Morehouse College Glee Club Makes Harris Debut, Celebrates 100th Anniversary

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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The Harris Theater for Music and Dance will co-present the Morehouse College Glee Club, as it celebrates its monumental 100th Anniversary season. The Morehouse College Glee Club and the renowned Morehouse College Glee Club Quartet will make its Harris Theater debut on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 7:30 pm with “the stirring and soulful performances that have earned the ensembles a reputation for excellence.”

Morehouse College Glee Club

Under the direction of Dr. David Morrow, the nation’s only African-American, all-male glee club is recognized throughout the world for their impassioned performances at such momentous occasions as Martin Luther King, Jr.’s funeral; President Jimmy Carter’s inauguration; Super Bowl XXVIII; the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta with Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan and Trisha Yearwood; as part of the soundtrack for the movie School Daze, directed by Morehouse alumni Spike Lee; and most recently at the dedication of the Dr. King Monument on the National Mall.

Performance tickets are priced at $35 and $50; VIP tickets (which include a special pre-concert reception and the performance) are $150. Tickets are available at the Harris Theater box office located in Millennium Park at 205 E. Randolph Dr., by calling 312-334-7777 or by visiting www.harristheaterchicago.org.

Read more at Broadway World

A New Wonder of the World: The African Renaissance Monument

Posted by Tommy G. Meade Jr.
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It’s a bird… It’s a plane… No, it’s the 160-foot African Renaissance Monument located in Dakar, Senegal.

To the naked eye, the striking bronze monument stands perched high on a hill, gazing into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean.  The monument depicts a muscular man in a heroic position accompanied with his wife in one arm and child in the other, erupting from the vicissitude of life from a volcano.

After the ordeal of centuries of ignorant perceptions, prejudice and racism fueled by the western imperialism, the monument is meant to symbolize the potential, rebirth, and liberation of the African continent and its descendants around the world.

Just a couple of feet taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York, the African Renaissance Monument costs an estimated 27 million dollars with hopes to set Dakar as a prominent tourist attraction.

The mastermind of the monument is Senegal’s highly publicized President Abdoulaye Wade, who claims the monument as his “intellectual property.” The African Renaissance Monument is sure to live up to its assertions as a noticeable tourist stop, but many oppose the colossal monument, and is frustrated with Senegal’s health, economic, and educational well-being.

The beautiful bronze giant is believed by many to represent nepotism, corruption, and mismanagement.  “The economy has collapsed. … The education system is in a crisis. The health system is in crisis. And yet Abdoulaye Wade is squandering public money,” said Abdoulaye Bathily, an opposition leader who says the statue is the product of a “power-drunk” president.

At one point in time, thousands of Senegalese gathered on the street for a demonstration whose protestors marched against corruption, poor governance, and the poor delivery of services – a practice that does not occur often in the country.  With so much opposition and animosity against him, Wade appears to be running a mile behind from winning a third, and last term as President in 2012.

Although many clash with Wade’s philosophical approach and his “intellectual property”, many in return praise him and the monument, mentioning that the monument will be “one of the seven or eight wonders of the world”.

Isaac Ferris, the former director of the King Center in Atlanta and nephew of Martin Luther King Jr., says that “the monument symbolizes the emerging of Africa from years of darkness and domination, and symbols serve to remind people of their history, and how far they have come.”

Wade stands firm with his monument and its symbol of oppressing the horrors of slavery and the colonialism that Africa is now liberated from. “Five centuries of ordeals, slavery, Africa is still there, folding sometimes, but never breaking,” Wade said.

The African Renaissance Monument is a part of the African Renaissance movement, a concept that the African people objects to overcome the current difficulties confronting the continent. The movement aims to end the violence, elitism, corruption, and poverty that is believed to plague the African continent with hopes of replacing them with more approval in direction by the people.

 

Lockard loses “interim” tag, becomes Cheyney’s permanent head coach

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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Cheyney University interim head coach football coach Ken Lockard officially had the “interim” label removed from his title, as the university named him permanent head coach today.

Ken Lockard. (Cheyney.edu)

Lockard was named interim head coach in March 2011 after Jeff Braxton left Cheyney to become the Defensive Line coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Delaware State University.

“I am very thankful (for the) opportunity to lead these wonderful student-athletes,” Lockard said in a statement released by the university. “This is a great opportunity for me and our staff to continue the progress that has been made here over the past couple of seasons.”

For the second consecutive season, Cheyney finished with a 1-10 record, with last season’s lone win coming against arch-rival Lincoln University in the Wade Wilson Classic. Though the Wolves went winless in PSAC play, four of those losses were by two touchdowns or fewer, compared to just three the season before.

Continue reading on Examiner.com

Fort Valley State University Sweeps Albany State in SIAC Matchup

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The conclusion of Fort Valley State University’s (FVSU) inaugural “All Star Basketball Reunion Weekend” on February 11th included the much anticipated basketball match up between the Wildcats of FVSU and the Golden Rams of Albany State University (ASU). Befitting the occasion of the weekend celebration, both Wildcat teams celebrated wins over the Rams.

Lady Wildcats 65, Lady Rams 56

FVSU's Joshuah Davis scores against Albany State. (FVSU Sports)

In their continuing battle to gain the number one ranking in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), the Lady Wildcats maintained their second place standing with the win over the Lady Rams. With just four games left in the regular season, the win keeps the Lady Wildcats within striking distance of the conference leading Lady Tigers of Stillman College.

Before a capacity crowd of 4,726 fans, the Lady Wildcats were finally able wrestle away control of a game that was a close contest from start to finish. Leading 31-27 at halftime, FVSU had to fend off several second half rallies by the Lady Rams. In fact, ASU forced three second half ties.

The difference in the game proved to be the staunch defense of the Lady Wildcats. By forcing 19 Lady Ram turnovers, FVSU actually fed it’s offense off the ASU miscues. Couple the turnovers with nine FVSU steals and the typical pattern for Lady Wildcat victories was firmly in place. Like so many other games, transition baskets paved the way for the Lady Wildcat win over the Lady Rams.

Senior guard Yasheeka Jones led the Lady Wildcats in scoring with 13 points.  She finished with three assists and one steal. Center Jasmine Birdsong registered a double, double in the win with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Carmenonique Dawson also tallied 10 points along with five rebounds.

Now 16-6 overall and 14-4 in conference play, the Lady Wildcats need to win all four remaining games to ensure 20 wins during the regular season. The four-game stretch begins on February 14th at 6 p.m. when the Lady Wildcats host the Lady Lions of Paine College.

Wildcats 66, Rams 59

After losing their last three games, nothing pleased FVSU Head Coach Sammy Jackson more than to break the skip with a win over the Golden Rams.  Ranked 10th in the conference standings at the start of the game, the win was a push upward for FVSU and it avenged the loss the Wildcats suffered at the hands of the Golden Rams earlier in the season.

Sophomore forward Brandon Davey led the Wildcats in scoring with 16 points. He also finished with seven rebounds; one block; and three steals. Desmond Lofland added 13 points, five rebounds and three steals. Joshuah Davis finished with 11 points and Corey Hunter had 10 points and six rebounds.

With four games remaining in the regular season, the Wildcats need a strong finish to enhance their playing position in the upcoming SIAC Basketball Tournament. The higher they are able to finish in the rankings, the better their initial pairing in the tournament. Currently, the Wildcats are 10-10 in conference play and 10-12 overall.

FVSU returns to action on February 14th in the HPE Complex when they host the Lions of Paine College at 8 p.m.  Admission to the game is free of charge.

Courtesy of FVSU Sports

Bethune-Cookman Combines Balanced Scoring and Clutch Free Throw Shooting In Win Over Howard

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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Bethune Cookman scored its last 11 points from the free throw line to hold off Howard University, 73-67 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Burr Gymnasium.

Glenn Andrews (Howard-Bison)

The Wildcats (11-14, 8-3 in the MEAC) controlled the game from the opening tip, getting out to an early 17-6 lead and taking a 37-29 lead to the locker room. Bethune Cookman’s Kevin Dukes led all scorers with 12 first half points as the visitors shot 57 percent (13 of 23) from the field. Howard (7-19, 4-9 in the MEAC) was led by freshman Prince Okoroh’s nine points.

Bethune Cookman continued its success in the second half and went on a 21-16 run to take a 58-45 lead at the 5:37 mark.

Howard clawed its way back in the game on the scoring of senior guard Glenn Andrews, who
tallied 12 of his team-high 15 points in the second half and freshman Simuel Frazier, who added all 14 of his points in the second half.

The Bison were able to get the deficit to four at 64-60 with 1:15 remaining, but the Wildcats
converted on 16 of 20 free throws to hold off the young Bison and preserve the victory.

In addition to Duke’s 19 points, the Wildcats got balanced scoring from Anthony Breeze with 12 and Adrien Coleman and Javoris Bryant with 11 each.

Andrews led Howard with 15 on 5 of 8 shooting from the three-point line and Frazier and Okoroh contributed 14 and 11 respectively.

Courtesy of Howard-Bison

Grambling State University awarded Whitney Houston honorary doctorate in 1988

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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Entertainer Whitney Houston, who died Saturday, was the speaker at Grambling State University’s commencement in the summer of 1988 and received one of the university’s highest honors, the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

“The Grambling State University Family, like others across the world, was saddened to hear the news of a fallen alumnus,” officials said in a news release. “Our sincerest sympathy is extended to the Houston family.”

“Whitney Houston was the most naturally gifted singer I have ever heard,” Grambling State University President Frank Pogue said. “The fact that she was selected to receive an honorary doctorate, the most prestigious degree a university can confer, is a clear indication that Grambling has always recognized excellence.

The fact that she willingly accepted the award confirms her respect for the academic quality for which Grambling is widely known. Her contributions in music will live forever.”

Larry J. Pannell, GSU’s acting head of the Department of Music and director of the GSU Tiger Marching Band, said the life of an entertainer is difficult and very demanding.

“The rigorous pressure of trying to stay on top makes it tougher,” Pannell said. “As a whole, when you look at her life, Whitney serves as an inspiration to all musicians who are striving to be the best that they can be by emulating her. It’s a sad day for the world and for the world of music. The music will live on and her spirit will live on through her music.”

University photographer Glenn Lewis said: “I was really saddened to hear of the loss of Whitney Houston. She was a great singer and entertainer. Her 1987 Bayou Classic concert was simply superb. Seems like it was not that long ago (summer of 1988) when she walked across the T.H. Harris Auditorium stage and President Joseph Johnson awarded her the honorary doctorate.”

Courtesy of The News Star

Virginia Union Alum Ben Wallace to Retire from the NBA

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Detroit Pistons Forward/Center Ben Wallace has announced that he will retire after the 2011-2012 NBA season.

“It takes a special type of guy to stay at something long enough to make it to this level,” Wallace said. “A lot of times you’re being told that you’re too this, you’re too that, you can’t do this, you can’t do that.”

Ben Wallace (Duane Burleson/ AP Photo)

 

“Once you get here, you want to be able to show everybody that you’re capable of going out and playing at a high level night in and night out,” Wallace said. “I’m just proud to have had the opportunity to come here and play.”

Wallace tied Avery Johnson’s mark Sunday night. Next on the list of undrafted players are David Wesley (949) and Bo Outlaw (914), according to STATS LLC.

Wallace was a virtual unknown before earning his spot in the NBA with his tough defense around the basket and terrific rebounding ability. He eventually won four defensive player of the year awards and helped the Pistons win the 2004 championship.

Wallace, who played his college ball at Virginia Union, made his NBA debut with Washington in November 1996. After three seasons there and one with Orlando, he was dealt to the Pistons in a trade that sent Grant Hill to the Magic.

His career took off in Detroit. The 6-foot-9 Wallace led the NBA in rebounds per game and blocks per game in 2001-02. That season, he won his first of four defensive player of the year awards in a five-season span.

Courtesy of ESPN.

Ex-ASU employee says firing was retaliation for complaints

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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Plaintiffs rested their case Monday afternoon in a sexual and racial harassment lawsuit against Alabama State University.

Three women who used to work for ASU allege that they were repeatedly subjected to racial slurs, being called “bitch,” comments about their bodies and inappropriate touching by Lavonnette Bartley, who is associate executive director in the office of Executive Vice President John Knight.

Lydia Burkhalter, one of the three plaintiffs, testified Monday morning that she was fired in retaliation for filing complaints about an ASU administrator she accuses of racial and sexual harassment.

She also testified Monday that she continued to worry about what might happen to her after she was fired, saying that she has received threats and was informed that she needed to be careful.

ASU trustee Herbert Young was the first witness called by the defense Monday, and his testimony contradicted testimony by Burkhalter and co-plaintiff Cynthia Williams, both of whom said they discussed with Young their problems with Bartley and their dismissals from ASU.

Young also contradicted testimony by Burkhalter claiming that Young had told her that she was the type Knight would be interested in romantically and that she could have avoided problems had she “laid on her back for John Knight.”

Courtesy of The Montgomery Advestiser.

Grambling State’s Mass Commucations Department Wins $50,000 Reynolds Grant

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The department of mass communication at Grambling State University is in rarefied company, being the smallest program in the country selected for the $50,000 Reynolds Foundation Visiting Business Journalism Professor Program grant.

The grant proposal was submitted by Martin Edu, chairman of the department. Other journalism programs whose grant proposals were also selected included Colorado State University, Texas Christian University and the University of South Carolina.

The grant was sponsored by the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism at Arizona State University from a $1.67 million grant received from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to promote business journalism. This is the first phase of the annual competitive awards to be made to colleges and universities over the five-year life of the grant.

“It’s very exciting,” said Dr. Martin Edu, head of GSU’s mass communication department. “At a time when print journalism is shrinking, there seems no doubt that business journalism provides a pioneering path for future growth and recognition among Historically Black Colleges and Universities.”

Will Sutton, a veteran journalist of more than three decades, selected as the Reynolds Visiting Business Journalism Professor, is teaching two business journalism courses this spring semester.

“Grambling has had a good reputation for educating African-American students for media careers, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to return to my native state to help the faculty build on a strong foundation,” said Sutton, a past president of the National Association of Black Journalists and a member of the Society of Business Editors and Writers. “I will open students’ eyes to the great options in business journalism in broadcasting, online and in print.”Far too few students, and even some professionals, put business journalism in a box, thereby closing off incredible choices in small, medium and large markets and beyond.”

Sutton, 56, a New Orleans native, has been a reporter and editor at Gannett, Knight-Ridder and McClatchy newspapers. An Eagle Scout and assistant scoutmaster, he has been a senior editor at the Post-Tribune in Indiana and The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C. He has been a judge for the Pulitzer Prize, Gannett, Cox and other regional and national competitions.

The professorships will enable students to get valuable training in a specialized and increasingly critical area of journalism, said Andrew Leckey, president of the Reynolds Center and the Reynolds Chair in Business Journalism at the Cronkite School.

“Grambling provided a superb proposal to obtain our grant,” Leckey said.

Edu said that the mass communication department had a concentration in business journalism was a major selling point in the grant proposal he submitted.

“It was probably the most attractive aspect of our package,” he said.

Steve Anderson, president of the Reynolds Foundation, lauded the selected schools.

“These four schools will form the nucleus of a much larger group of institutions that will be selected annually over the next five years,” Anderson said. “The program’s goal is to select institutions that will commit long-term to the teaching of principles and skills necessary to train business journalists.”

, in what we believe, is an increasingly important field of journalism.”

The business journalism concentration, along with a sports journalism concentration, was developed and added to the GSU Mass Communication curriculum in 2009, joining print, visual and broadcast journalism and public relations concentrations.

Courtesy of The News Star

Virginia Union Past President Allix B. James Still Leads

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Seventy years later, Allix B. James can recount in humiliating detail his first 24 hours in Richmond.

Allix Bledsoe James, the 7th university president of Virginia Union University. (Richmond-Times Dispatch)

James came to Virginia Union University as a student in 1942 and went on to be its president. He would become the first African-American to serve as president of the Virginia Board of Education and as chairman of the Richmond Planning Commission.

And along the way, he helped change the very policies that made his introduction to the city one that he still recalls as “a terrible story.”

James had arrived by train with dark, sooty spots on his clothes, having been ushered by the conductor in Washington to the segregated car behind the engine. All the way to Richmond, exhaust from the engine blew on James and the other black passengers.

At Broad Street Station, a dispatcher directed white passengers through the front door and blacks through the side door.

James lined up for a cab to take him to VUU but was told to just be patient as whites went ahead of him. Finally, a black-operated taxi picked him up.

It was about 10:30 at night and he had not eaten since lunch, so the cab driver stopped at a White Tower restaurant at Lombardy and Broad near campus.

“I went to the front door and the person behind the counter told me to go to the side window,” he recalls. “Well, I refused that, so I went to the campus hungry.”

The next morning he and other students set off to explore the city — on foot after the conductor on the streetcar tried to steer them to the back seats.

They noticed the whites-only signs in the restaurants as they walked and headed to Woolworth’s when a student from New York suggested they would be served there. Again, they were turned away.

“And that was my first 24 hours in Richmond,” James said.

Read more at The Richmond Times Dispatch

Norfolk State defeats Hampton 70-62, Completes Sweep of Conference Rival

Posted by Michael Livingston II
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Chris McEachin’s first Battle of the Bay game was an epic failure: he missed all six of his shots from the field and went scoreless.

His last Battle of the Bay game was just plain epic.

NSU's Pendarvis Williams drives against Hampton University's Jasper Williams during the first half on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (Ross Taylor | The Virginian-Pilot)

With Norfolk State star center Kyle O’Quinn pinned in by double teams, the Spartans needed someone to heat up from the perimeter and McEachin did.

The 6-foot-6 senior, who transferred to Norfolk State from Radford to play his last two seasons, scored a career-high 27 points as the Spartans beat Hampton 70-62 in front of a raucous sellout crowd of 6,191 Saturday night at Echols Hall.

The Spartans maintained their hold on first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, improving to 18-8 overall and 10-2 in league play. And they continued to stretch their school record for victories as a Division I program.

Meanwhile, Savannah State stayed hot, winning at North Carolina Central to improve to 15-10 overall and 8-2 in the conference. The Tigers have won seven straight and 10 of their last 11 and remain tied with the Spartans in the loss column.

O’Quinn had yet another strong night, finishing with 18 points, 18 rebounds and four blocked shots. But it was clear he needed help in this one.

“Hampton threw that stretched-out zone at us in the early going and we had a bit of a problem figuring it out,” O’Quinn said. “But once Chris knocked a few down and got us going, we rolled.”

They also swept the regular-season series, coupling this outcome with an 80-75 victory at Hampton three weeks ago. The Spartans, who have four MEAC games remaining, will play their last home conference game Wednesday when they host Delaware State, a team the Spartans have not beaten since 2009.

“It will be a huge game for us,” he said.

So was this one. Playing in front of a crowd that bordered on frenzied most of the night, the Spartans shut down one of the league’s pure scorers, limiting Hampton guard Darrion Pellum to 10 points on 4-for-17 shooting from the field. Pellum’s night ended prematurely as he was given a pair of technical fouls with 11.9 seconds left, meaning he must sit out the Pirates’ next game.

It was McEachin, who was an All-Tidewater first-teamer while at Norview High in Norfolk, who turned in a Pellum-like line. McEachin went 8 for 16 from the field, 5 for 7 from beyond the arc and made all six free-throw attempts. He also had five rebounds, three steals and a lone turnover in 38 minutes.

Read more at Hampton Roads

Howard’s Bench Comes Up Big In Win Over Florida A&M

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Calvin Thompson and Tre Leecame off the bench to combine for 27 points to help Howard University edge Florida A&M University, 71-69 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men’s game at Burr Gymnasium.

Tre Lee leads the fastbreak. (Howard-Bison)

The Bison (7-18, 4-8 in the MEAC) rallied from a 10-point deficit on the scoring of Thompson, a
red-shirt junior guard and sophomore guard/forward Lee, who teamed for 8 of Howard’s last 10 points down the stretch.

Thompson a perfect 4 for 4 and Lee 5 of 6 on free throws in the second half and the Bison
needed all of them.

“We put Thompson and Lee in to calm us down at that point,” explained Howard head coach
Nickelberry. “Being an upperclassman, Calvin has the experience. He took some pressure off (freshman) Simuel Frazier.”

The Bison converted on 20 of 24 from the charity stripe for 83 percent. It was the second
straight win for Howard that came down to clutch free throw shooting.

“That’s the difference, the free throws,” said Nickelberry. “It’s the difference between wins and losses in these two past games. Our guys are putting themselves in position to make them. It was a good win.”

The Bison took control early, shooting 55 percent (16 of 29) from the field in the first 20
minutes. Freshman Prince Okoroh led all scorers with 10 points on 5 of 8 shooting from the floor as Howard led, 34-28 at the half.

The Rattlers (7-18, 5-6 in the MEAC) came out of the locker room smoking. Senior forward Amin Stevens tallied 10 points during a 14-0 run that gave the visitors their biggest lead at 44-34 at the 16:21 mark.

Following a Howard timeout, the Bison settled down as Thompson, Alphonso Leary, Lee and
Frazier combined to fuel a 17-7 run that knotted the score at 51-all at the 8:13 mark.

From there, it turned into a back-and-forth affair until Thompson, Frazier and Ellison teamed to give Howard a 62-54 advantage. But the Rattlers, or I should say Amin Stevens, refused to go away. Stevens, who led all scorers with 24 points, 22 in the second stanza, got Florida A&M within a point at 66-65 with 37 ticks on the clock.

But Thompson and Lee made sure that the Rattlers would get no closer as they hit free throws to preserve the win.

The Bison, who started five freshmen for the fifth straight game, won the statistical battle in the paint (40-34) and most importantly, the bench scoring, where they held a 36-21 advantage.

“We have gotten to what we feel is a good situation,” said Nickelberry, who has led the team to more wins than last season. “The freshmen play with so much energy and then we bring in out upperclassmen and they make a solid contribution. We are now seeming to really enjoy the game.”

Stevens led all scorers with 26, all but two in the second half. In addition to Thompson and Lee’s contribution, the Bison got 10 points from freshman guard Okoroh, 9 from sophomore Leary off the bench, 9 from freshman Oliver Ellison and 8 points and 6 assists from Frazier.

The Bison played without the services of senior guard and team-leading scorer, Glenn Andrews, who is nursing a sore knee and junior forward Mike Phillips, the team’s leading rebounder and third leading scorer, who suffered a concussion two games ago.

NEXT UP: Howard hosts Bethune-Cookman on Monday at 7:30 pm at Burr Gymnasium.

Courtesy of HU Bison

Arguments end in black colleges’ lawsuit

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In a six-week trial over whether Maryland shortchanges its historically black universities, the state argued that it has given these schools fair funding as well as special consideration in recent years.

“The HBCUs [Historically Black Colleges and Universities] have been funded fairly,” Craig Thompson, attorney for the state, said last week, stressing the importance of every public college in Maryland.

But the plaintiffs, members of the Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Higher Education, say that historically black colleges in Maryland are treated as inferiors to their traditionally white counterparts, and that policies in effect have caused colleges to remain segregated.

The coalition sued the Maryland Higher Education Commission in 2006, seeking to “make the historically black colleges and universities comparable and competitive with traditionally white institutions,” said plaintiff’s attorney, John Brittain. The suit went to trial in U.S. District Court in Baltimore Jan. 3.

A victory by the coalition could mean additional enhancement and building funds, as well as an end to unnecessary program duplication between historically black and traditionally white schools.

Maryland’s four historically black colleges are Bowie State University, Morgan State University, Coppin State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The universities themselves are not directly involved in the lawsuit, but the plaintiffs include current students and alumni.

The Coalition says that Maryland’s historically black schools have been limited by duplication of their academic programs at white institutions, because it gives non-black students less incentive to choose a historically black college. Read Full Article theDailyRecord 

 

Lockdown at Benedict College Lifted

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Benedict College officials have lifted a lockdown which was put in place on the campus Saturday.

News19 has learned the lockdown was initiated, when a search for a man who threathened the school began.

According to Benedict College Officials the school received some sort of threat from 20 year old De’Amontez Anibarid Valdez.

Valdez apparently had a fight with someone and then called in a threat to campus.  Officials locked down campus at 2:15PM on Saturday.

Campus police say they believe Valdez is no longer in the area.

They are still looking for him and his red F-150 pick up truck with Georgia Tags.   If you have any information on his whereabouts call 1-888-CRIMESC. Referenced from wltx

 

ASU chief operating officer Knight Testifies in Sexual & Racial Harassment Case

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John Knight testified in a sexual and racial harassment trial Friday, denying claims that an Alabama State University administrator regularly demeaned employees under his watch.

Knight, executive vice president and chief operating officer of ASU, sometimes bristled while denying other allegations, including that he had discouraged reporting of harassment and had asked female students and employees out on dates.

It was the third day of the trial of a lawsuit that three females brought against the university where they once worked.

The lawsuit alleges unlawful employment practices under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specific allegations include use of racial slurs and language demeaning to women, crude references to female body parts and inappropriate touching.

One of the plaintiffs, Cynthia Williams, testified earlier that she filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission office in Birmingham. She added that she was subsequently warned that making more complaints to the EEOC would get her fired.

Joseph L. Fitzpatrick Jr., attorney for the plaintiffs, asked Knight on Friday whether he disliked having his employees cooperate with the EEOC.

“I think that is an insult for you to ask me that, young man,” said Knight, a longtime Democratic state representative.

Jacqueline Weatherly and Lydia Burkhalter, the other two plaintiffs in the lawsuit, also gave testimony Friday. Read Full Article Montgomery

Alabama A&M encouraged by potential for fall enrollment spike

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HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Alabama A&M University is taking aggressive steps to make sure a sharp drop in enrollment doesn’t repeat itself in the fall.

Venita King, assistant vice president of enrollment management, said in a detailed presentation to the school’s board of trustees student affairs committee Friday that Alabama A&M is receiving favorable responses from prospective students.

Alabama A&M is attempting to overcome a 12.3 percent drop in enrollment in the fall of 2011. The school reported a fall 2011 enrollment of 5,095 students.

Applications have doubled since February 2011, and more than 2,700 students have been accepted for enrollment in August, King said.

The spike in applications, King said, is a partial result of allowing students to apply via the Internet. So have a blitz of visits to high schools throughout the Southeast as well as email communication and repeated mailings. Contacts with prospective students also are planned as a purpose for a new call center that opened on campus earlier this month.

Electronic applications, in fact, have risen to 1,807 from 941 at this time last year, King said. Read Full Article AL.com