Alabama State University News November 10, 2021 Students Rally for Right Reasons at 'Walk the Swag' The Equinox area of campus was alive and buzzing with activity by Alabama State University undergraduates, Hornet family members and students from Montgomery's Valiant Cross Academy, all voicing their concern and exhibiting their support to bring attention to the issues of domestic violence, suicide prevention and breast cancer awareness. The event was organized by Courtney Foster, a senior business management major who said it was time to "make noise" about finding solutions to these issues that negatively impact so many people in America. "I am motivated to organize this event so that all of those people affected by the issues of domestic violence, suicide or breast cancer and who are too traumatized or shy to speak out will see that people support working to end these issues and we are glad to speak for them by expressing their opinions," Foster said, as she "walked the swag" by marching toward The ASU Stadium. "Today went very well, and I am especially happy about seeing the large number of young men from Valiant Cross present and participating in the entire event because I feel they are at a crossroad in their lives between youth and adulthood; so it is important for us to help enable them to understand what it means to act responsibly," said Foster, a native of Baltimore, Maryland. LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE A Valiant Cross Academy high school junior, Noah Waters, was among his school's many representatives attending the event and marching to the stadium to participate in the closing balloon release. "We are here today because we want to show our support in ending domestic violence, to see more research provided to do away with breast cancer and to help people realize that there are alternatives to killing themselves because every life is important and that nothing is so bad that someone needs to destroy one of the greatest gifts given to them by God, which is life," stated Waters, who plans to attend ASU upon graduation. MANY ASU AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WERE PRESENT Several speakers addressed the crowd of supporters discussing key points about the three issues before them, which included ASU Public Safety Chief Kelvin Kendrick, Violence Against (Wo)men director Cheryl Lang, the Counseling Center's Chris Johns, Carolyn Tyus with the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, and T'Sharin Moncrief a domestic violence survivor and founder of Women of Refined Gold. "I want to thank Alabama State for organizing this event because we all need to reclaim our voices, which will empower victims and help end unhealthy behavior," Moncrief stated. Sandra M. Phoenix, Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance 678-210-5801 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Seek justice, honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/