November 5, 2008

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1801 FAYETTEVILLE STREET DURHAM, NC 27707

Campus . . . . . . . .

Elections . . . . . . .

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Beyond . . . . . . . .

Photo Feature . .

A&E . . . . . . . . . . .

Sports . . . . . . . . .

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VOLUME 100, ISSUE 5 919 530 7116/CAMPUSECHO@NCCU.EDU WWW.CAMPUSECHO.COM

Campus

Sports

Beyond NCCU

Photo Feature

Alex Rivera, NCCU’s “Godfather of Flash,” dies at 95. Group fights to save Rivera home.

Homecoming game: Eagles top Edward Waters 34-14

Earnings down, tuition and student debt up. Is college a good investment?

If you missed Homecoming we’ve got some photos for you.

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Campus Echo OBAMA REACHES MOUNTAINTOP

Barack Obama at NCCU’s O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium on Nov. 1, 2007 two months before his unexpected primary win in the Iowa caucuses.

BRYSON POPE /Echo Staff Photographer

USA elects first black president Mark this date: 11/4/08.

Obama defeats McCain decisively FROM CAMPUS ECHO STAFF REPORTS On July 27, 2004, not many people knew the keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention.

But four years later, everyone knows him as the first AfricanAmerican president of the United States.

Sen. Barack Obama changed history last night when he was elected the nation’s 44th commander-in-chief.

The product of a black Kenyan father and a white American mother, Obama dealt with conflicting social perceptions of his multiracial background throughout the campaign.

Obama entered Harvard Law School in 1988 and was elected the first black editor of the Harvard Law Review.

Obama worked as a civil rights lawyer and a University of Chicago Law School professor before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004.

American voters responded to Obama’s platform of change, giving him 338 electoral college votes.

“Obama is somebody that people see as different, someone that is bringing about positive change for generations to come,” said business senior Jessica Holland.

Surprisingly, age rather than race was a determining factor in the election.

Only half as many voters polled

by CNN viewed race as a major factor as considered age to be.

Strong support from minority and young voters drove Obama’s victory home, according to CNN’s exit polls.

Voters in the 18 to 24 age range voted 68 percent in favor of Obama

and voters in the 25 to 29 age group voted 69 percent for Obama.

The only age range to favor McCain over Obama was the 65 and over bracket.

“It was an honor to vote for the first black president. He went against the grain,” said Lindsey Rose, an English and political science freshman and a first-time voter.

In Durham County, 76 percent of the more than 134,000 voters who turned out at the polls favored Obama, as of press time.

Chicago’s Grant Park filled with Obama supporters to hear his acceptance speech.

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible . . . tonight is your answer,” he said.

On the other side of the country, in Phoenix, Ariz., McCain praised Obama and urged Americans to congratulate him and put aside their differences to unify in the nation’s interest.

Of special note: • Obama was the nation’s first senator to be elected to the presidency since John F. Kennedy in 1960.

• He carried Virginia for the first time since 1964 when the state voted for Lyndon Baines Johnson.

• He scored 72 percent of firsttime voters.

• Early voting was crucial to his win. By Monday 24.4 million Americans had cast early or absentee ballots.

• As of 2 a.m. Wednesday, 2,101,986 Democrats and 2,089,826 Republicans voted in North Carolina.

• 62 percent of nationwide voters in a CNN exit poll said the economy was their top issue.

MORE ELECTION COVERAGE Rosamond Bankole at the Barack ‘N’ Roll celebration, downtown Durham, 11 p.m., Nov. 4, 2008 MIKE DEWEESE-FRANK /Echo Staff Photographer

5 . . . . Obama at NCCU before the Iowa caucuses

staffers react to Obama win

6 . . . . State elections

14. . . Campus reacts, Opinions, Sound Off, Cartoon

6 . . . . Former Campus Echo

11. . . Celebrities pub Obama

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008

IVERSITY

Rivera remembered Campus legend documented segregation, civil rights

BY GEOFFREY COOPER

Group wants to save historic Rivera home

ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

N.C. Central University’s photographer Robert Lawson would never have thought a simple rake job and a trip to the darkroom would jumpstart a career.

After exactly 50 years, Lawson still remembers the exact day he met Rivera and the impact it made on him in as both a pupil and a friend.

“I remember him when he was in his heyday,” said Lawson. “I did all that I could do with him. I spent more time with him than my biological father.”

As a freshman at NCCU (then known as North Carolina College at Durham) in 1958, Lawson first encountered Rivera when he agreed to help him rake the leaves in his yard.

After finishing his task, Lawson was invited into Rivera’s home where Rivera showed Lawson his upstairs darkroom, where he produced the majority of his famous photographs of the civil rights movement.

Lawson was curious about the inner workings of Rivera’s profession.

“So he gave me a camera and asked me ‘are you interested in learning photography?’, and I said, ‘Yeah!’” said Lawson.

Through Rivera’s guidance, Lawson used his newly found skills with a camera to pay his way through school.

Lawson continued to receive vital instructions from Rivera throughout his college days.

“He told me to get all the education that I could,” said Lawson. “‘But get yourself a trade, so that way you will never be out of a job.’”

Lawson now extends his own teachings to other students, as he teaches photography for beginners at the University.

Lawson stayed in contact with him every day until his death.

“He broke the ice for a lot of folks,” said Lawson.

“He did stuff that black folks weren’t accustomed to doing. From the White House to palaces in Ghana … he was living a good life.”

NCCU alumnus Rashaun Rucker, a photographer for the Detroit Press, also remembers his close encounters with Rivera and the impact they had on him.

He said that before meeting Rivera, he studied the photographer’s work closely and always wanted to know more about him.

“His contributions to photography showed others in America and around the

BY NATALIA PEARSON FARRER ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Alex Rivera in his NCCU office proudly displaying his Speed Graphic, a camera that was standard equipment for press photographers until the mid-1960s.

RASHAUN RUCKER /Echo File Photo

world what black America was really like. Even people like me,” said Rucker.

Rivera played an integral role in documenting the racial conflicts of the 1940s and 1950s, from investigating lynching throughout the South to the landmark case of Brown v. Topeka Board of Education that ultimately rejected “separate but equal.”

“He did something that people said couldn’t be done,” said Lawson.

“Black people were looked at as people that couldn’t lead. He proved otherwise.”

Rivera was also a stickler for encouraging others to engage in the political process, scolding those who would not get involved in activities such as voting.

“If you didn’t vote, you couldn’t even hear him,” said Lawson.

In the wake of the historic presidential election between Barack Obama and John McCain, Lawson said that before Rivera’s passing

Rivera documented the segregated South with photos like “Mother and Child.”

COURTESY

ALEX

on Oct. 23, he made it a prime objective to vote for the last time on Oct. 20.

A memorial service was held Oct. 31 at St. Joseph AME Church in Durham.

In honor of Rivera’s photographic legacy, the Alex M. and Faye F. Rivera Scholarship Fund has been

RIVERA ESTATE

established through NCCU Foundation.

Survivors include a son, Eric M. Rivera and a sister, Raven Elliot.

“He was a giant of a man,” said Lawson.

“I appreciated his firmness and all. He was just a good, good person.”

Health Careers Center N.C. Central University 521 Nelson Street Durham, NC 27707 th 35 f Year o e Servic

Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm 919 530-7128 Charles E. McClinton, Ph.D., Director Alfreda D. Evans, Student Services Coordinator

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A local preservation group has accused N.C. Central University of being lax in maintaining the Alex Rivera house.

The Fayetteville Street Planning Group filed a complaint with the city on Oct. 20, citing a city ordinance calling for owners of historic properties to “not allow conditions of neglect to occur on such properties.”

The group, which aims to preserve Historic Fayetteville Street, believes the home’s current state is the result of neglect by the University.

Durham’s Historic Preservation Commission will hear the school’s request on Dec. 2.

A March memo from the state construction office advised the University to renovate the house before it was damaged beyond repair, according to the group’s Web site.

Another memo, from July 2007, stated that repairing the home rather than demolishing it would contribute to the appearance and value of the community.

But the building was unsafe when NCCU bought it in 1997, said Zack Abegunrin, associate vice chancellor for facilities management.

“The structure is not good, the foundation is gone, there is water in the basement,” he said.

“It is just not safe.”

NCCU wants to demol-

ish the home because of its deteriorating state.

Doing so would also fit into the school’s planned expansion into the neighborhood.

The state attorney general has advised the school to erect a fence around the property to prevent trespassers from further damaging the home or injuring themselves.

The group has claimed that past failures to secure the home have allowed vandalism, including the theft of electrical wires and plumbing.

The Rivera House, located at the corner of Fayetteville and Lawson streets, was home to Alex Rivera, a renowned photojournalist who covered the civil rights movement and established NCCU’s public relations office.

Rivera, who Chancellor Charlie Nelms described as “an integral part of the University’s history,” died Oct. 23 at the age of 95.

The Rivera House is part of the Fayetteville Street Local Historic District, Durham’s only African-American historic district.

Durham County has assessed the home at about $83,000, but Abegunrin says fixing the home will cost about $500,000.

“We took all things into consideration,” he said.

“I think we came up with a reasonable decision so we can move forward and do what we need to do.”

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Neighborhood activists say the historic Alex Rivera house has deteriorated under NCCU’s ownership. The University bought the property in 1997 and now wants to demolish it.

RODERICK HOWELL/Echo Staff Photographer

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008

IVERSITY

Huff heaps on the help

Terry Huff in a BRITE Building classroom.

DAVID FITTS/Echo Staff Photographer

BY DAVID FITTS ECHO STAFF REPORTER

According to those who know him, Terry Huff is driven by one goal —– seeing students succeed.

And at N.C. Central University, there’s no better way to help students take their first steps toward success than the Aspiring Eagles Scholars Program.

Huff, the current program coordinator of the scholars program, works alongside program director Debra Parker.

In 2005, Huff and Parker joined forces to start the

Aspiring Eagle Scholars Program.

Parker said she enjoys working with Huff and the students.

“Working with students is exciting because he has a lot of good ideas and is student -oriented,” said Parker.

Huff also coordinates NCCU’s Dimensions of Learning classes. The class is designed to teach students about the history of NCCU and help them make a smooth academic and emotional transition into college life.

Huff, a Georgia native and NCCU alumnus, has

been teaching at NCCU for eight years.

He earned his undergraduate degree here with a double major in psychology and sociology in 1971.

He earned a master’s degree in social work and planning from UNC-Chapel Hill.

“It was the pinnacle of a working environment,” said Huff, referring to his decision to return to NCCU to teach.

He said he feels at home teaching because he enjoys helping students.

The Aspiring Eagles program is a year-long academic support program for firstyear students.

Additionally, the program offers summer academic enrichment designed to help students ease into the University academically and socially.

During the summer program, Huff and his staff become surrogate parents to students.

In the summer students reside in Ruffin Hall, and when the academic year starts, they live in Annie Day Shepard Residence Hall.

During the program, students have tutors for courses like Math 1000, a course that can be a stumbling block for overtaxed students during the regular semester.

Students also take trips to places like the Smithsonian

in Washington, D.C. and the the Martin Luther King Memorial in Atlanta.

The program has now completed its third summer program and is currently in its third academic year.

“Being in the Aspiring Eagles Scholars Program gave me a head start on college life,” said Shavonte Baker, an early childhood education junior.

She said the program helped her learn about helpful campus resources.

Before coming to NCCU, Huff had several careers.

He was the supervisor of Mental Retardation at Dorothea Dix Hospital for 10 years, a consultant for North Carolina Division of Faculty Services, and taught at Central Carolina Community College.

Last summer, Light Up Durham presented him with the “It’s Cool To Care” award.

The award is given to individuals who provide hope and a sense of belief in self for youth.

Despite his busy schedule, Huff finds time to relax.

In his free time, Huff loves sailing.

He said Top Sail Beach is his favorite sailing spot.

“I love what I do. Working with the students is like a life-line which keeps you younger,” said Huff.

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Going global New program prepares students to think globally

BY TAMARA EDWARDS ECHO STAFF REPORTER

When the UNC Tomorrow Commission released its December 6, 2007 final report, it made no bones about the importance of getting students ready for living and working Candace in a global Bailey, environdirector, ment.

Global T h e Studies report’s first recommend a t i o n , titled “Our Global Readiness,” stressed the importance of enhancing the global competitiveness of UNC graduates.

And N. C. Central University, one of UNC’s 17 constituent institutions, is taking up the challenge by promoting global studies to strengthen student’s global competitiveness.

In the fall of 2008, NCCU began offering a concentration in global studies.

“Everything’s now becoming global,” said Candace Bailey, director of NCCU’s global studies concentration.

“Global studies helps prepare you for different places around the world.”

Bailey said she got interested in global studies when she began traveling around the world.

The global studies concentration, which has enrolled five students so far, aims to increase global awareness by encouraging faculty across the curriculum to incorporate global awareness in their teaching.

The UNC Tomorrow Commission, a 28-member blue-ribbon group, argued that UNC’s member universities should enhance the global competitiveness of its institutions and their graduates.

The global studies concentration requires 12-15 credit hours, which are

determined in consultation with a global studies adviser.

To enroll in the concentration, students must have completed two semesters of undergraduate studies and have a minimum 2.2 GPA. Admitted students are assigned an adviser, and the adviser and student determine the course of study based on the student’s interests.

Current tracks include African diaspora studies, Afro-Latin American studies, Asia and Middle Eastern studies, environmental and geospatial studies, foreign languages, gender studies, global arts, global health education and international studies/peace and conflict.

The program is working with the Office of International Affairs to encourage student study abroad exchanges and international internships.

It is clear that study abroad programs have a significant impact on students.

English sophomore Nichelle King said her experience abroad “Taught me to appreciate laws in our land and the freedoms that we have.”

King, who lived in Germany for 11 years, says that the experience helped her to be less prone to stereotypes and to prejudge other cultures.

“Learning the different cultures helped me understand my own culture better,” said English senior Willie Pace.

Pace, who traveled to South America, was especially fond of the art, vividly painted houses, and ethnic foods.

According to Bailey, her goal is to establish a major in global studies as soon as possible.

Students interested in a concentration in global studies can contact Candace Bailey at Edwards Music Building, room 325 or Dean Mary Matthew at Farrison-Newton Communications Building.

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Obama at NCCU

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008

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Obama at NCCU before winning the Iowa caucuses

Thousands gathered at NCCU’s O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium to hear Sen. Barack Obama’s “Countdown For Change” address, Nov. 1, 2007.

BRYSON POPE/Echo Staff Photographer

wo months before his surprising win in the January 2008 Iowa Democratic caucuses, Sen. Barack Obama held a rally at N.C. Central University, on Nov. 1, 2007.

At the time, he polled about 10 points behind primary candidates

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Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.

Today Obama stands as the first African-American elected to hold the nation’s highest office.

An estimated crowd of 4,000 Durham residents and students filled O’KellyRiddick Stadium to hear him speak.

“What you have here is a cross section of the nation,” Obama said. “You’ve got blacks, whites, Hispanics, AsianAmericans -— you’ve got everybody.”

In the address, Obama outlined plans to provide healthcare for all American citizens and to end the war in Iraq.

SEBASTIAN FRANCES/Echo Staff Photographer

A young reporter, Hadassah Jones, interviews Senator Obama on healthcare and education.

BRYSON POPE/Echo Staff Photographer

BRYSON POPE/Echo Staff Photographer

BRYSON POPE/Echo Staff Photographer

Election

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Perdue, Hagan win NC comes out strong for Democrats

BY DANITA WILLIAMS ECHO STAFF REPORTER

N.C. Democrats came out in full force to oust Elizabeth Dole from her Senate seat and elect Bev E. Perdue to the governorship.

Democrat Kay Hagan took the Senate seat with a 52.46 percent lead over Republican, Elizabeth Dole’s 44.39 percent.

Republican’s had held Dole’s Senate seat for more than three decades.

Democratic candidate Perdue took the governorship with a 49.97 percent lead over Republican candidate Mike McCrory’s 47.19 percent.

McCrory came to the race as the longest-serving mayor of Charlotte, having served for seven consecutive terms.

Democrat Walter H. Dalton won Lieutenant Governorship over Republican Robert Pittenger.

Democrat Elaine Marshall won over Republican Jack Sawyer for Secretary of State.

“We had a tremendous early vote, almost 2.6 mil-

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008

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BEFORE OBAMA It’s official: Barack Obama will be the first African American president of the United States. But he wasn’t the first to make a run at it.

There have been other African-American political figures who aspired to sit in the White House. Although none of these individuals received a Democratic or Republican party nomination, they paved the way for Obama’s historic candidacy.

Here’s a list of these trendsetters and a few of their accomplishments.

SHIRLEY CHISHOLM n First black woman elected to Congress in 1969 on platform of improved inner city life, education, and other social services n Founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus n First African American to seek a major party nomination for president (1972) n Inducted in National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993 REV. JESSE JACKSON N.C. gubernatorial candidate Bev Perdue stop by Holy Cross Church Tuesday morning.

ARIC JOHNSON/Echo Staff Photographer

lion,” said Governor Mike Easley.

In all, more than 4 million North Carolinians voted in the election and over 134,000 voted in Durham county.

“I am excited about this ... it is an historic election,” said Durham’s Mayor Bill Bell.

“I think people know that if we want to change this economy, that if you are in the middle class and you want a fair shake, then you need to get out and vote for Barack Obama,” said Bell.

“We know that the BushMcCain policies do not work.”

n Student body president and quarterback at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College Class of 1964 n Aide to Martin Luther King, Jr. n Brandy Napier, first place, information management n Ran for Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 n Founder and leader of Rainbow/PUSH coalition

LENORA FULANI

REV. AL SHARPTON

n Founder of National Alliance Party and ran as an independent in 1988 and 1992 n Campaigned for governor and lieutenant governor of New York and mayor of New York City n First woman and African American to appear on presidential ballots in all states

n Political and civil rights activist and talk show host n Ran for U.S. Senate in New York in 1988 and 1992 n Ran for mayor of New York City in 1997 n Ran for Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, but dropped out and endorsed John Kerry

CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN

ALAN KEYES

n Chicago U.S. prosecutor from 1973-1977 n Illinois senator from 19931999 n First African American woman elected to the Senate and first and only woman to serve as permanent member of Senate Finance Committee n U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa from 1999-2000 n Ran for Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, but dropped out and endorsed Howard Dean

n Conservative political activist and former diplomat n One of Ronald Reagan’s U.S. representatives to the U.N. and assistant secretary of state for International Organization Affairs n Ran for Illinois Senate seat in 2004, losing to Barack Obama n Ran for Republican presidential nomination in 1996, 2000 and 2008 — Written and compiled

by Carlton Koonce

What we think.

Former Campus Echo staffers react to the election of America’s first African-American president he election results are in: Barack Obama has cemented his place in America's history, a history that often held little room for those who shared his heritage.

His message of “change” seemed to resonate with voters during a campaign season that tossed race into the political soup alongside economics, health care and the war. The

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am truly blessed to be a part of this historic election.

It was amazing to see so many young voters and firsttime voters participate in this process.

Witnessing a black man, Barack Obama, elected as president of this country, a

I

economy consistently dominated voter priority lists; voters may well have decided they could not afford to ignore Obama’s words.

Obama’s election may show how far America has come.

How the public (and Washington) responds determines how far America will go.

— Shelvia Dancy, Editor-in-Chief, 1997-1998

country that has been plagued by prejudice, hatred and intolerance, speaks volumes.

Barriers have been broken.

This country is uniting and is poised for CHANGE! — Sheena Johnson, Echo Reporter and Sports Editor, 20022005

y faith in this country has been restored. Oddly enough, I am thankful now that we have experienced eight years of George W.’s leadership because I feel that if we had not, Obama would not have been able to win this election.

Bush and his administration provided a background, a contrast that allowed

Obama’s intelligence, poise, integrity and rationality to shine like a beacon and penetrate the deadly lassitude that have befallen the people of this country as a result of a corrupt, inept and morally reprehensible president and administration.

As a first-time voter, I headed to the polls at 6:45 a.m., bearing in mind that I was contributing to history.

Barack Obama is not only setting the precedent for black Americans but for all other minority groups.

Now that the presidential race has ended, a new legacy and heritage for African

Americans is beginning.

No longer is having our first black president an honor, but it is a long-awaited privilege.

his was a historic win for America and black American. It has shot a canon through the glass ceiling and through the Jim Crow era of my grandparents.

I just hope black Americans don’t think Obama will be a savior for them. His biggest asset to black America is just being president, serv-

ing as a symbol of hope for minorites everywhere.

We must remember he is the President for all of America.

Somewhere MLK and JFK are smiling, because this is a true symbol of the American Dream..

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e did. We really did it.

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For once people are starting to see humanity on the rise.

If this event hasn’t moved the illest heart, it might be time for a transplant.

— Sasha Vann, Echo Assistant Editor, 2006-2007

— Kristiana Bennett, Echo Staff Reporter, 2006-2007

— Shelbia Brown, Echo Editor-inChief, 2007-2008

— Rashaun Rucker, Echo Photo Editor, 2001-2002

am a native of Zimbabwe.

Yes, the country that has had one president, Robert Mugabe, since 1980.

Thousands of people in my motherland are starving in the hands of a dictator who lost an election and resorted to violence.

I can't help but marvel at what America has taught me.

This country rewards hard work. Yes, all things are possible in America. I am happy to

be a witness to that. What an election in 2008!

There was a woman vice presidential candidate and an African American presidential candidate.

And Barack Obama is president! To use the old cliché, only in America is his story possible.

I hope the world learns one or two things from the election of Obama.

t was 11 p.m. when I learned that Barack Obama became president-elect — I was in my car heading home.

I said a little prayer to God help guide the next president of the United States of America and to keep him safe from harm's way, because I know he'll need it.

Obama has a very tough

road in front of him and I hope that his being elected will not only unite the people of this country, but the world.

Although I am not an American citizen, I am happy to have witnessed this moment in my lifetime.

y president is black!

I, along with many others, never thought this day would come.

Tears of joy are starting to swell in my eyes while I’m writing this.

Who would have thought that a bi-racial kid who grew up in a single-parent house-

hold would take reign over such a powerful nation?

I did.

hen MSNBC called Ohio's 20 electoral votes for Obama just after 9 p.m., I knew it was over.

I’ve only been able to muster cautious optimism for weeks, and I even volunteered to canvass Durham neighborhoods and register new voters in Oxford.

No election in my 46 years has ever meant so much to me.

The tears will come when

Barack Obama steps out with Michelle, Sasha and Malia in front of hundreds of thousands of ecstatic, tearful supporters in Chicago.

This family is going to live in the White House. I never thought this moment would come in my lifetime. The world has changed so much tonight.

A

s my eyes remained glued to the TV set, I took a quick glance at the clock; it read 11 p.m.

I looked back up and the West Coast was colored blue and I hit the carpet, tears in my eyes, freedom ringing in my ears!

Change has finally come.

— Brooke Sellars,Echo Assistant Editor, 2007-2008

The country finally has a qualified commander-inchief.

Now that Obama is the elected president, I can’t wait until January 20, 2009 to see him inaugurated.

This is such a great time for all Americans, black and white, because in 40 years,

this is the democracy that we have all been waiting for.

This is such a great example for me because not only can I work hard, but now I can go higher.

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— Lovemore Masakadza, Echo Editor-in-Chief, 2003-2005

— Rony Camille, Echo Editor-inChief, 2006-2007

— Gabriana Clay-White, Assistant Editor, 2007-2008

Echo

— Danny Hooley, Echo Editor-inChief, 1999-2000

— Carla Aaron-Lopez, Echo Photo Editor and Production Manager, 2005-2006

The opinions expressed here are the opinions of the individuals alone. They do not reflect the opinions of the organizations at which they are employed.

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008

Beyond NCCU

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Earnings down, tuition and student debt up With college grads earning less and tuition rising, it pays to weigh debt against earnings

Kelly Stevens is working as a waitress in a comedy club in Chicago, Illinois, where she is shown on October 9, 2008, to make ends meet. A year after getting her bachelor's degree in fashion marketing she is finding the current economy makes it difficult to get a marketing job or open her own shop as she had dreamed.

ABE URIBE/Chicago Tribune (MCT)

Debbie Quinn, director of guidance at West Aurora High School, said she doesn’t dissuade students from going to college because of the cost. But she encourages them to think about their career path and potential earnings.

Recognizing that the cost of college could steer students away from important but low-paying professions, Congress passed legislation last year that will gradually cut interest rates on certain government loans, allow borrowers to make smaller loan payments if they are earning less, and forgive the loans of students who serve in public-service careers for 10 years.

Private colleges are increasing the assistance they offer, so fewer students are required to take out loans and those who do will take on less of a burden, said Ron Ehrenberg, director of Cornell University’s Higher Education Research Institute.

“The concern was that with high loan burdens, we were influencing the professional outcomes of students,” Ehrenberg said.

Experts point out that the college experience is not just about financial rewards. There is also that business about learning a few things. Students are able to explore their inter-

ests.

They often become inspired by subjects they never knew existed and are able to view the world through a broader lens.

“There’s value added when it comes to critical thinking and moral reasoning,” said Ernest Pascarella, a University of Iowa professor who has studied the effects of college.

The education also extends outside the classroom, through exposure to classmates from different backgrounds and participation in extracurricular activities.

And the rewards might just keep on coming, according to the College Board.

During their working lives, college graduates are more likely to engage in organized volunteer work, vote, donate blood and live healthy lifestyles — though it’s possible that people in those categories also were more likely to attend college in the first place.

Priscilla Adeniji, 22, a finance major at Chicago State University, says her choices at college appear to be paying off.

Scholarships have covered almost the entire cost of her education, making this the first year she’s had to take out a loan, for $5,000.

She graduates in December, and the Big Four consulting firms already are dangling jobs with salaries starting at $55,000.

Adeniji said she also gained a lot from her classes and participation in a sorority and other activities.

“Career-wise, college has been very important for me,” she said.

“But it’s also about knowledge. If I wasn’t in school, I wouldn’t be able to understand what’s going on with the economy and with other things that affect my life.”

Chicago Tribune correspondent Jo Napolitano contributed to this report.

How much debt is too much?

By profession, based on College Board formula: Manageable debt level Median salary Lawyers

$122,000 $100,000

Chicago State University student and finance major Priscila Adeniji stands in front of the library on campus with a finance book, Tuesday, October 7, 2008, in Chicago, Illinois. Adeniji thinks college is worth the investment.

ALEX GARCIA/Chicago Tribune (MCT)

BY MEGAN TWOHEY CHICAGO TRIBUNE (MCT)

CHICAGO — Kelly Stevens is suffering from buyer’s remorse.

The 29-year-old from Fargo, N.D., took out more than $60,000 in loans to pay for a bachelor’s degree in fashion marketing from the Illinois Institute of Art. She was convinced it would allow her to open her own store or work for a major fashion company — basically, to make more money.

But nearly a year after graduating, she is waiting tables at a comedy club.

Every week, she gets rejected from half a dozen marketing jobs. She can no longer make payments on some of her loans. She can barely scrape by.

“I can’t open my own store in this economy,” Stevens said. “Marketing jobs are among those that have been hardest hit.

Sometimes it feels like I should never have gotten that degree.”

Money is only one of the reasons to go to college, of course. But with college costs skyrocketing and the economy worsening, the question of whether higher

Please Recycle

education is a worthy financial investment is no longer a no-brainer.

For decades, the earnings gap between college graduates and high school graduates grew and grew. Get a bachelor’s degree, and you were almost guaranteed to be a lot better off.

But the gap in income has started to shrink in recent years. U.S. Census data show that in 2007 people with a bachelor’s degree earned 90 percent more than high school graduates, down from a 96 percent gap seven years earlier.

Meanwhile, more students are taking on debt.

The debt levels are growing.

And some graduates are unable to land jobs that allow them to pay back their loans.

Most experts insist that going to college is generally worth it. College graduates still earn substantially more than high school graduates on average: $59,365 annually compared with $33,609.

But they caution that some college choices are no longer a wise investment.

Students destined for lowpaying careers, they say, simply cannot manage certain debt levels. Loans can surpass $100,000 depending

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on the school and the borrower.

“If you’re going to be a nursery school teacher your whole life, you should not be taking out a lot of loans,” said Sandy Baum, senior policy analyst for the College Board and an economics professor at Skidmore College.

“That’s the problem. It’s an investment people make without knowing how they will pay it off.”

People in business jobs can manage $46,000, according to calculations the Chicago Tribune made with a formula created by Baum.

So for Stevens, paying back nearly $65,000 in loans was almost certain to be a struggle.

Now that she is stuck in a low-paying service job, it’s become impossible.

Meanwhile, about onethird of college students drop out — dashing any return on their investment.

Does attending an elite college make a difference?

The answer is unclear.

While some researchers have found that graduates of top schools earn more on average than those from less prestigious institutions, others have found no difference.

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© 2008 MCT Source: Tribune analysis of U.S. Census data Graphic: Chicago Tribune

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A soul-searching journey begins when a professor’s wife leaves him on the eve of the Million Man March. Through a night of visits from the spirits of his ancestors, their stories and songs help him reconnect with his cultural heritage. Tony Awardwinning Trezana Beverley, director of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, returns to PlayMakers!

OCT 22 – NOV 9 Center for Dramatic Art, UNC-Chapel Hill

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Delta Sigma Theta step team members Lamonica Knowlin and Dana Austin.

Bon Vivant Fashion Society at the Wednesday Fashion Show.

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Byron Cage calls students on stage to sing his final song of the night, “I Will Bless The Lord.”

Joshua Johnson and Thomas Knapp do 112 at the Monday Choir Ball in B.N. Duke.

BRYSON POPE/Echo Staff Photographer

MIKE DEWEESE-FRANK/Echo Staff Photographer

Chancellor Charlie Nelms greets former Chancellor Julius Chambers.

Mr. and Miss NCCU, Eric Jefferson and Chanel Raynor, after being crowned on Sunday.

MIKE DEWEESE-FRANK/Echo Staff Photographer

MITCHELL WEBSON/Echo Staff Photographer

Omega Psi Phi step team Terrance Jones, Avon Seymore, Malcom Elvy at the Friday Step Show in McDougald-McClendon Gymnasium.

BRYSON POPE/Echo Staff Photographer

t’s a wrap. Homecoming 2008 has come and gone.

This year’s Oct. 25 - Nov. 1 Homecoming kicked off with a concert featuring Ludacris, Disturbing the Peace and Lloyd in the McDougald-McClendon Gymnasium.

At Sunday’s coronation, Eric Jefferson and Chanel Raynor were crowned Mr. and Miss NCCU. They, along with the Royal Court and all of the registered organizational kings and queens, were presented to NCCU. Monday’s Choir Ball had the theme “Soul Train Live.”

At the ball, students from the University choir impersonated popular artists from genres that included gospel, R&B and hip hop.

The Lyceum concert was held Tuesday with Byron Cage as the headliner. The concert was held in McClendon-McDougald Gym. The SGA Fashion Show, held Wednesday, included modeling troops Bon Vivant Fashion Society, Evalesco Models, Prestige Modeling,

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Arnez J. says getting a prostate examination can “make a grown man cry.”

Natasha Statton at the Wednesday Fashion Show.

BRYSON POPE/Echo Staff Photographer

SAVIN JOSEPH/Echo Photo Editor

and Paradyce Models.

The comedy show, sponsored by the Student Activities Board, was held Thursday in McClendonMcDougald Gym. That night’s host was Ronnie Jordan. Comedians included Tony Roberts and Arnez J., former host of BET’s Comic View.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council’s Homecoming Step Show was held Friday. Among the step teams were Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

The judges selected Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority for first-place honors.

On Saturday afternoon, NCCU faced Edward Waters College and came away with a 34-14 win.

The week wrapped up with the Armageddon Dance Saturday evening in McDougald-McClendon Gymnasium.

— Savin Joseph

Lloyd gets “hot” during the concert.

RAY TYLER/Echo Staff Photographer

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

YOUCAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. NATIONAL CLANDESTINE SERVICE CAREERS

Be a part of a mission that’s larger than all of us. The CIA’s National Clandestine Service seeks qualified applicants to serve our country’s mission abroad. Our careers offer rewarding, fast-paced, and high impact challenges in intelligence collection on issues of critical importance to US national security. Applicants should possess a high degree of personal integrity, strong interpersonal skills, and good written and oral communication skills. We welcome applicants from various academic and professional backgrounds. Do you want to make a difference for your country? Are you ready for a challenge?

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A&E

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008

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I just called to say ... Obama Musicians stump for candidates ip hop music has always addressed political awareness, but rarely was it as unified or as directly involved as during Barack Obama’s run for president.

In the 2004 presidential election, P. Diddy made the ultimatum, “Vote or Die.” This sloEricka gan was an McRae indication of just how committed the hip-hop community was to getting out the vote.

Four years later, hip hop has had an even greater influence on national politics.

The hip-hop community, including its artists, supporters and critics, rallied behind Obama.

As early as March, forums were held stressing just how important the Nov. 4 election would be.

Rap sessions, community dialogues on hip hop, set out on a national tour that discussed the candidates and their issues and prepared young voters for the election process.

Throughout the election, the Obama campaign collected endorsements from hip hop’s biggest names.

Jay-Z, Mos Def, and Common are just a few who made it clear that they were behind Obama.

But support for Obama stretched far beyond the boundaries of hip-hop.

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Sam Wellington (leaning over) and Lelund Durond Thompson portray Lewis and Simon in “Blue Door.”

COURTESY

BY THERESA GARETT ECHO STAFF WRITER

Does your past shape your future?

Does cultural identity still play a role in shaping your life?

Does your family history shape your individuality?

If you have ever thought about these questions, “Blue Door” will raise them.

The play will be performed at the Playmakers Repertory Company on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill .

“Blue Door” tells of a prominent African-American math professor, Lewis, whose wife leaves him after he refuses to go to the Million Man March in Washington, D.C., because

OF

PLAYMAKERS REPERTORY COMPANY

he does not understand its relevance.

The play was written by Tanya Barfield, who appeared in her own one-person show, “Without Skin, or Breathlessness.”

Barfield turned to playwriting and graduated from the Julliard School's Playwrighting Program.

She said she hopes the plays themes are universal, not culturespecific.

“Every culture has a legacy from which it’s birthed,” Barfield said.

“I think it is part of human nature to be pulled by our ancestors, to feel their watchful spirits, to wish we knew their stories, and to both scorn and adore them.

“In times of crisis — when our own self threatens to fragment — we might wonder if our ancestors could answer the basic question of identity,” said Barfield.

Human memory, she said, keeps the soul of one’s ancestors alive.

She asked, “If we forget our past, do we in some way forget ourselves?” “‘Blue Door’ is a very personal exploration, my own theatrical meditation on “blackness,” identity and ancestral heritage,” said Barfield.

“Blue Door” will run until Nov. 9 at Playmakers Repertory Theater.

More information is available at 962PLAY or online at www.playmakersrep.org.

He was endorsed by the man himself, Stevie Wonder.

Wonder first made a surprise appearance for the Obama campaign in February.

He even recorded getout-the-vote phone recordings in support of Obama.

John McCain was not totally left out but the music community.

He has garnered the support of reggaeton artist Daddy Yankee and countrywestern singer Hank Williams, Jr. On any given day, BET shows and commercials run clips of celebrities who hope to inspire fans to vote by leading by example.

The BET awards show turned out to be something of a political rally.

When Lil’ Wayne accepted his awards, he told the crowd not to forget to vote.

When Nas performed, he exited the stage in front of a projected picture of Obama.

Salt-N-Pepa dedicated their song “Whatta Man” to Obama and his wife Michelle.

It is apparent that hiphop culture has had a massive influence on the political campaign.

The goal for the 2008 elections was to prime young people across the nation to collectively “flip the script” and take responsibility for their futures.

Obama’s victory is a testament to the influence hip hop has had on our elections and, ultimately, America.

Clothes get consci(us)

BY COURTNEY MORGAN ECHO STAFF WRITER

After spending time with DeAndres Royal, business management senior, and grad student Lamont Lilly, one immediately notices their aggressive passion for cultural consciousness.

Sean Bell and the Jena 6 are just two examples of the many issues Royal and Lilly address through their clothing line, Consci(us) Clothing.

With this clothing line, Royal and Lilly, or R & L, are trying to educate and promote cultural consciousness not only in Durham but across the world.

With the help of their soon-to-launch Internet site, which will allow customers to purchase their clothing online, tackling the world should seem a little easier.

If you attended N.C. Central University in 2006 during the time of the Jena 6, you may be aware of the shirts R & L printed with a

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Barack Obama Michelle Obama Joe Biden Sarah P

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John Legend Evolver Sony Records Lamont Lilly and DeAndres Royal preview their Web site and new shirt design in the Echo office.

JOANNA HERNANDEZ/Echo Assistant Editor

noose, a tree and the words “Free the Jena 6ix.”

The shirts were very popular on campus.

While fighting for justice in Baton Rouge, La., many NCCU students wore this

shirt to focus on the issue.

Students are not the only people supporting the movement.

Local musician 9th Wonder and hip hop artist Kazi, along with singers

and poets, express the positive messages that need to be known to make a change in our community.

Outside of just bringing a positive outlook to the community and to racial issues, the messages on the shirts are daring.

A shirt in the Stop Police Brutality Series features a pig in a cop uniform and the words “Stop Police Brutality.”

But R & L don’t always focus on the negative.

Their shirts also acknowledge AfricanAmerican history The M design, Lilly’s personal favorite, features Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela and Marcus Garvey.

Now almost three years after the brand’s debut, Conci(us) Clothing, or C2, is available in local stores like Ujama Boardhouse and Offbeat Music.

“Consci(us) Clothing is not just a clothing line, it’s life,” said Lilly.

“I hope to promote and embed consciousness in all people. Wake up!”

out of on the 3 5 black hand side

John Legend’s third album, “Evolver,” once again finds him dipping into both contemporary r & b and the hip hop world.

Legend went beyond the usual slow piano ballads that he is known for and took it up a notch with astonishing guitar and percussion ballads.

There are plenty of songs on the album that will tickle every listener’s fancy.

J MAC “No Other Love,” featuring American Boy’s Estelle, is a love ballad with a sultry reggae feel that places the listener on a warm beach watching the sunset.

The popular radio hit “Green Light” is a spunky and upbeat track.

Legend’s vocals on “Green light” are very enticing.

While Andre 3000’s bars are hilariously clever, last but certainly not least is one of my favorite tracks off the album, Legend’s patriotic “If You’re Out There.”

The song is a political piece speaking of change, destiny and the future.

A free download is available on Barack Obama’s official Web site).

“Evolver” is something different than the usual everyday upbeat rap tune.

His sultry and enticing voice is relaxing and carries a lot of warmth.

It’s perfect for the upcoming winter months — for obvious reasons.

— Chasity Nicole

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008

Sports

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2008

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Eagles nab second win of season NCCU CLINCHES HOMECOMING WIN OVER TIGERS WITH 393 OFFENSIVE YARDS

BY A ARON SAUNDERS

even though he threw 3 touchdowns, he had a less than stellar day; throwing 4 interceptions.

“I had a tough day today, but you can’t hang your head.”

“Fans don’t care about the stats, its all about the team,”said Johnson.

According to coach Rison, Johnson was inconsistent.

“At times, Mike was good and sometimes he showed he was a freshman.”

ECHO SPORTS REPORTER

As N.C. Central sophomore corner back David Ingram lined up for the second play of the third quarter, he knew his team needed a boost.

He provided that with a 32-yard NCCU 34 i n t e r c e p tion return E. Waters 14 for a touchdown to give the Eagles a 21-7 lead and a significant boost in confidence.

“We needed a spark and today I was the one who was able to give that,” said Ingram.

Ingram recorded his teams leading second interception and the Eagles first defensive touchdown of the season.

Ingram’s interception was just 1 of 4 that the Eagles had as their defense showed up once again.

“We’re young on defense, but I’m encouraged by what I see,”said head coach Mose Rison.

The defense was not alone in standout performances.

The Eagles offense broke loose for a season high of 393 total yards.

Led by rushing trio Tim Shankle, Tony McCord and Justin Campbell, the Eagles amassed 212 yards on the ground.

“We have worked so hard on our rushing game and have gone to it a little more as the season has progressed,” Rison said.

NCCU running back Tim Shankle leaps past Tiger defenders. Shankle ran for a total of 95 yards in the 34-13 win over the Tigers.

BRYSON POPE/Echo Staff Photographer

The running game was not the only part of the offense that was on fire.

Junior wide receiver Will Scott and red-shirt freshman

quarterback Mike Johnson energized the crowd with three 30-plus yard touchdown connections.

“Me and Will talked all

week about how we were going to have a great game this Saturday because we worked real well all week in practice,” said Johnson.

Scott erupted for his fourth 100-yard game this season to give him a team leading 646 receiving yards.

According to Johnson,

Senior kicker Brandon Gilbert also added to his career extra points streak pushing the record to 101 straight successful kicks.

Although there was a scare early in the fourth quarter when sophomore punter/holder Taylor Gray fumbled the hold and Gilbert was unable to get the kick up, Gilbert’s extra point streak was unaffected.

“I keep up with the numbers a little bit on the weekly basis but I was surprised when he said that was the 100th,” said Gilbert.

Edward Waters College was led by quarterback Cesary Wilborn who came in to replace injured quarterback Mike McKenzie and threw for 118 yards.

“This was a great win for our fans and alumni,” said Ingram Next week the Eagles make their first trip out west in 20 years to play the #3 ranked in Football Championship Subdivision Cal Poly, who brings a 6-1 record into the game.

Go hard or go home Second year transition to Division I won’t be a cakewalk for the men and women teams BY

AARON SAUNDERS

ECHO SPORTS REPORTER

As the football team winds down its season, basketball comes to the rescue for all sports fans.

N.C. Central’s 2008-2009 Men’s and Women’s basketball teams are geared up for another season.

The men’s team is coming off a 4-26 showing last year in its debut season in Division I. Last year, the team had to deal with the rigors of traveling around the country for several road games.

This year won’t be much different, as the Eagles still have many road games, but seem more prepared to handle them after the first year learning experience.

“We still have a lot of road games this season, but it’s the process you have to go through when you make the transition to Division I,” said Eagles Coach Henry Dickerson.

While the Eagles went through some rough times last year, there were several positives that came from the season, including its first Division I victory against Tennessee Tech.

The experience gained last year will be a key component for the Eagles as they face a tough schedule that includes ACC contenders Wake Forest,Miami and N.C State, as well as NCAA tournament teams Arkansas, Drake,Kent State and Kansas State.

“Right now we are focused on our first game.

Wake Forest is a really good team,” said Dickerson.

NCCU will rely on a good mix of stable veteran players and new faces to have a successful season this year.

Key players expected to contribute are seniors Bryan Ayala, Philip Branch and juniors Josh Worthy and Tremain Holloway.

“Right now, it’s about

finding the right combination and building chemistry. So far, we haven’t had a full team practice because of minor injuries to some players,” said Dickerson.

The Eagles will have only 10 home games this season. The first home game is Dec. 3 against High Point University at 7:30 p.m. in McClendonMcDougald Gymnasium.

“My guys are really looking forward to playing at home because we don’t have too many opportunities to play here,” said Dickerson The Lady Eagles look to the future with a fresh batch of recruits and key veterans expected to make this a successful season.

“Our season will be successful because we will see our kids compete at a level where they grow and get better and of course win,” said head coach Joli Robinson

Last year the Lady Eagles were 6-20, but look to improve on that number, even with an extremely hard schedule that pits them against NCAA tournament teams North Carolina, West Virginia, Georgia, Oklahoma and Robert Morris College.

The Eagles will rely on the leadership of seniors Keyonta Thacker and Tonia Roundtree and juniors LaVonna Hailey and Jori Nwachukwu.

“My freshman will also play a big role and log quality minutes,”said Robinson.

“I expect a lot out of them just like I expect a lot out of my seniors.”

The Lady Eagles first game is at West Virginia after two exhibition games against Barton and Livingstone.

The first women’s home game is Nov. 17 against the Bears of Morgan State in McClendon-McDougald Gymnasium.

Guard J’Mell Walters lays it in during Sunday’s practice SAVIN JOSEPH/Echo Photo Editor

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Opinions

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IVER SITY

Obama win not end game Even though we must give him a chance to lead, we must demand that our voices are heard after the vote. In other words, if you supported Obama in this election, it is up to you to hold him accountable. arack Obama just soared to the top of the American ladder of leadership as one of the greatest political figures in American history.

This is not an “I-toldyou-so” type of lecture.

Humility is the path best had.

Barack Obama’s success has caused discomfort among many traditionalists in A.J. Donaldson America.

And that discomfort is long overdue.

And complacency is like a short blanket — you cover up your head and your feet stick out, then you cover your feet and your head sticks out.

Either way, you are not covered.

And complacency deserves no comfort.

Fortunately, Obama has snatched the comforter off the bed of empty rhetoric and Washington cronyism and replaced it with a blanket of opportunity for real change.

The people at the bottom have breached the top and the people at the top can now see the bottom.

Don’t scatter now.

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We are on our way to the top floor.

As J- says, “Jay, lock the door! Haha, now you can’t leave, you opened the door up now we at you annually.”

The connection between ordinary and privileged people may now be a reality and not just a theory.

The passionate legs used to run the Obama campaign were set for a marathon and not a sprint.

We sought to overcome division by pumping whatever passion we had left into the general election.

People, this was not an easy task.

This movement for change consisted of real people making real sacrifices, people who sacrificed for the betterment of mankind and not just for themselves.

I have talked to people from Hong Kong, China, France, Yemen and England who asked me what they could do to help Obama.

In some cases, they traveled here to volunteer.

Some of your favorite celebrities did their part in this election.

However, many of them did not.

Whether it was Jay-Z, Jurnee Smolett, Raven Simone, Alfred Woodard,

or Fonzworth Bently, they all had one thing in common — a sacrifice for change.

Fonzworth Bently told me he stopped promoting his album and reality show just to promote Barack Obama.

This was literally a million-dollar sacrifice.

However, no one sacrificed like the students and community folks of Durham.

The people of the Obama squad underwent constant pressure and annoying phone calls in an effort to shake this community with political activism.

Missed classes, missed club practices, missed meetings, missed meals, missed parties, even missed family and friends.

But you see people — and you know who you are — your work was in vain.

Let this work be a testament to what you can achieve with persistence and commitment.

Nelson Mandela was kicked out of Fort Hare University at 19 because of his political activism.

Muhammad Ali sacrificed ten years in the ring because of his opposition to the Vietnam War. And Assata Shakur to this day is in exile for her political affiliation with the Black Panther party

years ago.

I met a young man during the Obama campaign who lost nine pounds, averaged four hours of sleep, faced persecution, had his first cousin shot down in cold blood, attended school, lost his job and still managed to overcome all this to join the struggle for change.

And when he was asked why he continued for Obama he simply replied, “the movement must live on.”

Young black men and women never forgot the 2000 election, yet they underwent a brief spell of amnesia to activate the Obama dream of democracy.

Now look at the results.

Obama supporters’ appetite for change was insatiable until now.

Even now, the force for change will persist, because many are fired up and ready to go.

We all did it. Now lets finish it.

The runners of this movement did not sleep through this election.

Nor will we sleep through the re-election, or any election from here on.

It is one thing for candidates to have voters who believe, but it is altogether different when you have believers who vote.

And Obama obviously has the latter among young people.

I’ve seen it.

For years, young people have craved a cause to believe in, and the obvious cause for this election is change.

However, the irony of your support now makes you responsible for holding President Barack Obama accountable.

Our adamant support for Obama is all the more reason for us to monitor his tenure as president and make sure he lives up to the message of change he professed so much.

Even though we must give him a chance to lead, we must demand that our voices are heard after the vote.

In other words, if you supported Obama in this election, it is up to you to hold him accountable.

The sleepless nights we had in this struggle were not an end game, but a means to finally be heard.

The only thing that comes to mind that demonstrates such fervor of fellowship is the movie “V for Vendetta.”

Thus I declare that all Obama supporters remember, remember the fourth of November.

Set your alarm clocks and wake up.

That’s it.

drawing by Rashaun Rucker

Question: How do you feel about Obama winning the election?

“Wow! Change! I’m looking forward to it.”

— Darnell Smith

“Finally!

About damn time.

—Berlaine Mincey

Mess will take time to fix W Britney Rooks

ith Barack Obama as our president, I’m sure the majority of America’s worries — high gas prices, high food prices and the whole crappy economy situation

altogether — will improve.

But it will take time.

A majority of Americans don’t realize that even though George Bush made his fair share of bad presidential decisions, it was not all his fault.

Some of the crises we are enduring today were put into place years ago, before Bush was ever elected.

They just took some years to go into effect; now we are reaping what was sown.

Obama’s plans for change will need an equal amount of time to take effect as well.

We need patience from the people.

We need to understand that just because we do not see immediate change, it does not mean that we have

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made a mistake in electing him.

He is going to need a four-year term just to fix everything.

But what happens when his term is up?

Yes, he could be reelected to keep his plan for positive change going.

But will the people be impatient and angry because they haven’t seen immediate

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change?

Obama may not be reelected, which leaves the door wide open for someone else to traipse in and ruin what he has set in place.

Although the election is over, the fight is not won.

As Democrats, blacks, or just as people with high hopes for change, we should continue to support Obama.

“I’m glad the candidate I voted for won. I’m hopeful that he can fix some of the economic issues this country has fallen into.”

—Kristina Delgado