D’Raey Fogg
Staff Writer
There have been many violent acts on college campuses as of late that are leaving families and friends in mournful states and college officials are scratching their heads wondering how to alleviate these issues.
2015-16 Miss Jackson State University, Charence Higgins, held an event, where students could write consoling letters to the grief stricken schools on Nov. 2, in the JSU Innovate, located on the first floor of the H.T. Sampson Library. This event was sponsored by the Division of Academic and Student Affairs.
Higgins, a senior psychology and theater major, wants to lend a helping hand and is encouraging others to do so as well.
“So often we are consumed with our own problems that we fail to realize that so many other people are going through their own trials and tribulations,” said Higgins on why she felt the need to hold such an event.
Students could come in, pick however many schools they chose to write to and have their letters mailed. The paper, envelopes, pens and addresses were provided.
Higgins also went on to explain that she is in an HBCU Queen’s GroupMe, which allows them to discuss news happening on each campus. Hearing from the fellow queens firsthand about how these acts have affected their campuses, made it more than community service for the JSU queen.
“When I hear about these tragedies coming from people I have built connections with, it makes me want to do all I can to help because I then ask myself, ‘What if it happened on our campus?’” explained Higgins as she greeted each student and handed out supplies.
Higgins stated that when she was in the beginning stages of setting up the event, Eltease Moore, Community Service Coordinator at JSU, stated that when Jackson State faced its own campus shooting on May 15, 1970, many schools wrote to express condolences and comfort during that time. That shooting took the lives of Phillip Lafayette Gibbs and James Earl Green, and the plaza today is named after the two students.
The schools that have recently had tragedies are: school shootings at Savannah State University, Tennessee State University, Delta State University, Texas State University, and Winston Salem State University.
Students who chose to participate, site different reasons.
La’Curtis Powell, Mr. Freshman and a criminal justice major said, “Even though this is a traumatic experience, it feels good to let them know we care.”
Other students had connections to the places the shootings took place.
Darrenlyn Braddy, a freshman mass communication major said, “I am from Dekalb County, and the student who was shot at Savannah State University was from there as well and I just felt the need to show my support.”
If you missed the event and would still like to write to these schools, send Higgins your letter via email at charence.m.higgins@students.jsums.edu or drop them off at her office located on the 2nd floor in the Student Center.
