The Xavier Herald @xulaherald
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November 9, 2016 - December 1, 2016
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Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans, La.
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November 9, 2016 - December 1, 2016
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November 9, 2016 - December 1, 2016
Is There Really A Teacher Shortage? by Renee Akbar, Ph.D. Chair, Division of Education and Counseling According to the recent Hechinger Report, in 2003, the seven universities in New Orleans handed out 265 degrees in education. By 2015, only 93 were awarded. This trend mirrors what is happening nationally – the teacher supply is dwindling, even though demand is still high. Salary, student behavior, and working conditions are some of the reasons that keep many from choosing teaching as a career. This is especially true for people of color. Over the past decade, the diversity gap between teachers and students has emerged to be a significant problem in education. For the first time in public education’s history, the majority of public school students are of color (45%) and are economically disadvantaged
(51%). This is a far cry from what the teaching force looks like. The 3.3 million teachers in the US are 82% white and 75% female; 8% Hispanic, 7% black and 3% Asian and other minority groups. Only 2% represent black males. In urban cities like New Orleans, Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, where there are concentrated populations of African Americans and Hispanics, their white teaching force increased while the teacher of color workforce decreased. In New Orleans alone, the percentage of black teachers went from 72% pre Katrina to 49% in 2015; 87% of NOLA’s public school children are of color. Why is this important? Teachers of color, who serve as influential role models and advocates for minority students, have a more favorable view of students of color than their white counterparts. The “stereotype
threat” is almost not present. Teachers of color are less likely to hold unconscious bias views of their students’ academic capabilities. Studies are finding students of color who are paired with same race teachers do better academically because they have a more favorable perception of same race teachers. Favorable perceptions almost always translate into kids doing better in school. Discipline is another important variable in minority student success. Kids can’t learn if they aren’t in school and actively engaged in their classroom. Studies are finding the unconscious bias of white teachers plays a significant role in the disproportionate punishment of black students compared to their white counterparts. The US Department of Education data found that a black K – 12 student is 3.8 times more likely to be
Division of Business In ter n wi th J udg e Op ened Do ors, Insights
by Aalyiah Young Division of Business ayoung4t@xula.edu
My name is Aaliyah Young and I am a sophomore accounting major, with a minor in Spanish. I aspire to become a Certified Public Accountant, and then go on to law school to be a corporate attorney. Last summer, I learned how to make all of this happen. In my hometown of Birmingham, Ala., I worked as a server at a seafood restaurant and also an intern with 10th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Elisabeth French. Judge French handles civil cases such as car accidents, medical malpractice, and some small corporate cases. From this experience, I learned a variety of legal terms and the ins and outs of the court system, including how a
jury is selected. I also had the opportunity to network with different types of attorneys. They shared how they got to the position they are in today and what I can do to be a successful attorney. Something they shared with me was that I can go to law school with any undergraduate degree, so although I am an accounting major, I don’t have to go into the corporate law field. I think it was a great opportunity for me because it made me think critically about our legal system and what part I would like to play in it. Ultimately, this internship broadened my horizons and allowed me to take a peek inside the courts of Birmingham.
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suspended than a white student. In Louisiana, 60,000 students, many who were minority and low income, were suspended during the 2013-2014 school year, including 8,000 K – 3rd graders. Teachers of color help to counter these trends. Is there really a teacher shortage? Yes, WE NEED MORE TEACHERS OF COLOR, especially in the STEM areas. What are we doing about this problem? At Xavier, our teacher preparation program is dedicated to making this world more just and humane through quality education by producing quality teachers of ALL colors, who care about and have compassion to nurture the intellect of their students, especially students of color. Currently, we are instituting programs we hope will inspire college students of color, who haven’t considered teaching as a career, to give that option a
second look. Through two grants, we are implementing two teacher residency programs, STEM Stars and the Norman C. Francis Teacher Residency Program. Both are 1-year residencies that are a part of a 2-year degree program. Participants will receive intense training by pairing them with master teachers, considerably reducing the gap between practice and theory. In addition to receiving a master’s degree in the art of teaching and certification, participants will receive a monthly stipend for 12 months and employment in selected NOLA schools. For more information on these programs, and other teacher preparation programs at Xavier, contact us at 504.520.7536 or email us at doec@xula.edu.
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November 9, 2016 - December 1, 2016
“Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Awards place you in the top 1 percent of collegiate student media in the United States.” Laura Widmer, ACP executive director National Conference Washington, D.C. Oct. 20-23, 2016
The Xavier Herald Staff
Teamwork, Dedication Earn Awards
FALL 2016
By Melinda L. Shelton Director, Student Publications For almost 90 years, Xavier University of Louisiana’s student publications have documented the university’s history. The Xavier Herald newspaper and The Xavierite yearbook have published continuously since the 1930s. In 2010, we launched the first generation website, known today as xulaherald.com/The Xavier Herald. Unlike universities with large journalism programs, Xavier depends on a handful of students—literally core staffs of five to eight per semester—to produce a newspaper, yearbook and digital newspaper. Staff are from many disciplines: art/graphics design, business, computer science, English, mass communication, political science, psychology, STEM majors, College of Pharmacy, and others. At a time when some universities have downsized or eliminated student publications, Xavier’s administration maintains full financial and academic support for The Herald and xulaherald.com. Students pay $25 per year for The Xavierite, which covers most—but not all—of the yearbook’s expenses. A couple of dozen students hunker down and invest hundreds of hours in their university student media. Working on The Xavier Herald, Xavierite and xulaherald.com is part of a 90-year tradition. An award-winning tradition. The 2015-2016 collegiate journalism awards cycle ended in October, and once again our student publications brought home new plaques and certificates to add to the expanding cache. Award-winning Herald staffs included Eric Craig, Fran Pirkl, Mark Veals, Ashlee Hill, Nicholas Davison, Kaelin Maloid, Natese Dockery, Meredith Williams, Allana Barefield, Morgan Yates, Bianca Moore, Tyler Despenza, Prinsey Walker, Kendall Lawson, Lester Rainey, Jaleah Johnson, and Shermona Harvey.
Editor-in-Chief: Kaelin Maloid Photography Editor: Natese Dockery Design Editor: Nicholas Davison Graphic Design Nicholas Davison
Photographers
Natese Dockery Amanda English Kaelin Maloid
Associated Collegiate Press 6th place, 2016 Design of the Year, Special Section Cover/News Magazine Pacemaker: Nicholas Davison. Nick won with his cover design for the spring 2016 student customer satisfaction survey section.
Sports
Dimond Hall Kaelin Maloid
Associated Collegiate Press Best of Show Awards Associated Collegiate Press Bestpages: of Show yearbook, 1-299 The Awards Xavierite. Mahalia Dees, managing editor; Kennedi Crosby, 4ththplace, place, yearbook, 1-299 pages: The Xavierite. Mahalia Dees,Alexis managing editor; Kennedi Crosby, 4 Jaleah Johnson and Larresa Phillips, photos/design; volunteers Jade Avery, Wright. th Jaleah Johnson and Larresa Phillips, photos/design; volunteers Jade Avery, Alexis Wright. 6 thplace, website, small school: xulaherald.com. Mark Veals, Nick Davison, Eric Craig, design and content. 6 place, website, small school: xulaherald.com. Mark Veals, Nick Davison, Eric Craig, design and content. 5th place, newspaper special edition: The Xavier Herald, student customer satisfaction survey section, 5th place, newspaper special edition: The Xavier Herald, student customer satisfaction survey section, March 2016. March 2016. 10th place, Newspaper, less-than-weekly: The Xavier Herald.
Contributing Writers Aaiyah Young Kendall Lawson
Faculty Adviser: Melinda L. Shelton 504.520.5096, mshelton@xula.edu
th
10 place, Newspaper, less-than-weekly: The Xavier Herald.
College Media Association Pinnacle Awards 2nd place, 4-year, less-than-weekly newspaper of the year: The Xavier Herald. 3rd place, best house ad design: Nicholas Davison. CMA Film Festival, Long Documentary, honorable mention: Dat Le and Prinsey Walker, video tribute, “Thank You, Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.” Louisiana Press Association, Better Newspaper Competition, Collegiate 1st place, most effective use of graphic design on a single page, Gary Hebert Award, Nicholas Davison. 1st place, best overall website: xulaherald.com, Mark Veals, content/design editor. 1st place, best feature story: Kaelin Maloid. 3rd place, General Excellence: The Xavier Herald. Southeast Journalism Conference 2nd place, Journalist of the Year: Eric Craig. 6th place, best graphic design: Nicholas Davison.
Staff Writers
Kaelin Maloid Ayanna Robertson
HERALD CONTACT INFORMATION
Herald Office: Email Stories: Advertising:
Xavier South, 112B 504.520.5096 herald@xula.edu 504.520.5096
The Xavier Herald is an award-winning newspaper produced by, for and about students at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, La. While The Herald is housed in the Department of Mass Communication, its contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the department or Xavier University. The Herald is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and as such adheres to the collegiate journalists’ code of ethics. The Herald staff reserves the right to accept, edit, or refuse content.
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November 9, 2016 - December 1, 2016
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Jordan DeLoch poses with Dr. Verret at Election Watch Party.
Fight Doesn’t End Election Night: A Letter From SGA President Sierra Banchard-Hodge
Citizens come out to the University Center to vote Nov. 8
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November 9, 2016 - December 1, 2016
STUDENTS AT DILLARD KENDALL LAWSON
DILLARD UNIVERSITY STUDENT HOLDS UP SIGN IN PROTEST, PHOTO BY NATESE DOCKERY
WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE A PEACEFUL PROTEST TURNED OUT TO BE A VIOLENT BATTLE BETWEEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND CAMPUS AUTHORITIES. THE DILLARD PROTEST WAS VERY INTRIGUING TO SAY THE VERY LEAST. I WENT TO DILLARD TO COVER THE LOUISIANA SENATE DEBATE, PRIMARILY FOCUSING ON THE CANDIDACY OF DR. DAVID DUKE, A FORMER KU KLUX KLAN GRAND WIZARD, FOR A DATA NEWS WEEKLY ARTICLE. HOWEVER, WE WERE NOT THE ONLY ONE’S WAITING FOR HIS ARRIVAL. WHEN WE FIRST ARRIVED, STUDENTS FROM XAVIER, TULANE, AND LOYOLA WERE GATHERED AT THE FRONT GATES OF THE UNIVERSITY, CHANTING AND GIVING CROWD TALKS DISCUSSING THEIR DISGUST WITH A WHITE SUPREMACIST BEING ALLOWED ON A HISTORICALLY BLACK CAMPUS. TO ADD MORE INSULT TO INJURY, DILLARD STUDENTS HAD ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THEIR PRESIDENT, WALTER KIMBROUGH, VIA TWITTER, EMAIL, AND FORMALLY WRITTEN LETTERS DETAILING THEIR DISAPPROVAL. DUKES PRESENCE ON A HISTORICALLY BLACK UNIVERSITY WAS TRULY ABYSMAL. THROUGH WITNESSING A POOR EXAMPLE OF CAMPUS POLICING AND SEEING EXTREME FORCE USED IN RESPONSE FOR MINIMAL OFFENCES, COVERING THE PROTEST WAS A RIVETING EXPERIENCE AND STUPEFYING TO SEE DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED DILLARD STUDENTS.
KAELIN MALOID
ANY TIME YOU PUT A FORMER KKK GRAND WIZARD AT A HISTORICALLY BLACK CAMPUS, IT’S BOUND TO HAVE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES. IT WAS HARD TO DETACH MYSELF AS A REPORTER AND NOT BECOME A PROTESTOR. WHEN YOU’RE THAT CLOSELY PACKED WITH PEOPLE, IT’S ALMOST AS IF THE EMOTIONS AND TENSIONS FLOW FROM PERSON TO PERSON. I WAS ANGRY, BUT I DIDN’T KNOW WHY. THINGS I NORMALLY WOULDN’T CONDONE—LIKE DESTRUCTION—STARTED SOUNDING LIKE A GOOD IDEA ONCE SOMEONE YELLED IT WITH A VIBRATO IN THEIR VOICE AKIN TO PREACHERS. I WAS SWEPT UP IN THEIR PROTEST, THEIR WORDS—AND FOR GOOD REASON. THEY HAD EVERY RIGHT TO BE ANGRY HE WAS THERE. THAT BEING SAID, A PART OF ME WAS NOT SURPRISED AT 6:57 P.M. WHEN THE FIRST ROUND OF MACE WENT OUT. ONE MINUTE I HELD MY CELL PHONE IN THE AIR, RECORDING VIDEOS AND THINKING I SHOULD LEAVE SOON BECAUSE I HAD ALL THE QUOTES I NEEDED FOR A STORY I WAS GOING TO WRITE—AND THEN THE NEXT MINUTE, I FOUND MYSELF FIFTEEN FEET AWAY FROM MY PREVIOUS POSITION, COUGHING UP PEPPER SPRAY. IT TOOK A LITTLE OVER THREE MINUTES FOR IT TO BE VIOLENT AND LESS THAN 20 FOR EVERYTHING TO SETTLE DOWN AGAIN. IT WAS EYE-OPENING, ESPECIALLY BEING THERE AND SEEING HOW THE MEDIA PORTRAYED IT, AND WHERE THE BLAME WAS PLACED VERSUS WHERE IT SHOULD’VE BEEN PLACED (DR. WALTER KIMBROUGH, ALL 13 OF THE XAVERITIES THERE WERE NOT AT THAT DOOR INCITING VIOLENCE).
JAMIA COLLINS, COURTBOUILLON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ROLANDA JOUBERT, ONLINE/MANAGING EDITOR
PROTESTOR BEHIND STAIRS HOLDS UP DILLARD UNIVERSITY, PHOTO BY NATESE DOCKERY
THIS PROTEST WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST NEWS STORIES TO HAPPEN TO DILLARD UNIVERSITY AND AS STUDENT JOURNALISTS, IT WAS EXCITING TO COVER THIS EVENT. WE ORIGINALLY HAD DOUBTS STUDENTS WOULD TRULY PROTEST, BUT WE WERE PROVEN WRONG. WE LEARNED HOW TO COVER A MAJOR DEBATE, SAW HOW A PROFESSIONAL MEDIA ROOM OPERATES AND MET SOME PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS. WE WERE EVEN ABLE TO INTERVIEW SOME OF THE CANDIDATES AFTER THE DEBATE, WHICH FOR SOME OF US WAS OUR FIRST TIME INTERVIEWING SOMEONE OF PROMINENCE. WE LEARNED FROM COVERING THE DEBATE THAT AS JOURNALISTS, WE HAVE TO BE OBJECTIVE AND NOT LET OUR FEELINGS ABOUT DAVID DUKE SHOW IN OUR COURTBOUILLON STAFF, L-R: ROLANDA JOUBERT, MANAGING EDITOR/ ONLINE EDITOR; JAMIA COLLINS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF; FRANK DUPLESIS, BEHAVIOR. REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER; DESTINEE ROSS, REPORTER xulaherald.com
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D PROTEST SPEAK OUT AYANNA ROBERTSON
PROTESTOR HOLDS UP AN ANTI-WHITE SUPREMACY SIGN AT DILLARD UNIVERSITY, PHOTO BY NATESE DOCKERY
NATESE DOCKERY
THE DILLARD UNIVERSITY PROTEST WAS AN EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE. GOING IN, EVERYONE THOUGHT THAT THINGS WERE GOING TO BE PEACEFUL. THE PROTEST WAS ADDRESSING THE LACK OF RECOGNITION THAT THE STUDENTS RECEIVED FROM THEIR PRESIDENT, WALTER M. KIMBROUGH, PRIOR TO THE SENATE DEBATE THAT TOOK PLACE ON THEIR CAMPUS. THE DEBATE INCLUDED A FORMER KKK GRAND WIZARD DAVID DUKE, WHICH RAISED CONCERNS FOR SAFETY AMONGST THE STUDENT BODY. THE PROTEST BEGAN WITH A FEW MOTIVATIONAL MESSAGES FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS AND DILLARD STUDENTS WHO WERE ALSO ORGANIZERS OF THE EVENT. THOSE MESSAGES WERE FOLLOWED BY CHANTS. THESE CHANTS INCLUDED “LET BLACK EXCELLENCE IN,” AND “NO DUKE, NO KKK, NO FASCIOUS USA.” EVEN WITH THE CHANTS, THE PROTEST REMAINED PEACEFUL. HOWEVER, AT ONE POINT THE PROTESTERS TRIED TO ENTER DILLARD’S AUDITORIUM, WHERE THE SENATE DEBATE WAS TAKING PLACE. THIS IS ALSO THE POINT WHERE THINGS BEGAN TO GET OUT OF HAND. DURING THIS PERIOD TWO STUDENTS WERE DETAINED, AND THE CROWD WAS PEPPER SPRAYED. A GROUP OF US WERE ALSO THREATENED WITH STUN GUNS. FROM A JOURNALISTIC PERSPECTIVE, IT WAS SURPRISING TO SEE THAT THINGS GOT OUT OF HAND SO QUICKLY. IT WAS ALSO SURPRISING TO SEE THAT EVEN THE REPORTERS AND JOURNALIST WERE VICTIM TO THE ABUSE THAT TOOK PLACE DUE TO THE PEPPER SPRAY AND THE PHYSICAL SHOVING. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A YOUNG, AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT, IT WAS HEARTBREAKING. TO SEE A GROUP OF YOUNG STUDENTS SIMPLY TRYING TO BE HEARD, GET ABUSED AND TREATED SO POORLY WAS SIMPLY SAD. BUT IT WAS ALSO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW AS NOT ONLY A JOURNALIST, BUT ALSO A YOUNG ADULT.
YOU NEVER TRULY KNOW HOW YOU ARE GOING TO FEEL ABOUT A CERTAIN SITUATION UNTIL YOU ARE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING IT. ON THE NIGHT OF NOV. 2, 2016, I ,ALONG WITH MANY OTHER STUDENTS FROM AROUND NEW ORLEANS, DECIDED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROTEST ON DILLARD UNIVERSITY’S CAMPUS. NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS WAS MY FIRST PROTEST, I WENT INTO THE SITUATION WITH AN OPEN MIND, EVEN AS I LOOKED AROUND I SAW MANY ANGRY FACES WITH SIGNS IN HAND. AS THE ACTUAL PROTEST STARTED, WE BEGAN TO CHANT THINGS SUCH AS “NO DUKE, NO KKK, NO FASCIST USA.” THE CROWD NEVER GOT TOO OUT OF HAND OR UNRULY; HOWEVER, NEWS REPORTERS DECIDED TO REPORT OTHERWISE. ONE REPORTER OVER EXAGGERATEDLY BEGAN HIS REPORT WITH, “THEY’RE GETTING CRAZY OUT HERE!” IT JUST SHOWED HOW THE MEDIA CAN TAKE A SITUATION AND FLIP IT. AS THE NIGHT PROGRESSED, THE CROWD BEGAN TO GET IRRITATED, WHICH LED TO THE POLICE GETTING IRRITATED, IN TURN PEPPER SPRAYING STUDENTS, INCLUDING SOME OF OUR VERY OWN XAVIERITIES. MYSELF AND A COUPLE OTHER STUDENTS WERE EVEN STUCK UNDER A STAIRCASE WHERE WE WERE THREATENED WITH TASERS. OF COURSE, I WAS TERRIFIED, BUT I HAD TO KEEP MY COMPOSURE BECAUSE YOU CANNOT BE WEAK IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS. I REFUSED TO GIVE THE OFFICERS THAT SATISFACTION. AFTER ALMOST BEING TASED AND ESCAPING PEPPER SPRAY, I LEFT DILLARD UNIVERSITY FEELING SATISFIED BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO GO OUT THERE AND STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE DILLARD STUDENTS.
LEVERDA SUEER HOLDS UP AN ANTI-WHITE SUPREMACY SIGN AT DILLARD UNIVERSITY, PHOTO BY NATESE DOCKERY
CLEO JOFFRION ALLEN, PH.D., APR, COURTBOUILLON ADVISER
THE NOV. 2, 2016, EVENT AT DILLARD PROVIDED A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO COVER A GOVERNMENTAL DEBATE WITH ITS ACCOMPANYING MESSINESS. WE HAD A REPORTER AND PHOTOGRAPHER OUTSIDE WITH DEMONSTRATORS AND THE SAME INSIDE FOR THE DEBATE. PRIOR TO STUDENTS ATTENDING THE EVENT, I RE-ITERATED IN CLASS AND IN COURTBOUILLON MEETINGS THAT NO MATTER HOW DISTASTEFUL DAVID DUKE’S PRESENCE MIGHT BE, IT WAS PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO LOOK AND ACT IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND TO DO RESEARCH ON THE CANDIDATES AND ISSUES BEFOREHAND. PERHAPS, MOST OF ALL, I EMPHASIZED THE NEED TO REMAIN ABOVE THE FRAY: REPORTERS ARE NOT TYPICALLY PART OF THE STORY; THEY ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN OBJECTIVE.
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Volleyball clinches GCAC, Advances to NAIA Nov. 19 by Dimond Hall Sports Writer dhall7@xula.edu
The 2016 Gold Nuggets volleyball team was fairly new when they set out at the beginning of this season. With only three returning players, the Nuggets acquired nine freshmen and three transfer students. Despite its new roster, the players demonstrated their strength when it came down to teamwork, which was evident through their support and encouragement toward one another during games and practice. The Gold Nuggets finished this season 11-1 in conference and 16-16 overall. They wrapped up the season by winning the Gulf Coast Atlantic Conference for the sixth year in a row. The Gold Nuggets will play in the NAIA National Championship Saturday Nov.
19 in Sioux City, Iowa. Time and team to be announced the week of. Impressive Stats Together the team had a total 1426 kills, 72 of which occurred during a match against Talladega on Nov. 5. On Oct. 13, they had 209
attacks against Dillard while also setting a school record during the game with 118 digs. In addition, four players on the team were named AllGCAC: Julianna Tomasoni, Amanda Perry, Tiffany Phillips and Hasani Salaam. Other than Tomasoni, three of
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the four are freshmen.
matches with 20 or more.
Serving as outside hitter, Tomasoni, the Brazilian powerhouse, dominated the season in attacks, aces and broke the school record in kills per game with 25 kills against Evangel on August 20. She has played 16 matches with 10 or more kills and two
Perry, a setter, had 31 digs in a match against Faulkner and had 28 matches with 10 or more digs. Phillips had 12 assist dig double-doubles, and Hasani played 8 matches with 10 or more kills.
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November 9, 2016 - December 1, 2016
Gold Nuggets: Women’s Basketball Reason Review by Kaelin Maloid Editor-in-Chief kmaloid@xula.edu
Put it in bold: the Gold Nuggets’ head coach, Bo Browder, said competing at the national level was how to define a successful season . “You can put this in the quote, I think our programs should be trying to do the same thing our tennis program is doing—competing on the national level,” Browder said.
The 11 newcomers to the team are: 5-foot-8 Aliyah Bell, a guard from Pass Christian, Miss.; 5-foot-8 Jordan Coleman, a guar from Kansas City, Mo.; 5-foot-5 Rosie Davis, a guard from Lancaster, Texas; 5-foot-8 Jalyn Hodge, a guard from Plano, Texas; 5-foot-9 Rexesha Hollis, a guard from Spring, Texas; 6-foot Dasha Pitre, a forward/center from Lake Charles, La.; 5-foot-9
can do a variety of jobs and do it well.”
done a good job helping manage personalities.
Browder, who had high praises for Scott, said she was just great overall— great at coaching, recruiting, teaching post play and more. He continued to say she had brought a lot of new things to the Nuggets’ program with her great personality and flexibility.
“Now, it has been a challenge, and it hasn’t been easy,” Browder said. It’s also been an adjustment for the returning players, too, according to Browder. After last season’s seven seniors graduated, the returning players have had to take up that leadership position. “You have not been a leader these past three years, and now you’re being put in that position,” Browder said.
Off-Season and Recruitment
Now
Last season, the Gold Nuggets went 22-12 overall. They won 12 games at home, 8 games away, and 2 in a neutral arena. In their conference, they were 7-5, having 4 wins at home and 2 on the road and 3 wins at home and 3 away.
Before the season started, the Nuggets had “a lot” to do, according to
Browder. However, the Nuggets currently sit 2-0, after beating Florida Memorial 70-57 and Webber International 76-52 at home. Still, Browder said the team has to work on defense and being able to focus on every possession. “But that’s a challenge for every team eve4ry year,” Browder said. “It sounds easy, but it’s very hard to do. It takes a lot of concentration when you’re out on the court.” The Gold Nuggets will play at home again on Nov. 15 (Loyola), Nov. 24 (LSU-Shreveport), Nov. 25 (Langston), and Dec. 15 (Concordia).
They also were Gulf Coast Atlantic Conference champions, after beating Talledega’s Lady Tornadoes 75-68. They also took a trip to the NAIA championships, but lost 75-50 in the first round to the Campbellsville Tigers. Thr Gold Nuggets also lost six seniors, including multiple-time GCAC player of the week, Whitney Gathright. The other five were Trana Hopkins; Don’yeah Mayfield; Alesha Smith; Emoni Harvey; and Amara Person-Hampton. This season, the Nuggets have six returning players: Mikayla Bates; Kelsey Joseph; Kelsee Singleton; Ireyon Keith; and Bianca Brown.
Maya Trench drives the ball against Florida Memorial. Photo by Kaelin Maloid
Terriel Ross, a guard/forward from Baton Rouge; 6-foot-2 Angelle Simon, a center from Marrero, La.; 5-foot-11 Gina Smith, a guard from Atlanta; 5-foot-2 Maya Trench, a guard from Edgard, La.; and 5-foot-10 Essence Wells, a guard fro Irving, Texas.
The Nuggets also added assistant coach Tarniesha Scott to their staff. Scott was interim head coach at Browder and staff had Talledega College, assistant some recruiting to do. coach at Prairie View A&M, and a volunteer assistant “I’m going to grade coach at UT Dallas, which our recruiting with a B+,” also happened to be her alma Browder said. “It went mater. pretty good. We have eleven Coach Scott is just a new players after losing six seniors—recruiting was really well-rounded basketball coach,” Browder said. “She big.”
Adjustments With all the new members on the team, Browder and staff are adjusting to managing all the different personalities. “A major transition is trying to get our new players to understand our system—it’s a different system than where they come from,” Browder said. “More demanding on defense, more about sharing the ball, and less 1-on-1 play.” Browder is using his previous coaching experience to manage the personalities, along with Scott, and the other assistant coaches, Paige Gauthier and Jasmine Grant, who played for him. He said they have
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Mikayla Bates rises for two against Florida Memorial Uiversity. Photo by Kaelin Maloid
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November 9, 2016 - December 1, 2016
Gold Rush: Men’s BasketbalL Season Preview Gold Rush basketball has a new head coach—and team—as they’ve entered the 2016-17 season.
For Williams and staff, it’s been tough. It’s new to everybody, including the returning players. The playing is totally different from everything they’ve ran so far, according to Williams. It’s taking some adjustment to get them used to that.
Being a Gold Rush assistant coach prepared Gold Rush head coach, Alfred “AJ” Williams, for the opportunity to be head coach at Harris-Stowe last season; however, it wasn’t until he became head coach that he had the opportunity to learn and grow as a head coach.
The returning players have made it a little bit easier for him. Williams admits to leaning on them heavily because they understand what Xavier basketball means. He relies on them to set the example for the new guys and to carry the weight.
“And then, coming back here, it’s like a small adjustment. Not too much,” Williams said. “It’s good to be surrounded by familiar faces.”
It’s been a collective effort from all parties, though. Everybody is putting in to “mesh and gel” together to push the team forward, according to Williams.
by Kaelin Maloid Editor-in-Chief kmaloid@xula.edu
Williams, who said he wants to put his stamp on Xavier, admits he can’t “reinvent the will.” Xavier has had a lot of success in the past seasons, but he wants to put his own spin on the type of student-athlete brought into the program, along with making the offense a little more up-tempo. He does plan on keeping the defense the same as it’s been in the past.
“It’s been fun, though,” Williams said. Last season, the Gold Rush went 21-13 overall, and
6-6 in the Gulf Coast Atlantic Conference. They were 15-5 at home and 4-7 away. They lost 84-71 to Dillard to become runner-ups in the GCAC Championships. However, they still made it to the NAIA tournament but lost in the first round to Lewis-Clarke State 6869 during overtime. On top of that, the Gold Rush lost four seniors: Morris Wright, Gary Smith, RJ Daniels, and Jarvis Thibodeaux. When Williams replaced former head coach Dannton Jackson, he immediately went to the NAIA to determine recruiting. He wanted to see how the returning players would stack up against their opponents and fill in the holes accordingly. “I knew that we needed to continuously get better, so we brought in guards that could put the ball on the floor and shoot it and who could create their own shot,” Williams said. “We brought in size.”
“Our personnel is going to kind of dictate that, how we play,” Williams said. “With a little structure, I kind of let them do their thing.” His personnel is a 13-member roster, 9 of which are new players. Of those 9 new players, 7 are freshman Kahlil McCoy, Monte Lambert, Evan Howard, Innocent Kukulu, Mike Williams, Donovan Armstrong, and Jerry Gibson. The only two non-freshman players are juniors Hakeem Simon and Jalen David. The returning players are seniors Seth Jackson and Wesley Pluviose-Philip; junior Lucas Martin-Julien; and sophomore Leland Alexander. As if becoming head coach wasn’t it’s own challenge, Williams has also had to adjust to managing the different personalities. “I’m a business management major, so this goes back to what I do: I’m managing personalities, egos,” Williams said. “It goes back to recruiting a certain type of athlete—one that can handle the academic criteria here and being on the court.”
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Williams said they addressed some areas, and when everybody was back on the floor healthy, fans could see everything come together. “There’s three areas that’ll help our basketball team have success: attitude is one, academics is another, and injury is the last one,” Williams said. “Right now, we’re sitting at two out of three.” Currently injured are Pluvoise-Philip, who Williams said had surgery on his foot. Two of the freshman also have some “situations” they are working through, according to Williams. “We’re just trying to hold the fort down until everybody gets healthy,” Williams said. “Once we do that, you’ll see how great this team could be.” Despite new players, injuries, and this being his first year as Gold Rush head
coach, Williams is looking for a successful team. To him, that means winning a conference championship, a national championship. Ideally, he wants them to have an over 20-win season and to get the team back to Kansas City, who hosts the NAIA. If he could do all that his first year, that would be pretty awesome, according to Williams. “If we compete and play like we’re supposed to, I think we have a really good shot at being special,” Williams said.
Left: Jalen David rises for two against Wayland Baptist. Right: Innocent Kukulu lays the ball up against LSU-A. Photos by Kaelin Maloid
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November 9, 2016 - December 1, 2016
SNAPS! Students pose with creators of ‘Ya Heard Me,’ a bounce documentary. Photo by The Xavier Herald.
African pride is displayed at Cultural Night. Photo by The Xavierite.
France is displayed at Cutural Night. Photo by The Xavierite.
Tasha Smith, Kimasha Hill, and Sharissa Wrightt after crossing Sigma Gamma Rho at Neophyte.
Members of Alpha Phi Alpha at Neophyte. Photo by Amanda English.
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