McLeod Magazine Spring 2022 issue

The McLeod magazine is written, edited and published by members of the student body at Bethune-Cookman University. All opinions are solely those of the author.

Managing Editor/ Chief writer

Harmony Bienemy

Graphic Designer

Carlesia Doleman

Layout Editor Rene White

Social media Editor

Feature Writers

Shay Myrthil

Jobari Yarbrough

Malik Grant

Heather Soloman

Amber Courtney

Courdeja Clark

Thea Shaw

A.J Price

Joshua Payne

Loron Robles

Carlesia Doleman

Sports Photographer

Julian Bacon

Photographers

Julian Bacon

Emmanuel Fields

Loron Robles

Publication Director

Dr. Salvador R. Victor

Faculty Adviser

Prof. Valerie Whitney

PUBLICATION

MEMBERSHIP

McLeod Magazine is looking for new memebers to join our staff each semester. For more information into joing this outstanding publication

Send Correspondence to: Advisor of The McLeod, Fine Arts Building Room 319

640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd.

Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Phone: (386) 481-2707

Whitneyv@cookman. com

That included reading. Her desire to read, according to one account, was fueled when as a child a young white girl told her to put down a book because she couldn’t read. Her story continues to inspire students at Bethune-Cookman University.

As a magazine staff, we work day in and day out to carry out the school’s motto-- “Enter to learn, Depart to serve.” We are committed to learning all that we can while serving our student body, staff and faculty. With summer time approaching, and another amazing school year coming to an end, we are happy to share this spring edition of McLeod Magazine.

This issue is dedicated to fun in the sun, opportunities and student life. Our team has worked hard to provide you—our readers-- with stories that you would find interesting and entertaining. With the reopening of the world happening right before our eyes, there are many stories to tell from campus royalties, puppy stories, summer care routines, and more.

I would like to thank our astonishing staff for working persistently this year on keeping McLeod Magazine relevant and up to date to best serve our students. A special thank you to our adviser, Professor Valerie Whitney, who continues to push us to our full potential.

We also could not finish without acknowledging our layout staff-René White and Julian Bacon-- for working tirelessly to bring the vision to life. Lastly, a huge thank you to our Mass Communication family who supports us, and our department chair, Dr. Salvador Victor. Harmony

Bienemy Editor Spring 2022

Our beloved founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, was determined from a young age to never let anyone tell her what she could and should not do.

Contents

Fashion

Andre Leon Talley was a giant of a man in the fashion industry, p.6

What’s to be on the lookout for this spring, p.8

Health/Lifestyle

Black don’t crack but it still needs to be protected from the sun, p.9

We have to make self-care a priority in this world, p.20

New skins care products worth a try, p.14

Entertainment

The low-down on the DC vs. Marvel rivalry, p. 19

Spider-Man fans weigh in on their favorite actor behind the mask, p.10

We all need to be “Godmothered” by Disney, p.13

There is a new vampire in town and his name is “Morbious,” p.12

Feature

I spent a week with 5 dogs and survived, p.17

Remembering my best Spring Break, p.21

Let's Talk About Twins p.23

Money, money, money, p. 24

On our cover B-CU Wildcats enjoing themselves during spring fest.

Photo Collage

B-CU Student Organizations struted their stuff during the spring step show in march.

Photographer

Magazine.

Julian Bacon was there and captured the scene for Mcleod

Members, above Tau Beta Sigma Band Sorority step to the beat during the spring step show in March.

Left, Members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., hand over a bag during their portion of the show.

Right, Members of Gamma Tau Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., show off their latest choreography.

Right, Members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., do the kid and play dance during the greek step show.

American fashion journalist André Leon Talley/Creative Commons

Fashion Profile: Andre’ Leon Talley

By Jobari Yarbrough

André Leon Talley was a giant of a man and most popular for his work as the American editorial manager of Vogue magazine. He was renowned among fashionistas for his flashy, frequently handcrafted outfits that covered his 6 feet, 7 inches frame, as well as by his thriving baritone. It is safe to say that Talley, without a doubt, was the most noticeable African American in the high-stakes universe of architect design, a world which spins around the semi-yearly runway shows in New York, Paris, London and Milan.

Talley was born Oct. 16, 1948, in Durham, North Carolina. He was raised by his grandmother, Bennie Frances Davis. Davis played a significant role in his life and he acknowledges her for his exceptional style for design. As a high schooler, he went to the library in the white part of town. It was there that he found Vogue and immediately turned into a dedicated peruser.

He at first wanted to teach French, however, the fashion world enticed him. He managed to get into the door working as a right hand for Andy Warhol. In 1983, he started filling in as the editor-at-large for Vogue magazine and before long turned into the most striking African American in the realm of designer fashion.

“Clothes are my security blanket, and my outfits are my armor against the world of the chiffon trenches,” he said in his

book “The Gospel According to André Leon Talley.” Talley additionally was known to censure high profile planners for barring ladies of variety on the runway and for advocating a large group of lesser-referred to form originators like Rachel Roy and Jason Wu throughout his profession.

In April 2003 Talley wrote his autobiography titled “A.L.T.: A Memoir,” followed by “A.L.T. 365+,” a craftsmanship monograph that featured elements, photos and inscriptions from one year of his life. That same year, he received the Eugenia Sheppard Award for Fashion Journalism presented by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

He was a board legal administrator at the Savannah College of Art and Design and in 2008, he was granted an honorary doctorate. The André Leon Talley Gallery opened in the Museum of Art at the College in October 2011. During a similar period, the College laid out the André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award, a yearly honor surrendered to and coming fashionistas.

“I earned my position not because I was a beautiful, skinny – you can look at the pictures –articulate black man,” he said in an interview with the Guardian. “But because I had done my homework and my degrees. I never thought about being a man of color in my career until recently.”

In January 2014, Talley was named Artistic Director for Zappos Couture, an electronic supplier for couture attire and different products.

Talley died from complications of a cardiovascular failure and COVID-19 at a clinic in White Plains, New York, on Jan.18, 2022. He was 73. The response from fans and design illuminators was quick particularly on Twitter, where individuals shared their recollections of meeting Talley and taking motivation from his life and vocation.

“André Leon Talley made it possible for so many Black queer boys and men to express ourselves out loud. No reservations. A legend. An icon. May he rest in peace and power knowing that he paved the way for many people who looked up to him,” Preston Mitchum said in a tweet.

“I’d like to be remembered as someone who made a difference in the lives of young people — that I nurtured someone and taught them to pursue their dreams and their careers, to leave a legacy. You cannot live your life in the elitist world of fashion and not step out or you’re disconnected. You have to realize

Fashion inspiration is all around us if you look hard enough

By Jobari Yarbrough

As fashionistas, designers, and stylists, we all get inspired by something or someone. Whether it be a piece of fabric or a shoe choice, there is always something we can see further just by looking at those things. A lot of people in fashion are influenced by different trends or styles. Think Y2k, urban street style, or even bohemian.

There are influencers or celebrities that are very original and creative with their fashion choices, and the audience often find those choices a work of art.

B-CU student

Nyjah Fleming is among those who looks to others when making her fashion choices. Fleming says she admires De'arra Taylor, a social media queen, actress and fashion queen, among other things. “She isn’t afraid to be talked about or be different, she keeps up on trends but adds her own flavor to them,” Fleming says about Taylor.

She says she became aware of De’arra Taylor through YouTube and she’s been following her as she’s grown as an influencer. Fleming is attracted to chic and streetwear looks and loves to work with classic timeless pieces. And that, she says, is what De’arra embodies, an allaround style.

Christopher Dominic, another B-CU student, says his style choices are influenced not only by mainstream artists, but also regular people in everyday life. He defines his style as a mixture between urban streetwear and elevated streetwear.

of challenging the fashion world.

“I look up to him because he is not afraid to try different styles and also he has a wide range of aesthetics which allows him not to be bound to one particular look,” Dominic says. Lastly, music and fashion go hand-in-hand because they are both works of art that require self-expression and creativity. That combo fits well with B-CU senior Tazion Ritchie.

Ritchie’s style varies from soft girl to a bit of Y2k to bohemian and many more. Ritchie says she likes Rico Nasty, a rapper and fashion icon. She appreciates Rico Nasty’s versatility and her ability to change her style for every venue, which is also very admirable.

“I came across Rico Nasty by looking at her and seeing how a black woman could do punk rock but can also switch the style in her fashion and music choices.”

Dominic points to Rihanna, Justin Trent Johnson as just two of those that have influenced his style in the past. Currently, he says, his strongest influencer is Mehdi, who is a fashion influencer on Instagram. Mehdi, who is represented by the Pause Agency, is yet another stylist who is not afraid

Listening to the testimonies of other young adults have surely influenced me to widen my range of influences. Hopefully, this willhelp others as well to start opening their eyes to more fashion risks and adventures! Fashion will never be easy, but as long as you have a blueprint or make your own blueprint, it’ll definitely become your love language.

Woman in colorful dress on the runway. Manish Arora design (Spring 2007 collection) at London fashion Week

Don’t Forget to Protect Your Melanin !

By Shay Myrthil

As the hot days of summer approach, many African Americans will be heading to the store to purchase sunglasses, towels, flip-flops and swimwear. But, not many will think to grab something much more important-- sunscreen. Unfortunately, between summer bodies, barbeque's, and vacations many people within the black community fail to protect their skin from the harsh rays of the sun. There are many misconceptions about wearing sunscreen that affect our health in a negative way.

Number one is the idea that dark skinned people are not subject to sun burn and therefore do not need sunscreen. This is a myth. Everyone’s skin, regardless of color, needs to be protected from the UV rays of the sun. An excess amount of such rays can result in a sunburn, which can damage to the outer layer of the skin. Although it is not common, African Americans have gotten sunburns. Symptoms include redness, soreness, itchiness and peeling of the skin.

Meanwhile, because of a lack of knowledge, Blacks are exposing themselves to dangerous life-threatening illnesses such as skin cancer. Recent studies have shown a spike in skin cancer within the African American community simply because of the lack of sunscreen use.

Skin cancer can be defined as the uncontrollable growth of cells within the epidermis (outermost skin layer) that is caused by damaged DNA, causing mutations in the body.

Adding sunscreen to your daily regimen can make a world of difference in the health of your melanin.

Sunscreen acts as a protective layer that shields the skin from harsh exposure. And, while melanin lessens the likelihood of damage to our skin, the sun is still a very intense source of ultraviolet radiation. Just by applying sunscreen, you are protecting your skin from harmful and sometimes fatal illnesses.

In most cases sun burns will go away on their own but damage to the skin has been done and can lead to something more serious such as melanoma. Melanoma is the most severe form of skin cancer, damage is done to the melanocytes, which are the cells that produce melanin. This form of cancer affects 1 in 167 African Americans each year, according to the American Cancer Society, and is not likely to be spotted until the later stages.

For black people, protecting our melanin should be number one on our summer list. It is important to wear sunscreen even when it isn’t hot outside because of the UV radiation caused by the sun. Our skin is our livelihood, a part of who we are, and it is up to us to protect it at all costs.

Don’t forget to grab a bottle of sunscreen before heading out the door this summer.

‘Morbius’ lacks both fangs and bite

By Joshua Payne

Sony’s Spider-Man Universe expanded out of Venom territory with Morbius, a sci-fi, action-adventure superhero film produced by Marvel Entertainment and Columbia Pictures, starring Jared Leto as a “Living Vampire.” Leto plays the role of Dr. Michael Morbius, a Nobel Prizewinning scientific genius crippled with a blood disease he was determined to cure.

According to the popular popculture media organization known as Imagine Gaming Network (IGN), “Morbius works alongside scientist and eventual romantic interest Martine Bancroft (Adria Arjona) in the name of his ailing best friend Milo (Matt Smith) since their early private health care treatments.

It’s the epitome of serious consequences brought upon by fraternal love as Morbius splices vampire bat DNA with a human subject — himself — leading to his ghoulish transformation into a not-yet-provencontrollable killing machine.”

Despite the various advertisements creating high hopes for this new edition to the roster of superhero films, the movie overall was mediocre at best, scoring a five out of 10 on IGN’s scale and a disappointing 16% on Rotten Tomato’s scale.

The story lacks substance as it fails to properly deep dive into the story of the man-bat anti-hero, and the supporting characters were underwritten to the point of curiosity as to why they were featured in the first place, such as agent Simon Stroud and

Besides the mostly monochrome special effects, which were only captivating for a short time, Matt Smith’s portrayal of Milo was the film’s main saving grace; his flamboyant personality introduced color to the film, making him the most interesting individual to watch throughout the film despite Dr. Morbius being the main character.

Overall, the below-average storyline, underwritten characters and forgettable blackon-black special effects drastically hold back the potential of what the movie could have been; an amazing yet dark action-packed sci-fi Marvel film re-telling the story of an iconic Spider-Man villain from the comics.

Dr. Morbius’ originalcaretaker, Emil Nikols.

Disney’s ‘Godmothered’ film sticks to the magic playbook

By Heather Salomon

The Disney Plus live-action movie titled“Godmothered” focuses on the role of the fairy godmother. The film has the foundations of movie magic working in its favor. The film is directed by Sharon Maguire (best known for Bridget Jones’s Diary) so expect lots of silly moments and heart throughout the piece.

The plot focuses on a young and unskilled fairy godmother who ventures out on her own to prove her worth by tracking down a girl whose request for help was denied.

This film is pleasant enough, a fun and nostalgic Christmas-themed family comedy with ambitions to be this generation “Enchanted,” the 2007 musical rom-com starring Amy Adams as a cartoon Disney princess who gets stuck in New York City after a witch transforms her into a flesh-and-blood humanoid.

Godmothered has a few slow parts but a meaningful message. While “Enchanted” focused on bringing fairy-tale magic to everyday life, “Godmothered” finds its originality in doing the opposite: by the end, it’s about how fairy tales could learn a thing or two from real life.

Remembering what brings happiness in the day-to-day is more important than fixating on a nebulous happily ever after. The delivery isn’t that smooth; the conflict of fairy godmothers going out of style takes a backseat for most of the movie before getting revved up at the end for an 11th-hour showdown.

The film, however, leaps with Jillian Bell’s (the young fairy godmother) weird line delivery. Encountering Siri for the first time, she cowers, whispering, "who said that? Is there a

genie in there? (Don't answer that. Every time her character bursts into song, Bell ends up croaking out foul, off-key melodies unbefitting the typical Disney heroine, which might not ultimately matter much. Kids are likely to enjoy this movie either way as it

retains enough of the Disney formula: a happy ending, the triumph of love, endearing-enough CGI wildlife, a climactic and heroic musical number.

For the most part, “Godmothered” is a mixedbag of clever comedy and silly kid-movie clichés. But, the writers craft an ending that is so emotionally and intellectually satisfying that it is easy to forgive the film’s less magical attributes. Give this film a watch and form your own opinion. Don’t forget the popcorn.

Platform: Available to stream on Disney+ Genre(s): Fantasy, Comedy

Budget: $2 million (source: imdb.com)

Running Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Rating: PG

Skin Care Products You Should Try

By Courdeja Clark

Planning a trip to the beach this summer? Or, just hanging with your boys or your girls outside? If so, skincare should be a top priority. Excessive sweating strips away moisture from our skin leaving it dry, and even though people of color are less likely to get a sunburn, longterm exposure to the sun can cause severe damage and lead to skin cancer.

According to dermatologist Angela Kyel of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, despite the protection afforded by melanin, African Americans tend to suffer more melanoma deaths than other ethnic groups. The problem is that moles in dark-skinned people don’t get checked as often, Kyel said in an 2019 article.

Likewise, she noted in the article that people with darker skin tend to get cancer in different locations than people with fair skin. “For example, in African Americans and Asians, we see it more often on their nails, hands and feet,” she said. “Caucasians tend to get it more in sun-exposed areas.”

Keeping that in mind, below is a list of the Best Skin Care products for you to try out this summer.

UnSun cosmetics began in 2016 offering sunscreen products for melanin skin. Since then, the bran has expanded to body highlighters, hand creams, and body butter. UnSun is available at Revolve and Dermstore.

KNC Beauty is named after its founder Kristen Crawley, and has been loved by many celebrities and makeup artists. The Supa Scrub is available for purchase at Sephora, Violet Grey, and Revolve.

Elle Vie was created in 2014 and it was dedicated to women's well being and the products reflect excellence. The products include body butters, shower gels, and body oils. Elle Vie can be purchased online through their website.

Eleven by Venus Williams is a sun and skin care focused line. The suncare includes a mineral broad spectrum SPF 35 that was created for skin of color. There is also SPF 15 lip balm to keep your lips moisturized. You can shop Eleven at Ulta, Nordstrom, and Credo Beauty.

left to right, Bruce and Tyson head out for a walk.

Photo by Thea Shaw

My Spring Break went to the dogs

By Thea Shaw

Ispent a spring break 2022 with five dogs. I don’t know that I would recommend it, but it did provide some memorable moments. I’ve always enjoyed taking care of animals and I started a side hustle walking dogs in 2019. I decided to download a dog walking app by the name of Wag.

I also downloaded another app named Rover. I was all set. I started to get a lot of walking gigs on Wag and even more gigs on Rover. All of this was back home in Washington, D.C. Therefore, I was surprised when I started getting gigs from people here in Florida. Tyson was the first dog I cared for here.

He was a French bulldog and to be honest, I don't think I'll ever forget him. He left a mark … literally. When Tyson arrived, the first thing he did was pee on the floor of my living room. Tyson stayed with me for four days before his owners came to get him.

During that time, he scratched a hole in my balcony door frame. He bullied my dog Bruce and he barked whenever he didn't get his way. He was truly a small dog with a big personality.

Kilo was the next dog I looked after. Kilo was a Rottweiler. To be honest, Rottweilers can be intimidating at times, but this Rottweiler was one of the friendliest dogs I've ever met. He was cool, calm, and collected. He spent the majority of his days sleeping and lazing around. He liked having his butt rubbed.(Pet owners will know

what I am talking about.)

What I liked about Kilo was that he didn't have to walk on a leash. But I live in a student apartment, and I didn't think anyone would want to see a big Rottweiler off-leash. So, we did it the right way.

Tanzy was the third dog I cared for during that break. Her arrival meant I suddenly had three large dogs. Tanzy was a very active dog. She enjoyed interacting with my dog and Kilo. At the same time Tanzy suffered from separation anxiety, so I didn't leave the house that day because it was raining. Besides, I didn't have a car anyway if I wanted to leave. The other dogs were frequently irritated by Tanzy, so I decided to separate them.

Mars was the last dog I was hired to pet sit and the smallest. Mars was a 5-month-old Yorkie- Maltese mix. I enjoyed Mars’s company. He was a wonderful dog. But he, too, left his mark. I had to dash to the store, leaving Mars in my room. I returned home to find a huge hole in my carpet. Mars, it turned out, had attempted to dig beneath my bedroom door.

What baffled me the most was that I preferred Mars in his cage. In retrospect, it’s probably best that I take a break from sitting dogs because when I move out of my apartment I know I’m going to have a bill to go along with these memories.

The Ups and Downs of the DC Extended Universe

By A.J Price

Ever since it was established, the DC Extended Universe has been a tumultuous whirlwind of off-screen drama and inconsistent storytelling. Likewise, since the creation of both Marvel Comics and DC Comics in the 1930s, there has been a silent, subtle, and unspoken rivalry between the two companies. The rivalry carried on throughout the 1900s with both companies --- having been absorbed through sales and mergers, hence the change in names to DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and Marvel Entertainment --releasing low budget television shows and movies.

The rivalry heated up in 1989 when DC and Warner Bros. released the live action movie “Batman” starring Michael Keaton. Three more Batman movies were released between 1992 to 1997, starting with the sequel “Batman Returns” in 1992. Also, two different actors played the role of Batman.

This was the true beginning of the trend of superhero movies that we know and have today.

In 2000 Marvel released the first big budget movie based on a comic book--“X-Men.” After the release of “X-Men,” Marvel went onto to release a series of other movies in nonchronologically order and continued to do so throughout the decade.

In response, DC jumped in the race with the release of “Batman Begins” in 2005 featuring a new actor playing the caped crusader--Christian Bale. The film was the start of DC’s reign of comic book movies from 2005 to 2012.

Meanwhile, Marvel established Marvel Studios in 2008 and stepped up its game with the release of “Iron Man.” During the next five years, the studio released several other films including “Iron Man 2,” “Iron Man 3,” “Thor” and “The Avengers.”

In 2011 DC released the “Green

Lantern” movie starring Ryan Reynolds, which was been considered as DC’s first and original failure. After the failure of “Green Lantern,” DC decided to jump in the race establishing its own cinematic universe following the release of its first movie “Man of Steel” starring Henry Cavill in 2013. The film earned $668 million worldwide, leaving fans wondering when the next installment of the DCEU would arrive. Three years after the release of “Man of Steel,” came the next movie of the extended universe titled “Batman vs. Superman.”

The announcement of this movie left fans wondering why Batman would fight Superman and why wouldn’t there be a solo Batman movie beforehand to introduce the character. Once the movie premiered it left fans confused about the death of Superman toward the end of the movie, while also questioning the purpose of the future projects project DC such as “Suicide Squad, ”Wonder Woman,” and eventually “Justice League” movies.

At the time of the release the “Suicide Squad” movie it was well received. Margot Robbie played the character “Harley Quinn,” who was a fan favorite but over time the movie has not aged well among the fans. Luckily after the release of “Suicide Squad” came “Wonder Woman” in 2017 that was well received by the fans.

Fast forward to November of 2017 came the release of the long anticipated “Justice League” movie directed by Joss Whedon, who also directed and produced the first two “Avengers” films.

The initial reaction to this movie was not positive. Fans of the franchise were not pleased with the story, the directing style, and the director in general. Critics said Whedon’s directing style was too brightly shot

for DC’s darker tone.

They also did not like the dark story. And it was reported that some of the cast members, specifically Ray Fisher who played the character “Cyborg,” were treated poorly by Whedon and Warner Bros. studios. Both fans and cast members pleaded with Warner to rehire former “Man of Steel” and “Batman vs Superman” director Zack Snyder. He had been fired by Warner Brothers in 2017, which disabled him from releasing his version of the Justice league movie now known as the “Snyder Cut.”

In December 2018, DC released a solo “Aquaman” film to follow the release of Justice league, as the movie was a success in the box office and with the fans. After the release of the film “Shazam” in 2019, it seemed as if DC was on a subtle decline as the 2020 pandemic affected the release and filming of multiple DC projects. During the quarantine of 2020,a petition for the releasing of the Snyder Cut was being passed around online hoping for a response from Warner Bros. Much to fans delight, the Snyder Cut was released in March 2020, as a “Thank you” to fans from Zack Snyder.

It would be the last project he would release with DC and Warner Bros. Now in 2022, DC continues to have its fair share of ups and downs.

This year DC released a hit series on HBO Max called “Peacemaker” that was well received and loved by the fans. Also, it saw mass success with the release of another “Batman” movie, this one starring Robert Pattinson, making him the third person to portray the character in film since 2005.

Meanwhile, thanks to the pandemic, three DC movies have been pushed back for the third time in two years.

Graphic, Adobe

Spring equals Me Time!

By Amber B. Courtney

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. A time when the temperature rises, humidity goes through the roof, bugs are on the move, and flowers bloom. During this beautiful time of year, there are many steps you can take to help care and maintain your health, freshness, and sanity. Here are some tips to help you have the best Spring ever.

Your Body

• Shower daily, maybe even more than just once

• The humidity and heat will cause you to sweat excessively. Showering a lot will be a must if you want to stay smelling good, feeling fresh, and being healthy.

• You also may want to try powders to put into places of your body that sweat a lot. Baby powder, cornstarch and baking soda are good products to use because they absorb moisture.

• Drink as much water as you can stand

• You’ll be very hot and dehydrated from all that sweating. Keeping water with you at all times and drinking it is a necessity. You don’t want to pass out, or, you

know, die.

• Wear bug repellant

• All types of bugs thrive in the heat. Ants, botflies, and the evil mosquitoes come out to play in warm weather. You can wear traditional bug repellant or opt for alternatives (for example, Avon’s ‘Skin So Soft’ body oil works wonders).

Your Environment

• Get the cleaning spray ready

• Because of the heat, anything you spill will become a sticky, almost-impossibleto-clean-up mess if you don’t wipe it up immediately after you spill it. It’s even worse if the substance is edible or sugary, then you will have bugs in a matter of minutes. Make sure to keep your cleaning supplies handy if you want to avoid messes and bugs.

• Take the trash out

• Watch your plants

Your Mind

• Go outside

• Being outside and in the sun is scientifically proven to increase serotonin levels, which causes an increase in peacefulness. Whether it’s taking a nature walk, gardening, or just basking in the sun, being outside is a must during any season.

• Exercise However, without the excuse of it being too cold outside, jogging and running outdoors can be added to your workout routine. helps burn more calories. Just make sure you bring a lot of water with you and don’t overdo it.

• Do warm weather activities

• Since the weather warms up, Spring gives us the perfect time to do things we couldn’t last season. Go to the beach, get in the pool, lay out in the sun- do all of the things you missed out on during the Fall and Winter due to the weather being chilly.

• Getting in the Summer mood is always exciting. Spring is pretty much Summer’s sister, so go and enjoy her warmth by having fun.

• Taking care of your body, environment, and mental health are all equally as important, as they all rely on each other. Be sure to have a healthy, safe, and fun Spring/ Summer in the Sunshine State.

My best Spring Break was the year that I.......

Spring Break is often idealized as being a week of nonstop fun and traveling. Sometimes breaks like these can help create some of the most memorable moments of one’s life. McLEOD Magazine writer Loron Robles sought out several students to get the 411 on their favorite Spring Break.

Camryn Franklin, a graduating senior majoring in mass communications/digital broadcast production, says her most memorable spring while in college was in 2020.

“I went home (Atlanta, GA) and I didn’t come back to school until Fall that year because the coronavirus pandemic. They basically extended our Spring break the Friday right before I booked my ticket to come back to campus and I just stayed home for five months.”

LR: How did this extended break ruin your plans for spring break?

“I didn’t have any plans for that Spring Break because I was planning on going home anyway but when they extended it was more time away from school. So, it made me think that I’m going to fall behind in my classes because everything got moved online so it was a big adjustment I would say.”

Kieyuana Gloster, who is set to graduate in May with a degree in sociology, says March 208 was her most memorable break.

“I was 10 years old in the third grade. Spring Break has finally begun and I was excited to not deal with school anymore. To my knowledge, I thought I was going to be home, by sitting in the house in the cool air conditioner, and playing outside with my friends. Instead, my mother had a huge surprise for me and my siblings.

LR: What did she tell you and your siblings?

“She told us to pack our summer wear and bathing suits, I wasn’t sure where we were going. In the back of my mind, I was thinking we were going to Orlando or Miami for a family vacation. … We all piled in the car and my mother began driving, I wasn’t sure where but I was very excited to where we were heading. Finally, after four hours, we pulled in a parking of Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port. I had never been on cruise before; I’ve always seen it advertise in commercials and the people in the commercials often seemed very overjoyed and it seemed like they’re always having a good time. The only thing I wasn’t looking forward to when it came to going on a cruise, were sailing on a boat in the middle of the ocean. All because I couldn’t swim, once we got on the boat I was amazed of the elegant art and structure the boat was in. There were different restaurants to choose, a buffet, a hibachi, and on top of that there was a pool with a waterslide and a jacuzzi ready.”

TaZion Ritchie, a graduating senior, studying mass communications/public relations and advertising, says her most memorable spring break as a college undergraduate took place her sophomore year.

“I ended up on going to Spring Break with my friends down to Miami. Originally, our spring break was kind of a bust, I wasn’t gonna go so I went home. Then I got a call saying hey we’re still going to Miami do you want join all you have to do is pay. So, I said bet. We went down to Miami.”

LR: What made that trip to Miami so memorable?

“This was going to be my first time ever going to somewhere else for spring break as a college student. Heading down to Miami was such a great experience especially since we were there for almost the whole week. It was basically the first HBCU weekend, well HBCU based Spring Break because there was different HBCUs such as FAMU (Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University) and NCAT (North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University) since there spring breaks were at the same timeframe. So, it was beyond amazing because of the culture, the vibe, and the parties. Just everything music wise was nice especially Ocean Drive. Ocean Drive in Miami during the nighttime and the day is jammed packed full of people especially during Spring Break because there was Greeks over here and dance orgs doing this. There were different types of people all over the place. It was just so much fun, the best part of the trip was just being on Ocean drive because this was the first time, I have ever been to Miami by myself with a group of people. Being down there was beyond amazing. It was an immaculate Spring Break. I got meet a ton of great people, I met some Greeks from Ohio and I saw a bunch of people from Cookman but I would say that is my most memorable Spring Break as a whole.”

Wildcat Twins

Let's Talk About Twins!

By Shay Myrthil

Did you know that we have multiple twins here at Bethune Cookman University? One in every 42 children are born a twin. The twins we have on campus come from different backgrounds and places in the world. They are all different people with unique personalities, likes, dislikes, aspirations, goals, and fears; the one thing that they all have in common is that they are a twin. Let me introduce you to the twins here at Bethune-Cookman University.

Taylor and Jada Neicko Troutman are sophomore’s here at Bethune Cookman University. They are from Prince George County, Maryland. Taylor and Jada are fraternal twins, Taylor is older by one minute. They were born on January 17,2002. They enjoy cheering and have been doing it for 12 years together. Cheering has brought them closer together because they are doing what they love. They are a part of the cheerleading team here at Bethune Cookman and they are great! Tumbling and being able to share their skills with others is why they love doing what they do.

Jada is a business administration major who wants to become a real estate agent after graduation. Taylor is a nursing major who plans on becoming a full-time travel nurse and also plans on building homes for the homeless. Interesting enough, twins do run in their family, they are one of three sets of female twins.

Cameron and Kahlil Andre Overton are juniors who play football for Bethune- Cookman. They have been playing football together for 18 years! After graduation they plan on furthering their football careers to the professional level and someday star in their own show. They were born on September 5th, 2000, currently 21 years old. Kahlil is older, but only by 30 seconds because of a C-section. Khalil is an interdisciplinary social science major, and his brother Cameron is a marine biology major.

These identical twins love to do so many different activities together like working out, watching movies, and catching waves at the Beach. Fun fact: twins run in their cam family on their mothers’ side. Originally from Dallas Texas, these boys came all the way to Daytona Beach, Florida to help put some points on our scoreboard!

Danae and Danielle Chantel Dyer are identical twins originally from Kingston, Jamaica. They were born on December 8th, 2001, currently 20 years old. Danielle is older by 1 minute. Surprisingly enough Twins don’t run in their family. They enjoy traveling together, seeing new places, finding new foods, and experiencing new cultures.

Danae and Danielle are both sophomores here at BethuneCookman. Danae is majoring in health and exercise science, and Danielle is majoring in Biology and a minor in chemistry. After graduation Danielle wants to pursue a career as a physician assistant while Danae wants to further her education

with graduate school.

Jalen and Jordan Williams are originally from Pembroke Pines, Florida. Although they are twins, the twin gene does run in their family. Jalen is the older twin. They were born on August 7th, 2001, currently 20 years old. These identical twins enjoy perfecting their craft, which is band. They have been playing together for years but have only been playing for The Marching Wildcats for two years. Both play the cymbals on our incredible drumline.

Other than band, they enjoy spending their time playing video games. Both are in their second year at Cookman, both Jalen and Jordan are biology majors who plan to go to medical school after graduation. These twins are so in sync that they have been seen walking on the same foot! Do you believe in twin telepathy?

Tianna and Tialyse Brown are fraternal twins who often get mixed up. They are from San Francisco, California but came to Bethune-Cookman to be a part of our illustrious band. They were born on May 21, 2002, currently 19 years old. These twins enjoy Spinning flags and rifles and being a part of winter guard.

They first started color guard in middle school and fell in love with it ever since. Tianna is older by one minute. The twin gene runs in their family strongly on both sides, in fact both their aunts and uncles are twins. Tianna is a computer science major who plans on taking a year off after graduation to travel while Tialyse is majoring in business administration and plans on opening up her own fashion business. These twins could not be any more different!

Gabrielle and Jada Chapman are freshmen here are Bethune Cookman. They are originally from Chicago, Illinois but moved to Atlanta, Georgia at the beginning of middle school. They were born on October 26th, 2003, currently 18 years old. Gabrielle is older by 15 minutes and they are the first set twins in their family.

These fraternal twins enjoy dancing, skating, and majorette dance. They have been dancing together since they were three years old. Dancing has helped these twins build a bond and confidence. Aside from dance, they play tennis, volleyball and do wrestling together.

Jada Chapman is a health and exercise science major and plans on going to med school to become a plastic surgeon. Gabrielle is majoring in biology in hopes of a chiropractor after graduation, and also dreams of owning her own nonprofit dance studio.

New app will help students save money

By Carlesia Doleman

We all know that asking students to save money can be quite difficult. Well, now there is a new app to help lighten the load. Beyond tracking financial information, Digit is another free mobile app that truly saves the money for you. Every few days, the app automatically withdraws a small amount of cash from your checking account (usually anywhere from $5-$50) and deposits it into a separate Digit account. To make sure that no fines are charged for overdrafting, there is a no-overdraft guarantee in situ for when your account is running low. While you can’t earn interest on the money you save with your Digit account, you will be able to adopt the company’s savings bonus that gives 5 cents for each $100 saved over three months. Another plus is that Digit allows you to withdraw from the bank account any time you would like with no extra fees or minimums. This app is very useful for college students who are looking to save of for large expenditures like a brand-new laptop, car or even a study abroad.

Many of the staff or McLeod Magazine also split their time writing for the VOICE of the Wildcats campus newspaper. Students , left to right, Shay Myrthil, Harmony Bienemy, Julian Bacon, Rene White, Carlesia Doleman and Loron Robles off their new T-shirts. Photo by Valerie Whitney