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Exclusive Interview: TSU Police Chief Mary Young

NNPA NEWSWIRE — TSU Police Chief Mary Young came to TSU in 2017, at the height of her career with the Houston Police Department (HPD) and was excited about being given the opportunity to manage and lead a full police department, mentor young men and women, and create an environment where HBCU’s were seen as impactful. The Forward Times highlighted her history-making achievement in March 2017, with an article entitled, “HAIL TO THE CHIEF: Veteran HPD Officer Mary Young Named TSU’s Acting Police Chief,” and she has served with distinction since that time with no incident until now with this anonymous complaint.
The post Exclusive Interview: TSU Police Chief Mary Young first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 year ago

December 24, 2022

Jeffrey L. Boney NNPA Newswire contributor

Lawsuit filed by Attorney Ben Hall, who says TSU has broken Texas state law with the handling of first female police chief at the University

By Jeffrey L. Boney | Houston Forward Times

Just when we thought the public issues surrounding Texas Southern University (TSU) had become a thing of the past, here comes another unnecessary situation that has negatively thrust the only HBCU in the city of Houston into the public spotlight.

For those that may have been following the story involving veteran officer, community leader, public servant, and current TSU Police Chief Mary Young, you are probably aware that she filed a lawsuit against TSU on November 30th in response to claims she was set to be terminated by the TSU Board of Regents based off an anonymous complaint that was filed against her.

The complaint mysteriously came after Chief Young beseeched her officers to “maintain professionalism” and to avoid giving the appearance of serving as “chauffeurs, errand-runners, and personal assistants” while working for TSU President Dr. Lesia Crumpton-Young.

Crumpton-Young took the helm at TSU in July of last year after the controversial termination of former TSU President Dr. Austin Lane by the TSU Board of Regents, which unfortunately played out in the public and unceremoniously cast a negative light on the University.

According to Chief Young, she didn’t even know her job was in jeopardy until she was made aware of the anonymous tip in July from the Interim Internal Auditor at TSU.

“In August, the President (Crumpton-Young) called and asked to meet me off campus and relay the news to me that the TSU Board had just had a board meeting, and that they had concluded that I was going to be terminated based on the findings from an audit investigation,” Chief Young tells the Forward Times. “President Crumpton-Young proceeded to inform me that my Deputy Chief and I were going to be let go and provided me with no other information. I was floored.”

Chief Young states she was never given an opportunity to give her side of the story or present any evidence to refute the allegations from the anonymous complainant, which is why she hired an attorney to file her initial lawsuit against TSU.

Attorney Ben Hall, who has taken on this case, is extremely concerned about the actions taken by TSU and believes the University has violated Texas state law every step of the way.

Hall states, however, this case is deeper and should concern everyone in the community regarding anonymous complaints against community-oriented police officers like Chief Young.

“TSU didn’t give Chief Young an opportunity to disprove this lie by an anonymous complainant to protect her own stellar reputation,” said Hall. “What we have here is a coward who was too scared to add their name to the anonymous complaint. This is someone who would rather throw rocks and hide their hands by making false charges and claims, and this is a lie that the leadership at TSU has chosen to align themselves with.”

According to Hall, Texas state law requires that any written complaint against a police officer must be signed by the complainant, given to the police officer, and then the police officer must be given an opportunity to respond the complaint.

Hall states that Chief Young never received a signed complaint that complies with state law, which is why no adverse or disciplinary action should be taken against her.

On top of that, Hall states that Chief Young had a strong system of checks and balances to prevent any arbitrary decision to approve overtime as alleged in the complaint from ever occurring, in that two other supervisors must sign off on overtime before it even gets to her.

First, the immediate supervisor of the police officer seeking to get approval for overtime must sign off on the submittal, and then a captain would have to sign off on the overtime submission for approval before it even gets to the desk of Chief Young, according to Hall.

“I am confident that we will be able to prove all of this false, because even when you look at the lie, Chief (Young) doesn’t even make the initial approval of overtime,” says Hall. “I am just shocked that the TSU Board of Regents and the administration would violate state law, without giving Chief Young, or any officer, the opportunity to defend themselves, which is required by state law in Texas.”

And then there is the false narrative that Chief Young has officially been placed on administrative leave.

According to Hall, TSU sent a letter to Chief Young informing her of their decision to place her on administrative leave, which prompted them to file a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on behalf of Chief Young on December 7th prohibiting TSU from taking any further disciplinary or adverse employment action against Young pending a temporary injunction hearing scheduled for December 20, 2022. The designated ancillary judge granted that request and the courts have stopped TSU from taking any action.

Chief Young is still at her job, contrary to media reports stating otherwise, and she is still working at her office focusing on protecting the TSU campus and leading her department.

TSU has appealed the TRO, but Hall has filed an emergency motion to require the case to be returned to the district court, because no final judgments have been made by the district courts, and the district courts are where the judges have listened to and heard the evidence relative to the case.

“Administrative leave is a violation of state law,” says Hall.

Chief Young came to TSU in 2017, at the height of her career with the Houston Police Department (HPD) and was excited about being given the opportunity to manage and lead a full police department, mentor young men and women, and create an environment where HBCU’s were seen as impactful. The Forward Times highlighted her history-making achievement in March 2017, with an article entitled, “HAIL TO THE CHIEF: Veteran HPD Officer Mary Young Named TSU’s Acting Police Chief,” and she has served with distinction since that time with no incident until now with this anonymous complaint.

Now, Chief Young just wants the truth to be told regarding what she and her attorney are deeming an improper investigation. She believes that a wrong report was presented to the TSU Board of Regents and that she was not afforded the opportunity to present her series of facts and important information, and states that she looks forward to that day.

“This is more than my reputation that I’m fighting for, this is about my character,” states Chief Young. “Without character, you cannot be trusted and if you cannot be trusted, you cannot lead. Your character is your mark on the world, and how you lead, how people see you, and how you follow, describes your character. I have worked extremely hard to become a person of honesty and decency. To present me any other way is absurd.”

The Forward Times will continue to follow this case and keep our readers informed of the latest happenings surrounding Chief Young and TSU.

The post EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: TSU POLICE CHIEF MARY YOUNG appeared first on Houston Forward Times.

The post Exclusive Interview: TSU Police Chief Mary Young first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Jeffrey L. Boney NNPA Newswire contributor

Posts by Jeffrey L. Boney NNPA Newswire contributor

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IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.

Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.

Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”

Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.

“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”

The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.

Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.

Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.

The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.

Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.

Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.

Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.

Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.

The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.

The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.

In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.

The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.

The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy

May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.