TheFamuanMarch20Issue

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In This Issue:

International student-athlete studies in U.S. to play the sport he loves. More on page 6.

Justin Timberlake’s single “Suit and Tie” peaks interest for his new album “The 20/20 Experience.” More on page 4.

News ....... 1, 3 Calendar .... 2 Lifestyles .... 4 Opinions ..... 5 Sports ......... 6

www.TheFamuanOnline.com

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Rattlers remember ‘Timbo’ Band member honored at vigil held in band room following tragic spring break crash Courtney Martin Correspondent

Jorge Rodriguez-Jimenez/The Famuan Students and adminstrators spoke about and reminisced on fallen band member at Monday afternoon vigil.

Students, faculty, staff and administration remembered Florida A&M student Timbrina Thomas with a vigil held in the Band Rehearsal Hall on Monday afternoon. Thomas, a third-year psychology student from Miami, was involved in a fatal car accident on Florida’s Turnpike while driving back from spring break. She played the saxophone as a member of the Marching “100.” Tears were shed and hearts were heavy as the vigil began. Looking around, students and faculty embraced one another for support. The atmosphere in the rehearsal hall was somber. “We’ve gone through a lot over the last year,” said Kawachi

News Briefs FAMU professor receives patent on medication that will help to combat staph infection

Topic of discussion: How do you think students can stay safe while driving back home during the summer?

Florida A&M’s Seth Y. Ablordeppey, a professor of medicinal chemistry, recently received a patent to create an inexpensive compound to help combat Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA is a staph infection that is unaffected by everyday antibiotics.

Medicaid coverage to be expanded for Florida TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The decision to offer Medicaid coverage to roughly 1 million Florida residents under the federal health law is triggering partisan bickering amid competing proposals to pass up billions of federal dollars entirely or to accept the money, but funnel it into private insurance. Two very different Medicaid expansion proposals are emerging in the Senate.

Jury convicts mother of death of newborn twins

GALLATIN, Tenn. (AP) — A jury found a 26-year-old Tennessee woman guilty of murder Tuesday in the 2011 smothering deaths of newborn twins found in her laundry basket. The jury of seven men and five women convicted Lindsey Lowe of felony murder, premeditated murder and aggravated child abuse. She was immediately sentenced to life in prison.

Egyptian Muslims attack Christians seeking missing girl

WEATHER

ASSIUT, Egypt (AP) — Hundreds of Muslim villagers in Egypt’s south have attacked Christian-owned stores in search of a girl whose family claims was abducted. The villagers assaulted the stores Tuesday and surrounded two churches in the city of al-Wasta in Bani Suef province in Egypt’s south.

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Clemons, an assistant professor in the Department of Music. “I’m confident that through love and the communal family atmosphere that we have in the Marching '100’ that our students faculty, and staff will get through this.” As the ceremony progressed, both students and faculty spoke briefly about Thomas. They remembered her lively spirit and disposition. She left a great impression on people she met. Members of the band spoke highly of her talent, including receiving the honor of playing in the winter ensemble as a freshman. Marching “100” member Casey Nelson remembers Thomas as beautiful and talented with a lively charm. “I remember always messing with her and her getting me back THOMAS, see page 3

FAMU vows to comply with SACS Sharell Williams Correspondent

Tatyana Roper, first-year broadcast journalism student from Orlando.

Shayla Wilson, fourth-year postbaccalaureate biology student from Orlando.

“You got to make sure your car is good for a long drive. I mean, I live in Orlando so that is a four-hour drive. I make sure my car is up to par.”

“I think a lot of people should probably respect traffic laws in terms of not speeding and not texting and smoking when driving.”

Michael PonsQuinones, first-year preengineering student from Bayamons, P.R.

“Maybe students can actually make sure their cars are good for the road. Make sure their tires are right. That has a lot to do with it.”

Diamond Beaton, third-year information technology student from St. Petersburg.

“Pay attention. Keep the music at a minimum. Probably not talk [and] text while driving. If it’s raining, slow down. Don’t speed.”

Florida A&M Police Department and Big Bend Crime Stoppers team up to fight campus crime Jasmine Harris Correspondent The Florida A&M Police Department and Big Bend Crime Stoppers are joining forces to combat crime on campus and in the surrounding community. The purpose of the partnership is to encourage more people to come forward with information about crimes that may happen on or around campus. According to police department officials, the partnership with Big Bend Crime Stoppers creates another way for those in the FAMU community to proactively help law enforcement fight crime. Lt. Angela Kirkland, investigations commander in the Department of Public Safety, said she believes the partnership will bring a “reduction in crime and the safe and secure atmosphere by which student(s) can focus on education, not crime.” Big Bend Crime Stoppers is an avenue for citizens to report crime. Tipsters are anonymous to Big Bend Crime Stoppers and law enforcement agencies so that they will not fear retaliation from criminals. “We don’t want the tipsters, we want the criminals,” said Sharon Ofuani, executive

director of Big Bend Crime Stoppers. If tips lead to the arrest of criminals, tipsters can be rewarded up to $1,000. According to the Big Bend Crime Stoppers website, since its inception in August 2002, BBCS has received more than 12,000 tips. The tips have led to more than 1,000 arrests, and more than $100,000 in reward money has been paid. While some students are supportive of the partnership, other students said they are unsure they would report a crime if the culprit was a friend. “I feel like it depends on the extent of the crime and how much trouble they’ll get into also,” said Esther Escarmant, a first-year psychology student from Miami. Ofuani said she doesn’t want to leave the student population out of the equation. “I believe the more eyes and ears that we can have on criminal activity, the more criminals will think twice about what they do in this community,” she said. Individuals can submit tips via the local tip line at 850-574-TIPS (8477), online at tipsubmit.com, text “BBCS” to 274637 (Crimes) or download the mobile application: “TipSubmit Mobile.”

Florida A&M has been working to correct issues within the university that were highlighted in a letter from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools earlier this year. SACS cited the university for noncompliance with four accreditation standards. According to the letter, FAMU failed to comply with the principle of integrity, qualified administrative and academic officers, control of finances and institutional environment. SACS provided details and instructions for the university to follow to recognize why these issues occurred and how to correct them. “We are working very hard and addressing concerns regarding SACS that led to the probation,” said Maurice Edington, SACS accreditation liaison and interim dean of the College of Science and Technology. Edington discussed several different measures that were implemented for each standard. FAMU has made changes in personnel regarding integrity. Edington said there is a new vice president with extensive experience in audit and compliance. The university has also implemented several enhancements to internal policies, procedures and practices. The control of finances issue is related to the band, and many internal changes have been made, including group travel. Students have to be registered in the school to receive per diem, a daily allowance, when traveling. The university is also working to ensure the concerns raised by SACS are addressed in a timely manner concerning the qualified administrative and academic officers. Ensuring safety on campus is another top concern regarding the institutional environment. According to Edington, FAMU implemented several sweeping changes to enhance the institutions’ anti-hazing efforts and campus safety. “We’ve made significant progress in addressing SACS concerns,” Edington said. “And we are fully confident that we will have satisfactorily addressed the concerns and will be removed from probation after their review in SACS, see page 3


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