TROY News Center

February 20, 2012

Congressman tells students 'never give up'

TROY – Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga.) told Troy University students they were never too young to make a difference.

Georgia's Fifth Congressional District representative since 1986, Lewis is considered one of the "Big Six" leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, alongside Whitney Young, A. Phillip Randolph, Martin Luther King, Jr., James Farmer and Roy Wilkins.

"I say to young people, to students, 'you are never too young to stand up for something you believe in.' Speak up, speak out and do it without violence," he said.

Congressman Lewis visited the Troy Campus Monday, Feb. 20, to augment the McPherson-Mitchell Lecture Series on Southern History, which in January centered on a lecture by Dr. Raymond O. Arsenault on the Freedom Rides. Congressman Lewis helped organize and took part in those Freedom Rides, and other Civil Rights era protests, including the March on Washington. He also led more than 600 peaceful protesters over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, an incident later known as "Bloody Sunday." The event spurred the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.

Monday's format was a question-and-answer discussion between Congressman Lewis and TROY history assistant professor Dr. David Carlson, and included questions from students.

"It's important to teach the next generation (about the Civil Rights Struggle) so we don't have to repeat it," he said, noting many ways today's parents could educate their children, including visiting museums such as the University's Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery and the Freedom Riders Museum.

However, Congressman Lewis noted that today's issues aren't confined to civil rights.

"Issues today (in which students can take a stand) are to end hunger and poverty, providing good education and protecting the environment," he said. "It's not just about civil rights, it's broader – it's a human rights fight."

Congressman Lewis also told the assembled faculty, staff and students that much has changed in America since the 1960s.

"The only places where you can see 'white only' or 'black only' signs – or 'white waiting' or 'black waiting' are in museums or in old photographs or in videos," he said. "When people say 'nothing has changed,' I say 'come walk in my shoes and I'll show you change'."

February 17, 2012

TROY Army ROTC cadets make mark on Fort Benning

TROY –Troy University Army ROTC cadets showed their leadership skills and physical prowess in a Leaders Reaction Course at Fort Benning, Ga.

Thirty-two junior-level cadets were evaluated by Army and ROTC instructors to see how they stack up against other junior-level cadets nationwide in a series of challenging obstacles designed to test effective leadership, situational thinking and adapting to challenge with limited resources to complete the mission.

The training was conducted on Saturday, Feb. 11.

"I feel like the training we receive at Troy University is doing a great job preparing us, not only for evaluations like (LRC), but to be a good leader in the Army," said Cadet Taylor Oaks, a junior criminal justice major from Charlotte, N.C.

The LRC, serves as a springboard for junior-level cadets to advance in their military science studies and challenges their cooperation and creativity skills. The obstacle course challenge competition was open to both junior- and senior-level ROTC students. It consists of a series of demanding physical requirements and is based on technique and time.

"The day was very challenging for the cadets. The LRC enabled the cadets to put valuable leadership skills they learned at Troy University Army ROTC to use in difficult and challenging scenarios," said SFC Curtis Reid, a military instructor at TROY.

TROY Army ROTC cadets are members of the "Bayonet Battalion," which also includes Army ROTC students at Auburn University Montgomery. While the entire battalion performed well – all five final obstacle course competitors are its members – the top three performers were CDT Michael Brown, a social science major from Wetumpka; CDT Michael Farrar, a criminal justice major from Las Vegas, N.M.; and CDT Stephen Scott, a senior health and human services major from Prattville.

To learn more about TROY's Army ROTC program, contact the program at 33-670-5623, or visit them on the web at troy.edu.

  

February 16, 2012

Emmy-winner Ed Asner to perform in "FDR" at the Davis Theatre

MONTGOMERY—Emmy-winning actor Ed Asner will portray President Franklin D. Roosevelt on stage at Troy University's Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts in the one-man show "FDR" on Tuesday, March 6, at 7 p.m.

Asner is the recipient of seven Emmy Awards (for the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Lou Grant") and 16 nominations, five Golden Globe Awards, and a member of the TV Academy Hall of Fame. He will star in the solo performance drama "FDR" based on Dore Schary's Broadway hit "Sunrise at Campobello", which ran 70 weeks on Broadway.

"FDR" explores the life of one of America's best-loved presidents and the events and decisions that shaped a nation. The play follows the iconic president as he reflects on his years in office, from inauguration to the trials of World War II.

Asner's theatre credits include "Ivanov," "The Tempest," "Face of a Hero," "King Henry V," and "Born Yesterday." His other television roles include appearances as a recurring guest star on the television series "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and an award-winning role as Captain Davies in the mini-series "Roots."

Single tickets for the performance are on sale now and range in price from $25 to $50. Tickets for the middle and back balcony sections are being offered "buy one, get one free." Seating in those sections will be assigned by the theatre based on availability.

The Davis Theatre is located in downtown Montgomery at 251 Montgomery Street. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call the Theatre office at (334) 241-9567. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. to noon.

"FDR" is sponsored by FreshFace Media and Touch of Class Limousine and Transport. The 2011-2012 season at the Davis Theatre will continue on Friday, March 23, with "The Legends of Motown" featuring Horizon.

   

February 15, 2012

Congressman John Lewis to speak at Troy University on Freedom Riders

TROY – As a special part of the McPherson-Mitchell Lecture Series on Southern History, a Pike County native, United States congressman and a leader of the Civil Rights Movement, will address faculty, staff, students and guests at Troy University.

U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) will conduct the address at Noon on Monday, Feb. 20 in the Claudia Crosby Theater.

"John Lewis is one of the major figures of the Civil Rights era. As a native of Troy, he - better than anyone else - can bring that important period of American history alive for students of this University," said Dr. David Carlson, an assistant professor of history at TROY who coordinates the lecture series.

Considered one of the "Big Six" leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, Congressman Lewis stands alongside such leaders as Whitney Young, A. Phillip Randolph, Martin Luther King, Jr., James Farmer and Roy Wilkins as playing a pivotal role in during the era, and participated in or organized almost every major civil rights event of the 1960s.

As a student at American Baptist College, he organized sit-in demonstrations at segregated lunch counters in Nashville, Tenn. In 1961, he volunteered to participate in the Freedom Rides, challenging segregated bus terminals across the South. At age 23, he was an architect of and a keynote speaker at the historic March on Washington in 1963. From that year, until 1966, he served as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, an organization he helped form. In 1964, he coordinated SNCC efforts to organize voter registration drives and community action programs during the Mississippi Freedom Summer. The following year he helped spearhead the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, now known as "Bloody Sunday."

Elected to Congress in 1986 from Georgia's Fifth Congressional District, he serves as senior chief deputy whip of the Democrat party in the house and is a member of the House Ways & Means Committee, and its subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support. He chairs its subcommittee on Oversight.

"While the McPherson-Mitchell Lecture in Southern History, given on January 26 by Prof. Ray Arsenault, offered a very broad overview of the 1961 Freedom Rides, Congressman Lewis' talk will be based on his personal experiences as a student organizer and participant in the Freedom Rides," said Dr. Carlson. "This should be an exciting and inspirational presentation that will demonstrate the potential that all students have in making important contributions to society."

February 15, 2012

New website aims at providing rapid response to prospective students

TROY—Troy University has unveiled a new student recruiting and outreach website designed to provide rapid response to people seeking information about the University, especially prospective students.

Called myTROYu, the site is designed to meet the needs of a variety of different types of students, including first-time students, international students, adult learners and transfer students, according to Buddy Starling, dean of enrollment management.

"myTROYu was designed with responsiveness in mind and gives us an effective platform to build relationships," Dean Starling said. "Student types are so varied today and we expect that solutions like myTROYu will be what differentiates us from our competitors."

The site was developed by the University's Department of Information Technology and designed for functionality and ease of use, said Greg Price, chief technology and security officer.

"The site will work seamlessly on traditional computers and all mobile/portable devices without the need to install a special app or tool," he said. "In addition to being intuitive, the site offers a wealth of interaction opportunities for prospective students."

The site is found at the University's main page at www.troy.edu under the link "prospective students or at http://www.mytroyu.me. Starling said a strong online presence is a top priority in recruiting and engaging potential students in the 21st century.

"Competition in higher education demands that institutions offer the best in websites, both graphically and informatively," Starling said. "I am confident we have achieved that through myTROYu."