It’s a Not So Happy Founder’s Day for ‘Sorority Sisters’ Reality Stars

Posted by Monique Smith
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Updated 1:50 pm EST, 1/25/2015

It was a tragic way to spend Founder’s day for some of the reality television stars on VH1’s show ‘Sorority Sisters’. Alabama State alumna’s Priyanka Banks and Lydia Mitchell, who were initiated through the Beta Eta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., have now been expelled from the organization.

According to the sorority’s website on January 13, which is also the founding date of Delta Sigma Theta, Banks and Mitchell will no longer have rights or privileges as members, and the two are prohibited from representing the organization in any capacity, attending any Greek or National Pan-Hellenic Council events as Deltas and from wearing paraphernalia with insignia related to the sorority.

During their collegiate years attending Alabama State University, Banks served as Miss ASU 2009 and she studied theatre, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. Mitchell was a member of the Stingettes dance team, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications.

Sorority Sisters was a constant topic of controversy and was held in contempt from each member of the “Divine Nine”. Airing earlier this year, the series was based on sorority women of various backgrounds and professions, depicting the women’s lives, but also highlighted drama, cat-fights, petty banters and childish insults.

The VH1 production faced a number of petitions all encouraging the network and producer Mona Scott-Young to cease spreading of ‘ignorance’ and stereotypes of Black Greek-lettered organizations. Later, commercial sponsors was forced to pull their advertising funds from the network in slots to be aired during the show after one petition reached 78,000 individual supporters, all signing to express their anger toward the show

Now VH1 is announcing that the show being cancelled.

The last few shows of the series were aired back to back on Jan. 16.

Posted by Monique Smith Posted on 3 articles

Stevie Wonder to Work With NBC on Underground Railroad Miniseries, ‘Freedom Run’

Posted by Sonia Montalvo
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Updated 7:40 pm EST, 1/22/2015

Musical genius Stevie Wonder has some tricks up his sleeve this New Year. The Grammy Award winning Wonder is currently working with NBC on a miniseries about the Underground Railroad.

The miniseries entitled ‘Freedom Run’ will be based on Betty DeRamus’ 2005 Book, Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories from the Underground Railroad.

DeRamus’ book, written in the format of love letters, deals with the issues of rebelling against and fighting to break free from slavery. The miniseries will focus on three couples from the book who find love all while facing the adversity slavery brings, according to Hollywood Reporter and Rolling Stone.

The miniseries in total will be about 8 hours.

Wonder will be executive producer on the project, and NBC has high hopes that he will write the music for the production when it hits the Broadway stage.

NBC Entertainment President Robert Greenblatt told the Television Critics Association panel, “We’re increasingly looking for projects that qualify as television events and these harrowing true stories of courageous young men and women who found love, in spite of the heinousness of slavery, certainly does that…”

Stevie Wonder obviously never sleeps because, here goes another accomplishment he can add to his already extensive list throughout his remarkable career.

Top 5 HBCU Classics to Visit 2015

Posted by Sonia Montalvo
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All HBCU attendees know that fall semester means football classic time, and we all know that it is so much more than just two rival teams throwing the pigskin around.

At the country’s historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs), no doubt the Classics are about having the livest band, the biggest parades, and the best events to attend.

In no specific order, here are five Black college Classics that reach above and beyond your expectations:

1. Florida Classic

The Florida Classic features Bethune Cookman and Florida A&M, and over 1.5 million people have attended the popular quarrel between the two teams since 1978 to present.

With coverage from ESPNU, people can join in and watch the live broadcast every year.

FAMU leads the series in wins, 21 to 14.

2. Bayou Classic

The 41-year-old showdown between Grambling State and Southern has some of the best events around including the Fan Fest, which features musical celebrities every year.

The Bayou Classic classic attracts some 250,000 people to the city every year and has been televised on NBC every year since 1991.

3. Southern Heritage Classic

Tennessee State and Jackson State has played each other for 25 years now, fighting to see what team can really be called the Tigers (both schools use the same animal as their mascot.)

The Southern Heritage founder Fred Jones Jr. is said to bring together two loves to create the Southern Heritage Classic: The love for his hometown Memphis, Tennessee, where the classic takes place, and his love for producing events together.

4. Chicago Football Classic

Each year two top HBCUs go head to head in the Windy City to take home the Chicago Football Classic. The CFC came about when Larry Huggins, Everett Rand and Tim Rand formed as a non-for-profit organization. Its sole purpose is to support African-American adolescents to reach individual greatness, not to mention to influence the youth to go HBCU.

5. Nation’s Football Classic

The Nation’s Football Classic’s inception is relatively new. Created in 2011, it features HBCU powerhouses Howard University and Morehouse College, who has competed against each other since 1923.

Though this Football classic itself is new to the game, it does not fall short of any of our expectations. Plus, the rivalry between Howard and Morehouse makes this event a golden nugget.

Posted by Sonia Montalvo Posted on 67 articles

Virginia Union Launches New Master of Arts Program

Posted by Robert Hoggard
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On January 20, Virginia Union launched a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Curriculum and Instruction. The 36 hour degree program is designed for teachers and educators who aspire to serve in leadership and support roles in schools and other agencies that serve school clientele.

The program is designed to be completed between 18-24 months.

The primary focus of the Curriculum and Instruction program is to provide students with opportunities to learn current educational theory and evidence-based best practices, and to conduct research in unique areas of challenges in today’s school environments.

Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction students will be able to pursue diverse careers including, educational technologist, instructional coordinator, curriculum or reading specialist, literacy or educational consultant, and staff development specialist.

Virginia Union students can now obtain a degree from bachelors to doctoral levels.

Read more at VUU.edu.

Clark Atlanta Receives $100,000 Grant For Undergrad Research

Posted by Robert Hoggard
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Updated 3:53 pm EST, 1/23/2015

Back in December the Andrew W. Melton Foundation gifted Clark Atlanta University with a $100,000 planning grant for the school’s initiative to seek incorporating research in the undergraduate curriculum.

From the school’s website, “This important and timely grant from the Mellon Foundation will enhance the learning potential of CAU students by infusing research into the undergraduate experience beginning in the first year and through to graduation. We are grateful to the Mellon Foundation for its ongoing support Clark Atlanta University and its confidence in us to develop new mechanisms to infuse research into the curriculum across all disciplines of the university.”

“The expected outcome of this grant will be to implement a model framework for undergraduate student research that is tailored to the unique challenges and needs of Clark Atlanta University,” said CAU’s Asa Ware Endowed Professor of Sociology Obie Clayton, who is also the program’s principal investigator.

“We are looking forward to a productive year of rich, provocative and insightful conversations with other academic leaders from across the nation as we launch efforts to determine and refine best practices in this realm,” Clayton said.

Bowie State University Celebrates 150-Year Anniversary With Its Oldest Graduate

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105-Year-Old Graduate Reflects on School’s Impact on Her Life, Career

Beatrice Payne, 105, remembers her days training to become a teacher at the school that would later become Bowie State University.

“I just thought teaching was the grandest thing, and that was what I was going to do,” said Payne, the University’s oldest living graduate. “(Going to Bowie) influenced me from (when I began) teaching until ending. And when I got out of the classroom and into administration, there were still things that were very helpful to me.”

A Baltimore resident, Payne retired after more than 40 years in education, serving as a teaching principal, special education teacher and special education department supervisor in the Baltimore County public schools.

Bowie State University celebrates 150 years since it opened as the first free school in Baltimore, Md. on January 9, 1865. Since then, the school has grown into a comprehensive liberal arts university preparing students for careers in high-demand fields, such as cyber security and information technology. A new 150th anniversary website details the University’s history and a yearlong slate of celebration events.

The original school, School #1, was founded by 46 visionary men committed to establishing schools across Maryland to educate the state’s more than 85,000 newly emancipated slaves. They formed the Baltimore Association for the Moral and Educational Improvement of Colored People and opened dozens of schools around the state at a time when the state refused to fund schools for the black population.

The mission of School #1 was to train African-Americans to become teachers. Only in 1908 did the state of Maryland assume control of the school and relocated it to Bowie, Md. in 1911, where it was known as the Maryland Normal and Industrial School at Bowie.

When Payne attended the school, it was a high school and normal school for teachers. She completed three years of high school and two years of normal school at Bowie, graduating in 1928 with a first-grade teaching certificate. “The teachers at Bowie really taught us and taught us well,” she said.

From there, the school evolved into a state teachers college (1938) and then a liberal arts college (1963), finally achieving university status in 1988. In the same year, Bowie State University joined the newly formed University System of Maryland.

“Bowie State has a commitment to graduating students in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines to help meet the state’s critical workforce needs and prepare students for job to meet changing needs of society,” said President Mickey L. Burnim. “We remain committed first, however, to excellence in teaching, which is at the heart of what we do. Our faculty’s primary interest and passion is teaching, and that passion is what propels our students’ success.”

This article originally appeared on HBCU.com.

Posted by HBCU Editors Posted on 5633 articles

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Alumni Chapter in Baltimore Hit With $4M Hazing Lawsuit

Posted by LaTavia McQueen
Posted on
Updated 3:28 pm EST, 1/23/2015

A $4 million lawsuit was recently filed against the Baltimore Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and five of its leaders alleged to conduct and participate in hazing rituals, reports say.

“While the university is not a named defendant in the case, Coppin State University does not tolerate or condone any incident of hazing or abuse and takes accusations of such seriously,” according to a university release on Tuesday.

From WBALTV.com, “The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Prince George’s County because the victim’s lawyers said the hazing occurred during the nights and early mornings between February and March 2013 at Rogers’ Fort Washington house during the spring membership intake process.”

Johnny Powell II, a former pledge of Kappa Alpha Psi, filed a civil lawsuit against the fraternity and five members, Dedric Rogers, Kenneth Pough, Jose Biaz, Tyree Williams, Mark Briggs, accusing them of “hazing, false imprisonment, negligence and gross negligence,” according to the lawsuit.

Due to injuries suffered from hazing rituals between February and March 2013 at defendant’s Rogers house, Powell at once point in time was admitted for a five-day stay at Franklin Square Hospital.

Powell, who was a student at Stevenson University at the time and played on the varsity volleyball team, was pledging through Coppin State in an attempt to charter a Kappa Alpha Psi chapter at Stevenson.

Tuskegee University to Celebrate Faith Week

Posted by Robert Hoggard
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Updated 2:27 pm EST, 1/23/2015

Spirituality is on an all-time high at Tuskegee University this week.

Tuskegee is set to celebrate spirituality with its ‘Faith Week’ which kicks off this week, starting Thursday honoring the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and his legacy.

From the school’s website, “King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’ ” In honor of the slain Civil Rights leader and in lieu of a formal program, the campus community is encouraged to engage in some form of meaningful civic service.”

Here’s the schedule for the remaining of the week:

Wesley Foundation Bible Study
When: Thursday, January 22
Time: 7:30 p.m. CST
Topic: The Book of John
Location: lower level of Chapel

Golden Voices Annual Gospel Music Concert
When: Friday, January 23
Time: 7 p.m. CST
Location: Tuskegee Chapel

Ecumenical Worship Service
When: Sunday, January 25
Time: 9:30 a.m. CST
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Andrew Holtz – pastor, Washington Chapel A.M.E. Church, Tuskegee, Ala.

HBCU Buzz tried contacting Tuskegee to no response.

Marauders Riding Four-Game Win Streak, Beats Rival Wilberforce 83-61

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
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The Marauders has caught fire.

After Monday’s 83-61 win against longtime rival and across the street neighbor Wilberforce, the Marauders are now riding a four-game winning streak.

From MarauderSports.com, “We knew that this was a big game for the community. We just wanted to take care of business,” said Raheem Lemons, who is also tonight’s Player of the Game. “We have done a good job of scoring and moving the ball on offense. We will turn our focus to keeping this winning streak going on the road this Thursday.”

The Marauders (11-6) will now travel to play conference foe Salem International on Thursday.

In Honor of MLK, a Former Mr. CSU Tells Students to ‘Dream Again’

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
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WILBERFORCE, Ohio – Today, Monday honoring the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Christopher Arrone, a Central State University graduate who is also a former Mr. CSU, challenged students to “Wake up, and dream again.” Arrone served as keynote speaker of today’s ‘March to Freedom’ event, which started on the campus of CSU, a historically black college or university (HBCU), earlier this morning.

“Good morning everybody,” said Arrone, who is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, to a crowd of some 100 students arriving at the local Xenia Courthouse after a brief walk from the Sunken Garden on campus.

“When I did this march [last year] it was freezing cold,” Arrone said “…I thought that I would have 10 to 15 minutes [to speak] if it was cold, but since it’s warm I’ll talk to you guys for about an hour.”

“Is that okay?” he asked, as the audience let out a laugh.

The student-led march, organized by members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Xi Chapter, started at 10 am. In advance to walking 3.6 miles in a mostly clear sky, 46 degree-day to the neighboring town of Xenia, hot refreshments was served by the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Beta Xi Chapter.

“It is my pleasure to serve as an alarm clock, and I say, ‘Wake up!’” Arrone said, echoing “Dap” from the Spike Lee joint ‘School Daze’ played by Laurence Fishburne whose message to the student body at fictional Mission College (a Black college in the film) was to wake up and take control of their lives. “…We cannot lose our purpose, we have to wake up!” he said.

“We cannot lose our identity, we have to wake up! We cannot lose our dream, we have to wake up!”

He continued, “Some of us are sleep walking, sleep walking is described as a disorder that occurs when people walk, or are doing other activities while they are still sleep,” he said.

“…Some of us are sleep walking with our friends when we just chill, we are sleep walking when we sleep in and let our days go by… We are not really aiming to accomplish something in our day to day lives,” Arrone said, stating that sleep walking is ‘dangerous.’

Founded Jan. 8, 1951 on the campus of Central State University, the only public HBCU in the state of Ohio, Delta Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has organized a student-led march to the local Xenia Courthouse since the early 1980s.

“This is a march that is done to honor Dr. King and the work that he has done,” said now retired CSU Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, Mr. Robert Marcus, who is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

“But because of you,” said Mr. Marcus, “…and your support and participation, the dream and the words and the legacy of Dr. King is alive [today].”

He added, “…Actions speak louder than words.”

“If we want to have a better city, a better state and a better nation, then we have to vote,” Mr. Marcus said, challenging CSU students to vote.

“…I speak to you as a man who has made more mistakes than I would want to admit. The God who made Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is the same God who made you and me,” Arrone said.

“He made us with just as much purpose and with just as much passion, and with no mistakes… [And] it is His desire for you to fulfill every dream He has given you,” he said. “Wake up, dream again.”

CSU President Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, her husband and First Man, Dr. James Eric Hammond Sr. and Mayor of Xenia Marsha J. Bayless was also in attendance during today’s event.

5 Things You Need to Know Monday in HBCU Community

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Tennessee State Moves to Four Day Classes


TSU students are saying goodbye five day class schedule and hello to newly four days of classes policy after President of Tennessee State Glenda Glover recently announced that the university will move to a four day class schedule and will now hold classes from Monday to Thursday.

But the switch does not amount to spending less time in class… In fact, students will spend more time in classes–1 hour and 20 minutes to be exact.

 

Howard Grad Kamala Harris to Run for Senate


This Howard University graduate just declared her candidacy to represent the people of California in the United States Senate.

Attorney General Kamala Harris of California plans to seek a Senate seat vacated by Sen. Barbara Boxer in 2016.

 

Phillip Agnew Calls FAMU Students to Action


The executive director of the Dream Defenders Phillip Agnew asked Florida A&M University students, “When will you answer the call?” while speaking at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation on campus.

13 HBCUs Recipient of $25M Cybersecurity Grant


Due to the “rapid growth” of cybercrime Vice President Joe Biden and the White House will grant $25 million to 13 Black colleges and bring together and train minority students in STEM professional development, in particular cybersecurity.

 

TOP 5 HBCU BANDS 2015 Announced


The Sonic Boom of the South Marching Band of Jackson State University Marching earned the number one spot in the Top 5 HBCU Bands poll with over 17,000 votes counted in. (WOW!!)

The rest of the Top 5 HBCU Bands 2015 can be viewed here.

Tennessee State to Host 34th Annual African-American History and Culture Conference

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Tennessee State University will host its 34th annual Nashville Conference of African-American History and Culture on Friday, February 13 starting at 9 am on the university’s Avon Williams campus, according to a university press release.

The university says the conference is centered on, “the educational and musical legacies of Nashville’s African-American community.”

The annual conference has united historians, students, educators, community leaders and others interested in African-American history and culture since its start in 1981. For over 30 years the conference has had a tradition of focusing on unsung heroes in the local cultural history from slavery to present.

With conference speakers and highlighters who have been trailblazers in the fields of education, civil rights, and the arts, the event is expected to continue on with the conference’s traditions. Attendees can look forward to performances by Nashville Public Library’s Wishing Chair Productions as well as winning student video documentaries from the 2014 Tennessee History Day competition.

Registration is $20, and lunch and parking are also included.

To register visit: www.nashville.gov/mhc, or call 615.862.7970.

CSU’s Alphas to Honor MLK With Walk to Local Courthouse

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
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WILBERFORCE, Ohio – As part of the celebration honoring the late Martin Luther King Jr. a student-led march from the campus of Central State University, in Wilberforce, Ohio to the Xenia Courthouse will take place tomorrow, Monday Jan. 19 starting at 10 am. The annual MLK March to Freedom is sponsored by the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Delta Xi Chapter.

Students will assemble at the Sunken Garden on campus and march 3.6 miles, or approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes to the Xenia Municipal Court located on 101 North Detroit Street.

Upon arrival to the courthouse, the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Beta Xi Chapter will provide hot refreshments.

HBCU Buzz reporter and Editor-in-chief Tommy G. Meade Jr. will be on site.

Is Obama’s Free Community College Plan Good for HBCUs?

Posted by Stefan Weathers
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Last week President Barack Obama announced a proposal that would make tuition at community colleges free for ‘serious’ students seeking to better their lives by obtaining an education. But how will this proposal affect the country’s 107 historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs)?

“I applaud the president’s efforts to assist students with their education, particularly at no cost, given the economy and increasing cost of higher education,” said Frank Pogue, President of Cheyney University.

Supporters of Obama’s latest course of action points to the potential pipeline from community college directly to Black colleges, and that more so than not, students will be more academically prepared heading to a four-year college and straddled with less debt.

In addition, supporters also believes that this proposal will only boost previous agreements made by some community colleges and HBCUs administrations who have already partnered together to tackle specific issues, in particular student debt.

From The Root, “The problem is that, historically, many people who earn community college degrees don’t go on through college. So HBCUs could be pioneers in changing that as a major gateway for opportunities in higher education. That could boost our enrollment in the long run if we do this right.”

For HBCUs, with the challenges in recruitment and retention, this could be an excellent way ensure the survival and the thriving of HBCUs in years to come.

But a potential negative could be the Federal government itself.

Those who questions the president’s proposal to make community colleges “free for everybody who is willing to work for it” believes that the free tuition plan could create some financial hiccups for students wanting to move forward to college from community colleges:

“The way the proposal is currently constructed, transfer students will exhaust most of their Pell Grant money before they’re admitted into a four-year college,” says Micah Ali, President of the Compton Unified School District. “…However, only 15 percent of students who start at a two-year public college receive a bachelor’s degree within six years.

“For more-promising results, higher-caliber students would have to defer a four-year college to attend community college, or community colleges would have to improve their academic support and rigor dramatically,” said Ali.

Lady Marauders Comeback Falls Short at Home

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
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WILBERFORCE, Ohio – Central State fought hard all the way to the end but could not put the finishing touches on their late comeback drive to defeat their opponents today, losing 66-65 at home to Kentucky Wesleyan in a tight played match that went right down to the wire.

Kentucky Wesleyan improves to 8-6 overall while the Lady Marauders falls to 3-10 on the season, and are now 1-4 in conference play.

The Lady Marauders scored the opening basket in the 1st half and but later found themselves on the defensive throughout the duration of today’s game against the Panthers.

Senior Guard Inquia Snell again led the Lady Marauders in scoring for the ninth straight contest with 22 points and helped CSU to make a late comeback drive in the 2nd half and a shot at victory. It was not enough though to hold off the KWU Panthers.

Central State is back at home against down-the-street rival Wilberforce Monday at 6 p.m.