THE SENTINEL OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AT N.C. STATE UNIVERSITY
NUBIAN MESSAGE RALEIGH, N.C. n VOL. X, ISSUE 8 n THENUBIANMESSAGE.COM n NOV. 2nd, 2011 Native American Heritage Month n2
Spotlight on NCSU NAACPn 6
Packs Pack Program n7
Dear Technician : Don’t Endorse the Hate Dear Technician, As an avid reader and supporter of your publication, I am writing in dismay at a couple of issues that I had with the 10/26 and 10/27 editions. On Wednesday, I was disappointed to see the photo reprinted on the front page of this issue that caused so much controversy on this campus over the summer. Then on Thursday there was an article printed in viewpoint which I disagreed with wholeheartedly. While the Technician has pledged to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, I cannot find a legitimate reasoning as to why the photo was republished. It doesn’t make a statement, and it doesn’t enhance the story. If anything, I believe that it actually overshadowed what was a well written story. It seems at this point that this photo is continuously published with the intent to stir up controversy. On Thursday, there was an editorial published in the Technician entitled “All Speech is Free Speech.” There were several issues that I had with this particular story. I believe that this particular article was full of contradiction. I would like to say that I don’t believe that student organizations and campus organizations are trying to change people overnight. Even though we all have the right to say whatever it is that we want to say, there must come a point when we realize that that there are certain things that are unacceptable. Everything that is legal isn’t ethical. The Technician claims that students and faculty are censoring students who write hate speech, but I believe the publication does the same when it discourages students and faculty from protesting against hate speech, because it makes the campus feel uncomfortable and it makes the problem “bigger than it really is.” It’s ironic that in the same week you published an article about the Freedom Riders who were discouraged from fighting an unwinnable battle just as you are discouraging those who choose to speak out against hate speech. Imagine what this world would be like if the Freedom Riders listened to all the critics who believed that their fight served no purpose. Imagine what this world would be like if every person backed down because they couldn’t change the whole world. I believe if you can change the mindset of one person, you have made a big difference. If these people were so proud of their opinions, they would write their name beside it. There is also a point when you must realize that these are not just words. Words turn into action. Every law is written down before it takes effect. Why would you encourage the hate of people based on characteristics that they can’t physically change? Here is a small history lesson when words turned into actual violence. In February 1992, then African American Student Body President Brian Nixon was attacked near his residence hall after receiving numerous hate messages and death threats throughout the year much like those that were written towards the GLBT community. Why would you encourage people to freely write threatening messages to particular groups? So I guess if the person who wrote those messages on the GLBT center door actually were to go on a killing spree around campus, the Technician would agree with that as well. I also guess you would agree with the comments that were directed towards breast cancer victims last week as well? After all, it is free speech right? In your article it appears that you agree with hate speech because it’s free speech, but at the same time you discourage those people who choose to speak out against it. While it is true that the words written occasionally in the tunnel don’t always reflect the feelings of most students at NC State, it is also true that these occasional actions shed a negative light on this university. The negative actions of one person can bring down a business, just like their actions can bring down a university. Are we going to let a few people speak for this university, or are we going to stand up and continue to fight to prove that this is not what we stand for as a university. What side are you on?
-Cordera J. Guion
Special Feature: Native American Heritage Month MELVIN MOORE | PHOTOJOURNALIST
The National American Indian Heritage Month began as an initiative to set aside a day and honor the rich cultural history and impact the first Americans made to the United States. On August 3, 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution acknowledging November as what we know it today as National American Indian Heritage Month or National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. One individual who was instrumental to fruition of American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker. Dr. Parker was a Seneca Indian and was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, N.Y. Realizing the need for the recognition of the contributions and history of the original people of this land, Dr. Parker managed to persuade the
Boy Scouts of America to honor a day to American Indians where the Boy Scouts celebrated it for three years. This soon caught the interest of the Annual Congress of the American Indian Association and a meeting was conducted to formally approve a plan to adopt an American Indian Day. American Indian Day was declared in 1915 on the second Saturday of each May and contained the first formal appeal to recognize American Indians and citizens of the United States. Fast forward several decades later and the notion of an American Indian Heritage Month was implanted into the mind of Princess Pale Moon. Pale Moon, a self-proclaimed American Indian and president of the American Indian Heritage Foundation (AIHF) in Falls
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NEWS
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What’s Happening on Campus WEDNESDAY
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CHASS MAS Presents: Don’t Hate the Player, Hate the Game: 7PM Riddick Hall Skee Week Activity: Global Poverty Program Riddick Hall Room 451 7:08 PM
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Falls Church, Virginia, had a vision in which one month of the year was commemorated to honor and recognize the original people of this land. Fueled by the passion and success of Black History Month, she too felt that Native people deserved the opportunity to educate the American people about their history, cultural backgrounds, and achievements. Determined to make her vision a reality, in 1990 Pale Moon met with Congressman Eni Faleomavega. Faleomavega, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from American Samoa’s At-large district, agreed to lend a hand and introduce a bill on behalf of the new national month to the United States House of Representatives and convinced Senator Daniel Inouye, democratic senator from Hawaii, to introduce a bill in the United States Senate. In addition, Pale Moon began to contact the House of Representatives, the United States Senate, and various American Indian tribes in support of the bill. Pale Moon's desire and passion for a month dedicated to American Indians was honored and became official by President Bush in Proclamation announcement. The Proclamation was signed into law on November 14, 1990. Pale Moon's leadership was instrumental towards establishing an American Indian Heritage Month and Congressman Faleomavaega acknowledged Pale Moon's involvement in his address to congress and became part of the official Congressional Report. American Indian Heritage Month is not only a celebration of the rich cultural heritage and history of American Indians, but emphasis is also placed on the injustices that have been endured by Native people. American Indian Heritage Month is also used to bring awareness to various American Indian social issues such as misrepresentation in education, poverty, and alcoholism.
Thursday
3 Building Bridges Workshop 9am-4PM For more information visit www.ncsu.edu/ncbi NUBIAN MESSAGE STAFF/INTEREST MEETING Today 6PM WITHERSPOON 323 W.E.S.T Date Auction/Speed Dating 7PM Talley Ballroom TODAY - NSBE GENERAL BODY MEETING 7:30 PM PARK SHOPS 201 Heritage Month Kickoff 6:30PM Washington Sankofa Room, Witherspoon Student Center Skee Week Activity: Regaining KOntrol Park Shops 210 7:08 PM
Photo by Melvin Moore | Nubian Message A Cherokee warrior excites the crowd at the 15th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, NC in 2010. Campus and Local Events Heritage Month Kickoff Thursday, November 2nd, 6:00 PM Witherspoon Student Center Governor’s Proclamation Ceremony Thursday, November 3rd, 4:00 PM Chancellor’s Conference Room, Holladay Hall “Older than America” Film and Discussion Tuesday, November 15th, 5:30 PM 201 Witherspoon Student Center
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INTERESTED IN JOINING THE NUBIAN MESSAGE? SEND US A MESSAGE AT EDITOR@NUBIAN.NCSU.EDU On November 30th, The Nubian Message will be celebrating 19 Years as the Sentinel of the African American Community at NC State with a Special Anniversity Edition. Continue to support us each and every week!
Native American Culture Night Thursday, November 17th 6:00 PM Washington Sankofa Room, African American Cultural Center 16th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration Saturday, November 19th, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM North Carolina Museum of History Dreamcatcher Workshop Wednesday, November 28th, 6:30 PM Walnut Room, Talley Student Center
Nubian Message
FRIDAY Skee Week Activity: AKAraoke Jam Washington Sankofa Room, Witherspoon Student Center 7:08
Drum Workshop Wednesday, November 16th, 6:00 PM 201 Witherspoon Student Center
Sentinel of the African-American Community at North Carolina State University since 1992
CJ GUION | EDITOR - IN - CHIEF JASMINE HARRIS | MANAGIING EDITOR SHANIQUA TAYLOR | LAYOUT EDITOR
STAFF WRITERS: MADAVIA JOHNSON HIND MALIK ASHLEY GAIE KIERRA LEGGET YOLANDA RAY ALEXIS TEASDELL TEVIN BYRD CHELSEA GARDNER KELVIN CARTER PHOTOGRAPHERS: KAREEM WILLAMS MELVIN MOORE
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. COPYRIGHT 2011 BY NORTH CAROLINA STATE STUDENT MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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PERSPECTIVES
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Minority Presence of Occupy Raleigh
SEBASTIAN GIRALDO | GUEST COLUMNIST During fall break I went to the Occupy Wall St in New York in order to find out what it was all about. When I got there I saw a table that said OWS en Español and offered my help. It turns out the working group had only formed two days earlier and the first meeting was scheduled for that Sunday. Since I was one of the few staying at the park, I basically became the point of information for any Spanish speakers that came by for the rest of that week. I learned that Latinos were not as represented within the movement as would be expected because they were afraid to come out to the park. Whether they were in the US legally or not they could not risk arrest so they did not come. Thankfully through the efforts of all the people that came by the Sunday event was a success with hundreds of people attending. In Raleigh this is also an issue. From conversations I’ve had with African American and Latino occupiers, the police presence are possibilities of arrest are why they have not come out. For many minorities staying safe means staying away from the police and that keeps them from joining the movement. What we need now is to show that the occupation is a safe place to meet. The people arrested at Occupy Raleigh on Thursday could havewalked away, but they knew they had a right to be there. The occupiers were given a number of warnings before they were arrested but decided to stand their ground. The Raleigh mayor agreed, as he censured the RPD
for helping the capitol police during the arrests. On the balance between free speech and the need for orderly conduct the mayor said "I am concerned that the constitutional rights are not being given adequate weight." Anyone can attend without any worry of arrest. All they have to do is be polite to occupiers and bystanders and follow the directions of the police that are present. Anyone can walk around, talk to people, hold up signs, chant, and even sleep at the occupation without much fear. The occupation has been going on for 17 days and it is unlikely they will start arresting people without warning now. Minorities have known the system is broken for a long time, and this is our opportunity to share that knowledge with the people who are now coming to terms with this. It is also a great opportunity to bring to light some of the issues our communities deal with. The unemployment rate in the US is 9% but the rate for African Americans is 16% and for Latinos it's 11%. That is just the tip of the iceberg. To do that we will need your help. Right now the movement is still in its infancy. It is very easy to get involved in outreach, communication, human needs and many other working groups. http://forum.occupyraleigh.net/ has the whole list. We have a Diversity working group that meets Wednesdays after the General Assembly (about 8pm) and Sundays at 4pm. General Assemblies take place at 6:30 every day. If minorities don't take the chance and get involved, we risk missing out on a great opportunity to improve our communities.
“Blame It on Halloween” KELVIN CARTER | STAFF WRITER “We lose who we are by being who we are not.” ~WOK Is Halloween considered our escape route to dress up and impersonate someone else or does all the blame fall on the occasion? As we all know Halloween is the day children are known to dress up and travel from home to home, or go to the malls and gather candy for their fulfillment for some days. The question of the day is when is the cut off age of when you can stop celebrating this day until you take your own children. Some children who grow up are raised in a Christian home, as myself, and wait until college time to take advantage of this day to enjoy what was missing. But by age 21 most students forget about the candy and just use this day to dress up. This is precisely how adults celebrate this occasion. Looking through a popular urban media site, MediaTakeOut.com, many people released pictures of people dressed up for Halloween. Some pictures being funny and others disturbing, which begs the question what is the real reason people dress up for Halloween? There were pictures of a man dressed up as a pregnant Beyoncé from the 2011 VMA’s Awards, a man dressed as Jack Daniels and his son dressed as a pack of Marlboro cigarettes, and many more. Not only was the regular public dressing up but fans favorite celebrities also wore different outfits. Chris Brown dressed as an alien in a green spandex suit, Beyoncé as a bumble bee, and Holly Robinson dressed as Lil Wayne.
However there was one costume that has struck a nerve in the black community. Hockey player Raffi Torres painted his body black and dressed as Jay-Z. Another person dressed as a runaway slave with a nametag that says Toby. If you were to ask a regular female citizen what she would be for Halloween, she may say, “a fireman but sexy it up” (sexy is not a verb). Is this day used only for people to do something they know peers and family would normally not approve of? Is this the day when woman and men too, pull out lingerie, and wear it freely and blame it on the occasion of Halloween? Looking at the pictures that flood the internet normally the day or two after Halloween proves that people are becoming more bold and careless. When attending a gathering this past weekend, I was asked what I would dress up as for Halloween. I expressed to her, “I’m dressing as myself.” I’ve realized that this is just a day when people dress as someone who’s live they may want. We must realize that you should not try to dress as someone you wish to become, but as what you will become. Children are given the opportunity to wear costumes in order to express their dreams when they get older. For example, a young girl may dress as a princess when she is young and dreams to be treated as royalty by her husband in the future. But as an adult we now have plenty of opportunity to acquire our goals and dreams. Yet, there are adults who still dream, who still dress up as inappropriate characters because… well many reasons we still have no explanation. Just blame it on Halloween.
NOV. 2ND 2011 | PAGE 3 Question of the Week Do you feel the frequency of racial slurs/hate speech defines the university?
Courtney Waterman Graduate Student, Mathematics “I do not think it defines us as an institution, but I believe it represents the ignorance that is still in America today. I do not believe that you can choose the actions of one to define the actions of many.”
Marquetta Smith Junior, Sociology “No, I do not think it defines us holistically, but the ignorant acts that occur on campus and how we respond to it is giving us a reputation, one that I do not think that those of us here at NCSU should be pleased with.”
T’Lissa Elliot Senior, Mathematics “I would not say that it defines every one and I would not say it defines NCSU. It just shows the point of view of some of the people around here.”
Published by the Student Media Authority of NC State University
The Nubian Message is written by and for the students of North Carolina State University, primarily for the African-American community. All unsigned editorials are the expressed opinion of the editorial staff and do not represent the university in any way. The Nubian is published every Wednesday of each month during the fall and spring semester, except during holidays and exam periods. The Nubian Message encourages letters to the editor. The Nubian Message will consider fairly all letters to editor, but cannot guarantee the publication of any.
Courtney Staton, Junior, Chemistry “I do not feel that it defines us, but in the the views of non-students or people outside of the university it becomes part of our reputation.”
PAGE 4 |NOV. 2ND, 2011 The Nubian Message’s Guide to What’s Goin’ On in Arts & Entertainment
BLAZIN 8 OF THE WEEK 1. Chris Brown - The Bed 2. Jay Cole - Workout 3. Lil Wayne ft. Drake - She Will 4. In Paris - Jay Z/Kanye West 5. Beyonce - Party 6. Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay- Big Sean feat. Kanye West and Roscoe Dash 7. Mindless Behavior - Mrs. Right 8. Ace Hood ft. Chris Brown Body 2 Body
WKNC’s UNDERGROUND Top 5 of the Week 1. Torae- That Raw 2. Nameless- When I’m Done 3. Skyzoo- Atypical 4. Searching And HopingP.OV.IC 5. Med- Privacy Listen to Underground Radio on WKNC 88.1 FM... Sunday 12 - 2AM Sunday 10PM-12AM Monday 8PM - 12AM Tuesday 12-2AM Saturday 10PM-12AM
Inspirational Songs of the Week Kirk Franklin - I Smile Earnest Pugh - I Need Your Glory Marvin Sapp - He Has His Hands On You Nobody Greater - Vashawn Mitchell
Albums in Stores
Wale - Ambition Courtesy of Maybach Music, Warner Bros.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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The Broadway Musical: “Memphis” Review CHELSEA GARDNER | STAFF WRITER Over fall break; I had the pleasure of seeing the Broadway musical Memphis in New York City at Shubert Theater. This musical is one of the best I’ve ever seen, hence the reason why it won four TONY awards in 2010. This play features a funky taste of life in the 1950’s. It has just the right amount of comedy, romance, and drama. I didn’t take the opportunity to really review any of the plays before my adventure in the big city. So I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that we would be viewing a play with a predominately African American cast set in the 1950’s. The dancing, singing, and overall theatrics were thrilling. I was blown away by the performances and very pleased with the quality of the music. I particularly liked the songs, “Someday,” “Say a Prayer,” and “Stand Up.” Each soulful tune resonated throughout the audience and carried a heart-felt vibe unlike anything I had ever experienced before. The main characters, Felicia and Delray, managed to find a place in my heart as I watched them relentlessly chase their dreams. Each character brought something
special and unique to the performance. Needless to say, I did not want the play to end. I would definitely recommend this play to any avid musical lovers who really enjoy listening to the soulful sounds of oldschool R&B music. This play takes you from the beginning of underground club music when it transitioned from Rock & Roll to R&B. It shows you how that genre of music shaped what we listen to today. In addition to the historical elements, this play addresses various touchy subjects such as interracial relationships, family issues, and racism. If you enjoyed Dreamgirls or Hairspray then you will surely find yourself in pure entertainment with Memphis. If you are interested in this incredible musical, that will have you on the edge of your seat, then get tickets for the January 3rd to the 8th showing in Charlotte at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. There will also be showing in Durham, NC on January 24-29. Check http://www.memphisthemusical.com/ for more details.
Concert Review WKNC UNDERGROUND 88.1 FM On the 23rd , the newly renovated Cat’s Cradle was the place to be for Triangle hip hop fans and, cheesily enough, for hip hop fans in general. 9th Wonder and Phonte were performing in addition to Duo The Away Team, Rapsody, HaLo, and Median.The night even featured a surprise performance by King Mez. . Not performing but seen were Actual Proof and Nicolay, producer from The Foreign Exchange. It was an obvious NC family affair. The first half of the night was Dj’ed by Justus League’s DJ Flash who scratched over performances by HaLo, Median, and The Away Team. All performed some of their newest material. The recently crippled Sean Boog impressed the crowd with his dexterity and entertained them with his antics. Rapsody was on stage next, and DJ Flash was replaced with 9th Wonder. Rapsody inundated the crowd with her motto, “culture over everything” and thanked the crowd for supporting her new-
est album, Thank H.E.R. Now. Rapsody had a solid performance, rapping to both her composed tracks and on beats created by 9th . Jamla R&B singer Heather Victoria came out and helped with the performance. Following her, Phonte was introduced. He performed some of the tracks off of 9th Wonders The wonder years album; Band Practice Pt. 2 was performed by both him and Median. This was later followed by song The Life of Kings, with King Mez, towards the end of the show. The song was one of the few of his other new tracks from Charity Starts At Home that he performed that night. 9th Wonder and Phonte are getting older, but have shown they can still put on a hell of a show. It’s nice to see how their music matured and how they have matured. During the show, Phonte took a moment to talk about their dramatic feud and mentioned how special it was that they were now performing together. Both have new albums out that are worth a listen.
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LIFESTYLES
Diabetes Awareness Month JASMINE HARRIS | COPY EDITOR November is Diabetes Awareness Month, Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the amount of sugar in the blood is higher than normal due to a lack of insulin, causing problems in health including frequent thirst, fatigue, hunger and urination. There are several types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2 being the most common types. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in those under the age of 20. The pancreas is destroyed by autoantibodies causing the body to always need to be given insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the most common and is usually diagnosed after age 35, requiring a change in diet and exercise. The body produces insulin, but it does not work very well. Currently, there are 25.8 million people in the United States that have diabetes. This is a disease, next to HIV, that disproportionally affects African Americans compared to the general population. African Americans are 1.8 times more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic Caucasians. Many people are not even aware that they are at-risk to developing diabetes, and do not have the condition diagnosed because they are unaware. Here are a few common signs of diabetes from the American Diabetes Association: Type 1 Diabetes • Frequent urination • Unusual thirst • Extreme hunger • Unusual weight loss • Extreme fatigue and Irritability Type 2 Diabetes • Any of the type 1 symptoms • Frequent infections • Blurred vision • Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal • Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet • Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections Be sure to take the time out to get informed about diabetes, how it may affect you and affect the ones that you love. Visit diabetes.org for more information about diabetes and how you can make a difference with this cause.
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# I’m Just Saying Rick Ross blames seizure from lack of sleep. He claims he has not had a good nights sleep in the past five years, but it is not likely this is the cause. It is probably due to his unhealthy eating habits and issues from him being overweight. Kim Kardashian is donating two hundred thousand instead of returning her wedding gifts. She should not have to return gifts and she is not obliged to donate money; however, it is admirable. Lindsay Lohan violated her probation and thinks she will get minimum time. She should have learned her lesson the last time she went to jail. She should know better and realized that she is not an exception to the rule. She is just like everyone else and law does apply to you as well, just not as severely. Terrell Owens can not afford his child support payments. Everyone falls on hard times, but you should not be going as far as to request to lower your child support payments. The responsible thing to do would be to find some other way to bring in income or cut back on expenses. Herman Cain has come under fire for sexual harrassment allegations. His famous 9-9-9 response definitely won’t get him out of this one. One thing that should definitely be added to Wolfpack Laws is that people should not be allowed to take up the whole entire sidewalk. It won’t hurt them to step in front of their friends for a second or two to let someone else pass. Also why is it that people walk so slow in the crosswalk when someone has graciously stopped to let them get across the street. Sincerely, Mr. I’m Just Sayin’ *Sharing my thoughts about the happenings on campus and around the world “
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The Story of the Congolese Woman HIND MALIK | STAFF WRITER This year for Halloween, I will be a young Congolese woman…. My skin will be rich Black, like the brilliant color of roosted coffee beans. It will be youthful, smooth and radiant. I’ll braid my hair then wrap a scarf around it except for few strands that rebel confinement by my scarf. They dangle freely framing my round face. I am proud of my locks. They say hair is a woman’s crown. My scarf will be yellow, purple, and red like the fall trees and so will be my dress that falls short brushing over my knees. My teeth are large and white. They are shiny too like the diamonds in our backyard. My eyes are big and bright. My teacher at school prophesied a bright future ahead of me just by looking into my eyes. I borrowed them from my mother. My mother’s eyes are big still but they are no longer bright since the day the soldiers took my father and young brother away. She still waits on their return, but we all know that they are dead. See, the second civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo which began in 1998 took the lives of more than 5.4 million human. It was the deadliest war since World War II. Many people were mutilated and tortured but the worst barbaric cruelty was the use of violent gang rape by soldiers as a weapon to terrorize people and impose their power and control. It was their way to dehumanize, demoralize, and break down tribes and communities in the region. Women in DRC are the backbone of society. They have both crucial productive and reproductive value. So to destroy them physically and psychologically inflicts long term damage on these communities. Women were repeatedly gang raped in front of their families, then abducted as slaves for months where they were constantly raped and abused. Most often, those who survive rape have to be hospitalized and endure numerous surgeries to reconstruct their damaged genitals and other related injuries.
However, many do not receive the needed medical attention. Psychologically injured, some are left pregnant while others suffer from diseases like Fistula, the inability to control urination due to vaginal damage. Some of these women are also infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Sadly, upon their return to their villages, they are shunned by their husbands, families, and communities. Denied by society, they became the target of constant harassment and rape by their own community members. But the war is over now, I assure my worried mother as I prepare to leave. It has officially ended in 2003. So I put on my slippers and step out into the busy street of our neighborhood. It is right before sunset. By the time I knock on your door, my colorful dress is now muddy and brown. It is ripped and torn. My scarf is gone and so is one of my slippers. My bright eyes are now dim like my mother’s. Their shine is spoiled and a bitter mix of anger and fear possesses them. My youthful skin aged a decade or two. It is scratched and bruised like the stripped gold mines behind our old village. I am in pain but I cannot cry. Like the mines, my tears and emotions are depleted. I grieve in silence as red paint runs down my legs. My diamonds are now stained with blood and my crown is forever seized. At your door, I am a young Congolese woman. I was raped but you will never know that because I am a well-kept secret here in the Democratic Republic of Congo; the rape capital of the world as declared by the United Nations. To you, the war might be over, but its ghost lives to haunt us down in every corner. Trick or Treat…
AASAC Organization Spotlight: NC State NAACP The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People of North Carolina State University is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.
President: Alexis Teasdell African American Student Advisory Council Organization of the Year- 2010-2011- Ebony Harlem Awards
The NAACP is the nation's oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots– based civil rights organization. Its more than half-million members and supporters throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.
“Our focus is health, education, litigation, media diversity, civil engagement, climate justice, economic opportunity, federal advocacy and justice.”
NUBIAN MESSAGE
Few Role Models Girls do your thing Find your role models Be known for your brain Not your coke bottle Be an Alicia Keys The next Sojourner Truth Better yet the next nothing I want to see the first YOU. And when they don’t get you Think about your dorm room And you’ll look back and remember nonsense was never for you The future before you Is so immaculent And I know anything less You aren’t having it and I know as far as role models it seems like there are few but really the world is truly waiting on someone like you I can’t wait to see what you’ll do Continue to do what’s right Keep making good decisions Keep God as your guide You’re what the worlds been missing. Precision when designed Use your talents to change world And give honor to the most high And most importantly I Believe in who you’ll be Do what’s on your mind Not what you see.
LIFESTYLES
NOV. 2ND 2011 | PAGE 7
New Initiative to Increase Graduation Rates for African American Males CJ GUION | EDITOR - IN - CHIEF
Research indicates that the graduation rates of African American males on a national level are in a state of decline. A new initiative to proactively battle this issue at NC State was recently introduced by Thomas Easley, Edward Brown, and Abraham Dones. It has been approved by Joanne Woodard, the vice provost for the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity. The program, which is entitled Packs Pact is searching for 30 African American males to jump-start the pilot program. Easley and Brown stated that this program is being established to “better equip African American males with the necessary skills to perform well academically and persist with high standards, while increasing their cultural awareness Photo contributed Kream of the Krop Photography about their own community.” The target group for the pro- The mission of Packs Pact is to improve the retention and graduation rates of African American sophomore and gram will be African American junior males. sophomore and junior males, Brown and Easley stated that they “hope to see increased who have at least a 2.5 GPA who retention and graduation rates of African American males, are also not actively engaged across university programs and along with their increased participation in more campus acstudent organizations. Recent NC State reports have indicattivities like CSLEPS, Study Abroad, and professional student ed sophomore and junior years are the most critical. organizations. More African American male involvement will For example, in 2007, the retention rates for African Amerireflect their investment in their NC State experience, which can males following year 1 was 88.7%, but after year three will also contribute to them viewing themselves as future NC rates dropped to 74.4%, which is a 14% difference. State alumni. As a result, this will directly contribute to inAdditionally, many programs already focus on the first creased persistence for this demographic.” year experience for college students, yet only recently has the The deadline for interested students to apply for this protrend shifted to focusing on the sophomore and junior year gram is November 22nd, 2011 at noon. The completed apexperience. plication for this program should be emailed to Thomas R. The goal of this initiative is to implement a strong support Easley in the College of Natural Resources (Dean’s Office). system for African American males through peer-to-peer networks and faculty/staff engagement while positively impacting student achievement.
What is Packs' Pact?
Program introduced by Thomas Easley, Edward Brown, and Abraham Dones to improve the retention and graduation of African American males.
Why was Packs' Pact started?
Research indicates that the graduation rates of African American males are in a state of decline and Packs' Pact intends to proactively battle this issue by equipping African American males with the necessary skills to perform better academically.
Who is Packs' Pact for?
Packs' Pact is looking for African American males who will be sophomores or juniors by Spring 2012 and must have at least a 2.5 GPA and not be actively engaged in any student organizations and programs.
- Alexis Teasdell
How does Packs' Pact carry out its mission?
The goal of Packs' Pact is to create a strong support network of African American males by establishing a network of faculty and staff and strong peer-to-peer relationships.
How to apply?
Completed applications should be email to Thomas R. Easley in the College of Natural Resources no later than 12:00 noon on Tuesday, November 22, 2011. For more information email and questions and concerns to Thomas R. Easley of the College of the Natural Resources at thomas_easley@ncsu.edu
PAGE 8 |NOV. 2ND, 2011
PERSPECTIVES
Advice Column Dear Nubian Queen,
I am a freshmen and it I find it difficult to manage my time. The transition from High School to college in respect to time is still a reality that I struggle with and cannot seem to master. How can I learn to manage my time more wisely? Sincerely, Time management Dear Time management, It takes time and effort to develop time management skills; they do not simply grow over night. Indeed it is extremely difficult to come to a decision on ways to balance class, homework, extracurricular activities, social activities, and maybe even work. It is imperative that you begin to analyze your past habits and discover ways to alter or eliminate them. The key is to plan and organize your days, weeks, and months. This can be achieved by purchasing a planner or using the calendar functions on smart phones, laptops, etc. At the beginning of the semester many students including myself refer to their syllabi and notate the due dates of homework assignments, projects, and test for the entire semester. This is very smart because many of my fellow peers who fail to do so have missed vital assignments and critical days/hours of study time. After you have completed this step then you can also notate meetings and events that you plan on attending throughout the semester. In 2001, The Academic Skills Center at Dartmouth College provided a list of thirty tips that was adapted from A. Lakein. How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life. It is important to “Remind yourself, there is always enough time for the important things. If it is important, you should be able to make time to do it.” With an agenda or calendar it should become easier to plan your day each morning or every night and begin to set attainable goals for yourself. Furthermore, concentrate on one thing at a time and be persistent. Good luck in all of your future endeavors and I hope that this will help manage your time not only in college but also in life. Sincerely, Nubian Queen
Need Advice? If so, send your questions to the Nubian... Editor@nubian.ncsu.edu
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72, Kim Kardashian’s Not So Lucky Number KIERRA LEGGETT | STAFF WRITER
72—besides being the number of degrees Fahrenheit it takes to reach room temperature, the number of victories the NBA Team Chicago Bulls had in their 1995-1996 basketball season, as well as the average number of times a human’s heart will beat in a minute, 72 is also the number of days that NBA player Kris Humphries and reality television star Kim Kardashian remained married. Married on August 20, 2011, just 72 days after walking down the aisle, America’s favorite buxom brunette, Kim Kardashian , 31 filed for a divorce from husband Kris Humphries, 26. Kardashian released this statement to E! News on Monday, “After careful consideration, I have decided to end my marriage. I hope everyone understands this was not an easy decision. I had hoped this marriage was forever, but sometimes things don’t work out as planned. We remain friends and wish each other the best.” Immediately following the release of Kim’s statement fans and critics alike swarmed to the internet to voice their opinion on the impending divorce. #ThingsLongerThanKimsMarriage, #KimK, and #Kimkmarriagewasshorter are just three of the most popular trending topics on popular on social networking site Twitter. While the stars’ siblings immediately took to twitter to defend their sister, with Kardashian’s younger sister Khloe tweeting “Reading some these comments r so hurtful. Im grateful 4our fans who understand & r being respectful. Hate is disgusting. Love is everything,” given the exuberant cost of the wedding, you cannot fault the public for responding negatively to the news. The Kardashian-Humphries nuptials reportedly cost $10 million, not including Kim’s $2 million engagement ring. It is my guess that the public is unable to be sympathize with Kardashian over the dissolution of her marriage because they are instead (like me), disgusted by the amount of money that was wasted on a 72 day long publicity stunt marriage. The wedding of Kris and Kim aired on the E! Network during a two night, four hour special, Kim and Kris Fairytale Wedding. Though Kardashian cited irreconcilable differences as the cause for the divorce, it is alleged that the couple, who dated for less than a year, could not agree on a place to settle down and call home. Now with two marriages under her belt, it appears that the reality star is following in the footsteps of her idol, Elizabeth Taylor, who was married eight times to seven different men. Stay tuned, I’m sure in normal Kardashian fashion more drama (and reality show specials) are sure to ensue.
Are you an outspoken person looking to voice your opinion about issues that you care about? Are you a photographer, poet in the making, or good with design? If so, consider joining the Nubian Message which has been the “Sentinel of the African American Community at North Carolina State since 1992.” We are in our 19th year of production and are a part of NC State Student Media. We are always looking for new talent. If you are interested shoot us an email at editor@nubian.ncsu.edu Open positions: Staff Writers Photographers Copy Editors No experience needed as Student Media is compiled of students from all colleges around campus. There are also opportunities to make a little extra change on the side.
Fall into Place 2011 Living Expo Date: November 9, 2011 Time: 11am - 3pm Location: Harris Field
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! Student Media o f N o r t h C a r o l i N a S t a t e U N i v e r S i t y