And so we begin. Each one of us chooses how, where, and
when we
fight and what it is we shall fight for. I seem to have the consistent
disposition of fighting for the "have nots" no matter where I seem
to travel.
What I would ask of each of you to do is spread the word. In
New York, I'm
sure that WBAI (downstate) would like to get a hold of a story like
this one.
At SUNY Buffalo, there are some active student groups who might be
willing
to support something like this as well as start up similar requests
on
their own campus. Out in Anchorage, I'm sure students would be
interested
in these issues. Spread the word. However each one of you
thinks would be
fitting and would be supportive, spread the word in such a manner.
Everyday, starting on 9/22/97,
at 11:50am, I will leave my office
or home and go to Beardshear Hall, the main administration building
at
ISU. I will bring a radio with me. When I arrive, I will
walk up to the
second tier of stairs and place my radio on the stone staircase.
In the
cassette deck I will have a tape of speeches. The only speech
I will
play lasts for approximately 27 minutes. It is a speech given
by Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. titled "But, if not". I shall play this
speech everyday at the same time, in the same place. It is a
powerful
presentations of some of King's most heart felt desires and drives
and
serves as a message to each of us that although we have come so far,
we
still have a long way to go.
And this shall be my vigil.
Other than that, I will go about my
daily activities such as classes and my position in the Student Support
Services Program (SSSP). The one thing I've learned quickly in
all of
this is that practicing for a hunger strike is a lot different than
carrying it out... rehersal is nothing like show time. My nerves
feel
very different now than when was practicing. My body also feels
different when compared to how it felt during the practice runs.
I've removed all the food
and drink from my home. (I'm sure
there are going to be a lot of questions about whether or not I'm
eating.) Also, I won't be working with any medical staff during
this
venture at this point. This may change as time goes on.
It is 5:33pm on
9/22/97 and I weigh 145 pounds. I feel pretty good and my first
day
on this hunger strike is almost over.
Allan
Pina Nosworthy
Today was a long day.
This morning I had Shakespeare class at
9:00am for about an hour and a half. Then I had to go to work
at 11:00.
I finished up all the Student Support Services Program (SSSP)
applications and then prepared to walk over to Beardshear (main
administrative building at ISU). Everyday at twleve, I stand
on the
front steps of Beardshear with a fairly small portable tape player
and
play a sermon given by Martin Luther King Jr. titled: BUT, IF NOT.
It's
a powerful piece which challenges the listener to stock in their own
beliefs and their own ways of living and compels each one of us to
"take
a stand for that which is right." It took a few listenings before
I
really understood what Dr. King was getting at. Today the media
was
there, TV and print. There were some photographers (possibly
unassociated free lance) there as well. The Movement held a press
conference at 11:30am concerning this issue across the street from
Beardshear and it seemed to have attracted a lot of folks so by the
time
I got there, there was about 50 people present. I was suprised.
The
sermon lasts about 27 minutes. After that, I pick up my radio
and go
back to work. Today I addressed the crowd briefly and told them
that I
would like to stay and speak with them but my energies really don't
allow
for that. I also told them that although I don't speak while
I'm
there, I always appreciate their presence.
The VP of Student Affairs
wanted to speak with me as I was
walking back to work. He is the first black male to ever hold
a position
like that at ISU. (Three guesses on what situation opened that
door for
him.) He wanted to know why The Movement cancelled a meeting
with the
president. I had no idea what he was talking about. But
I did ask him
if the president was willing to meet the group with a mediator present.
He
dodged the question. I asked him again and again he dodged the
question. After
I asked him a third time he said "It would be a breach of confidence"
for
him to tell me the presidents opinion on the situation. (Sometimes,
when
black people get into fairly prestigeous (sp?) positions we really
loose
our minds.) The reason The Movement wants to meet with a mediator
present is because the president, on numerous ocassions, met with
different groups, faculty/staff/student, and absolutely nothing was
resolved by the end of the meeting. We don't play that.
If we go in to
the meeting with a mediator then it will be clear that decisions will
be
made during the process of the meeting. (We have even made sure
that
from a legal perspective this holds true. Also, Black's Law Dictionary
also offers further proof of this.) Needless to say, after five
minutes
around this gentleman, I grew quite tired.
After speaking with him,
I went back to work and finished up some
office stuff. I've received letters of support from a few people.
They
are all very encouraging. Also, on the front page of the Daily
today,
there was a student who said that I might be hiding Ding-Dongs in my
back
pack. Freshman. What can you do. If you guys get
a chance to read it
today, feel free to look it up on the net. Some of the other
responses
were equally ignorant and humorous.
It is 5:09pm on September
24,1997. I haven't weighed myself yet
and I feel a little tired but I'm still doing well. No headaches,
no
stomach pain. We are on the move and I feel/hope my ancestors
are
watching over me. Spread the word, spread the word.
Allan Pina Nosworthy
Yes, you have all been moved
to friend status at this point. (:
Today was also a little busy. When I woke up I felt a little
weak. By
the middle of the day I was doing O.K. but right now I'm feeling a
little
weak. My body is mpving through the different stages involved
in this
process, faster than it did during my practice runs. I think
that is
mostly due to my surroundings and activities being different at this
time.
Today the Dean of Students
instructed her staff that no
"political paperwork" could be placed on office doors. I don't
know if
she was instructed to do this or not. (The Movement has been
putting up
signs that say "In Solidarity with the Hunger Strike") This seems
so
typical of college administrators. Instead of trying to deal
with the
problem as a whole, for the most part, they attempt to cripple actions
by
reacting to things like posters. I wouldn't be surprised if the
poster
issue got more publicity than the hunger strike.
Today's paper was fairly
alarming. Lots of ignorance and
misinformation. You should all read it. Some of it is even
humorous.
One misguided soul even went so far as to call me a terrorist.
And he's
getting an education? These are strange days.
It wasn't a completely bad
day however. One womyn came by the
office and told me a long story about how she compared this situation
to
David and Goliath, Jobe and the devil, and other biblical figures.
She
made some very interesting and concrete connections. Then she
asked me
if I would pray with her and I did. It has been a very long time
since I
have done something like that. She really thinks God is watching
over
this situation. I hope she's right.
President Jischke's email
address is mcjisch@iastate.edu
If anyone is interested in emailing him, please feel free. By
this
point, I think all of you are educated enough on this situation to
form
intelligent opinions. I hope you will all speak your minds.
It's 5:29pm on September
25,1997. I haven't weighed myself yet.
I feel a little weaker than I did yesterday but no serious problems
or
pains. The for our people is not far now. I know we are
getting close.
I can hear the drums and they're getting closer now, much closer now.
Allan Pina Nosworthy
Day 5
"'Ol pirates yes they rob I,
sold I to the merchant ships.
Minutes after they took I,
from the bottomless pit.
But my head was made strong,
by the hand of the almighty.
We foward in this generation,
triumphantly.
Won't you help to sing,
these songs of freedom,
'cause all I ever have,
redemption songs."
Dear Friends,
Another long day.
For those who don't fully understand what is
happening here, know that you are not alone. If I was outside
of this
situation, it would probably take me a while to put the pieces together
and understand things. I do hope that people will check the ISU
Daily
website and continue to read the letter I wrote on 9/22/97. That
should
help clarify things. If any of you have questions, please feel
free to
ask me any questions you may have. I would be more than happy
to answer.
I'm feeling a little weaker
today but I haven't had any headaches
yet and my stomach is still doing fine. But the light headedness
is
starting to kick in. The feeling is similar to the last half
mile of my
old x-country races. Sorry for not writing too much today.
I'm a little
tired and will need to sign off early. Will write again tomorrow.
It's 4:57pm on September
26,1997. I haven't weighed myself yet.
I feel a little light headed but I'm ready for Saturday and Sunday
and
Monday and Tuesday . . .
Sincerely,
Allan Pina Nosworthy