Students come together for Unity Walk

Several Troy organizations and students came together to walk to show unity in a world some think often feels divided last Wednesday night.  

Organized by Delta Sigma Theta, members from the Black Student Union, Troy Student Government Association (SGA), 101 Elite Men and students walked around campus with signs and flags calling for unity to show support. 

The third annual Walk for Unity started with opening remarks from Troy University’s Vice Chancellor of the Montgomery Campus, Dr. Dionne Rosser-Mims. On the steps of John Robert Lewis Hall, Dr. Rosser-Mims delivered her remarks to an attentive crowd. 

Students walk in front of Hawkins Hall holding a banner for Black History. (Jimmy Nichols photo)

She encouraged students to continue to raise their voice and to build a bond between their fellow man, in what she calls the global village. 

“I really believe in the human spirit,” Dr. Rosser-Mims said. “I believe in our future talent, and I have the utmost belief that our student leaders will make sure our democracy, our global village, remains intact.”  

Even though a walk for unity in a small town like Troy might seem insignificant to some, organizers emphasized that it actually speaks volumes about the community. 

“I feel like us in small town Troy doing this, I think it speaks so much volume,” said Social Action Committee chair of Delta Sigma Theta and main walk organizer Jane Osayamwen.

“It shows that even though we are a small town, we care, we see and we hear about everything that is going on, and we want our input.  

“We want the world to know that we would like everybody to be united.” 

Starting in front of John Robert Lewis Hall, named after the late civil rights activist and U.S. Representative from Pike County, students and staff walked down the main quad before turning to walk toward Hawkins Hall. They then turned to walk on Shackelford Quad before finishing in front of John Robert Lewis Hall. 

After finishing with closing remarks from Osayamwen, students talked about how powerful it felt to walk in this event in Black History Month. 

“It is easy to feel divided by race in the world, but to see this crowd tonight in Black History Month with all different types of people shows how far we have come as a group,” said Jamal Cole, a sophomore business major from Phenix City, Alabama.  

The unity walk came in the middle of “For the Culture” week, a time where students are encouraged to recognize all the contributions Black people have made across the country and world.