Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas Permit No. 01949 TPA TEXAS PUBLISHERS www.TheAustinVillager.com ASSOCIATION This paper can be recycled Vol. 44 No. 30 Phone: 512-476-0082 Email: [email protected] December 16, 2016 Ex-Philadelphia Congressman Fattah INSIDE Gets 10 Years for Corruption by: Maryclaire Dale Associated Press PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah was sentenced Legendary country singer closes 2016 RAPPIN’ Monday to a 10-year in grand style. prison term by a judge Tommy Wyatt See PARTON who said he was “aston- Page 2 The year of The ished” that a veteran leg- Precursors. islator would steal gov- ernment and charity The Precursors are a group funds to pay his son’s of African American alumni debts and buy a vacation who share the distinction of being among the first African home. American students to attend Fattah, a Democrat who was born into a fam- and integrate The University Dynamic gospel of Texas at Austin. The first ily of Black activists in artist passes at class was admitted in 1956. west Philadelphia, spent 80 years old. However, the group is open to two decades in Congress See LIGON any African American working on housing, edu- Page 3 students who attended the cation, gun control and Former Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., walks from the federal courthouse University more than 40 years other issues of concern to after his sentencing hearing in Philadelphia, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Fattah ago. his mostly poor district. I identify with this group, was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for misspending government Fattah and his TV anchor because I graduated from high grants and charity money to fund his campaign and personal expenses. wife meanwhile took in school in 1956 and entered (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) college that same year. But, more than $500,000 a like many students who were year. the first in their families to go Yet Fattah’s finances limits that led him to take As he awaited his ful for the work he was Councilwoman to to college, I needed a grew increasingly dire af- an illegal $1 million loan sentence, Fattah told the able to do over 37 years as address community scholarship to help with the ter a failed 2007 run for from a friend. The trouble judge he had mixed emo- See how $23K worth regulation concerns. tuition. I was looking for an mayor, when he faced escalated when the friend tions: saddened to find of stolen funds was See HOUSTON athletic scholarship in new campaign spending called in the debt. himself in court but grate- spent on page 7 Page 6 football. And it would be many years before that would be an option at UT or any MOVING ON! Charlie Strong to take other major university in Texas. I was fortunate to go to on head coaching job at USF By Kevin McGuire Bishop College in Marshall. As the coaching carousel continued to spin, it was left in question just Sadly, the school moved to what might the coaching future have for Charlie Strong. It would appear a Dallas the year after I return to the Sunshine State is what is next for Strong, as reports are in Strong graduated. Like many of our Black Colleges and will be the new head coach of USF. Brett McMurphy of ESPN.com reported Universities, Bishop did not Find out what Strong inherits in move to Tampa on page 7 survive and was closed in the early 1970’s. The campus is now home of Paul Quinn KVUE Rises To Top As UT honors organizations and College, who moved from Waco in a struggle for Austin’s Multi-platform individuals at annual Community survival. I became friends with many of the Precursors News Choice Leadership Awards ceremony when I moved to Austin in 1962 after being discharged By T. L. Wyatt | VILLAGER editor-in-chief from the Army. You might say that we grew up together. The Precursors were honored this past Semester during a celebration marking the 60th Anniversary of the enrollment of African American undergraduates. More than 19 members of the inaugural call returned to the campus for the celebration in their honor. And there were several other events held during this celebration. It is heartwarming to see all Quita-Culpepper of the attention that the Austin, TX – KVUE, News at 5 has built on (l to r) Dr. Gregory J. Vincent, UT Vice President for Diversity and University is giving this group Austin’s most trusted its #1 ranking in adults Community Engagement; U T. President Dr. Gregory L Fenves; and and it is long past due. This news source, continued 25-54 with an increase Jacquelyn Hawkins, receiving Leadership Circle Award. group led the way for African Photo by T. L. Wyatt American students to go to to increase in the ratings of 29%, the highest in- during the November crease among all com- UT Austin and other colleges AUSTIN, TX - The ber 12. This is an annual the Division for Diversity sweeps period, pushing petitors. KVUE News at and universities around the University of Texas at Aus- event that has been held and Community Engage- state. To hear their stories of several weekday news- 6 has also increased rat- tin honored three organi- in East Austin for the last ment at the University. the abuse that they took in casts to the top among ings 6% in adults 25-54 zations and four individu- several years. Honorees this year order to stay there are adults and women ages since May. With an- als for outstanding public The Community are: amazing. Their commitment 25-54. KVUE News at 5 chors like Terri Gruca, service and work on civil Leadership Awards cer- Community Partner- is one of the events that were p.m. and KVUE News Quita Culpepper, me- rights at the annual Com- emony is a community tra- ship Award a major part of the Civil Midday both took #1, teorologist Albert Rights Movement. munity Leadership Awards dition that recognizes · Black Ex-Stu- while KVUE Daybreak Ramon, and sports- The University of Texas is ceremony. The event was leaders instrumental in dents of Texas (BEST)- In gained momentum in caster Mike Barnes, it’s to be commended for bringing held at the George Wash- making Austin the city it is the spring of 1998 Kevin the morning, tying for #1 clear to see why Austin the Precursors front and ington Carver Museum today. The annual event is Foster, Erik Spurlock, and at 5 a.m. and at 6 a.m. chooses KVUE News at 5 center again. They deserve the and Cultural Center on co-sponsored by the Of- among female viewers. and 6 as their most honor and we thank them for Monday evening, Decem- fice of the President and See AWARDS, page 7 their sacrifices. Since May, KVUE trusted source of news. Page 2 ~ THE VILLAGER/December 16, 2016 THE COMMUNIQUÉ www.theaustinvillager.com Legendary Country Music Singer Dolly Dolly Parton on Tour at the Frank Erwin Center Parton By Naomi Richard not heard in a while, as will provide $1000 each cameo appearances on AUSTIN, TX - Dolly well as the hits, while month to Sevier County NBC’s The Voice this sea- Parton, the incomparable debuting a few new ones families who lost their son, she received the legend of country music, off Pure & Simple,” Par- homes. Willie Nelson Lifetime favored Austin, Texas with ton said. “I’ve always believed Achievement Award dur- a stop on the “Pure & The singer and musi- charity begins at home ing the 50th Annual Coun- Simple Tour!” Parton ar- cian is a beloved cultural and my home is some try Music Awards and NBC rived on stage in an ornate icon whose powerful place special,” Parton ex- featured Dolly Parton’s white jump suit with her voice, songwriting and plained. “That’s why I’ve Christmas of Many Colors matching guitar bringing embracing personality asked my Dollywood Com- Circle of Love on Novem- love, laughter and music to have won the hearts of panies—including the ber 30. a sold-out audience of country and pop music Dollywood theme park, Dolly Parton will for- 10,000 fans. fans for decades. and DreamMore Resort; ever be known as one of The “Pure & Simple In a recently released my dinner theater attrac- the most successful coun- Tour’ represents her first video message, Parton tions including Dixie Stam- try singers of all time, and major U.S. and Canadian announced a new effort by pede and Lumberjack Ad- the most influential female tour in more than 25 The Dollywood Company venture; and my in the genre. Having years. and The Dollywood Foun- Dollywood Foundation—to achieved 8 Grammy® “We’re so excited to dation to establish a fund help me establish the My Awards, many gold, plati- get out there and see the to assist the victims of the People Fund. num and multi-platinum fans again. I’m really Great Smoky Mountain Parton closes 2016 in albums, the 70 year old Dolly Parton performs during the Pure & looking forward to sing- wildfires in Tennessee. grand style. In addition to legend shows no sign of Simple Tour - Frank Erwin Center in Austin, ing songs the fans have The new My People Fund the tour, she’s made slowing down! TX. Photo by Naomi Richard. Wonder Woman Dumped as a Special UN Ambassador after Uproar by: Mark Kennedy AP Entertainment Writer U.N. on social media plat- mayed that another man, forms to promote women’s Antonio Guterres, the NEW YORK (AP) — empowerment, including former prime minister of The comic book heroine on gender-based violence Portugal, was chosen to be Wonder Woman has been and the fuller participation the next secretary-general, abruptly fired from her hon- of women in public life.