Houston Defender: October 22, 2015 by Defender Media Group |DefenderNetwork

NATIONAL

BLACK TEACHERS DECLINE AS MINORITY STUDENTS INCREASE, P4

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Houston’s Leading Black Information Source

Volume 83 | Number 50

OCTOBER 22, 2015 |FREE

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LOCAL

HIGHER ED

RODNEY WEST named interim fire chief

SPECIAL

2015 COLLEGE GUIDE

P3 FEATURE ILYASAH SHABAZZ will lecture at TSU

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SPORTS WILLIE SIMMONS coaches PVAMU Panthers

P15 TOP EVENTS

Anita and Gerald Smith and Vernita Harris at Greater Houston Black Chamber Pinnacle Awards

P16

Oprah Winfrey

makes investment Oprah Winfrey demonstrated why she is one of the world’s most powerful women when she became a partner in Weight Watchers. Find out how Winfrey doubled her multi-million dollar investment.

Cornel West comes to Houston Professor, author and activist Dr. Cornel West is known for his outspoken views on such subjects as politics, poverty and race in America. Learn about his upcoming trip to speak in Houston. See when and where he’s speaking.

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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 22 | 2015

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newstalk

TSU addresses new rules, campus carry

By AMBER VERNON Defender

n light of recent shootings that took place at Texas Southern University, a forum was held to inform students of new security regulations and address the state’s campus carry gun law. To make the TSU campus more secure, the university enacted an 11p.m. curfew, a mandatory sign-in and sign-out policy for all student housing, increased security, and authorized the revision of the campus surveillance system. Although some students voiced their grievances with the curfew, TSU President Dr. John Rudley said it is better to be safe. “If we want to have effective security, some might have to be inconvenienced,” Rudley said. “It is not to punish students, but we have to maintain a safe environment.” In addition to the new rules, students

were informed about the campus carry law. Beginning Aug. 1, 2016, licensed gun holders can legally carry a concealed handgun on a Texas public or private university. Some students, such as first-year law student Kyle Garza, have already purchased a handgun and are in the process of getting it licensed. He said students should have the right to protect themselves. “Shootings can happen at any time and as far as me wanting to protect myself and others, I would want that opportunity,” Garza said. “I don’t want to have to rely on somebody who is way across campus. By the time they would get there, ten students would be dead. I would much rather have the opportunity to protect myself than sit in a class room and hide behind a chair that’s obviously not bullet proof.” Although the law has inspired some

students to purchase guns, E.J. Gary, a senior special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, advised students to let police handle dangerous situations. “Don’t play the hero,” Gary said. “Your parents didn’t send you to school to be a hero, they sent you here for an education. In the case there is a shooting, get low to the ground and take cover. Crawl away. It’s most often the people running who catch stray bullets.” Under campus carry, colleges are allowed to adopt rules concerning concealed guns in buildings owned or operated by the university. Student Government Association President Crystal Owens said the administration recently appointed her and other students to a committee to place restrictions on the law. “Personally, I don’t like guns, but the law is the law,” Owens said. “I trust our university will take the correct procedures to move for-

New Officers

The Texas Southern University Board of Regents elected new officers at its recent meeting. The officers are (left to right): Samuel Bryant, secretary; Derrick Mitchell, chairman; Wesley Terrell, vice chair; and Marilyn Rose, second vice chair.

ward with making sure that nothing negligent will happen with the law being established. The committee has not met yet, but when we do, we’ll do what’s necessary to make sure we keep a safe environment.”

Shooting suspect charged Jartis LeBlanc Jr., 22, has been charged with murder and aggravated assault in the shooting death of TSU freshman Brent Randall and the wounding of his brother. LeBlanc is being held on $100,000 Jartis LeBlanc Jr. bond. Houston Police said the shooting was in retaliation after a basketball game the night before. They also said LeBlanc is not a student but a gang member, and was out on bond for allegedly stealing a computer. LeBlanc was arrested during a standoff at a north Houston home. Authorities said SWAT surrounded the house, talked to him over speakers, and he surrendered peacefully.

localbriefs HOMEOWNERS IN HISD won’t see an increase in property tax rates for the 2015-2016 school year. The Board of Education voted to maintain the current tax rate of $1.1967 per $100 taxable value. That rate includes two parts: $1.0267 dedicated to funding general maintenance and operations and 17 cents earmarked for debt service. Additionally, HISD will continue offering a local homestead exemption. According to HISD, last year, the homestead exemption saved homeowners more than $150 million in property taxes. This year, the state Legislature raised the mandated homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000 through Senate Bill 1, which is subject to

voter approval in November.……..TEXAS ADDED JOBS in September for the seventh month of job growth in 2015. The state added 26,600 jobs as it rebounded from a decrease of 3,400 jobs in August. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2 percent in September, from 4.1 percent in August. The trade, transportation and utilities industry expanded by 11,400 positions, leading job growth among all industries. The education and health services industry added 10,900 jobs. Increases were also seen in such areas as construction and manufacturing ……..THE STATE HAS BARRED Planned Parenthood from receiving state Medicaid money, the latest setback since the

women’s healthcare provider became embroiled in controversy over undercover videos about its handling of fetal tissue. “Texas has stepped forward and shown its unyielding commitment to both protecting life and providing women’s health services,” said Gov. Greg Abbott. “The gruesome harvesting of baby body parts by Planned Parenthood will not be allowed in Texas and the barbaric practice must be brought to an end. As such, ending the Medicaid participation of Planned Parenthood affiliates in the State of Texas is another step in providing greater access to safe healthcare for women while protecting our most vulnerable – the unborn,” he said.

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Early voting underway Early voting for the upcoming Nov. 3 election started Monday, Oct. 19 and runs through Friday, Oct. 30. There are 41 Harris County early voting locations, some of which have changed. Registered voters can vote at any one of the county’s early voting locations. New locations are: • Houston Community College Northeast Campus, 555 Community College Drive • Alief Administration Building, 4250 Cook Road • Riley Chambers Community Center, 808 Magnolia Ave., Crosby • John Phelps Courthouse, 101 S. Richey, Pasadena To obtain an early voting schedule, view a personal sample ballot, review the list of acceptable forms of photo ID to vote at the polls, or to find early voting and Election Day locations, visit www.HarrisVotes. com or call 713.755.6965.

Interim fire chief named Executive Assistant Fire Chief Rodney West has been named interim chief of the Houston Fire Department effective Oct. 31. He replaces Terry Garrison, who resigned. West brings 25 years of service to HFD. He began his career in 1990 in fire station 46 in Houston‘s Southside. In 1996 he was Chief Rodney West promoted to the Communication Division of HFD where he rose to the rank of deputy chief of communication. In 2013 he was appointed to assistant chief under Garrison, where he maintained command of the Communications Division and assumed command of special events and special projects. The following year, West was appointed to executive assistant fire chief in charge of planning and administration. “I am humbled and honored to be selected to lead the men and women of the Houston Fire Department as we provide the best service possible to the citizens of Houston,” West said.

OCTOBER 22 | 2015 | DEFENDER

DEFENDER | OCTOBER 22 | 2015

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national

U.S.briefs

Black teachers decline as minority students increase The United States minority population has grown tremendously in recent years, and the U.S. Department of Education projects that by 2022, non-white students will make up 54.7 percent of the public school student population. Yet according to a recent study from the Albert Shanker Institute, an education think tank, the number of Black teachers dropped from 2002 to 2012. The study looks at nine major cities – Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. – and noted that the disparity between teachers and students of color increased over a 10-year period. It accounted for the rapid expansion of private and charter schools, and noted some of the challenges faced by public schools, which has led to barriers hiring and keeping teachers. The cities represented in the study have large education districts with large minority populations. There have been recruiting efforts conducted over the last decade with some success. However, the retention of teachers continues to be low, which offsets the relative success of the recruiting effort. “Minority teachers are disproportionately employed in predominantly urban, predominantly poor, and predominantly high minority schools,” one study researcher said. “But such schools are not as attractive workplaces… and because minority teachers are the

ones teaching at these schools, they have higher quit rates.” “We just had no idea the extent of it,” said Leo Casey, executive director of the Shanker Institute. “What’s clear from this data is over the last 10 years or so with the recession, if you look at every one of these cities, there’s a loss of teachers, but AfricanAmericans are bearing a hugely disproportionate share of the loss.” According to the report, in schools with better working conditions, retention rates for minority teachers are similar to those of white teachers. Included in the report’s solutions to the problem are the review of legislation that can impact teacher diversity by state legislatures, mentorship programs for novice teachers, and the investment in high-quality teacher education programs at historically Black universities, Hispanic-serving universities and tribal colleges and universities.

St. Louis churches targeted by arsonists Authorities in the St. Louis area want to know who set fire to six churches and why. The fires were set over 10 days and all were at predominantly Black churches. According to the St. Louis Police and Fire Departments and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the fires were set at an exterior door when no one was at the structure. We believe that this fire-setting activity is meant to send a message,” the bureau said in a statement. “We believe this activity may be the result of stress experienced in the subject’s life.” Parishioners have called the arson attacks

“destructive” and “disappointing,” and said it “disturbs the heart.” Each fire seemed to start the same. The church’s front doors were sprayed with accelerant and set on fire. New Northside Missionary Baptist Church, which was the second church burned in the fires, posted a message on its Facebook page the day after its front doors were set ablaze, saying: “Satan is busy, but my God is greater! Someone tried to set our church on fire, but the only fire that’s burning is the fire we’re having on the inside!”

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SUPPORTERS OF A NATIONAL EFFORT to combat violence kicked off the 2015 Week of Non-Violence on the steps of the Washington, D.C. City Hall. “This is a very serious issue facing America,” said Stephanie Myers, National Co-chair of Black Women for Positive Change. “We want to go on record that like Fannie Lou Hamer, we’re sick and tired of young people killed on the street, sick and tired of little girls murdered in their front yard, sick and tired of people attacking our schools and sick and tired of law enforcement taking advantage because they have weapons and overstep their authority.” Attorney Benjamin Crump said Americans cannot expect to apply the same solutions and hope for a different result…….. EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL USE continues to be a drain on the American economy, according to a study released by the CDC. The most recent figures show that excessive drinking cost the U.S. an annual figure of $249 billion. Most of the costs were due to reduced workplace productivity, crime, and the cost of treating people for health problems caused by excessive drinking. Excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for an average of 88,000 deaths each year, including 1 in 10 deaths among working-age Americans ages 20-64……..OUTGOING BALTIMORE MAYOR Stephanie RawlingsBlake recently spoke out about the unrest that has plagued the city. “When I’ve spoken to mayors across the country, virtually all of them have the sobering sense that what happened in Baltimore could have happened in their city as well,” she said. “[We] were not as prepared as we should have been. The unrest in Baltimore and the aftermath points to deeper underlying issues: lack of jobs; challenges with housing and education; and disparities in opportunity,” she said. “If we are to succeed in preventing future unrest, we must attack these underlying issues.”

VOLUME 84 • NUMBER 50 OCTOBER 22, 2015

Publisher Sonceria Messiah-Jiles Advertising/Client Relations Selma Dodson Tyler Online Editor ReShonda Billingsley Art Director Tony Fernandez-Davila

Print Editor Marilyn Marshall Multimedia Coordinator LaGloria Wheatfall Sports Editors Max Edison Darrell K. Ardison Contributing writers Jasemine Knowles Amber Vernon

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Inc. Company (713-663-6996.. The Defender is audited by Certified Audited Circulation. (CAC). For subscription, send $60-1 year to: Defender, P.O. Box 8005, Houston TX 77288. Payment must accompany subscription request. All material covered by 2012 copyright. (No material herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher).

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OCTOBER 22 | 2015 | DEFENDER

LATE-BREAKING SPECIALS

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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 22 | 2015

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business

Agency seeks partners for business centers The U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) has launched a search for prospective partners to operate their newly improved business center program. The MBDA plans to award 29 individual cooperative agreements to operate MBDA Business Centers beginning April 1, 2016. The awards will cover a five-year period and total $10.2 million annually. The centers will be located in areas with substantial minority populations and minority-owned firms. Alejandra Castillo In Texas, business centers will be located in Houston, Dallas, El Paso and San Antonio. Types of organizations encouraged to apply are: • For-profit entities • Non-profit organizations • State and local government entities • Educational institutions • Native American tribes Applications are due Dec. 3. Successful applicants will be those that have experience in assisting minority firms with

obtaining large scale contracts and financial transactions; accessing corporate supply chains; facilitating joint ventures, teaming arrangements, mergers and acquisitions; conducting export transactions; and performing minority business advocacy. The MBDA is looking for organizations to deliver business consulting services to minorityowned firms, providing them increased access to public and private sector contracting opportunities, financing, and capital investments. “Our new and improved business center program was developed based on performance outcomes of our most successful centers and where we’ve had the most impact,” said MBDA National Director Alejandra Y. Castillo. “Under the new program, the nationwide business center network is more integrated, places more emphasis on collaboration, and was designed to ensure the quality and consistency of service delivery throughout our nationwide network of business centers.” The MBDA is the only federal agency dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. minority-owned businesses. Programs and services are designed to better equip minority-owned firms to create jobs, build scale and

Free webinars cover contracts The federal government is the world’s largest buyer of goods and services, spending over $600 billion dollars each year. The SBA is sponsoring two upcoming free webinars for small businesses interested in government contracts. • Tuesday, Oct. 27, 8:30 a.m. – Refreshers, Reminders and Re-do’s for Government Contracting. The session is for companies that have either dabbled in government contracting or tried at one point to pursue the market. For information call 563726-9958. • Tuesday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m. – SBA 8(a) Business Development & Government Contracting. The session is for entrepreneurs interested in discovering programs designed to enhance federal and nonfederal procurement opportunities. For information email charlotte.nc@sba.gov.

capacity, increase revenues and expand regionally, nationally and internationally. For more information visit www.grants.gov or www. mbda.gov.

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OCTOBER 22 | 2015 | DEFENDER

entertainment

Rhonda Ross

upholds musical legacy By KAM WILLIAMS Special to the Defender

inger-songwriter Rhonda Ross is the only child of Diana Ross and Motown founder Berry Gordy. She has the talent to carry on her parents’ legacy, all the while establishing her own unique musical destination. Her original music lives in the gap between jazz, neo-soul, funk and gospel. She has great power on stage and her refreshingly personal and moving performances set her apart from other vocalists. Ross is also an actress who costarred on the daytime drama “Another World” in the 1990s. She appeared in the TV miniseries “The Temptations” and on such shows as “Girlfriends” In 1994, she met, married and began a musical collaboration with jazz pianist and composer Rodney Kendrick. Through her husband, Ross studied with the late jazz great Abbey Lincoln. “It was Abbey and Rodney who convinced me to begin my journey as a singer-songwriter,” Ross said. “I primarily consider myself a storyteller and poet. I use my music to inspire and to uplift. And to teach people, including myself.” Ross and her husband collaborated on the CD, “Rhonda Ross Live: Featuring Rodney Kendrick.” They have a 6-yearold son, Raif-Henok Kendrick. Here, she discusses her music and more. KW: Congratulations on receiving the Music Career Achievement Award at the Pocono Mountains Film Festival. RR: Thank you. It’s quite an honor and a surprise. I don’t feel old enough to be receiving a “Career Achievement” Award, but I guess I am.

actress, is , also an ss o R a d n ho Singer R and Berry Gordy. ss Diana Ro

KW: Who or what is your primary source of inspiration? And what achievement are you most proud of? RR: That’s easy. It’s the same answer to both. My son! I am literally obsessed with being a mother. It consumes my every thought and weaves its way into the songs and plays I write – into everything… KW: What was your most memorable Motown moment growing up as a child? RR: I was born in 1971, so all my Motown memories are in LA, and they mostly include my mother, my father and the Jackson brothers coming over and playing and singing with us in our home in Beverly Hills. KW: Do you think it is better for a star’s child to choose a profession different from a celebrity parent given that the bar is much higher for them from the start? RR: I think everyone should follow their hearts, especially artists. Artists can’t be artists unless they follow their

hter of

the daug

hearts. If they are truly following their authentic calling, it will be unique and organic and comparisons won’t matter. KW: What did you think of the Broadway play, “Motown the Musical?” RR: I love it. Saw it about 15 times, and all over the country! KW: What are you working on these days? RR: So much! I feel so blessed to be able to have the opportunity to practice the arts. And I love what I do. I am currently in the studio recording the first of two CDs. It documents the songs I have been doing on tour. The 2nd CD will be all brand new music. And I am also performing all around the country! I’ll be in Philly on November 13th, in New York City on December 8th, and Plattsburgh on December 12th-just to name a few. In addition to that, I have gone back to my acting roots. I will be starring in Electra: The Rewrite in New York City on November 23rd. It’s a hysterical play. The writerdirector is a brilliant friend of mine named Edward Pomerantz. I hope your readers will get a chance to check it out.

what’sup Nominees for the 2015 Soul Train Awards were announced, and singer/songwriter THE WEEKND tied for the most nominations with five. MARK RONSON & BRUNO MARS, who collaborated on the hit “Uptown Funk,” also received five nominations. Other nominees include BEYONCÉ, CHRIS BROWN, JIDENNA, TYRESE, D’ANGELO, BIG SEAN, NICKI MINAJ and KIRK FRANKLIN. The awards show will be held on Nov. 6 and will air Nov. 29 on BET and Centric. ERYKAH BADU will be the host……..USHER recently turned 37, and received an unforgettable birthday surprise. President BARACK OBAMA and First Lady MICHELLE OBAMA sang “Happy

Birthday” to him at the White House. Usher was invited to Washington, D.C., for the filming of a PBS concert series, “In Performance at the White House.” Other entertainers present included QUEEN LATIFAH and SMOKEY ROBINSON…….. Grammy Award-winner LALAH HATHAWAY will soon release her seventh album titled “Live.” It includes renditions of “Little Ghetto Boy,” originally recorded by her late father DONNY HATHAWAY, and “Angel,” originally recorded by ANITA BAKER. Hathaway is classically trained vocalist and a graduate of the famed Berklee School of Music in Boston.……..Fort Worth native LEON BRIDGES will provide a new song, “So Long,” for

the movie “Concussion” starring WILL SMITH. Bridges, an acclaimed young R&B artist, has been compared to SAM COOKE and OTIS REDDING. He burst onto the music scene earlier this year with his hit, “Coming Home,” which debuted with rave reviews. “Concussion” will be released in theaters on Dec. 25……..“Selma” star DAVID OYELOWO will play the lead role in the off-Broadway production of Shakespeare’s “Othello” in the fall of 2016. Oyelowo began his theater career in 1999 in London with the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2001, he became the first Black actor to portray an English king in a major Shakespeare play in the company’s production of “Henry VI.”

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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 22 | 2015

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Houston adopts plan for more access to arts, culture Houston City Council has apThe plan has three priorities: proved a new Arts and Cultural Plan Promote engagement in quality arts for the city. The plan creates a frameand cultural programming, enhance work to connect more residents and the support system for the city’s deep visitors to the city’s cultural assets. It cultural assets, and advance strateis designed to improve coordination gies to strengthen the local creative between departments and agencies economy. and increase understanding about The plan includes 27 recommenthe impact of local arts and cultural dations to advance the city’s longinvestments. term cultural priorities. The recom“With this plan, Houston joins mendations include: other leading U.S. cities in recogniz• Develop strategies to deliver ing the important benefits of the arts arts and culture programs, arts educaand cultural life to residents, to civic tion and public art into neighboridentity and to a strong economy,” hoods. said Mayor Annise Parker. • Develop a program of neigh“There has been a lot of public borhood-based cultural tourism with dialogue during the planning process, the Greater Houston Convention and and we heard loud and clear HousVisitors Bureau and other partners. tonians want more access to the arts. • Assess options to expand Co-chairs Philamena Baird and Rick awareness of cultural offerings via Lowe have done a wonderful job lead- Rick Lowe, founding director of Project Row Houses, co-chaired the city’s Arts and Cultural Plan committee. smart phones and by enhancing/ ing the large and diverse Community replacing ArtsHound.com, an online Advisory Committee and I greatly resource for area arts and cultural achieve long-term priorities. appreciate all of the volunteer time contributed to this information. “It is very rewarding to bring forward a plan that important effort,” Parker said. • Seek federal, state and other grants and funding includes the entire community,” said Minnette Boesel, With the city expected to grow by more than 1 milopportunities available to municipalities. the mayor’s assistant for cultural affairs. “This is an amlion people over the next 20 years, the plan is designed to bitious plan and its strength is that it acknowledges what • Increase the funding available for small, emerging, embrace change and reflect the evolving role of culture in the city is doing well and where it can improve so more culturally focused and ethnic organizations and artists. the community. The plan identifies community concerns, people can fully benefit from Houston’s arts and cultural • Advocate for systemic access to quality arts and sets a vision for the future and recommends actions to culture education in Houston’s public schools. vitality.”

Do you want to make sure our police work with our community every day?

very law enforcement group taking a position in the race for mayor has endorsed Sylvester Turner because Sylvester is the only candidate with a real plan to reduce crime.

Sylvester will not only put more police officers on the street, but also significantly expand community policing and fight for reforms that emphasize mental health treatment and job training over incarceration.

Thousands of your neighbors are voting for Sylvester because they know Sylvester is fighting every day for: ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

A living wage and more economic opportunity Community policing and real reforms to our criminal justice system Keeping neighborhood schools open and keeping our kids out of trouble Better roads and a 24-hour program to fill potholes Responsible city budgets and sound fiscal management

VoTE Early! Sylvester Turner for Mayor.

Early voting starts Monday, Oct. 19. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Join firefighters, teachers, police, deputy sheriffs and community groups in supporting Sylvester Turner for Mayor!

Latino Labor

Leadership

CounCiL of southeast tx

HBAD

Pol. adv. SylveSter turner CamPaign. david minCberg, treaSurer

Vote early in the biggest mayor’s race we’ve seen in years.

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OCTOBER 22 | 2015 | DEFENDER

HIGHER ED SPECIAL

Health issues facing college students By JASEMINE KNOWLES Defender

ollege can present various challenges for students, from taking exams to maintaining a social life to dealing with roommates. Students can also face challenges to their health, both physical and mental, that may have long-term effects reaching well past their undergraduate years. Dr. Vanessa Tilney, the University of Houston’s chief physician, listed the major health issues facing students today.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Common STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, HIV/AIDS and syphilis. Tilney said some STDs might not include symptoms. However if symptoms are present, they might include bumps, sores, aches, fever, chills, unusual colored discharge from the vagina or penis that might have a strong odor, itching and painful urination. Many STDs are treatable with antibiotics. However, those caused by a virus such as HIV and genital herpes cannot be cured. Practicing abstinence is the only sure way to prevent STDs. Using condoms and choosing sex partners with care can also help.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of worry or nervousness, often about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Students who are anxious might have trouble sleeping, experience aches and pains, or become forgetful. Anxiety can be treated through exercise,

Prevent

freshman

counseling, psychotherapy and specific medications. Prevention of anxiety involves an awareness of one’s life stresses and the ability to cope with them. Coping mechanisms can include yoga, meditation, exercising and eating a healthy diet.

Stress

While anxiety is often perceived as more short-term, stress can last for weeks, months or longer. Common causes of college stress include school workload and grades, competition, finances, lack of organization and relationships. Stress is treated through muscle relaxation, meditation and counseling. Stress is an unavoidable reality in life, however, identifying your stressors, maintaining a balance, and setting limits with a positive attitude could help.

Depression

Students who are depressed can experience such symptoms as a gloomy mood, hopelessness, weight loss, lack of energy, thoughts of death and suicide, poor self-esteem, sleep disturbance and the inability to focus. Depression can also affect how an individual communicates and socializes with others. Students can minimize the effects of depression by learning to recognize the signs and alerting their doctors ASAP. It can be treated through relaxation, counseling, psychotherapy, taking antidepressants, social support, eating healthy, and exercise.

Lack of sleep

According to the National Institutes of Health, 70 percent of college students experience insufficient sleep and 50 percent report daytime sleepiness.

Weight gain is another health issue impacting college students. “Freshman 15” is a term used to describe weight gain among college freshman, although the number of pounds gained can be more or less than 15. Causes include a decrease in physical activity, eating unhealthy cafeteria food or too much fast food, late night-snacking and consuming high-calorie drinks. “One important thing to do is to establish an exercise schedule to go to the campus recreation center,” said Roberta Anding, a registered dietitian with Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. “It might be a good idea to get an activity tracker

Sleep deprivation can result in lower grades, moodiness, decreased concentration and increased risk of auto accidents. Here are tips for a good night’s sleep from the CDC: • Stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even

to help ensure that you are getting at least 10,000 steps per day.” Anding has other suggestions: When facing choices at the dining hall, consider filling half of the plate with fruits and vegetables.

Purchase pre-portioned snacks. “If you’re going to get almonds, for example, get the individual portions rather than a can. Forcing portion control can help higher calorie snacks such as nuts and trail mix become moderate-calorie snacks,” she said.

Eat microwaveable, low-fat popcorn, which is a whole grain. For added taste, sprinkle with parmesan cheese or Cajun spice. Other healthier

on the weekend. • Avoid pulling an all-nighter to study. • Avoid large meals and alcohol before bedtime. • Have a good sleeping environment. Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark and relaxing.

dorm room snacks include hummus with vegetables and Greek yogurt with fruit.

Be aware of calories from sodas, sports drinks, alcohol and rich coffee drinks. Try diet sodas and consider skipping whole milk and whipped cream in lattes. Drink water whenever possible.

Breakfast should include a quality carbohydrate such as oatmeal or shredded wheat, combined with a protein such as eggs, yogurt or Canadian bacon. Anding said carbohydrates fuel the brain and proteins help the timely release of carbohydrates in the body.

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Tips on choosing a major

hen it comes to choosing a major, there are dozens to select from. At some colleges, you can major in two fields, have a major and a minor, or even create your own major. Here is some advice from the College Board.

jor but switched to electrical engineering. During her first semester, she discovered that college physics “was all the things about my physics class in high school that I didn’t like. And my engineering class was all the stuff I actually did like.”

When to choose

Some colleges offer advising programs, such as premed or prelaw, to students who plan on attending medical school, law school or graduate school. These programs are not the same as majors; you still need to pick a major. College students who are planning to continue their education in professional or graduate programs often choose a major related to their future field. For example, undergraduates in premed programs often major in biology or chemistry. They don’t have to, though — as long as students fulfill the course requirements of the graduate program they want to enter, they can major in any subject they like.

At most four-year colleges, and in the case of many majors, you won’t have to select a major until the end of your sophomore year. This gives you plenty of time to check out various subjects and see which ones interest you. Some majors, such as areas of engineering, are exceptions to this rule. You have to commit to these fields of study early so you have time to take all the required courses. If you’re earning a two-year degree, you’ll probably select a major at the start because the program is much shorter.

How to choose

Take courses in areas that appeal to you, and then think about which subject truly motivates you. One college dean of admissions suggests you take “classes in which you’re going to be confident, but at the same time, take some risks.” She notes that a class you never planned to take could end up helping you choose your major.

Changing your mind

If you’re not sure about your college major while you’re in high school, don’t worry. Most students switch their major during college. Even students who think they are sure about what they want to major in often change their mind. Shawna, a college sophomore, began college as a physics ma-

Majors & grad school

Majors & professions

If you specialize in something like nursing, accounting or engineering, you’re learning a specific trade. Many majors, however, prepare you to enter a range of careers once you graduate. For many students, picking a college major is not the same as choosing a job. It will be up to you to pick a career path you like. For example, a degree in English literature might lead you to a job in publishing, teaching, advertising, public relations or law, among other fields. Remember, you’re not alone when choosing a major. Ask academic and peer advisers for help.

INSIDE Balancing work and school 3B University of Texas at Austin

Find your place 4B

Texas Southern University

The right choice 6B Survive the first year of college 8B Deciding where to live 8B Wells Fargo

Go College! Now 10B University of Houston Downtown

Find your major opportunity 12B Obama plan for early financial aid 14B Applying to college FAQs 15B Managing your money 16B

Message from the Publisher

ach October, the Defender provides readers with a special edition devoted to higher education. We are pleased to present a 2015 college guide. College can be enjoyable and exciting as young people prepare for their future careers. It can also be challenging with hectic schedules and demanding school work. In this special edition, we look at some of the health problems facing college students and what can be done to solve them. We offer expert advice on coping with the first year of college, balancing school and work, and managing money. Also in this special edition, our education and financial partners highlight their efforts to meet students’ needs.

They are Texas Southern University, the University of Houston-Downtown, the University of Texas at Austin and Wells Fargo. A college education is one of the most worthwhile investments we can make. According to the Census Bureau, the more education you attain the more you earn. The average annual salary of a high school graduate is $33,801, compared to $55,656 for a college graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Grads with master’s degrees average $67,337 a year, and grads with doctoral degrees average $91,920. It pays to attend college, and we are honored to provide news that students and their parents can use. Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

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Balancing school, work in college By AMBER VERNON Defender

ttending college can be costly, and for many students, working while in school is a way to help with expenses. Alvin Johnson, associate director for Learning Success at the University of Houston Downtown, said time management is key to balancing work and school in college. He also said students should put school first. “My advice would be to make school the priority,” Johnson said. “Sometimes work competes and the student is hard pressed with what decision they should make. If a student is focused on school and their goal is to get an education and graduate, school must be the priority.” Johnson said maintaining good academic standing is possible for working students if they use their time wisely. He recommends fulltime students, those who are taking 15 credit hours or more, work 20 hours or less. “If a student works more than 20 hours a week, they’re really pulling themselves at both ends,” Johnson said. “If they’re working less than 20 hours, and they are focusing on maintaining their time management, they should be able to find enough time for class, work and studying. They’re going to see the most success academically as well as stress management. I also remind students there’s also time for family and friends within that fulltime schedule.” Johnson said students interested in working should look for employment on campus. “A lot of students don’t look for those on-campus jobs, but many universities, as well as community colleges, have opportunities for students to work on campus to help them save with their commute, especially in Houston where the commute is horrible,” he said. “If you are a student and you can find a job on campus, it’s going to make life so much better for you. A lot of the on-campus jobs will be in office assistance. Offices need help in addition to what they already have in terms of administrative assistance. “Students can fill those positions,” he said. “Students who have excelled

academically can find great positions as tutors and mentors. Those are often excellent paid jobs that are flexible. Sometimes, not always, there are even jobs in the food service on campus. The book store is available to students looking for work as well. Not to mention the library.” As far as first-time freshmen working during their first year, Johnson said he would rather they focus on school if they do not have to work. “When it comes to freshmen and working, it all comes down to necessity,” he said. “In an ideal world, I wouldn’t recommend a freshman to work, but I do know a lot of students want to graduate debt-free and they’re terrified of student loans. “For students who can avoid student loans and want to work, I would say be responsible and find flexible jobs on campus to try and supplement your income. If a student can go without working, do so. But if they need to work, it goes back to balancing your time and finding something that’s going to work with your schedule.”

Possible on-campus jobs Looking for a job on campus? Here some possibilities from College Parents of America. 1. Admissions – Students usually lead campus tours, meet with incoming students, answer phone calls and e-mails, write for a college blog, and serve as college ambassadors at events. 2. Buildings & grounds – Students may be hired to help rake leaves, pick up trash, move furniture or other general maintenance work. 3. Daycare center – If the school maintains a daycare center, students may be hired as assistants. 4. Departmental assistant – Sometimes an entire academic department may hire a student to help all of the faculty members. 5. Fitness center – Students may be needed to sit at a front desk, maintain equipment or teach classes. 6. Lab assistant – Science departments may need students to supervise or work in labs. 7. Lifeguard – If the school has a pool, they may hire certified student to work as lifeguards. 8. Residence assistant – Some students are assigned responsibilities in residence halls to supervise and counsel students living on their floor. 9. Teaching assistant – Upperclass students may be assigned to help by teaching along with the professor, facilitating discussion sessions, gathering material or grading tests or papers. 10. Technical assistance – The computer or technology center may hire students to help in computer labs, troubleshoot student computer problems or service student computers.

DEFENDER | OCTOBER 22 | 2015

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HIGHER ED The University of Texas at Austin

Find your place

it in. Stand out. Far from a contradiction, at The University of Texas at Austin we believe it is important you be able to do both. Our students are both supported by a diverse, inclusive community and challenged to pursue individual excellence and success.

Finding a Voice to Help Others

Korbin Evans, a 2015 graduate of the Nutritional Sciences program and a current Pharm D. student in the College of Pharmacy, learned the importance of community support in reaching his goals. Evans, 22, minored in African American Diaspora Studies, a happy accident. He heard about the course of study through a friend and decided to check out a class, The Black Power Movement. “I just fell in love with it,” he says. “I started learning about myself, why I think the way I think, why my family thinks the way they think. It honestly made it easier to transition into college, because that’s when I really began to grow, mentally and spiritually.” Beyond his personal development, Evans felt a little lost during his freshman year, unsure of how to maximize his time at UT Austin. He turned to upperclassmen for advice and eventually found his footing, joining student organizations and developing relationships with professors. His friend Joshua Ogbeide had a similar experience. Both Ogbeide and Evans saw students hesitant to articulate their problems and, consequently, unable to access the resources available to them, including mentorships with professors and industry professionals. Ogbeide proposed a solution: a student organization to help foster a sense of community and support among pre-health majors. Evans thought it was a great idea, so the two co-founded the Pre-Health Experience (PHE). The group also brings in professors and industry professionals to talk about their own experiences and struggles. “I realized that one of the things that I find motivational is learning about how people got where they are,” Ogbeide explains. “I wanted to bring that to others.”

Excellence and Inclusion

Organizations like Ogbeide and Evans’ PHE are just one kind of resource available to students at The University of Texas at Austin. As an investment in their success, freshmen at UT Austin participate in a learning community that helps them adjust to college-level academic

Evans (right) and Ogbeide co-founded the Pre-Health Experience, a group for students majoring in a pre-health field.

expectations, connect with professors and meet other students. Beyond the freshman year, students benefit from ongoing support, no matter their needs. Each of the 13 undergraduate colleges and schools staffs its own career center to provide students with major- and field-specific advice, while the university’s Sanger Learning Center offers one-on-one support to help students reach their academic potential. That potential flourishes in The University of Texas at Austin’s environment of academic excellence. Competitively ranked programs, a world-class faculty and outstanding facilities offer students the opportunity to participate in a rich history of world-changing scholarship at a university named one of the top 30 in the world by U.S. News & World Report. UT Austin is consistently recognized for its diverse contributions to research, higher education, business, the arts and other fields. Four schools and more than 50 of our programs are ranked among the best in the U.S., and our graduates are recognized as being among the world’s most employable. UT Austin is also known for value, named one of the: • “Best Value Colleges” (Forbes and Kiplinger, 2015) • “50 Best Public Colleges” (Money, 2015)

Austin is bigger than you think

The reach of the university extends beyond the Austin city limits. Find admissions centers in Dallas, El Paso, Harlingen, Houston, Longview, Lubbock and San Antonio, or go online to find the counselor nearest you. Visit: admissions.utexas. edu/contact. • “Colleges That Pay You Back” (The Princeton Review, 2015) • Top 15 affordable colleges with highest return on investment (Affordable Colleges, 2015) Factors like these contribute to an overwhelmingly positive response from firstyear students, more than 9 out of 10 of whom return to UT Austin for their sophomore year – a strong indication of student satisfaction.

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Texas Southern University:

The right choice

oday, the number of students, alumni and former students with longstanding ties to Texas Southern University is a testament to its influence for more than eight decades. Many legacy students readily admit that they chose TSU not just out of family responsibility, but out of a self-imposed responsibility to succeed. They chose TSU for its cutting edge programs and stellar faculty. They chose TSU because they wanted not only to learn, but to thrive. And although they now have more opportunities than their ancestors ever dreamed of, they chose TSU because there was no place else they would rather be. TSU is firmly positioned as an educational institution fully capable of preparing its students and graduates for successful competition in today’s and tomorrow’s expanding global marketplace. Enhanced admissions standards coupled with expanded academic offerings and improved retention and graduation rates have allowed TSU to continue the rich traditions of Historically Black College and University (HBCU). In true HBCU fashion, TSU has become ground zero for diversity, the institutional trait most referred to by social forecasters as critical to 21st century success. Graduate schools and employers seeking to diversify their institutions look to HBCUs first. Our legacies and their parents often speak of the high job placement rate of HBCU graduates as evidence by graduates in education, transportation, law, pharmacy and other arenas. TSU is fully committed to improving upon its past successes to ensure continued institutional growth. The university is widely recognized for its excellence in certain key areas. Increasingly, we are finding that one of these areas is research. Zero-gravity nanotechnology is certainly high-profile research – about 32,000 feet high to be precise. Yet it is just one of many important research programs occurring at TSU. While most universities conduct research, a noteworthy difference here is that our professors don’t get to have all the fun. TSU students at all levels of their college careers are significantly involved. A team of TSU researchers working with the U.S. Air Force made a major breakthrough in nanotube technology. They invented a process that allows instantaneous electrodeposition of metal nanostructures on carbon nanotubes. Translation: their work is dramatically expanding the viability of nanotubes, a miraculous material that has the highest tensile strength in existence as well as superior mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. TSU’s dedication to research is playing a part in shaping the current and future world. TSU was named by Congress as a National Transportation Security Center of Excellence in 2008 and through 2016 will continue to be among six institutions receiving $18 million for research in petroleum transportation security solutions. The university will continue to add programs and degree plans that prepare students for a global workforce. It will become one of the nation’s preeminent comprehensive, metropolitan universities. Texas Southern University will be recognized by the excellence of our programs, the quality of our instruction, our innovative research, and our desire to be a contributing partner to our community, state, nation, and world.

TSU Championship Head Coaches: From left -Clyde Duncan, Worley Barker, Michael Robertson, Mike Davis, V.P. of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Charles McClelland, University President Dr. John Rudley, Johnetta Hayes-Perry, and Jocelyn Adams. - Photo by Earlie Hudnall, Jr.

TSU students engaged in learning

TSU’s mission

Texas Southern University is a comprehensive metropolitan university. Building on its legacy as a historically Black institution, the university provides academic and research programs that address critical urban issues and prepare an ethnically diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. In order to achieve this mission, TSU provides: • Quality instruction in a culture of innovative teaching and learning; • Basic and applied research and scholarship that is responsive to community issues; • Opportunities for public service that benefit the community and the world.

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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 22 | 2015

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Survi

first

By AMBER VERN Defender

or prospective students, the firs versity can be overwhelming. M for the first time and without s can easily get lost in their new As someone who works cl mental instruction coordinator and tutor C Southern University said she knows firsthand what students struggle with most.

Financial aid

Amos said one of the most important things a college-bound student should do for a smooth transition into their first semester is take care of financial needs in the spring. “In order to be prepared for the fall, you have to get ready in the spring,” Amos said. “The time frame between school starting and the disbursement of financial aid can be tough. To keep from falling in the cracks, you have to file for financial aid as early in the year as possible. I tell students the golden timeline to do their FAFSA is between January 1 and February 15. This allows time for the aid to be processed before the fall semester.”

Getting organized

Amos said once freshmen arrive on campus, maintaining good academic standing takes priority. She said organization and time management are essential to success and recommends that each student use a calendar. “Being able to plan ahead for your assignments will help you stay organized,” she said. “The syllabus is like your class bible. Look at what’s due and begin to start building your framework for the time frame you want assignments to be completed. “Schedule your appointments and if you’re going to have an active calendar, book the times that you are in class and book your study times. That way you know when your free time is there and plan accordingly. I’ve found that using a calendar has been the most effective thing for students. Schedule it in your calendar and you can’t go wrong.”

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iving the

year of college Campus resources

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st year at a college or uniMany will be on their own someone to guide them, they wfound freedom. losely with students, suppleConsuela Amos of Texas

In addition to organization and time management, Amos said freshmen should take full advantage of the resources on campus. “Take advantage of tutorial services,” she said. “We do tutoring for all majors. The student health center is another hidden gem. Students don’t realize that as a part of their tuition, they pay for health services. So if “Another gem is student services. Career building starts at the beginning. No matter what university a student goes to, seek out

career services first. That’s one of the first places you want to go to because as you select your degree plan, you want to figure out salary ranges, who’s hiring, benefits and you can start building the framework from there. You could have an internship as early as your freshmen year because they will work with you.”

Who to know

Amos said two important people freshmen should know on campus are their academic advisor and the dean of students. “If you’re out of state or looking for scholarships, you need to get to know the dean of students,” she said. “He or she knows about university scholarships and can get you out of state waivers. “You must know your academic advisors. They are so instrumental to making sure you are successful. If anything changes in your degree plan, they are the first to know. If there’s a new employer who’s going to be partnering with the department, internships, or department scholarships, they’re the ones who know about these things. They also look over your course work and make sure you’re on track.”

Where to live on or off

Balancing campus activities

Choosing where to live during your college years is an important decision, and can have an impact on your academic success and overall happiness. Here are pros and cons of living in dormitories, apartments and at home from collegecareerlife.net.

Apartment living is probably what most students would choose if they weren’t required to live on campus and if money were no object. While having your own apartment can be great, there are potential pitfalls.

Dorms and residence halls

• Pros: Living at home with parents is the least expensive option for those who live fairly close to campus. Doesn’t require any adjustment to dorms or living on your own. No need to seek out reliable roommates. • Cons: Does not provide the independence that most college students want, may be isolated from other students and removed from college life. Time spent traveling to campus for classes and activities. While living at home during some or all of your college years may be a big sacrifice for those seeking independence, there are significant financial advantages. Money that would otherwise be spent on rent, utilities, and other living expenses can instead be spent on tuition and other education costs. Whatever choice you make isn’t permanent. You can change the next term or when your lease is up. In fact, most students will change living arrangements at least once during college.

• Pros: Less expensive than apartments, allows you better access to campus amenities, saves time on traveling to classes and other campus activities, more likely to socialize with fellow students and be involved in extracurricular activities. • Cons: Adjusting to dorm life can be difficult for many students. Dorms are often crowded and loud, making sleeping and studying difficult. Potential for roommate problems. In most cases, living on campus is the best options for those looking for the traditional college experience.

Apartments

• Pros: Independent living that many college students desire. More space and privacy than a dorm. • Cons: More expensive than other options. Requires consciousness with bill payments and other household responsibilities. Potential problems with the apartment or management.

Home

When it comes to organizations and campus activities, Amos said getting involved on campus includes being an effective time manager. “For those who want to go into band and athletics, it’s really challenging,” she said. “Those two areas are very time consuming because you’re constantly on the road. So you really have to have time management skills and be able to balance several things. “If you’re not someone who’s comfortable being an effective manager, work with your band director or athletic director to make sure you are getting the support that you need. Both areas, no matter the university, have academic support as well as other resources to make sure the students get what they need. “The biggest thing that is hard for a freshman is balancing the fun and activities with study time,” Amos said. “Be involved, be active, but be cognitive of how much time you have to be active.”

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Go College! Now By DARRYL MONTGOMERY Wells Fargo Regional President for Greater Houston

he impact that a quality education can have on a student is stronger today than it has ever been. Simply learning about the discoveries made in science, technology, mathematics, and medicine in the last 30 years can give today’s college student the edge to be a successful leader and innovator of tomorrow. Still, millions of first-generation and underserved students across the country are being left behind from accessing this higherlearning opportunity for the simple reason that no one has shown them how to find the road and map the journey. Recognizing that each of us comes from a first generation of something (immigrant, skilled worker, college graduate), where overcoming adversity is often the common theme, Wells Fargo joined forces with First Generation Films to launch the “Go College! Now” (www. gocollegenow.org) national education initiative and website. Opportunities and programs created specifically for these students, which are intended to help them unlock Darryl Montgomery and understand the power and purpose of higher education, are not reaching far enough. Go College! Now works to inspire students by providing free access to an award-wining powerful documentary, “First Generation,” along with downloadable resources that provide advice and guidance and a roadmap to understanding the steps needed to achieve academic success. In addition to being bilingual, the Go College! Now website’s “Take the Pledge” encourages everyone to make a difference by supporting college access for first-generation and low-income students. For example, students can pledge to find a mentor, sign up for free ACT or SAT test prep, or visit a college campus. Adults and graduates can pledge to tell the story of their collegiate journey with a student or classroom, volunteer time at a local school or community center, or mentor a student. An individual or group can also pledge to host a “First Generation” screening at a local school or community center. Once a

pledge is submitted through the Go College! Now website, the individual will receive an e-mail from First Generation confirming their pledge, along with a reminder of the available resources that can help make their pledge a success. If any of the pledge options aren’t of interest, but you’d still like to help the cause, you can do so by taking a moment to share your first generation story on Facebook and Twitter, using the hashtag “#GoCollegeNow” and including the website address. It could be as easy as posting, “Know someone who is the first in their family to attend college? Introduce them to #GoCollegeNow at www.gocollegenow. org.” By raising awareness on social media you will have instantly taken this free resource to a place it hasn’t been and that’s something to feel good about. If you were the first or second in your family to go to college, you understand the opportunities and financial rewards that higher education has given you. I believe Go College! Now has the potential to change the life course of a student who might not have thought college was within his or her grasp. Wells Fargo and First Generation Films are working with national nonprofit organizations, community groups, local leaders and stakeholders to make a difference, and we hope you will join our efforts and support Go College! Now.

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Resources for your college questions

When it comes to education financing, Wells Fargo has the resources to help students and families make informed decisions. We have a variety of online tools and information to help students and families find answers to their college questions: • CollegeSTEPS® program: receive college planning tips, tools, and resources by email by signing up at wellsfargo.com/collegesteps • Wells Fargo Community: get your college questions answered and share helpful information with others at wellsfargocommunity.com • Student LoanDown℠ blog: check out conversations focused on the entire college experience at blogs.wellsfargo.com/studentloandown • Calculators and money management: view our private student loan products and budget for repayment at wellsfargo.com/student Visit us at any of our 185 Greater Houston area locations, or visit wellsfargo.com/appointments to make an appointment today. 1-800-456-1551

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Find your major opportunity at UHD

Students at UHD enjoy flexible scheduling options and affordable tuition.

UHD offers 45 bachelor’s degrees and eight master’s degrees.

our future at the University of HoustonDowntown (UHD) means being a part of a thriving university located in the heart of downtown Houston that provides students with life-changing education experiences at a remarkable value. With unparalleled opportunities to conduct research and participate in community-centered learning, coupled with flexible scheduling and a supportive faculty, UHD is the major opportunity you’ve been seeking. UHD is a comprehensive university that boasts a diverse student body in a vibrant urban setting. The university offers 45 bachelor’s degrees and eight master’s degrees. If you’re a student fresh out of high school, an adult returning to college to complete your degree or a professional seeking a career change, UHD is right for you. With nearly 14,000 undergraduate students, UHD ranks as the second largest public four-year university in Houston and the 15th largest in Texas. UHD is committed to your success. With a facultyto-student ratio of 21 to 1, professors serve as mentors and help you shape your career goals, find the right degree program and build industry connections. Academic and career resources provide individualized attention. We’re proud that first-year graduates from UHD earn the third-highest salaries in the state, 18 percent more than the statewide average for any public university in Texas. (Source: Higher Education Pays: The Initial Earnings of Graduates of Texas Public Colleges and Universities, American Institutes for Research, 2013.) UHD understands that our students have jobs, families and other responsibilities. To accommodate busy lifestyles, UHD provides students with flexibility in scheduling courses. You’ll find a variety of class offerings on weekdays, evenings and weekends, as well as 22 online degree programs.

Located at the heart of downtown, UHD also offers satellite campuses to reach students across Houston.

Because our students come from multiple areas across the Houston region, we have satellite campuses to conveniently serve undergraduate and graduate students throughout the city. We also promote learning that extends beyond the classroom. You’ll find options for engaging in the community, participating in faculty research in campus-based labs or out in the field, and taking part in study-abroad programs. Whether you want to participate in any of the 20-plus club and intramural sports teams or any of our 68

student organizations, you’ll find something exciting and new to enhance your college experience. In spite of these benefits and opportunities, attending UHD won’t break the bank. With the lowest tuition of any four-year institution in Houston, UHD offers value and affordability. The best way to learn more about UHD is through a campus tour. Come see for yourself how UHD is changing lives and building futures. Schedule your visit at www.uhd.edu/visit or call 713-221-8522.

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OCTOBER 22 | 2015 | DEFENDER

Jump-Start Your Career with a Bachelor’s Degree … •

Degrees that give you work-ready skills

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Obama offers plan for

early financial aid

resident Obama announced a new initiative to allow students and families to apply for financial aid earlier – starting in October as the college application process gets underway – rather than in January. The change will take place in October, 2016. In addition, students filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be able to electronically retrieve tax information filed for an earlier year, rather than waiting until tax season to complete their applications. “You won’t have to wait for your W-2s to arrive before you get started, so you can get a jump on the college application process,” Obama told high school students in Des Moines, Iowa, where he announced the changes. “You’ll know sooner how much aid you qualify for and you’ll have more time to evaluate your options.” Obama also announced complementary efforts to make sure students see the full benefits of the earlier FAFSA timeline to improve their access to college and help them make better college choices. The White House said colleges and universities and scholarship organizations have already committed to align their aid timelines with the earlier FAFSA, and nonprofits and advisers have committed to raise awareness about the FAFSA changes and to help reach 100 percent FAFSA completion. Obama has also renewed his call on Congress to pass legislation to simplify FAFSA even further by eliminating up 30 questions that are disproportionately burdensome and have little impact on aid eligibility.

He said giving students and families the ability to submit their FAFSAs earlier and to use earlier income data, commonly referred to as “prior-prior” year, will have several important benefits: Earlier information. Students and families will get a reliable understanding of their aid eligibility as early as the fall – the same time many high school students are searching for, applying to, and even selecting colleges. Simpler applications. More students and families will be able to complete their FAFSAs using information retrieved electronically directly from the IRS a few months after they and their parents file their 2015 tax returns, reducing the number of applicants who need to estimate income or taxes paid, only to correct their application later. More students receiving Pell Grants and other aid. Over the next several years, the simpler FAFSA filing process could encourage hundreds of thousands of additional students to apply for and claim the aid they are eligible for – and enroll in college. Reduced burden on colleges. In recent years, colleges and universities have spent as many as 3 million total hours each year verifying FAFSA information, including income and other tax return data. These colleges and universities will be able to avoid much of the burden of verifying tax return information when students apply using data retrieved directly from the IRS. A number of colleges and universities, scholarship programs, and counseling associations also announced plans that will help more students and families benefit from the easier,

earlier FAFSA application timeline, including: Aligning college financial aid processes. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), whose member institutions serve 90 percent of undergraduates, expects hundreds of colleges and universities to adjust their financial aid processes to align with prior-prior year before the 2017-18 academic year. Aligning private scholarship deadlines. Scholarship America (a philanthropic organization that assists in managing and awarding scholarships) will encourage 1,200 scholarship and educational assistance providers – which gave 125,000 students a total of $236 million in 2014 – to align their application cycles with the earlier FAFSA application cycle. 100% FAFSA Completion. The National College Access Network’s 400 college success programs, which serve over 2 million students, is committing to using the extra time created by early FAFSA filing for its counselors to reach 100 percent FAFSA completion among program participants. Earlier FAFSA availability will allow these programs to reallocate more than 500,000 hours of advising time to helping students better match with colleges that can best support them through to completion. Integration with the College Application Campaign. The campaign, pioneered by the American Council on Education, is a 50-state initiative that encourages low-income and first- generation students to apply for college, will highlight the early opportunity to apply for student aid as part of its outreach efforts.

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OCTOBER 22 | 2015 | DEFENDER

15B

HIGHER ED

Applying for college:

Questions and answers

pplying to college takes thought, effort and organization. Here are frequently asked questions and answers from the College Board.

Q. When should I start? A. The summer before your senior year is the best time to start. Most students do the majority of their application work in the fall of their senior year. Q. How do I begin? A. Find out what goes into an application and begin collecting the materials you need. Create a folder for each college you are applying to. At the front of each folder, put a checklist of what you’ll need for the application and when it’s due. Q. How many colleges should I apply to? A. Five to eight colleges is the recommended number. They should all be colleges you would be happy to attend. It’s good to apply to some colleges that are a bit of a stretch for you and some that you feel will likely admit you. But most should feel like good, realistic matches. Q. Should I apply early? A. It depends. If you are sure about which college you want to attend, early decision or early action might be the best choice for you. If you’re not sure, keep in mind that some early application plans require you to commit early. You may want to keep your options open. Q. Should I use an online or a paper application? A. Check with the college to see which is preferred. Most colleges prefer online applications because they are easier to review and process. Some even offer a discount in the application fee if you apply online. Applying online can also be more convenient for you – it’s easier to enter information and correct mistakes. Whichever method you choose, be sure to tell your school counselor where you have applied so your school transcript can be sent to the right colleges. Q. Should I send additional material? A. It’s best if you can express everything about your qualifications and qualities in the materials requested. Colleges spend a great deal of time creating their applications to make sure they get all the information they need about each applicant. If you feel it’s absolutely necessary to send additional material, talk to your counselor about it. Some arts programs may require portfolios or videos of performances. Check with the college to find out the best way to submit examples of your work.

Q. Is it okay to use the same material on different applications? A. Definitely. There’s no need to write a brand new essay or personal statement for each application. Instead, devote your time to producing a great version of basic application parts. Q. What is the Common Application? A. The Common Application is a standardized application used by more than 525 colleges. Instead of completing eight different applications, you can simply fill out one and submit it to each college. Be aware that you may need to submit additional or separate documents to some colleges. You also still need to pay individual application fees for each college. Q. Should I apply to colleges if my admission test scores or grades are below their published ranges? A. Yes. The admission scores and grades that colleges show on their websites are averages or ranges, not cutoffs. There are students at every college who scored lower (and higher) than the numbers shown. Remember that colleges consider many fac-

tors to get a more complete picture of you. For example, they look at the types of classes you take, your activities, recommendation letters, your essay and your overall character. Colleges are looking for all kinds of students with different talents, abilities and backgrounds. Admission test scores and grades are just two parts of that complete picture. Q. Should I even bother applying to colleges I don’t think I can afford? A. Absolutely. Remember that after financial aid packages are determined, most students will pay far less than the “sticker price” listed on the college website. You don’t know if you can afford a college until after you apply and find out how much aid that college will offer you (if you’re accepted). Fill out the FAFSA as early as possible after Jan. 1 to qualify for the most aid. Even if the aid package the college offers is not enough, you have options. Many colleges are willing to work with students they have chosen for admission to ensure that those students can afford to attend.

16B

DEFENDER | OCTOBER 22 | 2015

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Managing

your money Money management should be a priority for college students. Here is some advice on staying on track from the U.S. Department of Education. • Create a budget and stick with it. • Overestimate your expenses. It’s better to end up with an unexpected cash surplus rather than a budget shortfall. • Keep up with your spending by checking your account balance regularly. • Differentiate between wants and needs. Decide if a purchase is absolutely essential. • Before you buy something you need, find out if there’s a student

discount for it. • Involve your family in the budget planning process. Determine how much income will be available from family sources such as parents or a spouse. Discuss how financial decisions will be made. • Prepare for the unexpected by setting saving goals to build an emergency fund. It will help you cover unusual expenses and plan for changes that may happen while you’re in school. • Use credit cards wisely. Think very carefully before you decide to get your first credit card. Is a credit card really necessary, or would another payment option work just as well? If you receive a credit card offer in the mail, don’t feel obligated to accept it.

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Cornel West speaks at UH-Downtown Professor, author and civil rights activist Dr. Cornel West will give a presentation on race and social justice on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. at the University of HoustonDowntown. The free public program will take place in the Wilhelmina Cullen Robertson Auditorium, located on floor 3 of UH-Downtown’s One Main Building, 1 Main St. West, a professor of philosophy and Christian practice at Union Theological Seminary and professor emeritus at Princeton University, is expected to speak on the topics of race, America and the Black Lives Matter movement. An audience Q&A will follow the presentation. The program is sponsored by UH-Downtown’s Center for Critical Race Studies;

Cultural Enrichment Center; and Departments of Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and English in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences. Priority generaladmission seating in the auditorium and overflow seating in the adjoining area will begin at 6 p.m. Parking in the university’s garage and lots will be free after 6 p.m. A limited number of tickets remain for the overflow seating area and can be reserved through Eventbrite at www.eventbrite.com. The program is listed as UHD Presents: Dr. Cornel West. One ticket per person can be reserved. Those who plan to attend must have a ticket to be admitted.

OCTOBER 22 | 2015 | DEFENDER

Malcolm X’s daughter lectures at TSU Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X and his wife, Betty Shabazz, will visit Texas Southern University on Friday, Oct. 30. She will participate in a student conversation at noon in the Rhinehart Auditorium, and will present a lecture on “Black Lives Matter” at 6:30 p.m. in Room 114 of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland Public Affairs Building. Shabazz is an author, motivational speaker, comIlyasah Shabazz, munity organizer, social activist and founder of Malcolm X Enterprises. She has written several books, including “Growing Up X,” “Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X,” and “X: A Novel.” A book signing will be held after the evening lecture. Her appearance is hosted by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the History Department at TSU. For more information call 713-313-4282.

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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 22 | 2015

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Saturday Morning Science participants examine a heart after a cardiology lecture. The program founder is Dr. James Phillips (far left, rear).

Kitchen Pipe Replacement (Bid)

Houston First Corporation requests bids from experienced entities to replace approximately 931.5 feet of drainage pipe at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Bid documents are available online at www.houstonfirst.com/do-business. Questions should be submitted by e-mail to bids@houstonfirst.com.

Ramp Expansion Joint Replacement and Waterproofing (Bid) Houston First Corporation requests bids from experienced entities to replace certain expansion joints on the loading dock ramp at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Bid documents are available online at www.houstonfirst.com/do-business. Questions should be submitted by e-mail to bids@houstonfirst.com.

Baylor program prepares future medical leaders graduate students. Besides teaching the students about the biosciences, SMS instrucfter realizing there was tors equip students with long-lasting a shortage of Black valuable information to utilize after the and Hispanic doctors program is over. in America in 2008, “We also teach our students about Dr. James L. Phillips, different scholarships, loan forgiveness a professor of pediatrics, founded and programs, and the importance of the launched the Saturday Morning Science SAT test,” Phillips said. “And at the (SMS) program at Baylor College of end of the semester, I give a strategies Medicine. for success in college talk and lecture SMS is a to the students on 10-week program selecting the right designed to moticollege.” Nov. 30. is deadline vate inner-city and One parent who to apply for 2016 SMS underserved minority recognizes the value students from the 7th program. Visit of SMS is Pretta to 12th grade to get Stallworth. Her two www.bcm. edu or call excited about math children were previ713-798-8646. and science. The proously enrolled in the gram encourages stuprogram. dents to reach their “It is very imhighest potential while pursuing careers portant that children see African-Amerin medicine and the biosciences. ican professionals actively participat“Because 30 percent of the country ing in the business realm,” Stallworth is Black and Hispanic but only seven said. “This gives credence for varied percent are doctors, the goal is to get professions and it honors the working the under-represented to become docprofessional.” tors or researchers in the biosciences Stallworth said the program helped to improve medical care to the undershape her children’s future. served,” Phillips said. “My daughter Chinyere was fasciPhillips said the program offers nated by what she learned and is now a valuable opportunity for students to enrolled in a neuroscience/pre-med interact with physicians, tenured sciprogram at Trinity University in San entists, medical students and graduate Antonio,” Stallworth said. “My son students. Sharif is interested in a dual academic The program runs from January path involving both music and space through May, with sessions takscience.” ing place on two Saturday mornings Stallworth said the program broadper month. The sessions consist of a ened her children’s horizons. “It opens 45-minute presentation from Baylor their minds and encourages them to faculty, followed by break-out sessions understand and seek what they may be which are led by Baylor medical and interested in.” By JASEMINE KNOWLES Defender

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OCTOBER 22 | 2015 | DEFENDER

New breast cancer screening guidelines issued The American Cancer Society has updated its breast cancer screening guidelines, including recommending that women start getting mammograms at age 45 instead of 40. The guidelines are for women at average risk for breast cancer. Women at high risk – because of family history, a breast condition, or another reason – should begin screening earlier or more often. The guidelines also recommend: • All women should become familiar with the potential benefits, limitations and harms associated with breast cancer screening. • Women who are 55 and older should transition to screening every two years or have the opportunity to continue screening annually. • Women should continue screening as long as their overall health is good and they have a life expectancy of 10 years or more. • Breast exams, either from a medical provider or self-exams, are no longer recommended. “These recommendations are made with the intent of maximizing reductions in breast cancer mor-

tality and years of life saved while being attentive to the need to minimize harms associated with screening,” said Dr. Kevin Oeffinger, chair of the guideline panel. “The benefits, burdens, and judgment about that balance differ depending on a woman’s age, health, values, and preferences. These recommendations

recognize and reflect those differences.” The guidelines were developed by the ACS Guideline Development Group, a panel of clinicians, biostatisticians, epidemiologists, economists, and patient representatives. The group commissioned a review of the evidence by an independent center. Based on that evidence review, the panel concluded that there is a benefit from screening with mammography for women in their early 40s, but that risk is lower, and harms, primarily from false positives, are somewhat greater for women ages 40-44 than for women in older age groups. “The option to screen every two years for women beginning at age 55 is based on the fact that post-menopausal breast cancers tend to develop more slowly,” Oeffinger said. “Because of that, women may choose either to continue annual screening or move to screening every two years beginning at age 55. Breast cancers before menopause tend to grow more rapidly, making screening every year important.” The panel noted that efforts are underway to reduce false positives, which occur when a mammogram finds something that looks like cancer, but turns out to be benign. The review also found a lack of evidence showing benefit from routine clinical breast exams, in which a health provider feels patients’ breasts for any changes or abnormalities.

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Proposition 7 adds billions for new roads and bridges without raising taxes, fees or new money for tolls. The legislature did their job. Now it’s up to the voters.

Vote “YES” on Prop. 7 3 Election Day

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Political ad paid for by Texas Infrastructure Now PAC, Karen Rove, Treasurer.

DEFENDER | OCTOBER 22 | 2015

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Aldine students benefit from gardening initiative Congresswoman Sheila Jackson feeds us, helps filter our water and Lee recently hosted a ribbon-cutting purifies our air.” and tree-planting ceremony at the She said the USDA has Charles Drew Academy garden invested in community gardens in Aldine ISD. She was joined by because of their ability to provide students and officials from the U.S. fresh, local produce as well as an Department of Agriculture (USDA). avenue for exercise. The academy, located on West “Childhood nutrition is so Little York, is a middle school for vital,” Jackson Lee said. “We mathematics, science and fine arts. must create an atmosphere It was presented with a USDA grant where our children know exactly for the development of a community where their food is coming from garden. and get excited about fruits “I am pleased to announce and vegetables due to having a historic public/private project ownership. between the 18th Congressional “One in three children is District, Drew Academy and the obese or overweight. By growing Aldine Independent School District,” and harvesting their own fresh Jackson Lee said. fruits and vegetables while “This historic project will give a incorporating the first lady’s Let’s hands-on outdoor lesson to academy Move initiative, I hope to see students on how to build, plant and these numbers come down.” maintain a school garden, who have She said urban gardening likely never experienced what it is is not a passing fad but a way Charles Drew Academy students are joined by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and USDA officials at their like to grow their own food. for city dwellers to have more community garden. “I would like to thank USDA control over their food sources. effort that is helping to reconnect children to the land Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Dr. Joe Leonard “This partnership is a great way to celebrate these and hopefully inspire the next generation of farmers and and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack for their students who have shown a desire and ability to learn conservationists. commitment to providing community gardens to about agriculture and teach their classmates about “Too many times we take for granted what lies underserved communities.” something they might not otherwise be exposed to,” beneath our feet,” she said. “The soil that our streets, Jackson Lee said she is proud to be a part of an she said. houses and buildings sit upon is also the same soil that

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OCTOBER 22 | 2015 | DEFENDER

Follow simple fitness suggestions for aging well Family Features

Although you can’t stop time, the right type and amount of physical activity can help stave off many age-related health problems. These tips, provided by the experts at the American Physical Therapy Association, are keys to helping you age well: • Chronic pain doesn’t have to be the boss of you. Each year 116 million Americans experience chronic pain from arthritis or other conditions. Proper exercise, mobility, and pain management techniques can ease pain, improving your overall quality of life. • You can get stronger at any age. Research shows that an appropriate exercise program can improve your muscle strength and flexibility as you age. Progressive resistance training, where muscles are exercised against resistance that gets more difficult as strength improves, has been shown to help prevent frailty. • You may not need surgery or drugs for low back pain. Low back pain is often over-treated with surgery and drugs despite a wealth of scientific evidence demonstrating that physical therapy can be an effective alternative with less risk. • You can lower your risk of diabetes. One in four Americans over the age of 60 has diabetes. Obesity and physical

inactivity can put you at risk for this disease, but a regular, appropriate physical activity routine is one of the best ways to prevent and manage type 1 and type 2 diabetes. • Exercise can help you avoid falls. More than half of adults over 65 report problems with movement, including walking 1/4 mile, stooping, and standing. Exercise can improve movement and balance and reduce your risk of falls. • Your bones want you to exercise. Osteoporosis, or weak bones, affects more than half of Americans over the age of 54. Exercises that keep you on your feet, like walking, jogging or dancing, and exercises using resistance such as weight lifting, can improve bone strength or reduce bone loss. • Your heart wants you to exercise. Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. One of the top ways of preventing it and other cardiovascular diseases is exercise. Research shows that if you already have heart disease, appropriate exercise can improve your health. • Your brain wants you to exercise. People who are physically active, even later in life, are less likely to develop memory problems or Alzheimer’s disease, a condition which affects more than 40 percent of people over the age of 85. For more information visit MoveForwardPT.com.

DEFENDER | OCTOBER 22 | 2015

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sports

SWAC race tightens, Houston hosts title game By MAX EDISON Defender

he Southwestern Athletic Conference 2015 football campaign has reached the half way point, and teams are jockeying for position for the championship game at NRG Stadium on Dec. 5. If the most recent games were any indication, fans should be in for an exciting four to five weeks as the path to Houston becomes even more treacherous. The Alcorn State University Braves are the defending conference champions. They have been moonwalking their way through the conference’s Coach Broderick Fobbs and the Grambling Tigers are 5-0 in SWAC play. Prairie View A&M coach Willie Simmons has his team off to a 4-1 start. East Division with a perfect record. A funny thing happened the conference championship. when the Braves recently hosted West Division opThe Tigers are now a perfect Astros made the summer fun ponent Grambling State University. The Grambling 5-0 in SWAC play and sit atop Tigers traveled to Mississippi and upset Alcorn in the West Division. Alcorn still overtime 35-34. leads the East Division by Knowing that this would be his last collegiate game Grambling rallied from behind after being down two games over second place in his hometown, Hebert wanted to leave them with a 28-14 at the half to the nation’s consensus No. 1 Alabama State. lasting memory, so he decided to put on a show. team in Black college football. While GramHe totaled four touchdowns and 398 all-purpose After the game, an emotional Grambling was ruining yards as Prairie View held on to ruin Southern’s bling head coach Broderick Fobbs dethe Alcorn homecoming celebration 47-42. scribed the win. homecoming, Hebert’s career day breaks down like this: 114 “They thought they were the Prairie View yards rushing and two touchdowns on 17 carries, 170 burying us,” Fobbs said. A&M Univerreceiving yards and two touchdowns on 10 recep“But they didn’t know we sity Panthers tions, and 114 yards from kick returns. were a seed, we’re comwere celebrating When you combine Hebert’s numbers with those ing from the ground. We’re a homecoming of Panther quarterback Trey Green, who was 20-37 Grambling. That’s just the of sorts for their for 339 yards and two touchdowns, you get the recipe way we are. We’re Grammost explosive for an upset. bling! We’re going to fight.” offensive weapon Hebert said he always has an extra measure of reFobbs dedicated the win en route to a stunvenge in mind when the Panthers and Jaguars square to the memory of Doris Robning upset of the off. inson, the wife of legendary Southern University “Southern asked me to walk on, so of course I Grambling head coach Eddie Jaguars. have a chip on my shoulder,” Hebert said. “I didn’t Robinson. Mrs. Robinson Panther senior get a scholarship here and I stayed right down the died last month. running back Johnta’ street. Every time I play Southern, I want to have a “This for Coach Rob. Hebert, an All-Con- big game.” This is for Mrs. Doris,” Fobbs ference performer, The Panthers (4-1), under first year head coach said. grew up in Baton Willie Simmons, are now in second place in the West Grambling defeated the eventual conferRouge, a few Division, one game behind Grambling. With apPVAMU running ence champs last season 28-21, but Grambling miles from South- proximately five weeks left in the season, the race to back Johnta’ was knocked off by Southern in the Bayou ern’s A.W. MumHebert had an Houston and championship Saturday has never been impressive game Classic and missed a chance for a rematch in ford Stadium. more exciting. Stay tuned. against Southern.

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h.s.zone Bellaire sisters ready for volleyball playoffs By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender

he Bellaire High School girls’ volleyball program is driven to succeed. Head coach Ap Clarke is completing her 14th year at the helm with an impeccable track record. Thirteen times her teams have been district champions with 12 “Coach of the Year” titles in tow. Clarke and the 2015 Cardinals are brimming with confidence and anticipating a long foray into the postseason due to a recent development and a dandy twin tandem. Bellaire nicely navigated a rigorous preseason schedule that included Maya and Megan Evans, along with Bellaire volleyball coach Ap Clarke, are gearing up capturing the prestigious Spring Branch for the postseason. Tournament championship. The continuing growth of junior sisters Megan and Maya Evans represents skill sets the HISD’s flagship volleyball program may have lacked in years past. Birth date – Sept. 17, 1998; Birth sign - Virgo Maya, Megan and Maxwell Evans are Favorite subjects – Maya, math; Megan, English actually triplets. Maxwell is a Division I How they relax – Maya, watches Netflix; Megan, talks on college basketball prospect for the Belphone laire boys’ basketball team. Social media preferences – Maya (Twitter, Instagram); Bellaire’s volleyball team improved to 28-5 on the season and remained Megan (Twitter, Snapchat) unbeaten in District 20-6A with a recent Solve a world problem – Maya, poverty; Megan, child 3-0 victory over Milby. With a week to hunger go in the regular season the Cardinals are Possible college major – Business administration (both) poised for the primetime playoffs. Favorite foods – Megan, spaghetti; Maya, fried chicken, “I’m very happy with our season, especially with the success we had in the macaroni and cheese, cornbread, red beans and rice preseason,” Clarke said. “We had a hard Favorite music – Maya, Chris Brown; Megan, R&B, hip schedule and we played exceptional. We hop played great volleyball. I think the matchCollege scholarships offered – Lamar University es we played prior to the Spring Branch Tournament helped us get prepared for that tournament. match to get past us,” Clarke said. “I wish they were still “Now that we’re in district play the pace has slowed down freshmen.” a little bit,” Clarke said. “We try to keep our intensity up at Clarke believes that in order for the Cardinals to practice to get us ready for the playoffs.” prosper in the postseason they will have to play hard like Clarke described two of the main reasons for the Cardithey did during the preseason. nals’ success this year against schools outside the HISD. “We have to understand that we have to play hard for “Maya (No. 13) is a middle hitter (blocker) and she is just every point right now,” she said. “The harder we play during an incredible athlete,” Clarke said. “She knows the court and the regular season makes us that much more prepared for the she always wants the ball, always. Her sister Megan (No. 3) postseason. is our setter and she will definitely feed her the ball. They just “We definitely have all the tools we need to go deep into know each other so well. the playoffs,” Clarke said. “Megan hates to lose so “But we have to be ready for with this combination here, that. The speed of our game Yates football playoff streak may opponents are going to have right now isn’t what it was a be in jeopardy to come out and play their best month ago.”

About Maya & Megan Evans

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OCTOBER 22 | 2015 DEFENDER

sportsbriefs Cougars climb in polls After dismissing Tulane 42-7, the University of Houston Cougars find their stock rising in the national polls. The Cougars climbed in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls, coming in at No. 21 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the coaches’ poll. Houston is one of 14 teams still undefeated, including three teams in the American Athletic Conference (UH, Memphis, Temple). Twelve of the 14 are in action on the same weekend, including Memphis (at Tulsa) and Temple (at East Carolina). UH is the only team in the American to defeat four different opponents by 21 points or more. The Cougars are one of three undefeated teams nationally with at least four wins of 21 points or more.

Hopkins on a roll Despite the musical chairs of mediocrity at the quarterback position, Texan wideout DeAndre Hopkins is quietly making a name for himself this season. Hopkins had 10 receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns in the Texans’ 31-20 victory over Jacksonville. His recorded his fourth consecutive 100-yard receiving day, which ties a franchise record shared by Andre Johnson. He also became the first player in NFL history with at least nine catches and 145 yards receiving in three consecutive games. Hopkins currently leads the NFL in receiving yardage with 726 yards. His productivity has been one of few bright spots on the Texan offense.

Lamar still 20-6A king The last time Lamar didn’t win at least a share of the district football championship was back in 2001 when Vince Young led then district-rival Madison to an outright title and a berth in the state semifinals. Lamar head coach Tom Nolen announced at the 2015 HISD kickoff football banquet that due to a small senior class opposing teams better jump on the Texans this year while they have the opportunity. Upstart Reagan was hoping to do just that recently when the two schools met for sole possession of first place in District 20-6A. With the score tied 14-14 at intermission, Lamar came back to score 19 unanswered points in the second half en route to a 33-14 victory. Sophomore running back Ta’Zhawn Henry rushed for 222 yards and three scores, including a 37-yard TD run with 54 seconds left in the game, to seal the Texans’ victory. Senior Jai’ran Traylor added 80 rushing yards and another score. Lamar improved to 6-1 on the season and 4-0 in district play. The Texans’ lone setback came at the hands of Fort Bend Elkins. Reagan slips to 6-1 and 3-1.

Veal ensures Furr win There wasn’t a lot of offense in the FurrBooker T. Washington game. The teams combined for 292 yards and only one touchdown. Fortunately for the Furr Brahmans, Le’Twan Veal was on their side. Veal hauled in a 59-yard TD pass from quarterback Anthony Mata midway through the third quarter to give his team the lead. He intercepted two Washington passes on defense to ensure the Brahmans would never relinquish the lead.

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DEFENDER | OCTOBER 22 | 2015

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topevents

Happening in Houston For event coverage email: events@defendermediagroup.com

21ST ANNUAL PINNACLE AWARDS……….The Greater Houston Black teaming up with the Star of Hope’s New Life for New Mothers program to give Chamber celebrated 80 years of service as they recognized the accomplishments of back to other moms to be. Roxie hosted the baby shower for six expecting mothers Black businesses. Under the leadership of GHBC chairman Vernita Harris, who is who are living in transitional housing. The guests were glammed up by Lamik, the first female board chair of the newly named organization, and the new President received manicures and swag bags full of beauty essentials. The moms also received Elaine Barber, the second oldest Black chamber in the nation issued the awards to: diaper bags, bathtubs and gift cards. Those in attendance included Congresswoman Thomas Jones, McConnell & Jones – Chairman’s Award; Gerald Smith, Smith Sheila Jackson Lee, gospel singer Yolanda Adams (Roxie’s third grade teacher), Graham –Lifetime Achievement Award; City Councilman Larry Dr. Saundra Montgomery, Pastor Bridget Hilliard, Deavra Green – Mickey Leland Entrepreneurial Public Leadership Defender TOP EVENTS Daughtry, Zawadi Bryant, Pastors Rudy and Juanita Rasmus, Award; Marcus Brigance, Brigance Enterprises –Excellence Chris Noble, Kelly Hodges, Arnaecia Alridge and Brian More photos on defendernetwork.com Award; Sonceria Messiah-Jiles, Houston Defender Media Keith........MD ANDERSON FASHION SHOW……..In honor See Events on KTRK Ch.13’s ‘Crossroads’ Group –Endurance Award, and Mario Diaz, City of Houston of “Love Your Body Day,” MD Anderson celebrated with a with Melanie Lawson on Sunday Morning Airport System – Advocate of the Year Award. The Upstart fashion show and art exhibit to empower patients to accept and Award went to Lydia Evans of Soaps, Washing and Grooming Essentials. The appreciate their bodies after cancer treatments. The event is a part of their Body Pinnacle Award winners were: Centerpointe Hotel Partners, NightLight Pediatric Image Therapy Service. The fashion show featured cancer survivors as runway Urgent Care, One World Strategy Group and Sowell Construction…….. models. Those in attendance included Dr. Michelle Cororve Fingeret, Kelly KIM ROXIE & STAR OF HOPE BABY SHOWER……..The creative director Devine, Ian Cion, Clayton Boldt, Erin Buck, Patricia Dr. Rosemond, Dr. Sarah Rafat, Vanessa Watkin and Constance Charles. of Lamik Beauty, Kim Roxie, is expecting, and celebrated her baby shower by

Anita and Gerald Smith, Vernita Harris

Barbara and Marcus Brigance

Dr. Saundra Montgomery, Yolanda Adams, Kim Roxie, Pastor Bridget Hilliard

Dr. Patricia Rosemond, Dr. Sarah Rafat

Nathanael Scales, India Gaines, Hiram H. Smith, Catrice Brister, Jeremy Brister

Arnaecia Alridge, Kim Roxie, Brian Keith

Erin Buck, Dr. Michelle Fingeret, Kelly Devine

Kim Roxie

Vanessa Watkins, Constance Charles

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