Lighting The Road To The Future Celebrating the Life of Father Data Zone LeDoux Page 7 “The People’s Paper” February 2 - February 8, 2019 53nd Year Volume 40 www.ladatanews.com A Data News Weekly Exclusive The Importance and Significance of Louisiana Page 2 Newsmaker State & Local Honoring Safety First Black Civil War in Cold Soldiers Weather Page 4 Page 10 Page 2 February 2 - February 8, 2019 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com BlackData News Weekly History Focuses on the Importance Month and Significance of Louisiana Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Southern University System of Louisiana is the only Historically Black University System in the world. Xavier University of Louisiana is recognized as a national leader in the sciences and liberal arts. It also carries the distinction of being the only Historically Black and Catholic University in the United States. Data News Staff Edited Report is doing a 4-part series on the history and legacy of the pact on the community of New Orleans and the nation . Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) We believe that spotlighting these beacons on Black Again, we are in the month of February which is in New Orleans and the State of Louisiana . Excellence is important in an age where the relevance Black History Month, where the nation observes and Our 4-Part Series focus on the Southern University of these great institutions is of pressing importance . celebrates the achievements of African-Americans . System, Xavier University and Dillard University . It They have been and are where many movements of Data News Weekly, in our role as The People’s Pa- will highlight the schools, their rich history, educa- African-American uplift have taken place . Additionally, per in Commemoration with of Black History Month, tions they offer distinguished graduates and their im- they have given opportunities to countless African- Cover Story, Continued on page 3. DATA NEWS WEEKLY P.O. Box 57347, New Orleans, LA 70157-7347 | Phone: (504) 821-7421 | Fax: (504) 821-7622 INSIDE DATA editorial: [email protected] | advertising: [email protected] Terry B. Jones Contributors Art Direction & CEO/Publisher Production Kichea S. Burt Pubinator.com Edwin Buggage Cover Story . 2 Commentary . 8. Editorial Submissions James A. Washington Editor datanewseditor@ Cheryl Mainor bellsouth.net Newsmaker . 4 In The Spirit . 9. Kotey Thomas Managing Editor Advertising Inquiries datanewsad@ Calla Victoria Leon A. Waters State & Local News . 5 National News . 11. bellsouth.net Executive Assistant Mark Mahoney Distribution Data Zone . 6 June Hazeur On The Run Accounting Andreanecia Morris Courier Services Please call 504-309-9913 for subscription information or to obtain a back issue of the paper ONLY. Dated material two weeks in advance. Not responsible for publishing or return of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. www.ladatanews.com Cover Story February 2 - February 8, 2019 Page 3 Cover Story, Continued from page 2. Americans to receive quality edu- African-Americans with Doctor of one of the top 25 universities in master’s programs but few doc- a rich heritage that will be on full cations and to be able to compete Pharmacy (Pharm D) degrees . the nation in awarding bachelor’s toral programs . display this year as they commemo- and be successful in many fields of • Ranked#3 in the nation in the degrees in chemistry . • College Consensus, a unique rate a century and a half of Black endeavor . number of African-American • U . S News “Best Colleges” Guide college ratings website that ag- Excellence in Education . This is a This is but a snapshot of our se- graduates who go on to earn a 2018 rates Xavier as the #1 “best gregates publisher rankings and short history of the early years of ries: Dillard University . In 1869, with support from the Southern University American Missionary Association of Louisiana of the Congregational Church (now What began as a dream more the United Church of Christ) and than 136 years ago is today a living the Freedmen’s Aid Society of the legacy of determination, commit- Methodist Episcopal Church (now ment, and success . The Southern the United Methodist Church), University and A&M College Sys- Straight University and the Union tem is the only Historically Black Normal School were founded . University System in the United They were subsequently renamed States . Straight College and New Orleans Southern University is a Histori- University, respectively . Gilbert cally Black University with a main Academy, a secondary school, was campus located in Baton Rouge, a unit of New Orleans University . Louisiana . Originally founded in In 1889, New Orleans University 1880 in New Orleans as South- opened a medical department, in- ern University in New Orleans, cluding a school of pharmacy and it began its mission of providing a school of nursing . The medical post-secondary education for Af- department was named Flint Medi- rican-Americans with 12 students cal College and the affiliated facility and 5 faculty members . In 1890 was named the Sarah Goodridge the school’s name was changed to Hospital and Nurse Training Southern University, and in 1892 it School . The medical college was was recognized as a land grant col- discontinued in 1911, but the hos- lege . In 1912 the school awarded its pital, including the nursing school, first baccalaureate degree, and in was continued under the name 1914 the campus was moved to the Flint-Goodridge Hospital . Straight State Capitol in Baton Rouge . Dillard University has a rich heritage of producing leaders that have went on to lead not only Louisiana but College operated a law department The Southern University Sys- all of America. This year they will be celebrating 150 years of being a beacon light of Black Excellence. from 1874 to 1886 . tem also includes another four-year In 1935, New Orleans Univer- campus in New Orleans, a two-year sity and Straight College merged to campus in Shreveport, and a law form Dillard University . The trust- school in Baton Rouge . The four ees of the new university called for campuses were united as a system the implementation of a co-educa- in 1975 by the state legislature, cre- tional, interracial school, serving ating the largest Historically Black a predominantly African-American University in the United States . student body adhering to Christian principles and values . The univer- Xavier University sity was named in honor of James of Louisiana Hardy Dillard, a distinguished aca- Over its nine-decade history demician dedicated to educating Xavier University is recognized as a African-Americans . national leader in the sciences and Dillard trustees elected to con- the liberal arts . It also carries the tinue the work of the hospital but distinction as being the only Histor- not that of Gilbert Academy . The ically Black and Catholic University latter continued operation as a sepa- in the United States . rate institution under the sponsor- In a survey of students con- ship of the Board of Education of ducted for The Wall Street Journal/ the Methodist Church until 1949 . Times Higher Education College The university operated Flint-Go- Rankings, based on students’ opin- odridge Hospital of Dillard Univer- ions on how well their college or sity from 1932 until 1983 . university is preparing them for Will W . Alexander was chosen their career, Xavier received the to be the acting president of Dillard highest score of any school in the University . He served from 1935 South – in fact, it received the high- to 1936 . At the time of his appoint- est score of any of the more than Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) has continued since its opening in 1956 as a leader producing ment, he was Director of the Com- many talented African-Americans who have went on to lead the City in many fields of endeavor. Today it 1,000 schools that were included in continues in the spirit of this legacy in the fight for justice, equality and opportunities for all. mission on Interracial Cooperation the 2017 WSJ/THE rankings . (CIC), which actively campaigned • Ranked #1 in the nation in award- Ph .D . in science and engineering value” among southern regional student reviews, ranks Xavier as against lynching and conducted ing bachelor’s degrees to African- disciplines . colleges and universities . The the nation’s #2 HBCU (Histori- research studies of issues pertain- American students in the biologi- • The Department of Physics is same report ranked Xavier No . 5 cally Black Colleges and Univer- ing to “Negro Welfare” and other cal and biomedical sciences, the #1 in the nation for awarding spot among 70 Historically Black sities) in its newly released pub- Southern “problems .” physical sciences, and physics . African-Americans baccalaureate Colleges and Universities and lication, Best HBCUs for 2018 . It • Ranked #1 in the nation in the degrees in physics and the physi- No . 25 among 140 schools in its also ranks Xavier as #3 among all number of African-American cal sciences, according to the grouping of the Best Regional Louisiana colleges . We at Data News Weekly look graduates who go on to complete latest report from the American Colleges – South . Schools are forward to bringing you this se- medical school . Institute of Physics (AIP) . Xavier considered Regional Universities Dillard University ries on HBCU’s in Louisiana in the • Among the nation’s top four col- is consistently ranked by the if they offer a full range of under- Celebrating its 150th Anniversa- Month of February as we celebrate leges of pharmacy in graduating American Chemical Society as graduate programs and some ry this year Dillard University has Black History Month . Page 4 February 2 - February 8, 2019 Newsmaker www.ladatanews.com In Honor of Black History Month, Honor the Black and White Soldiers Who Fought to Defeat Slavery Leon A.