Vol. 68 issue No. 04 by THE TSU HERALD

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Vol 68 | Number 04 THE TSU HERALD | September 23rd, 2015

CAMPUS NEWS page 2

STUDENTS HIT BLOW FOR BLOW AT BATTLE OF THE SEXES

LIFE & STYLE

page 5

CONTROVERSY SURROUNDS MISS AMERICA PAGEANT APOLOGY TO VANESSA WILLIAMS

SPORTS page 8

SPORTS RUNDOWN

OPINION page 11

ONE ISLAND, DIVIDED

Students Demand Change With #TakeBackTxSU Movement

Campus News Students Hit Blow For Blow at Battle of the Sexes Black Lives Defined by Christian Student Leaders at Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Event

BY TYLER DOGGETT Staff Writer

Emotions heated up as University Program Council hosted their annual Battle of the Sexes forum on September 18th, 2015 Both eager freshmen and seasoned veterans filled the room excited to debate questions that are often asked every day. The student body was separated upon arrival based strategically on gender; the males crowded one side of the room while the ladies dominated the other in hope to get a clear understanding of differences in perspective to today’s methods of love and commitment. With the women heavily outweighing the men, the forum quickly seemed to be one sided with the women as the clear victors, but the men kept up the conversation with strong rebuttals and concise questions discussing topics involving sex, love and the role double standards play within today’s community. 2015-2016 UPC Forum Chair and Organizer, London Gabourel, spearheaded the event with high hopes that it’ll be everything the student body has been asking for. “I knew the turnout would be big, but I never expected this many people to show up,” London stated, “I’m really glad the student body is con-

EDITORIAL STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LENZI S. CAUSEY CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR AMBER VERNON SPORTS EDITOR JONATHAN DAVIS OPINION EDITOR LINDSAY GARY STAFF WRITER TYLER DOGGETT Publications Manager TIYOSHA TURNER Advisors SERBINO SANDIFER-WALKER MICHAEL BERRYHILL

cerned about the discussion.” Hosted by Melvin Anderson and Tionna Cobb, the student body was catered to food and refreshments while the event opened up with questions being view off of a live feed from the ask.fm application. The panelists ranged from all corners of the university, some being: Student Government Association’s Senate Chair Jonathan Davis, Collegiate 100 member Darius Lewis, Venisha Marthrel a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. And UPC’s own Social Recreation Co-Chair Titia Ritter. Questions peaked people’s understandings to see how love, society, and sex, differed amongst opposite sexes. “It only takes 3 months to really know someone like the back of your hand,” Lewis said when asked how long should a person be in the ‘talking’ phase before creating a commitment. Although heavily dominated by questions surrounding sex, other inquiries about understanding the opposite sex sat students down for a deeper meaning to the event.

The T SU Herald is published by the students of Te x a s S o u t h e r n U n i v e r s i t y. Opinions expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily ref lect 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.

“It’s more than just your favorite color. It’s when you truly blend and understand someone,” Ritter said when asked what makes someone intellectually beautiful. Concluding the event, UPC President Dari Hester addressed future events within the organization and kind words of wisdom to linger within the student body’s minds. “This event was a lot of fun! Glad I did come out,” freshman Latanya Rozior said, hoping all the events this year are as satisfying as this one.

BY TYLER DOGGETT Staff Writer One of TSU’s many campus organizations shone a light on recent activity Wednesday, September 16th within the community as they look deeply into the Black Lives Matter Campaign. Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, an on-campus Christian organization, hosted a panel discussion about the importance of the black lives matter campaign and all its key aspects that make the movement as strong and prevalent as it is today. The event was hosted by Student Government Association Senator and Intervarsity President, Anthony Carter, who opened the conversation up with the theme, “We get our DIGNITY from our IDENITY.” Opening entertainment was led by local poet Jordan Simpson and an artist by the name of Young Giant whose song, “Black Ain’t Black No More,” preaches a significant message about the crime rate amongst our own community and that we have to hold ourselves accountable before we are ever able to put our the fingers on the problem. The keynote speaker of the event was Regional Coordinator of Intervarsity Shawn Watkins, from Houston, Texas. Watkins opened up with what he said is the most important part of this forum before addressing the relative problems from a biblical standpoint and solutions: prayer. “We are a part of a very long conversation right now,” Watkins said addressing the cultural core for the concerns in our dignity, identity and significance and the topic of his sermon that people should be Christians first and black second, “a lot of people believe in Jesus Christ but do you know who He was?” The panel had a variety of representation of key components within both our community like renowned Author and Black Activist, Derrick Muhammad, former NAACP President at Texas Southern University, Jalice Smith, and our university Executive Director of Public Safety Chief , Roger Bayers. The forum was led with a very powerful question that set the tone of the conversation: Do Black lives matter to Black people? With a unanimous yes. “It’s not that black lives don’t matter, it’s just black lives don’t matter enough,” Muhammad proclaimed, “As a people we lack a knowledge of ourselves.” When the same question was twisted in the aspect of the police, the panel was divided on the importance of African Americans within the community to Officers. Chief Byars wanted to ensure that the police here at Texas Southern are doing everything they can to prevent the situation within the community with police brutality does not affect the integrity of the force and that all resolutions can be solved if we just establish a good communication between the student body and the officers. “There is no individual in my department that isn’t human,” Byars said. Throughout the forum, the most prominent entity encouraged was the community is in the forefront of our concerns and without unity, we cannot prosper.

Cover Story Students Demand Change with #TakeBackTSU Movement

BY AMBER VERNON Campus News Editor

Leader of the Take Back TxSU Movement, Christina Letsinger speaks at Free Speech Friday Students spoke out about campus issues in the student center at Free Speech Friday, September 18th. The event was hosted by the Communication Student Alliance to give students and faculty a chance to talk about the Take Back TSU movement and the issues troubling the student body. During the meeting, junior Christina Letsinger BY TATYANA NEAL spoke about why she started #TakeBackTxSU. Contributing Writer “I started the Take Back TSU movement because I love my university and wanted to see it succeed,” Letsinger said. “I don’t want this to become an ugly movement or one of disrespect. This is a movement to bring us together, not create division between SGA [Student Government Association], faculty, or administration. This movement is a call for change.” Letsinger and supporters of the movement said the purpose is to fix the problems happening on campus. Some of the main issues concerning students are about inadequate housing, financial aid services, campus maintenance, safety and lack of updated equipment. Previous SGA President, Terrance Bolton spoke on the campus housing conditions. “There are students that I have talked to personally that are sleeping on couches in living rooms and still being expected to pay the same amount as someone who has a room to themselves,” Bolton

said. “There are students that are sleeping in their cars that are attending this university. There are students that are having financial aid issues. There are students that feel like they’re being micromanaged and bullied by administrators. We have problems. It’s not just one or two things.”

financial aid office. Only one booth on the left end was open with only two people helping students and the financial aid office was full.” Safety was another issue that Fletcher and other students shed light on during Free Speech Friday.

Senior Ennija Armour said financial aid personnel refused to see students during purge day because the iPad equipment used to sign in were malfunctional.

“People are concerned as to why we haven’t had a public safety forum after the shooting on campus took place,” Fletcher said. “They just temporarily cut visitation in the dorms as if that was a solution, but they are not making people feel safe. None of the cameras on campus work. The emergency kiosks that students can use to call for help don’t work and the campus police don’t respond to emergencies in a timely manner.”

“There were thirty students who had been sitting in the financial aid office for over an hour and not one window had a representative in it,” Amour said. “A student walked up to a representative and asked if there was any way they could start a sign-up sheet, but the representative felt disrespected and told him he would have to wait for being belligerent. There were students with unpaid balances who were about to get kicked out of class and not one person would help them.” In addition to Armour’s comment, CSA President Raleigh Fletcher said some of the students who were purged out of their classes found out their financial aid hit after they were purged. “There are a lot of discrepancies that have been going on within the school,” Fletcher said. “Yesterday, no one was working the booths in the

In a statement issued on Saturday, Board Chair Glenn O. Lewis said the Regents are ready to hear student complaints and reach consensus with the university administration. He said Texas Southern’s leadership will work swiftly to resolve students’ problems and put systems in place to insure administrative problems do not reoccur. Students held a private town hall meeting Monday to assemble a list of demands and solutions to present to the Board of Regents at an upcoming meeting on October 16th.

Life & Style

Controversy Surrounds Miss America Pageant Apology to Vanessa Williams BY AMBER VERNON Campus News Editor Actress and singer Vanessa Williams received an unexpected apology from Miss America CEO , Sam Haskell, after returning to the show 32 years later as a celebrity judge. Williams made history in 1983 as the first Black woman to win the crown, but after a nude photo scandal, Miss America forced her to resign. Haskell apologized to Williams on stage Sunday, September 14, for the way the scandal was handled. “You have lived your life in grace and dignity, and never was it more evident than during the events of 1984 when you resigned,” Haskell said. “Though none of us currently in the organization were involved then, on behalf of today’s organization, I want to apologize to you and to your mother, Miss Helen Williams. I want to apologize for anything that was said or done that made you feel any less than the Miss America you are and the Miss America you always will be.” Although the apology was received with claps and cheers from the audience, Suzette Charles, who took the title

of “Miss America 1984” after William’s resignation, said the apology was unnecessary in an interview with Inside Edition. “I’m not sure what that was all about,” Charles said. “I have a feeling that was about ratings. I think that as accomplished as she is and that she’s worked so tirelessly for 32 years to build her career and to prove to America what she was always all about; I’m not sure why she needed that apology.” After hearing about Charles’ response, two TSU students said they believed race was the issue behind the ordeal. “It’s because she’s Black,” senior Jasemine Knowles said. “Had she been white, I don’t think the apology would have taken that long. And I think Suzette is just jealous of how successful Vanessa is.” In addition, Senior Chyna Johnson thinks the nude photos were published because Williams was black. “I feel like the apology was genuine, but at the back of my head, I know it has something to do with race,” Johnson said. “She was the first Black woman to win the Miss America title and it would just so happen that the photos were released during the time that she won. It seems like no matter what a Black person does, it’s not ever good enough.” Williams took the nude photos two years prior to the Miss America pageant in 1983, under the impression that the photos were silhouettes in which she would be unidentifiable. However, the photographer that took the photos sold them to Penthouse magazine where they were published with the headline, “Miss America: Oh, God, She’s Nude”. Despite her scandal, Williams succeeded in her career as an actress and singer. Some of her accomplishments include winning an Academy Award for the theme song in “Pocahontas”, making her album “The Sweetest Days” go platinum, starring as Vivian Slater in the ABC network TV series ‘Ugly Betty,’ and achieving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Life & Style Viola Davis Makes History as the First Black Woman to Win Best Drama Actress at the 2015 Emmys, Delivers Powerful Speech COURTESY OF NBC NEW YORK not there.” She then went on to thank “HTGAWM” creator Pete Nowalk and executive producer Shonda Rhimes, calling them “people who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black,” before going on to recognize some of her peers, including fellow nominee, “Empire’s” Taraji P. Henson, as well as Kerry Washington, Halle Berry, Nicole Beharie, Meagan Good and Gabrielle Union. “Thank you for taking us over that line,” she said.

“How to Get Away With Murder’s” Viola Davis made history at the 2015 Emmys when she became the first African-American woman to win the award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. Taking the stage for her first win (and nomination), Davis, 50, quoted Harriet Tubman at the start of her emotional and powerful speech, saying, “In my mind, I see a line. And over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line, but I can’t seem to get there no how. I can’t seem to get over that line.’ That was Harriet Tubman in the 1800s.” Davis continued, “And let me tell you something, the only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply

Emmys Red Carpet: Best and Worst Dressed[NATL] Emmy Awards 2015 Red Carpet: Best and Worst Dressed In addition to Henson, Davis beat out “Homeland’s” Claire Danes, “Orphan Black’s” Tatiana Maslany, “Mad Men’s” Elisabeth Moss, and “House of Card’s” Robin Wright to take home the historic win. Henson and Davis also made Emmy history with their nominations as it was the first time that two black women have earned an Emmy nomination in the same year in this category. And prior to Kerry Washington’s 2013 nomination for “Scandal,” the last

black woman to be nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series was Cicely Tyson in 1995. (Tyson actually played Davis’ mother on “How To Get Away With Murder.”)

Need an event covered? Come to Room 221 of the Student Center to fill out an Event Coverage Form!

THROUGH THE EYE

Texas Southern University Excellence in Achievement

Photos Courtesy of Dominique Monday and David Funchess

ES OF&OUR Life StyleTIGERS

Sports

Sports Rundown BY JONATHAN DAVIS AND MARCUS SMITH Sports Editor and Contributing Writer

The Tigers football team showed resilience, scoring 17 points in the 3rd quarter to defeat University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on the road this past Saturday, with an ending score of 24-20. Texas Southern was able to gain 312 yards of total offense, while forcing 3 key turnovers on defense. This was a much-needed SWAC win, since they lost to their conference opener to their archrival, the Prairie View A&M Panthers. “After losing to PV (western division) in the season home opener, we knew that we had to win against Pine-Bluff (western division) in order to still be in the race to become western division champs,” Senior Tight End Billy Rosenberg said. Wide Receiver Derrick Griffin has continued to stand out and show his big play ability in his debut season here at Texas Southern University. He had 2 receptions for 63 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown catch in the 2nd quarter.

7:37 left in the period. The Tigers play again this Saturday on the road at Jackson State.

make the key moves necessary to seal the victory.

Texas Southern Volleyball swept Hutson-Tillotson University in three straight sets in their series matchup Sept. 15.With this win, the TSU Lady Tigers break a three game losing streak, building confidence heading into the Arizona State Tournament.

“We just never gave up,” Shannon said. “We started off a little bit slow in the beginning [of the third set] but we just kept on pushing and pushing.”

“We’re going to be playing some tough teams, but we just have to keep our confidence up and play our game,” Senior Outside Hitter Robyn Shannon said. Shannon led the way with eight kills, while Kali Fluke added seven of her own. Taylor Dickerson and Ashlynn Caldwell each pitched in with six. “We had better team chemistry...I feel like that’s what helped us win this game,” Fluke, Middle Blocker said.

Despite being down early in the third set, the Darrell Robinson was a huge part of the Tigers Lady Tigers fought hard to overcome a seven success, rushing for 2 touchdowns in the 3rd point deficit to complete a sweep. After reeling quarter, including the go ahead score with back to tie the game at 24, Lady Tigers would Cowboys & Texans In Opposite Directions as Season Starts

They will be back in action at the H&PE Arena against Grambling State on October 9th. Although the Texas Southern University Women’s Soccer Team has a 2-6 record this season, they are coming off of a 1-0 win against The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley. The lone goal, scored by Marlyn Campa, came with 45 seconds left in regulation. Before that goal, UTRGV had gone 327 consecutive game minutes without allowing a goal and it was the first goal given up by Rio Grande Valley junior goal-keeper, Maria Eriksen this season. Tiger’s goal-keeper Liliana Hernandez made three critical saves to secure the win and end their five-game losing streak. The Tigers Soccer team will play at home this Friday at 7 pm against Grambling State.

BY JONATHAN DAVIS Sports Editor

The Houston Texans are 0-2 on the season, with their latest loss coming to Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday 24-17. Ryan Mallett, who got the start at QB for the first time this season, struggled in the game completing less than 50 percent of his passes and throwing an interception in the 4th quarter. “There are obviously plays I could have made that I didn’t,” Mallett said. The Texans had one last chance to tie the game, but Mallett’s pass on 4th and 16 was overthrown in the closing seconds of the game. All Pro Defensive End J.J Watt ended the game with five tackles, one sack, two quarterback hurries and two tipped passes for the Texans. Houston will play again this Sunday at home against 1st overall draft pick Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cowboys may have won and lost on Sunday in a brutal, ugly game against their NFC East rival, Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys were able to escape Philadelphia with a 20-10 victory to improve their record to 2-0, but it came with a cost as Tony Romo was injured in the 3rd quarter. Reports are that he will miss up to 8 weeks. This was a huge loss considering the team is already missing star receiver, Dez Bryant, who has a foot injury and three key starters on the defensive side of the ball. Backup quarterback Brandon Weeden came in the game and went 7-7 for 73 yards including a 42 yard pass touchdown pass to Terrance Williams, the Cowboys only offensive touchdown. “Weeden plays with poise and composure and the players are confident in him,” Coach Jason Garrett said. Eagles RB Demarco Murray, who was the NFL’s leading rusher as a Cowboy just last season, was held to 2 rushing yards by the stout Cowboys defense. The Cowboys play against the red-hot Atlanta Falcons at home this Sunday looking to continue their momentum.

Opinion

#TakeBackTxSU is needed to shed light on “Culture Identity Crisis” at Texas Southern BY NYCOLE HUTCHENS Contributing Writer

On Wednesday, September 16, Twitter was trending with a hot topic hashtag #TakeBackTxSU that went viral in less than 2 hours. Students are outraged at Texas Southern University for its’ many recent changes that have called administrations actions into question and rightfully so. Texas Southern University is known for building its legacy on being an HBCU (Historically Black College University. Many students from all over the world come to institutions like TSU for its unique aspects of culture and history, from Greek organizations, Homecoming, and Football games. However, many students are being cheated of their “HBCU” experience not just for lack of cultural presence that celebrate the AfricanAmerican community. For example, last spring, Black History Month

was not celebrated and when a Greek organization known as Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. attempted to gracefully honor Black History month on campus (via a balloon release) it was immediately shut down after it was approved. In addition to lack of Black culture awareness on campus, Texas Southern released a recruitment video last fall that omitted AfricanAmerican students under the guise of “diversity.” The video not only had little to no black students, it also failed to highlight programs offered on campus, student life, and more importantly failed to mention that TSU is an “HBCU”. Many argue that the video was an attempt to showcase diversity and inclusion. But how can “inclusion” be conveyed when the very people who make up the majority student body and the reason the school was established in the first place, could be omitted from a powerful

marketing tool? It is hard to believe that marketing did not have the intent to show as little black presence as possible to “appeal” to the masses. However, this is a “dangerous” approach to recruit all students from all walks of life. The message there in is saying we are somehow “ashamed” of Black presence on campus. The powerful #TakeBackTxSU has been met with much praise and criticism, criticism that seems to support the narrative that TSU is justified in its’ approach to overlook Black Students. As one student named Christina Letsinger a junior at TSU who started the powerful hashtag said in an interview with HBCU Digest, “That’s the first motive. We are subconsciously being turned into a PWI.” We need to continue to support movements like #TakeBackTxSU to help bring back awareness and fair representation for all.

Political Cartoon by David Ekunno, Contributing Artist

Opinion

How Dare You Not Be Proud of My TSU? BY ANITA M. FREEMAN Contributing Writer

I walked on campus and had to stop to take a breath. Not because I’m fat and old, as students passing by may have thought, but because I was so thoroughly impressed by what I was seeing. Tierwester is closed between Cleburne, so no more standing at the light, waiting for traffic to pass, trying to get to a class in the old Business Building. The Tiger Walk is extended all the way to Ennis St., and is definitely not the old, broken concrete Wheeler St. that I remembered. All of the new prestigious buildings. The Student Life Center, where I spent every moment that I wasn’t in class is beautiful. The revamped bookstore, the computer lab and a Chick-fil-A, you go, Texas Southern University! In my day, or in the “olden days,” a phrase that I used when asking my parents’ of their history, we stood in line for hours outside of Fairchild Gym only to get inside and stand in more lines. Lines, for each instructor, lines for financial aid, lines for parking decals, lines, lines, and more lines. But, we stood in them proudly because it was an honor to be a student of this historical university. Now I’m back, after a few decades hiatus. My daughter, Dr. Nytarsha Brown Thomas is a TSU graduate. My aunt, a retired educator, and activist graduated from TSU. My brother, a successful business owner graduated from TSU. Each generation had issues that we did not like, and protested against. But, each protest was done with love and respect. When reading the tweets concerning the #TakeBackTSU - #TakeBackTxSU, there were many posts that were uplifting. Nycole Hutchens uploaded a historical picture of students face down, in the dirt, with the police hovering over them, rifle ready. The caption read, “Remember what your alumni went through for you.” Professor Serbino Sandifer-Walker posted a historical picture, and the caption read, “Know that you stand on the shoulders of icons that made Houston and this nation better.” Some students posted opposition, that was seemingly disrespectful in their tweets, that I posted the

question: “Students, are we still TSU proud?” Only a few responded. A student who’s twitter named showed Breona Micole stated, “Not at all. We, the students do not feel valued. We literally have to BEG for the resources we pay for.” Styna West responded, “I am still very proud of my

Student panelists prepare for SGA Forum September 21st.

school, but tired of things that are happening on campus, we are all TIRED.” I totally understand being tired. I have been in the financial aid office more times than I care to mention, and still have not been awarded. I have been lied to on several occasions by the personnel there, so do I still love Texas Southern University? Most definitely! There is nothing wrong with voicing concerns. A closed mouth does not get fed, but voice those concerns as articulate, intelligent students of higher education. Make sure that you are well informed on the issues before you complain about them. While in the financial aid office, one young man was reporting that there was no way to sign in. Yes, the regular sign-in option was down, but there was a young man standing in the front, with a tablet, allowing students to sign in. Let your truths be the truth. KHOU, Channel 11, ran a story yesterday concerning the lack of diversity in a recruitment video. I saw tweets from many angry students that could

not understand how an HBCU could produce a video, which did not have one Black student in it, but no one mentioned the recruitment video featuring Kenneth Ware Jr., life and style reporter, PR coordinator, chief social media correspondent, and published writer. He is from the class of 2012, broadcast journalism, and was the chosen 360 Consumer Marketing Group Representative for TSU at BET for two years. He was recently on campus, in Professor Walker’s class, sharing his experiences with her journalism students. Ware’s target audience was a different group. It was high energy and exciting. He showcased the Ocean of Soul, the football team in action, the majorettes, the game room, Greek life, and a representative of each School, telling their TSU experience. I could say, I did not see one older student in his presentation, but I know that I was not his target audience. I was not offended in the least. There were only a few minority students featured, were they offended? There are actually several videos, wait and see all of them, then make an informed decision. Since 1927, when TSU was Houston Colored Junior College, there have been students marching and protesting, for change. Today’s students reap the benefits of those protest. Each generation has a duty, to make things better for the next generation. Your children will benefit from the changes in which you are fighting. However, when your children read your tweets, Facebook posts, and other social media networks that you have utilized, and ask mom or dad, if you are not proud of your school, then why were you there? What will be your response?

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the previous two opinion pieces do not reflect the views of The Herald as a whole. However, we do work to afford all students the opportunity to partake in their rights to Free Speech.

Opinion One Island, Divided BY LINDSAY GARY Opinion Editor

Christopher Columbus to Jean-Jacques Dessalines like we prefer weaves to afros, Beyonces to Kelly Rowlands, white Jesus to Shango, and Black to African (American) and surely Alkebulani. This humbled me.

When I think of Haitians, I think of a powerful example of activated, melanated brilliance. A people who united intellectually, culturally, spiritually, and physically and overcame extreme odds to overthrow their brutal, psychotically racist, and seemingly invincible French oppressors. What they did in 1791 gives me hope for what we can do in 2015. But what the world sees is different. The world sees a poor nation of black peasants who are incapable of running their own country. Too helpless to feed their children. Too inadequate to maintain a strong economy. Too immoral to seek mercy from God. Too black and too proud to be righteous. But what the world does not feel is what I felt in the people of Anse-a-Pitres, Ayiti. A revolutionary, unwavering spirit, one that is undoubtedly identical to the beautiful spirits possessed by their African emancipator ancestors. And in the Dominican Republic, I felt, saw, and thought of something completely different. A confused, colonized nation of Africans who’d been watered down both mentally and genetically. Although I blended in physically with my chestnut brown complexion, I didn’t fit in. While there were exceptions, the masses—beautiful browns like the spectrum of shades representative of Black Americans—equated their platanos to Spanish culture, attempted to blow out and fry every kink and curl, and were vehemently disgusted by their brothers and sisters next door. I was disgusted. But I understood that they preferred a statue of

And I decided not to look down upon them but to remember their indoctrination and reflect on the history of the island. Hispaniola is the site of the first European “settlement” (invasion) in the Americas—the island Christopher Columbus “discovered” (stole) in 1492. In addition to the decimation of the Taino and other indigenous populations, the Spanish (Dominican Republic) and the French (Haiti) kidnapped and enslaved thousands of Africans on the island. After the Haitians led by Dessalines overthrew the French in what was the world’s first successful slave revolt, the Spanish in the Dominican Republic became extremely nervous that the African population in their colony would soon do the same. In order to prevent this, they went on campaigns to literally breed out the black in their slaves. But what was arguably even more devastating, was the indoctrination and colonization of these people’s minds. Dominicans of African heritage, a majority of the population, were forced to reject their Africanisms and to look down on the dark skin, kinky hair, heritage, religion, and language of their neighbors in Haiti. The masses of Dominicans of African heritage eventually began identifying with Catholicism as opposed to Vodun and Santeria and Spanish heritage instead of African, indigenous, or even mixed heritage. White was right. Although the Haitians helped the Dominicans achieve their independence, and both countries were for some time even united as one nation, the tension between the two countries grew. One of the most notorious perpetrators was 20th-century Dictator Rafael Trujillo, a mulatto of African descent himself, who authorized the massacre of over 20,000 Haitians. Under his ideology of hispanidad, the nation would identify solely with its Spanish heritage, no matter how brutal and re-

pulsive a history it was. Thus, the story was rewritten and African influences were discredited and eliminated in history, culture, and identity. This system was implemented in other institutions like that of the Catholic Church, down to the music— even merengue was whitewashed by prohibiting the use of the drums. On the other side of the island, Haiti’s problems stem not from the practice of African-based voodoo or the corruption of Haiti’s leaders, but instead from a vendetta. The nation has been systematically punished and attacked by France, Spain, the Dominican Republic, and the United States since they gained their independence. From trade embargos, exploitation of natural resources and indigenous crops, puppet politicians, sexual perverts disguised as missionaries, genocide, slavery, racism, and xenophobia, these countries have strategically worked to ruin Haiti. The 2010 earthquake was just the cherry on top. My temporary home in the town of Anse-a-Pitres is now home to hundreds of Dominican-born Haitian refugees because the Dominican Republic is executing a mass deportation plan. Leaders say Haitians are depleting their resources and taking Dominican jobs, but history shows that this is just another attempt to whitewash the country. France and the United States owe Haiti billions of dollars in reparations. I don’t expect it to happen any time soon though. The black people in their own respective countries can’t even get a break. The Dominican Republic owes Haiti its freedom. We owe Haiti our freedom. What Haitians did in 1791 sparked our own revolts in the United States and eventually led to our physical emancipation from slavery. It’s up to us. We must decolonize and emancipate our minds, and stand in solidarity with our Haitian and Dominican sisters and brothers and work to put an end to white supremacy and racial domination, stop the abuse and economic exploitation, and help to reunite the island.

What’s Happening on campus & around town

Monday - 9/21

Tuesday - 9/22

Food Bank Wesley Foundation 2:30-4:30 pm

Monday - 9/28

Tuesday - 9/29

Food Bank Wesley Foundation 2:30-4:30 pm

Wednesday - 9/23 Royal Court Coronation Sawyer Auditorium 7 pm

Wednesday - 9/30

Thursday - 9/24

Friday - 9/25

The Weekend 9/26 & 9/27

Friday - 10/2

The Weekend 10/3 & 10/4

Career Fair Recreation Center 10 am-2 pm

Thursday - 10/1 Campus Org anization Membership Drive Student Center Cafe 8 pm

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.

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20 Questions

Will the students really Take Back TSU? Will the movement really cause change? Are you for or against the movement? Do you think alumni should be involved? Are administrators going to start responding accordingly? Are students going to get housing who are deprived? Do any student leaders really want to take back the university? Why doesn’t TSU feel like an HBCU? Why didn’t we know about coronation? How are departments supposed to have queens? Are students going to attend coronation? TSU football beat UAPB. Surprised? Will TSU Football go 3-1? Are you going to the soccer game Friday at 7? Are you looking forward to Homecoming? Who is passing their classes so far? Have you gotten your refund yet? Did you know the career fair is Thursday? Is your resume` ready? Do you love Texas Southern University?

Anonymously submit your questions via Ask.FM Today: TSU20Questions

DISCLAIMER: The questions are submitted by the student body and are not the views of The TSU Herald or Texas Southern University as a whole. Feel free to bring your questions to room 221 of the Student Center. Questions are printed at the discretion of The TSU Herald.

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