The Student Voice of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Since 1900
WWW.THEFAMUANONLINE.COM
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011
VOL. 114 ISSUE 17
President wants to reach out
Ammons said he wants to be more accessible to students Ashli Doss Staff Writer In between his many speaking engagements and meetings, President James Ammons still finds time to get his hair cut in the Student Union barbershop or eat in the Cafeteria to interact with the student body. Ammons said he thinks it’s important to reach out and hear the needs of his students. In July, the HBCU Digest
listed Dr. Ammons as one of the five most visible HBCU Presidents in America. “Dr. Ammons is very accessible to students and the campus community,” said Chief Communications Officer Sharon Saunders. “To tell FAMU’s story and raise funds for scholarships, Dr. Ammons must sometimes be away from the campus. He does, however, do a good job of balancing all of his commitments.” Although the president may
not hold office hours in the same sense as other faculty members, Ammons sets aside time to meet with students, faculty, and staff. “I set aside office hours a few days every month to meet with anyone in the university community,” said Ammons during his lunch break in the Cafeteria on Thursday. Last year, Ammons began an online forum on the university’s website to answer the concerns of FAMU students.
Ammons said his goal is to have an open, digital forum every fall and spring semester. Although Ammons said he wishes he could be available to hear everyone’s concerns about the university, his hectic schedule sometimes just doesn’t permit such accessibility. If he’s not meeting with elected officials or negotiating deals with potential investors, Ammons said he always looking for ways to connect with the student body.
But he said in the midst of pursuing a $50 million fundraising effort for FAMU and undertaking an extensive plan to restructure the university, sometimes time just doesn’t permit. “I’m only one person,” said Ammons. Second-year business administration student Alfred Henderson said he’s seen Ammons in cafeteria dining and town hall meetings. “It’s all about the students and the route they take to
reach the President. It’s very feasible, but sometimes it can be restricting,” said Henderson. Ammons said his philosophy on how students should be treated was shaped when he was 17, and attended FAMU in a program for students from low-income families. It was a 13 college curricular program that identified students who showed academic promise. “During the first year, all students were kept together Ammons 3
City offers safer option for local trick-or-treaters Latoya Chambliss Staff Writer
Natalie Sneed The Famuan Hundreds turned out at the 17th Annual Halloween Howl at the Tallahassee Junior Museum. Awards were given to attendees with the best costumes.
House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn will serve as the 2011 Florida A&M fall commencement speaker on Friday, Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. in the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center.
On Oct. 26, the City of Tallahassee released the results of an internal audit regarding compliance by local contractors with requirements of the City’s Minority Business Enterprise policy when providing services to the City. Following an extensive review of four local contracting companies, the City has recommended that two firms should pay fines. Allen’s Excavation has been fined $25,000 and M of Tallahassee has been fined $10,000.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dozens of states intend to apply for waivers that would free their schools from a federal requirement that they set aside hundreds of millions of dollars a year for after-school tutoring, a program many researchers say has been ineffective.
Lifestyles pg.4 Debbie Kirkland, a mother of two, has been fighting breast cancer for nearly 10 years, and winning. She is one of many Tallahassee residents for whom October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is so special.
Online edition Florida A&M journalism students got an up-close look at the White House Friday, meeting staffers and other government officials, many of whom were FAMU alumni. Visit www. thefamuanonline.com for photos and more.
In celebration of Halloween, the Walker-Ford Community Center is hosting “CarnEVIL” today. Don’t be fooled by the name, because the event is meant to be a fun night for kids. For more than 30 years, the center has hosted “CarnEVIL” for kids in the Tallahassee area to have a safe place to go trick-ortreating. It was created as an outlet for kids in the community who can’t go outside their neighborhood or door-todoor for candy. Safe Kids Worldwide, a non-profit organization advocating children’s safety, conducted a poll of parents’ Halloweenrelated fears. Their findings found widespread concern, with nearly 77 percent expressing
one or more specific concerns like traffic accidents and poisoning from tampered treats. “We want all kids to come out and have a fun time. We don’t want them or their parents to worry about safety or crime, so we are excited and preparing for a big turnout,” said Aeshah McQueen, assistant supervisor at Walker-Ford. There will be two shifts available throughout the day. From 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Bond Elementary and daycares in the surrounding neighborhood are looking to bring the younger kids to have their first trick-or-treat experience. The evening event is from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., where middle school-aged and older kids can attend. The staff is expecting at least Halloween 3
Local business owner sees surge in counterfeit bills Karl Etters Staff Writer The U.S. Secret Service’s North Florida field reports that less than one percent of the currency in circulation in Florida is counterfeit. But one Tallahassee business owner said he is preparing for an increase in the prevalence of fake bills in his store. “This time of year, it actually starts coming in a little bit more regularly,” said Pat Sosenko, general manager of Moe’s Southwest Grill on Tennessee Street, who has received counterfeit money twice already this fall.
Sosenko attributes the surge in fake money to people’s desperation during the holiday season. “We see it more in November, December and January,” he said. Jean Mitchell, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s North Florida field office said this isn’t a new issue for her office. “We do see peaks and valleys. A lot has to do with consumer spending and the economy,” said Mitchell. According to Mitchell, the Secret Service’s primary violation is counterfeiting and they are involved in the
prevention, detection and on-site investigations of the reported practice. “Twenty dollar bills are the most common note reproduced domestically and the easiest to pass,” said Mitchell. “Internationally it’s the $100 bill.” There are two main forms of producing counterfeit money: by traditional printing press, where higher denominations are printed on authentic, cloth money. The second is by digitally printing images on paper, which has become more popular and is easier to detect for those who handle money
directly on a regular basis. “The most prominent method of domestic counterfeiting is a computer-generated note,” said Mitchell. “If somebody is bleaching, they probably have more skill and are spending more time at it.” Sosenko’s Tennessee Street store received a $20 bill that was printed on paper, and a five-dollar bill just two weeks ago that was bleached, but he was unaware until he deposited the money at his bank. Banks are required to send fake notes directly to the Fake 3
Bill filed to protect children of undocumented parents Jannina Spates Staff Writer Rep. Reggie Fullwood D-Jacksonville, has filed House Bill 441, which would allow children of undocumented parents to pay lower in-state resident tuition costs. The “Resident Status for Tuition Purposes,” bill was filed on Friday, Oct.1 at 11:29
a.m., days after the state was sued by five students who are Florida residents but are charged out-of-state tuition because their parents are not legal residents. According to Fullwood, the bill was not filed as a result of the lawsuit. “We started working on this bill a couple of months back, when a constituent came into my office,” Fullwood said.
“He was not considered a Florida resident for tuition purposes because his parents are undocumented citizens, despite the fact he lived in Florida all his life.” The bill will help regulate how students will be classified as residents or non-residents. According to the Florida Statutes governing tuition rates, legal residence is defined by being a Florida resident for
at least 12 months before the student enters school. There is nothing in the statute that refers to the immigration status of parents. Students who are legal citizens but are children of illegal immigrants are required to pay out-of-state tuition, even if they have lived in Florida their entire life. Bill 3
WWW.THEFAMUANONLINE.COM FAMUANADS@GMAIL.COM
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011
Events and Announcements Announcements Classifieds
Ocotber 2011
kandihorne@yahoo.com.
The Social Work Association of Graduate Students (SWAGS) is currently in the process of collecting canned goods and non-perishable items to make baskets to hand out to those in need in the communities surrounding the Florida A&M University campus. There are bins placed at Tucker Hall on the 1st floor, in SBI Building on the 1st floor, the Social Work Building on the 3rd floor, Foote-Hilyer on the 1st floor, the Pharmacy Building and Coleman Library by the snack room. Items will be collected until Nov. 18, 2011.
The Fall 2011 Induction Ceremony of the Kappa Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society will be held Sunday, Nov. 6, at 4 p.m. in the FAMU Teleconference Center. The speaker is Ray Mobley, full professor and associate administrator of the FAMU Cooperative Extension Program. For additional information on Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, please contact Veronica Yon, AKM Advisor, at 850-412-7697 or email her at veronica.yon@famu.edu or Cortney Gould, AKM President, at 850-501-5003 (cortneygould18@yahoo.com).
November 2011 Walker-Ford Community Center and FAMU Elite Dance Squad present Tallahassee’s Rising Star: “Show N Tell” at the Walker Ford Community Center on Thursday, Nov. 3. The doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Donations are greatly appreciated. For more information, please call or text 352874-1186. The Health Care Management Student Association Presents: Enough Is Enough A Sexual Abuse Prevention Seminar, hosted by Joseph Ward and Rashida Marshall. The seminar will be held Friday, Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. in the Lewis-Beck Allied Health Building Room 107. For more information, contact Kandi Horne at 954-520-8476 or email
The 2011 Joint Student Research Forum presents “The Graduate Feeder Conference and the Graduate Recruitment Fair.” The event kicks off Monday, Nov. 7 with the Student Research Forum/ Poster Contests. On Nov. 8, the workshops on Graduate Education will be held. On Nov. 9, the Graduate Feeder Recruitment Fair Open will take place. The fair is open to undergraduates and graduate students from all disciplines. The recruitment fair will be held in School of Architecture atrium. For more information, contact Renee Reams at reneereams.famu@gmail.com.
Employment Bartenders Wanted!!! $250/day potential. No experience necessary. Training provided age 18+ okay. Call (800) 965-6520 ext. 189
General BOATWRIGHT BAIL BONDS “This Rattler Has Your Back” Specializing in Student Bonds Bonds for all Offenses Mobile Bonding Services Available
Corrections
To place an announcement in the Calendar, email your submission to famuancalendar@gmail.com at least two days prior to the desired publishing issue. All submissions must include the student organization along with information in paragraph format to include “who, what, when and where.” A contact number and e-mail address is required to correspond with the individual submitting announcements. If you do not desire that number to be published with the announcement, indicate so in your e-mailed submission and provide an alternate method for readers to obtain more information. If you do not follow the paragraph format then your submission will not be able to be published.
“President Backpedals on Dentistry Proposal,” an article featured in the Wednesday, Oct. 26, edition of The Famuan referred to Nova Southeastern University as a for-profit institution. The University is actually a not-forprofit institution.
WE ARE
AMERICA’S FRONTLINE
What’s your
reality? MOVIES8 Ta l l a h a s s e e
HeritagePlaza - 2810 Sharer Road • 850-671-8080 TUESDAYS - $2.00 • ALL OTHER SHOWS- $3.00
FREE
POPCORN
BYOB
MONDAY
– (Bring Your OwnBowl)
Midnight in Paris (PG-13) Fri - Mon 1-3-7:30 Sarah's Key (PG-13) Fri - Mon 5:10-9:35 Cars 2 (G) Fri - Mon 12-2:25-4:50-7:15 Captain America: The First Avenger (PG-13) P.M. Fri - Mon 9:40 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (PG-13) Fri - Mon 12:15-3:30-6:45-9:25 The Smurfs (PG) Fri - Mon 12:30-2:45-4:55-7:05-9:15
You’re just getting started. College is behind you now and you’re ready to take that next big step: A career. The real world is waiting for you. With the knowledge and skills you’ve gained from Florida A&M University, you can do anything.
Drive (R) Fri - Mon 12:05-2:20-4:35-6:55-9:20
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is looking
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (PG-13) Fri - Mon 12:20-2:40-5-7:20-9:45
borders and facilitate legitimate trade and travel.
Crazy, Stupid, Love. (PG-13) Fri - Mon 12:45-3:45-7-9:30
information technology (IT), trade, law, human
Colombiana (PG-13) Fri - Mon 12:10-2:35-5:05-7:25-9:45
few. Plus, the salary and benefits are tough to beat.
for people like you to help secure our nation’s Opportunities include positions in law enforcement, resources and congressional affairs, just to name a Check us out today.
No Films Showing Today Tue - Thu Monday thru Thursday showtime after 3pm College student Thursday $2 tickets with student ID.
Real People. Real Opportunities. CBP. www.cbpcareers.com/diversity
Visit us at www.movies8tallahassee.com Like us at www.facebook.com/movies8
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011
WWW.THEFAMUANONLINE.COM FAMUANNEWS@GMAIL.COM
3.news Fake Secret Service, where they are investigated and logged. Agents are dispatched to do field investigations if needed. According to Mitchell, restaurants, small grocery stores and gas stations have the highest risk of encountering counterfeit money because of the tendency of individuals to buy lower-priced items. Counterfeiters pass a fake note and take the genuine currency in return. Halloween 500 kids for just the morning shift. That night, they are expecting about 200 kids. Volunteers are needed to work both shifts, especially in the morning. McQueen said they also need candy donations, so the kids can have plenty to take home. The event will have staff
Ammons in the Benjamin Banneker building and that created a family-like environment,” said Ammons. “When we saw the President of the University we knew who he was.” He said that, in his role as Bill “The bill wouldn’t hurt colleges financially because we are talking about such a small group of people,” Fullwood said. “These are folks who, most times, aren’t going to college because they can’t afford it. Really, it’s an issue of fairness and equality. Folks who are born citizens of the U.S. should be treated as such.” HB 441 will allow a dependent child who is a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident or a legal alien to attend college and be classified as an in-state resident, even if the parents are undocumented citizens in the U.S. To achieve in-state resident status, however, the student must attend a Florida high school and for four consecutive years, enroll in an institution of higher education within 12 months after graduating and submit their transcript to the institution of higher education prior to enrolling.
U.S. Secret Service Mitchell said that, in Florida, larger cities are more prone to counterfeit manufacturing, although there is a large portion that comes from overseas from areas like Columbia and Peru, where the production of larger denominations is more common. Areas that
encounter higher numbers of other crimes will also be areas that harbor counterfeiters. “Jacksonville, relative to Miami, is going to be less,” said Mitchell According to the Secret Service, Tallahassee averages about $2,300 in confiscated counterfeit money a week, a low number compared with other cities in Florida like Jacksonville, that average between $8,000 - $12,000 a week in fake notes. Karl Etters famuannews@gmail.com
dressed in costumes, carnival games and a walk through “haunted house” area. “Each year the event expands and gets better. Our supervisor is retiring after 30 years of service,” said McQueen. “We are going out with a bang, building mazes and adding more rooms toward the back of the center. We want the CarnEVIL to be top notch
before he leaves.” Kids can dress up in their most creative costume for a chance to win prizes. To volunteer, make donations or for more information, call the Walker-Ford Community center at (850) 891-3970.
president, he wants the same for all university stakeholders. “I want to create that feeling that students and faculty and staff know the president and know that if there is an issue they can approach me and they can discuss it. That influenced my approach to administration,” Ammons said.
To view a video survey of FAMU students’ thoughts on the accessiblity of President James Ammons, visit thefamuanonline.com.
If approved, the bill will require the Florida Board of Governors to set regulations on how students will be classified for tuition purposes. The State Board of Education must subsequently adopt and abide by the rules. “I can see both sides of the issue. Allowing these citizens to pay in-state fees would benefit the campus because all colleges and universities are in need of young people to attend and graduate,” said James Earl Norman, a Spanish professor at Florida A&M. “After obtaining their degrees, they would then be able to contribute to the global economic marketplace. It would then allow them to contribute to the economy through the tax system, and that will completely address any financial breaks they may have received while attending college.” Chelsea Scott, a secondyear psychology student from Atlanta, said she agrees with
the bill and hopes it will enact a change. “Hopefully there will be a resolution. I feel that if a student has lived in a place long enough for what is defined as a permanent resident, they should be classified as a resident,” Scott said. “I don’t think the children should be penalized or pay high prices because their parents are illegal.” Although, Fullwood insists that the HB 441 is not a response to the lawsuit, he‘s certain that the bill will have positive outcomes for all Floridians. “My goal is simply to make college affordable for all United States citizens and Florida residents so they can get good jobs and help improve Florida’s economy,” Fullwood said. “But the timing is pretty good for the proposed bill and the lawsuit.”
Latoya Chambliss famuan.metro@gmail.com
Ashli Doss famuan.metro@gmail.com
Tallahassee’s housing market stable compared to rest of state Cheyenne McGregor Correspondent Tallahassee’s housing inventory parallels with sagging statewide trends. The city has more than 11 months of housing inventory, according to the Tallahassee Board Realtors Multiple Listing Service. The latest data released by Florida Realtors indicates that the state’s home sales have improved. Last month, the number of homes sold increased by roughly 10 percent with 15,036 homes sold statewide compared to 13,723 homes sold the same time last year. In Leon County 175 homes were sold in the month of September, making a total of 1,731 homes to be sold since January, according to a spreadsheet available on the Tallahassee Board of Realtors’ website. There are currently 2,052 active listings in Leon County, with a decrease of 110 since last year. Tallahassee Realtor Angie Avery said the city is still in a state of oversupply. Avery said the average sale price is 180,000 for residential homes. Prior to that, it was
AP Photo $194,000, with a decrease of about seven percent.” In comparison to other Florida housing markets, Casey Lauer of Lauer Real Estate Group said the reason Tallahassee has an 11-month housing inventory is because of supply and demand. According to Lauer, an oversupplied market indicates a low occupancy rate. When a market is oversupplied, a drop in selling prices usually follows. “Now is the best time to buy,” said Casey. “There are some incredible deals out there.” Fifteen of Florida’s metropolitan statistical areas reported higher existing home
sales in September. The number of existing homes sales is an indicator of the number and prices of existing single-family homes, co-ops and condo sales. It also weighs in on the level of demand in the real-estate market, according to the National Association of Realtors. Tallahassee had a 29 percent change in realtor-closed transactions in September 2011, compared to September 2010, according to Florida Realtors and the University of Florida Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies. Cheyenne McGregor famuan.metro@gmail.com
Jannina Spates famuan.metro@gmail.com
Send your poetry to
famuanlifestyles @gmail.com for the Lifestyles Poetry Corner
Famuan News
Should the children of undocumented parents be permitted to pay in-state tuition and fees?
A) Yes
B)No
C) Indifferent
WWW.THEFAMUANONLINE.COM FAMUANLIFESTYLES@GMAIL.COM
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011
4.lifestyles
Decade-long battle won Tallahassee native Debbie Kirkland has successfully battled breast cancer for ten years. Kirkland, 50, is a realtor who works 90100 hours a week. She is also a single mother of two daughters. Kirkland was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in 2001. But, she didn’t develop breast cancer from medical issues. Her form of breast cancer developed from an unlikely injury. “It’s kind of a strange story of how it happened,” said Kirkland. “I was
Britney Buchanan/Deputy Photo Editor Students listened to testimonies from survivors like Tallahassee native Debbie Kirkland, and guest speaker Dana Williams at the Student Government Association’s annual Pink Tie Ball.
Aaron Tillman Staff Writer From the pink balloons of awareness programs to emotionally appealing
testimonies, breast cancer’s cry was heard around the world for the month of October. There were those who joined to celebrate breast cancer survivors,
and others who honored the memorable live of casualties. Victims face adversity, but one survivor intends to break free from the grasp of breast cancer.
putting some putting some boxes i n a warehouse and I fell and hit my breast.”
A week later, she noticed a bruise the size of an acorn on the right side of her body by her breast. Kirkland mentioned the bruise to a nurse during her regular doctor’s appointment. After the nurse examined her breast, she urged Kirkland to get an X-ray. “They never did say ‘you had cancer,’ but, they acted very quickly,” said Kirkland. “I just thought it was some sort of a cyst.” Kirkland had no history of breast cancer in her family, and was expecting everything but what came next. “I went to have the biopsy and Dr. Deeb walks in the room and tells me that I had breast cancer,” said Kirkland. “I had no time to think, and no time to prepare for anything.” Kirkland was shocked as her life took a sharp turn. “It’s like a bomb, or an explosion, that goes off in your life,” said Kirkland. Deeb opted for a lumpectomy, which would
do less damage to Kirkland, and allow Deeb to remove the lump, and not the tissue. After the surgery, most of the lump was removed, but there was a small margin around the edge of the breast, that would send Kirkland back for a second surgery. Kirkland, who had 20 years of medical experience, wanted to know the procedure and her statistics, but said the oncologist was impersonal and unreliable. Dissatisfied, Kirkland located a new oncologist in Gainesville. The oncologist offered the proper procedure that could treat her stage II breast cancer. “At some point, I knew that I could die from this,” said Kirkland. “You do what you have to do to be preventative.” For the full profile on Kirkland’s battle with cancer and more photos of the “Pink Tie Ball,” visit www.thefamuanonline.com.
Aaron Tillman famuanlifestyles@gmail.com
Social drinking linked to alcoholism Rahsul Shaw Correspondent Going out on the weekend to a bar with friends to buy drinks before going to a club sounds like the ideal situation for a college student. But what happens when drinking stops becoming a weekend trend and becomes an everyday fad? Away from home, students often find themselves longing for a sense of connection with their peers. Most students want to be accepted on some level, and this comes at a cost. College students are put in situations that compromise their character, causing them to make errors in judgments Antwan Smith, a third-year business administration student, said he only drinks when he goes out with friends, but admits that he goes out often. “It’s never fun being the only sober one in the room,” said Smith. Drinking alcohol in the
college atmosphere has been costly to those who overindulge in the activity. Since 2009, 3,360,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 have driven under the influence of alcohol. More than 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 died from alcoholrelated unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes. Also, 31 percent of college students met criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse and 6 percent for a diagnosis of alcohol dependence in the past 12 months, according to the College Drinking Prevention Council. Cassandra Carter, a counselor for the Life Recovery Center, Inc., said social drinking could lead to alcoholism. “Students usually become regular drinkers,” Carter said. “It’s like a fly that got caught in a spider web.” Carter, who has a B.S in human service, said because college students are
surrounded by liquor stores within close proximity of campus, and attend parties and socials that distribute alcohol, they gradually begin to like the feeling of drinking. Peer pressure is also a contributing factor. “The students want to do what their peers do,” said Carter. “Students, based off their social circles, are likely to indulge in the same activities as them.” Carter said alcoholism is a disease that is broken up into two types. First is the dependent or functional alcoholic, which is a person who drinks alcohol because he or she feels the need to drink complete daily tasks. The second type is an abusive alcoholic or dysfunctional alcoholic, someone who doesn’t understand that the overconsumption of alcohol is physically and mentally damaging. College students usually fall into the second category, Carter said, because they are
new to drinking alcohol and usually do not know their consumption limit. Drinking has different affects based off the individual: some experience confidence, others insecurities. Cassandra Laws, a fourthyear English education student, said it’s best to surround yourself with people like you, especially if you’re a student experiencing college for the first time. “I think it’s possible to get addicted to anything that you do a lot,” said Laws. “I’m smart enough to know that I shouldn’t be around people who have addictive personalities. It is too easy to fall into something because the people you are around are into it.” For help or information, contact the Tallahassee branch of Alcoholics Anonymous at (850) 224-1818.
Rahsul Shaw famuanlifestyles@gmail.com
Keenan Doanes/Photo Editor College students who drink consistently are statistically more likely to become addicted to and abuse alcohol.
‘Pink party’ raises money for a cure
1.
“Candyman”
6. “The Strangers”
2.
“Saw II”
7. “Nightmare on Elm Street”
3.
“Jaws”
8. “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”
“...ooooooohhh is all I can say!” -Aaron Tillman
“...the fact that there are people in the world who would kidnaap people and do stuff like that. It was horrifying!” -Alisa Routh
“...that’s the reason to this day I have an irrational fear of sharks. -Jorge Rodriguez-Jimenez
4.
“Freddy Krueger”
“...you can’t escape him! This man kills people in their dreams.” -Jasmine Mitchell
5. “Scream”
“...maybe I should sleep with the light on and my eyes open.” -Anthony Bivins
“...this is too close to real life. This can really happen.” -Kiarra Hart
“...I never, ever need to watch another scary movie.” -Earlena Boswell
“...the fact that is was based off of a true story is what scares me the most.” -Kristin Broner
9. “Child Play”
“...I hate barbie dolls.” -Tamickqa Johnson
10. “Friday the 13th”
“...sleeping next to a bucket of water would be a safe move.” -Antwan Simmons
Britney Buchanan/Deputy Photo Editor Students partied with a purpose this weekend at FAMU’s Student Government Association’s annual Pink Tie Ball at Hotel Duval.
For full coverage from the event, including student reactions and a photo gallery, visit www. thefamuanonline.com.
WWW.THEFAMUANONLINE.COM
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011
FAMUANOPINIONS@GMAIL.COM
Experiences are life lessons
Roscoe Thompson Deputy Lifestyles Editor For as far back as I can remember, I’ve been interested
in the human psyche. I have developed a passion for studying individuals from all walks of life, and concluded that mostly everyone has an ultimate purpose in life. The problem: Many get so distracted with life’s various dilemmas that they eventually divert from their life’s path. Hence–– my new column. Every Monday, I want to give people the best advice when it comes to conquering life’s toughest and most emotional
situations. So many times we settle for a mere portion of what we are worth due to the lack of value we have in ourselves. We allow people and things to be the deciding factor to who we are inside, when we should be validating ourselves. Many of us have a flawed and corrupt mindset brought on by individuals who usually mean us no good. We get involved in relationships and allow people to treat us a
certain way just to say we’re in a relationship. We become bitter and hold lengthy grudges against individuals who have caused us harm when instead, we should learn how to forgive and let go of what was. Life teaches us so many things; both good and bad. It’s our job to learn from each experience and use it as a teaching tool for our empowerment. We all have questions. We
all have sought advice for our dilemmas and looked for answers. Whether it is advice on friendships, relationships, religion or self-empowerment. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about life. All information will be kept anonymous and will be answered to the best of my ability. Roscoe Thompson famuanopinions@gmail.com
Editor-in-Chief thefamuaneic@gmail.com Clarece Polke Managing & News Editor: famuan.metro@gmail.com Jason Lawrence Deputy News Editor: famuannews@gmail.com Jorge Rodriguez-Jimenez Opinions Editor: famuanopinions@gmail.com Angie Meus Deputy Opinions Editor: Kristin Broner
Pink Tie Ball highlights a noble cause
Kristin Broner Deputy Opinions Editor I put on my black dress with ruffles and my hot pink pumps. Pink lipstick, pink blush, pink eye shadow (but not too much) and my pink ribbon pin as I
headed to Hotel Duval Level 8 to enjoy a night of fun and remembrance for the Annual Pink Tie Ball Thursday night. As I entered the area where students, professionals and non-professionals were, I was in awe by the sight of immense chandeliers that hung over 10 tables draped in pink or white cloths. The aroma of chicken filled the air and teased the appetite of some. I have been to Hotel Duval Level 8 before, but on this night each decoration added something special to this event. As Diann Fitz-Williams of the
College of Pharmacy took to the podium, everyone listened as she gave her testimony of her battle with cancer. Williams was dolled-up in a light pink, two-piece suit embellished with small rhinestones. She told the audience she never asked God why this happened to her. Her story was moving and inspirational. I too have had a loved one battle cancer. It is not easy to watch someone you love struggle while knowing there is no way to help them. Williams said, “Here I am,” by artist Marvin Sapp was her theme song during her battle
with cancer. This song gave her continued strength to endure her fight for her life. This was my first time attending the Annual Pink Tie Ball so I was surprised that more than 100 people were in attendance. I enjoyed the event because all proceeds were donated to the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation. More than $1000 was raised. There were spoken word performances and a musical performance by a group WordLife, according to the program handed out at the ball.
Most of the students who were in attendance adorned themselves in pink. The family of a breast cancer survivor met SGA Vice President Troy Harris outside of the hotel and was invited to come and join in the festivities. I’ve attended several SGA events and don’t always feel as if they’re helpful, but the event was dynamic. If you have never been, attend next year and wear pink.
Lifestyles Editor: famuanlifestyles@gmail.com Winnie Moime Deputy Lifestyles Editor: Roscoe Thompson Sports Editor: famuansports@gmail.com Royal Shepherd Photo Editor: famuanphotography@gmail. com Keenan Doanes Deputy Photo Editor: Britney Buchanan Assistant Photo Editor: Alvin McBean Visuals Editor: jeffrey1.morris@yahoo.com Jeffrey Morris
Kristin Broner famuanopinions@gmail.com
Multimedia Editor famuanlive@gmail.com D.A. Robin PR Coordinator: famuancalendar@gmail.com Chakiara Tucker Program Coordinator: Valerie McEachin Adviser: andrew.skerritt@famu.edu Andrew Skerritt Fax 850.561.2570 Editor-in-Chief 850.561.2569 Secretary 850.599.3159 Newsroom 850.599.3011/ 561.2569 The Famuan, an Associated Collegiate Press Association non-daily finalist, is published on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters. The opinions do not reflect the administration, faculty or staff of the University. The editorials are the expressed opinions of the staff and columnists. The Famuan is funded partially by activities and services fees.
Britney Buchanan The Famuan At SGA’s Annual Pink Tie Ball, (left) members of Word Life perform old school and new school music, (top) Information about Breast Cancer was displayed to raise awareness, (above) third-year social work student Vernon Leftwich performs a poem titled “Dear Cancer.”
Brothas may call it jungle fever, but some sistahs say it’s selling out
Cheyenne McGregor Staff Writer Why do some black women have such a problem when black men date outside their race? Well, there are many branches on this tree. Historically, it can be traced back to how black males were constantly depicted as being lust-crazed over white women with the stereotype of
the “black brute.” It could be because of the hundreds of lynch mobs who murdered innocent black men after being wrongfully accused of raping or even looking at a white man’s daughter. So are black men perpetuating the stereotype by fulfilling some fantasy of tasting the forbidden fruit? This theory is not too farfetched. We see it all the time when successful black athletes add the attractive white woman to their arm among the checklist of other things that they equate with success, including the Rolls Royce and the big house with the red door. Maybe this is the black man’s way of sneaking back
into the master’s house, kicking him out and taking his daughter with him. I’ve actually heard some of my black male friends joke of how they plan to “get rich and get a white girl.” Is this the ultimate act of revenge against the white man in a world where black men are often made to feel powerless? On another branch, according to the U.S. Department of Justice there were 846,000 black men incarcerated in 2008. Black men make up 40.2 percent of all prison inmates. That’s about ten percent of the black male population in the U.S. aged 24-29. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, black women outnumber black males with
college degrees 3 to 1. When you look at these statistics, black women actually have more reason to date outside of the race than black men, but it is still not something you see as often. Why is that? Historically, black women have been more loyal when it comes to upholding the institution of the black family. Have we somehow scared away our own men to date outside of the race? Two stereotypes fit into this theory. One is the abrasive, loud, intimidating black woman and the other is that women of other races are more likely to put up with the black man’s stereotypical beliefs. Most black men can’t handle a black woman’s
natural tendency to speak our minds, or they can’t compete with our level of success. Most black women have at one point picked from one of these theories to justify rolling their eyes or sucking their teeth when a biracial couple walks by. I know I have. I believe that people have very little influence on love. However, it’s wrong to deliberately choose to date outside of the race. Any way people want to twist and turn the facts to justify why they choose to only date people outside of their race, I believe it comes from a place of racism and self-hatred. Cheyenne McGregor famuanopinions@gmail.com
WWW.THEFAMUANONLINE.COM FAMUANSPORTS@GMAIL.COM
MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011
Men take second place Brandon Lee Staff Writer
Keenan Doanes The Famuan The Florida A&M men’s cross country team took second place at the conference championships on Saturday.
If the Florida A&M Men’s crosscountry team was limited to one word to describe the conclusion of the 2011 Mid-Eastern Conference Championship, “storybook” would do it justice. Solidifying their goal, the men walked away from the MEAC Championship at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md., on Saturday with a feeling of accomplishment. The team garnered 54 points and a second-place finish to cap the season. Last year, the men earned 120 points and a fifth-place finish overall. The team’s performance during the championship demonstrated that adverse weather conditions were no difficulty. Despite temperatures in the mid-40s, constant rain and wind gusts, FAMU competed at a high level. It went head-to-head with three-time defending champion Norfolk State and trailed them by only 24 points in the end. “They did a heck of a job. They battled Norfolk State all the way through,” said head coach Wayne Angel said. “Overall, they accomplished their mission. They did what we all set out to do. They didn’t allow the weather or anybody stop them from accomplishing a toptwo finish. I’m so proud of those guys.”
Shuaib Winters (second, 25:35.93), Elias Chesire (fourth, 25:58.23) and Lamere Buchanan (11th, 26:55.95) each finished in the top-15, achieving All-MEAC honors in the process. Winters, last year’s individual champion and most outstanding athlete, said he fell short of his individual goal. He said the team made up for that and is proud of how it competed. “We were mentally prepared,” Winters said. “We came into the race knowing nothing but God could hold us back from this performance.” Winters lists this season as one of his better ones overall. “It was definitely one of my best seasons. I still feel that last year was my best season, but this year my teammates got to experience the same feelings I had,” he said. “Everyone back home has been supporting us and kept us in their prayers. I’m proud that we were able to come through for them this season.” Despite the team’s slow start at the beginning of the season, Angel said the team’s secondplace finish shows that it has perfected its goals. “I think this season was outstanding. We had to find our stride in the beginning because we are a young team,” Angel said. “But as the season progressed and we started focusing on what needed to be done, things turned our perfectly. It was storybook.”
Brandon Lee famuansports@gmail.com
Silver leaves women hungry Royal Shepherd Sports Editor The women’s cross country team held its goal of coming in no lower than third in any meet this season. Florida A&M took second place in the MidEastern Athletic Conference championship on Saturday. The team traveled to the campus of Maryland Eastern Shore in Prince Anne, Md., for the event and did not disappoint head coach, Darlene Moore. “I was impressed with the ladies performance. They trained hard all season long and it showed with how they competed,” Moore said. Moore said the ladies exceeded expectation, despite Mother Nature’s attempt to deter the team’s progress.
“The young ladies had to deal with tough competition and inclement weather. The temperatures reached 38 degrees, we saw wind up to 20 mph and it rained the entire race,” Moore said. “Through it all, the ladies went back and forth with the defending conference champions [Hampton University] and we came up just a little short of the title.” Leading the way for the team was sophomore Simone Durden, who finished third with a time of 19:08.89. Durden said the competition didn’t affect the team’s plan, let alone her own. “I felt like someone had to lead the team, even though we aren’t dependent on one person. It helps motivate the team to do better and I wasn’t afraid to take the challenge. I wanted the top
spot, but things will definitely change next year,” Durden said. “I’m happy with the girl’s overall performance. We did better than last year and next year we are going to take the crown.” Durden, along with teammates Nadine Mulvany (4th 19:09.58) and Chandelic Jackson (14th 19:45.10), earned All-MEAC honors for their performance in the tournament. Jackson said the victory will bring notice to the campus that the program is on the rise. “I thought it went well. The team improved a lot from last season. Everyone is pretty excited from what it could mean for the upcoming indoor and outdoor track,” Jackson said. “It was very encouraging to know that we are bringing something back to the university to let
other athletes and students know that our team is serious.” The team finished five points behind the Lady Pirates, who took the crown. Moore said the growth by the ladies this season will have major implications on next year’s outcome. “The main thing is the ladies were mentally prepared to endure all the obstacles that came their way. I knew they were physically prepared from how hard they worked all year long,” Moore said. “We are going to use that momentum to propel us to do much of the same for the upcoming track season and in next year’s cross country season.”
Royal Shepherd famuansports@gmail.com
Keenan Doanes The Famuan The women’s crosscountry finished second in the conference championship. They want to use that as motivation for track season.
Carroll keeps campus recreation moving forward Frank Peterman III Staff Writer
Special to The Famuan Bob Carroll has been with Campus Recreation for more than 30 years. He continues to help the program grow.
Robert Carroll Jr., director of campus recreation, is quietly one of the most influential people on campus. He took a weight room with a couple dumbbells and built the $12 million state-of-theart facility seen today. He is a graduate of Florida A&M with a degree in health and physical education. His father and all of his five siblings graduated from FAMU as well. His father worked for the university for 30 years. April will make his 30th year working for the university. When Carroll started working for FAMU in 1982, campus recreation consisted of a small weight room
with a few dumbbells. The Hansel E. Tookes Sr. student recreation center includes a 16,500 square foot exercise/ aerobics studio, a 700 square foot education classroom, indoor rock climbing wall, two indoor basketball/ multi-purpose courts, two racquetball courts, a juice bar and a wellness suite. The recreation center has several outdoor sports facilities, including: two sand volleyball courts, three basketball courts, two synthetic turf flag football fields, one soccer field, one baseball field, and a softball field. “Short of coach Tookes, Bob Carroll is campus rec,” said Henry Kirby, associate vice-president for student
affairs and dean of students. He has worked with Carroll for almost 30 years and is Carroll’s supervisor. “He (Carroll) is forever thinking of ways to improve campus recreation,” Kirby said. “Bob Carroll has an unlimited supply of energy.” Carroll convinced Kirby as well as Fred Humphries, to make campus recreation into its own department. Prior to that, campus recreation was a segment of student life. Carroll has also served as interim director of student activities. Joseph Ramsey, a physical education professor, has also worked with Carroll over the years. He said Carroll was determined to build a worldclass recreation center. “His original plan was to
create a bigger and better recreation center than the Leach center at Florida State University,” Ramsey said. Marvin Green, director of student activities, said Carroll has been like a mentor to him. He said the skills he learned from Carroll while working for campus recreation he still uses today. “I learned so many life lessons from Bob,” Green said. Carroll said he has no biological children but the students who have benefited from campus recreation are his children. “I think I will be remembered for moving the university forward,” Carroll said.
Frank Peterman III famuansports@gmail.com