REGISTRATION UPDATES

Please register as soon as possible to reserve your spot; as space is limited and registration may not be available at the door.

EVENT UPDATES

All conference sessions will be held in the Student Memorial Center (SMC).

INQUIRIES

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us either by email or phone!

BSA-BSU50th@millersville.edu
(717) 871-4588

LODGING OPTIONS

A block of rooms has been reserved for March 22, 2018 - March 24, 2018 at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Lancaster. The special room rate will be available until February 21st or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first.

The DoubleTree Resort is only a 15 minute drive to Millersville's Campus. To begin the process, click on link below to receive your group's preferred rate: 

BSA/BSU 50th Anniversary Special Room Rates at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel  Lancaster

ALUMNI PROFILE SURVEY

Please lend your support by taking 5 minutes to complete this survey, and encourage other MU alumni of color with whom you have maintained contact to do so, whether they graduated or not. This survey will further affirm the original contention of the BSA and allies such as the Students for Progressive Action, that the turn toward inclusion would benefit the University [as a whole], as well as the alumni of color, their communities and the nation. Thank you. 

To complete the Alumni Profile Survey

Click here!

THE IMPERATIVE OF INCLUSION:

A CELEBRATION & THE WORK THAT REMAINS

In 1897, Emmanuel Epps became the first known African American to graduate from the Millersville Normal School, now Millersville University (MU). It would be more than 70 years, with the formation of the Black Students Association (BSA) at Millersville State College in 1967-68, that inclusion would become an intentional policy of the University. Within a year of its formation, the BSA confronted the administration and the faculty with 16 Demands encompassing inclusiveness in: enrollment; hiring of faculty, staff and administrators; student life; and academic programs. These Demands met with passionate acceptance and passionate resistance.  Nonetheless, within two years of the Demands, more African American and other students of color were enrolled at MU than in the 70+ years since the graduation of Emmanuel Epps. As you know from your era at MU and subsequent visits, inclusion has evolved at MU in a myriad of important ways in the past half century across all aspects of the University from the ongoing contributions of many individuals and organizations of students, faculty, staff and the administration.

Let us recognize and celebrate what has been hard won progress and important milestones for our University. Unfortunately, we are now confronted with highly visible and determined efforts in our society to turn back the clock of America’s evolving greatness to which inclusion or diversity has been a vital part. This is a wake-up call that we cannot assume that progress achieved is permanent and will inevitably continue.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its founding, the BSU is spearheading a Spring Conference and Gala with the theme The Imperative of Inclusion: A Celebration and The Work That Remains.  All past and present members of our University Community and the public are invited to join in this Celebration. It will kick-off with a Keynote Speech at 7:30 pm on Thursday, March 22, 2018. Following that will be a full day Conference on the work that remains and an upbeat and rocking evening Gala on Friday, March 23, 2018.

STEERING COMITTEE MEMEBERS

Dr. Melvin R. Allen ‘69, Co-Chair

Ms. Brittney Brown ‘18, Co-Chair

Ms. Sandy Brown Thomas ‘76

Ms. Denise Berg, Director, Alumni Relations

Mr. Aaron Dread ‘94

Ms. Cheryl Hodges

Ms. Patricia Hopson-Shelton

Mr. Dwight Horsey, BSU Advisor

Ms. Cassian LeJeune ‘18, Co-Chair

Ms. Alice McMurry, VP, Advancement

Ms. Jodie Richardson ‘16

Ms. Brianna Smith ‘18

Dr. Rita Smith Wade-El

HONORARY CO-CHAIRS

Dr. Joseph A. Caputo, MU President Emeritus

Dr. Francine G. McNairy, MU President Emerita

Honorable Jordan Harris ‘06, Representative, PA General Assembly and Member, Millersville Council of Trustees

APPRECIATION

The Steering Committee wishes to express its appreciation to the University Administration and the Student Senate for their support of the 50th BSA/BSU Anniversary Celebration.

EVENT SCHEDULE

Early registration is highly encouraged due to limited space. 
 

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March 22, 2018

(NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED)

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7:30 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ibrahim X. Kendi - Reighard Hall All Purpose Room, Student Memorial Center

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March 23, 2018

(REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR ALL EVENTS)

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CONFERENCE WELCOME 

(9:00 am - Student Memorial Center)

BOOSTING EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

(9:40 am – 10:50 am)

This session will focus primarily upon K-12 school improvement, college academic support programs, and closing the STEM achievement gap.

Chair:  Dr. Irvin Scott, Senior Lecturer, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University

Panelists:

  • Ms. Danielle Brown,’00, Principal, McKinley Elementary School, School District of York (PA)
  • Dr. Tolani Britton, Quantitative Policy Analysis in Education, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University

POLITICS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

(11:00 am – 12:10 pm)

This session will focus upon confronting such anti-democratic, societal trends as increasing obstacles to voter registration and gerrymandering, criminal justice abuses and disparities, and hate speech.

Chair:  Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., Philadelphia City Council

Panelists:

  • Representative Jordan Harris, Pennsylvania General Assembly
  • Ismail Smith-Wade-El, City Council Member, City of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
  • Ms. Brittney Brown, ’18, Millersville University Student and President, MU NAACP Chapter
  • Ms. Carol Kuniholm, Co-Founder & President, Fair Districts PA

ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT

(12:10 pm – 1:00 pm)

This session will focus upon the racial wealth gap and ways of addressing it through entrepreneurship, stabilizing and greater access to higher paying jobs and government investment and intervention.

Chair:  Dr. Osman Suliman, Professor of Economics, Millersville University

Panelists:

  • Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, Senior Fellow, Racial Wealth Divide Initiative
  • Mr. William Cunningham, Founder, Creative Investment Research; and Managing Partner, National Crowdfunding Services
  • Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., Philadelphia City Council
  • Ms. Briana Smith, ’18, Millersville University Student

THE WORK THAT REMAINS

(2:35 pm – 3:45 pm)

This session will focus upon the concerns of BSU students, alumni, faculty and friends, especially on improving retention of students and staff, graduation and the campus climate at MU.

Chair:  Representative Jordan Harris, PA General Assembly and MU Council of Trustees

Panelists:

  • Ms. Brittney Brown, ’18, President, MU NAACP Chapter
  • Mr. Corey Coleman, ‘03, Vice President, External Affairs for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Pennsylvania
  • Ms. Cassian LeJeune, ’18, President, MU Black Student Union

ANNIVERSARY GALA

(6:15 pm - Lehr, Gordinier Hall) 

This will be a festive evening of fellowship consisting of a reception, banquet and semi-formal dance. Tributes will be paid to honorees during the evening.

  • 6:15 p.m. - Reception
  • 7:00 p.m. - Celebration Banquet
  • 8:45 p.m. - Semi-Formal Dance