Bennett College for Women News March 22, 2013 Bennett College Students Participate in Women's Suffrage Reenactment March Excitement was in the air as members of the Omicron Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (from Bennett College) prepared to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Sorority's involvement in the Women's Suffrage March of 1913. Sorority members traveled from all over the country and abroad to reenact the Sorority's historic first public service act as the only African American organization to have participated in the Women's Suffrage March on March 3, 1913 in Washington, D.C An estimated 15,000 members were scheduled to retrace their Founders' footsteps in the 3-mile Women's Suffrage Reenactment. Kaneisha King '14, president of the Omicron Delta Chapter, was ecstatic that Bennett College's chapter would be in that number. "I couldn't be more proud to be a woman of this esteemed sorority and I am so excited that our chapter participated in the march. Having the opportunity to walk the same journey as our founders was truly an amazing experience," said King. The students left for Washington, D.C with Sorority members from surrounding chapters in the Triad area and students from the Middle College at Bennett College. Dr. Stanley Viltz, associate provost at the College and member of the Sorority, coordinated the trip. "The experience of participating with so many generations of women dressed in crimson, walking briskly down Pennsylvania Avenue, was a sobering and humbling event that I shall not forget. Thousands of us were all on one accord - to retrace the steps of 22 young African American, college-educated women, who had a selfless purpose that was sure to bring criticism and wrath upon them. In 1913, they wanted to acquire the [right to] vote for women. In 2013, women must fight to keep the right to vote. I wish that everyone that I know could have taken part in this momentous event," said Dr. Viltz. The Women's Suffrage Reenactment March was a part of the continuation of the Sorority's Centennial Celebration during its annual legislative conference, Delta Days in the Nation's Capital. Other Centennial Celebration events included the Sorority's participation in the historic Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade as the first African-American women's organization and the first black Greek-letter organization to have a float in the parade, and the Sorority's Centennial Founders Day Weekend. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.