Vol. 66 No.6

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Vol 66 | Number 06

THE TSU HERALD | November 06, 2013

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Who Will Represent District D?

CAMPUS NEWS page 3

STUDENTS CELEBRATE “DIA DE LOS MUERTOS” AT THE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM

LIFE & STYLE page 5

“THE BEST MAN” CAST REUNITES FOR HOLIDAY SEQUEL

SPORTS page 9

page 4 TIGERS STILL EXPERIENCING GROWING PAINS

District D candidates encourage student voting during NAACP’s Forum D

page 11

page 8

OPINION page 11

JOURNALISM: POWER AND CONSEQUENCE

Joe Campos Torres: The fight for justice continues

Student creates first ever TSU comedy web series

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Campus News TSU’s Public Affairs Department hosts forum for Multicultural Dyslexia Awareness

BY LENZI CAUSEY Contributing Writer

Texas Southern University’s Public Affairs department, in conjunction with the City of Houston and the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, hosted its Dyslexia Forum Friday, November 1st to bring awareness to the reading disability known as, dyslexia.

Held in the Public Affairs Auditorium and opened by President John Rudley, the forum emphasized the affect dyslexia has on students, highlighted those who work to conduct research, and informed the audience on how anyone can help and become a part of the Multicultural Dyslexia Awareness Initiative.

In his introduction, President Rudley expressed his sentiments about those who suffer from dyslexia and explained Texas Southern’s part in raising awareness.

“The forum we are holding today is held close to our hearts because there are several students here who have learning [disorders] and we sometimes don’t even know it,” Rudley said.

“There are still people outside the circle of knowledge,” said congresswoman

Sheila Jackson-Lee, who is active in the Congressional Dyslexia Caucus, when she spoke on the issue, suggesting it is everyone’s role to become aware and share it.

According to the Yale Center’s research, conducted by Doctor Keith Magee, the visionary for the Yale Center, and doctors Sally and Bennett Shaywitz, a couple of scientists responsible for groundbreaking research, diagnosis of dyslexia is often missed because it can not be tracked genetically.

80 percent of all children with learning disabilities have dyslexia.

Any person who is affected by the disease reads slowly, has trouble remembering things such as dates and times, and has difficulty with word retrieval and pronunciation.

“Speaking is natural; reading is acquired and dyslexia applies to all languages,” Dr. Bennett Shaywitz said.

“Dyslexia affects one out of five [people]; that’s a big problem,” Dr. Sally Shaywitz said.

The forum was closed by moderator Jeff Johnson, who is a commentator from the popular

EDITORIAL STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MECOLE’ HAYES campus News Editor MARIEA BOYD Life & Style Editor SENORA HARRIS Sports Editor BUCK BEDIA Staff Writer LINDSAY GARY Publications Manager TIYOSHA TURNER

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.

Advisors SERBINO SANDIFER-WALKER MICHAEL BERRYHILL

Tom Joyner Morning Show and active in television and news via networks such as BET and MSNBC. The disease affects one of Johnson’s three children.

“I knew [Myles] was brilliant because of how he speaks to me and thinks about things, but I knew something was wrong because he just can’t find the words,” Johnson said.

He shared the importance finding a school appropriate for a child with dyslexia and the support needed for both the child and the parent.

“There is actually a gift that comes with dyslexia, the empowerment you get from [knowing] you have it and a family who’s behind you,” Johnson added.

It is true; people with dyslexia do have gifts.

According to more research from the Yale Center, people who are diagnosed with dyslexia are “out-of-the-box thinkers”, and are often great problem solvers and have terrific imaginations.

Dyslexic students are more likely to succeed with early diagnosis and while in school, putting emphasis on vocabulary, reading comprehension, smaller classes and more attentive and persistent teachers can help speed up that process.

In the future, TSU plans to be of better assistance by giving and gaining support and plan to orchestrate an organization to cater to those who have been diagnosed with dyslexia.

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Campus News Students celebrate “Dia de los Muertos” at the university museum

news updates Scholars attend “A Night in Hollywood” with NSCS

BY BRANDI GRAVES Campus News Editor

During the last week of October, students from the sophomore class attended an invitation only event where they were inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

This year’s theme was, “A Night in Hollywood” where students were dressed in black-tie attire and swaggered down a red carpet as they were initiated into this prestigious society.

“I am very honored to be apart of NSCS; it feels good to know my hard work has paid off,” sophomore, education major, Allison Pryor who aspires to be an English Teacher.

Special guest Derrick Wilson gave some encouraging words to the next class of NSCS members.

“To be the very best you will make mistakes, to learn from those mistakes is to be great,” Wilson told the scholars.

To be invited into the NSCS students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 or higher entering their sophomore year and must be ranked in the top 20 percent of their college class.

The Texas Southern University chapter was founded in 2006.

Since then it has been committed to creating meaningful experiences for its community of high achievers.

This year, 51 students were inducted into NSCS and amongst them were active university students such as: Obaloluwa M. Aina, Megan E. Freeman and Dale Rajan.

This upcoming summer, NSCS members will be attending the ScholarCon convention in Orlando, Florida where they will attend seminars, workshops, and exciting travel ventures in celebration of their achievements.

On November 1st, Texas Southern hosted the Dia de los Muertos event at the TSU museum, introducing a host of information and performances.

“Dia de los Muertos”, which translates as “Day of the Dead”, is celebrated from October 31st through November 2nd.

During this time, it is customary to pay respect and remember loved ones who have passed away.

Day of the Dead is typically a happy and well-respected holiday celebrated amongst the Latino culture

Items used to commemorate this day include authentic Mexican food, drink, candy, pastries, skulls, Marigold flowers, traditional music and dance.

Special guest, Professor Rosarito Gonzalez, traveled all the way from Tao Alto, Puerto Rico to speak and present a traditional decorated skull and gallery representation of the transition of the Monarch butterfly.

“The significance of the Monarch butterfly represents every human beings life,“ Gonzalez said.

In the gallery of the museum, there was a presentation of “Monarcas Del Toa”, where various photographs demonstrated the process of how the Monarch butterfly transitions in life from a caterpillar to its true form.

“Just don’t look at [it] as an insect, look at it beyond the significance as an insect… It can be your mom or your dad, just roaming around just saying ‘I’m here’,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez explains the importance of the butterfly to her class in Puerto Rico

because it teaches responsibility and self worth to children who would otherwise drop out of school before the 6th grade.

Dressed in traditional attire and skull painted faces, The TSU Dance Company entertained the audience with a performance of traditional Mexican dance, a common ritual during these celebrations.

Refreshments included authentic tamales, sweet bread, pastries, fruits, and flavorful auga frescas as a refreshing drink.

American civilization usually focuses on death as a dark and ominous event.

However, “The Day of the Dead” is about family, love, embracing relationships and memories of the ones who have moved on.

Dr. Esperanza, a history professor at TSU, explained that Dia de los Muertos is needed to give a positive outlook on Latino culture.

“We live in period of massive intolerance… a period of tremendous Latino-hating with our televisions and newspapers filling our heads with stories of drug cartels, drug rumors, illegal immigrants, and south of the border terrorist,” Dr. Esperanza said.

In conclusion, Dr. Esperanze explained how the celebration of “Dia de los Muertos” could help to bridge the gap between Latinos and differing cultures.

“[Dia de los Muertos] can help create cultural understanding,” Dr. Esperanza said.

“Therefore to a stronger sense of community and nationality, it is in celebrating these kind of events when we realize that we are more similar than dissimilar.”

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Cover Story District D candidates encourage student voting during NAACP’s Forum D

BY TONY MONK Contributing Writer

Candidates of the Houston City Council District D gathered at Texas Southern University to state their platforms of means to better the city and to encourage student voting.

Political platforms were presented as candidates Dwight Boykins, Larry McKenzie, Travis McGee, Keith Caldwell, Georgia Provost, Assata Richards, Christina Sanders, and Anthony Robinson gave their ideas for the city, and reasons for why they would be the best fit as the representative for District D.

Innovative ideas were delivered to potential voters to better change the city of Houston.

Between decreasing crime, fixing the streets, and economic development, each candidate gave their thoughts on what they would do for the city of Houston.

“Help is on the way,” Dwight Boykins said.

During his presentation, Boykins stated his case of what can be done to insure that TSU students are employed.

He also mentioned how he feels that “young people should invest their money into the land of the District D area” and how he could be used as leverage to assist students with job placement opportunities.

Christina Sanders, a TSU and Gamma Psi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. alumnae, and current university professor, stated in her platform that District D needs “real money” to help fund the problems in the area.

Sanders believes that residents of Houston should “equip themselves accordingly”

because times are changing.

Candidate Larry McKenzie noted that there was a land graph of the community, and also encourages people to invest their money into District D lands.

McKenzie’s closing statement: “I’m not a politician, I’m just like you,” sent the crowd into overdrive as they could easily relate to his sentiments.

The subject of crime was brought up numerous times throughout the forum, as many of the candidates had there own ideas on how to decrease the amount of crime.

TSU and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. alumna, Lana Edwards, said she wants to bring more police to the area, as well as partner with them in the process of lowering crime.

“Crime will be my priority,” Edwards said.

Another subject at the forum was education, as the candidates had strong thoughts about students and how well they perform in school.

Georgia Provost, a political figure who has been fighting for the city of Houston and Texas Southern University for 54 years, gave her opinion on her feelings towards students not speaking up in order to get money funded for their university.

“Get off your behinds and tell them [that] you want some money,” Provost said.

According to Assata Richards, “District D has the 3rd lowest graduation rate.”

This statistic asserts that there is no help being put forth between students and the school.

Candidates also said that they wanted there to be less testing and more teaching in the schools, putting less stress on the students who constantly face exams.

All of the candidates strongly encouraged all attendees to vote, so that their votes could greatly help the district as a whole.

They also stressed that the importance of TSU students getting their votes across, so that whoever the representative for District D is, can begin to get the ball rolling.

“Get a voice, and be active in voting,” Lana Edwards said.

In closing, lawyer and attorney, Ben Hall, gave his thoughts on the importance of voting, as he knew there were enough students at TSU to influence the election.

“Don’t sleep on your vote,” Hall said to the students.

Many were pleased with the outcome of the event.

Among them was candidate Georgia Provost, who gave high regards to everyone in attendance.

Sophomore, Crystal Owens thought that the event was necessary and very informative.

“The forum opened people’s eyes and gave insight on each candidate,” Owens said.

The event host, junior, Freddie Voorhies, remarked on how pleased she was with the outcome of her first event.

“This event turned out great, it really helped people know who to vote for,” Voorhies said.

#TSUForumD Top Tweets

5

Life & Style “The Best Man” cast reunites for holiday sequel

BY SENORA HARRIS Life & Style Editor

15 years later, the much anticipated younger audiences. think when you fall in love with someone, chapter for characters you’re not falling in love with of “The Best Man” who they are, you’re falling in is finally explored in love with their soul. Souls are its sequel: “The Best colorless.”

Man Holiday”.

Like its predecessor,

When it “The Best Man Holiday” has a premiers in theatres predominantly African Amernationwide on Noican principal cast, a very vember 15, audiences uncommon element true for will no longer have most Hollywood films from to speculate about 15 years ago, as well as present mended or deterioday. rating friendships,

While Chestnut hopes happily ever afters, for the film’s commercial sucand wherever life has cess, he is content with what taken the group of he and the cast have contribfriends thus far. uted.

Prior to the

“This is definitely one beginning of producof the proudest moments,” tion, director MalChestnut said. “[Fifteen] years colm D. Lee proin Hollywood and still to be posed making “The able to make a film that you’re Best Man Holiday” proud of and be relevant in during a dinner with Hollywood really doesn’t happen.

L-R: Melissa De Sousa, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Morris Chestnut, the original ensemble cast, Monica Calhoun, Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Regina Hall, and Harold Perrineau. Even if the numbers don’t come out which includes Taye Diggs, to what we expect, I’m proud to be a Morris Chestnut, Sanaa Lathan, Terrence

However, Nia Long, who portrays Jorpart of this film and do the work that we did in Howard, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau, Monica dan, sees “The Best Man Holiday” as a perfect the movie.”

Calhoun, Regina Hall, and Melissa De Sousa. example of how art can imitate life.

Actor Morris Chestnut remembers everyone

“I’m experiencing some of this in my being completely open to pursuing a sequel. own life, and that’s what makes the movie

“We all loved working with each other special,” Long said. “It really does mirror the on the original,” Chestnut said. “He talked journey of life. From being fresh out of colabout where we would be in our lives x amount lege, starting your career, to being an adult, to of years later and what we would have to go getting married, to having children. Then [you through. Even at that point, we were all like see] some of the other things that happen in ‘Yeah, it would be great to get together and do life that may not be so pleasant. “ this again’.”

As the subject of love, sex,

Although its been more than a decade forgiveness, and trust are revisited in since production wrapped on the first film, Sa- the sequel, a new one is introduced: interracial naa Lathan, who plays Robyn, said that the cast dating. Jordan’s new love interest is a fellow was able to pick up where their characters left successful businessman named Brian (played off during their holiday vacations seamlessly.

by Eddie Cibrian), but just so happens to be

“The chemistry that we had in the first Caucasian. movie, that kind of magic is something that

Long sees Jordan and Brian’s relationyou can’t create,” Lathan said. “It’s either there ship as being more than skin deep, literally. or it’s not. It’s still there fifteen years later.”

“The fact that Brian’s character is not

But because of the great time lapse in African American is probably ten percent of between the films, some may be skeptical as to what makes Jordan uncomfortable when she whether or not the sequel can be relatable to brings him to meet the group,” Long said. “I

“The chemistry that we had in the first movie, that kind of magic is something that you can’t create, it’s either there, or it’s not.”

- Sanaa Lathan

Texas Southern University Excellence in Achievement

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THROUGH THE EYE

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ES OF OUR TIGERS 3.

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

1. Students came out on an early saturday morning to assist the SGA President in his restoration of the Tiger Walk.

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2. Tiana Humphrey scores a goal against the University of Arkansas Pine-Bluff.

3. Students listen intently as candidates from District D share their platform at the Forum D event.

4. Houston Housing Authority President & CEO Tory Gunsolley and volunteers pose by a tree they recently planted during Campus Sustainability Day. 5. This toddler poses for a picture before he continues to trickor-treat with the campus organizations in the student center.

6. The Ocean of Soul marching band during half-time at the game against the Southern University Jaguars.

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7. A student re-painting a tiger paw on the Tiger Walk during the Tiger Walk restoration event.

8. The Lady Tiger Volleyball team attends the costume party in the H&PE Arena as dead volleyball zombies.

9. A group of TSU students do the new #TxSU17 shuffle during the game against Southern.

10. Members of the TSU chapter of Collegiate 100 Women show off their faux-bruises to bring awarness to domestic violence.

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11. Children from the Third Ward community came to trickor-treat in the student center with the campus organizations for a fun and safe halloween night.

12. Members of the Gamma Psi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alapha Sorority, Inc. pose as they collect items to donate to families in need.

13. Members of the Beta Delta chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. pass out candy to the children of Third Ward during halloween.

Photos Courtesy of: Buck Bedia, Joedicy Simms and Cameron Butler.

8

Life & Style

Student creates first ever TSU comedy web series

BY SENORA HARRIS Life & Style Editor A new light has been shed on the nightmarish harmonious experience. put out a HBCU web series that actually deals realities of college residency through new web She feels that because of the bond she with real life college issues that all the students series, “My Roommate from Hell”. shared with her “naturally funny” cast memcould relate to. I believe that this show will

The show, which has been airing weekly bers, their work really paid off and shined inspire other writers at TSU to create comedy on Youtube since late October, is a comedy that through onscreen. shows dealing with college life on campus once follows what happens when level headed TSU

“We were laughing the whole time we I am gone.” student Janelle (played by Spivey feels that the show is a landmark alumna Alicia Stevens) gets for TSU students in the School of Comobnoxious Tyreke (played munication. by student Chantelle Lewis) She has high hopes for the show’s sucas a new roommate. cess.

The sole writer, “It’s a lot of students in this commudirector, and creator of nications department that have a lot of “My Roommate from Hell”, talent,” Spivey said. “Now we have more Derek Michael Parker, says resources to actually use our talent. I feel he and his friends’ own perlike it’s going to go big.” sonal hellish roommate ex “My Roommate from Hell” will not be periences are what inspired the only project Parker executes during his him during the show’s initial final semester at TSU. development.

He is currently working on a second

“Some of [my comedy web series, “Relationships Gone friends’] stories were reBad”, and a short film entitled “The Three ally funny to me, but there Accused”, both set to debut later this year. were other stories that were a little bit more serious,” Parker said.

“I wanted to create a funny series that dealt with roommate issues that all college students could relate to. I wanted to show how easy it is for two roommates L-R: Jai’lyn Spivey, Chantelle Lewis, Alicia Stevens and Derek Michael to argue over something so Parker. small and to show how the roommates try to settle their differences in a did it,” Stevens said. “That’s the greatest thing mature way as well.” about any project to me. When you have fun

After coming up with the idea of the doing something, and that spirit of discord is series, Parker assembled his principal cast, nowhere in the building, it’s a labor of love… If which consists of Stevens, Lewis, and student enjoy what you’re doing, your finished product Jai’Lyn Spivey. Spivey, who has previously is going to show that.” worked with Parker, revealed that she had no

Parker, who has had aspirations of reservations about accepting the role of playing becoming a filmmaker in Hollywood since he Melanie, Janelle’s best friend. was 16, hopes “My Roommate from Hell” not

“When he presented the script to me, only makes TSU students laugh, but inspires I was really down for it, “ Spivey said. “He’s a them as well. really good writer, really good director, [and a] “I always wanted the RTF students to really good producer. I have no problems when work together with the TSU Theatre Actors/ I’m working with him.”

Actresses to create shows that would entertain

During the shooting of the series, not only TSU students, but students at HBCU’s which began in August and ended in Sepall over the country,” Parker said. tember, Stevens remembers having quite the

“I wanted TSU to be the first school to

“I wanted to

create a funny series that dealt with roommate issues that all college students could relate to.” - Derek Michael Parker

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Sports sports updates

Women’s Volleyball clinch west division

It was senior night for the Lady Tigers and they wasted little time clinching the SWAC Western division regular season title, sweeping University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff 25-19, 25-22 and 25-22 on Friday night.

Robyn Shannon and Kali Fluke led the team with 15 kills while Jyra Chruchill had 32 assists.

The Lady Tigers have only two games left in the regular season, one on the road against UT-Pan Am and their final game will be against Prairie View at the HP&E on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.

Lady Tiger win clinches SWAC tourney bid

The Lady Tiger soccer team (4-12, 4-3) defeated UAPB 2-1, clinching a SWAC tournament berth.

Tiana Humphrey tied the game at 1 with a goal in the 24th minute and Makayla Johnson knocked in a corner kick delivered by Gabriella Perales in the 41st minute.

The SWAC tournament will be held here in Houston Nov. 7-10, location to be announced.

Lady Tiger Bowling takes second in first tourney of season

The TSU Lady Tigers bowling team played hosted and took second place in the first tournament of the season this past weekend. The three-team tournament also featured Alabama State and Louisiana Tech.

In the first set, the Lady Tigers won, with a score of 868. In the second set, Texas Southern placed second with a score of 753.

TSU totaled a score of 853 and in the third round and in the final the Lady Tigers tallied 729 pins.

For the final round the Lady Tigers pin count was 729. They ended the tournament with an impressive 3,203 total pin count while earning a second place overall finish.

The Lady Tigers will have a few days off before returning to the lanes on November 15th at the Hornet Classic in Montgomery, Alabama.

Texas Southern still experiencing growing pains

BY BUCK BEDIA Sports Editor

The young Texas Southern team (2-7) lost a tough battle against SWAC West Division leaders Southern University (5-4, 5-2) on Friday night 31-24.

After the Tigers got on the board with a 22-yard field goal by Eric Medina late in the first quarter, Southern answered right back with a touchdown.

Then things got a little sloppy for the Tigers when Daveonn Porter, who left the game early with an injury, fumbled the ball deep into Tiger territory.

Southern capitalized with the short field and turned it into 7 points.

On the ensuing possession, junior quarterback, Jamal Small threw a pick-6 on the very first play of the drive putting the Tigers down 21-3 early in the 2nd quarter.

Before the end of the half, Homer Causey broke loose for a 43-yard touchdown run, making the score 21-10 at the halfway point, giving the Tiger fans some signs of life.

Causey finished the game with 154 yards passing, 120 yards on the ground and 3 touchdowns, two rushing and one in the air.

“Southern did not do anything to win this football game, we control penalties, we control turnovers, dropped balls, we just gave them extra opportunities,” Asberry said in his postgame interview. “We are a young football team, we are growing, and you have these problems when you are growing.”

Texas Southern hung in there in the stat sheet, nearly matching Southern in all offensive categories, but penalties, 10 for 110 yards and points off turnovers 14 for Southern and zero for TSU did the Tigers in.

Defensive standouts for the game were Brandon Thomas who led the team with 13 tackles and an interception. Demetrius Johnson who had 7 tackles and an interception as well, and Remond Silas who added 6 tackles including two for a loss and one sack.

“We knew they could score points, our defense held on and held on, but penalties and turnovers really hurt us,” Asberry said.

Both teams struggled to move the ball early in the second half when the rain came,

and in the 4th quarter Causey once again, ran for a touchdown from 11 yards out.

Shortly after, Southern scored a 38 yard-field goal, making the score 31-17, leaving little time for a Tiger rally.

The Tigers fought hard to the end as Causey connected with Dedric Shipman on a 4-yard TD pass which made it 31-24 with just over one minute to play.

The Tigers made one last attempt to get the ball back with an onside kick but failed to convert as Tigers fans witnessed another game slip away.

Next up for the Tigers is Mississippi Valley State in Itta Betta, MS on Saturday before the Tigers final game at home against Howard University on November 16th at BBVA Compass Stadium.

“I don’t think it will be tough for us to get ready for Mississippi Valley, these guys have faith and believe in one another, we will learn from this, and be prepared for next week,” Asberry concluded.

Quarterback, Homer Causey battling the elements during the game against Southern.

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Opinion Journalism: Power and Consquence The tweets that ignited the controversy:

BY LINDSAY GARY Staff Writer

A journalist’s first obligation is to tell the truth.

Needless to say, there are instances when journalists are ridiculed for failing to report the truth or, ironically, for reporting the truth.

The latter occurred at Grambling State University when opinion editor of The Gramblinite, the university’s student newspaper, Kimberly Monroe, was suspended, and online editor, David Lankster, was terminated.

Lankster claims he was fired from his job for tweeting pictures of the school’s poor facilities. In one tweet he stated, “Here is Brown Hall, where a restroom roof collapsed leaving pipe’s exposed. Reports made, yet no repairs.”

Monroe was suspended for two weeks for organizing a rally that called attention to the student’s grievances including outdated and unsafe facilities, a scarcity of professors, and the failure of administrators in tackling some of these issues.

Journalism is necessary because it brings awareness to issues and events. It is the expression and voice of the people and as long as the writing is not false, in no way should it ever be censored.

It is a vital part of a free society. Indeed, journalism has impacted the course of historical events including the reformation of the food and drug industries, the awareness of war atrocities, and the establishment of an antilynching bill.

After having been an opinion writer for almost four years, I have found two things to be true: first, you will almost always make someone uncomfortable or angry and secondly, these people are usually responsible for something that they do not want the public to have knowledge of.

Fear should not prevent journalists from fulfilling their duties; they should be fully aware of their power and prepared for the consequences of writing and reporting.

What happened at GSU is unacceptable.

Instead of condemning the students for reporting the truth and trying to improve the university, administrators should be doing everything possible to make the campus suitable for students so their academic and extracurricular needs can be efficiently met.

Governmental entities cannot and should not use their authority to censor or penalize students for expressing their opinions or journalists for their choice of content.

Fortunately, the decisions to terminate and suspend Lankster and Monroe respectively were overturned.

However, one can only wonder whether these decisions would have been upheld had other parties not intervened.

In spite of this, the students of GSU set an astounding example for the nation as a whole.

Journalists have responsibility to the truth, citizens and students alike have the right to freely express their opinions, and the government has the task of protecting these rights

“Journalists and students should not shy away from expression but instead, courageously and dutifully stand up against wrongdoing through their voices.” - Lindsay Gary

Opinion

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Joe Campos Torres: The fight for justice continues

BY LINDSAY GARY Staff Writer

Imagine your older brother, think about you how much you look up to him.

How he protected you on the playground in elementary school and how his playful nature always seems to make you smile when you are upset.

Now picture him brutally beaten, covered in algae-infested water, and murdered.

A gruesome, unimaginable picture for many, but the reality that Joe Campos Torres’s younger sister has been living with since 1977.

Even after enduring tremendous pain, she continues to fight to achieve justice for her.

Not only is there the pain of losing him but also, the unbearable irony that he had been brutally murdered by the entity that we as citizens are supposed to trust, the organization that is supposed to protect us, the Houston Police Department.

On Cinco de Mayo, 1977, Torres, a 23-year-old Mexican American and Vietnam War Veteran was arrested for disorderly conduct and taken to “The Hole” near Buffalo Bayou where six police officers proceeded in the unwarranted extrajudicial beating of Torres.

His body was then dumped into the bayou. He was found dead two days later.

Although the judge originally ordered the officers to serve one year in prison for a

felony misdemeanor and ten years for violating Torres’s constitutional rights, he then suspended the sentence and replaced it with five years’ probation and a $1 fine.

This sentencing not only angered the Hispanic American and African American communities in Houston but it resulted in an intense period of protests and riots, including a riot that took place nearly a year later in Houston’s Moody Park.

After realizing their demands for justice had fallen on deaf ears, protestors fired shots at the police and destroyed almost anything in their paths.

Police arrested nearly twenty-five people.

Texas Southern University’s Dr. Jessie Esparza, film writer and editor Carlos Calbillo, the College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences, History Department, History Association/Phi Alpha Theta, Hispanic Student Association, Multicultural Greek Council, Kappa Delta Chi, Sigma Lambda Beta, Sigma Lambda Gamma, and Omega Delta Phi collaborated for a viewing and discussion of Carlos Calbillo’s “The Case of Joe Campos Torres,” a documentary film about Torres’s unjust murder and the negotiations and protests it ignited.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, it shed light on the historical and ongoing Hispanic-American fight for equality in the

20 Questions

Houston area and brought awareness to local police brutality.

The event and documentary were extremely critical as it recognized and celebrated the contribution of Latinos to American history.

Furthermore, they called attention to a problem that still affects black and brown communities every day.

Both communities need to unite as they did in 1977 and 1978 to end this violence against people of color.

There should be no more Sean Bell’s or Joe Torres’s. The demise of police brutality is long overdue.

The tombstone of Joe Campos Torres.

1. So, who didn’t pay the university’s light bill?

2. Was it really necessary for the power to be out for an entire day?

3. Have administrators not heard of investing in generators?

4. Has anyone seen the rest of the Zetas?

5. Does UPC actually hold interviews for co-chair positions or is it a popularity contest?

6. How come when you ask UPC why an event was cancelled, they just ignore you?

7. Are students actually considering transferring because campus is so dry?

8. Why is the entire student body being punished for the actions of few?

9. If students actually have a 1.0 GPA, what is the university’s point keeping them enrolled?

10. Why not kick them out and actually run the university like a university instead of an elementary school?

11. When in history, has a 1.0 GPA went to a 2.5 over the course of three years?

12. Is that even possible?

13. Why does SGA only care about their titles instead of the actual student body?

14.Why does “the yard” feel like a prison yard?

DISCLAIMER: The questions are submitted 15. Is anyone else just ready to graduate? by the student body and are not the views of 16. Do alumni not give back to the university because TSU treats students so badly while enrolled?

The TSU Herald or Texas Southern University 17. Is being an athlete or student leader the key to getting treated with respect at TSU? as a whole. Feel free to bring your questions to 18. Why is hump-day every once in a blue moon? room 221 of the Student Center. Questions are 19. The yearbook is almost here, who’s excited to see it? printed at the discretion of The TSU Herald.

20. Are you going to attend the yearbook release party?

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

#TxSU20

12

What’s Happening on campus & around town

Monday - 11/4

Tuesday - 11/5

Wednesday - 11/6

Election Day

Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. presents: The Who, What, When, Where and How’s of Hazing 6 p.m.

TSU Tiger Room

UPC presents: Family Matters 7 p.m.

Tiger Room

Monday - 11/11

Veterans Day Tiger men and women cross contry meet at Houston Baptist

Tuesday - 11/12

Wednesday - 11/13 UPC presents: Reverse Hump Day 5 p.m.

W.O.W

Lady Tigers Volleyball vs. PVAMU 7 p.m.

H&PE Arena

Thursday - 11/7

Women’s Resource Center presents: The Great Gasby

Thursday - 11/14

The Weekend 11/9-11/10

Friday - 11/8

Friday - 11/15

UPC presents: International Day Around the World 6 p.m,

11/9TSU vs. Mississippi Valley 1 p.m.

Away

The Weekend 11/16-11/17 11/16TSU Tigers vs. Howard University 2 p.m.

BBVA Compass Stadium

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.

WANteD: Aspiring Professionals for the eNerGY INDUStrY Are you a young professional looking to break into or advance your career in the energy industry?

Total Energy USA invites you – the next generation of energy professionals – to join top industry experts and participate in the conversation around every facet of the energy industry.

This unique annual conference and expo covers all energy technologies – fossil fuels, nuclear and renewable – and offers valuable opportunities to connect with energy executives.

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Join us on November 20th for your complimentary conference access. register at www.totalenergyUSA.com/YoungPros with discount code: StUDeNt For more information, contact info@TotalEnergyUSA.com.

Business casual attire is required.

10/23/13 4:46 PM