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The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

The student news site of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.

The Daily Eastern News

Cam'ron Hardy

COLUMN: Lack of representation on the Miss Black EIU judging panel

Cam'ron Hardy, News Editor February 27, 2024

While attending the 2024 Miss Black EIU pageant, I quickly realized that majority of the judges were white. I found this to be both concerning and confusing. This pageant is a way for Black women to...

"Shades of an Ebony Queen " Miss Black EIU scholarship pageant 2024 newly crowned Rafiat Yarrow, a senior political science major, at the Grand ballroom Martin Luther King JR Union on Saturday evening, Feb. 24, 2024, taking her first walk as Miss Black EIU 2024

Yarrow named Miss Black EIU 2024

Cam'ron Hardy, News Editor February 25, 2024

Rafiat Yarrow, a senior political science major, was named Miss Black EIU 2024.  After a year off, the Miss Black EIU returned Saturday night with three contestants: Destinee Patterson, junior secondary...

A poster of all three contestants of all three Miss Black EIU Pageant contestants Thursday in the Grand Ballroom.

Miss Black EIU to return after a year off

Cam'ron Hardy, News Editor February 23, 2024

The 51st Miss Black EIU pageant returns Feb. 24 after being canceled last year due to a lack of participation.   This year’s pageant consists of three contestants: Destinee Patterson, junior secondary...

Jaedah Franks, a sophomore biology major, wins Miss Black EIU 2022 at the celebration of the 50th Anniversary Scholarship Pageant on Saturday night.

Meet the 50th Miss Black EIU Jaedah Franks

Chandler Smith, Reporter February 1, 2023

Miss Black EIU has been around for five decades and is one of the most important celebrations for Black students that are recognizing African American Heritage month at Eastern. Jaedah Franks, the 2022...

Jaedah Franks, a sophomore biological sciences major, is congratulated by Yolanda Williams after being crowned Miss Black EIU 2022 on Saturday in the Grand Ballroom.

Annual Miss Black EIU pageant to be canceled

Cam'ron Hardy, News Editor January 25, 2023

For the first time in 50 years, the Miss Black EIU Scholarship Pageant will be canceled. The Black Student Union has been the sponsor of The Miss Black EIU Scholarship Pageant for over five decades,...

First Miss Black EIU reflects on her legacy

First Miss Black EIU reflects on her legacy

Corryn Brock, Editor-in-Chief March 22, 2022

More than fifty years ago, Debbie Minter Jackson left her mark at Eastern by being crowned the first Miss Black EIU. A sophomore English major at the time, she said she was unaware of the long-lasting...

EDITORIAL: No one needs a Miss White EIU

EDITORIAL: No one needs a Miss White EIU

Editorial Staff March 3, 2022

This month, Eastern celebrated the 50th anniversary of Miss Black EIU, a scholarship pageant meant to uplift and empower Black women in Eastern’s student body. The pageant came at a time in Eastern’s...

The Student Government executive board and speaker of the senate listen to Don Holly, a professor of anthropology, explain his idea to change Eastern's grading point system to a +/- grading point system at Wednesday's meeting.

Student Senate recognizes Miss Black EIU contestants

Madelyn Kidd, News Editor March 2, 2022

The Student Senate approved the Senate Resolution 21-22-01 by a vote of 19-0 to recognize the five Miss Black EIU contestants, which includes one of their own senators, at Wednesday’s meeting. The...

Students to compete in Miss Black EIU pageant

Megan Thompson, Contributing Writer February 28, 2020

The Black Student Union will sponsor the 49th Annual Miss Black EIU Scholarship Pageant on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. Since 1971, the pageant...

Tess McArthy, University Board coordinator, adresses Student Senate about applying for a University Board position Wednesday night in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Senate tables vote to form Judicial Research Committee

Logan Raschke, News Editor February 27, 2019

Student Senate voted to table bill 18-19-07, which would approve the formation of a Judicial Research Committee, to next week’s hearing. Senators also voted to approve resolution 18-19-07, which serves...

Miss Black EIU rings in 48th year Saturday

Hannah Shillo, Entertainment Reporter February 21, 2019

The 48th annual Miss Black EIU scholarship pageant is showcasing some of the hard-working young African-American women of Eastern at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr....

Maxie Phillips (left), a junior English major and the second runner-up for Miss Black EIU, Raven Gant (middle), a junior biological sciences major and winner of Miss Black EIU and Rajah Matthews (right), a sophomore kinesiology and sports studies major and the first runner-up for Miss Black EIU, pose after Gant was crowned Saturday night in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. After being crowned Miss Black EIU, Gant said she surprised herself with what she was able to accomplish. “Me and all my sisters, we worked very hard. We stuck together through the entire process,” she said. “I’m happy for each and every one of these girls, I know we all put in the effort. It’s just a great experience.”

Junior crowned as Miss Black EIU 2018

Cassie Buchman, Editor and Chief February 25, 2018

Bullied as a child for her race, Raven Gant, a junior biological sciences major, overcame this challenge to embrace her heritage and become 2018’s Miss Black EIU Saturday night. Six contestants competed...

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