Tiger's Roar (May 2014 edition)

Tiger’s May 2014

Roar

The Independent Student Voice of Savannah State University

Flight Delayed: Disqualified Candidate Earns Majority Vote page 7

Timeline of Events 8 April 2014

10 April 2014

Voting for Miss SSU begins.

Taylor Pecot is disqualified. 11 April 2014 Morgan Wilson is announced 15 April 2014 Miss SSU.

“I’m lost for words. Not really.

I sort of knew...”

- Taylor Pecot

Savannah, Ga

Taylor Pecot files formal complaint about being 28 April 2014 disqualified.

Taylor Pecot appeales disqualification.

29 April 2014

Official voting results are released.

Pecot: 51.8% Wilson: 48.2%

Parking Services: Where Does the Money Really Go? page 2

Two New Certificate Programs to Come to SSU page 4

Hooked on You: Strange Addictions page 6

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News

Doubles Rooms in the Commons Are Here to Stay

by Diorlena Natera Copy Editor

Savannah State University is expecting 5,011 students next year, still more than the university can house. In order to avoid the chaos of last semester, rooms are being assigned on a first come first served basis via an online application process that gives housing services an account of every bed space.

Bonita Bradley, interim housing director, said “Right now we have roughly 4,500 students and about 65 percent live on campus. We have 2,775 beds and they’re all full.” Bradley expects to reach capacity again in the fall 2014.

Labrea McKay, a sophomore mass communications major who lives in the University Village, said she is not happy with how the overflow is being handled.

“I heard that this was going to happen again so me and a couple of my roommates are planning to move off campus,” said McKay. “It’s not fair we’ve been here more than one year paying our money to the school and why should it be first come first serve? It should be students that actually go here get it first and then the new [students] come.”

The online application process went into full operation in February. Once final grades are posted for spring

2014, Housing Coordinator Michael Sharpe will open a portal for current and prospective students who have applied to go in and select their rooms.

This is good news for underclassmen who in previous years were at the bottom of the totem pole when it came to housing. Those who apply for housing in a timely manner like freshman Jaylen Allen, who currently resides on campus in Tiger Court, will get priority housing.

“I did early registration,” said Allen. “We’ve already been accepted to the Ville and in about a week or two we’ll get an email to choose the actual room we want to be in. “ “As students are selecting their rooms the system is automatically filling in the spaces,” said Bradley. She said the system will allow Sharpe to pull a daily report on the level of capacity.

The online application process eliminates room for human error and gives a more accurate account to prospective students.“It lets us talk a little better with our recruiters out on the road,” said Bradley. “We set aside the freshman housing so they know the numbers that they have to play with as students are applying for

housing as first year students.”

In order to house the overflow of students this academic year, extra beds were placed in the larger rooms of the University Commons. Bradley says those changes are permanent and will serve as discounted housing rates for upperclassmen.

“We’re purchasing furniture to put in those spaces and that’s how we’re accommodating [the overflow of] students,” said Bradley. “We’re trying to make accommodations for students that are comfortable but also we know some students come and cannot afford the full price for [housing].”

“To date, we have about 1,200 returning students that have applied for housing for the fall semester, said Bradley. “If we add in the 1,500 freshman we anticipate and the people who will wait until the last minute, we’ll be at capacity again.”

Like many who will wait until the last minute, Freshman Desiree Brown said she has yet to apply for housing.“I plan on living on campus [next semester].

I haven’t done anything about it yet, but I’m going to make sure I don’t get caught in the mess.”

Contributor: Chantrea Howe

Parking Services: Where Does the Money Really Go?

by Jacquelyn Pressley Contributing Writer

Tickets and orange boots can be found on vehicles throughout campus. Last year alone Parking Services made $201,036 from parking tickets. This year Parking Services has collected $161,713 in fines.

“I'm not sure why it is less this year. We have the same amount of students [as last year], if not more,” said Jean Caywood, director of auxiliary services. “I believe it is due to students being more aware of the restrictions of where they can and cannot park and also being aware that after so many citations their car can be booted and/ or towed.”

With resident parking decals costing $45 a year and commuter parking decals costing $43 a year, students want to know what their money goes.

“The money is used for building new parking lots, repairing lots, replacing signs, striping the spaces in the lot, and paying enforcement staff and equipment,” said says Andre House, assistant director of Auxiliary Services and Director of Parking and Transportation.

As an Auxiliary Services, the state of Georgia requires the operation to be self-supporting. Our other source of revenue is decal sales,” he said.

Edward Jolley, vice president for business and financial affairs said, “Athletic parking fees go to the athletics department, such as parking at football games. We are trying to implement the same thing at basketball games

as well.”

Limited parking is also a concern for students. Two additional parking lots have been created for commuters, one by Drew Griffith and one by the Tiger Express Diner.

Another lot has been added for residents, the surface behind the Freshman Living and Learning Center.

“I feel like there should be more parking for residents since we have to pay for decals,” said Tyler Pool, a senior political science major. “We pay all this money but still can’t park in a lot of areas. Sometimes when the weather is real bad I would like to drive instead of walk and risk getting sick.”

“There are several pot holes on campus which can damage vehicles. The entire campus should be repaved,” said Chaecoya Camsel, junior business management major.

“Parking restrictions are in place in order to decrease traffic on the roads through campus and it makes other means of transportation through campus safer,” said Caywood. “It also allows for the students to take advantage of the other forms of transportation provided by the school that they pay for in their tuition, such as the shuttle and bike services.”

Parking enforcement has just paid for the gates in the University Commons and University Village in order to improve campus security.

To enter the University Commons, students now have to swipe their ID cards and go through gate arms to ensure that they are a registered resident at SSU. Gate arms at the University Village are also underway.

“I know the students may hate it and think that it is unnecessary, but it is used to help make Savannah State a better and safer campus,” said Caywood.

Contributor: Chantrea Howe

Photo by: Maurice Pierce

Editorial

The Tiger’s Roar Staff Ronald T. Shields II Editor-in-Chief Brinson Livingston

Managing Editor Diorlena Natera

Copy Editor

Taylor Roberts

Layout Designer Photographers Darren Cobb Litus Marshall Maurice Pierce

Contributing Writers Ja’Mond Allen DeAnn Goins Chantrea Howe Trisity Miller Korbyn Mingledorf Sharana Richardson DeAndre Scott LaTonya Smith Jacquelyn Pressley

Advisers

Kareem McMichael Jessica Sparks

About Us:

The Tiger’s Roar is the independent monthly student newspaper of Savannah State University.

We welcome and encourage letters to the editor and staff. All letters must include an address and phone number for confirmation. We reserve the right to edit all published content for purposes of length, style, grammar and libelous material. Ideas expressed in editorials do not reflect the opinions of the editors and staff. The Tiger’s Roar adheres to the Associated Press Stylebook guidelines for stories and headlines.

Phone: (912) 358-3379 Fax: (912) 351-6588 P.O. Box 20634 Savannah, GA 31404

Email: tigersroar@savannahstate.edu

May 2014 Tiger’s Roar tigersroar.com

The End of the Road When I first came to Savannah State on a cold rainy day in January squished in the back of mom’s ‘07 Dodge Charger bound for Bostic Hall, I had no idea what I was getting into. Coming from Atlanta I'd never seen moss on trees or smelled a marsh.

It wasn't easy, it wasn't always fun and at times giving up seemed like the only option, but we stuck to it and kept grinding. Now the day that seemed so far out of reach all those years ago is just a few days away.

Four years later, I've grown with Savannah State University. Today, the moss isn't so strange and the marsh doesn't smell as bad as it did back then. Now, it's finally time to graduate.

As Editor-in-Chief of The Tiger's Roar, a graduating senior, and the writer of this month’s editorial, I dedicate this to the graduates. Congratulations Class of May 2014, we made it.

In the past two semesters, SSU has been in the news for shootings, robberies and rapes. Our degrees have been mislabeled as valueless and pointless. However, one thing that is consistently overlooked, is the students who come to our school, work hard and eventually become Savannah State alumni.

- Ronald T. Shields II

May Edition Word Search Addiction Auxiliary Services Baking Soda Caywood Cemetery Certificates Coach Witt Hernandez Lepageville Miss SSU

Mommy Murder Parking Pecot Postpartum Spanish Swim Team Vir-Kisha Votes Wilson

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@SSUTigersRoar

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News

Two New Certificate Programs to Come to Savannah State taken my courses,” said Puryear. “My major is biology and they don’t require a minor. When people ask I just say I have a Spanish minor by word of mouth, but it would be a lot better if I had an actual certificate to prove it.”

Although she is graduating this May she said if she could she would come back to get the certificate in Professional Business Spanish is aimed more specifically to working professionals. Hernandez said she sees the certificate as a self-investment tool professionals can use to make themselves more marketable.

“This is a port city and there are so many companies that are in need of having their employees be bilingual,” said Hernandez. “So these are [the] working professionals we are hoping we will be able to market this certificate to.”

Photo by: Litus Marshall

SSU students celebrate Hispanic Heritage Week

by Diorlena Natera Copy Editor

The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences has proposed the addition of a certificate in Hispanic studies and culture and another in professional business Spanish for fall 2014.

According to the University System of Georgia, certificates are not associated with degrees. A certificate is defined as a prescribed program of study at the post secondary educational level. This means that the certification programs will be available for current students as well as anyone else in the community.

Hernandez said the response from other departments has been positive.

Susana Hernandez, Spanish instructor, said a lot of the students she personally knows would have been interested in achieving either of these certifications and graduating this year.

“It’s exciting [the certificates] are aligned with so many of the majors that we already have here --homeland security, mass comm, social work--, so people are very excited about it. And I think once you go over into the sciences ,hopefully, they will be just as enthusiastic as what we have achieved so far.”

“At this point we don’t have a major in Spanish so what we are trying to achieve by putting both of these certificates on our schedule is, number one, bring more value to our students once they graduate.” said Hernandez.

“The faculty to teach the courses necessary for both certificates is already in place” Hernandez said the Program of Foreign Languages is hiring one more professor for the fall, who will hopefully be an expert on Hispanic studies.

Courtney Puryear, a senior biology major, has taken all 1000 and 2000 level courses required for the two certificates. She is currently taking her third independent study course this semester.

“As of today many of these courses are being taught as independent studies so our faculty are not getting paid when they take on the students,” said Hernandez. “The students get the credit, but the faculty is not getting paid because they only have three or four students. Which is really a small class.”

“I feel like I don’t have anything to prove that I’ve

Isaac Cuffy, a senior history major, said a drawback to independent study is that the courses are not a set part of his schedule.

“With independent study, the bad part is sometimes you can’t really meet all the time like a regular class.

You go to the professors office and you do the work on your own. If it was a regular class,” he said. “You

would probably learn more because you’ll have more time to spend with the language.”

Hernandez said she is optimistic that the certificate programs will be available for the fall.

“I don’t think that you will see the [upper level] courses in the fall though we have 2001 and 2002 already in the books, but I think in terms of our 3000

Did You Know?

• 9.6% of Georgians are foreign born • 12.3% are Latino or Asian.

• 83.8% of naturalized citizens have a high school diploma or higher .

• Latino businesses had sales and receipts of $6 billion and employed 25,874 people.

• The purchasing power of Latinos is $16 billion .

• The number of immigrants in Georgia with a college degree increased by 90.1% Graphic by: Taylor Roberts Infomation provided by immigrationpolicy .org

level courses we are expanding to those by the spring,” she said.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, the number of immigrants in Georgia with a college degree increased by 90.1% between 2000 and 2011.

“These are some statistics that shows us how critical it is for us to be working with our Hispanic/ Latino population,” said Hernandez. “Not only making sure that we have representation on the campus, but that we have offerings that are aligned with their needs as well.”

“Savannah State was founded for the minorities and to bring solutions and education to our students. And right now there is a huge need. One of the universities that has tried and is capturing a lot of Hispanics is Armstrong and we are now trying to better our vision to be more inclusive with Hispanics as well,” said Hernandez.

Feature

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A Mommy and a Murderer: A Mother’s Road to Overcoming Postpartum Depression

by DeAnn Goins Contributing Writer

Editor’s Note: “A Mommy and a Murderer” is an excerpt of a story that documents Vir-Kisha Warren’s road to overcome postpartum depression.

This story contains explicit language.

“People think because I did what I did to my son that I’m not gonna love my daughter, but I love my daughter unconditionally. I loved my son too but I couldn’t love him the way that I should have because I didn’t love myself. I was suicidal.”

On November 20, 2009, Vir-Kisha Warren pled guilty but mentally ill to voluntary manslaughter after she drowns her three-month-old son, Brandon Warren.

It was like climbing a tree for the first time. No. No. It was like your first time driving a car. No. It was like a roller coaster. Yes. It was like getting on the biggest roller coaster in the park for the first time. You get on and you’re scared. It starts off slow and you think you’re okay. As it slowly climbs to the top and you hear that clicking noise, you think about how you’re not ready for this. You think about all the steps you took to get to this point. You think to yourself “what the hell was I thinking?” You’re still climbing, higher and higher, slowly but surely. Then you finally reach the top and you look down at all the people looking up at you. They’re thinking the same thing you are: how and why the hell are you here, at this point in your life? And the clicking noise stops just in time for you to realize that you’re here now. What happened has happened. There was no turning back. And so all you can do is deal. So you do, you just deal.”

Police responded to Teresa Thompkins after she dialed 911 with the discovery of her great nephew dead in a trash bag. Brandon Wright, the baby’s father, came running in Thompkins’ home crying and explaining how he had just seen his three month old son, Brandon Warren, dead in a trash bag. “She done killed my baby,” he screamed in terror, “she killed my baby.”

According to friends and family, Vir-Kisha Warren was normal; certainly not someone who’d kill their newborn.

“Kisha was always shy and introverted, but she had this smile and that made you know that something about her was special. She didn’t talk much, but when she did people would listen,” says Yvonne Warren of her daughter, “she was always close with me and her dad and her sister, Willesha.”

As a kid, her and her sister Willesha would do everything together. Growing up, they continued to remain close.

Their favorite thing to do was go to carnivals or fairs or amusement parks. Vir-Kisha would have to convince

her to ride the roller coasters with her. They eventually went on to attend the same college: SSU. “I wanted to be in school with Kisha so she could guide me,” Willesha said, “plus we had always been together and I didn’t want that to change.”

College is the first time you get a taste of real freedom.

You’re growing into adulthood and finding out who you

she wanted to rebel. “She just wanted me to be a certain way and I wanted to be the exact opposite. I wanted to smoke and drink and party and she said I couldn’t do that in her house. So, I started being at her house less and less,” Warren said. She would go out and party on school nights; nights when she could have been studying.

“It was crazy because I didn’t care that I wasn’t doing good in school. I just wanted to have a good time and sort of escape my reality,” she stated. Her reality was that she was depressed. She had low self-esteem. She looked at others and thought they were better than her. In escaping her reality one night at a local club, she met Brandon and after Brandon, life would never be the same.

Dear diary,

I met a boy. His name is Brandon. I like him. I like him Provided by: Deann Gions a lot. I think he likes me but those voices keep telling me he really are. “I’ve always liked to party, college just made doesn’t. We’ll see where this goes. it that much more accessible for me,” says Vir-Kisha.

Dear diary, I love college so much. The fact that I have Willesha here with me is so much better; it’s just like old times. I never knew I’d be in college since I hadn’t planned for it or anything in my future for that matter. The partying is the best part here, though. It’s an outlet for me. When I’m out, listening to music, dancing, and drinking I don’t have those bad thoughts. I hate those bad thoughts. I hate those voices in my head.

As a freshman homeland security major at Savannah State, Vir-Kisha did not excel in the classroom. “I never took things too serious including school,” she explained.

Her relationship with her mom had gotten rocky because

We clicked almost instantly,” Vir-Kisha said. “He liked to drink, I liked to drink, he liked to smoke, I liked to smoke. And he liked roller coasters and amusement parks like me and Willesha. But Brandon liked to do other things too.” It is very typical for college students to experiment with alcohol and even marijuana. No big deal. “It was beyond the regular drugs though. Brandon would do hard core drugs,” she said.

Vir-Kisha explained that she stayed away from the other drugs that Brandon did despite what the voices in her head told her. “I felt like the voices in my head wanted me dead, but they were in my head so I couldn’t differentiate between myself and the voices. I was confused and I felt like I wanted myself dead too,” she said. She was sure she needed help and turned to her mother.

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Feature

Hooked on You: Strange Addictions

by Sharana Richardson Contributing Writer

Editorial Note: Strange Addiction is a feature story about students around Savannah State that are addicted to items such as baking soda

What do baking soda, laundry detergent, baby powder, mothballs, and ice all have in common? Some interesting combination of home remedies for spring cleaning? Well, not quite. Sure these everyday household products are great for cooking or keeping the refrigerator fresh, washing out the unbearable grass stains in your favorite pair of Levi jeans, soothing a baby’s diaper rash, a repellant for mice, moths, and mold or to simply chill a warm drink; however, these four young adults have other “strange” ideas in mind for these domestic commodities.

“It has to be Arm and Hammer. I can’t eat off brand names. That may sound crazy, but the taste is totally different.” Nicole McDuel is a 23-year-old student at Savannah State University. She majors in Social Work and she is addicted to eating baking soda. This addiction developed about ten years ago, while using the baking soda as an oral hygiene method. “My mom said baking soda works really good when you put a little on top of your toothpaste for whiter teeth,” Nicole says. “After I did, I started to develop a taste for it by itself.” Nicole isn’t the only one in her family who enjoys this salty snack. Her mother, grandmother, aunts and even some of her younger relatives eat it as well. Studies show that genetics play a significant role in vulnerability to addiction.

According to medicalnewstoday.com, limiting your daily sodium intake to between 1,500 and 2,400 milligrams is healthy for maintaining a balance of body fluids, to transmit nerve signals, and for muscles to function properly. Since her first taste of baking soda, Nicole estimates she eats a spoonful at least three times a day. That averages to about 6,975 mg of sodium in one day. “I’ve heard it has harmful effects on the heart and other major organs. I have extreme headaches because of it,” Nicole explains. “It just fulfills an urge for a salty taste.” When that desire does arise and she’s not at home, no worries. She has a box in her bathroom, the car and her purse. Although some family members share the same urge, her boyfriend Delfino Mack isn’t as supportive. “It’s straight sodium. It’s unhealthy to take in that much sodium,” Delfino says. “I try to stop her most of the time, but sometimes I don’t try my best. I’ll never buy it for her though.” Nicole has even tried to quit herself, attempting to shake the baking soda monkey off her back. “I’ve tried to quit plenty of times! But as soon as I seen an Arm and Hammer commercial, it’s a wrap!”

Most people may use laundry detergent for washing clothes, but not Jishanwdra Kirkland. She is addicted to eating Purex washing powder. “Gain and Snuggle is too strong,” she says about other detergents she’s

tried eating. Former Savannah State University student and theatre major Jishawndra grew an addiction at the age of 12, while her mom did laundry. “She would do laundry and the smell would spread throughout the house. It smelled so good,” she remembers.

So good to the point she wanted to taste it. “At first, I used to suck the clothes right before the rinse cycle,” she goes on. “Then, I just decided to taste the powder. I loved it.” Jishawndra usually dips her finger in the powder a few times and licks it completely off, but when she has a big appetite, she uses the scooper to eat it. “I can’t eat too much. One time, I ate too much and the taste was stuck in my mouth for 20 minutes. It was so bitter,” she recalls. Jishawndra hasn’t sought medical attention for her addiction; however, she has conducted research on her condition. “I read up on it and I found out that my addiction is called pica,” she states.

Pica is a disorder that causes people to crave and eat non-food substances. Pica is mostly seen in young children than adults. Between 10-32% of children, ages 1-6 have these behaviors and it could be a symptom of some mental health disorder. Pica may also be caused by nutritional deficiencies and it is also found in pregnant women. Pica is a disorder that I encounter as well. I have an addiction to eating Johnson and Johnson baby powder. I’ve had this strange addiction for about seven years and I continue to constantly consume it, eating baby powder at least ten times a day.

Jishawndra is aware of the negative health effects

laundry detergent can have on her health, so she has quit and been clean for about three months. She now buys liquid soap to wash her clothes, but if you’re doing laundry and she’s around, you may want to hide the washing powder.

Addiction is the continued repetition of a behavior despite adverse consequences, or a neurological impairment leading to such behaviors.

However, a “strange addiction” focuses on people with unusual compulsive behaviors. These range from eating non-food items to ritualistic daily activities to bizarre personal fixations or beliefs. Some individuals even suffer from unique addictions to foods or items they can be allergic to, releasing endorphins throughout your body that can become addictive. You may wonder why addicts continue to crave things that are bad and possibly fatal. The addiction is stronger than their ability to keep their actions under control.

An addiction causes a person to want this continuous behavior, despite the consequences.

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Flight Delayed: Disqualified Candidate Wins Majority Vote

by Trisity Miller Contributing Writer

Savannah State University has named Morgan Wilson as Miss SSU for the 2014-15 academic year. Just moments after, school officials announced Taylor Pecot, Wilson’s lone competitor, was disqualified from the running due to unspecified reasons.

“None of the candidates including myself and Miss Wilson have received their numbers on the race,” said Pecot. “I definitely think it would bring justice for me to see the numbers.”

Despite being disqualified, according to public records obtained from the university, it has been revealed that Pecot won the election. She obtained 51 percent of the student votes to Wilson’s 48 percent.

“I’m lost for words. Not really. I sort of knew,” said Pecot. “You know, I had that feeling in my heart, but at the same time I’m at ease now. At the end of the day, I just wanted to see the numbers. [chuckles] Numbers do not lie and the numbers definitely didn’t lie.”

Pecot was offically disqualified from the Miss SSU running because the committee said she violated rule number seven of the Elections Qualifications and Campaign Protocol handbook.

The handbook states “there shall be no campaigning by the candidate or his/her campaign staff within 150 feet of the voting polls the day of the election. (You can not set up a table or computer to get people to vote for you).”

Monday, Pecot, along with her team of advisors and witnesses, took part in a hearing with the Board of Ethics and Election Committee in the Student affairs Leadership Lab located in King Fraizer.

“They told me they were going to notify me, which they [did] an hour after the hearing, and they told me I was disqualified,” said Pecot.

Despite the ruling made by the election committee not being in Pecot’s favor, she could proceed with the case by taking things up with the Board of Regents, the court system outside of the university.

“It’s up to me now if I want to press a charge or a lawsuit on the school,” said Pecot.

Wilson had no comment.

Contributers: Ja’Mond Allen, Korbyn Mingledorf, DeAndre Scott

Photo by: Litus Marshall

SSU Professor to Help Local Cemetery Gain Recognition

by Darren Cobb Contributing Writer

Imagine having a loved one buried in a place that would no longer receive recognition. Savannah State Professor, Felicia Bell and her students are trying to stop this from happening to the descendants of those buried in the LePageville Cemetery by helping the location gain recognition by the National Registry of Historic Places.

LePageville Cemetery is located behind a Parker’s gas station and a Family Dollar store on President Street, which was originally a community constructed by the Savannah, Florida and Western Railway for it’s AfricanAmerican employees.

Over the years, the homes and buildings constructed in the 1880’s became uninhabitable and the residents moved to other housing around Savannah. They left behind the cemetery and what was left of the community.

“Saving significantly historic places such as an African-American burial grounds and cemeteries help tell the story of the plight of people of African descent in America,” said Bell. “It contributes to a better understanding of American history.

The cemetery contains at least 500 unmarked graves and the land is only marked by a rusting arched sign that reads, ‘LePageville Memorial Cemetery’ built in 2007.

“This can help the people’s voices be heard,” she said.

“Perhaps even the descendants of those who are buried there.”

Although the process of getting a location accepted into the National Registry of Historic Places can take over a year, Bell is more than prepared to see the process out as it pertains to the bigger picture.

“It is our hope that if the LaPageville Memorial Cemetery is accepted into the registry, it will garner philanthropic awareness beyond Savannah for the restoration efforts,” said Bell.

Contributor: Ronald T. Shields II

Photo by: Darren Cobb

Bell believes that the research her class is doing on the LePageville community could lead to fundraising for the site.

“Submission of this research could possibly lead to attention drawn from donors willing to provide money so that the site can be cleared and individuals can actually walk through the cemetery,” said Bell.

Shamikah White, a junior, believes in the importance of recognizing the historical site.

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SSU Women’s Swim Team Strokes Towards Fall Semester

by LaTonya Smith Contributing Writer

cancel practice because the pool is not operating [properly].”

Arnold Jackson, the physical plant assistant director said when he gets a report, the plant tries to act on it immediately and fix the problem within 36 hours.

“The pool issues were cloudiness, the chlorine was too high, and the temperature was 105 degrees,” said Jackson . “The pool was fixed within a couple of days and Provided by : LaTonya Smith

they have not have any problems

The first women’s swim team at Savannnah since.”

State is facing obstacles while preparing for their first meet at the club level for the spring.

At the beginning of the season, Freshman Terri Bright and her other five teammates were hopeful.

Although Coach James-Joe Witt has seen interest in the team from students, the members have been unable “I’m glad to have the opportunity to swim for a HBCU to get in the pool to practice for a month. swim team,” she said. “I can see myself going to the Olympics one day because I have a great coach.”

“I have had to cancel practice because there’s no one here to unlock the door,” he said. “I have [also had] to The team is supported with supplies and equipment

from the intramural program and the Olympic Committee, not money, said Witt. They had to postpone their first meet because of lack of resources and access to the gym.

The initial challenge Witt faced was “getting the team together because swimming is not a popular sport in the African American community,” he said.

Still, he was optimistic. “I do not have any doubts about the HBCU swim team,” said Witt. “I know I am a good coach.”

SSU is only the fourth HBCU to have a swim team, a feat proven difficult to maintain since other historically black institutions have attempted and failed.

According to the Journal of Blacks in Higher learning, North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro announced it was ending its women’s swim team. Also, Florida A & M University in Tallahassee had a men’s and women’s swim team but their teams ended in 2011.

Because of the lockouts and issues with the pool this spring, Witt says the team will need to restart in the fall