Happy Holidays From Your NAACP Fam!

Shout out to our Fall 2011 grads Bianca Howard, Lauren Walker, Chaz Garvin, and  Reginald Rainge!

A little learning, indeed, may be a dangerous thing, but the want of learning is a calamity to any people. -Frederick Douglass

Above: Our members right after our "End of the Year Social".

Live Chat Replay: Stefanie Brown

Stefanie Brown, NAACP's National Field Director/Director, Youth & College Division, joins us as our inaugural guest for our live video chat session. Stefanie talks civil rights, the NAACP's role today, leadership and life balance.

Stay tune for the next LIVE CHAT!

For more info, go to www.NAACPConnect.org

VOTE IN THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ON TUESDAY!

How do I know if i'm registered to vote? And where do I vote?
Visit http://www.sos.georgia.gov/MVP/Login.aspx to find out about your voter registration status, Poll Location, Elected Officials and even a sample ballot for the upcoming election is available.

When do I vote?TOMORROW, TUESDAY, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on each election day. Any voter who is waiting in line to vote at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

What am I voting for?

Alcohol Referendum, Mayoral Race, City Council at Large Seats, and the School Unification question.

Why should I vote?Your vote is your voice in the governance of your city, county, state and country. As a citizen, you declare your rights and privileges with your vote. Contrary to popular belief, one vote - your vote - does make a difference.

Even though most of us may not be from Valdosta, VSU is very much connected to the Valdosta community educationally and economically. Our chapter has many local sponsors and supporters that need us to show up at the polls.

This is what NAACP is all about! NAACP is actively engaged in helping people to use the power of their voice by voting. With an aim to increase the young electorate turnout (18-29), the NAACP continues to make voter education a priority. Depending on our regional, state and local units for ongoing electoral work, the NAACP will lead in the struggle for voting rights in the field of grassroots advocacy.

Reducing Your Student Loan Debt: Barack Obama's Plan to Help College Students

Nearly six million students who have both guaranteed and direct loans will soon be able to refinance them and get a discount under President Barack Obama's student loan debt reform plan: "Help Americans Manage Student Loan Debt". You'll only have to write one check a month and within a year it will ensure that more than 1.6 million college students won't be required to make loan repayments over 10% of their income.

President Obama's plan will make college more affordable for students. All remaining debt is forgiven after 20 years of payments for college students. Debt is forgiven after 10 years for teachers, nurses, members of the armed forces, and others in public service careers.

These are just some of the important repayment options designed to make student loan repayments more affordable. All of this progress builds off student loan reform President Obama signed into law in 2010. All of this progress makes sure that more students from working and middle class families can get college educations and the opportunities that come with them.

Bankers don't get to be middlemen for student loans anymore. We saved $68 billion dollars by taking them out of the equation and a lot of the money is going towards loans and grants to make college more affordable for more people.

Share this news and join the movement. President Obama needs your voice to be heard. He needs you to tell Congress that reforms like this are what we're fighting for.

More information here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/10/26/how-president-obama-helping-lower-monthly-student-loan-payments

Where We Stand Debate: College Democrats and College Republicans

(click picture to enlarge)

One of our biggest events of the year on November 3rd at 7pm in Jeanette Lecture Hall (Room 1111), College Democrats and College Republicans: Where We Stand Debate. We will be hosting a debate which will include an experienced moderator and an intelligent discussion about many relative issues that we hear about and face everyday including local issues as well. This is a one of a kind of event and you can guarantee it will be a heated debate and discussion between the two. (Refreshments will be served)

Showing No Signs of Slowing Down!

By Valencia Williams
Press and Publicity Coordinator

Forget the phrase, “No good deed goes unpunished”, because Valdosta State University NAACP’s hard work is definitely rewarded. Despite close speculation from local, state, and national levels, this student organization did not falter in their determination to impact their campus with various meetings, events, and new ideas. Several college chapters were in attendance at the 69th Annual Georgia NAACP State Convention September 30th-October 2nd, but VSU NAACP was distinguished from the rest, as chapter President, DeAndre Jones and his executive board members humbly received significant awards for their efforts. The first of these awards was the College Chapter of the Year Award. The required qualifications met included: 25 paid members, completed year-end financial and activity reports, activities sponsored by Education, Political Action, Public Relations, membership, and Employment committees. Also, monthly and executive mass meeting were required. The chapter also received the Southwest District Award and VSU NAACP’s Employment and Economic Empowerment chair, Paul Rosemond, was recognized as he VSU NAACP received Best Economic Empowerment Programming. VSU NAACP is not only proud to be the recipients of such dignified honors, but takes pleasure in being a credible student organization of leaders that their campus can count on at all levels.

VSU NAACP's photostream

VSU NAACP's photostream on Flickr.

VSU Reacts to Troy Davis Outcome

VSU's The Spectator

Date: Sep 22nd, 2011 • Categories: 2011-09-22, Fall 2011, News, Top Headlines • 47 views 

By:Mikayla Beyer

The mood was somber outside West Hall on Wednesday night as the VSU NAACP gathered to pay tribute to Troy Davis at the scheduled time of his execution.

“I feel it is pretty pitiful the justice system did not grant this man clemency,” Valious Smith, NAACP member said.

“They are killing an innocent man with pretty much no evidence.”

The group gathered together right before 7 p.m., holding hands in a circle while being lead in a prayer.

Some people cried, and as a bell from a nearby church struck seven o’clock, the group continued to hold hands as the VSU NAACP president, Deandre Jones, spoke to the group before they disbanded.

The supporters were all in for a surprise, however. At the last minute, it was announced that his execution had been delayed.

The Supreme Court had decided to grant a temporary stay to Davis, but after three and half hours of deliberation, Davis was sentence to execution by lethal injection at 11:08 p.m.

Many students expressed their opinions through outlets like Twitter and Facebook, but some students believed that it was too little too late.

“It shouldn’t take something like this to get people together,” Akua Twenewaa, a nursing major and member of the African Student Association, said. “But I was just thinking that prayer is powerful.”

The VSU NAACP and the ASA have seen their efforts to help Davis at least temporarily rewarded, but not everyone was thrilled about the sudden attention the case has seen.

“Here they are coming up to the last minute and coming up with stuff that is not true,” Anneliese MacPhail, the mother of victim Mark MacPhail, told WLTZ 38 News in an interview Wednesday.

“You had the chance and you didn’t. I think he got a fair trial, his peers found him guilty, let’s get this over with.”

One piece of the case that many people calling for clemency cite is the fact that seven of the original nine witnesses have recanted their earlier testimony, and one of the original witnesses is now thought by many to be the real murderer of MacPhail.

Supporters of Davis insist there is too much doubt for this case to warrant a death sentence in this case.

“I’m proud of the international community for coming out to support Troy Davis at this time,” Jones said. “There was no evidence in this case.”

Governor Deal Visits VSU and Talks About Troy Davis

"I AM TROY DAVIS" e-blast campaign! Take a listen! Save Troy Davis!

Posted (via NAACP.org) on September 07, 2011 by Benjamin Todd Jealous, President & CEO

We’ve just received terrible news: the State of Georgia has set Troy Davis’s execution date for midnight on September 21, just two weeks from today.

This is our justice system at its very worst, and we are alive to witness it. There is just too much doubt.

Consider the situation: Seven out of nine witnesses have recanted their statements; several more have come forward to identify one of the two remaining witnesses as the actual killer; and, earlier this summer, the judge in his final hearing labeled the case against troy as “not ironclad.” Nonetheless, the state of Georgia is set to execute Troy anyway.

Time is running out, and this is truly Troy’s last chance for life.

But through the frustration and the tears, there is one thing to remain focused on: We are now Troy Davis’ last hope. And I know we won’t let him down.

There are three steps you can take to help Troy:

1. Sign the petition to the Board of Pardons and pass this on to your friends and family. Each name means a more united front for justice:

http://action.naacp.org/Name-Wall

2. Send a message of support to Troy as he fights for justice on what may be the final days of his life.

http://action.naacp.org/LettersOfSupport

3. Make sure everyone knows about this injustice. Spread the word on Facebook andTwitter (hashtag #TooMuchDoubt) so that Troy Davis’ story can be heard. We still have a chance to save his life, but only if people are willing to speak out against injustice.

Today, the State of Georgia has declared their intention to execute a man even though the majority of the people who put him on the row now say he is innocent many implicate one of the other witnesses as the actual killer. Now that a date has been set, we cannot relent. We must redouble our efforts. Thank you for your help.

VSU NAACP: VSU Back in Session!

VSU NAACP's photostream on Flickr.

By Valencia Williams

Press and Publicity Coordinator

Valdosta State University NAACP College Chapter is kicking off the semester in high gear with a calendar full of numerous activities and events to benefit students on campus! Each one of our committees has worked diligently planning over the summer, including plans and campaigns that will involve the Valdosta community, specifically in the areas of health, education, political action, economic empowerment, and membership.

VSU NAACP quickly got acquainted with incoming students early this school year. Since launching our website, Facebook page, and by means of Twitter all summer, we wanted to take a different approach on communicating and retaining our members and supporters this school year. VSU NAACP plans on reaching out to the students this year like never before by using our social networks as our main platform of information and controlling our own image on campus! We all know that college life is a busy one and if we want NAACP to be a part of the student’s life, we must bring the NAACP to the students like never before. Thanks to the support of our Georgia Youth & College Division led by President Justin Bryant, who also shares the vision of mobilizing the youth across the state through communication and information distribution. With a statewide petition and campaign for Troy Davis and significant cuts in education, this moment has never been a better time to put the youth in a position to change our communities. Our very own chapter President DeAndre Jones said, “There are too many youth out there who have the talents and really do care about their community and their future… They just need somewhere to express themselves. The NAACP should be that organized outlet again.”

During the month of August, the organization participated in the campus Move-In Movement. Despite the blazing South Georgia heat, we served a helping hand to get freshmen settled into their Residence Halls. The opportunity to meet and greet parents and incoming students was a great one and we are sure they appreciated the warm welcome. During the first week of classes we teamed up with our National Pan Hellenic Council in hosting a movie night to watch the hot new release, Jumping the Broom, for “NPHC Week: One Big Happy Family”. In the following week and for the remainder of the month, our Membership Committee led by Storm Richardson launched “75 and Keeping It Alive!” Residence Hall Tour which included visiting 8 Residence Halls on our campus to inform students about the organization, increase membership, and register voters. Continuing on the fast track with no plans to break, our chapter put on our first fundraiser with Chick-Fil-A our first weekend of classes. Members busied themselves filling cups, taking out trash, holding doors, and accepting donations, all while getting the word out about the organization. The next following week, at Valdosta State University we have something called “The Happening”; An event where on-campus organizations including vendors and organizations from all over Valdosta gather on campus to inform the students and get them involved in things “happening” on and off campus. This was the perfect opportunity to attract more interested passerby’s and get them revved up to join. Later that evening we held our first general meeting of the semester with around 80 in attendance and a shortage of seats proving all of the hard work in publicizing VSU NAACP paid off!

One of VSU NAACP’s most important meetings, our Informational/Interest meeting, will be held in September, a month with a plethora of plans to both educate and serve the community. Ashley Howard, our Community Coordinator will serve lead in Adopt-A-Road Clean Up, Second Harvest Food Bank, and participating in Valdosta’s Boys and Girls Club National Day for Kids event. It doesn’t stop there; we have plans to work in conjunction with several other community service groups on campus with other events such as Relay for Life, VSU Heroes, and Lowndes Associated Ministries to People. Bianca Howard, our Education Committee Chair, has also organized a Mentoring Program through our chapter which will be working in the grade schools in Lowndes County. All mentors will be members of our chapter, trained and ready to work with the kids. On campus our first event will be HBCU’s vs. PWI’s Discussion Panel to discuss the pros and cons of attending a historically black college, in comparison to a predominantly white institution. VSU NAACP will also be showing Spike Lee’s well-known film, “Do the Right Thing” and will later discuss the racial and criminal justice issues that are illustrated in the movie greatly. Our Political Action and Economic and Employment Empowerment Committee is fired up and ready to go with getting people registered to vote on campus with the new “This Is My Vote” voter empowerment campaign, “It’s All About the Wealth” Forum, “Marketing Your Future” Workshop, and a debate hosted by our chapter, “Young Democrats and Young Republicans: Where We Stand.” What’s ultimately amazing about all these events and community service projects is that this is just the first half of the Fall semester! There are so many exciting things to look forward to that are in store for the Fall semester, and VSU NAACP urges students on campus and in the community to seize the day and become a part of a significant organization that is determined to make a difference.

Also, check out our new cards floating around campus.