In the wake of the grand jury’s decision in Ferguson, Missouri, students, family, and alumni at various universities protest peacefully. Here are a few examples as more information unravels.
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The organizers behind the Puissance Scholarship are encouraging their peers to give back to their respective university and college endowments through memorable social gatherings and community service, while inspiring high school students in the New York area to seek higher education at a historically Black college and university.
“I wanted to give back to the community because a lot of people put me in positions to be where I am now,” Brendan Francis, 24, one of the founders of Puissance told BET.com.
“But I wanted to give people a chance to go see something new. Go step out of their comfort zone and really explore HBCUs, because I had a great HBCU experience and my peers that went had great ones and I really wanted to share that trend,” Francis continued.
In 2013, Francis and Alize Beal, 25, Howard University alumni, founded the Puissance Scholarship for freshmen at Howard. Since then, they brought Lauren Legette, 25, and Anastazia Neely, 22, Hampton University alumnae, and Roger Rojas, 34, an alumnus of Morgan State University, on board to expand the reach of the scholarship fund.
Puissance held their first successful gathering at the Sol Studio in Harlem for an evening of art complete with cocktails and swag bags last summer. SupaBrunch, a Howard Homecoming event, followed. Proceeds from the brunch went to the scholarship. In February, the group threw Hillman Homecoming and brought out hundreds of alumni across HBCUs to The Griffin, a hotspot in lower Manhattan.
“With our generation you have to meet us more than halfway sometimes and it has to be a mutual benefit and that’s why the parties and the mixers work — because we want to be around each other; we want to be engaged,” Beal told BET.com. “Although social media is really nice, what our generation has to understand with social media and hashtags it that it doesn’t translate into dollars.”
Money is especially important as more and more African-Americans enroll in college. Many are not completing college in four years or at all because of financial hardships that hold them back, placing a ball and chain on their future prosperity. African-American students and bachelor’s degree holders have acquired student debt at higher rates than other race groups. READ FULL
the field of 24 teams competing for the 2014 NCAA Division I Football Championship was announced Sunday by the Division I Football Championship Committee. The top eight national seeds will play host to winners from the first-round matchups.
MEAC Co-Champion and Automatic Qualifier Morgan State will face the University of Richmond in first round action, November 29.
New Hampshire (10-1) tops the bracket as the No. 1 seed after capturing the automatic qualifying berth from the Colonial Athletic Association. The Wildcats are making their 11th consecutive appearance in the championship and 13th overall.
Three-time defending national champion North Dakota State (11-1) is the No. 2 seed, earning the automatic qualifying berth from the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Bison are making their fifth consecutive appearance in the championship.
Jacksonville State (10-1), which is making its fifth overall tournament appearance, is the No. 3 seed. The Gamecocks captured the Ohio Valley Conference automatic berth.
Eastern Washington (10-2) is the No. 4 seed, garnering the Big Sky Conference automatic berth. The 2010 national champion Eagles are making their 11th appearance in the championship.
The No. 5 seed is Illinois State (10-1). The Redbirds tied for the Missouri Valley Football Conference title and are making their fifth overall appearance.
Villanova (10-2), the 2009 national champion, will be the No. 6 seed. The Wildcats are making their 11th championship appearance.
Coastal Carolina (11-1) will be the seventh seed. This will be the fifth appearance for the Chanticleers.
The eighth and final seeded team will be Chattanooga. The Mocs will be making their second appearance in the championship and first since 1984.
The 2014 championship field consists of 11 automatic qualifiers and 13 at-large qualifiers:
Automatic Qualifiers
• Big Sky Conference – Eastern Washington (10-2)
• Big South Conference – Liberty (8-4)
• Colonial Athletic Association – New Hampshire (10-1)
• Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Morgan State (7-5)
• Missouri Valley Football Conference – North Dakota State (11-1)
• Northeast Conference – Sacred Heart (9-2)
• Ohio Valley Conference – Jacksonville State (10-1)
• Patriot League – Fordham (10-2)
• Pioneer Football League – San Diego (9-2)
• Southern Conference – Chattanooga (9-3)
• Southland Conference – Sam Houston State (8-4)
At-Large
• Big Sky Conference – Montana (8-4)
• Big Sky Conference – Montana State (8-4)
• Big South Conference – Coastal Carolina (11-1)
• Colonial Athletic Association – James Madison (9-3)
• Colonial Athletic Association – Richmond (8-4)
• Colonial Athletic Association – Villanova (10-2)
• Missouri Valley Football Conference – Illinois State (10-1)
• Missouri Valley Football Conference – Indiana State (7-5)
• Missouri Valley Football Conference – South Dakota State (8-4)
• Missouri Valley Football Conference – Northern Iowa (8-4)
• Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Kentucky (9-3)
• Southland Conference – Southeastern Louisiana (9-3)
• Southland Conference – Stephen F. Austin (8-4)
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is pleased to announce that the legendary singer, songwriter and entrepreneur Smokey Robinson will serve as the judge for Highmark First Night Pittsburgh’s annual Sing-Off competition. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is searching for musically talented students to audition for the fourth annual vocal competition celebrating the New Year. The deadline for submissions has been extended through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 12.
“I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting event that supports young talent and fosters arts education,” shared Mr. Robinson. “I look forward to reviewing the auditions and hearing from some of the region’s most promising stars of the future.”
Once pronounced by Bob Dylan as America’s “greatest living poet,” Smokey Robinson‘s career spans over 4 decades of hits. He has received numerous awards including the Grammy Living Legend Award, NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award, Honorary Doctorate (Howard University), Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Arts Award from the President of the United States. He has also been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.
The president of Lincoln University has resigned following remarks about sex assault earlier this year. A letter from the Lincoln University Board of Trustees announced the resignation on Monday morning.
The letter also announced that the university’s general counsel, Valerie Harrison, has agreed to serve acting president while the board searches for a long-term interim president and begins the search for the school’s 14th president.
Jennings’ speech happened on September 16th, but started going viral with the past month.
During the speech, Jennings remarked, “We have, we had, on this campus last semester three cases of young women who after having done whatever they did with young men and then it didn’t turn out the way they wanted it to turn out. Guess what they did. They went to Public Safety and said, ‘He raped me.’ ”
Jennings apologized two weeks ago, saying it’s obvious that he did not clearly communicate and that he did not intend to hurt or offend anyone
While an undergraduate at LeMoyne College (now LeMoyne-Owen College), Barry picked up the nickname “Shep” in reference to Soviet propagandist Dmitri Shepilov for his ardent support of the civil rights movement. Barry began using Shepilov as his middle name.
Barry completed graduate work in chemistry at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., earning a master’s degree. He left school short of a doctorate to work in the civil rights movement.
Barry’s political rise began in 1960, when he became the first national chairman of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, which sent young people into the South to register black voters and became known as one of the most militant civil rights groups of that era.
Barry’s work with the committee brought him to Washington. He first entered local politics as a member of the school board and then in 1974 as a member of the first elected city council.
He was wounded by a shotgun blast in the Hanafi Muslim takeover of D.C.’s city hall in 1977. The shooting was credited with strengthening him politically. In 1978, Barry defeated incumbent Mayor Walter Washington in the Democratic primary and went on to easily win the general election.
Barry’s early years in office were marked by improvement in many city services and a dramatic expansion of the government payroll, creating a thriving black middle class in the nation’s capital. He established a summer jobs program that gave many young people their first work experience and earned him political capital. Read Full via rutlandHearold
Courtesy: SWAC Alabama State swept Southern to earn the 2014 SWAC Championship title Sunday night at the Cliford Seymour Gymnasium. This marked the second time in two years the Hornets won. Match scores include: 25-17, 25-16, 25-18.
Tiara Kelley led the match in kills with 10, while Phalen Clark set for 23 assists. Jaime Coleman and Ellyn Jones share the match-high in digs, 10 apiece.
Myla Marshall was named Most Valuable Play, while Coach Penny Lucas-White was named Coach of the Year. The All-Tournament Team is as follow: Myla Marshall (Alabama State), Rachel Smith (Alabama State), Kyanna Sales (Alabama A&M), Taiji Thomas (Jackson State), Mikayla Rolle (Jackson State), Phalen Clark(Southern) and Lelani Lealaimatafao.
Volleys presented themselves as both teams swung for a tied set. Southern gained a four-point lead, but miscommunication pushed Alabama State ahead. Building a seven-point lead, the Hornets caused Southern to call a timeout. With 19-12 on the score board, ASU continued making effective plays, leaving the score in the first set, 25-17. The Hornets kept the Jaguars at a hitting percentage of .061, while the earned a percentage of .393. ASU also led in blocking with five to Southern’s one.
Southern earned the first point in the second set. The Jaguars fostered an impressive lead due to blocks and kills, but not without a Hornet fight. ASU buzzed its way back, taking over the set by two. The set went on with both team scoring and a score of 14-14. Under Setter of the Year Ellyn Jones, the Hornets marched back up with a two-point gap. Wasting no time, ASU gained complete control, ending the set, 25-16.
With hopes of finishing the set and winning the match, the Hornets climbed their way to a one-point lead. A kill from Shauntia Carr placed Southern back in the lead with a three-point cushion. Errors from the Jaguars allowed ASU to tie the set at 11, then 12. After a few volleys, Alabama State secured a three-point lead. Southern tried to work its way back into the set, but ASU shut them down at every turn. Repeating as SWAC champions, Alabama State ended the set, 25-18, winning the set, 3-0.
Courtesy: MEAC – The Hampton University Lady Pirates captured its second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Championship title on Sunday afternoon with a 3-0 victory over Howard University at the Physical Education Complex on the campus of Coppin State University.
Hampton was led by senior Vendula Strakova with 27 kills and 12 digs and was named the Tournament Outstanding Performer. Krista Krasura added 11 digs, while Kitija Megne recorded 23 assists and 12 digs.
Lady Pirates Head Coach Karen Weatherington was named the Outstanding Coach of the Year.
“Today’s match was thrilling,” Weatherington said. “We knew that it was going to be a very tough match and defended well. I think we just had the mental advantage with the tough schedule and season we’ve had.”
Katherine Broussard paced the Howard offense with 14 kills and 11 digs, while Stephanie Shultis finished with 28 assists. Allyson Lods led the Lady Bison with 13 digs. Howard concludes the season with a 20-11 record.
Hampton (21-10) advances to the NCAA Tournament in December. The Lady Pirates will find out their seeding and their opponent on Sunday, November 30 at 9:30 p.m., during the NCAA selection show, which will air on ESPNU.
From BizJournals The University System of Maryland has formed a search committee to help find the next president of Coppin State University.
The group of 14 will be chaired by Michael E. Cryor, president of the Cryor Group, a communications firm in Baltimore.
Mortimer H. Neufville started a a two-year term as president of the Baltimore university in July 2013 and had been interim president for six months following Reginald Avery‘s resignation from the presidency.
USM’s goal is to have a new president named by July 1.
Members of the search committee are:
Hampton University now owns the former Holy Family Retreat House at 1414 N. Mallory St.
Officials closed on the former Catholic retreat center for $1.890 million, according to officials with Norfolk-based Harvey Lindsay Commercial Real Estate who helped broker the transaction in late October.
The nearly 11-acre property is valued at $2.8 million, according to public records, and was owned by the Redemptorists Fathers of Virginia.From 1958 until the center closed in 2010, the Holy Family Retreat House hosted weekend spiritual retreats for Catholics and other functions. Check back later for more on this developing story. – See more at:
Howard University had to evacuate students from a dorm around 8 p.m. on Tuesday after reporting a fire at the East Towers on campus. No students were harmed, according to the school newspaper The Hilltop, who was also among the first to break the news last night via Twitter.
In the aftermath of the fire, Howard officials followed the path of the student newspaper when it took to social media at 11:22 p.m. to thank the Howard community for their cooperation with firefighters and the Howard University police, saying in a post, “Impact letters will be provided to each resident of the East Towers to be shared with their professors for the remainder of the week.”
“The impact letters will be available at the Office of Residence Life, located in Campus Hall South,” said the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs in a Facebook post.
The post added, “The fire was contained and no injuries were reported. In an abundance of caution, East Tower residents have been evacuated and are currently being routed to Cramton Auditorium for further instructions.”
“My prayers [goes out to] those impacted and displaced due to these unfortunate events,” said Celeste M. Sharper commenting on the post above.
Another concerned person Charles D Sharp wrote, “Look into having an EM-101 course available for all students as a general education course for all student majors.”
After being evacuated residents of the East Towers were safely lead to other campus housing facilities by those helping out on the scene, some students were advised to go to nearby West Towers Community Room “until the ‘all clear’ is given.”
All students except those living on the 5th floor and up were able to return to their rooms.
Hampton, Va. – Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey was awarded the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) 2014 Educational Leadership Award. The award was presented at TMCF 26th Annual Awards Gala, themed “Developing Minds…Delivering Dreams.” This event will be held in Washington, D.C. Nov. 12, 2014.
The Educational Leadership Award is the highest volunteer award presented to an individual who has a demonstrated record of commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and education. The Educational Leadership Award is presented annually to a president of an HBCU who has demonstrated outstanding business, academic and visionary leadership through effective management of his or her institution.
“This award is usually presented to an educational leader from a publicly-supported HBCU, but Dr. Harvey’s success as President of Hampton University and his 30-year tenure as one of the longest tenures of any sitting president of a college or university in the country is outstanding,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., TMCF President and CEO. “Dr. Harvey salutes the legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall through his commitment and dedication to education and service.”
Harvey has served as president of Hampton University since 1978. During his tenure, he has increased enrollment, raised the endowment, raised the average SAT scores for entering freshmen, and implemented innovative programs, which have led to increased opportunities for Hampton graduates. Prior to joining Hampton, Harvey worked in various roles at Harvard University, Fisk University, and Tuskegee University.
Throughout his career as President of Hampton University, Harvey has demonstrated a strong commitment to the professional development of others. Fifteen of his administrative colleagues have been elected president and CEO at diverse institutions.
Harvey has served on a number of corporate boards including Fannie Mae, Newport News Shipbuilding, Signet Bank, and Trigon Blue Cross/Blue Shield. He is currently the chair of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and has served on the President’s National Advisory Council on Elementary and Secondary Education, the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, the Commission on Presidential Scholars, the NCAA Division I Board, and the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Development Advisory. He graduated from Talladega College and earned his doctorate in college administration from Harvard University.
Referenced from – WJCI
The SSU student newspaper originally reported a campus building was on lockdown pending a GBI investigation. We’ve tracked down school leaders to explain what’s going on.
We talked to campus police, the school’s spokeswoman, members of the student newspaper, and a GBI agent.
The Savannah State marching band is temporarily suspended. They did not perform at last night’s game. We also know GBI agents are investigating the death of a band member. Savannah State’s spokeswoman says the band is suspended for violating the University’s student code of conduct. An article in the student run newspaper, Tiger Roar, reported the campus building where band student practice, Kennedy Fine Arts, was on lockdown Saturday. This due to a GBI investigation into the deaths of a band member.
Loretta Heywood, the spokesperson from the school, and Campus Police say this is not true. The band room is locked but the Fine Arts Building is not on lockdown.
Meanwhile, the original post of that article is no longer on the school’s site.
The GBI did confirm to WJCL tonight, through email, that there is an on- going death investigation at the University. This investigation surrounds the death of a student band member who was found unresponsive in a dorm on November 1st. At the time of death, the school issued a notice stating the death did not appear suspicious but the GBI will be investigating.
The GBI says the cause of death is pending autopsy results at this point.
The band did not play at Savannah State’s game Saturday. While there are several rumors as to why the band is suspended indefinitely, students say they the game didn’t feel the same.
“It’s sad right now, we feed off their energy. It was kind of different with them not being there at halftime,” said Brandon Bailey, SSU student.
“I don’t know the circumstances, but I do hope that they are back. Because we have the basketball seasons coming up. We have one more game against byu. Hopefully they are back,” said Edward Goubadil, SSU student.
Meanwhile, there is no confirmation if the death of this student and the suspension of the University’s band are related.
Unlike many artists whose performance tours take them to other countries, Kadogo works with communities in other countries such as Brazil, Cuba, Australia, and Senegal to build her performance works. She most recently served as a visiting faculty member at Yongin University in Seoul, Korea. As a performer, she has worked in film, television and theater. She is one of the original cast members of the award-winning Broadway production of …for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf by Ntozake Shange.
“Aku Kadogo was selected as the Cosby Chair in the Arts because of her stellar achievements in theater, choreography and education,” said Myra Burnett, Ph.D., Spelman interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “She is a global ambassador of performance art, traversing continents and cultures with ease, giving and receiving as she goes. She is an outstanding model of excellence for our students, emanating a creative, imaginative, and interdisciplinary spirit that we hope they, too, will develop. We are delighted that she has come to us for this year.”
Kadogo’s academic experience includes serving as director of the Black Theatre Program at Wayne State University in Detroit from 2006 to 2011. As a faculty member, she directed plays and musicals as well as taught dramatic literature and performance studies courses.
“It’s a great honor to be selected as Cosby Chair,” said Kadogo. “I’ve led an independent and unique life and this affords me an opportunity to share my vision with others.”
The theme of her term as Cosby Chair is “Fearless Exploration of the Imagination!” During the academic year, Kadogo will teach courses through the Department of Drama and Dance and host globally recognized artists for lectures and performances. She also intends to explore ways in which African-American artists, curators, directors, and others articulate and maintain their cultural voice while immersed in an international art community.
“African Americans are missing from a lot of places in the international theater scene. I’m interested in finding out who is doing the work because if we go back to the Katherine Dunhams and Alvin Aileys of another generation, they were known and seen on the global stage,” said Kadogo, a Detroit native. “I find it to be a different world now. I want to examine where we come from [as African Americans and as artists] and how we link to others in the world.”
She added it’s important for her students to know the history of African Americans in the arts and to understand its present state in order to prepare for their future shaping and influencing their craft.
Kadogo’s fall semester course, “Urban Anthropological Approach to Performance Studies,” takes students through the creation of their own contemporary original work, which will incorporate music, dance and literature, and investigate ceremonial practices and political activism influenced by Asia, Africa, the South Pacific and the U.S.
Kadogo welcomes Marc Bamuthi Joseph to campus Nov. 18 for the conversation, “Where People Gather: Hip Hop, Activism and Innovation.” A Morehouse College graduate, Joseph was named by Smithsonian magazine as one of “America’s Top Young Innovators in the Arts and Sciences.” He is the artistic director of the seven-part HBO documentary “Russell Simmons presents Brave New Voices” and an inaugural recipient of the United States Artists Rockefeller Fellowship, which annually recognizes 50 of the country’s “greatest living artists.”
“I’m excited to have this conversation with an artist of another generation. I’ll be interested to hear how Joseph continues to develop as an artist and what it means for him to be an interdisciplinary artist,” said Kadogo.
“Where People Gather: Hip Hop, Activism and Innovation: A Conversation with Arts Activist Marc Bamuthi Joseph”
WHEN:
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014, 6 p.m. Free and open to the public.
WHERE:
Cosby Academic Center Auditorium
Spelman College
350 Spelman Lane S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30314
Directions
WHY:
The William and Camille Cosby Endowed Professorship was established in 1988. The recipient utilizes the post for one year to expand the college’s curricular offerings by designing a course rooted in their specific area of expertise, and facilitating interdisciplinary initiatives. The residency concludes with a special culminating event developed and implemented by the Cosby Chair. Kadogo’s culminating event “Salt City” is set for April 25, 2015. The performance features Jessica Care Moore, poet, publisher, playwright, performance artist and producer. Read more about Kadogo’s artistic journey in Inside Spelman.
About Spelman College
Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a highly selective, liberal arts college widely recognized as the global leader in the education of women of African descent. Located in Atlanta, Ga., the College’s picturesque campus is home to 2,100 students. Outstanding alumnae include Children’s Defense Fund Founder Marian Wright Edelman; Sam’s Club CEO Rosalind Brewer, Broadway Producer Alia Jones, Former Acting Surgeon General and Spelman’s first alumna President Audrey Forbes Manley, Harvard University Professor Evelynn Hammonds, Author Pearl Cleage, and Actress LaTanya Richardson Jackson. For more information, visit www.spelman.edu.
Media Contact:
Audrey Arthur
(404) 270-5892 office
aarthur3@spelman.edu
Twitter: @spelmanmedia
On Thursday, Nov. 13 the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) announced what can be a big push towards getting more students attending a public historically black college or university (HBCU) on online courses with its new partnership with the University of Phoenix.
TMCF President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor Jr. commented on the “important” new alliance with the university that graduates the most minority students and the new online capabilities offered by University of Phoenix, saying, “Using technology to improve educational outcomes is a must today; and we are excited about the opportunity to partner with University of Phoenix on this innovative solution to help HBCUs offer online courses.”
“HBCUs look to TMCF for new opportunities and solutions like this to assist them with building their capacity as they continue to serve the students matriculating on their campuses,” he said. “This opportunity will give HBCUs access to online learning not previously available.”
Taylor impressively seems to be leading the TMCF to new grounds and is resilient in obtaining scholarships and grants for HBCU students during a time when HBCU leaders at some of the nation’s Black colleges complain about a lack of federal government grants and unfair treatment given by the Obama administration.
In October the Department of Education allotted federal support to universities and colleges nationwide in a pioneering $171 million effort to help increase professional development of low-income and minority students in S.T.E.M.
Just three HBCUs, however: Fayetteville State University, Prairie View A&M University and Hampton University, as a whole received $3 million in grants.
But despite all the emphasis on scarce federal support, the “scandalous” $25 million Koch brothers grant given to TMCF in June, and the uncertain future of HBCUs Taylor remains more than just a man who gets the job done.
He is “Changing the World … One Leader at a Time.”
“We’re proud to offer more scholarships and grants for nontraditional students as part of this new alliance, and we are thrilled to join the Thurgood Marshall College Fund in helping more HBCU students reach graduation,” said Timothy P. Slottow, President of University of Phoenix. “We are eager to help HBCU institutions expand their online education capabilities. It is an honor to help fulfill our mission by partnering with our nation’s vitally important Historically Black Colleges and Universities.”
But they also offer an unique experience to grow and develop as a leader, a confident public speaker and provide some fantastic opportunities to network and operate with people within and out the organization.
Here are three ways going Greek puts you in a great position with future employers:
There is a reason why several incoming freshman students attending HBCUs are often curious about Black Greek life. Oftentimes at HBCUs the Black Greeks are looked upon as role models with more influence than SGA, Royal Court and other organizations on campus, almost combined in some cases.
Usually Black Greek Lettered Organizations (BGLOs) packs the house at nearly all events. This is a sign that Black Greeks can greatly sell and influence others, and another skill employers like to see from new grads.
Plus, at the most basic level this is also why Black Greeks has a duty to give back.
Black Greek fraternity life can open doors to a plethora of collaboration and networking opportunities with other like-minded people–who, perhaps, before was just an opportunity wasted–from every nation known to man.
This means exchanging business cards, creating new relationships and networking with other gifted and talented individuals…although sometimes they are more like annoying little/big brothers. And that, the ability to act and react with actual human beings, is a skill employers want to see from new college grads. (Speaking of brotherhood.)
In fact, they are also really, really good teammates.
Being in a Black Greek fraternity requires commitment, (hard) work and the ability to work in a team. If you are preparing to plan, organize and execute a great event on the yard, working in a team seems like the only way to get the real work done, and Black Greek fraternities and sororities are experts in teamwork.
According to an article called “The 10 Skills Employers Most Want In 20-Something Employees” by Susan Adams being able to work efficiently in a team is the skill employers say they most seek.
