2022-2023 eXperience Magazine

The C.O.V.I.D. eXperience: JSU students discuss how they were affected

The C.O.V.I.D.

eXperience: JSU students discuss how they were affected

Combined Edition VOL.

The Death of Tyre Nichols: Police Brutality in America

Overturning of Roe v Wade Hits College Community

What’s Inside

To my excellent JSU Family:

WhenI started my journey at Jackson State University in the spring of 2020, I originally wanted to be a field reporter, but writing stole my heart. I remember taking Professor Shannon Tatum’s Introduction to Media Writing course. She held up her Associated Press Stylebook and said, “This book is the bible to all journalists and you will use it for every story you write.” I had never heard of the AP stylebook until that very moment.

As time went on, Ms. Tatum saw my potential and recruited me, and I became a staff writer for The Blue & White Flash campus newspaper. I was ecstatic and grateful because I realized that writing was my true calling. I have been evolving since that time.

After spending about a year as a staff writer for The Blue & White Flash, I became Editor-in-Chief of the eXperience Magazine. I never in a million years thought I would see my life progress in such a short amount of time. I became a busy college student. I was also interning at the Clarion-Ledger, leading the student magazine and also continuing as a writer for The Blue & White Flash.

However, being an editor has helped me gain leadership skills, become a better writer, and prepared me for the world of journalism. Thank you to all my professors, my daughter, family, and friends for being on the beautiful journey with me.

Until next time,

Jantomi Hall 2021-2022 eXperience Editor-in-Chief

I enrolled at our dear ole college home in fall of 2019. As an eager freshman journalism and media studies scholar, I was exploring organizations and clubs to join. Within the first few months of making connections on campus, I found myself as a staff writer on The Blue & White Flash campus newspaper.

I was a new member in a few organizations including; MADDRAMA Performance Troupe, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, ResLife, and National Association of Black Journalists(NABJ). Quickly I learned that Jackson State University is about eXperiencing new things and forming those connections.

Throughout my matriculation at Jackson State University, my relationship with the Student Publications team stayed strong. Being able to accomplish a collective of eXperiences to add to my repertoire starting from small articles to my most substantial achievement, editor-in-chief of the eXperience student magazine!

Looking back, freshman year Kelsei did not have goals as significant as editor-in-chief. I knew that accepting the position of editor-in-chief meant sizeable shoes to fill, especially after the pandemic and during my hectic senior year. I also knew it was a challenge that I could accept and thrive in. Adapting to this position meant adjusting my loaded schedule and being available to ensure that not only I blossom as editor-in-chief, but also the magazine has an exceptional revival.

After serving as the 2022-2023 editor-in-chief, writing is a skill that has become outstandingly natural. I am profoundly grateful for working with the Student Publications team and gaining this experience.

Remember: The person you are now is nowhere near the person you will become. Be open and inviting to transformation in your life in every aspect. You are ever changing and growing. The best is yet to come!

Thank you to Ms. Shannon Tatum for seeing something in me that I did not see in myself. Thank you to Cianna H. Reeves for being one of the first people to introduce me to the Student Publications team. I would also like to thank the eXperience staff writers for working in and out to make the magazine happen.

Kelsei Scott 2021-2022 eXperience Editor-in-Chief

STAFF LIST

Jantomi Hall - 2021-2022 Editor-in-Chief

Kelsei Scott - 2022-2023 Editor-in-Chief

Staff Writers/Contributors

Cameron Adams

Matthew Adams

Nevaeh Bray

Levon Campbell

Kiara Fleming

Nadi Greene

Eddie Howard III

Antonio Jackson

Mikailah Jefferson

Tatyana Ross

Tamea Washington

Adviser

Shannon D. Tatum

Photographers

Cameron Adams

William H. Kelly III

Monica McGhee

Charles A. Smith

Tamea Washington

Graphic Designer

Kierra Thomas Handy

is an annual magazine written and edited by Jackson State University students with the counsel of an adviser. Views expressed within do not necessarily represent the opinions of the administration, faculty/staff, student body, or the Board of Trustees State Institutions of Higher Learning. Articles, photographs and other materials in the eXperience magazine cannot be republished without the expressed written permission of the editor, adviser and the Student Publications Board at Jackson State University. For additional information, contact JSU Student Publications.

For more information about joining the staff, submissions, advertising or additional copies, please call 601-979-2082 or send an email to eXperience.magazine@jsums.edu.

Student Publications

Department of Journalism and Media Studies

Jackson State University

JSU Post Office Box 18449 Jackson, MS 39217 Phone: 601-979-2082

WHOWEARE

From its humble beginnings in 1877, when founded as Natchez Seminary under the auspices of the American Baptist Home Mission Society of New York, Jackson State University has far exceeded its original goal of educating newly freed slaves to become ministers and teachers. JSU is currently ranked as #18 on the U.S. News and World Report’s list of 20 Top HBCUs.

According to the JSU Department of Institutional Research 2020-2021 Facts and Figures brochure, JSU is accredited by the Commission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the bachelors’, masters’, education specialist, Doctor of Education and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. JSU o ers 45 bachelors’, 34 masters’, 1 specialist-in-education and 13 doctoral degrees.

Jackson State is still leading the cause to educate the teachers of the future with over 30 percent of degrees awarded going to students in the College of Education & Human Development. But now the possibilities of future careers are limitless at JSU as this public institution of higher learning educates a diverse student population from Mississippi, most other states and many foreign countries by providing a broad range of baccalaureate programs in its Colleges: Business; Education & Human Development: Liberal Arts; Public Service; and Science, Engineering and Technology.

Several satellite campuses including; e Mississippi eCenter@JSU, Downtown campus, Jackson Medical Mall campus and Universities Center on Ridgewood Road in Jackson along with the JSU Online, provide a wide range of students access to the learning process at Jackson State and its enhanced experiential learning in urban and rural areas throughout the city, state, nation, and global communities.

Top Five Undergraduate programs: Biology

Criminal Justice and Correctional Services

Social Work

Child Care and Family Education Psychology

The Top Five Graduate Programs: Teaching MAT

Social Work MSW

Education EDS

Early Childhood Education MSED Education Administration PHD

All photos by Monica McGhee

All photos by Monica McGhee

It’s a Cole World: The journey of the 82nd Miss Jackson State University

By: Jantomi Hall

From being a part of the Student Government Association since her freshman year and becoming Miss Sophomore during the 2019-2020 school year, Halle Coleman realized a dream when she became the 82nd Miss Jackson State University.

Coleman, a journalism and media studies major from Clinton, Miss., said her path to royalty was not as simple as it seems. She started her campaign during the Coronavirus pandemic that changed college life for many across the world.

But she was determined to do her best and this began by living up to her platform which honored her last name.

“My platform was C. O. L. E. World,” Coleman said. “C. O. L. E. is a play on my last name and J. Cole’s signature phrase, ‘Cole World’ but it also stands for consistency, opportunity, and lasting excellence. I wanted to provide my peers with consistent community service and programming opportunities while leaving my own special legacy in the end.”

Along with the stringent duties of Miss JSU, many did not know that Coleman was also serving as the

editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper and that position came with a lot of duties as well.

“I had taken on a unique position as I simultaneously served as editor-in-chief of e Blue & White Flash and Miss Jackson State University. A er I had won my position as Miss JSU, I was presented with the opportunity to step up from Managing Editor,” said Coleman. “I was hesitant, as I knew being the campus queen would require a lot, but I agreed. When the school year started and both started to come into motion, I was nervous, anxious, and scared. I even temporarily stepped down from the newspaper, but I’m glad I stuck it out.”

Coleman rst realized that she wanted to become Miss Jackson State University a er serving as Miss Sophomore. She expressed that she knew she had more to o er despite the pandemic.

“My reign as Miss Sophomore was cut short since that spring was the semester COVID hit, so I felt like I had un nished business,” Coleman said. “I knew that I had more to o er and I knew that my class trusted me. What felt like a crazy goal felt much more attainable a er that year.”

Coleman described how she felt after hearing the announcement that she would serve as the 82nd Miss JSU.

“When it was announced that I would be Miss JSU, it felt like confirmation for me,” Coleman said. “All my hard work and prayers had paid off.”

Coleman continued, “I was in my room alone watching the Instagram live and I didn’t scream, yell, or cry. I just let out a sigh of relief and was so happy with the outcome.”

Coleman shared how spectacular the crowning process was during the coronation.

“It felt magical once I was crowned and almost unreal because I was used to seeing it happen for everybody else, and now it was me,” said Coleman.

Markyel Pittman, a political science major from Grenada, Miss. who served as Mister Junior, described Coleman as inspirational.

“The impact that Halle had on me was very positive because when I first came to campus as a transfer student, she became one of the first faces that I met,” said Pittman. “She’s never in the mix of things, and that inspires me to be the same way,” said Pittman.

According to Pittman, when Coleman became Miss JSU, he noticed the increase in students participating in community service.

“From the first week of school up until now, Halle implemented so many things such as community service and giving back,” said Pittman.

“After graduating, I plan to work in the field of journalism and media,” said Coleman. “I have a concentration in integrated marketing communications, and I am drawn to public relations the most.”

She said she plans to own a PR firm one day, “In the future, I hope to be able to offer the skills and services I have to others by creating my own small PR firm as well,” said Coleman.

Although serving in multiple capacities had its challenges, Coleman believes the hard work and perseverance was all worth it.

“I have truly had a jam-packed year. From serving as Queen through our historic SWAC football season, my countless speaking engagements and appearances, very successful platform programming and community service, hosting the first annual “Queens Brunch”, and being deemed Royal Court of the Year by the HBCU Mister and Miss Organization, I have truly had a blast,” Coleman said.

She continued, “Jackson State has given me all I’ve ever wanted and then some. Thank you to all of the faculty, staff, and students that have contributed to my success along the way. It's not goodbye, it’s see you later!”

Tyra McCormick has Thee I Love on

By: Mikailah Je erson

“From being a shy, fearful young girl to having the pleasure of serving as your SGA President, Jackson State has made my wildest dreams come true,” said Tyra McCormick in her farewell to the university.

McCormick, a senior nance major from Clinton, Miss., served as the 76th Student Government Association President and relished her role as the liaison between Jackson State University students and the administration.

McCormick began her administration as many universities, including JSU, had students returning on campus to begin the goal of in-person learning.

“I ran for SGA president to make sure that classes like JSU ‘22, 23’, 24’ and 25’ had a great introduction to life back on campus a er a non-traditional few semesters,” she said.

Hoping to keep JSU traditions alive while also implementing new initiatives that would keep students safe, her platform was Campus on L.O.C.K.:

L-Looking out for each other and protecting our mental health

O-Optimizing opportunities within leadership, community service and career

C-Creating a better network of communication between students and administration

K-Keeping up student morale by building on tradition and defending the legacy of JSU.

McCormick, like many other student leaders, had to nd ways to manage her SGA obligations with other obligations.

“ ankfully I haven’t experienced many struggles as it pertains to leading in my role, but personally, I do have a hard time nding time to myself and holding my tongue in certain situations. Sometimes personal care falls to the wayside a er classes, SGA, extracurricular activities, and having a social life. I struggle with nding that balance,” she said.

Naomi Harris, SGA Vice President, described her working relationship with McCormick as cohesive and said she was great to work with.

“Working with Tyra is great. I think we are a really cohesive team. We bounce ideas o of one another as far as initiatives, we meet a lot to make sure we are both on the same page about the countless things that we both always have going on and we support each other no matter what,” said Harris.

McCormick le these farewell words to her constituents:

Greetings Tiger Family,

As I write this letter I am overcome with emotions. I am not sure how I will put my gratitude and appreciation for this institution, my classmates, the student body, and the administration and sta into sentence format. I am positive that my words may fail me, but I hope this letter does some justice for what my heart feels.

Upon entering Jackson State University, I was lled with doubt and worry of what my undergraduate journey in college would look like. is was in vain. From the moment I entered the doors of Transitional Residence Hall I have

been covered in love and comfort by seemingly everyone here.

My professors and advisors have equipped me with all the knowledge and advice that my heart could desire. My classmates and peers have made this experience a once in a lifetime opportunity through the countless memories we’ve made. Faculty and sta have accommodated and gone the extra mile for me more times than I can count. For all of this and all of you, I am forever indebted and grateful. My matriculation at the illustrious, Jackson State University, would not have been the same if it was not for you.

To thee R.I.C.H. 76th Student Government Association Administration, thank you for trusting me to be your leader. Because of your sel ess service to my administration and our university, I have successfully reigned as your 76th SGA President. Without your participation and willingness, I could not have pushed through to this moment. ank you immensely.

From being a shy, fearful young girl to having the pleasure of serving as your SGA President, Jackson State has made my wildest dreams come true. As I enter my next stage in life, I will take all of the knowledge Jackson State has taught me inside the classroom, about the world, and about myself along with me. ee I Love has given me all the tools to excel in graduate school and corporate America and I plan on doing just that! Again, thank you to everyone who has aided in my success as a student, student leader, and young woman.

Sincerely,

Tyra McCormick

With all eyes on thee comes a responsibility to set the standard. As the 77th Student Body President, Madison Cathey promised to lead an administration that does the work and is serious about the issues that matter the most.

Cathey, a senior accounting major from Hattiesburg, Miss., re ects on the experiences that led to her reign as the 77th Sensational Student Government Association (SGA) President.

“I chose Jackson State because I fell in love with it. Two weeks before I was graduating high school, I was completely decided on a di erent school up north and a JSU recruiter called me and told me about the scholarship opportunity that was available for the year. I said, okay, I'll be in town anyway, so I'll humor him and I'll take a tour,” she said. “Just in one a ernoon, I just completely fell in love with it. I saw myself thriving here in a way that I couldn't see myself thriving anywhere else and I say to this day Jackson State is the best decision I could have made for myself. at's why I chose Jackson State University.

Cathey wants the students to truly know that she cares about their wants and that she will work hard to protect the interest of her peers. Her campaign platform was “Playing your C.A.R.D.S. right”. C.A.R.D.S stood for Collaborating with students, Acting on your behalf, Re ning our systems, Defying the odds, and Sustaining our legacy.

“I chose the whole Vegas style theme platform because I really wanted to send the message to the student body of

Madison Cathey, Sensational playing her C.A.R.D.S right!

By: Eddie Howard III

how important it was to bid on yourself. I think that my journey here at Jackson State has just been a culmination of what it means to really believe in yourself and go for what you want. at's why I chose that theme,” explained Cathey.

e legacy of a job well done is what Cathey wants to leave at JSU, stating that she wants to include more activities by the students and for the students.

“One thing that I noticed back in the spring that I've made it a priority to address this fall, was the lack of engagement and participation on campus, especially when it came to leadership,” Cathey said. “We had a lot of vacancies available, even in our registered student organizations. It seemed like people were struggling to get presidents and members so that was a huge focus coming into the fall semester.”

She added, “One of the things we did to address the lack of leadership on campus was establishing our rst ever SGA internship program. We reimagined it to be more developmental, so we took in 10 underclassmen and they work in the o ce. ey get to experience all the facets of the student government with the hopes that in the spring they're going to run for an o ce to be a part of the government. Chloe, my Vice President and I worked really hard to just imagine it and re-envision it and make it something that would be bene cial for our interns.”

Cathey stated that other engagement e orts included partnering with the Campus Activities Board (CAB) to

bring weekly hotspots to Jackson State. Hotspots were discontinued due to C.O.V.I.D.

“ e fact that we've been pulling that o on a weekly basis and that we were able to budget and allocate funds to do so, I’m extremely proud of that. I get really excited on a Monday when I see like all the programming that's happening that particular week because it's like okay, we're back!” she exclaimed. “I'm very proud of the engagement that we've been able to muster up this semester and we have a way to go, but we've done the work this far to improve it.”

Contemplating her plans postgraduation, Cathey believes that there is purpose in everything.

“Well, I do graduate in the spring, Glory Hallelujah! My future, I do know that I want to be a leader and a decision maker, maybe in the corporate space, maybe in the public nonpro t government sector space, or even in the accounting. I'm wide open,” she said. “My next step though is to get my Master of Accountancy in a 10-month SGA and Student Leaders Meeting program and then my short-term goal is to sit for my certi ed public accountant (CPA) license and obtain that.”

Cathey added, “I want to start my career at a company where I can pursue a career of meaning value and purpose so that's my hope just to have work that I love and to be able to be impactful.”

We congratulate Cathey on a job well done!

The turnover of Roe v. Wade strikes the college community

By: Tatyana Ross

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, allowing individual states the power to revoke laws protecting women’s rights to access abortion.

The case which led to the controversial decision, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, originated in Mississippi leading to the reversal of the almost 50 years of the constitutional right to abortion, according to brennancenter. org. Since the decision, 17 states, including Mississippi, have made abortion illegal. Other states however, still allow the procedure.

The Brennan Center reported that “In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decided that the right to privacy implied in the 14th Amendment protected abortion as a fundamental right. However, the government retained the power to regulate or restrict abortion access depending on the stage of pregnancy. And after fetal viability, outright bans on abortion were permitted if they contained exceptions to preserve life and health.

Some students at Jackson State University were outraged by the court’s decision believing that the

government has gone too far and taken away the rights of women to choose what to do with their own body. However, others supported the decision.

Akinola Gonzalez, a graduate student majoring in coastal engineering major from Chicago, said the abortion ban did not a ect him but he sees the positive side of overturning Roe v. Wade.

“Our younger generation all have a tendency for making mistakes,” Gonzalez said. “A life should not be taken away for another individual’s irresponsible behavior.”

Grace Ann Elinski, a junior English major from Jackson, Miss., thinks that leaving abortion rights to the state is unconstitutional and she could not believe the contrast of this infringement on women’s rights next to the broadening of gun laws within that time.

“I had a lot of anxiety and fear for myself and all women. I thought about how this overturning would lead to more infanticide, the foster system being overwhelmed, botched abortions leading to death, child abuse from un t parents, domestic violence, and higher suicide rates in women,” said Elinski.

Christine Allen, a junior healthcare administration major from California, said she agrees that the court's ruling is unfair and thinks the law should be reinstated.

“We can’t have fun because we don’t want to get pregnant,” Allen said. “Women should have the right to do as they please with their bodies.”

Another JSU student recalled her experience with her rst abortion at Mississippi’s last operational abortion clinic, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, also known as the Pink House.

She was 20 years old when she was le to deal with the pressures of having an abortion. She said that she feels the government has taken away some of her rights as a woman.

“ e rst time I went to the pink house, I was alone. e dad didn’t want anything to do with it a er the rst day,” she said. “I remember parking down the street from it because the parking lot was full.”

e anonymous student said she was greeted by dozens of protesters

at her car door and it made her extremely uncomfortable.

“ ey surrounded the car. It was mostly white people telling me that God doesn’t approve of what I was about to do. But I’ll never forget the one black girl out of the group,” she said. “She got real close to me trying to whisper in my ear and I gave her the middle nger.”

e clinic allowed her to choose between a two-pill process or a surgical procedure to carry out the abortion.

“ ey gave every woman there a prescription of 5 painkillers because they said the cramps will hurt. ere will be blood and when it starts you will have diarrhea,” she said. “ at night I was in my room on the oor on top of two pillows that I covered with a garbage bag I had ripped open.”

She added, “I covered up with a thick blue comforter and my roommate was literally in her bed oblivious to the whole thing. I cried myself to sleep every night for weeks.”

She said she does not regret her decision but the stigma that society places on abortion sometimes still makes her feel ashamed. However, she maintains that she was not prepared to have a baby.

“I was going through a lot of things mentally and emotionally. And like the whole time I was pregnant, I was eating and sleeping my life away. I missed a lot of school because of it,” she said. “I think I saved myself from a lot of pain I would have had to go through with my family.”

She said even now she still hides the abortion from her family because she is afraid of their disapproval.

“I’d advise a woman to do what she feels is the best decision for herself and her future,” “If I’d had support, I would have a ve year old today. I was scared and nobody should have to feel that way.”

e pink house o cially closed its doors on July 6, 2022. According to cbsnews.com, the clinic has moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico and will call its new location Pink House West.

COVID Chronicles – College students experiences with the COVID pandemic

By: Kiara Fleming, Kelsei Scott, and Nadi Greene

The Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, took over the world and took the lives of many people beginning in 2019. Many college students were directly a ected as campus life was halted to protect students and employees.

e ‘new normal’ for these students, who were used to life on campus and all the activities that come with it, was an unwanted adjustment for many.

e protocols put in place due to the pandemic caused a lot of uncertainty among students, especially those graduating, as in-person classes, internships, work-study, sporting events, graduation and much more were cancelled or commuted to virtual events.

Senior students at Jackson State University weighed in on how the pandemic a ected them and their senior year experience.

Mya Smith, a senior music education major from Decatur, Ga., had to adjust to online learning.

“At rst I was excited for the switch to online,” said Smith. ''I loved the fact that I could go to school from the comfort of my own home, but I was wrong. It kind of made things harder for me honestly.”

Instead of getting up, getting dressed and making your way to one hour or two hour classes, students were now waking up for class, rolling over to a computer, and trying to resist the temptation to go back to bed or watch television during the lecture.

Some students like Tyler Houston, said their attitude towards school changed during the pandemic.

“Most of the time I had to go on YouTube and research the topic on my own,” said Houston, a senior early childhood education major from Miami, Fla. “Not because the teacher wasn't doing their job, but because I can't learn with somebody just talking to me.”

Motivation to do the work from home was a challenge to some students.

“I don't think they (teachers) can do anything to motivate me. ey still have to get their job done and they can't change the circumstances we’re in, '' said Jacobe Daleney, a senior criminal justice major from Jacksonville, Fla. “I de nitely feel like longer deadlines would be better. A lot of our teachers assign homework and they all make it due at the same time.”

Many students were oblivious to the fact that teachers and sta employees were also dealing with the a ects of COVID, either personally or with a family member.

Shannon Tatum, an adjunct professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies and the manager for Student Publications at Jackson State, was one of the employees who had to deal with the a ermath of COVID-19 while also teaching and working.

“I contracted COVID in February of 2021 and I have never been so sick in my life. It was the week before midterms, so I still had to work during my illness to make sure my students were not a ected. It was hard,” said Tatum. “My mother had also contracted COVID but her extenuating health conditions led to her being on life support and in a medically induced coma for about two months. Later she had to go to rehabilitation because she had to re-learn everything from talking to walking.”

David Camper, a senior history major from Suisun, Calif., missed campus life the most.

“ e pandemic has been a huge inconvenience on my school year. Online classes already do not mesh well with my learning style, but the lack of events on campus has limited my ways to decompress and caused a lot of di culties for the on-campus organizations I am a part of,” said Camper.

COVID-19 impacted the lives of other students in a variety of ways.

“My school year was heavily a ected due to the COVID-19 pandemic because on-campus activities and in person courses are limited or restricted for the entire student body,” said Christopher Calhoun, a therapeutic recreation major from Chicago, Ill. “Without these two aspects of college life things are not the same and as a result most students would rather stay home.”

Jackson State students who were a ected by the pandemic could get the help they needed mentally and emotionally from the Latasha Norman Center and other resources such as COVID testing, vaccinations or just regular check-ups from the JSU Health Services Center on campus.

In an article on health.cornell.edu, a study found that students were showing signs of helplessness and di culties with coping with this new, stressful situation.

Antwan Nichols, a junior nursing student from Port Gibson, Miss. said, “My life was way di erent, everything seemed normal and I was way happier before the pandemic started.”

A majority of colleges and universities reopened in the fall of 2021, some still giving students the option to continue online learning, but campus life events, activities, and resources remained virtual. is caused some students, like Callie White, who was dealing with the mental health fallout of studying, working, and socializing almost entirely online, to become despondent.

“My COVID experience was very bad. I literally had every symptom and thought I was going to die. I had to keep going back to the doctor until I had a negative test,” said White, a junior biology major from Jackson, Miss.

According to a report on usnews.com, 1 in 5 college students said their mental health has signi cantly worsened during the Coronavirus pandemic and the experience was overall bad for them.

ese challenging times are not over but many students can see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. College students across the nation are back on campus for in-person instruction and campus life seems to returning with a sense of normalcy amid the spread of the highly contagious Coronavirus and now, its variants.

Cameron Dishman, a junior physical therapy major from Jackson, Miss., said the pandemic changed his outlook on life.

“ is whole Coronavirus thing just made me want to be around my family more. I know a lot of people who have had COVID and it has been really rough on them. e pandemic has taught me to just slow down and not get so upset about things I can’t control around me,” said Dishman.

For students, it’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed. However, instead of focusing on what you can’t control, it is best to try to make the best of your ‘new normal’. According to medicine.edu, the majority of college students looked forward to more carefree days where they can go back to a regular college life.

“If we’re being completely honest, I'm a little scared of postgraduation life,” said Justin Howard, a senior psychology major from Jackson, Miss. “I know everything will work out the way it needs to though. Everybody needs a therapist at some point in their life so I know positions will be there, but it's still scary knowing I'll have to work extra hard just to land a spot in the industry because of COVID.”

To date, COVID-19 has taken the lives of almost a million people in the U.S. In the state of Mississippi, the most recent statistics show that over 12,000 people have died from the disease. Worldwide, 6.2 million people have died from COVID-19.

Jackson State students affected by on-going water issues in Jackson

By Tatyana Ross

e State of Mississippi issued a state of emergency on Aug. 30, 2022 in the city of Jackson as a result of a failure at the water treatment plant.

e Mississippi Department of Health made the emergency declaration in a press release that read in part:

Pursuant to the Mississippi Safe Drinking Water Act of 1997 (§41-26-1 et sec.), the Mississippi State Department of Health, upon receipt of information that emergency circumstances exist for customers of the City of Jackson, Mississippi drinking water system to receive safe drinking water and that a public water system emergency exists, is imminent or can reasonably be expected to occur without the immediate implementation of additional sta ng and remediation measures hereby declares a public drinking water supply emergency in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.

D’Quain Young, a Jackson, Miss. native, said he feels that the water crisis has forced the community to come together but it has truly shown the cracks in his hometown.

“Being from Jackson, the surrounding towns seem more well-restored, but not us,” Young said. “If Jackson is going to come back from this we have to go back to the roots and x our pipes and roads.”

Joliyah Daughtry is a senior journalism and media studies major from Byram, Miss. but her small town relies on Jackson’s water system.

“I have to nd places that have water. Water is sold out at all of the stores and by the time the water distribution has started, water is gone,” Daughtry said. “I’m trying to maintain but it’s hard because I’m lacking the basics.”

Aside from the citywide boil water alert, some Jackson residents experienced issues with the water pressure. is le several residents, businesses, and schools with little or no running water.

Hannah Russell, a political science major from Biloxi, Miss., shared that her struggles started when the city of Jackson announced the newest boil water alert. Russell said a shower caused her to contract an eye infection.

“I am lucky to be someone on campus who has family in the surrounding areas of Jackson,” Russell

said. “So when the time came, they stepped up and allowed me to shower, eat, sleep and took care of me in general when the crisis started.”

Ja’Quawn Taylor, a business administration major from Gulfport, Miss., said the water crisis puts a strain on his daily routine.

“ e Walter Payton Center being closed has changed what I do for my morning workouts. I have to get up extra early to use the portable showers and go o campus just to do laundry,” Taylor said. “It was one a ernoon I needed to do dishes and the running water was very discolored and not clear. I sometimes had to pour bottled water down the toilet just to get it to ush.”

Taylor said he has friends who have moved back home until conditions become better but he will not let that discourage him from his goal to acquire his degree in the spring.

“I know it took a mental toll on some people because they might have never been in a situation like this before,” Taylor said. “Some people may feel isolated with the lack of socialization compared to what we’re used to on a normal day on campus.”

Some Jackson residents are not happy with the way the city handled issues regarding the water crisis.

“Despite this being an ongoing problem, city o cials always react to the situation instead of being proactive and getting ahead of the problem,” Russell said. “So that people aren’t having to scramble to provide safe water for their families. Safe water should be a basic human right, but Jackson 9 (residents) have been denied that for over a decade.”

All of those interviewed for this story expressed that the water crisis could have been prevented if Jackson operated with an updated water system.

“It’s no reason the state capital should have to go through all of this, regardless of what ethnicity is populated here in Jackson,” Taylor said.

Daughtry suggested a solution to x the water issues.

“I feel as though city o cials and even our government needs to be replaced. e capital city should NOT have to struggle for WATER! No one should,” Daughtry said. Daughtry is not alone in her feelings, Russell also said she wants to see a change in representatives.

“ e change needs to be the people in power, the people who have never made any e ort to nd a solution to this ongoing water problem,” Russell said. “If they continue to be given a position in our state government, I fear they will return to their old ways when the national coverage is taken from Jackson.”

In a press conference held on Labor Day, Gov. Tate Reeves con rmed the restoration of Jackson’s water pressure. Reeves is open to several long-term solutions and revealed to reporters that solutions may include leasing the Management of Jackson’s

water system to a private company.

“We know that it is always possible that there will be more severe challenges. is water system broke over several years and it would be inaccurate to claim it is totally solved in the matter of less than a week,” Reeves said.

e boil water notice for City of Jackson water customers was li ed on Sept. 15, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health.

Unfortunately, water issues continue to plague the city of Jackson. e water pressure issues have also a ected Jackson State faculty, sta , and students and the university released a statement nearing the end of Winter Break informing students to anticipate using portable restrooms and to expect heating and cooling challenges in residence halls.

e o cial statement read, “As an update, the City of Jackson continues to address the water system encompassing the campus. Unfortunately, the process of restoring water to normal operating levels has been slower than expected. Conditions of low to no water pressure negatively impacts our ability to provide and maintain adequate air conditioning and heating, restrooms and showers, laundry service, and normal food preparation.”

However, these conditions were not an issue and in-person classes started promptly on Jan. 9, 2023.

Emerald Bowen, a junior healthcare administration from Columbus, Miss., said that she feels like Jackson State is trying their best to accommodate students amongst the issues with the water.

“To know that this situation is a long-standing issue is a problem when there are funds in place to help. I was taught to use all my resources,” Bowen said. “In order to better conditions we need better leadership within our community and our state. I’m not con dent about the leadership Jackson has nor do I trust the Governor.”

Water pressure issues persist city-wide leading to the city opening a water distribution center at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds for non-potable water for ushing and cleaning.

The Death of Tyre Nichols and Police Brutality in America

By: Flash Sta

T he public continues to be outraged following the release of bodycam and CCTV footage showing the brutal beating death of Memphis resident Tyre Nichols.

Nichols, who succumbed to his injuries on Jan. 10, three days a er ve Memphis policeman in the now disbanded Scorpion unit, performed a tra c stop that ended with Nichols being, punched, kicked, tased and pepper sprayed for almost 30 minutes, was laid to rest on Feb. 1.

According to WREG in Memphis, the ve former policeman, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., were charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of o cial misconduct and o cial oppression. ey have all since bonded out.

e report also stated that two additional o cers have been relieved of duty and three rst responders were red.

Dwayne Joseph, a Memphis native, was outraged when he saw the footage.

“A er looking at the video, I was disgusted at the way those police o cers mistreated Tyre. Regardless of whether he ran from them or whatever they’re trying to say he did, the situation should not have

gone down like that,” said Joseph. He added, “I was relieved at the way the police chief handled the situation by disbanding the SCORPION Unit. at showed me that the city is trying to go in a right direction when it comes to being there for the city.”

Markyel Pittman, MS NAACP Youth and College President and JSU NAACP Chapter President provided the following statement to e Flash on the murder of Tyre Nichols:

e Mississippi NAACP Youth and College Division would like to send its sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Tyre Nichols. We feel especially impacted since Mr. Nichols was around our age group.

We are outraged and distraught about the circumstances that led to Tyre’s death and we believe that justice should be served. is is yet another incident that brings trauma, and pain to the African American Community. It saddens us that we feel unprotected and systematically targeted by police o cers. It is even more distressing that the o cers that have perpetrated the targeting of Tyre Nichols are black. is illuminates the fact that law enforcement’s disregard for the value of African American life is institutional in nature.

It pains us that our ght has existed for generations within our race and is still present today. When society

thinks that we are moving forward; the actions that lead to Tyre Nichols death push us back further. As future leaders, we will continue to strive and advocate for justice and speak out in support of racial justice.

Other Jackson State students were disgusted by the released footage.

Kaiden Ivey, a sophomore accounting major from Tulsa, Okla. said, “ e Tyre Nichols case will a ect the community’s perception about law enforcement because it’s not just our counterparts that we have to worry about but each and every o cer, even the ones that look like us.”

One JSU student feels race expedited the arrests of the o cers.

“Well of course I think it’s tragic, but I also feel like there’s no reason all ve of these black cops got their consequences (so quickly), but every time a white o cer kills an innocent black person, in the same light, he keeps his job and walks free,” said A’sha Branch, a freshman biology/ pre-medicine major from Houston, Texas.

Branch added, “Systemic racism is a real thing and it’s disgusting. Yes, this young man absolutely deserves his justice, but what about all the other young men who deserve theirs too?”

Department of Political Science

Chair Maurice Mangum, Ph.D., also

believes systemic racism is in play with this case.

“When we think about these instances where police officers have been arrested, charged and fired, at least quickly, it’s always been a black police officer or at least a police officer of color, so there is some validity to the race of the officer,” said Mangum. “Now the other part of the equation that some people are thinking about is well, the chief of police is a black woman so how does that play into this? She’s the one who created this crime unit to go out with the name SCORPION (Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace In Our Neighborhoods) as an acronym to go out there and engage in aggressive policing. Well, this is still systemic racism (racism which leads to discrimination based on race and ethnicity).

Mangum added, “Because why did the police chief create such a unit? And why did those black police o cers get in that unit? Because

they know that this is acceptable policing. ey know that they can do that. And why can they do that? Because it’s systemic racism.”

Mangum explains that systemic racism in this case is that some people believe that black people are prone to commit crimes, they are violent, up to no good, and so you are going to have to be aggressive and violent when dealing with them.

“ at’s the purpose of that unit, is that they were going to do di erent type of policing. And why did they get away with it up until this point? Because nobody cares what happens to black citizens,” Mangum said.

JSU Department of History professor Joshua Cotton, who is also Activities Coordinator for Institute for Social Justice and Race Relations, also weighed in on the case.

“ ere is a long, well-known history of systemic violence and abuse of power from police against minority communities, particularly the black

community. Here (Jackson State), we still keep the bullet holes in Alexander (Residence Hall) as a reminder of how little our lives can matter and how quickly a police-involved incident can turn into an attempted massacre,” said Cotton. “Incidents such as this one in Memphis reinforce the general distrust of police and the criminal justice system. When o cers take an unarmed man's life over a tra c incident, we can't help but to feel rage and indignation because as easily as it was this man, it could have been any of us.”

Cotton added, “ e break down between justice and those who are tasked to enforce it is one of the greatest threats to a society and that breaking point in America has always been against black bodies. It’s a self-destructive cycle as police are trained of the imminent danger of their jobs and begin seeing threats around every corner and black people seeing the threat coming from behind those ashing blue lights and badges.”

Celebrity Couples Who Prove that Black Love Exists and Lasts

M any celebrity couples are known for their infamous breakups and relationship scandals; and all too o en we see these breakups play out on social media with their exposing tweets, posts, and text messages. Michael B. Jordan and Lori Harvey, Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa, Kim and Kanye West, and Common and Ti any Haddish just to name a few. While it may seem to some that celebrity relationships are doomed to fail, many more celebrity couples are proving that not only does black love exist, it can also last. Here are just a few of those couples that are relationship goals to many.

President Barack and Michelle Obama

This relationship offers the epitome of relationship goals for everyone who strives to find a mate that compliments them in everyway. October of 2022 will mark the 30th anniversary for the former President and First Lady who met when Obama was a law clerk in Michelle’s Chicago law office. This love story has been evidenced by America since the former president began his political career with the unwavering support of his wife. According to People.com, the two married in 1992 and have two daughters, Malia and Sasha. The two credit their strong marital foundation to how they have weathered the storms of life and come out even more in love.

Teyana Taylor and Iman Shumpert

According to People.com, Taylor and Shumpert met in 2011 but didn’t make things official until 2013. They solidified their love for each other when they wed in 2016. The couple have two daughters, the first of which was delivered by Shumpert on the couples bathroom floor. have been playing out their love for each other since 2015. Taylor, a well-known fashion influencer, actress and singer and the former NBA champion gave the world a look at their home life when the reality series “Teyana and Iman” premeired on VH1 in 2018. In 2021, their new reality TV series “We Got Love: Teyana & Iman” premeired on Eonline. The two continue to represent relationship and celebrity goals with Taylor continuing her success in music and Shumptert recently winning the last edition of “Dancing with the Stars”.

Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett

“Black Panther '' actress Angela Bassett and actor husband Courtney B. Vance have sustained a drama-free relationship for 24 years. According to People.com, the two attended acting school together but would not date until many years later. Vance, whose acting accolades include broadway, film and television, has two children with the actress who set the screen on fire with her portrayal of Tina Turner in the iconic movie, “What’s Love Got To Do With It”.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith

Even the slap heard across the world could not separate the couple that has been together for 25 years now. Smith, most recently making headlines for slapping comedian Chris Rock during the Oscars and Pinkett-Smith seemed to be in it for the long haul. According to People.com, the two actors met at the pinnacle of Smith’s success on the set of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” but didn’t immediately date because he was married at the time. The two have now been married for 25 years and have two children together. In spite of Pinkett-Smith admitting to an affair with R&B singer August Alsina and Smith recently disgracing himself when he walked on the Oscar stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock after a joke about his wife’s lack of hair, the two remain committed to making their marriage work.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z

This hip-hop power couple has been burning up red carpets for over two decades beginning their love story when Beyoncé was just 18 years old. Twenty plus years and two beautiful daughters later, this love story continues to thrive. The rap mogul and pop superstar have featured each other in their musical repertoires for years now. According to People.com, beginning with Jay-Z’s “Bonnie & Clyde” and Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love”, the two have brought their music lyrics to life and continue to be the “it” couple of the decade.

While this is just a small look at Black Love, other honorable mentions should be noted:

Actors Denzel and Pauletta Washington – 39 years of marriage

Choreographer Debbie Allen and Former NBA Norm Nixon – 38 years of marriage

of

Media Mogul Oprah Winfrey and Businessman Stedman Graham – 36 years of domestic partnership

Journalists Al Roker and Deborah Roberts – 27 years of marriage

Former NFL Quarterback Rodney Peete and Actress Holly Robinson-Peete – 27 years of marriage

Former NBA Player Grant Hill and Singer Tamia – 23 years of marriage

Actors Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker – 17 years of marriage

EGOT Winner John Legend and Model Chrissy Teigen – 9 years of marriage

SPENDING LESS TO LOOK LIKE A LOT THRIFTING :

By: Tamea Washington | Photos by Tamea Washington

D o you like expensive clothing, bags and household items but dread the high price tags? Thrifting might be the hobby for you.

According to the Goodwill website, thrifting is when you go shopping at flea markets, garage sales or thrift stores to purchase gently used clothes and other items. Many love thrifting because of the thrill of the hunt. Sifting through bins and racks to find that one of a kind bargain can be addictive.

Patience is a virtue however if you want to find the best items and this is not as easy as some might think. It can take a lot of time to find things to your liking and things that are worth the purchase.

Jessica Reed, a non-traditional student who is also a mother of three, utilizes thrifting to save money for her family.

“I love to see my kids and myself dressed nice while knowing I didn’t spend as much while purchasing the clothes,” Reed explained.

Many college students like Curtez Rasool, use

thrifting as a way to stay financially stable while still looking stylish. Rasool, a senior music major from Little Rock, Ark., spends a ton of his time working on recitals and practicing but he is a firm believer in spending less to look like a lot.

Rasool stated that his necessary expenses include food, housing and clothes, so saving money is a priority for him. He says it took a lot of time for him to understand the importance of saving and spending money responsibly.

“As an out-of-state student, budgeting and limiting my spending is very important,” Rasool explained.

Rasool has purchased many different items from the thrift stores in his area and has been very pleased with the amount of money he has saved over just the course of a year.

“When I lived on campus, I used to spend about $350 a week on food, gas, and miscellaneous things. Now that I have made cost efficient living a priority, I was able to cut the $350 in expenses down to $200,

including purchasing clothes from different Goodwill’s and other thrift stores,” he said.

There is sometimes a stigma placed on thrift stores and even garage sales. Some people consider the clothes and goods hand-me downs when in actuality some of the items purchased have never been worn.

Gabriella Henderson holds an annual garage sale and many of the things purchased from her are have never been worn and some of the things have been worn once or twice at the maximum.

“A lot of clothes are purchased year-round in my home and I love to give back to the community so I have made it an annual day of giving to allow people to benefit from items I have no use for and are brand new,” Henderson explained.

The number of people having garage sales has decreased since the COVID-19 pandemic because many people are skeptical of buying used clothing during a time when so many are being urged to avoid germs that could cause illness or death. However, most thrift stores clean and sanitize items for sell along with keeping the stores sanitized.

Mariam Glacier has been an employee at the Goodwill in Ridgeland, Miss. since the start of the pandemic that has wreaked havoc on many communities across the world.

“We are very aware of COVID-19 and we are doing everything we can to ensure that our shoppers stay safe,” Glacier stated.

Goodwill does an hourly wipe down and they also require facial coverings while inside the store. This is the main area of concern for several people and Goodwill encourages them to trust them and get out and save money on purchases.

Thrifters can expect to find many items of interest at their local thrift stores. Some of these include:

Appliances

Bedding

Books & Media

Clothing & Accessories

Cooking Accessories

Drapery

Electronics

Furniture

Games

Household Goods

Kitchenware

Knick-knacks

Linens

Mobility Items

Musical Instruments

Outdoor Items

Shoes

Sports Equipment

Tools Toys

“It is no secret that we are in a financial crisis,” said Dyamond Anthony, a senior engineering major from Canton, Miss.

“It is important for consumers to shop smarter during this economic crisis and thrifting can help cut costs.”

Thrift stores sell more than just clothes. Collectibles, shoes, books, furniture and much more can also be found.

furniture

Jontarius Davis, a senior music major who has a great love for shoes, buys most of his shoes from various thrift stores.

“You can find a pair of $300 Jordan’s in thrift stores for under $200, depending on the shoe and how new it is,” Davis stated.

If saving money isn’t your thing, what about saving the planet? In an article published on nationalworldnews.com, experts say the thrifting trend should be cultivated and continued because of the environmental impact. According to the article, thrifting is a practice that leads to less waste and can also guide people to shop less as well as reduce the level of textile waste that often ends up in landfills.

If you are looking to get into the thrifting trend, here’s a list of thrift stores near Jackson State University.

The Real McCoy Thrift Store & Boutique on N. State Street

N.U.T.S. (Neat Used Things for Sale on Milsaps Ave.

Salvation Army Thrift Store on Presto Lane

Goodwill in Jacksonian Plaza

Repeat Street on Hwy. 51 in Ridgeland

Silly Billy’s on Mitchell Ave. and many more!

JSU Head Football Coach Deion “Prime”

JSU Head Football Coach Deion “Prime”

announced departure after leading the Tigers to a SWAC Championship victory

Sanders

Sanders announced departure after leading the Tigers to a SWAC Championship victory

Jackson State University’s Head Football Coach, Deion “Prime” Sanders, led the Tiger’s to a victory at the 2022 SWAC Championship on Dec. 3, 2022, and announced he was leaving his position on the university’s football team to the public the next day after only three seasons.

According to Clarion Ledger, Sanders signed a contract with Jackson State to remain the head coach for three years.

After accepting an offer of close to $30 million dollars from the University of Colorado to assume the role as head coach, Sanders will have to buyout the remainder of his contract with Jackson State for $300,000.

Prime’s departure started off as mere rumors and quickly became the trending topic for Jackson State fans. According to a letter released by JSU Athletics Director Ashley Robinson, Prime energized and elevated Jackson State football and Jackson State University to unprecedented heights. He said he rebuilt the football program to be smart, tough, fast, and disciplined with character. “Coach Prime’s impact during his JSU tenure goes far beyond his 27 wins and back-to-back SWAC Championships on the field, to the thousands who have been motivated and inspired by him simply saying ‘I Believe’,” the letter read in part. Though the Athletics Department faculty may be supportive of Coach

Prime’s move, there were several students and other fans of Jackson State football were not pleased with the announcement. Sanders has been faced with public scrutiny since making his decision to switch universities.

Seth Adams, a freshman business administration major from Jackson, Miss. stated that when he heard Coach Prime was leaving he felt hurt for the people who were looking up to him as inspiration.

“To be specific, the athletic football students seem to have a special bond with him. As for the regular students, I never heard or seen any impact physically,” Adams said. “I feel we

did support him to a degree.”

ere were some students that did not care that the head football coach was leaving. Jalen Lyons, a social work major from Chicago, Ill., revealed he did not care about the coach’s departure personally but he thinks Sanders positively impacted students as a whole.

Other students claimed to be grateful for the time that Prime spent with Jackson State. Kepatrick omas, a sophomore chemistry major from Great Falls, Mont., said he was appreciative and confused about the entire situation.

“Some football players came for Deion, now they’re having to hit the transfer portal and a lot of people have said it feels like a facade and he only went to JSU to bring attention to himself,” omas said.

Lyons had this to say about the success of the football team during Coach Prime’s time as head coach. “He changed the way we view college football. Plus, he also helped us go to the Celebration Bowl back-to-back, something we might not see again next year,” Lyons said.

Other students on campus were shocked about the removal of

Sanders’ hand painted image once displayed on a window of Campbell College Suites, a Jackson State women’s dormitory facing the Gibbs Green Plaza.

e front of the dormitory’s north side displays a variation of images hand painted by students of in uential people that have been to Jackson State over the years on its windows.

Since the news of Sanders’ departure from Jackson State, his image was removed from its spot on the window leaving only an empty space. e image was removed by Adams, who originally thought removing it would be a good idea but some of his fellow students disagreed with his actions.

According to Adams, he was given permission to remove the image from Mary M. Robinson, the Residence Hall Director of Campbell College Suites. He also stated that Robinson mentioned that she has been wanting to remove all the paintings from the dormitory’s windows but she has not had time to remove them herself.

Other students have claimed that their biggest issue is that they feel Adams had no right to remove the painting.

“I felt that the removal of his image on Campbell North was justi ed because he is no longer a part of Jackson State.”

Adams said a er realizing he upset so many of his peers, he released an o cial apology. In the apology, he apologized to anyone he o ended with his actions.

Coach Prime has also faced a great deal of public scrutiny due to his decision to leave Jackson State. In an exclusive interview with Rob Jay, on WAPT News on Dec. 6,2022, Coach Prime said he perceives himself as too positive to respond to any negativity.

“Did I listen to them before I came? Did I listen to them while I was here? So you think I’m going to make time in my life to listen to negativity?” Prime asked. “I’m too positive. I’m too progressive to buy into nonsense. I’ve never had time for it and I’m not going to make time for it.”

Prime and his youngest son, JSU quarterback Shadeur Sanders, will not return to Jackson State for another season.

Jackson State’s students and other fans may never understand the reason behind Prime’s decision but they seem to agree this misfortune will not break their school spirit.

“I don’t think that his departure hinders Jackson State in any type of way because we will always be Jackson State without him,” Lyons said. Adams agreed with Lyons.

“ is had deeply a ected everyone. But this is a time for us all to come together to make and keep change at JSU,” Adams said. “I love this school and we are Jackson State with or without him(Prime).”

A Look Back at the Biggest

Jackson State Tigers win battle of the big cats |

By Cameron Adams

Jackson State University made history on and off the field on Saturday, Oct. 29 inn Boom Box Classic.

J-State not only dominated Southern University’s football team in the BoomBox Classic, 35-0, but also delivered it with a Sonic Boom for the 53,885 fans who packed the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. This victory against the Jaguars broke the school’s original record for the best start of the season with a record of 8-0.

Although the Tiger's football team had a historical evening, it was the fans who made history first. The city of Jackson hosted ESPN’s College GameDay for the first time in history and the people did not disappoint.

Mo Williams and Men’s basketball team hosts media day |

By Cameron Adams

On Thursday Oct. 13, Jackson State University’s men’s basketball team hosted their media day, directly after their scheduled team practice.

Jackson State has their eyes on the prize this year with the new addition of NBA champion and Jackson native, Mo Williams, as the head coach.

Jackson State wins against Campbell Fighting Camels |

By Cameron Adams

Jackson State University’s football team capped an already hype

Homecoming off with a victory on Saturday, Oct. 22 in its defeat over the Campbell Fighting Camels. The Tigers pulled of the win with a score of 22-14 in front of the packed homecoming crowd at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The game was touted as one of the most anticipated games of the season, as Jackson State pushed their winning streak to seven.

Tigers defeat Grambling in soccer championship matchup |

By Cameron Adams

Jackson State University’s Women's soccer team capped off their dominant 2022 season as champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

On Nov. 6, the Lady Tigers were crowned the 2022 SWAC champions after going into overtime against Grambling State University.

After leading the Tigers to a 7-1-1 conference record, head coach, Dr. Theodore Flogaites was named SWAC Soccer Coach of the Year. Coach Flogaites has now earned this award in three separate conferences. Sophomore Tionna Taylor was crowned SWAC Goalkeeper of the Year.

Sports Stories of 2022-2023

Soccer Crowned 2022 SWAC Champions After an Overtime Thriller Against Grambling State

By JSU Sports Media

The Jackson State University soccer team capped its run at the tournament claiming the 2022 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Soccer Championship Title after defeating Grambling State 4-2 in overtime at the PVAMU Soccer Complex.

JSU Welcomes T.C. Taylor as New Head Coach of Jackson State Football | By Cameron Adams

As the 2022-23 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) football season came to an end, Jackson State University’s “Prime” era did as well. On Tuesday Dec. 13, 2022, Jackson State University announced T.C. Taylor as the new head coach of the Tigers football team.

After the Jackson State Tigers football team brought home the 2022-23 SWAC Championship against Southern University, former Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders announced his departure from the organization.

Taylor was originally the team’s wide receiver coach, where he led multiple receivers who dominated the SWAC, such as senior receiver Shane Hooks and graduate student Dallas Daniels.

Four Tigers Named to All-SWAC Teams in Cross Country, Coach Thorne Named Coach of the Year

By JSU Sports Media

Four members of the Jackson State University men's and women's cross-country teams were named to the 2022 All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) teams the conference announced Monday following the championship meet.

Tyler Duncan was tabbed SWAC Runner of the Year and All-SWAC First Team. Duncan placed first at the SWAC Championship meet with a time of 25:39.9 in the men's 8K. Championship meet with a time of 25:39.9 in the men's 8K.

Lady Tigers claimed its fourth consecutive SWAC Regular Season Championship |

By Cameron Adams

The Lady Tigers protected the Lee E. Williams Athletics & Assembly Center home court again on Feb. 27 in defeating Prairie View A&M University. The team claimed its fourth consecutive SWAC Regular Season Championship with this defeat.

Jackson State accomplished a 20-Win Season with the victory over MVSU on March 4. The Lady Tigers entered the SWAC Tournament as the #1 Seed.

EXperience -1a: direct observation of or participation in events as a basis of knowledge

b: the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation.

2a. practical knowledge, skill or practice derived from direct observation or participation in events or in a particular activity

b: the length of such participation (has 10 years in the job)

3a: the conscious events that make up an individual’s life

b: the events that make the conscious past of a community or nation or mankind generally

4: something personally encountered, undergone, or lived through

5: the act or purpose of directly perceiving events or reality

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