3 Funders HBCUs Should Know

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(Inside Philanthropy)

Giving to higher education hit an all-time high of nearly $34 billion in 2013, according to the Council for Aid to Education. Unfortunately, these new heights in higher education philanthropy have largely bypassed the nation’s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

A recent New York Times report, “Hard Times at Howard,” placed the spotlight on the financial woes of HBCUs. Where they once had a monopoly, these schools are now competing for top Afircan-American students — and often losing — to top-tier research universities and other elite institutions. Shrinking enrollments, limited endowments, and even instances of financial mismanagement have strained the coffers of HBCUs. As the Times reported, not even the venerable Howard University has been spared from these challenges.  read more…

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Why are Black Colleges Struggling? What are Funders Doing About It?

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(Inside Philanthropy)

Recent gifts by Apple and Toyota to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and four historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have not only helped support students in these institutions; they have also helped highlight the financial problems plaguing many HBCUs.

Apple recently committed $40 million to the Marshall Fund to help make STEM careers more appealing to African-American students, while Toyota gave $50,000 to four Alabama HBCUs. We’ve reported on a number of other gifts to HBCUs over the past year. Despite this support, many HBCUs struggle financially. read more…

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Dallas School District Bringing ‘HBCU Experience’

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(North Dallas Gazette)

Choosing a college can be a life-changing experience. However, that experience can be a daunting challenge for prospective first-generation students whose families may be unfamiliar with college. Additionally, some families face financial or other limitations that prevent them from having their student visit an actual college campus.

Short of making an on-campus visit, college fairs where exhibitors bring the college experience to students often prove the next best option. That’s the idea behind the HBCU Experience set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 21, at Skyline High School, 7777 Forney Road. The fair will connect students in elementary, middle and high school with admissions officers, alumni, students, and representatives of fraternities and sororities from historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). read more…

Focus on NC Public HBCUs sharpens

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(The Charlotte Post)

African-American lawmakers are taking a proactive approach to maintaining North Carolina’s historically black public colleges.
The North Carolina Legislative Caucus met Tuesday with the University of North Carolina Board of Governors to discuss rumors of closing or consolidating five HBCU, three social justice centers and board diversity.
“There have been a lot of rumors and information floating around in the media and concerns raised by residents, parents, students and alumni across the state about our HBCUs,” said caucus Chair Rep. Garland E. Pierce. “These are such important issues. We decided to go straight to the source.” read more…

BSU’s Knox and WSSU’s Bazemore Earn 2nd Team All-Atlantic Region Honors

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CIAA

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Bowie State University senior guard, Cameron Knox (Baltimore, Md.), and Winston-Salem State University senior forward, WyKevin Bazemore, have been selected to the Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Atlantic Region second team.

Knox was selected to the 2014-2015 All-CIAA Team and voted the conference’s Player of the Year. Knox started in 29 games this season and averaged a team-best 17.4 points per game and ranked second in conference scoring. He scored a career-high 31 points versus Livingstone and scored 20 or more points 11 times during the 2014-2015 campaign. He finished his career with 786 points and a career scoring average of 12.3 points per game.

Bazemore is a rarity, as he was selected to the All-CIAA Team for the fourth consecutive year. He is only the fourth player in the history of the CIAA to earn that honor four times! Bazemore started all 28 games this season and averaged 13.3 points and a team and CIAA high 9.8 rebounds per game. He scored a season high 25 points versus Johnson C. Smith and also pulled down 17 rebounds versus Fairmont State. He finished his career with 1,337 points and 984 rebounds. His rebounding total ranks him 3rd All-Time in WSSU history behind Carlos Terry’s (1975-78) 1,467 and Mike Robinson’s (1976-80) 1,242.

75West Liberty’s Seger Bonifant has been named the Atlantic Region Player of the Year and headlines the 2014-15 Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Atlantic Region Men’s Basketball Team.

Bonifant, a junior from Berlin, Ohio, was the Mountain East Conference Player of the Year after averaging 24 points per game for the Hilltoppers. WLU finished the season ranked fifth in the country and is the host for this week’s NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament.

Joining Bonifant on the All-Atlantic Region first team are Adam Blazek of Gannon, Devante Chance of Indiana (Pa.), Nick Harney of Fairmont State and Matt Tobin of East Stroudsburg.

Wykevin-Bazemore-web-1-300x200The second team consists of WyKevin Bazemore (Winston-Salem State), Tyree Gaiter (Notre Dame College), Wali Hepburn (Lock Haven), C.J. Hester (West Liberty) and Cameron Knox (Bowie State).

Sports information directors from NCAA Division II Atlantic Region schools and conferences selected the two Daktronics All-Region teams and voted on the Player of the Year. The process concludes with All-American selections announced later in the month.

 

The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition.

2014-15 Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Atlantic Region Team

 

FIRST Team            
Name School Pos Ht Wt Cl Hometown
Adam Blazek Gannon G 6-1 185 Sr. Erie, Pa.
Seger Bonifant** West Liberty G/F 6-7 200 Jr. Berlin, Ohio
Devante Chance Indiana (Pa.) G 5-11 180 Sr. Philadelphia, Pa.
Nick Harney Fairmont State F 6-8 215 Sr. Cleveland, Ohio
Matt Tobin East Stroudsburg G 6-1 175 Sr. Hopatcong, N.J.
** Atlantic Region Player of the Year             
SECOND Team            
WyKevin Bazemore Winston-Salem St F 6-4 185 Sr. Kelford, N.C.
Tyree Gaiter Notre Dame College G 5-7 150 Jr. Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Wali Hepburn Lock Haven G 6-4 185 Sr. Philadelphia, Pa.
C.J. Hester West Liberty F 6-4 210 Sr. West Mifflin, Pa.
Cameron Knox  Bowie State G 5-11 170 Sr. Baltimore, Md.     

Arizona To Face Texas Southern In Opener

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Even Arizona coach Sean Miller has wondered how last season would have ended had Brandon Ashley been healthy for the finish. Now Miller is eager to see how this season ends with him.

Ashley was voted the Pac-12 tournament’s most outstanding player as Arizona thrashed Oregon by a margin of 28 points for the conference’s postseason championship.

Peaking at just the right time, Ashley and the Wildcats head into the NCAA Tournament as a second seed in the West for Thursday’s opener against No. 15 Texas Southern in Portland, Oregon.

The 6-foot-9 junior forward was out with a foot injury last season when the Wildcats worked through the NCAA Tournament with wins over Weber State, Gonzaga, and San Diego State before falling to Wisconsin in the Elite Eight. Gone from that team are Aaron Gordon and Nick Johnson.

[quote_box_center]”We were a man short last year with Brandon going down. If can you imagine Brandon playing like this on last year’s team, what we could have done. Nobody knows that more than him,” Miller said. ”But that’s last year. We’re healthy this year, and some of the things that we know we’re very good at, we have to be ourselves and take them into this tournament this week.”[/quote_box_center]

The Wildcats (31-3) have won 11 straight games going into the game, including victories over California, UCLA and finally Oregon in the conference championship.

Ashley ranks second on the team in points with an average of 12.3. He’s also averaging 5.4 rebounds. But in the three Pac-12 tournament games, he averaged 19.6 points and 6.3 rebounds.

”Coming off an injury, it really does take a lot of time to get all the way back to where you want to be,” Ashley said. ”So I feel like at this point I am confident. I do feel a hundred percent healthy, and my teammates and my coaching staff have a huge part in that.”

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Texas Southern (22-12) earned a spot in the tournament by winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference final 62-58 against Southern. It was the Tigers’ second straight league tournament title, last season the team fell to Cal-Poly in its NCAA Tournament opener.

The two teams have never met. The victor will go on to meet the winner of Thursday’s other West region game between seventh seed VCU and 10th seed Ohio State.

Read Full article via Yahoo Sports 

KeKe Palmer Surprises Students at Southern University

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KeKe Palmer, Cory Hardrict and Quincy Brown lead the cast for first time writer/director Jamal Hill in a complicated love story that will grip your heart and awaken your belief in family. Set in West Philadelphia, born-and-raised basketball star Sergio Taylor (Eric D. Hill Jr.) deals with the early pressures of fame. Alongside older brother June (Cory Hardrict), who lost his own hoop dreams to the streets to provide for the family after their father’s death, and sister Jackie (KeKe Palmer), whose own musical ambitions are sidetracked by love, Sergio faces life-altering decisions on the streets of Philly.

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To join the “Brotherly Love” viral conversation on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook follow @BrotherlyLoveTheMovie and for more information visit www.BrotherlyLoveTheMovie.com

“On the Yard SU” Celebrates Grand Opening of Dance Studio

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In this episode of “On the Yard SU”, host Perry White follows up on the previous episode by taking a visit to the career fair. A little light is shed on the Omega Lamp Lighters volunteer efforts and he also visits Mirror Me Dance Studio, a new dance studio owned by an SU alum.

“On the Yard SU” is a web series centered around Southern University to inform students, faculty and alumni on some of the things that are going on around campus. The show is meant to bring SU into a positive light.

For the latest on HBCU news, stay tuned to The Buzz.

“On the Yard SU” Special Edition Founder’s Day Episode

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On this special episode of “On the Yard SU”, we get an inside look of the Founder’s Day ceremony. Ms. Southern University, the president of SU, and some notable alumni all share some words about the ceremony. The opening of the Donald C. Wade House is also covered.

“On the Yard SU” is a web series centered around Southern University to inform students, faculty and alumni on some of the things that are going on around campus. The show is meant to bring SU into a positive light.

For the latest on HBCU news, stay tuned to The Buzz.

Raven-Symoné Says She’s Not Going to Back Down From Comments Made on The View

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The Root

Raven-Symoné’s week on The View has been an interesting one. Earlier this week, during a segment discussing Rodner Figueroa’s firing from Univision for comparing Michelle Obama to something from Planet of The Apes, Symoné made comments that seemed to defend the Univision host.

As Rosie Perez was attempting to explain racism within the Latino community, Symoné raised eyebrows with her comments.

“But was he saying it racist-like? Because he said he voted for her later. And I don’t think he was saying it racist,” Symoné said.

Even though Perez insisted the comment was racist, Symoné still challenged it.

“Not Michelle Obama. Michelle, don’t fire me from this right now, but some people do look like animals,” Symoné joked.

“So can I be mad if someone called me Toucan Sam?” Symoné said.

Now after making the comments, Symoné is attempting to clarify what she meant.

In an interview with The Daily Beast, Symoné talked about why she thinks her comments caused drama. “I don’t think they heard what I said,” she said. “I did not defend the man. I said that what he said was very distasteful. And I think that the organization is in the right to fire him. And I don’t believe that she looks like a racially charged animal that has been connected to the black community for years and years.”

Read more here.

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Report: White Supremacist Threatens O.J. Simpson’s Life

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The Root

Disgraced NFL running back OJ Simpson used to make astonishing cuts on the football field, but cutting a jailhouse medication line may have the Hall of Famer running for his life.

According to the Daily Mail, the 67-year-old Simpson is housed in the minimum-security section of a Nevada prison but when it comes time for medication and meals, all prisoners, from minimum to maximum, must line up together.

Last week, Simpson reportedly cut the line, causing Travis Waugh, 51, a member of the Aryan Nation who goes by the name “Blu” and is housed in maximum security, to call him out.

“This guy was standing in line waiting for his medications when OJ comes along and cuts in line—like he always does,” an eyewitness told the Daily Mail. “But this dude was not having it and told OJ to take his ugly black a– to back of the line and wait like everybody else.”

“OJ jumped in his face and yelled, ‘F–k you man. I’m gonna stay right here and you’re a– ain’t gonna do nothing about it,’” the eyewitness said, according to the Daily Mail. “The guy pushed OJ and yelled back: ‘Get in line a–hole and wait your turn. I’m not gonna tell ya again.’”

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According to the witness, Waugh pushed Simpson, who now walks with a cane after 11 brutal years in the NFL took a toll on his knees, and Simpson fell to the floor, the Daily Mail reports.

Simpson is serving anywhere from nine to 33 years in prison for armed robbery and has petitioned the prison to have surgery for his knee injuries, which he believes may leave him unable to walk unless treated.

The witness added that the once Simpson got back to his feet, he rushed Waugh and reportedly spit in his face.

“The guy flipped out and went after OJ. OJ put up his fists to fight back and was yelling that he was going to teach this guy a lesson. But the other inmates jumped and tried to hold both of them back but they were both so furious it was almost a riot,” the witness told the Daily Mail.

Guards rushed the scene and separated the two men, but not before Waugh reportedly issued a threat to Simpson.

“While the guy was dragged away he looked back and screamed, ‘I am going to make it my mission to kill you nig–r a–. You will not leave here alive—do you hear me!’”  the eyewitness told the Daily Mail. “And then he made a symbol with his hands of shooting a gun at OJ.”

The eyewitness added that Simpson asked around and found out that Waugh is in fact a violent inmate.

Read more here.

Community College Students in California Guaranteed Admission to 9 HBCUs

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(The Root)

The pipeline from community college to a four-year university can be shaky, since students often attend community college in hopes of improving their grades in order to gain admission to a four-year institution.

The California Community Colleges system may have found a way to make that transition a bit easier: It has signed an agreement with nine HBCUs so that all of its students who wish to transfer to any one of the participating historically black schools are guaranteed admission, so long as they have a minimum GPA of 2.5, KGO-TV reports.

The nine participating HBCUs who made the deal with the California system are Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C.; Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn.; Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo.; Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Talladega College, also in Alabama; and Wiley College in Marshall, Texas.

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Apparently it’s a win-win for both California community colleges and these HBCUs. Getting into four-year colleges in California has become “increasingly hard,” KGO-TV explains, and HBCUs have seen their student-body numbers dwindle significantly in recent years.

Now all of California’s African-American community college students who clear the GPA hurdle and would like to transfer have a spot at one of the nine schools.

Olevasami Brown, a student at a California community college, explained how he used to think that attending an HBCU was simply unattainable for him. “I felt like the gap between achieving and transferring was a little too wide for me, but with this announcement today, I feel that dream is so much closer,” Brown said.

There are approximately 160,000 African-American students enrolled in California’s community colleges.

Read more here.

For the latest on HBCU news, stay tuned to The Buzz.

Latin Sorority, Lambda Theta Alpha Chartered At Johnson C. Smith University

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On March 18th at 9 pm the ladies of Lambda Theta Alpha introduced it’s first chapter at Johnson C. Smith University. LTA is the first Latina Sorority founded in the United States.

LTA was founded in 1975 by 17 ladies on the campus of Kean University in Union, New Jersey. The purpose of the organization is to create a support group for women in higher education and unite the community on campus.

It is an established academic sorority. Like other black Greek organizations the ladies of LTA has a unique call, hand-sign and also perform traditional salutes, chants and strolls. This year they have welcomed new chapter at Boise State, Syracuse University, and California State University.

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Lambda Theta Alpha – Vanderbilt University

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Lambda Theta Alpha

lambda-theta-alpha-greek-lettersLambda Theta Alpha was founded at Kean University in 1975 and later incorporated into an academic sorority in 1979. As the first Latina-based sorority in the nation, Lambda Theta Alpha strives to develop strong leaders that produce and engage in political, social, and cultural activities. Based on the principles of unity, love and respect, the sorority was established for the unification of women through charitable and educational programs. Although Lambda Theta Alpha is Latin by tradition, the sorority is inclusive to all women regardless of race, color, creed, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Lambda Theta Alpha is a proud member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO).

alsac-lambda-shieldSt. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has been the official philanthropic partner of Lambda Theta Alpha since 2010. LTA chapters across the country raise funds and awareness for St. Jude through campus and community events. Many LTA chapters host a signature event, the LTA Softball Tournament in the spring of each year.

For the latest on HBCU news, stay tuned to The Buzz.

Students Protest UVA Student Martese Johnson’s Bloody Arrest

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About 1,000 students gathered at the University of Virginia campus Wednesday night to demand justice for a student who was injured during an arrest and appears in a photo with a bloody face as he is being held down by an officer.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has also called for an investigation into the early-morning arrest of Martese Johnson, whose lawyer said he needed 10 stitches in his head.

Johnson was charged with two counts: obstruction of justice without force, and public swearing or intoxication, Charlottesville General District Court records show.

virginia_student_arrest-e1426770639991The Alcoholic Beverage Control agent who made the arrest, listed in court records as J. Miller, said in the arrest report that Johnson “was very agitated and belligerent.”

A statement from a group calling itself “Concerned Black Students,” however, claims the arrest of Johnson was unprovoked and extreme.

[quote_box_center]“The brutish force used resulted in his head and bodily injuries,” the group said in a statement. “His treatment was unprovoked as he did not resist questioning or arrest.”[/quote_box_center]

Read full via NY Post

 

A Dreamy Night of Deaf Jam Poetry by Howard University

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WASHINGTON, D.C., March 11, 2015- Howard University’s Springfest committee presents its third annual, Deaf Jam Poetry benefit concert for the School of Communications speech and hearing clinic. Positive vibes will flood Crampton Auditorium at 7pm on March 31, as performers share the beauty of language through poetry and music.

Deaf Jam is a benefit concert that embraces African American culture, and speaks affirming reassurances regarding our colorful expressions and our unique cultural contributions to music and art. With all that is happening in our communities across this country, from Ferguson, Missouri to New York City, there can be no doubts that cultural enrichment and enlightenment is much needed to promote peace, appreciation and harmony.

The power of the arts through poetry and music is undeniable. It has the capacity to change lives through inspiration, reconciliation and cooperation. Such will be the force of this year’s event. A surprise celebrity host, famous for her thought provoking artistic expression will moderate the event. While the creative word’s from our poetic performers linger in your mind, guest will be elevated into a dreamland of passion and peace. Only to be awakened by a special guest performer, who will close the show and have our audience craving more.

Deaf Jam is for the dreamers, for the healers, for the storytellers and for the lovers of all kinds. That’s why for the 2nd year in a row Alex and Ani, a jewelry company committed to building a culture that focuses entirely on mindful actions, has agreed to be our sponsor. They will also have a bangle bar with merchandise for purchase, located in the bottom of Crampton Auditorium with the Deaf Jam art gallery.

Three years ago this event was created on the foundation of love and empathizing with those who suffer from hearing and speech disabilities. Standing on that same foundation, today Deaf Jam is a meditation on the value of love that spreads through music, words and activism. Last year we were able to attract over 400 hundred guest and raise over $4,000 for the speech and hearing clinic in the School of Communications. As we grow and reach new limits, Deaf Jam lovingly invites you to come dream with us

American Baptist College To Re-open New Dorm

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Nashville, Tennessee

American Baptist College, an Historical Black College and University in Nashville, Tennessee, is set to re-open a dormitory that has not been open in over 15 years. The monumental ribbon cutting ceremony is set to take place at 5pm today.

The project manager, Rev. Martin Espinosa 88′, says that it is a 3.7 million dollar project and has asked the college’s alumni to support the college at a greater level.

Alumni have already answered the call. Rev. Dr. Julius Scruggs gave $10,000 on top of a $35,000 gift he already gave to the school. Rev. Dr. Forrest Harris 79′, the president of American Baptist College, has donated the $1,000 to the college and has pledged to give another $9,000 to the school for the project.

The dorm, Griggs Hall, was the home of several of the students who were instrumental to the Civil Rights Movement such as John Lewis, William Barbee, Rev. Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Rev. Dr. CT Vivian, James Bevel and many others. The students were taught the tactics of nonviolence by Rev. Dr. Kelly Miller Smith in this dormitory.

 

For the latest on HBCU news, stay tuned to The Buzz.