Morehouse College - Torch Yearbook (Atlanta, GA)

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MOREHOUSE COLLEGE IS MORE TO ME THAN JUST ME ALMA HATER, AND IT IS MORE TO ME THAN JUST AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION; IT REPRESENTS ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED HITH LIMITED RESOURCES THROUGH DEDICATION AND PERSEVERANCE, BY PEOPLE WITH AN UHYIELDING VISION FOR FACILITATING A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HANKIND. HOREHOUSE THROUGHOUT ITS 121 YEAR HISTORY HAS CONSISTENTLY MADE A MAJOR IMPACT IN ALMOST EVERY FACET 0F SOCIETY THROUGH ITS GRADUATES WHO ARE IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. ONE CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT THIS SMALL LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING. THE HOUSE AND THE MOREHOUSE MAN ARE HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM IN ALMOST EVERY PART OF THE GLOBE. THE VISION AND LEADERSHIP OF ITS TRUSTEES AND PRESIDENTS, THE DEDICATION AND EXCELLENCE OF THE FACULTY, THE EXCELLENCE OF THE STUDENT BODY, THE HARD HORK OF THE STAFF, THE QUALITY OF THE ALUMNI AND SUPPORT OF FRIENDS HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR MOREHOUSE COLLEGE TO TAKE ITS PLACE AMONG THE FINEST INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY. IT IS TRULY A NATIONAL TREASURE WHOSE MISSION OF PRODUCING OUTSTANDING BLACK MALE LEADERSHIP MUST BE ENHANCED. THIS IS HHI I STAND HERE TODAY FEELING VERY PROUD THAT I HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO TAKE THE MANTEL OF LEADERSHIP OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT COLLEGE. MOST WOULD AGREE THAT THERE IS AN ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY OF ACCOHPLISHHENT AT THIS COLLEGE. HOWEVER, IT WILL NOT SUFFICE FOR MOREHOUSE TO LIVE ON PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THIS ADMINISTRATION IS 13

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l2 ENTERED AS A YOUNG COLLEGE FRESHHAN. AS I REFLECT BACK OVER MY STUDENT YEARS AT MOREHOUSE, THEY HAVE BECOME MORE HEANINGFUL WITH TIME. MY REFLECTIONS TAKE ME BACK TO THE CHARGE TO MY GRADUATING CLASS OF 1951 BY PRESIDENT BENJAMIN ELIJAH HAYS WHICH HAS PROPHETIC STATEMENT FOR ME. THAT CHARGE: ON THAT DAY IN JUNE DR. THERE IS AN AIR 0F EXPECTANCY AT HOREHOUSE COLLEGE. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE STUDENT HHD ENTERS HERE HILL D0 HELL. IT IS ALSO EXPECTED THAT ONCE A MAN BEARS THE INSIGNIA OF A MOREHOUSE GRADUATE HE WILL DO EXCEPTIOHALLY HELL. HE EXPECT NOTHING LESS. .... MAI YOU PERFORM SO HELL THAT WHEN A MAN IS NEEDED FOR AN IMPORTANT JOB IN YOUR FIELD, YOUR HORK WILL BE SO IMPRESSIVE THAT THE COMMITTEE OF SELECTION HILL BE COMPELLED TO EXAMINE YOUR CREDENTIALS. HAY YOU FOREVER STAND FOR SOMETHING NOBLE AND HIGH. LET N0 HAN DISHISS YOU WITH A HAVE OF THE HAND OR A SHRUG OF THE SHOULDER. .... A THE FOLLOWING ARE TWO EXCERPTS FROM AS I SAT LISTENING TO THE INSPIRING HORDS 0F HAYS, I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE REIGNS 0F LEADERSHIP OF MOREHOUSE HOULD SOMEDAY BE IN MY HANDS. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT FATE HAS STORE FOR YOU, BUT I THANK GOD FOR THE GOOD FORTUNE TO BE TODAY IN THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. INTERNATIONAL ACCEPT MY CALLING. CHAPEL IN HERE TO

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14 COMMITTED T0 MAINTAINING THE TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE ALREADY ESTABLISHED. BUT, MAINTAINING A TRADITION WILL BE INSUFFICIENT. WHAT IS REQUIRED IS THE ENHANCEMENT OF AN IMPRESSIVE LEGACY; OUR FUTURE BRISTLES WITH POSSIBILITIES. IT IS THE GOAL OF THIS ADMINISTRATION TO CONTINUE TO CAUSE THE FRONTIERS OF IGNORANCE TO RECEDE INTO NOTHINGNESS. ACCORDINGLY, THERE MUST BE A VISION FOR HOREHOUSE THAT IS COMPREHENSIVE IN SCOPE AND THAT WILL TEST THE LIMITS OF OUR STAMINA AND PERSEVERANCE. IN OTHER WORDS, HE HILL HAVE TO WORK UNTIRINGLI TO INCREASE THE COLLEGE'S COMPETIVENESS AS WE APPROACH THE 21ST CENTURY. TO THIS END, I ENVISION A MOREHOUSE THAT WILL COMPETE HITH THE FINEST LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY WHEN MEASURED BY ANY OF THE INDICES OF QUALITY USED IN HIGHER EDUCATION. HY VISION ALSO CALLS FOR HOREHOUSE TO CONTINUE TO BE THE MOST PROLIFIC PRODUCER 0F BLACK MALE LEADERSHIP IN THE NATION. THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS THE COLLEGE COULD MAKE TO SOCIETY GIVEN THE DISMAL OUTLOOK FOR BLACK MALES BASED ON MOST SOCIAL INDICATORS. BUT BEFORE I DISCUSS HY HOPES AND DREAMS FOR MOREHOUSE, LET ME SAY THAT THE INTANGIBLES THAT HAVE ALWAYS PERMEATED THIS COLLEGE MUST BE PRESERVED AND TREATED WITH TENDER LOVING CARE. WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN SPIRIT THAT EXISTS HERE WHICH IS UNIQUE T0 MOREHUUSE. IT IS A SPIRIT THAT HAS TRANSFORMED TEENAGERS INTO YOUNG HEN HHO ARE SELF-ASSUHED AND INTENT 0N ACCOMPLISHING THEIR GOALS. IT IS A SPIRIT THAT BUILDS CHARACTER