Student Government President Jill Cartwright (center) attends a Spanish for Healthcare class at Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga. on Monday, April 9, 2018. Cartwright, a senior majoring in Women's Health, is the first in her family to attend college.
Student leadership can be life changing. I’m a witness. The success that I’ve accumulated at the age of 23 can only be attributed to the journey that I embarked upon at my HBCU. I’m fully confident that I’d be successful no matter where I went or what life path that I chose. However, it was something about going to Fort Valley State University that unlocked something inside of me. I was pushed to grow. I was given models to follow by alumni that were successful in the fields that I aspired to venture in. My HBCU gave me a sense of purpose and goals to reach for.
My story isn’t unique. It’s typical of students that have the wealth of opportunities to grow during their matriculation at their institutions. Our HBCUs give us every resource possible to achieve our dreams. Even if we don’t believe it, it’s true. At no other institution are students granted with the opportunity to serve as the faces of their institution. Our campus kings and queens are celebrated year-round and are afforded a platform to make change in the community and for the institutions they serve. Although SGA’s exist at other colleges, HBCU SGA’s have a deeper purpose. SGA officials at our institutions are more than just glorified concert promoters. They’re stakeholders in the national conversation. Their the voices for individuals who aren’t often heard. This is power. But, are we really utilizing the full potential of our power as student leaders and alumni at our institutions?
What is our endgame? College is 4-5 years of our lives that we brand as the best years of our lives. How many of us are truly using these formative years to set the template for what the rest of our time on this earth will be? I often feel a lack of seriousness that permeates the national conversation of student leadership in the nation. We don’t treat our student leader positions as jobs. We treat it like a come up. Conferences, meant for networking and furthering our knowledge, often turn into stroll-offs and hook-up sessions that create great memories but do nothing to further our personal missions and the responsibilities of our positions. Groupchats, used to bring us all together, often lead to cliquishness that go against our creed of being brothers and sisters. Student leadership positions are often treated as if they are a 9 month-1 year free party pass and not the launchpad for our dreams.
It’s discouraging. I often look at the alumni of our respective institutions and find inspiration. I often visit the stories of the Tom Joyner’s of our world. The Terrence J’s; the Will Packer’s; the Jamila Mustafa’s; the Darren Brand’s. Even Meghan Thee Stallion, who isn’t an alumnae yet but is on her way, gives me hope that something can come of this journey. I want this desperately for all of us. But, do we realize the secret to success?
The keys to unlock the doors of opportunity have been bestowed upon many of us in the past couple of months. I’ve seen students crowned as Mister and Miss of their HBCU’s. I’ve seen new SGA members sworn in, ready to start their tenures and cultivate change that’ll be felt for years to come. However, I charge these newly elected student leaders to look at these positions as more than just a come-up or university obligation. I want these leaders to realize that they have the power to impact their campuses in ways unimaginable. Not only that, they can jumpstart the success of their future.
The power is in our hands. We have the power to bring students out to on-campus events and engage them so well that they yearn for what’s next. We have the power to increase voter turnout and start a movement amongst our peers that shifts politics and saves this country as we move past a worldwide pandemic. We have the power to show the collegiate class of 2024 what it means to be a part of a collegiate family that loves one another and pushes each other to grow. Let’s tap into it. It doesn’t matter how much you’re seen, how many likes you get or who knows you on what campus. What matters is the change we make. If we don’t realize this, we’re robbing ourselves of valuable time and an opportunity to grow.
In moments of crisis, decisive and lifesaving leadership requires prudence, yet leadership at times can find you in isolation and criticized for your decisions. Ron Carucci (Harvard Business Review, 2018) writes that too many leaders avoid making tough calls in an effort not to upset others or lose status in the eyes of their followers. They concoct sophisticated justifications for putting off difficult decisions, and the delay often does far more damage than whatever fallout they were trying to avoid.
Fortunately, I have learned invaluable lessons from time served in the United States Marine Corps and have resolved that strong leadership requires you gather, digest, analyze all information, decide, and commit to what is most prudent, even in the face of uncertain resistance.
Responding to the looming pandemic known as COVID-19 was inevitable and required the response of strategic leadership. Thankfully, my faith prevailed over my fears, ultimately guiding me to answer the call.
The Decision
February 25, 2020. What was a seemingly routine weekly cabinet strategy session, ended with what would unknowingly alter the trajectory of our semester, our College, our lives, and our worlds as we once knew them. I left the team with this fairly innocuous directive, “I need you all to put together a proactive emergency management plan regarding this Coronavirus thing.”
Immediately after the cabinet meeting I called our Associate Vice President for Student Health, Counseling, and Wellness and requested a briefing for the cabinet. Fortunately for us, Wiley’s health and wellness operation is staffed with a clinical psychologist and a nurse practitioner. Their plan included educating our campus, providing emotional support, issuing guidelines on safety, and reminding us of the signs of infection.
The unspeakable toll that this global pandemic would place on our students also triggered a call to the Dean of Chapel to be “at the ready” to provide spiritual support and guidance for the College as well.
Our Executive Cabinet and I deliberated ad nauseam about several plans. Until at last, we were resolved with our final decision. We would close the College for the duration of the semester, a decision which would make Wiley College the first Historically Black College or University to close, send students home, and complete the year using online instruction. While this seemed premature or driven by understated motives, my faith prevailed.
I am grateful for the governance and support of the Wiley College Board of Trustees, the support of our outstanding alumni, the critical analysis of our executive cabinet, the teamwork of the entire Wiley College family, and most importantly, the resilience of our students.
The Process
In early March, I made the decision to cancel all external travel for the College and its members. This impacted our Great Debaters, The A Cappella Choir, Faculty and Staff professional development, and research conferences etc. The next week we cancelled all our athletic teams’ travel, effectively rendering a blow to their conference competition and championship hopes.
Students, faculty, and staff were somewhat taken aback at what seemed abrupt and premature. Parents wasted no time in sharing their sentiments. “What about my child’s eligibility?” “We have no known cases anywhere around us!” and one parent suggested, “I suspect this isn’t about student safety, this is more about saving money.”
I knew I was entrusted to lead, and our College would not be the best place for our students and teammates, nor could I protect them in the way I would want my family protected.
My next step was to call the Chairman of the Board with the decision and seek his support. He inquired, expressed his unconditional support, and I composed a memo, requesting a conference call with the full board pursuant to their by-laws. The date was set, and now the real work began.
During the seven days between the initial notification and the scheduled board call, there were so many essential questions to determine. I visited with local board members, and responded to emails and phone calls with answers to questions, while simultaneously seeking their support for the aggressive approach I was to share with our Wiley family. I also called my predecessor and shared my thoughts with my village of presidential peers.
We looked at what assistance students would need. Did we have infrastructure to deliver instruction completely online? How would our students manage if broadband access and laptops/PC’s were not available in their homes? How would students get home? What impact would this abrupt decision have on their health and wellness? We then asked, what would this mean for those left behind after students departed 711 Wiley Avenue.
D-Day
March 11, 2020. The virus and its impact on the glob had progressed rapidly. The board peppered me with questions. I answered them affirmatively and transparently, given the level of preparation and exhaustive table-top like planning the executive cabinet and I experienced the past seven days Ultimately, the board unanimously agreed to effectively close the college, instruct our students to depart all residence halls, switch to on-line instruction, and proactively ensure the safety of our teammates and students .
Immediately after my call with the board, I made my way to the Dr. Julius S. Scott Jr. Chapel where our entire Wiley College family awaited. I was nervous given the students, faculty, staff and even a few alumni were assembled, with bated breath, to learn of our new normal.
I shared the College’s decision to close for the duration of the semester. I described for our students the need for them to move off campus and begin online instruction. Knowing how difficult this would be, I went on to describe how committed we were to help them make the transition. Wherever we could and with the resources available, we would, as a family support one another.
I informed students that we would be assisting in their travel. We would purchase airline tickets for international students, and purchase domestic fares, bus and train tickets, for individuals who would otherwise go without. Additionally, we would help with gas, pay air, train, and bus baggage fees. Ultimately, we even provided individuals with resources to purchase meals while they were traveling. Equally critical was the availability of our licensed mental health official and our ordained clergy to aid them with any trauma this decision may have caused.
Our commitment to our students’ transition extended beyond travel. With 90% of our students identifying as first-generation college students and 85% Pell eligible, I recognized our students nor their families would have the resources to pick up and move immediately. We strategically allowed a time frame of one week after the announcement for students to transition home. This would give us time to ensure all faculty members were trained to provide effective instruction in Canvas, our learning management platform. Critically important as well, this week provided the college and our students ample time to work out all the foreseeable and unforeseeable challenges in delivering instruction via online.
Moreover, the college purchased laptops, connected students to broadband carriers, contacted social workers, parents, and friends all to bring calm and normalcy (as much as possible) to the chaotic upheaval that our students were not prepared to handle (and quite frankly neither were we). We believe in their ability to succeed and know it is our responsibility to equip them with the tools for academic, emotional, and spiritual support during this time.
This aggressive decision was made with foresight, in the midst of a world wind of events we did not anticipate. Despite the enormity of pressure placed on our students and our faculty and staff, we have dealt with challenges collectively and are moving forward with the assurance of faith that we can thrive.
March 23, 2020. As each student departed, I felt the weight of the world being lifted. By the time our very last student had their last meal in our Student Union and departed our campus I stood with bated breath wondering if the virus would breach on our campus.
The Call
The inevitable happened. One of our beloved team members has been diagnosed with the first case of COVID-19 here in Harrison County. I cannot imagine the grief I would be facing as I pen this letter had I not made what I thought to be a prudent decision. Emphatically, I assert this truth – my faith grappled with my fear and won. As I continue this privilege of leading, the omnipresent certainty for me is to remember that lesson. I could not have afforded to let fear win then, nor will I ever have that luxury.
It is devastating to know that one of our members has been infected with this virus and we pray for the family. We do find a silver lining and reflect upon the rocky and turbulent uncertainty surrounding our decision to act aggressively to save our students from this global pandemic. As it turns out we trusted God and he saw us through.
Here at HBCU Pulse, we pride ourselves in being the heart of HBCU life. This means that we want to lead productive conversations within our community as well as give our supporters accurate information about the topics and issues of the day. Because of this, we refrained from mentioning the Coronavirus, monitoring what it is and how it affects our HBCUs. Just yesterday, several HBCUs issued statements about the virus in anticipation for students being released for Spring Break. Some northern HBCUs have even cancelled face to face classes indefinitely, opting for online instruction until the first week of April.
This article is to give point-by-point updates on what’s important concerning the Coronavirus without sensationalism. Please check back to this article periodically, as we will provide daily updates on what’s occurring to ensure that everyone is informed.
Daily Updates
This is where daily updates will be posted. After new information is given for each day, it will slotted in the various potions of the article and new information will be posted.
Federal Student Loan Repayment Suspended Until September 30
Government Passes $2 Trillion Stimulus Bill, College Students Left Out Of One-Time Payment
Last week, Donald Trump signed off on a Bipartisan relief bill to aid in relief efforts for Americans feeling the economic impact of the COVID-19 spread. The bill promises that set amounts of money will be given to families in an effort to stimulate the economy as America is practicing self distancing and quarantining. However, analysis of the bill shows that full-time college students are not allotted the payout of money that young children and dependent adults are. According to the logistics of the stimulus package: Stimulus checks will be $1,200 per adult – or $2,400 for married couples filing jointly – and an additional $500 per child, subject to income limits.
Because most full-time college students are still considered dependents, they don’t qualify for stimulus checks. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) clarifies, at Pub 501, that a qualifying child meets the following criteria:
The child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of them.
The child must be (a) under age 19 at the end of the year and younger than you (or your spouse if filing jointly), (b) under age 24 at the end of the year, a student, and younger than you (or your spouse if filing jointly), or (c) any age if permanently and totally disabled.
The child must have lived with you for more than half of the year (some exceptions apply, including for school and the military).
The child must not have provided more than half of his or her own support for the year.
The child must not be filing a joint return for the year (unless that joint return is filed only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid).
Because of these criteria, several college students do not qualify for the stimulus checks. This has caused an outrage amongst several dependent college students who stormed to social media to express their frustration.
I would love to know the reasoning behind this. Why are dependents under 17 receiving $500 while 18-24 year old dependents receive $0? Why would they completely exclude one of the most financially vulnerable populations in this country when they are spending TWO TRILLION DOLLARS?
Howard University Gets $13 Million To Aid In Fight Of COVID-19 In DC, Republican Senator Upset
On Wednesday, the Senate passed a Bipartisan relief bill to the House of Representatives totaling $2 trillion to aid in relief efforts surrounding COVID-19. In the package, federally chartered flagship HBCU Howard University was allocated $13 million. Howard University’s Hospital is a facility that is designated to treat COVID-19 patients in the Washington D.C. area.
Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz skimmed through the bipartisan stimulus package bill that passed the Senate on yesterday and saw that $13 million of the $2 trillion agreed to be allocated was going towards Howard and lobbied severe criticism.
$13,000,000 in taxpayer funds could be going to families across the nation struggling to put food on the table in the midst of COVID-19.
Instead, it’s going to Howard University.
Education is important- but a $13 million check to Howard does not belong in COVID-19 relief. pic.twitter.com/uIT6yaTMUo
His criticism didn’t take into account that federal charter designated to Howard University in 1867. According to stateuniversity.com:
Only a few years after the Civil War ended, the need also became clear for the establishment of a comprehensive institution of higher education serving the four million freed slaves and several hundred thousand free African Americans in the United States. The initial plan was to establish a theology school–an effort led by members of the First Congregational Society, a prominent Washington, D.C., church. General Oliver O. Howard, at the time the Commissioner of the Freedmen’s Bureau in the U.S. War Department, was a member of this group and supported the idea. Soon afterwards, the plan was expanded to create a school for both theological training and to train teachers.
These efforts culminated in the signing of the charter for Howard University by President Andrew Johnson in 1867. Although the charter of Howard University indicated the institution was for all individuals, there was no doubt that the intent was to serve freed slaves and other African Americans.
Gaetz was quickly corrected by Senator and Howard Alumnae Kamala Harris.
The bill provides $30 billion to protect students and help schools, colleges and universities combat the coronavirus. This is $13 million.
He was also promptly called out by Washington Post writer Gillian Brockell, who brought up that Howard University hospital is only 2.1 miles away from the capitol.
Howard University has a hospital that has been designated one of DC’s covid-19 treatment facilities. It is located 2.1 miles from Rep. Gaetz’s workplace. pic.twitter.com/6i1ZpaFJ7H
— Gillian Brockell is social distancing (@gbrockell) March 26, 2020
New Research Shows That Coronavirus Can Severely Affect Younger People
Probably one of the more stunning updates of the Coronavirus news is that new research by the CDC shows that younger people can get severely ill by the cornavirus. Reported by The Hill (linked here):
A new CDC analysis of more than 2,400 cases of COVID-19 that have occurred in the United States in the last month shows that between 1 in 7 and 1 in 5 people between the ages of 20 and 44 in the sample of those who are confirmed cases require hospitalization, a level significantly higher than the hospitalization rates for influenza. The true percentage of young people who require hospitalization is likely much less, because many remain asymptomatic.
But younger Americans are contracting the virus at the same rates as those who are older. The initial round of data actually found more people between the ages of 20 and 44 who landed in the hospital than those over the age of 75 who wound up in treatment, even though mortality rates were lower for the younger set.
“Lots of young people are getting hospitalized, a lot more than we’re messaging, and, yes, maybe you don’t die, but living with a damaged lung or damaged organ is not a good outcome,” said Prabhjot Singh, a physician and health systems expert at Mount Sinai Health System and the Icahn School of Medicine.
Just a few moments ago, we ran across a viral Twitter thread by a young woman that says that she tested positive for COVID-19. Her description of the symptoms that she felt mirrored what’s reported as well as her persistent wait to get the actual testing to see if she was positive for COVID-19. Stay aware and stay safe everyone. This isn’t anything to play with.
Trump says coronavirus crisis could go through July or August
In a press conference on yesterday, Donald Trump said that the social effects of the pandemic could last until July or August.
“They think August, it could be July, could be longer than that,” Trump said, referring to answers he has gotten when consulting public health officials on the timeline.
Per The Hill (linked here) Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, clarified after Trump’s remarks that the guidelines would not necessarily last until the summer months but rather that timeline was one potential trajectory of the coronavirus outbreak.
“The guidelines are a 15 day trial guideline to be reconsidering,” Fauci said. “It isn’t that these guidelines are going to be in effect until July. What the president was saying is that the trajectory of the outbreak may go until then.”
Idris Elba Tests Positive For COVID-19
Idris Elba has confirmed that he has tested positive for COVID-19. He shows no symptoms and has been isolated since the diagnosis on yesterday morning. He encouraged people to stay optimistic and practice social distancing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
“So far, we’re feeling OK.” Elba said of himself and his family in a video he posted on his Twitter, “Stay positive and don’t freak out.”
BREAKING: Howard University & Jackson State report cases of COVID-19, First HBCUs to do so
The Howard University website released a letter from University President Dr. Wayne A.I Frederick that a guest who attended the Howard University Charter Day Dinner has tested positive for the virus. The letter, and important takeaways from the letter (full letter linked here), are below.
Out of an abundance of caution, we are asking all March 7 dinner participants to monitor and report to your doctor if you begin exhibiting flu-like symptoms. The DC Department of Health is investigating the case, locating and counseling relevant contacts in accordance with the latest national guidance and protocols. We are working closely with the department and have been advised that the chances of contracting the virus are low.
The individual has complied with DC Department of Health’s guidance to remain self-isolated. Our direct concern is the recovery and well-being of the affected individual and their loved ones. We will continue to prioritize the most vulnerable among us and do everything we can to safeguard the health and wellness of our university staff, students and surrounding communities.
We have consulted with medical and public-health experts and regrettably, our University leadership has arrived at the conclusion that a return to campus for face-to face instruction will not be possible for the Spring, 2020 semester. To be clear, we are taking the following steps:
We will not return to face-to-face instruction of courses at Howard University for the remainder of the Spring, 2020 semester and courses will continue to transition to remote and online instruction following the scheduled Spring Break. This is an evolution from our earlier statement. We will close the residence halls on Sunday, March 22 at 11:59 p.m. This is an evolution from our earlier statement. We are working with our various institutional partners in consideration of any pro-rated refunds of room and board charges. Any potential refund amounts will vary based on application of Federal Aid and Title IV guidelines, current unpaid balances and the specific original room and board charges applicable to each student.
Students who left for destinations other than home for spring break should not return to campus, but instead reach out to the Office of Resident Life to schedule a move out of your room at a later time. Commencement and All-Class Reunions are canceled. On Sunday, the CDC issued recommendations that for the next 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States. Although the CDC states that this does not apply to the day to day operations of institutions of higher education, we do not consider commencement a day-to-day operation. Given that Howard’s Commencement activities garner crowds of thousands, and the numerous elders and children regularly in attendance, we will cancel the event to avoid the potential for additional virus spread which would be problematic.
Jackson State University reported that a student tested positive for the Coronavirus. Acting President Thomas Hudson released a statement on their university website on Sunday (full letter linked here).
The university has been made aware that a Jackson State University student has tested positive for the coronavirus. The student is currently isolated at home.
We are working closely with officials from the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) for guidance to ensure the continued safety of our campus community. MSDH has notified individuals who have been in contact with the student. These individuals have been advised of the proper protocol to monitor symptoms.
The health and safety of our students and campus community remain our top priority. We are following the protocols in our response plan to minimize the impact of this disease.
Amid Calls For Refunding For Cancelled Schooling, Davidson College Offers Refunds To Students
Davidson College, alma mater of NBA Star Stephen Curry, has worked on issuing housing refunds for its 1,843 students. This announcement sent waves around the Higher Education community, specifically for HBCU students that have been lobbying for answers as to how students will be accounted for.
Donald Trump Declares National Emergency, Waives Interest On Student Loans, Senate Democrats Introduce Bill To Help Education During Coronavirus Pandemic
At a White House press conference on yesterday, Donald Trump announced that he’s waiving interests on Student Loans. “I am announcing the following emergency actions today: to help our students and their families, I’ve waived interest on all student loans held by federal government agencies and that will be until further notice,” Trump said during the press conference on Friday.
Many students and alumni around the nation were confused and even experts were divided on how the announcement affects collegiate life.
“Dealing with interest is an important start and I’m glad they recognized the need for action to help borrowers,” Ben Miller, vice president for postsecondary education at the Center for American Progress, told Yahoo Finance. “But they need to do more to make it easier for borrowers to pause payments, automatically prevent individuals from going delinquent, and immediately stop the seizure of tax refunds, security, and wages for defaulted loans.”
“We support anything that can help ease the challenges students are facing, including relief on their student loans,” NASFAA President and CEO Justin Draeger said in a statement. “At this time, we don’t have details on what exactly this policy change means for borrowers.”
Experts went to Twitter to weigh in on the announcement.
Waiving student loan interest at this time of crisis is a fine gesture, but I’m skeptical that it will provide much relief. It’s also unclear exactly what this will mean for borrowers.
Student loan borrowers got slammed in the last recession. Even with deferment and forbearance options, millions were forced into default, destroying their financial futures.
Canceling student debt payments, not just delaying them, must be on the table. https://t.co/8Gq3POji2Y
More HBCUs Release Statements, Some Cancel Face-To-Face Instruction
Even more HBCUs have issued releases. Some have cancelled classes for the semester such as Alabama State and AUC Schools (Morehouse, Spelman, Clark Atlanta, Morehouse School of Medicine). Other’s have extended Spring Break as well as cancelling several events that will be large gatherings.
Benedict College
Texas Southern University
Clark Atlanta University
Morgan State University
Howard University
Miles College
North Carolina A&T
Xavier University of Louisiana
North Carolina Central University
Saint Augustine’s University
Bethune-Cookman University
Norfolk State University
Tennessee State University
The Atlanta University Center (Morehouse, Spelman, Clark Atlanta, Morehouse School of Medicine)
The Atlanta University Center (Morehouse, Spelman, Clark Atlanta, Morehouse School of Medicine)
Southern University of New Orleans
Vorhees College
Claflin University
University System Of Georgia Schools (Fort Valley State, Albany State, Savannah State)
Alabama State University
The NCAA Cancels March Madness & Tournaments For Other Spring Sports, MEAC & SWAC Tournaments Are Cancelled
The sports world was rocked due to the NBA postponing the regular season for the foreseeable future after it was reported that Utah Jazz Center Rudy Gobert contracted novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Before that announcement, the NCAA announced that they’d take fans out of the process in hope of continuing the March Madness festivities. Now, on yesterday, March Madness (as well as other NCAA Spring Sports) have been cancelled indefinitely.
According to reporting by HBCU Gameday, the SWAC and MEAC have followed suit as well, cancelling the remainder of their tournaments.
Student Government Associations Speak Out Around The Nation
On yesterday, Student Government Association officials at some of our HBCUs spoke out about what was occurring. Texas Southern SGA President Marcus Nash released a statement advising students how to act. Howard University Executive President Taylor Ellison met with University President Dr. Wayne Frederick to discuss next steps. Lincoln University of Pennsylvania SGA Officials issued a release while also teaming up with the Black Activist Coalition. They also released a statement, asking for answers from administration on key issues such as postponement of Spring commencement as well as possible reimbursement of fees. The releases can be viewed below.
HUSA Release (Howard University)
LUPA SGA Release (Lincoln University of Pennsylvania)
Black Activist Coalition (LUPA) Letter 1
Black Activist Coalition (LUPA) Letter 2
In response to the letter, LUPA University President Brenda A. Allen held a forum with students on why things were happening the way that they were as well as a possible refund of money paid for fees now not being used. You can view it on IG.TV.
SGA President David Whitlow, amid the sudden decision to cancel face-to-face interaction for Alabama State University and the push for students to move out, pushed for several actions to happen that ensure that students are accounted for.
https://t.co/hbg6Tu3n32#myasu We hear the frustrations of the student body and are dedicated to advocating for our concerns to be heard & acted upon. As a result, the Student Government Association has created a petition for you to sign & share to have your voices heard.
#myasu We’re still pushing for students to be able to stay on campus, just like a lot of other schools are doing. According to Dr. Haywood, we should know something by noon. We will keep you updated.
According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control & Prevention) Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. The first case as first detected in China and which has now been detected in more than 100 locations internationally, including in the United States.
According to the CDC, there are a total of 647 cases and only 25 deaths within 36 jurisdictions. Within those cases, they are reported to have occurred by:
Travel-related: 83
Person-to-person spread: 36
Unknown/Under Investigation: 528
There are 32 states that are reported to have cases of the virus. These states include cities where HBCUs are located, including:
North Carolina
Texas
Georgia
Florida
Maryland
Missouri
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Tennessee
Kentucky
Louisiana
Oklahoma
Washington D.C.
HBCUs React To The Coronavirus
These HBCUs are suspending face-to-face academic instruction in favor of online instruction.
Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
Face-to-face instruction has been cancelled for the rest of the Spring semester with classes being cancelled for the remainder of the week. Students are being required to move out of residential living by Sunday, March 15.
Maryland HBCUs (Coppin State University, Morgan State University, Bowie State University, University of Maryland at Eastern Shore)
Face-to-face instruction has been cancelled until April 6. Faculty, staff and students are being asked to refrain from travel outside of a 75-mile radius. If travel does occur, the individual must wait 14 days before returning to campus.
HBCUs that have spoken on the Coronavirus but haven’t cancelled face-to-face classes
These HBCUs have issued releases, created a task force to assess the Coronavirus outbreak as well as posting CDC precautions on their university websites and social media.
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Texas Southern University
Shaw University
Saint Augustine’s University
Hampton University
Norfolk State University
Florida A&M University
Howard University
Safety Precautions From Coronavirus
Norfolk State released this video speaking about safety tips about handing the Coronavirus
As a woman, I am often faced with adversities that tie directly to my gender. In my encounters with powerful women who serve as politicians, university presidents, and CEO’s, they all echo the sentiments that being mediocre will never surmount in this world-especially as a woman. We are scrutinized by the way we look, speak, and dress. Certain scrutinies are not reserved for just women, but serve as another barrier.
I acknowledge the fact that my HBCU was not an added barrier to women. Miles College made history. The Miles College Board of Trustees named Interim President Bobbie Knight as our 15th President. President Knight is the first woman in 122 years to do so. This announcement could not have come at a better time. We are in the midst of Women’s History Month.
President Knight has been the epitome of excellence and expresses it through her tireless efforts to propagate Miles College. I recently returned from a conference in Washington D.C. and in one session I was surrounded by various professionals from Birmingham, Alabama. Needless to say, each and every one of them knew President Knight and inevitably knew about Miles College. They gave the highest of praises to her and commended for the work she has done at Miles College.
Since day one, President Knight has supported the campus by listening to everyone’s opinions: the students, faculty, and staff. She has coined the phrase “It is a NEW day at Miles College” which symbolizes a new era of transparency, collaboration, and commitment to bettering this institution we call Dear Old Miles. It has been my pleasure to serve alongside her and I look forward to seeing Miles College evolve under her administration.
Throughout the month of February, we will shine a spotlight on icons of Black History that have paved the way for us today. Born on January 2, 1898, Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander set the tone for how women operate today. Here are quick facts about her achievements!
She was the first woman to receive a Ph. D in economics in the United States and
The first woman to receive a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Credited with being the first African American to hold both a Ph. D and J.D degree.
She was the first woman to serve as secretary of The National Bar Association.
First national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated (1919 – 1923).
In 1946 she was appointed to the President’s Committee on Civil Rights established by Harry S. Truman.
She was the first African American woman appointed for Assistant City Solicitor for the City of Pennsylvania.
Thank you for all your tireless work in pushing the advancement of black people and Black women forward!
HBCU Campus Kings from around the nation have traveled to St. Louis, Missouri to compete for the title of Mister HBCU. The Mister HBCU Conference & Competition, founded in 2004, is an event held to promote the brilliance of HBCU Kingdom and allow campus kings to showcase their talents. This year, 19 kings will be vying for the crown previously held by Jauan Durbin, 2018-2019 Mister Blue & White for Spelman College.
The Kings vying for the title goes as follows:
Saxton Keitt: Mister Benedict College
Earl Robinson, Jr.: Mister Bethune-Cookman University
Roland Reynolds: Mister Bowie State University
Errol V. Gordon Jr.: Mister Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Kymere L. Pritchett: Mister Coppin State University
Ryan Thurman: Mister Fort Valley State University
Delshawn D. Fowler: Mister Harris-Stowe State University
Christopher R. Ortiz Jr. : Mister Jarvis-Christian College
Michael Weaver: Mister Kentucky State University
Michael A. Parks II: Mister Lincoln University of Missouri
Daquan S. Thompson: Mister Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
Zavier R. Andrew: Mister Norfolk State University
Christian Allison: Mister North Carolina Central University
Antwan M. Yarbough: Mister Savannah State University
Cheikh Ndiaye: Mister Talladega College
Damyr Moore: Mister Tennessee State University
Adonis D. Warren: Mister Texas Southern University
Zavian Bell: Mister Tuskegee Univesity
Kambre J Stephens: Mister Winston-Salem State University
In my 23 years of living, I’ve never experienced loss such as this. Celebrities have passed away in my time aware of the world but there was something about losing Kobe Bryant that brought me to a range of emotions. Maybe it was the suddenness. Or the severity or the situation. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve been a basketball fan for most of my life and I saw Kobe at his athletic apex and and as he moved into retirement. All I know is that this hit differently.
I learned about his passing as I was on the phone with my social media manager Kroix. I’ve become aware of who I am and how I handle grief. So, I knew that the range of emotions was coming. I knew that I didn’t want to be alone to process the passing of someone that inspired the very fabric of why I decided to do Pulse full time and make sacrifices to get where I need to be. That time on the phone with Kroix was therapeutic. i was able to share and let out the anger that I felt at how social media muddied the severity of the situation with misinformation and clout chasing click-bait. We were able to even fire back at it and show tribute to the life and legacy of Kobe.
I tried to stand tall through it all and spend time with my family. I felt as if I would be able to cope with how I was feeling by tending to life as usual but things changed once I saw the reaction of LeBron James. LeBron is my favorite athlete of all time and someone that I look up to. I wondered how he would respond to this, if he’d say do anything on Sunday at all. Then, I saw the video of LeBron leaving the Lakers team plane after they arrived in Los Angeles. I saw the raw emotion that he felt. I could see the weight of the pain that he was carrying.
I had to get off of social media. All my plans for the postings of the day for A Queen’s Series and HBCU Pulse were pushed up. I tried to find a way to make myself feel better. I reached out to people via phone and FaceTime and they wouldn’t answer. All I knew was that I didn’t want to be alone in how I felt. Yet, I woke up this morning feeling exactly that. The range of emotions hit me hard.
Seeing the graphic above made me feel better. It made me understand that this was normal. When I saw “Find a supportive online community” I knew that I had to speak my piece on HBCU Pulse. I couldn’t hold this in. If communication is so central to me, I needed to share my feelings with the world. Maybe I could help someone get through this.
As a basketball fan and a man that wants to build a family one day, this loss hurt me to my soul. I had to grapple with the fact that life, as my Dad always tell me, is unfair. Yet I still asked: how can someone so impactful to the this world leave us like this? I know, for me, Kobe showed me that through hard work and a passion for what you do you can change the world. Even before his passing, I identified with Kobe and his Mamba Mentality.
My goal through it all is to affect the HBCU community and black people in general. When I say I’m the Millenial Tom Joyner I’m so serious. I just want to make an impact and inspire people like Kobe and Tom Joyner have done. That’s why going to Atlanta and Honda Battle of the Bands meant so much to me. I feel as if I’m starting to make the change and impact I’ve always wanted and felt sometimes I couldn’t.
This is why moments such as the one above with Future Spelman Woman Courtney meant to much to me. Going to this college fair inspired me so much. We should all aim to make an impact on people before our time on the earth has concluded. However, I believe that we miss the mark in our own personal lives. We aim to inspire those in the world yet our friends and family are often times neglected. The passing of Kobe brought me to deep reflection about life and how precious every moment we have with each other is important.
You never know the impact that you’re making, even on the people you see in your daily life. Check on your people man. You don’t know how important a FaceTime call or random pop-up means to someone. You don’t owe anyone anything, especially strangers. But, what about the people we care about? What about the people we’re inspired by? Why wouldn’t you cherish the time with the people you love and make time for them? Life is too short and you don’t know what people are going through. We gotta communicate. You never know when our time will come and you’ll miss the opportunity to build with the people important to your life.
I hope everyone has a great and safe day. Make your impact on the world the way that Kobe did and lock in. Don’t let anything stop you from getting where you need to be. That’s what Mamba Mentality means to me.
HBCU Pulse is looking for business to partner with us, sponsor content and advertise with us in 2020. Since August 2019 HBCU Pulse has experienced significant growth, growing from 10,000 followers to 18,000+ followers on Instagram to start the year. On Facebook and Twitter we’ve seen viral successes with our posts, with one of our Facebook posts from NASAP garnering 25 Million views and netting us 31,000+ followers. We want to maximize this reach to allow businesses and entrepreneurs, specifically student entrepreneurs at HBCUs and alumni with businesses, to connect with customers and sell their products. Check out our numbers below to see if advertising with HBCU Pulse is the right fit for you and scroll down to fill out the advertising and sponsorship interest form.
After days of meeting and negotiation, I’m happy to announce that HBCU Pulse has secured a partnership with National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. NBCAHOF is a staple in the HBCU Community. Founded in 1985, Hall of Fame has aided in the growth and development of HBCUs. They started the Competition of HBCU Queens in 1986, giving our campus queens an opportunity to represent themselves and their institutions on a national platform. To be able to partner with such a prestigious organization, founded 1972 Fort Valley State University Alumnus Thomas Dortch Jr., is astonishing. It’s amazing to be able to start my 2020 this way.
In this capacity, I will be serving as the first Hall of Fame Alumni Ambassador. Through this position and partnership, I aim to keep the central focus of HBCU Pulse in my mind and allow it to lead my thought process and actions. My goal is, and will forever be, to empower HBCU students and provide opportunities to network, connect and obtain resources that allow them to chase their dreams. I’m thankful that Hall of Fame believes in this vision just as much as I do. And, I’m thankful that they believe in me and what we’ve built here at HBCU Pulse in such a short amount of time.
Just a few weeks ago, I released a video on Pulse platforms stating that I would be pursing HBCU Pulse full time after I graduated. When I did this video, I didn’t know that this partnership would happen. Nothing was certain for me except for the growth and work that I put into this platform. But, I took the leap of faith and landed comfortably. I want this to be all of our stories post-graduation. This will be our story.
I look forward to the rest of 2020. This won’t be the only big announcement that we’ll be dropping this year. Stay tuned.
I’m in awe as I write this. I can’t believe the day of my graduation has finally arrived. This is the day that I’ve anticipated for years. Now, as I sit here and write this article, I’m 2 hours and 45 minutes away from graduating from Fort Valley State University with my Bachelors in Media Studies. I’m not gonna lie like emotions didn’t hit me, but I feel differently than that of other graduates on this weekend. Sure, the excitement is there but my emotions are mixed. As we go through this article, I’ll try to explain how I feel.
When I came into Fort Valley State University, I said I wanted to take over the yard. Being a known face on campus wasn’t a coincidence. It wasn’t for clout, it wasn’t for girls, it wasn’t to be Greek, it wasn’t to set myself up for a position. I just knew that college would be my time to shape the fabric of my life. I saw what Terrence J did at North Carolina A&T and how he worked his way up to be over the internship program at NASCAR right after he graduated. I studied how Tom Joyner went from Tuskegee to becoming the Fly Jock, changing the face of media forever. I saw Oprah attending Tennessee State, then becoming the billionaire media mogul we know today. I wanted to be just like them.
However, I felt as if I lost my way. Coming in as a freshman, I didn’t want to be your favorite student leader. I just wanted to be your favorite author. I wanted to sell you my books, change your life and then make millions of dollars. Through that hustle, I was able to start tutoring in writing and covering events on social media for the school. My life was more simple then. I was happier then. There was no high expectation that anyone set for me. I set that expectation for myself and worked within my interest. Freshman year wasn’t perfect but I allowed myself to operate in excellence and make things happen.
Getting involved in the student leadership fold was refreshing. It showed me a new side of the HBCU experience that anyone should see. I was able to travel, represent FVSU on a national scale, defend FVSU on a national scale and even get celebrities to show us love. However, I lost my way through this. Some often wonder how you can lose your way as you embark on positive change for your university and yourself. Pause though. Was I really enriching myself? If you went on my social media and saw everything about what was going on at FVSU but not any personal achievements in my life was I truly embarking on change in myself? Or, was I putting everyone else first before me?
I searched for validation in people. Mind you, validation that I already had from my family. I tried to stick to this conventional notion of what a black man is “supposed” to be. I put myself in weird situations and terrible friendships/relationships trying to live up to a player/socialite image that was never me and was never what I was. Even moreso, I started to lose track of the mission. Securing a degree was never the only goal. I wanted to be a millionaire before I graduated college. I was doing so much service to the school and my peers that I wasn’t providing that same energy for myself
January 8, 2018 is a point in my life that I will never forget. If anything, this is where my life shifted. I sat up in the den on WC5 (my dorm) and agonized over if I was walking the right path as we welcomed in the new year. People wanted me to run for Student Government Association President and I told myself that I agreed with them. However, my life wasn’t moving in that direction. I started to get disenchanted with SGA and its functions. It started to drain me. It wasn’t SGA’s fault though. I started covering football games for the Tom Joyner Foundation. I started covering basketball games with FVSU Athletics and eventually became the play-by-play and color commentator for the team. I got a new book idea that eventually turned into A Queen’s Pain. My life wasn’t saying be an SGA President. I felt as if I was being called to use my last few semesters of college to chase my dream of being in media.
So, I made a big decision. I decided that I would quit SGA and put all of my focus into HBCU Pulse. I was uncertain where it would lead but I felt something coming. I felt as if HBCU Pulse would be the big idea that propelled me to heights unimaginable. I had faith that HBCU Pulse would provide me the same joy and opportunity to connect with students from other institutions that the White House Initiative on HBCUs HBCU All-Star program did. I was nervous but I stepped out on faith and confidence. Now, I sit here today, hours away from walking across the stage.
Maybe that’s why I feel the way that I feel right now. That batch mixed emotions that I had on January 8, 2018 is the same way that I feel today. I made the choice to now take HBCU Pulse full time. I announced it to the world. I’m so anxious. I’m ready for this college journey to be over so I can get to this money and opportunity before the well runs dry. I’m excited because I’m at this point with the Pulse platform that I can assert that I’m doing it full time and people support me. But I’m also nervous. Incredibly nervous. I’m leaving the safety and security of a place that I’ve known for the past four years.
There’s no more going to the Student Center and talking to my friends for hours. There’s no sitting working in the library or the Student Center for hours with people coming up asking, “How long have you been here? It seems like you’ve been sitting there all day.” I was! There’s no more coming to pageants, probates and lectures an hour or two before it starts to make sure I get a good seat to film or do an Instagram Takeover. Life has begun.
But, rewind that. Maybe that is still there for me. HBCU Pulse will allow me to still do what fulfills me and makes me happy. I will be able to travel to other institutions and sit in their student centers and libraries, building with their student leaders and cultivating friendships and connections. Maybe now they’ll ask, “Hey, aren’t you Randall from HBCU Pulse?” I now can inspire college students that aren’t like me to embrace unconventional lanes to success just like Tom Joyner, Terrence J, Oprah and a myriad of others did for me.
I’m not trying to teach anyone a lesson right now. I’m just expressing the mixture of emotions that I’m feeling right now. I feel better though, as I wrap up this article and thirty minutes remain until I have to report to graduation. Writing this made me feel more secure about this journey I’m about to embark on. Now, the celebration can begin!
