I’ve been following the tragic story of Shanquella Robinson, a 25-year-old woman who died mysteriously during a trip to Mexico with her friends. I saw the video of her being beaten up by a so-called friend. (You can read all the details about this story on Page 4). Tis story is heartbreaking, especially for her family in desperate need of answers. I’m a news junkie so I watched national news waiting on more on this story. It didn’t come. What did come was 17 stories on four college stu dents killed in Idaho. Don’t get me wrong, all murders are tragic, but why does one warrant a story, with reporters, interviews, analysts every hour and the other can’t even get a kicker slot (that’s those 15 second stories they run at the end of the newscast). One guess. Ding, ding, ding. Because the victims in the Idaho story are white and Shan quella is Black. If we’re always hearing “All lives matter,” why can’t Shanquella’s family get as much media coverage as those Idaho college students? As a member of the media, and former employee of the mainstream media, I don’t believe someone sits in an ofce saying, “Let’s cover this story because the victims are white and ignore the other because they’re Black.” But let’s be realistic, implicit bias is ALWAYS at work. Our stories aren’t that big of a deal, until we MAKE them a big deal. And sometimes that’s up to you, the reader/viewer. When you see bias, call it out. Tat’s the only way we can ever hope for change.
Former First Lady, Michelle Obama, opted to straighten her natural hair rather than wear it in braids so that the United States could acclimate to “having a Black family in the White House.” During a recent book event at the War ner Teatre in Washington, DC., the forever First Lady who now wears her hair in braids, said she wanted to stay out of the spotlight so that her husband, former President Barack Obama, could focus on his legislative objectives and that meant keeping her hair straight. Tat saddens me but it’s
indicative of the pressure placed on Black women to adhere to white beauty stan dards by straightening their hair; rather than having braids, an afro, or dreads. I can’t wait for the day that Black women can….just be.
Kelly Rowland defends Chris Brown Kelly Rowland doesn’t tend to be a very divisive or controversial fgure in pop music. But when she found herself in the awkward position of having to accept the Favorite Male R&B Artist trophy on behalf of the absent Chris Brown at the recent American Music Awards ceremony, she wound up confronting the pro testing audience. Chris was originally scheduled to perform a Michael Jackson tribute, but that was unex pectedly called of with no explanation and he skipped the show altogether. When audience members began booing afer she announced that Chris had won Favorite Male R&B Artist, Kelly ofered this defense: “Excuse me — chill out,” Rowland scolded, sternly pointing a fnger at the rowdy crowd. She then continued: “But I wanted to tell Chris, thank you so much for making great R&B music. And I want to tell him thank you for being an incredible performer. I’ll take this award, bring it to you. I love you. Congratulations. And con gratulations to all the nominees in this category.” Let me be clear, I don’t condone anything Chris did in his past, but we are not our worst mistake. Tis has not been a pattern for Chris. Rihanna has forgiven him (and is of living her best life). At what point do we stop punishing someone for something they did in their youth? Head over to our social media page and let’s talk about it.
On the Web:
• Travel tips this holiday season.
• Black business spotlights on our Community Central Channel.
• Sports Reporter Terrence Harris takes a deep dive into UH’s basketball program.
When Rep. Karen Bass is sworn in as Los Angeles mayor next month, Black peo ple will be leading the four largest cities in America.
“As Black mayors continue to win elec tions this cycle, we are excited that, for the frst time, the four largest cities – New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago & Houston – are each led by an African American mayor,” the African American Mayors Association said.
Bass, a six-term congresswoman who rep resents south and west Los Angeles, will be Los Angeles’ frst female mayor. She will be sworn in on December 12.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a retired New York Police Department cap tain, took his oath earlier this year. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was elected in 2019 and is currently running for reelection. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has been in ofce since 2016 and his current term concludes at the end of next year.
The four of them are members of the Democratic party.
“I am honored to be one of four African American mayors leading in the nation’s largest cities. It is historical and inspira tional and reflects that this country has
come a long way. All over the map, African Americans are leading, and when you view us collectively, it is more than 1/3 of the GDP
of the United States. What we, as mayors, represent is not just about being Black; it is about being ready to serve in these defning
Everyone knows Black business owners have challenges accessing credit, but who’s doing anything to rectify the situation? According to some local entrepreneurs, JP Morgan Chase is.
Through their new Special Purpose Credit Program (SPCP), Chase is tak ing action locally and nationally to make accessing much-needed credit easier for small businesses in historically underserved areas; i.e. Black and Latinx communities.
“Te way the program works, it’s com pletely anonymous to the customer,” said Ben Walter, CEO, Chase Business Bank ing. “No one knows they’re getting a spe cial deal. For small business customers who work in majority/minority areas, access to our credit will become easier. Tat means for some customers that might not have qualifed for credit, today they qualify for credit. Or it might mean that they move up and get better pricing on the credit that they qualifed for.”
Te initiative, part of Chase’s $30 billion commitment to supporting businesses in majority Black and Latinx communities, began as a pilot program earlier this year in four cities: Detroit, Miami, Dallas and Houston.
The program, which expanded to 21 cities in July and is now available for businesses in majority Black and Latinx
neighborhoods across the U.S., is the frst of its kind to be ofered for small business owners nationally and one of many initia tives Chase has introduced a program to expand small business relationships, drive inclusive economic growth and increase access to credit for minority small business owners in a sustainable way.
“Access to capital has historically been disproportionally challenging for small business owners who live and work in com munities of color. We want to do our part
to create more parity by saying yes to more business owners in these areas so they can grow and thrive, and their communities can beneft in turn,” said Walter
Te program is geography-based, allow ing the bank to target capital to the areas that need it most. Te goal of the program is to extend credit to small business own ers who might not otherwise be approved or receive it on less favorable terms. Cus tomers do not need to do anything special to qualify. If the business is located in an
eligible area, then the application will be evaluated under the program.
Steven and Sherice Garner, owners of SouthernQ, a Black-owned BBQ restaurant that is a Chase client, know all about the history of credit and loan access issues for Black entrepreneurs and the knowledge gap for all frst-time business owners regardless of race.
“Tere were so many things that we did not know, and you don’t know what you don’t know,” said Sherice. “So, when we did go into our bank, we didn’t know the right questions to ask. And there was the stigma in the community that banks don’t give Black people loans. And we believed that. So, for the frst maybe fve or six years of our busi ness, we never even asked. We didn’t even apply. We self-funded our business.”
Since then, the Garners have received fnancing that allowed them to purchase the building that houses SouthernQ.
“If you look prior to when we started our program, there was a gap in approval rates between our majority areas and majority/ minority areas of about 11%. Now that was due to legitimate credit reasons that are obviously anchored in long-term dis parities. Te aim of this program is to close as much of that gap as possible, and we’ve been able to close it to 2-3 points. That really makes a meaningful diference in access to credit,” said Walter.
New information is coming to light in a case that has garnered attention nationwide. A police report says Shan quella Robinson, 25, was alive when medical help frst arrived at the villa where she was staying with a group of people last month in Cabo, Mex ico. A Charlotte newspaper obtained the report, which differs from the death certifcate which said she died within 15 minutes of being injured. Instead, the police report excerpt shows a doctor from a local hospital was with Robinson and friends for close to three hours before she was pronounced dead.
Robinson is a Charlotte native who traveled to Cabo on Oct. 28 with a group of friends. She died a day later. Since her death - and afer a video of one of her friends fghting her went viral - the FBI and Mexican police authorities have launched investi gations into how she died. Te lack of conclusive evidence and confict ing explanations has led to her story going viral, invoking global outcry with countless people closely follow ing Robinson’s death. The hashtag #JusticeForShanquella has been trending on Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok.
Video shows Robinson walking through the villa excitedly looking for her friends. Details from there are sketchy. But here’s the timeline according to the report:
2:13 p.m. - Wenter Donovan, one of six friends who traveled with Rob inson, called for medical help at Villa Linda 32, a property run by company Cabo Villas.
3:13 p.m. - Dr. Karolina Beat riz Ornelas Gutiérrez, from a local hospital, arrived to treat Robinson. According to the Charlotte Observer, Gutiérrez says she was told that Rob inson had “drunk a lot of alcohol” and needed to “be given an IV.” Gutiérrez says Robinson had stable vital signs but was dehydrated, unable to com municate verbally and appeared to
be inebriated. Te report said Guti érrez believed Robinson needed to be transferred to a hospital but her friends insisted that she be treated in the villa.
4:13 p.m. - Robinson begins hav ing a seizure. Te convulsions from the seizure lasted less than a minute.
4:14 p.m.: Gutiérrez requests that the friends take Robinson to the hos pital. Tey declined and insisted on her being treated at the villa.
4:45 p.m. - Wenter Donovan calls 911 for an ambulance while the doc tor administers CPR.
5:25 p.m. - Police arrive.
5:30 p.m. - Paramedics arrive and administer 14 rounds of CPR, five doses of adrenaline and six discharges (AED shocks) without success.
5:47 p.m. - Shanquella declared dead.
Officials are seeking answers to what happened before their arrival.
Sallamondra Robinson, Shanquel la’s mother, says each friend from the
trip has a diferent story and they ini tially told her that her daughter had alcohol poisoning. Robinson’s family became suspicious of her friends’ claims that she died of alcohol poi soning when a Mexican autopsy report showed that her cause of death was “severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation.” Atlas Luxation is a form of neck injury.
Mexican authorities are investi gating Robinson’s death as a possible femicide, the State Attorney Gen eral’s Office of Baja California Sur announced. Femicide is “the gen der-based murder of a woman or girl by a man. Te FBI began investigating Robinson’s death amid the conficting reports.
A video has gone viral and shows a naked woman, barely verbal, being hit and punched in the face multiple times by another woman until she falls to the ground. A person not seen in the video is heard saying “Quella can you at least fight back?” Salla mondra Robinson confrmed its her daughter in the video being beaten.
Te Houston Police Department and a group of large retailers provided Houston residents with safety tips they can use while shopping this holiday season.
“Everybody has to shop during this season, and we want peo ple to get out and contribute to our great economy, our great city, but we want to be able to do it safely,” said Chief Troy Finner.
• Limit the number of items people carry around, like big handbags and reducing the amount of debit or credit cards carried while shopping.
• Watch the items they wear — like designer brands and jewelry.
• Be mindful of items lef in their vehicles, such as bags, fre arms, shopping bags and electronics.
• Be aware of surroundings at all times while shopping as well.
“Everybody, everybody likes flashy jewelry,” said Finner. “Leave it home right now, save that for the Halloween parties and everything else, let’s just shop and look out for one another.”
HPD said it’s focusing heavily on parking lot crimes.
“When you’re leaving a store, get of your cell phones, don’t be distracted, okay,” said Finner. “If you want to talk, please talk in the store where it’s safe and where you [have] somebody.”
HPD said shoppers can get escorted to their vehicles if they feel unsafe walking out to their cars alone or if they suspect any suspicious activity. HPD will have more ofcers on duty and at retail stores to keep everyone safe this holiday season.
“We’re going to have a lot of ofcers out here,” he said. “Seen and unseen, in uniform and plain clothes, working these areas – retail, some of our malls.”
President Joe Biden’s plan to provide up to $20,000 in federal student loan forgiveness has been blocked by two federal courts, leaving millions of borrowers wondering what happens next. e Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to reverse one of the lower court decisions, warning that many Americans will face financial hardship if the plan remains blocked.
Here’s what to know if you’ve applied for relief:
While the application for relief has been taken down from the Federal Student Aid website, applications that have already been filed are on hold while the appeal works its way through the courts.
“Courts have issued orders blocking our student debt relief program,” the Education Department said on its site. “As a result, at this time, we are not accepting applications. We are seeking to overturn those orders.”
A federal judge in Texas ruled that the plan overstepped the White House’s authority. Before that, a federal appeals court in St. Louis put the plan on temporary hold while it considers a challenge from six Republican-led states.
Still, advocates believe the administration will succeed in court.
“We’re really confident they’re going to find a way forward to cancel people’s debt,” said Katherine Welbeck at the Student Borrower Protection Center.
Experts say student loan forgiveness has the potential to end up before the Supreme Court, meaning this could be a lengthy process.
Most people with student loan debt have not been required to make payments during the coronavirus pandemic, but payments are set to resume, along with the accrual of interest, in January.
Biden previously said the payment pause will not be extended again, but that was before the courts halted his plan. He’s now facing mounting pressure to continue the pause while the legal challenges to the program play out.
More than 26 million people applied for cancellation over the course of less than a month, according to the Education Department. If you’re one of them, there’s nothing more you need to do right now. About 16 million people already had their applications approved, according to the Biden
administration. Yet because of court actions, none of the relief has actually been delivered.
e Education Department will “quickly process their relief once we prevail in court,” White House Press Secretary Karine JeanPierre said.
For those who have not yet applied, the application for debt cancellation is no longer online. But there are still steps people can take to make sure their debt is canceled, should the appeal be successful, according to Welbeck. “People should still check their eligibility,” she said. “As news changes, people should look out for updates from the Department of Education.”
e debt forgiveness plan announced in August would cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for those making less than $125,000 or households with less than $250,000 in income. Pell Grant recipients, who typically demonstrate more financial need, would get an additional $10,000 in debt forgiven, for a total of $20,000. Borrowers qualify if their loans were disbursed before July 1.
About 43 million student loan borrowers are eligible for some debt forgiveness, with 20 million who could have their debt erased entirely, according to the administration.
Joyce,
By ReShonda Tate
anksgiving is one of the biggest holidays in
the things they’re grateful for. But there’s much more to do
bedrock of bonding. So we’ve
The Macy’s parade is one of the most famous holiday traditions in the U.S. In New York City, thousands of people line the streets of Manhattan to watch performances from pop stars, marching bands, Broadway shows and more. This particular parade is known for its giant inflatable balloons that float between the skyscrapers, high above the onlookers.
Pull out that box of old family photos as a nostalgic touch on the table and use it to inspire “remember when” banter. A er the meal wraps up, watch old family movies or flip through photo albums for a few good laughs and maybe even a few tears.
Yes, you’ve been using paper plates and aluminum foil for those taking food to go. Paper plates and plain Tupperware is so last year. Send guests home with a few le overs in decorated containers (you can get a set for as little as $6) or wrap them up beautifully in to-go-style Mason jars.
We’re used to tailgating at homecoming and football games, but what a way to greet your outof-town guests (or just another way to celebrate the season). Host a casual, tailgate-style party. Bake some treats and a big batch of warm apple cider to give guests upon their arrival. Talk about a warm
welcome and something everyone will look forward to year a er year!
Thanksgiving is a perfect time to reflect on the year and your blessings alongside family and friends. Whether it’s during the meal or while relaxing later in the day, make it a tradition to go around the table and have everyone say what they are most thankful for in 2022. It’s
wonderful to hear everyone talk about their favorite moments and experiences from the previous year.
Whether you’re watching, attending, or playing, football is a big part of many families’ Turkey Day itinerary. Burn off some of those Thanksgiving calories outside. Some families split into teams and play a game of football.
Because most people celebrate Thanksgiving with their families, dedicating time to give thanks with friends has become equally important. Friends gathering together, or “Friendsgiving,” is a newer tradition. Whether on Thanksgiving Day or another time during the holidays, celebrate your nearest and dearest friends by hosting a get-together.
Game night is an excellent way to keep your family together a er the meal. Whether it’s cards, board games or dominoes, kids and adults can get in on the action. Keep a list of winners to revisit year a er year. Consider presenting some kind of trophy so that it can defended every year.
Let your kids cra personal gratitude bracelets — or have the whole family join in. They’ll love wearing their creations all year round. Or ask everyone to write what they are thankful for on a DIY butcher-paper tablecloth. Even those who think it’s hokey might find themselves engrossed in creating.
In the spirit of giving thanks and helping others, many communities across the U.S. hold annual food drives that collect non-perishable packaged and canned foods for those in need. These organizations also host Thanksgiving dinners so that everyone has a place to enjoy a warm meal.
“It’s the long walk a er the meal. Most just get out and stroll the neighborhood laughing and reflecting; seeing who’s putting up Christmas decorations on Thanksgiving Day. Stopping and watching kids/families play football in the yard or park. Just a good time.”
– Jacquie Hood Martin“Turkey trot on Thanksgiving Day and marathon on New Year’s Day.” – Jae Andy Be “My
“Fighting over the turkey legs on Thanksgiving. A er the prayer ends, it’s every man for themselves.”
– L. Lovely Scott
“There are usually nine-12 family members at my house for Thanksgiving dinner. A er dinner we exchange names for our Secret Santa gi exchange. Then on the Saturday between Christmas and New Year’s Day we squeeze into my youngest daughter’s apartment.”
– Venus Mason Thues
“Ever since losing both my husband and 10-year-old daughter in a car accident, I had to create new traditions for me and my youngest. The old traditions of family gatherings at each other’s home hurt my heart too much to gather and see them missing in attendance. So we travel during the holidays and enjoy lovely vacations wherever we decide to visit. Some years we have been to tropical islands other years we chose the snow. Each year we’ve created new traditions and memories away from home that cures the longing in our hearts for the other half of our family. I highly recommend that the bereaved be intentional in planning for new traditions during the holidays that can work for them. Insisting on doing things the same way can hurt our fragile hearts while watching others enjoy their intact families!”
– Bernice Dickey
Houston transplant Dawn Jenkins is nationally revered for her work as director of omas Street Health Center and HIV Services for Harris Health System. is past September, Jenkins celebrated her fi h-year anniversary of leading the largest HIV/
AIDS service in Harris County.
During her leadership, she has maintained services and care for 5,700 patients annually while navigating historic hardships including the Hurricane Harvey receovery, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of Monkeypox.
Jenkins gladly spoke with the Defender about the topic and her role in providing services to those with HIV/AIDS.
Dawn Jenkins: When I was five, I always said, “I wanna be a superstar,” whatever that means, and “I wanna help people.” So, there’s a little artist side of me and I have been a part of an African dance troop. I took tap and ballet and jazz. I’ve performed on ABC, “ e View,” a little show in Carnegie Hall and a couple of smaller venues in New York City.
e helping part has always, always just been a part of who I am, and who I was from Girl Scouts. Did you ever know anybody being in Girl Scouts from elementary school all the way to college? at was me. Girl Scouts, all the way through. And I tell people, my career or interest in the arts. I take Broadway wherever I go, whether it’s in healthcare or social work. If you ask anybody that I work with, team, colleagues, peers, patients, they’re like, “She’s animated.” ere is joy inside of me that I have to bring.
Defender: What is Thomas Street?
Jenkins: omas Street or “ e Street” is a health center within Harris Health System. And one of the goals that I’m trying to do is connect those dots because omas Street has a very robust, important history in the field of HIV and it’s a part of Harris Health. But most o en, if you say, I represent Harris Health, HIV services, people go, “Okay. at’s nice.” And when I say “At omas Street,” they go, “Oh, like, wow. omas Street.”
Birthplace: Queens, N.Y.
Education: B.A. in Social Science with a minor in psychology from Hofstra University in Long Island. Hunter College, Master’s in Social Work
Mantra: “Just be nice, and be nice to yourself.”
Most rewarding thing about her job: Whether it’s a crowded day...and lines are long, or it’s an awesome day and everything just flows right, I go in there to bring some joy and to let people know that HIV is not a death sentence.
I heard about omas Street even when I was in New York City. omas Street is the first freestanding HIV-dedicated clinic in the United States. So, in the very beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, where it was just a tough time — people didn’t know what it was, a lot of stigma, a lot of discrimination— omas Street was that place where you could go and not just get the healthcare services that you needed, but you got a sense of belonging. Like, we’re not afraid of you. And we just broke through those stigmas.
Defender: What does the public need to know about HIV/AIDS right now?
Jenkins: What you need to know is, you need to know. People need to get tested because the more you know, the quicker you can take those antiretroviral phenomenal medicines and then you could be virally suppressed.
By Laura Onyeneho
Rice University’s recently inaugurated Reginald DesRoches is the first Black and first immigrant to hold the position as president since its founding in 1912.
Although DesRoches assumed his role in July, he marked the beginning of his term during his inauguration ceremony in October where he promised to continue the momentum of academic excellence and growth the university has seen.
Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, DesRoches was raised in Queens, N.Y. and studied mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, where he also received his master’s and doctorate degrees.
He taught at Georgia Institute of Technology as a professor of civil and environmental engineering for nearly 18 years before starting his journey at Rice University in 2017 as dean of engineering and then provost in 2019.
Now as Rice’s eighth president, he has a position which encourages the institution to be open with the struggle of its racist past. Founder William Marsh Rice was a slave owner who endowed the school as a whites-only institution until the acceptance of its first Black student in the mid-1960s.
DesRoches’ passion for academia, dedication to improving the quality of life for students of all backgrounds, and vision for the institution plays a major part in the school’s efforts for change, and he is doing this all while recovering from an early-stage diagnosis of prostate cancer.
e Defender spoke with DesRoches about what he’s been up to in his new role.
Defender: What are the top priorities you are focused on this school year?
DesRoches: I’ve been at Rice University for five years, first as dean of engineering and then I became provost a few years later. Now I’m president. I’ve been president for about six months and the broadness of the goals are still the same. Obviously, some things are slightly different as I move up into different roles. One is certainly to increase the visibility and impact of the research as a premiere resource university.
Universities are increasingly being called upon to serve as economic engines of the communities in which they reside. My goal is to really create that infrastructure for us to drive economic development and technologies, creation of new companies and approaches in the city of Houston.
Defender: What initiatives have you launched to increase the diversity of the university’s faculty and graduate student population and sustain it?
DesRoches: Rice is routinely recognized for having a very strong race and class interactions and having a campus as friendly to LGBTQ and other underrepresented groups. In fact, if you look at this matriculating class, the class that came in that will graduate in 2026, there is no single ethnic or racial minority with 32% of our incoming students being from underrepresented groups, Latinx, African American,or Native American. It is an extremely diverse campus and it’s something we are proud of. Diversity is not tolerated; it’s celebrated here at Rice. When I arrived as provost in 2019, we set up the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and hired our first vice president Alex Byrd to that role who happens to be a Rice alum and historian professor at Rice. e goal is to provide a focused and coordinated effort around various things we want to do as a campus around DEI. We’ve doubled the number of Black faculty in five years. It’s really important that students see people in classrooms that look like them. We’ve diversified our graduate student population and significantly formed new partnerships with HBCUs. We launched a couple of new curricular additions including one that is a five-week class for incoming students to orient them to issue around diversity. Also we have a new
requirement for all students to take as part of general education.
Defender: Rice is considered one of the most elite private colleges in the South and ranks 15th in the nation in the U.S News Best Colleges 2022-2023 edition. How have you maintained academic excellence even through the COVID-19 pandemic? What new strategies have been implemented in the “new normal?”
DesRoches: I would like to say that we were one of the premiere universities in the world and part of our goal is to increase the worldwide reputation and impact of the university. Clearly, we are a great university, but I’d like to see us do more and be more present and known throughout the world.
COVID has impacted all universities and for us we’ve always had two rules. One is to make sure we maintain the health and safety of all members of our community. e other is that we make sure we’re always delivering on our mission of education and research. It requires us to be flexible among our faculty and staff.
In some cases, we’ve asked them on short notice to shi to online or we’ve asked them to come back in person when we think we have the campus in a safe place. Same thing with our students. ey’ve been jostled back and forth for the past two years and they’ve been very flexible as well. One of the reasons I think we’ve done very well is that everybody has taken personal responsibility for themselves and keeping their communities safe while also delivering on our mission.
Defender: In January, Rice was named in a lawsuit along with several elite universities in a “price-fixing cartel” conspiring to favor wealthy applicants, which the university denies. What do you say to those students, families and community members who still feel skeptical about the situation?
DesRoches: I’ll just say that the lawsuit doesn’t make any specific allegations against Rice. We believe that it’s meritless and we’ve been vocal about defending our financial aid program. We follow our own policies in providing very generous aid. We are committed to need blind admission and we will stand by that. We know that there are people around the country who are skeptical about universities, but come spend some time at Rice and other universities to see how we truly transform lives of our students.
Kelvin Sampson gives props to HBCU basketball University of Houston coach Kelvin Sampson had nothing but praise for HBCU basketball, particularly Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M and some of the SWAC schools a er the way they fared in the inaugural Pac-12/ SWAC Legacy Series.
“I’m a huge HBCU fan and I want to applaud the Pac-12 for what they just did. I wish more schools would give HBCUs a chance to show people what they have and who they are. It’s getting better but it’s a long way from being where it needs to be.”
PVAMU and TSU come up short PVAMU and TSU both went into the final regular-season football weekend with their destinies in their hands and both came out with disappointing results. The Panthers needed to win at Mississippi Valley State to win the SWAC West title and a second straight conference championship game appearance, but they fell to the Delta Devils 27-7.
Now PVAMU needs Southern to lose to Grambling State in this weekend’s Bayou Classic in order to wrap up the division title. TSU, meanwhile, had a chance to secure its first winning season since 2000 and had an outside chance at winning the division but that all went away when the Tigers fell 24-20 at Alabama A&M.
The Texas Southern University Department of Athletics officially accepted the 2021-22 Southwestern Athletic Conference Academic Success Award. The SWAC Academic Success Award is an award based on each member institution’s collective ranking in the categories of highest four-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) average, highest single-year APR average, and highest Graduate Success Rate (GSR).
By Terrance Harrise University of Houston men’s basketball team is looking like a team that could be poised to make another special run this season. And it’s not because of its national Top 3 ranking the past few weeks.
is edition of Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars just seems to have it all. ey have talented experienced players like Marcus Sasser, Jamal Shead and Mark Tramon and a bigtime one-and-done type freshman in Jarace Walker. And then there is explosive bench depth starting with freshman Terrance Arceneaux.
But what’s interesting is listening to the Cougars’ ninth-year coach speak cautiously about this year’s team, almost putting the brakes on the enthusiasm that has become the norm around the Fertitta Center.
“ e only advice I would give people who follow this team is – and this is as honest as you can possibly be – your team is never as good as you think it is and it’s never as bad as you think it is,” said Sampson, who has led the Cougars to the Final Four and Elite Eight, respectively, the last two seasons.
“Are we a great team? Absolutely not. We are not. I know what a great team looks like. I’ve had some. is one is not there yet.”
That isn’t to suggest Sampson doesn’t believe these Cougars will get there this season and have a chance for another deep run to the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four.
ese Coogs are just that talented.
It’s still early – just five games into the season – but you could see the signs of greatness in a runaway 83-48 win over a solid but overmatched Texas Southern team that will dominate the SWAC this season. It was also evident a few nights later when the Cougars went to Oregon in their first true road game and handled the Ducks en route to a 66-56 victory.
We will know more come next month when the Coogs host No. 18 Alabama and then go visit No. 16 Virginia. en comes the always challenging trip through the American Athletic Conference where teams like Cincinnati and Memphis await.
“We’ve got a lot of question marks that we will have to answer as we go in December and January,” said the 67-year-old Sampson, who now has 704 career wins
to his credit. “ is team is going to lose games, just like everybody.
“ e difference with me and most people is I don’t overreact in wins or losses. I don’t get carried away with a win and I don’t get carried away with losses. Because the next day is what’s important. Discussing it and talking about it is irrelevant to me. What’s important to me is what lesson are we learning. It’s like Ws and Ls. Ws and Ls are wisdom and lessons. You’ve got to learn. at’s what this is all about.”
But make no mistake, Sampson loves this team, and he is right to. e Cougars are good in so many ways. Sasser, the team’s leading scorer and heartbeat, can stroke it on the perimeter along with Tramon and Shead while Walker is a load to handle on the interior along with J’Wan Roberts.
UH also defends and rebounds like nobody’s business. And they play unselfish basketball together and they play for each other.
“I think our unit is our strength,” Sampson said. “We don’t have, this guy has to score for us to win. We’ve got a lot of guys.”
Lamar High School senior quarterback Ken neth Rosenthal has had a football in his hand since he was able to walk.
Rosenthal has a big arm that can make some big plays down the field when given the oppor tunity. In his junior year, he proved to be great at decision making after throwing for 1,275 yards, 11 TDs passing and rushing for seven TDs.
As a returning starter, Rosenthal led the Texans to an undefeated (6-0) district record and (9-3) overall record this season. In Lamar’s biggest
“I would like to say I am a dual threat that likes to stay in the pocket and throw the ball. But I can get out when I need to and deliver the ball to my guys. I’m always keeping my eyes down the field after scrambling.”
“I started playing with the Fort Bend Youth Football League on the First Colony Titans. Then went on to play with the Mis souri City Raiders, Sienna Stallions and the First Colony Broncos.”
regular-season test against Heights High School, Rosenthal shined his brightest throwing a 90-yard bomb pass that helped secure a 35-21 victory after Heights rallied in the second half.
Though Rosenthal completed his high school football journey with a tough 14-10 second-round playoff loss to Ridge Point, he is still on a mission to continue to the next level with hard work and dedication.
The Defender spoke with Rosenthal to discuss his style of play, early start and more.
college. There is good competition in those leagues and they prepare you for high school.”
“Keep a level head…we just want the guys to keep a level head and get the job done.”
“Like I said it is just staying level-headed and not big-headed. The game got close but we just stayed level-headed and got the job done.”
“A lot
guys that played in my leagues typically do really well in high school and
