The Student Voice of Howard University Since 1924 Thursday, April 20, 2017
Volume 101, Issue 27
Washington, D.C.
Dontae Bell Becomes Howard University’s 10th Truman Scholar By Rebecca Johnson Contributing Writer
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oward University’s very own Dontae Bell has been selected as a 2017 Harry S. Truman Scholar. He is the tenth student in Howard’s history to receive this award since 1989. The Harry S. Truman Scholarship is awarded to college juniors who display aspirations for public service and have proven themselves to be public servants. To be considered a candidate, students must be nominated by their school, complete an application and submit a policy proposal. Bell is one of 62 students out of the total 768 candidates to earn this prestigious award. “Being named a Truman Scholar is an enormous honor, and I’m so proud to be able to represent Howard University,” Bell said. “The Truman Scholarship is a unique opportunity – it offers not only financial support but also a community that mentors scholars throughout their professional development. I’m so excited to meet the other scholars and see how we can learn from each other as well as our respective fields, in order to better address societal challenges.” Bell is an economics and military science major and a pilot candidate in the Air Force ROTC. In addition to fulfilling his military obligations, he has actively engaged his local and collegiate community as a student leader, political activist and congressional staffer. Some of his aspirations include empowering marginalized racial and ethnic communities and understanding the intersection of cultural diversity and American national security. “This important honor is a great testament to Dontae’s character and his abilities,” said Howard University President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick. “He represents the virtues we want
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“Throughout the entire process, Dontae really showed a true commitment to public service and serving the United States,” said Miller. “He is eager to serve in a national capacity, and we are all really proud that he will be representing Howard University as the leader and optimist he is.” Bell has had his share of community involvement through several avenues including working on Capitol Hill as an intern as well as an employee, interning with nonprofits and working on political campaigns. “Being able to experience different aspects of public service has fed into my passion,” said Bell. “I’ll be happy as long as I’m contributing to the greater good.” The Rogers, Arkansas native owes his dedication to service to his upbringing. Being the oldest of 10 children, Bell has developed a “big brother mentality,” as he called it, and loves trying to help other people. Being that Howard’s motto is “in truth and service,” Bell said that attending Howard had an impact on his view of public service. “Before, it was something kind of egotistical to me. I focused on what I could get out of it,” Bell said. “It was being around other people that possess different passions, but having the same service trait that made him (Photo Courtesy: Howard Newsroom) have a change of heart. Coming to Howard really forced me to put others before myself.” to see in all Howard University students and To future Truman Scholars, Bell said will be a great addition to the Truman Scholthat if you had what it took to earn it, then you ars hall of honors.” should stay the same. Bell said initially he did not know what be“Just be you. Don’t ever stop being you,” ing a Truman Scholar was, but Howard’s Office said Bell. of Honors and Scholar Development (OHSD) Bell will receive his award during a special director Kari Miller told Bell about the scholceremony at the Harry S. Truman Presidential arship. Miller recommended the scholarship Library and Museum in Independence, Misto him because of the things he was doing on souri, on May 28, 2017. campus.
Trappin’ Out to Yoga Campus Pg. 5/
The Double Overview: ‘Facebook Killer’ Student-Athlete News Pg. 6/
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Sports Pg. 10/
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SIX HOWARD UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, ALUMNI NAMED 2017-18 FULBRIGHT AWARD WINNERS By HU Office of University Communications Washington, DC (April 11, 2017) - Four Howard University students, along with two recent alumni, have been selected for prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for research, study and English Teaching Assistant awards abroad for the 2017-18 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. “I extend my warmest congratulations to Howard University’s outstanding Fulbright Students,” said Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, president of Howard University. “Their accomplishments are the latest example of Howard students and alumni standing out as scholars in their field and making an impact, here at home and globally. I also applaud their faculty and mentors who played critical roles in their education in the Howard tradition of Excellence in Truth and Service.” Since the program’s inception in 1946, 56 Howard University students, including this year’s awardees, have been selected for Fulbright awards. Howard students will be among the 1,900 U.S. citizens who will study, conduct research and teach aboard for the 2017-18 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected for academic or professional achievement and demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program operates in more than 160 countries. Fulbright grants provide funding for round-trip travel, maintenance for one academic year, health and accident insurance, and where relevant, tuition.The Fulbright program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries. Briana Applewhite, of Olney, Maryl and, is a psychology major. She also is a biology, chemistry and German triple minor. Applewhite will be in Berlin, Germany, working on an independent project involving refugee integration into alternative coping mechanisms for victims of forced migration. She studied abroad in Berlin for the 2016-17 academic year and saw firsthand the need for assistance not only economically but emotionally as well. She has been selected for a Fulbright Research Award. Wen-kuni Ceant, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, graduated with honors from Howard University with a Bachelor of Science in biology in 2013. Ceant, who is currently studying at Drexel Uni-
versity will be evaluating the implementation of a new healthcare prepayment system with experts at Institut Mère-Enfant in Kaolack (IMEK) in Senegal, with an eye toward refining and developing a model to facilitate greater access and care for patients. She has been selected for a Fulbright Grant Award. Chiamaka Ikpeze, of Rochester, New York, graduated with honors from Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology in 2016. Ikpeze will help with research, lesson plans and course presentation to improve English speaking, listening, reading and writing skills of students for whom English is a second language. She has been selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship award. Chelsea Nnebe, of East Brunswick, New Jersey, is a chemistry major who aspires to become a neurosurgeon. Nnebe will be in Germany identifying sub-clinical markers of cognitive deficiency in epilepsy. The purpose of her research is to allow doctors to be able to identify which epileptic patients may develop memory loss or other disorders before they show symptoms of cognitive deficiency. She has been selected for a Fulbright Research Award. Jakiya Pyron, of Trenton, New Jersey, is a communications major. Pyron will be in Kenya doing peace work within the local community as well as partnering with the Kenya Justice Project in order further the project’s goal of educating rural communities in Kenya about the property rights granted to women under the 2010 Constitution of Kenya. She has been selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship award. Brittany Scott, of Nashville, Tennessee, is an economics major. Scott will be in South Africa working
with students in secondary school. She will help with research, lesson plans and course presentation to improve English speaking, listening, reading and writing skills of students for whom English is a second language. She has been selected for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship award.
THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017
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Many Anxious as New Justice Considers Pivotal Cases
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frican-Americans, Hispanics, Muslims the nation’s LGBT community and women are watching anxiously as the U.S. Supreme Court considers important cases with the addition of new, conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch. Many are worried his judicial ideology, which is closely aligned with the arch conservative judge he is replacing, will erode existing civil rights protections for people of color, women and the LGBT community and will thwart efforts to expand those rights. Gorsuch is filling the vacancy left by Antonin Scalia, who died last year. Scalia was a formidable enemy of civil rights and a forceful legal opponent to affirmative action and various civil rights matters, particularly protections for LGBT Americans. Gorsuch will be pivotal on several cases expected to come before the Supreme Court, including a Texas’ challenge to an Obama immigration policy and another on the ability of unions to collect fees. Experts say other upcoming cases in which the newly justice could tip the scales are deal with employment and immigration, religion and education. Currently, Gorsuch and other justices are considering whether to hear a case involving the right to carry concealed weapons publicly. Kyle Barry, policy counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, said his organization and others are concerned because the effect of Gorsuch’s ruling and presence on the court will be for years. “This is for the next generation,” Barry explained. “We’re talking about a life tenured position for a relatively young nominee who may serve for decades while in the Supreme Court,” The NAACP LDF reviewed Judge Gorsuch’s judicial record, with a focus on the civil rights and constitutional issues that are of greatest relevance to the clients LDF represents, Barry said. Its legal analysts examined all of his written opinions and dissents that bear on issues of employment and housing discrimination, criminal justice, voting rights, and access to the courts—as well as his votes in relevant cases in which other
judges authored the decision. “Based on a review of his record, we’ve found he has applied civil rights very narrowly, including discrimination in the workplace and even whether or not civil rights cases can have their date in court in the first place,” Barry said. The LDF’s report also said Gorsuch holds views on government regulation that could undermine civil rights enforcement and deepen racial inequality. His views regarding the important work of federal agencies could lead to fewer and weaker protections for workers, the environment, consumers, and public health—resulting in harms that would disproportionately impact African Americans and other people of color. Barry, Democratic senators and other opponents site the 2009 case of Alphonse Maddin as an example of Gorsuch’s affinity for siding with business rather than workers in his rulings. Maddin was a trucker who got stuck on the road in sub-zero temperatures. To survive, Maddin abandoned his cargo to seek help. His employer fired him, because he left his truck unattended. In response, Maddin sued and seven judges ruled in his favor. Only one judge, Gorsuch, did not. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, cited this case as one of the reasons why she opposed Gorsuch for the nation’s highest court. “Unfortunately, based on Judge Gorsuch’s record at the Department of Justice, his tenure on the bench, his appearance before the Senate and his written questions for the record, I cannot support this nomination,” Feinstein told colleagues before the scheduled committee vote on his nomination. Like the other justices on the court, Gorsuch comes with impeccable credentials. He is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School. He also received a doctorate in philosophy from Oxford University. The American Bar Association reviewed Gorsuch’s judicial history and unanimously declared him to be “well qualified” to serve on the U.S. Supreme
Court. The ABA did not consider Judge Gorsuch’s ideology, political views or political affiliation. Its evaluation was “based solely on a comprehensive, nonpartisan, nonideological peer review of his integrity, professional competence, and judicial temperament,” said Nancy Scott Degan, chair of the ABA. Scott Michelman, senior staff at the Washington, D.C., American Civil Liberties Union, differs in his opinion on Gorsuch’s impact on the court. The ACLU is a non-partisan organization whose stated mission is “to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.” Michelman said though Gorsuch is not an advocate for civil rights and LGBT rights like his Democratic counterparts, he believes the Supreme Court will continue its legacy of making changes for the best with Gorsuch present. “Although the Court was for much of its history a conservative institution that protected existing power structures at the expense of African Americans in the past century and particularly in the past 63 years, the Court has protected and advanced the rights of African Americans in many important ways,” Michelman said. If this is a direct quote, he didn’t say anything in parenthesis. However, he may have mentioned it. If so, please put it in commas. “For instance, since 1954 the Court has decided cases that have required school desegregation, protected voting rights, enforced anti-discrimination laws in employment and housing, and imposed and enforced limits on abuses in the criminal justice system including the conduct of the police,” he said. “Recent years have seen the court back away from civil rights enforcement, most notoriously in striking down a core provision of the Voting Rights Act in 2013, but the Court has also preserved affirmative action and rebuffed an attempt to narrow the Fair Housing Act.”
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ESPN Editor Claire Smith Visits Howard University By Ayanna Alexander Contributing Writer
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SPN Coordinating News Content Editor Claire Smith paid a group of Howard students a visit on Thursday, April 13, where she schooled them on her career and breaking barriers in the communications business. Smith humbly spoke about her upbringing in Pennsylvania and how she’s transitioned in her 35-year career from The Philadelphia Inquirer to the New York Times and ultimately, to ESPN. She also passionately discussed her feelings about her recent honor of being named the first female 2017 J.G. Taylor Spink Award recipient. She will be inducted during the 2017 Baseball Hall of Fame Weekend, becoming a HOF baseball writer. Smith began her discussion by treating the students as if they were interviewing her. “This is an interview,” she said. “Whatever you want to know, I will honestly tell you.” This led to questions about her being an African-American female sports journalist and whether being a woman or being Black was more difficult.
“There’s no contest,” Smith said. “We know in 2017, it’s still acceptable in far too many places to be an absolute idiot in sexism. But, you can’t [openly] be a klansmen or anti-semitic, or a gay basher in a [Baseball] Club.” Although being a woman and Black in a white and male dominated industry, Smith graciously admitted that she felt a sense of protection from the players, as well as her male peers. “I couldn’t have done it really without their support,” she said. “It really takes a village. They kicked in the doors and had our [women’s] backs and made sure the rules were enforced.” Despite the issues that female sports journalists have faced and are still facing, she’s noticed an increase of female baseball writers. Unfortunately, she couldn’t say the same about Black baseball writers. “I think that really the days of very seldom seeing a woman, are pretty much in decline,” said Smith. “There’s a decline in print and that’s what hurts me. But in terms of percentage, it’s certainly more [women], and that’s heartening. As far as African-Americans, there are zero.” Discussing her recent honor and how she felt initially hearing the news, Smith’s
demeanor changed. She was very modest and overcome with emotion. “I never thought that the [Baseball Writers’ Association of America] New York Chapter would nominate me,” she said, pausing to smile. “The fact that I had been out of New York for nearly 10 years, it wasn’t really on my radar. There was lots of crying...you just die a little bit. I asked every woman in the room to come up with me because it was just as much their moment as it was mine.” Ending her talk, Smith gave a nugget of advice for Black female sports journalists. “I would advise you to never ever let what seem to be strong forces and courses to move you from how you were raised, what your heart and ethics and morals tell you is right for you,” said Smith. “Nothing can ever be the same for you that’s written for the person next to you. People will try to press you about your hair and makeup and all the while, never telling your male
(Photo Credit: ESPN)
counterparts any of this.” “You’re gonna walk in and see immediately that look that says ‘what are you doing here? You’re only here because you’re filling a quota and because you’re a woman or you’re Black’ and the bottom line is they’re saying, ‘you don’t know nothin.’ You don’t belong here. The guy that’s been here for 50 years belongs here. How do you shut that down? With knowledge.”
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN CHAPEL?
Deeper in Faith – Wider in Community!
Chapel Sesquicentennial Celebration If These Walls Could Speak The Role of Rankin Chapel in the History, Life & Culture of The Mecca Sunday, April 23rd - 1:30 P.M. Founders Library Browsing Room
Join us this Sunday… Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. Senior Managing Director, Lazard Freres & Co. LLC New York, New York Celebrating the musical gifts of the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel Choir and the Howard University Choir under the direction of Mr. Ned Lewis, Dr. Eric Poole & Dr. J. Weldon Norris.
Seniors Sunday is here… Are you graduating in 2017? Would you like to play a role in a special service highlighting and celebrating the Class of 2017? Consider participating in: Seniors Sunday – April 30th Email: gdvinson@howard.edu
Participants of the Jewish Seder during Holy Week included Howard University and George Washington University students and faculty members.
THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017
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Trappin’ Out to Yoga With Khepera Wellness By Acacia James Contributing Writer
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rap music playing, students on yoga mats, and healthy refreshments. This is what filled the Blackburn Center ballroom on Monday, April 17. Students came to relax and get some yoga in before finals really begin. However, this wasn’t your typical yoga session. This was trap yoga, the art of combining trap music and yoga in one. The trap yoga event was hosted by Howard alumnus (c/o ‘14) Brandon Copeland, who said bringing yoga to Howard was something he had been trying to do for a while. “I’ve always been interested in getting yoga on Howard’s campus. I used to teach classes at Meridian and the yard for free,” said Copeland. Copeland, who graduated in 2014 with a major in psychology, now owns a yoga studio, Khepera Wellness, located at 3400 14th St. NW. He said it was always a dream of his to actually host a free yoga event at Howard. “When I was at Howard, I tried to start a wellness club, and I had to go through a lot of paperwork and didn’t
end up getting it done,” he recalled. Although Copeland recently detailed exactly what trap yoga was, he says that he has been doing yoga to trap music since his days as a Howard student. “It wasn’t until I got my own studio space and was able to name the class, and offer it to people as a type of yoga, that it became really popular,” he said. Calvin Hadley, Howard’s Student Ombudsperson and friend of Copeland, opened up the trap yoga session with a few words about his history with yoga, saying Copeland was the first person to
finals coming she feels like it would be relaxing. “I’ve never done trap yoga before, but I’ve been doing yoga for about 10 years now,” said Okeke. The yoga session began with stretches to R&B music, such as Solange’s “Cranes in the Sky” and shortly sped up to modern day trap music, with more physically exerting stretches, concluding with long stretches to slow music. Zadriuna Bridges, a sophomore from Charlotte, North Carolina said that after seeing trap yoga online, she was glad to be able to try it (Photo Courtesy : Twitter) before she paid for it. She had been doing yoga for a year now and really introduce it to him. enjoys it. Although Hadley received his intro“I love yoga, it’s very relaxing, it duction to yoga from Copeland, some of increases flexibility, and it’s just an interthe participants did not. esting hobby,” said Bridges. Takeera Sconiers, a senior, said that At the conclusion of the event, she had attempted yoga before, but had Copeland thanked students for being never tried trap yoga, although she had part of his first major yoga event, and heard of it, and it stuck with her due encouraged students to try out his yoga to Copeland being a former student of studio. Howard. For more information on Copeland Marie Okeke, a mechanical engiand classes he offers, visit www.kheperneering major, says that she loves yoga, awellness.com/ and had been meaning to try trap yoga specifically. Okeke also said that with
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NEWS EyE on Africa 2 3 SOUTH SUDAN
1
LIBYA
In a report released on April 11, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) highlighted the growing human trafficking crisis in Libya. The victims are refugees hoping to flee their homes in many Sub-Saharan African nations in search of better living conditions in Europe. The report sheds light on the ‘slave markets’ and private prisons that exploit migrants desperate to reach safety. Officials believe the overthrow of the autocratic leader Muammar Gaddafi is the reason that smugglers and traffickers have been able to take advantage of the thousands of migrants trying to pass through Libya to reach Europe.
At least 14 people were killed after two days of bombings carried out by the South Sudanese military on the rebel head town of Raga and the surrounding areas this week. South Sudanese rebels told Reuters on Saturday that the victims were civilians. The South Sudanese army denies the allegations, calling them “a negative media campaign by the rebels.” The three-year civil war plaguing the East African nation has grown increasingly violent in recent weeks. The latest surge of violence has forced some aid workers to flee the nation dealing with an ever-worsening famine.
NIGERIA
Nigeria’s anti-corruption unit recovered over $43 million in an upscale apartment in the city of Lagos during a raid on Tuesday, April 11. Officials said they had received a tip from a woman taking bags in and out of the apartment. Behind wooden panels, neatly arranged was 23.2 million Naira, the Nigerian currency worth 75,000 U.S. dollars, and £27,800, equivalent to 35,000 U.S. dollars. No arrests have been made yet, but officials suspect the funds are proceeds of unlawful activity. This most recent raid comes just after officials recovered $817,000 in a market in Lagos, and $1.5 million at a shopping plaza. The string of busts is credited to a new policy implemented in December that allows whistleblowers to provide officials with information regarding corruption anonymously. If the tip leads to the recovery of funds,
By Sophia Hussein Contributing Writer
the whistleblower is entitled to 2.5 percent to 5 percent of the recovered funds.
4
SOMALIA
The United States Armed Forces will be deploying troops to Somalia in order to assist the national army and conduct unspecified security operations, according to U.S. military spokeswoman Samantha Reho. President Donald Trump’s expansion of the existing military presence will be the U.S.’s largest deployment to the Horn of Africa in approximately 20 years. The U.S. has not specified the exact number of troops being deployed, but has confirmed that “a few dozen” soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division would be deployed. This comes as the 22,000 African Union troops currently in Somalia plan to begin withdrawing in 2018.
Murder Streamed Over Facebook Live By Justin Cohen Staff Writer
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n elderly man was murdered on the morning of Easter Sunday by a man who appeared to want to send a message to his exgirlfriend through his social media account. The grisly murder was streamed to Facebook Live. Robert Godwin, Sr., a retired foundry worker, was out on the side of the road collecting cans, as he often does, when an unknown man approached him. The man was later confirmed to be 37-year-old Steve Stephens, who had never before met the victim. Before the trigger was pulled, assailant Stephens had 74-year-old Godwin repeat the name ‘Joy Lane’. Stephens stated that she was the reason Godwin was killed that morning. On the stream, Stephens can be heard saying, “That motherf–ker dead ’cause of you, Joy.” It was pure chance that Godwin was chosen for the remorseless crime. Apparently, Stephens’
only objective was to send message to someone who may see the video. However, the crime was not simply enacted on a whim and Stephens seemed to have been planning it for a while now. He allegedly told his mother, “If you see me again, it’ll be a miracle,” as she quoted him saying. Stephens kept true to his word as he had not been seen since he committed the murder, but ultimately committed suicide in Erie County, Pennsylvania on Tuesday after a three-day nationwide manhunt. When asked about the video streamed on Facebook, a spokesperson said in a statement, “This is a horrific crime and we do not allow this kind of content on Facebook. We work hard to keep a safe environment on Facebook, and are in touch with law enforcement in emergencies when there are direct threats to physical safety.” Godwin Sr. is survived by nine children and 13 grandchildren.
Steve Stephens (Courtesy Photo)
THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017
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Democrats Hopeful as Georgia Voters Rebuke Trump By David DePriest Columnist
O What You Need to Know About Trump’s Syrian Airstrike beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack,” Trump said. “It is in this vital, national seresident Donald Trump curity interest of the United increased the nation’s inStates to prevent and deter volvement in Syria’s six-year the spread and use of deadly civil war when he ordered a chemical weapons.” fleet of about 60 missiles to Trump’s order was carbe fired at the Shayrat airried out as swiftly as it was base on April 6 in response because he did not seek forto a chemical attack allegedmal congressional approval. ly carried out by the Syrian While many lawmakers, government and President like Senators John McCain Bashar al-Assad. (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey GraSome victims’ last moham (R-S.C.), supported the ments were spent convulspresident’s decision, others ing and foaming at the were much less enthused. mouth as the muscles that “While we all condemn controlled their breathing the atrocities in Syria, the became paralyzed from United States was not attheir direct contact with tacked,” Sen. Rand Paul Sarin, a deadly neurotoxin (R-Ky.) said. “I call on him that allegedly filled the air in [Trump] to come to Conthe town on April 4. Almost gress for a proper debate.” 90 civilians died as a result Politicians on both sides did of the attack on the rebelagree that Trump should held suburb of Damascus. proceed with caution in In a statement made decision making regarding after the retaliatory airstrike Syria. was carried out, Trump On Sunday, Iran and explained his reasoning Russia, both backers of behind the ordered attack Assad’s military, released a and called on the world to joint statement stating that join in the fight to stop the any further attacks on Syria “slaughter and bloodshed” would result in aggression. in the war-torn country. With the threat of retalia“It was a slow and brutal tion raised by Syrian allies, death for so many, even By Kai Sinclair Staff Writer
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some Howard students fear that the university would be in danger because of its Washington, D.C. location. Others are less concerned about the possibility of an attack, and more concerned about the country’s reputation following Trump’s decision. “When we do something as a country, we do it as a country. So they don’t see the divide between Trump supporters and non-Trump supporters. It is irresponsible of him to make a decision for the country that only half of the country would agree with,” said Abeni Watts, a junior marketing major from Philadelphia. “I’d much rather see my tax dollars go toward something like education,” said David Hill Jr., a junior computer science major from New York. “It’s dangerous when our leaders make decisions for the sake of retaliation instead of sustainability.” According to a recent poll by CBS News, 57 percent of Americans approved of Trump’s airstrikes, while 36 percent disapproved.
n Tuesday, April 18, there was a special election in Georgia’s sixth congressional district. The election was held to replace Rep. Tom Price, a prominent Republican that Donald Trump appointed to head the Department of Health and Human Services. The leading candidate in the race, Democrat Jon Ossoff, pulled off an upset win in Tuesday’s election, falling less than 2 percent short of the 50 percent necessary to win the race outright. National Democrats are hailing Tuesday’s special election as an unprecedented win, a sharp rebuke of the new Republican administration at a time when any and all electoral gains are seen as valuable. The election was largely expected to be uneventful as Georgia’s sixth district has been solidly Republican for more than 40 years. The district has historically favored conservative Republicans (former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich hailed from Georgia’s sixth, and Price won the seat by nearly 30 points last election). However, local Democrats saw an opening in the aftermath of the disastrous 2016 presidential election, where former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton outperformed expectations and lost to Donald Trump by only two points in the district. The unexpected closeness of this and other races has galvanized grassroots Democrats who see each race as a chance to rebuke Trump’s administration. This includes races
in Montana and Kansas, both of which heavily favored Republicans, but have intense grassroots efforts by progressive Democrats looking to notch out victories in the aftermath of Trump’s unexpected victory and the Republicans’ total domination of local races since 2010. Ossoff himself seems to have become the posterboy for anti-Trump resistance. The 30-year old filmmaker and former congressional aide has used the rhetoric of resistance and groundswell of anti-Trump sentiment to fuel his campaign. The congressional hopeful managed to raise $8.3 million in small-dollar donations over the last few months of the campaign, more than quadruple any other candidate in the race. Ossoff however found himself vastly outspent by outside interests, including a last ditch ad blitz by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) that tenuously linked him to Osama bin Laden. The ad drew ire from both sides (Ossoff has no connection whatsoever to organized terror), and was later pulled. Republicans also drew ire on the night of the election as voting machines in many Democratic-leading precincts experienced glitches and malfunctions that ultimately flipped them towards Republican Karen Handel. The final election to fill the seat will take place on June 20 between Ossoff and former Georgia secretary of state Karen Handel.
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CULTURE
#TBT: Popular Black Music Groups By Imara Bright-Johnson Staff Writer Looking at the past, African-American music groups were extremely popular and well respected. Many music groups brought joy and memories to people all around the world. From pop to R&B, several Black groups made an impact on the music industry. Here are some of the well-known artists that we still celebrate and listen to today:
1. The Supremes
The Supremes was the premier music act of the famous Motown Records in the 1960s. The Supremes are known to be one of the most successful vocal groups of all time. The group had 12 number one singles and achieved even higher success when Diana Ross was named as their lead singer.
2. The Temptations
As another sensation of Motown Records, The Temptations made their debut in the 1960s as a five-man group. They recorded many hits such as “Get Ready” Just My Imagination” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”. The group recorded their final album in 1976 and officially disbanded.
3. The Jackson 5
Formed in 1964, The Jackson 5 was made up of the Jackson brothers. Quickly, The Jacksons became one of the biggest pop music groups in history. After eventually signing with Motown Records, The Jackson 5 released hits such as “ABC”, “I’ll Be There” and “The Love You Save”. The Jackson 5 paved the way for many other music groups.
4. Earth Wind & Fire
At any summer cookout with your family, you are probably going to hear Earth Wind & Fire at least twice. Unlike many
other Black music groups, Earth Wind & Wire is still performing together. Established in the 1970s, this group was known for combining jazz with R&B and are still going strong today.
5. Frankie Beverly and Maze
“Joy and Pain” is a song that is known throughout generations. Frankie Beverly and Maze became extremely popular in the 1980s. This music group is known for their amazing band and unique vocals.
6. New Edition
As another boy music group, New Edition entered the hearts of many in the late 80s. The group started off as young boys and continued their careers into their adulthood. New Edition released six studio albums and disappointed many when they were forced to break up. Their music is still played today and
is enjoyed by those old and young.
7. TLC
TLC was one of the most famous girl groups in America of the late 90s and early 2000s. T-Boz, Left Eye and Chilli were the original members of the group. TLC recorded many multi- platinum albums and sold over 65 million records around the world. The group earned many awards such as Grammys, MTV Video Music Awards and Soul Train Music Awards.
8. Destiny’s Child
In the early 2000s, every girl dreamed of being members of Destiny’s Child. Featuring their best-known line-up comprised of Beyoncé, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland, Destiny’s Child was known for catchy songs, extravagant videos and great fashion.
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Netflix Original ‘Dear White People’ To Be Released End of The Month By Chantè Russell Staff Writer
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etflix original, “Dear White People” is set to be released on Friday, April 28. The series is an adaption of a 2014 film by the same name which was briefly available on Netflix for streaming, but has since been removed. The trailer for this series has met both praise and criticism for its straightforward address. The trailer portrays what seems to be the same storyline as the movie. The main character, Samantha White, is a student at a prestigious predominantly white university who has a radio show called, “Dear White People,” in which she uses to call out her classmates on their blatant racism and microaggressive behavior. The story follows Samantha and other Black students at the school as racial tensions boil. Opponents of “Dear White People” argue that the show is calling for what they call “white genocide.” Led by Tim Treadstone, former Buzzfeed writer turned outspoken member of “alt-right” Twitter, many Netflix members chose to protest the show by deleting their
accounts and posting screenshots on Twitter following the trailer’s release in February. The show’s creator, Justin Simien, responded via Facebook saying, “…I feel strangely encouraged. To see the sheer threat that people feel over a date announcement video featuring a woman of color (politely) asking not
to be mocked makes it so clear why I made this show.” On the other hand, fans of the movie are disappointed to see Logan Browning replacing
Tessa Thompson as Samantha. There’s also some skepticism that the show will stick too closely to the plot of the movie to be interesting in its own light. Whether they’re excited or unsure, it seems that many people will be watching “Dear White People” once it’s released. “I have seen the movie Dear White People and it’s actually one of my favorites...It highlighted a lot of issues that I personally resonated with,” said sophomore communications major Branson Falker. “It touched on a lot of racist issues that Black people face when we’re the minority in a lot of situations. I’m now really excited to see the series and hope everyone watches it,” he said. Freshman journalism major Reginald Ogbonna said, “I have seen Dear White People and it’s a cool movie. I saw the trailer for the show on Netflix and I thought that it looked a little too similar to the film, but I’ll definitely check it out. It seems like it could still be really good.” “Dear White People” is a possibly uncomfortable, but still a comical, social critique of American race relations. And now is the perfect time for its release. Racial diversity and insensitive behavior have become hot topics lately, and “Dear White People” is sure to have a lot to say about both.
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SPORTS
Rikkia McGill
From the Field to the Court— then Back to the Field By Brittany Webb Sports Editor She’s the woman who did what a lot of student-athletes cannot say they have done. She was the double student-athlete, who you would see cheering during both the football and basketball seasons, but you would also see her in the weight room and on the track throwing for Howard Uni(Photo Credit: HU Bison Sports) versity’s track and field team. Off the court and field, you would find her excelling in her classes. She is Rikkia McGill, and The Hilltop sat down with McGill about her Howard experience: The Hilltop: How long have you been doing track and field and Cheerleading? McGill: I started track and field as a joke in high school. I was a sophomore, and my friends always joked about how strong I was, so I thought that I would give it a try. As my career progressed, the coach at Howard brought me on and the rest was history. I can honestly say track found me. In contrast, I have been cheering since I was six years old. All I ever wanted to do was cheer so it was imperative and a major goal of mine to be a part of the Howard Cheerleading program. HT: What was it like being a double student-athlete? RM: Talk about being sore! At one point, I was practicing three times a day between the two teams. The most difficult part was the lack of rest your body gets. Even when one coach gives you a “break in training” it doesn’t matter because you still have another full practice you are obligated to participate in. The past four years have almost been a constant state of soreness, but it was entirely worth it. I cannot see myself living without either sport and am grateful my coaches allowed me to participate on each team. HT: What advice would you give to incoming student athletes? RM: I would tell all young student athletes to stay focused and to know your worth. At Howard, there are many opportunities to be social and I have seen too many great athletes get caught up more in the social life meanwhile forgetting their athletic commitments. Howard is a party school, but you must remember your goals on the court/field won’t be achieved at the party. Have fun but not too much. I would also advise them to know their worth. It is important as an athlete to voice your opinion, fight for your scholarships and take care of your body. At the end of the day, athletics is a business and if you do not stand up for yourself they will use you up. HT: If you could do it all over again, would you change anything? RM: I have no regrets from my career, but if I could change anything I would know my rights as an athlete. I assumed that injustices and restrictions I encountered were just “part of being an athlete” and didn’t stand up for myself. Coming in as a freshman, I would have loved to
know more of what should and should not be tolerated. HT: Where can we see Rikkia in 5-10 years? RM: Although I am a legal communications major, you will find me educating children. Right now, I am moving to Nashville, Tennessee, to teach while I obtain my masters followed by my Doctorate in Communication Sciences and Disorders. In the future, I will be working in low income communities helping children who suffer from various speech and language disorders. My dream would be to one day open my own school. HT: What’s one thing you want to be remembered for at Howard? RM: I just want to be (Photo Courtesy: Twitter) remembered for my work ethic and willingness to help people. None of my accomplishments came without a large amount of hard work and I believe that as a student body and team we work better together. You must always bring others up with you as you climb to new heights.
THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017
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NBA Playoffs Recap By Evan Brooks Contributing Writer
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Aaron Hernandez (Courtesy Photo)
The Lights Dim on Former NFL Star By Brittany Webb Sports Editor
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he world can become cold once you lose everything and some people find it harder to deal with than others. As of yesterday, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez found the troubles of his world to hard to bear. Hernandez was found hanged in his Souza Baranowski prison cell on Wednesday morning. His death comes after he was acquitted in a second murder case. According to the Massachusetts Department of Correction, the former NFL star hanged himself with a bed sheet, which he attached to a window in his cell. In a statement from the correction’s department, it reads, “Lifesaving techniques were attempted on Mr. Hernandez, and he was transported to UMass Leominster, where he was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m.” According to the department, Hernandez tried to jam the door to prevent anyone from entering his cell. Despite being acquitted of murder charges in the July 2012 deaths of Safiro
Furtado and Daniel de Abreu last week, Hernandez was serving a life sentence for the July 2013 murder of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd, to which Hernandez was found guilty of first-degree murder. Lloyd was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancé. Hernandez’s attorneys had appealed for a new trial in the case of Lloyd’s death. Before being arrested for the first murder charge, Hernandez had signed a fiveyear contract extension with the Patriots in 2012. The contract was worth up to $40 million, but the team released him once he was arrested. Hernandez leaves behind his mother, Terri, and brother, Dennis Johnathan. He also leaves behind his lone supporter and fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins, and the couple’s four-year-old daughter, Avielle, who was a few months old when he was first arrested in June 2013. The Massachusetts State Police are currently investigating his death.
his past weekend, the National Basketball Association (NBA) kicked of the 2017 NBA playoffs and the games did not fail to entertain. After the regular season came down to the final games of the season to determine who will play for the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls were the last team to make the bracket, standing in at the eighth seed. The playoffs started on Saturday, April 15, and the Cleveland Cavaliers came ready to win, defeating the seventh seed Indiana Pacers. The game lead went back and forth as C.J. Miles of the Pacers missed the game winning shot to give Lebron and the Cavs an upset in Game 1. Pacers star Paul George was frustrated after the loss saying, “In that situation I have to take the last shot.” The Cavaliers would continue to keep up their momentum as they also won Game 2 against the Pacers on Monday, April 17, with a final score of 111-117. The games didn’t stop there. The Milwaukee Bucks later defeated the Toronto Raptors on the road in Game 1. The Bucks were led by first time all-star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Raptors guard Kyle Lowry continued to struggle as he has done in his last two playoff appearances. The always potent and well-coached San Antonio Spurs took care of business quite easily against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. The final score was 111-82 with Kawhi Leonard leading the Spurs with 32 points. The final game of Saturday night was another nail biter between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Utah Jazz. The Jazz would end up squeezing by the Clippers as oldtimer Joe Johnson hit the
game winning shot as time expired. After star center Rudy Gobert went down, Johnson put the team on his back to get the job done in game one and finished with 21 points. The playoffs continued on Easter Sunday, April 16, with Game 1 between the Washington Wizards and the Atlanta Hawks. The Wizards found themselves clicking on all cylinders led by all-star guard John Wall, who finished with 32 points and 14 assists. The Wizards also had a big contribution from forward Markieff Morris who added 21 points. The Golden State Warriors, who are favored to win the champions with 4/7 odds, won easily in Game 1 against the Portland Trail Blazers. Allstar Kevin Durant had 32 points as well. The Celtics and Bulls were one of the most entertaining games on Easter Sunday. After a cold start, Jimmy Butler led the Bulls to a 106-102 win at the TD Garden. The last game featured the two leading candidates for MVP as the Oklahoma City Thunder faced the Houston Rockets. Former teammates Russell Westbrook and James Harden went head to head, but it was Harden getting the best of Westbrook in game one. Harden finished with 37 points and nine assists to take Game 1. The NBA playoffs are just getting started, but after a crazy start, there is little reason to believe that the games will get more competitive and intriguing. As multiple upsets have already happened, it will be the year of the bounce back. It’s going to be a bumpy ride to the finals.
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