Alumna Ida McGhee, ’78, shared with us her fond recollections of her days at Southern, the enduring friendships she made here, and the legacy she and her dear friends left behind after graduation. Her reminiscence offers us a snapshot of an important piece of Southern’s history. In tribute to Black History Month and Women’s History Month, as well as in celebration of the lasting connections made within the Southern community, we present Ms. McGhee’s story.
My fondest memories of Southern Connecticut State College, SCSU, were during my freshman orientation in August 1974. It was at an evening social event that I met my forever friend Janice Daniel, ’77. I of course was very shy. I do not recall who spoke first, Janice or myself. I only know that we bonded immediately. Janice had transferred to SCSC from a college in Bridgeport and I think she was at the orientation being a new SCSC student.
After graduating from Southern, Janice taught school in Stamford and years later relocated to Lehigh Acre, Florida, where she taught special education at a high school until her passing on September 24, 2019. I would often visit Janice and her family throughout the years in Florida, or if she were back up north visiting family, we would always meet for lunch, often with some of the other classmates at Jimmies of Savin Rock in West Haven, which recently closed. Janice and I talked every weekend to catch up on the family, work and later the progression of her illness. I will forever be grateful for our last Caribbean cruise that January of 2019. We never missed a beat, and I remained by her bedside during the last few days of her life as we laughed and hugged. I returned to Rhode Island on Sunday evening, September 22nd and she passed early Tuesday morning, the 24th.
Janice and I, along with several other African American female students at Southern were founding members of LeQUAYS. LeQUAYS was an interest group that later became a city-wide undergraduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. AKA was the first African American sorority or fraternity on Southern’s campus. Both Janice and I graduated before AKA was chartered in 1984, but we along with approximately twelve other Black Southern female students made history. The city chapter is still going strong in New Haven. Xi Omicron Chapter was chartered on April 7, 1984, and is the New Haven City Chapter of Quinnipiac University, University of New Haven, Albertus Magnus College, Yale University and Southern Connecticut State University, LeQUAYS.
LeQUAYS had many fund raisers and much support from Southern’s Black Student Union and Mr. James Barber. Any student of color attending SCSC during the 1975-1978 period can tell you about the sold-out parties that we had. I believe many were held in Wilkinson Hall basement.
LeQUAYS founding members Cinda Cleckley (Parker), ’79, and Doreen Edwards, I do not recall their graduation dates, have also passed. Cinda on August 27, 2010, and Doreen on October 26, 2018.
Although my forever friend Janice is no longer with me, she will forever be engraved in my memory whenever I think of my years at Southern. Today I still remain friends with former LeQUAYS, Deborah Smith, Yolanda Greene, and Elaine Lammie, I believe all in the class of ‘79.
Until my retirement and relocation to Rhode Island, the four of us would meet monthly, a round robin, in our homes for several decades over dinner and cocktails. We continue to reach out via social media with other former LeQUAYS and graduates of SCSU, Cynthia Bobo, Valerie Carr, Diane Forbes and Lois Peele.
Lasting friendship for over 50 years all because of Southern Connecticut State University.
Happily submitted,
Ida D. McGhee, ’78
