Gettysburg College NAACP Chapter History
Charter President, Folashade Rodriguez
The Charter Memebers at Large
While much of its history is chronicled in books, articles, pamphlets and magazines, the true movement lies in the faces---black, white, yellow, red, and brown---united to awaken the conscientiousness of a people, and a nation. This is the legacy of the NAACP! http://www.naacp.org/about/about_index.html
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People College Chapter (NAACP) was brought on the Gettysburg College Campus in the spring of 2004. According to the current president, Folashade Rodriguez “06”, the idea of forming a chapter here on campus began in the fall of 2002 when a close friend of hers received a hate email. “Since then we have been organizing and pulling our resources to found the chapter. Our organization is open to all people of all colors, religions and political preferences” (Rodriguez). There are currently 35 members of the NAACP College Chapter. Rodriguez stated that the organization became official by the National Office and the State Conference when the official elections were held in the fall of 2004. On February 7, 2005 the NAACP was granted provisional status by the Gettysburg College Student Senate.
We were interested in finding out what some of the first year students thought of the NAACP. When asked what attracted her to the NAACP as a first year student, Kaylon DeMendonca “08” replied “I feel privileged to be able to be apart of a new program on the Gettysburg campus. It's even more thrilling to be apart of such a highly honored organization.” Kaylon further stated that she wants to be as knowledgeable of the organization and its goals as she could and later on be more active in educating others. Because this is a relatively new organization on campus we asked the Vise President Satin Matthews “06” what events are going to be brought on campus in the near future “One thing we have planned is starting a small scholarship give away to a student that exemplifies good leadership. The money is used for them to go to the Selma Alabama Service Learning Trip and work with the Center for Public Service at the Voters Rights Museum.” Satin also mentioned the series of lectures that will occur at Gettysburg campus ranging form Motivational speaking to good health. And lastly, from the perspective of senior Stephanie Oliver “It would make the college more attractive to more minority students to have a national organization...and it says to the already existing students that the school is trying to make a difference and not just saying it “. On February 13th 2005, the members of the organization will have their day of training along with the Millersville NAACP College Chapter and the Harrisburg Youth Council. Congratulations to all the members of the NAACP chapter at Gettysburg College.
Courtesy of the Beautifully Different Newsletter: Building Bridges with the Past
(Gettysburg College Multicultural Alumni Newsletter)
By: Shannon Nowlin and Melissa Miller
