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mT SEPTEMBER 26TH - OCTOBER 10TH, 2016

BROTHER TO BROTHER EMPOWERING, UPLIFTING, AND LEADING By Jayson Overby Jr Photography By Khalil Downey

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WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 26TH Campus news

GENERAL EDITION THE MAROON TIGER

Returning To Bridge A Brotherhood and Build A Community By Jayson Overby | Photography By: Khalil Downey, Jesse Kearse, and John Mancini Less than a year ago, a group of students from Morehouse College traveled to Washington D.C. for the 20th year anniversary of the Million Man March. Spearheaded by Johnathan D. Hill, who was then a Student Government Association president hopeful, the trips mission was to motivate Men of Morehouse to empower a group of young people to take on the pursuit of education. A year later, the “Get On the Bus” service-learning initiative returned to Washington D.C. to carry on last year’s goal and mission: empower, uplift and unite. With that specific mission in mind, the group paid a visit to Ron Brown College Preparatory High School (formerly Empowering Males) and McKinley Technology High School. This year, a cohort of 53 students from all major departments and classifications were represented, thus offering the young boys a large pool of prospective possibilities. In many ways the visit to McKinley Technology High School was a homecoming for SGA president, Johnathan D. Hill and three other students, who are all former students of McKinley Tech. Like Hill, the three former SGA presidents of McKinley Tech who came after him have matriculated onto Morehouse, thus making a direct correlation with the school’s vision to prepare students for the challenges of the ever-changing and competitive global market. At McKinley, a number of Morehouse students performed poems, shared their stories and presented an image of well-performing Black men. In return, students from McKinley shared their stories and were rather eager to learn about the possibilities of life after high school. Although the trip was geared towards young boys and men, young women represented a small portion of the room hearing the Morehouse students speak. “We know that there’s a major plight for African-American males in the public education system,” said Danielle Green, Assistant Principle of McKinley Tech, who presides directly over the 11th and 12th grade scholars. “We know that they’re graduating, but they’re not achieving academically as their counterparts. So, for the Men of Morehouse to come here today to tell their stories of how they’ve overcome

public education and how now they’re pursuing higher education, and to actually be transparent about their struggles getting to college, we appreciate it.” The shift to Ron Brown College Preparatory High School (RBCP) was different, primarily because both groups, students from RBCP and Morehouse, share the same all-boys model at their respective institutions. A part of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) “Empowering Males of Color” initiative, RBCP is the first of its kind and the first all-male public high school in the D.C. Public School system. Earlier this year, in an interview with The Washington Post, Ben Williams, Principal of RBCP said, “It’s not just going to be an

JOHN MANCINI / THE MAROON TIGER

academic environment. We are going to be addressing some of the social and emotional issues that come with being a young man in this society right now.” To no surprise, the visit from the Morehouse students aligned with Williams’ words to address issues that come along with being both Black and a young man in society. For the students, the men presented a ceremony which is typically only performed at the school’s New Student Orientation ceremony. As the Morehouse students entered the room, they crouched and pretended as if they’re holding candles, then sprang up one after the other shouting out the names of Historically Black College or University graduates.

Among the songs, performances, and poems presented, one statement from a spoken word poem by John Mancini, a junior CTEMS major, struck home with both students and adults in the crowd. The statement, “I don’t think our name in a newsfeed is what the lord meant when he said that we would be immortalized,” was a nod towards the ever-present struggle of brutality against Black men and women at the hands of police officers. Wrapping up the afternoon with a series of programming centered around identity, awareness, self-motivation and a higher education pursuit, the Morehouse students structured the workshops, or brother-to-brother talks, so that they could interact with the young men of RBCP on a

Above, Students lock arms and speak to the Young Kings at Ron Brown College Preparatory high school. Below, Johnathan D. Hill speaks to a crowd of students at McKinley Technology High School. personal level. For one student, NAME , the visit from the Morehouse students meant a lot. Speaking to the group before they departed from RBCP, he had a few words to say. “It’s hard for black males like us to do what we do and to get into college, everyone keeps telling me that I can’t do it, so I thank y’all for telling me that I can.”


GENERAL EDITION THE MAROON TIGER

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 26TH CAMPUS NEWS

A LETTER FROM THE OFFICE :

85TH SGA PRESIDENT, JOHNATHAN D. HILL

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION JOHNATHAN D. HILL

I sit here tonight, thinking about what we [men of Morehouse] should be doing with all that’s happening across the country. Questioning, how are we living up to the mission of Morehouse College and actually leading lives of leadership and service. And I think that’s where we’re failing. As men of Morehouse, we should be doing more. With a sense of agency, we can impact the surrounding community by sending our students, resources, and efforts of long-term development and relationship building. A close friend asked me what I thought about GetOnTheBus, and now that it’s over and what were my overall feeling about the trip, and I must say, I was inspired. As Student Government Association (SGA) President, that doesn’t happen too often anymore. But last Friday, it wasn’t like that. I looked in the eyes of Young Kings, and eternal brothers, then realized this type of work has to be done. As men of Morehouse, we should all be encouraged to reach back into our communities and do something like this. Let’s help mold and activate the next group of young leaders just like it was done for us. The mission of the GetOnTheBus Initiative has always been to take motivated men of Morehouse to empower a group of young people to take on the pursuit of a secondary education. Through an adapted Morehouse tradition, I took my Morehouse brothers to my hometown of Washington D.C. to look into the faces of young kings in efforts to instill a sense of hope. We marched and chanted familiar names in which they could analyze their own narrative and recognize the similar patterns others have taken to become successful. GetOnTheBus is, and will always be, a service-learning initiative where men of More-

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house go through their own phase of “Empowerment” activation before they interact with the students. This trip mattered because too many times have we talked about the legacy of Morehouse’s servant leaders, but honestly, have we taken an honest inventory of ourselves lately? There are no standing service trips spearheaded by students, to empower even more students, to continue their education and continue to be students. Where I come from, I’ve never had anything like this. I never had that [close] role-model figure to look up to and say he motivated me in high school. No one came and spoke with me about my plans after high school, but most importantly, no one placed an emphasis on the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. I told myself when I got the chance, I’d do it. I’d create a way to have an impact on some young people back home and on campus. I hoped for three things out of this trip: [1] Students from Ron Brown College Preparatory High School feel some form of motivation to pursue a secondary education after they graduate high school. [2] Both students and faculty realize how important it is for former graduates of a high school to return and engage the current students about college, but also about succeeding beyond oneself. [3] Lastly, for the men of Morehouse to understand that you too can do this in your own city. Luckily, I was blessed with a bus load of 53 men to accompany me to DC, but it only takes one. So for the Men of Morehouse, I ask, and challenge you, to figure out what else we could be doing to influence others around us. Be the expectation for excellence for young people of color.


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WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 26TH VARIOUS

GENERAL EDITION THE MAROON TIGER

MT Staff

A Change Of Face: Switching Things Up With A New Emblem

SENIOR MANAGEMENT Jayson Overby, Jr. Editor-in-Chief jayson.overby@morehouse.edu

By Chad Rhym

Chad Rhym Managing Editor chad.rhym@morehouse.edu Michael Scott Deputy-Managing Editor Michael.Scott6@morehouse.edu Justin Carter Business Manager justin.carter@morehouse.edu MT EDITORIAL TEAM Ayron Lewallen Campus News Editor ayronlewallen@gmail.com D’Shonda Brown Arts and Entertainment Editor dbrown86@scmail.spelman.edu DeShay Kidd Features Editor deshaykidd@gmail.com Isaiah Smalls Sports Editor claude.smalls@morehouse.edu

Morehouse College, an institution that prides itself on the mission of “producing academically superior, morally conscious leaders for the conditions and issues of today,” celebrates its 150th anniversary for the 2016 -17 academic year. As a celebration of the school’s longevity and metamorphosis, Morehouse has renovated its emblem. “Basically, what we did was – try to incorporate an idea or a look that could bring in some of our past, but also show the horizon of where we’re headed as an institution,” Office of Communications Executive Director, Cathy Tyler said. The brand’s transition is not a drastic change, but - it has left some students indifferent and slightly sentimental. “I’ve seen [the new logo] around; I haven’t stared at it or anything, but I’ve glanced. It’s a nice change of pace, but I still prefer the classic one or whatever, the new one is still cool though” sophomore computer science major Jakeob-Michael Miranda said. Along with the new graphic being promoted around campus, the college also plans on covering larger-ground outside of the Atlanta University Center.

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Javon Wilson World and Local Editor javon.wilson12@gmail.com STAFF WRITERS Brandon Welcome Staff Writer brandon.welcome@morehouse.edu Javonna Robinett Staff Writer javonnarobinett@gmail.com Robert James Staff Writer robert.james@morehouse.edu Jordan Mulkey Staff Writer jordan.Mulkey@morehouse.edu Nick Clemmons Staff Writer

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Laura Eley Staff Writer eley1@scmail.spelman.edu Taylor Roberts Staff Writer trober24@scmail.spelman.edu Lee Williams Jr Staff Writer lee.williams@morehouse.edu Grant Bennett Staff Writer bennett.grant15@gmail.com Alton Pitre Contributing Writer alton.pitre@morehouse.edu

“You’ll see more of the banners start to go up around the campus, but, you’ll also see things start to go up around the city. So, I think that it’s going to be really nice for Morehouse to put our brand out there in a more saturated strategy,” Tyler said. The new emblem in the greater scheme shares qualities to former Morehouse brands, respectively, each brand communicates the college’s initiative of growing young black leaders – Morehouse’s investment in the future. “We wanted to show the relevance, why (historically black colleges and universities) in particular, Morehouse College, is still important -so we looked at the original seal, and when you see the clouds the sun and the rays coming out, those rays represent the future of Morehouse,” Tyler said. “We just looked at that, and decided to come up with something to show the brightness, future and unity - we wanted to be a house united. We wanted everyone to come together: we wanted our alum, we wanted our students to all be engaged to celebrate 150 years.”

JAYSON OVERBY JR / THE MAROON TIGER


GENERAL EDITION THE MAROON TIGER

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 26TH VARIOUS

READING BETWEEN THE SIGNS

MT Staff

By Jayson Overby Jr

Banners have graced Morehouse College’s campus for years, some for student organizations, and others to represent the college’s ever-evolving brand. Previously removed, there was once a banner that read, “Consent is Sexy,” which was slightly insensitive to many students. However, this time around, the new banners along Brown Street read differently For over a year, since the removal of the “Consent is Sexy” banner, the poles and buildings along Brown Street have gone nude. In many ways, it gave room for students to question whether Morehouse had gone silent on issues regarding sexual assault and gender-based violence. At some point during the month September, a series of banners were hung along Brown Street, one of the college’s central locations for its students, and students from neighboring institutions: Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University. Each campus has conflicting emotions and responses to the banners. Making sure to not act too soon and respond with another banner, Michael Gary, Project and Operations Manager for the Division of Student Development, strategized to assure that the new banners around campus addressed a number of issues that concern students and faculty alike. “We’re not going to jump the gun and respond, because we can get it wrong – we have to be careful,” he said. “You all hold us to every single word.” The banners were one of the better ways to be authentic about the issues at hand and start the initial conversation, but they are also hung on Brown Street to remove all barriers for the students, as it relates to access and visibility. Rather than putting it up online or in the student handbook, the visual campaign is an effort to leave no room for confusion. “We’re just trying to make sure that we’re in a better place to offer the student services provided. The work that we do, per the mission of the college, starts with you; but, it engages the world.” However, the banners, obscure as they are, have led some students to be puzzled. “They are [the banners] exactly what Dr. Cynthia Neal Spence talked about in Crown Forum,” Jordan Mulkey said, a junior English major. “They are rhetoric without practice.”

It’s one gesture to speak about sexism, ableism, homophobia and even transphobia, but until the policies reflect it – they’re empty promises. Among all of the banners, there comes one, which reads “A Man of Morehouse Has His Sisters’ Back,” and it oddly hangs directly on the side of Brawley Hall where the “Consent Is Sexy” banner once hung. That banner, in particular, has a “Sisters’ Creed,” which carefully lists the five qualities of a Morehouse Man, but with an adaptation geared toward women inspired by a document that Spelman College put out. To name a few, three of the five highlighted qualities are: responsibility and awareness of the issues that marginalize Spelman sisters; comportment that demonstrates honesty and respect in all interactions with sisters; and lastly, responsibility for maintaining an inclusive and safe community for sisters. With four banners in total, the aim is to readily answer questions when people come on campus. Institutions are federally regulated to address student concerns. Acting as Cochair of the Campus Climate Task Force, Gary wanted to assure his words were not mere affectation. “We have to be careful, and I think that’s okay,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing that we are as careful as possible and making sure that we are meeting the needs of the student body, as opposed to just jumping the gun.” The other banners also address pressing issues that include: inclusivity, marginalization, and seeking academic, personal and professional help. “I think it’s a sign that the college is moving forward,” Austin Wyche said, a junior Psychology major. “They’re transitioning from the ‘traditional’ norms of Morehouse.” Although some suppose that one of the banners is a slap in the face to people that deal with the issues—homophobia, marginalization, ableism, etc.—on a daily basis, it’s a step forward. The banners function as the basis of what’s next for the college, and those very steps will be the ones that’ll address how the college deals with its student body and neighboring institutions.

Staff writers Theodore Holliday Contributing Writer theodore.Holliday@morehouse.edu

Copy Edit Tyra Seals Copy Editor tseals2@scmail.spelman.edu  Irayah Cooper Copy Editor rayah.cooper@gmail.com Paul Brister Copy Editor paul.brister@morehouse.edu Jonell Brown Copy Editor jdbrown905@gmail.com Wesley Canady Copy Editor wesleycanady@gmail.com

The Real Crown Forum: A Tale of Two Ballads

Photography Austin Wychye Senior Photographer Austyn.wyche@morehouse.edu

By Michael C. Scott “If only you knew, how much I do, do love you,” sang Patti LaBelle, notably in her 1980s single “If Only You Knew.” Going down in history as one of LaBelle’s finest, the hit song captures the dissonance of a distressed, distant admirer and her longed for, yet seemingly evasive, love interest. This relational disconnect relates to a familiar dynamic on Morehouse’s campus between administration and students. Like LaBelle’s classic, tension between administration and students is not a new song sung. Akin to a common motif of misunderstanding embedded in virtually every college and/or coming of age movie, in which young voices challenge old ideas, the college still has lingering disagreements from the past. Since fall 2015, under the direction of Dr. David Rice, the Morehouse administration has set a precedent by beginning to embed students’ opinion to direct Crown Forum. A mandatory, non-academic, credit-bearing course in which all Morehouse students are enrolled for six semesters, Crown Forum meets every Thursday in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, roughly twenty times each semester. According to the Crown Forum website, the course attempts to provide the “means by which students may begin to meet the challenge of developing to their highest potential and form a partnership with the academic program.” Entrusted with increasing students’ academic alertness, Crown Forum has difficulty holding some students’ attention and appears ineffective in gaining total support. This reservation is primarily driven by remaining student attention upon unresolved concerns that have and continue to fundamentally impact student growth. Such concerns have encouraged some students to erect an alternative to Crown Forum titled, Brown Street Discussions (formerly known as The Real Crown Forum). “[Brown Street Discussions] are great. Morehouse stresses how Crown Forum intends to grow students’ minds, but BSD opens a door for students to communicate the problems preventing them from growing their minds,” shares Matthew Mena, a senior from Los Angeles, California. However, some find that although BSD is a good platform for student concerns, its purpose should not be “juxtaposed” with Crown Forum, says Dr. Rice. He believes the Thursday event’s purpose is to be “an extension of chapel… and a space where young men are not reinforced of what they already know, rather provide different speakers, platforms and perspectives to challenge.” Dr. Rice continues to state that “Crown Forum is not designed such that people come in every week and have dialogues about their misgivings about the institution.” Although, he does find those conversations purposeful and correspondingly brands himself as an advocate for student success. Serving as a more student-inclusive Crown Forum, BSD attempts to correct a supposed inefficiency in its more established, formal predecessor. BSD advocates the student’s voice, not the administration’s. Although the surrogate has only had one occurrence, it has been attended by major influencers on campus; one in particular is Student Government Association President, Johnathan Hill. His presence and receptive commentary, seen in an online video published on Periscope, displays the potential impact a platform like BSD can have regarding future student-led discussions with senior administrative leaders. Various themes are discussed through one forty-minute Periscope video. Double-dealing admission standards and administrative evasiveness are only two adrenalized areas that worry a fair amount. “Morehouse talks about the brotherhood that you build during New Student Orientation, then the next semester, the majority of [your brothers] will be gone due to circumstances,” says sophomore Sharif LaSonde, speaking to the usual financial or academic dilemmas that

a foreseeable portion of students undergo. “Look to your left. Look to your right,” is a Morehouse saying that conveys the expected parting of some incoming freshman before they arrive to their senior year. LaSonde continues, “I feel like Morehouse could do better at avoiding those situations from happening. I feel like Morehouse accepts a lot of students who won’t be able to afford it, nor keep up academically. And, they still have them coming back paying money, and then let them go, as they can’t afford to stay.” LaSonde details a phenomenon that has long been practiced, but recently called out amongst American academic institutions. It begs the question, why are students being approved to attend schools that they cannot afford? Although, when asked whether or not he would voice this concern to administration, he says, “You can’t talk about stuff because [Morehouse will] sweep it under the rug. They put money ahead of most things. Administration first, then student problems.” What goes unnoticed in the Periscope videos is the lack of contrarian views, perhaps due to the sensationalism and partiality that is represented. Contrary to LaSonde, Dr. Rice, and other administrators have openly expressed support for student success and availability, having supplementally communicated this message to students through social media outlets and offering office hours. Learning from previous students like LaSonde, a forceful group of students have been effective by choosing action over reticence. Avery Jackson, a senior from Iowa, is not new to direct action. Having charged an Atlanta University Consortium organization branded as AUC Shut It Down, Jackson and team have leveraged their influence to discuss change with the President of Morehouse College and even debate Don Lemon on CNN. Jackson believes all members of the institution should have “critical conversation all of the time” and conversation that is “reflective of standard that we want to set at [the institution].” As for BSD being apt to make change, he considers SGA presence at these conversations to “be good start.” “If only you knew, how much I do, I do need you,” LaBelle continues in her hit record. Students can be seen in the video defending their demands for certain entitlements that they feel cheated out of. Administrative evasiveness regarding the President’s seemingly formal interactions with the student body, and even an exclusive cafeteria located in Kilgore are two crowd favorites to jab at. These criticisms even encouraged one student to financially threaten the institution by citing the institution’s desperation for tuition payments. “We need to be willing to take these spaces back,” referring to BSD’s purpose, “because the college would not operate without your tuition and fees.” Although extreme, students chimed in, sensationalized to the critique and transitioned onward to a new topic. Having only met once, Brown Street Discussions hopes to make change on campus. The Maroon Tiger, acknowledging all mediums within the AUC that create impact, will continue to keep watch and document any material developments. Editor’s Note: Michael C. Scott, Deputy Managing Editor Although some attribute Brown Street Discussions (formerly known as The Real Crown Forum) to serve as a response to a controversial video posted by Morehouse freshman student, Ty’Khari Rawlings, the Maroon Tiger maintains a different view. The dialogues within Brown Street Discussions have previously existed within various spaces and the Maroon Tiger believes such dialogues are not inspired nor guided by one sole occurrence.

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KaiYanna Washington Photographer tsehayphotography@gmail.com Omar Ashuur Photographer omarashhur97@gmail.com TIGER TV Paul Brister Associate Producer paul.brister@morehouse.edu BUSINESS TEAM Kylan Kester Project Manager Kylan.Kester@morehouse.edu Christopher Morris Marketing chrismorris1995@gmail.com Kailyn Brooks Marketing Kbrook10@scmail.spelman.edu Zuri Cheathem Marketing zuri.Cheathem@morehouse.edu Administration Ron Thomas Advisor Ron.thomas@morehouse.edu David Dennis Advisor davidjdennis@gmail.com

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GENERAL EDITION THE MAROON TIGER

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 26TH VARIOUS

What You Need To Know!

Keeping Up With Campus From The Editorial Board

AUSTIN WYCHE / THE MAROON TIGER

MAROON TIGERS MEET THE BLACK PANTHERS By Alton Pitre

MMW, Jasmine Mitchell, Wins 1st Attendant To NBCAHOF

Miss Maroon and White, Jasmine Mitchell, traveled to downtown Atlanta to participate in the Miss National Black College Association Hall of Fame contest. Mitchell secured the position of 1st attendant alongside Miss NBCAHOF, Che-Raina Warner of The University of the Virgin Islands.

The Morehouse Maroon Tigers Get Defeated By CAU At Rivalry Game

With a record of 2-2, The Morehouse Maroon Tigers geared up for their fifth game of the season against Clark Atlanta University. The game was hosted at Panther Stadium on Clark Atlanta’s campus.

Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Black Panther Movement, the Maroon Tigers were pounced upon by the Black Panthers for a Crown Forum After Dark panel experience. Students, faculty and the public overfilled the seats in the Bank of America Auditorium Wednesday night as they awaited the appearances of Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panthers, and fellow members Bob Brown and Kathleen Cleaver. “Are you down with the revolution?” program director and Morehouse student Je’lon Alexander eloquently asked the audience to begin the event. Recent times have definitely reflected the memorable decade of the 1960s, when Black people fought against racism and police brutality, and instead demanded equality and civil rights. The Black Panthers were established as a political party to combat the injustice Blacks constantly faced on a daily basis. Similarly today, police brutality against Blacks seems to have heightened in America, which has resulted in the creation of the “Black Lives Matter” movement in 2012 following the acquittal of George Zimmerman, a white neighborhood watch officer who allegedly murdered 17-year-old African-American Trayvon Martin in Florida. Since the death of Martin, unarmed Blacks killed by White police officers has become the themed headline across media outlets in the United States. “This is your moment in history, this is your time in history,” said Brown, the former Chicago Black Panther organizer. “And Morehouse has contributed so much to the history of African people in every corner of the world and in the history of oppressed humanity.” During his presentation, Brown spoke with a stern passion defending the malicious myths and portrayals of the Black Panthers by the media. He further revealed that on Oct. 10, 1964, the Black Panther logo was borrowed from Clark Atlanta University’s panther logo in the early stages of the party. Civil rights activist and now Emory University professor Kathleen Cleaver emphasized the theme of liberation, a term she said was adopted by the Congo in Africa, which was dominated by European control. Cleaver asserted that segregation was colonialism in the United States and

that for Black people to regain their freedom and liberation, they must model and identify themselves with the history of the African people because “Africa’s pride must be our own,” quoting civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis. Highlighting the significance of the night’s program, Cleaver also revealed that this event was the first time the three panelists had shared a forum together since 1969. Brown professed that he has only met or spoken with Cleaver and Seale twice in 50 years. However, the panelists exemplified great chemistry together when sharing the historical moments of their lives. Seale, the most famous of the Panthers, stole the show by telling some important, horrific stories but in comedic fashion. The time length restraints – two minutes per answer – placed on the speakers by the two student moderators could not regulate the loaded substance of Seale’s discourse. For instance, he humorously told how a Dr. King speech he attended in Oakland in 1965 inspired his activism endeavors, and he recounted an hilarious story about him being gagged and chained to a chair during the infamous court trial of the “Chicago Eight” in 1969. The revolutionary and resistant Seale elaborately explained why he left behind his tech-savvy career to fully commit to the mission of the Black Panthers. Despite the media and the government’s negative depiction of the Panthers as hoodlums, Seale said that he and his colleagues were well read and researched. Working as the community liaison for the City of Oakland’s Department of Human Resources, Seale’s attention became more focused on the study of politics after researching the profound history of America’s immoral laws. Highlighting Seale’s educational presentation, he reflected on a conversation between himself and some Black youth from a Oakland neighborhood back in 1965. He urged that the real power for Black people essentially rested in their election to political offices because in 1965, according to his self-conducted research there were only 50 Black people in office out of an estimated 500,000 total available seats in the U.S. “You don’t have no political seats you don’t have no political power,” Seale said.

For The First Time In Two Years, President John Wilson Attended Student Trustees Stakeholders Meeting

Constitutionally mandated by the Student Government Association (SGA) to provide students with an opportunity to dissect the vision of the SGA, the meeting allowed students to bring any pressing issues, concerns, or questions for the college’s student leaders and administration to the forefront. Student Trustees Moses Washington ‘19(JBT), Johntavis Williams ‘17(SBT), and 85th SGA President Johnathan Hill will gather all the information shared and present it at the college’s fall board meeting

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7 WHYHBCU

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 26TH various

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ZayyTheRapper

Johnathan D. Hill Morehouse College Political Science

The guy making art and hiding prints

“The segment of the “Get On The Bus” Initiative that resonated with me most occurred the night before we left for the trip. The delegation of men of Morehouse were mandated to practice every night leading up to the trip— but this night was different than the rest. After countless hours of running through the programmatic piece of the trip, brothers were about to share their stories. This wasn’t the first time we’d asked them to share their story, in fact it was the initial question everyone got in their interview. However, this time it’d be differ

AUSTIN WYCHE / THE MAROON TIGER

By Javonna Robinett You may have seen a tall, loud individual walking around the AUC over the past few weeks. Or you may have seen him making appearances at both Market Friday and Hump Wednesday with a smile and a cardboard sign that reads: “$Ask Me About My Art$.” Don’t worry, there is no cause for concern about our security. The man in question is Quintin Paschall, also known as ZayyTheRapper. Zayy is a proud member of a thriving group of young, driven, and extremely talented artists in the AUC. Heading into his first semester of his second year at Morehouse College, Zayy started to establish himself as an artist. ZayyTheRapper (a name given to him when he started rapping in middle school) has become more than a rapper. Zayy is a slam poet, visual artist and painter. Being from the south side of D.C., he has always been influenced by the rich art culture he was surrounded by. He has always been into the various expressions of art he saw around his community and around Howard University. “Washington D.C., aka the Chocolate City, is a place where black culture thrives,” Zayy said. “My artwork reflects my enjoyment of the Black aesthetic and

is heavily influenced by the Black art and Black culture I’ve seen and grew up on.” Zayy only recently made the decision to establish himself as an artist. He admitted that he really just enjoyed to draw and write poetry as a hobby. Starting off doing slam poetry as a sophomore in high school, and picking up drawing as a senior in high school, he considers himself to be an artist who is doing something very new. Using that aforementioned and now-famous “$Ask Me About My Art$” sign, he uses it to engage in conversations with anyone about anything related to his talents. The importance he places on making connections with the people he shares his art with makes him unique and encourages people to follow his work. “The only way you can buy my art, for the most part, is if you see me walking around. I walk around all three campuses, and I actually talk to people,” he said. This approach he has to being an artist is special because it has helped him grow, collaborate, and essentially spread the word about his ideas and current projects. ent, they’d be telling their stories in front of everyone. Led by my best friend and Chief of Staff, Kamren Rollins, the goal was to present their authentic self. The story telling exercise used was “If You Really Knew Me.” Through a series of guided questions, I witnessed brothers become vulnerable in a room of strangers. I witnessed brothers amplify this cloud of compassion for one another as we respected the mixing pot of narratives we brought to this room. Surrounded by Dr.King’s word, it was like God’s minute slowed down to bring one story together - that men of Morehouse are destined to lead a life of leadership AND servitude by the path you set and the path you’ve traveled. I love my brothers, and you, so I’m forever in debt to them for the hard work they put in to secure the hope in some of the young men from my home town.” About WhyHBCU is a nationally circulated awareness campaign that empowers and inspires youth to become a part of such institutions and invest in a better understanding and awareness of their own communities and culture through various initiatives. WhyHBCU spotlights individuals around the nation to share their story about how they ended up at an HBCU. Through our work, we hope to encourage more college-bound students to consider attending HBCUs.


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WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 26TH gallery

GENERAL EDITION THE MAROON TIGER


GENERAL EDITION THE MAROON TIGER

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 26TH gallery

KHALIL DOWNEY / THE MAROON TIGER

JESSE KEARSE / THE MAROON TIGER

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GENERAL EDITION THE MAROON TIGER

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 26TH world and local

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Trump Blows His Last Chance By Chad Rhym The wickedness of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was undeviatingly displayed throughout the 2016 presidential debate between him and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The mystery of his aggressive rhetoric, off-putting mannerisms and the consistency of his discredited statements have generated America’s addiction to his preposterousness. “See, you’re telling the enemy everything you want to do,” Trump said, referring to information on Clinton’s website. ”No wonder you’ve been fighting – no wonder you’ve been fighting ISIS your entire adult life.” There is a little more than a month until the election. Political theorists have made it clear for weeks leading up to the debate that becoming more reserved is the only way Trump could have any possible chance of making a good impression on America. Essentially, he needs to act like a human being, and not a vain,

egotistical billionaire. “So we find ourselves in a paradoxical, hypocritical position: rooting for the antics from him that we typically deplore; craving the vulgarity that we’ve frequently disparaged. Without them he could win this thing,” writer Frank Buri wrote in a column for the New York Times leading up to the debate. The whole fiasco is satirical at this point. Trump cannot stop shooting himself in the foot and sabotaging his own campaign. 5he average viewers could predict that Trump would bite any bait laid out by Lester Holt or Clinton to spark his egotistical and bratty temper. When moderator Lester Holt asked Trump about his decision-making ability compared to Clinton’s, he ironically went on a six-minute tangent about having a better temperament -- after interrupting her throughout the entire debate. As a result, Trump’s incoherent banter made Clinton looked

prepared, calm and collected. She allowed Trump to drown in his own word vomit. “The other day, I saw Donald saying that there were some Iranian sailors on a ship in the waters off of Iran, and they were taunting American sailors who were on a nearby ship,” Clinton said. “He said, you know, if they taunted our sailors, I’d blow them out of the water and start another war. That’s not good judgment.” The outlandish behavior in the debate was comical for the first 10 minutes, but as time progressed, the reality that Trump is an actual major party representative, and that Clinton isn’t blowing him out by more than 20 points in projected polls is terrifying. It is not a question of whether or not Clinton won because debates typically do not contribute to the grand scheme of the election. The reality is Trump violated, and embarrassed himself with hypocrisy, lunacy and immaturity all in one night. Regardless of who wins the nomination,


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Standing Up for What’s Right: Colin Kaepernick By Theodore Holliday Little news breaks the boredom of the NFL preseason. However, this summer was much different. During the San Francisco 49ers’ third preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, word spread of 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick not standing during the playing of the national anthem. After the 49ers lost to the Packers, Kaepernick met with the media for about 20 minutes and was flooded with questions about his decision to sit during the anthem. The first question asked was, “What are you trying to accomplish and what’s the goal?” In a calm, cool demeanor Kaepernick responded, “Ultimately it‘s to bring awareness and make people realize what’s really going on in this country. There are a lot of things that are going on that are unjust. People aren’t being held accountable for [them] and that’s something that needs to change. … This country stands for freedom, liberty, justice for all and it’s not happening for all right now.” Video showing Kaepernick not standing for the anthem spread throughout social media. Many people criticized or showed no support for Kaepernick’s movement. Former manager Tony La Russa, a member of baseball’s Hall of Fame, was one of the most outspoken, questioning the “sincerity” of Kaepernick and his protest during an interview with Sports Illustrated. “I think that’s disrespectful, and I really question the sincerity of somebody like Kapernick,” LaRussa said. “I remember when he was on top. I never heard him talk about anything but himself. Now all of sudden he’s struggling for attention and he makes this big pitch.” People such as La Russa come off as ignorant. People need to focus on the main issue involved when

Kaepernick decided not to stand for the anthem. He was protesting the continued killing of black men by law enforcement officers, particularly the shooting of Philando Castile in Minnesota. Since then, there have been questionable killings of black men in Tulsa, Charlotte and El Cajon, Calif. To discourage his protest would be discouraging the growth needed in this country related to racial equality. Kaepernick’s stand or lack of standing has been described as a jab directly at the armed forces or police force. However, the anthem is not only symbolic of our armed forces but also symbolizes the freedom, liberty and equality that ALL people should have, but don’t. If people can’t focus on that, then many people are lost? NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell felt the need to come out with a statement opposing Kaepernick’s actions. (Notice how the action of the protest keeps getting more notice than the reason for protest itself.) The reason for coming out with this statement? Well, it’s simple: the NFL got paid to. Until 2009 NFL players were not even present on the field for the national anthem. Players were moved onto the field in a way to market the players as being more “patriotic.” Even the United States Department of Defense paid the NFL $5.4 million between 2011-2014 and the National Guard paid the NFL $6.7 million between 2013-2015 to stage on-field patriotic ceremonies as part of military recruitment budget line items. What does this all mean?... Paid Patriotism. Overall, many people have made themselves seem ignorant to the true problem going on in this country. It’s time people focus on the true message behind Kaepernick’s protest and acknowledge the true problems that face this country.

IN THE HEIGHTS By Samuel Buchanan From Sept. 8-18, the Theatrical Outfit and the Aurora theatres presented the famous Broadway play In “The Heights” written by Lin-Manuel Miranda (writer of Hamilton). The play is a Tony Award winning, Broadway, Hip-Hop musical about the lives of Latinos living in the Barrio, a neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City. The show’s opening number was the self-titled “In The Heights” performed by the play’s protagonist Usnavi (Diego Klock-Pérez). Usnavi is the noble owner of the neighborhood’s convenient store and works diligently in the name of his deceased parents and his beloved country, the Dominican Republic. The show has a strong sense of womanhood with three different generations of Latina women: Abuela Claudia (grandmother Cladia), played by Felicia Hernandez - is an immigrant from Cuba whose family moved to New York when she was younger to make a better life for themselves. Likewise, abuela Claudia plays the lottery each day with Paciencia y Fe (patience and faith) hoping that one day she’ll hit the jackpot. Vanessa (Julissa Sabino), is the neighborhood crush of every boy, but desires a better life—out of the barrio—and to move into a nicer apartment in a better neighborhood. Lastly, Nina Rosario (Diany Rodriguez) represents the American dream for many of the Latino people of Washington Heights. She makes it out of the barrio, landing a scholarship at Stanford University. However, Nina faces the pressure of being the neighborhood success and when worse comes to worse, she may have to return home. Moreover, abuela Claudia, “struggling with English” represents the first generation struggles with language when migrated to the United States, while Nina Rosario is the third generation of Latinos who had to learn Spanish. Throughout the musical, the characters identify, celebrate and bring awareness to various themes within Latino communities such as nationality and pride, family and chasing the American dream, and even social immobility and racial inequality along with the neighborhood Piragua guy, played by Juan Carlos Unzueta. Although the musical is based on the Latino experience of New York City, many can identify with the characters in the play. Former Clark Atlanta University student, Tina Fear was the show’s Dance Captain and Ensemble member of the Theatrical Outfit production. Fears spoke briefly about being a Black woman and identifying with lives of Latinos in New York.

“It took me back my childhood, because the part of L.A. I grew up in was extremely diverse,” Fears said. “We were introduced to the piragua carts and shaved ice after school, so there was a lot of things.” “I can be honest there was some stuff that was really new to me but being a person who is a part of the arts, is an experience where you’re constantly learning. And, I don’t know where my people are from. I could be Caribbean, Cuban, Haitian so I embraced it like it was own experience for the moment. There were some things I knew being from L.A. and some stuff that was new to me but I gained an appreciation for Latin culture through my performance on In The Heights,” Fears said. Fears also spoke to the chemistry between the cast members which made the show such a success. Much like a family, the cohort of actors brought dishes, which were native to their family, and had a potluck. With a slew of dishes ranging from Caribbean, Cuban and Jamaican, the dinner fostered a family-like atmosphere early on. Thanks to the production team, Andrew Rodriguez and Justin Anderson, the family atmosphere carried throughout the run of the show. Considering the show coincided with the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, Fears appreciated a great deal about the Hispanic culture. With family and pride being two of the principle characteristics, she took a lot from her cast. While a student at Clark Atlanta University, she studied Education and cheered with the CAU Cheerleader team, Cheer Phi, from 2001-2003 and later on transferred to the Art Institution and receiving her bachelor’s degree. With a long working roster from renowned artists such as Smokie Norful, Deitrick Haddon, Melonie Feona and Usher to name a few. She also worked with BET, VH1 and starred in a production with Sony pictures. “I would definitely encourage (students) to get out of their comfort zone, and by that I mean, there are so many opportunities in Atlanta that college students can take advantage of. Two of the students in the show were actually students from Kennesaw State. Once you [do that] gain access to an apprenticeship or intern or study under companies. Hands-on experience is the best in my opinion. Being under working professionals and allowing theatres to get to know you now is a great way to get to know people. Lastly, train as much as you can,” Fears said.


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WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 26TH SPORTS

Morehouse College Maroon Tigers Football Schedule, 2016 Sat, Sept 3 @ Edward Waters, W 19-13 Sat, Sept 10 vs Kentucky State, W 14-3 Sat, Sept 17 @ Elizabeth City State, L 30-35 Sat, Sept 24 vs Miles, L 7 -31 Sat, Oct 1 @ Clark Atlanta, L 36-37

Sat, Oct 8 @ Tuskegee, 2PM Sat, Oct 15 vs Albany State (GA), 2PM Sat, Oct 22 @ Benedict College, 2PM Sat, Oct 29 vs Fort Valley State, 2PM Sat, Nov 5 @ Lane College Dragons, 2PM Home Game

Away Game

For more information, visit www.athletics.morehouse.edu

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The Lasting Legacy of Brandon Key By C. Isaiah Smalls, II The philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero once said, “The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.” Anybody who has lost someone dear to them can attest to that. The deceased’s actions while alive, whether positive or negative, leave an impression that lasts a lifetime. Few people, however, have such a positive impact on others that they leave behind a legacy that extends far beyond the grave. Brandon Key was one of those lucky few. “He was very charismatic,” said Ryan C. George, SGA Vice President and Key’s freshman year roommate. “He was confident and was someone that loved his [Morehouse] brothers unconditionally.” Key was a student at Morehouse College from Nashville, Tenn., whose passing in January of 2015 rocked the Atlanta University Center community to the core. Majoring in engineering, Key had a unique passion for learning. In addition to being an excellent student, Key played defensive end on the Morehouse College Maroon Tigers football team. “Everyone knew Brandon,” George said. “Everyone knew Brandon as someone you could always talk to, do homework with, and go out on the weekends with. He was someone who was very approachable and that you always wanted to be around.” In the beginning of September, four of Key’s hometown friends partnered with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) to create the Brandon Key Scholarship Fund. According to the foundation’s website, the fund will benefit students in Middle Tennessee who embody Key’s most notable characteristics and plan to attend an accredited college or university immediately following their senior year. Preference will be given to those planning to attend a Historically Black College or University.

“[The scholarship fund] was created in memory of Brandon because of his commitment to the community, volunteering for different causes, being an outstanding athlete in high school and a distinguished man of Morehouse,” said Pat Cole, the Scholarship and Tip Coordinator for the CFMT. Despite being only a sophomore, Key was already one of the team’s vocal leaders. He brought his infectious charisma to the field and left a lasting impression on his younger teammates, especially fellow defensive end Voris Bryant. “He always brought a positive vibe to practice,” Bryant said. “On the days that practice would get difficult, he made it easier by making you laugh.” For Bryant, Key helped ease his transition into a new position. Despite being recruited as a linebacker, Bryant is now a second-year starter at defensive end thanks to Key. “My freshman year, I was new to the defensive end position, and from time to time, he would try to show me certain moves that would help and give me words of encouragement,” Bryant said. As the class of 2017 begins preparing for graduation, they should not weep at the loss of Key; rather, they should cherish their memories and feel fortunate enough to have experienced his presence. “Brandon was really huge on education,” George said. “He was extremely smart and one thing that Brandon would definitely want is for someone else to be able to get an education in his honor.” Although the fund functions to preserve his legacy for years to come, the best way to pay homage to Brandon is in everyday life. Be kinder. Brighten someone’s day with a compliment. Most importantly; however, cherish each day as if it is the last.

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