Underrepresented men helped by S.T.R.O.N.G., rise to the top of EIU
Rashida Lyles-Cowan/Staff Reporter
Issue date: 10/15/09 Section: Minority Today
Successful Teaching Relative to Overcoming Negative Generalities is a mentoring program for males on campus.
The purpose of S.T.R.O.N.G is to stimulate the minds of underrepresented male students at Eastern Illinois University and enhance their abilities to overcome challenges that come along.
The program's main focus is to cultivate the students into successful business and community leaders.
S.T.R.O.N.G. was established on campus in spring 2009.
D'Wayne Jenkins, coordinator for the program, said S.T.R.O.N.G has been growing throughout the year.
"It is a good feeling to see freshman come to the meetings and want to become involved with the program," Jenkins said.
S.T.R.O.N.G. wants to provide male students with resources and advice that will fit their needs, he said.
The program has objectives for the students in efforts of achieving a college degree.
Jenkins said teaching students how to communicate effectively in the "real" world is one of the main objectives for the program.
Michael Frisby, a sophomore psychology major said this program is great for young African American males on campus.
The discussions held in the meetings are helpful and provide students with needed information, he said.
"Not only black men need to have these conversations but men in general," Frisby said.
Frisby said S.T.R.O.N.G. will bridge the gap between people that are involved in the program and those who are not.
"This program stresses young men to raise the standard," he said.
Cyprian Amede, a sophomore biological science major, said S.T.R.O.N.G. helped him straighten out certain things going on his life.
"The program helps students face reality in becoming prepared for life after college," he said.
Frisby said students should take advantage of this program.
"A student can never have too much help," Frisby said.
Rashida Lyles-Cowan can be reached at 581-7942 or rnlylescowan@eiu.edu.
The purpose of S.T.R.O.N.G is to stimulate the minds of underrepresented male students at Eastern Illinois University and enhance their abilities to overcome challenges that come along.
The program's main focus is to cultivate the students into successful business and community leaders.
S.T.R.O.N.G. was established on campus in spring 2009.
D'Wayne Jenkins, coordinator for the program, said S.T.R.O.N.G has been growing throughout the year.
"It is a good feeling to see freshman come to the meetings and want to become involved with the program," Jenkins said.
S.T.R.O.N.G. wants to provide male students with resources and advice that will fit their needs, he said.
The program has objectives for the students in efforts of achieving a college degree.
Jenkins said teaching students how to communicate effectively in the "real" world is one of the main objectives for the program.
Michael Frisby, a sophomore psychology major said this program is great for young African American males on campus.
The discussions held in the meetings are helpful and provide students with needed information, he said.
"Not only black men need to have these conversations but men in general," Frisby said.
Frisby said S.T.R.O.N.G. will bridge the gap between people that are involved in the program and those who are not.
"This program stresses young men to raise the standard," he said.
Cyprian Amede, a sophomore biological science major, said S.T.R.O.N.G. helped him straighten out certain things going on his life.
"The program helps students face reality in becoming prepared for life after college," he said.
Frisby said students should take advantage of this program.
"A student can never have too much help," Frisby said.
Rashida Lyles-Cowan can be reached at 581-7942 or rnlylescowan@eiu.edu.
The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.
Be the first to comment on this story