Yankee Stadium to Host New York Urban League Football Classic, Hampton vs Morgan

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Yankee Stadium will once again play host to a classic college football matchup, as Hampton University and Morgan State University will meet in the New York Urban League Football Classic on November 17, 2012, at the home of the Yankees. The two-year agreement calls for the two schools to play at Yankee Stadium again in 2013 as well.

The original Yankee Stadium was host to what later became known as the annual New York Urban League Football Classic from 1968-73 and ’76-87. Morgan State played 11 times in the contest, going 1-10 as they faced off against Grambling and head coach Eddie Robinson each time. For Hampton, it will mark their first football game at Yankee Stadium (original or current).

Now in its fourth year of existence, Yankee Stadium has already played host to elite college football games, including the annual New Era Pinstripe Bowl, the 50th all-time matchup between Notre Dame and Army in 2010, and Army vs. Rutgers in 2011. The home of the Yankees is also scheduled to play host to Army-Boston College in November 2014. Additionally, Yankee Stadium has hosted the Public School Athletic League Football Championship Game in each of the last two years.

Since its inception, proceeds from the game have helped to leverage over $20 million in Whitney M. Young, Jr. Educational Scholarships to nearly 4,000 college bound students. Whitney M. Young, Jr. who the scholarship was named after, was the President of the National Urban League.  His distinguished career was marked by his effectiveness in bringing the business community into full participation in the struggle for Civil Rights.  Young focused on gaining equality for blacks in business, politics, and improving opportunities for the urban poor.  The New York Urban League continues the mission of the is to enable African Americans and other underserved communities to secure a first class education, economic self-reliance and equal respect of their civil rights through programs, services and advocacy in our highly diversified city. Read full MSU

Fayetteville State Appoints New Associate Dean for University College, Dr. Tyson Beale

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Dr. John Brooks III, Dean for the University College, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Tyson Beale as the new Associate Dean for the University College at Fayetteville State University (FSU).

Dr. Beale is a passionate administrator who has 15 years of experience in K-12 and higher education.  Prior to his appointment at FSU, Dr. Beale served as a Network Student Support Administrator to nine schools in Baltimore, Maryland.  As a district administrator to nearly 150 academic staff he directly oversaw curriculum development, supplemental instruction, professional development, and student activity budgets for regular and special education programs. In higher education Dr. Beale has held leadership roles for TRIO’s Student Support Services, Multi-Cultural Services, and Student Affairs.  His leadership experience has focused heavily on increasing the retention and graduation of college students, particularly young men.

Dr. Beale is highly recommended and has a proven track record in advancing student engagement programs and bridging the institutional barriers that plague many students.  As a first generation college student he believes the primary avenue to increasing student success is through a retention-based culture.  In his words, “high level engagement and collaboration among passionate educators is the vehicle to student success”.  His research interest is African American male persistence.  In fact, during his tenure at Morgan State University he founded Male~Strategy, co-founded the Board of Advisement Recruitment and Retention (B.A.A.R.), and mentored men of the Morgan M.I.L.E. while working in the Office of Student Retention and Leadership Development.  His work earned him the honor of 2007 male faculty/staff member of the year at Morgan State. Read Full FSU

Construction of Cheyney University’s New Science Center Begins

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As a response to regional needs in STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Math), a Center of Excellence for Research and Applied Sciences (Science Center) is now under construction at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.

The 43,148 square foot facilitywill support two initiatives: research and teaching. The new facility will support research on how the urban environment can impact the biology and culture of plants and animals as well as research in the fields of biotechnology, health-related discoveries, mathematic applications, and computer-based system development to support industries here in the Mid-Atlantic region. Second, the new facility will support teaching, which falls under the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences where coursework will be offered as part of the University’s six existing majors (biology, marine biology, chemistry, general science, mathematics, and computer science).
“In order to compete for students in the higher education community, you need to have the right infrastructure to strengthen academic excellence and increase student success,” Cheyney University President Dr. Michelle Howard-Vital stated. “The new Science Center will help the university reposition itself and attract more students, faculty and jobs to the region. Our goal is that this facility will serve as a model for collaboration and creation of innovations that will support scholarship, research and the economy. The new Science Center is expected to have a positive impact on University recruitment initiatives,” Dr. Vital stated.
The facilities will include regular and advanced chemistry lab spaces; biology lab spaces; math and computer science classrooms; physics classrooms; seminar rooms; a computer lab; faculty offices and a conference room. A special feature – a planetarium – will be located adjacent to the main lobby. Additionally, the building will house a darkroom and cold storage.

ASU Faculty Welcomed by Outgoing and Incoming Presidents

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Outgoing President William H. Harris and President-Elect Joseph H. Silver Sr. greeted ASU faculty members during the annual opening conference. Nearly 300 faculty members attended ASU’s annual faculty opening conference held in the Ralph D. Abernathy Auditorium on Wednesday, Aug. 15.

The theme of this year’s conference was “Improving Academic Quality and Accountability.”

Dr. Sharron Herron-Williams, interim associate provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, delivered opening remarks and told the 25 new faculty members present that she is pleased they chose to join the Hornet Nation.

“You could have elected to be anywhere else and you chose us. This year, we want to focus on improving academic quality and accountability. We have new programs, we have new faculty, and now we need to re-examine what we have to do to make sure we are giving our best to our students and make sure we are ready for the challenges that are presented in this new global market,” Herron-Williams said.

Dr. William H. Harris, who will retire as ASU’s president next month, received two standing ovations when he delivered the President’s message. Harris began by welcoming president-elect Joseph H. Silver Sr. and congratulating him on his appointment.

Harris then told faculty members that they hold the future of the University in their hands.

“We have, during the last two decades, been involved in making the University a new place, and we have stepped the pace up during the last four years. We have added new programs and facilities and brought in new ideas and a lot of those new ideas come from you,” Harris said. “I request that you dedicate yourselves to making sure the future is bright for our students because of what you do on a daily basis.”

Bowie State’s Mariela Hernandez Receives Division II Academic Achievement Award

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The Division II Athletics Directors Association (D2ADA) announced the 2011-12 recipients of the D2ADA Academic Achievement Awards. The Academic Achievement Awards is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level. Among those honored is Bowie State University softball playerMariela Hernandez.

Hernandez, a pitcher for the Lady Bulldogs softball team ended the 2012 season with a 3.84 ERA and appeared in 19 games. Other accodlades for Hernandez include All-CIAA Second Team (2012), CIAA All-Rookie Team (2011) and CIAA All-Tournament Team (2011).

A record number of institutions (118) and student-athletes (4,492) are being recognized for the 2011-12 Academic Achievement Awards. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Association had 557 student-athletes honored, a record-high for the program, followed by the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) with 400 student-athletes being recognized and the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) with 398 student-athletes being acknowledged with this award. Read More BSU

NSUs Haley Ward, Dunning Lead VA Legends to USSSA Title

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Rising sophomore Haley Ward and incoming freshman Heather Dunning of the Norfolk State softball team recently led their VA Legends team to the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Over 18 Fastpitch World Series title.

VA Legends went 7-1 over the two-day tournament July 27 and 28 at the Botetourt Sports Complex in Troutville, Va., north of Roanoke. The squad beat out 11 other teams that hail from South Carolina to Maryland for the title. No other team finished better than 5-2 in the tournament.

The Legends team included current or former players from schools such as UCF, Florida State, Michigan, Florida, Virginia Tech, LSU and Maryland, including Hampton University head softball coach Trena Peel.

In pool play, the Legends defeated the Stafford Storm, 8-0, and then the Virginia Rowdies Elite by that same 8-0 margin. In bracket play, the Legends shut out Wagner’s Elite 23U, 9-0, as well as Richmond Ruckus 23U, 8-0. Virginia Pride

handed the Legends its only loss, 2-1, in a late Saturday afternoon game to drop the team into the loser’s bracket.

The Legends squad took care of business on that Sunday, however, defeating the Hornets and Virginia Pride by identical 6-0 scores. Because of the double elimination format, the Legends had to play Virginia Pride again, and once again they handled the Pride with ease in a 9-1 victory to cap the tournament. Read More NSU

Welcome Class of 2016: Letter from the Editor

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To the Class of 2016, congratulations. You have done it. You have proved many wrong, and you have made your family, friends, and most importantly, yourselves proud. In addition, not only are you a college student, you are a historically black college or university student—which means you have quite the shoes to fill.

A handful cannot cover the amount of people who have successfully graduated from these important institutions of higher learning. From heroes and heroines like Spike Lee (Morehouse College) and Alice Walker (Spellman College) to Tom Joyner (Tuskegee University) and Taraji Penda Henson (Howard University), dedicated, ambitious, and unwavering people make every effort to better themselves, and prove others wrong by attending institutions that historically serve underserved persons.

Some believe HBCUs have completed its original mission and are thus no longer relevant in the twenty-first century. Others argue that as long as HBCUs strive to provide individuals with opportunity when no one else cares to bother, these institutions will always be needed. Nonetheless, I believe there is a purpose in your decision to attend a HBCU—and it is up to you to find, understand, and grasp that resolution.

As incoming freshmen, you are now radically free more so than ever. Your parents will not be there to wake you up for school, and you will no longer be pampered with everything you want. I welcome you to college, where scholar students conduct proper prior planning in order to prevent piss poor performance. And here, if you want something, you have to go get it yourselves.

To students who once underachieved, like myself, college is a place where you can revamp into someone that differs from your role in high school. If you dream of being a doctor, attending college will shape that dream into reality. If you want to save mankind, college will help mold you, and bring out the inner humanitarian that is within us all. But this, of course, is easier said than done (let us save this fear for another time).

This is your year, however, and this is your time to have fun, make mistakes, and be rebellious. College truly is “the best four years of your life,” and surely the latter are characteristics that will make it worthwhile and memorable.

Central State University told its incoming freshmen students they are the Elite Class of 2016, and the class’s slogan is “Mission Possible.” In life, things are only perceived as impossible from your own standpoint. Change that mindset and believe anything is possible if, and only if, you put your mind to it. Welcome to the yard!

 

Rochon and Tuskegee University alumni honored as “People of Influence”

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For their service and contributions to the community, the president of Tuskegee University and six of the institution’s alumni were honored at a breakfast ceremony Friday at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center at Tuskegee University.

The People of Influence Breakfast was sponsored by SouthEast Small Business magazine, a publication that compiles an annual list of people of influence who have attained senior levels in business, government and politics. For the event, 10 male and 10 female honorees were chosen from around the area. Those chosen also had to have a commitment to community involvement and participation.

In his acceptance remarks, Rochon said Tuskegee was fortunate to have so many talented people in the community who are dedicated to improving the city. He also expressed his desire for the university to be involved in “improving the quality of life” in the community.

“We’re committed to having a partnership role,” Rochon said. Read Full Tuskegee 

TV Report on Religion Features UMES Students

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Ten UMES students sat for a multiple-choice test in October that they did not study for and received no grade. They took it with a TV camera rolling and discussed their reactions and results.

As part of WBOC-TV’s recurring news feature, “Heart and Soul,” UMES students voluntarily answered an abbreviated version of a questionnaire created by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

UMES students performed far better on the quiz than most people – reinforcing a Pew Forum finding that those with a college education know more about religion.

Reporter Lisa Bryant began her two-minute 40-second report that aired Nov. 18 by noting “For most, this was probably the easiest test they’ve taken all semester.”

Among the questions:*

  1. When does the Jewish Sabbath begin?
  2. What was Mother Theresa’s religion?
  3. What was Joseph Smith’s religion?

Keith Savage, a senior majoring in English who got every question right, said “those (who) limit themselves to a religion don’t take the time to identity or understand other religions.”

“So, it kind of puts the blinders on and they are only concerned with what they want to know and not with the bigger picture and how it relates to everyone,” said Savage, who describes himself as an atheist.

Junior Robynne Warren said she grew up in a Protestant church, where bread and wine served at Communion are considered symbols. Catholics believe the two become the body and blood of Jesus Christ, the inspiration for a question that tripped up most of the students. Read Full UMES

UAPB to welcome its first Fulbright Assistant

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The School of Business and Management at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) will welcome the university’s first Fulbright Foreign Language Teacher Assistant (FLTA) as part of an on-going initiative to internationalize business curriculum. Ms. Maki Eguchi, Ph.D. student at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, will spend the academic year at UAPB as a language teacher and cultural ambassador.

The School of Business and Management is a program participant in the Globalizing HBCU Schools Program sponsored by the Institute for International Public Policy of the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSPC), Centers for International Business Education and Research and the United States Department of Education. This program is designed to infuse understanding and the importance of international and interdisciplinary business education by equipping faculty with the tools, knowledge and experiences to incorporate international components into existing business courses and/or develop new courses.

The program sponsors a business language workshop for faculty who teach courses such as Business Spanish, Business French and Business German.

“It was through this program that we realized the importance of including the foreign languages in the business curriculum,” said Carla Martin, Esq., Dean of the School of Business. “As we build a curriculum that focuses on internationalization, several students and faculty members have indicated an interest in foreign languages not commonly taught on this campus.”

In this regard, Ms. Eguchi will co-teach International Marketing (MKTG 4320) with Dr. Eddie Hand as part of an innovation designed to enhance student’s appreciation of the role of language and culture in the marketing process. She will also teach a one-hour per week language lab and collaborate with the Office of International Programs and Studies (OIPS) in the design of a Japanese study abroad program. Read Full UAPB

Subcommittee Hearing, TSU Internal Audit Dispel Grade-Changing Allegations

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Tennessee State University and the Tennessee Board of Regents met today with the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee in a public hearing to address allegations of wrongful and inappropriate grade changes by University administrators.

During the two-hour hearing called by Subcommittee Chairman Senator Jim Summerville (R-Dickson), TSU academic and administrative officials, internal audit staff, and TBR officials provided testimony after local and national media publicized one TSU faculty member’s allegations of grade changes by University administrators without faculty consent. Dr. Jane Davis, an English professor at the University who made the allegations, was also present at the hearing.

“Tennessee State University has welcomed today’s opportunity to set the record straight both factually and clearly, and to address the unfounded and inappropriate allegations raised by a faculty member about how grades were assigned to students,” said Dr. Portia Shields, TSU President.  “We applaud Senator Summerville and members of the subcommittee for their willingness to listen to the facts as presented by the University’s administration, the Tennessee Board of Regents and representatives of Tennessee State University.

“It was made clear today from testimony during the hearing and through the internal audit report that there was no indication that University administrators ordered, coerced or directly changed the grades of students, but that faculty simply did what was right for the students involved. It is a shame, however, that so much energy has been spent addressing these unsupported allegations; energy that could have been better spent on students as we prepare for the beginning of a new academic year.”

The allegations of inappropriate grade changing first surfaced on June 27, 2012 when Davis sent an e-mail to the Chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, and copied to the Governor of the State of Tennessee, complaining that the Associate Vice Provost changed over 100 grades of “Incompletes” to a “C” in two pilot math classes. The classes, Math 1110 and 1013, were part of a pilot program instituted by the University due to the elimination of remedial courses at four-year institutions by the Tennessee Board of Regents. The University designed the courses allowing students who needed learning support in mathematics, along with more time or instruction, to receive it in a number of ways including a four-day weekly schedule instead of a regular three-day schedule, a variety of computer-assisted instructional supports, the videotaping of classes, and University tutoring. Read Full 

Tim Green of Lincoln University named to USA College Football Preseason All-American Team

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Lincoln University senior defensive end Tim Green (Fanwood, N.J./Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS) continued to add to his list of honors as he was named Monday to the USA College Football NCAA Division II Preseason All-American Team.

Green, who has earned the Lindy’s Sports College Football, Beyond Sports Networks All-American Team honors and was a preseason All-CIAA selection, led NCAA Division II statistically in sacks and was Lincoln’s first-ever Division II All-American, grabbing the honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the Associated Press Little All-American Team and D2football.com (honorable mention).

An All-CIAA first team performer and an ECAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Green, who was named as one of three players to watch in the CIAA by getrealfootball.com and the Boxtorow Preseason All-American Team, was fourth on the team in tackles in 2011 with 56, including 43 solo stops. He added 15 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two pass breakups and one safety.

The Lions begin the 2012 season as State Farm Presents…The Battle of the First as Lincoln opens its new stadium against rival Cheyney on Saturday, Sept. 1. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Referenced from Lincol

Paine College School of Professional Studies Selects New Dean, Dr. David Chamblee

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Dr. David Chamblee has been appointed by Paine College president Dr. George C. Bradley, as the Dean of the School of Professional Studies.

Chamblee will be responsible for leading the coordination and supervision of the following areas within the School of Professional Studies: Department of Education, Department of Education, and the Department of Business.

Chamblee is skilled in management and engineering. He previously served as Quality Engineering Manager at Tyco Electronics Corporation, managing the relocation of several product lines to China, which resulted in a multi-million cost savings.　 Prior to working for Tyco Electronics, Chamblee was employed as a manufacturing process engineer at Marconi Communications. He has also served as an adjunct professor and the Vice President of the Applied Engineering Technology Department Advisory Board for the School of Technology at North Carolina A & T State University.

“My vision for the School of Professional Studies is to provide an extraordinary service to all students utilizing the engage, inspire and transform model,” he said.

Chamblee holds a Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina A & T State University, a Master of Science degree from Bowling Green State University and a doctorate in Leadership Studies from North Carolina A & T State University.

The Paine College Community warmly welcomes and congratulates Chamblee on his new position.

DSU’s Dr. Melikechi Prepares for NASA Work

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NASA’s Curiosity Rover has landed on Mars.

Now DSU’s Dr. Noureddine Melikechi will soon contribute his optics expertise as part of the Curiosity ChemCam Team and assist the space agency in analyzing the data that comes back from Mars through the rover.

Culminating a 367 million-mile and 36-week flight from earth, the Curiosity Rover was lowered gently by ropes from a rocket backpack onto the Mars surface inside its Gale Crater at 1:32 a.m. EST on Monday, Aug. 6.

Dr. Melikechi, who is also the dean of the College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology as well as the University’s vice president of research, showed his excitement during a morning press briefing with local media on Aug. 6.

“Imagine, you build something that you can’t test, send it 570 million kilometers, and it works for the first time,” said Dr. Melikechi, referring to the complex landing technique. “I am so proud to be a part of this mission, which includes about 300 scientists – of which I am one – and thousands of engineers.”

He and two graduate assistants, Alissa Mezzacappa and Angela Lundberg, are part of the mission’s ChemCam Team. The ChemCam (Chemistry and Camera suite), one of 10 instruments on the Curiosity, will be used to study the soil and rocks at each place Curiosity stops.

The ChemCam will shoot an infrared laser – more than a million watts of power – at rock surfaces on the planet. The resulting light will be read by the unit’s spectrometer, which is expected to provide new information concerning the rock composition of the planet.

The ChemCam utilizes a technology called laser-induced spectroscopy, which has been used in determine the composition of objects in extreme environments such as nuclear reactors and on the sea floor. However, this is the first time the technology has been used in space exploration.

After the Curiosity does some preliminary checks and scientific work during its early days on the planet, the ChemCam will shoot its first laser blasts in mid-August, Dr. Melikechi said.

The primary goal of the Curiosity mission is to study whether the Gale Crater area of Mars has evidence of past or present habitable environments. Dr. Melikechi said the mission will be looking for the past or present existence of liquid water, the chemical elements required to sustain life, and a source of energy, all necessary elements for habitability.

“It is my hope that we will see something that no one expects,” Dr. Melikechi said.

24 Hour Theatre Project returns to Fayetteville State, August 24-25

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Fayetteville State University (FSU) Theatre announces its fourth 24 Hour Theatre Project on August 24-25, 2012.  The project invites participation from FSU students, faculty, and staff, as well as members of the community to the highly caffeinated adventure in which plays are written, rehearsed, designed, and performed in 24 hours.  A trend over the last decade in educational and professional theatres, 24 Hour Theatre is a burgeoning tradition at FSU, which introduces a new Bachelor of Arts curriculum in Theatre this year.

24 Hour Theatre will involve a kickoff event on Friday, August 24th, at 7:30 p.m., followed by an overnight writing session by playwrights.  After finishing their writing by early the next morning, the freshly-minted scripts will be taken up by actors, directors, designers, technicians, and managers who will rehearse the plays throughout the day in time for a 7:30 p.m. performance of the plays on Saturday night.  Students and other interested participants will be able to engage in one of a variety of production areas, from writing to acting to stage management to lighting operation.  Participants can apply to participate in the project here.  Participation is limited; certain production roles, such as writing and directing, are extremely limited, so get your application in as soon as possible.

The goal of 24 Hour Theatre is to produce fully realized scripts, usually of 10-20 minutes in length, and to put participants into active production roles with intense demands.  The result is a mixture of high creativity, artistic impulse, sleep deprivation, temper, improvisation, failure, success, and caffeine.  Participants are forced to make decisions on a deadline – a bit like Survivor for theatre – and learn firsthand the necessities of prioritization, problem-solving, and good humor.  Above all, 24 Hour Theatre usually sees great success at creating bonds between participants and working to create a community of theatre makers in a short period of time.

The 24 Hour Theatre Project performances begin at 7:30 p.m., on Saturday, August 25th, in FSU’s Butler Theater.  The new plays may not be suitable for all audiences. Referenced from FSU

FAMU announces new halftime concept during football games

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With its marching band sidelined because of a deadly hazing incident, Florida A&M University has announced an “enhanced football experience and halftime entertainment,” to keep fans cheering during this season’s home football games.

In addition, the school’s athletics department has partnered with Visit Tallahassee, which promotes the city as a tourist destination, to create travel packages that include game tickets along with a hotel room. The effort is designed to drive game attendance and overnight visits, the school said.The school did not provide full details but said fan who attend this season’s four home games can expect new entertainment options, including old school vs new school DJ competitions, performances by “major recording artists” and a contest to win a meet-and-greet with the artists.

With its famed Marching 100 band suspended for the entire 2012-2013 school year because of a hazing death, Florida A&M University had been looking for new ways to keep students and fans engaged this football season.

In a press release issued Tuesday, FAMU officials did not mention the band or refer to events that led to this year’s changes. They instead focused on football and a season of new entertainment options.

“We have a promising team this football season ready and excited to showcase their talent on the gridiron,” FAMU Athletics Director Derek Horne said in the release. “Our guys have been putting in extra time with drills over the summer, and adding the excitement of the enhanced halftime experience is sure to make this a very exciting football season as FAMU celebrates 125 years.”

The school announced the band’s yearlong suspension in May following the death of a 26-year-old drum major, Robert Champion, on Nov. 19. Champion died during a hazing incident on a bus after a football game in Orlando. Eleven band members were charged with felony hazing in connection with his death; two others were charged with misdemeanors.

FAMU opens its football season Sept. 1 in Nashville against Tennessee State.

Opponents for home games include Hampton University (Sept. 15), Savannah State (Oct. 13), South Carolina State (Oct. 20), and the FAMU homecoming game against North Carolina Central (Nov. 10). Referenced from Qcity Metro