Issue 23, March 17, 2010

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sEnIoR CoUntDoWn

51 DAYs

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The A&T

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RegisteR VoluMe lXXXIII, no. 23

MarCh 17, 2010

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SERVING THE AGGIE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 80 YEARS

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF NORTH CAROLINA A&T

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★sga eleCtIons★

S.C. State knocks Lady Aggies out of the MEAC, team headed to WNIT

Candidates allowed to use social networking to campaign DEXtER R. MULLIns Editor In Chief

As many people have already seen, SGA elections have taken over Facebook and Twitter. What many people are asking, however, is why candidates are allowed to use these outlets this year, when they weren’t allowed to previously. The Elections Committee decided to bring social media back because of the way it has changed and evolved in mainstream news, according to Kanetra Washington, chair of the committee. The candidates are also allowed to use YouTube and Facebook videos, or have Media Network interview them and run the interview on A&T closed circuit TV channel 30, but they cannot use both. Many candidates felt this was unfair, since they were being offered the opportunity to gain free publicity, they could not understand why they weren’t allowed to additionally make their  See ELECtIons on Page 2

Photo by KEnnEtH HAWKIns • THE A&T REGISTER

toUGH Loss The Lady Aggies lost the game to the Bulldogs of South Carolina State University in the last three seconds of the game.

DEXtER R. MULLIns & DAnIEL HEnDERson The A&T Register

The Lady Aggies suffered a tough loss of 61-60 to the Lady Bulldogs of South Carolina State University in the quarterfinals of the MEAC tournament. Both the S.C. State Bulldogs and the Aggies displayed determination to dominate in the game, but at the end of the first half the Aggies came out on top with a score of 29-21. This set them up for a great start going into the second half of the game. Senior Guard Tyronnica Alford lead the first half for the Aggies with six points, followed by TaíWuana Cook and Amber Calvin with five points

each. Tough defense on both sides kept the score in the first half low, and the Aggies forced 10 turn overís, and drew the Lady Bulldogs within seconds of several shot clock violations. The Lady Bulldogs came back in the second half ready for action, and brought the Lady Aggiesí lead down to one point, with a 35-34 game in just the first few minutes of the game. As tensions heated up, and the crowd began to feed the flames on both sides, the Aggies called a timeout to regroup and re-strategize. The Lady Bulldogs took the lead,

making it at 37-35 game and put the Lady Aggies on edge, and rattling fans. Also adding to the atmosphere were the Lady Pirates and Lady Rattlers of Hampton University and Florida A&M cheering on the Lady Bulldogs to take the #1 seeded Aggies down. After a brief six point run by the Bulldogs, the Aggies began to try and close the gap, but got a series of tough referee calls and fouls. Following a second time out, the Lady Aggies came back in the game with a strong defen See MEAC on Page 7

Seniors get ready for their “Grad Fest” Undergraduate packages, which will include a gown, cap, tassel, hood and zipper pull, will be $58. Masters and doctoral packages will have a gown, cap and hood for $80 and $148 respectively. Packages can also include generic or personalized announcements, diploma frames, blue and gold stoles, class rings and Kente stoles with the year and Greek names. “The big event is next week so we recommend everybody come in and do it next week,” said Morris-Powell.

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Keep up with breaking news on our Web site. Slideshows, videos and more are available online.

The Office of International Programs at A&T celebrates its 10th anniversary.

SGA President Syene Jasmine responds to the editorial from last issue, and he says administration is to blame.

The Lady Aggies tennis team qualifies to go to the MEAC Tourament this year.

RZA from the WuTang Clan discusses with Scene Editor LaPorsha Lowry his new movie “Repo Men.”

For seniors who have been afflicted with a case of “senioritis,” anxiously awaiting graduation, May 8 is right around the corner. But until then, from March 22-25 seniors can obtain all of their graduation necessities at the University Bookstore during GradFest. GradFest is an event where several representatives from Jostens will be present to aid students in their graduation preparation. During the fourday period there will be a 15

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JAsMInE JoHnson News Editor

While students were away having fun on their spring breaks, A&T celebrated its 119th anniversary. North Carolina Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race was established March 9, 1891 in an annex in Shaw University in Raleigh. Under the second Morrill Act in 1890, mandated by the North Carolina General Assembly, there was a call for separate colleges for the colored race. The move to Greensboro was made after a group of residents wanted to make the city a permanent place for the college. The name of the college was changed to The Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina in 1915 by state legislators. It was not until 1967 that the college was changed to a university. A few years later, in 1972 it began operating under the UNC system. Currently, A&T offers 117 undergraduate degree programs as well as more than 58 master’s degree programs. The university also has Ph.D. programs in engineering, energy and environmental systems and leadership. While the school prides itself on academic success through its students, it also is home to the largest number of African-American engineers graduates at the undergraduate, masters and doctoral level in the nation. The psychology department graduates the largest number at the undergraduate level. It is the largest HBCU in the state and fourth largest in the nation. In its history, A&T has had 12 chancellors, including current chancellor Dr. Harold L. Martin Sr. With over 10,000 students and 2,170 employees, Aggieland is the home to some very historical figures such as Rev. Jesse Jackson, Elvin Bethea, the late Dr. Ronald E. McNair, and the A&T Four- Jibreel  See BIRtHDAY on Page 2

-eleCtIons are neXt Wednesay?

“We try to plan for everybody, but we don’t exactly know all of the numbers so we are just trying to plan things out at this point,” said Morris-Powell. “We generally try to bulkstock the tickets all the way through that Friday and we close at 5 p.m. so they have until then to pick up anything they need on Saturday morning.” The only new options available this year will be the navy blue cap and gown for undergraduates only. Students graduating with masters and doctoral degrees will have traditional black.

Senior Reporter

Happy 119th Birthday A&T

dId you knoW???

percent discount on all cap and gown packages. After GradFest ends, students will have the option to order their graduation materials online at the University Bookstore homepage or the Jostens website. They can also visit the bookstore until May 7. Orders on the Jostens website will close within three weeks to the graduation date to allow time for shipping. Bookstore Director Donna Morris-Powell stated that even though students have the option to make purchases at the last minute, it is not recommended for them to attempt it.

MARCUs tHoMPson

Wednesday

-senIors Can fIll out theIr CaP/goWn forMs noW In the Bookstore? -senIors WIth student loans Must CoMPlete eXIt CounselIng WIth fInanCIal aId? -the a&t regIster’s 2nd annual sga PresIdentIal deBates are neXt tuesday at 7 PM? -you Can eMaIl the a&t regIster your deBate QuestIons By sunday and they May use theM?

WEATHER

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Wednesday

65° Low: 41° High:

thursday:Mostly Sunny | High 69° frIday: Sunny | High 71°


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The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Wednesday, March 17, 2010

BIRTHDAY From page 1 Kahzan, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain and the late David Richmond.

Because of spring break, the university did not celebrate the anniversary and it is unknown whether there will be a late celebration or not.

Elections From page 1

theBLOTTER March 11, 2010 2:35p.m. Personal InjuryMoore Gym-Case Closed

10:02p.m. Hit and Run-Pride Hall PVA-Further Investigation

March 12, 2010 3:19a.m. DWI-Vine Street and Textile Drive-Case Closed

March 15, 2010 12:00p.m. Fraud-Unknown Location-Further Investigation

March 13, 2010 9:27a.m. Damaged PropertyAggie Farm-Case Closed

Candidates at odds with committee over the use of videos in campaigns

7:00p.m. Burglary-Aggie Suites E Room 309 A & B-Further Investigation

March 14, 2010 3:55a.m. DWI-East Market and Bennett Street-Closed Arrest

10:00pm Burglary-Aggie Suites E Suite 214C-Further Investigation

7:30 p.m. Burglary-Aggie Village-Further Investigation

10:28p.m. Larceny-Williams Cafeteria-Further Investigation

own videos and post them. Many people have laptops with built in web cameras, or have small flip video cameras, that would allow them to produce videos for little to no cost at all. Per the rules and regulations of elections, all forms of campaigning must have a monetary value, and for any type of videos, the elections committee felt documentation of worth was necessary. “What the elections committee decided to do was to offer all candidates the option to use media network, or get their own videos done and document them at fair market value, but not both,” Morgan said. “The decision was made based on treating the videos as a gift,” Elections Committee

Adviser Denise Iverson-Payne said. “They see it as the JOMC department providing the candidates with a gift through access to the professional recording equipment and free publicity. Because this is a university election, and JOMC is a part of the university, the committee sees it as a gift from the university to gain more advertisement for the elections.” What Media Network will likely offer will be a set amount of time for each candidate to answer a few questions from them, and then have those responses played back on channel 30. If a candidate wants to do their own videos, they can utilize it however they would like, following elections regulations. “They need to get a fair market value from two different places, and it doesn’t have to be an expensive videographer, and compare the two prices,” Lee

Morgan said. “They will then average the prices.” Washington said that the decision was determined based on the fact that the times Media Network had available did not accommodate everyone. “If I can go to Media Network from 5pm to 7 pm to do a panel discussion with them, and then turn around and do my own video that’s double publicity,” Washington said. “Some students may not be able to make the times they have, and I don’t want to encourage anybody to miss work or class to do an interview with Media Network. It’s not fair to those individuals that may have class and work at those times to not be recorded, so it was one or the other.” The impact of this decision will be visible in the elections next Wednesday.

events

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Wednesday

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NABJ Short Course

Crosby Building Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.

Minority on a HBCU campus

Memorial Student Union Room 214 4:00 p.m.

Miss A&T Pamper Night

Memorial Student Union Stallings Ballroom 6 p.m.

SUAB Elections Interest Meeting

The Memorial Room 6:30 p.m.

NY/NJ Connection Apollo Night

Harrison Auditorium 7:30 p.m.

inFOCUS

thursday

18

John Deere Day

Holland Hall, Holland & Curtis Common Area Noon

NY/NJ Connection Apollo Night

Harrison Auditorium 7:30 p.m.

BOH Game Night

Memorial Union Commuter Area 8 p.m.

friday

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Visual Voice Art Exhibition

Dudley Hall 5:30 p.m.

Miss A&T presents Eclectic

THE A&T REGISTER

Exhibit Hall 7:30 p.m.

CRIME MAP: As always, we encourage you to look at the campus crime map online at www. natregister.com. Your safety is very important. We want you to be informed. Go check it out.

If you ever see anything suspicious or need assistance call Campus Police

(336) 334-7675 Getting it RIGHT Two weeks ago, in the special investigation entitled: “The Housing Hustle,” Brooke Waller’s quote was edited down for clarity. The quote about computer labs was printed as follows: “It’s still open for us,” said Brooke Waller, junior public relations major and resident assistant for Barbee Hall. “We open, and then lock it back after we’re done. As a student too, I feel it’s a little unfair for those who used the lab properly, especially those without computers.” The original quote read as follows: “Due to the discretion of the Barbee Hall housing director, the computer lab was closed due to excessive amounts of trash and stolen property. However, Barbee Hall RA’s are still allowed to use it. We open it and lock it back after we’re done. As a student too, I feel it’s a little unfair for those who used the lab properly, especially those without computers. However, students are informed when they move into Barbee the rules for the computer lab and the

The A&T

Register Box E-25 1601 E. Market Street Greensboro, NC 27411 Newsroom: NCB 328A (336) 334­-7700 www.ncatregister.com

consequences that will follow.” The A&T Register regrets any confusion this may have caused. Additionally, Waller also spoke on fires saftey. The quote was printed as follows: One RA in Barbee has been trained, said Waller. I have only been trained on roommate conflict, and drug and alcohol abuse, I do not even know how to use an (fire) extinguisher.” The original quote read as follows: “One RA in Barbee who has been an RA for 3 years now has been trained thoroughly on Fire Safety. I have only been trained on roommate conflict, and drug and alcohol abuse. I have not had to use a fire extinguisher when we had fire drills in Barbee Hall. The A&T Register regrets any confusion this may have caused.

saturday

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I.A.M.M Rip the Runway Auditions Photo by KeNNETH HAWKINS • THE A&T REGISTER

Marteena Hall-Room 103 8 p.m.

CONVOCATION Honors Day Convocation guest speaker Rev. Dr. Clifford A. Jones, Sr., senior minister of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, motivated administration,faculty and students to continue striving for excellence.

sunday

DON’T MISSWHAT BE TALKING ABOUT

THE A&T REGISTER PRESENTS:

THE 2ND ANNUAL SGA PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES TUESDAY, MARCH 23 7 P.M. BE THERE

editor in chief: Dexter R. Mullins Managing editor: Malcolm S. Eustache news editor: Jasmine Johnson opinions editor:Kelcie McCrae sports editor: Daniel Henderson ASSISTANT Sports editor: Lauren Morgan scene editor: LaPorsha Lowry copy desk chief: Anjan Basu Copy Editor: Ashley Reid, Chad Roberts photo editor: Kenneth Hawkins staff photographers: Michaela Edwards, Shanté Mathes

editorial cartoonist: Evan Summerville ncatregister.com: Stacie Bailey, (Online Editor) Graphic artist:Cameron Z. Simmons senior reporter: Marcus Thompson reporters: Johnathan Veal, Alessandra Brown, LaRia Land, Sylvia Obell, Ricardo Lawson, Monterius Smith, Kelcie McCrae, Whitney Mack-Obi, Jiril Clemons, Prince Askew PR Director: Kenny Flowers business manager: Jamia Harrison business staff: Carlton Brown faculty adviser: Emily Harris

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Aggie Worship Service

GCB - Room A208 3 p.m

monday

22

No Events

TUESDAY

23

THE A&T REGISTER PRESENTS: 2nd Annual SGA Presidential Debates

GCB Auditorium 218 7 p.m.

I.A.M.M Full Body Meeting

Hines Auditorium 7 p.m.

The A&T Register is published every Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters by students at North Carolina A&T State University. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Register’s newsroom (subject to availability). All subscription requests should be directed to the Business department. The A&T Register has a weekly circulation of 5,000 copies on-campus and in the community and is a member of The Associated Press, The Associated Collegiate Press and the Black College Wire.


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The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Wednesday, March 17, 2010

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CAMPUS NOTEBOOK

Office of International Programs celebrates 10-year anniversary MALCOLM S. EUSTACHE Managing Editor

Ten years ago, North Carolina A&T State University established the Office of International Programs in attempt to address the reality of globalization. Ten years later, that office celebrated a decade of success with the announcement of a fund to support students to study abroad. The Board of Trustees, Tuition and Fees Committee, and N.C.’s Board of Governors, all recently approved a $5 international education fee per semester. It will take effect for the 2010 – 2011 academic year. “The office was established in March of 2000, but I came here in September of 1999,” said Minnie Battle-Mays, Director of the Office of International Programs. “Chancellor

Renick had just arrived and there wasn’t one place he could go to and ask what the university was involved in on an international level. So, he invited me to come. I did research for sixth months about what was going on at the university, wrote a report suggesting what we needed to do to make things work better, and that was the creation of this office of international programs. “We will now have a fund to support students to go abroad,” said Battle-Mays. “I see it as so positive because it will allow us resources which we don’t have now to help students who want to go abroad. None of that money will be used for anything other student oriented activities.” During those first ten years the OIP has followed through on its mission statement of

“promoting global awareness, understanding, and education” by sending more than 250 students study abroad to over 200 universities in 60 different countries. The OIP has garnered specific international exchange partnerships with universities in Ghana, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey and Bulgaria, as well as a service learning initiative in Malawi. The new fund will allow support for even more students to travel abroad during the next decade of growth for the OIP. But nothing may represent a greater symbol of the OIP’s growth as the new General Classroom Building being constructed at the roundabout, which will serve as its new home beginning in the Spring of 2011. “We have enjoyed the space

UC to repay students illegally charged fees LARRY GORDON MCT Campus

LOS ANGELES - The University of California must refund about $38 million to professional degree students who were illegally charged fee increases after they started school in 2003, a Superior Court judge in San Francisco ruled Friday. UC is likely to appeal the decision, officials said. In the ruling, Superior Court Judge John E. Munter said that several thousand UC students in law, medicine, nursing and other programs, in effect, were promised that their professional school fees would not rise during their enrollments and that the university violated that pledge. About 2,900 students, most of whom started in 2003 and are now presumably finished, are

entitled to refunds and interest ranging from several hundred dollars to more than $10,000 apiece, depending on their fees, financial aid and time in school, according to Danielle Leonard, an attorney who represented them. UC catalogues and Web sites had stated that the professional school portion of fees would not rise for continuing students and that constituted a contract, said Leonard, of the Altshuler Berzon law firm in San Francisco. "It's nice to see the court thinks the same," she said. However, UC counsel Christopher Patti said university officials disagreed with the court's decision and "are very seriously considering an appeal." In 2007, UC lost a similar case when an appellate court ordered it to repay about $40 million to 9,100 students who start-

ed in its professional schools around 2002. UC has paid those refunds. However, Patti said there is a crucial difference between the two cases. He said the UC statements about not raising professional school fees were contained in documents intended for students starting in 2002. Even though students starting in 2003 may have seen the earlier material, it was not aimed at them and UC should not be forced to uphold an outdated promise, he said. UCLA law school graduate Andrea Luquetta, who was the lead plaintiff, said in a prepared statement: "This is a great victory for all my classmates who paid more in fees, and took on much higher debt, than what we originally thought we would have to pay to attend the University of California."

Interested in working for The A&T Register in 20102011? Stop by the newsroom (GCB 328) for an application. Writers, editors and graphic designers needed.

here at C.H. Moore, but we know that this is not the ideal location because we are off campus, and I think that has been part of our challenge as well for people knowing about us, for people seeing us and being curious about what we were doing,” said Battle-Mays. “And then it’s a hike for people to get over here. I always tell people if you can figure out how to get over here than you’re ready to go abroad. But being on campus will be a tremendous benefit for the campus and the campus community. But this space was a start, and we’ve enjoyed it. We just had a student dub this the “Embassy of A&T”. One of the biggest, and most obvious challenges, for students is the jumping over the financial hurdle of international travel. The OIP has committed itself

to credible avenues such as the American Institute for Foreign Study, the School for International Training, and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which has an 85% success rate of sending students abroad. “I studied abroad in China for a semester and that was actually a really good experience,” said Brittany Haney, Program Assistant for the Office of International Programs. “It didn’t change me as a student, it changed me as a young professional because studying abroad exposed me to so many different opportunities. Especially now, with the job market crashing in America, I realized I don’t have to work in America, I’m not limited to finding jobs here. It just exposed me to a whole new world. We are not limited to the United States.

We were born here, but we can go anywhere.” That is one of the major points that Battle-Mays and the OIP wants to stress, specifically to HBCU students and African-Americans in general. They hope that their office will represent an outlet for students to recognize that reality, and address it. “By traveling the world and learning a foreign language, you learn more about yourself,” said Allegra Johnson-Laing, Study Abroad Coordinator. “It made me a more tolerant person, and more tolerant of Americans that are different. Me going to France, and living the world from their perspective, when I’ve come back to the States, it allowed me to be more tolerant of Americans of other backgrounds.

Obama proposes overhaul of No Child Left Behind RICHARD A. SERRANO MCT Campus

WASHINGTONPresident Barack Obama on Saturday said he will send to Congress this week a blueprint for overhauling the nation’s education program and the No Child Left Behind project to improve schools, support teachers and set standards that will give high school graduates “the best chance to succeed in a changing world.” Worried that the U.S. is falling behind in education, Obama warned in his weekly address that “the nation that out-educates us today will out-compete us tomorrow.” He said America has “lost ground” over the last several decades, pointing to 15-year-olds who no longer are near the top in math and science compared to their peers around the world, high school graduation rates that have lagged behind those in most other wealthy countries, and a United States that no longer leads the world in producing college graduates. “Unless we step up, unless we take action,” Obama said, “there are countless children

who will never realize their full talent and potential.” On the Republican side, Sen. Scott Brown, recently elected from Massachusetts, said in a GOP response to the president’s remarks that Obama in the first year of his administration spent too much time and energy on health care and other issues and not enough at trying to end the current economic recession. Brown said that “an entire year has gone to waste. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs, and many more jobs are in danger. Even now, the president still hasn’t gotten the message.” Obama said he will push education reforms that insist the states ensure high school students are ready for college and careers by the year 2020, and stress academic achievements beyond what were called for under President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind program. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, speaking to reporters on Friday, said the No Child Left Behind law, passed in 2002, has resulted in a lowering of standards and that teachers spend more time in class preparation than in actually teaching in the classroom. Duncan has begun working

with a bipartisan group of Capitol Hill lawmakers in trying to rewrite the law, and he plans to tour schools in Iowa with Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of that state, chairman of the Senate Education Committee. How the proposals will fare in Congress is uncertain. Some teachers’ union officials, who have previewed the plan to be unveiled Monday, said the proposals could end up just rewarding the top 10% of schools. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said an initial review of Obama’s plan shows that it is titled against teachers and makes them the sole “scapegoat” if students’ test scores do not improve, much more so than principals, school administrators, parents and the students themselves. “This blueprint places 100 percent of the responsibility on teachers and gives them zero percent authority,” Weingarten said. “For a law affecting millions of schoolchildren and their teachers, it just doesn’t make sense to have teachers and teachers alone bear the responsibility for school and student success.”

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The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Iraqi PM accuses election official of fraud BEN HUBBARD/QASSIM ABDULZAHRA AP Political Writer

BAGHDAD (AP) — The coalition led by Iraq’s prime minister has accused an election official of manipulating vote counts from the country’s parliamentary elections and called for a recount, a candidate from the bloc said Tuesday. It was the latest charge to mar the March 7 balloting, already plagued by a chaotic and slow tally process and fraud allegations. Preliminary results released by the electoral commission put al-Maliki’s State of Law coalition slightly ahead in a tight race, leading in seven out of the country’s 18 provinces. Al-Maliki’s bloc sent a complaint letter to the Independent High Electoral Commission,

saying it “received reliable information that several supervisors of the electronic counting center” are linked to rival groups contesting the race. Ali al-Adeeb, a candidate on al-Maliki’s slate, said his coalition is accusing the counting center of doctoring the numbers and is asking for a re-count based on the original vote tallies from all the country’s more than 50,000 polling stations.A copy of the letter, signed by al-Maliki, was obtained by The Associated Press. It says the political allegiance of the counting center’s supervisors undermines “their neutrality in administering such a momentous and crucial process” as the tallying of the votes. The letter singled out Hazim al-Badri, the electronic counting center’s manager, claiming he is a member of a Sunni group al-

lied with former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi. His bloc is narrowly trailing al-Maliki’s in the race. Al-Badri could not immediately be reached for comment. The letter also said the prime minister’s coalition has information linking employees recently fired from the counting center to the same group. It called for an investigation into the political ties of all officials and employees at the counting center and argued that final results should not be released until all complaints are investigated — “however long it takes.” “Any violation in the elections will have regrettable consequences, especially if the will of the voters is taken away,” it said. Al-Adeeb said the letter was also sent to the American am-

bassador and the head of the U.N. mission in Iraq. Neither could be reached for comment. Since the nationwide vote a week and a half ago, the counting process has been fraught with claims of fraud, mostly from the opposition. The electoral commission has also been criticized for its chaotic work and slowness in releasing the results. Electoral commission official Saad al-Rawi confirmed the commission had received the complaint from al-Maliki’s bloc but said it was one of many complaints to come in without any concrete evidence. “The complaints against us from the blocs don’t end,” alRawi said. “They need to present proof for an investigation to be opened and the judge will decide.” Al-Rawi said, however, that

UN expert: N.Korean farm controls causing hunger ELIANE ENGELER

AP Political Writer

GENEVA (AP) — North Korea should let farms produce freely and allow food to be sold in local markets because the communist government cannot provide enough food for its people, a U.N. human rights investigator urged Monday. Vitit Muntarbhorn said North Korea’s regime stopped smallscale farming and closed local markets last year as part of a long-term clampdown on the agricultural sector. Thieving from the military is also hurting the income of farmers and contributing to hunger, he said. The government took these drastic measures “because it wanted people to revert back to the public distribution system

to be dependent upon the state,” Muntarbhorn told reporters.The U.N. estimates that 8.7 million people need food aid in North Korea. The country has relied on foreign assistance to feed much of its population since the mid1990s when its economy was hit by natural disasters and the loss of the regime’s Soviet benefactor. North Korea, ruled by Kim Jong Il, is routinely described in U.N. and other reports as one of the world’s most repressive regimes. Despite the tight controls, Muntarbhorn, a Thai professor, said some North Korean farmers are continuing to eke out a meager living by selling their goods directly to citizens. He even noted rare protests among women in the country. Muntarbhorn has never been allowed to visit North Korea,

which views his mandate as a violation of its sovereignty. Last week, North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency dismissed him as a “ghostlike” presence “never recognized” by Pyongyang. Muntarbhorn, basing his information on U.N. and nongovernmental agencies active in North Korea, he said soldiers routinely steal or extort agricultural produce from farmers in the country. He said interviews with refugees also provided valuable information about the plight of rural North Koreans. “People should be able to generate that food and keep it rather than being extorted as they are today,” Muntarbhorn said. “They should be able to trade — to generate income the state is not able to provide.” Muntarbhorn presented his report Monday at the U.N. Hu-

man Rights Council, prompting an angry North Korean rebuttal.North Korean diplomat Myong Nam Choe accused the investigator of being part of a Western effort to discredit the Pyongyang government. Muntarbhorn also criticized North Korea’s currency revaluation last year for drastically cutting people’s assets. North Koreans must trade 100 “won” for 1 unit of new currency of the same name, as part of a government effort to remove money from the economy and root out elements of capitalism, he alleged. “This was a push to curb the market system,” Muntarbhorn said, “and control the circulation of money in the process.”

Small earthquake briefly rattles Southern California ALICIA CHANG/JOHN ANTCZAK Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An earthquake east of downtown Los Angeles rippled across Southern California’s vast urban center before dawn Monday, jolting people awake and putting firstresponders on alert. There are no reports of damage, injuries or power outages linked to the temblor. “All is calm in the city of Los Angeles,” Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Steve Ruda said. But shortly after the quake, the California Highway Patrol reported a buckled 10-foot stretch of concrete in a center lane of southbound Interstate 5 south of downtown. It’s unclear if the broken

concrete was caused by the brief earthquake. Crews from the California Department of Transportation were working through the morning commuter rush to repair the cracked concrete. The magnitude-4.4 quake, centered about 10 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, struck shortly after 4 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. “It was a shake, but not bad. Our inmates slept through it and we had a few calls, but not as many as you would think,” Pico Rivera sheriff’s station Sgt. Jacqueline Sanchez said. Though the quake was considered small in size, it was felt over a large swath of Southern California. “The building started shaking. That’s it. I’m used to it,”

downtown security guard Ruben Solis, 25, said from his booth in the high-rise district. Solis said he checked his monitors and no alarms were triggered. But fellow security guard Nonie Bailey, 55, was on the fourth floor and headed quickly for the ground level. Los Angeles County Fire Department supervising dispatcher Andre Gougis said there are no reports of damage or injury and the department is at normal operations. “All our battalions reported a Level 1, meaning they felt it but there was no damage,” Gougis said. He said the quake was felt at his east Los Angeles headquarters. The quake hit not far from the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, a magnitude 5.9 quake

that killed eight people and caused more than $350 million in damage “I’m sure people would have felt it, but this is not an earthquake that will be damaging,” said USGS geophysicist Amy Vaughan. Tuesday’s early morning jolt was probably not related to the Whittier Narrows quake because too much time has elapsed, said California Institute of Technology seismologist Kate Hutton. Scientists have not yet determined which fault was responsible for the latest quake. Hutton said there’s a small chance that Tuesday’s temblor is a precursor to a larger event, but the likelihood diminishes over time.

six workers at the counting center were fired for incompetence and entering incorrect data into the computers. “They were caught and fired and made to leave work ... the same day,” he said. Independent Iraqi observers and U.N. officials advising the commission have said they have seen no evidence of widespread fraud that could undermine the outcome. Some have suggested, though, that the slow and disorganized release of results could fuel suspicions of fraud. According to the partial count from all of Iraq’s 18 provinces, al-Maliki’s State of Law coalition leads in seven provinces. His closest challenger, the secular Iraqiya bloc, led by Allawi, is ahead in five provinces. The religious Shiite Iraqi National Alliance and the main Kurdish coalition each lead in

three. The results are based on partial vote counts released by Monday evening, with 66 percent of the votes tallied. It is unclear if more partial results will be released later Tuesday.The early tally strengthens al-Maliki’s chances of retaining the prime minister’s post, although he is unlikely to win a majority necessary to govern alone. Instead, the narrow race could lead to months of political wrangling as leaders try to cobble together a coalition government that will rule as American forces leave Iraq in 2011. The election was Iraq’s second for a full-term government since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.There have been concerns the protracted process and political wrangling over the makeup of the future government could lead to more violence.

Fiji declares state of emergency for cyclone aid PITA LIGAIULA

Associated Press Writer

SUVA, Fiji (AP) — Fiji declared a state of emergency Tuesday and ordered troops to launch relief operations in northern regions battered by a powerful cyclone that knocked out power and forced thousands of people to flee into shelters. Cyclone Tomas’ onslaught began to weaken Tuesday, but the scope of destruction was not clear because communications were cut to the outer islands and to northern areas of Vanua Levu, the group’s second-biggest island, that were hardest hit, officials said. One death has been reported, and a nationwide curfew was still in effect. Fiji’s National Disaster Council declared a 30-day state of emergency for the country’s northern and eastern divisions Tuesday, ordering troops to be deployed as soon as possible to provide relief, including food, water and basic supplies. Packing winds of up to 130 mph (205 kph) at its center, and gusts of up to 175 mph (280 kph), Cyclone Tomas continued to blast through the northern Lau and Lomaiviti island groups and the northern coast of Vanua Levu on Tuesday, the nation’s weather office said. Matt Boterhoven, Fiji’s Tropical Cyclone Center’s senior forecaster, said Tomas was still a Category 4 storm, but was expected to weaken to Category 3 by late Tuesday as it moves into the open sea south of the island group.

Sea surges of up to 23 feet (7 meters) were reported in the Lau island group, which was hit head-on by the cyclone, causing major flooding, Boterhoven said, adding that the surges would take at least 36 hours to subside. National Disaster Management Office spokesman Anthony Blake said power, water, sewage and other services were disrupted in many northern areas, with all airstrips and airports closed and storm surges smashing into coastal villages and schools. More than 17,000 people were in 240 government shelters, he said. Initial damage assessments will likely be made Wednesday, when airplanes are expected to survey the northern islands and Vanua Levu, Blake said. The country’s military leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarara, has appealed for international assistance, New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully said, and the governments of New Zealand, France and Australia were trying to determine how best to help. By Tuesday afternoon, flights had resumed into the main international airport at Nadi, on the main island of Viti Levu. There were no immediate reports of tourists being caught in the cyclone. Late Friday, a 31-year-old woman was swept away by strong ocean currents in Vanua Levu’s Cakaudrove province after she saved her two children from a storm surge, police spokeswoman Atunaisa Sokomuri said.

Ukraine to pass law scrapping NATO ambitions ANNA MELNICHUK/SIMON SHUSTER Associated Press

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's new governing coalition in parliament said Tuesday it will pass a law against joining military alliances such as NATO, a move that is sure to please Russia while tilting Ukraine away from its previous pro-Western course. In a statement of purpose published Tuesday in the parliament's official newspaper, the coalition supporting President Viktor Yanukovych said new legislation will "enshrine Ukraine's nonaligned status in law." Such a move would kill

one of the key initiatives of Yanukovych's predecessor, the staunchly pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko, who had struggled to gain admission to NATO since he was vaulted to power by the Orange Revolution protests of 2004. Although Yushchenko's NATO ambitions never gained broad public support, they managed to infuriate Russia — which recently published a military doctrine naming the alliance's possible eastward expansion as the country's top external threat. Moscow's effort in recent years to restore its own influence over Ukraine and other former Soviet states got a pow-

erful boost with the election of Yanukovych, who has pledged to cooperate with Russia on key energy and military issues. On Tuesday, Ukraine's opposition had a bristling reaction to the governing coalition's statement. "Today we are forming a union of opposition parties," said opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, who lost to Yanukovych in the hard-fought presidential race last month. "It will allow us to coordinate our efforts, giving us the ability to protect Ukraine and its democratic path," Tymoshenko said at a signing ceremony with seven other senior lawmakers who oppose Yanukovych.

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theBIZ

The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Heist nets $75M in pills STEPHANIE REITZ Associated Press

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — In a Hollywood-style heist, thieves cut a hole in the roof of a warehouse, rappelled inside and scored one of the biggest hauls of its kind — not diamonds, gold bullion or Old World art, but about $75 million in antidepressants and other prescription drugs. The pills — stolen from the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co. in quantities big enough to fill a tractor-trailer — are believed to be destined for the black market, perhaps overseas. "This is like the Brink's pill heist," said Erik Gordon, a University of Michigan business professor who studies the health care industry. "This one will enter the folklore." The thieves apparently scaled the brick exterior of the warehouse in an industrial park in Enfield, a town about midway between Hartford and Springfield, Mass., during a blustery rainstorm before daybreak Sunday. After lowering themselves to the floor, they disabled the alarms and spent at least an hour loading pallets of drugs into a vehicle at the loading dock, authorities said. "Just by the way it occurred, it appears that there were several individuals involved and that it was a very well plannedout and orchestrated operation," Enfield Police Chief Carl Sfer-

razza said. "It's not your run-ofthe-mill home burglary, that's for sure." Experts described it as one of the biggest pharmaceutical heists in history. Edward Sagebiel, a spokesman for Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly, put the wholesale value of the drugs at $75 million and said they included the antidepressants Prozac and Cymbalta and the anti-psychotic Zyprexa. No narcotics or other painkillers were in the warehouse, he said. Other pharmaceutical warehouses have been hit with similar burglaries in recent years, but experts said the value of the Eli Lilly heist far eclipses any other prescription-drug thefts they have tracked. The thieves could easily net $20 million to $25 million, Gordon said. Enfield police would not say whether the building had surveillance video or whether employees are being investigated. The building is unmarked and unprotected by fences. The FBI was called in. Experts said the heist shared many traits with warehouse thefts of pharmaceuticals last year near Richmond, Va., Memphis, Tenn., and Olive Branch, Miss. Those thieves also cut through ceilings and sometimes used trapeze-style rigging to get inside and disable the main and backup alarms. In some cases, they sprayed dark paint on the lenses of security cameras; in

others, they stole disks in the security recording devices. Enfield police and the FBI would not comment on whether some of those techniques were also used in the Eli Lilly theft. "The level of sophistication in these thefts is very high," said Dan Burges, director of intelligence at FreightWatch International, a Texas-based security company. "These thieves actively target certain products. They find out where they are, they go there, they come looking for it. They probably were conducting surveillance on that warehouse for days, if not weeks, before that theft occurred." Burges and Gordon said the thieves probably already had a buyer lined up, possibly an online pharmacy or someone in South America or Asia, where drug regulations are lax. Gordon said it is unlikely the drugs would end up at a local hospital or drugstore chain. "The people with a reputation to protect, a CVS or a Target or a Kroger or most hospitals, they don't want to take any chances," he said. "It's too big a risk. You're talking about people's health." However, stolen drugs have made it into the U.S. health care system, often through Internet suppliers or crooked wholesalers. Last June, thieves stole 129,000 vials of insulin in North Carolina. The drugs were not properly refrigerated, and later

surfaced at a medical center in Houston. The Food and Drug Administration said in August that some patients suffered unsafe blood sugar levels after using them and that it had recovered just 2 percent of the stolen insulin. "We know that any number of unscrupulous people interested in profit find ways to convince some secondary wholesalers to put these products back into circulation and on into pharmacies," FDA spokesman Tom Gasparoli said in a statement. Pharmaceuticals made up 5 percent of the thefts of commodities in 2009 in the U.S. The average such heist was worth about $2.5 million, according to FreightWatch. Pharmaceuticals are usually stolen from trucks or cargo containers — there were a few dozen such thefts last year — though Burges said warehouse break-ins are on the rise as thieves become more sophisticated. "They're very creative, they're very good at what they do, and catching them is a very difficult thing," he said. Zyprexa and Cymbalta were Eli Lilly's two best-selling drugs last year. Prozac was Lilly's first billion-dollar drug and the company's top seller before it lost patent protection several years ago. The thefts will not cause any national shortages of the products, Sagebiel said.

MJ fans won’t stop ‘til they get enough Sony guarantees Jackson’s estate $200 million for 10 projects over seven years RYAN NAKASHIMA Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The record-breaking deal in which Michael Jackson's estate will get up to $250 million in the next seven years probably isn't a huge gamble for the company that will pay the money out: Sony Music Entertainment. Before he died last June at age 50, Jackson, a prolific songwriter, left dozens of unreleased recordings that are sure to be in high demand. Those include studio sessions from some of his best albums and recently recorded songs made with the likes of Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am. Under a deal officially announced Tuesday, Sony has guaranteed Jackson's estate $200 million for 10 projects over the next seven years. One of them, a movie and album called "This Is It," was already completed. If certain conditions are met, the payment could rise to $250 million. Since Jackson's death, estate co-administrator John McClain, a childhood friend and Jackson producer, has combed through boxes of tapes and recordings Jackson left behind. McClain and the other co-administrator, John Branca, who cut the Sony deal, each stand to make 5 percent on every new dollar of revenue brought into the estate. McClain found about 60 songs in various forms that have never been released, according to people familiar with the songs, who spoke on condition of anonymity because what will be done with the material re-

mains in flux. Even if only half of them are commercially viable, that would be enough for two or three albums. And some songs could also be packaged with alreadyheard material. That likely wouldn't detract from a new album's value. It might even add to it, because fans have been flocking to known commodities in music. For example, 14 remastered albums from The Beatles catalog sold 13 million copies worldwide in the four months after they were released last September. Bob Seger's "Greatest Hits," an album that came out in 1994, was the best-selling catalog album of the last decade, with 9 million albums sold to date. Jackson's own two-disc set that accompanied the concert rehearsal footage in "This Is It" has sold 5 million copies, and it had only one new song. That was the title song, which Jackson wrote with Paul Anka around the time the "Thriller" album was becoming a smash hit. With the album selling for $10 to $14, the revenue generated from sales is already well beyond the tens of millions of dollars needed to cover the per-project guarantees Sony is promising. "He always said his children would never have anything to worry about because he had volumes of songs to release," said Raymone Bain, who began representing Jackson during his child molestation trial in 2005, in an interview Tuesday. Bain, who is also suing the estate for fees, said Jackson told

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her he had "thousands of recordings" that he wanted to aim at a youthful audience, and spent nights during the trial writing new tunes as therapy. "He wanted to prove to a new demographic group that he was still a major player in the industry," she said. "That's why he added Akon and Fergie and will.i.am to the 25th anniversary recording of 'Thriller.'" Releases from well-established artists have other advantages. An older fan base is more accustomed to buying whole albums than are younger fans familiar with free song-swapping online. A long sales history also makes it easier to evaluate what catalogs are worth. "It's unusual for a deal like that not to make money for a distributor," said Lawrence Kenswil, an entertainment attorney at Loeb & Loeb in Los Angeles and former executive with Universal Music Group. "It's a safer bet than betting on the future of unknown artists." Speculation on exactly what unreleased songs exist (and how good they are) has been rampant since the King of Pop's death. Many who collaborated with Jackson in his later years have discussed their work with him, including will.i.am and Akon, who is a Senegalese R&B singer. Tommy Mottola, who from 1998 to 2003 was chairman and CEO of Sony Music, said last summer that Jackson's posthumous releases could outsell even those from Elvis Presley, whose voice has graced around 300 compilation albums since his death in 1977.

Several unreleased Jackson songs have leaked, though many of them are in dubious forms. A 24-second clip of the song "A Place With No Name" was on TMZ.com shortly after Jackson's death. A track Jackson recorded with Lenny Kravitz, "Another Day," also got out last year, though Kravitz said it wasn't a proper, finished version of the song. Whatever the unreleased material comprises, the Sony deal suggested that repurposing Jackson material across several formats — from DVDs to video games — will be of particular importance. Last week, Sony Music's Legacy Recordings, in partnership with Jimi Hendrix's estate, released a new album of Hendrix material nearly 40 years after his death. "Valleys of Neptune," which cobbled together unfinished recordings mostly from 1969, has received largely positive reviews. But even that album, which follows many other posthumous releases from Hendrix, is just a part of a new legacy launch. The Experience Hendrix, which is led by Hendrix's stepsister Janie Hendrix and oversees his musical estate, also rereleased Hendrix's "Live at Woodstock" in Blu-ray and regular DVD and the three Jimi Hendrix Experience albums. There's also a Hendrix "Rock Band" video game in the works, as well as a larger anthology collection. The Hendrix reboot could very well serve as a mere rehearsal for what Sony has in store for Jackson.

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Late-innings hardball in health care push RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — With time and tempers short, everyone's playing hardball in the drive to pass — or stop — President Barack Obama's massive health care legislation by the weekend. Business groups are spending $1 million a day to depict the bill as a job killer in television ads in the home districts of 26 wavering House Democrats. A new ad barrage from supporters of the legislation went up Tuesday in 11 districts, some overlapping. And unions are threatening some of those lawmakers to come through for Obama — or pay the price in the fall elections. Obama has summoned members to the White House one by one for private, face-toface persuasion, and also met larger groups. White House aides said he plans at least one more public health care event this week, including remarks in Fairfax, Va., on Friday. Diverse administration resources are being employed: Even the Navy secretary is in the game. "We here in Congress are giving a new meaning to March madness," Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, an opponent of the legislation, said Tuesday. At stake is a bill that would cover some 30 million uninsured people, end insurance practices such as denying coverage to those with a pre-existing conditions, require almost all Americans to get coverage by law and try to slow the cost of medical care nationwide. The comprehensive legislation could affect nearly every American, from those undergoing annual checkups to people facing major surgery. Activists on both ends of the political spectrum are energized. Tea party volunteers, who rallied Tuesday in Washington, are planning to flood congressional offices with emails opposing the legislation as a step toward socialism. And some on the political left have joined in calling for the bill's defeat because it leaves out a federal insurance option. The sought-after Democrats — mainly moderates, but also a few liberals — are mostly trying to stay out of sight. They include 37 who voted against the bill last year and a smaller number who are having second thoughts after supporting it the first time. Walking briskly, lawmakers duck in and out of the House chamber during votes, avoiding eye contact with reporters. Moderate Rep. Mike McMahon, D-N.Y., is feeling the push and pull. Elected with strong labor support two years ago, he voted against the bill in November, pleasing constituents in his Republican-leaning district on Staten Island who saw it as a government power grab. Last week, McMahon received a visit from Mike Fishman, president of the Service Employees International Union's local 32BJ. The blunt message: If you can't support health care reform, we can't support you. The union is threatening to switch its allegiance if he votes against the bill. "Everyone will be looking very, very closely at this vote," Fishman's spokesman, Matthew Nerzig, said with understatement. At the White House on Tuesday, Obama met with health care executives, including Sister Carol Keehan, head of the Catholic Health Association. In a break with other abortion opponents, the Catholic hospitals are advocating for the bill. "We think the bill as written now meets the test of no federal funding for abortion," Keehan said in an interview.

She's letting anti-abortion Democrats know her position announced over the weekend. An estimated $200 million has been spent for political advertising on health care since the beginning of last year, with groups favoring Obama's overhaul holding a slight edge. In the final stretch, however, opponents have gotten the upper hand and supporters are rushing to catch up. A coalition of business groups led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce went up with ads last week. The group is now spending an estimated $1 million a day, enough for 25 to 40 television ads, said Evan Tracey, president of Kantar Media-CMAG, which tracks political advertising. The ads frame the health care bill as a drag on the economy, raising taxes and saddling companies with expensive new mandates. Liberal groups are hoping they won't be too late. Health Care for America Now and several labor unions have announced a $1.7 million ad buy focusing on the districts of 17 undecided Democrats. Their ads portray the health insurance industry as a profit-hungry predator. "The ads are designed to get people fired up, so that members feel it coming back from their districts," said Tracey. "Members are on notice that they may be voting on this now, but their constituents will be voting on it in November." House Democratic leaders are still short of the 216 votes they need. While broad outlines of the $1 trillion, 10year measure are well known, critical final details are still being ironed out. Lawmakers are awaiting a cost report from the Congressional Budget Office on compromises worked out with Obama to reconcile versions passed earlier by the House and Senate. Democratic leaders are considering using a legislative procedure that would allow them to pass fixes to the Senate bill without taking a direct vote on the underlying legislation. The maneuver is a kind of legislative fig leaf to spare House Democrats from directly voting to approve a Senate bill many of them had bitterly criticized. While Republicans also used the tactic when they controlled the House, they are indignant that Democrats would employ it on legislation of such significance. The crucial group of some three-dozen House Democrats is split roughly into two camps: those who possibly could switch their earlier "yes" votes to "no," sinking the legislation, and those who might switch from "no" to "yes," salvaging it. Then there's Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, who says he has a dozen lawmakers ready to vote against the bill unless it incorporates a tougher firewall against taxpayer-subsidized abortion coverage, although his numbers seem to be dwindling. Stupak said Tuesday he has received only gentle overtures from the White House so far. Democratic leaders have assigned House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, a California liberal, to negotiate with Stupak, and the two men talk daily. Stupak said a few of his anti-abortion colleagues have been called by high-ranking administration officials. Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who backed the bill in November but is undecided now, said she has heard from several Cabinet secretaries. Another one, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, was surprised to hear from Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, said Stupak, who declined to identify the lawmaker.


theWORD

The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Wednesday, March 17, 2010

EXTENDED LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

6

Cherish your SGA is in a state of transition Aggieland experience Editor’s Note: While this letter to the editor exceeds the 250 word limit, the Editor in Chief approved the printing of this letter in its entirety for continuity.

I expected a lot of things out of my studying abroad adventure, but missing NC A&T was one of the last things I anticipated. It’s not so much the actual school aspect that I miss, not classes or anything pertaining to education to be honest with you. I miss my fellow Aggies. When JHERI I came to A&T a few alumni told HARDAWAY me, “Cherish your time in Aggieland, it may be the only time in your life when your surrounded by people that look and think like you everyday.” At the time seeing people that think and look similar to me didn’t seem that great, but now that I am living in Switzerland I see the significance. While I am learning new things everyday and experiencing studying at organizations that influence the way the world works, like the United Nations, the European Union, and countless European National Governments, I struggle to relate with a lot of the students on the political issues we discuss. I don’t think our opinions differ because of their lack of knowledge or mine either, I think our backgrounds deeply impact our thoughts to most subjects. As an African American my background and perspectives are drastically different from these students, those from the United States and those from other countries. Naturally in Aggieland our opinions differ as well, but they are often based on the same general principles, principles that people here often over look. For example in Paris, France at a briefing with UNESCO (the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization), we discussed the promotion of cultural diversity internationally. As one of two African Americans in a group of 30 students I often notice people regularly overlooking the racial indecencies of their comments. So as we were discussing how UNESCO promotes the protection of culture, a young man in the group from Lebanon asked about how the organization deals with culture in immigrant nations, in reference to the United States. The representative from UNESCO was adamant in his answer that all cultures are protected regardless of how they came about, “UNESCO provides an openness and basis for intercultural dialogue, and helps to preserve diversity.” The young man was not satisfied with this answer. He later went on to say, “Americans are all immigrants so they are essentially the same, except for black people, but they were brought over so they really don’t count”. I had to channel my inner Aggie Pride to keep me from jumping on him. So I feel like as Aggies we must anticipate the disrespectful ‘real world’, and enjoy Aggieland while we can.

After the last issue of the A&T Register, I finally said, “enough is enough.” Since my election as President, I have to admit, I haven’t utilized my skills as a Public Relations major to write any major editorials in the A&T Register. However, I am finally here. Around this time last year, I was working on a speech for the 2009 SGA elections. There was one debate where my opponent did a great job, but I knew I had potential to do very well in the next debate. As I began to write my speech my friend, now Chief of Staff Gary Brown, told me, “the University is at a crossroads, it’s at a point where we can progress or go backwards.” One year later, Mr. Brown’s statement is has proved its truth. Last week the A&T Register’s Editor in Chief, believed SGA was in a state of “stupidity.” I will completely disagree and say that SGA is in a state of “transformation.” There are many issues that exist within the Student Government Association, from the dysfunctional computers to the lack of Governance training students have received. In regards to the disqualification of both SGA President candidates, if a flaw within the Constitution has existed since 1995, which is clearly a 15 year period, how can we continue to blame the student leaders of North Carolina A&T? How can we call upon the student government association, if the administrators who govern the student government association aren’t calling these things out? W i t h any problem that exists, there is always a trickledown effect. Let’s the take a look at the United States economy for example First Wall Street Crashes, the banks lose mon-

ey, people lose their jobs, and then there is an economic recession for the entire nation and the middle class and lower class suffer. If the adminSYENE istrators aren’t recognizing the JASMIN problems within SGA firsthand, but more importantly providing solutions to these issues, then how can we as students effectively govern? How can we keep blaming students? The Editor-in-Chief of the paper made reference to the culture of lazy, foolish, Qwuita and Qwan behavior to take over our institution. But what powers that exist are allowing this culture to come to enter this University? It’s certainly not students; therefore the accountability has to start from the very top. Before I ran for President, I recognized there were many issues that affected the beloved student body of North Carolina A&T State University, but like any other candidate, I approached these issues with much optimism. This very same optimism exists today and has never changed. If anyone read my platform, my campaigned was organized on the definition of progress. It takes time to make change; therefore progress is an essential piece for success. Let’s take three examples, first with off campus security. We know many students have safety concerns when living in an off campus residence, but now with A&T Police helping to patrol the area along with the GPD, there has been a bigger police presence. Many students

in the past have complained about the lack of visibility from Student Government officials, along with the lack of knowledge about essential programs. But this year, the Jasmin Administration has done a great job in promoting events, via social networking sites, along with dorm storming. Lastly with political awareness, fewer than 200 people voted from this campus in the 2009 municipal elections in November. Former U.S. Presidential candidate and more importantly former SGA President Jesse Jackson Sr., was publicly upset with this low turnout. But what our beloved Reverend fails to realize is that in 2007, there were fewer than 70 students that voted on campus in the municipal elections. In regards to percentage wise, it is a significant improvement, and something I personally helped lent my efforts to. It’s like having a broken house. In order to fix the house, you must start internally with the structure, whether it’s the pipes, windows, floors and etc. In order to bring change to the house, you must first replace broken material in the house. However these things must visibly come out the house in order to be replaced. Fortunately our house has been repaired on this year, but unfortunately the public has viewed the dirty things that have existed in the house for many years. Whether good or bad, the Homecoming situation, the Attorney General Impeachment process and now the SGA elections committee debate are only a representation of the past and what’s been going on within the house. So yes, we all have ourselves to blame as

Evan Summerville

aggieLife

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a University, including MYSELF. But with all of these issues taking place issues, we must ask ourselves why are these things happening? And the answer is: Progress internally and externally. This great progress has allowed for debate about issues affecting SGA. Although this is still a much further length to go, I challenge the new SGA members to surpass the accomplishments of my administration and to find new ways to get students involved socially and politically. We should work and challenge administrators to do a better job of improving the student experience on this campus, not only with entertainment events. In 2009, we were blessed with a new Chancellor, and now in 2010 we are blessed with a new Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs. So as grades approach for this current term of the Student Government Association, I hope we are jugged fairly and accordingly by our word and merit. But no matter what grade we are to receive, there are individuals on this board who have worked hard and dedicated their gracious time for the student body and no grade or any kind of progress report can’t assess their true love for this University. As I embark on graduation, I will no longer be here, I won’t dorm storm, I won’t remind you to go vote, or to take care of your financial aid! But I charge the next Leader to follow these footsteps, and recognize the true needs of this University. If that leader is here now please step up, you don’t need an SGA position to make change! Good luck!

119 years later, we still have a ways to go “Dear A&T, dear A&T, a monument ebrate our other A&T alumni that indeed..,”HAPPY BIRTHDAY! have achieved in life. Anyone Actually, this is more of a happy belated recogizne the name Janice Brybirthday as the Agricultural and Mechanical ant Howroyd? Google her. She’s College for the Colored Race, as A&T was worth over $250 million dollars, formerly known, was born on March 8, 1891. and she is an A&T Alum. From the day that A&T left its humble beShe started the nations largest ginnings in the basement of Shaw University personell service, ACT-1, with and moved to Greensboro, to the day that the DEXTER her A&T degree, $1500, and a original Dudley Building burned down in a MULLINS telephone. fire in the early 1900’s, and even until now What about Joe Dudley, PresiA&T has faced and overcome one challenge af- dent & CEO of Dudley Products, one of the ter another. world’s largest manufacturers of beauty prodAnd while our legacy of overcoming obsta- ucts? Maybe you know Royall Mack, the former cles and making social changes preceeds many Corporate Vice President of the Gillette Comof us, I find myself asking what challenges A&T pany. Maybe my sports fans will recognize the will face and if, not how, it will overcome them. name of 2003 NFL Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea. I have a lot of faith in my soon to be Alma Most people don’t know, or have never even Mater, but I also know that there are some things heard of, any of these people. If A&T is to progon this campus that are going to be the death and ress any further, we must stop living in the 1960 destruction of a proud and promising institution mindset. No longer do students find themselves if they are not corrected. always having to make the direct fight with We must stop looking at the past, and specifi- white America, and it’s not an abomination if the cally, move away from Feb. 1, 1960. It is great Aggies of today find themselves in an interracial to celebrate and remember the monumentous relationship. Aggies have accomplished so much achievements of the highly acclaimed A&T more than just civil rights. Let’s celebrate that. We must also stop tearing down our own Four & Dr. Ronald E. McNair, but it is borderline rude to not adequately recognize and cel- foundation. There are numerous administrators,

professors, and support staff who, like most all people, are resistant and even opposed to common sense change. What since does it make to have a technical campus whose website is only optimized for Internet Explorer when no one uses it? How can we survive when department chairpersons would rather bully and fire the professors that truly have the knowledge than admit that they are wrong, or ask for help? Our students need a different type of education than what they are recieving. My own department is a perfect example. I know that most everyone in the journalism department has a Ph.D, and that is phenomenal. But it would be even better if more of them had current work experience, or were still working in the field and teaching us what they were learning themselves. A&T has come a long way, it has grown, and it has made a name for itself. But we still have much further to go. We are only as good as we let ourselves be, and if we only let ourselves operate in the mindset of the past, we will never see another 119 years, which we are more than capable of. The road to 119 years is a long one, but just think about this; our last journey only started with a single step. Let’s leap this time.

Editor’s note:The opinions expressed on The Word are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the staff of The A&T Register. All house editorials are written and revised with input from the editorial board, staff, and is approved by the editor. All submissions must be sent to theatregister@gmail.com to be considered for submission and should be no longer than 250 words. Submissions must be recieved by the Sunday prior to publication at 5 p.m. to be considered. The A&T Register reserves the right to edit all submission content for clarity and grammer. Submissions become the property of The A&T Register and will not be returned.


theSCORE The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Ladies tennis team headed to MEAC tournament Lauren Morgan

Register Reporter

The North Carolina A&T women’s Tennis team is headed to the MEAC Tournament for the second straight season. A 6-1 win over Norfolk State guaranteed A&T a spot in the tournament. The win over the Spartans of NSU was one of two wins for the Aggies at the MEAC Round Robin in Sumter, S.C. Although the Aggies won two matches, they started the MEAC Round Robin event with a loss to Bethune-Cookman. They were defeated 5-2. The Aggies were led by Winnie Quick who had three wins during the roundup. The Aggies also won three doubles matches thanks to the play of Quick and Jaymee Jones. In No. 3 singles against Bethune-Cookman, Quick defeated Stacey Lopez 6-4, 6-2. Azeib Nigatu defeated Andrea Paez 6-1, 6-1. Nigatu now leads the Aggies with 4 wins. In No. 1 singles Jones beat Jennifer Astbury 6-3, 6-4. A&T’s Nina Henry defeated Chenge Tsapayi 6-3. The Aggies second win came against MarylandEastern Shore. Quick, Henry and Nigatu each won their matches 6-0. The Aggies also won two of three doubles matches with a score of 8-0.

Lady Aggies WNIT bound after MEAC tourney upset MEAC From page 1 egy, bringing the Bulldogs lead to within three points. Forward Lamona Smalley drove hard to the basket for a two-point goal. Smalley was fouled by the Lady bulldogs, giving her a free throw to tie the game at 47 all. A series of power drives and free throws turned the remainder of the game would become a onepoint battle. The turning point in the game came at 49.2 seconds when the Lady Aggies took a three point lead of 59-56, and then again at just over 10 seconds when the Aggies led 60-58. With 8.3 seconds on the clock, the Bulldogs had position of the ball, and a three point shot brought them to a 61-60 lead over the Aggies, leaving 1.9 seconds on the clock. The Aggies couldnít recover fast enough, and took the loss. “This was a tough loss, but it happens in this game,” Head Coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs said of the Lady Aggies loss. “The whole year has been a really tough year, but we’ve been truly blessed as a team. We won the regular season, and South Carolina State did a really great job. They played hard and these are the types of endings that you have in these kind of tournaments.” Bibbs said that there were

a few things that could have made a difference, such as a few shots in the first half that could have easily been made. However, she also said that it truly didn’t come down to the last shot. “I can’t put my finger on just a defining moment that turned the game around, you have to put two half’s together,” Bibbs said. “We had enough to do what we had to do but it just didn’t happen. It’s just situation basketball and these things happen.” North Carolina A&T Chancellor Harold L. Martin, Sr said that while he was equally as shocked as the A&T fans at the games outcome, he is still Photo by kenneth hawkins • THe A&T Register extremely proud of the team. lamonna smalley and the Lady Aggies will visit Wake Forest Thursday at 7 p.m. “Obviously we all had high hopes coming into the “They will be here next loss at South Carolina. They MEAC,”Martin said. “The year as the number one seed earned the automatic berth by young ladies have had such a I’m very confident in that. winning the MEAC regularwonderful season and I cerWe didn’t expect this loss, season title. tainly want to congratulate but we will bounce back.” This will mark the first them on that. It was an off The upset will land the Lady season of the WNIT 64-team game for them, and while we Aggies (21-10) in the Wom- field, including 31 teams with may be disappointed we are enís National Invitational automatic berths and 33 atalso very proud of them and Tournament for the second large berth teams. that prevails. They’ve got time in three years where they The tournament kicks off great support and we are lookwill face Wake Forest (17-14). with first round games toing forward to next year.” The last meeting between the night. Senior TaíWuana Cook two teams resulted in a 92-43 Last season, the blue and may be leaving the team, but Demon Deacon win. gold loss to ACC regular-seashe leaves behind her words If the Lady Aggies advance son champs Florida State in of encouragement and confithey will face the winner of the NCAA tournament. dence in the Aggie team. Gardner-Webb at Charlotte They recieved the highest “I just want to wish my battle. seeding ever for any historiteammates the very best of The last A&T WNIT ap- cally black university when luck next year,” Cook said. pearance resulted in a 102-74 they earned a 14th seed.

AGGIES RUNDOWN baseball TEAM

School of Technology

Congratulations Honor Students Spring 2010

Kache M. Funderburk Alexander L. Gaines Ronnie L. George William L. Grafton James H. Graves Tristan Q. Gray Kareem A. Hailey Jerrod R. Hairston Erinn M. Hare John R. Harris Kendric D. Harrison Estridge R. Hatley Brian K. Higgins Lavell Hill Marc L. Hill Ashley D. Hines Brittany S. Hodges Jacqlyn M. Holeman Ashley N. Holt Jeremy S. Hooker

Justin T. Hromadka Kevin T. Huntley Quanna S. Inman Agnes Jacobo Ronald Jacobs Marc J. Jenkins Cale D. Johnson Darrin L. Johnson Nicholas W. Johnson Akinwole O. Jordan Stephaun J. Keemer Evans K. Kessey Valisa Q. Kimbrough Anthony C. Lambert Dwight A. Leonard Michele D. Lewter Anthony M. Loftin Justin L. Love Harold A. Mallette Heath A. Mallette

Kevin D. Marinero Felton R. Mason Brantley M. Mays Alexis M. McAfee Martin J. McKelvey Christian G. McKinnie Jamyrius C. Miller Craig D. Moore C. K. Nasir Tulisha R. Nasir Joshua D. Nixon Andrew P. Norman Susan M. Nzegge Arekpita O. Ogirri Shawn D. Parsons ChrisShawn K. Pettigrew Louise A. Pounder Michael L. Praylor Shaena R. Price Angel D. Prince

MEAC

OVR.

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

3-3 2-3-1 2-4-1 3-7 1-4 0-3 0-8

MEAC 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

OVR. 8-1 3-2 1-2 2-5 1-3 1-5 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Delaware State FAMU Norfolk State Bethune NC A&T Coppin State UMES THIS WEEK’S GAMES: Wednesday vs. Radford War Memorial Stadium 5 p.m. Thursday vs. Princeton War Memorial Stadium 3 p.m.

softball TEAM N.C. A&T FAMU S.C. State Howard Morgan State Norfolk State Bethune DSU Hampton Coppin State MD Eastern Shore

THIS WEEK’S GAMES: Wednesday @ Gardner-Webb Boiling Springs, N.C. 2 p.m. Saturday vs. Liberty Aggie Sports Complex 1 p.m.

AROUND SPORTS WOODS RETURNS TO GOLF JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) ­— Tiger Woods said Tuesday he will end more than four months of seclusion and play at Augusta National in The Masters, in three weeks for the first time since a sex scandal shattered his image. The Associated Press

norTh carolina agriculTural and Technical STaTe univerSiTy Jeffery H. Allen Tameka L. Alston James S. Anthony Brandon T. Badgett Dominique E. Baldwin Terese T. Barrett Cranston L. Bass Arthur A. Bates Joseph J. Befort Dauryl A. Belle Thomas N. Benz Jalon S. Best Malcolm J. Blakey Brandon L. Blakley Warren T. Bonner Sean M. Brown Christopher E. Bulmer Regina D. Bunch John A. Busby Desmond L. Bynum Sterline V. Caldwell Victor O. Callender Gerald Carlton Eric S. Casey Stephen D. Cheek Joseph D. Clayton Tony L. Clodfelter Ivey C. Crosby Niem R. Dancy Lakisha T. David Tenille M. Davis Michael D. Dombrowski Alfre M. Dreamsky Michael D. Edwards Tarra D. Fant Robert L. Farrow Jr. Ashlie N. Ferreira Martez J. Finch Rashida K. Fisher Fitzgerald A. Flowers Kelvin L. Freeman

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Kelsey L. Randall Kiara V. Reed Christopher J. Reevers James M. Riedel Calvin L. Riley Loring D. Roberts Maurice B. Robinson Markita C. Rowe Brian Sampson Clarence D. Satchell Martha J. Sawyer Shannon S. Sellers Elissha M. Shaw Diamound K. Shelton Harold A. Sills Jeremy L. Sims Javon D. Skinner Joshua E. Stacker Justin L. Starks Jarrod E. Suddreth Latreekia D. Sweat Eric L. Taylor David M. Thomas Greggory L .Thompson Jajaf E. Thompson Sean L. Thompson Chase R. Tilley Troy J. Tolson Victor D. Vigoya Tiffany Wade Christopher B. Wall Jonathan T. Ward Michael K. Ward Cameron M. Westbrook Maury D. W.hitley Kevin S. Wiggins Crystal A. Wight Dante M. Williams Dequency R. Yates Derek Yelverton Tramar D. Youngblood


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The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Wednesday, March 17, 2010

&Scene heard

RZA adds acting to resume’ LaPorsha Lowry Scene Editor

John Mayer comes to Greensboro Monday night, the Greensboro Coliseum hosted musical artist John Mayer in his 2010 Battle Studies winter tour. Fans lined up at the door and purchased paraphernalia before the concert started. Before Mayer and his band hit the stage, the opening act Michael Franti & Spearhead performed. Around 9 p.m., letting his fans know he was ready to hit the stage, Mayer played the first notes of his new single Heartbreak Warfare. Ending with ‘Why Georgia’ he continued playing with his band until 11 p.m. -J.J.

RZA, member of the legendary hip-hop group WuTang Clan, is starring in the new film, “Repo Men” with Jude Law and Forrest Whitaker. He also starred in “American Gangster” with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. The Grammy awardwinning music producer, author, and rapper is adding to a blossoming movie career. He has made cameo appearances in “Funny People” starring Adam Sandler and “Gospel Hill” starring Angela Bassett. RZA has also been considered for association in Quentin Tarantino’s next Kill Bill project. RZA will be making his director debut, “Man with the Iron Fist.” He discussed his new movie and working with Oscar winners in a teleconference interview. Q: How was your experience working with such great actors like Forrest Whitaker, Russell Crowe, and Denzel Washington, who are all Oscar winners? A: It was a blessing to work with such an elite group of people. Some actors don’t get a chance to work with such great talent. I can say that I am pretty lucky to have been cast with such great people. Q: What have you been able to take away from your acting experience and what have you been able to learn from these great actors?

Sylvia Obell

“Our Family Wedding” came out in theaters last Friday. The movie brings new meaning to the saying, “Your marriage, their wedding.” The plot seems simple. Lance Gross and America Ferrera star as the young couple who come home to announce their engagement and hurried wedding plans to their families. However, due to a series of secrets and obvious family differences the news doesn’t go over smoothly in the Mexican American and African American families. Lance Gross does well in his first, non-Tyler Perry project. He plays Marcus Boyd, the honest, philanthropist, Columbia Medical School graduate. Though his character doesn’t have that much depth, he defiantly will have every lady in the theater wishing she was the one marrying him. Ferrera, as usual, does a great job. She is an amazing young actress, who has the ability to completely immerse herself in every role she takes on. She plays Lucia Ramarez, the eager to please daughter

who has kept a lot from her family over the years to keep them happy. Majority of the problems in the movie stem from Lucia and Marcus’ egotistical, competitive fathers played by Forest Whitaker and Carlos Mencia. Whitaker plays a Brad Boyd, the rich nighttime radio DJ and unorthodox single father, with playboy qualities. This is a new role for the Academy Award winner, who normally takes more serious, dramatic roles. A romantic comedy is a nice change of pace as viewers get to see him in a new way. Mencia plays Miquel Ramarez, a well off owner of a tow truck company. A new face to the big screen, his George Lopez type qualities help him hold his own next to Whitaker. Despite how things may look the movie rises above the expected “Guess Who” plot and brings a new flare to the romantic comedy genre. Part of that new flare includes Regina King’s character. King shines as Brad Boyd’s lawyer and best friend. Her strong presence steals scenes, and her character’s story

The A&T Register’s guide to what’s going on this week in arts and entertainment.

Q: How is it to go from the legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan to having a blossoming movie career, which some rappers try to do but really succeed at it? A: I am still at the beginning of my acting career so I still have a lot to prove. I am taking it real serious and not taking it for granted. I don’t go into it thinking that I am going to get a job because I have a name and I am not taking what I did in the Contributed Photo past to get ready for the future. For the love of the craft, it Wu-Tang Alum RZA has worked with several high-profile actors in his young acting career. He has always makes sense to commit a role in the new movie “Repo Men” alongside Jude Law and Oscar-winning Forrest Whitaker. He also to a job. I’m a person who starred in “American Gangster” with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. sticks to commitment. I have had jobs that have A: For me, the movie is been both humbling and that early on. current with all of the health I felt truly honored to be lucrative, but regardless each job has helped me one way sitting there at SAG awards care issues at the time. Some people cannot afford or another financial, morally, with Cuba Gooding Jr., Ruby medicine or have to choose Dee, and Denzel Washington. spiritually, and to help me to Even though we didn’t win, between house and family or increase my craft. I’m willing I feel like I won something and people in this movie make to learn everyday. I hope that one day I will be operation and these choices. For instance, the guy has to Q: How did it feel to be blessed with an award or my make payments on his heart, own. nominated for a Screen Actors but when he cannot pay the Guild award with the cast from Q: What did you take away bill, the “repo men” come “American Gangster”? from your experience with this and take it. I never want to be A: That was a great ego movie “Repo Men”, that comes in that situation where I lose everything so I do everything I boost. I’m new at acting so out on Friday? can to avoid that situation. being nominated for an award

Art Showcases: ‘Visual Voices’ & ‘Eclectic’

Movie gives a new spin on romantic comedy Register Reporter

March 15th-23rd

A: Each time I do a movie, I learn something because I was really committed to it. I wasn’t shy about asking questions if people had the time to give an answer. Sometimes some of these actors are in zone and don’t want to be bothered. Fortunately, I had some down time with some of the actors so I asked questions and I learned a lot.

Movie Review: Our Family Wedding

holds its own against the major plot of the movie. A colorful cast of family members including Charlie Murphy and Taye Digs, round out the movie’s colorful cast. Though somewhat predictable, “Our Family Wedding” is a feel-good romantic comedy (with a great soundtrack) that will make you laugh, cry and want to fall in love.

Grade

B

-

Events give A&T artists a stage Jonathan Veal

Register Reporter

This weekend will be filled with art and music. Two visual arts events will be taking place on A&T campus right after each other. The annual student art exhibition is taking place Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Henry Clinton Taylor Gallery in the Dudley Building. It is an open reception showcasing art of A&T students. “Many displays of current A&T students’ paintings, drawing, prints, graphic designs, and sculptures,” said gallery director Shawnya Harris. Rashita Connelly, president of the Art Circle, a visual arts organization, organized the exhibition. Special guests, Aggie alumnae Professor Kai Mouni will be jury of the exhibition. As soon as Visual Voice comes to a close, you can walk over to the student memorial

union for another art event. This is a free art showcase presented by Miss North Carolina A&T, Ngozi Opara and the Cultured Class, showcasing art and music styles of A&T alumni. It’s taking place on the same day in Exhibit Hall at 7:30p.m., “where art, music, and class collide,” stated junior theatre major, Aaron Anazia. “(It’s) a lounge for A&T students to come and view art and photography displayed,” Anazia said. Performing will be by Populart Yin from Philadelphia, with live body art and live music from A&T alumni Raheem McRae and Beautiful Experience. The event requires classy dress attire and you will need an A&T ID card to enter the event. Complementary hors d’oevres will be served. Eclectic is the experience Greensboro is missing. You do not want to miss this.

BE SCENE Contributor’s Meetings every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. on GCB 328A

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Questions

hotlist

thescene

1. Did you hear that Sarah Palin said her father used to smuggle her into Canada to take advantage of their single payer health care? 2. So does that mean she benefitted off of what she opposes now? 3. Does she really add any credibility to FOX news? 4. Do you even know who Sarah Palin is? 5. If not, have you ever heard of Google? 6. Do you know about the current health care bill Pres. Obama is trying to get pushed through? 7. If not, and once again, have you ever heard of Google? 8. Even though they won the ACC, would it be unfair to call Duke the FOX news of the ACC? 9. How many Tar heels are going to watch their team in the NIT? 10. How disappointing was the Lady Aggies loss to South Carolina State? 11. Don’t you wish you could give those girls a hug and some encouragement for next season ‘cause you still believe? 12. Aren’t you glad that James Porter is done playing basketball for us? 13. Does he really think he will make the NBA? 14. Won’t they have to look at game footage? 15. Do you know who you are voting for yet? 16. Are you tired of the Facebook group/Twitter follow requests already? 17. Have you actually talked to any of the candidates? 18. Do you know their platforms? 19. Are you even going to vote? 20. Can we have a controversy-free election this time?

on screen repo men starring Jude Law and Forrest Whitaker, opens this Friday. Set in the near future when artificial organs can be bought on credit, a man struggles to make the payments on a heart he has purchased. He must therefore go on the run before it is repossessed. - J.V.

on shelves twilight saga: New moon starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewartomes out on DVD Saturday. The epic love story between Bella and Edward grows more intense with Edward leaving Bella to keep her safe. Bella tests fate in a love triangle with Edward and best friend Jacob Black. - J.V.

on stage Apollo Night presented by NY/NJ Connection will be held in Harrison Auditorium tomorrow night from 7:30p.m.-10p.m. Tickets are $3 and are available at the Ticket Office. Be apart of a live audience. If you ever watched Apollo Night then you know what to expect! - J.V.

on campus Eclectic presented by Miss A&T and Cultured Class will take place Friday in Exhibit Hall starting at 7:30 p.m. It will showcase the art and music styles of A&T alumni. A classy attire and college I.D. is required to get in the event. Live performances by A&T alumni Raheem McRae and live body art by Populart Yin. - J.V.


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