ATLANTA, November 20, 2002 - Morehouse College President Walter E. Massey announced today the formation of a Blue Ribbon Panel to advise the College on strategies to accelerate its efforts to promote a campus environment that is free of harassment and homophobia, and that values diversity, including differences in sexual orientation.

Among the local and national experts who will help the College in these efforts are Peter Gomes, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church at Harvard University, Paul Burgett, vice president, general secretary and senior advisor to the president at the University of Rochester, and Caryn McTighe Musil, vice president of diversity, equity and global initiatives at the Association of American Colleges and Universities.

“I am committed to fostering an environment at Morehouse where no act of violence – regardless of its motivation – is tolerated,” said Massey. “The College will devote the high level of resources this issue deserves. This panel is just one example of our ongoing efforts to openly and honestly address issues of homophobia and promote tolerance and appreciation of differences at Morehouse.”

Massey went on to say that by making these efforts, the College is adhering to its long-standing institutional values, which include civility, community, compassion and respect for diversity in all its manifestations.

The College also has named an internal Task Force on Diversity and Tolerance, which will coordinate new campus initiatives related to tolerance, harassment, anger management and diversity. Chaired by Walter E. Fluker, executive director of the Leadership Center at Morehouse College and an expert in the area of ethical leadership, this group will be comprised of students, faculty and staff, as well as alumnus George Roberts, director of Communities of Color for HIV/AIDS at the Centers for Disease Control.

Ranked the number one college in the nation for educating African American students by Black Enterprise magazine, Morehouse College is the nation’s largest, private liberal arts college for men. Founded in 1867, the College enrolls approximately 3,000 students and confers bachelor’s degrees on more black men than any other institution in the worldMorehouse is the only Historically Black College or University to produce two Rhodes Scholars, Nima A. Warfield, who was the first African-American Rhodes Scholar from Historically Black College or University, and Christopher Elders who received the honor in 2001.

Prominent alumni include Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Peace Prize laureate and civil rights leader; Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General and director of the National Center for Primary Care at the Morehouse School of Medicine; Sheldon “Spike” Lee, filmmaker and president of 40 Acres & A Mule Productions; Maynard H. Jackson, president of Jackson Securities and the first African-American mayor of Atlanta.