FL A S H THE BLUE & WHITE
The Official Student Newspaper of Jackson State University Jackson, Mississippi
www.thejsuflash.com
INSIDE
Vol. 77 / No. 16 OPINION
NEWS
Tr u m p Immigration ban page 3
National wear Red day page 4
February 2, 2017
S P O RT S
VA R I E T Y
JSU basketball page 8
New Edition Series page 5
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Trump issues order to halt immigration from countries with history of terrorism Alexandria Galtney Managing Editor On Friday, Jan. 27, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to put a pause on all immigration in some countries with a history of terrorism and the U.S. refugee program. Trump’s executive order, which some are calling a “Muslim Ban,” is fulfilling one of his controversial campaign pledges. All travelers, except United States citizens, traveling from Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Iran, Libya and Yemen, will temporarily be suspended from entry into the country for 90 days. The Trump administration announced that these
countries were on a list for “countries of concerns” formally made during the Obama administration, but the executive order was never implemented. Some travelers that were in the air while the order was being signed were sent back to the countries they flew in from. Others were detained, and those who have citizenship coming back from their home countries had to be rescreened. Presidents have broad power in shaping immigration policy, but some critics feel parts of Trump’s order are unconstitutional and discriminatory. The executive order has received global backlash from U.S. citizens, federal judges, foreign leaders, and prime
ministers. Hundreds of people from New York, Atlanta, Dallas and Seattle staged protests at major airports across the country. Vocal crowds against the order even gathered outside the White House. Many students at Jackson State University, particularly those hailing from banned regions, were very concerned about the order and how it will affect them. “I feel like it hurts a lot of international students who are here to study and get an education,” said Taha Merghams, a senior computer engineering major from Sudan. Senior Omar Khattab, a native of Saudi Arabia majoring in entrepreneurship said, “It’s undemocratic. It’s
not what the country was based and founded on, because I think America is America because of immigrants.” Some students not personally affected by the ban still felt that it was unfair. “It’s definitely absurd and I think it marginalizes a great deal of black students too, not just Muslim or international students,” said Jessica James, a senior political science major from Clarksdale, Miss. Antonio Harper feels the ban will eventually hurt the U.S. economically. “To be honest, I don’t like it at all. We have a lot of immigrants coming to the U.S., especially Mississippi, to look for work and jobs,” said Harper, a freshman computer engineering major. Some JSU students
however, support the immigration ban. “I believe that Trump’s executive order on immigration is one that is needed, and I believe that Trump is taking the rightful step for what he believes as president,” said Ferrand Isaac, a graduate management student from Saint Lucia. JSU’s Interim President, Rob Paige, issued a statement responding to the presidential order on travel and immigration on Jan.31. In a mass email sent to the students and faculty, Paige said in part, “In light of the executive order on immigration, we are aware of the uncertainty some of our students, faculty and staff may be experiencing. Trump, Cont. on pg. 7
Community service and job opportunities offered at CIA Fair Aaron Walker Staff Writer/MC301 Jackson State University students had the opportunity to network with local agencies looking for student volunteers as well as meet potential employers at the annual Community in Action/Part-time Job Fair on Jan. 26. Sponsored by the Alice Varnado Harden Center for Service and Community Engaged Learning (AVHCSCEL) and the Career Services Center (CSC), the event was held in the Student Center Ballrooms A & B. Jackson State students are required to earn 120 hours of community service (60 hours for transfer students) as a graduation requirement. Some of the agencies present included: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Catholic Charities, the Center for Social Entrepreneurship, the Jackson Zoo, and many more. Kimberly Harris, Service Learning/Community Service Resource Specialist/ NSE Coordinator,
Photo: Aaron Walker Text
coordinates the event with the help of CSC. “Since all of our students must have community service to graduate, we make it as convenient as possible for them. Every semester we bring agencies that we partner with to the students and they can go from table to table and find who they want to do their community service with,” said Harris. One of the many vendors
on site was the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). They were looking for volunteers to help get the word out about HIV and STDS prevention and awareness. Valerie Brown, an advocacy consultant for AHF was working hard to gain volunteers and spread the message about practicing safe sex. “We go out into the
community to raise awareness for HIV an Aids and STDS,” said Brown. Shirley Clark Reed, a representative with the Living Independence for Everyone of Mississippi, was on site to share with students how they could help empower individuals with disabilities. “Students will be volunteering to help make footsteps in the community by helping put on various YES, WE’RE SOCIAL!
fundraisers for the agency,” said Clark-Reed, coordinator for marketing/events for the non-profit agency. Many students took advantage of the event and thought it was very important for other students to attend. “It was really important for me to come today, because it is good networking and I’m really glad I did come. I made a lot of connections and it was a lot of part-time and community service job opportunities,” said Tyshara Mobley, a senior social work major from Biloxi, Miss. Jerry Lee Rogers, a senior social work major from Memphis, Tenn., also appreciated the networking opportunity. “I believe it was important to attend today’s event, because of networking skills, and to know what’s going on in the community by helping to give back to the community by volunteering,” said Rogers. Other students welcomed the opportunity to meet agencies that offer
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CIA, Cont. on pg. 7