Duke Walkathon

More than 400 students, faculty, and staff at Duke University marched last week to raise money for a financially troubled Duke University scholarship fund that provides monetary awards for qualified Black students.

The walkathon sponsored by Duke's student council raised $2200 for the scholarship fund which will award up to $2300 per year to each of five talented Black students.

The scholarship was established in 1976 to honor the first Black student council president, who was killed in a car accident the summer before his term was to start.

Originally funded until 1986, the scholarship recently became the concern of students who were afraid it would be discontinued for lack of funds. The student council sponsored the walkathon to raise $25,000 for the scholarship and to show the administration it was supported by students.

Walkathon participants expressed their support for the scholarship as a means for attracting good Black students to Duke.

"We're marching to show that we as students, particularly Black students, recognize the scholarship as an important recruiting tool," said Rob Harrington, financial chairman of the Black Student Alliance. "Hopefully by showing student support we will convey to the administration that everyone is interested.

"It's good to see the number of students both Black and white, who are standing up for the scholarship. It used to be that only Reggie Howard Scholars were interested," said Harrington.