 I just have to dark welcome back to unfiltered and uncensored talk with young alumni from historically black colleges and universities back from our summer hiatus of sorts in time for the Fall 2019 semester. Glad to be back with the family Lime brother Katie Laurel by way of A&T Ours the Morganite Taylor the Hamptonian and in tip for who for the first time in several months is not about to be kicked off the show I think everybody who's on tonight was at the HBCU Awards, so I think it's proper to to kick off our welcome back edition Even though we're a few months a few weeks out talking about impressions and surprises or big takeaways from the award ceremony, which was in Baltimore on August 2nd. So And I think Winston get him in the school just joined us as well. So full house tonight Tiff you were there in a work capacity would it what were your impressions about the awards? Wow, I was there actually no work capacity it was When comparing last year to this year Like I told you privately am I like the optics of it better I mean there were a lot of people that attended last year But we were in a bigger space and so like one if you were looking at pictures you might think oh people don't really attend It's but no that's not it at all But this year the space was still big, but I know for a fact we sold out into It just looked fuller. So that is I Would say a double win it worked out well that the space was I guess cozier and This year unlike last year, we didn't have inclement weather that was canceling flights And there was whole people that didn't were calling me the day of the awards. I can't make it. I'm stuck at the airport So thank God we didn't have that Lo you drove up from DC She took that train you're actually I took the mark you took the mark trace. So you didn't drive up You are a regular hater of mine So I'm definitely In your feedback on the awards because I know that's gonna be the most honest feedback I did like the space having it in the original at Lewis Museum and Whoever cooked the green beans Shout out to him So I also want to thank you for making an intentional Disregardable making it intentional to support black business. Yeah, I Didn't like it starting at seven. We were on time. I feel like that was an objective to be on time Okay, but we dealing with black people People were literally standing around talking and all of a sudden you hear on the microphone. Everybody sit down We're about to be started coming from work. So, you know, same same So you would have preferred you would have preferred a flexible start time Like eight o'clock. Oh, it's okay Eight ish even though we had to be out of there by 11 because that's us again They threw us well then for next year in planning you pick a venue that gives you more time Then you might not be in a black museum It doesn't have to be in a black you just said you liked it that way I Said I like that, but it doesn't have to be the same venue. So Katie, what did you think about it? You you were you're the closest to the planning process Yeah, back backstage stuff. So what did you see from the behind-the-scenes thing up to show time? All right, first thing Before I even give my opinion on that let me just be a give a big shout-out to your wife who Really just did a wonderful job pulling helping pull it together. Yep, and no constraint in the team She was amazing in the background Right right right and she was on it It came together a little better than I thought it was because we were very nervous about you know Getting all the awards out in the start time Getting everybody seated the one thing I think to their point about starting at seven is that Folk really came at seven o'clock like they came at seven You had some people to come like 645 ish But most of the people became in between seven and seven fifteen That was just amazed at how many people really pulled up as the show was supposed to stop I Think the impression was it's gonna start late the HPC Awards has historically started late. Yeah, that was a trend We fortunately broke this year much to the screen of Taylor and Laurel And that was largely because you you rallied the troops this time for real Yeah, you had a lot more hands in and the pot this time I have to say a lot of people said you get out of the way and this will go well and that's exactly How it happens if I get out of the way things go well if I'm in the way then it flops It's about it's not even that it flops You got to trust you you finally decided to trust your you got to trust your teammates. Yeah, trust your teammates I mean, it looked beautiful to me all them black people celebrating black things in the same space, you know That's like a space. I thought I'd never be in in my life. So thank you for you know Let me be a part of it for real for absolutely or is and and Winston in a minute school So I don't know geographic came to furthest. I'm a the assumption is Houston So or is if you came to furthest geographically, what was your impression? Was it worth was it worth the trip? Even though it's coming home. Was it worth the trip? Most definitely I enjoyed myself Again, I'm new to to the space in terms of the awards, but also Being around a lot of people in the academic space Definitely anybody, you know here because a lot of you guys are associated with the awards a bit more or with At higher ed a bit more. So it was interesting to see I attended a lot of Galas a lot of awards more on the corporate side Which again have very different atmospheres. So it was it was devil enjoyable experience I think that you know, the only thing for me is just It was very how can I put this I didn't realize how deep some of the universities were coming Yeah, and so I think a lot of awards show a lot of awards or galas. I go to calls for a bit more Mixing this between between constituencies, but it was clear like Certain universities had had deep deep deep amounts of people there and large amounts of tables and that That created an environment where again someone like me was an outsider You know was just kind of looking around like I don't know who these people are and they were university presidents and so forth and so on But I can't recognize those people. So I think people who in the space If you still pay a loving environment for him, which I mean again is your key demographic and and Shows why you sold out this year. This was the first time Well, first of all to sell out It's the second time I think in the history of it that we've sold out But this is the first time that we've not sold general tickets at all In that the school was frustrating for some people It very very much was and to Laurel's point and it's an excellent one This is why you got to get bigger because part of it being in the in the residence of Lewis Museum You had a cap on how many people could be there And so if you have three schools saying I want five tables apiece. You're you're more than 50% There and that I did get cussed out a couple times via email and phone What do you mean? You don't have any tickets So it was it was rough like people's family members couldn't get in like in that It was a gift in a curse. So that's something, you know, definitely to Laurel's point that we we got to figure out Like how to do that because I do think while it was it was great to sell out and be like, I don't have any more It was not a good look for some people who really do support the Dodgers in their wars and say well I can't get in I can't even stand around So that was tough Winston Midnight golf with an amazing showing at the awards What were your impressions of the of the ceremony and the opportunity to network with a lot of the different schools over there? Yeah, so or is this point it was just it was really nice to be in the room I thought it was, you know, very well put together from, you know, the more of an outsider perspective of your point You know, like it has already been mentioned that things were on time and you know Folks were there and seemingly good spirits and all those things. So it was it was great I think we were all everybody from then I got was impressed With the event and and being in and to your point as well being able to to network and being a couple a few presidents Why we were there and and those relationships and then we took an ad out in the In the pamphlet as well and pretty much everybody I talked to that I wasn't sure I'm like, oh, did they really see it and and literally seem like everybody I talked to that saw If so for us as far as the viewpoint and being in the space and being seen by those it was I thought extremely beneficial And then the other thing my my small takeaway was like I like and I think you've tweeted about it the day or two after like This should be like everybody should want to be there Like the regular museum should have been like lined out It should have been like Everybody from every school should want to have an opportunity to be able to express and share and celebrate The community in that space everybody should be clamoring all 101 or two ever we had should be clamoring to be in that space You know because who else is going to put forth that recognition in a space like that with all those beautiful black people like It's I was slightly disappointed just from that aspect as I would hope that there would be so many more people into your point And maybe there was others who weren't able to come and wanted to come but I just hope that it continues to be like a thing where it's got to be bigger because there's no choice because everybody wants to be there And everybody wants two or three tables You know to be a part of it I think it's getting there and this is one of the first times we've had people from schools that Were not nominated they just kind of showed up To be a part of it because they wanted to see what you know What other schools are reacting to and I got a couple calls in the last week or so where they said Oh, we'll definitely participate next year because now we know what we missed by not participating So they want to be not just a part of the media stuff that you get from winning or being nominated But to see so many schools represented there And so many you know delegations of people that want to come to it and the sisters that are that on the call This is I think for the most part. This is your second year being there, right? It's my second year Laurel wasn't there Okay, so Tiffin Okay, so Taylor you're the protocol chair The dark crew so you didn't I didn't catch you looking over your glasses So what did you for your impressions? I really enjoyed it and she I think one thing and I talk about a lot that I really was hoping for I got was the lighting You know compared to last year like I'm very big on lighting I'm very big on you know black folks and our skin popping in all ways. And so you gave me lighting You gave me that you gave me all the glory and so I was really happy about that But I think another thing that I saw that was different that I appreciated this year that it seemed to be a lot more students there And that makes me really happy Laurel not talk about it a lot like ways How can we bring in young folks into the HBCU Dodgers space and like also help them understand? Like you don't have to become an alum like of course you gonna graduate once you graduate But like you can participate in this like in this experience I think it's amazing that it was so many students who were in College and like they were able to be at this gala that they were able to be around like like excellence and like Also sit at a table with you know, whether it's their provost whether it's their president whether it's the VP of student affairs So it allowed them to be in a space where they weren't afraid Of an authority they weren't talking to somebody to get some fix for financial aid like we literally were celebrating with each other And so that's something I really want to continue I would love to be able to you know Fund you know a student to come to the digest awards, you know, that's something that I want to do From my own institution from my brother's school, you know, be able to spring folks I would have to have a special guest even a student who I think is worthy to come that might not be nominated for anything But also to be a part of that space. So those are things I want to bring into the HBCU awards I'm moving forward. I think you know the one thing that's that's interesting with the awards. It can be Everybody who's nominated has done really really good work, right? So then you it's not even Quantitative measures of who did more or who did less but then it's it's qualitative like so what difference did it make in it? How well was it covered? And how much you know resonance did that cause for an institution? So that's almost the way that people have tended to look at it I can tell you one of the big takeaways or the thing that I got the most calls about was um Female president of the year Really? Yeah, because I wasn't I wasn't gonna say anything but I was you know, this is at the dark, babe People I mean, I think I think we all know You know with all love and respect to she's an amazing woman But when I was said there definitely was some heads that turned and look some different directions Yeah, and I think that when you when you think about the academy What they're talking about is okay. Well, who generated the most Valuable coverage or awareness of HBCU this year with their work, right? And this is a really tough one because You know, obviously Tennessee State had the sex issue But then that Dr. Glover was also at the center of that major major major fundraising initiative That didn't just benefit TSU but benefited dozens of HBCU So I think that you know the academy You know and that's something we to be honest We went back and forth about you know, should should she be in that category a female president here Should it be female alumna of the year? And ultimately I think that the people Rested on okay. She is a president She was aware of the issues that face not only her institution But all institutions and this is something that through her work without the cap alpha She did to benefit the HBCU sector at large and so you recognize the work of a president doing that Not just for her school before other school. I appreciate each and every one of y'all being there. Um Really really really um every year dream come true So thank you all so much and thank you to everyone listening who supported it this year So we're going to take our first quick break when we come back. We're going to get back into the dialogue and the shade To talk about the future of uh chain university in Pennsylvania Dodgers after dark will be right back Dodgers after dark and we're back. Um shading some of the trustees who wore matching blazers at the HBCU awards And now we're we're going to switch to something a little more serious The future of uh chainy university so uh the headline from this week is chainy balances this budget, which was a critical um Standard that they had to meet in the goal of of keeping their accreditation with middle states um They also had a fundraiser that raised about 4.4 million dollars about 2.5 of that came from a state grant Which if you take that away gives you know the school's efforts about 1.9 million Um big headlines because people saying okay. Well chainy, you know, maybe in good good condition um The thing you have to watch for Is that this isn't this isn't new for chainy. Um, the state has always stepped in and given chainy loans and grants Things to make payroll things to keep operations up So in my mind and i'm eager to hear from you guys to see if you differ I don't think that doing The same thing for chainy is going to help chain. You almost have to do something dramatic Um helping them balance their budget helping them make payroll That that's not that's not dramatic. I mean and and and when your months removed from Bennett college with one of the the biggest Fundraisers in HBCU history and that wasn't enough What what do you think this is going to do? Like did we not take a lesson away or Obviously, they did not we did not So what what do you guys make of chainy at this point because here's the thing I don't even know if y'all realized it when Bennett was doing their thing A lot of the students and faculty and alumni from chainy was saying hey, don't forget about us. We need the same help That's true, too. They were and they didn't did they get any help? I And if they if they didn't why not I mean were they hitting the so-called digital streets in the same way that Bennett was Not in the same way. They did not have a celebrity kind of shepherd for it Um, yeah, they didn't have I mean they were trying to get hashtags going Well, when you say try, I mean a lot of that is defined by how successful you are All right, um, so I don't know if it was for a lack of trying I think it's just it's just chainy at this point people look at the name chainy and say What they're still open Is it like that because chainy isn't more as brown now No tea no shade all tea all shade no, it's gonna have They're still they're still an accredited four-year degree granting institution. It could also Be the location of chainy Like the difference between chainy and Bennett is Bennett isn't attractive north Carolina Not saying that pennsylvania where chainy is located isn't necessarily attractive But I was going to say don't hang on pennsylvania bust around just send his son to lincoln Yeah, but I Ended around Where we're chainy that family was with the chainy, but still do like that As attractive as going to Bennett and being around a and t Or any number of other hbc use that are close enough What do you say about your school though when the biggest draw to it is that it's near another school? But that's not that's not I mean it's but you can say it's a little bit more involved than that though What do you mean? So when you say it's more involved is it's in a more rural area and so like okay, it does have some Proximity to Philly, but it's not in Philly, right and they don't have you know Chainy size wise a little bit bigger than Bennett and then at least with Bennett I mean now this may be a reach, but I'm gonna go there I would say the same thing that with Bennett and how they were able to raise all that money in a short amount of time You can equate that to the power of black women in terms of increasing votership. Oh, absolutely I don't think there's a reach at all I was I was gonna say that too like black women hold the keys to any political movement in this country And so if they're not leading the charge nonsense out of ten of the your movement ain't going away That's probably what chainy is suffering from they have a lack of Good leadership that could you know get the message out there and be forceful about it because like when it was going down with Bennett, you know, that was all across everybody's news feed It made like like the common area news fees and CNN and MSNBC places like that So like for for chainy not to have made that leap Somebody in leadership dropped the bar. You got to ask for that alumni You know, that's who normally takes the charge when these things happens. It's the alumni You see what happened with conference at university You'd be decided to get fancy and try to pose a fake merger and now alumni jump right on them Because we've been here before we know how to fight this battle. So, you know, I think that I think that's a point though I mean because and we talked about it on the podcast like there was something to be said about The overarching idea a school for black women is facing closure That's something that's something everybody could get behind All right Chaney for a long Say that one more time I said it hit the political it hit the very You know, we talk about black women so much especially in you know Education entrepreneurship and we talk about the growth and development It literally hit the the political that is that is that is in the forefront right now And especially at a time like this Like that was that was perfect. That was that was a perfect Storm to The mainstream coverage of you know, black women being attacked by trump and black women under attack by black men And black women under attack from all different directions. So it was perfect to say hey, y'all want to do this differently Save a school. That's what sisters I also want to point out that the one thing that Bennett and Chaney having comment is that Yeah, they have this money or the story is being told one way But they're still not out of the woods because they haven't proved that they can sustain themselves They've gotten outside help. That's not always going to be Extended to them and I would I'm kind of A little bit more worried about Chaney because The way that the state of Pennsylvania has been giving to them Makes me think of payday loans And how that is a terrible cycle That one can easily get into which clearly they are deep into I don't remember seeing or reading anything about Bennett being is something that's cyclical like that but Bennett really ain't no much better because Clearly we see that they're fighting So what what side of it do y'all fall on because I think that there's at some point That's going to separate into two camps one open it and save it or to close it Or merge it or do something with it like so what side of the argument are you guys on? I'm saving it. I'm about my bad. I'm also saving it. I just think that When you look at pennsylvania higher education, they have a ton of schools a ton of small Small small small schools and a lot of trouble. Yeah, those peace act schools from millersville To, you know, Indiana University of pennsylvania and there's a ton of schools throughout the state That are all kind of in a situation like Chaney as well as having penn state penn state got like 20 camp like 20 campuses across Yeah, it's so it's a really really really I think that chaney is the type of school that could be merged You know, I wish maybe Lincoln had the money to do something and maybe merge that way But I don't think they do have to have the kind of funds to do something like that I think it just puts them in a really precarious situation and and like you said if chaney is founded in North Philadelphia They have a better chance of survival than being where they are just just based off of the fact that they probably have more transient Students because the chaney is really a decision. You got to make the one to go to school there And you got to have a car or those type of things and we know about the black populations in most major urban cities So I say try to save it. I don't know I don't know how that happens financially Yeah, I mean I I agree that um, I think trying to save it is that's where I would my heart would be But it would be the same kind of drastic ideas that we talked about would bend it outside of them getting money but having to change their strategy and recruitment and types of students and things like that like they they really would have to it would have to be uh And george already said it has to be a completely different effort You have to completely put different things on the table in order to attract a student body and be able to maintain and sustain You know having an institution like that where it's located like we already said as well So, I mean, I think it's just there's a lot it has to be drastic Whatever is going to be done needs to probably be more than one thing It's gonna have to be, you know, some sort of drastic changes Who's not on that who's on the idea of close it? Hate to say it But close it Now what makes you say that? Because and like I said the payday aspect like I really If you have to consistently receive help Because you don't have it and you haven't made The necessary changes or changes that can turn you around Or present a change You gotta you gotta think about a maybe it's time And get up back it up and lock it up like That's what you should honestly think about doing like I don't How many are they costing? Pennsylvania or how much more money will they cost pennsylvania to stay open and not produce? and not feed into The productivity of the state and the the local community like how much is it going to take? Before they like oh nah See that's where that's so clearly the two pisces think alike on this. So the issue is To me, I don't think that it's good for the psyche of people who Who like hbcs who love them and believe in them To keep to keep holding on like this morris brown Morris brown ain't good for the the psyche of the culture cheney is not good for the psyche of the culture And so it say it again. It's almost it's almost Just say get it's abusive get up get get out of here like get out of here like be done with it because I don't you know I know that you know, this is one of the oldest schools we got But if you can't rely on the state to Fund it properly beyond these little stop gap Grants and their alum aren't funding it properly. It would be different. So like Morris Brown for instance They're still open because they got support Right now the alum the the cheney alum. They did a little something But it's literally a little something and it ain't over the course of 17 years like Morris Brown is had So like you really got to think It's time for us to stop I move that we close it up like That's that's what should happen and I'm gonna tell you another sadistic point about this. I almost feel like Cheney is a is an example of At least for the culture at large of addition by subtraction meaning that If we as a as a collective community let Cheney go Then maybe people will take more seriously How bad this thing is for hbc use Almost if it's almost like you have to lose one of the first black colleges in the country Or you may have to lose a fifth university Until your legs let's stop playing That's still a sixth cycle because it's still sending the message that it's some extreme stuff has to happen for someone to keep We'll keep you guys posted. Take our second quick break when we come back We're going to talk about more or is the Morgan eyes favorite subject when he wants to be a pseudo rattler florida and in university I just have to dark I just have to Just have to dark Just wrapped up conversation in the recap of the hbc awards and the future of cheney university Now I want to get into a conversation about florida and them so The recent headlines for fam you have been Mixed I would say is putting it accurately. They've had a lot of positive headlines about, you know, good evaluations for university president larry Robinson and they've had you know issues about You know town halls and things they're going to be doing for the medical marijuana program But these are against the backdrop of a pretty serious headline of athletics and some budgetary issues that the athletic department is having in having to spend auxiliary funds or you know, the illicit use of auxiliary funds to cover calls for athletics, so I know tiff doesn't talk about sports But for the rest of you guys who have been paying attention to this And who understand that fam you was a not only just an important cock for florida But an important cock for hbcu culture at large What's your reaction to this and I guess we'll be kicked off by oris who Is one of us who attended fam you is a regular foil of larry Robinson So you stayed out into this so you lead us on this conversation I think it just shows that this is what This is what fam you is Fam you operates in a space where They are the only publicly funded historically black college in the state of florida They are the most dynamic hbcu within a 500 mile radius More or less of their campus so When you look at the way the school operates It's very easy to do great things within the pharmacy school within the engineering school, which is partly owned by florida state Do do great things in the architecture school Even in the business school It's very easy to do great things have really great alumni and I mean we had a we had a fam you alumni when Hbcu faculty of the year so female faculty of the year and dr. Kenesha grant So I mean the school will always in my opinion produce very strong talent But it does not minimize its operational issues Much of which stem from Fam you's overwhelming um I put this they're overwhelming greed to want to be um a program at a different level than other hbcu's and sports This is not the first time over the last 50 years where fam you has made some Suspect decisions within athletics spending money in different ways to try to create a reality That necessarily is sustainable We all know about what happened in the 70s with their move from the SIC an independent year and then eventually joining the meaq We all know about what happened in the 90s in the 2000s with trying to go to be an fbs school And how the money was funny and kind of ran out there and they ended up coming back to the meaq um, we also don't know about You know the move in which they've been trying to make with getting this new stadium built which again The financing has not been made public yet and that is not um, it's not by mistake But they broke ground and there's not a single word in that deal with a dollar amount It talked about partnerships It talked about joint initiatives It's mentioned nothing about how much money is being spent and where it's coming from so From my opinion as someone who is a family stakeholder I believe that What's happening right now with athletics with the departure of coaches With the way money is being spent the departure of high ranking members of administration who work directly with finance Things things will continue to to happen like this because We all know about the auxiliary funds spent from parking We all know about whatever happened with the liquor deal They got a couple years ago that hasn't produced much of any money For the ability for family to sell beer At bragg stadium I mean there's so many different things that have happened that have not been beneficial to the university From my vantage point financially That continue to pull money from other areas this latest thing is another big big drop And as you can see the next day family you have pressure leases ready For everything that's going on every faculty member who had any type of research was all family news.com the next day Um Ready to you know to kind of counteract the story They all lived in getting 500 likes a post for this alumni did this and this alumni did that To try to drown out the narrative and to me that comes off like A school that isn't willing to accept Uh, kind of what's happened and addressed it and moved forward Um, unlike what dr. Glendale Glover did at tennessee state where she's addressed those things publicly and she said it's the way we're moving forward Uh, larry robinson continues To minimize And act like these things are happening that they're very very small Uh, you know little dots and little blips When in actuality they're very large problems And um, I think that speaks to a larger culture issue with many rattlers. Um, That's very in-miss conscious based on how good the school looks and not really addressing the very deep seated Corruptive processes in place at the university Um, they had things like you know, well, that's why people graduate with tuition revenue still sitting on the books Let me hold up. Let me hit on something you said and let me direct this to tiff Taylor and laurel because me and katie Didn't go to schools that are like this Where the brand of the school is What like jay-z said I will not lose You know like that I don't know what it's like to for a school to have a brand like ant or howard or hampton Where it's like, I don't care what you say and I don't care what truck we're in. We're still the greatest of all time And I think that is at the center of the problem because alumni ignore certain issues Legislators and enemies of these schools play on the fact that people Don't want to hear negativity and they don't really care about accountability At least as far as it's saying let's go do something about it What is that kind of culture like where it's like that there's nothing There's nothing bigger nothing grander than my school because I think that that towards this point. That's that's why we're here with them Southern the same way You know that no matter what happens no matter what kind of corruption there is and I'm not saying ant or howard or hampton I'm like that I'm saying that that that is a brand thing That permeates so much that it's hard for accountability to be yielded from that I mean, honestly, it's just basic basic arrogance, but it's like when And no, no irony in this that our common mild even those new model aggies do. I don't know what that is but Always eggy bright But the pride when does the pride become arrogant and I've always said the same thing about howard Where yes, they do have a very strong brand to the point where a lot of the international students They get is strictly from word of mouth without like a dedicated recruitment strategy plan team Going abroad at the same time. You can't always rely on just oh, what's the brand? You know us and it's like well, something everybody does and it's like, okay I see your brand but We're your numbers your stats don't match all this arrogance you have and it's kind of like anyone that actually does care And is paying attention. They're not going to fall for that but at the same time I mean, I think that the onus is on the alumni that are also involved not just showing up for homecoming but That are actually involved in the alumni association the student alumni association while they're still in school And all of that with the planning everything like that they see it for what it is because yes, I'm alumni But I'm also involved in some capacity So, I mean, I think that With more alumni involved and I feel like I'm saying this every time but with more of that You can kind of get past like, okay. Yeah, we're proud but We need to come to Jesus moment and we're not doing well. But is that possible? Yeah, I don't mean to cut you off. But but famu's issue ain't ain't alumni involvement Famu's issue is alumni involvement in the actual running of the school They don't they they will they will show they will give money. I mean alumni giving us up Despite these issues They just don't care like they they really believe that the school will never close The state will never step in And and that's to me is just to me is more about delusion than anything else But again, I say that and I'm a hater But that's the point I was gonna make don't alumni serve as the firewall because you may have alumni who say hey We need some accountability here like this can't the kid the school can't run like this But then if you if you it was one person saying hey, can't we do this better? And you have 10 or 20 alumni on facebook who say You know from back of letter word sit your ass down. Stop hating Like that. I mean, I I've read many articles on this with the digest How many comments have I gotten to agree with me from famu alumni there? I haven't seen not one famu alumni in any group chat in facebook posts anything on twitter to say Oh, no, I I think that I think that this is something we should look into So like in like in all seriousness like i'm very like one thing and everybody knows I talk about it all the time Like hampton we suffer from a godlike complex And I think That is very dangerous overall I'm always fearful when leadership makes it seem like nothing can happen and nothing can touch us Um, even when we're great, um, you can be up and be down at any moment Um, and so like yeah like coming from hampton, you know being in it. It's beautiful like knowing that you know Like oh, we're hampton like, you know, we're great. We this we that the baddest of the land Look at my card not in my car because it is not one of those But at the same time like when you're in it when you're a student when you're attendant It's very you know, it's that arrogance feels great when you leave And when you are you become an alum and you start seeing things from you know, I guess the lack of Rose colored glasses and stuff like that It's very frustrating when you try to communicate those things when folks that you went to school with and alums that Are from your institutions suffer from what I call a very godlike complex a very much of like nothing can touch us Even if y'all do have issues will come out of it. Um, you know, and we'll come out of it if you don't talk about it publicly So when I say that howard howard is not gonna fail. I'm not talking about on The level of what you're describing say for show things can happen But when I when I talk about how it's not going to fail or howard will be here how it's not gonna be cheney Yeah, it's it's like that like If you allow howard to die or to struggle to that point, what does it mean for the rest of our institutions that aren't Like hampton that aren't like a and t that are like cheney that are like other state institutions If we struggle y'all for shows on struggle But again, we talk about Issues as such a very dramatic way That even or is talking about like the losing of 5 000 students folks are like, oh, we ain't lost 20 000 and it's like, okay It's like, okay, but also a 5000 k hit in revenue is a is a hit and it's like It's a that's a large hit and also Why why are we losing them? You know, but again, folks are like, you know, but we didn't lose three res hall buildings or something You know, it's we want to see this like I knew I wrote about that as well But it's just like, you know, again, I'm very I'm just very tired of this abusive nature that we want ourselves to react to things Um, and it's just also One thing I tell alums and I go back and forth with it even when it comes to hampton, you know When folks are like, you know, we're great. We're doing well And I'm like, you know, we've had issues with whether it's halls whether it's other things that current students and alums are talking about even giving Closing of programs and just stuff like that in general. Um, it's like How do we move ourselves from just waiting for stuff to be so drastic and so dramatic For us as alums to react like and if I'm going to build an alum Alumni base, I want you to understand proper leadership And if we only moving for triage and if we only moving for fire, I'm not even sending you to be a proper Alumn for you to go off and be a leader in your respective field I'm not sending you upright to be to go off to be a proper doctor or sign I'm not setting you up because you only know how to react When when literally things are going straight to ass or hitting a fan But you got you got a point but the issue is a complacent or unknowing alumni base Is the best friend of an administration go to bat If they know that the alumni won't raise hell And won't ask pointed questions and are still going to invest and are still going to be driven by you know How live homecoming was and you know, did the football team win and you know, do we have new buildings going up? That's that's an asset. That's an asset. The football team is facing sanctions I guarantee you those still they will still sell out bragg for homecoming They can't even play celebration ball this year. They will still sell out bragg this homecoming. I'm serious They cannot play and post season play for 2019 We gotta we gotta have an extended conversation about that because it we have to talk about the alumni echo chamber Because that that is a big big big big part of and next time we do we'll have kanisha on Maybe because I like her and I don't want to drag her do no mess. She doesn't deserve that She's a gem rattler. She's a gem She's the Gem on the on the academic side. She's the female faculty member She's also a very involved student leader at Florida agriculture and mechanical university made sure to mention that she made sure to mention that After right y'all ain't gonna drag her and I had her as a professor. I know her word. Anyway, here comes the Howard bias So we're gonna we're gonna take our final break and when we come back We're gonna we're gonna shift to some positive news. Uh, steve curry bank rolling The reinstatement and we got to be clear about that the reinstatement of Howard's men's and women's golf programs That's just at the dark. We'll be right back That's just at the dark and we're back. Um, just wrapped up a conversation about the alumni echo chamber How does that influence uh leadership? administration of our beloved hbc's but now we're going to shift to a really really cool conversation um About uh steve curry, uh, I think it's been reported a seven figure gift over six years to go and reinstate uh golf programs at Howard university now we have to say reinstate because Obviously people don't respect embargoes press release embargo So we heard about this at least us in the media heard about this last week, right? And this was embargoed until monday. I mean we couldn't say anything about it Couldn't do anything about it until monday when Howard announced it this breaks What saturday? It goes it goes out all over the place and the and the and the reporting is Steph curry is going to give Howard its first golf programs And then shout out to moorland spin gone library Who jumped on twitter and said you're dead Here they're here the receipts We've had golf since the 60s Um or dating back to the 60s. So shout out to the spice on moorland spin gone twitter timeline um For giving um bleacher report and others the ether Um, but I will there are two people that need to weigh in on this very specifically Uh, one we're going to start with winston getting into school just because he works for an organization called midnight golf Come on So what what what are your impressions of step, uh, you know, this this nba icon um Choosing a major major philanthropic effort centered at at howard So first I gotta give shout out to tiff for recognizing that the young brother that he played golf with To get it going is from what city? Detroit, okay. Yeah, just just to be clear. I'm so so that's a shout out to that to that young brother for stepping up Then You know stepping up and doing what we do Brother odis for stepping up and doing what you're trying to do. So y'all don't you know pride Wait a minute. Y'all are going to take pride in in somebody yelling out from the crowd unruly. Hey steve. Let's play golf Unruly and we do not squander Harassing harassing step I can guarantee you that that young man literally Had to have approached steve curry Introduced himself with his full howard university intro and then A round of golf with steve curry. I can verify that this happens So you tell me now. So you tell me that somebody somebody name From detroit didn't pull a gun out on steve curry and say you gonna give me It's not it at all Is he from west or east? Is he from west side or east side? Ask him why he's already got another thing. That's what you sound like right now, dear That is what you sound like right You know, but it's okay because still we rise continue Winston. I'm mad. No, so we're obviously we're obviously elated having You know potential howard candidates who know the game of golf we can play it now having an institution like howard having a Golf team that they might possibly be able to contribute to You know, it's not only for Um, you know the sport itself But you know the hbc community as a whole having one of the flagship institutions arguably the flagship institution And hbc community having the game of golf You know, and if they're able to really fund it the plan that you know At least what we read so far the plan that that's in place the funding and the the attention around it You know couldn't really be huge for You know the sport among our community As the continuing to rise even even after tiger not playing at the level that he was playing There's still a lot of attention of young african-american and students of color latino included Who are interested in growingly interested in the sport? We know we had the rocket moors classic in detroit and there was a ton of young black and brown kids who Who were there, you know, especially because it was in the city it was in the city proper The first time having something like that in a city like that So I think it's it's huge for Um hbc community and for golf itself And for us, of course, obviously, you know, we're going to be Tiff we're going to be leaning on you to get us plugged in We need to get plugged in with to get on that first team have have two or three midnight golfers on that first Power golf team for sure. Man, this whole topic is Howard bias. How would me? Have you got golf And you got golf come on out. This is me. This is how we're biased Laurel You're on the campus. Did you did you attend? Did you attend that? Um press conference? No, I did not because some of us have to work But I will say that I just really appreciate where they held it they held it at Langston golf course My father and my grandfather both used to play there. So And that student basically initiated this whole thing and and that I hope through this revitalization of the golf program that they also puts more focus and emphasis on other sports at Howard that are not that far in football soccer Um, and that's actually doing well And it's just like I think in a larger sphere and hire it in general after like with sports There is an over emphasis and money and effort put into football And basketball programs not that there's anything wrong with those sports, but it's kind of like you leave You know your other jewels that are on campus other student athletes and so I just think in general like this is a good precedent. I don't think Again that people should get overly caught up that oh Howard got another celebrity shout out. They always get everything Um, it should more be reframed that you know, specifically since it's golf A sport we were historically intentionally kept out of Um, and still are in certain spaces in terms of country clubs, but Just putting the focus on that where it should be and on students and benefiting the students not, you know Oh look at Howard. They get something else Well to your to your point about the you know the revenue bearing sports I think the emphasis typically has been on that's the that's the sports people watch um And that's the ones that that create revenue whether it's be from you know from parking Um concessions Apparel sales They're typically driven by those You know football men's basketball and in a lot of cases women's basketball Well, which is has really grown over the last 15 years and is a revenue driver as well I can remember, you know when I was in Morgan our our best team on campus was women's volleyball and Had it not been for writing for the school newspaper and having to Having to go cover it. I had to go cover the game I never would have fallen in love with it But you never know until you try and and as few people were at those games It was always lit because that was the best team our football team was going on 11 Our basketball Exactly, uh I mean basketball was going four and 20 I mean So that that was a focus for our school because we didn't have success in the revenue bearing sports But you know to the point that you know, you can be successful or you can't get cam newton's little brother to be your quarterback Yeah, I mean They're gonna get the attention because they get the money. But do you think that steve curry? Putting his name and showing up at howard Makes golf one of those programs Maybe not from a revenue perspective of people buying tickets to a match But for corporate partnership Yes, am I am I might is my mic on you? Yeah. Yep. Absolutely Um, because like if you if you pay attention to corporate america, that's where a lot of the business deals happen Right, let's go play around the golf and talk It's you know, that's the probably one of the few places you can go and have a decent conversation without a bunch of background noise and people You know checking for what you are and who you talking to So, yeah, it just definitely opens doors that were um that were previously closed for those young men And let's also forget that that howard and howard's boosters led The under armor deal exactly steve curry is an under armor athlete I didn't know that under armor school like this was not happenstance. Okay, and steve curry is not funding all It's under armor money that's funding a large part of the deal So this was this was the this was the perfect Matchup between one of basketball player like steve curry who loves golf The school having a fantastic relationship This under armor their under armor is marquee hbcu brand and They're all within the same general metro area and by the way one of the under armor's vice presidents is a Howard alumna former volleyball player adrian I forget your last name a former volleyball player howard is the vice president under this is this is this is this was This was the combination of howard having amazing relationships steve curry be made aware of something and him being able to say Hey going to under armor and saying hey howard howard and howard the under armor's like we already have a relationship with them Boom, I did that was the that was really the perfect marriage between corporate sponsorship, which howard already has a marquee figurehead and steve curry And then having a school where it's going to be very easy for them to get people to play golf because It's a school that exudes that type of energy and in the city for the golf courses, but y'all giving y'all giving Otis all the credit I also That's right Otis did make it happen and you gotta you gotta celebrate the student. He got an old name. He's great. Anyone with an old name I think I gotta check or maybe it's the That don't you don't we don't know if he's a third don't be putting that on there He's either the third or the fourth To the maintenance young man odor To the point about Otis and what he did It should also be understood that what he wanted was also in line with what the university Ultimately wanted and what would best serve Their strategic goals and visions And honestly for anything that we think that we want to do or we think that we want our university to do Like in in general, you need to figure out if it's in if it's aligned with what your administration Has in mind for the university and if it's not aligned Then you got to make sure you can get in alignment. Otherwise you may not go where you where you Think that your university should be and that won't be anybody's fault, but Your that's an excellent point because it would have been way too easy for howards ad and the president to say Wait, wait, you want to do golf? Wait, you sure you don't want to support basketball because we need that live in basketball That would have been way too easy. No stuff help us out with basketball No, they met him with what he wanted to do and that is perfect cultivation like You're you're approaching us with something you want to do can we make that happen? And how quickly can we make that happen because the next step may be Steph comes back and does a basketball clinic at howard every summer You know, so you you've opened the door for him to have a relationship with howard with washington dc He already he already visited obama on a regular basis I mean, so you're you're kind of Setting him up to adopt howard is one of his His regular stops his regular charitable Targets, right? So you have to give a lot of a credit to the administration for Being open to what he wanted to do because the slightest mishap with that Well the slightest press on now help us with basketball could have been like never mind. I'll go to davidson After all I did I did graduate from there. Otis. Um, obviously is responsible for this Early candidate early front-runner for hbcu student of the year. Um, I think that's one everything If he can I announce his name because I just feel sure that I You know, because I could say everybody is actually coming to see Otis and not that, you know, sure I just wanted like everybody So what's his foot? What's his full name? It's Otis And on that note, we're gonna we're gonna go ahead and wrap up our first Episode back in the fall. Thank you everybody for jumping back on tonight and sharing valuable insight. Um Really good show really good show after summer break. So I'm glad y'all bought the heat. Um tiff. Are we gonna do this next week? Oh, I thought Twice a week. We not twice a week You tell me I thought we were Okay, so y'all heard that right you heard my question, right? You know what? We're not gonna do this on air. Thank you so much for listening. Uh, again, thank you for your support at hbcu digest Don't forget to check us out on series 142 xm HBC radio on the Howard university network again. It's been digest at the dark till next time. Peace