"I think, in that Harvard is allegedly thelamplight of progressive thinking in the nation,to have students forward intellectually andbackward socially would be a grave hypocrisy," hesaid.
Latham said Cambridge's NAACP chapter exists inname only, making the task even tougher--and evenmore essential--for Harvard students.
Chanda K. Ho '01 said she thinks theorganization will pack more clout because of itsmulti-dimensional demographic diversity.
"It's important that you have an organizationthat works to promote social equality and racialjustice not just for a specific ethnic group butfor all people," said Ho, who is Asian American."Because there are grad students involved as wellas undergrads, we will have more resources andwill be able to get more done."
Several students said attendance at lastnight's meeting suffered because it was announcedonly via word of mouth. "I really wish the meetinghad been more publicized so that more undergradscould have been involved," said George S. Han '00.
Han, who is also Asian American, said he foundout about the meeting through an e-mail messagefrom a friend in Harvard-Radcliffe ChristianFellowship who is a member of the Boston NAACPchapter.
The group encountered difficulties when anNAACP official who had promised to attend andensure that procedures were followed got stuck intraffic and never arrived. Because of this, thechapter was granted an extension on filing itscharter until next Wednesday.
Since the group had already exceeded therequisite 25 signatures on its charter, membersvoted to go ahead and elect its officers lastnight without the NAACP official.
In addition to Latham and Edwards, most of thechapter's officers are affiliated with the KSG.
The officers are as follows: Latham, KSG,president; Adrienne R.W. Bradley, KSG, vicepresident of economic justice; Kia J. Coleman,KSG, vice president of press and media relations;Edwards, KSG, vice president of social andcommunity affairs; Janet Peters Mauceri, GraduateSchool of Education, vice president of educationalissues; Reshma M Saujani, KSG, vice president oflegal affairs; Kendra Perkins, KSG, secretary;Byron J. McLain '00, secretary; and Gregory A.Barnes, KSG, parliamentarian/sergeant-at-arms.
If the group is granted official Universityrecognition, Nolan A. Bowie, adjunct lecturer atthe KSG, has agreed to serve as the chapter'sfaculty advisor. Driskell voiced her hope that theorganization will be responsible for real action.
"Minority and racism are becoming buzzwords,"she said. "Instead of acting on them we just talkabout them. The NAACP can help us findcommonalities and move in the direction of trulydismantling racism."
Both Edney and Latham noted the importance of adiverse and inclusive membership body. "We needeveryone's energy and everyone's support," Lathamsaid.
Students interested in joining the chaptershould contact Edney at the Cronkhite GraduateCenter.