Conference conjures up the 'soul' of DuBois College House

Arts, academia and activism were the focal points of the 14th annual Souls of DuBois Conference held at W.E.B. DuBois College House last weekend. The conference -- organized and sponsored by DuBois and UMOJA, a political umbrella group for minority organizations on campus -- was intended to "give students the opportunity to present their research" in various fields of study, DuBois House Dean Sonia Elliot said. "Many of our students have tremendous hidden talent that simply through the classroom or existing campus student groups [or] activities [they] may not have the opportunity to display," Elliott said. "DuBois College House wants to give them this opportunity." The conference began Friday evening with an opening ceremony and the dedication of a research center in DuBois named after civil rights activist Paul Robeson. Robeson was an African-American scholar, athlete, actor and civil rights leader during the 1930s and 1940s who spoke out against racial and economic discrimination. In 1937 he organized the Council of African Affairs, the only organization devoted to African liberation struggles in the U.S. Calling him "controversial and a risk taker," Elliott explained how the themes of arts, academia and activism "pays him honor by providing an atmosphere where people can take risks in all of the above categories and know that they do so in an academically stimulating and nurturing environment." Arts prevailed as the main theme of the evening as works by College senior Meisha Thompson and Philadelphia collage artist Theodore Harris, both of whom were commissioned to do a piece for the new center in DuBois, were unveiled. Thompson said her work -- entitled "Vision" -- "is a summary of experiences" she has encountered at the University. She added that the work and vision of DuBois have helped expose her to her history and culture. The collage by Harris -- "The Dangerous Road Before Martin Luther King" -- is intended to give people "the strength to keep holding on" to the dream of equality, Harris said, adding that "the more you work to make [life] better for African Americans, the more you make it better for everyone." Other students had the opportunity to present their academic work in several panel discussions on Saturday. The topics of the panels included study abroad experiences and presentations of the work of several courses offered out of DuBois. The academic theme of the conference focused on fundraising for the W.E.B. DuBois Endowed Scholars Fund, a new scholarship for minority students who exhibit a high level of scholarship and dedication to the themes of DuBois College House, while representatives from community service groups in Philadelphia also spoke of their work in honor of the third theme, activism.