Bethune-Cookman University News January 13, 2018 B-CU Students and Faculty Rally in Tally to Garner Legislative Support, SB 472 Passes More than 200 students, faculty, staff and alumni of Bethune-Cookman University joined Interim President Hubert Grimes in Tallahassee for the Fifth Annual Wildcat Day at the Capitol to rally, lobby and show support for B-CU. The day began at New Mount Zion A.M.E. Church, where B-CU Alumnus, Rev. Anton Gerald Elwood greeted the Wildcat delegation with remarks and hosted a luncheon. As B-CU prepared to paint the Capitol steps maroon and gold, Interim President Grimes and administrators petitioned for grant funding, library resources and the Black Male Explorers initiative. Florida state representatives, Cynthia Stafford, Perry Thurston and Patrick Henry joined B-CU as the Senate announced a successful passage of SB 472 to approve the replacement of the statue of Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith in the National Statuary Hall Collection with a statue of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. The University's founder will be the first African American woman in National Statuary Hall and the first in Florida's union. Interim President Grimes shared anecdotes of Dr. Bethune's global leadership, excellence and international influence in the quest for social justice that yet persists. He also encouraged students to make their own impact to transform societal injustices and leave a mark as Dr. Bethune did in founding B-CU with the power of her vision, a mere $1.50 and her sweet potato pies. B-CU Concert Chorale, directed by Terrence Lane, left the gift of song at an evening performance at New Mt. Zion A.M.E Church, Tallahassee. SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org/ sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org%3cmailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/