REIGN | MOTY 2016

1 POWERED BY THE MAROON TIGER

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AY AFTER DAY GOES BY. STUDENTS GO TO CLASS, SOCIALIZE, FINISH HOMEWORK AND COMPLETE AN INTERNSHIP IF THEY ARE LUCKY AND REPEAT. THEY SPEND THEIR ENTIRE TIME IN THE ATLANTA UNIVERSITY CENTER SIMPLY EXISTING AS A STUDENT. THEY NEVER SEEK TO TAKE THOSE RISKS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY DEVIATE THEM FROM THE SECURITY OF EXISTING ONLY AS A STUDENT. THEY NEVER CHALLENGE THEMSELVES TO CREATE SOMETHING GREATER THAN WHO THEY ARE THAT COULD ACTIVELY SHAPE THE WORLD. THEY ARE COMPLACENT. THE INDIVIDUALS PRESENTED WITHIN THIS ISSUE ARE FAR FROM FITTING WITHIN THIS CATEGORY OF A STUDENT. TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, THEY ARE UNTRADITIONAL. PRESENTED IN THIS ISSUE IS THE NEXT GENERATION OF INNOVATORS, ARTISTS AND PHILOSOPHERS WHO WILL DIRECTLY INFLUENCE THE WORLD. WILLING TO ALLOW THEIR PASSION TO PROPEL THEM, THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT DETERRED BY THEIR FEARS OR DISCOMFORT. THEY EMBRACE THEM. TODAY THEY’RE PRESENTLY TRANSCENDING THE CONFINES OF A CAMPUS. IN ESSENCE THEY ARE TAKING OVER.

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FACULTY ADVISOR Ron Thomas EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jayson Overby, Jr. MANAGING EDITOR Jerrel Floyd DEPUTY MANAGING EDITORS Annick Laurent CREATIVE DIRECTORS Jayson Overby, Jr. Amber Johnson, Ahmad Barber, and Jason Perry CREATIVE CONSULTANT/DESIGN Jayson Overby, Jr. BUSINESS MANAGER Amber Johnson EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, TIGERTV Jason Perry PHOTOGRAPHY Ahmad Barber, Jayson Overby, Jr.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Karys Belger, Bria Paige, Irayah Cooper, Chad Rhym, Clarissa Brooks, Malcolm Banks, Alexandria Fuller, Javon Wilson, DeShay Kidd, Tyra Seals, Tiffany Pennamon, Amber Johnson, Jerrel Floyd, Annick Laurent, and Jayson Overby PRINTING Greater Georgia Printers

A LETTER FROM MANAGING EDITOR

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A LETTER FROM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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THE ARTISANS

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THE SARTORIALISTS

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THE JUGGERNAUTS 28 THE INTELLECTUALS

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THE ACTIVISTS 42 THE ENTREPRENEURS

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WOMAN OF THE YEAR

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WOMEN OF THE YEAR

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THE WAYFARERS 46

THE FUTURE 68 THE NEW GAURD 72 THE ESTABLISHMENT

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HALL OF FAME

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MAN OF THE YEAR

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THE TITANS 80

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STAFF 98

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FAREWELL MT: THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING MANAGING EDITOR, THE MAROON TIGER STUDENT MEDIA GROUP Earther Kitt once said that “I fall in love with myself and I want someone to share it with me, I want someone share me with me.” Well I fell in love with you [The Maroon Tiger] and I wanted to share you with the world every chance I got.

I remember when I first met you. I was a freshman who was still coming into their own and you were a mature entity that knew Morehouse better than I ever could. At the time it was common knowledge that writers had the best chance of catching your gaze and unfortunately for me I had spent years neglecting that side of myself, but I still pursued you anyway.

I can recall being too nervous to approach you directly so I decided to sell advertisements for you hoping to get your attention while deep down always knowing that being a writer was still my best chance with you. So I worked and practiced.

Eventually one day I took that step and became a writer. Though it was far from great, there was never any judgment from you. With you there was always this mutual understanding that we were together to foster growth within each other.

Thus overtime I watched myself grow and mature in my abilities while simultaneously witnessing your development. It was truly magical.

Thanks to our relationship this once insecure individual was reminded of a passion that was faded and I will be forever grateful for that. I wouldn’t be the writer or man I am today if it wasn’t from having known you.

However, I can’t be with you forever.

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As magical and influential as your essence is to individuals like me, there exists a momentary nature within it as well. So I say goodbye MT. I will never forget the time we shared together. You saw something inside of me during a time when I could not see it myself. Though you will go on to shape lives long after me, just know I will never forget you. Thank you MT.

Yours lways, Jerrel Floyd Managing Editor

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CURATING A CHAPTER: REDEFINING A NARRATIVE AND REACHING NEW HEIGHTS E D I T O R - I N - C H I E F, T H E M A R O O N T I G E R S T U D E N T M E D I A G R O U P It’s not easy running this newspaper. I swear it’s a full-time job. I’ve just been going through the motion, that’s about it.

I have an interest in bringing stories off the page, shifting narratives with a visual component.

Photography and visual journalism stories really come to life for a readership at the level of visual presentation.

In many ways, being the Editor-in-Chief of The Maroon Tiger has validated, if not confirmed, how photography and visuals can carry the visual narrative of movements and moments. Much of my creative career at Morehouse College, dating back to freshman year, was spent running a blog, struggling as a creative and attempting to write more as I grew. I was trying to tell stories.

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As an emerging professional, I have placed myself in a suitable position to learn how journalism, photojournalism and curatorial studies intersect. As an Art History major and the EIC I have acquired skills that are essential to journalism and curatorial practice like strong written and communication skills, a passion for researching, problem solving, strategy and execution.

This leadership position has enabled me to shape the newspaper’s visual brand, which has allowed me to develop innovative concepts and contribute original designs. At the same time, non-journalistic factors—racial and historical—are driving forces behind why I organize cutting-edge photographs and designs for the newspapers and magazines.

It is these forces that motivate me to continue to curate for this newspaper which functions as a cultural force in its locality. Under my leadership and direction, the Maroon Tiger Student Media Group has recently won an award for general photography and a first-place award for layout and design from the Georgia College Press Association (GCPA). It’s about time they put some RESPEK’ on my name.

Forever and Always, Jayson “Jase” Overby, Jr. Editor-in-Chief

None of this has been to suggest that we are perfect. As this year has blazed by, it delivered some blows to our internal morale at times. We find ourselves constantly fighting to shift the conversation in popular culture, a task that makes the crown just that much heavier.

But with every challenge has come significant lessons. Our humble beginnings as The Maroon Tiger aided in our transformation to become the Maroon Tiger Student Media Group.

I wanted to accomplish a few things as EIC. In the beginning, I listed things from learn how to edit a quality newspaper to developing a cohort of established writers, photographers and creative thinkers. Nevertheless, in understanding the role of an EIC, I have aligned my endeavors at MT with those linked to being a curator. Like journalism, curating is another mode of organizing that asks critical questions and illuminates narratives.

I assumed the position as Editor-in-Chief, after only being on staff for a year, and I can honestly say I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

Granted, I answered a few questions in last years Man of The Year issue, but those questions didn’t prepare me for the year ahead.

I’ve stepped down from the position a great deal of times (all in my head of course) but this issue is a testament to the importance of perseverance.

While I’m still not sure if I’ll be around this time next year, this specific issue has taught me what it means to truly keep going.

Undeniably, this position, and all of its responsibilities, has created moments of stress in my life. I’ve missed a few classes, deadlines and I’ve even missed a few barbershop appointments – but never an issue of this magazine. Regardless of the madness, MT was made possible along with the editors, writers and staff members to whom I am most certainly indebted.

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DIOP SHUMAKE

A POLITICIAN ON AN ART MISSION A POLITICIAN ON AN ART A POLITICIAN ON AN ART MISSION MISSION

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For years visual artists have used colorful platforms to engage and invoke conversations that challenged controversies about race, class and wealth. In the Atlanta University Center Díop Shumake, an International Relations major, has taken his love for music, politics and art and turned it into an innovative way to provide leadership on campus.

Through his paintings he has illustrated and sold approximately 130 canvases that challenge and invoke conversation on the social matters and culture of the black community.

When asked on how to describe his style of art he has simple explanation.

“It’s innovated and motivated,” Shumake said. “You have colors in the foreground and background that are going to bring out emotion.”

Growing up in Detroit, Mich. Shumake was first introduced to the arts by attending crochet classes with his late grandmother Pearline Madison. Despite his love for art, after her passing he lost his desire to draw.

It wasn’t until his freshman year that he decided to pick up a paintbrush and begin a journey that would become an intricate part of his life.

“I stopped doing art for two years because my grandmother passed,” Shumake said. “I guess in the beginning it was tribute to her.

Now it’s like I can make money off of this and I can do it for fun.”

Since his freshman year Shumake has created works for Black Beyond Borders, AUC pageants and fashion shows. As an International Relations major he has combined his love for painting with his political aspirations as a lobbyist.

“I’ve always seen myself as two-sided,” he said. “I have split passions. I’ve always wanted to make actual change and make money.

While doing lobbying is frowned upon, there are still ways that you can make a difference.”

As a self-taught painter, he created his first work doing finger painting. Since then Shumake has produced different illustrations

using acrylic, pieces of paper, watercolors and abstract techniques.

As an artist he receives direction from his mentor and painter Gilbert Young, who sold over a million copies of his painting “He Ain’t Heavy.” Like Young, Shumake uses current social issues and concepts of the black community to inspire the messages within his canvases.

“Culture inspires me, whether it is a Drake album, Obama had a speech or Louis Farrakhan,” he said. I’m really trying to invoke some emotion and get you to think.”

In light of the Black Lives Matter movement Shumake created a painting in 2014 that depicted both Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown surrounded by hands and the words “I AM A MAN.”

Some of his other paintings have addressed George W. Bush and touched upon religious and racial beliefs. Recently he illustrated a piece that portrays a black Jesus Christ nailed to the cross that will be represented at a church service held in Kings Chapel.

“I feel that it only made sense to portray a black Jesus in a black community,” Shumake said. “I wasn’t going to paint a white Jesus.”

As the senior has created a path to intertwine his politics and art, he also values the importance of other art forms and uses them to inspire his work. For many of his paintings he has been inspired by the R&B and hip-hop culture. In 2015 he illustrated a painting of artist Andre 3000 entitled “Keep it 3 stacks.”

“Music and art go hand in hand,” Shumake said. “With any art you have to prepare yourself. I’ve been listening to a lot of Erykah Badu lately. Drake always inspires me. For me its Coca-Cola, music, and paint.”

Upon graduation the senior plans to continue his work as a painter by working as a lobbyist for a firm in Washington D.C and opening up an art gallery. Through this he hopes to take make a difference in the world and inspire young black artists to pursue their dreams.

TEXT ALEXANDRIA FULLER

IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR.

ARTISANS THE YEAR OF 2016

AF: How did your craft influence the education you are receiving at Morehouse College?

CS: My very first teacher in the third grade, Barry Elmore, introduced me to music. He always saw how talented I was so he would take me to different concerts to give me exposure.

He would give me advice on how it would help me pay my way through college and here I am.

I have a grant in music and full tuition scholarship.

AF: What would you advise other young black males interested in pursuing your craft?

CS: I would tell them to stick with it because you don’t know how far it could take you. Most people, especially black males think we’re not supposed to play classical music, but if they see someone like me who is still cool and playing the violin, then they can see themselves doing it too.

Marcus Neither ‘16 Hometown: Maryland Major: Physics Civil Engineering Artistic Expression: Singer/ Songwriter/ Producer/ Actor AF: How would you describe your productions?

MN: It’s fusion music. We have a really diverse catalogue. We can give you a soundtrack to a movie, alternative, hip-hip, R&B, and more.

AF: In light of the challenges you have faced in your art form. What advice would you give to aspiring artists?

MN: People are willing to work for what they want. If this is the thing that keeps you up at night, then go for it. You just wake up and say this is what I love to do and pray on it.

Austyn Wyche ’19 Hometown: Chicago, Ill. Major: Psychology Artistic Expression: Photography Website: auswychemedia.webs.com AF: What do you seek to convey through your art form?

AW: I like to do different things that can create an impact and shift the culture in one shape or form. I try to paint a vivid enough picture for you to where you can take it how it is or put your own little twist on it and see how that makes you feel.

My recent project today is a photography book that focuses on segregation and public transportation. I captured the demographic of the people on the train in Chicago and how it shifts, showing the segregation of the city.

AF: How would you describe your visual art in three words?

AW: Fresh, pushing, and versatile.

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Corbin Sanders ‘17 Hometown: Chicago, Ill. Major: Music Artistic Expression: Violin

TEXT ALEXANDRIA FULLER

IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR.

Madeline Wood ‘16 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. Major/Minor: Art/Spanish Artistic Expression: Art and Theatre

Tim Rice ‘18 Hometown: Silver Spring, Md. Major: CTEMS Artistic Expression: Video Director/Producer

Maya Lawrence ‘17 Hometown: Queens, N.Y. Major: Drama Artistic Expression: Actress

AF: What concepts have inspired your work?

AF: What opportunities have you reached in your artistry?

AF: Why did you choose drama opposed to other art forms?

TR: In 2013 I started my own company at age 17 called Clock Work Productions. I’ve worked under director Be EL Be on sets of music videos with Young Thug. I also documented the protests at the CNN center regarding police brutality.

ML: Acting is storytelling. I feel I have a calling to tell people stories and make them feel validated in the way that something speaks to you and gives you a universal feeling.

MW: My senior portfolio last semester was all paintings. I was mostly inspired by the mind, the subconscious mind. If you’re not controlling your self-conscious mind then someone else is able to do it for you. Your life and your world is a physical manifestation of your thoughts.

AF: How did you find the courage to pursue art and theatre full time?

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MW: The thing about it is it’s not impossible it’s just impractical. Everyone is not able to go into this field because they’re afraid of being uncomfortable or letting their family down. I never want to be that person where I’m not happy with my job. You have to have a certain level of focus and belief in yourself and your skills that allows you to not be like people who haven’t been successful. It’s something that I am constantly learning and trying to develop in becoming the artists that I want to be. Hopefully I will be able to impact others.

AF: What do you hope to achieve with your visual art?

TR: I believe that you should take your talent back to the community. I want to make conscious films. My goal is to help everyone get more understanding of issues going in the world by depicting all viewpoints. I feel if I can do that through film then I can make the impact.

AF: What motivates you to continue to pursue your craft in spite of challenges?

ML: I am a very spiritual person. I feel like I was given this purpose for a reason and this is what I was meant to do. Seeing how black Hollywood is developing right now and being so close to it is inspiring.

THE VOICE OF THE FUTURE From the smooth sounds and soulful voices of Anita Baker, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin listeners have witnessed the great influence that gospel music has had on the careers of many great vocalists. For these singers the choir served as the first stage of opportunity that would open the door to selling out millions.

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But the bright lights and center stage of Spelman College’s Glee Club has become more than just a spotlight for Britni Ruff, a junior Math major at Spelman College.

Through melodies and deep alto harmonies Ruff has used singing as a method to battling self-esteem issues while paying homage to her mother’s unfulfilled dreams of attending college.

“I started singing probably when I first started talking,” Ruff said.

As a child raised in Bowie, Md. the Spelman Math major was surrounded and influenced to pursue music and education at Spelman College by her mother’s own singing career.

“My mom inspires me, she is a singer,” she said. “Before she was able to attend college she became pregnant with me. I came to Spelman to pay homage to my mom because she couldn’t come.”

Aside from watching her mother sing, it wasn’t until Ruff was introduced to two other ladies during her freshman year of Spelman forming a trio group, that she knew her voice would lead to starting her own career.

“I used to sing with a group called 201,” Ruff said. “The group and I got started at the induction ceremony. It wasn’t until 2013

when we released a video of the 201 Gospel Medley on the Internet and it went viral that I realized my vocal talent.”

Upon this school year the junior has been a part of the Spelman College Quartet as well as the Glee Club. Battling personal insecurities Ruff has used her vocal talent as a way to develop her own identity and fight the pressures of bullying and insecurity.

“Music helped me got over my stage freight,” Ruff said. “Growing up I had terrible self esteem issues.”

Using her vocal talent and sacrifice she ultimately hopes to inspire young black girls to find confidence within them selves, by discovering their beauty from within.

“I definitely think I have a different voice,” Ruff said. “I want people to have been moved. I want my music to be unapologetic. I want girls to love them selves.”

Through hard work and determination Ruff’s vocal talents have opened doors for her to pursue her dreams beyond Spelman.

Since her time in Atlanta she has received life changing opportunities to perform for notable artists and entertainment platforms like the VH1 Music Benefit Concert, Common and Anthony Hamilton at the BET Awards, and singing background for PJ Morton, a Morehouse College alumnus.

As Ruff continues to finish her journey at Spelman she plans to receive a degree in Math, pursue a career-singing backup, and also perform in musical theatre. She is currently waiting to hear back from an audition with a Broadway show.

TEXT ALEXANDRIA FULLER

IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR.

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BRITNI RUFF

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SARTORIALISTS THE YEAR OF 2016

TEXT JAYSON OVERBY, JR. IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR.

ANNISAH MEDINAH THE UNRESTRICTED STYLE OF A WOMAN

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Medinah has always found it a problem to conform to the narrative of fashion. It’s not surprising her favorite places to shop are the thrift stores, and it’s at those stores where she is able to find her staple pieces and accessories.

“I’m a heavy thriftier, and I just despise shopping malls,” Medinah said.” My favourite store is Buffalo Exchange back home, but also the Goodwill in the west end.”

Basically, thrifting in a sense can bring out the pirating in someone, as noted by Medinah.

Like a pirate, a thriftier is on a quest for the best treasures, with those treasures being the clothes and accessories she has found along the way.

Unable to define, Medinah has found that trying to but a label on how you dress is another limitation. Attempting to identify with a spe-

cific label or image can become discouraging, which is she just go’s with the flow. Whether it’s waking up everyday and letting her mood decide what she’s wearing, or just having endless possibilities for an outfit – she never conforms.

Ever so often people equate style with brands, but that’s not what it is. Oddly enough, she admires the way computer science geeks dress carry themselves. With their oversized clothing and basic apparel, they’ve created a look. A look which functions as the epitome of true style, something she stresses often.

“Truthfully, style stems from being true to yourself and knowing who you are,” said Medinah.

A women of all facades, Medinah recently launched a boutique called MYOOT(mute).

She began selling at market Fridays and hosting pop up shops in her room, and it has been successful thus far. This summer, she’ll be working to launch the online portion of the store. The kind of clothes featured in the store range from eclectic one of a kind pieces to timeless essentials. She decided to eliminate seasonal wear because she wanted to cater to women who travel non-stop. In promoting the importance of culture in fashion, a great deal of the pieces she pulled for the boutique are from countries she has traveled to around the world.

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The Atlanta University Center is saturated with loads of fashion, but it’s not big enough to miss the women at the helm of it all – Annisah Medinah. An International Studies major, Medinah’s style is evident of her travel abroad experience. A reflection of the different countries she had a brief stay in, her everyday style echoes the aesthetics associated with her character, both lively and resilient. Donned a color pallets of all sorts, it’s impossible to police or isolate the standard that is Annisah Medinah.

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WILLIAM MANN Ideally something for fans, your brand is how you’ll generate followers and become an influencer. “Undeniably, everyone wants to be a rap artist, but they are missing a few things,” Mann said, in regards to building a brand as an artists which will aid in your professional development.

Truthfully, it is all about approaching the rap game with your own sense of self, and he is frankly doing so.

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Amidst policing images and self-expression, William Mann, a freshman Political Science major, is defining himself without saying a word. A native of Atlanta, Ga., Mann’s style isn’t synonymous with the aesthetic of the widely known hip-hop capital. Defining his style as unique, classy and urban, he is essentially building his brand as both sartorial assassin and rap artist. As a rising artist, his style will play a major role in his development and his general appeal.

ARMANI OWENS At first glance, Business Marketing major, Armani Owens just appears to be a welldressed guy, but it’s more to it than just throwing on clothes. On his thought of what style is, Owens reflects on individuality.

“Having a sense of self is a key component to defining your own style and what works for you,” Owens said.

Surely, the man he has become is evident in his personal growth, but also in his style of dressing.

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Although his style can’t be defined, he credits

the clothing and accessories retailer, Zara, for aiding in his style progression. Fashion is a subtle anomaly.

More than anything, despite popular belief, respective fashion does not deviate from society, but by the owner - the model - the everyday Zara shopper. On the outside, there is a facade that Owens is simply a fashionable young man, but there’s more to fashion than outfit combinations merely and simply coming to you overnight.

You have to know yourself - that’s style, and Owen’s has just that.

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ANTA NJIE

Usually an accurate depiction of someone includes their choice of style. It functions as an entry point to who they are and how they’re feeling. With Anta Njie, this all holds true in regards to her preference of fashion. As a means of self-expression, Njie said that her style in particular is how she chooses to communicate with those that she doesn’t know.

“Clothes are just clothes to some people but to me they’re art,” Njie said.

Yet somehow, her style is not defined by one set style pattern; it depends on how she’s feeling. Although not limiting herself, she keeps her options open to all possibilities and outcomes when it comes to choosing an outfit for the day.

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To some, it may seem menial and fruitless to take so much time to structure an outfit, but she has outputted this much care into her appearance since she could first dress herself.

It’s not meant to be superficial or anything though, she’s just expressing herself.

Although she’s not doing anything entrepreneurial in regards to fashion at the moment, she does want to implement an organization on Spelman’s campus titled “My Spelman Sister’s Closet.” The organization, which is an initiative to bridge a relationship with the West End, would donate clothing from Spelman students to the less fortunate in the West End. Back home in Chicago, Illinois, she did a great deal of volunteering within the community, so this would be nothing new to her.

With no set style, and neither a method behind her dressing, her outfit it depends on how she’s feeling. Oddly enough, this Political Science and Economics double major is on an uphill battle with sartorial and academic excellence.

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WRITERS / EDITORS / PHOTOGRAPHERS / VIDEOGRAPHERS SOCIAL MEDIA AMBASSADORS / GRAPHIC DESIGNERS / Webmasters MARKETERS / PR SPECIALISTS / ADVERTISERS / PROMOTERS AND MORE FOR THE 2016 – 2017 SCHOOL YEAR

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TEMITAYO AGORO

JUGGERNAUTS THE YEAR OF 2016

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TEXT MALCOLM BANKS IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR.

THE RUNNING PUNTER Temitayo Agoro is one of the most recognized and productive athletes at Morehouse College since stepping onto campus for the first time in 2012.

recruits, Agoro fell in love with the game. As his high school career came to a close, he made the decision to attend Morehouse College, with expectations of playing football.

Hailing from Dallas, Texas. Agoro has put together one of the more impressive individual campaigns from a Morehouse student athlete in quite some time. His rise to where he is today, as a real NFL possibility is astonishing as he first picked up football in high school.

While most don’t travel with the team freshman year, Agoro made it a personal mission to do any and everything possible to get on the active roster.

Agoro, originally attended a military academy his 8th and 9th grade years, before transferring to Arlington Heights high school, this is where Agoro’s journey in football would begin.

Much like a growing number of parents in America, Agoro’s mother was very nervous behind the fact of her son playing football, a major factor in why Agoro didn’t start playing until he was a junior. By the time he was able to finally play, Agoro began making his name.

“The coaches placed me on the scout team defense as a safety originally to see what I could do,” Agoro said. “Marquis Jackson was the No. 1 WR in the state of Texas at the time. I didn’t know whom he was when I first joined the team and when we were having a full fledge team scrimmage, I was playing safety and continued to give Jackson a difficult time.”

That’s when Agoro knew he might be onto something.

Playing alongside Detroit Lion second round pick A’Shawn Robinson and other highly touted

Since that moment, there hasn’t been a second to look back. Agoro not only earned All Conference awards for frequently kicking teams deep into their own territory, but has been a dangerous dual threat punter who can pick up first downs with top speed. It’s fair to say, Agoro brings a new dimension to punting that has earned him the nickname, “The Running Punter.”

“We incorporated rugby style punting, and it allows me to roll out to the left or right before actually kicking it, and if the field is clear, I can take off and gain first downs instead of punting the ball away,” Agoro said.

In the aftermath of the season, Agoro has been training rigorously with NFL prospects around the country in Chip Smiths Performance Systems. Agoro had a career average of 40 yards per punt and his 4.40 40-yard dash was an eye opener during his pro day at Kennesaw State as well.

Although Agoro wasn’t selected in the 2016 NFL Draft, he has remained in contact with teams and seems like a likely candidate for a training camp invite in the near future.

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“I never played football until high school,” Agoro said. “Not only did I wait until high school, but I didn’t join the team until my junior year. That was one of the craziest years of my life. That is when I started coming into my body, getting stronger and more confident in myself.”

“Coach T approached me after the first meeting of the season and he asked me if I could punt, I told him yes even though I had zero experience in my life before,” Agoro said. “He took me to the field and handed me the ball, I then proceeded to launch it across the gate. Coach was impressed and that’s how I was able to travel with the team.”

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If you asked anyone on the Morehouse football team, who was the Iron-Man like athlete on The Maroon Tigers football team since 2012, you’d likely never hear a name mentioned more than Jamil IrvinMuhammad.

Muhammad, a product from the East side of St. Louis attributes his love for the game in the neighborhood he grew up in.

“St. Louis is a sports town,” Muhammad said. “Sports are definitely something that every kid tries to get involved. My first official season of playing is when I was nine.

In my neighborhoods and schools, football has always been my thing. I love to play football.

The love of the game and Muhammad’s success at Morehouse can be credited on many levels, starting with St. Louis University High School, a school known for producing top talent in Missouri.

“At the time I played on the best team in St. Louis,” Muhammad said. “We had the most talent in terms of division I, we have guys I played with that are getting drafted this year. I feel like I was the best player on that team at a point.”

One of Muhammad’s strengths has been the ability to be very disciplined when playing, something he contributes to his little league coaches who stressed the importance of the attention to detail.

Since his freshman season, Muhammad has been a great presence on the defense; often causing opposing teams to game plan for his quickness and strength.

“In high school everyone wanted to be a running back. But you realize that running backs come a dime a dozen,” Muhammad said. “So by my sophomore year I transitioned to defense where I played defensive line, linebacker, safety and corner. So when I came to Morehouse that experience helped me get onto the field.”

Not only did Muhammad make the daunting jump from walk-on to perennial starter, a more impressive feat is that he played the first snap from 2012 all the way through his senior year. Every single one of the 40 football games Morehouse has had in the time Muhammad has been here, he has played and started in some fashion.

“I came in with the mindset that I was snubbed and I should have been at a D1 school,” Muhammad said. “I told myself this is a D2 school, people don’t really see this as sports school. I made a challenge to myself that I need to be on the travel squad from the very beginning and that’s exactly what happened. I was on the field.”

In the aftermath of the season, Muhammad

performed well at the National Football League regional combine, and has heard from a number of Canadian Football League teams. Muhammad is keeping his football options open, but plans on pursuing his masters in Sports Administration.

The end goal for Muhammad is to work for the NCAA and change the culture that is currently in place.

When asked how being recognized as one of Morehouse’s premiere athletes felt, Muhammad ended with this: “I appreciate the opportunity to put Morehouse football and Morehouse athletics on a such a great platform! Go Tigers!”

RASHEED SLADE Rasheed Slade, an 18-year-old freshman at Morehouse College is a young tennis star on campus, looking to get better every single day.

Slade, a native of the District of Columbia, found the sport of tennis and picked up the racks after having two of the most popular sports in America today in basketball and football denounced at an early age.

“It’s a funny story when it comes to me,” Slade said. “Most of the kids back home played Basketball or Football, my mom didn’t want me to play ‘ball and football so she started me at the age of four playing tennis and I have been playing ever since.”

Slade hasn’t stopped since as he is on the courts frequently whenever he isn’t studying for classes and exams. Morehouse College has been a great fit for Slade on and off the court, however he was close to attending elsewhere.

“At first I had signed to Western Illinois University, which has a DI program, but my dad wanted me to come to Morehouse because after the four years it would look better on the job market.” Slade said. “At first I was upset, but I’m happy with the decision I made.”

The decision has proven to be a wise one for Slade as he credits Morehouse professors as being very effective, and his on the court production has been stellar.

“We ranked No. 2 in the entire conference,” Slade said. “I had two in conference loses against the same team and me and my double partner received first team All Conference doubles and Morehouse was first Conference All Team.”

all around to be mentioned in the MOTY edition. It is good to know my hard work is being recorded and noticed and as a freshman. It’s definitely a good feeling all around.”

As Slade preps for his sophomore year, being No.1 in the conference and working closer to his degree in Psychology are his biggest goals.

MICHAEL HALL Michael Hall is a 6-10 center hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. Hall, who has been a strong presence for Morehouse in the past couple of seasons, has had an intriguing history with basketball, and one that didn’t originally land him at Morehouse.

“I wasn’t the most coordinated kid growing up,” Hall said. “I definitely was a little clumsy and slow footed. In the 10th grade I had a couple coaches that took me under their wing and they said if I really wanted to do this (Basketball), I would have to put the time and effort in. From that point on, the next three to fours years I really had to grind.”

The grind was no pushover, as Hall would routinely work on his speed and agility, directly following that up with intense basketball sessions, and weightlifting. This dedication is what Hall credits for really helping to get him a lot of great looks in high school, and helped with his discipline as well.

The opportunities Hall received in part of his rigorous routines were major AAU invites throughout Atlanta.

“AAU was fun, we played a lot of basketball,” Hall said. “Those were some really fun trips. It was very hectic when coaches are calling you during school, but it was a very humbling experience. After my sophomore year I played for the Atlanta Celtics and in my junior year I played for World Wide Renegade.”

Following his high school experience, Hall decided to attend one of the nations best schools, Harvard University, which also has an underrated basketball program that produces NBA talent every so often. Overall, Hall is very appreciative and enjoyed his time at Harvard before ultimately transferring to Morehouse College.

For many young and talented athletes the thought of going professional one day always crosses the mind. For Slade, he isn’t getting ahead of himself and takes everything a day at a time.

“Harvard was a really good experience,” Hall said. “It was really fun athletically winning two conference tournaments.

Coach Tommy Amaker was great. It was a challenge staying on top of school and basketball. But you’re bound to have obstacles and difficulties along the way. Its how you adjust to it that will define your experience.”

“I’m not thinking about the pro’s right now,” Slade said. “It’s just a good feeling

Upon transferring to Morehouse College, Hall has been more than happy with the

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JAMIL IRVIN-MUHAMMAD

JUGGERNAUTS THE YEAR OF 2016 decision he made. The Tigers success on the court has a large part to do with the physical presence of Hall on both sides of the basketball.

“Playing basketball for Morehouse College was definitely a good experience, “ Hall said. “I had two very solid years playing here. When I transferred here from Harvard, the year prior, Morehouse had only won about seven games. But we turned it around quickly finishing second in the conference the last two years. It was bittersweet this year as we had a good season but we didn’t get first place. Coach Brewer would always push me. I had some great experiences playing basketball for Morehouse.”

As the road is nearing its end, Hall is certain he is leaving his mark with no regrets, while keeping the door open for a potential future in professional basketball.

“There have been no regrets,” Hall said. “I loved my journey, and I am in a good place right now. Pro basketball is definitely an option. I have been told that pro basketball whether it is in America or overseas that I can definitely take my game to the next level. The big thing for me is gaining weight. If I can focus on that, I can have a real shot.”

SABRINA TUCKER

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Sabrina Tucker has just finished her sophomore year at Clark Atlanta University and is already regarded as one of the best athletes around the entire Atlanta University Center.

Tucker, originally from Jamaica, moved to Florida at the young age of eight, before moving to her home since ten years old, Atlanta Ga. Volleyball has been apart of Tucker for years and she has a special talent in the sport.

Although Tucker originally played Basketball and Track & Field, she wanted to find a

median between the two, which ultimately led to her decision to take on Volleyball, and dominate.

“I started playing volleyball in the eighth grade,” Tucker said. “By ninth grade I was on varsity, before transferring to Tucker high school the next year. In my sophomore year I was selected and participated in the junior Olympics volleyball.”

Being a student athlete has been great for building the young and talented athlete Tucker has become today. She cites being accountable, getting things done on time, and always putting maximum effort as advantages that come with balancing sports and education.

Volleyball has been attached to Tucker for years, but she feels after her time in undergrad is up, she will ultimately move on from the sport she loves. Majoring in business, with a minor in Chinese language.

“I think I have already made my decision and I’m going to hang it up. I know what I want to do with my life post Clark Atlanta.

I will attend Law school either at Georgia State or Miami Law, Studying international law.”

Tucker is clearly a star that will continue to shine on and off the court!

“I actually didn’t start running until my senior year of high school,” Gipson said. “But I remember when I threw on that uniform for the first time, it inspired me and I haven’t looked back since.

Gipson attended Woodland, high school in Stockbridge, GA. Before realizing his talent in Track & Field, Gipson had started developing his speed and athleticism years before, playing football and soccer.

For all the success Gipson has earned, it almost could have ended on bad note. In 2012-2013, Gipson damaged his foot and had a serious Achilles tendon injury that set him back. Gipson stated that it was a difficult and long process but is thankful he was able to avoid major surgery.

As his time at Morehouse is coming to an end, Gipson reflected on his time here and the enjoyment of being a student athlete.

“I loved every bit of being apart of this team here at Morehouse and being able to travel and being able to see different teams and schools,” Gipson said. “I loved that aspect.”

For Gipson, being recognized by his peers in the Man Of The Year edition is beyond gratifying.

KOREY GIPSON Korey Gipson is an extraordinary talented senior who always put his best foot forward when it came to Track & Field. During his time at Morehouse, he was a dedicated athlete who continued to get set the bar higher.

The 5-8, 180 pound senior from Decatur, GA. took a rather unique approach as he was a late bloomer to the sport he has made a name in during his time at Morehouse College.

“It really feels great,” Gipson said. “I did a lot for the school and this program. A lot of people just see basketball and football as the only sports here. But we’ve been very successful on the track in my time here. We won a championship and nobody really even noticed. So it feels good to be acknowledged.”

The future remains bright for Gipson as the Atlanta native plans to keep running after graduation. Gipson remains very optimistic on his chances of landing with a pro camp team in the not too distant future.

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THE REALITY IN A LEADER BRANDON PORTER II THE PHANTOM OF TRUTH Being an intellectual comes with the burden to never stop thinking. Intellectuals are challengers, problems solvers, and critics of the world.

They strategically analyze paradigms, trends, and shifts, to help articulate them and solve problems. Black intellectuals are even more than that. Intellectualism means to transcend education into activism. Black intellectuals mix knowledge and agency together to solve world problems and injustices.

“Intelligence plus character” civil rights legend Martin Luther King said, “that is the goal of true education”.

Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta University have been safe house for intellectual development and prowess. Getting a true understanding of the concept of money, became Brandon Porter II, Junior, Business Finance major, intellectual pursuit. Upon entering college, Porter was anxious and nervous.

37

“The biggest fear that I had was not living beyond my potential” said Porter.

Growing up he always soft spoken, but always had a keen eye. Porter was particularly observant and analytical to the world around him.

Porter lives to surpass his limit of knowledge.

His minimization of friends and avoiding the “weekend fever”, or going and “turning up” every night, became sacrifices he had to make in order to become an intern for Laurence V. Plummer Financial Services. Located in Memphis Tennessee, Laurence V. Plummer Financial Services plans and develops strategies for the finances of athletes, doctors, and lawyers.

Porter developed a true understanding of the value other people’s’ money.

“In order to accomplish the goals I set out in life, I would have to begin pouring into myself tremendously” said Porter.

Through his scholarship, he is able to accomplish his academic goals and eventually his life dreams. Living up to his parents and other family members, will push Porter to a more distinct intellectualism. There is no limit to that amount of knowledge he will embark on.

INTELLECTUALS THE YEAR OF 2016 TEXT JAVON WILSON IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR.

HASSAN XAVIER HENDERSON-LOTT Hassan Xavier Henderson-Lott is a senior, religion major. He owes his intellectual prowess to the Martin Luther King Jr. Chapel Assistant Program, a co-curricular program that fits religion into social issues affecting the world. The program cultivates moral leaders for a cosmopolitan world.

Growing up as queer boy, he had a discomforting and awkward experience. Lott desired to make white people content but also had to deal with the offense his queerness made in church.

He began to understand the stigmas placed on him, it caused him to develop an academic inferiority complex.

“Anyone who finds that something—whatever it may be—that causes them to wonder and seeks to discover the fundamental essence of their [wonders] is an intellectual” said Lott

Lott became a scholar and intellectual at Morehouse. He engages in the concerns of LGBT community theologically. Lott is researching and exploring the condemnation of trans-persons in Christian theological faith.

38

DEMARCUS BURKE AND DA’VON BOYD

35 39

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Vestibulum vehicula diam justo, life is their academic life. Mixing debate program sim consectetur vel nibh. Nulla vulputate bibendum enim eget nibh tournaments pellentesque and honor vitae finibus erat feugiat egestas. Vestibumeetings together they often times surrounded the friends who are posuere pellentesque. Donec volutpat aliquam.

Aenean erosare massa, eleifendbyvitae lum ornare ligula ut felis efficitur, eu pretium also academic elites. magna ante, eget fringilla justo facilisis id. commodo at, placerat vel tortor. elit faucibus. Nam semper, tellus non hendrerit Aliquam dui dui, tempor sit amet tempor laoreet, est magna auctor tellus, vel “Morehouse, the mecca of black excellence, certainly peaked my inter-ipsum nulla in felis. Pellentesque vitae, porttitor dignissim augue. Proin sed Aenean volutpat tortor ac ex eleifend imperdiet said Boyd.

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Proin lacinia diam vel sodales bibendum. et mi. Praesent ante neque, vehicula sed Donec dictum dignissim mauris, nec auc-

LEWIS MILES Lewis Miles, sophomore, Sociology major, became a scholar early on. Miles attributes Sociology to his continuous understanding of the world. Why people do certain things became much more fascinating.

“Entering Morehouse, I feared disappointing my parents by not doing my very best” said Miles.

WAYNE STEVENS Wayne Stevens, junior, Applied Physics major, hopes to design high performances cars after graduating Morehouse. Competition fueled him.

“The only fear that surfaced when entering Morehouse was how competitive I would be compared to other STEM majors at predominantly white institutions” said Stevens.

Fall semester of his freshmen year, Miles, unexpectedly, lost his father. His father’s death, a Morehouse Man, gave him an uneasy mind and a heavy heart. Receiving his father wisdom and advice in spiritual form, became a difficult adjustment to his experience at Morehouse.

As a student assistant to the Director of the Morehouse Martin Luther King Jr. Collection, he studied the significance of grassroots movements in fighting for civil rights. He grew in his respect and understanding for those who were radical agents for social uplift.

Morehouse does not have the same equipment and information in comparison to schools like MIT or Georgia Tech.

Morehouse is not known for its STEM programs outside of Biology and Computer Science. This caused Steven’s to work harder.

Sacrificing Friday and Saturday nights, made him find refuge in his academics. Most of his friends are academically driven, so they push him to do better. Intellect is his social life because all of his friends are academics.

“I’ve always, and still do, think of myself as a thinker, learner, students and creator.” said Miles

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By practicing responsibility and accountability in the pursuit of knowledge, Miles will use his knowledge as a tool to combat social, economic and political ills.

READ IT ONLINE MAN OF THE YEAR ANNUAL ISSUE

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AT WWW.ISSUU.COM/THEMAROONTIGER

PICTURED: Ramon Johnson

TEXT JASON PERRY IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR.

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THE ACTIVISTS THE YEAR OF 2016

THE ACTIVISTS What does being an activist mean to you, and how do you embody that?

An activist uses their abilities and resources to advocate for the liberation of marginalized groups. An activist must use an intersectional lense to recognize and dismantle the various systems of oppression in society. Most importantly, an activist must recognize their privilege and analyze the ways in which they may perpetuate different forms of oppression as well. I also think the process of unlearning toxic ways of thinking is a challenge all of us have to work through. Unlearning the ways in which we were taught to hate, devalue, judge, and mistreat one another is essential to my activism.

I had to learn to embrace the parts of myself I was ashamed of in order to fully embrace my femme, queer, trans brothers, bristas and sisters. Embracing my queerness also helped me to put a lot of love in the work that I do. Organizing queer affirming events, facilitating workshops and trainings for cisgender heterosexual students and administrators, and leading protests on campus to critique Morehouse is all about love. It is the driving force for my activism.

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Who or what inspired you to fight for what you believe in?

Before attending Morehouse, I was inspired by black queer student activists in Morehouse Safe Space. In order to avoid romanticizing their efforts, I will say they were all met with different challenges that I along with other black queer activists encounter. Some of these challenges include dealing with homophobic administration and even queer alumni, being labeled and viewed as too assertive, too feminine, or too outspoken. The penalty of being an activist is often rejection from others and even members of our own community.

The lack of support and criticism from complicit gay students and alumni, and the silence of impotent and closeted faculty can be overwhelming. To be invisible among your own creates a special kind of suffering. However, they always found a way to use their roadblocks as a catalyst for change. I remember being in high school and scrolling through Safe Space’s “Pride Week” photos on Facebook and wishing that I could be around an affirming community of queer black men. When I finally got accepted to Morehouse, I met trailblazers like Kenneth Pass, Marcus Lee, Jamal Lewis, and Bummah Ndeh who welcomed me with open arms. Hearing and reading archived stories from the phenomenal Charles Stephens that detailed how giants like Jafari Allen, Keiron Williams, Gera Peoples, and Bishop O.C. Allen laid the foundation for there to even be a queer organization on campus helped me to see the large impact queer activists have made on this campus. It was the first time I truly felt affirmed. Seeing them mobilize queer men of color on campus made me want to have the courage to do the same. Ever since my first year, I’ve been on a beautiful journey of self love and resistance.

What change do you bring about, and how are you doing that?

The work that I do is about black queer folks loving ourselves when dominant culture tells us otherwise. As the new President of Morehouse College Safe Space, I work with a phenomenal executive board to develop an inclusive and intersectional environment for students on campus who are queer. Throughout the year we organize campus events to introduce topics affecting the LGBTQ community. Specifically, we introduce progressive topics regarding gender, masculinity, identity, and sexuality with the student body through crown forums, workshops, panels and trainings. During the Spring 2016 semester, we helped organize a week of LGBT trainings with the National Black Justice Coalition for student leaders and campus administrators. The goal of the training was to give student leaders and administration the language and tools needed to effectively meet the needs of queer students on campus. Since 2010, we have been organizing P.R.I.D.E (Progress, Restoration, Identity, Dignity and Empowerment) Weeks every year for the LGBTQ community/ Queer diaspora. Our activism helps students have a voice and space to affirm their identities and gives them the opportunity to take PRIDE in who they are as a people holistically.

Currently, the college is working through a list of steps to campus inclusivity I authored in the Fall of 2015 to provide more campus resources for queer students as well. In addition to my activism, I have been conducting research on the effects of heteropatriarchy among queer students at Morehouse. The quantitative study seeks to document the experiences of queer students on campus to help Morehouse’s administration and the National Black Justice Coalition gain data to gauge how to better foster an inclusive and safe environment for all queer identities. My efforts have allowed me to present my research and spread my advocacy within the Atlanta University Center, The New School, the University of Houston, Emory University, and the Southern Sociological Symposium. During the spring of 2015, I was named a Periclean Scholar for my efforts in helping make HBCU’s more inclusive for LGBT students. I am also a recipient of the 2016 Young Black Gay Leadership Initiative Award for my outstanding work in addressing issues disproportionately affecting black queer men of color while amplifying their voices.

What type of social problems do you work? Why do you think they are important?

Because of black feminism, I am able to name the systems of oppression that I am constantly working against. Black Feminism has also helped me to address the ways in which I may be oppressing someone and not just focusing on how I may be oppressed.

Many of the issues I address in my work include institutionalized and internalized homophobia, transphobia, respectability politics, sexism, misogyny, HIV/AIDS, black gay men’s mental health, and sexual assault. Honestly, I am constantly learning how to maintain a intersectional approach when it comes to addressing different systems of oppression. Being in a institution where dominant culture only knows how to affirm your blackness can be discouraging. For example, one of my proudest moments in my activism occurred during Safe Space’s historic PRIDE Hump Wednesday. In response to certain members of Morehouse’s administration decision to ban an Atlanta J-Sett team from coming on campus because they seemed “too provocative”, we mobilized queer folks from surrounding schools to protest through the art of vogueing, j-setting and twerking. In addition to that, I helped lead a silent protest that my brista, Timothy Paul Tukes, organized to take a stand against sexual assault and the queer erasure at Morehouse College. It is sad that some of us as students do not feel safe at our own institutions due to horrible track records of the administration protecting the schools brand before protecting the victim/student. Activists and survivors of sexual assault like my dear brista, Timothy, inspire so many individuals who are suffering in silence. That is why I think it is important to be visible for marginalized gender identities, queer, trans, and femmes folks of color. Queer folks are the producers of culture in society and we are responsible for the many successes of this institution. If we do not speak truth to power for ourselves, we will continue to be erased and mistreated.

How do you remain connected to your community or to the cause you represent?

Honestly, my faith in God and practicing self care has kept me from burning out in order to stay connected to my community. For so long, I was taught to believe that who I am is a sin. Through prayer and reconciliation, I am developing a firm sense of self and a stronger appreciation for what it means to be fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. I was blessed with beautiful friends, bristas, and a few supportive family members to help me move from pain to power. I make sure I spread that same power with people I come in contact with everyday; especially my femme, gender nonconforming, trans and queer friends and peers. Also, developing forms of self-care while building community has helped me to remain connected. I enjoy finding art, media, and literature that affirms black queer folks like me. Visibility is survival, and I will continue making sure that our identities and voices are visibly affirmed.

NEW ERA, NEW ISSUES:

What are some roadblocks that have impeded on your activism?

Trying to manage academics, a social life, and fighting for something your passion about can intersect at all the wrong times. Being a student has been a roadblock for the simple fact that I’m biology major, and I’m a full-time student so I often try and find a balance between it all. Above all, sickle cell is a roadblock considering I get sick a lot and it can be a bit much, but there’s always a way to make it work.

Jill Cartwright What do you do in terms of activism?

I’m an activist who focuses on issues that affect black and brown communities. Currently, I’m a member of multiple social justice organizations on campus, including AUC Shut It Down, and I’m a social justice fellow at Spelman College, under the direction of Dr. Spence. Through the initiative, I’ve established a community reclamation initiative with the assistance of Dr. Spence and President Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D. We’ve been granted the opportunity to work with Mayor Kasim Reed and former Mayor Shirley Franklin, making sure that funds have been properly allocated to the city to revitalize the target communities. Lastly, I’m the president of Students Against Mass Incarceration and the upcoming Title XI liason, and it’s the first time we’ve had this position on Spelman SGA and I’m excited to move forward and make sure that our institution is inclusive of all our students, no matter of sexuality, gender identification, and making sure sexual violence is attended to in the AUC. What are some roadblocks that have impeded on your activism?

I’d say classism simple because when people see you as an activist they expect you to be everywhere at once, but I’m a chemistry major. If I’m not studying, I’m in the lab; if I’m not in the lab, I’m doing my activist work. I grew up in a family of eleven children and I’ve never really had the funds to do the things I wanted to do until High School, and I was finally of age to work.

At the same time, I noticed people who look like me were go-

Quincy Smith What are you fighting for?

My passion comes in the form of health activism; essentially I’ve been fighting for an improved quality of health for everyone. In particular, I’ve focused on children, which inspired the organization I co-founded, Globe Men at Morehouse, and what we predominantly do is raise funds with our partner organization, Life of Children, in Kumasi, Ghana. Each summer students on an internship to Ghana and they’re able to work with students in the community in regards of their hygiene, but they also are able to focus on sexual assault as it pertains to the children.

What are some roadblocks that have impeded on your activism?

I’d have to say administration; they definitely weren’t open to Globe Men talking about sexual assault, especially when it comes to children. At one point, they didn’t even want us to start the chapter here at Morehouse because there’s a chapter at Spelman, basically relegating it to women’s work. There’s not a lot of men and pub health, so having administration saying we basically don’t need the organization here was a bit disheartening.

Zarinah Mustafa What do you do in terms of activism?

I believe that I act as a translator. I’m willing to stand on the “front line” and risk my physical freedom for liberation; and I am also willing to sit down at the table to discuss policy-based solutions to issues facing disadvantaged groups and communities. Through my participation in both of the modes of activism, I’ve been able to serve as a bridge-builder. As a bridge-builder I’ve been able to help those that I work with to understand that all forms of activism are necessary. The person who writes policy or advocates in the courtroom is no more of an activist than someone who participates in direct action and disrupts systems of oppression. Each is mode is vital. I also try to live activism, challenging gender norms in my every day life and supporting my community economically. I often fall short, as challenging establishments that one has always aspired to be a part of is difficult, but I understand it’s my responsibility to try everyday.

PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT:

What are you fighting for?

I’m an advocate, strong supporter, and fundraiser for sickle cell anemia. At the moment, I am apart of three organizations, which advocate or sickle cell disease and mentor youth with sickle cell disease. The disease effect 1 in every 500 Africa Americans, and it’s something very dear to me as I have been diagnosed with sickle cell anemia myself. It’s something I feel strongly about, and I hold it dear to my heart.

ing to school without the supplies they needed. In result, I took myself to local businesses and asked them to donate because I wanted to have a block party so all of the kids in my community could come get school supplies. Granted, another roadblock is financial stability and peers.

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Elijah Masha Powell

Quincy Smith, Elijah Powell, Zarinah Mustafa, and Jill Cartwright

SOLDIERS OF THE MOVEMENT

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46 PICTURED: Gregory Barber, Jr.

WAYFARERS THE YEAR OF 2016

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TEXT TYRA SEALS IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR.

48 PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: Lindzzi Ngati, Symone Johnson, Samuel Buchanan and Mikaela Funn

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Especially for our 2016 Wayfarers, this is no exception.

Juniors Mikaela Funn, Symone Johnson, Lindzzi Ngati, Gregory Barber and Samuel Buchanan know very well how such a reputation is perceived abroad, if at acknowledged at all. Collectively, they have traveled from Amsterdam, Austria, and the Bahamas, to Morocco, The Netherlands, Puerto Rico and the Vatican City.

Their own opportunities to travel have presented themselves through full semesters abroad, summer travel programs and visits to family in different countries. Truly, the adventures had and experiences gained have allowed each of our Wayfarers to embody what it means to redefine what a global perspective is.

Spelman juniors Mikaela Funn, Symone Johnson and Lindzzi Ngati have had a myriad of travel experience to enhance that which they have received at Spelman. For Funn, an International Studies and French double major from Owings Mills, Md., her European excursion in Switzerland was complemented by spending time in Rabat and Marrakech, Morocco.

She was enrolled in the International Relations and Multilateral Diplomacy program with the School of International Training (SIT), which focused on international security/relations, diplomacy and research. Through this joint program between Geneva, Switzerland, Brussels, Belgium and Paris, France, she attended lectures at the major international organizations within these countries. The list includes: the United Nations, World Trade Organization (WTO), UNESCO, Doctors without Borders, OECD, International Labor Organization etc.

Funn recalls often experiencing homesickness during her travels. “During my semester I was extremely homesick,” Funn said. “I had a countdown on my phone counting down the days until my mother got there.

“Although I was homesick I tried not to let that interfere with me making the best of my time abroad.”

Ngati is a double major in International Studies and Political Science with a concentration in African Studies, which is directly reflected by her global experience.

Originally from Bamenda, Cameroon, Lindzzi has taken full advantage of the travel opportunities provided through Spelman.

During her freshman year she was able to travel to Andros, Bahamas for a community service trip with For My Sister, a student organization at Spelman. In 2015 alone, Ngati traveled throughout 3 out of the 7 continents.

In addition to this, participating in her first Harvard World Model UN Conference during her sophomore year in Seoul, South Korea was another eye-opening international experience. Later that year, she studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland with SIT. In addition to traveling for educational purposes, Ngati spent her 2015 Christmas break in her homeland of Cameroon. While there, she visited Yaounde, Bamenda, Douala, Bali Nyonga, Kimbi and Cambet. Most recently, she traveled to Rome, Italy again for her second Harvard WorldMUN Conference in March 2016.

When asked if/how her upbringing has affected her love for travel, Ngati reflects deeply.

“While in boarding school [in Cameroon], I witnessed major riots and violence which inspired me to have a career in international affairs,” Ngati said. “My global lenses expanded and I became interested in what was going on in different places from a young age. Spelman just gave me the tools and resources necessary to actualize my dreams.”

As the standalone Psychology major within this year’s Spelman honorees, Johnson has also spent a semester abroad, traveling to Copenhagen, Denmark, The Netherlands, Verona, and Milan, Italy this past fall through the Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS). Here, her major area of study was positive psychology, an area of psychology that focuses on one’s strengths to overcome life’s challenges.

She got the chance to work with the African Empowerment Center in Copenhagen through a social justice group comprised of local people of African descent (PAD) whose families had immigrated to Denmark. Within this organization, she met people from countries such as Eritrea, Sierra Leone and South Africa, who had vastly different experiences.

Seeing such diversity was not only beautiful to Johnson, but stressed the importance of being open to what makes us similar as well as what makes us different.

Though it does not outshine the positive, one of Johnson’s less-than-favorable experiences is directly tied to her identity as a Black American.

“I lived in an area where there were a decent amount of African immigrants,” she said. “One day, an Ethiopian man stopped me at the bus stop and asked me where I was from.

“I said I was American, and he asked ‘What about before that?’ I assumed he was asking about my African origins, and when I could not provide an answer to his question, obviously not knowing my lineage, he seemed disappointed.

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Spelman and Morehouse College, respectively, are considered a sort of royalty in the world of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and beyond. Upon sharing that you attend Spelman College or are a man of Morehouse, eyebrows raise in an immediate sort of admiration and interest.

WAYFARERS THE YEAR OF 2016 TEXT TYRA SEALS IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR.

“It hit me hard because as much as I wanted to identify with this man, as a Black American, I could not ‘verify’ my African-ness. I felt very detached and out of touch.”

As men of Morehouse, Gregory Barber, Jr. and Samuel Buchanan were both inspired to take the College’s mission of preparing young men to engage in a global community to heart.

Specifically for Barber, a junior psychology/African American Studies double major from College Park, Ga., community was especially important during his travels to Uganda and Rwanda with SIT. It was through his program, centered on genocide restoration, that he further found family through his host mother, father and siblings.

“I had a beautiful host family: Papa Placide, Mama Claudine, Mushiki Wanyje Marvina, and Murumuna Wanjye Irvin,” Barber said. “My mother died during my senior year in high school and I found it difficult to talk about that part of my life.

“However, my [host] father lost his mother, father, brother and sister during the genocide, so he gave me a lot of insight on life after death.”

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Samuel Buchanan, a junior Spanish major from Milwaukee, Wis., realizes that a global perspective has made him cognizant of his privilege through firsthand experiences.

While spending a semester in San José, Costa Rica through AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Studies) at

La Universidad Veritas, he realized the overall experience of being black overseas.

“Being Black abroad is more than a privilege; it’s a responsibility,” Buchanan said. “Many people from other countries have expectations of what a black person from the U.S. should be based off of Hip Hop, pop culture and the media.”

For Buchanan being abroad was truly eye-opening.

“Being abroad, gave me the opportunity to explain my experience as a black man in America, the Black Lives Matter movement and set the record straight in a loving and informative manner,” he said.

Though their individual interactions vary, this year’s Wayfarers have many of their core beliefs—in regards to travel— in common. All of our honorees encourage their peers not only to take advantage of opportunities to go abroad, but also to free themselves from the inhibitions that are tied to leaving the AUC for any period of time, but especially a full semester.

“I was afraid that I wasn’t the right type of person to go abroad,” Johnson said “I had an expectation and a precedent that said that only outgoing, party-loving, mixy people could enjoy time abroad.

“I am none of those things, and was therefore very apprehensive about being thrown out into the world and left to my own shy, timid, quiet devices. All I could do was be myself, and that was more than enough.”

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GUSTIN

ROBERT AU

ENTREPRENEURS THE YEAR OF 2016

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TEXT BRIA PAIGE IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR.

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SON

JASMINE D AW

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STEVEN M IL L S

ROBERT AUGUSTIN:

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MAN WITH A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Augustin doesn’t stop there as he continues to expand his business repertoire through opening a coffee shop in conjunction with the boat company. His desire to include the local people and the local market in his business sparked the idea of his and his partners’ second entrepreneurial venture.

Not only does his passion for entrepreneurship drive his business ventures, but his love for culture plays a major role in what type of business projects he invests his time and money into.

“I love culture. On campus, that’s one of the things I’m involved in… Culture is really important to me,” Augustin said.

As a member of the International Students Association, Augustin along with his peers planned the second annual J’ouvere carnival party on Morehouse’s campus, making it bigger than last year with over 100 gallons of paint and speakers speakers. Augustin is a partner in Island Massive Entertainment and a proud member of Spelman’s Hatan Lakey Culture Club and the Caribbean American Student Association (CASA).

When Augustin is not focused on his international businesses or infusing culture into campus life, he worked with the EMC Corporation in Boston and began the

infancy stages of a baby monitoring app that allows for parents to monitor their children while at daycare or other child care services.

Throughout all his business ventures and various projects, Augustin makes time for what matters most to him, including philanthropy. An example of his philanthropy is Help Us Save Haiti (HUSH), Augustin’s very own non-profit organization he created shortly after the 2010 earthquake that heavily affected his home country.

“Basically, what prompted me to start [HUSH] was that connection back to home. It seemed like those places I used to visit as a child weren’t there anymore,” Augustin said.

Feeling an urge to help, Augustin partnered with his high school in Maryland to organize his first service project through his newly founded organization. Now, Augustin and his service partners aim to send large 40 ft. containers two to three times a year filled with needed items to the people of Haiti.

A jack of multiple trades, Augustin finds his inspiration from his parents, who successfully own a home health care business in Maryland. In the future, Augustin plans to return his initial inspiration for entrepreneurship by taking over his parents’ business and expanding it into various states such as New York and Florida.

“An entrepreneur is someone who lives life by passion.

Someone that sees opportunity in places that others don’t see and it takes a really sharp eye to do that.

There’s opportunity all around us,” Augustin said.

His unique business ventures prove his sharp eye for opportunity and his commitment to service exemplifies his passion for helping others in need. A true entrepreneur, Robert Augustin is here to change the business world one venture at a time.

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$700,000 business deals, technology startup companies and million dollar ideas all describe the normal day-today life for Morehouse senior, Business Accounting major, Robert Augustin. A native of Porto Prince, Haiti, the young entrepreneur is returning to his native land to invest almost three-fourths of a million dollars into revamping and improving a local boat charter company. Set to open in January 2017, Augustin along with his three business partners plan give the standard boat company a luxurious makeover, aiming to appeal to the tourism market in Martinique.

JASMINE DAWSON: EMPOWERING THE EVERYDAY WOMAN THROUGH NURTURING THE BEAUTY WITHIN During her collegiate years at Clark Atlanta University, beauty and fashion expert Jasmine Dawson has turned her 13 year experience in cosmetology into a full service beauty business, including makeup, hair and her very own hair extension line.

Known for her glamorous appearance and beauty within, Dawson transformed the brand she established on campus into a non-profit organization, Glam Squad University, in addition to owning her beauty business.

“I will be targeting the urban area, the less fortunate women and children, basically those who have grown up in poverty and don’t really believe in themselves. So what I’m here to do is allow them to tap into their creative sides and believe in themselves and do the things they’ve been wanting to do, but have been told they can’t do because of their environment,” Dawson said.

Dawson characterizes her business and nonprofit as a movement embracing both inner and outter beauty, with the goal of cultivating successful African-American women. Starting with the inner layer of the women in need, Dawson wants to work from inside out, first focusing on increasing self-esteem and self-worth before reaching the physicality of the makeover process.

A dual degree Fashion Merchandising and Business Administration major with a concentration in Entrepreneurship, the 23 year old has aspirations of becoming the next Kim Kimble, one of her current beauty and business inspirations.

Not only does she want to open up her own full time salon, offering various beauty services, and boutique but Dawson aspires to be an effective mentor to many young girls in need of a positive influence. In addition, she plans to expand her hair extension line to market to women often overlooked, including women suffering from alopecia and cancer.

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“Entrepreneurship is the ability to take risk, no matter how you feel it may affect you, your life, your finances or your emotions. You’re really just stepping out on faith with your vision and believing in your vision, really making it happen,” Dawson said.

Dawson continues to step out on faith as she continues to grow her Glam Squad University brand, working towards her goal of displaying how beauty and beauty services can truly make a difference in the lives of women in need.

STEVEN MILLS: CONNECTING THE WORLD ONE EVENT AT A TIME After the second semester of his freshman year at Morehouse College, Steven Mills discovered his passion for networking and providing networking opportunities for others. Currently, a senior, Business Marketing major, Mills is the CEO of his own marketing promotional company, EGO Entertainment LLC. “My passion and talent for connecting people in the spirit of achievement and fun has fueled my drive in the field of entrepreneurship. I am a firm believer that your network is your net worth,” Mills said.

Mills embodies his beliefs in networking by providing various networking opportunities for young people, mainly college students. Yet, thinking past graduation, Mills plans on expanding his business aiming to cater to a more sophisticated audience such as young professionals.

“Post-graduation, I plan to throw a young professionals gala, where all young professionals from all the top HBCUs come together and meet people. There would be job offers, a graduate fair. I just love to connect people because you never know who your business partner could be or someone who could help you make it to the next level,” Mills said.

During his collegiate career, Mills capitalized on the college experience by planning and promoting various parties and social events for the students of the Atlanta University Center, including back to school events, the first Slow Jams party, PrettyNasty, and different senior week activities and festivities.

In addition, utilizing his contacts in Miami, Mills even hosted spring break events, connecting young people from cities all over the country.

Focused on expanding his business, Mills wants to transform his networking abilities from planning and organizing parties into owning his own sport lounges, clubs or even a shopping mall. Mills even looks forward to planning events for his 5th and 10th year college graduation reunion, circling back to where he gained his start in the business world.

Mills describes entrepreneurship as, “Having passion for whatever it is in life you want to do. Entrepreneurship is everything that I do, it’s my way of doing it and how I love to do it.”

A perfect example of turning passion into business, Mills continues to bring people together as a true entrepreneur looking to grow his small business into a thriving empire.

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MAURA CHANZ WASHINGTON

WOMAN OF THE YEAR

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THE YEAR OF 2016

TEXT TIFFANY R PENNAMON IMAGES AHMAD BARBER

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WHEN GLITTER MEETS HUSTLE: BLACK GIRL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT ITS FINEST Maura Chanz Washington is this year’s Woman of the Year. However, this is no surprise as the December graduate is already excelling in her post-Spelman personal and professional endeavors.

Currently, she is an on-camera talent for Bossip, she has launched her own creative services agency titled Glitter and Hustle, and has started a t-shirt line with her boyfriend, Austin Broussard, called ShopBlk. The Chicago native is passionate about branding, entrepreneurship, and living unapologetically in one’s truth.

With multiple skills and experiences under her belt, Maura is just beginning the work she needs to make a difference for other women and girls to succeed in all of their Black Girl Magic!

While at Spelman, Washington majored in Comparative Women’s Studies with a Digital Media and Marketing concentration and writing minor. Furthermore, she was involved in Spelman College Student Ambassadors, Project House Homeless Outreach Service Initiative, TRIOTA International Women’s Studies Organization, Girl Scouts of America, Amplify 4 Good, and was an active participant in the Women’s Center.

Her unique background and perseverance has allowed her to simply “Do Maura” and excel at it each and every day. Whether it is illustrating the multidimensional aspect of being a black woman with her “Cardi and Coretta” shirts, or by being a role model for her baby sister and other girls, she explains that her goal is to show that you don’t have to change who or what you are to be successful.

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In the past, the Big Fro Beat Face creator has also dealt with obstacles and challenges relating to other people’s opinions.

“The AUC can be a very judgmental and toxic space especially if you don’t fit a certain mold or type cast,” Washington said. “Most of my obstacles stemmed from

people not letting me just be. People typically don’t like or fear what they don’t understand “I’ve been a pageant queen and top percentile of my class while simultaneously being the subject of gossip and criticism; I am human, and it hurt like hell at times BUT I never let any of that stifle me – I not only remained very true to Maura, but succeeded despite it. I think what makes me stand out amongst others is my truth and work ethic.”

With support and affirmations from family, friends, her significant other, and God, Washington realized that the main focus was just to realize whose you are and your personal greatness.

“When I needed an escape that came in the form of work,” Washington said. “I’ve had an entrepreneurial spirit for as long as I can remember so I would channel all of my frustrations into some project or business idea, or a nap.”

Now that the AUC is preparing for the class of 2016’s departure, Washington reflects on her matriculation.

“My time in the AUC as a whole equipped me with what I need to go out and be the best Maura I can be,” Washington said. “I’m a better woman because of it, the greatest of Maura wasn’t my time in the AUC; however, I do hope I’ve inspired people to unapologetically be themselves despite how much this space may tell them not to.”

Washington is all glitter, all hustle and all Black Girl Magic. She truly embodies Maya Angelou’s famous line, “I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.”

“Ultimately, I intend to be an honest voice for WOC [women of color],” Washington said. “Someone’s always trying to tell our stories, why not let a real black girl do that?”

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“I LOVE TO SEE A YOUNG GIRL GO OUT AND GRAB THE WORLD BY THE LAPELS. LIFE’S A BITCH. YOU’VE GOT TO GO OUT AND KICK ASS.”

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– MAYA ANGELOU

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WOMEN OF

REVOLUTIONARY WOMEN MA PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: Joy Hamer, Briar Davis, Keonte Lee, Antonia Hill, Ariana Brazier, Sade Tuckett, Tyra Beaman, and Adia Moss

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THE YEAR:

KING REAL WORLD CHANGES WRITTEN BY: Tiffany Pennamon PHOTOGRAPHY BY: AHMAD BARBER

With sincerity, the women expressed their passion for fighting for social justice issues, women’s issues, and more by the ways they’ve founded organizations, provided opportunities for others, and served the less fortunate. MT had the opportunity to sit down with each of the women in this category, and their personal stories gave insight into the humble and inspiring women that walked the campuses of the AUC these last four years.

Meet, Adia Moss, a Political Science major, Secondary Education minor from Fayetteville, N.C. As a self-described “vibrant spirit,” and a member of various organizations including Spelman Student Government Association, Sisters Keeping It Real Through Service (SKIRTS), the NAACP, Women of Excellence Leadership Series and more, Moss has been able to make a change by investing back into her community. Most notably, she has become an entrepreneur and she states that she now realizes the importance of black-owned businesses.

“After working on the Market Friday committee, I have really grown to appreciate Black businesses and I was really inspired to have something of my own,” Moss said.

Moss is multifaceted, innovative, and wants to use her own background in technology and business to create educational computer science programs for children.

“I’m a really dedicated individual and I have enjoyed serving in many roles on campus where I was fortunate enough to really guide and support some of my younger Spelman sisters and I really take pride in those bonds,” Moss said. “I am truly passionate about education and advocating for the youth.”

While at Spelman, Adia did not let family and personal health scares stop her, and she has stayed committed to furthering her own passions with the help of supportive friends. She intends to leave her mark on the world by building up the next generation of technological and business thinkers, which are both industries needing more black women. You may also find her as the next Vice President of Student Affairs of Spelman College.

Next, Briar Davis is a Journalism major from Nashville, Tenn. that hopes to change the world using her background in mass media and the arts. Briar states that her heart is really in journalism, and with experiences as a freelancer, an Editorial Intern for Modern Luxury, Fashion Editor and Editor-

In-Chief for the CAU Panther, and now an upcoming PR Intern for America’s Mart, she is more than ready to shape how we gather news and information in our society.

“I would think that I’m a very open individual, who’s not ever afraid or ever ashamed of informing people of what I’m going through,” Davis said. “I think that it inspires people. I feel like in undergrad, we tend to put on this façade that everything is perfect all of the time when in all honesty it’s not.

So when you can be that open, when you can share your experiences with everyone, then that makes you more relatable.”

Davis also says that her faith, sarcastic demeanor, transparency and drive have allowed her to overcome obstacles to achieve all of her academic and personal goals while at Clark.

“My favorite passage from the Bible is Romans 12:21 which says, ‘Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good,” Davis said.

Davis states that the quote speaks volumes to her in many different ways whether it be not letting negativity affect her, or just inspiring change for others.

After graduation, she hopes to get involved with news and media publications to reach a larger audience.

“Journalism is such a broad subject and it’s not always about news, it’s not always about deadlines,” Davis said. “However, I do think that my goal is to provide a platform for individuals to learn how to communicate effectively both written and orally. Whether it’s in a non-profit atmosphere or by coming back to Clark, I definitely want to initiate some type project for language and communication.”

Davis says that she thanks Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., CAU’s friends and staff, and everyone that has supported her.

“I want people to know that nothing worth having comes easy at all,” Davis said. “I’m always looking to elevate myself and my work.”

Antonia Hill, a Political Science major from Fort Washington, Md., is revolutionary on both the local and national level. As the Spelman Ambassador for the White House Initiative at HBCUs, President of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, member of SKIRTS, WEL, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Hill dedicates her life to fight for education policy reform.

“I’m a very driven person,” Hill said. “I try to make an impact by being involved in the community that I live in. And instead of just making an impact by just going for leadership things, I really try to reach back and I’m really big on making personal connections with everyone. So I try to change lives on a personal level.”

Hill says that she initially struggled with fitting in at Spelman. Instead, she learned that she had to make Spelman fit her. Once she realized that she was passionate about changing educational laws that adversely affect minority populations, she knew how to find her way in the AUC. “The way that I’m going to impact the world is changing education on the federal and policy level so all children can get the same education regardless,” Hill said. “If we think of the future, it’s important that we look at our younger generations.”

Hill says the Bible verse, “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs without fear of the future,” is the thing that keeps her encouraged, and she feels she is equipped to enact the changes she wants to see in the world.

“There is no formula, no step-by-step process for being a successful Spelman woman,” Hill said. “I honestly think everyone is Women of the Year at Spelman College because everyone has their own path…everyone plays a part in making Spelman so amazing. Just be yourself and stay true to that.”

Former Miss Spelman, Ariana “Ari” Brazier also strives to make a difference in the world by serving others in multiple ways.

This English major from Bessemer, Ala. serves as the past president of the Spelman chapter of National Council of Negro Women, a Bonner Community Service Scholar, a UNCF-Mellon Fellow, and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Brazier embodies staying true to one’s self.

“I can be Miss Spelman and walk around in chucks and jeans and know that people are still proud to have me as their Miss Spelman,” Brazier said. “I could be Miss Spelman and be sitting out at a student-led protest, I could be sitting outside without a home for the night in the most rugged clothes and people will still know I’m the president of NCNW, a Spelmanite.”

Even further, Brazier says she is actually grateful for her experience with major depression because she would have never met the support system that resulted from it.

Her support system includes her family, her Bonner family, her line sisters, her NCNW family, and more.

Furthermore, she stays motivated by constantly writing and keeping notes of encouragement and affirmations. Brazier says her life has no meaning when she cannot help others. If she cannot make someone’s day better, if she cannot work to eradicate the issue of homelessness, or if she cannot help someone see the value in him or herself, Ari says she does not feel like she is truly living and that she will perish.

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Women unconsciously teach things that they do not know. They teach vulnerability, they teach compassion, they teach giving, and they teach resilience. This year, the seniors in the Women of the Year category all embody these things, and they add their own little touch to the communities that they inspire.

In the future, Ari intends to get a law degree, a Masters in Public Policy, and a doctoral degree in English to teach others about representations of the less fortunate and how to change it through policy.

Joy Hamer is a History major with an African concentration from Philadelphia’s mainline.

Hamer has been a member of the WEL series, has been featured on MSNBC for her opinion on pressing political issues, and has served as the community service chair for the NAACP. Her allure and insight on politics makes her an individual fit for the political realm in the near future.

“Basically in politics, it breaks down to social issues and economic issues: as a student, student loans and debt affect us; as a woman, equal pay for equal work is important; as an African American, civil rights and social justice and Black Lives Matter are a focus,” Hamer said Hamer’s intersectional focus in politics makes her a candidate to make change on a national level as well.

“I have a personality and charisma that’s very approachable,” Hamer said “I love meeting new people and interacting with them, and I’m more than willing to talk to my younger Spelman sisters, give advice when I can, and also see my Morehouse brothers. I feel that service is your rent for living here on Earth.”

She wants people to remember her as someone with a smile always on her face, and she also wants people to take away the values she took away from Spelman. Additionally, Joy says that her mother, father, three brothers, and nephew keep her motivated every day, and they keep her on task and grounded.

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After graduation, Joy intends to become a political analyst or correspondent in order to explore new cultures to change perceptions and fix social issues oppressed people face.

As a total women’s activist, Keonte Lee is a Political Science major from South Carolina.

Just this year, she has served as the Election’s Commissioner for SGA, and as the Second Vice President and co-chair of the Social Action Committee for the Eta Kappa Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. This southern belle says the things that most make her stand out include her ability to just be “authentic, real, honest, and raw.” Her bluntness and straightforwardness allow her to immediately find solutions to problems she wants to resolve.

Despite having many obstacles, including not knowing how the AUC itself operated or not feeling like she was good enough, Lee says she struggled fitting in. However, she overcame this, and still continues to work towards being her best and true self.

“To be honest, it’s still a journey because some days I don’t feel like I’m my best self,” Lee said. “It involves making the conscious decision to be positive and seeing the rainbow at the end of the tunnel. All of the success that I have had, I sometimes didn’t feel

that I was good enough, but I realized that I’m about to enter the real world and I have to do that as a strong black woman.”

In everything she does, she knows that she’s not perfect and she proceeds knowing that there is a potential to fail. But that risk, has great rewards and offers personal growth.

Most notably, Lee stands with women and men in the AUC that have been sexually assaulted and whose voices have been silenced.

“It’s completely disgusting that our administration has continued to victim-blame and not take these situations seriously,” Lee said. “We had the Vice President of the United States come to talk to us about accountability, but we really need to hold the administration accountable as well, and look at their morals and how they feel about rape culture, and what they are doing about it because at the end of the day, it’s not about what a woman wears or what she was drinking.”

She says she does not know how many more protests it will take to unlearn this detrimental behavior, but she will actively work to end rape and rape culture one step at a time.

Lee aspires to work in the Congressional Black Caucus of Black Women and Girls.

International traveler Tyra Beaman is an International Studies major from Richmond, Va. Her main roles on campus have included serving on SGA, serving in the Social Justice program, serving in the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, and much more.

“Many people may think leadership is a title, but for me, leadership is definitely the passion that I have as well as the dedication I have to pass things on to the next generation,” Beaman said. “I have a cohort of little sisters that I will know will carry the torch of everything I’m leaving behind. A leader isn’t someone that operates in a silo, but it’s someone that operates in which she is one with the people that follow her, and with every step I take, it’s a step for someone else.”

Beaman shares her passion with others and, along with her younger Spelman sisters, works to make opportunities for others in the future. By investing into others, she affirms that each person is valuable to make the end goal possible. If an opportunity to progress in any given field becomes available, Beaman says she may offer it to someone else that may not have had the same privilege before.

In doing so, she becomes a beacon of light and access for someone that may have been overlooked.

With other programs in place like Black Beyond Borders, Difficult Dialogues, Women in the Hall Series, and various voter registration drives, Beaman breaks boundaries for black women and interjects them into places where history has said they could not be.

Beaman breaks borders and was recently selected to be a Charles B. Rangel Fellow, which will feed into the Foreign Service Officer program for the U.S. State Department.

This multi-faceted woman aims to diversify the State Department and also promote innovative and open-minded policies abroad.

There’s no better way to make a change globally than to be the one directly keeping relations with other countries, and Beaman will push the envelop for total human rights for people of color in the U.S. and around the world.

Another future U.S. Diplomat, Sade Tuckett, a Psychology major from Brooklyn, N.Y., is also a newly selected Charles B. Rangel Fellow. Sade’s unique background in foreign relations has allowed her to fight for others almost thousands of miles away. As a Council on Foreign Relations Campus Ambassador, member of the Muslim Student Association, and member of the Students for Justice in Palestine Chapter at Spelman, Tuckett has a head start in the Foreign Service career that she will serve for the next few years.

Tuckett mentions that the Students for Justice in Palestine Chapter is the first at an HBCU, and says that the group really works for Palestine because many people do not understand what is actually happening in the region.

“In 1947, Palestine was overtaken by Israel and since then, Israel has been an oppressive state on stolen Palestinian lands,” Tuckett said. “So we’re just advocating for Palestine because U.S. foreign really policy favors Israel.”

Not only did Tuckett work to bring awareness of other cultures, she has also overcome personal struggles with negative perceptions of Islam and her faith while in the AUC. However, by staying true to herself and her religion, Tuckett has fostered an air of change and open-mindedness where she says that she now gets more “As-salamu alaykum’s” on campus, she’s sponsored a “Hijab Day,” and has even more open conversations around her faith.

The proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. says that she always keeps in mind the quote “If you never ask, the answer is always ‘No.” Her assertiveness has given her the confidence needed to go out and enact change where it is necessary whether that is on campus, applying to her graduate schools, or hosting events on campus.

Tuckett will be attending American University in the fall for a Masters in International Peace and Conflict resolution.“I want to create a more culturally sensitive foreign policy,” She said.

She hopes to make an impact internally while also making U.S. foreign policy malleable to other countries’ needs.

All of these women are truly inspiring, and the AUC community expects nothing less of greatness from each as they continue to focus on their personal endeavors as change agents. They say this is a man’s world, but it’s nothing without a woman. And when these strong, resilient, and driven HBCU women meet world, prepare to be amazed.

Tyree Stevenson and Cornelia Stokes

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PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT:

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T H E F U T U R E THE YEAR OF 2016

TEXT CHAD RHYM IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR.

Two freshman in particular: Stokes and Stevenson, separated themselves from the standard of freshman mediocracy and ordinary first-year expectations. Over the 2016 summer, Stevenson will be interning for Google.com, and Stokes will be interning at the Studio Museum in Harlem.

Their ambition epitomizes – the hustle, their accomplishments – foreshadow potential greatness.

“On campus, I’m involved with black men code, which is an organization that introduces black men to coding and more stem fields, and my goal is to get more stemmajors and increase the number of black men in stem fields,” Stevenson said.

“I have been a part of the inaugural curatorial studies program here at Spelman.

Mainly, my presence has been about the arts and making sure people know how important it is. I want to make sure that these connections are strong throughout my years here at Spelman, I also want to make an impact on Spelman ‘20, especially because that will be the closest class to me. Until you make an impact on someone else, it’s all talk,”” Stokes said.

Freshman year of college is obviously a transitional year, however, the concept of the AUC intensifies the college experience.

Morehouse College, Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University, are in no way the prototypical colleges. With that said, although the AUC has its shining aspects, there are also characteristics that could use improvement.

“I think that student engagement within extra-curricular activities is very poor and pathetic. Also, I think a lot of campus operations that the administration does that students just let go by, I personally don’t accept it, and I don’t think other students should accept it either; I think if we use more of an affirmative form of action, and if we stand for something we can actually make change, but students have to actually be involved,” Brazier said.

“Here at Spelman, I think a lot of majors are underrepresented. For example, the art department has lost its chair, we are losing a couple of professors and when spike lee came and talked about Dr. Campbell’s inauguration, people were coming up to him and talking about ‘how the art department is not here, and that no one is here to represent us , and we have to take our class elsewhere,’ pretty much complaining to Spike Lee about how Spelman and Morehouse don’t really have art classes, so I definitely want to change that, “ Stokes said.

Above the accolades, internships and diversity the freshman of the year possess, their genuineness, and charisma to generally make a change in the world, and stay original to themselves is distinguishable and commendable.

“I want to stay true to myself, where I’m from, I had to really mold to fit the views of my oppressors, I had to be silenced in a certain way, when I came to Morehouse, and started interviewing I saw that I was missing out on a lot of opportunities by just by being myself, and as I’m gaining more opportunities like internships and scholarships, I felt like that’s what I want to embark on first, and through this, everything I change about myself and progress I would also like to share with my friends my brothers and the community, so that’s why I also want to start my own organization, called lucid, and I want to do that thought the arts and sciences and bring everything together, I feel like a lot of my brothers, who think the same thing, but don’t share themselves in public like I do, so want them to know there’s someone out there just like them,” Battle said.

Eventually, on the beautiful sunny, spring afternoon of April, 22, while waiting for their photoshoot, the freshmen of the year broke the silence and began to converse with one another, poetic justice.

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Market Friday is more than a weekly event, it’s a spectacle – an extravagant display of after- school exuberance within the Atlanta University Center. For a majority of students, classes are over for the week, and Market is the prologue, and the indication that the weekend has begun. April, 22 was the Market Friday to be in attendance to, the weather was nothing short to perfect, the semester was coming to an end and most importantly, it was the last Market of the year. For freshman specifically, it was a landmark, metaphorically it was a symbol of achievement, with a complete disregard to upcoming final exams, it was the social completion of freshman year.

Five freshman, however, were not in attendance: Marcus Battle, Cornelia Stokes , Ryan Brazier, William Edwards and Tyree Stevenson silently sat in Spelman College’s Gyles hall anticipating their Freshman of the Year photo shoot. Although quiet, their respective accomplishments and presences on their campuses told a different narrative.

“One of the biggest things I did on campus was - I basically started my own fitness business… I took around eight people and started an experiment to see how fast I could actually change and cultivate their bodies to what they dreamt them to be in around five months, so I ran with that and those eight people, and then a bunch of people started seeing me at the gym, and ultimately, it got up to forty to fifty people a day, I named it WillWorksFitness,” freshman econ major William Edwards said.

Along with Edwards, Marcus Battle, biology major at Morehouse College is a campus leader, Ryan Brazier, biology major at Morehouse College is a campus politician, Cornelia Stokes, art history major at Spelman College is a curator and Tyre Stevenson, computer science major at Morehouse College is a computer scientist.

The 2015-2016 freshmen of the year exemplify and illustrate the AUC’s class of 2019’s niche diversity.

71 PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT:

William Edwards , Tyree Stevenson and , Marcus Battle , Cornelia Stokes, and Ryan Brazier

PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: Dimone Long, Best Uchehara, Ahmaad Dent,Kamren Jamar Malik Rollins

TEXT CLARISSA BROOKS IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR.

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THE NEW GUARDS THE YEAR OF 2016

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PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: Christine Singleton, Meghan Wilson, Chloe Blackmon

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PICTURED: Ibrahim Conteh

Guardians relish in their strength in order to persevere through times of struggle and strife.

The ability to remain strong remains vital to those chosen to protect a legacy. In the case of the New Guardians, it is the opposite that keeps them standing.

Being able to recognize your weaknesses is an aspect of leadership that many disregard. The ability to say it’s ok to make mistakes and fall down sometimes. That is the real embodiment of tenacity.

The truest signs of the guardians of their own legacies in these radical seven sophomores are that they all relish in their moments of strength and have an ability to see where they must be vulnerable and come back into themselves.

Inward reflection and tenacity are the principles of the new guardians.

When speaking with Ibrahim Conteh about his dreams you are reminded very quickly that nuance is what keeps these students going. Ibrahim is a sophomore Computer Science and Mathematics major who has a Sierra Leonean family background and is a practicing Muslim which helps him refocus himself and his energy.

“Anytime my prayers are off or I’m out of the routine of prayer I notice a decline in my overall performance and discipline,” Conteh said. “Prayer allows me to distance myself from regular life; when I am praying I am completely at ease and have no thoughts of anything outside of it. It’s that brief moment of silence and escapism that allows me to continue during hard times.”

These students are much more than their respective majors and are complicated books that hold complex stories of focus, struggle and faith.

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Megan Wilson is a sophomore Political Science major who is currently taking 24 credit hours at Spelman College. She thoroughly understands what it means to be overwhelmed and find solace in the simple things.

“My saving grace is my best friend on campus Jaree Bargaineer and some ice cream or some late-night runs to the park,” Wilson said. “She calms my spirit and encourages me to not give up.”

When Megan isn’t studying she is developing a nonprofit to integrate health back into the black community, her organization that she developed with her best friend Jaree, is called #JustFitForUS. The organization visits the City of Refuge to provide wellness services to the families in the shelter.

Resident yogi and vegetarian, Chloe Blackmon is a sophomore Biology major from Greensboro, N.C. Chloe uses her faith and

meditation from yoga to bring her back to earth when things get hectic.

“For me, it’s really important that I remain lighthearted and I am never too hard on myself,” Blackmon said. “I like to hold myself to a standard of grace, not perfection.”

access to basic human necessities,” Uchehara said. “It bothers me that people living in various cities across the U.S. and abroad can’t afford things like quality healthcare and education. I know that my purpose is to be a change agent in such places and within the healthcare capacity.”

That type of realism is what keeps the essence of the New Guard ingrained in the ways she does her advocacy work to live a holistic life and bring wellness to the black community through her love of dentistry.

Thus Uchehara intends to fulfill that purpose through starting a nonprofit with his mentor James Parker to promote and empower elementary to establish a vision of their future.

When Dimone Long, sophomore Political Science major from Washington D.C., walked on campus he knew it was for a purpose. Coming to Morehouse meant to Dimone the chance to leave a lasting impact on the world and the city he grew up in.

“I desire for my legacy to be a legacy of selfless service,” Uchehara said.

Long’s ability to give back to his community in Atlanta and back home have helped him best solidify the namesake of New Guard through his community service ventures.

Long’s efforts to educate those less fortunate on financial literacy and establish a mentorship opportunity at Ballou Senior High School have made his dreams a reality.

The duties of those that guard the legacy never stops.

The importance of The New Guardian in AUC involves these students seeing themselves and their counterparts as scholars and future cohorts of larger institutions.

Christine Singleton is a sophomore English major with a ADW and Education double minor from Richmond, Va. who prides herself on being able to seek balance in the craziness that is the AUC. The work life balance is hard for anyone but Singleton might’ve found the answer to these qualms.

“I always take time out for myself,” Singleton said. “I make sure that I don’t get too stressed out or overwhelmed. School comes first, but I have to be in the right mindset to get my work done.” Singleton’s goals on becoming an educator are what fuel her.

“When I become an educator, I plan on instilling this value in my future students and help them understand their purpose and drive,” Singleton said.

Are sacrifice and suffering involved in the character of the New Guard? Are these characteristics important to protecting theses students own personal legacies?

When speaking to Best Uchehara, a sophomore Biology major from Imo State, Nigeria and member of the Debate Team and Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Med Society, he notes that those individuals around the world who experience true sacrifice mold his passion.

“I am inspired by the millions of persons all around the world who have been denied

Ahmaad Dent is a sophomore Finance major who grew up with a single mother and prides himself on fighting failure at all cost.

In order to stay resilient and calm during the hardest times of his academic year, Ahmaad has gone to seeking inspiration from the person he hopes to become one day.

“I know that I have yet to access all that I am capable of and the idea of capturing that is what stems my hunger for more,” Dent said.

Dent speaks to his ability to want to succeed also to not to disappoint his mother.

The ability to seek inspiration in times of struggle is one the greatest aspects present in these students who are making strides to protect their own legacy of success.

Kamren Jamar Malik Rollins is a sophomore English major and Latin American Studies minor from Washington D.C. Rollins is what The New Guard ideal in a true embodiment.

The ability to remain positive in the face of true adversity is something that has molded Rollin’s commitment to being an advocate for Morehouse and its legacy.

“During my life, there have been several, what I like to call ‘insuperable barriers’, that I believed would deter me from my ultimate goal,” Rollins said. “However, the SB’s, my friends, my family, and God have truly been there for me during those tough times, encouraging me to persevere.”

More recently Rollins was frank about the “Insuperable barriers” that have impacted his life as a sophomore.

“This year has been one of the most trying years of my life. It has taught me how to persevere and remain determined.”

The New Guardians represent nuance and complexity. They are who every AUC student is, a scholar,activist, community leader and participant in excellence.

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THE ESTABLISHMENT THE YEAR OF 2016 TEXT JERREL FLOYD IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR.

This past academic year has been a year of success for many students of the Atlanta University Center, as well as a year of tragedy and hardship for many others. Students have witnessed technological innovations, entrepreneurship coupled with instances of activism to combat a dangerous system.

In the midst of all these actions and events that have happened this year, two juniors’ stories have stepped out amongst the others. Venkayla Haynes and Johnathan Hill are those individuals.

Haynes and Hill are two students who even though didn’t initially see Spelman and Morehouse as their first choice in institutions, neither one can deny the impact the schools have had on their lives.

“I’ve had a great experience,” Haynes said.

“It helped me love myself, it helped me define myself as a black woman.”

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Initially planning to attend a PWI, Spelman student Venkayla Haynes instantly fell in love with the institution upon her exposure to it.

Morehouse junior Political Science major Johnathan Hill actually attended a completely separate collegiate institution prior to his entry into Morehouse College.

Inspired by the experiences of Morehouse junior Nicholas Young, Hill was propelled to depart from McNeese State University and transfer to Morehouse College. A decision he has never regretted.

“This school opened its arms to me,” Hill said.

Upon his transfer to Morehouse College, Hill was immediately thrusted into several leadership positions. He entered More-

house serving on the executive board on the NAACP as well as the Pre Alumni Association- Community Service Committee.

“I’ve had so many amazing opportunities since I’ve been at Morehouse.”

The peak of these opportunities during his first year at Morehouse included the opportunity to introduce Vice President Joe Biden for his speech on youth employment and workforce development.

“Going up there and introducing the Vice President, it was an eye-opening experience,” Hill said.

However, Hill is not the only individual who has had opportunities to meet Vice President Joe Biden. Haynes was also able to meet the Vice President following his “It’s On Us’ campaign speech at Morehouse on propelling students to directly play a role in preventing sexual assault on campuses.

With few opportunities for individuals seeking a career in forensic pathology with a focus on sexual assault cases like Haynes, being a part of such an impactful campaign like “It’s On Us’ was a necessity.

“Being a survivor myself I joined an organization geared toward helping survivors,” Haynes said.

Through being a part of the organization, Haynes has not only had the opportunity to directly address and advocate for the prevention of sexual of assault but she has also had opportunities to travel to Washington DC to meet President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as well as fight for change directly within Georgia through Mayor Kasim Reed’s office.

With Reed being in attendance during Biden’s speech at Morehouse College, he sought to make Haynes a part of his team whose mission would be to see Atlanta become an official “It’s On Us’ city. Thus it further propelled Haynes ability to serve as a resource for survivors of sexual assault as well as a leader in general.

“Being a leader for me is not taking no for an answer and continuing to fight for what’s right,” Haynes said.

For Hill, his story does not end with Vice President Biden either. In conjunction with his long list of accomplishments Hill recently managed to be elected the next President of the Morehouse Student Government Association.

Inspired by his love for Morehouse College and yearning to see its students flourish Hill gravitated toward a position that would grant him direct access to actively influence that flourishing.

“I want everyone to have the same opportunities to be great,” Hill said.

Noting the severe impact Morehouse has had on his life Hill simply wants to remind students of the honor of being a part of an institution like Morehouse.

“I don’t work for myself or my resume,” Hill said. “I work for a young man who should be here but couldn’t. I feel privileged to be here.”

Both Haynes and Hill have managed to serve as leaders actively shaping the direction of the AUC. Where one seeks to dismantle a dangerous system, the other seeks to foster success and inclusion.

The establishment are those individuals who have made the best of that time in three years. They are the individuals who have managed to exude leadership and success prior to their peak residence at their respective institutions.

Beginning with the recently elected Morehouse Student Government Association Vice President Ryan George, George has been consistently active on campus in leadership throughout his entire time at Morehouse College.

“A good leader is someone who listens, includes everyone and is someone people look up to,” junior Political Science major Ryan George said.

Serving as the SGA Senator-at-large, student ambassador, and intern with Georgia state representative Al Williams and Houston Texas Councilman Dwight, George has consistently molded himself to step into political leadership at Morehouse College.

The peak of this was his recent SGA VicePresidential election.

“It really meant a lot to me having students trust me to represent them,” George said.

“I really appreciate the student body.”

For his final year at Morehouse, George plans to bring an energy of inclusion to his position as Vice President by pushing for more support of registered student organizations at Morehouse College.

“I want to make sure we all feel included,” George said.

Junior English major Darien Jones has taken a more spiritual approach over a political approach to his experiences while attending Morehouse.

“My ultimate goal is to serve God in whatever form that takes,” Jones said.

Jones carried that spirit in his practice as a member of the executive board of the Martin Luther King International Chapel assistants as well as in his many shadowing experiences of several pastors. Within that incredible interest in his faith also exists an interest in being a servant to others.

Along with his extensive work with the Boys and Girls club of Delaware, Jones has shaped much of his personal philosophy around serving others through his spirituality.

“My passion is to serve people and advance people in every way,” Jones said.

Chris Sumlin also looks at his faith as an impactful piece of his success.

“Everything in life is so inconsistent and if there is one thing I know is consistent its God,” junior CTEMs major Chris Sumlin said.

Using his faith as anchor, Sumlin has become a powerhouse and rising media mogul. With accomplishments like achieving his associates degree while in high school and working with BET and Fox, Sumlin is truly a force of success.

However, the accomplishments do not end there. On top of achieving viral success with his Rihanna and Beyonce themed job tips videos, Sumlin also managed to author a book entitled “Dealing With This Thing Called Life.”

Coming to him in a dream, Sumlin hopes that his book touches lives and is a significant impact within the black community.

“When your grind and your work can touch people and inspire them, it’s the best feeling ever,” Sumlin said.

Lastly, juniors Lonnie Washington and Christopher Weathers have had impactful experiences at Morehouse through the scope of

Economics and leadership in general.

Washington, a junior History major with a minor in Economics, has had opportunities to study at the London school of Economics as well as work with Moody’s Investors Service. Though initially Morehouse was not his first choice, he could not deny the imprint the institution left on him.

“I thought it was something special and I wanted to be a part of it,” Washington said.

In conjunction with his outside experiences Washington was also able to lead various community service initiatives his freshman year at Morehouse.

Christopher Weathers, a junior Economics major at Morehouse, has served as a member of the Morehouse Student Government Association Executive Board, a presidential ambassador as well as an NSO leader.

He has also served as a co-programmer with the Do Better Community Outreach Program as well as a protégé with the Morehouse Business Association.

Outside of Morehouse Weathers has worked with impactful financial entities like Goldman Sachs, Moody Analytics and SunTrust Bank. On top of all of this extracurricular success, Weathers has managed to maintain a 3.73 GPA. “GPA is not everything but it helps you get your foot in the door.”

One consistent influence throughout his matriculation to Morehouse has been his father.

“Seeing where my dad is, he did pretty well at Morehouse,” Weathers said. “It seemed fit for me to follow in his footsteps.”

Overall these select juniors have managed to stand out from their counterparts and thus justify their position as the 2016 establishment.

PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: Lonnie Washington, Ryan George, Chris Sumlin, Darien Jones, and Christomer Weathers

Four years can either feel like a lifetime or a split second for students within the Atlanta University Center. Thus there is a consistent amount of pressure for students in the AUC to make the best out of their time at college.

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NEXT TO REIGN: THE HEIR OF EXPECTANCY

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JERSEYS IN THE RAFTERS: FOUR YEARS OF IMPACT In mythology, the Titans preceded the Olympic dynasty.

Their cunning, wisdom and strength were so great that it took every god on Mount Olympus to overthrow them.

Today, many have tried to invoke the greatness of the gods and have failed, until now. The stomping ground for the new breed of Titans is the Atlanta University Center and the mantle is currently held by Business Administration majors, Liam Davis and Michael Calicott; men of Morehouse who are redefining the title of Titan altogether.

Minister of the Bahamas ton bring wealth and opportunity to a place near and dear to him.

Their influence does not come from awesome power or fearful intimidation. Rather, the reason for their admiration comes from their hard work and ambition. Calicott and Davis are creating a legacy all their own. Like Oceanus and Hyperion, they have their domains; finance and politics are their fields of choice. At the core of their work is the all-to-necessary desire to help others. A trait they find, goes hand in hand with their ambitions.

He believes that having a good mentor even if that person is not necessarily working toward the same end as you, can still be a prime opportunity for learning.

Calicott agrees, commenting on how he found a way to get the resources he needed despite having a mentor he didn’t necessarily find helpful during his summer at a big time investment firm.

Like many students, Michael Calicott came in to Morehouse for mostly intrinsic reasons. His goal was to succeed, get good grades and make his family proud. Now, he’s set a new mission for himself. Financial literacy for his community is his new motivation.

Liam Davis’ tale is only slightly different. The former Deloitte scholar also came to Morehouse by way of his motivations. While Calicott’s path remained somewhat consistent, Davis came to a different conclusion about his path during his time in the Atlanta University Center.

While giving back has always constant however, he’s spent a great deal of his time finding new ways to address the crippling need in the community, both here and back home. Overtime, his ambitions have shifted from finance to politics. His goal now, to become the Prime

“Authentic mentorship is so much more important and effective than appointed mentorship,” Davis said.

“Some people have different motivations, but some people gravitate toward different people,” Calicott said.

The same could be said for the Morehouse brothers both young men have decided to mentor.

“It’s a little interesting to have people come up to us asking for advice and then asking for us to mentor them”.

Davis said.

Authenticity is the key to success for both young men. In friendships and business. Genuine hard work is what they believe will get them to their goals.

“You know the phrase, you have to work twice as hard to get half, I believe in working four times as hard so that I can be right on target with those around me”. Calicott said.

Calicott’s post-graduate plans include working for J.P. Morgan and Chase. Much like the Titans of old Michael Calicott and Liam Davis have left a legacy that’s sure to resonate for years to come.

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“It’s about personal development first,” former J.P. Morgan summer analyst Calicott said. “When I came in [to Morehouse] it wasn’t about helping people.”

Despite the divergent paths that led them to their respective success, Calicott and Davis both agree that mentorship was as part of what helped them find a sense of direction, as long as it’s authentic.

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T I T A N S THE YEAR OF 2016

TEXT KARYS BELGER IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR.

“You know the phrase, you have to work twice as hard to get half, I believe in working four times as hard so that I can be right on target with those around me.�

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Michael Calicott

“Authentic mentorship is so much more important and effective than appointed mentorship.�

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Liam Davis

TEXT JAYSON OVERBY, JR. IMAGES JAYSON OVERBY, JR. 84

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THE HALL OF FAME THE YEAR OF 2016

Darrius Atkins is a young man who believes in all of the possibilities. He was born and raised on the West Side of Chicago by his grandmother because his mom was sick with substance abuse, and he never knew his father. He grew up in a neighborhood where narcotics were sold on almost every street corner, senseless gun violence ruled, and gangs were almost institutionalized. He was given a fighting chance by his grandmother, who sacrificed so much for him and his younger brother. She believed in him and affirmed that nothing was beyond reach if he worked hard and played by the rules.

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What was the motivating factor that made you leave Chicago?

Well, I guess the most essential people in my life were my teachers. I am a product of the Chicago public school system. My neighborhood school maybe not had the resources, but my teachers made up for the thinness or lack thereof, and they always let me know I could always be more than a product of my environment. So aspire to be a product of my hopes and dreams, and I guess that made the difference for me. When I was in the fourth grade, I didn’t score the best on the yearly standardized tests. So my teacher pulled me out and said, ‘Darrius I believe in you.’ So I went from almost not graduating the fourth grade to graduating valedictorian of my eighth-grade class.

How did you find your way to Morehouse?

I had absolutely no intentions on attending an HBCU, none at all. I went to a magnet high school; I took two buses and had to walk a couple of blocks to my high school.

And in every sense of the world, my high school represented a microcosm of a melting pot in regard to ethnic diversity. There were whites, blacks, Latinos, Asian Americans. Every demographic you can think of was in my high school, and I wrongly thought that diversity could only be found in such a space, and I guess that myth was debunked when I first stepped foot on Morehouse’s campus. I thought that all the African-American men were involved in things I didn’t want to be involved with, particularly gang and drug-related activities, which skewed my perception of AfricanAmerican men. When I came to Morehouse that totally changed. I won the Bill and Melinda Gates scholarship, and I thought, you know what? I should put this money to good use. So I called Morehouse and came down for the weekend. I didn’t have any friends or family here, and it totally changed my view of African-American men.

I saw the guys engaged in conversation on how to change the world on campus, I listened to them talk about their research and the internships they were involved in, and I thought this was the place where I wanted to be. It’s the best decision I have ever made, and just to speak to that I grew

up in the black church and I was in the usher board when I was 4 years old. They taught me how to serve. Our motto was “I would rather be a door keeper in the house of God than to dwell in the tense of wickedness.” As I grew up, I realized that motto meant something much more to me. I realized I would rather be a public servant than live in a society that disregarded the poor or the marginalized and disenfranchised.

I would rather be a public servant than live in a world that turns a blind eye to the homeless, or most vulnerable among us. In concert with the lessons and sacrifices of my grandmother, and the lessons I learned in the black church, it really cultivated the leadership in me.

I always think of a poem by Edgar Guest...

“For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give, but there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.”

Beyond words, and conversations, and dialogue like this, I try to demonstrate my commitment to public servitude and leadership in everything I do. After freshman year I interned with Illinois House of Representatives. I was the first African-American in the particular office, and during my time there I was the only African-American intern in that office. And my boss, a freshman in the house, never heard of Morehouse, but when I left she knew about the college and she knew the depth and breadth of what an African-American man can bring to the table. After that year I interned at Goldman Sachs in the asset managing department, as a political science major, and once again as one of the first African-Americans in that office, I worked my tail off. Not for me, and not because I was interested in going into finance, but it was because I wanted to open the door for people who looked just like me. Following that, I had a fellowship at the Gerald Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. I went there and I worked, so now the name Morehouse and the view of African-American men has changed a little, so I think that would be the biggest legacy I would have left at Morehouse. I went and pursued opportunities that were, in a lot of cases, not open to us [black men] before. I was able to change the conversation around African-American men and what we can bring to the table.

What’s next for you, and what’s the next journey in your life?

I was blessed to get into 10 law schools that awarded several scholarships. A couple full rides actually, but I will be pursuing my legal education at the University of Chicago Law School. I view law as a catalyst for change.

My view of the law isn’t based on idealism alone. Growing up on the West Side of Chicago, I’ve seen how policies and practic¬es have been disadvantageous to members of my community, and I want to use law as a vehicle to overturn those policies and push back the status quo that is not work¬ing.

I want to use law to catapult me to the

decision-making table where I can give my perspective, which is unique based on my socioeconomic background and my ethnic background. Because we need to be at the table, and I believe a legal career is that vehicle of change for me. I want to be able to drive change, and be able to be a thought leader who shapes the policies of our lives; I’m deeply interested in government.

Were you involved in any organizations?

My very first year I was the president of Graves Hall, and then I ran for sophomore class president, and then unopposed for junior class president. I was able to use those offices to actualize my ideals of what community service and effective leadership looks like. For instance, we all are familiar with the pageant culture in the AUC. Well, I used that pageant, my last pageant as junior class president, to send a different message. It wasn’t based on superficial things; it was based on Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. We used her presidential campaign “Unbought and Unbossed” as a way to empower women. And let them know here at Morehouse College we believe that women’s issues are men’s issues and we will stand on the front lines with you to make sure that there is equality not only among the races, but equality among gender.

What would you want people to know about Darrius?

I am extremely grateful for the support I have been given from my family, from my friends, and I guess to echo the words of the song, that support has been the wind beneath my wings. And I can honestly say with unwavering certainty that I would not be able to have had the opportunities I had, meet the people I have met, or even sit here with you, if it had not been for the individuals who believed in me when I could not see in front of me. They believed in me when I didn’t even know what to do with myself. If I could say one thing, it would be to appreciate the people in your lives, because the impact they make is often immeasurable.

What are long-term goals for you?

I am interested in practicing law for a little while, but I am deeply interested in contributing something to the public discourse, and if there is a space for me where I can serve the public – I am going to take it. Specifically, in Illinois, there are a lot of things that can be said about Chicago, and here is one of them, “There is nothing wrong with Chicago that can’t be solved with what’s right with Chicago.” I want to get to the table and help make those decisions and help drive the necessary change that we need. Public service is the longterm career goal for me, and whether that’s in the capacity of a community organizer or an appointed governmental position, or whether that’s in the capacity to run for elected office.

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Who is Austin as an academic student?

It’s funny, because academics were not my thing when I came to Morehouse. [The reason he aimed for a 4-0 or to raise his intellectual status] was mainly because a teacher said I couldn’t do it when I was in Cleveland – that when I got to college that I wouldn’t be able to get good grades, straight As, or achieve anything. So from there, I took it upon myself to really come to Morehouse and alter the way people thought of me with academics. I came out strong my freshman year with a 4.0, and maintained roughly a 3.9 throughout my entire career at Morehouse, and ended up getting into Phi Beta Kappa recently. So that was smooth.

Biggest accomplishments?

I would definitely say the College Charity run, and I would say that on a sense of I remember my freshman year sitting with my RA [while] he was trying to plan the event, but it was more so a benefit concert. We had planned it and got everything going and it didn’t happen. I remember seeing other initiatives on campus that were supposed to be really big but didn’t happen, so I knew going into it I was very doubtful. I didn’t want to be the guy who tried to throw something that didn’t happen, and didn’t happen the way you envisioned it, because life happens, people get raggedy and people don’t get in things the way you need them to. But everything worked out the way it should have. People felt the impact that it had. It was more than just an idea or I. It was something that could change the way we do things on campus and how we impact.

Breon Weathersby Hometown: Stone Mountain, GA Major: Economics

What has Morehouse done for you?

It has definitely shaped me to the man I am today – professionally, to the way I dress [and] the way I communicate with others.

Coming in freshman year, you see all these top-notch cats that are our seniors on the way out. You strive to be like that. From freshman year to now, I really see a full transition. I am really thankful for Morehouse and eve¬rything it has done for me on an academic, professional, and all other levels.

What’s one of your greatest accomplishments here at Morehouse?

My biggest accomplishments are my academic accomplishments, 3.88. I really put a lot of time and effort in my studies.

Being an Alpha, being in a lot of organizations, yeah, those are great. But you come to Morehouse to get your education, and I feel like I’ve come and done what I needed to do.

Any advice for freshmen reading this?

If you’re a freshman and you’re on campus I would say get involved. Not only does this help your network, but it gives you a strong foundation on how to lead and serve.

Morehouse is big on serving the community, though you have to learn how to do that and work and get better. I know that Morehouse is kind of like a way to do that before stepping out to the world, where it’s more important that you are leading and serving.

What’s next after graduation?

After Morehouse, I will be working at IBM Global business. I’ll be working as a business managing consultant. I’ll be doing that for a couple of years but essentially I want to go back and further my education, maybe go back and get my MBA or PhD, figure out which degree would be better suited to help me in the future. I’m just excited for the next journey. I know it’s bittersweet as my time at Morehouse is coming to an end as a student, but my time as an alumnus of the college is just beginning. So I will be able to look forward to the progression of Morehouse after I graduate.

Bumman Ndeh Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland Major: Economics

Tell me about your time here at Morehouse College?

My time here at Morehouse has been fulfilling in that I have found a sense of community that I didn’t know was so important to me. It’s had its challenges as far as dealing with some of the instructional stuff, but I feel like because I had the community of brothers who were like me, it made it much easier and more pleasant and memorable.

What about the community aided in your development?

Quite simply, having other people who were black and gay, I could identify with similar experiences and similar backgrounds. But also being able to embrace people who have different experiences and back¬grounds.

What organizations were you involved in?

I’ve always been involved with Safe Space and the Bayard Rustin scholars programs.

So Safe Space is our LGBT student collective I’ve always been involved with since freshman year, and I came on the e-board sophomore year, and then this year I was president. The Bayard Rustin scholars program is for students interested in social justice advocacy, and I was a scholar in that program my freshman year and the past two years I’ve been a director in the program.

Proudest moment thus far?

Having the Bayard Rustin Crown Forum because I was involved with that program freshman year, and I knew that was something people before me worked towards like Kenneth Pass, Jamal Lewis, Marcus Lee, Daniel Edwards, and many more people.

They worked towards making it happen and to finally be a part of the work to make it happen and see it through was very special to me, and having the speaker Darnell Moore. I’m proud because we can work toward a bigger one in 2017. The second thing is probably Pride Week. It was just a special moment the whole week, for folks to see the importance of art and activism and community building. And for it to not only be a good time, but for students to get involved with stuff like Hump Wednesday. It was kind of like using the art and their bodies to carry their messages. Seeing how the Pride Week was played out practically on a student level and to have that reflect for the students was great. [It also was great] for us to craft a space for us to be our¬selves and celebrate ourselves when we are so often pushed in corners and crevices.

Keyon Branch Hometown: Detroit, Michigan Major: Business Marketing Who is Keyon?

Keyon is somebody who likes to have fun, and someone who is dedicated. So that’s really what it’s been the last four years.

Pretty much for me I wanted to make the best out of this experience. I’m second generation Morehouse – my brother graduated a couple years ago – and I wanted to come

TOP: Breon Weathersby, Thomas Cox, Cabral Clements, and Bummah Ndeh

Who is Austin?

I just like to get involved in different things that are influencing things positively. Like, when I got to campus I wanted to be the best RA I could because the RHA changed my life, which kind of influenced my ability to make the college charity run happen.

The College Charity Run is an AUC initiative that we use to promote and raise awareness to issues that affect African-Americans. Not only that, but [to] raise awareness and bring monetary funds to a deserving foundation in need this year. We focused on mental health and next year it’ll be whatever we decide it to be. It’s student run so there’ll be a vote in which students can vote for what they want to run for next year. Really, it couldn’t have happened without the whole team. We had a team of about 35 and from there we took it as an idea, figured out how we could make it happen and got a lot of staff and administration involved, and got them to see the vision that we had. And from there, we started it off and hit the ground running.

What’s been your campus impact?

Well, I’ve been through various facets of the campus. I’m a presidential ambassador, I’ve served on SGA since freshman year, I served on the elections committee, and after I served as the secretary of campus operations for the previous three years. So I really enjoyed get¬ting in the mix of campus and showing my leadership skills. I’ve worked with the NAACP as their treasurer, as well as being a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., where I have served numerous roles, where I’ve served on the step team and membership intake. It’s just been a great experience. Morehouse has been an overall great experience through campus organizations and extracurricular activities.

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Austin Easterling Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio Major: Economics

here and make a name for myself, and not always follow behind his name.

What’s one of your greatest accomplishments here at Morehouse?

While being here at Morehouse, probably my work with SGA. I’ve been in the Student Government Association since I was a fresh¬man, so [I’m proud of] making sure I was that advocate for students, whether that be for the new washers and dryers on campus or even smaller things like just talking to the administration to fight for students.

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BOTTOM: Tunde Smith, Austin Easterling, Darrius Atkins, and Keyon Branch

What was your last year in SGA like?

It was an interesting year. There were ups and downs, but at the end of the day I think we all pushed through it although there were issues that we fought. I think that it was a very successful year, and it will be an even better year once we leave.

Academically and campus-wise, how have you made an impact?

Academically, being the president of the marketing association, being an active mem-ber in MBA. I’ve made my presence known throughout the Walter E. Massey Leadership Center, making sure that my grades come first. That’s why I’m here, and making sure that I’m contributing to my major as in helping people in my major who are younger than me. And making sure I am all together as far as grades and knowing what you want to do afterwards.

Any advice for freshmen reading this?

Never give up. Never take no for an answer at Morehouse. That will be the first answer people will typically give you. And as far as finding yourself, open up to it. Let Morehouse go through you. Don’t be so uptight that you just are so ready for these four years to be over with. Open yourself up to Morehouse and see what she and everyone here has to offer you.

The quote people say, “You are who you hang around with” is very true. If you hang around with a lot of people who aren’t doing much here, you will probably be back here for another year not doing anything.

You have to surround yourself with people who are like-minded who will push you, and you will push them to succeed.

Thomas “Trey” Cox Hometown: Atlanta, GA Major: Economics

I’ve gotten to connect with a lot of people, and as a result those people have influenced me and I have learned from them.

Whether it’s the guy who’s popping or the guys everyone thinks is lame, I have gotten the benefit from my brothers. I would like to push brothers to get off their behind and make a difference. I think there’s a lot of people who have a lot to say, and say they do a lot that don’t do much at all. So I think that people use the platform of campus to really catapult themselves into different categories and professions.

for Morehouse students to connect with each other in a closed network, exclusively for Morehouse, but now it’s turning into a tool for admissions, across different schools.

But I was involved because I wanted it at Morehouse and that involved the company that started at Emory University, and I worked with them for a while to get different schools involved.

What’s one of your greatest accomplishments here at Morehouse?

It might sound odd, but graduating Morehouse is a great accomplishment. Undeniably, senior year was a very troublesome and trying year. It took everything I had in me physically and emotionally and mentally. But just the fact I got through being involved with campus and getting good grades show my resilience.

Why are you in the Hall of Fame?

Well, I’m pretty much one of the best researchers Morehouse College has seen. I’d say I am a published researcher in undergrad, I have eight or nine years of research experience, and I came to Morehouse as already a social person. I won Mr. Freshman and was even involved with different social organizations. However, I transitioned throughout my matriculation at Morehouse into really being in the lab making discoveries at Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse and Spelman College.

What’s next?

In the short run, I will be working with Moody’s analytics working with product strategy on Wall Street, but in the long run, I will be pursuing a JD at Columbia, and a Masters of foreign policy. In the long term, I want to be an advocate for human rights in third-world countries, and domestically as well.

One thing you want people to know about you?

At the end of the day, I was always myself, and I kept everything honest and I showed love.

Cabral Clements Hometown: Atlanta, GA Major: CTEMS Who is Cabral?

I would like to say that I’m a problem solver.

Can we start over? No? Keep going? Let me look at my Instagram bio to see what it says. Oh, I love adventure, I’m a filmmaker, and I’m a technologist – that’s what my Instagram bio says. I like to stick to that because I feel like it kind of defines who I am at the moment. Adventure can accomplish many different things. I like to learn and see new things, and meet people. Filmmaker, because that’s what I do. That’s my creative outlet – producing and making film, and other content. I’m a technologist, and I feel like adventure, filmmaking, technologist are all encompassing.

What organizations are you involved with on campus?

I’ve been a part of Project House, Student Ambassadors, and CASA, which I served as Homecoming Miss Maroon and White Director, Publicity Director, and this year I served as president of Project House. Lastly, I was business manager for MBA and was over spring symposium.

What do you plan on doing with your major?

What I’ve been doing for a minute, and what I’ll continue to do is create content.

I’ve been moving toward a producer role, and I’d like to get people who are talented, put them together and create content, and make something amazing.

How has being involved on campus shaped you as a student?

What’s Campus Bubble?

Campus Bubble originally started as a way

Tunde Smith Hometown: Washington, DC Major: Biology

What kind of research have you done?

I’ve done prostate cancer research at Clark Atlanta University, I’ve done genetics research at Spelman, and at Morehouse I’ve done Bio-Chromatics. In one of my most interesting and recent projects I’m working on, we’re looking at a spice and its ability to produce different effects on cancer. It can slow down the growth by implementing specific increments of the spice.

What’s next after graduation?

I’m about to join the industry. I’m going to be working for one of the finest biotech companies in the world, Genentech, which builds different therapies using genetics.

After that an internship, and if I decide to take that full-time offer or not, I plan to go to grad school to get a PhD, and with that go into academics, or start my own biotech company.

Why the PhD? I feel like there’s two ways to impact people.

As a doctor, you can impact people from a one-on-one perspective. But as a scientist you can create different therapies that can help people from all over the world, [therapies] which doctors actually use to help millions and millions of people. So I think your effect is just much more widespread with research.

Any advice for freshmen reading this?

As a freshman, you think there are different routes you should take whether that be the popular route or the routes that Morehouse is directing you to go toward. But there’s an endless amount of possibilities in terms of what you want to make your own road to be.

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MAN OF THE YEAR

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THE YEAR OF 2016

TEXT JERREL FLOYD IMAGES AHMAD BARBER

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THE LEADING MAN: KEEPING THINGS IN ORDER

A hustler, though sometimes examined with a negative connotation, is often contemporarily referred to as a person who attains financial success and security through strategy, innovation and resourcefulness. It is the very process that has shaped some of the most innovative leaders that have graced this world.

Ivan Gaskin is a hustler. To be more specific, from childhood to adulthood Gaskin has consistently embodied innovation, resourcefulness, artistry and intelligence which he used as tools to shape the direction of the success he has managed to attain.

Thus, Ivan Gaskin is more than just an individual who was lucky or blessed. A significant portion of these accomplishments and success stem from the values instilled in him by his parents and the work ethic of the various individuals that inspire him.

The Independent Hustler “I came from a loving family,” senior computer science major Ivan Gaskin said. “I would say that the biggest thing that was emphasized in my household was work and hustle.”

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Residing in the north end of Seattle Wash., independence through a strong work ethic was something that was heavily emphasized within the Gaskin family. From a young age Gaskin’s father, Scott Gaskin, made sure to instill in Ivan and his younger brother Myles an ability to attain luxuries and necessities through their own means.

“Once I experienced that freedom, not having to depend or really look to anyone else to make a decision, that became the way that I operated,” Gaskin said.

This mentality followed Gaskin his entire life, leading to his goal and eventual attainment of going to college for free by his own merit and establishing impactful initiatives like awarding over 19 students with $1000 scholarships through creating the Purpose Driven Scholarship Fund.

However though it was moments like this that shaped the man Gaskin eventually became, his father is far from the sole individual who influenced him growing up. That privilege is also rewarded to his mother Robbie.

THE ARTISAN “My father taught me how to hustle, my mother taught me balance,” Gaskin said.

Where is father was stern, his mother was balanced and nurturing. Growing up and watching both of his parents work extremely hard to provide for him and his brother directly influenced how hard he chose to work to provide for himself.

Beyond setting an example, his mother was also the individual that single handily fed his relationship with the arts. When he was nine his mother purchased the very saxophone that literally and artistically impacted his life.

Following his father denying to pay for non-essential luxuries like bikes and a new pair of shoes, Ivan was taught steps to get those items himself.

“I’ve actually been able to go to a private school on a music scholarship and I actually started the Purpose Driven Scholarship here at Morehouse College due to that saxophone,” Gaskin said.

“He [Scott Gaskin] was like when you get your money you can go buy a pair of shoes,” Ivan Gaskin said. “And it wasn’t that he just told me no, he then showed me how to pitch myself to my neighbors and cut their grass.”

Artistically, his relationship with music and the arts goes beyond that saxophone and beyond literal tangibility.

Music for Gaskin is something that is a part of him on a deeper level.

By age seven Ivan Gaskin had started cutting his neighbors’ grass to earn his own income and by 16 he had established his own landscaping business contracted with the city that included more than 20 houses.

“Music puts your soul in a perceivable form,” Gaskin said.

“It has been a way for me becoming who I am.”

Beyond landscaping Gaskin served as a cameraman, sold shoes and t-shirts, and essentially did as much as possible to ensure a form of financial independence.

Having a relationship with the arts through music and poetry, his position as an artist is just a small piece of who Gaskin is and what he hopes to accomplish. In the midst of that artistry and independent mentality also resides a budding technology mogul.

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THE ENTREPRENEUR “Entrepreneurship has always been something that was strong in my upbringing so I knew I wanted to graduate as a CEO of sorts,” Gaskin said. “I knew I wanted to own my own business.”

Following internships with Deloitte, General Electric, programs with Google and Goldman Sachs and an education in Computer Science, Gaskin fulfilled that goal through the creation of the mobile application called Reflect.

After spending hours studying how to build mobile applications, his girlfriend Madeleine Wood advised him to attend church where he a met the co-founders that would assist him in building the application. Though he views fundraising and music as impactful entities, the innovator and independent hustler within him wanted to create something that was not only groundbreaking but financially successful.

“I think it’s [spirituality] your only strength,” Gaskin said.

“Spirituality has a huge impact on perspective.”

Throughout all of his decisions and actions prayer was always one of the initial steps that shaped those instances.

It was one of the steps that fed his determination to attend Morehouse for free and it was a key factor in his success with Reflect.

In conjunction with his spirituality there is still one singular entity that he reflects on as being something that shaped who he is as a whole. That entity is his younger brother Myles Gaskin.

“Having him behind me, that always made me push harder,” Ivan Gaskin said.

Suffering from Dyslexia, his brother Myles’ consistent battle to attain academic success throughout all of his obstacles was a consistent reminder to Ivan of how much harder he needed to work himself.

“It was important to look at what made money,” he said.

“My products will help at all times,” Gaskin said. “My products will build communities and foster education.”

However, Gaskin’s story does not end at his entrepreneurship. Engulfing all of the qualities that shape who he is exists a deep level of understanding of who he is as an individual and what accounts for his success.

THE CONSTANT SELF-REFLECTOR “My greatest weakness is the same thing as my greatest strength, my perspective,” Gaskin said.

Beyond being an entrepreneur and artisan Gaskin is an individual who consistently reflects on purpose, understanding and life in general. He notes that passion, fear and spirituality are all shaped by perspective. Specifically his perspectives on spirituality and faith are reoccurring factors throughout his life.

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Thus his entrepreneurship, artistry and work ethic were singly handily fed overall by a brother who refused to be a victim of circumstances and his spiritual perspective.

IVAN GASKIN Beyond the internships, companies and grade point averages Ivan Gaskin is more than just an average Morehouse student. Ivan Gaskin is an artist, an intellectual, a humanitarian and overall a hustler.

Though it is easy to hear the ladder and underestimate its power, that position as a hustler that was created by his father, balanced by his mother and shaped by his brother actively influenced who Ivan is in every aspect of his life.

Thus he is a man who is bold enough to step into college and become a CEO of his own mobile application and humble enough to still carry his acceptance letter to Morehouse in his wallet and consistently give back to the community.

“You got to cherish your scars, cherish your story and understand that it is the only thing that makes you unique,” Gaskin said.

Ladies and gentlemen may I introduce you to your 2016 Man of The Year, Ivan Gaskin

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With technology recently accounting for a significant portion of the financial success of a large list entrepreneurs, Gaskin aligns perfectly with the creation of Reflect.

Allowing businesses to literally bring their stories to life through transforming printed ads to videos by simply hovering phones over the ads , Reflect is truly a game changer.

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97 1. Download the “Reflect” App in your App store 2. Open “Reflect” and hover the above image 3. Experience the Light!

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AMBER JOHNSON BUSINESS MANAGER

ANNICK LAURENT DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR 2015 - 2016

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CHAD RHYM MANAGING EDITOR 2016 - 2017

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JAYSON OVERBY, JR. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

JERREL FLOYD MANAGING EDITOR 2015 - 2016

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POWERED BY THE MAROON TIGER

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