Culture, community & connection
sentinel of black and marginalized voices at N.C. State since 1992.
THIS ISSUE
4 NO EXTROVERT REQUIRED
The BLACC Introvert Gathering accommodates introverts
5 THE ART AND NUANCE OF ZINES
A conversation with Valeria Pérez about the benefits of zines
9 ON CELEBRITY WORSHIP
Idolization dehumanizes our celebrities – and hurt us too
10 NC STATE: YOU'RE NOT THE WHITE KNIGHT
NC State is chilling our campus with student censorship
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Letter to the Next Editor
To the next editor, and the one after that —
I came to The Nubian Message as a freshman, as a girl who just wanted a voice and a place to tell the stories of her community. I didn’t know then what this paper would become to me. I didn’t know it would shape who I am or that I'd leave as a woman who feels empowered to make real change in this world through storytelling.
This isn’t just a student publication. It’s a legacy. It’s a space where I laughed so hard I cried, where I cried so hard I laughed, and where I felt the kind of love and support that’s rare to find. A space that taught me how to lead, how to fight for what I believe in, and how to never back down when the truth needs to be told.
To whoever’s reading this next — cherish it. Every late night, every last-minute edit, every missed deadline. I know it’s hard sometimes, and it’s okay if it gets overwhelming. Just know you’re doing something bigger than you. You’re adding to a history that stretches way before us and will continue long after. You are part of something sacred.
I’ll never stop loving this paper. And I hope you don’t either.
And remember — standing up for yourself, doing the unthinkable to spark change, choosing to care loudly? That doesn’t make you crazy. It makes you brave. It makes you strong. It makes you a great damn activist and leader.
With my wholeee heart, Alianna <3
ICE Resistance and Information Training
Kristopher porter Layout Designer
The NC State Graduate Workers Union hosted an ICE resistance training on March 27, discussing how to navigate ICE on campus.
Noah Bills, a graduate student and member of Students for Decarbonization at NC State, hosted the training. He started by saying, “I wanted to give a more comprehensive overview, but then I realized that it would be impossible because it would take so many hours.”
Bills broke down the ICE training into three sections. The first section discussed ICE detaining over a dozen graduate and post doctoral students due to “affiliations with Hamas, which means, you know, doing pro-Palestinian activism.”
Bills continued, "I think there's also one student that was arrested. They didn't even ever attend a protest, but they wrote an article in a student newspaper, supporting divesting from Israel, and she was arrested.”
That student is Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish graduate student at the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University who was detained on March 26. There is a video from the Associated Press showing six masked individuals who handcuffed and took Ozturk. She co-wrote an op-ed about her university’s lack of action on Palestine. She was not involved in protests on campus.
Other student incidents include Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian doctoral student at the University of Alabama, who was detained by ICE on March 27. According to ABC News, the Department of Homeland Security said Doroudi’s student visa was revoked and he was subsequently arrested because he "posed significant national security concerns."
Kseniia Petrova, a Russian medical researcher at Harvard University, was detained on March 28. According to NBC News, her visa was revoked last month because the airport found undeclared frog embryo samples in her luggage. She has also been outspoken about the Russian government and its war against Ukraine.
The second section covered ICE's detainment of undocumented and people who aren’t graduate students. Bills said, “Graduate workers have to have a valid visa and you can't be a graduate worker without a valid visa.” He also explains that it is rare for a graduate student to be detained by ICE.
The final section focused on how federal funding cuts are affecting international and graduate students. Bills explained, “Federal funding cuts are very related to all this. They're affecting all graduate workers, but especially international students. The music department —half of the international students are on a Fulbright Fellowship, and all that money has been frozen right now,” He said “So the university has been paying them with external funds.”
After Bills explained the three main sections, there was a discussion about an ICE incident at Thomas Hall in one of the biology labs.
Katie Stinnett, a graduate student, said, "A faculty member told me that law enforcement of some kind came into a lab in Thomas Hall to ask the TA of the lab about another person by name. The response from the biology department was to tell all the TAs not to disclose any information to ICE because they would be in violation.”
“It seems pretty clear to me that it was some kind of potentially immigrationrelated and they seem to interpret it that way. I tried to get more information since and feel like I've been faced with a lot of stonewalling, which is a little frustrating, but that's the information that the TA, the professor at the board, told me, and I don't think she was making anything up” she continued the discussion by discussing administrative vs judicial warrants. He said that “a judge signs the judicial warrant and it's rare for ICE to have a traditional warrant.”
Bills explained, “If ICE doesn't have a judicial warrant, they can't come into your home. Do not answer questions. Do not sign anything. And then a good way to get the agent to go away quickly is just to give them this red card that shows you know your rights because they rely on you not knowing your rights.”
Bills then mentioned a campaign in Colorado Springs. He said, “There was an immigrant community that was vulnerable to ICE that was going to be targeted and they distributed a bunch of red cards. Then ICE did a massive raid where Senators talked about deporting 30,000 people in a single day.”
In reality, ICE only detained 10 people and proved the distribution of red cards was effective in reducing the number of people detained.
Bills then turned the discussion to
resistance and public versus private spaces on campus. He said, “You can walk into public buildings and indoor spaces, but if you put up signs saying this is a private workplace, ICE can't come in without a warrant. You can do that in your teaching labs, your offices, and other private workplaces that you use.”
Bills said, “I recommend locking lab and office doors when ICE targets are working because there are cases where ICE does break the law. If you're teaching a lab and you lock the door for 10 minutes after the lab starts, you would have at least prevented the law enforcement officer from walking in. We know who our students are. We know who our professors are and who are suspicious people that are maybe ICE. So distributing red cards and the information in this presentation to all of your colleagues is very helpful.”
Bills ended the presentation with “I think that another important thing here is to continue advocating for the things that we believe in, especially US domestic students. The purpose of so many of these policies from ICE and the Trump administration in general is to silence dissent and to build up fear within communities so that they're more vulnerable when these raids do happen. With Palestinian activism, the Trump administration has very few routes to prosecute domestic students because of free speech. So if you see anything happening, any kind of silencing happening, I've heard some people say, 'should we really be publishing and is it worth taking this cross-commercial stance?' And I think it is always right and it's most important to do it now.”
After the presentation, the attendees broke into small groups to discuss the same topics highlighted in the presentation like public spaces and raising awareness about ICE. The event ended with each group sharing their ideas for building resistance, a stronger community on campus and solidarity within the graduate union.
In a post-event interview, The Nubian Message was able to get more commentary from three graduate students on how they plan to help students deal with ICE:
Anonymous:
“I think educating is probably the biggest thing, making sure people are aware of their rights, and how communities are affected so that we can have each other's
back. And then given recent events, proPalestinian activists or anyone who said anything pro-Palestine or anti-genocide have been targeted.”
They said, “So recognizing that we all have the rights of due process and freedom of speech, ICE is violating that by arresting people for such stupid things. Getting people information and education is just the greatest tool against oppression and violation of rights.”
Stinnett:
“I think especially people that are in positions like me to maybe protect international students, that's kind of where I think I'll be putting a lot of focus in. I think that's where we can help by basically using our privilege, so I protect students who maybe don't have those privileges. So that's something that I really care about.”
Bills:
“A domestic student can't be detained by ICE. I think actually, there was one case of a domestic student being detained and then let go by ICE. But for the most part, the other mechanisms that domestic students can be reprimanded is they can get their scholarships taken away or be fired from universities. And we've seen that at Columbia University. In summary, who are the vulnerable students, non-white immigrants, and that highlights the fact that domestic students, especially domestic white students, have a large responsibility in helping protect our communities against ICE.”
He said, “Students are being detained in some cases for their free speech. Many departments are being cut and renamed, and articles are being retracted, but at the end of the day, I still believe in America, and the First Amendment still stands as an individual and the graduate Union, as an organization, we still have the right to say whatever we want. So in terms of the language that we're using around this, we're not changing it at all, because these are things that the Trump administration does not like. I think it's very important that we continue advocating to make up for the voices that can no longer advocate.”
No Extrovert Required at The Introvert Gathering
Tess Hargrove Correspondent
The Black Literary Arts and Culture Creatives (BLACC)
Introvert Gathering provided a comforting space for students while also bringing up the topic of accommodation in a unique way. In a university where community is a big part of life, accommodating different types of people is important if you want students to thrive. The African American Cultural Center (AACC), located in Witherspoon Student Center, was offered every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.,students could walk in and swipe a card into a quiet get-together. Students can come and grab a warm drink to put their minds at ease. This event is currently on sunset with hope of bringing it back in the future.
According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a global sample from 2022 states that 56.8% of people around the world identify as introverts. On a large campus like NC State, it can be difficult for introverts to find spaces. The solution is The BLACC Introvert Gathering — a space where introversion is accomodated and valued.
Upon entering the center’s library, students will find many activities to entertain themselves. One table is dedicated to arts, another to games and two tables to studying or meditating. Students can spend time reading, solving puzzles, or writing in a journal. Students may also find themselves checking out a book during the peaceful hours of the event.
Introverts are often depicted as shy or passive, but introversion can take many different forms. According to Verywell Mind, there are four types of introverts: social introverts, thinking introverts, anxious introverts and inhibited introverts. For students. Not many show up, creating the perfect environment for those who fall under the social introvert category. No one is pressured to talk, and activities are provided allowing students to participate in their own way.
Thinking introverts would take advantage of the activities and allow themselves to relax and enjoy a puzzle.
Anxious introverts experience introversion as a source of anxiety. At the BLACC, there's no pressure to talk to other people; you can go at your own pace.
Inhibited introverts often spend more time making decisions than others. However, this event lessens the amount of decisions they have to make. Whether students feel a mix of all four types or only relate to one, they are all still welcome in this event. It's a rare event that actually accomodates introversion.
With the rise of introverts after the 2020 COVID pandemic, there are ways introverts have benefited from the world's changes. According to the Association for Teen Development (ATD), which took data from a Myers-Briggs talent development blog, after the COVID pandemic, workforces are also transforming into spaces where both introverts and extroverts can thrive. They created an article about how to integrate introverts more into the work field.
Every current NC State student has experienced the COVID era: from the days of being locked inside your home and having all classes online, to being jumped right back into school in person. Many students found they wanted to continue to go online. Some found themselves enjoying the time away from people. This brings us back to AACC providing students with the BLACC Introvert Gathering, which already shows that people are starting to accommodate more of those who identify with introversion.
There are many ways that communities express themselves, but how many universities accommodate introversion? When students are choosing colleges, many might look for colleges that create spaces to accommodate them. The Introvert Gathering was a space for students to discuss the arts and meet other introverts. While the event is sunsetting, it opens the door to more spaces like this — to bring students together.
“There are many ways that communities express themselves, but how many universities accommodate introversion?”
APISAA Chat N Chew
Johnathan Lee Correspondent
The Multicultural Student Association (MSA) hosted a Chat ‘N Chew for Asian Pacific Islander South Asian American (APISAA) Heritage Month on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Chat ‘N Chew is a monthly MSA event series that discusses different cultural themes and provides a safe space for community discussions and engagement. This month’s Chat ‘N Chew featured a mix of staff and students who participated in an active discussion.
The main discussion topic was the impacts of Western culture on Asian culture. The first question posed during the discussion was “How do you feel about the commercialization of Asian culture?”
This question brought mixed responses; while the commercialization of certain cultural aspects could potentially lead to more appreciation for a culture, there is also a risk of diminishing the significance of cultural objects and styles for the sake of mass production. This question was further explored in a question discussed later about Oli London, a white British influencer popular for identifying as Korean and "transracial".
Often, the commercializing of other cultures in the U.S. comes with a kind of infantilization of culture or the diminishing of cultural achievements. This doesn’t truly respect Asian culture but instead cherrypicks very specific parts of the culture that are deemed “desirable” or easy to cheaply imitate.
For example, participants shared how they thought Oli London doesn’t truly want to be Asian or care about the culture he was trying to “switch” to; he just cared about the very surface-level “cute” parts of the culture that he saw as desirable or trendy.
This sentiment of only surface-level care for culture was echoed by another attendant, who pointed out things like yoga and certain types of food that have been commercialized and made trendy to the point where they have lost some of the actual cultural roots behind them.
Another question posed to attendees asked about the loss of cultural pride within “fusion foods” — the practice of altering certain foods to sell to an American market. An example brought up is orange chicken, as it is Asian in origin but has found popularity in America and has
been partially altered to fit an American audience.
Attendees said that there can still be pride in creating these “fusion” things and pride in knowing people enjoy them even if they may not be the same as when it started. As long as there is a respectful exchange, there is the potential for good to come from it. This is the main idea behind fusion foods, which people have mixed opinions about but has led to innovation in the past. The problem arises when there is a general lack of respect for the culture itself but an appreciation of the specific aspect.
America tends to kind of dip their toe in a culture and say, “Yeah, this is good, but keep everything else away.” You can see this with the TikTok ban attempts and general xenophobia while also loving Asian skin care trends and beauty products. On the one hand, this kind of close but not too close approach allows for a more palatable introduction to a culture. On the other hand, the danger is that the surface level introduction will always sum up the culture to those people.
Another topic of discussion was America’s influences on other cultures. The example was Spam and how it is very popular in Hawaii due to it being eaten by soldiers stationed there. This view provides a different perspective to how we look at America’s relationship with culture.
America is a melting pot and takes from the cultures of all those who make up its population, but in this example, it’s the opposite. This can be a beautiful thing because it’s an exchange rather than a one-sided transfer, allowing for greater appreciation.
One of the complexities is that sometimes this transfer may not always be a wanted thing. In some cases with the U.S., we impose something on a group of people for the sake of “democracy” or “civility,” even when it is something that they don’t necessarily want. These relationships have the potential to be good or bad, depending on the approach.
Culture is something that definitely should be shared, but it should be received with respect first and foremost. For different cultures to truly be appreciated, they can’t be viewed with a trendy or commercial view, they have to truly be seen for what they are.
Will Wade Named Men’s Basketball Coach Zines are Nuanced Expression
Julia cox Correspondent
While scrapbooking is a well-known art form, fewer are familiar with zines. Purdue University classifies a zine — a word derived from magazine — as a self-published or DIY booklet.
Zines are accessible forms of expression, regardless of someone’s current skills or quality of materials. All you need to make a zine is a piece of paper, a pen and a message in mind to share.
For this reason, zines have deep roots in cultural practices, political activism and womanhood. To dive deeper into the connection between these subjects, the Women’s Center hosted the Womanist History of Scrapbooks and Zines Workshop on March 25.
The Nubian Message interviewed Valeria Perez, who led the workshop. Perez is a fourth-year student studying zoology at NC State who works with the Women's Center as the creative director of education for The Movement Peer Educators. She hosts a variety of educational workshops on topics including safety and community for women.
Perez explains, “I'm a Puerto Rican student who moved to the U.S. specifically for college. All my life, I had found that a lot of the spaces where I was able to connect with my female family members pertain to crafting, to cooking and traditional women's crafts, in a machista Latino society like in Puerto Rico.” A machista is someone who believes in male superiority and upholds strict gender roles through an exaggerated idea of masculinity. While these norms could lead to a feeling of oppression, small communities can be formed in reaction that offer a space to share your experiences freely. Perez further describes, “Historically, in a lot of different cultures, arts and artistic expression has been one of the few things that women have been allowed to have access to — to voice and or represent their identities and experiences.”
Historically, zines have focused on many things. Surrealist “Dada” zines that critiqued the bourgeois were popular in the 1920s, while in the 30s, fun sci-fi zines were big. In the 1950s, Samizdat zines helped communicate the practices of the
Soviet government. In the 60s, comic book zines became popular, only to pivot back to politics with punk movements in the 70s. From there, zines continued to intertwine with alternative culture through Riot Grrl zines in the 90s, which concerned politics and feminism. So, with these small pockets of freedom, women have been able to find solace in the creation and sharing of art.
This political activism mixed with artistic expression is a unique part of zines. With the zines’ flexibility, many authors incorporate both of these aspects into their work. Perez explains, “Anyone can make it [zines], anyone can spread it, and they can be very nuanced, complicated and personal. The fact that they're easily digestible and made to be shared is intrinsic to the spread of activist thought and truth seeking.”
The personal nature of creating art to share is also part of its charm. Perez says, “being able to physically represent [thoughts] and communicate them in an intimate way, in a creative way, in a way that evokes emotion, evokes thought and conversation. I asked in the event, ‘What do you think is a key component of good storytelling?’ And I think being able to provoke thoughts out of somebody, being able to force somebody to connect not only with themselves, but with what they want to know is very, very important right now.”
Perez urges, “We are keeping critical thinking alive, or our art is keeping these movements alive ... your words, your art has a space … [There’s] a beautiful legacy of radical art. I don't want it to be lost on anybody that it’s Black art, and it is Black women's art. Sometimes that can get lost in online spaces, but it won’t get lost here.”
As a final message, Perez says, “Push yourself to connect with the part of you that longs to create … it's really important not to understate the importance of providing yourself the opportunity to be able to connect with that creative side and do that in community.”
The NC State Women’s Center has a zine library where students can read local zines and learn more about their history. Why not see what you can create?
Alondra Olivares Bojorges Correspondent
On the morning of March 9, 2025, NC State announced that men’s basketball head coach, Kevin Keatts, was fired. Additionally, they confirmed, “A national search for NC State's next head coach will begin immediately.”
After the disappointing results from this year’s season, many Wolfpack fans were left frustrated about the program's future. Winning the ACC Championship and making it to the Final Four in the NCAA championship last year brought a lot of hope for the team, but it was not enough. They finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 70-72 loss against the University of Miami, closing with a 5-15 conference record and failing to qualify for the ACC Tournament.
Keatts coached eight seasons at NC State, ending with a 151-113 record. The highest championship appearance during his time as head coach was last year’s NCAA tournament Final Four appearance, where they lost against Purdue University.
The 2023-24 season’s accomplishments earned Keatts a $400,000 raise, bringing his salary to $3.1 million. His contract also was extended through the 2029-30 season. While the announcement of his firing was sudden, it was no surprise that the accomplishments Keatts brought to the program were not enough to guarantee him his job. NC State was left having to buy him out for $8 million.
Shortly after, several sources shared rumors that NC State was in talks to hire McNeese State University’s head coach, Will Wade.
Before 12-seed McNeese’s impressive win against 5-seed Clemson University in the first round of the NCAA tournament, at a press conference, Will Wade confirmed that he was in contact with NC State.
On March 23, following McNeese State's loss to Purdue in the second round of the NCAA tournament, NC State announced Will Wade signed a 6-year contract as head coach for the men’s basketball team. This makes him the 21st head coach of the NC State men’s basketball team.
Two days later, NC State held an introductory press conference for Wade at Reynolds Coliseum. Joined by Chancellor Randy Woodson and Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan, Wade made his plans for the team very clear.
“This is not a rebuild. We’re gonna be in the top part of the ACC next year and going to the NCAA tournament.” “We’re gonna play aggressive on both ends of the floor,” said Wade.
Wade’s coaching career has not been without controversy. His five-year tenure at Louisiana State University ended after being suspended once in 2019 and ultimately fired in 2022 amid allegations of Level I NCAA violations.
They alleged that Wade, in exchange for their enrollment into LSU, offered and/ or issued prohibited payments to eleven prospective men’s basketball players, their family members, or those affiliated with them. Additionally, Wade reportedly failed to cooperate with the investigation.
In 2023, he took over as head coach at McNeese State. Due to his Level I NCAA violations, he served a 10-game suspension during his first season.
Even with the suspension, Wade led the team to two Southland Conference championship wins.
Despite his past, Wade’s hiring was met with excitement from Wolfpack fans, eager to see how he will revitalize the program. When asked about his past, Wade acknowledged his mistakes, saying, “I’ve grown and matured since then, and you’re gonna get the best version of me here at NC State.”
Throughout the press conference, both Wade and Corrigan emphasized his personal growth. Corrigan stated, “I think the biggest thing for me was sitting with Will [...] and asking a lot of really tough questions about what occurred. He was open, he was honest, talked about how he’s grown.”
Wade has big plans, not only for the team but also for the fanbase. During the press conference, he confirmed the NC State men’s basketball home opener is set for Nov. 3, 2025, and made it clear he wants a packed house. “I wanna sell out the Lenovo Center. 19,500 people. I want 19,500 people there. We need to send a message. We need to let the state, the ACC and the nation know the Pack is back and we are not to be messed with.”
With strong support from the Wolfpack, Wade is determined to make an immediate impact on NC State athletics.
NC STAte Celebrates 34th annual powwow
isaac davis Managing Editor
Jelina-Jo Miller Copy Editor
NC State celebrated its 34th Annual Powwow (Powwow 2025) at Miller Fields on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Dancers, drummers, singers, vendors and community members from all over the country joined the Native American Student Association (NASA) and Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) in celebrating the powwow.
What is Powwow?
Powwows are large gatherings where many Native American Tribes come together to celebrate their heritage through drumming, dancing, singing, food and more. All powwows are different, defined by the tribes coming together to host the gathering, but they share a purpose: unity.
“Powwow culture originated as a way to bring Native people together when a lot of culture was at risk. It encourages PanIndianism and [people] to come together,” said Gavin Bell, Assistant Director of MSA and member of the Lumbee Tribe. He continued, “A lot of individuals attending a collegiate powwow may not have been a part of Native community at all.”
Powwow 2025 is a part of a sequence of collegiate powwows hosted by other universities in North Carolina – including Duke, UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Pembroke. University powwows are often for education, serving as the first introduction to Native culture for many people.
“We’re very relational,” Bell began. “We’re not just relational within Indian community — we’re relational in general — so, we want folks to come out there and dance with us.”
On relationality — Trinity Locklear, President of NASA and Alpha Pi Omega Sorority Inc., the country's oldest Indigenous Greek letter organization, and member of the Lumbee Tribe, said, “People come from all over — friends, family and faculty. It means a lot to see those faces at powwow, because it’s like, ‘Oh! All our work paid off!’”
“It really fills my heart to see everybody show up,” echoed Charlize Evans, Head Coordinator of Powwow 2025 and member of the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe. Locklear and Evans served as Co-Chairs of the Powwow 2025 Planning Committee, and shared responsibilities such as fundraising, gathering volunteers, marketing and
designing t-shirts. However, a lot more goes into planning the celebration.
The Nubian Message sat down with the student leaders to discuss the tremendous work it takes to put on such a large celebration.
“Powwow planning started at the beginning of the year,” began Locklear.
“People are putting [powwow] as some small event that we’re setting up, when it’s actually huge. We have people from all over the state coming to this.”
“I delegated a lot of tasks. I did a little bit of everything,” said Evans, who kept things running smoothly during Powwow.
“Part of that was organizing the powwow leaders, like the Master of Ceremonies and Head Dancers, and I was running around, making sure everybody was staying hydrated.”
All of NASA and MSA’s planning paid off in the end, and Powwow 2025 kicked off with smooth sailing.
Grand Entry
The festivities began promptly at High Noon with the MC, J.D. Moore, announcing the Grand Entry, calling on Miskwa Waya and War Paint to fill the space with dance and song, respectively.
Grand Entry, a procession in which dancers are officially introduced into the arena, was led by Head Male Dancer, Caleb Hedgepeth, and Head Female Dancer, Aminah Ghaffar. Following Hedgepeth and Ghaffar were all veterans and active-duty, Native or otherwise, who were invited into the arena for the Veteran Welcome.
The Veteran Welcome is a time to acknowledge and thank men and women “of stature” for their service. “Powwow culture broadly represents Indigenous culture, which holds honor and respect for the protectors and warriors of the people,” said Bell.
Joel Lowell then prayed for the community, showing gratitude to the Creator for bringing beautiful spring weather and a gorgeous crowd to NC State’s campus. He also thanked the drummers, dancers and singers, who form the “heartbeat” of Powwow.
Next, MC Moore called for the raising of the Eagle Staff, alongside the American and North Carolina State flags. Eagle Staffs are representations of PanIndianism, which was present on this soil before any American flag.
An eagle flew overhead as the colors were pushed (i.e., the Eagle Staff and American flags were raised) — a reminder that hard work pays off, and their connection to the Earth and the Creator is limitless.
Finally, Bell closed the Grand Entry by expressing gratitude to the Powwow Committee for their hard work and dedication. He also thanked everyone in the community who came out to show support and celebrate Native culture and heritage.
The footwork
Powwow hosts a lot of different dances for a lot of different people - young and old, Native and non-Native. Dances are organized into categories, each with its own styles and adornments. We spoke with Bell to get the lowdown on the footwork.
“Traditional categories represent some of the baseline movements and dances that have been around since time immemorial but manifest in a more current context,” said Bell. “One of the staples in traditional regalia is one bustle, usually composed of eagle feathers that sit on the waist.”
In Women's Traditional, “The footwork is light. There aren’t many fast movements, but it's a very powerful dance. It is a representation of what it means to be a woman in Indian country, ” said Bell.
flamboyant displays of roosters. According to Bell, Chicken Dances also allow for another layer of competition. “This is more of a country thing, but sometimes [two roosters going at it] is mimicked in the arena if there are two Chicken Dancers.”
Fancy Dancing is a newer style of dance meant to show off creativity, athleticism, intensity and skill. Whereas Traditional Regalia has one bustle or shawl, Fancy Regalia often has two: one on the shoulder and one on the hip. “[There are] lots of dynamic movements, [including] jumps and splits. It’s a little bit more of your performance dance, if you want to put it that way.”
“I am a Fancy Dancer. I’ve been dancing in powwows literally since I could walk,” said Evans. who specializes in Butterfly Dancing. “It represents the stages that Indigenous women go through. I’ve always been a dancer; it’s literally ingrained in me.”
Special Categories have prizes, with judges there to observe footwork and style. Head Dancers usually cannot compete for prizes; however, they do get to host a Special. Some Specials fulfill community needs. For example, during a Blanket Dance, a Head Dancer will take a lap around the arena with a blanket to accept community donations for a specific cause. University powwows often host Specials to acknowledge Native graduates.
happens, sometimes a Jingle Dress Dancer will dance to support somebody [who is sick or ill]. It’s a way of showing community support and coming around somebody in love, healing and compassion.”
Jingle Dancers also danced over George Floyd Square in Minneapolis after the murder of George Floyd in 2020 by former police officer Derek Chauvin. “They danced over that location because it brings healing, accountability and acknowledgement. It’s a very symbolic dance,” said Bell.
The origin of Jingle Dancing has been passed down generationally by oral tradition, so the story's details differ from tribe to tribe. However, most tribes tell the story of a chief with a daughter who fell ill. The chief dreamt of the Jingle Dress and learned (or was taught) how to make the dress, what songs to play and how to dance in it. When he woke up, he had the dress made for her, and when his daughter started dancing in it, she was healed of her ailment.
Many powwows also invite community members to join dancers in the arena for Social Dances. “We did a lot more Social Dances,” Locklear said. “We only did one last year; it was really good to see that incorporated again. [Powwow 2025] has a basis in education, learning and fellowship,
so it was a nice memory I have.” Round Dances and Mosquito Dances are examples of Social Dances.
Conclusion
The powwow tradition is rich and full of different Native cultures from all over the continent. The powwow has and will continue to be an essential part of student culture at NC State in and outside of the Native community.
In closing words, “I want to thank everyone who came. I want everyone at NC State to know that they are welcome to our powwow,” began Evans. “It’s okay to take those leaps, it's okay to ask those questions. We are very much active on campus, and we always will be.”
Jaelyn Willis leads Wellness Workshops
Alianna kendall-brooks Editor-in-Chief
In a world where slowing down feels like a luxury few can afford, Jaelyn Willis is creating intentional spaces for rest and reflection called Wellness Workshops. The workshops are typically held Wednesday evenings in the Triangle area, offering a sought-after 'third space' for people to prioritize mental wellness.
These workshops include roundtable discussions, journaling worksheets and even licensed therapists. The workshops typically center around a theme such as patience, healthy habits or facing your fears. Willis provides all the materials for attendees to write, draw and express themselves creatively as they reflect on these prompts. Willis’ workshops are always filled with soulful music, laughter and most importantly, vulnerability.
"Vulnerability is a superpower," Willis insists. "People need to realize that once you put the phone down, we're all human, and we all have feelings, and we're all going through life."
Recently, the workshops have drawn upwards of 20 people and taken place in venues like Lucky Tree — an eclectic café just minutes from NC State — the House of Art and local art exhibitions. As attendance continues to grow, Willis is continuing to create inclusive spaces that resonate with students, locals and creatives.
Yet, the path to creating Wellness Workshops, originally known as Wellness Wednesdays, was not linear. The workshops reflect Willis' own self-care journey, and were born from a desire to create the kind of healing space she once needed for herself.
After graduating from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T), Willis stepped into corporate America, where she found herself financially stable but mentally fatigued.
"My mental health was plummeting. It was bad, and everything came to a stop. My YouTube channel came to a halt. Me making music …," she recalls. "I tried my best, but I was just sacrificing my mental health for money, and I realized that that's not okay."
This realization prompted a leap of faith, and Willis left the corporate world behind, trusting that her voice had a purpose.
"God gave me this voice for a reason, and I'm going to use it," said Willis as she shared how her faith led her to use her voice "for inspiring and helping people."
Before creating Wellness Workshops, Willis launched her podcast titled “Inner Wisdom” in 2022. For the first year, she kept her podcast "on tuck" out of fear.
"I think it was because I knew that it was going to make me so uncomfortable being so vulnerable with just my voice and opening myself up to be perceived," she explains. But once she pushed through that fear, she discovered a natural talent. "I can talk to a brick wall," she laughed.
The podcast focuses on navigating her twenties, "the ups, the downs, the stagnation points," and features guests sharing their wisdom.
"When I have guests on, I let them pick their topics, which makes them a lot more comfortable sharing. They drop the wisdom gems all the time about navigating their 20s, or just life in general."
However, Willis still wanted to create a physical space that would meet the mental health needs of the community. As she describes it, the inspiration for her workshops came during a moment of divine clarity, "I was in this group chat, and they were saying, 'Oh, we need to go to Jaelyn for wellness advice …. then boom, the idea just came to me." At the time, Willis recalls she "had negative in my bank," but felt led by God to continue to use her voice for good.
In 2024, Willis hosted her first workshop in her apartment complex.
"It started off in my apartment leasing office clubhouse, … and I just used their printer. Probably around 10 people showed up to the first one, more than I expected, because I didn't really know what I was doing. But after the first … I just had to keep it going for myself and for my peers too, because I needed wellness myself."
The growth happened naturally, spreading through word of mouth, social media and what Willis humbly describes as "the quality of the material that I'm providing for people." As the space evolved, more and more people began attending Willis' workshops.
Over time, Wellness Workshops grew into a movement of sorts with people from across the Triangle area resisting poor work-life balance through mental wellness. Willis didn't just stop with young adults. As a substitute teacher, the door would be unexpectedly opened to bringing her wellness workshops into schools.
"I'm teaching sixth graders how important it is to put the phone away, journal, be mindful and talk to your peers," Jaelyn explains.
What began with about ten people gathering in her apartment complex's leasing office clubhouse organically grew into sessions at coffee shops, art houses and now even in schools.
Michelle Melgarejo, a regular attendee of Wellness Workshop, shared, "Wellness Workshop creates space for me to focus on my mental wellbeing by starting the conversations I don't think about on my own, helping me get inspired and want to create more while it helps my mental. The writing prompts get me thinking and asking myself questions that help me focus on being present, help me reflect on current and past situations."
For Melgarejo, the workshops provide consistency and a safe environment. "I know that every other Wednesday I'm going to be asked something about myself or an experience and have me open up about it without restraint and judgment. I'm able to hear others and their experiences knowing that I'm not alone, and that relieves a lot of stress and anxiety I can sometimes put on to myself."
The workshops are creating community healing, as Melgarejo describes: "Wellness Workshop has provided me a safe space to share my experiences and feelings without shame and has provided me resources that I need, as well as a community that I cherish so much."
Through the workshops, Willis also shares how she’s witnessed participants develop confidence in public speaking and emotional expression.
“[Those] who come to wellness workshop, their public speech has improved because you're around a lot of people, strangers, at that, they're being vulnerable… Just the confidence it takes to share, the confidence it takes for me to do wellness workshop — It's not easy doing that. It's not easy being vulnerable. I just think it's a beautiful space for Black people to feel safe and to feel heard.”
For some, the workshops serve as an accessible alternative to therapy. "People have expressed to me that they use Wellness Workshop as therapy, which I love, because times are tough for some people. Some people really can't afford therapy."
Though quick to clarify she's not a licensed therapist, Willis emphasizes the importance of creating spaces where people feel heard, which is why bringing in professional resources through Lighthouse Therapy, a Black-owned mental health practice, has been so important.
"I'm really proud that we have Lighthouse
therapy at Wellness Workshop," Willis said. "They're founded by a Black woman. All the therapists and counselors that work there are Black people—Black men therapists, which is amazing, and Black women therapists."
Workshop attendee Melgarejo shared how the partnership has caused her to consider therapy as well: "Thanks to Wellness Workshop I was introduced to Lighthouse Therapy & Counseling and plan to start therapy there soon. Overall, it's a space that has truly made me have time to reflect, inspire and create! I love the community and [the] sense that I have my mental wellbeing balanced," she said.
While Willis doesn't exclusively market her workshops for Black communities, she acknowledges the natural gravitation. "I don't market it for Black people, but I'm Black as hell, and so, of course, I attract Black people, and we need each other. We need each other to talk to and to be listened to."
Willis’ experience at North Carolina A&T deeply influenced her approach to community building.
"At A&T, I felt at home. I look to my left, I look to my right, I see me — people who can relate to me, people who want to see me win, want to see me succeed," she shared. "It prepared me for the real world and showed me that I can do anything that I put my mind to."
Looking ahead, Willis’ ambitions for Wellness Workshop are big. "I definitely see Wellness Workshop going on a college tour, definitely getting into more public schools, maybe even having my own class at a school or at a college, or starting my own school one day."
Her creative vision extends beyond the workshops as well. "I see myself being on stage at a festival doing music. I see myself in a podcasting studio with lights and all that stuff with my podcast, probably a talk show, probably my own show," she said.
When asked about the source of her courage to pursue these dreams, Willis shared, "It all comes from God. That's the only source that I go to. Like, before this interview, I prayed outside for a good little minute."
When asked to share advice to young people seeking wellness and figuring out life, she shared the outro to her podcast, saying, "Be kind to yourself. Help others when you can. Follow your dreams and always listen to yourself. And stay present."
the Age of Dehumanization and celebrity worship
Hail Zulueta Correspondent
Celebrity worship has deified people, making them seem above criticism. Alternatively, the fall is brutal once celebrities no longer display idealizations. Sometimes, celebrity worship leads to becoming the target for mockery, dehumanizing problems such as mental health, racism or housing insecurities people face in their everyday lives.
Especially in the modern age where globalization and social media combine to make every person we meet so much smaller, celebrity worship dehumanizes people.
“Donald Trump, if you can hear us, please, Donald Trump, please save me. Please save me, Donald Trump.” These are the words a man spoke in a car while police surrounded his vehicle. His hands lifted in the air while his eyes are closed, as if contacting the celebrity-turned-president telepathically. Celebrity worship is common in pop culture, and the probability that someone has participated in it, even in the smallest acts, is high.
Celebrity worship takes the image of a celebrity, usually an artist, and glorifies them to the level of what would be considered a god. This is only enhanced by social media, everyone knows who this person is because everyone else has posted about it.
A recent trend that people may remember is the “Thank you, Beyoncé” trend. This started because many people pointed out that different artists credited their inspiration to the iconic singer. This trend resulted in people thanking Beyoncé despite Beyoncé having very little or zero influence on their situation. TikTok users would post their achievements while praising the major artist.
While this is just a trend (with some truth based in Beyonce’s icon status), this is another example of how celebrity culture can take a turn for the worst, especially for people who are new to popularity. Shifting spotlights and unwarranted critiques from the internet can leave a person confused, stressed and overwhelmed.
Celebrity worship also factors in how much hype a person has while a trend is happening. Haliey Welch, known for the viral video of her responding to a question with the answer, “hawk tuah,” became a star
after making $65,000 from merchandising and opening up the "Talk Tuah" podcast in June 2024.
Welch turned the attention she was getting into a stream of revenue, however, this soon ended after she found herself in a cryptocurrency scandal — a long fall from her 15 minutes of fame. There is also stan culture, which thrives on apps like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and Instagram. The term “stan” originates from the Eminem song, “Stan” which describes an obsessive fan who writes letters to the rap artist himself. The song ends with Eminem’s fan displaying erratic behavior, hurting his partner and even driving his car off a bridge.
In reality, stans are essentially fans who take devotion to the next level. Actions taken by stans include: making posts dedicated to who they’re obsessing over, creating works of art and even stalking people in the name of their devotion. These actions vary based on who they idolize.
As stated by Cambridge University, there is a large difference in the frequency of how much people get stalked based on gender identity. “Stalking in the general population is common – in the UK the lifetime prevalence of being stalked is 15% (20.2% for women and 9.8% for men (Office for National Statistics 2016)). The prevalence of stalking of celebrities and public figures is less researched, but probably much higher.”
Chappell Roan, the queer singer whose fame skyrocketed after the popularization of her 2023 album, "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess," advocates for the mental health of artists, especially those who are new. “Just to let you know, every woman is feeling or has felt similar to what I’m experiencing. This isn’t a new situation,” she said.
Roan has been the victim of stalking herself. She has had stalkers show up at her parents' house and has been kissed without her consent.
The invasion of the privacy of celebrity women is not new either. Following her death, the body of Marilyn Monroe, the famous sex symbol, went missing for 6 hours before finally being delivered to the morgue. Though unconfirmed, the eerie rumors that necrophiliacs had access to Monroe’s body sends chills down the spines of many fans.
One of the more infamous cases of celebrity worship going wrong has found itself back in the news cycle again, with a more modern case: the death of famous Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez
Yolanda Saldívar, the president of Quintanilla-Pérez’s very own fan club, murdered the singer. Prior to committing the murder, Saldívar had quit her job as a nurse and became a manager for one of the fashion stores Selena owned. Quintanilla and Saldívar not only had a fan-celebrity relationship, but the two were also friends. Saldívar worshiped Quintanilla, dedicating much of her life to the singer. Her obsession became violent, leading to actions that changed not just Selena’s life but Saldívar’s as well. Yolanda’s parole hearing was conducted on March 30, 2025, with the decision being that the court has denied parole to Saldívar, with her next hearing being in 2030.
Celebrity worship is terrible, especially in the modern day and age, as the wrong people are made famous. Especially on TikTok and Instagram, “lolcows” run rampant as laughingstocks, entertainment for people who laugh at the misfortune of others. Defined as a person “milked” for laughs, lolcows are prime examples of dehumanization.
Contrary to the worship we see for some celebrities, lolcows bring the internet together to bully them. Lolcows produce a sense of unity similar to the catharsis of watching someone in middle school completely embarrass themselves — without acknowledging how embarrassing their actions are.
Take, for example, the infamous TikToker Tophia Slydell, known as TophiaChu. She often goes on TikTok’s Live and chats with her fans. However, TophiaChu is infamous for her constant violations of TikTok Live guidelines. TophiaChu often argues with her family members on these livestreams and discusses her reasoning with her fans on why she prefers not to seek a job.
On March 11, a carjacker attempted to rob the car that the Slydell family was living in, and this resulted in the carjacker fatally shooting Tophia Slydell’s brother, Donald Slydell Jr. The article covering this event starts off with how the internet still refers to Donald Slydell Jr. as “brotherchu”
signifying that even in death, social media makes a joke out of people. A tragedy being pushed into the public eye too often results in a lack of respect.
Whether or not this attack on the Slydell family was premeditated and done by someone who tracked them down through social media, this shouldn’t have happened, and the sensitive information about this should not have blown up on social media platforms either.
Oftentimes, when people idolize celebrities, lolcows are laughed at, when stans mobilize to obsess over tiny details of the person they idolize, disaster ensues. Tophia Slydell was not just a lolcow on the internet, but she was a woman of color with housing insecurity. Selena Quintanilla was not just an idol, but she was a young and aspiring woman of color whose final act was trying to help her would-be murderer seek medical attention.
Celebrity worship is a detrimental action people take because it is the direct opposite of humanizing, whether this worship goes in the way of idolizing a person or idolizing the enjoyment of embarrassing a person. Obsessing over someone or relentlessly making fun of them isn’t acceptable in person, so why do it online?
What can be done about the problem of celebrity worship is much easier said than done. To combat this reckless mindset, one has to first be grounded in the reality of things. The reality is that while the people that society idolizes can produce extraordinary things or be entertaining through their misfortunate, combatting celebrity worship means seeing these people as people first.
By humanizing the idols and celebrities that are online, one can regain a sense of everyday empathy. This mindfulness leads to being able to reason why someone can react emotionally, like how Chappell Roan did against the paparazzi. Humanizing leads to understanding the tragedy of Tophia Slydell’s incident, how losing someone is amplified when it is broadcasted to the public.
Celebrity worship isn’t something to normalize, and by grounding ourselves and humanizing our icons, we do everyone a favor.
the revitalized American Dream
Blake Anderson Correspondent
I don’t have regard for the American Dream and I don’t think anyone else does either. It’s an outdated, obsolete standard of success. There are a multitude of avenues to achieve success; no longer is there a one-size-fits-all mold that determines how much or little an individual has achieved.
The structures and confines that our parents grew up with have been done away with, and the structures that existed before their time are even further removed. Some people make money from reviewing food on TikTok, posting day-in-the-lives on Instagram, or creating ASMR videos on YouTube. Success can be whatever you want it to be, as long as an individual is content with their way of life and feels adequate about themselves and what they achieved.
The American Dream was once the standard for success in the United States; it centered around individual achievement, with a notable ethos of hard work, equality, freedom and opportunity. Important goals along the way included homeownership, starting a family, achieving financial stability, starting a business, and climbing
the economic and social ladder.
However, the American Dream has changed, reflecting how our perceptions of success have changed. Success is no longer rigidly defined as a white picket fence, a beagle with two and a half kids. Now, young people are reshaping success as a more personalized concept: prioritizing passive income, autonomy, work-life balance and work-from-home jobs.
Being employed is becoming more conceptual than concrete in today's workforce. Work has shifted from being in the office from 9-5, to working from the comforts of your home or, for some, not having to "work" at all. In the time out the office, many employees found less intensive yet lucrative ways to source income, transforming social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram into networking tools used for marketing products and expanding businesses.
Namely, creators like Mr.Beast and Druski have excelled and built themselves up as notable creators with an unfathomably large amount of wealth, obtained through their social media presence and fan engagement on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
They are the entity that creates and sells a product, service or experience.
Mr.Beast has built his fame and fortune without any formal vocational training or advanced degree, his success can be purely attributed to his humor and ability to entertain and engage an audience on social media. His YouTube channels, Mr.Beast and Mr.Beast Gaming, have respectively amassed 208 million and 38.9 million subscribers. Which have given him the power to leverage sponsorship deals that yield lucrative payouts of around $2.5 million to $3 million.
Furthermore, the American Dream is no longer attached to the four-year college pipeline into stable careers. Online learning platforms, coding boot camps and affordable educational resources are enabling people to develop valuable skills outside of traditional college pathways.
The United States, home to a diverse array of individuals from all walks of life, can't offer a one-size-fits-all pathway to success. The rise of different voices shaped by race, gender, sexual orientation and cultural backgrounds has broadened the definition of success. The United States' diverse nature
encourages individuals to define their ideas for success. Ultimately, the American Dream has become a more fluid, diverse and individual aspiration, reflecting the complex, interconnected world in which we live.
Technological advancements have further transformed the landscape of opportunity, reducing the need for strenuous labor while creating new avenues for success. As more people gain opportunities for learning and improving their skills, they are better equipped to pursue their goals, regardless of their background. Granting opportunities to those who otherwise would be at a disadvantaged playing field.
Today's modern world creates windows of opportunity and hope for a level playing field between the lower to middle class and the upper class. There is an array of unique opportunities and technological advancements that have merged the gaps between rich and poor. Less emphasis is placed on traditional vocational or educational backgrounds and more emphasis on what skills you naturally possess that can be leveraged to achieve success.
NC STate: You're Not the White Knight
(DEI)-related programs. His administration called DEI “radical and wasteful,” releasing executive orders opposing DEI-related federal programs.
NC State, you are suppressing the speech of your students and faculty. On the NC State website, you claim that you cannot “censor, prohibit, 'chill’ or punish protected speech (even if it’s biased, rude, mean, hateful, offensive, bigoted, wrong, immoral or deeply distressing).” However, over the past few months, several students, faculty and organizations have expressed their fear of speaking freely with The Nubian Message, fearing losing their jobs, opportunities or place on campus.
In a time when ICE is arresting college students across the nation for exercising their First Amendment rights and the government is revoking the visas of international students in the Triangle, you should be protecting your community’s voices.
Of course, Black and marginalized voices, the most vulnerable in society, are the voices you protect the least, and ironically, the voices you are most afraid of.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened universities that continue funding diversity, equity and inclusion
As a result, many universities are rapidly changing their policies and wiping any verbiage related to Black and marginalized people to avoid funding cuts. Unsurprisingly, you are not just following suit but overcomplying. Even though, per your website, you “cannot enact or enforce policies that censor speech,” you have been more than willing to ignore this principle to protect yourself.
You responded to these new executive orders by cutting pre-college programs for minority high school students and dismantling “DEI-related” living and learning villages. Then, you advised housing not to disclose further information, as discussed in a student government session on March 20.
You failed to make a formal statement about the dismantling of these pre-college programs and learning villages, instead opting to let the news trickle down to students and the broader community through emails or word of mouth to those most directly involved, when in reality, the decisions to dismantle these spaces affect
the entire NC State community.
This is a massive slap in the face for Black and marginalized students; you failed to acknowledge the impact your decisions would have and offered little to no support to the communities affected. The Nubian Message understands the possible consequences surrounding the continued support of these programs, but the least you could do is provide Black and marginalized communities — and NC State as a whole — with transparency regarding your actions.
Furthermore, organizations and clubs have shifted how they promote their events. They can no longer advocate for events to celebrate the excellence of their community due to your clandestine censorship. They are afraid of losing their place on campus.
On multiple occasions, The Nubian Message has encountered faculty and staff members who are apprehensive to comment on certain issues due to the potential for retaliation or even termination. Staff, faculty and students are declining interviews or are asking to review interview transcripts before publishing on an increasing basis.
Recently, The Nubian Message has been backed into a corner — asked by allies on campus to remove or censor articles that include brief mentions of DEI-related
language to protect people’s safety. We noticed that our first Black chancellor is only referred to as the third NC State alumnus to serve in the role. In your news articles, the word "Black" is not mentioned once.
You put up no resistance in the face of these challenges and continue the cycle of complacency in your selective action. You’ve failed to protect your students and faculty. You put them in an impossible situation and threatened their First Amendment rights. The Nubian Message could not even receive faculty statements on minority mental health. Your faculty should not be afraid to speak about the student body's mental health — the very people they work to help. Face the fact that you are silencing your own community and be aware that we will not be silent — we will continue to fight.
You have no right to be considered the guardian of free speech when you codify the Trump administration’s policies by censoring, prohibiting and chilling your own faculty’s and students’ speech.
NC State, you are not the white knight.
Kaela Belingon Photo Editor Kristopher Porter Layout Designer
Nevaeh Sturdivant Staff Writer Ross Emelle Staff Writer
