Two White Faculty Members Sue Alabama State For Racial Discrimination

asuTwo white faculty members at Alabama State University have filed a lawsuit contending that the historically black university is racist toward whites in its hiring and admission practices.

Steven B. Chesbro, who according to the suit is the only dean at Alabama State not designated as African-American or black, and his partner and fellow ASU faculty member John Garland also contend that ASU passed regulations specifically against same-sex couples and that officials retaliated against the pair for complaining about the university using race as a determining factor for both hiring professors and admitting students.

Bobby Segall, an attorney representing ASU, said the university categorically denies the contentions.

[quote_box_center]”They deny that anything related to their (Chesbro’s and Garland’s) employment arose because of anything racial or anything related to their sexual orientation,” Segall sai[/quote_box_center]

He said the contention that the university uses race as a determining factor in hiring faculty is also untrue.

Segall said the suit, which has been filed in U.S. District Court in Montgomery, appears to be less about the university than about a few faculty members at the university.

[quote_box_center]”I think maybe one or more of those folks had a squabble with some of their faculty members, but Alabama State University did not engage in any discrimination as alleged in their complaint,” he said.[/quote_box_center]

But attorney Wayne Sabel, who is representing Chesbro and Garland, said the suit “clearly shows that there was discrimination because of race and sexual orientation: There’s no doubt about that.”

[quote_box_center]”They have told Dr. Chesbro that his hands are tied in the face of gross insubordination and even threats of physical harm,” Sabel said. “They You look at some of the statements they have made that are in the complaint, and they are saying things like ‘only black professors should teach black students.'”[/quote_box_center] Read Full at USA TODAY

SC State Lineman Helps Save Three Small Children in 3-Car Crash

SCSU Athletics

South Carolina State junior defensive end Reggie Owens, was a part of a heroic effort that saved the lives three young children involved in a three-vehicle accident near Savannah Saturday (April 4).

Officials are still investigating a terrible three-vehicle wreck that shut down the intersection of West Gwinnett Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, around 1:45 a.m., Saturday morning.

According to Georgia State Patrol, three young children were thrown from a vehicle after being T-boned by another vehicle. Frederick Cobbs was arrested on the scene after witnesses say he ran the red light at the intersection. He was given a blood test after performing poorly on his field sobriety test.

“MAIT is handling the full investigation of the crash. Further charges can be pending against him, but right now, we have charged him with a DUI,” said Corporal J.K. Crews, GSP.

Owens who was traveling back home from college (SC State) for the holiday weekend saw the accident happen. He says three children were ejected after the white car that Cobbs was driving T-boned the vehicle, ejecting them as it spun through the intersection.

“I stopped; I was the first on the scene. I rushed out to make sure everyone was okay. As I approached the cars, I saw one child that fell from under the car. I had to pull him from under the car to keep him from being run over,” said Reggie Owens, witness. read more

Howard University Campus Eyed for Wizards Training Facility

hi-res-d9092a1c1d2133ef18b68ede9c3bcb17_crop_northHoward University officials, a pair of private developers and Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis are in talks to build a publicly financed Wizards practice facility as part of a mixed-use development on the school’s campus north of U Street in Northwest D.C.

Under the deal, which is in the early stages of discussion, Howard would provide as much as two acres of land located between Georgia Avenue and Eighth Street NW, north of W Street. Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the company led by Leonsis that owns the Wizards and Mystics, would manage the facility, which the company views as critical to attracting top-flight NBA talent.

The D.C. government would be asked to float bonds to pay for construction of the facility, which could cost between $25 million and $35 million.

imrsWayne A.I. Frederick, who was named Howard’s new president last July, is working to put the school on better financial footing after a member of the board of trustees raised concerns that fiscal and management problems were threatening the school’s long-term viability. Howard also recently announced it was cutting 84 staff positions.

Frederick said that although the discussions were in the early stages, he was interested in using the school’s real estate to help revitalize Georgia Avenue, bring the school revenue and add amenities that would benefit both students and the surrounding communities, such as a health and wellness center, a grocery store or new housing.

“We’ve been talking to lots of people about different types of things,” Frederick said. “One of my goals at the university is to diversify our revenue streams and looking at real estate assets is a part of that.”

Frederick, a medical doctor, said one of the priorities for the university was building a health and wellness center that would provide a gym, yoga studios, workout facilities and space for nutrition classes. He said the development could also include new venues for the school’s teams, such as a new home arena for Howard’s basketball teams. Read Full at Washington Post

 

JSU Students Stage Sit-In Over Campus Police Incident

tumblr_nm9gb2WuKp1ur8sgmo1_500Hundreds of students staged a sit-in at Jackson State University’s dining hall Wednesday to show support for a fellow student they said was treated unfairly arrested by campus police.

The initial incident occurred Sunday evening when a student purchased a meal just as the cafeteria was preparing to close, Assistant Chief of Campus Security Lindsey Horton said.

[quote_box_center]”The entire incident would not have occurred if the student had the time to consume his meal,” Horton said. “Frustration led him to act out in a disorderly fashion to the extent that the officer felt he needed to make an arrest for the safety of those around them.”[/quote_box_center]

Horton said the student has expressed remorse for his actions, which he said were “very inconsistent” for his normal behavior.The officer is also under an on-going investigation, Horton said, adding that “there is a certain level of treatment you’d expect from both sides.”

Students peacefully participated in a sit-in Wednesday evening to express concern of a matter of food service concerns, namely the lack of to-go containers, Horton said. Horton said the decision to clear the dining hall is a “matter of logistics.”

“At some point your dishwashers and waitresses have to clean up and prepare for the next day,” Horton said. “They need to tweak it a little bit. Some things are complaint driven and they do not fall on deaf ears.”

Jackson State spokesperson Olivia Goodheart said the student-based food service committee was looking into adjusting certain polices regarding the cafeteria.

“We expect to be held to a certain level of accountability and we expect a level of mutual respect,” Horton said. “This was an isolated incident and we’re treating it as such.”

Contact Jacob Threadgill at 601-961-7192 or jthreadgil@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @JacoboLaSombra on Twitter.

This article was originally published at the Clarion Ledger

Southern University Rules, Not Liable For Off-Campus Band Hazing Incident from 2008

13867344-mmmainA state judge has ruled that Southern University is not liable for a former student band leader’s off-campus hazing activities that sent two marching band members to the hospital in fall 2008.

District Judge Tim Kelley ruled Thursday the school may still be on the hook for alleged on-campus hazing activities involving band members that occurred earlier that year.

The Advocate reports a lawsuit filed against Southern and a former student section leader in the band in 2008 is set for trial May 4.

The November 2008 hazing incident, which took place at private East Baton Rouge Parish residences before that year’s Bayou Classic football game, was part of an unsanctioned initiation into the band’s unofficial French horn fraternity — Mellow Phi Fellow. The hazing involved bandmembers being struck by 2-by-4-inch boards.

Attorneys for Marcus Heath and Cameron Taylor, the two former band members hospitalized following the off-campus hazing, said they will ask the state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal to reverse state District Judge Tim Kelley’s ruling Thursday. Read Full via NOLA

4 Norfolk Officers Left Unemployed Due To NSU K9 Attack

635580501900229577-dog-attack

NORFOLK – Norfolk Police Chief Michael Goldsmith said Thursday that the use of force against an NSU student over the weekend was “unreasonable”.

London Colvin, 21, a student and Army reservist, suffered gruesome injuries after an encounter with a Norfolk police dog. She is missing a chunk of her leg after the incident Saturday night.

NORFOLK –Norfolk Police Chief Michael Goldsmith said Friday that four Norfolk officers are no longer employed with the force and one has been suspended after an investigation into the attack of a Norfolk State University student by K9.

London Colvin, 21, a student and Army reservist, suffered gruesome injuries after an encounter with a Norfolk police dog. She was missing a chunk of her leg after the incident in January.

Police Chief Michael Goldsmith had said that the use of force against Colvin was “unreasonable.”

According to the Colvin’s cousin, Whitney Dunn, Colvin was attending an off-campus party at NSU when a large fight broke out that spread into the street. Dunn says Colvin and her friends walked away from the incident. Police responded to reports of a fight.

“She wasn’t involved so she didn’t feel the need to answer questions. She didn’t want to,” said Dunn.

Police took Colvin to the hospital for treatment and charged her with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after she was released.

A General District Court judge tossed out the disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges filed against London Colvin. Read Full via 13 News Now

UMES’ Mike Myers Earns Third All-American Honor

WBOC 16

University of Maryland Eastern Shore senior forward Michael Myers Jr. has added yet another accolade to his stellar senior campaign. Myers was named as an honoree on the 2014-15 BOXTOROW Division I All-America Team. The team consists of student-athletes from all DI Historically Black Colleges or Universities.

Myers, led the team in both scoring (15.8 points per game) and rebounding (7.0 rebounds per game). The senior finished the season with the third-most free throw attempts in the nation (282) and eleventh in the NCAA in field goal percentage (59.3%). Myers was also named a finalist for the Lou Henson Award for the National Mid-Major Player of the Year, also given out by CollegeInsider.com. read more

(Photo: UMES)

NCCU Baseball Beats NC A&T

WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina Central University broke out for 13 runs, scoring in just two innings to earn the season sweep with a 13-4 win over North Carolina A&T State University on Saturday, April 4.

NCCU (15-16, 9-5 MEAC) starter Devin Sweet (Greensboro, N.C.) found himself in a bit of trouble in the first inning, but was helped out by a tremendous double play turned by Eric Kimber (Greensboro, N.C.) who applied a tag on the trailing runner before throwing to first to get the batter, keeping a run off the board.

The Eagles sent nine men to the plate in the top of the second inning to go in front of the Aggies 6-0 early. Cory Williamson (Greensboro, N.C.) came up to bat with two men on and squared to bunt for the at bat, running the count to 2-1 before pulling the bat back and sending one to right center for a 2-RBI double.  Jacobi Harris (Pittsboro, N.C.) tacked on an RBI base hit to keep the run going for NCCU before being brought home later in the inning. read more

LeMoyne-Owen Helps Raise More Than $13 Million for Pilot Program


Real Estate Rama

Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today joined Mayor A C Wharton and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) General Deputy Assistant Secretary Jemine Bryon to announce a $3 million federal grant that will fund a pilot program to enroll nearly 300 Memphians at Foote Homes in job training and other programs, ultimately placing at least 60 of them in good-paying jobs in Shelby County. The funding for the pilot program comes through HUD’s Jobs-plus Community Revitalization Initiative, a program that Congressman Cohen voted for in the House that is aimed at significantly increasing employment and income of public housing residents.

“Throughout my career I have remained committed to creating jobs and reducing poverty in Memphis and throughout the Ninth District,” said Congressman Cohen. “Today’s infusion of $3 million for Foote Homes will have a real impact in our community, helping nearly 300 Memphians learn the skills they need to find good-paying jobs—a key component of reducing persistent poverty. I was proud to support the legislation that funded this pilot program and will continue my efforts to bring jobs to Memphis.” read more

AAMU Ph.D Student Found In Pond

Lavanya Abburi, a 27-year-old Telugu student who was doing her Ph.D at the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University in Huntsville, Alabama, USA, was found dead under suspicious circumstances.

The university staff found her body floating in a pond at the Walker Lane near the university on April 2. Lavanya had enrolled in AAMU’s PhD program in plant and soil science last year. read more

NY Student Accepted at all 8 Ivy League Schools

The Root

Harold Ekeh, of Long Island, N.Y., applied to all eight Ivy League and was accepted.

At a time when tens of thousands of American students are getting turned away from their first, second and even third college picks, Harold Ekeh, of Long Island, N.Y., has an enviable quandary: deciding which of the eight Ivy League colleges he will attend next year, according to CBS New York.

For all his hard work and accomplishments, the Elmont High School salutatorian was no less surprised when the acceptance letters arrived. read more

Claflin Names NC A&T Alum New Director of PR

The Times and Democrat

J. Craig Cotton has been appointed director of public relations for Claflin University.

His duties will include assisting with publicity, building media relationships, and developing and implementing strategic initiatives that will enhance brand recognition for the university.

Cotton has extensive and varied experiences in mass communications. Most recently, he served as associate athletics director for external affairs and executive director of the athletics foundation at Norfolk State University. read more

Florida’s HBCUs May Get a Break

The Florida Courier

The battle over how far Florida colleges should be allowed to go in offering four-year degrees, once largely the responsibility of state universities, has spawned a new effort to more strictly limit those opportunities.

Changes in Florida law years ago allows Daytona State College to offer four-year degrees in the same majors as historically Black Bethune-Cookman University, but at less cost to students.  (FLORIDA COURIER FILES)

The newest measure is sponsored by Sen. Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican who could become Senate president after the 2016 elections and has worked before to limit college offerings that he says overlap with what four-year universities already provide.

“One of my goals over the next several years is to make our good universities great,” Negron said.

“And you can’t find the funding to do that when you have unnecessary duplication of effort.”

Helps state HBCUs
Negron’s efforts may help Florida’s historically Black colleges and universities become more competitive for students who are seeking four-year degrees.

Three of Florida’s four HBCUs – Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach; Edward Waters College in Jacksonville; and Florida Memorial University in Opa Locka (Miami-Dade County) – are privately funded. (Florida A&M University in Tallahassee is state-funded.)

In each of their localities, the private HBCUs have been forced to compete against former two-year community colleges that became state-funded four-year colleges offering baccalaureate degrees at a fraction of the HBCUs’ necessary costs. read more

Full-ride, Jackson State-bound Senior Refuses to Attend Prom

loveKLFY 10 News

A tug-of-war is underway at a Louisiana high school because the principal refuses to let a gay student dress in a tuxedo for her prom.

On one side is the principal, who said girls wearing tuxes would violate the school’s dress code.

On the other is gay student Claudetteia Love, a senior who has earned top honors at Carroll High School in Monroe, Louisiana. She believes the tux ban is a slam on her sexual orientation rather than her fashion choice.

She said she’s decided not to attend the April 24 prom rather than be forced to dress in a way she doesn’t want. She had expected to attend with a group of friends. read more

SC U.S. Rep. James Clyburn kicks off Presidential Lecture Series at Cheyney

The Delaware County Daily Times

Democratic U.S. Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina kicked off Cheyney University of Pennsylvania’s Presidential Lecture Series with a bang last Wednesday.

Clyburn took an auditorium full of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members on a national historic journey. The self-proclaimed history buff recalled key events, not necessarily the way all of America remembers them, but by the way, he said, it really was.

The author of “Blessed Experiences: Genuinely Southern, Proudly Black,” an autobiography of his role in the civil rights movement and his climb to leadership, spoke candidly and passionately.

The Assistant Democratic Leader in the 114th Congress and No. 3 Democrat in the House, began by acknowledging that Cheyney was founded in 1837, 17 years before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned an earlier ruling, thus permitting slavery throughout the country. Ironically, he said, “that dreadful decision meant that a graduate from this school, even a professor from this school, traveling in a southern state, could have been subjected to slavery.” read more

Coppin State Has a New Approach to Recruiting Students

ABC 2 News

Revenue shortfalls. Drops in enrollment. The layoffs of academic personnel.

Coppin State University is looking for new ways to attract students and revitalize its campus.

It’s been a struggle for campus leaders who are grappling with the allure of other state schools and academic programs.

This past year, leaders were challenged to come up with new ways to attract students.

Their answer: debate.

That’s where Adam Jackson and his colleagues from the grassroots think tank Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle will come in.

Starting this summer, the organization will begin work on creating a competitive policy debate team that will be geared to students interested in speech competition.

If done correctly, Coppin leaders hope the experiment will attract students to the campus as it undergoes new renovations and works to revamp existing academic programs.

“UMBC has an all-star chess team, Coppin is going to have debate,” said Ronald Collins, dean of the honors program for Coppin. read more