UM Maneater, MO
02/24/06
LBC ‘three-peats’ in Knowledge Bowl
By Alyssa Freeman, Staff Writer
Eight hands clenched tightly around individual buzzers as participants of
Wednesday's Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center Knowledge Bowl awaited the
next question.
The Jeopardy-like competition, co-sponsored by the BCC and Delta Sigma Theta
sorority, was one of the many campus activities held for Black History Month.
Four two-members teams participated in the bowl: the Legion of Black
Collegians, National Society of Black Engineers, Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and
an independent team.
After two rounds of competition, with categories including “cities,” “sports,” “’80s
hip-hop” and “events,” the LBC team of Travis Gregory and Jabari Turner, was
named the champion and awarded the grand prize: a $50 gift certificate to the
Columbia Mall.
This is the third year LBC has claimed the top spot.
“Aside from it being Black History Month, I really enjoy coming out and displaying
knowledge about our culture and our history,” said Gregory, who is also the LBC
vice president.
Gregory said he hopes the competition and the other Black History Month
activities increase awareness about black culture.
“I can’t say that one activity during Black History Month is more important than
any other,” Gregory said.
Gregory said that LBC will attend the 29th Annual Big 12 Conference on Black
Student Government Feb. 23-25 at Iowa State University.
“The conference is a place for student leaders to meet and discuss social and
cultural issues,” Gregory said.
H.L. Bell, member of the BCC Programming Committee and host of the
Knowledge Bowl, said the event is important for the campus.
“Knowledge Bowl shows the achievements and history of our culture that is not
often displayed or celebrated in society,” Bell said. “We also try to educate
people on our achievements throughout the year, not during just Black History
Month.”
Christopher Keller, member of both the BCC Programming Committee and Phi
Beta Sigma fraternity, said Knowledge Bowl was an opportunity for students to
learn about black culture.
“It is another way to spread the enthusiasm of the month throughout the campus,
regardless of race, and to do it in a fun way outside of the classroom setting,”
Keller said. “It is an excellent way for students to get involved in other
organizations they are not regularly active in.”
Keller said the BCC has held a number of other events throughout the month,
including a brown-bag lunch sponsored by the black studies program and a
forum discussing the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the black community.