Voice Of the Wildcats --March/April 2022

Bethune-Cookman University • Daytona Beach, Florida

March/April 2022

March Madness meets Women’s History Month Getting to the “Big Dance” or the NCAA Division I Basketball

Tournament is a dream for college basketball coaches.

Every year, 64 teams in Division I Basketball qualify, all hoping to be crowned the top team in the country.

Any season where you do not make the Dance is considered a failure by the standard of many schools. Hence is it a sweet achievement for any coaches.

But, for a special group of women it has an even sweeter meaning.

All are head college basketball coaches and all are African American representing more women’s history in the making.

See Women, page 6

What's inside:

Page 2 OPINION

Page 3 NEWS

Page 4 REVIEW

Page 5

FEATURES

Page 6 SPORTS

Page 7

Page 8

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March/April 2022

OPINION

VOICE OF THE WILDCATS

NCNW, Affiliates lend support to Jackson’s nomination for SCOTUS

The Voice of the Wildcats is written, edited and published by members of the student body at BethuneCookman University. All opinions are solely those NCNW, INC of the author.

Editor Amber Courtney Online Editor Mariah Brown Assistant Online Malik Grant Layout Editor Rene White Sports Writers Sidney P. Brown Julian Bacon Feature Writers Shay Myrthil Timothy Moss Alysia Briscoe Jasmeen Rivera Amber Courtney Photographers Harmony Bienemy Loron Robles Julian Bacon Social Media Harmony Bienemy Publication Director Dr. Salvador R. Victor Faculty Adviser Prof. Valerie Whitney PUBLICATION MEMBERSHIP The Voice of the Wildcats is a member of the Black College Communications Association (BCCA), College Media Advisors Association (CMA) and National Asscociation of Black Journalists (NABJ).

ADVERTISER MEMBERSHIPP 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 voiceofthewildcats@ gmail.com

The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW)—the other institution founded by Mary McLeod Bethune-- and its Affiliates are lending their support to the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the next Justice appointed to the United States Supreme Court.

We stand ready to support Judge Jackson throughout the confirmation process, confident that she is more than worthy to ascend to the nation’s highest court.

Judge Jackson possesses all of the traditional qualifications of Supreme Court Justices. She is a Harvard graduate, clerked for Supreme Court Justice Breyer, and tried cases in federal district court.

What makes Judge Jackson unique is that Thelma T. Daley she was a public defender in federal court and was appointed to the U.S. Sentencing Commission that is charged with making prison sentences more equal and fair.

Her current assignment – as a judge on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals - is the traditional proving ground and launching pad for many U.S. Supreme Court Justices.

Today is a good day to recall the words of Justice Sandra Day O’Conner, first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, “To cultivate ... leaders with legitimacy in the eyes of the citizenry, ... the path to leadership must be visibly open to the talented ... individuals of every race and ethnicity.”

The appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson is a

watershed moment for women, for people of African descent and for democracy itself. It proves that the centuries- long disqualifier – being a Black woman – no longer exists.

That is not to say that Judge Jackson is the first Black woman qualified to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. The long list of potential nominees that circulated in the press is proof that there are numerous qualified candidates.

The nomination says that finally there is an opportunity for all qualified persons to serve at the highest level of this nation’s judiciary.

Today is also a day of gratitude and respect for a president courageous enough to make and keep a promise to the millions of Black women and their allies who supported his election.

Bethune As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said, “We will all profit from a more diverse, inclusive society, understanding, accommodating, even celebrating our differences, while pulling together for the common good.”

NCNW is a federation of 32 organizations that seeks to improve the lives of women of African descent, their families and communities.

Founded 87 years ago, NCNW’s mission is to lead, advocate for an equitable stake in the American promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

NCNW and its Affiliated organizations represent more than two million women and their families.

Sincerely, Dr. Thelma T. Daley 8th National President and Chair National Council of Negro Women, Inc.

Letisa Vereen President National Association of University Women, Inc.

Janice L. Mathis, Esq. Executive Director NCNW, Inc.

Sharon J. Beard President Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc.

Elsie Cooke-Holmes, President Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Sherelle T. Carper 24th National President & CEO The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women Clubs, Inc.

Dr. Glenda Glover International President and CEO Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Rasheeda S. Liberty International Grand Basileus Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Sandra Crowder International President Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society Deborah Taylor King International President Women Missionary Society, AMEC

Dorothy M White 23rd National President Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, PhD National President The Links, Incorporated Colette McCurdy-Jackson National President Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Valerie Hollingsworth Baker National President Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Ditra Stanford Scruggs Lenor Reese President Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc. National President Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc. Fayetta Caffie National President Tau Gamma Delta Sorority, Inc. Dr. Martha A. Dawson President/CEO National Black Nurses Association Catherine Lewis National President The Charmettes, Incorporated Elizabeth A. Jones National President National Coalition of 100 Black Women Photo of Thelma Daley courtesy of NCNW Inc.

NEWS

VOICE OF THE WILDCATS

March/April 2022

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Biden makes good on promise to nominate black woman for U.S. Supreme Court

By Heather Salomon Staff Report

Women’s history month is unfolding in March---Women’s History Month--as the U.S. Senate opened hearing recently on the nomination of the first black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was nominated in February by President Joe Biden to fill the seat being vacated by Justice Stephen Breyer, who is stepping down.

The Senate Judiciary Committee slated hearings for Jackson from March 21 through March 24.The hearing are part of the normal confirmation process of anyone nominated to the high court.

Jackson’s nomination fulfills a promise made by Biden during the campaign.

If confirmed, she would the first black woman on the court.

"For too long, our government, our courts haven looked like America, Biden said in announcing his selection of Jackson on Feb. 25."

"I believe it time that we have a court that reflects the full talents and greatness of our nation with a nominee of extraordinary qualifications, and that we inspire all young people to believe that they can one day serve their country at the highest level."

Jackson, 51, was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Miami, Florida. She is a graduate of Miami Palmetto Senior High School. She attended Harvard University for both undergraduate and law school.

Her parents, Johnny and Ellery Brown, graduated from HBCUs and started their careers as school teachers. Johnny Brown went on to

peals last year.

During her introduction at the White House, Jackson said she felt “grateful and blessed” at this new opportunity.

The Supreme Court Confirmation hearings for Jackson began on March 21.

No black women are among the 22 Senate Judiciary members who will question her or the 100 senators voting on her.

Followong four days of questioning, Senate Democratic leaders hope to have a vote confirming Jackson to the court by mid-April.

Jackson, meanwhile, has two uncles that were in law enforcement; one was a Miami-Dade county sex crimes detective and the others rose through the ranks to become police chief in Miami.

Her brother was an undercover officer in Baltimore, according to data released by the White House.

She is married to Patrick Jackson, a surgeon, and the couple have two daughters. The family resides in Washington, D.C. become the chief attorney for the Miami-Dade County Board and Ellery Brown served as a principal before retiring.

Jackson was vice chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission from 2010 to 2014. From 2013 to 2021, she served as a district judge for the U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She was named to the D.C. Circuit Court of Ap-

Heather Salomon is a senior majoring in mass communications

Official Portrait of the Hon. Ketanji Brown Jackson, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Licensed under Wikicommons Media

Glenn Walker, Larry Steele to receive national honor Staff Report B-CU’s own Glenn Walker, adjunct mass communications professor and manager of the campus radio station, will be among those inducted in the National Black Radio Hall of Fame this year.

Joining Walker will be Larry Steele, operations director for radio station WELE 1380 The Cat, a commercial station that the university also owns and operates in Ormond Beach.

The induction is set for October 3 at Harris Stowe State University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Walker and Steele are among a select groups of radio personalities with more than 25 years each in the business that were chosen to receive the “Original 13 Black Radio Award,” named in honor of 13 dee jays credited with

helping to make the careers of past hitmakers, according to Marsha Washington George, spokesperson for the National Black Radio Hall of Fame. Those 13---12 blacks and one white--were largely responsible helping a lot of singers become popular because they chose to pay their records, George said in a telephone interview.

“This is my 47 th year in radio,” said Walker, who also is a Wildcat alumnus.

Besides working on WBCC in 1977, his resume includes stints with commercial radio station Q102fm Daytona Beach, WDATAm Daytona Beach and 2005 with B-CU’s WRWS-LPFM. He also has worked in the corporate world at Motown Records and was the first director

of the Motown Black College Tour.

“I am shocked. I didn’t really believe it,” Walker said in a published report in the Daytona Times newspaper. “Ford called and told me. I am being inducted with friends. I didn’t expect it.

I’ve been in radio for a long time.”

Steele, whose real name is Harold Ford, said he, too, was honored with the recognition. “I am just humble and very happy that this happened while I’m still alive,” he said in the interview.

Besides Walker and Steele, George said the organization will be recognizing other industry leaders. They are being selected via a ballot found on the organization’s website. Meanwhile, the organization also will induct the following: The O’Jays (Eddie

Levert Jr., Walter Williams Sr. and Eric Nolan Grant), Radio Music Artist of the Year; Catherine Liggins Hughes, Lifetime Media Achievement Award; and Alfred C. Liggins III, Broadcasters Chairman Leadership Award.

Photo courtesy of Glenn Walker

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March/April 2022

REVIEW

VOICE OF THE WILDCATS

Netflix’s documentary on Kanye West gets it right

By Loron Robles Voice Staff Kanye West’s “Jeen-Yuhs” trilogy documentary series that streamed on Netflix documents the rise of his entire career from upand-coming local rap producer in Chicago, to being a rapper trying to get signed to Roc A Fella Records, to all the way to 2020 when he was urging his people to push forward with his presidential run.

Filmed and directed by Clarence “Coodie” Simmons and Chike Ozah, this documentary highlights the talents and potential that every artist in Chicago at the time saw in West and how he got in the position that he is in today--one of the most influential artists of the generation.

While watching the documentary, you notice that he has a lot of confidence in his abilities not only as a producer but as a rapper. It seems, however, that a lot of record executives were visibly uninterested in signing him to a record deal or even giving him a hard time to get a release date for his debut album. At the beginning of part one of the documentary, there was a visible underdog type of story that was being shown that made it so easy to cheer for him.

Likewise, it was so hard not to notice the heart-warming tale of persistence, a struggle against the odds and justified self-belief. So, when his record label eventually gave way and signed him to a deal along with releasing his debut album “The College Dropout,” the album received a lot of critical

listen is an untrammeled virtue.

You can see how the events depicted in “Jeen-Yuhs” might have led him to those beliefs.

Overall, this was an amazing documentary that I highly recommend. I like that it utilized all of the incredibly raw and never-before-seen footage from nearly two decades ago.

It told a story and emphasized the many phases of West’s character and the persistence that made him arguably one of the most influential artists in this generation.

The director (Simmons) also did a great job narrating and filming all of the most important aspects of not only the artist’s career but also his career as a filmmaker, documentarian and parent.

Loron Robles is a senior majoring in mass communications.

Photo Coutesy of Netflix

acclaim from fans and critics. As a viewer, you recognize that all the hard work and dedication put forth wasn’t for nothing.

However, as the documentary continued, you begin to notice his abilities as a musician are frequently close to being overshadowed by his attitude, his most controversial

statements, and public backlash from critics.

Still, there’s another, more troubling, interpretation of the story that the film tells. West has changed through the rest of his career, evidently fueled by an unshakeable conviction that he is always right and that refusing to

"Overall, this was an amazing documentary that I highly recommend."

Film producer credits HBCU experience for success

By Rene White Voice Staff

When the lights go up on the Oscar presentation this year film producer Will Packer will likely be the wings watching.

But, while most viewers will be looking to see if their favorite stars take home an award, Packer, who is black, will be looking to see if the program goes off without hitch.

Packer, producer and owner of Will Packer Productions and Will Packer Media, was selected this year to produce the telecast— the first African American to do so.

Packers spoke briefly about his plans for the event, as well as his experience at Florida A&M University during a recent “fireside chat” with MSNBC’s Tiffany Cross

and students from several HBCUs including North Carolina A&T, Florida A&M, Howard, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse and B-CU. Among other things, he said that it was an honor to be in the presence of many different HBCU students with a true vision for the future of the entertainment industry.

He also shared that his journey as a producer did not start until after he graduated from

FAMU with his degree in electrical engineering. He traced his path to the entertainment industry back to answering a call for assistance from a fraternity brother.

“It wasn’t until I assisted my frat (fraternity) brother with his upcoming production did I know that I had a knack for the entertainment industry,” said Packer, who is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Fast forward and Packer’s films have bought in more than $1 billion at the box office. His list

includes “Girl’s Trip,” “Breaking In,” “No Good Deed” and “Think Like A Man 2,” just to name a few.

Meanwhile, in an interview published in 2012 . Diverse Issues in High Education, Packer said that attending an HBCU played a big part in his success.

“The nurturing environment and the unyielding push for excellence (at FAMU) provided me with the analytical skills that I have needed to navigate the business world,” he said, adding that he gives back every chance that he can.

Photo by Rene White

VOICE OF THE WILDCATS

By Rene White Voice Staff

FEATURES

March /April 2022

Cultural differences at the heart of ‘Cuties’

When the film “Cuties” (or the original French title “Mignonnes”) aired on Netflix in the United States last year it caused a whirlwind of chaos and controversy among filmmakers and even reviewers.

Written and directed by Maïmouna Doucouré, a black French filmmaker, the film is about an 11-year-old Senegalese Muslim girl named Amy, who is struggling to find herself in a European world.

It stars Fathia Youssouf, Médina El AidiAzouni, Esther Gohourou, Ilanah Cami-Goursolas, and Maïmouna Gueye..

In the film, Amy finds herself surrounded by an anything goes culture that is very different from the conservative culture that is perpetuated in her household.

The film goes in-depth about her struggle with balancing her life at home and being able to fit in at school where children are given more freedom to wear, eat and pursue any passion.

While in school she tries to fit in with the cool girls at school who are in a dance group.Amy joins the dance group but later finds herself struggling to balance her duties at home and learning the new choreography that is made up among the girls from her school.

The young girls are dressed in crop tops and shorts similar to that of famous television stars and models online. This is where the international issue arises in terms of the alleged “ sexualization” of young girls. The dance moves in the film are also very sexy and not very ageappropriate for the young girls in the film.

Amy is then later on in the film caught by her mother and is scolded for indulging in

non-age-appropriate activities.

The film was produced by France T.V and the music score was formulated by Niko Noki.

The film was released on Aug. 19, 2020, in France and was approved by Sundance; the film also took home the World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award.

Once the film was released in the United States this positive perspective took a large shift.Many are blind-sighted by the graphic depiction of young girls in the film but fail to examine the underlying meaning of the film in its entirety.

This film is the true definition of not judging a book by its cover. The overall point of the film is to showcase an aspect of female evolution that is often ignored and ill-represented in media and the Muslim community. The film showcases the struggles of a young girl becoming a woman.

Her way of navigating through puberty and trying to live up to the overall expectations of what a young woman should be. In the film, Amy struggles with fitting the cookie-cutter image of a traditional Muslim girl who is highly conservative compared to the western woman who is comfortable with societal freedoms such as dancing and wearing makeup.

This is the distinction that the filmmaker was trying to get across to the audience. This was negatively interpreted as the film showcasing an overly sexualized vision of young girls.

The point that American viewers missed was that the film was created to encapsulate the struggles of developing femininity, especially in a

multicultural society.

The writer did an excellent job at storytelling and truly getting across the authenticity of the struggles that many young women of color face, not just in the western culture but also in the Muslim and African cultures.

The costumes in the film for the children can be revamped to be more age-appropriate for the young girls, but it could take away from the authenticity of the message the writer was trying to get across to the audience. The overall message of the film was very impactful and can be helpful for other young girls to understand that they are not alone in their struggles.

This is a wonderful film and needs to be seen with a deferring or international perspective.‘Cuties” is not a controversial film it just needs to be seen from a different perspective instead of focusing on the generic technicalities such as dance moves and clothing. This film is a conversation starter and it is interesting to see the perspectives that may arise after watching the film. The film is a must-see and the author got the message of the film across beautifully. This film catches attention and is a very good watch if you are interested in international films. Many should go check it out.

This is a movie you don't want to miss.

Rene White is a junior majoring in mass communications who calls Prince Georges County, Maryland home.

Photo Courtesy of Netflix

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SPORTS

March/April 2022

VOICE OF THE WILDCATS

Women, continued from page 1

They are:

Tiesha “Ty” Grace is the head coach of Howard University’s women’s basketball team.

Grace just finished her seventh season, finishing with a 21-10 record, ending it with a loss in the March Madness NCAA Tournament.

She was also named MEAC Coach of the Year for the 2020-2021 season.

Felisha Legette-Jack is the head coach of the University of Buffalo's women’s basketball team. She has just finished her 10th season, finishing with a 23-9 record. With that, she now has a 177- 107 overall record at Buffalo, becoming the all-time winningest coach in program history.

Adia Barnes is the head coach of the University of Arizona’s women’s basketball team. She started as the assistant coach from 2011 to 2015, moving up to head coach in 2016. Barnes has the second most twenty-win seasons in program history, the only one with three of them in her first five seasons.

Natasha Adair is the head coach for the Delaware Fighting’ Blue Hens. She replaced head coach Tina Martin and is the fourth in the history of the program. Under Adair, the Blue Hens were an offensive threat as Delaware averaged its most points (65.8) since 2012-13.

Shereka Wright is the head coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of Texas Arlington. She is a former WNBA player and has been coaching at UTA since 2020, after previously being an associate head coach at a Power 5 school. She has led her Lady Mavericks to a 13-7 record this season, including 11-4 in Sun Belt Conference play and a conference championship.

Dawn Michelle Staley is a Hall of Fame player and head coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks. Her team has won the National championship, NCAA Final Fours, No. 1 rankings, SEC regular-season and tournament titles, SEC Player of the Year, National Player of the Year, WNBA No. 1 Draft pick, and No. 1 recruiting classes..

Kyra Elzy, a native Kentuckian, who has spent the last decade-plus building the Kentucky womens basketball program into a national power as an assistant coach, became the eighth head coach in program history before the 2020-21 season.

Tomekia Reed was named Jackson State Head women’s basketball coach in April of 2018. Reed was recruited by Jackson State following a successful three-year stint as coach of the Hinds Community College women’s basketball team.

Yolett McPhee-McCuin entered her fourth season with the Rebels in 2021-22, bringing with her a rejuvenated spirit and energy to the historic Ole Miss women’s basketball program. She is he first black female head coach in Ole Miss women basketball history.

Amaka Aguagua-Hamilton is the new Virginia Cavaliers women’s basketball team head coach. Amaka previously just finished a threeyear term as her first Head Coach job with the Missouri State Bears..

Niele Ivey was named the fourth head coach of Notre Dame’s womens basketball team on April 22, 2020. Before being named head coach, Ivey worked as a assistant coach under Coach McGraw for eight years.

Joni Taylor is the head womens college basketball coach for Texas A&M. She is the former head coach of Georgia, as she replaced head coach Andy Landers prior to the 2015– 2016 season.

Reporters Courdeja Clark, Deante Johnson, D’Aja Lordeus, Ivy’yon Simmons, Caleb Sutherland and David turner contributed to this story. Photo courtesy of sports/athletics at the University of Virginia, Jacksonville State University, Howard University, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of Notre Dame, University of Delaware, University of Texas at Arlington, University of South Carolina, University of Mississippi, University of Arizona and the University of Buffalo

VOICE OF THE WILDCATS

SPORTS

March/April 2022

7

B-CU Sports Recap and Round-up in Brief A compilation of notes and news about some B-CU athletic teams

Junior guard Collins Joseph passes the ball to Jakolby Long during a SWAC conference match up against Alabama State.

Photo by julian Bacon Basketball Joe French was named to the All-SWAC team after a stellar offensive season that saw him climb all the way into fourth place across all of college basketball in three-point shooting percentage.

French led the Wildcats offensively all season. He finished atop his team and third in the SWAC with 15.8 points per game. He made 75 threes, the second-highest mark in the SWAC. He did so at a masterful 44.12 percent clip – the fourth-highest percentage across all programs at the DI level of college basketball. we gotten the privilege to see just how hard Joe works on a daily basis Wildcats head coach Reggie Theus said about French a spectacular shooter – but he's so much more than just a shooter and to see him work and grow this season has been special. The 202122 season for Bethune-Cookman men;s basketball came to an end at the hands of Florida A&M. The Wildcats finish the season 9-21 and 7-11 in SWAC play after an 84-73 loss to the Rattlers in Tallahassee on March 5.

Meanwhile, Morgan Beacham scored a career-high 26 points, and Camary Harris posted 17 as Bethune-Cookman women’s team concluded its 2021-22 season with an 82-40 Southwestern Athletic Conference victory over Florida A&M. The Wildcats (6-21 overall, 5-13 SWAC) snapped a five-game losing streak and post

ed the largest margin of victory in the series over the Rattlers (3-24,3-13). The previous high was 21 in a 78-57 2020 victory. Beacham had 19 first-half points as the Wildcats turned an 18-10 first quarter deficit into a 38-26 halftime lead with a 28-point second quarter. B-CU extended its lead to 60-33 after three quarters.

Track and Field Bethune-Cookman registered its first medals in Southwestern Conference track debut in February with Thea Shaw and Indya Campbell finishing 2-3 in the heptathlon at the SWAC Indoor Championships.

Shaw finished second to UAPB's Safiyah John, who posted a 3,981-3,511 margin of victory. Campbell (3, 109) also made the podium, and Journdon Cooper was fifth with 2,757.

Football The Wildcats opened practice on March 16. They practice Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium. The Maroon Gold spring game is set for April 16 at the stadium. Meanwhile, Bethune-Cookman University head coach Terry Sims signed 26 student athletes during 2022 National Signing Day in February.

It was refreshing to get back out and see high school coaches and junior college coaches. Sims said. It gave us an opportunity to continue to cultivate relationships and continue to bring great young men to Bethune-Cookman University.

One name highlighting the incoming recruiting class is quarterback Jalon Jones, a transfer from Mississippi Delta Junior College.

A former four-star recruit out of high school, Jones began his college career at the University of Florida before transferring to Jackson State, where he appeared in 15 games, completing 133 of 254 passes for 1898 yards and 20 touchdowns, adding 643 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground.

Track photo courtesy of B-CU Athletics

March/April 2022

VOICE OF THE WILDCATS