Byline: Meghan Miglorie<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In April of 1986, Winthrop University welcomed the first issue of The Roddey-McMillan Record. Created by a Black student at Winthrop in 1986, Gail Harris strongly desired for a focal point that highlighted the needs of the Black communities on our campus. Thus came the newsletter featured in every edition of The Johnsonian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Editor-In-Chief of The Roddey-McMillan I wish to speak upon recent choices made by the leaders at Winthrop. Upon researching The RMR\u2019s history in honor of 40 years, I have realized that even in its beginnings, students struggled to make their voices heard. Over time, this ongoing issue poses a question for all to think about; if we move too far away from the community that created this publication, will we lose sight of why it matters at all ? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I emphasize however this article\u2019s purpose is not centralized around this event from late last semester. I bring this to light as an emphasis of what The Roddey-McMillan Record does not stand for. However, before imposing on its present and future, I want to start with the history of where The RMR began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The now magazine was named after Mrs. Cynthia P. Roddey and Sheila McMillan. Cynthia P. Roddey was the first Black student to ever attend at Winthrop in 1964. Sheila McMillan was appointed by Dick Riley to be the first Black member on Winthrop\u2019s Board of Trustees in 1983. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the first edition of the RMR, Roddey had positive remarks about the newsletter\u2019s presence on campus. Roddey said \u201c[…] it gives Black students an opportunity to identify with a focal point in a non-competitive way […] the newsletter will inform Black students of programs of interest to them.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the same edition Sheila McMillan voiced that she was honored to have a newsletter named after her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c[…] (McMillan) hopes the newsletter will not be short-lived, but will continue to grow and develop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the first edition in 1986, it transitioned into a monthly newspaper in November of 1992, then a tabloid in August of 2010, to finally its present magazine in October of 2022. The Roddey-Mac has gone through many challenges and changes through its 40 years, and its creators and inspirations are extremely vital to understanding why the presence of a multicultural publication matters incredibly to Winthrop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is important to recognize that The Roddey was written, produced, and run by Black students on campus, and honorably so. These letters discussed campus issues, cultural events, and notably famous Black individuals\/organizations in America. From 1986 until September of 1993, the magazine solely focused on protecting, acknowledging, and celebrating the achievements of Black students on campus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its motion from newsletter to newspaper in 1992 left Alvin McEwen, previous EIC obstacles in the RMR\u2019s future as an independent publication. It was at that point that Ecwen decided to shift the focus of the RMR from a all-Black-focused publication to a \u201c[…] multicultural monthly\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He described in the 1993 September article, \u201cAs we move closer to the twenty-first century, we find there are many issues concerning multiculturalism rarely addressed. They are either totally ignored or sugar coated. The Roddey-McMillan Record will be fair in examining these issues.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
From then on, The RMR focused on diverse topics such as ethnicity, mental health, disabilities, and religion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diving deeper into the 1993 issue, there was a piece Mr. McEwen wrote that struck me. He wrote \u201cWhite students felt that since it was African-oriented, it did not involve them.\u201d […] The major reason being that there seems to be no interest in an all African-American publication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon reading, there is a part of me that understands why Ecwen decided to shift the focus of The RMR, and I agree that there needs to be a place that is strictly reserved for all inclusive groups on campus. However, discovering that The RMR began taking a pause on their original cause, it seemed that because the demographic of Black students on campus was smaller than it is presently, the editor felt that their ideas and concerns weren\u2019t as big as they believed them to be. I disagree with this, and feel disheartened by the notion that McEwen felt a need to quiet his, and others’ voices in their community to cater to assumably the larger demographics at Winthrop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This isn\u2019t to put down or scrutinize previous editors or writers, or assume that they didn’t feel as strongly about equality and representation as I or anyone else does. I felt the notion to emphasize that I, or any member of Winthrop, should never forget about the hardships the Black community faced on this campus during the start of The Roddey-McMillan Record and afterwards. Which as mentioned before, can still be felt in ripples by leaders of Winthrop now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I reflect on the past of The Roddey-McMillan Record, I begin to think about what comes next, what the following 10 years will look like for us. Through the gaps, obstacles, renovations, errors and triumphs, I understand now more than ever the significance of speaking on the value of equity and independence to speak on topics that negatively impacts any minority community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking towards its upcoming years feels more hopeful than ever. With the influence of social media and connection between people around the world and students on Winthrop\u2019s campus, staff members here at The Roddey can come together and attentively focus on subjects that highlight the struggles of those that experience systemic oppression and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, what is the true future of The Roddey-McMillan Record? In short, this magazine will always and forever be an outlet for those impacted and affected by any form of oppression or injustice. I hope that as we move forward, students and the surrounding Rock Hill community will become more vigilant, confident, and transparent with their voices. Topics that are hard to swallow, or difficult to bring to light are what creates change. Those before us could do it in a time of constant rejection in the reality that all humans matter regardless of race, religion, social status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or ability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the past 40 years, The Roddey-McMillan Record has helped shine a light on issues that impact those whose voices have been drowned out by adversity. Our promise is, and will always be, to uplift the multicultural community on campus and beyond. I want to thank you all for 40 incredible years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Byline: Meghan Miglorie In April of 1986, Winthrop University welcomed the first issue of The Roddey-McMillan Record. Created by a Black student at Winthrop in 1986, Gail Harris strongly desired for a focal point that highlighted the needs of the Black communities on our campus. Thus came the newsletter featured in every edition of The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":7146,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[14,31],"tags":[92,157,159,39],"class_list":["post-7163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-feature","tag-92","tag-40-years","tag-mcmillan","tag-winthrop"],"yoast_head":"\n