Monday, August 27, 2001

Freedom Forum announces new scholarships for students of color at Vanderbilt University

Scholarships honor John Seigenthaler, founder of First Amendment Center

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Freedom Forum board of trustees has approved a $2 million gift to Vanderbilt University to create an ongoing, four-year scholarship program for students of color.

The scholarship honors John Seigenthaler, founder of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt and a nationally recognized journalist and advocate for civil rights. The scholarship recipients will be known as Seigenthaler Scholars.

"The Seigenthaler Scholars are a perfect legacy of John Seigenthaler's lifelong crusade to make our cultural diversity something treasured — instead of resisted — in America," said Charles L. Overby, chairman and chief executive officer of The Freedom Forum. "This program is part of The Freedom Forum's commitment to diversity, which John exemplifies. Our country is a better place for his passionate commitment to equality, civil rights and the First Amendment."

The gift will be used to create an endowment to support the awarding of one Seigenthaler Scholarship to an entering freshman each year. An independent committee will choose scholarship recipients. Scholars will receive full tuition for four years at Vanderbilt and participate in an internship at The Freedom Forum or First Amendment Center.

"Vanderbilt University welcomes the Seigenthaler Scholars program and is grateful to The Freedom Forum for its generosity in creating an initiative that so fittingly and appropriately honors John Seigenthaler, whose tireless efforts to promote diversity — in all forms — have made this country better," said Vanderbilt Chancellor Gordon Gee. "Vanderbilt is proud of its association with John, the First Amendment Center and The Freedom Forum, and we will carry out the Seigenthaler Scholars Program with great care, attention and pride."

The announcement comes one month before The Freedom Forum begins moving its administrative staff and headquarters to a new facility on the Vanderbilt campus. Seigenthaler provided the impetus 10 years ago to create and build the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt.

"For a decade, Vanderbilt has been the ideal home for the First Amendment Center," Seigenthaler said. "Now it will be the ideal venue for the location of The Freedom Forum headquarters and The Freedom Forum Institute for Newsroom Diversity. My hope is that the presence of the Seigenthaler Scholars will enrich the life of the campus, the center and the institute."

Seigenthaler is a trustee of The Freedom Forum. A former president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, he served for 43 years as a journalist for The Tennessean. In 1982 Seigenthaler became founding editorial director of USA TODAY and held that position for a decade, retiring from both newspapers in 1991. At his retirement, he was editor, publisher and chief executive officer of The Tennessean, and he retains the title of chairman emeritus.

In the 1960s, he served as administrative assistant to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. His work at the U.S. Justice Department on civil rights led to his service as chief negotiator with the governor of Alabama during the Freedom Rides. During that crisis, while attempting to aid freedom riders, he was attacked by a group of Ku Klux Klansmen.

Seigenthaler hosts a weekly book-review program, "A Word on Words," which is distributed through the Southern Public Television Network. A chair in First Amendment Studies has been endowed in his name for $1.5 million at Middle Tennessee State University.

Vanderbilt University is a private research university of approximately 5,900 undergraduates and 4,300 graduate and professional students. Founded in 1873, the university comprises 10 schools, a public policy institute, a distinguished medical center and the First Amendment Center. Vanderbilt offers undergraduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences, education and human development, engineering and music and a full range of graduate and professional degrees.

Media contacts:
Gene Policinski, First Amendment Center, Nashville, 615/342-0328
Donna Fowler, Freedom Forum, Arlington, Va., 703/284-2887
Beth Fortune, Vanderbilt University, 615/322-4234