The Blue & White Flash Page 6- September 12, 2013
News
JSU commemorates 12th anniversary of 9/11 tragedy Lisette Riley Staff Writer
Can you remember where you were and what you were doing on September 11, 2001 at 8:45am? For many it is a day they will never forget. For many, it’s a day to honor and pay respect to those who lost loved ones and for those who sacrificed their own life to save another life. It was the day 12 years ago when 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group alQaeda hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. This act of terror against the United States killed more than 3,000 people including more than 400 police officers and firefighters and deployed thousands of our armed forces personnel to the Middle East. Jackson State University’s Veteran Center, in collaboration with the Jackson Vet Center, honored first responders, veterans, police officers and Fire Department personnel who sacrificed their life and served their nation during the September 11 attack.
Yesterday at 10 a.m., in recognition of the day, Jackson State University students received information, brochures and giveaways to honor veterans and family members who were first responders. Tim Abram, director of the JSU Veterans Center and an army veteran serving as a Captain in the Army Individual Ready Reserve, stated “the Veteran Center currently serves 310 veterans – veteran students, active duty military, Reservists, National Guard, and spousal dependents. Jackson State University has provided this ceremony since 2002.” The Jackson Vet Center, located on Lelia Drive, champions the effort to aid veterans in reintegrating back into society through outreach via education coupled with other advocacy initiatives that can help facilitate the difficult process of readjustment. Terry Wynn, a readjustment technician in the Vet center mobile unit, ventures out into the rural and urban areas where veterans are in need of a variety of services such as counseling, veteran eligibility and benefit services, referral and education. “Our goal today was to de-
velop partnership due to a lot of veterans transitioning back from Afghan and Iraq war,” Wynn stated. “They’re starting to attend college campuses and JSU has a large population of combat veterans and to let the veterans know that we’re here to keep our promise and that we’re here to help them readjust back into society.” Abram remembers where he was on September 11, 2001; he was serving as director of Service Learning in the JSU School of Education en route to a meeting with the vice president when he was informed by students of the attack that morning. He remembered that all flights had been grounded due to the plane hijacking and threat of further attacks. Abram’s initial reaction was an overwhelming sense of shock in trying to understand the severity of the situation that the country was facing at this frantic moment in our nation’s history. Abram said that student veterans face many challenges since 9/11. Students attending school are always anticipating deployment, and the Veteran Center advocates for veteran issues and for those
Photo: Lisette Riley Veterans Association members hand out information on Veterans services.
who are eligible to receive education benefits. LeMarcus Johnson, a graduate student majoring in social work from Cleveland, Miss., remembers where he was on 9/11. He describes it as an event that he’ll never forget, that changed his life. Johnson, an Army serviceconnected veteran, said: “I was a
Jackson State University undergraduate computer technology student and had just arrived to my dorm room where my roommate and I saw the planes crashing into the twin towers on the news over and over again. I immediately became worried that I would have to deploy because of this act of terror.”
JSU and Holmes sign agreement to increase college graduates
University Communications Jackson State University signed a major agreement on Sept. 5 with Holmes Community College (HCC) to create an academic partnership to increase educational opportunities and degree completion for students. This Academic Partnership Agreement formalizes JSU’s commitment to work collaboratively to meet the educational
needs of the citizens of Mississippi. HCC President Dr. Glenn Boyce; Dr. Don Burnham, vice president of the Ridgeland campus; JSU President Dr. Carolyn W. Meyers, JSU Provost James C. Renick, and Dr. Priscilla Slade, special assistant to the JSU provost for community colleges, were among those in attendance.
Others on hand include numerous faculty from both institutions and Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee and state Rep. Rita Martinson of Madison. The memorandum of understanding will allow HCC students to pursue a bachelor’s degree from JSU in selected fields, including elementary education and criminal justice. JSU will provide junior and senior level courses on the campus of HCC, establishing a process for the students to receive a JSU degree without leaving the Ridgeland campus. “This is an opportunity for two educational institutions to work together to increase baccalaureate attainment. It also creates stronger lines of communication among faculty while building innovative teams to enhance research and curricular ventures,” Meyers said. “This partnership contributes to students’ sense of place by allowing them to continue their education without leaving the community where they began their higher education experience – right here at the Ridgeland campus of Holmes Community College.” Boyce said the partnership is in
line with the goals of Mississippi to achieve a post-secondary education for a larger percent of its population. “We’re bringing a university education and a community college foundation to them. They’re going to be able to reach their dreams,” Boyce said. “We also want to reach out to non-traditional students.” Jackson State already has an agreement with Hinds Community College that is focused on easing the transition from community college to a four-year university. The JSUHinds Community College partnership is a key part of JSU’s overall community college initiative. Under the agreement, HCC will provide classroom space and a list of potential graduates and their corresponding degree programs, and both institutions will develop and maintain specific Matriculation Agreements (MAs), outlining courses to be taken at HCC and courses to be taken at JSU. The MA guarantees to the HCC student that the prescribed courses may be used toward a specific degree plan at JSU. “This is unique in that it offers the JSU degree on the community college campus,” Slade said.
Renick said the signing comes at an exciting time for higher education in Mississippi. “We’re reaching out to students throughout the state to provide increased educational opportunities. The Community College Relations office was developed for this purpose,” Renick said. Jackson State University is a diverse, technologically-advanced, four-year university steeped in history and committed to preparing its students to become global leaders. The university provides a caring, nurturing environment in which to challenge students to improve themselves and serve others. Holmes Community College, a comprehensive public institution located in central Mississippi, provides innovative educational and cultural opportunities to its constituents through campus-based and distance education programs. The college seeks to prepare its students for university transfer, productive employment and lifelong learning by offering an Associate in Arts degree, Associate in Applied Science degree, technical certificates and career certificates, as well as workforce training.