realize that you are responsible for the future of Shaw. You are responsible for guarding and maximizing the Shaw U establishment for the sake of our children and our children’s children. This responsibility should not be taken lightly nor approached as yet another half assed fight, as this responsibility you will be questioned about and you will be judged.

We must step up now, and put own head in the game. It’s not about the north versus the south or the young versus the old. It’s about ALL OF US uniting under one common goal that symbolizes a higher goal for Shaw.

As you frolic to and fro’ throughout Raleigh this weekend, we encourage you to take a moment to simply pay attention to your surroundings. This is what you will see:

Downtown Raleigh is (and has been) going through a MAJOR transformation. Within a few years, Downtown will look like this:

If you believe for one moment that the revitalization of downtown Raleigh will continue while Shaw’s crumbling infrastructure remains to be an eyesore of the community but ‘WE gon’ be aiight’ and that life will simply “GO ON” at Shaw, think again.

You may return to your regularly scheduled homecoming celebration activities while wearing blinders – or we can attempt to unite once and for all while we have the chance. Homecoming is really going to suck if we have no home to come home to.

The annual NAA general body meeting will be held this Friday @ 2PM in the chapel. Will you be there?