Daily Helmsman The
Thursday, March 24, 2011
The Tigers’ Top Talents
Vol. 78 No. 097
Independent Student Newspaper of The University of Memphis
Not just another brick in the wall BY TIMBERLY MOORE News Reporter
by Brian Wilson
University of Memphis students have taken time out of their schedules this month to paint racial slurs and derogatory words on bricks — so they can destroy them later. The final mass brick-painting session for the Writing on the Wall project was held Wednesday in
the Michael D. Rose Theatre. Student Activities Council hosted the project, featured every other spring as part of the annual “Why Do You Hate Me Week” at The U of M. This year’s weeklong event runs April 4-8. Students are encouraged to speak out against prejudice and racism by painting hurtful words on bricks, to be constructed into a wall of hate for public viewing.
Sophomore English major Ryan Richardson begins painting his contribution to the Writing on the Wall project.
Students will knock the wall down at the end of the week. “I hope this project serves as a catalyst for conversation and facilitate discussion,” said Sydney McGhee, president of SAC and junior sociology major. The brick McGhee painted reads ‘What are you?’ She said she chose the phrase because people often use it when trying to label one another. “I don’t think that’s ok,” she said. “I am a human, and I don’t feel comfortable with someone trying to put a label on me.” The wall represents the symbolic walls in everyone’s lives, McGhee said. “I believe very much so in this project because we all experience hurt,” she said. “It shows us that words aren’t just words.” McGhee said she hopes that this project acts as a mirror for society, allowing people to reflect and talk about the racism and prejudice that occur today. Rafi Chowdhury, undecided freshman, said he painted a brick to send a message. “I have been called a lot of offensive things in the past, and I wanted to get my word out there so I can make people aware that it is offensive,” he said. Chowdhury is originally from Bangladesh and moved to the United States when he was 11 years old. He said he was called a “Chinese monkey” when he was
see
Wall, page 3
Should the WM3 go free? Panel to discuss media’s role in ‘93 murder case, conviction BY CHRIS DANIELS News Reporter The murders of three 8-year-old children and the controversy surrounding their alleged killers’ cases will be spotlighted tonight at 7 in the UC Theatre. “The Media’s Role in the West Memphis 3 Case” is free to the public. The award-winning author of “Devil’s Knot,” a book about the West Memphis 3, Mara Leveritt, is the event’s featured speaker. Lorri Davis, wife of accused killer Damien Echols, and members of the media, legal experts and a U of M student, will serve on a panel to talk about the media’s role in the case and the court’s failure to produce documents that should have been available to the public. Leveritt said she has reported on the convicts, widely known as the “West Memphis 3,” since 1993, when the children were found dead near their homes in West Memphis, and teenagers Echols, Jessie Misskelly and Jason Baldwin were charged with their murders.
Echols received the death sentence, and Misskelly and Baldwin received life in prison. “I compare what happened in West Memphis to the Salem witch trials, and this is already an important part of the history of this region,” Leveritt said. “Three teenagers have been in prison for most of the lifetime of the students at this University.” Ashley Wislock, journalism graduate student at The U of M and member of tonight’s panel, has been compiling her master’s project about the West Memphis 3 for the last year. Wislock said she is “really excited” about meeting the other panelists and people she has only read about in books. “I really think that students at U of M should be excited, too, because this case has been on CNN — there (have) already been two documentaries,” she said. “It’s a huge case, and the fact that we’re having this at The U of M is amazing.” Leveritt said the West Memphis 3 debacle, which has been ongoing for nearly two decades, has been and will be a part of our culture for decades to come.
We choose the superlatives for the Tigers’ 2010-’11 season and NCAA tournament berth see page 7 www.dailyhelmsman.com
Blue Ball Three 6 Mafia pulls out, leaving future of 2011 Blue and Gray Ball uncertain BY CHRIS SHAW News Reporter Rap group Three 6 Mafia has cancelled its performance at Future Alumni of Memphis’ second annual Blue and Gray Ball, originally scheduled for tonight, causing the entire event to be postponed until further notice. In light of the late notice, FAM is offering a free pizza buffet coupon for Garibaldi’s Pizza on Walker to every student who registered for a ticket to the event, which is open only to FAM members. According to its University website, FAM has 10,590 members, and annual membership costs $20. Holly Rowsey, special projects coordinator for the Alumni Association, said the agreement between Three 6 Mafia and FAM contained a clause allowing the group to cancel under certain circumstances. The artists canceled Tuesday. “We knew this was a possibility,” Rowsey said. “In our agreement, it stated that if Three 6 had a film or television opportunity then they were allowed to take it.” Rowsey said FAM decided to postpone the ball altogether rather than trying to finding a replacement artist by tonight. “We decided we’d rather wait for the show that we wanted to have instead of settling for something else,” Rowsey said. Three 6 Mafia’s co-manager, Raymond Conners, said he didn’t know exactly why the Academy Award-winning group, comprised of rappers DJ Paul and Juicy J, canceled either. “I’m not exactly sure why they canceled,” he said. “I know one of them is really sick, but I don’t know much else because we nor-
mally just talk through emails.” Conners said making up the date was really important to his clients. “We are working really hard to get another show set up. Being from Memphis, The University is really important to us and them,” he said. Junior psychology major and FAM member Regina Werkhoven said she was upset Three 6 Mafia canceled but doubted anyone would revoke membership with the organization in response. “I’m bummed about it, but celebrities and artists back out all the time,” Werkhoven said. “I know it’s not FAM’s fault — if anything, it’s probably the other way around. All the other FAM events have been cool. Plus, the benefits and discounts (members receive) are great.” Werkhoven said she thinks free pizza is adequate consolation as long as Three 6 Mafia plays a future FAM event. “If it doesn’t happen at all, I think a lot of people will be upset,” Werkhoven said. Sophomore foreign languages major David White, however, said he would prefer the rappers’ performance be canceled for good and thinks they promote “violence, drug abuse (and) glorification of petty street gangs.” “I hope that The University of Memphis doesn’t try to support something like this again, and I hope that this should serve as a wake-up call about the type of culture that Memphis in general is currently engendering, even at the university level,” he said. Rowsey said no makeup date is scheduled yet, and students must go to the Alumni Center at 635 Normal Street before April 6 to claim their pizza coupons.