March 28, 2012 by N.C. Central University Campus Echo

MARCH 28, 2012

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Feature

Zev wants to know this: When will George Zimmerman get arrested?

Jesse Owens documentary world premiere opens at full frame.

NCCU womens 4x400 relay team stands strong no matter what the hurdle.

Once Durham’s first black high school, the Whitted building now lies in ruins.

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VOLUME 103, ISSUE 9

Campus Echo

Parents of black teens find Biz Trayvon case hits close to home bumps Union BY MATT PHILLIPS ECHO A&E EDITOR

The makeshift memorial for slain teenager Trayvon Martin continues to grow daily, Tuesday, March 20, 2012, outside of the Retreat at Twin Lakes community in Sanford, Fla., where Trayvon was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, neighborhood watch captain. RED HUBER/Orlando Sentinel (MCT)

BY DAHLEEN GLANTON CHICAGO TRIBUNE (MCT)

CHICAGO — When their son was about to enter his teens, Paul and Jeanne Miller of Flossmoor decided it was time to have the talk. As a black male, they told him, some people will make judgments about you and view you with suspicion based solely on your race. Recently, as Jeremy, 16, was preparing to get his driver’s license, his father told him what to do if he were ever stopped by police: Keep your hands visible on the steering wheel at all times. And when he asked to take part in "Assassins," a popular

suburban game where teens stalk each other with air soft guns, his parents’ answer was an unequivocal no, lest someone mistake the toy that fires plastic bullets for a real weapon. The story of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin’s death in Sanford, Fla., a suburb of Orlando, has struck a particularly sensitive chord with black parents such as the Millers, many of whom said they live with a nagging fear that their teenage boys could be harassed or attacked. "We live in a fairly affluent interracial neighborhood with fantastic people who don’t see color, but I know there are people out

n See PARENTS Page 5

Original scholar Chandler talks contemporary Af -Am lit

Students rally in support of Trayvon Martin on Monday outside NCCU’s the School of Law. MATT PHILLIPS/Echo A&E Editor

N.C. Central University students may again be carrying the financial weight of a debt service fee. Millions required for a new NCCU Student Union building may end up coming directly from the current and future student body. According to minutes from a March 6th UNC Board of Governors’ meeting, NCCU has elected to redirect funds slated for a new student union building towards a new School of Business facility. The funds have not yet been awarded by the state of North Carolina. They are budget requests contained within the UNC capital priorities document that is submitted to the General Assembly and the Governor each year. The document outlines the operating and improvement budget for the state-wide UNC system. NCCU Director of Public Relations Ayana Hernandez said via email, “The University would fund the project [Student Union] through a combination of [a] student debt service fee, university resources and private dollars. These details would be finalized after the student discussions and internal campus process concerning the Student Union.” The total cost of the School of Business project is estimated at $36 million, $3.6 million of which will be UNC appropriated funds. The facility will be 86,000 square feet and will house additional classrooms, administrative support space and a teaching laboratory. As of Jan. 14, 2011 the Student Union building was a planned 150,000 square foot facility with an adjoined 300 space parking structure. Total cost of the Student Union was estimated near $56 million. The building would include conference rooms, office space for student organizations and a large multi-use space. Associate Vice Chancellor of facilities management Zack Abegunrin said the reason for the proposal was to secure potential state funds for the School of

n See UNION Page 3

Vick’s Plan B in effect

NCCU alum bounces back after life altering injury

BY TRENTON LITTLE ECHO ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

His coach called a Cover 3 Zone, requiring linebacker Rakeem Vick to drop back in coverage. While backpedalling Vick recognized it was a draw play. When Vick locked onto the target he didn’t know this would be the last tackle he would ever make, or the last football game he would ever play. He came up to make a tackle

from the side angle, and made contact. Vick vividly remembers the impact of the turf when his head hit the ground. “My whole body tensed up,” he said. “I couldn’t move anything but my eyes.” At that moment Vick, who had been playing football since he was four, lost the love of his life. “Right then and there I began to think about what my old coaches, and teachers told me

about a plan B,” Vick said. “All the old voices hit me ... How I wasn’t going to play football my whole life. Have a backup plan.” Vick said he had a hard time realizing he would never strap on a helmet again. “It’s weird. At first it was tough, but I had a real good support system.” Vick’s biggest supporter, his mother Angela Vick had been in the stands on that Sept. 11 night.

n See VICK Page 11

Freedom or liberation Gena Chandler presents her research at the 15th annual Mason-S Sekora lectures CHI BROWN/Echo Photo Editor

BY AARON SAUNDERS ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

At N.C. Central University the Mason-Sekora Lecture almost seems like a rite of passage. The program, which was designed to bring scholars to the campus, is now in its 15th year

and has seen the likes of Richard Long, award winning author Randall Kenan and this year Gena Chandler. The lecture series honors the legacy of Dr. Ernest Mason (1947-1995) and Dr. John Sekora (1939-1997), former

n See SEKORA Page 3

BY JEROME BROWN JR ECHO ASSISTANT EDITOR

2012 marks the fourth year scholars and activists have convened on the campus of N.C. Central University for the African Diaspora Studies Symposium. The two day event, held over the weekend, included a series of discussions and presenta-

tions by speakers from around the country and the world. The term African diaspora describes the movement of Africans throughout the world. “The major reason [for the symposium] is to connect people, to create a venue where people can communicate and to know there’s a group of people across the

country and across oceans that can speak on our shared perspectives and experiences,” said program co-chair James Blackwell, a history graduate student. The symposium's theme was “Freedom or Liberation? The Quest for Autonomy in the Diaspora.”

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Rules of partisanship Faculty reminded of policies BY CHRIS JAMES ECHO STAFF REPORTER

As the 2012 election year heats up, Chancellor Charlie Nelms has reminded faculty and staff of the state laws and UNC policy that guide their participation in partisan politics. This situation is tricky because all U.S. citizens, including university faculty and staff, have a right to express their opinions and support particular candidates and issues. But what can get confusing is the use of university resources and time for partisan political ends. “Being a state employee does not mean you lose any of your constitutional rights to participate or not participate as you desire in the political process as long as such participation is not on work time and does not involve the use of university property,” Nelms writes in a March 2 memo sent by e-mail to faculty and staff. “However, what each employee may do on the job, with state resources, using or implicating the name of the university, or otherwise affecting your job responsibilities, is highly regulated by law as well as by UNC policy.” According to the memo, N.C. Central University employees are prohibited from engaging in political activity during work hours, or from using university property to support or oppose a candidate, and may only use community leave for a non-partisan purpose, such as working in a polling station. “A lot of things we do in a lot of different areas is send annual reminders to faculty and staff on issues, but especially during election year because the

activity starts to ramp up,” said Melissa Holloway, NCCU’s general counsel of legal affairs. Another issue that often arises is whether a faculty or staff member can use his or her University affiliation in partisan politics. Signing political petitions, said Holloway, is tricky. “I have the right to put my name, but I shouldn’t present myself as if I was representing the university,” she said. “Sometimes you have to indicate where you work so that is another tricky piece as well.” The Nelms memo states that employers cannot coerce employees to contribute to political candidates or promise preferential treatment to induce employees to support specific candidates, but it does not specifically address the issue of political debate in the classroom or professors expressing political opinions. “The classroom is that difficult slippery slope,” said Holloway. “A faculty member in the political science classroom may want to put a certain opinion out in the air so they can talk about it, but when does it get to be too much?” Conservatives, for example, have often complained about what they call “liberal diatribes” from faculty in university classrooms. Although the Nelms memo doesn’t address these tricky issues, it does make clear that UNC schools are taxpayer supported. which prevents employees from partisan political activity using university resources and time.

Hollywood comes to NCCU

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ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Women make up 50 percent of the work force but only three percent hold CEO positions. Just three of the 50 states have women as their Senators. N.C. Central University students were made aware of these are staggering statistics Monday night when “Ugly Betty” actress America Ferrera talked about the role of women in the world as part of the NCCU Lyceum series. “I learned from Ferrera that I can help women exceed by uplifting and supporting those who are setting themselves apart and who are focused on their success,” said mass communication sophomore James Jenkins. Ferrera, youngest of six children in a single parent home, informed the audi-

ence about various women across the world that have made a difference. In 2008 Ferrera campaigned for Hilary Clinton because of her position on the health of women and children. “I felt that I had to take a stand somehow because while I was paying attention to what she was campaigning about all the media seemed to be focused on was her hair and her pants suits,” said Ferrera. “It took me getting really pissed off to feel like I had to do something.” According to Ferrera change will not happen for women unless the minds of men change. She said men around the world have contributed to women having a voice to be heard.

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Do some students go too far when approaching a person of interest? BY ALEXANDRIA SAMPSON ECHO STAFF REPORTER

While strolling around N.C. Central University, it is not rare to hear remarks that are better suited for an explicit rap song disguised as compliments. Arm-grabbing and incessant stalking are often seen as harmless. To some, these actions may appear to be a form of comical or innocent flirtation; however, for those who have been on the receiving end, they tip-toe on and often cross the line toward sexual harassment. Under NCCU’s Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy, sexual harassment is defined as “deliberate, unsolicited, and unwelcomed verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature, or with sexual implications.” NCCU’s policy does aid in the fight against sexual harassment, but it has not completely deterred the behavior. For Tylia Herder, a biology freshman, the hounding commenced almost as soon as she arrived on campus. During a visit to the cafeteria she says, her confidence took a hit. “I had on a half-top and this guy walked by and touched my stomach.” She says this random student was with a group of his friends, which added to the embarrassment. In response to the disconcerting event, Herder now feels apprehensive when walking around campus. “It makes you want to cover up … you can’t be comfortable because you have to worry about what’s going to be said or done.” Her encounter is just one example of how jarring seemingly harmless contact can be. In a 2006 national survey, 62 percent of respondents reported being sexually harassed on college campuses. Those who have spoken about their experience say they felt humiliated, uncomfortable, and angry at the unwanted advances. Despite her experience,

NCCU sophomores Kenny Odum and Ashley Turner stage a sexual harassment scene. GABRIEL AIKENS/Echo staff photographer

Herder is aware that men aren’t the only offenders. Damien Murry agrees. The biology freshman admits to having taunted his female peers. However, he reevaluated his actions once he started receiving the same treatment. “When I started getting catcalls, it changed my perception. It made me uncomfortable,” Murry said. Shocked at what it was like to be placed in women’s shoes, he says he has a new awareness of what comes from his mouth. “I never thought about

The keynote address was presented by Tyler Stovall. Stovall is professor of history and dean of the Undergraduate Division of the College of Letters and Science at the University of California at Berkeley. The hour long address was based on Stovall’s recently released book “Paris and the Spirit of 1919.” Stovall’s address touched on the racial issues, politics, and experiences of African Americans in Paris in the 1910s and 1920s. During the period, Paris in the late saw a significant impact by black transplants. In 1919, the inaugural Pan-African Congress, organized by W. E. B. Du Bois, was held in Paris. During that period African-American jazz musicians moved to France and Josephine Baker’s wowed audiences with her

African Diaspora keynote speaker Tyler Stovall. SPENCE CLARK/Echo staff photographer

sultry performances. Other sessions in the symposium included topics such as “Liberation in Writing and Motion: Religion, Power and Activism in African and African American Experiences,” “Duality of Black Identity in the United

States,” and “Postcoloniality and the Black Self.” According to Joshua Nadel, assistant history professor and program cochair, discussing the African diaspora is important at HBCUs. “At an HBCU, making

sure that people are aware there is a much broader experience of people of African descent that have similar experiences that relate to race and racism,” said Nadel. Program co-chair Youssef Carter said he hopes to integrate younger presenters into future symposiums and build a relationship with the Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School. “We want to formalize a relationship with the Early College history program, in hopes they would incorporate some sort of project and have students present original research at the symposium,” said Carter. “It’s a hope of mine, so that we can formally include youth who are preparing for the collegiate environment and incorporate them into our discussion.”

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media is partly to blame. “They think they can say ‘Hey baby, yo baby’ this because the media is saying she’s supposed to be shaking her butt in a video," she said. Since young people are heavily influenced by what they see and hear from their idols, ideals combining sexual behavior and respect seem to be declining. Herder; however, believes that the key to fighting sexual harassment is best combated by “making it known, being aware, and having males and females speak up about it.”

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how it affected them.” Though sexual harassment may seem like an obvious morality issue, culprits and onlookers alike deem it okay. Krystal George, sexual assault and domestic violence coordinator at the Women’s Center, believes that people’s flippancy in regard to harassment is dangerous. “Those types of mentalities fuel the more serious forms of abuse,” George said. Since she was an undergraduate, George has made it her mission to empower women. She believes the

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Hustle hard

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Students grind in the classroom and out of it BY CRYSTAL COTTON ECHO STAFF REPORTER

For many N.C. Central University students, “hustle hard” is more than a mere saying or lyrics to an Ace Hood song — it’s is a way of life. Struggling to balance work, school and everyday life is the stuff of so many students’ journey. According to Understanding the Working College Student by Laura W. Perna, “in 2007 nearly half (45 percent) of “traditional” undergraduates—that is, students between the ages of 16 and 24 attending college fulltime—worked while enrolled.” There are several reasons students choose to work. Some work because they need money to support themselves and their family, pay for school or simply prepare for the near future. “I work [to] have money for ‘rainy days,’” said mass communication senior Wendy Wright. “I am also graduating so I need to have money for my future plans, like mov-

Public health junior Shawdae Pinkney clocks some hours at World of Wings in the Alfonso Elder Student Union, March 27. JAMILA JOHNSON/Echo staff photographer

ing out of North Carolina.” Others use work to explore career options or simply have “free” money. “My parents would like for me to have money, so I work,” said mass communication freshman Lonnie Jones. Environmental health science junior Parees

Vereen said, “I really think that working helps me make wise decisions and prioritize when it comes to time management and school work.” “[Besides], it’s always good to have a little money in your pocket.” The real question is whether working and school help students rather

than hinder them. According to The Impact of Student Employment by Doug Lederman, editor of Inside Higher Ed., “Students who work 20 hours or less a week on campus report higher levels on all five levels of engagement, [which] included such things as student-faculty interaction

and engaging in active and collaborative learning.” [Even] working 20 hours or less off campus strengthens students’ performance.” Nursing freshman Ariel Dunbar said, “Working and going to school is challenging, but it helps students to become more balanced and responsible in juggling multiple obligations. “College is a time of making things happen, so whereas it will be tough, it can be done!” However, after 20 or more hours of working onor off-campus, grades, stress level and overall ability to think critically were notably affected. So what is the key to “hustling hard” and excelling at school? “A flexible work schedule within reason is ideal for full-time students like me,” said Vereen. Chemistry freshman Shatoddra Curry said, “Learn to manage your time. Don’t procrastinate.” And elementary education junior Minyette Bodden said, “Don’t choose money over your education. Find a good balance between work and education.”

SEKORA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 professors in NCCU’s Department of English. “The purpose of these lectures is to inform the entire community,” said NCCU English assistant professor Kathryn Wymer who was responsible for inviting Chandler, her former classmate at UNCChapel Hill. Chandler, a professor at Virginia Polytechnic University, presented her research on author and

National Book Award winner Charles Johnson and his novels “The Dreamer” and” Dr. King’s Refrigerator.” “The Dreamer” is a novel about the last two years of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, and “Dr. King’s Refrigerator” is a collection of short bedtime stories. “I was interested to hear her talk about the way Johnson helps us reconnect with Dr. King, not just as a cultural icon but as a real

person,” said Wymer. Johnson, 63, has penned novels, short stories, and non-fiction essays. His award winner “Middle Passage” is considered his greatest work. While the average reader knows Phyllis Wheatley, Ida B. Wells, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Alex Haley, and Alice Walker, some of the less

prominent names in African-American literature, like Johnson, have received little mainstream attention. “I am particularly interested in situations around the black diaspora,” she said. Last Friday was the first time Chandler presented her research to a public audience outside of the journal in which it was published.

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Business. According to Abegunrin student unions have historically been funded by students. Abegunrin said the administration is “Talking with students about a student debt service fee. Traditionally that’s what you normally do.” According to Hernandez, after the internal process and dialog with students is completed the NCCU Board of Trustees will vote on the recommendations. Subsequently the UNC Board of Governors will vote to reject or accept any recommendations.

Specifically Ferrera mentioned men such as author Nicholas Kritsoph author of the book “Half The Sky: Turning Oppression into opportunity for Women,” and Muthar Kent, chairman and CEO of Coca Cola, who founded the 5 BY 20 initiative to empower five million women entrepreneurs by 2020. “Woman can make a difference on this campus and around the world by making sure their voice is being heard. Carrying themselves with respect and dignity” says psychology freshman Charmaine Griffin.

Actress America Ferrera poses with a fan after Monday Lyceum. GABRIEL AIKENS/Echo staff photographer

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“I thought it was a great lecture very engaging and she had lots of personality and a great sense of enthusiasm,” said NCCU English visiting professor Tricia Leaf-Prince. Chandler said she does not have a favorite AfricanAmerican author. “I don’t have a favorite. I love what I do but I can’t say I have any favorites. It’s like saying who’s your favorite child,” said Chandler.

Brain Storm BY CHRIS JAMES ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Many students worry about how to prepare for a math test. Others find science hard and confusing. But students no longer need to stress out. The NSF CREST Center in the College of Science has a tutoring service to help students with math and science. “Back when I was in school 30 years ago, math was something that wasn’t mandatory," said business major Terry Whales. "Now that I came back to school, this tutoring program has helped me a lot.” CREST, which stands for Centers for Research Excellence in Science and Technology, started two years ago with support from the National Science Foundation. The tutoring service is designed to help retain undergraduate science and math students, as well as to help the graduate students who do the tutoring. “It was a way for graduate students to get a deeper understanding of general principles of science,” said Olga Bondareva, director of the CREST tutoring service and adjunct instructor. That’s how the idea of involving the graduates in tutoring emerged. At the tutoring center, students can meet face-to-face with graduate tutors or online via chat room. Tutoring is open to any student needing help in math or science. “With this program, we are able to get good outcomes and able to show other students from other institutions that our program actually is a success and recruit them to come to NCCU,” said Branislav Vlahovic, a professor of science and technology and director of the CREST Center. Vlahovic described the tutoring program as "very successful”. “We are tutoring more than 100 students a day and that is something to be proud of,” he said. Graduates who tutor in the center say the tutoring provides valuable teaching experience. “I wanted to teach and have an opportunity to teach and prepare for larger groups,” said math tutor Clay Bochnovic. “What I get out of it is to see how different people learn and respond to the problems that they are having with their work. My job is to help them succeed.” The CREST Center is located in two locations in the Mary Townes Science Building: the Math Learning Center, room 3238, and the EEGS Learning Center, room 1258. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. To get help, students must enroll in the CREST educational website on Blackboard and add the educational center link to their personal course list.

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NCCU teams up to fight against poverty ECHO STAFF REPORTER

In 2010, North Carolina was ranked the 12th for the highest poverty rate, 11th in highest child poverty rate, and 12th in lowest median household income among the 50 states. In light of this fact, The Institute for Civic Engagement and Social Change at N.C. Central University teamed up with N.C. NAACP, N.C. Justice Center, UNC Center on Poverty, and AARP of N.C. to tour southeast counties of North Carolina. The tour entitled “Truth and Hope Tour” visited several southeast counties, listening to the residents of each county explain their story about what’s not being done to make things better. “The poverty tour is essential for NCCU because all of our lives have been touched by poverty in some respect,” said Academic Community Service Learning Program director, Deborah Bailey. The counties that the groups paid a visit to included Robeson, which has a 31 percent poverty rate, and Brunswick, which has a 16 percent rate. “The poverty tour of Eastern North Carolina was eye opening, heartfelt, and very emotional for me. “Although I know the scholarly definition of poverty, it does not compare to the real life human experiences in which were expressed by

those who live in poverty every day,” said political science and social work major Jamal Troublefield. Navassa, a town in Brunswick County, has 16 percent of its individuals living below the poverty level. This is higher than the county itself, the state of North Carolina and the United States as a whole. Navassa also has a lower education rate than Brunswick County and the state of North Carolina. In addition, Navassa is suffering from contaminated soil. There are six industrial sites which have been designated as Superfund Sites, the federal government’s program to clean up the nation’s uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. Approximately 45,000 cubic feet of creosote containing material was disposed of on-site when the site was dismantled. Creosote residuals remain in the soils, groundwater and sediments and makes water very unsafe to drink. “This land could be developed, but somebody made the decision to contaminate it and leave the people with the contamination and the sickness,” said Rev. William Barber president of the N.C. NAACP. As it was raining hard, he spoke of the rain being a symbol in Africa. “In Africa, when it rains, it is a symbol of blessing. It is a blessed thing today that the truth is being told.”

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Big brain, big heart

Taking a stand

BY CHANEL COLEY

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

University College math tutor makes the hard stuff easy BY TERUMI DOWDY ECHO STAFF REPORTER

On a typical day in the University College lab, you might see a popular tutor moving back and forth between four or five students. Each one needs that little tip that will help them grasp the point of their assignment. One student needs a little help with his finite mathematics, another with her pre-calculus. One is even getting some help with cell biology. The students are receiving one-on-one tutoring in math and science from Aaron Young, one of the three University College math and science tutors. And it’s the one-on-one that students value. “He knows what he’s doing and he pushes me in his own special way,” said Marcus Waters, a psychology senior who has been getting Math 1100 help from Young since the beginning of the semester. Young, 31, studied math and chemistry at the University of Missouri, and earned his Ph.D. in environmental science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. “He’s very helpful and has a lot of patience with me, he doesn’t mind doing extra to make sure I’m getting my work,” said business administration freshman Martel Jackson. Young has tutored at N.C. Central University since 2006. He says he tutors about 10 students each day on his six-hour shift and that his goal is to help stu-

Science and math tutor Aaron Young helps psychology senior Marcus Waters with a Math 1100 problem. TERUMI DOWDY/Staff Photographer

dents grasp the concepts of math and science. “A lot of students come in thinking I’m going to do the assignments. Not at all. We are going to work together so I know you have it,” said Young. Young says that having patience with students and being passionate about teaching allows him to enjoy his job. One of Young’s students, biology sophomore Mesha

Seabrook says she has struggled with her higher level math courses. “It is so many steps in math. I am not bad in math, but the higher in math I get, the harder it gets,” said Seabrook, who has been working with Young for the last two weeks. Young says there are a number of things the math program could do to help students. He said that returning

students could be placed more carefully into their classes, that the program should depend on Math-XL and that professors should build closer teaching relationships with their students. “Many of my returning and older students are being placed in higher level math courses and they need to begin at Math 1000 to refresh their memory,” said Young. “They can get placed in the higher level courses, but many are not successful. Some of the students feel bad that they cannot go to their professor and receive the help that they really need.” Mass Communication junior Jordan Sutton said using Math-XL is less beneficial to students because you can do everything right until the last step and get the answer wrong. According to Sutton, Math-XL is more beneficial to professors. Young receives high tutor evaluations from his students. According to the evaluations, he works hard and is passionate about tutoring. “Students love to work with him,” said Daysha M. Lawrence, University College supplemental instructor director. “He has patience and is willing to go beyond to help. He is one of our best in the University College.” Young tutors weekdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Alexander-Dunn Building’s University College computer lab. Students can go online at nccu.edu to sign up for tutoring sessions.

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

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PARENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 there who do,” said Paul Miller. “I constantly tell him ‘Don’t forget you’re black.’ I don’t want him to run into that guy who does see color one day when he’s walking down the street.” Martin was shot to death last month by a man on a neighborhood watch patrol who confronted the black teenager because he thought he looked suspicious in the gated community. Martin, who was unarmed, was walking back to his father’s house after going to the store for a can of tea and candy. George Zimmerman claimed he acted in self-defense when he shot Martin, and was not charged in the shooting, prompting protests across the country, including two in Chicago on Friday and one scheduled at noon Saturday at Daley Plaza. The case once again placed a spotlight on race in America and forced discussions about the negative perceptions some people have regarding black men. The recurring theme at many of the rallies has been that Trayvon could have been the son of any black in America. On Friday, President Barack Obama weighed in, saying “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.” “When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids,” Obama said. “And I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this, and that everybody pulls together — federal, state and local — to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened.” With the election of Obama four years ago, some people mistakenly believe America is now a postracial country, according to Cathy Cohen, a political science profes-

sor at the University of Chicago. But many young black men remain the targets of the racism that still exists, she said. “The reality is that many Americans ... perceive young black men to be ‘suspicious’ individuals who will rob them, confront them and carry a firearm to threaten their safety, independent of whether it is true or not,” said Cohen. “Young black men go through the world being harassed, watched and stereotyped. They live with that every day, and far too many of us have ignored their reality,” she said. Marguerite Alston, of Chicago Heights, said she rarely allows her 16-year-old son to walk home from school, but when he does, she insists that he goes with a group. “At least there is another set of eyes if there’s a problem,” she said. “Someone can go and get help.” Sometimes, however, she worries when her son asks to go to a mall with a group of black peers, fearing that they could be accused of making trouble even if they are not. “I know they are good kids, but it’s like a red flag goes up in people’s mind when they see a group of black boys,” said Alston. “The first thing they think about is what they see on the news or what they’ve heard about. And just that quickly, something could go wrong.” Michael said he is familiar with the suspicious look to which his mother is referring. “Sometimes when you are in certain areas that don’t have a lot of black young men around, people might watch you a little more and it can be uncomfortable,” he said. “It makes me feel like I don’t belong there. Not necessarily

scared, but it makes me feel out of place.” Alston and her husband, Jeff, started talking to their son as a pre-teen. Growing up with five brothers, she said, her mother had the same conversations with them and stressed the importance of telling her own son how to avoid racially charged confrontations. Black men long have claimed that they are unfairly harassed by police while driving, particularly in predominantly white neighborhoods. It has become so common that it is referred to as “driving while black.” There are tools their children can use to lessen the chances that a routine police stop could escalate into violence, they said, but there is no way to prepare them for situations such as the one that left Martin, who was wearing a hoodie and talking on a cell phone, dead. “I have a group of kids who get stopped just walking down the street. Their pants are not even hanging off their behind. They don’t have on any hoodies. They’re just going through everyday life,” said Cecil Reddit, who mentors teenage boys and facilitates a fathers support group for Family Focus Lawndale. The challenge for many parents is how to prepare the boys without frightening them or making them feel their parents are being overly protective. It is also important, they said, not to make them feel as though they are less important than anyone else. “I get very angry about this because as Americans, we are all men,” said Reddit. “We should be able to live the same way everyone else is doing and not be targeted for these types of things, but it is reality.”

Paul and Jeanne Miller with their son, Jeremy, 16, in front of their home in Flossmoor, Illinois, on Friday, March 23. ZBIGNIEW BZDAK/Staff Chicago Tribune (MCT)

Leaving college with a degree and thousands in debt BY ALAN J. HEAVANS THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER (MCT)

PHILADELPHIA — Americans are graduating from college today with mountains of debt that will take years to dig out from under. Two-thirds of 2011 graduates of four-year colleges accumulated an average of $34,000 in debt each, according to FinAid.org — more than triple the amount of a 1992 graduate. For those who went on to medical or law school, the final cost could be 10 times that amount. Until they get rid of the debt, “it is inconceivable that they’ll ever be able to buy a home,” said Steven M. Dunne, a Philadelphia consumer-bankruptcy lawyer who last year paid $36,000 to chip away at his student loans, $5,000 of that interest. “When I graduated from law school, I knew I couldn’t

make the payments with one job,” said Dunne, “so I’ve had two for the last three years. “The impact is that I can’t afford to buy a house or a car,” he said. Essentially, “I have two mortgages to pay every month, but I don’t have any real estate to show for it.” His friends and a huge number of his clients are in a similar position, thanks to skyrocketing educational costs — some attributed to workers seeking retraining as high-paying jobs are outsourced. “In the last 20 years, tuition has risen 130 percent, four times the rate of inflation,” Dunne said. “Private colleges typically cost $38,000 a year with room and board. “It is putting the economy in a dangerous position, delaying life-cycle events like homeownership, marriage, and having children,” he said.

The result has been fewer household formations, on which the demand for housing — both existing homes and new construction — depends. With fewer first-time buyers in the pool, current owners who want to move cannot sell. With so many heavily indebted graduates moving back with their parents, people who thought they had emptied the nests cannot buy smaller houses. “It boggles the mind how anyone can allow someone without a job to accumulate $200,000 in debt,” said Mayfair real estate broker Christopher J. Artur, who spent much effort over the years ensuring that his children graduated from college debt-free. Dunne, a 1999 Pennsylvania State University graduate who got his law degree from New

England University School of Law in 2005, started his firm, Dunne Law Offices P.C., in 2009, “believing that I could help others even though I couldn’t help myself.” Of the legions in precarious financial straits because of high debt levels, many in this area find themselves sitting across from Dunne after defaulting on student loans. William E. Brewer Jr., president of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, said that the amount of student borrowing crossed the $100 billion threshold for the first time in 2010, and that total outstanding loans exceeded $1 trillion for the first time in 2011. What’s more, Dunne said, those who default on studentloan payments see their principal automatically increase 33 percent, so if you owed $100,000 and stopped paying,

the balance goes to $133,000. Part of the problem is that most students do not know what they are getting into. The new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is working on a one-page financial-aid shopping sheet (see it at http://consumerfinancial.gov) to help students figure out how much in federal loans and private loans they should consider taking on, and what kind of loan repayments will follow after graduation. “They need to start teaching a course in high school about the hidden provisions of student loans and credit cards and how to make it financially in the world. It would be the most important class anyone ever took,” Dunne said. Many of these struggling graduates are employed, but they are not earning what some of the schools had

promised. That’s true in law schools especially, which promise 100 percent employment and starting salaries at $160,000, Dunne said. “It is more like $50,000 to start,” he said, noting that a class-action suit had been filed in New York against several law schools over claims of universal employment and six-figure starting salaries. What Dunne can do for his clients is limited. The national bankruptcy attorneys’ group said 82 percent of its members see little chance of discharging student-loan debt this way. “Clients also read online that loans can be discharged under a hardship standard, but that’s legal fiction,” Dunne said. “The banks got the laws changed in 2005, so that unless you are paralyzed or otherwise impaired, there’s no chance,” he said.

The climate change hoax AN MCT FORUM

BY ADNREW J. GUNTHER AND JAMES J. MCCARTHY We are scientists who agree with critics such as Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., that there is a climate change “hoax” being perpetrated on the American people. We just don’t agree on what the hoax is and who is being fooled. Sen. Inhofe and his associates want us to believe that the science of climate change is the contrived “hoax.” Their claims cannot withstand even the most cursory scrutiny. Does this “hoax” date back to 1896, when Nobel Laureate Svante Arrhenius presented his findings that human activities releasing carbon diox-

ide to the atmosphere could change Earth’s climate? Did it start when scientists Charles Keeling and Roger Revelle demonstrated in the 1950s that a large part of the carbon dioxide released from the burning of coal, oil and gas was remaining in the atmosphere because the oceans couldn’t absorb it fast enough? Did an evil cabal of “warmists” trick a science advisory panel into warning President Lyndon Johnson in 1965 of the dangers of adding greenhouses gases to the atmosphere? In 2009, the National Academies of Science of the world’s major industrialized nations (including China, India and Brazil) issued an unprecedented joint statement on the reality of climate change and the

need for immediate action. Do those who claim climate change is a hoax expect us to believe this was a put on by an international bunch of con men with doctoral degrees? The U.S. Evangelical Environmental Network tells us that global warming is one of the major challenges of our time, and Pope Benedict XVI has called for coordinated global action to address dangers of climate change — have they too joined the conspiracy? Of course not. The real hoax is the claim that a scientific debate exists about the reality of climate change. It is promoted by organizations that benefit from our current energy choices and groups that are opposed to any regulation whatsoever, even the most

sensible safeguards that help protect our children’s health. The hoaxers claim climate scientists are “in it for the money,” a ludicrous proposition as pointed out by Jon Koomey. Dr. Koomey used his expertise in mathematical modeling to study the economic impacts of climate change for two decades at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. If Koomey and his colleagues were in it for the money they would have taken their analytic expertise to Wall Street long ago, where their salaries would have been five to 10 times what they can make working for the government. The hyped rhetoric around this issue is an attempt to convince Americans that accepting

the scientific evidence will require taking actions inimical to our shared values of liberty, freedom, community and entrepreneurship. But one need look no further than the studies of America’s military and intelligence officials who understand how disruptive human-caused climate change could be to our nation’s interests both at home and abroad (in 2009 the CIA established a Center on Climate Change and National Security). Putting our head in the sand about climate change is a sure way to undermine American liberty, economic prosperity and national security. Of all the alterative paths before us to address this problem, doing nothing to reduce the threat of serious climate change is a danger-

ous and expensive option. There’s a climate change hoax all right, but it is Sen. Inhofe and his sciencedenying associates who are trying to do the fooling. We are all going to pay a price if we don’t call-out their campaign of misinformation and get down to the real work before us. The question now is what will be the cost of inaction to our health and our pocketbooks? The longer the hoaxers can prevent serious action, the higher the price we will all pay. ___ ABOUT THE WRITERS Andrew J. Gunther and James J. McCarthy are scientists who sit on the Board of Directors of the Union of Concerned Scientists, 2 Brattle Square, Cambridge, Mass. 02138-3780; website: www.ucsusa.org.

“Upbuilding Whitted” - A Documentary W

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“Upbuilding Whitted” 7 pm ~ Thursday, May 3 , 2012 Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University 1317 W. Pettigrew Street, Durham, NC A documentary exploration of the history and significance of Whitted Heading south on Roxboro Street from downtown Durham you will glimpse to your left a boarded-up brick building, standing proud despite years of neglect. The school was built in 1922 as Hillside Park High School. It was Durham’s first African-American high school. In 1949 it became J.A. Whitted Junior High. And into the 1970s it brought together black students from across Durham. For over 50 years, Hillside Park/Whitted was the pride of Durham’s African-American community. Please join us for our free premiere. “Upbuilding Whitted” a documentary by April Simon, Purity Kimaiyo, Chi Brown and Bruce dePyssler

Photograph by Alyssa Kisby

Photograph by Libby Lynn

Photograph by Alyssa Kisby

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STUDY ABROAD Important dates from your Office of International Affairs

St. Titusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Episcopal Church YOUR CHURCH HOME AWAY FROM HOME St. Titusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Episcopal Church is a vibrant, welcoming, historic, predominately Black parish which through Divine Guidance serves God and community by opening doors, ears, eyes and hearts as we minister to all people. Youth Sunday School ~ Sundays at 10:45 a.m. Sunday Worship Services ~ 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

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Art brings rebirth NCCU second degree student embraces family artistic heritage B Y M ATT P HILLIPS ECHO A&E EDITOR

N.C. Central University Art Education junior Shanté Stewart needed a little nudge to pursue her passion. It took losing her job at a jewelry store, but now Stewart is developing her talent as a painter. Stewart is self-organizing “Life: Becoming and Overcoming,” a Saturday, March 31 art show at Waterford Village in Durham. The show will run from 7 to 10 p.m. and include a wine and cheese reception. Stewart said her acrylic work, both abstract and African-inspired, will be featured. Stewart said the loss of her job was a blessing in disguise. She is now seeking her second bachelor’s degree from NCCU. “I had no clue what I wanted to do. Instead of doubting myself I took that opportunity to do what I wanted,” said Stewart. Stewart’s mother, DeRose, is a painter herself. She said she ignited her daughter’s passion for art by painting at the household kitchen table. According to Ms. Stewart she encouraged her children — she also has a son — to use water colors and crayons from their early years. “When I was younger it was an outlet to draw on any little paper I could. I’ve just continued to do it ever since,” said Ms. Stewart. “She did a lot of art when

she was younger and in high school. I guess she really loved it.” The younger Stewart is also spreading her passion for art. Stewart teaches for Young Rembrandts, a Triangle-area outreach program designed to unleash the power of drawing in young kids. Stewart said teaching and painting will pay less than her previous career goals, but pursuing her passion is more important than material gain. “It’s good to express yourself. That’s my mode of expression. I started out by giving them [paintings] away as housewarming gifts,” said Stewart. Stewart paints African surrealist and Africaninspired abstract pieces. Stewart said she is inspired by her mother’s paintings and the work of Pablo Picasso. “Picasso kind of made African art mainstream. He tried to do something different,” said Stewart. “Sometimes I want to paint something and I don’t know what to paint. That’s why I do abstract. By the grace of God it comes out the way He wants it.” “Life: Becoming and Overcoming” will run from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, March 31 at Waterford Village in Durham, 4405 Waterford Valley Drive. More information about the show and Shante Stewart can be found at strokesbysms.com.

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Big K.R.I.T. 4Eva N A Day

Cinematic Music Group

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“4Eva N A Day” marks Big K.R.I.T.’s third free album release since he splashed onto the scene in April 2010. The album is autobiographical and more introspective than any of his previous projects. It displays a day in the life of the Mississippi born MC. K.R.I.T. takes the listener on his early in the morning routine, to events throughout the day, shifting to events at night and the accompanying emotions a day brings. One of Big K.R.I.T.’s strength is his ability to paint an auditory picture. His music isn’t always filled with rewind-inducing punch lines or metaphors, but vivid storytelling and lyrics the average person can relate to. Emotions such as the optimism of a new day as evidenced in “Wake Up,” reflections of his deceased grandmother on “Yesterday,” and motivation to persevere day to day as evidenced in the album’s single “Boobie Miles.” Other standouts include “Yesterday,” “4Eva N A Day (Theme),” and “Handwriting,” a possible slight at his current label Def Jam. Over a sample of “The Handwriting Is On The Wall” by Ann Peebles, K.R.I.T. begins the song with an apology for his attitude: “Excuse my tone of voice but today was just a bad day/Label hit me

Oil painting work by Shanté Stewart. Photograph Courtesy Shante Stewart

Oil painting work by DeRose Stewart. Photograph Courtesy Shante Stewart

“I had no clue what I wanted to do.” SHANTÉ STEWART ON PURSUING HER PASSION

Branford Marsalis offers wisdom and humor ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Grammy Award-winning Jazz great Branford Marsalis spoke to N.C. Central University students and faculty March 21 in University Theater. Marsalis spoke about his musical background and personal experiences. “Marsalis has an incredible, inspirational, and downto-earth spirit,” said nursing freshman Angela Horton. Stephanie Freeman, Coordinator for the arts and humanities program organized the event.

Branford Marsalis

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“Our program wanted to expose students to a living legend and allow students to have a history to pass down to their generation,” said Freeman. “Great music is about stories, not scales. Scales do not make music,” said Marsalis. The New Orleans native has toured with jazz legends Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, and Sonny Rollins in his musical career. “Those were my role models. They knew how to play and lead a band. I was connected in my mind to jazz,” said Marsalis.

Marsalis told NCCU students that the music industry was not an easy career choice. “I came for a class but I got an opportunity to meet a musician that was honest and open about his experience in the music industry, and that gathered my attention immediately,” said music education senior William Smith. “In order to be a good musician one must practice their music and perform,” said Marsalis. Marsalis said he is passionate about shaping the interaction of music and students.

about another single and said I ain’t had play/Since Country Sh*t/Hell they thought that was a regional record anyway/But thank God for Bun B and Ludacris because they had faith” The line was in reference to the remix of his single from his first album “K.R.I.T. Wuz Here.” The song itself could be interpreted as a true jab at Def Jam or just as a metaphor of crumbling under the pressures of the day. Each song on this has a unique relationship, lyrics from one song foresee the topic in the next song and interludes after each song bridge the tracks together. A successful concept album is based on establishing a theme or story and sticking with it throughout the album and Big K.R.I.T. did this well on “4Eva N A Day,” but the use of a concept in some ways was detrimental. The album became monotonous toward the end because it lacked a pace switching track like “Gumpshun” on “K.R.I.T. Wuz Here” or “Time Machine” on “Return of 4Eva.” Looking ahead to his Def Jam debut, “Live From The Underground,” it’ll be interesting to see how he incorporates his in-depth storytelling with faster pace songs to appease new listeners. Still, another consistent release and a solid precursor to his Def Jam debut, “Live From The Underground.”

— Jerome Brown Jr.

Tablet changes education, tech B Y T RENTON L ITTLE ECHO ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Two years ago when the late Steve Jobs released the first iPad he couldn't predict the impact it would have on society. Since the arrival of the iPad laptop sales have declined and will continue to do so with Apple releasing their third iPad on March 17. The iPad has revolutionized college campuses and schools worldwide with teachers relying on the tablet as a primary tool for education. “I think it’s the wave of the future and 21st century learning,” said mass communication associate professor Charmaine McKissick-Melton. “Us old people need to adapt, and move on with where the young people are.” With the iPad students are able to gain a hands-on experience in any particular field while also being

able to purchase textbooks, or access notes for class. Exercise sports science senior Keisha Fointno received an iPad 2 as a Christmas gift and is overwhelmed with what the tablet has to offer. “There's an app for everything, allowing me to use the apps as study material,” said Fointno. Fointno said she mainly uses the tablet for reviewing material for class, and checking email. “The reason I decided to buy an iPad was so I can have my slides and material for class on the go,” said Fointno. McKissick-Melton also received her iPad as a gift from the College of Liberal Arts N.C. Central University. “I primarily use it for reading emails, and checking Facebook,” she said. “I have several email accounts and it’s quicker to pull it up on my iPad than my laptop.”

While the iPad is a great investment for students, McKissick-Melton said that knowing how to write properly as in handwriting is still very beneficial to students. “When I`m working on major word processing I don’t use the iPad because it’s not quick for typing,” said McKissick-Melton. “I prefer to use a traditional laptop or desktop computer for stuff like that.” However, she does see that an iPad would be a great investment for mass communication students. “I would love to see that as the norm,” said McKissick-Melton. “Every mass communication student walking in the door by their sophomore year with an iPad," she said. “I do everything on my iPad", said Fointno. “It's more portable, I can put it in my purse and head to class."

Wild hair styles dominated the runway March 24 in the Alfonoso-E Elder Student Union. AYANA SADLER/ Echo Staff Photographer

B Y AYANA SADLER ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Art, class, and beauty were merged into unique hair styles on March 24 in the Alfonso-Elder Student Union as

N.C. Central University students became stylists and models. Models walked the runway with bright colored streaks in their hair, soda cans as hair accessories and hair tracks as pieces of clothing.

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New doc gives legend his due

The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham opens with profile of icon B Y M ATT P HILLIPS ECHO A&E EDITOR

One man stood on a podium with a gold medal dangling from his neck. In the grandstands another man with the horrid heart of a tyrant fumed at defeat. Jesse Owens stood up to Adolf Hitler and all of Nazi Germany. His triumph at the 1936 Olympics — Owens won four gold medals — was an in-your-face dismissal of Hitler’s absurd ideals. A new documentary about the man, “Jesse Owens,” will have its world premiere at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham Thursday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m. “Jesse Owens” is directed by Laurens Grant and produced and written by Stanley Nelson. Grant and Nelson, both AfricanAmericans, previously worked together on “Freedom Riders,” which Nelson directed. The filmmakers structured the narrative of “Jesse Owens” with archival footage and photographs. Interviews are sprinkled throughout — with sportswriter Jeremy Schaap, sociologist Harry Edwards and others — but the archival footage brings the legend of Owens’ accomplishments to life. Sadie Tillery, program-

ming coordinator at Full Frame said Grant and Nelson created a theatrical documentary with their skilled use of found footage. “‘Jesse Owens’ uses fabulous archival footage from both the Olympics and Owens’ other events,” said Tillery. “There is the drama of what is going to happen at the Olympics, and then in Owen’s life at home.” Grant said Owens’ accomplishments tend to be downplayed. According to Grant, the story of Owens is a story everybody thinks they know, but people are sometimes unaware of key elements. “He [Owens] was there before all the other greats. ... He helped create a template of how an AfricanAmerican figure can articulate and show himself,” said Grant. Grant said producing “Freedom Riders” and directing “Jesse Owens” is an important public service. Both films are products of the Public Broadcasting Services American Experience project. “I really think it [American Experience] is just invaluable in the landscape of public discourse,” said Grant. “It’s terrific to be able to bring historical characters to life.”

Nelson, who is also being honored by Full Frame with a filmmaker tribute, said he felt Owens’ life would make a great film. He said that it was necessary to write the film while simultaneously looking for footage. “It is an organic process that changes as the film grows,” said Nelson. Nelson looks for great historical stories that resonate with audiences today — whose actions have had a lasting impact on American society. The filmmaker tribute is a screening of four of Nelson’s films, “The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords,” “Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple,” “A Place of Our Own” and “Sweet Honey in the Rock: Raise Your Voice.” Nelson — who will attend Full Frame — also mentors young, minority filmmakers through his non-profit Firelight Media Producer’s Lab. “We are working with 15 to 20 filmmakers of color at any one time to get their films funded,” said Nelson. The world premiere of “Jesse Owens” is Thursday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Durham. Tickets to “Jesse Owens” and the rest of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival lineup are available at fullframefest.org.

Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games. Photo Courtesy PBS/American Experience

“It’s terrific to be able to bring historical characters to life.” LAURENS GRANT ON DIRECTING “JESSE OWENS”

Celebrating Moral Emphasis Week Tuesday, April 10

April 9-1 15, 2012

Outreach Day Forum - The Marriage Amendment

10 AM – Noon 6:30 PM

Thursday, April 12 Campus Ministry Fair Spoken Word

10 AM - Noon 8 PM

Saturday, April 14 MAN UP and Sister 2 Sister Conference

9 AM

All events at the Alfonso Elder Student Union, either outside at George Street or inside. The MAN UP and Sister 2 Sister Conference is will take place inside the A.E. Student Union. Michael D. Page Campus Minister

United Christian Campus Ministry 525 Nelson Street, NCCU Campus

For more information contact Rev. Michael Page at 530-5263 or by e-mail at mpage@nccu.edu

Campus Echo Online No kidding: Free classified ads for anyone with an @nccu e-m mail account.

www.campusecho.com/classifieds

Sports

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

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Passing the baton BY

M ATT P HILLIPS ECHO A&E EDITOR

Knees pump like pistons. Arms swing through thick air like hyper-speed pendulums. A burgundy and black-uniformed blur comes into focus. N.C. Central University public health junior and collegiate sprinter Ashley McCoy leans forward as she crosses the finish line at the LeRoy T. Walker Track & Field Invitational on Saturday, March 24. McCoy has just won the women’s 100 meter dash with a time of 11.93 seconds, her closest competitor nearly a second behind. McCoy is one of the members of the NCCU women’s 4x400 relay team along with English sophomore Sararesa Hudson, mass communication sophomore La’Creesha Gore, and marketing sophomore Delesha Conquest. Head Coach Michael Lawson said he has high expectations for the women’s 4x400 relay team heading into Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference competition. “That four I am looking to be an awesome group when it comes to our conference. They’re solid,” said Lawson. “I think they’re going to mature together and they’ll be an awesome group later on this year and definitely into next year.” Lawson is looking for the women to push their 4x400 relay time below 3:43; a goal that requires all four women to run at or near 55 second splits. A key to hitting that time will be the chemistry that McCoy, Hudson, Gore, and Conquest share. “We all need to be there

The women’s 4x4 meter relay team all have each other’s backs. From left to right: Ashley McCoy, Delesha Conquest, La”Creesha Gore, Sararesa Hudson MATT PHILLIPS/Echo A&E editor

mentally and be ready to get on the track and do our thing instead of just having one or two that want to do it,” said Hudson, who won the 400 meter hurdles Saturday. Conquest – who placed second in the 400 meter hurdles – said that being unselfish is an important factor when sprinting on a relay team. She depends on her teammates and they depend on her. “When you run a relay you can’t just think about yourself because you have three other people running and if

they put everything into it, it’s pointless for one person to not give anything and the other three to suffer and give everything,” said Conquest. Gore won the 200 meter dash on Saturday. According to her, relay races are more exciting than individual events. “I’m more relaxed for relays and I’m more hyped for relays simply because you’re with your team so you’re dependent on somebody else,” said Gore. “You may do a little something wrong, but your team-

mate got your back.” Gore also said the mental game is important to acknowledge. “We want them [other teams] to think about us, like we think about them sometimes,” said Gore. “We want them to be like, ‘Oh that’s that girl from Central.” McCoy said her teammates help each other run through mental barriers. She sometimes places too much focus on her competitors. “I struggle with that. La’Creesha helps me a lot,

like ‘just focus on your race,’” said McCoy. She added that being a student-athlete is difficult, especially when it comes to time management, but handling academics is the first priority. “Being a student-athlete you know you want to do the sport so you know you have to do good in the classroom, and that pushes you,” said McCoy. Hudson said as a studentathlete she is always busy, but without track she wouldn’t be as fulfilled. “I don’t know what I would

do if I wasn’t an athlete,” she said. “We say ‘Coach can we get a day off?’ Then we get the day off and we’re like, ‘Dang, what are we going to do?’” Conquest said sprinting is about shaking off mental chains and establishing a singular, positive focus. “As soon as the gun goes off and you start your race,” said Conquest, “It’s like everything goes blank and you don’t even see the people next to you.

Vick had to regain all his nerves, and learn how to walk again. “He couldn't hold a fork, or a spoon," the elder Vick said. “He couldn't do anything by himself.” After regaining his motor functions, Vick had to put plan B into action.Vick understood playing football was gone, but it was for the better. He soon found his voice. “I talk to kids. Now they can see my face, and really get to know me,” he said. “Before when I played football, I had a helmet and uniform on so you didn't really know me outside of football.” "Now I feel like they respect for me for who I am, not what I do." Despite not being able to play football ever again he still wanted to be around the game, so assistant coach Andre George added him to the staff. “It allowed him to transition from being a player to an adult, and a coach,” George said. “So it was vital both to him and the program

to bridge the gap, and grow together.” Vick is now a graduate assistant and is pursuing a career in coaching football. “It’s a great opportunity for me to live the game through the players," Vick said. Lana Garland, a filmmaker caught wind of the story and decided to use Rakeem for a 30-second documentary for ESPN's “Free to Be” series. “It's a blessing. I never I thought I would make it on ESPN that way," Vick said. “I pictured myself making that big play, like an interception or touchdown.” Vick received much praise from professors, and classmates thanking him for putting the school on the map. Vick said many people don't understand the trials he went through to get where he is today. He's coaching, he's on ESPN but they didn't see what happened behind the scenes. “The fact of the matter is football ended for him,” George said.

VICK CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Rakeem Vick is still scarred by the toughest battle of his life CHI BROWN/Echo photo editor

“He really fed off my emotions," the elder Vick said regarding her son’s time in the hospital. "I made sure that he never saw me upset." Rakeem remained at Duke University Medical Center

for about 4 weeks, and was later moved after his surgery to Durham Regional for 6 weeks. The Vicks are still receiving hospital bills for his surgery. While in the hospital Angela made sure she was

there and always available for her son.“When he had company I would go into the chapel in the hospital and just pray,” she said. She made sure Rakeem was never left alone. “I stayed there until someone I

trusted came.” In the hospital Vick received many visitors but none from then NCCU head coach Mose Rison. She says it wasn’t until she contacted him that he came to visit. While in the Hospital

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Sports

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Eagles continue to hit and miss Inconsistency leads to subpar record

Sophomore shortstop Dylan Drayton pops up a ball in the second game of Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s twin bill. JONATHAN ALEXANDER /Echo sports editor

CLAUDIA PINEDA

ECHO SPORTS REPORTER

In their first year in the MEAC, the N.C. Central University menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s baseball program has stumbled to a (4-21) record midway through the season. First year head coach Jim Koerner is still looking for his team to establish consistency and good habits. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re inconsistent and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still learning how to win,â&#x20AC;? said Koerner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think there are times during the game that we change the way we play based on the situation.â&#x20AC;? After taking two of three games against rival N.C. A&T, the Eagles have gone through a cold spell, dropping eight of their last nine games. In those nine games, the Eagles have been shutout twice and mustered only one run in two other games. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to get over that hump, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to be a

Diaz. The Eagles have a (3-6) conference record and are currently 6th out of 9 teams in the MEAC. With 16 conference games left, the Eagles are confident that they can turn things around and compete in the MEAC. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re learning, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re learning and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a process,â&#x20AC;? said Koerner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go from where weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been to where we want to go overnight.â&#x20AC;? In recent games, the Eagles pitching has looked good, giving up less than three runs in two of their last three conference games. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve improved a lot,â&#x20AC;? said Diaz â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come up a long way, we just got to have more people step up at times.â&#x20AC;? Koerner also says that they have gotten better, but the overall goal is to win games.

little bit tougher and we got to be a little bit more aggressive in certain situations,â&#x20AC;? said Koerner. Leading the lineup in hitting is junior outfielder Luis Diaz with a .319 batting average on 29 hits for the season. However, Diaz is only hitting 1 for 14 in his last five games and was moved to the designated hitter spot, due to fielding errors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I really have to improve on my defense, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been struggling lately a lot, and I feel like thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big part in these losses,â&#x20AC;? said Diaz. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lack of confidence. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in my head because I know I can make those plays.â&#x20AC;? Hitting has been the Eagles main set back. They are hitting a disappointing .227 at the plate and havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seemed to quite figure out the problem. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We just got to have better at-bats, more aggressive in the early counts,â&#x20AC;? said

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

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Got to make ends meet In recent years there have been debates as to whether student-athletes should be compensated. Under financial strain student-athl e t e s around the country have been Jonathan caught vioAlexander lating certain school and NCAA rules. I disagree with rules that discourage student-athletes from making money, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s from having a legal hustle, working long hours or accepting gifts from other people. Some student-athletes have even broken the law due to illegal hustles. Unfortunately, two N.C. Central University studentathletes made poor decisions and the wrath of the legal system clamped down on them. Seniors Justin Leemow in November and Landon Clement in March were both charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell or deliver it, maintaining a dwelling for drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. These two student-athletes have a lot in common. They transferred the same year from predominately white colleges, were starters, lived in the same apartment complex and were suspended indefinitely for the incidents. Most notably they are fathers trying to make ends meet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The reality is that todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s college-age students are faced with tough choices that can impact them for the rest of their lives,â&#x20AC;? writes Kyle Serba, associate athletics director for media relations, in an email to the Campus Echo.

According to Serba, the Department of Athletics â&#x20AC;&#x153;continues to educate our students about these issues and stress the importance of making good decisions as community role models and image-makers for the university.â&#x20AC;? Yes, Leemow and Clement were wrong for their actions, but we should recognize that the NCAA places student-athletes in a tough situation financially. Some of these student-athletes are first and foremost parents. Some donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get any financial support from their own parents. The most important thing for them is to provide for their families. As a parent oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mindset is focused on how they are going to feed their family tonight. As students, we all know money is tight. According to Stanford.edu, the NCAA allows student-athletes to have on or off campus employment, but they can only earn up to $2,000 during an academic year. During the summer the $2,000 limit does not apply, but being a parent is a yearround job. The NCAA has good intentions. Their main goal is to offer student-athletes a quality education at a reduced price, which is great. Education will set student-athletes up for the future in case going pro doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work out. But what about right now? How can a student-athlete provide for a family if he or she is struggling to make ends meet? Not all people are blessed with financial security. Some student-athletes are waiting to get good jobs themselves so they can take care of their parents or grandparents. Student-athletes represent universities and bring in a lot of the money for

their institutions. Why are student-athletes not allowed a stipend? Most of their free time is spent in mandatory practice and training. Very few student-athletes will go to the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; immediately after college and earn millions. Four years of being broke will take a toll on anyone. One has to wonder if Clement and Leemow were charged with intent to sell marijuana because they were trying to make ends meet. But the NCAA is failing to see the big picture. Most student-athletes are living below the poverty line. According to a study entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Price of Poverty in Big Time College Sport,â&#x20AC;? room and board provisions in a full scholarship still leave 85 percent of players living on campus and 86 percent of players living off campus below the federal poverty line. A report released by the National College Players Association, an advocacy group for college athletes, found that the average full scholarship at a university fails to cover thousands of dollars in educational expenses, including everything from parking fees to utility bills. The NCAA needs to consider all scenarios that plague student-athletes in tough situations and figure out ways that they can better help and guide those with financial need. Maybe this will discourage student-athletes from making those lax decisions that will impact their lives forever. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will continue to educate our students about these issues and stress the importance of making good decisions as community role models and imagemakers for the university,â&#x20AC;? said Serba.

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

Opinions

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

IVER SITY

They see you, Facebookers! I

t’s Friday night; you and your friends are about to head out to a party being thrown by the wonderful brothers of Omega Psi Phi. You’re snapping pictures of you and your friends as you get ready. You take couple of shots posing with a Ciroc bottle, because that’s the cool thing to do. Then you head out to the party and your friend Angel sneaks some picBrown tures of you dancing with the cute guy from your 2:25 p.m. class. Seems all innocent, huh? You have no clue that those cute pictures you took with your friends could possibly have a negative impact on your future career. Facebook, Twitter and other social websites are being used heavily for advertisement. You can barely watch a commercial that doesn’t slide “Like Us on Facebook” on the

According to the Huffington Post, the National Labor Relations Board has granted employers permission to utilize Facebook to see if, outside of work, employees really are the outstanding citizens they pose as at work.

screen. Even ESPN will prompt you to “Follow us on Twitter” before going to that same commercial. Think about this: If you are going to school to become a teacher, why wouldn’t the board of education check out your Facebook profile? They want to know if you are responsible and a positive role model. Check this out: According to the Huffington Post, the National Labor Relations Board has granted employers permission to utilize Facebook to see if, outside of work, employees really are the outstanding citizens they pose as

at work. If any inappropriate images or content is found on employees’ pages, they can be fired. On the other hand, social sites such as Linkedin can be helpful to your career. Linkedin allows you to post your resume and network among those you know, while linking you to your friends’ connections. “Increase your digital currency,” advises Tarryn L. Simmons, speech coordinator for the speaking studio in the Taylor education building. “Klout.com, is a great social site that actually calculates how influential you are due to your information such as your

resume and Facebook along with your community involvement. It gives you a score that can be viewed by potential employers as well as internship programs,” Simmons said. The world is absolutely digital now. We went from having to actually get in our cars and drive around to businesses to ask, “Are you hiring?”to searching jobs with just a click, and without ever leaving our homes. However, you have to know that these same employers you apply to online are Googling you to see if your profile contains drug-influenced behavior or angry rants about your current job. Image is key; at a major corporation, your image represents the company as a whole. Get with the program, students. Do you really want your boss to see you on Facebook with a bottle turned up, in your underwear, or happily sharing a hookah bong? Be smart. Delete those pictures, and untag yourself on others’ sites.

The one that got away

hen trouble comes, a person can either run or stand their ground. In the case of Trayvon Martin, combinations of both of these options lead to his death. The seventeen year old lost his life at the hands of a neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman. On the day of his death, the attire of Martin played a major Zevandah role. Zimmerman said he looked Barnes suspicious and followed the teenager. Zimmerman is using the stand your ground law as his defense for killing Martin. today Zimmeran is still not behind bars. The late great Martin Luther King, Jr. said “An injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere”. According to www.leg.state.fl.us the stand your ground law states:

The FBI and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division have recently gotten involved in the investigation of this matter. Evidence continues to come in that proves Zimmerman committed a crime. The 911 tapes worked against Zimmerman once they became public.

“A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.” This can be located under F.S. 776.013(3). The first part of the law

actually exposes a flaw in Zimmerman’s claim. Zimmerman followed Martin around before he shot him down. The second part of the law also makes Zimmerman’s defense weak. Martin had no weapon on him. So why is Zimmerman not arrested? Protests have been public and constant since the case first hit the media. Americans have a general consensus there is something wrong with the picture. One of the few people that

don’t feel Zimmerman is guilty of a crime and should not be arrested is Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee. Lee has decided to temporarily step down to let things cool down according to www.cbsnews.com. Clearly he is not serving the people. If he were he would consider working for Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the parents of the slain teenager. Evidence continues to come in that proves Zimmerman committed a crime. The 911 tapes worked against Zimmerman once they became public. The tapes also exposed a possible racial slur used by Zimmerman before the deplorable killing. The FBI and the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division have recently gotten involved in the investigation of this matter. Hopefully this will be a catalyst for legal ramifications. Walking while black should not be a cause of death.

drawing by Rashaun Rucker

Question: How do you feel about the Trayvon Martin case? “Changes must be made, so that stereotypes will not determine our future.. “ —Julian Guthrie

“When I think of the case, I think of INJUSTICE. An innocent bystander is shot down and the person responsible is free.” —Kiona Thomas

“Bad misjudgment and race were definitely a factor in the situation. It is a wake-up call for our AfricanAmerican community.” —Kandace Wilson Sound Off By Uyi Idahor

From Carmelo Montalvo, the Beta Omicron chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorrority Inc., and the Gamma Gamma chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.