Nubian Message, Mar. 7, 2024, "Keen Eye"

THIS ISSUE Letter from the editor

Howdy everyone,

If you are reading this, I have a sneaking suspicion that you often overlook these small letters. I can’t say that I blame you, however, the rest of the issue is usually more interesting than my small letters. But if you are reading this then here’s a fun fact: you only have a couple of issues left with me. Then you’ll have your new editor-in-chief and whatever parasocial letters they choose to write.

But enough about me. MIDTERMS ARE OVER, SPRING BREAK IS HERE AND WE’RE FREE! Need some entertainment for your Spring break trip that isn’t just doomscrolling on TikTok, look no further than this issue.

Do you keep seeing people talking about Poe Hall but know nothing about it? Go read our article on it so that you're in the know! Our news section also has an article about the situation with Durham Public Schools. In our feature section we spoke with the president of the Arab Student Organization. And as always, our opinion section will stir the pot. If you’re not feeling like reading it, then check out our gallery!

Enjoy your Spring break!

Milan

4 DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DPS faces criticism over payment issues

5 THE ARAB STUDENT ORGANIZATION

An interview with ASO President Jamal Mohamad

6 GALLERY

Celebrating creatives on campus

9 WOMEN IN RAP

Musical comebacks from female rappers

The Sentinel of the African-American Community at N.C. State Since 1992.

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Editor-in-Chief

Milan Hall nubian-editor@ncsu.edu

Photo editor Staff Writers

Kaela Belingon

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Austin Modlin

Nadia Hargett

Micah Oliphant

Eleanor Saunders

Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each edition of Nubian Message:

Managing Editor Communication Lead

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Jeanine Ikekhua nubian-managingeditor@ncsu.edu

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Copy Editors

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Alianna Kendall-Brooks

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Alianna Kendall-Brooks

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Senait Richmond

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.

cover photo illustration by kaela belingon /Photo Editor

Nadia Hargett Staff Writer

All we know about the Poe Hall Closure

NC State University initiated the closure of Poe Hall, home to the College of Education and the Department of Psychology, in November of 2023, due to test results indicating that the building contained toxic chemicals. It has remained closed since then, and here’s everything we know so far.

Tests were conducted in August of 2023 due to “a concern raised [in August] about indoor air quality resulting from an ongoing renovation project,” according to a statement released by Provost Warwick Arden and Vice Chancellor Charles Maimone on the university’s news website. It is unclear when exactly in August this concern was raised and who raised it. The following month, the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) sent a letter to NC State saying that the state Occupational Safety and Health Division “received a complaint concerning alleged health and/or safety hazards” at Poe Hall.

The complaint form attached to the letter said that the employees hadn’t been informed of the presence of the harmful chemicals within the building despite ongoing renovations and asbestos remediation being conducted. The complaint also raised concerns about leadbased paints and PCBs within Poe Hall.

PCBs–also known as polychlorinated biphenyls–are highly carcinogenic chemical compounds that were banned from being produced in the United States in 1978. Before their ban, they were most commonly used in consumer products and commercial building materials. Poe Hall was built in 1971.

Test results revealed the presence of PCBs in five rooms in Poe Hall, including the women’s bathrooms, faculty offices and a computing center. PCBs were found in levels up to 38 times higher than EPA standards for building materials. So far, over 100 people who’ve spent time inside of Poe Hall have come forward with a cancer diagnosis.

Several NC State employees have written to the University and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human services, urging them to further investigate the cancer clusters and any other serious illnesses that could be connected to Poe

Hall. However, both institutions have declined, instead focusing on performing an environmental study of the building.

“To better understand any issues present in Poe Hall, the university is working with Geosyntec Consultants, a consulting firm with expertise in environmental building assessment in the public and private sectors. Geosyntec can also provide toxicology expertise, and has been asked to conduct a more detailed analysis of potential human health effects associated with exposure,” as said on the NC State official website. Testing was anticipated to begin in December.

Lawyers representing NC State met with staff of the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), in which the lawyers explained its retention of Geosyntec to conduct an environmental investigation of Poe Hall. While it isn’t clear when NIOSH opened a Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) at Poe Hall, the agency closed the initial evaluation at some point following the meeting. NC State requested to pause the HHE while Geosyntec conducted its testing, according to CDC

spokesperson Lisa George.

On Feb. 5, 2024, WRAL reported that the CDC told them that NC State’s general counsel retracted the HHE request in January 2024. Soon after this, NC State lawyers contacted NIOSH asking them to retract this claim, saying that the University “did not withdraw the request for the HHE or ask that any HHE be closed.” The University formally requested NIOSH open a new HHE, and the evaluation was reopened due to mutual agreement between NIOSH and NC State.

Controversy surrounding the contamination of PCBs arose, specifically pertaining to the alleged lack of communication of said contamination between Chancellor Randy Woodson and the NC State community. College professor Stephen Porter called for a vote of no confidence in Woodson and Arden, citing 10 complaints regarding how the university handled the situation. A vote of no confidence is a formal declaration by a body of people to determine if an executive is fit to continue holding their position. The faculty in the College of Education passed

these votes after an emergency meeting was called. The vote against Woodson was the first in NC State’s history. Though this vote does not have the power to remove Woodson and Arden from leadership, it’s a symbolic vote that represents the NC State' community's desire for leadership to improve things moving forward.

In response to this, the Chancellor released a video statement on Feb. 27 on the university’s “Poe Hall Updates” page, saying that his team was “exploring ways to improve our lines of communication.” He also addressed the more than 100 people who’ve spent time in Poe Hall and have been diagnosed with cancer.

“To those of you who have health concerns, please know that we hear you, and we see you, and I'm committed to keeping you informed of our progress,” he said. “It’s a challenge to express empathy through a website, statements, question and answers sessions — but please know we care very much about you. It’s what motivates us in this work.”

The next phase for testing in Poe Hall is set to begin in March, which could reportedly take months according to Chancellor Woodson. “This timing allows work currently underway in the building to be completed before we turn on the heating, air and ventilation system for the next phase of testing. As shared previously, this work takes time. This next phase of testing, analysis and reporting could take months.”

Due to this timeframe, it is anticipated that Poe Hall will remain closed through at least Dec. 31, 2024, and Chancellor Woodson has reassured that campus leadership is “committed to transparency in this process,” and will continue to regularly update the community on the progress being made.

It is unclear whether or not the university will test other buildings on campus for PCBs and other potentially hazardous materials. Some have raised concerns about this because many of NC State’s buildings were built before PCB production was federally banned in the United States. Campus leadership has not made it evident that this will occur, and seem to be solely focused on Poe Hall until further notice.

Jeremy Byrne/Staff Photographer

A sign on the doors marks the continued closure of Poe Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. Poe Hall was closed in November 2023 due to the presence of environmental contaminants (PCBs).

rOSS eMELLE Staff Writer

This February, the Durham Public Schools (DPS) Board of Education faced controversy after approving an 11% pay raise for classified employees in response to a payment error made in 2023. Due to the error, this pay raise is now temporary for many of DPS’ classified employees.

In October 2023, DPS classified employees received pay raises. Employees in this category include custodians, nurses, bus drivers (though DPS pays bus drivers on a separate pay scale), mechanics and instructional assistants, among other professions.

On Jan. 12, 2024, the DPS Board announced some employees were overpaid from July to Dec. 2023 due to an October salary schedule error.

Questions arose from DPS employees regarding how DPS would correct the salary error, with some employees concerned that it would lead to a pay reduction. Some employees told WRAL News that DPS sent them an email saying that their salaries had been reduced.

On Jan. 17, 2024, DPS dealt with transportation issues, in part due to bus mechanics and supervisors protesting. While bus drivers were not absent, transportation staff and mechanics were, without them, bus drivers were not allowed to operate the buses. On Jan. 25, DPS closed 12 of their public schools due to staffing shortages caused by the Durham Association of Educators (DAE), a Durham teacher’s union, holding a protest.

Before DPS’ Board meeting on Jan. 26, 2024, DPS released the statement, “We are sorry for the harm caused and understand there is frustration among employees who were affected, as well as throughout our DPS community. I want to be clear that we value each and every one of our employees, and that we are working hard to resolve this situation, to understand how this happened and how it can be avoided in the future, and to earn back your trust.”

Outside the meeting, DPS employees gathered outside the DPS staff development center, where they chanted, “DPS lied!” Inside the meeting, the board voted on continuing to playclassified employees at the higher rate for January. They also said staff would not have to pay back any money they had already received.

DPS’ Chief Financial Officer, Paul Lesoir, resigned, effective Jan. 31, 2024. Cierra

DPS PAY DISPUTES

Ojijo was hired as the acting CFO. She was DPS’s Senior Executive Director of Financial Services.

At the Feb. 2 board meeting, DPS announced two options for resolving the pay crisis. The first option giving all staff a 4% pay raise based on in-state experience alone. The second was an 11% increase over 2022-2023 compensation.

On Feb. 5, the DAE protested against DPS following the meeting. These protests caused seven DPS schools to close for the day. The DAE had several demands, including the board not cutting pay in February, explaining why January paychecks differed from December paychecks and a meet-and-confer session with DPS the following week. The meetand-confer session would allow the DAE to help with the DPS Board’s decisionmaking.

The DAE said in a statement, “These workers made life-altering decisions based on those raises that they cannot undo. Some upgraded their apartments or cars or childcare. Some quit second and third jobs. Now, they worry if they will be able to pay their bills and feed their families when they get their February paycheck in a few short weeks.”

On Feb. 7, superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga resigned. Mubenga served as

superintendent for seven years. Former Wake County Public School System superintendent Catty Moore was appointed interim superintendent.

In response to the resignation, the DAE released a statement saying, “Although we understand why Dr. Mubenga resigned –and district administration clearly must answer for keeping the Board of Education and the Durham community in the dark regarding the district’s financial situation –this was never one of our demands.”

“This pay debacle was never about one person, it is about the lack of transparency between DPS workers and administration, and the lack of worker voice at the decision making table,” the DAE said in a statement. Former DPS administrator Kevin Bullock also said Mubenga was not the only problem, telling ABC 11 he was concerned that Mubenga may have been used as a scapegoat.

Regarding the interim superintendent, Bettina Umstead, the DPS Board of Education chair said, “We are extremely fortunate to have someone with Catty’s knowledge and experience step into this role and help us lead Durham’s public schools.”

On the same day as Mubenga’s resignation, DPS released an internal review discussing the cause of the error.

Hurd Isenhour Lopes (HIL) Consultants, who conducted the review, determined that the DPS Board implemented a pay schedule based on total work experience while DPS’ initial budget estimates assumed it would be based on in-state experience.

Former superintendent Mubenga became aware of the potential budget issue on Nov. 8, 2023, and hired HIL to investigate. Mubenga informed school board members Bettina Umstead, the board chair, and Natalie Beyer of the issue. On Jan. 9, they told the rest of the school board.

On Feb. 22, 2024, DPS announced it had approved the 11% pay raise. This pay raise was lower than the initial pay raise in October for many employees. In a statement posted to the DPS website, DPS said, “We are grateful to have a solution in place through the end of the school year that allows us to increase employee wages without devastating the district’s finances.”

The DAE released a statement on Feb. 23, "Thursday’s decision is only going to exacerbate the staffing crisis and the challenges we have recruiting and retaining good people in our schools. We have already lost irreplaceable classified coworkers because of this and many more will leave, not just because of the lower pay, but because of the disrespect.”

In the statement announcing the decision, DPS announced the creation of an ad-hoc committee for a meetand-confer process and appointed four employees to it. This was partly due to the DAE’s request for its institution.

In a statement, the DAE said, “Last night the Durham Board of Education scheduled a work session with the Durham Association of Educators for next Thursday, centered around instituting a Meet and Confer process in DPS, which would finally give our union a seat at the table.”

The DAE also said, “This was the first real step towards Durham overcoming one of the last vestiges of Jim Crow law in our state— the ban on collective bargaining by public sector workers— and it was the direct result of our members taking historic action to organize our collective power.”

image from Creative Common Main Building at Durham School of The Arts

interview with aso president

aLIANNA kENDALL-Brooks Staff Writer

Captured amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestinian territories are haunting images of parents carrying their children's bodies in bags. In addition to this, some parents end up having to name their bodies for identification. While many students view these tragedies through a sixinch screen, the Arab Student Organization (ASO) at NC State is fighting for the university to directly respond to the crisis.

ASO, a hub typically celebrating Arab culture through events like Arabs Got Talent, has shifted focus to the decadeslong Israeli occupation of Palestine and the current bombardment unfolding since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, 2023.

On Feb.1, ASO called on NC State to issue academic sanctions and boycott companies that supply arms to Israel in a letter titled "Joint Appeal for Action on the Palestine Crisis."

Issued to NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson, the letter's key demands include: condemning the "genocide of Palestinian people by the Israeli state," ending programs involving Israel, creating an educational resource on Palestinian oppression and boycotting companies that supply arms to Israel's actions.

Nubian Message met with ASO President Jamal Mohamad to discuss the letter as well as the new direction of ASO in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

Nubian Message: What has the process been like for pursuing academic sanctions against Israel?

Jamal Mohamad: So, what we did is we created an entire letter…we started with describing the issue then we went into our demands, and we had statements from about 11 or 12 different clubs…One of our demands was an academic sanction, especially because Israel has recently just bombed every university in Gaza, every museum and every ancient church and mosque. They have no care for educational standards. Luckily, we don't see NC State directly investing in Israel, but we do see them with two affiliate programs. One being the Israel Scholars Program and one being a travel program where students can visit the ‘cultural treasures’... of Israel and Jordan. The idea that they're

visiting treasures like Jerusalem in Israel is completely the most offensive thing you can say to a Palestinian or even Arab person… it's saying that Jerusalem isn't even in occupied Palestine.

One of our demands was also a statement from NC State. Another demand was an educational page so students can find nonbiased information since there's so much propaganda and biased information. Then a way for students to boycott or not allow companies to come back to career fairs that are arms dealers…either that or educating students about what jobs they're applying for. These large companies like Lockheed Martin, or like BAA Systems supply weapons to Israel and other places that go on to kill children in other countries… I think it's unfair for students not to have a moral standard for what they're doing.

NM: How did the university respond to ASO’s demands?

JM: The university did respond and unfortunately, there's a law that the university can't say biased information on current standards of today. So, what they’re trying to work on is a message that's non-biased, but also includes an educational link for students. Regarding the affiliate programs, luckily, they don't use them anymore, or they're rarely used. We shouldn't be educationally interacting with a country that does not care about education, and bombs universities and wipes out people who just graduated with their master's degrees.

NM: How has the Israel-Hamas war impacted ASO?

JM: So, we used to have really fun events and cheerful events that bring people together to celebrate the culture, but now we've turned to a more political angle. We feel the need to hold protests, hold charity events and educate people around us. That's our new goal now until we see a ceasefire or a stop to the bombardment…as of right now, raising awareness, raising money, and supporting the people of Palestine is our main goal. When there's a current genocide going on in Gaza, and then the occupation of Palestine…our members who are mostly Arab: aren't comfortable to party, or to have these super fun events, or to enjoy themselves. It's hard to enjoy yourself when no matter what you do, in the back of your

mind, the people of Palestine are always there.

NM: As a Palestinian advocate on campus, how has the Israel-Hamas war impacted you?

JM: So, I'm 100% Palestinian. My grandparents were born in Palestine…so I'm third-generation or second-generation. I was born in North Carolina and I grew up in Raleigh, all my life. As for being affected, we still have family in the West Bank and the news won't tell you but people are being attacked in the West Bank. People are being kidnapped in the West Bank…the checkpoints, the beatings in the West Bank, this has always affected us. It's nothing new to us, but to this extent is new. We’ve always seen during Ramadan, the IDF soldiers would come and just beat people up who are praying…If the soldier is having a bad day, you're gonna have a bad day; if the soldier is having a good day, he'll let you go, he'll let you pray. Everybody in the West Bank is at the mercy of the soldier in front of them.

So, I'm from the West Bank. I don't have family in Gaza, but I have friends who have family in Gaza and I've seen them affected. I've seen them post their families' houses that are destroyed, or talk about cousins dying. I've known this for a while…but now it's in everybody's heads, or everybody hears it now because before most people didn't even know like what Palestine was. It's really bad what's happening, but it's nice to see students or people that have the slightest education…see what's happening or what's been going on for Palestine for all these years.

That's something new to me because I've grown up knowing about it, and like, feeling hopeless. But I've seen the hope moving now. That's why I feel like it's so important for us to advocate, for Palestinians to advocate, because people want to hear from Palestinians. I don’t know how to describe it, but It's just nice to hear from Palestinians or people that have been going through this for a while.

NM: Considering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been going on for almost a century, how do you feel about the conflict being recognized on such an international scale?

JM: I think we're at like 75 years. My

mom has always told me about what's going on, and she's taught me how to clearly differentiate Zionism from Judaism. I've been learning about this since I was literally eight. We’ve learned to differentiate that since the beginning, but to see the support now is great…To feel so hopeless from eight years old, and to now finally see people recognizing the struggle. We see groups of people that are non-Arabs, we see the support from the Black community and even the white community who is usually not really supportive on most things. Seeing a lot of white people come out and support Palestine is like, mind-blowing for me. Right? Like people crying on TikTok for Palestine, it's absolutely crazy…I'm forced to fight for this, but it's nice to see people who aren't forced feel the empathy, feel the compassion for people that are 5,000 miles away.

NM: What would you say to students who want to support Palestine? How can they do that at NC State in a tangible way?

JM: I usually tell people these three things: boycott, protest and educate. So, number one, boycotts. I’m not saying boycott every little company that does any little thing with Israel. I don't even do that and I'm Palestinian; but I'm saying boycott the big ones, right. Don't work with the companies like Caterpillar which helps Israel make the bulldozers that destroy Palestinian homes. If your school is having a protest, go to it. Luckily in Raleigh every Sunday, they have a protest at three in Moore Square…and then educate. So if it's posting online, which does have an effect, do it. Because if you're not Arab, and you're posting about Palestine, you reach a larger bubble. Because if I post Palestine, all my friends are pro-Palestinian, like, I'm not hitting anybody different. But if we have like, a white person posting their whole network may see something that they never saw.

Creativity in the pack

KATIE RYDER/Staff Photographer

Laila Monadi, a fourth-year studying biochemistry, strikes a pose during the "Flex Your Fit" Fashion Show in Witherspoon Campus Cinema on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Monadi won the "One of a Kind" award.

above:

Jermaine Hudson/Staff Photographer

Anya Tadisina, a fourth-year studying psychology, brushes her hair behind her during the "Flex Your Fit" event hosted by Black Artist Coalition in Witherspoon Student Center on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. This semester's theme was divinity.

RIGHT:

Emily Peedin/Staff Photographer

Lidia Solomon, a fourth-year studying communication, smiles at the audience during the open mic event inside the African American Cultural Center Art Gallery and Library on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Alongside Solomon's musical peformance, the event featured spokenword poetry and rap.

emily peedin/Staff Photographer Hannah Williams, a third-year studying communication, croons into the microphone during the open mic event inside the African American Cultural Center Art Gallery and Library on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Alongside Williams' song, the event featured spoken-word poetry and rap.

ABOVE:

Katie rYDER/Staff Photographer

RayShaun Williams, a first-year studying mechanical engineering, shows the audience the layers of his outfit during the "Flex Your Fit" Fashion Show in Witherspoon Campus Cinema on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Williams was voted audience winner for the "Essence of Divinity" award.

ABOVE:

Emily Peedin/Staff Photographer

Amoni Smith, a first-year studying life sciences, poses on stage during the "Flex Your Fit" Fashion Show in Witherspoon Campus Cinema on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Smith won third place for the "Outfit of the Night" award.

Ageism: Wrinkles

Sam Chambers Staff Writer

As the curtain rises on yet another election season, the spotlight remains on the same ol’ candidates from the 2020 presidential election: President Joe Biden and Donald J. Trump. For those politically inclined, election seasons are exciting times. But this year, the word ‘excitement’ does not seem to fit the United States’ political atmosphere.

To gain a better understanding of our current political climate, I met with Dr. Steven Greene, a Political Science professor at NC State. With over 20 years of experience as a professor, Dr. Greene has achieved widespread recognition at NC State and specializing in American public opinion and elections. My meeting with Dr. Greene showed me that the political discourse surrounding this election is anything but a celebration, and here’s why:

On one hand, Trump has become the first US president to face criminal charges. Regardless of his highly publicized trials, he has maintained large support from the Republican party and its voters, leading in the primaries against opponent Nikki Haley. Trump is projected to win the upcomingRepublican primary.

On the other hand, President Biden’s record breaking age of 81 has become a hot topic of discussion. In the 2020 presidential election, Biden broke Trump’s record of becoming the oldest U.S. President, assuming office at 78

years old. Instead of celebrating this, the American public has shifted political discussions to the possibility of our country becoming a gerontocracy: a system of governance where power is held primarily by older individuals.

The 2024 election is evolving into another broken record, and it hasn’t even happened yet. In 2016, various polls published claiming Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump as the most unpopular Presidential candidates ever. I believe today’s voters would contest this claim, given the dreaded rematch between ‘sleepy Joe’ and the infamous Trump.

Mainstream media and voters have shifted the spotlight, heavily focusing on the role of age in this election. The wrinkles of wisdom are being reconsidered and redefined as something much worse than before. This, ladies and gentlemen, is called ageism.

Ageism is a form of discrimination that is often overlooked in American society. It is defined by Oxford Languages as “prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age.” Dr. Greene believes that ageism is “unfairly, and stereotypically thinking less of people because of their age.”

At the ripe age of 81, Biden is setting his sights on a second term of presidency. The potential of completing his term at 86 has many voters questioning Biden’s ability to reassume the responsibilities of president. Although his experience speaks volumes, Biden’s age has dominated

Wisdom

the narrative of most media coverage of the upcoming election. This coverage is not simply critical of him, but has evolved into a form of ageism that is overlooked especially by younger generations.

This election season is crucial for American society to recognize the narrative of age and to understand where it is coming from. The truth- age has historically been an important factor for voters during election cycles. In fact, during the 1984 presidential campaign, Ronald Reagan stated, “I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” Reagan was 69 when he took office for his second term, becoming the then oldest President in U.S. history. The former President utilized his age merely as a sign of wisdom and experience. So what is different in this election with Biden?

Well, given the average U.S. life expectancy of 76 years, 81 sounds pretty scary. This fear influences the framing of political media. Perpetuation of this frame by politicians enhances political polarization which becomes more prevalent with every election.

Female MC Comebacks

Comebacks from artists are big, but comebacks from female MCs are iconic. The history of female rappers taking shots at each other lyrically is astonishing.

A comeback is “an attempt to become famous, powerful, or important again after a period of being much less famous.” Musicians usually make a comeback after not releasing music for an extended period following a controversy or low ratings. By releasing a new project, artists can often make a comeback to popular culture and notoriety.

The notability of a comeback varies across genres and cultures. Comebacks in music is heavily influenced by the different endeavors the artist is involved in outside of music. Media presence and the release of any project, it's solo or in collaboration with another artist, could determine how notable a comeback is. The power of a comeback is determined by the length of a hiatus, the events surrounding it and other factors.

personally,” she wrote.

Since its release, “No Bars” has received lots of love on social media, going viral on TikTok. “No Bars” solidified JT as a force in the rap game, giving her the exposure, recognition and fame she so undeniably deserved.

We are currently witnessing what I believe to be one of the most notable female MC comebacks in history.

Megan Thee Stallion is a rapper out of Houston, Texas, known for her songs “Hot Girl Summer” and “Savage.” In July 2020, Megan got into an altercation with another artist that left her hospitalized. Originally hesitant to say names, later, she revealed that the artist Tory Lanez shot her during the alteration. Megan was hesitant to tell the LAPD at the time because she described them as “aggressive.”

Musical comebacks are significant for artists. They can be caused by a change in sound, a new production or management team, and a whole genre shift. It signifies a change in branding that completely contradicts the image an artist has built for themselves.

Comeback projects could also be a response to another rapper, a situation or a group of people who have wronged the artist. These projects are often called diss tracks, making them all the more iconic.

Comebacks of both forms are nothing new in music and definitely nothing new to female MCs. Roxanne Shanté, an iconic rapper from Queens, New York, known for the song, “Big Mama,” is believed to have started the first official rap feud. At 15, Shanté released the diss track “Roxanne's Revenege,” inspired by the song “Roxanne, Roxanne” by hip-hop trio U.T.F.O.

U.T.F.O shot back with an answer record, kicking off the infamous ‘Roxanne Wars,’ with diss tracks flying in all directions. Shanté went on to blast everyone, including Run DMC, LL Cool J and KRS-One. And the track “Big Mama” proved she wasn't

about to let fellow female rappers MC Lyte, Latifah, Monie Love and Salt-N-Pepa off the hook. Roxanne, the first recorded female hip-hop artist is also the first woman to initiate rap beef. When it comes to female MCs and conflict, it's only right that they resolve it over the mic.

Over three decades later, female MCs are still resolving issues over the mic. Over the past few years, we’ve had some iconic comebacks. From Nicki Minaj and Remy Ma’s rap beef over who deserved the title of “Queen of Rap,” to Azealia Banks and Iggy Azalea's feud over artistic integrity and musical recognition. However, there have been two in particular that have caught my attention and need more recognition.

First, let's start with the City Girls, a rap duo out of Miami, Florida. The duo, Yung Miami and JT, are known for rapping about explicit sexual topics, being baddies or getting to a money bag through a man; however, for JT, getting to the bag came with its own obstacles instead. BET states “In 2018, the ‘Act Bad ’rapper, born Jatavia Johnson, turned herself in on identity theft and credit card fraud charges. She completed a nearly two-year stint in a Florida federal prison.”

While in jail, JT wasn’t releasing music unfortunately leaving Yung Miami to

fend for herself. However, Yung Miami did what needed to be done by tending to the City Girls' name. She made numerous appearances during those two years, including being featured on Drake’s “In My Feelings” and released City Girls’ debut studio album “Girl Code.” They even had their single, “Twerk,” on the top 100s, making that their first song to chart.

The day JT was released from prison in 2019, she released the song “First Day Out Freestyle” making her solo debut under the City Girls’ name. The song took shots at rappers, planting JT as a respectable female MC, and warning opps to not mess with Yung Miami. The freestyle was her first project after her two-year prison stint, making it a notable comeback. However, the song that really set it off for JT wasn’t released until four years after she was released.

“No Bars” by JT was the comeback of all comebacks. Currently said “No Bars” put an end to that era of silence. In a new Instagram post, JT explained the backstory behind the track’s inspiration. “No Bars’ is a freestyle I made in the studio when I was having one of those days. At the time, like most of the time, [people] were doubting me and questioning why I wasn’t as visual and vocal as others [without] knowing me

An article from Vulture reports that she stated, “the police came because the neighbors called the police … the police come — I’m scared. All this sh*t going on with the police … I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want the police to shoot me cause there’s a n- - - - with a gun in the car with me.”

Following this, Megan went on a two-year hiatus and only appeared at the Houston show for Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance World Tour.’

Megan came back and released “Cobra” completely revealing her mental health struggles and grief after losing both of her parents. She later released “Hiss,” a diss track targeting the industry, past relationships, social media and any other entity that did her wrong. Both tracks are rumored to appear in Megan's third studio album.

Megan's return into the industry is big, especially because of the Tory Lanez controversy, making her comeback one for the books. There's no telling what Thee Stallion has in store, but we’re sure it's gotta be a banger.

From “Roxanne’s Revenge” to “No Bars,” comebacks are a central part of hip-hop history, especially for female MCs. They are a true testament to artist's creativity, talent and intelligence. Comebacks are easily one of the most anticipated types of musical projects, so when there's a woman behind the mic giving it her all and telling someone to go screw themselves, it's almost hard not to tap in.

Image from creative Commons Image of a microphone

Micah Oliphant Staff Writer

Conformity in college

Senait richmond Staff Writer

College is a period of selfdiscovery – the idea of “finding yourself” in college implies that in the 18 years prior, you were lost. However, the transition to college life challenges us to confront our identities with newfound autonomy and responsibilities that come with young-adulthood.

The change in environment coupled with newfound freedom makes us more open-minded. Whether it’s listening to music you never imagined on your playlist, staying out late or following superstitions you never bought into — like don’t split the pole — your behaviors slowly mirror your closest friends.

In human behavior, conformity is an indicator of how our actions show what’s influencing decisions both large and small. But why do we conform? Are college students and adolescents more susceptible to conformity?

Professor Adam Meade in the Department of Psychology at North Carolina State University said “For many decades college campuses have been the location for things such as political protest and activism in part because the norms present on a campus are more conducive to such behaviors and elsewhere.”

The flip side of conformity reveals its darker truths. The desire for social approval compels people to conform outwardly while harboring internal dissent.

In Asch’s Line Judgment Studies, participants often looked towards majority- group judgments to avoid standing out or facing ridicule.

Whether driven by a primal need for belonging, looking for certainty amidst ambiguity, or social approval: conformity influences our lives.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok create a web of social influence. From Tiktok trends, dances, fashion influencers and now the Tiktok shop, you can see conformity seeping into college culture. Social Media creates an instant connection between strangers who might not even share similar interests, but view the same 60-second videos.

According to The Social Brain: Neural Basis of Social Knowledge, conformity involves the alternation of personal values, beliefs or behaviors to mirror those of others, whether real or imagined. This interplay between social media and conformity consists of informational and normative social influence.

Informational social influence, similar to a beacon guiding ships through the fog of uncertainty, compels people to seek cues from others as a source of behavioral guidance. In the realm of social media, this manifests in scenarios where users look to their online cohorts for direction, whether in choosing which restaurant to visit or deciphering the latest fashion trends, regardless of their initial opinions.

As emphasized by Craig Hill (1987), the desire for affiliation exhibits our relentless quest for belonging facilitated by the virtual communities fostered by social media platforms.

The first weeks of college are crucial in finding your crowd and where you belong. Wallflowers and homebodies attend parties and chaos leads to friendships. Herds of freshmen wander around campus and it begs the question why are we so afraid to march to the beat of our own drum amongst strangers who have no perception of us. Is it a fear of first impressions, or what the unkown could symbolize in the grand scheme of things?

Cultural norms further accentuate the connection between social media and conformity, making collectivist cultures exhibite a heightened susceptibility to group norms. Wang and Chang (2013) highlight how online platforms perpetuate conformity dynamics within virtual communities through user-generated content.

Social media acts as a powerful force shaping our choices, preferences and perceptions of reality, nudging us toward conformity through the allure of social connection. Yet, being mindful of our own beliefs and values is a defense against blindly following the crowd.

A study by HP Computing revealed how the number of likes on a post could sway individual preferences, underscoring the pervasive influence of normative social influence. Reactance theory shows how individuals react when their freedom of choice is threatened, which often yields to group consensus for self-preservation.

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