61.5 Spartan Echo

11.13.13

Vol. 61, I ssue 5

Top

Stories Inside

The Spartans take it to the max on the tennis court the upcoming season.

Photo by Jules Dean.

See page 4.

Dominique Harper warms up for an intense basketball practice.

Photo by Tykhari Coles.

See page 5.

Former Vice Rector indicted on fraud

By Danielle Kirsh The former vice rector of Norfolk State’s Board of Visitors was indicted by the U.S. District Court on 33 felonies for an alleged $1.3 million Medicaid fraud scheme.

Former vice rector W. Wayne Perry Jr. and his wife were indicted in a Medicaid billing scheme on Nov. 6.

Prosecutors say the couple perpetrated the scheme between January 2009 and December 2012 through their home health care services company called Community Personal Care.

Perry resigned from the Board of Visitors on Nov. 1 in anticipation of being indicted. Perry declined comment on the advice of his attorney.

Perry told the Virginian-Pilot “I hate doing it because I want to say something so bad.”

As of the morning of Nov. 7, the university had no official comment on Perry’s resignation or indictment.

Both Perry and his wife face one count of health-care fraud, 24 counts of making false statements related to health-care matters, four counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of alteration of records.

The indictment contends that Virginia Medicaid paid for services that were not provided and says that Allison Hunter-Evans, a Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services employee, assisted Perry and his wife with the deception. She was charged with one count of alteration of records and remained employed, as of Nov. 6.

A federal grand jury in Norfolk on Wednesday, Nov. 6, indicted 54-year-old W. Wayne Perry Jr., Vice-Rector of Norfolk State University, and 51-year-old Angela Perry, his wife, both of Suffolk, Va. Each face one count of healthcare fraud, 24 counts of making false statements related to health-care matters, four counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of alteration of records. Perry resigned his position with the university on Friday, Nov. 1, in anticipation of the indictment. (Photo copyright Norfolk State University).

The indictment said that over a nearly four-year period, Perry and his wife submitted nearly 6,500 fraudulent claims to the Virginia Medicaid program and received $1.3 million in payments.

The couple is accused of altering office records between March 2010 and March 2011

to conceal the payments.

Multiple media sources report that the fraudulent claims submitted to Virginia’s Medicaid program were $1,328,744 from 2009 to 2012.

(Some material from the Associated Press, copyright 2013.)

SPARTAN ECHO| Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504|NEWSROOM: 757.823.8200 E-Mail: spartanecho@nsu.edu

Spartan News

2

Government shutdown

By Danielle Kirsh The government shutdown of 2013 was one day shy of being the longest shutdown in the history of our country as both political parties refused to compromise on a fiscal agreement.

On Oct. 1, the federal government shut down due to a “funding gap.” Approximately 800,000 government employees were furloughed and another 3 million were required to work without a known pay date.

In our area, military commissaries, stores and recreational buildings on bases were closed during the shut down after they sold all of their perishable items. As a result, other stores like Sam’s Club offered military families to shop at their businesses without a membership until the government reopened.

The national child development program known as Head Start is funded by federal grants. Federal grants were no longer being renewed meaning Head Start was going to close, but on Oct. 8, the House of Representatives passed a bill to help fund the Head Start program.

Other programs like those that monitor the flu and pig vi-

ruses were also shut down.

During the shut down, 1.4 million active duty military members were not furloughed.

President Barack Obama signed a bill before the shut down ensuring that all active duty military members would continue to be paid during the shut down.

The Federal Communications Commission was shut down with 1,716 out of 1,754 being furloughed. All activities that weren’t immediately necessary for the protection of life or property were stopped.

The government shut down ended on Oct. 17 when the members of Congress came together to agree on the decision to reopen the government and remove the threat of default.

President Obama said in a statement released from the White House, “Despite the differences over the issue of shutting down our government, I’m convinced that Democrats and Republicans can work together to make progress for America.”

With another deadline threatening government shutdown lurking right around the corner, America watches in anticipation to see if it will have to endure this process again.

In this Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013 file photo, Luis Mendez, 23, left, and Maurice Mike, 23, wait in line at a job fair held by the Miami Marlins, at Marlins Park in Miami. (AP Photo/ Lynne Sladky, FIle).

11.13.13

Student Veterans Conference to address student veterans’ educational needs

By Danielle Kirsh

The Inaugural Student Veterans Conference will be held in an effort to have active Student Veterans Association chapters at all universities in Virginia per the goal of Gov. McDonnell.

This conference is intended to build the relationships between student veterans and the people who work to serve them in the universities. The goal of this conference is to collaborate with student veterans and the schools’ adminis-

trators to make campuses more military supportive state-wide.

Administrators want to learn more about the unique needs of veterans and be able to meet the needs at the universities.

They also want to learn how to recruit and retain the student veterans on campus, while exploring the best practices from already established Student Veterans Associations and administrative supporters from the state. This conference also wants to assist the schools that don’t already have a formal or-

ganization and build a student group on their campuses.

Three keynote speakers will be at this conference as well: Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security James Hopper, Executive Director of the Student Veterans of America D. Wayne Robinson and President and Founder of Wounded Wear Jason C. Redman.

The conference will begin Nov. 22 at 8 a.m. with registration and breakfast at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.

Enhancing your residential life on campus

By Danielle Kirsh Housing and Resident Life is working closely with Facilities Management to make students’ live more enjoyably in the residence halls.

Executive Director of Housing and Resident Life, Faith Fitzgerald, encourages students to give feedback on their experiences.

“We want to know the good and the bad,” said Fitzgerald.

Housing and Resident Life has customer care days where they go in to the residence halls and ask how things are going.

Last semester, a student committee selected the new wall colors and flooring that were put in to the Babbette Smith North and South towers.

“We really do care about the students,” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald also said they are trying their best to accommodate the students’ needs, but the money for renovations solely comes from tuition because

the University doesn’t get state money.

Freshman Jalah Smith lives in the Towers and said, “Student input is really important since we’re the ones living here.”

Residence halls in the future are going to have study areas in the halls and academic success centers next to or near the residence halls. “Students will be able to eat, have fun and go to class,” Fitzgerald said.

Director of Facilities Management Dan Young addressed many maintenance related problems over the summer.

Young said they addressed student needs by replacing the windows in the Babbette Smith North and South towers and by bringing in an exterminator twice to deal with any existing insect problems.

Smith said if there was one thing she could change in the Towers, it would be the elevators because they take awhile to

go from floor to floor.

Facilities Management processes nearly four thousand work orders a year. Each of those work orders is fixed by priority with emergencies being fixed first.

When a student sends in a work order, also known as a Fixit; Housing and Resident Life will relay that information to Facilities Management. Housing and Resident Life will periodically check-in with the student who submitted the work order to see if their problem has been fixed.

Fitzgerald said, “We really want their experience on campus to be memorable, to help them persist to graduation.”

Housing and Resident Life is always looking for new ideas to better the experience in the residence halls. If students have any problems, ideas or comments, they can email Housing and Resident Life at housing@nsu.edu.

SPARTAN ECHO| Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504|NEWSROOM: 757.823.8200 E-Mail: spartanecho@nsu.edu

Spartan News

11.13.13

3

Obamacare vs. Affordable Healthcare Act: the same thing

By Danielle Kirsh The Affordable Care Act was signed into law to reform the health care industry on March 23, 2010.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is known under other names like Obamacare, the health care reform and the Affordable Care Act. Although the PPACA was signed into law in march, it didn’t begin until Oct. 1 of this year.

The goal of the PPACA is to give Americans access to affordable, quality health insurance and to reduce the growth in the federal health care spending.

This new health care reform will not replace private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health coverage, you can keep it.

The PPACA doesn’t regulate health care; it regulates health insurance.

With this new act, young adults can stay on their parents’ plans until they are 26

years old.

The new benefits of the PPACA are numerous. Insurance companies are now required to provide for women’s health. Also, insurance companies can’t drop a patient when they are sick and they can no longer deny someone who has a pre-existing medial problem.

The PPACA brings in new taxes on high-earners, large businesses and the health care industry.

Americans who are making less than $45,960 as an individual, or $94,200 as a family of four, may be eligible for free or low health insurance.

There are no extra co-pays and insurance companies can’t limit the amount of care a patient can receive before they are cut off.

There are four ways to sign up for the PPACA: by person, mail, over the phone and online.

For more information, visit healthcare.gov.

Graphic retrieved from https://www.healthcare. gov/

With his son Jack, 20, looking on, Democratic Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe addresses supporters during his election victory party in Tysons Corner, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen).

McAuliffe elected governor, promises improvement for higher education

By Danielle Kirsh

College tuition in Virginia has increased 45 percent in just four years, but governor elect Terry McAuliffe promises to focus some of his energy on the funding and development of colleges and universities in Virginia.

In his platform, McAuliffe said Virginia’s education systems are the “building blocks that allow the private sector to flourish.”

McAuliffe believes Virginia has “one of the proudest traditions of higher education in the country,” but it isn’t affordable for students and parents. Funding for four-year colleges and universities in Virginia has

been cut, resulting in the spike in tuition costs.

During his term, McAuliffe wants to emphasize financial aid and control the costs and fees of tuition so everyone has a “fair shot” to go to college and not have heavy debt after graduation.

McAuliffe also wants to have better support systems for veterans who are returning home and are seeking education. He wants the colleges and universities to be more veteranfriendly and be able to cater to their unique needs and talents.

He will also try to implement support for research and development in Virginia’s colleges

and universities. McAuliffe will support funding requests from schools’ research departments to bring revenues back to the schools and attract new faculty and staff.

McAuliffe will also be focusing on community colleges.

He will be focusing on providing some state support through grants and bringing in more private dollars.

McAuliffe hopes to collaborate with local high schools to familiarize students with the community colleges in their area.

SPARTAN ECHO| Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504|NEWSROOM: 757.823.8200 E-Mail: spartanecho@nsu.edu

Spartan Sports

4

11.13.13

Penny plans to put team back on top

By Dan Adu-Gyamfi

Basketball star Penny Williams continues to practice after hours. Penny Williams is a firm believer of “practice makes perfect.” Photo

by Tykhari Coles.

As senior guard Pendarvis “Penny” Williams embarks on his last season for the Spartans, he plans on repeating the success the team has had the last two seasons.

For as long as he can remember, basketball has always been an enticing sport.

“As a child, even as a baby, my mom and pop told me I used to just sit up and watch basketball games and I guess it grew from there when I was real young,” said Williams.

Growing up in Philadel-

phia, Williams viewed plenty of 76ers games and there was one player that Williams really enjoyed watching.

“I used to go to a lot of 76ers games and watch a lot of 76ers games. Allen Iverson was really the man especially in early 2000s so it was lovely,” said Williams.

Entering his senior year of high school, Williams was not a highly touted recruit but had a few schools looking at him. Ultimately, NSU showed they believed in him

and offered him a scholarship.

“Well, coming out of high school, I was a sleeper for real. I didn’t really play AAU basketball and go to all the camps and stuff like that, but I had some schools like LaSalle, Rider, and Wagner. But a lot of schools were talking nonsense when they were trying to use me as a second option but when the coaches from Norfolk State came to one of my games and they offered me right away, and said I could come in and play right away, I came on a visit.

I liked the area, I liked the campus and everything, and I said I will come here and make all the other schools regret that they didn’t offer me, and that’s exactly what I’ve been able to do,” said Williams.

Since Williams has played for NSU, the program has went from winning 12 games to playing in the NCAA Tournament, winning a game in the NCAA Tournament and winning the MEAC regular season championship; the 2012-13 MEAC Player of the Year says he has more goals he wants to accomplish.

“I’m definitely trying to win MEAC Player of the Year again. [I’m] trying to get back on the first team all-MEAC. The main goal is to win the MEAC Tournament and go back to the NCAA Tournament. I’ll take a MEAC Championship and a NCAA Tournament berth more than any of those individual accomplishments,” said Williams.

The final season for Williams is due with a lot of expectations on how the team will fare: his individual numbers, postseason challenges and the NBA potentially knocking at his door. If he sticks to what he’s been doing, then the sky is the limit.

Junior Computer Science Major Peter Ramstromer Pello practices his backhand tennis swing for the upcoming season.

Photo by Jules Dean.

No major “love” lost for men’s tennis

By Kallie Gould During the fall 2013, the men’s tennis team endured a season which displayed growth and improvement.

Head men and women’s coach Nathaniel Feldman said their goal every season is to “Work to compete to the best of our ability every single practice and match, play a lot of competitive tournament matches, get fitter and get tougher mentally and physically. I feel like we have done a pretty good job with these things, but there is always room for improvement.”

Senior Kenton Austin notices a difference with how Feldman and assistant coach Torrie Browning approached this season and think it benefitted the team.

“This semester is more focused on the individual’s performance; therefore, it is really based on how each player feels that their level developed and advanced on a personal basis. This semester helps teach us lessons on the court that will translate to a more experienced team for the main season in the spring,”

said Austin.

During the fall, the team participated in five events and Austin believes the team should continue to work to improve and contribute.

“Every one of us needs to continue working on a consistent level of focus to be able to reach new heights that the NSU men’s tennis program has never reached,” said Austin.

The season ended at the ITA Regional where sophomores Robin Riethmueller and Dzmitry Zyhmantovich advanced to the third round making it the first time in the Division I era that Spartans has accomplished this.

Going into the next season, Feldman said the focus will be on continuing to improve doubles play and also transitioning to finishing at the net, defense and foot-speed issues.

The spring season will begin for the Spartans Jan. 14 when they travel to play against William & Mary.

SPARTAN ECHO| Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504|NEWSROOM: 757.823.8200 E-Mail: spartanecho@nsu.edu

Spartan Sports

11.13.13

5

Volleyball 101: Class is in session

By Jason Gill Volleyball is a sport of high competition and excitement for all types of fans. However, knowing the details of the sport can make it that much more satisfying.

Volleyball contains three contacts on each side of the net: the dig, the set and the attack. The dig is the first contact off of a serve. With a dig, the team prefers the ball to go in a certain location in order to run its offense. If the dig were to go in various unwanted locations, the setter would then have to do extra work to put the

team “back in system.”

The set is then the contact following the dig. The setter’s job is to get the attacker in system and allow for a good swing at the ball.

The attack can be done in several ways. The ball can be tipped which is known as placing the ball in various locations without much speed behind it. A roll is a disguise attack where a player jumps up looking like they will swing hard at the ball then slightly chops it over the net.

The other is a spike in which

a player aggressively slams the ball over the net leaving little chance for the opponent to return. An immediate score off of an attack is called a kill.

An ace, which is also an official stat, is a serve that lands in the receiving team’s court either without being touched at all, known as an instant ace, or being touched by only one member without making it back over the net legally.

“That’s the ideal thing you want when your team serves a ball. It’s almost like a free throw for us. Your server has

to do a good job and try to pick on a certain passer. It’s almost an instant point for you where your team doesn’t really have to do anything. Your server on the end line does all the work and it gives your team a chance to relax,” said NSU interim head volleyball coach Brandon Duvall.

There are three different team sets that are used in the game of volleyball. There’s 4-2, 6-2 and 5-1. These numbers indicate the number of attackers compared to the number of servers a team has on the

floor. The Spartans volleyball team runs a 5-1 which means there are five hitters and one setter. Every time a side out occurs; the team rotates so every player will fill every position at some point.

To win a match a team must win three of five 25-point matches by at least a two point margin. If a fifth set is necessary, the team to score 15 points first wins.

Hopefully this tutorial will help you appreciate the game more and support the Spartans volleyball team.

Lady Spartans intend to improve mistakes for success

By Jason Gill As the women’s basketball team intends on bouncing back from a disappointing 7-22 record last season, head coach Debra Clark believes taking care of the little things first will steer the lady Spartans in the right direction.

“I just feel that if we are competitive each night and give our best effort while improving each day, we will be fine. We’ve set some statistical goals, but if we just work on the things we know we can improve, then the big things will take care of themselves,” said Clark.

Last season, the team’s two greatest weaknesses were their inability to score enough points as well as the turning the ball over. On average, the lady Spartans were outscored by their opponents by 10.5 points per game while committing just

over 20 turnovers per game.

These two areas of concern were addressed by the players.

“The girls sat down and decided on some of the things we want to do. They said we are going to average about 65 points per game, shoot at least 75 percent from the free throw line and keep our turnovers to around 12 per game,” said Clark.

Senior forward Rachel Gordon, who was the team’s leading scorer last season, is going to be relied upon to do more of the same. However, this season Clark would like her to be a bit more efficient and feels she is ready for the challenge.

“She has shown a lot of growth and improvement in her shooting. Last year she had a lot of high percentage shots that she didn’t convert,

The Women’s Basketball team prepares to turn up the heat for this upcoming season.

Photo by Tykhari Coles.

but I’m confident she will convert those this year. She’s worked extremely hard this summer and it has shown so far in workouts,” said Clark.

The coaching staff is very pleased to bring back senior guard Rae Corbo, who tore

her ACL at the beginning of last season. Corbo was the team’s leading scorer two seasons ago and Clark expects her to pick up right where she left off.

Key contributions are also expected from much im-

proved players junior center Quineshia Leonard, sophomore forward Janel Cannon and the team’s most versatile player junior forward Ebony Brown who Clark refers to as a “natural scoring machine.”

SPARTAN ECHO| Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504|NEWSROOM: 757.823.8200 E-Mail: spartanecho@nsu.edu

Spartan Lifestyle

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11.13.13

Post-graduate exam now

By Melissa Rawls In recent years, college graduates have heard time and time again that in today’s shaky economy having a degree simply isn’t enough.

Despite the years and years of rigorous academic feats, employers are now seeking a more sure fire way to determine the best candidates for the job as quickly as possible.

According to reports published in August by USA Today, the Council for Aid to Education, a non-profit organization that promotes the development of critical thinking and analytical skills, is now offering a post-graduation examination.

The Collegiate Learning Assessment Plus (CLA+) seeks to deter students from solely relying on the mastery of discipline-based information, according to the CLA+ overview statement on cae.org.

With so much emphasis put solely on cumulative grade point averages, the assessment although not a graduation requirement, does give students an additional opportunity to exhibit their skill set.

Similar to the SAT, the CLA+ is measured on a scale of 1600 and seeks to gauge students’ abilities in problem

solving, quantitative reasoning, writing and critical reasoning.

“What we’re offering to students is the opportunity to illustrate to employers that they have these skills,” said Chris Jackson, director of business development and creator of the CLA+ at the Council for Aid to Education.

Despite the obvious benefits that this assessment can provide to employers, some students find that additional post education examination devalues the prestige of earning a college degree.

“What people have to consider is the adverse effects of taking an exam like this. Granted if you do well, employers will be impressed, but if you don’t, the last thing you want is someone eliminating you from the running despite being a college graduate. I’ve always felt that the less they know about us the better.” said second year psychology and early childhood development major Will Farrell.

Although the exam is not currently apart of the Norfolk State University curriculum, interested students still have the opportunity to complete the assessment online for a fee of $35.

Interested in joining the Spartan Echo team?

We meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. in the Student Center, Rm. 344.

ALL majors welcome!

Students from the School of Education are pictured working together in an attempt to reorganize various effects. Photo from: nsu.edu/education/photo-gallery.

NSU volunteer resource center helps students give back

By Cora Nixon

Located in the Bozeman Education Building is Norfolk State’s Student Volunteer Center.

Serving as the hub for student focused community service efforts, this center provides ample opportunities for those seeking to give back and get involved.

The volunteer center has been in operation for the last seven years and has since then afforded a number of students the chance to participate in varying activities that promote both civic and social responsibility, as well as community based service learning.

Currently, the center is under the direction of Faculty Adviser Derek Vaughn, Student Coordinator Miriam Weathers and

Student Director Kyle Danzey.

Weathers describes her role as a small piece of the puzzle that helps the center to operate smoothly between faculty and students. Weathers believes that she gives a peace of mind to the faculty and students.

“I am able to help them free up their time, so the faculty does not have to seek any volunteers, and the students just come to me,” said Weathers.

The center strongly believes that the center can assist NSU in strengthening its local rapport by creating a positive outlook for the community through the volunteer center and its resources.

With a multitude of available projects, all majors are welcome to work in the center.

To date, there are a number of active organizations that have partnered with the volunteer center.

Weathers deems having volunteers as the most crucial aspect of the volunteer center.

“Without any volunteers, the volunteer center would not be as efficient and many organizations would not make it without them,” said Weathers.

The volunteer center is under the Department of Education and is formally headed by the Interim Dean of the School of Education Denis Littleton.

For those interested in volunteering, the center is open and looking to serve students Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SPARTAN ECHO| Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504|NEWSROOM: 757.823.8200 E-Mail: spartanecho@nsu.edu

11.13.13 Tough Love An advice column from a fellow Spartan

Spartan Opinion

Textbook costs are getting out of hand e d i t o r s An editorial

By Malaun House

By DeVanique Riley

It’s that time of year again: “cuffing season.” Cuffing season usually occurs during the fall and winter months when people who would normally be single, find themselves desiring a serious relationship.

I don’t mind those wanting this companionship, but we have to keep in mind that the semester is coming to an end. The focus should be on school.

Those good grades we saw at midterms have disappeared and we are left with final grades that make us wonder what happened.

Norfolk State University has a four-year graduation rate of 14 percent, which means students are not returning to school.

There are many reasons for this such as financial issues, family problems and one I’ve seen most popular, pregnancy.

I am in no way saying pregnancy isn’t a beautiful thing, but I’m certain we know people who haven’t been able to finish their education because of an untimely pregnancy.

It sounds cliché, but the focus is no longer on the books but the looks.

We come to college for many reasons and certain experiences but we all have something in common and that’s to attain that paper saying you are capable of achieving a goal also known as a degree.

It is possible to be in a relationship and do well in school. Try to find a balance if you truly want to indulge in this popular season.

7

The cost of buying books for a college education is far too expensive. In conjunction with paying tuition and room and board, the price of buying books on campus for a semester’s worth of classes should never reach $800-$1,000.

On campus, the Barnes and Noble bookstore provides students with the supplies that they need for their classes. Though having a book store on campus is very convenient, the prices are outrageous.

Often students complain that their professors will tell them that they need to buy a book and they never end up cracking the book open.

Some professors make their students buy a book just so they can use the access code that comes inside.

The university should find a more cost efficient way to provide books that are necessary for its students’ education. Some of the books in the book store are published by the university, while others come from different publishing companies; nevertheless, regardless of where the books come from, the university should be able to provide its students with a less expensive means of buying books.

Incoming freshmen usually suffer the worst, simply because they are unaware of the different ways that they can avoid buying all of their books from the overpriced bookstore. Many students buy their books from websites such as Amazon, Chegg and BookRenter for 50-80% cheaper than they

would cost in the on-campus bookstore.

If books are going to cost as much as they do, the university should offer more scholarships, grants or book stipends so that students can earn their education without having to be in debt from buying books that they will only use for four or five months or, in the case of some classes, never use at all.

This will continue to be a major issue for the students until they refuse to tolerate it any longer. The price of books on campus needs to be reduced or the university needs to offer more assistance because each semester there are students that cannot afford to buy all of their books.

Freshman tip: Choose your friends wisely

Brittany Elmore Editor-inChief

Krysta Ricks Online/ Managing Editor

Danielle Kirsh News Editor

Melissa Rawls Lifestyle Editor

Dan Adu-Gyamfi Sports Editor

By Melissa Rawls First-time college students are generally thrust into a vast realm of social freedom that can be easily overwhelming.

As an incoming freshman, I found myself wondering how I would ever be able to manage being away from home, dealing with the pressure of demanding coursework and the hassles of finding employment that catered to my school schedule.

I later found that the best way to garner the support needed to overcome many of the obstacles that college can present was to have a small, reliable network of people that you trust to look

out for your best interest.

While in high school, most students are often encouraged to make as many new friends as possible. The idea of being popular and well liked in school appears to set the tone for one’s high school experience.

Fast forward a few years to the first day of college orientation and it will be made quite clear that the likelihood of getting to “know everyone” is rather slim. Although college provides the opportunity to meet and interact with a diverse group of people, it makes the potential of identifying new friends very intimidating.

It’s been my experience that understanding the value of having just a handful of trustworthy, positive, forward-thinking comrades will prove to be one of the most valuable lessons that first-time students will learn.

When making effort to establish personal relationships it is crucial for students to surround themselves with likeminded individuals that are just as eager and focused on accomplishing similar goals.

If done correctly, the friends that you make in college will be lifelong acquaintances, so choose wisely.

DeVanique Riley Graphic Design/ Layout Editor Jules Dean Multimedia Editor

Kyna Uwaeme Entertainment Editor

SPARTAN ECHO| Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504|NEWSROOM: 757.823.8200 E-Mail: spartanecho@nsu.edu

Spartan Entertainment

8

Marvel unveils latest hero

By Trenton Fouche’

This comic book cover image released by Marvel Comics shows character Kamala Khan on the "Ms. Marvel" issue. The new monthly Ms.Marvel is debuting as part of the Company’s popular AllNewMarvel NOW! initiative. (AP Photo/Marvel Comics)

As Marvel Comics looks to diversify its offering of heroes from the prototypical caped crusader, it has decided to reconstruct one of its characters. Ms. Marvel will be Marvel’s first Muslim-American superhero to get her own starring role in a publication.

Kamala Khan is a 16-year-old teenager from New Jersey who transforms into Ms. Marvel in the debut of Marvel's new monthly comic series. The comic, which launches in January will center on her life and how she balances super-human powers and high academic expectations from her parents. Despite being a superhero, Khan shares many parallels with the average teen. “It’s for all the geek girls out there and everybody else who’s ever looked at life from the fringe,” writer G. Willow Wilson told the Associated Press.

As demographics continue to change, it is becoming a trend for comic book heroes to diversify as well. Last fall, DC Comics reproduced its “Green Lantern” series with Simon Baz, an ArabAmerican Muslim. The creative team behind the latest Ms. Mar-

vel series says Khan's Muslim background is an element of the story but not the main focus of the comic.

Despite the comic still being in its preparation stage, its writers are already prepared to deal with any backlash that may come.

“I do expect some negativity,” said one of the writers, “not only from people who are anti-Muslim, but people who are Muslim and might want the character portrayed in a particular light.”

Despite any controversy that may come from the new comic, the writers are pretty confident its message will resonate.

“I wanted Ms. Marvel to be true-to-life, something real people could relate to, particularly young women. High school was a very vivid time in my life, so I drew heavily on those experiences – impending adulthood, dealing with school, emotionally charged friendships that are such a huge part of being a teenager.”

Kamala Khan will first appear in January 2014 in an All-New Marvel NOW! Point One comic book before headlining her own "Ms. Marvel" title beginning in February.

Recording artist Miley Cyrus attends an album release signing event, on Tuesday,

Miley Cyrus debuts at number 1

By Trenton Fouche’

Oct. 8, 2013, at Planet Hollywood in New York. (Photo

by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

After a year plagued in controversy surrounding her infamous performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, Miley Cyrus has not wavered away from being one of the most prominent figures in pop-culture.

Her latest album, Bangerz, debuted at number 1 on Billboard’s top 200, selling a solid 270,000 copies in its first week, beating out Pusha T’s highly anticipated singles debut, My Name is My Name by close to 200,000 units.

This is the former Disney star’s fifth number 1 album. Her

first time at number 1 was back in 2006 with the release of the Hannah Montana soundtrack.

Far removed from her days as a Disney star, Cyrus seems to have moved in a completely new direction musically.

"I have been gone for a few years, where I wasn't doing anything and I wasn't working … So now it feels like all that work in the studio did pay off,” said Cyrus.

The singer expects to start touring sometime early next year.

Zulu Child: The next big thing

By Shanay Mosely

Zulu Child performing back in 2011. Photo by Shanay Mosely.

Standing at 6’7”, Joshua “Josh” Mwamlima already stands out among his peers.

However, these days his height isn’t the only thing getting him noticed. Known as Zulu Child, the aspiring music producer is a senior at ODU, majoring in music business and production.

His stage name, which was influenced by his African heritage, serves great meaning to him and his musical work.

“I did my research and apparently the Zulu nation was kind of the forefront for the begin-

ning of the hip-hop movement, especially up in Brooklyn,” said Zulu Child. The “Child” in his name represents to him as being a student of music.

Musical artists such as Outkast, Shaday and Prince, all serve as influences in the music he makes, along with musical producers Quincy Jones, Timberland and Pharrell.

Zulu Child composes, produces and writes songs. He also plays several instruments such as guitar, bass, drums and a bit of the piano. He describes his music as energetic, fun, and “deep… sometimes.” With the different uses of sounds, his music is one of a kind.

“You’re supposed to use certain chords for R&B. I would switch that up; or use certain sounds for trap music, I’d switch that up,” said Zulu Child.

Visit www.spartanecho. org/2013/11/zulu-child-thenext-big-thing/ for the whole story.

11.13.13 Eminem releases new album Marshall Mathers LP 2.

By Kyna Uwaeme After a brief musical hiatus, Aftermath artist Eminem released his eighth studio album Nov. 5 entitled, Marshall Mathers LP 2. It follows his 2010 album Recovery, where he addressed his addiction to sleeping pills that almost killed him and leading him to rehab in 2005.

Recovery broke records becoming the first album to sell one million digital copies in the United States.

Eminem surprised his fans with the announcement of the official release date at the MTV VMA’s. He released the single “Bezerk”; a sample of the 1981 hit song “The Stroke” by Billy Squier’s, shortly after. Despite the album’s title, it will not be a sequel of his 2000 release Marshall Mathers LP. "Calling it the Marshall Mathers LP 2, obviously I knew that there might be certain expectations. I wouldn't want to call it that just for the sake of calling it that. I had to make sure that I had the right songs – and just when you think you got it, you listen and you're like, 'Fuck, man! I feel like it needs this or that,' to paint the whole picture," said Eminem in an interview with Rolling Stone.

Notorious for his profane lyrics, the Detroit rapper recently took heat for a controversial verse in his track, “Rap God” featured on the album, containing homophobic slurs. The album produced by Dr. Dre and Rick Rubin, who also helped produce Kanye’s Yeezus, features collaborations with Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Skylar Grey and others.

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