The A&T Register, September 21, 2018 by The A&T Register

thePERSPECTIVE 2

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The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Friday, September 21, 2018

A letter to our readers... EDITORIAL BOARD

The A&T Register

tories have been told from a limited perspective since the beginning.

The media industry is a powerful institution within our society. It not only has the power to change opinions, but it also writes our history. The people put in place to tell the stories of those who are often underrepresented should not only have knowledge of those communities but empathy for their plight. Minority journalists accounted for only 12 percent of newspaper newsrooms in 2012, according to the Pew Research Center. The communities that have needed coverage the most have either received it poorly or incorrectly because people like themselves are not in the media outlets. Following the deaths of unarmed Black men by police brutality, media coverage often focused on emphasizing stereotypes rather than highlighting an unbiased reality. The scenes of burning office buildings and looting only continued this criminalized ideology. However, news has the power to change communities’ mindsets and beliefs. The intersectionality of perspectives can help facilitate conversations that can lead to a shift in policy and help normalize

different groups and cultures. As students, we often fail to realize the repercussion negative media coverage can have on our campus. The death of two students at an off-campus party in 2016 has since resurfaced the unfavorable reputation N.C. A&T has. The strategic plans by the University, Preeminence 2020, and the newest version of Preeminence 2023 has helped shift the image of the University. Goal 5 of Preeminence 2023 states: “North Carolina A&T will strengthen our campus community by fostering a more diverse and inclusive culture.” We believe our school will not be strengthened through only racial and ethnic diversity but rather when we acknowledge and openly discuss the various perspectives of students who already exist on our campus. The queer and trans perspective that is often silenced through lukewarm seminars and presentations by less than diligent administrators. If N.C. A&T prides itself on not only being the best and largest HBCU in the country, why do we still lack an LGBTQIA center for our students? “Being Black, transgender and femme, I face prejudice in the majority of the spaces I find myself

in. Just being on campus at times students make comments, rude jokes and treat me as though I’m subhuman - which isn’t what I expected from an HBCU such as this one that prides itself on family,” said Morgan Turner, junior undeclared student. “The one time that stands out the most is during a time in the cafeteria. I was eating alone and a group of male students continually made harsh comments about me. They even began to start asking people if I should be treated with respect because I was transgender,” Turner said. For all these reasons and more, the drive and passion we have at The A&T Register are endless. That is why we fight for the future of student journalists, especially those of color. We want to set the trend towards accurately covering people of color, minorities and all diverse groups.

We are the record keepers of our history and with this responsibility, we will always tell every story accurately.

Reach us at atregister@ncat.edu

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Alexis Wray MANAGING EDITOR: Zila Sanchez DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR: Brittany Van Pelt YARD EDITOR: Elaijah Gibbs-Jones CULTURE EDITOR: Kayla Clarke WORD EDITOR: Allison Gilmore SCORE EDITOR: TyRel Thompson SCENE EDITOR: Victoria Turner PHOTO EDITOR: Terrell Peterson DESIGN EDITOR: Carrington Harris PR DIRECTOR: Arlette Hawkins PR TEAM: Breeana Draper, Alexus Johnson, Kavyne Simpson, Machai Smith COPY EDITOR: Cameron Dinkins REPORTERS: Akilah Kafele, Marisa Cromer, Lauren Mitchell, Jarod Hamilton, Jaylin Saunders, Nia Lucky MULTIMEDIA EDITOR: Cierra Ivey MULTIMEDIA TEAM: Hakeem Shabazz Norris and Regine Palmer SOCIAL MEDIA: Ayanna Miller, Gary Hooker Jr., Kelsie Gray, Amya Palmer, Alexis Saunders, JaKayla Lide, Amara Johnson FACULTY ADVISOR: Emily Harris THE A&T REGISTER is published every semester 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 circulation of 5,000 copies on-campus. The opinions expressed in the newspaper reflect those of the students, not the university faculty, staff or administrators. This is a student newspaper where the students have editorial freedom. Pick up your copy at one of these box locations: Academic Classroom Building Bookstore Craig Hall, 2nd Crosby, 2nd Bluford Dowdy New Academic Classroom Moore Hall McNair Moore Gym (basketball courts) General Classroom Building Register offices Smith Science Building Murphy Hall Sebastian Health Center Webb Hall Field House New Science Building Campus Recreation Center Williams Dining

theYARD

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The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Friday, September 21, 2018

Diversity by 2023 is key

Revised strategy includes campus, economic growth ELAIJAH GIBBS-JONES Yard Editor

ELAIJAH GIBBS-JONES| THE REGISTER

The revised strategic plan, “Taking the Momentum to 2023,” was announced by Chancellor Harold Martin during the ﬁrst press conference of the academic year. One of the main goals of the revised strategic plan is the enrollment of more diverse students. “The focus of the new strategic plan enhances our presence,” Martin said. Looking more in-depth into the goal of enrollment, the 2023 plans include a more diverse campus for the University. The four section objectives within Goal 5: Diverse and Inclusive Culture are as followed. 5.1 Enhance the cultural and intellectual environment of the university by advancing an inclusive university campus community. 5.2 Embrace a culture of respect to support diversity in all forms among the faculty, staﬀ and student body. 5.3 Graduate our students with global credentials through experiences abroad, international studies and domestic and international work experiences. 5.4 Address in-state academic achievement gaps facing lowincome, rural population and

ELAIJAH GIBBS-JONES|THE REGISTER

gender-related concerns. Key Metric and Performance Indicators are deﬁned as progress trackers for the new plan. Many of the indicators for the 2023 plan in terms of enrollment is 14,000 students, and student demographic is 30 percent non-African-American and 70 percent African-American. Non-African-American groups are becoming more prevalent on campus. College Factual reports 18.9

percent of undergraduate students identify as non-African-American for the academic year, which is a University performance indicator. “My experience has not only allowed me to learn from others in different areas, but also allows me to teach individuals about the differences and similarities we share,” said Carson Carnahan, a Caucasian freshman civil engineering student. “I have been welcomed with more than open arms and I wouldn’t give up my opportunity to be here for the world,” Carnahan said. Although the inclusion of other races is in the plan, gender diversity has not been publicly discussed or displayed in any indicators. Among the main topic of diversity, there are five other goals N.C. A&T is striving to meet by 2023. These include: ●Creating an intellectual climate ●Committing to excellence in teaching, research, public service and engagement ●Positioning to be a research, science and technology-focused institution ●Embracing entrepreneurial spirit and expanding economic engagement ●Achieving academic and operational excellence “It is time to take the next step... to move into the exciting future we envision,” said Martin.

A&T celebrates Hispanic heritage with activities AKILAH KAFELE Yard Lead Reporter

Every year between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15, people all over the United States celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) as a recognition of the history, culture and contributions Hispanic and Latinx people bring to the United States. N.C. A&T will be one of the many universities celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. With the partnership of the Multicultural Student Center and Estamos Unidos, the University has planned to host programs throughout the week of Sept. 24-29. “Each year my organization, Estamos Unidos, hosts a ‘Loteria Night’ [game night] as an introduction to Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Jasmine Aguilar, junior psychology student and Estamos Unidos vice president. “This year we plan to hold our Loteria Night on Sept. 26, and hope to hold it in the New Student Center.” In addition to the ﬁrst program, Estamos Unidos will also begin its Spanish tutoring on Sept. 26 for all students enrolled in Spanish courses. The organization is also planning a panel discussion during the ﬁrst week of October for the continuation of Hispanic Heritage Month. Originally, Hispanic Heritage Month began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 declared under President Johnson. It was then extended to an entire month under President Reagan to its current dates in 1988. Often, there is confusion between

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Festival de los Aggies (SUAB) Sept. 21 in Moore Gym at 6 p.m. Loteria Night (Estamos Unidos) Sept. 26 Spanish Tutoring (Estamos Unidos) begins Sept. 26. ZILA SANCHEZ| THE REGISTER

race and ethnicity within the United States, especially in terms of Hispanic and Latinx. Hispanic is an ethnicity of a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American or other Hispanic culture or origin regardless of race according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Latino or Latinx by deﬁnition is a person of Latin American culture or origin also regardless of race. To commemorate the independence days of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, Hispanic Heritage Month begins on the 15th of September instead of the ﬁrst day of the month. Three other countries including Mexico, Chile and Belize, celebrated their own independence soon after on the 16th, 18th, and 21st. As of July 2016, the U.S. Hispanic population has been reported of 57.5 million and is made up of people from Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and other Spanish and Central American

Students attended a women’s empowerment talk during last year’s Hispanic Heritage Month. Activities start tonight with a festival in Moore Gym sponsored by SUAB.

countries. The work of Hispanic activists like Cesar Chavez, the sports contributions of athletes such as Roberto Clemente, and the art and music of artists such as Frida Kahlo and Selena, have inﬂuenced the U.S. for decades and are among the many to be celebrated and remembered during this month. Many inventions such as the color television, electric brake and contraceptive pill were created by Hispanic inventors. As N.C. A&T’s student enrollment rises, the Hispanic population has increased over 4 percent since the 2017 academic year. The University continues to promote inclusivity and community as student ethnicities and racial backgrounds expand. “I believe A&T could do so much more to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month as there are several countries

under the Hispanic ethnicity,” said Aguilar. “I would love to see more things on campus about Latinx and Hispanic student accomplishments.” The University plans to release a list of programs for Hispanic Heritage Month soon. Students can celebrate the month by attending the Student University Activity Board’s program, Festival de los Aggies tonight (Sept. 21) in Moore Gym at 6 p.m. Also, after the New Student Center opens, a Hispanic and Latino student meet-up will take place. “Hispanic Heritage Month allows me to share my culture’s accomplishments with peers and other people of this country, which shows we are not here to ‘take jobs’ or ‘rape and murder.’ We are people creating progress for this country,” said Kevin Galdamez, senior mechanical engineering student.

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The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Friday, September 21, 2018

Blog a hotspot for hijabi culture KAYLA CLARKE theCulture Editor

As N.C. A&T becomes more diverse culturally, one student in particular has developed a blog focusing on fashion, skincare, and most importantly the experiences and life of a black, American Muslim. Avianna Perry, a sophomore business administration student from Raleigh, NC, grew up in a very diverse family with a open-minded mother which she stated helped her for the better. “Through marriage we had East Asian Buddhists, Somali Muslims, Latinx Catholics, and white and black Christians who were either Orthodox or Baptist. So I grew up in the midst of a plethora of cultures and because of this, my mother was relaxed when it came to religion,” Perry explained. Although Perry considered herself Muslim, it wasn’t until her teenage years where she saw the importance of religion. “I personally believe that I’ve been Muslim my entire life but I didn’t start practicing until my late teens when in my life I felt like I needed the structure that religion offers,” says Perry. At the age of 15, Perry decided to make it official. She went to her local Masjid (mosque) and took her declaration of faith which is called Shahada. Since then, Perry has evolved in her beliefs and decided to start a blog entitled “Hijabi Hotspot.” With her passion for writing and photography along with other influential Muslimahs (Muslim women) who have started blogs

AVIANNA PERRY Perry poses with one of her hijabs. and YouTube channels, Perry knew blogging was the path for her. Hijabi Hotspot discusses many topics including fashion and health trends, but Perry also wanted it to be a interactive blog. “I do want my site to be interactive as well so I have a section where I accept submissions and write about other Muslim women who are just doing their own thing whether it’s painting, fashion designing, or blogging because I think it’s really important to help one another by networking,” says Perry. Along with a interactive blog, Perry has also added links for other Muslim women to purchase aﬀordable hijabs and modest-wear clothing on Hijabican as well as AHS. Even though Perry’s blog is still new, she didn’t expect it to be as successful as it has become. Within her four month period, Perry has gained 150 subscribers which continuously grows everyday.

Kayla Clarke is theCulture editor. Reach her at kgclarke@ aggies.ncat.edu

In a few years, Perry hopes to be a full time blogger and build a partnership with other companies. “I’m already currently talking to companies about partnerships so InshAllah (god willing) that will work out, and with my degree I would like to create an online modest-fashion boutique,” she revealed. While being a sophomore here at North Carolina A&T, she has joined 100 Collegiate Women which has had a huge impact on how she saw herself. “I was surrounded by people who wanted to be successful and just genuinely wanted to see me succeed. We uplifted one another and reminded one another to focus on the things that are really important like our self-esteem and mental health,” says Perry. As Perry continues to focus on the importance of the black women along with the black American Muslimahs on her blog, she also wants women to remember the importance of setting standards for oneself. “High-self esteem of oneself makes it so you know what you deserve so you won’t accept anything less, and if you have a standard set, then the only way you can go is above it,” she said. For more information, be sure to check out her social media along with her website: Instagram: sincerelyavi Wesbite: https://avianap.wixsite. com/hijabihotspot

POPPING HAIR HISTORY

KAYLA CLARKE/THE REGISTER

Want to write for theCulture? Come out to our contributors meetings on Wednesdays at 5 pm in GCB 328

HURRICANE FLORENCE

SPECIAL COVERAGE

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The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Friday, September 21, 2018

Death toll will rise ALEXIS WRAY Editor-in-Chief

Hurricane Florence has devastated communities, families, as well as Virginia and the Carolinas with its historic amounts of rainfall and extreme winds, but nothing has been more catastrophic than the reported 33 deaths, as of Sept. 17. North Carolina’s current death toll due to the hurricane is 26, South Carolina is reported to have six, and Virginia a total of one. In North Carolina, the deaths also included: The first deaths associated with the hurricane occurred in North Carolina when a tree collapsed on a home in Wilmington, NC and killed a mother and her child. During the storm, a 78-year-old man was electrocuted when connecting extension cords during the rain. In Pender County, NC a woman died after suffering a medical condition; when rescuers tried to get to her trees and debris blocked the road to her home. An additional three people were killed in Duplin County, NC as a result of fast flood waters and high wind speeds. In Dallas, NC a tree collapsed on a family’s motor home killing a three-month, Kade Gill. Harsh winds ended the life of a 77-yearold man while he checked on his dogs. While evacuating for the storm an 81-year-old man died, the Associated Press reported. In Cumberland County, NC an 86-yearold couple died due to a house fire, according to the Fayetteville Observer.

A 56-year-old man did while traveling off-road his tractor-trailer hydroplaned. Riding as an “unrestrained passenger” in an SUV a 25-year-old man in Gaston, County was killed. Found submerged in his vehicle was a 73-year-old man in Scotland County. In Sampson County, a 73-year-old man died of COPD due to the lack of power and operation of his oxygen concentrator. Also in Sampson County, a 62-year-old man died after assisting an evacuee. In South Carolina, the deaths also included: The Associated Press reported a 61-year-old woman died Friday when her vehicle hit a fallen tree dangling over Highway 18 near Union. Georgetown County Coroner Kenny Johnson said Sunday that Michael Dalton Prince, 23, drowned inside his truck when it overturned in high water, according to The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News. In Horry County, the Coroner’s Office confirmed Debra Collins Rion, 61, and Mark Carter King, 63, died of carbon monoxide poisoning from their generator, The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News reported. On Sunday morning, the Lexington County Coroner reported Rhonda Rebecca Hartley, 30, of Leesville died when a pickup truck encountered standing water on Pond Branch Road and slid off the road into a tree, reported WIS. In Virginia, the deaths also included: A fatality occurred when a building collapsed on a man Several deaths have been reported but not directly linked to the storm. The deaths reported above are not all that have been calculated.

Relief shelters open ZILA SANCHEZ Managing Editor

Red Cross Emergency Shelters: ● Glenwood Recreation Center For anyone who needs a safe place to stay locally. Also, open for April Tornado victims. The shelter will be open 24 hours a day until further notice. Location: 2 010 Coliseum Blvd. in Greensboro ● Interactive Resource Center White Flag Emergency Warming Station Location:407 E. Washington St. in Greensboro ● High Point Seventh Day Adventist Church Location:279 Eastchester Drive For more information about the shelter, contact the Red Cross or 336333-2111. YMCA BEAUFORT COUNTY Location: Second Baptist Church parking lot ONSLOW COUNTY The National Guard has established two locations in the county for residents to obtain fresh drinking water. Locations:Dixon Middle School, 118 Ridge Field Ave.; Southwest Middle School: 3000 Furia Drive, Jacksonville.

YMCA of Greensboro locations are welcoming the people who need to shower, want to charge their devices, or just want a warm cup of coffee. It is not serving as an overnight shelter, but rather as a place to stay for the day. Guests won’t be charged a fee but will need to bring a photo ID and sign a guest waiver. President Donald Trump issued a disaster declaration that covers ● Beaufort, Brunswick ● Carteret, Craven ● New Hanover ● Onslow ● Pamlico ● Pender Counties People living in those areas may be eligible for grants to get temporary housing, money for home repairs, low-cost loans, or funds to cover uninsured property losses. If you can’t return to your home, or if you are unable to live in your home because of disaster damage, visit DisasterAssistance.gov. If you are in one of the affected counties, you will need the following to apply for assistance: ● Social Security Number ● Daytime phone number ● Current mailing address and address and zip code of the damaged property ● Insurance information, if available

hurricaneFLORENCE The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Friday, September 21, 2018

A CHANGED LANDSCAPE ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA

CHUCK LIDDY/NEWS & OBSERVER Marybeth Slocumb directs traffic Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018 in downtown Wilmington, N.C. as volunteers gave out free water.

JULIA WALL/NEWS & OBSERVER New York Urban Search and Rescue team members evaluate a flooded section of Spring Lake, N.C., Tuesday Sept. 18, 2018.

JULIA WALL/NEWS & OBSERVER CASEY TOTH NEWS & OBSERVER Days after Hurricane Florence made landfall in Wilmington, NC, flood water still surrounds buildings in Trenton, NC, on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018.

New York Urban Search and Rescue team members check for residents in Spring Lake, N.C., Tuesday Sept. 18, 2018.

The effects of Hurricane Florence AYANNA MILLER Contributor

Empty bread shelves, water being bought by the trunk loads, and long gas lines was the scene earlier this week as Hurricane Florence barreled towards the Carolina Coast. Florence, who made landfall over the weekend, worried a multitude of residents, as a storm of this caliber had not impacted the state in years. “It’s going to be crazy because North Carolina hasn’t been hit by a hurricane directly in a long time… so this is going to be interesting and nerve racking,” said Gabrielle Cooke, senior multimedia journalism student and producer of Aggie News and Views. As the storm’s intensity began to rise, most educational institutions began suspending operations giving faculty and students time to prepare. However, N.C. A&T which canceled classes after Wednesday at 12 p.m., was one of the last universities to do so. This left many students and their families anxious about their safety.

“...North Carolina hasn’t been hit by a hurricane directly in a long time… so this is going to be interesting and nerve racking.” “N.C. A&T stalls on canceling classes all the time, so I’m not surprised about it… I wouldn’t be shocked if the hurricane was coming down East Market [Street] and they decided ‘Oh yeah, we can’t have class today,’” said Cooke. As Florence began to make her way to

the Carolinas, shifting paths and fluctuating in strength, the outer bands of the storm hit the coast late Thursday night as a Category 1 hurricane with complete landfall on Friday. Despite Florence’s diminished condition, the Carolinas were pounded with high winds and heavy rains causing substantial damage and immense flooding. Some citizens were left taking refuge in attics and on top of roofs until first responders arrived. Multiple rivers, such as the Cape Fear, had risen tremendously in Fayetteville. As of Wednesday, the Cape Fear had risen to about a dangerous 62 feet. In Wilmington, two feet of rainfall had fallen. There also has seen a rise in looting of businesses post hurricane. The brunt of Florence also left millions of people without power and has caused a multitude of road closures, with the most notable being Interstate 95 and Interstate 40 with large sections being underwater. Florence has also been a very fatal storm and as of Wednesday afternoon, it has claimed 33 lives. Greensboro and surrounding areas

experienced heavy rainfall through the weekend as Florence weakened to a tropical cyclone. This caused some flooding in the Triad with streets such as S. Elm-Eugene Street and Latham Road being closed due to flood waters. Florence also caused a few power outages in the area as well. Junior finance student, Keysia Johnson, said she lost power at her apartment complex. “My complex had a series of power outages where it would cut off and cut right back on,” said Johnson. Most schools and universities were closed on Monday. N.C. A&T wanted to give their students who evacuated some time to get back to campus and scheduled for regular university activities to resume on Tuesday, according to a campuswide email. This also caused concern for students who left and couldn’t get back due to road closures throughout the state. The University tweeted a suggestion intended for evacuated students: “Students who face travel circumstances that make returning to class on Tuesday problematic should contact their professors.”

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The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Friday, September 21, 2018

“My cousin just called me in shambles our family home didn’t survive the storm back in Wilmington. My great uncle built our family house back in the 1960s in a predominantly White neighborhood. We were one of the first Black families to start living there. I couldn’t help but to begin to cry.”

— Brittany Van Pelt, Register/ Digital Media Director

Dilemma of evacuated students ELAIJAH GIBBS-JONES theYard Editor

Despite the current conditions of multiple highways, roads and overall transportation operations for NC, N.C. A&T students were still expected to operate on a normal schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 18. When it comes to natural disasters and weather conditions, cancellation is a constant topic of conversation on college campuses. Often, universities do not change the state of operations as soon as news coverage of disasters occur. Therefore, students become outraged and confused in terms of safety preparations. Amongst other terms, University preparation precautions for Hurricane Florence included the optional evacuation of students. University Communications released a statement through email informing the campus community of the possible affected areas as well as cautionary suggestions. It is important to plan ahead and talk about what you will do before, during and after an emergency. You need to talk about how will you get to a safe place, get in touch with family once you are there, and how you are going to get back. “After reviewing our surveys, calling students and going door-to-door, we had approximately 2239 residents vacate the halls and apartments. Please keep in mind not everyone returned phone calls or responded to our emails/surveys regarding their plans,” said Cassandra E. Bradley, Associate Director of Housing and Residence Life

Following the events of the hurricane, most students discovered closings of major highways to incoming trafﬁc. Highways including I-95 northbound and I-40 westbound and eastbound. Students took to Twitter to share their experiences. Many utilized these as reasons why they were unable to return to Greensboro, NC by Tuesday morning to attend classes. “My family is concerned about me driving back tomorrow since classes haven’t been canceled for Tuesday,” said Breana Draper, senior journalism and mass communication student. Nonstudents even began defending students and wondering why school systems were not providing students with a longer grace period. The A&T Register created a poll to retrieve data from the N.C. A&T community. The purpose was to inquire and research the approximate percentage of students who could not attend classes by Tuesday. Over 2,000 Twitter Aggies participated, which resulted 82 percent voting “No” to the question, “Are you able to get back to campus for class Tuesday?” “I am stuck in southern Davidson county and cannot return due to the creation of a sinkhole on the main road of my neighborhood, which is not expected to be ﬁx until the end of the week,” said Lacey Lampley, freshman biology student. In response to Draper, the University tweeted a suggestion intended for evacuated students. The tweet read: “Students who face travel circumstances that make returning to class on Tuesday problematic should contact their professors.”

DAVID T. FOSTER III/CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Rescue workers stage their equipment for the search for a a 1-year-old in Union County on Monday, September 17, 2018 after the child was swept away in floodwaters resulting from the remnants of Hurricane Florence on Sunday. The child’s body was later recovered.

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theWORD

T The he A&T A&T

The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Friday, September 21, 2018

The A&T Register is the student newspaper of N.C. Agricultural and Technical State University. The opinions reflected are those of the student editorial staff and not those of university administrators, faculty or staff. We, the staff, are students.

Zila Sanchez is the Allison Gilmore Word editor. Reach is her theWord editor. Reach at zsanchez@aggies. her at ajgilmor@ ncat.edu aggies.ncat.edu

Impact of diversity and inclusion at N.C. A&T ALLISON GILMORE & LAUREN MITCHELL

theWord Editor & Lead Reporter

The face of the largest public HBCU is changing, but for the better. N.C. A&T is going down the path of diversifying the campus. This causes mixed emotions among students. Many students associate the increase in non-black students with Chancellor Harold Martin’s strategic plan titled “A&T Preeminence: Taking the Momentum to 2023.” It is essentially Preeminence 2020 but with an extended vision. Originally Preeminence 2020 was developed as a way to curve downfall from decreasing gradation rates and budget cuts. The “diversity” section of the plan states in 2011, the African American population was 87 percent, and the goal for 2020 is 70 percent. A whopping 17 percent decrease in African American students was expected in a nine year time span. This has caused many to fear the institution that was created for them. However, N.C. A&T’s strategic plans have transformed the school since they were implemented. Over the years the university has an inﬂux of students, a spike in GPAs and an increase in faculty members. Similar to the original plan Preeminence 2020, N.C. A&T has again committed to expanding it’s

diversity and a inclusion. Goal 5 of Preeminence 2023 states: “North Carolina A&T will strengthen our campus community by fostering a more diverse and inclusive culture.” Students do not have to worry about imposter syndrome, tokenism, or a feeling of inferiority which

My Latina vote matters ZILA SANCHEZ Managing Editor

Growing up, I always thought it was normal to never see people like me in positions of power. It was instilled into me that I am part of a minority in the United States. However, my understanding of political power nowadays has shaped me to be more passionate about social issues. And boy am I angry. As a ﬁrst generation Mexican-American, I have been exposed to the world of hate and bigotry against Hispanics and Latinos. There are too many misconceptions about why immigrants - both legal and undocumented - are here. The United States has been the top destination for migrants since the 1960s, and one-ﬁfth of the world’s migrants live here as of 2017, according to the Migration Policy Institute. In 2016, The Pew Research Center estimated there were 11.9 million undocumented immigrants living in the US. Most of these immigrants come from a Latin country, with about half from Mexico. Though the numbers may seem great, their voices have historically not been well represented and they only make a small percentage of the civilian workforce overall. Our current administration’s approach to immigration enforcement does too little to distinguish dangerous criminals from those who migrated to the U.S. in the pursuit of better economic possibilities or a safe haven from violence. Ninety-two percent of those arrested by ICE had a criminal conviction, a pending criminal charge,

were a fugitive or had re-entered the country after being deported in 2017, according to US News. That percentage, however, includes people charged with no crime other than crossing the border. And of course it’s not just Latino people who are facing injustice. As a student at N.C. A&T, I have witnessed firsthand the criminalization of black people and the way the black vote is silenced. My school has been split into two voting districts, “cracking” the black vote in half. So, I am furious. This rage that I have has shaped me to be the armored up, “social justice warrior” I am now. It’s the reason I’m studying journalism and mass communication now: to give a voice to the people who suffer the most. That same dissatisfaction is also why I joined NextGen North Carolina which is a part of NextGen America, a political advocacy group fighting for progressive values. As a Latina, my vote has never mattered more than it does now. A record 27.3 million Latinos are eligible to cast ballots, yet they only represent 12 percent of all eligible voters, according to Pew Research Center projections. So I’m going to vote, and I encourage everyone else to vote, too. It’s too easy to say “my vote doesn’t count” when we see all the injustices people face every day in our nation. But the revolution starts with us. This Nov. 6, we have the power to be the catalyst for change. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

is caused when other races that perform better academically are in the classroom. Many fear that the culture of campus will change, essentially deleting the history in which it was founded on in 1891. Although HBCUs have always enrolled students of all races, many are becoming increasingly less black.

Colleges and university were once beacons of higher education opportunities for African-Americans, developed the Black middle class and produced engineers, teachers, and other professionals. Unfortunately, this became a double-edged sword and caused many to see a decrease in Black enrollment after integration. Places like Blueﬁeld State now see African-Americans comprise less than half of the student body. At Lincoln University in Missouri, African-Americans account for 40 percent of enrollment while at Alabama’s Gadsden State Community College, 71 percent of the students are white and just 21 percent are black. The demographics of these institutions don’t represent the history of these HBCUs. These schools are examples of what many alumni fear the outcome of plans like Preeminence 2023. Florida A&M University (FAMU) has both Hispanic and Palestinian students serving on their royal court. “My goal this year was to showcase FAMU’s diversity more,” said Miss FAMU, Imani Cooper. Some HBCUs take pride in their diversity and N.C. A&T should too. Students should be less apprehensive to a more diverse campus and remember to stay true to the roots of our HBCU.

Nike’s marketing scheme LAUREN MITCHELL Lead Reporter

Not too long ago, marketing focused on a prototypical consumer: a white, heterosexual, middleclass, Christian. Looking at most advertisements today, it’s obvious the ideological consumer become more relatable. The country is rapidly becoming more diverse, with different preferences, beliefs and ideals spreading into smaller cities and tows. However, are companies adapting to these changes for moral reasons or as a means of survival? Around the 1980s, companies, universities and government agencies began to increase their marketing efforts around diversity and inclusion. Many American businesses began to expand internationally, meaning companies had to compete both locally and nationally. Communities also began to celebrate differences rather than focusing on assimilation. The sneaker giant, Nike, recently launched an ad campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick as the face of the 30th anniversary of its “Just Do It” slogan. Kaepernick tweeted “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt,” with the words superimposed over an image of his face accompanied by the Nike swoosh. Kaepernick was a quarterback for the 49ers, who sparked national debate after kneeling during the national anthem six years ago,

protesting racial injustice and police brutality. His protest caused outrage among many NFL players, fans and President Donald Trump, who has said that the act disrespected the American flag and the military. Others agreed with Kaepernick, praised him for his bravery and commended him for his social justice efforts. Since the ad was launched, Nike has seen not only a increase in its social media platforms but sales have also skyrocketed, despite many customers vowing to boycott their products and even burning their gear. The support outweighs the negative reactions, striking favorably with its core demographic: young African-American and Hispanic men. It’s no secret that consumers are attracted to things in which they can identify. Companies are finally noticing the huge spending power of minority groups. The spending power of African-Americans is projected to reach $1.2 trillion by 2020, according the Nielsen. Unfortunately, many are only using this information as a tactic to earn more money. The fight for inclusivity and diversity will never be a simple one, and it’s alway going to be a push and pull between consumers and companies using the latest inclusive movement as a marketing strategy.

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TyRel Thompson is theScore editor. Reach him at tlthompson3@aggies. ncat.edu

The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Friday, September 21, 2018

Women deserve better from fans JAROD HAMILTON Lead Reporter

Women are incredible athletes, just like men, but unfortunately they do not receive the same attention, praise, respect and pay as their male counterparts. Male sports are more idolized and advertised than female sports. The world in 1946 was centered around World War II, a war that lasted six years and women were seen doing all types of jobs due to the high influx of men in the war. This time period is when the world realized women could do anything men could do. It is now 2018 and the average salary for an NBA player is $5 million. In the WNBA, the average salary is $79,000 for players with less than 6 years of experience and a max of $115,000 for players with six years of experience or more. Stephen Curry is the NBA’s highestpaid player making more than $37 million. He has proven he deserves this hefty salary, but there are players in the WNBA such as Diana Taurasi, who is considered the “female Michael Jordan,” who is worthy of a competitive salary. This season, Taurasi will make a league-high $115,000. For sake of

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE Serena Williams celebrates during her women’s single fourth-round victory against Kaia Kanepi at the 2018 U.S. Open on Sunday, September 2.

comparison, Taurasi made a little more than $3,000 per game this season; unlike Curry, who will make more than $450,000 per game in the upcoming 2018 season. Curry was drafted into the NBA in 2009, while Taurasi was drafted into the WNBA in 2004.

Using accolades for both players, in comparison, from the 2009 season to the present; Taurasi is a six-time AllStar, a five-time First Team All-WNBA selection, and a two-time WNBA champion. Curry is a five-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection, and a three-time NBA champion.

The 2018 NBA Finals brought an average viewing of 17.7 million viewers per game in a “down year” for the ratings, while the WNBA Finals had an increase in ratings from the year before with more than 550,000 viewers. Which begs the question, why do fans not watch the women’s version of the same sports everyone loves? They do the same thing as men and sometimes do it better. The only time women may, possibly, get the same attention as men are in sports like tennis and soccer. Both sports highlight well-known athletes like Serena Williams and Hope Solo. Have you ever heard of Delfine Persoon? She is the reigning and defending WBC, WIBA, and WIBF boxing Lightweight champion. With the decrease in ratings for women’s boxing in the United States, viewers hardly get to see champions of her caliber fight on network television. Yet, Floyd Mayweather made $100 million for fighting a UFC fighter. Women have shown they are just as capable as men are within the sports industry. They are more than just housewives and stay at home moms; they are businesswomen, athletes, and, most of all, our equals.

We are more than just players TYREL THOMPSON theScore Editor

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is the second African-American to win a Super Bowl.

There is a lack of minorities in head coaching positions in the National Football League, despite the league being made up of mostly black athletes. Due to the large population of black athletes in the NFL, that isn’t factual pertaining to head coaches. It appears black head coaches are more likely to get fired and less likely to get hired compared to white counterparts. The population of the National Football League is around 1,700 players. 28 percent, of the 1,700, tallying to 470 players, are White. Asian, Hispanic, and other racial categories makes up 4.36 percent. And with a whopping 68 percent, tallying to 1,155 players, Black

athletes makes up the majority of the sport’s population. Although Black athletes are the majority of the NFL’s population, there is still a lack of diversity when it comes to the head coaching positions. There are 32 teams in the NFL and, only seven are coached by Black men. Dating back to 1978, there have been 17 Black head coaches to coach a team for an entire season. In that same time frame, there has been 174 White head coaches to do so. Many of the black head coaches, over the years, were very successful with the teams they have coached. The Rooney Rule, created by Dan Rooney, was a rule created to ensure minority coaches would be considered for high-level coaching positions.

The rule was implemented after Tony Dungy, the first Black coach to win a super bowl, was fired after posting a winning season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Although the Rooney Rule is effective, when it comes to hiring minorities for coaching positions, it is not effective when it comes to maintaining a coaching job. In recent times, there have been advocates to extend the Rooney Rule to college football. Equality and the increase of diversity is an ongoing problem in the NFL, and it may go on for years to come. Black men are not just players, who run, catch, and pass, they have the ability to lead a team to victory as well as any other man.

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The A&T Register | ncatregister.com | Friday, September 21, 2018

We use our

diversity as our strength.