Page 399 – HBCU Buzz

Tennessee State Comes From Behind To Top FAMU, 30-14

Posted on Sep 28, 2015

The Tigers took advantage of good field position to charge back and steal a win over rival Florida A&M on Saturday night. Tennessee State improved to 3-1 with a 30-14 win over the FAMU (0-4) in front of 18,020 at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Coming out of halftime, the Rattlers went for the big play on the second snap from scrimmage. Carson Royal found Kareem Smith for a 46 yard touchdown toss giving FAMU a 14-7 lead with 12:05 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

The Tigers would respond in a big way, by scoring 23 unanswered points.

The tide started to turn when punter Austin Rowley pinned the Rattlers with a 48 yard punt to the 10. The defense held tight and forced FAMU to punt from their own end zone, creating strong field position for the Tigers.

TSU would need just six plays to move 47 yards for the game tying score. On a third and 15 from the FAMU 38, Ronald Butler launched a ball towards Dantwaun O’Neal, but a Rattler defender was there to break up the play. The ball bounded in a fortunate way for the Tigers and into the arms of Patrick Smith in the end zone.

Rowley would come through again on his next attempt. The freshman had his shortest punt of the evening at 37 yards, but the ball would be downed at the one yard line. Three plays later, Jason Morrow broke through the offensive line and hit running back Devondric Nealy behind the goal line to record a safety and gave the Tigers its first lead of the game at 16-14 with 44 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

News

Philander Smith Hosts Hillary Clinton’s Grassroots Meeting

HBCU Editors

Posted on Sep 28, 2015

Philander Smith College hosted an approximate 1,000 guests who flocked to campus for a grassroots organizing meeting with Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton on Monday, September 21st in Little Rock. PSC President Dr. Roderick L. Smothers introduced the former first lady whose public service resume also includes stints as a U.S. Senator and U.S. Secretary of Defense.

During Clinton’s appearance, the PSC Drumline performed to an enthusiastic crowd. They were followed by PSC Student Government Association President Tanisha Manning ’16 whose address energized the attendees and set the tone for the remainder of the event.

Following her remarks, Clinton greeted the crowd and had a brief, private “photo opp” with members of the drumline. Coordinated by the Clinton Campaign, the non-ticketed event was free and open to the public. This article originally appeared on PS

Buzzing News

Central State University Receives Nearly $600,000 to Create an Ag-STEM Institute

HBCU Editors

Posted on Sep 27, 2015

Central State University Newsroom

Central State University will create an Ag-STEM Institute to prepare youth and college students for careers in agriculture.

Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown announced an award of $599,997 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund the program. The funds are from the Department of Agriculture’s 1890 Capacity Building Grants Program.

“The agricultural research and education fostered at 1890 land-grant institutions supports farming and production nationwide,” Brown said. “These federal resources will help Central State University continue its long tradition of providing Ohio students with a quality education that allows graduates to obtain jobs in one of Ohio’s leading industries.”

As an 1890 Land-Grant University, Central State University is expanding its highly regarded STEM curriculum to include teaching, research and extension initiatives in the area of sustainable agriculture.

The goals of the Ag-STEM Institute are to:

Increase the recruitment and retention of African Americans and minorities into Agriculture-related STEM majors
at Central State
Develop a pipeline of minority graduate workforce with the appropriate technical and professional skills to fulfill the employment requirement for USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture and related Agriculture businesses in the nation.
Enhance Ag-STEM career awareness and interests for Youth in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

Buzzing News

Louisiana HBCUs Partner During National Hazing Prevention Week for “A Conversation about Hazing” with Michael J. Morton

HBCU Editors

Posted on Sep 27, 2015

NEW ORLEANS— Dillard, Southern in Baton Rouge, Southern University at New Orleans, and Xavier are partnering to focus on the issue of hazing. Students from the four schools will engage in a discussion on the subject with Michael J. Morton, an ex-convict, turned corporate and civic leader, whose life was forever changed as a result of hazing. On September 24, at 7 p.m., during “A Conversation about Hazing: The Trials and Truth,” Morton will share the pivotal moments of his experience and its impact on his life.

The event will be held in Lawless Memorial Chapel on Dillard’s campus. Morton’s talk coincides with National Hazing Prevention Week, September 21-25. Locally, Dillard students, including athletes, Greek organizations and support groups, will visit area schools and the university will host several workshops leading up to the lecture and Q&A session with Morton.

In 2006, Morton was an honors student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Florida A&M University. He served as president of the Student Body Senate and two consecutive terms as president, of the Alpha Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. The course of his life was altered after he and four of his fraternity brothers were charged with hazing. In a nationally publicized trial, he was convicted of hazing and received a two-year prison sentence. The judge in the case said she wanted to send a message with the state’s first prosecution under a felony hazing law.

After serving his sentence, Morton went on to finish his bachelor’s degree at Florida A&M and earned a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Rutgers University. Morton was recently appointed to the Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering advisory council for the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

Morton believes in “paying it forward” and has a strong desire to help those in most need. He serves on the Board of Directors for Pentorship, an educational products company that provides skills-based training to incarcerated persons. He actively volunteers with Junior Achievement, the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and free enterprise. Morton is also a member and former Secretary of the New Jersey INROADS alumni association, an organization whose mission is to develop talented underserved youth and connect them with opportunities in business and industry, while preparing them for corporate and community leadership.

Now, Morton comes to Dillard University to deliver a candid, personal and empowering talk about his journey and the realities of hazing.

The remaining Brain Food lineup continues with diverse and powerful speakers. All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information please call (504) 816-4800 or visit www.dillard.edu/brainfood.

Upcoming lectures:

September 24-Michael J. Morton

“A Conversation about Hazing: The Trials and Truth”

Hazing Prevention Week Event

Lawless Chapel, 7 p.m.

October 21-Karrine Steffans

New York Times Best Selling Author

“Vindicated: Confessions of a Video Vixen 10 Years Later”

Georges Auditorium, 7 p.m.

November 20-Dance Theater of Harlem

Cook Auditorium, TBD

http://www.dancetheatreofharlem.org/

The Revius O. Oritque Jr. Lecture on Law and Society

November 23

Bryan Stevenson

Attorney, human rights activist, Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, and author of “Just Mercy”

Georges Auditorium, 7 p.m.

http://www.prhspeakers.com/speaker/bryan-stevenson/

Football

Hornets Get First Win of the Season, Roll Past Mississippi Valley State 45-15

HBCU Editors

Posted on Sep 27, 2015

ITTA BENA, Miss. (AP) — Ellis Richardson rushed for three touchdowns and passed for two more to lead Alabama State to its first victory, 45-15 over Mississippi Valley State on Saturday night.

The Hornets (1-3, 1-2 Southwestern Athletic) rolled up 444 yards offense in picking up their sixth consecutive victory over the Delta Devils (0-4, 0-3).

Richardson was 11-of-18 passing for 127 yards with touchdown throws to Joshua Davis and Wyndell Archie. He was intercepted twice. Richardson rushed for 98 yards on 17 carries, including a 41-yard score early in the fourth quarter for a 38-9 lead.

Richardson scored on a 3-yard run then threw a 9-yard scoring pass to Davis in the first quarter. David Albert added a field goal for a 17-3 halftime lead.

The Hornets’ Alex Anderson rushed for a 9-yard score in the third quarter.

Booker Chambers had a touchdown run and reception for the Delta Devils.

Football

Moses Skillon Throws 2 TD Passes as Bears Beat Bison 21-13

HBCU Editors

Posted on Sep 27, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — Moses Skillon threw two touchdowns as Morgan State defeated Howard 21-13 in Mid-Eastern Conference play on Saturday.

Skillon completed 16 of 29 passes for 211 yards for the Bears (1-2, 1-0). Andrew King caught both of his touchdowns and finished with 115 yards receiving.

Orlando Johnson’s 3-yard scoring run in the first quarter and Skillon’s two TD passes to King put Morgan State up 21-0 midway through the second quarter. Skillon had the Bears on the move again on their next possession, connecting with Ricky Fisk for a 7-yard pickup. But Fisk fumbled and the ball was recovered by Howard’s Craig Johnson who took it 27 yards for a Bison touchdown, closing the gap to 21-7 at halftime.

In the second half, Morgan State went scoreless and gave up two field goals by Howard’s John Fleck.

Kalen Johnson threw for 96 yards with one interception for the Bison (0-4, 0-2).

___

AP college football website: http://collegefootball.ap.org

Football

FAMU Rattlers Losing Streak Continues, Defense ‘Stood Up Strong’

Tommy G. Meade Jr.

Posted on Sep 27, 2015

Tigers Score 23 Unanswered Points for 30-14 Win Over Florida A&M — Photo credit: TSUTigers.com

The FAMU Rattlers, 0-4, couldn’t stop the hot offensive play in the second half by the TSU Tigers on Saturday.

The Rattlers let a 14-7 lead going into the 3^rd quarter at Bragg Memorial stadium—their home opener game against a rival school—slip away against the Tigers, who improves to 3-1 this season.

The Rattlers lost a tough game. But their defense played pretty well, and, perhaps, may be a sign of better things to come during the rest of the season. From FAMU Athletics:

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: The Rattler Defense stood up strong for the most part Saturday, holding TSU to 370 yards, well under their pre-game average…. FAMU rushed for 40 yards on 27 carries, led by Nealy’s 20-yards on five carries…. QB Carson Royal passed for 161 yards and a score, on 10 of 21 passing, while Brandon Norwood led with four receptions for 47 yards…. Ronald Butler of TSU went 16-for-34, for 194 yards and three TDs through the air, while Tevin Hooks led the Tigers’ ground game with 117 yards on 13 carries, and Patrick Smith topped the TSU receiving charts with seven grabs for 109 yards and two scores…. LB Akil Blount had 11 tackles to lead the FAMU defense, with DT Michael Lovejoy and LB Kashawn Butler each getting five solo stops.

Here’s what’s next for the Rattlers:

The Rattlers head to Savannah, Georgia to face winless Savannah State next Saturday, October 3 at 7 p.m. in T.A. Wright Stadium.

The Real HU: What You Missed at the 2015 Nations Football Classic

Posted on Sep 21, 2015

The Nations Football Classic, the ultimate historically black college and university (HBCU) reunion, proved to be a very eventful experience. The star-studded weekend united two college rivals, not just for sports, but to remind us of the true HBCU experience. Amidst several Congressional Black Caucus events and with festivities geared around tradition, service, unity, and heritage, the Nations Football Experience (NFE) found a perfect balance of fun and purpose.

Beginning on Wednesday, the NFE began with “Innovators Classic” featuring opportunities for some of the nation’s brightest minds to engage through an event aimed at celebrating diversity in the worlds of tech and entrepreneurship. Thursday, the official kick-off rally, a free concert at Howard University’s Cramton auditorium featured musical guest Monica. Friday’s agenda was jam-packed, beginning in the morning with a distinguished panel of representatives discussing community and police relations around the country.

Friday afternoon, Howard and Hampton University students presented their best orators for the student debate and later enjoyed the college fair presented with the Congress Black College Foundation, celebrity TV and radio personality Sheryl Underwood as moderator. Musical artists Tink and 2 Chainz performed live at the Pepsi Fan Festival, and the festivities brought out celebrities including musical artist Raheem DeVaughn, the Washington Wizards basketball players Alan Anderson, John Wall, Kelly Paul Oubre Jr., actors Lance Gross and Lamman Rucker, AJ Calloway, actress Brely Evans, professional football player Keith Pough. The hype did not stop in the last quarter of the game. On Saturday, the H Street Festival featured live music, food, and a showcase of the arts. On Sunday, chapel service took place on Howard University’s campus and attendees collaborated with local initiative #HashtagLunchbagDC to service the community.

Aside from the fun and games, several grants and scholarships were distributed to hard working students and graduates.

During the fun and games, there was also time to reward hard-working HBCU students and graduates. Howard alumni and US Marine Corps Lt. Col. Daniel Sparks awarded a $150k to Howard student Breanna Lipsey. Pepsi awarded two students, Justina Mofett and DeNoire Henderson with the “All for the Real HU” grant of $2,500. AT&T, the official sponsors of the weekend, presented both Howard and Hampton University with checks for $10k. The DC Lottery was also onsite, making several people winners.

This weekend, both Howard and Hampton represented HBCU pride at its finest. One HU proved to be a little more “real” than the other. After shining during the “The Game before the Game”, the official student debate and winning the 2015 Nations Football Classic football game 37-19, the Hampton University pirates have much to brag about as they return to their Home by the Sea.

Join the ultimate HBCU reunion experience next year, Saturday, September 17, 2016. For more information visit nationsfootballclassic.com

Advice

How To Survive A Group Project In College

HBCU Editors

Posted on Sep 20, 2015

Group work is a necessary part of college. Collaborative learning is becoming a central element in the educational system, and many school projects depend on solid team effort to be successful. Some students embrace group work, while others despise it. Here are some tips on how to handle the dynamics inside a group so that you end up with a better grade and a positive group experience.

Expect Strong Personalities in Your Group

Professors are fond of assigning group projects. Sometimes, the professors would let the students choose their own group, but more often than not, they choose the group members themselves. You’re lucky if you end up with teammates that are easy to work with, but unless you have total control of choosing your group, be prepared to have members that will make life more difficult for everyone during the course of the project.

Focus on Ideas Rather Than Personalities

The key to dealing with potentially problematic members is to focus more on their ideas than their delivery of these ideas. More often than not, we are blinded by the personality of an individual and can’t see anything beyond that. A negative group member may have ideas that seem viable but no one wants to try it because the person delivering the ideas is unlikable. On the other hand, a personable group member may be contributing little to the project but everyone wants the person around because of the fun he or she brings to the group.

List every idea that comes from the members and take note of the person who shared a particular idea just in case you need to ask follow up questions. Be objective when discussing suggestions with your group members. Always present the pros and cons of a particular idea in a way that the members can judge for themselves which ones would work well for the group without any consideration of who pitched the idea in the first place.

Head over to HBCU Lifestyle to read more.

Football

CSU Marauders Off To Best Start Since ’96

HBCU Editors

Posted on Sep 20, 2015

COLUMBIA, South Carolina – The Central State Marauders put up two early touchdowns and didn’t look back in a 24-0 road victory over SIAC opponent Benedict College on Saturday night.

Coming off a 49 point performance in last week’s victory of Clark-Atlanta, quarterback Marquis Wells and the CSU offense picked up where they left off, opening with a 75 yard touchdown drive on the first possession of the game. After a Wells miscue that resulted in an interception on the second drive, the junior quarterback quickly rebounded with a 40 yard touchdown strike to Christopher Murray on CSU’s third possession to put CSU up 14-0 with 5 seconds left in the 1st quarter.

While the offense was finding early success for the second straight week, the Marauder defense continued its relentless attack on opposing quarterbacks, posting 3 first half sacks on freshman Kalu Onumah. The defense also held the BC rushing attack to just 2 yards in the first 30 minutes of play to maintain a 14-0 lead at half.

“Our focus was getting to their quarterback early,” CSU coach Cedric Pearl said. “We knew that if we could get him off his game and make his night uncomfortable that we would have a great chance to win.”

With the defense holding the Tiger offense at bay, CSU running back Isaiah Grooms put the Marauders up 21-0 at the 4:09 mark of the 3rd quarter with a 28 yard rush. Kicker John Adams would add insurance on a 32 yard field goal at the conclusion of the quarter to give CSU the 24-0 lead.

With no question on the outcome, Coach Pearl and the Marauders were able to successfully run out the clock for most of the 4th quarter on their way to back-to-back road wins for the first time since 2007.

“It means a lot for this program to find success on the road,” Pearl said. “These last two road wins have helped with our confidence as we prepare for the Circle City Classic next week.”

With Saturday night’s victory, the Marauders (2-1) are off to the best start since 1996. The shutout performance by the Marauder defense was the first since a 22-0 victory over Lincoln back in 2009. CSU also improved its all-time record to 3-1 against Benedict, who fell to 0-3 on the season.

CSU’s rushing attack was able to dictate the pace of play, outgaining Benedict by 232 yards. Wells along with running backs Isaiah Grooms and Jihad Rasheed finished with 60+ rushing yards each. The defense combined for 5 sacks, 9 tackles for a loss and 1 interception. Linebacker Deonate Gary led the defensive charge with 6 tackles, including two huge stops on 3rd down to force BC punts.

“We will enjoy the victory tonight and turn our focus to Kentucky State tomorrow,” Pearl said. “We will continue to work on getting better in all phases of the game heading into next week’s contest in Indianapolis.”

The Marauders and Thorobreds reignite a rivalry that dates back to 1947 next Saturday at the 32nd Circle City Classic in Lucas Oil Stadium. The Marauders currently hold a 35-19-1 advantage in the all-time series with the only tie coming in 1957. In addition to playing in a NFL stadium, this year’s Circle City Classic will be featured on ESPN3 with the kickoff scheduled for 3 pm.

Via Central State Athletics

News

Spelman Continues to Reign Supreme

HBCU Editors

Posted on Sep 18, 2015

Afro American

Spelman College remained at the top of the heap in the U.S. News and World Report’s annual ranking of historically Black colleges and universities.

The publication recently issued its yearly ranking of the best tertiary education institutions in the United States, including the best national universities, best public schools, best national liberal arts colleges, and best HBCUs.

As it was last year, Atlanta’s Spelman College—a liberal arts college for women—was considered No. 1 among the nation’s HBCUs, and Howard University in Washington, D.C., remained a step behind. Hampton University in Virginia moved up a rung to third place, however, switching places with Morehouse College in Atlanta, which moved from third place to fourth. Rounding out the top five was Tuskegee University in Alabama, maintaining the spot it has held for the past two years.

Completing the top 10, in order of rank, were: Xavier University, of New Orleans; Fisk University, of Nashville, Tenn.; Claflin University, of Orangeburg, S.C., which moved up one spot from last year; North Carolina A&T State University, of Greensboro, N. C., which also moved up one rank; and Florida A&M University, of Tallahassee, Fla., which moved down two positions from last year. read more

News

Cheyney University Fights to Survive

HBCU Editors

Posted on Sep 18, 2015

Inside Higher Ed

CHEYNEY, Pa. — One of the oldest historically black colleges in the United States is fighting to survive.

Cheyney University, a small, rural public institution in Pennsylvania, faces challenges on nearly every front. The institution’s students have been leaving in droves, and enrollment is down by about half since 2008. With its state funding slashed by 20 percent during that time, the university has a deficit of nearly $19 million.

The university has mismanaged many of its administrative functions, which are deeply disorganized — a widely held view, including by supporters of the institution. During one recent admissions cycle, scores of forgotten and unreviewed applications were lost and then rediscovered too late, sources say.

A recent review found that Cheyney, which has no financial reserves and no endowment, may have to repay as much as $30 million in federal aid funds because it didn’t properly administer or track them.

Many of its facilities are outdated and in disrepair. It hasn’t had a permanent president in more than a year, and no search is underway for one. Its six-year graduation rate is 26 percent, low even among historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) like Cheyney, which serve many disadvantaged students and historically have rates below 55 percent, the average national rate reported by the National Student Clearinghouse. read more

Buzzing News

HBCUs Look Online

HBCU Editors

Posted on Sep 18, 2015

Inside Higher Ed

One of the largest historically black university in the U.S. wants to grow even larger, and the university’s leaders believe online education can help them get there.

North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University last year edged past Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University to claim the title of the country’s largest historically black university, but it did so by staying put. Florida A&M’s enrollment has fallen; North Carolina A&T’s has hovered below 11,000 students for nearly a decade. This fall, once again, enrollment sits at 10,875, a slight increase of 141 from the previous year.

As the university aspires to reach 13,500 students by 2020 and 15,000 in the following decade, academic leaders see diversity — both in demographics and academic offerings — as a path to growth. That includes creating new online programs, as well as marketing to working adults, members of the military and students who left college before they could graduate — all initiatives that would make the university less dependent on the traditional college-age student. The news was first reported by the Greensboro News & Record.

“We can’t just solely focus on the base we’ve had in the past,” said Joe. B. Whitehead Jr., provost and vice president for academic affairs. “In order to help enrollment grow, we have to look at different mechanisms to engage students in general. We can’t solely focus on the traditional 18- to 22-year-old.”

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have traditionally been slower than other institutions to create online courses and programs. Some high-profile attempts to do so, such as Pearson’s partnership with Howard University, have fallen apart. But as HBCUs — and indeed much of higher education — contemplate how to stay relevant in the face of financial challenges and demographic shifts, online education continues to climb on their list of proposed strategies. read more

News

15 Reasons Going to an HBCU is an Experience Like No Other

HBCU Editors

Posted on Sep 18, 2015

Huffington Post

The roads of HBCUs are paved in black magic.

The more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the nation act as a safe space for black students to grow, learn and express themselves. Some may argue that predominantly white institutions (known as PWIs) provide a more realistic picture of the society black students enter after graduation, but HBCU students aren’t ill-prepared by any means.

As a proud graduate of Howard University, one of the top HBCUs in the nation, I feel more than equipped to successfully maneuver through a racially biased world — and trust me, I’m holding my black power fist while I do.

HBCUs are just as special as they are unique. Here are 15 reasons why:

1. The yard runneth over with black excellence.
Students in your class are usually balancing the work of several classes, an internship, pledging a sorority or fraternity and likely hold a position on the royal court (a group led by a king and queen who help serve the student body) all without breaking a sweat. How, Sway?

2. HBCU alumni paved the way.
Graduates of HBCUs have impacted almost every industry or movement that has existed over the last century or so. Just a few examples are Morehouse graduate Martin Luther King, Jr., Howard University graduate Toni Morrison, Tennessee State University graduate Oprah Winfrey and Lincoln University graduate Langston Hughes. read more

News

Howard Class of 2010: Striving to Change HBCU Alumni Giving

Posted on Sep 17, 2015

How much money can you raise in a week? How much would you keep ?

One Howard University class has uncommonly awesome answers to both questions. The Class of 2010 Howard University Bison are at it again. Celebrating their fifth-year reunion and the second We Are Howard campaign, the class of 2010 is again set out to:

Encourage alumni and students to make smart, worthwhile investments by donating to their institutions through leading by example with the We Are Howard campaign
Fund scholarships, providing assistance to Howard University students who need financial assistance in order to graduate
Cultivate an increased, ripple effect in alumni giving, especially at historically black colleges and universities

Last year, the We Are Howard campaign raised $104,534.00, from 930 donors, changing 15 lives, forever. With over 800 new alumni donors to Howard, the We Are Howard campaigned raised the alumni giving percent by an entire percentage. Recent graduates themselves, the class of 2010 stresses the importance of donating to one’s Alma Mater, with crafty messages, for example highlighting that the suggested donation is comparable to the cost of an average party or homecoming ticket, but much greater in value.

According to a list generated from Council for Aid to Education report, in 2013, alumni contributions rose 9 percent. Of $33.8 billion, alumni contribution is responsible for 26.6 percent. On average, 12 percent of alumni donated to each school on the list. Historically black college and university (HBCU) giving is calculated at just below 10 percent. Ten HBCUs have unusually high alumni giving rates:

Claflin University – 43 %

Spelman College – 37.3 %

Morehouse College – 29.3 %

Tuskegee University – 23 %

Livingstone College – 21.4 %

Fort Valley State University – 17.2 %

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff – 13.6 %

Johnson C. Smith University – 13.5 %

Tougaloo College – 12.9 %

One Howard University class alone is increasing its rank in national alumni giving rankings and putting a serious deposit into the bank account of its Alma Mater. This year, the We Are Howard campaign set out to raise $20,100, originating from “2010”, the class’ graduation year. Five days into the campaign, over 165 donors have contributed more than $23k. Most individual donors have given on the “Hero Level”, giving $167 and receiving a commemorative 5-year anniversary package including access to various events during the Howard University homecoming weekend. The campaign urges a $67 donation in honor of the year Howard University was founded, 1867. All donations are welcomed with much appreciation. The donation is tax-deductible and most of the proceeds are given to the We Are Howard campaign, supporting Howard University students (funds also reimburse fees and fund commemorative packages). For more information and to make a donation to the We Are Howard campaign, visit wearehoward.com and HU2010.org.

Entertainment

NC A&T and UNC Marching Bands Team Up For Katy Perry

HBCU Editors

Posted on Sep 15, 2015

Daily Tarheel

The Marching Tar Heels welcomed the N.C. Agricultural and Technical State University marching band for a Katy Perry-themed half-time show collaboration at the UNC vs. N.C. A&T football game on Saturday.

Jeffrey Fuchs, director of UNC’s university bands, said it was a no-brainer to collaborate with the Blue and Gold Marching Machine.

“It is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Fuchs said. “When we saw that A&T was on the schedule, we started the process in motion to make sure that we could collaborate.”

UNC color guard member Akilah Williams shared in the excitement.

“A&T has a pretty well-respected band, especially in the black community,” Williams said. “So it was really cool to be able to see them in person.”

The two bands combined their differing styles of marching for the performance. The Marching Tar Heels practice a corps style, which is based on military marching with the use of a color guard, Williams said.

“We focus more on precision with the formations and making sure that the music is right and sounds good,” Williams said. The Marching Machine is a show style band, often seen in bands from historically black colleges and universities, said Lamon Lawhorn, assistant director of bands at A&T.

“Typically HBCU bands play popular or radio tunes and HBCU performances incorporate some type of dance routine towards the middle or end of their show,” Lawhorn said.

The bands did most of the preparation for the performance separately. After less than two hours of combined practice, Fuchs and Lawhorn both felt that the performance was well received by the audience.

“I think it went exceptionally well,” Lawhorn said. “Most students here are still talking about it; people that I know from other universities are still talking about it.” read more