It's time to Reconstruct Our World

TALON ISSUE 101 / FALL / 2019

RECONSTRUCTION

IT’S UP TO US TO CHANGE THINGS

ROOTING OUT VAPING PAGE 10

DEMARCUS COUSINS PAGE 17

BLACKFACE PAGE 26

INSIDE FEATURE P 6 “WAIT, WHAT ROAD IS THIS?” | P 8 A MAN OF THE FUTURE| P 9 GRETA THUNBERG| P 10 ROOTING OUT VAPING

Avila students attend home football game Photo: Marlon Jones

SPORTS P 14 IT’S BACK | P 15 COLTS LUCK GONE | P 17 DEMARCUS COUSINS PHYSICAL HEALTH | P 18 A GOOD OFFENSE NEEDS A BETTER DEFENSE

ENTERTAINMENT P 22 SIMONE BILES BROTHER ARRESTED FOR MURDER | P 24 TIME FOR A CHANGE| P 26 BLACKFACE

Want to be featured in the Talon? Feel free to reach out and submit your content to talonnewsmagazine@gmail.com!

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CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR IN-CHIEF SAVANNAH PARRIS MANAGING EDITOR HESHAM ALBADR COPYING EDITOR BRELANDE EDMOND SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR SARAI JORGENSON

MEGAN DUFFY BLAKE LODDE SARAH DAVIS EMME MOOREHOUSE DALLAS MOSLEY DAVANTE FRAZIER ISABELLA BRAUNER JOSH DYSON SAVANNAH PARRIS

SPORTS EDITOR JOSH DYSON DESIGN EDITOR EMME MOOREHOUSE

PRACTICUM INSTRUCTOR CODY TAPP

PHOTOGRAPHER MARLON JONES

FACULTY ADVISOR DR. J ANTHONY SNORGRASS

STAY CONNECTED Download the QRReader app to stay connected with the Talon. Scan our QR Codes to take you directly to our Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

FRONT & BACK DESIGN BY: Emme Moorehouse ISSUE 101 |

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AVILA UNIVERSITY THEATRE PRESENTS

STUDENTS FREE!

s d l r o W r a W t of s a c d a e o h r t cB i n a P e h T T

The 1938 Radio Play by Howard E. Koch

Adapted for the Stage by Joe Landry | Based on the novel by H.G. Wells

OCTOBER 3, 4, 5 | 7:30 p.m.

OCTOBER 6 | 2 p.m.

Avila.edu/Tickets

2019

Whitfield Center at Avila University | 11901 Wornall Road | Kansas City, MO 64145 War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast is produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)

APPROVED BY STUDENT LIFE

FROM THE EDITOR Another year in the works here at Avila and I can’t wait to see what becomes of it. Fall has barely made an appearance, but I feel it creeping around the corner! I hope you readers are as ready as I am! This issue is called Reconstruction, which we felt was relevant because there is a lot of changes happening around the world including here in our city. Rebuilding what once was and making it new again. I know that the students participating this year will bring nothing but the best when it comes to content.

Hope you enjoy!

Always, Savannah Parris Editor-in-Chief

EDITORIAL POLICY The Talon News Magazine is produced by students of Avila University. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Talon News Staff, the Trustees, administration, faculty, or staff of the University. The Talon News Magazine encourages letters to the editor. These may be submitted electronically or in writing and should include the writer’s name, address, and telephone numbers for verification purposes. Letters can be mailed to the Talon News Magazine Editor, Avila University, 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145. The Talon reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of space, clarity, or inappropriate language. Copies of the Talon News Network Operational Guidelines may be requested by writing to the above referenced address.

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“WAIT, WHAT ROAD IS THIS?” The Paseo or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard?

Isabella Brauner

Imagine Kansas City with no avenues or boulevards but just a mass of people on foot, horses, and cars traveling every which way, trying to navigate through the natural bluffs and ravines caused by the great Missouri River. Besides a few street cable cars, there was no other form of navigation. This caused major chaos and digestion making visitors wish they didn’t have to stop through. Luckily the “City Beautiful Movement” started and Kansas City was blessed with German architect George Kessler. Kessler submitted a design in 1893 for the traffic patterns including boulevards such as The Paseo, Armour Boulevard, Linwood Boulevard, Broadway, and a few more. Kessler had high hopes for Kansas City so he named the largest and longest boulevard The Paseo after the road Paseo De Reforma which was a road in the major city of Mexico City to demonstrate what he wished Kansas City to be one day. On January 24 of this year, the City Council voted 8-4 to rename the historical boulevard to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The first sign was installed on February 25 on 34th street.

Since then, many signs have been replaced, but the residents, shop owners, and businesses on the great boulevard are not sitting still. Unhappy with the counsel’s decision to change Kansas City’s longest, oldest, and most historical road, the people put together a

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petition hoping to get enough signatures to get the decision onto a ballot. They needed more than 1,700 signatures and they received far beyond the required amount. The people who signed the petition, signed it not because they didn’t believe that King should be honored, but because they wished to preserve the history for future generations, and because they felt the council had completely and purposefully ignored and excluded them. Many also have fond memories of the Paseo growing up and they felt that if the name changes they will be losing a part of their childhood and memories that are so precious to them. You may ask, then how do we honor the late great civil rights activist? The answer is not a difficult one. Many have suggested that a different road be renamed in his honor, one that is traveled frequently but not essential to the history of Kansas City. Or‌ Have you ever heard of the Martin Luther King Junior Square Park?

Probably not, even though you pass it every single time you go to the Plaza or The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art if you use 71 highway. Why not take the 60,000 plus dollars the city is spending on new signs and put that money into a space where families and friends can go and play tennis, or have a picnic, or just merely enjoy the park while remembering everything King did for our country? The vote to keep The Paseo will be on the ballot in November, but rumor has it that counsel is not happy with the opposition and if you do decide to vote, read carefully because wordplay may be involved and so thinking you are saving The Paseo may turn the other way.

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A MAN OF THE PEOPLE Bernie Sanders Bites Back Emme Moorehouse

There is a lot of speculation with the announcement of Bernie Sanders running for president in 2020. For most millennials this is just another reason to look forward to progression. An issue that is constantly implemented in the media is “Is Bernie Sanders too old”? With this in mind our current president is only 5 years younger than Bernie Sanders. So, what is the big deal? No doubt, Bernie Sanders is the average Joe of American politics. Our country is built upon average Joe’s. The man himself admitted he has as many shirts in his closest as he does fingers. He is a socialist, but with the state of our country, diversity might be our only option. Change is necessary to excel forward in 2020. He has a well drafted

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campaign fit for the American dream. He is no underdog when it comes to political debates, the man knows his facts. Bernie Sanders has already paved a path into the hearts of the younger generation, but does he got what it takes to appeal to the older generation? This question was very clear last term when he did not make the cut against Hillary Clinton. Although, he does not have a majority of minds dead set, he does have some time in between the next election to rally himself as the man we need in the White House. Within 24 hours of announcing his running he raised 5.9 million. Whooping numbers for a man that people so cold heartedly doubt as a powerful member in our government.

Greta thunberg The Fearless 16 Year Old Climate Activist Savannah Parris

If you haven’t heard the name Greta Thunberg yet, you need to. She is a 16 year old Swedish girl who is doing everything in her power to be heard. It all started last year when she skipped school to advocate for climate change. This started a school strike movement.

Thunberg makes herself heard by presenting herself in a strong courageous manner. She comes off extremely to the point and will not let anyone degrade or belittle her. She has published books full of her climate change speeches and donated the money to charities. She has travelled all over to participate in marches. She even sailed across the ocean to prove her point that there is more energy efficient ways of doing things. She makes it known that the older generations today don’t worry about climate change because they won’t have to deal with it. It falls back onto the younger generation which is why she is taking action because if nobody else will, why not? Greta has made such an impact that it has its own name, the Greta Thunberg Effect. This year alone she has won several awards and most recently was a recipient of the alternative nobel prize called the Right Livelihood award. At such a young age she has accomplished so much and will be a tremendous leader from now on.

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Rooting out vaping join the movement Emme Moorehouse Over the past few months news feeds have been flooded with the negative effects of vaping and the alarming outcomes linked to them. According to Medicine Net, nearly 500 cases of respiratory illnesses were connected to vaping in the U.S in September 2019. These numbers are only the ones reported and the fatalities are only rising. There are no studies done on the overall effect, but people are being hospitalized and there have been six reported deaths linked to “vaping lung diseases”. This world of e-smoke is only going to grow if the issue is not resolved. Thus, this should be looked at as a lethal issue.

There have been reports that vaping causes lung inflammation and lung tissue damage with faster rates than cigarettes. One of the most alarming connections is the younger generation is misinformed that vapes are “safer” than cigarettes. Individuals who use vapes tend to like the taste, but is the taste worth the outcome? Strawberries, cherries, coconuts: all sound great, but anybody can buy those flavors at the local farmers market(healthier alternatives than vapes). Another false connection is that vapes help quit smoking traditional cigarettes, but when overlooking statistics there is no proof linked to this information. After, using vapes people tend to stick with them and just never fully quit any type of smoking. Even then, vapes are shown to have worse effects in short terms than cigarettes, so are these individuals really helping themselves?

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The chemical makeup of vapes is also questionable, certain vapes contain heavy metals, ultra-fine particles, and toxins! None of those components sound appetizing! Also, vapes are not FDA approved! How can something that is used as a cigarette alternative not be FDA approved-- the food we eat has to be FDA approved! The normalization of smoking vapes should be alarming too because it truly is a current epidemic. The given factors of these hazardous vapes should make people reconsider the motivation to quit! Join the movement and root out vaping!

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ISSUE 101 / FALL / 2019

SportS Section

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Contents

14 IT’S BACK 15 COLTS LUCK GONE 16 REBUILDING THE BROWNS 17 DEMARCUS COUSINS PHYSICAL HEALTH 18 A GREAT OFFENSE NEEDS A BETTER DEFENSE

PHOTO ON THE COVER BY: Marlon Jones LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

They say, the less you know the more you believe, but I believe knowledge is power.

Josh Dyson, Sports Editor ISSUE 101 |

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IT’S BACK College football has returned Davante Frazier Last week was the highly anticipated return of college football around the country. Even though the college football world was ready for kickoff, tailgating and mascot dancing, week 1 did not feature as many heavy hitting top ranked games for opening weekend as in years past. Week 2 of the 2019 college football season would not fail to disappoint. 4 of the 5 top ranked schools in the country cruised their way to victories dominating each of their opponents by 40+ points. Unlike the previous week, this week featured games that are guaranteed to affect the college football playoff chase. This week’s big matchups featured (1) Clemson defeating (12) Texas A&M 24-10, (7) Michigan hanging on the defeating unranked Army in a 2OT thriller 24-21, and the high scoring action packed duel featuring (6) LSU vs (9) Texas. This was the first matchup between two top 10 ranked schools of the 2019 season and it did not fail to entertain with both teams showcasing great potential and talent in their programs. The high scoring battle ended with LSU edging out Texas by only 7 points as they get the tough 45-38 road win. LSU moved up to No. 4 in the Top 25 list after its victory, which as of today would qualify them to make college football playoffs. Though things are looking wonderful for the tigers now they will still have to face (2) Alabama in a couple of weeks for a shot at the SEC conference title, which if they win, they will still have to face (3) Georgia, (8) Auburn and (9) Florida. We may only be in week 2 of the college football season but for many schools every week is a playoff week.

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colt’s luck gone Indianapolis colts qb andrew luckretires Blake Lodde On August 24, the Indianapolis Colts former first overall pick and franchise quarterback Andrew Luck announced that he was retiring from football. Luck posted a 57-37 record over his seven-year career, leading the Colts to an AFC Championship appearance only to come up short to a Super Bowl appearance in a loss to the New England Patriots.

Luck’s career has been plagued by the injury bug. Luck’s injury history included a lacerated kidney, frayed labrum, and a shoulder injury that eventually led to shoulder surgery.

After missing the entire 2017 season due to shoulder surgery, Luck came back in the 2018 season and looked like he was back and better than ever. Leading up to the 2019 season, Luck once again was dealing with another injury it was at that moment Luck made the tough decision to retire and give up the game that he loved. At his press conference Luck stated, “I’ve been stuck in this process. I haven’t been able to live the life I want to live. It’s taken the joy out of this game. The only way forward for me is to remove myself from football. This is not an easy decision. It’s the hardest decision of my life. But it is the right decision for me.” Luck is already being considered as one of the game’s best players to retire in their prime joining names such as Calvin Johnson, Rob Gronkowski and the Hall of Fame member Barry Sanders. Though Luck is now gone his legacy throughout the Colts organization will live on for a very long time and the long-standing question will be, what could’ve been.

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REBUILDING THE BROWNS The Next Step Blake Lodde The Cleveland Browns have been one of the most talked about teams in the NFL the last few years. With only winning one game in two seasons between 2016-2017, the organization was looking for a change. Taking quarterback Baker Mayfield with the first pick in the 2017 draft was the first step in the rebuilding process. Mayfield went on to lead the Browns to a 7-8-1 record in 2018 and coming up just short of winning the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Coming in second to the New York Giants running back, Saquon Barkley.

This gave the Browns organization and fan base hope that they had finally found their franchise quarterback and hope for the future. After firing head coach Hue Jackson mid-season, the Browns promoted offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens to head coach. After working alongside Mayfield, the Browns believed that it would be in the best interest to keep the duo together. The Browns also acquired 3x pro bowler Odell Beckham Jr, from the New York Giants during the offseason and controversial running back Kareem Hunt from the Kansas City Chiefs, who will have to serve an eight-game suspension following a violation of the NFL’s conduct policy. With an already loaded Browns offense including running back Nick Chubb and wide receiver Jarvis Landry, Beckham and Hunt look to add a different look to an already talented offense. With a promising future full of young talent, experienced veterans and a new coaching staff. 2019 looks to be a promising year as the Browns look to take the next step and become contenders in the chase for this year’s Super Bowl which would be the first in the franchise’s history.

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Demarcus Cousins Physical Health Can He Recover?

Josh Dyson Saying Demarcus Cousins has had a rough few years would be an understatement. In the most recent course of events cousins tore his ACL a week before his wedding. Cousins married his long term girlfriend Morgan Lang. At one point in Cousins ongoing career you’ve could have made an argument that Cousin was the best big man in the NBA. After his best season (2016-2017) Cousins has struggled to even come close to a season like that. The biggest thing that’s keeping him from that is his health. Cousins aka boogie has not come close to playing in 82 NBA games. In January 2018 Cousins had a left Achilles tendon tear, the following year in April Cousins tore his left quadriceps. Just last month boogie tore his ACL. The sky was the limit for the number five draft pick in the 2010 NBA draft, now who knows. It’s not impossible at all to overcome these injuries. For an athlete that is 6’11 that type of injury definitely will not be easy. Demarcus Cousins also currently has an arrest warrant out for him in his hometown of mobile, Alabama. This is due to his threat towards the mother of his child. In a video that was turned into police and posted on social media Cousins said that he would shoot the mother of his child in the head if his son was not at his wedding. Although Cousins said he is going to corporate with police he cannot travel due to his recent surgeries. Doctors are against flying for at least a month after surgery to avoid blood clots.

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A Great Offense Needs A Better Defense The Chiefs’ Plan To Be The Best Sarah Davis After a successful 2018 season – one that took Kansas City to the AFC Championship game – the Chiefs are looking to ride their momentum all the way to the Super Bowl. With such a powerful offense, led by league MVP Patrick Mahomes, it is their lackluster defense that will stand in the way throughout this critical season for the Chiefs. Last season, the Kansas City defense ranked 31st in the entire NFL, and ultimately, cost their team a trip to the Super Bowl. During the last offseason, the Chiefs were able to snag several key pieces that will set the defense up very nicely this season. Steve Spagnuolo joined head coach Andy Reid’s staff from the New York Giants, where he won a Super Bowl as defensive coordinator in 2007. In addition to Spagnuolo, Kansas City also signed Bashaud Breeland, Tyrann Matthieu, Alex Okafor, and Damien Wilson. They also traded for defensive end Frank Clark in exchange for several picks in the 2020 draft.

With this slew of transactions, the Chiefs defense should be in good shape this year to compete with most of the offenses that stand in their way this season. One thing to watch out for this season is the production of the defensive line. With the loss of Justin Houston and Dee Ford last year, team production is way down. Alex Okafor, and especially Frank Clark, should make up for a large chunk of the missing piece, and the rest will likely be made up by Chris Jones, who is in the last year of his contract.

Already having one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL, a defense that is average is a huge step for the Kansas City Chiefs.

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photo by Joshua Brisco They don’t need to be an elite defense and make Web Gem plays every drive. They do, however, need to make the plays professionals are supposed to make, and keep the opposition out of the endzone. With the return of key players like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Chris Jones, the Chiefs have a great shot at a very special season for the Kansas City organization, who has not seen a Super Bowl victory since Super Bowl IV with Len Dawson in 1970.

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ISSUE 101 / FALL / 2019

STUDENT LIFE

STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN BSU FIELD DAY

Contents

INTERACT WITH US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS!

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SIMONE BILES BROTHER ARRESTED FOR MURDER TIME FOR A CHANGE BLACKFACE

PHOTO ON THE COVER BY: Marlon Jones LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

I’ll be the one to post your stories on our social media accounts so be sure to check out @talon_magazine on instagram and @talonnews_avila on twitter!

Sarai Jorgenson, Social Media Editor

Simone Biles’ brother Arrested for Murder Biles Brings Brothers Arrest into Spotlight Megan Duffy At the end of August, it was announced that Olympic gymnast Simone Biles’ brother was arrested and charged in a triple murder. Tevin Biles-Thomas was charged with six counts of homicide, three counts of voluntary manslaughter, five counts of felonious assault, and one count of perjury. This story was circulating all over social media and major news outlets for multiple days. While triple murders are newsworthy, the only thing that makes this one as newsworthy as it has been is because of the relation to an Olympic athlete. It begs the question: would this have gotten the same news coverage if there was no relation to Simone Biles? For those who have read this story, what got you to read it? It was because there was a notable name in the headline. Murders aren’t exactly few and far between in today’s society, unfortunately, but the reason this one was able to turn so many heads was because of the relation to the breakout gymnast from the 2016 summer Olympics. Even without the mention of Simone Biles, this story does have its newsworthy aspects. Biles-Thomas is an active member of the United States Army. He was stationed at Fort Stewart in Georgia when he was arrested. But, all headlines read, “Simone Biles’ Brother…” his name was not mentioned, the fact that he was a member of the U.S. Army was not mentioned. The New York Times article even says that the relationship between Simone and Tevin was unclear since they were raised in separate households. Ever since the

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news was released everyone immediately sent their love and prayers to Simone. Biles has since spoke out about the news saying, “My heart aches for everyone involved, especially for the victims and their families.”

Biles-Thomas has undoubtedly committed horrendous acts that news outlets are bound to cover, but would it have gotten the national recognition that it did if it weren’t for his relation to the Olympic gymnast? I know that it’s the reason I clicked on the article.

photo by CNN

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Time For A Change Rebuilding The Royals Sarah Davis In the 40-year history of the Kansas City Royals, there have been three owners: Ewing Kauffman, Avron Fogleman, and David Glass have been the only three with hands on the team; that’s about to change. The man who is set to buy the club for a billion dollars later this offseason is John Sherman. The sale of the Royals does not come as a shock to those who have been following the team since they won the World Series in 2015, and many believe it is a big step in the right direction for this organization. John Sherman, currently a minority holder in the Cleveland Indians organization, is a native of the Kansas City area, and even graduated from Rockhurst High School. Come November, he will divest in his stake as 30% owner in Cleveland and take sole ownership of the Royals. David Glass targeted Sherman for the sale, not only for his role in the community, but also for his absolute passion for the game. Reportedly, Sherman is a big fan of numbers and statistics, so one could expect he will be a very active owner. For Sherman to be successful, several things need to happen. The first, and most important, is a true team rebuild. Whether that is with Dayton Moore or not, Kansas City cannot stand to do another “half rebuild” like they did in 2019. With players like Hunter Dozier, Adalberto Mondesi, and Nicky Lopez, they are certainly in a prime spot to start adding more young talent. With such an abysmal season, The Royals are in a good spot to take a top five pick in MLB’s 2020 draft.Pitching is also an area of concern for the club, as they went from the best bullpen in baseball, to not being able to protect leads after the 7th inning. Some also say that, with a new owner, the

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team needs a new general manager. With a billion dollars invested, it would be hard to imagine that Moore and the coaching staff have a very long leash like he did with David Glass, who only paid $96 million for the team in 2000. The man in the hot seat this offseason is pitching coach, Cal Eldred. Collectively, the pitching staff boasts a 5.35 earned run average (ERA), which is the worst team ERA since 2010. The years following their triumphant World Series run have not been good for the Royals. They lost the core group that General Manager, Dayton Moore, drafted in the early 2010s, and have been on a downhill slide ever since.

After a down 2018, and an atrocity of a season in 2019, it would be wise of Sherman to start the rebuild that was promised during the last offseason. Viewed with guarded optimism, the sale of the team should be seen as a good thing for Kansas City, as long as Sherman has a clear plan over the next four or five years.

photo by Sarah Davis ISSUE 101 |

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Blackface Governor of Alabama’s video and interview on blackface released Dallas Mosley Governor of Alabama, Kay Ivey, has been found on a campus radio where her then fiancé, Ben LaRavia, told the radio station that she was dressed in overalls and wearing blackface in a college skit called “Cigar Butts.” When this tape was uncovered and published and brought her, she released a video and a written apology, where she stated that she was very sorry for the racist skit that she did back in 1967 at Auburn University during her senior year. She states that she does not recall even doing the skits or even the interview over the skit. This was part of her statement that she had put out.

“Even after listening to the tape, I sincerely do not recall either the skit, which evidently occurred at a Baptist Student Union party, or the interview itself, both which occurred 52 years ago. Even though Ben is the one on tape remembering the skit – and I still don’t recall ever dressing up in overalls or in blackface – I will not deny what is obvious.” She then goes on to say that this should never be acceptable behavior and dress this way and that she is not that person and that this is not what her animation is about. “While some may attempt to excuse this as acceptable behavior for a college student during the mid-1960s, that is not who I am today, and it is not what my Administration represents all these years later.” There are now people saying that she should resign from her position as governor. Others are waiting to see how she does with this and if she is able to use it as a springboard to push the equality of Alabama and the country as a whole. “I offer my heartfelt apologies for the pain and embarrassment this causes, and I

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will do all I can – going forward – to help show the nation that the Alabama of today is a far cry from the Alabama of the 1960s. We have come a long way, for sure, but we still have a long way to go.” We also have a statement from one of her colleagues, Alabama Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, “When she [Governor Ivey] talked to me, the person that I know who she is now, I felt that her apology was sincere. We’ve worked together on a lot of different things. I know that when I’ve called the governor when there has been an imbalance of racial makeup on committees, and I’ve asked her to appoint African Americans on committees, she immediately did it. So I was willing to accept her apology on that and to talk to her about it. Going forward I ask the governor that this hopefully could become a teachable moment, and that we can start a dialogue on race in the state.” With this statement I think we all can take that step back and open up a dialogue to talk about this issue and how we can confront them and corrected and lead the next generation of people to grow up and be more together than the country has ever been. photo by LA Times

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IN A GENTLE WAY, YOU CAN SHAKE THE WORLD. -GHANDI