Eric Jefferson

Students are way too quick to point out the flaws in our culture, community and even our dear ol’ NCCU.

But those same students aren’t voting, let alone getting involved in order to correct the problems they’re complaining about.

Not to mention the 60 percent of the sophomore class currently serving time on academic probation.

Our students also aren’t politically aware – politically unconscious would be a better way to describe many.

As a matter of fact I have evidence that our student body is no closer to approaching that great promised land our civil rights leaders of the past shed blood, sweat and tears for.

Just two weeks ago I, along with other members of the junior class council, went door-to-door in almost every dorm promoting our upcoming event, “Who Represents Me?”

The program was organized in collaboration with the Political Science Club and featured three state legislators who answered questions concerning the Durham community and, more importantly, the well-being of NCCU.

The event included a chance for students to ask questions and express thoughts about changes they would like to see at NCCU.

To make a long story short, only about 30 to 35 people showed up – those same people who always show up and always seem to be “in the know.”

You see, I understand that as a proud student leader, I have a lot of work to do.

With only 35 people in attendance at a program about something as important as our Constitutional right to vote, we have a lot of work to do as a student body.

With all of that said, I still believe that we will reach that great promised land a renowned doctor once spoke of at the mountain top.

The Jena Six rally at 10:40 break about a month ago re-ignited my faith in this university.

What began as just a small discussion between a few students quickly blossomed into a future protest in Jena, Louisiana and another protest at Shaw University.

The protest in Louisiana was monumental not for the sheer numbers of students who traveled, but for the response of our nation as a whole to such injustice.

If students can continue to add to the fire that was ignited by the Jena Six movement and understand that it does not stop there, then there may be hope.

We must understand first that everyone is not on the same level.

Though there may still be a low attendance at the voting polls, but a packed house for a concert, we must continue to reach out and help one another.

When Harriet Tubman was escaping through the underground railroad and leading others along the way, not every slave wanted to follow her.

Many slaves were too afraid, or just content with their situation.

We have enough outside influences exploiting and criticizing us as it is, don’t we? Why should we continue to do it to ourselves? Imagine if we carried our fellow brothers and sisters when they fell, academically, spiritually, politically — now what a sight to see!

No, as a matter of fact, what a sight it will be.