Vol. 66 No. 9

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Vol 66 | Number 09

THE TSU HERALD | January 30, 2014

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CAMPUS NEWS page 2

ALUMNUS KEVIN GRANGER RECEIVES PROGRESSIVE LEGENDS AWARD

LIFE & STYLE page 8

STUDENTS LOOK DOWN ON SOCIETY FOR WEAVE SHAMING

FOR COLORED GIRLS:

The controversy of colorism

SPORTS page 9

LADY TIGERS FIGHT OF U-APB FOR WIN

OPINION page 10

RED OR RAINBOW: HOMOSEXUALITY IN TEXAS

Photo courtesy: Cameron Butler

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Campus News Alumnus Kevin Granger receives Progressive Legends Award during halftime game

BY SIDNIE HOLMES Contributing Writer

January 27, 2014 is just one of many dates that Texas Southern alumnus, Kevin Granger will remember as one of the best nights of his life.

Granger spent his collegiate career as an exceptional point guard from a small town,

“There isn’t a McDonald’s in Scooba, Mississippi,” Granger said while standing in the H&PE Arena where here he led the men’s basketball team to two SWAC Tournament Championships, two appearances at the NCAA Tournament, and became the 1994 SWAC Tournament MVP.

Granger also holds the title for leading the country in scoring in the NCAA in 1996, which happens to be his favorite achievement.

However, he does have a few other titles to add to his list, such as two-time First Team All-SWAC and Black College All-American selection, as well as being the named the SWAC Freshman of the year.

On this night, Texas Southern honored Granger with The Progressive Legends Award, where he accepted the accolade in front of his family, former teammates, friends and coaches.

He gave his speech thanking each of them for their part in his success and expressed how great it feels to apart of TSU history again.

“You just don’t get to this level of achievements without people being there for you, including the coaching staff I played for. I am really humbled by all of this,” Granger said prior to receiving this award.

He believes he has set out to accomplish all of his basketball goals since it was always about winning.

He has had a few trials and tribulations but made sure to never stop working hard to achieve the goals that he set out to accomplish.

“It feels great to have gone through all of that to get here…becoming a legend here at TSU.”

EDITORIAL STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MECOLE’ HAYES campus News Editor MARIEA BOYD Life & Style Editor SENORA HARRIS Sports Editor BUCK BEDIA Opinion Editor LINDSAY GARY Publications Manager TIYOSHA TURNER Advisors SERBINO SANDIFER-WALKER MICHAEL BERRYHILL

The TSU Herald is published by the students of Texas Southern University.

Opinions expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the administration. The newspaper is printed biweekly, except during holidays and examination periods.

For additional information, call (713) 313-1976.

With a retired number hanging in the rafters of the gym, I asked him what we could look forward to seeing from him as an assistant athletic director.

“Well I work with all sports, but I mostly want to give back to current college student athletes that may have that desire to go beyond the collegiate level of their sports by sharing my knowledge and giving advice on how to do that.”

Granger graduated in 1996 and went on to play three professional seasons of basketball in Cyprus, Argentina and in Italy.

He then returned home to Worthing High School, where he coached high school basketball and taught in his own classroom.

From there, Granger went on to return to his alma mater as a part of the coaching staff of the Texas Southern University men’s basketball team as an assistant coach.

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Campus News news updates

Annise Parker marriage

Mayor Annise Parker finally tied the knot with her long time partner Kathy Hubbard on January 16,2014.

The two wed in Palm Springs, California Thursday, with Reverend Paul Fromberg: a close friend of Parker’s from San Francisco who presided over the couple.

Eye Witness News, a news station based in Houston, was the only media outlet to capture Parker’s big day.

When asked how she thought her wedding turned out, Parker replied: “It was a beautiful day.”

Parker and Hubbard have been together for 23 years and decided to wed on their 23rd anniversary.

TSU’s Quality Enhancement Program prepares incoming freshmen for graduation

BY MARIEA BOYD Campus News Editor

In the fall of 2011, the demolishment of the infamous Grey-stone apartments and the emergence of the Urban Academic Village was a part of the pilot for the Quality Enhancement Program.

The QEP is Texas Southern University’s own response to the reaffirmation process directed by the Southern Association of Colleges Sochi Olympics 2014 and Schools.

The Quality Enhancement Program’s

The countdown to the Olympics has not mission is to provide assistance, primarily to been a joyous one as bombs threats and terrorist first year students. attacks have already taken affect on the Olym In this program, students should gain pics. academic knowledge, maneuver through their

Athletes have begun contacting their first year smoothly with classes specifically families telling their families not to come, as it may be too dangerous with the persistent threats. designed for freshmen students, and receive confidence and motivation towards graduat Two bombings have taken 34 lives at ing. a train station nearly 200 miles from Sochi in

The Urban Academic Village is a sucVolgograd, Russia. cessful product of the QEP.

It is known that intent for more bombings may already be in Sochi, but it is believed

With their slogan “It begins with UAV that it won’t be enough to put a damper on the and ends with Graduation” the Urban Academic Village began its first year with over 200 games. freshmen from all ends of the country that enrolled into the program.

To be admitted into the UAV program Shooting at Columbia Mall in incoming freshmen must have a high-school Maryland grade point average of at least a 2.5 or above,

17 on the ACT or 820 on SAT or higher, and

More information on the identity of the enroll with the minimum of 15 credit hours. suspect who killed two store employees and

Students are also required to complete himself at Columbia Mall in Columbia, Mary12 study session hours in every week. land on January 25th.

Junior pre-pharmacy major and previ Maryland police have identified the susous UAV resident, Wiley Walls said, “While pect as 19-year-old Darion Arguiler. apart of the UAV It helped me become aca After his mother had reported him missdemically prosperous by surrounding me with ing around 1:40 pm, investigators searched the goal driven people like myself ”. mall and found Aguliar’s phone, and his body

In the fall of 2013, the UAV program which was also found with the other two emopened its doors to the UAV learning center. ployees he killed, who both worked at Zumiez

Next to Aguliar’s body were a 12 gauge- The computer lab is located on Rosewood Street, along the path to the main campus and shotgun and two homemade explosive devices. is open 24 hours, seven days a week to students who are a part of the Urban Academic program.

The UAV program also provides a dy-

namic social experience that includes numerous activities and field trips such as, Houston Rockets games, live plays at the Ensemble Theater, and the annual Houston Rodeo.

“I loved how the UAV provided a family atmosphere. If I had a problem I knew there was always someone there that would be willing to help me,” junior political science major, Venishia Marthrell said.

In the following year, the number of freshmen enrolled in UAV program nearly tripled.

Although QEP is mostly geared toward the freshman class, the overall goal of the program is to improve the quality of students enrolled entirely.

Some of the most popular services provided by the QEP is the online support such as: The online writing lab, resume and essay support, and information literacy awareness through the SAILS test.

Last year, students and faculty members took advantage of the Quality Enhancement Program.

English Professor Dr. Albertina Hughey won an iPad mini for having her students participate in the SAILS test.

AImani Alexander, a pre-pharmacy student also won an iPad mini for participating in both the pre-SAILS test and post SAILS test.

TSU will continue to move forward while utilizing the QEP to make a difference at the university and in the community.

“It begins with UAV and ends with graduation.” - TSU’s Quality Enhancement Program Motto

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Cover Story

Pop culture and politics with Lindsay Gary.

For colored girls: The controversy of colorism

BY LINDSAY GARY Opinion Editor

I was a tomboy growing up. Summers were particularly special because I would spend hours playing in the sun with my neighbors, cousins, and sister.

On one of these summer evenings, after a day full of tag, jump rope, and red light-green light, we raced home to eat my grandmother’s down home cooking.

But, before I could even made it to her doorstep, I was met with a look of shame. My grandmother shook her head and told me to go scrub my face immediately before I ended up being black like my daddy.

My grandmother loved my sister and me tremendously—she took care of us when our parents were at work, and like my parents, she always made us feel loved, special, and valued.

We were continuously reminded of how beautiful, intelligent, and talented we were, and it was very clear even then how proud of us she was.

I had always been fully aware (and proud) of my race and how it would affect me in life, but in that moment, I became aware of my color.

I would later understand how my dark skin would affect me as a black woman.

I could not grasp why being black that summer day was bad, as my grandmother had been instrumental in teaching me years earlier that being a black person was something to be proud of, but I trusted her, and so I scrubbed my face until it was red.

After this incident, attempting to scrub the black off became routine and necessary

Sometimes it appeared to work. Other times, it did not.

I became confused and frustrated because my grandmother and parents were telling how beautiful I was although I could not remove the darkness.

Peers and adults in my community who told me “you would be kind of pretty if you were lighter” or “you are pretty for a dark girl” reinforced this incident.

Because of my complexion, I was never

good enough no matter how beautiful I actually was.

The perceived unending ugliness and inferiority that resulted from my darker complexion was dimming any light that came my way—so when people would tell me nice things, I did not know if I could believe them.

I resented those comments, and at times, even myself.

Fortunately, this was only a phase for me. Those comments were not strong enough to destroy the foundation established at home.

I was reassured of my beauty and worth and I came to the understanding that anyone who said those things about me was either ignorant or jealous.

I realized my grandmother was wrong for the comment she made, but after years of studying history and racial constructs, I realized that what she did was out of love.

She had married a very dark skinned man, reared a brown baby girl (my mother), and introduced my parents.

She didn’t actually have a problem with dark skin, but she was afraid of what the world would think of me as a dark skinned girl.

She knew that I would face challenges that I did not deserve.

Ironically, her method of trying to protect me from colorism, the discrimination or particular treatment because of social ideas associated with skin color, was actually the first time I knowingly became a victim of it.

I had been born with three strikes against me: my race, my gender, and my color.

Being a dark girl means that when I go for an interview, go out with friends, or even shop at my favorite clothing store, I am often ignored, overlooked, or met with stereotypes and discriminated against because some people think I am some combination of ugly, dirty, uneducated, dumb, ghetto, angry, poor, and that I have a bad attitude and low self-esteem as well.

Colorism affects dark women and light women and everyone in between.

Because of these negative images, light

women can be seen as promiscuous, uppity, materialistic, self-centered, docile, and weak; gold digger characteristics are frequently attributed to them because successful black men most often pursue them.

They are also depicted positively however as they are believed to be beautiful, educated, rich, classy, happy, and mixed—less black and therefore better than other black women.

Colorism is largely the result of the European institutions of plantation slavery, colonialism, segregation based on the onedrop rule, and other racial institutions, but we perpetuate it.

Because of these institutions, black Americans have historically tried to Europeanize themselves through assimilating, mixing, and passing, and have alienated those who were not white enough. continued on page 11

Jabria Rahsaan and Tiarevia Cannon show that colorism is not a factor in their friendship.

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Life & Style Some things are better left unsaid: Students weary of excessive posts on social media

BY SENORA HARRIS Life & Style Editor

While social media may be growingly popular, users over sharing life details is a big turnoff for students who use the various platforms.

Seeing his timeline and news feeds being constantly saturated with everything from the most intimate to the most tedious details of their lives became to be too much for senior, Pierre Rice.

He deleted all profiles but Instagram, which he now only uses sporadically.

Rice feels that one’s maturity level is dependent on how much people tend to share on social media.

“Those things that I used to say in high school; expressing how I felt at every moment, whether it was because a teacher made me mad or because my parents were getting on my nerves, those things are childish honestly,” Rice said.

As some people rely on social media to document their thoughts and actions, the general studies major says that there can be consequences with doing so.

“I see people end up regretting it over the future,” Rice said.“They put something out when they were younger, and it comes to bite them back. When they get older, they regret putting it out.”

Sophomore Tammy Richmond, who admitted to formerly over sharing on Twitter and Facebook, says that the digital footprint people leave on social media is hard to erase.

“It’s a way to vent at the time, but you can be so heated in the moment that you just put things that you probably shouldn’t put,” Richmond said.

“Sometimes when you post stuff, you can’t take it back, regardless if you take it down. As soon as you post it, somebody could have [taken a] screenshot by then… Even if you were in a heated moment, people can judge you off of that and it’s not always good.”

Nicholas Wells, a freshman and Political Science major, is aware of how social media can affect his future post graduation.

He doesn’t reveal any potentially incriminating details such as his current location or religious beliefs, because he doesn’t want

to appear as nothing short of professional to employers.

“If you Google my name, you can pull up pictures from my Instagram,” Wells said. “I don’t want to go to an interview at some Fortune 500 company and then have just posted a video at a strip club two days before. You’ve got to be conscious of that.”

As a reformed social media abuser, Richmond testified that it’s possible to kick the habit of over sharing.

In addition to writing down thoughts in a non-public forum, Richmond recommended discovering what could be more beneficial to one’s life.

“Delete it, and find other things to occupy your time,” Richmond said. “Honestly, if I spent the same amount of time on social networks as I did on my schoolwork, I would have a 4.0 [GPA]. A 3.2 isn’t bad, but I could always do better. You make time for what you want. If you only want to be on social networking sites, then you should at least get paid for it. You could be a gossip columnist or something. But you’re doing it for free.”

“Delete it and find other things to occupy your time.” Sophomore, Tammy Richmond

Texas Southern University Excellence in Achievement

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THROUGH THE EYE 1.

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ES OF OUR TIGERS 2.

As the weeks go by here at Texas Southern University, our photographers captured all of the moments and current events on campus.

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1. Students pack out the Tiger Room during the “Greek Life 101” panel.

2. Panelist for the “Greek Life 101” event take turns answering questions and giving their input on all things pertaining to #TSUGREEKLIFE. 3. The ladies of the Nu Alpha chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. host the “Greek Life 101” panel during “Meet the Greeks” week.

4. An amazing shot of the clock tower in the center of the university.

5. A member of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity during the “Greek Life 101” panel.

6. TSU mascot, Rex gets the crowd hype during TSU vs. PV’s black out game.

7. A Mississippi Valley guard can’t hold Madarious Gibbs as he takes scores buckets during the game.

8. Students had H&PE Arena in a full black out as they cheered on the Tigers who took on the PV Panthers.

9. Aaric Murray gives Ray Penn a high five after the duo scored multiple points against the PV Panthers.

10. TSU students stop for a photo-op during the MLK bbq at the University of Houston.

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11. Jazzmin Parker can’t be stopped by a Mississippi Valley guard as she goes toward the basket.

Photos courtesy of: Buck Bedia, Joedicy Simms, and Cameron Butler

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Life & Style

TSU students look down on society for weave shaming

BY SENORA HARRIS Life & Style Editor

While it may be human nature to be critical of others, TSU students feel that shaming someone for wearing hair extensions is a big no-no!

In this digital age, most people are able to share their opinions on different subjects, positive or not, through social media.

One of the latest subjects up for discussion was Pam Oliver’s hair.

While on the sidelines covering this year’s NFC championship game, the sportscaster donned a medium length wig with bright burgundy highlights.

For more than a day, her name trended on Twitter as different users compared her hair to a mop and ‘Star Wars’ character Chewbacca.

But whether or not they are in the public eye, it’s common for black women with unconventional hair extensions, colloquially called a weave, to be the subject of criticism similar to Pam Oliver.

Senior Marcus Ester believes that the negative commentary on the everyday black woman isn’t acceptable.

“For people to go and shame someone else, they really shouldn’t do that,” Ester

said. “What they choose to wear is the same as getting piercings or something like that. It’s something that they want to wear. They want to express themselves… Someone who talks about them either has something wrong with them or feels a certain way.”

Freshman LaDanna Binion pointed out that wearing hair extensions out of necessity isn’t always the case, as it is one of the focal points of attacks against black women.

“Weave isn’t all about if you need it,” Binion said. “As far as the history behind weave goes, some people did it to achieve a different look. Even women of different races did it for a different look.”

Freshman Christian Wykoff is one of those people who enjoy changing the look of her hair with extensions.

Because her medication can affect the look of her own hair, she likes to occasionally sport some hair extensions.

Wykoff recalls that whenever she is sans weave, the reaction she receives is always the same.

“When I take my weave out, people are like ‘Oh my gosh, you have hair!’ Because a lot

of people assume that when black women wear weave, they don’t have hair,” Wykoff said.

Wykoff, who professes to “love” her hair extensions, expressed her disappointment in those who partake in making fun of others’ hair choices.

“It’s not fair because I think making fun of someone for their personal choice is never fair,” Wykoff said. “But at the same time, I feel as though it doesn’t matter what other people think. If you want to do your own thing and wear a weave, then by all means, do what you think is right.”

Ester’s sister resorted to wearing wigs and weaves due to losing her hair while getting treated for cancer.

Because of this, he believes that those who shame black women for wearing a weave should think twice before doing so.

“You don’t know the story behind why the person is wearing the weave,” Ester said.

“You just see that. So you just don’t judge someone on what you see. You need to get to know that person and find out why they have that on.”

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Sports

BY BUCK BEDIA Sports Editor

Jazzmin Parker is a Health Studies major and a new guard on the Lady Tiger basketball team.

Parker is native Houstonian who recently transferred to Texas Southern after playing at Blinn Junior College in College Station.

With hopes of hoisting up a SWAC Championship, Parker has already claimed SWAC Player of the Week four times this year and is well on her way to possibly leading the conference in scoring.

I took the time to get to know her better and to welcome her to this prestigious university…

BB: So tell me what is more your style of play on the court?

JP: “On the court I try to stay as aggressive as possible, the coaches are pushing to be more aggressive, so that is what I’d say my mindset is every night I play.”

BB: What influenced your decision to attend

TSU? JP: “I wanted to go to a program where I was going to make an instant impact, it’s not about the big names to me. I wanted to be apart of a family and a place where we can win. I want some jewelry, some hardware on my resume. I really think we can win the championship this year.”

BB: Do you have any aspirations for your basketball career?

JP: I have a lot of faith in the coaches and I want to play after college, and I have faith that they can help me get into the best position to follow my dreams.”

BB: Off the court, do you have any other passions besides basketball?

JP: “I’m a fashion geek, I love all types of fashion; men’s, women’s, and I think I could be someone’s stylist or a fashion guru or personality on TV.”

BB: Oh, yeah? My editor, Mecole, told me I do not have any fashion swag, can you give us helpless guys a tip for the summer?

JP: “This summer? Well I’d have to say I love linen on guys, that’s a grown man style, so some fresh linen slacks, nice shirt, nothing flashy, but you would still look real nice” BB: Who would you say is your greatest inspiration?

JP: “My biggest inspiration would have to be my father, since I was 2-3 years old until now, I can talk to him for hours and hours, he’s like my backbone.”

BB: When did you realize how good of a basketball player you are?

JP: In elementary school, when they put me on the boys team and I led the team in scoring, I was the only girl on the team, it was crazy.”

This week in sports

BY BUCK BEDIA Sports Editor Lady Tigers vs. UAPB

The Lady Tigers (9-9, 6-1) fought off UA-Pine Bluff (5-13, 0-7) Monday evening 7551 in cruising fashion.

Defense was the story of the night as the Lady Tigers held the Lady Lions to just 33% shooting from the field, while three TSU players scored in double figures.

Freshman forward Alexus Johnson had a solid, all-around game scoring 10 points, 5 rebounds and a monster block late in the 2nd Half, that pretty much summed up the game.

“Our offense flowed through our defense tonight,” Johnson said. “Our stops helped us get that lead and we held on to it.”

TSU’s bench outscored UAPB’s 44-16 and the main reason for that lopsided stat is Jazzmin Parker, who led all scorers with 19 points.

“Providing a spark off the bench is what coach is looking for me to do, and I really

think that’s working for us right now,” Parker said.

Brianna Sidney also added 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in the rout of UAPB.

Next up, the Tigers hit the road to Alabama A&M and Alabama St over the weekend and then travel to Prairie View on Feb. 8th.

The next home game will be on Feb. 15th at 3 p.m. in the HP&E Arena.

Men’s Basketball vs. UAPB

The Tigers (9-10, 5-2) squeezed out a win in a nail biter on national television, 72-71 over UAPB (4-15, 2-5) Monday night.

The game was a tale of two runs: one, was late in the first half as UAPB cut a 10 point lead to just 2.

The second run was by TSU late in the second half as they overcame a 10-point deficit to take a 1-point victory.

“We did a great job defensively staying

in it, it let us peck away at the lead and it led to big plays at the end of the game,” Coach Mike Davis said.

As one of the nation’s top scorers, ranked 6th, Aaric Murray did what he has done all season, score.

Murray registered 34 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and a steal. One block was within the final minute, after which UAPB did not score again.

“When we were down by ten, I told the guys, ‘No one has let us walk out early with a win with ten minutes left and up by ten, so let’s fight and get this one’, and we did and came back,” Murray said.

The hustle and energy of D’Angelo Scott did not go unnoticed, the senior from Los Angeles finished with a line of 11 points, 8 boards and 3 steals.

“D’Angelo is a scrappy guy, he plays long, he’s very active and he made some big plays for us down the stretch,” Coach Davis said.

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Opinion Red or rainbow: Homosexuality in Texas

BY LENZI CAUSEY Contributing Writer

student, Mary Angel Hernandez testified in favor of them for safety purposes.

“There’s always an opportunity, a chance for other people who do not fully understand what transgender is to take it in an aggressive way,” Hernandez said.

As a conservative state, Texas has quite 13 that her initial hope was to get married in a few limitations in legalized privileges comHouston. pared to other, more liberal states.

“I hope someday to have the opportu Lately, we have heard a lot of fuss nity to marry the person I’ve loved and shared pertaining to the legalization of marijuana and my life with for 23 years,” Parker said. “I want same-sex marriage in the United States. to do it in Texas, but that might be a long time “It makes a statement about who we are in our

Legally, same sex marriage is allowed in coming.”

15 states, and is pending in Virginia, Utah and Lately, Parker has taken some heat from valuing of diversity, [and] our pride in our Oklahoma while the other 32 states, including several Republicans behind her recent nuptials diversity,” Dr. John Hudson with the campus’ Center for Student Diversity said.

Texas, have banned its legalization. with Republican state senator, Dan Patrick reTexas Southern’s gay community had

Recently, Virginia’s newly elected Attor- leasing a statement early the following day that several thoughts on these issues. ney General, Mark Herring, has been fighting was not in favor of Parker’s decision.

Eric Ford, a junior journalism student, for gay marriage’s “first foothold in the south.”

was more indifferent about the issue He stated that the ban on it is of gay marriage. “I’m not a big fan of “unconstitutional” after thormarriage in general. I don’t [personally] ough legal review according to have the desire to be married, but evthe Associated Press. eryone should have the right to do what

Because of this, as menthey want with their lives,” Ford said. tioned earlier, Virginia is still On the other hand, Aurelia Wagner, disputing lifting the ban. a second-year graduate student in the If Texans were only so lucky, area of Public Administration, takes right? this issue very seriously.

Even though for Texas, “I cannot speak for every lesbian the legalization of same-sex woman, every black lesbian woman, marriage isn’t more than or every lesbian in Texas… [but] until likely out of the question, many the hearts and minds are changed of Houstonians, including imthese conservative counterfeit southern portant and popular figures in hospitality white men and women who local media and government, conquer the south nothing will change have adopted openly gay lifefor gay rights in the south or across our styles. nation, for that matter.”

In doing so, some of Houston Mayor, Annise Parker and her 23-year partner,

them have tied the knot.

Kathy Hubbard get married in California on January 16th.

On the issue of Annise Parker’s new

Frank Billingsley, chief meteorologist at marriage, Wagner stated: “ I believe that in her one of Houston’s local broadcast news stations, “I am not shocked that Mayor Parker new term one of the ordinances she plans in KPRC, married his long-time partner in New decided to elope to California for a marriage working on is an anti-discrimination act for York City in December 2012. that is unconstitutional in Texas. This is obvithe LGBT community. I have no doubt that

“This time seemed right to make ofously part of a larger strategy of hers to turn this will pass, in Houston, however outside of ficial what had been our lives already,” Billings- Texas into California,” Patrick said. these Harris County walls, it seems as though ley said.

Despite other invectives, Parker has free thinking and human rights go out the win As a matter of fact, three same-sex been standing her ground against the critical dow.” couples, also from Houston, who had previstatements made against her.

As many of our students may agree or ously been married in other states, were in

“You don’t commit 23 years of your life disagree with what these two have said, our beattendance. to someone to make a political statement...I liefs are based on not only what we think, but

Annise Parker is not only the first took four days off. I had to leave my home also how those around us think and perceive woman elected mayor in the city of Houston, state and make a little wedge of time to marry she is also openly gay--and guess what? She’s the woman I love. They can get over it,” Parker us.

Homosexuality is growing as far as acalso married! said. ceptance and regardless, (religiously, morally,

According to ABC Local, on the cou Also in the news, the University of etc.) there will always be an argument. ple’s 23rd anniversary, which fell on January Houston’s downtown campus has recently ap Unfortunately those on the opposing 16th, Parker and her new wife, Kathy Hubbard, proved the installation of five gender-neutral tied the knot during a small wedding celebrarestrooms to be built next month for students. side of the state of Texas are the ones forced to tion in the state of California.

This came into play after a transgender suppress their beliefs for the place which they call home.

In August of last year, Parker told ABC

Opinion

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continued from page 3

While it is a deep wound in our history however, it is not unique to African Americans.

Indians have a deeply rooted caste system that reinforces colorism. Nations like China and Nigeria have alarming rates of skinbleaching product sales.

According to a 2013 World Health Organization report, 77 percent of women in Nigeria use skin-bleaching products.

While there are other factors including societies associating dark skin with the sun-tanned working class or other home-based ideas of beauty, there is no doubt that western ideas of beauty have pushed non-western

women to alter their appearances.

With all of these odds against me, I’ve managed to transcend colorism.

Although people still treat me differently and are often surprised and sometimes upset when I defy their stereotypes, I know me, I love me, and I own me.

I am aware of my history and the context of the world I live in and this knowledge does not hinder me, but it helps me to propel forward.

I no longer have to be validated by others to feel beautiful or to feel worthy.

As black women, we have to know our history, and the racial institutions of the present; we have to be the foundation for other

black women who have yet to establish this confidence and understanding.

We have to uplift each other and empathize with the experiences of those lighter than or darker than us.

In a world where many African women do not embrace being black, we have to set the example.

Grandmothers should not be telling their granddaughters to hide from the sun but instead reminding them that black is beautiful, in every shade.

Once we fully embrace this idea as a collective, we can move beyond basing our worth as women solely on something as superficial, fleeting, and subjective as beauty.

Top #SOTU Tweets

20 Questions 1. Wihy did Texas shut down when our weather wasn’t nearly as bad as Atlanta’s?

2. Will we get reimbursed for the days that we missed class?

3. Why does it seem like the same students are in yearbook every year?

4. When can we give other students an opportunity?

5. Why did the editor put that Instagram picture in her letter to the student body?

6. Why was the SGA President in that stupid gold chair on the cover?

7. Why has SGA fallen apart since 2011?

8. Why does it seem like the current crop of student leaders aren’t as dynamic as the previous one’s?

9. Why does TSU continue to ignore the needs of recent alumni in favor of undergrads who probably won’t graduate.

10. Why are people still trying to run the yard when they should be running towards a degree?

11. Who threw the most shade on Founder’s Day? The K’s or the Delta’s?

12. How come the Alpha’s just up and cancel the Miss Black and Gold Pageant?

13. Why didn’t they just have it, it’s not like they’re doing anything else?

14. So, will there be more Greek unity after the “Meet the Greeks” event?

15. How do Greeks expect people to be discreet when they’re all on Instagram taking pics with interests?

16. Why does it seem like more ratchets are enrolling into TSU? 17. Are people still mad at Beyonce for slaying the Grammy’s?

18. Why can’t you all accept that Beyonce is everything?

19. Why don’t people show love to the women’s basektball team?

20. Why are y’all so messy on Ask.FM though?

Tweet @TheTSUHerald with your questions using the #TxSU20 hashtag.

DISCLAIMER: The questions are submitted by the student body and are not the views of The TSU Herald or Texas Southern University as a whole. Feel free to bring your questions to room 221 of the Student Center. Questions are printed at the discretion of The TSU Herald.

ask.fm/TSU20Questions

12

What’s Happening on campus & around town

Monday - 1/27

Tuesday - 1/28

Wednesday - 1/29

Thursday - 1/30 UPC presents: Day at the Houston Zoo

Monday - 2/3

Tuesday - 2/4 5x5 Intamural Basketball Tournament 12 p.m.

Recreation Center

Wednesday - 2/5 UPC presents: Hump Day 6-8 p.m.

The Point

Thursday - 2/6 Recreation Center presents: NBA 2k14 Tournament 5 p.m.

Gameroom

Friday - 1/31 Greek Informational 8 p.m.

SSLC Cafeteria

Friday - 2/7

The Weekend 2/1-2/2

The Weekend 2/8-2/9

UPC-Spirit Committee presents: Chant Night 9-12 p.m.

2/8: TSU Tigers vs.

PV 7 p.m. @ PV

Campus Organization Registration Packets Due - SSLC 215

UPC - Travel Committee presents Fun Bus to PV

Our calendar is reserved for the advertisement of on and off campus events. If you are interested in having your event placed on our calendar, please stop by room 221 of the Student Center or call us at (713) 313-6710.