The Student Voice of Howard University Since 1924 Volume 101, Issue 23
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Springfest Is Upon Us
By Kaylin Young Contributing Writer
S
pringtime at Howard brings many anticipated traditions: Pop-up parties on The Yard and in the valley, probate season, and Springfest. The seventh annual Springfest will bring along some beloved events and a few remakes of Howard classics. Springfest was founded in 2010 by members of the Undergraduate Student Association to celebrate the new season and welcome a time of rebirth. Events such as the charity basketball game, fashion show and the art shows are campus favorites, but some new events will be introduced this year. The trunk show is being revamped into the pop-up show, where Howard vendors can set up shop and promote their products. Deaf Jam is a night of poetry and is another new event
By Jacinth Jones Staff Writer
W
ith about six weeks left of the 2016-2017 academic school year, Howard University’s student government general elections have officially kicked off. Promotional videos, social media shoutouts and prospective student leaders have already begun to shed light on their platforms to better the university and promote productive change throughout campus. Student elections are held twice every year with the general election held in the spring semester, where the majority of student government officials are elected. Elections are administered by the elections commissioner who is appointed by the Howard University Student Association (HUSA) Executive Branch and approved by the HUSA Senate.
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After a mandatory interest meeting was held on March 9 to those wishing to run for any government position, many students started their official campaigning via social media over the last couple of days. Most, if not all information regarding candidates and their campaign can be found on their website and social media handles. For the running towards becoming the 57th administration of HUSA, sophomores De’Joiry McKenzie-Simmons and Francisco Joseph are partnering to enable change as well with their platform entitled ‘Engage HU’ to ‘ensure and engage the Howard community with one another and administration’ according to McKenzie-Simmons’ Instagram. McKenzie-Simmons is running as a HUSA executive president candidate and Joseph as a HUSA
Washington, D.C. that students can look forward to. While other students are buying fashion show outfits or pulling out their basketball shorts, Khiana Wiley is preparing for the Bison Beauty Conference. Wiley is Springfest’s beauty conference cochair and is excited for students to get some beauty tips. Students can shop vendors, pick up free samples and hear panels about the Black experience in the beauty industry. At the forefront of the whole production is Springfest chair and co-chair, Ty’arrah Walker and Simone Yhap respectively. Yhap has seen everyone’s hard work and wants to make sure Howard students have as great an experience as they did at Homecoming. “Students and alumni are excited for Homecoming in the fall and we want Springfest to be another premiere event of the academic year,” said Yhap.
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Election Season Is Here: 2017-2018 Student Government Elections
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Alexa Lisitza covering the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s 25th Annual Awards Gala in November 2016. (Courtesy Photo: Instagram)
Profile: Caged Bird Magazine Becomes Millennial Voice of Minorities, For Minorities By Acacia James Contributing Writer
Victoria Jones Copy Editor
A
lexa Lisitza, 21, is a junior english major, secondary education minor News Editor from Chicago, Ill., created a voice for minorities through her online writing Gabrielle Oliver publication, Caged Bird Magazine. Culture Editor Lisitza started the magazine to represent the many different perspectives and views of minorities, adding “there Brittany Webb is no single minority voice.” Sports Editor “I created Caged Bird magazine to give a platform to minority millenniDawn Richard als,” said Lisitza. Layout Editor Although Caged Bird Magazine was an idea Lisitza developed over the summer of 2016, the magazine didn’t reach the public until November 2016. Lisitza says that although minorities may be grouped together as people who share the same hardships, she aims to show the different views and different cultures they come from. “Whenever minorities are a part of Zora Neale Hurston (1891- a magazine or anything editorial, there 1960), co-founder of The are either one, two or three minorities Hilltop Newspaper, is on the team, or they are automatically considered one of the given the ‘Black” stories,’ Lisitza said. preeminent writers of Lisitza keeps the perspective diverse 20th century Africanwithin Caged Bird Magazine by openAmerican literature. ing up the platform to writers from
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other colleges such as Spelman and Morehouse College. She reached out to these writers through people who had worked for her when she was the editor-in-chief of the Odyssey Online at Howard University. Along with that, Lisitza is also currently the co-editor of the Sterling Notes, which is Howard’s literary magazine, and a member of Sigma Tau Delta, an international english honor society who are within the top 30 percent of their class and have a 3.5 GPA. Outside of Howard she has had an internship with the Afro American newspaper, a Black Press newspaper in Washington D.C., and is currently a freelance writer for CapitallyDC. Being an english major is one thing that has aided Lisitza with writing for her magazine. However, Lisitza expressed that the the location of Howard also helps due to the amount of publications that are in Washington. She also said she has more opportunities to work for major publications in comparison to her hometown Chicago. In the future, not only will Caged Bird Magazine continue to give voices to minorities, Lisitza said they will also give back. The platform will raise three $1,000 scholarships to be given
out to students who write for Caged Bird Magazine. Lisitza intends to also hold events on-campus such as a “black bloggers event” where bloggers will be able to meet with others and help each other to improve the quality of their own blogs. Lisitza’s goals for Caged Bird Magazine is to expand and to be more than where it stands currently, with hopes of having more students not only at Howard, but across the country, to assist in reporting on minority stories that aren’t covered in mainstream media. “Right now we are article focused, but we are in the works of becoming more in order to tap into more interests,” Lisitza said. With her magazine’s audience continuously growing, the Caged Bird Magazine is sure to embody their motto of being an “online writing platform for minorities, by minorities.”
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SPRINGFEST FROM COVER
Yhap is not the only student who relates the two events, but some students are hesitant to declare Springfest as “Homecoming 2.0.” Sophomore Sarai Charles was quick to disagree saying, “I don’t think anything can be compared to Homecoming.” Sopho-
THE HILLTOP more Najah Lewis said, “I’m more curious than excited. Springfest last year was lackluster, but it looks like they did a lot of rebranding.” Wiley says the main difference between these seasonal events is “Springfest is for students, by students. Homecoming is moreso for the alumni returning, but this is for the students.” Whether or not Springfest has gathered the same
ELECTIONS FROM COVER
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amount of street cred as Homecoming, there is a lot students can look forward to, including a few special guests. Springfest begins today with the Truth and Service Charity Basketball Game and will last through next Saturday ending with a day of service. Follow @hu_ springfest on Twitter and Instagram for more updates and event details.
executive vice president candidate. Their opposing slate so far include juniors Jade Agudosi, who currently is HUSA56’s Chief of Staff and running as a HUSA executive president candidate, and Quentin Mansfield, who is running as a HUSA executive vice president candidate. All elected officials serve one-year terms. The elected student government positions include HUSA President and Vice President, Undergraduate and Graduate Student Trustees, HUSA Senators, UGSA and GSA Representatives, and Local School/Colleges Student Council. Prospective student leaders will be able to discuss their platforms at the HUSA Executive, Graduate & Undergraduate Trustee Speakout presented by the General Elections Commission tonight at 7 p.m. in the Blackburn Digital Auditorium.
Last Issue’s Solution:
Look for new puzzles in next week’s issue
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NEWS EyE on Africa 2 4 3
By Sophia Hussein Contributing Writer
SOUTH SUDAN
1
NIGERIA
Over four thousand people have been displaced following the demolition of a squatter settlement in Lagos, Nigeria. On Friday, March 17, security forces used bullets and tear gas to force residents from their homes in the OtodoGbane community. Residents told Al Jazeera that they had no warning they would be getting evicted, nor did they have warning their homes would be destroyed. Rights groups call the evictions a “violation of human rights” as they were evicted in spite of a January court order calling for a halt of evictions from the waterfront communities of Lagos.
According to the United Nations, the South Sudanese government has been spending at least half of its budget on weapons while 100,000 are dying of starvation. The report to the UN security council reported that the South Sudanese government has continued to allocate funds to combat rival groups as opposed to providing aid to the over five million people in need of food as a result of the four-year civil war. The report calls on members of the security council to establish an arms embargo on the country. South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, is also one that is rich in oil, with revenue from oil sales between late March and late October of 2016 reaching nearly $243 million, accounting for 47 percent of the nation’s known revenue. On Friday, March 17, South Sudan’s government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth denied the allegation and told reporters that the
government has not bought any arms in the past two years.
ETHIOPIA
Last week, 113 people were reported to be dead, many children, in the outskirts of the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa following a landslide at a landfill. The Koshe landfill has been serving the four million residents of Addis Ababa for over 50 years and has recently become an area where hundreds have set up makeshift homes, and worked scavenging through garbage. Residents have since been moved from the site according to authorities. The landslide is believed to have been caused by the beginning stages of the construction of a biogas power plant on top of the hill near the landfill. The power plant is set to be Africa’s first waste to energy plant, converting garbage to electricity.
SOMALIA
The United Nations has estimated that half of the inhabitants of Somalia, six million people, are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. UN Humanitarian Chief Stephen O’Brien called the threat of famine in Somalia, as well as Yemen, South Sudan and Nigeria the largest humanitarian crisis since 1945. Over 20 million people in the countries listed, as well as Kenya and Ethiopia, are in desperate need of aid. Authorities and aid organizations fear the food shortages could lead to outbreaks of diseases like cholera and measles. Getting aid to those most affected by the humanitarian crisis in Somalia has proven difficult due to the increased presence of the terror group, Al-Shabab. The Al-Qaeda backed group has taken to blocking roads and stealing food, preventing aid organizations from distributing relief materials.
The HILLTOP is Looking For Business Leaders for Academic Year 2017-18. . .
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Anti-Travel Ban Protest In Nation’s Capital Calls For Unity
By Leaynet Sahilu Staff Photographer
S
everal protesters from different walks of life attended a demonstration held in front of the White House to condemn President Donald Trump’s Executive Order on immigration, which bans citizens of six Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States on Saturday, March 11. The protesters held signs with messages that criticized the president’s executive order and the overall factors of the administration with continuous chants of “Love, not hate. That’s what makes America great,” “No hate, no fear, refugees/immigrants are welcome here,” “This land is your land. This land is my land,” and much more. “The goal of this protest is to have everybody express themselves as much as they can and have them express their concern over the travel ban that the president imposed,” said Romeo von Hermann, a Somali native and both founder and president of Direct Democracy International, an intergovernmental non-profit organization with the mission of advocating for democracy. Hermann said that his organization is hoping to make some changes for future rallies, including the subject, depending on what is going with the administration and also hopes that more people will take part in future protests. When asked about his reaction over the travel ban, Hermann said, “Those specific countries [Muslim-majority] were targeted based on security issues the United States has with those countries and I do understand the concerns. However, the U.S. needs to make sure that it does not block visitors who are trying to have a good time and we hope that the president reverses his decision.” Among the protesters, Elizabeth Cortez, a Georgetown University student of Mexican descent, was among them. Cortez said she learned about the protest from one of her alternative spring break group leaders, who happens to be Muslim, and wanted to support. “At Georgetown University, there are different alternative spring break programs and the one that I’m on is about immigration. This whole week we have been going to different places and learning from leaders and activists. We also met with the congressman and lobbyist group to learn
(Photo Credit: Leaynet Sahilu, Staff Photographer)
(Photo Credit: Leaynet Sahilu, Staff Photographer) about the push and pull factor of immigration and the current refugee crisis.” The protest was not just to denounce the president’s executive order, but also to inform and teach people about Islam and that it is a religion of peace.
Hibbi Iqbal, a volunteer in Virginia’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, expressed that extremism does not only exist in Islam, but every religion and said that people should not associate extremism with Islam. “President Trump is our president and we may have to follow what the chain of command is,” said Iqbal. “But
at the same time, we will make sure that we will go out on the streets and spread the message of what Islam is all about and how it is a peaceful religion. We are trying to unveil the moderate side of Islam.”
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CULTURE SPOTLIGHT - Eden Apparel: A Positive “Life-Style” By Chantè Russell Staff Writer
W
hen freshman finance major Daniel Owoyele came to Howard, he brought his clothing brand, Eden Apparel, with him. In his short time at Howard, Owoyele has managed to popularize Eden on campus as well as collaborate with fellow Howard student designers. “Eden is a lifestyle; to #LiveEden is to live positive not perfect, but positive; when you put on Eden gear you have to embrace that lifestyle,” reads the trendy ‘about’ page at EdenApparel.us. The Hilltop sat down with Daniel to learn more about him and the Eden lifestyle:
The Hilltop: Where did the name “Eden” come from? Daniel: Me and like ten of my friends were just sitting in a room trying to come up with names and “Eden” was the one that really just stuck. HT: When did you start Eden Apparel? D: I started it my junior year of high school, but I didn’t really start taking it seriously until the summer before I came to Howard. HT: Who are your clothes for? D: Everybody. I feel like Eden is meant for you to live positive, it’s a way to encourage everybody to live a positive lifestyle, so that’s something for everyone. HT: What inspires your work? D: I’d probably have to say my friends. The people that I surround myself with are where I get most of my ideas from.
HT: How do you balance being a student and running a business? D: There’s a lot of free time in the day after class. My classes end at like 3 o’clock so after doing work I have nothing, but free time. I can either use it to not do anything or to be productive, so I choose to be productive. HT: With all the different clothing lines available now, what makes Eden Apparel stand out? D: I feel like I’m very simple and most of my designs are fairly simple. I’m more about what you’re going to get out of the clothes and how living positive is going to change your life. HT: What do you look for in other people or brands that you’re thinking about collaborating with? D: Somebody that’s just as serious as I am. HT: What can we look forward to from Eden Apparel in the near future? D: I’m about to drop my spring collection either late March or early April. HT: Where do you see Eden Apparel going in a long term sense? D: I hope it continues to grow, and this time next year I hope to be able to give out a scholarship. I really just want to give back to the community with Eden.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN CHAPEL? Want to invite the Howard Community to your next event or program? All colleges, schools, organizations, alumni, and community groups are welcome to have a “Call to Chapel.” All “Calls to Chapel” must be submitted no later than 10:00 A.M. Monday morning to be included in the Chapel service.
Email: Chapel@howard.edu
Dean John Kinney shakes hands with students after Chapel service.
Interested in planning the final imaginative stages of Holy Week or expressing one of the Seven Last Words from the Cross? Email Chapel@howard.edu by this Sunday!
Join us this Sunday…. Cramton Auditorium – 11:00 A.M.
Dr. Cornel West Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice, Union Theological Seminary New York, New York
Thank you to all of the Faculty, Staff and Students who made Alternative Spring Break a success!
Deeper in Faith – Wider in Community!
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PERSPECTIVE -- Alternative Spring Break: A Testimonial By Kyana Harris Staff Writer
I
was originally going to go home for spring break. I had no plans. The Howard University Community Choir, of which I am a part of, presented me with the opportunity to go to the Detroit Alternative Spring Break site. They were taking half the choir to serve and minister through song to a few churches in the Detroit area. We were to visit kindergarten to eighth grade centers, high schools and out of school programs such as the Boys & Girls Club or the Midnight Golfers program. I applied, made the final cut and decided to take the opportunity. Even after I decided to go, I was skeptical about the trip. At participant meetings, they kept stressing how Alternative Spring Break was going to change our lives, yet still, I was unsure. Upon arrival, I was quickly humbled by the living arrangements and busy schedule we had. We slept on air mattresses in a cold church gym. The first wake-up call was at 5 a.m. I dug deep into my faith and realized this was a test. If I wanted
to wholeheartedly serve the young people of Detroit, I had to check my privilege. It wasn’t about how tired I was or how I had to sleep with 4 layers on to get a decent night’s rest. This trip was not about me, period. I came to Detroit to combat illiteracy in the Detroit public school system. A week before we arrived, their school board decided they were shutting down 20 public schools by a deficit-elimination plan that passed in 2013. In June 2016, the Detroit Free Press reported that Detroit had the highest rate of chronic absenteeism at 58 percent. “Parents in this district don’t seem to value their children’s education. They make them stay at home and babysit their younger siblings instead of going to school. That shouldn’t be their responsibility as a high school senior,” said a high school teacher I met in Detroit of this statistic who requested not to be named. Despite the many obstacles these young people face such as gang violence, lack of resources and poor curriculum, they
still have goals and aspirations. I met twin sisters who wanted to be speech pathologists and go into the Air Force, respectively. I met a young man in the eighth grade who wanted to go to art school to be a cartoonist. In the five days our group was there, we helped high schoolers figure out what they wanted to do in college and we taught preschoolers learn how to write their name. After just four short days, I discovered that with more funding and proper resources, these students would certainly be in a better position to minimize the achievement gap between them and their white counterparts. I was able to discern that while journalism is my passion, I also have a passion for working with children. I am very proud to say that we made a difference in the lives of young people, who in turned changed ours.
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Here are some of the names and information of some of the missing teens within the District. If you see something, contact Youth and Family Services Div. (202-5766768) or Command Information Center (202-7279099).
Name: Morgan Richardson Description: Black female, 5’6’’ tall, 130 pounds, light complexion, black hair and brown eyes. Wearing:Blue shirts, khaki pants and pink boots. Last Seen: March 6, 2017 Missing from: 1900 Block of Massachusetts Ave, S.E.
Name: Dayanna White Description: Black female, 5’3” in height, light complexion, 125 pounds, brown eyes and black hair. Wearing: Black leather jacket, navy blue shirt, grey pants and black sneakers Last Seen: March 3, 2017 Missing From: 100 Block of Ivanhoe St. S.W.
Name: Talisha Coles Description: Black female, dark complexion, 5’7’’ in height, 210 pounds, brown eyes and black hair Wearing: Unknown Last Seen: March 7, 2017 Missing from: 1000 Block of Maryland Ave. NE
Name: Yahshaiyah Enoch Description: Black female, 5’2’’ in height, 125 punds, light complexion, black hair and brown eyes. Wearing: Unknown Last Seen: March 8, 2017 Missing from: 5000 block of Kimi Gray Court, S.E.
They Brought Back Brady’s Jersey, Now Bring Back Our Girls By Brittany Webb Sports Editor Following the New England Patriots being named the 2017 Super Bowl Champions, champion quarterback Tom Brady announced that his game jersey had been stolen. This was the second Super Bowl jersey the quarterback had lost, as his Super Bowl XLIX jersey had also gone missing. On Monday, the team reported that Brady’s jerseys had been found in Mexico. The finding of the jerseys is a result of an FBI led investigation. An international media member is the alleged suspect in the case, after the jerseys were found in his possession. The alleged suspect, Martin Mauricio Ortega, was the director of the Diario La Prensa. He resigned last Tuesday. Authorities used camera footage to identify Ortega, who was seen entering the locker room before taking the jersey out of Brady’s bag and putting it into a plastic bag before departing. In a statement released via his agent Don Yee, Brady said, “I am happy my jerseys from SB 49 and SB 51 have been recovered, and I want to thank all of the law enforcement agencies involved. I know they worked hard on this
case—and it is very much appreciated.” The Houston police deemed the taking of Brady’s Super Bowl LI to be a first-degree felony. Questions regarding the incident are being referred to the FBI. But the FBI’s involvement in the case of the missing jersey is being criticized by D.C. residents and persons aware of the current mystery of the District. In recent weeks, young Black and Latino girls have been kidnapped throughout the District, most of them in the Southeast region of the District. Unlike the case of Brady’s jersey, the kidnappings have not been addressed in the same manner by the media or the FBI. Many people are questioning the intentions of the FBI and why they are so determined to work on Brady’s case but not address those of the missing girls. Recently, previous abductions within the District were linked to a sex trafficking ring. Sex trafficking, a modern day form of slavery, has made its way into the mouth of public advocates and celebrities, such as Ashton Kutcher, who are making it an obligation to fight human trafficking. On Monday, comedian D.L.
Hughley tweeted, “Damn they found #TomBradys missing super bowl jersey? If only all those black and brown teenage girls reported missing in DC had jerseys on.” Twitter users and Instagram users retweeted and reposted the tweet in support of Hughley’s disgust with the handling of the cases. If you see something, contact Youth and Family Services Div. (202-576-6768) or Command Information Center (202-727-9099).
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The Office of the Dean of the Chapel and
The Artishia and Frederick Jordan Scholarship Fund Are pleased to announce that Applications are now available for the 2017-2018 ARTISHIA AND FREDERICK JORDAN SCHOLARSHIP Scholarship Amount Equals One Full Semester’s Tuition Must be: Full-time undergraduate student; At least sophomore standing in Spring 2017; Involved in Campus Religious Life; In good academic standing with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA as of May 12, 2017; Available to participate in service Applications due learning programs, interfaith dialogue, and vocational March 30th, 4:30 P.M. discernment initiatives. Lower Level of the Carnegie Building Applications are available by emailing chapel@howard.edu, and on the lower level of the Carnegie Building during the week.
While You Were Away ROUNDUP In Bison Sports By Brittany Webb Sports Editor
Basketball:
A
fter falling to Norfolk State in the semifinals of the MidEastern Athletic Conference tournament championship game, Howard Bison men’s basketball player Charles “CJ” Williams was named to the 2017 All-Tournament team by the MEAC. Williams finished the season having averaged approximately 16 points per game, being the team’s leading scorer and ranking within the conference’s scoring and free throw shooting leaders.
Softball:
O
n Sunday, March 12, the Howard University women’s softball team competed in the Puerto Rico Classico against Albany. Albany scored three runs in the second and third innings to give them a 6-0 lead. The Bison scored two runs in the sixth from Alannah Baiyina and Kamryn Tillman. Albany scored the last run of
the game, defeating the Bison (016) in a 7-2 decision. The Bison’s schedule games during the week were cancelled due to the snowstorm.
Lacrosse:
O
n Saturday, March 18, the Howard women’s lacrosse team competed in a non-conference game against the Radford University Highlanders. Sophomore Natalie Payne was starting goalie for the Bison (0-2). Senior Asyiah Frank, junior Natia Warren and sophomore Tierra Norris each made one goal for the Bison, out of the team’s overall eight attempts. However, 14 turnovers and 19 fouls held more weight than the girls’ scoring, leading the team to a 20-3 defeat against the Highlanders. The Bison will face the Delaware State Hornets on Sunday, March 26, for an Atlantic Sun Conference contest at Greene Stadium. First draw is set for noon.
Track and Field:
O
ver the weekend, the Track and Field team traveled to
Charlotte to compete in the Charlotte 49er classic. There, the team would set new records. Seniors Rikkia McGill and Daniel Stokes set records in the hammer throw, qualifying for the MEAC. Other record breakers and qualifiers were freshman Sydney Benson (800-meter), senior Hanah Billups (triple jump) and senior Olujimi Scott (400-meter). Overall, the team had 14 qualifying performances.
UPCOMING GAMES: Women’s Tennis against University of Maryland Eastern Shore - Fri., March 24 Men and Women’s Track and Field in Raleigh Relays - Fri., March 24 Women’s Bowling MEAC Championship, Chesapeake, Virginia – Fri., March 24 Men and Women’s Tennis against Hampton University - Sat., March 25 Women’s Softball against Hampton University - Sat., March 25
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It’s Not All About Sports: Spring Break the Nathan Easington Way By Brittany Webb Sports Editor
T
hroughout the year, Nathan Easington dedicates some of his time to the sports section of The Hilltop. As a contributing writer, Easington faithfully submits at least one article per week that pertains to athletics at Howard, in the community and nationwide. During Spring Break, Easington took some time away from sports, but he didn’t stray far from Howard’s dedication to truth and service. Easington, accompanied by his friends, traveled to St. Croix in the United States Virgin Island. While most students traveled for personal enjoyment, the group traveled to serve the community. “We went to do community service in the name of Asa O’neal who was a student at Howard and lived in Drew Hall before,” Easington said. “He passed away.” O’Neal passed away in November of last year after becoming ill. While in high school, O’neal was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, an autoimmune disorder. He was a native of St. Croix. While on the island, the group of Howard students spent several days clearing a path for a nature preserve and planting a garden at the island’s single hospital for mother who have lost their children. “While we were there we were featured on the front page of both the local St. Croix newspaper and the newspaper for the Virgin Islands,” Easington said. “We also spoke on a local radio show and at the University of the Virgin Islands.” In truth and service. #DoItForAsa
Howard University students, including Nathan Easington, a contributing writer for The Hilltop, traveled to St. Croix to work on a garden in memory of fallen Bison and St. Croix native Asa O’Neal, who unexpectedly passed away last November. (Courtesy Photo)
Howard University students featured on front pages of Virgin Island newspapers during their trip . (Courtesy Photos)
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