Written by Marley Bickley ’22

Trinity Williams, a junior political science major, is founder and president of the newly formed National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter on campus. She first gained experience working with the NAACP over the summer, and was instantly inspired.

“Working with the Greenville branch of the NAACP this past summer inspired me to start a chapter on campus,” Williams said.

“During my internship, the Greenville branch invited me to a racial forum they hosted with WYFF News 4 and the Greenville Mayor. I was able to see the change they helped implement in the community, and I wanted to be able to have an impact on the community as well, especially at PC.”

The chapter on campus has gained many members since its beginning, currently having 36 active members and 54 potential members. The chapter is waiting to be officially chartered under both the state and national branches. Then they will be able to expand and add more members to their chapter and continue recruiting.

Encouraging Diversity on Campus and in the Community

“I believe this chapter will be very helpful to the PC community and the community surrounding PC,” Williams said. “There are not many organizations on campus that are consistently involved with the minority communities outside of PC’s campus. I hope the chapter will be able to be more hands-on with minority communities surrounding the campus through outreach and community service.”

The chapter’s work toward these goals this year have included working with student voter registration, the Laurens NAACP Branch, and the Greenville County League of Women Voters. The chapter also involved the Greek community through a fundraiser fair that provided educational information to fraternities and sororities about the importance of the NAACP and what all the organization stands for, as well as a campus-wide march against racial inequality.

“Overall, I believe having this chapter on campus will educate students while also allowing students to work with people outside of campus,” Williams said. “It will expose students to different cultures and different opportunities.”

Learn More

The student chapter of the NAACP is one of many student organizations on campus. With more than 60 clubs and organizations, you’re sure to find plenty of opportunities to get involved at PC.

About the Author

Marley Bickley ’22 is a junior English communications studies and history double major from Lexington, S.C. Marley was one of only five PC students selected as a Russell Paid Intern for the 2020-2021 academic year. Also a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, the Stirlings program, and a tutor in the Writing Center on campus, Marley plans to pursue a career in journalism after she graduates from PC.