The Student Voice of Howard University Since 1924 Volume 101, Issue 13
Thursday, November 17, 2016
IN LOVING MEMORY...
Washington, D.C.
Gwen Ifill 1955-2016
Read reactions on the passing of award-winning journalist Gwendolyn L. “Gwen” Ifill from the Howard University community at The Hilltop Online.
INSIDE:
Open Letter From The Editor To President Frederick CAMPUS Pg. 3/
@TheHilltopHU
Howard’s Hottest: All Star Edition CAMPUS Pg. 4-5/
www.thehilltoponline.com
DJ, Photographer, YouTuber: Current Black Creators CULTURE Pg. 10-12/
@TheHilltop1924
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FALLEN BISON: Keith Anthony Aqui
Keith Anthony Aqui, Esq., (c/o 1973), J.D. 1976, died November 11, 2016. Born in Trinidad, Aqui relocated to Washington, D.C., in 1970 to attend Howard University. As an undergraduate student, Aqui majored in psychology and was a member of the Howard Bison soccer team that won a Division II National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship and a history-making Division I NCAA championship in 1971. Lovingly nicknamed “Bronco” for the way he ran on the soccer field, his West African teammates said he “ran like a Fulani,” a claim that would ironically be confirmed by genetic testing decades later. Aqui was twice inducted into the Howard University Sports Hall of Fame, in 1996 as an individual and in 2014 with his team. He would play soccer professionally from 1973 to 1976 in the North American Soccer League with the Dallas Tornado, Baltimore Comets (formerly Bays), and San Diego Jaws. While playing soccer professionally, Aqui was also attending Howard University School of Law, graduating number one in his class in 1976. After graduating from law school, he worked with the U.S. Department of the Treasury as an attorney for the Internal Revenue Service for 39 years. Aqui is survived by his wife, Antoinette Charles-Aqui, & his children, Nicole Aqui, Ryan Aqui, & Jason Aqui. INQUIRIES REGARDING #FALLENBISON: EMAIL FALLENBISON@THEHILLTOPONLINE.COM
Photos Courtesy of the Family of Keith A. Aqui
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 Jason Ajiake MANAGING: managing1@thehilltoponline.com CULTURE EDITOR Gabrielle Oliver HIRING: hiring@thehilltoponline.com SPORTS EDITOR Brittany Webb BUSINESS: business@thehilltoponline.com LAYOUT EDITOR Dawn Ri’chard The Hilltop Editorial Office: 2401 4th Street NW, 68B Washington, D.C. 20059 PHONE: (202) 806-4749
Zora Neale Hurston (18911960), co-founder of The Hilltop Newspaper, is considered one of the pre-eminent writers of twentieth-century AfricanAmerican literature.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17. 2016
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Letter From The Editor: “Response To President Frederick’s Letter On Election Day 2016”
Dear Mr. President,
I write this letter to express both gratitude and concern over the letter that you sent out to the Howard University community on November 9, 2016, regarding the results of the 2016 Presidential Election. Perhaps you are wondering why I would take time to write this letter as opposed to attempting to converse with you in-person. As one of my predecessors William Scott, 1975-1976 Managing Editor of The Hilltop, expressed to then President James E. Cheek: “I cannot sit idly by with pen in hand while the quiet and often misunderstood Howardite’s voice and concerns go unheard. Mr. President, that would be a gross miscarriage of justice — something that, I’m sure, you would not tolerate — something that I must not allow to happen.” I took some time over the last couple of days to read line-by-line repeatedly on what your letter expressed to the Howard community, as it is now noted that President-Elect Donald Trump will be taking office in January 2017 as the next president of the United States. While I understand the tone and words you have written within the letter, I must express that the message was both passive and disappointing. As president of Howard University, one of the flagship Historical Black Colleges and Universities and known as “The Mecca” around the world, I am disappointed as a student to have read your stance within this letter. While I may not fully understand why you decided to take this stance, the tone throughout expresses a lot in where you stand as president of this institution. It is interpreted that the political correctness is loud and clear, which is why I must respond as a student of concern. In the letter, you express that “this election brought to closure a long and often bitter and offensive campaign.” With being both a Black and Latino student, there is no closure over the decision made by the American people. Ever since President-Elect Trump has been decided as the next president, everyday there has been hate crimes committed all-across the United States, to include hate crimes committed against African-Americans, Latinos, Muslims, the LGBT community, and other marginalized groups. This type of hate will continue to expand not only across the nation, but specifically I’m afraid, near our own backyard at Howard University and across the District of Columbia. I have to question as a student whether you will be prepared to ensure safety and security to my fellow Howardites who live on-campus as the days goes on. Your letter continues expressing that “In this pursuit, we will continue to the necessary task of making absolutely certain that we preserve the important outcomes of opportunity, equality, civil rights and civil liberties, which were accomplished on our campus by pioneering students, faculty and staff who have come before us.” As a student, I wonder as president of this institution what you, specifically, will do. Historically, students, faculty and staff have always been at the forefront of advocating for social justice and equality for all who are oppressed both on- and off-campus, and yet, many Howard presidents before you have taken the political corrective stance in order to shy away from this responsibility. As Editor, it is with consideration that the Howard community not only looks to you, but needs you to stand up for us in a proactive manner and in terms of leading this Black institution by example in light of this shake up in the political climate. Especially as Howard University comes to 150 years next year, we look to your leadership in ensuring that we will make it another 50, 100, and 150 years beyond where we are today. Sadly, I am uncertain that you will take a stance besides this politically correct way. Concluding the letter, you highlight our fellow Howard alumni who have taken the highest levels of public office, such as the Honorable Kamala Harris to the United States Senate, along with Congressmen Elijah Cummings and Gregory Meeks who were re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. While this acknowledgement is very admirable and historic to our American democracy, I as a current student am more focused on what is happening here, right now, at this place, on the campus of Howard University. With this upcoming change in the political climate that is sure to shake up not only AfricanAmerican communities, but also HBCUs across the nation, I call to ask you as president of Howard University of the following:
• What will you do to ensure Howard University continues to be at the forefront of social justice as exemplified in our motto “In Truth and Service” during these times? • What is your stance on the possibility that HBCU government funding could be cut under a President Donald Trump administration, especially with Howard University having the highest federal appropriation (over an estimated $220 million) out of all HBCUs? • If the time is always now, which you have stated as Howard’s 150th anniversary theme, when will it be time to not be politically correct, but morally correct on the stances of this institution?
Sincerely,
Editor-in-Chief of The Hilltop & A Concerned Howardite
From The Hilltop Archives: William Scott, Managing Editor of The Hilltop from 1975-1976, writes an open letter to then President James E. Cheeks on the morning of Howard University’s 109th Convocation. (Dated: September 29, 1975)
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CAMPUS
On Thursday, Nov. 10, Howard University’s student radio station WHBC 96.3 HD3 held it’s annual Howard’s Hottest: All Star Edition in Cramton Auditorium. The event was an opportunity for Bison to showcase their musical talent and claim the title of Howard’s hottest performer. The winners of Howard’s Hottest this year are as follows: Howard’s Hottest Artist: E.J.L.P; Howard’s Hottest Producer: RSH on The Beat; Howard’s Hottest DJ: DJ Jetson
WWW.THEHILLTOPONLINE.COM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17. 2016
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All Photo Credit: Ralph Jones, Staff Photographer
Howard’s Hottest: All-Star Edition (CHECK OUT THE FULL STORY AT THE HILLTOP ONLINE)
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NEWS
WWW.THEHILLTOPONLINE.COM
Donald Trump’s Student Debt Plan By Justin Cohen News Staff Writer During his bid for presidency, President-Elect Donald Trump proposed what the Washington Post calls “the most liberal student loan repayment plan since the inception of the federal financial aid program.” Under this plan, he would instill a cap on repayment as a percentage of the borrower’s income and let borrowers walk away from the repayment of debt after a period of time. “We would cap repayment for an affordable portion of the borrower’s income, 12.5 percent, we’d cap it,” said Trump to the Washington Post. “That gives you a lot to play with and a lot to do. And if borrowers work hard and make their full payments for 15 years, we’ll let them get on with their lives. They just go ahead and they get on with their lives.” Trump proposed he would incorporate the existing repayment plans into his plan while also applying his 15-year-based plan to federal and private student loans. Cost projections have not been provided as of yet, but Trump’s campaign has said the plan will be funded
by lowering federal spending and the savings from reducing defaults on student loans. “Students should not be asked to pay more on the debt than they can afford,” Trump expressed. “And the debt should not be an albatross around their necks for the rest of their lives.” Trump has also revisited higher education proposals discussed in the past, such as requiring colleges to
spend their endowments to keep tuition low or risk losing federal tax breaks. “Some schools are paying more to hedge funds and private-equity managers than they are spending on tuition, while taxpayers are guaranteeing hundreds of billions of dollars of student loans to pay for rising tuition,” Trump said during an October rally. “We want universities to spend their endowments on their stu-
dents, not themselves.” Another plan the president-elect has is to reduce federal regulation on campuses, which can account for up to 15 percent of a school’s budget, so the savings can be passed on to the students. “If the federal government is going to subsidize student loans, it has a right to expect that colleges work hard to control costs and invest their resources in their students,” Trump said. “If colleges
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refuse to take this responsibility seriously, they will be held accountable.” Donald Trump’s proposal is surprisingly liberal. Throughout President Obama’s administration, Republicans called his expansion of income driven repayment programs irresponsible. Now the Republican’s own nominee is doing the same thing, which should be interesting to watch unfold.
Help Needed THE HILLTOP SEEKS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS, CAMPUS WRITERS, COLUMNISTS AND MORE. IF INTERESTED EMAIL: EIC@THEHILLTOPONLINE.COM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17. 2016
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Study Shows Uber and Lyft Discriminate Against Women, African-Americans By Justin Cohen News Staff Writer Driving services Uber and Lyft are staples at college campuses everywhere, including Howard University. However, a recent study conducted by the New York Times has shown that these companies are discriminatory and exclusionary toward women and Black people, which make up the majority of Howard’s student body. Since Uber and Lyft have slightly different protocols in regards to accepting riders, the discrimination appears in different forms. With Lyft, the passenger’s information is readily available to the driver, and so people with ethnic-sounding names are more likely to be rejected and forced to wait longer. With Uber, however, the passenger’s information is not available until the ride is accepted, and so people with ethnicsounding names often suffer ride cancellations once their information is revealed. This is not the first case of discrimination within peer-to-peer services. Black users of Airbnb have experienced a similar fate, eventually prompting the company to issue an anti-discrimination statute, adding
By Christian Bacon Contributing News Columnist Many states now require colleges to report all statistics regarding the risks of contracting meningitis to incoming students. The Center for Disease Control refers to meningitis as the swelling of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. This inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluids in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in six known types of the disease, most of which thrive in community settings such
provisions to ensure equality. Uber has specifically painted itself as a paragon for racial equality. In fact, the very top of its website has the following message: “Across borders, cultures, and languages, we’re proud to connect people who need a reliable ride with people looking to earn money driving their car. Your journeys inspire us.” However, recent studies conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) suggest otherwise. “We found that African-American travelers in Seattle experienced statistically significantly longer delay[s] waiting for a trip request through UberX or Lyft to be accepted,” said researchers from the University of Washington, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford in conjunction with NBER. In less densely populated areas, those with ethnic-sounding names were more than three times as likely to be rejected than those with other names. “It’s not out of the realm of pos-
sibility,” said Jamann Coles, a sophomore television and film major. “I hear that all the time with taxis. I have a Black-sounding name and I haven’t experienced it, at least not yet, but I believe it can happen.” In the case of women passengers, their route time can be increased by as much as five percent. The phenomenon can be traced back to profiteering as much as it can be traced back to “flirting with a captive audience,” according to the research done by NBER. “There have been a couple of instances where they tried to take me on longer routes,” said Alexis Silva, a
Black Health Matters
as colleges and universities. According to Dr. Carla C. Sandy, president of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, the symptoms of meningitis are often mistaken for the flu, including “fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, increased sensitivity to light, and confusion.” Although these symptoms may seem minor, meningitis can cause seizures, comas, and even death. In 2008, the District of Columbia mandated that all colleges and universities vaccinate students for me-
ningococcal disease whether they live on or off campus. According to a study done at Hudson Valley Community College, “freshman who live or plan to live in dormitories or residence halls, have a 6-fold increased risk of disease.” The illness is communicable by air droplets, the sharing of glasses or cigarettes, and intimate contact such as kissing. “Health is often on the back burner for college students leaving us open to some problems now and a lot of problems later,” said Faith Mitchell, President
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junior speech pathology major. “But I always knew where I was going, so I told them to go the other way. But they definitely tried to make the trip longer, so I would have to pay more.” Although Uber and Lyft have been toted as services that will make taxicabs obsolete, you can’t yet remove the one element that led to the decline of taxis in the first place: Human nature. The discrimination faced by those hailing taxis in the past has simply been made more convenient, modernized and given a new name, but it appears to be just as prevalent.
of the Howard University Substance Abuse and HIV Outreach Program. “We must make sure that in the midst of studying, working and having fun that health is a priority.” There are many myths and stigmas surrounding hospitals and doctors within the Black community that discourages people from getting the help that they need, but the lack of intentionality has the power to cause serious damage. According to Black Health Matters, an organization dedicated to improving
the collective health of the Black community, African Americans have poor health outcomes on nearly every disease index; we’re either at higher risk for developing an illness or we die from it in greater numbers. Black Health Matters’ website entails that, “While access to health insurance and socioeconomic status play a significant part in these health disparities, we also lack awareness about a lot of preventive steps we could take to better our health.”
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Morocco: A Modern Colony?
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“Africa will not be free, until the last of its colonies, Western Sahara, is liberated, free and independent.” -Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
By Shaleen Shah News Staff Writer
Western Sahara, formerly a Spanish colony in the African continent, is now a disputed territory claimed by both Morocco and the liberation movement--the Polisaro Front. To the Moroccan government, Western Sahara is the kingdom’s rightful territory as it, along with Mauritius, aided in liberating the region from Spanish colonialism in 1975 with the Madrid Accords treaty. In contrast, the Polisaro Front administers the region as the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, an independent state. Morocco is currently the only African country not in the African Union. In 1984, it officially left its seat in the AU after disputes regarding the issue of governance of
Western Sahara arose in the organization. However, in July, King Mohammed VI of Morocco sent a letter to the AU summit in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, proposing Morocco be given back it’s place in the Union. He insisted that although Morocco had left the Union, “it had never quit Africa.” Since then, the King has toured throughout various African countries to gain support. In an interview with BBC, Mohamed Sale Ould Salek, the foreign minister of the Polisaro Front, criticized Morocco for its position regarding Western Sahara. “Morocco [has] become a coloniser,” said Salek, “The aim and essence of the Union is the liberation of Africa. We fought against colonialism and apartheid; how come we are going to
accept a country who declared publicly and solemnly that he is occupying a part of a country who is a member of the African Union?” In July, under conditions of anonymity, an official from the AU general secretariat said, “We are concerned that Morocco wants to return in order to argue the SADR issue from within the AU,” The official told the Al-Monitor, “Of course the African family welcomes Morocco’s return, but no one wants any debates or diplomatic disputes between member states. We want to work together for the benefit of the continent.” Eighty-seven states in the United Nations, the NonAligned Movement, the African Union, and the European Union (EU) support “the right of self-determina-
tion of the Sahrawi people.” Among these states, 40 states do not recognize the Sahrawi Republic whereas 37 states recognize it. However, Western Sahara has been on UN’s list of territories to be decolonized since the time of Spanish colonization, and since it is still a disputed territory, Western Sahara remains on this list. Since 1975, Morocco’s neighbouring state Algeria has supported the Polisaro Front and its efforts. As a result, there is a deep seated mistrust between the two nations; Morocco denounces its neighbour for this position and claims that Algeria is waging a “proxy” war against the Kingdom. The African Union remains divided on the issue with Western Sahara’s independence on one hand, and diplomatic rela-
tions on the other. The situation has been further fueled by King Mohammed’s highly publicized letter to the African Union summit, in which he asks to join the AU. On February 27, in a message delivered during celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the proclamation of the State of Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said, “Africa will not be free, until the last of its colonies, Western Sahara, is liberated, free and independent.”
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17. 2016
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A Post Election Discussion: Why I’m Thankful for the Faculty of Howard
By Whitney Smith News Contributing Columnist Perhaps we were just tired. Tired from fighting our sleep the night before as we struggled to stay awake long enough to watch the announcement of the election results. Tired from feverishly refreshing our Twitter feeds in an attempt to remain up to date, concerned with who would be the country’s next commander in chief. Maybe it was the weather; everyone knows that rainy days are accompanied by stealth-like lethargy. But more than likely, it was the results of the election itself that had the student body at Howard roaming the campus looking defeated and deflated. All of the buzz and excitement from election day last week had long passed like a circus that packed up its attractions and headed for a new town to spread happiness and joy upon. For our time had passed, after eight years of pride in President Barack Obama and his family, not much different
than our own, resided in the most famous house known to man: The White House, which is a house that was once thought to be unattainable for our people. With now Donald Trump being declared the next president of the United States, a country in which I served in as a member of the United States Navy, a wave of racism, misogyny and a further sense of white privilege and black grief was palpable. It weighed heavy on all of our hearts and shown clearly on all of our faces. I needed comforting that morning after election day, so I rifled through my social media and Groupme conversations in search of a meeting place for us to discuss our anguish without interference from the 58 percent of white voters who would never understand what a Trump presidency would mean for Black bodies. Had I still been enlisted in the Navy or in attendance at my previous private white institution (PWI), I would have been forced to stifle my emotions and carry on with
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business as normal. Thankfully, I was at the Mecca. On a whims notice, a panel discussion was arranged in what would normally be the allotted time for the freshmen class of 2020. Instead, in that brief hour, five faculty members, to include Dr. Greg Carr, chair of Howard University’s Department of Afro-American Studies, Dr. Dana Williams, chair of Howard University’s English department, #WHUTTV’s General Manager Jefferi Lee, Dr. Elsie Scott, director of the Ronald W. Walters
Leadership and Public Policy Center and Dr. Clarence Lusane, chair of Howard University’s Department of Political Science, each shared their expertise on the subject of moving forward with a political and social agenda that benefits us as Black people. Dr. Williams so rightfully guessed that those in attendance that day were in a deep trance...too preoccupied with their thoughts and ideas of how to never allow future elections to go as awry. I was beyond grate-
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ful to have access to such a Black space...realizing that here at Howard, we don’t have to cast our nets too far or seek higher ground elsewhere when trouble looms. We are The Mecca. We are equipped with the intellect, the experience and the will to not only heal our Howard community, but to share the gems of this institution to bring about a change for the entire diaspora.
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CULTURE
DJ Young Music: “Making Major Moves” By Shai Vaz Culture Staff Writer Focus and motivation. At the tender age at 19, DJ Young Music has obtained both of these vital qualities. Thus far, he has managed to strike a deal with WPGC with an expected audience of 30 million people, produced a single for artists Shade Jennifer which climbed to number five on the Media Based Charts, performed at a Super Bowl party hosted by Nicki Minaj, and was a featured guest on Chris Brown’s 2015 tour. When asked to interview the young artist, I did not know what to expect. Young Music is not your average 19 year old. His aura was kind and welcoming, When asked about his career, highlights, and future goals, Young Music exuded nothing but passion and humility within his answers: The Hilltop: What is you favorite and most difficult part about being a DJ? Young Music: Of course the outcome. Seeing the results and the reaction of people when they hear my music and watching them enjoy themselves at an event. As far as the hardest part, the process. The Hilltop: What advice do you have for aspiring artists, producers,etc? Young Music: Always have something to fall back on, no matter what.Not everyone can be the next rapper or producer, but no one can take away your knowledge. The Hilltop: How do you describe your sound in
UPCOMING D.C. DJ
one word? Young Music: Smooth. Everything is top of the line and stands out. I have an ear for quality. I am forever perfecting a beat, I enjoy seeing how much it can evolve into something greater. Smooth is indeed the word. At 8 p.m., I was given the opportunity to join Young Music in the booth
and hear him first live. Unlike many DJs today, he uses turntables when mixing. His transitions are very smooth as each track is blended together nicely. The beats blended are not necessarily similar, but he does a great job at identifying the best part of each song that will effectively transition into the other instead of abruptly scratching and shifting sounds. The following day, Young Music was present at the annual “Sisters Only” event at the Washington D.C. convention center. When asked to hype of the crowd for an artist scheduled to perform, he did the job well. Young Music’s energy was conta-
gious, and the crowd took to his sound immediately. There, I experienced, first hand, the effect of his blending techniques and musical diversity--as his mix catered to all ages of within the audience. A distinguishable talent of his is his ability to appeal to a mature audience. His late night slow jam mix features a plethora of different R&B and soul artists from Baby Face to Trey Songz. From a young age, this DJ has learned the value of working hard and getting what you want on your own. As the youngest of two boys in a two parent household, he found himself working and saving money to buy his necessary wants as early as age 6 working at his dad’s soul food restaurant. In High School, he managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA while touring. When asked how did he do it, he simply explained it as being “dedicated to the grind.” “You have to learn how to cut yourself out from the world. Prioritizing is everything,” he said. Currently, Young Music is completing his two-month promo tour. His agenda is already filled for 2017. Young Music is also responsible for a non profit organization titled ‘Streets Stop the Violence.’ “Young people are making major moves,” he said. “It’s not just about talking, we have to take physical action to achieve an outcome.” Music is not the only field this young DJ hopes to dominate. Young Music plans on making collaborations with his brother--who is very active in the fashion world. When asked “What’s next?”, he simply replied, “What isn’t? The sky’s the limit. Music, fashion,entrepreneurship. I want to go out of the box, I plan to be better than Diddy.”
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17. 2016
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Artist Feature: Russell Schiller PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO MEDIA By Jaylin Paschal Culture Staff Writer Standing out in the creative industry, which is becoming more saturated daily, is an increasingly difficult challenge. Photographer and videographer Russell Schiller, junior advertising major and electronic studio arts minor, has managed to carve a path for himself in a crowded art scene. Schiller brings his unique vision to the creative environment by looking to fill a void. “I’m always willing to do something new or try something new, or find what the culture is missing and how I can bring something to that,” Schiller said. Beginning as an iPhone photographer, Schiller decided to buy a professional camera before leaving Milwaukee for college. Schiller’s mastered balancing school and work, allotting time for creativity amidst assignments and exams. With a body of work spanning from event coverage to individual projects, Schiller’s portfolio is diverse and well-curated. Even with such a broad reach of work, he is able to curate an audience and captivate that audience in a way that is visually impactful. The common denominator of his work is his ability to capture detail in a way that tells the story of the moment. This detail-
oriented nature is most exemplified in the way Schiller uses symbols in both his photographs and videos, including color schemes and music choices. “There’s always a message within a message with my work,” Schiller said. His work is inspired by creatives such as visual artist KAWS, Young Thug’s videographer Be El Be, and art collective PopxTwo; who all influence projects he has taken on. He’s managed to combine these outside influences with his own ideas, resulting in a fresh take on his conceptual art. “When you watch any of his (Be El Be’s) music videos, the transitions, angles and effects are something I strive to learn, but not to copy his style. I just want to take the knowledge he (Be El Be) has to build another style of my own,” Schiller said. Schiller is most proud of his Black Women Are Gorgeous campaign, a March feature in Ebony Magazine. It is with projects like these that Schiller believes he can use his work to spread certain messages. “Through that influence I had thousands of people reach out to me, email me,
Photo Credit: Russell Schiller
or just speak to me about how I had a positive influence in my life,” Schiller said. Many Howard students were featured in the Black Women Are Gorgeous series, as The Mecca is a prevalent force in the inspiration and production of Schiller’s work. “Coming to Howard University has made me the person I am today,” Schiller said. “Howard has put me around people who have allowed me to achieve with my artistic work.” Schiller is currently working on several projects, in both photography and videography, all of which extend his purpose of messageoriented and visually captivating content. Be on the look out for his work including a project titled Hiatus and a collaboration production titled ACME, which he is working on with junior human development major, Raaziq Brown. Photo Credit: Russell Schiller
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YouTuber, Film Artist Cassidy Dixon Slays Our Edges A TIAA__FALL PRINT_GET TWICE AS MANY EGGS_C__V_. C M Y B
By Jaylin Paschal Culture Staff Writer
Most of us remember the fifth grade as awkward and clumsy. Sophomore film and television production major Cassidy Dixon, on the other hand, recalls winning a film
festival for animation at the American Community School of Abu Dhabi. Since then, Dixon has been interested in film and television. Over the years, this interest has developed into a brand, as Dixon has used the internet as a vessel for her work. It all began after her freshman year of high school, when she began watching YouTube videos on styling natural hair. She found herself inspired by the natural hair movement, although feeling unrepresented in the online beauty world. “I’d be surfing YouTube, and the women in the videos would either be grown or really young. So I decided to start a natural hair channel to help people my age style their hair,” Dixon said. Though beginning with
natural hair, Dixon’s channel ‘Work That Cass’ has grown into a platform featuring vlogs and videos on college life and style. Dixon has also created her own media production company, Cass Productions, which releases photoshoots, music videos, and similar projects. With this professional creative growth, she’s learned a lot about the industry’s business side as well. Dixon said that YouTube taught her “how to appeal to my demographic.” “Now I know what kind of content to create that people enjoy, and how to build an audience,” she said. This audience of nearly 11,000 YouTube subscribers has helped Dixon grow confident as a person and as a creator. “I was definitely super-
duper shy. I didn’t really talk to anybody, and the YouTube channel was always my out. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, there’s actually a group of people who don’t mind my own personality’ and really learning to embrace myself,” she said. This newfound boldness empowered Dixon to execute her ideas on a larger scale, and she began to take on more conceptual projects. The project she’s most proud of, “Black Girl Magic” --a film featuring over 20 girls from Howard, ‘slaying’ Beyonce’s “Hold Up”--was executed to production within a single weekend. The video was a huge success, and was incorporated into a video produced by the Essence Film Festival. The film success inspired Dixon “to keep going with
these little projects”. This widespread support came as a surprise to Dixon, who said she was considering shutting down her YouTube channel before college. Even professors offer criticism and advice to Dixon regarding both her independent and academic work. This is why Dixon states that “Howard culture” is prevalent in all her videos, and will continue to be an influential force in her photography, videography, and production. “I didn’t expect much from it but I gained a lot from it,” she said. “The student body, and not even just Howard’s School of Communications, really comes through and helps you out when they see you want to do something creative.”
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17. 2016
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SPORTS
Howard U Basketball’s Top Scorer Optimistic For The Future
By Anari Ormond
Contributing Writer The Howard University Bison basketball team has high expectations for the upcoming basketball season with much thanks to their point guard and the nation’s leading scorer: Senior James Daniel III. The 6-foot, 180 pound guard from Hampton, VA, led the nation with an average of 29.4 points per game last season. “It’s not like I’m trying to defend the title or anything, it’s not a heavy weight belt. So if I’m leading scorer again, that’s all good, but I’m really just trying to win. So if I get buckets while we’re winning, that’s great.” said Daniel III. Howard University has a lot of culture, as far as academics and social life goes, but sports culture is an area that often gets overlooked. “It speaks a lot for the university. Yeah there are some great things as far as academics go, but we have some great things coming out of athletics,” he said. “Going to Howard, you represent a whole culture. Everywhere you go you’re not just yourself but you represent everyone that came before you. They expect you to keep the torch going and just respect yourself and the culture.” Daniel III considers himself one of the hardest workers in the nation, and is in a constant battle always trying to outwork himself. “When you sleep, I’m in the gym. When you’re awake, I’m in the gym. I’m just in there,” he said. Daniel says his relationship with the staff at a local gym allows him to practice sometimes until 2:30 a.m. and then he wakes back up at 6:00a.m. to begin practicing again. After graduating in May, Daniel plans on entering himself in the 2017 NBA Draft. “All I want is an opportunity to show them I can do it. I’ve been preparing for that journey since I was 3 years old.” “When you look at his mama’s height and his daddy’s height, it doesn’t take long to realize he’s not going to be 6-foot-7,” said James Daniel II, Daniel’s father, who spent much of his focus on creating an exceptional shooter. “Everyday in the yard, he had to put up 1-200 shots before doing anything.” James Daniel II also played basketball in high school and then in England after high school. He now coaches for Daniel’s alma mater Phoebus High School and has coached many professional basketball players such as Allen Iverson.
Courtesy Photo
“His work ethic sets him apart,” Daniel II said. “In a 24 hour day, we might spend 6-7 hours in a gym. He has an internal drive that he wants to be the best.” The Howard University Bison Coach Kevin Nickelberry has also coached several teams as well as professional basketball players, but Daniel’s game and his confidence has always made him very distinguishable. “From day one his freshman year, I knew he could play anywhere,” said Nickelberry. “He’s one of the best players I’ve ever coached. To be special or to be great it takes you. When the coaching is over and the speeches are over with, you have to go out and set yourself apart. Each player decides does he want to be good or be great. And his freshman year he decided he wanted to be great and that’s what he is.” Daniel played for Team Loaded out of Richmond, Va. from ages 14-17. He expressed that he realized he was a really good basketball player since the second grade. “My AAU coach, we didn’t really get along,” Daniel III said. He actually didn’t play me that much. It kinda made me work harder.” Daniel III is out of practice temporarily due to a sprained ankle after rolling over a teammates foot at practice, however, he still says Bison are in for a treat this semester.
“I got a flat, but I’m a be straight,” he said. “Our goal is for him to come back out there and come back ready to go and healthy,” said Nickelberry. “And to take the next step to lead us to the NCAA Tournament. I expect him to step up and embrace the expectations and achieve them.” Daniel III said he is taking this time off to shoot his shot in the classroom. Daniel will come off of the bench with above a 3.0 grade point average, making him an all around hardworking studentathlete. Daniel comes from a family that excels academically. His siblings also perform well in the classroom. His sister, Carmen Daniel, received a full academic scholarship from William and Mary. While his father has faith in the upcoming draft, he reminds Daniel III to take care of the animal right in front of him. “[He has to] stay focused on what he has in front of him, and that’s the season here at Howard,” said Daniel II. “The NBA Draft will take care of itself. His success of the season is where he will fall in the draft.” Daniel will start off his season well with his routine of watching Kyrie Irving mixtapes and eating gummy worms before each game. “We’re gonna be really good,” Daniel III said. “I think my numbers will be even better this year, so it should be very exciting.”
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Bison Basketball Suffers Loss in Season Opener Against Michigan By Nicole Hutchison Sports Staff Writer On Friday, Nov. 11, Howard University’s Men’s Basketball team faced Big Ten opponent, University of Michigan, for their season opener. After putting up a tough fight, the Bison fell short to the Wolverines. Going head-to-head against the Wolverine’s, the Bison were down by five in the second half with a little over 12 minutes to play in regulation. The Wolverine’s (1-0) played at a pace the Bison (0-1) were uncomfortable with. This pace led to a 7658 loss in the first round of the 2K Classic at the Crisler Center. “I think we did okay in the first half,” senior forward Marcel Boyd said. “We played hard and gave was locked in on defense. We just have to be able to play like we did in the first half the entire game. We are a very well rounded and deep team. We had a lot of different player contribute to the game in good ways.” Sitting out during the game was senior guard James Daniel III, who was the leading scorer in the NCAA last year. Despite his absence, the Bison continued to
stand their ground. However, they fell short when it came to free throws and had turnovers that the Wolverines turned into points. “We could’ve knocked down our free throws better and then limited our turnovers in our offense,” senior forward Solomon Mangham said. Minus their mishaps, the Bison kept fighting. Damon Collins, James Miller and Dalique Mingo were a force to be reckoned with closing the gap to 43-38 at one point. Responding to the trio, the Wolverines expanded their feeding on the Bison’s inability to put points on the board. They expanded their lead 62-44. But the Bison continued to struggle. Still trailing, freshman Charles Williams made
Photo Credit: HU Bison Sports
his debut off the bench, scoring eight points. At the end of the game, Collins finished with 12 points and Miller with 10 points. Dalique Mingo, Marcel Boyd and Mangham each finished with 9 points each. “This game gave us a good insight of what we need to continue to work on to get to where we want to go,” Mingo said. “Other than that, it was just an overall good experience that we actually competed with them.”
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN CHAPEL?
Want to invite the Howard Community to your next event or program? All colleges, schools, organizations, alumni, and community groups are welcome to have a “Call to Chapel.” All “Calls to Chapel” must be submitted no later than 10:00 A.M. Monday morning to be included in the Chapel service.
Members of Bread For the World share their ‘Call to Chapel’.
Solidarity Day – Today 11/17 – 10am -2pm Email: Chapel@howard.edu Stand for equality and freedom against bigotry and hate. Wear a traditional Muslim head covering with us today. Join us this Sunday… Hijabs and Kufis available at Cramton Auditorium – 11:00 A.M. Blackburn, Carnegie and Douglass.
Rev. Dr. Leslie Callahan Pastor, St. Paul’s Baptist Church Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Deeper in Faith – Wider in Community!
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17. 2016
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Cleveland Cavaliers Bid Farewell to President Obama
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By Chad Vines Clarke Sports Staff Writer
On Wednesday, November 9, the 2016 NBA Final Champion Cleveland Cavaliers were invited to the White House for the final championship team visit under President Barack Obama’s presidency. “Words cannot express how I feel, being the last team to visit the White House tomorrow,” small forward Richard Jefferson said via Snapchat. From the viral mannequin challenge with First Lady Michelle Obama, to giving President Obama a sleeved basketball jersey, the team was able to put their political views aside and have an intimate moment with the 44th President of the United
States, celebrating their historical victory last season. “Cleveland was always Believeland,” President Obama said, stating how the teams always gives back to their fans and community. Coach Tyronn Lue, who had his first championship win as a head coach, received a call from President Obama back in June, inviting the team to the White House after their victory game against the Golden State Warriors in their seven game duel. “We’re going to schedule it while you’re still in the White House for sure,” Lue said in a phone conversation with the President. Obama seemed as excited to be in the team’s presence
President Barack Obama accepts a team basketball jersey from the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kevin Love as the president honored the 2016 NBA champions at the White House on Nov. 10, 2016. (Photo Credit: USA Today)
as they were to be in his. They all enjoyed talks about the game, shared jokes and took as talks about the game, individual jokes with each player, and several pictures were taken. No political
talk about this past election surfaced during the visit. Obama, who will end his 8-year stent as president of the United States, is making his final rounds before he leaves the White House in
January. He even offered to open his doors to the Chicago Cubs after after their 2016 World Series win.
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