By Laurie D. Willis
Livingstone College News Service

        When President Barack Obama accepts his party’s nomination to seek a second term, culminating several days of Democratic National Convention activities in Charlotte, some Livingstone College students, faculty and staff will be in Bank of America Stadium to witness that historic event.
But for Livingstone College, the festivities actually began on Sunday when the college’s marching band, under the leadership of Director Sidney C. Sessoms Jr., performed at the Delegate Welcome Event Honoring North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte.
Also on Sunday, Teresa A. Moore-Mitchell, a professor of voice at Livingstone, sang a few selections at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, where the DNC Black Caucus held an event.
Livingstone’s participation at the Democratic National Convention is in line with the holistic approach implemented by President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins Sr. when he assumed the institution’s top administrative post in February 2006.
“One of the tenets of the holistic college is civic responsibility,” Jenkins said. “We require our students to be registered to vote and to vote. Because the convention is in Charlotte, so close to Salisbury, it offers a real opportunity for our students, faculty and staff to have up close and personal involvement in the governance process.
“About three dozen of our students will be at President Obama’s acceptance speech on Thursday night,” Jenkins continued. “More importantly, we’re encouraging all of our students to get registered to vote in time to participate in the November election. People lost their lives during the civil rights movement so everyone, regardless of race, could have the right to vote. Our students must exercise that right and have a say in the direction our country will go during the next four years.”
Manuel McGriff, dean of students at Livingstone, said 31 students completed the required nine hours of community service to guarantee tickets to the big event on Thursday.
Joining him in working with the students were Melissa Rivers, director of career services, and Sylvester Kyles Jr., Bridge Program director. Incidentally, all Livingstone College students must perform at least 80 hours of community service – also part of the holistic module implemented by Jenkins – before they can graduate.
“Mrs. Rivers, Mr. Kyles and I worked with the students to complete their community service by the Aug. 18 deadline,” McGriff said. “We went door to door in Salisbury public housing communities and in other areas of the city to get people registered to vote. We also registered Salisbury and Rowan County citizens at a church event.
“What the students did is significant on several levels,” McGriff continued. “They engaged in political action, social responsibility and public service, which are all part of the holistic college module, and they also exhibited cultural and social awareness while doing so. Likewise, the students who will be inside Bank of America Stadium Thursday night will get to witness American history firsthand, and they will be representing Livingstone College in exemplary fashion.”
Of course, the highlight of the Democratic National Convention will be when President Obama delivers his acceptance speech Thursday – much like the highlight of last week’s Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., occurred when former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney gave his acceptance speech.
Yet even though Thursday’s the big day, Livingstone students, faculty and staff will attend other DNC events throughout the week.
For example on Tuesday, several Livingstone students will attend an event titled UFUTURE College Summit, being held on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University. The event will feature actress Alfre Woodard, actor Hill Harper and actress Jurnee Smollett.
Woodard, a Golden-Globe winner, is also an Academy Award nominee. She has starred on the big screen and on television, and her movie credits include “The Family that Preys” and “Miss Evers’ Boys.” Harper, an author who attended Harvard Law School with President Obama, is famous for his role as a physician on CBS’ “CSI New York.” Smollett, known for her big screen roles in “Eve’s Bayou” and “The Great Debaters,” is also known for her role as Jess Merriweather on NBC’s “Friday Night Lights.”
Moore-Mitchell, a soprano whose voice has taken her across the United States and to several European countries, said she’s glad Livingstone students will get the chance to participate in several Democratic National Convention functions this week. Although she’s used to being on the big stage and appearing at important events, she acknowledges being ecstatic when asked to sing at the Black Caucus event.
I’ve always been a strong supporter of the Democratic Party, and as an African-American woman I cannot tell you how blessed I felt to get a chance to perform just days before President Obama accepts the nomination,” Moore-Mitchell said. “It’s a good opportunity for me, and it’s a great way to showcase the talent we have at Livingstone College.”