Clark Atlanta Sweeps SIAC Top Runners of the Week

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runner_cau_410_222After finishing 12th in the Georgia Southwestern Rememberance Run last weekend, the Clark Atlanta University women’s cross country team clocked the five fastest times in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and was named the SIAC women’s team of the week today.

Senior Markeisha Woodson, a returning All-Conference runner, led the Lady Panthers with a 26:06.14 finish in the women’s 6K run. Rounding out the other top five peformers were CAU’s Sanley Richardson (29:25.54), Breya Davis (31:17.49), Cynthia Smith (32:55.50) and Ashley Manuel (36:25.07).

Next, the men’s and women’s teams will compete in the University of North Georgia Invitational Saturday, Sept. 14, in Oakwood, Georgia. Referenced

ASU responds to controversy after band spells “Trayvon”

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BTmUkpACYAAIpVI.jpg-largeAlabama State University is responding to controversy surrounding its band and a recent football game’s half-time show.

During Saturday’s game against Jackson State, ASU’s Mighty Marching Band members lined up in a way on the field that spelled out “Trayvon” while they played the song “Amazing Grace”.

Trayvon, referring to Trayvon Martin, was a teen whose case sparked nationwide outrage after he was shot to death by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Florida last year. Zimmerman was later found not guilty by a jury.

Following the band’s decision, the director of the ASU Marching Band, James Oliver, issued a statement on the controversy. It reads:

“ASU’s Mighty Marching Hornets Band’s halftime show utilized the tragic death of Trayvon Martin as a symbolic recognition that far too many young men die of senseless gun violence.

Ours was a call to conscience of all those who wish to protect our children and to build community.

We spelled out the name  ‘Trayvon’ while the band played ‘Amazing Grace’ as a tribute to all the families who have lost their children.

It had nothing to do with a jury’s verdict, but everything to do with the sanctity of life and the amazing grace that only God can give as we deal with tragedies such as the loss of a child.”  Referenced

 

Obama Names Leadership for HBCU Initiative

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Today, the Obama Administration announced a new leadership team for the White House Initiative for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).  Former South Carolina State University president Dr. George E. Cooper has come on board as the Executive Director of the Initiative and Howard University’s Dr. Ivory Toldson will join him as Deputy Director.

Cooper and Toldson will work with the HBCU Board of Advisors—appointed by President Obama— serving as a bridge between the federal government and historically Black institutions of higher learning. They will also aid Secretary Arne Duncan by serving as an organ for HBCUs within the Department of Education, helping to develop policies and provide assistance schools, students and other key stakeholders.

President Obama has stated that by 2020, he wants America to again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. The HBCU initiative is intended to help increase both the number of Black graduates and help sustain the livelihood of these institutions.

Dr. Cooper is a Senior Fellow with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and is responsible for reviewing key federal legislation regarding HBCUs. As the 10th President of South Carolina State University (SCSU) he was also the chairperson of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, Council of 1890 Universities (2010-2012).  Cooper has also served as faculty at Alabama A&M University and Tuskegee University. He is a graduate of Florida A&M University and Tuskegee University, and holds a Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition from the University of Illinois – Urbana.

Read more at EBONY

Doug Williams says he’s been fired by Grambling

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Grambling football coach Doug Williams was fired Wednesday morning.

Williams, 58, said he received a call around 8 a.m. and was summoned to school President Frank Pogue’s office. Pogue handed a letter to Williams and told him the school was going in another direction.

A school news release said the remainder of Williams’ contract was bought out. He had agreed to a new three-year contract in June 2012 that paid him $250,000 a year.

“There wasn’t a lot of conversation. I told him ‘OK’ and I was gone,” Williams said.

The school said running backs coach George Ragsdale will become interim head coach.

“We recognize Doug Williams’ many contributions to our football legacy and we express our deep appreciation for his service to Grambling State University and we wish him well in the future,” Pogue said.

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FAMU experiences steep drop in enrollment

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Florida A&M University continues to cope with a drastic decline in enrollment numbers for the second consecutive academic year.

Though unofficial, the preliminary enrollment for the Fall 2013 semester is 10,786, which is down more than 1,250 from the previous year (2012-2013) and about 2,500 fewer from two years ago (2011-2012).

FAMU, which receives more revenue from tuition than it does from the state of Florida, is preparing for a second straight $6 million loss as a result of the decline in enrollment, interim President Larry Robinson said.

The University’s athletic department, which has been losing approximately $1 million per year for the last six years, is also affected by the decrease in enrollment because student fees are a primary source of monetary support for FAMU’s intercollegiate sports programs.  “Every dime we get is important, and there are a whole lot of things we could do with those monies if we had them,” Robinson said.

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Stillman College fires president one day after fall convocation

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IMG_0212_t620x620_c620x620Only one day after he welcomed students, faculty, and staff back to campus for the 2013-2014 academic year during the annual fall convocation, Stillman College president Ernest McNealey was fired by the college’s Board of Trustees.

On Thursday, McNealey delivered an address of preparing Stillman for personal success in the face of adversity during the ceremony. He reported the state of the private college, with an operating budget of $27 million, as good, but made remarks which highlighted the national decline in student enrollment and financial difficulties.

Additionally, he mentioned an increase in denials in student loan requests. “While certainly there are storm clouds on the horizon, we can see silver linings in those clouds,” he told students and faculty.

McNealey called the national statistics depressing, but said Stillman will continue to pursue its goals despite adverse conditions.

“We will continue to search for the next new thing that circumstances say we cannot do and do it,” McNealey said.

On Friday afternoon, the college released a brief statement naming Peter Millet, provost and vice president for academic affairs, as interim president.

Click here to read the full story.

Howard University students call for boycott of upcoming Tonéx concert

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tonexAward-winning gospel artist Tonéx has been the subject of much controversy within the church community for many years, due to his music and image, then for coming out of the closet on Christian-based cable channel The Word Network in 2009.

Now, students at Howard University in Washington, D.C. are calling for a boycott of Tonéx’s upcoming September 15 concert at the Howard Theatre (which is located less than ten blocks from the University’s main campus).

Angela Powell said, “He’s confused. One second he says he’s not gay then does a tour and says he is. He said he quit gospel but then comes out and says he’s not finished with Christian music yet. He needs to sit down somewhere.”

”As a Christian, homosexuality is wrong. I don’t support it and I’m glad so many students are standing up and rejecting this concert also,” says Curtis Montgomery, a sophomore biology major.

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UPDATE wife of Zimmermann not planning to press charges

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UPDATE: The estranged wife of George Zimmerman is not planning to press charges after police were called to a domestic dispute in central Florida on Monday, said Lake Mary police chief Steve Bracknell.

Zimmerman, the Florida man who was acquitted of murder in the shooting of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012, was being questioned on Monday by police after his wife called 911 saying he threatened her and her father with a gun, police said.

No one had been arrested and police officers were at the scene at a house belonging to Shellie Zimmerman’s father, police added. read more…

Zimmerman’s wife: ‘He threatened with gun’

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Zman copyGeorge Zimmerman’s wife says on a 911 call that her estranged husband punched her father in the nose, grabbed an iPad out of her hand and smashed it and threatened them both with a gun.

Shellie Zimmerman said Monday on the 911 call that she was scared because she didn’t know what George Zimmerman is capable of doing.

She says he had his hand on his gun while he was in his car. read more…

Buzzing News: 5 things to know on Monday

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1. President Barack Obama seeks support for military intervention in Syria

POTUS Barack Obama is trying to persuade Congress and the American public to support military strikes on Syria after President Bashar al-Assad allegedly used chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war. Nearly six in ten Americans oppose military intervention in Syria, according to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll.

2. NAACP President Ben Jealous resigns

Ben Jealous, who took over the NAACP five years ago as president and CEO, announced yesterday his plan to resign, effective Dec. 31. During his presidency the NAACP has won state and local battles to abolish the death penalty, shrink prison systems, and outlaw racial profiling.

1377892307000-RCStamp3. Ray Charles ‘Forever’ stamp to unveil at Morehouse

The late giant of R&B, blues, gospel and pop Ray Charles will be honored on a ‘Music Icons Forever’ stamp by the United States Postal Service starting Sept. 23. One of three launch events is planned at Morehouse College.

4. Marc Lamont Hill to mediate 4th Annual NPHC Greek President’s Forum

Members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council are invited to a discussion on civil rights at the 4th Annual NPHC Greek President’s Forum September 18 in the US Capitol Visitor Center Auditorium in Washington D.C.—presented by the Honorable Marcia L. Fudge. Kappa man Marc Lamont Hill will moderate the event.

5. N.C. A&T beats Appalachian State  

In case you missed it, the North Carolina A&T Bulldogs stunned the Appalachian State Mountaineers 24-21 on Saturday evening at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The win over FCS power Appalachian State was A&T’s first over a ranked opponent since the 2003 season.

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Ray Charles on ‘Music Icons Forever’ stamp, launch event planned at Morehouse

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A Ray Charles postal stamp that will live forever is planned to launch at Morehouse College, the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles and the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center starting September 23, which would have been the late giant of R&B, blues, gospel and pop 83rd birthday.

The new stamps, called “Music Icons Forever”, were revealed earlier this year by the U.S. postal service to commemorate three American original artists.

“No matter how many awards and accolades he received, Mr. Charles was genuinely humbled by each and every honor,” Valerie Ervin, president of the Ray Charles Foundation and executive producer of the compilation, said in a statement. “To him, it meant people appreciated what he loved doing so much — his music.”

Music greats Lydia Mendoza, a pioneer of Tejano music, and country superstar Johnny Cash are the other two artists included in the series.

Read more here

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Bethune-Cookman alum Harold Lucas gives $100,000 gift to university

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130822_dt_community01When he was nine years old Harold V. Lucas Jr. use to sleep in the house of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, the founding president of Bethune-Cookman University, while his father worked late into the night as her corresponding secretary.

“Daddy set up the first accounting system for the school,” Lucas said. The Lucas family has a 75-year history with the historically black university in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Continuing the ‘lasting example of philanthropy’ that his father instilled in him Lucas is giving a six-figure trust of $100,000 to his Alma mater as a gift.

“My father always talked about service to school, church and the community and that helped me develop pride in being able to help others. Bethune-Cookman was [my father’s] life and I knew I was expected to be just as generous with such a fine institution,” Lucas said.

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Gospel artist Smokie Norful to perform at Jackson State

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Grammy award winning artist Smokie Norful, best known for his 2002 album I Need You Now, and his 2004 release Nothing Without You, will perform with the Jackson State University choir on campus Monday October 14 at the Athletics Assembly Center in Jackson, Mississippi.

Tickets on sale now. Click here for more information or contact Box Office at 601-979-2420.

About Smokie Norful:

Gospel recording artist Smokie Norful is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff with a bachelor’s degree in history. His 2004 album Nothing Without You won a Grammy at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 2004.

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Marc Lamont Hill to mediate 4th Annual NPHC Greek President’s Forum

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QqqwHuffPost Live Host Marc Lamont Hill, a journalist, activist and member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. will be the mediator over a discussion on civil rights issues at the 4th Annual NPHC Greek President’s Forum Wednesday, September 18 in the US Capitol Visitor Center Auditorium in Washington D.C.

Presented by the Honorable Marcia L. Fudge, who is a past president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., serving from 1996 to 2000, the event is open to all of the nine members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

Doors open at 1:00 p.m. To reserve your seat please visit mlf2013nphcforum.eventbrite.com. For more information contact Bridgett Simmons at 202-225-7032.

About the NPHC

The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated promotes interaction through forums, meetings and other mediums for the exchange of information and engages in cooperative programming and initiatives through various activities and functions.

Benedict College Student Found Dead on Campus by ‘Unfortunate Incident’

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23330664_BG1 The Richland County Coroner’s Office says they don’t believe there was any foul play involved in the death of a Benedict student.

According to the Coroner’s Office, the unidentified student’s body was found on campus Tuesday evening.

Officials have not released any details on how the student died.

Benedict released a statement confirming the student went to school there, but stopped short of how the student died other than calling it an “unfortunate incident.”

The Coroner’s Office plans to release more details on the student’s death sometime Wednesday morning.

 

More information coming soon.