Volume 102, Issue 17
The Hilltop
Thursday, February 22, 2018
The Student Voice of Howard University thehilltoponline.com
Thousands of High School Students Say Enough: Marches Across Nation Demand Gun Control By: Amiyah King, HU News Service
T
ens of thousands of high school students across America were marked with an unexcused absence Wednesday, but everyone knew where they were.
In the Washington area, high school students from D.C. public schools and from public schools in Maryland marched to the Capitol and then to the White House to demand that Congress and the president institute gun control legislation that will keep them safe. The march was organized by students from schools such as Richard Montgomery and Bethesda-Chevy Chase in response to the recent shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It was exactly one week ago Wednesday that 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fire at his high school in Parkland, killing 17 students and wounding dozens more. Cruz was charged with 17 accounts of murder of his classmates and teachers. There have been more than half a dozen school shootings so far this year.
In response to the speakers, the crowd shouted, “No more silence and gun violence! Hey, hey. Ho, ho. The NRA has got to go!” Teachers and parents stood side-by-side with the students at the march and rally as chaperones or to provide support for their children and their cause. “I don’t think they need my help,” said Mandi Mader, mother of three who attended the march in support of her children. “I’m just one more body to represent them here.” Most students said they were advocating for the implementation of gun control laws in Congress as a solution to the crisis. See NEWS, Page 2
Student survivors at the school have launched a nationwide effort to focus attention on gun control in the wake of the shooting. Student demonstrations were reported in Illinois, Florida and Texas. Washington-area students walked out of their classes Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and they formed a procession to Union Station where they joined other protestors who took Amtrak and the Marc trains from schools in Maryland. From Union Station, thousands of high schoolers marched to Capitol Hill and later participated in a sit-in demonstration outside The White House. During the sit-in, students gathered in a semi-circle to hear leaders talk about why they should be there. “No more thoughts and prayers,” said student leader Daniel Shepard. “If this isn’t the last school shooting, we’ll be out here every opportunity we get.” (Photo/Amiyah King)
A. Peter Bailey Visits Howard University to Speak to Young Media Students
DMV Residents Gather for Vegan Friendly Event LIFE+STYLE, Page 8
By: Rebecca Johnson, Campus Reporter (@the_rebeccaJ)
About a week before the 53-year anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X, one of his closest friends, A. Peter Bailey, visited a class at Howard University to talk about his experiences in the Black press, more specifically his knowledge of Black magazines. "So often we only read about and hear about people who walked with Malcolm X, who experienced racial segregation and who worked for Ebony during the formative years,” said Professor Hazel Edney, an adjunct journalism professor in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications. “A. Peter Bailey is not only live and in person, but he is willing to share his experiences and perspectives with students in order to sharpen theirs. This, to me, is the most powerful kind of classroom education.” The self-proclaimed “Malcolmite” co-founded the Organization for African-American Unity along with Malcolm X after Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam and was the editor of the organiza-
tion’s newsletter, Blacklash. Bailey was an editor for Ebony Magazine from 1968 to 1976 and started the first class on the Black Press at Virginia Commonwealth University. He also happens to hold the most extensive collection of the first issue of the first volume of Black Magazines. The Newseum even borrowed his collection for an exhibit on the Black Press. Regardless of his friends calling him a hoarder, Bailey has always been a collector. “I remember when my grandmother subscribed to Jet magazine. I was 13 at the time and I used to devour that magazine, because that was my connection growing up in that small town in Alabama,” said Bailey. “Jet magazine became my connection with the Black national community.” See CAMPUS, Page 6
Former Director of FBI Addresses Spying on Black Activists CAMPUS, Page 5
Setting the Bar: Howard University Swim Team Breaks Two Records in One Day SPORTS, Page 11
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NEWS
FEBRUARY 22, 2018
Thousands of High School Students Say Enough: Marches Across Nation Demand Gun Control (cont. from pg. 1) By: Amiyah King, HU News Service
Talia Fleischer, a sophomore at her high school, said she hopes to see “a sign that something will be done in Congress.”
Joseph Byler, a senior at his school, said the Florida shooting is what sparked him to attend.
“Countries like Australia and England have great gun control laws, and they have no mass shootings,” she said. In 1996, Australia passed the National Firearms Agreement after a mass shooting in Tasmania in April of that year. In that incident, a 28-year-old man, armed with a semi-automatic rifle, shot and killed 35 people, and injured 18 others, in what was known as the Port Arthur Massacre. Under the 1996 law, Australia banned certain semi-automatic, self-loading rifles and shotguns, and imposed stricter licensing and registration requirements. With having experienced only one other mass shooting in their native country, one pair was obviously dismayed by the occurrences in the U.S.
“[I hope] the inability of Congress to pass gun control policies disappears,” he said. “I hope after today we get universal background checks on gun purchases.”
Paul DeVries and his daughter, Brechje DeVries, were among the demonstrators. Brechje DeVries, 17, moved from the Netherlands to the United States a year ago and attends high school in Maine. Her father was in the U.S. for one of her sports activities in the Washington area and the two decided to attend the demonstration. Brechje DeVries said mass shootings are almost unheard of in her country, and she is stunned and frightened by their frequency in the United States. “It’s scary,” she said. “There have been threats at schools near me, so it definitely comes close to me.” Her father said he is worried for his daughter. “I feel the frustration,” he said. “There are a lot of teenagers here and I think that speaks for itself.”
Since the shooting last week in Florida, President Trump has flirted with the idea of proposing preliminary measures, such as tougher background checks. He tweeted, “Whether we are Republican or Democrat, we must now focus on strengthening Background Checks!” This social media declaration from the president may spark the very reaction in Congress that demonstrations such as Wednesday’s seek to evoke. Student protestor Steven Vasquez said his school has armed security and students feel relatively safe. “But not right now,” Vasquez said. “Hopefully our kids dying will help the government see that they need to do something.” Some school districts were not supportive of their students’ activism. In the Houston area, Needville Independent School District officials said Tuesday they would suspend students if they walked out of class or otherwise disrupted school in protest. “Needville ISD will not allow a student demonstration during school hours for any type of protest or awareness!!” Superintendent Curtis Rhodes wrote in a note sent to parents. “Should students choose to do so, they will be suspended from school for 3 days and face all the consequences that come along with an out of school suspension.”
At The White House, students rally against gun violence and petition for human rights. (Photo/Amiyah King) From left: Sally Egan, Emma McMillian, Avery Brooks. (Photo/Amiyah King)
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FEBRUARY 22, 2018
NEWS By: Justin Cohen, Assistant Copy Editor (@justinthat1kid)
In light of last week’s shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, a major Republican donor is stepping up his search for allies in his uncharacteristic fight for new gun legislation. The donor, Al Hoffman Jr., a real estate developer living in Palm Beach, is sending thousands of letters to GOP contributors encouraging them to put pressure on party leaders and is refusing to donate any more money to any Republican candidates or groups who do not support renewing the ban on assault weapons. "I thought 'What can I do?' and finally a good friend said, 'Why don’t you start withholding checks until you find somebody who will support the advocacy for a gun legislation?'" Hoffman told Ali Velshi on MSNBC Monday. Black Panther earned about $235 million over it’s Friday-Monday holiday release. It cemented its spot in Hollywood history, breaking multiple records with its debut. Some of the records it broke were biggest February opening weekend, biggest non-sequel opening weekend, biggest solo superhero launch of all time, biggest opening weekend for a minority director and biggest pre-summer opening weekend. It’s soundtrack, spearheaded by Kendrick Lamar, Black Panther: The Album, also debuted at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 Chart. Seventeen students and teachers were killed Wednesday, Feb. 14 at the second deadliest shooting at a U.S. public school. The FBI was warned about the shooter five months ago after he left a threatening YouTube comment. “In 2017, the FBI received information about a comment made on a YouTube channel. The comment simply said, ‘I’m going to be a professional school shooter.’
No other information was included with that comment which would indicate a time, location or the true identity of the person who made the comment. The FBI conducted database reviews, checks, but was unable to further identify the person who actually made the comment,” FBI Special Agent Rob Lasky said during a press conference. On Feb. 16, the Justice Department charged 13 Russians and three companies in an indictment revealing an expansive network designed to undermine the 2016 election and land President Trump in office. The Russians stole American identities, posed as activists and used talking points such as immigration and race to incite the electorate in a time where these topics are especially divisive. “The indictment alleges that the Russian conspirators want to promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy,” Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general overseeing the inquiry said in a news conference. “We must not allow them to succeed.” On Feb. 18 Team LeBron and Team Steph played the All-Star NBA game, capping off the NBA All-Star Weekend. The weekend included Rising Team USA vs. The World, with Team USA losing 124 to 155 and the celebrity game with stars such as Nick Cannon, Justin Bieber and Michael B. Jordan with recording artist Quavo, of hip-hop group Migos, scoring 19 points and winning MVP. Another highlight of the weekend was singer Fergie’s rendition of the National Anthem to start off the All Star game which made headlines and lit the Twittersphere abuzz.
Moviegoers attend film screening of Black Panther. (Photo/Washington Post)
Protesters march for gun control. (Photo/Today)
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FEBRUARY 22, 2018
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CAMPUS
FEBRUARY 22, 2018
Former FBI Director Addresses Spying on Black Activists By: Alexa Imani Spencer and Kayla Irby | HU News Service
Former FBI Director James Comey, speaking to Howard University students, professors and staff, this week distanced himself from an FBI report that said “black identity extremists” were responsible for “increased violence” by African-Americans against law enforcement. The report, entitled “Black Extremists Likely Motivated to Target Law Enforcement Officers,” has raised concern among many, including the 49-member Congressional Black Caucus, which met with the current FBI directly shortly after the report’s release last August. Comey said he was not aware of it while he was with the FBI. “The memo that generated all of the controversy was written after I was fired, so I don’t know exactly,” said Comey who was released May 2017 by President Donald Trump following Comey’s refusal to drop an investigation into Russian tampering in U.S. elections. “I never heard the term ‘black identity extremists’ while I was director.” Still, Comey offered his interpretation of what the report might have been trying to say. “I think what it is, is an effort in the domestic terrorism part of the counterterrorism division to understand the threat that might be coming from people who by a distorted view of their own race believe they have to engage in acts of violence,” Comey said. Ironically, the FBI’s counterterrorism division assessment made news shortly before a 32-year-old woman was killed and 19 others were injured when a white supremacist rammed his car into a group of counter-protesters in August of last year during the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va. Despite terrorizing minorities, LGBTQ community members, Jews and Catholics for over a century, committing atrocities designed to induce a state of terror, no white supremacist groups have ever been designated as a terrorist organization. Comey, the Gwendolyn S. and Colbert I. King Endowed Chair in Public Policy at Howard, was joined in a discussion on law enforcement and race by Justin Hansford, executive director of the newly-opened Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center in the Howard University School of Law. Comey said his life had been affected by issues of race when he was a student at College of William and Mary, the nation’s second oldest college. A friendship with one of few black students on campus had a major impact on his life, he said. Comey said he had almost no interaction with African-Americans early in his life. “There was only one other black family that lived in my town on my street, the Jacksons,” he said, “almost an entirely white high school. William and Mary just by accident puts me in a suite with another 18-year-old from inner city Philadelphia named Greg Samson, who’s African-American, and our lives couldn’t have been more different,” he said.
With Guns by Robert F. Williams. Balogun was indicted on unlawful possession of a firearm. The organization protested Comey’s speech last September during the university’s annual Convocation ceremony marking the start of a new academic year. “We thought it important to continue our resistance to Comey, despite the ambivalence of our classmates,” McKenney said, “because at the end of the day, he’s a symbol of institutionalized white supremacy and state oppression.” Hansford challenged Comey in the discussion and dismissed his assertions that many problems between police and African-Americans are caused by a few “bad apples.”
“It’s not a question of bad apples,” Hanford responded. “It’s a question of bad systems.” “The FBI has a very challenging history with the black community,” he added, referring to the many years the FBI under director J. Edgar Hoover, spied on, hounded African-American leaders and organizations beginning with Marcus Garvey in the 1920s, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the NAACP, Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam in the 1950s and 60s and the Black Panthers in the 1970s. Comey said he tried to address the FBI’s history of misdeeds regarding African-Americans while director. He said he wanted agents and analysts to study the organization’s history of misconduct, including programs such as Cointelpro, a counterintelligence program used heavily in the 1960s to surveil civil and human rights organizations. “I tried to make the FBI stare at that history,” he said. “I’m a believer that transparency is to include. I commissioned a course at Quantico, where every new agent and analyst of the FBI studies the history of the FBI, with special emphasis on the FBI’s interaction with Dr. King, and you know that horrific history.” He further explained that at the end of the course, all the trainees go to the King memorial in the nation’s capital where they are assigned a final project. They must pick something Dr. King said on those two stones and write an essay about how the quote intertwines with the FBI’s values. Even with those programs, Comey said, his efforts were “probably not enough” to bridge the divide and mistrust between African Americans and the FBI.
Comey stated that his friendship with Samson affected him tremendously. “It lit a flame in me to understand different people,” he said. He wrote a series of articles on the experiences of black students and faculty as a campus journalist. “All of that came together and I decided, ‘You know what, I think I’d be better in seeking justice as a lawyer,’ because that’s where justice is found,” he said. As Comey and Hanford spoke, protesters demonstrated and chanted outside the university’s historical Founders Library. The protestors were members of HU Resist, a Howard student collation organized to change the campus and the surrounding community. According to HU Resist member Alexis McKenney, the organization opposes Comey because “he is responsible for the people like Rakem Balogun, formerly known as Christopher Daniels, being targeted and persecuted for ‘black identity extremism.’” Balogun of Dallas was under surveillance by the FBI for two years before they raided his home and arrested him in December 2017. Items taken from his home included a .38 caliber handgun, an assault rifle and the book, Negroes
Former FBI Director James Comey (right) and Justin Hansford, executive director of the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center. (Photo/Kayla Irby)
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FEBRUARY 22, 2018
CAMPUS Campus Speakout
Reporting by Kaelyn Collins and Brandon Oliver
1. Are tougher laws the best answer to America’s gun violence? 2. Will the Black Panther movie create lasting change in America?
Name: Kayla Irby Classification: Senior Major: Journalism Hometown: Delaware
Name: Amaka Korie Classification: Freshman Major: TV and Film Major Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Name: Benjamin Johnson Classification: Freshman Major: Psychology Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
“Yes, I think so because other countries have done it a long time ago and statistics show that they haven’t had many mass shootings since. I think there’s no reason for them to not have tougher laws, they just don’t have them because they’re getting millions from the NRA.”
“Yes, but it depends. It wouldn’t be a good idea if it targets the black community, rather than all gun owners, similar to what was done with the war on drugs. But, in general, it’s a good idea.”
“I definitely feel like it is a good part of the solution of gun violence in America because if people can easily access guns, they are more likely to use them. But there are also other underlying problems that kind of explain why we have such a big gun violence problem in the country.”
“Yes and no. Yes, because a lot of white people saw it and will start looking at things differently. It’s also great for representation because it sets an example for younger generations. We finally have a black superhero that’s not a sidekick. No, because it’s a movie and it only has so much power.”
“Yes. I think it’s an international, cultural movement for the afro-futurist aesthetic. It changes the way people see Africa. Usually people see Africa and think of huts and monkeys, but now they’ll see that Africa is actually more civilized. With African-Americans, there’s more pride in the culture so it will change how we see ourselves as well as how others see the black community.”
The Black Panther movie will bring about lasting change in the way black children perceive Hollywood. “For black children, this will be the first time they can really attach themselves to a Hollywood movie.”
A. Peter Bailey Visits Howard University to Speak to Young Media Students (cont. from pg. 1) By: Rebecca Johnson, Campus Reporter (@the_rebeccaJ)
He first started collecting comic books as a teenager, but after he came back from serving in the military, he found that his mom threw away his collection. The self-claimed collector brought about 20 magazines along with him and sat on the edge of the stage in Screening Room West and displayed them one by one and gave a little background history on the magazine of the cover. “When I decided to start collecting, I wanted to do something different. I didn’t want to just collect magazines,” said Bailey. “So, I came up with the idea of collecting volume one, number one Black magazines. The first issue. Right now, my collecting consists of 92 magazines, and I have the complete magazines- not just the covers.” Students greatly appreciated him bringing in his magazines, including Chanté Russell, a sophomore majoring in journalism from Raleigh, North Carolina. “As someone interested in magazines, I very much appreciated Mr. Bailey’s work and collection. Black magazines once played a major role in our culture, but that’s fading so it’s good to see him keeping it alive,” said Russell. Nearing 80-years-old, Bailey recalled how the Black Press “politicized” him. Growing up in Tuskegee, Alabama, a predominantly Black county, he never had to deal with the dangerous racism that plagued parts of the South. In fact, where he grew up, Black people had the economic power. Reading Jet along with the historic Pittsburgh Courier kept him connected to the Black national population. When Jet famously published the infamous photo of Emmett Till in his casket, he knew he was to take action. “I read both of them every week. When Jet magazine published that very famous photograph of Emmett Till, by that time I was 17,” continued Bailey.
Peter Bailey talks to students in Screening Room West in The School of Communications. (Photo/Rebecca Johnson)
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FEBRUARY 22, 2018
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LIFE+STYLE
FEBRUARY 22, 2018
DMV Residents Gather for Vegan Friendly Event, Vegan This! By Melisa Philogene, Health and Wellness Reporter (@AYEEmel)
On Tuesday night, over 130 individuals attended the Vegan This! Event at Woodrow Wilson High School in Northwest Washington, DC. Started by the Physicians Committee, a leading revolution in medicine group, Vegan This! is a monthly event in the DMV area. The mission of the event is to administer support for vegans and anyone curious about plant-based diets. Speakers included Julie Wright, anchor on Good Morning Washington, and best-selling author Chef Bev. D.C. area restaurants Soupergirl and Greenfare gave out free samples of homemade soups and vegetable pies. Health experts and physicians Susan Levin and Asha Subramanian discussed the benefits of a plant-based diet and how to not succumb to peer pressure as a young adult wishing to switch to such a lifestyle. “Individuals on a plant-based diet are proven to have a less likely chance of being overweight, experiencing high blood pressure, and suffering from diseases alike diabetes.” As obesity takes a rise in America, studies suggest plant based diets can aid in putting the health of Americans in a better direction. Levin and Subramanian encouraged the parents in the audience to set the trend in early on in their homes, so their children can better acquire these better health decisions. Adults must set the example if they wish to leave a healthier generation behind.
Speakers on stage (Photo/ Melisa Philogene)
A highlight in the program was Chef Bev giving an inspirational presentation, and live product demo on how to turn some of the most mundane food products in your pantry and fridge into quick vegan gourmet meals. For students in college she transformed our staple of ramen noodles into a low sodium, vegetable stir fry using only simple ingredients like miso soup, carrots, spinach and parsley. The program also included scads of connections with community influencers, helpful resources and testimonials from athlete’s maintaining a plant-based diet, local vendors offering plant-based goodies and expert advice from speakers and success stories. Audience members left the program informed and inspired in their personal plant based journeys. Soupergirl vendor giving free samples of plant based soup (Photo/ Melisa Philogene)
On average, 1 in 6 Americans will get a foodborne illness this year. You can’t see these microbes, but they might be there. Always use a food thermometer to check if meat has reached a safe internal temperature before eating.
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KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE AT
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FEBRUARY 22, 2018
LIFE+STYLE
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LIFE+STYLE
FEBRUARY 22, 2018
COMIC
By: Devariae “Yae” McDaniels | @YaeTBG
“Gun Control.”
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FEBRUARY 22, 2018
SPORTS
Team USA Prepares for Final Week of Winter Olympics By: Brianna Sims, Assistant Sports Editor @bri_simsxo
The 2018 Winter Olympics are underway in Pyeongchang County, South Korea, from Feb. 9 to Feb. 25. Over 2,925 athletes representing 90 nations are competing to bring home the gold. Norway is currently in first place with a total of 29 medals, Canada is close behind with 23 and Germany trailing behind with 19. Team USA, currently in sixth place behind France, has a total of 12 medals, 5 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze.
The Winter Olympics will conclude this week with coverage on NBC and NBCSN. The closing ceremony will take place at the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium on Feb. 25.
The United States men’s hockey team made its way to the quarterfinals and will face the Czech Republic in the Olympic quarterfinal round. Three goals were scored during the second period that helped the United States advance, defeating Slovakia 5-1 Tuesday. Ryan Donato scored twice, Troy Terry has three assists and Ryan Zapolski made 22 saves as the U.S. got the win to face Czech Republic in the quarterfinals. The women’s hockey team will compete for the gold after defeating Finland on Sunday in the semifinals. The team’s strong defense caused several turnovers and helped draw penalties that left Team Finland struggling to get to the goal. Brita Sigourney won the bronze medal in the women's ski halfpipe and Alex and Maia Shibutani won the bronze in ice dancing. Maia and Alex Shibutani, took home the bronze medal in the figure skating team event, when they finished second in the short dance competition. The two siblings became the first ice dancers of Asian descent to win an Olympic medal, according to NBC Olympics. Throughout the week, weather became a conflict for multiple olympic events. Mikaela Shiffrin took her first gold medal in the giant slalom event after multiple delays caused by frigid, slippery weather. Likewise, American alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin faced several delays after high winds held off the her event until Feb. 14. Despite the weather, Shriffin went on to win her first gold medal during the games.
Team USA marching at the Olympics (Photo Courtesy/Wikipedia)
Setting the Bar: Howard University Swim Team Breaks Two Records in One Day By: Tayler Adigun (@Ohdangitstayler)
On February 14, the Howard University, men and women, swim team broke two school records in one day at the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) Championship in Athens, Georgia under the coaching of Nicholas Askew. Kasandra Kaplan a junior sports medicine major from Detroit, Mi, broke her own previous record of 2:07.98 with a 2:06.13. Kaplan was very proud of her success and enjoys seeing her hard work in practices pay off during meets. “I train so hard to be able to see it pay off at a conference. To know that I left it all in the pool and I continue to improve is such an amazing feeling,” Kaplan told The Hilltop. With this being her second year holding the title she has definitely set the bar for Howard swim and use the standards she has set as motivation to go even harder. “ The best part about being a record holder is that it pushes me to continue to make my times faster.”.
Sophomore Kegan Ford shared what it took to get to where they are. “There have been many early mornings and late nights but I thank God I have a team like this to push through the pain” Ford said. “There is a lot to be said for a team that has produced 10 new record holders this year alone, this success however was not without sacrifice.” “It has been a tough season and with everything we have been through I think the success is well deserved,” shared Kaplan.
The 200-medley relay broke the previous Howard record by a second and a half with a time of 1:32.33. This relay was composed of Don Brazelton, Sidrell Williams, Alexander Barnes and William Smith. This led to the Bison closing in day one of the championship with five current record holders. The other 200-medley relay participants also preformed impressively this week, posting a time of 1:34:67, which is the fourth-fastest time in Howard’s history. The relay team consisted of Devin Guardino, Maalik Nixon, Kegan Ford and Farion Cooper. Head Coach Askew speaking with Howard University Swimmers (Photo Courtesy/Howard Sports)
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FEBRUARY 22, 2018
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