entre la comunidad
sentinel of black and marginalized voices at N.C. State since 1992.
THIS ISSUE VOL. XXXII #4
4 THE GROWTH OF AI
Controversial impact of artificial intelligence
5 MEET THE LATINE GREEKS
Celebrate the Latine Greek-letter organizations at NC State!
8 LATINE FACULTY
INTERVIEWS
A conversation with Dr. Jones and Dr. Freitas
10 ECONOMIC ANXIETY IN GEN Z
Heightened financial anxiety among Gen Z
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.
314 Witherspoon Student Center, NCSU Campus Box 7318, Raleigh, NC 27695 office 919-515-1468 advertising 919-515-2411 online thenubianmessage.com
Letter from The Editor
In the words of Jaden Smith,
“Can we talk about the political and economic state of the world, right now?'”
Everywhere you look, it seems a catastrophic event occurs. Yet, the world keeps spinning. Luckily, The Nubian Message is here to keep you socially aware and provide you with a source of hope.
In this issue, we discuss heavy-hitting topics such as the prison system in El Salvador, racism in the beauty industry and the issues most affecting Gen Z.
In honor of Latine Heritage Month, we are highlighting the Latine community's impact at NC State. Flip to meet the Latine Greek-letter organizations, two Latine professors on campus, and to learn about the Chat N’ Chew, hosted by Multicultural Student Affairs.
blessed,
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 Layout Designers Leah Tierney Lauryn Henderson
Kristopher Porter
Copy Editors
Rebecca Hernández
Arria Jones
Shaere Delgiudice
Staff Writers
Nadia Hargett
Ross Emelle
Emma Hamrick
Emilia Rivadeneira
Stay
Alianna Kendall-Brooks
cover photo BY Kaela belingon/Photo Editor
Portrait of members of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. and Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. taken on Friday, Oct.4, 2024.
Gallery Design by Kristopher Porter and Lauryn Henderson/Correspondent and Layout Designer
the Salvadoran Prison System
HernÁndez Correspondent
In the heart of Central America lies a small country located on the coast – El Salvador. Once known as one of the most dangerous countries and homicide capital of the world, has now seemingly turned a new leaf.
Following President Nayib Bukele’s rise to power in June of 2019, there has been a continual decrease in homicide rates in a country that was once rampant with gang violence and crime.
However, many question Bukele method due to concerns of human rights violations and authoritarianism. The Salvadoran Supreme Court ruled to change the number of consecutive terms for Bukele during his reelection in 2021, despite the one term limit for presidency in El Salvador. Many of the judges behind the ruling were appointed by President Bukele’s party.
In March of 2022, Bukele declared a régimen de excepción (state of emergency) that is still active as of Sep. 4, 2024. The severe crackdown on El Salvador’s most notorious street gangs, the Mara Salavatrucha (MS13) and Barrio 18 was achieved through permitting civil rights violations against those who have been arrested. This includes removing the right to a lawyer as well as increasing the time a person can be detained being formally charged.
In the first two months of Bukele’s push to action, over 33,000 people were detained by authorities, nearly doubling the prison population. Amid the arrests, thousands of Salvadoran civilians were unjustly detained. Last August, 7,000 people were released from jail after being cleared of having no gang affiliation.
As of January 2024, El Salvador has the highest incarceration rate in the world with 1.7% of the population currently in prison. The major influx of inmates was met with the creation of the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT or Terrorism Confinement Center) in 2022. Regarded as a source of pride in Bukele’s political career, the mega prison has sparked discourse amongst many human rights activists in regards to treatment of inmates and mass incarceration.
In February of 2024 Bukele began authorizing tours of the facility to select
news outlets including Telemundo, Witness and Fox News. It is important to note that the media outlets were only allowed to tour designated cell blocks and inmates were not allowed to interact with visitors at all.
Below is a breakdown of what is currently known about this controversial Salvadoran prison.
CECOT: An Inside Look
To say that the prisons of El Salvador are overcrowded is an understatement. In order to mitigate this issue, El Salvador’s newest prison, the CECOT, formally opened its doors in 2023.
Spanning the size of 7 football stadiums CECOT is the largest prison in the world with the capacity to hold around 40,000 prisoners. Surrounded by 11-meter-high concrete walls that are capped with a 15000volt electric fence and 19 guard towers, the CECOT has been compared to Alcatraz in terms of the security precautions taken to keep inmates in line.
In addition to the 200,000 CCTV cameras that survey the premises, corrections officers are in constant training. A bunker with cutting-edge assault rifles is also located on prison grounds in case of
emergency.
Phone signals are jammed 2km (~1.3 miles) outside of the prison in order to prevent imprisoned gang leaders from continuing operations within the confinement of CECOT.
The cells themselves house upwards of 70 people of varying gang affiliations and are equipped with one toilet and 2 cement water basins for washing purposes. In footage of the prison, metal bunk bed frames stacked 3 beds high can be seen lining the cells. Facility lights are kept on 24/7 and no mattresses or bedding are provided in order to avoid inmates hiding objects.
Inmates are given three meals and are allowed to be out of their cells for one hour of the day. During this hour, prisoners are forced to sing religious hymns as a means of rehabilitation.
In the event of an altercation of any sort, offending prisoners are placed in solitary confinement. A cramped concrete room with a small hole in the ceiling as the only light source. Prisoners who are considered extremely disruptive spend up to 15 days in these conditions.
What’s Under the Rug
While conditions in the prison appear to be organized, it is pertinent to recognize the lengths the Salvadoran Government has taken to curate CECOT’s perfect image. Many questions about the legitimacy of arrests and the treatment of prisoners persist to this day.
In June of 2024 Witness (a human rights non-profit based in Brooklyn), released documentary footage from within the prison showcasing the director’s tour as well as an interview with an inmate. However, while out of sight of security guards, two inmates used the opportunity to send a message to those on the outside.
During this segment, a prisoner of CECOT adamantly claims to have no affiliation to the gangs and that he has been waiting for his sentencing for 18 months. He goes on to insist that his case is not isolated. A second inmate can be seen pleading for help, stating that he hasn’t seen his family in four years.
Accounts from those who have since been released from prison also shed a very different light in regard to the treatment they received.
Rodrigo, a Salvadoran civilian was arrested alongside his stepfather during the state of emergency. While Rodrigo has since been released, his stepfather is currently still in custody as of February 2024. At the time of his arrest Rodrigo was only 16 years old. While in prison he says that in cells of 70 people, only 10 of them would be gang members. Guards would routinely beat him and other inmates as well as deny them medicine when they felt unwell. Inmates in neighboring cells would urinate on others with no repercussions from security guards.
The Price of Peace
When asked about El Salvador’s judicial system in February of 2024, Bukele remained defensive. Stated that “Every country in the world will have an imperfect police…that's why our judicial system has been freeing innocent people.” However, for many families of those unjustly detained, the question remains: when, or if their loved ones will ever be released.
Adriana
Image from Creative Commons Image of Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo
The Growth of Artifical Intelligence
ross emelle Staff Writer
Innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) continue to impact the world at large. Advancements and pushback regarding AI will continue to impact NC State students, faculty and graduates entering the workforce.
The term AI is often used specifically to refer to generative AI, which uses training data to develop a response to a user prompt, per Computer Network. This includes services like ChatGPT, which are large language models (LLM), essentially assigning mathematical values to words and reviewing documents on how to use those words in a sequence.
The use of these models is controversial for several reasons. AI tends to “hallucinate,” making up content. This led to legal consequences in February 2024, after a lawyer in Canada submitted an argument based on fake cases generated by ChatGPT.
AI also amplifies stereotypes, such as performing better gender identification with users who have lighter skin and claiming darker-skinned users are uglier than others.
The existence of AI itself is also controversial, as there are many unanswered copyright concerns about LLMs. Large learning models build on content created by humans, often without the author’s permission. Websites like DeviantArt recently received criticism for automatically opting users into allowing their works to be used by AI.
Regardless of their ethicality, hallucinations and biases, AI has proven to be an incredibly impactful force in academia, especially here at NC State. NC State University established sample syllabus guidelines for AI use for professors, ranging from least to most restrictive. The page also presents the positive and negative sides of AI.
Outside of the classroom, NC State Extension, an NC State program that, according to its website, “extends researchbased knowledge to all North Carolinians, helping them transform science into everyday solutions that improve their lives and grow our state,” established a page sharing guidelines and best practices regarding AI.
Extension’s website says, “We believe
in a human-centered approach to AI that empowers and augments professionals. AI technologies are tools. They cannot replace thoughtful human decision-making and should be treated as assistive — not autonomous — technologies.”
NC State also established the “AI Academy,” a workforce development program that “will prepare up to 5,000 highly-qualified AI professionals from across the nation through our workforce development program designed to upskill current professionals working within our partnering organizations.”
Outside of the academic context, AI’s impact on the workforce is substanial. Starting with the job search, generative AIbased resume builders have been created to speed up the resume-building process.
On the employer side, AI is used to track applicant resumes. These systems are shown to be fallible, rejecting candidates suitable for the job.
While AI plays a major role in the job search, it’s also been the source of many job replacements. AI chatbots replaced many customer service positions. Artists working in entry-level positions are seeing their
careers outsourced to AI, despite ethical concerns.
The future of AI remains uncertain. Currently, generative AI is legal; however, there are several legal proceedings underway in the US regarding AI. There are several copyright lawsuits against AI companies moving through the courts.
Though California developed specific plans to legislate AI and the White House established an AI Bill of Rights blueprint, most of the country hasn’t created AI legislation.
At the same time, AI continues to move forward, with further updates to ChatGPT and new AI technologies like Google’s AI search engine developing in 2024. The battle between AI supporters and its opposers will shape the future of the job market, copyright and academia.
Currently, NC State University does not have a policy relating to AI. However, individual professors may have policies, students should check the course’s syllabus or direct questions regarding classroom AI use to their professor.
Golloria logs off
gigi nyara Correspondent
In September of 2024, Golloria George, better known as @ golloria on TikTok, announced that she would take a break from social media due to the copious amount of colorist and racist backlash she received.
Golloria is a South Sudanese American influencer who is known for her makeup reviews - which people describe as “controversial” – that mainly include brands who claim to be inclusive. As a darkskinned Black woman from a country that is home to people with some of the darkest complexions in the world, Golloria took up the initiative to shed light on colorism and exclusivity in the beauty industry. She may be most recognizable from her review of Youthforia’s foundation line. Golloria called the brand out for completely leaving out shades for dark complexions like her own. In response to her criticism, the brand sent Golloria foundations which she compared to jet-black face paint. The internet deemed the brand exclusive and insensitive to the experiences of darkskinned people in the beauty industry. As a result, the company has suffered a
hit to their reputation. Recently the CEO and founder of Youthforia, Fiona Co Chan, released a video expressing her remorse for allowing her brand to release such products. She also vowed to have people of more diverse complexions and backgrounds included in the production of her future products.
In one of her most recent viral videos, Golloria reviewed YSL Beauty’s new blush line, “Make Me Blush” which was advertised as inclusive. She and many other influencers who reviewed the product condemned the company for claiming that the line is inclusive, as it has been shown that they do not blend into pale or dark skin complexions.
Due to this controversy, people began to direct their focus to YSL Beauty and their marketing. The public began to notice that on Sephora’s website, the pale lavender shade presented differently than it did on darker skin tones.
Unlike the public’s response to the Youthforia reviews, the public’s anger was not directed at YSL Beauty but mostly at Golloria; possibly due to the age and reputation of the brand.
The commentary Golloria gave on the blush resulted in an uproar. The comment sections under this post was split between people defending the influencer’s claim that the brand failed inclusivity and others stating that the blush line was not for her.
One of the most popular comments under this post on Instagram stated, “maybe not everything is for darker colored people,” and others were simply telling her to “shut up.”
Across platforms, the comments became increasingly violent, causing Golloria to release a statement that she would be logging out of her social media for a break. The entire statement that she released was structured around the struggles of darkskinned people, committing to her purpose as an influencer.
In the post, Golloria stated “To exist in the beauty space as dark-skinned women is exhausting and unnecessarily violent. Listen to black women. Tone inclusion is the bare minimum.”
Roughly two weeks after the announcement of her break, Golloria returned with a video post declaring that “I will not put myself in a box,” and “while you
might be uncomfortable for a thirty-second clip, this is my reality.” The comments were generally positive as they welcomed her back to social media.
Golloria’s makeup reviews have done more than spark conversation on the contradiction in marketing by makeup brands. The reviews have succeeded in urging a brand to improve their products to align with their inclusive marketing.
For example, Golloria reviewed a Rhodes Skin – by Hailey Bieber, a blush line and argued that it did not work for darker complexions. The company took Golloria’s criticisms and improved the product.
Golloria is not the only dark-skinned influencer doing this work, but she has generated a lot of conversation around issues of inclusivity and colorism in the beauty industry. Instead of allowing these so-called “diverse” companies to exclude dark complexions from their products and bowing to backlash pushing her to be complacent, Golloria and the beauty community are demanding accountability and inclusivity.
Meet the Latine Greeks
Emilia Rivadeneira Staff Writer
Three Greek-letter organizations are more than just campus groups; they serve as second families for the Latine community at NC State.
Founded with the pride of Latine culture, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. and Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/ Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. are the Latine Greek-letter organizations at North Carolina State University.
The Nubian Message spoke with the three about their histories, principles and shared focus on uplifting the Latine community on campus.
Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc.
In the spring of 2023, Travis Espinoza Mundo, a fourth-year studying applied education studies, and David Suarez, a third-year studying construction engineering, became brothers of the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., also known as Lambdas.
As the oldest brother to three sisters, Espinoza Mundo grew up without the guidance of an older male figure. Coming into college with no intention of joining a fraternity, Espinoza Mundo realized that the Lambdas gave him something he had been seeking a long time ago — a brotherhood.
“Coming into NC State, I never really thought about joining a fraternity,” Espinoza Mundo said.
“A year in, I realized how much the brothers had been mentors for me, and it was what I was looking for. It was a mentor, an older brother, per se, someone I could look at as a brother, and especially [someone] who understands me, who has a similar identity as me.”
Brotherhood is a core value of the Lambdas, reflected in how each member provides support for Latine students as they navigate a predominantly white institution.
This was true for Suarez, who, having not grown up in a predominantly white population, found community and guidance to navigate college with the brothers.
“Getting guidance from the brothers and
helping me … find my place here and help me battle through that imposter syndrome meant the most to me,” Suarez said. “I don't think I'd still be here if it wasn't for them. I think I would have transferred out to a place with a greater Hispanic population.”
Like Suarez, Kevin Emanuel Manzanarez, a fourth-year studying agricultural education and animal science, wanted to connect with a community that reflected his cultural background at NC State. Coming from Siler City, a small town with a majority Latine population, he appreciated the support and sense of belonging the fraternity provided.
“Coming to NC State, obviously, was like a big culture shock,” Manzanarez said. “Having the brothers, they really encouraged me to go out there and just, explore things for myself. They really just provided that support system that I was looking for.”
Another aspect of the fraternity that resonated with Suarez was seeing how the brothers represented the Latino community in leadership positions across other campus organizations.
“When I got here to NC State, I saw so many of the brothers holding president positions in other orgs, which is something that felt strange to me. I mean, back home, nobody had any positions like that,” Suarez said. “Then coming here, it seemed like ‘Man, so it's actually possible to have the title of president, to be able to run these big organizations as a Hispanic male.’”
Development of strong leadership and academic success are key values not only for the Lambdas, but also for the Epsilon Nu Chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. (LTA) – one of the two Latine sororities on campus.
Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.
“LTA was established as an academic sorority,” said Valeria Gonzalez Perez, a fourth-year studying zoology. “...We want to make sure that we are working from the ground up, empowering the people that we serve, the communities that we're serving, making sure that there's representation for Latinas, Latinos, Latines all across different majors, all across different experiences and making sure that those voices are heard.”
While established as an academic sorority to develop strong Latina leaders,
LTA also provides a sisterhood rooted in unity, love and respect.
“I like to think about LTA as an organization that promotes the well-being of women, Latin women specifically, but with a focus on what community does for that, what love, respect and unity does for that,” Perez said.
Both LTA and Lambdas are the first and largest Latine Greek letter organizations; established in 1975 in the US. In 2011; their respective chapters were chartered at the University.
Due to alumni graduating, the LTA chapter faded out in 2017. It wasn’t until the fall of 2023 when six lovely ladies came together to bring the organization back to campus.
“As a member that was part of the reestablishing line, to me [the reestablishment of LTA] carried so much significance,” Perez said. “It showed merit, it showed the hard work that I put into networking with my peers. …I felt like the sisters that I obtained through this organization were sisters before I even had joined, and so being able to continue to create that community was extremely important to me.”
Sisterhood was exactly what LTA gave to Perez, but not only that, it also pushed her to continue to grow — as a Latina, as a student, as a human.
“Even before I joined, I saw the way that people carried themselves. I saw the pride that they took in their academics. I saw the way that they made sure to be present and loving and grounded and dedicated and disciplined,” Perez said. “All of that, it pushed me to continue to better myself, and I feel like ever since I joined this organization, I have done that exactly.”
Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc.
In 2003, the Rho chapter of Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. (LPC) was chartered at the University.
“The reason why we needed this chapter here at NC State was just to have that Latina inclusivity,” said Holly Delgado, a third-year studying marine science. “I feel like, with how the world was back then [in 2003], not much was cared about for people of color as of now.”
Looking back to 2003, Delgado said LPC being the first sorority established on campus impacted Latina students who wanted community but didn’t know where to start.
“Having [the] Rho chapter here at NC State really just brought in that inclusivity,” Delgado said. “That home aspect at NC State, knowing that it's a PWI school.” LPC brought a “hermandad” to the University, one dedicated to empowering themselves and their communities.
Annabel Rossi, a third-year studying political science, said LPC does this by dedicating a lot of its time to public service, in terms of political and social advocacy.
“We're just very active in the community, more in a sense of fighting for what we believe is right,” Rossi said. “We're not afraid to make a scene. We're not afraid to be able to fight for what we love and for what we want in our lives.”
Camila Tejada, a third-year studying science, technology and society, said the essence of LPC lies in its members' values, deeply rooted in community and advocacy, but also in each member's individuality and identity.
“I think the core of a Latina Greek org is rooted in the people that join,” Tejada said. “Most people that join are just very powerful of their ethnicity, and that becomes their new identity. [Their identity] is rooted in that org.”
While the Lambas, LTA, and LPC each have unique histories and principles, they share a common purpose — to promote and elevate the voices of the Latine community.
These organizations are more than just campus groups; they offer a found family for Latine students coming into a predominantly white institution. They help amplify pride in each member’s identity and serve as beacons of community for Latine students.
“No one's able to choose their family, but these are the people that I was able to choose,” Suarez said.
meeT the greeks
Photo Credits: Kaela
Belingon, Nevaeh
Sturdivant, Caleb Williams
Concept: Isaac Davis
Featuring: Holly Delgado, Travis Espinoza, Byren
Hernández, Rebecca
Hernández, Kevin Manzanarez, Xiomara Alcantara Ocampo, Silvana Ostolaza Pastor, Luisa
Cedeño Pérez, Valeria González
Pérez, Annabelle Rosse, David Suarez, Camila Tejada
A conversation with Latine professors at NC State
Rebecca Hernández Copy Editor
In celebration of Latine Heritage Month, The Nubian Message spoke with NC State’s Latine faculty and staff about their journeys within their Latinidad.
Dr. Ebony Jones
Assistant Professor Dr. Ebony Jones teaches in the Department of History at NC State. Dr. Jones graduated from The University of New Mexico with a BA in history and sociology. She later attended New York University, where she earned her MA and Ph.D. in history, with a concentration on the African diaspora and the Caribbean.
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dr. Jones' personal identity inspired her journey into academica.
“I grew up in New Mexico. My mom's family is from Mexico, but not AfroMexican. They're Mexican, some of them indigenous, not of African descent. My dad is African American from Georgia, and growing up, I was a little confused at what I was,” Dr. Jones said
“I at one point thought I was like AfroChicano, but Chicana is a little bit more of a political identity. And then, as I got older, I recognized [the]anti-blackness. And so I think for me now, Latinidad is more of a personal identity. That is, I'm a Black and Mexican American.”
Latinidad is a Spanish term that ecompasses the shared characteristics of Latin American people. The word embodies the experiences of Latines from across the diaspora. However, as biracial woman, Dr. Jones says she doesn’t necessarily identify with every aspect of the Latine label.
“Part of that is just my own personal upbringing. But the more knowledge I know as a historian of what these categories actually mean.”
When talking about her experience as an undergraduate student, Dr. Jones said she “took a really non-traditional route to get here.” At the age of 18, Dr. Jones started as a licensed practical nurse.
“I thought I wanted to do medical school, but I was making decent money, and I was 18 years old, so I took nothing serious, to
be quite honest – right? I was doing classes, but I was failing things like musical theater. Like things that should be easy. I lost the New Mexico lottery Scholarship, which paid for my undergrad.”
Dr. Jones moved to Philadelphia where she explored her mixed-race identity.
“I was outside of everything that I knew, and I was no longer just assumed to be mixed or just all Black. People would assume I spoke Spanish, but I couldn't actually [speak] fluently, which then questioned my latinidad in many ways…I decided I no longer wanted to do nursing prep. I was already 27 years old, but I hadn't finished my bachelor's, so I moved back home from Philly, back in with my parents, and I started taking courses that I was intellectually interested in – the humanities.”
When discussing why she went into history, Dr. Jones stated, “I decided I wanted to [study] Black people, the diaspora. Black people in the Americas, beyond the United States, really interested
me because I think it's related to the fact that I am mixed. What are these other black experiences outside the United States?”
Dr. Frederico Freitas
Associate Professor Dr. Frederico Freitas also works in NC State’s Department of History. Dr. Freitas immigrated to the United States from São Paulo, Brazil, to pursue his MA and Ph.D. in history at Stanford University.
Dr. Freitas describes São Paulo to be a “...very cosmopolitan city. Historically, you have a lot of people moving in from different parts of the world, and you still have that. It's kind of like a melting pot, for the lack of a better word. Everything is open 24/7. So it was like going out, having a social life, and being very active.”
Dr. Freitas also said his relationship with Brazil is “a very present relationship still. I have friends that have been friends for the last 30 years that I [still] see when I go
there. And my family is there. I do research there. So it's kind of like a very present-day thing. I lived in São Paulo my entire life, I traveled a lot through Brazil, through ports of South America, Europe, United States, before moving here, but I lived my entire life in São Paulo.”
During his time at the University of São Paulo, Dr Freitas was drawn to history saying, “I steered towards a group within my history department there. I went towards the group that was doing research in what they call Spanish America. That's how they refer to most people who do research in Brazil. But there's also a minority that does research in Spanish America or Europe.”
“So I got started working with them because I had interest. I had interest in Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia. So I started working with them, and coming to the United States, my plan was just to do my Ph.D. and go back to Brazil.”
When asked about his identity, Dr. Freitas stays true to his roots as a Brazilian. “I definitely see myself in the United States, first and foremost, as Brazilian. And I think that it's interesting, because to a lot of people from Latin America, they sort of become Latinos, Latinas when they move to the United States. Because when they are in their home countries, they are whatever identity exists there but it's not as important as it is here.”
Dr. Freitas described his celebrations for this year’s Latine Heritage Month, saying, “They usually have, in downtown Apex, an event with vendors, and then I usually go there with my daughter and my wife. That's what I usually do. And that's fun. They have a lot of vendors selling a lot of different foods from different countries, and they have all these presentations, people dancing from different dance groups, and they have art and it's fun. I can speak a little bit of Spanish with the people there.”
Dr. Jones and Dr. Freitas are just two of the many Latine professors, staff, faculty and students here at NC State, playing an integral part in our campus community.
Courtesy of the College of humanities and social sciences
Photo of Dr. Ebony Jones
Courtesy of the College of humanities and social sciences
Photo of Dr. Frederico Freitas
LHM Chat n' Chew
As Latine Heritage Month comes to a close, it’s important to remember that Latine Heritage should not be forgotten. September and October are dedicated to putting Latine culture at the forefront. Showcasing the foods, music, clothes, literature and everything else there is to love and appreciate about the rich heritage of Latine culture.
As the end of September also marks the end of Suicide Prevention Month, it’s important that students of marginalized backgrounds have spaces to go where they feel accepted and can discuss sensitive topics without the fear of being judged
The Chat N' Chew, hosted in collaboration between Mi Familia and Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA), served as a safe space for Hispanic and Latine students to “come together and unwind” as Gavin Bell, Assistant Director of MSA expressed.
There was a lot of chatter amongst those in attendance. A highlight of the night was the significance of bringing such a diverse group together on such a large campus, creating spaces for Latine students to embrace each other and be themselves.
The Nubian Message got the chance to learn more about what bringing together the Latine community means to the event organizers.
Mi Familia Club President Travis Espinoza, a fourth-year, majoring in applied education shared how events like Chat N’ Chew create safe spaces for Latine students to speak about their experiences.
“It means to us that we're allowed to have conversations that we couldn't really have back at home... So having events like these or just any events in general, bringing the community together and allies as well allows us to break that wall we created and have an open space to have conversations that aren't typically held, especially within our own communities,” Espeninoza shared.
Similarly, Mi Familia Vice President Estella Garcia, a fourth-year environmental science major, spoke about the importance of Mi Familia at NC State.
“Events like these really embrace and kinda are what Mi Familia is. We want to create a safe space for students here on campus, students from all different backgrounds,” Garcia said.
The Chat N' Chew brought out students of all classifications. From first-year students who were attending their very first
Chat N' Chew and even graduate students who’ve been attending Chat N' Chew since before the pandemic. The Nubian Message had the opportunity to ask a few first-year students “What do you think about how the Hispanic and Latine community is represented at NC State?”
Josh Hanflink, second-year engineering student said, “In terms of Latine community representation, I feel like we do a very good job with that. As a freshman, I attended a lot of events like Lampa Theta Phi. They have cookouts. It's pretty much their way of giving back to the community. And not only does that provide a space for Hispanics and other Latine students to kind of connect but also provides a sense of community.”
Liliana Sandoval, a first-year majoring in biology said,“So far being a freshman, I from what I've seen, I feel like Hispanics aren’t represented as well as they could be right now. It’s going to continue to grow. I think with the growth will come more interaction and more participation. Until then I feel like we are doing a good job at what we’re doing so far, especially the Multicultural Student Affairs.”
With this in mind, not all students on campus have had the same experience finding the Latine community here at NC State. The Nubian Message asked upperclassman Brady Barlow, a fourthyear majoring in horticulture science and Spanish, “As upperclassmen how do you think the Latine community here on campus has been embraced and how has that changed in your time here?”
Barlow said, “I’ve noticed a lot more presence in both the newspapers, especially during Latin Heritage Month. Just celebrating and sharing the stories of Latine students and also trying to connect students to opportunities.”
As the Latine community at NC State continues to grows, so does the need for programs to embrace such a marginalized group. Mi Familia and Multicultural Student Affairs are already ahead of the curve, planning to do more and more to showcase the presence of Hispanic and Latine individuals on campus. Be sure to look out for events they have in the future! You can find out more by visiting @ncsumifamilia and @ncstate msa on Instagram.
The Acquisitor
emma hamrick Staff Writer
Amid the growing demand for more campus news, a new weekly newsletter, The Acquisitor, aims to provide just that. The Nubian Message sat down with co-President and Founder Caimile Loy to discuss the direction of the newsletter and why they created it.
The Nubian Message: Would you mind introducing yourself and why you created The Acquisitor?
Caimile Loy: So I am currently a senior at NC State. I'm majoring in English: Rhetoric and Professional Writing. I want to say last year, sometime in 2023 over the summer, one of my friends, Kemmia Ghodrat, and I wanted to start a personal project together. We didn't know exactly what it was going to be at first, but we wanted to start a personal project together. We thought that something we were really passionate about was sharing our experiences in college and just having conversations about college in general.
TNM: What is The Acquisitor?
CL: The idea was just to send out a little curated thing once a week via email that has blog content and news content that relates to those things. It’s meant to provide these sort of no-nonsense college tips, insights and news that helps students maximize the college experience on every level. Because sometimes I feel like a lot of college students feel lost…But we're hoping that through this, you can kind of pull insights that can guide you to a better way to figure out how you want to use college, really, to build your future. The whole thing about college is that it’s not an experience that happens to you, it's a tool you leverage.
TNM: What are your goal for the future with The Acquisitor?”
CL: Besides just growing our number of readers, we're also hoping to grow the number of writers that are working on this project with us. This is an opportunity. Right now, we only send out an email once a week, but in the future, I hope to be able to send out more than once a week and maybe change up the content, change up the layout for different days…And the
hope is that we have more writers on board from all kinds of different departments and organizations that can just bring their own insights that they're looking to share with other students and have them also write. Whether it's short form, long form or even just small snippets of things that they just want to share and put out there as it relates to the college experience. So that is the biggest goal right now for The Acquisitor, is to really turn this into a platform where people feel like they can share the things that are important to them that they think would help other students cool.
TNM: The Acquisitor is also trying out a new forum that you have called “Campus Chats,” can you expand a little more on this?
CL: We just wanted to create an open forum for college students to bring their opinions and ideas about a number of different topics that we feel like are important, or at least that are being talked about right now. It's to talk about anything that is relevant to the college experience. We wanted it to be discussion-based learning, where you're engaging outside of the classroom and talking about these things that are important to you in a space where you are free to say whatever it is you would like to say about that thing. You're learning more about a topic, you're learning about what other people have to say about that topic, and you're sharing what you feel or what you think about that topic. It's also meant to help generate actionable insights. And I know that sounds super vague, but the idea there is that…when it comes to that particular topic you can turn into some kind of action or project or incentive. The point is that it's very explorative.
TNM: How can people find out more about The Acquisitor?
CL: To find out more about us, you can go to our website: www.theacquisitor. com. You can also find us on Instagram: @the.acquisitor. And you can find us on LinkedIn as well. You can also reach out to us via email, which is news@theacquisitor.com.
blake anderson Correspondent
Money problems Updates on Haiti
Haiti is still facing a large-scale humanitarian crisis, perpetuated by a combination of political instability, gang violence, natural disasters and extreme poverty. As conditions worsen, many Haitians seek refuge and a better life elsewhere, especially in the United States.
The roots of Haiti's current humanitarian crisis are deeply connected to the nation’s history. After achieving independence in 1804, Haiti was burdened by hefty reparations to France which crippled the economy. Coupled with decades of political instability and natural disasters — most notably the devastating earthquake of 2010 — the nation has been caught in a cycle of crisis.
Today, gang violence reigns, with armed groups controlling large areas of the country leading to rampant kidnappings, killings and extortion. Most recently, heavily armed gang members have attacked central Haiti, killing at least 70 people and leading over 6,300 people to flee their homes.
This lawlessness and the collapse of government services make everyday life increasingly dangerous for the average Haitian citizen. As healthcare, education and food security deteriorate, many Haitians find themselves wanting to leave their country.
More than 700,000 people — more than half of whom are children — are now internally displaced across Haiti, per the International Organization for Migration. That’s a whopping 22% increase since June.
In light of such dire circumstances, migration is a vital option for many Haitians. The quest for safety, stability and opportunity drives individuals and families to seek refuge in other countries.
Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in Haitian immigrants to the United States, particularly in regions with established Haitian communities. Springfield, Ohio, known for its history of immigrant integration, has become a popular destination for Haitian migration. The influx is motivated by the hope of escaping violence and poverty, along with the low cost of living and available work opportunities. The existing Haitian community in Springfield acts as both a beacon of hope and a supportive network for newcomers.
While Springfield is a relatively
welcoming community, the flames of antiHaitian violence and xenophobia have been stoked by Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance.
Vance circulated false claims that Haitians are eating people’s pets in Springfield. During the Sept. 10 presidential debate between Trump and Democratic nominee and current Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump doubled down on this claim. This accusation, which has been disproven, led to increased hatred against Haitian people.
“You can see it’s pure hatred. They hate us,” said Jims Denis, a Haitian American who moved to Springfield, Ohio, five years ago.
“I take my kids to the park usually; I cannot do that anymore. You know, I have to just stay home and just don’t go out. We used to just go for a walk in the neighborhood, but we cannot do that anymore,” Denis said.
Adam Banks, a pastor at the First Baptist Church of Springfield, spoke about the impact of Trump and Vance’s lies.
“Since the debate, there have been disruptions in the everyday lives of all people in Springfield, Haitian and otherwise. Bomb threats have been cast toward institutions that all of our children and families need: schools, hospitals, grocery stores and City Hall. Though deemed bogus by authorities, these threats have had and will continue to have devastating effects on the mental health of everyone in Springfield, especially our children,” Banks said.
The claims that Trump and his supporters are making about Haitian migrants aren’t just bizarre and eccentric; they’re deliberately following the long-established pattern of Republicans using migrants as scapegoats for problems within our country. Trump and Vance are building up support for their anti-immigration policies by dehumanizing migrants.
It is shocking to see such harmful rhetoric spread throughout the political landscape, and people’s reactions have been rightly upset, but also a bit unserious. Although it’s easy to joke about the absurdity of MAGA’s claims that Haitians are going around eating pets in Springfield, those claims are actually impacting their lives more than we can imagine. How terrifying is it that people are fearing for their lives because of a complete and utter lie?
Of all the worries that plague this generation, concerns about the economy are certainly one of the top contributors. This issue is so prominent that there’s a term for it: economic anxiety. Economic anxiety is defined as worries related to one’s economic security over time.
Economic outlook can be a large source and contributor to anxiety, as it is a pertinent issue to each generation. Over half of Gen Z survey respondents stated they were "very" or "extremely" worried about their financial position. As one might imagine, this contributes significantly to the level of anxiety felt daily over time.
Gen Z doesn’t have the best track record for mental health overall, as we are 12 percent more likely than Millenials and 14 percent more likely than Gen X to report fair or poor mental health. Many of the environmental factors that we face, such as economic anxiety, contribute to this.
Currently, one of the largest conversations concerning financial insufficiencies is the difficulty in buying a home. As many may suspect, the current economy isn’t in the best shape for new homeowners. The Journal of Consumer Affairs states, “Gen Z’s money has 86 percent less buying power than baby boomers’ did at the same age. As of 2022, the national CPI has increased by over 500 percent since 1970, while wages have only increased by 80 percent.”
Data like this supports the collective worry regarding the accessibility of traditional financial necessities. With these numbers, there should be no confusion as to why so many people are finding themselves unable to afford their own home, despite other factors that would seem to set them up for success. Even with that, wages have not been properly scaled for Gen Z to be able to afford housing in the same way previous generations have.
On the topic of jobs, there is still a lack of growth within the current job market. This places so many people in a box, as a stable job can be harder to obtain while also not providing the resources required to support the continually increasing cost of living that is currently in effect.
It can be so easy to get caught up in present economic concerns that accounting for the future can be pushed off, or in some cases, entirely ignored. Some may plan to
rely on social security benefits to support them later in life, but lately there has been discourse about the longevity of social security as a system entirely.
The Social Security Office of Retirement and Disability Policy said that the funds for social security are projected to be exhausted by 2037. This date may seem large at first glance, but it is entirely within our lifetimes. In fact, this is a mere 13 years away from the present moment. To think that a system that has been beneficial for the last few generations, and one that Gen Z will continue to contribute to, is the same system that we will neglect to benefit from very soon is an incredibly stressful notion. With all of these factors compounding, a sense of disillusionment for the future is certainly cultivated. Many, if not all, individuals in Gen Z have either been affected by or anticipate the future effects of this persistent decline in the quality of our current resources to sustain our lives.
Gen Z’s collective worries about economic stability and housing are often brushed off as we are told to work harder or pull ourselves up by the bootstraps. While it is isolating to feel that members of previous generations may not understand our challenges because of our specific struggles, there is always a chance to find solace within a community of people who are experiencing the same challenges as you.
“Gen Z's collective worries about economic stability and housing are often brushed off as we are told to work harder or pull ourselves up by the bootstraps. ”
One thing that Gen Z does well is advocate for mental health. While it is a struggle many face, this generation has shown proficiency in supporting others by destigmatizing and encouraging seeking help for mental struggles, as well as sharing individual experiences with it. While these times can be incredibly overwhelming, it’s important to recognize that nobody is alone in anything this generation is going through. As long as communities continue to advocate for what is in their best interest, changes can be made.
Nadia
Hargett Staff Writer
Julia cox Correspondent
NC STate, you're painted red
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas orchestrated a terror attack against Israel during the Nova Music Festival. In a matter of hours, Hamas took the lives of more than 1,200 people and captured 250 hostages.
Over the past year, Israel has waged an asymmetrical “war” of terror against Palestinians in Gaza, largely funded by United States taxpayers.
Al Jazeera reports that Israel has directly taken the lives of 41,870 people in Gaza. In addition, more than 97,000 people are injured and more than 10,000 remain missing. A study by The Lancet, an independent medical journal, predicted that as many as 186,000 deaths caused by disease and starvation can be attributed to Israel’s current aggression.
This year, the US sent more than $17.9 billion in military aid to Israel, by far the most aid the country has received in one year. Israel is the largest recipient of US military aid in history – totaling $251.2 billion since 1959.
As fellow students take tangible steps toward university divestment in Israel’s military, Student Body President Allison Markert ultimately vetoed efforts made here at NC State.
In September, Markert vetoed a bill that called for an immediate ceasefire, made educational material accessible to all, pressured the university to divest from Israel’s military and generated avenues of support for all students negatively affected by the violence.
Instead of standing in solidarity with fellow students working to make change and support those impacted, NC State will remain complicit, painted red by its investments.
“Instead of standing in solidarity with fellow students working to make change and support those impacted, NC State will remain complicit, painted red by its investments.”
Before continuing, I give all my love to Palestinians and Israelis who are mourning. To our Palestinian and Israeli friends and readers, you are seen and embraced. I love you and I hope you have someone with whom you can share your grief and frustration; no one should bear that weight alone. You are living an experience I can never claim. I ask for your forgiveness as I attempt to communicate my frustration with my country, university and peers in 1300 words or less.
I am an ally – an outsider – and could never capture the depth of your life over the past year in any finite number of words. But, I have been blessed with a platform and I will have failed in my responsibility to the student body by keeping my mouth shut. Take my opinion with a grain of salt: I am an unwavering supporter of Palestine and this article will reflect that support. I am privileged enough to have watched a year of tragedy unfold from the safety of the news and social media; odds are, you’ve done the same. Some may view this as a positive – living in the imperial core should afford you that safety. I am; however, revolted by this privilege.
Our money slaughters tens of thousands, displaces millions and destroys hospitals and universities. At the same time, we have the option to put our phones down – escape the genocide we’ve seen unfold before our eyes.
Are we expected to go about learning and socializing, politely abstaining from trauma, as not one university remains standing in Gaza? No, that is unacceptable.
As a community of learners and educators, we should all feel ashamed of our silence. You probably haven’t done enough (I know I haven’t) and you should feel the total weight of that guilt.
Our guilt is but a sliver of the pain that people in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank feel, and when you compound guilt with silence, we actively harm Palestinians. Ultimately, all of this guilt is less than meaningless; it’s a liability if you aren’t recycling it. Unless you actively address and use that guilt to fuel your resistance, you have let it go to waste.
However, guilt is but a crude oil. We must supplement our guilt with love, empathy and forgiveness to generate a renewable, revolutionary energy source.
On Saturday, Oct. 5, I attended a march from campus to downtown Raleigh. Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP),
the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA), Students for Decarb, The Dissenters and 15 other student organizations gathered to call all students, faculty and alumni together to support a free Palestine.
I intended to cover the march as “breaking news,” but this account necessitated an opinion.
When I arrived, I was focused on capturing the story: an emergency march for Palestine. It was fulfilling to see Technician Correspondent Elliott Jackson and Student Media photographers also covering the march.
A mild awkwardness filled the air as protestors waited for directions from organizers. The plan was to march from the Bell Tower to Moore Square. “It’s been almost a year, in a few days, since the genocide started,” said one organizer of the march. “Our institutions have stayed complicit and we’re not going to stop until we get divestment from every institution that funds the war machine.”
Of course, NC State, being an institution that funds the war machine, is not just complicit but an active participant. As recently as Sept. 19, 2024, NC State led an initiative that raised $19 million for military projects.
So, how do you resolve the cognitive dissonance required to justify our university’s participation in genocide? You don’t! You should resist it with your entire being. As a student body, we should be unified in our condemnation, especially when there is a historical precedent for student-led divestment initiatives – see the Soweto Uprising during the South African Apartheid.
NC State’s own Student Government organized an apartheid divestment march from the African American Cultural Center to the Bell Tower in 1987. Our current legislature; however, has failed to live up to its own history.
Here we were: a diverse slice of the student body, gathered under the Bell Tower, unified to condemn our country, university and student government for its crimes in Palestine. Love was in every direction and we were ready to make some noise.
Then, a truckful of Trump supporters drove past the roundabout, shouting their admiration for Israel, and in the same breath, they called us “f*ggots.” We drowned out the hatred and vitriol with
chants of our own: “Free! Free Palestine!” and “NC State, you’re painted red! Allison Markert, you’re painted red!”
Immediately, almost instinctively, I was brought back into my body. I couldn’t simply “capture the story;” I needed to support it. My role as a student journalist wasn’t enough at that moment.
I wouldn’t sit quietly or take notes and interviews, knowing I was privileged to be able-bodied and could push myself to do more. I would spend the remainder of the march passing out water bottles to protestors with Isaac and Luca, members of the YDSA, and capturing videos of police-student interactions.
But, the real work was done before I even arrived. While most of NC State remains disturbingly and disappointingly silent, the revolutionary sentiment is alive and well in its student activists, the most passionate and dedicated people I have ever met.
The liberation of Palestine is connected to liberation movements everywhere – in Latin America, Sudan and the Congo –and we have more than enough voices to command our legislature’s attention.
To Student Body President Allison Markert and the 18 senators who upheld your veto of R 29, you’ve governed this university with vapid complacency at best and sinister egotism at worst. You had the opportunity to help clean our tuition from the dirt and blood of genocide – a drop in the bucket, but a drop nonetheless. You have failed us, and I hope we, as a student body, never give you the chance to fail us again. Thanks to you, NC State will stay painted red.
“To
Student Body
President Allison Markert and the 18 senators who upheld your veto of R 29, you’ve governed this university with vapid complacency at best and sinister egotism at worst.”
Isaac Davis
Managing Editor
Register and find your polling place at nextgenamerica.org/vote
Be like Taylor. Be a voter.
“I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make. I also want to say, especially to first time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it’s much easier to vote early.”
- Taylor Swift
Registration Deadline in NC: October 11, 2024 or in-person during Early Voting
Early Voting Ends: November 2, 2024
Election Day: November 5, 2024
Flash depicts a posing model who is spotlighted as cameras flash.
photo is of Senegalese Fenton model, Aly N’Diaye.