William Kelly
Associate Editor
While some of us may not be very familiar with the many things quoted in the Holy Bible, I’m sure all of us are familiar with the saying “break bread.” Back home in Houston, Texas this phrase is used by those family members and friends, otherwise referred to as roaches, who are determined to get a bite of whatever you are eating.
Jackson State University has a very strong alumni base from what I have witnessed so far, providing money and even food at times to students. I personally feel obligated to give back to my university and even my high school, simply because of my love for where I earned my education.
Every student at Jackson State doesn’t have the same mindset or the same love for our dear ol’ college home. Many students make decisions based on their current frustrations and plan to hold grudges towards the university by refusing to give back.
Now I don’t know about you but that sounds completely idiotic. If you are attending a university, you are attending for a reason. No matter what that reason may be, you have some sort of connection and should want to donate in some sort of way.
When alumni don’t give back, it affects the students currently enrolled in multiple occasions. Alumni provides money for things that you may not see but they include many of the developmental scholarships provided through the Jackson State website and even the departmental advances.
We may not all be able to provide an abundance of money but everything counts and helps in some way. Traveling with the Student Government Association opened my eyes to a group of proud JSU alumni who feed us before every game.
I advise students to please donate and give back to our university in whatever way possible just to make the experience greater for future Tigers in any aspect. Whether you are a biology major, mass communication, music, or business, giving back to your department or even previous organizations can assist with any funding issues they may have.
We are all aware of how difficult and stressful planning for organization activities and events can be when you’re lacking a few hundred dollar bills, so why not donate to a campus organization?
There are alumni chapters in different states and cities to help provide money for students from that respective area. Even though you may not be able to give back directly to the university, or may not be interested in doing so, you can always join your local hometown chapter and assist students who share a similar background as yourself.
It never hurts to break bread like Jesus said for a future Jackson State Tiger.
