SPRING a publication to connect you with Rutgers University–Newark, in print and online 2018 Photo: Ronald Scott p.4 New Jersey Institute for Social Justice President and CEO Ryan P. Haygood (l); Newark Public Library Director Jeffrey Trzeciak; Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka; RU-N Chancellor Nancy Cantor; RU-N Executive Vice Chancellor Sherri-Ann Butterfield of Mirror Mirror, an exhibition Newly Opened Truth, Racial of contemporary visual art that utilizes the concept of portraiture Healing and Transformation to challenge dominant paradigms about gender, race, age, societal Campus Center at RU-N norms, technology, and beauty. • A musical performance and by Ferlanda Fox Nixon the most renowned women in In February, Rutgers University–Newark (RU-N) officially opened its Truth, Racial fictional discussion with four of blues and jazz history – Billie Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Center. TRHT Campus Center is a comprehensive, national, and community-based initiative developed by the Smith, and Ethel Waters; starring Association of American Colleges and Universities and funded by Newman’s Holiday, Josephine Baker, Bessie Own Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to foster transformational Patricia Walton as Billie Holiday, and sustainable change that addresses the adverse effects of racism. Baker, Omisanya Karade as Ethel Phyllis Blanford as Josephine Waters, and Ife Basim as Bessie “… to foster In collaboration with community strengthen Newark’s economy by Smith. transformational 2020; and • Center seeks to: • change legislative policies regarding celebration of NASA aerospace partners, RU-N’s TRHT Campus A Women’s History Month and sustainable • increase positive engagement and voting rights of individuals in the perceptions of Newark and its criminal justice system. change that engineer Dr. Aprille Joy Ericsson, surrounding communities; Jet Express Airlines First Officer addresses the • facilitate ongoing on- and off-campus Carole Hopson, and other conversations concerning issues of Initially, RU-N’s TRHT Campus Center whose accomplishments and activities featured throughout Newark “hidden figures” — women adverse effects truth and racial healing; will fulfill its mission through a series of achievements have impacted the of racism.” • leverage RU-N resources to Events to date have included: lives of others, but who remain facilitate a reduction in poverty titled, “My Racial Healing Looks Like.” unrecognized. • A wine and cheese launch reception and unemployment in Newark and that included a tour and discussion Continued on page 6 FIND US ONLINE: www.newark.rutgers.edu facebook.com/rutgers.newark www.newark.rutgers.edu instagram.com/runewark youtube.com/user/RutgersNewark Office of Communications Rutgers University–Newark 249 University Avenue twitter.com/rutgers_newark www.newark.rutgers.edu/connect Newark, NJ 07102 pg. 2 BD Foundation at BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a global medical technology company, will address the graduating class. The Rutgers Law School convocation will be S. Grewal, the 61st attorney general for the Friday, May 25, at 10 a.m. at NJPAC. Gurbir This year’s Class of 2018 includes 2,440 state of New Jersey, will be the speaker. undergraduate students and 935 graduate students. Photo of Prudential Center: Shelley Kusnetz; photo of Queen Latifah courtesyPhoto of Prudential Center: Shelley Kusnetz; of Queen Latifah COMMENCEMENT-AT-A-GLANCE Graduate School PhD and MFA Hooding Ceremony Hail to the Class of 2018! Paul Robeson Campus Center Thursday, May 10, 3 p.m. by Desiree Bascomb Rutgers University-Newark On Monday, May 14, graduates and community members of Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N) will gather in Newark’s Commencement Prudential Center for the 2018 commencement ceremony. Rapper, actress, and Newark native, Queen Latifah, will be Newark College of Arts and Sciences, this year’s distinguished speaker and recipient of an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. University College, Graduate School, Rutgers Business School Latifah is a Grammy Award winner, sibling who tragically died during a (undergraduate), School of Criminal work ethic, persistence, and humility songwriter, rapper, producer, and motorcycle accident in 1992. represent the values of RU-N. Latifah began her career in the Administration In addition to commencement Justice, School of Public Affairs and socially conscious rap style has inspired entertainment industry in 1988 and Prudential Center hip-hop trailblazer. Her authentic and on May 14, the graduate hooding generations worldwide. A feminist Monday, May 14, 9 a.m. ceremony will take place Thursday, icon who pioneered a path for women remains one of the most influential May 10, at the Paul Robeson Campus in a traditionally male-dominated themes such as female empowerment, Rutgers Business School-Newark and names in hip hop. Latifah’s music reflects Center at 3 p.m. Charles Payne, director gender equality, and systemic racism. New Brunswick (graduate programs) and dedication. Also recognized for her New Jersey Performing Arts Center industry, Latifah personifies resilience Metropolitan Studies at Rutgers- humanitarianism and philanthropy, in been represented through her art. of the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Friday, May 18, 2 p.m. Her passion for social justice has always Newark, will be the keynote speaker. 2013, Latifah received the Newark Beth The Rutgers Business School graduate Israel Medical Center Community Award and charmed audiences on the silver Rutgers Law School She has starred in more than 48 films convocation will be held on Friday, for the contributions of her family-run screen for more than 25 years. For New Jersey Performing Arts Center her incomparable artistry, Latifah has Friday, May 25, 10 a.m. received numerous awards and accolades. May 18, at 2 p.m. at the New Jersey nonprofit organization, the Lancelot Cohen, executive vice president of established in honor of Latifah’s elder As an entrepreneur and mogul, Latifah’s Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). Gary H. Owens Scholarship Foundation, global health and president of the 2. African-American entrepreneurs American applicant why he was in the SCHOLARSHIP were asked about their marital bank’s area that day but did not pose the same question to his white counterpart; white counterparts. both applicants had disclosed that their status significantly more than their 3. If married, only African-American businesses were an hour away from the Is There Discrimination When entrepreneurs were asked whether bank. Another bank suggested the African- their spouses were employed. American applicant go to the bank’s branch Minority Small Business Owners 4. Bankers were three times located closer to his business but did not more likely to invite follow- make the same recommendation to the Apply for Loans? by Ferlanda Fox Nixon up appointments with white white applicant. With the support of a $1.2 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the black borrowers. a critical need for a reliable source of borrowers than better-qualified “Our research shows that there is scope of a pilot study titled “Shaping Small Business Lending Policy through 5. Banks were twice as likely to offer primary data on which regulatory agencies Matched-Paired Mystery Shopping” has been expanded from two cities to five. white entrepreneurs help with their can depend as they work to implement Originally commissioned in 2017 by the National Community Reinvestment small business loan applications effective protections that ensure equal Coalition, the study examines the potential vulnerabilities of African-American compared to black entrepreneurs. access to credit within the small-business entrepreneurs to exploitation in the small-business lending marketplace 6. African-American entrepreneurs where few policy protections exist for them. received fewer expressions of who is also Distinguished Professor lending marketplace,” notes Williams, gratitude for coming in than their and Prudential Chair in Business at the Co-authored by Rutgers University– white counterparts. Rutgers Business School–Newark and New Newark Provost and Executive Vice Brunswick. having identical qualifications on paper. following discriminatory practices: Moreover, the African-American Along with providing funding for Specifically, the report detailed the from Utah State University, Brigham entrepreneurs experienced micro- ongoing investigations of small business Chancellor Jerome Williams and scholars Young University, and Lubin Research 1. African-American entrepreneurs aggressions along with the disparate lending practices of banks in three LLC, the pilot study revealed that were asked to provide more treatment they received. Some banks additional cities, the three-year grant from minority-owned businesses seeking small information about business and checked to verify the business status W.K. Kellogg Foundation will be used to business loans are treated differently and standing of only African Americans. educate both banks and borrowers about than their white counterparts, despite business owners. One banker asked the African- personal finances than white discrimination in the financial marketplace. FACES OF RUTGERS pg. UNIVERSITY–NEWARK 3 Erica Williams, dean of students Nick Kline, founder and director of by Ferlanda Fox Nixon Shine Portrait Studio by Ferlanda Fox Nixon “I’m committed to ensuring that all 12,000 students here at Rutgers University– Although born in Spring Lake, New Jersey, and a graduate of Sparta High Newark (RU-N) have a positive experience,”