HBCU Review: Laz Alonso Says “Let’s Save Our HBCUs”

Plus, Lincoln University alumni protest demolition.

Laz Alonso - The Jumping the Broom star is Afro-Cuban by blood, but doesn't let labels identify him. “I always like to say that whether you’re African-American, Afro-Jamaican, Afro-Haitian, Afro-British, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Panamanian, whatever — Black is Black,” says Alonso. "I have a Cuban influence from my ethnicity, so I feel 100 percent Cuban and 100 percent Black and nobody can take that away from me." (Photo: John Ricard/BET)

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Laz Alonso Teams Up With HBCU Celeb Alums - Morehouse College’s formerly only living female graduate passes away, Howard alum Laz Alonso wants to save HBCUs, plus more. —Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyee)Actor and Howard University alum Laz Alonso is on a mission to save HBCUs. He recently chatted with Roland Martin on NewsOne Now to talk about how he and fellow alums are helping to save historically Black colleges and universities. “A group of us – Lance Gross, Marlon Wayans, myself – are putting together a call to action for alumni,” said Alonso.(Photo: John Ricard / BET)

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Morris Brown to Avoid Property Sale With Clark Atlanta’s Help - Morris Brown College is currently in a financial trouble and desperate to come back from bankruptcy. The school filed court documents to ask bankruptcy court for permission to retain a real estate agent to sell 35 acres. However, 18 of the acres were gifted to them by Clark Atlanta University only to be used for education purposes.(Photo: THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION)

A New Start for Southern University - Sanctions lifted against Southern University, Prairie View A&M University basketball coach moves on to Baylor, plus more HBCU news. — Britt Middleton Southern University and A&M College's Baton Rouge campus has been released from probation, The Advocate reported. The school was sanctioned in December because of "insufficient data reporting," stemming from its re-accreditation process in 2010. (Photo: TIMES-PICAYUNE/LANDOV)

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Southern University Chancellor Ousted - The Southern University Board of Supervisors voted 8-7 on Monday to not extend Chancellor James Llorens contract, which expires June 30. Motivations behind board members’ votes have not been revealed.(Photo: TIMES-PICAYUNE /LANDOV)

Virginia Union University Announces New Master of Arts Degree - Those pursuing higher education in education, psychology and interdisciplinary studies at Virginia Union University now have the option to pursue a Master of Arts degree in curriculum and instruction. The program begins in spring 2015 and can be completed in 18 to 24 months.  (Photo: Virginia Union University)

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Virginia Union Student Slain Near Campus - Virginia Union students and staff held a vigil for Kahron Lee, 20, who was shot and killed at an apartment complex near campus at around 11:50 p.m. on Sunday. The police are still investigating his death and have yet to release a motive for the shooting.(Photo: Courtesy of Virginia Union University)

Morehouse College's Only Living Female Graduate Dies - Mary Robinson Spivey, a member of the class of 1933 and the last female graduate from Morehouse College, died over the weekend. Spivey attended the top-ranking HBCU before it became an all-male institution.(Photo: Morehouse College via Facebook)

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Morehouse College's Only Living Female Graduate Dies - Mary Robinson Spivey, a member of the class of 1933 and the last female graduate from Morehouse College, died over the weekend. Spivey attended the top-ranking HBCU before it became an all-male institution.(Photo: Morehouse College via Facebook)

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FAMU Announces New Advanced Degree Program - Beginning in the fall 2014 semester, FAMU’s College of Education will offer a master’s degree in education. The program, which was three years in the making, is designed to address the state university system’s goal of increasing productivity and efficiency along with addressing the need for more highly trained teachers.(Photo: Courtesy of Florida A&M University)

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FAMU Alumni Rachael Shackelford Wins Emmy Award - CNN associate producer for The Situation Room and FAMU Alumni Rachael Shackelford won an Emmy for her work on the 2012 CNN special "Election Night in America." Shackelford credited her success to FAMU, saying that the deans and staff mentored and pushed her, catapulting her to “working for an international network and winning an Emmy.” (Photo: FAMU)

Is There a Future for HBCUs? - Historically Black colleges and universities continue to serve as unique academic spaces for African-American students. But some are facing trouble and their relevancy today has been questioned. As the institutions look to the future, how will they continue to thrive? The Association of Governing Boards released a report breaking down the seven strategic issues HBCUs are facing now and in the coming years. BET.com covers those issues here. — Natelege Whaley (@Natelege_) (Photo: Nathaniel Grann / For The Washington Post)

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Howard Tops HBCU List of Peace Corp Volunteers - The Peace Corps recently announced that Howard University is leading HBCUs in volunteers for the organization. Currently, Howard has 18 graduates working as volunteers in the Corps. More than 210 Howard graduates have traveled abroad to serve as volunteers since the Peace Corps was established in 1961.(Photo: Nathaniel Grann / For The Washington Post)

Lincoln University Alumni Protest Demolition Plans - Lincoln University alumni staged a protest earlier this month against President Robert Jennings and the university’s Board of Trustees in efforts to thwart the university’s plans to demolish historic campus buildings. The alumni group of protesters are awaiting a meeting with Jennings to discuss alternatives to razing the buildings, which they allege is a part of the university development plans under Pennsylvania’s Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zones.(Photo: Lincoln University)

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Lincoln University Alumni Protest Demolition Plans - Lincoln University alumni staged a protest earlier this month against President Robert Jennings and the university’s Board of Trustees in efforts to thwart the university’s plans to demolish historic campus buildings. The alumni group of protesters are awaiting a meeting with Jennings to discuss alternatives to razing the buildings, which they allege is a part of the university development plans under Pennsylvania’s Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zones.(Photo: Lincoln University)

Benedict and Miles College Presidents Added to Financial Aid Review Panel - Benedict College President David Swinton and Miles College President George French will be on a panel of higher education and financial officials who will be reviewing rules for federal aid regulations. Swinton and French are the only HBCU presidents serving on the 16-member panel imposed by the Department of Education.(Photo: Miles College)

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Benedict and Miles College Presidents Added to Financial Aid Review Panel - Benedict College President David Swinton and Miles College President George French will be on a panel of higher education and financial officials who will be reviewing rules for federal aid regulations. Swinton and French are the only HBCU presidents serving on the 16-member panel imposed by the Department of Education.(Photo: Miles College)

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Civil Rights Organizations Join Forces for Higher Education - The Walmart Foundation gave $1.75 million in grants to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Urban League (NUL) and United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to help African-Americans access higher education and job training and placement support. UNCF is receiving funds to start a program to help assure HBCUs continue as a source of quality degrees for African-American students.(Photo: Wal-Mart)