A Celebration of the Life and Spirit of
Sheryl Y. George-McAlpine, C'80
founder of the United Minorities Council
Sheryl George-McAlpine left a lasting legacy at the University of Pennsylvania.
Her four years here, in many ways, serves as a model for all students, but in particular for students of color.
When Sheryl arrived at Penn, she encountered apathy and political indifference in the Black community and even in the Black Student League, which previously had a reputation for political activism.
Instead of complaining about the lack of motivation, Sheryl ran during her sophomore year and was elected President of the BSL.
She could not possibly know that her role would catapult her to the center of one of the most significant student demonstrations in Penn's history.
After a large, predominantly white student demonstration took place at College Hall, March 3, 1978, she seized the opportunity to get involved and turned it into a struggle for change at Penn.
Despite being marginalized as a Black woman, she led the BSL to another demonstration strategically placed at the financial hub of campus, the Franklin Building.
After a University Trustee told her that her voice was irrelevant because she did not represent all minorities, she assembled the United Minorities Council in one night and calmly said the next day at the meeting, "I am the President of the BSL and the President of the United Minorities Council! I do represent minority students!"
Her intelligence and courage prevailed and through her leadership and that of other students, major initiatives such as funding for the Minority Permanence Fund, the Department of Academic and Support Services, and the Greenfield Intercultural Center were won.
Despite these strides, sexism again assailed her plight as a leader.
This time it came from Black male students.
Her character was slandered and her re-election as the President of the BSL in 1978 was forfeited.
Forced to run again, she lost the second time.
This internal attack from the Black community for whom she advocated for deeply pained her, but nevertheless, she still fought on.
Sheryl became a successful businesswoman and alum of the University of Pennsylvania.
Her life, especially as a Penn student, is a prime example of what we can achieve if we have courage, compassion, and an understanding of who we are.
We celebrate her life today because she embodied the best of what humanity stands for.