|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEWs
Student receive
bacterial meningitis warning
MTV helps RAINN offer support to victims
of sexual assault
LIVING
Concert not what most expected
Top of the Mart adds Jazz to the night
for students
Local musician has paid his
dues
Vanzant brings hers words of inspiration
to New Orleans
diversions
J-Shin doesn’t live up to male R&B
standards
SFP and Desire Boys show that New Orleans
still produces talent
Letters to the Editor
Sports
Rush win first game of the season,
90-75
Gransberry qualifies again
for NAIA national meet
Siblings set new marks for cross-country
team
OPINION
Paying tribute to a late
Civil Rights pioneer
Dining While Black
Amnesty International:
Keeping Xavier consciously involved
Letters to the Editor
Student receive
bacterial meningitis warning
By Takeshia Brooks
Editor-In-Chief
Bacterial meningitis has been in the news a lot lately.
Apparently some students do not know of its imminent danger.
Ben Jackson found out firsthand just how devastating the disease
can be. His own son died in less than a week after contracting bacterial
meningitis.
Jackson then made it his own personal crusade to inform as many
college students as he could about disease, going so far as to call every
HBCU he could possibly reach individually.
"Until it happens to someone we know, it’s just a word we hear
about and don’t think about the consequences," Jackson said.
Jackson warned that no one is immune to the disease. He
also pointed out that college students are more at risk than any other
group of people because of the lifestyle they tend to live.
"No one is immune to it," he said.
Jackson says that college students tend to live lives filled
with stress, insomnia and bad eating habits, factors that weaken the immune.
He says that some possible effects of bacterial meningitis include blindness,
loss of limbs, and ultimately death. He also notes that males are
more at risk than females of contracting bacterial meningitis.
Just a few months ago, 2300 students at Michigan State were inoculated
after a student died from the disease. Jackson fears that minority
students are not as well informed about the disease as they should be,
hence his personal mission to inform as many students as he possibly can.
Jackson’s efforts may not be in vain. Just recently the
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices asked universities and health
professionals to inform college freshmen of a meningitis vaccine that is
usually effective against most forms of the disease.
Bacterial meningitis is a swelling of the membranes around the
spinal cord or brain caused by bacteria. It can be cured by antibiotics,
but it is imperative that treatment begin at an early stage of the disease.
It is important to know what bacteria causes the disease in order to receive
an effective treatment.
The disease is rare, but it can quickly inflame if not properly
treated with antibiotics. It is fatal in about 10 to 15 percent of
its cases, according to experts.
Symptoms may include high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea,
vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness.
In infants, symptoms may include slowness or inactiveness, irritability,
vomiting, or feeding poorly. As the disease progresses, some patients
may experience seizures.
Symptoms usually appear 3-4 days after exposure, but this can
range from 2-10 days.
Bacterial meningitis may be spread by direct contact with nose
or throat discharges of an infected person as a result of such acts as
kissing or sharing eating utensils.
If the situation sounds dreary to you, don’t panic. There
are preventive measures for you and your loved ones:
¨ Adults and children should wash their hands after touching any
nose or throat fluid to decrease the chance of spreading the germs.
¨ A specific antibiotic can be given to household members and people
in a child care setting who have been exposed to the H-Flu or meningococcal
germs.
¨ A vaccine against H-Flu disease is given as part of the routine
shots for infants and toddlers and is required for nursery or day care
attendance (HIB).
MTV helps RAINN offer support to victims
of sexual assault
By Takeshia Brooks
Editor-In-Chief
¨ One of every four rapes takes place in a public area or in a parking
garage.
¨ 29% of female victims reported that the offender was a stranger.
¨ 68% of rapes occur between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
¨ At least 45% of rapists were under the influence of alcohol or
drugs.
¨ In 29% or rapes, the offender used a weapon.
¨ In 47% of rapes, the victim sustained injuries other than rape
victims.
¨ 75% of female rape victims require medical care after the attack.
These were the statistics in 1994, according to the U.S. Department
of Justice.
The effects of sexual assault can be very damaging to a victim,
emotionally as well as physically. It is just this damage that the
Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) hopes to combat.
It is also this message that RAINN tries to get across to as
many people as possible. Just this past Sunday, RAINN participated
in the MTV Campus Invasion Tour.
This tour offered RAINN the chance to reach one the groups most
affected by sexual assault—college-aged young adults.
"The MTV Campus Invasion Tour is a great way for us to reach
college students," says Lea Deason, RAINN’s Director of Marketing and Member
Services. "Whenever MTV visits a campus, their village quickly become
the place to be and attracts many students that might not be aware of the
services RAINN provides."
Deason says that MTV has "taken the lead in addressing the issue
of sexual assault head on, so that what was once considered a taboo issue
is now in the realm of public discussion."
"By inviting us to join the Campus Invasion Tour, MTV is allowing
us to inform college students about the services RAINN provides: free confidential
counseling, 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
Although it does not offer direct counseling, RAINN connects
the caller to one of its 825 local rape crisis centers.
"Even those who have not been directly victimized are affected
by this issue as the friend or family member of a sexual assault victim,"
Deason says. "Because the affected population is so broad, we have
found the music industry to be a vital link to reaching our audience.
"The RAINN hotline has counseled more than 285,000 sexual assault
survivors since it was founded in 1994. While hundreds of thousands
have reached out for help, we know that many victims still suffer in silence."
Telephone numbers are not captured, so calls are completely confidential.
The service is set up to especially protect the identities of
those who have been victimized by a family member. The toll free
number does not show up on the phone bill.
Too many times a rape goes unreported because a victim feels
that it is a private or personal matter or fears the assailant. Many
victims feel a personal shame, an unfortunate stigma that often accompanies
sexual assault.
Says Deason, "The statistics illustrate how widespread the problem
is."
¨ In 1996, only 31% of rapes and sexual assaults were reported
to law enforcement officials—less than one in every three.
¨ Approximately 68% of rape victims knew their assailant.
¨ Approximately 28% of victims are raped by husbands or boyfriends,
35% by acquaintances, and 5% by other relatives.
¨ Somewhere in America, a woman is raped every two minutes.
¨ In 1996, 307,000 women were the victims of rape or sexual assault.
¨ Between 1995 and 1996, more than 670,000 women were the victims
of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.
"It is very important for college students to be aware of what is going
on out there," Deason says. "A recent study from the Department of
Justice estimated that young adults were more than three times more likely
than the general population to be victims of rape.
Concert not what most expected
By Terry Wynn II
Staff Reporter
First of all, the ticket said doors opened at 7:30pm. I
found myself standing outside for an extra 30 minutes amongst about 300
other students who were pushing and shoving as though we were in a mosh
pit at WoodStock.
Luckily, the concert and show started outside the Municipal auditorium
as my eyes had a field day looking at the various see-thru dresses,
six-inch high heel shoes, drag-queen makeup and gold teeth bling blinging
from the crowd.
We were even graced with the presence of TQ who drove by in
his “rented” limousine. I hadn’t been that excited since I found
out UPN was airing reruns of A Different World.
Once I got inside the auditorium, I was pleasantly surprised
by how classy the set-up was. Every seat in the house was a
good seat, so I felt I was front row as I looked at the fiasco before me.
It all started with Jason Neville, actually, it could have ended
with Jason Neville as his performance was lackluster. I do not feel
that it was his fault he didn’t sound well; however, he can’t blame the
mic system, either, because I could definitely hear his off-key singing.
Unfortunately. His set did seem to get hype when he and his group
performed a bounce song at the end of the set. As they bounced off
the stage, I really got jiggy with it.
The second “local” act was the Botany Boys or the Batty Boys.
All I know is that when they weren’t taking their clothes off OR asking
who wanted to come back to their hotel room OR flirting with the audience
OR talking about something no one really cared about, they ACTUALLY sang.
Then 112 performed many of their hits, including
Cupid, Love Me and the audience favorite Anywhere.
But the highlight off the show was when each member came out
and performed individually an old-school classic.
This really showcased the talents of all four members and makes
me wonder why on their albums, they let the one with the irritating voice
sing the most. At least he wasn’t whining all night at the
concert.
If I would have had to hear him whine “youuur letter, youuur
letter,” I think I would have thrown my shoe on stage.
All things aside, this has been one of the best concerts (no pun intended)
Xavier has ever had.
There was no need to censor any explicit rap, the tickets were
very affordable and the DJ was really good. (Thanks for playing “Get It
Ready” three times).
Top of the Mart adds Jazz to the night
for students
By Chantrell Therence
Staff Reporter
Homecoming ‘99 brought many pleasures home to its participants.
One of the many extraordinary events was “Jazz Night,” held at
the World Trade Center’s Top of the Mart Lounge on Monday, Nov. 8.
The Top of the Mart is enchanting and holds an ambiance of romance.
It offers a golden view of the golden Mississippi River and New Orleans.
The homecoming committee catered the needs of the guests with
a buffet, which included New Orleans cuisine such as jambalaya, jazzy wings,
fresh fruit, cheeses, baked bread and pastries.
Not only was the appetite satisfied but the soul as well through
the encounter of the savvy jazz of the Clarence Johnson Quartet.
Band members included Clarence Johnson, saxophone; Lean Alexander, drums;
Darryl Levigne, keyboards; and Chris Severs, bass.
The band served its own renditions of Bill Withers’ “Just
the Two of Us” and the Stylistics’ “People Make the World Go Round.”
Thee quartet then played their original tune, “Struttin.” They entertained
and pleased the crowd throughout the night.
Chakita Holmes, freshman pre-pharmacy major, of Chicago, Ill.,
enjoyed Jazz Night. “It was really elegant,” she said. “It’s
probably the once in a lifetime that students get a chance to experience
the top of the mart. Some won’t experience this until they are married.”
Dre Dowtin, senior psychology/pre-pharmacy major, of Mitchellville,
Md., said, “It’s a real laid back atmosphere. This is nice.
Top of the world, Mon.”
Local musician has paid his
dues
Staff Reports
Clarence Johnson performed for Xavier students during the Jazz
Night program. Non-native New Orleanians may not be very familiar
with Johnson’s work. However, long before he performed for a small
school called Xavier, Johnson built an impressive resume.
¨ Johnson has recorded two compacts discs for STR Digital Records:
the 1997 release Love for Sale, a duet effort with pianist Vahag Petian;
and his 1998 debut as leader Dedicated to You.
¨ He has also recorded with Tori Amos, Davell Crawford, the Yacomo
Allstars, Michael Ray and the Cosmic Krewe, and the gospel group Blessed.
¨ Johnson has performed with such national acts as Jimmy Smith,
Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis, New York Voices, Bill Summers, Billy
Bang, Stanley Turrentine, Ernie Watts, and Ed Thigpen.
¨ The Clarence Johnson Ensemble has appeared at the 1997, 1998,
and 1999 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festivals.
¨ Johnson has also appeared at the 1999 French Quarter Festival
in New Orleans and as headliner at the 1998 Yerevan International Jazz
Festival in Armenia.
¨ He also has appeared at the Essence Festival, as well as festivals
in Rio de Janiero, Berlin, Malsue (Japan), Utretch (Holland), Kansas City,
Chicago, and Ann Arbor.
¨ In New Orleans, Johnson has performed at the House of Blues,
Tipitina’s, Storyville District, Howlin’ Wolf, Louisiana Music Factory,
Tower, Virgin Records, and Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro.
¨ He served as musical director of the 1997 Lula Elzy production
of Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Swing, as well as the 1999 production of
Duke Ellington’s New Orleans Suite.
¨ He has been featured on several television programs, including
the morning shows at WWL and WDSU, Louisiana Jukebox, and in a commercial
for the Contemporary Arts Center.
¨ He appeared on a BBC Radio in New Orleans music. He regularly
hosts a jazz show on WWOZ 90.7 fm radio in New Orleans.
¨ Johnson also appeared as a clinician and performer at the 1998
and 1999 LMNOP music conference.
¨ Johnson was recently nominated for a 1999 Big Easy Award in the
Best Emerging Artist category and runner-up for best saxophonist in the
1999 OffBeat Magazine’s Best of the Best awards.
¨ In 1992, Johnson was chosen for the McDonalds’ All-American Jazz
Ensemble under the direction of Leon Breeden and worked with guest conductor
Henry Mancini.
¨ In that same year, he was inducted into the Yamaha Young Performing
Artist program in New York City, which led further recognition in Downbeat
Magazine’s “Auditions” column.
Vanzant brings hers words of inspiration
to New Orleans
By Chantrell Therence
Staff Reporter
In her own words, Iyanla Vanzant hosted a “soul gathering” at the Saenger
theater for its “In the Meantime Tour,” presented by Bravada Oldsmobile.
The event took place Wednesday, Nov. 10.
Vanzant is a proclaimed author, spiritual life counselor, cultural
custodian and a Yoruba priestess. Many people may know her through
her appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
Vanzant has authored a collection of meditative works.
Through her thoughtful and inspirational books, she has explored
the unique pressures in people of color today with insight an/ sensitivity.
The night was filled with peace and unity as audience members
were encouraged to embrace one another with love.
Not only did the night guarantee spiritual revelations, but
it also included interpretational dancing and singing. Singer Howard Hewitt
captivated the audience with the songs “In the Meantime” and “Say Amen.”
His sultry voice entertained the audience during brief intermissions.
The spiritual counselor Vanzant, motivated the audience to meditate,
soul search, and to obtain the things that you seek. The speaker
touched issues such as love, intimacy and self-empowerment. Vanzant
urged her audience to take up three tasks:
* Tell the truth; no matter what, speak truthfully. The people
in your life will respect you for it.
* Stop trying to control everything; surrender yourself to uncontrollable
things. Once you do this, peace can enter the soul.
* Trust the process. Trust the process which you are going through.
Know that in any process there is value and gain. Patience is a virtue
through your process.
Vanzant captivated the Big Easy with her presence. New
Orleans will surely embrace her for years to come.
Vanzant’s works include: Yesterday I Cried, One Day My Soul Just
Opened Up, The Value in the Valley, Faith in the Valley, In the Meantime,
and Acts of Faith.
J-Shin doesn’t live up to
male R&B standards
Takeshia Brooks
Diversions Editor
You know how some artists have a distinct sound to their music?
For instance, you can easily identify a Babyface song no matter who sings
it. The same thing goes for R. Kelly.
However, J-Shin is not quite like that. All his music sounds
the same. At least that’s the conclusion I came to after listening
to his debut album My Soul, My Life. (Ironically, J-Shin takes lines
from well-known R. Kelly and Babyface songs and works them into his own.)
I mean, I listened to the first three songs and thought that
I heard a pattern. Then I thought that maybe it was just my imagination.
It wasn’t. It was rather upsetting, too, because his biography
stated that J-Shin was a break from the monotony that seems to have overtaken
R&B music in the past few years. It wasn’t.
Don’t get me wrong. A couple of songs actually stood out,
not exactly an easy task for an album that sounds like one continuous song.
One was “One Night Stand.” Of course, having that sista from X-Scape,
LaTocha, help out on vocals didn’t hurt. However, I think it stood
out because, believe it or not, it strayed from the sexually-charged themes
that dominated the other songs on the album.
J-Shin is definitely no Maxwell or D’Angelo. In fact, he
doesn’t try to be. He just doesn’t quite fill the void they leave
when they neglect to release an album five years after the last.
To be honest, My Soul, My Life isn’t exactly a bad listen.
It’s filled with the hypnotic hip-hop beat that anyone that needs a hit
record can easily pick up on. (Which was also a slight fabrication
of the facts of J-Shin’s bio which said he didn’t rely on that.)
If you want to listen to it, it will definitely be for the music.
SFP and Desire Boys show that
New Orleans still produces talent
By Takeshia Brooks
Diversions Editor
First of all, I will admit this: I looked for the sticker. I mean,
what’s a rap album without the sticker?
When I didn’t find the sticker, I thought that this must be some
generic rap group with wack beats.
So I was wrong.
Soldiers for Peace and the Desire Boys unite for the CD Trying
to Survive. I must admit, I was quite impressed.
Thinking of past rap acts that have come out of New Orleans,
I was beginning to think that New Orleans had run out of talent (with the
exception of certain artists). Well SFP and the Desire Boys renewed
some kind of faith to the contrary.
As far as the album is concerned, some of the music got a bit
repetitious. However, it didn’t overshadow the lyrics or flow of
the songs.
It was so nice to hear someone rapping about positivity, about
trying to survive in an environment engulfed with negative vibes and not
succumbing to it. And they did it all without peppering the lyrics
with unnecessary, and I do mean unnecessary, four-letter words.
SFP and the Desire Boys prove that you can talk about the harsh
realities of growing up in the urban jungle without resorting to the glorification
of violence. They also show that you can talk about women without
once referring to them as b*tches or h*es. That’s a relief.
I was beginning to wonder if men knew any other synonyms for the word “female.”
New Orleans should be proud that it can turn out such talent
as Soldiers for Peace and the Desire Boys. It’s not often that we
get too many brothers and sisters willing to use their talents to achieve
a positive end.
Don’t let the word “positivity” and the non-stickered album turn
you off. We need to hear this type of message. But like that
sister says in one of the songs (you figure out which one), “If you’re
not trying to hear what [they’re] saying, then ‘Bless you.’”
Dear Ms. Brooks
The cows are not contented! Most of the men at this university
have gone through something that I would not wish on any man. That
experience is living in Saint Michael’s Residence Hall. It is a travesty
to even call that edifice a place where someone lives. Living through
and surviving its substandard conditions has been rationalized into a tradition
that every man needs to experience. However, I beg to differ.
I do not need the experience of walking into a shower room which continually
floods like the Mississippi Delta. I or my colleagues do not need
to live in a room with very limited storage space and is equipped with
furniture that looks like it was picked out of a landfill. Furthermore,
the beds look like remnants from WWII army bunks and most of the desks
and “cabinets” are missing handles and either don’t open or don’t close.
If we are valued students at Xavier University, why not provide
surroundings that are conducive to sustaining our worth? The adage
that “contented cows make good milk” is certainly true. The retention
rate of African American males at this university would increase and campus
activity would also increase. After all doesn’t the university want
more money? Xavier students would rather pay rent rates off campus
and have the hassle of driving through traffic to school everyday than
to live in convenient campus housing. Therefore, it is in the best
interest of this college to begin a rebuilding plan for Saint Michael’s
Residence Hall. There is not a better time to do so than right now.
Sincerely,
Matthew Frazier
Dear Editor:
“Take a bite out of crime!” McGruff the crime dog once said.
I am positive he wasn’t speaking of Xavier’s students because they do not
take crime seriously nor take precaution when entering the crime infested
streets of New Orleans. Hence, students display acts of carelessness
(i.e., walking alone at night) and poor judgment (i.e., riding in cars
with strangers). I am writing in response to the article addressing
a lack of crime awareness on Xavier University’s campus. With the
recent death of a Xavier student near our university, students need to
come to their senses and realize anyone can be a target of crime whether
it is on or off campus.
In hopes of enlightening students of the reality of crime, I
believe programs should be funded to provide self-defense classes and present
tips on how to protect oneself whether in the city or on campus.
Sincerely,
Ashleigh Buffer
Rush win first game of the season,
90-75
By Tammicka Logan
Sports Editor
The Xavier Gold Rush showed must be paying attention during
their chemistry classes, because it showed all up and down the floor during
their first game. The Rush played the Wiley College Wildcats of Marshall
Texas on Friday, November 12. The game also doubled as the
homecoming game.
To a full capacity gym the Rush demolished the Wildcats 90-75.
Leading for the Rush was returning forward Karega McCollum, with 19 points
and six rebounds. Right behind him with 18 points and 4 rebounds
was Mychael Foster, also a returning forward. These two seniors,
the only players returning from last season’s team, showed great leadership
and skill.
The game started out with a welcome from the fans to the starters:
twin junior guards Kendall and Kermit Smith, McCollum, Foster and sophomore
center Chris Bart-Williams who ran out to the Ruff Ryders anthem.
The tip was knocked out of bounds by Bart-Williams, so the Wildcats
had the first real possession. They were not able to make a basket.
In fact, the Rush players were not able to put any points on the board
until the team’s fourth attempt, a shot by Foster.
After the Rush got warmed up, it did not take long for the twins
to dazzle the crowd. With a Kermit-to-Kendall, or maybe it was a
Kendall-to-Kermit pass, the twins put themselves into the score book, as
they made an X with their arms and bowed simultaneously toward one
another.
This bit of celebration was not premature. Kermit finished the
game with 12 points, four assists and three steals, while Kendall had five
points, six assists and five steals.
But the twins did not have the crowds exclusive attention.
The rest of the Rush showed their stuff also. With a precise pass
from Kendall, Bart-Williams showed his true talent by connecting for his
first two points of the season. Are you seeing the chemistry yet?
While the Rush were doing a great job, the Wildcats were missing
some shots, but taking advantage of a slack in Rush defense and got
some of their own rebounds.
OK, now it was time for a Rush sub, number 32, a sophomore guard
from Richmond, Va., that some people call “Red”, to show off his
talents. Richard Carter was wide open, made a three- pointer, decided
he liked the way it felt, and on the next trip down the floor did it again.
Carter had six points, all within his first three minutes on
the floor. By landing another trey, Carter would become the leading scorer
for the Rush at the half.
With 4:19 left on the clock the score was 40-26 Rush. By
half-time the score stood at 45-30. The Rush were shooting 57 percent
from the floor, 67 percent from the land of the three and 58 percent from
the free-throw line. The team had eight steals, and 12 assists but
turned the ball over six times.
On the other side, the Wildcats were 12 for 35 from the floor; 34 percent,
1 for 4 at the free-throw line, shooting 25 percent, and 5 for 14 from
the three point line.
After the presentation of Miss Xavier and the homecoming court
and an energetic dance routine for the Gold-Star dancers, the Rush
were ready to come right back at the Wildcats, holding nothing back.
Well, maybe they held a little bit back. he Rush defense was not
as crisp during the second half as it was the first half, and the offense
slowed its pace down a little bit, but it did deliver.
Kendall earned two of his five steals in back-to-back plays.
By stripping the Wildcats’ point guard and scoring on his mishap, the Rush
were up 62-43, with 13: 47 on the clock.
While the Wildcats were trying to figure out how to make some
quick points and their Tyress Norris (Number 15) kept missing shots,
Rush freshman forward from Detroit, Mich., Angelo Taylor persisted
under the boards and as a result ended the game with six points and three
rebounds.
Meanwhile, as the Rush were racking in points and the Wildcats
were slipping farther and farther into defeat, the crowd did the wave.
That’s right, the wave. After a little bit of confusion, it finally
made its way around the barn a total of four times.
After the excitement of the wave died down, freshman forward
Lamar Leslie, from Los Angeles, did a good job of penetrating the
lane. That attempt may have failed, but Leslie did end the game with
two points and one rebound.
By this time the score was 73-48, and the Wildcats coach Eddie
Watson objected to a foul called on his team. He was a little too
upset for the referees and received a technical foul.
The twins must have gotten a burst of energy and thought it
was not only bad that the Wildcats were getting beat by more than
15 points but also thought it might be funny to break some of the Wildcats’
ankles. The fancy feet of Kermit awed the crowd and confused the
man trying to guard him, but unfortunately did not end up adding points
to the score.
You would think by the third time the Wildcat guarding Kermit
would have figured him out, but he didn’t. This time Kermit would score.
After that score Kendall also had something to say and landed two points,
all net.
With 2:10 on the clock the score was 88-68 and the crowd began
chanting to the Wildcats to get their stuff and just leave. But the
Wildcats were not listening. They were steadily making baskets, all
in a losing effort, but they were still making baskets.
What would a game be without a good dunk? Thanks to sophomore
center Chris Riley, the dunk was delivered. But none of that could
have happened if it had not been for the great pass from sophomore guard
Blaine Denning. More Chemistry.
By the end of the game the Rush were shooting 55 percent from
the field, 56 percent from the three-point line, and 58 percent from the
free-throw line.
"These guys played hard tonight and they played as a team," said
assistant coach Dannton Jackson. "The veteran leadership was very impressive,
while the twins did a good job at controlling the tempo."
Head Coach Dale Valdery said it best: "The chemistry came together
well, for the first game and with nine new players."
Gransberry qualifies again
for NAIA national meet
By Tammicka Logan
Sports Editor
During his past two years of running for the Xavier University
cross-country team, Farris Gransberry has qualified for the GCAC National
Tourney. This season is no different. On Nov. 20, in Kenosha, Wisc., Gransberry
will again represent Xavier against a field of 28 schools.
Gransberry qualified for the meet by placing third in the GC Gulf Coast
Athletic Conference Tournament. The course was 8,000 meters and he completed
it in 27 minutes, 23 seconds.
The national course is 6.1 miles long.
Going into the competition, Gransberry thinks of it as an opportunity
to improve upon his position last year. "This is a great experience and
it will help me get ready for next year."
During the season, Gransberry led the team, but ran slower times
than last season. This is not a major concern for Gransberry, because
he feels healthy and believes he has more endurance.
"This season I feel that I ran good races. My times may have
been slower, but I know that I improved with every meet," Gransberry said.
Siblings set new marks for cross-country
team
By Malcolm B. Davie
Staff Reporter
A talented brother and sister duo are breaking records on Xavier’s cross-country
team. Farris Gransberry and his younger sister, Fran Gransberry,
are literally outrunning the competition.
The two are from Baton Rouge, and they made big contributions
to the cross-country team. Farris is a first-year pharmacy student
and Fran is a freshman biology pre-med. major. Both made impressive
runs early on in the year.
For the past two years, Farris qualified for the GCAC national
tournament. In the first meet of the season, the Azalea City Cross-Country
Invitational, Fran and Farris both set new records. Farris
set a new school men’s mark with a 23:02 run over the four mile grassy
course in Mobile, Ala., while Fran set a new women’s standard with a 22:37
performance in the 5,000 meter run.
Cross-country head coach, Doug Athey, said that both athletes
work very hard in practice and they still have a lot of potential.
“They can be as good as they want to be,” Athey said.
It should also come as no surprise that Fran would immediately
contribute to the team. Coach Athey said that they are both tall
and have a similar running style and technique.
Fran had been having some problems with her right knee, which
caused her to be unable to compete in a couple of meets.
However after finishing three weeks of rehab at Tulane for tendentious
of the knee, she improved enough to compete in the conference meet on Nov.
6. But her performance wasn’t quite a hundred percent. She placed 24th
in the 5,000 meters in a time of 23:24.
“I didn’t really have the endurance that I had at the beginning
of the year, but I was able to finish the race,” she said. Fran said
that each practice she feels her knee getting stronger.
Farris has continued to remain healthy and always manages to
finish with the best time on the team. During the summer the two
train together and use their brother-sister rivalry to keep them competitive.
“My brother pushes me to become a better runner,” Fran said.
Paying tribute to a
late Civil Rights pioneer
Editorial
.
Two weeks ago, civil rights pioneer Daisy Bates died at the age
of 84.
What did Daisy Bates do, you ask?
This award-winning activist was the mentor of the Little Rock
Nine: nine black teenagers who intergrated an all-white high school
in Little Rock, Ark., 42 years ago. Her work prompted one of the
most significant events in American history.
Mrs. Bates, an Arkansas native, began her fight for civil rights
in the early 1940s. She and her husband co-founded a weekly newspaper,
the Arkansas State Press, in 1941. For two decades, the paper served as
a tool for combating the evils of segregation. It was forced to close
down in 1959.
In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation
in public schools was unconstitutional. Arkansas became one of two
states that announced it would comply with the Court's decision.
In 1957, the school board of Little Rock decided to launch a desegregation
campaign in its schools. Little Rock Central High was one of them.
In September 1957, nine African American teenagers volunteered
to desegregate the all-white Central High. On the day the school year began,
Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus ordered the state's National Guard to block
the black students' entrance into the school. That order was then
suppressed by President Eisenhower, who sent out U.S. Army troops to escort
the students into Central High, amid a crowd of angry white residents
who deeply objected to the desegregation of the school.
Throughout the school year, the entire nation watched
the nine's progress as they integrated Central High. During
that time, Mrs. Bates, who had successfully helped desegregate the city's
bus line in 1956, took charge over the students, who had come to be known
as the "Little Rock Nine." She served as an adviser to the teenagers before
and after school.
Despite the pressures they faced, each of the Little Rock Nine
successfully graduated from Central High. Two years ago, Central High celebrated
the 40th anniversary of Little Rock Nine's integration of the school.
And recently, the Little Rock Nine were awarded the Congressional Gold
Medal at a White House ceremony. After the integration of Central
High, Mrs. Bates won hundreds of prestigious awards for her work, including
an American Book Award in 1988 for her book, The Long Shadow of Little
Rock.
The contributions of Daisy Bates were a milestone to
the Civil Rights Movement. She will be deeply missed.
Dining While Black
By Terry Wynn II
Columnist
Here you have the normal Black soap
opera setting: a quiet dinner, a wonderful meal, good conversation, a racist
store owner and the police.
After confronting the owner of a restaurant in Florida, a Black
man decided to call the police after discovering that a gratuity had been
added to his and his partner's bill; but not to the ticket of white diners.
This sparked a national debate about the way the restaurant industry treats
Black diners.
I don't think this case is an example of blatant racism or discrimination;
but what it does is call attention to the social perceptions that exist
in this society. Like Chris Rock, I am not saying what the restaurant owner
did was right... but I understand. Even though the owner went as far as
reacting to his perception of Blacks as poor tippers, it does not excuse
those of us who hold similar perceptions but do not act upon them. In many
cases, the thought is just as fallacious as the act, because your thoughts
may come out through other actions you may not be aware of.
On talk radio shows and some magazines, Blacks now want to attack
this negative perception that has been bestowed upon us. And I am
not detracting from this fight, but I recognize that we can't throw rocks
and hide our hands, either. So now we know that the world thinks we as
a race are bad tippers, but what about what we think about them?
In political science, psychology and sociology classes, as well as everyday
conversation, I have heard friends quote statistics (that they don't know
exist) that white people are the only serial killers; Hispanic people
can't drive; all Asians own corner stores and most Native Americans are
alcoholic gamblers. Now none of this may be true, and though the people
putting forth these ideas may not own restaurants giving them a forum to
vent their prejudice, just to think these thoughts is wrong.
And because we think these thoughts about
other people, we as a race sometimes walk into a situation
-- if not ooking for a lawsuit -- looking for discrimination.
If we go to a restaurant and find ourselves sitting too close to the kitchen
or in the back, or if the service is slow, we want to blame it on
the color of our skin. In some cases, this may be even justified, but what
some people fail to realize is that some customers are doomed to sit by
the kitchen and in the back because there are tables in these places and
if these become available first, that is where you will be seated. And
servers are rarely slow because of someone's race; they may simply
be lacking time management or be poor servers.
Reverting to the tipping issues, the truth of the matter
is, some Black people ARE poor tippers and some don't tip at all. By the
same token, this is not a monoethnic problem, as Whites, Hispanics and
Asians have been known to skip out on tips also. I have been out with some
of my friends who find reasons not to tip the waiter, which are totally
unreasonable, such as not having enough ice in their drinks or their food
isn't hot enough. They may never tell the server about their unhappiness,
but they use this as a basis for not leaving a tip. This is not a cultural
phenomenon. I guess my friends are just cheap; nevertheless, no matter
how much we hate to agree, there are members of particular ethnicities
who live up or down to the stereotypes and perceptions of society.
We must use this event wisely to address the perceptions society
has, not only about Blacks but also other cultures. The worse thing that
could happen is that this event in Florida is construed as a black/white
issue or one that only matters to Blacks. To address the ills of
society, we must begin to look at the broader issue and how it affects
all of society and not just the particular individuals or races involved.
Today it was dining; tomorrow it could be hotel accommodations or
other public accommodations. I'd like to see Black America
attacking this issue not as one regarding only our community, but
as an issue of American unity and social values.
Amnesty International:
Keeping Xavier consciously involved
by Husan Thompson
Biochemisty Senior
Amnesty International is a “global grassroots movement serving as a
powerbase for individuals working to bring an end to the grave violation
of people’s fundamental human rights. Amnesty International operates independent
of any government, political faction, ideology, economic interest or religious
creed.”
On our campus, Amnesty International’s purpose is to raise Xavier
University students’ awareness, and to influence immediate action against
violations of human rights on local and global scales. A handful of our
students - Miangel Cody, Shani Smothers, Najarian Peters and Keisha Washington
- have undertaken this mission and have all taken part in obtaining
an active club charter from Xavier.
We intend to keep the Xavier community conscious about various
national and international issues through meetings, community service
projects and columns like this. Providing information is not where our
mission ends, however.
We also hope to provide direct and accommodating methods for
action by motivated members of our community.
One of our most important and urgent issues is the case involving
Mumia Abu-Jamal. Early in his career, Mumia Abu-Jamal worked in the Black
Panther Party, and Mumia (then Wesley Cook) was Minister of Information
for the Philadelphia chapter at age 15, writing for the national newspaper.
After the Panthers fell apart, Mumia turned to broadcasting,
and by age 25 he was one of the top names in local radio. He
was also president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists.
His vocal support of MOVE’s uncompromising lifestyle lost him jobs at Black
stations, and he was forced to moonlight as a cabdriver to support his
family.
Mumia was driving a cab one night in which he possessed his registered
.38-caliber pistol. There was an altercation between an officer, Daniel
Faulkner, and Mumia’s brother. It is undisputed that he intervened. It
is also undisputed that both he and Officer Faulkner were shot, and that
Faulkner died.
What is disputed is who killed Faulkner. Mumia says it was someone
else, and several witnesses say they saw another shooter flee the scene.
Mumia’s legally registered .38 was never decisively linked to Faulkner’s
wounds - which were caused by a .44 caliber gun.
Mumia’s murder trial was a legal railroading. Denied the right
to represent himself, he was defended by a relunctant, incompetent lawyer
who was later disbarred (and who has since filed an affidavit in Mumia’s
support detailing his delinquencies).
The judge, Albert F. Sabo, was a life member of the Fraternal
Order of Police. Judge Sabo has sentenced more men to die (31 to date,
29 minorities) than any other sitting judge in America. Sabo said he wouldn’t
allow Mumia to defend himself because his dreadlocks made jurors “nervous.”
Kept in a holding cell, Mumia read about his own trial in the
newspapers. All the Black jurors but one were removed. A policeman who
filed two conflicting reports was never subpoenaed. Thus with Judge Sabo’s
help, an award-winning radical journalist with no criminal record
was portrayed as a police assassin lying in wait since age 15.
After Mumia’s conviction, Sabo instructed the jury: “You are
not being asked to kill anybody” by imposing the death penalty, since the
defendant will get “appeal after appeal after appeal.” Such instructions,
grounds for reversal since Caldwell vs. Mississippi, were allowed in Mumia’s
case.
Mumia’s appeals have so far gone unanswered. After being on Death
Row for more than seventeen years, he is now the target of a police-led
smear campaign. Last year NPR’s “All Things Considered” canceled a scheduled
series of his commentaries after the Fraternal Order of Police objected..
Very recently, Mumia has been granted a stay of execution. Now
is a most urgent time to demand his release from prison. He is a political
prisoner with a significant support base that needs all of our help to
right the wrongs of the past.
This is a clear case of injustice and misuse of our legal system.
However, we can also use this system to correct the wrongs done to Mumia
Abu-Jamal. Our elected officials are accountable to us - their representatives.
Therefore, Amnesty International calls upon the greater Xavier community
to write in support of Mumia.
You can send letters of support and calls for Mumia’s immediate
release from prison to the Pennsylvania governor, Tom Ridge, at: 225 Main
Capitol; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120; phone: (717) 787-2500.
Or, write to Mumia directly at: Mumia Abu-Jamal, AM8335, 1040
East Roy Furman Hwy, Waynesburg, PA 15370, or e-mail him at www.mumia.org.
Each of our responses is absolutely necessary to see justice finally served
for Mumia.
Xavier’s Amnesty International chapter meets every other Wednesday
at 5:30 p.m. in the Administration Building. Fliers are posted around campus.
For more information on meetings or this article, contact our AI chapter
general coordinator Keisha Washington at lylyvale@aol.com.
To whom it may concern:
I am writing this letter in regards to the academic scholarship
policy at Xavier University. How does the scholarship committee decide
to whom they award scholarships and how much each student deserves?
Other than the minimum ACT and SAT score and minimum GPA requirement, I
have not seen any outlined criteria on how academic scholarships are awarded.
I am concerned that some students are being cheated out of money that they
deserve.
From talking to fellow freshman classmates that received academic
scholarships, it is obvious that the University ignored the fact that different
regions of our nation use different grading scales to cumulate student
grades and grade point averages. This processes makes it unfair
to compare students' GPAs in the primary process of awarding scholarships.
Another student that had a 3.5 GPA (based on a graduated 6 point
grading scale in Florida) and a score of 1200 on his SAT received only
a $5,000 scholarship from the University. The student from Florida’s
grade point average might have been much higher if he had gone to school
in Washington D.C. where a 93% is an “A” not a “B” as it is
in Florida. Is that fair that he received a substantially less amount
of money for his academic scholarship?
The University should award scholarships primarily on standardized
test scores and secondly on the Universities’ calculation of the students
cumulative grade point average. Because grade point averages in different
states are not comparable and standardizes test score across the nation
are, hence the word “standardized,” comparing standardized test scores
first would be the only fair way to award academic scholarship money.
Sincerely,
Soyini Mattis
To Whom It May Concern:
In the September 8th edition, the article titled, “Young People
Increasingly Pessimistic about Finding Lasting Marriage, Study Says,” addresses
an important concern within today’s society. I agree with the
idea that young pessimistic views about marriage are partly attributed
to the increase in divorce rate. Therefore, societal attitudes towards
the value of matrimony need altering. This issue is an acknowledgeable
problem with great severity.
I disagree with Edward Warrick’s idea that the shared title of
husband and wife between people does not compare to the $10,000 to $20,000
in extra taxes paid by married couples. This should serve as an incentive
to make the relationship last, not a barrier. The
attachment of this cash value deprives marriage of its true meaning and
purpose. Were given the ability to love only to share it with another,
and marriage secures those feelings. Therefore, its absence within
a lifetime limits love, which causes a problem. Now this issue has
been addressed in the article and introduced to society, we are lacking
a solution. What is it?
Sincerely,
Alysia Aubry
Dear Xavier Herald,
I am writing to you on behalf of myself and other members of
the student body concerning the ten minute walk between Xavier’s main campus
to Xavier South. It is ridiculous for one to have to walk that far
to get to class. Xavier should provide shuttle buses due to the fact
that many students have handicaps. I realized we needed shuttle buses
for the students when I first arrived to Xavier. Certainly others
have arrived at this idea but something needed to be said.
At the beginning of the school year I was recovering from knee
surgery that I had during the summer. With a weak knee, it made it
hard for me to walk at all. Today, I still have trouble with my knee.
The pain restricts me from walking a long distance due to cramping in my
knee because of weather conditions. Even though my knee improved
tremendously before I started school, there were others much worse off
than I. I saw some people on crutches, in wheelchairs, and others
confined to a leg brace. Occasionally, one may get a ride from a
friend who drives but that does not happen often.
Overall, Xavier is a wonderful school and I thank you for taking
the time to read my letter. I hope the administration will take this
idea into consideration and arrive at a solution. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kelly M. Hill
20 questions by Hoyet and Gary
1. Ladies weren’t you glad to see the new and improved Morris Chestnut?
2. Didn’t Taye Diggs get his a** kicked in the “Best Man”?
3.Why do people hate on you when you do 20 questions?
4.Have you picked up your copy of the Southern Dynasty album?
5. Did anybody see Lil Wayne’s adam’s apple in “Tha Block is Hot”?
6.Whats crackilatin?
7. Who needs a break from school?
8.Who thought the homecoming game was going to be that packed?
9. Who was digging that SNOC dress in the Homecoming fashion show?
10. What happened to all the people who used to be on the Rush basketball
team?
11.Do you know someone who has morning breath all day?
12. Have you told them?
13. What happened to Carrollton parties.
14. Who is Buddy Lee’s Father?
15. Who was one of the Who’s Who in High school?
16. How many people are glad that cool weather is finally here?
17. Isn’t it sad to know that great names in the sports world have
passed on? Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of Payne
Stewart, Wilt Chamberlin and Walter Payton.
18. Have you ever seen someone fall down the steps in the library?
19. How many people have papers due before Thanksgiving, but have not
started them?
20. How many people are tired of seeing cornrows?
The Herald is written and edited by the students of Xavier University.
The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the university
or university policies. Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the
editorial board.
Member: Associated Collegiate Press, and Cass Advertising.
Online Editor: Jarrod Jones
Editor-in-chief: TaKeshia Brooks
Business Manager: Sonata Lee
Living Editor: Tammicka Logan
Sports Editor: Tammicka Logan
Entertainment Editor: TaKeshia Brooks
Editorial Editor: Jarrod Jones
Photo Editor: Crystal Burley
Columnist: Terry Wynn
Circulation Manager: Henry Trudell
Staff Reporters: Chantrell Therence, Malcolm B. Davie, Tagwana Holmes,
Faculty Adviser: Fred Bales
Technical Support:Chris Campbell, Arnold Crump