sentinel of black and marginalized voices at N.C. State since 1992.
SEPT. 26, 2024
4 DIVERSITY DECLINING AT COLLEGES
Legal battles ensue after affirmative action overturn
5 PHOTO GALLERY
Latine Heritage Month kickoff
8 THE KING AND QUEEN OF LATIN MUSIC
Celebrate two titans in the world of Latin music
10 IPHONE 16 CONTROVERSY
The ethical lapses of Apple
cover photo BY Jermaine Hudson/Senior Photo Photographer
Travis Espinoza Mundo, a fourth-year studying education, and Yahir Sanchez-Vazquez, a third-year studying business management, poses for a picture during Multicultural Student Affair's Latinx Heritage Month Kickoff in Talley Student Union on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. VOL.
Only with the permission of our elders do we proudly produce each edition of The Nubian Message:
Dr. Yosef ben-Yochannan, Dr. John Henrik Clark, Dr. Leonard Jeffries, The Black Panther Party, Mumia A. Jamal, Geronimo Pratt, Tony Williamson, Dr. Lawrence Clark, Dr. Augustus McIver Witherspoon, Dr. Wandra P. Hill, Mr. Kyran Anderson, Dr. Lathan Turner, Dr. M. Iyailu Moses, Dokta Toni Thorpe and all those who accompany us as we are still on the journey to true consciousness.
This issue, we focus on what is impacting the Latine community here and abroad. Ecuador’s political landscape is in turmoil, along with Latin America at large due to the climate crisis. These stories matter. Though they may feel out of reach, the ripple effects are right at our doorsteps.
On that note, as expected, the overturn of Affirmative Action is leading to less diverse college campuses. Read more about it in our news section, where we also provide an in-depth look the death of Javion Magee.
Lastly, if you want to know how writers really feel, flip to read about jorts, the patriarchy and racist heckling at the at Duke’s Mayo Classic game.
The Nubian Message tells the stories of not just the marginalized but the triumphant. If you’re all about it, keep reading and if you’re not, read it twice.
Editor-In-Chief
Alianna Kendall-Brooks
nubian-editor@ncsu.edu
Managing Editor
Isaac Davis
nubian-managingeditor@ncsu.edu
Photo Editor
Kaela Belingon
Multimedia Editor
Abigail Harris Social Media Manager Senait Richmond
Ross Emelle
Micah Oliphant
Shaere Delgiudice
Emma Hamrick
Emilia Rivadeneira
Stay blessed, Alianna Kendall-Brooks
Gallery Design by Alianna Kendall-Brooks & Isaac Davis/Editor-in-Chief & Managing Editor Back cover by lauryn henderson/Layout Designer
Ecuador’s internal armed conflict
Emilia Rivadeneira Staff Writer
In recent years, Ecuador experienced a dramatic surge in violent organized crime. This crisis reached a critical point in January, when President Daniel Noboa declared the country was in an “internal armed conflict” against 22 criminal groups. Three groups led the attention-grabbing incidents that led Noboa to recognize the existence of threats posed by these criminal groups labeled as “terrorists.”
On Jan. 7, unrest erupted in six national prisons after one of the country's most-wanted criminals, Adolfo Macias, also known as “Fito,” escaped from a detention center in Guayaquil. In response to his escape, Noboa declared a nationwide 60-day state of emergency, which including the mobilization of military forces and curfews.
Less than 24 hours after this announcement, a group of masked, armed men took control of “TC Televisión,” an Ecuadorian TV station, during a live broadcast — revealing the country’s escalating violence to the world.
While January’s events threw Ecuador into a downward spiral, crime and insecurity have long been an issue for the country.
Noboa’s authorization of military forces to move against criminal groups under the United Nations International Humanitarian Law quickly gathered attention from international organizations such as the Human Rights Watch (HRW). Concerns about the accuracy of classifying the situation an "internal armed conflict” were raised.
The criteria outlined by the HRW defines an internal armed conflict as “protracted armed violence between governmental authorities and organized armed groups or between such groups,” requiring two elements: a certain level of organization among the armed groups and a significant intensity of hostilities.
Under the framework of International Humanitarian Law, declaring an internal armed conflict triggers heightened domestic security measures. The declaration permits governments to deploy special emergency powers to restore peace and order — including the armed forces and national police. This may raise
concerns over human rights protections.
Michael Struett, a political science professor at NC State, said the label “internal armed conflict” does carry specific legal connotations under the international law.
“It’s an international law concept,” Struett said. “Throughout the 20th century, civil wars became much more of an issue. … there was a bit of a diplomatic push to fix the international law and make it clear that even if you’re in a civil war, fighting people entirely within your borders, you’re still not supposed to shoot and kill people…and so the term ‘internal armed conflict’ was born and it has a legal threshold requirement to sort of distinguish it from criminal violence.”
According to the HRW, the Ecuadorian government’s resolution appears to lack legal basis and could open the door to human rights violations. In a letter to Noboa, the organization said that “the existence of an armed conflict— international or non-international— does not depend on the declaration or determination made by a government or its president, but on an objective analysis of the facts on the basis of criteria established under international law.”
After analyzing the decree and police reports, the HRW said the Ecuadorian government failed to provide adequate evidence to classify the violence involving the 22 criminal groups as an internal armed conflict.
Regardless of international criteria for classifying the situation as an internal armed conflict, it is clear Ecuador continues to experience a significant rise in crime and violence.
By the numbers
According to the Global Organized Crime Index, Ecuador had a significant increase in criminal market scores in 2023, rising 0.8 percent since 2021. Now, the country is positioned among the top 10 most organized-crime-ridden countries worldwide.
Homicide rates have also risen to historic levels. According to the HRW’s “World Report 2024,” Ecuador’s homicide rate went from 13.7 per 100,000 people in 2021 to about 45 per 100,000 people
in 2023, positioning the country among the top three most violent countries in Latin America, alongside Venezuela and Honduras.
Understanding the root causes through firsthand experience
The Nubian Message talked with Nabih Dahik, a program coordinator from the Global Training Initiative at NC State and a native of Quito, Ecuador, about the root causes leading to the increase in violence and crime in the country.
One of the root causes being the expansion of the global cocaine trade market in Ecuador. According to Dahik, the country's geostrategic location, combined with weak counternarcotics and security capabilities in port cities, has transformed Ecuador into a key drug trafficking route, further influencing the criminal environment.
“We are kind of just the middleman in the process,” Dahik said about Ecuador’s position in the traffiking of drugs coming from neighboring countries, Colombia and Peru.
Colombia and Peru are the world’s top producers of cocaine, with Colombia being responsible for almost two thirds of the total coca cultivation area in 2022, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Given its borders with both countries, it was only a matter of time before Ecuador became an important hub in the global cocaine trade.
When asked about a specific events weakening the security in port cities and increased drug trafficking, Dahik attributed it to the closure of the U.S. Air Force base in Manta in 2009, a decision made by thenPresident Rafael Correa, who sought to remove foreign military presence from the country.
“For me, one of the main [root causes] was the [removal of] the Manta base, when we just looked to the other side and said we don’t want the American army here,” Dahik said. “That put the country in a weak position because our military didn’t have the training to control [the ports] of Ecuador.”
Ecuador also has a history of political and judicial corruption, contributing to the rise of organized crime and complicates
efforts to address the current security crisis.
“Corruption has been a problem in Ecuador forever,” Dahik said. “The problem is the justice system. Police do kind of their work, they put [criminals] in jail, but after a week the criminals will go out.”
By allowing years of growing impunity to gangs, previous administrators and state actors have facilitated the current stage of organized crime in Ecuador.
Security measures taken by the government, political landscape ahead
Since January, Noboa issued several states of emergency amid his anti-crime efforts, allowing soldiers to patrol the streets and prisons.
In April, he also gained voter support for a series of security measures in a referendum that approved of a constitutional amendment. It allowed the extradition of Ecuadorians accused of crimes and permitted Armed Forces to carry out operations alongside the police without a state of emergency.
Noboa’s actions signaled his militarized approach to tackle crime and violence.
According to Mónica Palencia, Minister of the Interior, violent deaths fell 19 percent through July, compared to the same period in 2023.
Ecuador is facing an upcoming election this February that can ultimately determine the country’s direction. This week, Noboa confirmed his candidacy for reelection next year.
“There’s going to be an upcoming election in February 2025, so that will give us a little bit of the landscape for what Ecuador is going to be in the future,” Dahik said.
The aftermath: Affirmative Action's Overturn
Isaac davis Managing Editor
The enrollment of Black, Native, Hispanic and Asian American University students has declined across the country following the reversal of John F. Kennedy’s Executive Order 10925 that instituted Affirmative Action. Some universities have reported an increase in demographic diversity. Now, colleges nationwide are preparing for an aftershock of litigation surrounding unexpected outcomes.
Historically, Affirmative Action has created a number of institutions for marginalized groups in academia and industry. Over time, this practice gave rise to race-conscious admissions and hiring processes.
Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), a nonprofit organization advocating for race and ethnicity-blind admissions, sued UNC and Harvard in 2023. Their case was brought before the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of SFFA, ending Affirmative Action.
As universities welcome some of their largest incoming classes, certain colleges have publicized their demographic data. However, many universities, including NC State, have not publicly disclosed the demographic reports from this year’s admissions cycle.
Elite colleges — such as Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) — have reported a decrease in the enrollment of Black students. The Harvard Crimson reported that Black student enrollment in Harvard’s Class of 2028 declined to 14 percent compared to 18 percent in the Class of 2027. Black enrollment at MIT decreased dramatically, from 15 percent in 2023 to 5 percent in 2024.
In the Triangle, UNC and Duke have unveiled their demographic reports for the Class of 2028.
UNC has reported a decrease in diversity following the reversal of Affirmative Action. According to The Hill, Black student enrollment dropped from 10.5 percent to 7.8 percent, Hispanic student enrollment dropped from 10.8 percent to 10.1 percent and Native student enrollment dropped from 1.6 percent to 1.1 percent. Duke’s incoming first-year class has seen an increase in socioeconomic diversity. These findings are consistent with previous years, according to The Chronicler. The percentage of Pell Grant-eligible students
doubled compared to the Class of 2026, from 11 percent to 22 percent. Duke, alongside Yale and Princeton, has been embroiled in investigations over the racial and ethnic profile of their Class of 2028.
The SFFA has now targeted Duke, Yale and Princeton for “the most indecipherable” results.
Yale and Princeton reported that their Black and Latine student populations remained stable, while Duke reported a slight increase. As for their Asian American populations, all three universities reported a decline in proportion: falling from 35 percent to 29 percent at Duke, 30 percent to 24 percent at Yale and 26 percent to 23.8 percent at Princeton.
On Tuesday, Sept. 17, Ed Blum, the president of the SFFA, sent letters to Duke, Yale and Princeton questioning their compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling after their enrollment of Asain American students did not meet expectations.
“Notable peer institutions are also reporting much higher percentages of [admitted] Asian Americans like Harvard (37 percent), Columbia (39 percent) and MIT (47 percent) And based on SFFA’s extensive experience, your racial numbers are not possible under true race neutrality.” wrote Blum in his letter to Duke.
He continued: “Please explain this discrepancy, including any new, substantial race-neutral alternatives that you adopted in response to [SFFA v. Harvard]. Without that information, SFFA will conclude that you are circumventing the Supreme Court’s decision.”
Blum ended his letter stating the SFFA are enforcers of the new rules: “SFFA is prepared to enforce [SFFA v. Harvard] against you in litigation. You are now on notice.”
As the dust settles after the Supreme Court’s ruling on Affirmative Action, the legal aftershock is only the first stage of what could become major societal shifts. Marginalized students nationwide will have to wait and experience how these shifts affect their campus communities.
Dr. Tyrone Howard, a UCLA professor studying race and education, said that, “blips happen all the time with admissions, but if the same trend exists one, two, five years then that suggests that we have a real structural problem.” Dr. Howard continued, “We want to present in those communities. We want to reach out to churches. We want to talk to parents.”
Javion Magee's mysterious death
Neveah Sturdivant Correspondent
On Sept. 11, Javion Magee was found dead in Vance County. Authorities found Magee’s body leaning against a tree with a rope wrapped 11 times around his neck. The end of the rope was tightly wrapped around the branch of the tree. A 911 caller reported seeing the body around 10 a.m.
Javion Magee was a 21-year-old truck driver from the Chicago area who was reportedly in Henderson, NC making a delivery to the Walmart distribution center.
Javion Magee’s death gained attention after his cousin shared the details of his death via TikTok. The video invoked outrage from the public who believe Javion Magee may have been lynched, as Henderson is known to have a history of racism.
“ Javion Magee may have been lynched... Henderson is known to have a history of racism. ”
Vance County Sheriff Curtis R. Bram quickly shut down these allegations, saying that Magee’s death was not a lynching.
“The rope was wrapped around his neck. It was not a noose. There was not a knot in the rope, so therefore, it was not a lynching here in Vance County," said Bram.
The sheriff stated there was no “foul play” and Javion Magee’s death was said to be a possible suicide because Magee had no defensive wounds, just the wound on his neck from the rope.
However, the family of Magee believes otherwise and said that he displayed no signs of mental illness or suicidal tendencies.
Vance County later released surveillance footage of Javion Magee purchasing the blue rope at Walmart around 6:20 PM. That same rope was found wrapped around his neck at the scene. The packaging for the rope laid beside him as well.
In the Walmart security video, Magee is seen tossing the rope between his hands before purchasing the item at the selfcheckout terminal. Magee’s father, Kori Magee, was a truck driver as well. A family member said the purchase of the rope was ordinary equipment used by truck drivers.
After leaving the Walmart, Javion Magee’s patterns were followed by investigators to a Hampton Inn which Magee entered for a brief moment before exiting.
Surveillance footage from a gas station then showed Magee’s truck turning onto Vance Mill Road and going toward the place of death. It was reported that the footage did not show Magee returning to his truck.
Sheriff investigators also highlighted that Magee gave a homeless person $228, just hours before his death. A witness stated that Magee handed the money to the homeless person and said: “I don’t know how much it is, but if I had more I would give it to you.”
An investigator stated that the autopsy, Javion Magee’s purchase of rope and Magee’s gift of $228 are all signs that Magee’s death had no outside influence.
Magee’s father contacted the owner of the property where his son’s body was found and the owner reported that Javion was with someone on the property, but the owner did not know who.
The family of Javion Magee is stricken with grief and suspects that there is more to the story than what the Vance County Police Department is sharing. Social media and Javion Magee's family are pressuring the Vance County Police Department to be transparent about the case.
Following the uproar from the family of Javion Magee and the public, the Vance County Police Department began taking steps to be more transparent about the case.
A detailed timeline of Magee’s whereabouts before he was found dead was released to the public. It was curated based on the GPS in Magee’s truck, witness statements, surveillance footage and cell phone records. However, none of it seems to answer the question of what happened to Javion Magee.
A physiological autopsy, search warrant for Javion Magee’s phone and toxicology screening are being conducted to see if investigators can figure out his state of mind before his death or any other information that can point to his cause of death.
As for now, the death of Javion Magee remains unclear.
el Niño and Climate Change in Latin America
Melanie Sierra Correspondent
Climate change and the El Niño weather pattern negatively affected the environment in Latin America over the past year, creating a trickle-down effect of damage.
El Niño is a warm weather pattern that occurs every few years. It involves the warming of the Pacific Ocean near the equator, which can result in droughts, flooding, wildfires and heat waves, contriuting to South America's vulnerable.
The El Niño weather events have worsened climate change including sea level rising at a faster rate.
In 2023, Brazil was hit with intense heat waves. Temperatures reached as high as 105 degrees in certain parts of the country during the winter months (June through August). The heatwaves, along with drought, impacted Lake Tefé of the Amazon River killing over 150 river dolphins by the end of September.
"The Amazon is experiencing an extreme drought that has reduced the flow of its main rivers," said the World Wildlife Fund Brazil.
In Peru, the heat along with heavy rainfall has increased the mosquito
population. Cases of the mosquito-borne disease dengue fever reached an all-time high, with over 270,000 reported in the country. The dengue outbreak was so large that a national sanitary emergency was declared.
Although the harsh heat from El Niño affects many different countries, Mexico is the most negatively impacted.
In October 2023, Hurricane Otis hit Acapulco, Mexico. Within only 12 hours, the storm jumped from a tropical storm to a category five hurricane. Officials were unable to predict the severity of the storm, resulting in a costly and devastating aftermath.
Claudia Rojas of the Department of Process Engineering and Hydraulics of the Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM) elaborated on the correlation between the storm and El Niño, “There is a hypothesis that it could be related to the rise in ocean temperature, which does not mean that there are more hurricanes, but it does mean that when there is one, the cyclone accelerates its formation by taking on more energy under these conditions.”
Once the hurricane weather passed, droughts became more prominent,
especially in Northern South America. Over 3/4-ths of Mexico experienced some level of drought by the end of 2023. Droughts had a larger impact on more rural areas as well as women, Indigenous groups and people with disabilities. These smaller areas have little access to resources and effective ways to collect water.
Countries like Bolivia are suffering from climate change through natural disasters such as droughts and floods. Droughts began after a warm winter, resulting in several heat advisories issued and water conservation being implemented.
Once the drought was over, the rain came. However, the rain affected areas that do not absorb water very well. This resulted in flooding that killed two people and left hundreds displaced.
The Panama Canal also suffered immense damage due to the lack of rainfall. The canal, one of the world’s most important trade routes, was set back last year due to low water levels. The typical 36 ship transits were reduced to only 24, delaying shipments of goods.
The Panama Canal Authority addressed the lower water levels by proposing to create a new reservoir to keep shipments
running during drought seasons. Additionally, the canal’s infrastructure needs to be improved.
Drier weather conditions lead to wildfires. This year, both Bolivia and Brazil experienced record-breaking wildfires, most of which occurred since July. Bolivia received more than 29,000 alerts and Brazil had more than 47,000 in 2024.
The El Niño phenomenon and climate change effects even the more rainy environments like the Amazon River. The Amazon River took a considerable amount of damage this year since around 60% of the river occupies Brazil.
In just the month of February, there was an outbreak of wildfires in Chile, killing around 131 people with hundreds still missing. Officials looked into what the causes were and a majority link back to El Niño. The U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction said the fires are “believed to be Chile’s deadliest forest fire on record.”
The impact of both climate change and El Niño in the past year imposes extreme weather in Latin America, emphasizing the region's vulnerability to environmental disasters to come.
LATINE HERITAGE MONTH
jERMAINE HUDSON/Senior Staff Photographer
Gavin Bell, assistant director for Multicultural Student Affairs, talks to Leio Ibarra-Mendez, a fourth-year studying science, technology and society, during the Latinx Heritage Month Kickoff in Talley Student Union on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
JERMAINE HUDSON/Senior Staff Photographer
Byren Hernandez, a second-year studying civil engineering, looks for his heritage flag during the Latinx Heritage Month Kickoff in Talley Student Union on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
Jermain Hudson/Senior Staff Photographer
Zania Xander, a fourth-year studying science in knowledge and society and Kierra Carter, Embeded Counselor for Multicultural Student Affairs learn how to dance with Estela Garcia, a fourth-year studying enviormental sciences during Latinx Heritage Month Kickoff in Talley Student Union on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
JERMAINE HUDSON/Senior Staff Photographer
Alex Espaillat, a doctoral student studying educational leadership, policy and human development, and Valerie Hoyos, a thirdyear studying political science, during the Latinx Heritage Month Kickoff in Talley Student Union on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
Celia Cruz was one of the most popular Latin musicans of the 20th century. Her signature call "¡Azúcar!" honors her Cuban roots And African ancestry. Cruz stands as an unforgettable legend in Latin American history.
jERMAINE HUDSON/Senior Staff Photographer
Estela Garcia, a fourth-year studying environmental science, prepares a jarritos bottle during the Latinx Heritage Month Kickoff in Talley Student Union on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
Jermain Hudson/Senior Staff Photographer Students walk through Talley Student Union during the Latinx Heritage Month Kickoff on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Organized by Multicultural Student Affairs, the event showcased the different Latin and Hispanic organizations on campus and provided students with a list of upcoming events to celebrate the heritage month.
jermaine hudson/Senior Staff Photographer
(From left to right) Allison, Kaylee and Natalie Toro, first-years studying biochemistry, pose for a photo during the Latinx Heritage Month Kickoff in Talley Student Union on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
The King and Queen of Latin Music
Adriana HernÉndez Correspondent
What shapes our identity?
The answer is often not surmisable in one word. Identity is deeply rooted in one's environment, family and culture. It is defined by our interests and experiences. I find music to be an all encompassing representation of that. In honor of Latine Heritage Month, let's take the time to celebrate two titans of Latin music.
The King of Latin Jazz
Born and raised in Harlem by Puerto Rican immigrants, Tito Puente was destined to be a drummer. Growing up in New York City, Puente’s music taste was heavily shaped by Cuban and Puerto Rican music, as well as the jazz big band era with his idol Gene Krupa.
In his early twenties, Puente became the drummer for the Machito Orchestra, led by Machito, the forefather of AfroCuban music and a key figure in laying the foundations of Latin jazz. Tito remained in the band until he was drafted into the Navy during World War II.
Upon Tito’s return to the United States,
he founded his own band in 1948. The band would go on to bring mambo to the mainstream and even the big screen, appearing in the movie, Mambo Kings, with Tito playing himself.
Tito’s performance style is described as playful and lively, with him often seen playing timbales - shallow single-headed drums originating from Cuba. In most videos you’ll see him singing with his band, even taking dance breaks mid performance to appreciate the music.
Tito Puente’s last performance was in his ancestral home of Puerto Rico, after which he died from a heart attack at the age of 77.
Posthumously, Puente received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to Latin music. In 2011, Puente was also recognized in the Latin Music Legends Forever Stamps: a collection of stamps released by the United States Post Office commemorating music legends of Latin heritage.
The Queen of Salsa
Originally from Havana, Cuba, Celia Cruz grew up knowing she wanted to make a career out of singing.
In her mid-twenties, Cruz joined La Sonora Matancera, a Cuban band that specialized in Latin American Urban popular music. Due to the political state of Cuba at the time, Celia Cruz and many of the band members emigrated to the U.S. in 1961.
Once settled in New Jersey, Cruz took the Latin music scene by storm, bringing Salsa music to the forefront of popular music. She quickly became an icon, representing Afro-Latinas and making space for herself in a field dominated by men.
Cruz gained popularity around the same time as Puente, and the pair collaborated on multiple occasions including reunion concerts and Mambo Kings.
As a singer, Celia used her rich and powerful voice to create distinct and iconic music. On stage, she had an air of confidence and joy accompanied by vibrant outfits and phenomenal dancing.
Cruz’s love for music resonated with people, cementing her as a cornerstone of Latin music.
In 2003, at the age of 77, Cruz unfortunately passed away due to complications following a brain tumor
surgery. Posthumously, Cruz was also awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and is found alongside Puente in the Latin Music Forever Stamp Collection.
Last year, it was announced that Celia Cruz would be immortalized on the US quarter in honor of her upcoming 100th birthday – further cementing her status as a cultural icon among Americans and Latines.
Celia Cruz and Tito Puente represent just two of the many phenomenal artists that have shaped Latin music. Through vibrant performances rich with dancing and passion, their legacies forever remain cemented in the culture they represented with pride. From Alberto Cortez and Willie Colón, to Selena and Gloria Estefan. Latin music is rich with irresistible rhythms and immersive storytelling. In the spirit of celebrating Latine Heritage Month, I encourage you to take a listen.
The Unheard Latin Voices in Hollywood
Aiyanna Moore
Correspondent
The lack of Latines in our film and television is an issue that has persisted since the birth of Hollywood, yet it remains unchanged.
For some, television and film serves as a form of escapism, allowing one to relax and take a break from reality and form connections with the characters.
But, how can one connect when they don’t feel seen?
Turning on the television to constantly watch people who don’t look, talk, or act like you can be extremely disheartening, an issue prevalent in Hollywood. In the United States, Latines make up roughly 19 percent of the population, totaling to over 62 million people. However, Latines hold less than 5 percent of roles both on and off screen. An even wider gap occurs when considering the intersectionality of the community made up of different genders, races and sexualities. Afro-Latines play less than 1 percent of lead roles in film. Only 5 percent of films made between 2014 and 2022 featured characters that were both LGBTQ+ and Latine.
One of the most persistent issues being the use of stereotypes, with many shows and films depicting harmful stereotypes.
Stereotypes portraying Latines as gang or cartel members, criminals, maids, gardeners and sexual objects.
Netflix hosts many series that portray the “Narco” stereotype, including “Narcos,” “Narcos: Mexico” and “Queen of the South.” The shows focus on different cartels in Latin America and their roles in local crime and drug smuggling.
Some stereotypes are not necessarily negative. However, regardless of intention, all stereotypes are harmful.
Stereotypes are dangerous because they encourage bias. They can skew our perception of others, causing us to cast inaccurate judgements based on what we have seen or heard. This can especially influence people who are not regularly exposed to other cultures because of a lack of interaction and intercultural experience needed to combat stereotypes, often leading to prejudice and discrimination.
Identity is a crucial aspect of representation. It is important to note that Latines are not a monolith. We have to
remember that Latines come from a variety of countries, each with its own unique food, dialects and music.
Recently, there have been breakthroughs within the industry, but is it enough?
At the 76th Emmy Awards, “The Bear” actress Liza Colón-Zayas won her first Emmy, becoming the first Latina to win the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Jenna Ortega is another actress who has begun making waves in Hollywood. She has become one of today’s biggest young stars, having significant roles in “Scream,” “Wednesday” and most recently “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” among a long list of other great shows and movies.
There have also been recent attempts to incorporate Latine culture into the mainstream film market, especially towards young audiences, such as “Coco,” “Encanto” and “Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse.”
Nevertheless, these achievements and ongoing efforts, the industry still has a highly noticeable lack of diversity. Latines continue to suffer severe underrepresentation.
Focusing solely on actors will not reverse
the problem. Adjustments need to be made behind the scenes as well.
There is a need for more Latine writers, directors and producers. With more diversity in leadership positions, there is more opportunity for those who want to tell these unheard stories. Tanya Saracho, creator of “Vida,” is a writer and producer making it a priority to amplify Latine stories and make space for Latine actors. Representation is integral to society’s growth and development. It promotes confidence, connection and self-awareness for those who are represented. Others, not part of the represented community, also benefit by gaining cultural awareness from viewing media centered around different cultures.
Latines are a diverse group of people who deserve better. We should be able to see characters who showcase our culture, traditions, languages and talents. The United States cannot continue celebrating its diversity while continuing to exclude its people in the media.
Gen Z's place in the 2024 Election
The public has cast a spotlight on Generation Z as the 2024 presidential election draws closer. The youngest generation was a major factor in the 2020 presidential election, and their impact will likely be felt in this year’s election. In the 2020 election, Gen Z voted 11% more than young voters in 2016. However, Dr. Steven Greene, a professor of political science at NC State University, said Gen Z’s political leaning was the bigger story, “Gen Z being, if you just look by generations, the most democratic of all the generations, that's an impact. That's something that helps Democrats.”
In the 2020 election, Gen Z supported President Joe Biden at a rate 23% higher than Baby Boomers and 1% higher than Millennials. A study from the Pew Research Center found that Gen Z voters are similar to millennial voters, tending to hold more progressive views than older generations. Despite this, younger voters still vote significantly less than older ones.
Dr. Greene attributed lower voter turnout in Gen Z to age: “The 20-year-old who doesn't vote, in 40 years, is gonna have a mortgage is gonna have a kid in the school system is, gonna have a sense of rootedness and connection in their community, has likely lived there a number of years.”
Dr. Greene claimed this rootedness, along with age, motivates older voters, “I use in my classes the phrase ‘a greater stake in the system’, and that just takes time and life experience. And to some degree voting is a habit, and the more you do it, the more you keep on doing it, so it can take time for that habit to build up.”
Further, this lower turnout is, in part, by design. “Because young voters historically turnout at the lowest rates, and older voters turn out at the highest, campaigns are much more likely to pitch their messages overall to older voters, which just makes young voters feel that much more disconnected,” asserts Dr. Greene.
Despite the lower turnout, Dr. Greene said it’s likely that Democrats will try to attract younger voters to improve their chances in 2024. “For Democrats, an area
where they have a clear advantage is young voters. So my guess is there is probably more of an effort than usual, really, to get young voters out and participating and voting this year,” Dr. Greene claimed.
Regardless of party, there has, as there is most years per Dr. Greene, a movement to energize younger voters. This movement is occurring at NC State, with the university updating their “Pack the Polls” website and holding “Voting Toolkit” sessions where students can learn more about the electoral process.
Dr. Greene also claimed that Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris replacing President Joe Biden might help energize young voters, “I think young voters, in particular, had concerns about his age and a general lack of enthusiasm for Joe Biden. I think we've probably seen the biggest changes in democratic support among young voters. And, on some level, I think there's just such a massive sense of relief that there's a candidate they feel they can get behind.”
Kamala Harris has already energized previously disinterested voters. A study from UCLA found that a third of Gen Z voters who didn’t intend to vote for Biden were motivated to vote after Harris joined the race.
Dr. Greene stated that these many factors could lead to higher voter turnout among Gen Z. “I think also, Trump is motivating right? He motivates Republican voters and he motivates Democratic voters against him, obviously. So throw in a [candidate who] positively motivates young voters [such as] Kamala Harris, which Democrats have lacked, and it seems quite possible that young voters will turn out at higher percentages than they have in recent elections,” said Dr. Greene.
Voter registration instructions are available on the North Carolina State Board of Elections website. The deadline to register is Oct. 11, 2024. Wake County early voting will occur from Oct. 17 to Nov. 2. Election day is on Nov. 5, 2024 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Any voter in line before 7:30 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
To Jort or not to Jort
Jorts. With just one word, I can throw the fashion world into chaos.
From middle-aged moms to indie sleaze teens, I’ve seen an uptick in this controversial fashion choice all around campus. It makes me wonder, why are they trending now?
Jorts, also known as jean shorts, became an iconic staple in pop culture dating all the way back to the 1980s. It was popularized by the famous television show, The Dukes of Hazzard. For many uncultured teens such as myself, that title may seem unfamiliar; however, the cleanly cropped and high waisted jean shorts of this era were sported by the character Daisy Duke, whom this article of clothing was promptly nicknamed after.
For me, that name rings familiar from Katy Perry’s quintessential song California Gurls. In Perry’s words, “those girls are unforgettable, undeniable and dressed in daisy dukes with bikinis on top.”
Jorts have gone through so many phases in pop culture, from the frayed grunge and baggy rap looks of the 90’s, to the tight micro looks of the 2000’s, to the studded and colorful trends of the 2010’s. Now, there’s a mix of all different types of jorts trending at once.
It may surprise you, but under certain conditions, I fully support those wearing jorts. Fitted jean shorts are a fashion faux pas in my opinion, unless we’re talking y2k micro shorts with some edgy styling. Without that, it can feel uninspired.
On baggy jorts, this might be a pretty controversial take, I love them as long as they’re lengthy enough and styled well. A lot of people in alternative spaces have been rocking those baggy jorts lately and what can I say, you might catch me wearing baggy jorts soon.
The main factor that influences my opinion on jorts is the individual thought that goes behind styling them. It’s one thing to buy the average high waisted, well fitted jean shorts from the mall. They are in fact a classic staple, but it never intrigues me to see more. When personal style influences jean short selection, the end
result can leave a much more cohesive and creative impression.
You don’t just have to lean into the Ke$ha inspired super low rise, micro jean shorts to get a pass from me. The 90’s hugely oversized classic jean short looks so good paired with other oversized elements, or with alternative subculture influence. If you aren’t going for the micro look, please make sure your jorts go past your knees. I don’t think I could withstand seeing another pair of knee length fitted jorts.
The current resurgence of jorts likely correlates with the rise in 2010’s fashion coming back into our trend cycles. Lately, fashion of the 2010’s has gotten popular again, as well as the urge for that wild party scene. The fun music and fashion of that time has often been discussed to correlate with times of economic recession. I don’t think it’s too far-fetched to propose that our current economy could be contributing to these trends.
On the topic of trends, I feel like I would be remiss not to mention the effects of fast fashion. I know, you’ve probably heard this discussion plenty of times, but it’s important to acknowledge the impact that rapid trend cycles have on our environment.
While trends can be great to allow individuals to discover what they enjoy, we can all work to be more mindful and demure about what we consume. If jorts are your thing, feel free to indulge! If they aren’t, I guess you’re not the only one. Trends come and go, so if you aren’t a jorts fan, I’m sure we’ll all look back in a few years and question these interesting fashion choices.
At the end of the day, I’m not here to hate on any "jorts connoisseurs." I won’t necessarily hate on jorts haters either, I mean… they have a point. But I will say fashion is all about expression and fun at its core. As long as that’s your motivation, I think experimenting with jorts can turn out well! I am a fan of some jorts looks and I think there can be a style that clicks with anyone. It’s truly about what makes you happy, jorts or not.
Ross emelle Staff Writer
Julia Cox Correspondent
You don't need that new iphone
I’m almost certain everyone's heard about the new iPhone 16 coming out this year. It feels like just last year the iPhone 15 came out, and that’s probably because it did. Apple is spewing out iPhones so fast that it’s giving me and a lot of other people whiplash. It makes me wonder – why? Well, of course, there are financial reasons; however, I feel there is another more sinister reason.
In April 2024, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) accused Apple of illegally exporting minerals from the conflict zone in the eastern region of the country to use for manufacturing their products. Earlier this year, lawyers representing the DRC government with questions regarding these accusations directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook. In the letter, French and US representatives for the DRC wrote that Apple’s iPhones, Mac computers and other products are “tainted by the blood of the Congolese people.”
Eastern Congo is currently the site of one of the most devastating present-day humanitarian disasters and has been in a war-torn state since the late 20th century. In short, hundreds of armed rebel groups have spent years trying to seize control of the mineral-rich mines near the border of Rwanda. The military group M23 has been recently advancing through the land. This conflict has left millions of Congolese people displaced, with many seeking asylum and refuge in other countries due to the violence that has been permeating throughout the East. The situation continues to worsen as the DRC has been fighting to receive humanitarian aid for its people.
In the midst of all the devastation, the DRC having to deal with a trillion-dollar company allegedly robbing it of its minerals is unsightly. Apple has denied using minerals from regions where the conflict is taking place, proclaiming that it conducts its business ethically and “responsibly” sources minerals from the DRC and its neighboring countries. They’ve also denied that any of the minerals the company buys
don’t finance the conflict or the armed groups, but the DRC stands firm on its allegations.
“In Congo, people have been dying for 30 years as a result of illegal mining,” Congo government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said. “We want clarification on the sources of supply for major technology companies, in particular Apple, to verify whether they are acquiring minerals produced in completely illegal conditions.”
With Apple’s history of exploitation, it’s no wonder why the DRC’s government would suspect that Apple could have conflict minerals in its supply chain.
Aside from the controversy in the DRC, the iPhone 16’s new release has been sparking so much conversation on social media that I’ve been seeing less and less content about Palestine. It seems it’s been completely overshadowed although Palestine still isn’t free. Israel is still occupying Palestinian land and committing unspeakable atrocities against the Palestinian people. It’s been reported that over 41,000 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas’ October 7 attack, and this is likely an underreported number. More than 85% of the Palestinian population have fled their homes since October. Every day, Palestinians lose their lives at the hands of the Israeli military, and there has yet to be a permanent ceasefire.
Palestinian and Congolese people count on us to continue to shed light on the genocide taking place in their countries. But I’ve seen recently that people have stopped talking about Palestine and the DRC, and started talking about things that don’t matter, like the new iPhone 16.
As privileged as we are, we’re lucky to be able to indulge in new phones and use those very phones to scroll through social media. It is easy to bypass the humanitarian crises that are happening in other countries. However, we have to remember that the people living in it don’t have that option. We have the opportunity to spread awareness with our social media access and keep bringing awareness to the senseless tragedies happening in this world.
But then again, who cares right? After all, the iPhone 16 comes in pink!
What if we starved the patriarchy?
If you’ve been on social media lately, you may have come across countless videos of straight women declaring themselves celibate.
“Decenter men!” they chant as they march into the sunset, arms linked. But how did we even get here and what did men do to make women that mad?
Long story short, they just existed. To qoute the Vice President, they existed in the context of all in which they lived and what came before them.
Unfortunately, that context happens to be a ragingly misogynistic patriarchal society, which also seems to be regressing on the progress it has made in the past century.
It's Toxic to All of Us
With the rise of “tradwives” – women who choose to lead traditionally feminine lifestyles – Nara Smith and Ballerina Farms, women are beginning to debate between new age and traditional lifestyles. Although these lifestyles are on completely different poles of our political spectrum, their views on women are not. The truth is conservative men view us as private property, and liberal men view us as public property. Either way, the patriarchy we live in is eating good. Society is urging us to pick our poison, perhaps don’t pick at all.
Women Are Autonomous, Right?
Throughout this article, you may notice that my views on patriarchy are negative, that is because I do not like it, and I am entitled to feeling like that. You may completely disagree with me and believe that patriarchy is a great thing, and you also are entitled to feeling that way. I have to respect that because I wholeheartedly support the idea of autonomy – the right to self-govern. So did Immanuel Kant, the philosopher who invented the idea of autonomy.
Kantianism declares that nothing can be constituted as morally right unless it passes the qualification of goodwill. Kant had a four-part test called Categorical
Imperative, which determined whether or not an ideology or intention was morally right. The ideology must be able to be universalized, refrain from using people as means to an end, respect autonomy and stand scrutiny.
Well, patriarchy fails Kant’s test miserably. You would assume that if Kant lived to see the modern feminist movements, he would back it. The gag is Kant did not view us women as persons, so by his view and his moral theory, we are exempt from deserving autonomy. That is because Kant, like many men today, was a product of a misogynistic patriarchal society.
Let’s Just Stop Feeding It
In 2019, South Korea witnessed the birth of the 4B Movement. The movement is based on the refusal of heterosexual marriage, childbirth, dating and sex – all of these words start with the letter “B” in the Korean language.
Women in South Korea are rejecting the objectification of women in heterosexual relationships and reclaiming the autonomy unique to singleness. Since its birth, 4B has only exploded in popularity, with its influence bleeding into cultures all over the world. We are seeing a shift toward voluntary celibacy; women are removing their romantic lives from the jaws of the patriarchy and reclaiming aspects of their autonomy.
Although this does not cure the patriarchy’s effect on our lives, these movements are beginning to shake the tables a bit.
Reactions to this shift to celibacy have resulted in cities like Busan, Korea, paying singles to date and corporations centered on dating, like Bumble, pitching an anticelibacy campaign to convince women to come back.
Women are going to lengths to prioritize their happiness, and I commend them. It is not easy to defy a society that teaches us that a woman’s value depends on how well she satisfies the needs of men. Shifts like these may be the very things that change the context in which future generations are raised.
Gigi Nyara Correspondent
Nadia Hargett Staff Writer
The Mayo Classic: Rocky Top Terrors
The NC State football team took on Tennessee on Sept. 7, at the Duke’s Mayo Classic. Things did not look good going into the Mayo Classic as Tennessee ranked in the top 15 during the preseason while NC State was 24th. The game ended in a 10-51 loss for the Wolfpack. Unfortunately, that loss wasn’t the worst thing that happened during the game.
From beginning to end Tennessee fans were berating, heckling and throwing slurs at pretty much anything in red and white, but most of it was directed towards members of the NC State Marching Band.
First, let me be very clear about a few things. Number one: It was not all of the Tennessee fans who were engaging in this behavior. It was primarily the Tennessee section closest to the band section and the field. Number two: I am sure that the NC State fans said some horrible things as well. I am just speaking from the perspective of the NC State Marching Band.
Heckling is something you get used to after being around the sports scene for a while. Especially as an athlete, cheerleader, member of the band or any other organization closely associated with the sports team. Anyone who has been to an NC State - UNC game has seen some pretty intense rivalry and heard some horrible things. But nothing could prepare you to hear the things that the Tennessee fans said at the Mayo Classic.
The first story that I have is also the worst. Jonathan Durham, a tenor saxophone player, recounted what he faced:
“As we were walking out from the stands for pregame, we were just walking by and there were a couple Tennessee fans shouting some infamous things. Things like the N-word, things like - fans that were not black might I add - shouting the N-word, different slurs. Slurs that you’ve probably never even heard before in this decade. One thing that I was personally called, like up close, was a crow, which is in relation to the Jim Crow laws. So that’s some like 1960’s racism.”
I asked Durham if he thought that the fans were specifically targeting people of
color in the band and he responded with this:
“I would say that those specific comments were pointed at people in the band of color, but separately I’ve heard on some occasions that different people were called the F-slur, just called gay in general… like it was a bad thing. They used it as a slur.”
This became a recurring issue throughout all of the stories that I heard from other band members. People were called all variants of derogatory terms in reference to being gay.
I then talked with Gattis Smith IIMcNeill who plays trumpet. He said, “I couldn’t even go to the bathroom without being called the F-slur. When we were leaving the game this one Tennessee fan kept calling us inappropriate names and as we all were ignoring them he pushed me and called me the F-slur.”
From what Smith II-McNeill told me, it seems like the Tennessee fans were not only verbally berating the NC State Marching
band, but also using physical aggression.
Lastly, I talked to Kyle Scavo, a sousaphone player and Caitlin Potter, a piccolo player. Scavo started off the conversation, giving a rundown of his entire experience:
“At the end of the game we had a Tennessee fan that came and shoved his camera up in my face and about three other people’s faces recording, screaming rocky top and flipping us off. The second one was that some of the Tennessee band members were coming up and doing the wolf down thing, like "Texas Hook ‘em Horns” down but the NC State version, on the field and were shoving me and Manny (another sousaphone player) during halftime. They were physically pushing us off the field because we were in their way, apparently.”
For those of you who do not know what "Texas Hook ‘em Horns” is, let me briefly explain that for you. The University of Texas Longhorns have a hand signal much like the NC State wolfie, called the “Hook ‘em Horns.” In the SEC it became a huge
issue because both fans and players of the opposing team would take the horns and turn it upside down as a taunting gesture, using it as a way to demean the Longhorns. It became an incredibly disrespectful gesture, to the point where the SEC had to start enforcing a penalty around it. It has been adopted by fans all throughout college sports so now we have things like “wolfie down.”
Scavo followed up with, “They booed at the piccolos and other sections and yelled at us the entire time.” I asked him if he was referring to the Tennessee fans or the band members, to which he said it was the band. Potter then interjected saying, “In front of their band director too. Their band director did nothing.”
As a member of the marching band, unable to attend the bowl game, I heard stories from nearly every single member of the band. Without fail, every person I talked to had some sort of negative interaction with Tennessee fans. I talked to a friend from Tennessee who was also present at the game, but she said that she was unaware of the situation. She had been sitting higher up in the stadium and said that the fans up there were not making any comments of that kind. So, as I said earlier, it is clear that not all of the Tennessee fans are like the people mentioned in the stories above. But regardless of whether or not all of the fans were engaging in that behavior, the ones who did were the ones that the band will remember.
The Tennessee fan base represented the University of Tennessee, covered in orange and white clothing, shouting “Go Vols” and singing the fight song. It’s a shame that they had to represent their team with racism, homophobia and just outright disrespect aimed at people who were just doing their job. They tainted their otherwise overwhelming victory with hatred. In the end it is just a game, these are just college kids playing instruments and the fans are just people watching football. It’s really not that deep.
Griffin Bryant/Senior Staff Photographer
NC State's marching band, The Power Sound of the South, takes the field before the Wolfpack's game against the Tennessee Volunteers in Bank of America Stadium for the Duke's Mayo Classic on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2024. The Wolfpack lost to the Volunteers 51-10.
