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February 15, 2007 issue

Fraternity’s Gift Recognizes Legacy of Service

Black History Month Celebration Highlights Fundraising Campaign February 22

One celebration during Black History Month at Appalachian State University has special meaning for members of the Pi Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Through the fundraising efforts of eight students, 100 African American works have been added to the collection in Carol G. Belk Library and Information Commons.

The public is invited to a Legends Celebration celebrating the success of the project and honoring African American leaders and artists on Thursday, February 22, at 7:00 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union’s Summit Trail Solarium.

The members of the fraternity wanted to do something memorable to recognize the national organization’s 100th anniversary. A ceremony with 100 balloons to commemorate the occasion would fall short of the organization’s legacy of education and service established by its founding members in 1906. So they embarked on the campaign to raise funds to buy books, DVDs and other materials to enhance the collection of African American materials in Carol Grotnes Belk Library and Information Commons.

As a result, the 100 African American Books: Leaving a Legacy 100 Years Later project will add children’s books, scholarly works, recordings and other materials to the library’s collection.

Materials that will be part of the library’s collection will be displayed at the February 22 celebration.

“It is an honor for the library that the students would think about their own use of the library and how they would want to build the collection so that other students could use those materials for years to come,” said University Librarian Mary Reichel. “It’s a real indication that they see the library as crucial for their education.”

Fraternity member and senior communication major Jamarl Clark led the campaign. Early on, Clark and other fraternity members wondered if they could meet their goal to raise $3,000 for the campaign. They not only met the goal, but exceeded it. “It’s just a blessing to see how people can come together for a cause and to make a difference,” Clark said.

Members of the library staff helped select the materials that are being used to replace worn copies of materials or augment the collection. Titles include Nicki Giovanni’s Love Poems, The Black Sleuth by John Edward Bruce and John Cullen Gruesser and the DVD Black Wheels: The History of Blacks in NASCAR and Other Motor Sports.

Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock said the fraternity members have done more than talk about their commitment to their university. They have demonstrated their commitment through their actions. “What a mark it is for you to say we are celebrating by giving back to make the university a better institution than it is already,” Peacock said.

“This is a good example to remind faculty and staff of the contributions students make while they are here,” said Kelly Rhodes McBride. McBride is an associate professor in the library and helped coordinate development of the list of materials being purchased through the fraternity’s efforts. “This is something the entire Appalachian community will enjoy for years to come,” she said.

 

Want To Go?

Date: Thursday, February 22

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: Summit Trail Solarium, Plemmons Student Union, ASU

Cost: Free

 

 

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Members of the Pi Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at ASU are celebrating their national organization’s 100th birthday by donating materials to the university library. Photo courtesy of Appalachian State University