NUBIANMESSAGE
THIS ISSUE Letter from the editor
4 CHANCELLOR ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
Woodson's tenure comes to an end
In the words of Sha'Carri Richardson: We're not back, we're better!
For those who don't know, Nubian Message is the sentinel newspaper for Black and marginalized students at NC State.
Founded in 1992, our mission remains the same - to faithfully and truthfully serve students of color at NC State and beyond.
As such, we are thrilled to release our first issue of the year "Stand Out!"
We have everything your weary eyes may need, whether it be updates on the Olympics or even a guide on how to be very demure this school year.
For those in need of a quick read, check out the summer news recap to right, and if you love photography, like me, flip to our gallery. Maybe you'll see yourself ;)
Lastly to whoever's eyes grace these pages, thank you for supporting Nubian Message!
Stay blessed,
Alianna Kendall-Brooks <3
7 VENEZUELA IN
CRISIS
Fraudulent presedential election
10 GALLERY
Back to school
15 JORDAN CHILES
Olympic medal conrtoversy
Students dance together during the Welcome Week Cookout on Harris Field on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. Students danced to songs like "Wobble" by V.I.C and "Flex" by Cupid at the event held by Black Students Board.
The Sentinel of the African-American Community at N.C. State Since 1992.
314 Witherspoon Student Center, NCSU Campus Box 7318, Raleigh, NC 27695 office 919-515-1468 advertising 919-515-2411 online thenubianmessage.com
Alianna Kendall-Brooks nubian-editor@ncsu.edu
Isaac Davis nubian-managingeditor@ncsu.edu
Kaela Belingon
Abigail Harris
Social Media Manager
Micah Oliphant
Nadia Hargett
Ross Emelle
Senait Richmond
Shaere Delgiudice
Emma Hamrick
Emilia Rivadeneira
Leah Tierney Lauryn Henderson
Rebecca Hernández
Arria Jones
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.
cover Photo By Dylan Ribott/Photo Correspondent
Summer News Roundup
Aug. 5, 2024, and has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.
Drake vs. Kendrick
Biden Drops Presidential Bid
On July 21, 2024, President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race. He officially ended his Democratic re-election, leaving the Democratic Party without a nominee four months before Election Day. Biden’s announcement came as a letter he distributed via X, formerly known as Twitter.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while I have intended to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” wrote Biden.
In a subsequent post, he endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the next Democratic nominee. In the weeks before his announcement to drop, Biden insisted that he planned to stay in the race. The decision was not made until the day of the announcement, and Biden’s senior staff was notified only minutes before the public.
Notable Democratic politicians reacted positively to President Biden’s choice not to pursue reelection. Former President Barack Obama called Biden “a patriot of the highest order” for his choice to step down, and praised his leadership throughout his presidential term. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, posted a joint statement on X, thanking Biden for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also endorsed Harris for president, and said that “nothing has made [them] more worried” for the country than “the threat posed by a second Trump term.”
Pete Buttigieg, who ran against Biden in the 2020 Democratic primaries, said that Biden has “earned his place among the best and most consequential presidents in American history.”
Vice President Harris became the official nominee of the Democratic Party on
A simmering feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake reached a boiling point in the spring of this year when Lamar, Future and Metro Boomin released “Like That.”
In the song, Lamar raps the standout line, “Motherf-ck the big three, it’s just big me.”
The Big Three refers to Drake, Kendrick and J. Cole as the top three rappers of the current time.
J. Cole first used the line in “First Person Shooter.”
J. Cole was initially involved in this feud, releasing a song called “7 Minute Drill,” which directly dissed Lamar. He later distanced himself from the conflict, calling his actions some of the “lamest, goofiest sh-t he’s participated in.”
Drake responded to Lamar by releasing two songs, “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle,” in which he referred to Lamar as a “pipsqueak” and teased him for doing features on pop songs.
“Taylor Made Freestyle” was a shortlived diss. The song was removed from all public platforms when Tupac Shakur’s estate served Drake a cease-and-desist for using AI-generated vocals to imitate Shakur’s voice.
Lamar responded to Drake’s two diss tracks. The first diss “Euphoria,” was released on April 30. The track received massive attention due to his fast-firing consecutive disses, many of them targeting Drake’s biracial identity.
Lamar notably ends the song by saying how he doesn’t like how Drake says the N-word, and says, “We don’t want to hear you say N— no more.”
Drake responded to Lamar with the track “Family Matters,” questioning if Lamar is the father of the child he has with his fiance, Whitney Alford. In the song, Drake also alleges that Lamar is unfaithful and physically abusive to Alford. Drake also called Lamar’s discography phony, rapping, “Always rappin’ like you ‘bout to get the slaves
freed/You justin actin’ like an activist, it’s make-believe.”
Less than an hour after Drake released “Family Matters,” Lamar dropped “Meet the Grahams.” The notably haunting and aggressive song begins with Lamar apologizing to Drake’s son, Adonis. Lamar apologizes to Adonis as he alleges his father, Drake, is a pedophile with a secret daughter.
He then doubled down on his tirade against Drake, releasing the hit track “Not Like Us,” which continues to label Drake as a pedophile, and also calls him out for using Tupac’s AI-generated voice. Drake released “The Heart Part 6” soon after, denying the allegations of pedophilia and claiming he purposely fed Lamar fake information to see if he’d fall for it.
“Not Like Us” became one of the most popular songs of the summer, amassing over 700 million streams on Spotify alone. It’s considered one of the best diss tracks of all time and has had a vast cultural impact in the Western world, breaking numerous musical records and generating popular trends on social media. However, the feud ended with no clear winner in sight, as both artists have been criticized for the diss tracks and their conflict overall.
USA Women’s Olympic Domination
At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Team USA won a total of 126 medals including 40 gold medals, 44 silver medals and 42 bronze medals. Women were responsible for 65% of Team USA’s gold medal victories. Amongst these women, gymnastics champion, Simone Biles, helped lead the US women’s team to all-around gold and earned herself an individual all-around gold as well. Biles competed alongside Team USA after sitting out at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to an injury.
The US women’s soccer team won its first gold medal in 12 years, fueled by the “Triple Espresso” attacking trio of Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith. They beat out Brazil 1-0, scoring 10 of the US’ 12 goals at the tournament.
The US women’s basketball team also came out on top with a 67-66 victory over
France, with outstanding performances from A’ja Wilson, who scored 21 points, had 13 rebounds and four blocks. Kahleah Cooper also competed outstandingly well, scoring 10 of 12 points during the final 10 minutes of the match. The USA basketball team has now won 8 consecutive gold medals.
Mpox Resurgence
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially announced that mpox, also known as monkeypox, is a global health emergency. The announcement was released due to a sudden surge of cases in Africa. So far there have been outbreaks in 13 African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. More than 17,000 cases have been reported across Africa in 2024, and there have been at least 500 deaths.
Mpox is spread from close personto-person contact, and can be sexually transmitted. The illness usually lasts from two to four weeks, causing symptoms very similar to chickenpox or smallpox, with fluid-filled lesions that go through various stages before drying and falling off. About 10 million vaccine doses are needed for the outbreaks in Africa, reported the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
WHO has actively developed a plan to combat the disease, which will cost an estimated $135 million. It calls for advanced surveillance of the transmission of the disease and rapid response. It also heavily focuses on distributing vaccines, specifically prioritizing healthcare workers and those in close contact with recent cases.
For now, the CDC says the spread of monkeypox is “very low risk” in the USA.
NADIA HARGETT Staff Writer
Chancellor Woodson Retiring
NC State University Chancellor Randy Woodson announced his plans to retire at the end of this academic year via a press release on July 18, 2024.
In a video announcing his retirement, Woodson expressed his deep gratitude, saying, “We're so grateful for the support and kindness you've shown to our family over these many years,” he continued, “I will leave to others to assess the impact we've had on the NC State community, but I say without reservation that the impact this community has had on us is immeasurable.”
Woodson began his academic career as a professor at Purdue University's department of Horticulture. He served as the head of the department before becoming the associate dean of agriculture and the agricultural research programs office director in 1998. He was promoted to executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at Purdue University in May 2008.
Woodson became the fourteenth chancellor at NC State on Jan. 8, 2010, succeeding Jim Woodward, who served as interim chancellor. The prior chancellor, James L. Oblinger, left NC State after criticisms over the university possibly hiring Mary P. Easley, the former first lady of North Carolina, as a favor to the governor. The controversy led to a federal investigation.
Under Woodson’s tenure, the university saw growth in several areas. NC State’s graduation rate rose from 78 percent in 2010 to 85 percent, setting a personal record in 2023 for degree and certificate completion. First-year enrollment grew 65 percent under Woodson’s term, per WRAL. NC State became one of twelve public universities to raise over $2 billion for its endowment in the “Think and Do the Extraordinary” fundraising campaign. The campaign’s initial goal of $1.6 billion was met in 2019, two years earlier than expected.
Woodson oversaw the construction of the Integrative Sciences Building, along with the renovation of Talley Student Union and the Wellness and Recreation Center. He also led changes to NC State’s Centennial Campus, including the construction of James B. Hunt Library, the Plant Sciences
Building and Fitts-Woolard Hall.
Woodson’s tenure has not been without criticism. In 2016, he faced criticism for his response to racist messages made in an NC State online chat room. The remarks came after a student protest against police brutality. In a town hall, Woodson delivered a four-minute response that received criticism from several students in the crowd for failing to put forth solutions per ABC 11.
On June 1, 2020, Nubian Message released a letter from the editor criticizing Woodson’s response to student concerns regarding police brutality.
“So again, I call for you to release a statement. Please reflect on the actions of your administration and the administrations prior to you. Remember the demographics of your institution. You cannot say that you condemn racism and discrimination without condemning your own actions that have contributed to that fact,” the letter said. The original statement from Woodson has since been deleted.
Woodson also faced criticism for his role in knowing about Poe Hall’s contamination.
On Nov. 1, 2023, NC State closed Poe Hall due to the presence of environmental contaminants. A report from WRAL claimed that NC State had questions surrounding Poe Hall since 2007. On Feb. 12, 2024, the College of Education’s faculty voted no-confidence in Chancellor Woodson due to his handling of Poe Hall.
Despite these controversies, Woodson was one of the US’s most successful chancellors, winning several awards including the Association of University Research Parks’ Award of Excellence in Leadership. He’s also the third-longest serving chief executive in NC State history and served three times longer than the average chancellor in the US.
In 2021, Woodson received a two-year contract extension that made him the highest-paid public university chancellor in the US at the time. Woodson's contract expires on June 30, 2025, marking the end of his tenure at NC State.
Woodson concluded the video announcing his retirement, saying, “Next month we will welcome to campus almost 39,000 students as we begin a new academic year. I'm as excited about this new academic year as I was in 2010, and I look forward to all that we will do together in the next year as we continue to live up to our mission and vision as a leading landgrant university. Susan and I look forward to seeing each of you soon, but until then, go Pack.”
On July 19, 2024, UNC System President Peter Hans issued a press release confirming the formation of the Chancellor Search Advisory Committee. Per UNC System policy, the committee will propose a list of potential finalists for the position. The committee will have thirteen members, including Hans and current NC State Student Body President Allison Markert.
According to UNC system policy, UNC System President Peter Hans will, among other tasks, “interview chancellor finalists, participate in the reference checking process, negotiate the terms of employment for a chancellor-elect consistent with state law and Board policy, and offer a chancellor-elect for final consideration by the Board of Governors.”
Ed Stack, vice chair of the NC State board of trustees, will head the search committee.
“I am looking forward to working with my fellow committee members to assist President Hans in finding the next leader of NC State University,” Stack said in an article by the UNC System. “Chancellor Woodson has built a tremendous legacy over his 14-plus years and I am certain that we can find someone who will build upon that legacy and push NC State to new heights in engineering, agriculture, research, scholarship, innovation and economic development.”
In recent years, the UNC System has been criticized for many of its decisions, including the recent chancellor selection at UNC-Chapel Hill.
On Dec. 14, 2023, Lee Roberts was named interim chancellor at UNC Chapel Hill. Roberts had previously served on the UNC System’s board of governors and as former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory’s budget director.
Roberts had no experience working in academia. The Daily Tar Heel, UNCChapel Hill’s student newspaper, penned an opinion article opposing the hire, largely due to his partisan connections. On Aug. 9, 2024, Lee Roberts was selected as UNCChapel Hill’s next chancellor.
This year, five other UNC System Schools, UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina A&T, Winston Salem State University and Appalachian State University, are also searching for new chancellors.
Chancellor Woodson will retire effective June 30, 2025. NC State has established the “Celebrating Transformation” webpage, which allows people to thank the former chancellor and donate to projects Woodson supported. The Chancellor Search Advisory Committee also created a brief anonymous survey for students to submit input on the chancellor search via a survey.
Ross Emelle Staff Writer
Violet Beesley/Staff Photographer Chancellor Randy Woodson gives a passionate speech at New Student Convocation at Reynolds Coliseum Aug. 18. This event featured remarks from Chancellor Randy Woodson, which marks his last year at this event before retirement.
Harris-walz: Journey to the White House
Vice President Kamala
Harris is making history not only as the first woman of color to receive the Democratic nomination for president but also for her overnight popularity in the polls.
On Aug. 22, Harris officially accepted the Democratic nomination.The long awaited nomination makes Harris the first Black woman and the first person of South Asian descent to lead a major party's presidential ticket.
The Harris campaign took off seemingly overnight. It all started on July 21, 2024, when current President Joseph R. Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race.
Harris quickly became the new Democratic nominee and raised more than $100 million a day after President Biden announced his withdrawal from the race.
President Biden endorsed Vice President Harris as the Democratic nominee, with many notable politicians following suit.
Since July, approval ratings for the Harris campaign have increased in nearly every battleground state in the country, even in states where President Biden had been lagging. A New York Times/Siena College poll found Harris’ ratings jumped from 36 percent to 46 percent between February and July.
A new Gallup poll found that Harris’ favorability rating among American adults jumped from 34 percent in June to 47 percent in August. Among Democrats, the vice president also saw a large improvement in ratings from 77 percent in June to 93 percent this month.
Even among independents, Harris’ favorability has also increased by double digits, from 28 percent two months ago to 41 percent in August.
In early August, Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. The Harris-Walz campaign has been traveling nonstop across the country, specifically in the Midwest.
A poll from the Associated Press and the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) for Public Affairs Research found Walz is viewed more favorably
than the Republican nominee for Vice President, J.D. Vance. 27% of U.S. adults say Vance is favorable while 44% find him unfavorable, compared to 36% who think Walz is favorable and 25% who find him unfavorable—and more Democrats are supportive of Walz (62%) than Republicans of Vance (57%).
This past week, Harris saw yet another rise in her approval ratings after winning 99 percent of the votes from participating delegates during the Democratic National Committee’s virtual roll call.
To receive the nomination, Harris needed to secure support from 2,350 delegates out of more than 4,000 pledged and superdelegates. The Democratic National Committee reported 4,567 delegates voted for Harris.
Shortly after, the Democratic National Convention (DNC) was held on Aug. 19 in Chicago, IL. The DNC saw some of its highest viewership ratings in years with more than 108 million combined views on broadcast and streaming, and more than 350 million views on social media.
On television, the final night of the DNC pulled in an estimated 26.2 million
viewers across 15 networks, outrating the Republican National Convention on all four nights with a total estimate of 87.2 million viewers over the course of the week.
This year’s Democratic National Convention saw appearances and speeches by major politicians including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former President Barack H. Obama and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
“With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past,” Harris said at the DNC in Chicago, IL.
The Harris-Walz campaign announced this past Sunday that it raised $82 million during the DNC. The campaign has received a total of $540 million since her presidential bid in July, in contrast to the campaign of former President Donald Trump who raised about $327 million as of Aug. 2024.
Harris and Trump now stand at the top of the ticket ahead of November and are expected to have their first presidential debate on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The debate will
be hosted by ABC News at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Trump has also proposed two debates with Fox News on Sept. 4 and NBC News on Sept. 25.
Vice President Harris has yet to agree to these additional debates with a campaign spokesperson citing that Harris is, "open to and eager to discuss more debates, but Trump has to show up to the September 10th debate first."
With less than three months to go, the race for president seems to have just gotten started. Polls reveal that Democrats, in particular, have a renewed hope ahead of November.
“She’s going to work to support and lead pragmatic common sense policies that are going to directly relate to improving the lives of Americans,” said Harris’ Senior Campaign Policy Adviser Brian Nelson. This upcoming election is slated to have some of the highest rates of voter turnout in United States history. A national poll released by the Institute of Politics (IOP) at Harvard Kennedy School indicates that among 18-to-29-year-olds nationwide, more than half of young Americans say they will definitely be voting in the presidential election this fall.
“This upcoming election is slated to have some of the highest rates of voter turnout in United States history.”
With Harris on the ballot, the presidential election is set to make history in more ways than one.
Though the election is creeping up on us, this race is far from over. In fact, it has just gotten started. A once stagnant election cycle is shaping up to be one of the most fierce elections of the 21st century. There is now a new feeling emerging for this November.
Rebecca Hernández Copy Editor
Image from creative commons
(From left to right) Doug Emhoff, Kamala Harris, Tim Walz and Gwen Walz raise hands on stage at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Turmoil Continues in Bangladesh
Shaere Delgiudice Staff Writer
Turmoil continues in Bangladesh
following the garment worker strikes of last year, the streets of Bangladesh once again erupted in protest this summer. This time. The protesters were mainly students. Young people in Bangladesh make up about a fifth of the population and have an unemployment rate of around 16 percent, three times higher than the overall rate in the country.
Their protests started after a high court reinstated the quota system for extremely competitive government jobs. Roughly 4,000 positions will open each year for more than 300,000 students competing for them. Further adding to the difficulty of securing one of these sought-after positions, students have said people often bribe officials for a position or the questions to the Bangladesh Civil Service Exam, which is the qualifying test for one of these jobs.
The main factor pushing the economy in Bangladesh forward was the garment export industry. However, the industry took a hit during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and with inflation still at 10 percent, the appeal of a stable government job with good benefits has only increased.
The quota system reinstatement meant that 56 percent of these government jobs, were reserved for specific groups: 30 percent for the children and grandchildren of veterans who fought in the Bangladesh War For Independence, 10 percent for women, 10 percent for people in certain districts, five percent for ethnic minorities and one percent for people with physical disabilities.
Upset at the lack of availability of these jobs, students argued for a completely merit-based system instead and took to the streets, leading to violent clashes with police.
According to the Human Rights Society’s reporting, the protests resulted in over 800 deaths, including children, bystanders, journalists and law enforcement. As the clashes continued a nationwide curfew was put in place, and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, granted police and military forces a “shoot-on-sight” order in some cases.
Police “fired tear gas, rubber bullets and hurled sound grenades” at protesters who
were throwing bricks, and “those venturing out had their identification cards inspected by army personnel at check points.”
Roadblocks were deployed and the internet was shut down in certain areas, leaving some completely powerless, unable to fill up their energy meters.
Hasina, who is serving her fourth consecutive term, was “accused of overseeing rampant authoritarianism, police brutality and corruption, with her re-election in January boycotted by the opposition and widely documented as rigged.”
In one video from the protests, Abu Sayed, a student studying English at Rangpur’s Begum Rokeya University, is seen holding his arms outstretched to his sides with a stick in hand in front of police before they open fire, ultimately killing him. For some, this marked a turning point in the protests.
On top of the violence against student protesters, “Journalists were beaten, forced to delete images from their cameras and struck by pellets fired by police” into crowds of protesters, with at least five journalists killed in separate incidents. As deaths increased, the protests grew to be a reaction to Hasina and her party, the Awami League. They tore down a statue of her father, the former president
of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujib Rahman and in an act of defiance against the curfew, protesters eventually stormed Hasina’s official residence, causing her to flee via helicopter to India and effectively resign, ending her 15-year rule in the country.
In another example of her alleged corruption, it was said that “Hasina packed the police and the military with loyal officers” causing the people of Bangladesh’s trust in law enforcement “to all but vanish.” After Hasina’s government fell, the Bangladesh Police Association announced they would be going on strike out of fear for their safety.
Hindus are a minority in Bangladesh and have been “perceived by many to be supporters of the prime minister.”
Following Hasina’s resignation, the homes of “dozens” of Hindus were burned down and several temples were damaged.
In response to an appeal to the ruling that sparked these protests, the Supreme Court came out with a new ruling. Bangladesh will only reserve seven percent of its government jobs, with the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters getting five percent, down from 30. Quotas for women and those from certain districts were taken away completely. Under the new ruling, quotas for ethnic minorities are reduced to one percent, down from
five. The one percent quota for people with disabilities will remain the same.
After Hasina’s departure, Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Laureate and Vanderbilt University Economics graduate who many students had hoped would lead this new era in Bangladesh, took the oath to serve as head of the interim government.
Yunus, known for his pioneering work concerning microeconomics, provided “small loans out of pocket to the poorest residents in his community – eventually founding the Grameen Bank in 1983, which would become a world leader in alleviating poverty” and in 2006 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “after lending a total of about $6 billion in housing, student and micro-enterprise loans, and specifically in support of Bangladeshi women.”
Hasina and Yunus were fierce critics of one another, with Hasina once saying he “sucked blood from the poor,” and her government charging him with violating labor laws and embezzlement, charges which Yunus said were false and due solely to his opposition to her. Yunus referred to Hasina’s ousting as the “second liberation day” for Bangladesh.
The main priorities of Yunus’ interim government are returning to law and order and bringing back confidence in the law enforcement of the nation. He has pledged to not discriminate against any religious or ethnic minorities, but his government has also said that reports of attacks against Hindus are ‘exaggerated.’ He is not only tasked with restoring peace, stability and unity to Bangladesh but also with helping to prepare the nation to hold free and fair elections after the interim period ends. Human Rights Groups are watching this new government for how they handle their response to the violence of the protests and many in the region and around the world will be watching to see how the next several months unfold in Bangladesh while the typical interim government there lasts only 90 days before elections. Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has said she will “absolutely” return to the nation when elections are held, however, Mohammad Touhid Hossain, the foreign affairs adviser in the new interim government, has suggested Hasina may be brought back earlier than that to face charges.
image from creative commons Protest in Bangladesh
Venezuela’s Fight for Democracy
Correspondent
Since July 28, Venezuelans have flooded the streets of the capital city, Caracas, in protest of the fraudulent presidential election. Their hope for a better future was quickly stripped away after over a decade of the country’s biggest economic decline. But, they won’t back down without a fight.
On July 28, 2024, thousands of Venezuelans eagerly lined up to vote in this year's presidential election. This election’s two major presidential candidates were Nicolás Maduro and Edmundo González Urrutia.
Maduro has been the President since the death of his predecessor Hugo Chávez in 2013. Throughout Maduro's presidency, the country faced severe economic decline – shortages of goods, including food and medicine, left 91 percent of the population in poverty according to a 2021 survey. The decline in living conditions for citizens under Maduro’s presidency led to a point of mass migration. 7.7 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015, of which 545,000 reside in the United States. With Maduro’s government making it nearly impossible to register to vote, only about 69,000 Venezuelans living abroad were able to participate in this year’s presidential election.
“ With Maduro’s government making it nearly impossible to register to vote, only about 69,000 Venezuelans living abroad were able to participate in this year’s presidential election. ”
Contrarily, González is a former diplomat known for his time as an ambassador to various countries. Despite his background working in politics, he was not well known until his presidential campaign. His abrupt presidential campaign began back in April of this year, where he quickly gained traction and support from thousands of
Venezuelans wanting a change. “A phrase that has been said to me repeatedly is “You are my last hope,’” said González.
González was Maduro’s biggest competition in the election, challenging the dictator’s policies and campaign. However, this did not make him the people’s first choice for the presidential candidate.
The Opposition is a democratic movement in Venezuela currently led by Maria Corina Machado, who emerged as the Opposition leader in October 2023 after winning the party’s independent primary elections. Representatives and followers of the Opposition initially chose Machado as a presidential candidate; however, Maduro’s government banned her from doing so.
The Supreme Court’s ban was upheld due to alleged fraud and tax violations. In turn, she has given her support to Edmundo González Urrutia to take her place on the ballot.
Many Opposition representatives and volunteers were present in the voting centers to collect tally sheets and look out for any irregularities during the election. Some were turned away by police and other authority officials loyal to Maduro. These representatives and volunteers received
special training throughout the Summer to ensure the validity of the election.
Although the authority officials tried to kick out any Opposition members, they remained persistent and dedicated. Some representatives even stayed in the voting centers late into the night.
“They took courage with their law in hand, with the polling station manual in hand, and they managed to enter,” said Machado. The National Electoral Council (CNE) did not allow any Opposition members to be present during the count.
On July 29, 2024, the CNE announced that Nicolás Maduro was the winner of the election, beginning his third six-year term. Many citizens were devastated by the news but not defeated, as the next day Caracas filled with thousands of Venezuelans protesting against the results, including Machado and the Opposition.
During these protests, Machado and González stood side by side holding tally sheets in the air. Machado announced that the Opposition was able to collect more than 80 percent of the sheets from voting centers throughout the country. The results of the tally sheets indicate that Edmundo González is the true victor.
Since election day, protests have broken
out all over the world. International observers have come forward with evidence of election irregularities and acknowledged the CNE’s lack of transparency with the results.
“Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election did not meet international standards of electoral integrity and cannot be considered democratic,” stated The Carter Center.
It is important to note that the country of Venezuela has an abundance of oil and other natural resources. In 2023, Venezuela had the largest crude oil reserves with around 303 billion barrels, but only 0.8 percent was produced globally.
The sanctions imposed by the United States have made the production of oil harder, limiting access to the proper tools and technology, further contributing to the economic collapse. In October 2023, the Biden Administration agreed to provide sanction relief in exchange for a fair election. The U.S. government is prepared to continue and increase sanctions if their terms are not met.
With all eyes on Venezuela, the country’s Supreme Court has verified Maduro’s alleged win on Aug. 22 in an attempt to ease the tension. The Maduro loyal court reviewed the vote counts stating he won by over a million votes. However, their ruling does not match the evidence that both the United Nations and the Carter Center gathered from their election observations.
Venezuelans, The Opposition, foreign governments including the U.S., and even allies of Maduro are demanding that the government reveal the full rundown of the election results.
Despite the Supreme Court's attempt to confirm Maduro's victory, the people of Venezuela continue to protest the election. The streets of Caracas are filled with people demanding justice and transparency, refusing to accept a future dictated by fraud. As international involvement grows, the fight for Venezuela's democracy keeps on, with the nation's will stronger than ever.
Melanie sierra
image from CREATIVE COMMONS Nicolás Maduro speaking at human rights convention
sYMPOSIUM FOR MULTICULTURAl SCHOLARS: THE TIES THAT BIND
alianna kendall-brooks
Editor-in-Chief
“It is not taboo to go back and find that from which we came,” chanted hundreds of students.
“Again!” said Mama Thorpe exuberantly.
“It is not taboo to go back and find that from which we came,” they chanted louder.
This is the story of Sankofa; a story of learning from the past even as we move toward the future.
On Aug.13, over 200 new students gathered to hear the story of Sankofa for the first time at the annual Symposium for Multicultural Scholars.
For the past 20 years, the Symposium for Multicultural Scholars has embraced the African proverb of Sankofa and created a bridge toward the future for incoming first year students.
This year, the three-day symposium brought together students of diverse backgrounds to gather under one unifying theme – “the ties that bind.”
Nubian Message interviewed the professional staff to learn how symposium created community and belonging for multicultural students at NC State.
THe Nubian Message: Why is Symposium important for first-year multicultural students?
Jameco McKenzie: Symposium for Multicultural Scholars is important for incoming students from all backgrounds, cultures and communities because it aims to create a sense of community and belonging. Coming to college could be a daunting experience. Still, through symposiums, we hope to help demystify the transition process. We do this through small group conversations, student success workshops and presentations, and oneon-one conversations with upper-class symposium mentors. Symposium helps make NC State, a vast institution, feel smaller and more manageable. It creates a feeling of home.
The NM: How has Symposium inspired you as professional staff, and why is this work so rewarding?
JM: On Tuesday, August 13th 2024 over 200 students and their families came
onto campus for our opening reception and pinning ceremony. I can remember some of them being so shy and nervous. What really inspired me was by the end of the week-long experience was seeing unassuming students become engaged, meet new friends, come out of their shells and through one-on-one conversations say how it impacted them. It was very inspiring. It demonstrated that this program and the work we do in preparing our student leaders and the participants was purposeful and helped to create a sense of community and belonging for the student participants.
Charles Clark: This was my first symposium both in general and as assistant director of MSA, so this was a great opportunity to see how and why the symposium has had a major impact on our returning students. Having this experience, the symposium reminded me why I became an educator to begin with. I love working with and mentoring students on my own time, but to watch the mentors go and do the same for the incoming students makes my heart full and the things that I’ve taught them eventually compound over the years to (hopefully) change the world.
Trevis Belle: Symposium affirmed my commitment to serving the various
student populations that exist at NC State. Hearing from the students throughout the week about how impactful Symposium is and even having those same feelings a week after symposium made those months of planning worth it. Hearing students say they feel in community with other students brings a smile to my face. The work we do has a purpose. The work we do is longlasting and effective.
Gavin Bell: Symposium is always a powerful reminder of the importance of relationship and support needed to begin the semester. Relationship in regards to providing connection for the incoming students through the utilization of our undergraduate mentors, and professional staff as well. Support in regards to leaning on one another in the student success centers and our campus partners as well. All in all, the underlying importance of
“Symposium is always a powerful reminder of the importance of relationship and support needed to begin the semester.”
having genuine community in all that we do is reiterated during symposium.
Quashon Bunch: Symposium has been profoundly inspiring for me on a professional level. Witnessing the connections formed between students from various backgrounds is a reminder of the importance of community and collaboration on any college campus. Witnessing first-year students engage and embark on this new journey in their lives is rewarding and satisfying. This experience is a positive reminder that the work we do plays a pivotal role in guiding and supporting our students as they navigate and narrate their college experience. The enthusiasm and curiosity displayed by these students has strengthened my commitment to fostering an environment where student success is not only about academic growth but also about personal and professional development.
The NM: The theme of Symposium this year was “the ties that bind.” What is the meaning of this theme and its connection to goal of symposium?
JM: The theme of this year’s Symposium for Multicultural Scholars was the ties that bind; the theme was the brainchild of our administrative support specialist in MSA, Leslie Cochran, affectionately called Auntie Leslie. The theme personifies the connection between various cultures, identities and communities that our students come from and asserts that while we may all be different we all have a shared human experience. Through symposium and engagement with our centers, students are able to see the connections between their differences and find community and a sense of belonging that will help them make friends, and know that NC State is a place for all students to thrive and that it is filled with many resources and opportunities.
SEE WHAT ADVICE SYMPOSIUM STAFF HAS FOR STUDENTS TRANSITIONING FROM SYMPOSIUM TO EVERYDAY CAMPUS LIFE ON OUR WEBSITE: thenubianmnessage.com
Photo Courtesy of dasa
Attendees wait for the Multicultural Symposium Opening to begin in the Talley Student Union ballroom. The event kicked off the three-day experience hosted by NC State's Multicultural Student Affairs.
Flash depicts a posing model who is spotlighted as cameras flash.
Reference photo is of Senegalese
BACK TO SCHOOL
Jermaine Hudson/Staff Photographer Brothers of the Kappa Xi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. yell at the crowd during the Back 2 School Jam in Talley Student Union on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. During the event, students participated in competitions and watched performances from predominantly black organizations.
Jermaine Hudson/Staff Photographer Makayla Richardson, a fourth-year studying business administration and a member Mu Omicron chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, sorority, Inc, performs during the Back 2 School Jam in Talley Student Union on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. The Back 2 School Jam was an event that welcomed students of color back to campus.
Jermaine Hudson/Staff Photographer
Zaniyah Mulbah, a fourth-year studying animal science, Emalee Watson, a fourth-year studying fashion and textile management, and Jania Mackey, a second-year studying elementary and special education, holds up their sorority's hand sign during the Back 2 School Jam in Talley Student Union on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. The trio is a part of the Kappa Omega chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Jermaine Hudson/Staff Photographer NC State alumna Janae Elie strolls with members of the Mu Xi chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. during the Back 2 School Jam in Talley Student Union on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024.
Jermaine Hudson/Staff Photographer Lance Patterson, a third-year studying business administration, and Kaleb Hall, a thirdyear studying communications, performs with the Eta Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. during Back 2 School Jam in Talley Student Union on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024.
Left:
courtesy of dasa Students gather to talk during the Symposium for Multicultural Scholars in the Talley Student Union Student Involvement Center on Tuesday, August 14, 2024.
Courtesy of DASA Toni Thorpe, the keynote speaker at the Symposium for Multicultural Scholars, addresses the audience in the Talley Student Union Ballroom on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2024.
left:
Courtesy of DASA
Ava Butler, a fourth-year studying political science and a member of the Kappa Omicron chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., holds up the sorority hand sign during the Multicultural Symposium Culture Showcase in Witherspoon Cinema on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2024.
Dasa Jewel Davis, an Equal Opportunity Officer at NC State, laughs with students at the Multicultural Symposium Opening Event in the Talley Student Union Ballroom on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2024.
Aadrien Gibbs, a NC State alumnus and member of the Xi Zeta chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., poses during the Multicultural Symposium Culture Showcase in Witherspoon Cinema on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2024.
left:
Courtesy of
right:
Above: patricia Scholle/Staff Photographer
THURSDAY, August 29, 2024 | 12
Songs of the Summer
playlist by Nubian Message Staff
Some of our favorite songs of summer '24.
NOT LIKE US
KENDRICK LAMAR
A Bar song Shaboozey
active ASake, travis scott
love me jeje
TEXAS HOLD 'EM
NASTY
TGIF
tems
OKAY JT
Die with a Smile lady Gaga. bruno mars
OZEBA
BEYONCÉ
TINASHE
GLORILLA
Touch katseye
commas ayra starr
mamushi megan thee stallion, yuki chiba
REMA missin u tori kelly
Word on the street
de·mure
adjective
reserved, modest, shy demure
"The amount of construction on campus is not very cutesy, not very demure."
similar to: mindful cutesy serious
senait richmond Staff Writer
A College Student's Guide to Being Mindful & Demure
Demure or Not Demure
Y’all say you're very mindful, very demure but are you really living it?
Demure, if you haven’t heard, is the new word that has taken over everyone’s vocabulary. Demure this, demure that but what does it even mean? It is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as "affectedly modest, reserved, or serious. Not doing too much but not too little, humble and unbothered."
Everyday, I hear people flaunt how demure they are but why are we two weeks into the semester and you’re still emailing your professor about the homework policy? Honey, Let me help you out.
Being mindful of your professor’s time and not asking questions that are answered in the syllabus will make things easier for both of you. Chances are they’ll get annoyed quickly and that’s not how you want to build that rapport.
That's why I’ve created a college student's guide to being mindful and demure.
Very Demure Very MINDful
The core of demure is taking care of your mind. This seems obvious but it’s easier said than done. A well-balanced and thoughtful mind leads to a more composed and demure demeanor.
The National Institute of Health states “Most mental health disorders have their peak onset during young adulthood.” and “in addition to stress related to academic load, these students may have to face the task of taking on more adultlike responsibilities without having yet mastered the skills and cognitive maturity of adulthood.”
Yes, you might look all cutesy on the outside but that whirlwind of chaos in your mind is not so demure.
Assessing your needs and understanding your emotions helps you to be more in tune with yourself. Good mental health and emotional intelligence helps to better understand yourself and be more selfaware.
Your time is so precious, don't go fill it up with nonsense. Trying to be everywhere, know everything and be all up in everyone’s
business is not demure. It’s time to focus on yourself. Don't get so wrapped up in other people's lives that you forget to live your own!
Conserve your energy for the things that pour into you: your education, friends, family and good food. Stop negative thoughts from taking over your mental space and drowning out the blessings in your life.
Have real conversations. You keep thinking no one gets me, no one understands who I am but how could they? This is easier said than done once again but being honest with others helps you feel not so lonely in the world because you’re genuinely seen.
Those conversations can spark a lot of self-reflection and if you don’t feel comfortable talking to the people currently in your life I urge you to tap in with the many counseling options on campus. In addition to the Counseling Center, NC State offers Let’s Talk: Drop-In Support as well as Embedded Counselors in a variety of academic fields. There are also community centers like the Multicultural Student Affairs, LGBTQ+ Pride Center, Women’s Center and African American Cultural Center.
Demure Demands Timelines
Being 20 minutes late to a 45 minute lecture is not very demure.
While I understand the occasional 5-10 minute tardiness, why are you missing half the lecture and wondering why you don’t understand the content? No, I don’t think it's your professor this time.
You get out what you put in. And in college, you have to put in much more than you did back in high school.
(I will admit though if you're doing your work and still not understanding… sometimes it really is the professors and you just have to teach yourself the material. It's not easy or fun but we’ve all been through it!)
Time management is key. Though I still struggle with it at times, it decreases stress by tenfold.
Honestly, even if you are 20 minutes late to class, I advise you to still go. Showing up for that last 20 minutes takes much less time than rewatching the entire lecture on Panopto.
More importantly, I strongly advise against skipping lectures. If you miss one class, not due to sickness, travel or emergencies, it can quickly snowball into being five lectures behind with seven hours of content to catch up on in one day. Don’t do it.
All in all, manage your time and utilize resources like Google Calendar and notes to make to-do lists with checkboxes! Do what you need to do so you can have fun and do what you want to do.
FOMO NO MO
Baddie baddie shot o’clock!
Now let’s clock sobriety. Thursday to Sunday is a crazy span of consecutive partying every weekend. I don’t know how the business majors do it. We gotta put the alcohol down and find other ways to socialize. Weekly study groups? Brunch dates? Bowling?
Rest. You deserve rest. Sunday is a day of rest and preparation for the week ahead. Let’s use this time for self-care, relaxation, recovery and restoration.
Self-care is very very demure. Keep in mind that recovery days are also productive because you will decrease the likelihood of burnout. Be aware of opportunity costs and schedule time for fun outside of study hours.
You are not any less valuable because you didn’t show up to every function. Go to class. Join a study group. Get a hobby.
Get a Hobby
If you find yourself smiling at a text or waiting hours for a response from a stranger you met a week ago, you may need to get a hobby. This is not Love Island, being head over heels for someone within 72 hours isn’t healthy, unfortunately. Chasing a man is not very demure but charity is! Give to others, find ways to get involved on campus and in the community that improve the lives of people around you.
Discover your passions by trial and error. If you can’t think of any hobbies, don't worry there are over 750 clubs for you to scroll through on Get Involved and Websites for Student Organizations' pages. Write down the main ones that grab your attention, attend interest meetings, feel
them out and commit to at least one or two for the school year.
The other day I just found out my bestie who is majoring in Civil Engineering plays the viola. I was shocked and impressed! Like you’ve been hiding this from me this whole time. How classy, how elegant. People like being surprised by hidden talents. It's mysterious and multifaceted.
Have hobbies and you’ll be more interesting.
Put that Sh*t on
I know exams are coming up sooner than expected but you don’t have to dress like a bum everyday.
I love comfy clothes as much as the next person but it's nice to dress up every once in a while. Even if that means wearing jeans and a nice top. Our school doesn't demand too much of us in terms of fashion, especially in comparison to HBCUs, but looking fly every once in a while will boost your confidence and is an opportunity for self-expression.
Now that we are grown it's time to transition into some grown folk clothes as well. Put that blazer on, button down, get a cute blouse and some trousers. Soon we are going to be entering the workforce and the very real world.
People might say that looks don’t matter but let me be the first to tell you they most definitely do. How you present yourself can have a big effect on people's first impressions and first impressions are harder to shake off than you think, especially for employers.
The Wolfpack Styled Professional Clothing Closet by the Career Development Center is a wonderful resource at NC State, providing free professional clothing items to students in need. If you have an interview coming up, make sure you're looking sharp with a proper outfit. Go to Pullen Hall and they will get you right.
Implementing these tips will help you to be more mindful and demure this upcoming school year. I hope this helps and I wish you all success in your studies. Stay classy, stay elegant and most of all… Stay demure, XOXO.
The Wolfpack Represents at the 2024 Olympics
hAMRICK Staff Writer
Last month, hundreds of athletes from all over the world flocked to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Although the Olympics are an annual event, this year was more groundbreaking than ever before.
For the Summer 2024 Olympics, the International Olympic Committee released a new rule requiring an even split between the number of male and female athletes. This year’s games also saw athletes setting new records and winning medals for their countries for the first time.
There were four additional sports at the Paris Olympics: skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing and the internet’s favorite – break dancing.
Four countries won their first ever Olympic Medal: Albania (Chermen Veliev won bronze in Men’s 74kg Freestyle Wrestling), Cape Verde (David de Pina won bronze in Men’s 51kg Boxing), Dominica (Thea Lafond won gold in Women’s Triple Jump) and Saint Lucia (Julien Alfred won gold in Women’s 100 Meter). Cindy Ngamba got the first ever medal for the Refugee Olympic Team, winning bronze in Women’s 75kg Boxing.
13 Wolfpack athletes also competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics. North Carolina State University has ties to 10 swimmers, one basketball player, one tennis player and one track and field runner. Out of those 13 athletes only three ended up competing for the United States. Not to mention the two swimming coaches affiliated with the Wolfpack.
First is Ryan Held who competed, and won gold in, the Men’s 4x100 Meter Freestyle Relay. Held swam for NC State’s men's swimming team from 2014-2018 and is quite the decorated athlete. He is a four-time NCAA Champion, 25-time AllAmerican, 23-time ACC Champion, ACC Most Valuable Swimmer (2017 and 2018) and now two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. Another member of the Wolfpack, Katharine Berkoff, also won gold swimming the Backstroke leg of the 4x100 Meter Medley Relay. Berkoff swam for NC State for five years, including the extra year of eligibility she got from the season that was thrown off by the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar to Held, she is a
decorated Wolfpack swimmer. Berkoff is a five-time NCAA Champion, 30-time AllAmerican, six-time ACC champion and two-time Olympic Medalist.
Wolfpack athletes showed up and showed out in the pool and on land. Former NC State student McKenzie Long ran the 200 Meter at the Summer Olympics. Although Long only spent a year at NC State, she is still very much a part of the Wolfpack community.
There were two Wolfpack athletes who competed for Hungary – David Betlehem, who took home bronze in the Men’s 10km Marathon swimming, and Bettina Fabian, who placed fifth in the Women’s 10km Marathon swimming. Both Betlehem and Fabian will be joining the Wolfpack as freshmen this year.
NC State swimmers Bartosz Piszczorowicz and Kacper Stokowski also competed in the Summer 2024 Olympics representing Poland.
Piszczorowiz swam in the Men’s 4x100 Meter Medley Relay and 4x100 Meter Freestyle Relay. He swam for the Wolfpack for his junior and senior seasons, taking home two All-American titles and two ACC Champion titles.
Stokowski competed in the Mixed 4x100
Meter Medley Relay. He swam for NC State for the past five years, becoming a two-time NCAA Champion, 20-time All-American and nine-time ACC Champion.
Incoming freshman Kaii Winkler competed for Germany, swimming the Men’s 100 Meter Butterfly. As the third best recruit in the 2024 high school class, NC State was ecstatic to receive his commitment for this upcoming season.
Andreas Vazaios, a former NC State swimmer, competed for Greece in the Men’s 4x100 Meter Freestyle Relay and Men’s 4x200 Meter Freestyle Relay. Vazaios spent three years at NC State, and in that time he became a four-time NCAA Champion, 13-time All-American and sixtime ACC Champion. Not to mention that in 2018 he was the ACC Men’s Swimmer of the Year.
Another former NC State swimmer, Nyls Korstanje, swam for the Netherlands in three different events: Men’s 4x100 Meter Medley Relay, Mixed 4x100 Meter Medley Relay and Men’s 100 Meter Butterfly. Korstanje spent all four years of his college eligibility, as well as a redshirt season, at NC State. He racked up one NCAA Champion title, 22 All-American titles and 11 ACC Champion titles. He also won
ACC Men’s Freshman of the Year in 2019. The last swimmer of the list is Sophie Hansson who competed for Sweden, who swam in the Women’s 4x100 Meter Medley Relay, Women’s 100 Meter Breaststroke and Women’s 200 Meter Breaststroke. Hansson was a four-time NCAA Champion, 22-time All-American, 11-time ACC Champion and was named 2019 ACC Women’s Freshman of the Year during her four years at NC State.
Diana Shnaider is a former Wolfpack tennis player who, as an individual neutral athlete, won a silver medal in the women’s doubles event. She is the first ever NC State tennis player to not only just win a medal, but to even appear in the Olympics for the sport. Shnaider only spent one season at NC State, in which she was named Freshman of the Year and helped the Wolfpack beat University of North Carolina for the first time in 25 years.
Lastly is Lorenzo Brown, a NC State Men’s basketball player from 2010-2013. After graduating from NC State he went on to play professionally in Spain, and stayed long enough to gain Spanish citizenship, eventually leading to his appearance this year in the Olympics on behalf of Spain. Naturally, there are two NC State Swimming coaches accompanying the athletes at the Paris Olympics. Braden Holloway, the current head coach of Wolfpack Swim and Dive, worked as the assistant coach for the Olympic team. He has been named the ACC Men’s Coach of the Year 10 times and along the way he has coached over a dozen Olympians. Additionally, former associate head coach Todd Desorbo, who now works as the head coach at University of Virginia, was in Paris as the head coach of the USA Women’s Swim team.
The Paris 2024 Olympics were an amazing feat of athleticism that showed off not only the prowess of NC State’s Athletics, with a total of four medals won by Wolfpack athletes, but also the United States as a whole. Although no country “wins” the Olympics, the United States did end up coming home with 126 medals in total: 40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze. Which puts the US on the top of the rankings all-around.
eMMA
Kaela Belingon/Photo Editor Freshman Diana Schnaider (left) and graduate Alana Smith (right) smile after winning their doubles match against Georgia Tech at Dail Outdoor Tennis Stadium on Friday, March 3, 2023. Schnaider won silver in Women's Tennis Doubles during the Paris 2024 Olympics.
That girl: Jordan Chiles
Leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, Jordan Chiles captivated fans with her charming personality and determined spirit. Having made her first Olympic appearance at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Chiles played a pivotal role in securing the all-around silver medal for Team USA.
Chiles returned from Paris as a gold medalist in the team all-around gymnastics event, as controversy surrounding a certain bronze medal has taken social media by storm. Medal or not, Jordan remains a top contender in her field, and here is why.
“Medal or not, Jordan remains a top contender in the field and here is why.”
Early Career
Chiles began gymnastics at age six when she enrolled in recreational gymnastics classes. Once her potential became evident, Jordan and her family nurtured her talent, leading to her debut at age 11 as a junior elite gymnast. This was just one year after qualifying for the Junior Olympic Nationals.
In 2016, Jordan set her sights on the Rio Olympics, finishing third all-around at the Olympic Trials, but unfortunately fell short of her goal of being selected for the Olympic team. Following this setback, Jordan went on to win medals in various regional and national competitions.
During this period, a friendship blossomed between Jordan Chiles and fellow gymnast Simone Biles, which ultimately led to Chiles moving to Texas in 2019 to train under Cecile and Laurent Landi—a move that Jordan has described as a turning point in her career. Through this opportunity Chiles was able to train alongside other world class athletes with Biles continuing to provide sisterly guidance and support.
Tokyo Olympics
Leading up to the 2021 Tokyo Games, Jordan had a breakthrough year. She
finished second at the Winter Cup and the U.S. Classic and third overall at the U.S. National Championships, securing one of her lifelong goals: a chance to represent her country on the global stage as part of the U.S. Olympic Women’s Gymnastics Team.
Alongside Sunisa Lee, Simone Biles, and Grace McCallum, Jordan Chiles aimed to defend the team all-around gold medal achieved by the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics teams in 2012 and 2016. However, the team faced an unforeseen challenge when Simone Biles withdrew from her events before the Women’s Team Final to protect her mental and physical health.
With medals on the line, Jordan Chiles took on two additional events—uneven bars and beam—and scored 14.166 and 13.433, respectively, keeping Team USA in medal contention. Although the team gold ultimately went to the Russian Olympic Committee, Jordan’s resilient performance across four events helped secure the silver medal for Team USA.
Paris Olympics
As the 2024 Paris Olympics drew near, Chiles continued to hone her craft, even
winning gold medals on uneven bars and floor exercise at the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Tournament in 2023. When speaking about Paris, Chiles referred to the experience as the "Redemption Tour." Chiles, one of four returning gymnasts from the 2021 Olympic team, brought back gold in the Women’s All-Around event and even qualified for her first individual event final at the Olympics.
During the floor exercise finals, Chiles finished her routine fifth overall with a score of 13.666. Upon receiving the score, her coach, Cecile Landi, submitted an inquiry, arguing that the judges did not give credit for the difficulty of a skill included in Chiles’s routine. The inquiry was upheld, resulting in an additional 0.100 being added to Chiles’s initial score.
With a total score of 13.766, Chiles was awarded the bronze medal on the day of the event, beating out Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, who both had a score of 13.700. This led to the iconic moment during the medal ceremony where Simone and Jordan can be seen bowing down to Rebeca Andrade. When asked about the moment, Jordan revealed that it was her idea to pose this
way to give Rachel her "flowers." This was also the first time in history that the gymnastics podium was held by three Black gymnasts.
The Bronze Medal
Unfortunately, due to a judging error, Chiles’s medal was later contested and taken away in a decision still being disputed by USA Gymnastics to this day. This marked the first time in Olympic Gymnastics history that a medal has been stripped from an athlete for reasons relating to protocol error. Following the heartbreak, Jordan took time away from social media but has since released a statement.
Many rallied their support behind the gymnast, with Flava-Flav even making Chiles a custom bronze clock. Former Olympic Gymnast Ali Raisman, who also underwent the inquiry process during the 2012 London Olympics for her beam routine, weighed in as well stating that the decision was “unfair and cruel”.
What’s Next?
Will we see Jordan Chiles on our screens in the summer of 2028? When asked about her intentions to compete, Chiles responded: “For ‘28, you never know. You might see me in gymnastics, or you might see me in a different sport. I’m not going to say what sport. But you could still see me competing, I’ll give you that.”
Through all the ups and downs in her career, Jordan Chiles has remained a resilient force in gymnastics. Her playful attitude and positive energy have drawn many to admire her for her talent and perseverance both on and off the stage. With her uplifting affirmations and strong support network, Jordan continues to be a role model for young women of color to reach for new heights in the face of adversity. Regardless of what the future brings, Jordan Chiles will forever remain That Girl.
Adriana Hernandez Correspondent
creative commons
Photo of Jordan Chiles
Isaac Davis Managing Editor
Don't say DEI
Some new swear words have entered the villa. The university discourages me from saying them aloud but I’ve been granted top-secret clearance to use them for this article only: diversity, equity and inclusion.
I feel a distinct and unique responsibility to let you all in on the conversation. I worked for the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity (OIED), now the Office of Equal Opportunity, as it deteriorated over the past few months. I do not speak on behalf of NC State nor claim to have the answer to any questions. I’m a student journalist, and somebody had to say something.
What is DEI?
Diversity, equity and inclusion refers to a set of policies and initiatives that promote the institutional inclusion and representation of people from marginalized backgrounds.
Diversity centers on variety, including but not limited to age, race, ethnicity, ability, gender, religion, culture and sexual orientation.
Equity aims to remove the systemic barriers that prevent different groups from participating in society socially, academically, or in their careers.
Inclusion ensures that everyone has a seat at the table.
The Pew Research Center shows that a majority of U.S. employed adults believe DEI programs have a positive impact on their workplaces. While opinions vary along demographic and partisan lines, DEI initiatives are good for morale and the institution’s outward appearance.
DEI programs can even boost financial performance. A 2020 report from McKinsey & Company shows that diverse companies are more profitable than their less diverse peers in profitability.
A Little History
Affirmative action is considered the first DEI program, which President John F. Kennedy signed into law in 1961. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other programs expanded access to career and academic opportunities for marginalized groups.
Throughout the 1970s, corporations and academic institutions adopted diversity training programs to facilitate more comfortable racial integration of offices and classrooms. These early trainings had little lasting impact on workplace bias, particularly amongst white males. Despite these challenges, DEI achieved a significant victory when the Supreme Court held that affirmative action was constitutional with the landmark Bakke decision of 1978 –though it banned racial quotas. This ruling embedded diversity in constitutional law. Following the Bakke decision, enrollment of Black, Hispanic and Asian students in higher education rose between 14 and 18 percent.
The 1980s and 90s set the stage for today's DEI initiatives. During this time, DEI expanded to encompass gender, ethnicity, religion, and sexuality. America was begginning to accept multiculturalism, and policy began to reflect the reality of a globalized workforce. DEI training shifted from confrontational approaches to those centered on inclusion, and organizations saw the emergence of diversity professionals. With the advent of social media in the early 2000s, the demand for DEI professionals surged, and diversity became a business imperative.
Yet, in spite of DEI’s benefits, a number of right-wing politicians have made it their life’s mission to abolish such programs and legislation.
The War on DEI
Governors Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott first introduced anti-DEI bills in their respective states, Florida and Texas, in 2023. A conservative wave of anti-DEI legislation has since swept across the country, slamming into 28 states.
The Chronicler of Higher Education maintains a tracker of anti-DEI legislation across the United States. As of June 23, 85 bills have been introduced, of which only 14 have become law, including in Iowa, Tennessee, Alabama and North Carolina. According to the tracker, North Carolina primarily targets DEI training and diversity statements.
Every bill is a little different, and may restrict different aspects of DEI based on the state. However, four pillars have
received notable conservative attention: jobs, training, diversity statements and identity-based preferences in hiring and admissions.
More than 50 universities across the country, such as UNC Greensboro, have gutted their diversity-centered offices and multicultural centers. Other universities, including NC State, have opted to downsize and renamed their offices.
How DEI changed NC State
In May 2024, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors voted to repeal DEI. These policies sought to foster inclusiveness by requiring universities to submit diversity and inclusion reports. DEI has now been replaced by a policy called “Equality Within the University of North Carolina.” The new policy commits itself to “institutional neutrality.”
On Aug. 1, Provost Warwick Arden sent an email to all students, faculty and staff. He then followed up with another email on Aug. 16.
Here are some of the changes included in the emails from Executive Vice Provost and Chancellor, Warwick Arden.
Effective Aug. 1, the Campus Community Centers and the Disability Resource Office have moved from OIED into the Division of Academic and Student Affairs (DASA), and can take advantage of its robust resources.
The community centers are the African American Cultural Center, the Women’s Center, the LGBTQ Pride Center and Multicultural Student Affairs. All four centers are devoted to the well-being of marginalized students, with each space centering a particular identity. Nobody is excluded from any community centers or their programs. Carrie Zelna, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, will now oversee the community centers.
Also effective Aug. 1, The Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity was renamed the Office of Equal Opportunity. Sheri Schwab maintained her position as Vice Provost of the department and still oversees the Disabilities Resource Office. All DEI-related training has been suspended indefinitely for review.
The university has until Sept. 1 to comply with the new policy.
Don’t Say DEI
As you spend time at NC State, you’ll eventually notice a distinct lack of transparency at every level of this institution. NC State administrators failed to properly inform faculty and staff about how the war on DEI would affect them. I spent this summer working in the Office of Equal Opportunity, formally known as OIED. Our summer was marked by confusion stemming from botched communications and scrambling to remove any trace of D, E, or I from our marketing. Many of my questions regarding the transition into DASA went unanswered. Fundamentals were up in the air, from my job title to my pay, and none of my supervisors could provide the clarity I needed– unless it was a vapid response from higher administrators. I watched as the university encouraged a “don’t ask, don’t tell attitude” towards the shift from OIED to DASA. Anymention of diversity, equity or inclusion was taboo.
About halfway through the summer, I realized that there was no clarity to be found. Nobody in the department knew if they would have a job by the time school started, and the university showed zero urgency in telling us. The information we did have was subject to change at any minute, and nobody could tell me the same fact twice. It was unacceptable that faculty and staff should be expected to continue working happily, producing summer programs, generating research and making the university money, while the university left them in the dark.
Our elected student representatives have yet to comment on DEI changes. I am curious to see if, when or how Student Government responds to constituent needs and whether or not they will advocate for the marginalized student body come election season.
Personally, I have yet to see how these changes “optimize the student experience” for anyone who isn’t straight, white, male or all three. To me, these policies boil down to "don't say DEI."
CCAEj: a fight for environmental justice
Emilia Rivadeneira Staff Writer
Last fall, Poe Hall closed temporarily due to the presence of environmental contaminants called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Poe Hall’s closure and subsequent testing results led students, staff and other NC State community members to form the Campus Community Alliance for Environmental Justice.
The Campus Community Alliance for Environmental Justice, commonly referred to as CCAEJ, is a student-led group created to advocate for environmental health and safety on campus. Its members seek accountability from University administration for the presence and impact of PCBs in Poe Hall.
Celine Shay, a second-year Master’s student in the Public History program and a member of CCAEJ, said the idea began in an environmental history class.
In the course, students learned how community members of Warren County protested the dumping of PCBs — sparking the Environmental Justice Movement. As Shay and others drew parallels between Warren County and the situation unfolding at Poe Hall, they knew action had to be taken.
“It was fully Poe Hall that really brought this whole thing [CCAEJ] together,” Shay said. “There are other organizations on campus, but none that really focus solely on Poe Hall and especially on holding the University responsible for exposing students and staff to these toxic chemicals.”
Shay also said there is no hierarchical system in the organization — everyone is equally responsible for bringing awareness to the community.
What is CCAEJ doing?
One of CCAEJ’s main goals is to obtain accountability and secure a cleaner and safer campus environment. In a public petition, the organization outlines six demands to Chancellor Randy Woodson and campus administrators.
“Some of [the demands] include the University allowing for independent
testing,” Shay said about the demand to test all campus buildings, including dormitories, by a credible and independent entity.
The petition also urges the University to identify and notify faculty, staff and students exposed to PCBs in Poe Hall, while also providing coverage of medical expenses for those affected.
“That students, staff or anyone that was exposed to these chemicals have their medical bills covered or at least have the ability to be tested without having to worry about fees,” Shay said.
It also calls for transparent communication of an independent review of the Geosyntec report and the creation of an independent online system for reporting environmental health concerns in campus buildings. Shay said that at the moment, there’s uncertainty about how many buildings on campus have PCBs.
As a final demand, CCAEJ requests that Poe Hall remain closed.
While the petition has roughly 500 signatures, CCAEJ has yet to hear back
from the University.
“We know other entities that have [heard back from the University],” Shay said.
“Unfortunately the University is not willing to work with anyone who’s trying to get this issue solved.”
Shay said their end goal is getting the University to admit they knew about the PCBs in Poe Hall, yet were negligent about it.
Collaborating Toward a Common Goal
CCAEJ also works alongside a coalition of organizations and individuals, such as the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the NCSU Graduate Workers Union — two organizations that are also listed in the petition's byline as submitters.
“What makes our organization special is that it’s not just students,” Shay said. “Is also staff, is anyone in the campus community and anyone in the community in general
that can be involved.”
Hwa Huang, a fourth-year Ph.D. student studying Marine Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and member of the NC State Graduate Workers Union, is one of the individuals working alongside them.
Huang said that, for him, what is happening at Poe Hall is important as both him and his work were based in the building before it closed.
“This issue is very relevant to many of our fellow colleagues who happened to work at Poe Hall or attended classes at Poe Hall,” Huang said. “This is a workplace safety issue for us.”
For Huang, the petition pioneered by the CCAEJ, is a way for him and fellow colleagues to demand a better working environment.
“The way I see it, we need to build power amongst everyone who is working here, who goes to school here to demand better conditions and demand that there’s better practices being enforced by the school admin so that this doesn’t happen again,” Huang said.
Moving Forward
Regarding future plans, Shay said the Campus Community Alliance for Environmental Justice is planning to hold a protest — yet they want to ensure everything is in order before proceeding with this action.
“We just want to make sure that we have everything in line, we have enough information, we have enough people speaking,” Shay said. “...We just have been waiting and educating campus as much as possible before we push forward with a protest.”
For now, the Campus Community Alliance for Environmental Justice is continuing its fight to hold Chancellor Woodson and the university’s administration accountable, whether by spreading awareness about the situation in Poe Hall through tabling in front of Talley or continuing to gather signatures for their petition.
For updates on events and future plans, visit their Instagram and website.
Jeremy Byrne/Nubian Message Doors are locked and covered as the closure continues at Poe Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. Poe Hall was closed in November 2023 due to the presence of environmental contaminants (PCBs).
RACISM AT THE nabj convention
Alianna Kendall-Brooks Editor-In-Chief
The National Association of Black Journalists kicked off its annual convention in Chicago with a surprise guest - former president Donald Trump.
On Wednesday, July 31, Trump took part in a highly inflammatory Q&A at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Chicago, IL.
The former president made multiple false and offensive statements, most notably claiming that Vice President Kamala Harris “suddenly turned Black” amid the 2024 presidential election.
ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott, Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner and Semafor political reporter Kadia Goba moderated the event.
The conversation quickly went sideways as Trump berated ABC News' Scott for questioning his inflammatory rhetoric toward people of color.
Trump’s Response to Scott
“I want to start by addressing the elephant in the room, sir. A lot of people did not think it was appropriate for you to be here today,” said Scott.
“You have pushed false claims about some of your rivals, from Nikki Haley to former President Barack Obama, saying that they were not born in the United States, which is not true. You have told four congressmen, women of color, who were American citizens, to go back to where they came from. You have used words like 'animal' and 'rabbit' to describe Black district attorneys. You've attacked Black journalists, calling them a 'loser,' saying the questions that they ask are, 'stupid and racist.' You've had dinner with a white supremacist at your Mar a Lago resort. So, my question, sir, now that you are asking Black supporters to vote for you, why should Black voters trust you after you have used language like that?”
Trump responded to the pointed question with an attack on Scott. “I don't think I've ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner, a first question. You don't even say hello. Who are you? I think it's disgraceful. I came here in good
spirits,” Trump said.
Trump continued “Are you with ABC? Because I think they're a fake news network. A terrible network."
The interaction between Scott and Trump set the tone for a contentious conversation. In response to a follow up question by Scott, the former president said, "I have answered the question. I have been the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln."
“'I have answered the question. I have been the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln.'”
The former president went on to relay multiple falsehoods during the conversation. When asked if he believed that Vice President Kamala Harris is a “DEI hire,” Trump falsely questioned Harris’ heritage.
“She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black. So I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?” Trump said.
The NABJ used Politifact to fact check Trump's comments in real-time. The non-profit disproved multiple false claims asserted by Trump, including that Democrats support infanticide and undocumented immigrants are stealing “Black jobs.”
Trump consistently disseminated misinformation in response to direct questions.
When ABC News’ Scott asked Trump if he would pardon the rioters who instigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, he dodged the question.
The former president falsely claimed that police officers ushered rioters into the building, and pivoted to scold protestors of the war in Gaza for vandalizing national monuments.
Scott repeated the question, "My question is on those rioters who assaulted those officers -- would you pardon those people?"
"Absolutely, I would, if they're innocent, I would pardon them," Trump said.
Trump also repeatedly and falsely claimed that immigrants “are coming in from mental institutions, from prisons, from jails.”
Sonya Massey
When asked about the death of Sonya Massey, an unarmed 36-year-old Black woman shot by an Illinois sheriff’s deputy earlier this month, Trump said he was unfamiliar with the case.
Reporter Kadia Goba asked Trump if the officer who shot and killed Massey deserved immunity, which he claimed he would give officers so they can “do their jobs.”
“Why should an officer like that have immunity, in your opinion?” Goba asked. “I don’t know the exact case but I saw something. And it didn’t look good to me,” Trump said. “You are talking with the water right?”
When asked again, Trump was unable to provide a clear answer about how immunity would be decided for police officers.
Backlash
Trump’s appearance at the NABJ convention was controversial from the start. The NABJ announced the sitdown conversation just two days prior to the convention in a statement, sharing that the Q&A would “concentrate on the most pressing issues facing the Black community."
The announcement quickly drew backlash from NABJ members. Karen Attiah, the co-chair of the convention, resigned shortly after the NABJ announced Trump's appearance.
Multiple NABJ members have followed suit, expressing disappointment and anger with the NABJ’s decision to host Trump. Businessman and retired basketball player Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. openly denounced the decision and withdrew from participating in a panel at the
convention.
“This is the single dumbest and worst decision in NABJ history,” Carron J. Phillips, a 2019 and 2020 NABJ award winner, wrote Tuesday on X. “Whoever made this call is an idiot. And I’ll say it to their face this week.”
Trump’s remarks about Harris’ race drew condemnation from across the political spectrum, including from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who called them “repulsive.”
In a live interview following the conversation, CNN Republican strategist Shermichael Singleton shared his shock at Trump’s comments.
“Overall I just don’t see what the net gain here was, and I think a lot of Black people will watch this appearance and then they will point to the former president and they will point to the Republican Party and say this is exactly why we will never give you all the majority of our support,” said Singleton.
Prior to the event, NABJ President Ken Lemon released a statement defending the decision to host Trump at the convention.
“I consulted with a group of our Founders and past NABJ Presidents Tuesday on-site in Chicago, and as a group, we affirmed that the invitation to former President Trump was in line with NABJ's usual practices since 1976,” wrote Lemon. Lemon also revealed that the NABJ had been in talks with both the Democratic and Republican parties since January of this year.
“NABJ was in contact with Vice President Kamala Harris’ team for an inperson panel before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July,” read the statement.
In a statement on X, the NABJ said it was in conversation with the Harris campaign to have her appear either virtually or in person for a conversation in September.
Kamala Harris’ Race
