Verdict in Trayvon Martin case inspires scholarship at Paul Quinn College

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe George Zimmerman verdict has spawned a national debate, large-scale protests, and now a scholarship fund.

“The reality of it is that there is a lot of passion behind this issue, and I think passion is great, but I think being strategic, tactical, and understanding of the laws and the parameter of the laws is even better,” said Paul Quinn College President Michael Sorrell.

Incensed by the legal protections that led to Zimmerman’s acquittal for the killing of Trayvon Martin, Paul Quinn College, a historically black college in Southern Dallas, is offering the new $7,500 Scholarship for Social Justice to a student who shows potential to bring about change in the community and in the justice system.

“We’re doing this because someone must stand up and say, ‘No, not again – not ever again – and we are proud to be those people,” Sorrell said.

Read more here

Alabama State football to play on ESPN four times in 2013

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
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11767992-mmmainThe Southwestern Athletic Conference released its 2013 television schedule Thursday and Alabama State will get more than its fair share of air time. 

The Hornets, who went 7-4 last season, will have four games shown on ESPN in 2013, including its marquee matchup against arch-rival Alabama A&M in the 72nd State Farm Magic City Classic the last weekend in October. 
 
That game, the most-heavily attended in all of black college football, is set for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on October 26th. 
 
Alabama State’s first appearance on national television will come in Week 2 when it travels to Mississippi to face last year’s SWAC runner-up Jackson State in a 6 p.m. matchup Sept. 7th.
 
The following week the Hornets will take on defending conference champion Arkansas-Pine Bluff on the road at 6:30 p.m. 
 
Alabama State will end its 2013 campaign on Nov. 28th in the Turkey Day Classic against Division II Stillman College at 3 p.m. at its new stadium. That game will be shown live on ESPNU. 
 

Civil rights attorney, former NCCU chancellor Julius Chambers dies

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
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chambersjuliusl-220x165Julius Chambers, a former chancellor at North Carolina Central University and Charlotte attorney whose practice was in the forefront of the civil rights movement in North Carolina, has died, his law firm said Saturday. He was 76.

A statement issued by his law firm, Ferguson Chambers & Sumter, said Chambers died Friday after months of declining health. A specific cause of death wasn’t given.

“Mr. Chambers was not the first lawyer of color to try to address the issues of equality,” firm partner Geraldine Sumter said Saturday. “The thing that Mr. Chambers brought to that struggle was a very focused, determined attitude that things were going to change.”

Chambers, served from 1993 to 2001 as NCCU’s chancellor, the first alumnus to serve in the position.

“Chancellor Chambers was a trailblazer with a long and distinguished career as a revered educator, attorney and author,” NCCU Chancellor Debra Saunders-White said in a statement. “His rich legacy will live on forever at this alma mater through the countless initiatives that began during his tenure and continue to thrive today.”

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Black unemployment falls to 12.6 percent in July

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080113-national-jobs-unemployment

The African-American unemployment rate showed significant improvement in July, falling to 12.6 percent from 13.7 percent in June, according to the U.S. Labor Department. The national unemployment rate also fell to 7.4 percent from 7.6, the lowest since December 2008.

The economy added 162,000 jobs, a lower figure than the 200,000 ADP had predicted in its monthly report on employment trends.

“Job growth remains remarkably steady,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, which co-produces the ADP report. “Businesses are adding to payrolls in most industries and across all company sizes. The job market has remarkably weathered the fiscal headwinds, tax increases and government spending cuts. This bodes well for the next year when those headwinds are set to fade.”

But according to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, the devil is in the details.

“While the unemployment number dropping looks good on the surface, the details show otherwise,” Cantor said. “Persistent long-term unemployment, discouraged people leaving the workforce, and millions taking part-time jobs because they have no choice are not signs of a strong recovery. The president’s policies are holding back strong job creation.”

Despite a more optimistic figure for July on both fronts, many African-American communities continue to feel crippled by an unemployment rate that is consistently nearly double the national rate.

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland) believes that if the across-the-board spending cuts known as sequestration had not been implemented and Republicans offered “just a little bit of cooperation” to help President Obama pass some job creation measures, the national unemployment rate would be closer to five percent.

The Maryland Democrat was surprised to see the big dip in the Black unemployment figure, but is not ready to celebrate.

“There are so many African-Americans in my district who are unemployed and I would venture to say that in the neighborhood I live in probably the Black male unemployment rate is probably 33 percent,” Cummings told BET.com. “I don’t for one moment want people look at the Black unemployment rate and say it’s good thing we’re at 12.6 percent because it’s come down. We’ve got to bring it down even further.”

Read more at BET.com

6 things to know when registering at an HBCU

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Students in Computer LabDeciding what HBCU to attend is an important decision for students seeking higher education. It can be troublesome choosing from Howard, Hampton or the other 100 plus black colleges in the nation–not to mention the ‘process’ it takes to register. But we got you at the Buzz.

Here are 6 things to know when registering at an HBCU:

Have some patience

Never forget the moment when you first registered at an HBCU, and how you were annoyed and impatient after being patient for a while. This is a sign of things to come.

Know your history

Neither Howard nor Hampton University is “The real HU.” That title belongs to Harvard University, founded some 200 years beforehand. During that time period however blacks were not allowed to seek higher education. Thus institutions like Howard and Hampton exist today.

What is ‘Drumline’ to an HBCU?

Forget everything you think you know about HBCUs. They are all lies. Take the films ‘Drumline’ and ‘Stomp the Yard’ for example. It is like a cake walk compared to the actual band life at black colleges. The only factual thing you need to have down pat is the reality that the café food sucks, and there are no signs of it being any better.

Don’t be ‘That Guy’

We all know that guy who thinks he is the chosen one. Wearing crimson and cream, smooth talking the ladies, and twirling his cane made from scratch like a Kappa; when in fact he is not Greek but a freshman who knows little about that life. This will get you in trouble.

It’s all in the family

Hate to love your family? In high spirits to be spending time away from home? Well you are out of luck. At an HBCU, it takes a village to raise a child. (A fancy way of saying “get ready to meet new family!”) You will meet people who, before you know it, will become friends for life. Someday you might want to consider adding these same friends to your ‘Do not to take in public’ list.

Have fun

Remember to have fun. If you go to every college party, go to every social event on the yard, too. Meet new people and network often. Take risks. Create the person that you wish to be. College is not called “the best four years of your life” for nothing.

So mark down every difficulty that you encounter with financial aid and administration officers. Laugh at all the good times, like going to class every day and studying all night for exams. And when you finally graduate after four, five or six years of steadfastness, simply say “I love my HBCU.”

Alabama State University raises tuition by 10 percent

Posted by Mike Hamilton
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al_asu

The board of trustees at Alabama State University voted yesterday (Wednesday, July 31) to increase tuition by 10 percent, or $793 per year, for full time students taking thirty (30) credit hours per year.

The University reported that the tuition hike would be effective immediately, beginning with the upcoming 2013-2014 academic year.  This is the first increase for ASU students since 2010.

Elton Dean, chairman of the university’s board of trustees, said the increase was needed because of cuts in state funding, physical improvements made to the campus, and an expansion to the school’s curriculum.

“Over the past three years we have expanded both academically and physically, but a number of factors including decreased state funding during the same period of time, have made the decision to raise tuition necessary,” Dean said in a statement.

Dean also noted that university officials would continue to look for ways to help students pay for the cost of attending ASU.  Acting ASU President William Harris said the university must maintain quality services for students, while simultaneously keeping the cost of attendance low.

“The board’s decision to change tuition was reached only after thoughtful deliberation revealed it was the responsible way to go,” Harris said.

Sharod Campbell, president of the ASU Student Government Association, said he was disappointed by the board’s decision, though he said school officials had warned that the tuition increase might be coming. “But the timing is never right for an increase and it’s still tough to digest,” Campbell said.

Democratic state Rep. John Knight of Montgomery said ASU, like other schools, has seen costs go up in recent years while at the same time revenue has mostly declined. “It’s happening to everybody,” said Knight, who is also executive vice president and chief operating officer at Alabama State.

Dream Defenders occupy Florida state capitol to repeal ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws

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Youth activists from Florida, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York join the Dream Defenders and chant “I believe that we will win!”
Youth activists from Florida, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York join the Dream Defenders and chant “I believe that we will win!”

After the George Zimmerman verdict student activists known as the Dream Defenders rushed to the state of Florida to strategize and plan how they would bring about justice to Trayvon Martin and to everyone else who could potentially be Trayvon.

There’s been a lot of buzz about these student activists and their tactics. The Dream Defenders have occupied the Florida State Capitol since July 16, 2013, demanding that the Governor of Florida call a special session to address what they call, “Trayvon’s Law” which would work to repeal the Stand Your Ground Law, confront racial profiling and end the school-to-prison pipeline.

(Information about the law can be found here.)

The Dream Defenders are a group of youth activists who believe they will bring social change by training and organizing youth and students in nonviolent civil disobedience, civic engagement and direct action while creating a sustainable network of youth and student leaders to take action and create real change in their communities.

Fighting for the criminalization of this current generation by directly confronting the sources, sponsors and supporters of it, the Dream Defenders are located in Florida and have different chapters, including at Florida A&M University.

Some people feel their protests in Florida are not going to make a difference and Stand Your Ground will remain as is. I would personally like to say, after spending time in the Florida State Capitol with the Dream Defenders, that I am believe there will be change in laws in the state of Florida.

It is important to understand that they are not just protesting in the Capitol and sleeping there without a purpose. Sure, it’s a demonstration to get Governor Rick Scott to call a session for the FL legislature to vote on this law. But so much more happens.

Every day from the time they wake up until they go to sleep, there are sessions and workshops going on to inform, build, train and inspire the people to make a change because “the world is ours.”

The Dream Defenders, along with the Black Youth Project 100, an organized group of 100 black youth activists, the NAACP, Youth United for Change along with many other organizations are pushing forward to create justice for all.

2013 is the year for a new movement, and we encourage everyone to participate or support in some way. Half the battle is just showing up, and the Dream Defenders have demonstrated this.

We have to be the power if we want to make a change.

Elizabeth B. Davidson, nurse anesthetist at Howard University Hospital for 30 years, dies at 94

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HUHLogo4Mrs. Davidson retired from Howard University Hospital in 1984. She later briefly worked in real estate sales in Anne Arundel County. She lived in Davidsonville before moving to the retirement community in Catonsville in 1997.

Elizabeth Margaret Barth was born in Jersey City. She was a nurse in doctors’ offices in New Jersey before receiving a degree as a nurse anesthetist from Duke University in 1952. She then settled in the Washington area.

Her husband of 55 years, Arthur C. Davidson, died in 1999.

Survivors include five children, Loran Davidson of Pattaya, Thailand, John Davidson of West Palm Beach, Fla., Dr. Eric Davidson of Danville, Va., Kathryn Owen of Portland, Ore., and Michaele Davidson of Davidsonville; 16 grandsons; and three great-grandsons. Referenced

Alabama State University to implement temporary smoking ban

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no_smoking-2158_0 The president ofAlabama State University says he’s looking to implement a temporary smoking ban.

University President William Harris told AL.com (http://bit.ly/18N3j1b) Wednesday that he’s going to use executive authority to temporarily ban the use of all tobacco products on campus.

He says science has proven “that smoking causes grave difficulties to health,” and university officials want students and staff to be as healthy as possible.

Alabama State University officials are considering a permanent policy to ban tobacco use on campus — including smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes. The board of trustees is expected to decide on that policy in September.

Alabama State is at least the second public school in the state to ban smoking on campus.Auburn University has also implemented a similar ban.

Still No Answers in Death of Hampton University Freshman

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hampton-universityAs the new school year approaches, students from Baltimore to the Hampton Roads region of Virginia remember David Tolulope Esan, the Hampton University freshman who drowned in a campus swimming pool during a school-sponsored celebration in March.

Esan, 17, a graduate of Western School of Technology and Environmental Science in Baltimore County, was attending a chaperoned, freshman week party on March 20 when his body was found at the bottom of the 12-foot end of the pool by a football player, one of the crowd estimated at 100-150 people. He was transported to nearby Sentara CarePlex Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

As they mourn, friends and family questioned how this student, who didn’t know how to swim and was typically careful near water, ended up dead at an event that was supposed to be supervised by university administrators and security in a pool that should have been monitored by lifeguards. David was buried on April 5, the day before he would have turned 18.

Witnesses said that at the party there was music and dancing, along with some horseplay that resulted in people being pushed into the indoor pool.

David’s brother, Daniel, 21, a rising senior at the University of Maryland College Park, said the family is still trying to come to terms with his brother’s death. Their parents, Kemi and Ade Esan, hired an attorney, Jasper Nzedu, a criminal and personal injury lawyer who is president of the Northern Virginia chapter of African Christian Fellowship, USA, shortly after David’s drowning. They have also hired an investigator to conduct a probe independent of the investigations by campus and Hampton City Police Department.

He told the {AFRO} that the case has not been resolved.

“No, not yet,” he said. “The investigation is still going on.”

Daniel said that the family has received information that verified student statements that David was spotted in the water by the football player, who jumped in, along with other students, to try to save him. “The lifeguard was the last to jump in,” he said.

He said the family has also learned that there were university administrators in the pool area, as university spokeswoman Yuri Milligan said shortly after the incident.

“They were at the gate collecting money,” Daniel said. “You can’t monitor the pool and be at the gate.”

Hampton University police, Hampton city police and Milligan did not return several messages left early this week regarding investigations into David’s death on the campus.

Referenced from AFRO

DSU partners with firm to offer region’s first helicopter flight degree

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DSUHorizonHelicopterSigninghandshakeNEWARK — Beginning in the fall, Delaware State University will offer helicopter pilot training in its aviation program, but it doesn’t need to buy any helicopters to make it happen.

The university is partnering with a Newark business, Horizon Helicopters, to offer professional helicopter pilot certification. It is the only collegiate program of its kind in the region, university officials said Monday.

“For years, we’ve received dozens of calls every day asking if we offer this kind of program,” said DSU aviation program director Stephen Speed. “Now, we can finally say, ‘Yes.’ ”

The agreement with Horizon Helicopters was signed Monday at the company’s facility on Sunset Lake Road. The new training will be an option available to students enrolled as aviation majors, a four-year bachelor of science degree. DSU has offered an aviation program since 1988, but it only used fixed-wing aircraft.

The decision to partner with a private business allows DSU to offer the new program without the immediate need to buy helicopters or hire staff, said Amir Mohammadi, university treasurer and executive vice president for finance. Looking ahead, the university is looking to upgrade its aging fleet of fixed-wing aircraft over the next few years, he said.

Fewer than 10 students are expected to enroll in the first year, but DSU officials say they expect that to grow over the next five years.

The university will continue to provide on-the-ground instruction while Horizon staff will give in-the-air training. Student fees will be used to pay Horizon for staff and the use of two helicopters.

The partnership was three years in the making, university officials said, because they had to secure federal approval to offer the new training.

Graduates receiving a helicopter certification will be able to fly for private companies. That kind of work includes charter flights and construction company services, Speed said. Passenger transport requires additional certification, he said.

Speed said the university would be supplying personnel for an industry that is expected to grow in the near future. The university decided to offer the new training after its research showed student interest and a lack of available programs.

The university intends to attract military veterans to the program. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides information on eligible flight programs and other approved education providers at www.gibill.va.gov.

Horizon Helicopters co-owner Harry Griffith said he expects the need for certified pilots to grow. His company provides such services as flight training, construction and photography.

“Business has been good. Even when all these other businesses have had trouble, we never had that,” Griffith said. “I don’t know why it is. I wish I did. I’d jar it and save it up.”

More information about the DSU aviation program is available by calling 857-6710.

Help for Businesswomen Offered at Alabama State University Business Conference

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hb-woman-in-glasses_lgIf you’re a woman running your own business or about to start a business, it’s time to assemble “The Little Pink Toolbox.”

That’s the theme of Alabama State University’s Women in Business Conference 2013, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in ASU’s Dunn-Oliver Acadome Banquet Room. The event is hosted by the university’s Small Business Development Center.

Keynote speakers at the conference will be Miranda Bouldin, president and CEO of LogiCore Inc., and LeNa Powe, manager of Minority Business and Small Business Development for the Birmingham Business Alliance. Powe also is a former Miss Black Alabama.

Organizers are encouraging women of all generations and backgrounds to attend the conference, which will both celebrate womanhood and provide guidance to women on the keys to success, offered by top business professionals.

“From start to finish, this one-day conference is designed to help women and small business owners grow through our high-impact, interactive platform,” said Lorenza Patrick, director of the Small Business Development Center at ASU. “The workshops will provide participants with resources needed to succeed in business. It is for women who are thinking about starting a business and for those who are already in business.”  Read More

CAU Athletic Director Dr. Tamica Smith-Jones to join UTSA athletics program

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images — University of Texas-San Antonio (UTSA) Athletics Director Lynn Hickey announced Monday that Dr. Tamica Smith-Jones will serve as Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA), effective August 1.

Smith-Jones has led Clark Atlanta University’s (CAU) Athletics Department since 2008. She was appointed liaison to the Office of the President in January 2008, then was promoted to interim director of athletics in December of that year before being named director of athletics in January 2010.

Under her leadership, the Panthers captured seven Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championships, including the first men’s basketball title in 46 years and the first-ever women’s cross country and volleyball crowns. Smith-Jones also played a vital role in securing funding for numerous projects on campus, including new field turf for the football stadium, a pair of weight room upgrades and a football facility renovation. She established Clark Atlanta’s Athletics Annual Giving Fund in 2008 and instituted several new opportunities for student-athlete participation and staff development.

Smith-Jones was featured in the Diverse Issues in Higher Ed Magazine in March 2013 for bringing heightened attention toward student-athlete well being and establishing a successful academic support program at Clark Atlanta. Her initiatives included “Grades First Software,” which helped to enhance the student-athlete experience and academic success.

CAU President Carlton E. Brown said, “Dr. Tamica Smith-Jones has grown an athletics program that aligns with my institutional orientation on improving academics and emphasizing character and service. We are well-positioned to continue moving forward, and wish her the very best as she enters this exciting, new chapter of her career.”

Clark Atlanta University Referenced from 

FAMU Alumni Selected For 2013 Legends Award By ESPN

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RattlersLogo2Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida A&M University (FAMU) alumni Bernard and Shirley Kinsey will receive the 2013 Legends Award during the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Orlando during Labor Day Weekend.
“We feel honored to be a part of the Legends Awards during the MEAC/SWAC weekend,” said Bernard Kinsey. “We are delighted to be recognized with such an esteemed group of honorees, and we applaud ESPN for their work with historically black colleges and universities.”

Shirley grew up in St. Augustine, Fla. where her paternal grandmother, Susie Plummer Pooler, raised her to live a life of service to others. Shirley was valedictorian of her graduating high school class, and awarded a scholarship to attend FAMU, where she joined Delta Sigma Theta, Beta Alpha Chapter in 1965. Early on, Shirley embodied the mantra, “to whom much is given, much is required.” She became a student activist in the Civil Rights Movement throughout her college experience and went on to careers in both education and Corporate America. Shirley received her bachelor’s degree in education from FAMU and master’s degree in multi-cultural education from Pepperdine University.

Bernard is president and founder of KBK Enterprises, Inc., a management consulting firm with extensive experience and success providing advice and counsel to senior-level executives. Previously, he served as a top-level executive with the Xerox Corporation for 20 years and was a pioneer in breaking down racial barriers in corporate America. His leadership of the Xerox Black Employees Association led to the hiring of thousands of black employees, women and Latinos and is the subject of a Harvard Business School case study. Bernard is a past president on the FAMU National Alumni Association. During his tenure he quadrupled life membership and created the first national alumni convention, which continues annually today.

During their 46-year marriage, Bernard and Shirley Kinsey have raised more than $11 million for FAMU and $7 million for the United Way. For the past seven years, they also have focused their attention on The Kinsey Collection, their national touring museum exhibit of African American art and history dating back to 1600. The collection has been viewed by over 3 million visitors, was on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, DC and is currently on national tour in part with Wells Fargo. A portion of the exhibit is also on display in the American Adventure Pavilion at Epcot in Orlando through 2016. The Kinsey Collection book was adopted by the Florida Department of Education for African-American curriculum to be taught to students in grades K-12 statewide.

The Legends Award was established in 2009 to pay tribute to extraordinary alumni who have used their respective MEAC and SWAC university education to bring excellence to their professional achievements and/or community service endeavors (local, state, national or global). The Legends Awards were established to honor dedicated alumni who, through exceptional service to their respective university, have helped to advance the institution’s mission and goals. Legends Award recipients are representative of the rich diversity of MEAC and SWAC universities, and they inspire others. Through their enduring commitment to excellence, integrity, civility, diversity and service, they serve as stellar examples for future graduates of MEAC and SWAC institutions.

Additional members of the 2013 class of award recipients includes David “Deacon” Jones, representing South Carolina State University and Mississippi Valley State University; Chuck Maldonado, representing North Carolina A&T State University; Charlie Neal, representing Villanova University; Lucille O’Neal, representing Bethune-Cookman University; and Willie Totten, representing Mississippi Valley State University.

For more information, visit http://espnevents.com/meac-swac/awards/bernard-shirley-kinsey/. For more information on the Kinsey Collection, visit www.thekinseycollection.com.

16 HBCUs Make Forbes Magazine’s 2013 Top Colleges List

Posted by Mike Hamilton
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UPDATED!

Forbes, the nation’s premiere business publication, recently unveiled its Top Colleges 2013 list. The prestigious ranking lists 650 American colleges & universities and takes a look at a number of factors that affect today’s college students and their families, such as: financial aid, outstanding debt after completion, jobs, and overall tuition & fees figures. This year, among the 650 institutions, sixteen (16) HBCUs landed on the list:

188. Fisk University

254. Spelman College

285. Morehouse College

342. Howard University

497. North Carolina A&T State University

532. Tuskegee University

549. Jackson State University

597. Florida A&M University

615. Tennessee State University

625. Clark Atlanta University

626. Morgan State University

633. Bowie State University

646. Dillard University

647. Claflin University

648. South Carolina State University

649. Texas Southern University

Click here to view the complete list.

New online Hip Hop talk show to provide platform for music artists

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
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Host AbJudah x Guest LyricissI.A.M. Music Group (“IAMG”) is on a mission to bring hip hop—by way of the DMV (the D.C., Maryland, Virginia metropolitan area)—to the World and has started the process with the development and eventual launch of a live online talk show called “RAP ABOUT TV.”

RAP ABOUT will offer emerging and established artists and players in the hip hop community, a platform to promote their current/upcoming projects, material, and or merchandise to the DMV and broader audiences.  The show concept was developed by Chas Diggs, Vice-President, IAMG, who envisioned a campaign to help raise the profile of the DMV on the music scene, especially in terms of hip hop.  “The DMV and DMV artists have been overlooked in terms of talent in hip hop—for many years.  With the spotlight now on this area, there is more talent looking for avenues and means of promotion, RAP ABOUT TV was the logical progression,” explains Chas.

Since Barber Shops in the community usually serve as a place of social interaction and public discourse, RAP ABOUT TV will be primarily filmed on location at a popular community barber shop in Prince George’s County, Maryland.  Accordingly, guests of the show are invited to come through to “chat it up” with the host, as barbers and shop customers listen to and participate in the discussion.  One segment of the show, “Barber Talk,” is an open floor format that allows barbers to ask a socially relevant topic of the day. 

RAP ABOUT is produced by D. Michele Diggs of I.A.M. Music Group with Abbass Jah serving as host.  The new one-hour online show will air on the Rap About TV channel (on YouTube).