September_19_2012 by N.C. Central University Campus Echo

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

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Feature

To weave or not to weave? Weave-ology 101 with Ciera’ Harris

Centerfest returns to downtown Durham for the 38th year

Seed funds start NCCU garden outside Mary Townes Science Building

Urban blight near NCCU — a look at dystopian Durham

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VOLUME 104, ISSUE 2

Campus Echo

Voters wanted: Apply here BY MATT PHILLIPS

The Battle for America: Part two of a four-part series

ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

On the second floor of Eagle Landing, an N.C. Central University dormitory, there is a corner study room with seven floor-to-ceiling windows. The windows look out on Brant Street Plaza, a red-brick walkway

popular with students and lined with benches and tables. The heavy summer heat hangs over the plaza in the last week of

August, trying to seep its way into the room, where seven NAACP voter registration organizers hunch over two laptop computers. Joshua Vincent, the organization’s get-out-the-vote state coordinator, is teaching the organizers —

all NCCU students in their late teens or early 20s — how to use the Voter Activation Network. The network is a national voter information database that generates regional voter registration walking lists, makes robotic calls and performs a variety of other

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ECHO ASSISTANT EDITOR

Non-ttraditional student Billy Brockington also works in the physical plant in the heating and air conditioning department. NEKA JONES/Echo staff photographer

STORY BY LORENZO FOWLER ECHO STAFF REPORTER

and quick with a joke. He is taking two classes per semester toward his degree while also working as a heating, ventilation and air conditioning mechanic at NCCU.

Resolution to face UNC BOG BY MYAVA MITCHELL ECHO STAFF REPORTER

The N.C. Central University SGA, along with the UNC Association of Student Governments, adopted a resolution that would allow UNC System chancellors to allocate tuition revenues to needbased financial aid at their respective institutions. The resolution must be approved by the UNC Board of Governors. In the past, UNC schools were required to set aside at least 25 percent of revenues from future tuition increases for need-based financial aid. The resolution comes as a reaction to a recent proposal that need-based financial aid may not exceed 25 percent. “As the cost of educa-

tion continues to rise in North Carolina, state legislators, members of the Board of Governors and UNC general administration should listen closely to individual campuses and their needs,” said Reggie McCrimmon, NCCU SGA president. Kevin Kimball, ASG chief information officer, said an allocation cap would limit financial aid, affecting larger schools and HBCUs in North Carolina. He said UNCASG wants to keep college accessible. “We are adopting this problem as a student priority,” said Carmelo Montalvo, NCCU SGA vice president. “They want to raise statistics but they are not giving us the resources to do so.”

Six counts of embezzlement listed BY JONATHAN ALEXANDER

THE KID FROM MCDOUGALD TERRACE

ising criminal justice junior Billy Brockington is wise, welltraveled and an advocate for clean living. An N.C. Central University employee and non-traditional student, Brockington is generous with his smile

Jones, Coleman indicted

He was born Dec. 31, 1954 in Whiteville, N.C. At a young age he moved to McDougald Terrace, Durham’s largest public housing complex. “I first heard the sound of the NCCU n See BILLY Page 3

More than a year after the initial allegations, a grand jury has indicted Beverly W. Jones and Nannie A. Coleman on six Beverly W. counts of embezzle- Jones ment and two counts of grand larceny. Coleman was executive director of the Historically Minority Colleges and University Consortium. Jones directed Nannie A. HMCUC prior to Coleman’s appoint- Coleman ment and had risen to the position of vice chancellor of academic affairs. The consortium was created in 1999 as a partnership between the N.C. Department of Public Instruction and the state’s 12 historically minority institutions of higher education. According to a June 2011 audit of the program, it was developed to “devise and implement strategies to close the ‘minority achievement gap’ in North Carolina.” The consortium targeted minority students from kindergarten through 12th grade. NCCU was the headquarters of the program. Jones was a founding member of the consortium. The indictment charges Jones with taking $10,128 while acting as executive director and with receiving checks totaling $51,831 while she was provost. “Beverly Jones received unauthorized check payments from an unauthorized bank account which held grant monies belonging to HMCUC,” the indictment states. “At the time of the taking, Beverly Jones intended to deprive HMCUC of its grant monies permanently,” the indictment said. “Beverly Jones knew she was not entitled to HMCUC’s grant monies, which were for the purpose of serving under-

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Band loses beat

Drum line suspended after hazing allegation filed BY MATT PHILLIPS ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Ain’t no rhythm without them drums. And the beat gets lost too. The N.C. Central University drum line, an integral part of the Marching Sound Machine Band, was suspended from all band-related activity Sept. 10. Administrators suspended the drum line after an NCCU student made a hazing allegation. NCCU administrators passed the investigation to campus police. Because the allegation was made through the NCCU Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities and referred to campus police, an incident report is unavailable. Campus police investigate all alleged criminal activity at NCCU. The allegation has not been proven. According to the NCCU

Marching Sound Machine, sans the drumline, at Duke University’s Wallace-W Wade Stadium.

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GABRIEL AIKENS/Echo photo editor

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privileged children.” Jones’s lawyer, Butch Williams, said Jones has pled not guilty. “She served the University admirably for numbers of decades,” Williams said. “During that time she implemented programs and educated many students. She looks forward to her day in court. The truth will be told.” Coleman, whom Jones appointed executive director of the program in 2005 when Jones became provost, was indicted on five charges of embezzlement. The indictment alleges Coleman took a total of $137,330 for her own use. The charges refer to acts committed between 2005 and early 2010. Her indictment states: “Nannie Coleman, in her fiduciary capacity as executive director for HMCUC, was responsible for collecting and managing grant monies for HMCUC. Nannie Coleman intentionally, fraudulently and dishonestly used HMCUC’s grant monies for some purpose other than for which she received it.” Coleman’s lawyer, Cindy Popkin Bradley, declined comment for story. In 2010 former NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms launched an internal audit which uncovered alleged criminal and civil activity, including the undisclosed commercial bank account under the program’s name. He later referred the audit to the N.C. Office of the State Auditor. An investigative report from the state auditor issued on June 28, 2011, found that funds totaling $1,001,128 were deposited into the undisclosed bank account from a variety of sources, including local school systems, non-profit community organizations, individuals, the University, and the NCCU Foundation. When Coleman was

asked by Nelms to provide a detailed description of the program’s operations and history, she did not mention the bank account, according to the report. The report noted that the program had been established as its own entity, and was not properly overseen by the University. On Sept. 6, NCCU’s office of public relations issued a statement that said, “NCCU takes seriously the matter of compliance and fiscal management and will continue to hold all personnel and departments accountable. The University is pleased that this matter has been fully investigated.” Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Bernice Johnson, who was dean of University College after Jones, said she had no knowledge of the consortium’s finances, but she did state that the goals of the consortium were commendable. “Dr. Jones’s and Dr. Coleman’s main intentions were to increase the success rate of students in the Durham Public Schools, in particular underprepared students or the underrepresented students or in many cases African American students,” Johnson said. “It’s unfortunate that some of the things that happened, happened.” The Sept. 6 press release states that NCCU is pleased that the matter has been fully investigated and is serious about compliance and fiscal management and will hold personnel in departments accountable. “North Carolina Central University is committed to ensuring that the University conducts its affairs in a manner consistent with our values, as well as University of North Carolina policy and state statues.”

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Marching Sound Machine tubist, junior Markel Reid, at Duke University’s Wallace-W Wade Stadium. GABRIEL AIKENS/Echo photo editor

Code of Conduct, “The University reserves the right to proceed under the Student Code of Conduct with a hearing and the possible imposition of a sanction, prior to, concurrent with or subsequent to, civil litigation, criminal arrest and/or criminal prosecution.” The NCCU Student Code of Conduct defines hazing as “Physically abusing or harassing another person or creating a situation which produces physical hurt or discomfort, severe emotional

distress, embarrassment, or ridicule of another person.” Friday, members of the Marching Sound Machine were gathering petition signatures inside the AlfonsoElder Student Union. The petition said the allegation brought unwanted media attention to NCCU and the band as a whole. According to the petition, its purpose was to bring the “truth to the light.” “We need our NCCU community support to help bring the truth to the light, help

return our focus to our education and ‘bring the funk back,’” read the petition. A Sound Machine member who declined to provide her name, major or classification, said some band members have been chastised in class. She said the media is unfairly portraying band members, the drum line and NCCU students in general. She did not say how simply reporting an allegation was an unfair portrayal. A hashtag with comments supporting the Drum Line,

#FreeDOA, has appeared on the social media site Twitter. Chancellor Becton sent an email Wednesday, Sept 12 informing the NCCU community of the suspension. “North Carolina Central University has a zero-tolerance policy on hazing. Any planned or executed activity, hazing or otherwise, that does not prepare our students for future success and endangers their health and well being is reprehensible, grounds for immediate action and counterproductive to our priorities, policies and procedures,” wrote Becton. According to NCCU’s Office of Public Relations, the investigation will likely conclude this week. HBCU marching bands have been under fire nationwide recently. Robert Champion, a Florida A&M University student and drum major with the famed Marching 100, died after an alleged hazing incident last November. James R. Ammons, former chancellor of NCCU, resigned as Florida A&M chancellor after the incident. Clark Atlanta University suspended its Mighty Marching Panthers on Aug. 30 after an allegation presented the possibility of hazing.

VOTING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “A lot of people want to see the younger generation become apathetic. If we do that we’re playing right into their hands.” WILLIAM BARBER III PRESIDENT OF THE NCCU CHAPTER OF THE NAACP

tasks related to voter mobilization. The importance of the network is simple: The more people organizers touch, whether in person, through email or by phone, the more the North Carolina electorate expands. “Our job at the NAACP is, no matter who they vote for, to encourage people to vote. We want to expand our electorate,” said Vincent. William Barber III, president of the NCCU chapter of the NAACP, said registration efforts using the network are part of the battle in North Carolina. Still, Barber worries that registration does not automatically lead to participation. “Registration is just half the battle. We want to have educated voters who participate in the election,” said Barber. American representative democracy is in peril, say civil rights advocates. According to a report from the Brennan Center for Justice, recent legislation — nearly all of it passed in 2012 — threatens to shrink the electorate by more than five million voters, a number greater than the margin of victory in two of the last three presidential elections. The state-level and Republican driven legislation is a combination of voter ID laws, stricter voter registration standards and elimination of early and same-day registration voting. The legislation limits voter participation amongst minorities, low-income voters, students and the elderly. In Florida, a key swing state, new restrictions on voter registration have severely limited — and in some cases outright prevented –— registration of new voters. In Ohio and Pennsylvania, two more swing states, controversial voting restrictions are being challenged in court. In Pennsylvania, a new

Junior Jalen Baker, a.k.a. Mr. Alfonso Elder Student Union, at the Sept. 6 Obama Watch. GABRIEL AIKENS/Echo photo editor

voter ID law is being challenged. According to the Brennan Center report, 11 percent of Americans do not possess a government-issued ID — around 21 million citizens in all. Similar tactics were used after the Fifteenth Amendment was ratified in 1870 and after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed. Civil rights activists say it’s no surprise that similar tactics have followed the election of the first black president in 2008. Barber said representative democracy works best when everybody participates. He said the massive voter turnout in 2008 was accomplished through fusion politics and organizing. It was a movement that included minorities, the young and the elderly. According to Barber the electorate-shrinking tactics of the past should remain in the past. Civil rights activists have already fought those battles. “It’s not to prevent voter fraud. It’s not to protect democracy. It’s a political tool being used to limit who’s participating,” said Barber, referring to vote suppression measures. The NCCU chapter of the NAACP is pushing for voter registration at NCCU and the surrounding community.

Vincent said the NAACP encourages students to vote on campus. Students registered to vote in their hometowns may find it difficult to cast a ballot because of travel and time constraints. Political science junior Kiara Alexander, political action chair for the NCCU chapter of the NAACP, said registering voters means battling a tide of misinformation. “Some people wish they could [vote], but said they couldn’t,” said Alexander. “It has a big impact in people’s lives to vote for who you think is the best candidate.” Both Alexander and Barber said some people are unsure if they can vote because they have criminal records. In North Carolina, felony offenders can vote after completing their required sentences, parole and probation. “As you move into the community, that’s when we saw more people that were not registered,” said Barber. Barber said the right to vote is the most important right American citizens exercise. He said people have given their lives for the right to vote. “They realized what the ballot represented. The importance, the power and responsibility,” said Barber. “A lot of people want to see the younger generation become apathetic. If we do that we’re playing right into

their hands.” But the student organizers working in the second floor study room refuse to slip into that apathy. They know that less than 50 percent of young Americans will vote if organizers do not encourage, educate and register the disenfranchised. If the seven organizers had the time to look out those seven windows, they would see a bunch of teenagers or twenty-something students living American lives. And if they had still more time they might let their eyes drift past foreclosed and boarded up homes, past the income disparity of Durham, past the invisible weight of student debt, past rehabilitated felons, past the wrongfully imprisoned, past the working poor, past urban food deserts, past refugees from Mexico and all points South, past those judged by their skin color or sexual orientation, past unemployment lines, past urban decay and all manner of social struggle. They might even look beyond all that and see the green hills and dancing watershed of North Carolina, a battleground state. But they can’t look out those windows. They must concentrate. Democracy is under assault. They must expand, encourage and preserve the electorate.

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NCCU student and employee Billy Brockington at work in the physical plant.. NEKA JONES/Echo staff photographer

marching band when I was six years old. I’ve always loved it,” said Brockington. Brockington said he walked across the NCCU campus every day to go to classes at Hillside High School, that he watched NCCU grow up over the years. “There has been one improvement after another,” said Brockington. “NCCU is a melting pot of diverse and good people, with an overwhelming sense of pride.”

Daniel Robinson is also an HVAC mechanic at NCCU. He has worked with Brockington for four years. Robinson said he enjoys working with Brockington, and appreciates his joyful outlook on life. “He’s a comedian for sure. He’s a fun person to be around,” said Robinson. “Billy has a great sense of humor.” Brockington entered the Air Force during the Vietnam War era and eventually started performing aircraft

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maintenance. He worked on the F-4 Phantom, a fighter jet that can fly at twice the speed of sound. “I was there for the fall of Saigon,” said Brockington. He said the place where he stayed in Thailand accommodated Vietnamese refugees. “I went from eating hot meals to box lunches when we accommodated the refugees. “Never did see my air conditioned room again,” said Brockington. Brockington was based at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. He said he was fortunate to travel the world while enlisted. “Traveling was an educational experience for a poor boy from Durham,” said Brockington. Later in his life Brockington spent time with a destructive crowd. He said he saw the effects of drugs and alcohol first-hand. While working at the Veteran’s Administration hospital, he saw his supervisor drop cocaine. Brockington told his work leader about the illegal activity. According to Brockington, this affected his chances for a promotion, and ultimately prevented him from attaining a higher position. In 1993 Brockington changed his life. He started a landscaping business and bought his first house. “I went to church, paid my bills, got married and helped raise my wife’s three children,” said Brockington, who has been married for 15 years. Brockington said he advocates against drugs, alcohol and abusing women. He lives a clean life, and said that he believes prayer is a necessary component for success. “My son has never seen me drink. And I will never hit my wife,” said Brockington. “I would like to be remembered as a friend, a loving person and an honest guy.” In 1996 Brockington landed a job at NCCU. He had come full circle. The kid from McDougald Terrace traveled the world. Now he is a student and staff member at NCCU, less than a mile from where he grew up. “We’re walking in the footsteps of greatness,” said Brockington.

Instagram app has risks BY APRIL HANNAH ECHO STAFF REPORTER

The insensitivity of it shocked many. On Aug. 24, New York native Muhammad Malik photographed and uploaded to Instagram a photo of a woman tending to a man who had just been shot near the Empire State Building. Under the photo, Malik quoted a verse from rap artist NAS: “They shoot, aw made you look! No really tho. Dude got popped!” The man died of his wounds. “I don’t think it was insensitive,” Malik told reporters. “It’s New York. I just took a photo. … Someone has to document these things. It was just a comment.” The buzz around town has it that everyone is talking about Instagram, a new social media site that first appeared in August 2010. Instagram, which is popular with N.C. Central University students, now has about 80 million users worldwide. “I have seen things that are inappropriate on Instagram,” said mass communication senior Nagil Johnson. “Mostly girls underdressed and people smoking weed.” Johnson, a frequent Instagram user, said he would never post anything that would have harmful effects on himself or his friends. Developed by Stanford University graduate Kevin Systrom, the unique application allows users to digitally capture, filter and

exchange images with other users. The intent of the program is to connect instantly with others, hence the term, “insta.” Instagram is now part of Facebook. It was purchased in April by Facebook for $1 billion in cash and stock. Along with the purchase came new features, including one that has some users and critics worried. The feature, photomapping, allows users to tag pictures on a map to show exactly where the picture was taken. Sound creepy? English junior Spencer Jones thinks so. “I think the photomapping update was made with good intentions, but in the wrong hands this tool can create problems. “For example, an extremely jealous lover could keep track of their significant other’s whereabouts,” said Jones. Johnson agrees, saying that the photo mapping feature provides way too much unnecessary information. But social media can be dangerous in ways many don’t think about, especially when it comes to their future careers. In her 2012 book “I Know Who You Are and I Saw What You Did: Social Networks and the Death of Privacy,” Lori Andrews, warns students to check their privacy settings, to think before posting images, and to be aware of what employers may look for on sites. If you wait until you jobhunt to clean up your page, Andrews warns, it may be too late.

Forum promotes civic activism SEEN seeks to foster empowerment among HBCU students BY CHRISTA WATSON ECHO STAFF REPORTER

WNCU 90.7 broadcast a forum, “SEEN and heard,” Sept. 11 discussing restrictions on voting and voting rights. The Student Engagement and Empowerment Network, a.k.a. SEEN, is a network that brings together students wanting to get active in civic engagement. SEEN started after multiple conversations with students last year. Jarvis Hall, associate professor of political science and director of the Institute for Civic Engagement and Social Change, says he wanted to create a network that would bring together historically black colleges and universi-

ties. SEEN gets students involved in social change and civic engagement. “We have reached out to the HBCUs in North Carolina to get on board with us, and so far eight campuses have confirmed their interest,” said Hall. “We hope that the others will be able to as well.” The title of the forum is based on the motto of the network: “We are seen so we will be heard [on the radio].” “We hope to give students more knowledge, interest, involvement, and civic engagement in the political process,” said Hall. The Sept. 11 forum was the second installment of a four-part series that will

explain activism in the 21st century, and the importance of people, especially students, voting and getting involved with American democracy. The first installment, which aired Aug. 28, compared today’s activism today with activism of the past. It also considered social justice, youth engagement, and the demographics of voter involvement. The focus of the second installment was voting rights, civil liberties and privacy invasion by the government. The forum discussed how American rights have changed post-9/11. The panel included two experts, Anita Earls, founder of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice

and a civil rights attorney, and Sarah Preston, policy director of the American Civil Liberties Union. Political science junior Alphonso Hughes said the forum inspired students wanting to encourage their communities to vote. “Having experienced violence and the lack of care that the surrounding neighborhoods have about voting makes me want to become more active in motivating people,” said Hughes. “I realize that it is important to vote and make your voice heard when it comes to needs that the government isn’t meeting.” Students interested in getting involved may contact Jarvis Hall at 919-5307256 or jhall@nccu.edu.

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

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Seed money sprouts campus garden Sustainable project offers chance for students to grow their own green

Nursing freshman Kristina Bookman plants vegetables with her mother Fredicia, an NCCU alumna. GABRIEL AIKENS/Echo photo editor

BY JADE JACKSON ECHO STAFF REPORTER

N.C. Central University just got a little greener. About 25 parents and

students worked under a hot sun for several hours Saturday on a garden the size of a football field between Mary Townes Science Building and the

BRITE Building off Lawson Street, planting collard greens, cabbage and broccoli. In an initiative to create a greener campus, Deborah

Bailey, NCCU’s community services director, has coordinated a campus-wide committee to support the campus’ own community garden. “This garden is a visible sign to show that we’re greener for sustainability,” said Bailey, adding that increased sustainability is a UNC System requirement. Bailey teamed with Student Affairs social media and marketing coordinator Meghann Martinez and Kofi Boone, a landscape architect at N.C. State University. Bailey received funds for the project from the Office of Institutional Advancement and Lowe’s, and technical assistance from Durham’s Habitat for Humanity. Working in a community garden “shows that anybody can garden and take something from inception to completion,” Bailey said. Research shows that community gardens offer a host of benefits. “Community gardens have the potential to eliminate social, communal, health, agricultural and economic problems that many in the United States and the rest of the world are facing,” writes Joshua Birky in his 2009 study of the modern community gar-

den movement. Martinez, a lifelong rancher on her father’s farms, heads the student committee that keeps the community garden growing. The garden club formed by this committee requires 25-30 active members. “We plan to build as many as 40 to 50 more garden beds, in addition to the six beds we finished on Saturday,” Martinez said. The garden club plans to sell produce at the Durham Farmer’s Market. “This will give students a more spiritual connection to the earth … [and] it will help the community’s view of Central,” said Martinez. Students said they had a great time working the garden. “It was great being involved doing something like this — something other than the usual activities like concerts,” said Bernatta Palmer, sports management junior. “It was a good experience,” said Palmer, who has never worked in a garden before. “It gives you a sense of ownership. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be … it just takes a little time and patience. “I feel like growing your own ensures that your food

is pure and clean.” Elementary education junior Teresa Ingram didn’t attend the planting, but said she’s glad to hear about the project and has fond memories of summers in the garden with her grandmother. “I’ve gardened with my grandma Georgia every summer since I was about 6 years old,” Ingram said. “Her garden has cucumbers, tomatoes, a pear tree and lots of flowers,” she said, adding that gardening with her grandmother helped build a special bond. “Gardening is relaxing. When I get my own home I’m going to have a garden.” Mass communication senior Crystal Wilson, who had not heard about the project, has similar recollections. “It’s hereditary. My mom and I both love gardening,” she said, smiling. Business freshman Alexis Blye has her own idea about how the produce can be used: “They need to use that stuff in the caf!’” Blye said. Students interested in getting involved can attend a Sept. 25 interest meeting at 5 p.m. in the McDougald House on Lawson Street or contact Meghann Martinez via email meghann.martinez@nccu.ed u.

Red Cross blood drive saves lives Students do good, give blood, earn community service hours

American Red Cross workers John Fleming, Stancho Zhelizov and Jana Allen draw blood from an NCCU student. GREG WEAVER/Echo staff reporter

B Y J OY T IMBERLAKE ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Blood lives.

donations

save

American Red Cross hosted a blood drive in the Alfonso Elder Student Union at N.C. Central University last week.

Kayla Honeycutt, collections specialist for the Red Cross, said it’s a struggle to meet blood donation needs.

Library hours cut Tight budgets lead to tough decisions

BY TRAE SPELLER ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Study time just got shortened. The N.C. Central University James E. Shepard Library cut hours of operation by ten hours per week this semester. The change in hours resulted from budget cuts. “Also, a third of the staff were retirement age, so the staff was reduced and now there are open vacancies,” said Theodosia T. Shields, director of library services. “We’re working on filling those spaces now.” “We reduced the hours because students weren’t using it — 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. was not peak time. For a 24-hour library, you need funding, resources, security and

staff.” The library is now open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Music junior De’mondel Hood is concerned about students who don’t have a place to do their homework. He said students with extracurricular activities may be affected. “You have other students who are involved in extracurricular activities and only have time to do their work at night,” Hood said. “Those extra two hours were very essential.” Criminal justice senior Kalifa Fletcher agreed with Hood. “The library is the only

place with a consistent working Internet, access to printers and printer paper,” said Fletcher. “During my freshman year my Internet didn’t always work, and they had 45-minute time slots for each student to use the computer.” Shields said the decision was necessary after funding was cut. “When you don’t have a lot of money you have to make a decision,” Shields said. “Our budget was significantly reduced and it impacted our resources. “A lot of consideration went into making the change. I wasn’t out to hurt anyone, especially not the students,” she said.

“Only about five percent of the population donates and only half of that percent come back more than once, so we struggle to

meet hospitals’ needs,” Honeycutt said. Honeycutt is anemic, but still chooses to donate blood when her iron is stable. She said some of her family members have needed blood transfusions, so she understands the importance. Nursing freshman Tatyana McMillian has plenty of experience giving blood. This was her fifth time donating. “I save people. I mean it’s not hurting me,” said McMillian. I have O-positive blood so I give whenever I can.” American Red Cross considers McMillian a “universal donor,” someone able to donate red blood cells to any recipient. Even though it was her first time donating blood, nursing freshman Brianna Taylor was more excited than nervous. She said she was inspired to contribute. “It feels good. I feel like I’m doing something right,” Taylor said.

One blood donation has the potential to save three lives, according to the American Red Cross website. A person who starts donating at age 17, and does so every 56 days, by the time will have saved 1,000 lives by the time he or she is 76. The website also said that every two seconds somebody in the United States requires blood. The wait to donate blood can be as long as 75 minutes at NCCU. The donation itself takes less than fifteen minutes. Students receive community service hours for donating blood. Public health junior Nicole Jackson said she donated blood because she hoped someone would do the same for her family. She also said she would help her family by giving blood if it came to that. “If something were to happen to my family, I’d hope I’d be a match and be able to give blood to them to save their lives,” Jackson said.

Impact movement Christian group creates community ties

BY JAMILA JOHNSON ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Across the nation there is a Christian society whose mission is to takes the truth of Jesus Christ to the campus, community and world through leaders of African descent who are spiritually focused, financially responsible and morally fit. This organization, called the Impact Movement, is made up of college campuses all over. The movement was founded in 1991 by students, and is now represented by more than 100 campuses in the United States and Africa. Every year the chapters come together for a national conference and a chance at fellowship.

The fellowship inspired Cameron Simms, psychology junior, to start the NCCU chapter last fall. “NCCU was spiritually dead and there is a coalition of students that were hungry for God,” said Simms. Simms said that although there were a lot of doubts about whether this new organization would flourish, it has been going strong for a year now. “People did not take us seriously at first,” said Simms. “We started with about six or seven people, but now we have reached at least thirty people in a Bible study.” Bible studies are held every Thursday at 5 p.m. and last no longer than an

hour. “I expect to uplift and inspire our campus to live for God,” said Amber Wike, social work senior. Wike has been a member since the organization came to NCCU. Even students who are new to campus have joined, hoping to remain on track and focused. “I came from an allChristian background and wanted to continue that tradition,” said Dupresna Townsend, jazz studies freshman. “I know that campus life is wild so I want to stay focused.” This year the Impact Movement’s fall conference will be held at Myrtle Beach Oct. 5-7. Cost to participate is $55 per person.

Beyond NCCU

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

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Voyager I set to leave solar system after 35 years BY ERYN BROWN LOS ANGELES — In 1977, Jimmy Carter moved into the White House, “Star Wars” and “Saturday Night Fever” premiered in theaters and the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft launched from Florida’s Cape Canaveral to explore the outer solar system. In the years since, there have been five more presidents and five more “Star Wars” movies; disco has given way to punk, grunge and rap; and the Voyagers have flown billions of miles past Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Their explorations aren’t over yet. As scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge marked the mission’s 35th anniversary this week, they marveled that Voyager 1 is poised to leave the solar system — crossing the so-called heliopause and entering the vastness of interstellar space. When that happens, Voyager 1 will become the first spacecraft launched from Earth to “leave the bubble,” said former JPL Director Edward Stone, who still serves as a project scientist on the mission as a member of Caltech’s Space Radiation Lab. Plans for Voyager hatched in 1965, when a California Institute of Technology graduate student working at JPL realized that a space probe launched in 1977 could follow a trajectory past all four giant planets, Stone explained during a public lecture at JPL on Tuesday. Both Voyager craft reached Jupiter in 1979, taking pictures that indicated

its distinctive Great Red Spot was in fact a hurricane. Studying the planet’s moons, the Voyagers revealed that Io was volcanically active and that Europa was covered with ice. The two spacecraft moved on to Saturn in 1980 and 1981 and got a close look at the planet’s moons and trademark rings. After Saturn, Voyager 1 zoomed away from the plane of the solar system, leaving the planets behind. Voyager 2, which was on a slower trajectory, flew past Uranus in 1986 and sur-

prised astronomers by discovering that the planet’s magnetic poles lay near its equator. It approached Neptune in 1989 and revealed that the most distant planet had the fastest winds in the solar system, even though it received relatively little energy from the sun. “Time after time, Voyager taught us the solar system was more diverse than we could have imagined,” Stone told the JPL audience. The mission also became a cultural touchstone. Both vessels carry copies of the

“Voyager Golden Record,” a sort of message in a bottle intended to instruct alien civilizations — should any encounter either craft — about humans and our lives on Earth. And in February 1990, while 6 billion miles from Earth, Voyager 1 turned its cameras to take a family portrait of the solar system. Part of that image was the famous “Pale Blue Dot” photograph, which depicted our planet as a tiny blip in the heavens. “That’s home. That’s us,” astronomer Carl Sagan wrote of the picture. “On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives.” Voyager 1 is now 11.3 billion miles from the sun. It takes 17 hours for a signal from the spacecraft to reach Earth, Stone said. Scientists believe the craft is poised to reach the edge of the solar system. They don’t know exactly where that edge is, but they know Voyager 1 can’t be too far away. The solar system exists in a bubble of solar wind

known as the heliosphere. As the fast-moving, charged particles that make up the solar wind travel farther and farther from the sun, they lose strength. The boundary where the solar wind slows to subsonic speeds is called the termination shock. The line where it stops altogether, butting up against the surrounding gases of interstellar space and forming the outside of the bubble, is called the heliopause. The region in between is called the heliosheath. As Voyager 1 makes its way through the heliosheath, it’s collecting data that’s challenging scientists’ views of this distant boundary. Scientists had thought the solar wind in the heliosheath would slow and then change direction from an outward to an upward flow as it bumped up against the heliopause. Instead, Voyager 1 found that the solar wind slowed and then seemed to stall out altogether. Robert Decker, a space scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., said it

appeared the solar wind in the heliosheath was passing through some kind of transition region. He was part of a team that described the findings this week in the journal Nature. “The mystery now is, where is the plasma flow going?” Decker said. “We don’t know, and we don’t know how to answer the question.” Decker and his coauthors wrote that their discovery, generated using data collected through February 2012, indicated that Voyager 1 was “not at present close to the heliopause.” More current observations, however, have indicated the spacecraft may be nearing the boundary after all, Decker said in an interview. Voyager 1’s instruments have calculated that lowenergy particles that can be used to estimate movements of the solar wind have been dropping in intensity from time to time. Meanwhile, the intensity of incoming cosmic rays from interstellar space has increased. That is a hint of what scientists expect to see at the heliopause, Decker said.

The Wasteland: A Durham Dystopia NO

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STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT PHILLIPS

graveyard of apart ment buildings — demolished to their foundations — inhabits the void between W.G. Pearson Magnet Middle School and Highway 147. The vacant acreage is a wasteland, an emblem of disinvestment in the community surrounding N.C. Central University. According to Durham County tax records, the land is owned by a com pany listed as CampusFayette. The company's tax list -

ing shares an address in Alabama with Campus Apartments, a large stu dent housing company that owns and manages Campus Crossings, a pop ular apartment complex among NCCU students. On campusapts.com, the company declares managing assets in excess of $2 billion. The home page of the website declares its motto: "Smart. Living." Two words, nothing more. Tax records list the value of the acreage as

more than $2 million. In a press statement, the company said plans for a joint development project with NCCU never materialized. These are the things I find while scouting the perimeter of the site: A woman's blue blouse. A leopard print wallet, no money. Empty beer bottles in brown bags. Bacardi rum bottles. While taking pictures of the wasteland, the word “dystopia” crosses

my mind. I look it up in the American Heritage College Dictionary: "Dystopia — An imagi nary place or state in which the condition of life is extremely bad, as from deprivation, oppres sion, or terror." Two words below 'dystopia' is the word 'dystrophy.' The definition is fitting: "A degenerative disor der caused by inadequate or defective nutrition."

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

A&E

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

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Eclectic art invades Durham The annual Centerfest Arts Festival hits its 38th year BY A LEX SAMPSON ECHO A&E EDITOR

Artists and art lovers gathered in downtown Durham over the weekend to celebrate the 38th annual Centerfest Arts Festival. The event, coordinated by the Durham Arts Council, brought in 130 artists from 18 states. On display were a wide range of media, including clay, wood, photography, painting and jewelry. Centerfest also incorporated music, dance and interactive Creative Kids Zones. Pottery Among the versatile lineup was potter Larry Allen. Allen uses a process called sgraffito (or scraffito) to decorate his clay vessels. In sgraffito, colored slips, or liquid clay, is applied to the stoneware. The artist then carves into the upper layer, exposing the color underneath. Allen said he was exposed to this fascinating process in college. He took his first pottery class in 1975 at Berea College in Kentucky. He admits that he was a bit overconfident as he delved into the art form. “I was hooked on [pottery] before I realized how hard it was,” said Allen. “I thought I had it but it really had me.” Allen’s passion outweighed the difficulties and he committed himself to the craft. Allen said he perfected his art by attending workshops and accepting a three-

year apprenticeship. Allen lives in Leeds, Alabama and frequently tours the country. His pieces can be found at Cahaba Clayworks in Alabama. Prices range from $35 to $450. Jewelry North Carolina native Kimberly Kearney strings ceramic beads to create colorful jewelry. Kearney said her pieces are driven by the color of the beads. After picking out the focal point, she begins to construct her design. Kearney’s love for jewelry happened by chance. At a flea market in Raleigh – where she lives – Kearney stumbled upon a vendor selling beads. She immediately became fixated. “The beads talked to me,” said Kearney. “I knew I just had to have them.” Kearney started off teaching herself, but eventually became a member of the Triangle Bead Society, where she has strengthened her skills. Kearney also credits her husband, George Kearney. She said that his support plays a big part in her artwork. “He tolerates my bead habits,” said Kearney. Kearney’s hand woven bead jewelry can be viewed on her website, www.wildwomanjewels.com. The jewelry is priced from $10 to $400. Wood Jeffrey Waller’s craft is a

woodworking form called intarsia. Intarsia is a form of wood inlay that involves sketching, cutting pieces of wood from different boards and fitting them to create a 3-dimensional effect. “[The process] must be precise,” said Waller. Waller recalled the moment he got serious about being an artist. “It was in 1994,” said Waller. “I was looking through a wood magazine when I saw a photograph of intarsia.” Waller said he went on to study photos of intarsia and the exact technique used. Four years after picking up the craft, he realized that he could also paint. But Waller said the distinctiveness of wood art appealed to him more. “I didn’t want to paint because when people think of art, they think of painting,” said Waller. The self-taught artist has his own shop, Jeffrey’s Originals, in his hometown of Buckhead, Georgia (jeffreysoriginals.com). His works range from $175 to $5,000. Waller said aspiring artists should never give up. “Stick with it and it will come to you,” said Waller. Sculpture Randy Chapman of Fuquay Varina, N.C. uses scrapmetal to sculpt lively figurines. Though Chapman has worked with metal for 44 years, he didn’t start off as an

Live to paint, paint to live

One of Randy Chapman’s metal sculptures on display. ALEX SAMPSON/Echo A&E editor

artist. Chapman said that his abilities come from training as a metal fabricator in the Midwest. Chapman’s wife encouraged him to use his metalworking skills for art. He began to weld metal sculptures. Chapman said that removing rust from the metal is the

ECHO STAFF REPORTER

NEKA JONES/Echo staff photographer

B Y DANIELLE H UNTER ECHO STAFF REPORTER

In the corner of a studio on 807 E. Main St., not far from N. C. Central University campus, you will find studio art senior Quintin Neal. Neal was recently chosen to create a piece that is intended to challenge him. The piece will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to the N. C. Children Hospital. The live auction will take place at a gala event on Jan. 26. Neal said he is always looking for a challenge so he gladly took on the project. He created a piece that incorporates his love for his school and his abstract style. Neal painted a life-size cow that represented NCCU. He painted it to look like a screaming eagle, using angles to display the school logo. Neal said he has been creating art since he can remember. “I was always attracted to art sets – the ones that came with crayons, paint, and markers – more than the

typical toy,” Neal said. He said he recognized his passion at an early age and continued to pursue it. “I was the one that loved my art teachers,” Neal said. He said his passion “has always been there and it never left me.” His high school teacher showed him how to turn his passion into a career. Neal said he is driven by creativity and strong family support. He wants to open his own studio and create meaningful pieces that invoke pure reactions. “I want them to be able to look at my art and see something inside of them, not just wonder what the artist was thinking,” Neal said. Neal said his internal inspiration is the source of his creativity. “I just get a feeling and it just moves me to do something,” Neal said. He strives to do something artistic every day, even if it is just writing down thoughts and ideas. Neal said he is all about being true to oneself and letting it be the guide to originality.

Neal is confident when he speaks about his art. “I specialize in and love to paint. “I paint from abstract to still life and portraits to three-dimensional cows,” Neal said. Neal uses texture to give his paintings a personal touch. He displays visible brush strokes and a play on lighting in portraits. In his abstract pieces, he uses multiple layers. Neal said he also loves interior design and photography. He recently started a website, www.artbyquintinneal.etsy.com, where his work can be seen and purchased. He also does sculptures and custom orders. “I’ve been kind of in hiding, so now I am putting it out there for other people to enjoy,” Neal said. Neal said ultimately he wants to become a teacher and combine his passion for art and love for children. He said he wants to share his gift and show kids how to express themselves through art.

prices are reasonably priced, from $20 to $120. Chapman said his inspiration comes from his customers. His business’ website, www.happyscraps.net, says he makes “metal art creatures, flowers and figures that depict anything your imagination fancies.”

Latino artists show their “colores” B Y A NGELIQUE R ANDOLPH

Art senior Quintin Neal in his Main Street studio.

longest part of his creative process. “It takes longer to clean it than to weld it,” said Chapman. “It has to be cleaned before and after.” He said that it could take anywhere from 45 minutes to 46 hours to complete a sculpture. Despite his hard work, his

Delightful is the word that comes to mind when describing “Colores,” the first exhibit for the 2012-13 season at N. C. Central University’s Art Museum. The exhibit features work from as near as North Carolina and as far away as Central America, the Caribbean and South America. The show shines with vibrant, bold and bright colors. Standouts include “The Spirit Dancer,” ”The Healer” and “The Warrior” from Puerto Rican/Columbian Jose Manuel Cruz. Most notable is the artist’s use of neon green and vibrant mixes of orange and pink, along with defined circles and triangles. Cruz’ work also comprises a mask collection, including “Vejigante Mask,” a series of six paintings, and “Face It

Time,” a series of four paintings. “Art is what this world and dreams are made of,” writes Cruz in the exhibit brochure. Monroe, N.C.-based Oscar Ortiz contrasts light and dark colors in his painting “Cuatro en Grande.” “It has to make me smile,” writes Ortiz, referring to his art. With only a few colors, he is able to portray his thoughts on canvas. His style is much different from that of Chapel Hill-based Eduardo Lapetina, who uses a range of colors in his painting “Filling the Sense with Bright Hours.” Each of these works shows what can be done with either a few or many colors. Although most of the work in the exhibit is oilbased, a few artists, such as Argentinian David Sovero and Caribbean Jorge González, use surprising material, including aluminum-based paper, wood and burlap.

“Relax” by Olid Garcia. ALEX SAMPSON/Echo A&E Editor

Sovero combines oil paint and burlap in his paintings “Peacock” and “Resurrection.” The Peruvian artist describes his works as “vivid, surrealistic renderings.” González combines aluminum-based paper and wood to create a marvelous effect in “La Casa del Barro” and “Merideda.” “The viewer can feel the summer breeze passing among the colorful homes and rural tranquility of its inhabitants that are hidden and who silently and timidly sniff at those who gather to take a closer look,” wrote González. Other artists included in the exhibit are Lusi Ardila, Gustavo de los Rios, Robert Negret, and the sculptor Olid Garcia. “Colores” runs through September 21. NCCU’s Art Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Sunday hours are 2–4 p.m. Admission is free.

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

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Reid, Poole find chemistry in loss Quarterback puts up career numbers against Blue Devil defense BY

T RENTON L ITTLE ECHO SPORTS EDITOR

Despite the Eagles’ lopsided 54-17 loss to the Duke Blue Devils, Henry Frazier remained proud of his team. "All in all they didn't quit. They fought hard," NCCU head coach Henry Frazier III said. "I think NCCU fans should be proud,” Frazier said. “We went against an ACC opponent. The score was ugly but we swung back." In the end, penalties and injuries were just too much to overcome. The meeting at WallaceWade Stadium in the Bull City Gridiron Classic was the second time the schools met on the football field. The first game in 2009 saw the Blue Devils coast to a 49-14 win. However, the schools agreed to extend the series. They will face each other next season, as well as in 2015, 2016 and 2017. The Eagles' offense continued last week's trend with a slow start, mishandling the first snap of the game. The offense recovered and later punted the ball after a three-and-out series. An interception by redshirt freshman defensive back Ryan Smith ended the Blue Devils’ first offensive series on fourth down. The Eagles’ first three offensive possessions resulted in negative-four yards. A second false start by redshirt junior offensive line-

Jordan Reid scrambles against Duke in the Bull City Gridiron Classic. MATT PHILLIPS/Echo editor-in-chief

man Charles Goodwin on the second drive led to another three-and-out. "All penalties are unnecessary. I don't know why we keep getting them," Frazier said. The Blue Devils scored on their next two possessions, making the score 10-0, with 6:57 left in the first quarter. Midway through the first quarter, Frazier made a big change.

He substituted redshirt junior quarterback Matt Goggans for redshirt junior Jordan Reid, attempting to speed up the tempo and nullify the Blue Devils’ pressure. After a 59-yard kickoff return by senior running back Arthur Goforth, Reid led a 41-yard drive, capped with a one-yard touchdown run by sophomore Andre Clarke. "We talk about how we

need somebody to make plays — plays just don't happen," Frazier said. "Arthur made that kick return. It jolted us." The Eagles continued to shoot themselves in the foot. On a third and long, the defense extended a Blue Devil drive with a late hit on quarterback Sean Renfree. After the penalty the Blue Devils scored another touchdown, giving Duke a 17-7 lead with a minute left

in the first quarter. "We had some untimely penalties that pulled back some big plays," Frazier said. The second quarter brought more problems for the Eagles. Durham native and redshirt senior Geovonie Irvine went down with an ankle injury. He would later try to return, but finished the game on the bench. "I was running the ball

and he tackled me by my ankles," Irvine said. “I mean, it’s not bad, it’s alright. It’s just a little ankle injury.” With star wide receiver Irvine injured, redshirt junior wide receiver Marvin Poole stepped up. The chemistry Reid and Poole built over the summer was evident as both players posted career highs. Reid finished with a career best 208 passing yards and Poole finished with a career best six receptions for 83 yards. "He [Reid] came in and played well," Frazier said. "This is the best I've seen him play since I’ve been here." However, Reid's career day wasn't enough to pull off an upset for the Eagles. After a close first quarter, the Blue Devils broke the score open, going into halftime with a 27-10 lead. A one-yard touchdown run by Reid was the lone score for the Eagles in the second half, while the Blue Devils continued to pour it on the Eagles with four touchdowns in the second half. "I think the biggest thing is that we have to finish," Reid said. "The moral of the story is that we didn't finish in certain situations." The Eagles will begin conference play next week, taking on Savannah State University with a new quarterback at the helm. Frazier said Reid will have his opportunity this week practicing with the starters.

Mentor teaches life lessons on the court BY

TRENTON LITTLE

ECHO SPORTS EDITOR

N.C. Central University alumnus Joshua Dorsette knows exactly how it feels not to have a male mentor or father figure growing up. Since his arrival at The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club six years ago, he has strived to be just that for the boys at the club. "It's a way of giving back," Dorsette said. "When I was coming up, my brother and I didn't have that male mentor that could get in our face and get us right but also support us during father-son activities." Like the kids at the club, Dorsette grew up in community centers and Boys & Girls clubs in his hometown of High Point, N.C. Dorsette provides the kids with the guidance and support that he missed out on as a boy so they won't make the mistakes a lot of kids make, and that he made as a child. He uses basketball as a tool to reach the boys, and gets them to focus on to relate basketball situations to everyday life. Basketball builds charac-

ter traits that a lot of boys are missing nowadays due to the lack of male mentors and father figures. "With my group we put a lot of emphasis on building teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership," Dorsette said. Dorsette also relies on his assistant coaches to fill in when he isn’t there: NCCU recreation administration sophomore Quantre Via and mass communication senior Jessica Locke serve as the assistants for the basketball team. Dorsette said the club has had a basketball team for about 20 years now, but fellow employees say he has elevated the basketball program. He started a team for the 14 & under Division I Amateur Athletic Union league, widely known as AAU. Last year the team played games in Myrtle Beach, Charlotte, Greensboro and Durham. Dorsette hopes to expand this year and take the team to Las Vegas, Augusta and Orlando. "The goal is to participate in showcase camps to get the kids some exposure,"

Dorsette said. Also, this year a Division II team was added to the Boys & Girls Club because more kids wanted to be a part of the team. Via, a longtime member of the Boys & Girls Club and now an employee, is head coach of the Division II team. He also helps with training the Division I boys. Via said he has been coming to the Boys & Girls Club for 13 years and 19 days. He said he sees the growth in the club. "When I was coming up, people just came to play ball. Now, it’s more structure and positive things for the kids to do," Via said. The Salvation Army helps with the team’s traveling expenses. While the Salvation Army covers some expenses, the participants’ and Dorsette must cover the cost of playing in tournaments. Dorsette understands that each kid has a different circumstance. While some kids get sponsored by the Boys & Girls Club, some parents are able to cover the cost of tournaments. "The parents will get a

Tahj Small plays on the AAU team at the Boys & Girls Club of Durham. TRENTON LITTLE/Echo sports editor

schedule of the tournaments we intend to participate in. If a tournament costs $250 and I have 10 kids it will be $25 a kid," Dorsette said. However, Dorsette doesn't just focus on basketball; the

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kids have a strenuous schedule at the Boys & Girls Club after school. When the kids first arrive at 3 p.m., it’s homework time until 5 p.m. At 6 p.m., the kids get split

into groups of eight, and rotated through the computer lab, game room and gym. Each Monday and Wednesday at 6 p.m., the basketball team has drills followed by weight room workouts. The team won't start traveling until Feb. 1, but they can work out and participate in competitive leagues in November. Tahj Small, 14, has been coming to the club for six years, and plays for the basketball team. Small said he has gotten better since coming to the club because of the drills and ball-handling exercises Dorsette focuses on. Dorsette said he understands the importance of education. He has a rule that every basketball player must have a minimum 2.7 grade point average. Dorsette also created a new program this year called the "D-to-D." It means from Diplomas to Degrees. He wants the kids to to get not only a high school diploma but a college degree. Dorsette said he loves to build relationships with the kids and watch them grow.

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

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HBCUs have changed the lives of people no matter what their race was. So you see, it is not just black students that need HBCUs. Enterprise magazine attended Morgan State University, and let us not forget the Queen of the talk show and superb humanitarian Oprah Winfrey, who did her studies at Tennessee State University. Riley continued making countless comparisons between HBCUs and Predominantly White Institutions. He gave his readers plenty of graduation and retention rates but never thought to speak out on the type of funding these PWIs receive in comparison to HBCUs. Places like Harvard or Princeton, even UNC Chapel Hill or Duke, receive entirely different funding than HBCUs. If you’re using older edition textbooks and outdated programs there is no way for you to get ahead or even keep up with someone or something that has the latest of everything. The resources for PWIs and HBCUs vary in such a major way that it affects the potential performance of some HBCUs and their student body. So when Riley decided to make comparisons he should have also judged where the bulk of the government funding is going. I have visited campuses

like N.C. State University and UNC Chapel Hill and can see a total shift in the layout of their campus compared to N.C. Central University or N.C. A&T University. I have even used their resources when they were unavailable at my own institution. I have seen the differences and I do not think it’s because these schools are better or offer a different education. They simply have the resources that HBCUs do not get. Should we blame the students and cut out a part of history that has still managed to do so much for the black community? Riley sure thinks so. HBCUs have changed the lives of people no matter what their race was. There are some HBCUs such as West Virginia State University that boasts a large, white student body. So you see it is not just black students that need HBCUs. HBCUs are very important. They help us look back on our culture and see how things have changed through the many years they’ve been standing. HBCUs are important and will forever remain that way.

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IVERSITY

No ID? Your fault

Long live HBCUs

istorically Black Colleges and Universities are places that have opened doors for African Americans around the world. For many you could call it a ritual proving ground. HBCUs have given African Americans a Riyah place to Exum excel and experience things that can change their lives and also the lives of others. In a 2010 article titled ‘Black Colleges Need a New Mission’ written by Jason L. Riley of The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, he stated that black students are “better off exercising their non-HBCU options.” A bold statement, when you consider the rich heritage of HBCUs. Riley went on in the article, throwing out statisticss and making comparisons to some of the most “prestigious” schools, trying to persuade his readers that HBCUs are a waste of time. What Riley failed to mention in his article was the many scholars who were educated by these same institutions he deemed unnecessary. Inspirations like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did his studies at Morehouse College. Earl Graves, the founder of Black

his year’s upcoming presidential election has probably been one that will go down in history. This election has certainly succeeded in sparking political interest in several groups of people, such as college students and minorities that was not there Ice’es before. However, Green recent voter ID laws that have been enacted in several states have many in an uproar. Many believe that the government is attempting to suppress minority vote. My question is: Are they really? North Carolina doesn’t have any voter ID law, however; some of our neighboring states, such as South Carolina and Georgia do. This law requires that a voter produce a photo ID before they are allowed to cast a ballot. Many have claimed that such a requirement will turn away the young and low income, who typically don’t have any identification. My next question is: Isn’t it irresponsible for someone over the age of 18 to not have any identification to their name at all? There isn’t anyone I know

There have been recent statistics that have shown a percentage of registered voters such as minorities do not have a state-issued ID. However, in the states that require them, one would be able to receive a voter ID card for free by simply showing a copy of their birth certificate. in college that doesn’t have a state-issued ID. You would need one to get your student ID and since when has requiring an ID for something ever deterred anyone from it? You need an ID to buy cigarettes and alcohol. People are able to do so. You need an ID to go to the club. People are able to do so. You need an ID to do all sorts of things that people are able to do every day. So why is it that when it comes to voting, needing an ID has become an issue of suppression and discrimination? I personally think that anyone living in this country as a citizen should have something on them that identifies themselves. It’s socially irresponsible not to for obvious reasons. There have been recent statistics that have shown a percentage of registered voters such as minorities do not have a state-issued ID.

However, in the states that require them, one would be able to receive a voter ID card for free by simply showing a copy of their birth certificate. In less strict states, you can even show a utility bill to prove your identity. Therefore, there should be no reason as to why anyone that may not have an ID cannot still cast their vote. I think that if you are engaged enough in society to register to vote and make a decision on who you wish to be the leader of our country for the next four years, you are civilly responsible to handle your business and obtain an ID. Far too often there are policies enforced that minorities are quick to write off as discriminatory. We need to stop blaming “the man” and do what we need to do to be as socially adroit as our non-minority counterparts. It starts with us.

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

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To weave or not to weave? S

ynthetic. Yaki. Malaysian. Brazilian. Ocean wave. French curl. Spanish wave. Classic straight. Fusion. Sew-in. Quickweave. Hair extensions, also known as weaves, have taken over the heads of women across America. Women of all races wear weaves. Weaves are worn for a variety of reasons. Ciera’ Some women Harris just don’t want to be bothered with their hair. Some wear weaves as a protective style so that their natural hair won’t be damaged. Others wear it because it makes them feel good about themselves. Whatever the case may be, this billion-dollar industry is booming now like never before. There are hundreds of hair brands out there. Hair can cost thousands of dollars, depending on the quality. The less chemically treated

I can re-use this hair after I take it out if I want. I’ve been getting compliments out the woodwork for my hair. My weave looks good and I love it!

the hair is, the more expensive it is. Hundreds of color varieties are available as well. Extensions -can be clipped in, sewn in, glued or fused to the root. To have a weave professionally “installed” it can range from $75 to upwards of $1000. I consider myself a “weave connoisseur.” I love wearing extensions. It gives me a chance to experiment with various looks and colors. I’m able to switch up my hairstyle at any time without doing any damage to my hair. Currently I have a sew-in. The brand is Indiremi by Bobbi Boss. It cost me $264.15 for 2 packs (a 14-inch and an 18inch). The 14-inch is a number 4, a light brown.

The 18-inch is a number 30, a close cousin to honey blonde. Most people cringe when I tell them how much I paid for my weaves, but you need to invest in quality hair if you want a good weave. I can re-use this hair after I take it out if I want. I’ve been getting compliments out the woodwork for my hair. My weave looks good and I love it! But some females on campus have messed-up weaves. We have all seen them; they make you do a double take and have you thinking, what in the world? I have some tips for those unfortunate souls. The first rule of wearing weave is that your track should

never be visible. If you have thin hair, I’d advise you to get a full sew-in. Also, for those ladies who are getting a partial sew-in, make sure the texture of your natural hair matches the texture of the weave you are purchasing. Do not buy Indian Remy if your hair resembles the cotton growing in Bertie County. Your hair needs to blend with the weave. Lastly, take care of the weave as if it is growing from your head. Wash it, keep it moisturized and please, brush it! There has been much talk about men not liking women wearing weaves. I don’t get it. Almost every day I see a guy on Twitter bashing women who wear weaves. Why? TLC said, “You can buy your hair if it won’t grow.” So if a woman decides to wear a weave and it looks good, what’s the issue?

It’s only entertainment! E

very Monday, VH1, Oxygen, and WE have a lineup of shows that I and other females tune into faithfully. Our dedicated attention could be compared to Sunday Night Football for men. Judge us if you want, but we find reality shows very amusing. Angel “Love & Hip Hop” and Brown “Basketball Wives” are for entertainment. They feed our curiosity about the lives of the women who date or are married to popular athletes, performing artists and superstars. But some wonder if the women on these shows are positive role models to women and teenage girls. Reality shows are nothing new; they date back to 1971 when the first American reality show, “An American

We gossip like “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” argue and fight like “The Bad Girls Club,” and counsel each other like “Mob Wives.”

Family,” debuted on PBS. It was about the Loud family, who lived in California. The show was ahead of its time, displaying the lives of parents Pat and Bill Loud, and their son Lance — a 20year-old meth addict — who struggled with his homosexuality and his relationship with his father. The purpose of a show like “An American Family,” is to entertain viewers. Lance’s struggle affected viewers. He was not meant to be a role model. The show was an opportunity for the public to see what his life was like. Similarly, the fights, foul

language and parade of fashion we see on “Love & Hip Hop” adds fun and excitement to our ordinary lives. This is not to take away from the likelihood that some women can compare their lives to Erica Dixon or Mimi Faust. I am simply saying I do not look at them as wonderful examples of what I want to be as a woman. I have my own identity, as all women do. We make choices about our relationships, business opportunities and friendships according to what will work best for our own lives. Women seek advice from

other women. This is true. In actuality, we would seek advice from our mothers, grandmothers, friends and aunts before we would run to a television screen when dealing with a personal conflict. As students, we had one show we could relate to: “College Hill.” It had a short life span on television but was a great show. At the same time, we all learned that those students were reckless and did not make wise decisions. We gossip like “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” argue and fight like “The Bad Girls Club,” and counsel each other like “Mob Wives.” We most definitely will make a toast on a girl’s night out like the “Basketball Wives.” At the end of the day we are individuals who live different lives from the women we see on reality TV shows. So, VH1, WE and Oxygen: continue to entertain us! We just love the drama!

drawing by Rashaun Rucker

Question: What is your definition of Eagle Pride? “Eagle pride is always representing North Carolina Central University in a positve light.” -D Darian Brown

“The commitment of everyone at our university to make sure every student has the best experience possible.” —Michael Provencher

“Eagle pride is being an Eagle when no one is watching.” —India Dancy

Sound Off By Ciera’ Harris

N ORTH C AROLINA C ENTRAL U NIVERSITY

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