Kansas State Alphas host ninth annual Alpha Lecture Series featuring Rev Run
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Kappa Tau Chapter, held its 9th annual Alpha Lecture Series last night, featuring reality show star and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons.
Joseph Simmons is an accomplished music artist. His group Run DMC was one of the biggest acts in hip-hop throughout the 80’s, credited with breaking hip-hop into mainstream music.
With the presence of God in his life, Simmons transformed his rap, superstar image into a positive role model for families, fellow rappers and young people. His hit reality show on MTV “Run’s House” shows a house full of love and communication, which Simmons said is meant to encourage and inspire.
“Bragging and boasting was my style,” said Simmons. That lifestyle became empty to Simmons, he said, so he started going to church and found that spirituality offered the peace and comfort he needed to balance out his life.
The lecture was presented in a different format, staring out with an interview and ending with a question-and-answer segment. During the interview Rev Run answered questions about about his career, family, and life experiences.
Jeremy James, President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, said Alpha Phi Alpha chooses to feature people in their lecture series whom students know and respect and who will be inspirational and motivational to them. Vice President of Alpha, Bronson Blackwell, said Rev Run spoke on good principles and morals and gave students many words of wisdom.
During the question-and-answer segment, students got the chance to ask questions or seek advice directly from Rev Run. One student even got Rev Run
to freestyle,
Edward Bohannan, a sophmore in journalism and mass communcitaions, said he attended the lecture because Rev Run is a prominment hip-hop artist and his words of wisdom are insightful. He enjoyed the q&a segment the most because it gave students the ability to talk to Rev Run. And he “spat a nice freestyle”, said Bohannon.
At the end of the night Alpha Phi Alpha members presented Rev Run with an Alpha Excellence Award for his contrubution to hip-hop music and his dedication to empowering youth, families, and fans.
Simmons stayed afterward for pictures and autographs.
“Sometimes when you think you know it all, you miss out on blessings, so be open to new ideas” said Simmons.
Alpha Phi Alpha features speakers every year for their lecture series.
