Men of Excellence present ‘State of Black Men Symposium’

Contact: Allison Matthews

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State’s Men of Excellence student organization will present “The State of Black Men Symposium” Thursday [Nov. 12] as a student-driven effort to discuss relevant issues from the perspective of male minority students.

Student organizers Isaac L. Lias and Adonis N. McCullum said there is no cost to attend throughout the day, but they are asking students to pre-register at https://www.hcdc.msstate.edu/register. Students will be prompted to log in.

Sponsored by the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, the workshops each take place in Colvard Student Union. The day culminates with an evening event featuring Steve Perry, founder and principal of the Capital Preparatory Magnet School and an education contributor for CNN and MSNBC. Perry has appeared on CNN’s Black in America and Oprah’s Lifeclass.

The symposium schedule includes:

—“Calling All Classic Men,” 10 a.m. in Room 330, with “tips designed to maximize your unique style, while also learning how to dress for success from some of MSU’s best-dressed gentlemen.”

—“Barbershop Talk,” noon in the Dawg House, will allow students to “engage in a candid discussion on various issues facing black male collegians.” Lunch will be provided.

—“Give us the Tools. We’ll Finish the Job,” 2 p.m. in Room 330, answers questions for students interested in graduate school.

—“How We Did It!” 4 p.m. in Room 330, will address students “interested in becoming more involved on campus and becoming a student leader.”

—“The State of Black Men Panel Discussion,” 6 p.m. in the Foster Ballroom. Featuring Perry as moderator, this event will include African American male students reflecting on their experiences of attending a predominantly white institution and how they have reached academic and social success.

For more information contact Lias at ill8@msstate.edu or McCullum at am2511@msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.