THE STUDENT VOICE OF FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY
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www.TheFamuanOnline.com
Monday, April 18, 2011
Hudson makes case to students
VOL. 112 ISSUE 30
Shift the powers that be
Students take on Washington D.C.
NEWS BRIEFS UNIVERSITY
MATTHEW RICHARDSON SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR William Hudson Jr. stands as the only in-house candidate for the Vice President of Student Affairs position. So far, two of the three candidates have been interviewed, Hudson being the second. Hudson was first interviewed by faculty members and was most recently interviewed by students in the Student Government Association’s senate chamber. Students had the opportunity to listen to Hudson’s bid for the position and why he is the best choice to lead the department. “I think that we have a lot that we can do here at Florida A&M University,” Hudson said. “We have a brand that we have to reestablish. We have things that we need to do to push forward because if we don’t do it, someone else will dictate it for us.” Hudson, directs the Office of Retention, is serving as the interim VP of student affairs and admitted to the students that he was not initially interested in acquiring a permanent role. “Honestly, at first, I didn’t want this position but as I was asked to be the interim, my mind started to change,” Hudson said. “One of my adages is ‘if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.’ so how can I complain about things within student affairs if I’m not willing to spearhead it and make things better. I think I have done that somewhat to an extent now, but the vision that I have for this division, I think that we can be one of the top schools in the nation.” SGA President-elect Breyon Love hosted the interview and encouraged students to inquire about Hudson’s plans for FAMU in the midst of intense
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D. A. Robin The Famuan Power Shift 2011 in Washington, D.C. held dozens of seminars and workshops.
ROSCOE THOMPSON AND URSULA IBLE STAFF WRITERS WASHINGTON, D.C.- Beginning Friday, the Walter E. Washington Conference Center in Washington D.C. became a place for 10,000 young people to share ideas on how to create a sustainable environment. Power Shift 2011 kicked with over 100 workshops, panels and training sessions supporting the growing movement of climate
change and clean energy policies, with 40 FAMU and FSU students in attendance. Conference attendees had the opportunity to hear from keynote speakers including former president Al Gore, environmentalists Bill McKibben and Van Jones, along with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and others. “We have to take action to prevent our country and the world, putting a price on carbon is the goal of cap-
and-trade plans and other proposals to ensure emissions cuts, but such measures face gigantic hurdles in the current Congress,” Gore told the crowd at Friday night’s opening plenary. Van Jones, who served as the green jobs advisor in the Obama administration in 2009, spoke passionately during his keynote address, expressing the need to “shift the power” and “help lead POWER SHIFT 4
Brinson’s murder remains unsolved MATTHEW RICHARDSON SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR When Brandon Brinson was found shot at the corner of Pensacola Street and White Drive one night last April, many were curious about what happened. Friends and family members mourned the Florida A&M student’s death and questioned when justice would come. One year later, the case is still unsolved and the Tallahassee Police Department is not saying much. But one thing they are saying is that Brinson, 19, could have been a victim of the city’s narcotics activity. “As this remains an active and open investigation, only limited details can be released,” said Tallahassee PD spokesman Derek Friend said in an email. “At
this point in the investigation, it appears the incident leading to the death of Mr. Brinson was drug related.” A FAMU freshman from Jacksonville, Brinson was pronounced dead on April 14, at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where he was taken by friends after he was shot. At the time, FAMU Police Department Lt. Angela Kirkland said Brinson was apparently shot on the corner of Pensacola Street and White Drive. While Friend said Brinson’s death was drug related, the slain student had other runins with the police before his untimely death. According to Kirkland, Brinson was involved in an altercation with two other students at FAMU’s cafe in January and he
The Supreme Court of Florida has released it first-try bar exam results for Feb. 2011, which was administered in Tampa. The average pass-rate for all law schools in Florida was 79.5 percent. Ave Maria Law School had the lowest pass-rate. Florida A&M’s College of Law first-time passrate dipped slightly after to ascending in 2010, at 53.8 percent. SOURCE: THE FLORIDA BAR
TODAY’S ONLINE CONTENT: “Anti-abortion group returns fire” by Michael Schrimser “Florida State basketball player goes pro” by Spencer Henderson
WEATHER Today The Famuan Archive Brinson’s murder is beleived to be drug-related
was arrested and charged with one count of disorderly conduct. Kirkland downplayed any possible connection between the fight and the shooting. Just as Tallahassee PD is BRINSON 3
86 59 Tuesday
89 63 Wednesday
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Judgment day for former FAMU officer JORDAN CULVER EDITOR IN CHIEF Byron Whitaker’s situation was complicated. His phone was in one hand, engaged in conversation with Leonard Deshazier, 38, a man who is pegged by federal investigators as a provider of powdered cocaine and marijuana. In his other hand, Whitaker gripped a police receiver. After Whitaker responded to Deshazier with a simple “yeah,” The Famuan Archive the receiver provided further Investigators say Whitaker sold drugs from his patrol car. confirmation of Whitaker’s
occupied status. Through the receiver, a female voice could be heard saying, “Signal four, no injuries involved.” Whitaker responded again, this time to the receiver, and went back to his job as a uniformed officer with the Florida A&M police department. Today at 1:30 p.m., Whitaker, 32, will appear in front of Chief Judge Stephan P. Mickle to be sentenced after pleading guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and making false statements to a federal agent. The court accepted his plea of guilty Jan. 12.
Opinions
Lifestyles
Opinions editor Khristanda Cooper discusses recent robberies and reminds us to be safe.
Valerie Walker advocates for student environmental involvement at the Power Shift 2011 conference in D.C.
Opinions|5
Lifestyles | 6
He faces up to 10 years in prison. According to a statement filed by U.S. Attorney Pamela Marsh, the investigation into Whitaker’s dealings with Deshazier spanned March 9, 2010, through May 19, 2010. During that time “approximately 27 contacts between Whitaker’s Verizon cellular phone and the target telephones were the subject of pen register orders as well as Title III intercept authorization.” Title III applications include WHITAKER 4