Howard Bison Beat February 2017

A Monthly Newsletter from the Office of the President

February 2017 Volume 6 Issue 2

HOWARD ON THE MOVE

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Dear Howard University Community, America’s success is a testament to generations of strong-willed individuals who, in the face of adversity, accepted the challenge of ensuring that this nation grew increasingly closer to providing complete access to justice for all—with no exception with regard to race, class, gender or sexual orientation.

“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” - Bob Marley

For far too long, fundamental liberties were denied to African Americans, thus exemplifying the need for institutions like Howard University to provide a platform for quality education and an unwavering commitment to Truth and Service. Today, we unapologetically celebrate those who stood up and sat in to fight against injustices across this country. Now we must focus on working toward solutions and extending the promise of education to all.

Although one month will never be enough, Black History

Month allows us to make an extended effort to recognize the trailblazers and their sacrifices that have helped us make significant strides. This sense of pride challenges us to recommit ourselves to strive for a time when no person is judged by anything other than the content of his or her character.

From the Civil Rights Movement to marches across the nation today, Howard University has remained at the forefront of educating the future freedom fighters of our time and addressing the nation’s challenges. For 150 years, this institution has remained committed to developing scholars and professionals who will drive change and solve contemporary global problems—particularly,

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disparities impacting the African diaspora.

I certainly am grateful for the 70,000-plus living alumni who contribute to the legacy rather than rest upon it, and I am confident that with your help, support and love, this institution will continue to exist for another 150 years. The time is always now!

Excellence in Truth and Service,

Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA President

Inside AROUND CAMPUS 4

Howard University and Corvias Reach Deal to Enhance Student Housing

6

Howard University Hosts U.S. Postal Service for Dorothy Height Forever Stamp Unveiling Ceremony

10

Howard University Students Inspired after U.S. Presidential Inauguration

12

Howard University Makes New Appointments

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AROUND CAMPUS

Howard University and Corvias Reach Deal to Enhance Student Housing Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick and Corvias CEO John Picerne recently announced a 40-year partnership that will renovate and maintain two of the University’s biggest residence halls and manage two more halls.

Corvias will renovate the Howard Plaza Towers East and Howard Plaza Towers West, and manage Drew and Cook residence halls on the

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north side of the main campus. The project’s outcome will deliver 1,730 renovated beds in the East and West towers, and 522 beds in Drew and Cook residence halls will be under Corvias’ management. Drew and Cook also will receive capital improvements over the life of the partnership. Howard Plaza Towers East and Howard Plaza Towers West will offer state-ofthe-art technology, enhanced fitness spaces, expanded common areas to include a TV lounge, classrooms and areas for faculty and students to meet.

The project’s outcome will deliver:

1,730

522

1,730 renovated beds in the East and West towers

522 beds in Drew and Cook residence halls

State-of-the-art technology

Expanded common areas to include a TV lounge

Enhanced fitness spaces

Classrooms and areas for faculty and students to meet

Corvias has raised $144 million in investments for the project, which will be used to provide $71 million in construction, management and maintenance of the Howard Plaza Towers.

While the University retains full decision-making authority over the project, Corvias will manage the renovation and operations of the facilities’ day-to-day activities for a performance-based management fee.

Through the partnership, students will benefit from having up-to-date residence facilities, and the University will have the opportunity to reinvest upfront cash flow in ways that best serve its community.

“This partnership is an innovative solution to leveraging our assets while improving the facilities for students so they are competitive in the higher education marketplace,” said President Wayne A. I. Frederick. “We have to find ways to solve complicated problems, invest in the University’s infrastructure and make our entire campus environment better and more attractive.”

The Howard Plaza Towers West renovation is expected to be completed in August 2017, while the Howard Plaza Towers East work is expected August 2018.

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Howard University Hosts U.S. Postal Service for Dorothy Height Forever Stamp Unveiling Ceremony

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More than 1,000 people, including members of the late Dorothy Height’s family, gathered to pay tribute to the activist and to get a first glimpse of the commemorative stamp.

Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick delivered the welcome and spoke of Height as a trailblazer who dedicated her life to fighting for social equality.

The Rev. Dr. Bernard Richardson delivered the invocation. During his prayer, he spoke of Height as a person whose life lifted up sisterhood, equality and love.

Alexis Herman, president of the Dorothy Irene Height Education Foundation, presided over the ceremony. She spoke of Height as a friend and mentor and mentioned her bold spirit. Herman noted, in Height’s words, the need to remain enlightened, engaged and encouraged to continue to make a difference, despite discouragement. Herman recounted Height’s spiritual strength being the leader’s most important ally in the face of adversity and obstacles.

Ronald Stroman, deputy postmaster general and chief government relations officer, unveiled the official stamp, which features artist Thomas Blackshear II’s gouache and acrylics on a board portrait of Height. Blackshear’s portrait is based on photographer Lateef Mangum’s 2009 photo of Height. Derry Noyes, Postal Service art director, designed the stamp.

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Other speakers included U.S. Rep. John Lewis; Ingrid Saunders Jones, chair of the National Council of Negro Women; and the Rev. Dr. Vashti Murphy McKenzie, bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Dorothy Height Forever Stamp can be purchased at usps.com/stamps and at local post offices.

Howard University Students Inspired after U.S. Presidential Inauguration, Women’s March on Washington In active citizenship, Howard students were among hundreds of thousands of people who descended on Washington, D.C., during the presidential inauguration weekend Alexandria Stith (’17), senior English and philosophy major from Richmond, Virginia, attended the Jan. 20 inauguration for President Donald Trump with a friend. Stith said her attendance was prompted by curiosity and that she tried to approach the event with neutrality, so as not to predetermine her experience.

For Glenn Vaulx (’19), sophomore architecture major from Memphis, Tennessee, the most profound experience from the inauguration was not Trump’s speech itself, but standing in the crowd and speaking with Trump supporters.

Nazeer Jeffries (’20), a freshman political science and economics major from Augusta, Georgia, attended the inauguration and the Women’s March

on Washington the following day, despite his family and friends being concerned for his safety at the initial event.

“I got into the inauguration, and I went to the zone that was designated for me, and I was the only person of color there,” Jeffries said. “It was kind of awkward for a second, but no one really heckled me. They just looked at me and shrugged away.”

Jeffries said he was most inspired by the solidarity of the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., which featured speakers like activists Angela Davis, America Ferrera, Gloria Steinem and Janet Mock. More than 670 marches were reported around the world, including in Nigeria, Germany, Chile and Japan, with nearly 5 million marchers.

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“It’s important to stand in solidarity with your Black women and women in general,” Banks said.

“People always think that we have progressed, significantly,” said Jeffries, “and then, something like this happens. And you think to yourself: ‘Have we really progressed?’ And then, someone like Angela Davis comes out and tells you: ‘No, we really haven’t.’ That was the most epiphanous moment, I guess, for me. So, I just figure we have a lot of work to do as Americans to move forward from this. Angela Davis gave us hope that us being there…was going to make a difference.”

Najah Banks (’18), a junior psychology major from White Plains, New York, and her boyfriend, Jordan Jean (’18), a junior political science major from Palm Beach County, Florida, volunteered at the Women’s March on behalf of NARAL ProChoice America, a national women’s organization that advocates and lobbies for women’s rights to choose their reproductive freedoms.

Whether observed or practiced, the students independently agreed that there is a high level of apathy among their generation that requires acknowledgment and remedy.

Banks indicated the most notable experience during inauguration weekend for her was hearing 6-year-old immigrant rights activist Sophie Cruz speak.

“I’m 20, and her résumé is way more impressive than mine,” Banks said. “And if she can have a voice, I can have a voice. And if she can fight, I can fight.”

“It’s important to stand in solidarity with your Black women and women in general,” Banks said.

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New appointment

Howard University Adds Goldman Sachs Executive John F. W. Rogers to Board of Trustees Howard University recently announced that John F.W. Rogers has been appointed to Howard University’s board of trustees.

Rogers is executive vice president and secretary to the board of directors of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and a member of the firm’s management committee. Rogers also is chairman of the Goldman Sachs Foundation and Goldman Sachs Gives, a donor advised fund.

Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, he was a senior fellow at the Baker Institute at Rice University and spent several years in government service as under secretary at the U.S. Department of State, as an assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury and as an assistant to the president at the White House. He is a recipient of the Presidential Citizen Medal.

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“Mr. Rogers is a pioneer in the financial industry, and we are excited to welcome him to Howard’s board,” said Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick. “We appreciate his willingness to serve as a trustee and look forward to benefiting from his judgment and counsel.”

Rogers serves as a life trustee and treasurer of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, vice chairman of the board of the White House Historical Association, vice chairman of the board of the American Academy in Rome, and member and chairman emeritus of the advisory board of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution. He also is a member and past chairman of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

New appointment

New Chair Named for Howard University’s Department of African Studies Howard University’s College of Arts and Sciences named Mohamed Camara, Ph.D., as full professor and chair of the department of African studies. Camara comes to the University from EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University in Florida, where he served as director of the McNair Scholars Program, speaker of the faculty senate, and associate vice president for academics.

Camara was awarded Embry-Riddle’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in 2009. He has written several books and peer-reviewed articles on African studies, including the areas of political history, media and society, religion and philosophy, the military and politics, and intra-African foreign relations.

Camara previously worked as a lecturer and associate chair of the department of philosophy at the University of Conakry in Guinea; a journalist for National Radio Television Network of Guinea; a correspondent for Radio France International; a speechwriter for the Press Bureau of the Presidency of the Republic of Guinea; and the president of the University Press of Conakry.

He earned a Ph.D. from Northwestern University in history on a Fulbright Scholarship. Camara’s current research interest centers on health and human security in the countries of the Mano River Union in the wake of the 2014-15 Ebola crisis.

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Bridging the Gap PLEDGE CARD A $25 MILLION STUDENT AID CAMPAIGN

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For online giving, visit http://www.howard.edu/bridgingthegap/

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Will you answer the call?

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