FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2007
Contact: K.E. Schwab  -- 724-738-2199
karl.schwab@sru.edu

Civil rights activist, noted editor headline Black History Month presentations

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Bobby Seale, American civil rights activist and former chairman of the Black Panther Party, and  Lee Jones, president and executive editor of InSpire Magazine, will headline activities as Slippery Rock University celebrates Black History Month.

           Seale will present an address at 8 p.m. Feb. 7. Jones speaks about “Earning Our Way” at 6 p.m. Feb. 6. Both lectures are in the University Union. Seale’s visit is sponsored by the SRU University Program Board, with Jones’ sponsored by SRU’s Office of Intercultural Programs.

          Seale, according to Wikipedia, is best known for joining the late Huey Newton in founding the Black Panthers in 1966 during the rise of the civil rights movement. He joined the African American Association in college and has said it inspired him to start the Panthers, an organization that grew to some 5,000 members. He became party chairman and was under FBI surveillance for the party’s activities. Seale was later one of the original “Chicago Eight” charged with conspiracy and inciting to riot in the wake of the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Judge Julius Hoffman sentenced Seale to four years in prison for contempt of court because of his courtroom outbursts and eventually severed Seale from the case, thus creating the “Chicago Seven.” While in jail, he wrote “Seize the Time.”

          Known for following Malcolm X’s philosophical perspective on black people’s liberation, struggle and international human rights, Seale said as a Panther leader he advocated the right to self defense and moved to organize a real “power to the people” revolution. The party worked to provide free breakfast programs for children, free bus service for senior citizens, medical health care, cooperative housing and a number of free food programs.

          In 2002, Seale began dedicating his time to Reach!, a group focused on youth education programs.

          Jones, executive director of the InSpire Institute, and former dean of the School of Graduate Studies and professor of educational foundations at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, produced and hosted the “Your Voice” television talk show aired throughout Florida. He is the managing editor of “The Journal of The Professoriate.”

          He has authored “Brothers of The Academy: Earning Our Way,” “Retaining African Faculty, Administrators, Student: Challenging Paradigms for Retention,” “Making It On Broken Promises, Leading African American Male Scholars Confronting The Culture of Higher Education,” “The Majority in The Minority: Expanding The Representation of Latina/o Faculty, Administrators and Students in Higher Education,” “Weeping May Endure for A Night” and “Black in America: When a Ph.D. is Still Not Enough.” Two additional books, “Who Shall Tell Our Story, The Relevance of Historically and Predominately Black Colleges and Universities” and “If You Are Not On The Way, Then You Are In The Way!,” are in the works.

          Jones earned a bachelor of arts degree in drama, speech, communication and theater from Delaware State University, and his master of arts degree in higher education administration, master’s degree in business administration and doctorate in organizational development from The Ohio State University. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and a member of the board of trustees at Keystone College, among numerous other organizations.

  Other events throughout the month include:

• Feb. 1, 7 p.m. “School Daze,” sponsored by SRU’s Black Action Society.
• Feb. 6, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., “Black Aids Awareness Day,” sponsored by Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and SRU’s
• Peer Health Educators.
• Feb. 8, 7 p.m., “Untold Story of Emmitt Till,” sponsored by the BAS.
• Feb. 10, 1 p.m., “Transition Student Development Series,” presented by the Office of Intercultural Programs.
• Feb. 10, 4 - 8 p.m., February Fest sponsored by the Foundation of Faith.
• Feb. 10, 9 p.m., “Soul Lounge,” sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and the SRU Late Night Task
• Feb. 14, 6 p.m., The “Ebony Ball,” featuring Jeff Johnson, Jaguar Wright and Nathan James, sponsored by BAS, the Student Union for Minority Affairs, UPB and the Association of Residence Hall Students.
• Feb. 20, 1 p.m., “A Place at the Table,” sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Programs, in the Russell Wright Alumni House followed by an open discussion.
• Feb. 20, 7 p.m., “The Best Man,” sponsored by BAS.
• Feb. 21, 5 p.m., “Black Jeopardy,” a quiz competition for students sponsored by BAS.
• Feb. 22, 7 p.m., “The Essence of Beauty,” a personal care showcase sponsored by BAS.
• Feb. 23, 9 p.m. to midnight, Mardi Gras Celebration, featuring Afrika Yetu, an African musical group, in Carruth Rizza Hall, sponsored by the SRU French Club.
• Feb. 27, 7 p.m., “Young Investors of America,” sponsored by Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

           Unless otherwise noted, all activities will take place in the University Union. For additional details visit: www.sru.edu/pages/13700.asp or call 724-738-2700.

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.