FAMU celebrates 135 years

The Eternal Flame. Photo courtesy: Alexis Thornton

Oct. 3 is the day students, faculty and staff celebrate Florida A&M University’s rich history. This year the illustrious HBCU turned 135, having come to fruition on Oct.3, 1887.

Per tradition, a Founders’ Day ceremony took place at 10:10 a.m. at the Eternal Flame. The ceremony started off with ROTC members marching down from the Eternal Flame, following Miss and Mr. FAMU, who carried the traditional  Founders’ Day wreath to the Eternal Flame to hand over to FAMU President Larry Robinson.

Student Government Association President Zachary Bell began the ceremony by introducing a group of FAMU theater students who blessed everyone with spoken word and the Negro National Anthem.

In closing, everyone sang the alma mater together and Robinson finished off the ceremony with reflecting on the 135 years of FAMU existing, and how far the school has come over the years.

However, not all members of the student body were aware of the ceremony taking place at the Eternal Flame.

“I feel like FAMU can do a better job at informing students about Founders’ Day because I feel like on Founders’ Day it should be more of an interactive history to teach us more about the history, by providing videos and information about more in depth on what our ancestors did to get to where we are today,” Elijah Hooks said.

Many students who attend the university would like to see more effort put into Founders’ Day because it is such a noteworthy day.

Some students said the city of Tallahassee should show more gratitude and appreciation for FAMU and its rich history by allowing FAMU to have a Founders’ Day parade, festival and block party.

“I don’t feel like Tallahassee honors FAMU the way that it should because I don’t see FAMU everywhere in Tallahassee as much as I see Florida State. I walk into Walmart and everything is targeted to Florida State but FAMU be like this one little section,” Ashanti Jackson said.

“I do feel like they informed us enough because I kept seeing emails about the Founders’ Day and Rattler nation is strong so I saw plenty of alumni posting about the school. I don’t feel like Tallahassee acknowledges FAMU at all because we’re an HBCU right next to PWI who takes up most space. They should celebrate FAMU the way they celebrate FSU,” Jada Henderson said.