The jury trial, which is scheduled to last four days, comes as the VSU community is still grappling with the aftermath of the April 20 deaths of two VSU students who drowned trying to cross the Appomattox River as part of a social club initiation rite.

Nearly 40 witnesses have been subpoenaed to testify at the Simms trial, including a man who was initially charged in the incident. Simms faces charges of first-degree murder, malicious wounding and using a firearm in the commission of a felony in the incident on April 17, 2012.

Simms, who was 19 at the time, is accused of fatally shooting Tyrail H. Hughes, a 2012 graduate of Petersburg High School, after Hughes — waving a gun — confronted Simms and several young men with him, believing they had helped rob him of an ounce of marijuana he was selling for $425, according to testimony at Simms’ preliminary hearing last summer.

Read full article

If you are a underachiever in your studies, maybe you ought to skip college and become a plumber instead.

Well at least that is what billionaire and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg advised ‘so-so’ students to do in order to avoid expensive college fees.

@dailymailus He had me with picking up a trade instead, but then he said being a plumber is the way to go. Us ‘so-so’ students are screwed.

— The Cat (@tommymeade_) May 18, 2013

Daily Mail:

New Yorkers are used to Mayor Bloomberg trying to nanny them with laws about soda sizes and smoking but now the billionaire has taken to dishing out career advice.

Speaking on his weekly radio show on Friday, Bloomberg suggested that ‘so-so’ students might want to consider going to trade school and becoming a plumber as a better economic bet than obtaining an expensive undergraduate degree.

‘The people who are going to have the biggest problem are college graduates who aren’t rocket scientists, if you will, not at the top of their class,’ he said.

‘Compare a plumber to going to Harvard College – being a plumber, actually for the average person, probably would be a better deal.’

Now hold your horses, I know you are probably scracthing your head right now–but let’s look on the bright side: Mayor Bloomberg has a point.

Who wants to stack up on student loan debt when you can pick up a trade like plumbing?

[The average amount of student loan debt for the Class of 2011 was $26,600.]

Plus, the median expected salary for a typical plumber position in the United States is around $40,000 give or take things like location and experience, according to Salary.com.

So installing and repairing your own waste disposal system to keep the house tidy is not too shabby over having Sallie Mae as a long-term pimp after graduation, right?

Tell us your thoughts and comment below

HBCU Buzz is the Most Influential Brand in the HBCU Community, and the Leading Source of HBCU News. Like The Buzz on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Some students wore ponchos to avoid the rain today at Morehouse College. Others were just happy to graduate.

After four (five, six, etc.) years of college, students at Morehouse College had to tackle one more obstacle at graduation today: the rain.

President Barack Obama, who address the historically black college as Commencement speaker, jokingly told students the unavoidable truth.

“I also have to say you all are going to get wet,” Obama said at graduation.

“I would be out there with you if I could. But Secret Service gets nervous, so I’m going to have to stay here, dry. But know that I’m with you in spirit.”

HBCU Buzz is the Most Influential Brand in the HBCU Community, and the Leading Source of HBCU News. Like The Buzz on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

President Barack Obama at Morehouse College.

BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Barack Obama, in a soaring commencement address on work, sacrifice and opportunity, told graduates of Morehouse College Sunday to seize the power of their example as black men graduating from college and use it to improve people’s lives.

Noting the Atlanta school’s mission to cultivate, not just educate, good men, Obama said graduates should not be so eager to join the chase for wealth and material things, but instead should remember where they came from and not “take your degree and get a fancy job and nice house and nice car and never look back.”

“So yes, go get that law degree. But if you do, ask yourself if the only option is to defend the rich and powerful, or if you can also find time to defend the powerless,” Obama declared. “Sure, go get your MBA, or start that business, we need black businesses out there. But ask yourself what broader purpose your business might serve, in putting people to work, or transforming a neighborhood.”

“The most successful CEOs I know didn’t start out intent on making money – rather, they had a vision of how their product or service would change things, and the money followed,” he said.

For those headed to medical school, Obama said “make sure you heal folks in underserved communities who really need it, too.” He asked those headed to law school to think about defending the poor.

Read more here

About Morehouse:

The only all male historically black institution of higher learning in the United States, Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia.

Michelle Obama spoke to 600 graduates and thousands of family, friends and supporters at Bowie State University in Maryland on Friday.

FOTUS Obama reminded students in her 21-minute address of struggles blacks faced in the past and the importance of personal responsibility.

“Today, more than 150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, more than 50 years after the end of Separate But Equal, when it comes to getting an education too many of our young people just can’t be bothered,” she said.

“Today instead of walking miles every day to school they’re sitting on couches for hours playing video games, watching TV instead of dreaming of being a teacher or lawyer or business leader they’re fantasizing about being a baller or a rapper.”

HBCU Buzz is the Most Influential Brand in the HBCU Community, and the Leading Source of HBCU News. Like The Buzz on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Did you vote for your HBCU campus queen for a chance to be featured in the September issue of Ebony magazine?

Have you voted for your favorite HBCU Campus Queen yet? You can vote more than once. Click to see the queens: bit.ly/13G3IA8 #HBCU

— EBONY (@EBONYMag) May 16, 2013

The Ebony Campus Queens program honors young women who are role models on and off campus, inspires others to be extraordinary at their work, and embraces their individual beauty–letting the world know black girls rock.

If you want to see you HBCU campus queen win, you have to put in the work, too. The top 10 winners will be this year’s Ebony queens.

(Take a look at past year winners.)

Click here to view and find out more information on the contenders.

HBCU Buzz is the Most Influential Brand in the HBCU Community, and the Leading Source of HBCU News. Like The Buzz on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Dr. Dre along with longtime friend and business partner Jimmy lovine have donated $70 million to create a new institute at the University of Southern California, according to school officials on Tuesday night.

The Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation will enroll 25 students in the fall of 2014, giving students access to “cutting-edge technology and machinery for the purpose of envisioning and rendering new products, new technologies, art forms and modes, or models, of doing business.”

The Hip-hop mogul, who originally found fame with rap group N.W.A. and his 1992 solo debut The Chronic, is featured in articles like the USA Today and The Los Angeles Times for his good deed, but that is not stopping critics in the black community to speak out.

“Gotta [sic] process this,” said Dillard University President Walter M. Kimbrough, better known as ‘Hip Hop Prez’ on social meida, after discovering the news of the business deal.

“@wpjenna: Dr. Dre & producer Jimmy Iovine donate $70 million to @usc to create a new degree. nyti.ms/14mgt2w”– gotta process this

— Walter M. Kimbrough (@HipHopPrez) May 15, 2013

Rapper Scarface took to Twitter and told followers “HBCU’s could have really used some of that $70 million,” after also commenting on O.J. Simpson attempt to seek retrial. “I’m just saying,” Scarface added using the # symbol.

One other Twitter user said Let’s be forreal do you honestly think Dr. Dre would give $70 million to a HBCU?

But honestly, with USC’s already $3.3-billion endowment, it is hard not to scratch your head on why Dre invested so much money to a predominately white institutions over a historically black one.

Tell us what you think and comment below.

Follow Tommy Meade on Twitter @tommymeade_

HBCU Buzz is the Most Influential Brand in the HBCU Community, and the Leading Source of HBCU News. Like The Buzz on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

This program, now in its fourth year, provides aid to help historically black colleges and universities upgrade their campuses and facilities. This year, 14 black colleges and universities received a total of $195,000 in grant money. A total of 67 schools participated.

The grand-prize winner is Hunstville, Alabama-based Oakwood University, taking home a $50,000 Tier I grant. The funds will go toward the construction of an outdoor recreational facility, complete with kitchen appliances, fireplaces, and a grill. The school will also use grant funds to cover the costs of installing sprinkler systems for their softball and football fields, as well as re-seeding the fields. Another top winner in this year’s competition, Texas-based Knoxville College, received a $25,000 Campus Pride Grant.

Joy and surprise are two words that best sum up how many in the Oakwood community felt when they received the good news.

“When my cousin called me and said we won, I said “‘you’re joking!’” exclaims Lucy Cort, Oakwood’s proposal development specialist. Cort worked tirelessly to develop the grant proposal that won the top prize.

Last year’s grand prize went to Lincoln University of Pennsylvania. The school used the Tier I Grant of $50,000 to renovate the entryway of Lincoln Hall.

Read more here

Charles Ramsey, a local dishwasher in Cleveland, Ohio who helped rescue three woman and a girl from captivity, once attended Central State University for one semester in the fall of 1989.

According to University officials, Ramsey is said to have taken classes like health, mathematics and student orientation as a freshman student at Central State in 1989.

“The university applauds Mr. Ramsey for his courageous efforts to save those young women,” Central State spokeswoman Dr. Gayle Barge said Monday.

Ramsey has since turned into an internet meme after his original account of how he saved the women reached 7 million views on YouTube.

“They keep saying I’m a hero,” said Ramsey when he spoke to Cleveland’s NBC affiliate Tuesday. “Let me tell you something — I’m an American, and I’m a human being.”

“I’m just like you. I work for a living. There was a woman in distress, so why turn your back on that?”

HBCU Buzz is the Most Influential Brand in the HBCU Community, and the Leading Source of HBCU News. Like The Buzz on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Last Monday Arvinger was busy replying to mentions on his Twitter account where news that mtvU and SALT, a free resource that helps college students and recent alumni take charge of their finances, payed off his debt and got him back to school.

There was a snafu plot before this random act of kindness however. Arvinger owed Howard $14,000 and was placed in a muddled situation that temporarily halted his college education.

Determined not to fall through the cracks, Arvinger worked at Kay Jewelers, coached JV basketball at his old high school and started fundraising by asking “4,000 people to contribute $4” to help him raise money for tuition.

#RandomActs today: @usherraymondiv & @realsway surprised the lucky & deserving Howard U student @arvingerc >> ow.ly/kLgey

— mtvU (@mtvU) May 6, 2013

“It wasn’t easy,” Arvinger said on his campaign website 4For1400 about reaching his goal to return back to school.

With a father absent at home Arvinger said his mother taught him and his sister, who also attends college, how to be a fighter and to never give up.

“I owe my mom everything. My mom is my number one supporter,” said Arvinger on his mother Miriam Arvinger. “Growing up in a single parent home she was all I had. I don’t know what I would do without her. She’s amazing.”

Arvinger said he and his mother did not get approve for a loan that ultimately forced him out of school. Arvinger maybe one of many students who had to abandon school because of a PLUS loan problem on HBCU campuses across the nation last year.

But with a sense of confidence on his future Arvinger said he is just happy to be back at “The Best HBCU” Howard.

“Don’t give up. Anything you want to do in life you can do and with God in your corner there is nothing you can’t do,” Arvinger said as advice to other students in similar situations. “All things are possible. Don’t wait for people to help you.”

Click here to watch Corey Arvinger mtvU video

HBCU Buzz is the Most Influential Brand in the HBCU Community, and the Leading Source of HBCU News. Like The Buzz on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Former President Bill Clinton delivered the Commencement address at Howard University on the Upper Quadrangle of the main campus just hours ago.

“Try to do something that will make you happy,” Clinton said to hundreds of graduates from the historically black university.

Bill Clinton gave a great message at Howard’s graduation today!

— g · n i u s (@visualg_nius) May 11, 2013

“What you are able to take responsibility for, do it,” said Kristie Bronner.

The Bronner Sisters, identical twins Kirstie and Kristie Bronner, have been named co-valedictorians for the Spelman College Class of 2013. With a 4.0 GPA, the Bronners are the first twins to receive the designation in the history of Spelman.

“Being co-valedictorians of our class is very exciting and a blessing for us,” said Kirstie.

Following graduation, Kristie and Kirstie, both music majors, say they plan to join the youth ministry at Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral in Atlanta, pastored by their father Bishop Dale Bronner. In between directing youth events and counseling in the music department, they look forward to recording a contemporary Christian CD. On the heels of the CD, they want to pen a book offering advice to high school students about achieving academic success in college and beyond.

The Bronners attribute their academic achievement to a disciplined study routine, time management and their faith.

“We maximized our study time,” said Kirstie. “People would ask us ‘do you want to go do this or that on a weekday’ and the response was an automatic ‘no.’ We saved recreation for the weekend. Our philosophy was and is, pay now and play later.”

Read more here

Benjamin is the United States Surgeon General and a medical trailblazer with accolades like the first physician under age 40 and the first African-American woman to be elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees in 1995.

“As an accomplished medical professional whose top concern is the health and wellness of the nation and American citizens abroad, Dr. Benjamin is an exemplary role model for Spelman students,” said Spelman President Beverly Daniel Tatum. “Her passion and persistence in providing health care to those without access is inspiring, and so consistent with the values of Spelman College. We are delighted that she will address the graduating class as they go out into the world to pursue their own passions, and become the thought leaders and change agents they have been educated to become.”

Read more here

HBCU Buzz is the Most Influential Brand in the HBCU Community, and the Leading Source of HBCU News. Like The Buzz on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Malone has been apart of TSU chapter of TEA since she first started classes at the University.

Q: What’s the most important task you want to accomplish as president?

A: The single most important task I would like to accomplish during my time as president is to get all education students to realize the importance of being a member of their pre-professional organization. The Student Tennessee Education Association not only gives vital information and professional for each member, but they also have great member benefits that many students don’t take advantage of. I want to stress the importance of joining and remaining a member after you leave your prospective university.

Q: What are you preparing to do before you assume your new role July 1st?

A: As of now I’m taking in as much information about the organization as possible. I will be the go to person for each student member when they have any questions, concerns, or simply want to talk. I want to make sure that I’m on top of everything I need to know so that I can be of assistance to them when they need me.

Q: What’s the impetus of your passion for teaching History?

A: My love for History stemmed from the great teachers I had throughout high school and my professors here at Tennessee State University. I have known for as long as I can remember that I wanted to teach, but I was never sure of the subject. When my love for History began to grow I decided that I want to give to my students the passion that my teachers had given to me.

Q: What has been the most difficult task for you as a college student?

A: The single most difficult task for me has been passing classes! I’m kidding, honestly the hardest thing I have had to deal with as a college student is remaining focused on what I’m doing, why I’m doing it, and who I’m doing it for. In May of 2014 I will become the first college graduate in my immediate family.

Although my family never put the stress there, I often overworked myself because I want to make them proud and set a good example for my younger family members. I soon realized that trying to carry the load of my entire family was impossible. I also realized that the stress was unnecessary because my family would be proud of me no matter where I decided to go in life.

HBCU Buzz is the Most Influential Brand in the HBCU Community, and the Leading Source of HBCU News. Like The Buzz on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

When asked what’s the game plan for the upcoming season, Coach Odums replied

@tommymeade_ WIN #GOJAGS

— Coach Dawson Odums (@Coach_Odums) May 8, 2013

But before the first-year Head Coach ”Claim the State” of Louisiana, he will kick-off the year by leading in another sport.

Coach Odums will host his first annual golf tournament Saturday on June 22 at the Copper Mill Golf Club in  Zachary, LA.

Tickets for the one-day event is $85 for singles and $500 for one-team foursomes.

For donations and sponsorships to the Golf Classic, contact Craig Pierre at 225-324-7234 or via email at craigpierre@bellsouth.net.

All proceeds from the event will be used to support the Southern University Jaguars Football program.

You can follow Coach Odums on Twitter @Coach_Odums

HBCU Buzz is the Most Influential Brand in the HBCU Community, and the Leading Source of HBCU News. Like The Buzz on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The total amount of graduates this year doubles the amount of nine the football team had last year.

After a .500 season during its 2012-2013 football schedule, the Virginia Union Panthers hope to have better overall success  this year when the team kick-off its opening season game against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Sept. 9 at Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fl.

For more information on the graduates click here

Former Human Resources Director files lawsuit against Howard University for discrimination.

Former Howard University Vice President for Human Resources James Jones referred himself and others as “H.N.I.C.,” or “Head Nigger in Charge” and now he and the university faces a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit, according to the Washington City Paper.

Jeannette Frett worked under Jones during his stay at the university and said he repeatedly used the expression in 2011 to “emphasize his authority and discourage any challenge to his actions and directives.”

“Historically, people who have referred to themselves as the “Head Nigger in Charge” have not taken kindly to anyone who they believe is challenging their authority, especially if it is a woman,” Frett said, who is suing Jones and Howard for discrimination and back pay after being fired soon after she reported fraud, waste and abuse by the Human Resources Office at Howard University.

“At Howard University, different rules, standards, and codes of conduct were applied to female employees and dark-skinned African-Americans like Ms. Frett,” said attorney Sharon Eubanks, partner at Edwards and Eubanks, LLC.

“The actions directed at Ms. Frett were far more severe than a breach of standards of professional behavior, they overtly constitute unlawful discrimination. Mr. Jones also created an environment of fear and silence, where any employee who exercised her rights by complaining about discrimination was certain to meet retaliation by Mr. Jones.”

Read more here

For three years Joshua Williams was a homeless student but now a proud Bethune-Cookman University graduate.

As the lights went out and his fellow students settled into their dorms, Joshua Williams would store two duffel bags of belongings in a friend’s room and disappear into the darkness.

He would leave the secure surroundings of the Bethune-Cookman University campus and head across the International Speedway Boulevard bridge and walk, sometimes all night. In the early morning hours, he would sneak into the lobby at the Bronson Hall dorm and sleep a few hours on a couch as if he lived there.

“I would go down to the beach sometimes,” he recalled. “Sometimes I would just take any direction and get lost and try to find my way back — I would just walk.”

Williams, 23, who is graduating Saturday with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, was homeless for most of his first three years at the school but too proud to tell anyone.

But just like on his nightly walks, he always found his way. He survived on handouts, slept in empty trucks or on a couch at the apartments of classmates who thought he just didn’t want to go home after a late-night study session.

Remembering the poverty, drug dealers and random shootings he’d seen growing up near Miami, he knew he was on the right path. At school, he would find family, a sense of purpose and even win the title of Mr. Bethune-Cookman University and become the first student to organize a scholarship — but first he had to find a place to sleep.

Read more here