@Claflin: Panther Closet, Homecoming 2018

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Panther Closet at Claflin University Helps Students Dress for Success

Professional attire for job interviews, business presentations or other events that require semi-formal clothing are available to Claflin University students at no charge through the Panther Closet, a program coordinated by the University's Office of Career Development.

"We want to make sure the students are always putting their best foot forward," said Carolyn Snell, assistant vice president of student development/director of career development. "Providing the students with the proper attire allows them to represent themselves, their family, and Claflin well. We are very pleased with the response from the students and we are seeing the positive impact the program has on helping students understand that their appearance and dressing appropriately is very important."

Snell developed the idea for the Panther Closet about two years ago. Claflin administrators, faculty, staff and other students donate clothes for the Panther Closet, and all items are free. The Panther Closet was on display at the Campus Center last week. The clothes have been moved to the Office of Career Development in Corson Hall where Jabian Cooper, program coordinator for service learning and community service; and Lindsey Barnette, ASSC/workforce specialist, will keep the closet accessible for students in search of clothing throughout the school year.

"We're really impressed to see the students actually wearing the clothes they picked up from the Panther Closet," Cooper said. "You can see that wearing the right clothes during an interview or trying to impress administrators and professors at special events gives the students a boost of confidence."

Make Your Plans for Homecoming 2018

Claflin University is looking forward to welcoming you "home" for Homecoming 2018 on November 15-18.

Many events are planned for your enjoyment and participation. We will also celebrate reunion for the classes of 1943, 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013. Celebrate your class with a memory that last forever. Click here to view a schedule events for Homecoming 2018.

If you are a class officer/agent, please contact Zelda M. Lee, '77, director of the Annual Fund/Alumni Relations, at (803) 535-5348, [email protected].

Faculty News

On October 17, Dr. Belinda Wheeler, associate professor of English, presented work at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. As a part of "Talks at the Schomburg," Wheeler spoke to an audience about her research on Renaissance author, Gwendolyn Barrett. The presentation, titled Home to Harlem Talks: Gwendolyn Barrett , detailed Wheeler's work inside her book, "Heroine of the Harlem Renaissance and Beyond: Gwendolyn Barrett's Selected Writings."

"Many people know about Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and other famous writers, but not many know about Gwendolyn Barrett," Wheeler said. "She was a poet, short story writer, artists, a true renaissance woman, and this book is kind of a recovery effort of Barrett's life and work."

Dr. Brent Hayes Edwards, a professor at Columbia University, led the book talk with Wheeler, asking specific questions about Gwendolyn Barrett and Wheeler's research. Wheeler ended the night with a book signing.

"The Schomburg is considered the 'mecca' of African American research with millions of artifacts. The audience was filled with some academic people, but it was mostly filled with those of the general public, so I was glad I was able to share my work with people outside of academia," Wheeler said.

Click here to view Dr. Wheeler's presentation.

Alumni News

Four Claflin alumni attended the Second Annual Black Male Educators Convening convention in Philadelphia, Penn. on October 12-14. The event was coordinated by The Fellowship: Black Male Educators for Social Justice, a professional membership and activist organization dedicated to advancing the recruitment, development and retention of Black male educators. Pictured from left to right are JaQuez Gilliard, '16, eighth-grade teacher at Frazer Pre-K-8 School in Syracuse, NY; Dennis Richmond Jr., '17, graduate student at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York and fourth-grade student teacher at Public School 30 in Yonkers, NY; Curtis Patterson III, '18, seventh-grade math teacher at Frazer Pre-K-8 School in Syracuse, NY; and Shakeal Paul, '18, graduate student at The University of Nevada and ninth grade English teacher with Teach For America.

Congratulations to Cecil J. Williams, '60, who was honored with a 2018 Governor's Award in the Humanities on October 25 at the USC Alumni Center in Columbia, S.C. Williams is a photographer, publisher, author and inventor best known for his photography documenting the C ivil Rights Movement in South Carolina beginning in the 1950s.

Panther Pride

The 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced Sunday, October 28, at 7 p.m. at an awards dinner in Indianapolis. Former Claflin University track athlete Trisana Fairweather, '18, is among the nine finalists for the award.

Viewers can watch the 2018 Woman of the Year via live stream by visiting the NCAA official profiles on Twitter, Periscope or the web.

The Woman of the Year Award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

Claflin Falls at Home to Shaw in Volleyball Match

The Claflin University volleyball team suffered a 3-0 (25-21, 25-10, 25-15) loss to Shaw University on Thursday, October 25, in a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Southern Division match at the Tullis Arena.

Claflin will take to the road for two divisional matchups, starting with Fayetteville State University on Tuesday, October 30, followed by Augustine's University on Thursday, November 1. The Lady Panthers will close out the regular season at home in a return match with St. Augustine's on Saturday, November 3 for Senior Day.