BLOG Extras: YES! Weekly Scuttlebutt

Bennett College president to step down

Bennett College President Julianne Malveaux announced on Tuesday that she will step down in early May. Malveaux has served as president of the historically black college for women in Greensboro since 2007, when she succeeded Johnnetta Cole. Charles Barrentine, chair of the board of trustees, credited Malveaux with completing a $21 million capital improvements progam, restoring accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and increasing enrollment to a historic high of 735 students in 2009. Malveaux, an economist and media pundit, cited a desire to pursue other challenges as reason for her resignation. — Jordan Green

Greensboro College receives $1 million donation

Greensboro developer Roy Carroll has donated $1 million to Greensboro College, where he is an alum and a trustee. Carroll’s daughter is a senior at the college and president of the Student Government Association. The college has raised $7.5 million since launching its Pride in the Future capital campaign in April 2011. — Jordan Green

Downtown Residents Association of Greensboro launches

The Downtown Residents Association of Greensboro held a kickoff event Feb. 22 at Natty Greene’s. Founder Dianne Ziegler, who moved here four years ago after living downtown in various other cities, addressed the packed room to explain how the organization would function and why it was formed. So far the group has crafted bylaws and a logo, filed for 501(c)3 status and held a strategic business planning session. For $25 annually, anyone who works, lives or plays downtown can join the association.

Mayor Robbie Perkins spoke after Ziegler, and after complimenting the new organization and the event turnout, focused on the need for a downtown performing arts center.

“I’m fired up about this performing arts center,” Perkins said. “People will say it’s not the right time to pursue this project. Now is the perfect time. If we wait until things ‘get better’ we will have lost this.”

Perkins said the city could save on construction costs and that the center would be a sales tool for Greensboro. The performing arts center could be a game changer downtown, he said, helping to transform the city to be more like to Greenville, SC, which he described as “nearly perfect.”

The next meeting will be held March 20 at Bin 33. — Eric Ginsburg

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