Kamala Harris says President Trump put the “criminal” in criminal justice reform.
The Democratic presidential candidate hit Trump with a zinger as the two traded barbs a day after he made a controversial speech to a handpicked audience at a historically black college in South Carolina.
“The only part of criminal justice you can claim credit for is the ‘criminal’ part,” Harris tweeted at Trump.
Trump earlier took a jab at Harris, whom he branded as a “badly failing presidential candidate,” for skipping an event at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C., which rolled out the red carpet for Trump the day before.
Just a handful of black students were allowed into the event, where most of the seats were taken by black Republican Trump backers. Polls say Trump has the support of less than 10% of black voters.
Harris, who attended Howard University and is a champion of historically black colleges and universities, says she will hold her own criminal justice event because she doesn’t want to “paper over” Trump’s misdeeds.
Finding herself in Trump’s crosshairs may give a much-needed boost to her primary campaign. She is struggling mightily in recent Democratic polls.
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) Educational opportunities are growing in Clarksville-Montgomery County as Fisk University held an open house and ribbon cutting Friday for their new Fisk University Clarksville Extended Site.
The Emmanuel Family Life Center houses the new educational facility that features fully equipped classrooms to enhance student learning. Academic programs offered are Homeland Security, Criminal Justice, Social Justice and Human Development and Leadership.
Shir-earn Rainey, Veterans Affairs Coordinator for Fisk University talked about the new school. “We are super excited that we are here in Clarksville geared towards active military as well as veterans. We are hoping people will come and be a part of this great institution,” said Rainey.
Rainey added that Clarksville is a growing city and Fisk University extended site is the only HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in Clarksville.
“It’s another avenue for our kids to excel,” said Jimmie Garland, member of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Board of Education. “Fisk University has a rich history and is bringing a new venue for our kids to be able to go out into the world and do great things.” Garland is also a member of the Clarksville Chapter of the NAACP.
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts along with Montgomery County Commissioners Rashidah Leverett and Walker Woodruff were just a few of the local officials attending the event.
To learn more about Fisk University Clarksville at the Emmanuel Family Life Center, call 931-286-6141 or email srainey@fisk.edu. The website for the new school is still under development but visit the Fisk University Nashville site at www.fisk.edu.
ALBANY — A group boosting Albany State University and looking to fend off a move to separate it from the state’s university system will continue its efforts at a Monday meeting.
Speakers at the 6 p.m. meeting at Union Missionary Baptist Church will be businessman Gilbert Udoto, the Rev. Lorenzo Heard and A.l. Fleming, Albany State’s vice president of institutional advancement.
As they have gained support, organizers have shifted the focus from, “We love our historically black colleges and universities” to ‘We are making it happen!”
“For the most part, we’re still garnering support from our alumni and even at the national (level),” said Tia Juana Mallone. “It has bolstered giving, because this is a concentration on the need.”
Mallone, Albany City Commissioner Jon Howard and Udoto began organizing after legislation was introduced in January that would separate Albany State and sister historically black universities Fort Valley State and Savannah State U from the University System of Georgia.
On Monday, the group plans to encourage attendees to donate to Albany State to make it strong for the future, regardless of the outcome of the proposed legislation, which could be reintroduced in 2020, Howard said.
Dec. 3 is International Day of Giving, and the idea is to ask people to keep the three universities in mind when they make their donations on that day, he said.
“Whether or not the bill passes, this is something we need,” Howard said.
The group also is planning a telethon to gather financial support for the cause. In addition, they are looking at having four fundraising events next year.
One fraternity has pledged $100,000 so far and another has pledged $25,000, Udoto said.
“There are good people out there who are ready to help,” the businessman said. “They want this university to succeed. They want this city to grow.
“What we’re doing here is just a beginning, a new day in Albany.”
Amazon Studios is the lead sponsor of this year’s Annual Yardfest at Howard University, the historically Black university located in Washington DC.
The university’s most popular concert series also announced that one of the nation’s biggest multinationals, Amazon will be partnering with Howard University to launch Howard Entertainment, a program that aims to diversify the entertainment industry by training African-American students and students from other marginalized communities.
“This program is all about intentionality – being intentional about increasing and preparing the next generation of African American, Latin and Native American storytellers, casts, crew, and executives working on these projects,” said Latasha Gillespie, Amazon Studio’s Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The program is set to begin in January 2020 and includes an interdisciplinary curriculum that will allow Howard students to receive hands-on work experience. The program will specifically train these qualified students to network with Amazon’s industry partners.
Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios, said in a press release that Amazon Studios, in partnership with Howard University, is working on a new venture meant to pave the pathway that will support talented atudents from all backgrounds who are interested in becomingentertainment leaders.
Salke also promised that “diverse perspectives and experiences” will be maintained for the best business decisions as they try to please their Prime Video customers.
A competitive application and interview process will screen interested students to qualify for the program. However, the program is only open to the university’s students who are either upperclassmen or graduate students.
The Howard Entertainment Program will be an immersive 2-semester program based out of Los Angeles and the selected ones will have to stay there. There will be a spring semester and a summer semester. The students will be expected to take academic courses and participate in a fellowship during each semester respectively.
The Howard Faculty will be in charged for teaching the academic courses while the Amazon Studios industry professionals invited by Amazon will be training the students during the fellowship part of the program.
The collaboration is meant to “marry academia and industry efforts to build a robust workforce of diverse entertainment industry leaders,” said Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick in a press release.
Frederick also shared that this relationship will enhance the university’s academic excellence and supplement Howard’s reputation for supplying the notable Hollywood personalities, while still pushing forward their goals of inspiring new knowledge. The program’s fellowship is also expected to provide hands-on experience of working in the entertainment industry as it trains students on the key skills required to make a career in the industry.
The day Colton “Bubba” Adams took his official college football visit at Alabama State, the skies over his hometown of Wetumpka were being fissured by lightning, dark and heavy clouds posed as intimidating figures across the skyline, and violent winds whipped wildly, moving northeast across the Coosa River.
It was the making of EF-2 tornado. Winds reached highs of 135 miles per hour, causing structures to collapses, vehicles to be tossed and trees to be uprooted.
And not to make light of a very serious situation, but Bubba was very familiar with it all. It looked exactly like himself when the ball is snapped: stoning lead blockers, overwhelming backs as he runs them down sideline to sideline, and playing with an intensity that rivals that January 19, 2019 storm.
Before Bubba made the decision to commit to ASU that day, he had offers from Tuskegee, Centre, LaGrange, Morgan State, and Gardner-Webb to consider.
He narrowed his final two options to ASU and Tuskegee, state rivals and more significantly, historically black colleges (HBCUs).
Ultimately, his selection of either school, though Bubba chose ASU, was an unusual choice for a white inside linebacker, as 95 percent of HCBU football rosters are black and 76 percent of their campuses are as well, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
“I knew it was an HBCU, but it really didn’t matter to me,” said Adams, a freshman. “I got a chance at a scholarship and to go to play football and continue my dream.”
That’s just who Bubba is — a ball player with one objective: compete, win and hit everything in sight. It’s been like that as long as he could remember, he said.
At the age of 4, Bubba began to gravitate to football. His brother Chase, a year older than him, played, but at the time Adams wan’t old enough to meet the age requirement.
Consequently, a competitive edge burned inside him, and after getting acclimated to the game his first season at age 5, he said by the time he was 6 he was “putting people in the car,” as kids retreated to their parents vehicles “crying.”
“He just wants to hit,” his father, Donnie Adams said. “His motor doesn’t stop, and where some kids will take off a play he’s not taking off a play … he was coming downhill and he was coming.”
This illustration is not just a picture of Bubba as a young kid, but a defining characteristic of a young man locked in a never-ending pursuit of more. He expects to hit everything in life and hit it hard.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida A&M University Marching 100 Band has been selected to perform at the 2020 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase in Atlanta.
This will be the the band’s seventh appearance in the annual exhibition.
“The incomparable Marching “100” is delighted to return to the Honda Battle of the Bands,” said Band Director Dr. Shelby Chipman. “We promise to present a dynamic show that everyone is going to enjoy.”
FAMU was selected by voters to be among 38 premiere HBCU (historically Black colleges and universities) marching bands to compete as one of the “final eight” bands.
Each band will enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to the showcase and will receive a $20,000 grant to support their music education program.
The 270 members of the Marching 100 will be among more than 1,800 student musicians and performers traveling to Atlanta on January 25.
The eight competitors include: Benedict College, Grambling State University, Hampton University, Jackson State University, North Carolina A&T State University, Prairie View A&M University, and Tennessee State University.
Tickets are on sale now starting at $10 and can be purchased by clicking here.
When single mother Elizabeth Cain sent her son to college, she did what many American families do to bridge the gap between grants, student loans and the cost of attendance: She took out a federal Parent PLUS Loan.
Her son Chance entered Morehouse College, a historically black school, this year. Cain is a self-employed educational therapist and is in a master’s degree program where she has accumulated $11,000 in student debt. Now, the New Yorker has taken on a $39,000 Parent PLUS Loan for her son.
“I try not to worry about that stuff because it will consume me,” Cain said. “I try to take it one day at a time.”
“I try not to worry about that stuff because it will consume me,” Cain said. “I try to take it one day at a time.”
While the PLUS Loan makes it easy for parents to help their kids pay for college, the program’s administrators aren’t required to check whether families can handle the debt.
It’s a problem that hits African-Americans particularly hard.
For many families, the federal loan program for parents is often the final piece of the financial package needed to realize their college dream. While it sounds like a lifeline, the PLUS program can weigh down families, especially low-income black families, for generations.
“It puts a real strain on any social and economic mobility that can happen for black families in particular,” said Colleen Campbell, director for postsecondary education at the Center for American Progress. “Once you add Parent PLUS debt on top of whatever student debt the student is accruing, that wipes out any potential advantages or gains that the parent has made in terms of their own wealth.”
TSU President, Dr. Austin A. Lane, was recently named to the 2020 Executive Committee of the Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellors (CPUPC). This 20-year-old Council, based in Austin, is comprised of the chief executive officers of Texas’ publicly-supported general academic universities, two Lamar State Colleges and the Lamar Institute of Technology, system offices and health science centers. It encourages inter-cooperation in meeting the higher education goals of the state, and it typically meets on the day before the quarterly meetings of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
“As President of Texas Southern University, I look forward to representing the unique needs of our university on this CPUPC committee, as well as collaborating with our fellow universities to ensure that we receive the maximum level of support from the THECB and the State Legislature,” said Dr. Lane.
He will serve alongside the presidents of UTSA, Lamar Institute of Technology, UT Arlington, University of Houston, UH Downtown, Texas A&M University-Central Texas and UT Permian Basin on the FY2020 Executive Committee.
ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Texas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. TSU’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues, and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college.
This Classic between these two long time historically black colleges and universities will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26 at Legion Field. The kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
The HBCU rivalry has been around for 78 years. This game is huge for the Hornets and the Bulldogs in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) standings. It’s also a big contest for bragging rights in the state of Alabama.
Alabama State (2-1) heads into this SWAC East contest with a little momentum. ASU defeated Jackson State, 31-16, two weeks ago.
Offensively, the Hornets are led by running back Ezra Gray and wide receiver Michael Jefferson. Gray is the team’s leading rusher with 241 yards on 73 carries and one touchdown. Jefferson, a terrific receiver, has 24 receptions for 425 yards and five TDs.
On defense, Alabama State’s key performers are defensive backs Irshaad Davis and Joshua Hill and lineman Christian Clark. All three players have done a great job of playing the run. Davis is the Hornets’ leading tackler with 38. Hill and Clark have 28 tackles each.
The Hornets will need a strong defensive presence in this matchup. Alabama A&M (1-1) will be looking to bounce back after dropping a 23-10 decision to Grambling State before the bye week. The Bulldogs, averaging 32.7 points a game, have one of the best offensive teams in the SWAC.
Alabama A&M quarterback Aqeel Glass has been sensational this season. He is the No. 1 passer in the conference and has completed 164-of-259 passes for 2,062 yards with 19 TDs and just six interceptions. He has a great receiving corps with Zabrian Moore and Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim. Moore has 36 catches for 631 yards and four touchdowns.
The Bulldogs have a good ground game with running back Jordan Bentley racking up 662 yards rushing on 138 carries while scoring nine touchdowns.
Alabama A&M has a balanced offense. It should be a good test for Alabama State’s defense in one of the biggest games of the season.
In the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) action, Miles College defeated Edward Waters, 49-28, to continue its winning ways. The Golden Bears’ quarterback Daniel Smith had a magnificent game connecting on 16-of-25 passes for 221 yards and two TDs.
Miles College will travel to Wilberforce, Ohio to face Central State on Saturday, Oct. 26. The kickoff will be at 12 p.m.
SWAC SCHEDULE
Texas Southern at Mississippi Valley State 2p.m. Itta Bena, Miss.
Southern at Alcorn State 2 p.m. Lorman, Miss.
Alabama A&M at Alabama State 2:30 p.m. Birmingham, AL
Grambling State at Arkansas-Pine Blue 3 p.m. Pine Bluff, AR
SIAC SCHEDULE
Fort Valley State at Clark Atlanta 1 p.m. Atlanta, Ga.
Tuskegee at Lane 4 p.m. Phenix City, AL
Edward Waters at Kentucky State 1 p.m. Frankfort, Ky
Miles College at Central State 12 p.m. Wilberforce, Ohio
Benedict at Morehouse 3 p.m. Atlanta, Ga.
Albany State at Savannah State 3 p.m. Savannah, Ga.
To this day, the late Steve “Air II” McNair’s name is synonymous with football excellence, philanthropy, and his alma mater, Alcorn State University. The Alcorn State University Foundation, along with the Steve McNair Memorial Foundation, held a special event to celebrate his legacy and inaugurate a fundraising initiative that will support students for years to come.
The new Steve “Air II” and Mechelle McNair Endowment was announced during the Celebrating the Legacy Endowment Gala Thursday, Oct. 24 at The B.B. Club in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The endowment will support both academic and athletic endeavors for exceptional students at Alcorn. McNair’s former Tennessee Titans teammate and 1995 Heisman Trophy Winner, Eddie George, hosted the event and served as the keynote.
The Steve McNair Memorial Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to continuing McNair’s charitable efforts. Established in 2019 by his wife and two sons, Mechelle, Tyler, and Trenton McNair, the foundation supports academic, athletic, health, and wellness endeavors in underserved communities.
When reflecting on his old friend and teammate, George spoke highly of McNair. He praised the former Titan for his selflessness and ability to mentor the youth.
“Steve would give you the shirt off of his back,” said George. “He didn’t like to disappoint others. He was known for embracing and immersing himself into his community. He mentored so many young football players that went on to have NFL careers. He mentored them and taught them how to be leaders. He operated with a spirit of kindness.”
George told the story of his first time watching McNair play in a college game against Youngstown State in Ohio. He said that despite a losing effort, McNair not only had a stellar game, but also he played the whole game with a severe injury. George said he respected McNair for the grit he showed on the field that day.
“He was a great player. To watch him sacrifice his body for his team despite it being his last collegiate season before entering the NFL was inspiring. Watching him sacrifice his body for his team earned my respect.”
As George went to his seat, he encouraged the supporters to honor McNair’s legacy by contributing to the endowment to help students prosper.
“Let’s further Steve’s legacy by multiplying our efforts to produce love, kindness, perseverance, inspiration, and excellence by supporting the Steve McNair Foundation. Our support for this initiative will inspire young men and women to be successful.”
The charitable efforts of the McNair family are a reflection of the person he was. His wife, Mechelle, acknowledged his affinity for giving back. She’s happy about partnering with Alcorn to preserve his giving legacy.
“Steve would always say that receiving awards felt good,” said Mechelle. “But for him, what felt better was his ability to help and touch the lives of others. We are a family that has been blessed to bless others. As long as this foundation lives, Steve’s legacy will live on.”
Several other guests shared their feelings about the Alcorn legend. Dr. Jason Cable, senior associate commissioner for administration for the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), said that McNair’s dominance brought visibility to the SWAC during his era.
McNair’s former coach, Cardell Jones, spoke about McNair’s love for Alcorn. He also thanked the McNair family for trusting the Braves coaching staff to nurture him into the player he became.
Former teammate and NFL wide receiver, Torrance Small, said that he learned the importance of perseverance, engaging with others, being content, gratefulness, and love from his old friend.
Dr. David Marion, the grand basileus for the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., spoke about McNair’s drive to bring attention to the fraternity.
President Dr. Felecia M. Nave closed the event by stating the importance of celebrating McNair for being an iconic figure in the eyes of many.
“It is important that we celebrate our icons because if we don’t, nobody else will,” said Nave. “We celebrate one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game.”
When Kamau Murray was in high school, he had a hard decision to make on whether he should keep playing basketball, the sport he loved, or pursue tennis, a sport he also had been playing since he was a boy.
At the time, he was on the Whitney Young Magnet High School basketball team that starred Murray’s best friend, Quentin Richardson, who would go on to play in the NBA. But a blunt conversation with his parents about his future prospects, the fact that tennis offered generous college scholarships and the family’s finances put everything into perspective.
They said, “‘You know what, you’re probably not going to be 6-9 like your brother’” — former DePaul forward Malik Murray, Murray recalled. Tennis, they said, “‘might be a good opportunity for you.’”
Murray realized, “I was not going to be successful on that basketball team.
“So I always say tennis chose me.”
The decision to pursue tennis turned out to be crucial to his future.
He went on to play in college and later started the XS Tennis and Education Foundation, which opened a massive indoor tennis facility on the South Side now used by 3,000 kids annually.
XS Tennis’ goal is to provide a space for kids from underserved communities to play the sport year-round and to go after college tennis scholarships that are often unused or less competitive than sports like football and basketball. The program has sent nearly 50 students to college on Division I tennis scholarships since its inception.
One of his students, Sloane Stephens, won the 2017 U.S. Open, while Taylor Townsend, played into the fourth round of the 2019 U.S. Open.
He’s extremely proud of how everything has turned out since he took up tennis.
“I found a lot of pleasure in helping somebody else achieve their goal,” he says. “ … Getting a kid a scholarship helps me sleep good at night.”
In April 2018, one morning around 3 a.m., I found myself barely awake yet determined to watch the live stream of Beyoncé’s performance at Coachella. Through my tired eyes, I saw something familiar: a uniformed snare drummer whistling to signal the elegant strut of nine dancers perfectly in sync, from their campy arm extensions to their touch-the-floor-with-it body drops.
All eyes were on the women as the rich culture of dance teams at historically Black colleges and universities was being presented to the world. Nearly three thousand miles away, I was bursting with HBCU pride.
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY’S EBONY FIRE, WHICH BECAME A PART OF THE MARCHING FORCE’S BAND IN 1983, PERFORM AT GAMES AND IN NATIONAL PARADES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. PHOTO CREDIT: FORCE MEDIA TEAM.
Back when I was a freshman at Hampton University, my most vivid memories were of Hampton’s dance team, Ebony Fire, power-strutting during half time at big games—especially homecomings. Majorettes were the featured performers for bands, but by the late seventies and early eighties they evolved into modern dance teams, incorporating ballet, hip-hop and contemporary styles alongside traditional marching techniques. This shift birthed groups such as Ebony Fire, Alabama State’s Stingettes, Southern University’s Dancing Dolls and many more squads that continue to be the centerpiece of HBCU homecoming weekends throughout the fall.
By the time homecoming arrives, says Selena Makell, a Hampton University sophomore who’s one of four leaders of Ebony Fire, “everything is in place because it’s the biggest performance of the year for the band. Everyone’s there. We want to make things big—exciting.” The squad’s coach, Brint M. Martin, agrees. “A perfect show means each young lady going out there and doing her absolute best,” she says. “They leave it all on the field. They give 110 percent of their energy, of their effort.”
REHEARSALS FOR THEIR NEXT SHOW. PHOTO CREDIT: FORCE MEDIA TEAM.
That perfection comes from weeks of disciplined training at band camp underscored by a deep commitment to upholding Black dance traditions. “We get to represent an art form that’s just amazing,” says Martin. “We perform in NFL stadiums, we travel, we represent your school, we represent your family, we represent African-American culture. We’re like no other. Whether we’re from an HBCU or from a predominantly White institution, the reaction is the same. People love it. They love what we do; they love the culture.”
For Martin, the core value of Ebony Fire is freedom of expression. “It’s our ability to use our talents to tell stories,” she explains. “To share our love for who we are and what we do, and then find new and unique ways to do that at every homecoming, every show, to take it to the next level every single time.”
COLUMBIA, S.C. – In a way, what happened outside Benedict College’s gates in the heart of downtown felt quite small. At its peak, the crowd covered less than 100 yards of the sidewalk. But the scene itself represented something much bigger: the fractured, divisive, sometimes ugly and often loud American political climate.
The event was billed as a keynote speech on bipartisan success in criminal justice reform, which the president tied to the booming economy he takes credit for and that he told his audience has helped black people more than ever before.
Benedict students, who the week prior pondered what questions they might ask the president once his surprise visit to the forum” was announced, were asked to stay in their dorms.
Seven students were allowed inside for the speech.
The requests for students and faculty to remain inside was a matter of security, school spokeswoman Kymm Hunter said. The school’s police worked in conjunction with the Secret Service to develop a security plan out of “safety concerns and threats of protests,” she said.
Classes were canceled, and students were served lunch inside their dorms from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
As Trump spoke, protesters marched in opposition while supporters stood with flags waving and hands clapping. The two groups met at the gates, a couple hundred people in all. And it was loud, so loud that it was hard to hear either side clearly.
As the protesters chanted, “Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go,” a supporter blew her whistle with every syllable. Shouts of “No more years!” overlapped with “Four more years!”
Sometimes they responded to one another, like when one group yelled “Shut it down” and the other yelled back, “Build a wall.” It was discord – not dialogue.
Living on a college campus for the first time can cause anxiety in anyone. There are things like getting used to your independence, managing your finances, and meeting academic expectations, and more to deal with. Having a healthy social life during your college years can essentially make it easier to get through the bumpy transition. However, for those who suffer from social anxiety, making new friends is easier said than done.
What is Social Anxiety?
Social anxiety is an increasingly common type of anxiety. It is often triggered in circumstances where a person feels they are going to be judged, evaluated, or observed in front of others. This could be anything from a face-to-face meeting with one person to campus parties and events.
When in these types of environments, you might experience an increased heart rate, sweating, shaking, dry mouth, dizziness, muscle pains, slowed or shaky speech, and problems concentrating. Though everyone around you may not see what’s going on, it can be very unnerving to deal with. As a result, people who suffer from social anxiety tend to isolate themselves in their dorms.
Getting Past Your Social Anxieties
College is not meant to be experienced in your dorm room. You have to get out and explore what campus life has to offer. Making connections with other students can greatly enhance your academic experience as well as your physical, and emotional health. There are ways you can try to reduce anxiety triggers so you can get out and meet new people.
Join a Club or Group
A great way to meet new people when you have social anxiety is to join a group or club. Though it is a setting with lots of people, these groups are designed to allow like-minded students to do something they enjoy. Since everyone there will be focused on the activity or project, you won’t feel like you’re in the spotlight. You can then connect with them on familiar topics like your love of the club or group you’ve joined.
Consider a Relaxed Setting
If you’re trying to meet new people but struggle with social anxiety, chances are going to a frat party isn’t a good idea. There are too many people and things going on that could trigger your anxiety. Instead, try inviting a small group of people to a relaxed setting. You can head to a bar for drinks and then wrap up with a vape kit and the best vape juices to lighten the mood. You might even invite a few classmates back to your dorm room for snacks and a study session as an icebreaker.
Look Approachable
Here’s what you have to remember. All freshman college students are new on campus and anxious about making friends. While they may not suffer from social anxiety, the concept of meeting new people can still be a struggle. With that in mind, imagine wanting to approach someone but when you look over they’re frowning, staring at the floor, and moving fairly quickly. This gives off the impression they are not approachable. Perhaps you’re guilty of some of the same things which give other students pause. Be sure to smile, make eye contact, and have a positive attitude on campus when greeting others. It can make a big difference in helping to ease the anxieties everyone suffers from on occasion.
Start Small
Don’t push yourself into social scenes or into trying to make friends. The pressure will only intensify your anxiety symptoms making it more challenging to get through. Instead, start small. If you see someone sitting alone in the school cafeteria, go over to them and introduce yourself. If they reciprocate, sit down and have lunch with them using conversation starters to break the ice. If they don’t introduce themselves, at least you gave it a shot and feel better about lowering your guard in the future.
Be an Effective Listener
A great way to keep the “spotlight” off of you is to be a good listener. Express interest in what the individual is talking about and allow them to speak freely. As they are talking, listen for key points or topics you can bring up once they’re done, to keep the conversation going. The idea is not to make it all about you so you don’t feel the pressure. When you’re on campus with hundreds of other students, it can feel intimidating to wonder how you’ll connect with them. As having healthy friendships on campus can make your college experience better, getting out there and meeting new people is necessary. However, before you attend the next frat party and freak out, it’s probably best that you practice the tips above to make friends without triggering your anxiety.
Amen! Charlamagne tha God recently blessed South Carolina State University with $250,000.00. How sweet to donate to his mother’s alma mater.
Black Enterprise shares: The gift of giving is always an act worth noting. According to Madame Noire, Lenard Larry McKelvey, better known as Power 105.1’s Charlamagne Tha God, has made a sizable donation to South Carolina State University. He is the author of New York Times bestseller, Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It and bestseller, Shook One: Anxiety Playing Tricks on Me, which became two of the top audiobooks of 2018 and 2019. He is also the co-host of the popular podcast, Brilliant Idiots, and is one-third of the syndicated morning radio show, The Breakfast Club with DJ Envy and Angela Yee.
Charlamagne was invited to
homecoming by the South Carolina. State National Alumni Association
after speaking with the association’s president, John J. Funny. Shortly
after, he attended South Carolina State University’s homecoming to
announce The Ford Family Endowed Scholarship Fund in honor of his
mother. On his Instagram feed, he shared, “My mother is an alumni of @scstate1896 class
of 75. Today was South Carolina States homecoming and I had the honor
of announcing “The Ford Family Endowed Scholarship Fund” Ford is my
mother’s maiden name and my grandmother’s last name. We will be
providing scholarships to black women in South Carolina who Major in
English, (my mother’s major) Communications, (because I’m a Radio/TV
Guy), and for any sister that wants to be a mental health professional.
Always remember investing in an HBCU is investing in the future of our
people so the next time an HBCU ask for money, open that wallet. It’s a
blessing to be a blessing! All Praises Due To God!!! P.S. Speaking of
GOD my creator told me to announce that I’m tapped out until February so
to all friends and family don’t even consider calling me this holiday
season for nothing. Have a blessed day. #wefightdifferent“
SC State University responded on its Instagram account, “The impact that The Ford Family Endowed Scholarship Fund will have in the lives of SC State University students is immeasurable. We can not thank @cthagod enough for choosing SC State University to establish this scholarship fund in his mother and grandmother’s honor. African American women from SC majoring in English, Communications or a degree affiliated with mental health awareness will benefit from his gift. Remember SC State University is always your home @cthagod and you can come home often. #scstate #wearescstate. Story from Black Enterprise.
Really? Mississippi published Blackface 40 years ago in its yearbook but today, it’s an HBCU?
The definition of a historically Black college or university (HBCU) includes being an institution of higher education that was originally founded to educate students of African American descent.
Beginning in 1837 Cheyney University (first HBCU) and followed shortly thereafter in 1854 by Lincoln University of Pennsylvania (first degree-granting HBCU, founded as The Ashmun Institute), black colleges became safe havens for black and brown people in a world where they were getting ridiculed, spat at, beaten, hung and killed everywhere else. These campuses were specifically designated for their advancement.
HBCUs have seen much growth since 1837. Though they initially lacked enormous budgets, endowments and resources, these institutions did NOT lack the resilience of African American people, so, they thrived. 100 years later, by 1937, these safe havens grew exponentially, to more than 100 schools and beautiful campuses providing strategic, intentional advancement for Black people.
The rich legacy and culture that accompany these institutions is one that is woven into the history books and embedded within the story of the African American human being in America. For almost 200 years, HBCU campuses, students, professors, presidents, and the communities that support them have been on the forefront of advocating for equality, fighting for justice and representing the excellence of Black people. Legislative changes, protests, marches, movements, church, funerals, meetings, and the advancement of the African American race has circumnavigated HBCUs.
Fast forward to 2019, the country still boasts upward of 100 HBCUs, with one university even located on the beautiful U.S. Virgin Islands.
Though they are not exclusive of other cultures…
These are Black spaces.
These are proud spaces.
How anyone could confuse the legacy, history and culture at an HBCU, with the legacy history and culture of a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) is very interesting. It is moreso a disrespectful miscalculation…there is NO MATH that can explain how confusing/calling a historically white institution, an HBCU, adds up.
Trashad Thomas, student at Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science (often called MSU), seems to think otherwise. He refers to his school as an HBCU.
Here are the facts. MSU is in Starkville, Mississippi with an enrollment of 17,000+ undergraduate students. Not only is MSU at PWI, Black people are significantly outnumbered at the school.
According to Data USA, more than 70% of those enrolled are White.
Thomas stands strong in his claims, that he attends an HBCU and even made shirts to represent how he feels:
SHIRTS ARE IN‼️ IF YOU WANNA SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR THE BEST HBCU THAT IS MISSISSIPPI SATE ,
Is he selling these shirts? Are people buying them is an even better question. The tweet pinned to the top of Thomas’ twitter profile is paired with an interesting caption:
His colleagues at Mississippi State University recognize that Thomas’ charade has been going on for nearly half a year. They join in the conversation saying things like:
Proud students at actual historically black colleges and university have recently joined the conversation:
It doesn’t seem to matter how much Thomas or fellow MSU colleagues are reminded of the facts, there responses are unchanged:
On top of the population of Black people being significantly outnumbered on MSU’s campus, 60 years ago THERE WASN’T A BLACK PERSON IN SIGHT ON THEIR CAMPUS. The very first Black student (who is still living) Richard Holmes, enrolled as a freshman on July 19, 1965. One grandma ago, this campus did not have a Black student studying on its entire campus! In a press release shared by the university, Holmes admitted he received “occasional heckling,” from his fellow MSU students!
54 years of “allowing” Black students to attend does not assert this school as a historically Black college or university. And, the numbers don’t lie.
Diving even deeper, news outlet, Mississippi Today wrote a story about racism universities in Mississippi, and none other than MSU was featured:
“A photo in Mississippi State’s 1986 yearbook shows a Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity member posing with a darkened face and arm,” reads the same article.
Really? MSU allowed and PUBLISHED Blackface 33 years ago in its 1986 yearbook AND 40 years ago in its 1979 yearbook, but today, in 2019, it’s an HBCU?
Just 3 years ago in 2016, Black MSU students were protesting and petitioning to the university’s president to remove the Confederate flag. Hotty Toddy reports,
Mississippi State University is the remaining major public university in the state that still flies the state flag after the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi both removed the flag from the campuses.
It is important to accurately represent the history (or lack thereof) of diversity and culture on one’s campus… But don’t listen to us. Hey, we were just educated on an HBCU campus by our ancestors for nearly 2 centuries. What do we know?
