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.

NPHC Week: One Big Happy Family!

(Click To Enlarge Image)

By Valencia Williams

Press & Publicity Coordinator

VSU NAACP

Summer semester has vanished, and the fall semester is fast approaching as the National Pan Hellenic Council (NPHC) rallies its Valdosta State colleagues for NPHC Week 2011. Numerous events are set up for students to get involved in and be informed about the our black fraternities and sororities on the campus. Certain events include: the NPHC Back to School Cookout, complete with food and music,as an opportunity for the Divine Nine Black Greek fraternities and Sororities to answer questions of prospective pledges and interested students. The event following the cookout is The Truth Behind the Secrecy, a forum led by a national speaker, explaining the importance of discretion concerning intake and chapter business, and the false rumor about worshiping other gods. Similar to the forum is the informational meeting for additional facts as well as a Q and A session. The new movie release, Jumping The Broom will be shown by NPHC in conjunction with VSU NAACP as a social event for students to mingle with different Greek organizations and meet new people while enjoying a great movie! Last but not least, the NPHC Greek Week Yard Show will go out with a bang with chants, stepping, and strolling on Friday.

NPHC president, Michael Gibson, is excited about the week and events!

“I honestly believe it is a great thing for different organizations to unite to collaborate events for the enjoyment of students on and off campus. Although we are different fraternities and sororities, we are all founded on the same principles, therefore we are very similar because we have the same goals.”

The events for the week are below:

NPHC Back To School Cookout

Monday 08/15/2011. 5:00pm-7:00pm. Langdale/Georgia Courtyard. The NPHC is providing free food and music to the entire campus. Each of the Diving Nine Black Greek Fraternities and Sororities will be in attendance and ready to answer any type of questions that students may have. Come out and have a great time.

The Truth Behind the Secrecy

Tuesday 08/16/2011 7:30pm-9:00pm. Student Union Ballroom A,B,&C.This will be an open forum to the entire campus. Some of topics being discussed will be discretion-why Greeks must be discreet about intake and chapter business, the untrue rumor about worshiping other gods, and contrary to popular beliefs-positive experiences members have gained by going greek. There will be a national speaker who will discuss these topics and more.

NPHC Informational Meeting

Wednesday 08/17/2011 7:00pm-9:00pm. Student Union Ballroom A,B,&C.This event is to supply information to all students about fraternities and sororities that are members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. This event will also include an question/answer session.

NPHC & NAACP Movie Night

Thursday 08/18/2011. 7:00pm-9:00pm. Jennett Lecture Hall Room 1111. NPHC and NAACP is hosting a movie night for the entire campus. This is a great opportunity to mingle with members of different Greek organizations as well as meet new people.

NPHC Yardshow

Friday 08/19/2011. 6:00pm-8:00pm. Pedestrian Mall.Come out and see Greek organizations perform for the campus. Chants,stepping, and strolling will be going on so you do not want to miss this great event.

President Barack Obama Delivers Message to the 102nd Annual NAACP Convention

Just minutes ago, President Obama broadcast to the delegates of the NAACP's 102nd Annual Convention. His speech discussed the challenges of the job market, the importance of education and how the economy has impacted African Americans. As he dove into the complexities of today's political landscape, the President noted the storied history of the Association -- crediting the NAACP's mission in helping lead him on the road to the White House.

These are difficult times for this country. The economic downturn has had a deep impact on our communities, and now the bitter fight over the debt ceiling poses a threat to the safety nets—Medicaid and Medicare, Social Security and student aid—that working class Americans have relied on for generations.

But President Obama's story has always been one of hope, and so it is particularly fitting that he reminds us of our legacy in these difficult times. He told the audience gathered in Los Angeles:

There is no doubt that the African American community has been one of the hardest hit. But NAACP, you also know that no matter how steep the climb, we have always persevered -- as a people and as a nation. No matter how long the road we have never grown weary. We've always kept marching ahead.

In the midst of reflection, President Obama reminds us to look ahead. It's up to us to continue the legacy of our parents and grandparents, to rise up against injustice and never to waver in the face of adversity.

Take a moment to watch as the President describes the enduring mission of the NAACP, and our duty to persevere.

Can't Attend The 2011 National NAACP Convention? No Problem.

The NAACP Webcast will stream all activities that take place in the main convention hall LIVE and then place the content in an online archive for on demand viewing year-round. Additional activities outside the main convention hall will be captured, edited and placed in the online archive.

Click Here To Access NAACPWEBCAST.COM

Turning Truth into Power – Student Leaders Rally for Change in Washington D.C.

by Courtney-Rose Harris, NAACP Youth & College Social Network Specialist

The 2008 Presidential election season established young people as a powerful new force capable of yielding real change. Along with many other young people across the county, I organized for now President Barack Obama and other Presidential and local candidates, directly impacting the communities I worked in by registering new voters, empowering young people with information and getting voters to the polls on a grassroots level. As our nation heads into the 2012 election season, there’s no doubt that even more young people will need to step up and step out to ensure that our issues are heard.

Campus Progress, a national organization that works with and for young people to promote progressive solutions to key political and social challenges, held its 7^th Annual National Conference on July 6^th and 7^th in Washington D.C. More than 1,000 young people convened at CPC to work towards real solutions for political, social and economic change.

The National Campus Progress Conference featured dynamic speakers, panels, caucuses and performances. Some of those presenters included: former U.S. President Bill Clinton; Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress Van Jones; United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius; National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling; Congressman Keith Ellison; Democracy Now! Host Amy Goodman; Spoken Word Artist StacyAnn Chin; Citizen Engagement Laboratory Senior Strategist Erica Williams; Center for American Progress President & CEO John Podesta; and Sierra Student Coalition National Director Quentin James.

Conference attendees engaged in meaningful dialogue around voting rights, the green jobs movement, job accessibility and mobility, race and the media and social media as a catalyst for social change.

During his plenary address, President Clinton reminded attendees of the importance of educating themselves on issues impacting their communities and the United States - using that knowledge to empower themselves and others, especially those groups who have been systemically and historically disenfranchised.

The second day of the conference, which hosted a smaller group of 120 student leaders, focused on how young people can build collective political power in the upcoming election season.

Heather Smith, President of Rock the Vote, passionately told attendees that “it is our job to make them [Congress] pay attention to us. We have to make sure that we are not letting other people make decisions for us.”

Recent University of Alabama graduate Edric Kirkman says that the conference helped him feel connected to a larger movement of community changers. “Those of us who showed up here today now have an obligation to go back to our campuses, our churches, our communities and organize,” Kirkman said. “If they [other students] could just hear what we’re hearing, just imagine how much power we can wield and how much we can change in our country.”

Help Stop Troy Davis' Execution Now

The state of Georgia may soon execute Troy Davis. Troy is scheduled to be executed for murdering a white police officer, despite overwhelming evidence that calls into question his guilt, and repeated attempts at justice.

This is Troy's last chance, and it's up to us to speak out to and save Troy Davis. By speaking out on the form, you will add your voice to our name wall below, to show the Georgia Parole Board, and the world, that we stand by Troy Davis -- and we believe in justice in America.