“Live A Path of Righteousness”

An open letter to the campus community, by Sheraud Wilder, President of the

Gamma Alpha Tau Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.,

I, Sheraud Wilder, would like to thank Patch Bowen for allowing me to speak on my thoughts as a student leader on campus. Individuals like Patch fuel my drive to speak out against the injustices faced by students and minority communities.

They have these platforms to share the message and our voice for something greater.

In my four years as a student leader, I’ve seen many come and go, but the dismissal of individuals, such as Jurea, Kenny, Tim, Barbara, Tahera and Brian Ibarra, has left lasting voids within the multicultural community. The safe haven we worked so hard to cultivate is being stripped away.

We’re losing our voice, our confidence, and our sense of belonging.

The departure of Jurea, Kenny, and Tim speaks volumes. Jurea tirelessly worked day in and day out to ensure that the FSL community was not only revived but also thriving prosperously. Only to silently exit the university without any acknowledgment of the impact she left.

Kenny, an alumnus who returned out of love for the university, embodied the spirit of what the Myatt Center was meant to be. Yet after speaking his mind on sensitive topics during times of distress, he no longer works here. Despite his leadership, activism, and the kind of personality that touches the lives of every individual he came into contact with. Tim, the heart of student engagement. Advocating and supporting not only multicultural student groups but also making sure that members feel at ease to be their true selves. 

The gratitude his spirit brought to the university is unparalleled and helped many of us succeed within our own organizations.

My heart goes out to everyone who resonates with these words and questions what the future holds. I speak to shed light on the injustices we face as students of this university, especially as we prepare to enter a world where people who look like me are too often treated as expendable.

Never forget why you started, and always remember the impact of the lives that you can touch when you continue to live a path of righteousness.

Be Different. Surpass Expectations. Challenge the System. Take Risks and Live In Your Purpose.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” — Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.