Than 3000 Attend Lincoln Commencement Alumni Enjoy Reunion Weekend
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The Lincoln Lion Summer 1990 Edition More than 3000 Attend Lincoln Commencement Alumni Enjoy Reunion Weekend -';'. 'If*1 Dr. Skinner—the Franz Boas Profes- Lincoln's 131st commencement sor of Anthropology at Columbia Uni- exercises were held May 6 in Manuel versity, President of the Association of Rivera Hall; 121 bachelor of science, Black American Ambassadors, former 41 bachelor of arts, and 86 Master of U.S. Ambassador to Upper Volta, au- Human Services degrees were thor, and recognized expert in the areas conferred. of African ethnology and race The ceremony, attended by more relations—was awarded the title of than 3000, was the culmination of a Commander in the National Voltaic reunion weekend which began Friday Order for his pioneering anthropologi- evening with the "PHI and PI" cal research and diplomatic service in Dinner. Saturday's array of activities Upper Volta. He has written nine included an Open House at Langston books, including African Urban Life— Hughes Library, the Class of 1940's which won the African Studies Associa- 50th Reunion Brunch with the Presi- tion's 1975 President's Prize for the dent, an Invitational Track Meet, the best book on Africa. General Alumni Association's Annual Meeting, the General Alumni Associa- tion Executive Council Meeting, a spe- cial concert by the Concert Choir, and the General Alumni Association An- nual Banquet. The day ended with class reunions and the Graduates-Alumni "Get-Together." At Sunday's commencement, honor- ary degree recipient Archbishop Des- mond Tutu evoked cheers, tears, and (Left to Right) Former U.S. Ambassador Elliott P. Skinner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a standing ovation when he spoke of President Niara Sudarkasa, and former Ambassador Horace G. Dawson. struggle, equality, and freedom in South Africa. "We know we are going to be free because our cause is a just and no- ble cause," he said. "Our freedom is in- alienable. We are all going to be free, Archbishop Tutu, a 1984 Nobel sanctions must not be lifted. "(They) Black and white together... South Peace Prize winner and chief spokes- must remain in place until the process Africa will be nonracial, nonsexist and man in South Africa's nonviolent cam- of eliminating apartheid is irreversible," truly democratic." paign for liberation, was conferred an he said, adding that the consequences honorary Doctor of Humane Letters de- of apartheid and all of its inequities will gree by University President Niara Su- take time to correct. darkasa, who referred to him as an As Archbishop of Cape Town, Des- "humble and unassuming pastor for all mond Tutu is the head of the Church of Dr. Elliott P. Skinner. humanity" and said, "Your optimism, the Province of Southern Africa. faith, hope and charity drive your peo- Among the many recognitions he has ple to prevail—despite the odds—to received for his leadership against apar- Dr. Skinner spoke to the graduates of write a new chapter in the history of theid and his commitment to equality the long, hard struggle for equality South Africa... Blessed are the and justice are 27 honorary doctorates waged by their parents and grand- peacemakers, for they shall inherit the and the Martin Luther King Peace parents and of his own participation in earth. Blessed are we all for having had Award. Archbishop Tutu's sermons, the fight against apartheid in South you among us." speeches, and other statements have Africa. "Your generation, the Class of At Baccalaureate Services held earli- been collected in two volumes: Crying 1990, could be the most important er in the day, Archbishop Tutu ex- in the Wilderness (Eerdmans, 1982) and people of African descent to be born pressed thankfulness for support of Hope and Suffering (Eerdmans, 1984). during the last 500 years," he said. "A economic sanctions against South Afri- Dr. Sudarkasa also conferred honor- new day is dawning. You have the abil- ca which helped the movement "that is ary Doctor of Laws degrees upon ity, indeed the duty, to free Black peo- unstoppable ... that opened walls of former U.S. Ambassadors Elliott P. ples from the stereotypes and problems prisons." He later remarked that the Skinner and Horace G. Dawson, Jr., a of the 20th century." Archbishop Desmond Tutu. 1949 Lincoln graduate. (Continued on Page 3) President Sudarkasa Meets with Former Nigerian President Nnamdi Azikiwe, '30 (*•<» A high point of President Niara Sudarkasa's recent trip to Nigeria was a visit to the Onuiyi New Haven, Nsukka home of the Right Honorable Dr. Nnamdi Azi- kiwe, '30, Nigeria's first president. Dr. Azikiwe, who is maintaining his ties with Lincoln in a very real way through the elder of his two youngest sons (Lincoln freshman Molokwu Azikiwe), sent his regards to his fellow alumni and expressed disappointment at being unable to attend his 60th class reunion. Dr. Azikiwe, born in Nigeria in 1904, is a political scientist, author, journalist, editor, educator and orator who led Nigeria's fight against colonialism and championed the cause of the working class. The first Nigerian to be appointed president of Republican Nigeria, he is the founder of the National Convention of Nigeria and the Cameroons—the first nationwide political party in what would become two separate independent countries. President Sudarkasa's speaking tour, which included visits to Lagos, Ibadan, Ife, Enugu, Nsukka, Benin, Cotonou, and Abidjan (Ivory Coast), was sponsored by the United States Information Agency (USIA). She left the states on December 28, 1989, and returned January 17, 1990. Her itinerary included meetings with five college presidents and an address to the faculty convocation at the University of The Right Honorable Dr. Nnamdi Nigeria (UNN) in Nsukka. UNN was founded by Dr. Azikiwe, who modelled it af- President Niara Sudarkasa and the Azikiwe, '30. ter Lincoln and America's land grant institutions. Right Honorable Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, '30. The Lincoln Lion 2 Summer 1990 Table of Contents From the Desk of Commencement 1990 1 Dr. J. Paul Stephens,'68 President Sudarkasa Meets with DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS The Right Honorable Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe 1 From the Desk of Dr. J. Paul Stephens 2 MLVy eight months as your alumni relations director have been a time of learning and assessment to produce an Letter to the Editor 2 alumni relations program that will sus- tain a high level of excitement in you From the Desk of Dr. H. Alfred Farrell 3 about the many positive developments at Lincoln today. Recently I received a Dr. Calvin S. Morris to Speak at Alumni Convocation 4 letter from an alumnus who expressed dismay and exasperation that he did Dr. J. Paul Stephens, '68. Dr. Jake Milliones to Speak at Alumni Luncheon 4 not receive his little white reunion reservation card that in the past had plied, and an evidence of alumni accompanied the formal commence- accountability in the field to the extent Alumni Rings: Special 4 ment invitation. Since the alumnus—a that our GAA chapters are occupied classmate, friend, and one of our most regularly in supporting the University Chapter News 5 devoted volunteers for Lincoln—chose by promoting regular alumni profes- to share his sentiment with our Alumni sional networking opportunities such as Council, my reply was circulated ac- sponsoring business card swaps for our Black Aviation Exhibit 5 cordingly. Over the Reunion Weekend, younger alumni, especially among several Council members voiced en- those who are trying to establish them- Lincoln Alumni: Whereabouts Unknown 5 couragement about the content and selves locally in business of their pro- theme of my reply that I have since fessions; by holding more recruitment Lincoln Alumni Among NAFEO Honorees 5 viewed as a manifesto of sorts about activities in the schools and churches to my personal approach to my job. Since add to the quality of our student body it is my belief that an informed alumni from year to year; by linking with Alumni Association National Officers 5 body is a caring alumni body, I am re- youth and community service organiza- printing my reply here as my submis- tions to sponsor outings to cultural and Class Reunions—1990 6 sion for this edition of the Lion. sporting events for our young people- especially young Black men—who Class Notes 7 Dear : hunger for the type of positive role mod- Honestly, I never believed alumni eling Lincoln alumni can provide; by took the reservation card that seriously! creating public relations opportunities In Memoriam 10 Certainly, in 23 years I have never paid to award and highlight the accom- it much attention, and the evidence of plishments of local resident Lincoln Homecoming '90 Schedule 12 its usefulness was pretty slim when I alumni (recently a classmate alerted me learned from my staff that no more to a distinguished alumnus residing in than a few of the 6000 printed annually her area who she learned about be- were ever returned. Plus, the few re- cause she attended an awards breakfast turned did not have any real impact on sponsored by the local Tuskegee Alumni the need for alumni to reserve space at chapter where our alumnus was one of the banquet or residence halls. the honorees!!!); and by encouraging lo- The Lincoln University Lion is published semi-annually by Thus, I set out this year to seek a cal and class participation in the Annu- Lincoln University, Lincoln University, Pennsylvania 19352. Tele- more cost-effective way of communi- al Fund. phone (215) 932-8300. Contributions are welcome. cating the housing and banquet prices If our GAA chapters mobilize to a by including a facsimile of the form in new level of visibility of renewed the letter to reunion classes only.