In This Issue:
Devan Roberts hopes future NFL career brings safety to his family. See page 6 for the story.
Former Miss FAMU returns to campus to present a gift to Black Archives. To read more, view page 4.
News ....... 1, 3 Calendar .... 2 Lifestyles .... 4 Opinions ..... 5 Special......... 6
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Wednesday, March 6, 2013
From hazing to manslaughter Twelve now charged with death of Champion, new charge carries up to a 15 year sentence Donald Remy & Terrence Davis Correspondents Twelve former Florida A&M students’ felony charges have been upgraded to second-degree manslaughter, stemming from the Robert Champion hazing incident. The State Attorney’s Office made the decision to upgrade the charges. In May 2012, ten of the defendants were charged with third-degree felony hazing for the death of the 26-year-old drum major. Two defense attorneys working on the case said the media knew about the changes before they did. Reporters informed the attorneys about their clients’ charges being upgraded prior to the State Attorney’s Office announcement. Carlus Haynes, attorney for Shawn Turner, said he was preparing to fight the felony hazing
charges before learning of the new manslaughter charge. “I have tried murder, attempted murder cases and know what manslaughter is,” Haynes said, “I don’t believe this rises to that level.” Haynes said his client is distraught about the ordeal and believes his client deserves a plea deal for his limited involvement. Haynes also said he is going to attempt to file a motion to have the new charges dismissed. W. Craig Lawson, attorney for Harold Finley, speculated that the two defendants who pleaded guilty earlier in the case might have had something to do with his client’s more serious charges. “Those two co-defendants might have made a proffer to the state attorney as part of their plea deal they CHAMPION, see page 2
The Famuan File Photo Sixteen months after Champion’s hazing death, two other students have been charged.
News Briefs Alumna and Retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. Pia Woodley to Keynote Honors Convocation
Topic of discussion: Do you think the charges against 12 former band members should have been increased to manslaughter?
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida A&M (FAMU) will host its annual Honors Convocation Thursday, March 28 at 11 a.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium. Alumna and retired Navy Lt. Cmdr Pia Woodley will serve as the keynote speaker. Currently, Woodley is an adjunct professor in the FAMU School of Allied Health Sciences.
Florida finds evidence of voter registration fraud TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Two employees of a company once aligned with the Republican Party of Florida admitted to law-enforcement authorities that they forged voter registration forms. It’s the first result in a far-reaching voter fraud investigation that was launched last fall at the urging of the party after election supervisors started flagging questionable applications.
Victoria McKnight Staff Writer
Autumn Bell, first-year broadcast journalism student from Tampa.
“ I believe so because they went a step too far. They did cost somebody [their] they life. ”
Robbery motive in triple Wyo. killing
CODY, Wyo. (AP) — Two teens charged in a triple homicide in a small Wyoming town told investigators they stole a trove of handguns from a gun store and days later planned to flee the state by stealing an SUV, leading to the slayings of its owner and her elderly parents. Stephen Hammer, 19, and Tanner Vanpelt, 18, made their first court appearance Tuesday
Venezuela’s Chavez dies, officials call for unity
WEATHER
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Some in anguish, some in fear, Venezuelans raced for home on Tuesday after the government announced the death of President Hugo Chavez, the firebrand socialist who led the nation for 14 years. Vice President Nicolas Maduro’s appeared on national television to announce that Chavez died at 4:25 p.m.
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Group urges state to wake up
Lidia Joseph, second-year political science student from Miami.
“ I don’t know how to feel about that. Like, fifteen years is a lot. I don’t know how I feel about that, I think that’s a pretty serious thing. ”
Tracari Laster, third-year chemistry student from Orlando.
Tamahi Pollock, first-year criminal justice student from Miami.
“ I don’t think they should change the charges from hazing to manslaughter because it wasn’t.. something that was done in a negative demeanor. It was an accident. ”
“ I think they should be tried with manslaughter because they killed somebody and he attended school here and what they did was really wrong. ”
Bill may eliminate red light cameras Taheem Willimason Correspondent Tallahassee’s red light cameras have some students fed up with the state’s passive policing. According to law enforcement officials, violators paid about $51 million in fines last year. Aniska Dawes, a third-year health student from Miami, said she has received multiple citations from the red light cameras. “I got two tickets last year and another one back home over the break,” said Dawes, who’s received more than $500 worth of citations. “I’m praying it doesn’t happen again.” A bill recently sponsored by Rep. Daphne Campbell of Miami, which would repeal the law that put the cameras to use in 2010 and ban the cameras if passed, may answer her prayers. So far, the bill has been voted on 10-8 by a House committee, detailing how torn lawmakers are on the issue. The bill must make it to the Senate floor for voting. Similar proposed bills have failed to make it this far. A report by state law enforcement released last year found that 41 of the 73 agencies involved said accidents are less frequent
at intersections using red-light cameras. According to Talgov.com, violations at the intersection of Tennessee and Monroe streets have dropped from 400 per day to 15 since the camera’s installation. Michelle Bono, assistant to the city manager, said the city’s goal is not to give people tickets but to deter them from running red lights. “From the data we have, we’ve seen a 22 percent decrease in accidents,” Bono said. Complaints that the cameras are deliberately placed in low-income areas have also recently come to light. There are arguments about whether the system is in place for safety or revenue. An audit released by the city showed that of the $158 fine issued to violators, $83 goes to the state while the rest is split between the city and the camera company. Robert Horne, a Tallahassee resident, said he received a citation after his girlfriend was caught by cameras in November. He said his problem with the program is that instead of ticketing the driver, car owners are ticketed, even if they did not commit the violation. “If they’re going to send me a ticket in the RED LIGHTS, see page 2
The state of Florida has been asked to wake up. More than 100 people gathered in front of the Capitol building, demanding that lawmakers address important issues. “Whose building is this?” asked Mike Williams, president of the largest labor union in the nation, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, as he stood in front of the Capitol. The crowd shouted, “Our building.” Monday was the first day of the legislative session. “Awake the State” is a movement designed to get citizens involved in the laws that are being considered, revised and created on Capitol Hill. The theme at this year’s rally was “free the vote,” which was inspired by last year’s election. New voter laws have triggered a lot of controversy among voters. Early voting days were cut, identification standards were changed and many people felt their rights to vote were being attacked. T.J. Legacy-Cole, a student at Florida A&M who spoke at the rally, believes that students have power. “Awake the State is about empowerment,” he said. “It’s about the different organizations, the Dream Defenders and labor unions empowering each other and empowering the state of Florida.” Aside from voting laws, issues such as domestic violence, education funds and a reform of the “cradle to prison” mentality were addressed at the rally. The Dream Defenders, Sisterhood of Survivors, labor unions and private citizens held bright signs and drew loud, supportive car horns from people driving down Monroe Street. Ion Sancho, Leon County’s supervisor of elections, got the crowd rowdy with his speech. Sancho said lawmakers ignored his recommendations and cancelled early voting, which resulted in too many voters with too few polls. “Elections that we had in 2006 to 2008 were the best elections we ever had,” Sancho said. “Let’s get back to that standard and not the standard that RALLY, see page 2
2. Calendar
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2013
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Announcements March 6 Innovation Matters will have a meeting at 7 p.m. in the School of Business and Industry’s East Wing in room 420. For more information, contact Jeremie Johnson at 334-414-1768. Voices and the Office of Student Activities present “Poetry In The Den” at 7 p.m. in the Rattlers Den. FAMU’s Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band will host a concert at 8 p.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium. Admission is free of charge. For more information, contact 850599-3024.
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Classifieds March 7 The Office of Student Activities presents “Thursday Night Cinema” at 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom The women of SISTUHS, Inc. will be hosting a workout event entitled “Tighten Up!” at 8 p.m. in the Phase 3 Assembly Room. Check out @ FAMU_SISTUHS99 for more info. The Eternal Legendary Queens, Inc. informational has been canceled for Thursday evening. If you have any questions or concerns, contact them at: elq1999@gmail. com.
CHAMPION, from page 1.
received,” Lawson said. “Maybe this is why the state attorney upgraded the charges to second-degree manslaughter.” Lawson said he doesn’t know why the state attorney’s office elevated his client’s charges, but he plans on thoroughly investigating what the two prior defendants discussed and contents of their plea deal. “We were trying to work something out on the hazing charge, “ he said. “Now that my client charges went from facing five years to 15 years, I’m not happy with the situation, but it’s within the state attorney’s office to do that.” In addition, two new defendants are now charged in Champion’s death but
The Alpha Chapter of Kappa Psi Psi Healthcare Sorority, Inc. and the Gamma Chi Chapter presents “Arrive Alive” seminar on Thursday, March 7th at 7:00 p.m. in B.L. Perry room 100. Come learn about how to have fun and be safe during spring break. For more information please contact Jayme Rentz at 305-7900750. If you have an announcement that you want added to the calendar email famuancalendar.@ gmail.com
March 8 FAMU TV 20 will be airing its new fashion news show “Where’s The Fashion?” every Friday night at 10 p.m. The show will be available on Comcast channel 20. TV 20 is currently looking for a male student to host a developing TV show to inform students on what’s going on with SGA, Campus Life and politics. For more info email Victoria McKnight at McKnightvictoria@ymail. com All announcement submissions should be no more than 60 characters
Employment Bartenders Wanted!! $250/day potential. No experience necessary. Training provided age 18+ okay. Call: 800-965-6520 ext. 189. Why rent when you can buy this 2br/1bath with 701 s.f. completely renovated home with new ceramic tile floors, insulated windows, vinyl siding & new kitchen! $15,100 below appraisal. Now only $49,900! Off Lake Bradford Road between FSU and FAMU. Owner/Realtor 850-878-3957.
SPRING BREAK GETAWAY March 8-15 Panama City Beach Wyndham Vacation Resorts 14700 Front Beach Road One Bedroom deluxe with pullout Queen sofa(sleeps 6) Two Bathrooms,Beach Front Room, Full Kitchen, Washer/Dryer,Balcony Cost: $900.00 Contact No. 850-443-8558
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have yet to be arrested. Although other media outlets have named the two suspects, the State Attorney’s Office has not officially confirmed the two individuals. Students on campus have felt the negative attention and atmosphere concerning Champion’s death firsthand. Travis Brooks, a junior psychology student from Brooksville, Fla., said the campus is no longer upbeat as it once was and that everyone seems to be depressed. “I don’t believe defendants should be facing such serious charges,” Brooks said, “I believe that they (state attorneys) should just dive into the case a little bit more and not settle necessarily for manslaughter conviction.”
RED LIGHTS, from page 1.
mail, how can they prove I was driving,” asked Horne, who paid half of the fine for his girlfriend. If the bill makes it to the Senate floor for voting, it could still be months before any changes appear. “Most new laws take effect in the state of Florida July 1 of each year,” Bono said. “But that would be an issue for the Legislature. The city wouldn’t have any say in that.”
Jorge Rodriguez-Jimenez/The Famuan The Florida legislature is debating a bill that will bring an end to the red light cameras installed throughout the state.
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Alvin McBean/The Famuan Students and Tallahassee residents marched to the capitol to show the state legislatures that they seek change on key issues and bills being discussed.
RALLY, from page 1.
was set in 2012.” Ralph Wilson, a student at Florida State University and speaker on behalf of its Progress Coalition, warned the crowd about inactivity. Wilson began his speech with a summary statement. “Everything that’s brought all of us here today is because private interests are working over the public good,” Wilson said. Like Wilson, members of Congress spoke at the rally and urged voters and lawmakers to do what’s right.
Sen. Chris Smith said lawmakers have the opportunity to give raises to workers who haven’t received a raise since 2007. The audience at the Capitol was mostly students. Daniel Cordero, an environmental engineering student at FSU, said he’s on the Dream Defenders’ mailing list and got a call to support them at the Capitol. Cordero held a “Pink Slip Rick Sign” that he found on the ground and said he usually attends the rally. “If you feel like it’s been a long fight, there’s no reason to stop fighting,” Cordero said.
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BARRY LAW:
Legal education with a conscience
“BARRY gave me the opportunity to pursue my goals and dreams. I was drawn to the school’s strong mission and commitment to excellence. Now that I have my own law practice, I am very thankful for everything BARRY has provided me.” — Eric V. Hires, Esq. The Law Office of Eric V. Hires, LLC
ORLANDO, FLORIDA
www.barry.edu/FAMU Barry University School of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (Section of Legal Education & Admissions to the Bar, ABA, 321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738).
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4 Lifestyles
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Students anticipate spring break amazing things, and I have big expectations.” However, not all students will be lounging on the beach during the break. Justin Rivers, a junior criminal justice student from Marianna, Fla., said his spring break festivities will include volunteering, returning to his hometown and catching up on rest and homework. “This year, I will not be going all out for spring break,” Rivers said. “With my class workload and my part-time job, I’ll probably spend my break at home. Any time that I can get a break away from school or work will be time well spent.”
Andrea Nunn Correspondent
G
yms are overflowing with students and mannequins are dressed in swimwear in retail stores, signaling that it’s almost spring break. For some students, such as Sherita Joe, a sophomore biology student from Atlanta, spring break will be a much-needed vacation from classes. “The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear spring break is sunny weather, bathing suits and crazy memories,” Joe said. “I put all my energy into studying, going to class and work-study. I’m ready for a vacation. I can smell the beach water and feel the sand on my feet.” After years of coordinating spring breaks for thousands of college students nationwide and partnering with MTV to produce hit spring break events, Student City Regional Manager Arnie Jimenez offers students advice on how to prepare.
“Most people don’t know where to start,” Jimenez said. “Students don’t realize that spring break comes around so quickly. Transportation, gas and hotel accommodations are some of the main factors that students should calculate in order to get the best summation of what it will cost for the spring break experience.”
Preparations are being made to ensure spring break is memorable this year. Students such as Tyniya Weaver, a sophomore health care management student from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., plan to flock to the beach. “My first spring break, I went back home,” Weaver said. “This year, I want to go to Panama City, Fla. I have heard a lot of
The Famuan would like to know how you spent your spring break. Send photos and descriptions to famuanphotography@ gmail.com
Former Miss FAMU returns to the ‘Hill’ Cromartie presents Black Archives with quilt
Faith McIver/The Famuan NaKena Cromartie and Interim President Larry Robinson present a student-made quilt to be displayed in the Black Archives.
Faith McIver Correspondent
N
aKena Cromartie, Florida A&M’s 105th Miss FAMU, came back to campus Friday to complete her final platform point on her 2011-12 agenda. Cromartie presented a quilt to the Black Archives Research Center and Museum. She believes the quilt epitomizes FAMU’s label as the “college of love and charity.” Elizabeth Dawson, director of the Black Archives, members of FAMU’s royal court, Interim President Larry Robinson and other students and faculty gathered to help Cromartie display the art.
Robinson expressed his joys of Cromartie’s return to finish what she began two years ago. “I believe that this is an indication of a great work from one of our students who shows her commitment to the campus,” Robinson said. “NaKena Cromartie, who has matriculated on but still felt it imperative to complete her platform, depicts the type of dedicated students we have here on campus.” The donated quilt was a collective “act of love” among the student body, faculty and staff of the university, as well as an act of charity to the historical Black Archives to continue to add value to the university’s history. “The final result of putting together this quilt took over 60 hours of woman power, hundreds of quilt squares, thousands of safety pins, 6,600
yards of thread, 1,800 feet of material and more markers than a fifth grade classroom,” Cromartie said. Larry Polynice, the current Mr. FAMU said Cromartie has done more than she had planned to. “For her to come back to the university after over a year removed from her title in order to finish her platform makes me believe she is one of the best Miss FAMU’s I have seen,” Polynice said. Prior to becoming Miss FAMU, Cromartie reached out to Dawson about donating a quilt to the Black Archives during the fall of her senior year. During that time, she had no idea that she would be contending for a spot as Miss FAMU the next spring.
During her campaign, she wanted to offer a way for students to connect with FAMU and share their love for the institution. “It was also important for me to create a way for the student body to leave something significant behind after their time on ‘the Hill,’” Cromartie said. “So keeping those things in mind, I decided to use my talent and passion for quilting to make a quilt that all Rattlers can claim a piece of.” The quilt is comprised of 288 squares and measures out to be 16-by-18. Cromartie hopes the quilt will continue to preserve the legacy of the Black Archives’ founder, James N. Eaton, the students, the university and the reign of Miss FAMU 2011-12. “The build of a quilt is so significant to me because it gives me glimpse into the lives and creativity of other African-American quilters during the era of slavery,” she said. “Quilts are deeper than just utilizing them to give warmth to a body during cold times. It is more than just putting a few stitches and patches together. I try to tell a story through all my quilts, as was done during the Underground Railroad.” Khala Adams, a third-year political science pre-law student from Accokeek, Md., said it was inspiring to meet a woman like Cromartie, who continues to work hard for the university. “With the school going through so much, it is refreshing to see a person so humble continue to give back to their alma mater,” Adams said. Cromartie believes that with humility and dedication, the impossible is possible. She wants the university to know that her “Excellence with Cromartie” platform was not taken lightly. “I campaigned and told the students that I would not sell them a dream, and I did not,” she said. “I completed 100 percent of my platform.”
Wise beyond my fears Staci Cook’s words of wisdom for everyday life
A low cut into our attachments
Staci Cook Columnist
W
earing a “boy cut” sure has its advantages. I walked into the barbershop today, the usual hip-hop tunes were on the sound system and men of all ages were walking back and forth between barber chairs and the waiting area. I immediately sat down to wait my turn, just like any other patron. OK, before going any further, let me tell you this: When I go to the barbershop, I always wear the grungiest clothes – sweatpants, a pullover hoodie and gym shoes, the whole “I’m not here for male attention” look. Usually my decision to dress way down works like a charm. I go in, no one says anything aside “hi” and “goodbye” and I get my cut and
leave. Today had to be difficult, though. Midway through my customary haircut and low-level trash-talk about a recent Miami Heat game, I hear someone ask, “Why are you still single? “Let me guess. You gay now? I see you done cut off all yo hair.” He was some guy I’d seen once or twice around town, and when I did I would quickly take an alternate route. However, today he’d caught me 10 minutes into my 20 minute boy cut, so as the only woman in the room, I knew I had to say something. Apparently he wasn’t the only one curious to know my relationship status, because just after he put me on blast, the entire noisy maledominated barbershop went quiet. Unable to turn my head in his direction, gritting my teeth with my mouth and eyes rolled shut, I coldly asked from behind my barber, “What makes you think I’m single?” He replied, “I mean, shoot, I don’t see a ring on your finger.” I asked him what he meant. “I can’t be taken unless I’m wearing a ring?” He then went on to say something else crazy. Desperate to cut the conversation short, I calmly said: “Yes, you’re right. I’m not married, but I am in a relationship. And no, my hair isn’t short because I’m a lesbian.” He could tell by my tone I was finished
with the conversation, so he just simply replied, “That’s what it is then?” and left me alone. Usually, I wouldn’t give such an encounter a second thought. I run into his type all the time, mad because a woman has the audacity to prefer a man with decent clothes on, one who actually speaks to her in complete sentences. For some strange reason, though, the exchange between the man and I bothered me. Could this ill-mannered guy have been on to something? As a girlfriend of several years with no ring, should I still consider myself taken? Should the girl who’s with a guy for a few years consider him a husband? Or were Beyoncé and the man from the barbershop on to something? If a man really likes it, must he really put a ring on it? My day at the barbershop really had me thinking about my indefinite relationship status. After hours of wrestling with the dilemma, I came to a conclusion. I developed a new philosophy as it relates to serious relationships. I believe all relationships should have expiration dates, a certain time limit put in place to prevent two people from wasting each other’s time, time that could be being spent in search of the real thing. I believe there’s an optimal mate out there for everyone. In relationships, too long a term of uncertainty is often nothing more than a
steamy encounter two people allowed to go on way too long. How will we ever find our soul mates being with Mr. Wrong? This honestly applies to anything we might want in life, be it a job, affiliations, living habits, you name it. What we have to realize is attachments are real. Every year you spend doing something is like stapling yourself to a metaphorical wall. With every passing year, the attachment grows, making the bond difficult to break. When this occurs in relationships of the romantic type, the two people remain intact, not because they are meant to be but because they’ve allowed themselves to become severely attached. Nonetheless, we must accept the fact that there exists a serious difference between becoming severely attached and being where you are truly meant to be. Sounds like we devoutly single, or not so single, women have a lot of thinking to do. Staci Cook is a junior public relations student from Tallahassee. Her goal is to found three service organizations in the areas of education, entrepreneurship and health and fitness. She plans to write self-help books and travel the world as a faith-based motivational speaker. Cook is currently writing her first book entitled,“STACI: Seeing Things As Christ Intends!”
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Are you preparing for the future? Kenya Mawusi & Eric Winkfield Staff Writers We come to college because we want to better our chances to get a high-paying job, but when we get here, are we preparing ourselves to obtain one? Every time I wake up past 9 a.m., I feel like I’ve wasted two hours, simply because I could have gotten more done if I woke up at 7 a.m. If I were a regular student who was not involved in extracurricular activities, then I could have stayed out all night, partied and not feel as bad as I do. I don’t want people to think I am singling anyone out or
bad-mouthing anyone, but true students know the importance of joining organizations within their major because participating in those activities will help improve their chosen craft. And for your information, just going to class isn’t going to cut it. Employers want to see what you’ve done outside the classroom. It’s crazy to have the highest GPA but not have the slightest idea about how to apply what you’ve learned. Personally, as a graphic design student with a minor in public relations, I found it in my best interest to join organizations such as The Famuan and Prodigy Public Relations Firm, and I have had
internships in both fields to gain more experience. I actually joined these organizations to see if I even enjoyed the craft I chose for myself. Is it something that I could see myself doing for the rest of my life, or is it just a stepping-stone to a different career? There are so many organizations, and they fall under different categories. For example, there are community service organizations, dance/ modeling troupes, two different choirs – depending on what you prefer, and then there’s academic organizations and specialty organizations (i.e. the Anime Club and the Arts Club). With all these organizations, there is no way each and every
student at FAMU couldn’t find something that tickles his or her fancy productively. I’m not gloating or trying to place myself on a pedestal, but I want my peers to wake up and realize that nothing is going to be given to us. We have to work for what we want. But am I saying to join every organization on campus? No. I’m saying, as minorities, we need to stop waiting for things to be spoon-fed to us and get up and work for what we really want. If you spend your college career doing the bare-minimum, when graduation comes, you will get bare-minimum results. So take this criticism and #dobetter.
Look for the solution in Friday’s online edition
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Editor-in-Chief: thefamuaneic@gmail.com Angie Meus Managing Editor: thefamuanme@gmail.com Jorge Rodriguez-Jimenez Copy Desk Chief: thefamuancopydesk@gmail.com Nolan McCaskill Copy Editor: Asia Johnson Copy Editor: Donovan Harrell News Editor: famuannews@gmail.com Jorge Rodriguez-Jimenez Lifestyles Editor: famuanlifestyles@gmail.com Domonique Davis Deputy Lifestyles Editor: Ayanna Young Deputy Sports Editor: thefamuansports@gmail.com Morgan Culler Opinions Editor: famuanopinions@gmail.com Angie Meus Visuals Editor & Online Editor: famuanvisuals@gmail.com Kenya Mawusi Page Designer: Tempest Williams Page Designer: Allen Goodrum Page Desginer: Randall Gines
It’s time to end
the search Aishah Walker-Brown Correspondent
Enough is enough. The search for a new band director has gone on for too long. It is time for Florida A&M to get the search over with. I understand FAMU is trying to find someone suitable for the position, but it should not take this long, and a second search is unnecessary. As a band member, I think a second search is ridiculous. I did not see anything wrong with the four candidates chosen last semester. Why not just pick from the other three? When I spoke to my fellow band members, they were not that excited about the candidate who was not an alumnus of the university. It is only right to choose someone who was a Rattler rather than someone who went to a different school because their experiences aren’t the same. We would not want him to change the FAMU tradition. There are some of us who think there is a person who already deserves the band director position – Shelby Chipman. It is not just us band members who feel this way. Some students also agree that we may as well just choose. That way, this prolonged search will end and a lot of time will be saved. It is not because we are used to Chipman that we would want him as director. Most of us had never met him until we came to FAMU. We just feel he is best for the position because he knows what the band needs based on experience. Although my high school band director was among one of the candidates, I would honestly rather choose Chipman. Many of you may not understand, but I feel like he is the only one who can put the band where it needs to be and not where it used to be.
Do you think
the twelve former band members should face
manslaughter charges?
It is no secret that homosexuality is becoming increasingly accepted in society and mainstream media and I have never given much thought to why or how. This topic never crossed my mind until I was asked directly. I never expected to be asked this question and I was unsure where to start. To me, it is what it is. One relationship does not affect the other. Unless two men or two women are having sex in a public park with children around, it really should not matter. Then I remembered a meme I have seen a few times circulating around the Internet and social media. The meme has two photos, one on top and one on bottom. The bottom photo is a black an white image of people protesting biracial marriages and the accompanying photo is a modern day anti same-sex marriage rally. “Imagine how stupid you are going to look in 40 years.” That is all the meme says and I think it is powerful. Coupled with
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A. No; that’s too much B. Yes; do the crime, pay the time C. I’m not sure
GROWING ACCEPTANCE IS PART OF HISTORY Jorge Rodriguez-Jimenez
Public Relations & Social Media Coordinator: famuancalendar@gmail.com Eric Winkfield
the images of biracial and anti same-sex marriage protesters, it draws a striking comparison of misunderstanding bridging two generations. The anti-bullying campaign and the senseless suicides that have plagued the younger lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community have had an impact on the mindset. Many organizations have come out against anti-gay sentiment including the No H8 campaign, the Trevor Project and The Humanity Project. According to a 2012 Gallup survey, the moral acceptance of homosexuality is at 54 percent and the moral acceptability of gay relations a support of gay marriage also at 54 percent. The acceptance of both have shown an increase in support. This also comes down to the age old explanation that the mindset of the younger generation is always more liberal than the older generation. In the 1960s, many people were out in protest of biracial marriage only to have the thing they dreaded most happen. After biracial marriages were legalized, nothing happened that warranted the pre-legalization paranoia. I think this is going to be the same thing that will happen with same-sex marriage is legalized. After years of panicked rallies and endless fundraising to prevent what some see as an end-of-the-world catastrophe, people while realize, in time, how dumb they really look. Hindsight is always 20/20.
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6 Sports
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2013
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MOVING THE CHAINS DEVAN ROBERTS’ DRIVE TO SUCCESS
101 TACKLES 2 INTERCEPTIONS 1 FUMBLE RECOVERY
8.5 TACKLES/LOSS 3 SACKS 2 FORCED FUMBLES 1 BLOCKED KICK
Nolan McCaskill Copy Desk Chief A chunk of concrete block lay near bits and pieces of shattered glass. A laptop, a pair of Jordan sneakers and two 14-karat gold necklaces – one bearing a heart-shaped pendant that read “No. 1 Mom” – were missing. But the offender was responsible for more than just burglary and third-degree grand larceny. Neighbors said they saw smoke coming from a house, but none of its residents were home, so they notified authorities and alerted the homeowner. And after Devan Roberts received the phone call from his father that August morning in 2008, he rushed to his Ocala, Fla., home – a home, to his surprise, surrounded by yellow caution tape. “As I pulled up to the front of my house,” said Roberts, now a junior strong safety on Florida A&M’s football team, “like half of it was gone.” An officer from the Ocala Police Department reported heavy smoke damage throughout the residence and heavy fire damage in the kitchen area – a result of the final offense: first-degree arson. Roberts broke down at the sight of his mother overflowing with tears outside of what had been her home just a few hours prior. “I think about that often,” Roberts said. “I feel like that’s motivation for me to get my family somewhere better, so that’s why I just continue to keep playing football and take it as far as I can.” After the fire, Roberts had nothing left from his home – nothing to show for all the hours he worked at WinnDixie that summer, nothing to evoke the memories of his childhood, nothing to wear the next day.
Forward progress Roberts and his parents moved in with his grandmother, who lived nearby. But the transition was tough. As many as eight people would cram into the threebedroom home: Roberts, his parents, grandparents and sometimes three younger cousins. But while others occupied the bedrooms, Roberts was limited to a couch. “With me being in the front room, I had to wait ‘til everybody got done watching TV at night, no matter how tired I was, before I could go to sleep,” said Roberts, who often came to the house tired from 10-hour days at school that included early-morning weightlifting sessions and strenuous football practices. “I really never got a good night’s sleep for about three months.” To avoid the painful drive through his neighborhood, Roberts also resided with friends and his former ninth grade football coach, Jody Phillips. He stayed with Phillips, mostly on the weekends, for about a month. Roberts needed to clear his mind because he sought vengeance for who destroyed his family’s home. With Phillips, Roberts was in a neighborhood where he didn’t have to worry anymore. He was in an environment where making sure the front door was locked wasn’t a priority. It was “like a new lifestyle.”
Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo Florida A&M junior strong safety Devan Roberts catches his first career interception in a game against Oklahoma University on Sept. 8, 2012.
and mature. And he thought I was just going to be another product of my environment.” After coming so close to missing his last season, it wasn’t until Roberts heard “you could be something” that he began to approach it seriously. The beliefs others had in Roberts inspired him to work harder. That summer he began believing in himself, too. Sporting a weight vest with a speed parachute attached to his waist, he would dash up hills, determined to get faster. And he would push himself in the weight room, increasing his bench press to more than 270 pounds that year, determined to get stronger.
Fresh set of downs
False start Admittedly, it was hard for Roberts, a starting junior cornerback for the Forest High School Wildcats, to focus on football after the fire. Even so, the Wildcats began that season 3-0. Then they traveled to Gainesville, Fla., to play the .500 Eastside Rams. After the first quarter Forest trailed 13-3, but a few players, including Roberts, didn’t seem to care. “They had a good band,” Roberts recalled with laughter. “And after a deficit, we pretty much stopped caring about the game, even though we still had three more quarters to play. “My lack of focus, it showed because I got scored on that game. It was more of, ‘Oh, I don’t care because I have another year and this and that,’ but it shouldn’t have been like that.” The Wildcats lost that game 42-23 and finished the season 8-2, missing the playoffs because of key district losses. Roberts ended his season with 23 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. But soon after the season’s disappointing end, Roberts was able to return to his home, which was rebuilt at the same location, in mid-December.
Unsportsmanlike conduct It was the summer before his senior campaign. Skill players were outside running routes and practicing defensive coverages on the practice field before they went inside the field house to lift weights. But when that time came, Roberts and a teammate decided to go home instead. Then-head coach David Hodges, fed up with their antics and behavior, called both players into the office the next day and almost deprived them of their opportunities to play their final season. “I fooled around,” Roberts admitted. “I made jokes and maybe got on the coaches’ nerves, but I never felt like it was to the point where the coach would want to kick us off the team and felt like I wouldn’t be an asset.” Florida High School Athletic Association bylaws would have prevented Roberts from competing at another school had he tried to transfer. FHSAA bylaw 9.3.2 dictated that “a student who transfers from one school to another will not be eligible at the new school until the beginning of the next school year,” unless the athlete met any of four exceptions, which Roberts did not. His dreams of playing Division I football were almost shattered. And, in hindsight, Roberts felt that Hodges, who declined to comment, never did what he could to help him get to the college level. Ashour Peera, Forest’s former offensive coordinator, said some coaches didn’t like Roberts’ attitude from his first year on varsity and felt like they would have to “put up with him” rather than coach him. But Roberts felt differently. “He didn’t believe in me,” he said of Hodges. “He thought that I wasn’t going to be able to maintain myself, grow up
interception and a 95-yard kickoff for touchdowns against the eventual district champions. “I think he was very well suited for the safety position,” Wagner said. “The way we played the secondary, he adapted to it really well. He had attention to detail and accepted the coaching and suggestions that I had for him and seemed to work very hard at that.” Roberts was named to Marion County’s all-county first team and Florida’s class 6A all-state second team. He led the county with seven interceptions, returning two for touchdowns, and added 69 tackles and one forced fumble in nine games. Offensively, he caught seven passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. And, averaging 32.5 yards per kick return and 20.8 yards per punt return, Roberts returned two kicks and two punts for touchdowns in his breakout season.
Courtesy: Ocala Photos Roberts escaping a tackle on his way to the endzone in a high school game during his senior season.
Fourth-down conversion Roberts seemingly found his niche senior year. He was converted to safety, played wide receiver and was given the opportunity to return kicks and punts. Listed at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, he had the physical dimensions to excel, and he did. Peera said Roberts “ended up becoming one of the best return guys we’ve ever had.” He made big catches, snagged interceptions and made clutch tackles on defense and special teams. “I think he finally kind of put everything aside and stopped worrying about what people were saying about him and just started playing football,” Peera began, “and ended up becoming a good leader and really matured as a young man, not just a high school kid.” Mike Wagner, Forest’s defensive backs coach, said Roberts made a lot of sophomoric mistakes, like all players do. But, to his credit, he listened to the coaching he was given. The game against Orange Park High School in Jacksonville, Fla., stands out in Wagner’s memory. That game, he believes, is when Roberts “finally put all the pieces together.” Roberts scored both of Forest’s touchdowns in a 36-14 loss and finished with nine tackles. He returned a 22-yard
Roberts scribbled his signature across his National Letter of Intent to play football at FAMU on National Signing Day, the first Wednesday in February when high school seniors can begin officially committing themselves to college programs. The recruiting process was “eye-opening” for Roberts. It got to a point where he’d have a letter from a different college sitting in his locker almost every day before practice. But not many schools followed up. “I often wondered was that because of my play or because of my high school coach,” he said. According to Roberts, the FAMU recruiting coordinator almost didn’t come to inquire about him. Roberts said a coach at North Marion High School referred the recruiter to Forest, telling him that the Wildcats had a safety he may want to look at. And, although he received other offers from Division I programs, Roberts couldn’t refuse FAMU. “When I came on a visit, I had a great time, met the coaches and I felt like Florida A&M could be a place where I could strive to be a better player,” he said. So after graduating from Forest with honors, Roberts came to Tallahassee later that summer. All of the accolades and accomplishments he accumulated in high school were now irrelevant. He was a freshman again and had to work his way onto the field. Roberts contributed nine tackles in 11 games during his freshman season for the Rattlers. In his sophomore season, he tallied 31 tackles and blocked a kick. His junior year, in a starting role, he finished the season as the Rattlers’ third-leading tackler with 59. He had 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Roberts was also tied for team leads with two interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. His two interceptions came in two of the biggest games last season. Against the No. 5 Oklahoma University Sooners with 85,000 fans screaming inside Memorial Stadium, Roberts intercepted a pass from Landry Jones, the Big 12’ all-time leader in passing yards. The Rattlers were in cover two, he remembered. The Sooners lined up with four wide receivers: two left and two right. He saw OU’s leading receiver Kenny Stills developing a post route, and the ball sailed deep. “It just fell right into my hands,” Roberts said. “The whole crowd was silenced. It went from can’t even hearing the play call to hearing a pin drop in the stadium. That was a great feeling.” In the Atlanta Classic, a televised game against Southern University, 41,000 fans were in attendance. Inside the Georgia Dome, an NFL stadium, Roberts found himself on the stage where he hopes to compete in a couple of years. He made a statement from the first defensive snap, forcing a fumble that led to a FAMU touchdown. And after a teamhigh nine tackles, a forced fumble and an interception, Roberts was voted as the Rattlers’ MVP of the game.
Read the rest of Devan Roberts’ drive to success online at: www.thefamuanonline.com