Back in 1969, only five short years after the passage of the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Original Ogres started their freshmen year at Hampton Institute.  Honoring the body of work produced by Walter Allen in his description of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, our class was called to “preserve a culture, prosper a community, equip a new generation of leaders, and model what is best in America.”  We did not realize our calling at that moment, but we were enthusiastic freshmen with futuristic dreams determined to build tomorrow ~ today, when we immediately fell in love with each other and with our HI.  Sharing a vision that would expand equality, we represented an unrelenting group of critical thinkers daring to become jurists, educators, scientists, politicians, entrepreneurs, and more. As such, why did the Hampton upperclassmen think that we would stand on the steps of Ogden Hall, wear those silly beanies like preschoolers, and sing an unfamiliar song?  Our quest for change started that very moment; we challenged those false expectations/norms. We arrived on the coveted campus of Hampton Institute to actualize its Education for Life philosophy, not to be hazed or otherwise intimidated.  As such, our landmark refusal to comply with those unreasonable traditions, eradicated the practice of belittling and otherwise humiliating freshmen. Ensuing classes were no longer subjected to the beanies, inspections, and/or singing the song.  The birth of Ogre Phi Ogre was personified because of the lack of tolerance for inequality, unfairness or oppression of any kind, even when perpetrated by our own people.