JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
Homeless crisis in Daytona Beach
School of Religion brings new opportunities
City and county officials look for solutions
By Christina Sloan Staff Writer Officials in Daytona Beach came face-to-face recently with an issue facing
Voice Staff Bethune-Cookman University welcomed its first official class of students to its new School of Religion on Jan. 11. The school is an outgrowth of the college’s department of religion and philosophy, which has been housed in the College of Liberal Arts. The new school will offer degrees in religion and philosophy, as well as Christian ministry. B-CU leadership tapped the Rev. Dr. Randolph Bracy Jr., a well-respected teaching pastor, as the new dean. The new school will add the practical aspect to the previously developed theoretical program, according to officials. “This is a historical moment for B-CU, a school that was founded and operates on Christian principles, Bracy said. “This focused program will enable us to promote and encourage ministry. It is going to prove very beneficial for the university and the community, as a whole,” he said. Bracy also said he is
Homeless camped out for several weeks in front of Volusia County Administration Building.
many large cities— what to do about the homeless population downtown. Hundreds of homeless people con-
gregated downtown for several weeks on the grounds of the Volusia County Administration Building on Beach Street, caus-
ing nearby businessowners to demand relief. City officials have since opened a temporary shelter at the continued on page 3
photo by Christina Sloan
Dr. Randolph Bracy Jr
looking forward to his first class of graduates and expanding the program to offer masters degrees in the future. The school will not only train pastors, but will also develop youth ministers, administrators and others interested in serving in ministry, he noted. Claude Cheatham Jr., a religion and philosophy major, said he was “excited, ecstatic and enthused” by the news. Having the program in Florida, Cheatham said, means that ministers and others who have accepted the calling from God will no longer have to travel to seminaries in other states such as Georgia and Virginia for training. The 20-year-old sophomore said he plans continued on page 7
B-CU honors 40 outstanding graduates that hit the mark B-CU Communications Bethune-Cookman University welcomed it’s first “40 Under 40” class during last year’s Florida Blue Florida Classic Weekend in Orlando. The “40 Under 40” recipients are a group of the university’s top graduates under the age of 40 who exemplify B-CU’s Core Values: Faith, Integrity, Respect, Service and a Thirst for Knowledge (F.I.R.S.T).
OPINION SEE PAGE 2
These alumni have achieved distinction in their respective fields, and have demonstrated outstanding service and loyalty to B-CU and their community. The list includes five graduates from the School of Performing Arts and Communication: Kari Cobham, Jada Wright-Greene, Jared Yancey, Erica Solomon, and Darnel Butler. Others on the list are: Raquel Tapia Eugene Pringle, Jr. Ericka Perry
FEATURES SEE PAGE 4, 5 & 11
Jessica Peterkin Tavious Peterkin Janae Sapp Tasha Felix Portsha Franklin Tracy Duval Marlena Lewis-Hamilton Asia McCoy David Pierre-Louis Noell Allen Brian Barker Kene Anusionwu Deric Feacher Mark Luckie Andrew Bello Patrick Brown Jaron Harvey Shantel Braynen Angela Austin Xaivian Raymond Tamil Perry-Lloyd Britnee Cunningham
Marcus McCoy, Jr. Anthony Johnson Alton Bolden Quinon Brooker Felecia Boyd Darnell Walker Neferteri Banks Leigh-Ann Buchanan Maulana Dotch Shamfa Cudjoe
Jared Yancey
Kari Cobham
Erica Solomon
COMMUNITY
SPORTS
SEE PAGE 6-7
SEE PAGE 8
Jada Wright-Greene
Darnel Butler
CAMPUS SEE PAGE 9-10
2 JAN/FEB 2016 The Voice of the Wildcats is written, edited and published by members of the student body at Bethune- By Andres Whipple Cookman University. The Staff Writer Voice of the Wildcats is published monthly during the fall and spring semesters. All opinions are soley those of the author.
OPINION
VOICE
America is the land of the free... right?
Petra Merrick
Editor-in-Chief Jaimee Cobb Layout Editor Greg Lewis Copy Editor Felix Reyes Jr. Sports Editor Timothy White Jr. Sports Writer Curtis Killings Photo Editor George Hudson Staff Photgrapher Staff Writers Andres Whipple Augustinas Navickas Christina Sloan Correspondents Charla McCord Fidline Ecxat Dr. Elsie Wanjohi Publication Director Valerie Whitney Voice Adviser PUBLICATION MEMBERSHIP The Voice of the Wildcats is a member of the College Media Advisors Association (CMA) and National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). ADVERTISER MEMBERSHIP The Voice of the Wildcats subscribes to the 360 Youth Send Correspondence to: Editor The VOICE, Fine Arts Building Room 124 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Phone: (386) 481-2707 Fax: (386) 481-2701 voiceofthewildcats@gmail. com
Is America afraid of immigrants? During the colonial era, back in the 1500s, the Europeans established the first settlements that would end up Whipple becoming the United States. Before that, however, people came to America using the land bridge connecting Asia and North America, thousands of years prior to the Europeans. Some came looking for opportunities; others looking for freedom and even some that came for religious reasons. These people, in general, wanted a new, better life in this land. Why all the historical technicalities you may be asking? It’s to prove a point. I’m an immigrant myself--Hispanic, born in the Dominican Republic and raised
in Spain. I’ve been an immigrant my entire life. Now I’m a U.S. citizen, but what does that mean? Last Thanksgiving, I went to a popular area supermarket to buy a pizza and saw this Hispaniclooking guy. My first thought was to speak to him since we have something in common, so we started talking in Spanish while he worked. Then, a fellow shopper, a woman who happened to be Caucasian, approached us and said: “Get back to f----ing Mexico if you want to speak Spanish. You (are) in America now, so learn to speak English. These f----ing Mexicans, I don’t know why we still let you cross the border.” Those were the exact words that old lady said to us. She then stormed out of sight, leaving us astonished. Is this the way America treats its citizens? How come a place built from the blood of immigrants can be so reluctant to accept people?
“It’s okay, she’s not the first, nor will be the last to tell me that,” the store clerk said afterward. I couldn’t help but feeling bad for him. I did not bother to confront store management about what happened. Still, it left a lasting impression on me. Why are people afraid of us? Is it fear of us doing the same they did to the Indians? By us I don’t mean only Hispanics, I mean Eastern Europeans, Asians, even black people or African Americans. All are STILL subjected to this racial hate that the USA has in its insides. We all come here looking for a better future, education, a good life, working on something we love, but this nonsensical hate is what prevents the United States from becoming one of the best countries in the world. The premise of “land of the free” gets tainted by the acts of some such as people like Donald Trump and others who clamor for such things building a wall to keep immigrants and slogans like “Let’s make America great again.” These words, in my opinion,
continued on page 3
All eyes on Donald Trump - just the way he likes it By Augustinas Navickas Staff Writer The 2016 presidential election is right around the corner. Whether or not you’re voting, most likely you have heard that Donald John Trump, Sr. is one Navickas of the candidates running for the Republican presidential nomination. A billionaire, investor, television personality, business magnate, socialite and author, Trump has become more of a celebrity thanks to his comments and actions on the campaign trail. Even if he doesn’t win, Trump or “The Donald,” has already left a huge footprint in the world. The 69-year-old has brought attention to himself in many different ways. One of his goals is to “make America great again.” In 2011 Trump started boosting his popularity by expressing hatred against Barack Obama, the current U.S. president. The Donald has been disrespectful enough to ask for Obama’s birth certificate, just to prove whether the current president is truly a U.S. citizen. Obama, however, simply made fun of Trump during the White House Correspondent’s Dinner, and after some time had passed, it seems like the media had forgotten about the issue, too. The media didn’t forget Donald Trump though, simply because of his outrageous, disrespectful, stereotypical and racist statements that he seems to spew in rapid succession. In the last
year, The Donald managed to get attention from the whole world. Sadly, he didn’t do anything good. His opinion on immigrants from Mexico was so bad, that it has literally made him wanted. According to Huffingtonpost.com, in one speech Trump was quoted as referring to people from Mexico by saying, “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.” His disgusting remarks reportedly were enough to gain the attention of Joaquin Guzman, aka El Chapo, one of world’s biggest drug lords. One rumor swirling around the Internet is that Guzman, who was recently recaptured after escaping from prison in Mexico, put a $100 million bounty on Trump’s head, according to Fox News. The Donald also had a lot to say about Muslims. After terrorist attacks late in 2015, Trump simply declared that, according to Telegraph.co.uk, “They’re not coming to this country if I am president.” Later on, according to CNN, Trump suggested that Muslim in this country should have to register-just like Adolf Hitler registered Jews during World War II. Trump suggested Muslims should be tracked. In his career as a politician Trump
has showed more than enough of sexist behavior. Not only he has called women he doesn’t find attractive “fat pigs,” “dogs,” “slobs,” and “disgusting animals,” according to huffingtonpost.com, but he has gone far enough to disrespect his female opponents. According to the same source, Trump has tweeted, “If Hillary Clinton can’t satisfy her husband, what makes her think she can satisfy America?” referring to the Democratic frontrunner. Likewise, he made disparaging remarks about the appearance of Carly Fiorina, a fellow Republican contender. This might sound crazy, but Trump still appeals to some Latino, Islamic and female voters. American people who follow Trump are making themselves look like naive and brainwashed citizens, who believe everything they hear on the media. Since the beginning of his campaign, Trump has managed to not only get on top, but also stay there for nearly three months. Using his skills and his wealth, Trump has been more of an entercontinued on page 3
NEWS
3 Hospitality management school named for former Disney executive VOICE
JAN/FEB 2016
B-CU Office of Communications The School of Hospitality Management was recently renamed in honor of Bob Billingslea, an influential retired Walt Disney executive and member of B-CU’s board of trustees. The new Bob Billingslea School of Hospitality Management currently offers a bachelor of science degree in hospitality management and will add more programs in the near future, according to the administration. Students in the program take a combination of lodging, food and tourism courses, in addition to other relative business classes. In addition, students are required to complete two internships to gain “real-world” experience, help them test their career goals, and increase their competitive position with potential employers. The school currently offers opportunities with companies including Walt Disney World, Marriott, Starwood, Hilton and Sodexo. President Edison Jackson, center, looks on as Bob Billingslea speaks during the dedication.
Billingslea spent more than 40 years with Disney and continues to serve as an invaluable advisor to Disney and other organizations. His relationship with B-CU began early in his career when he was tasked with establishing recruiting sources at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In 1986, he and a team of Walt Disney World colleagues met with then college President Dr. Oswald P. Bronson and presented him with a proposal to establish a hospitality management program at B-CU. The proposed program came
to fruition in 1986. Billingslea became a member of B-CU’s Board of Trustees in 1987. In October 2015, B-CU inducted him into the Dr. Richard V. Moore Legacy Society. He also received an honorary doctorate degree from B-CU in December 2015. photo courtesy of John Reeves
Book festival offers a plethora of diverse talents
Religion
Special to the Voice
to combine his theology training with politics and work on social justice issues. “I feel that God has called me to do this,” he said. The Rev. Jamal Bryant, pastor of the Empowerment Temple Church in Claude Cheatham Jr. Baltimore, Md., where Cheatham interned last year, also inspired him. “It gave me the opportunity to learn what I needed to learn and be able to lead God’s people in the political realm,” the student said. Meanwhile, Bracy brings more than 35 years of experience in divinity. He has the distinction of preaching on six of the seven continents, with the exception of Antarctica. Bracy has served as a visiting professor and lecturer at the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia; the Palmer Theological Seminary of Philadelphia; the Colgate-Rochester Divinity School in New York; and as adjunct professor of Homiletics and Black Church History at the Asbury Theological Seminary in Florida.
The fifth annual F.R.E.S.H Book Festival kicked off the 2016 event season at the Midtown Cultural and Educational Center. The event on January 8 and 9 featured visual artists, authors, publishers and spoken word artists looking for an audience. Donna M. Gray-Banks, community resources coordinator for the city of New Smyrna Beach, founded the event. According to Gray-Banks, the acronym “F.R.E.S.H.” stands for fiction, romance, erotica, spiritual and health. Gray-Banks also is the author of “Ila’s Diamonds” and “Ila’s Diamonds II.’’ This year’s event kicked off on opening night with performances by Amy Alysia and the Soul Operation Band followed by
T
Poet Devery Broox was among the artist of this year’s book festival.
a reception. During the evening poet Devery Broox also memorized the audience with his presentation. Broox told the audience that he was grateful to be here, while noting that spoken word has become his vocation.
rump
continued from page 2
tainer than a serious contender for president. The Donald, a hotspur upstart television personality, has found his audience. According to realclearpolitics.com, Trump is currently in the lead of “2016 Republican Presidential Nomination Polling Data.” So the question is would you like to have a sexist, racist, and religious discrimination-propagating president as the leader of the free world? Be sure to express your opinion by letting your voice be heard Nov. 8 on election day.
A
Dr. Evelyn Bethune, granddaughter of Bethune-Cookman University founder Mary McLeod Bethune, was among the publishers on hand for this year’s event.
merica
continued from page 2
appeal to those who choose to be ignorant and are reluctant to change. Immigration is variety, its color, all kinds of people, work, opportunities, and the chance to make a real country, one that accepts all its citizens and rejoices from it. The ones that live to hate, won’t stop until everyone hates each other. The key to stop racism is within all of us. This is the land with no roots, but one that can grow from all of us… together.
continued from page 1
H
omeless
continued from page 1
Salvation Army building downtown on Ballough Road. Meanwhile, county and city officials are still looking for a permanent solution to the issue, which stretches from one side of the county to the other in varying degrees. One idea previously proposed is construction of a 250-bed shelter on land provided by the county off U.S. 92.
FEATURES
4 JAN/FEB 2016 Bowie’s fans lament his passing
VOICE
Kanye gets backs to his roots in new album By Felix Reyes Jr. Staff Writer After almost three years since his last studio album, Kanye West is set to release his seventh solo album which at press time was untitled.
By Felix Reyes Jr. Staff Writer David Robert Jones, known to the public as David Bowie, was an English singer, songwriter, multiinstrumentalist, record producer, painter and actor. He had been a staple in pop music for more than five decades and to critics and other musicians, he was an innovator and was fearless when it came to trying new sounds. Bowie died Jan. 10, two days after his 69th birthday and the release of his latest album, “Blackstar.” He died from liver cancer in his New York City apartment. He had been diagnosed with the disease 18 months prior, but chose not to disclose the information to the media. Many celebrities took to twitter to send their condolences and pay their respects to the legend: “David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime.” – Kanye West “David Bowie was a true innovator, a true creative. May he rest in peace #RIPDavidBowie.” – Pharrell Williams “#DavidBowie impacted culture glob-
ally. The entire planet appreciated his music, style, and look. He did it all with so much soul. #RIP.” – MC Hammer Bowie was loved by many and had a lot of commercial success. He was won Grammys and sold about 140 million records over his career. In the United Kingdom, he was awarded 9 platinum, 11 gold and 8 silver albums, and in the United States, 5 platinum and 7 gold. He will be sorely missed by the fans of his music but also by his wife, Iman, and his closest friends and family. In a touching Facebook post, Bowie’s producer Tony Visconti wrote: “He always did what he wanted to do. And he wanted to do it his way and he wanted to do it the best way. His death was no different from his life — a work of art. He made Blackstar for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn’t, however, prepared for it. He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us. For now, it is appropriate to cry.”
West has been releasing tracks rumored to be on this album for a year and a half now starting with “All Day” that was leaked in August 2014. He then followed that up with collaboration with Beatle great Paul McCartney titled “Only One.” More recently, in the weeks leading up to the release date, West turned up the heat releasing three songs within 10 days of each other. The first of the three was “Facts,” which did not sit well with most people. Mostly since, it was more of a diss record towards Nike, the company that West felt handcuffed his creativity and forced him to sign with competitor Adidas. He stole cadence and flow from the “Jumpman” record by Drake and Future, and said, “Nike gave LeBron a billie [$1 billion] not to run away” (which I see no problem with taking a billion dollars and creating generational wealth in your family). The record released was “Real Friends” which was more… real… pun intended. He spoke about real subjects such as trust issues and family problems. This song restored the faith in this new album after many had lost it following the release of “Facts.” The song featured Los Angeles native Ty Dolla Sign on the bridge and hooks that really
helped the song flow. The final song released was actually previewed as a snippet on the end of “Real Friends.” The song title is “No More Parties in L.A.” and it features the kid from Compton, Kendrick Lamar, that challenges all MCs when he’s on the track. This song has been my favorite of the songs released thus far and not just because it has two of my favorite artists collaborating. It has been a long while since Kanye has just gone into the studio and rapped. No auto tune, no weird effects on his vocals, just straight bars. That’s the Kanye from his first studio album, The College Dropout, which we all grew to love. The album is hitting the shelves Feb. 11 and I’m almost certain it’s no coincidence that the 2016 Grammys are that same week. I can’t wait to see how these songs fit into the central theme of his album playlist.
Wildcat Roar Q. The homeless issue in Daytona Beach boiled over recently. What do you think are ways that the city can address this issue? photos and text by Curtis
Keoni Pannell Freshman
“Government money should be issued toward unemployment. More programs should be provided for homeless and better living opportunities.”
Killings
Daron Norman Sophomore
Jada Gary Junior
Paul Fulton Graduating Senior
“We can help them by providing them with more shelters, so they will not be on the streets. We can also fundraise to help provide them with food and drink, whenever they need it.”
“Ziploc goodie bags are some items that can help towards the homeless. More homeless shelters should be built. Produce more jobs, something like a halfway house to help those who are homeless get on the right path.”
“Starting up a food drive would be a positive way to start towards the homeless, a clothes give a way, and also build more safe shelters.”
VOICE
RESTAURANT REVIEW: Eatery By Christina Sloan Staff Writer When my friend and I went into the mass of purple that is Hamburger Mary’s Bar and Grille at 180 N. Beach St., we weren’t sure what to expect. I first heard about Hamburger Mary’s from my trainer at the gym, and brought along another gym buddy with me to check it out. We were pleasantly surprised to find live music. It was a mixture of country bands and rock bands, some better than others. Still, live music is always a cool experience. The eatery appeared to be understaffed. It is still a relatively new business and they are taking applications on their website. So, it took awhile to get our order in. We did get drinks and an appetizer quickly though. Once we did get our order in, it didn’t take long for each of our burgers to come out. I had a Barbara-Q Bacon Cheeseburger, fit with onion rings, BBQ sauce, and jack and cheddar cheese. My friend got the Black and Blues Burger with blackening seasoning, bacon, and blue cheese crumbles. We both got fries that had a very tasty seasoning on them. That was my favorite part. Our burgers were juicy and tasty. The best burger I’ve ever had? Maybe not.
FEATURES
But the reasonable prices and fun atmosphere made up for only slightly above average food. We didn’t indulge on the fried Twinkies for dessert, but it is great to know that it was an option. What made the night were the music and hearing from our waiter that they have open mic nights every Monday and similar activities on other nights. I checked their website and found that Wednesdays are adult bingo, Thursdays are #Throwback Thursdays, and Fridays they host drag shows. Beach Street is reviving its presence with fun places to eat and Hamburger Mary’s will hopefully bring in some business and prove to be a great addition.
Chris Brown did it again, giving his fans something special to bring home during the past holiday season. The artist dropped his seventh album titled “Royalty” on Dec. 18. The album was named after Brown’s daughter. I must say with her as his inspiration, this album does justice.
Brown even included a song for you hip-hop lovers. The tune “Picture Me Rollin” gives off the Cali vibe and even some similar tones from the 1993 song “Gin and Juice” by
photos by Christina Sloan
What: Hamburger Mary’s, an American bar and grill chain eatery Where: 180 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach downtown Hours: Doors open at 11 a.m. Monday through Sunday. Special: Lunch specials. Also, live music and other adult fun on various nights. For more information, visit website at www. hamburgermarys.com
By Petra Merrick Staff Writer
rapper Snoop Dogg. The number one song on the album literally is the popular tune “Back to Sleep.” This latest album from Brown sold 270,000 copies in its first week. I just want to give a big thanks to him. Keep making great music that people will love. Our Rating:
Barbara-Q Bacon Cheeseburger, fit with onion rings, BBQ sauce, and Jack and Cheddar cheeses with a side of seasoned fries.
IF YOU GO:
album strikes the right notes
For all the techno lovers he does have a song on the album that might make you groove. The song called “Zero” gives off just the right techno beat for a party starter.
5
offers both juicy burgers, live entertainment
Album Review: Chris Brown’s ‘Royalty’
I can honestly say this is the first time since his first self-titled album that I did not have to skip a song. Most of the music on the album has an R & B feel but it would not be Chris Brown if it were not different.
JAN/FEB 2016
Live music is among the attractions at Hamburger Mary’s.
6
JAN/FEB 2016
COMMUNITY
VOICE
Black history sites abound in Daytona Beach area By Charla McCord Correspondent February is Black History Month and finding black heritage sites is easy for locals and tourist. Daytona Beach, like many communities in Florida, has a decided number of sites recognized for their importance in the Black History story. We are surrounded by this rich history whether we are aware of it or not. An easy way to locate sites is to visit the city’s website at www.codb. us and click on the link for the Black Heritage Trail. There are a total of 18 sites starting with Samuel Butts Youth Archeological Park and ending with Greater Friendship Baptist Church. Even on our very own campus of Bethune-Cookman University is a great piece of history starting with the Mary McLeod Bethune homesite. Built in 1915, the house was home to our founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Bethune also founded the National Council of Negro Women Inc. in 1935 and was awarded the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal that same year. One highlight of her home is the guest room where first lady and close friend Eleanor Roosevelt stayed while visiting Daytona Beach.
The gravesite where Bethune was laid to rest also is a very important piece of the local community history, attracting many visitors to the area. The grave is located west of her home on the campus of B-CU. New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church is another local piece of history in our community. It was founded in 1898 to meet the needs of the growing population of blacks in Midway. The first facility resembled a small house, but a fire forced officials to construct a new building that was completed in 1910. Thanks to a growing congregation, church now meets in a larger The Howard Thurman home located at 614 Whitehall St. in Daytona Beach building that was constructed in the photo courtesy of Brenda Starr 1940s. In the ‘60s the church was able to purchase additional land to construct a parsonage on Oak Street, and a new Education Building was completed in 1989. It was dedicated to the church’s early pastor, the Rev. George Sumner. continued on page 7
photo by George Hudson
Dr Mary McLeod Bethune gravesite located on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University photo by George Hudson
New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 515 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd
Mary McLeod Bethune home located on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University photo by George Hudson
“We are surrounded by this rich history whether we are aware of it or not.” Mount Bethell Institutional Baptist Church, 700 S Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
photo courtesy of Brenda Starr
VOICE
Voices of Midtown: Community activist on a mission
COMMUNITY
continued from page 6 Other sites on the trail are:
Samuel Butts Youth Archaeological Park, 750 Bellevue Ave. Mount Bethel Institutional Baptist Church, 700 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Cynthia Slater looks to be barely 5 feet tall but when it comes to community activism she stands heads and shoulders above most residents.
The home of Howard Thurman, 614 Whitehall St. Masonic Lodge No.36, 512 South St. Jackie Robinson BallPark, 103 Orange Ave.
Voice contributor Fidline Ecxat managed to catch up with Slater, who is employed as a rehabilitation supervisor with the Florida Division of Blind service, for a brief Q and A.
Q. What made you stay in the city of Daytona for all of your life? A. This is my home. I feel that I am more effective to make changes around my community than if I were to go off to another city and attempt to make changes. Q. Tell us about your community activism. A. Well, I am president of the NAACP of Volusia County, chair of civic engagement for the state conference and second vice president for the NAACP for Florida. Q. How do you manage doing all of these things? A. (Laugh) It’s not easy. I just focus on the now. photo courtesy of Brenda Starr
7
Historical sites
By Fidline Ecxat Correspondent Part of an ongoing series
Q. Are you originally from Daytona? A. Yes, I am.
JAN/FEB 2016
John H. Dickerson Community Center, 308 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Mount Zion AME Church, 449 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Cynthia Slater
Q. Are there any challenges you face in your neighborhood? A. (Laughs) Where can I start? Biggest problem in the African-American community is people are more complacent, they are more reactive than proactive. Something has to happen for them to make moves. Q. Are you a graduate of BethuneCookman University? A. Yes, I am actually. (I was), a cheerleader back in 1970 something.
Daytona Times Building, 429 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Bethune-Cookman University, 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. Mary McLeod Bethune home and gravesite located on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University. Richard V. Moore Center, 554 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 515 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. Daisy Stocking Park, 550 Third St.
“I feel that I am more effective to make changes around my community than if I were to go to another town.”
Campbell Hotel, corner of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard and Walnut Street. Bonner Elementary School, 868 George W. Engram Blvd. Cypress Park and Recreation Center, 981 George W. Engram Blvd. Greater Friendship Baptist Church, 539 George W. Engram Blvd.
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SPORTS
JAN/FEB 2016
VOICE
Ricky Johnson becomes 29th Wildcat to score 1,000 points SPORTS PLAYBOOK Felix Reyes Jr Sports Editor
Scoring one thousand points in your collegiate career is not easy. In fact, there are only 28 players to ever score one thousand points in Bethune-Cookman University’s history. Reyes Well, that was until Ricky Johnson, Jr. made it 29 on Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Johnson went into MLK Day needing only nine points to reach the basketball milestone. Johnson scored his 1,000th point in true style converting on a rare 4-point play. “When I hit the three, I was a little nervous at the free throw line,” Johnson said. “I was thinking ‘man, I hope I don’t miss it’ because it was hard to get those nine points,” Johnson continued. The Wildcats would go on to win the game, 62 – 50, against Morgan State University in front of the home crowd at Moore Gymnasium. “It means a lot [reaching this milestone in front of the home crowd], especially being here four or five years, so I just wanted to make sure I leave some type of legacy here,” Johnson said. “Yeah, that was one of the big things I wanted [to reach this milestone at home], I had gotten sick, unfortunately, at Norfolk so I couldn’t get it there. I saw we had two back-to-back home games, so let me at least get it at home in front of friends, family, and teammates, etc.,”
Johnson said.
photo courtesy of B-CU Athletics
The home fans were not the only ones who knew Ricky Johnson, Jr. was approaching this achievement. Johnson’s teammate, redshirt junior LaRon Smith said, “That was great[witnessing Johnson score 1,000 points]. I’ve seen a lot of thousand point scorers, but in D-I basketball I’ve only seen two.” “Seeing Ricky get his thousandth point was a proud moment for us all [the team] because not too many people can say they scored 1,000 points and we actually witnessed one of our best friends get 1,000 points” Smith said.
Head coach Gravelle Craig said, “Anytime you score 1,000 points is an achievement. He [Johnson] deserves it. A 4-point play, what a better way to get it?”
Johnson went on to finish the game with 1,010 career points, which tied him with fellow Wildcat Adrien Coleman 28th on the all-time scoring list. The redshirt senior hailing from Akron, Ohio, was all smiles after the game. “I’m glad I finally hit it [the 1,000 point mark], it was like a little relief,” Johnson said.
Wildcats sign 28 players to National Letters of Intent Courtesy of B-CU Athletics Head football coach Terry Sims signed 28 student-athletes from throughout Florida and several other states during the 2016 National Signing Day. “I feel great about this class,” Sims said afterward. “It’s an overall aggressive, talented, fast class that will certainly help us moving forward in Daytona Beach. They should help in our attempts not only to win the MEAC, but earn a spot in the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta,” he said in a prepared statement. Sims and his staff had a year to prepare for this year’s class, unlike his first signing class which came about just six weeks after taking the job in 2015. This year’s class reportedly is one of the largest in recent memory for the Wildcats. Sims, who was named the 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Coach of the Year, joined his staff in filling several voids for the future of the Maroon and Gold on the gridiron. Bethune-Cookman officials focused on the offensive line, receiving core and defensive backfield, respectfully. In total, the Wildcats signed nine defensive backs, seven offensive linemen and five receivers. “I feel like every need that we wanted to address was filled in those particular positions,” Sims said.
“The coaches did an excellent job evaluating and securing what we feel is an exciting and brilliant 2016 signing class.”
Player
Jerry Beauchamp Steffon Francois Antonio Collier Jaylen Funches Chris Adams Kevin Richardson Keldrick Cesar Jamal Savage Tyrrell Washington Trevor Merritt L’Dre Barnes Sam Marc Jamaal Burgess Daniel Palmer Anthony Cruz Trevor Laurent Jordan Rivers Jacquan Holt Dajuan Jackson Davonte Lawrence Simeon Brown Job Buissereth Marcus Levy Jabari Dunham DeAndre Bozeman Isaiah Richard Julian Robinson Michael Boland
Hometown
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2016 Wildcat baseball season at hand By Petra Merrick It is that time again. It is time to bring out the hot dogs, drink some lemonade and eat some peanuts while watching what many consider America’s favorite pasttime--baseball. The Wildcats play their first game of the season against Murray State at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19 at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The ‘Cats had many trials and tribulations last season. The team fell short of winning the MEAC Championship, with an 8-2 loss to the FAMU Rattlers, which was the first MEAC victory for the Rattlers in decades. Despite the lost, B-CU players Brandon Amendolare and Rakeem Quinn were among the stars in the losing effort and bear watching this year.
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Wildcat Day at the Capitol was a roaring success More than 450 students took part in the 3rd Annual Wildcat Day at the Capitol on January 27. The group included faculty, staff, alumni, board members and community supporters who traveled to Tallahassee to rally, lobby, and to show their support for Bethune-Cookman University. During a mid-day “Rally for Education,” members of the Senate, House and Black Caucus shared words of wisdom and inspiration. Among those who spoke were Rep. Dwayne Taylor, Rep. Bobby Powell, Rep. Shevrin Jones, Rep. Fred Costello, and Sen. Dwight Bullard. photos courtesy of John Reeves
President Edison O. Jackson spoke at Wildcat Day at the Capitol.
B-CU mascot, Wyle D Cat, traveled to Tallahassee to attend the rally.
B-CU Wildcats make their voices heard with handmade signs.
Gospel singer Tamela Mann rocked the house during performance at the P.A.C.
Tamela Mann, above, told the audience that she started out as a background singer for Kirk Franklin.
Singer Tamela Mann brought her singing talents to Daytona Beach and the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center on February 6. Mann was the featured act for the evening. The event also showcased other acts including B-CU alumnus Darnel Butler. Mann’s husband, comedian David Mann, introduced his wife, whose hits include “Take Me to The King” and “ I Can Only Imagine.” The Manns are also the stars of Tyler Perry’s “Meet The Browns” TV show. photos courtsey of Brenda Starr
Tamela Mann’s backup singers also wowed the audience.
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