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Vol 66 | Number 08
THE TSU HERALD | January 15, 2014
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page 4
CAMPUS NEWS page 3
BEHIND THE GAVEL: LEON SPENCER
LIFE & STYLE page 11
Who Runs The World?
TSU’S MARCHING BAND CONTINUES TO RECOVER FROM HAZING INCIDENT
SPORTS
GIRLS!
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TIGERS PULL OUT WIN IN TRIPLE OVERTIME AGAINST PRAIRIE VIEW PANTHERS
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OPINION GREEN POWER MOVEMENT
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Breaking up or taking a break: What’s the difference?
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Letter From The Editor
Greetings fellow Tigers! It is my pleasure to welcome you all back to campus and into this very exciting New Year and Spring 2014 semester. As the current Editor-in-Chief here at the TSU Herald, I have had the honor of working amongst some of the brightest scholars that the university has to offer and I must say, I have been very impressed by the amount of professionalism and leadership skills that my colleagues possess. I have never doubted the heights that we can soar to as a university but it wasn’t until I became Editor-in-Chief that I was able to learn new things about my university and see my campus in a new light. Here in the TSU Herald newspaper office we have worked tirelessly to deliver you all hard-hitting news that is both relevant and impacting to your ever-changing lives. Last semester, we covered a plethora of newsworthy events including Founders Day,
Homecoming week and all of the safety concerns that you all have expressed as a student body and unsurprisingly, we received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback. We strive to keep our readers both interested and entertained which is why your participation is both needed and appreciated. We do not shy away from any comments, concerns or suggestions that you may have because our main goal is always to increase student participation and readership for the publication that caters to the student body. Last year, we launched our official website: TheTSUHerald.com where you can view content online from your mobile devices, tablets or personal laptops. Although TSU is a relatively small university that lacks a strong newspaper culture, our newspaper staff works hard to publicize information to the student body in a timely manner while remaining accurate and up-todate during this technological age. One of the most controversial sections in the newspaper is the “20 Questions” column which includes questions submitted by the student body that are related to current campus events, gossip and occurrences.
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 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.
Though we do understand that students can get a little carried away with some of the questions they submit, we have no plans on doing away with the column at anytime in the near future. I do want to apologize to anyone who has been offended by any questions that we have printed and can only hope that you understand that there were no ill intentions from the TSU Herald staff or myself upon printing. With that being said, I am making my email available to the student body: tsu.heraldeditor@gmail.com. Please feel free to contact me at anytime, even if you simply wish to learn more about the paper. Remember that The TSU Herald caters to the interests of the student body and that this opportunity to voice your opinion as a student of the university is extremely important. Best regards and may your Spring 2014 semester be prosperous. Mecole’ Hayes Editor-in-Chief Tsu.heraldeditor@gmail.com
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Campus News Behind the gavel: Leon Spencer BY MARIEA BOYD Campus News Editor
Leon Spencer is Texas Southern University’s 2013- 2014 Student Government Association president. Born on July 13th, 1989 in Sunnyside, Texas, the senior biology major is a native Houstonian who had envisioned himself attending TSU since his teenage years. “Back then, TSU had more events opened to the public, everyone would go to the Miss TSU pageant to watch [the contestants] perform,” Spencer said. “Before the fall of 2011, TSU was more festive than it is now. Students from other schools like Jack Yates, which is located only a block away from campus would come over to enjoy the environment.” The excitement and community involvement of the university led Spencer to join Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. “I remember they [the omega’s] would have a dollar party at the Jessie Robison community center, it showed that they were about more than just making money,” Spencer said. “It was about being involved with the students and within the community and those are aspects that I’ve always admired.” Since becoming a member in the spring of 2009, Spencer has moved through the ranks and is now a national officer for the fraternity and is currently ranked number 6th amongst the fraternal members. “I do my job, I don’t feel like I’m better than the next person, I just saw an opportunity and I took it, so it’s humbling to say the least,” Spencer added. As the national officer Spencer oversees 33 percent of the fraternity’s undergraduate chapters, which include the southern, western and international districts. Spencer’s political career began in 2011 when he ran for senator of the Pan Hellenic Council under the Top Shelf Administration with then SGA President, Shekira Dennis.
Spencer’s parents were not affiliated with any campus organizations while in college so he gives credit to SGA for molding him and helping him accomplish his goals. “Being apart of SGA really opens your eyes and helps you realize that everything that you learn is universal and that it can be applicable to both business and politics, and should not be taken for granted,” Spencer said. Spencer’s ambition for more is what led him to run for 20132014 Student Government Association Presidency. He yearned to work amongst other like-minded individuals who had similar goals in mind. Spencer strives to “get the most out of everything” and not to “stop at a certain position when you can really excel.” During the first semester of his presidency, Spencer initiated Market Friday’s, which is a day designated for student and local vendors to set up booths on campus where they can publicize and sell products for a profit. Spencer plans to bring Market Friday’s back with full force for the spring semester with over a dozen vendors already committed to attending and other services that will cater the student body. Although Spencer is expected to graduate in May of this year, he still plans to leave his
mark on the university that he has grown to love. “Before I graduate, I plan to build a foundation that will decimate the disconnect between students and SGA officials,” Spencer said. “I want to raise the standards of SGA and help students understand what role SGA actually plays at the university and that is ethical and reliable and that they can actually take it seriously.”
“Before I graduate, I plan to build a foundation that will decimate the disconnect between students and SGA officials.” -Leon Spencer
SGA President, Leon Spencer and University President, Doctor John Rudley after a planning meeting.
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Cover Story Who runs the world? The top female leaders on campus BY MARIEA BOYD Campus News Editor With so much negativity surrounding women in the tabloids and news, young women with morals, integrity, and decorum can easily be forgotten. Though there are more than a dozen femaleleaders on the campus of Texas Southern University, there are four electric women who stand out for both their involvement on and off of campus. After a fun filled photo shoot the four ladies and I sat down to discuss their views on the different aspects of women in power. On the hit ABC television series Scandal, Kerry Washington’s character Olivia Pope is one of the most notorious women on Capitol Hill, but behind closed doors Pope is seen as an unstable, home wrecking cannon ball, who’s success only seems tangible because of the men in her life. After being asked how she felt about the way women are portrayed on television, Texas Southern University’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People president, Valerie Madison had this to say: “These days I just feel like women are
Jasmine Moore-Kyle: Classification: Junior Position: President of the Gamma Psi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Favorite Quote: “Insecurity rents the space it occupies but confidence owns the room and any room it steps into.” Azgraybebly Josland
more focused on being successful only enough to get a man that can take care of them instead of being their own heroes.” Like many women of the 21st century, Madison believes that relationships are a vital part of life but also that through hard work and self-determination all dreams are possible. Take Michelle Obama for instance, she is the wife of the most powerful man in the free world yet, she still finds the time to be her own kind of leader juggling her career as a lawyer, taking action through her community service initiatives, and being a mother. “It is really important for women to be in these type of positions because we need more female role models,” Chinyere Anugwom President of the Nu Alpha chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated said. Marshaun Williams, president of the university’s chapter of Collegiate 100 women, also felt that because women did not always have the opportunity to advance to executive positions that it is important for them pursue leadership roles in both the office and community.
During more distractions of discussions about the infamous Olivia Pope the women could not help but to applaud her for always coming out on top no matter what the circumstances were and how level-headed she remained while inevitably running into obstacles. Jasmine Moore-Kyle, President of the Gamma Psi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated knows a thing or two about remaining calm while running into obstacles while in a leadership position. “It has been tough juggling school, the presidency of my chapter as well as internships, but I remember it’s ok to ask for help,” Moorekyle said. “We all have the same goal, so working together is second nature.” After talking and laughing with these inspirational young women I realized that contrary to popular belief, women do have the guts and the knowledge to run the world and unsurprisingly, they just so happen to run the yard!
Marshaun Williams:
Valerie Madison:
Classification: Junior
Classification: Junior
Position: President of Collegiate 100 Women
Position: President of NAACP
Favorite Quote: “Learn, unlearm and relearn.” - Alvin Toffler
Favorite Quote: “It always seems impossible until it is done.” - Nelson Mandela
Girls Who Run The World!
Chinyere Anugwom: Classification: Senior Position: President of the Nu Alpha chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Favorite Quote: “Fight for whatever brings you joy.” Anonymous
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Campus News
Play “Crowns” to raise money for student scholarships and mentoring programs at Texas Southern University Courtesy of Office of Communications
The tone is set and excitement is building as Texas Southern University prepares to celebrate two observances in one; Black History Month and Women’s History month, with the presentation of a national stage play, CROWNS in TSU’s Sawyer Auditorium for two dates: Friday, February 28 and Saturday, March 1, 2014. Show times are 7:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively. The university is teaming up with community organizations and several divisions on campus for this celebration, including the Communications & Community Relations Office and Alumni Relations Office, KTSU-FM Radio, Office of Student Services, PG Entertainment of Atlanta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Womack Development Company; GP Industries are some of the early sponsors that have already signed on to lead this effort. The national stage play Crowns is produced by Regina Taylor, and is adapted from the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry. Crowns is set against a tapestry of music and dance that tells the story of a young African American girl named Yolanda who is stricken by tragedy. She relocates to the rural South to live with her church-going grandmother and is engulfed in stories about the magnificent women and how their distinctive hats illustrate their individual experiences. Through her relationship with these “hat queens,” Yolanda grows emotionally and experiences healing and self-realization. Key roles in the play will feature vocalists and actors/actresses from the Houston area. Organizers of this event are members of the Texas Southern HATS & TIES Committee. The acronym stands for Honoring Academically Talented Scholars…To Impact and Engage Students. This committee provides scholarships and mentorship opportunities for freshmen students at the university. Sponsorship opportunities that include product showcasing, prominent advertising placement in the official program and all other university literature, and a commercial on
KTSU-FM Radio are still available by contacting Eva Pickens at 713-313-4205. This exciting event, purposefully held during both Black History and Women’s History Month, promises to be a weekend to remember. Additional activities include a hat and tie judging contest, a vendor’s row, and a tabletop souvenir book will also be published in which individuals may participate and purchase. Those interested in being included in the tabletop souvenir book should contact Tilicia Johnson at Texas Southern by calling 713-313-7288. For full details and vendor registration forms visit our Facebook page.
For additional information about becoming a sponsor or a participant for this dynamic initiative to help raise money for student scholarships and mentoring programs, you may contact Eva Pickens at 713-313-4205 or pickensek@tsu.edu or Marcele Brooks at 713-313-7970 or brooksmd@tsu.edu. Ticket prices are $50 for VIP seating and parking, $35 general admission and $20 student tickets. There is a special 10 percent discount on ticket purchases now through January 31st. To purchase tickets, visit: https://tsu. thankyou4caring.org/crowns. Full details regarding “A TSU Crowns Weekend” are available at WWW.TSU.EDU.
Texas Southern University Excellence in Achievement
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THROUGH THE EYE
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ES OF OUR TIGERS 3.
2013 was a very productive year for the students at Texas Southern University! Here are some of our favorite moments:
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1. President Rudley showing off his moves on the dance floor during the President’s Gala. 2. Students volunteering with the Student Government Association to re-paint the Tiger Walk. 3. TSU Mascots, Tex and Rex showing off their Texas-styled moves on the field during a football game at BBVA Compass Stadium. 4. A member of the Delta Gamma chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. performing during the Step Wars Step Show. 5. A group of students caught taking a selfie by one of our photographers. 6. Members of the Lady Tiger Volleyball program dress as dead zombies for halloween 2013.
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7. Marinda Fruge, Miss TSU 2013-2014 looking very angelic and absolutely stunning during her Coronation Ball. 8. Members of the the Motion dance squad strike a pose during a football game at BBVA Compass Stadium. 9. Dr. Thomas Freeman speaking during an event at Texas Southern University. 10. Members of the Gamma Psi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. performing during the Step Wars Step Show.
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11. Students celebrating their heritage during Nigerian Independence Day. 12. Students creating bras to donate to women in need with UPC during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 13. Tigers pack out Sawyer Auditorium during homecoming week to view the acts in the Step Wars Step Show Competition.
Photos Courtesy of: Buck Bedia, Jerry Webb, Joedicy Simms, David Funchess and Cameron Butler
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Campus Crises: Balancing Safety, Privacy, Due Process and the Public’s Right to Know 28th Law & the Media Seminar
The program is co-sponsored by the Houston Bar Association, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Houston Press Club.
Saturday, January 25, 2014 • 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. • South Texas College of Law The 28th Law and the Media Seminar will explore the legal, ethical and professional issues faced by journalists, educational institutions, and affected students and families in the aftermath of school violence. The program will include perspectives of a former school board member and parent who endured a campus hostage-murder crisis, school communicators, a lawyer who focuses on school law, a juvenile court judge, veteran reporters and editors, a law school professor and a law enforcement communicator. The first panel – “Anatomy of a School Crisis” – will examine the practical realities of responding to and managing campus crises and real-world challenges for schools, the news media and families -- including competing demands
for information and resources. The second panel – “Immediacy, Accuracy and Privacy in the Social Media Era” – will offer legal, ethical and bestpractices guidance for journalists, school communicators and parents. Issues will include the emerging role of social media in a 24/7 news cycle and relevant laws, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Journalists, communication professionals, law students and journalism students attend at no charge. The cost for attorneys is $50 with advance reservations and includes 3.0 hours of MCLE credit, including 1 hour ethics credit. Door registration for attorneys is $55, space permitting. Continental breakfast is included. See page 2 for agenda and bios.
REGISTRATION FORM Saturday, January 25, 2014 • 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
South Texas College of Law, Fred Parks Law Library, 1303 San Jacinto, 6th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002 ____________________________________________________________ Name
___________________________________________________________ Firm/Organization
____________________________________________________________ Address
___________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip
____________________________________________________________ Phone Number
___________________________________________________________ Email
Please check the area of media in which you are involved o Newspaper
o Television
o Attorney - State Bar No. ___________________
o Radio
o Public Relations
o Student - School___________________________
o Magazine
o Internet Media
o Other_____________________________________
Send registration to the Houston Bar Association, 1001 Fannin, Suite 1300, Houston, Texas 77002 or call (713) 759-1133 for more information. Members of the media and students may email form to TaraS@hba.org or fax to (713) 759-1710. There is no charge for this seminar for members of the media, communication professionals, journalism students and law students. Registration fee for attorneys: $50.00 in advance; $55.00 at the door (space permitting) 3.0 hours MCLE credit, including 1.0 hour ethics credit. Make checks payable to HBA. Note: Pre-registration must be received at the HBA office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2014.
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Life & Style
Tattooed eyebrows fail to leave positive impression on students BY SENORA HARRIS Life & Style Editor While there are countless ways to alter the appearance, students are not too keen on a certain practice: tattooing eyebrows. While the art of cosmetic tattooing is an old practice that can be traced back to Ancient Egypt, it has been recently modernized for those wanting a new and different set of eyebrows. Celebrities have embraced the alternative option to change the look of their eyebrows, which includes tennis player Serena Williams and actress Meagan Good. Despite their growing popularity, TSU students don’t see the beauty in cosmetically tattooed eyebrows. Freshman Jennifer Nwosu was raised in a household where tattoos were seen as unattractive, which she still believes to be true today. “I personally don’t like them,” Nwosu said. “My mom implanted this whole thing in my head that tattoos are just horrible. I just think that they’re disgusting.” Pre-pharmacy major Olayemi Odina showed disdain at the mention of tattooed eyebrows. Odina supposes that there is no valid reason for doing the procedure. “I think they’re stupid and ratchet,” Odina said. While sophomore Shauna Briggs has adorned her own body with some tattoos, she is still not a fan of cosmetic tattoos. Briggs described the look of tattooed eyebrows to be “preposterous”, venturing too far on the cartoonish side. “I’m for tattoos,” Briggs said. “I love tattoos. But if you don’t need to tattoo your eyebrows, don’t do it. If you don’t feel like doing them, I understand as well.” Connie Pearson, a medical esthetician who specializes in cosmetic tattooing, believes the wide set judgment of tattooed eyebrows is unfair. “There’s a wide misconception that it just looks unnatural,” Pearson said. “There are people that don’t realize how natural it can look. If people realize that they can achieve something beautiful, there would be more people doing it.” Pearson, owner of Permétika Intradermal Cosmetics in Houston, Texas has clientele
who come to her for cosmetically altered eyebrows for different reasons. This ranges from those who can’t grow eyebrows because of medical or hereditary issues, have skin problems, to repeat customers who desire to achieve differently shaped eyebrows. Pearson believes the look of less traditional and more trendy tattooed eyebrows are the biggest reason for its unappealing reputation to some. “There’s so much bad work out there,” Pearson said. “If you’re not able to get that dimension, it looks flat and unnatural. Most people are not able to create that, and that’s why it looks bad in my opinion.” Some students insisted that the procedure was too bizarre, and that a more attractive alternative would be to simply use an eyebrow pencil to fill in eyebrows, just as long as they are careful to keep it conventional. “As far as getting them drawn or filled in, I don’t really have a problem with it,” Briggs said. “I think that sometimes, people overdo it to where it looks crazy [and] foolish. It makes them look like a clown. But there’s some people who make it look so natural that you can’t even tell it’s been drawn on.”
“I love tattoos, but if you don’t need to tattoo your eyebrows, don’t do it.” Sophomore, Shauna Briggs
Actress Megan Good photographed with recent tattooed eyebrow application. photo courtesy: glamourmagazine.com
Tennis Star Serena Williams photographed with recent tattooed eyebrow application. photo courtesy: bet.com
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Life & Style TSU’s marching band continues to recover from hazing incident BY SENORA HARRIS Life & Style Editor
A little over a year after ten band members were publicly suspended for hazing, the “Ocean of Soul” is still trying to march forward. TSU’s marching band garnered some national attention in September 2012 when juniors and seniors of the trumpet section were found guilty of paddling their new freshmen members off campus. In retrospect, band director, Richard F. Lee, expressed remorse about the situation, which took him and his staff by surprise. “We didn’t know about it until we found out about it,” Lee said. “I’m sorry that it happened.” In response to the incident, Lee has since taken precautions in order to prevent the hazing from happening again. This includes having RA’s present in their dorms, two seminars in which Houston’s police department lectured new and veteran band members about hazing at the beginning of band camp this past summer, and a special email account that allows students to anonymously report activities that are not in accordance with band rules. When news first broke of the hazing incident, it almost discouraged freshman and color guard team member, Kendra Romeo, from joining the band. “I was kind of scared,” Romeo said. “I was like ‘Oh no, I don’t think I want to do this anymore.’ I had my doubts.” But after being reassured by band and student body members that hazing isn’t an ongoing occurrence, Romeo decided to join. Now in her second semester with the band, she says that it feels very much like an actual family with the occasional issues. “We all have jokes, we all have laughs,” Romeo said. “Sometimes it gets taken a little bit far. But [when] someone gets a little bit hurt, you have to go back and fix it.” On the other hand, freshman Tache Antoine wasn’t fearful of joining the flag team because of her love of twirling. She viewed the hazing situation as a case in which responsibility should have been taken on both sides. “I really don’t think it should happen, but at the same time, a person getting
hazed can always say no,” Antoine said. “It’s a choice kind of… They chose to be there when it happened. They didn’t have to be there.” Should there be anymore hazing taking place, Romeo has no doubt that she would immediately remove herself from the band. “If it came up again, I would be very disappointed in the people that we call our brothers and sisters,” Romeo said. “As far as the older people in the band go, we [freshmen] look up to them.” But to prevent history from repeating itself, Lee is promising to take swift action against any perpetrators. “It’s something that we don’t tolerate,” Lee said. “As soon as we find out about anything, or if anything occurs, we investigate or have it investigated. We [will] take care of and resolve that issue.” While the hazing incident may have initially sparked a negative reputation, there are still supporters of the band at present. There is a line up of invitations for the band to perform elsewhere over the next couple of months.
This includes Houston’s MLK Day parade, and the halftime shows for the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks.
“It’s something that we don’t tolerate, as soon as we find out about anything or if anything occurs, we investigate or have it investigated.” - Band Director, Richard F. Lee
Members of the Ocean of Soul Marching Band back in full force for the 2013-2014 academic school year.
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Sports
Tigers pull out win in triple overtime against Prairie View Panthers BY Buck Bedia Sports Editor
Over the winter break the men’s basketball program faced a tough non-conference schedule losing to the likes of the Miami Hurricanes, the Stanford Cardinals, and California State University but notched victories against both Howard and Temple University. The Temple game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was a homecoming for big man Aaric Murray, who shined in front of his home crowd scoring 48 points, the highest scoring performance this year in Division I basketball. Free throws by Madarious Gibbs iced the game but it nearly wasn’t enough when the put back on the final shot by Temple did not beat the clock and was waived off giving the Tigers a 90-89 victory. The Battle for the SWAC has began! TSU (6-9, 2-1) started conference play at home winning two out of three games including a wild 87-83, triple overtime win against the Prairie View Panthers (3-12, 1-2) on Saturday. Tiger fans packed into the HP&E Arena but no one had a clue what the two rivals had in store for them. Coach Mike Davis was pleased with the way his team battled. “It showed a lot of character for our guys,” Coach Davis said. “To bounce back and go three overtimes and win the game, tonight
was a big one for us.” Senior guard, D’Aris Scarver led all scorers with 26 points and three others scored in double-digits including Madarious Gibbs who had 12 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. “He (Scarver) is a really good basketball player and for Madarious to play all 55 minutes, it says a lot about him as well,” Davis said. The Tigers went into the half up 34-30 but there was more game to be played, a lot more. The two teams traded blows in the second half and with three seconds on the clock Aaron Clayborn came up with a huge block to keep the game locked at 58 sending it into the first overtime. In the first overtime, TSU had gone up by seven points with 12 ticks on the clock but PV didn’t give up. With the help from a technical foul on the fans and some timely three pointers, Prairie View managed to tie the game on a last second three from John Brisco. forcing a second OT. The 2nd OT, TSU led by as many as four points, but the long ball kept Prairie View in the game once again, and allowed them to tie the game at the free throw line by the end of the 2nd extra frame. In the 3rd overtime, Scarver and Gibbs helped TSU push past and stay ahead of the
Panthers for good. The duo’s aggressive play helped them get to the free throw line and seal the game. “I’m glad I was able to help the team win, we stuck together, fought hard and got a huge win against our rival,” Scarver said.
The Tigers go on the road this weekend to face Grambling State University on Jan. 18th and Jackson State University on Monday Jan. 20th.
Lady Tigers hold off Prairie View Panthers for another win BY Buck Bedia Sports Editor
The Lady Tiger basketball team (5-9, 2-1) outlasted the PV Lady Panthers (1-12, 1-2) on Saturday in a close 63-59 contest in the H&PE Arena. TSU fell behind early as PV jumped out to a 9-1 lead to start the game, but the Lady Tigers clawed back to make it all square at the end half. Junior guard, Jazzmin Parker, sparked the Lady Tigers with 15 points and seven rebounds in the win against PV.
“Coach told us to stay poised and believe,” Parker said. “We were tired of losing close games and we had that little extra effort to get that “W”.” In the 2nd half, the two teams battled back and forth when Morgan Simmons, 9 points, five rebounds and 2 blocks, put the Lady Tigers up by five and the game out of reach by sinking two free throw shots. Also contributing on the hardwood was: Ashley Ferguson with 13 points and four
rebounds and Sarah Williams who added eight points. “We were hungry,” Simmons said. “We almost lost it late but we came together and pulled it out against our rivals.” The next home game for the Lady Tigers is on Jan. 25th against Mississippi Valley State at 3 p.m. in the H&PE Arena.
Opinion
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Breaking up or taking a break: What’s the real difference? BY Lenzi Causey Campus News Editor
Your man walks in. You have been arguing for weeks with no probable cause, your patience is wearing thin, and here you are arguing—again. This time is different; he goes on and complains about how things aren’t going right, and then he outs that he wants a break. You’ve heard your friends say they’ve been through this same situation, and maybe watched it on TV once or twice, but overall, you’re confused about the notion. So what does “taking a break” really mean? When I first heard news about Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade’s engagement, my first thoughts were positive—mostly about how lovely of a couple they are. I also read about how her future stepchildren played major roles in the proposal, and was in love with the fact that she gets her own little family by marrying him. In the coming weeks, I also discovered news about a new child coming into play—by a woman who is not Gabrielle. It has been said that the other woman was impregnated during a “break” in Wade and Union’s four-year relationship. “Taking a break”, by popular belief, is supposedly setting aside time in a relationship to be apart, and deciding on reconciling differences or burying them with your entire commitment. Breaking up, on the other hand, is a termination of the relationship as a whole, and as we know it, usually ends with the question: “Can we still be friends?” Depending on the couple and the terms, Wade’s situation may be accepted a little easier by some women. Sometimes, it is agreed that sex with other people is fair game during a break. Others beg to differ, being that the relationship is “pending”, but not completely over. Most times, though, no terms are established and whatever happens just… happens. Frank Coleman, a sophomore at Texas Southern, admits he has been at a point in a relationship where a break was needed. When asked if he believed there was a difference between that and breaking up, he said, “I think there’s a difference. Taking a break
is taking time to think about if it’s a relationship that you really want. Breaking up is saying it’s over and there’s no chance you will get back together.” His thoughts pretty much correlate with popular belief. On the other hand, LaDiamond Blueford, also a sophomore, doesn’t care to agree. “Taking a break is a setup,” Blueford said. She elaborated on what it means (to her) by saying: “It honestly means that as of now we are not together until further notice,” and how she doubts that either party ever really wants to just take a break. “However, some people honestly mean they just need a ‘break’, then eventually come back into the relationship. [I understand that] a break is supposed to be for the mates to give each other space and think about what it is they need to fix, but I also know it is not so they can spend time having sex with other people.” As far as the celebrity couple goes, Union isn’t going anywhere, and they seem to have recovered and made plans to continue life together as man and wife. Barely two months after the birth of the secret love child, their current situation consists of a New Years’ celebrations in the Bahamas with close friends and smiling faces. I suppose that whether you and your significant other recover from taking a break (or not) is truly all based on who you are as individuals, and the terms of your agreement. It all comes down to this: Whether or not the time set apart is two days, two weeks or two months, eventually a person’s decision about being a relationship will begin to dawn on him or her and it will be up to them when and what will happen.
“I think there’s a difference. Taking a break is taking time to think about if it’s a relationship that you really want. Breaking up is saying it’s over and there’s no chance you will get back together.” Sophomore, Frank Coleman
Gabrielle Union flashes her engagement ring during the Christmas Game between the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers. photo courtesy: US Magazine
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade happily celebrating New Year’s Eve in the Bahamas with Wade’s teammate Chris Bosh and his wife Adrienne. photo courtesy: eonline.com
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Opinion Black Green Power Movement BY Lindsay Gary Staff Writer
The movement toward a greener America is gaining momentum—perhaps even more swiftly than eco-friendly environmentalism, the other green movement. Despite the Anslinger’s of the world, there is a growing support of “Mary Jane” across the fifty states with Colorado and Washington weeding the way. Twenty states have legalized the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes since the 1990s including California, Maine, and Alaska; furthermore, the prohibition of recreational marijuana use was officially ended in 2012 for Colorado and Washington. National attention was redirected to Colorado earlier this year when about $1 million were made in the first day of sales. These success stories are confirmation for proponents of legalized recreational and medical marijuana alike. They are also reminiscent of the United States before the 1930s. Largely absent of anti-marijuana sentiment, the US once benefitted from the diverse uses of cannabis. Hemp, the fiber from cannabis, was widely used for clothing, rope, and paper during the colonial era. Ironically, in addition to the laws that mandated the growth of the crop, the Declaration of Independence was written on paper made from hemp. Coupled with its industrial uses, its medical functions date back to ancient African, Asian, and Native American remedies. Early Americans even used it to treat stomach pain, dysentery, and severe cough while 19th and early 20th century doctors prescribed it for their ill patients. It is quite evident that marijuana has not always harbored a negative stigma. Although relatively new, the antimarijuana sentiment—primarily conducted by Harry Anslinger of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics in the 1930’s—is deeply engrained into the minds of many Americans and has left a long-lasting legacy in federal government. Anslinger successfully employed propaganda to distort the effects of marijuana use. A racist, Anslinger perpetuated stereotypes of blacks and Mexicans as marijuanaabusing criminals.
He wrote articles that accused high black men of impregnating white women and of Mexican immigrants of behaving aggressively. Consequently, the abolition of all marijuana was necessary because even industrial and therapeutic uses were too risky. With regards to the correlation between drugs and particular ethnic and racial groups, Harry Anslinger was to weed what Ronald Reagan was to crack. Not only did he foster a skewed, onesided image of marijuana as a hazardous drug, but he associated its supposed violent effects on behavior with black and brown men, a stereotype that continues to thrive today. Anslinger’s ideas ultimately led to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 which drastically diminished the trafficking of medical, industrial, and recreational marijuana. For decades, Anslinger’s work dominated governmental policies and prevented critical medical research. Three decades later, anti-marijuana sentiment would be challenged by American youth as recreational marijuana usage rose significantly. The 1960s both resulted in a procannabis generation and intensified the antimarijuana sentiment due to marijuana’s listing as a gateway to more harmful drugs like LSD and cocaine. The debate prevails as proponents of marijuana use argue that it is not as dangerous as legalized substances like tobacco and alcohol, it will decrease organized crime and free up administers of criminal justice so they can focus on more serious offenses, it can be used to treat fatal illnesses like cancer, and it can generate revenues for states. Opponents maintain that the drug will lead to increased automobile accidents, lead users to try other drugs and to the legalization of these drugs, and the negative effects on health such as those caused by second-hand smoke outweigh the positive effects. Even with cons in mind, states like New York, Arizona, and Texas (public support in our state is higher than the national average) are following Colorado’s lead by pushing for initiatives to legalize marijuana. It is time for Americans to eliminate their Anslinger-inspired sentiments and open
their minds to the benefits of cannabis. With age requirements, automobile restrictions, and other appropriate regulations, marijuana will rid itself of an obsolete and falsified stigma and prove to lift the nation above some of its medical and economic difficulties.
“Twenty states have legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes since the 1990s including California, Maine, and Alaska; furthermore, the prohibition of recreational marijuana use was officially ended in 2012 for Colorado and Washington.” - Lindsay Gary
Fun Hemp Facts • Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp. • Eco-friendly hemp can replace most toxic petrochemical products. • Hemp is the number one biomass producer on earth. • For the first 162 years of America’s existance, marijuana was legal and hemp was a common crop. • It is currently illegal to grow industrial hemp for food, oil, paper or fabric in the USA, but it is perfectly legal to export hemp to the U.S. and to process, consume and where it here. • For more than a century, hemp was legal tender to pay American taxes facts via hempfarm.org
Opinion
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20 Questions 1. Did anyone make any New Year’s Resoultions that they will actually keep? 2. Did any of them include losing weight? 3. Why does everyone make resolutions about weight lost but just keep getting fatter? 4. Who’s excited for the Spring semester? 5. Which Spring events are you looking forward to the most? 6. Spring Fest, Spring Elections, Greek Week, Tiger Choice Awards? 7. Which seniors will you be excited to see finally graduate? 8. Will the yard still be dead this semester or nah? 9. What is it going to take to get the yard back live? 10. Who do you think had the livest Founders Day? 11. Have you taken the Tiger Yearbook Survey already? 12. Did you feel some type of way about homecoming? 13. Well, are you going to apply to the Homecoming Steering Committee? 14. Has anyone found any good internships in Houston for the summer? 15. Why is it cold in Houston? 16. Is the weather going to keep acting bi-polar? 17. How do you feel about the transgendered restrooms at UH-D? 18. Do you think that would carry-over well at TSU? 19. Would you use a transgender restroom if it were available at TSU? 20. Who was that random guy that ran on the court during the black out game?
#TxSU20
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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.
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What’s Happening on campus & around town
Monday - 1/13
Tuesday - 1/14
Wednesday - 1/15
SEO Internship Info Session 6:00 p.m. -SSLC 237
Lecture by Dr. Terrence Roberts, Member of the Arkansa Little Rock Nine 7:30 p.m. 1500 Sunset Blvd. Houston, Tx 77005
Wednesday - 1/22
Thursday - 1/23
Happy Founders Day to the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated!
Classes Resume Happy Founders Day to the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated!
Thursday - 1/16
Friday - 1/17
Welcome Back Tigers!
Monday - 1/20
Tuesday - 1/21
Friday - 1/24
The Weekend 1/18-1/19
The Weekend 1/25-1/26
Martin Luther King, Jr. Houston Livestock Holiday Show and Rodeo Scholarship Luncheon a.m. School Closed 11:30 SSLC President’s Lounge
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.