Mary Hopkins, 36, will soon graduate with a math doctorate from Florida Atlantic University, one of five math PhDs expected to go to the largest class of women in the school’s history. She also will be the first black woman to earn a doctorate in math from FAU and only the third among all state universities since at least 1990.
“I just had very encouraging teachers. I’ve heard of math teachers not encouraging females, especially minorities, but all of my professors are so great, and they’re all old white men,” said Hopkins, who spent a full hour last week working out a lengthy math question in front of her classmates and professors.
FAU will award four other women with math PhDs: Bashak Ay, Marcela Chiorescu, Zhihua Liu and Viktoria Villanyi. FAU math administrators said they didn’t do anything special to recruit more women into their doctoral program and believe there’s a natural increase of women studying math as traditional stereotypes fall away.
TEEN COMMITS SUICIDE ON WEBCAM
Abraham K. Biggs, a 19-year old member of Bodybuilding.com — screen name: Candy Junkie, purposely overdosed on pills while streaming a video of himself live on Justin.tv. He left a virtual suicide note on Bodybuilding.com, which was removed once he was found dead.
He committed suicide by taking pills, turning on his webcam and lying on his bed. Moderators at Bodybuilding.com did not take him seriously because he had made similar threats in the past. Several forum members even encouraged him to kill himself. After several hours, viewers realized he wasn’t joking and called the police who found a dead body and shut off the webcam.
Biggs was a student at Broward College and suffered from bipolar disorder and depression. The autopsy shows Biggs died from a toxic combination of opiates and benzodiazepine, a drug used to treat insomnia and depression.
Abraham Biggs Sr. said his son had been prescribed benzodiazepine to treat bipolar disorder. The 19-year-old had been “doing better,” his father said, “He was a good kid.” Biggs said he was upset that Justin.tv streamed his son’s suicide live. “There seems to be a lack of control as to what people put out on the Internet,” he said. “There’s a lot of garbage out there that should not be, and unfortunately this was allowed to happen.”
UNIVERSITY APOLOGIZES FOR RACIST PAST
In an online statement, Bob Jones University of Greenville, South Carolina apologized for “racially hurtful” practices of its past, including prohibiting married African American students until 1971 and unmarried African American students until 1975, and banning interracial dating until 2000.
The letter stated that BJU’s former policies were “shaped more directly by that [segregationist] ethos than by the principles and precepts of the Scriptures.” “In so doing,” the letter said, “we failed to accurately represent the Lord and to fulfill the commandment to love others as ourselves. For these failures we are profoundly sorry.”
I read about this kid, that was sad, condolences to the family they must be devastated. It’s a shame the extent that people use and are allowed to misuse the net!
Congrats to the first female with Math Doctorate!
I really hate to hear about the young man killing himself. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
It is so empowering and wonderful that Mary Hopkins will receive her PhD and in mathematics where it is mostly dominated by older white males. I can’t wait to start my PhD as well. Also, it is sad for the family of Mr. Biggs because not only is he gone but it could have been prevented. As far as Bob Jones University how in the hell was it legal to ban “interracial” dating past the 1970s?
the PhD story is very encouraging … just a reminder of how great black ppl can be when we set our minds to it … this is why the devil works so hard to keep us distracted with foolishness … fear of the great black mind
Wow, I’m not mad at the sister for getting a Doctorate. This is very encouraging. CONGRATS to ALL December graduates…YAY me, lol.
This is unthinkable and sad that this young man has taken his own life and others witnessed this and did not take him seriously. My prayers are with his family.
Many other universities should be making this same apology. HBCUs included. Food for thought.
That was so heart wrenching to hear about that young boy killing himself. I know the family is grieving right now and are looking where they can point the blame. There had to have been signs of suicide attempts, etc so for the parents to blame the internet and the people egging the act on is besides me. They should be trying to figure out a way to stop this from happening to another family. The ones who were egging him on had to be thinking it was a mere joke or just that heartless or maybe since he’s made threats before, they took it for granted which should never be taken lightly. I hope the family is able to get through this with God’s help but it’s going to be VERY difficult.
God Bless!!
Good look Mary!! Congratulations.
Just wow at Abraham. I don’t even know what to say to that.
Bob University…I don’t know….
i was wondering if ya’ll were going to do a post about Abraham Biggs……i read his suicide letter,omg it was soooooooo sad.i could definately understand some of the things he was going through…..it was sad that he said he tried to reach out to people but he thought nobody cared because of things he had done in the past to hurt them…
this is sooooooo sad wow my condolences go out to the family
Mary Hopkins is awesome
Wow, I used to go to Bob Jones University to compete in the national fine arts competitions for christian school. What makes this so shameful, is that this is a christian university – to support love of God. I always felt out of place when I went there, because I was 1 of only a handful of blacks. Shame
Congrats to her! Truly inspiring.
So sad to read about this teenager. Our young people are going through so much and they desperately need guidance.
OMG I HATE MATH lol so I whole-heartedly congratulate her! I wanted to go into astro-physics but since I hated math, I couldn’t. Psychology is doing well for me and I can’t wait to start grad school for my Ph.D too but damn… she put me to shame w/ jealousy lol! Go get it, girl!
Oh and I forgot, I read about that young man a while ago and was wondering the same thing (when ya’ll was gonna post it). I think not just teens but PARENTS should take heed to this story. I’m sick and tired of everyone trying to find someone else to do their damn job (that’s why I wanna be a child psychologist now). I was beyond pissed that the parents were pointing the finger when their asses could have prevented this too! In fact, the sh*t should be solely on them because they are the damn parents! Where the hell were you when your child was suffering w/ depression and suicidal thoughts??? All I can say is I was very shocked he felt the need to do it on the net but since the youth today have adopted a candid internet relationship, I shouldn’t be so surprised. Ppl… start being parents again! Start having an interest in your child’s life because tv & the internet CANNOT raise them like a human parent can.
I am more disgusted by the viewers who actually SAT there and patiently waited to see if he was actually going to do it.
It’s unfortunate that the young brotha took his own life like that. From what I understand, the suicide rate of the young black male is skyrocketing.
Mrs. Hopkins…CONGRATS. I just recieved my MS in mathematics (August 2008), and I realized that that was my stopping point. That ish aint easy and I cried a many a nights. So CONGRATS, CONGRATS, CONGRATS. I love my black people.
This internet crap is getting wayyyy outta control. My condolences to the young man’s family. Teenage suicide is at an increasing rate, and this webcam-blogsite-watch me kill myself.com-ish aint making it better. God Bless our youth.
Banned Interracial dating until 2000?????????????????????? WTF??? Are ya serious?
Step it up Mary! This is a very inspiring story!
Just got my Bachelors in June and I’m itching to start my Masters come Fall 09 or Spring 2010!!!
My condolences to the Biggs Family!
Bob Jones University….SMDH!
Racist past? They banned interracial dating until like yesterday…
I’m sure racism is alive and well and releasing that “online” apology was probably met with dissonance and dissenting views internally.
Mary Hopkins, 36…Almost 20 years of college, and four feet of hair. She probably has no children. No time for make-up or arching her eyebrows. It’s a major achievement, but she has made a great sacrafice. I wish her well and some brother will be lucky…!
R.I.P. Abraham K. Biggs. The internet is a blessing with all the information at our fingertips, but like anything else, it can be a curse for evil people who spread negativity and false ideas. It’s sad that people actually encouraged him to go forward! Be careful what you type.
Bob Jones University…how many more campuses in the dirty South have covert rules just like BJ? They were overt, but you can best believe that the housing and jobs opportunities are just as racist in Greenville, South Carolina. The mentality of the people at the University is the same as the people who run the city. 2009 AD!!! And, we wonder why there’s mental illness in Florida’s Broward College.
Racism is alive all over this country, but Mary Hopkins, PhD showed one way to overcome! But, she paid a high price!
That is so messed up! All of this is messed up!! Pray for the world ya’ll!
I am not sure why the first African-American female math doctorate from FAU is news. In our lifetime, we have many firsts and many of us will be firsts. I was the first African-American to serve on my county’s Board of Education as a student. And in two years, I will be the first African-American male to receive a PhD in Genetics from the University of Chicago, but I dont think that is news. We will be firsts for many generations to come as we make leaps and bounds.
Thats wassup. Great Job Mary is Doing, and I wish her the best, and she is truly a role model.
so FAU didnt allow interracial couples?!?!?!!?! scratching head -r u serious, 2000, wat?? am i hearing this right?
I don’t think the family can blame any web site for his death.
I looked at a cache of the thread the Biggs kid wrote that day and at other threads on the site. People weren’t necessarily egging him on, they just thought he was a troll because he had posted threads like that before.
He posted a “suicide note” & somebody realized it was copied and pasted from someone else’s suicide note on the web. That made more people think it was fake and they said ‘yeah right, go ahead and do it loser’ or ‘Whatever, he does this all the time.’ He had even said how many pills he would take on other threads.
Apparently he was a raver and talked about his drug use and pill popping a lot. That’s where the “Candy” in his name comes from. Why didn’t his family see that he had a drug problem?
When he was laying still people thought the video was on loop… basically he was the boy who cried wolf. It’s sad but the family can’t blame the comments. That’s getting into dangerous territory for every internet user.
its so sad this boy commited suicide. i can only imagine how the family must feel. R.I.P
im so sorry wat happened to Abraham. God rest his soul and my deepest condolences go out to his family
Thats what I’m talking about! Congratulations goes out to Ms. Hopkins or shoud I say Dr. Hopkins. Nice..I know to get to that point she has had to go through a lot. I’m proud of her. We got black folk breaking down barriers, and stereotypes left and right, I’m glad to see that.
On a sader (sp) note my condolences goes out to the family of the young man that committed suicide online. I am praying for his family. I hope that people who read his story understand that they can’t sit around and do nothing when people are making it known that they’re having thoughts of suicide. It doesn’t just go away. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Living is worth the pain…I’m fortunate to have been given a second chance a life.
wow.
2000?
thats crazy. i would be shocked to know that any black people actually attend this college. in fact, im going to check out the stats right now!
AWESOME TO THE SISTA WITH THE MATH PHD. WE USED TO RIDE THE 94 BUS TO FAU. I AM SO PROUD OF HER.
ban interracial dating til 2000? WTF?????????
I hated math in grade school, college and graduated school. Its good to see someone liked it enough to go all the way. C O N G R A T S
Give the parents a break! It wasnt their fault completely or people egging him on, on the net. Hello he had BIPOLAR DISORDER! and plus he was a legal adult (19 years old). I dont think the people in the internet helped him by egging him on. Obviously he already had mental issues so it probably didnt take much to put him over the edge. He had a chemical imbalance and unfortunately let it get the best of him. Stop blaming the parents. I know everything that I did when I was younger wasnt my mother’s fault. She did EVERYTHING she could. He had his own mind and own life.
It saddens me to read about that suicide and how it happened. Especially since the young man was suffering from emotional and mental distress/disorders. I pray that he is at peace, and that his family will find solace eventually.
! FAU is my alma mater!
This may sound controversial but I really believe that HBCU’s need a reality check , instead of pushing stomping and dancing as a goal, push black students into academics. When a person mention a black college, we immediately think Stomping , we don’t necessarily think education or scholars, at this point in black history when we have black americans in the new administration, we should push academics as much or moreso than our Asian counterparts. Time for dance and sports is dead, time for education. That is why our ancestors fought for equality.
Damn I feel so sorry for his family and specifically Abraham,I teared up when I read his suicide note, suicide is not the way to go, who knows what couldv’e happened if he waited until the next day… chances are his mood wouldv’e changed and he’d probably still be alive, his reasons for going out like that were unreasonable.
Congrats #22 Avery on your current and future accomplishments! I give my full props for Dr. Hopkins math has always been my enemy and her ability to take on that subject is mesmerizing to me, I’ll just stick with getting the science degree
.
U kno this is so sad,I feel for this young man and his family and I pray that the lord will have mercy on his soul.
And wether they thout it was a joke or not y on earth would they even entertain sumthing like sum 1 killing them self.
His dad is so right there’s like noooooo type of control over the internet world ,ludacris
That’s South Carolina, I absolutely hate the place. I have family there, and couldn’t tell you the last time I saw them. Apologize when you mean it!! They don’t mean it. I have never seen a bunch of people who love being racist, stupid, and not looking forward to a future more than these people. I pray for my people down there everyday.
SC, WVA, NC, you know Dirty South!!! I wish I could move all the black folks out of the south, that’s how much I hate it. Oh, I mean the “field negros” hahaha!
evidently… it wasnt the first time he threatened suicide…
but R.I.P
Congratulations to Mary Hopkins and poster #17. #22 as a fundi/scholar, you would think you would recognise others’ efforts. Let’s buoy each other.
Condolences to the family of the young man. Depression is such a huge problem and personally feel the black community still has to be educated on it. Just because someone is laughing out loud, does not mean they are not depressed. It’s the silent killer and the numbers or on the rise.
As for the University – I can only thank President Obama. He has brought change the world can believe it.
*can believe in
Family can’t blame anyone but the person who committed suicide. What were the people watching supposed to do. They all probably thought he wasn’t serious (again). I know I would have just watched for awhile and then surfed onto something else on the net not giving it a second thought. Sad that he felt like he had to take his life, but you can’t blame it on the internet.
go sistah go now if only the majority of “us’ can follow good examples sistahs will be on top!!!!
condolences to the gentleman who killed himself so sad mental sickness can be so devastating at times medication cannot oonly be the only form of therapy counseling,cognitive methods,family involvement,support,holistic approaches ect has to be a combination to commence balance.
as for the university apologizing i guess better late then never…lol
Abraham HAD attempted suicide before but was unsuccessful, he took alot of pills before and went to sleep but woke up and ended up in the hospital for a few days, he wasn’t the boy who cried wolf , it just didn’t work the first time. I send my condolences out to his family and am appalled at how heartless people can be sometimes, how can you sit there and watch someone for HOURS who says they are going to kill themself and WATCH them take a bunch of pills and then go lay down in a bed, and then watch to see if he is breathing or not and then when they realize he wasn’t THEN THEY CALL THE COPS?! This is one of the craziest, most tragic situations I have ever encountered, R.I.P. Abraham Biggs
So said about the the young man. I wish he would have reached out to real friends and family.
Bob Jones Uni apology . . . yawn.
I bet it was those Bey stans that were encouraging him to kill himself, R.I.P
Give the parents a break! It wasnt their fault completely or people egging him on, on the net. Hello he had BIPOLAR DISORDER! and plus he was a legal adult (19 years old). I dont think the people in the internet helped him by egging him on. Obviously he already had mental issues so it probably didnt take much to put him over the edge. He had a chemical imbalance and unfortunately let it get the best of him. Stop blaming the parents. I know everything that I did when I was younger wasnt my mother’s fault. She did EVERYTHING she could. He had his own mind and own life.
^ Took the words right out of my mouth. Bipolar Disorder AND Depression?? And the PARENTS are at fault? Some people really need to educate themselves. Mental disorders are nothing to take lightly.
=/ HOW HORRRIBLE, I FEEL SO BAD
dang, Avery, need some attention too?
everyone may not immediately recognize someone’s accomplishments so there’s nothing wrong with letting people know what you’ve done. when you’re proud, it’s nice to know others are proud for you and your story may inspire some.
so congratulations to you, too Avery. stop the hate.
this is sad.
how about some coverage on the shooting that occurred at Savannah State University a couple of days ago?
Thanks soooo much for all the positive responses. And by the way, whoever said that I probably didn’t have any kids and that I don’t find time to properly groom myself is 100% CORRECT!!! LOL!! That is all true!! I have been studying 24-7 for the last 6 years and I have NO life beyond math. I hope that soon changes. Again, thanks for the congratulations. BTW, who is the girl that i used to ride the 94 with. I remember the bus driver William.
And Avery….Congratulations on your doctorate in genetics. That is an AMAZING accomplishment!!!
:)
I had Mary as a Junior @ FAU for Methods of Calculus! She is a great teacher and her classes are fun!!!! I didn’t know she was doing stuff as big as this!!!! I am happy for her!!!!
Oh I was so happy for Mary, I forgot to comment on the other stuff…Man, I am so sad that this happened….this hit sooo close to home (We live in the same area), and to think that someone who lives so close to me was going through that…it’s so sad. My mom says she just wants to slap him cause he’s so handsome LOL. But he made that decision himself. R.I.P
Congratulations Mary Hopkins! that is an amazing accomplishment.
My condolences to Abraham Biggs’ family! That’s really sad.
I dont know what to say about BJU……
Pls allow me to rephrase my comments earlier. First, Congratulations Mary! It is truly an extraordinary accomplishment to obtain a PhD in mathematics. In case others are unaware, in order to obtain a PhD, you must master the field and then add new knowledge to it. Fields that are newer have it easy, but mathematics is an old field and this is truly amazing.
My problem with this being “news” is that there are firsts (in the realm of African-Americans) that happen everyday. We surely cannot single each event out, but we must expect (and even demand) them to occur. As a people, African-Americans have been denied access to literally every aspect of modern life, we must now break down the walls by force and command our presence in this society.
Congratulations Mary!!!
I live in Greenville SC ,and to me they probably only issued an apology now that a black man is about to take office. Where was this at when Bush was in office. Please they are hit by the economic crunch like everyone else and probably need sone federal money
# 3 i was wondering the same thing!
*wOw.. my brother used to go to bob jones university && my cousin currently attends that school right now. we all used to attend a church in R.I where 80% of the kids from the youth group attended that school. the funny thing is that back in 2000 the church’s youth pastor used to try to teach us that interacial relationships were wrong. that was mainly the reason why I stopped going there.
*what a sad story…may he rest in peace.