Friends Turn Out at State Capitol in Support of The W

By B. R. Hawkins

Friends of the W, a coalition of alumni, students, faculty, staff and community leaders, in response to the governor’s recommendation for merger of Mississippi University for Women with Mississippi State University as a money-savings measure in his Executive Budget Recommendation for Fiscal Year 2011, sponsored a legislative day Monday, Jan. 11 in Jackson. Participants came from all over the state to attend a meet-and-greet at the capitol and a legislative reception at Old Capitol Inn.

According to Linda Ross Aldy of Madison and Betty Lou Jones of Meridian, both past presidents of Mississippi’s First Alumnae Association, Monday’s events had dual purposes. “One element of the fight to preserve MUW as a free-standing independent university is simply to have our presence seen and felt here today,” Aldy said in a media conference kicking off the day’s activities. “State leaders need to see that The W and her supporters are united and visible in their support of The W. The second purpose is to identify ways to raise $2 million to offset cuts in state funding for the W.”

More than 100 friends including a chartered bus load of faculty and students from Columbus came to Jackson to thank legislators for their continued support of The W and to ask them to oppose any legislation that proposes merger of Mississippi University for Women with Mississippi State University. During the session in the House of Representative, the balconies were filled with friends of the W. “We have not seen a turnout in support for The W like this since the ‘80s,” said Rep. Bobby Moak of Bogue Chitto.

One of the highlights of the day came when internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter (and W alum) Toni Seawright as a special guest of Rep. Gary Chism of Lowndes County was introduced to the House of Representatives and invited to sing. To standing ovations, she sang Hero by Mariah Carey. Seawright paid tribute to her alma mater in her remarks crediting the W with providing the foundation for her career successes and accomplishments. In 1986, as Miss W, Toni made history as the first African American to become Miss Mississippi.

Following the capitol visit, legislators joined more than 200 guests and friends of the W at the Old Capitol Inn for a legislative reception. There current students as well as alums had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with legislators about the importance of keeping the historic institution an independent, free-standing university.

To conclude a memorable and productive day, Toni Seawright performed again at the reception with her own version of Gloria Gaynor's, "I Will Survive."

And as long as there is “a long blue line” of W alums to fight for her existence, the W with her proud history, traditions and mission will survive also.

B. R. Hawkins, Class of 1975, is marketing and communications director for the Mississippi Nurses Association in Madison