Recycle The Maroon Tiger

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The Organ of Student Expression Since 1925
The
MAROON TIGER
Morehouse College • Atlanta, GA
November 9 - 15, 2011
Volume LXXXVI, issue 8
Maroon Tiger staff photo/AHMAD BARBER
SGA Restructuring Shakes Up Political Landscape
Kelly Harper
Staff Writer
[email protected]
A
fter decades of the typical President-Vice President-Secretary-Treasurer
SGA format, the Morehouse
SGA has undergone a structural shakeup designed to alter the future of the organization and its impact.
Under the direction of twoterm SGA president, Travis
Randle, the Morehouse SGA
structure has shifted from
the traditional SGA format to
one that corresponds with the
administrative departments
related to campus oversight.
Randle was the initiator of
the new appointed positions;
each secretary is appointed by
Randle and voted on by the
Morehouse Senate.
“There were several systemic
changes that needed to happen
in SGA in order for us to become a highly-effective, impactful, and accomplished entity,”
Randle said. “It was a glorified
high school student government
structure—you had the president, vice president, treasurer,
secretary, corresponding secretary, and so forth.”
Student advocacy was a primary motivator in Randle’s
proposal to restructure the
SGA, and since his first term
in office, he has largely focused
on ensuring that this systematic change would occur before he leaves Morehouse in
the spring of 2012. Randle
stresses that the new structure
will allow the SGA to enhance
student advocacy as well as
provide a permanent, designated liaison for SGA to work
with administration as well as
provide students with the ultimate Morehouse experience.
“It was hard to find a point
person for specific issues such
as academic affairs, alumni
affairs, institutional advance-
ment, and other vital arenas
concerning student life at
Morehouse,” Randle said.
Although there were numerous supporters of the
change, Randle’s proposal was
not met without opposition
and concern.
“Last year, there was immense opposition,” Randle
said. “I submitted it to the Senate and it was returned to me
a completely altered bill. The
appointed positions would not
have been officers. I think it
was a pretty flawed and nonsensical distinction; some people thought the plan was a way
for me to abuse my power.”
Secretary of Academic Affairs:
Awaiting selection from SGA
President
•
•
Secretary of Business & Finance:
In conjunction with SGA
Treasurer: Colin Beckford
• Liaison for Vice President of
Finance
• Internal finances
Secretary of Campus Operations:
Ja-Mes Watson
Secretary of Student Services
& Enrollment Management:
Malcolm D. Meredith
Secretary of Information
Technology: Tre’von McKay
• Liaison to Office of
Information & Technology
Overseeing the SGA mobile
application development
Major concerns: campus
policy, maintenance,
environmental stability,
upkeep of grounds,
capital improvement,
community revitalization,
telecommunications,
bookstore
Secretary of Institutional
Advancement: Michael Cox
• Students interested in
learning more about SGA
and their initiatives and
events are encouraged
to contact the Office of
Student Life.
Campus Sees New Technology and Furniture
Tre’vell Anderson
Campus News Editor
[email protected]
N
ineteenth century classrooms and old,
gum-ridden desks are no more on the
campus of Morehouse College. Recently, academic buildings that were once lacking technological capabilities have been equipped with
a computer, projector, or television screen and
a podium to house the computer.
These developments were done as a result of
comments by students and faculty alike.
“Students,” Michael Hodge, chair of the sociology department, answered when asked the
cause of the improvements. “It’s all about you
guys.”
Hodge also mentioned the distraction old or
outdated technology became to the academic
process, a concern voiced by the faculty.
According to Eric Richards, the director of
multimedia services for Morehouse, all classrooms now have updated or new equipment in
hopes of improving the learning and teaching
environment for students and professors.
Students have responded positively to these
developments.
Students with classes in Wheeler Hall, however, have had concerns regarding the new
desks.
“I didn’t see what was wrong with the older
desks,” Jordan Gleaves, freshmen sociology
major from Augusta, said. “Even though the
other desks were old, why switch to something
that is newer and less efficient.”
The downgrade in efficiency Gleaves speaks
of is in regard to the newer desks being smaller in size. The tabletop portion is now signifi-
cantly smaller.
Vice President for Campus Operations, André Bertrand, and Hodge said the new chairs
were an action taken after talking to teachers.
“We seek input from the users of the room
before making any decision,” Bertrand stated.
“We had requests from faculty wanting flexibility in the classroom.”
“Teachers said that the previous desks made
it difficult to make circles [which would add to
the learning experience],” Hodge said.
Students also have concerns in regards to
where the funds for these improvements came
from.
According to Bertrand, funds for the upgrades, in technology and furniture, came
from Title III funding.
“Title III involves funds allotted by the Department of Education,” Alana Veal, director
of strategic planning and Title III, said. “Funds
we receive are a part of the ‘Strengthening HBCUs’ program in which all eligible HBCUs receive appropriations based on the amount of
students who receive Pell Grants, the number
of graduates, and the number of graduates
who progress to graduate institutions.”
The Title III website states that funds allotted through this program can be directed to
the “purchase, rental or lease of scientific or
laboratory equipment for educational purposes…construction, maintenance, renovation
and improvement in classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and other instructional facilities…”
Hodge and Bertrand believe that such new
developments will benefit students. Further
improvements to the campus are constantly
being made, with students at the forefront of
the goals.
inside track
News.....................1 World & Local......3 Business & Tech......4 Features.................6 Opinions..............7 A&E...................10 Sports..................12
Black Girls Rock!
Hypocrisy at Spelman
Top 20 Mixtapes
p. 6
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NEWS
November 9 - 15, 2011
THE MAROON TIGER
Nicolas B. Aziz ’12
Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
MANAGEMENT
Lance Dixon ’12
Managing Editor
[email protected]
Jeffery Taylor II ’12
Chief Layout Editor
[email protected]
Ahmad Barber ’13
Photography Editor
[email protected]
Jourdan Shepard ’12
Chief Copy Editor
[email protected]
Charlie Williams IV ’12
Associate Copy Editor
[email protected]
Sierra Stokes SC ’13
Associate Copy Editor
[email protected]
EDITORS
Tre’vell Anderson ’13
Campus News Editor
Jordon Nesmith ’12
Associate Campus News Editor
Dannieka Wiggins SC ’13
World & Local Editor
Nicholas Bacon ’13
Associate World & Local Editor
O’Koyea Huff-Boone ’12
Business & Tech Editor
John Yates ’14
Associate Bussiness & Tech Editor
Darryl Hawkins ’12
Features Editor
Kobi Ansong ’12
Associate Features Editor
Christian Saint-Vil ’14
Opinions Editor
James Williams ’12
Associate Opinions Editor
Taylor Williams ’12
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Katryna Mahoney SC ’14
Associate A&E Editor
Curtis Jackson ’14
Sports Editor
Max Tyler ’13
Associate Sports Editor
MULTIMEDIA
O’koyea Huff Boone ’12
Webmaster
[email protected]
Spencer Greene ’12
New Media Director
[email protected]
Jihad Kheperu ’12
Tiger TV Producer
[email protected]
ADVISER
Ron Thomas
Support for Herman Cain ’68 Virtually Nonexistent
Tre’vell Anderson
is outside mainstream Black
Campus News Editor
America, but Cain’s [[email protected] dential] run does away with
all these stereotypes,” De’Von
he White House could Weatherspoon, a sophopossibly be painted ma- more economics major from
roon and white this upcom- Detroit and member of the
ing election season if Repub- Morehouse College Republican candidate Herman Cain licans said to the AJC. “He
’68 has anything to do with was born in the South, went
it. This Morehouse Man has to Mother Morehouse, had a
made numerous headlines for successful career in business,
his extremely candid com- and is still very much so conments, allegations against him nected to Black America.”
regarding sexual harassment,
Michelle Domingue II, a seas well as his choice in not nior psychology and African
capitalizing on his Morehouse American studies major and
alum status.
domestic exchange student
Some students believe that from Dartmouth College,
Cain is an accurate repre- originally from Plaquemine,
sentation of the Morehouse LA, believes differently.
brand, while others feel he
“Not all Morehouse Men
tarnishes the college’s image.
embody the ‘Morehouse Mys“So often we’re given this tique,” Domingue said. “Not
media stereotype of a Black all of them have the best inRepublican as someone who terest of the Black community
T
in mind, although they may
think they do.”
To Domingue, Herman
Cain is one such person.
Prior to running for the
republican presidential candidacy, Cain served on the
Morehouse College Board
of Trustees. He resigned earlier this year. According to
Matt Martini, assistant vice
president for communication
for the Cain campaign, Cain
“knew he wouldn’t be able to
attend meetings and meet his
obligations because he would
be devoting time to travelling
around the country.”
His former position on the
Board stirred other members of the Board. Perhaps
the most vocal was Shelton
“Spike” Lee ’79. On October
18, he tweeted his opinions
through his Twitter account,
@SpikeLee.
Phallus Chronicles: A
Viewer’s Response
Cydney Fisher
Staff Writer
[email protected]
O
n Friday, Nov. 4, the
Phallus Chronicles II (2
Phallus 2 Furious) took place
in Sale Hall. According to audience members, the entire
production was well worth
the anticipation. It was an empowering tale of what men go
through not only on a daily
basis, but throughout their
entire lives. Throughout the
play, the true definition of a
man and how he forms himself in society was shown.
The play was an enlightening experience for the audience. The actors gave the
audience comical everyday
scenarios of the male and the
thoughts and ideas that plague
him. Many pieces stood out
including the four “sexcapades”: “Same Girl,” “I’m Having a Daughter,” “Rush,” and
the “Measuring Stick (Parts I
and II).” These skits as well as
others gave an in-depth view
of the male world.
Showing that the male mind
is full of complexities, yet simplicity allowed for this pro-
duction to be so inspirational.
For instance, in “I’m Having a
Daughter,” the actor’s monologue entailed all of the joys
and woes of a man anticipating the birth of his daughter.
While watching this, a question played upon the minds of
the male viewers.
“Are you the man you hope
your daughter brings home?”
Another question asked
was, “Do you embody the Five
Wells of Morehouse within
society?”
In “A Last Request,” the piece
was a charge to the men in the
audience to become better
than what came before them.
The piece clearly stated that a
life full of wealth and materialistic things is not worth one
full of love and peace. Many
of the young men in the audience were given a chance to
self-evaluate and aspire to become better men.
The Phallus Chronicles II allowed the Men of Morehouse
to see that the male mind is
complex. Although there were
parts that portrayed the simplistic male mind, the entire
show was an uplifting experience for men and women.
Five women from Clark Atlanta University participated
in this production and told
the audience that it was an experience of a lifetime.
“Men say what they really
mean,” the ladies mentioned
during the question and answer period. “There are no ifs,
ands, or buts about it. Guys
keep it real and I respect them
for that, even if it is explicit.”
Seeing how the male depicts
the female was both comical
and realistic. This was shown
during the skits “Rush,” “I Am
your Conscience,” and “UnHoly Grail.” They showed
men in their most natural element when thinking of the
opposite sex.
This one night only event
was a spectacular insight into
the mentality of a phallicminded male. It was an entertaining event and made the
audience contemplate what
the definition of a true man
is. If you missed this show, be
on the lookout in spring 2012
for the Phallus Chronicles 2.5,
which plans to be more empowering and enticing than
the last.
A Message From President
Robert Franklin
Dear Men of Morehouse:
Thanks to each of you who attended the President’s Town Hall
on Thursday, November 3. It was
a stimulating and inspiring opportunity to hear from you and learn
more about your most pressing concerns. I appreciate the questions
about the College’s business model;
operating budget; special challenges
faced by off-campus and transfer
students; late night study opportunities; and the need for greater communication and outreach to students from individual departments
within the College.
The senior administrative team
had ready answers to some of your
questions, and I am pleased to offer
them in this forum.
• The work-study pay schedule will
convert from monthly to bi-weekly
effective January 2012.
• Beginning the fall semester of the
2012-2013 academic year, we plan to
make flex cards (food) operable in
the Chivers Dining Hall, Jazzman’s,
and Papa John’s/Freshen. We aim to
make the flex card operable in the
residence halls and the library in the
future.
• During a recent pilot period in
which the library was open on a
24/7 schedule, it was determined
that such hours are not cost effective. Mrs. Loretta Parham, director
of the Robert W. Woodruff Library
of the Atlanta University Center, has
pledged, however, to call a meeting
with student leaders to discuss their
desires for scheduling. You will be
notified as soon as a final decision
has been made.
• Necessary repairs in residence
halls and other campus buildings
will be addressed during the holi-
day break. In the meantime, please
continue to report facilities issues as
they arise. They will be handled as
expeditiously as possible.
“WAKE UP,” the tweet
reads. “I was shocked to know
GOP Candidate Mr. Herman
Cain went to MOREHOUSE.
He may be my Morehouse
Brother but I can’t support
him. HELL NO.”
Apparently the “ties more
brotherly” the hymn “Dear
Old Morehouse” speaks of
wither away in the realm of
politics. Many Men of Morehouse and Morehouse Men
alike have expressed they will
not vote for Cain, solely on
the basis that he is their Morehouse brother.
In fact, Kevin Johnson ‘96,
pastor of Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia,
PA commented on Cain’s
presidential bid in his sermon preached on campus in
the Martin Luther King Jr.
International Chapel to close
out homecoming this year.
Sustainability
Corner
Jordon Nesmith
Associate Campus
News Editor
[email protected]
I
n the past months, mother
Morehouse has been making changes around campus
in hope of leading a more sustainable lifestyle and decreasing her carbon footprint.
Clark Atlanta University
graduate student, Martin Hill,
worked closely with Morehouse for 10 weeks during
the summer to champion the
cause of cutting the college’s
energy costs. Serving as the
Morehouse Climate Corps
Public Sector fellow, a position created by the college
in conjunction with the Environmental Defense Fund
(EDF), Hill helped assess how
Morehouse could best reduce
energy use and identify additional conservation tactics.
Because these efforts are
not always as noticeable as the
advent of a recycling bin in
the hallway, it is important to
be knowledgeable about these
significant changes to the
school and the impact made
on the lives of the students,
the college, and the community it all belongs to. Some of
these changes include the following:
•
Energy-efficient foam
roofs on Gloster Hall, Wheel-
discount will be determined by the
staff in the Office of Financial Aid.
that has been earmarked for book
scholarships.
• Similarly, please inform the appropriate College vice president or
associate vice president if you experience less than acceptable customer service or if your needs are
not handled efficiently. We expect
you, as student leaders, to do your
part to ensure that the College’s
employees’ performance meet the
Morehouse standard. In short, if
you see something, say something.
• Your administration is working
diligently to implement a new card
swipe system for Crown Forum,
and we tested a system during the
President’s Town Hall. We apologize that an insufficient number of
devices were in use to accommodate the volume of students present
and regret the inconvenience this
may have caused you. We continue
to work to ensure that attendancetaking process for Crown Forum is
as efficient as possible.
• Each year, the College has shared
the operating budget during the
Town Hall. In consultation with the
Board, the College will determine if
there are more effective, responsible, and appropriate ways of sharing
institutional budget information.
Our intent is to do this before the
close of the academic year.
• In partnership with the Student
Government Association, the Office of Financial Aid is working to
expand fee waivers for the Graduate
Record Examination to include not
only Pell-eligible students, but also
those who can demonstrate a need
for assistance. The amount of the
• We are pleased to enhance the
funding that is available to assist
students with text books through
a collaborative partnership with
your Student Government Association. We commend SGA leadership and are grateful to them
for contributing half of $20,000
He mentioned that he would
not be supporting Cain and
everyone under his voice
shouldn’t either.
Domingue agrees with the
underlying sentiments of
Johnson’s message.
“It’s like voting for [Barack]
Obama just because he’s
Black,” Domingue commented. “You shouldn’t vote for a
candidate unless he is a representative of views that will
uplift the American community and, more so, the Black
community. As Renaissance
Men with a social conscience,
I don’t feel as if he embodies
that.”
Cain currently leads as one
of the top three candidates
for the Republican presidential nomination. Without the
support of his brothers, succession to Obama may end as
only a dream.
While it was not possible to address all of your questions during
the scope of the hour, you have my
commitment that the senior administrative team, in partnership
with the appropriate departments,
will provide thorough answers to
the remaining concerns in the near
future. As I noted, Crown Forum is
an opportunity to model our understanding of how effective leadership
occurs. We are not perfect, but we
er Hall, and Douglass Hall
• A new HVAC system in
Wheeler Hall with energy-efficient equipment
• Energy-efficient, waterconservative restrooms with
motion sensors in Robert Hall
• Energy-efficient, waterconservative restrooms in
Brazeal Hall
•
All hallway and room
lights in Robert Hall and
Brazeal Hall were replaced
with energy-efficient T8 light
bulbs
Additional efforts made on
the part of the college to conserve are as follows:
•
From January to July,
Chivers Dining Hall composted 17.58 tons of food waste
•
Morehouse recycled
715 ink/toner cartridges (381
more than last year) from
June 2010 to July 2011
• Morehouse recycled 8.44
tons of used vegetable oil from
June 2010 to July 2011 in conjunction with a program that
converts the oil into fuel
This information has been
provided by Ms. Sandra Van
Travis, Morehouse’s Environmental Health and Safety
Officer with Campus Operations. Any additional innovative ways to save energy can
be sent to mhgoinggreen@
morehouse.edu.
THINK GREEN!
are striving to serve and be responsive to the Men of Morehouse. I encourage you to continue providing
feedback through various tools, including the customer service survey
that will be administered before the
end of each academic year.
Finally, I was pleased that the
opening documentary stirred interest from the student body. We will
call on you to assist us in telling our
story more effectively and in generating more resources to help us
achieve our institutional dreams.
Again, I thank you for your presence and candor as we strive to realize the full potential of this College
and her students.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Franklin ’75
3
WORLD & LOCAL
Need a Job? 700 Positions Are
Open at Home Depot
Ta’tiana Miles
Staff Writer
[email protected]
A
s a result of the downturn in the
economy, the national and the state
of Georgia unemployment rates have
reached 9.1-percent and 10.3-percent, respectively. It has been projected that by the
beginning of 2012, the Georgia unemployment rate should lessen with the creation
of jobs. Next year, Home Depot is planning
to open a new customer support call center in Cobb County that could create as
many as 700 jobs.
The new facility will be based out of
the Chastain Meadows commercial office park in Kennesaw, north of the Town
Center Mall. The call center will open with
400 jobs in late 2012, and expand to 700
jobs by 2015. The average yearly salary for
the new customer service representatives
will be an estimated $30,000 according to
Blair Lewis, a senior official with the state’s
Economic Development Department. The
Home Depot Company has 90 stores in
Georgia and has employed 20,000 people.
Cobb County’s Chamber of Commerce
is working with its economic development
partners on 19 active projects with potential to create more than 10,000 new jobs,
as well as $853.5 million worth of potential
new investments. Many state and local officials have commented on the project by
praising the project’s economic development benefits.
“It is encouraging to see one of Georgia’s
pioneering Fortune 500 companies take
full advantage of our competitive business
advantages to expand here in our state.
This is great news for Georgia and the
metro Atlanta region,” Gov. Nathan Deal
said. Deal also referred to Home Depot as
a “Georgia success story.”
The spokesman for Home Depot, Stephen Holmes, spoke about how the several
different locations across the country were
considered for the center’s placement. The
company settled on Kennesaw because of
its proximity to higher education centers
like Kennesaw State University and the
strong employment base.
The new call center is a part of Home
Depot’s push to boost its online business
and consolidate and expand its customer
support service around the country.
The Palestinian Search for
Statehood
Nicholas Bacon
Associate World & Local Editor
[email protected]
O
n Mon. Oct. 31, Palestine became the
195th member of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, also known as UNESCO. The admittance of Palestine to this United Nations
body brought forth a cessation of $60 million in U.S. aid payment that serves as approximately 22 percent of the UNESCO
budget.
According to the New York Times, the Palestinian foreign minister, Riad al-Malki, praised
the organization saying, “This vote will help
erase a tiny part of the injustice done to the
Palestinian people.”
Legislation from 1990 and 1994 mandates
a complete cutoff of American financing to
any United Nations agency that accepts the
Palestinians as a full member. Israeli Prime
Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his
country to freeze payments to UNESCO on
Nov. 3, as well as an additional 3 percent cut
in funding.
Israel is withholding its contributions because accepting the Palestinians is detrimental to potential peace talks. A key issue
between Palestine and Israeli is whether the
international community should be able to
recognize Palestine or whether the formation of a state must be done through bilateral negotiations.
According to CNN, Israeli Prime Minister
Netanyahu said, “Such steps will not advance
peace; they will only push it further away.The
only way to reach peace is through direct
negotiations without preconditions.”
Though the State Department said it
wants to continue to work with UNESCO,
even as it cuts funding, it’s difficult to see how
such a partnership will work. The Obama
administration is expected to reach out to
Congress to find a way both to continue
funding UNESCO, and give the U.S. government flexibility if Palestine is recognized as a
member by other, more important United
Nation organizations.
With the overwhelming 107 in favor, 14
against, and 52 abstentions votes, recognition
of Palestine by United Nation groups such
as the International Atomic Energy Agency
could be terrible for U.S. national security
in regards to sanctions on potential threats
such as Iran. Lack of U.S. funding could also
isolate the United States from the international community.
In a statement before the State Department announced it was cutting funding,
Ros-Lehtinen, Republican Chairwoman of
the House Foreign Affairs Committee said,
“Today’s reckless action by UNESCO is antiIsrael and anti-peace. It rewards the Palestinian leadership’s dangerous scheme to bypass
negotiations with Israel and seek recognition
of a self-declared ‘Palestinian state, and takes
us further from peace in the Middle East.”
Foreign policy and support, whether for
Palestine or Israel, will be a major issue in the
upcoming 2012 presidential election.
November 9 - 15, 2011
Atlanta Street Renamed: How
Much Does Public Opinion
Really Matter in City Officials’
Decisions?
Dannieka Wiggins
World & Local Editor
[email protected]
H
ow do you measure how much city
officials care about you as a citizen?
Do you think your opinion really matters
when city council is making decisions about
your environment? On Wednesday, Nov. 2,
city officials held a ceremony in downtown
Atlanta for the renaming of Harris Street,
next to Centennial Olympic Park, to “John
Portman Boulevard.” However, they were
criticized shortly after for the process of
renaming the street, which evoked questions about the citizens’ role in making decisions for the city of Atlanta.
When asked if Atlanta city council considered college students’ opinions when
making decisions about the city, Laurin
Williams, a sophomore at Georgia State
University, said. “I personally would say no
because I haven’t seen anything where a
college student’s input is requested.”
“Honestly, no I don’t think they take into
consideration college students opinions,
because they don’t think that college students have a voice and that our opinions
matter. They do whatever they wanna do
because they’re officials,” Alfonzo Dixon,
a sophomore communications major at
Clark Atlanta University, said.
Portman’s resume illustrates a man who
is worthy of acclaim and recognition, considering his immense dedication and skill as
an entrepreneur, businessman, and leader.
The AJC stated that Portman helped build
Peachtree Center in the city’s central business district, developed AmericasMart, and
is a leading designer of atrium-style hotels
throughout the United States, India, Malaysia, China, Singapore and other unnamed
places.
When asked why they don’t seek the in-
put of students Williams said, “It could be
a lot of things, one thing is not considering
the college population, because of maturity. I think it would be necessary to include
them, but I think [they’re] possibly just not
seeing the value of the college students’
opinions in a lot of stuff.”
“I would say they probably don’t particularly in the AUC, because so many of
the students are from other places of the
country that they’re viewed as place holders rather than true residents of the city,
because so many of us go back and forth
between here and our home cities,” Chris
Fortson-Gaines, a junior political science
major at Morehouse College, said. “The city
of Atlanta forgets that we spend the majority of our year here.”
Although the AJC claims 300 citizens
hailed Portman on Nov. 2 for being honored as a “developer who helped shape
Atlanta’s skyline,” many citizens and Atlanta residents, like the college students, expressed feelings of exclusion when considering the process city council follows when
making decisions about Atlanta.
“I think what got people exercised was
the idea that the city council could get together with a few powerful business leaders and do whatever they want to do,” Attorney W. Wright Mitchell said.
Initially, the renaming of Harris Street influenced a major lawsuit after a 2003 law,
which deemed it necessary to include the
public in city decisions, characterized city
council’s process for renaming the street
illegal. However, according to the AJC, critics believe the city council completely circumvented the law by ultimately renaming
Harris Street anyway.
The controversy eventually led to what
officials thought was a compromised name
of “John Portman Boulevard, at the historic
Harris Street.”
4
BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY
November 9 - 15, 2011
STOCK MARKET REPORT AS OF CLOSING ON NOVEMBER 9, 2011 Market Indices DOW 11,780.94 -‐389.24 -‐3.20% S&P 500 1,229.10 -‐46.82 -‐3.67% NASDAQ 2,621.65 -‐105.84 -‐3.88% TR US Index 111.67 -‐4.36 -‐3.76% Currencies STOCK
MARKET
REPORT
EUR/USD 1.3531 -‐0.07% GBP/USD 1.5919 +0.03% USD/JPY 77.760 -‐0.05% AS OF
CLOSING
ON
NOVEMBER
9, 2011
Commodities Gold 1,769.00 -‐22.60 -‐1.28% Oil 95.55 -‐0.19 -‐0.20% Corn 656.00 -‐4.50 -‐0.69% Disney and
YouTube Partner
to Create Online
Channel
O’Koyea Huff-Boone
Business & Technology Editor
[email protected]
D
isney is looking to strengthen
ties with YouTube by forming a video partnership. In this new
deal, the two companies will devote
a combined $10 million to $15 million to create co-branded videos to
be featured on Disney’s website and
YouTube starting Fall 2012. This announcement came abruptly, but poses many benefits for each company.
Disney Interactive has been losing
money over the last four quarters,
and is experiencing an alarming
drop in web traffic. YouTube will finally have the chance to gain credibility among parents, who normally
criticize the platform due to objectionable content. Under the terms of
the deal, Disney will handle production, which will be around 8 original
series at a time.
Disney will also sell advertising,
and split the revenue with YouTube.
The channel will also feature amateur video and some content from
Disney’s cable network. Co-President of Disney Interactive, James
A. Pitaro, is looking forward to this
partnership.
“It is imperative that we go to
where our audience is,” he also added that the aim is to, “bring Disney’s
legacy of storytelling to a new generation of families and Disney enthusiasts on the platforms that they
prefer.”
This Disney-YouTube partnership comes as part of YouTube’s
announcement last month to introduce a number of co-branded channels featuring musicians, comedians, athletes, other entertainers, and
large media partners. It remains to
be seen if this major partnership will
be able to inspire other companies
and create a new trend.
Starbucks’s Newest Initiative
John Yates
Associate Business and Technology
Editor
[email protected]
O
n Tuesday, Nov. 1, Starbucks
unveiled its newest program
to give back to the community. This
new program called Create Jobs for
America will pool donations from
employees, customers, college students or any students will to make
a contribution to the Opportunity
Finance Network (OFN). Everyone
who donates at least five dollars will
get a red, white, and blue “indivisible” bracelet symbolizing the unity
Starbucks hopes to create throughout the country by helping our communities out.
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz
stated that he is tired of seeing corporations sit by and watch our econ-
omy suffer without doing anything
about it so this initiative is hopefully
a jumpstart for other major industry
giants to follow suit. For every $5 donated to this fund, the OFN should
be able to loan out $35 to small businesses, non-profits, microenterprises and affordable housing in the local
communities. It has a network consisting of over 180 partnerships with
companies throughout the country
who are already willing to act.
Based on conservative estimates,
the OFN projects that a new job
will be created for every $3,000 in
donation – translating to $21,000 it
will loan out. As students of Morehouse, we have a reputation of making change in the community so let’s
embrace this opportunity and take
action by contributing in any way
we possibly can, even if we can only
spare the bare minimum.
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6
FEATURES
November 9 - 15, 2011
Reverse BET,
the Lynch
Curse
L
NAACP Host Black Girls Rock!
Ariannah Hood
Contributing Writer
[email protected]
Devin Hursey
Contributing Writer
[email protected]
L
ast night at 7:00 p.m. in
Sale Hall chapel, actor, author, and community activist
Tommy Ford hosted a panel
discussion called “Reverse the
Lynch Curse.”
The infamous “Willie Lynch
Letter” is a supposed speech
given by plantation owner,
Willie Lynch, in the 1700s
that provides instruction on
how to perpetuate slave oppression. Many consider the
letter to be the root of past
and ongoing struggles for social and civil liberty within
the African-American community.
It is easy to draw the comparison between unhealthy
racial patterns afflicting today’s society with the behaviors and identity associated
with slaves, which are believed to have been influenced
by the “Willie Lynch Letter.”
Tommy Ford played the
part of Lamar Collins on “A
Different World”, and is best
known for his role as Tommy
on the popular sitcom “Martin.” He has also appeared in
roles and appearances in “Law
and Order,” “Living Single,”
“The Jamie Foxx Show,” “Harlem Nights,” and “House.”
“When you watch Martin
they always say that Tommy
doesn’t have a job,” Ford said.
“But Tommy does have a job.
My job is to be about my father’s business.”
Ford expresses a deep sentiment for the African-American community and hopes to
inspire change in society.
“No one holds a letter in
their hand saying this is the
official letter written by Willie
Lynch,” Ford said. “However,
we see results of the Willie
Lynch syndrome every day.
Our communities are plagued
by fear, distrust, and envy. It
is time for us to reverse that
curse.”
These discussions are also
being held in open town hall
meetings across the country
which are being filmed for a
documentary. The campaign
has a strong presence on
Facebook and Twitter, as well
as the web site: http://reversethelynchcurse.com/.
ast Friday, Black Girls
Rock held a celebratory
and learning event in Spelman
College’s Science Center Auditorium hosted by host Hope
Harris, a Spelman senior. The
positive energy could be immediately felt in the room as
all of the attendees cheered
as the event began. Everyone
knew they would be in for a
great event, because of the
wonderful women being celebrated.
The BET and NAACP sponsored event then proceeded to
a spoken word talent about
the beauty of being a black
woman. Afterwards, the audi-
ence watched a video of different students in the AUC
saying why they thought black
girls “rocked.”
Harris then announced
the first honoree, Dr. Belinda
White. Honored because of
her tremendous dedication
to Morehouse College, Dr.
White designed and teaches
the Leadership and Professional Development (LPD)
course and serves as the chair
of the College Faculty Development Committee.
Before the honoring the
next woman, a group by the
name “Four Women” gave
a beautiful singing performance to the audience that
was followed by Sisters Keeping It Real Through Service
(SKIRTS) making a generous
donation to Black Girls Rock.
The audience settled as the
next honoree Dr. Georgianne
Thomas, a respected professor
at Clark Atlanta University,
was called. As a breast cancer survivor, she inspired the
audience by stating, “You are
going to make lemonade out
of the lemons they think they
gave you!”
One of the highlights of the
event was the question portion. The questions were on
issues facing black women in
society and in the AUC. One
of the questions was, “How do
you feel about black women
and reality television?”
The questions were answered with exceptional answers from the panelists and
the audience. Most opinions
Patch who? PatchU
Carl Alexander
Contributing Writer
[email protected]
P
atch. No not the thing
you put on your jacket.
It’s also not the thing you do
when you have a hole in your
tire. However, this Patch may
be able to patch together some
gaps and holes in the surrounding communities.
Patch.com is a communityspecific news, information,
and engagement platform
dedicated to providing comprehensive and trusted local
coverage by the people, for the
people.
Owned by AOL, this grass
roots
program
engaged
the Men of Morehouse last
Wednesday and informed
them of opportunities available through their summer
editorial internship program.
“We’re looking for people
who have the passion, creativity and chops to engage their
local community through incisive reporting, professional
editing, and thoughtful content creation,” Andi Morrison,
a Patch.com representative,
said. “We need people who
can also leverage an array of
new technology, tools and social media.”
She continued to say that
potential candidates should
be smart, enthusiastic students with a passion for local
journalism.
“You should be a self-starter,
able to learn quickly and work
independently,”
Morrison
said. “That means free spirits
and straight shooters.” Morrison also stated that potential
candidates should be “nerds
with nerve. People who love
the Internet, but can see its
crack and its future, too.”
Patch.com is particularly
looking for juniors, seniors,
graduate students, and recent
graduates who desire an opportunity to be immersed in a
universal culture. One focus
of the Patch community is being “interactive.”
The editor of Atlanta’s own
Virginia
Highland-Druid
Hills Patch site, Jaclyn Hirsch,
said, “The whole process of
working for Patch is truly a
communication. Our environment is more communal
instead of hierarchy based
included examples from reality televisions shows like “Basketball Wives,” “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” and “Love
and Hip-Hop.”
One panelist highlighted
the fact that the women on
these shows were never famous because of their own
success, but only because of
the man’s success. A panelist
also brought up the fact that
these women play into negative stereotypes about black
women.
As the evening moved on,
the organization also honored
Taylor Allen, a senior English
Pre-Law major at Spelman,
and Erica L. Knight, who
formerly served as Spelman’s
overseer of graduate relations
and raised $3.5 million in tu-
ition assistance for students.
Closing remarks included a
beautiful spoken word poem.
After the event attendees
socialized and mingled in
the lobby, one attendee Sierra
Stokes, a Spelman junior, expressed what she thought of
the program.
“The event was inspiring
and uplifting,” Stokes said. “It
made me want to further explore how I can change the
world as a black woman.”
Black Girls Rock is an
amazing organization that
uplifts the spirits of black girls
of every shade. The young
women of Spelman and CAU
came to show their support
for the black woman’s struggle
to achieve equality.
and there is a lot of room for
creativity and innovation.”
With branches in 22 different states, Patch makes itself
more accessible to local and
rural areas.
Many students, like junior
Christopher McArthur, saw
this as a great opportunity.
“I enjoy the fact that with
Patch, though it is a fairly new
company, at its foundation it
offers many locations to students from California to New
York,” McArthur said. “Being
able to work and write about
my local community is just an
added plus.”
Although it is an editorial internship, it is not just
for Journalism and Sports
Program minors or English
majors. Patch has sectors for
business operations, marketing, design, engineering, and
human resources.
“Whether you’re pursuing
journalism, business or public
relations, it’s never too soon
to start building your portfolio,” Morrison said. “Blogging,
freelance work, internships,
university club, organization,
and Patch involvement are a
great start.”
If you are interested in this
opportunity or would like
more information feel free to
contact a representative via:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
pages/PatchU (search PatchU
in the search engine)
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/
PatchU
Website: www.patch.com
Or Email: [email protected]
King Center Intern Studies Historical Letters
Darryl Hawkins
Features Editor
[email protected]
B
eing able to work with
the famous King papers
and letters is a rare opportunity that some scholars can
only imagine. Being able to
even have a glimpse at Dr.
Martin Luther King’s intellectual writing is a gift in itself. Undergraduate students
like Maya Moore understand
that this is an extraordinary
opportunity and are working
tirelessly to make these documents accessible.
Moore first learned about
this internship last sum-
mer by frequently checking
her emails from The Career
Placement Office at Spelman
College. The Martin Luther
King Center for Nonviolent
Social Change was looking
for enthusiastic students with
strong attention to detail to
participate in their Digitalization Imaging Project. The
initiative was to find students
who study his works from a
philosophical perspective.
The project is funded by JP
Morgan and students are responsible for taking the King
papers that are here in Atlanta
at the King Center and capturing pictures of them and
uploading on websites for
global access. The focus is to
make the letters accessible to
everyone.
Securing this internship was
not an easy task. Initially they
were looking for history majors but they could make exceptions. The email asked for
students interested to submit
a cover letter, resume, and a
recommendation. If they were
considered for the internship
would be contacted by a representative from JP Morgan.
Within a week Moore was selected for a phone interview.
“They asked ‘What do you
know about the civil rights
movement in detail?” Moore
said. “They were just general
www.TheMaroonTiger.com
questions.”
What really secured her
spot as an intern was her experience in archiving and
cleaning the basement of the
Spelman museum. The fact
that she is an Art History major was a bonus.
Not all the interns are students from the AUC; some
are from Georgia State and
Kennesaw State Universities
as well as able veterans from
the military. The process of
uploading the documents is
tedious. The documents have
to go through a process called
indexing where the interns
search for multiple summaries of similar letters.
They then have to input the
date in which the letter was
written. They then proceed to
organize the letters into boxes
and folders.
“One of the most alarming
things I’ve read are the hate
letters” Moore said. “People
were wishing harm upon him
even when he was in jail.”
She continued to say that
the papers are something that
everyone needs to see.
“To get the most experience
I recommend you go to the
King Center because your experience in reading the letters
may be different from mine
and can contribute something
new,” Moore said.
Now featuring:
•Online articles
•Archives
•Advertising information
8
OPINIONS
November 9 - 15, 2011
The Other Face of Renaissance: What Morehouse
Means to the Non-Black Student
J. Taylor Jones
Staff Writer
[email protected]
F
or many students, being
at Morehouse has been
the first time they have been
considered part of the majority. For even more students,
Morehouse College is simply
a demographic reflection of
their own communities, comprised mostly of black people.
But what about our Morehouse brothers who do not
share in the same racial culture as their educational culture?
To some extent, Morehouse
is racially or colorfully neutral. Sleeping in a bed, going
to class, writing papers, and
eating in the cafeteria are
all things that have no identity attached to them. In the
same breath, so much of what
makes Morehouse are the
people who work, teach, and
study there. The reality is that
we seldom get to hear what
Morehouse means for those
who are not black.
It is obvious, most of the
time, to identify who is and
who is not black, but we allow what that means to simply go unnoticed. To truly
be all-inclusive and brotherly, each student should be
asked what it means to be a
member and brother in the
Morehouse community. In a
feeble attempt to understand
the experience of my nonblack brother, I interviewed
Jay Saper, a junior, domestic
exchange student from Middlebury College, and Aaron
Wiekum, freshman philosophy major from Minneapolis.
Both are white.
For Wiekum, distinguished
Morehouse alumni and the
concept of the Renaissance
Man were particularly alluring, regardless of the fact
that the school is historically
black. His decision to enroll at
Morehouse was not that different from most students at
the college.
“Scholarships are a major
consideration and I applied to
elite colleges and universities
all over the country and this is
one of the few that gave me a
scholarship,” Wiekum said.
Wiekum’s reasoning stems
from the essence of what the
College strives to accomplish.
“The mission statement. It’s
always been my dream to
become a Renaissance man,
literally. It may just be talk
in some sense but it’s really
something that I try to become.”
Coming from the inner city
of North Minneapolis, Wiekum has been exposed to diversity all of his life.
“I don’t have any particular loyalties to any particular group. I’m just a person.”
When it comes to identity,
Wiekum takes his for what
it is. “In the literal, most superficial sense, I stick out in
a crowd, because I’m giant
and I’m a white person, but I
don’t think it’s a major factor
in anybody’s decision making
about who I am.”
Wiekum has enjoyed his
experience at Morehouse
and views his decision to be
at Morehouse based on the
culture that the school itself
is trying to instill. For him,
All in the Name of
the Résumé
Christian L. Saint-Vil
Opinions Editor
[email protected]
F
resh out of the barbershop, he puts on a crisp
powder blue checkered
Tommy Hilfiger button up,
adorns it with a golden yellow paisley full Windsor,
ties the laces of his freshly
polished Cole Haans, and
walks into a little Polo Ralph
Lauren #9. A gentleman
amongst all gentleman, embodying the five wells, he
prepares to deliver the most
eloquently delivered load of
crap man has ever heard. He
is no stranger to you and I.
We have all met him time
and time again at our interviews, lectures, and MBA
interest meetings. Whenever an event calls for a wellcrafted résumé he’ll be present.
His name, for the sake
of not being “messy” is the
“grinder.” On paper, and
arguably in person, he is a
force to be reckoned with.
His taste alone for the finer
things in life should attest
to his character. Right! His
resume, gently tucked in his
soft sell Gucci briefcase, is
seemingly immaculate. His
character, however, or lack
thereof, is in dire need of repair.
He saunters down Brown
Street selling himself, this
tactfully crafted product
that we all know is worth far
less than a puff of Black and
Mild at Chevron. We, as well
as this merchant of lies, are
well aware of the way this
merchant came into his rath-
er impressive GPA and these
positions he boast of in his
lengthy resume.
But, if you haven’t caught
on, and if I’m not being blunt
enough for you, I’m speaking
of those of us who get positions and do nothing with
them, and those who would
rather cheat and be handed
an ‘A’ then to fail honorably.
I’m speaking of and to the
fraud that is the “grinder.”
There is nothing wrong
with being ambitious, but
one should never bite off
more than one can chew.
When a person submits an
application for whatever the
cause may be, if that application is favored, a person has
the ethical responsibility to
carry out the deeds requested
of the position they have now
acquired. To apply for a position that you know you are
either unfit for or un-wanting
of makes very little sense.
Despite your notion that
you must apply for every
position on campus because
you are the only one capable
of upholding the name of
Morehouse, there is always
undoubtedly a more fit candidate. A candidate who
actually takes the time to
prepare for his exams rather
than preparing cheat sheets,
a candidate whose dedication goes further than his
experience (and truly yours
for that matter), a candidate
who genuinely seeks the
friendship of others and not
their contacts.
If you know you are going
to be a laissez-faire leader,
then you should not accept
any position you are given.
You may think you are
creating a sound resume in
garnering all these “career
builders,” but truly you are
creating a résumé full of
dead ends. If it’s all in the
name of the résumé for you,
I want you to think of references. An employer or whoever may receive your résumé should be able to point to
any one of your professional
experiences in your résumé,
pick up the phone and contact either your colleagues
or boss. The feedback they
get is all contingent on your
performance in the positions
you have “acquired.”
Who can you truly contact, besides your “homeboys” who can attest to your
participation in these organizations? Other than the
sake of putting it on your
résumé, did you have any
honest reason for applying?
Better question: is the name
you are creating for yourself worth wasting money
to put on a business card?
Then, if it’s not, please omit
the Morehouse logo because
a Man of Morehouse is not
only steadfast, he is honest
and true to old Morehouse
and her ideals and in ALL
things that he does!
If you are the grinder, go
into the interview as such;
leave the paisley behind and
be honest. Your employer
would rather throw out your
application at the interview
than throw you out after two
weeks of “work.” Either way
you choose, the “grinder”
will not make it if everything
is all in the name of the résumé for him.
“[Morehouse] is building men
here in the truest sense, and
it’s good to be a part of that
regardless of skin color.”
Saper makes a conscious
effort to break out of the normal systemic culture that he
found so rigid at Middlebury,
a private college located in
Vermont, the state with the
second-highest percentage of
white residents in America.
“It’s impossible to be objective and we must recognize
the entering of as many differing views and perspectives
as possible to stay open and to
learn,” Saper said. “It’s invaluable to learn from black professors and my fellow black
students…And that is something that is not overlooked
here. [Morehouse] often emphasizes that this is a rarity
to be in a classroom with all
black men.”
Saper, a sociology major, has
enjoyed and learned so much
from his experience within
the one semester that he has
been at Morehouse. He finds
his domestic exchange just as,
if not more, worthwhile than
a study abroad because, “I
think what is scary is that we
don’t look back into ourselves
and look in our own societies
because stories are being told
of all different people…”
Saper, in the time that he has
been here, has found diversity
in an entirely new light as he
finds himself not feeling the
need to cling to those physically like him. Unlike many
of the experiences of black
students at PWIs, Saper’s sites
more commonalities between
him and another Morehouse
student then any white person that might happen to live
in the city of Atlanta.
Saper is enthusiastic about
his time at Morehouse and
willingly invites the differences that come with being at an
HBCU.
“I want to study here because I believe that we, here at
Middlebury, represent such a
narrow strain of society that
we grow up in. Who are we,
who are we affected by, what
do we know about the inequality in this country, and
whose voice [is] marginalized
on Middlebury’s campus?”
Saper returns to Middlebury in the spring, but has
gained unparalleled insight
into what it means to share
someone’s story.
Being an African-American
in a predominantly AfricanAmerican setting has created
a culture that many take for
granted. As Saper said of Middlebury and PWIs, the same
goes for being accustomed to
a predominately black environment.
“It’s too easy for many in
this country to be educated
in environments where they
are surrounded by all whites,”
he said. “It’s a notion that
needs to be challenged. Identity matters, race matters, how
you experience your lived reality matters. And therefore
each person, based on the
complex ways in which they
view the world, also reflects
that in the way they approach
knowledge.”
Let Morehouse be committed to true knowledge.
Have an
OPINION?
To become a opinions staff writer,
stop by The Maroon Tiger Office in
Archer Hall or contact one of the
opinions editors.
OPINIONS
Hypocrisy at Spelman Over Music and
Portrayals of Women
Rokhaya Fall
Staff Writer
[email protected]
H
ypocrisy is the practice
of professing standards
and beliefs contrary to one’s
real character or actual behavior, especially the pretense
of virtue and piety. I love my
institution, Spelman College,
but there surely are some aspects of the college that I disagree with.
It is a well-known fact that
in the past few years, a lot of
rap artists have been banned
from performing at Spelman.
This is the result of their bla-
tant disrespect of women in
rap music.
As a high school student, I
remember seeing Spelmanites
on Oprah standing up against
rappers and their disrespect for
women. I was proud of my Spelman sisters for having enough
courage to stand up against the
powerful music industry. As
a feminist, I completely agree
that society has gone way too
far with song lyrics.
The only topics used in
songs are those that describe
sexual acts that men want
women to perform for them.
To make matters worse, the
songs are degrading and treat
women as if they are supposed
to be some type of sex slave.
These songs are notorious
for using demeaning words
that are not complimentary
to women. It is disrespectful,
but many of us still support it
anyway.
The hypocrisy comes in
when these songs are played
publicly, everywhere on campus at least once a week. The
cafeteria is notorious for hosting miniature parties where
these songs by banned artists
are played at maximum volume. Occasionally, there are
dancers who practice their
“club moves” in the cafeteria
accompanied by these songs.
What is the difference between having these artists
physically perform here, and
playing their music all the
time but never inviting them
to our institution? I believe
that there is no difference between the two. Either way, we
are supporting these artists. If
we are going to play their music despite the ban, we could
just as easily get rid of the
ban and welcome these artists
back.
I have a hard time understanding how there can be
church in Sister’s Chapel on
Sundays, but a place of par-
Appreciating A Woman’s Beauty
Garrett Ransom
Staff Writer
[email protected]
H
ave you ever been on
a social network website and have seen a female’s
picture with a long list of her
female friends commenting,
“You’re gorgeous,” or, “You’re
beautiful?” Sometimes, the
compliment seems justified,
and other times the compliment seems “fake” because of
what we believe beauty to be.
I have found myself labeling a friend as being “fake” for
calling her friend beautiful,
and I am sure that many other
people reading have had similar feelings.
But one day, I had an epiphany that completely changed
my whole outlook on the subject.
Mainstream society has
molded and shaped our outlook of what beauty is. What
exactly is beauty? Is it the
video vixen in the rap video
or the hard working female
college student? Does beauty
has a visual representation or
is it an aura that comes from
within?
To many of us, beauty is
simply a word to represent
an individual’s physical attributes. Rarely do we associate
a person’s internal qualities
with the word beauty. In the
real world, the video vixen is
awed over and the hard working female student is just appreciated.
What type of effect does
the word “beautiful” have on
a woman? To call a woman
beautiful gives them a foundation of respect, entitlement,
and confidence. All three
traits essentially make a “real
woman.” When a woman calls
another woman beautiful, she
is not lying; she is empowering her. Who is to say that any
woman does not deserve to
feel beautiful or attractive?
This empowerment, however, poses a threat to men, and
also women who feel they are
more attractive than the rest.
Many people feel as if women who are not mainstream
beautiful should not have as
much confidence. Why not?
9
November 9 - 15, 2011
There is a domino effect
that comes along with a sea of
women who consider themselves beautiful. An insecure
woman is often more easily
manipulated by men. If every
woman believes that they are
beautiful and entitled to better
treatment, then men will have
to change how they approach
these “beautiful women.”
Does society truly want every woman to feel as if they
were beautiful? The answer
to that question is that it is
doubtful. Society has enough
issues with allowing each ethnicity to feel beautiful. Avoid
the brown paper bag!
The world thrives off of
women’s insecurities. What
would the make-up industry
do if every woman felt that
they did not need makeup? A
whole industry would crumble. How many women have
tried ridiculous diets and
workout regiments, not to be
healthier, but to look better in
a bikini? Too many too count!
Many individuals in society become submerged in the
typical appearance of beauty,
and rarely veer away from it.
Many people also have forgotten the power that the word
“beautiful” has. We often
proclaim women beautiful
who need to hear that they
are beautiful least, and leave
many other women deprived
of the beneficial manifestations of the word.
We have set up a world in
which many women perpetually reach toward an unattainable plateau of physical
perfection that just internally
illuminates more personal insecurities. Maybe this is a plan
to develop monetary gain by
someone much bigger than
us, and they have evidently
succeeded.
This article is not made for
change of thought, but food
for thought. Often times in
our judgment of others, we
find insecurities in ourselves.
Take time to think about why
she is not beautiful without
thinking about what society
has shaped you to think. Be
the pilot of your own plane,
and allow her to feel beautiful.
tying on the weekdays. These
songs banned by our institution are played too often in
Sister’s Chapel and people
dance to them as they would
at clubs. While I am not a religious individual, I find it to be
hypocritical and disrespectful
to the chapel.
During SpelHouse homecoming this year, Miguel performed as the neo-soul artist in King Chapel. In one of
his songs, he sang the lyrics,
“That p**** is mine.” Women
everywhere went crazy. It’s
unbelievable to me that respectable college women were
entertained by a man talking
about their body parts in such
a manner.
Needless to say, we as women sometimes welcome the
disrespect from musicians and
men in general; therefore, I
do not solely blame rappers
for the way they treat, talk to
and about women. I think it is
pointless to ban these artists
from campus, because they are
all around us anyway. In addition, the ones that we agree to
welcome on campus are no different than those we banned.
So I say, get rid of the ban
and let us enjoy “ratchet” performances for recreational
purposes!
follow the maroon tiger
on twitter!
@themaroontiger
The Maroon Tiger is published weekly
during the academic year at Morehouse
College. Our goal is to maintain an
independent editorial policy. Opinions
expressed in The Maroon Tiger are solely
the views of its staff and do not necessarily
reflect the opinion of Morehouse College,
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advisors. Commentaries solely represent the
views of the author and are not necessarily
the opinion of The Maroon Tiger. We believe
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guarantee its accuracy or be responsible for
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The Maroon Tiger welcomes your views on
any public issue. We routinely edit letters
for space and correct errors in spelling and
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10
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
November 9 - 15, 2011
TOP 20
MIXTAPES OF
THE PAST 10
YEARS
Taylor Williams
Arts and Entertainment Editor
[email protected]
One of the biggest parts of hip-hop in the last ten
years is the “mixtape.” A compilation of original songs,
remixes, and freestyles, the mixtape allows artists
to make and release music without the backing of a
record label. Over the past 10 years, artists have used
mixtapes as a way to get record deals or to gain new
fans. I assembled a group of hip-hop heads to discuss
and compile a list of the top 20 mixtapes of the past
10 years
The Panel : Robert Lavergne ’11, Katryna Mahoney
’14 (SC), Charlie Williams IV ’12, Matt Millen ’12, Taara
Avery ’12 (SC), Janaye Taylor ’12 (SC) and
Taylor Williams ‘12
1. Lil’ Wayne - Drought 3
(2007)
With over 10 mixtapes,
this is pinnacle for Lil’
Wayne, because it
helped propel him into
super stardom. With a
total of 29 tracks, the
“Drought 3” showed
the world Wayne was
here. This mixtape also
introduced the world to
Nicki Minaj.
Notable tracks : “The Sky is the Limit,” “Dough is What I got,”
and “ Upgrade”
2. Drake - So Far Gone
(2008)
Drake arguably changed the
way artists made mixtapes
with this release. Sounding
more like an album than a
mixtape, Drake experienced
great success with the release
of “So Far Gone.” Two Grammy nominations, two videos,
and a retail re-release, which
has sold over 500,000 copies to date, summarizes how
great of a mixtape it was.
Notable tracks : “Uptown,” “
Successful,” “ Best I Ever Had,”
and “ Lust For Life”
3. 50 Cent & G-Unit (Lloyd
Banks and Tony Yayo) - 50
Cent is the Future (2002)
The mixtape that led to 50
Cent inking a deal with Shady/
Aftermath records...the rest is
history.
Notable tracks : “G-Unit Soldiers,” “ Surrounded By..,” and
“ Banks Workout”
4. The Diplomats (Jim Jones,
Juelz Santana, Freeky Zeeky,
and Cam’Ron) – Diplomats
Vol. 1 (2001)
Hosted by DJ Kay Slay, this
mixtape introduced the world
to The Diplomats. The beginning of what would be a very
successful run for Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, and Cam’Ron.
Notable tracks : “Oh Boy,”
“ Rocafella Get Money,” and
“Blueprint (Momma Loves
Me) Freestyle”
5. Young Jeezy - Trap or Die
(2005)
In 2005, the “Crunk/Snap”
movement was slowly dying
and Atlanta was searching for
its next big movement in hiphop. With the release of “Trap
of Die,” Jeezy birthed a new
sub-genre of hip-hop, “Coke
Rap.” Traces of his style and
content can be seen in many
of Atlanta’s rappers to this
very day.
Notable tracks : “Grey
Goose,” “ Get Ya Mind Right,”
“ Icey,” and “Trap or Die”
6. Lupe Fiasco – Fahrenheit
1/15 Part II: Revenge of the
Nerds (2006)
At a time in hip-hop when
the more “gangsta” one was
determined their popularity,
this mixtape changed that notion as it showed the world it
was cool to be a nerd.
Notable tracks : “Switch,” “
Much More,” and “ Lupe the
Killer”
7. Re-Up Gang (Clipse, Sandman, and Ab-liva) - We Got it
4 Cheap Vol. 2 (2005)
This is the second installment in their “We Got it 4
Cheap” series. This mixtape
brought the Clipse back to
prominence after a long delay
between album releases.
“We Got it 4 Cheap Vol. 2”
was ranked 130 on Pitchfork
magazine’s list of Top 200
albums of the 2000s.
Notable tracks : “Re-Up Intro,”
“ I’m a Hustla,” and “ What’s
Up”
8. Lil’ Wayne - Dedication I &
II (2006)
Both hosted by DJ Drama, Lil’
Wayne showed hints of him
growing into a phenomenal
rapper.
Notable tracks : “U Gon Love
Me,” “Down & Out,” “ Cannon,” and “ Lovin’ It”
9. Wiz Khalifa & Curren$y How Fly (2009)
The mixtape that re-introduced the world to Wiz
Khalifa and Curren$y also led
to both artists signing deals
with major labels. The Jets and
the Taylor Gang.
Notable tracks : “Car Service,”
“ The Checkpoint,” and “ Rolling Up”
10. Kendrick Lamar - Overly
Dedicated (2010)
Compton M.C. Kendrick
Lamar wowed the hip-hop
world with the release of
“Overly Dedicated.” This mixtape earned a co-sign from
producer Dr. Dre, launching
Lamar’s career.
Notable tracks : “The Heart
Pt. 2,” “ P&P 1.5,” “ Michael
Jordan,” and “ She Needs Me”
11. 50 Cent & G-Unit –
(Lloyd Banks & Tony Yayo) No Mercy, No Fear (2002)
Before it was on The 8 Mile
soundtrack or “Get Rich or
Die Tryin’,” “Wanksta” made
its first appearance on this
mixtape.
Notable tracks : “Wanksta,”
“ Soldier,” and “Say What You
Want”
12. Wiz Khalifa - Kush & OJ
(2010)
This mixtape made Wiz
Khalifa a household name. On
the day of its release, “Kush &
OJ” became the most popular
search on Google and the #1
Trending Topic on the popular
social network, Twitter.
Notable tracks: “The Kid
Frankie,” “Never Been,” and
“Mezmorized”
13. Joe Budden – Mood Muzik
2 (2006)
The second installment in
the “Mood Muzik” series,
Budden’s brutal honesty and
astounding wordplay made
this a special mixtape.
Notable tracks: “Are You In
That Mood Yet” and “6 Minutes of Death”
14. J. Cole – The Warm Up
(2009)
The mixtape that introduced
the world to J. Cole, the first
artist signed to Jay-Z’s Roc
Nation label, had a solid release that sounded more like
an album than a mixtape.
Notable tracks: “Lights Please,”
“Can I Live,” and “Last Call”
15. Young Jeezy - Can’t Ban
the Snowman (2006)
This 27-track mixtape was
one of the South’s best.
Notable tracks: “I’m Back,”
“Jeezy The Snowman,” and “
Burning Up”
16. Big K.R.I.T - K.R.I.T Was
Here (2010)
This mixtape, produced and
written entirely by K.R.I.T,
caught the attention of many
record label execs as it eventually led to him inking a deal
with Def Jam records.
Notable tracks: “Return of
4eva,” “Country S***,” “Moon
& Stars,” and “Glass House”
17. Kid Cudi - A Kid Named
Cudi (2008)
The first mixtape by the
Cleveland native, spawned his
biggest single to date, “Day ‘n’
Nite”
Notable tracks: “Day ‘n’ Nite,”
“Cudi Get,” “Man on the
Moon”
18. Wale - Mixtape About
Nothing (2008)
This is the fourth mixtape by
Washington, D.C. native, Wale.
Inspired by his favorite show
“Seinfeld,” this is arguably his
best project.
Notable tracks: “The Perfect
Plan,” “The Crazy,” and “The
Vacation from Ourselves””
19. Lupe Fiasco - Enemy
of the State : A Love Story
(2010)
After being left off MTV’s
Hottest MCs list, Lupe released this mixtape to show
the world that he could still
rap with the best of them.
Notable tracks: “Fireman,”
“Say Somethin’,” and “Popular
Demand”
20. Dom Kennedy - From the West Side
with Love (2010)
Los Angeles native Dom Kennedy put
the entire West Coast on his back with
the release of “From the Westside with
Love.” This mixtape has a very West
Coast sound, but appealed to all regions.
Notable tracks: “1997,” “Locals Only,”
and “The 4 Heartbeats”
Honorable Mentions
Gucci Mane – Chicken Talk
Slim Thug – Welcome 2 Texas
Theophilus London – I Want You
Pharrell – In My Mind (The Prequel)
11
SPORTS
November 9 - 15, 2011
NFL MID-SEASON
AWARDS
Xaundrae Tingling
Staff Writer
[email protected]
W
ith eight weeks already in the history
books, the NFL season just passed its
midway point. Though the season is nowhere
close to being finished, it is never too early to
recognize players who are having spectacular
seasons so far. Here are The Maroon Tiger’s
NFL mid-season awards:
MVP: Green Bay Packers Quarterback,
Aaron Rodgers - There can be no arguing
that Rodgers has been the MVP for the first
half of the season. Rodgers has thrown a
league high 20 touchdowns as opposed to
only three interceptions. His 125.7 quarterback rating is 20 points higher than his
closest rival; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. More importantly, the
Packers boast a perfect 8-0 record, and look
well on their way to winning this year’s Super Bowl.
Honorable Mentions:
Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) and
Brady.
Defensive Player of the Year:
Dallas Cowboys Linebacker/Defensive End,
Demarcus Ware - Although the Dallas Cowboys have not lived up to expectations so far,
Ware has consistently played at a Pro Bowl
level. Ware already has 12 sacks, a half sack
behind Vikings defensive end Jared Allen.
Though Ware only has 36 tackles and one
forced fumble, his constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks has been the key to the
Cowboys defense.
Honorable Mentions: Lamarr Woodley
(Pittsburgh Steelers), Eric Weddle (San Diego Chargers).
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Carolina Panthers Quarterback, Cam Newton - Going into
this year’s NFL draft, there were many football
experts who had doubts about Newton’s accuracy and his ability to quickly grasp an NFL
playbook. Newton has greatly surpassed these
expectations, and, so far, is playing up to the
expected level of a number one overall pick.
Newton’s 2,393 passing yards is second behind the 2010 Super Bowl MVP, New Orleans
Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and he leads
all rookies in total touchdowns with 11 passing and seven rushing. Honorable Mentions: Andy Dalton and A.J.
Green (Cincinnati Bengals)
Biggest Surprise:
San Francisco 49ers - What a difference a coach
makes. Jim Harbaugh has completely turned
the team around and has the 49ers with a 7-1 record; the only loss in overtime to the Dallas Cowboys. Harbaugh’s most impressive turnaround has
been his starting quarterback, Alex Smith. Smith,
the 1st overall pick in 2005, has been steady all
year throwing for seven touchdowns and only one
interception. Along with a healthy Frank Gore,
look for the 49ers to continue their good form
throughout the rest of the season.
Biggest Disappointment:
Tennessee Titans Running Back, Chris
Johnson - After securing a new contract
from the Tennessee Titans, Johnson has been
struggling all season to find his groove. This
year, Johnson has only averaged 2.8 yards
per carry and has rushed for 308 yards. To
put that into perspective, Johnson is tied
with the Kansas City Chiefs’ backup running
back, Jackie Battle, and the Miami Dolphins’
Daniel Thomas for 34th in total rushing
yards. Johnson’s drop in production is especially alarming given that only two seasons
ago Johnson became only the sixth man in
NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.
Scrutiny of Tebow Unfair? Not So Fast
COLUMN
Dante Miles
Staff Writer
[email protected]
O
ver the past four weeks, no
quarterback in the NFL has
been scrutinized more than Denver
Broncos starting quarterback, Tim
Tebow. From his abnormally long
delivery, his happy feet in the pocket, and his ability, or lack thereof,
to read defenses, everything Tebow
does is dissected for all to see.
As the weeks pass, more and more
Tebow supporters have appeared
and said the treatment Tebow has
received is unfair. Many people have
pointed to Tebow’s strong religious
beliefs as a reason why critics root
against him and wait for him to slip
up.
After writing an article questioning the fanfare surrounding Denver’s quarterback, I found myself
accused of being one of those critics. I received several calls and texts
from friends accusing me of being
a “Tebow hater” and demanding an
explanation of my views.
Once I replied to all the messages, I sat back and thought about the
article I had written. Was I being
biased? Had the lack of opportunities for black quarterbacks jaded my
views on Tebow?
Honestly, yes, but with good reason. My dilemma with this entire sit-
uation has more to do with the popular thought that Tebow “deserves
a chance,” and all that disagree are
simply out to get him.
When I hear people argue for
Tebow, I can’t help but think back
to the treatment of the Carolina
Panthers starting quarterback Cam
Newton before the 2011 draft.
We all witnessed as Newton led
the Auburn Tigers to a perfect record, a national title, and a Heisman
Trophy on his way to becoming a
pro. However, as the draft neared,
there were many that feared Newton
would not be able to make the transition to a pro-style offense.
Before the draft, the Cleveland
Plain Dealer printed an article based
on quotes from Pro Football Weekly’s Nolan Nawrocki trashing Newton. Nawrocki called the eventual
overall number one pick a “fraud,”
“narcissist,” and even a “con-artist.”
One particular quote that shocked
me said, “Newton does not command respect from teammates, and
always will struggle to win a locker
room. Only a one-year producer.
Lacks accountability, focus and
trustworthiness—is not punctual,
seeks shortcuts and sets a bad example. Immature and has had issues
with authority. Not dependable.”
After the report was released, there
were few people who came to NewThroughout the process, Newton
ton’s defense, despite all the positive
things he had done to change his life remained the consummate profesaround after his dismissal from the sional who vowed to work hard to
University of Florida football pro- improve before the draft.
The point of questioning Tebow’s
gram.
Got a
PASSION
for
?
play is simple; this type of treatment
has become common for black quarterbacks around the NFL. People
who criticize Tebow do it not to belittle his faith, but because there are
sports
many aspects of his game that usually do not translate well in the NFL,
and it will take more than a prayer to
correct them.
To become a writer for The
Maroon Tiger, stop by our office
in Archer Hall or contact the
editor of the section you’re
interested in. It’s that easy!
12
SPORTS
November 9 - 15, 2011
Students’ Opinions on the NBA Lockout
Arshon Howard
Staff writer
[email protected]
T
he NBA lockout is in its
fifth month, and with
signs of an agreement not
being reached, Morehouse
students and other fans of
the game aren’t optimistic
that there will be a season.
On Nov. 1, NBA fans were
supposed to see the Dallas
Mavericks host the Chicago
Bulls on TNT, but instead
fans were forced to watch
other programs because the
lockout has yet to end. Fans
are now left searching the
television listings nightly
and hoping for a shortened
season, but some people feel
that at this rate there might
not even be a season at all.
“I just want to watch basketball,” New Jersey native Wynton LeGrand said.
“When the lockout first
started, I didn’t think that it
would last this long, and if
it did last I thought I would
be okay without watching
basketball, but that isn’t the
case at all. I feel deprived
like something is missing,
and the fact that they canceled games for November is
causing me to give up hope
of watching any NBA basketball at all.”
The thought of not having an entire 2011-2012
season seems likely as this
point, as some NBA players
are considering an appeal
to the National Labor Relations Board for decertification of the players union. If
the players decide to take
such an extreme legal step,
it could take months to sort
out and would threaten the
entire NBA season according to Yahoo!. With both
sides seeming reluctant to
give ground it leaves outsiders asking, “Who is really to
blame for the lockout?”
“I blame the owners,” Delaware resident Ivan Shockley said. “You really can’t
fault the players for owners
wanting to pay them money
even if they aren’t playing up
to their expectations. The
owners need to stop paying
low class players so much
money, and then get mad
when they don’t perform. It
just doesn’t make sense to
me at all. They’re just being
greedy if you ask me.”
The argument about who
is to blame for the lockout,
MOREHOUSE
COLLEGE
MAROON TIGERS
BASKETBALL
SCHEDULE
2011-2012
November 11, 2011
8:00 p.m. University of West Georgia - Atlanta, Ga
November 12, 2011
8:00 p.m. University of North Alabama – Atlanta, GA
November 29, 2011
7:30 p.m. Stillman College – Atlanta, GA
December 1, 2011
7:30 p.m. Claflin University – Orangeburg, SC
or if there will even be a
season at all, is the topic of
discussion amongst fans as
a way to get through the dry
months of not being able to
watch their favorite NBA
team or player play. It is an
argument that is debated
just as much as the LeBron
vs. Kobe argument, but once
the issue gets resolved everything will hopefully be back
to normal.
December 3, 2011
3:00 p.m. Miles College – Atlanta, GA
January 2, 2012
7:30 p.m. Paine College – Atlanta, GA
January 7, 2012
3:00 p.m. Miles College – Fairfield, AL
January 9, 2012
7:30 p.m. LeMoyne-Owen College –Memphis, TN
Morehouse
Basketball
Preview
January 12, 2012
7:30 p.m. Kentucky State University – Atlanta, GA
January 14, 2012
3:00 p.m. Lane College – Atlanta, GA
January 17, 2012
7:30 p.m. Paine College – Augusta, GA
January 19, 2012
7:30 p.m. Stillman College – Tuscaloosa, AL
Quincy Young
Staff writer
[email protected]
T
he energy around the Morehouse
College basketball team is electric as it prepares to embark upon a
historic 2011-2012 season. Before the
opening regular season game’s tip-off,
the Maroon Tigers have played some
tough competition already in the exhibition season by playing Division I
powerhouses, the University of Georgia and the University of Kentucky.
“These are big games because,
Morehouse has never played a team
ranked number two in the country,”
head coach Grady Brewer said.
These exhibition games symbolize
the growth of Morehouse athletics,
because never in Morehouse’s 142year history has it played a nationally ranked team. In their first contest
against one of the SEC schools, Georgia defeated the Maroon Tigers 74-50
on Nov. 4 at Stegeman Coliseum, the
Bulldog’s new home arena.
Morehouse followed that game with
a Monday matchup against a dominant Kentucky Wildcats team that is
coming off an SEC conference championship and a Final Four appearance
from last season.
“That game provides an experience
for our team to play at a high level and
get some exposure. A lot of us have
aspirations to play at the next level and
that game could open the door,” team
captain Jon Tassin said. “But our main
goal this year is to win the SIAC.”
The coaches of the SIAC have the
Maroon Tigers projected to finish
fifth in their conference this year. Last
season, the team finished 14-11 in the
conference with a home record of 8-3.
The Maroon Tigers’ season ended in
the second round of the SIAC tournament, when they lost to the Tuskegee
University Golden Tigers.
The team only added only five new
players this year, one being a transfer
from Howard University, Charles De-
Costa.
“I’m not thinking about last year. I’m
going to fight tooth and nail, as warriors to win each and every game this
year. Whatever my team needs me to
do for us to be successful I’m going to
get it done,” DeCosta said.
“Experience is the best teacher, and
this year I have an experienced group
of guys who can go out there and get it
done,” Brewer said.
Junior Daniyal Faquir was voted to
the Preseason All-SIAC First Team,
while senior Jonathan Tassin was voted to the second team.
“I don’t have any individual aspirations, this is about my team, because
we strive to win every game as a team,”
Faquir said. “Every team we play is
beatable if everybody buys into our
system we will come out on the winning end.”
Following exhibition and non-conference play, the team opens conference play against Stillman College,
Nov. 29 at Forbes Arena.
Missed our general body
meeting? Don’t worry!
Our editors’ contact information is listed in The Maroon Tiger
every week. Contact the editor of a section you’re interested
in for information on how to become part of our staff.
January 21, 2012
7:30 p.m. Tuskegee University – Tuskegee, AL
January 26, 2012
7:30 Clark Atlanta University – Atlanta, GA
January 28, 2012
3:00 p.m. Albany State University – Atlanta, GA
January 31, 2012
8:00 p.m. Fort Valley State University – Fort Valley , AL
February 2, 2012
7:30 p.m. Benedict College – Columbia, SC
February 4, 2012
3:30 p.m. Claflin University – Atlanta, GA
February 7, 2012
7:00 p.m. Fort Valley State University – Atlanta, GA
February 11, 2012
7:00 p.m. Clark Atlanta University – Atlanta, GA
February 13, 2012
7:30 p.m. Tuskegee University – Atlanta, GA
February 15, 2012
7:30 p.m. LeMoyne-Owen College – Atlanta, GA
February 20, 2012
7:30 p.m. Benedict College – Atlanta, GA
February 23, 2012
5:30 p.m. Lane College – Atlanta, GA
February 25, 2012
3:30 p.m. Kentucky State University – Frankforty, KY

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