Taylor Bembery
Associate Editor
Almost any student that attends an HBCU knows that their institution is built on one solid factor, tradition. Jackson State University was founded in 1877, which means tradition is deeply rooted from the original grounds of Natchez Seminary to where we stand today on 1400 John R. Lynch Street in Jackson, Miss.
So you may ask, what really is tradition? Tradition can be defined as the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
We all know that JSU has long-standing traditions such as the annual Founders Day celebration, which includes the ringing of a historic bell and the coronation of a campus queen that began in 1927. As of the fall 2014 semester JSU has more than 9,000 students currently enrolled, and with this new generation of students, will come new traditions.
I have already witnessed new traditions being implemented during my four years here at JSU, such as the graduation requirement of 120 community service hours to iPads being given to incoming freshmen, which is a great incentive for this tech-savvy generation.
However, creating new tradition comes with responsibility. When you create a social pattern within a group, it continues to trend to the next generation. So we must be careful of how we represent ourselves to prospective or new Jacksonians. We must continue to innovate while still keeping our rich history and the values of our institution intact.
One thing I feel that should change at JSU and become a new tradition is moving the location of the homecoming parade from downtown Jackson to the campus. I am a little ashamed to say that I have never attended a homecoming parade (trust me, it is the only homecoming event that I miss). This reason is probably half of my fault.
As a freshman and sophomore getting to the parade was a hardship for me because I didn’t have any transportation and my peers that did have cars weren’t enthusiastic enough to get up early Saturday morning to commute downtown. I’m sure some freshmen this year will have the same transportation problem that I had.
By the time I was a junior that tradition of attending the homecoming parade wasn’t instilled in me, so it was never on my agenda to participate. I’m graduating this December, so I told myself that I would make sure I have the total homecoming experience this year. I am attending every single event, which means I will be going to the parade this year. Hopefully, I will be right here at my Dear Ole College home cheering and showing my true tiger spirit!
If we are paying tuition, out-of-state fees, donating (alumni), etc., to help beautify and build the infrastructure of our campus, why not show off the progress of our institution by making a new tradition of having the homecoming parade right here on campus? Jacksonians come to homecoming for a reason, and that is to see the beautiful campus of Jackson State University (a place which we all call home).
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