WWW.TRIANGLE TRIBUNE.COM The Triangle Architect of African- American museum RIBUNE raising ALSTHE ASSOCIATED awareness PRESS TTHE TRIANGLE’S CHOICE FOR THE BLACK VOICE RALEIGH – The lead architect of the Smithsonian Museum of African- American History and Culture in Washington says he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease earlier this year. VOLUME 18 NO. 40 $1.00 Phil Freelon told WRAL the diagnoses, which came before the museum WEEK OF JANUARY 1, 2017 chronicling the black experience in America opened on the National Mall in September, was a "shock and a disappointment." But the famed Durham architect says he hopes his story can raise aware- The top-10 best ness for a disease that's not well understood. He said he walks with a cane now and recognizes that within three to five years, he could suffer muscle moments in HBCU loss and paralysis. sports on 3A. The disease, also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, attacks motor neurons, the cells that control the muscles. Scientists aren't sure what causes it and don't have a cure. Freelon has started a foundation called Design a World Without ALS. "It's a way to do something other than just think about myself and my sit- uation," he told the TV station. "I want to be able to help others with this con- dition." His foundation is trying to raise $250,000 to fund research at the Duke Please seeARCHITECT/2A DeVry First students lady benefit made from U.S. mark Obama champion settlementBy Charlene Crowell of exercise and SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE For the third time in two years, military families a large for-profit college has By Leanne Italie faced charges of defrauding its THE ASSOCIATED PRESS students. This time the charges stem from promises of jobs and NEW YORK — Healthy food incomes that never material- and plenty of exercise. The ized. challenges military families On December 15, the subur- face. Education for girls ban Chicago-based DeVry Uni- around the globe. versity agreed to a $100 million FILE PHOTO The feel-good initiatives of first lady Michelle Obama settlement to end a lawsuit filed Durham Police Chief Cerelyn J. Davis has hit the ground running since her hire. by the Federal Trade Commis- have served as both inspira- sion. Filed in January, the FTC tion and eight years of teach- charged that from 2008 to 2015, ing moments for many the for-profit institution en- families. So what, exactly, do gaged in deceptive marketing they think is her legacy over a and advertising. Triangle Tribune period that spans much of the According to the FTC, lifetime of today’s kids? prospective DeVry students “I think she stands for kind- were told in recruitment and in ness in America,” said Alexis advertising that 90 percent of its Shenkiryk, a 12-year-old in graduates secured employment Newsmaker of Del Mar, California. “She really in their chosen fields within six encouraged me to try harder, months of matriculation. A sec- and she promoted a lot of ond institutional promise was good things for everyone, not that one year following gradua- just certain people.” the Year Alexis was jealous when her tion they would earn incomes 15 percent higher than those 24-year-old sister got to at- earned by graduates from other Durham police chief still in learning curve tend President Barack colleges and universities. By Evelyn Howell Davis, who was the deputy Davis, 57, is the city’s first Obama’s 2008 inauguration. African-American female chief Over the years, said Under the settlement terms, CORRESPONDENT chief of the Atlanta Police De- DeVry will pay $49.4 million in partment before coming to of police. She is aware of the Shenkiryk’s mom, Rhonda cash to qualifying students who DURHAM – Cerelyn J. Davis Durham, has reached out to many challenges she faces. Moret, the goodwill the first were harmed by the deceptive has been working diligently to various groups, including Part- She was challenged recently lady was able to pass on to ads, as well as provide $50.6 learn her Durham community. ners Against Crime and the after a police-involved shoot- her girls overflowed from the million in debt relief. The debt At the top of her list is im- Durham NAACP. ing resulted in the death of 34- White House. being forgiven includes the full proving community policing “I am pleased with a number year-old Frank Nathaniel Clark “We’re a biracial family,” balance owed ($30.35 million) and doing a better job on crime of things while she has been in in McDougald Terrace, a pub- Moret said. “We’ve had nu- on all unpaid private student reduction. office,” said Roland Staton, lic housing community. Clark’s merous conversations dis- loans that DeVry issued to un- Since stepping in as the Bull president-elect of the Durham death sparked a protest at the cussing how one’s race or dergraduates between Septem- City’s new police chief six NAACP. “She has reached out Durham Police Department background are truly irrele- ber 2008 and September 2015, months ago, her schedule has to the community. I am willing headquarters. vant and how we should value and $20.25 million in student been jam-packed. She is in- to give her the benefit of the “I don’t think the incident at one’s character above all debts for items such as tuition, volved in various activities in doubt. McDougald Terrace has caused else.” books and lab fees. an effort to devise ways to “The previous chief (Jose a regressive relationship be- Inara Abernathy, a 17-year- “When people are making im- make Durham safer. Lopez) did not in any shape or tween the police and the old in Nashville, Tennessee, portant decisions about their “Being visible in the commu- form embrace transparency in Durham community,” she has absorbed many life les- education and their future, they nity has been very important regard to how minorities are said. “We are trying to get it sons of her own from the first should not be misled by decep- for me coming out of Atlanta,” treated and did not embrace right here in Durham. We are lady. “She’s strong and beau- tive employment and earnings said Davis, a Fort Bragg native. community outreach in a trying to make sure that the in- tiful, and she makes me feel claims,” FTC Chairwoman Edith “That’s a way to establish meaningful way. Our new chief vestigations are not conducted beautiful, too,” Inara said. “I Ramirez said. “The FTC has se- strong relationships in com- has inherited his problems.” feel like I can accomplish cured compensation for the munities.” Please see TRIANGLE/2A things when I think about many students who were her.” harmed, and I am pleased that Then there’s bullying. “I was DeVry is changing its practices.” bullied a lot when I was little, Once approved by federal and she taught me how when courts, DeVry will be required to I got bullied to just don’t think immediately notify the students about it,” Inara said. “Ignore who will receive debt relief as them. Live your life and be well as credit bureaus and col- happy.” North Carolina death sentences Her dad is a retired Army lection agencies of the impend- ing debt forgiveness. DeVry will colonel and the teen admires also release transcripts and Mrs. Obama’s shout-out for diplomas previously withheld down,By Bonitta Bestnumbers on death row aren’t military families. And when from students due to outstand- [email protected] the first lady put in the White ing debt, and will cooperate with House garden, “it made me DURHAM – It’s been a decade future requests for diplomas think about eating better food since North Carolina’s last execu- and transcripts and related en- and losing weight,” Inara said. tion. But as capital punishment rollment or graduation informa- “Without her I’m not sure I sentences continue to decline, the tion. would have done that.” number of prisoners on death row This most recent settlement is Norfolk, Virginia, 10th- remains high. yet another reminder of how grader Kassidy Carey can- One hundred and fifty inmates some of the largest for-profit vassed for Hillary Clinton and are still awaiting execution, the colleges have failed their stu- has volunteered to advocate sixth largest number in the na- dents and caused them to be- for various social causes tion. Three-quarters of the 150 come indebted without the through the site DoSome- were sentenced 15 years ago. educational credentials prom- thing.org. She was too little to And as the prisoners sit and ised. remember the president’s await their fates, sometimes na- “There must be more vigorous first inauguration, but she ture takes its course. efforts to prevent schools that loved watching the second Two inmates died of natural use deceptive practices from ac- COURTESY PHOTO one. She’s a regular first lady causes this year, bringing the total cessing federal student aid in watcher. to six in five years. Almost half of It’s been 10 years since North Carolina executed an inmate. the first place,” remarked Whit- “Oh, I love her,” said Kas- N.C.’s death row inmates are now ney Barkley-Denney, a policy director of the Center for Death Of the 150 on death row, 112 sidy, who has already decided 50 or older, and 21 are 60 or counsel with the Center for Re- Penalty Litigation. “And most of were sentenced during a time on law school when the time older.