An op-ed by Kori Wiggins According to a study conducted by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the six-year graduation rates of 20 historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs) were 20 percent or lower in 2015. Although a handful of HBCUs have more than 50 percent of their new freshmen graduating within six years, the percentages of the … Continue reading
Category Archives: Education
YouTube produces HIV/AIDS awareness video for NSU iBook Project
Norfolk State faculty members in diverse disciplines received a $48,000 grant from the National Library of Medicine to engage in community outreach to decrease the spread of the HIV. Project CHOICE: Information Access is designed to provide accurate information regarding HIV/AIDS using innovative educational technology to develop an iBook and EPUB (a digital book for Android devices). … Continue reading
Can activities on campus be the cause of stress?
An editorial by Cherna Frederick-Brown Here at Norfolk State University, we have many activities that take place on campus, such as fraternities, sororities, marching band, ROTC, and many more. Having activities on campus is amazing because it gives students the chance to be able to express themselves, and show off their skills, and even be given … Continue reading
Zoo has a new lion cub
NORFOLK, VA: The Virginia Zoo is thrilled to announce its latest birth of a lion cub. The male cub was born on October 28 to experienced mom Zola and dad Mramba. The cub weighed just three pounds five ounces at birth and has been a pure joy to all his Keepers. “The birth of any … Continue reading
NATO prepares “for tomorrow” in Norfolk
by Imajae Johnson The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is holding their annual Chiefs of Transformation Conference (COTC) in Norfolk, Virginia Tuesday December 12, 2017 through Thursday December 14, 2017. NATO is made up of twenty-nine countries and promotes the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. Norfolk … Continue reading
Warner, Wyden, Rubio introduce legislation to empower students as consumers and showcase new privacy-protecting technology
~ Updated legislation allows students and families to make informed decisions about how to spend their higher education dollars while protecting student privacy ~ WASHINGTON – With the cost of college at an all-time high, U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced updated legislation on Thursday, Nov. 29, to provide critical information to help … Continue reading
Michigan Rep. Conyers acknowledges sex harassment settlement
DETROIT (AP) — Longtime Michigan Rep. John Conyers acknowledged Tuesday that his office settled a harassment complaint involving a former staffer but said he “vehemently” denies the allegations against him. His office “resolved the allegations” … “for an amount that equated to a reasonable severance payment,” the 88-year-old Detroit Democrat said in a statement. House … Continue reading
Lawyer: Ex-student charged in body fluids case isn’t racist
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The lawyer for a former Connecticut college student accused of smearing body fluids on her roommate’s belongings said Tuesday that he doesn’t expect authorities to file hate crime charges. Attorney Tom Stevens’ comments came after former University of Hartford student Brianna Brochu appeared before a state judge in Hartford. The … Continue reading
10 African Americans named Rhodes scholars, most ever
The latest group of U.S. Rhodes scholars includes 10 African Americans — the most ever in a single Rhodes class — as well as a transgender man and four students from colleges that had never had received the honor before. The Rhodes Trust on Sunday announced the 32 men and women chosen for post-graduate studies … Continue reading
Winter graduation and the job search
by Kaitlyn Wolodkewitsch Winter graduation is an option for students wishing to graduate early or those who were a semester behind. Graduating in the winter allows students to take a semester off before starting graduate school or they can begin to start looking for a job at a time when there are fewer people in the … Continue reading
Big House victory for GOP tax plan, but Senate fate unclear
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans rammed a $1.5 trillion overhaul of Americans’ business and personal income taxes through the U.S. House Thursday, edging the nation toward its biggest rewrite in three decades and President Donald Trump and the GOP toward their first major legislative triumph after 10 bumpy months of controlling government. However, the mostly party-line … Continue reading
Four things people get wrong about introverts
by Raeza Hoover Ever have that moment when you don’t want to be bothered? Nothing’s particularly wrong, just the thought of being alone sounds amazing. It’s ok, it happens to everyone. It’s human nature to want privacy and alone time, then resume back to your regularly scheduled life. The thing is…there are people that thrive … Continue reading
BOV names Vice Rector Stith interim president (video included)
The Norfolk State University Board of Visitors Friday, November 10, appointed Vice Rector Dr. Melvin T. Stith to serve as the university’s interim president while the Board delineates a plan to conduct a national search for a new president. Stith, 71, is a 1968 NSU alumnus and a longtime supporter of the university. He was … Continue reading
Brown Hall lives on, BOV names new building
The Norfolk State University Board of Visitors issued a resolution to officially name the University’s newest building G.W.C. Brown Memorial Hall in honor of one of the University’s founders. The board took the action at its November 10 meeting. The original G.W.C. Brown Memorial Hall, formerly known as Tidewater Hall, was demolished to make way … Continue reading
Study: Most student loan fraud claims involve for-profits
WASHINGTON (AP) — Students who attended for-profit colleges filed more than 98 percent of the requests for student loan forgiveness alleging fraud by their schools, according to an analysis of Education Department data published Thursday. The study by The Century Foundation represents the most thorough analysis to date of the nearly 100,000 loan forgiveness claims known as … Continue reading
UK Cabinet minister quits over unauthorized Israel meetings
LONDON (AP) — In a new blow to Britain’s beleaguered government, the U.K. international development secretary quit Wednesday over unauthorized meetings with Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Priti Patel resigned after being ordered back from a trip to east Africa and summoned to 10 Downing St. by Prime Minister Theresa May. If she … Continue reading
Virginia Zoo welcomes new male rhino
The Virginia Zoo is excited to welcome a male rhino. The 11-year-old male, Sibindi, arrived at the Zoo this weekend from White Oak Conservation Center in Florida and will take residence in the Africa – Okavango Delta with Bora and Zina. “We’re so pleased to have our rhino herd complete,” said Greg Bockheim, Executive Director … Continue reading
Sorrow, heartache, hope: Eyes of homeless offer hint of life
LOS ANGELES (AP) — It’s easy to walk past the homeless, to disregard the guy lying on the street or ignore the woman standing at an intersection holding a handwritten sign with a plea for help. It’s harder to look away when you’ve seen their eyes. Look past lines drawn by hard living or the … Continue reading
Police nationwide work on tactics for far-right rallies
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Snipers perched on rooftops. Police helicopters and drones hovered overhead. Officers in riot gear lined the streets. White nationalists and counterprotesters screamed at each other from fenced-off pens, but the tactics employed by law enforcement at the “White Lives Matter” rally last month in Tennessee might have prevented the kind of … Continue reading
Inside story: How Russians hacked the Democrats’ emails
WASHINGTON (AP) — It was just before noon in Moscow on March 10, 2016, when the first volley of malicious messages hit the Hillary Clinton campaign. The first 29 phishing emails were almost all misfires. Addressed to people who worked for Clinton during her first presidential run, the messages bounced back untouched. Except one. Within … Continue reading
4 essential tips for getting through transferring colleges
by Taylor Fuqua When deciding to go to college, the choices for prospective schools seem endless. When the reality of picking the perfect college to attend sets in, most may feel overwhelmed when making their choice. It’s important to keep in mind that not everyone makes the best choice for them the first time, and … Continue reading
Gov. McAuliffe announces recipients of the Inaugural Governor’s Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Education
~ Virginia recognizes outstanding individuals, schools, programs, and partnerships ~ RICHMOND – Governor McAuliffe announced Friday, Oct. 27, the first recipients of the Governor’s Award for Excellence and Innovation in Education. This new initiative recognizes outstanding educators and leaders, schools, divisions, and community partners across five categories: closing the achievement gap, community partnerships and collaboration, innovation in education, … Continue reading
JFK files: Thousands released but Trump holds back others
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump blocked the release of hundreds of records on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, bending to CIA and FBI appeals, while the National Archives came out Thursday night with a hefty cache of others. “I have no choice,” Trump said in a memo, citing “potentially irreversible harm” to … Continue reading
NSU gets private tour of Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise
by Kaitlyn M. Wolodkewitsch On Friday, Oct. 20, crew members from the Greenpeace Ship Arctic Sunrise gave a group of Norfolk State University students and faculty a private tour of the ship explaining their mission and their goals, as well as showing what everyday life is like on the Arctic Sunrise. Greenpeace ships travel the world peacefully … Continue reading
Apply now for spring staff positions!
Attention all writers, photographers, and graphic designers…we need you! The Spartan Echo is accepting applications now for all editor positions. Student editors will serve during the spring 2018 semester and may receive a performance grant for their service. Amounts vary by position and funding availability. And be forewarned: work will be necessary during the winter break to adhere … Continue reading