Living out the American Creed Tracy Sugarman, Charles Mclaurin Speak on Struggle for Civil Rights
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BTHINKachelor CRITICALLY • ACT RESPONSIBLY • LEAD EFFECTIVELY • LIVE HUMANELY January 28, 2011 the student voice of wabash since 1908 volume 104 • issue 14 Living Out the American Creed Tracy Sugarman, Charles McLaurin Speak on Struggle for Civil Rights RILEY FLOYD ‘13 have a nigger. And if I was just willing to say that I was a nigger, they would leave me EDITOR IN CHIEF alone. And I thought that over—whether I wanted to continue to be beaten and bat- Held for Investigation tered, but I saw it then. See . that last time, I really considered my answer. And I “Down here, boy!” said, ‘Hey, if that’s all they want, I’m “‘Boy,’ said the patrolman in a conversa- damned if I do; I’m damned if I don’t. This tional voice, ‘are you a Negro or a nig- ain’t the time to die. It’s not the first time ger?’” I’ve heard this, and it won’t be the last time That’s the now unthinkable question that I’ve heard this, so I’m going to live to fight Charles McLaurin faced as a Student Non- another day, hopefully,’” McLaurin said. violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) For McLaurin and for the other young worker in the spring of 1964. And that’s the people working to register black voters that first violent scene of Tracy Sugarman’s summer, death and danger were book, We Had Sneakers, They Had Guns: omnipresent realities. “That was one of the The Kids Who Fought for Civil Rights in things they told us. They said, ‘The river’s Mississippi. right out back.’ That’s where we thought we After being “held for investigation” by were going,” McLaurin said. the Mississippi Highway Patrol on their Stories like this one were the reason for way to SNCC headquarters in Atlanta, McLaurin and Sugarman’s visit. Sugarman, McLaurin and four other young, black men now nearing his 80s, and McLaurin, in his were taken from their cell (one by one) and 60s, are the last members of a generation asked the same question. whose experiences nearly 40 years ago will McLaurin could hear the beatings going soon go untold. Last week, the Wabash on in the downstairs of the jail. And when it community got a chance to hear some of was his turn, he too descended the stairs. those stories as well as some perspective on “I’m a Negro,” McLaurin answered. the civil rights movement as a whole. GRANT MCCLOSKEY | WABASH ‘12 But that was the wrong answer. The Select students participated in two book Journalist/illustrator Tracy Sugarman and civil rights activist Charles McLaurin visited patrolman savagely beat McLaurin. And discussions—one with Sugarman. McLau- campus last week for the MXI’s annual MLK Celebration. The week’s events included a book the patrolman continued to ask the question rin gave last Thursday’s Chapel Talk. And discussion, a Chapel Talk, and a joint lecture. and to beat McLaurin in intervals until he both men gave a joint lecture to a packed answered the way the patrolman wanted Lovell Lecture Hall on Thursday evening because of omnipresent segregation in the Lower class whites weren’t the only him to. And in that situation, forced—on the before leaving campus last Friday. state—what Sugarman called the “Ameri- racists. Indeed, the murder of James one hand—to denigrate himself and avoid can apartheid” in his book. SNCC’s purpose Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael beating and—on the other hand—to state “How I Got My Freedom” was to teach blacks about citizenship and to Schwerner “ripped the sheets off the Ku his true identity and be brutally beaten, get them registered to vote. Whites who Klux Klan and exposed them for what they McLaurin thought things through. McLaurin’s Chapel Talk gave a historical had never finished high school were were,” McLaurin said. And they were “The pain didn’t bother me until later. perspective. Blacks were 34-35-percent of allowed to vote. But poll taxes, grandfa- southern doctors, lawyers, and prominent What really bothered me was that here I the population of Mississippi in 1964, but ther clauses, and rampant racism prevented businessmen. No small wonder then, that was in a situation where these people . they did not actively participate in the gov- blacks—even black professionals—from ernment. They could not actively participate they just had to make a nigger. They had to voting. See, CREED, Page 2 Student Senate Reconvenes Students/Faculty Gather for Celebration of Student Research SAM BENNETT ‘14 parallel,” Professor of Mathematics Chad Westphal said. Westphal is the Chair of STAFF WRITER the Undergraduate Research Committee and in charge of organizing the Celebration It isn’t very often that academic life on of Student Research. “The oral presenta- campus gets to display itself as widely as it tions will take place in 20 minute parallel will at the upcoming Celebration of Student intervals so that an audience can either stay Research. As a whole, Wabash is certainly in a room for a whole session or go to very academically oriented, and this oppor- another room for another 20 minutes,” tunity provides a rare glimpse at all aspects Westphal explained. of the campus’s progress. It is an important The exhibit will include 26 posters, five opportunity for students to shine and repre- exhibits on display, and 50 talks, with 83 sent themselves through the research they students and involved and every academic have done. department represented. The Celebration of The 11th annual Celebration of Student Student Research “coincides with trustee Research will begin on Friday afternoon visit weekend,” and gives the trustees a from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. in Detchon Internation- way of “jumping into the life of the College al Hall. There will be 26 posters set up, quickly,” Westphal said, “It puts some of each representing the work and research our strongest work forward.” of a student. They will each give an oral This event certainly illuminates the core strengths and brilliance of the College. The GRANT MCCLOSKEY | WABASH ‘12 presentation in one of six different rooms celebration reaches into the depths of all The Senate Reconvened for its 94th Session on Tuesday night. Steve Henke ‘12 and throughout the Detchon Center in order to further elaborate on the work that they have academic life on campus. The projects Tyler Wade ‘12 were sworn in as the new President and Vice-President respectively. Mark accomplished. involved expand anywhere from Matthew Osnowitz ‘12 will serve as Treasurer. Tyler Griffin ‘13 was appointed Secretary. “We’ve got oral presentations going on in See, CELEBRATION, Page 3 Internship Hopefuls Attend Career Svcs. Events JOEL BUSTAMANTE ‘11 well,” Assistant Director Career Services have signed up. The National Association of The goal of Internship Week is to provide Betsy Knott said. “The student involve- Wabash Men (NAWM) sponsored event students with the necessary resources to MANAGING EDITOR ment has been picking up gradually as the will give current students the opportunity to acquire an internship or career path. Offer- week goes on.” prepare for interviews, as well as establish ing several outlets (everything from resume As the Chicago Bears kicked their final The event began with the NFL Watch a network with the NAWM community. critiquing to mock interviews) is concerned game of the season, so too did Career Ser- Party, and concludes today with the “Root- “The afternoon is meant to give Wabash with bettering students against the dwin- vices kick off their annual “Internship Brew and Interviews” outing. Today’s event alums a reason to help you,” Director of dling job market of tomorrow. Week.” focuses on alum and trustee interviews, Career Services Scott Crawford said. “Don’t Networking is a vital part of Internship featuring mock interviews for those that just go and ask for a handout.” “So far, the week has been going really See, INTERNSHIP, Page 3 In This Issue: ITIT NNetwetwororkk UUpgpgrradesades LoafLoafererss GalorGaloree SaturSaturdadayy inin SporSportsts News, 2 Cavelife, 6 Sports,ts, 88 PAGE 2 The Bachelor january 28, 2011 BACHELOR 301 w. wabash Ave. crawfordsville, IN IT Closes Internet Gaps 47933 EDITOR IN CHIEF GABE WATSON wireless network, students had been Riley Floyd NEWS EDITOR ‘13 allowed to create their own. But [email protected] with recent improvements to the MANAGING EDITOR Joel Bustamante school’s provided access points, stu- [email protected] Coming to the close of an eight dents crowded the limited channels. month project, IT Services has made NEWS EDITOR Director of Information Technology Gabe Watson great strides to improve the tech- Services Brad Weaver prohibited [email protected] nology behind our campus lives. students from installing personal OPINION EDITOR Their primary focus has been access points. Alex Avtgis [email protected] improving the wireless access points While some buildings on the east on campus. SPORTS EDITOR side of campus still have not had Brandan Alford Wabash’s Internet service was their new access points installed, [email protected] upgraded over the summer when it they simply happened to be last in CAVELIFE EDITOR was changed from a 40MB connec- the order of operation. “It’s just a Joel Bustamante [email protected] tion through AT&T to a 250MB timing factor,” Weaver explained. connection through iLight. This IT Services tests signal strength in PHOTO EDITOR Alex Moseman change means that the school’s each building and makes adjust- [email protected] Internet can technically be over five ments on an as-needed basis to BACHELOR ADVISOR times faster than last year. ensure that they can improve Inter- Howard Hewitt But problems arise in the imple- [email protected] net access for all.