The official student newspaper of Alabama State University
The Hornet Tribune “WE NEED A FREE PRESS. WE MUST HAVE IT. IT’S VITAL.” “The New York Times of Alabama State University”
VOLUME 57, ISSUE 4
SEPTEMBER 8, 2018
Ross, Rice address student financial aid issues BY NEFSA’HYATT BROWN Interim Editor-in-Chief nefsahyatt.brown21@gmail.com
The Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Rolaundus Rice, Ph.D., and the President of Alabama State University Quinton T. Ross, Jr., Ed.D, both addressed the student body regarding the is-
sues and solutions surrounding the Office of Financial Aid. In Rice’s communication, he emphasized the progress that is being made with in the office. “Many of you have seen changes to your respective accounts in Hornets Web, specifically, the reduction, or, in some instances, the
elimination of your fall 2018 balances due to Pell Grant and unsubsidized loans,” Rice said. “This is irrefutable evidence that the wheels of progress are turning in the Office of Financial Aid. Our staff members have worked throughout the evenings each day this week, fueled only by their unyielding commitments to you – our beloved
students.” Rice also addressed the new office hours for staff and the college work-study program. “... I have asked the Office of Financial Aid to modify operating hours on Tuesday, September 4. The Office will service students from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. After 1 p.m., staff will transition from ser-
vicing students in order to import and export the additional data that is required to process your refunds,” Rice said. “Next, I expect Federal Work Study contracts to be ready for signature no later than Thursday, September 6, for eligible students. You will need to report to the Office of Financial Aid to accept your job assignment and sign your
contract.” Ross, too, offered assurances to the students. “The scheduled Sept. 30 purging of students has been suspended,” Ross said. “No student will be purged until all relevant financial issues are resolved. A system for sending messages to students See ADDRESS on page 2
AND THE NEW MISS FRESHMAN IS ...
Kendra Angion wows the judges and captures the title of Miss Freshman 2019 BY NIKITA DENNIS
Staff Reporter/Writer nikitadennis97@gmail.com
PHOTO BY DAVID EVANS/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Miss Freshman participants include second runner-up Jaylan Brown, Miss Freshman 2019 Kendra Angion, and first runner-up Mariah McClary. Each young lady was judged in private interview, talent, physical fitness and evening gown/on-stage personality.
Hundreds of fans enjoy the “Battle of the Bands” STAFF REPORT
The Hornet Tribune tribune2018@gmail.com
It was a battle of music, dance, and technique, as university and high school bands arrived at the Alabama State University’s football stadium for the “2018 Battle of the Bands.” University and college marching bands included the the Mighty Marching Hornets, Tuskegee University Marching Crimson Pipers, Florida’s Bethune-Cookman University The Pride and Talladega College’s Tornado Marching Band. In addition, there were high schools from Montgomery and Tuskegee that participated. Hundreds of community members came out to enjoy the entertainment. Alabama State University Band Director James Oliver said having all of the family, friends and alumni here for that weekend heightened his excitement for the battle. “I’d just like to thank everybody who’s here today for their support,” Oliver said. “We have a great turnout. The weather held up for us so that’s nice.” Funds raised from the band battle will be used to
help the Mighty Marching Hornets travel to Pasadena, Calif., for the annual Tournament of Roses, but Oliver said the trip is costly. “I just want the community to come in,” Oliver said, “and help us take these students to Pasadena to represent the state of Alabama, the city of Montgomery and Alabama State University.” He also mentioned another reason why the battle is so important. “When you have a battle of the bands, you have to understand the formula behind it,” Oliver explained. “When you invite those students here, that gives them the opportunity to hear college bands and it allows them to decide where they want to go to school so they can choose where they want to further their musical abilities.” Oliver said presenting the “Battle of the Bands” is easy for most marching bands. “Band members, or band geeks, they love to perform all the time,” Oliver said. “It was easy for me to say ‘Let’s do a battle of the bands,’ because any chance they have to play with another band, or be the band that sits on the platform for a high school band, they get excited.”
CAMPUS NEWS p.2
Kendra Angion, a Dallas County High School graduate and Valley Grande, Ala., native, was named Miss Freshman 2019 in the Ralph David Abernathy Hall Auditorium on Sept. 7. Her victory Friday night added her name indelibly to a list of Miss Freshmen who have been named at Alabama State University. A tap dancer, whose pageant platform is “advocating for the arts,” performed a tap dance routine to the theme song “Ease On Down The Road” by Michael Jackson and Diana Ross, inspired by the movie “The Wiz.” Angion’s platform, “Becoming Golden” gives freshman an opportunity to challenge themselves to become who they are. Angion believes students should be socially and academically active while at ASU and interact with one another. focuses on education and why students should take their education seriously. “The biggest challenge facing education today is ourselves, we don’t put as much emphasis on studying, we just see the partying part,” Angion said when responding to one of the judge’s question about the biggest challenge to education today. “We all
need to help each other and help each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.” She competed with two other freshmen, Mariah McClary, a native of Orlando, Fla. who was named first runner-up and Jaylan Brown, a native of Jackson, Miss., who was named second runner-up. The Miss Freshman Pageant is an annual event that is hosted every year to showcase the intellect, talents and confidence of the contestants that are competing to become Miss Freshman. This year’s mistress and master of ceremonies were Arianna Thompson, Miss Alabama State University 2018-19 and Leon Allen. According to pageant organizers, the young women competed in four areas: Community Achievements in Private Interview, which counted for 35 percent of the total scoring, Physical Fitness in Fitness Wear, which accounted for 10 percent of the total scoring, Artistic Expression in Talent, which accounted for 40 percent and Evening Gown/ On-Stage Question, which accounted for 15 percent of the total scoring. There were a number of special guests who performed at the pageant inSee CAPTURES on page 2
FILE PHOTO
Members of the Alabama State University Board of Trustees Finance Committee listens carefully as university administrators explain proposed insurance coverage for employees as well as the proposed 2018-19 university operating budget.
Finance Committee votes for more time to review university’s operating budget BY NEFSA’HYATT BROWN Interim Editor-in-Chief nefsahyatt.brown21@gmail.com
The Alabama State University Board of Trustees Finance Committee voted unanimously to delay moving the proposed university 2018-19 operating budget forward to the full board un-
HORIZONS p.3
til board members could thoroughly review the document. Besides written concerns from Trustee Robert Gilpin, Angela McKenzie was very vocal about approving the budget with such short notice. “Mr. Chairman, I move for the delay of the approval of the budget by the Finance
Committee until we are given at least another ten days to review the budget,” said Trustee Angela McKenzie who stated several concerns that she had with the budget. “Five days for me, sir, is not enough time for me to adequately review this budget to vote on it.” Even though she eventu-
VIEWPOINTS p.5
ally relaxed the time period from 10 days to a shorter period, there were other trustees, including Gilpin, who had concerns regarding the operating budget. Concerns that ranged from funding the internal auditor position with a salary, even though See VOTES on page 2
SPORTS p.7
UNIVERSITY NEWS
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Sept. 8, 2018
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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
Kendra Angion performed a tap dance routine to “Ease On Down The Road” during the talent competition of the pageant.
Miss Freshman elections continue to draw low numbers of students to polls BY NEFSA’HYATT BROWN Interim Editor-in-Chief nefsahyatt.brown21@gmail.com
Despite the freshman class numbering about 900 students, the Miss Freshman elections barely attracted 100 voters. Voting took place on Sept. 5 and ended on Thursday, Sept. 6, giving students two days to decide which three candidates would become their new Miss Freshman. Emails were sent out to each of the freshmen announcing the election, the location of the polls and the times that the polls would be open each day. Despite the notice that was sent, freshmen did not
come to the polls in large numbers. The candidates are required to put forth a platform for an opportunity to voice their views or initiate action on a particular issue for the student body to see their abilities and qualities to be Miss Freshman. Kendra Angion, a secondary education major from Selma, AL says her platform “Becoming Golden” gives the freshman an opportunity and challenge themselves to become who there are. Angion believes students should be socially and academically active while at ASU and interact with one another. Mariah McClary, a native from Orlando, FL, is platforming on the acronym
“CARRY” which means Create, Attentiveness, Responsibility, Respective, and Youthful. She is one who believes students should not only stay young and youthful but also be involved in the university. Jaylan Brown, a marketing major from Jackson, MS, says it is her duty to motivate students to be themselves and “BE YOU” Bold, Educated, Young, Original, and Unstoppable. Through her platform, she believes students should stay true to who they are and be the best they can be. After questioning some students who voted Wednesday to see what their thought on the elections. “I voted for Miss Fresh-
man because one of the candidates stopped me when I was walking to class to tell me why I should vote and I thought it would be great to vote for the person I want to vote for,” said Alecia Baker, a freshman, biology major from Chicago, Ill. “I hope the candidate I voted for gets the position she has a great platform and believes in her freshman class, her platform and pictures stuck out to me which is why I’m voting,” said Nekita Jefferson, a psychology major from, Montgomery. Each of the candidates will compete in the Miss Freshman pageant which will determine another percentage of the total scoring.
Votes: “Trustee Gilpin clearly had more time on this budget than I did, but ...” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
the president decided to move into another direction, to members of the staff who had been at the university less than one year, but had been given significant increases. “Trustee Gilpin clearly had more time on this budget than I did, but some of his concerns are echoed by me,” said Trustee Tiffany McCord, who noted the increases that were given to some of the staff. “There are people who
have been with the university for short periods of time that are receiving substantial raises,” McCord said. “There was a meeting here just a few minutes ago where we talked about Development and the need for additional people and yet there was no additional people placed in the budget for Development, yet there are new people placed in other offices, new positions created in other offices that don’t seem as pressing. I would like a justification for each of those raises, each one
of them. We have had people toiling, persevering, sticking with us and they have not been given raises. McKenzie asked university administrators had they passed on the resolutions to Dr. Ross that had been passed by the board before his arrival. She said, “I feel sure that one of those resolutions was “no raises.” Vice President of Business and Finance William Hopper informed the board that the university was able to operate within budget, with a
projected budget surplus by end of the year, despite tuition revenues being down somewhat. Hopper indicated that in terms of health insuance for employees, the university “As it pertains to employees’ health insurance and prescription policies, we have managed to keep the costs level, the employee rates will remain the same.” Hopper requested the board of trustees pass the action item to keep the university’s current insurance plan.
liday and Jennifer Hudson, as well as Miss Senior Shykenya Jackson, who sang a classic by Etta James “At Last.” There were other special guests who did not perform, but made noteworthy appearances such as Miss Sophomore Malisa Ray, and Miss Junior Kleo Torres. Miss Freshman 2017-18 Kamryn Foster who was introduced at the beginning of
the pageant, offered advice to her successor. “Be ready to be optimistic, open to anything, and ready to wear heels,” said Foster, as she gave her last remarks as a class queen. Three well-known personalities served as judges for the pageant this year. Associate Professor of Marketing Janel BellHaynes, Assistant Circuit
Clerk Gina Jobe-Ishman and federal worker Jacinta Berry took moments from their busy schedules to select the new Miss Freshman. The judges judged each young lady in the selected categories, with no judge knowing what the other judges’scores were until the announcementy by the master of ceremonies.
diligently to fix the issue, but I feel like there hasn’t been much done to benefit me.” Senior rehabilitation services major Natasha Marshall agreed. “I can appreciate the intent of the memorandums ... However, I think more proactive things could’ve and can still be done to effectively help everyone’s aid get processed without making it a frustrating process,” Marshall said. “I applaud administration for indefinitely delaying the purge and processing “millions of dollars in grants, scholarships, and loans”, but I believe by this time in the semester ALL aid could’ve been processed effectively without negative attention from the media. If nothing else, I hope the university and financial aid, in
particular, will develop some useful problem solving skills for the future.” Ross also addressed students who were in need of books. “Students who need assistance in purchasing books while their financial aid is being processed will be offered book vouchers,” Ross said. “Please be advised that the cost of the books remains the responsibility of the students. If a student’s financial aid does not cover the cost, the amount will be added to the student’s account.” Victoria Stovall, senior, public relations major, “I feel as though they were very helpful because I actually made a sign saying ‘Dr. Ross has the sauce, but his employees lost’ meaning that his employees of the univer-
sity weren’t on one accord with the memos and letters because they tried to even purge me and I have a clear balance.” Ross also addressed the anticipated refunds that students complained about. “Many students have already received partial refunds, if some of their federal aid covered their tuition and fees. Full refunds will be processed and disbursed once all federal and outside aid has been applied to students’ accounts,” Ross said. “Please note that federal guidelines stipulate that all first-time borrowers, regardless of academic classification, must wait 30 days from the first day.”
Captures: “Be ready to be optimistic, open to anything, and ready to wear ...”
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
cluding Second Attendant to Miss Alabama State University Chanelle Bryant, who danced during the opening number, First Attendant to Miss Alabama State University Natasha Marshall, who thrilled the crowd with her vocal rendition of “I am Changing” a song made famous by both Jennifer Hol-
Address: “Students who need assistance in purchasing books while their ...” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
to alert them of the availability of financial aid counselors has been instituted so that students may avoid waiting in lines. Ross continued. “The Offices of Financial Aid and Student Accounts will set up on Wednesday, September 12, on the Acadome Concourse, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., to evaluate pending financial aid disbursements.” Wynter Rudolph, a sophomore communications major, was appreciative that the purge was delayed. “I am glad that they decided to postpone the purge, but it has been difficult for me as I have not received my refund check,” Rudolph said. “I know they are working
“We don’t create the news. We just report it.”
Horizons Local News, State News, National News International News
VOLUME 57, ISSUE 4
SEPTEMBER 8, 2018
The official student newspaper serving the Alabama State University and Metro-Montgomery communities
Ayanna Pressley is the new face of American politics BOSTON (AP) — The black Boston city councilor whose upset primary win over a 10-term congressman stunned Massachusetts’ political establishment called her victory “surreal” Wednesday and said the wave of inclusiveness sweeping the nation is the best way to counter President Donald Trump. Ayanna Pressley told cheering supporters she’s thrilled and humbled by her victory over longtime U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, a
fellow liberal Democrat. Pressley will run unopposed in November, giving her a virtual lock on the seat — the first in Congress that will be held by a black woman from Massachusetts. After appearing at a Democratic unity event Wednesday morning, Pressley’s campaign cancelled her events for the rest of the day, saying she was suffering from dehydration and exhaustion. Pressley joked at the event that she was expe-
riencing withdrawal after six months on the campaign trail “double-fisting Red Bull and cold brew.” Pressley, 44, said her victory was “a surreal, full circle moment.” She said she ran to represent those traditionally without a voice in politics who deserve to live in communities that are safe and have good schools. “When I have said that the people closest to the pain should be closest to the power, driving and informing the
policy-making, that was never about me, that was about the residents of the Massachusetts 7th Congressional district,” she said Wednesday during the party unity event. She also got in a dig at Trump, saying the only way to combat “the hate coming out of this White House” is with an inclusive movement. “This is our opportunity to build it,” she said. “We are at a crossroads. This can be See FACE on page 4
Pressley will run unopposed in November, the first in Congress that will be held by a black woman from Massachusetts.
DeVos said Friday that “Congress did not authorize me or the Department to make those decisions” about arming teachers or training them on the use of firearms.
DeVos won’t use federal funds to arm teachers WASHINGTON (AP) — Education Secretary Betsy DeVos says she has “no intention of taking any action” regarding any possible use of federal funds to arm teachers or provide them with firearms training. DeVos’ comments came Friday after a top official in her department, asked about arming teachers, said states and local jurisdictions always “had the flexibility” to decide how to use federal education funds. Frank Brogan, assistant secretary of elementary and secondary education, said
arming educators “is a good example of a profoundly personal decision on the part of a school or a school district or even a state.” President Donald Trump and DeVos have said schools may benefit from having armed teachers and should have that option. DeVos said Friday that “Congress did not authorize me or the Department to make those decisions” about arming teachers or training them on the use of firearms. Her comments were in a letter to Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott, the top Democrat on the House committee overseeing education, and were posted by the department on
Twitter. “I will not take any action that would expand or restrict the responsibilities and flexibilities granted to state and local education agencies by Congress,” DeVos wrote. Democrats and education groups have argued, however, that the funds are intended for academics, not guns. DeVos heads a federal commission on school safety that was formed after the deadly Valentine’s Day shooting at a Florida high school. An early draft of the commission’s report recommends that states and communities determine “based on the
unique circumstances of each school” whether to arm its security personnel and teachers to be able to respond to violence. The draft’s section on training school personnel was reviewed by AP. That approach, the draft says, “can be particularly helpful” in rural districts where the nearest police unit may be far away. Other recommendations included employing school resource officers and ensuring they worked closely with the rest of the school staff. In an interview with The Associated Press Thursday, Brogan cited the “school marshal” program in Texas
where school employees can volunteer to carry weapons on campuses after undergoing training. Educators from some remote rural schools also told the panel that they rely on armed school personnel because the police may take too long to arrive. Others, however, argued that arming teachers is dangerous and could make schools feel like prisons. Brogan said the Every Student Succeeds Act, a bipartisan law that shifts education authority to states, provides about $1 billion in annual funding for various school needs, including 20 percent specifically set aside
for school safety. “The people at the local level who’ve been there for years could make the decisions about what services to purchase, what equipment to buy to fulfill the general broad obligations laid out in that law,” he said. It would be up to Congress, not the U.S. Department of Education, to place any restrictions or barriers to use those funds for purposes not currently in the law, a department spokeswoman said. The debate arose earlier this month after a small See FEDERAL on page 4
White Dallas police officer mistakes apartment for own, kills black neighbor
DALLAS (AP) — A Dallas police officer returning home from work shot and killed a neighbor after she said she mistook his apartment for her own, police said Friday. The officer called dispatch to report that she had shot the man Thursday night,
police said. She told responding officers that she believed the victim’s apartment was her own when she entered it. The responding officers administered first aid to the victim, whom the Dallas County medical examiner’s office identified as 26-yearold Botham Jean. He was
taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. Police haven’t released the name of the officer, who wasn’t injured. She will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, police said. Authorities haven’t said how the officer got into
Jean’s home, or whether his door was open or unlocked. At a Friday morning news conference, Sgt. Warren Mitchell acknowledged there are many questions about what happened that he couldn’t answer. “We still have a lot to do in this investigation. So
there’s a lot of information I understand you guys want but this is all we can give you at this time,” Mitchell said. When asked if anyone else had witnessed the shooting, Warren replied, “We have not spoken to anyone else at this time.” Residents of the apart-
ment complex said they can access their units with a regular key or through a keypad code. Two women who live on the second floor near where the shooting happened said they heard a lot of noise late
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats mounted a last, ferocious attempt Thursday to paint Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh as a foe of abortion rights and a likely defender of President Donald Trump if he makes it to the high court. But their chances of blocking Trump’s nominee seemed to fade
away by the end of a second marathon day of testimony in his confirmation hearing. Questioning of the 53-year-old appellate judge wound down without him revealing much about his judicial stances or making any serious mistakes that might jeopardize his confirmation. In what almost seemed like
a celebration, Kavanaugh’s two daughters returned to the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing room for the final hours of testimony, accompanied by teammates on Catholic school basketball teams their father has coached. The hearing pivoted during the day to Roe v. Wade, the high court’s landmark
abortion case. The Democrats’ best hope of stopping Kavanaugh — who could swing the court further to the right for decades — would be branding him as a justice who might vote to overturn the ruling, attracting the votes of two Republican senators who support abortion rights. A newly disclosed email
suggested he once indicated the abortion case was not settled law, though Kavanaugh denied in the hearing that he had been expressing his personal views on the issue. The tone in the email from 2003 contrasted with his responses to questions on Wednesday when he stressed how difficult it is to over-
turn precedents like Roe. In the email, Kavanaugh was reviewing a potential oped article in support of two judicial nominees while he was working at the George W. Bush White House. The document had been held by the committee as confiden-
See MISTAKES on page 4
Democrats make final attempt to block Kavanaugh confirmation
Call the HORIZONS desk at (334) 229-4419 or email asuhorizons@gmail.com
See MAKE on page 4
HORIZONS
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Sept. 8, 2018
Mistake: “It’s terrible. I hope it’s Federal: “I hope she reconsiders and we need to keep pressure on her ...” overseeing edu- selves and others can possess the panel will include suggesjust a tragic accident and nothing ...” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 commission cation, said on Twitter that weapons. tions on equipping schools CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
Thursday. “It was, like, police talk: ‘Open up! Open up!’” 20-year-old Caitlin Simpson told The Dallas Morning News. Yazmine Hernandez, 20, was studying with Simpson when they heard the commotion. “We heard cops yelling, but otherwise had no idea what was going on,” Hernandez said.
Tomiya Melvin, who moved from Chicago to a nearby apartment complex in June, said she found out about the shooting while she was walking her dog Friday morning. “It’s terrible. I hope it’s just a tragic accident and nothing more than that,” Melvin said. Police said they are conducting a joint investigation with the Dallas County district attorney’s office.
Make: “I am not sure that all legal scholars refer to Roe as the ...” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
tial, but was made public Thursday. “I am not sure that all legal scholars refer to Roe as the settled law of the land at the Supreme Court level since Court can always overrule its precedent, and three current Justices on the Court would do so,” Kavanaugh wrote, referring to justices at the time, in an email to a Republican Senate aide. The document was partially redacted. Asked about it by the committee’s top Democrat, Dianne Feinstein of California, Kavanaugh reiterated his previous testimony that “Roe v. Wade is an important precedent of the Supreme Court.” Democrats also hammered at Kavanaugh’s ability to separate himself from Trump and special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Throughout his testimony, Kavanaugh has repeatedly insisted he fully embraces the importance of judicial independence. Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois put the focus on Trump, who Durbin said, “has shown contempt for the federal judiciary and has shown disrespect for the rule of law over and over again.” “It’s in the context of the Trump presidency that we ask you these questions,” Durbin said. Kavanaugh refused to answer questions about Trump or commit to stepping aside from any case about the Russia investigation that might come to the Supreme Court. When Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut invited him to denounce Trump’s criticism of federal judges, the nominee demurred. “The way we stand up is by deciding cases and
controversies independently without fear or favor,” Kavanaugh said. Earlier, he said his 12year record as an appellate judge shows that he has not been afraid to invalidate executive branch actions. Kavanaugh said that he has made clear that a court order “that requires a president to do something or prohibits a president from doing something … is the final word in our system.” Late Wednesday evening, Kavanaugh seemed to stumble at first when questioned by Democrat Kamala Harris of California about whom he might have spoken with at a law firm concerning the investigation into Russian election meddling. The firm in question was founded by Marc Kasowitz, who has represented Trump. Kavanaugh eventually said he couldn’t think of any such conversations but would need to see a list of the firm’s lawyers. In questioning Thursday, he said more directly that he had no such conversations. On a separate track, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Durbin have led the charge in suggesting that Kavanaugh misled them in earlier testimony, an allegation the nominee firmly denied with the enthusiastic backing of Senate Republicans. Much of the debate among senators has focused more on the disclosure of documents than on Kavanaugh’s record. Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, along with Harris — both potential presidential candidates in 2020 — said he was willing to risk fallout over releasing confidential documents about Kavanaugh’s views on race. Republican John Cornyn of Texas warned him that senators could be expelled for violating confidentially rules.
rural school district in Oklahoma and the state of Texas asked the department to clarify what the funds can be used for. “The position is: You have the language … the language was written specifically to and always interpreted to mean ‘this is your money,’” Brogan said. Democratic lawmakers and teachers blasted the idea, accusing the Trump administration of acting in the interests of the National Rifle Association, and several congressmen called for legislation that would prohibit the use of those funds for guns. Senator Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate
she was “extremely disappointed that (DeVos) is moving forward with this awful plan to allow federal funds to be used to arm teachers.” “I hope she reconsiders and we need to keep pressure on her until she does,” Murray added. Brogan also clarified that the commission will tackle gun control as instructed by the White House. DeVos had told a Senate hearing in June that the panel will not look at guns “per se,” causing confusion. Brogan said the commission will consider age restrictions for gun purchases, as well as whether people with mental health problems who are likely to harm them-
Brogan said the panel will produce a tool kit “that provides recognized best practices, not just the shiny new object on school safety, but what people are already doing that seems to be showing a track record of success that can be put out there in inventory fashion.” “You cannot do that with a uniform approach to this thing because the country is so very different, place to place, school to school, state to state,” Brogan said. “There is no one way to make schools safe.” Besides recommendations on arming and training school staff, the research and best practices identified by
with magnetometers and other safety tools, character development programs and the impact of video games and movies on violent behavior. The report will be issued in “very late fall or by the end of the year,” Brogan said. The commission was created by President Donald Trump in March after 17 people were killed in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The panel is chaired by DeVos and also consists of the heads of the departments of Justice, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security.
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showing the candidate the moment she learned she’d won. “Change is coming, and the future belongs to all of us,” Pressley told wildly cheering supporters Tuesday night. A subdued Capuano told supporters he did everything he could to win re-election. “Apparently the district just is very upset with lots of things that are going on. I don’t blame them. I’m just as upset as they are, but so be it. This is the way life goes,” he said. Former Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy, son of the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, said he saw something of his famed political family’s legacy in Pressley’s win. “John F. Kennedy was known for the ‘New Frontier’ and always imagining a new world,” Kennedy said Wednesday. “There is great excitement today for that vision. It’s exhibited by her
and the followers she brought into the political process.” The race between Capuano and Pressley was perhaps the most closely watched contest in Massachusetts, especially since Pressley drew comparisons to Ocasio-Cortez. Capuano was considered one of the most liberal members of the Massachusetts delegation, and Pressley had acknowledged she had few major policy quarrels with him. Massachusetts’ last Democratic primary upset came in 2014, when Seth Moulton defeated Rep. John Tierney in the state’s 6th Congressional District. Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren sailed through her primary unopposed. She’ll face Geoff Diehl, a state representative who served as co-chairman of President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign in the state and defeated two other Republicans for his party’s
nomination. Another veteran congressman, Democratic Rep. Richard Neal, won a spirited primary showdown with Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, a black attorney from Springfield who had hoped to become the first Muslim to serve in Congress from Massachusetts. Neal, the dean of the state’s House delegation, first was elected in 1989. Two other Democratic House incumbents, William Keating and Joe Kennedy, fended off primary challenges. Kennedy, grandson of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, delivered the Democratic response to Trump’s State of the Union address this year. Another Democrat, U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, is retiring at the end of this term, and that open seat touched off a political scramble with 10 candidates on the Democratic primary ballot. That race remained too close to call Wednesday.
Face: “Apparently the district just is very upset with lots of things that are ...”
our darkest hour or it can be our finest. And I am betting on it being our finest.” Pressley cruised to victory Tuesday in a district once served by Tip O’Neill and John F. Kennedy. Minorities now constitute a majority of the district’s population. Pressley’s defeat of a 10-term incumbent underscores the shift underway in a Democratic Party whose base is seeking younger, more diverse candidates who embrace liberal policies. Her victory comes just two months after Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez similarly defeated a top House leader in a primary for a New York congressional seat. Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday night tweeted a selfie of both women together and wrote, “In June, I won my primary. Tonight, she won hers. Here’s to November.” A Pressley campaign insider, meanwhile, posted a video
UPAAB is accepting applications for positions of directors and assistant directors. If interested, please see Trentqual Rhone in Room A2.20 on the second floor of the John Garrick Hardy Center.
“We don’t create the news. We just report it.”
Viewpoints Editorials, Columns, Letters to the Editor, Editorial Cartoons and Hornet Expressions
VOLUME 57, ISSUE 4
SEPTEMBER 8, 2018
The official student newspaper serving the Alabama State University and Metro-Montgomery communities
Millennials: Lazy, entitled, economically irresponsible individuals? With the latest political scandal of the Trump Administration saturating every news outlet in the country, writers are now moving onto America’s favorite topic, the shortcomings of the millenials. It seems after the baby boomers, the media has collectively decided that every person born after 1980, is the sole perpetrators of societal issues plaguing our country. The most obvious being lack of concern for religion, sense of entitlement and laziness among youth, and increasing reports of economic irresponsibility. In so many words, we are the problem with America today and if we were taught better all of these deep rooted institutional problems would somehow disappear….which is not the case. For many, being a millenial or Generation Z member is opening yourself to a world of criticism based solely on your birth date.
Reputable news sites such as The Washington Post, allow their columnist to write countless articles about how millennials are godless, lazy, entitled, and economically irresponsible individuals. Millenials are not blind to the clear shift in religious beliefs from generation to generation. Nor do we not see the countless case studies on our irrational spending habits, and I am sure I can speak for every person who has been around an elder before, the argument that laziness plagues our generation is not too foreign either. For my generation, religion is a subject we try to stray away from. Our focus on pop culture, education, and politics has completely replaced the importance of religion in our lives. My peers, have found themselves, more times than not, questioning religion and its place in the world. After much deliberation, millennials and beyond have decided to actually prac-
Nef Brown, Interim Editor-in-Chief tice and separation of church and state and look at religion as a controlling indoctrination of the youth. Many of us, believe in God and may call ourselves spiritual but given the violent history of mankind in the name of religion we try our best to separate it from politics. To our parents however, by choosing to stray away from traditional religion, we have become godless rebellious individuals, when in
fact, we are behaving the same way they did under different circumstances. As an avid online shopper, I will be the first to attest that millennials do not have the best spending habits. In fact, millenials spend more freely on entertainment than other generations. However, according to a report from Charles Schwab, a financial service company, millennials may spend more on entertainment however they are plane
oriented about how they spend their money compared to the generations before them. Despite the data, those before us continue to rewrite the narrative in a way that makes it seem like instead of paying for college we spend all of our money on ubers and expensive coffee which is irresponsible spending. What they don’t say is that, millennials have created a budget for themselves that allows them to spend money on entertainment without sacrificing the things they need. The final argument against the laziness of millenials is one as old as time. Commonly referred to as the “me generation” society’s outlook on millennials always starts with laziness and entitlement. “It’s something about the generation born in the 80s and beyond, they are so entitled.” The best refute to these statements is who raised these entitled, lazy individu-
als? When one balmes an entire generation for their behavior and its detrimental repercussions on the future of this country, it is necessary to trace back where they learned these behaviors from. Who allowed them to be this way? Who taught them how to be this way? The generation who birthed us and essentially crafted the world we grew up in simultaneously acts as one of the defining reasons in why we are the way we are. However, columnists with their plethora of case studies have yet to go into depth on the role our parents generation plays on the current state of millennials because there is no way of looking at this multifaceted concept without incriminating themselves. So, next time we decide to criticize millennials for doing the same things you all did in your prime, think about how you all set the stage for us now.
At his 2004 confirmation hearing before the Judiciary Committee, he denied any involvement in the vetting of a controversial judicial nominee while serving as one of President George W. Bush’s White House lawyers. Then there are the persistent doubts about his truthfulness in telling senators in 2006 that he had no knowledge of Mr. Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program
Confirmed: Brett Kavanaugh can’t be trusted
BY MICHAEL H. COTTMAN certain important facts about Guest Columnist his years of service to Republican administrations. More In a more virtuous world, than once this week, he testiJudge Brett Kavanaugh fied in a way that appeared to would be deeply embarrassed directly contradict evidence by the manner in which he in the record. has arrived at the doorstep of For example, he testified a lifetime appointment to the that Roe v. Wade is “settled Supreme Court. as a precedent of the Supreme He was nominated by a Court.” But he said essenpresident who undermines tially the opposite in a 2003 daily the nation’s democratic email leaked to The Times. order and mocks the consti- “I am not sure that all legal tutional values that Judge scholars refer to Roe as the Kavanaugh purports to hold settled law of the land at the dear. Supreme Court level since Now he’s being rammed Court can always overrule its through his confirmation pro- precedent, and three current cess with an unprecedented Justices on the Court would degree of secrecy and parti- do so,” he wrote then. san maneuvering by RepubJudge Kavanaugh’s backlican senators who, despite ers in the Senate brushed this their overflowing praise for off by pointing out that his his legal acumen and sterling 2003 statement was factually credentials, appear terrified correct. They’re right, which for the American people to means that his testimony this find out much of anything week was both disingenuous about him beyond his pen- and meaningless. chant for coaching girls’ basAs we’ve learned with ketball. each new trickle of previPerhaps most concern- ously withheld documents, ing, Judge Kavanaugh seems Judge Kavanaugh didn’t start to have trouble remembering misleading senators just this
week. At his 2004 confirmation hearing before the Judiciary Committee, he denied any involvement in the vetting of a controversial judicial nominee while serving as one of President George W. Bush’s White House lawyers. The nominee, William Pryor Jr., had among other things called Roe v. Wade “the worst abomination of constitutional law in our history.” In fact, Mr. Kavanaugh was more than a little involved, as emails from that period — which Senate Republicans had withheld until early Thursday morning — made clear. In that 2004 hearing and again in 2006, when he was being considered for a seat on the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., Mr. Kavanaugh told Congress, under oath, that he knew nothing about the extensive theft of secret strategy documents from Democratic senators’ computers by Republican staffers. As it turns out, he did in fact receive those
documents or summaries of them. But he now claims that he had no reason to believe that they had been stolen, even though one email he got had the subject line “spying” and began, “I have a friend who is a mole for us on the left.” Then there are the persistent doubts about his truthfulness in telling senators in 2006 that he had no knowledge of Mr. Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program or his detainee treatment policy — claims that have been called into question by yet more emails, which showed he knew about both of those things years before they became public. As Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois told Judge Kavanaugh on Thursday, “You say that words matter. You claim to be a textualist when you interpret other people’s words, but you don’t want to be held accountable for the plain meaning of your own words.” Judge Kavanaugh was quick to provide lawyerly
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explanations for all of these discrepancies, but they paint a pattern that’s hard to ignore: He misstates facts under oath, and Republicans cover for him by making it hard, if not impossible, to get the documents proving it. With the help of the White House and a personal lawyer for Mr. Bush, Senator Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, has subverted a long-established, nonpartisan process and hidden more than 90 percent of the material pertaining to Judge Kavanaugh’s time in government. It’s only thanks to Senate Democrats and others that we’ve been able to see important pieces of the judge’s lengthy paper trail. There is far more that was never even requested. Far from being embarrassed by all this, Judge Kavanaugh is acting like someone who knows there is virtually nothing he can do to imperil his nomination. Instead, he’s followed his own cynical advice to a
2002 judicial nominee: “She should not talk about her views on specific policy or legal issues,” he wrote in an email then. “She should say that she has a commitment to follow Supreme Court precedent, that she understands and appreciates the role of a circuit judge, that she will adhere to statutory text, that she has no ideological agenda.” The Constitution calls this process advice and consent. Until the last few years, Republicans claimed to take that responsibility seriously. Now they are making a mockery of what is meant to be a careful and deliberative process by playing three-card monte with the American people. The Republicans engage in this sort of subterfuge for an obvious reason: While they hold unified power most of their agenda is unpopular. So they hide as much of it as possible out of a fear that if more of it came to light, they will pay at the polls. Come November, voters can make that fear come true.
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VIEWPOINTS
editorial cartoons
editorial board Nefsa’hyatt Brown INTERIM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Vacant
MANAGING EDITOR
Vacant
David Evans
GEN. ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
VISUAL MEDIA EDITOR
Vacant
Kenneth A. Dean
STAFF ADVISER
GENERAL MANAGER
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 ...
Christine Shelton, Staff Columnist
Ariana Grande and the pastor
In the era of #metoo and the ever so increasing rate of sexual assault cases hitting the courtrooms, one would think that the perpetrators of these crimes would finally come to the consensus that respecting personal space is not optional. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Recently, at the funeral service of the great singer, actress, and civil rights activist Aretha Franklin, Bishop Charles H. Ellis III greeted songstress Ariana Grande in a very awkward manner. The bishop was seen groping her well above her waist, pressed his fingers into the side of her chest while Grande showed blatant discomfort. Since the incident, the Ellis has apologized yet him touching her was not the focal point of the controversy. Many who saw the incident blamed Grande for wearing a short dress to a funeral, using it as justification for the bishop’s inappropriate behavior which poses a more important question. Why has American society yet to learn that the way a woman dresses does not give someone the permission to touch them? For years, most women have felt obligated to abide by this social construct that they must choose wisely in what and how they were their clothing must meet the “appropriate” societal guidelines. This idea is rooted in the dress codes in school systems; as young girls, skirts and dresses had to be finger length. Don’t even mention having their shoulders out. Grande never asked to be touched nor groped publicly by another man who feels the need to perform. Men need to understand that touching a woman who does not want to be touched is never okay. Grown men, well in their 50s and 60s, still have yet to grasp this simple concept. Only a woman can tell someone what is she wants or what her intentions are; most of the mistakes come from perception. Men will assume that a woman wants something they never even heard them say they wanted because of the clothes on their body. It’s not a guessing game. If a man has a question about a woman’s intentions or what she wants, he should ask (and her response should be law) before he does anything based off a perception. Nevertheless, the biggest disappointment is the response other women give. Instead of being understanding, many women accused her choice of dress saying it was too short and that she used it as a way to get men’s attention. This worn out “she asked for it” narrative is one of the main adversaries women, who have been touched in an inappropriate way or sexually assaulted, fight everyday. Women are 91% more likely to get raped and sexually assaulted as opposed to the 9% male; therefore, they should not experience this animosity from other women when it could just as easily be them. Expected to understand her situation as women experience sexual assault at such a high rate, their response to her was surprising. Instead of being met with comfort, many women were shamed into answering questions such as “why did you wear this?” or “you know you put this on yourself?” This, in turn, instills an intergenerational fear women have in response to sexual assault.
Sept. 8, 2018
sometimes the truth hurts, but necessary to move forward ...
Is Serena Williams right or is she an ABW? Twenty-year-old Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka championed tennis legend Serena Williams in the U.S. Open Final on Saturday. Despite her outstanding performance on the court, Osaka’s moment of victory has been overshadowed by news of a passionate outburst between Serena Williams and the match’s umpire Carlos Ramos. Williams’ portrayal as angry and aggressive in the media coverage that followed has sparked a discussion about the stereotypes that surround black women and their inability to experience emotions without being labeled hostile or belligerent. Many, including Serena Williams, may say that this is not an issue of race; in fact, Serena has said she views the situation from the perspective of a disadvantaged woman. Although she is indeed a woman and there is certainly unfair treatment given to women in tennis, it is impossible to ignore the color of her skin, and the effect it has on how her actions are perceived. Words like “meltdown” and “tantrum” fill headlines as greats like Billie Jean King say that Williams’ went “too far”. What, exactly, did she do that was too far? Many of her sports colleagues have reacted similarly in the heat of competition and received no such penalties. Black women are expected to accept all treatment
Corryn Carter, Staff Columnist with a gracious and consolatory demeanor, and every deviation from that standard is immediately perceived as aggressive or inherently belligerent. Society has no regard for the emotional outpouring of black women and instead expects them to take what life offers them with no contest and make do. Any complaints or concerns should go unsaid; they are expected to suffer in silence even if their points are valid. Serena Williams is no stranger to such treatment. A month prior the president of the French Tennis Federation, Bernard Giudicelli ridiculed for her choice to wear a black catsuit to compete in the French Open and explained their wear would no longer be acceptable during the tournament. Additionally, Serena and her sister Venus are often criticized due to their shapely bodies and likened to animals because of the stark contrast in appearance in comparison to their competitors. Instead of react-
staff editorial
Black folk are intelligent, not just entertainment
Dating back to slavery, as much of the current issues for African Americans do, black bodies have been used for much more than just free labor. From dancing and singing to performing entire minstrel shows, the role black men and women play in the entertainment of whites is deep rooted in American history. Currently, African Americans continue to place themselves in that role as entertainers. As African Americans, we are fully aware of the talent within my community, whether we are dancers, musicians, or athletes our talent is too great to be ignored. However, the problem lies when people begin to equate our worth with our talents. For example, when people think of someone like Lebron James they do not see an intelligent family man who just opened up a school for underprivileged youth, instead they see a basketball player whos worth lies in the amount of rings he has. His opinions, are limited to that of basketball and even then those opinions are monitored as his main job is to entertain anything more than that is deemed unnecessary. The best example of black people being used for entertainment instead of intellect, is the case of Colin Kaepernick. As a graduate from the University of Nevada Reno and leader of an entire movement one would think that his opinion on the treatment of African Americans in the United States would be respected….unfortunately this is America an that is not the case. Before he became the face of Nike, before thousands of athletes and people began kneeling for the national anthem, Colin Kaepernick was regarded as one of the most talented football players in the NFL. As a football player, he was loved, respected, and spoken about with ample amount of enthusiasm, however the minute he began protesting by kneeling during the national anthem that enthusiasm changed. Unfortunately, instead of addressing the issues of police brutality and the countless killings of unarmed black people, the media used one argument to tarnish his reputation, by saying that it was not his place as a football player to speak about these issues. This, then poses the question why not? Why can’t, speak out about issues that they are passionate about that do not have to do with entertainment? As of now, this question cannot be answered without bringing light to the dark history that plagues the united states. A history where black men and women are used not for their intellect but for the entertainment of white people. Sadly, for us as black people we have yet to break the toxic cycle that forces us into these positions where we are only seen as athletes and musicians instead of CEOs and politicians. Even in the light of Kaepernick, other black athletes continued to do their due diligence by standing for the anthem every Sunday and Monday night in fear of losing their job. Instead of supporting them, they continued to play their part, only allotting silent support for the cause which affects them as well. As if it wasn’t bad enough that various news sites categorize black people as entertainment and respond condescendingly when we are actually passionate about something, the implications it leaves onto the youth is the most detrimental. It translates to them that there is no use in proudly expressing their intellectual abilities despite their athletic talents. It shows them that throwing a ball is the only thing that will get them the respect they deserve. This, in turn, will produce yet another generation of people afraid to speak up, as they know there is no use because they only love you when you’re entertaining them.
ing adversely at being called masculine and monkeys the two of them were expected to be graceful and unfazed. Serena Williams, like other black athletes, is viewed as a source of entertainment. People can rely on her to perform at her fullest potential, and yet many people feel like she should be silent and that all her feelings are too controversial or problematic. In action, Serena is an influential and affluent woman worthy of praise and honor, however, when she opens her mouth she is no longer even worth the consideration of relaying her feelings or defending herself. It is beyond time for society to allow black women their humanity and set aside its unreachable standard of perfection and poise. Black women are vulnerable to feelings like anger and dissatisfaction with their circumstances in the same way others are. The importance of being able to express their feelings, no matter how con-
troversial or contrary, is necessary to ensure that their voices are heard. Serena Williams was accused of having tennis matches fixed in her favor in 2001, and although the situation was only speculative, it is understandable why she would feel the need to defend herself against calls for coaching. As a black woman, a coaching penalty calls into question every match she has ever played and makes her integrity questionable. Serena has been tested excessively for banned performance-enhancing drugs while many of her other colleagues have not even been tested once. This might even be a modern example of the idea that black people are somehow genetically stronger or different from others. Black women are human; therefore, they should be allowed to be passionate without fear of being ridiculed. The ridicule and scorn they face as a result is unwarranted and unnecessary. In addition to being afforded the same opportunities for advancement in social settings, Black women should able to express themselves emotionally without negative connotation. Not every display of passion equals belligerence or hostile. Their feelings are of equal importance and are valid. It is beyond time for society to stop disrespecting the Black woman and instead start listening and offering them help and support.
take a minute and listen ...
Alexis Butler, Staff Columnist
Nike stands with Kaepernick
On Monday, Sept. 4, 2018, Nike released the face of their 30th anniversary “Just do it” as campaign. Unlike any other ad this one has become one of the most controversial topics. Why? The face of the campaign is Colin Kaepernick. Colin Kaepernick is a former athlete for the San Francisco 49ers. In 2016 Kaepernick stopped standing for the national anthem and began to kneel each game it was played. During this silent protest Kaepernick hoped to gain attention to shine light on social injustices against black people, police brutality, and so much more that continues to hold black people back and ultimately hinder them from being as equal as others. Kaepernick received media attention from all over, but not in a good light. Several people judged him, called him names, burned his football jerseys and even burned season tickets to the 49ers games. But through all the adversity Kaepernick continued to stand strong for what he believed in. Due to Kaepernick refusing to stand his contract for another season was not renewed, which left Kaepernick without a job since the 2016 season. As Kaepernick was left without a job he continued to move discreetly through society making several changes, but nothing was more of a surprise than him becoming the new face of the Nike campaign . On Tuesday, Sept. 4th, it was released that Nike sales decreased dramatically after the announcement. Several reported to social media in disgrace as they burned shoes, cut clothes, and bashed Nike’s name. As of Monday evening the hashtags #boycottnike has been trending as people have attempted to come together to destroy the name of Nike, as well as their profit. All of this because Nike decided to give Kaepernick a job and stand behind what he believed in. When the ad was released Kaepernick tweeted “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt.” This topic alone shows America’s their colors. They would rather see. Black man fail, go without a job, and be silent about his own rights. In what way does that seem fair? Kaepernick was completely silent, stood for what he believed in and still received little to no support or respect. People were happy to see him without. It has become a problem that it has been released that Nike has been paying him the entire time. Donald Trump, America’s leader, even tweeted “What was Nike thinking.” It is biased and immoral to call Kaepernick’s silence disrespectful, but not acknowledge those who bashing not only him, but degrading the name of Nike, as well. For any change to happen in America, we as a nation, must come together and acknowledge all wrongs. If people reserve the right to boycott Nike, burn and tear their products, then Kaepernick reserves the right to stand up for what he believes in and kneel during the national anthem with absolutely no hassle. America, we must do better!
“We don’t create the news. We just report it.”
Sports Football, Cross Country, Volleyball Soccer
VOLUME 57, ISSUE 4
SEPTEMBER 8, 2018
The official student newspaper serving the Alabama State University and Metro-Montgomery communities
Linebacker K.J. Britt #33 of the Auburn Tigers blocks a pass intended for wide receiver Jamir Hannah #18 of the Alabama State Hornets during the third quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium
Hornets fall to seventh-ranked Auburn Tigers STAFF REPORT
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The Alabama State University Hornets were able to move the football and made big plays throughout the night, but the depth of seventh-ranked Auburn Tigers proved too much, as they pulled away for a 63-9 victory over the visiting Hornets. The announced crowd of 84.806 was the largest crowd that the Hornets have played in front, in their first trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Hornets (1-1) had their chances early, forcing the Tigers into a three-andout on their first offensive possession and then forced a fumble on the second drive of the game by the Tigers. The Hornets came off the turnover with a 51yard pass from Darryl Pearson, Jr. to Dieuly Aristilde to set the Hornets up at the Auburn 30-yard line. However, the Hornets lost a yard on back-to-back plays before a 43-yard field goal from Hunter Hanson missed wide left. Stidham put Auburn on the board with a 6-yard keeper midway through the first quarter, then hit true freshman speedster Anthony Schwartz for a 57yard score late in the same period. Junior safety and Robert E. Lee High graduate Daniel Thomas returned a DJ Pearson interception 29 yards for a touchdown 7 seconds later.
Alabama State University’s Darryl Pearson, Jr. (7) throws the ball against Auburn’s defense during the game between ASU and AU.
Ezra Gray returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for an Hornet touchdown, before it was called back to a holding call on the return. The kick would have been a career long by Gray, and would have been the longest of the year on the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Tigers scored on four of five possessions in the second quarter to go up 42-0 before Ricky Haley put Alabama State on the scoreboard. The Hornets had Auburn backed up to
their goal line, and Haley was able to wrap up backup quarterback Malik Willis for a safety to trim the lead to 42-2 with 4:48 remaining in the half. ception of the game), and sophomore defensive back Jordyn Peters blocked a punt that Devan Barrett picked up and returned 10 yards into the end zone. The Hornets final score came on a 29-yard touchdown pass from KHA’Darris Davis to Joe Williams IV in the back of the end zone on a third and
long play. Williams reached up and over a defender, grabbing the ball and was able to get a foot on the ground before falling out of bounds. Talesin Farmer led the rushing attack for Alabama State with 40 yards on 10 carries, while Pearson finished the night with 99 yards passing. Gray led the Hornets with three receptions as Alabama State tallied 205 yards of total offense. Meanwhile, Auburn had a pair of backs – JaTarvious Whitlow (122) and
Shaun Shivers (117) – go over 100 yards. Meanwhile, Jarrett Stidham finished the night 6-of-11 for 113 yards and a touchdown for Auburn, who finished with 567 yards of total offense. Defensively, Joshua Hill led Alabama State with eight tackles and Kurron Ramsey added seven. The Hornets forced four fumbles by Auburn on the night, two of which that were recovered by Devon Booker. The Hornets final score came on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Kha’Darris
Davis to Joe Williams IV in the back of the end zone on a third and long play. Williams reached up and over a defender, grabbing the ball and was able to get a foot on the ground before falling out of bounds. Defensively, Joshua Hill led Alabama State with eight tackles and the Hornets forced four fumbles by Auburn on the night, two of which that were recovered by Devon Booker. Alabama State, which traveled the fewest miles (54.2) of any opponent at Jordan-Hare Stadium since the Tigers hosted Fort Benning (42.3 miles) in 1944, amassed just 47 rushing yards against an Auburn defense that had 9.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and three interceptions. “We came in, we wanted to use the platform to promote our program, to find ways to build our team and I thought we did that,” Alabama State coach Donald Hill-Eley said. “We’ll get back and get ready for the next game. “We’ll keep our goals in front of us and use this as a building block.” Alabama State returns to action next Saturday on the road against nationallyranked Kennesaw State. The game is scheduled to kick at 5 pm (est), and can be heard on the Hornet Sports Network beginning at 4:30 pm (est). The game can also be seen on ESPN+.
Seven Hornets drop strokes on day two at Golf Week Championship STAFF REPORT
The Hornet Tribune tribune2018@gmail.com
Seven Alabama State golfers improved their respective scores during the second day of the GolfWeek Championship, as Noel Sims (72) and Kei Harris (71) starred for the Hornets. The Lady Hornets (ninth overall) shattered their open-
ing round 309 with a +18 (302) and tied Florida Gulf Coast for the seventh lowest tally for the day, ahead of South Dakota, Presbyterian, Stephen F. Austin, Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech and Valparaiso. Campbell (-8) currently holds the top spot. Meanwhile, the men carded the sixth-lowest score in second round action, shedding
six strokes off their opening round (297-291). Harris’ even-par 71 paced the Lady Hornets. The Kingston, Jamaica native is knotted in a five-way tie for 25th. Her result was the seventhlowest score of the day. The sophomore was bogey-free on the back nine en route to a two-under (34). With her showing, she has a cumula-
tive two-day total of 150. Shania Jones (T30) shaved a stroke off her opening day result courtesy of three birdies, turning in with a 75. Mack Bailey (77) is also tied for 30th. Jade Sanders (T58) also had a strong improvement on the second day, dropping two strokes (81-79) to improve her standing and is in a tie for 58th with teammate Abigail
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Pederson. All five men’s competitors tied or turned in under their opening round score. Sims was consistent once again (72-72), nullifying his bogey on the par five, ninth hole with a birdie on No. 10. Ben Swaffield (73-72) and Thacher Neal (76-72) matched Sims, while Neal led all Hornets with six bird-
ies. Thomas Caddell edged a stroke off his opening day 18, carding a 75. Mbongeni Maphosa Jr. went two strokes lower at True Blue, carding two birdies during his round. The 54-hole tournament concludes tomorrow.
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SPORTS
Sept. 8, 2018