This HBCU Will Soon Be Offering Free Tuition

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Beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year, students who have graduated from secondary school in the U.S. Virgin Islands will have one less concern about their college careers: tuition payments.

That’s because the Territory has adopted legislation to provide financial aid for tuition to residents of the Virgin Islands for post-secondary education at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI).

“With the passage and signing of Act 8155, the Virgin Islands becomes the first Territory and the University of the Virgin Islands now becomes the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) that provides comprehensive free tuition to students within its state or jurisdiction,” said President of the University of the Virgin Islands, Dr. David Hall. “This is one of the few programs in the nation that provides free tuition for baccalaureate degrees.”

The Virgin Islands Higher Education Scholarship Program (VIHESP) is available to residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands who have graduated from a private, public or parochial high school without regard to age, date of graduation or household income.

The full-tuition scholarships can be applied towards study for a student’s first associate’s or bachelor’s degree. In order for new students to qualify for the funds, they must apply for full-time admission to UVI no later than the published application deadline and must have applied for federal assistance through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For 2019, the deadline for applying for admission to the University is March 1, 2019. New students applying for admission in the Spring 2020 semester must apply by October 15, 2019.

In signing the bill into law, then-Governor Kenneth E. Mapp stated: “This new law and the opportunities it creates will be a positive ‘game changer’ for many families. Providing tuition for young Virgin Islanders sets

 them on a path of achieving their dreams and aspirations.” Newly elected Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach, then senator, was the main sponsor of the legislation.

Approximately 1,700 students are expected to qualify to receive the tuition benefit, according to President Hall, potentially helping to increase the percentage of Virgin Islanders who have college degrees and move the territory to a “more appropriate” level of degree-holders in the population. 

“A college degree is no longer a luxury that the rich and the academically and athletically gifted individuals can obtain,” Dr. Hall said. “Higher education is a basic necessity and must be provided in the same way we provide other basic necessities.”

Recipients of the tuition aid, which would supplement students’ federal scholarship awards, university scholarships, and private donations, will be required to maintain a GPA of 2.50 GPA.

“What truly makes the Virgin Islands approach to free tuition unique and compelling is that funds are also being set aside to support students in their quest to excel. The Act provides funding so that the University can establish new academic support programs to help more students in high school obtain a 2.5 Grade Point Average (GPA) and new programs at the college level that will help them to maintain a 2.5 GPA,” said President Hall. 

The other unique feature the program is that it applies to any individual who meets the requirements regardless of when they finished high school. 

“There are individuals in the Virgin Islands who have put their educational dream on hold five, 10, 15 or even 20 or more years ago,” said Dr. Hall. “This policy enables and inspires them to now pick back up those dreams, brush them off, and pursue the fulfillment of that degree that they never were able to achieve in the past because of financial limitations.”

The free tuition law includes an in-Territory work service requirement, ranging from two months to three years, for all students who receive a scholarship. The obligation to work in the Territory must be completed within seven years after graduation.

The University will collaborate with the Virgin Islands Department of Labor to secure job placement for scholarship recipients.

VIHESP provides for an annual appropriation of $3 million from the Internal Revenue Matching Fund to the University of the Virgin Islands Scholarship Revolving Fund. In addition, President Hall stressed that “private donors must continue to support the University with scholarship contributions in order for this transformative program to sustain itself.”

“I encourage all Virgin Islanders to take advantage of this transformative opportunity to make their future brighter and their educational burden lighter,” said President Hall.

This GoFundMe Campaign Wants HBCU Students In Virginia to Find Blackface Yearbook Photos

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This GoFundMe campaign is raising money to pay students at HBCUs $25 hourly wage to find racist blackface photos in college yearbooks is staking to raise $10,000.

From the genocide and displacement of indigenous people by the first European colonized until today, an intolerable amount of racism is systemically baked into Virginia’s government at all levels, and in every political party. And it has to end now. This GoFundMe is to raise funds to pay Virginia HBCU research students from local colleges $25 per hour to do the due diligence that should have already been done on all of Virginia’s state elected representatives. The plan is for research students to go through all of the yearbooks and then publish the results for public reference for current elected officials and those running for office in future elections.

#ICYMI, this is why this project matters in Virginia today:
– Governor Ralph Northam’s 1984 medical yearbook page with photos submitted by students including a photo of a person in blackface and a klan costume was released to the media.
– Governor Northam admitted that he was in the photo and apologized.
– The following day, Governor Northam reversed his position claiming it was not him; however, he has done blackface in the past.
– Following a scandal breaking with the Governor Justin Fairfax, it came to light that the Attorney General Mark Herring has also put on black face in his past. Herring is the third person in the line of succession for the Governor’s office.
– Anti-fascist community members uncovered evidence of a Virginia Capitol Police officer having possible affiliations to a white supremacist organization. Virginia Capitol Police patrol the Capitol grounds which includes the Governor’s mansion.
– Then blackface photos from a fraternity party surfaced in the yearbook of the next person in line for succession, Speaker of the House Kirk Cox which, while they were not photos of Speaker Cox, made people see the issue of offensive photos in yearbooks is more prevalant than originally realized.

Virginians have continued to call for the resignation of Governor Ralph Northam as these scandals continue to break. Virginians have called for his resignation on social media, in protests, and most recently in an open letter to First Lady Pam Northam. Governor Northam, has refused to listen and in the midst of his refusal to leave office additional politicians have fallen under scrutiny.

With the potential of multiple of our elected officials having racist behavior and imagery in their past, we are in a crisis of leadership. Furthermore, this is all occurring during Black History month in 2019 which is the 400th commemoration of the first African human trafficked to the Commonwealth of Virginia. We live in the former Capital of the Confederacy surrounded by countless racist monuments not far from Charlottesville where in 2017 white supremacists gathered for the violent Unite the Right rally that resulted in violence and murder of Heather Heyer. Racism is alive and well in the Commonwealth of Virginia especially with our elected leaders and this must end.

As our elected officials make policy and work on the people’s behalf, it is extremely concerning for these incidents to come to light after we have cast our vote because we see the evidence of their bias in their decision making. As Jamil Smith succinctly put in his recent Rolling Stone piece, “Blackface is Just One Part of the Problem.” It is for that reason we are seeking to fund HBCU students researching our current and future elected officials. Please consider donating and sharing this GoFundMe to support the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia moving forward past our horrific past.

***NOTE: we are looking for a non-profit who already does work in this field to support the student’s efforts. If you are a non-profit who is interested in supporting this effort, please contact us at info@rvadirt.com ****

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Morgan State Awarded $1.6 Million Base 11 Grant

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND — The nonprofit Base 11 today announced that Morgan State University is the winner of a three-year, $1.6 million Aerospace Workforce and Leadership Development Grant, which will fund a state-of-the-art rocketry lab and launch a student rocketry team. Former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin was on hand to formally present the check to and inspire university students who were in attendance, to pursue aerospace as the “Next Frontier.”

The commercial space industry is expected to become a $2.7 trillion economic sector in the next 30 years, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Yet the industry faces challenges in recruiting a diverse workforce. According to the National Science Foundation, African Americans make up just 5 percent of the science and engineering workforce.

“We want to ensure that the next generation of space innovators is just as diverse as America,” said Melvin, a veteran of two Space Shuttle missions. “I am excited to see this generation of students getting critical hands-on experience in rocket technology, and I encourage Morgan State’s students to seize this incredible opportunity to reach for the stars.”

The grant, which aims to improve diversity in the aerospace talent pipeline, was announced in June 2018, and drew proposals from eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Leland Melvin was joined by experts from Dassault Systèmes, Blue Origin, SpaceX, Sigma Pi Phi fraternity, and Base 11 in reviewing the applications.

“The proposals for the HBCU Aerospace Workforce and Leadership Development Grant were quite impressive,” said Base 11 Chairman and CEO Landon Taylor. “Morgan State is especially well positioned to leverage their existing resources, faculty expertise, and industry partners to launch a successful and sustainable rocketry program that brings hands-on, experiential learning to students.”

The grant will fund the build-out of a liquid-fuel rocketry lab at Morgan State, as well as the recruitment and hiring of an aerospace faculty leader to create a world-class liquid fuel rocketry program. Morgan State aims to bring together these elements to successfully build and launch a liquid fuel rocket that reaches 150,000 feet by 2022.

We are honored that Morgan State University was selected for this competitive grant, and confident that it will further advance our efforts to increase diversity in the STEM talent pipeline, while also turning out workforce-ready talent in high-demand industries like aerospace,” said David Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “At Morgan we encourage our students to be bold and to aim for the stars, and with the launch of this program, we can provide them with the resources to take on that challenge literally.”

Morgan State will house the fledgling rocket program in its Center for Built Environment and Infrastructure Studies (CBEIS) building, the home of The School of Architecture and Planning and some of the University’s engineering programs. CBEIS is a gold certified LEED green building with solar water heating panels and a bioretention pond. Designed for the needs of the modern university student, CBEIS is also the home to the only earthquake simulator on the east coast and a supersonic wind tunnel. Students studying in this contemporary facility have access to printing labs that contain 2D and 3D printers and a fabrication lab where students can use technologically advanced cutting tools.

“With this very generous grant, we will bring together a cross-disciplinary team of faculty and external collaborators to develop and prepare our students for future opportunities in the commercial aerospace industry. This is an area loaded with opportunities for innovation and creativity, and in need of a more diverse workforce” said Dr. Willie E. May, vice president of research and economic development at Morgan State University.

The nonprofit Base 11, which focuses on increasing diversity in STEM fields, first entered the world of student rocketry in 2018, with the announcement of the Base 11 Space Challenge. This $1 million+ competition offers prizes for the first university team to design, build and launch a liquid-fuel rocket to the edge of space (100 km.) by the end of 2021. The challenge attracted entries from 32 teams from across the U.S. and Canada.  Morgan State hopes to join forces with one of the teams competing in the Base 11 Space Challenge and help build a winning rocket.

“While many universities across the country have rocketry teams where students gain hands-on experience, what we’ve seen is that the number of women and underrepresented ethnicities on those teams remains quite low,” said Base 11’s Taylor. “That’s why this grant to Morgan State is so exciting – we have an opportunity to significantly diversity the pipeline the talent pipeline in aerospace.”

Wiley Student Taylor Barnes Wins Miss National UNCF Title

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Marshall, Texas) Wiley student Taylor Barnes has been crowned Miss National UNCF. Miss Barnes was named the winner Saturday night during the Miss National UNCF Coronation at the organization’s Annual National Alumni Council Leadership Conference and Alumni Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. Barnes  defeated  Miss UNCF Queens from competing HBCUs to earn the title. Her win makes her the seventh consecutive Wiley student to be named Miss National UNCF, and  the 16th  Wileyite  to win the title since 1999.

“I am so thankful  to have this opportunity and this platform to  raise funding for scholarships that will be used to help students afford a college education ,” said Miss Barnes about her win.   “It has been so rewarding to compete for the title alongside Sasha Jefferson. We share a common goal of wanting  to remove barriers to a better life and a bright future for so many students.”  

Barnes was  crowned Miss UNCF for Wiley College in January.  She  is a sophomore from Chandler, Arizona. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management. She is a member of Wiley’s Emerging Leadership program, the Pre-Alumni Council, and the Student Union Advisory Board.

Miss Jefferson, her opponent, is a sophomore from Houston, Texas. Collectively, with financial support from their families, Wiley alumni, and friends of the College, the students raised $53,000 during their Wiley campus campaigns. Barnes, as the winner of Wiley’s title, raised the most funding. The campaign total topped the funds earned by the competing schools, thus earning her the national victory.

All the campaign dollars support student scholarships at Wiley and are used to help the College meet an annual UNCF three-to-1 match challenge to its member schools, which is realized by raising a minimum of $100,000.

Barnes will spend the next 12 months raising awareness around the country about the value of pursuing and earning a college degree and letting students know that resources are available to help them do so.

In photo, Miss Barnes is pictured with Wiley College President Herman J. Felton Jr.  just after being crowned Miss National UNCF on Saturday night at the coronation during the Annual National Alumni Council Leadership Conference and Alumni Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Dr. Austin A. Lane Appointed to Texas Children’s Hospital Board of Trustees

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HOUSTON (January 29, 2019) – Dr. Austin A. Lane, president of Texas Southern University (TSU), has been appointed to serve on the Texas Children’s Hospital Board of Trustees.  Ranked 4th nationally among all children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, TCH is a leader in pediatric and women’s health.

“To be appointed to the Texas Children’s Hospital Board of Trustees is an honor,” said Dr. Lane. “I look forward to supporting the great work being done at Texas Children’s Hospital under the direction of (President and CEO) Mark Wallace.”

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 approximately 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 story was written by Texas Southern University Public Relations. This story is published here with permission.

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Morgan State University Announces Multi-Year Financial Technology Program With Silicon Valley-Based Firm

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Ripple Partners with MSU to Fund Education and Research in Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Cybersecurity and Related FinTech Disciplines  

Bolstering its position as a preeminent public urban research institution, Morgan State University (MSU) has received funding from Ripple, a leading Silicon Valley financial technology (“FinTech”) company. The funds will underwrite a five-year academic partnership bringing advanced education and research programs to the University. Morgan joins a select number of institutions now participating in Ripple’s University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI), a global effort designed to further accelerate academic research, technical development and innovation in blockchain, cryptocurrency and digital payments. The UBRI program fosters increased engagement and participation in FinTech among faculty and postdoctoral and graduate students.

Through the efforts of the Center for the Study of Blockchain and FinTech Innovation (the Center) at Morgan’s Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management, the University’s UBRI program will encompass the development of specialized curricula, expansion of academic courses, hosting of conferences and awarding of scholarships to faculty and students pursuing work in blockchain, cryptocurrency, digital payments and related topics. The Center will also serve as a funding hub for other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) seeking to develop their own FinTech initiatives.

“We are absolutely thrilled to announce the UBRI partnership with Ripple, as it further strengthens Morgan’s commitment to advancing the next generation of engineers, entrepreneurs and tech professionals,” said David Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “We are a modern research institution vested in innovation and critical study, and this caliber of transformative higher education is a testament to the progress of our mission. We are very proud that Morgan is among a select number of UBRI partners and the only such partner in our region.”

The UBRI program at Morgan will be housed in and administered by the Graves School in cooperation with the University’s Department of Information Science and Systems, as well as other engineering, computer science, finance and business departments. The addition of UBRI follows a number of other recent advancements within the University’s Computer Science Department and School of Engineering that included the opening of labs and research centers, among them the Cybersecurity Assurance and Policy (CAP) Center.

“Blockchain has the potential to be a disruptor in many businesses and industries, and universities must be flexible to adapt to the changing environment. Based on this premise, we plan to expand our campus-wide engagement in research and curriculum development in blockchain, cryptoeconomics, and FinTech innovation,” said Ali Emdad, Ph.D., associate dean and professor of Information Science for the Graves School. “The Center for the Study of Blockchain plays an important role in providing opportunities to the faculty and students at Morgan and at other HBCUs to push the boundaries in this exciting new space.”

Introduced in June 2018, UBRI supports 29 domestic and international university partners and has cultivated a vibrant global network of researchers and practitioners in its field.

“In less than a year, our initial UBRI partners hit the ground running with the launch of new research projects, events, course offerings and more,” said Eric van Miltenburg, senior vice president of Global Operations at Ripple. “Expanding the ecosystem to a more global, diversified network of UBRI partners, including such esteemed and historic universities as Morgan, will only continue to enrich these projects.”

For more information about Ripple’s University Blockchain Research Initiative and its partners, visit https://ubri.ripple.com.

About University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI)

UBRI is a partnership between Ripple and top universities around the world to support academic research, technical development and innovation in blockchain, cryptocurrency and digital payments. Ripple is providing both financial and technical resources to university partners and collaborates with faculty and students on research and technical projects. UBRI launched in June 2018. Some university partners began conducting research and technical development immediately. All partner programs are expected to be underway by fall 2018.

About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

This story was written by Morgan State University Public Relations. This story is published here with permission.

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Morgan State University Names New Head Football Coach

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BALTIMORE, Md. — Morgan State University Director of Athletics, Edward Scott has announced the hiring of Tyrone Wheatley as its 22nd head football coach effective February 21, 2019.Wheatleybrings an extensive coaching résumé to Morgan State and has experienced tremendous success, both as a player and as a coach, at the professional and collegiate levels.

He comes to the Morgan State Bears after serving the last two seasons under head coach Doug Marrone, as the running backs coach for the National Football League’s (NFL) Jacksonville Jaguars. Wheatley also worked with Marrone at Syracuse University from 2010-12, and then with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills from 2013-14.

As a college assistant coach, Wheatley was one of Michigan’s best recruiters and ranked No. 6 nationally on 247Sports “recruiter rankings.”

“We are thrilled to bring a person and football coach of Tyrone Wheatley’s caliber to Morgan State,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Edward Scott. “Tyrone is an outstanding recruiter and understands the game of football at every level, both as a player and a coach.  We are confident Tyrone can build broad support and engagement in our program while continuing to advance our football program in the classroom and on the playing field.”

“It is with great pleasure and honor that I accept the Head coaching position at Morgan State University. I would like to thank President David Wilson and Mr. Scott for this incredible opportunity,” said Tyrone Wheatley. “I consider it a privilege to lead the young men of Morgan State using football as a vehicle to implement a continuation of development, mentorship, and productivity beyond the field and when their playing days are over. I can’t wait to become united with the city of Baltimore and become woven in the fabric of the community.”

The University will host a press conference on February 12, 2019, at 11 a.m. in the University Student Center to officially introduce Wheatley as Morgan’s new head football coach. The press conference will also be live streamed via the University’s main and athletic websites.

Wheatley finished his Michigan football playing career as the program’s second-leading rusher (now fifth). He was the Big Ten’s “Offensive Player of the Year” in 1992, and also earned All-America honors in the 110-meter hurdles as a track athlete in 1995. He enjoyed a 10-year career in the NFL before starting his coaching career.

Wheatley guided the running backs for the Buffalo Bills from 2013-14 under head coach Doug Marrone. During his time with the Bills, he mentored pros like Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller. The Bills averaged 3.7 yards per rush in 2014 and 4.2 yards per rush in 2013.

Prior to coaching in the NFL, Wheatley spent five seasons in the collegiate ranks. From 2010-2012, he coached running backs at Syracuse University. While with the Orange, he coached Delone Carter to a 1,000-yard season in 2010 and a second-team All-Big East selection. He also helped Syracuse win two Pinstripe Bowls during his tenure (2010, 2012).

Wheatley spent one year each at Eastern Michigan University (2009) and Ohio Northern University (2008) as the running backs coach. At EMU he also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator.

Wheatley got his start in coaching at his high school alma mater, Robichaud located in Dearborn Heights, Mich. in 2007. He took a team that had gone 0-9 before his arrival and led them to a 9-2 record and appearance in the state playoffs. He also coached track and field.

Shortly after retiring from the NFL, Wheatley held two appointments as a Minority Coaching Fellow in the league, first with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006) and then with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2008). While completing his degree at U-M in kinesiology, Wheatley served as a volunteer assistant with the Michigan track and field program (2005-06).

Wheatley played 10 seasons in the NFL after being selected 17th overall by the New York Giants in the 1995 draft. He played in New York through the 1998 season, and then joined the Oakland Raiders. Wheatley played with the Raiders from 1999-2004 and appeared in the 2003 Super Bowl. During his playing career he amassed 6,562 all-purpose yards as a running back and kick returner, and he scored 47 touchdowns.

Wheatley had a distinguished career in the Michigan backfield from 1991-94, including three straight All-Big Ten selections (1992-94). As a sophomore in 1992, he won the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year award and capped that season with a 235-yard game in the Rose Bowl, earning him the game’s MVP award. He rushed for 1,357 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding three receiving TDs and one on a kickoff.

He would break the 1,000-barrier in both his junior and senior seasons as well, totaling 1,129 and 1,144, respectively. Wheatley finished his Michigan career with 4,187 rushing yards, 510 receiving yards, and 53 total touchdowns.

He also had a standout track and field career in the Maize and Blue winning three letters (1993-95). He earned an All-America citation for his eighth-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles at the 1995 NCAA Championships. He won the Big Ten’s Outdoor title in the 110-meter hurdles in 1994. Wheatley still owns top-five times in Michigan history in the 100-meter dash (5th) and 110-meter hurdles (4th).

A native of Inkster, Michigan, Wheatley earned his bachelor’s degree in 2008 from the University of Michigan. He and his wife Kimberly have five children: Tyrone, Jr., Terius, Tyrique, Tiana, and Tamari.

He was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

This story was written by Morgan State University Public Relations. This story is published here with permission.

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Howard University Alum Diddy And Jay-Z Launching New ‘Black-Owed’ App Showing Love To ‘Black Friendly Businesses’ In ‘Any Given City’

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There’s one thing that we all know about Sean “Diddy” Combs and it’s the fact that even when he isn’t working, he’s working. [Que the rapper’s song Workin’.] His new endeavor is nothing short of motivational, however.

GQ magazine interviewed the Howard University alumni and his business partner Jay-Z last year in March to discuss they’re partnership in a new app that is “black-owed” that shows love to “black friendly businesses” and in “any given city.”

The Diddy said, “This is not about taking away from any other community,” he said. “We’ll still go to Chinatown. We’ll still buy Gucci!” He laughed. “But the application will make it possible for us to have an economic community. It’s about blacks gaining economic power.” He and Jay-Z have been talking about this, he said, about moving the race forward actively, by means of: making a lot of money and putting it back into the community.”

Head over to TVOne.com to read more.

Goal Surpassed: Bennett College Raised $8.2 Million To Help Keep Accreditation

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Bennett College‘s deadline to raise $5 million to help keep their accreditation arrived Monday. Following a 90-minute gathering Monday afternoon, school officials announced that they’ve raised $8.2 million.

Hundreds have been working to maintain the school’s accreditation after the board of trustees with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges voted to remove Bennett’s membership due to financial instability in December. 

“When we were cited in December that we would be removed from membership in SACS, we were told that we did not meet one standard, which was financial resources. And so, SACS has 90 to 95 standards, and that’s the only standard we did not meet. So, to that extent we have to produce $5 million to demonstrate financial stability,” Bennett College President, Phyllis Worthy Dawkins said.

“This $5 million can be used to support operations of the institution, can be used to support student gap funds and can be used in a variety of different ways,” Dawkins said. “We also are still liquidating some of our assets, so that does not include that amount (already raised), and we’re also seeking loan forgiveness, so a combination of things will make up the $5 million, so I feel confident we’re going to make it.”

As part of the fundraising goal, High Point University made a $1 million donation on Friday.

Dawkins said she never wants to be in this situation again and has a plan to keep Bennett’s future bright.

“Build an endowment, growing scholarship dollars, re-engineering the institution, changing our business model, looking at market-driven majors, so there’s a variety of things we plan to do,” Dawkins said. 

Dawkins said if they didn’t reach their goal, they would file a lawsuit against the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. If the school was denied accreditation, Dawkins said they would switch to a different accreditation organization.

The formal appeal to keep Bennett College’s accreditation is Feb. 18. They will know the accreditation board’s decision on Feb. 25.

read full via wxii12.com

NCAT Aggie Cheerleader Speaks Against Rape Culture

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To Whom it May Concern:

My name is Raina Gee, a Freshman marketing student and first year member of the Blue Squad Cheerleading team. During the fall semester, I was raped by a graduating senior and former drum major of the Blue and Gold Marching Machine. Upon reporting my case to the Cheerleading coaching staff, I was met with lack of empathy and responsibility for my situation.

Additionally, my coaches failed to follow proper protocol and report the incident on my behalf. I would like to express my deep disgust and disappointment for the negligence and utter disregard that the Cheerleading coaching staff displayed towards my sexual assault case.

In the Sexual Misconduct Handbook, Section 5 lists athletic coaches as responsible employees that are required to report any incident regarding the sexual assault of a student. This means that once a student expresses that they have been sexually assaulted, the LEGAL response from a coach and/or staff as stated in the Sexual Misconduct Handbook is: 

NC A&T is “on notice” once sexual misconduct has been reported to you. As a Responsible Employee, you are expected to report to the Title IX Coordinator within 24 hours of receiving the report.

The Aggie Cheer Staff blatantly failed to do so and further ignored my attempts to discuss the situation with them. Moreover, the month of January will mark two months in which the coaching staff has failed to address and report this incident. I am deeply appalled by not only the blatant negligence, but also their disregard for my safety as a student on this campus. Because of my sexual assault, I have been bullied by members from the Blue Squad Cheerleading team and made to feel as though I am at fault for my assault. I refuse to allow this culture to perpetuate on this campus or within any athletic program.

The treatment that I have received throughout this process from my coaches has not been conducive to my mental and emotional health. Because of the maltreatment that I have experienced and the neglect shown by the cheerleading coaching staff, I am calling for their immediate removal from the North Carolina A&T Cheer Program. It is my belief that if the coaches remain in place, that the culture of sexual assault and victim blaming at the expense of protecting the brand of program will continue.

It is my sincere desire that the university and athletic department further discuss the protocol in place to address sexual assault and that there is thorough training to assure that all employees and athletes are well educated. There is a crucial need for implementation workshops and training related to sexual assault on campus. The lack of support on behalf of the NC A&T cheerleading coaching staff further affirms that we need to actively work to dismantle this cycle of rape culture and oppression of women on this campus! Iam here to say…this ends with ME!

Sincerely,

Raina Gee

Survivor & Concerned Student

Colin Kaepernick Mural In Atlanta Destroyed Days Before Super Bowl

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Just two days before Super Bowl LIII, a prominent mural of Colin Kaepernick was torn down in Atlanta. The mural, which was located on a building that stood across the street from Morehouse College, featured Kaepernick in an Atlanta Falcons uniform according to the Rolling Out

But on the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, the entire building was destroyed.

Created by artist Fabian Williams in 2017, the mural became somewhat of a landmark in Atlanta. People from across the nation would visit the mural to take photos in front of it.

The story of how he discovered the building is interesting as well, according to The Root

Williams, who sometimes paints under the name, “Occasional Superstar,” has painted murals and projects all over the city. He was driving through Atlanta one day when he was struck by the space, which is right across the street from the Morehouse College basketball arena and about a mile from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The wall had been used as a space to promote advertisements for albums, parties and movies. Williams never sought permission to paint on the wall and met the building’s owner once. 

“He said he liked it,” Williams said. “But said that the city was complaining to him about it.”

Also of note, the building was ravaged by a fire about six months ago, but the mural remained unharmed. And with the Super Bowl in town, Williams made plans to spend his weekend touching up the mural prior to the game.

“I figured at some point they would tear the building down, but it has been sitting up this whole time,” Williams said. “The fact that the Super Bowl happens here and the weekend when the festivities are gearing up, the building gets demolished is very odd.”

But despite this setback, Williams remains undeterred. Not only has he painted another Kaepernick mural on a wall on Peeples Street, but he recently completely another mural commissioned by Nike entitled “Where Dreams are Made,” located in Midtown on the side of the Westside Cultural Arts Center.

Coppin State Edges Past Morgan State, 73-71

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BALTIMORE – Dejuan Clayton converted on a three-point play with 27 seconds left to cap off a rally as the Coppin State men’s basketball team defeated rival Morgan State, 73-71 on Saturday afternoon at PEC Arena.  The Eagles have now matched their win total from last season.

The Basics

  • Final Score: Coppin State 73, Morgan State 71
  • Records: Coppin State 5-19 (5-4 MEAC) / Morgan State 8-14 (3-6 MEAC)
  • Location: Baltimore, Md. (PEC Arena)
  • Series History: Coppin State Leads, 58-32

How It Happened
First Half 

  • Both teams battled for position throughout the first half as leads fluctuated for both teams between one and six points.
  • At the 3:51 mark, Ibn Williams made a driving layup to cut the Morgan State lead to 27-26, but the Bears closed the half on a 9-2 run to take a 36-28 halftime lead.

 Second Half 

  • Trailing, 39-30 with 16:57 left, the Eagles went on an 8-1 run, starting with a three by Cedric Council and a three-point play by Dejuan Clayton, cutting the deficit to a single bucket.
  • Morgan built the lead back up to six with 9:38 to go but Taqwain Drummond found Council wide open underneath for a slam, and Lamar Morgan buried a three to pull within 51-50 at the 9:09 mark.
  • Following a Bears bucket, Morgan tied the score at the 7:18 mark and again at 57 with 5:58 to play after a couple triples.
  • The teams traded baskets but Kent Auslander buried a three from the corner, giving CSU a 62-59 lead with 4:28 left.  It was the Eagles’ first lead since the 5:47 mark of the first half.
  • Kyson Rawls answered for Morgan with a three to tie the score back up but Auslander hit another three on the ensuing possession, putting the Eagles back on top with 3:34 left.
  • A three-point play by Morgan’s David Syfax tied the score but Dejuan Clayton hit a pair of free throws and found Auslander for a layup to give the Eagles a 69-65 advantage with 2:38 left.
  • Sherwyn Devonish cut the lead in half with a layup with 39 seconds to go but Clayton answered as he drove for a layup and converted on the and-one with 27 seconds remaining to seal the win.
  • Morgan tried desperately to get back with a couple free throws but a free throw by Morgan put an end to that as he gave the Eagles a 73-69 lead with seconds remaining.

Inside the Numbers

  • Dejuan Clayton finished with 16 points, six rebounds and matched a career-high with eight assists.  The redshirt sophomore was brilliant in the second half, going for 11 points, five rebounds and seven assists to no turnovers.
  • Lamar Morgan added 15 points while making four three-pointers and Cedric Council was also in double figures with 13 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots.
  • Taqwain Drummond also chipped in with nine points and six rebounds while Chad Andrews-Fulton was all over the box score once again with seven points, a game-high nine rebounds, two blocks and three steals.
  • Kent Auslander came up big once again down the stretch, scoring eight points while grabbing five rebounds. All eight of his points came in the final five minutes as he hit back-to-back three’s.
  • Sherwyn Devonish led all scorers with 19 points as three other players added ten points each for Morgan State.
  • Coppin outshot Morgan, 40.0% to 35.7% and held the Bears to just 30.6% shooting in the second half.  The Eagles held a 49-44 advantage on the boards.

HBCU Grad, Darius Leonard Awarded Defensive Rookie of the Year

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ATLANTA, GA – Former South Carolina State star Darius Leonard was honored by the Associated Press as the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year at the NFL Honors show in Atlanta on Saturday night.

Leonard, who was a 2nd round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2018 Draft, led the NFL in tackles this season with 163 and was 2nd among all rookies with 7 sacks.

Among rookies in 2018, Leonard ranked in the top-10 in tackles (first), tackles for loss (second), sacks (second), passes defensed (ninth), interceptions (tied-seventh), forced fumbles (first) and fumble recoveries (tied-first).

Leonard earned numerous awards this season, including AFC Defensive Player of the Month (December), AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 2, Week 17), Defensive Rookie of the Month (September) and NFL Rookie of the Week (Week 2, Week 8).

was honored by the Associated Press as the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year at the NFL Honors show in Atlanta on Saturday night.

Leonard, who was a 2nd round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2018 Draft, led the NFL in tackles this season with 163 and was 2nd among all rookies with 7 sacks.

Among rookies in 2018, Leonard ranked in the top-10 in tackles (first), tackles for loss (second), sacks (second), passes defensed (ninth), interceptions (tied-seventh), forced fumbles (first) and fumble recoveries (tied-first).

Leonard earned numerous awards this season, including AFC Defensive Player of the Month (December), AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 2, Week 17), Defensive Rookie of the Month (September) and NFL Rookie of the Week (Week 2, Week 8).

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. to Present Bennett College with $100,000 Endowment

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GREENSBORO, N.C. – Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the country’s oldest African-American sorority, has pledged an endowment in the amount of $100,000 to Bennett College. The gift is one of the largest the Institution has received since announcing on Dec.11, 2018, that it must raise a minimum of $5 million to remain accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded on Jan. 15, 1908, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. The sorority has about 300,000 members worldwide. Notable members include Congresswoman Kamala Harris, who this week announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, actress Phylicia Rashad and author Toni Morrison.

Bennett College President Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins was notified of the gift in a letter from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. International President Dr. Glenda Glover, who said the sorority wanted to support Bennett because of its national goal to support and make an impact on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The endowment will be presented at a Black History Month gathering of HBCU presidents at Alpha Kappa Alpha’s International Headquarters in Chicago.

“As an HBCU graduate and someone who has dedicated my life’s work to the HBCU community, I personally know the impact that establishing an endowment has on a student’s enrollment or graduation prospects,” said Glover. “Our organization has established the AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund with the goal of investing in the future of our young people and the sustainability of our treasured Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Over the next four years, we have pledged to donate a total of $10 million towards the endowment. We are honored to provide Bennett College with their full endowment immediately to support their fundraising goals.”

Dawkins said the Bennett College family is grateful to Alpha Kappa Alpha for the generous donation. In addition, local AKA chapters have been very supportive of Bennett.

“On behalf of the Bennett College Board of Trustees, as well as our faculty, staff and students, I can’t thank President Glover and the members of AKA enough for their donation to Bennett College,” Dawkins said. “While we appreciate all of the support Bennett has received from individuals, foundations and corporations, substantial gifts like the one from AKA will go a long way toward helping us reach our fundraising goal of a minimum of $5 million by Feb. 1. We are truly appreciative to the women of AKA for their amazing support.”

On Dec. 11, 2018, Bennett College was removed from membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Bennett immediately appealed the decision and remains accredited during the appeal process. Bennett was removed strictly for financial reasons and was not issued sanctions against its academics, leadership, faculty or students.

Founded in 1873 as a coeducational institution, Bennett became women’s only in 1926. Spelman College in Atlanta is the country’s only other all-women’s HBCU.

Bennett has a history of producing outstanding women leaders, including: the first woman or African-American to head the U.S. Peace Corps; the screenplay writer for “The Loving Story,” which in 2016 was made into an Academy Award-nominated motion picture; the Deputy Minority Leader in the N.C. General Assembly; the first African-American female dentist in Indiana; the first African-American woman to serve as an Assistant Attorney General in Massachusetts; the first woman to hold the position of Director of Drug Program and Policies within the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA); and the first active teacher and youngest person to be elected to the Berkeley (California) Unified School District School Board.

Current Bennett students and recent grads are also impressive, including senior business administration major Tyler Binion, who was selected among 63 students to serve as a Competitiveness Scholar through the White House Initiative on HBCUs, and Delrisha White ’13, who enrolled in Bennett from the foster care system in San Francisco and became SGA President.  She graduated with honors and is now earning her master’s degree at Harvard.

Ways to give to Bennett College:

  • Online: bennett.edu/donate
  • Text2Give: Text the word BELLES to the number 444999
  • Cash App: $StandwithBennett
  • S. Mail: Send a check to Bennett College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 900 E. Washington St., Greensboro, N.C. 27401

NCAT Alumna, Jessica De Vault Hale Named Hype Hair New Editor-in-chief

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Hype Hair, the industry-leading magazine for African-American women and hairstylists, has announced its new editor-in-chief, Jessica De Vault Hale. A seasoned journalist with nearly 15 years of experience in the print media and fashion industries, Hale has also been charged with overseeing the rebrand of the reputable magazine.

The January/February 2019 edition debuting her new direction will be available to subscribers and participating salons on Feb. 7. Hype Hair will feature a fresh new design and purpose in print and online, focusing its sights on hair and beauty trends for African American women and men while digging deeper into the culture of Black haircare. Click here to view the upcoming print edition cover featuring songstress Marsha Ambrosius, and the digital cover featuring Atlanta-based rapper Yung Joc, the first man to ever grace the cover of Hype Hair!

“It was important to me that Hype Hair extends beyond a hairstyle look book. That component is important, but there are endless opportunities to explore when it comes to our self-expression through hair, beauty, and celebration of Black style,” Hale said.

“Hype Hair has been a staple in Black salons for decades, and there’s room for it to grow and evolve just as our unique hairstyles do. I grew up with this namesake magazine and appreciate the work that former editor Adrienne Moore has accomplished,” she added. ‘For this reason, I plan to take great care in elevating Hype Hair to the next level for this generation while building on its legacy.”

Hale joins the Hype Hair team while maintaining her editor-in-chief
position at OTC Beauty Magazine, a trade publication that serves the multicultural beauty supply industry. There, she is responsible for partnering with major ethnic beauty brands to connect with beauty supply stores via the monthly magazine.

Prior to that, she worked independently as an editorial stylist for a North Carolina women’s magazine and as a branding consultant for a clientele of entrepreneurs and small business brands. She’s also an award-winning journalist, having won The New York Times Chairman’s Award and the NABJ Chuck Stone Salute to Excellence Award. A graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Hale’s unique background in print media, fashion, and branding have well equipped her for the task of revamping Hype Hair.

Hale is joined in this endeavor by Hannah Aryee, who serves as the magazine’s new art director, and long-time editorial team, Adrienne Moore, the former Hype Hair editor-turned-publisher; and Digital Media Director Stephenetta (isis) Harmon.

Norfolk State to Retire Kyle O’Quinn’s Jersey

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NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State University will retire Kyle O’Quinn’s No. 10 Spartan jersey at NSU’s home game against North Carolina Central on Feb. 16, the athletics department announced on Monday.

O’Quinn will be the third player in NSU men’s basketball history to have his jersey number retired, joining Bobby Dandridge (No. 12) and David Pope (No. 34). O’Quinn will be honored during halftime of the NSU-NCCU Alumni Day men’s game on Feb. 16, which tips off at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Dandridge, Pope and the five NSU women’s players with their numbers retired were honored last Saturday in a ceremony at the NSU-Maryland Eastern Shore game.

After playing a key reserve role as a freshman on NSU’s MEAC Tournament runner-up team in 2009, O’Quinn earned three straight All-MEAC awards. He was a second-team All-MEAC choice as a sophomore in 2010, then was a two-time All-MEAC first-team selection in 2011 and 2012. O’Quinn averaged 11.5 points and 8.8 rebounds as a sophomore before posting back-to-back seasons where he averaged a double-double: 16.4 points and 11.1 rebounds in 2010-11, and 15.9 points and 10.3 rebounds in 2011-12.

But O’Quinn will forever be remembered for his magical senior season in 2011-12. That year, he won his second straight MEAC Defensive Player of the Year award, and became the first player in MEAC history to win both the MEAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season. He capped that off by earning MEAC tournament Most Outstanding Performer honors after leading the Spartans, who went 26-10, to their first-ever MEAC tournament title and NCAA Division I tournament berth.

From there, O’Quinn led NSU to what was (at the time) just the fifth-ever upset by a No. 15 seed over a No. 2 seed in NCAA tournament history, as the Spartans knocked off Missouri 86-84 behind O’Quinn’s 26 points and 14 rebounds. Missouri was ranked No. 3 in the national polls entering the tournament and was a Final Four favorite of many prognosticators. To this day, ESPN ranks the upset as the biggest in NCAA tournament history in terms of point spread. O’Quinn rode that performance and new-found fame to several more honors, including the Lou Henson Award for the nation’s top mid-major player – a first for an HBCU player.

O’Quinn was picked by the Orlando Magic in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft. He was the first Spartan drafted since 1988 and first MEAC player drafted since 1998. He played six seasons with both the Magic and then the New York Knicks before signing with the Indiana Pacers for the 2018-19 season.

O’Quinn still ranks as the top shot-blocker in NSU history, with 283. He also ranks seventh in program annals in rebounds (1,092), 10th in field-goal percentage (55.3) and 15th in scoring (1,607 points). He is still the only two-time winner of the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Award.

O’Quinn will be inducted into the MEAC Hall of Fame in March.