BISON BEAT
A Monthly N e ws l e tte r f r o m the O f f i c e o f the P res i d en t
DECEMBER 2015 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 8
INSIDE
2 EXCELLENCE AT HOWARD
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AROUND CAMPUS
4 HOWARD IN THE NEWS
Dear Howard University Community: As 2015 draws to a close, and many look forward to the winter break to celebrate the holiday season with family and friends, I want to wish everyone good health, peace, and joy this holiday season and continued blessings in the New Year! I also want to encourage everyone to take a few minutes during the holiday season to pause, reflect, and give thanks. As I consider the last 12 months at Howard University, I am extremely proud of the many achievements on our campus—from academic excellence to administrative leadership. I am also cognizant of our challenges and opportunities. However, I am encouraged and thankful that, as a Howard University Community, we face these challenges and opportunities together. I am reminded of the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” No matter the challenge or opportunity on our campus, in our community, across the country, or around the world, we are always stronger and more effective in overcoming those challenges and taking advantage of opportunities when we work together. Your contributions to the Capstone—from the classroom to the boardroom—define the essence of who we are as a University and hasten our contributions to the communities that we serve. Happy holidays to you and your family and thank you for your continued support of, and contributions to, Howard University. In Truth and Service,
Wayne A. I. Frederick
EXCELLENCE AT HOWARD HOWARD UNIVERSITY STUDENT JOEL RHONE WINS MARSHALL SCHOLARSHIP Joel Rhone, a Howard University senior, has been awarded a 2016 Marshall Scholarship. Rhone, an English major from Fullerton, California, is an honor student and former president of the Sterling Allen Brown English Society at Howard. He is one of 32 winners of the scholarship. Rhone will research African-American literature, particularly its impact on, and depiction of, the African-American church. Rhone will be studying at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. It is the largest single-site university in the U.K., and 83 percent of its research has been ranked as “world leading” or “internationally excellent” by the Research Excellence Framework in 2014. Twenty-five Nobel Prize winners have studied or worked there. “This is an awesome end to my Howard experience,” Rhone said. “It is almost intimidating how much opportunity the Marshall scholarship provides, yet it reaffirms the value of the humanities, the value of my research, and the power of the humanities in strengthening the relationship between our two countries. It is an opportunity that promises many others in my future. “
BARBARA HINES, PH.D., RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED LIFETIME MEMBER AWARD Barbara B. Hines, Ph.D., Professor Emerita and founding chair of the Department of Communication, Culture & Media Studies, Howard University School of Communications, has received the 2015 Distinguished Lifetime Membership Award from the College Media Association (CMA). The award was presented during the 2015 National College Media Convention, on Thursday, Oct. 29, in Austin, Texas. CMA is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to serving collegiate media advisers. Dr. Hines worked as a press secretary to a U.S. senator on Capitol Hill and taught for 43 years, 37 in higher education. At Howard, Hines served on the University’s Budget Advisory Committee; was recognized by the Faculty Senate as its Outstanding Faculty Mentor; served as director of the Annenberg Honors Program and chair of the Department of Journalism; and established the advertising sequence in the Department of Journalism. To read more, visit http://www2.howard.edu/howard-professor-emerita-and-founding-chair-communication-culture-and-media-studies-dr-hines
To read more, visit http://www2.howard.edu/howard-universitystudent-joel-rhone-wins-marshall-scholarship On December 1, 2015, Howard University’s #GivingTuesdayHU was a success. Alumni and friends made the day a success through cash donations, pledges, social media, e-mail, word-ofmouth and “I left my heart in ... “ unselfie posts. The University raised $136,289 in gifts and pledges in just one day, a remarkable and heartwarming display that shows the strength, kindness and generosity of the Howard community. Approximately
626 alumni and friends contributed. The number of donors this year in support of the campaign increased more than 50%. 100% of funds raised benefit the student aid campaign. To donate a tax-deductible gift before the completion of the 2015 End-of-Year Campaign on December 31, visit www.howard.edu/givenow.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM WINS MEAC CHAMPIONSHIP, MAKES FIRST APPEARANCE IN NCAA TOURNAMENT After winning the 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Volleyball Championship for the first time since 1994, the Bison made its first ever appearance in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament. Read more about their game against Penn State at http://www.hubison. com/news/2015/12/5/WVB_1205151726.aspx?path=wvball
AROUND CAMPUS
WHITE HOUSE CLIMATE DAY OF ACTION Howard University has made a commitment to become a sustainable campus by reducing our “carbon footprint,” resulting in positive impact on climate change. We will continue to do this, in support of Washington metropolitan area green initiatives and in continuing collaboration with other institutions of higher education in the city as well as other historically black universities. Additionally, we join with other colleges and universities nationwide as they call for action on climate change at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. We herein pledge to: • Promote awareness and encourage behavioral change among students, staff and the surrounding community through special educational opportunities, programs and initiatives, like Earth Day celebrations, film festivals, energy competitions etc. • Decrease our dependency and use of fossil fuels by continuing
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efforts to identify and incorporate “green energy sources” into our current and future energy use profile. This will include the use of wind, solar voltaic and solar thermal energy. Decrease storm water runoff by incorporating a multifaceted approach to storm water management. This will include the installation of green roofs on buildings when feasible as well as implementing sustainable storm water management design and maintenance principles into our landscaping and other open areas. Encourage the use of “green transportation alternatives” by providing adequate facilities for bike racks, bus stops, electric vehicles and pedestrian ways. Expand knowledge and research about climate change through research programs like our NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences
APPLE AWARDS $40 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO 30 HBCU STUDENTS Howard University juniors Nia Farmer and David Nesbeth are two of 30 students who have been awarded one-year scholarships, summer internships and access to programs at Apple’s Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C., as a part of the company’s $40 million, multi-year diversity commitment. The Apple HBCU Scholars Program is a part of the new Apple and Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Diversity Initiative. Students were chosen from 47 HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). This is the largest, comprehensive corporate investment given exclusively for students and faculty at accredited, four-year HBCUs. The 30 recipients were announced by Denise
Young-Smith, vice president for worldwide human resources, at Cupertino, California-based Apple. The scholarship will provide students with numerous benefits: up to $25,000 for each student’s senior year expenses; a summer internship at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino; participation in a year-round program to prepare for post-graduation careers; partnership with an Apple mentor during thir senior year; the opportunity to become on campus ambassadors for the Apple and TMCF Diversity Initiative; invitations to attend TMCF’s Annual Leadership Institute; and participation in the Apple HBCU Immersion Experience in Cupertino.
AMEER BLAKE COMPLETES ASTRONOMY INTERNSHIP AT NASA Howard University senior Ameer Blake, who was selected to spend nine weeks last summer as a National Astronomy Consortium (NAC) intern at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center, developed a promising idea for a small, low-cost satellite that could facilitate exploration of a star. Blake was one of 19 students selected from across the country for the summer 2015 internship at NASA’s Greenbelt, Maryland, location. “Ameer worked with great enthusiasm on an idea for a low-cost satellite about the size of a shoebox that might allow us to discover new exoplanets around a special nearby star. His calculations showed that the idea isn’t completely crazy, and we’re looking forward to pursuing it further,” said Dr. Aki Roberge of the NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics Laboratory. Ameer presented his research project, “CubeSat Exploration: A Plan for Finding New Exoplanets in the Beta Pictoris System,” at the NAC III annual meeting, held at Howard University, Aug. 2829. “Ameer is one of our excellent physics majors who is working hard at becoming a scientist,” said Dr. Quinton L. Williams, Howard University Department of Physics and Astronomy chair. “His intellect, hard work, determination, and persistence will take him very far. I’m excited about his future possibilities.” http://www2.howard.edu/howard-university-student-ameer-blakecompletes-astronomy-internship-nasa
HOWARD CONVENES BEYOND THE DIALOGUE SUMMIT ON RACE RELATIONS On December 4, 2015, the University hosted a summit dealing with race relations on college campuses. President Frederick along with Dr. Cornelius Kerwin, President of American University and Dr. Steven Knapp, President of George Washington University dialogued with student delegates from all area colleges and universities. The forum comes in the wake of growing protests over race relations on university and college campuses nationwide. President Frederick fielded questions from student delegates during the closed-door “Beyond the Dialogue Summit on Race Relations on Campus.” A continuation of the conversation, which will include college and university presidents nationwide, is being planned for February 2016.
HOWARD IN THE NEWS
Bridging the Gap PLEDGE CARD A $25 MILLION STUDENT AID CAMPAIGN
IN THE NEWS Houston Style Magazine
Trice Edney News Wire Opens New Office at Howard University With Guests Mathew Knowles and Omarosa http://stylemagazine.com/news/2015/dec/01/triceedney-news-wire-opens-new-office-howard-univ/
All Africa
Africa: Celebrating the Africa Society and 15 Years of Educating Americans http://allafrica.com/stories/201512022031.html
I wish to make a: Campaign Gift Campaign Pledge I am pleased to make/pledge the following gift to the Howard University Bridging the Gap Student Aid Campaign. (Please make checks payable to Howard University.) Enclosed is my gift of $ Name Title
District Chronicles
WHUR raises $77,000 to feed hungry District families http://www.districtchronicles.com/news/view. php/1015124/WHUR-raises-77000-to-feed-hungry-Distric
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Up Rising with Sonali
Word Warrior: Richard Durham, Radio and Freedom http://uprisingradio.org/home/2015/12/01/word-warrior-richard-durham-radio-and-freedom/
The New York Times
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In ‘Passing Strange,’ Discovering a Sonic Youth http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/29/nyregion/inpassing-strange-discovering-a-sonic-youth.html?_r=0
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We went to Howard—not Harvard http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/29/1453769/We-went-to-Howard-not-Harvard
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UPCOMING EVENTS DECEMBER 15 FIRST SEMESTER ENDS
MARCH 4 CHARTER DAY CONVOCATION
DECEMBER 21 – JANUARY 1 UNIVERSITY CLOSED WINTER BREAK
MARCH 12 – MARCH 20 UNIVERSITY CLOSED SPRING RECESS
JANUARY 11 FORMAL CLASSES BEGIN SPRING 2016
APRIL 22 FORMAL CLASSES END
JANUARY 18 UNIVERSITY CLOSED MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., BIRTHDAY FEBRUARY 15 UNIVERSITY CLOSED PRESIDENTS DAY
MAY 6 SECOND SEMESTER ENDS MAY 7 2016 COMMENCEMENT
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My and/or my spouse’s employer will match my/our gift. For online giving, visit http://www.howard.edu/bridgingthegap/ Division of Development & Alumni Relations Howard University 2225 Georgia Avenue NW, Room 901 Washington, DC 20059
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