DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A years-long legal dispute between Bethune-Cookman University and its former alumni association has come to an end with an agreement that orders the group to cease all operations on behalf of the university.
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According to court documents, B-CU’s initial complaint against the former Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune National Alumni Association (MMBNAA) stemmed from the association’s unauthorized use of the university’s trademarks and logos despite demands to cease after B-CU’s decision to end its relationship with the group and transition to an alumni association under B-CU management.
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The university released a statement Monday announcing the agreement, which calls for the MMBNAA and all related entities to permanently dissolve, and provide all funds it has raised for student scholarships to B-CU.
According to the university’s statement, those funds will be distributed directly by B-CU for student scholarships.
B-CU’s statement on the agreement stresses that there is now “one, and only one,” official alumni association for alumni of Bethune-Cookman University, which is now the Bethune-Cookman University Alumni Association, or B-CUAA.
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The MMBNAA will be given a “brief period” to allow time for the organization to wind down its operations, but will no longer accept donations of any kind, according to B-CU’s statement.
From now on, the university says any support directed at B-CU should go to the B-CUAA, which can be found online here.
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