NUBIANMESSAGE NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | THENUBIANMESSAGE.COM | Thursday, March 3, 2022
We're Going Through Changes
Thursday, March 3, 2022 | 2
Letter from the editor
Tim Havens Correspondant
Hey y’all,
THISISSUE 4
This week’s issue features news about mask mandates going away, a tribute to the late Cody McLaggan and an article on gender-based violence. We have a feature about March Like Martin and the Celebration of Life, an event that allowed the NCSU community to come together for a commemorative march followed by fun. Lastly, we have a feature on The Kai Crutchfield (ain’t nobody sweeter than my 16! Love you shawty!) where we learn more about her experiences on and off the court.
The AACC Hosts The March Like Martin Event
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MEDIA PAGE
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FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
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INSIDE SCOOP
We going through changes. As you’ve probably noticed, things are changing on camp. More people, more maskless faces.
CELEBRATING A LEGACY
Changes
Females Around The World Are Hurting An Interview With Kai Crutchfield
Cover Photo By Anna Hansen
Students hold up signs during the March like Martin event hosted by the African American Cultural Center from Stafford Commons to Harris Field on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022.
The media page features a playlist about changes and a poem about seeking. Things are probably gonna keep changing and we just gotta roll with it.
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Elikem
Elikem Dodor (She/Her) Editor-in-Chief
nubian-editor@ncsu.edu Ugonna Ezuma-Igwe (She/Her) Managing editor
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Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each edition of 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.
Thursday, March 3, 2022| 3
News
Tribute To Cody Sarah Cochran/ Staff Photographer
A mural in memory of Cody McLaggan is painted outside the Free Expression Tunnel on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022 on NC State's campus. McLaggan was a recent NC State graduate who was shot and killed in the Food Lion parking lot on Western Boulevard on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. Raleigh Police have arrested and charged James Christopher Anderson with the murder of McLaggan.
GoFundMe and more info on website.
Bye, Bye Masks? Well, In Some Places Elikem Dodor Here is a condensed timeline of the removal Editior-in-Chief of mask mandates
within North Carolina: In a press conference on Feb. 17, Governor Roy Cooper recommended that masks be optional after Mar. 7, 2022. On Feb. 18, Wake County released a statement saying that the Wake County Government will be lifting its mask mandate effective 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25. The Wake County Government was joined with the City of Raleigh and the towns of Garner, Knightdale, Rolesville and Zebulon in this decision. The towns of Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Wake Forest and Wendell already no longer had mask mandates in place. Even with the mask mandate lifted, masks are required “some rooms within Wake County Government buildings, such as public health clinics, homeless shelters, detention facilities or courtrooms, may still require employees and visitors to wear masks.” Following the Governor’s statement, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) issued updated guidance recommending that K-12 schools move to voluntary masking. On Feb. 22, 2022, NC State released a
statement saying that effective Monday, Feb. 28, face coverings will not be required in most indoor spaces on campus. The university said that it was making this decision “in line with recent updates from the state and guidance from health officials.” Face coverings will remain required in the following areas: classrooms and instructional settings, laboratories, clinical spaces including the Student Health Center and Veterinary Hospital, while on Wolfline buses, and for employees working in dining and other food-contact locations. Students, faculty, staff, and other community members can decide what is best for them outside of these required spaces, “Although face coverings are not required in other indoor or outdoor spaces, you are encouraged to wear them if you feel more comfortable or safer doing so.” NC State also removed the weekly COVID-19 testing requirement for individuals who have not provided proof of vaccination to the university. The campus community will still have access to free COVID-19 testing on campus. While all campus testing sites will remain open, their operating hours may change. On Friday, Feb. 25, The City of Raleigh removed its mask mandate. Raleigh’s Mayor, Mary-Ann Baldwin, said that “The recent
trends are all pointing in the right direction for the mandate to be removed.” “Removing the mask requirement gives room for personal choice and responsibility. For those that are health compromised or feel more comfortable wearing a mask, they should feel empowered to do so.” Employers are allowed to maintain their mask mandates on their premises and are “encouraged to make the choices they believe best fit their circumstances.” On Feb. 25, the UNC System released an announcement saying that all system schools should be mask-optional starting Mar. 7 in all campus indoor settings including classrooms. Mar. 7 is aligned with the effective date of the NC DHHS updates K-12 guidance and the beginning of spring break for several UNC System schools. “PPE requirements still must be followed where required by state or federal law and regulations, such as in clinical and health care settings, research laboratories, and on public transportation.” On Feb. 28, NC State released another statement, stating that face coverings will be optional in most campus indoor locations including classrooms and other instructional settings. Face coverings will remain mandatory where required by state or federal law/
regulations including: clinical and health care settings, identified research laboratories (does not include teaching labs) and on public transportation including Wolflife buses. NC State is not allowing for unit-level requirements, saying “please remember that NC State colleges, departments, units, employees and students may not require more restrictive measures than those required by the university.” “For example, you are welcome and encouraged to wear a face covering in your classroom, work location or on-campus living facility, and you can encourage others to do the same. But if that setting does not fall into one of the location categories listed above, you cannot require others to do so.” The university says that they will continue to monitor the pandemic “We will continue to monitor pandemic conditions and make adjustments to the university’s safety responses as needed.” Tamaya Sutton, a fourth-year Animal Science student, expressed her feelings regarding the mask mandate saying “I work in rural counties where people were already not wearing masks. There have already been people in my classes not wearing masks. Nothing has really changed.”
Thursday, March 3, 2022 | 4
Feature
Celebrating a Legacy: March Like Martin As Black History month comes to a close 2 events were held on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, the first March Like Martin. March Like Martin was a collaboration between the African American Cultural Center (AACC), the Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the NC State’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). After March Like Martin, the Celebration of Life event was put on by the AACC in collaboration with NPHC. March Like Martin was originally supposed to occur during the Martin Luther King Commemoration however due to the weather it was moved to Feb. 25th. Starting at 4 pm, the march took place from Stafford Commons to in front of the Witherspoon Student Center. Attendees were encouraged to make signs for the march. Some people also held the PanAfrican flag and a Black Lives Matter flag. The second section of the event featured speakers discussing topics surrounding Black people and social justice. The main speaker was Reverend Omar Paige Sr., who gave a speech on the dreams of Black people and Black students. A section of Reverend Omar Paige Sr.'s speech included a metaphor comparing achieving dreams to a college course as the majority of the audience were students. The speech had the same energy and structure as a sermon in a traditionally Black church. The March Like Martin event was held in collaboration with the Celebration of Life Event. When March Like Martin concluded around 5 p.m there was a small 10-15 break and then the Celebration of Life event began. The Celebration of Life event was a karaoke game night held on Harris Field which ended around 8 pm. The event acted as a way for the attendees to let off steam. Before the games and karaoke, attendees were invited to eat in the African American American Culture Center to eat and converse with each other. The conversations ranged from simple introductions to what it is like being a Black student on campus. After eating and talking, attendees went back outside to play games. Some of the games available were Spades, Cards Against Humanity, and Discretion. Karaoke was later in the night so those who weren’t playing games were socializing or
that happen for years to come.” The majority of the event's attendees were students who Lucas expressed his gratitude for, “I’m very proud of all the NC State students who came out today. I think it's a true testament of their dedication to bettering our community, to changing our world, to breaking silence, to really put us in a better position, and to really create a
Milan Hall Correspondent
“ I’m very proud of all the
Anna Hansen/ Staff Photographer
Reverend Omar Paige Sr. speaks to the audience during the March like Martin event hosted by the African American Cultural Center from Stafford Commons to Harris Field on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. just listening to the music playing. Practically all of the game playing stopped when karaoke started. The karaoke became more of a sing-along amongst the audience because of the entertaining performances and well-known songs such as Love by Keisha Cole and Superbass by Nicki Minaj being played. In between karaoke performances Black students had the opportunity to promote their organizations and events, some people also gave shout-outs to people who had been helpful within the community. We Talked to Isaiah Lucas, the Program Coordinator of the African American Cultural Center, to get a better understanding of the process behind these events. “We were in conversation with the Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. about how we can commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King… We really wanted to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King which is rooted in putting a stop to racial injustices with peaceful protest, demonstrations, boycotting, etc. so this
march is to inspire the entire campus community that through marching, through protesting, and standing together in unity that we can change the world” Lucas also spoke about the possibility of March Like Martin being a recurring event on the NC State Campus, “You know who knows what the future holds? I hope this will be something that the African American Cultural Center and the Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. will continue because the African American Cultural Center and the NC State Alphas, neither one of them are going anywhere. I want this to be something that continues and continues to grow and prosper and incorporates many different facets of the community.” We also spoke to Jerry Nichols, a program coordinator for TRIO’s pre-college program, who shared his feelings towards the event, “it means a whole lot. I am very proud of every NC State student as far as organizations rather be NPHC or other Black student orgs on campus. I feel like the steps that needed to happen, we definitely made that happen today and we will make
NC State students who came out today. I think it's a true testament of their dedication to bettering our community, to changing our world, to breaking silence, to really put us in a better position, and to really create a legacy of greatness here.” -Isaiah Lucas legacy of greatness here.” March Like Martin was an event that was focused on the very serious topics of social injustice and protesting, so we asked Lucas about the collaboration between the Celebration of Life event which was more lighthearted. Lucas spoke about why he was glad that both events came together, “I’m glad they came together because I think black folks, we have to stop working in silos and realize that we’re stronger together so any opportunity on this campus for us to collaborate I’m always looking forward to so I’m glad that NPHC and our wonderful intern Arana Blake were able to put their heads together to create a dope space for our students.” The March Like Martin and Celebration of Life events created a space for students to appreciate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. while having fun and socializing with one another.
Opinion
ChanGe
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playlist by Nubian Message Staff
I dream of 22 Of freedom Of happiness Of bliss Of life
Things are changing Graphic by Kyle howe
Hold On (Change is Comin’)
Sounds of Blackness Tupac
Changes
Rod Wave
Changing Change Me
Tamela Mann
Love Won’t Change
J.I. the Prince of N.Y.
Nothing Can Change This Love The Change
Them Changes Changes
Sam Cooke JoJo
A Change Is Gonna Come
Greta Van Fleet ThunderCat
Charles Bradley, The Budos Band
Love Don’t Change I Know I’ve Been Changed Changes Change Your Mind Waiting on the World to Change
Thursday, March 3, 2022 | 5
Jeremih
21 has been nothing but pain Bruised thighs and frozen toes Red hands and swollen fingers Brought in through the darkest, coldest nights On a long, hard road Filled with blood, sweat, tears Shaky arms and long car rides Secret meals and bargains Concussions and blurred vision Streaks and ER visits Lies and gaslighting Binders, notecards and poems Facetimes and hot apartments Sleepless nights and bloody noses Barren faces and frizzy hair Mind, body, and soul sacrifices But now, I see the light As I refract this light, I pray for better days I pray to reconnect with my 22.
Lashun Pace H.E.R. Fantasia John Mayor
-Elikem
Thursday, March 3, 2022 | 6
Feature
Why Black History Month is Important from Gender-Based Violence Around The World: the nubian message staff Female Genital Mutilation Every year millions Ugonna of young females Ezuma-Igwe undergo female Managing Editor genital mutilation
(FGM). FGM is the ritualic practice of partial or total removal of external female genitalia. It is performed on females to alter and injure their genitalia for non-medical reasons due to a mix of sociocultural factors within communities. Some cultures believe that FGM is a necessary part of raising a female as it prepares her for adulthood and marriage. Others believe that females are clean and beautiful only after the removal of body parts that are considered unclean or unfeminine. FGM is performed on girls from as young as infancy to adolescence. UNICEF reported that at least 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM. FGM is not an issue only affecting a small group of people, it is a global issue as it over is practiced all over the world. Somalia and Djibouti lead in the number of females who have undergone FGM with 99.2% and 94.4% respectively. FGM has been classified into 4 major types. Type 1 is clitoridectomy, the partial or total removal of the clitoral glans, and/ or the prepuce/ clitoral hood. Type 2 is excision, partial or total removal of the clitoral glans and the labia minora with or without removal of the labia majora. Type 3 is infibulation, narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. Type 4 is all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes FGM is an invasive procedure that violates the human rights of females around the world that can result in serious and even deadly health complications. Immediate complications include severe pain, hemorrhaging, genital tissue swelling and shock. Long-term complications include scar tissue and keloid, psychological problems, urinary tract infections and increased risk of childbirth complications. In order to bring awareness to these inhuman practices, the UN General Assembly declared Feb. 6th as International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
Photo contributed by Creative Commons licenses
The theme for this year was “Accelerating Investment to End FGM". They called for continued investment and support for programmes providing services and response for those affected and those at risk; in developing and enforcing laws, and fortifying institutional capacity to eliminate the practice. Multiple countries and organizations announced their commitments to preventing and ending gender-based violence (GBV). The U.S Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, stated that the US would release the first-ever U.S. National Action Plan to End GBV and an update to the 2016 U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to GBV Globally. Princess Adine Munahot, the executive director of Gamcotrap Boys and Girls for Change Gambia, disclosed plans of creating an initiative dubbed ‘Boys and Girls for Change’, which she said, is designed to encourage people to say no to all forms of Female Genital Mutilation. Three days before the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, World Health Organization (WHO) launched new training tools to help health care providers provide girls and women who have been subjected to female
genital mutilation the best quality service possible. Many people have used TikTok to talk about their experiences with FGM in order to bring awareness: @Queen_leila202 spoke about how dangerous FGM is and how it affects the lives of young girls. @President.araweelo posted multiply TikTok's talking about how having the FGM procedure done made her terrified to have sex. @handsonv posted the story of a woman who went through FGM, was forcibly married and became a mother at 15. Nubian Message was able to speak to multiple NC State students. We asked them if they knew what FGM was, how it made them as a female feel knowing that females all around the world received such a horrific procedure due to gender inequality, and if they knew that Feb. 6th was International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. Lauren Moore, a fourth-year majoring in Chemical Engineering and minoring in Biomanufacturing, said “I know a little bit about it just from past classes, talking with people, and different conversations… It's very sad to think about things that people
outside of the US and even within the US in different communities and cultures have to deal with. And this is something that they can't avoid. They're kind of forced into it, and they have no right to deny it. So it's very, very sad to hear about it, and know that that's the reality that people that look like me are dealing with… I actually did” Max Fennell, a third-year majoring in Psychology, said “I've heard of it in one of my classes… It makes me feel bad, it makes me feel horrible because it's not doing anything to benefit them. I wish they had more of a choice and say if they want it or not… I did not.” Brianna Brooks, a third-year majoring in Political Science and Criminology with double minors in Africana Studies and Spanish, said “ I learned about this in one of my Africana Studies class back in the day… I feel like we should move away from it. I understand that things happened back in the past. And you know, we need to keep our history per se but sometimes when we need to learn from my history, it's good to know where we come from. It's time to move on and give everybody equal rights because the things that they thought that made us unequal has been proven wrong… no I did not.” The United Nations said, in 2012, that it strives for FGM to be eradicated by 2030. While a third of females are less likely to be subjected to genital mutilation than three decades ago, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. UNICEF said, “Progress needs to be at least 10 times faster to meet the global target of elimination by 2030. Multiple overlapping crises, including COVID-19, rising poverty, inequality and conflict, are putting millions of girls at increased risk of female genital mutilation.” Many efforts through the years have been made to stop female genital mutilation but there isn’t one way to stop FGM. There needs to be action within families and communities at the local, regional, national and international levels.
Thursday, March 3, 2022 | 7
Feature
An Inside Scoop on Kai Crutchfield Tim Havens Staff Writer
The Nubian Message had the opportunity to catch up with Graduate Student, Guard Kai Crutchfield from the NC State Women’s Basketball Team. Crutchfield has been a part of one of the most successful classes in NC State basketball history. Just how successful? Since Crutchfield’s arrival, the team has made it to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 (3x) which hadn’t been reached since 2007. The team has also received 2 ACC Conference Tournament Championships (2020, 2021) which they hadn’t won since 1991, and an ACC Regular-Season Title for the first time in 32 years. A starter since her sophomore year, Crutchfield has been impactful in the team's success in recent years. NC State is currently the best 3-point shooting team in the conference and Crutchfield is a big reason for that. She shoots a team-leading 46% from the 3 point line. We discussed life on and off the court including what brought her to NC State, the upcoming postseason run, and more: Nubian Message: Who were your early influences on the basketball court? Kai Crutchfield: Track and field was actually my first love and sport. I come from an athletic family, so we all play different types of sports. But when it comes to the WNBA I would say, Cappie Pondexter and Candace Parker. NM: What led you towards NC State? KC: What led me towards NC State was it really felt like home. I didn’t want to go further than 4 to 6 hours away from home because I’m a really big family person. It was important to me to have family members that could come to every game. Along with all the resources that NC State provides. NM: How do you spend your time off the court? KC: Off the court, I spend my time in different clubs for student involvement such as the student-athlete advisory committee and Pack United, along with situational leadership. I also own a modern, unorthodox and creative brand that puts faith into fashion called Scripted Apprl (www.scriptedapprl.com). I value my
Photo Contributed by NC State Women's Basketball Facebook page
family so I make an effort to see them as much as possible. NM: How’d it feel to win the conference regular-season title? KC: It was truly a blessing to win the regular-season title. I know myself and the team worked super hard for it so seeing that plaque/trophy being brought out at the end of the game just made me feel so amazing. NM: Did you expect to be this successful on the court at NC State? KC: I would say I saw myself being successful on the court at NC State. I have high expectations for myself and I want to do the best that I can to represent my family. I know that God gave me the talent to perform and it would be selfish of me not to put that into play. NM: What are your thoughts on the upcoming postseason run? KC: My thoughts on the postseason run would definitely be just to continue to play how I know NC State can play. I know
that there may come some adversities or challenges along the way but I have all the confidence in the world that our team will make it happen. I also know that it’s already written, so we just have to trust the process. NM: We know your family has deep ties to the Raleigh area. Do you plan on staying here after the season? KC: Yes I do have very strong family ties in Raleigh. I do see myself staying in the Raleigh area after the postseason. We actually have a family trip planned this summer to the Dominican Republic. NM: How do you handle being a role model in the community? KC: I handle being a role model in the community simply because I have younger family members that look up to me and I know they are watching the things that I do. I want them to do better than me and not necessarily have to learn the hard way. Also because I want to be an example of how a Black woman can be successful not only athletically but academically and in the community.
NM: Is there anything you’d like to say to Wolfpack Nation? KC: To Wolfpack Nation, I’d like to say thank you for all the support you’ve given me over the past five years. It truly means the world. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I made lots of connections and met a lot of good people. It also made my decision to come back for the fifth year that much easier. The Nubian Message would like to thank Kai for the interview and wish her along with the rest of the NC State Women’s Basketball Team success. They begin their postseason run in the ACC tournament this Friday, Mar. 4th in Greensboro, NC. The Wolfpack will be looking to win the tournament for the third year in a row, earning the first three-peat of the ACC tournament in NC State's women’s basketball history.
g n i t a r b e l Ce
CHANCELLOR’S CREATING COMMUNITY AWARDS
HERStory
at
NC State Join us as we celebrate Women’s HERstory Month the entire month of March! For programs and details, please visit go.ncsu.edu/WHM
Recognizing Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Nominate by March 7 at GO.NCSU.EDU/CCCA