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CAMPUS NEWS page 4
Vol 69 | Number 11 THE TSU HERALD | February 22th, 2017
page 2
WHAT’S GOING ON
PHOTO GALLERY page 6
THROUGH THE EYES OF OUR TIGERS
SPORTS page 8
SPORTS RUNDOWN
POLITICS page 10
FLYNN RESIGNS
BRINGING LIFE & HISTORY BACK TO THE HBCU CAMPUS
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Cover Story Texas Hazing Statute Summary and Texas Southern University Hazing Regulations (courtesy of www.tsu.edu)
The penalty for failure to report is a fine of up to $1,000, up to 180 days in jail, or both. Penalties for other hazing offenses vary according to the severity of the injury which results and include fines form $500 to $10,000 and/or confinement for up to two years.
Hazing Defined
The 70th Texas Legislature enacted a law concerning hazing, Under the law, individuals or organizations engaging in hazing could be subject to fines and charged with a criminal offense. According to the law, a person can commit a hazing offense not only by engaging in a hazing activity, but also by soliciting, directing, encouraging, aiding or attempting to aid another in hazing; by intentionally, knowingly
or recklessly allowing hazing to occur; or by failing to report, in writing to the Dean of Students or another appropriate official of the institution, first-hand knowledge that a hazing incident is planned or has occurred. The fact that a person consented to or acquiesced in a hazing activity is not a defense to prosecution for hazing under the law.
In an effort to encourage reporting of hazing incidents, the law grants immunity from civil or criminal liability to any person who reports a specific hazing event in good EDITORIAL STAFF faith and without malice to the Dean of Students T h e T S U H e r a l d or other appropriate ofEDITOR-IN-CHIEF ficial of the institution and is MARCUS D. SMITH p u b l i s h e d b y t h e immunizes that person students of for participation in any Te x a s S o u t h e r n judicial proceeding reSTAFF WRITER(S) U n i v e r s i t y. MAHBUBA MATOVU sulting from the liability Opinions exTODD ROGERS that might otherwise be p r e s s e d a r e t h o s e incurred or imposed as a ALTREMESE BANKS of the TYLER DOGGETT AKIL WILLIAMS w r i t e r a n d d o result of the report. SARA JAMISON
Publications Manager TIYOSHA TURNER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER JADE HORTON DOMINIQUE MONDAY Follow The TSU Herald on Social Media Instagram: @THETSUHERALD Twitter: @THETSUHERALD
not necessarily reflect those of the administration. The newspaper is p r i n t e d b i w e e k l y, except during holidays and examination periods. For additional information, call (713) 313-6710.
Additionally, a doctor or other medical practitioner who treats a student who may have been subjected to hazing may make a good faith report of the suspected hazing activities to police or other law enforcement officials and is immune from civil or other liability that might otherwise be imposed or incurred as a result of the report.
The law defines hazing as any intentional, knowing or reckless act occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are or include students at an educational institution. Hazing includes but is not limited to: A. any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electric shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body or similar activity; B. any type of physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small place, calisthenics, or other activity that subjects the students to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the students; C. any activity involving consumption of food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug or other substance which subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or which adversely affects the mental or physical health of the students; D. any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism , that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame or humiliation, or that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from the entering or remaining registered in an educational institution, or that may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization or the institution rather then submit to acts described in this subsection;
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Cover Story E. any activity that induces, causes or requires the students to perform a duty or task which involves a violation of the Penal Code.
UNIVERSITY DISCIPLINARY RULES This law does not affect or in any way limit the right of the university to enforce its own rules against hazing under the university’s Hazing Policy and Student Code of Conduct .
DANGEROUS OR DEGRADING ACTIVITIES Activities which under certain conditions constitute acts which are dangerous, harmful or degrading, in violation of the university’s Hazing Policy and Student Code of Conduct include but are not limited to: · - Calisthenics, such as sit-ups, push-ups or any other form of physical exercise; · - Total or partial nudity at any time; · - The eating or ingestion of any unwanted substance; · - The wearing or carrying of any embarrassing, degrading or physically burdensome article; · - Paddle swats, including the trading of swats; · - Pushing, shoving, tackling or any other physical contact; · - Throwing any substance on a person · - Consumption of alcoholic beverages accompanied by either threats or peer pressure; · - Lineups for the purpose of interrogating, demeaning, or intimidating; · - Transportation and abandonment (road trips, kidnaps, walks, rides, drops) · - Confining individuals in an area that is uncomfortable or dangerous (hot box effect, high temperature, too small);
· - Any form of individual interrogation; · - Any type of servitude that is of personal benefit to the individual members; · - Wearing of embarrassing or uncomfortable clothing; · - Assigning pranks such as stealing, painting objects, harassing other organizations; · - Intentionally messing up the house or a room for clean up; · - Demeaning Names; · - Yelling or screaming; and · - Requiring boxing matches or fights for entertainment. DISCIPLINED ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THOSE RESOLVED VIA MUTUAL AGREEMENTS In accordance with requirements of the Texas Education Code, Section 51.936 (c), the following organizations have been disciplined for hazing and/or convicted for hazing, on or off campus, during the preceding three years: · Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. o (Suspension issued August 2014) · Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. o (Suspension issued August 2015) o (Suspension until May 31, 2018) · Cheer Phi Cheer o (Suspension issued May 2014) · Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. o (Suspension March 2014, suspension lifted June 2014) o (Cease and desist issued October 2014) o (Suspension until Fall 2018) · Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. o (Suspension until 2013; suspension lifted January 2014) o (Disestablishment of Charter issued until January 1, 2021)
To report an act of hazing or for further clarification of probationary member activities, please contact William Thomas, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at Thomas_WA@ tsu.edu or by phone at 713-313-1038.
Legacy
Poem by: Andre “Self” Burrell We all die. The goal is not to live forever, it’s to create something that will.. So i will create somethin that makes the time stand still.. See, I will make that kid on the block turn around No, I will make that kid with that glock put it down I will take that kid selling drugs off the streets And I will take that kid from the bayou to the beach, see.. I have faith, They say thats all I need And faith must be like hope cause I have faith in all my dreams And I hope for better things Use to hope I wouldn’t die But the goal is not to live its to keep someone alive I said the goal is not to live forever its to create somethin that will so I will make somethin that will make time stand still.. There’s a little kid crying Dying of abuse By his father he gets hit By his mother he gets used But the people couldn’t hear the pain tearing through the walls He yelled and he screamed but they never heard his calls And soon, he gave in and submitted to the pain Like a horse broken by the whip submitting to the reins Which ever way they pulled he went and never strayed But today Im abt to give this kid not a voice, but a VOLUME The fear is in his voice but that pain is not the outcome The problem Was that he felt he wasn’t loud enough He did everything he could his parents weren’t proud enough But you know when times get tough You strive for what feels better He found that through Jesus he could do whatever So never Can you say that the pains too much to bear Take your problems in your hands and just throw them in the air The goal is NOT to live forever But to create somethin that will So ima make somethin that’s makes the time stand still The change starts within on this path to a better me Forget just memories Im about to leave a LEGACY. -Self The Poet
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Campus News David Banner and Stogie Kenyatta Empower TSU Students at BHM Q&A By: Marcus D. Smith Editor-in-Chief It’s Black History Month and Texas Southern University welcomed rapper-turned-activist, David Banner and Stogie Kenyatta for an educational event empowering students on overcoming politics. Discussions dispersed about the education system at a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) versus the one you’d receive at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI).
an HBCU, should be enough artificial reasoning for the university to not actually need to celebrate the month. Every few years or so, there are always rumors that begin to mill about how TSU will be bought out by the University of Houston, and become an affiliate the university off of Cullen
During the event, both Kenyatta and Banner confess that the purpose for showcasing the event, was not to not only educate young African-Americans but also to shed light on an observed month, that hardly goes observed by America, let alone black America.
So what is it exactly are we eluding to? Simple, HBCU’s should take pride in their culture, their history, and legacy year-round, that means 365 days, rather than the 28 days allotted. Subconsciously, when you only celebrate or acknowledge black excellence in February, you’re saying, this is the only time they matter, or for any instance, the only time we matter. As an HBCU, most of which have been around since pre-World War II, their very own existence to this day remains as the historical factor.
It’s Black History Month, right? Shouldn’t TSU, as an HBCU especially, continue to celebrate, honor, and observe these 28 days of greatness and black sovreignty? Well, yes, and no.
Through every thing that HBCUs and its students had to put up with, and continue to put up with, the fact remains that as long as there are fully functioning and operational historical black colleges and universities in the United States of America, black history will forever live on.
Many will not understand why the answer is no. But most, if not all, will agree to the answer being yes. Well for the popular decision, the answer is yes because TSU is an HBCU. Outside of that, why else would TSU celebrate historical factors of African-Americans and individuals of black descent.
The beauty of the matter is, black history has always been and will continue to be relevant.
Do the PWI celebrate Black History Month? Of course they do, most likely even more than HBCUs. The reason behind that is that the historical facts at PWI’s actually owe it to black people and African-Americans for the treatment of them earlier when they were segregated and not allowed admission to a particular university. It’s the same principle when you reverse the situation and replace it with an HBCU. TSU, an illustrious university that has been around for just about 90 years, has always and will forever remain an HBCU. The fact that TSU is
baffling because it requires indivuduals to only honor and respect their history during a month full of love, Super Bowl parties, All-Star weekends, and Grammy’s and Oscars.
Boulevard. For those who don’t know, it is actually pretty common for HBCUs to partner with PWIs as a joint venture in order to gain more money and resources for the university, a la Prairie View A&M and Texas A&M University. TSU’s grand history of continuing to a prosperous HBCU and one of the more tailored universities in Houston, the aspect of celebrating Black History Month is nonchalant. Not only TSU, but all HBCUs in general, celebrating Black History Month on their campuses is
Whether people will admit it or not, people of color have accomplished many tremendous feats in this country.
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Campus News Student Feature: Trying to Keep Up By: Tyler Doggett Campus News Writer
Chelsey “Chello” Cummings came to Texas Southern University from Portsmouth, Virginia after an inspiring campus tour from one of TSU Students Government Association prominent student leaders.
“I feel like I was perceived very wrong,” said Cummings, “ I was known for being very violent and hurt in public and I just wanted to explain why.” Fully embracing her creativity, Cummings created her motivational creative journal through personal experience know to the general public as Keeping Up With Cummings
Joshua Greene, a former worker for admissions, and runner for SGA president in 2011 gave Cummings a tour that would change her life opening different doors of opportunity. “The way he expressed his passion really hit hard for me,” said Cummings as she reminisced on her first days at the HBCU. Although mesmerized by the university, Cummings’ journey to becoming a social prophet couldn’t be further from a fairytale. Cummings has been in various organizations such as University Program Council (UPC) as well as the Yearbook with Student Publications. Along with being a full-time student, Cum-
mings battled with her own insecurities and understanding where her negative stigma was stemming from. “My dad was always angry and it became all I knew,” said Cummings. Cummings was not defeated by her own selfdoubts but instead she turned that energy into an outlet that most college students battle with themselves.
“Everything I wanted to tell myself and stuff I wish someone told me when I was going through my terrible times,” Cummings said. Everything I wanted to tell myself and stuff I wish someone told me when I was going through my terrible times” With big expectations for the 2017-year, Cummings is currently writing a book about her experiences.
CAMPUS HEALTH CENTER BREAKS STIGMA ON STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES By: Todd Rogers Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 21, 2017 — the Student Health Center hosted ‘Disability Awareness Day’ in the lobby of the Student Center, where they challenged students to step into the shoes of their peers with disabilities.
disability.
Kaya Pickens and Simone Warner volunteer with Student Health Services.
The goal of ‘Disability Awareness Day’ is to promote awareness to students who don’t have disabilities, and show ways to get involved to end the stigma of people with disabilities.
Warner, a senior and social work intern says she volunteers with the health center every Tuesday and Thursday. “A personal goal of mine is to get new innovative initiatives started for student involvement, student participation, and student awareness,” said Warner. On Tuesday, Student Health Services volunteers helped to “disable” students passing on their way to class by binding their thumbs and challenging them to practice simple “daily activities” like tying a shoe, or putting on a shirt to show the challenges of living with a
“It is important because we need to erase stigmas — Sometimes you wouldn’t even know if a student has a disability,” Pickens said.
“As far as programs, I think the most important thing would be student involvement and student awareness because there are a lot of instances where students don’t know the services offered to them,” Warner said. The Student Health Center offers free services on campus and is open to more student involvement in upcoming programs and campus events.
Texas Southern University Excellence in Achievement
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THROUGH THE EYE 2
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ES OF OUR TIGERS 1. Host Phil Wade at Rhythms_ TSU Edition 2. Miguel performing at Sports Illustrated Vibes Swimsuit Festival 3. TSU WBB, Kaitlyn Palmer going hard in the paint.
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4. ASA Date Auction 5. Groove Phi Groove at the Greek Informational promoting their brotherhood
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6. Women’s Empowerment panel
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7. Lady Tigers Track and Field in the Shotput competition 8. TSU Cheerleaders celebrate another TSU victory 9. Spit Kodak! 10. Determined to make it around the track onto the finish line
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11. Texas Southern track and field dominating the competition 12. TSU MBB, Jalan McCLoud sizing up his defender
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13. SI: Models: Chrissy Teigen (John Legend’s wife) posing on the red carpet
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14. Lady Tigers track and field hurdling the stiff competition 15. Cali Club Advisor, Shanti 16. Tex the Tiger and his baby Tiger cub 17. TSU Sports: Marcus D. Smith after the Tigers win
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18. A very successful ASA date Auction 19. TSU WBB, Chynna Ewing blows by two defenders
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20. Mr. Senior contemplating on how he’s going to roll his next strike at Mr. & Mrs. Senior Bowling Night. 21. A very successful ASA date Auction 22. TSU MBB, Trae Jefferson examining the defense 23. Full House for the Risk Management Workshop PHOTOS COURTESY OF STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: DOMINIQUE MONDAY & JADE HORTON
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Sports Tigers Win Big Against MVSU, 92-61 By: Marcus D. Smith Editor-in-Chief In part two of back-to-back home games for the Tigers, Texas Southern continued to dominate in the H&PE. TSU led by just a point at halftime, leaving Mississippi Valley State with momentum going into the locker room. The Tigers would outscore the Delta Devils by 30 in the second half, led by junior guard, Jalan McCloud, who scored 25 points off the bench, 16 in the second half. “I believe I just kind of got hot and I just let it come to me, shots started falling for me. It’s been kind of rough for me early in the year, but now, I feel like I got my confidence back and I’ll be able to knock shots down,” said McCloud. McCloud wasn’t the only spark off the bench
as Stephen Bennett was a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor, chipping in 15 points. As a team, the Tigers’ bench outscored the Delta Devils bench by 20, 57-37. Defensively, the Tigers were sound, forcing MVSU to shoot 13% from deep and 34% from every where else on the court. Collectively, the Tigers forced 15 turnovers in the game. “One of the things Coach Marsh emphasizes on in practice the most, is trying to get stops and not stepping out the lane too early to get blocked shots,” said Bennett, on TSU’s defensive strategies. MVSU’s big three of Romain, Williams, and Henry combined for 82 points the last time these teams faced each other but were held to 25 on Monday.
#15 Stephen Bennett makes a drop step for the easy two
#2 Zach Lofton looks for the open man in the corner
Moving forward, the Tigers will go on the road to make a stop through Alabama against Alabama State on Saturday and Alabama A&M on Monday. “It’s going to be a challenge...we have to come and play one game at a time but with great concentraion and great focus,” said TSU head coach, Mike Davis on the remaining schedule. Live audio of the game will be provided on KTSU 90.9fm.
Lady Tigers Get Revenge on MVSU, def. 60-54 By: Sara Jamison Sports Writer HOUSTON, TX – Texas Southern Lady Tigers faced Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils on Monday, February 20th, for the second time this season, with hopes of getting a revenge win at home. MVSU defeated TSU in its first matchup on January 23 in Mississippi, but this time the Lady Tigers were ready for payback.
By: Marcus D. Smith Editor-in-Chief
Shamiya Brooks added seven points and seven rebounds in her 17 minutes of play to help TSU advance past MVSU.
Texas Southern track and field participated in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Indoor Track Meet last weekend. Respectviely, the Lady Tigers Flying T placed second overall, while the men placed third overall.
The Lady Tigers got off to a fast start and led the Devilettes by 14 points in the first quarter. However, that lead was cut down to three, 3027, at halftime.
“Honestly, I didn’t set the tempo, neither did my team until we came back in [the locker room] during halftime and coach was like ‘Okay, it’s time to pick it up,’” said sophomore guard Joyce Kennerson.
“I think the ladies had a lot of fight today. They did a really good job of staying in the game, and staying focused,” said head coach Johnetta Hayes-Perry.
#10 Shamiya Brooks makes it look easy
Within the first few minutes of the third, MVSU had its first and largest lead of two points – but the Tigers managed to hold the lead the entire fourth with a perfect 6-6 shooting from the free throw line.
The next home game will take place on March 2nd against Alcorn State at 5:30 p.m.
TSU guard Joyce Kennerson had a game high
TSU SPORTS UPDATES:
of 24 points. Breasia McElrath contributed nine points and 10 rebounds.
The Lady Tigers will play Alabama State in Alabama on Saturday, February 25th.
Maliek Kendall of Texas Southern won the 60-meter hurdles (8.01s), just edging the Jackson State duo of Joshua Hilliard (8.06s) and Azariah Foster (8.26s). TSU’s D’Andre Lewis (pictured above) defended his conference championship in the men’s mile run, winning in 4:26.86. Jackson State’s Darrion Hampton of Jackson State won silver (4:28.29) and Mississippi Valley’s John Akakeya earned the bronze (4:28.74). BASEBALL/SOFTBALL: Tiger baseball will have its home-opener against Southern at MacGregor Park starting March 2. Tiger softball opens at Memorial Park in back-toback games on March 7.
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Life & Style Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Festival Takes Over Houston By: Marcus D. Smith Editor-in-Chief
trose and Westheimer.
Over the weekend, one of the hottest and most tenured magazines came to Houston, not just your regular-old news magazine.
“The burger was very good....my favorite part was the pineapples...pineapples are my favorite fruit,” said Sports Illustrated model, Robyn Lawley.
Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit edition magazine had kicked off a festival full of excitement. Featured models were interactive with fans, as they took snapshots and autographed their favorite modeling poses in the latest edition. “Houston’s great so far...my favorite thing so far is the amazing food,” said Sports Illustrated model, Mia Kang.
The models kicked off the event with question and answers from their fans, some of the models showcased their kitchen skills and cooked up a good meal from different restauraunt’s in Houston, including B&B’s Butcher and Restauraunt Steakhouse located on 1814 Washington Avenue and the Burger Joint located on Mon-
Shortly thereafter, models graced the red carpet displaying the plethora of designer brands. Most were styled by a stylist and they were not let down one bit. The stylists had them in the right attire to turn heads and enjoy a night of musical sensation and Grammy Award-winning artist, Miguel.
The Best Kept Secrets to Make Your Resume Stand Out By: Mahbuba Matovu Staff Writer
Spring semester is the time to really start thinking about applying for internships and a good resume will set you apart from thousands of applicants. According to a survey from the Society for Human Resource Management, 75% of human resource professionals admitted to reviewing a resume in less than five minutes before deciding if it made it to the next round, adding that even looking at it for that long could be generous. Regardless of one’s education and skills, leaving out simple eye-catching tricks could cost one a selection. Here are five of the best-kept secrets to transform your resume from simple to superb: 1.
Keep it a page long
One full page is the appropriate length of a college student resume. There is no need to list all ten of your community service activities. Select three unique ones where you applied a variety of skills like communication, leadership and teamwork. Every employer wants you to have these skills. Your resume should show that every time you are challenged with
a task, you solve problems and add value. If you’re wondering how to shorten your resume, consider removing items like coursework and hobbies. Let your major and community service speak for you. 2.
One size doesn’t fit all
Have multiple versions of your resume that are adjusted for the different jobs you are applying for. According to Forbes.com, personalize your contributions to the company in a way that will show that you have done your research on the specific company you are applying for. 3.
Include the key words
Every job application specifies what skills are required to do the job. Everything that you include in your resume should be tailored to having those skills. Time Magazine says that many large companies use software to weed out candidates. The software is set to look for keywords that mirror the language of the job posting. As much you might be tempted to use advanced language, it’s important to include words and phrases in your resume that are similar to those in the job posting. 4.
Show off your tech skills
In today’s growing world of technology, knowing the Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is a skill that is expected. What will make you stand out is having skills like using social media platforms and apps to bring in customers and increase sales. It’s important to have a professional social media handle that is included in your resume, one with professional content that you’d be comfortable with your boss looking at (hint; your boss doesn’t need to know that you had three shots over the weekend. He’d however be interested if you’re a public-health student and you tweeted an article about a study from CNN Health). Some employers even go as far as to Google your name, so make sure that your Internet profile is clean. 5.
Looks matter
Your resume should be an easy read, preferably in a font like Times New Roman size 12. Avoid use of fancy graphics and boarders. If it’s a past job, all verbs should be in the past tense. If you currently work there, use present tense. Line up all bullets correctly and each bullet should start with a positive action verb. Use proper grammar and spellings. Good luck on your applications.
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Politics
Michael Flynn’s Resignation By: Altremese Banks Political Columnist Retired general, Michael Flynn was appointed to the position of National Security Advisor for the Trump Administration on January 20th. However, within 24 days of his appointment, Flynn faced serious speculation of being compromised by Russia, which ultimately led to his resignation.
Allegedly, General Flynn discussed sanctions placed on Russia by the Obama Administration with a Russian ambassador, prior to Donald Trump becoming President of the United States of America.
An overwhelming amount of information from the intelligence agencies flooded the White House, stating that Flynn had been in direct contact with a Russian ambassador and that the probability of him being blackmailed and compromised by Russia was almost absolute. General Flynn’s involvement with Russia was first brought to attention by former Attorney General Sally Yates back in December. She and members of intelligence agencies felt that “Flynn had put himself in a compromising position.” On January 15, 2017, Vice President Mike Pence denied these accusations; however, since then General Flynn released a statement saying that it is possible that these conversations did take place, but he is unable to the recall if/ or when the discussion happened.
This is a negative reflection of communication within the Trump Administration for many Americans. General Flynn misled or lied to Vice President Pence. Kellyanne Conway appeared on MSNBC to discuss these accusations against General Flynn. When she was asked whether or not an apology was sent given to Vice President Pence after he was misinformed by General Flynn, Conway told MSNBC’s reporter, “I will not re-
veal that;that’s a conversation between the vice president and national security advisor.” Not only was this an act of poor communication within the Presidential Cabinet, it was also illegal. A private citizen engaging in diplomatic conversations goes against federal law, and would be a reason for termination. In this case the termination was not needed, because Flynn resigned, despite President Trump wanting him to remain in his position. In his resignation letter, Flynn stated, “Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice PresidentElect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President and they have accepted my apology.” Since the resignation of General Flynn, General Kellogg has now taking over the role as acting National Security Advisor, but has not received the position officially. In fact, President Trump’s first choice to replace General Flynn, Bob Hayward, declined. So, as for now, the United States of America is currently without a permanent National Security Advisor.
Marijuana decriminalization coming to Houston area, home to 4.5 million Texans
(an excerpt from the Washington Times by Andrew Blake)
First-time offenders caught with less than 4 ounces of marijuana will no longer be arrested, ticketed or asked to appear in court when a new pot policy announced Thursday takes effect next month in Harris County, Texas. Effective March 1, individuals caught in the region with small amounts of marijuana will be given the opportunity to attend a 4-hour drug education class in lieu of going to jail or going before a judge, local officials announced at a press conference. Harris and Houston are ranked in the top five with regards to the nation’s most-populous counties and cities, respectively, and are home to roughly 4.5 million people. The enforcement of existing marijuana laws has imposed a substantial cost on the county and its residents alike, however, all the while without yielding any “tangible public safety benefit,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said at Thurs-
day’s conference. The new “Misdemeanor Marijuana Diversion Program” will apply to individuals 17 and older who are caught with less than 4 ounces of pot and aren’t facing any additional charges, county and city law enforcement officials said in a statement. The rule change will broaden a current Harris County policy that has allowed first-time offenders caught with 2 ounces or less of pot to avoid jail time by taking classes, Houston’s KHOU News reported. Ms. Ogg told reporters Thursday that Harris County has spent an average of $25 million each year during the last decade enforcing existing marijuana laws, and indicated that law enforcement could spend the money more wisely on other endeavors.
“We have spent in excess of $250 million, over a quarter-billion dollars, prosecuting a crime that has produced no tangible evidence of
improved public safety,” she said, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. “We have disqualified, unnecessarily, thousands of people from greater job, housing and educational opportunities by giving them a criminal record for what is, in effect, a minor law violation.” Individuals accused of buying or selling weed, committing another crime or possessing pot in a drug-free zone or while on probation will still be eligible for arrest, as will those caught skipping the $150 drug class. “The sky will not fall,” Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said Thursday in support of the policy. “There are already critics out there. We’ve been down this path before with my old department. Rather than see an uptick in crime, in the city of Austin we reduced violent crime between 2007 and 2014 by 40 percent.”
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Tiger Promos
To inquire about advertisement please contact Ms. Tiyosha Turner or send us an email at tsu.heraldeditor@gmail.
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What’s Happening on campus & around town
Monday - 2/20
Tuesday - 2/21
Wednesday - 2/22
HUMP DAY
Thursday - 2/23 SHINE LIGHT ON SLAVERY SC 12:30-1:30pm
The Weekend 2/25 & 2/26
Friday - 2/24 T.G.I.F
CHEERS TO THE WEEKEND
Psychology of Black Hair
Spring Elections Meet- SC 217 3p-5p ing @5:30pm
American Association of Blacks in Energy JHJ 310 @12:15p
Monday - 2/27
Tuesday - 2/28 Learn To Run Your Empire -Education Building @6p
Wednesday - 3/1
Thursday - 3/2
MEET & GREET w/ Dr. Raphael Moffett
Friday - 3/3 T.G.I.F.
The Weekend 3/4 & 3/5 TSU Basketball doubleheader @HPE Tip-off at 5:30
Our calendar is reserved for the advertisement of on and off campus events. If you are interested in having your event placed on our calendar, then please stop by room 221 of the Student Center or call us at (713) 313-6710.
20 Questions
1. Are you ready for midterms? 2. Who’s going to South Padre Island for #SB2k17 3. Why was the All-Star Weekend so trash? 4. Do professors think we don’t have lives outside of school? 5. Will the Miss TSU Paegent have anything to do with the upcoming elections? 6. What are you trying to pledge? 7. When will ALL of the Divine Nine be back on the yard? 8. So when are we bringing back DT? #BringBackDT 9. Who are we having for SpringFest 2k17? 10. Sports again, Houston, do you want Tony Romo? 11. Have you met the new Dean of Students? 12. When will they open up Lanier East again? 13. QTRNA, so is the Tiger Story blog actually telling the truth? 14. Who’s behind the Tiger Story blog? Don’t worry we won’t tell. 15. Who’s ready for shorts and UGG boots season? 16. Who’s thrown the best parties thus far? 17. Can a campus event be successful without food? 18. How many incoming students should we REALLY expect Fall 2017? 19. Rain drop? 20. Who is the TSU Mascot(s)? And what happened to the little baby one, the short one?
You have questions and we have the answers Subscribe to the Talk on the Walk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCwfBhYsUswaAZTPYLHnXspQ
DISCLAIMER: The questions are submitted by the student body and are not the views of The TSU Herald or Texas Southern University as a whole. Feel free to bring your questions to room 221 of the Student Center. Questions are printed at the discretion of The TSU Herald.
#TSU20QUESTIONS