Rust College Campus News Brief February 14, 2014

Page 8

Rust College “Where Tomorrow’s Leaders are Students Today”

Where Tomorrow’s Leaders are Students Today

Campus NewsBriefs

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY… Emergency notifications for students, faculty and staff will be handled by mass email, Channel 19, WURC 88.1 FM, RC-TV 2, and campus loud speakers. If you would like to receive emergency notifications by text message, please submit your cell phone number to Mr. Carllos Lassiter, Dean of Students. The numbers will be used for emergencies ONLY and will not be distributed.

Emergency Numbers: Security office: 662-252-8090 Security guard on patrol: 662-216-3429

Rust College Staff Shirts for Sale $10.00 Visit the Bookstore to see everything now available!

After Hours Assistance Available Computer technical assistance can be received after 5:00 p.m. in the Leontyne Price Library during library hours by contacting Abdoul Yessoufou at ext. 4102.

Library Hours: Monday—Thursday: 7:45 a.m.-12:00 a.m.

Friday: 7:45 a.m.—6:00 p.m.

Rust College Loan Disbursement & Refund Policy Loan disbursement and refunds will be issued after authorized charges have been deducted (tuition, room & board, etc). All students must be enrolled with at least six (6) hours each module at the time refunds are disbursed.

Loan Disbursements For students who have less than “30” hours, loans will be disbursed to the college in two equal payments each semester on the following dates: 2014 Spring Semester Returning Students 1st Payment 2nd Payment

January 16, 2014 February 07, 2014

First Time Students (Students not enrolled during the fall semester) 1st Payment February 7, 2014 2nd Payment March 17, 2014

Dr. David L. Beckley, ‘67, President

If the student account shows a credit balance after payments have been applied to the student’s college expenses (tuition, room and board, etc,) a refund check will then be issued to the student no later than 14 days after the credit balance has been noted.

ATTENTION SENIORS! CAP & GOWN PHOTOS!!!

Senior Graduation pictures will be taken: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 8:00am-4:00pm WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 9:00am-3:00pm Any other student, faculty or staff member who has not yet taken a yearbook photo may do so at this time.

WIFF HALL LOBBY For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations: 662-252-8000 ext. 4917

Dr. Ishmell H. Edwards, ’71, Vice President for College Relations

Ms. Adrienne F. Phillips, Public Relations Specialist

A Weekly Update of Activities at Rust College Vol. 43, No. 16

Holly Springs/Marshall County UNCF Hosts Successful Event The 23rd Annual Frances A. Hathorne UNCF Banquet was held Thursday, February 6 on the campus of Rust College. The Holly Springs/Marshall County UNCF Committee welcomed Dr. Stacy L. Spencer, senior pastor of New Direction Christian Church.

Dr. Spencer recently launched a new church in Holly Springs.

Greetings were brought forth by Dr. David L. Beckley, president of Rust College; Attorney William “Bill” Schneller, UNCF committee member, and Mayor Kelvin O. Buck.

“This is such an honorable occasion,” said Mayor Buck. “Certainly on behalf of the City of Holly Springs, we know that our community is a better place, we have a better quality of life because of some of the people who have gone through the doors of a Rust College, and the many ‘Rust Colleges’ all around this country. When you invest in the young minds and young people that are part of institutions like Rust College, you are investing in people who are really making a difference in our country and making our country a better place for all.”

Dr. David L. Beckley presents a token of appreciation to keynote speaker Dr. Stacy L. Spencer.

A message was also given by Miss Nicole Matthews, who will represent Rust College as Miss UNCF Rust College throughout the year and at the National UNCF Leadership Conference.

“I was convinced to compete for the title of Miss UNCF Rust College when I realized in order to receive, you must be willing to give. What better way to support the United Negro College Fund and help financially strapped students, like myself, around the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. members world.” As Miss UNCF Rust College, Nicole has raised money contribute to the eduTenisia Russell and Janel Cowan with Dr. Beckley. cation of other students who need financial support. “I was honored and blessed to have received this scholarship, but I am most proud of the fact that I have become a blessing to someone else,” Nicole said.

Dr. Stacy L. Spencer delivered a rousing message, encouraging growth and change.

“Holly Springs is a city with a rich history dating back to the Civil War and the days of cotton fields. It has a rich history of overcoming segregation, racism, and discrimination. You’ve had great leaders come through this city like Mayor DeBerry and now, Mayor Buck. This city is poised for greatness and that requires that more great minds be liberated from the effects of plantation legacy,” said Dr. Spencer.

UNCF continued on page 2

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. member Mary Kincaide-Bibbs with Dr. Beckley.

Page 2

...YE SHALL KNOW THEM”

“BY THEIR FRUITS…

UNCF continued

Know Your Status: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

“There are generations of people who have not been exposed to the possibility of something beyond struggle and survival.

There are young people who don’t realize that they have the ability to break cycles of poverty because their minds have been chained and not changed. A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but if we are going to free people, we must take the chains of the mind. I am glad institutions like Rust College recognized that if we are going to liberate our young people, it is by training them to be leaders of tomorrow by making them leaders today. As one of our great civil rights leaders said, education is the passport to tomorrow, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. Education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century.”

Dr. David L. Beckley presented a special gift of appreciation to Dr. Spencer, and also to local fraternities and sororities who have given to UNCF continuously over a number of years: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. A raffle drawing was held and Paula Conley was the recipient of $1,000.00.

The Holly Springs/Marshall County UNCF committee, along with the Golden Triangle and Tupelo/Lee County UNCF committees, represent the north Mississippi region and are working toward a goal of $60,000.

Several students took advantage of the free HIV testing held on campus Friday, February 7.

February 7th was National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Representatives from Planned Parenthood of the Greater Memphis Region and the Memphis Ryan White Program were on hand to speak to students and discuss options for safe sex and healthy living.

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is a federal program that provides HIV-related health care services through grants to cities, states and community organizations. The Ryan White Program is a “payer of last resort” for people who are uninsured or underinsured and is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau. In the Memphis area, the program is administered by the Shelby County Government Division of Community Services.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly half of all new HIV infections in the United States in 2010 were found in African Americans (44%). While African Americans do not engage in more risky behaviors than other races/ethnicities, factors other than behavior can lead to more HIV in their communities.

The Hard Truth •

A higher percentage of blacks are living with HIV compared to other races/ethnicities.

This coupled with blacks tending to have sex with partners of their same race/ethnicity increases the risk of HIV infection with each new sexual encounter.

•

Rates of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are higher in black communities.

Having another STI can increase the chance of getting or spreading HIV.

• • Volunteers and members of the Rust College Pre-Alumni Council with advisors Margie Green and Jo Ann Scott.

Dr. Beckley teases Dr. Nellie Smith after she accepted the $1,000 raffle winnings for her daughter Paula Conley.

Miss Rust College Andrea D. Cooper and Miss Rust College UNCF Nicole Matthews.

African Americans who are aware that they have HIV are not getting the medical care they need. Data from 19 U.S. areas show that only 1 in 3 blacks with a diagnosis of HIV are getting medical care and have viral suppression. Viral suppression means the level of virus in your blood is low enough to help you stay healthy and greatly decrease the chance of spreading the virus to others.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. members Jo Ann Scott and Angela Mayfield with Dr. Beckley.

Get educated: Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) HIV Basics page for common questions and answers on HIV prevention, transmission, and testing.

Get tested: CDC recommends that health care providers test all patients between the ages of 13 and 64 at least once as part of routine health care. Some groups should be tested at least once a year. Remember, the results of a negative HIV test expire every time you have sex without a condom or share injection drug equipment. To find a testing site near you, call 1800-CDC-INFO (232-4636), visit the National HIV and STD Testing Resources page, or text your ZIP code to KNOW IT (566948). You can also use one of the two FDAapproved home testing kits available in drugstores or online.

Get involved. Raise awareness and fight stigma by sharing your The poverty level in some black communities is higher than the national average, which story, volunteering in your comcan translate to less access to health care. munity, or caring for someone who is living with HIV. Learn more In 2010, 1 in 6 (17%) blacks who were living with HIV did not know it, and 1 in 4 (23%) through the Let's Stop HIV Towere diagnosed in the last stage of the disease, missing the chance to get early medical care gether campaign and the Act and prevent spreading the virus to others.

Against AIDS Leadership Initiative.

Get treated. If you are HIVpositive, start treatment as soon as possible with antiretroviral therapy (ART), and stay on treatment.

ART can lower the level of virus in your body enough to improve your health and greatly decrease your chance of spreading HIV to your partners. See CDC's Living With HIV page.

Students received free HIV testing and counseling during National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Friday, February 7th.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. members Mayor Kelvin O. Buck, ‘97 and Rev. James Green, MIC ‘73 with Dr. Beckley.

WHAT CAN YOU DO??

Source: CDC.gov NationalBlackAidsDay.org