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Vol. 57, No. 9
04.12.10
Natural disasters hit the world in full force by Bethany Cartwright | Echo Correspondent
There has been an abnormal amount of natural disasters in the last three months, making 2010 already one of the highest in casualties due to unforeseen forces of nature. According to Inland News Today, the number of casualties has reached well above 200,000, which is abnormal compared to years prior. “From the catastrophic Haiti and Chilean earthquakes to the U.S. blizzard that descended on Washington, D.C. last month, which was mostly just inconvenient by comparison, 2010 is already above average in terms of natural-disaster casualties,” said Inland News Today. The vast majority of the casualties came from the earthquake that shook Haiti on Jan. 12. Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital, was largely destroyed. After Haiti’s disaster, other earthquakes and snowstorms struck around the world. Chile had an earthquake that killed 500 to 700 individuals and counting, according to Inland News Today. “The 8.8 temblor was the fifth largest on record, and moved the city of Concepción at least 10 feet (3 meters) to the west.” There was also an earthquake in Turkey, a snowstorm in China, and a snowstorm in north-eastern America that cost our country $41 million. Many earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or larger have hit California and Mexico since January. Scientists believe California is due for a big earthquake in the future. Nancy King, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena said, “The big one is going to be on the San Andreas Fault of See Disaster on Page 3
Pregnancy grows on the campus of NSU by Keona Prude | News Editor
After more than a decade of decline in teen pregnancies, the rates have started to increase. According to data compiled by the Virginia Department of Health for the years 2005-2007, the rates for teen pregnancy have increased in the Hampton Roads cities to 64.1 per 1,000 in 2007 from 63.9 in 2006. This increase is actually a significant drop
in Hampton Roads pregnancies in 2000, where more than 76 of every 1000 girls became pregnant. Although the average age of teen pregnancies is from 15-19, Norfolk State University’s campus has seen an increase in pregnancies as well. The population of pregnant females on this campus ranges from ages 18-27. “Well,
Photo - Jevonya Hughes | Editor-in-Chief
there have been several females coming in for pregnancy tests. Currently, out of 25 women tested for pregnancy three will be positive,” said Dr. Beverly E. Withers of the Spartan Health Center. Now three out of 25 may not sound like an alarming number, but not every pregnant student has been to the Spartan Health Center. Walking around the campus you’re destined to see a few pregnant females. Becoming pregnant can hinder one’s growth both personally and professionally and some young females are not ready to deal with raising a child. So why are pregnancies on the rise? There are no concrete specific answers; however, Norfolk State University students did offer their opinions. “Some people aren’t trying to be old parents,” said senior social work major Ashley Williams. “Others just aren’t using protection and [they] figure it’s going to happen anyway so there’s no point of
stopping it.” “I’m not sure why more females are becoming pregnant. However, I do believe it’s better for them to continue to go to school and make the necessary adjustments for the baby,” said sophomore business entrepreneurship major Shaudia Johnson. According to the Virginia Department of Health, they are less likely to graduate from high school or college and more likely to live in poverty or on welfare. Senior business management major Janai Bosher feels like pregnancies are an epidemic on Norfolk State University’s campus. “It seems as if girls come to Norfolk State just to get pregnant. The focus on school is being lost and has turned to sex,” said senior health services management major Tanisha Purnell. Whatever the case may be, pregnancies See Pregnancy on Page 3
Budget cuts in education by Jaliza Braxton | Echo Correspondent
Budget cut. Two words that scare many people in various aspects of getting or keeping a job, especially in the field of education. The state has implemented dozens of budget cuts since the recession hit, but people seem to be even more concerned when education accompanied those two words; budget cut. In the month of March alone, four public school districts in the South Hampton Roads region cut a combined estimate of over 140 million dollars from K-12 schools. What does this mean for college students who are working towards a degree in education and graduates who have already earned one? Will there be a decrease in positions due to layoffs? Many students chose to major in education regardless of working at potential underpaid salaries. Passion is what drove some, like junior elementary education major Brittany Hudson. “Teaching is about the love and passion for the children even under economic circumstances,” Hudson said. “I wasn’t afraid at first as an elementary education major,” said Hudson. “You figure as a teacher you will get a job, but now that I see it is affecting schools, I do get nervous.” Students are not the only ones on the edge of their seats. There are those who are already employed by local school districts who do not know if there will be a rash of layoffs due to cuts in their budgets. Floyd Braxton, an employee of Hampton City Schools, has been in nerve racking situations involving his position as a school security officer alongside teachers. See Budget cuts on Page 3
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