Full Speech: President Obama Commencement Address at Howard University

President Obama delivered the commencement address today (05/04/2016) at Howard University. Watch the president's entire speech below.

Death threats made against Howard University

Howard University officials say they're increasing security on campus and at nearby Metro stations after an online threat was detected.

The threat was made against the university and its students, Howard officials said Thursday, but did not elaborate further.

One Howard student told reporters the threat was posted on the anonymous website 4Chan. The student, a freshman, said her resident assistant sent students a screenshot of the threat and warned them to be safe.

Howard officials said security has been increased out of an "abundance of caution." Students won't be penalized for not attending classes if they're concerned, the officials said.

Howard asked anyone who sees something suspicious to call the Howard University Department of Public Safety at 202-806-1100 or D.C. police at 202-727-9099.

[SOURCE]

Howard U. Marching Band goes silent after not receiving scholarship money

Howard University’s Showtime Marching Band has gone silent in protest because they say they haven’t received scholarship money from the school’s administration. It started at Saturday’s football game, when the band wore all black as they performed, staging a #SilentShowtime protest. Watch more on this story below:

TOP 10 HBCU 2015/2016

Here we go again. Here are the top 10 HBCU's for the 2014 / 2015 school year as picked by US News & World Report. Did your school make the list? See if it did below:

#1

Spelman College

Atlanta, GA

Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a private institution. Spelman College follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.

#2

Howard University

Washington, DC

Howard University is a historically black college located in Washington, D.C. Despite its urban setting, students are permitted to bring cars to campus – though freshmen may not apply for on-campus parking.

#3

Hampton University

Hampton, VA

Hampton University, a private, historically black institution in Virginia, has graduated people such as Alberta Williams King, mother of Martin Luther King Jr., and Booker T. Washington, influential African-American educator.

 Get access to expanded profiles, financial aid statistics, GPAs and more.

#4

Morehouse College

Atlanta, GA

A private institution, Morehouse College was founded in 1867.

#5

Tuskegee University

Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,588, with a gender distribution of 42.6 percent male students and 57.4 percent female students. 41 percent of students live off campus.

#6

Xavier University of Louisiana

New Orleans, LA

Founded in 1915, Xavier University of Louisiana is a private institution. Xavier University of Louisiana follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective.

#7

Fisk University

Nashville, TN

Fisk University is a private institution that was founded in 1866. The school has 71.1 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio at Fisk University is 13:1.

#8

Claflin University

Orangeburg, SC

Claflin University was established in 1869 as a private institution. Claflin University follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered least selective.

#9

North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro, NC

North Carolina A&T State University is a historically black school in Greensboro. The Aggies sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

#10

Florida A&M University

Tallahassee, FL

Located in Tallahassee, Florida A&M University is a historically black institution that offers a range of degrees to students of all races. The university, more commonly known as FAMU, offers more than 100 student organizations and several fraternities and sororities to join.

Historically black schools say Obama’s policies have fallen short

The country’s first African American president is finding himself increasingly at odds with a cornerstone of the African American community: historically black colleges and universities.

Leaders at these schools and some black lawmakers say the Obama administration has been pushing policies for years that hurt students at a time when historically black colleges are already cash-strapped and seeing a drop in enrollment.

Tensions spilled over after a recent Congressional Black Caucus meeting with Obama and Vice President Biden in which the president said that historically black schools, also known as HBCUs, needed to do a better job graduating students and not saddling them with debt, according to several people at the meeting. Some Black Caucus members bristled at those remarks since they say the president didn’t acknowledge that his own administration was also pursuing policies that advocates say are hurting the schools.

“The president thinks that HBCUs — and there may in fact be some — are failing our students,” said Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (D-Ohio), who was in attendance. “But there needs to be an open dialogue about higher education and why HBCUs have historically gotten short shrift when it comes to resources and recognition.”

Read more: Historically black schools say Obama’s policies have fallen short

Paulette Brown to Become the First Black Woman President of the American Bar Association

This August, Paulette Brown will become the first Black woman to serve as President of the American Bar Association(ABA). Brown will serve as president-elect for one year before taking over as president in August 2015.

A native of Baltimore, she attended Howard University with the intention of becoming a social worker, but later decided on studying law. After graduating from Howard, Brown received her law degree from the Seton Hall University School of Law, and has been practicing law since 1976. She is also a partner in a New Jersey law firm where she specializes in labor law, employment law and commercial litigation.

“When I first started going to court and so forth,” said Brown, “I had the usual experiences. ‘Are you the defendant? Are you the court reporter? Are you the plaintiff? No? Well then, who are you then?’ It never occurred to them that I could be the lawyer.

“Her ascension to the presidency just opens the door for so many African-American females to even believe that that is possible,” said Alicia Wilson, the fundraising committee co-chair for the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys of Maryland.

“She has broken down barriers and opened up doors and kept them open for a whole host of African-American women attorneys,” she added.

Brown said she believes that her selection by the ABA leadership as its next president carries with it a great responsibility. Though the term of ABA president only lasts one year, Brown said she is determined to set goals that she can produce tangible results within the term length of her position.

Read more: Paulette Brown to Become the First Black Woman President of the American Bar Association

Should Sean Combs, ( not Diddy ) give commencement speech at Howard?

Media mogul and businessman Sean Combs will give the commencement speech at Howard University this year. It should be noted that although he dropped out Combs did attend Howard so there is a connection there.

Some have taken issue with a "rapper" ( honestly rapping is not the man's strong suit ) being given the honor of speaking at the Howard graduation ceremony. I believe that those up in arms should keep in mind that Howard invited Sean Combs not Diddy to speak. They invited Combs, a successful businessman who can give valued advice to those wanting to head in the business world.

I think Sean Combs is an excellent choice. What do you think?