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Institute of Architecture & Planning (IAP)—Building Tomorrow’s Environment
Greetings: Welcome to the fall issue of Morgan Magazine! As we prepare for another school year at Morgan, there is a high level of anticipation surrounding the exciting changes taking place on our campus. The collective commitment and achievement of our student body, faculty and alumni have placed the university at a propitious moment in its history, poised to exceed its own expectations as one of the preeminent public institutions in the nation. Discover advances being made by students in Morgan’s Institute of Architecture and Planning that will have a lasting impact on our communities. Their involvement with an urban housing initiative in Harrisburg, Pa., is breaking new ground in the creation of affordable housing for median-income families. A renewal of the Morgan spirit is taking place with new faces within the University’s athletic department. From new athletic director Floyd Kerr, to new head basketball coach Todd Bozeman joining head football coach Donald Hill-Eley, we believe we have assembled a team that will ensure that Morgan’s legacy as a powerhouse in black college athletics is only matched by its potential to return to the glory days it once enjoyed. The University recently celebrated a monumental accomplishment by one of its most distinguished alumni, General William “Kip” Ward, who is the fifth African American and the second Morgan alumnus to be promoted to the rank of four-star general. General Ward serves as the most recent example of the kind of success that begins with the Morgan experience. In this issue, you will be able relive the pomp and circumstance of the University’s 130th Commencement, and experience a first-hand account of the devastation and the triumph through the eyes and ears of the Morgan State University Choir during its tour through the Gulf Coast. As we continue to offer our best to the communities of Maryland and the world at large, I appeal to each of you to remember to practice what we preach. We must find ways to offer Gateways to Opportunity to others and share the Morgan experience. Sincerely,
Earl S.Richardson President FA L L
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Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s
Morgan Magazine is published by the Division of Institutional Advancement of MSU for alumni, parents, faculty, students and prospective students. Morgan Magazine is designed and edited by the Office of Public Relations. Opinions expressed in Morgan Magazine are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily those of the University. Unsolicited manuscripts & photographs are welcome, but will be returned only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Letters are also welcome.
Morgan State University Morgan Magazine Fall 2006
Correspondence should be directed to: Morgan Magazine, Morgan State University, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Truth Hall, #109, Baltimore, Maryland 21251 • 443885-3022 office • 443-885-8297 fax • public_relations@moac.morgan.edu
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Letter from the President
What’s in a Name? New Student Building
Cover Story Institute of Architecture & Planning (IAP)—Beyond the Sustainable Environment
138th Commencement Speaker: Elijah Cummings
Morgan Bears Out of Hibernation?
Dr. Ruthe T. Sheffey The English Professor Who Will Not Stop Giving
MSU Sports
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Robert C. Penn Executive of Social Change Pledges Aid to MSU
General “Kip” Ward Morgan’s Tradition of Excellence in Leadership Continues
The Emergence of the Black U.S. Military Officer A Historical Perspective
Senator Barbara Mikulski Visits School of Engineering
Medical Technology Program Meeting Tomorrow’s Demands Today
Dr. Irving Williams Mission in Africa
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MSU Choir: New Orleans Tour
Save the Date MSU Schedule and Events
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On the Cover
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(L to R) from MSU’s Institute of Architecture & Planning are: Heber Munoz, student Dr. Richard Lloyd, director Charita Madison, student Regina Gilfanova Price, student Marcus Ervin, student
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Vice President Institutional Advancement
Director of Public Relations and Communications
Publications Manager
Photographer (Magazine Cover)
Cheryl Y. Hitchcock
Clinton R. Coleman
Ferdinand Mehlinger
P. A. Greene
chitchcock@moac.morgan.edu
ccoleman@moac.morgan.edu
fmehlinger@moac.morgan.edu
pagreene@moac.morgan.edu
Additional Staff: Contributing Writers Malachi Daraja Rasheim T. Freeman C. T. Goodman
Assistant Director of Public Relations and Communications
Jarrett L. Carter jcarter@moac.morgan.edu
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Art Director (Magazine Layout & Design)
David E. Ricardo dricardo@moac.morgan.edu
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Sr. Graphic Designer
Andre Barnett abarnett@moac.morgan.edu
Welford McLellan Anne E. Baublitz G. Thomas Allen Hollis Minor
What’s in a Name?
New Student Center
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he beginning of the 2006-07 school year brought with it a formal introduction of new and returning students to the University’s new state-of-the-art Student Life Center. Located in the middle of the campus commons, the towering $33 million structure serves as the hub of student recreation. With its distinct, curved design and impressive large panes of glass and steel, it already is identified as one of the many campus landmarks. Within its walls are a 300-seat auditorium, a foodcourt, a soon-to-be-opened cyber café, a brand new bookstore, lounge areas, and office space for the university’s many student organizations.
The Student Life Center is also home to the Calvin and Tina Tyler Ballroom, a spacious new meeting facility that was named in honor of an alumnus of the University and his wife who have given $1 million for scholarships. The ballroom was officially opened on May 20, 2006, for the annual Alumni Day Luncheon. In the lobby on display is the Memorial Refectory’s Mural which has been reproduced, and is digitally preserved in the University’s historical archives. The Memorial Refectory artwork includes the work of various artists. It was dedicated in 1949 to the memory of students, alumni and a teacher who lost their lives defending their country during World War II. The mural was originally in Morgan’s main dining hall, which is now the Richard N. Dixon Science Research Center location.
The Memorial Refectory Mural, New Student Center Lobby, Baltimore, MD
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INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING
MSU Students Help Design and By Ferdinand Mehlinger
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n a unique project, which could have far reaching implications for the future of urban housing, Morgan State University architecture and planning students are helping to design and build 13 luxury townhouses in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
These design and build projects also include involvement with students from three other universities and Harrisburg’s city government. The students are receiving hands-on experience and the government is benefiting financially from low-cost, quality design work. A few professional architectural firms are being called upon to lend support and guarantee professionalism. The homes, when completed, will be on a knoll overlooking the westward side of town. An important feature is that they are expected to blend into the fabric of the existing Summit Terrace neighborhood, a community of older homes belonging to residents of meager to moderate means.
Just a fifteen-minute walk from downtown, the homes are part of the vision of Mayor Stephen Reed who is determined to revitalize this city of 630,000 residents by aggressively pursuing
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design-build programs as an alternative to typical inner-city projects.
welcome the same type of request from the City of Baltimore.”
Morgan’s Institute of Architecture & Planning (IAP) has been active in pursuing professional work for its architectural students. The University stipulates that projects taken on by the University’s students must also address the social and cultural issues of urban revitalization.
IAP architecture professor, Paul Clarke of Morgan agrees, “The Harrisburg Urban Studio offers our students a chance to work on real-world projects rather than focus just on theory. Such projects provide our architecture students with a practical design-build learning environment.” Professor Clarke said, “The program is unique in that it is one of the few accredited professional master's degree programs in the nation. In addition to the program addressing housing issues, health care, recreation, commerce, education and governance are being considered as the designs unfold.”
“The psychology of a building’s design is every bit as important as the materials that go into it,” says IAP Director Dr. Richard Lloyd. “So when the mayor of Harrisburg contacted Morgan to participate in the Harrisburg Urban Studio, we were willing and able. Mayor Reed was very enthusiastic about having a historically Black university with Morgan’s credentials participate in this project. We would 4
Morgan is one of nine historically black universities in the U.S. offering accredited degree programs in architecture and planning disciplines. It is one of only two school programs in Maryland, the other is the University of Maryland at College Park. The IAP institute is one of 123 accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). The Institute offers one undergraduate and three graduate degree programs. Students can earn a BS degree in Architecture and Environmental Design, and MS degrees in Architecture, City &
Build Townhouses in Harrisburg, PA Regional Planning, and Landscape Architecture.
and residents who will live in the buildings is being integrated into the plan."
"Participating in the Harrisburg, project gave me a good sense of what needs to happen in more urban environments,” says recent Morgan IAP architecture graduate student, Carmen Potter. “New projects are being conceptualized and built, but all with the end-user in mind. There seems to be a refreshing awareness and compassionate response in Harrisburg to those who need (among other things) housing, community centers, and places to shop."
David Wise, a resident of Harrisburg for over 50 years, and President and CEO Summit Terrace Neighborhood Association points out that long-standing governmental policies have not addressed the issues of inner city housing: “The problem with urban centers is that when the mix of renters and owners
In addition to designing for the project on the bluff, Potter and other students are developing design plans for vacant lots on Harrisburg’s Market Street and the Summit Terrace neighborhood surrounding Bailey Street. According to Potter, all of the homes will be similar in design to create a sense of community. Dr. Lloyd says that the work in Harrisburg provides students a unique educational experience: "It gives them the opportunity to bring their theories and ideas to life. It's also a unique experience in that we are designing with the client involved. Input from the client, FA L L
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living. The idea of helping poor people is to create a mixed neighborhood and the idea of segregating people by income or groups is not the ideal approach because it helps to perpetuate social pathologies associated with poverty such as drug addiction and run down neighborhoods.”
Harrisburg, according to Wise, is trying to achieve a balance in income levels and lifestyles. “We’ve been trying to improve the infrastructure to “The psychology of a attract investors to establish market-rate housing. People building’s design is move out of neighborhoods every bit as important because they become imbalas the materials that anced. You’ve got to create an go into it,” environment where people want to move into the neighborhood — Dr. Richard Lloyd, Director, and not move out of it.” Institute of Architecture & Planning
becomes outbalanced, there is a shift-and the negative results are indicative of the social pathologies that take place when too many poor people are concentrated in one area.” Wise went on to talk about mixed neighborhoods. “What stabilizes a neighborhood is home ownership. It encourages leadership from people who have a stake in where they are 5
Wise says that a wake up call has come for those expecting municipal help to jump-start urban projects in America. “The days are gone where you can depend totally on public funding. As public funding has dried up, we have had to look more toward private funding for our projects. If the city provides the infrastructure, private investors will come.
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Architecture
Row house Project, Dundalk, MD from Graduate Program in Architecture, Design Studio II, Robert Reichel.
Herring Run Research Lab/ Nature Center—Robert Reichel.
Beyond the Sustainable Environment Morgan’s Institute of Architecture and Planning (IAP)
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or over 25-years the Institute of Architecture & Planning (IAP) has provided students the opportunity to experience the makings of the built and natural environment in the broader perspective of interdisciplinary learning. The Institute’s three graduate programs (Architecture, Landscape Architecture, City & Regional Planning) prepares students to address the challenges associated with systems of the built environment and their integration with systems in the natural environment. Graduates have joined local firms in various modes of professional practice, while others have accepted positions in state and local government, community groups and organizations, or teaching. The Institute introduces and promotes the sense of interconnectedness between a building, those who occupy the structure, forces of nature, and the social and political climate with which the structure will be associated. The intention of the Institute is to be a professionally-
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based academic unit that has a clear commitment to the fundamental qualities that bring together a balanced educational program in the exploration of the human and natural environment. The objective is to link domains of environmental (natural patterns and flows), economic (financial patterns and equity), and social (human, cultural, and spiritual) as related to the professional practices of planning, design and management. This leads to the realization of a sustainable urban environment that is beautiful, humane, socially appropriate, and restorative. The Bachelor of Architecture & Environmental Design (BSAED) is also an important component of the IAP family. BSAED is a four-year paraprofessional program structured to integrate elements of the built and natural environment with the ability to produce a meaningful response to the changing needs of urban society patterned by a wide cultural backdrop. The program advances
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the concept of critical thinking by which each student can visualize, discuss and represent a detailed conceptualization, application, investigation, syntheses, and an evaluation of the connections between them. Students are taught to accept responsibility for their role in creating environments as well as how to communicate ethical practices that lead to informed decision making. IAP students become knowledgeable of planning, design and management as a predictive decisionmaking process with the examination of human factors involved in the necessarily collaborative activity of environmental intervention and preservation. The aim is to graduate competent and dedicated professionals.
Visual Conceptualization Project for Graduate Program in Architecture Studio I
The New Generation of Architectural Visionaries from Morgan Undergraduate IAP architecture sophomore, Chinyere Goddard (left) and graduate IAP landscape student, Brian Bowman (right) represent Morgan’s new generation in the world of architecture. Bowman, who is working on his masters in landscape architecture, is a second year student in the three-year program. Bowman’s aquatic park concept, Horizon (page 8), and Goddard’s friction-fit chair (below) demonstrate the versatile directions that the IAP is taking with its curriculum.
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BSAED Sophomore, Chinyere Goddard Creates Friction-Fit Chair at MIT
BSAED sophomore, Chinyere Goddard, became the first computational architecture research student to participate in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) prestigious Summer Research Program (MSRP) this year. The intensive 9-week program held in Boston, MA encourages underrepresented American citizens in the field of architecture to pursue advanced degrees in scientific projects. Ms. Goddard worked in university research laboratories under the guidance of experienced MIT scientists, engineers, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and advanced graduate students. FA L L
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Morgan students are taught to produce a meaningful response to the changing needs of urban society, patterned by a wide cultural backdrop.
Working outside of conventional construction methods in furniture assembly, with the Digital Design and Fabrication Group (DDF), Goddard created a friction-fit chair. The goal of the study was to produce functional yet aesthetically appealing furniture using CAD-equipped machinery and the concept of Solid Surface Stitching (SSS) - a process developed by the DDF group at MIT that allows the joining of wood without the use of adhesives. The end result of project was a friction-fit chair, in full anthropometric scale, modeled in CAD, fabricated, then assembled using only a rubber mallet. 7
BSAED sophomore, Chinyere Goddard’s friction-fit chair.
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Landscape Architecture
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Chesapeake Aquatic Garden Concept
Brian Bowman’s aquatic park concept, entitled Horizon, establishes a major keystone in the continuing emergence of the Middle Branch section of Baltimore Harbor. Connecting residents to the Chesapeake Bay in a more casual setting than at the Inner Harbor, the design elements of the gardens accentuate the horizon as the dominant element. Using grids of various heights and materials in order to organize space (superimposed over wilder, freeform wetland gardens), zones are created for vertical and horizontal interest.o
Brian Bowman, graduate IAP landscape student
Aquatic Research Center and Community Park on the Patapsco River, Middle Branch Community, from Landscape Architecture Studio IV class/course.
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130th Commencement By C.T. Goodman Ideas if we are to answer the hard questions of our time.”
Keynote speaker—The Honorable
Elijah Cummings Challenges Graduates
ith a charge to lead, inspiration to dream and encouragement to respect the face of God within every human being, the Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings, (D-7th) captivated the more than 900 graduates at Morgan State University’s 130th commencement ceremony...
“I spent my earliest years living in a small, rented row house in South Baltimore. Our poorly equipped, 8-room elementary school didn’t have a lunchroom, auditorium or a gymnasium. And I was trying to learn in what was then called the “3rd Group.” Today, we would call that class “special education.
An influential and highly respected political figure and Baltimore native, Congressman Cummings has served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1996 and is the Immediate Past Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Currently a member of the House Government Reform Committee, he is also the Ranking Member of the Criminal Justice Drug Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee and a member of the Federal Workforce and Agency.
One day a counselor asked me what I wanted to become in my life…I told her that I wanted to be a lawyer like Mrs. [Juanita Jackson] Mitchell so that I could help others. I was trying to dream big. That counselor just looked at me…[and said] ‘Who do you think you are?”
His message to the collection of graduates and their families filling the W.A.C. Hughes Memorial Stadium on the main MSU campus, was filled with personal realities, impassioned wisdom and well timed humor:
“Take the intellect that you have worked so hard to train – and that picture of God that lives within your hearts – and fight for constructive change in the public squares of our democratic society. Graduates, we need your Big
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Congressman Cummings also spoke to the graduates about their responsibilities to humanity and challenged their commitment to improving the world in which they live:
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A record 39 doctorates were awarded at the ceremony, including Jan L. Williams, the first Ph.D. recipient in Business Administration from the Earl G. Graves School of Business. The University also awarded four honorary doctorate degrees at the 2006 commencement ceremony to Congressman Cummings; Dr. D. James Baker, president and CEO of the Academy of Natural Sciences; Bishop John R. Bryant, the Presiding Prelate of the Fifth Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles; and posthumously to Victorine Q. Adams, the first African American woman elected to the Baltimore City Council. Thanking students and faculty alike, MSU President Earl S. Richardson said during his remarks, “Commencement is a celebration of the commitment and dedication of our students and their families. It is, for many of them, the realization of their dream.” o
Morgan Bears... Out of Hibernation? By Jarrett Carter
Morgan State University Athletic Program reat collegiate athletic programs are not built only by wins. They don’t become great by the legendary players that leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of fans and on the pages of record books.
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They are built by losses. Heartbreaks. Disappointments. These are the moments when teams, a coach, a university, stand at the crossroad of excellence and obscurity.
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The Morgan State University athletic program now stands at this crossroad. In the years behind it, there are legacies of complete dominance; adorned with memories of championship seasons still fresh in the minds of faithful alumni and supporters familiar with the rich legacy and tradition of Bear Pride. The tradition and pride that once was held for Morgan athletics has been supplanted with disappointment, and frustration. In the last 50 years, collegiate sports have been transformed with the removal of segregation, the infusion of television exposure and the everevolving art of recruiting to minorities throughout the nation. Morgan, and many other historically black colleges and universities that once boasted the preeminent athletes in the country, now are afterthoughts in the hearts and minds of many highly-touted high school competitors. “Everyone is recruiting now,” says Morgan State University Athletic Director Floyd Kerr. “Now, the smaller schools have a smaller pool of athletes to recruit, and you still contend with new rules in terms of how you recruit, eligibility and ensuring that you graduate the individuals you bring in.” But a walk across a revitalized Morgan State campus reveals that the direction to excellence is well-defined. The University’s commitment to winning on the fields and courts of play is evident in its glittering athletic facilities, new faces in the administration overseeing the athletic program, and a resurgence of Bear Pride in the student-athletes and the entire student body.
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Is the hibernation season over? Recent history has seen the women’s programs at the University establishing themselves as perennial contenders in sports such as volleyball, track and field and bowling.
first lacrosse team from a historically black college to participate in NCAA competition. Legends like Joe Black, who would become the first black pitcher to win a World Series game in 1952.
“I’m competitive with the other coaches in the department,” says head volleyball coach Ramona Riley-Bozier. “If the other teams go out and are able to get a win, then I want to come home a winner, too.” “It’s always going to be about talent,” says Kerr. “The women’s programs have done an outstanding job of bringing in the athletes to compete at a high level. On the men’s side, we have some coaches that have the connections and the personality to really appeal to the local talent and bring recognition to the university.” The old score board on the back of Eddie P. Hurt gymnasium still overlooks one end of the Earl C. Banks Memorial field. At the other end, a scoreboard that is the gold standard in black college football, complete with video and instant replay. In memory and in structure, the architect of Morgan athletics looks down on one of the proud keepers of the elite football program he helped to build. Gone are the well-worn grass and the dirt patch that extended 20 yards on both sides of the 50yard-line. In its place are synthetic turf and the familiar orange and blue that accents the “M” at midfield and the lettering in both end zones. There have been countless individuals on this field and on this track whose memories will stand in record books. Olympians. Hall of fame inductees. Champions. The Morgan State Lacrosse team played here; the
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The track that circles the field bears no resemblance to the dark rubber of yesteryear. It is now among the finest track facilities in the nation, and has hosted several state high school championships, and was the site of the 2006 and 2004 USA Track and Field National Junior Olympics Outdoor Track and Field Championships. This is Hughes Stadium. This is not its history, but its future. The Architect: Eddie P. Hurt Edward P. Hurt was hired in 1929 to coach football, as well as basketball and track. In his 30 years at the helm of the program, he compiled an overall record of 173-51-19, with only three losing seasons. Hurt's football teams won 13 CIAA championships and coached eleven undefeated seasons, including six consecutive seasons from 1932 to 1938. In 1943, his team did not allow a single point. In track and field, Hurt won 15 CIAA championships and 16 individual national champi-
Coach Hurt onships. He also coached eight Olympians during his tenure, often working with little or no operating budget for equipment or other materials. Hurt’s success throughout 30 years as a coach, athletic director and mentor would serve as the blueprint for success in black college athletics. One of his former football players, Clarence “Big House” Gaines, would go on to an equally long career as head coach of the Winston-Salem State University men’s basketball team, where he compiled more than 800 victories and earned a place as one of the most successful coaches in NCAA basketball history. Life After Hurt: Morgan State University Football Following Hurt’s retirement in 1959, Earl C. Banks took over as head football coach. A former All-Big Ten guard as a freshman for the University of Iowa football team, and recently removed from his first coaching position at Maryland State College (now the University of Maryland- Eastern Shore), it was a daunting task to follow in the footsteps of the man who brought pride and prestige to the Morgan football program. The legacy would remain in tact under Banks’ care. His teams compiled an overall record of 94-30 over 14 years with three undefeated seasons. Four individuals who played under Banks would go on to star in the National Football League. Willie Lanier, Leroy Kelly, John Fuqua and Raymond Chester are all enshrined in the NFL
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Willie Lanier Hall of Fame. “Our main emphasis was to have a supreme confidence, as athletes and as students,” says Lanier, who is now a senior vice-president with Wachovia Securities. “We knew that it was within our reach to achieve, and then our goal was to perform above that expectation.” Following Banks’ retirement in 1974, inconsistency would plague the team, and it showed with only two winning seasons in five years. In 1979, the team finished with a 9-2 overall record, and it would be the last year that the Morgan State football team would post a winning record for more than 20 years. “One thing that was different between then and now is that now you have to help build the character and build the outlook of some of the players,” says football head coach Donald Hill-Eley. “You have to create a vision for some, who have come from a situation where everything was given to them.” Hill-Eley was hired in 2002 as the 18th head coach in the program’s history. Originally hired as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2001, Hill-Eley earned instant recognition and respect in his first two seasons, as the Bears finished with back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1970-71. Hill-Eley is the school’s third winningest football coach behind Banks and Hurt. “Being mentioned in the same breath as Hurt and Banks is an honor,” says Hill-Eley. “I just want to add to Morgan so that when the football program is talked about, it’s talked about with swagger and pride for the university. It’s a great time to be a Bear.” 12
Robert Barksdale Run From There: Morgan State University Track and Field Morgan has a rich tradition of excellence across a wide range of events in track and field. In the 1950’s, the program enjoyed consistent success with athletes such as George Rhoden, Sam LaBeach and Robert Barksdale. “All former and present students, student athletes, faculty and staff members are proud to say that they are part of the Morgan State University family,” says track and field head coach Neville Hodge. A three-time Olympian, Hodge has been at the helm of the Morgan State track and field program since the spring 1994. Hodge is widely regarded as a world class sprinter and excellent coach. The Morgan alumnus was named MEAC “Coach of the Year” in 1992 and 1994 and coached the Virgin Islands Olympic team in 1992, 1996 and 2000. One of Hodge’s most decorated pupils rewrote several Morgan records and made her mark in Olympic history. A silver medalist in 1992 and a gold medalist in 1996, Rochelle Stevens is a former NCAA all-American athlete and holds school records in the 200 and 400 meter dash.
2005 was a great year for the Morgan State Track and Field team. After placing second in the MEAC Indoor Championships in February, the women’s team rebounded less than two months later to capture the conference Outdoor Championships. For the women’s team, it was their second overall conference title, and the third overall track and field championship for the university.
Just a short walk from Hughes Stadium stands the other edifice of Morgan’s athletic complex, Talmadge A. Hill Field House. The lights are dimly lit over the hardwood inside the gymnasium, but it’s not hard to visualize the crowds that have gathered there. The old Morgan Grizzly that is painted at center court is poised to attack; strikingly emblematical of the teams of the past that have claimed victory, and the promise of a bright future. The Thrill of the Kill: Morgan State University Women’s Volleyball In the 1990’s, the Morgan State women’s volleyball team had more success than in any other period of its 35 year history with 49 consecutive confer-
ence victories, three MEAC tournament championships, five MEAC North Division titles and two trips to the NCAA tournament; the first trip giving Morgan a place in history as the first historically black college or university to advance to the tournament. The numbers are staggering, but they all began with the hiring of one special Morgan alumnus, head volleyball coach Ramona Riley-Bozier. Hired in 1988, Bozier took only two seasons to turn Morgan into a perennial presence in the conference. A four-time “Coach of the Year,” her 1997 team was the first Morgan athletic program to advance to an NCAA post season in 18 years. “When I came back to Morgan, I entered into a program with much of nothing,” says Bozier. “But we eventually got to a place where administration looked at volleyball as a sport that was an important part of the athletic program, and we just want to continue to grow and make the decisions that help the program to grow.” Redemption: Morgan State University Basketball Change has been the theme for the Morgan State University men’s basketball team. On April 27, 2006, Todd Bozeman was named the 15th head coach of the men’s basketball team. Called “a turning point in the history of Morgan State basketball,” by university athletic director Floyd Kerr, Bozeman carries with him the pride of Morgan tradition, and the pressure of resurrecting a program that has not had a winning season since 1989. At age 29, Bozeman became the youngest coach to ever appear in the NCAA’s ‘Sweet Sixteen,’ and made three tournament appearances in four years with the University of California. “I’m just happy to be back in college basketball,” says Bozeman. “I’m just glad to have a part
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in creating a venue to develop young people to be successful in life.” During the press conference announcing his hiring, Bozeman referred to the local consensus that Morgan was a “sleeping giant.” The ‘giant’ that is the Morgan men’s basketball program was fully awake in early 1970’s, as former head coach Nathaniel Frazier led the Bears to the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1974. In six seasons with the Bears, Frazier compiled a record of 12350, and served as a mentor to a number of star players, including Marvin “The Human Eraser” Webster, who went on to a career in the NBA after setting school records for blocked shots, rebounds, and points scored. “The reality is that aside from academic programs, players pick the schools they want to attend because of the coaches,” says Bozeman. “I’m looking to accentuate the positives, and build a program that accentuates athletics and academics as well.”
Dr. Ruthe T. Sheffey The English Professor Who Will Not Stop Giving By Welford L. McLellan
On Morgan’s campus and among literary scholars throughout the country, Dr, Ruthe T. Sheffey, MSU Class of 1947, is the pre-eminent caretaker of the writings and work of Zora Neale Hurston. For more than 20 years, the MSU English professor and the Zora Neale Hurston Society have caucused and debated the works of Hurston, during an annual conference held to celebrate the life, works and legacy of the gifted novelist, folklorist and anthropologist. “You know, Zora spent two years at Morgan, in 1917 and 1918. Her early years were, perhaps, shaped here on our campus. I enjoy telling students that.” While she is nationally acclaimed for her work within the Hurston society, she also plays a major role in contributing to the lives of deserving Morgan students.
An educator, scholar and editor, earned the B.A., cum laude, with an English major and Spanish minor. After her work at Morgan, she attended Howard University, earning the M.A. degree, and the University of Pennsylvania where she earned the Ph.D. in 1959. She has also closely studied the work of Shakespeare and has received research grants that sent her abroad to Ontario and England. Dr. Sheffey also received a grant to study black life in 18th century London. Over the years, the distinguished professor of English has served as department chairperson (1970-74) and acting chair (1990-91). “Some just think that my MSU history is as professor, but no, this is also my alma mater,” she says proudly.
Dr. Sheffey has cheerfully given to the Morgan State University Foundation to assist stu“I give to help “I give to help students today students today dents in their dream of a because I received help when college education, and her I needed it,” she said. “We all because I received dedication to ensuring help when I have to remember that. I that each student has an needed it.” can’t say what others should opportunity for excellence do because we all have difis evident. ferent financial circumstances and responsibilities. But it’s important to “It really pains me when I have students, give what you can,” she said. good students, who have to drop-out
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because they just don’t have the money to continue with their education. That’s so unfortunate,” In 1998, in recognition of her outstanding career at Morgan, the Department of English and Language Arts established the “It really pains me Ruthe T. when I have students, Sheffey good students, who Award for have to drop-out Scholarship, because they just don’t have the money to Service, and continue with their Teaching. education. That’s so She is also a unfortunate.” member of the Morgan State University Hall of Fame, an honor that she relishes with great pride. Dr. Sheffey also holds the highest honor a faculty member can earn, the Iva G. Jones Medallion Mantle for excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. She retained the medallion for two years. A perennial patron and professional inspiration, Dr. Ruth Sheffey truly is a Morgan treasure.
DONOR PROFILES:
Robert C. Penn Executive of Social Change Pledges Aid to MSU By Rasheim Freeman
Robert C. Penn, MSU Class of 1965, a nationally respected broker of public/private partnerships, is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of East Baltimore Development, Inc. (EBDI), the organization charged with managing the $800-million revitalization of communities within East Baltimore. The restoration that is being managed by EBDI is expected to bring vibrancy and productivity back to areas that have been ignored for decades. When completed, the revitalization will be one of the city’s largest capital improvement projects ever. The various community projects involve 80 acres of land and include the $200 million development of the East Baltimore Bio-Tech Park. The park is a collective effort of the city, several state, federal agencies, as well as and private sector organizations. Morgan State University and Johns Hopkins University are participants in the Bio-Tech Park project, a venture that is expected to attract major pharmaceutical companies to the region and produce career-enhancing jobs to Baltimore City. EBDI, which works with the support of a long list of partners, also includes local civic groups and charitable foundations as stakeholders in East Baltimore’s revitalization.
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For Morgan State University, this consciousness has evolved to produce dollars for academic scholarships. Penn has pledged multi-year donations for an undisclosed amount and has so far, given over $10,000 to his alma mater. He says that he will continue giving to the University because MSU prepared him so well for the challenges of life. “Morgan prepared me well academically to negotiate in the boardroom and, more importantly, in the boardroom of life.” said Penn, “So I have no problem giving back to Morgan and preparing our future generations.” His $10,000 gift is just a token of his appreciation, he says, and it is just good karma to give back to kids “from the inner city or even from the outer boondocks.” “My education at Morgan allowed me to achieve whatever small measure of success I have, and giving something back is a way of showing my gratitude and appreciation,” Penn added. During the course of his professional career, Penn has worked in more than seventy-five communities and presently serves on the Board of Directors of four regionally based national organizations:
Infantry Commander, earning two Bronze Stars for Valor and a Purple Heart, and three Crosses of Gallantry, among other military honors. He credits Morgan’s capital development to the visionary leadership of Dr. Earl Richardson, MSU’s president, who has sparked a 20-year renaissance. “Dr. Richardson and his leadership are inspirational and he is the reason why the business community gives financial assistance to the University,” Penn said. Penn was a political science major while attending Morgan and went on to add two years of post-graduate work at Howard University. He completed his education at the MIT Sloan School of Management in the Urban Fellows Program. A native of Buffalo, NY, Penn is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and currently resides in Federal Hill. He is a widower, and has a son, Robert C. Penn, Jr. When Penn visits Morgan State, he is still taken aback by the sheer number of bulldozers and cranes on campus. “Every time I go over there, I am blown away”, said Penn.
During the difficult years of the Vietnam War, Penn served his country as a Combat
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DONOR PROFILES:
William “Kip� Ward, was promoted to the Army's highest rank of Four-Star General on May 26, 2006. He is the new Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command. General Ward assists with overseeing all U.S. forces based in Europe and most of Africa. MORGAN MAGAZINE
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GENERAL “KIP” WARD Morgan’s Tradition of Excellence in Leadership Continues By Ferdinand Mehlinger
Deputy EUCOM Commander is New Four-Star General, the Army’s Fifth Black Four-Star General Among a Group of General Officers from Morgan’s Bear Battalion
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n May 26, 2006, military history was made when Morgan Alumnus, General William “Kip” Ward was pinned as four-star general and Deputy Commander of the United States European Command (EUCOM). General Ward’s appointment as a military leader often called to act in the role of diplomat comes at a time when heightened tensions in the areas of the world under his responsibility (Europe, Africa, and portions of the Middle East) are at a critical junction. Reporting to the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon and closely aligned with the Secretary of State, General Ward’s appointment defines the uniqueness of the statesman-warrior of the 21st century. General Ward is among a group of General Officers who have graduated from Morgan’s ROTC program and the fifth African American promoted to four stars in the US Army – our nation’s highest military rank. 17
Standing tall before a packed audience of dignitaries, military officials and proud family members, newly appointed fourstar general, William “Kip” Ward spoke from the dais at the Ft. Myer Officer’s Club with measured emotion.
“I’ve been blessed beyond measure; and I look out and I see every phase of my life and career represented here….from childhood neighborhood and schools to every unit.” —General William “Kip” Ward
To speak of General Ward’s impressive list of accomplishments and his rise to four-star general is to also speak of Morgan’s influence and how it helped shape the leader and the man, Kip Ward. Among a distinguished group of generals that Morgan’s Bear Battalion ROTC program has produced, General Ward is the only currently serving black four-star general in the Department of Defense.
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William “Kip” Ward was married to Joyce Lewis in 1971 at the Christian Center at Morgan State University. Both graduated from Morgan that same year.
President Earl S. Richardson, who attended the ceremony, summed up his pride in General Ward’s latest promotion: “It’s a great moment, and I think it represents everything that Morgan hopes to present to the public. Kip Ward was not only a great student of the University but is also a great alumnus of the University.” He went on to say that the tradition of producing military leaders is part of Morgan’s legacy.
“What is happening here today is very much a part of our continuing to cultivate and develop new officers and leaders for tomorrow.” — Dr. Earl S. Richardson
General Ward gave tribute to those who came before him, and recalled their pain and sacrifice: “There are a group of soldiers here who paved the way for guys like me. A group of paratroopers who in the days of a segregated Army, in spite of their personal treatment were professional, set the example, did their duty in ways that brought pride and credit to their race.” The importance of Morgan to General Ward’s development was best described in his own words, which were mixed with humor and pride: “What got me here? Well my mother says she is still trying to figure it out…but let me start with a guy named Richard Ward. My Dad was a WWII combat veteran who served in the Pacific for two and a half years as a combat engineer. He was the first individual who called me a general, and he
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did that after I came home from my first semester at Morgan State University. In those days, male students going to historically black land grant colleges, had to take ROTC, so I was there whether I wanted to be or not. I walked in with that uniform on, no rank of ribbons of any sort, and he said..Hello General!… Well, he’s not with us but he’s watching me and he’s happy! But during those four years at Morgan State University, I had a group of professionals who mentored, coached and made Kip Ward who he is.” He then paused, and then acknowledged the president of Morgan State University: “Dr. Richardson glad to see you here!” General Johnnie E. Wilson (Retired) who has served on the Board of Regents at Morgan State for over six years presented the Four Star Flag during General Ward’s promotion ceremony. Wilson, a decorated war veteran, spoke of the symbolic importance of Ward’s appointment: “He is a model of professionalism, caring, and excellence. He is also a gifted warfighter but is also one who has the appropriate diplomatic skills to work with international heads of state.” General Wilson continued, commenting on Morgan’s legacy of producing top generals. “What is beautiful is that Dr. Richardson has been behind his military students 100 per cent and has created an environment that has produced generals back to back. In the Pentagon we speak of Morgan as a model for producing top generals.”
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General Ward with recent graduates of Morgan’s Bear Battallion.
J.A. “Cappy” Surette, Commander, U.S. Navy, U.S. European Command, described General Ward’s combined roles of military leader and diplomat, “In his position he is representing the United States as the senior official when meeting with heads of state and senior officials from countries as diverse as Bosnia–Herzegovina to Ghana.” General Ward and his wife, Joyce (Lewis), graduated from Morgan on June 6, 1971. Both are life members of the Morgan State University National Alumni Association. Mrs. Ward came to Morgan from Lawrenceville, Virginia while General Ward is a Baltimore native. Mrs. Ward finished her undergraduate studies in 3 and one half years graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. They were married on the 3rd of April 1971 on Morgan’s campus in what was then called the Christian Center. General Ward, who majored in political science, was commissioned into the infantry with a Bachelor of Arts degree and later earned his master’s degree in political science at Penn State University. He has served throughout the continental United States as well as Alaska and Hawaii and overseas in Germany, Korea, Egypt, Israel, Somalia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. He has served in a variety of command and staff positions including assignments to the Pentagon on three separate occasions.
General Ward (above) is shown meeting with Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qurei (right). “In his position he is representing the United States as the senior official when meeting with heads of state and senior officials from countries as diverse as Bosnia–Herzegovina to Ghana.” — J.A. “Cappy” Surette, Commander, U.S. Navy.
“He is a model of professionalism, caring, and excellence. He is also a gifted warfighter but is also one who has the appropriate diplomatic skills to work with international heads of state.” —General (Ret.) Johnnie Wilson
General Ward’s appointment as Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command (EUCOM) comes at a critical time during America's unique role as the leading security partner of the world's principal democracies and its unparalleled military assets in the European theatre. The U.S. European Command is a geographic combatant command (joint command comprised of all services) responsible for U.S. military contingency planning and security cooperation activities in 92 countries in Europe, most of Africa and portions of the Middle East. EUCOM also is directing a significant transformation of Europe-based units and infrastructure to better respond to 21st century security challenges within its area of responsibility.
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EUCOM Command Territory Other
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The Emergence of the Black U.S. Military Officer By Robert Ewell Greene, Major U.S. Army (Retired)
A Historical Perspective
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frican Americans have served in the United States Military Services through the years, in most cases as enlisted and non-commissioned officer personnel. The black officer didn’t emerge until after the American Civil War in the late 1870’s as a recognized segment of the Officer’s Corps. Even though some black Reserve officers commanded black volunteer units during the Spanish-American War 1898, it was during World War II that black officers and non-commissioned officers assumed greater responsibility. Segregated units were part of the military standard. In 1915, Beverly Perea became the first known black officer to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. This only became possible after the intervention of Mayor James Michael Curley of Boston and the favorable response of Secretary of War Lindley M. Garrison.
Field and staff officers of the 39th U.S. Colored Infantry, Petersburg Virginia (Sept. 1864).
During World War I, it was deemed necessary for the U.S. military to assign its black officers to all black units, so long as they fought along side French soldiers. In 1920, U.S. Army War College staff mandated that blacks should not fight in combat and that White officers should command black units.
In 1941, the regular U.S. Army had on its active rolls, two black line officers and three black chaplains, a total of five black officers. The Navy and Marine Corps had none. A policy was established in 1946 stating that one-tenth of the army strength shall be Negro; this was the origin of the quota system. This policy resulted in increased officer strength in 1948. There was one General, two Colonels, 10 Lt. Colonels, 28 Majors, 24 Captains, 538 11st Lieutenants and 414 2nd Lieutenants. Among the ranks of female officers, The Army Nurse Corps enlisted 69 officers and the Women’s Army Corps, 341. This was at a time when the West Point Military Academy had 9 black cadets. In 1951, during the Korean War, the U.S. military services integrated and abolished segregated units. The heroism demonstrated in the Vietnam War showed that there was no longer a need for black Americans to prove their combat capability, only to prove their fitness as American men or women. The military was offering a road to success to the career of the black officer.
African American officers of the 370th Infantry, Camp Logan, Houston Texas (1918).
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In 1970, a veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War was promoted to Brigadier General. Major General Frederic Ellis Davison, was, the first black general since 1941.In 1972, General Davidson became the first black officer to command a combat division, the Eighth U.S. Infantry Division, Germany.
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1 3 1 1 T H E N G I N E E R B A T TA L I O N , C O M PA N Y F — 1 9 4 4 C A M P C L A I B O R N E , L O U I S I A N A General William “Kip” Ward’s father Sgt. Richard Ward (front row, fifth from the left) of the 1311th Engineer Battalion, Company F, is seen here in a 1944 photograph taken at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. Today black soldiers can look back on a checkered history where they were segregated and denied officer ranks. The situation today has its imperfections, but it can be said that the years of the black soldiers’ patriotism and devotion to his country’s cause have brought him status, equality and dignity in the armed services. The progression of black officers has produced several milestones. Among them was in 1991, when General Colin Powell was selected as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Another occurred in May 2006 when the U.S. Army promoted an outstanding officer of color with 35 years of dedicated service to the rank of four-star general, General William Kip Ward. He is the fifth black four-star general in the U.S. Army, and the second four-star, to be commissioned from Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) at a historically black college, Morgan State University. General William Kip Ward has paid his dues. Advancing through the ranks in the command positions of platoon leader,
company commander, battalion commander, brigade commander, and division commanding general. Ward has served as Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff, Seventh U.S. Army Europe. When he served in the U.S. Seventh Army in 1965 and 1972, his appointment as Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff could not have been imagined.
General William “Kip” Ward
General Ward has served in the operational theatres of Korea, Bosnia, Germany, Somali, Egypt, Middle East, Alaska and Hawaii. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice selected Ward as the U.S. Security Coordinator for the Israel-Palestinian authority. He also has served as commander of the NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina. I believe that General Ward’s promotion to four-star general is a wonderful event and a substantial statement that the U.S. military has selected a most qualified officer of color to this prestigious and responsible position. Yes, the appointment of General Ward as the Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) is a military miracle. Ward will assist in the command and direction of an important mission with great responsibilities.
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR Robert Ewell Greene, a Washington native, retired from the US Army in 1975 and holds the distinction of being the first Director of US Army Europe Race Relations School, Munich, Germany. He has taught U.S. and World History at Morgan State University, Howard University, University of Maryland European Campus, Munich, Germany and Northern Virginia Community College. Major Greene is the author of 26 published books of which 20 are in the permanent collection of the Library of Congress. FA L L
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NewsBrief
Senator Barbara Mikulski Visits Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. School of Engineering enator Barbara Mikulski visited Morgan State University on April 19, 2006 for a briefing on the progress being made by members of the Chesapeake Information-Based Aeronautics Consortium (CIBAC). The CIBAC, established with the assistance of Senator Mikulski in 2003, consists of investigators, students, and staff from Morgan State University, Bowie State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
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“America is a nation of pioneers, innovators, and discoverers. We must continue to invest in our human capital,” Senator Mikulski said. “This partnership highlights Maryland as a leader in innovation. It will help our universities target student thinking about engineering as a profession and continue to keep Maryland at the forefront of innovation.” In addition to the continuing concern for the development of the future work-
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force in aerospace-related industry and government, the objective of the consortium is to advance the informationbased aeronautics technologies. Today’s fast-paced global economy necessitates the safe and reliable movement of people and commodities over long distances in relatively short periods of time. Since its inception, the program has involved at least 25 professional investigators from the three universities, 45 enrolled students, and 8 NASA engineers and scientists. As a means of introducing local students and teachers of the Baltimore Public Schools to aerospace-related sciences, CIBAC has established an outreach component of the program. The university students, who assist in mentoring the pre-college students, span the spectrum from undergraduate to graduate disciplines and were on site to welcome Senator Mikulski to campus.
MSU Medical Technology Program Director
Diane Wilson, Ph.D., MT (ASCP)
MSU’s Medical Technology Program Meeting Tomorrow’s Demands Today Medical Technology/Clinical Laboratory Science is the sole allied health undergraduate major at Morgan State University. The accredited medical technology program is a four-year, undergraduate, professional program that offers a bachelor of science degree in Medical Technology and prepares students for career entry into clinical laboratory science professions. Medical technologists, also referred to as clinical laboratory technologists and clinical laboratory scientists, use theoretical concepts and practical skills to provide clinical information, which is essential for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases. Program Director and Associate Biology Professor, Dr. Diane Wilson, explains, “Medical technology can really be a misleading name. It makes people think of X-ray machines and other heavy equipment. I think that a better name would be clinical laboratory sciences. Clinical laboratory science professionals work as healthcare detectives, uncovering and providing information from laboratory analyses that assist physicians in patient diagnosis and treatment, as well
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By Hollis Minor as in disease monitoring or prevention.” With increasing automation and the use of computer technology, the work of technologists has become less handson and more analytical. Hence, clinical laboratory scientists must have an extensive theoretical knowledge base. They not only perform laboratory procedures that include sophisticated analyses, but they also may evaluate and interpret the results, integrate data, problem solve, consult with other members of the healthcare team, conduct research, and develop new test methods. Clinical laboratory science professionals find challenging employment in a variety of areas, including pharmaceutical and forensic labs, hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices, industrial, research, or public health laboratories. Medical Technologists are also employed in academic institutions, research facilities, technical sales and pharmaceutical companies. Morgan’s bachelor degree in Medical Technology is also a solid basis for graduate degree programs in clinical laboratory sciences as well as excellent preparation for students moving on to
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medical and dental schools or into other health-related specialties. Dr. Wilson said, “There is a huge need in this area for medical technicians. In the last 20 years, more than 50% of local programs have closed. With the growth of the number of area hospitals, as well as the region’s biotech industry, along with the fact that many other area programs have closed, we’ve had 100% placement of our graduates since 1998. Last year, at least three of our grads had two or three offers. While many of our grads get offers from Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, many of them prefer to stay here in Maryland.”
Valuable Practicum Seniors in MSU’s program rotate for 23 days at clinical sites in hospital or reference laboratories throughout the state of Maryland. They work as clinical practitioners under the supervision of trained technologists. They may be involved in activities such as autopsies, open-heart surgeries, and physicians’ rounds.
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Mission in Africa MSU Alumnus Goes Global to Find His Destiny
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lthough many African Americans dreamed of traveling to Africa in the 1970s to help their brethren with postcolonial development projects, few people were ever able to turn these dreams into realities. However, Irving C. Williams, M.D., MSU Class of 1954, not only made that initial journey four decades ago, but his work on the continent continues today through his non-profit organization, AHEAD, Adventures in Health, Education, and Agricultural Development. On his initial trip to Africa in 1974, Dr. Williams, a board certified pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine and international health, immigrated to Tanzania with his wife, Elvira, and their four young children to fill a pediatric consulting position with the Ministry of Health. After working in a country where most people never see a healthcare provider in their entire lives and after witnessing the unfathomable number of children dying from preventable illnesses like measles, malaria, diarrheal diseases and malnutrition, Dr. Williams and his wife co-founded AHEAD in 1981 as a platform for their African health initiatives. Unique in that it provides medical care to the Tanzanians while also simultaneously stressing the importance of education and agricultural development, AHEAD emphasizes these three areas together. Dr. Williams believes these are part of the reasons behind the organization’s longevity and success, explaining, “AHEAD is strong because of its philosophy, its people and its commitment to a very important cause — that of caring for those in need of assistance.” In each community, the program’s volunteers show villagers how the concepts of medicine, nutrition, and education are linked, by not only providing medical care and vaccinations but by also educating
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people about the importance of eating nutritious, wholesome foods and showing how they result in a healthy body, Dr. Williams and his team triple the impact of their mission. “In order to have good health, one must have good nutrition,” he explains. “Good nutrition requires good agriculture, and education is the agent of change for both of these.”
AHEAD workers see their efforts in this combination strategy come full circle when infants and children get off to healthier starts and have more strength to fight off infections that could otherwise prove deadly. From an early age, the idea of sharing one’s time, blessings, and talents with the less fortunate was emphasized to Dr. Williams. As the youngest of ten children growing up on a farm in Aberdeen, Maryland, he credits his father with instilling the values of service and compassion for others in him and in his siblings. Dr. Williams remembers his father saying, “In the field, always grow more than what you feel you’re going to use for yourself. Grow something for the birds and the animals to eat and grow something to give to other people.” Taking his father’s words to heart, Dr. Williams’ outreach work with the people of Tanzania puts a global perspective on this humble
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By Anne E. Baublitz wisdom. As he shares not only his medical skills but his agricultural knowledge as well, Dr. Williams teaches villagers how to better their own individual lives in addition to the lives of their family members and neighbors. In recognition of his service to the people of Africa, Dr. Williams has been honored with several prestigious awards. Last November, he received a $100,000 Cardinal Health Children’s Care award from the international children’s advocacy group World of Children. The award honors his lifetime dedication to the health and wellbeing of children and provides money to continue his outreach. As recognition for teaching Tanzanians how to use solar energy to produce pasteurized water, England’s Royal Highness Princess Anne also honored Dr. Williams in 2002 with the Ashden Trust Award, the world’s only award for renewable energy. Bearing in mind the Morgan State motto, Dr. Williams continues to create Gateways to Opportunity for thousands of appreciative Africans each year. Although Dr. Williams is proud of the changes in health and wellbeing that have been made possible through AHEAD, he remains disturbed that HIV and the AIDS virus continue to destroy much of the progress that has been made in terms of healthcare. Therefore, AHEAD has set the goal of eliminating HIV and AIDS in the 10–26 year old age group in the areas they serve by the year 2022. “There is only one vector carrying the HIV virus, and that is the human vector,” he explains. Believing that the same vector that spreads the disease can also continue working to eradicate it, Dr. Williams and AHEAD continue their outreach and service to others to create a healthier, and a more hopeful Africa for the future.
MSU Choir:
New Orleans Tour By G. Thomas Allen
G. Thomas Allen is a former member of the Morgan State University Choir. This is a first-hand written account of his experience with the choir during its tour of several southern states.
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e began our southern tour on March 20, 2006. The anxiety surrounding our visit to New Orleans started at our first location, Greenville, South Carolina. Over dinner, the students discussed where were going to stay when we got to New Orleans. We had seen the clips on television that had given us the impression that the city wasn’t in livable conditions. I imagined the city would be in disarray and extremely limited in resources. Many students stocked up on batteries, water and food in preparation for what was ahead. I was not affected by the anxiety and rumors of the other students, because I was certain that our instructor wouldn’t have accepted the engagement if he thought students could possibly be in any danger. We toured Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham, Alabama, and on March 23, 2006 we arrived in New Orleans. As we traveled through Louisiana I was amazed at how nearly seven months later, the affects of hurricane Katrina were still visible. Trees were uprooted, street signs completely removed, telephone wires lowered, and traffic lights destroyed. Eerily, it was scheduled to rain and the clouds darkened as we got closer to the inner city, and I immediately began to feel uncomfortable. The approaching storm made me want to return to our previous location, but this feeling subsided as the thunderstorm passed harmlessly. As students were taking pictures, I took
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a moment to fully view the scenery. I felt the pain and mourning that enveloped the city. Homes were ripped apart, stores and buildings were completely demolished. There wasn’t any human activity until we were closer to the inner city. People wandered the streets, searching in piles of trash, and about two businesses were open on each road. The stories we all had seen and heard in the media quickly became a reality, and I was a little skeptical about if there was anywhere that we would be able to stay. However, I was determined to look beyond the physical state and see the broader picture. There were many who were truly suffering in this place, and it became clear to me that it was truly a blessing to be given the opportunity to share the gift of music to victims of this disaster. I knew our concert would be a historical moment and I was proud to share in the moment. We toured almost every area where vehicle access was permitted, and the most memorable location was the ninth ward. This was one of the locations where the levees broke and led to the flooding of the city. We had the opportunity to explore this location and talk to several people who were looking for anything that was left of their homes. One individual said his home had been swept away in the waters and was eight blocks from its original location. It was extremely sad to witness the effects of the storm throughout the area. Rings around the houses showed where the water stopped, with some up to the roof. We noticed holes at the top of most houses, and the tour guide indicated that forcing holes through
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the roof were the only method of escape for most residents. He estimated about 1300 people were killed, not including those who were undiscovered. Fortunately, the entire city wasn’t destroyed and a functioning society remains in uptown New Orleans. This location did not seem touched by the hurricane, and the appearance of this area suggested wealth and affluence. African Americans were few in number here, and it was a large contrast to what we had seen in other parts of the city. We stayed in the Courtyard Marriot, which was adjacent to the Convention Center that held many displaced victims. The concert was held at the Christ Church Cathedral, and was televised locally through Cox Communication. Dr. Eric Conway, the conductor of the Morgan State Choir, prepared a concert comprised of various inspirational compositions such as ‘Healing,’ ‘If I Can Help Somebody,’ and ‘Hold On.’ Our goal was to bring comfort through the power of music. The Dr. Eric Conway crowd was filled with love, strength, and hope. I was truly grateful to be a part of a concert that touched the lives of so many. I closed the program with a favorite piece of the late Dr. Nathan Cater, ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness,’ and the words of this song stayed with me as we traveled back to Baltimore, Maryland.
Feed a Hungry Mind.
McDonald’s Supports Morgan State University
Baltimore, Maryland Locations: n n n n n n
Northwood Plaza North Avenue Harford Rd. Pulaski Hwy. Golden Ring Kenwood Avenue
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Alumni Calendar of Events Fall 2006 Oct. 20 Alumni Homecoming Business Meeting Murphy Fine Arts Center, Recital Hall, 12:00 Noon. Oct. 20 Varsity “M”Annual General Body Meeting, Jenkins Building, Morgan’s Campus, 6:00 p.m.. Gala XXII - Martin’s West, 6817 Dogwood Oct. 20 Road, Baltimore, MD Tickets - VIP Reception - $175 (7:30-8:30 p.m.); Gala $125 (8:30 p.m. -12:30 a.m.) – Contact: Mary Clay - 443-885-3080. Oct. 21 Homecoming Parade - Begins at Chinquapin Parkway and the Alameda 9:00 a.m.. Oct. 21 Homecoming Game - MSU Bears vs Delaware State University Hornets - Hughes Stadium - 1:00 p.m.. Oct. 22 Memorial Service for Deceased Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Students - Morgan Christian Center – 11:00 a.m.. Repast - Alumni House following the Service. Howard County Alumni Chapter Annual Nov. 5 Scholarship Dinner Show, featuring “Kiss Me Kate.” – Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Columbia, MD – 5:00 p.m. - $45.00. Contact: Walter Carr 410-997-0831; Alma McMillan 410-730-9442 or Clarence Jeffers 410-4657253. Nov. 18 MSU National Alumni Association Board Meeting, Alumni House – 12:00 Noon. Nov. 19 D.C. Metropolitan Area Chapter will host MSU University Choir in Concert, Metropolitan Baptist Church, 1225 R St., N.W., Wash., D.C., 5:00 p.m., $25.00.
Morgan State University Choir — Concert Schedule October 8 Concert at Colonial Baptist Church, 9411 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD 21133, 4:00 p.m. October 13 Concert for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 150 E. 2nd Street. Burlington, NJ 08016, 7:30 p.m. Concert with Baltimore Choral Arts Society Oct. 29 performing "Let My people Go!" A Spritual Journey Along the Underground Railroad, Murphy Fine Arts Center , 4:00 p.m. Nov. 3 Concert at St. Matthew United Methodist Church, Dundalk/Turner Station MD, 7:30 p.m.
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SavetheDate
Murphy Fine Arts Center Fall 2006 Oct. 8 49th Annual Ebony Fashion Fair, 4:00 p.m., presented by the Baltimore Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Oct. 14 Nu Era presented by “Kiddie C.A.T.S.” Performing Arts Series for Children, 6:00 p.m., Opening night red carpet, (ages 3-12) and their families. 1966 World Champion Orioles Reunion, 6:00 p.m., featuring Oct. 19 living legends of the 1966 World Championship team. Oct. 27 Sneakin’ Out…At the Royal, 8:00 p.m., Written and directed by Cherri Cunningham Cragway. This benefit performance supports the Dr. Mildred S. McKinney Scholarship Fund. Oct 29 Let My People Go! A Spiritual Journey Along the Underground Railroad, 4:00 p.m. Presented by Baltimore Choral Arts Full Chorus, the MSU Choir, and the City College High School Choir. Nov 4, 8:00 p.m., Nov. 5, 3:00 p.m., Step Afrika, by “Kiddie C.A.T.S.” Performing Arts Series for Children & Lewis Museum of Art in partnership with Balt. Free Fall, Nov. 11 An Evening with Bill Cosby, 8:00 p.m., for support of the S.T.E.M. Scholarship Fund. The 30th Annual Dorothy P. Stanley Dance Festival, Times Nov. 14 vary. The annual dance festival, hosted by Dr. Iantha Tucker and the MSU Modern Dance Ensemble. Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 2, 3, 8, & 9. Black Nativity – 2006 Theatre Morgan presents its 4th year of this Gospel celebration of Christmas Joy! Dec. 2 “The Magnificent Marching Machine” - The MSU Marching Band Show, 4:00 p.m., MSU Marching Band, led by Melvin Miles steps. Dec. 10 MSU Choir Annual Christmas Concert Sun., ; 4:00 p.m., Dr. Eric Conway, Director conducts the world-renown choral ensemble in their annual Christmas concert. Dec. 14 The Miss BIO 2006 Pageant, 6:00 p.m., The 2006 presentation of the Miss Beautiful Inside and Out Rights of Passage Pageantry organization.
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Concert celebrating the Bicentennial Re-opening of the Basilica of the Assumption, Baltimore, MD. 6:00 p.m. Concert for Bethel AME Church, at Moorestown High School, 350 Bridgeboro Road, Moorestown, NJ 08057, 7:00 p.m. New Shiloh Baptist Church, 2100 North Monroe Street, Baltimore MD 21217, 6:00 p.m. Metropolitan Baptist Church, 1225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, 5:00 p.m. Annual Christmas Concert, Murphy Fine Arts Center Open to public - tickets: $25, $20, $10 through ticketmaster! 4:00 p.m. Christmas Concert at Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, 50 North George Street, York PA 17401, 8:00 p.m.
Nov. 10 Nov. 12 Nov. 19 Dec. 10 Dec. 13
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