Northern Star Thursday, April 30, 2015
Volume 115, Issue 88
The Truth Shall Bear All Light
Since 1899
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Black students rally for safety, equality Push for unity, Baltimore protests focus of gathering Kelly Bauer & Andre Phillips Editor in Chief & Staff Writer
DeKalb | Students are seeking ways to unify DeKalb’s black community and put an end to inequality, topics which were discussed at a Tuesday rally. The rally was organized by Stephen Samuels, graduate adult and higher education student, to spread awareness of the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray, who was black, died from spinal injuries after being arrested by police, sparking protests in Baltimore over racial discrimination and police brutality. Samuels said he was speaking to community members about the incidents in Baltimore and their “spirit was boiling” on Tuesday, leading to the rally in the Martin Luther King Jr. Commons.
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I do not want to be the next hashtag.” Stephen Samuels Graduate adult and higher education student, rally organizer
Students created posters calling for equality and Samuels used the posters to foster a discussion about how black people are treated in the United States. Attendees also talked about Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and Eric Harris in Tulsa, Okla., black men who were killed by authorities in recent months. Attendees debated the answer to a poster that read, “Is the destruction of property more important than the taking of a life?,” alluding to national discussion about the morality of property damage that has occurred during some of the protests in Baltimore. “The purpose of this rally is to awaken the ones who are sleep and bring light to darkness,” said senior psychology major Novella Blackmon, who attended the rally. Black students seek unity After going through the posters, Samuels encouraged attendees to become involved in DeKalb, saying students should pool money from their NIU refund checks to
Andre Phillips | Northern Star
Senior Novella Blackmon creates a poster for a rally held Tuesday in the Martin Luther King Jr. Commons. Students at the rally called for unity and an end to inequality and police brutality. “The purpose of this rally is to awaken the ones who are sleep and bring light to darkness,” Blackmon said.
About the rally What: Students created posters and held a discussion where they called for unity, equality and an end to police brutality. Why: The rally was spurred by the death of Freddie Gray and resulting protests in Baltimore. Freddie Gray: Gray was a black man who died of spinal injuries while in police custody in Baltimore. Gray’s death has led to protests and discussions about discrimination across the United States. Ryan Ocasio | Northern Star
Stephen Samuels, graduate adult and higher education student, speaks during a Tuesday rally in the Martin Luther King Jr. Commons. Samuels encouraged students to be safe in light of the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore.
create businesses and support the black community. Students should also vote in local elections to make themselves heard, Samuels said. “What I want them to take away is continue the dialog, continue the discussion, but also think in a positive manner,” Samuels said. After the discussion, attendees
took turns addressing the crowd, with some calling for groups that support black students, like E.B.O.N.Y. Women and S.I.S.T.E.R.S., to work together and support each other. Concerns over safety Other speakers implored students
to be safe over the summer, when crime tends to rise, saying Chicago is “bubbling” because of racial discrimination and “the fight [for equality] is coming to your front door.” Samuels told attendees they should stay out of Chicago and find things to do in DeKalb. “I do not want to be the next hashtag,” Samuels said. Student-at-large Khiry Johnson
said he feels less safe in DeKalb than in Chicago, though, and he thinks “the revolution” for equality is “around the corner.” NIU must show students the university cares about them, Johnson said. “... I think one of the best ways to revive that plant, the student body plant, is to let them know that, ‘We really love you. We’re going to protect you from outside forces’ — whether that be [the] DeKalb Police Department; unemployment, ’cause college unemployment is big and very unfortunate; as well as the housing situation. All of the lowest-costing dorms have been torn down or are overcrowded. What happens to less-fortunate students?” Johnson said. “People are worried about Chicago, but I’m worried about becoming a hashtag here. I don’t feel that we have enough control or power with the local police department to guarantee people’s safety in DeKalb ... . Being a hashtag in Chicago is a fear of mine, but being a hashtag in DeKalb is an even more real fear.”
Women’s basketball’s coach Bennett resigns, search for replacement to begin immediately of 57 wins and 93 losses in five or eight players on most nights. A national search for a head en’s basketball head coach, has re- the MAC Tournament all five sea- coach will begin immediately, said signed, according to a Wednesday sons, going 3-5. Athletic Director Sean Frazier, acAthletics news release. The Huskies went 12-17 in 2014- cording to Athletics. Bennett leaves behind a record 15 as injuries left them with seven “We thank coach Bennett for her Northern Star staff
DeKalb | Kathi Bennett, wom- seasons. She took the Huskies to
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years of dedication to NIU and wish her the best in the future,” said Frazier, according to Athletics. Bennett had signed a contract extension through the 2017 season, according to an Aug. 22, 2012,
Finals Week
Athletics news release. Bennett didn’t respond to a request for comment. Donna Turner, associate athletic director for communications, said Frazier would not comment.
This is your last day of classes before Finals Week. How are you preparing? Check out study tips to help get you prepared for your exams and essays on Page 11.