SGA Officials, President Eugene Brannon, Vice President Alicia Williams, Miss SSU Tierrenne Roberson, and Chief Justice Brandon Billups pose with Dr. Cornel West On Thursday, April 1, Savannah State University welcomed Dr. Cornel West. Often described as controversial, West engaged those who filled SSU's Tiger Arena in a thought-provoking discussion.

He began by praising Savannah State University's leadership, and it's beautiful campus. “In the middle of struggle and oppression, and in the middle of Jim Crow and Jane Crow somebody thought it important enough to educate young people, and 120 years later, look what you've got”, West said to thunderous applause.

He geared his discussion toward the young people who were in attendance, stressing to them the important job that lies ahead. Staying in line with the evening's theme “The Foundations of Our Legacy: Treasuring Our Past, Preparing for our Future”, West told of the greatness that came before today's youth in people like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X, and the greatness that lies before them.

“What kind of individual will you be from Momma's womb to the tomb?” he asked. West also discussed his disappointment in the present state of some of our young people. “Freedom has been reduced to blingbling, so it is for this reason that we have the freedom to be dumb, and the freedom to be dooped”, he said.

West came to SSU as a part of the Miss Savannah State University Scholarship, which was established in 2008 by Miss SSU 2008-2009, Tirrany Thurmond.

The scholarship is awarded annually to deserving students matriculating at the university.

In addition to being an electrifying speaker, West is also an acclaimed author and professor, currently serving as Class of 1943 University Professor in the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University.

He offers weekly commentary on The Tavis Smiley Show, which airs on Public Radio International.