5 Tips for Incoming Freshman Students

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By Nicole Tinson, Contributor to HBCU Buzz

So you are leaving home for the first time ever and are attending your HBCU of choice. Whether it’s down the street or across the country, be ready because your life is going to change forever.

Here are a few tips to maximize your black college experience.

1. Be Sure Your Financial Aid is Taking Care Of

… Beforehand. Don’t make the mistake of not checking your financial aid package before school starts.

The line when you arrive for orientation in financial aid is worse than the line at the DMV. Reviewing your financial aid package to see what scholarships, loans, and grants you have received will allow you to see whether everything is paid for (or whether you need to find more funding). If you have a credit balance, that means everything is taken care of and you will have money given back to you; this is also known as a refund check or overpayment check. If your account says amount due, this is the amount you need to find.

Be sure to use websites like fastweb.com (it actually works), uncf.org, or thurgoodmarshallfund.net, or reach out to local organizations and churches. In 2014, people are even using sites like GoFundme to raise money. Never allow money to be the reason you do not pursue higher education.

2. Refund Checks

I spoke about having a credit balance and how you can get money back, but taking the extra money is not always a good thing. Sometimes the credit balance comes from an excess in loans (money you WILL have to pay back).

Be sure you understand what you are doing when you decide to take the $2,000 check that will need to be paid back to a tune of nearly $3,500 with today’s interest’s rates. Try your best to graduate with the least amount of student loans. Some of your professors are still paying back their loans and the interest rates weren’t nearly as high as they are now. Declining to take the money will pay off in the long run when it is time to buy a brand new car, new house, or business.

Graduating debt free is the way to be. For more information regarding loans, grants, and scholarships issued by the federal government along with information about interest rates, be sure to check out FAFSA.

3. Roommates

Your first year roommate can make or break your college experience, but I am here to encourage you to think on the positive side.

When you walk into your dormitory, you will more than likely meet someone you have never seen a day in your life, and this can be a great thing… If you allow it to be. Entering your room can be the beginning of a bond so strong, you will wonder what you were worried about to begin with. Being open-minded, genuine, and yourself will allow you and your roommate to get along (in most cases).

When you fill out your housing application, most schools ask what your preferences are: are you messy or clean? Are you loud or quiet? Do you like having guests over or prefer to be private? Be honest when filling your application out so you don’t end up living with someone who does not match you. These questions help determine a roommate who is compatible with your lifestyle. Also, be in mind that you should be respectful of your roommate and their things. Don’t borrow (or eat their food) without asking. In the beginning, your roommate will be the person you go to breakfast, lunch and dinner with, the person you go to homecoming and welcome week events with.

4. Work Hard Play Hard

During your first year in undergrad, it is VERY easy to get distracted by the parties, social events, and community service activities that are offered, but you have to remember what you are there first for… TO GET AN EDUCATION.

Your grades during your first and second year well set the tone for the rest of your undergraduate experience. It’s hard to pull your GPA up and easy for it to slip, so it is best to start off your first year STRONG. When you work hard, you can reward yourself, but only if you deserve it. Saying, “I got a C on my paper” when you know you were capable of getting a “B” won’t cut it. Earning high grades are a reward in itself. You are eligible to receive more scholarship funding, you make the dean’s list and most of all you make your family and yourself proud. Always put forth your best effort, ask questions, and visit your professor during office hours.

Hold yourself accountable. If you are struggling with a course, let your professor know and also be sure to visit tutoring centers on your campus. Schools would love for you to stay there 10 years so they can collect more money from you, but I am sure they are more committed to seeing you graduate in 4-5 years as projected.

5. Greek Life

The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek lettered fraternities and sororities. The nine NPHC organizations are sometimes collectively referred to as the “Divine Nine”. We have all watched Stomp the Yard, and some of us may have family members or mentors that are a part of a Greek Organization, and they inspire us to join an organization but there are some big things to know.

The first being DISCRETION. Discretion is defined as the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information. Be sure if you are interested in an organization you do your research and keep that to yourself. Don’t share this with anyone. I started my research by reading a book called The Divine Nine by Lawrence Ross. I would also check out Greek 101 by Walter Kimbrough.

Secondly, in the age of social media, be sure not to share anything on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Once you share something on the internet, it will never be forgotten and with screen shots nothing on earth can be deleted. There is a huge misperception that Greek life is solely about partying and “running the yard” but there is so much more to the “divine nine”. On HBCU campuses, a great hand of the leaders, scholars and achievers are members of a “divine nine” organization. While it is cool to see them step, stroll, they also do service oriented projects not only for the campus community, but the cities community that you are on.

Please keep this in mind, and huge tip you usually don’t get, “DON’T BREAK ANYONES LINE AT A PARTY.” This means, don’t try to walk through, walk in front of or in the vicinity of a Greek organization’s line while they are stepping or strolling. Between me and you, they feel it is disrespectful, and if you have aspirations, you don’t want to be that person who breaks the line.

Is a 4.0 at an HBCU the Same as a 4.0 at a PWI?

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Historically black colleges and universities or HBCUs have an important tradition in the United States. It’s not necessarily a straightforward tradition, but it’s one we still grapple with.

One of the biggest struggles, perhaps, is the equalizing of values, of recognition, and importance. The problem addressed in this interview – my interview with George Johnson, Student Accounts Manager at Georgetown University, (former graduate of 2 HBCU’s) – is that of academic weight. Does a 4.0 at an HBCU have the same value as a 4.0 at a PWI?

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Q: The first question, then, is one that seeks to generalize. Generally speaking, does a 4.0 at an HBCU have the same value as a 4.0 at a PWI? If not, why not?

A: Generally speaking a 4.0 at an HBCU does have the same value as a 4.0 at a PWI. I say this because a 4.0 simply means you were able to master the subject matter being studied with the highest grade possible for the requirements of the degree or course. If we use the old adage of “2+2 = 4”, then in general terms a 4.0 is a 4.0 is a 4.0. I say that because the true debate is not if it has the same value, but is the criteria required to receive a 4.0 more arduous at a PWI vs. an HBCU. To date, there is no real scientific evidence to prove or disprove this theory. Furthermore, this statement falls apart on the merits, as professors from PWI’s teach at HBCU’s and vice versa. In terms of value, what does getting a 4.0 really mean? There are students who graduated without honors who are millionaires. There are students with 4.0’s that are currently out of work. As I stated in a previous article, we should be commending anyone who is able to get a 4.0 regardless of the institution it was received from, for that truly takes hard work.

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Shaw ‘Platinum Sound’ Junior Drum Major to Star in Tyler Perry Production

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Timmy RichardsonRaleigh, NC (July 15, 2014) – Timmy Richardson, a junior drum major in the Shaw University Band, has landed a major role in an upcoming TV series by Tyler Perry. Richardson will star as a character named “Justice” in Perry’s If Loving You is Wrong (formerly Single Mom’s Club). The series will premiere on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network in September.

Also known as Sho’Time Timmy, Richardson enjoys entertaining the crowd at Shaw football games. He has done a number of stage plays, TV commercials, music videos, short films, as well as independent feature films. Aside from filming the series, Richardson is preparing for the release of one of his projects, a short film called No Child written by Will Williams and directed by Rob Underhill. In addition, Richardson recently competed in a 16-week “Amateur Night” competition at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham, NC hosted by the Apollo Theater in New York. After winning his first competition, Richardson is preparing to compete in the finals this month for a chance to qualify for an all-expense paid trip to New York to audition on the live show “Showtime at the Apollo.”

Richardson not only excels on the stage, but in the classroom as well. He is a third grade student at Powell Gifted and Talented Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh, NC where he is a second year violinist in the school orchestra, and a member of the track team. Richardson is a also a member of the Elevation Baptist Church children’s choir and plays baseball for the Raleigh Parks and Recreation team “The Bats.”  Always an entertainer, he enjoys performing and has his very own home studio, complete with several musical instruments and mirrors on the wall for dancing. In his spare time, he loves playing basketball, video games, his keyboard or looking up music tutorials on YouTube.

Union Pulls United Negro College Fund Support After Koch Brothers Gift

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Lee A. Saunders

By Jessie Holland Yahoo

A powerful government workers’ union will end its support for the United Negro College Fund after the group accepted $25 million from the conservative powerhouse Koch brothers and the college fund’s president appeared at a Koch event.

 In a letter made public Thursday, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said it will no longer partner with or raise funds for the fund, known for its iconic motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

AFSCME President Lee Saunders said the actions of the college fund’s president “are not only deeply hostile to the rights and dignity of public employees, but also a profound betrayal of the ideals of the civil rights movement.”

The fund supports historically black colleges and universities and provides scholarships. It accepted a $25 million grant last month from Koch Industries Inc. and the Charles Koch Foundation.

The Koch brothers are major contributors to conservative causes and are often vilified by Democrats and liberals. After accepting the grant, Saunders says UNCF President Michael Lomax spoke at a Koch Brothers summit in California.

Saunders called the Kochs “the single most prominent funders of efforts to prevent African Americans from voting” and said Lomax’s appearance at their function was “a betrayal of everything the UNCF stands for.”

Lomax said the fund never had a litmus test for donors.

“While I am saddened by AFSCME’s decision, it will not distract us from our mission of helping thousands of African American students achieve their dream of a college degree and the economic benefits that come with it,” Lomax said.

AFSCME is the nation’s largest public services employees union and has more than 1.6 million working and retired members. The union will sever its relationship with UNCF on Sept. 1.

AFSCME gave between $50,000 and $60,000 annually to the UNCF for its AFSCME/UNCF Union Scholar Program, which has served 94 students since 2003. The program will continue, the union said, just no longer in partnership with the UNCF.

Referenced from Yahoo

Howard University, 1974 NCAA Soccer Champions, Brought Worlds Together

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Lincoln"Tiger" Phillips, who coached Howard to the 1974 NCAA men’s soccer title, signs a copy of his autobiography. (Jerome Hyde/Courtesy photo)
Lincoln”Tiger” Phillips, who coached Howard to the 1974 NCAA men’s soccer title, signs a copy of his autobiography. (Jerome Hyde/Courtesy photo)

By Mike Wise, Washington Post

A deeply attached fan of a championship team called a couple of months back, saying he had arranged an interview with the coach and one of his star players at the L Street downtown office of an international businessman, that it was of “paramount importance” to be there.

Asked what this is about, he replied simply, “It’s about the best team you never heard of.”

Several days later, in a third-floor conference room with a strong African art-deco motif, an upbeat, ultra-fit man introduced himself: “Hello, Mori Diane, nice to meet you.”

Diane, the executive vice president of his company for the past 28 years, is — for the purposes of this story — “the player.” Sitting next to him is “the coach”: a grinning, 73-year-old, gray-flecked gentleman who speaks in a rhythmic Trinidadian twang.

“I’m glad you have come,” said Lincoln “Tiger” Phillips, a former world-class goalie who once faced Pele. “Now we will tell you the story.”

The World Cup final will be played Sunday in Brazil, where either Germany or Argentina will be christened champion of the beautiful game before millions of viewers. Millions fewer will remember it is also the 40th anniversary of Howard’s beautiful season, the unbeaten, untied 1974 Bison, a mishmash of Caribbean and African kids led by the legendary Phillips. Read Full Article

Shaw University Employee Wins $2M Powerball Jackpot; Endows Scholarship

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635_682_fullLong-time Shaw University employee Marilyn Fields claimed a $2 million Powerball jackpot prize yesterday. She will use some of the money to fully endow a University scholarship she created in 2013.

Fields, a 1976 Shaw graduate, serves as the executive assistant to the president and has been an employee for 38 years. She created the Richardson Johnson Fields Endowed Scholarship in September 2013 to honor her parents and to provide financial assistance to Shaw students in need. With $5,000 in seed money, she was able to start the scholarship, but her new found wealth will allow her to fully endow the scholarship to $25,000 to meet University requirements.

“For me, it was a miracle to attend Shaw University,” Fields said in a statement released by the North Carolina Education Lottery. “By awarding a student with the Richardson Johnson Fields Endowed Scholarship, I can give students who are doing the best that they can academically, but still need financial help, the same opportunity I had.”

Fields’ ties to the University runs deep. In addition to being a graduate and an employee, she met her husband Charlie, also a graduate, while she was a student. Her son Brandon graduated from Shaw in 2003 and her daughter Nina attend the University for several years. In October 2013, Fields was inducted into the University’s “Crystal Bear Society” for establishing an endowed scholarship.

“Marilyn is beloved by this institution,” said Dr. Gaddis J. Faulcon, Shaw’s acting president. “She has been a faithful and consistent donor and has given Shaw her time, talent and money for nearly 40 years. She has sponsored students, given some money and has done whatever she can for those in need. We are thrilled and thankful for her. This could not have happened to a better person.”

In a few weeks Fields will be celebrating her 60th birthday, but she still plans on retiring at 62. She has not yet decided how much she will give to Shaw, but notes “Shaw was god sent. As long as I live, Shaw will not be free of me.”

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Shaw University was founded in 1865 and is the first historically black university in the South. Shaw is a private, co-educational liberal arts university that awards degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The primary mission of the University is to advance knowledge, facilitate student learning and achievement, to enhance the spiritual and ethical values of its students, and to transform a diverse community of learners into future global leaders. Learn more at www.shawu.edu.

VIDEO – Spelman President Beverly Tatum Announces Retirement

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After serving for more than a decade as president of the all-female historically Black college, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum has announced that she will retire from Spelman College next year.
“I have been president for 12 years. That’s a long time in the world of college presidents,” Tatum said in an interview with Diverse on Wednesday. “In the meantime, we have another year to keep Spelman moving forward and more work to be done.”

The end of an ambitious 10-year fundraising campaign that yielded $157.8 million for the school and the celebration of her 60th birthday in September were the two factors that Tatum said led her to decide that it was time for her to move on next year.

In recognition of her years of service, the Board of Trustees has agreed to honor her with the title of president emerita once she steps down.

“I have a desire to really work on a book,” she said, adding that her retirement will include updating her 1997 book Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria, a popular text still widely read and used in college courses across the country.

“I have been surprised that 17 years after publication, the book is still as relevant for people as it has been and I want to update it and think about race relations in the Obama era,” said Tatum. Read FULL

Alabama State Launches New Biomedical Engineering Degree Set for Spring 2015

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Alabama State University is launching a new degree program that will help prepare students to be at the forefront of biomedical innovations in one of today’s top career fields. ASU’s new Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering, approved on June 13 by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, will begin the spring 2015 semester.

The program aims to produce graduates who can apply the methods of engineering to problems in medicine and life sciences. Biomedical engineers improve the quality of life for patients through the creation of artificial organs, new devices to detect disease, advanced computer models to develop disease-fighting drugs and much more.

Dr. Kennedy S. Wekesa, interim dean and professor of biology in ASU’s College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, said the degree program gives students a full range of disciplines to study in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

“Bringing engineering for the first time in history of ASU to the campus is a huge accomplishment that would not have been possible without the support of the President and faculty in the College of Science Mathematics and Technology,” Wekesa said. “This new program will provide students with another degree option. Now we can say that we have a complete STEM college.”

All students admitted to the Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering program will be selected based upon the specific minimum requirements for admission established by the University. Requirements include a strong high school background with a competitive GPA (2.75 or higher), a minimum ACT score of 27 or SAT score of 1250 (critical reading and math) and a career statement.

For more information about the Bachelor of Science degree program in Biomedical Engineering, contact the College of Science, Mathematics and Technology at 334-229-4196.

Rent-A-Center Names Spelman Grad Aubyn Thomas VP

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RenderImageThe nation’s largest rent-to-own operator, today announced the appointment of Aubyn Thomas to vice president of marketing.

Reporting to Rita Bargerhuff, senior vice president and chief customer officer, Thomas is charged with leading a full complement of marketing functions, including the integration of Rent-A-Center’s brand strategy, into all marketing communications. She is responsible for planning and executing traffic-driving campaigns, using both traditional and emerging marketing tools.

With over 15 years of leadership experience in brand strategy and customer-relationship management, Thomas recently served as vice president of consumer marketing at Lowe’s Home Improvement where she was responsible for delivery of all consumer and professional marketing programs, including the installation of a new customer relationship management (CRM) campaign-management system with seven new CRM programs. Additionally, she launched a new customer-loyalty program and leveraged leading indicator and trend data to implement a new brand-messaging hierarchy. Earlier in her career, Thomas held leadership positions with organizations such as Macy’s, Caesars Entertainment, Bank of America and Lenscrafters Retail Group.

Graduating with honors, Thomas earned a Master of Business Administration degree in marketing from Clark-Atlanta University, a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from Spelman College.

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Sec. of State Kerry Complements HBCU Delegation to Beijing

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The HBCUs meetings in Beijing this week are parallel to the 5th U.S.-China Consultation on People to People Exchange (CPE) being held in Beijing from July 9-11, 2014. The CPE is co-hosted by U.S. Sec. Of State John Kerry and China’s Vice Premier Madam Liu Yandong, China’s highest-ranking government official overseeing education.

The CPE is designed to enhance and strengthen ties between the citizens of the United States and the People’s Republic of China in the areas of culture, education, science and technology, sports, and women’s issues. On Wednesday, July 10, the HBCU delegation will attend the closing session of the CPE meetings with Sec. Kerry and Vice Premier Liu.

The HBCU trip to China is the culmination of the collective works of the Chinese government and the

China-U.S. Exchange Foundation (C– — USEF), a Hong Kong-based nonprofit organization that encourages and facilitates exchanges among public policy makers, civic leaders, think tanks, academia, and business organizations in the U.S. and China to enhance understanding and mutually beneficial relationships.

C– — USEF hosted and organized the first meeting of the HBCUs with Vice Premier Liu during the HBCU’s first visit to China in September 2013. Read Full 

Moody’s Downgrades Credit Ratings for Howard and Alabama State

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Moody’s Investors Service, a credit ratings issuer that provides financial research on bonds, has downgraded the credit ratings of both Howard University and Alabama State University, according to recent reports.

The Hilltop, the school newspaper of Howard, reported the news on its Twitter feed: Moody’s points to the university hospital’s projected FY2014 operating loss of $37M as a serious reason for its downgrade, the newspaper says.

Alabama State officials said they would review the notice from Moody’s and comment as soon as Monday following the holiday weekend.

“Ongoing weak operating performance required a draw on reserves to cover debt service in 2014, and this is expected to continue through at least 2015, if not longer, resulting in weakening liquidity,” a release from Moody’s states. “A history of weak governance and expense control reduces the prospects that the university will be able to rapidly and strategically restore operating equilibrium.”

Moody’s downgraded Howard’s ratings to Baa3 from Baa1, and Alabama State’s to Ba2 from Baa2, respectfully.

The two black colleges are going through significant changes in senior leadership. Moody’s gave both institutions a negative outlook.

5 Things to Know About New NAACP President Cornell William Brooks

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Cornell William Brooks, the man who just taken top office at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, is only 53 years-old yet has achieved an impressive career prior to being named the new president and CEO of the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization.

The organization’s 64-person board of directors picked Brooks to lead a new chapter for the NAACP by an overwhelmingly majority. Brooks replaces most recent president Ben Jealous, who at 35 was the youngest person to serve in that position, and interim president and former clerk of the U.S. House Lorraine Miller.

Interestingly, the 18th leader of the NAACP already has ties with the civil rights organization that dates back to the Brown v. Board of Education, won by Thurgood Marshall and a team of NAACP attorneys.

“[I am] extraordinarily humbled and honored” at being chosen to lead the 105-year-old civil rights organization, Brooks said.

Here are 5 things to know about Cornell William Brooks:

1. Direct beneficiary of Brown v. Board Education

“I am a beneficiary, an heir and a grandson, if you will, of Brown versus Board of Education,” Brooks told the AP. “…so as a consequence, I am an heir to the legacy of the NAACP.”

2. Received bachelor’s at a black college

Brooks earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Jackson State University.

3. Beat out more than 450 other applicants

Brooks is surprisingly popular among NAACP inner circles. He bested his competition in a nationwide search that included a review of more than 450 applications, and remember he was selected by an overwhelmingly majority by the board of directors.

“Attorney Brooks is a long-term lawyer, a human rights activist and a fourth-generation ordained minister and so we look forward to leveraging his experience … and his keen vision,” NAACP chairwoman Roslyn Brock said.

4. Yale Law School senior editor

At Yale Law School Brooks was senior editor of the Yale Law Journal.

5. Looking forward

Recently the civil rights organization took on the “Stand Your Ground” laws that sparked controversy during the Trayvon Martin trial and voting rights. The NAACP is expected to continue its fight for civil rights among all people in the future.

Brooks told the USA Today that he plans to “fight to insure voting rights, economic equality, health equity and an end to racial discrimination for all people.”

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College Visit: How to Get the Most Out of Your Experience

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A group of smiling African American students pose during their HBCU campus visit.

Choosing the right college is just one of the many important decisions you’ll make in your life, one that can very well impact your future in many ways. With the high costs of a college education, you can’t afford to make the wrong choice. Conducting a college visit even to those colleges and universities within your area can widen your options and help you make the right choice.

Preparing for a College Visit

One thing you can do to prepare for a college visit is to explore the college’s website, which can help you prepare questions that you can ask the college staff and students. Find out where the college is located, get a map of the school and look for the contact number of the admission office.

Once you have scheduled your time of visit, make sure you get there on time, prepared with a notebook where you can jot down your thoughts about the college. It’s best to bring along a parent or another trusted adult who can help you raise questions to make your visit a more informative one.

What To Expect From a College Visit

A college tour usually includes visiting the various campus buildings, the library, the dormitories, the school cafeteria and some major sites inside the campus that are part of the school history. Some organized college tours include an overnight stay inside the dorms to allow you to get a feel of the environment. Throughout your tour, you may get the chance to meet students and ask them questions about the campus lifestyle.

Ask if you may sit in on a class so as to know the class size and the teaching styles. You may have to sit in on more than one class in your area of interest to get a feel of the coursework. Talk to a professor, visit the admissions office and find out information about admission policies and financial aid.

Tips To Make the Most of Your College Visit
  1. Arrange your college visit during school days so that you can get a feel of student life. You may even be able to sit in on one or two classes that interest you.
  2. If you’re active in sports, take the time to meet with the college coach and find out what type of sports can be played inside the campus.
  3. Check the number of scholarships and financial grants that the school offers. Ask for brochures and other materials that can help you if you plan on applying for scholarship in the future.
  4. Ask for a copy of the college newspaper so that you can get an idea on what concerns do most students have. A college newspaper will also tell you what events are being held during the school year.
  5. Bring a camera along with you and compare pictures of schools you visited to help you decide on which one fits you best.
  6. A college visit can be fun and exciting. Make the most of it by coming prepared and making it worth your while by getting as much information as possible. Choose the best college that you think can help you reach your goals in life. Make sure it’s one that you will be comfortable spending the next four years of your college life in.

This article originally appeared on HBCU Lifestyle

Tuskegee Honors Founders on 133rd Anniversary of Founding

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TUSKEGEE, Ala. – With songs of praise and inspirational words, the families of Tuskegee University’s founders and the community united to honor this institution and its forefathers. For the fourth year, wreaths were laid at the gravesites of Lewis Adams and Booker T. Washington today to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of Tuskegee Normal School (now Tuskegee University) on July 4, 1881. Part family reunion and part prayer service, the ceremony was an homage to the faith and legacy of Adams and Washington.

Robin Washington Banks, one of Washington’s great granddaughters, said the university’s reach, nationally and internationally, is so far and vast that this day should always be a celebration for the City of Tuskegee. She also said that the existence of the school was an answer to the prayers of Adams, the former slave and businessman who helped secure the funds and government action to establish the university.

“These are hallowed grounds,” Washington Banks said about the university. “We come to give God the praise.”

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A Black College Now Part of Sexual Violence Investigation by DOE

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Morgan State University is now under investigation for how they handle sexual abuse reports—joining a list of 67 other institutions being questioned by the Obama administration.

The Department of Education is investigating the historically black university in Baltimore, Maryland because of complaints from students or other members of the university community about the way alleged sexual assault cases are handled.

“We wanted to make sure that this matter was handled appropriately. That’s why the university began its own investigation,” university spokesman Clint Coleman said on an alleged sexual assault of a female student reported to the university on March 20.

“Right after [authorities] declined to prosecute, the university immediately began looking into it for possible violations of university policies and procedures.”

Morgan State joins a list of 67 other prestige institutions across 32 states investigated for the way they handle sexual assault allegations.

The DOE says schools named to list is only under investigation and does not imply that it has violated the law. 

How Morgan State Failed a Gay Student

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If you followed the events leading up to the suspension of the Kappa Alpha Psi chapter at Morgan State University you might remember Brian Stewart. The suspension of the Alpha Iota chapter by Morgan State administration was to demonstrate that all students should be treated equal. The chapter could not participate in any university sponsored events or activities, university officials said.

Stewart, a former White House intern, has since become a trailblazer. “This is a proper course of action, mainly to raise awareness that this happens,” said Stewart about members of the fraternity that rejected to admit him.

Morgan State’s decision to hold members of the Alpha Iota chapter responsible for discriminating against Stewart because of his sexuality was a groundbreaking result that goes down in the history books—there’s no doubt that a homophobic culture exists in the Black fraternities.

The university placed the chapter on probation until 2015, citing violations to “certain university regulations, procedures and policies.”

So guess how many events the Kappas at Morgan State held since the decision to suspend them from all campus activities? Zero, right?

Morgan State could be sending the wrong message to the university community by deliberately allowing things to slide through the cracks. And that is exactly what Stewart says has been happening since the decision.

“I question my president’s sincerity when he said that the University did the right thing and ‘saw an educational moment’ when it placed the Alpha Iota [chapter] of Kappa Alpha Psi on probation until 2015 and barred it from participating in University events or hosting its own,” Stewart wrote in his blog.

“I find that statement false considering that on May 2, 2014, the Alpha Iota chapter hosted an event in the University Ballroom called “Kolor Blind – Understanding One Another. I find it hypocritical considering on February 8, 2014 the Alpha Iota chapter, in collaboration with another campus fraternity held their annual “Pretty Nasty” party; which aided in the moratorium for future events imposed by Vice President of Student Affairs, Kevin Banks as well as raising eyebrows in the Mayor’s Office.”

Stewart is right: “The time is now for more colleges and universities, especially Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to create cultures that encourage and develop persons in the LGBT community throughout their matriculation.”

Morgan State stood by Brian Stewart to take a jab at the homophobia climate within Black Greek Lettered Organizations when it acted to suspend the Alpha Iota chapter for discriminating against a gay student. But it turns out they were not doing anything that differs from the way things are now.

Editor’s note:

The Vice President of Student Affairs at Morgan State University, Dr. Kevin Banks, responds to student Brian Stewart’s comments, says information published on Stewart’s blog is inaccurate. 

“While Mr. Stewart’s blog reports that the University is sending the wrong message, I must disagree with his opinion. In fact, the university has hosted a series of conversations to ensure that we continue to emphasize our values around respect for diversity and inclusion at Morgan State University,” said Banks. 

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