Nubian Message Aug. 28, 2014

NUBIAN MESSAGE

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY n RALEIGH, NC n THENUBIANMESSAGE.COM 8 | 27 | 14

HANDS UP

NEW STUDENT GROUP LOCALIZES NATIONAL UNREST SURROUNDING THE DEATH OF 18 YEAR-OLD MICHAEL BROWN, P. 6 STAFF EDITORIAL, P. 2

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• AUGUST 27, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com

WHAT’S INSIDE 4 BACK2SCHOOL JAM RECAP 6 NEW STUDENT GROUP URGES STUDENTS TO S.P.E.A.K. UP 7 S.P.E.A.K (cont.)

A LETTER TO THE EDITOR 8 PACKAPALOOZA: A JAM ‘PACK’ED FESTIVAL

HEY PACK WE’RE HIRING! Students of the College of Sciences work together at thier table during the Packapalooza festival | Jasmine Jack Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each edition of the Nubian Message.

Dr. Yosef ben-Yochannan: Dr. John Henrik Clark: Dr. Leonard Jeffries: The Black Panther Party: Mumia A. Jamal: Geronimo Pratt: Tony Williamson: Dr. Lawrence Clark: Dr. Augustus McIver Witherspoon: Dr. Wandra P. Hill: Mr. Kyran Anderson: Dr. Lathan Turner: Dr. M. Iyailu Moses: Dokta Toni Thorpe and all those who accompany us as we are STILL on the journey to true consciousness.

WRITERS PHOTOGRAPHERS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Contact Editor-in-Chief Chris Hart-Williams editor@nubian.ncsu.edu

We don’t mean any disrespect…

AUGUST 27, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com • 3

FROM OUR STAFF

But, Dick Gregory dropped jewels Monday night and some of y’all were sleep.

Some of y’all were so distracted by his “naughty” language that you not only ignored the significance of his message, but also disrespected a Civil Right’s legend, and more than that, an 81-year-old man.

This unsigned editorial is the opinion of the Nubian Message’s editorial board, and is the responsibility of the editor-in-chief.

During the Q&A portion of Monday night’s event, some students lashed out at Gregory for his comedic take on real issues in the Black community.

Oft

S

ix. Six is the number of bullets an American police officer thought was appropriate to fire at an unarmed teen.

Its been reported U.S. Navy SEALs used only three to kill wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden. The shooting of Michael Brown is a tragedy that spawned both riots and peaceful protests, bringing both national and abroad attention to the city of Ferguson, Missouri.

On the surface, this was a killing of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer just a few weeks before he was to begin his freshman year of college. A vigil held for Brown turned violent as the citizens of Ferguson expressed their outrage. Unfortunately, Brown’s story is far too familiar.

The Ferguson case has brought up many questions about race relations and police brutality in America. Police of Ferguson chose to use military tactics against organizers, in efforts to silence the voices of those calling for justice.

Unfortunately, some of us have been completely oblivious to what is even going on and why there’s uproar in the heartland of our country. To that, we say—WAKE UP. Despite the number of years that separate us from slavery and the civil rights movement, the reality in this country and even in Raleigh is that Black men are too often mistreated and brutalized by law enforcement.

Brown’s life was taken by a man tasked with the job to protect and serve.

No matter what color the victim and shooter were, the circumstances surrounding Brown’s death are alarming.

We have a responsibility to educate ourselves and challenge the norms of our society – including police brutality. Awareness and change begins with us.

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News • AUGUST 27, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com

The Recap: B2S Jam

The Back to School Jam was yet again a success for the Black Students Board of UAB this year.

Despite the temporary shower of rain, a variety of organizations on campus were able to share knowledge about their group and showcase their talents. Here’s a recap of the 2014 Back to School Jam, in pictures – for a short video review of the event, be sure to visit our website.

Photos by: Jasmine Jack | Cristina Wright

The Ethiopian-Eritrean Dane Group | Cristina Wright

Kappa Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. | Jasmine Jack

Mu Omicron chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. | Jasmine Jack

AUGUST 27, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com • 5

News

Botewa Dance Team | Jasmine Jack

Dance Visions | Jasmine Jack

Kappa Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. | Jasmine Jack

Mu Xi chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. performs | Jasmine Jack

Eta Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. | Jasmine Jack

Uninhibited Praise Gospel Choir, U.P.G.C.

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News • AUGUST 27, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com

New student group urges students to ‘S.P.E.A.K.’ up

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Chris Hart-Williams | Nia Doaks Editor-in-Chief | Managing Editor

ays before Michael Brown’s community of family, friends, and supporters said their goodbyes at his funeral service, students of N.C. State rallied to host a campus-wide conversation regarding the circumstances surrounding Brown’s death.

“Recently, a lot of N.C. State students have been very active within this current case that has happened in Ferguson, Missouri. We want to give students the opportunity to really speak about it on campus,” said Jonique Lyles, president of S.P.E.A.K. at N.C. State.

S.P.E.A.K., Students Proactively Engaged Towards Activism Knowledgeably, is new a student group at N.C. State that provides a platform for students to discuss current social and global issues.

‘Hands Up Speak Up’, was the group’s first event.

On Thursday time for a moment of silence and a ‘Hands Up, Don’t Shoot’ photo was taken in recognition of the recent events in Ferguson.

“It’s a beautiful moment, to see people gathered out here for a common reason,” said Dr. George Nichols, a psychologist in the Student Health Center’s counseling department.

news media throughout the country and abroad.

“I believe that this was racially motivated,” said Kiarra Hicks, a junior in sports management. “The tear gas and media blackouts were unnecessary. I feel that the [citizens of Ferguson] have every right to assemble the way that they are. I feel like my rights as an American are being imposed on.”

According to its website, S.P.E.AK. aims to promote student knowledge, passion, and voice through activism.

“Essentially we want to be a voice for students,” said Lyles.

“I want S.P.E.A.K. to be an open outlet for students to bring current issues, local or international, on campus in a fun way because students don’t really have time to speak on current events but also have fun on campus – so I wanted to combine both of those ideas.”

In the future, Lyles and members of S.P.E.A.K. plan to host showcases, poetry slams and paint the free expression tunnel again.

Participants pose #HandsUpDontShoot in front of the Free Expression Tunnel “This organization is really just an outlet for us to express at ‘Hands Up, Speak Up’ event.

Throughout the day, passers-by on their way to class and elsewhere became participants. Some signed the wall of the Free Expression Tunnel with their handprint, and others wrote their thoughts on dryerase boards.

Members of S.P.E.A.K. also encouraged participants to take ‘Hands Up’ photos, like those that have circulated online and have become representatives of the current unrest in Ferguson and nationally.

Protests in Ferguson have ended in arrests and the tear-gassing of hundreds. Those critical of Darren Wilson, the cop who shot Michael Brown at least six times, have aroused the attention of people and

our opinions and express our views,” said Hicks. “The “K” in our name stands for Knowledgeably – so it’s about knowing what you’re talking about and having the facts to back it up, not just having an opinion based on what other people are saying.”

S.P.E.A.K. is having their interest meeting on during the month of September.

Want to know the latest about S.P.E.A.K. follow them on Twitter: @ SpeaknowNCSU.

News

AUGUST 27, 2014 • theNUBIANMESSAGE.com • 7

A Letter to the Editor Good afternoon Editor-in-chief Chris Hart-Williams,

My name is Alexis Perry. I am a current rising junior and (African-American) member of the NC State women’s track and field team. I greatly appreciate all that the Nubian Message does for the African-American community but I especially value the voice it provides for the African-American population at NC State. It unifies us as a whole which is essential for us African-American students at a predominantly White institution. I enjoy reading the Nubian Message and value the information it provides me, but I have found that there is a slight gap in the coverage of *our* African-American athletes throughout the year. I have felt that the Nubian Message at times tends to focus more so on other schools athletic matters than our own here at NC State. Our African-American athletes have made great strides during the 20132014 school year and this summer.

Womens basketball players Markeisha Gatling and Kody Burke were drafted to the WNBA. Wrestler Thomas Gantt was an NCAA National Championship qualifier. Track and field athletes Jonathan Addison and Sequoia Watkins competed at the 2014 NCAA Track and Field National Championship, while Tremanisha Taylor competed at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championship.

Women’s soccer players Alexa Allen and Gladys Loyas competed in the 2014 Caribbean Football Union’s Women’s Caribbean Cup and basketball player TJ Warren was drafted first round to the NBA. These are just a few examples of our great number of achievements.

I believe the gap between African-American athletes and the entire African-American population as a whole could be reduced with a few measures such as coverage of sporting events highlighting the African-American athletes, post-sporting event interviews or even small features in the Nubian Message. I understand that there will always be bigger and better matters than athletics but these are simply observations I have made during my time at NC State and felt that I could try to offer input on the subject matter.

I greatly appreciate your time and consideration and hope you have a great day.

A Jam PACKed Festival Caslee Sims Correspondent Despite clouds and even sporadic rain more than 50,000 people gathered on Hillsborough Street for N.C. State’s Packapalooza festival, Saturday.

“The students and alumni know this event better than anyone else; it’s part of being affiliated with N.C. State – it comes with being a part of the Pack, said Maurita Harris, a senior in psychology. “Get involved with everything dealing with State before leaving.”

Packapalooza welcomed a new academic year and gave students a chance to relax, enjoy food, fellowship and fun and at night experience a PACKed concert.

N.C. State student and country music entertainer, Scotty McCreery headlined the festival’s concert, which also featured performances by Grains of Time, Rashad, and Ladies in Red. “I’m glad that they brought Packapalooza back during my freshman year,” said Kiarra Hicks, a junior majoring in sports management.

This year, Packapalooza showcased the Art2Wear fashion show, co-directed by Justin LeBlanc, an assistant professor with the N.C. State College of Design.

Festival goers enjoyed a diverse choice of food vendors, student favored freebies, and conversation with representatives of student organizations such as UAB, the Caribbean Student Association, Native American Student Affairs and more.

Packapalooza has become apart of N.C. State’s rich tradition that continues to immerse festival goers.

/NubianMessage

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