62.6 Spartan Echo

12.5.14

Vol. 62, I ssue 6

Top

Stories Inside

Does NSU have a school spirit problem?

Page 6

You may not realize it, but you’re not the only one working for a grade each semester.

Page 3

Learn about the two new Spartans hitting the basketball court this season.

Page 5

NSU’S Hot 91 network returns Hot 91 is back. For those who didn’t know, Norfolk State University runs its own radio broadcasting network, WNSB Hot 91.1, which is commonly referred to as Hot 91. The network is relatively known for broadcasting popular hip-hop and R&B hits.

Staying true to its older fans and alumni, there are also public affairs talk shows and also NSU sporting events streaming, which can be heard on www.tunein.com or the TuneIn app.

To approach a more academic aspect, working in the station allows students, not limited to mass communications and journalism majors, the opportunity brush up on both their broadcasting and communications skills. Also, the station provides an outlet for those students and local artists who want to showcase their talent.

Unfortunately, Hot 91 suffered a major setback due to technical difficulties.

According to the program director of WNSB-FM/HD (Hot 91), Douglas A. Perry, Jr., the main antenna/transmitter malfunctioned due to inclement weather and since it had been functioning properly since the 90s, it was about that time for an upgrade.

The station stayed down from Feb. 16 to Oct. 7 of 2014, returning just in time to give listeners the opportunity to tune in for all the newest updates on home-

Richelle Hammiel

NSU’s star follows the Trail to becoming an NFL Prospect Kazahna Joyce

After being out of commission for almost seven months, NSU’s radio station WNSB Hot 91.1 is back up and broadcasting hiphop and R&B. Photo by Tykhari Coles.

coming events, activities, and stats on the football game.

The management team and administrators here at NSU can be credited with getting Hot 91 back up and running.

“The entire management team of WNSB and the Norfolk State University Administration that oversees the radio station made it happen. This was a very costly project that had to happen with very limited funding due to the timing of when it happened, within the closing of the university’s fiscal year. Being the technical person on the radio station’s staff, I was the one who coordinated with all of the contractors and engineers along with being the ground supervisor for the project,” commented Perry.

The station is now under the new management of Ms.

Kashon Powell. Under her new direction, the station aims to bring awareness to our students and those in the community to bring in any funds that would benefit the station and the university.

To anyone who wants their voice heard, the station is always taking new members.

“Auditions for talent are held normally during the beginning two weeks of the semester. Students should be prepared to site-read scripts and allow your personality to shine. We are always looking for producers and production personnel to support the on-air talent. The best advice to give would be to have patience...

Radio is about being dedicated to your craft and the willingness to operate in the public’s interest at all times,” said Perry.

Two-time first team AllMEAC, the first Spartan ever to be honored as the National FCS Defensive Performer of the Year by College Football Performance Awards, 2013 first team All-American by The Sports Network and the College Sports Journal, multiple MEAC Player of the Week honors, the 2013 NSU Male Athlete of the Year, and the list goes on.

Lynden Trail is a 6-foot-7, 260-pound linebacker with a skill set that allows him to play both the pass and the run, making him one of the most feared defensive players in the MEAC. Trail’s love for football developed in his hometown of Miami, Florida, where he was a football standout from his early elementary days on throughout high school. A four-star recruit, Trail broke records, and tackled his way through all competition, attracting coaches and scouts from major college football programs that most only dream about being a part of.

Ranked as the No.7 deContinued on page 4

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Spartan News

2

12.5.14

LLC helps developing students Antonio Garland

For the second year in a row, the Living-Learning Communities (LLC) strive to help new students adjust to campus life, integrate and build bridges in the Spartan community.

The LLC programs are designed to help students of all classifications, pointed mostly toward freshmen, who are having trouble adapting to campus life.

They engage by helping students in certain fields pertaining toward their majors and with faculty outside the classroom. Each program has a specific theme they use to motivate members.

There are nine different programs in the LLC, iSpartan, LIVE WELL,

G.E.N.E.S.I.S., EMPOWER, S.U.C.C.E.S.S., Leadership Academy, STARS, Honors College, and DNIMAS. G.E.N.E.S.I.S. works to promote male images in a positive light, addresses academic achievement and persistence challenges of first year male students.

LIVE WELL has participants engaging in weekly group exercise activities, traditional and non-traditional. Participants also get to experience different styles of healthy cooking and eating.

“Love the experiences it brings. It’s informing,” said Garland Corbitt, a freshman exercise science major and member of LIVE

WELL. “It gives insight on school,” said Devin Jefferson, a freshman physical education major, also in LIVE WELL. “It gives good advice on how to be healthy and just how to balance school.”

Spartans United to Collectively Cultivate Excellence in School & Society (S.U.C.C.E.S.S.) provides integrated courses for students and has mandatory studying and tutoring sessions. It also provides social opportunities throughout the school year to enhance values, scholarship, leadership and social responsibilities.

“It’s fun and you get to meet a lot of people,” said

Bria Long, a freshman psychology major and member of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. “It’s helping me get through school,” said Deja Johnson, a freshman psychology major, also in S.U.C.C.E.S.S. According to Assistant Dean of Students Johnathan M. Walker, students who partake in the LLC have a tendency to do better, obtain higher grade point averages, higher retention rates and have higher chances of graduating. The LLC hopes to impact first year students to become future mentors, helping those in similar situations they were once in.

The LLC also hopes to expose participants to opportunities outside NSU.

Living-Learning Communities (LLC) strive to help new students adjust to campus life.

Graphic from www.nsu.edu.

Counsel meeting helps presidents become better leaders Antonio Garland

On Nov. 9, student affairs hosted the first meeting for the counsel of presidents, which discussed ways to help organization presidents become better leaders.

They were given the opportunity to network and share ideas to better not only their organizations, but also themselves.

During the meeting, Zia Felder of student affairs spoke about the jobs and duties of being an organization president, which include supervising and overseeing the work of organization officers, working with other members in the organization, facilitating meetings,

having a sense of direction for the organization and knowing the overall visions and ideas for the organization.

According to Felder, the definition of a leader is someone who uses communication to modify the attitudes and behaviors of its members and meets the group’s goals and needs. She feels a leader should bring people together for a purpose by using their personal influences, which includes understanding how to talk and motivate people.

Felder also spoke about the different types of leaders there are to help the presidents better under-

stand which one pertains to them. She discussed three primary types of leaders: autocratic, which is one who tells others to

“Cooperation and communication” do something and expects them to do it, democratic, which keeps members informed and allows them to be more in tuned with what’s happening, and laissez, which provides more freedom to mem-

bers, allowing them to solve problems on their own.

Other types of leaders Felder mentioned were transformative, which create and sustain contacts, charismatic, which is commonly associated with being a transformational leader, and transactional, which focuses on the task at hand.

Attendees spoke of the meeting and their thoughts on being a leader.

“Cooperation and communication,” said Justice Edwards, a junior interdisciplinary student major.

“It was very enlighten-

ing,” said Gillian Bullock, a junior journalism major.

“Very informative,” said Quiana Hairston, a senior graphic design major.

“We need to be effective leaders.”

Felder ended the event saying one needs a variety of qualities to become a good leader. These qualities include being able to change members by inspiring them to do better, moving the group in the right direction toward their goals, being able to mold members into an efficient team and not taking their leadership for granted.

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12.5.14

Spartan News

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Beyond the boundaries with study abroad Antonio Garland

Being able to study abroad and travel to different places around the world isn’t something many people talk about on campus.

Abreika Boone, a senior computer science major, studied abroad in Japan and India, describing her trip as a “very exciting, amazing experience.”

“I loved the fact that it’s something new. That the culture’s different, the people are different, you might understand them, you might not,” said Boone.

Boone said she didn’t

experience culture shock, despite being in an unfamiliar place. However, experiencing new cultures, different people, their uniqueness and building relationships would stick with her the rest of her life.

“It’s like a fairy tale,” said Boone.

Omunique Owens, a senior computer science major, travelled to Ghana, West Africa in the study abroad program.

Owens said it as an immediate culture shock when she arrived and was surprised by the lack of

sliced bread and electricity going off once a week to conserve power.

Owens also said she went to a museum that used to be a castle to hold slaves before they were shipped to America. She also said meeting the people and being immersed in the culture and music was like “going back to your roots.”

From their journeys, the students learned to appreciate what they have in a different light.

Boone said her trips were eye opening. Seeing people in different places who

may not be as fortunate as others taught her to be grateful for what she has.

“The world isn’t in the best shape and in some areas you can really see it.” she said.

Owens saw similar sights on her trip.

“There are a lot of people who are living a lot harder than you are,” Owens said.

They didn’t just learn of the places they travelled.

They also learned about themselves.

Boone learned that she’s a picky eater from experiencing Indian food. Owens saw her trip as a way

to learn more of who she is spiritually, individually, mentally and emotionally.

Boone intends on travelling to Korea next summer and later joining the Peace Corps.

Owens said she’d travel again to different places, “Experience other people’s cultures, meeting the people, it’s so exiting and so much fun!”

To those who are thinking about studying abroad, Boone said “I feel that studying abroad will really allow you to come at peace with your inner self.”

Students grade professors, too Antonio Garland

The end of the semester is here and you’re pelted with the same emails every day about course evaluations. Even though you never get to see the results, you fill them out anyways so your instructors can improve on their teaching

styles.

The course evaluations, sponsored by the Provost and the Vice President for Academic Affairs, are given during the regular semester, mini-terms and summer sessions at the mid-point of the academic ses-

Norfolk State University administers course evaluations toward the end of each semester. Photo from nsu.edu

sion and last until the final days of classes. Students are highly encouraged to provide commentaries that reflect on the positives and negatives of their courses and to rate the various sections of the evaluation tools, much like the popular website RateMyProfessor.com.

The evaluations are dispersed by the Office of Information Technology, who also generates the final results for each course. The department chairs can then review the comments that are made in the evaluations and discuss them with the faculty with the expectation that they will make improvements for next semester.

Only the faculty members have access to their own course evaluation. The department chair has access to the evaluations for all faculty members in the department and the academic dean has access to all course evaluations for the entire school/college. The Provost’s office has access to all

course evaluations as well.

The evaluation process is confidential for the faculty members and for the students who are completing the ratings. But why can’t these ratings be averaged out and used like RateMyProfessor.com?

Each faculty member brings with them certain expertise for a given course and the number of faculty with the given expertise may be limited in a department. If the results were made available to the students, it may not make an impact on if a student would choose a certain teacher for a specific course.

Students would have a limited choice of professors to choose from if every evaluation was released.

The online course evaluations are not the only source of evaluation that a professor receives. Others evaluations include peer evaluations, scholarship activities (research, publications, presentations at conferences, etc.), service (pro-

fessionally, community based and university) and teaching effectiveness.

The biggest problem with displaying evaluation results for students is that very few students actually participate in the evaluation process. To get more students involved, they are encouraged to use their mobile devices when filling out the evaluation.

If a student is having trouble with the teaching style of an instructor, they are encouraged to consult with their advisor to change their course schedule to another instructor who teaches the same course.

Students can express their concerns about an instructor by wording it in the comment section on the course evaluation form.

“The responsibility for generating change is shared involvement,” said Dr. Mildred K. Fuller, Vice Provost and Accreditation Liaison.

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12.5.14

Spartan Sports

4 NFL Prospect

...Continued from Page 1

fensive end in the nation

by Rivals.com, Trail had schools such as Florida State University, LSU, Purdue, Georgia and Miami all knocking at his door. The Miami native ultimately chose to take his talents to Gainesville and play for the University Of Florida (UF).

Trail redshirted his freshman season with the Gators and shortly after UF underwent a coaching change, Trail made the decision to transfer. He enrolled at Norfolk State University

(NSU) in the spring of 2011 with three years of eligibility remaining. Ever since, he has been one of the most celebrated Spartan athletes in NSU’s division-one era.

In 34 career games, Trail has registered 249 tackles, 18.5 sacks and eight forced fumbles. His above average caliber of play has gave almost every NFL scout a reason to make a trip to Norfolk Virginia; with some making multiple trips.

Trail credits his teammates for his success thus far and values the chemistry he and his defensive teammates have created

over the years. All that they had done for him in practice and in games has played a part in his preparation for the next level.

Photo by Reginald Thomas

“These guys got me to open up and talk more on the field; communication is key when it comes to the defensive side of the ball…I face a lot of double teams, even in practice.

That’s something that’s really getting me ready for the next level itself,” said Trail.

The 2015 NFL draft will be held in Chicago from April 30 to May 2. Until then, Trail plans on finishing out the season and the school year strong.

“After the season’s over, I’m going to try to finish strong academically. I’m anticipated to graduate in

December, so the books are really what I am worried about. After that, I will go through the process of trying to find an agent and figuring out where I’m going to train,” said Trail.

The last Spartan to be drafted into the NFL was cornerback Don Carey.

Carey currently plays safety for the Detroit Lions.

Although Trail has every reason to brag about his success and is praised by almost every person that he crosses paths with, he remains humble and will appreciate any team that has faith in him and his abilities.

Goode good enough for NBA Kazahna Joyce

Brandon Goode, a 7-foot defensive force that made you think twice before driving to the hoop, is now o n e o f t h e f e w S p a rtans that will continue his basketball career at the next level.

N o r f o l k S t a t e c e n t e r, G o o d e a v e r a g e d 11 . 1 points and also dominated the boards with t h e t e a m ’s h i g h 6 . 9 r e bounds and 2.4 blocks per game his senior y e a r.

After earning thirdteam All-MEAC honors and landing a s p o t i n N S U ’s r e c o r d book as second alltime leader in blocks with 160, Goode was d r a f t e d i n t o t h e N B A’s Development League (D-League) by the Delaware 87ers on N o v. 2 .

The Development League is home to 18

teams that are affiliated with a number of NBA teams. Philadelphia 76ers D-League affiliate, Delaware 87ers chose Goode as the first pick in the sixth round, making him the 91st overall selection. “ Wo r k i n g o n m y g a m e after college during the summer is really what got me here. I worked out with the Boston Celtics late August so I kind of got myself somewhat noticed by the NBA,” said Goode.

The D-League season will begin mid-November and will end in April. Until then, the Spartan stand out will spend his time adjusting to the DL e a g u e s t y l e o f p l a y.

Tr a i n i n g c a m p s t a r t ed right away and the first game was sched-

uled for November 15 against Canton.

“The style of play i s d e f i n i t e l y d i f f e rent. The D-League is the fastest league out there, so the pace of the game is faste r. A l s o , t h e w a y t h e game is played is dif-

ferent from college. At this level, this game is a lot of isolations and pick and rolls,” said Goode.

Along with Brandon Goode, teammate Pendarvis “Penny” Wi l l i a m s a l s o s i g n e d to continue his career

at the professional level in Italy during the 2014-15 season.

Both players were a part of the 2012 team t h a t w o n N S U ’s f i r s t MEAC Championship and went on to upset No.2 seed Missouri in the NCAA tournament.

On Nov. 2, 2014, Bronx N.Y. native Brandon Goode was drafted into D-league with the Delaware 87ers. Photo from nsuspartans.com

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12.5.14

Spartan Sports

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Newcomers to NSU’s basketball program hold promise Kazahna Joyce

Photo from nsuspartans.com

Zaynah Robinson 5-11, Freshman Duluth,Ga Major: Kinesiology Zaynah Robinson is a smooth freshman guard from Duluth, Georgia. He served as Duluth High School’s starting point guard, averaging 13.8 points and 3.2 assists per game his senior year. Earning first-team All-Region 7 honors, he managed to have 17, 18 and 24-point games during the Region 7 playoffs. He competed in a number of tournaments like the well-known Elite 100 Showcase.

Robinson not only excels on the court, but off the court as well. Senior year he was recognized for having the team’s highest GPA. In his first competition as a Spartan, Robinson earned six points, two assists and one steal in 20 minutes.

Photo from nsuspartans.com

Kayla Roberts 6-1, Freshman Miami Gardens, Fla Major: Undecided Kayla Roberts is an aggressive forward that can score on you inside and out.

She is from Miami Gardens, Florida, where she played varsity basketball all four years at Norland High School under Coach Carla Harris-Curry. She averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds and two steals per game her senior year. As the team’s MVP, Roberts helped Norland advance to the state championship game. In 24 minutes, Roberts managed to end her first colligate level game with 11 points, four steals and one block.

The future is definitely looking bright for this young Spartan.

Rice can play; larger questions remain Tambrea Hargrove

Domestic Violence Month was days ago and many believe we have ways to go when reflecting on high-profile domestic violence cases.

Just last February, Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens knocked his then fiancée unconscious in an elevator altercation. After footage emerged in early September, Rice was immediately placed on suspension as the chilling elevator footage appeared on numerous stations.

Afterwards, Rice filed “a separate grievance against the Ravens, citing wrongful termination of his $35 million contract and is seeking payment of his $3.592 million salary for the 2014 season.”

Rice is claiming the NFL violated his rights under the concept of double jeopardy by suspending him when he informed Roger Goodell,

NFL Commissioner, in a June 16 meeting of the events in the elevator.

It took a total of ten days for the judge to announce whether Ray Rice’s contract with the NFL would be reinstated.

After following this story for some time, many questions arise. One of the many questions is his status in the NFL. Although the video was dated before their marriage, the question remains if Rice should be able to play even if his wife has forgiven him? Another question is if we, the public, are becoming too personally involved with the incidents that occur within the privacy of an athlete’s life? Lastly, for future reference, should athletes still be able to play after incidents such as these arise in the media or not arise in media at all?

Even though these ques-

tions are very thought provoking, some area athletes and students put their thoughts to action in light of the horrific publicity professional athletes are facing.

Students all around the country, from local Virginia colleges to Oregon high schools joined in on the efforts in October to recognize the issue with domestic violence and athletics.

Some events included the UVA football team banning together with the Women’s Center to place painted palm prints on a banner that labeled “These hands are not for hurting, October is Domestic Violence Month.”

Others included football players of a town in Texas teaming up with law enforcement agencies and the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center to tackle domestic violence with the slogan, “Join Our Team, Say ‘No!’ to rela-

tionship violence.”

One of the biggest efforts came from six high school football teams in Southern Oregon. About 500 players have signed a pledge saying that they won’t “accept or demonstrate domestic violence.” They also wore a decal on their helmets that said, “What you tolerate, you encourage.”

The efforts from the younger generation of potential NFL stars speak volumes about the characters of these young athletes. Certainly, it should be noted that not all athletes are the same as others or carry the same values.

“Everybody deserves a second chance,” said former Atlanta Falcons player Mike Vick in his Fox News interview.

Upcoming Sports Men’s Basketball 12/6 – vs. Morgan State 12/8 – vs. Coppin State 12/13- at Mount St. Mary’s

Women’s Basketball 12/6- vs. Morgan State 12/16- vs. Marshall 12/20- at East Carolina

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Spartan Lifestyle

6

12.5.14

Multitasking is a key to success Raisa Roxas

Balancing academic responsibilities, home life, social life and extracurricular activities can be a challenging task for college students.

Learning how to multitask is a talent that can produce success in college and life.

“I devote a lot of time to the Food bank…that’s my heart. I do a lot of community service. And on top of that, I’m in leadership positions in a lot of organizations on campus. Then I have to make room for my studies and a social life,” senior mass communications major Kayla Spade said.

Organization is vital when it comes to multitasking; it

is also important for students to prioritize various daily tasks. Sticking to a schedule and following through with commitments will help prevent students from getting off track.

“Being organized and knowing where all my things are is important to help me multitask. Keeping a calendar helps me a lot too. I can stay on track with everything I need to do by looking at it every day,” freshman chemistry major Jordan Lawton said.

Some students assess how well they multitask to help increase their productivity.

It may help them to learn

when they are most productive, whether in the morning or the evening. It can also provide insight that can help them schedule their activities and obligations efficiently.

“I would say I’m the most productive when I have a plan. If I see everything written in front of me, I can prioritize better and give more time and effort to those priorities,” senior mass communications major Sashily Kling said.

At the end of a busy day full of meetings, lectures and work, it is important to learn how to disengage and set aside time for relax-

ation. Being on the go all of the time without any rest or breaks may do more harm than good.

“I make sure to fit in time to relax in my schedule, especially when I feel like I need downtime. I like to take [a] nap whenever I can fit it in.

I also like to do my favorite things during my ‘me’ time or hang out with [my] friends,” freshman biology major Niyah Willie said.

Staying organized and developing productive habits may produce benefits that will help students grow throughout their college career. For more advice on managing class schedules,

Multitasking is a skill Spartans must maintain in order to accomplish all necessary tasks in a timely fashion. Photo by Kallie Gould.

students can see their department’s advisor. For more help on managing some of the stress of college life, students can visit the Counseling Center located in the Student Services Building.

Where is the Spartan spirit?

Kazahna Joyce and Malaun House

There was a time when all activities on the campus were packed, it was cool to do the Spartan Shuffle, and everyone on campus knew the chants and arrived to athletic competitions covered in green and gold. Unfortunately, Norfolk State University students seem to have lost their school spirit

over the past few years.

“It’s not that I don’t care, but I just have other things to focus on like graduating.

I love my HBCU, but I can’t stay here forever and if it means missing a few games or events, I’m okay with that,” senior Erica Hyman said.

Committees such as the

The Spartans struggle for support from students. Photo by Reginald Thomas

Spartan Generals, NSU Street Team and the Student Government Association have all searched for ways to help bring the Spartan pride back to campus. The mindset of the current students seems to be less on showing school spirit and more on graduating and leaving NSU. “When I was younger I couldn’t wait to get to NSU. The football games were always exciting and the band was amazing,” said sophomore Kevin Butts.

It is apparent to many students that the Spartan pride does not exist like it used to, and the students are not hesitant to admit that they personally do nothing to change that. Now more than ever students prefer to spend their weekends at home or on other college campuses like Old Dominion Univer-

sity (ODU).

“My brothers go to ODU, so almost every weekend I go to their campus because there’s always something going on. I also like the diversity of the campus, plus the food is a lot better in their café,” junior Eric Deline said.

Many wonder if the reason that students lack school spirit is because the upperclassmen are not excited about school events anymore. Some consider the upperclassmen to be the key to school spirit, being that they are the ones that the freshmen and sophomores look up to. If they are not excited about an event, how can the younger students be excited?

“School spirit would probably be better if they made things like activity hour more eventful. Maybe [they

should] have other organizations besides the Greeks perform, like Printed Revolution Modeling Troupe [or 2 Exclusive],” sophomore Ka’raun Hunter said.

Many professors feel as though events such as activity hour are a waste of time because it promotes students to skip class; nevertheless, these two hours on a Friday seem to be the only activity that students still get excited about.

“From the outside looking in, being a Spartan is something that could never be understood [and] from the inside looking out, being a Spartan is something that can never be explained,” NSU alumnus Darryl Hylton said.

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SPARTAN ECHO | Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504 | NEWSROOM: 757.823.8200 E-Mail: spartanecho@nsu.edu

12.5.14

Spartan Lifestyle Poetry Corner

“6875 Hundred Thousandths of a Day”

By Cliff Rhodes 1.65 hours 5940 seconds 99 minutes The cure for a frown Is 99 minutes Waiting Inhaling emotional exhaustion Exhaling hope Take the innards of my chest cavity in this note 360 miles With a dwindling chance of feelings being reciprocated 360 degrees Don’t judge me I don’t want this chance of a lifetime to combine two like minds together in holy poetry Until death do our pens To somehow slip Through our fingertips Bliss comes in the form of vibrations and an android beeps Praying I hear her before my head rests on a pillow She loves me She loves me not Counting how many times I use a corny line vs how many lol she said 99 minutes Is how long it took her to text me back And this smile on my face says thank you For thinking of me “Looking for a Snowflake in the Summer”

By Antonio Garland

“It’s Not the Student Center”

By Brittany Chaneyfield

Her hair as white as snow, I know you, On your arm, A mark of ice, I reach out, Slipped, I whispered, In return, Ice wind’s silence, A cold-hearted lover, Falling flake, Onto the white abyss, Silence as the summer As I watch the seasons change.

It’s not the student center; it’s a fashion show.

It’s not the student center; it’s a runway.

Glass doors lead to dozens of eyes.

Watching, Looking, Staring.

Self-consciousness.

Girl’s walk comes with an extra pep.

Boy’s eyes follow girls’ backsides.

Dressed over the top, faces are over done, but if you ask them, they’re just chillin’ but who are they kidding…

It’s not the student center; It’s just a chance to be noticed.

7 editors Jason Gill Editor-inChief

Danielle Kirsh Online/ Managing Editor

Antonio Garland News Editor

Malaun House Lifestyle Editor

Trenton Fouche’ Entertainment Editor

Tykhari Coles Multimedia Editor Kallie Gould Graphic Design/ Layout Editor It’s not too late to get involved with the Echo!

We meet every Tuesday and Thursday in room 344 at 12:30 pm. ALL majors welcome.

SPARTAN ECHO| Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504|NEWSROOM: 757.823.8200 E-Mail: spartanecho@nsu.edu

Spartan Entertainment

8 Students cutting the cord with television Stephanie Cousins

“House of Cards”, “Orange is the New Black” and “Arrested Development” are just some of the shows that can be watched on Netflix. While video streaming is still in its infancy, it is becoming a welcomed alternative to cable television.

Young people are a principle part of the “cut the cord” group, many students have decided to get rid of the cable and satellite TV and switch over to the internet.

“I use Netflix and Hulu because you get to pick what you want to watch and not have to wait through commercials,” said sophomore political science major Amber White. “Netflix was offering the free month [subscription] and after that it was only seven dollars every month, so I did that for a while. I do think it’s more cost efficient,” White said.

According to recent studies by Nielsen, “zero TV households” are those that don’t watch traditional cable or satellite television. These households usually belong to young adults and make up the 5 million people who have decided to transition to video streaming services.

“I think Netflix and Hulu are awesome, but they have the potential to lead to the downfall of traditional television,” said senior mass communication major Lauren Curtis. “They give people the opportunity to watch things they’ve missed or couldn’t afford to pay for.”

As technology continues to increase, the way television and film are being used will continue to evolve.

12.5.14

Taking your time at NSU seriously Trenton Fouche’

I can recall transferring to Norfolk State University in the fall of 2011. Swept in the green and gold, school spirit and high-octane personalities that occupied Scott Dozier, Brown Hall and the countless other dormitories and class settings was an eye opening experience.

A far-cry from the community college I had attended back home in southwest Virginia, Norfolk State gave me an opportunity to thrive and take my future by the horns and steer it in any direction I desired. Along the way, I would meet many friends through my journey, some would go on to graduate and reach their senior year alongside me, but others would vanish into the abyss

as the semesters passed.

Our time at NSU, like any other university, can teach us a lot about life. Through all the rowdy pep rallies, demanding deadlines and crazy friends, we learn to focus on ourselves and take our future seriously. Unfortunately, for some this never happens. It always puzzled me how such an investment could be taken for granted.

Although many students understand the significance of a college education and work tirelessly to succeed, others see more future in the next Friday night party.

I refused to be a disappointment to my loved ones. So many college students have began, but never finished.

With all the time, effort and

money invested, I was fully cognizant of what’s at stake and the people I would be letting down had I not been successful. Now, I’m proud to say that I will be graduating this December. Lucid to the pitfalls and mindful of why I came here, nothing was able to stop me.

Forever a Spartan, I will cherish the moments spent on this campus. As I look to the future, any employment I find will be significantly attributed to this institution.

Achieving excellence, I will always remember the countless professors, faculty and classmates that helped make excellence achievable. I will always wear my alma mater proudly and remember to behold the green and gold!

Trenton Fouche’ has been the Spartan Echo Entertainment Editor for three semesters and is graduating this December.

Photo by Kyna Uwaeme.

Marvel kills off X-Men’s Wolverine Chantelle Polite

In 1974, Marvel Comics introduced its readers to what would later be one of their most popular characters, Logan, also known as “Wolverine,” a mutant superhero and one of the most recognizable faces of the X-Men franchise. 40 years later, Marvel Comics and its writers have decided to kill off the powerful superhero in its pages.

For decades, the Wolverine became a highly popular figure in the world of superheroes known for his strength, strong emotions and ability to lose his temper at the drop of a dime, which then triggers his long, razor-sharp knives that protrude from the backs of his hands.

Marvel Comics made him

especially famous as he then headed the group of superhero mutants known as the X-Men, where his special ability to self-heal his wounds after combat kept him alive, despite the efforts of his enemies.

The road to Wolverine’s death began this past summer as Marvel started a story arc for Wolverine’s character titled “3 Months to Die,” in which Wolverine is seen losing his self-healing power that kept the character Logan alive for over 100 years. The story arc then transformed into a fourpart comic book series, simply titled “Death of Wolverine.” The series hit stands with its first issue on Sept. 3, following Wolverine on his journey

to find answers about the loss of his healing powers.

“He [Wolverine] almost always comes out on top,” said Michael Marts, an executive editor at Marvel Comics, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “For a long time, no matter who Wolverine was battling, he’s been the eternal victor. Now he finally comes up against an adversary that he cannot win against.”

Marvel, as well as writers of “Death of Wolverine,” did not directly reveal their decision to kill off the ill-tempered superhero. However, when they did, they wanted to do it the right way.

“I hope that when people finish it, they’ll feel like

he died in a way that was true to him,” said “Death of Wolverine” writer Charles Soule to Entertainment Weekly.

Faithful readers of the X-Men and Wolverine comics may feel a sense of loss for their Wolverine character, leaving questions of a possible return of the character anyway.

Although Marvel is witnessed to have somehow reincarnated some of their other popular superheroes that they previously killed off, there does not seem to be any plans to revitalize Wolverine.

“The idea is to make this something that sticks,” Soule said in an interview with ABC News. “Right now, he’s gone.”

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