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PAGE B1 PAGE D2 THIS WEEK’S ISSUE Barbara Jordan The identity of the black woman was questioned, analyzed and discussed as students and members of the faculty filled Room 202 of G. W. Trenholm Hall on Feb 13. Instructor Robert White, JD, educated and informed his audi- ence on the topic, beginning with EXECUTIVE EDITOR [email protected] STAFF CORRESPONDENT EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Citation preview
STAFF EDITORIALSTAFF EDITORIALSTAFF EDITORIALSTAFF EDITORIALSTAFF EDITORIAL
HE HORNET
RIBUNETLet there be no illusions about the difficulty of forming this kind of a national community.It's tough, difficult, not easy. But a spirit of harmony will survive in America only if each of
us remembers that we share a common destiny.
I N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EHORIZONSHORIZONSHORIZONSHORIZONSHORIZONS
Christie defends
lowering NJ flags
University News A2Horizons B1Viewpoints C1Hornet Living D1Sports E1
THIS WEEK’S ISSUE
HE HORNET
Barbara Jordan
The official student newspaper of Alabama State UniversityVOL. 52, ISSUE 8 FEB. 18, 2012
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Gov.
Chris Christie on Wednesday
strongly defended his decision to
have flags lowered to half-staff on
Saturday for Whitney Houston,
saying he rejects criticism that she
“forfeited the good things that she
did” be ... READ MORE
PAGE B1
Black women have played a myriadof critical roles in the making of ournation. Their labor and leadership,their motherhood and patriotism,and their intellect and artisticexpression have all enriched boththe black community and the nationat large. Black women have been thecore of organized black life, but theiraccomplishments have oftenescaped the gaze of the public andhence their history is too littleknown. Write an essay to share thelife story of a little known blackwoman that has made a differencein her community and is worthy tobe included in the annals of blackwomen in culture and history.
BLACKHISTORYMONTH
ESSAY CONTEST
RIBUNET
The number of words for theessay is 500 and the deadlinefor submission is Feb. 24 at 7
p.m. The essay must besubmitted by e-mail and
regular mail. Thee-mail address is
[email protected] the regular mail addressis The Hornet Tribune, ASU,
915 South Jackson Street,Montgomery, Ala. 36104. The
winner will have his/heressay and photo published in
the March 3, 2012 issue ofThe Hornet Tribune.
Albany State University 3.0Alcorn State University 3.0Mississippi Valley State 3.0Alabama State University 2.8Tuskegee University 2.8Jackson State University 2.8Florida A & M University 2.8Prairie View A & M 2.8Univ. Arkansas Pine Bluff 2.8Alabama A & M University 2.75Alabama State University 2.7Texas Southern University 2.5Southern University 2.5
The identity of the black
woman was questioned, analyzed
and discussed as students and
members of the faculty filled Room
202 of G. W. Trenholm Hall on Feb
13.
Instructor Robert White, JD,
educated and informed his audi-
ence on the topic, beginning with
by Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana EdwardsEXECUTIVE EDITOR
White addresses
the identity of
the black woman
SGA will rank number 10SGA will rank number 10SGA will rank number 10SGA will rank number 10SGA will rank number 10
A federal jury comprised of
four men and four women awarded
former Alabama State University
employees Cynthia Williams,
Jacqueline Weatherly and Lydia
Burkhalter $1 million dollars plus
on Feb. 17.
The award is the results of a
by Desire K. Kafundaby Desire K. Kafundaby Desire K. Kafundaby Desire K. Kafundaby Desire K. KafundaSTAFF [email protected]
Federal jury awards former employees $1 million plusFederal jury awards former employees $1 million plusFederal jury awards former employees $1 million plusFederal jury awards former employees $1 million plusFederal jury awards former employees $1 million plus
If Amendment One passes, ASU’s SGA will rank third
from the bottom for qualifying academic requirement
by Sharanna Polkby Sharanna Polkby Sharanna Polkby Sharanna Polkby Sharanna PolkEDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR
suit filed against Alabama State
University in March 2010. The
former employees are being com-
pensated for emotional pain, men-
tal anguish, back pay for Williams
and Burkhalter, who were termi-
nated, and lost leave time for
Weatherly.
The lawsuit resulted in the jury
finding that Lavonette Bartley, who
was working at that time as the as-
sociate director of marketing and
communications, created a racially
hostile environment for all three
plaintiffs.
In a letter to the ASU commu-
nity, President William Harris said,
“University counsel and leadership
will continue to defend the policies,
procedures and actions of the Uni-
versity and our employees.”
He went on to address the is-
HISTORICALLY BLACK
COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES
QUALIFYING GRADE
POINT AVERAGES FOR
SGA PRESIDENT AND
VICE PRESIDENT
The Alabama State University
Student Government Association
Executive and Legislative branches
introduced an amendment to
change the qualifying grade point
averages of students who are seek-
ing the offices of the president and
vice president.
The student body is scheduled
to vote on this amendment on Feb.
24.
A polling of 11 other random
HBCUs in the southern region re-
vealed that the passage of this
amendment would place ASU’s
SGA at number 10 and third from
the bottom of the list for qualify-
ing grade point averages.
Student Affairs personnel at
Jackson State University said the
grade point averages for SGA offi-
cials must be in “good standing”
but it should also be above the av-
erage student’s grade point aver-
age.
JSU’s Coordinator of Student
Environment Kimberly Franklin
does not hesitate when she talks
about students having higher grade
point average.
See RANKSRANKSRANKSRANKSRANKS on page A2A2A2A2A2
A lively production of the
play, “Crowns,” by Regina Tay-
lor, ran Feb. 15-18 at the Leila
Barlow Theatre’s main stage of-
fering a view of the importance
of hats.
Yes, hats.
The play opened with five
women posing in closets wearing
silk nightgowns and cotton slip-
pers and continued to treat the au-
dience with good church music,
dramatics, and pain.
The story tells about simple
church hats that weren’t so simple
after all.
“Hats are a sign of status. A hat
is intriguing. It’s flirtatious. Hats
represent a lot of sacrifices. And
every hat is not for everyone,” the
women explained, some boasting
a collection of over 200.
Crowns, directed by Prof.
Wendy R. Coleman, PhD, is the
play that reminds you of your
grandmother and great aunt who
got up early in the morning, “To
make breakfast and dinner—be-
cause she liked dinner to be ready
when we got out of church.” Af-
ter that dinner, getting dressed
was almost a ritual. It reminds
you of those women with the big,
small, sequined, and feathered
hats.
Crowns was a colorful fash-
ion show that mixed fashion with
religion. It wasted no time expos-
ing those who came to church for
CROWNS
See AWARDSAWARDSAWARDSAWARDSAWARDS on page A2A2A2A2A2
Simple church hats that weren’t so simple after all
SPORTSSPORTSSPORTSSPORTSSPORTS
PAGE D2
MONTGOMERY, Ala., - The
Alabama State University
women’s basketballers were look-
ing to relieve some frustration af-
ter losing three consecutive games.
They took their frustration out on
an Alcorn State University women
Braves team that just could not
match up, ...
Hornet women
demolish Alcorn
All students who areinterested in pursuing a
career as a talk show hostor interested in hosting aweekly talk show, please
send a letter of interest to:Executive Editor, The
Hornet Tribune, AlabamaState University, 915 South
Jackson Street,Montgomery, AL 36104Please indicate what
qualifications and skills youwould bring to the positionas well as why you want tobecome a talk show host.
See ADDRESSESADDRESSESADDRESSESADDRESSESADDRESSES on page A2A2A2A2A2
See CROWNSCROWNSCROWNSCROWNSCROWNS on page A2A2A2A2A2
The world of work is becom-
ing more competitive, and as stu-
dents, there has never been a more
pivotal and critical time for us to
strive for excellence.
Two weeks ago, The Hornet
Tribune staff differed in opinion
with the Student Government As-
sociation president regarding an
amendment designed to lower the
qualifying grade point averages for
students seeking the offices of the
SGA president and vice president.
The amendment would lower the
grade point average from 2.8 to a
2.7.
Despite being termed as igno-
rant and amatuers, the staff stands
firm on its convictions that lower-
ing the qualifying standards is not
beneficial for the student body, and
that it places students lower on the
rungs of the ladder to success.
The staff’s feelings were rein-
forced after contacting 11 other his-
torically black institutions of
higher learning and finding that 10
of them require a higher standard;
and many of those 10 institutions
want to increase the qualifying
grade point averages.
And while there are numerous
examples of students throughout
the years who entered the univer-
sity with some academic deficien-
cies and are now academic success
stories further emphasizes the fact
that one must lead academically
before he/she can lead politically.
Since this is an academic in-
stitution, where scholarship is fore-
most, then allow the next leaders
The Hornet Tribune will never accept mediocrityto “lead” in that area.
The Hornet Tribune addresses
pertinent issues of the student body
each week and it is never silent.
Through the weekly production of
articles and editorials, the staff pre-
sents an award-winning product
that promotes awareness and
thought-provoking ideas and issues
to the students.
Students who apply to write for
The Hornet Tribune are not apply-
ing for leadership positions. They
are using it as a laboratory to
sharpen their skills or make a dif-
ference on the campus. Since The
Hornet Tribune exists for student
expression, a grade point average
requirement cannot be placed on a
First Amendment right. However,
the editorial leaders who create the
vision, manage, edit and lead the
writers are honor students.
This staff will work with the
SGA and any other entity to make
this university a better place by
continuously striving for excel-
lence and not accepting mediocrity.
Photo by TyRonn Spriggs/Staff Photographer
Pictured above is a scene during a church service that emphasized the importance of hats for black women
who attended church. The play was directed by Wendy Coleman, PhD, and written by Reginal Taylor.
by Sharanna Polkby Sharanna Polkby Sharanna Polkby Sharanna Polkby Sharanna PolkEDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR
The Official Student Newspaper of Alabama State University
88th Year of Publication
Editorial LeadershipThe Hornet Tribune Editorial Leadership Team is the decision-making body for TheHornet Tribune operations and policies. The Hornet Tribune Editorial Leadership Teammeets weekly at 3:30 p.m. on Sundays. Unscheduled meetings may also be called bythe faculty/staff adviser or executive editor if special problems or issues arise.
Editorial BoardThe Hornet Tribune Editorial Board determines the content of The Hornet Tribune. AllEditorial Board members will vote on issues such as editorial policy-making decisionsor editorial procedures when the need arises. A majority vote determines the decision.The faculty adviser will not vote, but may disagree and make suggestions or comments.Concerning the publication of controversial issues, the Editorial Board will discuss andvote on the approach to be taken. A majority vote will be the deciding factor. Theadviser may veto the decision, but the Board may overrule with a unanimous vote. TheBoard meets every Sunday at 5 p.m.
General PolicyThe Hornet Tribune is a 12-16-page newspaper produced by The Hornet Tribune staff.The entire student body, the primary audience of readers, receives the newspaper freeof charge to encourage readership and to ensure the showcasing of our journalisticwork. Our secondary audience includes faculty, local community and other collegiatenewspaper staffs throughout the country.
The newspaper attempts to inform and entertain its audience in a broad, fair and accuratemanner on all subjects that affect readers. The medium seeks also to provide a forumfor the opinion of students, the staff of The Hornet Tribune and the faculty to encouragean exchange of ideas and opinions on issues of prominence to the readers.
While the staff will allow constructive criticism of any part of The Hornet Tribune afterpublication, final authority for content of The Hornet Tribune rests solely in the hands ofthe staff, with the executive editor making the final decision.
Letters PolicyThe Hornet Tribune encourages letters as they constitute a constructive avenue forstudent opinion, but the writer must sign the letter to be considered for publication. Dueto space limitations, not all letters can be published, and the Editorial Board reservesthe right to edit all letters for appropriate placement in the newspaper as long as themeaning and intention of the letter remains clear and unchanged.
Although the staff writes the majority of the articles appearing on the paper, guestcommentaries and stories may be included if the staff feels it enhances coverage of aunique topic. Trivia such as gossip columns, song dedications and student best/worstwill be avoided due to the narrow audience they serve and the probability of libelousmaterial.
No material, opinionated or otherwise, will be printed which is libelous, irresponsible,advocates an illegal activity or which the chief editor and/or the adviser deems in poortaste.
Editorial PolicySeveral editorials will appear regularly in each issue. Stands taken in the main editorialwill represent the opinions of the staff and will not be bylined. All other articles receivea byline. Other opinion pieces, including those differing with the editorial, will be handledthrough cross-point columns, editor’s columns, feature columns, letters-to-the editor,exchange columns, student opinion photo forums and entertainment reviews.
Corrections and Clarifications PolicyIf the staff discovers, from any source, that a mistake bypassed the editors, acorrection of major errors will be printed upon request in the next issue in the sectionin which the mistake appeared.
Obituary PolicyShould a student or faculty member die any time during the current coverage period,the staff will treat the death in a tasteful, respectful manner. An obituary, with theindividual’s name, school activities, date of birth, date and manner of death (if appropriate)and any other pertinent information, shall appear in the news section. No mug shot willbe used. This sensitive treatment will provide an adequate remembrance of the individualfor those closely associated, while not overemphasizing it for other readers.
PAGE A2 The Hornet Tribune UNIVERSITY NEWS
CONTACT US
PHONE: (334) 229-4273 FAX: (334) 229-4165
ADDRESS: The Hornet Tribune,Alabama State University,
915 South Jackson Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104
OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
HE HORNET
RIBUNETHE HORNET
Feb. 12-18, 2012
why black women were so
important to his audience.
“I understand that the
spectrum of ASU woman-
hood is broader than the Af-
rican American perspective,
but typically and historically,
Alabama State University
has served African Ameri-
cans, and in particular Afri-
can American women, who
make up a specific popula-
tion,” White said.
Coming from an
Afrocentric angle, White
talked about origins.
“When it’s time to talk
about the African experience
and the African roots, I think
it’s safe to say that Africa is
the best place to start,” White
said. “There is enough infor-
mation for us to build a pro-
file of the African woman
and get some feedback from
others who have observed
her and given feedback on
her.”
He stirred the audience
by asking a series of ques-
tions.
“Is their role appreci-
ated? Because if they don’t
see themselves playing a role
and they don’t see their role
as being appreciated at home,
how do you think they’re
going to feel when they go
to school?” White asked.
“Are they going to feel ap-
preciated, or are they going
to feel their contribution is
appreciated? If black wom-
anhood is looked at nega-
tively in the home, how is it
looked at in the university en-
vironment?”
White reminded his au-
dience about the necessity of
finding a historical perspec-
tive from which to build. He
also mentioned the five ele-
ments of self-knowledge; ori-
gin, meaning, morality, and
destiny.
“What if you come from
a school system that did not
teach you African American
history? White questioned.
“The only place you’re going
to probably start is slavery
because a lot of times for a
lot of people, that’s what’s
been taught either directly or
indirectly where African
American history begins. But
it begins long before that.”
White wants to make ad-
justments in the curriculum
because, to him, it is essen-
tial for black students to be
required to take courses that
specialize in the origin of the
African Americans.
Sophomore biology/pre-
health major Deandre Ward
enjoyed the lecture.
“Even though I came in
the middle of the conversa-
tion, I thought it was very
moving because, as black
students, we really need to
listen to that, Ward said. “A
lot of us do take this coming
to school for granted. “We
don’t really appreciate what
we do. Some of us do come
to class and just sit in the
back and text all day, so I
think what he said about
black students is true be-
cause a lot of black students
don’t really take college se-
riously.”
Sophomore communica-
tions major Charlie Long
liked it as well.
“Dr. White was really
speaking a lot of knowl-
edge,” Long said. “He was
trying to inform us on how
we should better ourselves
and take our school pride and
change for the better. He
wants us to be at the highest
state and have higher stan-
dards. I like how he was talk-
ing about black women; it
was really good. He had my
attention at the beginning
and the whole time. I feel
like it was a good speech and
it was on point.”
Sophomore early child-
hood education major Jes-
sica Williams agreed.
“Dr. White is actually
my humanities teacher this
semester,” Williams said. “I
love his conversations. With
the speech he did today, he
enlightened us about actually
caring about the school and
the way we carry ourselves.
He gave us a lot to think
about. How can we be a
model ASU women and look
for a mater? How you carry
yourself is the person you at-
tract. He kept my attention
and I think he kept a lot of
people’s attention, which he
always does, even in class.”
Brazil native and junior
rehabilitation services major
Fernanda Silva got a differ-
ent outlook.
“I’m from a country
where we don’t have that
much difference between
black and white, so I think it
was really interesting that
Americans know different
cultures that people can live
equally everywhere they go.”
Silva said. “We don’t have
different schools, and I think
it’s really cool that black
Americans know that they
can be whatever they want.
Not just be a rapper, or foot-
ball player or basketball
player. They can change the
world like any other person,
and I think the kids here
should be more serious. So,
after they realize how far
they can go, they can work
better.”
Addresses: Addresses: Addresses: Addresses: Addresses: “When it’s time to talk about the African experience and ...”Continued from page A1
Awards:Awards:Awards:Awards:Awards: “After asking to be moved to another department, and ...”Continued from page A1
sue saying, “strong policies
and procedures [are] in place
to ensure that our community
is open, welcoming and non-
discriminatory.”
However, Williams al-
leged that while working in
the same office as Executive
Vice President John Knight,
who was special assistant to
Harris at the time, she was
constantly sexually harassed
by Bartley.
According to the Mont-
gomery Advertiser, Williams
said she complained to
Knight who reportedly said
he would not “walk around
on eggshells in his own of-
fice.”
This was documented in
a letter bearing the stamp of
Knights office, which he tes-
tified in court was “a ficti-
tious document.” The egg-
shells remark pertained to not
wanting lawsuits filed with
the federal Equal Employ-
ment Opportunity Commis-
sion.
While the jury did not
rule in favor of William’s
sexual harassment claims,
they did rule in favor of
Burkhalter’s.
After asking to be
moved to another depart-
ment, and warned against fil-
ing an EEOC complaint,
Williams says she was fired.
The Montgomery Ad-
vertiser reports that Knight
previously described the
lawsuit as “baseless.” After
the verdict, Ken Mullinax,
public information officer for
the university also reported
that the allegations were
baseless, although the uni-
versity thanked the jury for
their “civil duties.”
Alabama State, disap-
pointed with the verdict,
plans to review the next best
steps forward, which in-
cludes appeal options.
“To be any member of
the SGA your GPA must be
2.8 or above,” she gushed,
trying to close any debate.
Franklin said that the current
president Matthew Thomson
was not available for com-
ment, but Franklin wanted to
be as clear as possible about
the grade point average re-
quirement.
Mississippi Valley State
University SGA members
have a different view about
the grade point average re-
quirement.
“It is a 3.0 GPA or
higher,” said Sasha Harris a
non-executive SGA member.
Harris added that the grade
point average requirement of
3.0 or higher is only for ex-
ecutive branch members.
Legislative or judicial branch
members requirements are
not as high.
Prairie View A&M Uni-
versity is one of many that
requires a 2.8 grade point av-
erage to remain as Student
Government Association
president and vice president.
Kenneth West, a Prairie View
SGA senator talks about an
old tradition to explain their
choice.
“It has been in effect for
a years,” he said, defending
what appeared to be a sacred
requirement. “When you are
not an executive your GPA
requirement as a member of
PVAMU Student Govern-
ment Association is more
flexible.”
Zakiyyah Willis is the
PVAMU SGA executive sec-
retary. She revealed that 2.5
is the grade point average re-
quired to be a a part of their
Student Government Asso-
ciation judicial and legisla-
tive branches.
Tuskegee University of-
ficials share the same view.
The required grade point av-
erage for all students leaders
is 2.8. The required grade
point average must be met
not only by the SGA presi-
dent and vice president but
also by any student who
wants to be part of a mem-
bership.
Director of Student Life
Joe Brown remembers the
rules in details.
“University administra-
tion requires our top students’
grade point averages to be
higher or better than a C av-
erage,” he said, trying to sim-
plify it.
At Albany State Univer-
sity, the SGA president
Clarence Washington is also
in favor of higher standards
for students leaders.
“When it comes to our
student leaders we try to
keep our GPAs up,” Wash-
ington said. “Being the lead-
ers we want our students to
maintain a good GPA. He
also revealed that the quali-
fying grade point average for
the president and the vice
president of Albany State
University is 3.0. “When
you’re in charge you must
maintain a 2.8 GPA… It’s
what it takes to be a great
leader in this university.”
There is a big difference
between the required grade
point average of an SGA ex-
ecutive and non-executive
members at the University of
Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
“It’s 2.8 for any execu-
tive member,” said Marques
Carter the UAPB SGA elec-
tion board president. “If you
are not executive it’s 2.0.”
Texas Southern Univer-
sity, was one of the two uni-
versities that required a
lower grade point average for
the two top spots. The SGA
President Shekira Dennis
speaks easily on the subject.
According to Dennis, a stu-
dent needs only a 2.5 grade
to be the president of her Stu-
dent Government Associa-
tion. It is also written that he
or she needs to “maintain at
least a 2.50 GPA during his/
her tenure.”
Southern University also
requires the SGA president
and vice president to have a
2.5 GPA or higher. The SGA
could not be reached for
comment.
At Alabama A&M Uni-
versity in Huntsville the GPA
requirement for the
exexcutive branch is cur-
rently a 2.75, but the current
GPA has been the subject of
the local news.
In 2009 the current presi-
dent of the student body,
Tavis Richardson, wanted to
raise the current 2.75 grade
point average for students
who wanted to join a greek
organization. He picked up
supporters among the
university’s board of trustees,
university’s officials and
mostly A&M students.
Ranks:Ranks:Ranks:Ranks:Ranks: “To be any member of the SGA your GPA must be 2.8 or above ...”
the wrong reasons and
judged others based on their
wardrobe. It also spared no
feelings when it called out
those who could afford, “A
new hat every week,” but
could not pay their tithes.
“When I get dressed for
church, I am going to see the
King, so I must look my
best,” explained one woman
putting an emphasis on must.
The audience did not
hold back their laughter as
roars came from all sides of
the theatre, but it was a
struggle to hold back the
tears.
There were songs that
could have made you cry as
well as remember your own
pain, as you witnessed the
women of Crowns surviving
the deaths of husbands, fa-
thers and brothers.
Crowns is centered on a
young girl trying to find her-
self after she lost her best
friend who was also her old-
est brother. After being sent
to live with her grandmother,
she tries to find a way to feel
the way the women at church
feel when they are catching
the holy ghost and scream-
ing, as well as bouncing,
around the church.
Finally, she comes to
terms with the fact that in her
own way, she has found God.
It didn’t have to be in a bois-
terous church hat, or shouts
and dances.
When the lights went
off, the audience stood to ap-
plaud the actors onstage.
Crowns appeared before
a packed theatre and did a
wonderful job of stirring up
those Sunday rituals you may
have shared with your elders.
If you did not, the show
makes you wish you had as
the audience nods, chuckles
and every once in a while of-
fers their “Mm hmm’s.” s
Continued from page A1
Crowns:Crowns:Crowns:Crowns:Crowns: “When I get dressed for church, I am going to see the King ...”Continued from page A1
PROPOSED SGAPROPOSED SGAPROPOSED SGAPROPOSED SGAPROPOSED SGAAMENDMENTSAMENDMENTSAMENDMENTSAMENDMENTSAMENDMENTS
Dear Students:
It is our proposal that all executive branch members of yourStudent Government Association be obligated to uphold thesame academic standards of a 2.7 cumulative grade pointaverage.
We believe in equal opportunity
Provided below is the proposed amendment
Section 3 Academic Qualifications
A. All candidates for office, whether elected or appointed,must have and maintain a cumulative grade pointaverage as stipulated for the office.
B. Minimum cumulative grade point averages for officeswill be as follows:President 2.8Executive Vice President 2.8Executive Treasurer 2.6Executive Secretary 2.6
AMENDMENT ONE
Section 3 Academic Qualifications
A. All candidates for office, whether elected or appointed,must have and maintain a cumulative grade pointaverage as stipulated for the office.
B. Minimum cumulative grade point averages for officeswill be as follows:President 2.7Executive Vice President 2.7Executive Treasurer 2.7Executive Secretary 2.7
Part #2
“appealed through the AP and VP for Student Services to theUniversity President.”
AMENDMENT TWO
“appealed to the AP and VP for Student Services VOTE ON FEB. 24
B1
Feb. 11, 2012
ORIZONSCONTACT US: Horizons Editor/[email protected] (334) 229-4273
HRIBUNETHE HORNETHE HORNET
BLocal NewsState News
National NewsInternational News
Christie defends loweringChristie defends loweringChristie defends loweringChristie defends loweringChristie defends loweringflags for Whitney Houstonflags for Whitney Houstonflags for Whitney Houstonflags for Whitney Houstonflags for Whitney Houston
See GATHERGATHERGATHERGATHERGATHER on page B2B2B2B2B2
See HEARSHEARSHEARSHEARSHEARS on page B2B2B2B2B2
See SEEK on page B2
See DEFENDSDEFENDSDEFENDSDEFENDSDEFENDS on page B2B2B2B2B2
Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday strongly defended his decision to have flags lowered to half-staff for Whitney Houston. (AP)
See SUBMITS on page B2
LOS ANGELES (AP)
— Through music, scripture
and song, Don Cornelius was
remembered Thursday as the
man who elevated black cul-
ture and entertainment with
his “Soul Train,” demolish-
ing barriers of race and cul-
ture, and changing the
nation’s history.
Hundreds of family,
friends, entertainers, sports
figures and even some
former “Soul Train” dancers
gathered to honor Cornelius’
legacy and recall their recol-
Family, friends gather to honor Don Corneliuslections of the baritone-
voiced host and entrepreneur.
The nearly three-hour me-
morial service featured
plenty of laughter and music,
including a rousing perfor-
mance of “Love’s In Need of
Love” by Stevie Wonder.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson
delivered a eulogy that cen-
tered on how Cornelius’ cre-
ation created a platform for
black music and culture that
hadn’t been seen on televi-
sion when “Soul Train” de-
buted in 1970.
“Don, we say thanks for
being conductor of the ‘Soul
Train’ and laying the tracks,”
Jackson said. “We thank you
because we needed you so
badly and you helped us so
much.”
Several speakers noted
that Cornelius didn’t just
give a platform to perform-
ers such as Wonder, Aretha
Franklin and the Jackson 5,
but he also gave opportuni-
ties to black cameramen and
demonstrated that television
programming aimed at black
audiences was viable.
At several points during
the service, photos of
Cornelius on the show’s set
were displayed for the gath-
ering, which ended with clips
of the popular host dancing
and delivering his signature
sign-off, “Love, Peace and
Soul!!!”
Smokey Robinson joked
that Cornelius would often
ask guests questions that
veered away from their mu-
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) —
Gov. Chris Christie on
Wednesday strongly de-
fended his decision to have
flags lowered to half-staff on
Saturday for Whitney Hous-
ton, saying he rejects criti-
cism that she “forfeited the
good things that she did” be-
cause of her struggles with
substance abuse.
“What I would say to
everybody is, ‘There but for
the grace of God go I,’” he
said.
The Republican gover-
nor said his office has been
receiving emails and other
messages disparaging Hous-
ton and attacking his decision
to have flags flown at half-
staff at state government
buildings Saturday, the day
of her funeral in the Newark
church where she sang in the
choir as a child.
Twitter was abuzz
Wednesday with reaction to
the decision by Christie,
whose home is in Mendham,
a wealthy town where Hous-
ton also had lived.
In online postings, there
were two main arguments
against the honor for the “I
Will Always Love You”
singer, who died over the
weekend in California at age
48: One was that it should be
reserved for members of the
military, first responders and
elected officials. The other
was that it’s wrong to honor
a drug addict.
Heather Clause, a Rich-
mond, Va.-based blogger
who writes about teen moms
and was tweeting critical
comments, said in a tele-
phone interview that she was
appalled by the planned flag-
lowering.
“It’s just such a bad ex-
ample for people,” she said.
Clause, 23, said the de-
cision was like saying if
someone sings well, drug use
doesn’t matter and “you can
still be an idol.”
Rebecca Eppelmann, a
newspaper copy editor in
upstate New York, also
tweeted her disgust at the
Houston honor, then dis-
cussed her views.
“It should be for major
events,” she said. “It’s hor-
rible that she passed away.
It’s not something that should
warrant this.”
The governor said he
was not saying that Houston,
who was born in Newark and
was raised in nearby East
Orange, is a role model. In-
stead, he said, Houston de-
serves the honor because of
her huge cultural impact and
as “a daughter of New Jer-
sey.”
“I am disturbed by
people who believe that be-
cause her ultimate demise —
and we don’t know what is
the cause of her death yet —
but because of her history of
substance abuse that some-
how she’s forfeited the good
things that she did in her
life,” said the governor dur-
ing a briefing in northern
New Jersey. “I just reject that
on a human level.”
The cause of Houston’s
SAN FRANCISCO
(AP) — Backers of affirma-
tive action asked a federal
appeals court Monday to
overturn California’s 15-
year-old ban on considering
race in public college admis-
sions, citing a steep drop in
black, Latino and Native
American students at the
state’s elite campuses.
A three-judge panel of
the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of
Appeal heard arguments in
the latest legal challenge to
Proposition 209, the land-
mark voter initiative that
barred racial, ethnic and gen-
der preferences in public
education, employment and
contracting.
The affirmative action
ban has withstood multiple
challenges since voters ap-
proved it in 1996, but advo-
cates say their campaign to
overturn it has been bolstered
by recent court decisions, as
well as support from Gov.
Jerry Brown.
Court hears challenge toCourt hears challenge toCourt hears challenge toCourt hears challenge toCourt hears challenge toAffirmative Action banAffirmative Action banAffirmative Action banAffirmative Action banAffirmative Action ban
Christina Cornelius, granddaughter of Don Cornelius, wipes
her tears while reading a statement Thursday. (AP)
TALLAHASSEE (AP)
Florida A&M University
took two major steps this
week in an attempt to elimi-
nate a hazing epidemic that
has left one student dead,
injured some and brought
arrests and expulsion from
school for others.
On Tuesday afternoon,
university officials con-
firmed for
BlackAmericaweb.com that
the institution submitted its
anti-hazing plan and other
documents to the Florida
Board of Governors. On
Thursday, during a full
meeting of the university’s
Board of Trustees, a
$50,000 research initiative
on the nature and extent of
campus hazing was
launched, and a seven-
member independent com-
Dozens of minority stu-
dents backing the plaintiffs
filled the courtroom for the
hour-long hearing, when the
justices questioned whether
they should tamper with a
1997 ruling in which the
same appellate court upheld
Proposition 209.
Attorneys for the plain-
tiffs said affirmative action is
needed to increase racial di-
versity at the University of
California’s most prestigious
campuses and professional
schools. Data shows that
UC’s efforts to enroll diverse
student populations without
considering race have failed,
they argued.
“What you see before
you is a new form of sepa-
rate and unequal going on
right before our eyes,” plain-
tiffs’ attorney George Wash-
ington told the three male
justices.
Ralph Kasarda, who is
FAMU submits
anti-hazing plan,
forms committeemittee was announced that
will study hazing at the col-
lege and make recommen-
dations.
FAMU, named recently
by U.S. News and World
Report among the top 15
most popular national uni-
versities, has been in the
spotlight recently, not be-
cause of its academics and
research, but because of its
culture of hazing.
Robert Champion Jr.,
one of six drum majors in
the college’s famed March-
ing 100 Band, died in No-
vember 2011 following an
alleged hazing incident in
Orlando, Florida hours af-
ter the band put on a stellar
show at the Florida Classic
football game. The Orange
LOS ANGELES (AP)
— Investigators worked
Sunday to piece together
what killed Whitney Houston
as the music industry’s big-
gest names gathered for a
Grammy Awards show that
at times felt as much like a
memorial as a celebration.
Coroner’s officials say
they will not release any in-
formation on an autopsy per-
formed Sunday at the request
of police detectives investi-
gating the singer’s death. The
singer was found in the bath-
tub of her room at the
Beverly Hilton Hotel, but
Assistant Chief Coroner Ed
Winter declined to say any-
thing more about the room’s
condition or any evidence
investigators recovered.
He said there were no
Investigators seek answers to Houston’s death
obvious signs of trauma on
Houston’s body, but that of-
ficials were not ruling out
any causes of death until they
have toxicology results,
which will take weeks to ob-
tain.
Beverly Hills Police Lt.
Mark Rosen said that his
agency may release more
details Monday about
Houston’s death, but it will
depend on whether detec-
tives feel comfortable releas-
ing any information.
A member of Houston’s
entourage found the 48-year-
old singer unresponsive in
her hotel room at the Beverly
Hilton Hotel on Saturday,
just hours before she was
supposed to appear at a pre-
Grammy gala.
Rosen said there were no
indications of foul play when
Houston was found by a
member of her entourage.
Paramedics worked to revive
Houston, but were unsuc-
cessful and the singer was
pronounced dead shortly be-
fore 4 p.m. He said he could
not comment on the condi-
tion of Houston’s room or
where she had been found.
Meanwhile, Houston’s
In this 2011 photo, Whitney Houston and her daughter, Bobbi
Kristina, are shown at the pre-Grammy Awards party. (AP)
FAMU President Dr. James Ammons has been under
increased pressure to eradicate the culture of hazing at the
institution.
Feb. 12-18, 2012PAGE B2 The Hornet Tribune HORIZONS
GatherGatherGatherGatherGather: : : : : “I’m really happy to be here because Don was my brother ...”Continued from page B1
SeekSeekSeekSeekSeek: : : : : “At this time, we ask for privacy, especially for my daughter ...”Continued from page B1
HearsHearsHearsHearsHears: : : : : “As a state-serving institution, the university should reflect the ...”Continued from page B1
Continued from page B1
SubmitsSubmitsSubmitsSubmitsSubmits: : : : : “As academiciansacross this country engage ...”
DefendsDefendsDefendsDefendsDefends: : : : : “She never forgotwhere she came from ...”Continued from page B1
sic, such as what they were
driving and when they’d last
eaten at a particular restau-
rant.
“I’m really happy to be
here because Don was my
brother and I am celebrating
his life,” a smiling Robinson
said. “I don’t what the rest of
you are doing.”
Remaining upbeat,
Robinson told the crowd,
“He started a platform for
black people that before that
time had not been seen. It had
been heard, but it had not
been seen.”
“Soul Train” was broad-
cast nationally from 1971 to
2006 and became one of
television’s longest running
syndicated shows. He gave
up hosting duties in 1993.
Pastor Donnie
McClurkin, who led the ser-
vice, noted that his mother
didn’t allow her children to
listen to popular music. But
when she went grocery shop-
ping on Saturdays, he and his
siblings caught up on all the
latest dance moves and mu-
sic by watching “Soul Train.”
Cornelius was born in
September 1936 in Chicago,
served as a Marine in Korea
and worked various jobs be-
fore getting into broadcasting
in the mid-1960s.
He was inducted into the
Broadcasting and Cable Hall
of Fame in 1995 and has a
star on the Hollywood Walk
of Fame, but his greatest
legacy was the impact of his
show, which not only
brought black culture, but
also black advertisers to na-
tionwide audiences. His
show came long before there
were any networks devoted
to television programming
for black audiences, or black
actors in prominent roles on
network shows — key cul-
tural barriers that Cornelius
helped break down.
Cornelius’ granddaugh-
ter Christina said that to the
world, her grandfather was a
visionary and trailblazer.
“He was all those things.
But to me he was just
grandpa,” she said, breaking
down. “My smooth voiced,
loving grandpa.”
Several speakers, includ-
ing Cornelius’ son Tony,
spoke of continuing
Cornelius’ legacy.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson
recalled meeting Cornelius in
the early 1980s after he
started playing with the Los
Angeles Lakers.
“Shoot, I come around
the corner and I see that big
‘fro, I already knew who it
was,” Johnson said as the
crowd laughed, “but I was
scared because I always
wanted to meet him.”
On Thursday, Johnson
said he was committed to
helping keep the “Soul
Train” going.
“Tony, it’s our job to
keep the legacy going,”
Johnson said. “The brand
that your father has created
will last a lifetime.”
Several speakers also of-
fered condolences to the
family of Whitney Houston,
who appeared on Cornelius’
show and died unexpectedly
Saturday at age 48.
Wonder mused that
Cornelius would be pleased
to have Houston join him and
other musicians in heaven.
“I can only hope we con-
tinue to keep this man’s life
and legacy alive,” Wonder
said.
Cornelius, 75, died Feb.
1 from a self-inflicted gun-
shot wound, and Jackson
urged people not to judge
him. “We reveal our suc-
cesses to the world but we
conceal our pain,” he said.
Rather, Jackson said, the
public and those who knew
Cornelius well should re-
member what Cornelius built
with “Soul Train” and what
it meant to the world.
“It brought joy. It
brought pride. It brought tal-
ent. It brought hope. It
brought opportunity. It
blazed trails,” he said. “Tell
them what you know, not
what you imagine.”
death at a Beverly Hills ho-
tel has not been determined,
and the results of toxicol-
ogy tests are pending. In-
vestigators found several
bottles of prescription
medication in the hotel
room where she died Satur-
day, but authorities said
they weren’t an unusually
large number.
Christie said some
people were being critical
“without the facts,” accus-
ing him of treating Houston
better than fallen soldiers.
The governor noted he
has ordered flags flown at
half-staff for all 31 fallen
New Jersey soldiers and ev-
ery fallen police officer dur-
ing his time in office.
He also ordered flags
lowered last year for
Clarence Clemons, the
saxophonist for Bruce
Springsteen’s E Street
Band.
In Newark, residents
were irritated to hear of
criticism of the governor’s
decision to honor Houston,
who acknowledged her
drug abuse in interviews.
Resident Anna
Simpson was out Wednes-
day at New Hope Baptist
Church, where Houston’s
funeral will be held, to pay
her respects on her way
home from her airport job.
“She never forgot
where she came from,”
Simpson said. “She was
real. We would see her and
be like, ‘She’s one of ours,’
and she always made us
proud, no matter what hap-
pened.”
After Houston became
famous she continued to
make regular trips to the
public school she attended
in East Orange and to which
her family has directed do-
nations be sent in lieu of
flowers.
Simpson said she ad-
mires Christie for honoring
Houston because “if it were
Bruce Springsteen or Jon
Bon Jovi, nobody would bat
an eye.”
“I don’t agree with a lot
of things that he does, but I
admire him for that,” she
said. “Whoever don’t agree,
they will get over it.”
Associated Press writer
Geoff Mulvihill in
Haddonfield, N.J., contrib-
uted to this report.
defending Proposition 209,
told the justices that the San
Francisco-based appellate
court was correct when it
upheld the affirmative-action
ban. He called the current
challenge “redundant and
baseless.”
“Proposition 209 guar-
antees everyone’s right to be
treated fairly and not be dis-
criminated against based on
skin color or gender,” said
Kasarda, an attorney for the
Pacific Legal Foundation,
which represented the spon-
sors of the 1996 ballot mea-
sure.
The complaint was filed
in January 2010 by several
dozen minority students and
advocacy groups who say the
ban violates the civil rights
of black, Latino and Native
American students. Those
groups make up about half of
California’s high school
graduates, but much smaller
percentages at UC’s most
competitive campuses.
For example, at UC Ber-
keley, the current freshmen
class of California residents
is roughly 1 percent Native
American, 3.5 percent black,
15 percent Latino, 30 percent
white and 48 percent Asian,
according to UC data.
“As a state-serving insti-
tution, the university should
reflect the demographics of
California, and right now it
doesn’t,” said Magali Flores,
20, a third-year Latina stu-
dent majoring in ethnic stud-
ies at UC Berkeley. “Prop.
209 wants to pretend that
race isn’t real.”
The court agreed to hear
the case after U.S. District
Judge Samuel Conti dis-
missed the lawsuit in Decem-
ber 2010. The California Su-
preme Court has twice ruled
that Proposition 209 is con-
stitutional.
Advocates say justices
need to reconsider in light of
recent court rulings on the
issue.
In 2003, the U.S. Su-
preme Court ruled the Uni-
versity of Michigan Law
School could consider race in
admissions decisions to pro-
mote campus diversity.
Last year, a three-judge
panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit
Court of Appeals overturned
Michigan’s affirmative ac-
tion ban. The full appellate
court has agreed to recon-
sider the case.
Brown joined the plain-
tiffs in arguing the affirma-
tive action ban is unconsti-
tutional.
daughter was transported by
ambulance to a Los Angeles
hospital Sunday morning and
later released. A source close
to the family who did not
want to speak given the sen-
sitivity of the matter said she
was treated and released for
stress and anxiety. Bobbi
Kristina Brown, 18, who is
Houston’s daughter from her
marriage to singer Bobby
Brown, had accompanied her
mother to several pre-
Grammy Awards events last
week.
“At this time, we ask for
privacy, especially for my
daughter, Bobbi Kristina,”
Bobby Brown wrote in a
statement released about an
hour after she was trans-
ported from the hotel. “I ap-
preciate all of the condo-
lences that have been di-
rected towards my family
and I at this most difficult
time.”
Houston had been ex-
pected to perform at the pre-
awards gala Saturday night
thrown by music impresario
Clive Davis, her longtime
mentor.
Davis went ahead with
his annual party and concert,
which were held at the same
hotel where Houston’s body
was found — and where it
remained for most of Satur-
day night. He dedicated the
evening to her and asked for
a moment of silence.
Houston had been at re-
hearsals for the Davis concert
on Thursday, coaching sing-
ers Brandy and Monica, ac-
cording to a person who was
at the event but was not au-
thorized to speak publicly
about it.
The person said Houston
looked disheveled, was
sweating profusely and li-
quor and cigarettes could be
smelled on her breath. It was
the latest of countless stories
about the decline of a
uniquely gifted and beautiful
artist, once the golden girl of
the music industry.
The Rev. Al Sharpton
remembered Houston while
preaching Sunday morning
at the Second Baptist Church
in Los Angeles.
“Yes, she had an out-
standing range,” he said.
“Yes, she could hit notes no
one else could reach. But
what made her different was
she was born and bred in the
bosom of the black church.”
A sensation from her
very first album, she was one
of the world’s best-selling
artists from the mid-1980s to
the late 1990s. She awed mil-
lions with soaring, but disci-
plined vocals rooted in gos-
pel and polished for the
masses, a bridge between the
earthy passion of her god-
mother, Aretha Franklin, and
the bouncy pop of her cousin,
Dionne Warwick.
Her success carried her
beyond music to movies,
where she became a rare
black actress with box office
appeal, starring in such hits
as “The Bodyguard” and
“Waiting to Exhale.” Bishop
T.D. Jakes, a Texas minister
and producer on Houston’s
final film project, a re-make
of the 1970s release
“Sparkle,” said he saw no
signs she was having any
substance issues. He said
Houston was a complete pro-
fessional and moved the cast
and crew to tears two months
ago when she sang the gos-
pel hymn “Her Eyes on the
Sparrow” for a scene shot in
Detroit.
“There was no evidence
in working with her on
‘Sparkle’ that there was any
struggle in her life,” Jakes
said Sunday. “She just left a
deep impression on every-
body.”
She had the perfect voice
and the perfect image: gor-
geous, but wholesome;
grounded, but fun-loving.
And she influenced a genera-
tion of younger singers, from
Christina Aguilera to Mariah
Carey, who when she first
came out, sounded so much
like Houston that many
couldn’t tell the difference.
But by the end of her ca-
reer, Houston had become a
stunning and heartbreaking
cautionary tale. Her album
sales plummeted and the hits
stopped coming; her once
serene image was shattered
by a wild demeanor and bi-
zarre public appearances.
County Medical Examiner
has ruled Champion’s
death a homicide. Though
several people who were
on a band bus the night
Champion allegedly went
through the ritual of
“Crossing the C Bus,” no
charges have been filed.
The Orange County Sher-
iff Department said the
case remains under inves-
tigation.
In addition to
Champion’s death, at least
two other hazing incidents
were reported in 2010, with
one even requiring hospi-
talization for student Bria
Hunter, who also was a
member of the Marching
100.
FAMU President Dr.
James Ammons has been
under increased pressure to
eradicate the culture of haz-
ing at the institution, which
is among the largest public
historically black universi-
ties in the nation.
The research initiative,
the president said, will help
get the faculty involved in
finding solutions while also
positioning FAMU to be
part of the national discus-
sion on hazing.
“Hazing is one issue
that many colleges and uni-
versities face, yet it pre-
sents a serious challenge to
uncover and address as a
hidden culture, shrouded in
secrecy,” Ammons said.
The FAMU Anti-Haz-
ing Research Initiative will
offer small grants for fac-
ulty to conduct collabora-
tive research across disci-
plines to study the nature
and extent of hazing behav-
iors among campus organi-
zations and groups.
FAMU public safety
officials have said 22 haz-
ing incidents have been re-
ported over the past three
years. Some of those in-
volved subgroups within
the Marching 100, and at
least involved a band fra-
ternity. And hazing on the
FAMU campus in Tallahas-
see is not limited to the
band or Greek letter orga-
nizations. On a website
started by a FAMU alum-
nus to address hazing, stu-
dents and alums reported
hazing in several groups -
even a modeling team.
School officials say the
research initiative will
tackle four key areas, in-
cluding developing a basic
understanding of hazing
behaviors, developing al-
ternatives to hazing, elimi-
nating the fear of retribu-
tion and identifying effec-
tive education training.
“As academicians
across this country engage
in research in this area, we
want to ensure that FAMU
is represented in a very sig-
nificant way among these
scholars,” said Ammons.
“We view this as seed
money for faculty to be in-
volved into the greater pool
of resources available to
address this issue.”
The committee to
study hazing, also an-
nounced on Thursday, will
function independently
from the research initiative,
but its goal is similar,
Ammons said: To help
eradicate the culture of
hazing at FAMU.
Former U.S. District
Judge Stephen C.
Robinson of New York will
head the committee an-
nounced by the Board of
Trustees. Robinson will be
joined by Dr. Naim Akbar,
clinical psychologist and
former president of the
National Association of
Black Psychologists; Dr.
Elizabeth Allan, professor,
University of Maine and
co-director of the National
Collaborative for Hazing
Research and Prevention;
Dr. Michael V. Bowie, ex-
ecutive director of the
Florida Fund for Minority
Teachers and former na-
tional president of the Na-
tional Pan-Hellenic Coun-
cil; David Brewer, former
vice admiral of the United
States Navy and superin-
tendent of the Los Angeles
Unified School District;
Dr. Mary Madden, profes-
sor, University of Maine
and co-director of the Na-
tional Collaborative for
Hazing Research and Pre-
vention, and David
Starnes, band director and
professor of Music at West-
ern Carolina University.
—-Associated Press
contributed to this report.
Shanta Driver, a lawyer with the Coalition to Defend Affirmative
Action, addresses the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. (AP)
Don Cornelius, creator of the long running show “Soul Train”
thanked his supporters at the Soul Train Music Awards in 2009.
Bobbi Kristina and Bobby Brown share a father-daughter
moment in 2011.
C C1
RIBUNET
Feb 18, 2012
IEWPOINTSCONTACT US: Viewpoints Editor/[email protected] (334) 229-4273
HE HORNETHE HORNET
VColumnsEditorials
Editorial CartoonsHornet Expressions
H O R N E T E X P R E S S I O N SH O R N E T E X P R E S S I O N SH O R N E T E X P R E S S I O N SH O R N E T E X P R E S S I O N SH O R N E T E X P R E S S I O N SDo believe it is wise for the SGA to lower the grade point averages for the offices
of the president and vice president?
Anika Taylor
Junior
Communication
Chris LaPoint
First Year
Recording Industry
Amanda Price
First Year
History
TJ Walker
First Year
Recording Industry
Tony Leary
Senior
Management
“By lowering the GPA,
it basically lowers the stan-
dards of what the leader of
a President should be.
Leaders should hold a high
standard because they are
being looked upon.”
“What’s the purpose in
lowering the GPA? Alabama
State University is known for
excellence and creating great
leaders worldwide, so
lowering the GPA doesn’t
have a good look on the
University as a whole.”
“... Students with a GPA
below a 3.0 that would make
great leaders, could not run
because of the GPA require-
ment ... At the same time,
lowering it would be looked
upon as a joke. Students
would feel that anybody
could run for the two posi-
tions ...”
“Don’t lower the GPA. If
you want to be in an organi-
zation, you should WORK
FOR IT. The students that do
work hard enough for the re-
quired GPA shouldn’t have to
compete with students that
do enough just to get by.
There should not be an ad-
vantage to those that don’t
put in effort.”
“I favor against because
it will raise the competition.
This isn’t an easy position.
With the bar being low, the
proper and needed leader-
ship will be missed. You
have to compete for it.
There’s no room for compe-
tition. No position value.”
“All they did was make
the standard the same for
the entire executive board.
... because that is the mini-
mum grade point average
doesn’t mean that the
people who run or the
people who win will have
that GPA. The GPA is sim-
ply a requirement for those
who desire to run.”
Karen Caldwell
Junior
Rehab Services
A while back, when
ABC’s Diane Sawyer asked
Whitney Houston what she
wanted 10 years from now,
the pop diva rattled off a list
of simple desires.
“Retired ... sitting down
... seeing my daughter grow
up ... grandchildren,” Hous-
ton said, smiling with that
perfect, piano-key smile of
hers.
No wishes to be in
anyone’s Hall of Fame. No
wishes for another Grammy.
She just wanted to be
Whitney, the woman.
Hearing that interview
saddens me even more about
her death.
I guess it’s because
Houston was a woman
blessed with gifts that fill the
dreams of everyday women;
dreams of being beautiful,
talented and adored by mil-
lions. Yet, it was that talent -
and all the complexities that
go along with it - that got in
Houston wanted to be
Whitney, the womanthe way of her living to ful-
fill common dreams that are,
for many of us, a given.
And we’ll always be left
to wonder what might have
been.
Beverly Hills police say
that Houston, whose body
was found in a Beverly Hills
hotel room this past week-
end, was “underwater and
unconscious” in the bathtub.
The 48-year-old had battled
a drug addiction for many
years, and prescription drug
bottles were in the room.
So far, though, there’s no
evidence of foul play, and the
cause of Houston’s death has
yet to be determined.
But regardless of how
she died, to many women
like me, women who had
seen her grow from girlish
singer in the video “I Wanna
Dance With Somebody
(Who Loves Me)” to sultry
actress in the movie, “Wait-
ing to Exhale,” the loss still
stings.
I didn’t expect for her to
go out like that. I still be-
lieved there was a lot of
magic left in Houston,
enough magic to propel her
past the addictions that had
hobbled her life and career. I
wanted to see her use her tal-
ent to beat down her demons.
And whenever Houston
did retire, I wanted to see her
end her career with an excla-
mation point. Instead, her life
ended as a somber footnote.
It’s pointless to blame
anyone for the destructive
choices that Houston made in
her life. I just wish that there
was a way to take that same
comfort and enjoyment that
her gifts brought to people
like me and turn it back on
her so that she could draw the
same comfort and fulfillment
from it.
So much so that she
wouldn’t feel the need to use
drugs, or so much so that she
could find the strength to
shun them.
I just wish I knew of a
way that Houston could have
used that same power that
kept us spellbound over her
voice to control the things
that hobbled her life.
And I wish that maybe
one of her gospel songs, or
her early hit, “The Greatest
Love of All,” could have
saved her in the way that they
likely inspired others to save
themselves.
I guess that in the end,
Houston, for all her superhu-
man talent and beauty, was
all too human. Her interview
with Sawyer tells us that -
that at the end of the day, she
wanted what many other
women want: To see their
children grow up, to have
grandchildren, to be able to
marvel over the circle of life
that they had a hand in creat-
ing.
When Houston is laid to
rest in her native New Jersey,
everyone will be struggling
to remember her life, not her
death. I’ll be struggling to do
that too, to remember the
beauty and talent that she
brought to the world.
I’ll also be mourning that
Houston’s extraordinary life
ended way before she got a
chance to see her ordinary,
10-year plan become real.
Newt Gingrich is des-
perate for material for his
campaign-turned-comedy
show these days. So much
so that he has resorted to re-
cycling Dick Cheney’s old
lines.
Back in 2004. the vice-
president, playing to
American fears that were
still raw from the Sept. 11,
2001 terrorist attacks, said
that if voters chose Demo-
cratic presidential nominee
John Kerry over his boss,
George W. Bush, they were
risking their lives.
“If we make the wrong
choice, then the danger is
that we’ll get hit again –
that we’ll be hit in a way
that will be devastating
from the standpoint of the
United States,” Cheney
said.
Sadly, fear worked
then. But last year, Osama
bin Laden – the face that in-
spired all that fear and the
mastermind behind those
attacks – was killed.
Under the leadership of
President Obama, the FBI’s
most-wanted terrorist was
tracked down at his hide-
away in Pakistan and killed
during a gun battle with
Navy SEALs. The
president’s handling of the
Libyan conflict – a multi-
lateral approach that ulti-
mately led to the collapse
of the oppressive
Moammar Gaddafi govern-
ment – has been widely
deemed as a success.
And, according to
Gallup, Obama’s approval
rating on national defense
now stands at 53 percent.
So, when I heard what
Gingrich told a crowd at
Oral Roberts University re-
cently, I wondered if he
thought he was at The
Improv.
He said that under
Obama, there was “a real
threat of an American city
being wiped out.” He said
that Obama “is the most
dangerous president in
American history” and that
defeating him was “in fact,
a duty of national security.”
Yet, while Gingrich’s
failure to grasp facts and his
reuse of Cheney’s 2004
fear-mongering lines is
laughable, what’s sad is that
some people – although I’m
betting very few – might ac-
tually be scared by that stu-
pidity.
And they’ll be scared if
Gingrich is able to play to
their anxieties about Obama
- about his childhood in In-
donesia, about his black-
ness, about whether he
might really be a Muslim
and might be predisposed to
go too easy on brown-
skinned people who remind
them of the Sept. 11 terror-
ists.
It’s funny to watch how
GOP contenders like
Gingrich can’t seem to cam-
paign against the president
without trying to tap into
such fears. Gingrich
thought he had something,
in fact, with the “food stamp
president” thing.
He repeatedly used the
racially-charged label to im-
ply that Obama was more
interested in making people
depend on food stamps in-
stead of helping them get
jobs.
The facts, however, dis-
pute that; while a record
number of Americans now
get food stamps, it’s be-
cause the economic down-
turn, which began during
the last months of the Bush
administration, pushed pov-
erty levels up. It isn’t be-
cause Obama is making it
easier for people to get on
the dole.
But now unemploy-
ment is at 8.3 percent.
That’s still high, but down
from the 10 percent levels
of two years ago. The Dow
broke 13,000 yesterday, a
level it hadn’t reached since
the banking crisis hit in
2008. And General Motors
posted a $7.6 billion profit
by Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya WeathersbeeGUEST COLUMNIST
Gingrich’s new Obama
attack worthy of laughs
See ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK on page C2C2C2C2C2
by Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya WeathersbeeGUEST COLUMNIST
Whitney Houston listens intently as ABC’s Diane Sawyer rattles off questions about her relationship with Bobby Brown.
Feb. 12-18, 2012PAGE C2 The Hornet Tribune VIEWPOINTS
HE HORNET
RIBUNETHE HORNET
Alabama State University915 South Jackson Street
Montgomery, Alabama 36104PHONE: (334) 229-4273 FAX: (334) 229-4165
www.thehornettribune.com
2011-12 EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP TEAM
Executive Editor Kieyana Edwards
Editorial Managing Editor Sharanna Polk
Visual Media Managing Editor Christopher Logan
Social Media Managing Editor Rose Todd
Graphic and Design Managing Editor Willie Todd
Digital Media Managing Editor Phillip Davis
Chief Business and Finance Manager Justin Johnson
Public Affairs Manager Shericka Wilson
General Manager Kenneth Dean, MS
Executive Editor Kieyana Edwards
Editorial Managing Editor Sharanna Polk
Sports Editor Abraham Chopin
Staff Correspondent LaShaunda Glass
Staff Correspondent Desire K. Kafunda
Staff Correspondent Carisma Mitchell
Staff Correspondent Brianna Roberts
Staff Correspondent David Stephens
Staff Correspondent Kianna T. Hodo
Staff Correspondent Malcolm T. Banks
Staff Correspondent Chania M. Mitchell
Staff Correspondent Jasmin S. Wells
Staff Correspondent Natasha E. Harris
University Beat Manager Joseph Batiste
Writing Coach Gita Smith, MA
Faculty Adviser L. Simone Byrd, PhD
“think, think, think”
“Sometimes the truth hurts”
KIEYANA EDWARDS
SHARANNA POLK
2011-12 EDITORIAL BOARD
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petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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Leadership requires good presidential decorum
The Hornet Tribune is the official student newspaper of Alabama State
University and is printed once weekly on Fridays. The opinions of The
Hornet Tribune editorial board do not necessarily reflect the opinions of
the university and serve as expressions of fact and opinions of interest.
Letters to the editor may be submitted. Limit letters to 300 hundred
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HOW TO WRITE USHOW TO WRITE USHOW TO WRITE USHOW TO WRITE USHOW TO WRITE US
It’s hard to find people who
know what it means to be a genu-
ine leader. They aren’t born, made
by wearing a title, or created over-
night. Being a leader in the 21st cen-
tury requires class, grace, and poise
in the face of ignorance and stupid-
ity. At least those seem to be the
necessary attributes for President
Barrack Obama on a daily basis.
As of today, Obama has been
publicly disrespected, vilified and
insulted more than any other presi-
dent in American history. Despite
being the only President to be re-
fused by Congress after requesting
a date for an address, and having a
member of Congress call him a liar
on live television during a State of
the Union Address, Obama has kept
a sophisticated attitude throughout.
He even remained poised when
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer was pho-
tographed pointing her fingers in
the president’s face (later saying
that she “felt a little threatened.”)
It is speculated that this rude
behavior stems from the fact that
Obama is referred to as the first
“black” president. If this is the case
that means black leaders of this
generation have some large steps
to follow when it comes to main-
taining their integrity in the face of
controversy or when serving as
public officials.
Being a public official is a sac-
rifice that requires a certain display
of character, charisma, intellect,
and most important, integrity.
Alabama State University Stu-
dent Government Association
President Travis Smith is a prime
example of a black public official
who has a role to fill that mimics
the responsibilities of President
Obama because of the position that
he campaigned for during spring
2011. He serves as the representa-
tive of the entire student body of
ASU, including members of the
free press.
On February 14, Smith posted
negative tweets under his personal
profile about The Hornet Tribune
and a member of its staff that ques-
tioned the standards, credibility,
and quality of the newspaper. The
actions he displayed were
embarassing to the university as
well as the student body, even
though they were tweeted on his
personal page.
I call it an embarrassment be-
cause Smith is a leader of the stu-
dent body 24 hours a day. If some-
one from the public read the tweets,
they would begin asking questions
immediately.
Imagine if President Obama
took the same action Smith took
against the USA Today or the Wall
Street Journal because he did not
like what was written or the man-
ner in which it was written.
He would be labeled as “an
embarassment” and further penal-
ized in the media. There would not
be one newspaper, news program,
or radio station that would not pub-
licly criticize the president, and
Smith’s case is hardly different.
As a leader, especially a black
leader, Smith is responsible for set-
ting an example for his peers, and
when he does not adequately do
this, he has to be held accountable
for his choices. The newspaper is
here to be the voice of reason for
students when events occur on
campus that affects them. Whether
he agrees or disagrees, there is a
certain decorum that he must keep.
The comments tweeted onto
cyberspace cannot be taken back.
They are forever disbursed into the
internet and shared with thousands
of viewers. Several students and
alumni alike are questioning his ac-
tions.
By choosing to use these an-
tics to express his frustration and
anger over a staff editorial placed
him and the SGA in a negative
light. By taking such impulsive
actions to personally express his
emotions, Smith reveals sloppiness
within the student government.
In fact, the articles he found un-
appealing were further proven to
have made a valid point. If the in-
formation had not been true then it
would have been easy for Smith to
properly address the issue.
Smith feels so confident in his
behavior that he even refused an
apologize for his libelous and defa-
matory actions. He said that he
didn’t feel that he should.
Having to write this column is
a disappointment to me because I
am a student leader who has to
question Smith’s character, judg-
ment, integrity and ability to lead
the student body because of an im-
mature action he chose to take. I
would hate for him to graduate
thinking that it is professional and
proper decorum to go on a nega-
tive tangent about an organization
that he represents. There is no way
I could do that and feel that I have
properly done my job as executive
editor.
A leader is in the public eye 24
hours a day. I am the executive
editor all day, every day. A leader
cannot separate his personal life
from his professional life. It comes
with the territory.
Even when a leader feels mis-
treated, it’s all right to give an apol-
ogy for behavior that causes mis-
representation. Being a leader is
having to make the decision to set
aside how you feel, so you can de-
cide a better plan of action that ben-
efits your organization. We are a
representation of our ethnicity no
matter what we do and where we
are. Mr. Smith: Are you going to
stand tall like President Obama or
lower your level by pointing your
finger like Gov. Brewer?
News is defined as anything
out of the ordinary and public rela-
tions is the promotion of goodwill.
The ASU Today is a public re-
lations magazine that is designed
by the university and written by
university employees.
It promotes goodwill for the
university because it reports all of
the great things that are happening
at the university and all of its ac-
complishments.
That is the role of the ASU To-
day.
However, The Hornet Tribune
is a newspaper that publishes cam-
pus news, local, state and national
news, features, opinions and sports.
The Hornet Tribune deals with
facts and reality. We do not place
spins on our stories. We present
the facts, background and reaction
or responses to the facts. That is
why not all of the articles printed
in it are perceived as positive.
If someone’s house is engulfed
in flames, it is reported as a fire.
That would not be a positive story
to most people, but it is the facts
and reality and it must be reported.
Anyone who turns on the news
at 5 or 6 p.m. will not see public
relations. The news anchors will
report crime stories, international
conflicts, budget problems, unem-
ployment and etc.
The Hornet Tribune reflects the
stories that are really going on, in
the way that they are transpiring.
There are a number of things
that could be improved on the cam-
pus, so, realistically, student report-
ers/writers have opinions, as do all
students, with the difference being
that a reporter/writer can express
his or hers in a public forum that
comes out in the form of press.
However, the students who do
not write for The Hornet Tribune
are not limited. They can always
write letters to the editor that will
be published. We are open to stu-
dents participating in a paper that
is mainly produced because of
them.
Alabama State University is
not a perfect campus. If that were
the case, then we would not see stu-
dents leaving for various reasons.
With that being said, it is impor-
tant that the The Hornet Tribune
serves its student body and com-
munity well by adressing issues so
that we can make people more
aware of the issues and impact be-
fore it is too late - and hopefully
influence positive change.
Mentioning the shortcomings
of any university is part of a long
tradition at campus newspapers ev-
erywhere. Some have complained
that the Hornet Tribune is not a
“positive” newspaper. This univer-
sity isn’t always filled with posi-
tivity.
As editorial managing editor, I
do not feel the paper’s role is to be
a public relations sheet designed to
hide the university’s discrepancies;
or let my fellow classmates remain
ignorant of the things going on right
under their noses.
We write what students bring
to our attention (lack of wi-fi, rude
behavior, crimes that go unsolved,
lost transcripts and financial aid
forms, last-minute tuition hikes).
I want them to smell the issues
with such ferocity that it smacks
them in their faces. I want them to
know that some officials of this uni-
versity are talking in circles right
above their heads, avoiding every
question that really matters and
using irrelevant dialogue.
At the same time, when good
news occurs, and it does on a
weekly basis, we report it with the
same enthusiasm. We encourage
students, staff and faculty to let us
know what is going on in their re-
spective areas or organizations, but
they rarely do.
I have learned that you do not
get rewarded for doing what you
are supposed to do. But it seems
that so many people have yet to get
that lesson. You do not get a pat
on the back for doing your job, but
if you don’t do what you are sup-
posed to, the person you are serv-
ing is going to get upset. The only
people reading this editorial and
cringing at this moment are the
ones who know they are perform-
ing their duties insufficiently.
So understand and respect the
fact that this newspaper is an en-
tity that voices issues that matter
most.
We don’t do it to be malicious.
We do it because we care.
MISSION STATEMENTServing Alabama State University students, faculty and staff through
clear, truthful and fair reporting is the duty of The Hornet Tribune staff. We
understand that words are powerful: They can help people but also destroy
lives. Thereby, we will be careful and responsible when using our First
Amendment freedom.
Being one of the best college newspapers in Alabama, The Hornet Tri-
bune aims to keep excelling in informing the Alabama State University
community. Through our reporting, we shall ensure that the public’s busi-
ness is conducted in public. We shall also give our readers the tools to make
judgments on current issues.
We will report and comment on any issue of legitimate public interest
such as controversies and scandals. These, however, will not be the only
news. We shall also cover improvements and achievements. Our stories
shall picture our university fully, fairly and accurately. They shall also re-
flect the diversity of our campus community.
Because pictures are just as essential to our newspaper as the written
material, they shall be treated as such. They shall help us tell a story (or
even tell the story). Like our reporting, they shall be true, fair and accurate.
Because The Hornet Tribune is a weekly paper, we may not have the
chance to break a story in print even though we will try to provide a fresh
angle to tell that story. Our Web site, however, will be the channel to present
breaking news as it happens. We aim to be the first to tell our readers about
issues that affect them while still being truthful, fair and accurate. The same
ethical conduct valid for our print version shall be applied for our Web site.
We shall be fearless when writing editorials, especially when exposing
and criticizing wrongdoings. Editorials shall serve to not only criticize
wrongdoings but also endorse candidates and praise achievements. They
shall always be based on true and accurate information.
The personal agenda or bias of our staff members shall never dictate
our news reports or editorial decisions. Even though advertising is vital for
us, it shall never influence our news. We will give our advertisers special
attention and treat them kindly. We understand that people do business with
people, not with other businesses. We shall always remember, however,
that we will never sell our independence or our integrity.
Being a student-managed publication, The Hornet Tribune gives an
opportunity for students regardless of their major to learn and apply jour-
nalism skills. We also honor our readers’ First Amendment rights by pub-
lishing their opinion even if they want to criticize us. To keep improving
and excelling, we need to humbly accept criticism.
last year – the highest in its 103-
year-history.
Things are still slow, but look-
ing up.
Now Gingrich, whose cam-
paign is flailing, is finding that the
stereotypes he’s been slinging at
Obama are losing their sticking
power. So, he figures that if he can’t
scare people by making them think
that Obama is going to let the
economy deteriorate until more
people have to depend on assis-
tance, and, by extension, the
government he leads, he’ll scare
them by saying that if Obama is
reelected, they risk being blown up
by terrorists.
He’s hoping that there are
enough people out there who will
put their prejudices above reality,
that they’ll see Obama’s handling
of bin Laden as a matter of luck,
not skill, and that if this black presi-
dent wins a second term, he might
not be as lucky.
Fear. It’s all that Gingrich has.
That – and jokes.
Attack:Attack:Attack:Attack:Attack: “He’s hoping that there areenough people out there who will put ...”Continued from page C1
D E1
Feb. 18, 2012
PORTSSCONTACT US: Sports Editor/[email protected] (334) 229-4273
Men’s BasketballWomen’s Basketball
TrackBaseball
RIBUNETHE HORNETHE HORNET
by Alan Pettwayby Alan Pettwayby Alan Pettwayby Alan Pettwayby Alan PettwaySTAFF CORRESPONDENT
Montgomery hopes to one day qualifyMontgomery hopes to one day qualifyMontgomery hopes to one day qualifyMontgomery hopes to one day qualifyMontgomery hopes to one day qualifyfor Professional Golfers’ Association tourfor Professional Golfers’ Association tourfor Professional Golfers’ Association tourfor Professional Golfers’ Association tourfor Professional Golfers’ Association tour
Hornets take out frustration on Lady BravesHornets take out frustration on Lady BravesHornets take out frustration on Lady BravesHornets take out frustration on Lady BravesHornets take out frustration on Lady Braves
MONTGOMERY, Ala., - The
Alabama State University women’s
basketballers were looking to re-
lieve some frustration after losing
three consecutive games. They
took their frustration out on an
Alcorn State University women
Braves team that just could not
match up, beating them 62-57 in
the Dunn-Oliver Acadome on Feb.
18.
The Braves won the opening
tip but could not convert that, and
neither could the Hornets once they
had their first possession. Neither
team could get a basket for several
minutes, committing multiple turn-
overs. Each team had 24 on the
night. It was not until Hornet guard
Jasmine Quinn fouled Braves
guard Kiara Ruffin (20 points) that
the one team got on the board.
Ruffin split the pair to make the
score 1-0 with 16:25 left in the first
half.
Hornet guard Durriya Sheilds
was fouled on her way to the bas-
ket, and she hit both free-throws to
give the Hornets their first lead, 2-
1 with 16:17 left.
The teams played very aggres-
sively in the first half — the Hor-
nets more so collecting four per-
sonal fouls in the first five minutes.
Braves forward Breanna
Whitfield scored the first field goal
of the game with 15:10 left, after
she put up a shot in the lane giving
the Braves a one point lead 3-2.
Brave forward Tiffany Stuart (18
points) scored an easy lay-in to in-
crease the Brave lead to three, but
Hornet guards Danielle Gazaway
and Kierra Paige (8 points) ran the
floor as Paige finished with a lay-
up to make the score 5-4 with 12:47
left.
A free-throw from Gazaway
tied the teams at five with 12:02
left; however Shield changed that
when she gave the Hornets the lead
by hitting a jumper. The lead was
short-lived, though, as Stuart an-
swered right back with a jumper of
her own, tying the game again at
seven-all 10:16 left.
No more jump shots, just hole
in ones.
This is the mindset that senior
John Montgomery, an Alabama
State University golf player had to
transition from.
Born and raised in Pittsburgh,
Pa., Montgomery became serious
about golf at an early age.
“When I won my first golf
tournament at the age of 8,” Mont-
gomery said. That is when I be-
came serious. He began playing
golf at the age of 7.
“My parents play a huge part
in my golf life,” Montgomery said.
“They support me 100 percent. My
dad is my mentor, my coach and
everything I need to get to the next
level.”
Montgomery’s mother is al-
ways there for him with love and
support, after talking extensively
about his father.
Montgomery elaborated on
why he selected ASU.
“I chose ASU because when I
met the coach and the team for the
first time they made me feel like
this was a place where I could grow
and develop my skills,” Montgom-
ery said. He went on to say that he
seen ASU as an island of opportu-
nities. “ASU has all the resources
I need to make it to the next level,”
Montgomery said.
Montgomery believes the uni-
versity is moving in the right di-
rection. He is just sadden that he
will not be at ASU when it is fin-
ished.
“I think the Vision 2020 plan
will help the golf team with recruit-
ing, because we will have a beau-
tiful school to show off when pros-
pects come to visit,” said Mont-
gomery.
Montgomery spoke about be-
ing interested in playing golf on the
professional level upon graduation.
“I plan to play on the Emerald
Coast pro golf tour to start out, and
then work my way to the PGA
tour,” said Montgomery.
Montgomery went on to speak
about wanting to coach at ASU in
the future.
“I would want to give back,”
said Montgomery.
Tiger Woods, happens to be
one of Montgomery’s favorite
golfers and Callaway’s clubs are
his favorite clubs to use.
“I can’t beat Tiger Woods
now, but I believe that once I es-
tablish myself and get some ex-
perience, there wouldn’t be any-
body I can’t beat,” said Mont-
gomery.
Montgomery is not just a
golfer. He said basketball is his
first love, and that he played bas-
ketball until the 10th grade.
Most athletes have a favor-
ite style or match up they like to
play. When asked what is his fa-
vorite match to play he stated that
“Match Play” is his favorite be-
cause it’s like one on one. Mont-
gomery said “I always play
“Match Play” well.”
Montgomery is an all-around
athlete who is striving to excel on
the major league level in golf. Be
on the lookout for Montgomery
on a PGA tour in the future.
MONTGOMERY, Ala.,- The
Alcorn State University Braves
men’s basketball team suffered “a
basket attack” when the Alabama
State University Hornets dunked
them, 78-63, at the Dunn- Oliver
Acadome on Feb 18.
Hornets guard Tramaine Butler
(10 points) stole the ball from
Braves guard Twann Oakley (8
points) then dished it to Hornet for-
ward Ivory White (11 points) who
shot a wide open three-pointer from
the wing, followed by an assist
from White to Hornet forward
Philip Crawford (27 points) who
completed the play with a two
handed dunk, making the score 5-
0 with 18:19 left in the half.
Hornets continued to dominate
the game with a lay-up from guard
Stephawn Brown (5 points). Butler
attempted a three but was fouled
at the top of the key. As a result he
hit two of the three free-throws giv-
ing the Hornets a 9-0 run.
Braves forward KeDorian
Sullivan answered with a lay-up
over White. Crawford was then
fouled, hitting one of his free-
throws to make the score 10-2 with
15:05 left.
Oakley hit an uncontested
three-pointer. White hit a three-
pointer on the other end over
Sullivan, making the score 13-5
with 12:45 left.
Oakley’s two consecutive
plays added four points to the
Braves score; a spin move over
Crawford then stole the ball and
dished it to Braves forward
Martevious Sanders (12 points)
who completed the two-point play,
making the score 17-9 with 10:53
left.
Hornets guard Jeff
Middlebrooks (5 points) inbounded
the ball to White who hit a three-
pointer from the wing. Crawford
also added five points including a
lay-up to the Hornets score mak-
ing it 24-14 with 7:20 left.
Sanders drove past White and
created a two-point play, followed
by a long-range jumper at the top
of the key.
Butler was fouled going up for
a lay-up but was not able to convert
it into a three-point play.
Braves forward Ian Francis (14
points) stole the ball and jammed
it into the basket, making the score
30-24 with 4:07 left. Braves for-
ward Devon Francis (5 points) also
by Abraham Chopinby Abraham Chopinby Abraham Chopinby Abraham Chopinby Abraham ChopinSPORTS EDITOR
by LaShaunda Glassby LaShaunda Glassby LaShaunda Glassby LaShaunda Glassby LaShaunda GlassSTAFF CORRESPONDENT
Hornet too much forHornet too much forHornet too much forHornet too much forHornet too much forAlcorn State BravesAlcorn State BravesAlcorn State BravesAlcorn State BravesAlcorn State Braves
See TAKE TAKE TAKE TAKE TAKE on page D2D2D2D2D2
See MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH on page D2D2D2D2D2 Tramaine Butler takes a shot during action between Alabama State
University and Alcorn State University in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
Photo courtesy David Campbell/ASU
Quentori Alford is fouled by Alcorn’s Sharnika Breedlove during action between Alabama State University and
Alcorn State University in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome, February 18, 2012.
Alabama State University Hornet golf player John Montgomery is poised
to lead the Hornet golf team to a Southwestern Athletic Conference
championship.
Feb. 12-18, 2012PAGE D2 The Hornet Tribune SPORTS
February 13Black History Month Contact Program
Speaker: Dr. Robert White, “Building the Character ofASU’s Black Woman”
4 p.m.Trenholm Hall, Room 202
Sponsor: Department of Humanities
February 14-29Student Art Contest
More details TBATullibody Hall
February 15 -18Play: "Crowns"
7 p.m.Leila Barlow Theater
Sponsor: Department of Theatre Arts
February 16Forum: Women Activists
7 p.m.Thelma Glass Auditorium
Sponsor: Pi Sigma Alpha National Political ScienceSociety
February 19Black History Month Choir Concert
3 p.m.First Baptist Church, 347 N. Ripley St.
Sponsor: Black History Month Committee, Dept. ofMusic
Black History Month Film Festival6 p.m.
Film: SkinSponsors: Black History Month Committee, Delta Sigma
Theta Sorority, C.J. Dunn Tower
February 20Black History Month Festival,
“Celebrating the Diaspora”5:30 p.m.
ASU Fine Arts ComplexSponsor: Visual and Performing Arts, Black History
Month Committee
February 21Black History Month Quiz
Details TBA11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sponsors: Black History Month Committee, Departmentof History and Political Science, Student Activities
February 21, 2012Forum: “Black Women and Hair”
7 p.m.Life Science Building
Sponsor: Black History Month Committee,ASU Women Residence Hall
February 22Black History Month Book Club Discussion
“A Closer Look at “The Help”: Who Speaks for the BlackWoman?
NoonNational Center for the Study of Civil Rights and
African- American CultureSponsors: Black History Month Committee, The National
Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African-American Culture
Tribute to Black Women in History7 p.m., Life Science Auditorium
Sponsor: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
February 23Ida B. Wells Lecture
Speaker: Kirsten BarnesTopic: “Mary Ann Carey, Pioneer African-American
Newspaper Editor and Champion of Women’s Rights,”11 a.m.
John L. Buskey AuditoriumSponsor: Department of Communications
Tribute to Gwendolyn Brooks: African-American Poet7 p.m.
Life Science BuildingSponsor: Department of Languages and Literatures
February 25Judah Fest 15
7 p.m.True Divine Baptist Church
Sponsor: Tribe of Judah
February 26Black History Month Committee Church Service
3 p.m.Details TBA
Sponsor: Black History Month Committee
Black History Month Film Festival7 p.m.
Film: “Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100Years”
John L. Buskey AuditoriumSponsor: Black History Month Committee, Zeta Phi Beta
Sorority Inc.
February 27Black Women’s Empowerment Forum
7 p.m.TBA
February 28Black History Month Speech Contest
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.John L. Buskey Auditorium
Sponsor: Department of Communications
February 29Tribute to Black Elders and Ancestors
6 p.m.ASU Library
Sponsor: Black History Month Committee
2012 Black HistoryMonth Schedule
See TENSIONSTENSIONSTENSIONSTENSIONSTENSIONS on page B2B2B2B2B2
Bowling is serious at
Alabama State University.
The Hornet women’s bowl-
ing team is now 10-4 overall
and 6-0 in the Southwestern
Athletic Conference in the
Eastern Division.
The bowling team has
caught fire and anyone who
faces them should be pre-
pared. It all started on the Jan
20. during the SWAC West
Round-up in Baton Rouge,
La. The Hornets went 2-2
that day beating Grambling
State University and Missis-
sippi Valley State University.
And while they were .500 in
that tournament they placed
third in pin fall with 4,268.
That was just the begin-
ning though. The Hornets al-
lowed for that to propel them
to a 4-1 record the following
day on Jan 21., beating GSU
again along with Prairie-
View Agricultural and Me-
chanical University, Texas
Southern University and
beating Jackson State Uni-
versity, who had beat them
the day before. The came in
third place again and re-
corded a pin fall of 8,551.
The Hornets just recently
returned from Jackson,
Miss., after beating Alabama
Agricultural and Mechanical
University and MVSU and
losing to PVAMU and TSU.
The events leading up to
this point have put the Hor-
nets in a good spot in the con-
ference play at third. The
team will travel to Birming-
ham, Ala. on Feb. 24-26 for
the Holiday Classic.
Ruffin hit two free-
throws, and that seemed to
get her warmed up because
on the next play she came
down and hit a three-
pointer to make the score
12-7 with 8:10 left. The
Braves had taken a six point
something to do with the
Hornets scoring. They had
22 turnovers in the first half
to match their number of
points; luckily for them, the
Braves had 20 turnovers to
match their number of
points.
The second half started
and Hornet center Millicent
Jones scored the first
bucket to make the Hornet
lead four; 24-20 with 19:20
left in the game. Then with
just one second on the shot
clock Paige threw up a
three-pointer and scored to
make the score 27-22 with
17:57 left.
Braves guard Tierro
Frost hit two free-throws,
but Hornet forward Ashley
Jones hit a baseline jumper
to make the score 31-26.
Whitfield hit a three-pointer
to make the score 32-29 with
14:38 left.
Two lay-ups and two
free-throws from Stuart gave
the Braves the lead 35-34
with 13:40 left. With 12:00
left Stuart hit two free-
throws, Alford answered on
the other end but Ruffin hit
another three-pointer to
make the score 42-40, Braves
ahead.
With 9:36 left Millicent
Jones hit two free-throws to
make the score 44-42 Braves
lead. Gazaway pulled up and
hit a three-pointer to make
the score 47-46 and give the
Hornets the lead with 8:22
left.
Alford secured a re-
bound and then went back up
strong to increase the Hornet
lead to three; 49-46 with 6:54
left. Alford scored two con-
secutive lay-ups to make the
score 53-48.
Henderson followed
with a three-pointer to
make the score 56-50 and
Ashley Jones hit spin and
laid the ball up over a
Braves defender. However,
Stuart answered back to
keep the Braves in the
game. With 3:33 left the
Hornets up 58-53.
Stuart scored to cut the
Hornet lead to one with
1:31 left in the game and
Paige put a desperate shot
attempt but was fouled. She
split the pair and that would
be enough as the Hornets
went on to win.
Jackson said, “Q
(Quentori Alford) was out,
and she is our best defender
so we put her back in the
game. She rebounded well
for us, and that took away
second and third chances.”
“We played as a team,”
Alford said. “We used the
skip pass to get open and
then we sped up the game
and were not patient. But
we had to regroup and re-
member to play as a team.”
Continued from page D1
followed up with an uncon-
tested three-pointer, mak-
ing the 32-29 with 2:15 left.
Next came a series of
fouls that by both teams.
Crawford went up for a lay-
up and was fouled but
wasn’t able to create the
three-point play. Devon
Francis ended the half with
a lay-up making the score
35-29.
The Braves started the
second half with a foul on
Crawford; he hit both free-
throws. Middlebrooks stole
the ball and dished it off to
Butler who was fouled by
Sanders. He made one of
two free-throws, making
the score 38-31 with 18:22
left.
White stole the ball,
passed it to Brown who was
unable to complete the
play; White grabbed the re-
bound and scored. The
score was 43-38 with 14:45
left.
Hornets guard Ryan
Watts entered the game off
the bench, scoring a career
high 19 points, Watts started
off with seven straight
points; including a three-
pointer at the top of the key,
making the score 52-42 with
11:10 left.
Oakley hit a three-
pointer over Hornet defender
Brown. But Middlebrooks
had a nice inside look pass
to Crawford underneath the
basket which made the score
54-47 with 8:52 left.
The Braves used good
ball movement around the
court to add four more points
to their score, including a
three from Braves guard Ken
McDonald (10 points) over
White, making the score 58-
51 with 7:05 left.
Watts had two uncon-
tested three-pointers from the
wing followed by a mid-
range jumper over Oakely,
making the score 69-57 with
2:43 left.
Crawford scored on a
lay-up from underneath the
basket but Sanders quickly
answered with a three-
pointer.
McDonald hit the last
jumper for the Braves, but
it was not enough for them
to win the game. Crawford
entered his career high 27
points by adding a dunk to
end the game at 78-63.
After the game Watts
said “we got a good feel at
home, we know our court.
We played pretty good of-
fensively but better defen-
sively. We played good
down the stretch; some-
thing we haven’t been able
to the last five games.”
Head Coach Lewis
Jackson stated “Crawford
did a great job of attacking
the basket; he played a
complete game. As for
Watts, we needed him to
give us a lift from the
bench and he did just that.”
Take: Take: Take: Take: Take: “We played as a team. We used the ...”
Continued from page D1
Much:Much:Much:Much:Much: “We got a good feel at home, we ...”
M O N T G O M E RY,
Ala., - Alabama State Uni-
versity Hornets softball
team lost their first home
game against University of
Nebraska Omaha Maver-
icks softball team, 4-12, at
the Barbara Williams Soft-
ball Complex on Feb 17.
Hornet pitcher
Amanda Garcia started the
first inning as she walked
Maverick outfielder Lind-
say Redding. Maverick
infielder Tonya Peterson
was also able to advance to
first base, which sent
Redding to third base.
Redding ran across the
home plate when Maverick
catcher Lauren Larson hit
a single up the middle;
Peterson advanced to sec-
ond.
Mavericks pitcher
Dana Elsasser struck out
Hornet utility player
Brehanna Rodrigues. Hor-
net infielder Sosefina
Toilolo was able to make a
hit to second base but was
not able to make it across
first base before being
touched out, followed by a
hit by Hornet catcher
Courtney Crossley was
also forced out at second.
The Mavericks ended
the first inning with three
runs, two hits, one error
and one left on base. The
score was 0-3, Mavericks.
During the second inning
the Mavericks were able to
score get eight runs off and
eight hits including a grand
slam home-run from
catcher Amber Lutmer
sending Redding, Peterson,
ABRAHAM CHOPIN
Hornets
strike
Larson and herself across
home plate. Garcia was un-
able to find her rhythm as she
sent seven batters across the
home plate. The Mavericks
had 0 errors, and three on
base with the score 0-11.
Hornet outfielder
Meagan Dixon was walked
to first base but Hornet in-
fielder Kim Ross was not so
lucky as she was caught at
first after Dixon took second.
Hornet infielder Mercedes
Fraizer made the crowd go
wild as she hit a ball to out-
field sending Dixon home
and herself at second. The
Hornets finished the second
inning with one run, one hit,
zero errors and one on base
to make the score 1-11.
Hornet pitcher Bailey
Patt comes into the game giv-
ing Garcia a break; at the
beginning of the third inning.
Lutmer made a hit, but was
out at first. Maverick out-
fielder Katelyn Hinton hit the
ball right into the hands of
Hornet infielder Yvette
Ducoing giving the Hornets
their second out. Maverick
infielder Emma Wright was
able to make it to first base,
but shortly after Maverick
infielder Molly Negrete was
out at first. Mavericks ended
the inning with no runs, one
hit, no errors, and one left on
base.
Hornet utility player
Ayesha Famble bunted the
ball and was able to make it
second, Toilolo excited the
crowed when she brought
Famble home after stealing
third base with a hit to right
field, and sending herself to
second. Toilolo stole third
base followed by a hit from
Dixon who made it to first
base and sending Toilolo
home. Ross hit a grounder
to third base and was able
to make it to first. The Hor-
nets ended the inning with
two runs, one hit, two er-
rors and on base, making
the score 3-11.
Eeman went to first
base on a walk. Lynch was
able to reach first base but
Eeman was tagged out on
the way to second.
Redding was lined out at
first base and Lynch was
out at second base. The
Mavericks finished the
fourth inning with zero
runs, zero hits, zero errors
and zero on base.
At the bottom of the
fourth inning, Fraizer
bunted the ball but it was
not enough to make it to
first. The Mavericks
quickly finished the fourth
inning with an unsuccess-
ful grounder from Wright.
Elsasser struck out
Ducoing, and the Hornets
finished the fourth inning
with zero runs, zero hits,
zero errors and zero on
base.
In the fifth inning both
teams sent one player
across home plate, ending
the game.
After the game
Rodrigues said, “we as a
team put up a good effort
but it wasn’t enough to pull
off a win. We just have to
get over our home crowd
shyness.”
Hornets lose game opener
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