Barack Obama’s victory and what it could mean for black students and blacks as a race was the topic of a panel discussion at Southern University one week after the historic election.

The Black Executive Exchange Program hosted the event titled “Speak Up and Stand Out” on Tuesday, Nov. 11,  in the Smith-Brown Memorial Union’s Lakefront Room. 

Norman J. Dotson Jr./Southern Digest

Freshman Chief Justice Demetrius Sumner

Pounds and other Southern students voiced their opinions on what is expected from President-elect Obama in the future and what is expected from the black community.

There also was a heated debate about what Obama’s message is to black men as fathers, and women as mothers.

Travis Richard, a mass communications major from Opelousas, said the fact that history was made would not have an effect on "stupidity or ignorance" among any racial group including the black community.

Some students said  they will try to do better in school because Obama has inspired them to stay focused on their dreams. “The bar has been raised and it is now my responsibility to walk through the door that has been opened because of Obama,” Pounds said.

“I enjoyed hearing other peoples’ viewpoints of Obama winning the election,” said Michelle Alexander, a freshman political science major from Baton Rouge.

The BEEP organization’s goal was to give students the opportunity to voice their opinions and get their questions answered.

“We wanted all students of all majors to come and be a part of this discussion,” said BEEP president Chayla Daniels, who is a senior marketing major from California.

The discussion was also held to attract more students into joining BEEP. Some of the students who attended the open discussion were there to get a better look at what the organization represented.

“I was thinking about joining BEEP and I came to the discussion to find out more about it and what it’s about,” said Cedric Clarke, a sophomore business management major from Westmont, Ill. “There were some interesting points that were made.”

Samantha McClendon writes for The Southern Digest, the Southern University student newspaper, whichoriginally published a version of this article.