President Obama on the contributions of HBCUs

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A proclamation by the President of the United States of America:

The founders of our Nation’s first colleges and universities for African Americans shared a fundamental belief that, with the right education, all people can overcome barriers of injustice to achieve their fullest potential. These pioneers understood that education means emancipation – a path to freedom, independence, and success. More than 150 years later, America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) carry forward this proud legacy, and this week, we celebrate the profound impact these places of learning have made on the life of our country.

For generations, HBCUs have provided students with access to higher education and instilled in them a sense of pride and history. Graduates of these institutions have played an extraordinary role in shaping the progress of our Union by championing equality and changing perspectives through the arts. They have strengthened our Nation by building our economy, teaching our children, healing the sick, and defending America as members of our Armed Forces. Today, HBCUs continue to help move our country forward, cultivating leaders in every area of our society. And with each new HBCU alum, we move closer to achieving our goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.

During National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, as we recognize the immeasurable contributions of these institutions, let us recommit to ensuring they remain cradles of opportunity for the next generation. Let us also reaffirm our belief in the power of progress through education – a belief we share with the visionary leaders who established our HBCUs so many years ago. read more…

Miles College Reaches Record Enrollment This Fall

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Some new students at Miles College were surprised to get hotel “housing” instead of the usual dorm room this year. This is due to a record Fall enrollment at the college which has left dormitories at capacity. There are now over 1,800 students on campus. That’s a 9% increase from last year.

“Our dormitories are full to capacity, students are everywhere,” said Miles President George T. French, Jr.

“It was a very deliberate and strategic process. We brought in a new enrollment team. We were very aggressive in recruiting across the nation,” said French.

With the added students comes added facilities: a new dining hall, a welcome/admissions center, and a new 240 bed residence hall.

“You know sometimes when we have growth it can be an inconvenience. Yet the progress and the growth that can be done, it will be long benefiting, and they’re just excited about that,” said Miss Miles College Bianca Moore.

“I’m very excited especially being the SGA president, to see the success and the growth,” said SGA president Michael Childress.

The school could surpass 2000 students by the 2013-2014 academic year.

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Congressional Black Caucus looks into HBCU Medical Schools for Equal Healthcare Strategies

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Just last week the annual Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Legislative Conference was held in Washington DC. Among the crucial issues tacked by the CBC daily,  affordable and equal healthcare rank among the highest.

Barbara Ballad, President of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and State Representative of Kansas House of Representatives, spoke on the use of unconventional strategies in order to implement the Affordable Healthcare Act.

The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) has always taken its commitment to the disadvantaged, the disenfranchised, and the poorest among us very seriously. We remain acutely aware of the health disparities and the lack of equal access to health care in this country. Therefore, as state legislators, we look upon the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as our greatest opportunity, and our biggest challenge, to addressing the health needs of our constituents and ensuring health equity.

While the U.S. Supreme Court ruling of June 2012 upheld the Affordable Care Act, it struck down the Medicaid Expansion provision, creating a gap in coverage for the exact citizens we at NBCSL are committed to serving. Medicaid expansion would have required states to expand Medicaid to those persons whose incomes are up to 133 percent of federal poverty guidelines, or risk losing their entire Medicaid funding. It was estimated that this expansion would have provided coverage for 17 million more people by 2022.

It is now up to the states to decide whether or not they will include Medicaid Expansion in their Medicaid legislation. To do so will provide the states with very attractive federal funding, but it will still require us to make a sizable commitment of state resources. That is why it so critical that we, as state legislators, look at our health care delivery systems.

One method of healthcare delivery and cost savings is the creation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Introduced through the ACA, ACOs are a group of hospitals and physicians that will work together to coordinate care for the patients they serve. In July, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced its approval of 154 ACOs to work with an estimated 2.4 million Medicare patients across the nation.

For these reforms to work, however, our medical schools must produce more primary care physicians to keep up with an increased demand for health care services. That is why the National Black Caucus of State Legislators is looking at resource that already exists, our Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ (HBCUs) medical schools. These schools are renowned for producing socially responsible physicians, who become primary care physicians, willing to provide care in undeserved areas. Along with private sector innovators, HBCU Medical Schools also provide innovative solutions to tackling health disparities in the U.S., such as conducting clinical trials that specifically target minorities. It is up to us to ensure our health insurance exchanges, Medicaid and Medicare, make these innovations available to everyone, regardless of their income. What good does it do to develop effective, new medicines if they are out of reach for the people who stand to benefit the most?

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All Star Lined Up Planned For Atlanta Football Classic

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The annual Bank of America Atlanta Classic is set to take place this weekend with Southern University taking on Florida A&M (FAMU). But the real  show will be at half-time where promoters have lined up some big names to take the place of the suspended Marching 100 band of FAMU.

Ten-time Grammy winner Chaka Khan, and rappers Doug E. Fresh and Future will headline the halftime show. A cast of more than 100 dancers will also be a part of the acts, while Southern’s marching band will open the 25-minute performance, said Bill Lamar, chairman of the Classic.

The promoters also announced Tuesday that popular gospel singer Marvin Sapp is scheduled to sing the National Anthem before the 3:30 p.m. kickoff.

Saturday’s show, which is billed as “One Love. One Music. One Culture,” will be produced by Doug E. Fresh.

The could be considered a test run for future years says Chairman Lamar.

“We will see what the reception is this year, but in my mind even when the FAMU band returns we are going to want to do halftime differently than in the past. There is no question that you want to keep things fresh and new for your fans, the people who buy tickets. If this is well-received, which we think it will be, then we will be looking at doing that more.”

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An Open Letter to CSU Students: President Jackson-Hammond speaks on CSU Man and Woman

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Newly-elected Central State University President, Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, hope to continue the success of the university’s 7th president, John Garland, as she leads the 125 year-old institution into a path unknown by the majority its 21st century students.

Though former president Garland rewritten the image of Central State, taking over during a period of time when there were talks about closing the school from the Statehouse, the historically black university still has more obstacles to overcome, most notably from its students.

During the summer while at summer school, I had the opportunity to be among the first to meet and greet our new president. She was very delightful and refreshing, and for some reason, I felt overwhelmed by her presence.

The new face on the yard walked campus as if she been a part of the community for years, and indeed, faculty, staff, students and alike greeted her as our own. She spoke to everyone, fairly and by the same token, no matter how ill-mannered the exchange maybe.

For instance, I remember vividly how she gracefully stepped out of her car to meet students conversing on the Mason plot (a gathering place on the yard where students congregate and smoked at).  As she approached, some students seemed to have no clue of who the woman was, and others reacted with shock and glee.

In her nicely fitted pink dress, she continued to draw closer to the students, even while some of them did not hesitate to carry on smoking their…cigarettes. Once face to face, she greeted the students and introduced herself, saying “I am President Cynthia Jackson-Hammond.” (Students immediately put out their trippy sticks.) The moral of this story is, there is a time and place for everything.

Jackson-Hammond knows changing the image of a university begin with the image of its students, and with this in mind, she is chopping down on how to be the “CSU Man” and the “CSU Woman.”

In an open letter separately addressing the men and women of Central State, Jackson-Hammond talks about creating a new image for CSU men and women.

“The campaign to create a new image of the Central State University student will require that each of you be reflective and aware every day of your role in developing an image that is positive and speaks to your uniqueness,” she said, to the CSU Man. “Every prominent HBCU has a student image that defines their students. We at CSU can cultivate an image passed on the tenets of Service, Protocol and Civility! By living these tenets every day, you define your purpose and image…not only for yourself but also for others in the community, other HBCUs and, certainly, for the world.”

As the university’s first female president, Jackson-Hammond is a new beacon of light that is well needed at Central State. She is proof that the impossible is possible, and she sets a new standard to Central State’s motto, “Change is Central,” advocating that students should be the change they want to see.

HBCUs, which play a vital role in minority education, need more funding

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It’s evident: A long history of chronic underfunding, classrooms with broken air conditioners and tattered library books have handicap many of the nation’s 105 historically black colleges and universities in their quest to deliver quality education and research.

By 2020, black and Latino children are expected to comprise 50 percent of the nation’s students. Many will find their way to minority-serving institutions, an almost sure path for first-generation students seeking a sliver of the American Dream. That’s why ample funding to these institutions is necessary if we want to put America ahead in a global society where brainpower is premium.

This week, the White House will host a summit devoted to strengthening the future of HBCUs. President Obama has already recognized the importance of the schools. Tucked inside H.R. 4137, Title 3, the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act passed in 2009, is an increased budget line to HBCUs and other minority serving institutions. Meanwhile, about 90 HBCUs, including those in Maryland and the District received another round of that funding . However, this slight increase to avert a long trend of decreased funding since the Carter administration is barely enough for the gargantuan task at hand.

What many people may not realize is that HBCUs produced 25 percent of the nation’s black college graduates and most of the black doctoral degree recipients, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Moreover, enrollment at HBCUs has risen since the mid-1980s, from about 70,000 students to almost 300,000. Interestingly, Hispanic-serving institutions graduate 50 percent of Hispanic students, including Afro-Latinos. Obama’s funding is, therefore, a smart strategy to increase the number of college graduates in the nation and to be globally competitive in the race to the top, not only as leader of the free world but as leader of an educated nation. read more…

White House Initiative on HBCUs to Host 2012 National Conference

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The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), with the support of the U.S. Department of Education, will convene its annual national conference Sept. 25-26 in Washington, D.C. The theme for this year’s conference is “HBCUs: Enhancing Innovation and Advancement.” The conference will commemorate National HBCU Week and highlight the significant contributions that HBCUs have made to the nation. More than 1,200 participants, including HBCU presidents and chancellors, are registered to attend this year’s conference. John S. Wilson, executive director of the initiative, will host the conference.

“This annual conference is a platform for us to tout the virtues of historically black colleges and universities, and to highlight the many dimensions of our ongoing federal investment in them,” Wilson said. “In addition to continuing to produce half of the African-American K-12 teachers in this country, HBCUs also have been effective at generating science, technology, engineering and mathematics talent. That is, in part, why President Obama and Education Secretary Duncan have affirmed that we cannot reach our national educational goals without continuing to strengthen the capacity of HBCUs.”

Senior Education Department staff will participate in a panel titled, “Clarifying and Enhancing Relations: HBCUs and the Federal Government,” on Sept. 25, at 10:30 a.m. The discussion, moderated by Wilson, will address several concerns in the HBCU community such as desegregation; financial aid; federal funding for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs; and capital financing. Panel participants will include Under Secretary Martha Kanter; Russlynn Ali, assistant secretary for civil rights; Debra Saunders-White, deputy assistant secretary for higher education programs; Denise Forte, deputy assistant secretary for planning, evaluation and policy development; James Runcie, chief operating officer in the Office of Federal Student Aid; Zakiya Smith, senior policy advisor for education; and Donald Watson, executive director of the HBCU Capital Financing Program. read more…

Prosecutors: Trayvon Martin’s DNA not on gun that killed him

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(USA Today) Tests on the gun used to kill Trayvon Martin show traces of George Zimmerman’s DNA but none that matches the teen, according to evidence released today by Florida prosecutors handling the case.

The office of State Attorney Angela Corey released that report, along with previously reported witness statements, hundreds of photos of the gated community where the shooting occurred and a 911 call made by Trayvon’s father the day after the teen’s death. The items included an interview of the 7-Eleven clerk who saw Trayvon the moments before his death.

Authorities conducted DNA tests on the slide, trigger, grip and holster of the automatic pistol Zimmerman used to kill the 17-year-old unarmed teenager in February in Sanford, Fla.

The tests by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement excluded Trayvon as a possible contributor for DNA found on the gun’s grip but were unable to determine whether his DNA was on the other parts of the weapon.

DNA on the slide showed the presence of one male individual, but it could not be matched to anyone. DNA belonging to Zimmerman was also found on the gun holster, but Martin’s could not be matched.

“There’s certainly nothing new that proves the elements of the crime,” said Randy Reep, a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville. “We frequently see gun crimes with no DNA with people who didn’t have on a glove. It’s not a great surface for DNA, that’s been my experience.”

Whether Trayvon actually had his hand on the gun may not matter, Reep said. The crux of the case rests on whether Zimmerman can convince a jury that Trayvon was reaching for the gun, he said.

Zimmerman, 28, a Neighborhood Watch volunteer, is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting Feb. 26. He told police he shot the teen in self-defense after Trayvon repeatedly knocked his head to the ground and reached for the gun Zimmerman wore in a holster. He has pleaded not guilty. Read more…

Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. Helps Liberate Two From Gambia Prison

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Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. made a personal petition to Gambia’s fitful president, Yahya Jammeh, to discharge two men convicted on the routine charge of treason. Prisoners Amadou Scattred Janneh and Tasmir Jasseh, high ranking officials in the Gambia government, were held in the country’s infamous Mile 2 Central Prison.

The feat to free the prisoners was no easy task. In the Freedom House latest report on Gambia, the independent watchdog organization talked about Gambia’s voter intimidation, government control of the media, journalists subject to arrests, harassment, violence, torture of prisons, and severe suppression of the opposition.

(Not to mention how human rights groups routinely denounce Mr. Jammeh’s government for its systematic use of suffering, jailing of journalists, repression of free discourse and rigging of election.)

Rev. Jackson decided to travel to Gambia after Jammeh announced plans to conduct a mass execution of dozens of prisoners on the country’s death row.

Shortly before Mr. Jackson’s arrival, two leading independent newspapers were shut down by Mr. Jammeh’s government, and two journalists pursuing a permit to protest against the executions were arrested. And earlier in the month, the government debarred a visiting BBC West Africa correspondent who had come to report on the executions.

Upon Jackson’s arrival, nine prisoners were already killed, however, he went on to finish what he set out to do. The two prisoners are now freed and currently in the United States.

Rev. Jackson Sr. has a personal connection to the Gambian’s president and has met him on several occasions, which probably concludes why he was able to persuade the leader to release the former prisoners.

In a short telephone interview, Mr. Jasseh, who had been head of Gambia’s immigration agency, described his six and a half years in prison as a “very horrible experience”. He stated that he was tortured horribly. Mr. Janneh, a former information minister, said Mile 2 was, “One of the worst prisons in the world.”

 

 

 

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Mrs. Obama: Fight ‘of Our Era’ at the Polls

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(The Root) — On the heels of her widely praised speech at the Democratic National Convention, first lady Michelle Obama delivered another high-profile address, this time at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual Phoenix Awards gala in Washington, D.C. As first reported on The Root, this year marked the first lady’s first year delivering a keynote at the event where her husband has spoken in previous years.

The first lady was warmly embraced by the Phoenix Awards audience, just like she was by the supportive crowd at the Democratic National Convention, but that is where similarities between the two speeches end. Her speech before the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation audience was one of the most overtly political of her tenure as first lady, drawing comparisons between the civil rights battles of the 20th century and what’s at stake in the 2012 presidential election.

Though she’s no stranger to the campaign trail, the first lady’s speeches have tended to focus on policy and her husband’s accomplishments, without wading too deeply into controversial political terrain. Her Democratic Convention speech was hailed for its subtlety, drawing contrasts to her husband’s opponent, while never mentioning him by name, and making references to reproductive rights, while never mentioning abortion. But there was little subtlety about her Phoenix Awards speech. Mrs. Obama’s message was explicit: We are in the political and civil rights battle of our time, and we all have to roll up our sleeves and fight. Read more…

Alcorn State and a new race debate

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In 1948, Medgar Evers arrived at Alcorn College with a GI Bill, a football scholarship and eyes that had seen two very different sides of the same world.

Mississippi represented one side. Evers grew up in Decatur, a farming town buried inside a state in which extreme racial divisiveness was status quo for the times.

But at 23 years old, Evers, the great-grandson of a slave, also had seen a world that was as different from Mississippi as moonlight and sunlight.

Evers served in the Army and fought in the Battle of Normandy during World War II. Stationed in France, he had a French girlfriend and marveled at how he was more accepted in another country than his own home. It gave him hope that one day he could fully enjoy the rights he’d been systematically denied in America.

Alcorn was a perfect landing spot — and basically the only landing spot. Alcorn and Jackson State were the only two universities African-Americans in Mississippi could attend. Like all historically black colleges and universities at the time, Alcorn was a safe haven for blacks who wanted to pursue an education but were unable to do so in mainstream America because of widespread racism and discrimination.

Evers thrived at Alcorn. He majored in business, captained the football team, lettered in track and was a member of the debate team.

Evers was eager to figure out how to merge both sides of the world he’d seen. Some would say the slain Civil Rights activist — who was assassinated in his own driveway in 1963 — accomplished that after he left Alcorn. He organized boycotts against gas stations that refused to service black customers. He vigorously campaigned to desegregate the University of Mississippi, which denied his law school application but eventually was forced to accept James Meredith in 1962.

But 50 years after Evers fought for Meredith’s enrollment, integration continues to be a touchy issue in the state of Mississippi.

Alcorn State president M. Christopher Brown II couldn’t risk the information being leaked, so he took every precaution. Brown knew once people found out who he had hired as his next football coach, he’d have a lot of questions to answer. This was a historic hire for not just Alcorn, but the entire Southwestern Athletic Conference. read more…

HBCU tennis tournament slated for International Park

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Clayton County again will host the annual HBCU National Tennis Championships, to be held Thursday through Saturday at International Park.

One of the county’s most popular landmarks and the site of Olympic volleyball in 1996, International Park is also known for its state -of-the-art tennis facilities. It has 17 hard courts, a pro shop and professional staff.

The three-day competition will feature 70 matches per day and 140 top talents representing NCAA Division I and II and NAIA tennis programs from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

In addition to Atlanta schools Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University, five-time defending champ Florida A&M men’s team and Southern University’s Lady Jaguars will be seeking their fourth consecutive championships.

Participants will be competing for national championships, covenant trophies and $1,000 prizes for their schools. Prize packages will be awarded to both men’s and women’s teams.

“Once again, Clayton County is pleased to host the HBCU National Tennis Championships, and we hope to maintain the relationship for years to come,” said Clayton County Commissioner Sonna Singleton. “The amenities offered at International Park provide an opportunity to attract this type of world-class event.” read more…

Entertainment Manager Yandy Smith Talks Value of Black College Experience

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The summer break is in full swing for many of you college students. And although I’m sure you’ve already applied and been accepted to your chosen college or university, I wanted to provide you with some insight on the HBCU experience.

Going away to college is an amazing experience. And attending a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) offers one that is truly unique. When applying to colleges during my senior year of high school, I always knew I wanted to go to an HBCU. My first inside look at the college experience was with the popular ’90s show, “A Different World.” Yes, I knew it was just a TV sitcom and only recounted a fraction of the HBCU experience, but I was still fascinated, leading me to Howard University in Washington D.C. Once I settled in at HU, I felt right at home.

HBCUs have such a rich cultural history and offer a unity that predominately white schools may not. HBCU’s were created many years ago to provide an opportunity for black people seeking a higher education. Today, some people are not in support of black students attending predominately black universities because they say it’s not representative of the real world and does not offer the same educational values as other universities. I can only speak from my own personal experience, and I can’t explain how honored I am to hold a degree from an HBCU. Not only did I encounter a highly intellectual learning environment, but also a culturally supportive one. Yes, once you enter the workforce you will encounter people of many different cultures and races. But, my well-rounded education from HU has prepared me for anything and everything, making me the boss I am today!

Over the years, HBCU’s have bred many successful people who have made great contributions to our society including filmmaker and activist Spike Lee; billionaire media icon Oprah Winfrey; Black Enterprise publisher and entrepreneur Earl Graves Sr.; and NAACP Image Award-winning actor Lance Gross. read more…

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Howard University Hosting 2nd Annual Social Media Conference

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Social media experts and scholars from across the United States and five foreign countries will present their research, best practices and ideas on the changing landscape and power of social media in society at the second annual Social Media Technology Conference and Workshop Sept. 27-28, 2012 at Howard University in Washington.

The conference and workshop hosted by Howard and Bowie State University brings together scholars and professionals in the area of social media to share their perspectives on the technical, ethical, economic, legal, political and cultural implications of social media use.  Jan Shaffer, executive director of the J-Lab at American University, will present the keynote addressing the social media landscape at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27.

The conference will feature more than 40 presentations, panel discussions and workshops and offer extraordinary opportunities to network with other educators, professionals and experts in the area of digital media, communications and teaching.

To see the full schedule or register for the second annual Social Media Technology Conference and Workshop, log onto http://socialmediatechnologyconference.com

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Keke Palmer Campaigns for Obama & Voting at Bethune Cookman

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Actress Keke Palmer spoke to hundreds of students at Bethune Cookman University this past week urging the importance of voting and promoting her top candidate for the election, President Barack Obama.

“We are the future. Young adults identify with me,” Palmer said about why she’s working to help re-elect the president.

Palmer spoke on crucial issues that she believes the President stands for such as Obamacare, women’s rights, and affordable education.

At 19, the child star hope to one day be able to go back to a traditional college, and has hopes of attending an HBCU.

“I always think about it. I want to have a real college experience like you all have – something that can’t be taken away from me,” Palmer said, adding she will eventually take some time off to go back to school.

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Jackson State University names James Renick interim provost

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Jackson State University has named James Renick as its new interim provost.

Renick most recently served as senior adviser to JSU President Carolyn Meyers, said David Hoard, Jackson State’s vice president of institutional advancement.

The former provost, Mark Hardy, was reassigned Monday as special assistant for the academic fundraising initiative under Hoard’s supervision, Hoard said.

Renick previously served as senior adviser to the president at Central State University. Before that, he was senior vice president of the American Council on Education, chancellor at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University — where Meyers had served as provost — and chancellor of University of Michigan at Deerborn, Hoard said.

Hoard also came from North Carolina A&T, where he was a vice chancellor of development and university relations.

In other staff changes on Monday, JSU named Robin Pack as the new interim executive director of human resources, Hoard said. Referenced