The Student Voice of Howard University Since 1924 Volume 101, Issue 9
Thursday, October 20, 2016
LET’S GO BISON!
Bison look to knock off conference leader Aggies for 2016 Homecoming game
Washington, D.C.
INSIDE
CULTURE: How “Ladylike”: H&M Challenges Stereotypes Pg. 8/
CAMPUS: Liberian, Moroccan delegates from Michelle Obama’s Initiative Visit Howard University Pg. 5/
Attorney General Loretta Lynch visits Howard University #ThrowbackThursday before 2013Howard Homecoming football game. (Photo Credit: The Hilltop Archives)
By Chad Vines Clarke Sports Staff Writer The Howard University Homecoming football game will take place at William H. Greene Stadium, Saturday, October 22. The homecoming game will also be frequented by alumni, students, fans and the families of the North Carolina A&T Aggies, whom the Bison will play against. The homecoming game is one of the most anticipated games of the season and the events during the week are also highly anticipated. As students have been praying over social media that Mother Nature holds back on the rain, the team has been preparing to play in one of the biggest games of their season despite the weather. While the Bison (1-4) having suffered couple tough losses leading
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up to Saturday’s game, an extensive amount of effort has been put into practice to prepare to play the Aggies (5-1). “We pretty much do all we can do throughout the week with preparations,” said head coach Gary Harrell. “I will try to make sure we understand where we are. I’ll see mistakes coming from the team, and we will try to correct those things throughout the week.” Both coaches and players have an understanding of the pressure that come with playing in a homecoming game. To get positive results, there must be extensive practice until things are made right. “Game preparation is more intense during Homecoming week,” said redshirt junior offensive lineman Jordan Dunham. “A lot more focus
By Jaimee Swift Editor-at-Large The Attorney General of the United States Loretta E. Lynch addressed students at Howard Union assignments and more focus on versity at an event which focused executing assignments. I feel like the on a topic that has polarized the team we’re playing this year is a great opponent. I feel like we have to bring nation: the contentious relationship between the Black commuour A game to get the win.” Despite their current record and the nity and law enforcement. Organized and hosted by the pressure that can be put on players to win, some players like junior quarter- Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center at Howard back Kalen Johnson are just excited University, under the leadership to be in the presence of homecoming of Dr. Elsie Scott, and in partnerattendees and fellow players. ship with the Office of Commu“I’m very excited about the homenity Oriented Policing Services coming game,” said Johnson. “The atmosphere is always great and it’s an- (COPS), the Attorney General served as the keynote speaker, and other opportunity to play this game addressed students, faculty, and that I love with my teammates.” staff on a panel discussion on “The While many anticipate the fashion Necessity of Diversity in Commushow, step show and Yardfest, there nity Oriented Policing,” Wednesis no doubt that the game will always day, October 5. be a traditional event for the annual Bison family reunion. FULL STORY ON PAGE 3
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Photos Courtesy of Instagram
A Regal Night: Howard University Royal Court Coronation Students, faculty, staff and other members of the Howard community gathered in the Blackburn Ballroom on Sunday, October 16, to celebrate the coronation of Mr. and Miss Howard University, Jalen Saunders and Victoria Gray, as well as this year’s HU Royal Court—and the event was completed in royal fashion. There was a clear theme of the night from the shirtless, gold-collared greeters to the white candlelit tables. It emphasized a return to our African roots with Miss Howard being welcomed in by a fitting rendition of “She’s Your Queen” from “Coming
By Cyerra Haywood and Justin Cohen Campus and News Staff Writers to America” to the African word number on Black exprint dresses worn by the cellence and Miss Freshman girls in the royal court. stunned the audience with a “This coronation goes back beautiful rendition of “Rise to our roots and with Jalen Up” by Andra Day. and Victoria as our leaders, Mr. and Miss Howard were I feel like it’s time for us to sat upon the main stage go back to our roots,” said where people who knew Quentin Mansfield, Mr. Blue them best said a few words and White 2016 . about them. The touching The royal court was introsentiments had Miss Howard duced to great fanfare. After nearly in tears. all schools entered the ball“They represent the school room, Mr. and Miss Howard with a level of class and were honored by the royal dignity that exemplifies what court from other schools, it means it be a man and such as Miss District of woman of Howard,” said Columbia, and also with a freshman Emmanuelle Haye. rehearsed dance number. “Through their leadership Mr. and Miss Freshman and example they are the also presented a nice spoken quintessential standard for
the entire student body.” Mr. and Miss Howard were officially sworn in by the executive president of the Howard University Student Association, Allyson Carpenter, and they then thanked the audience, specifically their families and the student body. “We commit to stand true to what we ran on,” said Saunders. “Thank you to the students because without you, we wouldn’t be standing here.” The sentiment was shared by the attendees, as they had only positive things to say about the night’s proceedings.
THE HILLTOP STAFF 2016-2017
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Paul Holston
BUSINESS MANAGER
Almani Jackson
MANAGING EDITOR Rushawn Walters SALES MANAGER Akiah Singfield COPY CHIEF Sylvester Johnson III ASSISTANT COPY CHIEF Devin Barnwell CAMPUS EDITOR Maya King EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: eic@thehilltoponline.com NEWS EDITOR Amber Broaden MANAGING: managing1@thehilltoponline.com SPORTS EDITOR Brittany Webb HIRING: hiring@thehilltoponline.com LAYOUT EDITOR Dawn Ri’chard BUSINESS: business@thehilltoponline.com CULTURE EDITOR Gabrielle Oliver The Hilltop Editorial Office: 2401 4th Street NW, 68B Washington, D.C. 20059 PHONE: (202) 806-4749
“It was my first time going [to the coronation ball], but it was definitely a beautiful event to witness,” said Steven Ward, Mr. Towers 2016. “I hope everyone had fun because it looked like the royal court had a lot of fun.” Maria Estela Mendoza, Ms. College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, really enjoyed the ambience and pageantry of the night. “I think it went really well,” she said. “They definitely transformed Blackburn into this magical place in which we celebrate the Mecca and its roots.”
Zora Neale Hurston (18911960), co-founder of The Hilltop Newspaper, is considered one of the pre-eminent writers of twentieth-century AfricanAmerican literature.
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CAMPUS
Attorney General Loretta Lynch visits Howard University to address the state of community policing CONTINUED FROM COVER Galvanizing law enforcement officials and student leaders from colleges and universities within the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan areas, the goal of the discussion was to have an open and honest dialogue on diversity and inclusivity in law enforcement and the importance of engaging African-American college students in improving policing within their communities. Acknowledging the countless shooting deaths of unarmed, Black men, including most recently, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Terrence Crutcher, Keith Lamont Scott, and Alfred Olango, and also, recognizing the murders of five police officers in Dallas, Texas, Lynch emphasized that while tensions, anger and sadness on both sides abound, it is imperative that communities come together to heal and learn from one another. “These events have left all of us with feelings of helplessness, uncertainty and fear. But I strongly believe that we cannot let those feelings divide us,” Lynch said. “I strongly believe that we must acknowledge our shared pain and rededicate ourselves to repairing the fabric of our society. And if we can muster the strength to come together, I strongly believe that we can emerge from these trying times stronger and more united than ever,” she continued. Asserting the Department
of Justice’s (DOJ) role in its commitment to engaging students of color, Lynch also detailed various initiatives in which the DOJ is implementing to address the need for improved community policing. These strategies include: Maintaining a diverse workforce by hiring more people of color within the law enforcement arenas; dispatching members of the DOJ’s Community Relations Service as on-the-ground peaceful mediators when conflict and tensions arise between law enforcement and communities of color; and also, $3 million in grants to address gender-based discrimination, sexual assault and domestic violence in law enforcement. “I am proud to say that at the Department of Justice, we are committed to being a part of the solution in
a number of ways,” Lynch said. “Our COPS Office has joined with the Walters Center here at Howard to engage more millennials – especially young people of color – in law enforcement.” “Our Civil Rights Division is working with a number of departments around the country to implement constitutional policing practices and ensure that every citizen’s basic rights are protected,” she said. “In times of tension and conflict, members of our Community Relations Service serve as on-the-ground mediators, helping to forge peaceful and productive resolutions.” “And through our Office of Justice Programs, we’re promoting and implementing the latest evidence-based strategies for community policing,” she added. While Lynch provided
some initiatives and measures by the DOJ regarding the police state and the Black community, Gabrielle Gray, a second-year doctoral student and president of the Graduate Political Science Association (GPSA), asked the Attorney General what measures the DOJ were to execute, more specifically, in her hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “After the killing of Dontre Hamilton in 2014, the DOJ decided to come in to do an investigation of our police department,” said Gray. “[However], that was only after community organizations protested in the city for about a year-and-a-half.” “But even after they came in and had a large meeting [with] high-level officials, after a while, the dialogue ended,” said Gray. “I asked the question because I
wanted to know how there can be sustainable dialogues and support between cities affected by police violence and the DOJ.” The panel discussion also featured Black law enforcement officials from all over the country, including Deputy Chief Carmen Best of Seattle, Washington; Chief C.J Davis of Durham, North Carolina; and Chief Malik Aziz of Dallas, Texas. Local law enforcement officials from the DMV areas were present as well, including Chief Brian Jordan of Howard University; Lt. Manuel Rivera of Prince George’s Police Department; Commander Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department, Chief Alfred Durham of Richmond, Virginia; and Major Sabrina Tapp-Harper of Baltimore City.
Photo Credit: Jaimee Swift, Editor-at-Large
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Letter From The Editor: “The Year Of The Panther: Why The Hilltop Is Traveling From Howard To Oakland” By Paul Holston Editor-in-Chief October 15, 2016, marks the 50th anniversary of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. Co-founded by Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton in Oakland, California, this revolutionary organization is considered to be one of the first organizations in United States history to militantly struggle for ethnic minority and working class emancipation. As a current student at Howard University and serving this year as the editor of its student newspaper, The Hilltop, I feel that it is our duty and responsibility to highlight and report this Black history 50 years later as a Black Press publication. I have to be honest and express shame that my beloved Howard University has not publicly recognized this momentous occasion, as many Howard University alumni, including ancestors Amiri Baraka (c/o ‘54) and Kwame Ture (c/o ‘64), were members of this great organization. Howard University students from the 1960s also played a pivotal role into pushing Howard administration to create a Black Studies curriculum, which would later evolve the Black Student Union and Black Studies movements nationwide from the 1960s through the 1970s. These moments in history also were around the time the Black Panther Party was progressing…therefore: Their history is our history. Just yesterday, October 14, a powerful conversation with Paul Coates (father of journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates) and Lynn French, both former members of the Black Panther Party, was held in the Howard University Blackburn Digital Auditorium. Hosted by Howard’s Department of Afro-American Studies and the Nu Afrikan Communiversity, the two-hour conversation discussed the 50th Anniversary of The Black Panther Party and what it means in 2016. Did Howard University even bother to promote this needed dialog to the Howard community? No. And
(Courtesy Photo: www.bpp50th.com)
it’s a shame because the Black Panther Party’s history is OUR history. Back in June, my first piece surrounding the Black Panther Party was when I wrote about Howard University alumnus Kwame Ture’s (known then as Stokely Carmichael) historic “Black Power” speech in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1966. Kwame, who was also former chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), popularized the phrase “Black Power” that would become a rallying cry for many activists throughout the country in a post-Civil Rights Movement era. It was Ture who created The Lowndes County Freedom Organization (LCFO) that started in 1965, to which Newton and Seale asked for permission to use the Black Panther emblem that the LCFO had adopted for their newly formed Black Panther Party in October 1966. Again, the Black Panther Party’s history is OUR history. According to The Hilltop’s Policy Board by-laws, “The student newspaper, The Hilltop, should serve as an example of the importance of the freedom and responsibility of the press in an educational environment. The Hilltop is a medium for the
careful and unbiased dissemination of news, information, and opinion of interest to the Howard University community. The student newspaper serves to further the education of its readers by expanding their horizons, enhancing their understanding of the world in which they live and by stimulating intellectual growth through free and responsible exchange of information and ideas.” At a time where Howard is in the space of many milestone occurrences to come, such as the 2016 presidential election, the marking of its 150th anniversary in March 2017, as well as being in the mist of the Black Lives Matter movement across the country, The Mecca needs to remember why we should be at the forefront of these engagements in the 21st century through activism. Hence, this is why next week, from October 20-23, I am intending to travel from The Mecca to Oakland, California as a representative of The Hilltop to cover the Black Panther Party’s 50th Anniversary Conference. If Howard cannot publicly express the gratitude and importance of the Black Panther Party, I am intending to involve myself into Oakland, do the best that I’m able to report all
that I can while there, and bring my journalism work back to The Mecca so that my fellow colleagues and Howard faculty, staff, and alumni can realize how vital it is to be proactive and not reactive. The time is now. While it is important to do the best we can at The Hilltop to serve as the student voice of Howard University, it is also important for this newspaper to be involved within the community. We do this by becoming what one of my predecessors before me, Hodari Ali, expressed during his time as the editor-in-chief in 19751976: “The Hilltop is a weapon for freedom, and the truth is the foundation in our efforts.” To the Howard community: As today marks the 50th anniversary of the Black Panther Party for SelfDefense, never forget that the Black Panther Party’s history is OUR history. The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense is Black history. As the of theme the 50th commemoration of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense next week is “Where Do We Go From Here?” let us at Howard reawaken ourselves to realize why our institution is also known as The Mecca: To learn, to grow, and to give back by serving our people.
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“Liberian and Moroccan delegates from Michelle Obama’s Initiative Visits Howard University
By Dawchelle Hamilton Contributing Writer Howard University took part in the White House Let Girls Learn Initiative Thursday, October 13, hosted by student delegates from Morocco and Liberia. The delegates had the opportunity to learn about the history of the University by taking part in a campus tour and sitting in on a presentation in the Interdisciplinary Research Building. Their experience was furthered by the presence of numerous international students currently attending Howard who spoke to the girls about their own experiences. “This is my first time leaving my country,” 16-year-old Sianneh Kennedy explained. Originally from a remote forest in Lofa County, Libe-
ria, Sianneh’s journey to the United States is far from typical. Her parents couldn’t afford to send her to school, but luckily enough, her aunt noticed her wits and adopted Kennedy. She enrolled her in a Lutheran school and so far she has already been promoted twice from 3rd to 5th grade and now holds the highest rank in her class. It was this passion and pursuit for learning that resulted in Kennedy and the other girls being chosen to come to the U.S. for the program. They spent one week in D.C. where they got to visit first lady Michelle Obama at the White House, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of African-American History, and many more
Corrections
sites. “I was so surprised, I was shocked, going to the U.S., to the White House,” 22-yearold Nahla El Baqia from Morocco exclaimed. She is currently working on her Master’s degree in Accounting and Management System Control at the Connect Institute in Morocco. She, along with the other cohorts, seemingly blended in on campus as they greeted other students wearing similar hijabs. Another one of the girls came dressed in traditional attire from Liberia which also isn’t uncommon on campus. Student organizations like the African Students’ Association (ASA) encourage students to show off their culture. “Howard is definitely a place for them. Howard is a
Here are the following corrections from previous issues: The “Olympic Trailblazers Finally Receive Recognition” story on Page 13 of Oct. 6 was written by Brittany Webb, Sports Editor, not Nathan Easington, Sports Contributing Writer.
The “Lebron James notes Hillary Clinton as a ‘Champion for Children’” story on Page 6 of Oct 13 had the incorrect story. The actual story can be read online at: thehilltoponline.com
community that fosters true growth within the student body” said Chinenye Ogueri, vice president of African Student Association. “Very embracing, extremely diverse with so many great opportunities.” Ogueri walked alongside the girls and heard their stories and welcomed them to the Mecca. The event was organized by numerous faculty members of the International Student Services, Office of Research and Development, Office of the Provost, Office of Admissions, and the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning & Assessment. “It took about 72 hours,” said Pamela Clarke, program manager for the Office of Research Development. Clarke explained the office
put in all the work because, “at Howard University you can be whatever you want to be, you have University where women are not downtrodden.” Becky Banton, director of Programming and Training for Peace Corps Liberia, had a different role in the planning of this event. She supervised the girls on the trip and had to assist with their transition into the U.S. This included handling necessary travel documents and just being there to support the first time travelers. When asked about her favorite part of the trip, Banton said it was “watching them be happy for each other and be proud how well their country was being represented, no jealousy just pride.”
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Letter To The Editor: How Should Our Government Work? Recently, the Executive Branch of HUSA requested that the Policy Board review a section of the HUSA Constitution for the purpose of determining whether the Executive Branch has the constitutional responsibility to approve school and college council budgets. Their argument stems from the obligations of the U.S. Congress. Because they have remanded this decision to the policy board, all local school and college council spending was halted for a period of time, causing great distress amongst the 13 schools and colleges affected, and a lack of resources for individual school/college pageants. Following this logic, the Executive Branch has a valid case. It’s too bad that we’re not the U.S. Government.
The type of government that we desire should be one that actively and effectively represents every section of Howard University’s multifaceted student body, not one that copies a currently (pseudo-) functioning one. We can’t continue to model our university after a system that does not reflect our culture the dynamic of our university. As President of the School of Communications, I disagree with the Executive Branch of HUSA on the following bases: The HUSA Constitution clearly outlines the role of the Executive Branch of HUSA, and the approval of school and college council budgets is not one of them. (Article III, § 1, Clause A) Local School & College
Councils operate independently from the Executive Branch in every other facet of governance. If the Policy Board grants the Executive Branch of HUSA to approve, veto, or stall the budgets presented by local school and colleges, it would set a precedent in which the operation of Local School & College Councils would be virtually subject to the Executive Branch of HUSA, and no longer to that school’s/college’s council’s elected Executive Board. There are projects that I have tried to implement in the School of Communications since taking office. Because I cannot access my constitutionalized allocations, these projects have not come to fruition. If the policy board decides in the affirmative,
the role of the Executive Branch will be extended a power that it has not exercised nor made qualms about in recent history. If they are extended this power, I believe that said power go to a vote, and a change be made to our constitution. I urge you, students of Howard, let’s test how strong our democracy is. As the body of council presidents, we trust that HUSA Executives are willing to serve students to achieve the goals of its office. However, we cannot stay silent about this, as we feel this power oversteps the bounds of that office. Once again, students of Howard: Should the Executive Branch of HUSA have the sole authority to approve council budgets?
Signed, -Zachary Johnson, School of Communications Council -Olivia Hurt, College of Arts and Sciences Council -Lawrence Williams, School of Business Council -Ashley Grey, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences Council -Maci Joseph, College of Engineering, Architecture, and Computer Sciences Council -Krystal Jacobs, School of Education Council
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The Peace Corps Peace Car will be visiting Howard University for several Peace Corps events, including Homecoming! Information Table at the Yardfest October 21 & 22 | 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Main Yard Federal Services Panel October 25th | 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Founders Hall And look for the Peace Car During the Homecoming Parade
Do the unexpected. Become a volunteer. peacecorps.gov
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CULTURE How “Ladylike”: H&M Challenges Stereotypes women’s femininity. Fast-fashion brand H&M sets out to redefine femininLadylike is defined as “apity in a more modern sense. propriate for or typical of a Taking on 2016’s interpretawell-bred, decorous woman tion of womanhood, femior girl,” according to Oxninity and gender, H&M’s ford Dictionary. It is a term ad contradicts traditional which is frequently associatnorms by tackling them ed with behaviors such as the head-on. Hairy-pitted, muscrossing of legs at the ankles cular, bald, full-figured, and or the folding of hands in otherwise quirky women the lap--conservative, modexist in juxtaposition to their est mannerisms which don’t surroundings and contraattract or demand attention. dict conventional motifs of Beyond the literal definition beauty. Their elbows are on of “ladylike”, its connotation restaurant tables, they dance implies an age-old tradition in their underwear, they eat of conformity in a way that French fries in bed, and they makes society, particularly run boardroom meetings. men, more comfortable with
By Jaylin Paschal Culture Staff Writer
Women of all races, sexual orientations, ages, shapes and sizes are represented, creating something much more than a fashion campaign. But H&M didn’t just select random models or actors to star in this campaign. Inspiring women, like Hari Nef, the first openly transgender woman to be signed to IMG and Fatima Pinto, one of the top female Muay Thai fighters in the world and Neelam Gill, an instrumental figure in the movement against cyberbullying, are all brought together to question the status quo. The clips of these
powerful women is streamed together by Jillian Hervey of Lion Babe‘s cover of “She’s a Lady” by Tom Jones. Importantly placed in the campaign, a young girl looks onto these women, studying how they contradict the norms she has been forced to accept. This is the point of the campaign: to showcase to us young, insecure or otherwise vulnerable girls and women that our uniqueness is what makes us beautiful; to highlight the phenomenon of diversity in seemingly homogeneous groups. It is monumental for a global brand as influential
as H&M to decide to double their productions as ads for clothing and social awareness. They are taking on the responsibility of tying their brand to acceptance, intersectionality and progress. In redefining what is “ladylike”, they’ve essentially undefined it--leaving room for interpretation and individuality. “Ladylike” is whatever you say it is.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016
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UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH PERFECT WORLD PICTURES A WILL PACKER PRODUCTIONS PRODUCTION A DAVID E. TALBERT FILM "ALMOST CHRISTMAS" EXECUTIVE KIMBERLY ELISE DANNY GLOVER JOHN MICHAEL HIGGINS ROMANY MALCO MO’NIQUE JB SMOOVE GABRIELLE UNION MUSIC BY JOHN PAESANO PRODUCERS LYN SISSON-TALBERT DAVID E. TALBERT PRESTON HOLMES JAMES LOPEZ GABRIELLE UNION JEFF MORRONE WRITTEN AND PRODUCED A UNIVERSAL PICTURE BY WILL PACKER p.g.a. DIRECTED BY DAVID E. TALBERT SOUNDTRACK ON BACK LOT MUSIC
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SPORTS
History of the Opponents
Howard Bison vs North Carolina A&T Aggies By Merdie Nzanga Sports Contributing Writer The Howard University football team will host the North Carolina A&T Aggies on Saturday, October 22, for what is anticipated to be one of the most exciting games in recent Howard Homecoming history. The two rivals last competed on Oct. 24, 2015. The game ended in a crushing defeat for the Bison who lost 14-65. Unfortunately for the Bison, the last few years have
been one-sided in favor of the Aggies. For six consecutive seasons, the Bison have faced defeat against the Aggies. Their last victory against the Aggies was the Bison homecoming game of 2009. Then, the Bison won 30-19. Despite their recent challenges, the Bison (1-4) are hopeful for Saturday’s game against the Aggies (4-1), who also stand as number two in the MEAC conference. “I’m mostly looking forward to redemption and a chance to prove everybody wrong who thinks we will
not win,” said junior redshirt left guard Aaron Hutchins. “It’s a chance to beat the best team in the conference in front of our home crowd.” Beyond the football team, Howard students are anticipating Saturday’s game. “A major key for homecoming weekend is to win,” said sophomore engineering major Avery Brown. “It’s the completion of this year’s blueprint.” While some students are excited, some students, like junior African-American studies major Dan Brown, are also anticipating a vic-
tory for the namesake of Howard. “I’m excited to see the game,” said Brown. “Hopefully, we do better than our reputation.” The game is expected to attract current students, alumni, faculty, friends and nearby communities and college attendees. The rival game is set to kick off at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Greene Stadium.
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Showtime Band: Homecoming’s Best Performance By Chad Vines Clarke Sports Staff Writer While the Howard community and annual homecoming attendees have questions regarding this year’s homecoming and the events that have gone missing such as the Hip-Hop, Gospel, R&B concerts and the annual parade, there is one aspect of homecoming that has remained. On game day, fans can be certain that the Howard University Showtime Marching Band will put on a show. The band will be the center of attention in William H. Greene Stadium during halftime of Saturday’s game against the North Carolina A&T Aggies. “We’re working on an outstanding presentation for homecoming, displaying many elements of our band
program,” said band director John Newson. “Our halftime show consists of a fanfare featuring dance and band routines. We try to implement some type of element of surprise within our halftime show.” “We practice Monday through Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. in preparation for this Homecoming show,” Newson continued. “We work hard and try to have a crowd-pleasing show for the alumni and students.” Howard’s Showtime Marching Band is not your ordinary college band. From the horn section, to the drums, to the conductors and Ooh La La dancers, the Showtime band lives up to its name and does not cease to amaze the crowd. And have done so for decades. Their strenuous preparation
has been essential to their success. “In preparation for Homecoming, we started working on our show two to three weeks prior to get the music down ahead of time,” said Franklin Blakenship, leader of the tuba section. “A lot will be in store for the Showtime band taking on the Blue and Gold Marching Machine of North Carolina A&T.” While some bands may use old routines and perfect them, the Showtime Band makes it their obligation to add new music and routines to their performances. “We’ve been working on a lot of new music, way before the actual date of the game,” said freshman band member Aliyah Bivens. “We’ve also been spending a lot of time on the field working on the new show for the Homecom-
Photo Credit: Zachary Stephens, Staff Photographer
ing game and trying to create a dance routine that will be entertaining and exciting for the fans of any age that may be watching.” As the committee behind Howard’s “Blueprint” Homecoming keeps quiet on what is in store for this weekend,
it can be expected that the half-time game performance will go down as one of the greatest of Showtime history.
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