Students collect goods for Bahamas Page 7 Tiger Express remains closed Page 2
Tiger’s
Homecoming October 2019
The Independent Student Voice of Savannah State University
Still We Rise SSU football prepares for battle Page 4
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Savannah, Ga.
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Tiger Express closed because of broken air conditioner Destin Howard, Contributing Writer
The Tiger Express dining facility at Savannah State University has been closed since the beginning of the school year, and students are upset. In a September interview, Joe Davis, director of Dining Services at Savannah State, said Tiger Express wasn’t permanently closed. The problem is a broken air conditioner and funding to fix it, he said. Students, especially those who live in the University Village, are upset the facility has been closed. “I really just miss the food variety,” sophomore mass communications major Kamia Caldwell said. “They had the most variety on campus. I know some people say the ‘Cafe’ does, but it really doesn’t because you can’t take any of it out. And this is a diner-type deal with outdoor seating and you have inside seating, as well. It’s limited but you have to-go containers that you can take.” In the 2018-19 school year, there were three dining facilities open on campus including the Student Union, the King-Frazier Student Center Dining Hall, and Tiger Express. Within those facilities, the Student Union contains several vendors such as Starbucks
Tiger Express closed down. Photo by Destin Howard.
and Austin Grill. Since August, Tiger Express has been closed, and there are fewer vendors in the Student Union, limiting the number of options students have for food on campus. Jordan Peterman, senior pre-law major, said a lot of students were looking forward to having Tiger
Express as an option this school year. “It was the only place on campus to have the option of milkshakes,” he said. “Of course, that was a great incentive to go there.” Davis was unavailable for comment about timelines to fix the air conditioner at Tiger Express.
Science Club and Dr. Ebanks on this project,” she said. “We started last spring on getting a garden started near the Placentia Canal. We currently have flowers growing there and we plan to have vegetables very soon. Eventually, we plan to incorporate international flowers and vegetables into the garden.” Keevy said she has asked international students to ask their families about the kinds of seeds and plants common
in their homes so they can possibly be grown in the garden. “We want students, faculty, and staff to have an opportunity to get their hands dirty and get the experience to grow food that you want to eat,” she said. “We live in a climate where you can grow almost anything year around.”
Environmental Science Club starts SSU liberty garden Jamaica Williams and Aleah Clinton, Contributing Writers
The Environmental Science Club and the International Students Association are working together to help campus grow, literally. The two groups have started a liberty garden near the Placentia Canal across from the Health Center on campus. The garden will provide fresh fruit and vegetables for students who are participating. In addition, the habitat will create opportunities for pollination, and dilution of air pollution. Tamia Murray, a member of the Environmental Club, said the purpose of the garden was academic. “Gardens are outdoor classrooms and serve as living laboratories for science courses,” she said. “Visiting a garden can increase one’s respect and appreciation for the environment. Taking care of a garden builds character and better sense of community, teamwork and leadership. Gardens often bring educators, students and community members together.” This is not the first time campus has kept gardens on the grounds. In the late 1890s, the first president of the university Richard R. Wright established organic farming on the campus and curated eco-technology. George Washington Carver hosted a farming conference at the Georgia State Industrial College for Colored Youth, which is the former name of Savannah State University. International Education Specialist Joline Keevy said the garden was accidentally sprayed with pesticides over the summer, but the incident helped the Environmental Science Club and the International Students Association work even harder together. “I’m excited about working with the Environmental
Jolene Keevy cuts a watermelon out of the garden behind Gardner Hall. Photo by Aleah Clinton.
News Homecoming line-up delay causes tension Tiger’s Roar
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Jasmine Davis, Contributing Writer
The week of Homecoming is one of the most exhilarating on campus filled with traditions such as the Step Show and Coronation. Usually the Campus Activities Board releases the list of events and performers weeks ahead of time, but this year, that announcement was delayed until fewer than two weeks before. The delay caused confusion for students who usually look forward to the special week. On Friday, Oct. 11, CAB hosted its release party, announcing a line up featuring Trina and Boosie, Stunna 4 Vegas, B.Simone and Young Nudy. Brandon Collins, the president of CAB, said the delay was caused by changes in advisers and budgeting concerns. “Last year the release was a little bit earlier. The reason why, this year, as you know we are going through the changes of the new advisers. That pushed us back,” he said. “We were waiting for money situations to get handled.” Collins said he knew how the delay would look to others. Students took to Twitter to convey their frustrations, and Collins saw it; however, he said he didn’t want to comment on it. He said he understands students’ frustration, although he said that he and the other coordinators have been working on the lineup since July and progress is getting made. “For Homecoming, it’s not about the events or the artists, it’s about the experience,” he said. Collins said the members of CAB know that having famous artists plays a big role in making the student body happy. “We listen to you guys about artists. We pretty much take down everything you guys write,” he said. “Then we’ll break it down to who can come and who can’t come due to legal situations. Artists with felonies are not allowed.” The next steps would be to take the list to the legal department which results in financial costs. The students on campus are looking forward to artists that other universities had at their homecoming. These include Megan Thee Stallion, NBA Youngboy, DaBaby, and others. During the final minutes of the interview, Collins wanted to make sure that the student understood how it is up to them to make a great experience for Homecoming week. Even if the lineup isn’t to everyone’s liking, their experience should be at its peak. “For the most part, it’s what you guys make it. We try to add as much as your input in it. But it’s still up to you guys to really push Homecoming to make it fun.” Danica Evans and Ariana Dingle, two Savannah State students, said that the reveal of the lineup was predictable. “Like I knew that they were going to switch up a little bit but I didn’t expect for them to switch up a lot,'' Dingle said. Many of the events that were listed were included in last year’s lineup as well such as the Silent Headphone Party and Bonfire, Residential Hall Step Show, Fashion Show, and the Greek Step Show. Evans explained her frustrations about the lineup, “I feel like they should’ve posted it all at the same time- instead of waiting.” One of the main issues for students was the wait because the majority of students on campus work jobs off campus and cannot take off work at the last minute. Evans said she has to work during Homecoming because she didn’t know when she should take off for it so now she has to work.
Student perform in the 2018 Homecoming residential step show. Photo by Charniq Garrett.
Left: Bri Steves performs in the 2018 Homecoming step show. Photo by Charniq Garrett. Right: The 82nd Miss Savannah State University Antonia Green is crowned by former university President Cheryl Dozier at the coronation in 2018. Photo by Mercedes Hopson. The Savannah State Tiger mascot walks in the 2016 Homecoming parade on campus. Photo by Robert Beja.
The Powerhouse of the South marching band performs in the 2016 on-campus Homecoming parade. Photo by Robert Beja.
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De’Antoinette Rodriguez-Hairston leads volleyball team
Justin Phillips, Sports Editor
De’Antoinette Rodriguez-Hairston, captain for the Savannah State University women’s volleyball team, affectionately called “Dee” by her teammates and peers, is faced with many expected tasks a student-athlete must fulfill. The 5’10” criminal justice major from Atlanta has made an impact on the Lady Tiger’s team since her freshman year, though she was a redshirt at the time. A redshirt athlete is one that has been withdrawn from officially competing in their respective sport in order to further hone their skills and have another year of NCAA eligibility to participate in college athletics. Being a redshirt was beneficial to Rodriguez-Hairston, who is now in her third year competing with the Tigers. However, the road from a redshirt freshman to captain has not been an easy one. When asked about her athletic career prior to attending Savannah State at the end of her class in the Social Science building, Rodriguez-Hairston said, “I attended Maynard Jackson High School, where volleyball was the only sport I played and I loved it throughout my entire high school experience.” Her passion for the sport shows on the courts of Savannah State. The junior had a season high of 10 kills in the Sept. 27 game against Tuskegee University, and hit 60 kills for the season on Oct. 15. Before entering the volleyball court, Rodriguez-Hairston tried track and field, but she wasn’t a fan of the sport.” As time progressed, the track coach was like I think you should try volleyball. It’s an inside sport, and I was like oh okay. Now
here I am,” she said. Rodriguez-Hairston is an outside hitter for the Lady Tigers. “My primary responsibility is to hit and block on the left side of the court,” she said. The junior has shown her ability to spike a ball against the opposing team and is very effective in stopping spike attempts of the opposing team as well. On the court, Rodriguez-Hairston is a versatile player in her position both on the offensive and defensive aspect of the game. This work ethic and ability are part of the reason she now holds a captain title for the team, a title usually reserved for senior members. Skill level is only part of the requirement for the captain spot; maturity and respect are also needed for the position. “Dee has been one of my mature players ever since I started coaching here at Savannah State,” Head Coach Roselidah Obunaga said. “Her maturity and ability to listen is what has set her apart.” Rodriguez-Hairston takes the role seriously. “Being a captain is by far the most amazing thing,” she said. “I am still in so much disbelief as to this is where I am now.” At the beginning of the season, the team lost junior Karissa Tatum after a car wreck. The tragedy left Rodriguez-Hairston in a state of shock, sadness and disbelief. Not for one to hide her emotions, she says, “It has been
hard because everyone has feelings and each person feels differently about it. It has been very hard for me because of how close I was with her. But I am getting better with time, and my team has been very supportive.” As the season progresses the Lady Tigers will have their hands full for the next few weeks. When asked about her expectations for the team, Rodriguez-Hairston said, “Because of what we have been through, many people don’t expect us to come out on time, but it’s completely the opposite. We’re motivated to perform even better now despite how hard it is seeing that we lost a team member.” The Lady Tigers enter Homecoming Week with a 7-10 overall record and a 6-7 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The team plays Benedict College in Columbia on Oct. 22 and then hosts Middle Georgia State University at 6 p.m. on Oct. 25 in Willcox-Wiley Gymnasium. The final home match will be on Nov. 12 against Clark Atlanta University.
2019 Season Highs Kills Assists Points Aces Digs Total Blocks
Value
10 4 12 4 15 3
Football team ready for SSU Homecoming Justin Phillips, Sports Editor
The Savannah State University football team has seen many improvements in its overall performance this season, as it marks its return year to Division II in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. With a 4-3 record, the men on the football team have been performing well on the field. The losses the team has taken in this season are the result of an opposing team that was simply better than the Tigers. The Tigers opened their season with a loss to Florida Tech University by a mere one point, which should indicate the level of fair athletic prowess between both teams. Luck was never in favor of the Tigers; however, the team used that loss as a motivational factor, pushing for a three-game streak in September against Virginia University, Benedict College and Morehouse College respectively.
The scores put the Tigers beating the respective competition by over 7 points. The Virginia University of Lynchburg game on Sept. 14 ended with a pounding score of 60-21. In that contest, running back D’ Angelo Durham had his way with the Virginia defense as he amassed 128 yards finishing with 3 rushing touchdowns in total. Durham made it clear that his performance was fueled by the outcome in the Florida Tech game “We needed this,” he said. “Right after the loss, we just took it and kept going, and moved on to the next opponent.” And move on they did, until they were matched against Charleston Southern University, which won 19-24 after the Tigers failed to secure any points in the fourth quarter while the Buccaneers amassed 14 in the same period.
The Tigers won against Clark Atlanta University during its Homecoming game on Oct. 19 in Atlanta, 22-15. As this year’s homecoming game is approaching, heavy expectations are on the Savannah State Tigers football team as they host Albany State University. The Tigers enter the contest with a 4-3 record and 3-0 in the conference; while the ASU Rams are 5-2 overall with a 4-0 in the SIAC. The Rams are in a five-game winning streak after a low-scoring 7-2 win over Benedict College on Oct. 19.
2019 Overall Statistics Rushing Yards
Receiving Yards
239.6 avg./game
55.3 avg./game
Passing Yards
Total Offensive
55.29 avg./game
294.9 avg./game
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Editorial
Homecoming 2019
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Homecoming reignites community at Savannah State
Danielle Birzer, Editor-in-Chief
It’s often said that “There’s no homecoming like an HBCU homecoming,” and we all agree that at SSU, the phrase rings true. The students here have a lot to be proud of when it comes to the heritage of Savannah State. We are students and faculty of the oldest public HBCU in the state of Georgia. SSU has been host to a variety of incredible alumni such as Ernest Miller, Shannon Sharpe, Troy Hambrick, Lt. Gen.l Walter E. Gaskin, Tatia Adams and many more. Our past alumni also had heavy political involvement, raising black consciousness on the local, state, and national levels. Between 1965 and 1967, the Savannah State University chapter of the NAACP hosted voter registration drives on and around campus in the community in order to foster civic awareness. Other students participated in peaceful protests against Savannah’s segregation policies by conducting sit-ins at eight different lunch counters in the city during the Civil Rights movement. Some historians have credited SSU’s student activism efforts as a key reason for keeping Savannah as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said in 1964, “The most desegregated city south of the MasonDixon Line.” Here at Savannah State, the community believes in being bold, proud, and seriously impressive. Part of
the legacy of students is to stand up for truth, justice, and doing what’s right in the face of oppression that seems to loom in every corner of the world. The oppression includes racial oppression experienced particularly in the South and that which is directed specifically at students who attend a historically black college and/or university, an HBCU. Why does homecoming mean so much to Savannah State? It drives home a sense of community. There’s an old proverb that says, “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Going together is what we do best here at SSU. A sense of community is always centered around individuals and how they interact with the world and how they identify themselves. Each person has unique gifts and talents, all of which should be celebrated. Community is what helps the students “lift as we rise” together. Sometimes a community must rise to meet the injustices it faces and hold those in power accountable for their actions; at other times, a community must come together and celebrate the legacy of the foremothers and fathers who allow us to stand on their shoulders even now. While we celebrate homecoming this year, remember your sense of community, where you came from, and who you are today. In order for SSU students to remain seriously impressive, students
must not allow ourselves to become embittered but instead use our anger against the world’s and other institutions’ oppressive actions to make the world a better place. Whether students use the written word, Tiger’s Roar, dancing, music, painting, marching, protesting, voting….whatever we do, may we as Tigers never stop standing up.
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Editor-in-Chief- Danielle Birzer Layout Editor- Amanda Wilkins News Editor- Michael Payne Co-Layout Editor- Kaja Allen Sports Editor- Justin Phillips Social Media Editor- Kelsey Simmons Features Editor- Jame’Cia Taylor Executive Producer- Diamond Marzett
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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.
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Volunteer assistant coaches, grad assistants used for first SIAC season at Savannah State Yan Mastin, Contributing Writer
Savannah State University’s Athletics Department starts its first year in the SIAC with new coaches, new hope, and new passion. In the year leading up to Savannah State’s transition to Division II, there have been 56 layoffs at the school due to loss of revenue. These staff cuts have significantly affected the Athletics Department, including the loss of many paid assistant coaches throughout the department. Out of the paid assistant coach positions in the 2018 fiscal year, salaries ranged from $7,000 - $65,000 per year, according to public records. Despite the loss of assistant coach’s positions at the school, many head coaches remain optimistic about the prospect of competing for SIAC titles within the new conference and plan to use Savannah State Athletics alumni and volunteers to fill the void created by the position cuts. Deputy Athletic Director Kimberly Miller said at least one paid assistant position was cut from each of the 15 teams at the school. She also said the women’s volleyball team was the only team to change head coaches after the transition of division. Head Men’s Basketball Coach Horace Broadnax said he lost two paid positions on his staff. Miller said she believed the changes would not prevent the school’s teams from competing at a high level. “The changes have little to no bearing on our ability to compete because of the high-quality head coaches at our school,” she said in regard to the staff cuts. She emphasized the importance of the head coaches and said the teams will succeed based on how the head coaches run the programs. According to Miller, the department is in good hands due to the long tenured head coaches that run the programs. She pointed out that every head coach outside of women’s volleyball has been at the school for 10 years or more.
relations, said, “Volunteer positions are great stepping Eric McCombie, Ohio Coaching Education alumni and stones for former athletes who can work around current East Georgia State College a job and help the university.” baseball head coach stressed the Former Savannah State baseball player and importance of his two paid assistant current graduate assistant, Caleb Hill, is one of coaches on recruiting and running the new additions. When asked what Hill hopes practice. to gain from his position as a graduate assistant, “It’s hard to have 36 players and one he said “I originally did it for scholarship money coach” he said. to finish my degree but I ended up liking it more He also said there are some difficulties than I expected.” that arise when depending solely on With gained experience and a new-found graduate assistants. “Sometimes it’s love for coaching, Hill has landed a job as a hard to rely on a grad assistant to pitching coach for a collegiate summer team in the same degree as a coach because California. Hill credits his graduate assistantship of the similarity in age between the at Savannah State for helping him land his first assistant and the players,” McCombie professional coaching job. said. “There will also inevitably be Grafuate Assistamt for SSU Baseball When asked what he could contribute to the friendships between current players Caleb Hill. Photo by Yan Mastin program, Hill was confident he would make a and the assistant.” positive impact on the team’s first season in the Southern Although it’s difficult, McCombie said it is entirely Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. “I believe my time possible to find a volunteer coach who can bring the here as a student athlete gives me a unique passion for the same passion and knowledge as one that is compensated team and I have gained a lot of knowledge that I think I for their work. McCombie began his career as an unpaid assistant. “In this profession, you got to put your time in to can pass on to the younger players here at Savannah State,” advance up the ranks and there are plenty of very qualified Hill said. The coaching transition to a more volunteer-dependent coaches who are willing to do the job well just because system for athletic teams affects how the teams operate they love it,” he said. on a macro level. Ultimately, the players at Savannah State Despite potential consequences for some athletic teams will be the ones most affected by the coaching adjustments at Savannah State, these staff cuts have undoubtedly being made in the athletic department. created a unique opportunity for former student SSU Junior Savannah State football player, Awni Alshafei, was athletes and volunteers to contribute to the athletics optimistic and excited for the future of the football team programs at the university. Many assume there will be a drop-off in coaching quality with the coaching changes. Alshafei said there was “no drop-off whatsoever” in when the teams must start heavily relying on younger terms of coaching from last year to this year. He said Head assistants and volunteers, but feelings were mixed within Football Coach Shawn Quinn has brought in a staff that the department about the reliance on unpaid coaches. “knows how to persevere” and “preaches being a better Joshua Peacock, assistant athletic director for media person.” It seems to be working for the football team as the Tigers have started the season at 3-2 and 2-0 in conference. Junior baseball player Joey Roberson said, “Yeah it sucks to lose the coach who recruited me because we had a good relationship, but ultimately, I still believe in this team’s ability to win games this season and Coach [Carlton] Hardy’s ability to build a good support system for his players,” Roberson said. Hardy has been at the university as head baseball coach since 2006 and led the 2013 MEAC championship team. Savannah State enters a new conference with high expectations and all eyes are on athletics. With a revamped athletic staff, along with an increased reliance on unpaid staff members in 2019-2020, the Tigers hope their first year in Division II lives up to Savannah State standards.
First-year Assistant Baseball coach Nate Ramsey working to secure new recutis for SSU Baseball. Photo by Yan Mastin.
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SSU students help Bahamians after Hurricane Dorian Jame'Cia Taylor, Features Editor
Students from Savannah State University are leading the charge to help victims of Hurricane Dorian. After the storm devastated islands in the Bahamas on Sept. 1, students in the International Students Association (ISA) worked to help Bahamean students and others affected by the destruction. ¨The ‘Tigers Take Flight’ initiative came from the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian,” says ISA adviser and Study Abroad Coordinator Melanie Smith. “This storm was undeniably catastrophic, it even caused us to evacuate and have own tragedies to cope with on campus. We have a number of Bahamean students and faculty who were very moved and concerned about members of their family back home. This means a lot to our international community to do something to give back.” Tigers Take Flight initiative aims to raise at least $5,000 to go toward recovery efforts in the Bahamas. “I contacted Savannah Aviation and asked them what kinds of items were still needed, to which they responded that other organizations had responded to their call to action….Further into the conversation, I found out that individuals within the organization who owned the planes were donating their money for the cost of fuel, take-off, landing, hanger rentals, permit fees everything that it takes to get from point A to B .They’re donating their time, money, and resources to help someone else and I figured this could be a different way to show our support. A multitude of donations are being sent in,so lets help get the donations sent over.¨ Joline Keevy, assistant director of the International Education Center an co-adviser of ISA, said, “We’re all global citizens. I believe we all should want to help others who are facing natural disasters or facing difficult challenges. I became involved when I heard hurricane Dorian was landing over their country. I knew our
"It’s difficult to stay focused when you have a 14-year-old niece who went missing during the storm.” Bahamean students would be worried, and I wanted to make sure that their families would be safe as well.” On Sunday, Sept. 1, Hurricane Dorian made landfall at Elbow Cay on the Abaco islands in the Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian has been recorded as the strongest hurricane to ever hit the area. After making landfall, it caused further devastation by perching on the northwestern area of the Bahamas for at least 20 hours. Weeks later, 600 people remain missing while the death toll has reached up to 56 people. Abaco Island and Grand Bahamas alone will take a great deal of time to recover and rebuild. Many nations have sent their resources to aid the Bahamas in these difficult times. Many of the Bahamean students were grateful to hear of the university’s work to help victims of the storm, but few wished to speak about it because they are grieving family lost. “It took a big toll on me, especially having to stay on track with my studies and football,” said 22-year-old Czar Beneby. “It’s my senior year and I have a lot on my plate currently. It’s difficult to stay focused when you have 14-year-old niece who went missing during the storm.” Beneby has family scattered throughout the Bahamas. The majority live in Nassau and Freeport. “I consider my family blessed because they’re alive and together. Not many can say that sadly,” Beneby said. “I still have high hopes. My family is recovering very well, they are in the process of building a house, and my niece and nephew are currently in the Florida area.” Nicole Harrison is a senior chemistry major from Nassau. “The storm was at a standstill for so long, that was the hardest thing to witness. I have family across the islands and not being able to get in contact with some of them was very scary,” she said. “I’ve lost two family members, and I still have family members who are without
homes.” Harrison said the water supply is polluted and the oil spillage has taken away the supply of seafood. “We appreciate the support that has constantly been flowing in,” she said. “It’s a lot to deal with but it helps lighten the load of it all just a little bit when you have people in your corner ready to help.” Assistant Professor Emmanuel Nojang, who is the program coordinator of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said the devastation of Hurricane Dorian was exasperated by damage from previous storms.
"I have family across the islands and not being able to get in contact with some of them was very scary.” “The Bahamas hadn’t quite finished recovering from the last hurricane that struck them,” he said. “This incident was very sad to hear about from faculty members and students that had been affected. No one expected a category 5 hurricane to linger in one place for so long.” “In terms of emergency management, it is our job to provide help and aid to countries who are in need. When we became aware, our homeland security agencies like FEMA were sent as first responders.¨ Keevy said conversations with students have really punctuated the amount of devastations left in the storm’s wake. “I had conversations with them and learned that some of our students’ families were significantly impacted by this devastation,” she said. “Their families are many miles away from them, and that may leave them feeling vulnerable. This is where we step in to help. With us getting involved, it shows that we care. I think this is a really important message especially now when we’re being viewed as a country full of hate in the media.” “I´m very proud to see Savannah State stepping up to the plate and help their fellow tigers in their time of need,” Keevy said.
If you would like to contribute, Tigers Take Flight is still accepting donations in Gardner Hall or send it by CashApp to $SSUISA.
Features
8 Homecoming 2019
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PAI D ADVE RT I S E M E NT
Eerie Experiences 2019 Savannah Speed Classic
THURSDAY Oct. 24
Who: Sportscar Vintage Racing Association When: A three day event starting Thursday, Oct. 24 to Sunday, Oct. 27 Where: Grand Prize of America Ave, Hutchinson Island
Savannah PRIDE Parade
THURSDAY Oct. 24
FRIDAY Oct. 25
Who: Savannah PRIDE is hosting its first ever
pride parade with a spooky twist in honor of the coming Halloween season! When: Thursday, Oct. 24 8:00 p.m.-11:00p.m. Where: W. River Street to Broughton St. Costumes not required but encouraged! Register as a walker at www.savannahpride.com/parade.
Big Freedia at Victory North
Who: The Queen of Bounce, the ever
popular New Orleans-based rapper, Big Freedia! When: Friday, Oct. 25 11 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Where: Savannah PRIDE’s after party this year will be hosted by Victory North Tickets $21 at www.victorynorthconcerts.com.
Wag-O-Ween
SATURDAY Oct. 26
Who: 14th Annual Wag-O-Ween Trick or Treating fundraising event. $5 per adult Where: 602 Abercorn St. When: Saturday, Oct. 26 12p.m.-5 p.m.
Empire Comic Con
SATURDAY Oct. 26
Who: Host to dozens of cosplayers, featured
panelists, artists, and more. When: Saturday, Oct. 26. The two-day comic book and pop-culture convention Where: Savannah Convention Center will play More details and tickets available at www.theempirecon.com.
ALEE Terror Plantation Haunted House
Wednesday Oct. 31
Who: ALEE is presenting the 13th annual
Terror Plantation Haunted House. $10 per person When: Wednesday, Oct. 31 7:30p.m to 11 p.m. Where: 100 Eisenberg Dr. at Skidaway and Eisenhower.
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Kesha Gibson Carter
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Homecoming 2019
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One year after student protests Africana Studies gains momentum
Ana Carolina Huertas, Contributing Writer
One year after protests took an endangered Africana Studies major from the chopping block, the program is still fighting for stability. “What could make things to get better would be have more support from the institution and more marketing, we also do ourselves, we are marketing all the time,” said Amir Jamal Toure, who teaches Africana Studies at Savannah State University. In September 2018, Savannah State quietly enacted plans to deactivate the Africana Studies program after years of low graduation rates from the major. Students protested the move, blocking a faculty meeting and protesting in other ways on campus. Five days later, the school announced it had rescinded the decision, effectively keeping the program alive. The department is now working to show its value in both academic needs and programming. Toure said the program has done more to help students identify careers they could pursue with a degree in Africana Studies. “Right now we have two exciting programs coming up in November, we are bringing in a speaker,” Toure said. “This is showing that African Studies is actually involved. We don’t want to work just with the academic program. We also want to involve all the people.” The Africana Studies classes are not the only contribution to the department from SSU. The Savannah African Student Association (SASA) promotes and hosts a variety of activities as movies, lectures and celebrates independence days with the purpose to promote an understanding of the historical and contemporary experiences of the people of Africa and the African diaspora. Edlyn Emelia, the 2019-2020 SASA president, is a mass
communications with a concentration in multimedia and digital communications and a minor in business marketing. This semester, she is taking the course Survey of the African American Experience, which is one of the classes of the African Studies program and is required of all students at Savannah State. According to her, the importance of the program is being able to connect the students with their roots and teaching them the importance of African history. The organization helps in this mission. “The connection between the African studies department in our organization is that we are both striving to connect with our roots and share the knowledge we have acquired. As SASA’s President my goal for the organization is to share the African culture with the campus and grow our organization,” Emelia said. Beverly Asemota is a political science major who already took some African Studies classes, “I took this class because I needed it to complete my requirement but at the same time, because you cannot talk about American government without a full knowledge of Africa and African politics,” Asemota said. The university has courses outside of the Africana Studies department that focus on the experience of African Americans. Kai Walker, a professor in mass communications, teaches the course African Americans in the Media. Commenting about the deactivation then reactivation of the Africana studies department, she said the 21st century paradigm brings a lot of changes in all fields and also with the technology, universities question what courses can be offered online, what information should be taught and what information can people get on their own, but in the case of the African Studies the situation has some other
SEXLESS IN THE CITY
Tinder: University Swipe Life
Niyah Guthery, Columnist
Dating in college without a doubt is as hard as your college career itself..well that or trying to get in contact with the Office of Financial Aid. Attempting to juggle your academic, personal, social, and romantic life can seem almost impossible with the hectic schedules of so many students, and it's safe to say given the recent blows my already relatively nonexistent love life was taking I was beginning to feel pretty hopeless. Most small connections I formed in a college setting have been a bit superficial, and I definitely am not the only person who has felt this way. I met with three of my girlfriends at our favorite spot to express some of my frustrations. My friends shared that they had been feeling the same way. One shared that she had been using Tinder to meet mostly guy friends, she said, “Most of the time we just hang out and chill. I've hooked up with some but I find that it’s an easier way to meet people, but trust me there are some good guys out there.”
Suddenly I couldn't help but wonder, “Can Mr. Right be one right swipe away?” Is it possible that meeting the absolute love of my life lies in the hands of a “location-based social search mobile application”? I decided to see for myself. It is no secret that Tinder has a reputation for being a tool for “casual hook-ups”. This was definitely a reason for my skepticism concerning the people I came across. I gave myself a few rules to use while sifting through the people who were “just not looking for what I was looking for.” The rules included that we would have to speak for, at minimum, a week to feel each other out before “linking up.” A phone call would take place before meeting for the screening and, most importantly, we'll meet in broad daylight. I found these boundaries made me feel more comfortable with conversing. First I met ‘Brad’. Brad was a healthy 6’1” student at Georgia Southern University. Brad and I spoke for about two weeks and made plans of possibly meeting until he relocated to North Carolina.
points to consider. “In the essence of the program of African Studies I think it is always important to remember that for over 400 years in this country and over 600 years globally the history of the Africa Diaspora was withheld, fell out, overlooked, and adapted. So now, we only had around 50 years of civil rights where African Americans and other Americans can openly learn about African American history and how Africans contributed to global history,” she said. For her, as an historically black institution, this department is even more important, because not everything starts out with the European history. There are thousands of years of history that is not discussed in predominantly white and European institutions and a lot of people don’t realize that the first universities were in Africa. “The first schools of thought, the mathematics [and] science comes from Africa. They will say Arabia, but we are talking about Africa before they drove the canal through and made the Middle East a separate body. So it is very important for children from African origins to be able to know and identify themselves with the entire practices and functions of learning and education.” Walker believes that the African Studies department is part of that, placing emphasis on the global and national history contributed to by Africans. For Toure and the rest of the Africana Studies department, the future is still unknown. “We don’t necessary know at this point. That is something that we are working on to make sure that doesn’t happen. We are doing stuff to show how strong our program is and how available are the things that we do. We are an agent component to Savannah State,” he said.
‘Adrien’ was passionate about music, cars, and women. We got into debates about music and which coast was more influential in hip-hop politics. He was from South Carolina and extremely passionate about it. I found that of many conversations I had with others, I laughed most with him and felt the most comfortable. So comfortable in fact that we even Facetimed a few times, which was probably one of my biggest social faux pas. There is a pressure to live up to your perfectly angled, well lit profile photos and that can be extremely intimidating. However, Adrien made me feel comfortable, and at ease, and we actually. All exchanges were pleasant until ‘Bruce Banner’ got upset and lost it because I refused to meet with him. In hindsight, I believe he was looking for a hookup and was sexually frustrated, but when I made it perfectly clear that I was not interested in that...he absolutely lost it. I blocked his number and his Tinder profile when he took it upon himself to call from a different numberrepeatedly. All in all, I found that Tinder, more than anything is a tool to meet people- new people, people that you may have or may not have ever spoken to or interacted with in person. While you may not find ‘Mr. Right”, you may find a close friend who is just one right swipe away.
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A Mold of His Own: Darryl Thompson Photo and story by Danielle Birzer, Editor-in-Chief
Professor Darryl Thompson is anything but your average theatre professor. From his animated antics in improv to his sharp-witted quips during speech class, it’s no surprise many students on campus admire him not only as an educator, but as an individual. What makes a professor so unforgettable? He’s crafted for himself a mold of his own. Since kindergarten, Thompson has known he was destined for theatre. “I remember in kindergarten we were doing our little end of the year performance—a little singing, a little dancing. My mother made four red vests, one for me and three other boys, and we performed ‘She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain’ and we got pushed out on this stage, just these little 5-year-old kids, and none of us could remember the words to the song. I looked offstage to see one of the teachers, and she started the song for me. I ran out and eventually they caught up with me, but the audience went haywire, like it was the funniest thing they’ve ever heard. I got to thinking, ‘Gee, I like this!’,” said Thompson. He caught the performance bug young, but by his own admission, it was years before he came back to the stage. It wasn’t until junior college that Darryl re-caught the bug. His father was a local printer who assisted the college in printing their performance brochures. “I remember the director coming in to pick up a batch of programs one time, and I had found out that he was the director. I was working in the shop at the time helping my dad, so when the director came in I started singing, so he could hear me. I was hoping he’d walk over and say ‘God! You’re the best singer ever! You’re a star!’ Well, he didn’t but it did give me the guts to go audition for a show,” said Thompson. Thompson said he didn’t get his first lead until seven or eight years later and says he firmly believes there is no such thing as a small character. He recalled his past role as a delivery man in Simon’s Barefoot in Park, wherein he learned the importance of nonverbal comedic timing. “It’s not about how big the role is, it’s about how well you do with what you’re given,” said Thompson. “I’ll take small roles just as quickly as I’ll take a big one. It’s what you do with it.” Thompson dropped out of high school when he was fifteen, in eleventh grade. He said that he believes he wouldn’t have left had his high school had a theatre department. His parents weren’t originally supportive with Thompson’s ideals of a theatre career, citing that they were concerned about his future livelihood and success. It wasn’t until he went back to college that he realized both his profession and hobby could be the same thing. Thompson said he always knew he wanted to be a teacher at some time, but when he realized both teaching, theatre, and his passion could come together, he knew this was the right path for him. “Know what you want to do and know what you’re good at, and accept it,” said Thompson. He graduated with an A.A. from Pensacola Junior College, a B.A. from the University of West Florida, and his M.F.A from the University of Florida. “Needless to say, I’m a Florida boy,” Thompson said.
The first show Thompson saw was a year before he decided to audition at Pensacola Junior College was Music Man. He believes that was his final turning point in deciding to come back to theatre. “Musicals are my thing! You name any of the golden age of Broadway shows, and I’ve probably done them all,” Thompson said. “Sweeney Todd is probably my favorite.” His experiences at the University of West Florida he claims encouraged him to push himself farther and something he now keeps in mind with his students. He also did some background acting under the direction of Jonathan Demme of Silence of the Lambs fame which he said left a lasting impact on him. Like most actors, Thompson has a definitive opinion
“Once you realize who you are, and you can be that person, that’s when no one can stop you from succeeding.” on Shakespeare. He says he leans more toward the purist perspective of performing Shakespeare as it was done originally. “When I was the lead in Titus Andronicus, because it’s such a bloody show we put it in a kind of chop-house idea. At the end, I came out wearing a red cook’s apron with all my tattoos hanging out—a kind of Texas Chainsaw Massacre kind of vibe,” said Thompson. Thompson recalled the show he was most proud of was his direction of the Shakespeare play The Tempest when he was working at Prairieview A&M. The cast won the regional competition because of their stellar performance for the judges. He left Prairieview A&M shortly after his parents passed away, choosing to move back to his hometown so he could start a community theatre group there. “We need to give these young adults something to do instead of starting their own meth lab or something,” said Thompson. His first show that winter A Christmas Carol brought in around 50 individuals for the cast and the audience was very supportive. “I remember when my mom and dad’s friends bought a ticket, and she came up to me after the show and said, ‘Your mama and daddy would be so proud of you’, and it was one of those moments, you know?” said Thompson. Eventually he put in his application for a job as a professor at Savannah State University, and is going on teaching at Savannah State for nine years. “I really didn’t want this job at the beginning, and
I thought I screwed up my interview. This has been where I’m supposed to be, you know? You have that epiphany at some point, and I had it a couple years after I’d been here. I thought, this is it. This is where I’m meant to be,” he said. Thompson recalls that his friends and the emotional support of a partner are what has carried him through his darkest times. “When you’re on your path, everything works out. I had a 4.0 GPA, didn’t owe any money because I earned scholarship after scholarship after scholarship, so I knew I didn’t have any problems whatsoever. It was like smooth sailing for me at school, and I had to start with the basics too,” said Thompson. Thompson believes that the community of theatre offers a safe space for those in the LGBT community as well, stating that many who identify as such are perfectly suited for the venue. “I’m not sure that it really has anything to do with orientation as much as it does community. We find our like beings there, and it’s people like us,” he said. As an individual who came out as a queer man in the 1980s, Thompson recalled the rampant homophobia he experienced when he came out in college. He said he was called every “f-word” one could imagine, and although he was never beaten for his sexuality, he said he was made to feel like trash. “You get to a point where you’re trying to please everybody else or trying to fit into their mold of what you should be but at that point, that’s what brings on the depression. To stay in that mold is not a healthy thing,” said Thompson. He said he tells his students that he knows his flamboyant, out there, loud, boisterous, and that he has a huge personality, but that if he tried to fit into the mold of what others expected him to be, he wouldn’t be here today. “Be who you are,” he said. “Once you realize who you are, and you can be that person, that’s when no one can stop you from succeeding.”
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