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Vol. 37, No. 48: Section 01

Tallahassee, Florida

Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2011

A beloved band will strike again

By Terrika Mitchell

Youth of the Week

Rev. Dr. Joseph T. Wright

Alexis McMillan

Tommy Mitchell

effective immediately through investigations of this weekend’s events,” Ammons said.

Local pastor and 1981 graduate of FAMU, the Rev. Joseph Wright, disagrees with the president’s decision. He noted that the “100” has had a substantial impact on FAMU’s recruitment and retention. He worries it could suffer due to the marching band’s suspension.

“The Marching ‘100’ is truly historical, exciting and inspirational,” the pastor of Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church ex-

pressed. “I think, personally, to suspend the Marching ‘100’ indefinitely was an unwise decision to make. I think a clear investigation should have been conducted, and, based on the findings, those who were involved should have been dealt with. Four-hundred students did not participate in hazing.”

On Nov. 22 Orange County Sheriff Examiner’s Office issued a statement confirming that hazing was related to Champion’s death.

The Atlanta native, who was

a member of the clarinet section prior to becoming drum major, was found unresponsive aboard a charter bus in front of an International Drive hotel in Orlando after the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Football Classic between FAMU and Bethune-Cookman University.

Alexis McMillan, a fourth generation Rattler and 1979 College of Pharmacy graduate, says seeing the band perform during annual homecoming parades has been a highlight of her’s since she was a child.

See BAND, Page 2

Suggs strives for perfection

Innovation Park: Same mission, new approach

Person of the Week

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In the face of turmoil and controversy, Florida A&M University and the Marching “100” remain revered by those who love the institution most.

The Nov. 19 hazing-related death of Marching “100” drum major Robert Champion, 26, has ignited myriad reactions among community leaders and members.

On Nov. 26, Director of Bands Dr. Julian E. White, who was dismissed from his position on Nov. 23, filed a lawsuit against the university seeking reinstatement. White’s release came days after FAMU President James H. Ammons’ indefinite suspension of the Marching “100.”

“Out of respect for Robert Champion’s family and in the best interest of the university, I have decided to suspend, indefinitely, any and all performances and engagements for bands and other ensembles under the auspices of the music department,

1363 E. Tennessee St, Tallahassee, Fla. 32310

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Inside LOCAL / 3

OPINION / 4 EDUCATION / 5 RELIGION / 6 COMMUNITY NEWS / 8

Briefs Florida’s chief financial officer wants OK on contracts

Angela Adams-Suggs

By Paul Douglas Outlook Contributor

For many administrators at Florida A&M University (FAMU) the day consists of arriving to work around 9 a.m. and departing back to their domains around 5 p.m.

Yet, some employees put additional hours into their craft to attain perfection.

For Angela Adams-Suggs, FAMU’s assistant athletics director for marketing and development, the added time spent day-in-and-day-out coordinat-

Executive Director of The Authority Catherine Kunst (left) and Ray Eaton, chair of Innovation Park’s board of governors ing marketing plans at her alma mater is more than just extended evenings, it’s a passion.

“I love FAMU athletics and I don’t mind putting in the extra hours,” Suggs said. “To come back here and get a chance to do something that I’m passionate about is just a great opportunity.

It’s more than just a job. I love what I do.”

Since returning to “The Hill” back in 2009, the FAMU alumna vowed to improve the Rattler brand. She was appointed to help the university recover from a financial deficit that has plagued

By Terrika Mitchell Outlook Staff Writer

Under the management of The Leon County Research and Development Authority (“The Authority”), Tallahassee’s Innovation Park will continue to thrive as a technology and economic powerhouse while now encouraging community interaction.

“We’ve recently drafted a five-year strategic plan and have begun the process to amend our planned unit development at Innovation Park to make it easier

for businesses to locate at Innovation Park and develop the land,” said Catherine Kunst, Ph.D., executive director of The Authority.

“We’ve also recently recruited both Bing Energy and SunnyLand Solar to Innovation Park.

Both companies are developing technology licensed from Florida State University and will create high-wage jobs here in the community.”

For the last 30 years, Innovation Park may have been one of the capitol city’s best kept secrets.

However, The Authority’s recent See INNOVATION, Page 2

See POW, Page 2

Brogan: Wait until 2013 for major changes to universities

By Lilly Rockwell The News Service Of Florida Special to the Outlook

The head of Florida’s state university system said Nov. 15 he wants to wait a full year before taking up major changes to how the state universities are funded.

A push to tie the performance of state universities – such as their graduation and job placement rates – to their funding was ignited earlier this year by Gov. Rick Scott, who wants to make changes to higher education.

But Frank Brogan, chancellor of the state university system, said Nov. 15 he wants to put the brakes on implementing some of the major reform ideas to give universities time to discuss the ramifications and suggest ideas.

“If you make major decisions regarding how you are totally going to reform the funding for higher education in that short period of time and in the middle of session or on the fly, you will run the risk of making major kneejerk decisions that may have very negative consequences,” Brogan told a group of reporters after a

Chancellor of Florida State University System Frank Brogan meeting with the House Democratic Caucus. He is asking lawmakers to “give us until next year, next session,” to produce ideas.

His comments echo a statement made two weeks ago by House Speaker Dean Cannon, RWinter Park, that major changes to higher education aren’t likely this upcoming session, which will be dominated by redistricting, crafting and passing a budget, and a well-funded effort to pass a bill permitting luxury casinos in South Florida.

But Scott has said he would like to see changes happen faster.

Last month, Scott asked all state universities to submit a hefty amount of data to his office to help him craft a legislative agenda for session, including information on job placement rates, how well universities meet workforce needs, and information on the salaries and number of courses taught by each university’s top wage-earners.

Brogan emphasized Tuesday that state universities are eager

to embrace accountability – but hope it might come with more freedom and flexibility over funding, such as an expansion of market rate tuition.

“People need to know where their hard-earned money is going and what it is producing,” Brogan said. He added that the “good news” is “the (university) system is not afraid of it at all.”

“We just want to make sure it gets done right,” Brogan said.

Before Scott was elected, Brogan said, universities had already taken a closer look at tracking their own performance and are willing to go even further In return, Brogan said the state should take a closer look at giving universities more leeway to set different tuition for different programs depending on demand - also known as market rate tuition.

“Each university should be able to control what they do and how they do it,” Brogan said.

“But there should be imposed a strict accountability system that makes it clear as to what each university is expected to turn out See BROGAN, Page 2

The top Florida official in charge of the state’s checkbook wants more control over state contracts even though it could set up a clash with Gov. Rick Scott. Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater on Nov. 22 called on state legislators to give him more power, including the ability to approve or reject state contracts before they get signed. He also wants to limit what state agencies can purchase without going through competitive bidding.

This potentially puts Atwater on a collision course with Scott, a fellow Republican, since most state agencies report to the governor and not to the chief financial officer.

Feds give $2.4M grant for SunRail planning The federal government awarded a $2.4 million grant on Nov. 22 to a Metro Orlando planning agency to help plan development around the 17 stops that will serve the SunRail commuter train. The money is part of $96 million being handed out nationwide by the U.S. Department of Planning and Urban Development. The grants are designed to “help communities and regions improve their economic competitiveness connecting housing with good jobs, quality schools and transportation.”

This Week’s Word Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

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Capital Outlook

Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2011

Avoid holiday traffic with FDOT’s 511 System

Special to the Outlook

secondary crashes as a result. The 511 system alerts travelers that there’s congestion or a crash ahead so they can pay more attention and avoid secondary crashes.”

The Florida 511 app is the newest addition to FDOT’s suite of resources for traffic information. The app features the same traffic and travel time information as the phone system and FL511.com website.

The free 511 app uses the iPhone’s GPS tracking to provide users with traffic information within miles of their location. Users can

even view traffic cameras associated with crashes on their iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch with the 511 app.

Safety Tips: • Call 511 before driving, at a rest area or have a passenger call to avoid talking while driving.

• Customize your trip at FL511.com before leaving to minimize time spent on the phone.

• Always wear a safety belt.

• Don’t drink and drive.

Florida 511 Features • Traffic information on all interstate high-

the athletic department for several years. She launched several successful campaigns and themes since her tenure began. The most recent theme, “Are You In,” is intended to attract more fans, fill more seats and boost revenue.

Suggs bolsters the athletic department in many ways which includes strategic planning, event promotion, revenue generation, sponsorship development, ticketing and execution and staff supervision. She also made the FAMU snakehead the premier image of athletics.

Suggs said that her main priority is to get consumers to acknowledge the FAMU brand.

“We want everyone to know that we’re here,” Suggs said. “We have 18 sports and we want the FAMU community across the country to know about all our sports and sporting events. We want people to be in attendance and we want them to be invested as well. We want them to come out and have a good time. At the end of the day, athletic programs survive

off what they receive from donations as well as gate receipts. That’s really what our marketing strategy is.”

Derek Horne, FAMU’s athletic director, said that Suggs’ familiarity of the university pays immediate dividends to the athletic program.

“She’s very knowledgeable,” Horne said.

“She has a great understanding of FAMU athletics and the culture of the university. She always does what’s in the best interest of the department.”

Suggs expressed how her previous experience as a student helped her transform smoothly into an athletic administrator.

“I became a fan as a student at FAMU and I would attend all the sporting events,” Suggs said.

“Both of my parents were employed at FAMU and were season ticket holders.

I’ve been coming to FAMU sporting events my entire life. I’m really familiar with athletics and the traditions here.”

Her involvement in community organizations in the Big Bend area is an-

other unique quality of her personal life. She is a proud member of the Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Tallahassee Chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc. and the Leon County Chapter of FAMU National Alumni Association.

Aside from her marketing role, Suggs also serves as the administrator for cheerleading programs.

FAMU’s head cheerleading coach Brandy Tatum praised Suggs for her commitment and dedication to her squad.

“She’s a big advocate of the cheerleading program,” Tatum said. “She is our go-to person when were fighting for things to advance our program.”

Tatum also said that Suggs is very adamant about bringing students into the overall athletic experience.

“Once she’s passionate about something, she’ll give it her all,” Tatum said.

“Anything she does here comes from the bottom of her heart. She truly bleeds orange and green.”

Innovation from Page 1 revamping plans include attracting untraditional vendors.

“The Authority’s board recently approved a special events policy that would facilitate people hosting everything from company picnics to outdoor weddings on our park-like campus,” Kunst said. “We’re exploring many other innovative projects from new methods of storm water management to wi-fi canopies. From food trucks to farmer’s markets we’re striving to make Innovation Park more welcoming, not just to the organizations and companies located on the campus but also to the entire community.”

For Leon County residents, this means increased job opportunities especially in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields through a commercial incubator.

Kunst noted that The Authority supports scholarships for the Economic Development Council’s Entrepreneurial Excellence Program, offers a technology grant program and are actively recruiting new businesses to the community.

According to Innova-

tion Park’s website, www. innovation-park.com, the mission of The Authority “is to work in affiliation with Florida A&M University and Florida State University to develop the research park” for two things: to promote scientific research and development activities, and foster economic development and broaden the economic base of Leon County. In recent years, Tallahassee Community College has contributed toward workforce development.

Chair of The Authority’s board of governors Ray Eaton said The Authority was established initially to diversify the economy and make us not so much a burden on state government for jobs and economics of Tallahassee. He believes varying partnerships is necessary to “expand the conversation.”

“I’m trying to get us to the point where we’re seriously making efforts – not just within the Authority in Innovation Park – but across all of the stakeholders to identify and establish catalyst to promote the economic base in directions other than government,” he

said. “We will still support our governmental partners because they are certainly the backbone of the economy at the moment. We’re going to reach into those relationships to see what we can do to further commercialize our ideas.”

year, known as differential tuition, at one time seemed impossible.

“The Legislature recognized the importance in creating a differentiated approach,” he said. “(Market rate tuition) takes it to the next level. ..I believe the Legislature is open to these kinds of ideas.”

Brogan told the House Democrats that he was sensitive to how the ongoing

discussions about changing higher education in Florida may impact faculty recruiting or retention.

“Faculty is the lifeblood of the institution,” Brogan said. But he added that “we need to be careful about the rhetoric we use to make our case about what is good for higher education in Florida.”

Avoid holiday traffic this year by using the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) 511 Traveler Information System.

By calling 511, visiting FL511.com or downloading the 511 app on iTunes, travelers can get free traffic information on all of Florida’s interstates, toll roads and major metropolitan roadways.

“One fatality is one too many,” said FDOT Secretary Ananth Prasad. “Many times, if there is a crash on an interstate, there can be POW from Page 1

One of those relationships – established at the time The Authority was founded – is with local universities. While Eaton says they’re just a sector of the park’s stakeholders, Kunst adds that the partnership critical in terms of research and development.

“That is the reason that there are many centers of excellence for the universities located at Innovation Park – such as the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and the High Performance Materials Institute,” she said.

The 17 building 208 acre campus is located at 1736 Paul Dirac Drive.

Call (850) 575-0343 for additional information.

Terrika Mitchell can be contacted at tmitchell@ capitaloutlook.com.

Brogan from Page 1 at the end of the day.”

The former lieutenant governor, who worked a liaison between the Legislature and former Gov. Jeb Bush during his term, said the political challenge of convincing legislators – the upcoming session or next – to loosen the purse strings isn’t as difficult as it may seem. The current policy of allowing tuition increases of up to 15 percent each

ways, toll roads and many other metropolitan roadways • Commuter travel times and reports on crashes, lane closures, construction and severe weather affecting travel • The 511 phone call and FL511.com website are available in English and Spanish Band from Page 1 “Even our current president, Dr. Ammons, has let us know, on many occasions, that his reason for coming to FAMU was because of his introduction to the band,” McMillan said.

Tommy Mitchell Sr., president of the National FAMU Alumni Association, is a native of Tallahassee and a former member of the Marching “100.”

He noted that after leaving basketball to become a member of the “100,” he received one of the greatest thrills of his life by participating with the band in the 1957 Orange Bowl.

“I was born and raised watching and admiring the Marching ‘100,’ Mitchell remembered. “It’s a flagship program at the university. I am absolutely still amazed at the quality of musicians that’s developed on FAMU’s campus.”

Like Wright, Mitchell feels there should be a delicate process to handle the issue of hazing among band members.

“We have to put it in perspective,” Mitchell said.

“The marching band has a problem. What we have to do is get to the root of this problem. We have to solve the problem and, under no circumstances, should we do anything but try to make sure that we resolve what may be a problem and eliminate that problem but do not let it destroy the future and legacy of that band as it relates to the university or the community.”

Incidents of hazing were reported among

marching band members earlier this semester. As a result, at least 30 students were suspended from band performances and not allowed to perform at the annual HBCU matchup.

Ammons, who has urged university members to refrain from engaging in rumors, has compiled an eight member team task force to uncover “any unauthorized or questionable activities associated with the culture of the Marching ‘100.’ ” Publisher of the Westside Gazette Bobby R. Henry was a member of the band’s flag core in 1975 and remembers a more inviting culture about the Marching “100.”

“The camaraderie…

The unity…The solidarity,” lists Henry, president of the Florida Association of Black-Owned Media.

“That’s what sticks out the most in my mind. Unfortunately, such a tragic incident like the death of a student is something that can mire an institution of greatness forever. As tragic as it is to lose a life, it becomes a part of the building blocks it takes to build an institution. Sure, there have been some unfavorable things associated with the band, but that does not outweigh the lives and the legacy that the band and the institution have made in the community. The community should just grasp hold of the life the band has given the community, not necessarily the downside.”

Wright believes that

community unison is what the entire university will need to endure this time of grievance. He suggests a prayer vigil and even a university revival.

“In keeping respect to the deceased, no one should have lost their life under any circumstances,” said Wright, president of the local Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

“We highly respect and honor the family for allowing young Robert Champion to have selected FAMU and to have become drum major at this most historical university. We pay respect to him and his family.

Maybe a memorial should be established on campus in his honor.”

Henry, Wright and Mitchell agree that university supporters will have an impact on Champion’s legacy as part of the Marching “100” and the marching band’s legacy as a part of FAMU. “We have to support both institutions,” said McMillan. “Our hearts are so saddened by the death and we extend our sympathy to the Champion family. We know that circumstances have set in a time that our hearts are so very heavy, but we have to realize that we love the institution, we love the band, we love Dr. White. We’re just prayerful that things will turn out for the best.”

Terrika Mitchell can be contacted at tmitchell@ capitaloutlook.com.

Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2011

Local

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Comcast Foundation gives Youth of the Week: Artistic Boys & Girls Club $30,000 student bond for success

By Alicia McKnight Outlook Contributor

(From left to right) Comcast vice president and general manager KC McWilliams, Charles Smith of the Boys & Girls Club, state Rep. Alan Williams (D-Tallahassee), club president and CEO Theresa Flury, Greg McCray Club director Kacy Dennis, Comcast’s Stefanie Bowden, club board chair Susan Anstead, and Brian Musselwhite of Comcast.

By Ashley Hogans Outlook Staff Writer

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend received a $30,000 grant from the Comcast Foundation on Nov. 28 to help with the Club Tech Program. The curriculum is structured to provide youth with the necessary academic skills needed to prepare them for the 21st century workforce.

“I don’t think there is a job today that doesn’t involve technology,” said Theresa Flury, president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Bend.

“And so, for many of our kids who don’t have access to technology besides at the school, or the club this is a great opportunity because it opens so many other doors for them.”

The grant will provide the club with new

computers, educational software and furniture for children ages 6 to 18. The staff workers will also be trained on how to operate the new equipment and software. Comcast leaders in the Tallahassee area saw a great need to help children prepare for the future in technology.

“This is an extremely important initiative for Comcast and the Comcast Foundation,” said KC Williams, vice president and general manger of the Florida Panhandle for Comcast. “Digital literacy skills are essential to a bright future. Through Club Tech, we can help power the dreams of these young people and connect them with future technology.”

Club Tech is a yearround digital literacy program used to teach children the basic business software, networking skills

and expand creativity in order to be successful in school.

“We are grateful that people in the community recognize that we do a great job,” said Susan Anstead, board chair of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend. “We are hoping more people in the community will know that, so we can continue to get the help that we need from the community.”

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend is located at 306 Laure Lee Avenue. The club has been around for 20 years in Tallahassee to provide afterschool programs to more than 300 children at four clubs in Chattahoochee, Havana, Misccosukee and Tallahassee.

Ashley Hogans can be contacted at ahogans@ capitaloutlook.com.

Justus Smith-Whitehead, 16, a Florida A&M University Developmental Research School junior who is eager when it comes pursuing his dreams, says his ultimate goal in life is to use his talents to make a difference in both the world and in the lives of others.

“My favorite subject is English because reading literature is calming and a form of relaxation for me,” he said. “Writing allows me to express myself through various means such as poetry and essays.”

Some of Smith-Whitehead’s hobbies are dancing, singing, acting, drawing, traveling and listening to music “I enjoy choreographing dance moves, preparing for theatrical performances, I also like spending time with friends and just being a teenager.”

Smith-Whitehead is an active member of the FAMU DRS marching and concert band. He also participated in theatrical performances at FAMU DRS and with the Irene C. Edmonds Summer Camp.

Smith-Whitehead is a member of Epidemic Ego, which is a dance ensemble and JustJazz, a dance duo.

Smith-Whitehead’s plans are to attend Julliard School of Arts or Florida A&M University. Both schools offer majors that appeal to his interests in theatre and performing arts.

“My ultimate career is to be a world-renowned choreographer, actor and a leading performer on Broadway,” he said.

Smith-Whitehead’s primary role model is his mother, Audrey Smith.

“She is extremely ambitious and works hard,” he said. “She is my biggest cheerleader and is always there to support me. She encourages me to succeed and is the first one to correct me when I mess up.”

Not only does his mother encourage him to succeed, so does the National Achiever’s Society.

Smith-Whitehead has been a member of NAS since the third grade.

“This organization is

Justus Smith-Whitehead

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comprised of primarily of African-American students who strive for academic excellence,” he said. “We attend workshops and participate in black history brain bowl and math competitions with other NAS organizations in the state of Florida.”

Smith-Whitehead strongly believes in equality and creative self-expression.

“As a gifted and naturally talented artistic individual, I am motivated by my success at defying the odds and I am a firm believer that I can do all things because Christ strengthens me,” said Smith-Whitehead.

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Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2011 Opinion More than 100 Black Colleges, Universities are fighting proposed spending cuts

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Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer A coalition of more than 100 colleges and universities are fighting to persuade Congress and the special supercommittee not to cut $85 million or more in federal funding. The coalition consists of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).

These organizations, which collectively represent the 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and 50 Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), are opposing proposals that will cut federal funds to HBCUs by $85 million or more and would zero out support for PBIs. Coalition representatives said the proposed funding cuts would come on top of $30 million in cuts already made in HBCU funding.

“The colleges that would have to absorb these cuts serve students who employers are counting on as the next generation of engineers, scientists, teachers, doctors and nurses,” said Michael L. Lomax, UNCF president and CEO. “Their education is being threatened at the worst possible time--in the midst of an economic downturn that is already making it hard for them to stay in school and graduate.”

Colleges face a doublebarreled threat.

Funding cuts could be contained in the supercommittee recommendations or made

through the normal appropriations process for the current fiscal year.

The three organizations support funding levels contained in an appropriations bill passed by a Senate Appropriations Committee for the Departments of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Education. They oppose the sharply-lower levels proposed by House appropriators.

The coalition seeks to rally students, alumni, faculty, staff, administrators and all supporters of HBCUs and PBIs to get their senators and representatives to persuade supercommittee members not to cut the deficit by disinvesting in higher education. The supercommittee has until November 23 to submit recommended budget reductions and revenue increases.

“Cutting federal support for HBCUs would shoot an alreadyweak economy in the foot,” said TMCF President and CEO, Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. “In addition to the students they educate, they impact more than 180,000 jobs, including professors, counselors, staff members and others.

Local businesses and national companies depend on the money that the colleges, their employees, and students spend. Their total economic impact is estimated at over $13 billion.”

NAFEO, TMCF and UNCF have been leading a tough fight to gain support of Members of Congress to ensure they understand the consequences additional budget cuts will have for HBCUs and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).

In April of 2011, this coalition marched on Capitol Hill and urged support for protecting the maximum funding for Pell Grants, continuing funding for Title III, Part B (undergraduate and graduate programs) and Title III Part A, and continuing funding for the HBCU Capital Financing Program.

In October of this year, HBCU presidents visited the District to advocate for HBCUs, and MSIs, and urged protection of HBCU and PBI funding through Fiscal Year 2012 and the supercommittee deliberations. In October, more than 10,000 HBCU students wrote letters thanking the Obama Administration for its support for full funding for HBCUs and telling their stories of how federal funding for HBCUs is enriching their educational experience.

“Republican and Democratic Presidents have made funding HBCUs a national priority as have successive bipartisan majorities

in Congress, in recognition of the fact that HBCUs and PBIs are vitally important to stimulating the economy, preparing excellent, diverse, workers, putting Americans back to work, and meeting the human services needs of traditionally underserved communities,” said NAFEO President and CEO Lezli Baskerville “HBCUs are great national resources of leadership in the sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics, education, health and the environment. They contain costs at a time when the costs of college are increasingly beyond the reach of the masses. HBCUs and PBIs are the best return on investment in the higher education arena.

It would be disconcerting if Congress or the Super committee decides to reduce the deficit without raising revenues and by cutting funding for HBCUs and PBIs, the primary incubators of diverse human capital to make the nation thrive.”

Did so-called Black Friday trump thanksgiving?

By Dr. Julianne Malveaux NNPA Columnist First of all, I never understood why they called it “Black” Friday. I never saw any red, black and green adorning the shopping mall sales. Yes, I know that theoretically this is the day that puts stores in the black, out of the red they’ve been managing all year.

Nearly 40 percent of jewelry sales happen between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and other sales are up in the weeks that end the year.

But I’m enough of a nationalist to resent the day after Thanksgiving being called “black” for commercial purposes.

Call it what you will, though, it was a rousing success for retailers. Record breaking, according to the National Retail Federation.

More than 226 million shoppers spent $52.4 billion during Thanksgiving weekend. (There are 312 million Americans, which means that at least a few of us sat this drama out). At least 50 million of these folks hit the stores before midnight. They spent an average of nearly $400 per person, undaunted by crowds, pep-

per spray and long lines. When did they find time to give thanks?

And whatever happened to the recession?

I am frankly puzzled by the hype of post-Thanksgiving shopping and the way so many people have shrugged off their concerns of economic survival to crowd the stores. At the same time, it underlies the way that consumerism so drives our society, our need for more, more, more of things, things, things. To be sure, it would make no economic sense to put retailers out of business, and we know that consumer spending drives 70 percent of gross domestic product. But there is something sad about the crowds, the energy, and the profligate spending that drives people to spend part of Thanksgiving Day standing in line waiting for a chance to buy stuff, something tragic about some fool pepper spraying folks for a chance at an X-Box (I suppose I show my own ignorance by wondering what an X-Box is).

Retailers are touting their successful weekend – with spending up by more than 6 percent from last year – as a good sign that economic recovery is on the way. I’m not so sure – unemploy-

ment rates remain high and there are more than 14 million officially unemployed people, and probably an equal number marginally connecgted to the labor market.

Wages have been stagnant for quite some time, and the Occupy Wall Street movement has only gained momentum because of the enormity of economic misery.

But the Occupy Wall Street movement has attracted curiosity but hardly the interest of 226 million people. I can’t think of ANYTHING that gets 226 million people together. Imagine that as many people cared about the environment, economic justice, or anything else. We don’t even get that many people voting in so-called close elections.pointing to the 99 percent at the bottom.

So how is it that we spend Thursday counting our blessings, surrounded by friends, family, and other loved ones, and thanking the Lord, and then collectively spend Friday swarming the stores.

How is it that some of us actually get up from the dinner table and make it to the stores. And how is it that retailers force employees to come to work to sell “stuff” to the rest of us in the name of postThanksgiving sales?

According to those who study spending the post-Thanksgiving sales aren’t actually the best ones.

Prices next week, according to some experts, are actually going to be better. And the quality of the merchandise that was put out there on sale wasn’t “all that” either. Still, we swarmed the stores.

I realize that I have Grinchlike tendencies when it comes to holidays, but the economist in me is more puzzled than anything else at this holiday behavior (especially the pepper spray wielding fool). I’m also wondering if the energies of 226 million people could ever be harnessed for good.

I surely hope that Black Friday did not trump Thanksgiving, but it surely got a lot more ink than Thanksgiving.

Shopping may well be both the great American pastime and our substitute for religion, for industry, and maybe even for morality. No wonder the Chinese are planning to eat our lunch in 20 years or so. We’ll probably buy new place settings for them at a holiday sale!

Julianne Malveaux is president of Bennett College for Women.

Income gap causes concern

By Judge Greg Mathis Under our current tax system, the rich are getting richer while the middle class slides into poverty. Those who were poor before the recession are still poor and have little hope of changing their situations. We’re not talking about an income gap here, we’re talking about income inequality. In fact, the distribution of household income in the U.S. is more unequal today than in was three decades ago.

According to report released by the Congressional Budget Office, after-tax income for America’s highest-income households – the richest 1-percent – saw a 275-percent growth from 1979 to 2007, while the poorest

20-percent experienced only 18 percent growth. Those who sit in the middle experienced just under 40 percent growth.

History shows us that, the wider the income gap, the more unequal the distribution of wealth, the closer a society gets to political unrest. We are seeing evidence of this in the growing Occupy Wall Street movement, which began in September in Manhattan. Since those first groups of demonstrators met to protest the unhealthy alliance between government, big business and the extremely wealthy, the movement has spread to over 100 cities. Marchers are working to expose – and hopefully spur a government response to change – the unequal distribution of the nation’s wealth. They are frustrated that just 1-percent of the nation’s population controls

over 50-percent of the wealth and want to see that change.

President Obama proposed a plan to increase taxes on those making more than $1 million per year. The revenue from the increase would help balance the national budget over time, and pay for a comprehensive jobs program. Of course, the President has his Republican detractors who have put forth their own tax proposals.

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain has his 9-9-9 plan, which proposes a flat 9-percent business, individual income and national sales tax.

Republican Rick Perry, another presidential hopeful, has proposed a flat 20-percent income tax.

The plans proposed by Cain and Perry are regressive and, if ever adopted, will negatively

affect the poor. Under both of these plans, a majority of American households would end up paying more in taxes, while a great majority of millionaires would end up paying less. We need a tax plan that is fair but also takes into account class and taxes accordingly. This isn’t about taking money from the rich – it’s about fairly distributing and taxing income in a fairer manner.

No tax plan will be perfect but we must work to develop one that closes the income gap, not widen it further.

Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2011

Education

www.capitaloutlook.com

5

How do thousands of baby fish graduate from school?

Ronald W. Holmes, Ph.D. Education Editor/Vice President

When you hear the term graduation, you normally think of students graduating from kindergarten, high school or college. Rarely do you hear of graduation in any other context. So the questions to be asked are: How do thousands of baby fish graduate from school?

How does a program on growing fish relate to English, mathematics, science and social studies? How do students who participate in a program on growing fish perform academically and socially?

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, elementary students from 15 schools in Dekalb, Fulton and Cobb counties in Georgia and one Duval County school in Florida participated in the Small Fry to Go graduation program, where they released thousands of baby fish, raised at their schools, into the Chattahoochee River.

The SFtG program, invented by Tom Schmeltzer of Technology Solutions, is a “small fry curriculum that is cross-curricular.’’

Through this program, students not only learn about growing fish, but they also learn about science, mathematics, reading, language arts, writing, social studies, art, health education, character education, technology and career education.

SFtG affords students “hands-on, real-world and problem-based activities” that they can use daily in the educational setting, says Schmeltzer. SFtG has a direct relationship to the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) concept, where students gain knowledge and experience in these subject areas through a curriculum that reinforces problem-solving, discovery and exploratory learning.

Dr. Mindy Disalvo, assistant director of grants and community programs at Dekalb County Schools, says the SFtG curriculum provides students the opportunity to understand and learn science through theory and practice. Disalvo started the program in Dekalb because she was disgusted with the lack of knowledge students would gain when she took them to a fish hatchery. She wanted

Ronald W. Holmes, Ph.D. students to not only see the fish after growth but she wanted them to raise the fish from the egg stage.

Teachers who were interested in adopting the SFtG program received hundreds of eggs and a curriculum for their classrooms at every grade level from pre-kindergarten to middle school. The eggs are grown and kept at the schools in a labitat, a 146 gallon, 6-foot climatecontrolled, sterilized mini hatchery. Students watch the fish develop over the course of six to eight weeks.

They participate in activities that correlate with state and national standards and a thematic focus around fish eggs.

Over the six to eight weeks of fish development, students engage in various activities that incorporate

all core content areas. For example, during the language arts block, students keep journals and track the progress of the eggs’ growth; they also write short essays summarizing their thoughts or any data that is collected. In mathematics, students keep track of the number of surviving fish eggs, and those that died; they keep logs in order to track changes from the project’s inception.

In science, students learn about life cycles and water quality; and in social studies, students learn about fish families and fun facts.

Once the eggs are hatched, students participate in a mass release of their baby fish into the Chattahoochee River.

At the Chattahoochee River, students work with biologists and Georgia Tech researchers. They explore the river bank sediment to learn about river conservation, erosion, protection and see a spawning demonstration from the director of the Department of Natural Resources Buford Trout Hatchery.

Also at the Chattahoochee River, students learn how to probe or test

the water quality to determine if it is appropriate for the baby fish to survive.

Disalvo says that students periodically visit the labitat at the schools to test the water and assess the water oxygen and nitrogen rates to keep the fish alive. From an engineering perspective, students analyze “how much water is running through the labitat,” says Schmeltzer.

When I asked Disalvo about student performance on standardized test who participate in the SFtG, she says that students perform better on the science tests and homework assignments and have better attendance and parental involvement. Her reasons are that the SFtG program is integrated with the curriculum and students take a vested interest in watching their fish grow and develop in the labitat which influences parents to be at the school more frequently.

According to an eyewitness observing the activities at the Chattahoochee River, she notes: “Through this amazing program, students receive a two-fold reward. Students learn grade level content while

also stepping outside the classroom to make real-life connections to their learning. Teachers are rewarded as they watch their students learn new concepts through hands-on approach. This teaching and learning experience provide memories that will last a lifetime for the students and teachers.”

So, when you hear the term graduation, don’t just think of students. Also think of the SFtG program that allows students to develop their baby fish over six to eight weeks and graduate or release them in the Chattahoochee River.

The SFtG program provides students theory and application for improved learning. It also represents a best teaching practice for integrating multiple disciplines with a STEM focus.

Dr. Ronald W. Holmes is the author of Education Questions to be Answered.

He is the National Superintendent of Education for the National Save the Family Now Movement, Inc., a former teacher, school administrator, and district superintendent and can be reached at rwholmes@capitaloutlook.com.

FCR-STEM researchers play key role in new online registry that allows for sharing of educational resources worldwide Special to the Outlook Florida State University researchers are playing a key role in the development of a new, federal, open-source system that will allow institutions from around the world to share digital teaching resources.

Launched in early November, the new Learning Registry will make it easier for teachers and others mining the mass of online education resources to find the pedagogical nugget that meets their specific needs.

A joint effort of the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Defense, the Learning Registry has been developed in collaboration with the Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (FCR-STEM) at Florida State and a dozen other organizations. FCR-

STEM designed and built the CPALMS system, an integral component of the new registry.

Florida’s official source for K-12 curriculum standards and course and assessment information, CPALMS was launched in 2008 and funded along the way by both the Florida Department of Education and the National Science Foundation. It has become very popular with timestarved educators seeking online professional development, a way to collaborate with other educators and free, high-quality resources that align with curriculum standards. More than 10,000 visitors from over 176 countries and territories visit the site, on average, every day.

Among the other “early adopters” contributing to the Learning Registry are the National Science Digi-

tal Library, the Smithsonian Institution, NASA, the Library of Congress and PBS LearningMedia.

CPALMS project director Rabieh Razzouk was in Washington, D.C., in early November when U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra unveiled the Learning Registry.

“It’s an honor to be involved in shaping the Learning Registry during these early stages,” said Razzouk, associate director of Florida State’s Learning Systems Institute (LSI), which jointly administers FCR-STEM along with the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education. “The registry will not only expand the number of resources but make them available much faster to the educators who need them.”

CIS student awarded NCWIT student seed fund

Olivia Wilson Special to the Outlook The National Conference on Women in Information Technology (NCWIT) has selected Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) African-American Women in Computer Science (AAWCS) Scholarship Program to receive the Return Path Student Seed Fund Grant.

The grant, valued at $500, has been awarded to Olivia Wilson, a junior computer and information sciences student from Tallahassee, Fla. “I am happy and honored to get this fund,” she said. “With it, I can do

more to help recruit for not only our department, but for this field as well.

The grant is to be applied toward activities designed to recruit and attract women to the field of computing. The award will also be announced at the next national NCWIT event.

With this funding, Wilson plans to develop and implement several initiatives to recruit women to the field, including a Showcase of Women in Information Technology Luncheon, that will feature women in computer science and information technology speaking to

high school and college women. In addition, prizes and mini-scholarships will be offered.

“Coming into the technology field, I noticed that there is a shortage of women here—especially minority women,” said Wilson. “With the grant, I plan to do something that draws high school students, specifically women, to the field and show them that they can be successful as well.”

Jason Black, AAWCS principal investigator and Wilson’s adviser, said he is proud of Wilson and her accomplishment.

“This is an exciting offer,” said Black. “We are already dedicated to this goal and this funding will definitely aid in our efforts to increase these numbers.”

Wilson works with the Students and Technology in Academia, Research and Services Program, where she uses the information she gathers from her programs for research to assist in recruiting women to the technology field.

This is particularly important as many states, including Florida, implement the Common Core State Standards, which set new expectations for what K-12 students learn in mathematics and English language arts.

“This is a major step toward helping busy teachers differentiate instruction and improve student learning on a large scale,” Razzouk said.

Although the ultimate beneficiaries of the registry will be K-12 teachers, their students and parents, these users will not access the registry directly.

Rather, resource creators, publishers and curators from participating organizations will use it to share with each other lesson plans, photos, video, audio and other resources that in turn can be shared with their users through systems

like CPALMS. Equally important, Learning Registry partners, working behind the scenes, will share information about those resources, including their alignment with curriculum standards, reviews, user feedback and other valuable data.

“Both the Learning Registry and CPALMS focus on efficiently sharing information and resources, and collaboration is key to both projects,” said Razzouk. “Throughout the development of

CPALMS, we’ve worked closely with teachers, researchers, subject matter experts and Sciberus, the software development company that turned our vision into reality. As part of the new Learning Registry, CPALMS has an even more important role to play in helping educators nationally.”

For more information on CPALMS and the Learning Registry, contact Razzouk at (850) 644-2570 or rrazzouk@lsi.fsu.edu.

Nation’s oldest black fraternity honors its “Mother” Special to the Outlook Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity is the oldest Black Greek-letter organization in the United States. It was established by seven Black students at Cornell University in 1906. At that time, the Black students were not permitted to live in university housing. One of the founders of the fraternity, Robert Harold Ogle, rented a room from Archie and Annie Singleton near the campus. The “jewels,” as

Robert Harold Ogle they are called, would hold meetings there. In addition to providing a place for the seven to live and meet, Mrs. Singleton provided

Alpha Phi Alpha President Herman Mason Jr.

maternal support and hot meals.

In 1939, during the fraternity’s annual convention in New York City, Alpha Phi Alpha named Annie Singleton the “Mother of the Fraternity.” She died in 1960.

On the 50th anniversary of her death last year, a group of Alpha men held a tribute at her Forest Lawn grave and decided she should have a new headstone, said fraternity Historian Raymond A. Dalton.

Photo by JOHN HICKEY/BUFFALO NEWS

6

Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2011 Religion Devotional –– “The Greatness of Joy”

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“The Joy of Fellowship”

By Beverly Gavin What is fellowship?

By definition the word fellowship means “the condition of being together or of sharing similar interests or experiences, as to members of a profession, religion, or nationality.”

When I think of fellowship from a Spiritual view, I think of communion, friendship, partnership, mutuality, cooperativeness; with the realization that only way we can partake in any of these is with the presence of another being.

Someone maybe

asking the question, why is Joy last?

Using the example of a computer programmer, these individuals generally approach a task looking at the end result. What do you want your results to be?

Once an answer is provided the programmer starts from the end working backward, to determine what has to be put in to obtain expected results. This is why JOY is last, because receiving it is based on what we are willing to put in.

Prayer and Thanksgiving Paul rejoiced in his prayer to God for the saints in Philippi, remembering them with joy, because the saints at Philippi worked out their salvation by the lives they lived.

We too can and should be joyful in our prayer for others, thanking God for the blessings he has bestowed on the children of God. Personally, I’m

thankful for the ministries in our church, and always lift up my Pastor and his family along with those who lead and work out their Spiritual gifts in the various ministries for the benefit of our children, youth, young adults, adults, and seniors within and outside the walls of the church.

Fellowship “How do we experience the Joy of the Lord and live our lives to please God when we live in such a crooked and perverse nation? In a world that’s filled with hatred, racism, greed, wars and rumors of wars, how do we hold up the blood stain banner, when we are faced with much hardship, and other challenges in life?

Keep Our Fellowship with the Lord and with Each Other We sing the song “What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine, Leaning on the Everlasting Arm, What

a Blessedness, what a Peace is Mine, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.

How can we maintain our fellowship and experience the Joy of the Lord when there is darkness all around us? Remember, “Jesus is the Light of the World” and since we know Jesus is that light, it benefits us to take time and fellowship with Him, so we may receive His light to navigate through a world of spiritual darkness All baptized believers have a responsibility just as the saints at Philippi, and we must consider ourselves as ones who are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

The disciple’s role in this walk of faith, is to spread the Good News, and that is the Word of God. When we do this, our fellowship with Jesus, each other, and those outside the church, will bring about unspeakable Joy. And this joy, which comes only from God, will

help our light so shine, that men might see our good works and glorify God which is in Heaven.

The only way men and women, saved and unsaved, will be able to see this Light, is when we follow Jesus’s commands as written in Matthew 28:19-20.

Joy When we are faced with Spiritual warfare for the benefit of the Gospel, let our minds be stayed on Jesus. Always in prayer and thanksgiving, making our supplication [petition] known to Him. The work of God cannot be executed without Faith in God and belief of his unwavering promises. Let’s make every attempt to follow Philippians 4:8.

In conclusion, the joy we all desire in our life is received when we first confess Jesus Christ as our Savior, and this joy continues through our

fellowship with Jesus. This fellowship extends to those who cross our paths in life, and when they see us, we should desire for them to experience the joy of Christ as evidenced in the life we live. This is evidenced because of the time we spend with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Brothers and sisters, be encouraged by Paul’s writing in Philippians 1:6: 6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. And when trials and tribulations cross our path, let us turn to Jesus, who is the Author and finisher of our Faith. So, let us be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

To God by the Glory

Why is Catholic Church changing its official Mass?

The Church had to translate the Catholic Mass into a variety of different languages.

Special to the Outlook This weekend the Catholic Church is changing the required English-language Mass.

This is a big deal. It is the third time in the 1700-year history of the Church that the Mass is being formally changed. First here’s a brief history of the Catholic Church. The Church and its sacred documents were codified at the Council of Nicaea in 325, and it didn’t really change for 1200 years. As a response to the Protestant Reformation, the Church called the Council of Trent in 1545, and it went on for 18 years. That’s the longest family meeting ever.

One topic recurs again and again at Church councils: language.

Obviously, Jesus did not speak English; in fact, he didn’t speak Latin either. (He probably spoke Aramaic, which is related to Arabic and Hebrew.)

Different sections of the Christian Bible are written in different languages, too, and there have been many, many different translations

over the years. However, the Catholic Church can’t say, “We don’t know.”

Instead at large, official meetings, they reaffirm a particular translation. At the Council of Trent, they reaffirmed the Vulgate, which was a Latin version of the Bible translated

by Saint Jerome in the 300s. The Church doesn’t hold very many of these councils, after the Council of Trent, the next one was 400 years later when Pope Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council (also

called Vatican II) to discuss how the Catholic Church would face the modern world.

The major change initiated by Vatican II was to translate the traditional Latin mass into the vernacular. What is the vernacular? A vernacular is a language specific to a place. In the context of the Catholic Church it means any language that is not Latin. Until 1965, all Catholic Mass was said in Latin, and the Church realized that may alienate parishioners who spoke Latin only in church.

So the Church had to translate the Catholic Mass into a variety of different languages. At the time, the Church wanted these translations to reflect how people spoke in everyday life. However, the Church realized they may have gone too far and drifted from the original Latin Mass, and so the new English-language Mass is

closer to the original Latin.

The old version used the word “happy” where the new version uses the word “blessed.”

Translation is a notoriously difficult feat. If you speak two languages, you already know that they don’t fit together perfectly.

There are many things that you can say in one language that you can never say quite the same way in any other language. An old adage, “Translators, traitors,” embodies the sentiment that many feel towards translations.

It is also often said that there are as many translations as there are translators.

Translating into English may be a particularly variable task because English has such a large vocabulary that there are numerous options for any one word. For example, one line that is changing in the new Englishlanguage Mass may seen inconsequential. The old

text reads: “of all that is seen and unseen.” The new text reads: “of all things visible and invisible.” They have the same meaning, but the Church says the new one is closer to the original Latin.

The new version sounds clunkier and more like Latin at times. In the Eucharistic Prayer before Communion, where it used to read “When supper ended, He took the cup,” it now reads, “In a similar way, when supper was ended, He took this precious chalice in His holy and venerable hands.”

Some of the changes have more significant religious

meaning. For example, when the priest says that Jesus died for their sins he will now say “for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins” instead of “for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven.”

This weekend the Catholic Church is changing the required English-language Mass.

Reverend Dr. R. B. Holmes , Jr.

“The Christ Centered Church With a Program of Prayer and Progress ”

Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2011

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7

Community News 8 www.capitaloutlook.com Jake Gaither exercise and zumba play their parts

Special to the Outlook The members of the Jake Gaither exercise class and Jake Gaither Zumba class do more than keep fit;

they also provide programs for the community.

On Sept. 30 the exercise class held a fashion show, which featured outfits for church, formal af-

fairs, sports affairs, special affairs, casual affairs, as well as African outfits.

Laverne Morgan served as narrator for the program, which Miriam Pope coordinated. Refreshments were served after the fashion show.

The Zumba class presented “Thriller” on Oct. 28. During the program, Nykia Westberry performed a liturgical dance.

The highlight of the program, however, was the

Church Attire: Mercedes Thomas, Johnnie Tucker, Oretha Anderson, Geneva Walker and Mattie Mobley

The “Calendar Girl 2012”

Program begin_of_the_skype_highlighting Drawing will be held on: Dec. 3 Fundraiser event sponsored by the Chi Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Al-

pha Sorority, Inc., in partnership with The Ivy Connection, Inc. For more information email dwmscox@gmail.com Bank of America

Ronald W. Holmes, Ph.D.: EDUCATION QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED In a time of an uncertain economy, this book provides solutions for improving America’s schools through federal funding, programs, services, community partnerships, accreditation and leadership standards. The book can be very helpful to school stakeholders such as parents, teachers, principals and district administrators since the topics focus on the K-12 environments. With a plethora of references to support numerous suggestions, discrepancies and issues, this book can be useful to graduate students, professors, researchers, university administrators and education state agencies. While America’s schools are faced with numerous challenges in today’s society such as the lack of family stability and parental involvement, this book also provides a roadmap for successful and struggling schools in the U.S. To order a copy of EDUCATION QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED, visit: http://www.authorhouse.com or call 1-888-280-7715, Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble (bn.com).

performance of dance from the video of Thriller by members of the class, who donned outfits and makeup to play the parts.

The gym had been decorated for the performance and holiday.

Cassandra Leland, supervisor of the Jake Gaither Community Center, is the instructor of the Zumba Class, and Yolando Westberry, assistant supervisor, is instructor of the exercise class.

Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2011

Special Occasion: Johnny Smith (left) and Yolanda Westberry (right)

Members of the Jake Gaither Zumba class presented Thriller on Oct. 28.

Meet face-to-face with home retention specialists When: Dec. 7 & 8 Time: 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Where: Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Tallahassee 101 South Adams Street

Cost: FREE For more information call: 855-201-7426 The Tree House of Tallahassee, Inc.’s “6th Annual Southern Sam-

pler” When: Feb. 25 Where: The Farm (Across from Maclay School) Time: 5:30 p.m.

Website: http://www.treehouseflorida.org/events.aspx

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Bethel A.M.E Thanksgiving distribution

By Stephon Parker Special to the Outlook Giving is a word that has many meanings and can be demonstrated in all sorts of ways to various types of people. The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church found their way of demonstration and has touched many in the community with the spirit of giving.

For 23 years the Bethel A.M.E. Church has provided this area with the Thanksgiving Distribution for needy families in the Tallahassee area. Connie E. Jenkins-Pye has been the chairperson for 16 years and this year she made it very clear what the goals were for this event. “Our goal is to distribute 450 baskets,” Pye said. “The theme is impacting the community with prayer and worship, but also to give a hand up and not a hand out.”

A hand up was definite-

ly received, as on Saturday, November 12, hundreds of families in the Big Bend area filled inside the walls of the church to collect a box. Each box consisted of: two cans of corn; two cans of green beans; two cans of cranberry sauce; two cans of sweet potatoes; two boxes of cornbread mix; one bag of rice; one bag of black eyed peas; one bag of turkey necks; one bunch of green; and one turkey.

Families containing five or more people received an extra brown bag of goods as well.

On hand as volunteers for both Friday and Saturday were the FAMU and FSU softball teams along with Jack and Jill of America, and members of the FAMU Marching 100.

FAMU sophomore C/ INF Corinne Gordon said that it was good experience as she and her team came together to help others. “It’s important to help people in general,” Gordon

said. “It could be one of us one day.”

Bethel A.M.E Pastor Reverend Dr. Julius Harrison McAllister, Jr. was also on present during the event with his family helping alongside with other members of the church.

“We have children as young as four years old to elders eighty years of age helping today,” McAllister said. “We also have on hand recently joined members as well established members with over fifty years of service all answering the call to give and minister.”

With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner the spirit has got off to a rapid start in the area thanks to the works of many volunteers and the Bethel A.M.E. Church.

However, Reverend McAllister said this comes with the territory of a powerful ministry. “We are children of the Lord,” McAllister said. “And with this outreach program to the community, The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church is making a difference.”

Bethel Volunteers working for the Annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive.

Bethel Volunteers working for the Annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive.

Bethel Volunteers working for the Annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive.

Bethel Volunteers working for the Annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive.

Bethel Volunteers working for the Annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive.

www.capitaloutlook.com 9 Classified/Sports Rattlers serve lunch at Smith-Williams Center

Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2011

Courtesy of FLORIDA A&M SPORTS INFORMATION

Lenworth Lennon serves lunch at the center.

By Florida A&M Sports Information Special to the Outlook

Members of the FAMU Rattlers football team took

time out of their schedules to “Strike in the Community.” As FAMU Athletics tries to build up the character in its student-athletes, it encourages all players, coaches and administrators to get involved in the community, and several football players did just that. They participated in the SmithWilliams Senior Center’s 8th Annual Holiday Lunch.

The Rattlers served meals, signed autographs and posed for pictures with the attendees. Also in attendance was Tallahassee City Commissioner Andrew

Gillum and Rep. Alan Williams. Coach Quinn Gray accompanied the players to the event. The players who participated in the community service endeavor were Lenworth Lennon, Trevor Scott, Branden Curry, Brandon Holdren, Ellie Hypollite and DJ Folsom.

Judging from the overwhelming response to the

players, and the willingness of FAMU Athletics to participate in the community, the players have committed to making this an annual community service venture. This luncheon was sponsored by Honeywell.

The annual Black Coaches and Administrators (BCA) National Convention and Expo Special to the Outlook Join members, supporters and partners of the BCA during the dates of May 23-26, 2012 for the annual BCA convention and expo.

The BCA convention will assemble sport professionals from all sports disciplines and levels for professional development and networking opportunities. In addition, convention activities will include our marquee event of the annual BCA “Coach of the Year” awards ceremony and exhibitors showcase.

The host hotel is the Rosen Centre Hotel, located on International Drive in Orlando, Fl. The Rosen Centre Hotel will extend extra BCA convention attendees a special “Memorial Day” weekend rate of $75.00, single /double occupancy (plus applicable taxes) for Saturday, May 26th through Monday, May 28th for anyone who extends their stay (must be a

guest during the convention to qualify). You may book reservations now. Just visit the link below: https://reservations.ihotelier.com/crs/g_reservation. cfm?groupID=598179&;ho telID=2018

For additional information, visit www.bcasports.org or contact Glenda K. Wilson, BCA Director of Marketing and Events at 317-8295600.

About The Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA) The Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to foster the growth and development of ethnic minorities at all levels of sports both nationally and internationally. The BCA is committed to creating a positive enlightened environment where issues can be examined closely, debated sincerely and resolved honestly. The BCA’s focus involves the concerns of its colleagues in professional sports, NCAA (Division I, II, and III), NAIA (Division I and II), junior college and high school levels.

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10/10/11 10:00 AM

Capital Outlook

10 www.capitaloutlook.com

Dec. 1 - Dec. 7, 2011

NOW YOU HAVE A BETTER TV CHOICE. CenturyLink Prism . Interactive TV you control. Any show, any time, from any TV. TM

TM

America’s fastest growing broadband company now brings you a better choice in television.

It’s not cable. It’s not satellite. It’s Prism. It’s interactive TV that you control from the moment you click the remote. It’s so advanced, it even updates automatically. Simply put, it’s the best way to watch all your favorite shows, teams – you name it. So turn off cable and satellite, and turn on TV worth switching for.

Bundle BRILLIANT TV with Pure Speed for an even BETTER experience.

Prism TV TM

• Over 120 all-digital channels • FREE HD and Whole Home DVR for 3 months

+

Pure Broadband – 10 MBPS • Consistently fast all day, every day • No phone line required

Prism TV + Pure Broadband TM

65

= $

.95 a month for 6 months*

BONUS!

PUT YOUR PRISM TV ON VACATION WHEN YOU HEAD BACK NORTH TM

SEE THE DIFFERENCE FOR YOURSELF! Test-drive it online at seeprismtv.com or in store today: 1544-2 Governor’s Square Blvd.

1410 Market St. 2020 West Pensacola St.

Call 866.484.7057 *Offer ends 12/31/2011. Offer and stated rates are available to new, first-time CenturyLink™ Prism™ TV residential customers in select areas only. The $65.95 monthly rate applies to up to 10 Mbps Pure Broadband and Prism™ TV package for six (6) months of service with a minimum service commitment of twelve (12) months, after which standard rates apply. A $6.99 monthly DVR service fee applies when the Quad Play DVR is purchased with Prism™ TV package. Promotional offer cannot be combined with any other Prism offers. All prices, packages and programming are subject to change without notice. Taxes, fees, and surcharges will apply. An additional monthly fee (including professional installation, if applicable) and a shipping and handling fee will apply to customer’s modem or router. Customer must cancel DVR and/or HD service by calling CenturyLink Customer Service before the end of the three-month promotional period to avoid monthly charges, or the standard monthly rate for each service will apply until service(s) are cancelled. Offers may be limited to specific locations. General – Services and offers not available everywhere. CenturyLink may change, cancel, or substitute offers and services, or vary them by service area, at its sole discretion without notice. Requires credit approval and deposit may be required. Additional restrictions apply. Terms and Conditions – All products and services listed are governed by tariffs, local terms of service, or terms and conditions posted at http://about.centurylink.com. Taxes, Fees, and Surcharges – Taxes, fees, and surcharges apply, including a Carrier Universal Service charge, National Access Fee surcharge, a one-time High-Speed Internet activation fee, state and local fees that vary by area and certain in-state surcharges. Cost recovery fees are not taxes or government-required charges for use. Taxes, fees, and surcharges apply based on standard monthly, not promotional, rates. Call for a listing of applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges. Monthly Rate for All Service Bundles – The monthly rate for all bundled services will apply while customer subscribes to all qualifying services. If one (1) or more services are cancelled, the standard monthly fee will apply to each remaining service. Pure Broadband – Early termination results in customer being responsible for payment of the applicable monthly recurring service fee multiplied by the number of months remaining in the minimum service period, up to $200. Performance will vary due to conditions outside of network control and no speed is guaranteed. Telephone landline is part of the service only for the purpose of data traffic transmission/connection and cannot be used for voice traffic transmission, except for 911 services. CenturyLink™ Prism™ TV – All plans require separate local phone service plan and include digital channels (including local channels), one (1) set-top box (STB), one (1) modem gateway, and up to four (4) standard direct video streams to residence. CenturyLink-provided STBs are required to view TV. If a term agreement applies to the offer, an early termination fee in the amount of discounts received applies if customer terminates services before the end of the applicable term agreement. Local channel availability varies by market. Caller ID service must be purchased separately to enable the on-screen Caller ID feature; Caller ID feature is not available in all areas. High Definition (HD) available on all TV plans for an additional $11.99/month, and up to two (2) of the up to four (4) video streams can be in HD. Customer’s location determines both HD availability and the maximum number of HD video streams (between 0 and 2 HD streams) a customer can view and record at any one time per residence, regardless of the number of STBs in the household. All non-HD video streams are provided in standard definition. Subscription to service precludes customers from purchasing high-speed Internet services from any third party. Additional charges will apply for additional programming packages, movie channel subscriptions (except for Prism™ Premium plan), Pay Per View movies and events, On Demand purchases, and premium services/subscriptions for all plans. Some subscription services, events, and broadcast network service may be blacked out in customer’s area. Customer may dial *67 (touch-tone) or 1167 (rotary) prior to placing a call to block their calling information. In order for media sharing to operate correctly customer must have Windows XP or VISTA and Windows Media Player 11. Vacation Program – Offer available to residential customers only. Only certain CenturyLink services are eligible for the Vacation Program; third party services received through CenturyLink are not eligible. Offer may include a reduced monthly recurring charge for a predetermined number of months each year, retention of equipment and suspension of service, programming and agreement during Vacation Program activation. A zero balance for each applicable service is required for eligibility. If customer does not contact CenturyLink to resume full activation of applicable services before the end of six (6) consecutive month period, all applicable monthly charges, fees, surcharges, contractual obligations, etc., will resume automatically. Vacation Program services will have restrictions and limitations that will vary for each applicable service. Contact CenturyLink for details. Equipment – Minimum equipment and CenturyLink professional installation are required. At initial installation, each customer receives: one (1) VDSL 2 modem; up to six (6) STBs (standard plan includes one (1) STB; additional STBs are available for an additional monthly rate, per STB); and one (1) remote control per STB installed. All equipment must be returned to designated CenturyLink retail store within thirty (30) days after service disconnection in an undamaged condition, or customer is charged for each equipment piece not returned or returned as damaged. Prism™ TV Plan – Quad Play DVR service excluded and is available for an additional monthly fee. Green Lantern: ©2011 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. ©2011 CenturyLink, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The name CenturyLink and the pathways logo are trademarks of CenturyLink, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

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