Ayn Rand once said: “The question isn’t who’s going to let me, it’s who’s going to stop me.” This is a quote Ms. Senior for the 2019-2020 academic school year, Damaria Joyner, chooses to live by and keep her motivated.
Ms. Senior DSU, Damaria Joyner
Raised in the Foster care system in Boston, Massachusetts, Damaria was raised by a single mother who managed to work long hours at night while still caring for three young children. Growing up in this circumstance, she viewed it as a way for her to stay focused on her studies, to beat all odds. “Growing up, I’ve never really had any role models, just people and circumstances I did not want to be like. I really just want to break all my generational cycles,” she stated.
The first step she needed to take to break this cycle was actually attending Delaware State University. “I’m from Boston, and there’s no Historically Black Colleges/Universities around there. It actually takes me about seven hours to get home. Being so far away from home was a struggle at first, but I knew I had a purpose and I had to make the best of this opportunity. I’m very close with my sister, and had to fill this void of being homesick. I got heavily involved on campus, joined different organizations on campus, building these relationships with my Hornet family. Since my freshman year, I met some of my ‘bestest’ friends who I know are going to be in my life for a lifetime. I am also a part of the Delta Lambda chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, and I would forever be thankful for that. I came into college with just one sister, and now I got a bunch.”
When asked about some of her most memorable experiences at Delaware State, she described it to be very life changing. “I took several risks here at DSU. I couldn’t dance and was literally dancing in front of the whole school at coronation,” she stated. Her time at Delaware State helped boost her confidence as she took on some of her wildest dreams. “Coronation this year was based on Beychella, and I had to make Beyonce proud.”
“Besides becoming Ms. Senior, being an AKA was one of my top memorable experiences at DSU. My Probate Day was literally one of the best days ever. My adrenalin was crazy! From March 25th, 2018 I was officially an Alpha Woman! From that moment my life has never been the same. Since I joined, I can definitely say that there has been major growth in the way I view myself as a black woman in society.”
Throughout her years at DSU, Damaria explained that there were several obstacles she faced, but learned to bounce back from every situation. “College was literally the most stressful thing I’ve ever done, but that just shows I can withstand anything.” When asked, “How will your position as Ms. Senior impact your life after DSU,” she stated, “I know I can achieve it. DSU helped showed me that I can do anything!”
Damaria Joyner
The new Ms. Senior DSU further stated that “my platform when running for Ms. Senior was P.E.R.I.O.D. which stands for perseverance, excellence, resilience, integrity, opportunities, and determination. For my platform, I wanted to use a popular slogan that everyone uses and will remember. P.E.R.I.O.D. is a mindset and constant reminder I will get the job done, PERIOD! In other words, you got to always remember that I will persevere, excel in everything I do, be resilient, have integrity, offer and take on opportunities that will change our lives, and always be determined to reach our goals.” Very confident with her platform, she hoped that she would be able to impact at least one of her peers throughout this process.
Attending an HBCU was one of her best decisions. “This experience helped me grow as a black woman in society. Like I said before, coming here taught me that I can do anything. Like I really achieved every goal I set for myself — literally, no regrets!” Reminiscing about her time at Delaware State, her closing remark was: “I will forever be a hornet. I love my HBCU.”
In its eighth year, the Hoop for All Foundation continued to advocate and promote cancer awareness, prevention and treatment through its annual three-on-three basketball tournament located at Banneker Park in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C. on Saturday, Sept. 14.
With a specialized focus on brain cancer, the nonprofit organization raised roughly $1,500 for two cancer patients through various fundraising efforts and monetary donations.
Since the first tournament in 2012, founders and 2014 Howard graduates Kiera “KB” Thomas and Ayokunle “Ayo” Amoo have seen growth in all areas including attendees, volunteers and sponsorships.
Founders Kiera “KB” Thomas (left) and Ayokunle “Ayo” Amoo (right) at the 6th annual Hoop for Hope basketball tournament at Banneker Park in September 2017.
“The growth has been outstanding. It’s what we expected but also more than we could’ve ever imagined. Our committee has really become the backbone of what we do. They help us tie lose ends while Ayo and I can really focus on other things,” shared Thomas.
For future events, “I would like to see more women involvement in the foundation outside of the committee [members]. [I am] looking forward to kicking off events for women to play and participate,” Thomas said.
Guest appearances included three-time NBA All-Star Steven Francis and streetball veteran Randy Gill, better known as “White Chocolate” who attended Bowie State University.
“When I got drafted, [Banneker] was one of the first courts I ever refurbished. So when I found out about the tournament, it was only right for me to come back to where I started. It’s a good opportunity for people like myself to give a helping hand,” Francis told freelance journalist Nayo Campbell.
Amari Smith, a Howard graduate and the tournament’s ultimate ride-or-die supporter, has volunteered for seven years–the longest out of all committee members. Despite residing in New Jersey, she makes an effort to come out every year.
“Everything about it makes me return! The founders started this as students and it has grown and helped so many people. For many of us, cancer survivors and patients include our family members, loved ones and friends, so it really hits close to home,” Smith said.
She continued.
“I’ve seen how grateful people are that Hoop for All exists, the impact its made on the community and the awareness that it brings to us all. I’m a supporter forever and will continue to do whatever needs to be done.”
Over the past seven years, Hoop For Hope has remained consistent with its recurring theme of cancer awareness and hasraised thousands of dollars for breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, blood cancer and childhood cancer.
“The event impacts and motivates the surrounding community. We bring a unique street basketball experience while educating the people,” said Amoo. It’s always important to give back. No matter how big or small. This tournament is and will always be a part of our lives. We were called to do this as sophomores at Howard and the tournament will continue for generations to come.”
An event for all ages–the tournament featured dunk and three-point contests catering to all skill levels, interactive activities, giveaways, food and live halftime musical and choreographed performances by the Howard University Bisonettes, Kaviar Sundays and K. Dub.
Partners and sponsors included Target, Gatorade, Red Bull, Under Armour, Howard University Hospital and the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation.
According to Amoo, next year’s focus will be cervical cancer. Information and updates on partnerships, sponsorships in addition to team and volunteer registration for 2020 can be found here.
“Godfather of Harlem” is a sobering look at what it’s like to be the city’s Robin Hood.
The premiere episode moved very quickly, likely simulating what it’s like to be confronted with change after 10 years away in prison. In the first scene, Forest Whitaker’s drug kingpin character Bumpy Johnson is seen leaving the legendary, loud Alcatraz prison. His loyal wife is there to pick him up, and something funny happens. As they drive by the famous Apollo, he is happy to see it’s still there but has to ask who headliner James Brown is.
His excited wife brings them to her new apartment, where a surprise party awaits. However, the joyous occasion seems to be more about the party goers instead.
Many at the party happily greet Bumpy, but they are quick to mention their issues and ideas— all of which are insinuated to need his funding. In his lifetime, Bumpy would often help residents in Harlem with costs that ranged from Thanksgiving turkeys to putting a child through college. But you can tell he is drained already from the self-serving conversations as he sneaks out the party early.
“Godfather” is a gem in that it gives viewers a historical context of New York in the late 60s. It’s unprecedented for any show or film to explore so much about Bumpy, including what it’s like to coexist in the streets with the Italian mafia. In Episode 1 Bumpy clashes with the Italians over territory they snatched from him during his prison stint. He’ll need better tactics, smarts, and manpower to reclaim what’s his. With so much at stake, the Episode 2 is likely to be very action-packed.
Another dynamic to watch out for will be the introduction of Bumpy’s relationship with Malcolm X. As the head of the Nation of Islam, his old friend Malcolm X seems to want drugs off the streets, and is happy to help fight off the mafia. You’ll have to watch the next episode to see how Bumpy leverages it all. He needs all the manpower he can get.
DALLAS, Texas – The Grambling State University football team got an early touchdown after Geremy Hickbottom’s 14-yard pass connected with Quentin Guice, but the Tigers were unable to sustain the lead as Prairie View A&M picked up a 42-36 victory on Saturday night at 96th State Fair Classic at the Cotton Bowl.
Prairie View A&M (2-2 overall, 2-1 SWAC) answered to Grambling State’s scoring drive with an impressive 60-yard rush by Dawonya Tucker. Following Amaury Martinez’s PAT, the score was tied at 7.
With their next ball possession, the Tigers came very close to scoring again in the end zone after Hickbottom’s 26-yard pass to Devante Davis connected for 26 yards, but red zone errors prevented the touchdown. Grambling State was, however, able to take the lead of the game, 10-7, after Mendez’s 24-yard field goal kick was good.
The Tigers wanted to stretch the lead a little more, and they were able to do so after a 10-yard rush into the end zone by Katrelle Starks. Following the PAT, Grambling State led, 17-7.
Grambling State’s 10-point advantage was short-lived after Tucker’s 13-yard rush for a touchdown. At the end of the first quarter, the Tigers were still up, 17-14.
Prairie View A&M tied the score at 17 in the second quarter after Martinez’s 27-yard field goal kick was good.
The score of the game was broken after Joseph McWilliams’ 42-yard interception touchdown. Following the PAT, Grambling State had the 23-17 advantage over Prairie View A&M.
Turning Point The Panthers answered to the Tigers’ last scoring drive with back-to-back touchdowns; Jalen Morton’s three-yard touchdown rush and a 20-yard pass from Morton to Chris Johnson. Prairie View A&M extended their lead of the game to eight; 31-23 into halftime. In comparison, the Panthers tallied 359 total yards to the Tigers’ 187.
The second half of the game worked in both team’s favor as Prairie View A&M scored eight more points off a touchdown and two-point conversion by Morton in the fourth quarter, followed by a 36-yard field goal by Martinez from the next ball possession.
The Panthers had a 19-point lead (42-23) but it wasn’t over for the Tigers. A two-yard rush by Charles Wright and 55-yard scoop and score by Quincy Mitchell had Grambling State only down by seven points (42-36).
In the end, Grambling State was unable to score again to take the lead and win the game.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Oprah Winfrey shocked attendees at a North Carolina fundraiser by announcing a donation of more than $1 million toward the United Negro College Fund.
The Charlotte Observer reports that former talk-show host and OWN television network chief made the surprise announcement Saturday while speaking at Charlotte’s 17th annual Maya Angelou Women Who Lead Luncheon.
United Negro College Fund officials were hoping the luncheon would help raise $500,000 for deserving area students to attend historically black colleges.
At the time of Winfrey’s address, a running tally at the event showed that about $1.15 million had been raised. That’s when Winfrey said she was going to match the total, prompting a standing ovation from the stunned audience.
Just two years after Central State University fought its way out of a financial downturn, the school is growing and its leaders are determined to make sure it doesn’t befall the same fate as other troubled historically black colleges.
Since being removed from state fiscal watch in April 2017, CSU has built new facilities, added research and degree programs and worked with Ohio politicians to become eligible for millions more in federal grant dollars.
But, outgoing president Cynthia Jackson-Hammond Jackson doesn’t take credit for recent successes that have started to eclipse past problems.
“Any successes that have come under my administration were the result of the state, alums, faculty, students and partners all seeing what a gem this institution is,” said Jackson-Hammond.
Trouble began for Central State in 2013 when the school’s net assets declined by more than $7 million over two years, audited financial statements from the Ohio Department of Higher Education show. Today, Central State remains the only Ohio university to have been placed on fiscal watch.
Central State has evolved though, and financial stability is the new norm, said CSU board of trustees chairman Mark Hatcher, who joined the board at the end of 2014.
“It’s like night and day,” Hatcher said. “Central State is in a much better place than where it was when I started.”
‘A huge win’
As Central State has rebounded from its budget woes, the school has looked to capitalize on its momentum.
One way it has done so is by taking advantage of its status as a land-grant university, a designation that makes it eligible to receive special government funding.
Before the 2014 Farm Bill, Central State was not fully recognized as an 1890 land grant institution by the federal government, Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton has said. A tweak to the 2019 Farm Bill, sponsored by Turner and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, made Central State eligible for as much federal funding as other colleges with the designation.
With the alteration, CSU will get around $7.4 million more in grant funding this year. The university stands to receive around $12 million total in state and federal grants due to the Farm Bill change.
“That direct investment in our community is a huge win for us,” Turner said.
Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton, announced this week that Central State University will receive $7.4 million more in federal funding because of a change to the 2019 Farm Bill he supported. Turner also announced he is supporting a commission to find more opportunities for historically black colleges to conduct defense research.Photo: Staff Writer
Turner has also worked to secure $30.7 million in federal funds to establish a stronger partnership between the Department of Defense and historically black colleges and universities, such as CSU. The investment in DOD research at HBCUs will foster “an inclusive and innovative future for our country,” Turner said.
On top of its tighter relationship with state and federal authorities, Central State is expanding into areas less-studied by universities.
In July, CSU established its own hemp program after Gov. Mike DeWine approved a measure allowing it to be researched at colleges. The federal government legalized hemp cultivation last year.
Hemp —like marijuana —comes from the cannabis plant. However it contains less 0.3 percent THC. The university’s aggressive creation of the program made it Ohio’s first public institution to research hemp.
“It’s a crop that we know is going to take off in the state…There’s so much money to be made relative to other crops,” said Criag Schluttenhofer, an assistant professor overseeing CSU’s hemp program.
Products made with cannabidiol, a hemp byproduct, have soared in popularity. Some of Central State’s research will examine CBD products and will also look at what type of hemp is the best to use and grow in Ohio.
As the demand for hemp products increases, Schluttenhofer hopes that Central State’s research will make the university an authority on it.
“‘We feel that this is one of the ways that we can really contribute,” Schluttenhofer said.“It’s still a new crop so everybody is on the same level when it comes to research, everybody has an opportunity. We see it as us making our mark and helping the agricultural community at the same time.”
Craig Schluttenhofer oversees Central State University’s newly established hemp research program. The university launched the program last month after Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law allowing universities to research the substance.Photo: Staff Writer
‘Evaluate everything’
Enrollment, one of the factors that plunged Central State into budget trouble, has increased at the school.
CSU’s fall enrollment fell by more than 30 percent from 2,503 in 2011 to 1,742 in 2016, according to the state.
The enrollment drop made Central State leaders more cognizant of issues surrounding access to higher education and how to help students stay and graduate on time, Jackson-Hammond said. CSU began working more closely with area community colleges in an effort to make sure transfer students were prepared, Jackson-Hammond said.
The changes appear to be paying off.
For the first time in five years, Central State’s enrollment rose above 2,000 during the fall of 2018 to 2,099 students. The number of students on campus this fall is just slightly less at 2,033, said CSU spokesman Robert Vickers.
“Part of good assessment is asking what have you done? what worked? what didn’t work?” Jackson-Hammond said. “We evaluate everything, not just enrollment but also our academic progress.”
Another factor that may be helping enrollment is improvements made to Central State’s campus.
In 2015, the university opened a new $33.5 million student center. Retired NBA star Magic Johnson, who has been a longtime supporter of the school, was on campus to celebrate the opening.
This fall CSU is also completing a new residence hall for students.
The 250-bed facility was slated to be completed before the start of the academic year in August, but it’s still being finished due to construction delays caused by the May tornado outbreak. Around 30 students were temporarily displaced.
Along with the weather delay the room shortage was also caused by a “high demand” for housing on campus, according to the university. Though those kind of growing pains can be a short-term problem, Hatcher said.
“Where we find ourselves sitting today is all about growing the institution,” Hatcher said. “(We’re) laser focused not only on enrollment but retention too.”
Problems of the past
Though its in better shape now, Central State has a history of financial trouble.
Then-Gov. George Voinovich and the Ohio Black Legislative Caucus in 1996 asked the school’s board of trustees to resign amid financial turmoil, according to Dayton Daily News articles at the time. The state had found CSU was rife with financial mismanagement and infrastructure problems.
In the 1990s, the fixes would have cost around $71.2 million which is equal to around $116.4 million today. As of last year CSU’s operating revenues accounted for less than $68 million, according to the state.
The university’s most recent issues started nearly seven years ago and led to the state placing the school on state fiscal watch after it fell below a state threshold measuring financial health for two years in a row.
The state measures every public college’s fiscal health with something called a “Senate Bill 6 score,” an annual rating of 0 to 5. Any school that falls below a 1.75 two years in a row is put on notice.
To get removed from fiscal watch, a university must meet a rating of at least 2.4 and must also re-mediate all conditions that led to its financial troubles.
Central State scored a 1.3 in 2013 and a 1 in 2014 before increasing to 2.3 in 2015, a score it remains at today. CSU cut expenses by more than $10 million in 2015 to facilitate the budget rebound.
“Each of our colleges and universities is unique and therefore the solution to emerging from fiscal watch is likely to look different at each institution,” said Randy Gardner, chancellor of ODHE. “However, growing enrollment and programs are certainly positives for any campus and CSU is to be commended for its efforts in that regard.”
‘Fully committed’
Though Central State may be on more solid financial footing now, the business of higher education is changing rapidly and causing problems for other schools.
Historically black colleges in particular have struggled to deal with the changing landscape of higher education. At least 17 HBCUs have closed or all but dissolved over the last several years, according to a report from the Dayton Daily News’s sister paper, the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Wilberforce University, the oldest private historically black college in the country, is located just across the street from Central State and ran an operating deficit of more than $19 million in fiscal year 2017.
Although HBCUs are “not monolithic,” Jackson-Hammond said the closing of other black colleges is something Central State’s leaders pay attention to.
James Shack Harris, left, and Earvin Magic Johnson were in attendance at Central State University on Friday to celebrate the opening of the new $33.5 million CSU Student Center. TY GREENLEES / STAFFPhoto: Staff Writer
“We are an institution fully committed to Montgomery and Greene counties in making sure there is a quality enhancement because of Central State University,” Jackson-Hammond said.
Much of Central State’s future will be in the hands of a new president though. Jackson-Hammond plans to retire at the end of spring semester after leading the school for eight years.
The board of trustees is launching a national search to find Jackson-Hammond’s successor.
It’s important, Hatcher said, for Central State’s next president to have as firm of a grip on the institutions needs as its current one. For the school’s successes to continue, Hatcher said trustees need to find the right person for the job.
“It’s critical that we find the right leader who can build upon what Cynthia has done and continue to elevate the institution to the next level. It’s primed to do that,” Hatcher said. “We need a dynamic person who sees where we’re at and sees where we could be 10 years from now.”
Billionaire Robert F. Smith’s surprise pledge to pay off the student loans of Morehouse College’s class of 2019 will cost $34 million and will now include federal educational debt amassed by parents.
Students, parents and guardians received the details in an email Friday from the Atlanta school. Smith, the founder of private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, first disclosed the gift in May during the graduation ceremony. Smith’s pledge made national headlines and focused further attention on the soaring cost of college and the debt burden faced by graduates. Student debt has emerged as a key issue among Democratic presidential candidates. Earlier this week, Weill Cornell Medicine in New York said billionaires Sanford Weill and Maurice “Hank” Greenberg will lead a $160 million effort to curb debt for qualifying medical students there.
“It is our hope that our graduates will use their newfound financial freedom to pursue their career goals, to lead and serve the community, and to remember the spirit of the gift given to them by paying it forward to support the education of future classes of Morehouse Men,” David Thomas, the school’s president, said in a statement.
Do you want to have a brotherhood bonded together in a bond of love? “Divine 9” organizations on the yard at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or HBCUs, has always been a pillar of college life, but you will have to put in some work if you want to stand out from the rest of the crowd. From having a good GPA to creating a name for yourself on the yard, being picked up by a “Divine 9” organization requires much more than you might think. Here are 4 ways to get noticed by a “Divine 9” organization.
1. Have a good GPA
It does not matter which organization on the yard that you might want to join, having a good GPA is a great way to stand out from the rest of the crowd. Let us say a 3.0 and above is what you should be shooting for. That is not to say that a lower GPA would not make you qualified to get picked up by a “Divine 9” organization, but lots of Black Greeks prefer quality over quantity any day.
2. Create a name for yourself on the yard
As an incoming freshman, there is not a lot of organizations that you can join. However, you want to find some way to create a buzz around your name, so that “Divine 9” organizations will notice you. Maybe it is by serving the HBCU community or working as a tutor on the yard. Find some way to create a name for yourself.
3. Be knowledgeable about the “Divine 9” organization that you want to join
This is important. Black Greeks want to know what you already know about their organization prior to them picking you up for the summer, and or fall line.
Study, study, study and practice makes permanent. Also, make sure that you do this discretely.
You may even find some luck and will have a member of a “Divine 9” organization to confine in. This saves you on countless hours of time.
4. Be you
Always be yourself. Just because you are wanting to pledge a “Divine 9” organization does not mean you necessarily have to change who you are as a young man or a young woman.
Do not forget that, if and when you cross the burning sands, your letters do not make you who you are, but having integrity gets you the most respect.
It can be tough for any college grad to figure out how to find their way when they start their first job, but it can be even tougher for students of color to navigate the realities of corporate America.
At the recent BE Smart Student Symposium presented by Dell Technologies, students from 10 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and four minority-serving institutions got a little help with that. Maggie Chan Jones, founder of executive coaching firm Tenshey, taught them five ways to rock their transition from student to professional.
Chan Jones knows a thing or two about excelling in corporate America despite coming from an underrepresented population. She was born and raised in Hong Kong and moved to the U.S. when she was 14. She would go on to become the first woman chief marketing officer at software company SAP and was named to Forbes‘ list of the Most Influential CMOs.
“I created my own company with the purpose to elevate more women and people of color into leadership using my experience—how I got to the C-suite in less than 20 years in my career. Because if someone like me–who didn’t really speak any English when I first came to the U.S., and I honestly don’t think I’m that smart–if I could get there, so many people can get there,” Chan Jones shares. “The question is how.”
1. BE INTENTIONAL IN CHOOSING YOUR JOBS
“Think about what you’re passionate about, what are the things that you just love doing. And that you’re also great at. Because they could be things that you’re great at, but you don’t love doing them and when you get into a job doing that, you’re going to get bored or get frustrated very quickly,” Chan Jones cautions.
“You want to start talking to people in those fields, and really learn about those things that are interesting to you,” she adds. “Spend time asking them about what is a day in the life of someone in marketing, someone in sales, someone in business development and see how does it connect with you.”
2. UNLEASH YOUR INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY
“How do you learn from every single job? And how do you learn from different scenarios?” Chan Jones asks, encouraging young professionals to adopt a growth mindset. “One of the things that I’m really passionate about is building muscles. I always tell people when I’m trying something new, even when it is hard, and especially when it is hard, I say, ‘Wow, This is great. I’m building the muscles.’”
3. BUILD YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM
“Network is, to me, my secret sauce of success. I count on so many people in my life, including—first and foremost—my friends and family because without their support, I couldn’t be moving across the country multiple times to take on new jobs. And without the support of my sponsors, my managers, my colleagues, I couldn’t have done what I was able to accomplish.”
Chan Jones challenged the students to take advantage of the opportunity to make connections with each other before they leave college life for their first job: “You’re meeting with so many people, people from different schools. Build that network, because they may be your colleagues. The next day, they may be your friends for life.”
4. TAKE RISKS AND MAKE AN IMPACT
Chan Jones spoke to the students about stepping out of their comfort zones, relaying an anecdote from her past: “One of the things I learned when I went from being a student to a professional is when you’re in a meeting, you’re supposed to speak out. And I remember one of my managers said, ‘Hey, Maggie, you have some really good ideas, but you never speak up in a meeting.’”
“So I took that with my growth mindset. I said, ‘OK, so what am I going to do about it?’ One of the ways that worked for me, and hopefully it will work for you as well, is when you do something that you feel like you’re getting out of that comfort zone, try something small first. So I told myself, every important meeting that I go to, within the first 10 minutes, I have to either make a statement or ask a question. After a couple of years, I no longer had to remind myself because that’s become a muscle memory.”
5. HAVE FUN AND BE YOURSELF
“In the early days, I was so worried because I would walk into the room and usually I was the only woman. Even today, in many cases, I could be the only person of color,” Chan Jones says. “On the early days, I would like just to fit in. Over time I realized that wait, if I really have to try that hard to change who I am as a person to fit in, guess what? That’s not my place.”
This post was written by Alisa Gumbs, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.
In a statement released on Friday, Alcorn State University warned all members of the ASU campus community that they are expected to adhere to university policies, rules and state laws.
“This extends to all campus events and activities,” the statement reads.
This comes after ASU Campus Police officers were alerted to potential unlawful behavior by an attendee during a football contest this past weekend.
The attendee is a ASU student, the school officials confirmed, adding, “As set forth in the student handbook, the student in question has been placed on interim suspension pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.”
Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover has once again raised $1 million for the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) during a 24-hour campaign this week.
Dr. Glover, who is also the International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., led AKA HBCU Impact Day, a one-day fundraising initiative, on Sept. 16, according to a TSU press release.
The funds will provide financial assistance and fiscal sustainability and success to TSU and other four-year HBCUs across the country.
“Once again this is a historic moment for Alpha Kappa Alpha as we have raised $1 million for HBCUs for the second year in a row,” President Glover shared with excitement in a video message to sorority members.
“I want to thank everyone who contributed to this $1 million, one-day campaign. Let’s continue to support our HBCUs.”
AKA HBCU Day is part of a four-year, $10 million fundraising goal by the sorority intended to establish an endowment on each campus.
Money raised through the fundraiser will provide financial assistance to the colleges during the next three years.
In June, AKA established a $100,000 endowment at TSU, beginning with an initial contribution of $25,000.
In February, AKA gifted $1.6 million for their AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund to 32 HBCUs.
Presidents from these institutions joined Dr. Glover and sorority leadership at a special Black History Month program at the AKA International Headquarters in Chicago.
Donors can still make contributions by texting AKAHBCU to 44321, giving by mail or online at http://aka1908.com/hbcus/donate-hbcu.
Reporting that Morgan State University’s enrollment is on an upswing, the Baltimore Sun’s Talia Richman wrote that the rising number of non-African American students who are attending the historically the black institution is thanks to the school’s campaign to become more diverse.
“No one expects that only Catholic students will enroll at Notre Dame, Morgan president David Wilson says, ” Richman, who covers city schools and higher education for The Baltimore Su, wrote. “So why should anyone be surprised that a historically black college or university would recruit students of other races?”
Wilson said the black institution does not deny people outside of African Americans from enrolling into the school and insists that Morgan will remain an HBCU.
“Morgan has never said to a student, ‘You can’t come here because of your race,’ unlike the traditionally white institutions in the state of Maryland,” Wilson said. “Morgan is an HBCU. It will always be an HBCU.”
The student body has grown by 15 percent since 2006, from roughly 6,700 students to 7,700, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Delaware State University’s Aviation Program is expanding, thanks to an allocation of $3.5 million in the state budget, per WDEL.
“We’re going from 70’s or 60’s technology to now 2019, with this new aircraft.” DSU Aviation Program Director Lt. Col. (Ret.) Michael Hales said. “That’s like light years ahead of where we had been to where we want to go.”
The school’s placement rate is 100 percent, according to DSU President Dr. Wilma Mishoe.
“Everything’s at your fingertips, basically,” DSU aviation student Christian Black said. “I wish I started on my instruments with this plane first because of all of the safety features in it.”
On Tuesday, the United States House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 2486, the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act.
The legislation would allow historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to continue receiving $255 million of critical annual government funding to improve academic quality and ensure their financial stability.
Additionally, the focus of the funding would be to maintain and improve various programs within high demand fields and majors such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The funding under Title III, which has been administered by the Department of Education since 2008, is set to expire at the end of September.
HBCUs represent 8.5 percent of the four-year institutions across the 21 states and territories they are located in. On average, they also enroll 24 percent of all Black undergraduates pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a college or university, graduate 26 percent of all Black bachelor’s degree recipients and award 32 percent of STEM degrees to Black students, according to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).
At the White House Initiative’s HBCUs Conference last week, President Donald J. Trump praised and acknowledged the impact of HBCUs.
“For more than 180 years, HBCUs have strengthened our country and called America to greatness,” he said. “This nation owes a profound and enduring debt of gratitude to its HBCUs.”
Advocacy organizations celebrated the passage of the legislation in the House of Representatives.
“These institutions of higher education, which serve an outsized share of the nation’s college students of color and students from low-income families, are essential to providing college access for millions of students, increasing educational attainment and providing the surest path to socioeconomic mobility,” said Denise Forte, senior vice president for partnership and engagement at The Education Trust. “We are pleased that the House of Representatives has taken this important first step toward guaranteeing that critical funding for HBCUs and MSIs will not be disrupted.”
To demonstrate their support for the FUTURE Act, UNCF launched the “Protecting Our FUTURE” campaign. Since the campaign’s establishment, there have been over 38,000 phone calls and emails to members of Congress, UNCF reported.
However, there is still more work to be done.
Now, institution leaders and representatives are urging for the FUTURE Act to be passed in the Senate.
U.S. Senator Doug Jones of Alabama encouraged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to support the legislation.
“These schools are a part of the very foundation of our higher education system but they lack many of the same financial resources that predominately white schools can count on,” Jones said. “That’s why I am calling on Senator McConnell to bring the FUTURE Act up for a vote and take the next step to give these schools the certainty they need to continue serving their students and fulfill their mission.”
Lodriguez V. Murray, vice president of public policy and government affairs at UNCF, said that he hopes that Congress will “act as a pathway for passage” and not a “roadblock.”
“A vote for this bill is a vote for low-income, first-generation college students of color and for institutions that serve a large number of these students,” Murray said. “These institutions are located across the country, touching the districts of nearly every single Member of Congress.”
Footactionhas made a big step towards inclusion in the design world. The footwear lifestyle brand has partnered with PENSOLE, a design academy partner of Foot Locker, Inc. to launch the No 1 Way Design program.The program is an unprecedented opportunity for designers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). If their submitted design is chosen for the competition, participants have the chance to win cash prizes and even have their designs in Footaction stores nationwide.
The No 1 Way program is part of Footaction’s long-standing commitment of uplifting HBCUs and introducing more visionairies to the industry. To be even more inclusive, the program is open to both current students and recent graduates of HBCUs. The looks of youth culture are constantly evolving, and these talented yet underrepresented designers can definitely bring in something fresh. And with over 85 HBCUs across the country, the competition will be fierce.
“Footaction’s No 1 Way Design Program will create opportunity and bring talents from untapped communities to the forefront,” said Richard McLeod, Vice President of Marketing for Footaction. “We are thrilled to be working with PENSOLE Academy as we work to create opportunities for students at HBCUs, share their stories and cultivate their entrepreneurship. This program represents our long-term commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent, while offering them opportunities in design.”
PENSOLE founder D’Wayne Edwards and his accomplished roster of academy instructors will lead the competition, providing mentorship and guidance to the students throughout the process. Five finalists will be selected for a three-week PENSOLE Master Class that will support these rising stars and help bring their creative ideas to life as market-ready, apparel-focused capsule collections.
“The No 1 Way Design Program underscores the need to grow and foster diversity and creativity in our industry,” said Edwards. “We have chosen to work with HBCU students in order to celebrate the creative energy of this community and develop a platform to foster and express their individuality.”
The Master Class will have the chance to showcase its designs during New York Fashion Week in February, with cash prizes going to the top three finalists. A final winner will be selected by a panel of esteemed judges and the winning No 1 Way collection will be produced and sold in Footaction stores nationwide.
President Donald Trump at the 2019 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week Conference on Sept. 10 in Washington
Despite comprising only 3 percent of the nation’s four-year colleges, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have produced 80 percent of the country’s African American judges, 50 percent of its African American doctors, and 27 percent of African Americans with STEM degrees, according to the Department of Education. Until last week, the federal government excluded more than 40 HBCUs that are faith-based from a program that loans out money for campus improvements.
“This meant 40 of your faith-based institutions which had made such tremendous contributions to America were unnecessarily punished for their religious beliefs,” President Donald Trump said in a speech last week. A recent Justice Department legal opinion called the withholding of the funds from those schools discriminatory and unconstitutional, and the White House announced last week it was doing away with the rule.
The Justice Department cited the Supreme Court’s rulings in Trinity Lutheran v. Comer and Locke v. Davey—cases in which the justices found that excluding organizations or students from federal funding on religious grounds was unconstitutional. Locke v. Davey dealt with a state scholarship fund that would not pay for students to study theology, and Trinity Lutheran was about a state-funded playground resurfacing program that would not accept a religious preschool. The Justice Department said the cases “establish that the government may not deny generally available funding to a sectarian institution because of its religious character.” The legal opinion also stated that the federal government still retains “discretion to choose what activities to fund.”
In his speech announcing the change, coincided with National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, Trump called the schools “pillars of excellence,” and reiterated his commitment to make them “bigger and better and stronger than any previous administration, by far.”
HBCUs came into existence after the Civil War and prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in response to segregation in higher education that excluded or severely limited African American students. President Ronald Reagan created the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1981.
Since taking office, Trump has hosted HBCU presidents at the White House, signed a farm bill that included more than $100 million for scholarships and research at the schools, and increased investment in HBCU programs by more than 14 percent. He also relocated the federal initiative from the Education Department to the White House, something black leaders repeatedly called for during President Barack Obama’s administration.
HBCU presidents have typically courted presidential administrations regardless of their political leanings. They depend on the federal government for half of their annual revenue on average to operate. “I think it’s important to stay focused on the money and not on the message,” Austin Lane, president of Texas Southern University, told Politico. Smith said he attended the HBCU conference only to find out “if there’s money to access, where is it and how do we get it.”
But Trump’s speech to HBCU leaders also seemed directed at the wider African American community. He touted the nation’s low African American poverty and unemployment rates and told the crowd “no one has done more for you than me.” Some critics called it a campaign pitch to bolster his approval rate among African Americans, only at 10 percent according to recent polls.
HBCUs have also found their way into the 2020 Democratic presidential debates. Candidates including Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and former Vice President Joe Biden have all called for massive federal investments into the schools.
