(AUSTIN, Texas) 10.19.16 – Juniors Derrick Lewis, Jaylon Denkins, and Jade McDaniel welcomed students Wednesday afternoon to the first general body meeting of what they hope will be a new, invigorated NAACP Chapter here on campus. The university does not currently have an active NAACP Chapter, which is a matter Lewis – who serves as President for the University’s new chapter – noticed upon transferring to Huston-Tillotson from Angelo State University this semester. “The fight of the NAACP is not over. This fight for freedom and equality is still ongoing.
Each generation has had their turn to fight; now it’s our generation’s turn to fight!” Lewis said. “There wouldn’t be a Huston-Tillotson University or any HBCU without the NAACP. It’s only right to have the NAACP here on campus.” With support from Austin’s local NAACP Chapter and HT Staff, Lewis and the other junior officers convened Wednesday’s meeting where more than a dozen students showed up to learn more. Students viewed a brief video about the specific committees within the NAACP and began thinking about events the newly-formed organization could hold on campus and within the community.
While the University’s Chapter is forming, it does not yet have the membership needed to qualify as a nationally recognized NAACP Chapter. That’s where you come in Rams. The Chapter needs you to engage and empower yourself and others to gain the members it needs to become nationally recognized.
If you join now, the dues for the first 40 members will be graciously paid for by the local Austin NAACP Chapter. All you need is a strong commitment to the organization and its mission, and to participate in two events per semester. In addition, beginning next year, students serving as members of HT’s NAACP Chapter will need to maintain a GPA requirement of 2.75.
Meet Derrick, Jaylon, and Jade, as well as other members who have already committed, during their Bake Sale this Friday, from 6-8 p.m. in the Allen-Frazier Lobby. Their next meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 3 p.m., in the Dickey-Lawless Auditorium. For more information on how to join, stop by the bake sale, or e-mail Derrick at dllewis@htu.edu.
