Rattler Nation

Champion’s parents grasping at straws in their venting against Young, Demings

2013-05-22T03:30:00.000-04:00

Attorney Christopher Chestnut fell flat when he tried to smear the work that Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings and his deputies did to investigate the hazing death of FAMU drum major Robert Champion, Jr.

Chestnut’s clients, Champion’s mother and father, are now directing a round of venting against Sylvester Young. FAMU just selected Young to rebuild the university band that has been on suspension since Champion died.

According to the Orlando Sentinel: “In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Robert and Pamela Champion also questioned why Florida A&M University hired a new band director who acknowledged he was hazed while he was a FAMU student.”

“I just don’t feel like anything has changed,” she told the newspaper. “We’re looking out for the safety of students.”

FOX 5 in Atlanta aired a video in which Champion’s mother added more negative comments.

“I don’t know Mr. Young at all,” she said. “But my thought is the culture of that band and the hazing and the things that have been going on for years that has been just let go…He too admit that he was a product of being hazed at FAMU, as well.”

Young admitted that back when he was a member of the Marching 100, upperclassmen bullied him out of a hotel room during an out-of-town game in Miami and told him to take off a pair of red socks he had worn.

The Champions are grasping at straws. They haven’t been able to find any record of Young being soft on hazing in any of the three collegiate bands he’s led during his career. That is because Young was a tough disciplinarian and kept students safe while directing the bands at Lincoln University, Hampton University, and Ohio University.

So the only criticism they can bring up against Young is that he was a victim of hazing. The fact that Young was a hazing victim doesn’t make him unfit to direct a band. That’s like saying a person is unfit to become a police officer simply because he or she was previously a victim of burglary.

Young should follow Demings’ lead by refusing to let the very personal attacks from the Champion family discourage him. Even though Chestnut said Demings’ investigation “was botched from Day 1,” Orange County voters reelected the incumbent sheriff to another four year term.

Demings’ investigation concluded that Champion “willingly participated” in the illegal hazing ritual that left him dead. He continues to stand by those investigation results despite the fact that Champion’s parents still refuse to believe that their son asked to be hazed.

If Young simply does his new job with the type of class and skill that Demings has displayed while performing his public duty, then the Champion family’s PR campaign against him will also go nowhere.

Audit of South Bay questions $306,377 spent under Alston

2013-05-21T02:30:00.000-04:00

Palm Beach County Inspector Gen. Sheryl Steckler

Corey L. Alston, who is still listed as a member of the FAMU Foundation Board of Directors, is back in the news following the release of audit that flagged hundreds of thousands of expenditures that took place during his tenure as a city manager.

Palm Beach County Inspector General Sheryl Steckler released the first phase of an audit into the finances of South Bay, Florida from 2009 through 2012. Alston served as the city manager of the poverty-stricken, 5,000-person town during that period.

“We have, thus far, questioned $306,377 in expenditures, including $298,209 out of $1,198,303 (25%) of expenditures that we sampled, and $8,168 in fuel charges for a home to work City vehicle that we noted,” the audit stated.

A report by WPTV in West Palm Beach summarized some of biggest findings.

“Wasteful spending on the behalf of city employees included $122,268 to consultants outside of the approval of the commission, $17,306 for a bus that sitting in storage as scrap, $6,071 for lunches and parties, $887 in flowers to employees, and nearly $18,000 on an employee credit card who no longer worked for the city. Questionable costs added up to $306,377, all approved by Alston, according to [Director of Audit Dennis Schindel],” WPTV reported.

Alston defended himself by claiming: “No expense was made that wasn't budgeted or approved by the city commission.”

Alston stepped down as the city manager of South Bay on February 15 in the wake of a grand theft charge against him. He was in the middle of two year term as chairman of the FAMU Foundation, but is no longer serving in that position although he remains on the board.

Read the full audit report here.

FAMU searching for new Marching 100 students who will follow anti-hazing rules

2013-05-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

FAMU's Department of Music has launched a recruitment and outreach tour in South Florida titled “Working Together to Stop Hazing.” It is part of the university’s efforts to rebuild the Marching 100 with members who are fully committed to FAMU’s anti-hazing rules.

The “Working Together to Stop Hazing” tour features some of FAMU’s music ensembles performing such tunes as “Do I Do,” “Ain’t No Mountain,” “Sweet Love,” “There Goes My Baby, “Pusher Love Girl,” “Breaking My Heart,” “Before I Let Go” and “SOS.”

After the ensemble performances, high school students will have an opportunity to audition for a FAMU music scholarship. Presidential scholarships will also be awarded to qualified students. High school seniors are encouraged to apply for admission to FAMU before the event.

The tour began in Weston. It will also stop in Miami and West Palm Beach.

FAMU student receives Southern Integrated Pest Management Graduate Student Award

2013-05-19T00:54:00.005-04:00

Saundra Wheeler, a graduate student majoring in entomology at FAMU, has been named the recipient of the Friends of Southern Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Graduate Student Award in the masters’ category. Wheeler was presented with the award by Henry Fadamiro, the associate director of the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management, during the 17th Biennial Research Symposium of the Association of 1890 Research Directors, Inc. in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Friends of Southern IPM Awards Program recognizes extraordinary achievement in research, extension, and implementation of IPM in the Southern Region of the United States. The Graduate Student Award was created last year to honor two exceptional graduate students, one at the master’s level and one at the Ph.D. level with an honorarium, a plaque and the opportunity to publish an article about their research. The nominees from 1862 and 1890 Land-Grant Universities and Colleges were evaluated based upon their potential contributions in integrated pest management in the Southern Region of the United States.

“Receiving this award from professionals in my field is significant because it validates my choice to be become an entomologist as well as the hard work it took to complete my studies,” said Wheeler, a student in the FAMU College of Agriculture and Food Sciences (CAFS). “To be the first African-American female graduate student and the first student from an 1890 institution to ever receive this significant honor is indeed a milestone for my journey.”

Wheeler expressed appreciation to her graduate professor, Lambert Kanga, program leader for FAMU’s Entomology Program, for the high degree of support and mentoring he provided throughout her course of study.

The award recognizes Wheeler’s research on the small hive beetle, which poses a serious threat to honey bee colonies and agriculture because of the contributions made to crop pollination by the bees. Wheeler identified a fungal strain that is highly pathogenic to this beetle and is more effective in managing the small hive beetle than most pesticides currently used for control. Based on her research, she proposed a pest management strategy, which could easily be adopted by beekeepers and is cost-effective, affordable, and sustainable.

Orlando alumni donate $3,000 to Rattler football

2013-05-18T01:29:00.005-04:00

The Chalk Talk Tour rolled into its second stop on Tuesday, visiting the Skyline Box at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Chuck Lewis, president of the Orlando Chapter of the FAMU National Alumni Association, presided over the event, which raised $3,000 for the football program.

FAMU Athletics assistant athletic director for Marketing and Development, Angela Suggs, talked of the need for Rattlers to support the efforts of athletics.

“We’re in a climate where nobody else is going to do this for us,” Suggs said. “We want to see a successful team on the field every time they put on orange and green and what we’re asking is for you to be a critical part of that effort…We cannot be successful without our alumni galvanizing in support of our team.”

Head Coach Earl Holmes addressed the room in his usual unfiltered way.

“When I took over as coach for the NCCU game, which was homecoming, which was also just three days before the game, I told my kicker Chase Varnadore to get his leg ready, because if we can’t punch it in, we’re going to kick it. He kicked five field goals to win that day. This year, we want six points when we get that close,” Holmes said.

Tampa Rattlers raise $9,000 for football program at Walter L. Smith Library

2013-05-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

The Chalk Talk tour had a big day a Tampa’s Walter L. Smith Library and Museum. The alumni, fans, and community supports in attendance made the largest donation thus far on the tour, pulling in $9,000. Former FAMU President Walter L. Smith appeared to personally greet the event’s guests.

During the gathering, the audience heard a heart-felt fundraising plea from Jackie Hearne. Hearne, a former member of the 1978 NCAA Division I-AA national championship Rattler football team, expressed the urgency in helping the FAMU gridders return to the level of achievement they boasted back when he wore a jersey.

“This is our opportunity to get back to the greatness that we were,” Hearne. “When we played, we didn’t care who the opponent was, we felt we were there to win. I just feel that this situation is right. Here is my check for $500 to this cause, and I want all of you here to call the rest of the people who should have been here today and make sure to get their checks, because it’s time we stopped just talking about it, because we need to support our school.”

The guests included Wendell Duggins (Tampa Alumni Chapter President), Mr. and Mrs. Donald Rutledge (Upper Pinellas), Barry White Darby (FAMU Tampa Bay Alumni Retirees), Maurice Pickett (Florida Regional VP FAMU National Alumni Association), and Carolyn Collins (past president of the FAMU National Alumni Association). The event also had a special surprise guest as Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coach Brian Cox, formerly an All-Pro linebacker for the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears.

Robinson: “Myopic snapshots” create misleading picture of FAMU

2013-05-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

Interim President Larry Robinson’s latest op-ed urged Floridians to look past the “myopic snapshots” of FAMU in the headlines and consider the full picture. He says that when FAMU is viewed with an “objective lens,” it becomes clear that FAMU is strong shape both academically and financially.

From Robinson’s op-ed in the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel entitled “Florida AM University's legacy is one of improving lives, community:”

Over the past 18 months, Florida A&M University has become an institution of national interest for a lot of the wrong reasons. But as the media repeatedly asked what went wrong at FAMU and focused on unflattering news stories, it may have been easy for the general public to miss more prominent yet less told stories of what goes right at FAMU.

Great things happen at FAMU every day making the university a major asset for the state, region and the nation. For over 125 years, FAMU has been critical to enhancing the lives of citizens and remains critical to fostering thriving communities of the future.

The portrait of FAMU that some have painted is one of a university fraught with turmoil.

But what these portrayals do not convey is the intricate collage of "great things" revealed only through an objective lens. They do not reveal the Florida A&M University that we know remains one of the nation's top producers of African Americans with bachelor's degrees, or the FAMU that in 2009-2010 produced 20 percent of the nation's African Americans with doctorates in the environmental sciences, 16 percent of the African-American PharmDs, and 20 percent of the nation's African-American doctorate degrees in the pharmaceutical sciences.

These myopic snapshots do not convey the image of FAMU that U.S News and World Report ranked as the country's No. 1 public historically black college or university (HBCU), nor of the FAMU that Washington Monthly magazine ranked as one of the Nation's Top 100 Universities.

The university that many believe they know through the events of the recent past is in stark contrast to the institution that the state, federal and private sectors continue to look to as a resource for both talented graduates for employment and solutions to complex research issues.

When our faculty gaze into the mirror they see images of marine scientists addressing the impacts of the BP oil spill, biologists, chemists and pharmacists on the verge of breakthroughs in cancer, HIV/AIDS and obesity, and physics and engineers on the cutting edge of research. The images they see are of faculty members who serve on major advisory boards for state and federal agencies such as the Florida Institute for Oceanography, Florida Sea Grant, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

These faculty see an image of the FAMU that has produced a stunning number of patents in the past year alone.

We do understand the concerns surrounding FAMU, and we understand that Floridians want to know the dollars they allocate toward supporting public higher education in their state are spent well. And we understand that sanctions such as the probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges raise red flags.

We are taking seriously the lessons of the recent past and working on bettering our institution, because like every university or organization, we must take stock of our challenges.

Over the past six months, we have engaged in a deep introspection and have identified on our own other areas not covered in the headlines that need improvement and have either addressed the issues or developed corrective action plans to do so. We have also worked on the concerns highlighted by the SACSCOC and are preparing for the association's September visit to assess our progress.

As we prepare for this important visit we will be able to share an element of our FAMU portrait that reveals 2011-2012 as the sixth consecutive year that the State Auditor General has given the university a clean audit for its stewardship of public dollars. We will be able to share a FAMU portrait that shows the recent Bar Examination pass rate of our law school graduates exceeding the average for all law schools in Florida.

The true FAMU masterpiece is layered with the compassionate and artful brush strokes of legends from our past, alumni who excel in all walks of life. I sometimes find myself mesmerized by FAMU's legacy and the opportunity that we have to work together to ensure that its true luster is visible for generations to come.

FAMU kicks off “Chalk Talk Tour” in Jacksonville

2013-05-15T01:57:00.000-04:00

The 2013 Chalk Talk Tour started off with a bang in Duval County. Head Football Coach Earl Holmes and members of the FAMU administration enjoyed dinner and conversation with supporters made a donation totaling more than $4,000 to FAMU Athletics. The event was held at the FAMU School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences’ satellite building in Jacksonville.

The Chalk Talk Tour is a fundraising tour generated by FAMU Athletics and the Division of University Advancement. The J.R.E. Lee FAMU National Alumni Association hosted as alumni, friends and fans of FAMU Athletics met in a cozy forum.

Holmes took an informal approach to his message.

“I hope you don’t mind if I don’t stay up at this podium, because I feel like I’m among family,” Holmes said. “I promise you this, we will play hard for 60 minutes, and when you play hard for 60 minutes, you win games.”

The head coach also expressed his big expectations for quarterback Damien Fleming.

“I have no doubt that we have the best quarterback in the MEAC, and he’s from right here in Jacksonville. Damien Fleming can throw with the best of them and he’s a smart kid that leads by example,” he added.

Holmes went on to introduce Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach Levon Kirkland.

“People asked me was I still going to be the defensive coordinator, and my response is that I am bringing in the guy that taught me the 3-4 defense when I went to Pittsburgh, and that’s former All-Pro linebacker Levon Kirkland,” Holmes said.

A number of other FAMU staffers joined Holmes on the Chalk Talk trail, including: Thomas Haynes (Vice President of University Advancement), Regina Battle (FAMU ticket manager) and Vaughn Wilson (FAMU sports information director), Carmen Cummings-Martin (executive director of FAMU Alumni Affairs), and Angela Suggs (assistant athletic director for marketing and development).

Sylvain family’s denials sound just like Champion family’s denials

2013-05-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

Members of the Sylvain family and the Champion family are calling FAMU into the civil courtroom. They have something else in common. Both vigorously reject all of the evidence that their FAMU children voluntarily participated in hazing.

FAMU suspended Aisha Sylvain for five years. According to the Associated Press, the university “kicked her out over hazing allegations.” Sylvain, who was supposed to receive her degree in Spring 2013, is now trying to get her dismissal lifted by suing the university.

The Sylvain story first made headlines when her father, Reggie Sylvain, spoke before the FAMU Board of Trustees in April. He denied that his daughter was involved in hazing and claimed that FAMU was “hazing” her.

“The worst form of hazing is what's being done to my daughter right now,” Reggie Sylvain said before the FAMU Board of Trustees. “She's stressed out. She's seeking medical attention. She’s certainly being harmed by what's going on with the Office of Judicial Affairs. Please reconsider.”

The parents of deceased FAMU drum major Robert Champion are just as firm in their denial of the evidence that their son supported hazing. The findings of an investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office stated that Champion “willingly participated” in the “Bus C” hazing ritual that took his life on November 19, 2011.

Pamela Champion continued to dismiss the evidence of her son’s voluntary participation in an interview with Roland Martin.

Martin asked her: “Pamela, how do you respond to critics who say that your son was culpable in this, in that it takes two to haze? It takes the individual who chooses to haze. It takes the individual who receives it. He was a drum major, and critics say, 'Look, he played a role in this.' How do you respond to that? Because certainly, that is likely going to come up in the case from the defense as relates to these charges.”

Champion’s mother responded: “Well, the way that I respond to that is if anyone is saying those kind[s] of things, then it’s obvious they didn’t know Robert. Most people that know my son – the only way they know him is through the people who killed him. So, you have to consider your source of those [who’re] trying to tell you who he is. So, the main thing is if people are saying, then it’s obvious they don’t know my son.”

Pamela Champion declined to mention that Keon Hollis, another Bus C victim who DID NOT haze her son, says that he and Robert voluntarily submitted to the beating.

FAMUans should expect more of this as the university continues to crack down on hazing. There are plenty of parents who say that they want zero tolerance policies against dangerous initiation rituals in student organizations. But many of these same parents will dispute any and all evidence that their children worked to keep the dangerous culture of hazing alive.

Old school Rattler right choice for band that got too big for its britches

2013-05-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

Back when he was interviewed for the FAMU band directorship, Sylvester Young was asked he if had been a victim of hazing when he was a member of the Marching 100 during the 1960s.

“Sadly to say, I was as a student,” he answered.

Young then described one way he and other freshmen were hazed during the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami.

“A typical upperclassman would put his name [on a hotel room list] first and then he'll put three freshmen names on the list,” Young said. “Then when we get to the hotel, they put us out. That’s hazing. We slept in the hallways or whatever because they had their girlfriends. But, then that was acceptable. That was the way it was. We wouldn't question that.”

The hazing during Marching 100 out-of-town trips became increasingly worse during the decades that followed Young’s graduation in 1969. It grew beyond horny upperclassmen who got pleasure from bullying freshmen to give up their beds so they could have sex with desperate women. The 100 turned into a gathering ground for certain wannabe thugs who got sadistic pleasure out of beating half-naked students on buses.

“Crossing Bus C” and the other forms of violent hazing brought into the band by groups like the Red Dawgs were part of a culture of entitlement within some student circles of the 100. Too many band members got big heads from playing before thousands of Rattler fans and on national TV. They thought that as long as they performed well, they had a right to do whatever they pleased off-the-field.

FAMU saw this arrogance again with the stupidity of the “Free the 100” campaign. The slogan, which appeared on sweatshirts last football season, suggested that FAMU treated the band unfairly when it suspended it. But the real victim is FAMU. FAMU has been victimized by hazers and willing hazing pledges who choose to support beating rituals that they know are illegal and dangerous.

That’s one reason why it’s good to see that FAMU has a new band director who understands that the Marching 100 got too big for its britches. Young said during his interview that the ideal size for the Marching 100 is 256-320 members, rather than the previous 400+ members.

Young’s proposal to cut down the size of the band is a good one. It will make it harder for riff raff to get into the program and will make it easier for chaperones to keep a close watch on the students who travel with the 100.

Lots of alumni will be upset that the 100 will no longer be able to brag about being one of the largest HBCU bands. But too bad. Let the alumni who want a 400+ student band pay for a bigger legal affairs budget to cover hazing-related defense costs or shut up.

Young has proven that he knows how to use Dr. William P. Foster’s teachings to bring the best out of students. His bands at Lincoln, Hampton, and Ohio were known for their precision. Back in 1993, the Ohio University Marching 110 was the only band selected to represent the state in U.S. President Bill Clinton’s inaugural parade.

The new director is right to take an “old school” disciplinary approach against the spoiled, above-the-law attitudes that have crept into FAMU’s band program.

FAMU women using Engineering Ph.D. programs to build path successful careers

2013-05-12T02:50:00.000-04:00

Female students in the FAMU – Florida State University (FSU) College of Engineering are making moves in a field often dominated by their male counterparts. There are currently six women earning their Ph.D.’s through the College’s Title III Program.

All of the candidates anticipate completing the Ph.D. program within the next two years.

The women are Shannon Anderson, a biomedical engineering student; Tarra M. Beach, an environmental engineering student; Marcella Carnes, a civil engineer student; Renee Gordon, a mechanical engineering student; Michelle V. Adejumo, a civil engineering student; and Valesha A. Scott, a mechanical engineering student.

“It’s really great because in my field, I’m often the only girl,” said Gordon, a Miami native. “It is a good surprise to see people like me doing what I do. We have that common bond.”

According to research conducted by the University of Iowa, in the last 15 years, concerted efforts by institutions have endeavored to increase diversity in STEM fields, resulting in increased graduate degree enrollments, especially for underrepresented minority groups in STEM fields. Between 1993 and 2006, African-American STEM doctoral enrollments almost doubled. Despite this overall impressive trend, doctoral degree statistics indicate that the proportion of minority students receiving doctoral degrees in STEM fields have remained consistently lower. In 2007, out of 21,000 recipients, African Americans constituted five percent.

“As African-American women, we have to work together to contribute to this ever growing field,” Beach said.

Gordon’s research, Low-Pack Cyaniding Method Using Biomass to Case-Harden Mild Steel: Cassava Leaf Study, is to design and build a novel scalable Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that can replace traditional actuators in some robotic devices and that has higher performance than current CVT designs. A CVT consists of a sphere supported in rolling contact with two types of rollers: drive rollers which are coupled to the angular velocities to be controlled (i.e. the joints of a robot) and steering rollers which determine the ratio of the drive roller angular velocities. To improve CVT design the research addresses three prime CVT design characteristics: roller material and hardness, roller shape and drive roller coupling.

Other research projects include: Barriers Impacting the Planning of Transit Oriented Developments by Adejumo, Civil Engineering Aspects of Phytoremediation: Development of A Novel Design Protocol of Evapotranspiration Landfill Covers using a Modeling Methodology and Long-Term Monitoring Data by Beach, Influence of Palladium in Bimetallic Catalyst Deactivation Resistance for Hydrodechlorination by Andreson, and Influence of Palladium in Bimetallic Catalyst Deactivation Resistance for Hydrodechlorination by Scott.

“We keep moving forward so the pipeline doesn't get clogged,” Scott said. “We are etching our names within the world of science, technology engineering and math.”

Professor Peter N. Kalu serves as an adviser for two of the students. He said he recruited the women into the program because of their talent and love for engineering.

“I am very proud of the work that the students have done,” said Kalu, a Distinguished Professor and Fulbright Scholar. “Their projects are ongoing and their work is steadily evolving. We have been able to graduate students who can compete internationally. As advisers, we have to be in the trenches with our students.”

Happy Mothers' Day!

2013-05-12T02:00:00.000-04:00

Shepherd and Lindsey make All-MEAC softball team

2013-05-11T02:11:00.000-04:00

FAMU senior outfielder Ashanti Shepherd (pictured) and pitcher Jennifer Lindsey were named to the 2013 All Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball team.

Shepherd, a 5’6” senior from Moore Haven, FL was a first team selection. She had a stellar season leading the Lady Rattlers. She leads FAMU from the plate going 44-for-112 at bats. She batted .393, with 44 hits, five RBIs, 10 walks and 22 walks. Defensively, she made 40 putouts against only two errors.

Lindsey, a 5’6” senior from Jacksonville, FL was a second team selection. Lindsey was 13-18 this season with a 3.15 ERA. She pitched 13 complete games, allowing 48 walks and getting 100 strikeouts. She pitched 173.1 innings.

Three FAMU track and field athletes win MEAC crowns

2013-05-10T00:35:00.002-04:00

Elias Chesire claimed two MEAC crowns by winning the 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase runs.

Three Rattlers won individual championships during the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s (MEAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Distance runner Elias Chesire (pictured) claimed gold by defending his title as the 5,000m run champion. He also won the 3,000m steeplechase. Sprinter Nakia Linson lit up the scoreboard, winning the 100m dash in 14.70. Thrower Sasha-Ann Lebert took first place in the discus, with a toss of 46.07m (151-02) to take first place.

The Rattler men finished seventh, overall, and the Lady Rattlers finished third, overall. Head Coaches Wayne Angel and Darlene Moore said the results show that their teams have a bright future.

“We have a foundation of a solid team and what we're looking to do now is find the right pieces to round out the team in order to compete for a championship next year,” Angel said.

Moore said that the Lady Rattlers will come back even stronger next year, as well.

“I cannot be any more impressed with my young ladies than I am right now,” said women’s Coach Darlene Moore. “Next year, I will have a veteran squad and you should expect bigger and better things out of the Lady Rattlers.”

FAMU alumna leaving VH1 reality series “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta”

2013-05-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

Kimberly Michelle Pate (right) and a fan on The Set

FAMU alumna Kimberly Michelle Pate (pictured right), better known by her stage name “K.Michelle,” is parting ways with a popular cable television reality series.

Pate is a currently in her second season as a cast member of the VH1’s “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta.” She told Hot 107.9 FM in Atlanta that she’s leaving the show and moving to New York City.

“It’s time to go,” Pate said. “I’ve conquered a lot here.”

She credited her FAMU education with helping her launch the next phase of her career.

“I have a huge business venture that people will be like, ‘how did she pull that off?’ You’ll hear about it,” she said. “I am a college graduate. I graduated from Florida A&M. I was Miss FAMU. I pledged Delta Sigma Theta…It’s just really time to go from Atlanta. It’s been good to me. But I have a lot of other business working in New York.”

Pate won the Miss Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University election during the spring semester of 2003 but was wasn't able to serve in the position due to circumstances that forced her to take time off from school. She graduated with a degree in psychology.

The FAMU alumna has signed a new contract with Atlantic Records, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers Music. Her new album, “Rebellious Soul,” is set to be released later this year.

Young ready to rebuild Marching 100 into stronger, safer organization

2013-05-08T02:20:00.000-04:00

FAMU names Young director of marching and pep bands

2013-05-07T19:00:00.000-04:00

FAMU has named Sylvester Young its new director of marching and pep bands. Young, a FAMU graduate and former member of the Marching “100,” spent nearly 25 years at Ohio University, most recently as band director. FAMU Interim President Larry Robinson made the announcement today after an extensive nationwide search process.

“Dr. Young is a talented and experienced administrator, musician and scholar who I believe will provide strong discipline, leadership and vision for the Marching “100,” Robinson said. “Dr. Young has had a stellar career as director of bands at several universities and I am looking forward to Young continuing the great traditions of the Marching “100" when we deem it ready to return to the field.”

“I am honored to be back home at FAMU and fully embrace the challenge ahead,” Young said. “The Marching “100” had such a positive impact on me and I know firsthand what this band means to FAMU. We will enter a new era of excellence for the band and I am proud to be leading the charge.”

Young has served as an associate professor of music since 1990 at Ohio University where he taught courses in marching band techniques, jazz ensemble methods, computer skills for musicians and instrumentation.

“As chair of the search committee, we were looking for someone who has the respect of his peers, the experience and the passion to continue the practices that have made the Marching “100” a household name,” Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Rodner Wright said. “We are pleased with our choice.”

For six years, Young served as director of bands for Ohio University. Prior to that appointment, he served as director of bands at Hampton University from 1982 to 1990 and Lincoln University from 1979 to 1982.

Young earned his undergraduate degree in music education in 1969. He went on to earn his master’s education degree from the Bowling Green State of Ohio in 1970 and a Ph.D. in music education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

The bands he has directed have been invited to perform at many prestigious events.

In 1993, Ohio University's band was the only marching band to represent the state of Ohio in former President William “Bill” Clinton’s Inaugural Parade. In 1992 and 1995, the Ohio University Marching Band performed for the Detroit Lions and in 1991 and 1994 for the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.

In his new role as FAMU director of Marching at Pep Bands, Young will report to the chair of the Department of Music and will oversee all aspects of the marching and pep bands. He will also plan and direct the summer high school band camp and serve as the liaison between the Athletic Department, the Division of Student Affairs and the Department of Music.

Young is scheduled to report to work on June 14, with an annual salary of $105,000.

Fuse-Hall appointed president of Bennett College

2013-05-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

Rosalind Fuse-Hall is leaving FAMU to head a college once led by the legendary Johnnetta B. Cole. Yesterday, Bennett College announced its decision to appoint her as its 17th president.

“She brings a wealth of management, fundraising and governance experience to the position,” Board of Trustees Chairman Charles Barrentine said in a press release. “The board has every confidence that she will take the college to the next level of excellence.”

Fuse-Hall succeeds former President Julianne Malveaux, who stepped down in 2012. She will begin her new position on July 1, 2013.

The new Bennett president served as chief of staff to former FAMU President James H. Ammons from 2007 to 2012 and executive director of the university’s Title III programs from 2009 to present. She worked for the University of North Carolina (UNC) system as executive assistant to the chancellor of North Carolina Central University, the corporate secretary to the Board of Governors, and associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill.

Fuse-Hall is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and Rutgers School of Law. She began her professional career as a judicial law and then as staff attorney in the Enforcement Division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the New York Regional Office.

Bennett College is located in Greensboro, N.C. and has nearly 800 students.

Florida budget gives FAMU some breathing room

2013-05-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford

On Friday, the Florida Legislature voted to send a $74.4 billion budget bill (SB 1500) to the governor’s desk. The legislation gives FAMU some breathing room after a harsh 12 months during the fiscal year ending (FYE) in 2013.

Last year, the legislature sliced $300M from the State University System of Florida (SUS). It told public universities to use a portion of their reserves to fill the budget gap. Florida law requires public universities to keep a fund balance, or reserve, of no less than 5 percent.

Lawmakers gave the SUS an “IOU,” saying they intended to restore the money universities were forced to take out of their reserves in FYE 2013.

This year’s budget followed through in replenishing the recurring funds FAMU lost last year. FAMU received $82.7M in general revenue for FYE 2014.

FAMU ran on a $79.7M general revenue budget in 2010-2011 with $6M in nonrecurring dollars for “special outreach projects.” It ran on a $77.9M general revenue budget in 2011-2012 with $5M in nonrecurring dollars for “targeted student outreach.” FAMU only had $65.5M in general revenue for 2012-2013, with the university expected to make up the rest with its reserve funds.

2013-2014’s general revenue budget is the largest since the one the Florida Legislature approved in 2009. FAMU received $87,047,777 during the 2009 regular session, but lost $4,179,917 during the 2010 special session for a net of $82,867960.

FAMU also saw a bump in its education enhancement appropriation, which comes from lottery dollars. It is up by about $2M.

The budget also increases SUS tuition by three percent. The legislature estimates that FAMU will bring in $73M in tuition. But the tuition projection is inflated. Lawmakers assume that every student at every state university will take a full course load every semester, which isn’t realistic.

2013

General Revenue $82,770,293

Education Enhancement $11,940,834

Tuition/Fees $73,003,785

2012

General Revenue $65,584,450

Education Enhancement $9,917,968

Tuition/Fees $72,006,551

FAMU professor is president-elect of Marketing Management Association

2013-05-05T01:42:00.000-04:00

FAMU Professor of Marketing Roscoe Hightower in the School of Business Industry is the newly
president elect and spring 2014 conference program chair for the Marketing Management Association. This position will allow Hightower to provide FAMU researchers with access to a multitude of scholarly marketing and management activities, while being responsible for an international marketing organization.

“It is my hope to include FAMU scholars from all disciplines in Marketing Management Association (MMA) activities,” Hightower said. “It is an honor to have been elected by my peers from around the world to lead the organization. I plan to lead MMA to more membership and increased scholarly publications via our fall and spring conference proceedings over the next two years.”

Hightower, a FAMU alumnus, received his bachelor of science in business administration and a MBA from FAMU and his doctor of philosophy in marketing from Florida State University.

The MMA has a history of showcasing cutting-edge marketing thought presented by both practitioners and academicians.

FAMU journalists receive a Student Emmy

2013-05-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

Amber Mackie (left) and Lacrai Mitchell (right) pose on the red carpet outside the 2013 College Television Awards Gala.

The winners of a 2013 College Television Award are…Amber Mackie and Lacrai Mitchell!

The two Florida A&M University (FAMU) broadcast journalism students have returned home from Hollywood, Calif. with a gold statue commonly referred to as a Student Emmy. Both were honored at a gala for their work as co-producers on the “2012 FAMU Homecoming Special: Ignite the Strike.” The 30-minute show, which recaps homecoming events during the university’s 125 anniversary, won second place in the magazine category.

“This marks the first time in the history of the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication that our students have received this prestigious award,” said Ann Wead Kimbrough, SJGC dean. “It reaffirms our commitment to provide quality instruction and hands-on training to best prepare the next generation of journalists. I applaud Amber and Lacrai for their hard work.”

Each year, the Academy of Television Arts & Science Foundation hosts a national competition to recognize excellence in college student-produced video, digital and film work. Mackie and Mitchell were chosen from hundreds of entries.

“Walking the red carpet was a surreal experience that I hope to one day repeat as a television or documentary film producer attending the professional Emmy Awards,” said Mitchell, a sophomore broadcast journalism student from Tallahassee, Fla. “Winning this award is a result of the hard work of our entire production team. I was proud to represent them and my school.”

Mackie is a graduating senior broadcast journalism student from Brooklyn, N.Y. Like Mitchell, she also aspires to become a television producer. Her documentary “Spare the Rod” was recently featured in J-school Journals, a bi-annual showcase of films written and produced by SJGC students.

“I am very honored to have won this award and especially grateful to Professor Kenneth Jones for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be a producer for the show,” Mackie said.

Professor Jones created the annual Homecoming Special television show in 1996 to train broadcast journalism students in production, news writing, reporting and editing. Since then the show has evolved to showcase the talents of all programs at SJGC, including public relations and multimedia components.

“This award showcases the awesome talent of our students,” Jones said. “Many SJGC alumni who worked on this show as students are now working in major broadcast positions in top markets, including John Marsh who went on to win two Emmy Awards for his work on HBO Sports.”

$1.9M grant giving FAMU engineering students research experience in nanotechnology

2013-05-03T01:49:00.001-04:00

Happy and Kante win professional debut in doubles

2013-05-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Fewer than two weeks from their last collegiate tournament, FAMU's Takura Happy and Salif Kante made a splash on the professional circuit at the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) Tallahassee Challenger, a professional meet so prominent that the winner will be entered into the main draw at the French Open.

The tournament is played on a clay surface, a big change for the Rattlers who are used to playing on hard courts. Kante and Happy won their doubles match, advancing in the tournament.

The win for Happy and Kante is their first time playing since winning their doubles match at the No.1 position at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tennis Championship in Raleigh, N.C. on Apr.20th. The two have had great success playing together, which could be attributed to the fact that they are roommates.

Happy is an aggressive player, who wins by overwhelming his opponent. Kante’s style is a complete contrast to Happy’s. Kante is more of a facilitator who allows the opponent to make the mistake most of the time while taking opportunities that are there where they arise.

Kante also received a special invitation as the wild card to play singles on yesterday as well. The invitation was timely as the USTA needed to replace Mardy Fish (World Ranked No.44 by ATP), who withdrew close to this past weekend. Karen Vogter, the tournament's director, made the push to get Kante into the tournament.

Though he was defeated by Gerald Melzer of Austria 6-2, 6-0 in his first professional match, he took away the confidence that he can play on this professional level.

“It was really hard for me to adjust to playing on the clay courts. I got up 2-0 in the first set, then he (Melzer) changed his strategy,” Kante said. “He played a lot of drop shots, which is difficult to pursue on the clay.”

Al Sharpton and Byron Pitts to keynote Spring Commencement

2013-05-01T00:05:00.000-04:00

Politics Nation host Rev. Al Sharpton and Emmy-Award winning journalist Byron Pitts will deliver the keynote speeches during the FAMU Spring 2013 Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 4 at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium. Pitts will address students slated to receive degrees at the 9 a.m. ceremony. Sharpton will speak during the 2 p.m. session.

Al Sharpton is the founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), a not-for-profit civil rights organization headquartered in Harlem, N.Y., with more than sixty chapters nationwide.

Sharpton is currently the host of a television show on MSNBC that analyzes the top political and social news of the day featuring the country’s leading newsmakers. Sharpton also hosts a nationally syndicated radio show “Keepin’ it Real” that is heard daily all over the country, and two local New York radio shows.

As chief national correspondent for CBS Evening News With Katie Couric, Byron Pitts was an embedded reporter covering the Iraq War and was recognized for his work under fire. Pitts was also CBS’s lead correspondent at Ground Zero immediately following the September 11 attacks and won an Emmy for his coverage.

A news veteran with more than 20 years of experience, his other major stories include the war in Afghanistan, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the military buildup in Kuwait and the refugee crisis in Kosovo. Pitts realized a life-long goal when he was named a contributing correspondent to CBS’s “60 Minutes” in 2009. In 2013, Pitts moved from CBS to ABC becoming the network’s chief national correspondent and a substitute anchor.

Harvey signs with Titans, Scott inks contract with Cardinals

2013-04-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

Wide receiver Travis Harvey

Two undrafted FAMU gridiron stars are heading to the NFL as free agents.

Wide receiver Travis Harvey accepted an offer from Tennessee Titans. Defensive lineman Padric Scott sealed a deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

Harvey will report to the Titans’ rookie minicamp on May 9th.

“I’m excited that everything I went through paid off,” Harvey said. “It was rough getting to this point. I had more downs than ups to get here, but it was all worth it now.”

He added that the life-changing news still hasn’t quite sunk in, yet.

Defensive lineman Padric Scott

“I think it will kick when I’m finally about to travel to Tennessee,” Harvey said. “It will be interesting that I already played in their stadium this year when we played Tennessee State in the John Merritt Classic.”

Scott recalled how excited he and his family were when the Cardinals called him. He was in parents’ living room with his mom and dad sitting beside him.

“When I got the call we all started shouting,” Scott said. “Dad was feeling great, to see the excitement in their faces made me feel good. I don’t know if I’ll ever outgrow the satisfaction of making my parents proud. To see emotion made feel really proud.”

Scott will report to Glendale later this month. He said he can’t wait to represent his alma mater in the pro ranks.

“I will give it all I have to represent FAMU and all HBCUs. It’s such a special feeling…a special moment,” Scott said.