The Virginia Statesman

Women’s Appreciation Month celebrates 8th year

Anjel-Ali Ormond Contributing Writer

It is well known that Women’s History Month takes place annually in March, but on the Virginia State campus, it is known as Women’s Appreciation Month. The university’s women hold several events throughout at the month - all with a focus on celebrating and uplifting the women on campus.

While it may seem like VSU’s Women’s Appreciation Month events is common knowledge on campus, this year is only the 8th year of the program. When Women’s Appreciation Month, or WAM, first started on campus, it wasn’t a month of events - it was only a day.

“That’s what’s crazy about it, it was a two-hour day event,” said Cathleen Braxton, the founder of Women’s Appreciation Month and Director of Student Conduct at Virginia State University.

Braxton first thought of the idea of Women’s Appreciation Month two years after she arrived at the university.

“When I first arrived on campus, I was the violence prevention coordinator. I worked under the counseling center,” Braxton said. “So I was receiving all of these young ladies in my office, and all the conversations we had, and I was wondering, ‘What do y’all do other than be a part of your own organization?’ Everyone’s organizations are separate. I started researching what I could do to bring some kind of unity to the young ladies on campus, other than making them collab on programs. So I thought, wait, it’s Women’s History Month. [I realized that] we women need to appreciate each other on campus, so I changed the name to Women’s Appreciation Month.”

The first event ever for WAM was a two-hour event hosted by the 87th Miss Virginia State University Lauren Papillion and a Delta Sigma Theta member Nia. The event ended up going for three hours in Hunter-McDaniel, where students could buy from vendors and at-

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tend a panel.

“It was so hot in that room because it was so packed, and everyone enjoyed it,” Braxton said. “I got so much positive feedback from it. It was just women across campus - staff, faculty, studentsthat came to this particular event.”

The WAM celebrations went from first a three-hour program, to a weeklong, then a week and weekend event and so on, until the program turned into a month celebration.

“I just continued and continued, and each year I got more buy-in,” said Braxton. “Each year I got more students, to the point where now, my job is to just sit back and support the students. And that’s what I wanted to see –- the unity within the young ladies on this campus.”

To put on WAM each year, a committee is needed to plan, organize, and host events. This year’s WAM committee is made up of over 60 students, “all from different student organizations with women representation,” according to Braxton. Academic organizations are also involved. Every program hosted throughout WAM is student-led, except for the opening and closing event.

With each year’s program participation getting larger and larger, a challenge of what ideas should happen during WAM arises.

“The biggest challenge is that we can’t get everyone’s program done in the month of March,” Braxton said. “You have students that come in with a ton of opinions and ideas, but it’s only one month, and we can’t get them all in one month. Participation is never a challenge, it’s more of everyone wanting a specific event.”

Braxton believes that Women’s Appreciate Month is about the people who paved the way for her.

“Each person has paved the way for someone. My job is to continue to pave the way for those who are after me. That’s what Women’s Appreciation Month is about for me. I feel a need to share my tools that other women have given to me in the past. We lose if we don’t share our

Spring Fling events announced by Student Activities

Virginia State University Student Activities have announced the events for Spring Fling which takes place from April 9 - 15. A Sunday brunch will kick off the activities on the VA Hall Front Lawn from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. For more information visit @VSU_Student_Activities on Instagram.

tools. I have the need to give [students] what someone gave me, because at the end of the day, I want [you students] to be better than me.”

This year’s WAM schedule of events is jam-packed with activities for women students to do on campus. A talent show, generational panel, etiquette brunch, and so much more has already taken place this month. Students can still look forward to more events at the end of March, especially the Diner En Blanc event on March 31.

“It is an event from Paris,” Braxton

Spring Commencement set for May 13th

Virginia State University Spring 2023 Commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. in the VSU Multi-Purpose Center.

said. “You get everyone together, all wearing white, and have dinner at a long table. It’s going to be the first time happening on an HBCU campus. We drop the location two hours before the event, so you have no idea where you are going, but you know have on all white and that you must attend.”

To see the full schedule of WAM events, students can visit @ladiesofvsu on Instagram.

Multiple semester registration now available

Beginning on Monday, March 27, students will be able to register for multiple semesters at once using their student PINs. All students should make an appointment with their academic advisor to get the PINs and ask questions.

(Above) To put on WAM each year, a committee is needed to plan, organize, and host events. This year’s WAM committee is made up of over 60 students, “all from different student organizations with women representation,” according to Braxton.. (Below) The very first Women’s Appreciation Month event is celebrated eight years ago. Cathleen Braxton can be seen on the far left, while the 87th Miss VSU smiles on the bottom left. Top photo by Anjel-Ali Ormond. Bottom photo contributed by Cathleen Braxton.

BLK 82: Celebrating the NAACP Image Awards

On Feb 24, the VSU NAACP Image Awards took place. The awards were held in Anderson Auditorium for free from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

For the award show the theme was Harlem Nights and the set attire was no jeans, sneakers, or hoodies.

“We choose the theme Harlem Nights to highlight black luxury because that doesn’t get praised enough. When discussing black history we lack to acknowledge the Harlem Renaissance Era and how black luxury classes were at its prime in the 1920s. We wanted our show to showcase that on an extraordinary level,” said the 2022-2023 VSU NAACP President Christian Cozart.

The show’s hosts were Nikiya Walker, a senior, Criminal Justice major (also

serving as the 2022-2023 Miss NAACP) and the class of 2025’s influencer, Mass Communication major and Community Service Chair in the NAACP, Reche Taylor.

The 2022-2023 NAACP VSU Chapter President, Christian Cozart describes the night as, “One for the books and an instrumental night for Black 82.”

VSU’s social organizations that performed in the award show were Afri Royale, Abstrakt Entertainment, Caribbean Dance Crew, Imprint Incorporated, Urban Couture, and Sankofa Dance Theatre.

The night was full of entertainment and fancy outfits. The night’s presenters were Nia Winston, Jada Wells, Serenati Flowers, Chyna Prince, M’Kayla Kirton, Devin Styles, and Aniya Omopariola.

This year the show was also sponsored by the Director of Student Activities. To open the show, VSU Abstrakt Entertainment performer and VSU GC soprano, Samone Schell, opened the

show by performing the black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.

Taraji Brown, Char Small, and Semaj Archie served as the night’s photographers in different areas of Anderson. They took pictures at the top section, upon entrance, and downstairs.

In the middle of the show, the hosts held a giveaway giving away three gift cards to Target, Food Lion, and Walmart to the audience. The audience had to finish the lyric to a song on stage and if correct, they won the prize of their choice.

The first award of the night was Best Faculty/Staff Member Award and was given to Felicia Bishop. The second award was Student Activist of the Year and was awarded to Da’Sauni Singleton. Next up for the night, was NAACP member of the Year, presented to the amazing LyAsia Monroe, President of the VSU NABA chapter and Senior Business major. The Student Community Service of the Year Award was given to Priscilla Akpalu, a Senior Political Sci-

ence major and Treasurer of the T.A.P.S at VSU.

Later on in the show, Ciara Walton won Best Student Artist. And lastly, Imprint Co Ed Step Team won the best New Organization of the Year.

At the end of the show, Christian Cozart, came out and thanked everyone for coming.

“I couldn’t have done this without the help of everyone and thank you for the bottom of my heart for everything. Happy Black 82 and enjoy the rest of your night.”

The production crew was composed of Kaya Brady, Zy’Kia Williams, Sanaa James, Lanaya Beckham, Kaaleah Jones, Shea Jackson, Laurie-Ann Simpson, Jade Kimora, Ahmad Rattley, Roosevelt Byrd, Catherine Joseph, Aeriyae Johnson, Serenity Barbee, Kathlyn Brown, Stephanie Rouse, Christin Murphy, and more. It was truly an unforgettable night for many.

Issamar Kirby Staff Writer

Photos by Charnese Small.

Teams perform at HBCU National Speech, Debate Tournament

Debate and speech teams came from all over the country to perform at the annual HBCU National Speech and Debate tournament. Students from Howard, Texas Southern, Tennessee State, Wiley College, Morehouse, Hampton, Virginia Union, Rust College, Spelman College, and many more came to VSU’s campus from Feb. 24-26 to compete.

The tournament was held in four of Virginia State’s buildings: Hunter-Mcdaniels, Singleton Hall, Foster Hall, and the Multipurpose Center. Sunday night’s award banquet was held on the arena floor of the MPC.

“I will preface this by saying that this is my second time being able to attend an HBCU Nationals in person and I would say that my biggest takeaway is always just to see how much talent the HBCUs have in different use,” Howard University senior student Brandon Henry said. Each university brought its very best competitors to compete at the speech and debate tournament.

“It was great seeing all of the collegiate debaters polishing the skills

we teach them from a high school level,” Richmond Debate Institute Executive Director Phyl Demetriou said. “So seeing college debaters to me is really great because I see the next evolution of skills that I teach my high schoolers and middle schoolers.”

The tournament was divided into ten events that included IPDA Debate, NPDA Debate, After Dinner Speaking, Dramatic Interpre -

tation, Duo Interpretation, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Informative Speaking, Interviewing, Parliamentary Debate, Persuasive Speaking, Poetry Interpretation, Program Oral Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, and Slam Poetry.

“There are people with varying ranges of ability all over the U.S. and in all 107 HBCUs; it’s just an amazing takeaway,” Henry said. “There’s

so much talent out there within our communities.”

After all the ten events were finished competing, the points were tallied up for sweeps with Howard coming in first place with a score of 411.5 points. Following Howard, Tennessee State University came in second place, Texas Southern University came in third place, Wiley College came in fourth place, and Virginia State came in fifth place with a total of 115.5 points.

At the conclusion several VSU students brought home personal wins. Freshman John Poitier won fourth place in Informative Speaking and fifth place in Impromptu Speaking. Senior Lyasia Monroe won sixth place in the Interviewing category. Makayla Reese also won sixth place in the Slam Poetry category.

Demetriou believes that many of the speech and debate skills will be useful for any field that the students plan go into after they graduate.

“Many former debaters go into law, become professors, become consultants, and I will say the best engineers I know are debaters because they have the best ability to explain what their product is,” Demetriou said. “So debaters succeed at almost every field.”

Helaina Ballou Staff Writer

(Top) Virginia State University freshman John Poitier speaks at the HBCU National Speech & Debate Tournament in the semifinals. Poitier won fifth place in Impromptu Speaking and fourth in Informative Speaking. (Above) The Virginia State University Debate Team poses with their awards after taking home 1st place in the small school division.

WHERE DID SHE PERFORM?

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SCAN THE QR CODE TO GO TO HER WEBPAGE

https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/get_the_facts.html

Rock’s special keeps us stagnant

Devan Dion Hawes Staff Writer

On Mar. 4, around 10 p.m., Chris Rock’s newest Netflix special Selective Outrage aired on Netflix. My dad and I have been watching and dissecting Rock’s routines together since I was but a tot, so we were both excited to see what he had to say with his return to the stage.

Devan Dion Hawes

We both got comfortable in front of the television, turned to the special, then, Rock opened his routine with the notion of there being a “woke trap” to watch for. That alone left a sour taste in our mouths, and it was made clear what we could expect from the rest of the special — another comedian that feels silenced by the tyrannical bogeyman of cancel culture.

With this becoming a pattern among other established comedians, I began to ask myself why comedians are championing themselves on being “anti-woke” and how that affects public perception of the issues they comment on.

During the Netflix special, Rock spoke critically on the extent people will take to position themselves to be seen as victims. Victimhood, the way it’s talked about in the special, has a negative connotation and is implied to be weak. Rock even dubs it one of America’s most addictive drugs among others.

What I thought was going to be a profound criticism of how people with certain privileges use deceptive language to prop themselves up towards a facade of innocence turned out to be an observation lacking any nuance. He took a similar rough approach when talking about abortion, and relationships with women, relying on generalizations and misogynoir respectively. Topics like these, when talked about so crassly, worsen stigmas around them and negate conversations for substantial change.

Dave Chappelle, another accomplished comic, has also chimed in with his own observations in his 2021 Netflix special, The Closer. Most of his time on stage was spent talking about trans issues, cobbling different conflicting viewpoints in attempt to seem groundbreaking and insightful. His blatantly ignorant statements

like how queer movements progress faster than black movements create an “us vs. them” complex that’s, frankly, disheartening.

Chappelle’s failure to understand how different social categorizations often overlap is disappointing at its best and harmful at its worst. It’s especially disappointing when both Chappelle and Rock show that they understand the need for nuance in the same sets as these problematic jokes are cracked. The absence of consideration regarding these topics proves to be troubling for the livelihoods of the communities talked about.

In both these specials, the jokes that did and generally do get the loudest audience applause are made at the expense of its subjects, usually minority groups. These careless remarks are far too often embraced and exacerbated by conservative political pundits who make it their job to seem as “anti-woke” as possible.

The word “woke” has recently been co-opted by conservative circles, being used as a fill-in for descriptors like black, brown, disabled, queer, and/or woman, mocking the initial sentiment behind it. Fox News reporters like Tucker Carlson, and commentators for The Daily Wire like Ben Shapiro and Matt Walsh base their entire ideologies on mocking American minority groups for being subjected to systemic issues. They all explicitly say that “woke mobs” protesting for systemic change are threatening American lives and to resort to bearing arms to defend against them. Their collective platforms

encourage prejudiced, dehumanizing, and reactionary thought processes that thwart potential progress from being made. Hate crimes like the 2022 Colorado shooting of Club Q and the 2020 murder of Ahmaud Arbery can all easily be traced back to the talking points and ideas promoted by these public figures.

This opinion piece is not a knock to those who enjoy more controversial comedians. Edgy, experimental humor does have a home in the world of comedy. It always has had one. But even good edgy comedy is thoughtful in some capacity, and is regaled through an exaggerated, satirical lens.

The most thought-provoking comedy ridicules systems and their perceived normalcies rather than berating the people subject to said systems. Jokes and remarks on these peoples’ realities can be made without compromising their safety or invalidating lived experiences.

All the figures mentioned above, whether it be directly or indirectly, put forth ideas and notions that lead to acts of oppressive violence against America’s most vulnerable. These tragedies can only occur through prejudices agitated by “anti-woke” public figures. There is no possible way progress can be made when this rhetoric has a place to fester.

Without understanding and empathizing with the experiences of the people we claim to fight alongside, we as people will never truly be able move forward and will remain stagnant.

THEVIRGINIASTATESMAN

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