The Xavier Herald @xulaherald
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March 14, 2017 - March 27, 2017
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Xavier University of Louisiana
New Orleans, La.
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March 14, 2017 - March 27, 2017
Leland Johnson Recaps Spring Break In Cuba by Leland Johnson Contributing Writer ljohns20@xula.edu
hand basis through our new families. We were also given the opportunity to travel to many spectacular locations
Going to Cuba was an engaging and enlightening experience that opened my eyes as to how different the world is outside of the United States of America. During the trip, several other students and I were pitted into the heart of Cuban culture. During this time, we lived in actual “casas” with Cuban families. We gained instant access to the food, culture and lifestyle on a first
within the city of Havana, such as the shopping district in old Havana, the Havana market, and the Melcon. The most important part of the trip was our service learning relative to Cuban students. We acted the role of a teacher and taught Cuban students how to speak basic English. During the trip, we also gained life long friendships. Overall, the trip was inspiring in many ways.
Johnson poses with art he made in an old Havana muesuem.
Op-Ed
Black People, Black Twitter, and Their Response
by Jordan DeLoch Staff Writer jdeloch@xula.edu
Almost always underestimated, Twitter has a great power that many people fail to take advantage of. At the tips of one’s fingertips, Twitter is able to relay news, entertainment, music, and many other things. Within Twitter, one major distinction that one is bound to come across is what has grown to be known as “Black Twitter.” Twitter has always been a way for users to stay updated on the latest trends. As trends are carried throughout the application, Black users of the app are destined (and expected to) add their own comedic opinions and parodies to both serious and not-so-serious tweets seen throughout each day. The usage of a hashtag is an easy way to see various collections and threads of tweets from Black Twitter users, because most of the time, Twitter’s comedy gold is
found within these hashtags. Similar to the “cool kids” at school, Black Twitter is that group that many people admire but can never become a part of. What validates membership into Black Twitter is not a monthly installment or subscription; in order to become a part of Black Twitter, a BLACK person must simply download the app and create an account. Three features make Black Twitter a vital part of Twitter: comedy in harsh situations, intelligence in a misinformed social world, and resilience in the face of White negativity. Often online, people may tweet things that are “taken out of context,” “misinterpreted,” or “accidental.” These instances may come off as extremely offensive to some. When things like this happen, instead of taking offense, Black Twitter takes advantage. An example of this is the #NiggerNavy Hashtag. One of Yahoo’s Twitter accounts, had an alleged typo in one of its tweets, typing “Nigger” instead of “bigger.” Instead of taking offense to this term, Black Twitter banded together to make hilarious jokes about the situation. In doing this, Black Twitter showed the world that 1) it is okay to make mistakes and, 2) comedy is the best medicine.
Next, Black Twitter uses Twitter to spread knowledge to the misinformed. Whether it is by stating the obvious while responding to trolls, or proving a point to someone stuck in their ways, Black Twitter is able to drop facts in any Twitter instance. When people are unwilling to listen to what is being said, this makes matters a bit hard to come about, however, it is important to note that it does not matter what people think about the truth. Lastly, Black Twitter is a way for Black people to stay in their element. When following users, one typically follows people who are similar to themselves. This is expected because it allows for like-minded content to be displayed on timelines throughout the day. For Black Twitter, this is an opportunity to avoid unwanted negativity from White racists and trolls. This self-imposed separation is for the best, because it avoids uninvited stress and conflict.. With just 140 characters, Twitter allows users an outlet for self-expression, entertainment, and news. The presence of Black Twitter is what makes Twitter special; without it, the application would not be what it is today. Follow me on Twitter @_ItsJust_JORDAN!
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The Vedado neighborhood in Havana, Cuba. Photo by Leland Johnson.
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Division of Business I n t e r n ship Ta k e s S t u d e n t f r o m B o ok s to t he R e a l W or l d
by Ariel Bonnee Contributing Writer Division of Business
A month ago, Professor Cliff Wright in the Division of Business asked me if I was interested in working an internship. Being in my senior year, getting experience in my chosen field was at the top of my to-do list. Susan Vaughn, a Xavier alumna and Certified Public Accountant, told Wright she was looking for a student intern to fill a position with Eldercare Support Services, a nonprofit company
located in New Orleans East. I called Vaughn and set up a meeting with her. We then met and talked for a while. I found her to be very nice and reasonable. She thought I was qualified for the position, and she hired me. The next thing I knew, I was calculating the payroll for Eldercare. However, payroll was not my only task. I also reconcile bank statements, work in QuickBooks, and make general entries to their ledger. I feel comfortable on this job because all of my responsibilities consist of accounting processes that I’ve learned and practiced at Xavier. From simple journal entries to doing practice sets, my prior class experiences have made me confident that I can perform well here at Eldercare. Having a CPA as a mentor was beneficial also.
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March 14, 2017 - March 27, 2017
Dr. Verret Writes Letter on Trip to White House
The Xavier Herald Staff Spring 2017
Co-Editor-in-Chief: Kaelin Maloid Co-Editor-in-Chief: Nicholas Davison Managing Editor: Ayanna Robertson Photography Editor: Natese Dockery Web Content Manager: Mark Veals Graphic Design Nicholas Davison
Photographers Dat Le Kevin Foster Jadzia James Kaelin Maloid
Staff Writers Nicholas Davison Kaelin M aloid Jordan DeLoch
Contributing Writers Ariel Bonnee Kevin Foster
Faculty Adviser: Melinda L. Shelton 504.520.5096, mshelton@xula.edu
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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Tweet Us @xulaherald Instagram: @xulaherald Remaining Editions: March 23 April 11 Dr. Verret and other HBCU presidents speak with Donald Trump in the White House.
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JEFFREY CELEE COE STRIKES A SIGNATURE B-BOY POSE AT THIS YEAR’S BUKU FEST.
March 14, 2017 - March 27, 2017
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PETER CAO HITS ONE OF HIS BREAKDANCE MOVES AT BUKU FEST. PETER IS ONE OF THE BUKU BREAKERS, A GROUP OF BREAKDANCERS THAT PERFORM EVERY YEAR.
PHYLLIS HEUNG STRIKES A POSE AT BUKU FEST. PHYLLIS IS JUSTIN KENNEY’S FIANCÉ.
“I SPY” LIL YACHTY PERFORMING SOME OF HIS NEW MUSIC FOR THIS YEAR’S BUKU FEST.
TRAVIS SCOTT PAUSES AFTER RAPPING SOME OF HIS HOTTEST HITS AT THIS YEAR’S BUKU FEST.
TRAVIS SCOTT GETS READY TO PERFORM SOME OF HIS HOTTEST BARS FOR NEW ORLEANS AT BUKU FEST. xulaherald.com
AMINÉ LEANS IN TO SING HIS HIT SINGLE “CAROLINE” TO A FAN IN THE CROWD AT THIS YEAR’S BUKU FEST.
PHOTO CREDIT: KEVIN FOSTER, JADZIA JAMES & DAT LE xulaherald.com
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Nicki Minaj Returns with Three New Singles
by Nicholas Davison Co-Editor-In-Chief ndavison@xula.edu After the scathing diss track Remy Ma directed to Nicki Minaj titled “shETHER,” Minaj waited two weeks to build her ammo before releasing three new singles, two of which feature her label mates Drake and Lil
Wayne. The three new singles are “No Frauds (feat. Drake & Lil Wayne),” “Regret In Your Tears,” and “Changed It (feat. Lil Wayne).” The single receiving the most buzz of the three is “No Frauds,” noticeably for Drake and Lil Wayne’s features, and also because it serves as her response to Remy Ma’s diss. “No
Frauds,” however, does not serve as a diss track, in my opinion, but more so what is geared to be a radio hit, where shots are thrown. While many do feel Minaj’s time frame of releasing this song is too late, personally I must say the approach of taking her time with her response and crafting it to, hopefully, be her first Billboard Hot 100 #1 song is
a genius move. The track overall could have stood as Nicki’s alone in my personal opinion, as Drake and Lil Wayne’s verses serve as fillers and not verses that had to be present. The weakest track of the #3PackFromParis as Minaj refers to it is “Changed It (feat. Lil Wayne).” While the song includes more punch lines
towards Remy Ma, the overall song is not up to par with the other two tracks, and easily could have served as an album track or bonus track for her upcoming album. My favorite song of the three is “Regret In Your Tears,” a reggae-tinged record that details the journey of finding one’s self after a break-up. With her recent break-up with rapper Meek Mill, the song serves as ode to not only the heartbreak of the situation, but also the healing. There is no feature on the track, which allows for Minaj’s talents in crafting rap/sung records to shine, and the overall reggae tone serves as nostalgia of reggae records from the early 2000s. Nonetheless, Minaj has arrived back on the scene with three strong tracks overall, two of which leave plenty of ground for Remy Ma to respond.
McMurray’s “Burning Sands” Sparks Conversation by Kaelin Maloid Co-Editor-In-Chief Twitter: @KaeMaloid
Burning Sands is one the latest films to garner attention from Black Twitter. Unlike Hidden Figures, Fences, and Moonlight, Burning Sands isn’t attracting good attention. Directed by Gerard McMurray, a member of the Divine Nine’s Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Burning Sands is about a male student, Zurich, who wants to pledge the fictional fraternity Lambda Lambda Phi. During “Hell Week,” Zurich and his potential line brothers face intensive, underground hazing. This movie is breaking the internet because people are not happy with the way the movie portrays pledging. While the movie shows Greek life as some assume it to be, such as the partying, women, and more, it is the hazing that has people upset about the movie. “All of the organizations within the D9 are non-hazing organizations, and it’s really disappointing to see a movie display black Greeks as cruel people that haze and to that extent,” said Briana Simms,
a member of the D9 sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho Inc. Although she thinks the movie shows the effects of hazing, she said she doesn’t like that McMurray seems to fail in demonstrating the sisterhood and brotherhood D9 organizations stand for. However, some people who watched Burning Sands feel as if McMurray’s job was not to portray Greek life but to portray the negative effects of hazing. “ I don’t think the movie represents frat life as much as it represents hazing,” said Ayanna Robertson, who is not Greek affiliated. “Or what some believe goes into becoming Greek.” On the other hand, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Inc., Asia Fernandes, said, from what she’s seen of the trailer, she feels as if Burning Sands tries to push the agenda of tradition. According to Fernandes, tradition isn’t a bad thing; however, what’s the point of tradition when the purpose is lost? “Joining a brotherhood should not and was not founded based on how many gallons of alcohol a person can chug, or how many licks they can take before
they’ve finally had enough,” Fernandes said. “It should be based on what qualities they can contribute to the organization to help it grow and fulfill the principles upon which it was created.” In an interview with EBONY, McMurray said he wanted to highlight the secret, yet venerable, historic part of Greek life. However, Kappa Alpha Psi member, Kylar Wiltz, feels as if that message
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will be lost among the other messages. “I feel as if it portrays Greek life in a negative light,” Wiltz said. “Greek life isn’t about that at all.” According to Wiltz, Greek life is about brotherhood, high standards and excellence. He feels as if the movie doesn’t depict how the majority of Greeks feel about their organization. He added that he felt the film
would push people away from crossing D9 because Burning Sands builds a “misconstrued opinion” of what Greek life is like. However, DJ Gatewood, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha (Spr. ’14) who crossed at the University of California at Riverside, said he didn’t feel the movie portrayed Greeks negatively. According to him, “outsiders” will never know the true meaning of Greek brotherhood or sisterhood. “Until one goes through the experience of becoming Greek, they’ll never understand,” Gatewood said. He added that watching the film brought back laughs, tears, chills, and overall joy at his experience. “Greek life isn’t for everybody,” Gatewood continued. “I learned that if someone really wants a brotherhood/sisterhood, they will do whatever it takes to have that. Pledging is hard, but life is harder.” No matter what people think, McMurray directed the made-for-Netflix movie to start a conversation about hazing—and McMurray feels as if this movie is doing just that.
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Xavier Music Group “FTGG” the Hottest Thing Bussin’ by Kaelin Maloid Co-Editor-In-Chief Twitter: @KaeMaloid
According to New York native Assad Adeyola, also known as “Kai Yola,” he and other members of For the Greater Good are going to keep making music until they stop loving it. While they knew of each other, the members of FTGG didn’t really know each other. In fact, they would say they were “acquaintances.” A group made up of six members, including: Kiriston Clark (Rojo); Chadvett Ebanks (Chadsolo); JonathanTerrell Clark (JayTea); Kai Yola; Jeffery Uguwanyi (The Prophet Najee); and Nate Spann (Nate Freeman), that come from all walks of life were unlikely to even be friends, according to Nate Freeman. But still, they came together, are rapping together and sounding good together. They also did the Xavier University of Louisiana cypher. “It was like taking a shot in the dark,” said Najee, who hails from Memphis (along with Nate Freeman) in reference to starting FTGG. “It [the cypher] was just an idea, but it wasn’t going to be successful if I didn’t have the right type of people in it.” But he had trust in them. “I picked a beat you gone have to come hard in,” Najee laughed. “And they did.”
Right now, the cypher— which is on Youtube—has about 2300 views, according to Najee. “Shout out to the Xavier community,” Kai Yola said, looking up and smiling. His hands clasped. “Y’all have showed so much support.” Music The name came from a train ride from Memphis that Najee and Nate Freeman were on. During a conversation regarding music, Nate Freeman made a statement with the term, “for the greater good” in it. At the moment, Najee stored it in the back of his mind. Later, when coming up with group names, the term hit him and “For the Greater Good” was born. FTGG doesn’t want to sound like everybody else. They don’t want to sound like Lil’ Uzi Vert. However, what they will do is take a bumping beat—like these other artists—and a nice hook-like these other artists—but instead of being
like mainstream rappers, such as 21 Savage, they’re going to spit real bars over it, according to Najee. “We’re not just putting words together and making it rhyme,” said Baton Rougenative, JayTea. “These lyrics have actual meaning behind it.” Making music is their passion. They rap about real stuff, but they can also turn up, according to Kai Yola. They’re having fun and crafting their words in a way the listener can understand. Their music is theirs, stuff they have been through. “When you hear it, you feel it,” Kai Yola said. “Jeff [Najee] is the most faithful, down to earth, raised right, love-my-woman-as-my-rib man I know. He comes out with Melanin Monroe, the girls feel it.” Currently, the group has released one cypher together. However, you can find their music on Soundcloud, with the links in their bio. “Let’s vibe together,”
JayTea said.
However, it’s more than music. FTGG has community Hate service plans. They also have Not everybody is going to some performances planned, like their music, and members along with getting some stuff of FTGG know that. copyrighted for apparel. “If they not talking about It’s not just them, though. you, what you doing?” Rojo The people behind the scenes asked. are just as important. The FTGG wants to thank the “Luca Brasi” of FTGG, people who kept it real for Ernest W. Cubit II, handles them at first during the first their financial and business version of their cypher and aspects. Tim Kent helps telling them they needed to with creative content. And, do better. As far as the people recently, they signed Chandler who “snake,” “hate,” and Rigby to the team, who is best “sneak diss,” according to Kai known for designing the cover Yola, FTGG wants them to art for Najee’s single, Melanin keep doing it. In his words, Monroe. haters are just “confused The future is bright for fans.” the up and coming young “I like to think of haters stars. Najee said he felt 2018 as people with a negative one would be their year, however over their head,” Kai Yola Nate Freeman disagreed. said. “2017 is our year,” “This man over thinking Nate Freeman said, his arms about the Sims,” Rojo crossed, his voice absolute. “I laughed. feel it.” However, it’s hard to You can find FTGG on focus on the hate, when Twitter @WeAreFTGG. the support is so good. Just However, each member has the other day, they were their own Twitter, which can freestyling on Periscope at be found listed below. about two in the morning, and they had about 130 viewers. Nate Freeman: @ “It’s surprising,” Nate IndigoooChild Freeman said. “We didn’t The Prophet Najee: @ even expect that, so to have TheProphetNajee that kind of support is good.” Rojo: @Red_KClark Assad Adeyola: @KaiYola Future ChadSolo: @ChadSolo103 “The campus is starving, JaTea: @_jt2Cool and I want to feed it,” Kai Tim Kent: @Halalappi Yola said. Photo of FTGG. Not shown: Kent, Rigby, or Culpit.
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Springfest Chairs Speak What are you most excited for at Springfest?
What are you most excited for at Springfest?
Advice to students on what to wear?
“A picnic that consists of having the Black Student Unions from PWIs in New Orleans and also the HBCUs in New Orleans so we can have a big picnic.”
“This is my first springfest, so I’m excited for everything, but if I had to pick it would be the concert.”
“Dress to impress. We want everybody to come out and dress their best. “
- Kendale Watson,-Chair of Springfest
- Leonard Lewis, Co-Chair of Springfest
- Kendale Watson, Chair of Springfest
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Bianca Brown rises for two during the championship game.
Edward Waters College tries for the lay-up against Philander Smith.
Braylon Spicer of Philander Smith goes for two against SUNO.
GCAC Recap The first round of the Gulf Coast Atlantic Conference was held on Dillard University and Southern University at New Orlean’s campus on Friday, March 3, while the semifinals and finals were held in the Convocation Center. The Gold Rush were eliminated by Edward Waters College in the first round, while the Gold Nuggets lost in the finals to Talledega College. Dillard University’s men’s basketball team, Bleu Devils, repeated as the back-to-back GCAC Champs after a blow-out win over Philander Smith.
Montrey Thomas poses after cutting thye net after their GCAC championship win.
Photos by Kaelin Maloid
Tougaloo’s #30 rises for two against Talledega College.
Leland Alexander shoots the jumper against Edward Waters College.
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Mikayla Bates shoot for two.
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