Latest news with #CharlestonSouthernUniversity
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Remembering the Mother Emanuel Church Shooting 10 Years Later
Tim Grant is comforted during a prayer vigil on June 22, 2015 at the Charleston Southern University for the victims of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church mass shooting where nine people were killed, including two of Grant's cousins. Credit - Joe Raedle—Getty Images Ten years ago this month, a 21-year-old misfit who imagined himself a white supremacist zealot walked casually through the unlocked door of the oldest African Methodist Episcopal Church in the South. Without hesitation, he was invited into a basement fellowship hall to join 12 African American worshippers at their weekly Bible study. After roughly 45 minutes, once the congregants had closed their eyes in benediction, the young man removed a .45 caliber Glock from his waist pack and began to methodically assassinate nine men and women, ranging in age from 26 to 87. Three were on the ministerial staff, including the pastor, who also was serving his fourth term in the state senate. Each was shot at least five times, with the oldest, church matriarch Susie Jackson, shredded by ten hollow-point bullets. The survivors reported that the shooter made his racist intentions explicit as he fired, and he eagerly confirmed his sickening purpose to investigators after being captured the next day. As a journalist who had chronicled progress and regress in my native South across four decades, I was deeply affected by the murders on June 17, 2015, at Emanuel African Methodist Church in Charleston, S.C.—Mother Emanuel, as it is known. It was a blunt force reminder of the persistence of racial violence despite our fitful progress on civil rights. The timing toward the end of Barack Obama's second term seemed a pointed rebuke to any who still saw in his elections the heralding of a 'post-racial' America. Two days later, I was, like so many, simultaneously awed and befuddled by the scene at Dylann Roof's televised bond hearing, when five victims' family members rose one after the next to offer some measure of forgiveness to the remorseless killer. 'I will never talk to her again, I will never be able to hold her again,' wailed Nadine Collier, the now motherless daughter of church sexton Ethel Lance. 'But I forgive you. And have mercy on your soul.' Even to the faithful, it seemed among the purest expressions of Christianity ever witnessed, and it inspired Obama to deliver a stirring eulogy that, while remembered for his warbling of 'Amazing Grace,' also was his most searing and authentic effort at grappling with race. But what did the extension of grace really mean in the context of this tragedy? What did it mean, for that matter, in the context of 400 years of Black suffering, oppression, and injustice? Was it as simple as 'forgive us our trespasses' and 'forgive them, for they know not what they do?' Or were those Scriptural entreaties the foundation for something more self-protective that had evolved from centuries of systemic victimization? While writing a book about Mother Emanuel, I devoted much of the next decade to exploring those questions, convinced that answers might be found through a deeper study of the backstories of the congregation and its denomination. Where better to search for the intersections of history and theology, I figured, than in Charleston, the steepled Holy City, where nearly half of all enslaved Africans disembarked in North America and where the Civil War began? As I came to better understand the subversive role played by the Black church in resisting oppression, it grew clearer that forgiveness was not always for the forgiven. Read More: How Do You Forgive a Murder? Black Charlestonians, as it ends up, have had a lot to forgive. The intensity of their suffering, and of their resistance to it, reverberates through the now 207-year story of Mother Emanuel and its predecessor congregation. When that body formed in 1818 after a bold walkout from white Methodist churches, it prompted an immediate and ruthless response. Congregants were arrested in mass and ministers jailed. Four years later, a purported slave insurrection plot was uncovered before it matured, and city authorities sourced its incubation in part to the church. Thirty-five men were led to the gallows, 17 with ties to the congregation. By order of the authorities, the sanctuary was dismantled board by board, and church leaders were forced into exile. What followed was a vicious legislative crackdown on the already limited rights of both enslaved and free Black Carolinians; then the broken promises of Reconstruction; then the lynchings and beatings and Klan intimidation; then the incessant indignities and denial of rights of the Jim Crow era; then the jailings of peaceful civil rights demonstrators, including Emanuel's pastor; then the flying of an offensive Confederate flag over the State Capitol; and then, in 2015, the fatal shooting of an unarmed Black man by a white policeman, followed 74 days later by the murders of nine churchgoers by a young neo-Nazi. The weight of it all, the duration of it all, can take your breath away. And for many, forgiveness might seem an inadequate response, given available options like anger, bitterness, hatred, revenge, retribution. A more natural one, perhaps a more human one, might even be 'Where was God?' But this presupposes that the forgiveness expressed toward Dylann Roof was for Dylann Roof. That, I concluded after interviewing survivors, family members, and theologians, likely misinterprets its intent and misunderstands the distinctive role that grace plays in the African American church. Each of the forgiving family members explained that they acted not out of concern for Roof's physical or spiritual welfare, but for their own. No slate had been wiped. Some did not care much whether Roof lived or died. (He remains on federal death row in Indiana, one of three inmates whose sentences were not commuted to life in prison by President Biden at the close of his term.) Survivor Felicia Sanders, who had witnessed the executions of her son and her aunt, wished God's mercy upon Roof at his bond hearing, but damned him 'to the pit of hell' at his trial. Those who forgave depicted the moment in mystical terms—unpremeditated, unexpected, the words just flowed. It was God talking, and they were mere vessels. But each also recognized in their act a timeworn survival mechanism, a tactic that had helped African Americans withstand enslavement, forced migration, captivity, indentured servitude, segregation, discrimination, denial of citizenship, and the constant threat of racial and sexual violence with their souls still, somehow, intact. Distilled over the centuries from pulpits and prayer meetings, it had become almost learned behavior, church elders told me, allowing Black Christians to purge themselves of self-destructive toxins. It served as an unburdening, not an undoing, a means not only of moral practice but of emotional self-preservation. Because the choice to forgive was one dignity that could not be taken away, it also served as a path to empowerment. It might be mistaken for submission, but in Charleston it reflected a resolve to leave the killer to the courts and to God. In that way, forgiveness resurrected agency for victims who had been robbed of it. 'He's not a part of my life anymore,' Rev. Anthony Thompson said to me of his slain wife's killer. 'Forgiveness has freed me of that, of him, completely. I'm not going to make him a lifetime partner.' Read More: Searching for Signs of a Change in Charleston Telling this history—the history of white supremacy and of Black suffering and resistance—matters now more than ever. It explains our past. It gives needed context to our present. It is a prerequisite to a just and empathetic future, ideals that have somehow fallen from fashion. Yet, we now confront a campaign to banish this history, to deny it and erase it, for crassly transparent political purposes. The telling of the entire story of America, after all, calls into question the greatness that Donald Trump pledges to restore, and agitates a base that remains threatened and excitable by our multicultural reality. Ten years ago, Roof's self-identification with the Confederate battle flag prompted the Republican leadership of South Carolina to remove it from the state Capitol grounds after more than fifty years of affront to a fourth of the population. A wildfire movement to eradicate Confederate symbolism swept the South, and Charleston's mayor and council used the fifth anniversary of the Emanuel tragedy, three weeks after the killing of George Floyd, to remove a statue of slavery defender John C. Calhoun from the city's central square. Today, we move in the opposite direction. Personnel and educational policies that recognize the value of diversity and acknowledge past injustices are under withering assault. Within the first three months of this administration, books about racism had been banned from the U.S. Naval Academy library, and a National Park Service webpage had been scrubbed of references to Harriet Tubman (decisions that were eventually reversed in part after public outcry). Pete Hegseth's Pentagon restored the names of Forts Benning and Bragg, asserting that they now honored soldiers who happened to have the same surnames as their former Confederate namesakes. A presidential executive order in March required the removal of "improper, divisive or anti-American ideology" from the Smithsonian Institution and the restoration of monuments and memorials that had been removed 'to perpetuate a false revision of history.' The Orwellian language only reinforced the point. Read More: The Battle for Our Memory Is the Battle for Our Country But debasing our history through censorship and ideological cherry-picking insults the memory of the nine saints who were murdered at Mother Emanuel, desecrating its sacred space all over again. In whitewashing the inglorious chapters of America's past, we leave a void in 'these truths' that may not prove forgivable. Contact us at letters@
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Charleston Southern offering to help students affected by Limestone, St. Andrews closures
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)—Charleston Southern University announced Wednesday that school officials have developed a plan to help students following the closures of Limestone and St. Andrews universities. To help students affected by the closures who are thinking of transferring to Charleston Southern, the university is offering the following: Tour Treasure Grant of $1,500 guaranteed for any transfer attending a registration day this summer; Freshman-level scholarships for students transferring to CSU this fall; Housing for early transfers; Credit transfer of up to 89 hours with registrar approval; Waived application fees; And personalized support from the enrollment and academic support teams. 'As a fellow Christian university, Charleston Southern University is holding the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and extended Limestone University and St. Andrews University families in our heartfelt prayers during this time of transition,' CSU President B. Keith Faulkner said. 'We recognize the deep impact a university home has on each life it touches, and our hearts are with all those navigating this unexpected chapter. CSU stands ready to extend a warm welcome to anyone seeking a Christ-centered community and a home away from home. You are not alone—we are here, and we are praying for you.' Enrollment counselors are also on standby to help with students' questions. Visit the university website to learn more about the degree programs CSU offers. Students and families can also contact enroll@ or 843.863.7000 to speak to the CSU admissions team. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Charleston Southern University grows aeronautics with new flight school
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Charleston Southern University has purchased a flight school to provide a high-quality flight training experience for its aeronautics program. Charleston Southern purchased Chucktown Flight Training, LLC DBA Carolina Sky Flight Training, a local group based in Summerville. University officials say CSU began its partnership with the flight school back in 2021 to offer CSU's inaugural professional pilot degree, the only 4-year collegiate program in South Carolina. 'This is a historic and transformative moment in the life of our university,' said CSU President B. Keith Faulkner. 'This acquisition allows us to reach greater heights and excellence in our education of the next generation of pilots and managers. Whether they dream of flying for commercial airlines, service in Air Force or Space Force, or using their talents to serve in missions.' The CSU aeronautics program was started less than four years ago with 19 students and has grown to more than 150 students, according to the university. As a result of growing, CSU has committed to a multi-million dollar investment in the aeronautics program for 2025. In addition to the flight school, the university is providing a centralized location for the aeronautics faculty and staff in its second construction phase for the science and engineering building this summer. Officials say a new flight simulation lab will also be installed in that space. 'This acquisition ensures that the university will be able to provide stellar training for new pilots, as well as for others interested in avionics as a future career,' said CSU Board Chair Dean Murphy. 'As a university, we remain committed to offering educational opportunities which will afford our graduates with immediate employment opportunities. Exciting times to be a Buc!' The acquisition will also bring opportunities to the veterans enrolled at CSU. Officials say veterans will soon be able to apply U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Post 9/11 benefits to private pilot flight training. Owning the flight school also makes the professional pilot program eligible to be considered for approval to enroll international students through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. CSU officials said they are working with Congress for additional equipment funding that will increase the training pipeline capacity and enhance the degree program experience. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Charleston Southern University launches new tuition program
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Charleston Southern University has launched a new scholarship program that covers tuition, housing, and select food costs. Officials say the Palmetto Academic Excellence (PAE) Award will be available to Pell-eligible students pursuing STEM degrees, nursing, accounting, aeronautics, kinesiology, or education. Students at CSU eligible for the PAE award will have tuition for all four years covered, as well as housing and select meal plans for their sophomore, junior, and senior years. 'Charleston Southern is committed to removing barriers to college for students who have exhibited intellect and grit through high school and their first year in college. As a first-generation college student and an alumnus of CSU, I can relate to the very real challenges and choices of college and career, and I am forever grateful for the chance I had to study at a private Christian university. This scholarship program addresses student and industry needs of the Lowcountry region and South Carolina. CSU is at the forefront of educating the best and brightest students in the state, and the PAE will help us to continue to live out our mission of promoting academic excellence in a Christian environment.' President B. Keith Faulkner of CSU Students eligible for the Palmetto Academic Excellence Award must: Be a resident of South Carolina Hold at least a 3.5 unweighted GPA Complete the FAFSA Be pell-eligible for more than the 'Minimum Pell Grant' Qualify for the Palmetto Fellows Enhancement Scholarship Enrollment full-time in a traditional degree program and declare an eligible SC Enhancement program, per the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education Be pursuing a first bachelor's degree Complete 14 credit hours of college-level science and math courses in their first year at CSU The university says the PAE Award is renewable each year, provided the student maintains eligibility. To learn more about the PAE Award, visit the Charleston Southen University website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
3 celebrate college signings at New Hampstead
BLOOMINGDALE, Ga. (WSAV) — At New Hampstead High School, three players announced their athletic plans for the collegiate level in the school's auditorium on Feb. 5. From the football team, defensive end Shaun Hamilton will play at Charleston Southern University. Kicker Jamaal brown will go to Reinhardt University. 'Charleston Southern was the first school that reached out to him,' Hamilton said. 'He offered me at the camp. When they offered me, they gave me a full ride. So everything was free. That was one of the best options. So I took it.' 'Earlier this year,' Jamaal Brown said. 'I thought that my football career was done and I would just focus on academics. But they came out the blue, sent me on an official visit and showed me some money.' Then for flag football, Gianna Brown will go to Emmanuel University. Brown is the current Hollis Stacy award winner, which is given to the most versatile female athlete in Savannah. 'It's just like a program I knew I could build off of,' Gianna Brown said. 'I just felt like that was the best opportunity for me.' Congratulations to the New Hampstead signees Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
