To empower females at Grambling State University and prepare them for leadership roles, the Division of Enrollment Management and Retention, is sponsoring an ongoing women’s leadership series.On the evening of Oct. 28 a selected group of female student leaders met with Dr. Darlene V. Willis in the Eddie G. Robinson Museum.
Willis is the president and CEO of Empowering Parents and the Co-Founder of Connected Parents Alliance. She is an author, poet and motivational speaker.
The young ladies present were Miss GSU and her court, Miss Cover Girl and members of the executive board of the sororities Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Willis encouraged these student leaders to address issues that affect females on their campus and society.
Some of the issues addressed included the music played at campus activities, female attire, respect, empowerment, sisterhood and unity.
When the group discussed the derogatory music, Willis asked them, “What are you going to do about it? Who is willing to take a stand and say something about it?”
Many of the women agreed that they would try to work together to resolve this issue. Willis told them that it would be their first project and she wanted a report on their progress when she returned.
KeShawn Roberts, a member of Delta Sigma Theta, said this is not just a problem on college campuses. Many children in junior high and high schools are also listening to derogatory music.
At the end of the session, Willis asked the ladies to join hands, and they recited William Ernest Henley’s “Invictus.”
Brittney Brown, Miss Cover Girl 2010-11, said that she really enjoyed the session.
“My favorite part of the program was when Dr. Willis asked to join hands and recite ‘Invictus,'” she said.
Brown said it is a good idea for young ladies to come together and try to find solutions for many of the problems that we face on campus and in our society.
Sykes said, “We decided, with Dr. Bryant, to use sororities, Miss GSU and her court and Miss Cover Girl, those in leadership positions. They are the leaders on our campus. Many young ladies look up to them.
Sykes said the purpose of the evening session was to enhance ladies so they can give back and help other students to build up self-esteem and leadership skills.