Ocean Beat J ANUARY 201 6
The Official Publication of the Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul Alumni Chapter
Texas Southern University Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul Ocean of Soul Alumni Chapter Alumni Chapter Officers Officers Garnet Foster Garnet Foster President President
CHAPTER NEWS 2016 Membership Dues
Joselyn Coats Joselyn Coats V. P. of Membership V. P. of Membership
Membership Dues are $85
Kevin Jernigan Kevin Jernigan Treasurer Treasurer
Alumni who pay their dues will receive:
Pamela Scott Pamela Scott Recording Secretary Recording Secretary
Active Membership Card
Cynthia Gardner Cynthia Gardner Corresponding Secretary Corresponding Secretary
25 % discount off all OOSAC Activities (with membership card)
Leonard Faniuel SergeantLeonard At ArmsFaniuel Sergeant At Arms
www.tsuoceanalumni.com/membership
Donald Greer Donald Greer Parliamentarian Parliamentarian Khary Boykins Financial Secretary Khary Boykins Financial Donald Black Secretary
Communications Donald Black Communications If you want to submit information to the TSUOOSAC If youemail wantinformation to submit Newsletter, please information to the TSUOOSAC to: Newsletter, please email information to: Oceanalumni@gmail.com Oceanalumni@gmail.com or mail to: or mail to: Texas Southern University Texas Southern University National Alumni Association National Alumni Association Ocean of Soul Chapter Ocean of Soul Chapter P.O. Box 88155 P.O. Box 88155 Houston , Texas 77288 Houston , Texas 77288
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ON THE COVER The Ocean of Soul Performing in Desoto Holiday Parade in Desoto, Texas
Photo Courtesy Bespoke Images
Congratulations to our 2015 Winter Commencement Graduates
TSU NEWS Dr. Rudley to Resign as President at the end of the Spring Semester
The Texas Southern University president announced Saturday he will be stepping down at the end of the school year. "I've worked hard for eight-and-a-half years," President John M. Rudley said. "It's like LeBron James, I never thought he'd retire, but we're not invincible. We all need to have an exit strategy." The 68-year-old former CPA has aggressively expanded the school's programs and standards over the last eight years, but TSU has also weathered turbulence in recent months over several shootings and construction delays. "He will leave the university in a better position than when he came here," said Derrick Mitchell, chairman of TSU's board of regents, on Rudley's resignation. "We've had some challenges, like any other university, but he's handled them well as president." Rudley was tapped in 2008 to replace disgraced Priscilla Slade, a flamboyant personality whose handling of the school's finances left her facing criminal charges of misapplication of fiduciary property. Rudley described his tenure Sunday afternoon as "taking an institution on life support and putting it in position where it is now, where it's competitive," he said. Previous to his appointment to the top position at TSU, Rudley had served as interim chancellor of the University of Houston System, interim president of the University of Houston and vice chancellor for business and finance at the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest system of post secondary education in the nation. As TSU president, Rudley led the school through the chaos of Hurricane Ike, which left the university without power and many buildings badly damaged."I'm really proud we were able to recover from storm and make the campus better," Rudley said. Rudley revamped the school's leadership, raised its credit rating, undertook a major effort to beautify and rebuild the campus, oversaw construction or planning of several major new buildings, raised enrollment standards and created civil and computer engineering programs along with a new executive MBA program and a new executive masters of public administration online program. The school also weathered several recent shootings on or near campus that killed one student, as well as a scandal earlier this year when dorms weren't completed on time, forcing the university to house students at a hotel in the Texas Medical Center. Those incidents sparked a backlash from students, who took to social media with the #TakeBackTxSU movement, which one faculty member said "spread like a virus." Rudley acknowledged both incidents had weighed on him in recent months. "I don't think people understand the toll [of a student getting shot] takes on someone who cares for their students as much as I do," he said. The last legislative session was really brutal," Rudley acknowledged, noting that lawmakers in Austin had cut millions from TSU's budget during his stewardship of the university. "For the last seven years, we've really gotten no financial support for our operating budget, that was very telling for me." "I don't believe there was consensus in the legislature to support TSU," he said. "A new, fresh start might be what everyone is looking for." A transition team will search for a new president over the next few months, said Mitchell, the regent board chairman. Rudley's last day will be Aug. 31, though he has agreed to stay on for longer, if necessary, to provide for a smooth transition. Reprinted from the Houston Chronicle.
TSU ATHLETICS Texas Southern hires Michael Haywood as football coach HOUSTON (AP) — Michael Haywood will be the new coach at Texas Southern after agreeing to a four-year contract on Thursday. Athletic director Charles McClelland tells KRIV-TV in Houston: "With his background and extensive experience we were lucky to get someone of Haywood's caliber." He replaces Darrell Asberry, who stepped down on Sunday after Texas Southern went 3-7. Haywood most recently was the coach at Miami of Ohio. He was hired to coach Pittsburgh in December 2010, but was fired three weeks later when he was charged with domestic battery with a child present. The charges were eventually dropped. "I apologized for this terrible mistake that I made," Haywood told the television station. "It was wrong what I did. I have learned from this situation. It has gone through the legal situation and I have been cleared. I am thankful that I am able to continue my coaching career." He has worked in private business for the last five years. He doesn't believe his time away from coaching will hurt him. "I really don't think it affects me at all," Haywood said. "I've spent a significant amount of time consulting other universities and high schools in the area. At the same time I've done pregame and postgame shows for the University of Notre Dame. So I've been heavily involved in football over the last five years." Haywood orchestrated a major turnaround while at Miami of Ohio. In 2009 the team was 1-11 and 1-7 in MidAmerican Conference play. The following season Haywood won MAC Coach of the Year honors after leading the team to an 11-1 record with an 8-1 mark in conference play. Haywood worked as offensive coordinator at Notre Dame from 2005-08 and has also served as an assistant at Texas and LSU in his career. Reprinted from USA Today
TSU ATHLETICS JANUARY 2016 Saturday, January 2, 2016 Southern University | Houston, Texas 7:00 PM Monday, January 4, 2016 Alcorn State University | Houston, Texas 7:00 PM Saturday, January 9, 2016 Prairie View A&M | Houston, Texas 7:30 PM Saturday, January 16, 2016 Jackson State University | Jackson, MS 5:30 PM Monday, January 18, 2016 Grambling State | Grambling, LA 7:30 PM Saturday, January 23 2016 Mississippi Valley State | Houston, Texas 7:30 PM Monday, January 25, 2016 Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Houston, Texas 7:30 PM Saturday, January 30, 2016 Alabama State | Montgomery, AL 5:00 PM
TUNE IN TO KTSU 90.9 FM HOME OF TSU ATHLETICS
OCEAN FLASHBACK
TSU Brass Ensemble performing in Hannah Hall during Christmas 1984
IN MEMORIAM
Michael Coleman (8 Ball) Tuba Section Ocean 2000—2004 Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity
Eric Jackson Trombone Section Ocean 1992
The Annual Ocean of Soul Recruitment and Retention Ceremony Congratulations to the all of the sections of the year: Woodwind Section - Flute/Piccolos Brass Section - Trombones Auxiliary—Twirlers Percussion Section - Quads
OCEAN SPOTLIGHT
From Left to Right: Dr. James W. Ward, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research; Regent Derrick Mitchell, Chairman of the Board of the Regents, Dr. Kirk Whalum and President John Rudley. Congratulations to Texas Southern University Alumnus Kirk Whalum, who delivered the Commencement Address to the 2015 Winter graduating class. Dr. Whalum was also awarded The Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, the university’s highest honor. On December 11, Whalum and his musical friends Gerald Albright, Norman Brown, and Shelea entertained the near capacity Sawyer Auditorium crowd with his annual “Gospel According to Jazz” Christmas concert. The quartet of musicians took turns performing a variety of songs from traditional Christmas carols like Joy to the World and The Christmas Song, etc. to contemporary hits from their various projects including Grover Works and Underpaid to Can’t Stay Blue. At times they all shared the stage together much to the crowds Delight.
OCEAN CALENDAR
January 6
January 16
January 17
January 17
Recruiting Event
Performance Drum Competition Funk Train Only
Recruiting Visit and Practice with St. Augustine High School TSU Campus
Recruiting Visit and Practice with Belaire High School TSU Campus
Chicago, Illinois
Dallas, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
January 24
January 24
January 28 & 29
January 30
Recruiting Event Area High Schools
Recruiting Event Area High Schools
Recruiting Event Area High Schools
Recruiting Event Honda Battle of the Bands
Beaumont Texas
Port Arthur, Texas
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Provisio West High School, Hillside , Ill.
February 6 | Krewe of Endymion Parade (Tentative) New Orleans, Louisiana February 7 | Krewe of Bacchus Parade New Orleans, Louisiana February 8 | Krewe of Orpheus Parade (Tentative) New Orleans, Louisiana February 9 | Krewe of Zulu Parade New Orleans, Louisiana