Media Monday: Never Request Permission to Start a Revolution”

Posted by admin on February 1, 2010 under 1. Media Monday | Be the First to Comment

Today is the 50th anniversary of the day Franklin McCain and three other freshmen at North Carolina A&T University took a stand by sitting at the lunch counter in Woolworth’s.

The store had no qualms selling toothpaste or light bulbs to blacks, but a cup of coffee at the lunch counter? Out of the question. The Greensboro Four, as they came to be known, were fed up.

As they sat, they were approached by an elderly white woman. McCain later reported that he was afraid of her - even that she might pull a scissors or knitting needle from her bag to stab him. Instead, the woman placed her hand on McCain’s shoulder and smiled. “She says, ‘Boys, I am so proud of you. I only regret that you didn’t do this 10 years ago,’ ” McCain said.

This story ran in papers and websites all over the country this morning. Its message is as important today as it was then. Both McCain and the woman cheering them on are faces in our own ministry today.

The energy these traditional and non-traditional students bring to our ministries needs only be harnessed to affect great change.

Here at Yale we are proud of the 124 year tradition we have in Dwight Hall, our center for public service and social justice. Often in our ministry the presence to which we are called is in reflecting upon the service our students do and connecting it back to a life of faith.

Last year we changed what has traditionally been an appreciation dinner for our soup kitchen volunteers and asked all students to join us in appreciation for the many and varied forms of service they offered throughout the year. We then asked the question - so what?
The answers were inspiring and challenging. I learned that we indeed have lots of students starting a revolution. I know .. I know … you are wondering where this connects to media! Hold on, there is a great link coming!

Here goes! Like many of you I am in the midst of “Recommendation Limbo”! That fruitful time of year where students come from every nook and cranny asking you to write a letter of recommendation for their next step. It seems I no sooner fill one out than another request is received! In the middle of all this we have seniors looking for opportunities for the next year too! For those of you who are looking for a great tool, check out www.cnvs.org! This online database lists both long and short term opportunities and info on each placement. The site can be searched by location, type of service and length of volunteer window. A fantastic upgrade to the paper version!

Please comment below with your own great ideas about service and or reflection ideas. Let’s share our best resources!

Katie Byrnes is an Assistant Chaplain at Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel & Center at Yale University.