VIDEO – Elizabeth City State University Police Chief Sam Beamon on leave, following Sexual Assault Charges

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

Vic speaks out after chief placed on leave

The victim of a sexual assault spoke exclusively to WAVY.com the same day her university’s police chief was placed under investigation.

WAVY.com has confirmed Elizabeth City State University Police Chief Sam Beamon was placed on administrative leave on April 25, stemming from the campus’ handling of a complaint of assault and sexual battery.

10 On Your Side spoke exclusively with ESCU senior Katherine Lowe, who said she fell victim not once, but twice, to sexual assault by her dorm leader Anthony Butler.

“It came as no shock to me,” Lowe said. “It is time for the truth to be told. It’s about time they investigated him. It’s about time they investigated this school, because this has been going on for years.”

ECSU spokeswoman Kesha Williams says the UNC General Administration was contacted about the complaint. The UNC GA then notified state and local law enforcement agencies.

The State Bureau of Investigation is now conducting an independent investigation into the allegations of obstruction of justice and witness intimidation at ECSU. The SBI investigation was requested by the local District Attorney, NCDOJ spokesperson Noelle Talley confirmed.

“There’s not another case I know of,” Lowe said. “I’m sure it’s this one. It was just a scary experience that this man didn’t understand the word, ‘No.'”

Lowe said campus police were of little help after the first time Butler assaulted her.

“I told my mother, this is unfair,” Lowe said. “I told them what’s going on and they still allowed him to be on campus. I can’t enjoy my full campus experience, because he’s walking around.”

It was only when a city police officer stepped in Butler was arrested and charged. Williams could not confirm if the sexual battery case Beamon was investigating is the one dealing with Butler.

Until an interim police chief is named, Kelly White, Major of Operations for the NC A&T State University, will serve as acting police chief. READ FULL

Virginia State student deaths renew debate over hazing abuse

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on
The apparent hazing death of two Virginia State University (VSU) students has renewed the debate over universities’ responsibility to combat hazing abuse.

In Virginia’s Chesterfield County, police have charged four men, including two VSU students, with hazing after two students drowned in the Appomattox River on April 20 as part of an initiation rite for the social club Men of Honor, which is not a school-sanctioned group. One suspect is still at large.

Seven VSU students reportedly tried to use a “human chain” to cross the rushing rapids of the rain-swollen Appomattox River around midnight Sunday. A witness told local NBC affiliate WAVY that the water level rose to their chests, and the current swept away freshmen Marvell Edmondson and Jauwan Holmes. The evening was reportedly the culmination of a week-long pledging and hazing process for the group. Police recovered Mr. Edmondson’s body on Monday and are still looking for Mr. Holmes.

Historically black colleges and universities like VSU have struggled with a long tradition of hazing centered on physical abuse. But recent tragedies, including the November 2011 death of Robert Champion, a drum major in Florida A&M University’s celebrated marching band, have brought national attention to the issue, ratcheting up pressure for schools to take stronger action to discourage the practice.

“We’re going to see an increasing number of administrators losing jobs” over hazing issues, says Ricky Jones, professor of pan-African studies at the University of Louisville in Kentucky and author of the book “Black Haze: Violence, Sacrifice, and Manhood in Black Greek-Letter Fraternities.” “When these people start to lose their jobs, there’s going to be greater professional and institutional attention paid to” the problem.

At FAMU, Mr. Champion was beaten as part of a hazing ritual and died soon after. His death was ruled a homicide. In the wake of his death, the band’s director retired, university President James Ammons resigned, and the marching band was suspended indefinitely.

In a statement released Monday, VSU officials say they “are confident that no sanctioned VSU student organizations were involved in this tragic incident.” But university spokesman Thomas Reed says the school was aware of Men of Honor. It seems likely that this group was “mimicking black Greek-letter fraternities” in its hazing practices, Professor Jones says.

Universities, police, and prosecutors are making a greater effort to enforce anti-hazing laws, some observers say. Forty-four states, including Virginia, have such laws in place. In recent years, many colleges and universities have suspended fraternities caught up in hazing and alcohol abuse. Read Full

Mississippi Valley State player dies in car accident

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
Posted on
350x247xKevin_Monzon_MVSU.jpg.pagespeed.ic.oc7CVwpcR0A member of the Mississippi Valley State football team died in a one-car accident which injured three of his teammates Thursday night.

The driver, Kevin Monzon, a 19-year-old sophomore place-kicker from Crystal Springs, Miss., died at the scene in Leflore County, the Southwestern Athletic Conference university said in a release.

Marcus Thompson, a junior from Houston, Texas was air-lifted to University Medical Center in Jackson, Miss. In addition, Rogers (Kevin) James, a junior from Evans, Ga., and Joseph Hardnett, a sophomore from Chicago, were transported to the Greenwood-Leflore Hospital with minor injuries.

The cause of the accident was not released.

The university announced counselors will be available on campus on Friday.

Why Don’t HBCU Alumni Give Back?

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
Posted on
Several studies suggest that the percentage of alumni giving at HBCUs is in the single digits.
Several studies suggest that the percentage of alumni giving at HBCUs is in the single digits.

For my first Easter Sunday in New York, I drove to Queens with my significant other to spend the holiday with a fellow alum from Tennessee State University. She and I met through our alma mater’s local chapter. After eating, laughing and chatting, the women headed to the kitchen to help clean up while the men sat in the other room discussing sports and politics. Ms. Betty graduated from TSU in the ‘60s, and I four decades later. Somehow while washing dishes and scooping out ice cream for dessert the conversation led to HBCUs and alumni giving.

Hearing Ms. Betty and I passionately discuss our beloved HBCU apparently struck a nerve in one of the women. She was a mid-twenty something native New Yorker who attended Stony Brook University. Although she’d never gone to an HBCU, hadn’t done any extensive reading on HBCUs, she had quite a few criticisms not only about HBCUs, but also the students it produced. In an attempt to validate her inaccurate point about HBCU education not being up to par with that of traditionally white institutions, she offered up as evidence that she had seen HBCUs recruit and accept high school students on the spot without them having to take any SATs or ACTs. She babbled on and on about how HBCUs ethnic makeup is not representative of the real world. After she finished I assured her that state schools are state schools regardless if they are HBCUs or TWIs. SAT or ACT scores are a requirement for admission into an accredited college. Further, I reassured her as a graduate of both an HBCU and TWI that I received a top-notch, quality education at my HBCU. Not something I would say about my experience at the TWI I attended.

Ms. Betty interrupted. “Well all I know is I can’t give my money to a school that continuously admits white students and gives them free rides just for being the minority,” she said bluntly. “If they want me to give back they need to find a way to earmark my money only for Black students.”

The woman who I had been debating with earlier took this as her opportunity to keep throwing shade at HBCUs. “Tell me this. Since HBCU graduates are always so passionate about HBCUs being such wonderful institutions, why don’t graduates give back?” she queried. “The bottom line is HBCUs are sinking due to financial strains and the alumni are nowhere to be found.”

Read more here

Big Day for HBCU student-athletes at NFL Draft

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
Posted on
Howard linebacker Keith Pough will enjoy wearing similar colors and matching helmet as a member of the NFL Buffalo Bills.
Howard linebacker Keith Pough will enjoy wearing similar colors and a matching helmet as a member of the NFL Buffalo Bills.

It was a big day for HBCU student-athletes at the 2013 NFL Draft yesterday.

Here’s a quick recap:

  • High school wide receiver turned feared linebacker Keith Pough was drafted by the Buffalo Bills. Pough was the all-time FCS leader in tackles for loss.
  • The 6-foot-2, 240-pounds Brandon Hepburn out of FAMU who had 86 tackles (9.5 for a loss), 5.5 sacks, seven pass breakups and a forced fumble as a senior was the 245th pick by the Detroit Lions.
  • Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Terron Armstead, who set the offensive lineman record in 40-yard dash with a time of 4.71 seconds, was a third-round pick by the New Orleans Saints.
  • Kansas City Chiefs signed Jackson State’s wide receiver Rico Richardson during post draft.
  • Bethune-Cookman receiver KJ Stroud was officially picked up as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets.

Follow HBCUGameday on Twitter for the latest news on HBCU athletes and the NFL Draft.

[divider]

HBCU Buzz is the Leading Source of HBCU News, and the Most influential brand in the HBCU Community. Like ‘the Buzz’ on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Should Rand Paul receive credit for outreach to black community at Howard?

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
Posted on
By Tommy Meade, HBCU Buzz

I wonder if freshman Kentucky GOP Senator Rand Paul knew what he was getting himself into when he spoke at the ‘Mecca’ Howard University earlier this month.

Paul said his friends told him he’s “either brave or crazy” for showing up at Howard but should he receive credit for his outreach to the black community at Howard? Carl Tate writing for The Daily Progress thinks so.

[divider]

The Daily Progress:

Kudos to the junior senator from Kentucky, Rand Paul. Paul dared to venture where few Republicans do nowadays: He gave a speech at Howard University, the historically black university headquartered in Washington. I can finally say I Stand with Rand.

Sen. Paul, son of Ron, was the first prominent Republican to actually show up at the HBCU in more than 20 years — the last, of course, being former Republican National Committee Chairman Lee Atwater, who sat on the Howard board of trustees before a forced resignation (I could write a whole column on that debacle).

And he actually made a richly compelling case for the students to support the Republican Party and conservative policies.

[divider]

Indeed, Sen. Paul should receive credit for his visit to Howard, simply because no other notable Republican step foot on the yard in more than 20 years.

(Former chairman of the Republican National Committee Lee Atwater once served on the board of trustees of Howard University, but student sit-ins at the school’s main administration building led to his resignation.)

Though Republicans won’t make inroads with blacks by speaking on events that happened 150 years ago, President and chief executive officer of the NAACP Benjamin Jealous believes that they can champion civil rights issues.

“Moving from “tough on crime” to “smart on crime” would be good for this country,” said Jealous in a op-ed article on CNN. “It would also be a smart move for the Republican Party if they ever hope to get on base with black voters.”

But if the GOP wants to “embark on a year-round effort to engage with African-American voters,” or “engage historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with the goal of educating the community on Republican ideals and the Party’s history,” they will need a lot more than a guideline (the “Growth and Opportunity” project) on how to have peace relations with minorities.

Black Voter Turnout Rate Passes Whites In 2012 Election

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
Posted on
In a first, black voters turnout rates surpassed whites in 2012.
In a first, black voters turnout rates surpassed whites in 2012.

America’s blacks voted at a higher rate than other minority groups in 2012 and by most measures surpassed the white turnout for the first time, reflecting a deeply polarized presidential election in which blacks strongly supported Barack Obama while many whites stayed home.

Had people voted last November at the same rates they did in 2004, when black turnout was below its current historic levels, Republican Mitt Romney would have won narrowly, according to an analysis conducted for The Associated Press.

Census data and exit polling show that whites and blacks will remain the two largest racial groups of eligible voters for the next decade. Last year’s heavy black turnout came despite concerns about the effect of new voter-identification laws on minority voting, outweighed by the desire to re-elect the first black president.

William H. Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, analyzed the 2012 elections for the AP using census data on eligible voters and turnout, along with November’s exit polling. He estimated total votes for Obama and Romney under a scenario where 2012 turnout rates for all racial groups matched those in 2004. Overall, 2012 voter turnout was roughly 58 percent, down from 62 percent in 2008 and 60 percent in 2004.

The analysis also used population projections to estimate the shares of eligible voters by race group through 2030. The numbers are supplemented with material from the Pew Research Center and George Mason University associate professor Michael McDonald, a leader in the field of voter turnout who separately reviewed aggregate turnout levels across states, as well as AP interviews with the Census Bureau and other experts. The bureau is scheduled to release data on voter turnout in May.

Read more here

North Carolina’s 5 HBCUs placed in unfavorable position

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
Posted on
Student on campus

Both Sen. Gladys Robinson and Sen. Angela R. Bryant once served on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors but aren’t too happy with their latest course of action. Find out why they believe North Carolina’s five HBCUs could face an extremely unfavorable experience by the state’s university system:

[divider]

On July 1, when newly elected members of the UNC Board of Governors begin their four-year term, pay close attention to the blatantly unbalanced selections made. For the first time in many years, there is a lack of representation from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), African American women or Democrats in the selections made by the Republican-dominated N.C. General Assembly.

Our state university system, which prides itself on its five historically black universities, will have its least-diverse Board of Governors in recent history. Statutory provisions required at least two minority race members, minority political party members and two women, but that provision was repealed in 2001 after legal challenges. However, the Democratic majority always ensured the election of women, HBCU alumni, Republicans, African Americans and Native Americans.

In 1971, legislation was established to incorporate HBCUs into the UNC system, and in 1972, the first Board of Governors was appointed to govern and oversee the development of a well-planned and coordinated system of higher education, to improve the quality of education, to extend its benefits, and to encourage an economical use of the state’s resources.

This mission has less chance of being accomplished without input from the significant and diverse components of the UNC system. Although HBCUs serve diverse populations, they remain the gateway to a promising future for African Americans. These institutions provide access to some modicum of equity in careers and transforming dreams into realities.

While the Board of Governors will only include five Caucasian women, the absence of African American participation speaks volumes during a time when African American women represent a significant percentage of the college demographic and are critical to economic recovery within their communities.

Read more here

Photo: Albany State University welcomes class of 2017

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
Posted on
943007_10151905469529478_1938851028_n

The Metro Atlanta ASU Alumni chapter held a luncheon for incoming students titled “Welcome to the Family” that helped make the transition of the newly accepted students “as smooth as silk.”

[divider]

HBCU Buzz is the Leading Source of HBCU News, and the Most influential brand in the HBCU Community. Like ‘the Buzz’ on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Justice Antonin Scalia: Voting Rights Act is a “perpetuation of racial entitlement”

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
Posted on
There’s some controversy over the new cover of the NAACP’s quarterly journal The CRISIS that depicts Justice Antonin Scalia with a Confederate bandana.

The cover is a result of some choice of words the conservative justice said when he called the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (an act that prohibits discriminatory voting practices) a “perpetuation of racial entitlement.”

Check out what people are saying about it:

[divider]

HBCU Buzz is the Leading Source of HBCU News, and the Most influential brand in the HBCU Community. Like ‘the Buzz’ on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Detroit Lions draft Linebacker Brandon Hepburn of Florida A&M

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on
With the 245th pick in the 2013 NFL draft, the 12645436-mmmain selected linebacker Brandon Hepburn out of Florida A&M University.

Hepburn is 6-foot-2, 240-pounds. He had 86 tackles (9.5 for a loss), 5.5 sacks, seven pass breakups and a forced fumble as a senior.

Here’s a little bit more on Hepburn:

The path from Division I-AA walk-on to being selected in the NFL draft has been “a process”, according to Brandon Hepburn. It was an uphill battle from the start.

In April, Hepburn presented the results of his findings for a cure for cancer to an international audience at the American Chemical Society conference in Dan Diego, Calif.

Hepburn redshirted in 2008. In 2009, he mostly was relegated to special teams duties and had 13 tackles on the year. The following year, Hepburn played in all 11 games, recording 63 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. In his final season, Hepburn racked up 86 tackles, 5.5 sacks, seven pass breakups, and one forced fumble.

Hepburn graduated from FAMU in 2012 with a b.s. in biochemistry, and then enrolled in the School of Business and Industry pursuing an MBA. He has stated that the combination goes toward his goal of one day owning a biochemical company. Read More

Kansas City Chiefs sign Jackson State’s Rico Richardson

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on
6828556As with several of the other signings the Chiefs have made during this post draft, undrafted free agent frenzy, the team is sticking close to home with Richardson. Richardson did not participate in the NFL Combine, but he did have a showing during Jackson State’s Pro Day.

2013 Jackson State Pro Day: A total of 10 players from Jackson State worked out at the school’s pro day on March 8. The workouts were held outdoors on grass in front of six NFL teams. Rico Richardson, WR (5-11 ½, 167 pounds) – Richardson proved impressive enough to earn an invite to the Super Regionals in Dallas. He ran a time of 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash and recorded a 35½-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-1 broad jump. He ran a 4.12 short shuttle and 6.77 in the cone drill. Richardson recorded 12 bench presses and worked out as a wide receiver. – Gil Brandt, NFL.com

While he didn’t wow anyone enough to get drafted, his numbers aren’t terrible by any means. His career stats won’t frighten Dwayne Bowe into thinking his job is in jeopardy, but they’re nothing terrible. In his senior year at Jackson State, he caught over 1,000 yards in passes and 11 TDs. Not too shabby. Read More

Buffalo Bills sign Howard University OLB Keith Pough

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on
Keith_PoughOnce upon a time, Keith Pough was a 5’8″ wide receiver at Scotts Branch High School in South Carolina.

That was a long time ago, however, and now Pough is a 6’2″, 239-pound linebacker who leaves Howard University as the all-time FCS leader in tackles for loss. Now was drafted by the National Football Association to the Buffalo Bills More information coming soon.


Saints draft UAPB’s Terron Armstead makes Arkansas-Pine Bluff History

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on
tempPhotoGalleryArmsteadA--nfl_mezz_1280_1024

The New Orleans Saints have selected Terron Armstead, an offensive tackle out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, with their third-round pick in the NFL draft.

The 6-foot-5, 306-pound lineman, picked 75th overall, represents New Orleans’ lone pick on Friday night. The Saints were docked their second-round selection as part of their punishment stemming from the NFL’s 2012 bounty findings.


Armstead gives the Saints depth at offensive tackle following the departure of former starting left tackle Jermon Bushrod to Chicago in free agency. Charles Brown, a 2010 second-round pick out of Southern California, could be Bushrod’s successor at that spot. The pick of Armstead was announced by former Saints special teams leader Steve Gleason, who has ALS.

The Saints took Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with their first-round pick, 15th overall, on Thursday night.

Community Organizing 101 in Cyberspace: American Baptist College introduces online activism class

Posted by Robert Hoggard
Posted on
Community Organizing 101 in Cyber Space is about preparing students to be digital activist for justice. This is a course of American Baptist College.
Community Organizing 101 in Cyber Space is about preparing students to be digital activist for justice. This is a course of American Baptist College.

American Baptist College recently had its first online activism class, “Community Organizing 101 in Cyberspace.”

Community Organizing 101 in Cyberspace is about preparing students to be digital activist. The class teaches students community organizing strategies through social media tools.

The class also examines the arguments regarding the effectiveness of on-the-ground social protest in comparison to online activist movements.

Through learning social media tools like Wikipedia, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, students learned several essential skills that will help them launch an online campaign to bring issue awareness to a problem of social injustice.

In order to situate the new media training’s, the class discussed traditional forms of community organizing as well as discussed four case studies of online community organizing (e.g. Trayvon Martin, 2007 Be Bold Be Red Be Brave: Ending Violence Against Women of Color, and Obama re-election efforts).

The final project for the class will consist of students working as a team to create an online campaign for a critical issue in their community.

For over the last 30 years, the Metropolitan Interdenominational Church Technical Assistance Network (MICTAN) has been committed to both serving persons newly infected with HIV/AIDS and to serving those faith leaders who are in need of the tools to address the issue of HIV/AIDS in their churches.

And, from their commitment of “WHOSOEVER”, John 3:16, MICTAN founded in 1993 the First Response Center.

Though MICTAN started providing services and training’s at the height of the AIDS epidemic in the U.S., the MICTAN First Response Center is still needed today as the African-American community grapples with the increase in HIV newly infected cases.

The Community Organizing Class,chose MICTAN First Response Center to continue to do the work that MICTAN does it will need a web presence.

Now, MICTAN cordially invites all to attend the re-launch of it’s First Response Center online presence on Monday, May 6, 2013 at 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the Susie McClure Library on the campus of American Baptist College.

For more information about the Re-Launch, follow MICTAN on Twitter and like their Facebook page.

Posted by Robert Hoggard Posted on 231 articles