Favrot Student Union Board closes November activities
The Favrot Student Union Board is wrapping up its scheduled November events with a Friday, Nov. 20 Bayou Classic Pep Rally at 2:30 p.m. in the Men’s Gym.
Grambling departments to come together for fall health fair
Grambling State University departments has joined together to host the second Annual Community Health Fair Friday, Nov. 20 from 7:30 a.m. until 12 Noon. Using as the theme Fall Into Good Health, the fair will be held in the Betty Smith Nursing Building.
The fair is sponsored by the School of Social Work, Kinesiology Sport & Leisure Studies Department, Student Counseling & Wellness Resource Center, and a variety of other GSU departments and partners.
Lincoln Parish fraternity chapters to hold Founder’s Day Dec. 6
The Greater Lincoln Parish Chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.–the Epsilon Kappa Lambda, Delta Sigma, and Eta Kappa Chapters–invite you to attend the 109th Observance of our Founders’ Day, will be held Sunday, Dec. 6 at the Lewis Temple C.M.E. Church of Grambling, Louisiana. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The guest speaker will be Dr. Richard Smith, M.D. of Monroe, Louisiana. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact Christopher E. Jackson at chrisjackson1906@yahoo.com or call (318) 797-2240.
GSU students can apply for Alice Brooks Memorial Scholarship
Grambling State University students may apply for the Alice Brooks Memorial Book Scholarship to be awarded for the Spring 2016 semester.
The two $500 book scholarships will be awarded to a sophomore, junior, or senior at GSU. The book award is to be used at the Grambling State bookstore.
To be eligible to apply, you must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher and the due date is Wednesday, Dec. 2 by 5 p.m. CST. Learn more and apply now at www.abbookscholarship.com or contact us at apply@abbookscholarship.com or Tweet Us.
Grambling State alumni relations in search of 2016 reunion class
The Office of Alumni Relations is looking for the Class of 1966. In May of 2016, the Class of 1966 will celebrate their 50th anniversary class reunion! The office is gathering contact information for all 1966 graduates.
If you are interested in assisting, complete the application found on the alumni site: alumni.gram.edu/classagent.
To view the events and registration form for your class reunion, please go to alumni.gram.edu/classreunion.
If you are or know a member of the Class of 1966, please provide their contact information to the alumni relations office – by emailing: alumni@gram.edu or by calling either 318-274-6265 or 318-274-6008.
City NAACP chapter to sponsor fellowship at next meeting
The City of Grambling’s NAACP chapter will hold a “Christmas Fellowship Social” on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 4:30 p.m. in the Grambling Community Center (City Hall). The City Hall/Community Center is located at 136 King Street.
All chapter members are asked to bring an educational toy for the KGRM Toys for Tot project.
Anyone interested in membership is invited, but must RSVP (1-318-247-8449) by Tuesday, Nov. 24. Membership in NAACP is an equal opportunity organization.
Catch a ride with the Monroe Tigers to see Catfight in Dome
Let’s go see the Grambling State University Tigers take on the Southern Jaguars in the Louisiana Superdome during the Annual Bayou Classic, Saturday, Nov. 28. There will be a bus leaving the day of the game from the Pecanland Mall in Monroe (Olive Garden Restaurant area) at 6 a.m.
The bus will arrive in New Orleans around 11:45 a.m. and game time is 4 p.m. The bus will depart after the game.
The cost of the trip is $95 (game ticket included) or $65 (game ticket not included). The deadline for payment is Sunday, Nov. 22. There will be no refunds (Unless trip is cancelled). Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be given away.
For more information, contact Ezzard O. Burton at 318-680-9057 or 318-343-3313.
National Black HIV/AIDS HBCU initiative seek ambassadors
Just as students are returning to campus embarking on new classes, student activities, and volunteerism, the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) campaign is giving students an active role in raising awareness of the message “Get Educated, Get Tested, Get Involved, and Get Treatment”.
The Student Ambassador Program will be accepting applications from students who are interested and committed to addressing challenges surrounding HIV/AIDS on their college campuses. This work is more important than ever as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that African Americans and Blacks account for 47% of the nation’s new HIV infections. The National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day initiative encourages students to apply for the student ambassador program before the closing deadline of January 9, 2016.
Moreover, among the African American and Black communities, persons aged 1524 years old comprise 27% of new HIV diagnosis in 2013, an estimated 5,868 diagnoses. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) continue to play a significant role in social change around the country surrounding this epidemic.
“As a proud product of an HBCU, I know how HBCUs play a vital role in our response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic by educating students and preparing the next generation in efforts towards promoting prevention, testing, treatment and care. These efforts are particularly important for HBCUs to mobilize and engage because young African Americans are significantly affected by the impact of HIV and AIDS, but we can be the greatest game changers,” said Amber Mazyck, a recent graduate of Bethune Cookman College and student ambassador, lends her voice in the discussion on student involvement in raising awareness around HIV/AIDS.
Mazyck said, “We must invest in our students and our communities to make the necessary steps to create an AIDS free generation.”
NBHAAD’s HBCU Initiative provides student communities access to outreach materials and resources for HIV/AIDS education, testing, and treatment. Student ambassadors will be empowered to create safe spaces at events, so students have the freedom to discuss topics related to HIV/AIDS in Black communities in a supportive environment.
Student Ambassadors’ creativity and innovative spirit will help in planning events and hosting activities for the Annual February 7 th commemoration of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The ambassadors may also provide information on local testing sites and linkage to care opportunities for those living with HIV/AIDS and/or newly diagnosed. Student Ambassadors participating in the program will have ongoing professional development and public health resources from local, regional and national public health entities, particularly in HIV/AIDS and STI prevention and support.
Participating in HIV/AIDS awareness efforts position ambassadors to have a direct impact in encouraging others to make wiser and safer decisions. Information is presented more relevantly and relatable when disseminated on the peertopeer level as Howard University Professor Goulda Downer, director of the HIV/AIDS Consortium suggests.
Student ambassadors are empowered to coordinate activities in collaboration with other organizations, faculty, and health centers. Some suggested activities to increase awareness are health fairs, town hall meetings, candle light vigils, fashion shows, and social media engagement.
Social media greatly influenced past HIV/AIDS awareness efforts, serving as a major component at HBCU campus events. Indeed, Fort Valley State University held a twoday event inobservance of NBHAAD that provided free HIV testing and information about HIV/AIDS wherein social media played a central role. A fashion show, seminar, and HIV informational event were promoted and shared using the hashtags #NBHAAD and #FVSU. Spelman College’s National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) section used their Twitter and Instagram accounts to promote their NBHAAD event and message. Many inspirational events held throughout the country on Black college campuses sparked conversation, raised awareness, and integrated social media in innovative ways.
Joell Royal, Project Coordinator for Howard University’s SHOP Project discusses how social media has played a role on HU’s campus, “We have learned how to engage students to spread the word [about HIV]. You must have something of substance before students will follow you or retweet. It’s about finding the balance between educational and personal messages. We encourage students to speak about HIV as they would any other topic via general conversation.
Social media is a way student’s get information in real time.”
Royal goes on to share, “We teach them to promote health as a topic they love on a daily basis as a normal conversation. Students are on social media all day speaking and generating conversation which is key to building rapport.” Social media’s ubiquity and extensive peer networks give students unique abilities to not only disseminate information, but combat misinformation to potentially save the lives of their peers.
The goal is for the Student Ambassador initiative to be an even greater success in the 20152016 academic year by engaging more college campuses and recruiting additional students to get
involved. The National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Strategic Leadership Council (NBHAADSLC) plans to make an even greater presence as it comes off the heels of its 15th year anniversary. By receiving the latest information and resources on HIV/AIDS in the African American and Black communities, those with undiagnosed HIV infections, and those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS will have the tools to live longer, healthier lives with consistent, accessible linkage to care and treatment services. Considering HBCUs have produced some of the country’s most prominent AfricanAmerican leaders—such as Oprah Winfrey (Tennessee State), W.E.B. Du Bois (Fisk University), Martin Luther King Jr. (Morehouse), and Alice Walker (Spelman), it is anticipated that students currently matriculating on HBCU campuses are poised to lead the charge for fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
For additional information and/or guidance please visit www.nationalblackaidsday.org.