Spartan Echo Volume 59 Issue 5

11.9.11

Vol. 59, I ssue 5

ALMOST HALF OF GI BILL MONEY WENT TO FOR-PROFIT SCHOOLS

Don’t Get

Zapped!

by

Keep Up Your Satisfactory Academic Progress

Did you know that academic trouble could end your financial aid?

Don’t let that happen!

Just Do This: services provide information to help students keep up with Norfolk State’s • Achieve an overall their academics.

Credit:undergraduate Communication and Marketing G.P.A. of at least a 2.0 each semester • Go to class • Get tutoring • Complete 67% of your cumulative, attempted coursework • Regularly meet with your advisor

by Bethany Cartwright

DROPPING OR FAILING CLASSES COULD GET YOU “ZAPPED”

Need help? campaign is for stu- still considered attempted.

The “Zapped” • Get tutoring ACCESS dents to realize thatthrough dropping or failing Students must pass 67 percent of their • Visit your Financial Aid Counselor classes can negatively affect their finan- attempted credits in order to keep their financial aid. If the amount of dropped cialFor aid. more information, contact: FINANCIAL OFFICE SERVICES or failed credits reaches above 33 per“What we AID have been doing is ACCESS coun- SUPPORT (757) 823-8381 (757) 823-8507 cent, they will first receive a notice seling students when they get in trouble.

Financialaid@nsu.edu Access@nsu.edu www.nsu.edu/financialaid/sap.html www.nsu.edu/access That’s not very proactive,” said Terricita that they are on academic probation. If Sass, Assistant Vice President of Enroll- they do not bring up their percentage of If you’re not“This making SAP, ment Management. campaign is passed courses, they will lose their fiyour money will get Zapped! a proactive approach so that students nancial aid. know how to stay out of trouble.”

Nosaze Knight, Academic Skills Attempted credits are any course that Counselor for the Office of First Year a student attempts to take. Whether they Experience/ACCESS, does not recomfail or drop the class, those credits are mend students to drop classes.

Bethany Cartwright

The Post-9/11 GI Bill was meant to help institutions fund the education of veterans. However, out of the $321 million given to Virginia for veterans last year, much of this funding went to forprofit institutions.

Director of Veteran Affairs Cynthia Lewis believes for-profit schools simply recruited more veterans.

“It was predicted that with the passage of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, effective Aug. 1. 2009, many veterans and active service members would be enabled to return to college with the benefits and would greatly expand the number of people who qualified for the benefits.

For-profit schools did what they do best, highly recruited students with available benefits,” said Lewis.

A concern is whether those benefits are being distributed to these institutions properly. According to the VirginianPilot, Virginia Sen. Jim Webb said last year that 37 percent of the benefits were collected by for-profits schools while only 25 percent of the veterans were ac-

tually enrolled in the GI Bill program.

Webb introduced the GI Bill in 2007 and, in a Pilot article, expressed his concern.

“There are some for-profit institutions that are providing our nontraditional population a great service. But with this amount of federal dollars being spent in this sector, we owe it to the taxpayers and to our veterans to carefully monitor and provide adequate oversight,” Webb told a Senate committee quoted in the Pilot.

According to Lewis, over 500 students attend NSU with benefits from the various Department of Veterans Affairs education programs, and more than half of these students are using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. The official amount NSU received from the bill cannot be released at this time.

The schools that received the most funding from the GI Bill are Strayer University, ECPI University, Tidewater Community College, Old Dominion University and ITT Technical Institute.

President Obama speaks on education while having sixth grade student Keiry Herrera with him at his platform.

www.nsu.edu

- Story continued on p. 6

Credit: Associated Press

VIRGINIA SEEKS WAIVER TO ALTER ‘NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND’ Debates are occurring in state legislatures over the 2002 No Child Left Behind law in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Idaho and Colorado to name a few. These states are preparing to seek a waiver for NCLB because, under the current law, 82 percent of the nation’s schools are projected to be labeled as failures in the upcoming year.

“82 percent is a high number … we have to do something about this,” said senior computer science major Jasmine Blunt. “I feel as though we should at least use the waiver for a trial run to see if it improves the schools or not.”

The waiver application is not expected to be ready until next year, but the Virginia Superintendent for Public Instruction Pa-

tricia Wright believes the state is ready to meet the waiver regulations offered by the White House.

“We’re not going to drag this out. I need for our schools to get regulatory relief this year,” Wright said in a recent interview with the Associated Press. “I feel very good about where we are and where we’re going with standards and assessments.”

by

Keona Prude

Virginia is expected to rise 90 and 91 percent in math and English, respectively.

Last school year, 62 percent of Virginia schools neglected to meet somewhat lesser federal testing scores.

President Barack Obama’s plan for NCLB would give states the opportunities to set their own aptitude standards in math - Story continued on p. 3

SPARTAN ECHO • Norfolk State University • 700 Park Ave • Norfolk, VA 23504 • NEWSROOM: 757.823.8562 • E-Mail: spartanecho@nsu.edu

Spartan Opinion

2

editors Keshara Cox Editor-in-Chief

Bethany Cartwright Managing Editor

Keona Prude News Editor

Troy Muenzer Sports Editor

Anthony Gordon Multimedia Editor

Quamé Hamlin Entertainment Editor

Dexter Bunn Graphic Design / Layout Editor

11.9.11

ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE OR FAILING MISERABLY? by

Keona Prude

Norfolk State University follows the motto “Achieving Excellence…

Success Beyond Measure.” While this motto is uplifting and relates to many of our esteemed alumni, I believe that some departments are failing miserably at graduating successful career-ready professionals.

Our students are struggling tremendously to find temporary employment or internships in their respective fields, but why? Why are our students being overlooked? The answer is simple: we just aren’t prepared.

HBCU are stereotyped that they come second to predominantly white institutions. We are the minority.

So, you would think our education should be top notch so we can compete with the Harvard, Princeton and Yale students of our day. But I’m afraid that as of now, many of us can only compete with others for retail and fast food positions.

Let’s take a look at the mass communications and journalism department. My undergraduate degree

is in journalism and I worked hard to graduate with honors; however, in retrospect, I noticed there were many pertinent things I was not taught that are relevant to my career choices. For instance, how do you take a copy editing class without editing any actual copy? Why aren’t journalism students required to publish at least one article in the Spartan Echo, which serves as a journalism laboratory? Unfortunately, this is the sad case of our future journalism “professionals.”

MCJR is not the only department that may need some adjustments. I have heard several students complain about the building construction technology and kinesiotherapy curriculum. As a building construction technology major, you should be experiencing real-life hands-on work, but this is not the case for NSU students. As a kinesiotherapy major, some students have complained about the unavailability of classes offered in that department. To be admitted into some grad school pro-

grams, certain courses are needed; however, the kinesiotherapy major doesn’t offer those courses. In addition, some students complain that the program is a five year program, but department officials neglected to tell students when they enrolled that they would need the fifth year. As a result, some students switched to interdisciplinary studies so they would be able to take the needed classes as part of their INT concentration and still graduate in four years.

It seems that the curricula in various departments need to be revamped. What may have worked in the past, is not working in the present and it surely won’t work in the future. Please, don’t get me wrong.

I bleed green and gold and I support NSU, but we must do better. We have to constantly improve our departments and our university, so we can create prosperous alumni.

We are the future of NSU, but the future will not look so bright if our departments do not help us succeed.

I READ, THEREFORE I AM…NOT: THE PROBLEM OF GENERATIONAL ILLITERACY

By Keona Prude From the early educational years of life, we are taught to read. We start off with learning our alphabet, moving to phonetics and, eventually, being able to read “See Jane run.” Reading becomes a part of our everyday lives through reading signs, directions, books and even text messages, just to name a few.

Although we are taught that reading is fundamental, most people do not see the word “fun” in it, subsequently causing them to read less. The problem with this is it has created a generation of illiterate beings. When I say illiterate, I am not trying to downgrade someone’s mental capacity. I simply mean uninformed.

We have a large group of individuals unaware of what is going in the world because they do not read.

I hear the ignorant things that slip through my peers’ mouths and all I can do is shake my head because it is obvious that they do not read. How simple is it to pick up something and read it?

In college, students are being passed through their English classes, but they do not have the ability to write a simple sentence with subject-verb agreement.

How were these students able to graduate from high school and be admitted into a university without knowing basic grammar skills? More importantly, how

are they passing their college courses?

This matter leaves me mind-boggled and frustrated. Reading causes an individual to learn so much more: words, information, structure and culture. This results in a well-informed and astute individual. I just can’t fathom why someone would not want to read.

I am an avid supporter of reading, and the practice increases my knowledge and pushes me to want to learn more.

Reading gets people from point A to point B; however, it seems as if the nonreaders will forever be stuck at point A.

11.9.11 VIRGINIA SEEKS WAIVER - Continued from p. 1

and reading by 2014. This offers schools and state officials the opportunity to prove that with more flexibility, they will be able to apply positive changes.

“I think the waiver will help because, if a state needs to change the standards at any time, they have the freedom to do so,” freshman early childhood education major Tyesha Boggs said.

Critics believe the mandates of the law were extremely too high, while supporters believe Obama’s administration is trying to weaken the current law.

Under Obama’s plan, students have to take a yearly test in reading and math, but growth and success will be calculated over time. This allows states that adopt the waivers to follow current solutions or set new ones, as it pertains to students who attend failing schools.

Spartan News

3

2012 PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS

By Ramal Johnson, Echo Correspondent With the next presidential election almost a year away, presidential hopefuls are becoming more vocal with their criticism of President Barack Obama. Here is a synopsis of just some of the plans, beliefs and proposed solutions from GOP candidates.

MICHELE BACHMANN US Representative, Minnesota Bachmann plans to do away with Fannie and Freddie Mac, decrease the salaries of government employees and decrease the number of government jobs. She is a proponent of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which allows open homosexuals to serve in the military.

HERMAN CAIN Business executive, former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza Cain’s famous 999 plan commissions a nine percent business flat tax, a nine percent individual flat tax and a nine percent national sales tax. One of his most radical visions is to abolish the IRS and repeal the 16th Amendment, which states that Congress can charge income tax.

NEWT GINGRICH Former Speaker of the House Gingrich wants to make it easier for religious groups to feature their symbols in communal areas. Furthermore, he would reinstate the “Mexico City Policy.” With this, American dollars would no longer support abortions in other nations.

GARY JOHNSON Two-term former Governor of New Mexico One of his more controversial campaign promises is to legalize marijuana. Lastly, he promises to keep abortions legal until the fetus is viable, and is in support of civil unions and against gay marriage.

RON PAUL US Representative, Texas Paul says he is 100 percent against abortions. When it comes to war, Paul wants only to declare war when the US is directly threatened. Paul wants to give airline pilots the right to carry firearms, which he deems would prevent terrorist attacks like 9/11.

RICK PERRY 47th Governor of Texas Perry is critical of the 17th Amendment, which allows US Senators to be directly elected by popular vote. Unlike some candidates, Perry believes soldiers and technology should be used to secure the Mexican-American border. In regards to healthcare, Perry would stimulate job growth, which he feels would allow more Americans to have medical insurance with their employers.

Nurse Practitioner Monica Broadnax gives LPN, Ethel Moseley, a flu shot to ensure her staff is fully vaccinated.

Credit: Anthony Gordon

FLU VACCINE AVAILABLE NOW FOR UPCOMING FLU SEASON

MITT ROMNEY Former Governor of Massachusetts Romney wants to disarm Iran of its nuclear weapons and order military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean and Persian Gulf regions. Romney supports the three-strike law, which says state courts must incarcerate people who have been convicted of a serious crime more than twice, rather than offer probation.

RICK SANTORUM Former US Senator, Pennsylvania He also wants to move towards making English the official language of the US and to build a physical border between Mexico and the US. He wants more technology in classrooms to accommodate the individual needs of students, and would repeal Obama’s healthcare legislation and instead give tax credits to the uninsured.

By Keona Prude & Diane Brame, Echo Correspondent Every year, thousands are affected with the influenza (flu) virus. It is time to start taking the necessary precautions to stay secure in the upcoming flu season, which is typically from October through February.

The 2011-2012 flu vaccination is the same as the 2010-2011 vaccination. According to the Centers for Disease and Control, the virus protects against the A 2009 H1N1, A 2009 H3N2

and the B 2008 viruses.

The Spartan Health Center at NSU has the vaccination in and ready to employ. The vaccines are available to all NSU students, faculty and staff for $22.

Nurse Practitioner Monica Broadnax at the Spartan Health Center believes the vaccine is extremely important.

“For the general population and dormitory

settings, it is important to receive the flu vaccine to decrease respiratory complications and the spreading of the virus,” said Broadnax.

Broadnax said the vaccination is important for individuals who suffer from asthma, diabetes, chronic illnesses or kidney problems.

One main way to protect against the virus is to be aware of the symptoms, which include fever, chills, stuffy or runny nose, coughing, sore throat,

head, muscle and body aches, vomiting, diarrhea and extreme fatigue. If you have these symptoms, please schedule an appointment to visit the Spartan Health Center or your regular doctor as soon as possible.

To make an appointment for the vaccine, call the Spartan Health Center at 757-623-3090.

4

Spartan Sports

11.9.11

CROSS-COUNTRY WRAPS UP THE MEAC, HEADS TO NCAAS

By Troy Muenzer The Norfolk State University Men and Women’s Cross-Country teams concluded their regular season competition at the MEAC Championships on Oct. 29 in Princess Anne, Maryland followed by the NCAA Southeast Regional on Nov. 12 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Credit: Jerry Altares

SPARTAN FOOTBALL EARNS FIRST NATIONAL RANKINGS SINCE 2007

By Troy Muenzer The NSU Spartan football team has had their best season since being nationally ranked for a period of time in 2007. The Spartans have been nationally ranked in the top-25 of the country this season in multiple polls, including the NCAA Football Coaches poll and The Sports Network.

The Spartan men have been preparing extremely hard since the off-season last spring to improve on their 6-5 overall record from a year ago. Norfolk State was pre-season ranked fifth in the MEAC, a ranking they have disapproved of as they have been atop the conference throughout the whole season.

Norfolk State University began the season by soundly beating in-state rival the Virginia State Trojans in the annual Labor Day Classic. Their second game of the season was a face off against an NCAA Top-20 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team in the West Virginia Mountaineers. The Spartans went into the locker room at half time with the lead, but eventually fell to the powerhouse. Season highlights include wins at Howard, Charleston Southern, Delaware State, a win in the State Farm Battle of the Bay against Hampton, as well as a home game upset versus three-time defending MEAC champion and nationally ranked South Carolina State.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time,” said red-shirt junior offensive lineman Michael Kay. “We’re just fo-

cusing on what happens now rather than on what could happen in the future, in regards to possibly winning the conference championship.”

Staying focused on one game at a time seems to have been working for the Spartans, as they have showed a will to win in every game with nothing else on their minds, but playing together as a team and winning.

“I know we can go as far as their minds take them, as long as they maintain the will to win,” said defensive linebacker coach Mark Ingram. “We have improved each and every week, which is critical for a championship team. We still haven’t reached our peak, and that’s the scary part.”

The Spartans will conclude their regular season on the road at Morgan State in with hopes of finishing the season with a win. Norfolk State beat Morgan State at home last season, with a score of 37-25.

“I really feel blessed to be in this situation,” said junior tight-end Joe Hawkins passionately. “We really have worked hard all year long to prepare for this season and have done what we are supposed to do to win by working hard on the field and in the weight room to prevent injuries and play as one unit. The senior leadership on this team has been huge and has really turned this team into a championship caliber team.”

“If we dig a little deeper within ourselves, then we got what it takes to become MEAC champions.”

The Spartan men competed in six and the women in seven. Senior Josef Tessema and Philemon Kimutai have led the way for the Spartan men as each have had top finishes, while junior Kellen Rutto has done the same for the women.

Tessema and Kimutai both broke the course record at UMES twice as they finished in the top two places in the opening meet of the season at the UMES Lid-Lifter and in the Cappy Anderson Invitational, Maryland.

For the women, junior two-time AllMEAC runner Kellen Rutto, led the way for the Spartans throughout the season. Rutto finished first among Spartan runners in all five season

meets she competed in. Freshmen standout Kassandra Irizarry led the Spartans at the Lou Onesty Open with a 36th place overall finish, followed by freshmen Ariel Bartice-Smith in 39th place, senior Jamia Hutto in 43rd place, and senior Syeeda Gee in 45th place.

“I didn’t know what to expect from my new teammates,” said Freshmen Kassandra Irizarry. “But I believe, if we dig a little deeper within ourselves, then we got what it takes to become MEAC champions.”

The very last possible meet of the season is Nov. 21 at the NCAA National Championships in Terre Haute, Indiana where the best of the best will be competing.

Junior Kellen Rutto paces herself at the 6,000 meter at William & Mary. Credit: Jerry Altares

Senior Junior Vincent Rono (front), leads his teammates Amos Kipkosgei (middle) followed by Josef Tessema (last). Credit: Yearbook Reflections

11.9.11

Spartan Sports

5

SPARTANS LOOKING FOR REVENGE AT UMES ON FRIDAY

By Troy Muenzer The Norfolk State University women’s volleyball team will close out regular season play on the road this weekend, Nov. 11 and 13, in two pivotal battles at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State.

Earlier this season, the Spartans beat the Delaware Hornets in a five set match, but lost to UMES in three sets at home two days later.

They have battled all season long with hopes of becoming MEAC champions at season’s end. The top four teams in the conference from regular season play will compete next weekend in the MEAC volleyball tournament hosted by UMES in Baltimore, Maryland.

“We have definitely improved from the time the season started to this day.

With every day of practice and every day of weightlifting, we get better and stronger,” Freshmen Adriana Ramos said.

“As a new member of the team this year, I came in wanting to play and to do whatever was needed of me to help

the team win,” said junior transfer Megan Lavo. “I have done my best to step up in areas where teammates have been injured, to try and help fill that void.”

Several players throughout the season have battled long-term injuries. Lavo has been a significant addition and has been very helpful in positions where the team has needed someone to step up the most. The Spartans continue to work hard to build that team chemistry that is needed to win championships.

“We can only keep getting better as (the) season progresses,” said junior Kristen Burt. “We are all working as a unit and we deserve nothing but success.”

Hopefully, the Spartans experience that success this weekend as they strive to finish the regular season as a top four team-in-conference contender with visions to storm away with the MEAC championship next weekend.

Kyle O’Quinn was nominated for the MEAC “Preseason Player of the Year.”

Credit: Jerry Altares

The Destroyers won this home matchup with the team en route to a UFL Championship. Credit: Quamé A. Hamlin

HBCU FOOTBALL PLAYERS GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO GO PRO

By Quamé A. Hamlin The United Football League’s 2011 season was successful with new faces and a new franchise: the Virginia Destroyers. According to the player roster on ufl-football.com, they have a significantly higher percentage of HBCU athletes than the National Football League average.

“I think the opportunity to develop their skills and the opportunity to be a part of a competitive football environment is the thing that will enable the UFL to continue to draw players from that reservoir of talent (HBCUs),” said Destroyers’ head coach Marty Schottenheimer.

“I don’t see that happening because I don’t think the money is there,” said Norfolk State University senior and wide receiver Seth Travers. Considering the possibility of the league not being financially competitive for players, and its newness, he said “I’d rather go

[to the] Canadian [Football League] than the UFL.” The Destroyers’ home opener had a crowd of 12,167 and the Daily Press reported the team’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing John Castleberry said that there was a positive spike in ticket sales for the following game. If the UFL’s revenue continues to grow, money won’t be an issue.

Although the UFL may never be the first choice for the HBCU football player, Travers believes it still has a place.

“With the MEAC, you have a lot of guys who are more skilled than guys at division one. I really think some of those athletes can get noticed by the NFL after spending some time with a team like the Destroyers,” said Travers.

If HBCU athletes aren’t noticed by the NFL, there is no doubt that the UFL is a viable option.

SPARTANS TO TIP-OFF 2011 BASKETBALL SEASON ON A TOUGH ROAD MATCH-UP AT MARQUETTE

By Troy Muenzer The Norfolk State University men’s basketball team will begin its 2011 season on Nov. 14 at the Bradley Center at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Spartans will face the Golden Eagles, who finished last season in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen with a number 20 national ranking.

Head Coach Anthony Evans will call the

plays for his fifth season at Norfolk State accompanied by assistants Robert Jones, Larry Vickers and newcomer Wilson Washington.

With a roster filled with five seniors, five juniors and six sophomores, NSU will look to their veteran team experience to improve on their 12-20 overall record from the 20102011 season.

Last season, the Spartans finished 8-8 in conference play, sixth place in the MEAC, as they lost to Hampton in the conference tournament semifinals. Returning are eleven letter winners from last year, including two starters in seniors Kyle O’Quinn and Rodney McCauley. The team is preseason ranked to finish in fourth place.

“I believe this is going to be a big year,

as we have a team with all upperclassmen, which gives us a great advantage experience-wise,” said Senior Kyle O’Quinn.

“We have built great team chemistry.”

Following the game at Marquette, the Spartans will return to Norfolk for their home season opener on Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. versus Randolph College.

6

Spartan Student Life

11.9.11

STUDENTS UNITE TO RESTORE NSU’S NAACP CHAPTER

By Amanda Chambers, Echo Correspondent The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Norfolk State University chapter, plans to return after many years of deactivation. And now that it’s coming back, students and faculty alike are looking forward to its arrival.

One student in particular is senior political science major Tristan Breaux.

Breaux will become the active president of the chapter next spring and is pleased

to see students motivated to restore the chapter by signing a petition.

“We’ve had professors who wanted to bring this chapter back for years; I already have 25 signatures on the petition in one meeting alone,” said Breaux.

Alumnus James L. Rivers, president of Norfolk’s NAACP branch, was thrilled to receive news of the chapter’s revival.

He shared stories of how he fought for civil rights in Norfolk as an active stu-

dent in the chapter.

“People think it’s not needed, but I tell them to look around… the NAACP is as relevant today as it was 120 years ago,” said Rivers.

“It’s back, and that’s a good thing,” said History Department Chairman Dr. Charles H. Ford. “It shows that students are not as apathetic and complacent as their parents and teachers think. It shows that, in the allegedly post-racial

era of President Obama, racial discrimination and tensions still persist and still need to be addressed by an advocacy organization.”

The chapter’s reactivation date is anticipated for spring semester and welcomes all students, regardless of gender, age, sexuality, religion, ethnicity and classification to participate in the organization.

GREATEST SNEAKER OF ALL TIME RETURNS ON BLACK FRIDAY

By Quamé A. Hamlin A shoe considered to be the greatest sneaker of all time will be re-released on Nov. 29. The Air Jordan III’s elephant print trim, visible air unit and debut of the Jumpman logo made the sneaker an instant hit based on its design.

On court Jordan proved his dominance in the Air Jordan III by earning

his first MVP title, a scoring title, Defensive Player of the Year and crowned Slam Dunk champion once again.

It’s funny to think that the greatness of this shoe was almost never realized.

Rumor has it that before seeing the famous shoe, Jordan was on the brink of leaving Nike.

The Air Jordan III will make its return to shelves this Black Friday.

Credit: Thomas A. Wilson / Atlanta Got Sole

DROPPING OR FAILING CLASSES COULD GET YOU “ZAPPED” - Continued from p. 1 “You already paid for the class, you might as well try to get the best grade you can anyway,” said Knight.

If a student retakes a class, they will have double the attempted credits for one course.

“90 percent of students on this campus receive some sort of financial assistance.

This affects everybody,” said Sass.

A problem like this could not only affect the individual, but the university as well. When a student loses their financial aid, they are more likely to not return, hurting the university’s retention and graduation rates.

NSU HOSTS COMMUNITY CONVERSATION

Reaches out to Brambleton community

By Keona Prude With the university’s theme in mind, “Achieving Excellence… Success Beyond Measure,” NSU was the host to discuss matters pertinent to the campus and the surrounding residents. The community meeting allowed people to voice their concerns and sought resolutions to progress the community and NSU forward. It took place on Oct. 18 in the New Student Center and brought various Norfolk city officials, residents and NSU constituents together.

NSU president Dr. Tony Atwater welcomed everyone for coming out and conversation began with everyone splitting up into eight groups. Each group had to come up with a consensus for the questions “Five years from now, what do you want people to say about your neighbor-

hood?” and “What can you contribute to turn this potential into reality?”

The main concern of the residents was safety and reducing crime in the area.

Some felt that young people in and around the community should take more responsibility for taking care of the place they live in.

“Young [NSU] students need to be reminded about being a good and caring citizen,” Ola Goss, a resident across from the NSU police station said.

Others feel that altogether, people should take pride in their city. If you are proud of where you live, the moral of your community and value of your property will increase.

“People should take pride in their community,” said Dr. D. Greene-Notting-

ham, Pastor of Faith Baptist Community Church and resident. “We worked hard to get the area where it is now and we only want it to grow, not be devalued.”

“NSU and the surrounding neighborhoods can forge a stronger relationship by having these community conversation meetings,” said Brambleton Community Outreach Center Activities Director José Feit. “It is important to have the community meetings because it keeps an open line of communication between the neighboring communities with NSU.” Several city organizations and businesses set up tables and passed out information materials to visitors. Vendors ranged from the Norfolk Police Department Crime Prevention Unit to NSU’s Creative Gaming and Simulation Lab table.

11.9.11

Spartan Student Life

7

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8

WALE, DRAKE AND ROSS PROMISE TO DELIVER

By Dan Adu-Gyamfi

The music calendar ’s fourth quarter is a critical time for hiphop as artists plan to release their albums. One artist is trying to find redemption, another is attempting to avoid the sophomore slump and the last is trying to make it in the elite class of rappers.

The first dropped on Nov. 1 from Maybach Music Group artist Wale. His debut album, Attention Deficit, became infamous for selling only 28,077 copies in the first week. Ever since, he has been on a mission to prove doubters wrong.

Songs like “Lotus Flower Bomb” with Miguel and “Focused” with Kid Cudi, upgrades this project from his first. First week album sales figures for Ambition are expected to be released today and will help determine if Wale has successfully bounced back.

Drake’s second album, Take Care, originally due Oct. 24 was pushed back to Nov. 15, but the buzz surrounding the album has been huge all year. Drake has remained consistent by releasing solid songs like “Dreams Money Can Buy” and “Marvin’s Room.”

His last album, Thank Me Later, was a commercial success by going platinum, but did not live up to the standards of his legendary mixtape So Far Gone.

“In no way am I not proud of it, but I think I got caught up in making it seem big and firstalbum-ish. I was a bit numb, a bit disconnected from myself.”

Drake told Rolling Stone magazine in July.

If everything goes the way he predicts, his Take Care will be contending for album of the year regardless of genre. With Ross’ impeccable beat selection and his improved lyricism, maybe a classic album is not too much to expect from the Miami-based rapper.

Ross will release his fifth studio album, God Forgives, I Don’t, on Dec. 13.

In separate interviews with MTV News, DJ Khaled said the album was, “A classic in the making.”

Drake compared Ross’s latest to The Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready To Die and Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle.

Wale, Drake and Ross are all in different parts of their careers, but if their albums hold up to the expectations, they will all be on top of the hip-hop world going into 2012.

11.9.11

TRENDING TOPICS: #MIDTERMGRADES Why did you quit your full-time job as an unpaid party promoter? Oh, #midtermgrades My refund check just came and my #midtermgrades are great. #biwinning #midtermgrades will make you call home once a week instead of three.

Hopefully Mom doesn’t ask.

Next year, please release #midtermgrades after homecoming. Don’t ruin my week.

DJ Khaled said the album was “A classic in the making.”

#midtermgrades make gangstas join study groups

FOUR NEW TV SHOWS THAT BRING BACK THE OLD

By Quamé A. Hamlin

Everyone remembers the shows that made their childhood memorable. This past summer, a few shows that had a dominating force in the 90s made a return. Every show did not return, but here are a few shows that may revive a little childhood nostalgia.

THE OLD

THE NEW

All That - Debut: 1994 So Random!- Debut: 2011 Possibly the best children’s sketch show ever, “All That” was a show that was necessary for you to watch if you wanted to participate in lunchtime conversations Monday’s in the mid-to-late 90s. “So Random!,” a new spinoff show from Disney’s “Sonny With A Chance,” brings a little of that old thing back.

Daria- Debut: 1997 Awkward- Debut: 2011 Who did not love Daria? It was one of the cartoons of the 90’s that was funny, but wasn’t strictly about laughs.

“Awkward.,” a new show by MTV, tells the story of an awkward teen that’s not popular, but not terribly uncool either. Imagine a real-life version of Daria with a more vibrant personality and you’ll get this show’s lead character, Jenna Hamilton.

Boy Meets World- Debut: 1993 A.N.T. Farm- Debut: 2011 A.N.T Farm centers on the classroom just like “Boy Meets World,” but as the show’s stars grow older, we’ll see if the issues become more mature, a reason why Boy Meets World is so memorable to us. Cory and Topanga took us from trying to fight off a middle school crush to going through college and getting married.

#midtermgrades are the only thing known in the history of cool people to make Chuck Norris cry All F’s for #midtermgrades > Lil’ B You take six classes a semester just in case your #midtermgrades suck?

At least you’re planning ahead.

It’s all about how you finish, don’t harp on #midtermgrades