Administrators seek to increase graduation rate

Florida A&M administrators are working to address the university's six-year, 39 percent graduation rate by launching career and academic-centered programs.

Hotels booked solid on graduation weekend

An overlap of legislation, graduation and a rush of early booking has left Tallahassee hotels booked and some students scrambling to find a place for their families to stay.

Letter to the Editor

The phrase "just another ignorant black male" was stated to me the other day when a friend was sharing her very unfortunate encounter from earlier that day.

Our rights are in danger

With each war, terrorist attack and house bill, it seems our rights are slowly being degraded. The problem is not many seem to care.

Student actor balances school, life, career pursuits

Fantasia makes strong return with ‘Side Effects of You’

Fantasia Barrino is back with a revamped look and sound.

Stress before for the test:

Managing anxiety before finals week

Rattlers start strong, but lose second game against Mercer Bears

The Rattlers baseball team split its two-game home series with the Mercer Bears on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Lady Rattlers win home finale

In their home season finale and annual breast cancer awareness game, the Lady Rattlers defeated the Alabama State Lady Hornets with a senior pitcher throwing a no-hitter Wednesday. 

FAMU parent seeks to improve the college experience

After attending Florida A&M’s Parents’ Weekend, Gretchen Plummer-Smith, a parent to an incoming freshmen, developed the idea of The Rattler Pride Parent’s Association.

FAMU College of Law student makes school history

A Florida A&M College of Law student has been chosen as the first FAMU law student to serve as a clerk at the Florida Supreme Court. 

Only vigilance can fight terrorism

Since the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15, I have heard many people say closing our borders would decrease terrorist attacks in the United States or that allowing foreigners has granted them the opportunity. I do not agree.

What comes after the tragedies?

The horrific events that unfolded on the streets of Boston Monday afternoon were nothing short of cowardice acts on an unsuspecting public.

The love of money: The importance of finances in relationships

FAMU community raises awareness about sexual assault

NCCU swept by Lady Rattlers on senior day

The Florida A&M Lady Rattlers (14-29, 6-3 MEAC) softball team celebrated senior day with a three-game series against the North Carolina Central University Lady Eagles (4-39,2-9 MEAC), winning game one by a score of 8-1. 

Rattler brings USIBA heavyweight title home

FAMU seeking more National Achievement finalists

Florida A&M has suffered a grave decline in recruiting and obtaining large numbers of National Achievement finalists since 2010. However, the university is making gains to recruit and retain more scholars.

Students rally at Capitol for juvenile justice

Florida A&M representatives from the Dream Defenders spearheaded a rally for juvenile justice at the state Capitol on Wednesday.

Binge drinking detrimental to student health

Though many students enjoy social drinking, there are many risks and factors that may be associated with drinking in excess.

In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 90 percent of the alcohol consumed by people under the age of 21 in the U.S. is in the form of binge drinking.

Tax fraud proves to be a rising problem

Many people work hard yearlong tracking expenses, saving recipes and waiting for tax season so they can be rewarded with all of their hard work.

However, there are some people who are not satisfied with their earnings, so they file someone else’s tax returns and take that person’s money.

Making matters worse: Racism in the wake of tragedy

Many people are angry in the wake of the terrible bombing at the Boston Marathon. This is understandable, even expected. People want to know who did this and why. People want justice.

Some people, however, wasted no time jumping to conclusions, many of them racist or prejudiced.

Suspending presidential search was the proper decision

In most situations that involve decision-making, it is generally considered better to move forward with a flawed plan in a timely manner than a “fool-proof” plan when opportunities have gone by the wayside. While this is true in most cases, it is important to remember that whenever time allows for self-examination, one should always take the option.

Rattlers fall to Alabama State in two-game series

The baseball team played an out-of-conference, midweek two-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Alabama State University Hornets.

In the first game, the Rattlers (3-37, 3-15 MEAC) had six hits, including one RBI by junior Bennie Robinson from Ocala, Fla.

Lady Rattlers look for success at home

The Lady Rattlers softball team is on a two-game win streak, including a 5-0 shutout against North Carolina A&T.

Kieifi Myrick, a sophomore infielder from Crawfordville, Fla., leads the Lady Rattlers ((12-27, 4-2 MEAC)) in RBIs with a .514 slugging percentage. In the shutout, Myrick contributed three RBIs.

Students, parents, nonprofits rally to stop bullying

Tallahassee nonprofits joined together to host an anti-bullying rally to bring attention to the growing issue within the community Saturday.

BOT approves amendment to purchasing cards policy

Members of the board of trustees have approved amendments to policy #2006-04, the purchasing cards policy, at Thursday’s meeting.

Is it your turn to intern?

The best time to do an internship is a recent discussion I’ve found myself having with my peers. Some feel it’s better to do one before graduating, even if it leads to falling behind academically by taking a semester off. A postponed graduation to these individuals is worth having the experience before the degree.

Inside the mind of a procrastinator

Is the art of procrastinating a skill to be mastered, or have college students simply taken forgetfulness and made it something greater?

FAMU's tobacco-free policies help students to breathe easy

Many people say it’s disgusting to see a tobacco-free commercial of a woman who has no teeth and a hole in her throat as she battles with oral and throat cancer.

Men of Strength mini-conference addressed violence against women

The Florida A&M Men of Strength held its second annual mini-conference in the School of Architecture’s atrium Thursday.

FAMU alumni seek students’ musical talents for mixtape

Two Florida A&M alumni are giving students a musical opportunity to be heard around the world through their mixtape that will be released later this month.

Men’s tennis sweeps B-CU, women lose close match

The Florida A&M men’s tennis team beat Bethune-Cookman University 4-0 on Saturday.

Rattlers look ahead to MEAC championship

Florida A&M’s men and women’s track and field teams competed in the Florida State Invitational for high rankings in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this weekend.

Gore Education Complex celebrates reopening with ribbon cutting ceremony

Florida A&M officials Wednesday hailed the grand opening of the Gore Education Complex as an important milestone for the century-old College of Education.

Incoming freshmen meet new admission regulations

Adjustments made by the Florida board of governors to Florida A&M’s admission criteria have contributed to a decrease in enrollment while increasing the caliber of incoming freshmen.

Wait for the right one

The value of sex has almost become obsolete. Being intimate with someone sexually in modern times is like sharing some flour: People ask for it and they get it. 

Pay more attention to your spending

Rapper Wiz Khalifa’s song “B.A.R.” opens with the epitome of our generation’s mentality, “Lamborghini dreams, beach house wishes.” 

Technology: A social interaction or distraction?

Tweets, texts, blogs, posts and status updates have become a part of students’ daily lives, but for some it may be an obsession.

Dropping the weight

Vitamins, extracts and drops. Oh what some college students would not do to shed those excess pounds quickly without stepping foot inside a gym.

Life is a fair fight

So it’s true, cliché but true: There is no time quite like the present. While studying for my last few exams of the semester, the strongest brunt of an epiphany just lodged into my thinking. It was the strangest, most random thing. One moment I’m studying public relations and the next I hear a strange internal voice say, “It’s the hardest truth to accept, but life, in fact, is a fair fight.” 

Annual spring game showcased new talent

FAMU to interview two band director candidates

The search for a new band director continues as Florida A&M released the interviewing schedules for two candidates.

FAMU All-Star team competes against HBCUs in LA

Florida A&M is competing against 48 historically black colleges and universities in the 24th annual Honda Campus All-Star Challenge in Los Angeles.

Thousands flocked to Springtime Tallahassee

Springtime Tallahassee celebrated its 45th annual grand parade Saturday.

Real love is dying

Does real love still exist? The question still lingers in my mind. I am forced to be opposed to the idea that it does. Maybe being a college student plays a very important factor in me making that judgment, but I am barely exposed to couples who are genuinely in love with each other anymore.

DOMA is a violation of civil rights

As some may know, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law restricting marriage benefits and inter-state marriage recognition to only opposite-sex marriages. Specifically, the hearing was an effort to decide whether DOMA should be considered constitutional, with those in opposition arguing that it keeps lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual couples from exercising their full rights as American citizens.

Embrace your imperfections

I think a big problem with this generation of women is that we often compare ourselves to the people we see on social networks such as Instagram and Twitter. And with us comparing ourselves, it affects the way we view ourselves and others.

Student designers showcased fashion expertise

Florida A&M gave student fashion designers a chance to showcase their creativity at the Urban Renaissance Fashion Show on Saturday in the atrium of the School of Architecture.

Volunteers seek to get people on bikes

Krank It Up, a local, volunteer-run bicycle shop tucked away in Railroad Square Art Park, is offering a space for community members to reassemble bicycles.

The KAR Dining Experience

Students find success in campaign shortcoming

Kyra Pierre’s journey for Florida A&M’s Queen of Orange and Green didn’t end in a crown and sash. Instead, the campaign resulted in her first business venture: KAR Dining Experience.

Orange over green

After Florida A&M’s intrasquad spring football scrimmage at Bragg Memorial Stadium on Saturday, the Rattlers’ orange team pulled out a 31-26 victory over the green team.

It’s win-win for Griner to pursue NBA career

The controversy swirling around Brittney Griner, Baylor University’s standout senior women’s basketball player, seems never-ending.

Rattlers swept by B-CU in three-game series

The baseball team lost three straight games against the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats this weekend at Moore-Kittles Field.