January 30,2008 by N.C. Central University Campus Echo

JANUARY 30, 2008

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An Echo photographer takes an after hours stroll through downtown Durham

CD review: M1_ Platoon “Invades” the yard Ottomanstyle

A twist in federal law has driven up the cost of birth control to college students

Civil rights photography by NCCU’s Alex Rivera on display at N.C. Museum of History

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Campus Echo Nursing turns it around BY VANESSA JACKSON ECHO STAFF WRITER

In an impressive turnaround, N.C. Central University’s School of Nursing recently received the news that 91 percent of its graduates passed the state’s required nursing exam

on the first try, topping both Duke University and UNCChapel Hill. This is after a poor showing on the national licensing exam in previous years. In 2005, NCCU students scored only 65 percent. The following year, the North Carolina Board of Nursing stipulated changes to

NCCU’s teaching program. The state board exam evaluates every nurse on a basic level of competency in order to obtain licensure. However, the nursing program provides students with knowledge that goes far beyond minimum standards. Lorna Harris, who came to the University in fall 2005 as

chairperson, said she is ecstatic about the board scores. “It’s nice to not have the low passing issue, and it helps the morale of students and faculty,” said Harris. “Students here worked hard.

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Adrienne Stevenson and Stephanie Reed practice on the nursing school’s $100,000 mannequins. JAQUELYN HALL/ECHO STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

STUDENTS PITCH IN|MILLIONS OF MEALS

Tubas MIA Theft of 11 sousaphones hits Sound Machine hard — and with no forced entry — campus puzzled BY GEOFFREY COOPER ECHO STAFF WRITER

Itumeleng Shadreck, elementary education and psychology junior, helps prepare one of 87,400 meals Wednesday, Jan. 22, to feed people around the world. BRIAN LATIMER/Echo

Staff Photographer

NCCU and Duke combat hunger BY SADE THOMPSON ECHO STAFF WRITER

While many Americans eat three meals a day, citizens of other countries can barely afford even one. But last Wednesday, N.C. Central University teamed with Duke University to remedy this global issue. The universities collaborated with the Durham Rotary Club and the Durham community to pre-

pare and package thousands of meals, intending to put a dent in hunger in poor countries, where the food is delivered to schools and relief areas. Robert L. Chapman, assistant dean of student and program advancement at NCCU, helped spearhead the initiative two years ago, which sends 80,000 meals to such countries as Haiti, Guatemala, Ghana and Bolivia. “Last year, we had 155,000 (meals); this year we’re aiming for

75,000, and next year we want to get 1 million in one day,” said Chapman. He said the program did not raise enough money this year to purchase more packages. On Wednesday, students formed assembly lines, filling bags of rice and soy mixture, vitamin mix and vegetables. The bags of food must weigh between 390 to 400 grams in order to be sealed and boxed. Recipients prepare the bagged

meals by boiling them. The soy comes from Iowa, rice from Alabama and vegetables from Chicago. One meal costs twenty cents. In order to reach next year’s one-million-meal goal, Chapman said he will team up with NCCU food vendor, Sodexho. The plan is to tally the number of meals not eaten by the students each week. The money not used

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Is pregnancy an illness? NCCU’s student health plan won’t pick up the tab for abortions

After the theft of five sousaphones over winter break, the members of N.C. Central University’s marching band, the Sound Machine, thought they might not make it to Atlanta’s 2008 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase. This news came after six other sousaphones and more than 100 other instruments – were reported stolen in November 2007. A sousaphone is a lightweight tuba used by marching bands. The instrument, named after composer John Philip Sousa, is often referred to as a marching tuba. Thanks to a loan from Duke University athletic bands, the NCCU band made it to Atlanta’s Georgia Dome to dazzle some 70,000 fans. But NCCU police, students, faculty, staff and administration still wonder how 125 instruments have gone missing since 2005 from the band room in the Edwards Music Building. According to a Jan. 8 campus police report, 11 sousaphones were stolen; the News and Observer reported 14 missing sousaphones. “We are currently following every lead that we have, but an arrest at

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Sound Machine at 2004 Aggie-Eagle Classic Echo File Photo

Dems don gloves BY STEVEN THOMMA

BY AKILAH MCMULLAN ECHO STAFF WRITER

“Should the majority of students, who are responsible, have to pay an increased premium for the irresponsible student to get an abortion?” asked Charles Bowen, director of student health and counseling services at N.C. Central University. Like many other universities, NCCU’s school-issued insurance does not cover abortion or any other “elective procedures,” said

Bowen. According to the North Carolina Center of Health Statistics, in 2006, 46 percent of minority women between age 2024 ended their pregnancies in abortion. A nationwide study conducted by the Alan Guttmacher Institute found that 45 percent of women who have abortions are collegeaged (18-24). At least 80 percent of NCCU undergraduates receive financial aid, and 70 percent are

insured by the school, according to NCCU’s financial aid and student health services departments. “I’d like to say that we have what I believe to be the best in student health insurance policy within the UNC system — and one of the best in the country,” said Bowen. NCCU’s student insurance costs $500 per year. There is no deductible and no co-pay. The insurance covers up to $700 in prescription drugs,

including birth control. The policy also covers pregnancy and delivery expenses. “It’s not designed to be a catastrophic policy,” said Bowen. “If it were a catastrophic policy, the students would not be able to afford to pay for it.” One student, who asked not to be named, has had two abortions since entering NCCU. “I had the first when I was 17 and the second when I was 20,”

WASHINGTON — Democrats head away from South Carolina Sunday torn between two top candidates — and deeply divided along racial lines that could pull at their party throughout a long and bruising campaign. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama won the state. But he did it by winning an overwhelming majority of black votes while losing the majority of

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MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS (MCT)

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BY RAENA BOSTON ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Stacey Greene, elementary education junior, divides portions of rice to be packaged during the Million Meals event. BRIAN LATIMER/Echo Staff Photographer

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 even try to explain how that many instruments could just slip away like that,” said one band member, who asked not to be named. This band member said that there is a sign-in system to track band equipment and that instruments have University identification tags. Students must sign an agreement at the beginning of summer band camp to return instruments at the end of each semester, she said. “I thought that we were taking necessary precautions to prevent something like this,” she said. “We are really torn between what to do right now.” According to the Jan. 8 police report, there were no signs of forcible entry into the band room. Williams said someone may have had key access to the band room where the sousaphones were stored. Phillip Powell, director of facilities services, said the locks to the band room have been changed. Names of band room key holders and the number of keys issued to them were not made available by Campus Echo press deadline. Paula Harrell, music

department chair, said she is “adamant about creating better security measures for the building.” Harrell said she has long wanted to install security cameras throughout Edwards Music Building. Jeff Au, director of Duke University athletic bands, loaned the Sound Machine three sousaphones for the Honda showcase on Saturday. Sound Machine members returned Duke’s sousaphones Monday night, just in time for the Duke Pep Band to use for the Duke women’s basketball game against Tennessee. Au met Reid in 2000, when Au was assistant director of bands and a trumpet instructor at Elizabeth City State University. Tim Moore, interim director of auxiliaries and business services, said the Sound Machine has an insurance policy on most of their instruments. Moore said the University has filed an insurance claim through Travelers Insurance Company, Inc. Insurance appraisers will visit the campus next week.

INSURANCE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 she said. “My grandmother paid for the first, and the guy I was pregnant by paid for the second.” The student said she never thought to use the school or its resources to pay for the procedure. She said she knows her actions were irresponsible, but said when you are young and in a committed relationship, accidents happen. A male student, who also asked not to be named, shouldered the financial burden of abortion his freshman year at NCCU. “I paid $400,” he said. The student said a lot of the financial responsibility fell on his shoulders, even though he was a student. He was insured by the school, but like the female student, he did not consider asking if the school’s insurance would cover the procedure. “I don’t think the school should cover it,” he said. “It’s like saying that it’s okay to come down here and f— up and we’ll take care of it,” he said.

South Asian studies program offers film series

THEFT this point is not imminent,” said NCCU Police Chief Willie Williams. Williams said NCCU police have searched local pawn shops and have not found the instruments. Williams said many signs indicate disorganization and accountability problems with band administrators. In November 2007, NCCU Band Director Jorim Reid reported that over a span of two years, 114 instruments with a value of $110,991 have disappeared. Six sousaphones were reported missing then. On Jan. 8, Assistant Band Director Samuel Rowley reported five more sousaphones missing and the cases left behind. Rowley said the instruments had been in the band room before winter break. Although Reid spoke with reporters from the News & Observer following the theft, Reid and his assistants declined to be interviewed by the Campus Echo after numerous attempts. According to several band members, Reid also told members of the band not speak to the media. “I could not begin to

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Passport to India

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 for student meals will go to the millions of meals fund. “They know when you’ve already swiped your card, so they’ll be able to know when you haven’t,” Chapman said. The cost to purchase one million meals for the program is $200,000. Chad N. Stutsman, who works with Stop Hunger Now, a non-profit organization that runs Operation Share House, said the millions of meals event is “growing phenomenally.” Next year, the operation will include students from NCCU, Duke, NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill. Participant Mark Davis, mass communications sophomore, said, “I feel great about it. It was the community service hours that pulled me in at first, but if I can help those in need, I will— even with the small stuff.” By the end of the night, 89,400 meals had been packaged and sealed and were ready to be shipped in the effort to stop hunger.

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008

Planned Parenthood is a recognizable name among many young adults who face unplanned pregnancies. “Health insurance ought to cover all necessary procedures of the person being insured,” said Paige Johnson, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood’s Durham office. “That includes everything from preventive care to abortion.” Johnson said Planned Parenthood administers services to many students, mainly birth control, but abortions are also performed in their Chapel Hill facility. Abortions are priced from $385 - $1,500, depending on how far along the woman is in her pregnancy. “Students really have a hard time with how they are going to pay for the abortion,” said Johnson. “We would absolutely support student health insurance covering abortion,” she said. Planned Parenthood does have a Justice Fund, which is set up to help

those who are financially unable to pay for the procedure, but Johnson notes that funds “are limited.” “In North Carolina, the only public assistance there is [for abortion], are for women who have been raped, incest, or when the pregnancy is found to be harmful to the mother,” said Johnson. Mass communications senior Greg Pulley said he doesn’t think the school should cover abortion. “School insurance is not necessarily for that,” said Pulley. “It’s kind of a safety net, so pregnancy shouldn’t be an issue.” Arnetta Blackston, nursing major, is unsure whether the school should cover abortion. “I never really thought about it,” she said. Whether students believe that NCCU-issued insurance should absorb the cost of abortion or not, the University’s student health plan will not cover the procedure any time soon. “Pregnancy is not an illness,” said Bowen.

Matthew Cook says he wants N.C. Central University’s South Asian studies program to get noticed by students. Cook, NCCU’s new assistant professor of South Asian/postcolonial studies, has a plan: Have a film series. South Asia refers to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and several smaller countries. “India is an increasingly important region of the world,” said Cook. “A South Asian studies program will better prepare students to be participants in global society and economy.” The first film in the series, “The Rising: The Ballad of Mangal Pandey,” is a socalled Bollywood classic. “Bollywood” mixes the words Bombay and Hollywood to refer to the Indian film industry. The film, set in India during the Indian Mutiny of 1857, focuses on how the country’s evolving political atmosphere affected the friendship between an Indian soldier and his British superior officer. “The Rising” will be shown Thursday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.

Matthew Cook, assistant professor of South Asian and postcolonial studies The second film in the series, “A Passage to India,” is based on the classic E.M. Forster novel. The film explores how the politics of colonialism affect personal friendship. It will show on Thursday, March 6 at 7 p.m. The last film in the series, “Earth,” will show on Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. “Earth” explores the religious-based division of Pakistani Muslims and Indian Hindus and the negative effects of friendships between members of these groups. All films will be screened in the Townes Science Complex, room 2221. Cook has an extensive background in South Asian

studies, including a working knowledge of Hindi, one of India’s many languages. Cook teaches South Asian courses in both the history and English departments at NCCU. NCCU is a part of the South Asia center located at Duke University, which is part of a larger consortium that includes N.C. State University and UNC-Chapel Hill. The consortium provides resources for concentrated studies of South Asia, and is one of only 11 such consortia in the United States. Students and faculty at all universities involved in the South Asia center are invited to attend the film series. Along with the film series, NCCU plans to expand course offerings in South Asian history and host public lectures related to South Asia. Cook also hopes to expand NCCU’s Hindi telecourse by bringing in a Fulbright teaching assistant to serve as an on-site tutor to proctor NCCU’s part of the course. Cook said he hopes to increase the popularity and general presence of South Asian studies, which is part of NCCU’s larger plan to initiate more global studies programs.

NURSING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Faculty here worked hard. It takes a lot of effort by everyone. “Students are advised by the faculty, which we hope is supportive in their growth. We encourage them to take the exam soon after graduation. Most take the exam between July and October.” Harris has worked with Dean Cecelia Steppe-Jones, of the School of Education, to initiate programs for new teachers. These programs focus on preparing the faculty to meet the board of nursing’s continuing education requirements. “Nursing is a practiced discipline,” said Harris. “Many start as practitioners and then become teachers. There is a lack of nurses with experience in teaching and a responsibility to prepare them to teach.” Harris said improving the scores took a multi-faceted approach from the School of Nursing. Harris met with the biology and chemistry departments to detail a plan that would improve nursing students’ performance. One goal was to strengthen faculty teaching. Another was to assess student needs to help them excel in science. Harris said they also collaborated with the School of Education to educate local guidance counselors about preparing high school seniors interested in nursing. According to Harris, many students come into the program after being advised to do so, although many lack the necessary science and mathematical skills. Harris explained that many students do not realize the lifestyle changes that come with a nursing career. Often, they face such challenges as balancing a busy family and work life with school. Unlike students in other disciplines, nursing students start their day as early as 7 a.m. and may not be done until 11 p.m. — even on Saturday. One important step was to raise nursing admission standards to a 900 on the SAT and a 2.8 GPA, compared to the University’s required score of 720 for instate and 820 for out-of-state students.

Lorna Harris, chair of NCCU’s School of Nursing. But freshmen with lower GPAs are admitted into the program after demonstrating strong academic ability. Area hospitals like Watts, UNC and Duke assist students by allowing them access to their patients and the facility. Hospitals in NC communities such as Person County and Rocky Mount also contribute to student training. Introducing technology has also helped students succeed. An on-campus simulation lab houses three mannequins that simulate human behaviors. “They talk, breathe and mimic behaviors of humans,” said Harris. “More and more schools are using these labs to allow opportunities that the student will experience in the world.” The mannequins are hooked up to a computer and can be programmed to simulate patient responses that a nurse may encounter. The simulation helps students think critically and practice their skills. “Our goal is to produce professional nurses here,” said Harris. “We work with our students so that they are socialized. I’m really excited that we are offering our students ways to grow.” She said that program alumni return to tell students and faculty that their education at NCCU was valuable. Charles Matthews, nursing senior, said the Bachelor of

Science program emphasizes evidenced-based research and that he was confident he would be ready for the exam. “I am confident that my knowledge is comparable with any nursing school within N.C. and globally,” said Matthews. “The nursing program is preparing us not only for bedside care, but as administrators in the nursing profession,” he said. “As the state board exam approaches, I feel more prepared that I will pass on the first try.” Matthews has advice for potential nursing students: “Take all your classes seriously, especially science classes. Make the best grades you can to separate yourself. What has helped me stay focused is that I want a career and not a job.” Bridgett Wheeler, nursing junior, said she will be ready not only for the exam, but also for real-life situations. Passing the national licensing exam is not NCCU’s only focus. Planning has begun for a new, state-funded building. “That is an endorsement that they want the nursing to be alive and working at N.C. Central. They want us to thrive and not just survive,” said Harris. The School of Nursing will host its 12th Annual Helen Miller Lectureship on Thursday, March 6. Guest speaker is Dr. Beverly L. Malone, CEO of the National League for Nursing.

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Alex Rivera: a witness to history Former NCCU PR director photographed civil rights struggle across the South BY RAY TYLER ECHO STAFF WRITER

“I had no idea that I was involved in the making of history,” said renowned photojournalist Alexander M. Rivera Jr. “To me, it was just another day on the job.” An exhibit of Rivera’s work opened in Raleigh at the N.C. Museum of History Friday and will run through March 1, 2009. The exhibit, “Bearing Witness: Civil Rights Photographs of Alexander Rivera,” brings together images and articles from his work with some of the nation’s leading black newspapers. Rivera was N.C. Central University’s public relations director from 1974-1993. Born in 1913 during the height of the Jim Crow era, Rivera grew up immersed in civil rights activism. His father was active in the NAACP. Rivera attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., and worked at the Washington Tribune before he was recruited to organize the first news bureau in 1939 at N.C. Central University, which was then called the N.C. College for Negroes. Rivera earned his bachelor’s degree at NCCU in 1941. In 1946 Rivera became a regional correspondent for the blackowned Pittsburgh Courier. He was also a photographer for the National Negro Press Association. Before officially opening the exhibit, Rivera, 94, shared his experiences growing up in the mid-20th century. He told of a black man gunned down and killed by a white mob for voting. He told of threats to his own life when he tried to interview the widow of this same man. “Rivera’s dual roles as a news reporter and photographer posi-

Alex Rivera holds a camera made of wire given to him by artist Jonathan Daniel at the opening reception of his photography exhibit, “Bearing Witness.” RAY TYLER/Echo Staff Photographer

Mr. Rivera has been a father to me. He is my friend. He is someone I truly admire and trust. ROBERT LAWSON PHOTOGRAPHER, NCCU OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

tioned him to become a pioneer among African-American journalists,” said Shirl Spicer, the exhibit’s curator. “He also helped establish the voice of black journalists as a vital component of the civil rights movement,” said Spicer. The award-winning photojournalist’s subjects ranged from the aftermaths of lynchings to “firsts” for black students, entertainers, athletes and others. While reporting on others who broke racial barriers, Rivera was breaking new ground himself. His images and articles intro-

duced a point of view about the civil rights movement that mainstream media ignored. Rivera kept his lens and pen focused on the South’s AfricanAmerican communities during the struggle for racial equality from the 1940s to the 1960s. “After hearing the things he had to go through, I gained a better appreciation for his work,” said nursing sophomore Jes’Neka Jones at the exhibit. “Through his photography, I better understand how far African Americans have come.”

Early bird gets the aid FAFSA March 15 deadline fast approaching BY NATALIA PEARSON-FARRER ECHO STAFF WRITER

$6,400 for 30 minutes of your time seems like a pretty good deal. Yet students at N.C. Central University miss out on thousands of no-stringsattached dollars each year. Returning students who submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the priority deadline of March 15 are eligible to receive up to $6,400 in state grants that are not available to those who submit after the deadline. These grants — a UNC need-based grant, an education lottery scholarship, a student incentive grant, and an EARN (Education Access Rewards North Carolina Scholars Fund) grant of $4,000 available only to new students – are awarded to state residents on a first-come, first-serve basis. Sharon Oliver, director of Financial Aid, encourages students to file their FAFSA forms as soon as they are available on Jan. 1 of each year. “You don’t want to wait until March,” she said. “As students begin the spring semester, that’s when they should begin to think about the fall.” Many students file their FAFSA in the summer, after the spring semester is completed and before the federal FAFSA deadline. But by that time, Oliver says, students have missed out on the state funds and will typically receive more loans than grants.

$15,000-$20,000 in loans, to be exact. Oliver said the average Eagle leaves school thousands of dollars in debt. The U.S. Department of Education reported the average loan debt of bachelor’s degree recipients as $19,300 in 2003. But Oliver says that a student with no expected family contribution can graduate with a more moderate $10,000 or less in loans if he or she files early every year. To encourage students to file early, the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid has started offering personalized sessions with students. Students that have previously received grants will be contacted to set up a renewal session with Financial Aid. Students that need help completing the FAFSA can request a FAFSA Assistance appointment with Financial Aid on the university website. The latest initiative will be a FAFSA Party hosted by the Student Government Association on Saturday from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the L.T. Walker Complex. For admission, students must have filed their FAFSA forms. Students whose FAFSA forms have not been processed by Friday must bring five canned goods, which will be donated to the Chancellor’s Inaugural Food Drive, and sign up for an appointment to fill out the form with a Financial Aid staff member. “This is an innovative attempt to do something about this issue. We’re not

trying to punish students, but bring light onto this situation,” said SGA President Tomasi Larry. Throughout the party, students will have opportunities to win an iPod. There will also be 20 giveaways to students that can correctly answer FAFSA trivia. “However we can reach the students in their setting and make a difference, we’ll do it,” said Oliver. “We have to change our outreach because it’s not getting the majority of students to respond.” “So many of students are dependent on financial aid. It’s a community thing because if our students don’t have financial aid, they can’t return,” said Larry. Oliver anticipates that students will see how simple the application process is. She pointed out that a student filling out the form for the first time in her office was able to complete the FAFSA in 12 minutes. Students just need a copy of their final payroll check stub or the tax return from the previous year if income did not change significantly. Students are not required to wait until they have their 2007 income tax returns on file. Cortney Bryson, a political science and sociology senior, files his FAFSA at the first of each year. He receives enough grant money to cover the majority of school costs. “Filing your FAFSA early is important,” he said. “It increases the likelihood that you’ll receive more money.”

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Top: A mother and child on a segregated bus in Alabama in 1955. Bottom: Black Americans vote in the Democratic primary in South Carolina on April 20, 1948, for the first time since 1876. PHOTOS

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Beyond NCCU

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008

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Pill pricier at colleges Federal law blocks access to reduced-price drugs by college health clinics BY ROB HOTAKAINEN MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS / (MCT)

WASHINGTON — Jen Mayekawa temporarily stopped using birth control last spring when she discovered that the cost had more than quadrupled, from $11 to $49 per month. “There really was no choice,” said Mayekawa, 21, a senior majoring in Spanish and pre-nursing at Kansas State University. “I wasn’t about to spend $150 just to get me through the summer.” With the cost of contraception skyrocketing on college campuses throughout the country, the price of the pill is suddenly big talk on Capitol Hill. And Congress, which apparently caused the jump in prices with a legislative error, is under growing pressure to intervene. Birth-control advocates are calling it a crisis: Packets of birthcontrol pills that once cost $5 to $10 for a monthly supply are now selling for $40 to $50. Officials at Planned Parenthood say the higher prices are putting birth control out of reach for many financially strapped students, and they want Congress to make the issue a top priority. The soaring prices are the result of a quirk in a new federal law that was aimed at saving taxpayers money. Since 1990, Congress had allowed pharmaceutical companies to offer discounted drugs to college students and low-income people. But when Congress passed its deficitreduction bill in 2005, it included a provision that disallowed university health clinics from getting access to the reduced-price drugs. “Our prices have doubled and tripled,” said Mark BrownBarnett, director of the Lafene Health Center at Kansas State University for the past seven years. “And the hard part is that probably about 40 percent of our students are uninsured.” In Washington, Planned Parenthood has found a sympathetic ear from Democratic Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Claire

McCaskill of Missouri. They’ve teamed up on a bill that would reverse the 2005 provision, hoping to bring back discounted prices to college campuses. A similar bill is pending in the House of Representatives. “Abortion has been such a divisive issue in American politics, but there is one thing that everyone agrees on, and that is we want to have fewer of them,” McCaskill said. “And if we all want to have fewer of them, then it seems to me that we ought to put this at the top of the agenda. Because clearly, providing contraceptives to women should be an easy way to reduce the number of abortions in this country.” Obama and McCaskill said the change was the result of a legislative error that Congress never intended. When the bill was introduced in November, Obama said that “no woman should be turned away from university clinics and health centers because the cost of prescription drugs is out of reach.” And he noted that the bill wouldn’t cost anything, only restore the ability of drug manufacturers to offer discounted drugs. “Allowing drug companies to give away drugs at a cheaper price is something we should be encouraging everywhere,” McCaskill said. So far, the proposed change hasn’t attracted any organized opposition. The Washingtonbased National Right to Life Committee, which represents more than 3,000 chapters in all 50 states, hasn’t taken a position on the legislation, said Douglas Johnson, the group’s legislative director. And McCaskill said she hadn’t encountered any opponents. “I don’t think there is significant opposition because it’s a technical fix,” she said. “If they call, I’d say, hey, this is one we ought to agree on. We’re not talking about providing birth control in grade school, for gosh sakes. We’re talking about women who are old enough to lose their lives for us in Iraq.”

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 white votes – and getting a smaller share of the white vote than he had in any other state so far this year. Together, those racial results suggest challenges ahead for Obama, who yearns to bridge racial divisions, not exacerbate them, particularly as the campaign goes coast to coast with contests in 22 states on Feb. 5, “Super Tuesday.” But they also point to a possible problem for New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, who failed to win many black votes despite the aggressive courting by her husband, a man so empathetic he once was described by writer Toni Morrison as the “first black president.” Many Democrats complained that former President Bill Clinton was too harsh in his criticism of Obama, raising the possibility that some AfricanAmericans could hold a grudge even if Hillary Clinton goes on to win the nomination. “Racial politics were injected into this campaign in a way that was unnerving to me,” said Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., the thirdranking Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives and a major figure in AfricanAmerican politics in South Carolina. Obama’s win keeps him neck and neck with Clinton for the nomination, each now with two state wins. He won Iowa and South Carolina; she won New Hampshire and Nevada. Chances appear to be growing that their battle will continue until the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August. “I do not believe Super

After the Jan. 26 South Carolina primary victory speech, Democracic presidential candidate Barak Obama (D-IL) mingles with supporters. GARY O’BRIAN/CHARLOTTE OBSERVER/MCT

Tuesday will decide the nominee for our party,” said Clyburn.z “I believe it will keep going through to the convention.” If South Carolina is a sign of what’s to come, their competition will be tough, perhaps even nasty, and driven perhaps as much by the race and gender of the voters as by the candidates’ agendas. Clinton and Obama each hold a firm base in the party, as illustrated by the results so far from four contests in all four regions of the country — Iowa in the Midwest, New Hampshire in the Northeast, Nevada in the West and South Carolina in the South. Her base is women, whites, older people, bluecollar workers, and firm Democrats. His base is males, blacks, young people, upper-middle-class professionals and independents. That gives Clinton an edge; women and whites are a much bigger slice of the party, and Democrats out-

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NCCU Spring Career Fair L.T. Walker Complex Thursday, Mar. 27 10:00 am-1:00

US Census Bureau Thursday, Mar. 28

CHUCK KENNEDY /MCT

the all-but-certain fact that he will not be the nominee. He has not won a state, not even his native South Carolina, the only state primary he won in 2004. His hope now is to find enough cash to stay in the campaign and continue to win some delegates somewhere. That could give him a prized bargaining chip should Obama and Clinton remain locked in such a close contest that each falls short of the delegate majority needed to win the nomination. That might force them into a deal with Edwards to gain his delegates. His dream: a deadlocked convention turns to him as an alternative. The more likely reality: He delivers his delegates and hopes to be named attorney general or to the Supreme Court.

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number independents. But Obama has shown an ability to break into her base, as he did in winning the women’s vote in Iowa. The key to Obama’s success is reaching across racial lines, avoiding being seen as a “black candidate” with limited appeal and winning white votes. His share of the white vote remained roughly the same through contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, when he took 33 percent, 36 percent, and 34 percent respectively. In South Carolina he took 24 percent of the white vote. Clinton’s share of the white vote grew at each step — 27 percent in Iowa, 39 percent in New Hampshire, 52 percent in Nevada. But it dropped in South Carolina to 38 percent, tied with former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. If he drops out or is seen as no longer viable by most voters, it’s unclear where his share of the vote would go. Edwards now confronts

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (DIL) (left) hugs Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) during a rally at American University in Washington, D.C., where Kennedy endorsed Obama's candidacy, Jan. 28.

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Nighttime in Durham N

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ach week, parades of club flyers inform students of the newest parties and celebrations Durham has to offer. Of all the night spots in the Bull City, perhaps the least advertised is the downtown area. Recent construction and renovations have changed the cityscape to create an urban look with an intimate feel.

Top left: The Carolina Theater sign glows, welcoming guests to music and live performances. Top right: Light shines on an empty bench outside of Francescaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gelato Cafe on Ninth Street. Above: A lonely car speeds through Dukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus. Above right: Red light from the 24-hour laundromat shines through a window on Ninth Street. Right: Artist looks through appointment book between customers at Dogstar Tatoo, located on Ninth Street. Below: Many students will recognize the stairs that climb to the Cosmic Cantina.

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008

KENICE MOBLEY But even with the updated look, the streets typically remain empty after sunset. Instead of long lines and a crowded bar, visitors to downtown Durham are likely to find small locally owned businesses with merchandise that is one of a kind, food to fit any taste, and perhaps best of all quality without the wait.

A&E

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008

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Topdog /Underdog Suzan-Lori Parks acclaimed play onstage at UNC-CH 12345 1234 123 12 T R A S H

M1 _Platoon The Invasion Independent

out of on the 4 5 black hand side M1_Platoon is a group of hip-hop artists on the campus of N. C. Central University. M1_Platoon consists of Chopps, Scoop, Arafat Yates, Sean D, C4 Black, Napalm, Beat Justice, Fuego, Nathaniel Grey & Dj Gonzo. The group’s new mixtape, The M1 Invasion, gives listeners an opportunity to match a face with the name. The majority of the mixtape is produced by 9th Wonder & Arafat Yates. Truth be told, Arafat has some hot beats, so anyone thinking 9th Wonder would be the only highlight of this mixtape is mistaken. This whole mixtape is full of neck-breaking tracks that’ll make you make that ugly face you do every time you hear something you wish you’d’ve thought of yourself. The tracks are very soulful and passionate. M1 brings a new attitude to music. It’s like the guy who’s rapping could be your brother or your cousin or maybe even your best friend. These dudes sound like

BY BROOKE SELLARS Nike Boots New Balance Vans Jordans Saucony they have a genuine love for music and for perfecting their craft. Everyone has a swagger that is just ridiculous. The way they maneuver the beat is sort of like how Lupe or Kanye would do. It’s like real hip-hop without sounding like anyone else in the game. Lyrically, each member is on point. No one tries too hard on punchlines. The word play and word choice is appropriate for each track. The tracks blend together real nice, taking it back to the essence of what a mixtape is supposed to sound like. For me, some of the highlights of the mixtape were tracks like “How 2 Make A Hit” featuring Rapsody, “Check Me Out,” “Welcome” and “How U Gon Front.” Overall, the M1_Platoon has put together an excellent mixtape with good beats and good lyrics. The mixtape also includes appearances from area artists Jozeemo, Phocuz, Carlitta Durand and others. This mixtape is a good buy. However, it’s free on their Myspace page – so everyone should go download it. — Wade A. Banner II

ECHO A&E ASSISTANT EDITOR

The comical, heartfelt story of two African-American brothers — Abraham Lincoln, played by actor Tyrone Henderson, and John Wilkes Booth, played by Brandon Dirden — has come to life onstage in Suzan-Lori Parks’ acclaimed play “Topdog/Underdog.” The play runs Jan. 26 through Feb. 29 at the UNC-Chapel Hill Paul Green Theatre in the Center for Dramatic Art. “Topdog/Underdog” examines the notion of sibling rivalry. It tells the stories of Lincoln and Booth as they face the challenges of finding their true purposes in life. Their obsession with the threecard game hustle is a recurring symbol throughout the play that illustrates the constant struggle the characters face with their undeniable past and what they are soon to confront in the near future. Parks was the first AfricanAmerican woman to win the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for excellent work with this play. Born in Fort Knox, Ky., Parks has been writing since the age of five and began a career as a playwright during her undergraduate at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. Her works include the plays “Betting on the Dust Commander” and “The Sinner’s Place.” Spike Lee directed her screenplay “Girl” in 1996. The play consists of only characters, drawing the audience in to an intimate setting shared by two brothers. This intimacy gives the audience a close perspective into the world of two brothers who grow up together. Booth’s character is referred to as the underdog in relation to his brother Lincoln. Unlike his brother, who gave up the hustling days to earn an honest living as an Abraham Lincoln impersonator, Booth is a troublesome, unemployed character. He attempts to lure his brother back into being a three-card hustler. Dirden describes Booth as childlike on the surface but very intelligent and complex. “He’s like a cat you don’t pay attention to when you walk past him in the streets,” said Dirden.

defer us from our dreams. For example, in 1998, Outkast released its third album “Aquemini” which initially received negative reviews. It is now considered to be a musical masterpiece. Therefore, who is in a position to play God and disapprove of the music that may reflect one’s soul? No one, that’s who. Believing this, I refuse to value the jaded perception of musicians who lack balance, wisdom and understanding. Therefore, I ask you, what is it that you value? Now ask yourself, is that same thing worth fighting for? If it is, then prepare for the minstrel show, and if not then prepare to be mincemeat for the savage opinions of your peers. It is only natural that we seek the approval of those we respect, but a wise man once told me that “Respect is earned, not given.” Too often, we give respect to those who haven’t worked it. To those I say: “When you fall off, make sure you land close to the tree, but I’ll be there if you need me to be.”

PLAYMAKERS REPERTORY COMPANY

Dirden believes that dissecting a play is not easy, but thus far, “Topdog/Underdog” has received positive feedback. “It’s all about what you bring to the play,” he said. “It’s a beautiful play in its ugliness.” Mitchell and Dirden built a thriving friendship throughout the play. “I couldn’t have hoped for a better situation. “Tyrone in a giving actor,” said Dirden. “We are really cool people with no

egos. “We work well together,” he said. Dirden also has appeared on Broadway in “Prelude to a Kiss,” “Othello” and on TV in “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.” “Topdog/Underdog” is presented by Playmakers Repertory Company, the professional theatre-in-residence at the UNC-Chapel Hill. The opening performance is at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Paul Green Theatre. To reserve tickets, contact Connie Muhan at cmahan@email.unc.edu.

Exhibit opens Feb. 1, runs through April 6 ECHO STAFF REPORTER

hat the Dilly Yo!! Now more than ever, I have seen the dreams of musiciansin-training be deferred by the musical opinions of a small group of individuals. Sad to say, within those same circles these individuals fear the same rejection which they Jamar depose Harris upon their peers. What makes one man’s opinion more valuable than the next? Could it be money, fame or just mere experience? If this is the case, we are allowing small-minded individuals to dictate what You, the LISTENER, WOULD VALUE!!! Who is to say that the music of today wouldn’t be considered classic by the next generation? For example, artists such as Lil’ Wayne, DipSet, and Hurricane Chris could be the premier artists who represent this generation. We must recognize that opinions are only opinions and we allow them to

COURTESY OF

Hayti celebrates quilt legacy BY LARISHA J. STONE

Can’t tell me nothin’

Tyrone Mitchell Henderson as Abraham Lincoln and Brandon J. Dirden as John Wilkes Booth in the Playmakers Repertory Company’s production of “Topdog/Underdog” by Suzan-Lori Parks.

Quilting is one of the oldest forms of African American folk art, and one of the least discussed and remembered by many young people today. When our ancestors came to this country, they had no cover for the winters here. Men and women would save scraps from making dresses and clothes for the slave master and his wife and use them to make quilts for to keep their families warm. That legacy of sacrifice from ancestor to descendant would be forgotten if not for quilting circles making sure that the opposite happened. This Friday, the African American Quilt Circle will feature nearly one hundred quilts in their seventh exhibit at the Hayti Heritage Center. This year’s theme, “Threads of

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Our Ancestors: What They’ve Given, What We’ve Received,” emphasizes the importance of honoring our ancestors and how they have affected us individually. The free, public exhibit will run from Feb. 1 through April 6. “The theme was chosen by the quilt circle,” said V. Dianne Pledger, President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation. Pledger has been responsible for bringing the African American Quilt Circle’s work to Hayti for the past seven years. “With quilting being such a folk art brought down through slavery, this is a perfect thing, especially with this being Black History Month,” she said. The African American Quilt Circle was founded in 1998 by Bertie Howard, who has since relocated. The original group had three members who attended with their

“I am standing with my hat in the air.” –August Wilson on Suzan-Lori Parks

From Parks’ spectacular theatrical imagination comes the Pulitzer Prize-winning story of two African-American brothers, Lincoln and Booth, whose names were given to them as a joke by their father. Abandoned by their parents as teenagers, the brothers ﬁght for position and legitimacy in the world.

JAN 27 – MAR 2 Center for Dramatic Art, UNC-Chapel Hill

For tickets or more info, visit playmakersrep.org or call 919.962.PLAY

daughters and other relatives, and has since grown to include 57 people of all ages, both men and women. “People quilt at different levels,” said Edna Alston, the circle’s lead facilitator. “But all quilts tell a story of the person who created it.” In a more modern context, quilts represent a challenge and creative expression. Kia Rahman, a member of the African American Quilt Circle for two years, will have her quilt, “Earth Mothers, Dust Daughters,”displayed at the exhibit. “I mixed some traditional African prints with traditional European prints, since plaid is what many slaves had access to,” said Rahman. “As the descendants of African ancestors, we are the dust blown across the ocean from the African earth that we originate from,” she said.

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008

The streak continues

Poetry ‘n Moton Hall of famer and third leading scorer in NCCU history comes home to coach BY SADE WILLIAMS

Eagles fall for 18th time in a row

ECHO SPORTS REPORTER

On July 1, 2007, N.C. Central University welcomed LeVelle Moton to the men’s basketball team as its new assistant coach. Moton, a guard on the men’s basketball team from 1992-1996, was inducted into the Alex M. Riveria Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004. “Coach Moton brings energy, player development, player/coach relationship, and a great relationship with the high school coaches in the area,” said men’s head coach Henry Dickerson. “Coach Moton was picked for the position because of his coaching ability, recruiting ability, and being an NCCU graduate and a NCCU Hall of Famer.” In 1996, Moton received a bachelor’s degree in recreation administration. Moton is the third leading scorer in school history with 1,714 points. He also ranks first in making three-point attempts with 213 of 529. Moton ranks fourth in free throws making 363 of 467, fifth in assists with 278, eighth in fields goals, making 569 of 1,159, 10th in scoring average with 16.6 points per game, and 11th in steals with 110. In 1996, Moton was named CIAA Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. He was voted All-CIAA First Team, NCAA Division II South Atlantic AllRegion First Team and NCAA Division II AllAmerican Honorable Mention. In 1993, he was part of the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional Championship team. Moton’s outstanding play earned him the nick-

BY MATT BEATTY ECHO STAFF REPORTER

NCCU men’s assistant coach LeVelle Moton shares a laugh with forward John-Calvin Harris. SAVIN JOSEPH/Echo Staff Photographer

name “Poetry ‘n Moton.” Life for Moton wasn’t always so great. He grew up in Boston in a poor neighborhood in a singleparent household. Then the family moved to Raleigh, where Moton recalls growing up to be rough. “It was real ’hood, very violent, shootings, stabbings, and things of that nature. Every day I was walking out the door with drug needles on the ground.” He said growing up without a father was hard. “You need a man to teach you to be a man. Don’t get me wrong — my mother did a great job,” said Moton. Moton’s childhood role models were his mother and grandmother, who died when he was 11. Growing up, he excelled in football and baseball. Later, he found a love for basketball. After graduating from Enloe High School in Raleigh, he was scheduled to attend Wake Forest University, but had given a

verbal commitment to Michigan State. His godmother, Maxine Wall, an alumna, told him to look into NCCU. Moton committed to NCCU without touring the campus. “The coach couldn’t believe it because he had never recruited me and had no intentions to recruit me, because he felt that I was going to go to a big-time Division I school,” said Moton. After college, he was drafted to the Seattle Supersonics but was later cut. He pursued his professional career in Indonesia, Germany and Israel for five years. Homesick, he heard about a coaching position at West Millbrook Middle School in Raleigh. He coached there for three years and ended his career there with a 49-6 record. He then became the basketball coach at Sanderson High School. Moton served as coach from 2004-2007, leading the Spartans to an overall record of 59-25. He also led

the team in back- to-back Cap-7 tournament championships. For the past seven years, Coach Moton has run a youth basketball camp every summer named “Poetry ‘n Moton.” Moton always wanted to give back to the community and has done so with this camp that ranges from the ages 6-16. The camp was held in Raleigh, but he plans to bring the camp to the Durham community. Coach Moton values the player and coach relationship. “The truth is I’m not concerned with their two hours on the court but their 22 hours off the court,” states Moton. “Coach Moton’s knowledge for the game of basketball is out of this world!” said Bryan Ayala, a junior guard. “He came just in time with this transition to D1. We need a coach like Coach Moton who has played with and against top competition. He knows what it takes to be the best.”

Last Tuesday, N.C. Central University men’s basketball team traveled west to face off against the Utah Valley State Wolverines in Orem, Utah. The Eagles hoped to capture their second win of the season and end the current 17 game losing streak. In the first half, the Eagles struggled to find their mark, scoring their first points at the 15:15 mark of the game. Wolverine guards Ryan Toolson and Josh Olsen seemed to be too much for the Eagles’ defense as they combined for 15 points in the opening 10 minutes of the game. Utah Valley State opened with a 23-2 lead over the Eagles. The Eagles did manage to close the gap. NCCU junior guard Phillip Branch scored nine points with three long range shots, including one long range buzzer beater which narrowed the deficit to 36-21 at the end of the first half. The second half belonged to the Wolverines. The Eagles shot 37 percent from the field, including nailing three of 13 from the three-point land. After a timeout, NCCU head coach Harry Dickerson issued a strong defensive format by running the full court press to stop the Wolverines. “We got off to a slow start and could not recover,” said Dickerson. “I thought we executed the offense well, but we were not hitting some open shots early in the game.” NCCU was able to chip away at the lead, but unfortunately it wasn’t strong enough.

Utah Valley pushed their lead to 20 points (50-30) with 11 minutes left in the half. A two-handed dunk by Wolverine Jordan Brady stretched their lead to 28 points, the largest of the game. The Eagles were able to make some shots when it counted. NCCU cut the lead down to 16 points. Fast breaks, steals and three pointers by the Eagles showed that they still had a fight left in them. It was a little too late for the Eagles as Utah Valley ended the game with a 6852 victory over NCCU. Toolson and Brady of Utah Valley combined for a total of 38 points. Brady also added a game high of nine rebounds to go along with the win. Branch scored an Eagle team-high with 15 points. Eagle foward Charles Futrell added 14 points and led seven rebounds. Guard Bryan Ayala contributed 10 points, shooting 3-12 from the field. Overall, NCCU shot 18 of 53 from the field. This loss drops NCCU’s record to 1-23, while Utah Valley State improves to 813. Dickerson shared his thoughts regarding the loss after the game “I thought we played well. In the second half, our pressure defense forced them into some turnovers and we were able to score in transition,” said Dickerson. “Our young men never gave up, even though they were down 21 points right out of the gate. I am proud of their effort.” Today the Eagles are in Baltimore to seek revenge from a Jan. 16 loss to Coppin State University.

Rivera hall of fame highlights history BY QUENTIN GARDNER ECHO SPORTS EDITOR

Students strolling through the upper corridor of the McLendonMcDougald Gymnasium have a first-hand glance of Eagle history. The Alex M. Rivera Athletic Hall of Fame houses a multitude of N.C. Central University milestones and memories. The Hall of Fame is named after nationally acclaimed photojournalist, Alex M. Rivera. Rivera has chronicled NCCU’s history both editorially and photographically for over 66 years. Rivera, a 1941 graduate of the North Carolina College for Negroes, was the first AfricanAmerican journalist to regularly work in North Carolina. Rivera also accompanied President

Nixon on a trip to Africa. With a passion for athletics, Rivera returned to NCCU and photographed most of the work that is on display in the McLendonMcDougald Gymnasium. According to the department of athletics, the Hall of Fame is designed to recognize former athletes, coaches and other individuals who have provided extraordinary service to the University in the area of athletics. There are four categories for induction into the Hall of Fame: athletes, championship teams, coaches and meritorious service. Persons listed in the Hall under meritorious service have given some form of service to the University. The Hall of Fame has a committee that governs its activities. The Hall of Fame Committee

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Photo of: Dr. LeRoy T. Walker ensures that deserving candidates are considered for nomination. Potential nominations have to be submitted by an NCCU affiliate accompanied by supporting data and biographies. The nomination ceremony usually commences on the first Monday in September and closes on the last Friday in October. The final nomination list is submitted to the chancellor for

Photo of: Herman Riddick

approval. Danny Worthy, assistant athletic director of marketing, serves as the liasion for the Hall of Fame. Worthy takes great pride with his role. “It is a great honor to be apart of such a strong component of NCCU athletics,” said Worthy.

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Politics begins at home “When you register your political potential that means your gun is loaded. But just because it’s loaded, you don’t have to shoot until you see a target that will be beneficial to you. If you want Layla a duck, Brown don’t shoot when you see a bear; wait till you see a duck. And if you want a bear, don’t shoot when you see a duck; wait till you see a bear. Wait till you see what you want — then take aim and shoot!” Malcolm X. s the 2008 presidential election approaches, we college-educated intellectuals are being brainwashed under the

... registering means being in a position to take political action anytime, anyplace and in any manner you deem beneficial.

mantra of “Vote or Die.” Everywhere we turn we are encouraged to “register and vote.” On Dec. 20, 1964, at a gathering in the Audubon Ballroom, Malcolm X spoke of ourpolitical potential. He advised us to load our guns and take aim, but to reserve our bullets for their desired targets. The notion of “registering and voting,” a concept too eagerly endorsed in our community, further sanctions a recklessness that is rampant among young, black intellectuals today.

The truth is that you must register. However, registering means being in a position to take political action anytime, anyplace and in any manner you deem beneficial. Many argue that Barack Obama is our desired target and we should all have our guns loaded, cocked and aimed. Though his presence in the White House would be a monumental accomplishment sure to bring forth change, we must learn to play the game correctly. There are much clos-

er targets of equal and/or greater importance within range -- for example, the local school board, city council, etc. It seems as though people are so caught up in the hype of the presidential election that they forget those who truly fight for us on a daily basis. Even where these particular elections are concerned, it is not sufficient to wear a supercilious badge of honor stating, “I voted.” What does it mean to have voted for a candidate you know nothing about?

Does it still feel good to say “I voted” when your institution of higher learning, though a member of a 16-school constituency, is given a working budget less than half that of our friends only 15 minutes down the road? Remember, our political potential is much greater than voting once every four years. Our power is based in community activism, starting with your local and then state elections. Those who choose to only engage in politics on a national scale, without paying attention to local issues, are simply underachievers who seldom realize their potential. Similarly, those who fire recklessly must know that stray bullets always hit something, even when the target is left untouched. You decide.

Lies versus the evening news A study by two nonprofit journalism organizations found that President Bush and top administration officials issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in Kai Christopher the two years following the 2001 terrorist attacks. The study concluded that the statements "were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses."

The president is being accused of a calculated 932 lies purposely released to the American people, while the local news is stressing the dangers of overdosing

n the aftermath of official reports stating such allegations towards the President of the United States, the most popular topic on the evening news was the untimely death of actor Heath Ledger. But what else would be expected of a country that collectively watches more American Idol than the news. My curiosity led me to questioning why this isn’t big news.

The President is being accused of a calculated 932 lies purposely released to the American people, while the local news is stressing the dangers of overdosing, like we really had no clue. I have come to understand that the principle reason the allegations have been ignored falls mainly on its financial source. An extreme leftist, George Soros, is known

N ORTH C AROLINA C ENTRAL U NIVERSITY

Campus Echo

for his ideals and the billions of dollars he donates in support of them. Critics say the reports don’t say anything we don’t already know, and that at the time of the President’s statements, the entire world was under the same pretenses about Iraq and al-Qaida and that America was justified in going to war. This does not contradict the allegations; it

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Spring 2008 Publication dates: 1/16, 1/30, 2/13, 2/27, 3/26, 4/16 © NCCU Campus Echo/All rights reserved The Denita Monique Smith Newsroom Room 348, Farrison-Newton Communications Bldg. NCCU, Durham, NC 27707

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only dodges them. The question the extreme leftist asked is, did Bush know Iraq was not a threat with WMDs and that its vague connections to al-Qaida did not merit war with the entire country? With all of the misunderstandings the world had about Iraq in 2001, what did the White House know when we declared war? America has now invested 4 years, 600 billion tax dollars, and estimates nearly 4,000 fallen soldiers in the Second Gulf War. They say we can’t pull out because it would negate what we’ve built, but what are we trying to build and what if we were wrong all along?

drawing by Rashaun Rucker

Question: Do you feel the study of hip-hop at NCCU is a worthwhile endeavor? “Definitely ... it’s a class being taught at Harvard. It should be taught at more HBCUs.” — Rahiem T. James

“We should keep it. Some people need that history. Music today doesn’t pose questions ... doesn’t ask them like it used to in the day. —LeAndra Faison

“It’s a part of our culture and life. Like country and rock, hip-hop has influenced a lot of music. If you get rid of hiphop, get rid of country.” —Crystal George