TSU Receives $600,000 Scholarship Donation from Late Alumna’s Estate

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
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Tennessee State University graduate Vernice Marie Taylor Gray died nearly nine years ago, but not before makings plans to ensure that students in need get the opportunity for a quality education.

The estate of Vernice and her late husband, Elbert Gray Jr., has donated $600,000 for scholarships for students attending TSU.

The fund, established under the Elbert Gray Jr. and Vernice Taylor Gray Memorial Scholarship, will be used at the discretion of the University to fund two “financially disadvantaged” male and female students from Tennessee each year.

“This is certainly great news for Tennessee State University,” said President Glenda Glover. “We are pleased to announce this donation, which provides not only money but makes it possible for less fortunate students to get an education. We commend the Elbert Gray Jr. and Vernice Taylor Gray Trust for this scholarship program.”

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Wiley College Honor Student Inexplicably Beaten by Police “I Awoke Spitting My Teeth Out On the Ground”

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s1-224x300On June 29th 2013, Gabriella Calhoun’s life changed forever.  The night was warm and clear, and after partying with friends, Gabriella and her friends decided to go to their local neighborhood Denny’s to get a late night meal.  Gabby is an honor student at Wiley College.  She finished high school a year early and went to college a year before the rest of her cohort.

Sitting on the left side of Denny’s so they can have a view of the parking lot, her crew of 17, all high school graduates, witnessed a fight between two girls.  As the group of college bound students were ordering their drinks, the cops were called.

When officers arrived on the scene, they entered the Denny’s and approached Gabriella’s table and asked if they had anything to do with the fight.   A friend, who shall remain nameless, told the officers that they were not involved with the fight at all at which the cops left and went back outside.

The two girls who were fighting outside were allowed to go into the Denny’s to “clean themselves up.”  One girl was previously maced by a police officer in the parking lot for acting unruly.  When the two girls saw each other inside of Denny’s, they started to fight again.  The cops rushed into the restaurant to break the fight up.

As the cops tried to clear Denny’s, they again approached Gabriella’s table, at which a close friend of hers told the cops they were not involved with the party that was fighting.  The cops grabbed the nameless young man, (he wants his name protected out of fear of retaliation), and escorted him out of Denny’s.  Gabriella followed them and grabbed his side.  As she exited the Denny’s she felt a grip on her neck and arm and says that out of reaction, she tried to pull away.

What happened next was unimaginable.  According to her friends, Gabriella was hit in the face with a night stick by a female officer and was knocked unconscious.   When Gabriella finally gained consciousness, the Wiley College Student said, “I awoke spitting my teeth out on the ground.”

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Disrespectful ‘Angry Trayvon’ App Sparks Outrage

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
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If you find George Zimmerman’s defense team’s grotesque framing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin as a violent, weed-smoking teen who caused his own untimely death repulsive, then prepare yourself for the ‘Angry Trayvon’ app.

Available in the Google play store, and for Apple operating systems and Android devices, the app isdescribed as follows:

Trayvon is angry and nobody can stop him from completing his world tour of revenge on the bad guys who terrorize cities everyday.
Use a variety of weapons to demolish Trayvon’s attackers in various cities around the world.
As you complete a level, you will notice more bad guys coming at Trayvon at a faster pace and a deadlier attack.
If you like to attack from far, then purchase the ‘dagger’ as you will be able to throw it at your enemies for the kill.
If you want to dominate the leaderboards across the world, then make sure you collect the money that the bad guys will drop once you kill them to increase your score.

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Optimism prevails as Alabama A&M touts financial recovery

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12968281-mmmainAll that was missing from Thursday’s upbeat committee meetings of the Alabama A&M University Board of Trustees was a win in the Magic City Classic.

Fighting to overcome chronic financial problems, the trustees:

  • Celebrated turning a $9 million deficit from 2008 into a $3 million surplus.
  • Voted, on the committee level, to approve a 2014 fiscal year budget that includes the first pay raise for employees in six years and doesn’t include a bump in tuition.
  • Received an audit report with no issues for 2012 with an “unqualified” opinion, which is the “best possible opinion an independent auditor can issue,” according to a presentation from auditors Banks, Finley, White & Co.

And this all came on the heels of a Wednesday night presentation of a four-year evaluation of President Andrew Hugine, which was described as “very, very positive” by Alvin Schexnider, a consultant from the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges who worked with the evaluation committee.

“If you’ve got the naysayers talking about the fiscal health of the institution, the fiscal health – we have a long way to go – the fiscal health has been improved because it’s being reflected in our financial statements,” said Odysseus Lanier, president pro tem of the trustees.

Morris Brown College proposes multimillion dollar deal to keep the HBCU afloat

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Morris Brown, Georgia’s first historically black college, has reached the multimillion dollar deal with FD LLC to restructure and reorganize the troubled school.

Court papers filed Friday outline the proposed deal, according to reports in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution (AJC). It comes less than a month after trustees turned down an offer of nearly $10 million in taxpayer money from the City of Atlanta.

Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed offered the cash to try and eliminate the school’s huge debt. The campus is of interest because the city’s administration wants to regenerate the area to coincide with plans to develop a nearby Atlanta Falcons stadium.

At the time of the mayor’s proposal the college’s lawyer, Anne Aaronson, said the city’s offer was rejected because though it covered the debt it did not provide for operating costs.

This new multimillion dollar deal would make FD LLC a partner in the school’s recovery by buying some of its property and settling its outstanding debt, while it seeks re-accreditation.

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Omar Sykes, Howard University Student Shot, Killed In Attempted Robbery

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A Howard University student was fatally shot and another student was beaten in an overnight attempted robbery in Northwest D.C., officials say.

According to DC Police, the two victims were approached by two male suspects in the 700 block of Fairmont Avenue around 11:40 p.m. Thursday. Once police arrived at the scene, they found the 22-year-old Omar Sykes with a gun shot wound to the chest.  He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.  The second victim was also transported with non-life-threatening injuries.

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“Fighting for those who need advocates”: Why you should consider being a HBCU president

Posted by Robert Hoggard
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As I approach my senihbcuor year at American Baptist College, I have been pondering about what vocation desires I want to pursue. As a student who graduated high school with a 1.9 GPA and has been rejected by several colleges and universities, I take education seriously.

One of the ways I know that students who had rough starts like myself can be accepted and groomed professionally for great work, social justice leadership in the world, is through HBCU’s like American Baptist College.

Thus, as someone who personally knows about educational woes among Blacks and aspires to be a President of an HBCU; I am aware that the field of underserved and looked-over students is ripe for transformation to our next leaders.

“You will spend most of your time defending the existence of underresourced schools that attempt to educate students coming from underresourced schools,” Dr. Walter Kimbrough, President of Dillard University, said to HBCU Buzz.

With the big boom of for profits, and continuation of Black students exploring options at PWI’s, we’re in an era where we’re going to lose more schools.”

You can play a vital role in saving a HBCU

Many HBCU’s are in a state of economical challenge. As a President, it will be your job to ensure your HBCU remains opened. By doing so, students with fragmented educational experiences can be afforded a chance to pursue education further.

Dr. Forrest E. Harris Sr., President of American Baptist College, asserted in a Presidential address, “American Baptist College has been an open enrollment College for gifted individuals who have limited resources and educational experiences but unlimited potential for leadership.”

Imagine what it would be like to be responsible for the transformation of thousands of students who arrive oppressed but leave liberated; to launch out and change an oppressive world.

You can change a fragmented educational system

Dr. Forrest E. Harris Sr. further asserted in his address, “While majority private and public colleges and universities have been in the
business of ‘reproducing privilege’ for the elite, American Baptist College has been in the business of educating the poor and underserved, producing leaders, nurturing prophets and teachers, social activists to ministering to human family.”

We currently operate in an educational system that marginalizes students and labels them as disposable. In this system, it’s easier for whites to succeed and much harder for Blacks to succeed.

Blacks have to work significantly harder than their white colleagues. As an HBCU President that stands for educating the underserved, marginalized and looked-over; you see to it that your school equips these persons for leadership to change the educational system you operate in.

You serve as a professional person that goes to the educational dumps to pull students out of fragmented educational experiences and train them for social change in the world.

Furthermore, in a conversation via Twitter with Dr. Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College, he tweeted these words, “Love fighting for those who need advocates. Aim higher. Each generation builds on the previous one. As Jay told Wayne: ‘go farther, go further, go harder’ #NationBuilding.”

Posted by Robert Hoggard Posted on 231 articles

Guess which HBCU gave Mike Tyson honorary doctorate

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
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Central State University gave “The Baddest Man on the Planet” Mike Tyson and boxing promotor Don King honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters degrees in 1989.

“Mike demonstrates that hard work, determination, and perseverance can enable one to overcome any obstacles,” said Central State president Arthur Thomas at the time.

What’s more, would you believe me if I told you Charles Ramsey, the Cleveland hero who rescued three woman and a girl from captivity, took some classes as a freshman student at Central State during the same year?

Ala-Curtis Campbell selected as Tuskegee’s Athletic Director

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rp_primary_CurtisCampbell-newADTUSKEGEE, Ala-Curtis Campbell has been chosen to serve as Tuskegee University’s new athletic director after an extensive search and interviews with an array of highly qualified finalists, starting today. For six years, he was the athletic director at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala. An experienced athletic administrator, Campbell has 14 years of service in intercollegiate athletics.

While at Stillman, he oversaw several major athletic projects. In 2009, Campbell was instrumental in the opening of the Stillman College Tennis Facility. During his tenure, there were extensive renovations to Birthright Alumni Hall, home of the basketball and volleyball programs. As an administrator, he also worked to increase operational and scholarship funds for each of Stillman’s 12 sports.

During his time, Stillman posted a number of first-time events in competition: the school’s first NCAA national outdoor track and field champion, the department’s first SIAC tennis titles, the men’s basketball team reached the South Region final – the best an SIAC school had accomplished in recent history; and the baseball team won their first game in NCAA region play and reached the South Region final for the first time in program history.

Campbell also upgraded the attention to student-athlete welfare at Stillman. He organized the department’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee and initiated the development of the school’s chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He also initiated a successful academic enrichment program, “Grades First,” that was a requirement for the maintenance of athletic eligibility. As a result, 10 student athletes graduated with honors at the 2013 commencement service. Under his leadership, two of the last three valedictorians at the college were student-athletes.

Prior to his position at Stillman, he served for two years as athletic director at Division III Blackburn College in Carlinville, Ill. At Blackburn, Campbell completely renovated the weight room and improved the operation of the sports information office. During his tenure, Blackburn also successfully hosted the 2006 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) men’s basketball tournament and the 2006 SLIAC sportsmanship summit. He also worked to improve athletic-academic relations at Blackburn while streamlining the efficiency of the athletic department.

Campbell has extensive experience with Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schools. He also worked at Kentucky State University for four years, where he served as assistant athletic director for compliance and later served as interim athletic director. While at KSU, he also monitored athletic scholarships, assisted with game-day operations, coordinated tickets and ticket sales, and assisted with the management and development of the athletic budget. Tuskegee

Bowie State University Professor Named Apple Distinguished Educator – Allissa Richardson

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AlissaRichardson7A Bowie State University communications professor was named a 2013 Apple Distinguished Educator for her use of emerging technology in creating a student mobile journalism lab.

Allissa Richardson, a lecturer in the Department of Communications, is one of 200 educators from all academic levels selected among applicants from 37 different countries, including the United States, China, New Zealand and Turkey. She joins a community of more than 2,000 educators, recognized because of their passion for innovative teaching and their integration of Apple technology into the learning environment.

“We are doing cutting-edge work at Bowie State,” she said in a statement. “This honor puts what we’re doing on the map.”

Richardson infuses technology into her online and mobile journalism courses for undergraduate students by equipping them with iPads and iPods that they use for recording news assignments. She has created a mobile journalism lab at Bowie State where students learn hands-on techniques and prepare for careers creating digital content for websites, social media, and mobile applications.

As an Apple educator, Richardson will be able to access free Apple products, such as film and editing software and equipment to expand the mobile journalism lab and enable students to create video and audio podcasts in their journalism classes. She will also join a network of educators who can provide feedback on her work. In addition, Richardson will be deployed at times by Apple to locations around the world to assist with strategic technology projects as an official trainer and implementer of Apple products.

The Apple Distinguished Educators will showcase their projects and participate in a weeklong professional development workshop at the Apple campus in Austin, Tex. in July. They will also preview new Apple products and collaborate with other members of the cohort to develop new instructional uses for the technology.

Richardson’s classroom innovation was recognized in 2012 when the National Association of Black Journalists named her “Educator of the Year.” That year, she created a traveling iPod workshop series for Slavery by Another Name, a PBS documentary film that aired nationally. With this project, she taught educators around the country how to use the iPod to make multimedia slideshows based on the film. Through her summer mobile journalism academy, Richardson has also empowered youth in about a dozen cities in Africa to tell stories using mobile devices.

Howard academic deans allege ‘Fiscal Mismanagement’

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Senior academic leaders at Howard University have charged that “fiscal mismanagement is doing irreparable harm” to the school in Northwest Washington and urged the dismissal of Howard’s chief financial officer, asserting that his actions have put its survival at risk.

Howard’s Council of Deans alleged that staff cuts at the university have been based on “inaccurate, misleading” data, lamented a decline in research expenditures and contended that a “burdensome” tuition increase has driven away students.

In a letter obtained by The Washington Post, the deans said Howard’s external auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers, had cited “grave concern about the quality of fiscal decision-making” recently as it terminated its work for the university. Above all, the deans blamed the “fiscal direction” of Robert M. Tarola, an independent contractor who serves as the university’s senior vice president for administration, chief financial officer and treasurer.

“We believe this direction places the very survival of the University at risk,” the deans wrote in the June 6 letter addressed to Howard trustees.

Howard President Sidney A. Ribeau rejected the allegations, saying the university is making tough decisions to secure its future and remains in strong shape.

“There is not any kind of mismanagement administratively or financially that is damaging the university,” Ribeau said in an interview Saturday. “Unequivocally.”

Ribeau said the 10,000-
student university has taken aggressive steps since he took office in 2008 to shore up its financial affairs. Read Full

FAMU Marching 100 is back, Interim president Larry Robinson Announced

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Florida A&M University’s suspension of the Marching 100 has been lifted, Interim president Larry Robinson announced this morning.

“When considering all of the measures we have put in place, I believe this constitutes us having the right conditions,” Robinson said.

FAMU’s new Director of Marching and Pep Bands, Dr. Sylvester Young, will decide when the band is ready for public performances. Young said at a news conference, it is too soon to say when that will be. He said there is a lot of work to be done to get a new band ready.

“We’ll see. We are moving in the right direction,” he said.

The band had been suspended from performing, practicing or meeting for 19 months, since the November 2011 hazing death of drum major Robert Champion on a band bus following the Florida Classic football game in Orlando. Champion’s death put a spotlight on a pervasive culture of hazing at the university, leading to the retirement of longtime band director Julian White and the remaking of the famed band. Young was hired as the new director of bands in May.

The specter of hazing also led to the resignation of former FAMU President James H. Ammons last July, the same day the Champion family filed an ongoing wrongful-death lawsuit against the university. Read Full

California Greek Weekend set for June 27-30

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
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New ImageThe largest Divine 9 Greek weekend California has seen will take place in Carson, California June 27-30.

Including some fun activities for people of all ages to enjoy, the 2013 California Greek picnic will also have:

  • Main event step show where step teams from all over the United States will perform to win a $12,000 grand prize.
  • Community service event with the Los Angeles Food Bank. Members of the Divine 9 and members of the community can volunteer to help thousands of low income seniors and women with children in the Los Angeles area.
  • Cookout at Victoria Park in Carson, California.

Family and friends of Greek organizations are invited to attend all events.

For more information on California Greek Weekend and how you can purchase your weekend passes, go to www.caligreekweekend.com. Or contact Juan Young at Caligreekweekend@gmail.com.  

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Opinion: In college, it’s better late than never

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
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AA053817One of my friends in college submitted her application for campus housing weeks after the deadline every semester and always ended up with a swankier room than anyone else.

Don’t worry, parents — I’m not endorsing or recommending this strategy. (Don’t try this at housing, kids!) But it does illustrate an important point about college: It’s rarely too late to try, or to keep trying. In other words, if you miss the train, don’t give up. It might look like you’ve hit a dead end, but chances are it’s just a tunnel. (And there’s a light at the end of it. You see what I did there?)

We all try our hardest, but at some point everyone has something they want to apply for, sign up for, enroll in, — until life throws them off balance and they end up missing that midnight cutoff date. By the time a day has passed, or a week, plenty of people have said, “Oh, well.” And in some cases, it really is an “Oh, well” situation. But if you really want something, there’s no reason to not try for it just because the deadline passed. (Hint: Half of all deadlines are arbitrary. They’ve got to draw the line somewhere — it doesn’t always matter where.) There’s no reason to assume the tickets are gone, the position is taken or the class is full without trying to find out.

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