The all-male Morehouse took steps in a new dress code — effective this month — that bans “clothing associated with women’s garb” according to the announcement originally published in The Maroon Tiger, Morehouse’s student newspaper.

According to The Tiger, the new dress code also stiupulates:

–No caps, do-rags and/or hoods in classrooms, the cafeteria, or other indoor venues.

-Other bans of clothing and accessories include: no grillz on campus, no bare feet in public, and no pajamas in public or common areas. Students who don’t follow the dress policy will be instructed to leave class or other functions.

Scott Jaschik of Inside Higher Ed explains that the new dress code has little opposition and that Morehouse officials have expressed ninety percent of students are already observing this new “appropriate attire policy.” Unfortunately, not all of Morehouse’s student body are championing the changes.

A group of gay students have come out in opposition of the new dress code, claiming that it hinders their self-expression. What do you say, guys? Enrollment at Morehosue — like many Black colleges — has declined in the past year, while endowments have dropped and fundraising sources have dried up during the nation’s economic meltdown. Is this the best time for administrators to piss off the student body?

Spotted@

Nikole’s father is from Guam and her mother is Italian.

Thoughts on this?

On Monday, the leggy brunette wrote a letter to President Barack Obama — a fellow Hawaiian — seeking help in the wake of the backlash.

Here is what she wrote:

Subject:
Hampton University

To:
President Barack Obama

October 11, 2009

Aloha Mr. Obama!

My name is Nikole Churchill, a senior nursing major at Hampton University. This past Friday October 9, 2009, I was honored to be crowned Miss Hampton University 2009-2010. It truly was the best night of my life! With that being said, I am sad to say…… that my crowning was not widely accepted and many negative comments regarding my win have been shared throughout my campus.

It would be much easier to say that possibly some were not accepting of the news because I wasn’t the most qualified contestant; however, the true reason for the disapproval was because of the color of my skin. I am not African-American. Despite the unfortunate beliefs that some are saying I should not have won, I am desperately trying to focus on those who believe in me and support me and my goal to represent this beautiful, multicultural campus the very best way that I can. I would love your help!

I am hoping that perhaps you would be able to make an appearance to my campus, Hampton University, so that my fellow Hamptonians can stop focusing so much on the color of my skin and doubting my abilities to represent, but rather be proud of the changes our nation is making towards accepting diversity. People are even nicknaming me, “lil Obama” because of various reasons. This is truly an honor as well!

I am also from Hawaii (Wahiawa) and I am hoping that you can assist me in opening some closed minds and help share some aloha spirit throughout my campus. I feel as though you could relate to my situation, which is why I immediately wanted to contact you. I was interviewed last night at the HU vs. HU football game by news channel 13 and I mentioned how individuals such as you and myself are making changes in hopes people can stop placing so much focus on our skin color by letting that define what we can, cannot, should, and/or should not do. Dr. Harvey welcomed me last night to the family with open arms and I was beyond honored when he told me that he is behind me 100%. I am proud to represent Hampton University and I am so proud having you to represent our home, our country. Your support with my crowning as Miss Hampton University 2009-2010 would be graciously appreciated. Please reply, I will be looking forward to it!

-Nikole Churchill

Virginia Beach , VA

That’s where the trouble started. School administrators released a statement claiming Nikole had not yet been authorized to speak out about her win, therefore the open letter to Obama put her crown in jeopardy. This quickly followed: In a statement to The Hampton Roads Daily Press Tuesday, Nikole issued an apology to the Hampton University community for penning to the Obama Call:

“I am honored to be the winner of the Miss Hampton University Pageant that was held on Friday, October 9, 2009. On Sunday, October 11, 2009 I posted a letter to President Obama saying that my win was not widely accepted on campus. I have now come to regret writing this letter and disappointing the very students that I now represent. I took the comments of a few and blew it out of proportion. In reality, all comments that have been directed towards me and the reception I received at the Hampton University versus Howard University football game on Saturday, October 10, 2009 were genuinely supportive. Today, I met with student leaders and other elected student officials and they were also supportive. Hampton University has always promoted diversity. In fact Hampton University pioneered American Indian education and has embraced diversity since its inception. I truly apologize to all students, faculty, staff and alumni. It was absolutely not my intention to bring negative attention to the University. I deeply apologize for any misunderstandings that this may have caused and I look forward to working with my fellow students to promote the Hampton University legacy.”

Nikole Churchill

Miss Hampton University 2009-2010

Mitrice, a former beauty queen and recent California State University grad, was last seen walking out of a sheriff’s station at approximately 4:30AM one week ago. Her parents say she should never have been released at that hour with no transportation or money.

“Mitrice is not street savvy,” her mother, Latice Sutton, told TODAY’s Matt Lauer Friday from Los Angeles, on Friday. “Mitrice has had a pretty sheltered upbringing.”

A resident in a neighborhood several miles away from the sheriff’s station reported seeing a woman meeting Richardson’s description sleeping on a porch that morning, but there have been no other sightings. Civil rights attorney Leo Terrell has accused police of inconsistencies in their reports. Terrell says celebrities who get arrested are never released into the night, and Mitrice Richardson should not have been, either.

Mitrice Richardson is African-American, stands between 5-foot-5 and 5-foot-6, and weighs about 135 pounds.

To Learn More About The Disappearance Of Mitrice Richardson Visit MSNBC.com.

Jasmina is currently battling a rare form of leukemia that doctors fear could kill her in a matter of months. The young girl desperately needs a bone marrow transplant.

“This young, beautiful little girl needs a match,” Kelly told ABC News. “When you meet her you just can’t help but fall in love.”

Jasmina is adopted and has no sibling, so finding a donor match – which would most likely come from an another African- American – is especially difficult.

“It’s one in a million,” says Jasmina’s mom, Theodora Anema. “We really need the African-American community to step up.”

If you’re in the New York City area, a donor drive will be held for Jasmina at Public School 41 (116 W. 11th St.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m this Saturday . For more information, contact DKMS, a nonpprofit marrow donor center: (866)-340-3567.

Click Here For More Information On How You Can Help

Remembering the life, legacy, and service of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Emmy Award-winning dancer-actress Eartha Kitt, who rose from the South Carolina cotton fields become an international “sex kitten,” has died.

Family friend Andrew Freedman tells the Associated Press Ms. Kitt died of colon cancer at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City on Thursday.

Eartha Kitt was 81.

New York State Governor David Paterson is seething mad over a Saturday Night Live skit that poked fun at his blindness over the weekend.

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“I can take a joke. But only 37% of disabled people are working and I’m afraid that that kind of third-grade humor certainly adds to this atmosphere. Let’s just say I don’t think it helped,” Paterson told the Daily News on Sunday.

Senator Barack Obama, wife Michelle, and daughter Maia, 10, and Sasha, 7 on the August 4 issue of People Magazine.

Loren Feldman of 1938 media firm has come under fire from two civil rights groups for his recent video blog entitled Technigga. Najee Ali of Project Islamic Hope and Paul Porter of Industry Ears have issued a statement publicly protesting Loren’s offensive Vlog.

“Feldman has a history of using the internet to promote racism and demeaning and negative racial stereotypes against African Americans on his internet site. He is responsible for and appears in what he calls ‘TechNigga.’”