150th anniversary observance part of CALA-Bash

On April 3, featured artist Charlamagne Tha God will be presenting during the social justice series.

The 10^th annual CALA-Bash festival at Claflin this year is incorporating the university’s 150^th anniversary in its theme.

Associate professor of speech and drama Annette Grevious is at the forefront of both observances as chair of the sesquicentennial committee and chair of CALA-Bash. She spoke with The Panther during a recent news conference.

“There are multiple things happening. We are in the midst of the 150^th,,” Grevious said. “Things are going on as we speak.”

She said each school at the university gets a week for 150^th-orientened events.

“The School of Business did theirs in February, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is in the midst of theirs now, and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences will do theirs the week of CALA-Bash. That’s our sesquicentennial,” Grevious said.  

“The president was pretty adamant about embracing traditional events that we have going on and just putting a 150^th anniversary spin to those events. So there's not a whole a lot of new activities that are happening as a part of the sesquicentennial” Grevious said.  

“The idea we are embracing is celebrating through events we already have or do at the university,” Grevious said.   

Special events, however, are part of the observance. One is the April 1 gala in Columbia honoring retiring President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale and first lady Alice Carson Tisdale for their 25 years of service.

Other things to look forward to for the 150^th celebration will be a cataloging Claflin's collection of artworks. Plus the sesquicentennial is being marked by the presence of special sign in the middle of campus, a 150^th flag and a special presentation that will take place with Matriculation Day in fall 2019.

“It is important that this is a special year,” Grevious said.

“The fact that a historically black college has made it 150 years in the state of South Carolina and it’s thriving … this is a significant year.” 

CALA-Bash

The idea of CALA-Bash is to “uplift the rich history in our arts and humanities,” Grevious said. 

“We are putting the 150^th spin on it. The big addition to this week is we are having a professional development day for all of the students majoring in the discipline within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences,” Grevious said.  

On April 2, each department has invited an alumnus back to present a workshop, master class or forum. Students are to interact with that alum, share their work and experiences, and receive feedback from the alumnus. 

“We are bringing back the humanities festival (April 6), which is an opportunity for high school students who have been accepted to the university and are planning to major in one of the disciplines within the school, to apply for grants and aid toward their tuition fees,” Grevious said.

On April 3, the featured artist Charlamagne Tha God will be presenting during the social justice series.

“I also want to plug our FET, which is our tent event that happens on Saturday. Because I really want students to come out and participate and that is kind of a upscale tent event so a lot of heavy hors devours, music and a band performing” Grevious said.  

There also will be a special presentation to honor the Tisdales during CALA-Bash.