Category Archives: Colleges

Mar23

Operation: Send Red to the WNBA Combine

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Operation: Send Red to the WNBA Combine

Antonia “RED” Bennett

**This image does not belong to this site. This image was captured from Google.**

WHO IS RED?

Antonia “RED” Bennett is a senior at Florida A&M University hailing from Lakeland, FL. Red has been recently selected to participate in the 2012 WNBA Combine which will be held in Denver, CO in one week, March 30 – April 1, 2012.

ON THE COURT

Red, a forward averages 18 points a game, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. She is the 2012 MEAC Player of the Year. She was selected as a part of the first team all conference, MEAC tournament team, and a nominee for the Pan-American game team captain just to name a few of her most recent accomplishments.

OFF THE COURT

Red is a 22 year old criminal justice major who has led the Lady Rattlers not just with her statistical accomplishments on the court but also by being success in the classroom. Red regularly mentors youth through a juvenile justice program in Tallahassee. She has also worked in numerous summer camps for youth.

Due to NCAA rules and regulations, FAMU is unable to assist with any expenses which amount to about $1800. The expenses include but are not limited to (flight, hotel, travel, food, etc.) Red has been able to raise about $700 thus far, but time is ticking.

HOW CAN YOU HELP

Your financial support, resources, contacts, etc.) will help this dynamic young lady fulfill her life long dream of playing professional basketball. So here’s what I need you to do… Please make a donation to help this young lady get to Denver and then ask your friends to do so as well. My goal is to see her have that $1800 by the time North Carolina takes to the court on Sunday night (Yea I’m a Tarheel).

As the first women’s basketball player from FAMU to be selected to participate in this event, with your help she will be able to represent the RATTLER NATION and bring exposure to HBCU women’s basketball programs.

Her mother, Iris Hinson has created a PayPal account to help get her babygirl to Denver…. We hope you will send a donation.

You can call Karen Riggien at 850-599-3264 or …

Click here to donate: https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=7VCyzfbfRou90I1cWvcZ6DR41LXi8tulJTVmUfDKYq1jrH61w9CA9bJ-3v8&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8dcbcd55a50598f04d927139403713ca13

Dec20

Has Governor Scott exceeded his authority… Crisis at FAMU

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Has Governor Scott exceeded his authority… Crisis at FAMU

Governor Rick Scott isn’t out of the “scope of his authority” as he is the Governor and FAMU is a state entity, however many see his actions against President Ammons as a reflection of his over zealous reaction to a very tragic event and as an attempt to begin what many FAMU supporters and alumni have feared for generations… “The State of Florida is trying to take OUR FAMU away from us and merge it with FSU.”
Ask Yourself, Should President Ammons step down
We had no problem supporting Penn State firing everybody when news broke, but because it is one of our own institutions we now are feeling some kinda way. One thing that I learned and heard repeatedly in law school was…”The Law Has No Feelings” and here we must keep our feelings in control and focus on the relevant facts.

What About Robert Champion
The implications behind this tragedy are greater than what many of us want to accept or even wanting to imagine, however at the end of the day a Georgia family buried their son who loved his FAMU Marching 100 and who died following its biggest tradition and most anticipated annual performance… THE CLASSIC! Sadly though, there was nothing celebratory nor remotely exciting about how Robert Champion’s life ended, and the only thing “CLASSIC” about it is, that it fits the definition of homicide!

What’s Next for FAMU

There are so many things happening in this story, this Crisis at FAMU. The murder, the possible firing/forced resignation of the beloved University President and most feared… will the “whispers” come true… Will this tragedy lead certain powers to move towards closing FAMU as we know it and have loved it for generations, or will it trigger FAMU supporters and alumnus to band together to for one, to work towards preventing there ever being another Marching 100 murder and two, to keep FAMU open as it is one of the greatest institutions of higher education in this nation and it ain’t because of the band… The band is a PLUS!

Public Relations

There is so much that can be gleaned from this tragedy. So many lessons can be prevented from having to be learned if other institutions begin to implement and enforce expectations of greatness. FAMU needs to hire the best public relations team they can put together so that the very tarnished image of the school can be restored. Although this won’t be an overnight process, it needs to begin very soon.

Perhaps, firing Ammons isn’t the answer however he needs to stay in front of this. Perhaps he needs to sit down in front of America and be the voice of why FAMU is still a great institution and why the school and community must learn from this tragedy… If Oprah, Dr. Phil, Dateline or 20/20 won’t interview him exclusively as a special presentation, I know a few bloggers who will!

Reporting live from my bed… I AM “The Southern Socialite” and I’m out… Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays, be blessed and always be a blessing too!!

Jun4

The One Time I Support Alabama Crimson Tide!

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The One Time I Support Alabama Crimson Tide!

This my friends should come as no surprise that I am a die-hard University of Miami fan who truly detests the Crimson Tide… However, in contrast to my disdain (athletically for UA) I am a champion, supporter and believer in higher education.

Please support Nikki on her quest... Back 2 Bama!

Having said that, I would like to introduce you to Ms. Nikki Gamble. Nikki is a single mother who attended UA several years ago, but due to circumstances that arose, she endured a “Pause” in her academic pursuit. Today, Nikki is ready to press “Play” and return back to “Bama” and finish her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Here is her story… Back To Bama

May18

Pre-Review… My Journey To The Bar

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Pre-Review… My Journey To The Bar

I’m about to pledge LAW! Literally and figuratively! Journey with me as I endure the rigors of this Journey To The Bar! Follow my story here:  Save Me A Margarita… My Journey To The Bar

**JVM is a recent law school graduate preparing for a  State Bar Examination down in DIXIE. She accepts support in the form of prayers, food, SBUX gift cards and gas money.**
Jan16

I Love ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA

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I Love ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA

When I graduated high school I was headed to Clark Atlanta University. Then on my 18th birthday my mom decided that I was going to Talladega College instead. I was pissed, I cried, I cussed (not at her of course… Heck naw), I had a major attitude about the decision.

But TC gave me an awesome Financial Aid package so out the window went CAU. August 1996 I arrived in Talladega, AL. Over the next four years at TC I fell in love.

I had always crushed on AKA, for it had been in my heart from the start. But the AKA’s at Talladega made that crush a life long love affair. These AKA’s weren’t interested in stereotypes, unless the stereotype included being the BEST OF THE BEST! They were the leaders, they were fun, they were cool, they were caring, they partied hard, they served the campus and the community, they weren’t just conceited they were definitely convinced.

Two years after my enrollment, I began to “court” AKA. Our courtship wasn’t an easy one. It was filled with late nights and long days. Like with most courtships, ya gotta put away that ponytail and baseball cap and let your hair down *winks*. The harder it became to court AKA, the more I wanted it. Then one Sunday in November, AKA made my childhood dream come true, it was no longer my secret crush it was a’las my true love!

CHI CHAPTER, Talladega College… Life long friendships, a sisterhood that no fight or disagreement can destroy, best friends, role models, a perpetual bond of sisterhood thats what CHI is to me! Chi, Chi, Chi, Chi, Chi… forever! AKA forever!

I thank GOD for my mother and her decision to send me to Talladega. I love you mommy and Soror Von!! CHI sister’s & all ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA sister’s, HAPPY 103rd Founder’s Day!!

 

**I forgot to hit publish on 1/15/11, blame my head not my heart. I was in tears once I finished this.**

Jan13

Happy Founders Day DST

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Happy Founders Day DST

I wouldn’t want to leave any one friend out by trying to name each of you soooo, I decided to extend my wishes this way…

To my Talladega, Texas Southern, Birmingham, Houston, Atlanta, New York & Lakeland friends of DST, Happy 98th Founders Day to you and all of the women of Delta Sigma Theta! See ya in the 100 Club soon… Skeee-Ooop!!!

Mar18

Bracketology for March MADness

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Bracketology for March MADness

Indianapolis, IN - April 3rd -5th

Are you MAD about the brackets for the 2010 NCAA National Championship Tournament? I am, matter of fact I’m outraged! My team did not make it to March MADness this year! Nonetheless, I have completed my bracket sheet.  

Of all the four regional brackets, I found the Midwest Bracket to be the most competitively challenging. If you’ve never completed a bracket before, I’d suggest you don’t make the common beginners mistake of selecting the four No.1 seeds for the Final Four. Its a cute notion, but not very realistic. I’m hoping that Gonzanga does something spectacularly amazing this year. They are like the team I “crush” on every season. We’ll see.

President Obama (my homie) correctly predicted that my UNC Tarheels would win the 2009 NCAA Championship. But this year, I’m going to have to go against him. I predict that highly favored Kansas will make it to the FINAL FOUR, but I’m not counting on them to win. Of Obamas four picks, I have 3. I still have to do my second bracket which is usually more accurate.

Obama’s Picks: Kansas (WIN), Kansas State, Kentucky and Villanova.
Southern Socialite’s Picks: Kentucky (WIN), Kansas, Duke and Kansas State.

Mar4

AlumniRoundup Report: FAMU tape was a HOAX with paid actors (pornstars)

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AlumniRoundup Report: FAMU tape was a HOAX with paid actors (pornstars)

THANK GOODNESS!!  All I could think when I saw the blogs go out yesterday about the so called FAMU tape was, “Isn’t Michael Baisden at FAMU holding a national tour to save our future generations RIGHT NOW!!; why today of all days.”

Twitter, Facebook and numerous other social sites have been spreading this “video”, like wildfire. I tweeted earlier today to my followers to be careful and think twice before forwarding it because for all they know the people featured on the video could be minors and we know what that can lead to… YUP, child pornography charges!

I wish you all could have seen how HOT I was about the foolishness. Not only is it disappointing, it is quite reckless. I’ve been surprised at the people I’ve spoken to who have seen it, but then again… not really!

Let me just say this, as a Double HBCU graduate of two very HISTORICAL BLACK COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES… (Talladega & Texas Southern) and soon to be a triple graduate, DO NOT for one moment and I mean it NOT FOR ONE MOMENT doubt the importance, relevance and necessity of HBCU’s. FAMU is a leading institution of higher learning, and not just amongst HBCU’s.

Now more than ever, HBCU’s need our support. Less than a week ago on February 26th, President Obama signed an EXECUTIVE ORDER to strengthen the White House initiatives with HBCU’s.

There is something special about a classroom in a building that you know was built by former slaves. It creates a pride and determination to succeed.

I am a strong advocate for education in general, but especially higher education. I still remember my4th grade teacher, Ms. Janice Marlow at Rochelle Elementary telling us to always read and learn all we can, because people can’t take away what you learn through education. That has stuck with me over 20 years. When I go out to mentor youth around the country, I always tell them what Ms. Marlow taught me.

Since 1943, the United Negro College Fund, “A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE”  has fought to preserve and protect private HBCU’s. So let’s be reminded of the great UNCF slogan and continue to support and protect our HBCU’s and not be discouraged or defeated by some philandering “Girls Gone Wild” wannabe’s as they make a move on HBCU’s.

A Hoax with paid actors   <— <— <— <—–Please click

So with all that said… PLEASE RETWEET, POST TO YOUR FACEBOOK, EMAIL and TEXT that it was all a SCHEME!! As Steve Harvey & Nephew Tommy say, “RUN TELL DAT!”

~ The Southern Socialite