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William Osborne Society

The Black Student Organization of Wheaton College Recognizing Wheaton College's rich Black American heritage (as an institution), we have named this organization the William Osborne Society. The William Osborne Society was established in 1987. William Osborne was a slave who met Colonel Jonathan Merriman in 1865 on the battlefield of the Civil War. Colonel Merriman took Osborne home with him to Atlanta, Illinois. The Colonel's wife tutored Osborne and the couple sent him to Wheaton College. While at Wheaton, Osborne became the first Black president of the Beltonian Society. Osborne is remembered for his good oration skills and singing voice. He graduated from Wheaton in 1865 and became a pastor in a Methodist Episcopal Church in Seattle, Washington. He later moved to Kansas City, Missouri to pastor Ebeneezer African Methodist Episcopal Church and became bishop of the denomination. William Osborne died in 1932. (Source, Wheaton College Archives) Believing that we should serve God through our organization, minister to the Wheaton College community, and love our brothers and sisters as Christ first loved us, we hereby form the William Osborne Society in order to:

1. Promote self-identity and self-awareness among Black American students.

2. Provide a support group by acting as peer-counselors and spiritual friends to incoming Black American students, those presently enrolled, and those having difficulty adapting to the cultural surrounding of Wheaton College.

3. Broaden our knowledge of, and increase our sensitivity to, the spiritual, social, political, and economic concerns that affect the Black American community on the Wheaton College campus and in the United States.

4. Provide an atmosphere that fosters Black student leadership by encouraging students to develop their God given gifts and talents. One use of these gifts and talents can be in various campus activities and organizations.

5. Expose the Wheaton College community to the Black American heritage.

6. Promote social activities for the organization's members.

7. Achieve our objectives through love, in accordance with Philippians 2:14, "Do everything without complaining or arguing." It is not the purpose of this organization to separate itself from the broader college community or more importantly, the Body of Christ, but to concentrate on Black American issues and concerns.

The 2007-2008 cabinet is Crystal Cartwright - President, Marika Stewart - Vice President, Christin Fort - Secretary, Robyn Gates - Sisterhood Coordinator, Justin West - Brotherhood Coordinator, George Jackson - Ensemble Director, Joel Ayee - Special Events.

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