Joseph Vaughn Day will be held Friday, Jan. 26

Joseph Vaughn Day will be observed this year on Friday, Jan. 26. The day provides an opportunity to remember Vaughn, the university’s first Black undergraduate student, and a time when people were denied access to many places, including Furman, because of the color of their skin. Furman set aside a day to remember Vaughn, the university’s first Black undergraduate student, starting in 2020.

Students, faculty and staff are asked to gather outside Daniel Chapel at 12:15 p.m. This year, at 12:30, Teresa Cosby, professor of politics and international affairs, will deliver brief remarks, then the crowd will take the Walk of Honor to Joseph Vaughn Plaza in front of the Duke Library.

In this year’s program, the Black Alumni Council, represented by its president, Reggie Garrett ’98, will introduce a new honor, the Black Alumni Award, named for Idella Glenn ’84. Idella will present the award to Erica Johnson ’07. Abijah Leamon, a senior politics and international affairs major, will deliver a call to action to end the program. In case of inclement weather, the event will move inside the chapel.

The Joseph Vaughn Day Walk of Honor, 2022.