Northern Star Monday, May 4, 2015
Volume 115, Issue 89
The Truth Shall Bear All Light
Since 1899
www.NorthernStar.info
NIU, DeKalb celebrate Senior speaks to crowd of 15K
Artigras
Hopkins chosen for We Day speech with celebrities Satta Kendor Staff writer T @SattaKendor13
DeKalb | Randiss Hopkins’s role in founding the Remember Project allowed him to speak to 15,000 students and teachers at Illinois’ first We Day on Thursday at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. We Day Illinois, co-chaired by hip-hop artist Common, is an event young leaders get to attend by taking action on one local and global cause through the year-long We Act program. Selena Randiss Gomez, Jen- Hopkins nifer Hudson, Tyrese Gibson, Magic Johnson and Martin Sheen, were among some of the speakers and performers at the event. “I mean it’s very humbling ... to be out there in front of so many youth that are so vibrant and excited to hear ... what you have to say,” said Hopkins, senior jazz performance major. “It’s truly a blessing to be able to say a few words that may inspire them to create change in their own communities.”
Ryan Ocasio | Northern Star
NIU President Doug Baker leads a parade down Lincoln Highway during the first Artigras on Saturday. Artigras is a celebration of arts that brings together NIU and DeKalb. Go to bit.ly/1zqqjUK for more photos.
“
I wanna see [the Remember Project] last for generations and generations so I think we would always have that reassurance that our next generation they’re in a good place because they have college students that always remember to give back to their communities.” Randiss Hopkins Senior jazz performance major, Remember Project founder
Ryan Ocasio | Northern Star
Students played music in front of the Art Building during the first Artigras on Saturday.
Ryan Ocasio | Northern Star
A paradegoer heads down Lincoln Highway for the first Artigras, a celebration of arts, on Saturday.
Online
Inside
The Northern Star is the student-run news organization serving NIU and the surrounding community. Classifieds Puzzles
12 Crime 7 Opinion
4 6
Sports Scene
12 10
Facebook: Facebook.com/NIUNorthernStar Twitter and Pinterest: @NIUNorthernStar Email: Editor@NorthernStar.info App: iTunes App Store and Google Play Store
Hopkins said he envisions the Remember Project having college students from all over the country give back to Chicago communities. The purpose of the project is to engage college students in opportunities to be positive role models for inner-city youth in Chicago through social, educational and artistic experiences, according to the Remember Project website. Through this project, students are able to sign up for volunteer activities in Chicago. Last year, Hopkins said only NIU students could participate in the
Finals Week
Remember Project
Randiss Hopkins, senior jazz performance major, was chosen to speak at We Day on Thursday in the Allstate Arena because of his leadership with the Remember Project. What: The Remember Project is an organization founded by Hopkins to encourage students to mentor inner-city kids from Chicago “through social, educational and artistic experiences,” according to its website. Hopkins hopes to see the Remember Project grow so students from a variety of universities act as role models to inner-city kids. Where: therememberproject.org Register: bit.ly/1bTVnl9 Remember Project, but the organization has recently allowed students from different schools to join. Hopkins’ mother, Robin Joiner Hopkins, said she has seen her son progress in his work and has been very dedicated in making the Remember Project a success. “It has been phenomenal, I can’t even begin to explain what I really feel for my son,” Robin Joiner Hopkins said. “I’m so proud of him, all of his success, and I want him to just continue, keep striving for the best for himself.” NIU President Doug Baker, who attended We Day, said young leaders play a major role in changing the world, because the young students are more influenced by college students, who are role models for them. “I think it’s really inspirational ... to see everybody from young students all the way on up to Martin Sheen, who’s a seasoned actor, speaking about how youth can get involved and change the world,” Baker said. The Remember Project plays a major role in a number of areas at NIU, Baker said. Doing any kind of service project builds community on campus as students work to change the world, Baker said. “I see the Remember Project going on past my lifetime,” Hopkins said. “I think it’s a greater good than just my generation. I wanna see this last for generations and generations so I think we would always have that reassurance that our next generation they’re in a good place because they have college students that always remember to give back to their communities.”
Whether you’re studying, writing an essay or enjoying a break between exams, Scene has a playlist to fit your Finals Week needs. Page 11. Tweet your suggestions to @NSScene.