The Pioneer Times

Issue date: 10/15/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Jennifer Espaillat Roslyn Brock speaks a recent lecture.

She stood behind the podium with elegance and grace, urging William Paterson University students to take action, find their voice and become the leaders of tomorrow. Roslyn Brock, vice chairman of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People spoke to the WPU community, as part of the Education Enrichment Center's Fall 2007 Diversity Lecture.

University President Arnold Speert, Vice President of Student Development John Martone, NAACP representatives from Paterson, New York state and New Jersey joined the estimated 60 WPU students in the University Commons ballroom for the lecture.

Roslyn Brock's lecture carried the very important theme of "The Changing Face of America…Shaping our Destiny." Students listened attentively as she spoke of issues directly affecting the development of leaders in society.

She also talked briefly about immigration and the course of the nation if people continue to think only about themselves. "The world is also about others. The rent we pay is for the space we occupy," she explained.

For the next 35 minutes, Brock spoke of diversity, the importance of accepting others, working collectively to change the course of America as well as the responsibility of every student, regardless of race and ethnic background, to take a stand against injustice. The audience responded respectfully when she asked her African American sisters and brothers to stand up, so she could illustrate the staggering statistics currently plaguing the African American community.

"Will it be you, or you, or you," she said, pointing to those standing in the audience. "Will you become a statistic?" she asked.

For most students, Roslyn Brock left an impression. Trevor Price, sophomore exercise and movement science major, said he enjoyed the event and will remember Brock's advice. "'Don't stop for anything' is what I took from her speech," he said.

Brock is no stranger to the hardships of the student population today. She shared her journey with everyone, explaining that her determination enabled her to accomplish her dreams.

As stated in her biography, for the past 20 years Brock has served the NAACP in several leadership roles. She made history when she was unanimously elected Vice Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors at the age of 35. She was the youngest person and the first woman elected to this post in the organization's history. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Virginia Union University (B.S.). She also earned a master's degree in Health Services from George Washington University (M.H.S.A.) and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

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