Budget rally revitalizes Florida A&M university’s spirit

I don’t know if it was the Red Bull in my system or hearing the shouts of encouragement as I marched toward the Capitol on Thursday, but something made me realize that the spirit of Florida A&M is far from dead, despite the hard-hitting budget cuts the school might face. As a journalism student at FAMU for a little more than two years, I’ve grown somewhat bored with what goes on within the university. Things start to seem redundant and the same faces are seen vying for change. Some professors urged me to find news stories outside of FAMU, but of course while working for The Famuan, the university is the central focus.One can only imagine my sluggish attitude when I first approached ‘the Set’ and saw a handful of students waiting for the march to begin; I deemed them as the usual suspects.I saw no rush in collecting interviews since I already knew what might be said. But something changed. What started off as a handful of students, turned into a pool and that pool turned into a sea. I’ve seen marches before.I can recall FAMU students marching to protest the beating death of 14 year-old Martin Lee Anderson. I would not be surprised if a few professors who graduated from FAMU marched back in their day too.While marches may demonstrate different topics, one word puts them all in one category: unity. A sense of unity enveloped me last Thursday as chants from the crowd were harmonious and the Marching 100’s drumbeat sounded like gunshots. It felt unstoppable.I was enthralled by the movement and tried to capture the moment on my notepad better than a photographer with his camera.Students marched for a purpose-to stop legislators from snipping away at higher education. I watched my student body leaders sweat from running along the edge of the crowd with megaphone in hand to pump up energy. It was at this moment I felt revitalized as a reporter. It was my job to inform students who did not attend the march. However, this role as a student journalist is only a portion of helping FAMU’s spirit stay alive. Everyone plays a part. Seldom do I hear someone bragging about our school and in the light of a fake FAMU sex tape, we as students must work harder to keep the university’s spirit radiant.Some of what I report is not good news for FAMU. However, when I do report about a negativesituation, it is not to hurt the university but to inform. Student Body Vice President Calvin Hayes said we were on a battlefield. I agree and in order to win a war, ever soldier and general must fight.My pen is locked and loaded.