So how was the IPC All Class Reunion (aka the ACR) you asked? Fabulous! Extraordinary!! Outstanding! Brilliant! Down right unprecedented (as my SAT verbal comes to a halt)! Well, let me tell you: words cannot begin to express how wonderful and magnificent an event it was. It was truly historical. One for the record books!!
Though I arrived on campus late Saturday morning, it was a weekend well spent. I regret that I wasn’t able to make it the evening prior, in order to participate in the kick-off event and spend some much treasured time with the University’s President, Dr. Ruth Simmons. However, for the portion of the weekend in which I was there, I felt blessed to be part of something that was certainly memorable. The timing couldn’t have been more impeccable.
Since the weekend was quite eventful with numerous activities and forums (including those of leadership weekend), I won’t bog you down with the details. Instead, here is a quick recap from my perspective.
Friday: I was told that Friday was simply magical. An opening reception took place in the TWC, hosted by Karen McLaurin-Chesson, for students and alumni. There was a kick-off dinner with Ruth Simmons. Shades of Brown, still standing strong after all these years, delivered some mind-blowing musical melodies that moved the soul. Rites and Reasons performance was totally uplifting!
Sat.: I missed the morning sessions including: “The IPC & Leadership Conference Breakfast” (which I’m sure was yummy); and the Walking While Black forum. Led by Leland McGee, this was a discussion of the Black Alumni’s response to the recent developments on campus regarding campus police (who are now armed with guns, from my understanding) and young Black male students. (Perhaps we should discuss this forum at a later date, or something, with some of those from our chapter who were able to attend?)
A very informative and thought provoking forum, titled “Slavery & Social Justice,” presented some of the findings by the committee established by President Simmons to investigate Brown University’s role in New England’s slave trade. A particularly interesting development of that committee surrounds the formation and functioning of such an investigative body, which attempts to fulfill their prime directive from a neutral stance. They basically gather evidence of Brown’s culpability (or lack there of in some cases) by only looking at the facts and historic documents (without personal input or subject commentary). The future plan is to present to the school’s president a summary of findings, in written format, due upon completion of the committee’s goals (projected for sometime in the next coming year or so).
Dr. Melissa Nobles, a panelist of the forum, also addressed the issues of “forgiveness” and “apology,” and what it means to apologize both for the party that was wronged, and for the perpetrator of the wrong doing. She gave us great historical examples of groups that were victimized and how an apology was rendered to them by another group for atrocities committed. In some cases it was effective in bringing about atonement and reconciliation, while in other instances it was certainly not (made matters worse in fact). The issue of reparations and types of “currencies of reparations” were also discussed, including a lively audience feedback on the matter…. Good stuff, good stuff!
That forum tied in well with the next set of happenings: the student protest on the main green. In regards to the events that preceded the ACR, having an Alumni presence on campus directly following such racially-charged incidents are tantamount to our objectives as IPC. It felt great to stand alongside students, the Administration, and even the Campus Police, who are trying to make a difference by evoking change that would benefit the entire community at large: Black, non-Black, and in-between, this unity spoke volumes to the issue at hand. I was extremely impressed by the student body’s ability to rally folks in a united, non-violent stance of resistance against a system that perpetuates discrimination and adversely impacts student life on campus…a protest on the main green with parents, Alumni, leadership and visitors present…it was classic Brown!
Being there to see the protest in front of Faunce, and directly adjacent to the Office of Campus Police, so that we all may know that the student voices are heard (literally), shed light on the fact that I did not really experience a Black Alumni presence on campus while I was there at Brown. Even though I knew it (a community of Black Alums) had existed when I was a student, it just didn’t seem real to me, and our year just didn’t have the same charisma as let’s say ’95, or even 2005 had. Indeed, in spite of the tribulations they now face, it is important to see that many students care enough to put aside their main purpose of being there at Brown (which is to be students first and foremost) in order to deal with pertinent issues at hand, and to do it in such a manner, which proves true to what we all stand for: respect, tolerance, and progress. (Please feel free to visit the IPC Forum section in order to comment on any of this…I don’t mean to monopolize this space).
The lunch was tasty, and it was nice to sit and chat with other members of IPC, folks from other chapters, and other walks of life. We socialized, reflected and networked. Then took a stroll to the John Henry Library which I’ve never been inside, I don’t think, to take the group photo. (See photos section, on the IPC website). Following lunch and the group photo were two forums that went on at the same time: the “Reflections-Exploring the Brown Experience” and the “Leadership Conference Forum.” I went to the “Reflections” session.
The “Reflections” forum was facilitated by Alyce Johnson, and it was done differently than the other forums (I experienced). It was done in a breakout-session format by decades/classes. So, all the ‘70’s classes sat together, all the ‘80s in another group, and the nineties, 2000’s and current students formed one group, since there were not enough of us present. We all gave our feedback on three main themes, and it was quite touching to see how similar we all are, even though we walked through the Van Wickle gates decades apart. At the risk of sounding cheesy it was like “one big family reunion”!! We are of course different as individuals, but we are exact duplicates when placed in the collective (almost Borg-like for all you Trekies). I felt like my year and my contemporaries were just replaying some of the same old experiences and lessons learned from other years (classes) before me. One stark difference though, is that the ‘70s group really felt that they were hand picked to enter the university as a single body, while the other classes felt more like we “found” that oneness while being on campus.
Overall, this forum was very moving to me and left me a bit overwhelmed, but content: as though I am a mere drop in the ocean of life, and yet, a participant in something greater than we could’ve imagined. I felt as though we were all part of a seismic movement, a traditional African “rite of passage” of sorts, a lesson in community building that leads itself to having far reaching ramifications, if harnessed in the right way. To take a quote from the all class break-out-sessions: “we are all one family, not bounded by geography nor by blood.” I feel that speaks volumes in and of itself, and was truly reflective of the entire ACR weekend.
The forum titled “Alumni Engagement & IPC-what’s in it for you?” was moderated by IPC President elect Preston Tisdale ’73, and Lianne Merchant ’82, where they gave tribute to much of what IPC has accomplished since it’s inception and our possible future aim. Of course our NY Chapter was paid special homage, as a model of what an IPC chapter looks like once it’s “off the ground and running.” Certainly Roland Laird ’82 and Robin Duncan Brooks ’75 represented the rest of us with style and humility, but I would like to brag about their tireless efforts and the fact that our group would not be what it is without these “Fire Starters”!! Thank you Robin and Roland!!!
That forum of course then led up to the Cocktail Reception followed by the Gala Dinner & Recognition Ceremony which was held in honors of: the late Dean William Brown (who many attribute the spirit of IPC to), Debra Lee ’76, and Elmo Terry-Morgan ’74…All outstanding intellects and inspiring personalities in their own right.
The Music & Dancing was superb! All I have to say is: yes, we are scholars, socially conscious, and hard workers, but we can dance our butts off too. It was insanely fun! An open bar makes everything so much more delightful (highly recommended for future events).
Sun: The next morning some alumni woke up early enough to attend wonderful sermons and a beautiful Memorial Service & Alumni Choir at Manning Chapel (one of my favorite places on the main green), while the rest of us went straight to breakfast. (Thank you Hayward and Roland, for gathering some students and Alumni at Paragon Café and for treating us to a hearty, scrumptious brunch).
Breakfast was followed by the IPC Board of Governors & Student Leaders Meeting which was quite historical, I think. I don’t know if that has ever been done before, where the leadership of Brown Black Alumni met face-to-face with current Brown Black Student Leaders. It was unprecedented! Indeed, the topics and issues discussed were of great concern and relevance to all of us. The major discussion at hand was the question of OUAP and whether there needs to be a resuscitation of this organization, it’s leadership as an umbrella Black organization on campus and the strength of student groups on campus as perceived by the students themselves and by the University (is there an ulterior motive on behalf of Brown U. to weaken Black student groups and their effectiveness?). We were then informed of the various and sometimes competing Black cultural, social, academic/career-oriented and political groups currently in operation. Two that I personally think we should pay attention to are: Brown Sisters United and The Brotherhood. These two groups seem to be the main voice of the Black student body at Brown and are in direct communication with the “movers and shakers” of the day, but they are separated by gender.
The students seem to have a unique strategy of embedding themselves in various organizations and student-run groups throughout campus, including residential life, university hall and all over. We should support them with whatever they may need assistance in, but yet be there to act as “one voice” in unity, when things go down on campus such as the racial incidents spoken about prior. Other matters such as getting furniture for the lounge in Harambee House so the Black students can have a common room and a regular “social center” for themselves on campus, should be addressed directly by IPC, and we should have a way of supporting their efforts. This concept of “space” and openness seems paramount in stimulating further unity, communication, and recreation for Black students at Brown, as pointed out by many of the IPC leadership.
The NSBE Alumni Career Forum was next, but some of us headed home before the commencement of that one, due to the inclement weather and the long distance we had to travel back to NY/NJ.
A great big Thank You to all ACR coordinators, and each and every person who contributed to making this event such a memorable one.
“So, is there going to be another ACR next year?” you ask…well, not exactly. I think we’re looking at 2 years or so until the next one, which is predicted to be bigger and better! My hope is that we’ll all be around to attend that event and that we may be granted the grace to be just as blessed next time as were this time around. We cannot pass up an opportunity to continue a new legacy of the Brown University’s Black Community, something that will hopefully outlast us all!
Peace, Blessings and Good Health,
Ofiji Parris ‘98/’99
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