Photo and story by Kiera Jones / Contributing Writer
On Wednesday, the Collegiate 100 Black Men of MTSU sponsored their first book drive for children with autism in honor of their Collegiate Week outside of the Student Union Building. The Collegiate introduced their new interns for spring 2018 with a week dedicated to giving.
Collegiate 100 is a mentoring organization that services high schools and middle schools in the Murfreesboro area. Collegiate 100 members attempt to mentor and become role models to young adults and boys. After inducting new members to the organization, the organization decided to hold a Collegiate Week, focusing completely on giving back to the community.
On Wednesday, MTSU students were given the opportunity to donate books to autistic children through the drive. According to Collegiate 100 Vice President Markthony Sanders, autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the U.S. He also stated that boys are five times more likely to have autism than girls.
“I think this book drive is very good for the community because autistic children need books just as well as any other child who is trying to expand their education,” said Keely Butigan, an MTSU sophomore who attended the book drive.
Although Collegiate 100 did not get as many books as they planned, they made sure to give any student passing the Student Union Building entrance a fact about how important reading is to an autistic child’s future.
“We are looking to give back to the community,” said Kobey Frayser, an MTSU freshman majoring in business management and one of the new members of Collegiate 100. “Especially to those with autism, we know that reading is the first step to building better character to children with that disability.”
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I believe it is incredible to see people doing their part in their community to help the young people in the community especially when they are helping the children in the autism community. The percentage of children with autism has risen significantly. Many people treat autism as if it is the plague, they don’t understand it and they don’t want to in most cases. Many people don’t understand that autism is a spectrum and many people have it and are treated awfully. Some people with autism are socially inept, cannot talk, read, write, these men that are getting books to these children are wonderful. Most people with autism have specific interests and hold onto that. Books are a way for many people to slip into their own worlds and fantasies, this is wonderful for these children. It gives them a chance to have freedom and un when sometimes that is not an option. It helps them expand their education like all children have the right to do. It is exiting to see these men opening their arms to a community that needs it and to children that need it.