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UNC board grants Nikole Hannah-Jones tenure

Trustees at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill voted Wednesday to grant award-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones tenure.

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UNC board grants Nikole Hannah-Jones tenure
(Photo/Sarah E. Freeman/Grady College, freemans@uga.edu in New York City, Georgia, on Saturday, May 21, 2016)

Trustees at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill voted Wednesday to grant award-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones tenure after facing backlash from Black students and faculty who said the board’s initial refusal reflected a history of systemic racism at the school.

The 9-4 vote came after a three hour closed session.

The tenure approval came just one day before Hannah-Jones was set to officially join the Hussman School of Journalism and Media as the Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism.

Last month it was revealed that her appointment didn’t come with tenure, a break with tradition for that position.

Her legal team had said she would not take the position if it didn’t include tenure.

Hannah-Joned released a statement Wednesday saying she was “honored and grateful” for the support she has received, including the students who protested at the meeting.

“Today’s outcome and the actions of the past month are about more than just me,” Hannah-Jones said. “This fight is about ensuring the journalistic and academic freedom of Black writers, researchers, teachers, and students. We must ensure that our work is protected and able to proceed free from the risk of repercussions, and we are not there yet.”

The board’s initial refusal to give Hannah-Jones’ tenure sparked outcry from UNC’s Black community demanding that the board reconsider tenure for Hannah-Jones. Some professors there have publicly said they were reconsidering their willingness to remain at the university over the journalist’s treatment.

In early June, 42 faculty members from the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at UNC penned a letter condemning the board for not granting Hannah-Jones tenure calling it “blatant disregard for time-honored tenure procedures and for the university and Board of Trustees’ endorsed values of diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Nikole Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter covering racial injustice for The New York Times Magazine and creator of the landmark 1619 Project.

“We welcome Nikole Hannah-Jones back to campus,” the UNC’s board vice chairman, Gene Davis, said at the close of statements after the three-hour special session of the trustees. “Our university is not a place to cancel people. Our university is better than that. Our nation is better than that,” he said.

“We embrace and endorse academic freedom and vigorous debate and constructive disagreement,” Davis said. He also said the campus was not a place for calling people “woke” or “racist.” The trustees, he said, had to endure terrible insults but could not respond for privacy reasons involving the decision.

(Photo/Sarah E. Freeman/Grady College, freemans@uga.edu in New York City, Georgia, on Saturday, May 21, 2016)


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Unheard Voices is an award-winning news magazine that started in 2004 as a local Black newsletter in the Asbury Park, Neptune, and Long Branch, NJ areas to now broaden into a recognized Black online media outlet. They are the recipient of the NAACP Unsung Hero Award and CV Magazine's Innovator Award for Best Social Justice Communications Company.

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Culture

‘A Different World’ cast set to reunite for 10-City HBCU tour

The tour will kick off Feb. 29 in Atlanta, Georgia, followed by stops in Washington DC, Montgomery, Alabama and more.

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A Different World tour

In celebration of the sitcom’s 35+ year legacy, the cast of ‘A Different World’ will reunite for a national 10-city tour across HBCUs, reports PEOPLE.

A Different World HBCU tour

Darryl M. Bell (Ronald ‘Ron’ Johnson), Charnele Brown (Kimberly ‘Kim’ Reese), Jasmine Guy (Whitley Marion Gilbert Wayne), Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne Cleophus Wayne), Dawnn Lewis (Jaleesa Vinson Taylor), Cree Summer (Winifred ‘Freddie’ Brooks), Glynn Turman (Col. Bradford ‘Brad’ Taylor) and Sinbad (Walter Oakes) will participate on the tour.

The tour will feature panels and other events and will also be joined by producers Debbie Allen and Susan Fales.

Dates

The HBCU tour will kick off Feb. 29 in Georgia at Atlanta University Center, which include Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and Morehouse College.

Other locations include Washington, D.C. (hosted by Howard University) and Montgomery, Ala. (hosted by Alabama State University and Tuskegee University). Both will be in April but no date has been released yet.

More dates will be announced soon.


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Education

Spelman College receives $100 million donation, the highest in the college’s history

Spelman College has received its largest donation of $100 million from businesswoman and philanthropist Ronda Stryker and her husband, William Johnston, the chairman of Greenleaf Trust.

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Spelman $100 million
Spelman College historic maker (Creative Commons 4.0 Wikimedia Commons)

Spelman College has received its largest donation of $100 million from businesswoman and philanthropist Ronda Stryker and her husband, William Johnston, the chairman of Greenleaf Trust.

$100 million donation for Spelman is a blessing

The $100 million comes as the nation’s oldest historically Black college for women celebrates 100 years since its official name change from Spelman Baptist Seminary in Sept. 1924.

The college says the gift will help retain the best and brightest students by eliminating financial barriers during the admission process.

“We are invigorated and inspired by this incredible act of generosity,” said Dr. Helene Gayle, president of Spelman College during an interview on CBS Mornings.

“This gift is a critical step in our school’s mission to eliminate financial barriers to starting and finishing a Spelman education. We can’t thank Ronda Stryker enough for her selflessness and support as both a trustee and friend. There’s no doubt that Spelman College is better because of her.”

Spelman is Top ranked

Spelman College has been ranked as the #1 Historically Black College and / or University by U.S. News for 17 consecutive years.

The college has a variety of degree/major offerings but they produce the most graduates who pursue a PhD in science, technology, engineering or math, according to The National Science Foundation.

About Ronda Stryker

Ronda Stryker is an American billionaire heiress and granddaughter of Homer Stryker, an orthopedic surgeon and founder of Stryker Corporation.


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Education

Maryland principal accused of making racist and antisemitic comments

A Maryland principal is in hot water over an audio recording that has been making rounds on social media containing racist and antisemitic comments.

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Maryland principal racist comments Pikesville High
Photo by Pixabay

A Maryland principal is in hot water over an audio recording that has been making rounds on social media containing racist and antisemitic comments.

Maryland principal accused of making racist comments

In it, a person purported to be Pikesville’s High School principal, can be heard making disparaging comments about the test scores of African American students.

The person on the recording then makes an offensive comment about an African American staff member at the school and members of the Pikesville Jewish community.

Is the audio real?

There is an investigation into the validity of the recording. Some officials believe the audio is fake and is A.I. constructed. Baltimore County schools said they are taking the matter seriously.

Statement from school district

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski issued a statement in response.

“Hate, discrimination, and prejudice have no place in our community — especially in our schools. The statements being circulated are abhorrent, and my administration is providing our full support to BCPS as they conduct as they conduct a thorough investigation. Following the conclusion of this investigation, I know swift action will be taken to hold those involved accountable.”


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