They’re no longer the only option for Black students, but the country’s historically Black colleges and universities brag that they provide a supportive environment where these students are more likely to succeed.
That, though, is not necessarily true. An analysis of government data on the 83 federally designated four-year HBCUs shows just 37 percent of their Black students finish a degree within six years. That’s 4 percentage points lower than the national college graduation rate for Black students.
One major reason: the struggles of Black men. Just 29 percent of HBCU males complete a bachelor’s degree within six years, the study found. A few HBCUs, like Howard University and all-female Spelman College, have much higher graduation rates, exceeding the national averages for both Black and White students. But others are clustered among the worst-performing colleges in the country. At 38 HBCUs, fewer than one in four men who started in 2001 had completed a bachelor’s degree by 2007, the data show. At Texas Southern University, Voorhees College, Edward Waters College and Miles College, the figure was under 10 percent.
To be sure, women are outperforming men across education, and many non-HBCUs struggle with low graduation rates. And the rates don’t account for students who transfer or take more than six years, which may be more common at HBCUs than at other schools.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Broadening the Definition of Diversity
Broadening the Definition of Diversity: A new book examines the strategies of faculty to serve as “change agents,” encouraging diversity on campus.
Teaching a sociology class at Bowdoin College as a graduate student taught Dr. Winnifred R. Brown-Glaude a thing or two about diversity.
There, she introduced her students to “multiple perspectives” on the subject through readings. The student body of Bowdoin, a historic, small, liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine, is more than 70 percent White, according to the school’s Web site.
In the end, she says that 90 percent of the students “actually loved the class” and found the experience enriching. A small but vocal minority did not.
“I also had a small percentage of students who pushed back,” says Brown-Glaude, now an assistant professor in the African-American studies department at the College of New Jersey. “They thought, ‘Oh, we shouldn’t be learning about women of color in this class. This kind of teaching … doesn’t belong here.’”
Later, Brown-Glaude says, when she compared notes with colleagues at other schools, she found, “This kind of push back wasn’t unique to me, so when the opportunity came at Rutgers to direct a national study — to really dig into these issues much more deeply — I certainly … jumped on it.”
Teaching a sociology class at Bowdoin College as a graduate student taught Dr. Winnifred R. Brown-Glaude a thing or two about diversity.
There, she introduced her students to “multiple perspectives” on the subject through readings. The student body of Bowdoin, a historic, small, liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine, is more than 70 percent White, according to the school’s Web site.
In the end, she says that 90 percent of the students “actually loved the class” and found the experience enriching. A small but vocal minority did not.
“I also had a small percentage of students who pushed back,” says Brown-Glaude, now an assistant professor in the African-American studies department at the College of New Jersey. “They thought, ‘Oh, we shouldn’t be learning about women of color in this class. This kind of teaching … doesn’t belong here.’”
Later, Brown-Glaude says, when she compared notes with colleagues at other schools, she found, “This kind of push back wasn’t unique to me, so when the opportunity came at Rutgers to direct a national study — to really dig into these issues much more deeply — I certainly … jumped on it.”
Reviving The Great Debaters Tradition
Reviving The Great Debaters Tradition: Seventy-eight collegiate teams are competing this week at the National Debate Tournament Championships (NDT), chartered and sanctioned by the American Forensics Association. Not one of them is a historically Black college or university. The worst news is that the vast majority of the teams in the NDT do not have a single African-American debater.More then 10 years ago I came across a three-page article about an amazing 1930s college debate team at a tiny HBCU in Texas: Wiley College. Fascinated by that history, I researched and with screenwriter Bob Eisele helped to write the story of that pioneering team. Bob turned our story into the screenplay that eventually became the movie “The Great Debaters."
In researching the story, I learned for the first time about a critical chapter in American history, one which had been unknown to me, as it was to most White Americans the grand history of debate at HBCUs. For decades, HBCUs produced some of the best collegiate debate teams in the country, and those debate teams produced some of the nation’s most important Black leaders - James L. Farmer Jr., Dr. Ralph J. Bunche Jr., Dr. John Hope Franklin, Dr. Benjamin Mays, Dr. Howard Thurman, James Nabrit Jr., Bayard Rustin, Donald McHenry and many more.
After the movie came out, however, I discovered that the recent history of debate at HBCUs is anything but grand. I learned from John W. Davis, former director of debate at Howard University (now CEO of DebateSolutions.com), that the tradition of debate at HBCUs has gone into a precipitous decline. In fact, very few HBCUs today even have debate teams, and none are competing at the highest levels.
For example, 78 collegiate teams are competing this week at the NDT championships, chartered and sanctioned by the American Forensics Association. Not one of them is an HBCU. The worse news is that the vast majority of the teams in the NDT do not have a single Black debater.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Obituary: John Hope Franklin, 1915-2009 - washingtonpost.com
It was more than Franklin's voluminous writings that cemented his reputation among academics, politicians and civil rights figures as an inestimable historian. It was the reality that Franklin, himself a black man, had seen racial horrors up close and thus was able to give his academic work a stinging ballast. Franklin was a young boy when his family lost everything in the Tulsa race riot of 1921. The violence was precipitated by reports that a black youth assaulted a white teenage girl in a downtown elevator. In the end more than 40 people died, mostly blacks, although some reports put the death total much higher.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Artist Joseph Holston Depicts Underground Railroad in Most Recent Exhibit
Artist Joseph Holston is obsessed with color: deep blues complimented by rich yellows, dramatic splashes of crimson, bright orange and striking violets.
In his most recent exhibit Holston uses all of these colors to compose a 50-piece sequence of paintings, drawings and etchings titled, “Color in Freedom: Journey Along the Underground Railroad.” “Color in Freedom” captures the majestic familiarity of Africa, the horror of enslavement, the drudgery of slavery and the courage of escape.
Holston found his journey through the underground railroad, which he did for the exhibit, to be emotionally taxing. “Creating this exhibit, it was quite an experience for me. I really tried to travel back in time and feel what my ancestors had felt,” Holston says.
“Color in Freedom” debuted in November of 2007 at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC). The exhibition is currently in Muncie, Ind., until May 2009.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Washington’s New Black Pack
Barack Obama’s historic presidential victory has marked a significant expansion of responsibilities and visibility for people of color working in politics. From the Justice Department to the United Nations to the new Office of Urban Policy, Obama has empowered black Americans at the highest levels of government. The most diverse Cabinet in U.S. history—one that brings diversity of all sorts—is remarkable in part because the equitable mix seems truly to be an afterthought; the new crew will bring decades of expertise to their marquee positions.Alongside the high-level Cabinet appointees, a junior class of dynamic African-American political leadership—call them “the black pack”—has arrived in Washington. They went through a baptism of fire during the grueling two-year campaign, counting delegates, crunching polls, spinning the press, working doors and phones, managing armies of volunteers, reaping millions of new voter registrations and logging thousands of hours working for change.
In 2009, Washington is ground zero for that change, and a great migration of black talent is under way. The savvy, ambitious class of 2008 shares its candidate’s progressivism—as well as deep bonds that will be essential to carrying out Obama’s agenda. These young guns (average age: 27) are already doing some heavy lifting. As Michael Strautmanis, a key White House manager and chief of staff to senior Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, told The Root: “They do all the work, get no attention and very soon will run the world.”
Here they are—watch out!
Joshua DuBois—Executive Director, Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Elizabeth Wilkins—Policy Assistant, Domestic Policy Counsel
Michael Blake—Deputy Associate Director for Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of Public Liaison
Addisu Demissie—National Political Director, Organizing for America
Samantha Tubman—Assistant Social Secretary
Yohannes Abraham—Assistant to the Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs
Myesha Ward—Coordinator for Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Jason Green—Deputy Associate Counsel to the President
Alexander Lofton—Regional Director, Organizing for America
Marlon Marshall—Deputy White House Liaison to the State Department
Book Review: 'Family Properties' by Beryl Satter - washingtonpost.com
Book Review: Family Properties; by Beryl Satter - washingtonpost.com: ... Rutgers University history professor Beryl Satter, has turned the story of her father and the Boltons into a penetrating examination of the financial discrimination that thousands of African Americans encountered in their northward migration to cities such as Chicago.
Redlining is a familiar, if poorly understood, word for the refusal to insure mortgages in black neighborhoods. Satter shows how it worked in vivid, personal terms. Her painstakingly thorough portrayal of the human costs of financial racism is, in my view, the most important book yet written on the black freedom struggle in the urban North.
In 'Family Properties,' she explains that it was not poverty that made black Chicagoans vulnerable to the likes of Jay Goran, because in 1960 two-thirds of the city's whites and 63 percent of its black residents had comparably modest incomes. Rather, she contends, the blame belongs squarely on 'the racially biased credit policies of the nation's banking industry' and particularly the pre-1965 Federal Housing Administration.
Hard-fought MSI Technology Plan Needs Jump Start
After much work to get MSIs more technology funding, advocates face tough budget climate.
After many years of work to enact the bill — with an annual funding ceiling of $250 million — advocates now face the difficult task of finding federal dollars in a difficult budget climate. The Minority- Serving Institutions Digital Wireless program did not make it into the recent economic stimulus bill, but plans are underway to secure funding for the fiscal year that begins in October.
Congress created the program in last year’s Higher Education bill, but that legislation only authorizes the program at up to $250 million a year — it doesn’t provide actual funding. Educators must deal with that issue through Congress’ annual education spending bill.
“We will be working with the White House, the congressional leadership and the [House] Appropriations Committee to include it,” says Rep. Ed Towns, D-N.Y., a sponsor of the program. According to Towns, the problem is more severe now than it was in the past few years.
“The economic crisis has put a damper on the plans of most schools’ efforts to upgrade their facilities,” Towns says. “Unlike other, larger institutions of higher education, MSIs typically have small or nonexistent endowments and fewer wealthy alumni.” As envisioned by the legislation, funding would flow to the U.S. Department of Commerce, with funds available to Black colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions and tribal colleges.
With the authorization hurdle now finished, the United Negro College Fund says it will push for the maximum funding possible, says Edith Bartley, director of government affairs at UNCF. Bartley tells Diverse that she expects the issue will find a welcome audience at the White House and U.S. Department of Education.
After many years of work to enact the bill — with an annual funding ceiling of $250 million — advocates now face the difficult task of finding federal dollars in a difficult budget climate. The Minority- Serving Institutions Digital Wireless program did not make it into the recent economic stimulus bill, but plans are underway to secure funding for the fiscal year that begins in October.
Congress created the program in last year’s Higher Education bill, but that legislation only authorizes the program at up to $250 million a year — it doesn’t provide actual funding. Educators must deal with that issue through Congress’ annual education spending bill.
“We will be working with the White House, the congressional leadership and the [House] Appropriations Committee to include it,” says Rep. Ed Towns, D-N.Y., a sponsor of the program. According to Towns, the problem is more severe now than it was in the past few years.
“The economic crisis has put a damper on the plans of most schools’ efforts to upgrade their facilities,” Towns says. “Unlike other, larger institutions of higher education, MSIs typically have small or nonexistent endowments and fewer wealthy alumni.” As envisioned by the legislation, funding would flow to the U.S. Department of Commerce, with funds available to Black colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions and tribal colleges.
With the authorization hurdle now finished, the United Negro College Fund says it will push for the maximum funding possible, says Edith Bartley, director of government affairs at UNCF. Bartley tells Diverse that she expects the issue will find a welcome audience at the White House and U.S. Department of Education.
Women’s History Month - HBCU Women Light Up Stage and Screen
... HBCUs have a long history of turning out legendary actresses dating back to 1942 when Esther Rolle, the matriarch in the 1970s TV sitcom “Good Times,” graduated from Spelman College. Others include Oprah Winfrey from Tennessee State University; Wanda Sykes from Hampton University; Lynn Whitfield from Howard; Bonita J. Hamilton, who stars in “The Lion King,” and Tangi Miller of the TV series “Felicity,” both from Alabama State University; and Zonya Love Johnson and NaTasha Williams, both from N.C. A&T and both starring in “The Color Purple” on Broadway.“I’m so proud of my students,” says professor Frankie Day of N.C. A&T. “I tell them all the time that their success is my success.”
Day and Matthews are both late 1970s graduates of another HBCU, South Carolina State University, which they say instilled in them the fundamentals of discipline and hard work — at a time when many Black actors in Hollywood and on Broadway were limited to stereotypical roles, if they were cast at all.
University System of Maryland Sets Goals to Close Racial Graduation Gap
University System of Maryland Sets Goals to Close Racial Graduation Gap: White and Hispanic college students enrolled in the University System of Maryland are graduating at higher rates than Black students, according to recent data collected by the university system.
Only 40 percent of Black students earn a degree within six years of entering college, compared with 65 percent of all students and more than 70 percent of Hispanics. The disparity between Black and all college graduates in the university system has increased 10 percent over the last three years, growing from 15 percent to 25 percent.
University system Chancellor William E. Kirwan says Maryland’s challenge of graduating a larger percentage of Black students in six years is a small piece of a larger national problem.
“The issue has to be put into a national context,” says Kirwan. “I don’t think that there is anything at work in Maryland that we do not see across the country. Unfortunately, underrepresented minorities have a lower graduation rate than the general student population in most states, probably in all states.”
Only 40 percent of Black students earn a degree within six years of entering college, compared with 65 percent of all students and more than 70 percent of Hispanics. The disparity between Black and all college graduates in the university system has increased 10 percent over the last three years, growing from 15 percent to 25 percent.
University system Chancellor William E. Kirwan says Maryland’s challenge of graduating a larger percentage of Black students in six years is a small piece of a larger national problem.
“The issue has to be put into a national context,” says Kirwan. “I don’t think that there is anything at work in Maryland that we do not see across the country. Unfortunately, underrepresented minorities have a lower graduation rate than the general student population in most states, probably in all states.”
March Madness 2009’s Diversity in Leadership
March Madness 2009’s Diversity in Leadership
This year’s 2009 NCAA Tournament field of 65 teams includes 14 teams that have Black head coaches. According to NCAA data, Black players represent approximately 60 percent of Division I male basketball players. Thirteen Black head coaches made it into the NCAA Tournament in 2006. Here is a list of Black head coaches who made it into this year’s March madness.
Midwest Regional
Alabama State University – Lewis Jackson * Play-In-Game*
Cleveland State University – Gary Waters
Boston College - Al Skinner
West Regional
University of Washington – Lorenzo Romar
University of Missouri – Mike Anderson
California State Northridge – Bobby Braswell
South Regional
Louisiana State University – Trent Johnson
Clemson University – Oliver Purnell
University of Oklahoma – Jeff Capel
Morgan State University – Todd Bozeman
East Regional
Florida State University – Leonard Hamilton
Virginia Commonwealth University – Anthony Grant
University of Minnesota - Tubby Smith
Binghamton University – Kevin Broadus
This year’s 2009 NCAA Tournament field of 65 teams includes 14 teams that have Black head coaches. According to NCAA data, Black players represent approximately 60 percent of Division I male basketball players. Thirteen Black head coaches made it into the NCAA Tournament in 2006. Here is a list of Black head coaches who made it into this year’s March madness.
Midwest Regional
Alabama State University – Lewis Jackson * Play-In-Game*
Cleveland State University – Gary Waters
Boston College - Al Skinner
West Regional
University of Washington – Lorenzo Romar
University of Missouri – Mike Anderson
California State Northridge – Bobby Braswell
South Regional
Louisiana State University – Trent Johnson
Clemson University – Oliver Purnell
University of Oklahoma – Jeff Capel
Morgan State University – Todd Bozeman
East Regional
Florida State University – Leonard Hamilton
Virginia Commonwealth University – Anthony Grant
University of Minnesota - Tubby Smith
Binghamton University – Kevin Broadus
New Study: Colorblindness Has Negative Effect on Employees
In his book, Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Social Justice, Paul Kivel, a community organizer in California devoted to racial justice wrote, “To avoid being called racist, [White Americans] may claim that they don’t notice color or don’t treat people differently based on color. [But] it is not useful or honest for any of us to claim that we do not see color.”
A new survey published in the online version of the journal Psychological Science by researchers at the University of Georgia reinforces Kivel’s sentiments.
University of Georgia researchers found that Whites who subscribe to an ideology of colorblindness in the workplace cause their minority colleagues to feel less committed to their work. Yet, when White employees champion multiculturalism, their minority peers feel more connected to their jobs.
The decision to embrace a workplace environment of colorblindness or multiculturalism has confounded companies and universities for decades. Proponents of colorblindness argue that assimilating into the dominant culture is best for everyone. New research strongly suggests, however, that colorblind climates harm both minority employees and the organization for which they work.
A new survey published in the online version of the journal Psychological Science by researchers at the University of Georgia reinforces Kivel’s sentiments.
University of Georgia researchers found that Whites who subscribe to an ideology of colorblindness in the workplace cause their minority colleagues to feel less committed to their work. Yet, when White employees champion multiculturalism, their minority peers feel more connected to their jobs.
The decision to embrace a workplace environment of colorblindness or multiculturalism has confounded companies and universities for decades. Proponents of colorblindness argue that assimilating into the dominant culture is best for everyone. New research strongly suggests, however, that colorblind climates harm both minority employees and the organization for which they work.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Teenage Birthrate Increases For Second Consecutive Year
The rate at which teenage girls in the United States are having babies has risen for a second year in a row, government statistics show, putting one of the nation's most successful social and public health campaigns in jeopardy.
Teen births in the District, Maryland and Virginia mirror the national trend, the numbers show, and local health experts say they are alarmed by the shift.
Nationally, the birthrate among 15-to-19-year-olds rose 1.4 percent from 2006 to 2007, continuing a climb that began a year earlier. The rate jumped 3.4 percent from 2005 to 2006, reversing what had been a 14-year decline.
Although researchers will have to wait at least another year to see whether a clear trend emerges, the two consecutive increases signal that the long national campaign to reduce teen pregnancies may have stalled or even reversed.
"We've now had two years of increases," said Stephanie J. Ventura of the National Center for Health Statistics, which issued the report yesterday. "We may have reached a tipping point. It's hard to know where it's going to go from here."
The reasons for the increase remain unclear, although experts speculated that it could be a result of growing complacency about AIDS and teen pregnancy, among other factors. The rise may also reflect a broader trend that affects all age groups, because birthrates have also increased among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s and older unmarried women.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
New Challenges Arise for Minorities in 2010 census
What seems like a simple question — How many Hispanics are living in the United States? — has become surprisingly complex as the 2010 census approaches.
Hispanics and other minorities have historically been undercounted in the once-a-decade survey. Advocacy groups are now launching their traditional efforts to ensure an accurate count, but a variety of factors have created new problems for the painting of America’s official portrait.
Activists and government officials say fears over immigration enforcement and government snooping are making people more reluctant to share their information. The economic meltdown and Bush administration budget cuts have slowed funding for the census. Millions of laid-off renters and foreclosed homeowners are on the move.
There are more immigrants here, speaking more languages, than ever before. Some of those immigrants may not know what a census is, or may come from countries where such information is used against rather than for the people.
“This country is just much more complex now, on many different levels,” said Terry Ao, director of census and voting programs for the Asian American Justice Center.
The 2000 census counted 35,305,818 Hispanics in the United States. Hispanic groups estimate that several million more were missed. In 2007, the most recent year available, the Hispanic population had grown to an estimated 44,852,816.
The Constitution mandates that every 10 years, each person living in the country regardless of citizenship or immigration status must be counted.
Hispanics and other minorities have historically been undercounted in the once-a-decade survey. Advocacy groups are now launching their traditional efforts to ensure an accurate count, but a variety of factors have created new problems for the painting of America’s official portrait.
Activists and government officials say fears over immigration enforcement and government snooping are making people more reluctant to share their information. The economic meltdown and Bush administration budget cuts have slowed funding for the census. Millions of laid-off renters and foreclosed homeowners are on the move.
There are more immigrants here, speaking more languages, than ever before. Some of those immigrants may not know what a census is, or may come from countries where such information is used against rather than for the people.
“This country is just much more complex now, on many different levels,” said Terry Ao, director of census and voting programs for the Asian American Justice Center.
The 2000 census counted 35,305,818 Hispanics in the United States. Hispanic groups estimate that several million more were missed. In 2007, the most recent year available, the Hispanic population had grown to an estimated 44,852,816.
The Constitution mandates that every 10 years, each person living in the country regardless of citizenship or immigration status must be counted.
Racial Graduation Gap Persists on Men's Basketball Teams
... According to a report released Monday by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida, ... fourteen women's basketball teams in the NCAA tournament have perfect graduation rates, while a graduation gap persists between White and Black student-athletes on the men's teams..
Based on Graduation Success Rate data, the study finds:
1. 58 percent (33 teams) of the men's tournament teams graduated 70 percent or more of their White basketball student\athletes, while only 32 percent (20 teams) graduated 70 percent or more of their African\American basketball student\athletes for a 26 percent gap. However, this improved on a 31 percent gap from last year's study.
2. 65 percent (37 teams) of the men's tournament teams graduated 60 percent or more of their White basketball student\athletes, while only 42 percent of schools (26 teams) graduated 60 percent or more of their African\American basketball student\athletes resulting in a 23 percent gap. This is an improvement of ten percent from last year's study, which showed a gap of 33 percent.
3. 88 percent (50 teams) graduated 50 percent or more of their White basketball student\athletes, but only 50 percent (31 teams) graduated 50 percent or more of their African\American basketball student\athletes for a 38 percent gap that is larger than the 26 percent gap in last year's study.
Of the other No. 1 seeds on the women's side, Duke has a 90 percent graduation rate, Oklahoma is at 69 percent and Maryland is at 67 percent.
The other schools with 100 percent graduation rates are DePaul, Evansville, Florida, Lehigh, Marist, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Sacred Heart, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas, Vanderbilt and Villanova.
Based on Graduation Success Rate data, the study finds:
1. 58 percent (33 teams) of the men's tournament teams graduated 70 percent or more of their White basketball student\athletes, while only 32 percent (20 teams) graduated 70 percent or more of their African\American basketball student\athletes for a 26 percent gap. However, this improved on a 31 percent gap from last year's study.
2. 65 percent (37 teams) of the men's tournament teams graduated 60 percent or more of their White basketball student\athletes, while only 42 percent of schools (26 teams) graduated 60 percent or more of their African\American basketball student\athletes resulting in a 23 percent gap. This is an improvement of ten percent from last year's study, which showed a gap of 33 percent.
3. 88 percent (50 teams) graduated 50 percent or more of their White basketball student\athletes, but only 50 percent (31 teams) graduated 50 percent or more of their African\American basketball student\athletes for a 38 percent gap that is larger than the 26 percent gap in last year's study.
Of the other No. 1 seeds on the women's side, Duke has a 90 percent graduation rate, Oklahoma is at 69 percent and Maryland is at 67 percent.
The other schools with 100 percent graduation rates are DePaul, Evansville, Florida, Lehigh, Marist, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Sacred Heart, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas, Vanderbilt and Villanova.
The 'Belles' are Back
The "Belles" are Back: The “Bennett Belle.” The words conjure an image that is genteel, old-fashioned — hats and gloves, brown-skinned women in flowing white dresses beaming as they take that final walk to graduation. The Bennett College for Women campus certainly reinforces the image, with its broad, tree-shaded lawns and quadrangle and its historic buildings — fully 15 of the 29 total have National Register status, from the majestic Annie Merner Pfeiffer Chapel to the Carnegie Negro Library facing busy East Washington Street.But the pleasant paradox of Bennett College is the way in which old and new are meeting there in such intriguing ways – in, for example, the poised personage of Mesha White, student government president and campus ambassador. “We say at Bennett that you come here to meet the woman you’re going to become,” White says, as she guides a visitor across the Greensboro, N.C., campus on a brisk, sunny late winter morning.
White has all the grace and poise one would expect of a “Belle,” but she’s also a global citizen, speaking with passion about her semester in Ghana, her interests in business and communications, her hopes of getting into Columbia University’s international studies program — or perhaps a job in Washington, D.C. — next year.
Getting Into the Game
Getting Into the Game: Malcolm Perdue faces a dilemma as challenging as the computer games he loves to play. The 19-year-old student at Atlanta Metropolitan College wants to learn how to become a game designer. Not only would doing so be a lot of fun, designers can make $80,000 a year early in their careers.
But his school has limited options in the field. Nearby Georgia Institute of Technology and the Savannah College of Art and Design, which has an Atlanta campus, offer full curricula in game design, but SCAD costs nearly $28,000 a year in tuition alone, and Georgia Tech
demands high math scores. “Right now, I am focusing on my school,” Perdue says.
Indeed, minority students may find their options limited for what is a fast-growing and lucrative field. According to the Entertainment Software Association, game sales have reached $9.5 billion, triple what they were in 1996. The average age of players is 35, and 40 percent are women. By some accounts, before the economic downturn, gaming was growing at a rate of 24 percent each year and had been offering 822,000 new jobs as smaller companies such as Bandai Namco race to catch up with leaders like Sony and Nintendo.
College enrollment in computer science, engineering on the rise - USATODAY.com
College enrollment in computer science, engineering on the rise - USATODAY.com: SAN FRANCISCO — Relief may be finally on the way for engineering-starved employers.
For the first time since the dot-com bust, there is a jump in the number of undergraduate computer-science majors. New enrollment in North American computer science and engineering programs rose 8% during the 2007-08 school year from the year before, according to a report released Tuesday by the Computing Research Association, a trade group for about 200 university computing departments. It is the first increase since 2002.
'The perception that IT jobs are hard to come by is over, and the field is now considered an interesting place to be,' says Peter Harsha, director of government affairs for CRA, which also represents government research labs and research labs for tech companies such as Google, Microsoft and IBM.
For the first time since the dot-com bust, there is a jump in the number of undergraduate computer-science majors. New enrollment in North American computer science and engineering programs rose 8% during the 2007-08 school year from the year before, according to a report released Tuesday by the Computing Research Association, a trade group for about 200 university computing departments. It is the first increase since 2002.
'The perception that IT jobs are hard to come by is over, and the field is now considered an interesting place to be,' says Peter Harsha, director of government affairs for CRA, which also represents government research labs and research labs for tech companies such as Google, Microsoft and IBM.
Latino Education Equity Index
Latino Education Equity Index: The Latino Education Equity Index
The future of the United States and the well-being of all Americans depend on the quality of education that our nation’s children receive. Achieving the American ideal of a society in which there is equal opportunity for all depends on access to high quality learning opportunities and resources that is universal and equitable. We know, however, that we are still far from that ideal, and that there are major differences in both educational opportunities and achievement associated with race, ethnicity and the economic circumstances of students’ families.
Latinos are the fastest growing segment of the US population, but historically have been among the least-well-served by schools. Modest progress is being made in improving educational outcomes for students from all backgrounds, including Latinos, but major gaps in achievement remain, as measured by test scores and in high school and college completion rates. These gaps in educational outcomes seriously limit the life prospects and future earnings potential of Latinos. Further, unless progress is greatly accelerated in narrowing the gaps, the enormous potential contribution of Latinos to the nation’s economic and cultural life will not be realized to its full potential.
The future of the United States and the well-being of all Americans depend on the quality of education that our nation’s children receive. Achieving the American ideal of a society in which there is equal opportunity for all depends on access to high quality learning opportunities and resources that is universal and equitable. We know, however, that we are still far from that ideal, and that there are major differences in both educational opportunities and achievement associated with race, ethnicity and the economic circumstances of students’ families.
Latinos are the fastest growing segment of the US population, but historically have been among the least-well-served by schools. Modest progress is being made in improving educational outcomes for students from all backgrounds, including Latinos, but major gaps in achievement remain, as measured by test scores and in high school and college completion rates. These gaps in educational outcomes seriously limit the life prospects and future earnings potential of Latinos. Further, unless progress is greatly accelerated in narrowing the gaps, the enormous potential contribution of Latinos to the nation’s economic and cultural life will not be realized to its full potential.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Before Rosa Parks, There Was Claudette Colvin
Few people know the story of Claudette Colvin: When she was 15, she refused to move to the back of the bus and give up her seat to a white person — nine months before Rosa Parks did the very same thing.
Most people know about Parks and the Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott that began in 1955, but few know that there were a number of women who refused to give up their seats on the same bus system. Most of the women were quietly fined, and no one heard much more.
Colvin was the first to really challenge the law.
Now a 69-year-old retiree, Colvin lives in the Bronx. She remembers taking the bus home from high school on March 2, 1955, as clear as if it were yesterday.
The bus driver ordered her to get up and she refused, saying she'd paid her fare and it was her constitutional right. Two police officers put her in handcuffs and arrested her. Her school books went flying off her lap.
"All I remember is that I was not going to walk off the bus voluntarily," Colvin says.
It was Negro history month, and at her segregated school they had been studying black leaders like Harriet Tubman, the runaway slave who led more than 70 slaves to freedom through the network of safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. They were also studying about Sojourner Truth, a former slave who became an abolitionist and women's rights activist.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Foster kids find college help after 'aging out' - washingtonpost.com
Foster kids find college help after 'aging out' - washingtonpost.com: RICHMOND, Va. -- Community colleges in several states are working to establish stronger support systems for former foster-care children, who are more likely to wind up homeless or in jail than earn a degree as they struggle to overcome unstable lives.
Among them is Virginia, where the Community College System's Great Expectations program uses grants and donations to provide money for tuition, transportation and living expenses. It also connects more than 120 students with mentors, career counselors and other help at seven of the state's two-year schools.
Many other states have started their own initiatives to help youths in foster care once they 'age out' of the system and venture into adulthood. And it's needed: More than a quarter of foster-care youth will be incarcerated and more than 20 percent will be homeless before age 25, according to a 2007 report by public-policy group Pew Charitable Trusts.
Only 20 percent of foster-care youth nationally will seek education beyond high school, and fewer than 3 percent are expected to graduate from college.
Among them is Virginia, where the Community College System's Great Expectations program uses grants and donations to provide money for tuition, transportation and living expenses. It also connects more than 120 students with mentors, career counselors and other help at seven of the state's two-year schools.
Many other states have started their own initiatives to help youths in foster care once they 'age out' of the system and venture into adulthood. And it's needed: More than a quarter of foster-care youth will be incarcerated and more than 20 percent will be homeless before age 25, according to a 2007 report by public-policy group Pew Charitable Trusts.
Only 20 percent of foster-care youth nationally will seek education beyond high school, and fewer than 3 percent are expected to graduate from college.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Texas town's police seize valuables from black motorists
TENAHA — You can drive into this dusty fleck of a town near the Texas-Louisiana border if you’re African-American, but you might not be able to drive out of it — at least not with your car, your cash, your jewelry or other valuables.
That’s because the police here have allegedly found a way to strip motorists, many of them black, of their property without ever charging them with a crime. Instead, they offer out-of-towners a grim choice: voluntarily sign over your belongings to the town or face felony charges of money laundering or other serious crimes.
More than 140 people reluctantly accepted that deal from June 2006 to June 2008, according to court records. Among them were a black grandmother from Akron, Ohio, who surrendered $4,000 in cash after Tenaha police pulled her over, and an interracial couple from Houston, who gave up more than $6,000 after police threatened to seize their children and put them into foster care, the court documents show. Neither the grandmother nor the couple were charged with or convicted of any crime.
Officials in Tenaha, situated along a heavily traveled state highway connecting Houston with several popular gambling destinations in Louisiana, say they are engaged in a battle against drug trafficking, and they call the search-and-seizure practice a legitimate use of the state’s asset-forfeiture law.
That law permits local police agencies to keep drug money and other property used in the commission of a crime and add the proceeds to their budgets.
"We try to enforce the law here," said George Bowers, mayor of the town of 1,046, where boarded-up businesses outnumber open ones and City Hall sports a broken window. "We’re not doing this to raise money. That’s all I’m going to say at this point."
But civil rights lawyers call Tenaha’s practice something else: highway robbery. The lawyers have filed a federal class-action lawsuit to stop what they contend is an unconstitutional perversion of the law’s intent, aimed primarily at African-Americans who have done nothing wrong.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Duncan Touts College Access and Completion as Top Higher Education Policy Goal
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said increased college access and higher college completion rates are key U.S. higher education goals being targeted with stimulus package funding. Following President Barack Obama’s Tuesday announcement in Los Angeles of his education priorities, Duncan outlined specific K-12 and higher education goals in a conference call with reporters on Wednesday.
“What we’re trying to do, and again this is an unprecedented level of resources, is dramatically increase access and opportunity. Over the next two years with over $31 billion that’s going to go into increased financial aid and grants to students more than 7 million students will get more money and 2.6 million students will get access to aid for the first time,” Duncan said.
“It’s an unprecedented commitment to increase access to college,” he added. The stimulus package, approved last month to revive the ailing U.S. economy, authorized a total of $787 billion in federal spending.
Duncan emphasized the administration wants to see college completion rates dramatically increased and has directed stimulus package towards that goal. Obama has challenged the U.S. higher education system to produce the world’s highest rate for college completion by 2020. According to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States is ranked 10th among industrialized nations in the rate of associate degree completion and higher by adults aged 25 to 34. Thirty-nine percent of American adults 25 to 34 have completed an associate degree or higher.
“What we’re trying to do, and again this is an unprecedented level of resources, is dramatically increase access and opportunity. Over the next two years with over $31 billion that’s going to go into increased financial aid and grants to students more than 7 million students will get more money and 2.6 million students will get access to aid for the first time,” Duncan said.
“It’s an unprecedented commitment to increase access to college,” he added. The stimulus package, approved last month to revive the ailing U.S. economy, authorized a total of $787 billion in federal spending.
Duncan emphasized the administration wants to see college completion rates dramatically increased and has directed stimulus package towards that goal. Obama has challenged the U.S. higher education system to produce the world’s highest rate for college completion by 2020. According to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States is ranked 10th among industrialized nations in the rate of associate degree completion and higher by adults aged 25 to 34. Thirty-nine percent of American adults 25 to 34 have completed an associate degree or higher.
Earmarks Helpful for Minority-serving Institutions Struggling In Tough Economy
Earmarks Helpful for Minority-serving Institutions Struggling In Tough Economy: With Congress completing work on a $410 billion omnibus spending bill, minority-serving institutions can point to some tangible funding gains in the first months of 2009 with the possibility of more gains ahead.
From earmarks for individual colleges to little-noticed provisions of the economic stimulus package, MSIs have realized gains that may help cushion the effects of the ongoing economic downturn. The stimulus package, for example, includes $15 million for the U.S. Department of the Interior to support historic preservation at historically Black colleges and universities.
HBCUs have $700 million in historic preservation needs, says Edith Bartley, government affairs director at the United Negro College Fund. Still, she notes, “We’re thrilled with this investment. It’s a step in the right direction.”
A state education “stabilization fund” in the stimulus bill also could go toward modernization and improvement. While there is no guarantee that money will flow to higher education, she says, college facilities may be eligible for these funds.
From earmarks for individual colleges to little-noticed provisions of the economic stimulus package, MSIs have realized gains that may help cushion the effects of the ongoing economic downturn. The stimulus package, for example, includes $15 million for the U.S. Department of the Interior to support historic preservation at historically Black colleges and universities.
HBCUs have $700 million in historic preservation needs, says Edith Bartley, government affairs director at the United Negro College Fund. Still, she notes, “We’re thrilled with this investment. It’s a step in the right direction.”
A state education “stabilization fund” in the stimulus bill also could go toward modernization and improvement. While there is no guarantee that money will flow to higher education, she says, college facilities may be eligible for these funds.
NAACP: Banks steered blacks to bad loans - Mortgage Mess- msnbc.com
NAACP: Banks steered blacks to bad loans - Mortgage Mess- msnbc.com: The NAACP is accusing Wells Fargo and HSBC of forcing blacks into subprime mortgages while whites with identical qualifications got lower rates.
Class-action lawsuits were to be filed against the banks Friday in federal court in Los Angeles, Austin Tighe, co-lead counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, told The Associated Press.
Black homebuyers have been 3 1/2 times more likely to receive a subprime loan than white borrowers, and six times more likely to get a subprime rate when refinancing, Tighe said. Blacks still were disproportionately steered into subprime loans when their credit scores, income and down payment were equal to those of white homebuyers, he said.
Class-action lawsuits were to be filed against the banks Friday in federal court in Los Angeles, Austin Tighe, co-lead counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, told The Associated Press.
Black homebuyers have been 3 1/2 times more likely to receive a subprime loan than white borrowers, and six times more likely to get a subprime rate when refinancing, Tighe said. Blacks still were disproportionately steered into subprime loans when their credit scores, income and down payment were equal to those of white homebuyers, he said.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Intimidation of white teachers worries black Pinellas School Board members
LARGO — Pinellas School Board members were midway through a discussion on student discipline Thursday when board member Mary Brown announced it was time to talk about "the elephant in the room" when it comes to kids acting up.
As the district returns to a system of neighborhood schools, Brown said, she once again is hearing from white south county teachers who say they feel intimidated by black students, particularly black males.
"We have had black students tell white teachers, 'We don't want you here because this is a black school,' " Brown said. "We have to deal with this right up front so students won't feel they're in control."
The way to do that, Brown continued, is to make sure teachers have the training they need so they can deal with issues that start on the street but end up in the classroom.
Nina Hayden, the board's other African-American member, backed Brown up, saying that school is a testing ground for many black males.
"When they come up toe to toe on the street with a white male or an Asian male, that's how they decide their turf," said Hayden, who is an assistant public defender. "We have got to think outside the box and start doing things differently to attack these types of issues."
The remarks came on the second day of the board's annual retreat, held this year at DITEK Corp. in Largo.
As the district returns to a system of neighborhood schools, Brown said, she once again is hearing from white south county teachers who say they feel intimidated by black students, particularly black males.
"We have had black students tell white teachers, 'We don't want you here because this is a black school,' " Brown said. "We have to deal with this right up front so students won't feel they're in control."
The way to do that, Brown continued, is to make sure teachers have the training they need so they can deal with issues that start on the street but end up in the classroom.
Nina Hayden, the board's other African-American member, backed Brown up, saying that school is a testing ground for many black males.
"When they come up toe to toe on the street with a white male or an Asian male, that's how they decide their turf," said Hayden, who is an assistant public defender. "We have got to think outside the box and start doing things differently to attack these types of issues."
The remarks came on the second day of the board's annual retreat, held this year at DITEK Corp. in Largo.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
A ‘Second Wave of Feminism’
A ‘Second Wave of Feminism’: As women’s studies programs mature, they are incorporating issues of race and sexuality.
In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, many campuses across the United States were relatively quiet while new political ideas were taking shape. The women’s movement was gaining momentum as issues of unequal pay for men and women, unequal access to managerial jobs and other aspects of gender inequality and sex discrimination became national issues. At numerous colleges and universities, this emerging awareness manifested itself with the introduction of women’s studies courses and a major.
When the National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA) was created in 1977, 319 women’s studies programs, offering courses such as women and economics, feminist texts and psychology of women, were represented. Despite tremendous growth over the years — NWSA currently has 768 member institutions in its database and estimates there are at least another 200 in the United States that are not members — programs and departments are still called upon by institutions to defend their purpose and right to exist.
The reality is women’s studies has become entrenched, although there are certainly still challenges to overcome, and the discipline in 2009 has evolved and broadened its scope to address racial, social justice and, increasingly, sexuality issues.
Once perceived as a major that drew White middle-class and uppermiddle- class women, it now holds enormous appeal to women of color. This is perhaps reflective of the expanded areas of study, particularly international issues.
Do Affinity Groups Create More Racial Tension on Campus?
For years, predominantly White institutions have worked to etch out a space where students of color could assemble to discuss their issues and identify mentors. And for years, this space has come in the form ethnic-themed student organizations, cultural centers, fraternities, sororities and, in some cases, ethnic-themed dormitories.
And while ethnic-oriented student organizations on PWIs have been known to positively impact minority retention and graduation rates, these groups can also foster greater racial tension among racial groups and stifle social integration, says Dr. James Sidanius, a professor of psychology and African American studies at Harvard University, and his team of researchers in their book, “The Diversity Challenge: Social Identity and Intergroup Relations on the College Campus.”
“Diversity Challenge” is the largest and most comprehensive study to date on college campus diversity, the authors contend. The researchers followed 2,000 University of California, Los Angeles students for five years to see how diversity affects identities, sociopolitical attitudes, and group conflicts over time.
“Data from our study showed pretty conclusively that intergroup contact reduces ethnic tension and increases in friendship across ethnic lines,” says Sidanius. “Universities should do everything in their power to increase the level of contact between different ethnicities. They should make roommate assignments random and fight against the natural tendency for students to segregate themselves.”
And while ethnic-oriented student organizations on PWIs have been known to positively impact minority retention and graduation rates, these groups can also foster greater racial tension among racial groups and stifle social integration, says Dr. James Sidanius, a professor of psychology and African American studies at Harvard University, and his team of researchers in their book, “The Diversity Challenge: Social Identity and Intergroup Relations on the College Campus.”
“Diversity Challenge” is the largest and most comprehensive study to date on college campus diversity, the authors contend. The researchers followed 2,000 University of California, Los Angeles students for five years to see how diversity affects identities, sociopolitical attitudes, and group conflicts over time.
“Data from our study showed pretty conclusively that intergroup contact reduces ethnic tension and increases in friendship across ethnic lines,” says Sidanius. “Universities should do everything in their power to increase the level of contact between different ethnicities. They should make roommate assignments random and fight against the natural tendency for students to segregate themselves.”
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Uncle Tom's Cabin could get federal funds
A project to restore the North Bethesda site that was once home to the man who inspired the classic novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" may soon receive a $100,000 boost from the federal government.
The Josiah Henson site, formerly Uncle Tom's Cabin, is included in the Omnibus Appropriations bill, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives Feb. 25 and is being debated by the U.S. Senate.
The project was championed by U.S. Rep. Christopher Van Hollen Jr. (D-Dist. 8) of Kensington.
"A lot of people think of Montgomery, Alabama as a place where slavery took place, not Montgomery County, Maryland," he said. "I think this will help bring the history alive here, too."
The property known as the Isaac Riley Farm, located on Old Georgetown Road bordering the Luxmanor neighborhood, was once home to Josiah Henson, a slave owned by Riley. Henson's life and escape to freedom was the basis for Harriet Beecher Stowe's classic novel, ‘‘Uncle Tom's Cabin."
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission purchased the property for $1 million in 2006.
The money could be the second large chunk of funding the site has received in the past six months.
On Nov. 5, the state Board of Public Works unanimously approved a $50,000 grant for the planning and design phase of a multiyear effort to preserve the house.
The two grants will go toward providing a historic structure report and interpretive plan for the historic preservation, according to Joey Lampl, cultural resources manager for the Montgomery County Department of Parks, as well as possible structural repairs. The report will detail historical background and archaeological findings from the site and will summarize laws and costs associated with the preservation.
The Josiah Henson site, formerly Uncle Tom's Cabin, is included in the Omnibus Appropriations bill, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives Feb. 25 and is being debated by the U.S. Senate.
The project was championed by U.S. Rep. Christopher Van Hollen Jr. (D-Dist. 8) of Kensington.
"A lot of people think of Montgomery, Alabama as a place where slavery took place, not Montgomery County, Maryland," he said. "I think this will help bring the history alive here, too."
The property known as the Isaac Riley Farm, located on Old Georgetown Road bordering the Luxmanor neighborhood, was once home to Josiah Henson, a slave owned by Riley. Henson's life and escape to freedom was the basis for Harriet Beecher Stowe's classic novel, ‘‘Uncle Tom's Cabin."
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission purchased the property for $1 million in 2006.
The money could be the second large chunk of funding the site has received in the past six months.
On Nov. 5, the state Board of Public Works unanimously approved a $50,000 grant for the planning and design phase of a multiyear effort to preserve the house.
The two grants will go toward providing a historic structure report and interpretive plan for the historic preservation, according to Joey Lampl, cultural resources manager for the Montgomery County Department of Parks, as well as possible structural repairs. The report will detail historical background and archaeological findings from the site and will summarize laws and costs associated with the preservation.
Report: 1 in 50 American children homeless - CNN.com
Report: 1 in 50 American children homeless - CNN.com: (CNN) -- One in 50 children is homeless in the United States every year, according to a report released Tuesday.
The report, by the National Center on Family Homelessness, analyzed data from 2005-06 and found that more than 1.5 million children were without a home.
"These numbers will grow as home foreclosures continue to rise," Ellen Bassuk, president of the center, said in a statement.
The study ranked states on their performance in four areas: the extent of child homelessness, the risk for it, child well-being and the state's policy and planning efforts.
The states that fared the poorest were Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, New Mexico and Louisiana.
Connecticut, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Rhode Island and North Dakota performed the best.
Homeless children have poor health, emotional problems and low graduation rates, the study found.
"The consequences to our society will play out for decades," Bassuk said. "As we bail out the rest of our nation, it is also time to come to their aid."
The report offers recommendations such as improved support to ensure that children's schooling is not interrupted when they lose their homes, and services to address the trauma of homelessness.
Other highlights in the report, "America's Youngest Outcasts: State Report Card on Child Homelessness:"
* 42 percent of homeless children are younger than 6.
* African-American and Native American children are disproportionately represented.
* More than 1 in 7 homeless children have moderate to severe health conditions, such as asthma.
* Approximately 1.16 million of homeless children today will not graduate from high school.
Supreme Court Restricts Voting Rights Act's Scope - washingtonpost.com
Supreme Court Restricts Voting Rights Act's Scope - washingtonpost.com: A fractured Supreme Court yesterday narrowed the protections of the Voting Rights Act, saying it does not require governments to draw electoral districts favorable to minority candidates in places where minorities make up less than half the population.
By a 5 to 4 vote, the court said race must be considered only in drawing boundaries where a "geographically compact group of minority voters" make up at least 50 percent of a single-member district.
The decision will limit the legal options for minorities challenging redistricting efforts that they believe dilute their voting rights after the 2010 Census. The court said Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act cannot be read as requiring "crossover districts," where minority voters are grouped in such significant numbers that they can elect a representative of their choice with only a modicum of support from majority voters.
By a 5 to 4 vote, the court said race must be considered only in drawing boundaries where a "geographically compact group of minority voters" make up at least 50 percent of a single-member district.
The decision will limit the legal options for minorities challenging redistricting efforts that they believe dilute their voting rights after the 2010 Census. The court said Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act cannot be read as requiring "crossover districts," where minority voters are grouped in such significant numbers that they can elect a representative of their choice with only a modicum of support from majority voters.
Muslim Woman Asked to Leave Line at Bank Over Head Scarf
A Muslim woman was asked to leave her place in line at a credit union in Southern Maryland and be served in a back room because the head scarf she wore for religious reasons violated the institution's "no hats, hoods or sunglasses" policy, the woman said yesterday.
The incident at the Navy Federal Credit Union on Saturday was the second in a month for Kenza Shelley, and Muslim advocates fear it could become a problem nationwide as many financial institutions, intent on curbing robberies and identity theft, ban hats and similar items without appropriate accommodations for religious attire.
"This may be the tip of the iceberg," said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. "There's got to be a way to work it out so that this security concern does not lead to violations of constitutional rights."
Shelley, 54, who runs a day care out of her home in Lexington Park, said she has used the credit union in the St. Mary's County community of California for more than 10 years. Until February, no employees had complained about her head scarf, which covers her hair but not her face. But a few weeks ago, she said, she was standing in line to deposit a check when an employee asked her to come to the back room, referring to a new policy that prohibited hats, hoods and sunglasses. She complied but asked whether she would have to go through the same process each time she made a transaction.
The incident at the Navy Federal Credit Union on Saturday was the second in a month for Kenza Shelley, and Muslim advocates fear it could become a problem nationwide as many financial institutions, intent on curbing robberies and identity theft, ban hats and similar items without appropriate accommodations for religious attire.
"This may be the tip of the iceberg," said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. "There's got to be a way to work it out so that this security concern does not lead to violations of constitutional rights."
Shelley, 54, who runs a day care out of her home in Lexington Park, said she has used the credit union in the St. Mary's County community of California for more than 10 years. Until February, no employees had complained about her head scarf, which covers her hair but not her face. But a few weeks ago, she said, she was standing in line to deposit a check when an employee asked her to come to the back room, referring to a new policy that prohibited hats, hoods and sunglasses. She complied but asked whether she would have to go through the same process each time she made a transaction.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Court Refuses to Expand Minority Voting Rights - washingtonpost.com
Court Refuses to Expand Minority Voting Rights - washingtonpost.com: WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court has ruled that electoral districts must have a majority of African-Americans or other minorities to be protected by a provision of the Voting Rights Act.
The decision could make it harder for southern Democrats to draw friendly boundaries after the 2010 Census.
The justices on Monday declined to expand protections of the landmark civil rights law to take in electoral districts where the minority population is less than 50 percent of the total, but strong enough to effectively determine the outcome of elections.
The decision could make it harder for southern Democrats to draw friendly boundaries after the 2010 Census.
The justices on Monday declined to expand protections of the landmark civil rights law to take in electoral districts where the minority population is less than 50 percent of the total, but strong enough to effectively determine the outcome of elections.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Women’s History Month - A ‘Second Wave of Feminism’
Women’s History Month - A ‘Second Wave of Feminism’: In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, many campuses across the United States were relatively quiet while new political ideas were taking shape. The women’s movement was gaining momentum as issues of unequal pay for men and women, unequal access to managerial jobs and other aspects of gender inequality and sex discrimination became national issues. At numerous colleges and universities, this emerging awareness manifested itself with the introduction of women’s studies courses and a major.
When the National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA) was created in 1977, 319 women’s studies programs, offering courses such as women and economics, feminist texts and psychology of women, were represented. Despite tremendous growth over the years — NWSA currently has 768 member institutions in its database and estimates there are at least another 200 in the United States that are not members — programs and departments are still called upon by institutions to defend their purpose and right to exist.
The reality is women’s studies has become entrenched, although there are certainly still challenges to overcome, and the discipline in 2009 has evolved and broadened its scope to address racial, social justice and, increasingly, sexuality issues.
When the National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA) was created in 1977, 319 women’s studies programs, offering courses such as women and economics, feminist texts and psychology of women, were represented. Despite tremendous growth over the years — NWSA currently has 768 member institutions in its database and estimates there are at least another 200 in the United States that are not members — programs and departments are still called upon by institutions to defend their purpose and right to exist.
The reality is women’s studies has become entrenched, although there are certainly still challenges to overcome, and the discipline in 2009 has evolved and broadened its scope to address racial, social justice and, increasingly, sexuality issues.
Chronicling the Lives of Native Americans on Predominantly White Campuses
...“Growing up, I heard a lot of hurtful, stereotypical things,” says LeClair, “Like all Indians are drunks. We all get paid. We don’t have to pay any taxes.
In high school LeClair kept her silence, trying not to draw attention to herself. But by her junior year in college, LeClair decided to speak out about the challenges facing Native students on predominantly White campuses in a forthcoming report that she intends to publish titled “Speaking Out: Experiences of Native Students on Predominantly White Campuses.”
The report focuses on the experiences of LeClair, five other American Indian students and two Native faculty members at the University of Wyoming. LeClair, who is in the final stages of the report, is completing her research as a requirement for the McNair Scholars program at the university. McNair prepares minority undergraduate students for graduate education success by requiring students to conduct empirical research and attend professional conferences pertinent to their areas of study.
“With Native students, especially on a predominantly White campuses, you don’t feel like you can challenge authority,” says LeClair, noting that her report provides a safe place for expression. “A lot of times, as a Native person, you are taught not to speak up and not to bring attention to yourself. It can be really uncomfortable for some Native students to talk about American Indian issues in class.”
LeClair’s interviews with American Indian students show that they have a very strong desire to preserve their Native culture and to return to their hometowns to share the knowledge after graduation. “Yes, we want to give back to our communities, and we are proud of our heritage,” she says. “Many of us leave home with the intentions of coming back to empower other members of the community.
In high school LeClair kept her silence, trying not to draw attention to herself. But by her junior year in college, LeClair decided to speak out about the challenges facing Native students on predominantly White campuses in a forthcoming report that she intends to publish titled “Speaking Out: Experiences of Native Students on Predominantly White Campuses.”
The report focuses on the experiences of LeClair, five other American Indian students and two Native faculty members at the University of Wyoming. LeClair, who is in the final stages of the report, is completing her research as a requirement for the McNair Scholars program at the university. McNair prepares minority undergraduate students for graduate education success by requiring students to conduct empirical research and attend professional conferences pertinent to their areas of study.
“With Native students, especially on a predominantly White campuses, you don’t feel like you can challenge authority,” says LeClair, noting that her report provides a safe place for expression. “A lot of times, as a Native person, you are taught not to speak up and not to bring attention to yourself. It can be really uncomfortable for some Native students to talk about American Indian issues in class.”
LeClair’s interviews with American Indian students show that they have a very strong desire to preserve their Native culture and to return to their hometowns to share the knowledge after graduation. “Yes, we want to give back to our communities, and we are proud of our heritage,” she says. “Many of us leave home with the intentions of coming back to empower other members of the community.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Latino Youth Conference 2008
Latino Youth Conference 2008: Saturday, April 5 from 9 AM to 5 PM on American University campus
Latino Youth Conference 2008
The Annual Latino Youth Conference is a free, daylong event that is designed to provide young Latinos with the necessary tools and skills they need in order to attend, complete and be successful in college. This year’s conference includes workshops on financial aid, the college application process, student and career panels, as well as a keynote speaker and a catered breakfast and lunch. We will also be providing a parent/counselor track in order to help the students’ most valuable resources (friends and family) in providing a strong support network as the student begins their college career.
Keynote speakers in past years have included Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Irasema Salcido, founder of the Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy. This year’s speaker promises to be yet another positive Latino role model.
Since the conception of the Latino Youth Conference in 1999, it has grown to attract over 100 students per year; this year we expect to host more participants than ever.
Where We Are
The conference will be on the campus of American University. Visitor parking is available, and university shuttle buses transport passengers from the nearby Tenleytown Metro station to campus. For directions, see www.american.edu/maps.
How to register
Log on to lyc.american.edu to register today or see your counselor for more information.
Latino Youth Conference 2008
The Annual Latino Youth Conference is a free, daylong event that is designed to provide young Latinos with the necessary tools and skills they need in order to attend, complete and be successful in college. This year’s conference includes workshops on financial aid, the college application process, student and career panels, as well as a keynote speaker and a catered breakfast and lunch. We will also be providing a parent/counselor track in order to help the students’ most valuable resources (friends and family) in providing a strong support network as the student begins their college career.
Keynote speakers in past years have included Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Irasema Salcido, founder of the Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy. This year’s speaker promises to be yet another positive Latino role model.
Since the conception of the Latino Youth Conference in 1999, it has grown to attract over 100 students per year; this year we expect to host more participants than ever.
Where We Are
The conference will be on the campus of American University. Visitor parking is available, and university shuttle buses transport passengers from the nearby Tenleytown Metro station to campus. For directions, see www.american.edu/maps.
How to register
Log on to lyc.american.edu to register today or see your counselor for more information.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Help for Part-time Students Among Recommendations Urged To Improve Latino Educational Attainment
Help for Part-time Students Among Recommendations Urged To Improve Latino Educational Attainment: WASHINGTON, D.C. – Warning of an education crisis for the nation’s burgeoning Latino population, academic researchers and advocates came to Capitol Hill Friday, calling for quick action to avert that crisis.
Dr. Patricia Gándara, a University of California, Los Angeles, education professor and author of the new book The Latino Education Crisis: The Consequences of Failed Social Policies, told a crowd in a Senate conference room that her objective “was to try to make clear how terribly urgent this is.”
At the conference sponsored by the American Youth Policy Forum, Gándara presented dire statistics: While Blacks and Whites have shown significant progress in college graduation rates over the past 30 years, the rates of Latinos have barely changed at all. The percentage of 25- to 29-year-old Latinos with bachelor’s degrees or higher rose to a mere 11 percent in 2005 as compared to 9 percent in 1975. The number for Blacks rose from 11 to 18 percent; for Whites, it was 24 to 34 percent over the same three decades.
Gándara said a solution is essential because Latinos, as the largest minority and the fastest-growing ethnic group in the nation, will make up one-fourth of the nation’s students by 2025.
Columbia U. Names First Black Woman College Dean
Columbia U. Names First Black Woman College Dean: NEW YORK – Columbia University’s new college dean is the first Black and the first woman to serve in the post.
The university said Friday it appointed Michelle Moody-Adams, a philosopher, as dean of Columbia College. She succeeds retiring dean Austin Quigley on July 1.
Moody-Adams is the former vice provost for undergraduate education at Cornell University in Ithaca. She has also taught philosophy at Indiana University, the University of Rochester and Wellesley College.
“Professor Moody-Adams’ extraordinary commitment to teaching, scholarship and public service, as well as her hands-on experience as an academic administrator for undergraduate education, make her uniquely well suited to this new challenge,” said President Lee Bollinger in a statement.
Moody-Adams received a bachelor’s degree from both Wellesley College and Oxford University and a master’s and doctorate in philosophy from Harvard University. She is the author of Fieldwork in Familiar Places: Morality, Culture, and Philosophy.
What Will It Take To Increase Hispanics in STEM? Money, of Course
The National Science Foundation came to Hispanic-serving institutions for advice Sunday on the best way to tackle the dearth of Latinos in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The advice from college administrators gathered for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ Capitol Forum came back loud and clear: Pay Hispanic students to do research. Or you’ll never get them – and keep them – in STEM fields.
“Our students are working-class students. They cannot just come to school to do the research. They need to get paid,” said Dr. Mohsen Beheshti, chair of the computer science department at California State University, Dominguez Hills, one of the Hispanic-serving institutions represented at the HACU Capitol Forum this week.
“Sometimes they need to support their parents. Provide them some stipend so they can take time from working – otherwise they will not get in.”
Often, they don’t. Hispanics, who are the largest minority in the country at 14 percent and growing, earned just 7.5 percent of bachelor’s degrees in engineering in 2005, according to a recent report from the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. They earned just 7.5 percent of the bachelor’s in biological sciences that year; 6.8 percent in computer sciences; 6.5 percent in physics; and 5.8 percent in mathematics.
The advice from college administrators gathered for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ Capitol Forum came back loud and clear: Pay Hispanic students to do research. Or you’ll never get them – and keep them – in STEM fields.
“Our students are working-class students. They cannot just come to school to do the research. They need to get paid,” said Dr. Mohsen Beheshti, chair of the computer science department at California State University, Dominguez Hills, one of the Hispanic-serving institutions represented at the HACU Capitol Forum this week.
“Sometimes they need to support their parents. Provide them some stipend so they can take time from working – otherwise they will not get in.”
Often, they don’t. Hispanics, who are the largest minority in the country at 14 percent and growing, earned just 7.5 percent of bachelor’s degrees in engineering in 2005, according to a recent report from the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. They earned just 7.5 percent of the bachelor’s in biological sciences that year; 6.8 percent in computer sciences; 6.5 percent in physics; and 5.8 percent in mathematics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)