print_edition_april_4_2007 by N.C. Central University Campus Echo

APRIL 4, 2007

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VOLUME 98, ISSUE 11 919 530 7116/CAMPUSECHO@NCCU.EDU WWW.CAMPUSECHO.COM

Beyond

Campus

Sports

Feature

A book seller’s life — and death — on Mutanabe Street in Baghdad.

One student’s story: sexual assault, and then an STD.

Women’s softball team maintains its perfect CIAA score, 12-0.

Bryson Pope’s church brings Grace to the young ones.

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Campus Echo The N-word: Y/N? Is it OK in the classroom? KRISTIANA BENNET ECHO STAFF WRITER

When Bob Nowell, a white professor in the department of English and mass communication at N.C. Central University used the n-word in class one morning in late March, it offended a number of his students and sparked a debate about when the word could be used, and by whom. “It was alarming because I didn’t understand what it had to do with what we were discussing in class,” said a female student who asked not to be identified. “Some students were laughing, but it wasn’t really funny to me, and when a student walked out, I knew I wasn’t the only one that felt that way,” she said. According to the students in his law and ethics class, Nowell had been discussing an article in their textbook about the popular 90s sitcom, “Martin,” and its portrayal of black stereotypical behavior, when Nowell used the word. “The book doesn’t use the word ‘nigger,’ but he was reading and explaining how different shows that have black people in them have all these black stereotypes,” said another female student who asked not to be identified. Nowell was approached twice to comment for this story and declined on both occasions. Other students say they weren’t offended by Nowell’s use of the word and

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Tenants say no parking BY ALIECE MCNAIR ECHO STAFF WRITER

A litter-strewn, dead lawn and a cracked front walkway aren’t enough to make the landlord of 507 Dupree Street stop his tenants from allowing certain N.C. Central University students to use the property’s front yard as a parking lot. The house sits across from the Farrison-Newton Communications building and behind the VSOP hair salon. According to Durham County Appraisal Division Manager Teresa Hairston, using the house’s front yard as a parking lot is causing the property’s value and adjacent properties’ values to fall. One tenant said they’ve had their new landlord for

n See PARKING Page 2

Bush threatens veto Democratic Congress provides Iraq funding but sets March 31, 2008 withdrawal date for combat troops. BY RENEE SCOOF MCCLATCHEY NEWSPAPES (MCT)

WASHINGTON — President Bush blamed Congress on Wednesday for putting a “disastrous” troop-withdrawal plan into a war-spending bill, threatened again to veto it and said Congress would feel heat from the public if war funds ran out. Democrats responded that the

$122 billion bill provides all the money Bush requested, plus more to restore the military and help those who are suffering the wounds of war. Democrats said Americans had lost faith in the president’s handling of the war, offered to work with him on a new plan and suggested that the public will fault Bush if he vetoes the bill providing money for troops in the field. The testy exchange came as the Senate prepared to vote this week on a war-spending bill similar to one that the House of Representatives passed last Friday.

The Senate’s bill requires that some American troops start to leave Iraq in four months and sets a goal for getting all combat troops out by March 31, 2008, except for a residual force that would stay to fight terrorists, train Iraqis and protect Americans. The president said he’d veto the bill if it contained a timetable for withdrawing and non-emergency spending. “Now, some of them believe that by delaying funding for our troops,

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NWC | EXPLORING RACIAL TABOOS

Black males in focus Solutions brainstormed BY LISA MILLS-HARDAWAY ECHO STAFF WRITER

The players, who go by Allen, Raphael and Miles act silly all dressed in white. KENICE MOBLEY/Echo Staff Photographer

THE RACE SHOW here aren’t many performances that point out racial stereotypes while emphasizing the commonalities inherent to all people. Even fewer of these shows cause you to laugh so hard that little tears begin to form in the corner of your eyes. Last weekend, Durham’s Carolina Theater hosted two performances of “N*gger Wetb*ck Ch*nk,” a show that people of all races can love, with a title few people will enjoy repeating.

MORE ON THE RACE SHOW | PAGE 7

NWC members in full color in the Carolina Theatre KENICE MOBLEY/Echo Staff Photographer

Louis Gossett, Jr. to speak tonight BY GABI CLAY-WHITE ECHO STAFF WRITER

Emmy and Academy A w a r d winner L o u i s Gossett, Jr. will speak at N.C. Central University, GOSSETT Wednesday, April 4, in the McLendon-McDougal Gymnasium at 7 p.m. Gossett, well known for his starring role in the 1961 Broadway play “A Raisin in

the Sun,” is one of the busiest and most soughtafter veteran actors in film and television today. Gossett was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He excelled both academically and athletically until, after a sports injury, he decided to take an acting class. At 16 he made his stage debut in a school production of “You Can't Take It With You.” After high school, he resumed athletics at New York University, where he was a star basketball player. Although Gossett was

chosen to play for an NBA basketball team, the New York Knicks, he decided to pursue an acting career instead. His portrayal of “Fiddler” in the 1977 television miniseries, “Roots,” earned him his first Emmy Award. In 1983, Gossett won an Oscar for his role as Gunnery Sgt. Emil Foley in “An Officer and a Gentleman.” Gossett is currently developing The Eracism Foundation, a non-profit which aims to develop and produce entertainment that brings awareness to

issues such as racism, ignorance and societal apathy. This event is sponsored by the NCCU Lyceum committee and is free and open to the public. LOUIS GOSSETT, JR. FILMOGRAPHY n Daddy's Little Girls n Iron Eagle n The Landlord n Travels with My Aunt n The Deep n The River Niger n An Officer and a Gentleman n Sadat n Roots n A Raisin in the Sun

There’s a crisis in America. Not the war in Iraq, not the war in Afghanistan, but the ongoing war in America. Teachers, university faculty and administrators, social workers, mentors and some teenaged black males attended the 2nd Annual African-American Males in Education Conference March 29–30, hoping to inspire. “For every 240 Blacks and Hispanics who go to prison, one — one — graduates from college,” said Beverly Jones, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at N.C. Central University, during her opening address. The urgent message echoed by other presenters throughout the conference was unanimous: “We must save our young black men.” Rev. William J. Barber II, president of the N.C. Chapter of NAACP and pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, opened the general sessions by telling the biblical story of Benaiah, who slew a lion in a pit on a snowy day. “We have always, black brothers, faced lions, and we face them now,” Barber said. “In this racist American culture — the white supremacy side of this culture — it has always sought the destruction and the emasculation of the black man.” According to a Feb. 2007 report by Action for Children, a non-partisan non-profit organization, blacks are suspended from school at a disproportionate rate compared to whites. During the 2004-2005 school year in Durham County, 30 percent of black students were suspended for 10 days or less, versus 6 percent of white students. The N.C. General Assembly reported this year that a disproportionate number of blacks are dropping out of school. The report states that

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2007

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Neighbor trashes NCCU litter

BLACK MEN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Formosa Street resident says he’s fed up with student trash BY RAY TYLER ECHO STAFF WRITER

Education conference speaker Dr. Na’im Akbar signs a book. KAI CHRISTOPHER Echo Staff Photographer

7,641 black dropouts did not return to school. According to Carl L. Robinson, an NCCU assistant professor in the School of Education, young black children often come to school carrying more than their backpacks — they carry all their socio-economic issues from home: poverty, substandard housing and unemployment. Robinson urged those attending the conference to pay attention to students who are struggling. “Until we change a community,” Robinson said, “[the] unfamiliar world is an unforgiving world.” One of those students who struggled in school was Jason Dorsette, an NCCU history senior. Dorsette shared his personal story in a panel discussion at the conference. Dorsette said that when he first came to NCCU, he partied a lot and was “hangin’ with the girls and the fellas.” As a result, his academic scores plummeted. It was only when he was on the borderline of academic probation that Dorsette finally matured, focused and started working hard on improving his grades. Today Dorsette is president of the NCCU Chapter of Collegiate 100 Black Men of America. “I am living witness that you can overcome anything that has held you down,” said Dorsette. Dorothy M. Singleton, director of the Institute for the Study of Minority Issues and co-founder of the conference, said the conference was her passion. “I know this is my ministry,” Singleton said. “African-American males ... have been looked over and abused. We as a people have got excuses for everything. “There are no excuses if you want to be successful,” she said.

In big, spray-painted orange letters, a sign propped on a tree read “NCCU Trash.” The sign had two arrows pointing down at litter in the lawn. Ten feet away, another sign read “Not 4 Sale.” Justice McConnell says he became outraged with N.C. Central University when he found trash on his front lawn on March 26. McConnell said he has warned students many times about dropping trash in his yard and finally lashed out by posting signs to draw attention to his problem. “I want the University to pick up the trash,” said McConnell. He added that he is tired of the loud music and the cursing, and having to pick up trash every day. McConnell says NCCU students have made life difficult in the community. He said that he put the trash in the yard himself “to demonstrate” what he has to deal with. As an owner of four of the eight houses that line Formosa Street, McConnell says he wants to maintain the value of his property. Some students say McConnell has valid concerns. “We as a student body should not be doing that to people’s yards,” said computer information systems sophomore Shavar Connor.

“They ... live there. “It is us not being considerate.” But other students say that residents should have known what they were getting into when they moved into the neighborhood. “OK, I can understand how they can be mad, but at the same time when these people bought their houses so close to the school,” said criminal justice sophomore Courtney Robinson, “they knew they ran the risk of dealing with students and being integrated with school property.” Some University students — members of the Alpha Iota Omega Christian Fraternity, Inc. — sympathized with McConnell’s situation and headed over to his house to pick up the trash. According to Davarres Alexander, a member of AIO, McConnell had a “bad attitude” and yelled at them when they tried to pick up the trash. Alexander said, “we all walked away peacefully.” Rosalind Fuse-Hall, executive assistant to the chancellor, responded to a Campus Echo e-mail, saying that, “We want to be good neighbors and live harmoniously. We encourage students, faculty and staff to deposit any unwanted trash in the proper receptacles.” According to Fuse-Hall, additional trash receptacles have been placed around campus. She said that she has met with community groups and city and county officials to discuss important community issues.

Justice McConnell sits on his porch behind his handmade “NCCU TRASH” sign. MITCHELL WEBSON/Echo Staff Photographer

PARKING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 about a year of the two they’ve been renting the property, and have had NCCU students parking there ever since. According to Jamal Harris, a hospitality and tourism junior, the new landlord lives out of town, and hired a project manager to maintain the house and landscaping, but the manager hasn’t done anything. “He usually comes out during the summer, but not like he should,” Harris said. Also, the manager’s job is year-round, so he gets paid to do nothing. Harris said the landlord never comes to the house.

According to Harris, when he and his roommates first moved in, their old landlord didn’t want anyone parking on the newly remodeled front walkway. But the new landlord doesn’t seem to care. “A lot of times, the people who live here leave and come back and they don’t have anywhere to park,” said Brandon Irving, a computer science junior. Irving is a friend of the tenants’ and uses the front yard for parking. Harris said he only authorized one person to park on the lawn, who asked “to pay to park here.” But he said he doesn’t remember the stu-

dent’s name, and he barely remembers the car. “Half of the people who park here, we don’t even know,” he said. Irving said the tenants have tried to tell people they can’t park there, but nobody listens. “Sometimes [Harris] puts notes on people’s cars telling them not to park over here,” Irving said. “He’d hate to tow a student’s car.” Harris said students “don’t feel threatened” by the prospect of having their cars towed. According to Irving, neighbors got so frustrated with people parking in adjacent yards that they

moved out. But before then, they had tried “No Parking” signs and generic “Caution” tape to discourage parking. According to Hairston, a house loses value when the owners do not maintain its appearance. Maintenance includes removing yard clutter. “They’re messing up our grass. We don’t have any grass out there,” Harris said. According to things the Appraisal Division Manager has said, it would be difficult to sell 507 Dupree Street.

N-WORD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 were disgusted by their classmates’ reaction. “I mean, come on man. Every hiphop song has ‘nigger’ in it,’” said a male student who also asked not to be identified. “I knew he wasn’t directing the comment toward anyone personally. He was relating it to academics — he was teaching.” Mass communication junior Darryl Kennedy, a non-traditional student who has taught at Durham Technical Community College, defended Nowell. “Nowell was using this term … to describe the negative effects ... of this word,” said Kennedy. “We need to understand first of all that a classroom is where we learn, and if we can’t say things that have been used to reference anyone in a negative way, then we are stunting our growth,” Kennedy said. Robert Stiefvater, a white associ-

ate professor of physical education at NCCU, said, “We need to make the distinction [of whether] we’re feeding into the power of the word or discussing the word as a concept. “It’s a word. The reason it’s offensive is because of what it represents, and that’s something that should be discussed by anyone, especially in academia,” said Stiefvater. Carlton Wilson, who is black and the chairperson of the history department, had a slightly different perspective on the use of the word. “This word is used so widely — some people think it’s OK to be used all of the time, but I’m not one of them because I understand the connotations and misuses of it,” said Wilson. “But clearly, in academic settings, words that are offensive to certain groups are used to make points.” When asked if he thought it was

appropriate for a white professor to use the word, Wilson said that it was acceptable but with the stipulation that it be used in a “teaching moment,” and only to an audience that would understand the context. Lynne Jefferson, a black instructor in the department of English, said that sometimes the word is found in literature. If the word is used in direct quotes from literature, then she found it acceptable to use “every now and again.” Jefferson had a different viewpoint regarding black people using the word in reference to each other outside the classroom. “I think that one or two things happen when we use that term excessively: the kids think that it is a term of endearment, though historically it has had negative connotations, and people begin to use the

term with such ease that when white people say it they think that it is OK because we call each other it,” said Jefferson. Jeffrey Elliot, chair of the political science department, who is white, found the situation regarding Nowell’s use of the word, and the use of the word in general, disturbing. “It’s wholly inappropriate for a white or African-American faculty member to use that word in the classroom or outside of it,” said Elliot. “If you are trying to convey a particular point, there are other ways to prove the point without using a word that is patently offensive,” said Elliot, adding that instructors’ duty is to elevate the standards of excellence in classrooms and to “teach people to view themselves in a different way.”

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Campus

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2007

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Vann to head NCCU archive New resource will store documents, artifacts

Andre Vann, former assistant dean, in his office in 2001. Echo File Photo

BY KENALI BATTLE ECHO STAFF WRITER

It’s true that you can’t understand where you are going if you don’t know where you come from. One man is working to make certain that the history of N.C. Central University is accessible to everyone. Andre Vann, coordinator of the University Archives, is preparing for its grand reopening. The University Archives maintains and preserves the University’s historical records and documentation. It is currently run by Brooklyn McMillon, a retired graduate of N.C. Central. “McMillon has put together the most definitive records the University has ever seen,” said Vann. “His 20 years experience is exceptional, and he seriously focuses on the legacy of Dr. Shepard.” Vann is not replacing McMillon. However, he is attempting to organize the archives and make them better known. “McMillon can stay as long as he wants,” said Vann. “I don’t want him to feel displaced, I just want to help. As former assistant dean of students and coordinator of Greek life, Vann

MasonSekora April 10 BY SHELBIA BROWN

is no stranger to hard work. “After I graduated from Central in 1995, I thought I was going directly into the archival, but I didn’t,” said Vann. With a degree in history and archival management, Vann became a teacher. Some 12 years later, his dream is coming true. After undergoing renovations, the archives were scheduled to open March 19, but have yet to open. They will offer services such as photograph production and general information on the history of the University. The archives also will be digitized, accessible to people all over the world via the Internet. Some of the most interesting records include the Martin Collection from the 1940s and manuscripts written by James E. Shepard, donated by Henry Lewis Suggs. Vann encourages anyone with records about the University to donate them. “The University’s centennial is coming up and the archives will play a big role in that,” said Vann. By 2010 Vann envisions the archives will be thriving. “Diplomas, band uniforms, newspapers, and all kinds of artifacts will be honored there,” said Vann.

Physics senior Philmore Russell in the Shepard Library mega-lab, where he is a monitor. QUENTIN CLEMMONS/Echo Staff Photographer

Physics research denied Student cries foul; Physics profs say research inadequate BY GEOFFREY COOPER ECHO STAFF WRITER

T h i r t y - t h r e e - y e a r- o l d N. C. Central University physics senior Philmore Russell had a vision of taking his research to new heights of discovery and professional development. But that dream was almost killed recently when his work was refuted by NCCU faculty. A March 27 letter from the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs stated that there was “insufficient data to seek copyright or patent protection” on his Invention Disclosure Form regarding his theory of “The Photogravity Effect.” His work explores the development of possible

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Residential Services, Inc. Residential Services is a private non-profit organization that provides living options and counseling to people of all ages with developmental disabilities We currently have employment opportunities for full-time and part-time.

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N. C. Central University will host its 10th annual Mason-Sekora lecture on Tuesday, April 10 in the University Theatre of the Fa r r i s o n - N e w t o n Communications Building. This year’s feature speaker will be Lucinda H. MacKethan, English professor at N. C. State University. The lecture series, which began in 1998, honors the lives, research and efforts of two of NCCU’s memorable professors: Ernest Mason and John Sekora. Mason and Sekora were trailblazing innovators in the areas of humanities, philosophy and interdisciplinary studies. Their legacy continues to positively affect the lives of colleagues and students. This year’s speech topic is “Lifting Every Voice: How Slavery Texts ‘Resound’ Today.” Last year’s speaker was University of Kansas English professor Maryemma Graham. Graham spoke on the topic, “From Phillis Wheatley to Margaret Walker: Exploring the Tradition of Black Women’s Poetry.”

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United Christian Campus Ministry 525 Nelson Street, NCCU Campus 45th Anniversary Celebration Saturday, April 28, 2007 B.N. Duke Auditorium 5:00 P.M. featuring

The Virginia Mass Choir For more information or to get involved in Campus Ministries contact us at 530-5263 or e-mail us at mpage@nccu.edu

new relationships between electromagnetism and gravitation. It also stated that Russell was to refrain from using the University’s name in correspondence or in reference to any other discoveries made in his work without the permission of the University. “I was just distraught once I saw that. “All my time and effort was placed into this research. How does it, that the very University I go to not support me in my hard efforts?” Tyrone Eaton, director of the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs, declined to comment on the specifics of the case. However, Eaton did state

one reason for the refutation was Russell’s low grades. Eaton said that he and Branislav Vlahovic, chair of the department of physics, spoke and agreed that Russell’s work was not at a level appropriate for a copyright. According to Eaton, the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs only sponsors faculty, not student research. But Russell says his endorsement by an expert in the field proves that his work is valid. In 2001, Russell joined an on-line forum that derived solutions to problems in physics. One problem that Russell analyzed in this forum was found in publications from

NASA scientists. It related to why spacecraft drift offcourse while in orbit. Russell’s justification for and precise delivery of his solution caught the eyes of geophysicist Jerry Montgomery. Montgomery is co-founder and senior geophysicist at Willowstick Technologies and has more than 33 years of professional experience. He also is the inventor of the AquaTrack technology, which efficiently maps, tracks and monitors groundwater resources. “Even though I’m not receiving any type of monetary assistance, it feels good to know that I have respectable partners in my corner,” said Russell.

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2007

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Latina author visits

Not just another STD

Hip-hop author discusses the versatility of a good career

HPV infection is on the rise, plaguing young adults BY QUENTIN GARDNER ECHO STAFF WRITER

Author Sophia Quintero with Louise Maynor, chair of the Department of English and mass communication CANDICE MITCHELL/Echo Staff Photographer

BY JIMMY VINCENT ECHO STAFF WRITER

Acclaimed Latina novelist, screenwriter and activist Sophia Quintero concluded her two-day tour at N.C. Central University Wednesday after speaking to a crowd of faculty and students at the B.N. Duke Auditorium. Throughout the week, the Bronx native held classroom lectures on the importance of having a career that is financially beneficial as well as enjoyable. “I wanted to write for my soul as well as pay my rent,” said Quintero.

With a master’s degree in public relations from Columbia University, Quintero has been writing since she was 8. “I write for females who love hip-hop even when hiphop has not loved us,” said Quintero, who started out writing screenplays. She has written four novels with an urban, hip-hop theme under the name Black Artemis. Quintero is the author of the novels “Explicit Content, Burn” (both published under the alias Black Artemis), “The Arrangement, Picture Me Rollin,” and “Divas Don’t Yield.”

In one of her lectures, she mentioned how Tupac Shakur rapped about “Brenda’s Got a Baby” and “Dear Mama,” but referred to women as “bitches” and “hoes.” “We confuse culture with commodity,” she said. Influenced by novelist Richard Wright, Quintero doesn’t consider her work average hip-hop literature. She wants her readers to look deeper and get more out of it. Quintero is the cofounder of the group Chica Luna Productions, created for the development of colored women in the entertainment industry.

A 20-year-old N.C. Central University student who wishes to remain unnamed noticed an abnormality near her genitals while showering in November 2006 — a month after she said she was sexually assaulted. Her fear of humiliation prevented her from reporting the assault; then she learned she had contracted human papillomavirus (HPV) — a sexually transmitted disease -- from the alleged assailant. In the five months since she learned she was infected with the virus, she has been through two operations to remove a part of her cervix. She treats her symptoms with a cream called Aldera at least three times a week. HPV, the most common STD in the United States, affects both males and females. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 20 million people in the United States have the virus. A small fraction of men and women with HPV will develop genital warts. Another small fraction of women will develop cervical changes. But most HPV victims will not suffer any physical changes, including cancer. HPV is transmitted sexually through intimate genital-to-genital contact. But it also can be contracted without sexual intercourse, during genital skin-to-skin contact. It is

rare for anyone to contract the virus through oral sex. There is no cure for HPV. However, new studies indicate that 70 percent to 90 percent of people with the virus may clear it from their bodies within two years of infection. There are more than 100 subtypes of HPV. According to the CDC, about 30 of these are known as genital HPV since they affect the genital area. HPV Types 16 and 18 cause 70 percent of cervical cancer. Types 6 and 11 cause 90 percent of genital warts cases. About 3,700 women died from the virus in 2005. The CDC believes that more than 6 million new cases of genital HPV are diagnosed in the United States every year. Women are generally diagnosed with HPV from abnormal pap smears. But there aren’t always signs for the virus. Many people won’t know if they are infected. Sheila Allison, M.D., a gynecologist at Southpoint Medicine and Women’s Health Associates in Durham, says she has witnessed an increase of HPV cases. “In most people, the body’s defenses are enough to clear HP,” Allison said. “However, HPV affects anyone who has a weak immune system.” A vaccine is now available that immunizes against some subtypes of the virus. The vaccine, Gardasil, is currently given in a series of three injections over a six-month period. It is high-

Home for Rent One Block from Campus

ly recommended for females ages 9 to 26 years old. The pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., Inc. is the sole producer of Gardasil. Letitia Hazel, medical director of the NCCU Student Health and Counseling Service, is a strong advocate of Gardasil. “Any time we, as medical professionals, can prevent a disease, we should arm people with the facts,” said Hazel. Many women have a tendency to develop abnormal cells in the lining of the cervix; therefore, Gardasil is administered to females. A vaccine for male carriers of HPV is yet to be discovered. Gardasil does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections. “[Medical professionals] still do not know what HPV can do to males,” said Hazel. “About 12 years ago, we did not even know about HPV.” The virus has sparked debate in recent months. In February, Texas Governor Rick Perry issued an executive order that all girls receive the vaccine before entering the sixth grade. The order has been criticized by social conservatives and some parents because of concerns about moral implications and safety concerns related to the vaccine . For the moment, Gardasil is the latest drug to help protect patients against this widespread medical condition.

Completely renovated home (3 Bedroom/1 Full Bath) on Martha Street right behind SOE. Washer/dryer included.

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Fenced-in backyard. Offstreet parking. Landlord takes care of cutting grass.

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Beyond NCCU

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2007

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A Bagdad bookseller’s story

VETO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 they can force me to accept restrictions on our commanders that I believe would make withdrawal and defeat more likely. That’s not going to happen,” Bush said in a speech to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. “If Congress fails to pass a bill to fund our troops on the front lines, the American people will know who to hold responsible.” Congress’ Democratic leaders — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California — said Bush should meet with lawmakers to work out differences. They wrote to him Wednesday seeking such a meeting. “We stand ready to work with you, but your threats to veto a bill that has not even been presented to you indicate that you may not be ready to work with us. We hope that is not the case,” Reid and Pelosi wrote. At a news conference, Pelosi added: “I would extend a hand of friendship to the president, just to say to him: ‘Calm down with the threats. There is a new Congress in town. We respect your constitutional role; we want you to respect ours.’” After the Senate passes its bill, a House-Senate conference committee will start to work out differences and craft a final version to send to the president for his signature or veto. Pelosi suggested that Bush would face public criticism if he vetoed a bill providing war funds, money for veterans’ and military health care, assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina and other needs at home. She said American troops were in the middle of a civil war that the Iraqi government wasn’t doing enough to end. Congressional Democrats want to require Iraq’s government to meet benchmarks of progress toward ending the violence and creating a government that represents all the country’s ethnic and religious groups. “In our legislation, we are saying we support our troops by funding the military. We honor our promises to our veterans, which we have not been doing, and we hold the Iraqi government accountable. This has not been happening,” Pelosi said.

A gentle man died at center of city’s literary scene BY ANTHONY SHADID WASHINGTON POST

BAGHDAD — It was a summer day in 2003, when Iraq was still filled with the halftruths of occupation and liberation, before its nihilistic descent into carnage. Mohammed Hayawi, a bald bear of a man, stood in his shop, the Renaissance Bookstore, along Baghdad's storied Mutanabi Street. On shelves eight rows high rested books by communist poets and martyred clerics, translations of Shakespeare, predictions by Lebanese astrologers, a 44volume tome by a revered ayatollah and a tract by the austere medieval thinker Ibn Taimiyyah. Dusty stacks spilled across the creamcolor tile floor, swept but stained with age. In those cramped quarters, Hayawi tried to cool himself with a fan, as perspiration poured down his jowly face and soaked his blue shirt. We had met before the American invasion, and nearly a year later, he almost immediately recognized me. “Abu Laila,” he said, using the Arabic nickname taken from the name of a person's child. He then delivered a line he would repeat almost every time we saw each other over the next few years. “I challenge anyone, Abu Laila, to say what has happened, what’s happening now, and what will happen in the future.” And, over a thin-waisted cup of tea, scalding even on this hot day, he shook his head. A car bomb detonated last week on Mutanabi Street, leaving a scene that has grown familiar in Baghdad, a collage of chaotic images, disturbing in their brutality, grotesque in their repetition. At least 26 people were killed. Hayawi the bookseller was one of them. Unlike the U.S. soldiers who die in this conflict, the names of most Iraqi victims will never be published, consigned to the anonymity that death in the Iraqi capital brings these days. Hayawi was neither a politician nor a warlord. Few beyond Mutanabi Street even knew his name. Yet his quiet life deserves more than a footnote, if for no other reason than to remember a man who embraced what Baghdad was and tried to make sense of a country that doesn’t make sense anymore. Gone with him are small moments of life, gentle simply by virtue of being ordinary, now lost in the rubble strewn along a street that will never be the same. After his death, I thought back to our conversation on

Bookseller, Mohammed Hayawidied in a March 5 Baghdad bombing last week. ANTHONY SHADID/Washington Post

Mutanabi Street, center of Baghdad's literary scene, the day after a bombing last week that took the life of bookseller Mohammed Hayawi and at least 25 other people. With books by Sunnis, Shiites and Shakespeare, the bookseller seemed to be making a statement: Mutanabi Street, his Baghdad and his Iraq would respect their diversity. PETER BOHLING/Washington Post

As for Iraq: I challenge anyone ... to say what has happened, what's happening now, and what will happen in the future." MOHAMMED HAYAWI BAGDHAD BOOKSELLER, KILLED IN MARCH 5 BOMBING OF MUTANABI STREET IN BAGDHAD

Banner of mourning for bookseller Mohammed Hayawi hangs amid the debris of Mutanabi Street in Baghdad. SUDARSAN RAGHAVAN/Washington Post

that summer day. As he often did, Hayawi paused after an especially vigorous point and dragged on his cigarette. He ran his hand over his sweaty cheeks. “Does this look like the face of 39 years?” he said, grinning. He then knitted his brow, turning grimmer. “We don't want to hear explosions, we don’t want to hear about more attacks, we want to be at peace,” he told me. He always had dark bags under his limpid eyes, whether or not he had slept. “An Iraqi wants to put his head on his pillow and feel relaxed.” Hayawi had worked at the bookstore all his life. His father, Abdel-Rahman, opened it in 1954, and after he died in 1993 his five sons inherited the business, keeping a portrait of the patriarch, in a Russian-style winter hat, hanging on the wood-paneled wall. Over the years, Hayawi and his older brothers would branch out. They owned other shops on Mutanabi — Legal Bookstore and Nibras Bookstore down the street — along with a business that sold Korans across town. His family was Sunni Muslim, but Hayawi played down its importance to his sense of self, and he lived with his wife and young son, Ahmed Akram, in a predominantly Shiite neighborhood. He took pride in his independence, in being someone who celebrated the gray areas, a reflection of the best of what the intellectual

entrepot of Mutanabi Street was supposed to represent. We first met as I wandered into his shop before the invasion, when Saddam Hussein was still in power in 2002. As usual, he was unshaven, and even then, he seized the opportunity to talk. “Iraq's invasion of Kuwait was wrong,” he told me quite boldly — a blasphemous idea at the time. But years later, he was unable to understand the American obsession with Iraq and Saddam. Why the crisis after crisis? he asked. For weapons of mass destruction? We don’t have any. If we did, he declared, we would have fired them at Israel. A war simply for Saddam? After the invasion and the government’s fall, Hayawi described himself much as other Iraqis did in that first uncertain year: as neither for Saddam nor happy with the Americans. He was angry, of course — at the chaos, the insecurity, the lack of electricity. “The American promises to Iraq are like trying to hold water in your hand,” he told me in one conversation. “It spills through your fingers.” But he was never strident; he was filled with a thoughtfulness and reflection that survival in Iraq rarely permits these days. Mutanabi Street always seemed to tell a story of Iraq. Its maze of bookshops and stationery stores, housed in elegant Ottoman architec-

ture, was named for one of the Arab world's greatest poets, a 10th-century sage whose haughtiness was matched only by his skill. The street was anchored by the Shahbandar Cafe, where antique water pipes were stacked in rows three deep. On the walls inside were pictures of Iraq's history: portraits of the bare-chested 1936 wrestling team, King Faisal's court after World War I and the funeral of King Ghazi in 1939. In its heyday, this street embodied a generation-old saying: Cairo writes, Beirut publishes, Baghdad reads. But under the U.N. sanctions that followed Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, isolating it from the world, its stores were lined with magazines 20 years old, obsolete textbooks and dust-covered religious tomes that seemed more for show than for sale. It became a dreary flea market for used books, as vendors sold off their private collections in an attempt to get by, and Hayawi and his brothers eked out a living by selling religious texts, works of history for university curricula, and course work in English, what he called a passport. In the months after the invasion, Mutanabi Street revived into an intellectual free-for-all. There were titles by Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr, a brilliant theologian killed, as the story goes, when Saddam’s executioners drove nails into his forehead. Shiite iconography —

of living ayatollahs and 7thcentury saints marching to their deaths — was everywhere. Nearby were new issues of FHM and Maxim, their covers adorned with scantily clad women. On rickety stands were compact discs of Osama bin Laden's messages selling for the equivalent of 50 cents. Down the street were pamphlets of the venerable Communist Party. As one of the booksellers once said, quoting a line of poetry by Mutanabi, “With so much noise, you need 10 fingers to plug your ears.” Mutanabi Street today tells another story. When the Mongols sacked Baghdad in 1258, it was said that the Tigris River ran red one day, black another. The red came from the blood of nameless victims, massacred by ferocious horsemen. The black came from the ink of countless books from libraries and universities. Last Monday, the bomb on Mutanabi Street detonated at 11:40 a.m. The pavement was smeared with blood. Fires that ensued sent up columns of dark smoke, fed by the plethora of paper. A colleague told me that near Hayawi’s shop, a little ways from the now-gutted Shahbandar Cafe, a black banner hangs today. In the graceful slope of yellow Arabic script, it mourns the loss of Hayawi and his nephew, “who were assassinated by the cowardly bombing.”

The outlook for Spring should be warm and sunny, but the 5 day forecast for NCCU’s building entrances isn’t so pleasant: Monday Cloudy

Tuesday Cloudy

Wednesday Cloudy

Thursday Cloudy

Friday Cloudy

Chance of Cancer

Possibility of Stroke

Likelihood of Heart Attack

Possibility of Asthma

Chance of Bronchitis

Unlike the weather this is a forecast we can change. Don’t let second-hand smoke cloud the forecast for your health. Support SCAT’s campaign to move smoking 25 feet away from building entrances at NCCU. Help SCAT CLEAR THE AIR at NCCU Call Rosalind Richardson at 530-7548

S C A T tudent

oalition

gainst

obacco

Feature

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IV E RS ITY

Growing: @ Grace Photo Essay by Bryson Pope

hile most are familiar with Bush’s “No Child

Grace Church student members, along with volun-

Left Behind” act, many are unaware that

teers from N. C. Central University and UNC-Chapel Hill,

children are being “pushed” ahead instead.

have joined to help the youth of Durham grow and excel

Not only in Durham Public Schools, but all over the world, students are getting pushed through school

academically. Each week, kids in grades K-8 are getting extra

when they genuinely need extra help that the educa-

help in their studies while also learning a foreign lan-

tion system is too lazy to give them.

guage and memorizing up to two scripture.

Some kids live in households where parents aren’t

The after-school program is active weekly, Monday

able to, or just don’t care enough to, help their kids

through Thursday, and the kids are there from 3:15

with their schoolwork.

p.m. until 6:15 p.m. In that time the youth get a

Grace Church of Durham, under the leadership of pastor Kedrick T. Lowery, is taking a stand against this shameful truth. In February 2007, Grace founded

snack, go over the weekly scripture for memorization, and are assisted with their homework assignments. Grace Church firmly believes that it takes a village

what is now known as the Grace After School

to raise a child, and is doing what it takes to help pre-

Academy.

pare the world’s future leaders. Grace Church of Durham, the site of the After School Academy.

NCCU sophomore psychology major and Grace Church member, Chris Rawlinson, plays a spelling game with students.

A R.N. Harris second grader attentively does her homework.

NCCU sophomore elementary education major, Yvette Floyd, explains an assignment to a student.

NCCU elementary education sophomore, Yvonne Floyd, assists a R.N. Harris fourth grader with his assignment.

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Houston R. Kelly Bobby Brown Brian McKnight

T R A S H

Musiq Luvanmusiq Atlantic Records

out of on the 4 5 black hand side

The players, Allen, Raphael and Miles, of N*gger Wetb*ck Ch*nk, explore American assumptions about race. KENICE MOBLEY/Echo Staff Photographer

BY KENICE MOBLEY ECHO STAFF WRITER

Today, there is no shortage of comedians who use race as the basis for their material. Shows like “Mind of Mencia” and “Chappelle’s Show” magnify stereotypical differences among races for viewer entertainment. The audience is allowed to take solace in the fact that these comedians make fun of every group, that even in their prejudice they take an equal opportunity stance. I expected much of the same when I went to Durham’s historic Carolina Theater Saturday, but found myself delightfully surprised by N*gger Wetb*ck Ch*nk.

The beginning caught me off guard. The three performers, Miles, Allen and Raphael chanted the derogatory racist names in the title, complete with matching stereotypical outfits. The Latino wore loose, bright pants, a “wife beater” and a bandanna. The Asian wore a floral embroidered silk shirt. And the African American wore a fulllength fur coat with a matching pimp hat. After the audience was thoroughly desensitized, each character described his adolescent experiences with race. Whether it was the use of “the n-word” in English class, an instilled fear of

immigration authorities, or the slow realization that he did not look like the people on TV, the actors created a sense of shared experiences as minorities. From there, stories like “The Year I was Black,” “The Year I Was White” and “The Night I Was Gay” described common searches for identity in a world that encourages mainstream conformity while reducing individuals to stereotypical racial roles. The actors’ recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, in which they asked where a place “with liberty and justice for all” exists was most memorable. The comedic trio challenged audience members to ask themselves why an

Asian superhero or athlete, a Hispanic Jesus or a black Santa Claus was seen as a joke instead of as a possibility. The piece closed with the assertion that the only race people should put stock in is the human race. The three performers are friends who developed their material from experiences growing up in California. The presentation inspired many audience members to tell their own stories dealing with race issues. Unlike many race-based shows, N*gger Wetb*ck Ch*nk encourages unity rather than promotes amusement in differences

Brand new newz News program offers positive outlook in a negative society BY WADE A. BANNER II ECHO STAFF WRITER

People who are fed up with all the negative news images now have a new venue. Christopher “Play” Martin, appointed N.C.CentralUniversity Artist in Residence, has put together a news program entitled “Brand Newz.” “‘Brand Newz’ was designed with the intention of giving those with unpopular ideas, visions, and services an opportunity to get their thing out,” said Martin. “I was getting very frustrated by the news as we know it and those who could do something, but were not.” “Brand Newz,” a two-minute feature designed to become a 24hour program like CNN, was created to give its viewers insight on more positive things going on in society. Martin teams up with those he calls “the future” to make this news program possible. The lead anchor, Play encourages anyone with a camera and a positive story to participate. “Brand Newz” contains news stories on a variety of topics

including entertainment, education, finances, sports, politics, inspirations and health. The program touches on stories such as that of Keijuane Hestor, a 31 year-old who learned culinary skills while in prison and used the art to gain employment and change his life upon release. Brittany Benson, mass communication senior, is one of three correspondents for “Brand Newz.” Benson was brought to the Brand Newz team because of her interest in reporting news and popular YouTube show, “On The Yard With Brittany B.” “In today’s society, it’s nothing really positive being shown in the news,” said Benson. “Brand Newz” is in the works for being shown in many top cities, including but not limited to Greensboro, Atlanta and Houston. In the meantime, interested viewers in the Triangle, can catch “Brand Newz” on MyRDC (formerly UPN) everyday at 8 p.m. or online at www.brandnewz.com.

It seems like everyone is jumping on the Grown & Sexy bandwagon, even the soul child of music. Musiq SoulChild is back and has more to say to the ladies and the concept of love. This forth album is a little more mature than the other three, with lyrics expressing the emotions and experiences involved with a loving relationship. Although the album only has 12 tracks, Musiq still catches the attention of the new, the young and the old generation with smoother melodies and touching lyrics. The album, which includes a DVD allows the listener to get abetter understanding of the album’s purpose and his role in the creations of all

Devin the Dude Waiting to Inhale Rap-A-Lot Records

out of on the 5 5 black hand side

Christopher “Play” Martin starts “Brandnewz.” BRYSON POPE/Echo Staff Photographer

Devin the Dude’s new album titled “Waiting to Inhale,” recently dropped in March. His last album, “2 the Extreme,” was a much anticipated album since he hadn’t released one in almost three years A hit to me, acquaintances that listen to Devin the Dude love his album as well. For those of you who don’t listen to him, I advise you to buy his album — it’s worth your money. I liked all of his new albums because he has a wide variety of music that is

Tank his albums. Staying true to his musiclover fan base, Musiq took a different approach to this album. He replaced a lot of the catchy mainstream lyrics with experience. In this album, Musiq found the median between an artist and a businessman. After listening to the whole album, I understand why Musiq chose “B.U.D.D.Y”. as his first single. Even if you’re not a Musiq SouldChild fan, musiclover, or a big fan of R&B, you can still relate to Musiq’s elaborate storytelling ability. If you’re a Music SoulChild fan, you may be caught off guard but will grow to appreciate his mature lyrics. While it may not be his best, this album shows his variety and ability to change and grow with his listeners, while remaining loyal to his purpose. This is a must listen to album. ––– Jacquelyn Hall relatable. Some artist appearances include Lil’ Wayne, Bun B, Andre 3000. He considers it a blessing to work with anyone and is open to several styles. His subject matter, which only discusses women, alcohol, and weed is his reality. While working on his year-long album project, he worked on the Coffee Brothers’ latest album. His family and friends serve as his inspiration, and he often uses personal material in his rhymes. His love for creativity and music motivates him to rap, as well as anxious fans anticipating his next album. The next single from his latest album may be “What A Job,” featuring Snoop Dogg. Feedback from DJs will be the determining factor. In the meantime, check out his Myspace page, Devin the Dude .––– Stadford Brown

Express yourself at “De Stu” When I first stepped foot on N.C. Central Unviversity’s campus in the fall of 1993, hip hop was in its “golden years,” thus sparking 9TH an interest of WONDER rhyming and beat-making amongst students. However, there was no where on campus for students to express those desires, those thoughts, or ideas. Now, some 14 years later, Chancellor Ammons, Kawachi Clemons and the music industry has built what some students call a second home, a fully operational recording studio on campus.

Commonly referred to as “DE STU,” students now have a chance to display talents in the realm of R&B, hip hop, jazz, spoken word and other forms of music. The studio is equipped with ProTools HD, a DigiDesign Track board, monitor speakers, a recording booth, 2 offices and a conference room. Next semester, students will have to maintain a 2.5 GPA to enter “DE STU,” in order to record, or to just hang out. In the fall, students will learn how to operate ProTools, record, DJ and make tracks. Students can also earn work study by becoming a studio assistant or a studio secretary. During my time here in the studio, I will be assisting students with song structure, song

lyrics and giving students ideas on how to market and display their music properly. In the music business, a lot of situations that you face are sorted out by trial and error. With the addition of the studio and the music industry program, students here have a chance to learn first hand the business side and the creative side of the industry. It seems that with the music industry program, the recording studio and the Hip Hop in Context class, NCCU is serving as a “preparatory program” for the industry. Personally, I think that this is a big plus for NCCU — a place where your thoughts and creative ideas can be expressed to the fullest!

Professor 9th Wonder gives students a first look at “De Stu.” BRYSON POPE/Echo Staff Photographer

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2007

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Katt’s got your tongue

NYU Press releases two fascinating studies

Comedian Katt Williams along with a couple of friends brought funny to Raleigh . JOANNA HERNANDEZ/Echo Staff Photographer

BY JOANNA HERNANDEZ ECHO A&E EDITOR

REVIEWED BY JOANNA HERNANDEZ

REVIEWED BY BROOKE SELLARS

ECHO A&E EDITOR

ECHO STAFF WRITER

t was the amazing detail that kept me reading. The way the author recalled his youth and the beginning of hip hop turned me green. The description of what it was like to live in a time of the wop, kanglos and polo cologne made me envious. William Jelani Cobb’s “To the Break of Dawn” is the first book to fully explore hip hop and its relationship to the blues. This book charts the traditions of African-American expression and details the ways in which hip hop is an heir to that tradition. Most people who claim to know hip hop would appreciate the in-depth look at how far back the expression can be traced. The book also highlights major artists and innovators who are responsible for the development of hip hop into an art form that is recognized globally. An assistant professor of history at Spelman College, Cobb’s music critiques and essays have appeared in the Washington post, Essence and other print media. An editor for “The Essential Harold Cruise, his column, “Past Imperfect” appears bi-monthly on Africanna.com. The words in this book take the reader deep into the beats, lyrics, and the flow of hip hop. Cobb separates commercial rappers from the creative MCs that began the art form. In a chapter titled, “Seven MCs,” Cobb profiles MCs who were pivotal to the rise of the genre; Rakim, Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z and Common are a few of the artists that he credits. This chapter not only reminds you of how these artists or MCs changed and affected hip hop, but it also shows how a lot of artists were inspired by the beginning and are spawned from an era of true MCs. Many pioneers of hip hop support “To the Break of Dawn.” They feel the book brings a new understanding to the history of the hiphop genre. “To the Break of Dawn” is a crucial contribution to hip-hop history,” said MC Lyte, to the New York University Press. “If you want to truly understand how hip hop was born, read this book.” Reading this book was like traveling through time. I felt as though I learned new things about the birth of hip-hop and was present during these events. But ironically, I also think that I missed out. I recommend this book to those who care to know more about the history and origin of the genre, or for true lovers of the music.

t last — a book that outlines the role of hip hop in the lives of African-American females. T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting’s “Pimps up, Ho’s Down” is an intellectual masterpiece explaining nearly all factors of hip hop that influence and affect African-American women. In her book, Whiting provides session topics and discussion, along with notes similar to how an instructor outlines course material in a syllabus. I was instantly amazed at Whiting’s style of organizing the information in her book. I imagined myself as a student in a semester-long class, titled, “Pimps Up, Ho’s Down.” As I navigated through the book, I learned so much about the sexual exploitation of women. I can truly say that I was enlightened by the ending. Whiting discussed in-depth topics, such as the male-dominated culture of hip hop, new gender politics defined by hip hop and also female difficulties like sexual violence, sexism and sexual dishonest; she linked hip hop to these female difficulties There are countless things I can mention about some of Sharpley’s views, but there are a few I believe are interesting and important. It is amazing that 10 billion dollars rolls in every year with hip hop’s partnership with the adult entertainment industry. Some of these issues could be viewed on VH1’s documentaries: 2002 Hip Hop and Hot Sex, and more recently, 2005 Hip Hop videos and sexploitation on the set. Groupies, women who often perform sexual favors for artists in hopes of gaining personal fame, play a major role in the world of hip hop. “Groupies are like wet wipes, they are convenient and disposable,” writes, Sharpley. She further mentions that groupies can also be called “hoochies,” “chickenheads,” “golddiggers,” “hoes,” and “tricks.” I recommend this book to AfricanAmerican women, as well as other races because we all learn from each other. In order to uplift our communities, we need to help each other progress and avoid putting each other down. According to Sharpley, “the sexual exploitation prevalent in hip hop culture continues to be a needling source of annoyance, frustration, and resentment.” I agree with her. Do you? Read the book and find out for yourself.

Thursday night was a night of unsuppressed laughter at the RBC Center in Raleigh. The venue hosted “Katt Williams & Friends: The Pimp Chronicles Tour II,”featuring Melanie Comarcho, Luenell and Red Grant. The show opened with host Red Grant, a hilarious comic from Washington, D.C. Grant kept the crowd laughing during his intro. He began with a funny skit about thugs in the club

walkin’ it out. Grant’s jokes and theatrics definitely won the crowd over, allowing him to bond with the crowd instantly. Melanie Comarcho and Lunelle left no stone or pimp cup unturned as they represented for the ladies with topics like relationships and sex. The crowd had sore sides from laughing at Grant and an obviously drunk audience member, who he said was possibly a Gargoyle. When Williams finally arrived, the audience was on its feet. Some were

already laughing — others waiting, ready to laugh. Williams had the crowd rolling with jokes, ranging from politics to television, family life, and everyone’s favorite — relationships. His refrences to his everyday life and people in his life helped the audience fully relate to him At the end of the night, the audience seemed reluctant to leave. For tour date information on “The Pimp Chronicles Tour II,” go to www.myspace.com/kattwilliams.

Alumna places in contest BY JARRELL DAWSON ECHO STAFF WRITER

Alumna Sh’Myra Moore found herself $200 richer after winning third place in the prestigious College Language Association Creative Writing Contest. A 70 year old organization, the CLA is composed of College Teachers of English and International Languages. “I was excited and surprised to receive an email from the director stating that I won,” said Moore. “I had hopes of winning the contest, but if I didn’t, it wasn’t going to stop me from writing.” Moore sent in three of her poetry pieces and got the third highest score. All submissions are graded by a panel of judges based on a point scale. “For me, writing is an outlet. When I write, I am able to put my thoughts on paper, and it helps me; you never know when it might help somebody else,” said Moore. Her inspiration comes from Alice Walker, a well known African-American writer. Walker is the author of “The Bluest Eye” and “The Color Purple.” “I read some of her poetry in 2000, and ever since then, I knew writing poetry was something I wanted to do,” said Moore. Moore had some of her work published in N.C. Central University’s “Ex Umbra.” With her recent award, she has a new confidence to move forward in her writing career. “I’m in the middle of publishing a children’s book set to come out this year, and I hope to have my first poetry book published

in 2008.” Her poem, “In a Time,” discussed her view on the world. “I wrote that poem in frustration with what is going on around us. Kids have lost their innocence and people just don’t act like they could. Smiles and hugs are some things that

people just don’t do anymore, and that is something that doesn’t even take a lot.” Moore, 23, plans to attend law school in the fall in hopes of becoming a sports agent or an entertainment judge.

in a time in a time when the declaration of civil war is no longer a part of history in a time when children are mothers and fathers a trip to the clinic is like a trip to the store when education takes a back seat to toys, music, and guns in a time when the value of the dollar is higher than life’s value when conversation for pure enjoyment does not exist and the only way to reach someone is on the internet in a time when H.I.V. and S.T.D are M.V.P.S. when women can’t live alone safely when apologizes and I love you begin with I really mean this what is needed in a time like this a good piece of sweet potato pie hugs, prayers, kisses, prayers, smiles, and prayers ice cream cones on sunny days family portraits and summer vacations green lights, new hairdos, fresh cologne bowed heads, laughter, prayers, open eyes and ears in a time like this —Sh’Myra Moore

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Sports

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2007

Lady Eagle s 12- 0

Hoorah for Super Saturday

UNDEFEATED SOFTBALL TEAM BATS ANOTHER WIN

Uniting sports for good times BY SHATOYA CANTRELL ECHO STAFF WRITER

Latisha Judd expresses relief, exhaustion and joy as she crosses home plate. SAVIN JOSEPH/Echo Staff Photographer

BY MATTHEW BEATTY ECHO STAFF WRITER

The N. C. Central University Lady Eagles took it to the hilt on March 31 against the Virginia State Lady Vikings. “Both teams fought hard,” said sophomore third baseman and leftfielder Sophia Blue. The Lady Eagles refused to take a loss on this day. Key hits were made when needed and Blue also came through with a run when her team needed her most. Though the Eagles were winning for most of the game, they still had to play fierce against a tough VSU. NCCU played their game and didn’t give up a single run.

This contributed to the Lady Eagles winning the first game 4-0. Though the score may make it seem like an easy win, Blue said otherwise. “Even though we had the lead, the game was still close the whole time,” she said. The win was impressive and so was the shutout, but this game marked the third game in a row in which the Lady Eagles shut out their opponents. This is something NCCU hasn’t done in more than 10 seasons. After they had given their all in the first game, the main concern for the Lady Eagles was whether fatigue would play a major part in the second game of this double header.

“Clearly it didn’t,” said Blue. “We were hungrier for win number 2 because we knew that the Trojans wouldn’t give it to us easy.” Both teams played their hearts out and to the best of their abilities. As the game continued, both teams knew that a shut-out was out of the question. The Lady Trojans were a completely different team than the Lady Eagles saw in the first game. The Lady Trojans jumped on the scoreboard, bringing in two runs putting up a fight, but NCCU overcame them by scoring four straight runs. The Lady Eagles were able to hold VSU to only two runs, allowing the Lady

Eagles to come away with a 4-2 victory. “We need to get more consecutive hits back to back and have the same determination throughout the entire game,” said Blue. Consecutive hits and determination is what the Lady Eagles have on their brains for their upcoming opponent on April 4. The team will face the Lady Falcons of St. Augustine’s College in a doubleheader at Oakwood Park in Raleigh. The Lady Falcons are ranked #1 in the Western Division of the CIAA; NCCU is right behind them at #2. With a win over VSU, the Lady Eagles now have a conference record of 12-0 and an overall record of 20-8.

N.C. Central University brought together three sports events Saturday — volleyball, football and baseball games — for what the University called “Super Saturday.” The Lady Eagles’ 3-time CIAA championship volleyball team began “Super Saturday,” hosting a spring tournament featuring the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks, Elon University Phoenix, Winston-Salem State University Rams, and the North Carolina A&T University Aggies in the McClendon-McDougald Gymnasium.. Each team faced each other team on the court, playing either two games to 30 points or for 50 minutes total. The purpose of the tournament was to give fans a peek at what to expect from next year’s teams and to provide the teams a good practice session. The two-time CIAA championship and 2006 National Black College Champion football team had its annual spring maroon and grey game in the O’KelleyRiddick Stadium. The scrimmage set the Eagle defense against the Eagle offense, playing in two quarters. The Eagles defense claimed victory over the offense by smashing the offense with a score of 22-7. The rules of the scrimmage were a little different, to help each team score faster during this short game. The kicking game was eliminated and the team with the ball was awarded seven points for each touchdown and three for each penetration of the 10-yard

line that did not result in a touchdown. Friends, families and future recruits were invited to get a look at the 2007 team. They also were invited to a cookout held by the Eagles football staff immediately after the maroon and gray game at Ben Ruffin Residence Hall, formerly known as New Baynes Hall. Ending the Super Saturday events, participants took a trip to downtown Durham. They were hoping to catch a glimpse of the Eagles baseball team. That team is hoping to capture a victory in a doubleheader against the defending CIAA champion Elizabeth City State University Vikings in the Durham Bulls Stadium. NCCU used a steal to home plate to score the only run in the first game, defeating the Vikings with a score of 1-0. NCCU freshman pitcher Alex Weathersby had five hits and collected three strikeouts in his first collegiate shutout. With hopes high and confidence strong, the Eagles returned to the diamond to face the Vikings and capture another victory. The Vikings trailed the Eagles 3-1 into the fifth inning, but the Vikings scored seven runs to end NCCU’s eight-game winning streak. Unfortunately, the Vikings had other plans, and fought back hard to defeat the Eagles 8-4 in the second game. The Lady Eagles volleyball team and the Eagles football team will begin its action on the court and on the field in August 2007. The Eagles baseball team will face Barton College in Wilson on April 4 at 3 p.m.

Stadford Antonio Brown: a modest superstar BY LARISHA J. STONE ECHO SPORTS EDITOR

Imagine being four years old and having football stats, hall-offamers, all-star players and NFL facts and figures being drilled into your young mind, instilling in you a love for the game that would become natural as breathing. If you can imagine that, then you’re probably Stadford Antonio Brown. If you were Stadford Antonio Brown, you would have been voted the 2006 Offensive Player of the Year. If you were Stadford Antonio Brown, you would have received an award naming you a 2006 Rookie of the Year. And the CIAA Rookie of the Week award would have passed through your hands six times. This, all for a fellow who is a freshman on the field.

Brown didn’t play during his freshman year because he did not know the playbook; in his sophomore year, he chose not to play in order to focus on academics. The best part of you, if you were Stadford Antonio Brown, would be that you don’t let your awards and accolades go to your head. Brown maintains a level head and a humble spirit. He recognizes that the credit goes not to him but to the team. “I feel good about my wins, but the credit is not mine,” Brown said. All this modesty from a fellow who ranks 27th in the nation in pass efficiency. “I had great teammates who knew what they were doing before I even came along,” Brown said. He ranks football fourth on his list of priorities, with God first, followed by family and school. “My parents were very sup-

portive of my desire to play because they saw that I loved it,” he said. When asked what his most memorable game of the past season has been, he quickly replied, “Bowie State. I’m from Washington, D.C., so I was around my home crowd on a collegiate level.” He added, “That was also my best game statistically.” Brown threw for a season best of 291 yards and made 4 touchdowns in the 2006 season. His season 26 passing touchdowns set a new single-season school record and a new CIAA standard for freshmen. That sounds like one slammin’ year. A mass communication major with a concentration in broadcast journalism, Brown plans to work behind the camera in production. If he hasn’t been drafted by then.

Stadford Brown receives a pass from a teammate at Albany State game in 2006. COURTESY OF NVVU SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE

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Opinions

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2007

O R TH

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Non-smokers at risk

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who have a less-developed immune system, and can lead to the development of respiratory problems such as wheezing and severe asthma. Had she known all of this, I’m fairly sure my mother would have rethought taking me outside with her as she enjoyed a habit that claims the lives of 45,000 blacks each year. She might even have considered saving herself a few bucks a week had she known that by the mid1960s, African Americans had already contributed $30 billion to the tobacco industry, through unfair marketing practices aimed specifically at the AfricanAmerican community. I’m fairly sure she would have re-thought a lot of things, had she known. So what does that say about those of us who still engage in harmful practices even when we do know the facts? Well, it says a lot. Even though it was unintentional, my mother didn’t think about how her actions were adversely affecting me. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t affected. Unfortunately, 50,000 non-smokers, some of whom are unable to voice

their opposition, die each year from second-hand smoke. On our campus, it would serve us all to be mindful of our actions. The Student Coalition Against Tobacco is conducting a campaign to ban smoking within 25 feet of all building entrances at N.C. Cental University. By establishing a 25-foot, smoke-free perimeter around campus doorways, the Board of Trustees will help protect the health of the entire Eagle Community. By complying with this policy, smokers will respect the rights of others to breathe clean air. For those of you who are unaware, there is no “safe” level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Times have changed, Eagles, and there’s more for us to be aware of. My mom didn’t know about the dangers of second-hand smoke and how her actions were affecting others, but now you do. Support SCAT’s campaign to move smoking away from building entrances. If you smoke, think about where you light up; this small change just might save someone’s life.

Let’s clear NCCU’s air

IVER SITY

What distance will you go to support an Eagle?

For those of you who are unaware, there is no ‘safe’ level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Times have changed, Eagles, and there’s more for us to be aware of.

moking isn’t all that bad. In fact, I remember being three or four when my mother first introduced me to smoking. When I had trouble sleeping, I’d walk down the hall to her room and together Erica we’d go Purkett outside to enjoy the country night air -- and a smoke. She’d hoist me on her hip and walk around, dragging on her cigarette every now and then, until the night sky slowly disappeared from (my) view. Smoking wasn’t bad then, or so it seemed; it was nothing more than a way to relax. My mother never intended to expose me to more than 4,000 chemicals, 50 of which are known to cause cancer, but the fact remains that she did. Among other things, second-hand smoke can increase middle-ear infections in young children,

Atlanta for the Battle of the Bands? Charlotte for the CIAA? How about 25 feet to smoke? The fact is tobacco smoke around building entrances can trigger asthma and other respiratory attacks. Support SCAT’s campaign to move smoking away from building entrances. Help SCAT CLEAR THE AIR at NCCU Call Rosalind Richardson at 530-7548

S C A T tudent

oalition

gainst

obacco

Second-hand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including more than 50 cancer-causing agents and 200 known poisons. Second-hand smoke also claims the lives of 50,000 people a year in the United States.

e, as U.S. citizens, have the right to enjoy life in a clean world — one that is free of pollution and full of green trees, clean water and fresh air. Yes, fresh, toxinfree air! There is nothing Shavonte’ worse Fleming than driving past a dairy farm with forty cows grazing in the pasture on a hot summer day, getting stuck in traffic behind a city dump truck for an hour or jogging past a sewage plant. These are not very pleasant smells. But what I hate the most is going into a building or business and walking smack into a cloud of deadly second-hand smoke. Although most unpleasant smells are hard to bear, they are not harmful to one’s health. Second-hand smoke is. When carrying out our daily activities, we will encounter certain odors as we move through the day, but we can control what odors we allow into our own personal space and

environment. N.C. Central University is made up of diverse people who indulge themselves in many different behaviors. For example, some people play sports and some just watch them. Some students are involved in campus organizations and some just focus on their studies. There are also people who smoke and people who do not. Most of us recognize the rights of people to engage in behaviors at their own discretion, but what do we do when the behaviors people engage in negatively affect the health of others? Second-hand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including more than 50 cancer-causing agents and 200 known poisons. Second-hand smoke also claims the lives of 50,000 people a year in the United States. As you can see, tobacco smoke affects the health of others, and that is why the Student Coalition Against Tobacco wants to ban smoking within 25 feet of all NCCU building entrances. In America, the majority generally rules. This is most evident in politics and court systems.

Campus Echo

Who wins an election is determined by who receives the most votes. What bills or policies get passed are determined by the number of legislators in favor of them. Whether a person is guilty in a court of law is determined by the number of jurors who believe the defendant is guilty. SCAT believes that the majority of the NCCU community would support a 25foot, smoke-free perimeter around campus doorways. In a recent survey on our smoke-free dorm policy, 73 percent of the students surveyed favored the policy and just 20 percent did not, with 7 percent unsure. These students were also asked whether they felt second-hand smoke was a serious issue; 87 percent said yes. These numbers reveal that this campus is well aware of the hazards of second-hand smoke and is concerned about the health problems it causes. It is only ethical to do what is in the common interest of the University community. Students, faculty and staff should support a ban on smoking within 25 feet of building entrances. The Board of Trustees should adopt this policy.

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2007

IVER SITY

San Cristobal sojourn Patrice Mobley is spending her spring semester abroad in Mexico. his spring, I have the opportunity to study abroad in Mexico with the School for International Training. My program is focused on grassroots development and social change. The program will last for four months and allows for extensive travel throughout the country. On February 5, after a lengthy financial aid process and other traveling preparations, including waiting anxiously for my passport, the time had finally Patrice come. Mobley I said goodbye to my family and boarded a plane to a country I had never been to, whose language I didn’t speak.

My flight to San Cristobal De Las Casas, Mexico, was traumatic. My journey included three legs, including one nearly missed connection in Cancun and two very crowded shuttles. As I flew into Tuxtla Gutierrez, I had an aerial view of the rainforest and the mountains of Chiapas, the southernmost state of Mexico. I took a taxi to the bus station where I caught a collectivo, a cheap bus packed full of people, to San Cristobal De Las Casas, the city where, in 1994, impoverished Mayan Indians declared war on the Mexican government in the Zapatista Revolution. After arriving in the city and getting settled, one thing in particular took a lot of getting used to. In the United States, the outdoors and indoors are separated, and going outdoors is sometimes no more than a necessary side effect of going from one place to another. Here the idea is very different. There are many ways for the cool mountain air to

soak its way into everything you own. At restaurants, the doors remain open, and there is little air conditioning. San Cristobal is full of European tourists and hippies, and I saw no black people besides myself. However, my hairstyle, locks, is very common. Everything here seems to be colorful and connected to the earth. Plants grow on everything, and the wood of roofs is always exposed. Though I have been here very briefly, I have the sense that the lifestyle is very different from that of the states. My previous semester in D.C. accustomed me to a very fast pace of living, where a multitude of ambitious students claw their way to the top. I have not experienced any attitude like that here. Here, so many people are willing to help you find your way or give you insight into this beautiful country. I am looking forward to spending more time here, and to the experience that will undoubtedly change my life.

Gangsta names shameful ’ve got issues with hip-hop artists adopting the names of notorious Italian mobsters as their rap aliases. These rappers are either unaware or do not care that these mobsters they strive to emulate despise blacks with a passion. Mob legends like John Gotti often referred to blacks as “coons and niggers.” Ironically, during a phone conversation in prison, John Gotti statA.J. ed that the decline of Donaldson civilization is the reason “kids are imitating these coons [and] imitating these niggers.” I find it disheartening that talented rap artists like Yo Gotti and once-premiere rap executive Irv Gotti boast the name of a man who could care less about them.

As a matter of fact, I would say that John Gotti is rolling over in his grave at the thought of black rappers praising his name. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not just picking on the Gotti emulators, I also have a problem with other unenlightened rappers who allow these racist gangsters to live through them — Manuel Noriega and Al Capone, to name a few. Even Philly rapper Beanie Siegel carries the name of savage Jewish gangster Bugsy “Bugs” Siegel. Bugs also founded a company that provided contracted killers. It was called Murder Inc., which just happens to be the name of an acclaimed record label. Hmmm. Recognize, brothas, that by carrying the name of the deceased, you allow them to live forever through you. Therefore, it is important that we be careful of the names we claim as our aliases.

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I understand that the motive behind rapper’s representation of people like Gotti and other legendary mobsters is to embrace the gangster aspect of their lives; however the message is being distorted. Hip-hop is better than that. We represent a generation and culture that doesn’t accept disrespect from anyone. If you disagree then I guess you can live by the words of the late John Gotti: “Being a nigger is an embarrassment. To be Gotti’s grandson is an honor.” Why don’t we boast the names of Martin, Malcolm, or Angela Davis as our rap names? Nowadays every rapper sits around a circular table in his video, blowing on cigars like they are really mobsters. Negro, please. Quit fueling the image of ignorance. Instead, emulate the character of integrity and intelligence. That’s it.

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drawing by Rashaun Rucker

Question: Do you think students should be required to stand 25 feet from a building when they smoke? “Twenty-five feet is too long; as long as they’re outside then it’s OK.” — Phurneise Love

“Yes, because a lot of people didn’t grow up around smoke and it’s irritating to them.” — Jessica Ross

“The 25-foot rule would be a good rule because I don’t like smoke. It would be good for others’ health.” — Latisha Springs