Charter Day Provides Day of Celebration, Slumber

Lawrence Ball

3/6/08, Hilltop

The 141st Charter Day Convocation will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. in Cramton Auditorium.

Deval Patrick, the governor of Massachusetts, will delivering the Convocation address. However, for many Howard students, this day is simply an annual event that allows students to miss classes and sleep in.

"I'm not really concerned about it because I'm not exactly sure what it is," said Kristin Parris, a sophomore marketing major. "I don't feel it's me being ignorant, I just feel that a lot of students really don't know."

Charter Day represents and recognizes the founding of Howard University and the legacy of the institution. A common misunderstanding of Charter Day is that it is the same as Opening Convocation.

Convocation is the official beginning of the school year where the school year is blessed with the hopes of excellence and success. It is also an official welcoming to the new class of Howardites.

Charter Day, however, pays homage to the university's founding.

Howard University, named after Civil War General Oliver Otis Howard, was chartered by the U.S. Congress and approved by President Andrew Johnson on March 2, 1867.

Johnson designated Howard University, a coeducational private institution, as "a university for the education of youth in the liberal arts and sciences."

The Freedmen's Bureau, as well as endowment, private benefaction and tuition made up most of the early funding for the university.

In 1879, Congress approved a special appropriation for the university. The charter was then amended in 1928 to require an annual federal appropriation for construction, development, improvement and maintenance of the university.

While Howard has enjoyed a long line of excellence in the African-American community, the legacy may not transcend to the newer generations.

"Honestly, I will probably be one of the many students taking advantage of no classes and sleeping in a couple extra hours," said Rachel Potter, a sophomore chemistry major. "I just feel that Charter Day is more appealing to alumni, staff and local [and] national political figures."

Although some Howard students feel that Charter Day may not be relevant to them, Howard University Student Association President Marcus Ware has a very different view on the event.

"I always really enjoy Charter Day, and this year I'm really excited that Governor Deval [Patrick] is speaking," Ware said. "As the only African-American governor in the United States, it's inspiring to have had Oprah, Obama and now the governor come. Howard has always attracted great speakers, and this year will be no exception."

The importance of Charter Day is that it celebrates the impact Howard University has had not only on African Americans, but also on history in general.

"It's huge because 140 years ago, the Civil War had just ended and our founders had the vision of creating a place where newly-freed slaves could learn and give back to this nation. And so many years later we are still producing leaders for America and the global community," Ware said.

I'll be at the dinner tommorrow night.