Goodwin said staying at SIUC for grad school is convenient, and he feels there is a need for him here.

We live in a time full of social turmoil, and I feel that aside from academic education, there is a life education many young people need and it goes beyond the classroom, Goodwin said.

When we look at history and the holy books, we can see these things have been going on for a long time, and it has always been the elders that bring the community together, Goodwin said. I don’t see any time better than now (to return to that tradition), and what better place to do it than on a college campus.

Advertisement

Barton Taylor, a senior in law enforcement from Chicago, said he has a teacher-student relationship with Goodwin.

I like his love for his people, Taylor said. He is the type of person you seek advice from or someone you can go to to recall history because he has lived it.

Goodwin said there are administrators and professors on this campus who offer themselves to students, and he works with them to keep himself available to students who need to talk.

As long as these students, my young friends, want to see me as Pops and come to me for advice, I will make myself available, Goodwin said.

Goodwin said he sees many needs that should be addressed with people in general, and he has found that a number of students want what he has to offer.

I offer a reflection of the spirit of my generation people helping people, like Martin L. King, Jr., John F. Kennedy and Malcom X, he said.

Besides serving as a father figure to students Goodwin has five children of his own, plus three stepchildren, and four grandchildren.

Advertisement*

I feel fortunate to have children who help me maintain a pulse on today’s generation, he said. I am a product of yesterday, and they are a product of today.

Goodwin is special programs grad assistant for the Student Programming Council.

Joanne Yantis, University Programming coordinator, said Goodwin is genuine and cares about bringing creative programs to students.

Lynn offers a different approach to our office. He is wonderful to work with, Yantis said. Because he does spend time with students he can bring them the type of programs they want and need. We are here to serve the students.

Goodwin also serves as vice president of the Black Undergraduate Student Association, second vice president for the National Advancement Association for Color People (NAACP), tutor, mentor for the center of basic skills and an HIV/AIDS educator for the American Red Cross.

Goodwin said he has always wanted to love and protect people because we are all God’s children.

No matter how little I had, I always felt fortunate and wanted to share with others, he said. I feel a strong commitment to helping others as much as possible.