The Hilltop, March 30, 2017, Volume 101, Issue 24

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The Student Voice of Howard University Since 1924 Thursday, March 30, 2017

Volume 101, Issue 24

INSIDE

Washington, D.C.

CAMPUS: Student Elections— Learn About Candidates Pgs. 3-7/

Photo Credit: Essence

Howard Alumna, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris to Deliver 2017 Commencement Address NEWS:

Howard and Google Partner to Create Howard West Pg. 8/

SPORTS: Free Agent Kaep Looks to Come Back Pg. 14/

@TheHilltopHU

By HU Office of University Communications

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oward University announced Tuesday that Senator Kamala D. Harris will deliver the keynote address during Howard University’s 149th Commencement Convocation on Saturday, May 13, 2017. Senator Harris will address members of the Class of 2017 along with their families, university trustees, officers, faculty, staff, and alumni. “Throughout her trailblazing career, Senator Harris has demonstrated her commitment to youth in a variety of ways,” said Howard President Wayne A.I. Frederick. “She is a leader in mentorship programs, has authored legislation to fight child exploitation and unashamedly shattered both racial and gender barriers. As we exclaim the necessity of Howard Univer-

sity’s legacy—now more than ever before—and focus our vision toward the future, I have no doubt that our graduates will find Senator Harris thought-provoking and inspiring.” Senator Harris is both the first African-American and first woman to serve as Attorney General for the State of California. She is also the second African-American woman in history to be elected to the United States Senate. Throughout her career, Harris—a lifelong public safety and civil rights leader—has worked diligently to advocate for children and students. She established California’s Bureau of Children’s Justice and fought to reduce elementary school truancy so that every California student can exercise his or her constitutional right to an education. As Attorney General, Harris

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successfully sued predatory forprofit colleges that scam students and veterans. “Howard shaped, nurtured, and challenged me to soar on my chosen path, and I’m honored to speak to the class of 2017 to encourage them to pursue their own dreams and live up to the promise of Howard,” said Senator Harris. “Howard University has instilled in generations of students the drive to serve others, and to truly believe that anything is possible.” On commencement day, Howard University will award Bachelor’s Degrees, Master’s Degrees, and PhDs to the graduating class. Professional degrees will be issued in Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry. Howard University has the only Dental and Pharmacy colleges in the District of Columbia.

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The Hilltop Editorial Office 2401 4th Street NW, 68B, Washington, D.C. 20059 (202) 806-4749

Paul Holston Editor-in-Chief

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CAMPUS HUSA Candidates

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Name:​DeJoiry McKenzie-Simmons & Francisco Joseph Major: ​Political Science Major, Legal Communications Minor (DeJoiry); Supply Chain Management Major, Spanish Minor (Francisco) Classification:​Sophomores Running For: H ​ USA Executive President and Executive Vice President Name Of Platform: E ​ NGAGE (#ENGAGEHU)

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Zora Neale Hurston (18911960), co-founder of The Hilltop Newspaper, is considered one of the preeminent writers of 20th century AfricanAmerican literature.

What Is Your Platform About? Our platform is not a generic attempt to appease the masses, instead we went into the Howard community to ask the students what they felt was missing from their university and assessed how we could provide those things. We reached out to undergraduate and graduate students by attending their meetings and participating in the meaningful discussions actually going in their spaces and bringing their concerns to a place where they could be addressed. This campaign is an attempt to finally utilize the advantages of having both undergraduate and graduate students on one campus and addressing all of our issues. What do you plan to implement if elected? We are committed to implementing initiatives aimed at making Howard University matriculation more feasible for every student in our 13 schools and colleges. We want to make housing available to more students; collaborate with Sodexo, Howard University athletics department, and CNAHS nutritional studies students to develop various of dietary options in our student cafeterias; establish a Student Diversity Task Force that is comprised of students who represent a specific group on campus who will give a constant scope of the students’ perspectives and provide guidance to our administration as well as to the university administration. What is your reason for running in year’s elections? Our reason for running in this year’s election is to voice the concerns of the students in the places where student leaders do not visit often. It is instrumental that we ENGAGE and support all of the students of Howard University and not only the ones who broadcast their concerns the most. We want to be the student leaders who are constantly listening to concerns of our students and efficiently advocating on their behalf. The purpose of this campaign is to hopefully elect leaders who do not govern from Power Hall, but instead take their directions from the students in the classrooms, on the athletic fields, in club meetings, etc. We wanted to give the students an opportunity to elect student leaders who want to better this institution and simply fill their resumes.

#PROBATESZN -- New Member Presentations


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Undergraduate Trustee Candidates Name:​Ashley Grey Major: H ​ ealth Management Classification:​Junior Running For: U ​ ndergraduate Trustee Name Of Platform: Grey Matter What Is Your Platform About? Grey Matter is a platform built around the idea of capitalizing on the intellectual potential of our student body. Howard Students are some of the most creative students in the nation. While they are extremely talented, our university does not provide enough medium through which these skills can be refined and does not market this intellectual potential to gain support from alumni and organizations. Through the platform Grey Matter, Ashley Grey intends to: Garner Greater Opportunities for our Student Body, Redefine the Relationship Between the Student Body and the Board, Exude the Excellence Implied Through our Motto, and Yoke the Talent and Achievements of our Students to generate Greater Alumni Involvement. What do you plan to implement if elected? Ashley Grey will work with each school’s dean to reach out to five outside organizations that align with the goals of their college to build relationships, set up an agreement such that these organizations will become approved sponsors of the college and host one event per semester through which students can gain certification, and set up feeder programs with organizations, whereby students can apply for internships specifically for Howard University students. Ashley Grey will create opportunities for the student body to interact with the board of trustees so that the board can actually get to know the students, whose lives are changed through every decision the board make. Lobbying to allot a percentage of funds already available to students toward trips that will allow Howard University students to continue to foster the legacy of our school in addressing major issues affecting minority communities on a local and global level. Carrying out an initiative to send alumni semi-annual personalized letters from students, which help alumni see how much every donation that they make benefits our community. She will also lobby for more incentives for students to participate in the already existent phone-a-thons as a means of actively pursuing alumni donations. What is your reason for running in year’s elections? I want to be the next undergraduate trustee of Howard University because I want to diversify the undergraduate experiences being publicized to the board of trustees. I believe the narrative being displayed to the board of trustees lacks a full understanding of the undergraduate experiences on campus. We need to allow the board of trustees to truly comprehend that the undergraduate experience at Howard is not one narrative but many and these narratives need to be discussed. Furthermore, I want to expound upon the raw talents that students gain from attending this university. Howard students gain skills from on campus engagement but these skills can be refined to allow them to have greater qualifications when applying to opportunities. We need to enable our students in the way that other premier institutions do if we are looking to raise our academic standards. We need more partnerships with major organizations and official feeder programs to fuel greater post-graduate matriculation. Lastly, we need to improve our alumni outreach programs so that we can foster increased alumni donations.

Name:​Alexus Rose Acree Major: ​Marketing Classification:​Junior Running For: Undergraduate Trustee Name Of Platform: ​Legacy What Is Your Platform About? My platform emphasizes directing additional resources to programs that directly impact the student experience. Such as free laundry in dormitories to expanding financial aid opportunities for students. As Undergraduate Trustee, I will prioritize being a representative voice for students which I believe first requires me to be present and accessible throughout the year. What do you plan to implement if elected? Graduating is the top priority for all students. As Undergraduate Trustee, I will advocate for measures that will make it easier to reach commencement day. I will first propose J-Term, a common program that will allow students to take courses over Winter Break. This will allow students to more quickly complete their academic credits. Thus, improving our four year graduation rate. I will also continue my work with Unpaid Internship Grants, so that more students are benefitted by the program. I will also establish an Undergraduate Trustee Scholarship to aid students in financial need. What is your reason for running in year’s elections? I want to transform what the role of Undergraduate Trustee means to Howard University. My aim is to be a direct link between the student body and the Board of Trustees. While confidentiality clauses of the Board may prohibit disclosure of some information, it does not prevent me from listening to the people I represent. Students have strong opinions on many of the issues the Board votes on and have a vision for the future and legacy of Howard University. It is extremely irresponsible of past Trustees to ignore these voices and opinions. If elected, I assure the student body that their voices will not fall on deaf ears.


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Graduate Trustee Candidates Name:​Adedamola Sokoya Major: ​Law Classification:​Second-Year Law Student (2L) Running For: Graduate Trustee What Is Your Platform About? My platform is about making the adjustments Howard University needs and deserves. My platform focuses on small, feasible changes and practices that I plan to work with the Board of Trustees in implementing. My platform is about ensuring that we work together to leave Howard University, and her graduate students, in a better position than we found her. My platform is not focusing on making large, grandiose promises and changes. Instead, I plan to work with the mechanisms and tools Howard University already has and is not using to its fullest capacity. What do you plan to implement if elected? If elected, I first plan to work with the Board of Trustees, as a board members, I cannot work alone. I plan to work to implement programs that focus on financial matters, infrastructure, technology, and the Howard community. Each of these areas has the potential to return significant dividends to the university, her students, and her alumni. For example, I plan to fulfill my obligation as a trustee to raise $10,000 for the university by collecting $25,000 in donations from graduate students and working with graduate students to raise money from alumni of their respective schools and colleges. The fundraising project will satisfy the fundraising obligation, create a culture of giving back among future alumni, and improve the university’s alumni giveback rate. I plan to improve technology by making the Howard Mobile App more useful for more issues (yes, we really have an app). The Howard Mobile App is available for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play, yet it is barely used. While I was in undergrad, I worked with Enterprise Technology Services to create the app, and as Graduate trustee I plan to work with relevant parties to upgrade the app. For instance, right now security notifications operate on an ‘opt-in’ system. By upgrading the app, it will automatically send emergency push notifications and ensure all users receive immediate notice of emergency situations. I plan to bring a perspective on relevant issues. Howard University currently has a real estate portfolio valued at about $1.5 Billion dollars. However, all of the real estate is not being utilized. I plan to work with the Board of Trustees and find ways to turn unused and underused property like Carver Hall, and others the university is attempting to offload, into revenue streams that will make us less dependent on the $220M the federal government gives us each year. The money is good and welcomed; but I think its more auspicious to control our own revenue. What is your reason for running in year’s elections? I am a first -generation Nigerian-American. My father was born on a farm in rural Nigeria and always stretched the importance of education because of the changes they made in his life. I found out my transfer application to Howard University was accepted on January 3, 2011. Since then, Howard has proven what my father preached. My experience at Howard University has literally and figuratively been life changing. I have met and interacted with people and opportunities that have made me the person I am today. However, Howard is not perfect. From Student Advocacy Director on the Howard University Student Association (HUSA) 52 to presidential candidate for HUSA 53, and now serving as a HUSA Senator representing the Law School; I have been involved in some form student government at Howard University for the past seven years. My experience over that time has given me a protracted view of the issues the university faces and the remedies that have been applied. I have had time to see what solutions worked, which solutions didn’t, and most of all I have had the opportunity to think of new solutions that make the best use of the resources Howard already has. I want to make sure the students coming after me have the education and opportunity I have.

Name:​William Hill, MPH Major: ​Medicine Classification:​Second-Year Running For: Graduate Trustee Platform: Where there’s a Will, there’s a Way What Is Your Platform About? Campaign Pillars: Unity, Accountability, and Innovation What do you plan to implement if elected? H-Honoring the strong legacy of Howard University Student Governance O-Optimizing avant- garde and innovative strategies to combat antiquated problems and emerging challenges W-Working tirelessly for the advancement of Graduate Students and good of the University at Large A-Advocating for Graduate Student needs, concerns, and challenges R-Redeveloping communications and partnerships between Graduate Schools D-Demanding excellence from my fellow Board of Trustee members in every decision we make that impacts Graduate Students and Howard University What is your reason for running in year’s elections? The lifeline of a University’s sustainability and longevity is student participation. Strong student leadership and governance is where student participation begins. This is my second stent being a graduate student and I have experienced many issues that affect numerous Graduate Students. I was the College of Medicine’s 1st year Class President last year and interacted with graduate students from all schools. I realized the majority of the challenges we were experiencing were the same. This spurred my pursuit of the office of Graduate Trustee. I have had a long history of leadership and governance. I was a Captain of University of Virginia’s (UVA) football team and during this I represented the team in meetings with coaches and school administration. I am currently on the UVA Young Alumni Council, through this opportunity I have interacted with UVA’s Board of Visitors and held a fiduciary responsibility to alumni and the university. I want to ensure Graduate Student success and Howard University sustainability.


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HUSA Senate Candidates Name:​Raina Simone Henderson Major: P ​ olitical Science And Philosophy Double Major Classification:​Freshman Running For: HUSA Senate Platform: #ServiceTheTruth What Is Your Platform About? Truth is defined as the purest form of any entity. I’ll use service to see to the revitalization of the purest, most uncorrupted form of Howard University. #ServiceTheTruth is where morality and pragmatism meet, and the values of truth and service become tangible realities. Transparency, regaining the trust of Howard Students in Student Government, the preservation of students’ rights in terms of societal identifiers, embody “Service The Truth.” While discussing the forward mobility of a university, we must discuss education, but must discuss education as a product of human rights and resources; the personal is political. The healthier the environment, the more probable educational success is. Legislation is indicative of culture as culture is indicative of legislation. I strive to pass legislation that protects rather than harms, and harms only at the extension of the realization of the hard truth. What do you plan to implement if elected? Once elected, I’ll implement The HUSASenateApp. There will be real-time updates on Senate meetings, enabling students to remain informed. Transparency is key. The app allows for the electronic submissions of legislative proposals, complaints, and suggestions. There’ll be a page in which one may see the records of each senate member, and the ways in which they’ve voted. Keeping stats on senate members allows for the student body to hold senators accountable, while also making it easier for the student body to decide who they’d like to vote back into senate. The probability of certain legislation passing, based on data from previous legislative outcomes of similar content will be automatically calculated. There will be a Chat Room feature where students can publicly discuss concerns together, or express concerns directly to senators of their choice via DM. I hope to implement gender quotas for academically rigorous classes. I’ll advocate for further funding in fine arts. I’ll ensure that polls are conducted before and after every legislative decision to ensure that the student body is on board. I will ensure that no legislation is passed that will disproportionately affect certain students based on their societal identifiers. This is to name a few. What is your reason for running in year’s elections? We stand at a crucial time in Howard politics. Many have lost faith in administration and student government. I am running as your Howard Senator to ensure that efficacy amongst Howard University Students sees revitalization. As a philosopher and political scientist, with a concentration in Black Politics, politics and the forward mobility of any Black Educational Institution is of interest to me, naturally. However, I am also someone who genuinely cares about Howard University and Howard University Students. Quite literally, I owe the entirety of my life to Howard University, as my parents met here. I have been bleeding blue since birth, and genuinely strive to see Howard University reach new heights. I was raised on the values of Truth and Service. Id like to combine old Howard Insight with new Howard insight to reach new Future Howard Heights. I am not running to act as a voice to my fellow students as this would imply that I am silencing them while putting my own on the forefront. Instead, however, I am running to further lift the pre existing voices of my peers to ensure that they are heard louder.

Name:​Victoria Ogbonnaya and Anita Calmday Major: Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science Classification:​Sophomore and Freshman Running For: College of Engineering & Architecture HUSA Senate Platform: Reaction What Is Your Platform About? Be the Catalyst to this Reaction. The students are the catalyst and part of the advocacy needed to implement change as we serve as representatives of their voice. Our platform is about getting the students of CEA more involved within the school and making sure that they know they have a voice and it WILL be heard. Our main goal is to cause a reaction, to cause a change at Howard University, especially within the College of Engineering and Architecture. What do you plan to implement if elected? By striving for increased transparency, we will vote for legislation that better allocates and handles the funds within the school. As improvement cannot only come monetarily, we will also push for policies that will reshape Town Hall meetings. It is essential to bring the student body of CEA closer together and make them more aware of the benefits they have towards one another when there is greater unity. What is your reason for running in year’s elections? In our short time as members of CEA, we have witnessed that the students often feel devalued and inadequately represented. The students are the foundation of this school and must know their worth. As senators we will make sure that the students not only feel as if they are important to the CEA administration, but that they are important to all of Howard University.

Editor’s Note: Multiple candidate submissions were sent to The Hilltop prior to publication and does not include all candidates running for positions. The following submissions published DO NOT reflect candidate endorsements from The Hilltop.

TO LEARN ABOUT MORE CANDIDATES IN THIS YEAR’S STUDENT ELECTIONS VISIT: WWW.THEHILLTOPONLINE.COM


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Name:​Sheriff Adewumi Major: E ​ lectrical Engineering Classification:​Sophomore Running For: HUSA Senate Platform: SAIL What Is Your Platform About? SAIL is about unifying the College of Engineering and Architecture and allowing it to realize it’s fullest potential. SAIL stands for Shaping our Achievement In Leadership. SAIL has a couple of key points in it’s implementation. One is Accountability: We have to be able to hold our administrators and advisors accountable for our success. We also have to Respect our administration otherwise there is no ground to work from. One last key point is Leadership. Under SAIL, we want to foster more young black leaders as we enter society, and lastly, Transparency. Our constituents should know everything we are doing to serve them. What do you plan to implement if elected? SAIL plans to implement a few ideas if we are elected. First, we want more frequent town hall meetings where we can hear the concerns of our constituents and any ideas they want to see come to CEA. Also, we plan to develop more partnerships with fellowships so more of our students can gain real insight from fellowship opportunities across the country. Another concept we want to implement is legislation to hopefully appropriate more funds for our Architecture students. They get the short end of stick in the college and that has to be corrected. One major thing we want to bring a change to is the development of engineering majors officially being able to declare minors. we plan to work closely with the Council and the CEA administration to see how we can realize this plan. Lastly, we plan to open up more opportunities for our international students. The international student population in CEA is large, therefore the amount of opportunities granted to them should be large as well, and we want to do exactly that. What is your reason for running in year’s elections? I have always been a man that has helped someone else before helping myself, and the role of HUSA Senator fits the description perfectly. A senator is supposed to serve for his/ her constituents and should think for the greater good, not just personal gain. I want to see real change in the College of Engineering and Architecture, so I decided to be the first step in that change by running for HUSA Senate.

“How She Does It”: A Conversation of Howard Women Empowerment By Natalie Felix Contributing Writer

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ampus girl bosses united for a refreshingly honest, vulnerable, and laughter filled discussion Wednesday evening, March 22, to speak on “How She Does It: The balance of pursuing a career while in school. Presented by Madison Star Brim, a freshman journalism major, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Beta Chapter, Blackburn’s Digital Auditorium was an atmosphere of inspiration and an opportunity to hear from peers, student entrepreneurs, and leaders about the steps taken to making and maintaining that balance. “I wanted to create an environment where people can really speak genuinely about how they feel and speak honestly from their perspective. Speak about what they went through. Everyone has gone through some sort of growth that has made them who they are today,” said Brim. “I think that a lot of times women specifically, with our issues, our insecurities in terms of self-love and acceptance, tend to not communicate that with other women,” shared Erika Norrell, one of the featured panelist. The full panel consisted of Norrell, who currently serves as the first vice president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, Alpha

Chapter, Taylor Evans of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Alpha Chapter, Malika Shabazz, Celebrity Hairstylist and founder of Eighth Wonder Hair Creations, Kianna Baptiste, founder of The Kianna Styles Collection and Shaylen Braggs, president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Alpha Chapter. “I feel like a lot of women don’t share the secrets of being successful especially at Howard. A lot of girls want to know where to start, how to start, and what to do,” said Baptiste. “In this environment, it becomes very hard because it becomes like a competition, I wanted to take away that competitive nature,” added Brim. Brim rolled out the questions for the evening. One question being the titled program, “How do you balance actively pursuing your respective career while maintaining school work?” “Don’t go to sleep,” Shabazz joked. Collectively, the panelists agreed that time management is a major key. “I like to go out. I like to be focused in class, my grades are very important to me and I do a lot on campus. I write down the times I am going to take my nap. Times I allocate for going out. Just to keep

me on track,” said Evans. Throughout the conversation, points of vulnerability came with questions centered on dealing with negativity, bad relationships, and the “ah-ha” moment where they finally understood who they are. Norrell expressed she previously never took the time out to ask herself questions. Evans reflected on her last straw- a break up- which led to her fully starting her self-journey. She has since taken to writing a blog as an outlet. Shabazz mentioned when you see yourself overly giving and not seeing reciprocity. “You wonder how do I get in my bag, but why were you out of your bag in the first place? You realize that no one should have the power to make you feel less of what you are,” said Baptiste. “I personally have not had my “ah-ha” moment, I’m everything yet, but it’s like you really do wake up one day like okay, let me get in my bag,” she put charismatically. Braggs added, “Understanding that you are unique, and you are like no one else on this planet and God made you that way. So you just have to learn to kind of see your beauty from inside and accept yourself for who you are.” The last question of the evening wrapped up with the power in vulnerability. “In being vulnerable you give

other people strength through that. Because they can learn from you, are able to look up to you and when you see someone as perfect it kind of makes you think what they have is not attainable. But when someone is able to vulnerable with you and express what has been difficult for them it makes it more realistic,” said Braggs. Shawneé Owens, a junior Theater Arts major, shared her thoughts after the event. “It was a great reminder that what you do is for you and you can’t compare yourself to other people because there’s enough room at the top,” said Owens. “There are different ways to get there and we as women must encourage each other and continue to love on each other and continue to do events like this so others can see how, how she does it.” At the end of the evening Brim, in high spirits, shared her hope for the outcome of her efforts. “I hope everyone feels empowered. Maybe overall, to give it one title would be authenticity,” said Brim. “The importance of authenticity, the importance of vulnerability, the importance of using your voice to empower other people. That’s what I hope everyone takes away.”


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Google Plans to Train Howard Students in Coding By Jerry Augustin Contributing Writer

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n an effort to increase diversity in their technical roles, Google has come to a partnership with Howard University to open Howard West, “a three-month, summer Computer Science residency for rising juniors and seniors in the University’s Computer Science program,” according to Howard’s Office of University Communications. Howard West will be located in Mountain View, California and will serve as a space for students to immerse themselves in coding instruction and tech culture. About 25 to 30 juniors and seniors will be selected to spend 12 weeks during the summer at Google, learning from experienced engineers and Howard faculty, all while gaining course credits. “Within five years, 740 students will have matriculated. Howard West will serve the entire tech ecosystem – not just Google. For the University, this is another opportunity to provide innovative, worldclass learning experiences to its students, preparing them for work and leadership in the community. Students will obtain 12 credits toward graduation as instruction through an immersion curriculum

as part of the program,” said Howard President Wayne A.I. Frederick Google’s goals for Howard West is to boost the amount of Black students in the tech industry. By creating more spaces for minorities to learn the ins and outs of the industry, Google will accomplish just that. In addition to students having an opportunity to learn at Google, professors will also have a chance to spend six weeks at Google and learn about the latest achievements in tech. Having knowledgeable professors will provide mentors and role models to aspiring black STEM students that need them. (Photo Credit: WHUR 96.3 FM) Though more than one-third example, the goal of Van Jones’ of African Americans receive computer science degrees from HBCUs, company, Yes We Code, is to teach 100,000 low-income children to they have a difficult time finding write code. Yes We Code is an inijobs in the Silicon Valley. Genertiative of his organization, Rebuild ally, African Americans are underthe Dream. Rebuild the Dream’s represented in the STEM field. mission statement is to “fight for an According to a 2013 U.S. census, African-Americans make up 6.4 per- economy that works for everyone, cent of STEM workers, compared to and an America that delivers on the 70.8 percent and 14.5 percent of its promise of opportunity for all.” Black Girls Code teaches computer whites and Asians, respectively. coding to young girls in underrepThere have been several proresented communities. They engage grams started to help Black students learn valuable skills that will with the community through workshops and after school programs. help them in the tech industry. For

Founded in 2011, Black Girls Code aims to “provide African-American youth with the skills to occupy some of the 1.4 million computing job openings expected to be available in the U.S. by 2020, and to train 1 million girls by 2040.” Howard West will undoubtedly contribute toward bridging the gap between the tech industry and Black students, creating new opportunities for plenty of otherwise underrepresented students.

To commemorate Prince Jones Jr’s Birthday on Thursday, March 30th, The Hilltop would like to highlight The Prince Carmen Jones, Jr. Scholarship project. From Howard University’s website: The scholarship was birthed out a mother’s desire to memorialize the life of her son. Prince Jones was a student at Howard University when his life was abruptly ended in a case of mistaken identity. Gunned down by a black cop on September 1, 2000, Prince became yet another victim of being young and being black in PG County which was notorious for police brutality. Sixteen years later, the memory of Prince Carmen

Jones, Jr. fades as police brutality explodes in our country. Honoring Prince’s life is an important goal of the scholarship project. Perhaps equally important is encouraging today’s students to wake up to the issues that existed when Prince was murdered and still exists today. The scholarship will provide a full-ride to the recipient to attend Howard University. A lofty goal, but necessary one. Fulfilling Prince’s mother, Dr. Jones’ desire to help change the trajectory of another’s life will perhaps make Prince’s death not in vain. To donate, you can give at https://bisonfunder. howard.edu/project/3171


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EyE on Africa for the role priests and nuns had in the genocide. However, in 1994, Pope John Paul II refused to put blame on the church, arguing that those who committed crimes against the people of Rwanda acted as individuals.

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RWANDA

On Monday, March 20, Pope Francis met with Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, to seek forgiveness for the “sins and failings” of the Catholic church during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. According to a statement from the Vatican, Pope Francis expressed “solidarity with the victims and those who continue to suffer the consequences of those tragic events.” Officials of the Catholic church have been criticized for their compliance and role in the 100-day genocide that killed over 800,000. The Rwandan government has for a long time pressed the church for an apology

LIBYA

Over 200 migrants are feared to have drowned off the coast of Libya in an attempt to seek refuge in Europe. Rescue workers recovered the bodies of five young men near two capsized boats which could hold over 100 people each. A spokesman for the Italian coast guard told reporters that the number of dead could be over 240 because smugglers have been found to overload boats with refugees. The number of migrants traveling to Europe out of Libya and through the Mediterranean has increased this year with the shutdown of the migrant route between Turkey and Greece. The International Organi-

zation of Migration estimates that nearly 600 people have died or gone missing traveling to Europe via the Mediterranean Ocean this year.

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By Sophia Hussein Contributing Writer Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.

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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

NORTH AFRICA

On Tuesday, March 21, the U.S. government issued a ban of large electronics on all flights arriving in the U.S. from eight majority Muslim countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The new restrictions apply to all flights originating in Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The ban does not apply to smartphones, but prohibits passengers from bringing tablets, e-readers and laptops into the cabin area of the airplane. A day later the UK government announced a similar ban on direct flights from the African nations of Egypt and Tunisia, as well as four Middle Eastern countries:

Forty-two policemen were decapitated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by militia group, Kamwina Nsapu, in an ambush on Friday. The ambush took place between the cities of Tshikapa and Kangama according to president of the Kasai assembly, Francois Kalamba. Six policemen were set free according to Kalamba because they spoke the local language of Tshiluba. According to the United Nations, over 400 people have been killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and more than two hundred thousand have been displaced as violence erupted following the killing of one of the leaders of Kamwina Nsapu in August.

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.

Email: Chapel@howard.edu Join us this Sunday…. Cramton Auditorium – 11:00 A.M.

Rev. Dr. Gina M. Stewart Senior Pastor Christ Missionary Baptist Church Memphis, Tennessee

Bishop Michel B. Curry shares a moment with students of the Episcopal Ministry after Chapel service.

HOLY WEEK – SAVE THE DATES! April 9th -16th Interested in planning the final imaginative stages of Holy Week or expressing one of the Seven Last Words from the Cross? Email Chapel@howard.edu by this Sunday!

Deeper in Faith – Wider in Community!


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CULTURE Little Black Girl

Break barriers Make history Be the best you you can be You’ll always have someone rooting for you Someone you may not even know Someone like me

poetry

Dear Little Black Girl, You can be anything you want to be Think it. Dream it. Achieve it. You were born with two factors against you: Race and gender But again You can be anything you want to be

ABCsquared

So Little Black Girl Follow your heart Stay strong And blossom into the beautiful queen you’re destined to be

By Sonniya Springer, Sophomore, English Major, Brooklyn, New York

I love seeing you in a sundress with your cute outfits I’m very impressed you used to be the girl of my interest that was months ago you ain’t been on my mind much since but for you I still have affection I know that sounds like a contradiction you hit me with rejection and though I know our love is unrequited I still insist on writing sh*t like this to express it.

By R Delacy Peters III, Junior, Film, Chicago, Illinois

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Discussion on Protecting and Loving Our Girls Held at CHS By Montana Couser Contributing Writer

R

ecently, social media has been in a frenzy over a false Instagram post about 14 girls allegedly going missing in D.C. within 24 hours. This scare has led many to become aware of how many missing girls have actually disappeared in D.C. As of March 27, there are currently 26 open cases of missing people, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. On March 26, around 25 Howard University students attended a town hall meeting in College Hall South where they discussed strate-

gies to save more adolescents and children from abduction or becoming runaways. Students Briana Harris, senior human development major from Durham, North Carolina; Eva Mayanja, sophomore TV/Film major from Boston; Kimani Smith, freshman marketing major from Tampa; and Kadiatou Balde, junior political science/history double major from Atlanta, came up with the idea to arrange the town hall meeting. “Walking students to and from school could prevent them from being taken and we can make sure they get home and to school safely,” said Gyselle Garcia, a freshman sociology and Spanish double major

from Prince George’s County. Other students added that it could be a good idea to stand at various checkpoints and monitor students from a distance. Kyra Azore, a sophomore broadcast journalism major from New Orleans thought it would be a good idea to start speaking to the classmates, friends and family of the girls that are missing to see how they are holding up in school since one of their classmates is missing. “We should start checking in on the best friends of some of these girls. There is an empty desk at each of the schools that these kids go to. We don’t know how their peers feel and if they are holding up

ok,” said Azore. The last point that was made was to get students from the school of Social Work involved with the foster care system. Harris thinks that policies need to be changed within the foster care system. A lot of the children that are missing ran away from foster homes. “Policies need to be implemented because they aren’t running away for no reason,” said Harris. These Howard students plan to continue developing ideas and release a social media video to raise awareness.

Spring 2017 Makeup Trends

By Chantè Russell Staff Writer

Just like clothes or shoes, makeup trends are always changing. Staying up to date on the latest makeup trends can be a lot more essential to being stylish than you may realize. Makeup can be how you tie multiple elements together or the focal point. Whether you’re an enthusiast or a casual wearer, these trends can help you achieve some amazing looks this spring:

Super Glossy Lips:

Cut Creases:

Matte lips seemed to be everywhere for a while, but they’re fading into the distance as the glossy lip reemerges. A clear gloss is a perfect finishing touch to any look, day or night. Colored glosses are great for casual and nighttime looks.

(Courtesy Photo)

(Courtesy Photo)

Holographic Makeup:

Holographic highlighters, lipsticks and eyeshadows have emerged as a huge trend lately in the makeup community. When it comes to this trend, warmer colors are better for darker skin if you’re attempting to be more subtle or professional. On the other hand, cool tones are bold and fun.

This trend is a little more difficult than the others on this list, but with some practice it can become a go to look to show off your makeup skills. The day to night transition for a cut crease is mostly dependent on using neutral tones for a more subtle look or bright colors to be more bold and dramatic.

Faux Freckles: This is a relatively simple trend that can be worn anywhere. Just as simple as the old trend of faux moles, this look is understated and is easy to master.

(Courtesy Photo)

(Courtesy Photo)


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PERSPECTIVE -- Is BET’s ‘The Quad’ Accurate about HBCUs? By Kyana Harris Staff Writer

B

efore officially becoming an HBCU student, I had a limited perspective of Black college life. There was “Drumline” and “Stomp the Yard.” Everything else I knew about HBCUs was from my parents, who are both Howard alumnus. The lack of exposure made the few examples of it necessarily more valuable. I’m sure I’m not the only one who was looking for a brown skin mysterious type of brother like DJ when I came to Howard. It is interesting how greek life, marching band, and romantic relationships are the main themes highlighted in these movies, but not the history of black excellence that is unique to only historically black colleges and universities. I believe the most accurate example of the HBCU experience is the television sitcom “A Different World” that was popular in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Most of our parents were apart of this generation that came to know and love the show. It was so impactful that high schoolers at the time wanted to go to Hillman, not knowing that the school was actually fictional. There was even a rise in actual HBCU attendance during this era that was most likely influenced by the show. BET’s newest original series “The Quad” offers a more current perspective of life at a historically black university. At the fictional Georgia A&M University, a new female president struggles to acquire funding for the school and defeat the faculty politics. The show is only in its first season, but it has already covered heavy topics such as hazing, alcohol abuse and sexual harassment. “The Quad” has been criticized by Hampton University President William Harvey as being an inaccurate representation of HBCUs. The Washington Informer reports Harvey said HBCUs “cannot afford this kind of storytelling” because most people have little knowledge about the institutions and form their views of them based on what they see on TV. “I honestly believe it’s a great show,” said Rosemarie Miller, a sophomore broadcast journalism major and history minor. “Yes, it shows the negative aspects of HBCUs, but many of those are true. Lack of funding, rape and hazing are very real issues at HBCUs around the nation.” As a viewer, I feel that there should be a more balanced approach. I applaud the BET network for highlighting real issues that are prevalent at HBCUs, but I wish it would showcase more positive themes such as healthy black love, sisterhood, and Black excellence. Though “A Different World” could never be replaced, I think “The Quad” has the potential to further the vision of HBCU life that was first introduced in 1987. It is continuing the conversation about investing in historically black institutions but it has yet to showcase why. The reasoning behind the formation of HBCUs is more than just a good band and greek life.

Office of Off-Campus Housing & Community Engagement 2017 Off-Campus Housing Fair Wednesday, April 5, 2017 Noon- 3 p.m. Blackburn Center Ballroom

All students, staff and faculty are welcome! LOTS OF GIVEAWAYS INCLUDING: HOTEL PACKAGE AND GIFT CARDS HOWARD UNIVERSITY OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

@HUOCHE #HUOCHCE #2K17HOUSINGFAIR

THE OFFICE OF OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT * 2401 4TH STREET NW * WASHINGTON, DC 20059 202-806-9216| HU.OCHCE@GMAIL.COM HTTP://HOWARD.OFFCAMPUSPARTNERS.COM


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SPORTS LaVar Ball vs. the World By Nathaniel Easington Contributing Writer

“Never lost.”

These were LaVar Ball’s famous words on “First Take,” the morning of Thursday, March 23, when describing his one-on-one record in basketball. He told USA Today Sports that back in his say, he’d “kill Michael Jordan one-onone.” Before playing professional American football, Ball played basketball at Washington State, averaging two points per game, and California State-Los Angeles, where he was an All-Conference player. His most infamous comment so far came during a March 10 podcast where he predicted that Cleveland Cavaliers Lebron James’ children would have a harder time getting into the NBA

because of their father’s legacy and the family always being in the spotlight. This is compared to his children who are not in the spotlight as much and can focus more on their game. To this, James warned Ball to “keep my kids’ names out your mouth.” Ball’s recent comments, which have all landed him in the spotlight, are often rooted in his support and dreams for his three sons Lonzo, LiAngelo, LaMelo. Lonzo plays for the UCLA Bruins, while LiAngelo and LaMelo both play for Chino Hills High School. All three have proven to be athletically gifted. LaMelo dropped 92 points in one of his games, while Lonzo is preparing to enter the NBA, as

he told reporters after his March Madness loss to Kentucky. With his children making headlines during this basketball season, Ball’s comments are asserting that their family name will remain in the headlines. It can be argued that what LaVar is doing is in fact hurting his children’s uprising, as the media is focusing more on the family drama surrounding senior Ball’s comments than the basketball skills of his son. Ball was quoted on “First Take” saying that with his son’s fame the family would be the first to sign a billion dollar shoe deal. While much of what he has said can be debated or confidently dismissed, what cannot be debated is his kid’s success, giving him,

what seems to be, the fuel for his comments. “I have the utmost confidence in my boys,” Ball said. “I have always been this way, and I always will be this way.” While the teams his sons play for have fallen short in some of the bigger games in their short in some of the bigger games in their careers, Chino Hills losing in the California State final to Mater Dei and UCLA’s recent lost to Kentucky, their recognition as great players has not faded. The younger Balls have already committed to UCLA to play basketball following their graduation.

The HILLTOP is Looking For Business Leaders for Academic Year 2017-18. . .

The HILLTOP NEWSPAPER is NOW Accepting Applications for:

Editor in Chief & Business Manager TO APPLY: Download the application from the hilltoponline.com Questions:

Contact Katherine Outlaw, Director of Students Activities at (202-806-5994)/email: katherine.outlaw@howard.edu

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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Maverick or Menace: Colin Kaepernick’s Free Agency Bout By Ayanna Alexander Contributing Writer

I

t’s been three weeks since the start of the NFL free agency and quarterback Colin Kaepernick is still unemployed. This has left many questioning why a former Super Bowl contender is now struggling to find a team to call home. Even President Trump commented on Kaepernick’s misfortune, adding insult to injury. “Your San Francisco quarterback, I’m sure nobody ever heard of him,” Trump said. “… There was an article today, it’s reported, that NFL owners don’t want to pick him up because they don’t want to get a nasty tweet from Donald Trump. Can you believe that?” Although many don’t believe that a nasty tweet from Trump could sway NFL executives, it is far to ask why a fairly talented quarterback isn’t being picked from the lineup -- especially for a cheap cost. Has Kaepernick’s declining skillset deterred NFL owners and executives from opening up their arms and wallets to him? Or, did Kaeperick’s crusade for the people caused a change of heart? Before Kaepernick Sat A little over a year ago, the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, and Cleveland Browns were considering a trade for Kaepernick. He appeared to be ready to leave the San Francisco 49ers, since he walked away from a 16.9 million dollar contract for 2017. The Browns and the Jets were then in need of a seasoned quarterback -- some would argue that the need has turned desperate, yet and still, Kaepernick hasn’t received any calls. So, what could have possibly changed be-

tween March 2016 and now? Well first, we have to fast forward to August 26, 2016, when Kaepernick grabbed headlines, but not for his arm. Kaepernick’s Political Season He shocked the country by sitting during the National Anthem in what was called a “silent protest.” His reasoning for sitting was short and simple. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” Viewers felt various emotions. In fact, according FOX Sports News, over half the viewers said they were offended by Kaepernick’s actions. Does this have anything to do with why he can’t land a job? Some NFL executives say yes. As a matter of fact, Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman reported that an AFC general manager [GM] listed multiple reasons, including Kaepernick’s protest, as examples of why the free agent hasn’t received a call back. “...the rest [of the public] genuinely hate him and can’t stand what he did [kneeling for the national anthem],” he said. “They want nothing to do with him. They won’t move on. They think showing no interest is a form of punishment. I think some teams also want to use Kaepernick as a cautionary tale to stop other players in the future from doing what he did.” In addition to the silent protest, the GM also said, “...some teams genuinely believe that he can’t play. They think he’s shot…”

Check the Stats Looking over Kaepernick’s statistics, there’s been a seven point decline in his passer rating alone. In 2012, the NFL.com reported that Kaepernick had a 98.3 percent passer rating versus his 90.7 that he ended his time with the San Francisco 49ers. However, it is far to argue that with significant injuries from 2015, the constant roster changes from veterans to practically rookies, and most importantly the coaching staff adjustments, any player would have a hard time keeping up their talents. Former 49ers coach, Jim Harbaugh, who left at the end of the 2014-2015 season, still believes in the quarterback. “I’ll tell you [PFT Live] the same thing I tell them: I think he’s an outstanding player,” Harbaugh said. “I think he’s a great competitor who has proven it in games and has the ability to be not only an NFL starter but a great NFL player.” Since leaving the 49ers, Kaepernick has not said what team he wants to join. Instead, he’s been working on his charitable causes from donating $100,000 to the Meals on Wheels program to giving $50,000 to aid famine in Somalia. Those donations were just from this week alone. So, if the decision to not hire Kaepernick is based on his off-the field “antics”, character, and skill set, then will we see him grace the field ever again? Nobody really knows.


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Carmelo Anthony: The Tough Road as a New York Knick By Darnell Dinkins Jr. Contributing Writer

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t has been a long and tough season for the New York Knicks. The team currently has a 28-46 record, and there have been several incidents that portrayed the franchise in a negative light. Early this year, a former Knicks player, Charles Oakley, was forcibly removed after making remarks aimed at owner James Dolan. Coming into the season, there was hope for the team with the addition of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Courtney Lee. They have a nucleus of talented players, but they also have complications regarding developing a system that works best for the team. In his first season, head coach Jeff Hornacek is trying to create a system where his up-tempo style of play can mesh with the triangle offense GM Phil Jackson insists the team should use. Jackson has called out Carmelo Anthony on

several different occasions this year. This seemed to be an attempt to force Anthony to request a trade. The Knicks are trying to rebuild the team around Kristaps Porzingi, and don’t see Anthony fitting into that equation. Before the trade deadline earlier this year, there were rumors that Anthony’s name was being shopped around. Anthony has no trade clause in his contract, so he would have to approve any deal that would be made. There was speculation that the Knicks were having trade discussions with the Clippers, Celtics, and Cavaliers, but nothing concrete came out of those conversations. When asked about the possibility of his departure, Melo said, “Every day is a new team and, ‘Melo said this, Melo said that.’ Melo hasn’t said anything yet. That’s what I will say: Melo hasn’t said anything.” Even with all these conditions,

Anthony remains loyal to the Knicks and maintains that he has no desire of leaving. Anthony has given a lot to the New York Knicks. In his first three years, he led the team to the playoffs, including winning their first playoff series since 2000. After that, it seemed to be a downhill spiral for the team, who has been plagued by injuries, changing coaches and the inability of the front office to attract top talent. Still in 2014, when Anthony had the option to leave and go to another team, he stayed, trusting that the organization would put the right players and coaches around him, making way for the team to successfully compete for a championship. Instead, there have been several losing seasons, including an all time low record of 17-65 during the 2014-2015 season. Even though issues and mediocrity continue to plague the team, Anthony says that his love for the

city and making a decision that is best for his family is keeping him in New York. “My family, my son being comfortable in New York at an age now where he gets an opportunity to understand being in New York, having a home here, having friends here, my wife working there, having opportunities there,” Anthony said. “I think about that more so than my decision for my career. At the end of the day, it will come down to my decision, but I think more about what my family is thinking, what they’re going to go through if anything was to happen.” Being born in New York, Anthony wants the opportunity to bring the team its first championship since 1973. But with all these issues within the organization, that dream so far seems from becoming a reality.

The Office of the Dean of the Chapel and

The Artishia and Frederick Jordan Scholarship Fund Are pleased to announce that Applications are now available for the 2017-2018 ARTISHIA AND FREDERICK JORDAN SCHOLARSHIP Scholarship Amount Equals One Full Semester’s Tuition Must be: Full-time undergraduate student; At least sophomore standing in Spring 2017; Involved in Campus Religious Life; In good academic standing with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA as of May 12, 2017; Available to participate in service Applications due learning programs, interfaith dialogue, and vocational March 30th, 4:30 P.M. discernment initiatives. Lower Level of the Carnegie Building Applications are available by emailing chapel@howard.edu, and on the lower level of the Carnegie Building during the week.


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