African American Student Organization Reunion set for August 30 Sept. 1

The University of Southern Mississippi's African American Student Organization (AASO) will hold its first reunion August 30 – Sept. 1 in Hattiesburg with a variety of events designed to reconnect former students who were members of the organization.

Founded as the Afro-American Cultural Society (AACS) in 1969, the group changed its name to the AASO in the 1990s. Dr. Alvin Williams, a professor emeritus of marketing at the university and a Southern Miss alumnus, was one of the organization's earliest members and has helped organize and coordinate the reunion.

“It was an instrumental part of student life for black students at that point in the university's history, as it pre-dated any of the university's black Greek Life chapters,” Williams said. “So, the AACS was the only entity on campus that was primarily focused toward this student population.

“It's the first time we've had a comprehensive effort to reconnect. I believe it is certainly an exciting time for this group to return to see for themselves the progress that has been made at Southern Miss over the last 35 years.”

The reunion schedule follows:

*Friday, August 30

- Registration: Thad Cochran Center, 3 – 6 p.m.
- Campus Tours: Hosted by the Southern Miss Alumni Association, 4:30 – 6 p.m.
- Meet and Greet: Thad Cochran Center Ballroom I, 6 – 9 p.m.

*Saturday, August 31

- Cookout: Kamper Park, next to Hattiesburg Zoo, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Football game: Southern Miss vs. Texas State, M.M. Roberts Stadium - 6 p.m.
- After party: 206 Front Street, downtown Hattiesburg, starting at 10 p.m.

*Sunday, Sept. 1

Church service: Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 1101 N. Main Street, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

For more information, e-mail Alvin Williams at alvin.williamsFREEMississippi or Lonnie Street at lonniestreet@vzw.blackberry.net.