DSU Student Affairs host an HBCU Conference on Homecoming Safety

Delaware State University once again demonstrated its leadership among Historically Black Colleges and Universities by recently hosting an HBCU Student Affairs Conference.

Convened on Dec. 16 in the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center on campus, the theme of the conference was “Homecoming: Preserving the Legacy Through Strategies, Systems, and Safety.

The conference was attended by about 63 representatives of 10 HBCUs and one minority-serving institution, which included Bowie State University, Cheyney State University, DSU, Fort Valley State University, Hampton University, Huston-Tillotson University, Lincoln University (Pa.), University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, and Chicago State University.

James Overton, DSU Vice President of Student Affairs and Superintendent of the University Police Department, served at DSU from 2000 to 2011 with the DSU Police Department (Police Chief from 2005-2011). When Superintendent Overton returned to DSU in 2023, he was surprised by what DSU Homecoming had become.

“My first homecoming (after I returned) was the fall of 2023, and being away for 12 years, homecoming on this campus had dramatically changed,” Mr. Overton said. “I heard from alumni expressing their disappointment over some of the activities they were seeing. (The Homecoming) was running late into the night, and there were high school kids who were attending homecoming.”

Mr. Overton learned that other HBCUs also had concerns about what their homecoming had evolved into. DSU began implementing measures that required attendees to register and pay parking fees, while the University set up strategic checkpoints on campus. “That helped us limit what had become a “free party” atmosphere where people were doing what they wanted,” he said.

Because other schools shared the same concerns, DSU decided to host the conference to provide a forum for sharing homecoming best practices.

The Conference included a panel discussion on many homecoming challenges, featuring DSU Police Chief Donald Baynard, Norfolk State University Police Chief Brian Covington, Thomasina Boardley, Director of New Student Experiences & Student Engagement at Bowie State, and Sarah Gaines, Director of Student Engagement & Conduct at Chicago State University. There were also workshop sessions on homecoming staffing, risk management, unified command centers, and managing external visitors. The gathering also discussed best practices concerning collaborating with alumni, Greek organizations, and student leaders to promote a safe culture.

“The Conference was enlightening and gave me an outlook on what other HBCUs are doing,” said LaTari Flemings, Dean of Students at Huston-Tillotson University. “It gave me some best practices to take back to my institution.”

Joining Superintendent Overton on the DSU Student Affairs Conference Committee were James Lunnermon, Charlisa Edelin, Howard Dorman, Aishona Jackson, Chandra Roberson, and Darlene Ashley.