Ed Gordon '82 Returns to Campus

Communication and political science graduate Ed Gordon '82 returned to campus on Monday, December 2, to mark the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s visit to Western Michigan University. Gordon, an Emmy-award-winning journalist, has been the host and contributor of various news programs, including BET News, BET Tonight, NPR's News and Notes and most recently, Weekly with Ed Gordon. 

Gordon returned to WMU to help facilitate conversations surrounding race relations as the campus community remembered King's visit to WMU. The event began with attendees listening to an audio tape featuring excerpts from the speech that King delivered at WMU, just four months after he gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. The excerpts focused on King's acknowledgment that change was sweeping the entire world. His message of interconnectedness was clear and poignant.

Following King's powerful words, WMU President Dr. Dunn provided remarks on the significance of the day King came to WMU and introduced Ed Gordon. Using King as an example, Gordon challenged WMU students, faculty and staff with the idea that one man can make change. He shared interactions and interviews he conducted with South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, Nelson Mandela and President of the United States, Barack Obama to illustrate that change has to first start from within. Gordon stated "you can only move forward and be great when you feel greatness within yourself." Gordon closed by personally and collectively challenging participants to make their world and lives better by challenging leadership, including at WMU, to live up to its promises and to challenge self, as "challenging yourself is the hardest challenge."

For more details on Gordon's impressive career visit Incredible Interactions.