Purple Rain becoming Broadway musical

Four decades after Purple Rain topped the box office, dazzled audiences with its epic soundtrack, and cemented Prince’s status as the High Priest of Pop, the classic film is getting a second life on the stage. A Broadway-bound adaptation of Purple Rain is in the works, based on the original screenplay by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn, and featuring the iconic music of Prince.

“It's been almost 40 years since Prince’s legendary film, Purple Rain took the world by storm and we can’t think of a more fitting tribute than to honor Prince and the Purple Rain legacy with this stage adaptation of the beloved story,” said L Londell McMillan (Chairman of The NorthStar Group) and Larry Mestel (Founder & CEO of Primary Wave Music) in a joint statement. “We are thrilled with our Broadway partners and creative team, who are bringing a theatricality to the film’s original fictional story. We can’t wait for a new generation to discover Purple Rain and for lovers of the original film and album to experience its power once again, this time live.”

The stage version will feature a book by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, the two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist who made his Broadway debut this season with the blistering family drama, Appropriate, featuring Sarah Paulson, Elle Fanning, and Corey Stoll.

Lileana Blain-Cruz, the Tony Award nominee who recently oversaw Lincoln Center’s acclaimed revival of The Skin of Our Teeth, will direct the show.

[SOURCE: EW]

Marcheta P. Evans to be 12th president of St. Catherine University

The St. Catherine University Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Marcheta P. Evans, PhD, will serve as the 12th president of the University. Evans, currently chancellor of Bloomfield College of Montclair State University in New Jersey, will begin on July 15, 2024.

“Dr. Evans’s astute understanding of higher education trends, particularly as they relate to smaller, private institutions, and her track record of developing and activating growth and transformation strategies, impressed the entire committee,” said Ken Charles and Anne Gotte, presidential search committee co-chairs at St. Catherine University. “She clearly demonstrated her ethical decision-making process, rooted in values and principles consistent with our University’s mission, vision and values, which made her selection a logical choice.”

Evans will be the first African-American and the 12th woman to serve as president of St. Catherine University. Becky Roloff, the University’s 11th president, announced her plans to retire on August 15, 2024 after an eight-year tenure. A search committee composed of Trustees and University representatives immediately launched a national search for the next leader.

“We were impressed with Dr. Evans’s demonstrated commitment to and experience with advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for students, faculty, and staff,” said Jean Wincek, CSJ ‘62, EdD, chair of the St. Catherine University Board of Trustees. “Her embrace of the Catholic intellectual tradition, emphasizing scholarly inquiry and social justice teaching, was a noted strength and led to the Trustees’ unanimous vote on her selection.”

Prior to its historic merger with Montclair State University, Evans served as Bloomfield’s 17th President, and held the distinction of being both the first African-American and first female to lead the College. She has served in transformational leadership roles in higher education for nearly 30 years at both public and private institutions, including Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean at OLLU and Associate Dean and Department Chair at University of Texas at San Antonio.

“The mission of this University, to educate women to lead and influence, and its emphasis on the importance of welcoming a rich diversity of students across the three colleges and four schools resonates deeply with my core values,” says Evans. “St. Catherine University’s commitment to empowering women and promoting social justice aligns with my own dedication to fostering inclusive and purpose-driven academic environments. These principles as well as St. Kate’s core values of academic excellence, community, integrity, social justice and reflection seamlessly align with my identity as a servant leader in higher education.”

Evans is also a past President and Fellow of the American Counseling Association, past President of the Association for Creativity in Counseling, and is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions. A small sampling of these recognitions includes the Outstanding Multicultural Leadership Award, Yellow Rose of Texas Lifetime Educator Award, and Counselors for Social Justice Ohana Award.

Evans has authored numerous articles and book chapters, focusing on issues of diversity, multiculturalism, women’s issues, and leadership. In her international work, Evans has traveled extensively, including a length of time in the African country of Malawi where she worked with educators and counselors on literacy initiatives sponsored by USAID.

Evans graduated from the University of Alabama with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counselor Education and Supervision, specializing in Student Affairs, Administration in Higher Education, and Human Resource Management. Additionally, she has a Master of Arts degree in Education in Elementary Education from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, a Master of Arts degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Alabama.

Plans for the inauguration celebration of Evans are in progress, and will be announced at a later date.

Thurgood Marshall College Fund and NIKE announce HBCU Scholarship

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and NIKE are proud to offer financial assistance to outstanding students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Ninety-five (95) scholars will be selected to receive a scholarship of up to $10,000 for the 2024-2025 academic school year (which can only be applied to verifiable costs associated with average tuition and usual fees).

 

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Be enrolled full-time as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior at a select HBCU during the 2024-2025 academic school year.
• Must attend one of the following schools:
  • Atlanta University Center Consortium (Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, or Spelman College)
  • Hampton University
  • LeMoyne-Owen College
  • Morgan State University
  • North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
  • Tennessee State University
  • Texas Southern University
  • Tuskegee University
• Current cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
• Must have the 2024-2025 FAFSA on file at your selected university/college by the time of selection.
• Able to demonstrate a financial need.
• Be a U.S. Citizen or legal permanent resident with a valid permanent resident card or passport stamped I-551.

 

How to Apply

All Applicants Must: 

• Answer the following statement (Video – maximum of 2 minutes)
  • Tell us about a time when you succeeded or failed. What were your learnings from the experience?

 

Application Dates

This application opens January 16, 2024, and closes March 8, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET – Eastern Time.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

West Virginia Senate Republicans killed the CROWN Act intended to protect against discrimination based on hair style

Republican lawmakers in West Virginia have killed a bill that would have banned discrimination against Black hairstyles, known as the CROWN Act, in a blow for Black hair advocates in the state.

Despite initial optimism that this would be the year when lawmakers pass a bill to prohibit race-based hair discrimination, supporters were disappointed earlier this week when lawmakers killed the CROWN Act by taking it off the Senate floor and sending it back to the Senate Finance Committee.

Sen. Eric Tarr (Republican), the finance chair, did not take the bill back up, citing concerns that lawsuits over discrimination against West Virginians based on their hair styles would cost the state too much money.

Black West Virginians have been pushing for the CROWN Act for years. There have been instances both in the state and nationally where Black people have been discriminated against when wearing their hair naturally or in traditional styles.

“There’s absolutely no reason why anyone should have to walk into an office or classroom and have to defend their hair,” Katonya Hart, who has pushed for the legislation for several years, said.

[SOURCE:mountainstatespotlight]

Clark Atlanta University Panthers Win Sixth SIAC Basketball Title

The Clark Atlanta men's basketball team (25-5, 16-5 SIAC) are officially the 2023-24 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions after taking down Miles College 65-55 on Sunday afternoon inside Enmarket Arena. With the win, Clark Atlanta secures their first SIAC Championship since 2017 and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament.

"This is a full circle moment that I've dreamt about since I was a player. But there's still more work to be done." said head coach Alfred Jordan after the win.

Shemani Fuller led all scorers with a game-high 20 points, earning himself tournament MVP in his first season with the Panthers. Jalen NeSmith poured in a season-high 15 points on 4-of-8 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the charity stripe. Reigning SIAC Player of the Year Chris Martin chipped in 13 points to help power the Panthers to their sixth SIAC Championship in program history.

Sunday's contest was dominated by Clark Atlanta as Miles College only held a lead for 43 seconds. Fuller scored the game's first points and six of the Panthers' first nine to mount a 9-6 advantage at 15:55 mark. The Bronx, N.Y. native nailed a pair of free throws to ignite an 11-2 run to put the Panthers in front 20-8 with 10 minutes until halftime.

NeSmith knocked down a jumper with 25 seconds left in the half, keeping the Panthers ahead 33-25 headed into the locker room. Clark Atlanta shot 39% from the floor, 33% from three-point range, and 62% from the foul line in the first half.

Fuller and NeSmith combined for eight points to open the second half to put the Panthers in front 40-26 with 17:35 to left to play. The Panthers continued to assert dominance on the defensive end after holding Miles to just eight points in the first nine minutes of the second half. Clark Atlanta took their biggest lead of the day at the 11:10 mark as they mounted a 52-33 advantage over the Golden Bears.

Despite the deficit, Miles strung together a 19-4 run to climb back within four points (56-52) with just under two minutes to play. The Panthers responded with a 9-3 run to diminish the comeback effort and escape with the 2024 SIAC Championship.

Clark Atlanta outshot Miles from the field 41% to 30% for the game while also winning the paint-scoring battle 38-12. CAU's reserves outscored MC's 12-9 and held the Golden Bears scoreless in transition with zero fastbreak points.

[SOURCE: CLARKATLANTASPORTS]