Iowa State Too Much for NCCU in NCAA Debut

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SAN ANTONIO — N.C. Central introduced its men’s basketball team to America on Friday night.

The No. 14 seed Eagles ran their motion offense, found their shots and used their suffocating defense to great effect in the second round of the NCAA tournament. They held an early lead, trailed by just six at halftime, made great plays, and scared No. 3 seed Iowa State, but in the end, the Cyclones were too talented and too deep, pulling out a 93-75 victory at the AT&T Center.

The Cyclones disrupted N.C. Central’s offense during the second half, limiting senior guard Jeremy Ingram to 28 points. Meanwhile their trio of senior DeAndre Kane, junior Dustin Hoge and sophomore Georges Niang took over offensively and helped Iowa State open a 15-point lead with 10 minutes, 55 seconds remaining.

The Cyclones had five players score in double figures and shot 63 percent from the field.

“It’s extremely difficult to slow them down,” N.C. Central coach LeVelle Moton said. “You’re basically picking your poison. Those are pros out there, man, and you’ve got to decide if you’re going to double Kane and leave out some shooters and be late on rotation , or if you’re just going to play it straight up. … It’s a nightmare.”

Kane’s smooth perimeter game coupled with the hustle of Hoge and Niang inside wore the Eagles down. Once the Cyclones were moving in transition, the Eagles had little hope – and Iowa State’s lead inched to 20 points with eight minutes to go on a Niang 3-pointer from the top of the key.

The Cyclones went 9 of 17 from 3-point range.

Despite Friday’s disappointing loss, N.C. Central fans will mark this season down as one for the ages, considering the exciting run their basketball team made.

The Eagles made the NCAA tournament as a Division I team for the first time in school history. They captured the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament championship for the first time, having moved from Division II to Division I in 2011.

There were signature wins over N.C. State and Old Dominion. There was a dominating stretch of play during the MEAC regular season where the Eagles finished 15-1 and captured that title.

They were unbeaten at home (14-0) for the first time since the 1997-98 season – dispatching teams at McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.

The team won the second-most regular-season games (25) since John McLendon’s squad finished 26-5 in 1950-51.

“Right now it’s kind of hard for me to swallow this and give out how proud I am of our accomplishments,” N.C. Central guard Emanuel Chapman said. “But the thing I’m most proud of is that everything that we did and everything that we accomplished in our conference … we did everything together.”

Dog Dies, Two Escape from Hampton University Apartment Fire

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Hampton, Va. – Two people were forced from their home early Saturday morning after an apartment fire in Hampton.

Hampton firefighters say the fire started around 3 a.m. at an apartment on Mariners Cove Rd. Units arrived and found flames coming from the third floor balcony doorway.
We’re told the two residents smelled smoke and the smoke detector alerted them to the fire but they were not able to leave through the front door, so they had to escape from their balcony through the outside stairway.
One dog was found dead as a result of the fire.

Firefighters say the home was heavily damaged from fire, smoke and water throughout the apartment.
A fire investigator responded to the scene and determined the cause of the fire was due to ashes from incense falling into a trash can which ignited and spread to a couch.
The Red Cross was requested to assist the residents of the apartment.

6 Reasons Why Every HBCU Student Should Attend TMCF Leadership Institute

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“If I could describe the TMCF Leadership Institute in one word, I would say motivational,” said Tony Innouvong, a student at Alcorn State University. Several other “carefully selected” students brought together to this four-day conference has similar responses about the 2013 Leadership Institute.

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) hosts the annual, premier recruitment conference for public HBCU students that enable the future leaders of tomorrow a unique professional development experience.

Here are 6 reasons why every HBCU student should attend the TMCF Leadership Institute:

Leadership Skills

“From the first day of conference, I really felt the competition in the room,” Alabama A&M University student Oneia Baldwin said. “I need to be on my A game.” Sometimes, great leaders need to be pushed to go that extra mile, again and again and again.

Networking

According to the TMCF website, students should “come prepared and don’t forget to bring your resume!” With over 60 companies and government agencies offering job and internship opportunities, one could argue that it would be absurd to miss out on such an opportunity.

Scholarships

The average TMCF merit based scholarship award is $3,100.00 per student per semester.

Recruitment Fair

Everyone loves the Recruitment Fair. Everyone. In addition to career opportunities with over 60 recruiters, some recruiters will be interviewing and hiring on-site during the conference, which is totally awesome.

Workshops

At the Leadership Institute, TMCF gives a set of circumstances that makes it possible for students to participate in “interactive discussions and workshops designed to provide professional career strategies, skills, and guidance from experienced individuals in the corporate, education and government fields.”

Keynote Addresses

Do any of the following names ring a bell: Ime Archibong, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, Pamela Jolly and Dr. William U. Latham? These are the names of leaders who watch over companies like Facebook, Wal-Mart, Torch Enterprises and Gallup. The Leadership Institute offers some of the nation’s leading public speakers inspire attendees by sharing their life stories and work experiences.

And by attending this year’s Leadership Institute, you, too can be TMCF–where education pays off.

About TMCF:

Representing nearly 300,000 students attending its 47 member-schools that include public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), medical schools and law schools, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) helps students with a clear intention and the motivation to succeed and acquire a high-quality college education at an affordable cost. 

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Bad Girls Club And Basketball Wives: Are Reality TV Shows Negatively Impacting Our Women?

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Dear women of the world,

What is going on?!

Whether we care to admit it or not, TV permeates our lives, our habits, and our language. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air brought us a lot of cheesy Carlton dancing that we faithfully recreated, and baseball caps worn sideways and of course the intro song we’ll never forget. The Cosby Show brought us 8 years of love and laughter and Rudy’s sassy Uh-uh’s, and showed us black families are normal. What about Martin? We’ll never forget the sarcasm, the bond between friends, Martin’s love- hate relationship with Pam and Shanaynay’s overuse of Oh no, you di-int!!

TV distorts the way we perceive ourselves. Remember in the 80s when we all had shoulder pads? I know, I want to forget it too. How about those neon colors? You could be spotted from a mile away! And in the 90s we were star struck by the Wayans brothers? Doc Martens and flannel, parachute pants and LA Lights, or oversized sweaters and eyeliner anyone? The good, the bad and the ugly, we do get influenced by TV.

Aggressive reality shows inhabit the “ugly” category. What have they added to our lives? A whole lot of women-on-women cruelty, overly sexual girls, distortion of body image and poor role models.

Take Bad Girls Club, for example. It can be summarized like this, a bunch of girls living together and being paid to fight each other. There’s little reality behind Reality TV, just to clarify. The meaner the girls are to each other, the more likely it’ll be that they will be hired for another season, so if you’ve ever watched the show you already know there will be a bunch of hair pulling and throwing of punches for no reason at all. Does this empower you much?

The show is so – fortunately – bleeped, that half of the heartfelt yelled exchanges can’t be heard. But they’re easily guessed. The myriad of “biatch” that girls throw around is the least of our worries, because, surprise, that’s how girls are calling each other when they’re not even being rude.

Another show that has caught our attention – for all the wrong reasons – is Basketball Wives. Though Nicki Minaj is a fan of the show she isn’t a fan of bullying. Apparently, Miss Minaj feels that yelling and slapping isn’t the way to face any problem.

The summary of the show is, a group of women who are married, engaged, have been married or engaged, or are having affairs with basketball players, for some obscure reason, followed in their everyday pre-scripted lives. Backstabbing ensues.

Oh, they’re consenting adults all right, so they should know about consequences. But how about their audiences?The women in both shows get their hair and make-up done by professionals, step into the limelight and make it glamorous to bully, to criticize, to be backstabbing and confrontational.  With their skimpy little dresses they go around having intercourse with random partners and making promiscuity look cool. What about STDs and unwanted pregnancy? When do we get to see the consequences of reckless behavior?

The icing on the cake is that most girls from this Bad Girls Club are black women. The demeaning stereotype of bullying, loud and coarse black women. A stereotype that we can’t so easily debunk, but TV is insisting on fostering.

According to recent research, black women are ranked by the National census statistics as the most educated group by race and gender. So why are we still allowing Bad Girls Club into our homes, and into our minds?

You know what real feminism looks like? Not like this. African American women didn’t come this far to fall back. It seems today women are finding more value in their bodies, by how little she weights, how much she shops, how many people she sleeps with, how loud she yells and how good she looks. These shows are the most un-feminist approach to femininity.

Women are meant to be appreciated as wholesome, wonderful and beautiful beings. Women today can use their platforms to inspire change in the world and be a positive influence on the younger generations. But why don’t we see more of this positive change?

Kim Kardashian becoming famous just because she’s been strutting her stuff isn’t quite the role model after all, is she?

Some people argue that her life is inspirational, because she leaped to stardom out of the blue. Kim, misrepresented as a “model” and an “actress” became known after a sex tape got leaked to Vivid entertainment, who distributed the film as “Kim K Superstar”. Looks like an easy way to achieve notoriety, doesn’t it?  Maybe. But since Kimmy cannot act, cannot sing and has no evident talents, the only way to stay in the limelight is by showing her assets everywhere. I wouldn’t be able to look my mother in the eye if that was me.

So you know who Kim Kardashian is. Do you know Ursula Burns? Rosalind Brewer? They’re two of the most powerful African American women. You’ll see them from time to time in the news, making it big as CEO’s of Xerox  and SAM’s club. True, they probably won’t be in a show every Tuesday night, and for sure they won’t be giving any butt-whooping, but that’s because they’ll be doing something worthy of their time, like leading an international company.

Or how about Oprah Winfrey? She’s one of the most influential women in the United States, and you won’t catch Oprah being anything less than appropriate, because she has devoted her life to become an inspiration to all generations. You see, there are role models out there, but maybe it’s time to change the channel and let’s get to know them.

Just like The Cosby Show was a great portrayal of African American families, promoted values and had a huge dose of healthy humor, we have some modern shows to choose from that don’t base their ratings in cursing and name-calling. Tune in to OWN, Oprah’s TV network, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

If you like to watch glamour, then the reality show Mom’s Got Game is for you. There’s no need to be throwing around curse words and pulling people’s hair, because that doesn’t even happen in real life!

Want a bit more drama? Then have your tissue ready for Iyanla: Fix My Life. And maybe there will some butt-whooping there, but it’s metaphorical and it’s the kind of whooping you’d get if you needed a reality check.

We’re not asking you to embark in a crusade against reality shows and entertainment. But we do want you to stop validating shows that are fed by your ratings and in return give you nothing of worth. Nothing at all.

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Fire In Meridian Hall of Howard University – Letter from Andreya J. Davis

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photo 2Dear Bison Community:

On Saturday, March 15, 2014. I returned to the Hilltop a changed woman after, experiencing my fourth trip as a participant of Howard University’s Alternative Spring Break program. This year, I spent my week in a building sleeping on cots, and without hot running water, I woke up everyday at 6:45am with more than 20 strangers ready to teach, mentor and explore. I was experiencing one of the best weeks of my life!

The Lower Ninth Ward was the setting; the theme was some inexplicable mixture between catastrophe and communal love. We, a cast of 29 Howard University representatives were first-hand witnesses of things the media could, rather would, never tell us. We learned many lessons; the greatest being take care of your own people, protect them, nurture them and most importantly, love them.

On Tuesday, March 18, 2014, reared against the eastern sky, the Howard community was put to the test again. A fire in Meridian Hill Hall wrecked havoc on the fourth floor of the near-capacity residence hall. An angel of protection ensured that no students (potentially 93) or staff was injured. However, several have been left displaced and without housing. We are now charged to meet the needs of our fellow Bison. WE must protect them, nurture them and most importantly love them. Even when the cameras are not rolling it is our duty to serve one another even as we seek to serve the global community.

I ask that you donate as you can. Necessities include but are not limited to male and female clothing, toiletries, and residence hall necessities such as cooking/cleaning/ school supplies, and non-perishable food items. Checks can be sent to Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel CC/Memo: Meridian Hill Hall Relief

 

Material Donations can be sent to:

Carnegie Hall Office of the Dean of the Chapel 2395 6th Street NW Washington, DC 20059

In Truth and Service,

Andreya J. Davis

Scholars of the Culture: Wiley College Hip-Hop Conference ; March 21-22

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Wiley College seeks to establish the first annual conference at a Historically Black College that addresses hip-hop culture from an academic perspective. The aim is to facilitate student and attendee exposure to the history, art, rhetoric, and industry of hip-hop, and to increase participant awareness of the transformative possibilities and academic value of hip-hop. Through discussions of complex cultural issues that center on hip-hop, students will be encouraged to develop their skills of critical thinking and reflection by using the language that they are already familiar with as media consumers.

Scholars of the Culture is essential for successfully shaping Wiley College’s 21st century identity as a vibrant campus where students participate in critical contemporary dialog and become informed citizens who are influential in their communities. Scholars, graduate students, undergraduate students, and artists will participate in paper panels, Show and Proves, Cyphers, and creative performances.

As a Historically Black College, Wiley College is dedicated to educating and empowering its students, many of whom are the producers and consumers of hip-hop culture. The College, in fulfilling its basic purpose of providing a liberal arts education with a global focus, endeavors to provide an intellectually stimulating environment, promote student competencies in communication, and foster critical and analytical thinking. Scholars of the Culture responds to the College’s mission by demonstrating to students the educational and global importance of hip-hop culture.

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How an HBCU with 35 Students Keeps its Doors Open

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If historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are an endangered species, Morris Brown College could be closest to extinction.

Most buildings on this silent campus are boarded up and abandoned.

Before the school lost accreditation in 2003, a few thousand students were enrolled at Morris Brown. Almost overnight, most fled out of fear their degree would carry no weight. Today, there are just 35 students.

Joquala Walker is one of those students. The 26 year-old aspiring singer is the only student in a class called “Promotions in Recorded Music.”

When I ask her why she chose Morris Brown, she quickly responds “why not Morris Brown?” She says the school wants to help and deserves a chance just like any other.

Walker’s instructor is Makisha Funderburke, who wants to help so badly, she teaches without pay.

“I just think Morris Brown should be given a chance,” says Funderburke. “And it’s been done pretty well surviving 10 years. A lot of people are wondering ‘Why and how’?”

The “why” is easier to answer than the “how.”

Morris Brown has to survive.

If the school closes its doors, even for a short time, its land could go to nearby Clark-Atlanta University. That’s the school that originally donated the land.

“We are upholding a great tradition of former slaves, of people in the early 1900s [who] struggled to make sure this institution will remain open,” says Stanley Pritchett, Morris Brown’s president.

Pritchett says Morris Brown survives because its entire history is one of hardship and triumph.  He says the college has always been resourceful.

“A church member down in South Georgia told me they used to have a campaign called ‘Dollar Money.’ Everybody who came to the meeting brought a dollar for Morris Brown.”

But Morris Brown College needs $30 million to get out of debt. That’s about a million dollars for every current student.

Most would say it’s time to turn out the lights and let nearby HBCUs step in. Not alumnus Charles Barlow. When he started at Morris Brown, he brought with him a 550 on the SAT and read at a tenth grade level.

“But Morris Brown accepted me in, took me through a remedial reading program to teach me how to read—because if you can’t read, you can’t do college work—and I finished in four years in the top 10 percent of my class,” he says.

Barlow went on to become a top executive at Xerox for nearly two decades.

He says his story explains why Morris Brown must exit bankruptcy and rebuild.

But how?

“The biggest strength they have is their property,” says Mary Beth Gasman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. She led a graduate class that looked into options for saving the school. “And so the property is really the key to their livelihood and their success.”

Lots of folks have eyed the school’s land, which sits adjacent to the planned site of Atlanta’s new NFL stadium.

A bankruptcy judge has given the green light to sell off about 85 percent of the school’s property, despite past protests from students and alumni.

President Stanley Pritchett says with the debt gone, Morris Brown can focus on building back its academics, and hopefully bring in as many students as there used to be.

Hampton Lady Pirates Earn No. 12 Seed, Draw Michigan State in NCAA Tournament

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It would be entirely accurate to call David Six a happy man.

And why not? His Hampton University women’s basketball team, fresh off its unprecedented fifth straight MEAC Tournament crown, earned a No. 12 seed in the Stanford Region. The Lady Pirates will face No. 5 seed Michigan State on Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C. at 12:30 p.m.ncaa march madness 150w

The game, to be played in Carmichael Arena, will be televised live on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com.

“We’re real happy [with a 12 seed]. We’re elated,” Six said. “I thought we were a 12, and it’s nice to see the NCAA did the right thing.”

It is not only the highest seed the Lady Pirates have ever earned, but it is also the highest seed ever for a MEAC team in the 64-team format – bettering the No. 13 seed the Lady Pirates received in 2011.

Hampton (28-4) has won its last 18 games after defeating Coppin State 50-47 on Saturday in the MEAC championship game. The Lady Pirates, who have won their last 49 games against conference foes, are making their fifth straight NCAA appearance and eighth overall.

The Lady Pirates are led by freshman guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas (Harrisburg, Pa.), the MEAC Rookie of the Year who is averaging 18.5 points per game. Senior forward Alyssa Bennett (Hampton, Va.) is a two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and the MEAC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

The First Team All-MEAC selection averaged 22.3 points and 15.0 rebounds per game in the MEAC Tournament.

Senior guard Nicole Hamilton (Hampton, Va.) was also a First Team All-MEAC selection after ranking second in the conference in both assists and assist-turnover ratio, and her 20-point performance on Saturday keyed the Lady Pirates’ victory.

No. 20/24 Michigan State (22-9) won the Big Ten regular-season championship this season after tying Penn State with a 13-3 mark in league play. The Spartans had their six-game winning streak snapped on March 8 in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament, falling 86-58 to Nebraska.

Redshirt-freshman guard Aeiral Powers, a First Team All-Big Ten selection, leads a balance Michigan State attack, as four players are averaging double figures in scoring. Powers is averaging 13.4 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds a contest, while freshman guard Tori Jankoska and senior forward Annalise Pickrel are each pouring in 12.4 points per game.

Junior forward Becca Mills, shooting a team-best .506 from the floor, is averaging 10.1 points per game.

Pickrel was named Second Team All-Big Ten, while Mills, Jankoska, and senior guard Klarissa Bell each earned honorable mention accolades. Bell was also named to the All-Defensive Team.

Hampton and Michigan State have never met.

Sunday’s second game in Chapel Hill will pit No. 4 seed North Carolina against No. 13 seed UT-Martin. The winners of Sunday’s game will meet in the second round on Tuesday.

NCCU coach Shares Secret to Success as Eagles Head to NCAA Tourney

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24998352_BG1 Making the NCAA tournament is a lifelong dream for North Carolina Central University Coach LeVelle Moton, but the reality that his team is actually going to the big dance still hasn’t set in.

“It’s 100 miles per hour, but needless to say I’m exhausted,” he said. “But it is a good exhausted.”

The Eagles just won their first conference championship since joining Division I in 2011, beating Morgan State on Saturday 71-62 for the MEAC title.

“It was really emotional for me, because when you’re born into poverty and labeled an outcast, and you’re placed in the box,” he said, “all you have is your dreams.”

They are dreams Moton wasn’t sure would come true. He grew up in a fatherless home in the Raleigh projects and said the odds were stacked against him.

But he credits a lot of family support and prayers for the life he has now.

“I saw a vision beyond my circumstances, and I am extremely grateful for that,” he said. “Especially when it comes to life through the course of a championship.”

“It’s really about believing in who you are,” Moton said. “You really have to be your own best friend because so many people have dreams. The dream is free; it’s the journey that’s expensive.”

It’s a journey he is taking with his team to the NCAA tournament.

“We’re trying to go play a really good Iowa State team and try to play the best we can,” Moton said. “It’s going to be business as usual.”

N.C. Central plays Iowa State on Friday.

WNCN: News, Weather for Raleigh. Durham, Fayetteville

Howard University Dorm Fire Sends Three to Hospital

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1395225215000-howard-fire-kishhh Three people were transported to a hospital after a fire at a Howard University dorm early Wednesday morning.

According to D.C. police officials, the call came in at approximately 12:31 a.m. regarding a fire in a room on the 4th floor of 2601 16th St., which is Meridian Hill Hall.

We’re told two students and a security guard suffered smoke inhalation. Police say they were conscious and transported to a local hospital.

The nine-story building was evacuated until the scene was cleared. Everyone was allowed back inside and road closures were lifted at approximately 3:15 a.m.

When Fashion Comes Across Art: Christian Drye, Fashionably Late Presents “Greek Fashion Week”

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sgrho.jpgBy Tommy Meade Jr., HBCU Buzz

Black Greeks, get ready to wear your Sunday’s best.

With the intent to dispel the myth that blacks show lack of taste in selection of their dress, Christian Drye, a Central State University alumni and fashion designer, is certain that his latest endeavor will turn heads.

The independent fashion blogger and founder of the “movement” called Complex Heart wants to let you in on a little secret: blacks can be creative dressers.

Highlighting each member of the ‘Divine 9’ organizations for an entire business week and showcasing different styles of outfits and school spirit, Drye says his “Greek Fashion Week” will dismiss the perception that blacks are merely the pants sagging, baggy clothes wearing people that too often the media and Hollywood depicts the race as.

“To my knowledge this has never been done,” Drye said, whose biggest influence in fashion is rap artist Kanye West. “I want the world to see these organizations in a professional manner representing their brands. There are kids all over the world who need someone to look up to for various reasons.”

When asked how the concept came across, Drye said it came to him just as much as he came to it. “We had just finished up ‘sock week’ on my blog and I was still getting sock submissions from people. So I tried to come up with another ‘spirit week’ that could involve a lot of people,” he said. “There are a lot of fashion weeks in the world and I think Greeks deserve one as well.”

In his book “The Mis-Education of the Negro”, Carter G. Woodson, the father of black history week now month, said: “[Blacks] have the prettiest people in the world, when they dress in harmony with the many shades and colors with which we are so richly endowed.”

Inasmuch, Drye thinks likewise, and believes the best way to shed light on students and black fashion today is by targeting the Black Greek Lettered Organizations.

“Black Greeks were created to serve. These are our leaders made up of people who look like me, who study where I studied and striving to obtain the goal I was after, which is getting a degree,” Drye said. “They deserve to be highlighted for their service and dedication to humanity—they have a voice, and on campuses around the world they are looked to for everything.”

This is bigger than college campuses, said Drye. This is about “reaching out to the community and fulfilling their needs. The world needs clothes and creativity—that’s fashion!”

“As long as the outfit is nice, it will be showcased. Even if it’s 1000 outfits, they will be showcased,” he said.

The best outfit for each respected week will be featured on the front page of Christian Drye’s site, with special mention given to the best style as a whole for the sororities and the fraternities. The showcase is open to all Divine 9 members. Visit christiandrye.com for more information. 

Check out the schedule below for each BGLO week:

March 17th – 21st — Sigma Gamma Rho

March 24th – 28th — Delta Sigma Theta

March 31st – April 4th — Alpha Kappa Alpha

April 7th – 11th — Zeta Phi Beta

April 14th – 18th — Omega Psi Phi

April 21st – 25th — Kappa Alpha Psi

April 28th – May 2nd — Alpha Phi Alpha

May 5th – 9th — Phi Beta Sigma

May 12th- 16th — Iota Phi Theta

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Alabama State Rallies to Restore State Budget Cuts

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Alabama State UniversityMore than 200 members of the Hornet Nation rallied in front of the Alabama State House in support of Alabama State University and in opposition to a major cut to the University’s state appropriations.

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When freshman James Maninang traveled from Colorado to attend Alabama State University, he never thought he would be rallying in front of the Alabama State House. But after hearing that the Alabama Legislature was going to cut $10.8 million from ASU’s budget, he knew it would impact him personally.

“A lot of my friends are going to end up leaving ASU because tuition is going to rise,” Maninang said. “This $10.8 million cut is uncalled for, and it happened right after we get a new president who is finally starting to make change.”

Maninang was just one of more than 200 ASU students, faculty, staff and alumni that braved the cold and rainy weather to lobby the Legislature to restore $10 million that was cut from the University’s state appropriations. Many held signs that read “Save MyASU” and sang along with music by ASU’s Mighty Marching Hornets Band.

State Rep. John F. Knight Jr., several members of Alabama’s Legislative Black Caucus and ASU President Gwendolyn E. Boyd spoke to the crowd and encouraged them to keep fighting.

“We didn’t get to where we are today by being complacent. We didn’t get to where we are today by being afraid; so, we don’t have a problem standing up for our rights,” said Knight, who also is executive vice president and chief operating officer at ASU. “The Republican theme has been ‘We dare defend our rights!’ My response to that is ‘We will defend our rights!’ We had to do it all of our lives, and we will continue to do so.”

Boyd energized the crowd before they lined up to go into the State House, where the House of Representatives and Senate were working on the education budget for next fiscal year.

“Our message is clear, and we will not be silent. We will not be quiet. We will not allow you to do this to us. We will not roll over and play dead,” Boyd exclaimed “We are here to raise our voices and let our presence be felt and known that Alabama State has stood for 147 years, and we will continue to stand for many more years to come Let’s let them know we have no fear, and we will fight for our institution.”

Inside the State House, the Hornet Nation swarmed the legislative offices, speaking to state representatives and senators about the 25 percent cut from ASU’s state appropriations.

“I am going to go and try to talk to some house and senate members to try to understand why they are doing this cut and try to persuade them to not vote for this cut,” Maninang said as he entered the State House. “I just want to express that cutting the money is going to hurt the students who need the money and who need the programs that the money is funding.”

ASU’s Student Government Association President Sharod Campbell helped the students lead the charge inside the State House. He said it was important to let the representatives and senators know how the students feel about the budget cut.

“I believe we have made a lot of progress today,” Campbell said. “I think today was very positive, and we are moving in the right direction to get the $10.8 million added back to ASU’s budget.”

CSU Alum Gives $1 million Gift to Central State University

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CSU-donation Businessman, radio journalist and 1963 alumnus Josh Smith presented Central State University with a $1 million gift Tuesday.

The gift deepens a longstanding philanthropic relationship between Central State University and the Smith family. Smith was inducted into the 1887 Legacy Society in 2007 in recognition of a $250,000 insurance gift that was increased to $500,000 in 2013. That same year, he contributed $50,000 to WCSU-FM.

“Thanks to the generosity of Josh and Jackie Smith, the University will enhance its ongoing commitment to prepare innovative leaders for the future,” said Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, who is the president of Central State University.

“Jackie and I are pleased to continue our support of my beloved alma mater,” Smith said. “We look forward to empowering more students at Central State University to use their education to have a long-term positive impact on the world.”

Charles Whitehead’61 the current Central State University Foundation President stated “ this gift is magnificent, it will not only support the University in a tangible way, the size of the gift will inspire other alumni to give back to the alma mater.”

Central State University is a historically African American University located in Wilberforce, Ohio.

Delaware State University Seeks to Help Employees on Public Assistance

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l_dsu16x9During Joint Finance Committee hearings last month, Delaware State University President Dr. Harry Lee Williams said that his top priority for this fiscal year is pay raises for university employees.

The university and its union representatives will continue to push for higher wages, especially for the lowest-paid employees in the state. Williams has requested $2.2 million, a four percent raise increase for all DSU employees.

About 185 employees are making less than $35,000 a year, and according to Williams, some are even using public assistance.

“We even have some of our employees, and I’m ashamed to say this, who are receiving assistance though other agencies in terms of food stamps and things of that nature,” said Dr. Williams during the hearing last month.

Thousands of state employees on public assistance

DSU isn’t the only institution where employees rely on assistance: Of the 35,000 state employees, about 3,287 received some sort of public assistance last year, according to union officials.

While the exact number of DSU employees on assistance was unavailable, union officials said that its lowest paid employees include custodians, clerical workers and law enforcement officers. READ FULL

New Morehouse President Aims To Yield More Successful Black Men

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3-10-2014-2-52-48-PM The new president of Morehouse College appointed by President Barack Obama recently announced a variety of adjustments to help rejuvenate the making of “Morehouse men.” Dr. John Silvanus doesn’t necessarily mean he will be implementing a new program, but instead strengthening the historically black college in renewed efforts to educate and support young, African-American men to help them succeed.

“Only 4 percent of African-American children coming out of high school in America are college ready in a wide range of courses,” Wilson said. “86 percent of African-American males are behind grade-level in reading and math by fourth grade… this is a scandal. It’s a crisis.”

After stating that one in three African-American males born today face imprisonment, Wilson said the function of a “greater” Morehouse is to capture the imagination of grade-school boys to let them know that there is a place made especially for them if they work hard and persevere. Although the approach to smaller class sizes yields a bigger embrace, the act of shrinking numbers is not financially feasible. However, there are ways in which the college can make learning and living environments smaller to better touch the lives of their students on campus.

“I graduated from Morehouse and I got a really, really character-centric education here. I loved it,” he said. “I went to graduate school at Harvard, and I saw all these great buildings, all this great infrastructure, this great endowment. I concluded then that Morehouse needs exactly what Harvard has, but Harvard needs exactly what Morehouse has.”

By referring to a “stronger” and “greater” Morehouse, Wilson capitalizes on a larger endowment for the school, better pay for faculty, improved facilities and more scholarships.

Morehouse Receives $1 Million to Establish African Scholarship Program

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buffett0841-600x400Pictured above: Howard Buffet receives Morehouse sweatshirt from President John Silvanus Wilson Jr. ’79

Some of the world’s largest and deepest ecologically diverse freshwater masses give name to the Great Lakes Region of southeastern Africa. But years of conflict over those natural resources, violent ethnic tensions and other issues have led to the destabilization of the area.

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation is looking to Morehouse for help in developing a new breed of leadership for the region.

The Foundation has given Morehouse $1 million to establish the Rugari Scholarship Program to educate young men who live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and, Uganda. Eventually, the future Morehouse Men are expected to help lead the region forward.

“We’re working on peace and Morehouse has a legacy of peace,” Buffett said. “So we felt that what we wanted to do was build on that legacy. Plus, Julius Coles [executive director of the Andrew Young Center for Global Education] has this great program here and [Morehouse trustee] Ambassador Andrew Young is a very unique individual. So we felt like Morehouse had all of the components to hopefully contribute to some success.”

Selected by a Morehouse panel of faculty, staff and administrators, the students will come to Morehouse on full scholarships to focus on general education studies for their first two years and then a mix of political science, economics, sociology and history their final two years. They also will be strongly urged to minor in leadership studies. Read Full