1997 February
February, 1997
Students to gather at ISU
ore than 1,500 African American students will gather at Iowa
State this month for four days of professional development,
nationally known speakers, gospel music and comedy.
Iowa State's Black Student Alliance is playing host to the 20th Annual Big 8 Black Student Government Conference Feb. 20-23. Although the conference is considered a Big Eight event, African American student-government representatives and their advisers from all Big 12 schools are expected to attend. (The conference will change its name in 1998.)
The conference is an opportunity for African American students to discuss mutual concerns and issues on their respective campuses and to develop leadership skills, said Kyle Pierce, ISU junior and chair of the conference planning committee.
Among the scheduled speakers are Elaine Brown, the only woman leader of the Black Panther Party; Jawanza Kunjufu, president of the Chicago-based communications firm African American Images; and Kesho Y. Scott, author of Tight Spaces, a collection of short autobiographical stories that won the American Book Award in 1988.
Gospel groups from across the country, including Iowa State's Gospel Soul Innovators, also will perform at the conference's annual Gospel Extravaganza. At the other end of the entertainment spectrum will be a live version of the popular HBO series, Def Comedy Jam.
-- Steve Sullivan, News Service
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Revised: February 1997