Standing in the sun, squinting to see the speakers, I heard Alcorn State University President Dr. Clinton Bristow&8217;s words, but his message didn&8217;t hit home until hours later.

&8220;It&8217;s your university,&8221; he said Tuesday afternoon, speaking to the crowd at the opening of the new graduate business programs building.

Bristow&8217;s message, however, did not truly sink in until a few hours later at a reception to celebrate the new building.

For decades Alcorn was viewed as a &8220;black&8221; college and indeed at one point that moniker was an apt one. But those were segregated times and the world was much different.

Although our world still faces segments of racism, our country is beginning to change. Americans are slowly realizing that our similarities far outweigh the small differences in skin color.

And in southwest Mississippi, we&8217;re all realizing that the only way we can make our community better is by joining hands and working together.

As I looked around the room Tuesday evening, one thought struck me: Alcorn truly is &8220;our&8221; university. That &8220;our&8221; includes all aspects of the community, black and white, rich and poor.

Those adjectives combined make the fabric of our community.

At each table, the faces seemed almost to mimic the racial makeup of our community. And it wasn&8217;t a matter of whites and blacks self-segregating by sitting apart, either.

The image was an amazing picture of what the &8220;new South&8221; is becoming, truly a place where people come together, regardless of race.

Natchez needs more of this: Blacks and white sharing tables, food, drinks and conversation, all in the name of education.

Alcorn&8217;s MBA program has been doing that already. Just a few of the people who have graduated from the program include young and old, black and white, blue collar folks to bank executives.

The program is doing its job; now the program just has an impressive new building to call home.

The university and Natchez-Adams County have been partners for years. ASU&8217;s nursing program in Natchez is the rival of many similar programs.

The opening of the new graduate business programs building is a fitting tribute to the changes reflected in both Alcorn and the community it serves.

A portion of the construction funds for the building came from the settlement of the landmark Ayers case.

The case began in 1975 when a man sued the state claiming historically black universities were neglected when it came to doling out state education funds.

After decades of debate and stalling, the state finally settled the case giving millions of dollars to the state&8217;s historically black universities.

Alcorn&8217;s latest building is among one of the best uses for the Ayers funds I&8217;ve seen. The amazing structure is dwarfed only by the potential good the university brings to the community.

Somehow, we&8217;ve got to change the perception that Alcorn is only for people with black skin.

Perhaps the best way to accomplish that is through a consistent focus on getting that message in front of the world.

One of the best ways to accomplish that communication performed at Tuesday night&8217;s reception, ASU&8217;s talented concert choir.

At the conclusion of their final piece, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Their sound and professionally also serve as a reminder that Alcorn is truly a remarkable learning establishment.

The choir, under the direction of Dr. David Blackburn, will be in the spotlight again later this month as the choir takes the stage at New York&8217;s Carnegie Hall.

Performing at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall is an impressive feat for any performing group. The fact that it&8217;s &8220;our&8221; university should make us all the more proud.

Kevin Cooper

is associate publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or

kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com

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