“The New York Times of Alabama State University”
The Hornet Tribune VOLUME 56, ISSUE 3
NOVEMBER 11, 2017
The official student newspaper serving the Alabama State University and Metro-Montgomery communities
PHOTO BY DAVID CAMPBELL/UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHER
The Alabama State University Board of Trustees met on Nov. 8 to define the various metrics that will be used to evaluate President Quinton T. Ross Jr., Ed.D effectiveness in at least four critical areas.
Trustees consider metrics for university president BY DAVID KING
Interim Editor-in-Chief dkingymfc@gmail.com
Alabama State University President Quinton T. Ross will be expected to ensure that the graduation rates do not decrease, enrollment and retention increases, and that more than $2 million in new money be raised, aside
from the provisions already established contractually, as determined by the Board of Trustees during their Nov. 8 meeting in the Board Conference Room of the Dunn-Oliver Acadome. Earlier that morning the Executive Committee of the Board met to determine and discuss several topics in regards to the metrics of
the president’s contract. The metrics included graduation rates, enrollment, retention rates and advanced fundraising. “Why are we expecting no reduction in graduation rates instead of expecting an increase?” asked Trustee Tiffany McCord. “Is an increase in the graduation rates not going to be part of the metrics of
the contract?” Trustee Robert Gilpin responded. “When we spoke earlier, we determined that it would not be fair to the president to provide a metric that focused on increasing graduation rates on classes that entered twelve semester ago, when he was not here,” Gilpin explained.
He emphasized the importance of recognizing the need for the increase of the graduation rates but pointed out that this would be something that would be addressed next year beginning with the incoming freshman class. “But if the incoming freshman class is going to be the measure, then this would mean it would not be a metric
because the president does not have a contract for that long,” McCord said. Gilpin agreed, but noted that next year it would be a fair shot at adding graduation rate increases into the metrics seeing that this year’s rate would be something that, if being based off of the class See CONSIDER on page 4
PHOTO BY DAVID EVANS/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Pamela Holton, sexual transmitted diseases and rape crisis expert, reasoned with the audience regarding the issue of safe sex.
Delta Sigma Theta holds forum on sexual health NEFSAHYATT BROWN Staff Reporter/Writer tribune18@gmail.com
place to display their talents and be themselves.” The three contestants, Tyler Rice, a first-year finance major; Rashad Jackson, a first-year secondary education major, and Marquavius Walker, a senior forensic chemistry major competed in four categories: swimwear, talent, spirit PHOTO BY DAVID EVANS/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER wear and evening wear. Tyler Rice, a freshman finance major from Mobile, Ala., steals the The alternates of the hearts of the judges and walks away with the title Mr. Debonair. evening were Jackson, a everything together.” eant annually. crowd favorite, who was Shepherd, a member of “We hold this pageant named Mr. Blue and WalkZeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. every year to promote con- er, also a crowd favorite who and senior psychology major, fidence and character build- was named Mr. White constated why the chapter spon- ing among black men,” said See NAMED on page 4 sors the Mr. Debonair Pag- Shepard. “It gives them a
“I expect to get informed about diseases and infections and how to get them, especially since there is a 1:24 ratio of men to women here,” said juniors Denae Hill and Brandi McInnis before the start of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Sexual Health Forum held in the Ralph Abernathy Auditorium on Nov. 8. Hosted by the Physical and Mental Health Committee of the Beta Eta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority at Alabama State University and the Omicron Mu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority at Auburn University Montgomery, the forum was designed to increase awareness regarding sexual health and domestic violence. The panelists introduced by Beta Eta Chapter President Taylor Mitchell, and Omicron Mu chapter President Kelli Abernathy, included Cheryl Lang, resident director of Violence Against
nizations to be mindful that the student organization registration process has become more comprehensive “for the protection of the organization itself and the university.” “We want our organizations to expand their reach and grow through commu-
to follow. “We are requesting that all of our ogranizations (including those that are university funded) complete a registration packet that includes paperwork for the organization advisor(s), the organization officers, risk
PHOTO BY DAVID EVANS/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
(L-R) Marquavius Walker, 2nd Alternate, Tyler Rice, Mr. Debonair 2017-18 and Rashad Jackson, First Alternate pose for an official photograph immediately after the winners were named in the 2017-18 Mr. Debonair Pageant held in Abernathy Hall Auditorium.
Rice named 2017-18 Mr. Debonair NEFSAHYATT BROWN Staff Reporter/Writer tribune18@gmail.com
“The road to becoming Mr. Debonair was an arduous one, but I would definitely do it again because I learned so much from the experience as well as the young men who were in the pageant with me,” said Tyler Rice, the newly namedMr. Debonair 2017-18. He continued. “I am elated to carry the title and I would like to thank everyone involved, especially Broquelynn Shepherd who helped bring
Dr. Scott Holmes, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counselor encouraged the audience to be cautious.
Wo(men), Dr. Marguerite Barbra-Owens, HIV/AIDS expert, Dr. Scott Holmes, an alumnus of Alabama State University and Mental Health/Substance Abuse Counselor in the penal system, Eva Matthews, resident risk manager/Title IX officer and Pamela Holton, STD’s/ domestic violence/ rape crisis expert. See HOLD on page 5
Student Life enacts new registration procedures for organizations BY DAVID KING
Interim Editor-in-Chief dkingymfc@gmail.com
The Student Involvement, Inclusion and Community Engagement Division of the Office of Student Life encourages all student orga-
CAMPUS NEWS p.2
nity engagement and involvement,” said Kenneth A. Dean, JD. “In an effort to accomplish this goal, we are now requiring more information from organizations, so that they can be prepared for the new direction that this office would like to see our rec-
ognized organizations move into. There was a time when our student organzations were heavily involved into the community. We want to see that beecome a reality again.” He outlines the steps that organizations are being asked
HORIZONS p.7
management and travel,” Dean said. “All organizations will have to pay a $35 registration fee. The $35 registration fee will be used to help train our organization leaders and advisors through See ENACTS on page 4
VIEWPOINTS p.7
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UNIVERSITY NEWS
The Hornet Tribune Alabama State University 915 South Jackson Street Montgomery, Alabama 36104 (334) 229-4273 www.hornettribune.com
Nov. 11, 2017
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Miss Alabama State University and Miss Grambling State University are joined by their respective Class Queens as they enjoy a comical moment before the start of the Alabama State University versus Grambling State University football game on Nov. 11.
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GENERAL POLICIES The Hornet Tribune is written, edited and published by members of the student body at Alabama State University. All articles, photographs, and graphics are property of The Hornet Tribune and its contents may not be reproduced or republished without written permission from the general manager. The Hornet Tribune is published once-weekly (Tuesday) with a run count of 5,000 copies per issue during the Alabama State University campus fall, spring semesters. The paper is free to the students, staff, faculty, and the general public every Tuesday morning on the ASU campus. The Hornet Tribune student offices are open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-Friday. The offices are located on the second floor of the John Garrick Hardy Center. The Hornet Tribune is the official student newspaper of the Alabama State University community located in Montgomery, Ala. Articles, features, opinions, speak out and editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the administration and its policies. Signed articles, feedback, commentaries, and features do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, staff, or student body. The Hornet Tribune is a 12- or 16 page newspaper produced by The Hornet Tribune staff. The entire student body, the primary audience of readers, receives the newspaper free of charge to encourage readership and to ensure the showcasing of our journalistic work. Our secondary audience includes faculty, local community and other collegiate newspaper staffs throughout the country. The newspaper attempts to inform and entertain its audience in a broad, fair and accurate manner on all subjects that affect readers. The medium seeks also to provide a forum for the opinions of the students, the staff of The Hornet Tribune and the faculty to encourage an exchange of ideas and opinions on issues of prominence to the readers. While the staff will allow constructive criticism of any part of The Hornet Tribune after publication, final authority for content of The Hornet Tribune rests solely in the hands of the staff, with the chief editor making the final decision.
PHOTO BY DAVID EVANS/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Jordan Brooks is the judicial officer in the Office of Student Affairs. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-West in Kansas City, Mo. with a masters of arts in higher education administration. His office is located in the Student Affairs suite in the JGHC.
Brooks offers a strong vision for Judicial Affairs BY DAVID KING
Interim Editor-in-Chief dkingymcf@gmail.com
“I find that students are in an exploratory phase within their collegiate journey and that their development may be fluid depending on their interactions with the campus community, relationships and other factors that are unforeseen,” said Jordan H. Brooks, newly appointed director of Judicial Affairs, a division of Alabama State University’s Office of Student Affairs. A graduate of the University of Missouri-West Kansas City with a B.A. in sociology, gerontology, family studies in healing and humanities, Brooks continued his graduate studies receiving a master of arts in higher education administration and a graduate certificate in foundations of education. Since June 5, when
Brooks began his directorship at the university, several accomplishments have been made, including the launching and use of online incident reporting forms, 13 new student disciplinary correspondence letters, new uses for the student conduct database “Maxient”, and partnerships with Diversity and International Student Affairs and the University Health Center on programs and activities. The new judicial officer is excited about his goal to work with Student Affairs to revise the University Code of Student Conduct. Brooks says the mission of the office is “to guide ASU students in creating a safe, inclusive, holistic, developmental, and academic centered space that exudes behaviors that are in alignment with the University’s Code of Community Standard/Con-
duct.” He continued. “The hope is that students will see themselves as change agents, leaders in their own way, members of an institution rooted in legacy and champion the opportunities that this academic space affords them the opportunity to engage with,” Brooks said. The office aims to support students through the conduct philosophy of education, rehabilitation/restorative justice, and punitive/ punishment. While Brooks is hopeful about the future of the office and its impact on the lives of students, he acknowledges the number of challenges his office encounters. “Similar to any restructuring for tailored growth, our office finds itself encountering time constraints, visibility and operational budget
concerns,” Brooks said. “Our office not only sees students by appointment, we have walk-ins and support service programs that require our presence and attention.” However, he believes that his office and staff effectively meet those challenges through “collaboration and delegation of tasks,” explaining that his office has spent time, since he began, meeting with and closing out cases that were outstanding cases prior to his start date. Brooks says his office shares the load at times with those full-time staff members who are willing to provide and support when members of the office become inundated with Incident Reports and Cases. In terms of possible partnerships with the Student See OFFERS on page 4
CAMPUS NEWS BRIEFS University to host descendants of founding fathers STAFF REPORT
The Hornet Tribune tribune18@gmail.com
The National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African-American Culture at Alabama State University continues the University’s 150th celebration by hosting several descendants of its founding fathers, the Marion Nine. The event, which is titled “The Marion Nine and Their Descendants: A Genealogical Presentation,” is Tuesday, Nov. 21, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in ASU’s Ralph D. Abernathy College of Education Auditorium. ASU President Quinton
T. Ross will bring greetings. “As Alabama State University celebrates its sesquicentennial, we want to thank Dean Janice Franklin and the staff of the National Center for providing us with a program that brings to life the period surrounding the founding of Alabama State University and to describe how nine ex-slaves fought against incredible odds to establish a school that still stands 150 years later, Alabama State University,” Ross said. Dr. Janice Franklin, director of ASU’s National Center, said speakers will recount the daunting conditions that confronted these heroic
figures. “The Marion Nine were courageous leaders of Marion, Alabama, who understood the importance of education at a time when former slaves had been persecuted for learning to read and write,” Franklin said. “Their brave, outstanding contributions, as founders of the Marion Institute, laid the foundation for the evolution of our prestigious institution of higher learning that we honor today as Alabama State University. ASU’s National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African-American Culture is proud to present an opportunity to learn more about these great men of Marion through
the genealogical research of one of their descendants, Mr. Gary Franklin.” Franklin, one of the descendants and a genealogist/ family researcher, traced his ancestry back to three of the Marion Nine. As guest speaker, he will share the most exciting features of his extensive research and will attempt to put a human face on these pioneers. He will provide a genealogical presentation showing how he traced his family ancestry and identifying three of the University’s founders in his tree. Some family members are also in possession of some artifacts from the founders.
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UNIVERSITY NEWS
Nov. 11, 2017
University Counseling Center hires new team member BY ALEXIS BUTLER
Senior Reporter/Writer alexisbutler57@gmail.com
There are now four strong professionals working vigorously to make sure that a plethora of mental health services are provided, while welcoming students with open arms. As a new member of the counseling team, Tonya Cleveland has stepped up to the plate and has plans of working alongside the other counselors as well as bringing new things to the table that will increase student interaction and interest. As a Montgomery, Ala. native and a graduate of Alabama State University,
Cleveland is excited to give back to ASU students. “I am now reunited with my Hornet family and I am excited to be back at my alma mater,” Cleveland said. “I hope I can share the same encouragement my former professors showed me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without a positive support network.” She shared many thing that she would love to begin at ASU. “I would like to start a women’s empowerment group,” Cleveland said. “This group will meet twice a month and discuss female issues.” Cleveland expressed that not only would she work with
PHOTO BY DAVID EVANS/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Tonya Cleveland, the university’s new counselor wants to initiate an empowerment group on the campus for young women.
young ladies on campus, she would also like to reach out to residence halls on campus, as well. “I would like to meet with the residence hall man-
agers and begin having wellness meeting with students weekly or bi-weekly.” Several students were asked did they know where the University Counseling
Center was located or did they know what the center provided. Six of 15 students reported back saying yes, they knew where the center was. Only one of the six knew what they provided for students. Cleveland explained that with her presence that would soon change and she would make it her job to increase student engagement. “I am social, so I like to converse with students in passing or speak with them in the Hardy Center about the Counseling Center,” Cleveland said. “This way, students may become more aware of the center and the several services that they provide.
She continued. “My vision for the Counseling Center is to encourage our students to come to the center and not be ashamed to ask for help,” Cleveland said. “Oftentimes, students feel out of place looking for help, but Cleveland will communicate to students to help them think otherwise. Seeing a counselor does not make you “crazy”, it is your way of being concerned about your mental health.” With a commitment to confidentiality, Cleveland also explained that things will be kept between the counselor and the student. According to Cleveland, See HIRES on page 5
BOT Executive Committee proposes metrics for CEO BY DAVID KING
Interim Editor-in-Chief dkingymcf@gmail.com
The Alabama State University Board of Trustees met in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome Board Room on Nov. 8 to discuss metrics for President Quinton T. Ross Jr.’s, Ed.D., contract, which included no reduction in graduation rates during his first year, increasing enrollment and retention by five percent and increasing the university reserves to $3 million annually, with an attached incentive. “I think recommendations to increase the graduation rate by three percent are reasonable,” said board chairwoman Alfreda Green. A number of board members needed clarity on the graduation rate discussion. “If we vote for three percent, that is approximately 135 more students graduating between now and next semester,” said Trustee Robert Gilpin. Trustee and Vice Chairwoman Angela McKenzie, who joined the meeting by telephone, gave details of how graduation rates are determined which provided clarity to the other members. “The numbers that you see now are based on those students who entered in the 2012 class,” she said, “Meaning our rates are based on a
PHOTO BY DAVID EVANS/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
President Quinton T. Ross Jr., Ed.D informed the board that he plans on setting aside $500,000 for the university’s reserves.
six year timeline.” Green, who was interested in learning about assessing graduation rates annually, was warned against this by Gilpin who said, “Monitoring graduation year to year is not easy because no one can come in and finish in one year.” Trustee Joe Whitt believed that the best way to determine the success in achieving a graduation rate begins with looking at an incoming freshman class and monitoring them through to their expected graduation. With several board members opposed to placing this metric as a penalizing metric on the new president, expecting the President to ensure that graduation rates do not
drop during his first year and in the next year, assessment be conducted for increase. “Increasing the reserves of the university to $3 million knowing we have increased student tuition should be a goal,” Gilpin said. “I think this is good number to go with and a good metric, seeing as though finances are how we can get this university on the right track.” Another major metric was that of enrollment and retention rates, with an expected ten percent increase in enrollment and five percent increase in tuition. Green, who stated the university needed 5100 students enrolled to operate, was said to be wrong by fellow trustee, Whitt, who believes
the number is 5500, which he examined as “lowering the standards and expectations.” “How do we expect to run a university and maintain it, with lowering the standards?” Whitt asked. But with no clear answer or number, other than a validated number from Alondrea Pritchett, Interim Vice President of Business and Finance, of 4500 students since the Sept. 30 meeting, Green tasked Ross and his administration to return to the board with solid numbers of enrollment needs for the university to sufficiently operate. After concluding discussion, the board only accepted terms regarding enrollment and retention to the full board. Ross yielded to Pritchett, who addressed concerns regarding the current reserves number. “The current amount in reserves, as of Sept. 30, is $2.5 million,” she said. “We have set aside $500,000 for the 2018 fiscal year towards the reserves, but this can be reassessed and changed next year.” “We will base adding to the reserves on the increases in students we have, as every 100 students is approximately $1 million dollars,” Ross said. Ross made unclear
See PROPOSES on page 5
ASPIRE continues to inspire students BY JONEA DAVIS Staff Reporter/Writer jdavis@gmail.com
Have you ever wanted to mentor or tutor high school students? Alabama State University has a mentoring program titled ASPIRE that is both directed and founded by Cynthia J. Handy for those college students who are interested in mentoring younger students. In the fall of 2010, Handy proposed her idea of having ASU students serve as tutors, mentors, and motivators to high school students who were at risk. With the help of her husband, Rev. Cromwell Handy and sister, Judy Galbreath, ASPIRE came to be: “Amazing Students Putting in Resilient Effort” ASPIRE’s mission is “to
The Alabama State University Student Media Board is seeking students who may be interested in becoming the next executive editor of The Hornet Tribune. If you have written for a newspaper and have proof of your work (clips), please submit a resume’, complete an application (second floor of the John Garrick Hardy Center) in the Student Life Complex and forward both to cdmorrison@alasu.edu
PHOTO COURTESY OF ASPIRE
ASPIRE whose mission on the campus began seven years ago is a mentoring program for junior high students.
help and reduce the dropout rate in the community.” Its vision is to “make a difference in the lives of the young people that are touched every week so those students will set goals, receive high school diplomas, obtain higher education, and become productive citizens in the commu-
nity.” By the end of 2011, there were over 50 ASU students from different organizations. To name a few, W.E.B. Du Bois Honor Society, and service organizations like STATIC, SIFE, HPER, Student Government Association, and sororities and fra-
ternities. ASPIRE started with just 25 high school students and now has over 100 students from all over the city of Montgomery. C.J. Gaither, a ninth grader who attends Carver High School stated that “being apart of this program has helped him to learn how to speak up and be a leader to the younger students. The mentors were very helpful through the process.” Erwinique Brown, a junior at ASU, and secretary of the program has been a member of ASPIRE for two years. Reflecting on what she’s learned about herself within the two years of being apart of the program, she said, “I actually like kids now. I’ve realized I can make a differSee CONTINUES on page 4
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UNIVERSITY NEWS
Nov. 11, 2017
Named: “I want them to play the Considers: “If the President gets close to the goals that we set in the ...” in savings that and have been collapsed, communication must be carpart but still be themselves and ...” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 $600,000 would be used to be redistrib- and found that we had $4.8 ried through him. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
gratulated Rice on his new title after the crowning. The judges included: Jasmin Dees, a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., and an Alabama State University alumna; Carl Liggins, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., and the 2014-2016 Mr. Debonair; as well as Romaro Walker, a student ambassador for Alabama State University’s national alumni association. “SHOW OUT, be confident, and most importantly have fun because that’s the most important part,” freshman, Jamin Hunt who advised the contestants as a former pageant participant himself in the Mr. and Miss Street Team Pageant earlier this year. Audience member Alexis Thomas, a secondary education major, said she heard about it on twitter and was
looking to be entertained. “I want them to play the part but still be themselves and truly live up to the title of Mr. Debonair,” she said. In the middle of each category there was an intermission of music and strolling among the various organizations who were in the audience such as the hosts, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and the Student Government Association Street Team. “I did not want to be a statistic and did everything I could to make sure I wasn’t,” Walker said during the question and answer portion of the pageant, when asked why he decided to attend Alabama State University. Shepard who worked closely with each contestant praised them on their growth over the past few weeks. “They have worked so, so, so hard,” she said. “I am proud of their growth and their confidence.”
Enacts: “Beginning January 15, no organization will be able to utilize ...” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
professional development workshops and seminars. Finally, all members of the organization must maintain a 2.5 grade point average, or that member will have to become inactive until he or she can increase the grade point average to the minimum standards.” Dean says due to the university policies and procedures that all student maintain a 2.5 grade point average to be eligible to become a member of an organization, the requirement is not really a new requirement. Brittany Smith, a senior finance major from St. Louis, Mo. says the grade point average will definitely deter a few students. “I understand having a GPA requirements for students to become part of certain organizations, but not every active student is necessarily a whiz,” she said. “I can remember being an average student but knowing that I received benefits and fulfillment from being involved.” Smith believes that the GPA requirement makes students feel less than or not good enough, especially to become part of an organization to which they are volunteering their time. “So you’re telling me I have to maintain a 2.5 GPA to volunteer or give back or get involved,” she said, “That’s ridiculous.” Dean said that all organizations will need to submit their organization roster each semester and complete a form that will be necessary for verification and information purposes to the Office of Student Life. “We did not have enough information on the organizations and we need to monitor them more closely in terms of academic feasibility and community involvement,” he said. “Beginning Jan. 15, 2018, no organization will
be able to utilize university amenities if they have not properly registered and submitted all their forms,” Dean said. “Benefits like using facilities for events or hosting events will no longer be available.” “Inability to complete the registration process in its entirety will results in the organizations no longer being recognized on the campus,” he said. The registration will become an annual requirement that will be done in April for the upcoming year. All student organizations that have previously completed the new registration forms will have to repeat the process on April 1, but the number of forms to complete are greatly reduced. Robert McClennan, a junior biology pre-health major from Nashville, Tenn. believes the changes make it much more difficult for student organizations. “I think that making student organizations comply by forcing them to stop operations is not fair,” McClennan says. “Student organizations need to have room to grow and become stronger, and procedures and processes such as these make it difficult.” Dean says the Office of Student Life will be officially notifying advisors and presidents of organizations who have yet to complete the process that all information, forms, and steps to the new registration process must be completed no later than Jan. 15. “A number of organizations have completed the process already, but we have at least 35 organizations that have not completed the process,” Dean said. If you have any information please feel free to contact Dean at kdean@alasu. edu or Kamela Kennedy, Student Life Coordinator for Student Involvement, Inclusion, and Community Engagement division at kkennedy@alasu.edu.
that entered in 2012, will not be a fair and accurate representation of the President. However, the board agreed on all of the other provided metrics of the contract that included increases in enrollment by ten percent and retention by five percent as well as encouraging the President to raise $2 million in new funds for the university. “If the President gets close to the goals that we set, in the metrics mine and assess, from there, the incentives that we will provide,” Green said. Another major discussion point was the final approval of the 2018 fiscal year budget for the university. “We have found ways to concentrate heavily on the savings by pooling together all unfilled and collapsed positions into a pool and make a conscious effort in terms of critical hires, moving forward to monitor the money and see what we accomplish savings wise,” Ross said. He informed the trustees that he has initiated a 15 percent cut across the board in terms of supplies that would amount to approximately
uted to the Physical Plant. Ross’ budget proposal was unanimously approved by the trustees. Ross proposed through his presentation to also have compensation lines pooled together. In addition to the fiscal year budget and metrics of the President contract, Ross proposed his official organization chart for the university. Ross emphasized his acknowledgement of adding four positions to the organization chart: Vice President of Building and Facilities, Director of Public Safety, Director of Risk Management, Vice President of Research and Economic Development. “We will also be returning the chief of staff position to the organizational chart to serve within the President’s cabinet,” he said. After discussion on the concerns of salaries, Ross emphasized that salaries are based on ranges through the Cooper chart and in line with current vice presidents who serve. “We have pooled the salaries together of those positions that have not been filled
million available to pull for those positions which excludes the faculty budget,” Ross said. Concerns regarding adding a contract specialist was expressed by several board members. However, Ross assured members that the hiring of the Director of Risk Management would cover that concern. However, several trustees and Ross disagreed on the addition of several dotted lines on the organizational chart from several university staffers to the portions of the Board. “I think that having a dotted line from the board to certain positions like the liaison and the internal auditor, allows the board to have access and the information needed to make decisions for the university,” said Green. Trustee Brenda BrownHunter believed that while it is not widely practiced, it is practiced by several organizations and businesses that the Internal Auditor report to the Audit Committee. “This is a national and international practice,” she said. Ross believes the line of
“The board only has one employee and for the sake of SACS standards and auditing standards, we need to make sure we understand the board only has one employee and adding a dotted line would only make it seem as though the board has multiple employees,” he said. Ross assured that there would be no barriers. “There is no obstruction of the communication,” he said, “I just ask that the communication officially takes place through me.” Trustee Joe Whitt wanted clarity on what this means. “Does this mean that instead of personal phone calls and getting in contact with administrators directly, we need to let you handle that and wait for them to contact us?” Ross emphasized, “Yes, this is best practices.” Gilpin who agreed with Ross’ chart moved to have the chart accepted as presented by the President to the board. The chart was unanimously approved as is. The board meeting also included the unanimous approval of all personnel actions presented by Ross.
Continues: “I actually like kids now. I’ve realized I can make a difference ...” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
ence in their lives because they have no control over what they are brought into. This has been my second year with the program, and it has been great. This year was such a good turnout.” Miss Aspire, Jhaianne Cooper, a junior at ASU is a one year mentor with AS-
PIRE. When asked how she’s grown as a person while being apart of ASPIRE Jhaianne said, “I’ve grown to learn more about myself. I learned to be more patient, found a love for mentoring, and helping the kids. I made connections and personal relationships with the students, and always gave them advice on keeping up in school.”
Mikall Hardy, a ninth grader who attends Carver High School, talked about how ASPIRE has impacted him. “This program brought the inner me out and inspired me to run for president of the program,” Hardy said. “It’s a very good program, it helps middle school and high school students better their
education.” Trinity Bailey. a 10th grader who attends Robert E. Lee, shared her thoughts on the program over her five years of being involved. “It’s a very motivational program that keeps kids out of trouble. The mentors are great, they not only help us with school but in our actual lives too,” Bailey said.
Offers: “This must be done once the University Code of Student Conduct ...” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
Government Association’s Judicial Branch, Brooks shared that the institution is currently working to incorporate what Student Conduct Administrators call, “Forums for Resolution.” The forum’s mechanisms will assist with hearing cases based on type and level. “This must be done once the University Code of Student Conduct has been revised to reflect and define
what these changes will be and how the function of the forums will be run and maintained,” he said. These forums will also help students understand their rights and ensure they are able to exercise those without confusion or ambiguity. While there is no database or way for the office to track student behavior, and furnish data which show previous numbers or predictive analytics for student
behavior, Brooks hopes that moving forward, a conduct database will be in place that will show analytics for the university community that is accurate. Brooks adds that while serving in his directorial position, he is interested in creating active and passive programming, utilizing the student staff; create campus advisors for students who will help them understand the disciplinary process if they are unclear or have con-
cerns; and partner with other offices to offer mentoring/ support services to challenge and support students. “I believe that relationship building is organismic and the office is not what makes the relationship stronger but the people within, so the goal is to always exude respect, customer service, care and realism upon every interaction/correspondence,” Brooks said. “We have to attempt to create a community standard of respect.”
The Office of Student Life is requesting all student organizations to check with Ms. Kamela Kennedy to ensure that they are properly registered for the 2017-18 academic year. There is an application packet that must be completed before January 15 as well as the registration fee.
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Nov. 11, 2017
Hold: “Isolation, they take you from your famili and friends by saing things ...” Bishop, Wilson, Kellom CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 and Wright capture the the conversaMiss Fashionetta contest tionalDespite theme of the forum, NEFSAHYATT BROWN Staff Reporter/Writer tribune18@gmail.com
“Hey black child, do you know who you are?” contestant number 6 and people’s choice winner, Zoey Wright, 4, spoke to the crowd. Her voice, although small, was clear across the Ralph Abernathy Auditorium where the first Miss Fashionetta Experience: Carousel of Dreams was hosted by The Ivy Foundation of Montgomery, Inc in collaboration with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Beta Nu Chapter on Nov 5. Although the event was about the contestants, the night included brief statements from Alpha Kappa Alpha’s multiple community partnerships who assisted in taking the vision created by the special programs committee in June 2016 and bringing it to life. “To be of service to all mankind,” the mission statement of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. was repeated several times during the event to keep the focus on the importance of community service within their organization. “The Fashionetta Experience was created to help girls in grades K4-8 build communication skills & self-esteem, encourage teamwork & healthy relationships, learn etiquette & social graces, encourage enrichment through specialized learning opportunities, and help others through community service,” Tiffany Chaney, co-chairman of the Fashionetta experience committee said. Adhering to the pageant status of the event, 8 contestants ranging from 4-13 years old competed in 3 different categories: artistic expression, presence, and poise. Poems about self-love and respect, praise dances, and hip hop routines dominated the talent component of the pageant. Presence and poise went hand in hand as the contestants were judged on their presence on stage and their ability to answer questions about themselves adorned in white gowns
center stage. “The highlight for me was observing how much the girls have grown over the last five months. They walked out in front of a large audience and introduced themselves with confidence and pride,” Chaney said. She commented on the growth of their communication skills and how their poise and grace truly made the show everything they imagined. Due to the gap in age of each contestants the winners were split into 4 categories: Little Miss Tea Rose for grades K4-1, Little Miss Pink and Green for grades 2-4, Junior Miss Fashionetta for grades 7-8, and the People’s choice for the contestant who raised the most money. The winners were Little Miss Tea Rose was 5 year old I’Shauni Bishop, Little Miss Pink and Green: Trinity Wilson, Little Miss Pink and Green: Simone Kellom and Junior Miss Fashionetta was Zoey Wright. The contestants together raised $45,000 in contribution to their own fees with Miss Zoey Wright leading the pack with $27,000 herself. Outside of being a pageant for the youth in the community, “It was also a fundraiser that provided resources The Ivy Foundation of Montgomery, Incorporated® and Beta Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® will reinvest in the River Region through its community programs,” Chaney explained connecting the emphasis on community to the experience. As it was an experience not just a pageant, the community and constraints both gained an enriching experience that had an positive impact on their lives according to Chaney. She continued by saying the community had the opportunity to walk alongside the girls and experience the joy of helping and watching them develop skills that they will continue to use for the rest of their lives.
Hires: “Although, this is a slightly new task for Cleveland, she is no ...” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
sometimes college life becomes a bit overwhelming and students may need someone to discuss their concerns with. The University Counseling Center provides several services that include individual counseling, crisis or psychological counseling, group counseling, consultation services, internships, and special groups. Although, this is a slightly new task for Cleveland, she is no stranger to the counseling business. As
a former employee of the Montgomery Area Rehabilitation Center, she is familiar with the academic environment. Cleveland also works as an addiction counselor at the Chemical Addictions Program. Cleveland encourages students to come by her office and allow her to be a listening ear, no matter the situation. Her office is located in the downstairs area of the John Garrick Hardy Student Center in Suite C1.50. She can also be reached by email at tcleveland@alasu.edu.
lessons on consent, getting tested, sexual assault and violence prevention, and being open with doctors were main topics covered by the panelists. To include the audience in the conversation, there was a survey set up online for audience members to answer questions about the topics such as “Have you ever been sexually or emotionally abused?” and “Have you ever gotten tested?” “They [the education system of the South] tried to hide STI and STD education, they want us to teach abstinence,” Dr. Barbra-Owens, said explaining the miseducation of sexual health among students. She continued with the importance of the south especially being educated in sexual health as “we are all at risk,” according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). “Your body is your God given temple,” Matthews said adding onto Dr. BarbraOwens, segwaying into the next topic about consent and violence protection. “Condoms protect you from STDs/STIs but it can’t protect you from a deadly soul-tie,” Dr. Holmes said to the audience. Using this as his opening statement, he spoke about the multiple testimonies he has heard in his profession about the recidivism of women in abusive relationships due to that very
PHOTO BY DAVID EVANS/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Pictured from (L-R) are Pamela Holton, STDs/domestic violence/ rape crisis expert, Dr. Scott Holmes, Mental Health/Substance Abuse Counselor, Cheryl Lang, Resident Director of Violence Against Wo(men), Eva Matthews, Resident Risk Manager/Title IX officer and Dr. Marguerite BarbraOwens, HIV/AIDS expert as they display the certificates that were awarded by Delta Sigma Theta.
thing. Adding on to this, Holton spoke about the women she comes into contact with that have fallen victim to “fatal attraction” because the person manipulating them is filling a void they have or telling them what they want to hear. “Same talk different era,” she says giving examples of the characteristics of abusive men. “Isolation, they take you from your family and friends by saying things like, well I take care of you so if they loved you they would do what I do for you. No one loves you like me,” she said. As each panelist spoke, the final votes from the survey came in revealing the au-
dience members experience with these type of situations. About 90% of the audience had been tested, which was praised by the moderator, Sandy Jackson. “What you can tolerate you won’t change and what you can’t change you will tolerate,” Lang said speaking about the multiple students who enter her office everyday with similar stories of how the abuse isn’t that bad. As she is a confidential source unlike, Matthews, she urged any students to speak to her in the event something was happening to them on campus. University counselorMarion Brock III, added to the conversation speaking
from the perspective as a current counselor and former cop by stating, “no one can make you feel inferior without your consent,” and making himself available as a confidential source on campus. Dejanae Hayes, a current member of Beta Eta and a junior majoring in criminal justice spoke on the importance of holding these type of forums in the community and why Delta Sigma Theta hosts them. “We do forums because they are apart of our five programmatic thrust but, more importantly we hold them to bring awareness to a lot of social issues that our society needs to be aware of.”
train people in the office how to address and deal with all situations that may arise during the day while they are working,” he said. “It is not fair that the students have to go into an office and be disrespected.” Williams said housing needs serious attention. “Students cannot be housed in horrible conditions,” he said. “Housing does what they can with what they have, but the administrators need to begin providing them with more support.” Jayla Turner, a junior business finance major from Decatur, Ga. thinks that the university needs to research more about the student’s interests and wants. “Students want different things in the college,” she said, “Things like more activities, more traveling, and more financial support. You can’t lead a university without considering the desires and wants of the individual students and what they would
like to see campus wide for their college career.” Other students expressed internet availability and WiFi capabilities, the technological advancements and advantages of classrooms, and even opportunities that are accompanied with finances for globalized education and traveling opportunities for professional development. Ross assured Whitt that “students are at the center of everything we do,” while emphasizing that it is important to continue to build the reserves like other universities who, Ross says, normally have two to three months of finances by which to operate in the reserves for their institution. However, while other institutions have these reserves of up to two to three months, several institutions are still able to balance their reserves and address the student needs and provide opportunities, such as first-class national and international
study abroad programs, high powered technologically advanced classrooms, and professional customer service that addresses student issues and concerns, and provides students with solutions. Whitt addressed concerns regarding the capital campaign and fundraising. After attempting to provide an understanding between the differences of marketing and partnerships versus fundraising, such as Regions Bank and their marketing with the university versus that of the Regions providing extra finances and funding outside of the usual marketing funds and budgeting that is annually provided. President Ross said he is planning a capital campaign, although a capital campaign has not been added to the metrics for this year. However, the board expects the President to raise $2 million in new money that exceeds that of money that is traditionally given.
Proposes: “Students cannot be housed in horrible conditions. Housing ...” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
gestures to Green assuring that if student enrollment is increased by 100 students, more funds would be added to meet the $3 million reserves goal. Green encouraged Ross to meet this goal and stated that his incentive will be based on his ability to meet or exceed the set goal. Whitt was more concerned about the need of sufficiently allocating to meet the needs of the students. “Are we going to be able to sufficiently address student needs?” he asked. When asked several students cited outstanding issues on the campus that need to be addressed. Carlos Williams, a sophomore forensic biology major from Newark, N.J. believes that the university needs to address university customer service and housing conditions. “The university needs to
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UNIVERSITY NEWS
Nov. 11, 2017
“The New York Times of Alabama State University”
Horizons Local News, National News and International News
VOLUME 56, ISSUE 3
NOVEMBER 11, 2017
The official student newspaper serving the Alabama State University and Metro-Montgomery communities
Florida State becomes third university to suspend Greek life TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State becomes at least the third university this year to suspend Greek life because of alcohol-related tragedies. University President John Thrasher announced the indefinite suspension on Monday of the school’s 55 fraternities and sororities following the death of a freshman pledge. “I just feel like for whatever reason, the message is not getting through,” Thrash-
er said. “Unfortunately we’ve got to take steps with our students, to make sure this never happens again.” Andrew Coffey, a pledge at Pi Kappa Phi, died Friday after he was found unresponsive following a party. Police said there were indicators that alcohol may have been a factor, but authorities were waiting for the results of an autopsy before determining a cause of death. Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo said they are still investigat-
ing. On Monday, Garrett John Marcy, a member of Phi Delta Theta, was charged with the sale and trafficking of cocaine. Marcy, 20, was arrested by Florida State University police and booked into Leon County jail, where his bail was set at $75,000. “This pause is needed to review and reflect on the loss of a young life and to implement serious changes,” Thrasher said. “For this suspension to end, there will
need to be a new normal for Greek life on campus. They must participate in that culture.” Penn State suspended fraternities and sororities from holding social activities during the spring semester after the February hazing death of 19-year old Timothy Piazza. Louisiana State had a onemonth suspension and continues to ban alcohol at Greek parties after the hazing death See SUSPEND on page 8
Puerto Rican authorities have estimated the island suffered $45 billion to $95 billion in damage in the September storm.
Official said Puerto Rico needs ‘Unprecedented’ federal help WASHINGTON (AP) — Puerto Rico has suffered such extensive devastation from Hurricane Maria that its recovery will fail unless the island gets more help from the Trump administration and Congress, the head of a federal control board that oversees Puerto Rico’s finances said Tuesday. Natalie Jaresko, executive director of the federal control board, told Congress that the U.S. territory needs emergency and restoration funds “on an unprecedented scale” to restore housing, water and electric power. While conditions have improved since the Sept. 20 storm, nearly 60 percent of the island is without electricity, thousands remain in shelters and tens of thousands of houses do not have roofs, Jaresko said. The installation of temporary tarps will not be completed for months, she added. “Without unprecedented levels of help from the United States government, the recovery we were planning for will fail,” Jaresko said.
While conditions have improved since the Sept. 20 storm, nearly 60 percent of the island is without electricity
Puerto Rican authorities have estimated the island suffered $45 billion to $95 billion in damage in the September storm, which virtually destroyed the island’s power grid and other infrastructure. So far, Congress has approved nearly $5 billion in aid. Rep. Rob Bishop, RUtah, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, said he was disappointed that the head of Puerto Rico’s power authority did not testify as scheduled Tuesday. Ricardo Ramos, executive director of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority,
had been expected to answer questions about a canceled a $300 million contract to a tiny Montana company from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s hometown. Whitefish Energy Holdings had just two employees when the hurricane struck, but nonetheless was selected to help rebuild the island’s electrical system. Ramos moved to cancel the contract Oct. 29 amid criticism from members of Congress and Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello. The utility’s chairman, Ernesto Sgroi, said in a letter that Ramos was needed in
Puerto Rico to oversee restoration efforts. “Having (Ramos) off the island for the three days required to come to Washington D.C., would undoubtedly disrupt our restoration efforts,” Sgroi said. San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz — an outspoken critic of the Whitefish contract and the Trump administration’s response to the storm — also declined to testify. Bishop, who visited the island last month, said restoring the power grid is “paramount” to solve immediate emergency needs in Puerto Rico. Long-term energy transformation is equally important, Bishop said, adding that better and more transparent accountability at PREPA is also essential to Puerto Rico’s long-term future. The power authority declared bankruptcy before the storm, and Bishop said a long history of severe mismanagement, inadequate maintenance and “political cronyism” have exacerbatSee NEEDS on page 8
Omarosa tried to use the White House for wedding pics (AP) WASHINGTON D.C. Instead of crashing a party, Omarosa Manigault’s wedding party crashed the White House. The former “Apprentice” star brought part of her 39-person bridal party to the White House in April for some wedding photos, Politico reported Tuesday. The only problem? Nobody seemed to know she was coming. Omarosa hasn’t made much news lately, so it’s unclear what her status is these days in the ever-changing Trump White House. However, a recent story has surfaced that indicates that she thinks she’s important. It
Omarosa brought members of her 39-person bridal party to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for an extended wedding photo shoot
appears that Omarosa took wedding photos at The White House after she got hitched to Florida pastor John Allen Newman in April. The Apprentice villain turned senior White House official brought members of
her 39-person bridal party to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for an extended wedding photo shoot, catching fellow senior aides and some security officials by surprise in her bridal attire. The visitors loudly wandered around,
looking to snap photos in the Rose Garden and throughout the West Wing, according to four current and former White House officials. While it’s unclear whether she received formal permission for the photo shoot, at least some lawyers and other senior aides were not briefed in advance, the officials said. They quickly banned Manigault, director of communications for the Office of the Public Liaison, from posting the pictures online, citing security and ethical concerns. She and pastor John Allen Newman officially tied the knot on April 8 at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Call the HORIZONS desk at (334) 229-4419 or email asuhorizons@gmail.com
The Pi Kappa Phi House on the campus of Florida State University has been the center of controversy as one of the pledgees was found unresponsive following a party.
Roy Moore threatens lawsuit over story that threatens campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — Alabama Republican Roy Moore says a lawsuit will be filed over the newspaper report carrying allegations that he had sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl four decades ago and that neither Democrats nor Republicans want to see him win a special Senate election. While pressure to quit the race four weeks before Election Day intensified from within the Republican Party, Moore assured supporters Sunday night at a Huntsville, Alabama, gym that the Washington Post story was “fake news” and “a desperate attempt to stop my political campaign.” Moore said allegations that he was involved with a minor child are “untrue” and said the newspaper “will be sued,” drawing a round of applause. The former judge also questioned why such allegations would be leveled for the first time so close to the special election in spite of his decades in public life. “Why would they come now? Because there are groups that don’t want me in the United States Senate,” he said, naming the Democratic Party and the Republican
Former Judge Roy Moore
establishment and accusing them of working together. He added, “We do not plan to let anybody deter us from this race.” The Post story quoted four women by name, including the woman who alleged the sexual contact at 14, and had two dozen other sources. Moore also tried to raise money from the controversy, writing in a fundraising pitch sent about midafternoon that the “vicious and sleazy attacks against me are growing more vicious by the minute.” He told supporters, “I’m counting on you to stand with me at this critical moment by chipping in a donation to help See THREATENS on page 8
Anthony Weiner, the former politician and now convicted federal sex offender, reported to Federal Medical Center Devens, a federal prison in Ayer, Massachusetts.
Anthony Weiner reports to prison for sexting
AYER, Mass. (AP) — Former Rep. Anthony Weiner reported to prison Monday to begin a 21-month sentence for sexting with a 15-year-old girl. Weiner is being held at the Federal Medical Center Devens in Massachusetts, a Bureau of Prisons spokesperson said. The facility in Ayer, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of Boston, has over 1,000 inmates at the medical center and over 100 more at an adjacent minimum security satellite camp. It’s the same prison that once housed Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Weiner was sentenced in September by a judge who said the crime resulted from a “very strong compulsion.” At the time, a tearful Weiner said he was undergoing therapy and had been “a very sick man for a very
long time.” Amid a sexting controversy involving women, the New York Democrat resigned his U.S. House seat in 2011 only to have new allegations doom his 2013 run for mayor. Last year, a criminal probe into his sexting with a high school student intruded into Democrat Hillary Clinton’s bid for the White House. Then-FBI Director James Comey announced in late October 2016 that he was reopening the probe of Clinton’s use of a private computer server after emails between Clinton and Weiner’s wife, Huma Abedin — formerly Clinton’s closest aide — were found on Weiner’s computer. Two days before Election Day, the FBI declared there was nothing new in See REPORTS on page 8
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HORIZONS
Suspend: “It might be a good idea for people to take a step back and ...” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
of 18-year old Maxwell Gruver in September. Florida State students were surprised about the announcement and were still trying to get information on how this affects their organizations going forward. “I was very surprised that they are doing something about it. I think hazing is a problem and alcohol is the basis of a lot of their events,” said Abygail Stiekman. Freshman Lila Pullo, who was supposed to be initiated into the Delta Gamma sorority, did not agree with the decision to suspend all Greek organizations “For me and a lot of the people who are entering we’re all pretty upset because we are trying to get the reputation back up,” she said. “Most of the organizations getting in trouble are fraternities. If they did end Greek life the atmosphere on campus will go down a lot.” John Armstrong, who served as president of Florida State’s Beta Theta Pi chapter in 1998, said he had mixed feelings about Monday’s announcement. “Unfortunately, there has
been a rash of instances similar to this, so I can understand the reason for the response,” Armstrong said. “I hope that it’s a shortlived response.” Armstrong said there’s more to fraternity life than just drinking and partying. “It might be a good idea for people to take a step back and reflect on what values we truly want to portray in the Greek system,” Armstrong said. During the suspension, the only events Greek life members may conduct are meetings with the university or their national chapter. They also cannot have any organized participation in homecoming activities, which are scheduled for next week. “It will be tamer and not as festive as it usually is because there are a lot of floats during the parade and competitions during the week,” said Rachel Humphries, who is a Florida State student. Students will be allowed to remain as residents in their fraternity or sorority house. Thrasher also banned alcohol at all student organization events during the suspension.
Threatens: “It might be a good idea for people to take a step back CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
me bust through the vicious lies and attacks and get the truth out to as many voters as possible before December 12.” Another fellow Republican, Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, urged Moore to drop out of the race. He said Moore’s explanations had been inadequate and that Republicans should consider Sen. Luther Strange as a write-in candidate to run against Moore. Strange lost the Republican primary to Moore in September. Even if Moore were to step aside, his name would likely remain on the ballot. And any effort to add Strange as a write-in candidate would threaten to divide the GOP vote in a way that would give the Democratic candidate a greater chance of winning. Toomey did not rule out the possibility that Senate Republicans might work to unseat Moore if he wins the special election against Democrat Doug Jones. “You know, this is a terrible situation, nearly 40-yearold allegation, we’ll probably never know for sure exactly what happened,” Toomey said on “Meet the Press” on NBC. “But from my point of view, I think the accusations have more credibility than the denial. I think it would be best if Roy would just step aside.” The White House, pointedly noting that President Donald Trump did not back Moore during the primary, said Trump will likely weigh in on the Senate race when he returns from Asia later this week. The White House has already made clear that Moore should step aside if the allegations are proven to be true. “I think there’s a special place in hell for those who actually perpetrate these crimes,” White House legis-
lative aide Marc Short said Sunday. “But, having said that, he hasn’t been proved guilty,” Short added. “We have to afford him the chance to defend himself.” Moore is an outspoken Christian conservative and former state Supreme Court judge. The Post reported last Thursday that he had sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl and pursued three other teenagers decades earlier. While he called the allegations “completely false and misleading,” in an interview with conservative radio host Sean Hannity he did not wholly rule out dating teenage girls when he was in his early 30s. Asked if that would have been usual for him, Moore said, “Not generally, no.” The story stirred concern among anxious GOP officials in Washington in a key race to fill the Senate seat once held by Jeff Sessions, now the U.S. attorney general. Losing the special election to a Democrat would imperil Republicans’ already slim 52-48 majority in the Senate, which is hoping to pass a tax overhaul later this year. But a Moore victory also would pose risks if he were to join the Senate GOP with a cloud of sexual misconduct allegations. In the immediate aftermath of the Post report, a wave of national Republican leaders called for Moore to drop out of the race if the allegations are true. They included the head of the House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Over the weekend, more Republicans distanced themselves from Moore, including Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee and Tim Scott of South Carolina.
Reports: “It might be a good idea for people to take a step back and ...” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
the emails. But in a recent interview, Clinton called Comey’s intervention “the determining factor” in her defeat. Abedin and Weiner are in divorce proceedings. At sentencing in Man-
hattan federal court, Weiner attorney Arlo Devlin-Brown said his client likely exchanged thousands of messages with hundreds of women over the years and was communicating with up to 19 women when he encountered the teenager.
GO HORNETS!!
Nov. 11, 2015
FBI again finds itself unable to unlock a gunman’s cellphone WASHINGTON (AP) — The Texas church massacre is providing a familiar frustration for law enforcement: FBI agents are unable to unlock the gunman’s encrypted cellphone to learn what evidence it might hold. But while heartwrenching details of the rampage that left 26 people dead might revive the debate over the balance of digital privacy rights and national security, it’s not likely to prompt change anytime soon. Congress has not shown a strong appetite for legislation that would force technology companies to help the government break into encrypted phones and computers. And the fiery public debate surrounding the FBI’s legal fight with Apple Inc. has largely faded since federal authorities announced they were able to access a locked phone in a terror case without the help of the technology giant. As a candidate, Donald Trump called on Americans to boycott Apple unless it helped the FBI hack into the phone, but he hasn’t been as vocal as president. Still, the issue reemerged Tuesday, when Christopher Combs, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Antonio division, said agents had been unable to get into the cell phone belonging to Devin Patrick Kelley, who slaughtered much of the congregation in the middle of a Sunday service. “It highlights an issue you’ve all heard about before. With the advance of the technology and the phones and the encryption, law enforcement is increasingly not able to get into these phones,” Combs told reporters. He did not provide further details other than saying the device was being flown to an FBI lab for analysis. “We’re working very hard to get into that phone, and that will continue until we find an answer,” Combs added. Combs was telegraphing a longstanding frustration of the FBI, which claims encryption has stymied investigations of
FBI agents are unable to unlock the gunman’s encrypted cellphone to learn what evidence it might hold. FBI’s legal fight with Apple Inc. has largely faded since federal authorities announced they were able to access a locked phone in a terror case without the help of the technology giant.
everything from sex crimes against children to drug cases, even if they obtain a warrant for the information. Agents have been unable to retrieve data from half the mobile devices — more than 6,900 phones, computers and tablets — that they tried to access in less than a year, FBI Director Christopher Wray said last month, wading into an issue that also vexed his predecessor, James Comey. Comey spoke before Congress and elsewhere about the bureau’s inability to access digital devices. But the Obama White House never publicly supported legislation that would have forced technology companies to give the FBI a back door to encrypted information, leaving Comey’s hands tied to propose a specific legislative fix. Security experts generally believe such encryption backdoors are a terrible idea that could expose a vast amount of private, business and government data to hackers and spies. That’s because those backdoor keys would work for bad guys as well as good guys — and the bad guys would almost immediately target them for theft, and might even be able to recreate them from scratch. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein took aim at Silicon Valley’s methods for protecting privacy during a speech last month, saying Trump’s Justice Department would be more aggressive in seeking information from
technology companies. He took a harder line than his predecessors but stopped short of saying what specific steps the administration might take. Washington has proven incapable of solving a problem that an honest conversation could fix, said David Hickton, a former U.S. attorney who now directs a cyberlaw institute at the University of Pittsburgh. “We wait for a mass disaster to sharpen the discussion about this, when we should have been talking about it since San Bernardino,” he said. “Reasonable people of good will could resolve this problem. I don’t think it’s dependent on the political wins or who is the FBI director. It’s begging for a solution.” Even so, the facts of the church shooting may not make it the most powerful case against warrant-proof encryption. When the FBI took Apple to court in February 2016 to force it to unlock the San Bernardino shooter’s phone, investigators believed the device held clues about whom the couple communicated with and where they may have traveled. But Combs didn’t say what investigators hoped to retrieve from Kelley’s phone, and investigators already have ample information about his motive. Authorities in Texas say the church shooting was motivated by the gunman’s family troubles, rather than terrorism, and in-
vestigators have not said whether they are seeking possible co-conspirators. Investigators may have other means to get the information they seek. If the Texas gunman backed up his phone online, they can get a copy of that with a legal order — usually a warrant. They can also get warrants for any accounts he had at server-based internet services such as Facebook, Twitter and Google. In the California case, the FBI ultimately broke into the phone by paying an unidentified vendor for a hacking tool to access the phone without Apple’s help, averting a court battle. It’s unclear if the FBI could or would do that again; phone security varies widely by model, and Combs wouldn’t say what the gunman had. Former federal prosecutor Joseph DeMarco, who filed a friend of the court brief on behalf of groups that supported the Justice Department against Apple, said he was hopeful the case would spur fresh discussion. If not by itself, he said, the shooting could be one of several cases that prompt the Justice Department to take other technology companies to court. “Eventually, the courts will rule on this or a legislative fix will be imposed,” he said. “Eventually, the pressure will mount.”
“The New York Times of Alabama State University”
Viewpoints Editorials, Columns, Letters to the Editor, Editorial Cartoons and Hornet Expressions
VOLUME 56, ISSUE 3
NOVEMBER 11, 2017
The official student newspaper serving the Alabama State University and Metro-Montgomery communities
School spirit does not end or begin with our sports teams One of the things that really grinds my gears is hearing students say, “I don’t have school spirit because our team sucks.” Let me just say this: school spirit does not begin nor end with the sports team. Now while you might disagree, we have an explanation as to why. When we were admitted into the institution, as students, while they might have toured us through the football stadium, the most important thing about those tours and information sessions should have been the major area of study, the academic rigor of the institution and the other aspects of the institution that help build the college experience. However, many students believe that our football team not winning games at the begiining of the year is an excuse not to have school spirit. But if you are one of those people, you never had real school spirit to begin with. Now, don’t get me wrong, it
was not a great feeling that our team began this season with a losing streak; however, we as students should still have more pride and spirit for our institution despite the losses on the field. And while the football team has improved with changes in the coaching leadership, there still is a need to examine where the root of your school spirit comes from. If you really think about it, how much time do we spend on the football field cheering our teams on to a possible victory? Not nearly as much time as is spent attending classes, interest meetings, campus events, providing community and campus service to contribute to the betterment of the campus. These are the things your school spirit should be rooted, because if we are honest, school spirit is not a matter of outside influences. It is a matter of internal perspective and views of your institution, and
David King, Interim Editor-in-Chief your school spirit is strictly determined and controlled by the student. Now I will be the first to admit that the university has a number of flaws, whether it be poor customer service, students not pleased with the food in the cafeteria, or shabby conditions in the residence halls, but none of these things should determine how much you cheer and applaud for your university. The problem with school spirit is that people simply do
not possess real school spirit. There are many HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities) and PWIs (predominantly white institutions) that have problems and do not necessarily have top performing sports teams. However, their students still possess an unwavering and strong school spirit. This is because when they recruit people to their schools, their top priority is building an infatuation and admiration for their institu-
tion in you so that no matter what, you are a “die hard” supporter of that school. School spirit is not necessarily about going to stadiums and gymnasiums and cheering and dancing and shouting encouragements to the various teams. School spirit is about purchasing ASU gear and wearing it on campus, instead of wearing Auburn or Alabama gear on our campus. School spirit is about making the experience and life on this campus exciting, and not just going to another campus because you feel as though they offer more and have a stronger school spirit. We can’t forget that school spirit is about a genuine and unconditional love and respect for our institution that can’t be ruined by a losing streak nor issues that are encountered. School spirit is about facing the challenges and knowing that what makes the experience is overcoming the challenge. School spirit is about see-
ing the problems and becoming part of the much needed solutions. School spirit should be rooted in helping your fellow Hornets continue to see the goal of graduation in difficult times. School spirit is picking up the trash across the campus and holding your friends and peers accountable to clean our home and keep it clean. School spirit is supporting events and activities on campus even though they are not your interest, in the hopes you will be opened to something new or create a new interest. The football team losing or winning is not the end all, be all for school spirit, and it should not end or begin with sporting teams, that should just be a small portion of what contributes to school spirit. If you are basing your school spirit on the winning or losing of an athletic team, you may want to reevaluate your school spirit.
Class and Crass “In his entire eight years of service, President Obama never disparaged his predecessor, President George W. Bush, even as he cleaned up some of his messes. In his several months of leadership, 45 has missed no opportunity to criticize President Obama.”
BY JULIANNE MALVEAUX Special to the Tribune tribune2018@gmail.com
I never thought I would miss our 43d President, George W. Bush. And I’ve never much thought of him as a great, or even good, speaker. But the speech he gave at a conference convened by the George W. Bush Institute was simply eloquent, excellent, thoughtful, and compelling. After keeping a low profile for the past eight years, he spoke up to decry the fact that “bigotry seems emboldened”. “Bullying and prejudice in our public life sets a national tone, provides permission for cruelty and bigotry, and compromises the moral education of children”. Why did George W. Bush choose to speak so forcefully, in a speech that
did not mention 45 but was at least partly directed to him? Perhaps it was Charlottesville, since he and his father, 41st President George Herbert Walker Bush, issued a joint statement denouncing white supremacists, something that 45 simply could not bring himself to do. The younger Bush was blunt last week when he said, “Bigotry or white supremacy in any form is blasphemy against the American creed.” I knew that I would miss our 44th President Barack Obama. Like his predecessor, he has kept a low profile since leaving office, stepping out very briefly to campaign for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam and to reflect on the challenges we face in our democracy. Like President Bush, President Obama did not refer to
45 by name, but his speech in Virginia was a repudiation of virtually everything our prevaricating “president” stands for. “Some of the politics we see now, we thought we put that to bed,” said Obama. “That has folks looking 50 years back. It’s the 21st century, not the 19th century. Come on!” Seemingly scolding the current administration, Obama said, “Instead of looking for ways to work together to get things done in a practical way, we’ve got folks who are deliberately trying to make folks angry, to demonize people who have different ideas, to get the base all riled up because it provides a short-term tactical advantage.” Watching Presidents Bush and Obama reminded me of how far the quality of our nation’s leadership has
fallen. I saw two men who, with absolute class, reminded us of our nation’s values and that which is repugnant in the current administration. The contrast is the persistent crassness of 45, an ill spoken, bumbling, coarse, and classless individual. He never met a fight he could not pick and escalate, never met an opposing viewpoint he could not demonize. He has belittled everyone he has disagreed with, from his own inner circle to football players he does not even know, calling them “sons of bitches”. In his entire eight years of service, President Obama never disparaged his predecessor, President George W. Bush, even as he cleaned up some of his messes. In his several months of leadership, 45 has missed no opportunity to criticize President
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Obama. If I had a dollar for every time President Obama critiqued President Bush, I’d barely have enough money for a fast-food meal. If I had a dollar for every time 45 disparaged President Obama, I could dine at the nation’s best restaurants for a full week! Class is visiting Walter Reed hospital to look in on wounded soldiers, or hosting White House luncheons for Gold Star families. Crass is calling widow Myeshia Johnson, never mentioning her deceased husband, Sgt. La David Johnson, by name, and telling her “he knew what he signed up for.” Class is refusing to disparage either predecessor or successor. Crass is trashing anyone and everyone, including his predecessor. Class is disagreeing with dignity and civility. Crass is name-calling, challenging
people to IQ tests, and making fun of ill and disabled people, including war hero Senator John McCain. To be sure, I don’t think that 45 maliciously called Myeshia Johnson in an attempt to cause her pain. I think he simply does not know how to talk to people, and we have plenty of evidence. The recent book, The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President explains that the sociopathic narcissist we elected is so fundamentally flawed that he could easily imperil our very survival by pushing us into war. 45 told Myeshia Johnson “he knew what he signed up for”. So did nearly half of our nation’s voters when they chose crass over class.
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VIEWPOINTS
editorial cartoons
editorial board David King
INTERIM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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MANAGING EDITOR
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VISUAL MEDIA EDITOR
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The Hornet Tribune is a weekly newspaper written and edited by the students with the advisement of the staff adviser. Editorials and letters to the editor represent the views of the writer(s). Views expressed within do not necessarily represent the opinions of the faculty, staff, administration or ASU Board of Trustees. The editors determine the time of the publication and the ethical qualities of all articles. Articles and other materials in The Hornet Tribune cannot be republished without the expressed written permission of the editor, adviser, coordinator and Student Media Board. Letters to the Editor are welcome. Editors reserve the right to print or reject for publication any letters received. Letters must include the author’s name, address, email address and telephone number. All letters are subject to editing for both space and libel considerations. Materials must be submitted by Thursday at 5 p.m. for publication that next week.
the opportunity to speak ...
sometimes the truth hurts, but necessary to move forward ...
The impact of the Rap Culture
“It’s almost as if the more wrong you do to women, the larger your fame becomes,” said Lakin Starling, one of the two voices in A Candid Conversation About Rap Culture’s Persuasive Disrespect Against Black Women. Starling and Juliana Pache discussed their personal views on the devaluation of black women and how rap and hip-hop have contributed to that. Almost everyone I know is either a fan or has heard of a rap song that degrades women. I will admit that I’m just as guilty as the next person; I listen to these songs knowing I could easily be looked at as the woman being described vulgarly and carelessly. Regardless of whether anyone is willing to admit it or not, music has the ability to influence people; it can influence our thoughts, behavior, and more importantly, our actions. In all honesty, the rap music we listen to and praise is blasphemous to women. The level of disrespect that is allowed and promoted makes it hard for women to ever be taken seriously when it comes to anything we do. We’re tired of it. “Oftentimes, I refer back to Ava DuVernay’s critical review of the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Companion. Taking to Twitter, the groundbreaking director acknowledged the difficulty in being a woman who grew up with a love for hip-hop.
Christine Shelton, Staff Columnist ‘To be a woman who loves hip-hop at times is to be in love with your abuser,’ she tweeted. In agreement, Kai Miller, author of the article The Complexity in Being a Woman ‘For the Culturewrites “Because the music was and is that. And yet the culture is ours.’” This notion that hiphop is a weapon forged and wielded to abuse women is very impactful because it seems as though rap is just another way to put a woman down. Needless to say, there’s been plenty. However, some women won’t feel this way. Some women won’t be impacted because they don’t see themselves as the women being portrayed in the songs. But, as women, we shouldn’t be in denial. Whether we feel they are talking about us or not, they are. Be offended. Especially, if their idea of what a woman is and what she is supposed to do doesn’t match the definition we carry
staff editorial
Black men should protect black women, not fear them
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that is transmitted through direct contact (oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse.) Chlamydia can also be transmitted to newborns during birth if the mother is infected. Back in 1963, when chlamydia was first discovered it was recognized as bacteria and not a sexually transmitted disease. It is now the most commonly spread disease. Before it was known as an STD, the myth was that if you caught Chlamydia you would die. Now, 21st century, we have tons of technology and medicines that are able to help fight Chlamydia off. Chlamydia is called the “silent treatment” because 75% women and 50% men who have it, do not have any symptoms. For women who are pregnant and have Chlamydia, it can definitely harm the baby. If the STD gets into the child’s eyes, it can cause severe blindness. It can also cause the baby to get pneumonia. In 1997, there were 537,904 reports of people who had been diagnosed with Chlamydia. In 2009, that number doubled to 1,244,180 people who had also been diagnosed. There is almost 3-4 million cases of diagnoses of Chlamydia every year among teens and young adults. 40% of Chlamydia cases are among the ages of 15-19. Chlamydia is also spread more in the south, than in the north. Adding on the economy of the US, Chlamydia takes more than $2 billion every year. Chlamydia is most prevalent in the US. The World Health Organization issued that not only does Chlamydia get spreaded the most among 15-19 year olds, so does other STDs (syphilis, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis.) With Alabama being one of the states with the most cases of STDs, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea to be exact, it’s important that Alabama State University students are cautious with all their sexual encounters. Alabama has about 2 million Chlamydia cases. This is important for ASU students to know because we all are in fact college students on a public campus and we have no idea of anyone’s medical history. Back in 2016, the city of Montgomery specifically, was labeled the “STD capital.” There are many ways to prevent Chlamydia from being spreaded on our campus. The most important prevention is to practice safer sex. As teens and young adults, peer pressure plays a big part in this. If your partner does not want to use a condom during sexual intercourse to prevent STDs, don’t do it. There are female condoms and male condoms. It’s also important to not have more than one sexual partner. For young men, they make think it’s cool or cute to be engaging in sexual intercourse with more than one female companion. It’s not cute or cool to know that you’re infected and continue to sleep with multiple women at once. For
“A strong man can handle a strong woman, while a weak man will say she has an attitude,” is a quote that exemplifies the idea of many black men embracing the current society and culture that degrades and denies the black woman respect, genuine love and equality. It is more than evident that so many black men have come to fear strong black women, as opposed to standing at the front lines of societal war zones and protecting them. Over and over again, mainstream hip-hop, trap music and media continue to degrade, disrespect and place forth images and stories of black women being mistresses, strippers, video vixens, and baby mommas: all images and personas that are seen to be “unwife-able” and unpleasing. However, the reality is this: black men project and propel the success of many of these images and personas through their careers in the music industry by the way they address and treat black women. But the fact of the matter is as many black women do not subscribe to the personas and mainstreamed images of society regarding them, a number of black men underwrite them. So what am I saying? Black men are so fearful of a strong black woman’s capabilities and ability to bring so much to the table, that some of them would rather reduce and break down black women as opposed to lift her up and make her strong; which includes standing in the front of society and agenda setters and demanding that society shapes in a way to respect black women and stop disrespecting them. What I am saying is this: Black men’s success and strength is inevitably connected to that of the success and strength of black women, and vice versa. If men do not seek to protect the dignity and uphold the respect demanded by black women, who will? The white owner of the world’s largest recording company won’t if the black artist he signs is willing to make the next quick dollar on the backs and pain of black women being degraded and disrespected. What I am bringing to question is if black men are disrespecting black women and degrading them, how can we demand and push for a society to be built and shaped around protecting and respecting the lives of black women? If every lyric of majority of our songs we love and celebrate speak to the black woman as being only good enough to have sex with or casual sexual encounters, how can we stand or fight for society and culture to respect our women? Even when I think about one of the National Panhellenic Council fraternity stroll songs, “I’m a Dog,” by trap music artist, Gucci Mane, it amazes me that a group that should be first on the lines to protect women and uplift black women are eager to stroll to a song whose chorus say “I’m a treat ha like a dog, feed ha like a dog, beat ha like a dog, then pass ha to my dog.” How can we fight for black women’s respect but support artist who demean and degrade them at the same time? The reason society disrespects and degrades black women is this reason: so many black men compromise what is right for quick cash, fame, or even not being challenged by being a relationship with a women who does not “have an attitude.” Black women are meant to be strong, indepedent, and resilient. Black women are not created to run over, trample upon and treated as if they are any less than a black
See KNOW on page 12
See PROTECT on page 12
Jonea Davis, Staff Columnist
ASU students should know the dangers of chlamydia
Nov. 11, 2017
for ourselves. I can’t speak for all women, but I listen to these songs and think to myself: Why is this okay? Why do most rap artists, males in particular, get off by categorizing all women as lesser versions of themselves? The answer is simple. It’s because we allow them to. We buy their albums on iTunes and sing their lyrics aloud very aware of what is coming out of our mouths. For example, artists like Yo Gotti, who happens to be performing at ASU’s very own homecoming concert this year, has a song, They Like. He says, “Can’t knock her ‘fore I get no bread. Shawty thick, I just want that head.” In another song, the rapper states, “I just wanna touch the b---h f--k the b---h; Like her but don’t trust the b---h….These b---hes talk too much; good thang I ain’t a trick that b---hes cost too much.” Yo Gotti admits to objec-
tifying, devaluing and using women for a good time, insinuating that that’s all she’s good for. We promote these artists and that is why their stereotypical and misleading representations of women are deemed acceptable Carter Maness analyzes an interview where renowned entertainer and comedian, Steve Harvey, gives his personal take on the disrespect women endure in rap hits. His article Steve Harvey Says Hip-Hop Must Stop Disrespecting Women”said, “If rappers would just flip what they were saying and apply it to their daughters, sisters, and mothers, they would understand the hurtful implications of degrading and hateful language towards women.” Here lies yet another double standard. More often than not, the men who write these hurtful songs are blessed with daughters, mothers, and other women in their family they love. These men would take drastic measures if they felt any of the women they care for were being targeted by these songs. Little do they know, they are being targeted. We’re all being targeted. A prime example of this occurred back in 2004 when Nelly’s music video for his song “Tip Drill” struck a nerve on Spelman’s campus, a historically black allwomen college. Because he refused to acknowledge that his video was degrading See IMPACT on page 12
take a minute and listen ...
Nefsahyatt Brown, Staff Columnist
Why funding of the arts is so important for students What is intelligence? What qualifies someone as intelligent? Intelligence, according to a simple google search, is “the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.” For some, the intelligent people of the world are doctors, lawyers, engineers etc., never poets or sculptors. Artists are tortured high school dropouts that educators marvel over but refuse to put money into. Funding goes into STEM because it takes a college degree to be an engineer, it takes nothing to be an artist. By funding the arts the message is transmitted that artists are marketable and intelligent, giving those future artists an outlet for their intelligence to be recognized. Those involved within the arts have innate skills that give them a special type of knowledge that is unidentified. Education in general, usually does not promote successful artists in modern terms. Historical glorification of Picasso and Beethoven inside of textbooks do nothing for those students who want to be the next Pharrell because of how they are taught. Students learn of the success of these men due to the importance placed on their time period in correlation to their success. Modern, successful poets and musicians, according to most teachers, come a dime a dozen, making it easy to convince those who control the money to stray away from funding those programs. They completely disregard the skills and knowledge careers in the arts teach students. Those heavily involved in the arts pay attention to detail, think abstractly, collaborate with ease, and acquire more cultural and civic skills than the professions promoted by education. Money controls programs at each level of education. From elementary to college, if money is not being put into the arts they will cease to exist. Funding is cut from programs that those creating the budget do not see any real importance, meaning that arts and music programs will always come second to math and science until further notice. The creative nature people have as children are usually assassinated by the time they get to college because of the importance placed on getting a good job. “Don’t major in music or theater there’s no money in that,” or “Make it a minor, art is not major worthy.” These quotes among others ignore the ways creative intelligence can be turned into revenue. For example, science and math majors produce engineers which translates into money. Art and music majors translates into freelance hobby. Creative intelligence encompasses critical thinking, collaborative skills, teaching, system evaluation and many more skills that people are able to apply once acSee FUNDING on page 12
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Nov. 11, 2017
VIEWPOINTS
OPPOSING EDITORIAL
Why we’re so lucky that Trump is the most unreasonable president in U.S. history BY RAYNARD JACKSON NNPA Columnist
In one of my recent columns, I talked about the value of being unreasonable. The premise of that column was based on a quote from British playwright George Bernard Shaw: “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world, the unreasonable man adapts the world to himself; therefore, all progress is dependent upon the unreasonable man.” A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of organizing a small roundtable with Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.). She is the Chair of the House Republican Conference, which makes her the fourth ranking member in House leadership. We invited about 25 very successful Black, Asian, and Hispanic business owners to have a private conversation with her about the soon-to-be written tax bill that President Trump wants to sign before the end of the year. During this meeting, we highlighted three individual
entrepreneurs: Kenya Pierce, the co-president and COO of Voulez Beaute (cosmetics), Gerald B. Boyd, Jr. the CEO of DB Consulting Group, Inc. (IT), and Robert L. Wallace, the president and CEO of Bithenergy, Inc. (energy). Each of these business owners gave a very compelling about their respective journeys into entrepreneurship and made the case for tax reform. In the spirit of Shaw’s quote above, Rep. McMorris Rodgers was unreasonable enough to see value in creating a dialogue with the minority business community to get their input into a tax bill that had yet to be written. The NNPA Newswire was one of the few Blackowned media outlets to cover this historic event. The NNPA Newswire operates BlackPressUSA.com, the public news website of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), which consists of over 200 Black-owned media companies operating in the United States. The NNPA Newswire
also syndicates my weekly newspaper column. What I find amazing is that many Black journalists, especially the ones that work for Black media outlets, constantly complain about how the mainstream media only covers negative aspects of the Black community; yet, they are doing the same thing, by ignoring positive stories, especially when they come from Blacks in the Republican Party. To my Black, liberal Democratic journalist friends, who refused to cover this event, because it didn’t fit into their partisan, political narratives: you are a bunch of hypocrites. Your job as a journalist is to report the news, even when it goes against your liberal biases. Quasi-journalists like Roland Martin (News One Now), Joy Reid (MSNBC), Don Lemon (CNN), Jason Johnson (The Root), Amy Barnett (The Grio), and Amber Payne (NBCBLK) do more damage to our community than anyone with a white sheet over their head could ever do.
Their hypocritical biases notwithstanding, we received a tremendous amount of press from our event. Leading up to our event, we received so much buzz that the White House reached out to me and asked if they could participate in the event. They sent Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president and Jovita Carranza, the Treasurer of the United States, to represent President Donald J. Trump. I challenge anyone to recall a similar event, that President Barack Obama supported on Capitol Hill, that prominently featured minority business owners, especially Black entrepreneurs. This is the first time in my memory that small and minority business-owners have been seen as so valuable that they have been invited to give input into a yet-to-be written tax bill. This is not only historic, but also a transformative, tectonic shift in the political landscape. The mere fact that Rep. McMorris Rodgers and President Trump invited us
to participate in the shaping of this proposed legislation makes them two of the most unreasonable people I have ever encountered. For McMorris Rodgers to spend time with minority business owners on Capitol Hill was extremely unusual by any standard. Remember, she is No. 4 in House leadership and her time is very limited, but she was unreasonable enough to see value in listening to us. President Trump couldn’t make our event himself, but he was so unreasonable that he sent two of his top aides, Conway, who is also a longtime friend of mine; and his U.S. Treasurer. This is the type of unreasonable behavior that our president and our party need more of. If President Trump continues to be unreasonable enough to see value in the minority business community, especially Black entrepreneurs, I can guarantee that they will be more than willing to work with the White House.
If Trump continues to be unreasonable enough to work with us on issues like access to capital, making sure we get our fair share of government contracts, and keeping open a pipeline of direct communications between us and the White House, we will not only work with the president, but we will advocate on behalf of the policies that we know will make America great again. So, to President Trump and Rep. McMorris Rodgers: please continue to encourage those around you to be unreasonable knowing that only unreasonable people are able to make transformative change in our world. Raynard Jackson is founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future (BAFBF), a federally registered 527 Super PAC established to get more Blacks involved in the Republican Party.
The Office of Student Life’s Student Expression and Multimedia Division will be initiating a new online collegiate magazine titled ENVISAGE for the 2017-18 academic year. Currently we are looking for eight students who would like to obtain magazine design and writing experience and students who have a background in journalism. We are also looking for five business students who might be willing to be a sales representative and secure advertising for the magazine. If you are interested, please contact Kenneth A. Dean at kdean@alasu.edu The Hornet Tribune is actively seeking students to fill at least 36 positions for the 2017-18 academic year. If you are a student who would like to improve your writing and reporting skills, photography skills, design skills, marketing skills or sales skills, please contact David King, Interim Editor at dkingymcf@gmail.com.
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Nov. 11, 2017
VIEWPOINTS
hip-hop’s past treatment of women as it relates ...” Protect: “Just because she does Impact: “In examining didn’t feel as though she had of female; they choose to put Ladies, it starts with us. not follow your every command ...” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 anything to do with his video, us all in the same boat and We have to be the change. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
man’s or any person’s equal. Whether it is earning $.69 to the $.79 that white women make, and the $1 black men, what is apparent, society devalues and disrespects the prominent and extremely powerful role black women have played. And no black man should be fearful of an outspoken, powerful, educated and strong black woman who expresses her opinion, desires a certain level of autonomy, dignity and respect both in a relationship and in a marriage. Just because she does not follow your every command or does not subscribe to the mainstreamed images and ideas that are placed forth, and cannot be controlled in the way that mainstream media portrays her to be, that does not mean she has ‘an attitude’, it simply means she is a strong black woman who demands respect, as you should do the same for yourself and on her behalf. Mainstreamed media and music have damaged so many men, they believe what is heard in music; the woman who will let you treat her like a dog, feed her like a dog, beat her like a dog, then pass her to your dogs should exist in reality with every woman they encounter, and the reality is this is not the case. And while not all men are like this, there are not enough who are. There are not enough mainstreamed artist who are singing about loving a woman and not just a casual sexual encounter; there is not a mainstreamed artist who is talking about the beauty of a black woman and love he has for her versus lust. And the reason some black men are so afraid of a strong black woman is simple: they are a weak, they have been broken by society and a system in which we live, causing them to see a black woman who is strong as a problem, rather than a black woman who is strong, beautiful and a gift that must be protected and respected.
It’s simple: BLACK MEN WAKE UP! Our black sisters are being demeaned, degraded and disrespected, not only by mainstreamed media, but most hurtingly by their male counterparts who look like them, black men. Those who do underwrite the society’s disrespect and degradation of black women have to stop expecting women to lower their standards, lower their self-respect, compromise themselves and their values, just so that your smallminded, insecure and broken lives and selves can be satisfied and feel like you are more than you are. Only boys desire and seek to degrade and demean a woman because he has not reached a level of maturity and understanding to be strong in himself. Every time the b&%$^ word leaves someone’s mouth towards a black woman, your heart and spirit should fill with rage and you should address that. Every time a song demeans, degrades and reduces the importance and role of a black woman to simplying being that of a sexual object, you should unsubscribe and unsupport that artist. Strong black women are the key and success to building strong black men and vice versa, therefore our success and strength are inextricably bound together, and our oppression, degradation and disrespect of black women will always determine for us, as black men, a path that is unsuccessful and weak. Iron sharpens iron, and if black women are the iron, and we are not, how are either of the parties being sharpened? I think it might be safe to say, neither are sharpen. WAKE UP BLACK BROTHERS! WAKE UP! Let’s lead the revolution to respect, uphold dignity, and equality for our black sisters, and not aid in the degradation and disrespect of their lives because we are not strong enough to comprehend, understand, and live with their strength because we are still weak.
Know: “There are many different health center around the city of ...” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
young ladies, try not to be so naive. Just because this guy may be the star football player, or star basketball player, or even a male apart of a greek organization, they can still catch STDs just as quick as anyone else.
Knowing your health status is very important. There are many different health centers around the city of Montgomery that provide free testing and constantly gives out free condoms. Get tested and know your status. It’s not worth losing your life over.
Funding “Just because she does not follow your every command ...”
art and music programs, it is funding a steady movement. quired. The movement of crePlacing money into the ative intelligence where stuarts is more than allowing dents view the arts with the schools to continue to have same prestige as engineerCONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
to women, a bone marrow drive, in honor of his sister, never happened. According to Huffington Post, “The planned drive was in support of the rapper’s sister, Jacqueline Donahue, who later lost her battle to leukemia in 2005. Nelly said he was angry with the Spelman students for robbing him of an opportunity to save his sister’s life and that the only thing he would have done differently was ‘kick somebody’s ass.’” Nelly felt as if his sister was being targeted. He wanted to fight back, and he felt as if her mistreatment was unfair and misguided. He
so why was she the one being reprimanded? The video represented her too. She was a young woman like many of us. Nelly let his pride overshadow what was truly important. The young women of Spelman felt targeted by Nelly’s song. That’s how women feel everyday. We feel attacked, mistreated and misunderstood, and we know we deserve better. Because I like to consider myself a unique individual, one of my biggest pet peeves is being compared to other women who are nothing like me. That’s what most male rap artists do. They don’t single out a particular type
gives us a bad name. They don’t label us as intelligent and strong role models; some male rap and hip hop artists would rather label us as needy, crazy and/or promiscuous. “In examining hip-hop’s past treatment of women as it relates to N.W.A, we’re forced to appraise how hiphop treats women today. It’s safe to say that not much has changed,” said Zeba Blay, writer for the Huffington Post. She sheds light on the sexism presented in all genres of music in her article What We Forget When We Talk About Hip-Hop’s Women Problem.
Women are much more empowered than we are given credit for. Rap and hip-hop are two of the most popular genres of music. With that being said, these particular songs will reach people where other genres won’t. We can start by letting the music we listen to be honest representations of who we are. We don’t have to promote rappers who insist on making a profit by degrading and misrepresenting us. We don’t have to let any male define us because we know who we are. All changes have to start somewhere, and this is our somewhere.