By Sean Colvin Staff writer
Bill Lewis, the first African American to graduate from Susquehanna, spoke on Oct. 13 during a Let’s Talk dinner hosted by the Center for Academic Achievement.
Lewis spoke about his career and life at Susquehanna and offered insights about current social issues in a casual discussion that went on for nearly an hour.
Lewis, who graduated in 1968, came from Philadelphia to study liberal arts at Susquehanna in 1964. He was one of two black students enrolled at Susquehanna at the time, and he lived in Gustavus Adolphus Hall, which burned to the ground just before Thanksgiving break during his first year. He was a member of Phi Mu Delta, studied political science and was a head resident during his time at Susquehanna.
Lewis went on to Boston University School of Law, which he graduated from in 1972. He spent the next 40 years of his life committed to public service working in the Office of the District Attorney of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Committee on Civil Rights, as a counsel to the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee under Vice President Joe Biden and as a civil rights ombudsman for the U.S. Department of Energy. He was also a long-time member of the Susquehanna Board of Trustees. Lewis is now retired.
“Susquehanna has always been a welcoming, friendly campus, and I immediately feel at home when I come back on campus,” Lewis said.
Lewis made some observations about changes on Susquehanna’s campus, the most obvious being that the campus has expanded its number of structures.
One of the things that Lewis said he was happy to see changed was the mandatory weekly chapel service, during which, Lewis said, attendance was taken. The only benefit to making chapel mandatory, Lewis said, was the prospect of meeting members of the upper classes.
The mandatory chapel rule was adjusted during Lewis’ time at Susquehanna, as were many other things not only on campus but in the United States as well.
Lewis spoke of going to a conservative university in the 60s. “People were challenging restrictions of any kind then,” he said.
When asked if he faced racism during his time at Susquehanna, Lewis gave an answer that surprised some. His answer was no, which he said may have been because of a number of reasons, one of them being that the school was very small then and that the administration watched over students closely.
Lewis spoke at length about playing for the football team under coach James Garrett and also about his education. He said, “I wouldn’t have been able to get through grad school if I hadn’t had the quality of education that I had at Susquehanna.”
Lewis also spoke about Vietnam and the “bubble” that students lived in, since the draft did not affect them. Students expressed similar concerns about lack of political activity on campus, though they noted that it seemed to be increasing recently.
According to Virginia Larson, associate director of academic success and junior and senior experience, this Let’s Talk event was the most well attended so far this semester.
“It’s really important because it’s an opportunity for students to hear the thoughts of other students,” Larson said. “It was nice to hear students release some of what they’ve been feeling.”
Michelle DeMary, associate professor of political science, said, “I teach them about the books, but [Lewis] was able to talk to them about what really happens in his experience.”
Senior Jess Deibert said that she thought the dialogue was lively and passionate. She said, “I’m glad that we have students who are so politically engaged and willing to fight for what they deserve.”
