SPORTS The Oakland Raiders are being investigated for violating the Rooney Rule Page 11
The Hilltop The Student Voice of Howard University
Volume 102, Issue 13
NEWS Howard University in Top 15 of EBONY Magazine HBCU Campus Queens Page 5
Monday, January 22, 2018
thehilltoponline.com
Howard University Stricken With Damages; A Test of Resilience By: Jazmin Goodwin, Editor-In-Chief | @TheLyricalJAZ
Extreme weather conditions during the winter break crippled Howard University’s facilities, leading to an unprecedented postponement of undergraduate and graduate courses for more than a week and the complete shut down of widely used buildings damaged by burst pipes and collapsed ceilings. The brutal cold snap that struck the Washington area in early January seemed to hit Howard the hardest, resulting in millions of dollars in damage and loss of heat in most buildings across the campus and creating the first major crisis for President Frederick’s new
leadership team.
Campus Speakout: Where Do We Go From Here?
Letter to the Editor: Zora’s Legacy and the Need For The Mecca To Honor Her Gift
By: Monica Joseph, Life+Style Reporter | @monicaj217
The widely publicized shutdown of Howard University facilities has been a much-publicized example of its structural and administrative shortcomings. Many students feel that Howard is facing a point of culmination, from which it may either learn and properly adjust, or continue upon its path of unsustainability. See CAMPUS, Page 2
The university scrambled to relocate hundreds of classrooms and faculty offices from the damaged buildings. When classes resumed Jan. 16, eight days late, there were still widespread heating issues and leaking pipes, as students and staffs tried to adjust to the constantly changing situation and a delay in processing financial aid. Despite the delay, Commencement and Spring Break dates are unchanged, with the original Spring calendar still in place except a shortened reading period.
By: Paul Holston, 2016-2017 Editor-in-Chief | @Tru1P
Dear Editor, I write to express a sincere happy anniversary to Howard University’s student newspaper, The Hilltop! Since 1924, The Hilltop has been a beacon of light and the student voice of Howard. Ninetyfour years later, the words written, the visuals given, and the tool co-founded
The days leading up to the major decision to postpone classes were marked by extensive correspondence from university officials. On Jan. 3, an email from Vice President of Student Affairs Kenneth Holmes was sent to students regarding repairs to on-campus residence halls.
Photo by Khary Armster.
“In order to ensure that student residents return to comfortable, heated residence halls, we are asking all students to delay their arrival to campus until noon or later, Sun. Jan. 7,” Holmes said in the email. “Please be advised that temperatures in the residence halls will be cold
through the weekend until the necessary repairs have been completed.”
by Zora Neale Hurston is more important than ever.
community stay abreast on what was going on at The Mecca. Ninety-four years later, The Hilltop has transformed into a tool of liberation and an outspoken advocate for both students and the unsung locally, nationally, and worldwide.
For students who may not know who Zora Neale Hurston is (and shame on you if you don’t, but won’t hold it against you!), Zora was one of the most prolific AfricanAmerican female writers of her time. The Eatonville, Florida native studied at Howard University from 1918 to 1924 where she ultimately helped create the “Student Voice of Howard University” along with fellow student Eugene King. The Hilltop was initially a monthly publication for the discussion of registration follies and campus events. As time progressed, this publication would help Howard students, faculty, staff, and the D.C.
Chapel services were also cancelled and Spring Orientation postponed. Students who arrived back on campus prior to Jan. 7 were offered provisions to stay in other unimpacted
A couple weeks ago, Zora’s 127th Birthday passed on January 7, 1891 and along with that, a sincere thought came to mind as to how she would think of how The Hilltop has become since its beginning. A part of her I’m sure would be extremely proud in how the current staff is doing in their efforts to give the best stories, perspectives, and insights from all of what is occurring in the present day. However, I
residence halls that included: Howard Plaza Towers West, College Hall South and College Hall North. According to Howard University’s Office of Communications, 300 students were already in residence halls that had been impacted that weekend.
“That was the only weekend that I was able to return. I had to endure almost a full week of no hot water and heat,” said freshman, international business major, Gianni Goss.
feel that she would want to continue to encourage Howard students to write, write, and write to ensure that the newspaper continues to be the radical publication that challenges the current status quo.
Editorial: Zora’s Legacy
There is a dire need for Howard University to continue to elevate itself to be a premiere, first-class institution. With the recent cold winter that has pretty much affected Howard all across its campus (to where even now repairs and construction is still continuing weeks after the aftermath), with students not having the necessary resources to ensure classes and their well-being are secure enough to allow..
See NEWS, Page 5
EDITORIAL, Page 4 Dapper Dan and Gucci Collaborate to Open a Boutique LIFE+STYLE, Page 8 18 Movies to Look Forward to in 2018 LIFE+STYLE, Page 9 “Proud Mary”: A Review LIFE+STYLE, Page 10
See EDITORIAL, Page 4
2 | THE HILLTOP
CAMPUS
Campus Speakout (cont. from pg. 1) By: Monica Joseph, Life+Style Reporter | @monicaj217 The widely publicized shutdown of Howard University facilities has been a muchpublicized example of its structural and administrative shortcomings. Many students feel that Howard is facing a point of culmination, from which it may either learn and properly adjust, or continue upon its path of unsustainability. This week, the Hilltop asked students: 1. If you could talk to President Frederick, what would you tell him is the most pressing problem facing students? 2. In light of current conditions impacting campus: what do you think the future of Howard University will be?
Name: Chandler Kingsley Classification: Senior Major: Human Development Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Name: Kyle Jackson Classification: Junior Major: Sports Medicine Hometown: Oak Park, Illinois
Name: Chaunice Demosthene Classification: Sophomore Major: International Business Hometown: Orlando, FL
“I think the most pressing problem facing students is the environment: the classrooms are freezing, some classes can’t even occur because of the lack of temperature control. If the campus environment isn’t safe, then students can’t focus on academics.”
“If I could speak to President Frederick right now, I would say he should definitely listen to the students… We all share different ideas, we all experience different problems within the university.”
“I think one of the biggest pressing issues are the living conditions on campus… Quad and the classrooms are freezing. There’s nowhere to escape the cold.”
“Hopefully the future will be positive. They are making changes, slowly but surely.”
“Things aren’t perfect, but I hope that they do get better. I don’t think things will change much before I graduate, but I hope they are better for the future classes’ sake.”
“If President Frederick and the university don’t take a really good look at admin and the way we are running our university, Howard could lose its legacy because prospective students would not want to apply to a school with so many issues.”
Name: Imani Bryant Classification: Freshman Major: Political Science Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Name: Ethan Rodriguez-Shaw Classification: Sophomore Major: Economics and Africana Studies Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Name: Gabe Antonikowski Classification: Freshman Major: Biology Hometown: Niskayuna, New York
“[The most pressing problem is] definitely our housing conditions: the fact that a lot of people don’t actually have housing, and the terrible conditions of the Quad and the Annex.”
“Obviously, building closures and the fact that there’s no heat across campus buildings. I had four classes today. Three of them were in freezing rooms… Other than that, there is an ongoing housing crisis on campus this year that will probably extend until next year.”
“If I could talk to President Frederick, I would say the most pressing problem is the strain that the lack of transparency between the formal administration and the student administration puts on students. It causes a lot of tension… I think creating a direct pipeline between the administration and the students will allow the students to feel they can impact the decisions of the administration.”
“Our class is the biggest class since 1976, and next year’s is supposed to be just as big, if not bigger… We don’t have unlimited funding, unlimited housing… I don’t know what’s going to happen, but it’s not going to be good.”
“I’m not entirely sure, it all seems very up in the air right now. Howard can go in a lot of different directions depending on what the administration does, what actions students decide to take to influence the actions of the administration.” thehilltoponline.com
“Seeing the conditions of the campus, regarding Annex Hall and the Douglass Building, it’s hard to not be pessimistic about the future of Howard… I can see the university taking this as an opportunity to modernize.”
JANUARY 22, 2018 | 3
EDITORIAL Letter to the Editor (cont. from pg. 1) them to successfully move through their Howard journey, to even the lack of confidence from students towards Howard leadership (in being able to actually have full confidence more so), The Hilltop is where it needs to be to continue to give a voice to the voiceless and to hold the powerful accountable. The challenges I’ve noticed from The Hilltop staff has been the lack of resources that newspaper needs to
thrive in 2018, the implied lack of care of The Hilltop from many students and some alumni, and of course the current fastpaced news cycle that rolls by on a daily basis in the digital realm.
same energy needs to continue to be transferred into The Hilltop…but with every staff that takes over each year, there is a dire plead for students to join them and to commit to the paper.
With mentors such as Lorenzo Dow Turner, Alaine Locke, and Georgia Douglas Johnson, it’s no question Zora was ahead of her time in the way she critically thought and wrote in her novels and writings. That
With being a former editor of this beloved newspaper, The Mecca NEEDS to HONOR the GIFT that Zora GAVE to Howard. The Hilltop is RADICAL (read that again), and should not be a voice box or public
relations messenger for the university. Howardites should be fearless in their writing and the way that they move on campus in order to bring real change to the university. I strongly advise if you are reading this to consider involving yourself in The Hilltop (even if you think you can’t write, go to Moorland-Spingarn Research Center (MSRC) and read compelling point of views and stories from students who were just like you!).
In the great words of 1975-1976 Hilltop Editorin-Chief Hodari Ali: “Our objective is to motivate our readers to be dedicated to serving our people and rebuilding our communities. We do this by providing relevant news, information, pictures, art, and ideas. Like a sword, The Hilltop is a weapon for freedom, and truth is the foundation of our efforts.”
Students of The Mecca: Keep Zora’s legacy alive by ensuring The Hilltop stays alive and well with the powers of your pens. “Beneath the rule of men entirely great, the pen is mightier than the sword.” -Edward George Bulwer Lytton
Enthusiasms From Dr. McFadgion By: Dr. Akosa McFadgion, MS, MSW | @drmcfadgion
“…Send me your location, let’s focus on communicatin’, cause I just need the time and place to come through. Send me your location, lets ride the vibration, I don’t need nothing else but you…” -Khalid Kings and Queens of the Mecca welcome to 2018! So, I absolutely appreciate how sexy this young man asks for consent. Love it! His intentions are clear.
Interpersonal Violence Prevention Program Address: 2205 4th St NW, Lower Level
Jazmin Goodwin, Editor-in-Chief Autumn Dalton, Managing Editor EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT: Almani Jackson, Business Manager Shai Vaz, Assistant Business Manager Brittany Read, Executive Operations Manager Jerry Augustin, Sales Account Executive CREATIVE DEPARTMENT: Oluwatobi Oladejo, Creative Content Director Tiffany Hunt, Creative Content Assistant EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT: Kimberly Nnorom, Senior Copy Editor Justin Cohen, Assistant Copy Editor Bria Horsley, News Editor
First, he asks his desired partner for the location rather than asking their friends or stalking social
media for location information. Secondly, he wants to hold a conversation. A conversation is the best way to get to know someone, talk consent, and then, thirdly, explore his insatiable craving to fulfill his appetite by meeting up with his desired partner. Now that’s an ‘Enthusiastic Yes’ unfolding at its best! Unfortunately, too often we have sisters and brothers who don’t get the luxury to voluntarily reply with their location. Perpetrators of stalking
The Hilltop Staff Kai Sinclair, Assistant News Editor Clarice Metzger, Life+Style Editor Lawrence Dow, Sports Editor Brianna Sims, Assistant Sports Editor
take away the right to decide. Stalkers repeatedly call you, show up wherever you are, or threaten to hurt you. In honor of January as Stalking Awareness Month, here are a few thoughts to consider: 1. Stalking is “a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear”. Each of us determine our own threshold of fear. YOU get to decide what makes you afraid. 2. Texting or posting sexually-charged pictures is not only inappropriate,
it is nasty! If the person receiving the picture doesn’t like it, then it’s also STALKING. You forward the text or post, then it’s also PORNOGRAPHY. Both stalking and pornography are Title IX violations and a CRIME! 3. If you feel unsafe, fearful of what the stalker will do, believe it. Share your concerns about unwanted contact with Campus Police at 202-8061100. For safety planning, contact the IVPP office: 202-8361401.
HIRING: hiring@thehilltoponline.com BUSINESS: business@thehilltoponline.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: eic@thehilltoponline.com
ADVERTISING: adsales@thehilltoponline.com
NEWS: news@thehilltoponline.com
The Hilltop Newspaper Office
LIFE+STYLE: lifestyle@thehilltoponline.com SPORTS: sports@thehilltoponline.com
thehilltoponline.com
2401 4th Street NW, 62B Washington, D.C. 20059 Phone Number: (202)806-4749 For Zora. For Howard For You. Est. 1924.
4 | THE HILLTOP
CAMPUS
#WWYDHU: What are you doing to uphold Zora’s legacy (in your respective roles) and what do we need from the Howard community? #ForZora Jazmin Goodwin, Editor-in-Chief I share a special connection with Zora Neale Hurston. She was prolific, revolutionary and unwavering in her pursuit of truth. This gift I have inherited as Editor-In-Chief, known as The Hilltop is drenched in legacy and excellence. A legacy I have worked to revitalize and rebirth through tireless efforts of getting to know the people it represents and standing in truth for them. However, in order to keep a legacy alive it must be able to maintain its livelihood. A livelihood that is only fueled by the outpouring of support from the community that drives it. It’s no secret that many of times The Hilltop has been neglected, ignored and silenced as a resounding voice of meaning. Although, The Hilltop has fallen on deaf ears throughout its 94 year history, I am proud to say there is always hope. The hope lies in the students, faculty and staff, alum, and the every extending branch of the Howard community: to have care, concern and compassion for what this paper means to Howard’s linage, legacy and most importantly its livelihood. Autumn Dalton, Managing Editor Zora Neale Hurston was a pioneer, fighter, and literary genius. I hope to bring at least a small percentage of Zora’s zeal and fire to The Hilltop. I am proud to be a part of this publication during its 94th anniversary. The Hilltop was established as a publication by the black community, for the black community. We want to promote Zora’s legacy and ensure that we are doing all that we can to support our community. We need support from all of you–read The Hilltop, tell us what you want to see, tell us what you like and don’t like. We thrive off of the thoughts of our community. Bria Horsley, News Editor It has been a privilege to take on the responsibility of following in the shoes of a woman as confident as Zora Neale Hurston. Although my journey is just beginning, I am upholding her legacy of living fearlessly and with purpose. I strive, daily, to reclaim my power as a black woman despite the trials that we’ve been forced to experience in society. Her words have always reassured that I must go through the world prodding at its unturned stones and exposing myself to the unknown. I challenge my fellow Howard students to do the same. Zora was a traveler of the world who sought to understand what life for black people was like in other countries. We, as members of the Howard community, must use our reach to share the stories of others, understand the plight and bridge the gap between us and them. Kai Sinclair, Assistant News Editor Zora Neale Hurston’s gift to the world was her ability to tell stories. Words rolled from the tip of her pencil like water off a penguin: effortlessly. And we, as black people, are lucky enough that such a gifted writer chose to use her incredible talent to advocate for and bring us even closer together.
#TheHilltopRenaissance While my writings may never be as prolific as Hurston’s, I hope to do her legacy justice by continuing to use my voice to bring about educational equality and equity for children of color. I’ve already combined my loves of writing and working with kids to teach my Girls Inc. girls the importance of telling their own stories. When I move on to the next phase of my life as a secondary English and language arts teach in Miami Dade County Public Schools, I’ll keep Hurston’s legacy alive. To the Howard Community that raised me, I challenge you to use your voice and your talents to advocate for a cause you’re passionate about. Start a blog about where to find sustainable food sources on a college budget, or organize a group to volunteer at an animal shelter. Zora Neale Hurston, this great newspaper’s founder, used her gifts to shed light on a worthy cause. That’s what I’m doing, and you should, too. Nkechi Nnorom, Senior Copy Editor “Are we there yet?” Sitting in the backseat as a child, I bombarded my mom and dad with this question countless times. They either answered “almost” or “no.” These answers did not suffice. So, I asked again and again and again. Looking back, I realized that my question did warrant a rather annoying, one-worded response. What I should have been asking was, “Why aren’t we there yet?” or “How come we aren’t there yet?” or When will we be there?” If I had asked one of those three questions, my mom or my dad would more than likely have provided a sufficient answer for me. Zora Neale Hurston wrote about the struggles in the African American community and about the struggles facing African American women. She didn’t settle for, “No, blacks can’t have the same conditions as whites” or “Black women don’t matter.” She asked how, when and why. In my role of senior copy editor of the Hilltop, I can’t allow the bare minimum from our writers. Similarly, I want us as Howard University students, alumni and faculty and staff to do the same. Ask how, when and why. I’m tired of the Twitter or Groupme rants regarding the Howard administration or poor conditions at the university, followed by no or minimal action. Let’s stop allowing the administration to tell us “no” or “almost.” See Howard was established in 1867. One hundred and fifty years later, almost and no will no longer cut it. Change comes when variations arise in your questions, your strategies and your execution styles. Change comes when you decide to take action. Hurston took action through her many works. I take action by upholding the Hilltop’s ethical practices which are translated through my editing style. How do you take action?
thehilltoponline.com
Justin Cohen, Assistant Copy Editor Zora Neale Hurston, Howard alumna, Guggenheim fellow, acclaimed author, leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. She wore many hats. She worked hard to end her life unappreciated so that my life and my contributions may be appreciated. Her legacy lives on in this very paper you are reading. I am doing my best to live up to the standard Zora set, to keep the paper running at the status she would have it as an editor. All of us at The Hilltop stand on the shoulders of giants and that fact is not lost on us. What we need from the Howard community is for it to recognize that this paper is the product of great women and men who dedicated their lives to their craft, and I need them to offer it the respect it deserves. Lawrence Dow, Sports Editor Zora Neale Hurston’s legacy at Howard University was rooted in creating The Hilltop. Hurston’s goal was simple: the uplift and advancement of the black race while overcoming any obstacles in her way. More than admirable, this goal is one many more black luminaries in all disciplines should focus on. During my time as Sports Editor at The Hilltop, I have attempted to follow her legacy by producing quality articles about the athletic achievements and setbacks suffered by our Howard athletics department. To continue to do this, I need the community to let me know how our coverage is and what we can do to better serve the Howard community at large with said coverage. Our goal in 2018 will be to do our best to uphold and uplift the legacy left to us by Zora Neale Hurston the best that we can. Brianna Sims, Assistant Sports Editor When it comes to my writing, t he way I communicate, and the roles that I take on, I keep in mind the goals that Zora had in founding this newspaper. I try to always look at the bigger picture behind why we do what we do, which is for our people and for our community. I think the Howard community as well as myself needs to remember that we all have big shoes to fill created by the greats that came before us in this space.The immense legacy of Howard University is what drove many of us to attend this institution with the hopes of one day adding to it. Clarice Metzger, Life+Style Editor As a journalist, my integrity is everything. I hope to continue to uphold Zora’s legacy by producing content that is not only informational and invigorating but that also maintains my journalistic integrity. I encourage my writers to do the same in order to continue Zora’s vision for our historic and influential paper. What we need from the Howard University community is their continued support of our efforts in the obtainment of our needs. While immense progress was made last semester, there are still some things that would take our publication to newer heights.
JANUARY 22, 2018 | 5
NEWS
Howard University in Top 15 of EBONY Magazine HBCU Campus Queens By: Bria Horsley, News Editor | @autobriagraphy
Victoria Grimes has led Howard University to the Top 15 of Ebony Magazine’s annual HBCU Campus Queens contest. Grimes is one of more than 60 young women encouraging their schools to boost their names to the top of the list. Ebony Magazine is going on their 8th year of the tradition of honoring dynamic, college women who exemplify Black excellence. “If I can win this, it fulfills my platform of women’s empowerment. If young girls can see me in a magazine across the country, they can see themselves doing anything. Girls truly see women that look like them with
a crown on and say ‘I can do that. I can be a queen’,” Grimes says. Grimes platform since before becoming Miss Howard has been to empower and unite girls through service and self love. She believes that this is the generation of promoting and appreciating women’s accomplishments. Her participation in the HBCU Campus Queens contest has reminded her of the importance of having a connection with your community. Her goal right now is to bring the accolade back to Howard’s campus since former Miss Howard, Mariah Sankey, won in 2014.
Grimes says, “I want to bring the prize back to Howard. We haven’t been won the contest since the 2014-2015 school year. It’s really all about having pride in my school and I want to be able to do that for us.” The top ten queens are given a full spread in Ebony Magazine along with bragging rights for their school. Last year, the queens were flown to Disney World for a women’s tea and granted the honor of walking in the parade on Main Street. Grimes encourages her student body, family and friends to devote a few minutes to voting for her. Voting is unlimited and ends on January 31.
Howard University Stricken with Damages (cont. from pg. 1) As late as Jan. 6, officials still expected classes to resume Jan. 8. Residence hall heating and water issues quickly snowballed into additional announcements of significant damages encompassing campus. On the evening of Jan. 6, following Holmes’ announcement, an email was sent from the Office of the Provost notifying the Howard University campus community that record cold temperatures, resulting in power outages and ruptured pipes had caused significant damage to buildings on campus including Annex I, Annex II, Douglass Hall and the Fine Arts building. The significance of the damage caused postponement of both Undergraduate and Graduate courses until Tuesday, Jan. 16. In the midst of the extreme weather conditions over the holiday break, IBM and Enterprise Technology Services had began their work of migrating 97% of Howard University buildings to a new technology core. The transfer resulted in connectivity issues and limited to no access to BisonWeb. Many students were flustered with the myriad of issues, taking to Twitter using the hashtag #HowardHaze to vent their frustrations about the news of extensive damage and the looming issues that coincided with that, including financial aid disbursement, access to BisonWeb and registration for Spring semester courses. As a result of connectivity issues with BisonWeb over the course of the break, registration for classes was extended until Friday, Jan. 26. Howard University freshman, Marino Julian Goldstein, a founding member of the committee of HU Concerned Students, held a meeting in the Annex Cafe on Jan. 10 about grievances related to the matters surrounding campus and later issued a list of demands on Twitter to be met
by the university. Goldstein stood on the chairs of the Annex cafe questioning to the 30 or so students eating, “How many of you have felt played by Howard University?” He was met with a fair share of hands before proceeding to share his list of demands and propositions for the university. “My frustrations stemmed from personal grievances with financial aid compounded with feeling that there was a consensus on campus that there was not a culture of care and priority for student issues,” he stated. Following the cry of concerns from both students and alum alike, Howard University’s executive leadership held a series of town hall meetings with students, faculty and Howard University employees to provide next steps and updates. Frederick also held a conference call with alumni. The crisis posed a major test for Frederick’s leadership team, most of whom are still relatively new to campus. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Office Tashni-Ann Dubroy started in the fall; Vice Presidents Crystal Brown (Communications) and David Bennett (Development and Alumni Relations) and Chief of Staff Paul Montiero all have been there about a year or less.
ed to burst sprinkler heads and water pipes. These leaks and water damage severely affected the functionality of The Blackburn Center. Specifically leaks in the Reading Lounge, the ballroom area, The Hilltop Lounge, first and second floor restrooms and several flooded offices. The significant loss of heat and offline restrooms are two key components in whether a building can be opened. One of the adverse effects of the building closing is the food options offered in the center such as The Punchout and Sankofa--a lack of heat and working restrooms have impacted their ability to open. Room 148 and Room 150 were set to add audio/visual projector screens, replace the flooring and install a new partition. The Digital Auditorium (Room 155) was also set have audio/visual projector screens, carpet replacement and new seating. These renovations have been halted to address the bigger issue of leakage and damages. The reopening of Blackburn Center as well as the food services are pending upon a complete assessment. Status of Campus: 500 classes were relocated.
Here are latest updates (see thehilltoponline.com for most recent updates):
On an update with alumni, President Frederick said Annex I & II may be damaged beyond repair.
Blackburn Center:
Repairs to some buildings with historical significance, such as Douglass Hall, may not be immediate due to preservationist efforts, Executive Vice President Dubroy said.
According to Reginald LeGrier, manager of Blackburn University Center: Since Sunday, Jan. 7 there have been multiple leaks relat-
thehilltoponline.com
6 | THE HILLTOP
THE DISTRICT
DC RESTAURANT WEEK JAN. 22-28
thehilltoponline.com
THE DISTRICT
JANUARY 22, 2018 | 7
The District’s 4 Best Coffee Shops To Get Work Done By Clarice Metzger, Life+Style Editor (@_itsClarice)
As soon as I walk into any coffee shop, I immediately scan the room for outlets, sturdy tables, empty seats, some elbow room and the Wi-Fi password.
exposed brick, open door, no frill atmosphere paired with its easily accessible outlets and Wi-Fi make it a go-to for productivity. Oh and the mochas are really good.
“Am I a coffee snob? Well, yes, I am in my own head, but in reality, I just need a space to get some work done that’s not Starbucks or the library.”
The Coffee Bar Shaw
Are you searching for a new coffee shop to work in? Here’s a list of four D.C. coffee shops that are perfect for keeping you on task: Chinatown Coffee Company Chinatown This long and narrow coffee shop is nestled on the corner of 5th and H Street NW in Chinatown. The
The Coffee Bar has a cozy, homey feel where people literally sit on couches and window sills. There’s usually a fun specialty drink to try (the vanilla dirty chai is my favorite) and the staff is super friendly. Complete with Wi-Fi and great snacks, you’ll find yourself flying through your homework here. Big Bear Café Bloomingdale thehilltoponline.com
Big Bear Café is walking distance from campus (bonus), has a vine entangled patio with plenty of seats (bonus) and morphs into a happy hour spot if you hang out long enough (another bonus!). The playlist and lumberjackchic décor is more than enough to keep you going back. Colony Club Columbia Heights The clean, modern interior and the ample elbow room (desks to be exact) and Wi-Fi makes Colony Club a go to. Another fun fact? The coffee shop turns into a bar at 5 p.m. with happy hour until 7 p.m. There’s also a ping pong table upstairs when you need a quick break. All bases covered.
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“edgy”
LIFE+STYLE
CAUGHT IN STYLE “smart”
“edited”
Anoa Morgan Senior Political Science Brooklyn, NY
Chaz Westbrooks Junior Information Systems Gwinnett County, GA
Siah Prince Senior Political Science & Business Entrepreneurship Tampa, FL
Sneakers: Nike Air Max 97 Bullet Pants: Zara Jacket: Banana Republic Sweater: Mom’s closet
Coat: Men’s Warehouse Collared Shirt: T.M. Lewin Sweater: Vintage sweater Jeans: Hollister Shoes: Aldo
Jacket: Ralph Lauren Scarf: Forever 21 Sweater: Siko (Designed by me) Boots: Stuart Weitzman
Dapper Dan and Gucci Collaborate to Open a Boutique By: Autumn Dalton, Managing Editor | @autieeashh
Daniel Day, famously known as Dapper Dan, is a pioneer who, in the 1980s and 1990s, created custom pieces for celebrities such as LL Cool J, Floyd Mayweather, Salt-N-Pepa, Eric B. and Rakim.
Photo by Renell Medrano/Gucci.
Gucci has collaborated with the Harlem-based designer to open a one-of-a-kind boutique. “A sign of the times. For the 1st time in
history, a major luxury brand store has opened in #Harlem”, Day tweeted on Jan. 10. The collection will include custom and ready-to-wear items available by appointment only. The Gucci and Dapper Dan collaboration was initiated after social media erupted in a firestorm in May 2017. For its Resort 2018 collection, Gucci included a jacket with dark brown fur and cuffs sporting its logo-heavy fabric on the sleeves. It was oddly similar to the custom Louis Vuitton jacket Day created for Olympic medalist Diane Dixon in the 1980s. thehilltoponline.com
Gucci then claimed that the piece was an homage to Day but did not mention him before the jacket gained attention on social media. Day remained largely silent on the matter until he announced that he and Gucci were “at the table” in a New York Times profile released on June 3, 2017. Dapper Dan’s creations were something the fashion world had never seen before; he would screen-print the logos from luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, MCM, Fendi and Gucci and create custom tracksuits, jackets
and even car interiors. As one would expect, the luxury brands were not a fan of how their logos were being used without authorization. Day’s boutique was raided in the 90s by now Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor--at the time a lawyer for Fendi. This time around, Gucci has provided Day with all the materials necessary to create the custom pieces many people have come to love. Dapper Dan’s boutique is open at 125th Street and Lenox Avenue.
LIFE+STYLE
JANUARY 22, 2018 | 9
18 Movies to Look Forward to in 2018 By: Taiyler Mitchell, Life+Style Reporter |@taivlersimone)
Indulging in movies is a favorite pastime of many students. Maybe it’s the relentless amount of work we get from professors, the never-ending battle in the financial aid office, the lack of nutrients we get from the cafe or maybe Howard has nothing to do with it and we just really enjoy watching movies. Regardless, movies are nothing short of a bonding experience and a way to escape reality. Here are some movies you can look forward to seeing in 2018: 1. Black Panther: T’Challa, played by Howard’s very own Chadwick Boseman, returns to his home in Wakanda after his father, the King of Wakanda, dies. The movie will contain notable appearances by black actors including Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Sterling K. Brown and more. This is the perfect movie for anyone looking to see melanin take over the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Release date: Feb. 16 2. Annihilation: After her husband disappears, a biologist along with a team of four others go on a dangerous excursion in a seemingly unreal forest filled with unseen phenomena. You can expect to see familiar faces like Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman and Gina Rodriguez. If you’re into sci-fi/fantasy, this will be a film for you. Release date: Feb. 23
3. A Wrinkle in Time: I’m sorry, but did you say Oprah? Oh, you said Oprah and a black girl (Storm Reid) as a main character? Five years after her father’s disappearance, Meg, her brother, and her classmate are sent in to space to find him. Sci-fi mustwatch. Release date: March 9 4. Tomb Raider: In this story, the daughter of a missing adventurer ends up on the same island as her father and must face some dangerous and unforeseen challenges. Maybe it’s the action, maybe it’s the strong female lead or maybe it’s both. Regardless, this film doesn’t seem like anything less than an adventure. Release date:: March 16 5. Pacific Rim Uprising: This movie is the sequel to Pacific Rim and it continues the classic monsters vs. humanity storyline, or more specifically, Kaiju vs. Jaeger Pilots. John Boyega--you may know him as Finn, the first black lead in Star Wars--will play the main character. Anyone interested in sci-fi and action/adventure should put this on their watchlist. Release date: March 23 6. Rampage: Are you a fan of The Rock? He stars in this upcoming film that will show him facing off with a monster gorilla who fell victim to a science experiment gone wrong. No, this is not another Planet of the Apes sequel, but it’s actually a spin-off
of a 1980s arcade game of the same name. Release date: April 20 7. Avengers: Infinity War: Assuming Black Panther makes you a die-hard Marvel fan or that Marvel had your heart prior, Avengers: Infinity War is a must-see. Thanos, the man with the plan, who we have seen in multiple post-movie credits and not enough in movie scenes, will finally be making an appearance to destroy the universe. The Avengers and their friends throughout the Marvel cinematic universe won’t let this happen without a fight, of course. Release date: May 4 8. Untitled Deadpool Sequel: Marvel Again?! We’re ready for this film because Ryan Reynolds was absolutely hilarious in the first one. Hoping to see more fourth-wall breaking references and side splitting humor? Then save your money for this one folks. Release date: May 18 9. Solo: A Star Wars Story: Who can resist a Star Wars movie? No one. Han Solo gets his own film that will let us learn a little more about him and Chewy pre-Rebellion as well as further flesh out his relationship with the coolest man in the galaxy, Lando Calrissian. Release date: May 25 10. Incredibles 2: Remember the
infamous scene between Frozone and his wife in the first Incredibles movie? “HONEY, where’s my super suit?!” The first movie easily goes down as a classic childhood favorite and after waiting 14 years, this one shouldn’t be too far behind. Release date: June 15 11. The Predator: A reboot and sequel of the classic sci-fi and horror film from 1987, this movie features a group of men stuck in a jungle facing the eponymous hunter. Worth a watch just to find out whether or not a new star can fill the shoes of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Release date: Aug. 3 12. The Darkest Minds: Amandla Stenberg stars in this sci-fi thriller about the superhuman child survivors of an epidemic. They could’ve stopped at Amandla Stenberg and I still would’ve seen the film. Release date: Sept. 14 13. Venom: While we’re still waiting on the plot, we’re excited for this action-packed horror film spin off of Spider-Man starring Tom Hardy. After being floored by Spider-Man: Homecoming last year, we’re always excited to dive back into the universe of the wise-cracking web-slinger and his enemies. Release date: Oct. 5 14. X-Men: Dark Phoenix: X-Men vs. Jean Grey? Uh-oh. In
this addition to the X-Men film universe, the team will have to determine the worth of the life of a friend gone to the dark side. Release date: Nov. 2 15. Creed II: Sylvester Stallone is writing the script for this sequel starring himself, Tessa Thompson and Michael B. Jordan. This time Michael B. Jordan’s character Adonis is after the man who killed his father. Release date: Nov. 21 16. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: This animated Spider-Man movie stars Shameik Moore of Dope and The Get Down, who is playing the voice of current Spider-Man Miles Morales. We’ll also hear from Mahershala Ali (Luke Cage). While the plot is still unknown, we’re interested to see where this story goes. Release date: Dec. 14 17. Mary Poppins Returns: Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda of the musical Hamilton co-star in this throwback to classic Disney. I imagine this movie will be nothing short of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Release date: Dec. 25 18. Black Klansman: Directed by Spike Lee, this film depicts the story of a black police officer who managed to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. @Howard, can we get a free screening? Release date: 2018
Slow Ticketing Means Fast Money for Music’s Biggest Artists By: Jamara Robinson, Life+Style Reporter | @itsJamara
Photo via Ticketmaster.
From streaming to chart topping, reports are filing in on who made an impact in the music business last year. According to Billboard, Jay-Z is reported to have grossed $48.7 million on his 2017 4:44 Tour. This is a remarkable accomplishment for the 48-year-old rapper whose approach of slow ticketing proved to be a success.
experiences and platinum tickets and mark them closer to market value. By doing this, scalpers are at a disadvantage when it comes to raising prices. As a result, more money will stream in for the artists and more tickets will be available for fans at a reasonable price, ultimately creating more revenue for artists, including Jay-Z.
Slow ticketing is a method of selling tickets that hinders bots and scalpers, people who purchase tickets as soon as they release to resell them at a much higher price compared to the original price. Without slow ticketing, fans who can’t afford those resale prices are unable to buy tickets, taking money away from the artist and companies responsible for selling the tickets.
As people become aware of this method, more artists are engaging in slow ticketing. Taylor Swift recently used this strategy for her 2018 Reputation Tour. For Swift, some viewed her slow ticket sales because of the decreased demand to see the popstar live, though, within only a week of her tickets being on sale, the tour grossed $180 million.
On the surface, slow ticketing seems like a bad idea since tickets are being purchased at lower rate than usual. However, it has been a big advantage for the artists in the industry. Slow ticketing has allowed Jay-Z and Live Nation to take high demand tickets like front row seats, VIP
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Altogether, slow ticketing, a method made to block out resellers, has allowed artists to make more money on their tours. If the people in the entertainment industry continue to make smart business moves like this one, the amount of money made in the entertainment industry may increase over time.
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LIFE+STYLE
“Proud Mary”: Taraji P. Henson Propels this Passable Action Flick Proud Mary’s opening scene is an homage to blaxploitation films of the 1970s. It is dripping with neon orange and bumping a funky bassline as Mary applies her makeup and dons her platinum blonde wig. However, the callbacks to the genre of old end after this introductory scene—along with the film’s sense of style. What follows is a fairly straightforward action movie propelled by warring families that is just… okay. Directed by Babak Najafi and starring Golden Globe Award winner and Howard alumna Taraji P. Henson and Danny Glover, this crime thriller boasts a callback to 70s film era of blaxploitation films, but is
really only your standard shoot ‘em up flick with a woman on a quest for redemption. When Mary, played by Henson, has to atone for her past sins by adopting an orphaned drug runner, her life begins to get progressively more complicated as the snowballing effect of her actions leads to more and more dire consequences. A strong performance is delivered by Henson, which is to be expected, but an unexpected scene stealer is Tom, played by Billy Brown, an actor who previously had bit parts in films such as Cloverfield (2008) and Star Trek (2009). Brown’s emotionally charged role as a defiant son of a crime boss sees him as conflicted be-
tween running the family business and his father’s legacy and remaining on good terms with the woman he loves. His expressive face and voice do well to sell the inner battle his character must be feeling. However, child actor Jahi Di’allo Winston is not a heavy enough hitter to believably deliver the material he is given. His chemistry with Henson is natural enough. The actors bounce jokes off each other effortlessly and their relationship seems to grow as their characters’ do, but when it comes to emotional scenes, Winston just does not have the acumen for delivering the content of the script. However, he is still young and with time he is sure to grow into an
actor to watch. One jarring issue that Proud Mary suffers from is pacing. Emotionally charged scenes are not given enough time to ruminate with the audience and thus fall flat. Shocking moments are set up and enacted within seconds for the sake of moving on to the next shocking moment. The action scenes are enjoyable enough, however they are not much deeper than that. The camera focuses just enough on one piece of action for you to realize what’s happening in a gunfight or car chase, however nothing creative is done with the cinematography nor the choreography. There are no over the top stylish moments
COMIC
By: Devariae “Yae” McDaniels | @YaeTBG
New Year .. New Me.
s(O)cia(L) me(D)ia
By: Justin Cohen, Assistant Copy Editor | @justinthat1kid
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that recent action films delivered. No flashy flips and jumps from films like Atomic Blonde and no creative use of music as a backdrop to the action like Baby Driver provided; just your run-of-the-mill main character shoots and bad guys die, which is passable to move the plot forward, but when action is the
main draw of the film this problem is noticeable. All-in-all, Proud Mary is an enjoyable 90-minute romp that would have been ignorable if not for the heavy-hitting performances of Henson and Brown.
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SPORTS
Howard University Athletics Commence Spring Season By: Brianna Sims, Assistant Sports Editor | @bri_simsxo
Graphic by Artdabana@Design.
Graphic by Diego Naive.
Graphic by Mungang Kim.
Men’s Basketball
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Men’s Track and Field
Current Record: 3-17 (0-4) Upcoming Game: Monday, Jan. 22 versus North Carolina A&T Game Location: Burr Gym at 7:30 p.m. Quick Stats: Freshman RJ Cole earned the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s top rookie of the week award. The announcement came last Tuesday. The Bison’s scoring leader is averaging 23.1 points, 6.0 assists and 1.5 steals.
Next Meet: Saturday, Jan. 27 Meet Location: Catholic University at 1 p.m. Quick Stats: After the first meet of the 2018 hosted at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, sophomore Sidrell Williams earned the Golden Goggle, Howard’s most outstanding male performer of the week, after winning the 50-yard freestyle with 21.78 seconds.
Next Meet: Saturday, Jan. 20 Meet Location: Terrapin Invitational at the University of Maryland Quick Stats: The team finished fourth overall at the Father Diamond Invitational on Jan. 6. Sophomore Roodly Ovil won runner-up in the men’s high jump and senior Mohamed Bah placed fourth in the men’s 1000-meter run.
Women’s Basketball Current Record: 6-11 Next Game: Monday, Jan. 22 versus North Carolina A&T Game Location: Burr Gym at 5:30 p.m. Leading Scorers: Sophomores Sarah Edmond and Ayonna Williams Quick Stats: Ayonna Williams was selected for last week’s MEAC Player of the Week.
Women’s Swimming and Diving Next Meet: Saturday Jan. 27 Meet Location: The Catholic University of America at 1 p.m. Quick Stats: In the same meet, junior Kasandra Kaplan also earned the Golden Goggle award for Howard’s most outstanding female performer of the week, after winning third place in the 200-yard breaststroke and fourth overall in the 50-yard freestyle.
Women’s Track and Field Next Meet: Saturday, Jan. 20 Meet Location: Terrapin Invitational at the University of Maryland Quick Stats: The team finished sixth overall at the Father Diamond Invitational on Jan. 6. Freshman Destiny Stanford finished first in the women’s 1000-meter run. Stanford alongside freshman GaResia Woods, sophomore Sydney Benson, and junior Jade Hardy won the women’s distance medley.
The Oakland Raiders are being investigated for violating the Rooney Rule By: Lawrence Dow, Sports Editor | @LJeeeeezy
On Jan. 8, ESPN Monday Night Football color analyst Jon Gruden was hired to become coach of the Oakland Raiders. Gruden had previously coached the Raiders for four years from 1998-2001. After his initial firing, Gruden went on to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He retired after his stint with the Buccaneers, subsequently landing a gig with ESPN. Gruden’s hire has garnered scrutiny from the Fritz Pollard Alliance. The Alliance voiced its frustration in a written statement delivered to media organizations stating, “We are deeply concerned by reports that the Oakland Raiders’ owner, Mark Davis, came to an agreement with Jon Gruden about him becoming the
Raiders’ next head coach before interviewing any candidates of color.” The Rooney Rule was enacted in 2003 in response to the firings of head coaches Dennis Green and Tony Dungy from the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers respectively. Many felt both firings were unfair due to Green only having one losing season in ten years and Dungy only missing the play dvocating for the rule which would be named after Dan Rooney, the former owner of the Pittsburgh Steeler and the then head of the NFL Diversity Committee. Before its implementation there were only seven total minority head coaches in the
NFL, and the year before it was implemented there were only two current minority head coaches in the NFL. The Rooney Rule has helped to create a great influx of minority head coaches in the NFL, today there are now eight minority head coaches, and two general managers in the NFL. The increased scrutiny on this specific hiring stems from statements made by Raiders owner Mark Davis which stated he was “all in” on Jon Gruden before interviewing any candidates of color. This concerned the Fritz Pollard Alliance whose mission it is to promote diversity among NFL front
offices and sidelines. The Fritz Pollard Alliance successfully lobbied the NFL to investigate the hiring of Jon Gruden. The NFL is currently investigating, and if found guilty, the Raiders would be subject to a fine from the NFL. This fine would most likely be similar to a 2003 incident when former Lions general manager Matt Millen was found guilty of violating the Rooney Rule. He was subsequently fined $200,000. The punishment could be more severe due to the fact unlike Millen, Davis is the owner of the Oakland Raiders and not a general manager. The Raiders organization
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maintains its innocence stating they followed the proper procedures by interviewing minority candidates Bobby Johnson who currently is the Oakland Raiders tight end coach. Tee Martin, the offensive coordinator for the University of Southern California, was also interviewed for the position after Davis had already admitted he was gunning for Gruden. While it is not questioned that these candidates were interviewed, the contention is that it had already been decided that Gruden was to be hired and that the minority candidates were only brought in to technically satisfy the Rooney Rule while violating its spirit.
It appears that the spirit of the rule was indeed violated. The point of the rule is to give minority coaches a fair shot at jobs all across the NFL. Through his remarks, it is evident that before Davis thought of interviewing minority candidates, he already knew he would hire Gruden. The Raiders organization only plays lip service to the Rooney Rule which far too many organizations do. The NFL will ultimately have the final say over if the Rooney Rule was violated and if any punishment will be doled out to the Raiders organization. There is no current timetable on when the NFL will announce the findings of their investigation.
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CAMPUS
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CAMPUS #HowardHaze: Students Weigh in
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JANUARY 22, 2018 | 13
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CAMPUS
Photo by Sydney Kelsey.
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CAMPUS
Top photo by Khary Armster. Bottom photo by Amber Tucker.
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JANUARY 22, 2018 | 15
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The Hilltop represents legacy and excellence of the stories that matter. A vehicle of expression for Black truth and its unique narratives dating back 94 years. - Jazmin Goodwin (2017-2018) Editor-In-Chief
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