62.5 spartan echo

SPARTAN ECHO| Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504|NEWSROOM: 757.823.8200 E-Mail: [email protected]

11.14.14Vol. 62, Issue 5

TopSTorieSi n S i d e

On Norfolk State’s campus, many go about their daily routines with no knowledge of the number of homeless students surrounding them, unaware in class that they could be sitting next to one of the homeless.The campus has students

with no permanent resi-dence; however, it is diffi-cult to keep track of them. Because of this, it makes finding the exact number of how many there are a diffi-cult task. According to the Office

of Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning, using the information filled out on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), there are nine homeless students currently enrolled this semester.One homeless student talk-

ed about coming to Virgin-ia to live with their father. Due to money troubles, the student and their father got behind on rent, eventual-ly becoming evicted from their residence.The student spoke of how

they grew up fast from their experience of moving from neighborhood to neighbor-hood, but gained insight on how to carry on if they lost everything they owned, which is something most people wouldn’t be pre-pared for.The student said that peo-

ple don’t think about home-less situations because they are only focused on them-selves; however, “It takes

Homeless NSU students speak outAntonio Garland

a special type of person to care, to step up, help and give advice.”Garland Wright, a junior

political science major, who’s also a homeless stu-dent, feels that the school knows of the homeless, but doesn’t want to talk about

them.Wright has been an activ-

ist in the community and pushed 200 people into reg-istering to vote. He feels that some of his goodwill should be returned.“We’re [an] HBCU. We’re

black people. I have a fi-nancial situation. Why can’t they help me out?,”Wright said.Both students described

the mental strain of their situation. Wright has been diagnosed with depression. The other student constant-ly worries about where their next meal will come from, having to dash off campus to a soup kitchen and back every day.The two decided to tell

their stories to bring aware-ness about homeless stu-dents on campus.“Everyone has a right

to privacy,” said Wright. “However, I’m willing to

step up and reveal myself; because yes, I have a story to tell.”“Life isn’t going to make

it easy for you to succeed,” said the other student. “It’s going to give you challeng-es. But, at the same time, it gives you answers. A lot of people don’t see the signs.”Homeless students see

their situation as another obstacle in their life path. They don’t want pity from others, but want people to see them for who they are.A few students expressed

their thoughts on the home-less college students.“It’s sad and shocking,”

said Kayla Arrington, a freshman sociology major.

Although the percentage of Norfolk State’s homeless students is relatively small, it should never be overlooked. Photo by Tykhari Coles

“...I’m willing to step up and reveal myself; because

yes, I have a story to tell.”

“It’s really surprising. I would’ve never guessed,” said Saquoia Green, a soph-omore nursing major.“Just because they’re

homeless doesn’t mean they can’t get an educa-tion,” said Anissa Saunders, a sophomore nursing major.NSU is no different than

any other college. Accord-ing to money.cnn.com, in December 2013, there were 58,158 students nationwide that indicated that they were homeless on federal finan-cial aid forms during the 2012-2013 academic year, eight percent more than the previous year. It’s expected to increase this year.

NSU back on track, a letter from Interim Pres-ident and CEO Eddie N. Moore, Jr.

Page 7

The NAACP makes a visit to NSU.

Page 2

The Labor Day Clas-sic to return in 2016

Page 5

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On Oct. 15, Norfolk State received a visit from Amer-ican Petroleum Institute (API) president, Jack N. Gerard, who shared his in-sight on energy, its bright outlook in the United States and new job opportunities the energy industry brings.Gerard talked about the

importance of a “nation-al all the above” strategy, which focuses on energy ef-ficiencies, such as wind and solar energy and provid-ing jobs for Americans, all while protecting the natural environment. He spoke on how the U.S. should change the way it does business and become the world’s lead en-ergy superpower.He also talked about job

API president comes to NSUAntonio Garland

opportunities for graduating seniors, believing that the oil and natural gas industry would be an excellent way to provide for families.According to Gerard, API

provides 28 percent of all our energy, which in a few decades is expected to jump to as much as 50 percent. In the last few years, the U.S. has surpassed all expecta-tions by achieving a level of domestic energy production that was believed to be un-thinkable five to six years ago.America’s natural gas and

oil industry supports $1.2 trillion in U.S. gross domes-tic product and provides $85 million a day to the federal government. Today, the in-

dustry supports 9.8 million jobs and continues to grow.Gerard pointed out that 80

percent of Virginians sup-port increase in domestic natural gas and oil produc-tion. According to recent surveys, the oil and natu-ral gas industry contributes $12.5 billion to Virginia’s economy and supports 141,000 jobs across the state.Gerard believes these

numbers can increase with the right governmental pol-icies, such as the federal government allowing the development of Virginia’s offshore energy resources, which will allow the com-monwealth to receive $2.2 billion by 2035 and add as

much as 25,000 induced jobs. The increase in wag-es could go into developing programs, roads and schools around the state. 87 percent of federally controlled off-shore lands are off limits to natural gas development because of government re-strictions. Students expressed their

thoughts and concerns on Gerard’s presentation.“Very informative and I’ll

look up some information to make sure he’s right,” said Talanna Ruffin, a ju-nior electronics engineering major.“I think that he did a very

good job [on his presenta-tion],” said Ida Thompson, a senior political science

major. “[Though] I’d like him to specifically address the industry standards for human capital.”“I thoroughly enjoyed it,”

said Tyla Morris, a sopho-more business management major. “He gave enough in-formation so you wouldn’t be lost. I liked that he tar-geted the minorities.”Currently, API is reaching

out to minorities to show them the opportunities within the energy indus-try. API’s goal is to ensure that anyone who wants a well-paying career, has the opportunity to do so and for the nation to fulfill its potential as a superpower sooner, rather than later.

Norfolk State is filled with students who are parents. Their responsibilities often include taking care of their children, school work and working at their jobs. Two NSU parents shared their stories.Tia Deas, a junior English

major, with a minor in cre-ative writing and theolo-gy, said one of her biggest challenges is getting her son to and from daycare, before and after her classes at specific times each day. In addition to being a stu-dent, Deas currently works three jobs at IHOP, Student Health Ambassadors and at a PI firm for personal inju-ry cases.Vamonie Boddie, a ju-

nior mass communications major and former athlete, spoke of her daily chal-

Being a student parent can be a daunting taskAntonio Garland

lenges, taking care of her daughter and being a stu-dent.“It’s a hectic…stressful

job, but it’s worth every bit of it,” said Boddie. “It’s full of excitement, never a dull moment.”Boddie also runs her own

face painting business at Colorful Smiles Face Painting.Despite the challenges,

student parents put their children above all else. Both parents said their children is what gives them the drive to do their best.“I love my child in gener-

al,” said Deas. “[They’re a] general interpretation of me.”Boddie spoke on how

amazing it was watching her daughter learn to walk, talk and grow into a tod-

dler.“What I enjoy most would

be having a person that I love unconditionally and get it in return,” said Bod-die. “Having a reason to strive for the best and ac-complish my goals.”These student parents

gave their own advice to upcoming and new parents who are students.“Use [your] child as mo-

tivation, if you succeed, they succeed,” said Deas. “You’re a good role model to them. They’ll look back at the sacrifices you made and understand. You can explain your sacrifices [to them] later on.”“My advice would be to

not be afraid to fail at some-thing. Learn from your mistakes and go forward from there,” said Boddie.

“Never let it rest, until your good is better and your bet-ter is your best. Be the best mother or father you can be for that child.”With the responsibility

of having many tasks on a daily basis and having to take care of a child, student

parents show more deter-mination than the average student. What they do is not just for themselves, but for their children. They help shape their future and serve as role models so their children may one day succeed.

Vamonie Boddie (Junior, Mass Communications major; left) and Tia Deas (Junior, English major & minor in Creative Writ-ing and Theology; right) are among the many parent-students excelling at NSU. Photos by Antonio Garland

311.14.14 Spartan newS


On Oct. 23, Norfolk State University (NSU) hosted its 6th Annual Healthy Spar-tan Wellness Day (HSWD), where various stations intro-duced the students to different programs and procedures de-signed to keep them in good health.The booths at HSWD includ-

ed Girls on the Run, Urban League of Hampton Roads, Inc., Project Choice, the Stu-dent Ambassadors and Susan G. Komen.Girls on the Run is a mentor-

ship program for young girls, designed to teach them how to deal with real-life situations, such as peer pressure and achieving self-confidence. This program is constantly

NSU hosts Healthy Spartan Wellness DayRichelle Hammiel

seeking volunteers and “Soul-Mates,” which are fundrais-ing groups for teams to par-ticipate in different athletic activities, such as racing and swimming to raise money for scholarships.The Urban League of Hamp-

ton Roads, Inc. focuses on education and youth, employ-ment and economic empow-erment, housing, health and wellness, and sickle cell dis-ease management. The over-all goal is to assist residents so they can ultimately lead better futures.The Student Ambassadors

deals with sex, AIDS and domestic violence. They will also host a World AIDS Day along with additional events,

which students can be in-formed about by simply ap-plying with their general in-formation.Susan G. Komen is a breast

cancer awareness program, which gives all the facts about the disease and symptoms to look for. Symptoms of breast cancer that they pointed to include lumps, swelling, dimpling, itching, nipple dis-charge, change in the size or shape and redness or darken-ing of the breasts.Upon approaching this

booth, the main message from Komen representatives was to “know your body. Know your normal.” They pointed out that many people don’t know what their bodies are

supposed to look and feel like. When a problem does occur, they have no idea that some-thing is wrong. Breast exam-inations and screenings are advised for all women.Project Choice is a pre-

vention program that raises awareness about HIV and substance abuse. In support of

this project, they held an HIV testing center in the student center encouraging students to know their status. The overall message regard-

ing health was to take care of your body. The ultimate goal for a healthy body is allowing you to live a long, normal life.

NSU’s annual Healthy Spartan Awareness Day continues to pres-ent various alternatives for eating healthy and staying physically fit. Photo from nsu.edu

On Oct. 30, the NAACP hosted “Where Does It End,” a program which brought up the issue of in-creasing confrontation be-tween the public and police, highlighting the facts that

NAACP makes visit to NSUAntonio Garland

are less talked about.The event was presented

by NAACP president Rod-ney Greene, who talked about the different factors contributing to the con-troversy, including police

brutality, hip-hop and race. They compared recent cas-es, such as Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown.A few students, who were

present, believe police who exceed their mandate are not punished accordingly or receive proper mental treat-ment for shooting a suspect. They also feel black-on-black crime may play a con-tributing factor, feeling that cops won’t respect a race that doesn’t respect itself. It should be noted, murder rates are higher between people of the same race than from the police.Hip-hop is seen as a con-

tributing factor due to art-ists saying negative things about the police in their songs. It also becomes a fad to dislike authority figures.According to Greene, re-

cent studies showed that 52 percent of police brutality involves African-American men, 31 percent from Lati-nos, ten percent from Cau-casians and eight percent from others.Those who were present

spoke on how they felt about the relationship between the police and the public.“They’re supposed to pro-

tect and serve, they’re not supposed to overstep their boundaries,” said NSU alumna Ajani Hope.“I do believe the police are

people too,” said Ayo Kuti, a freshman electronics en-gineer major. “There are good cops and bad cops. We need to find good cops. We shouldn’t treat cops badly, which makes bad cops.”“I feel the way the police

have been treating the pub-

lic is wrong,” said Chris Goodman, a senior elec-tronic engineer major. “If they keep showing unjust behavior, how can we trust in them to protect the pub-lic?”Despite their recent recep-

tion, a huge contributing factor to police and civil-ian violence is how people react to the police when they’re approached. Peo-ple often become confron-tational, lashing out at po-lice in a verbally aggressive manner, which provokes officers to respond aggres-sively, making them seem like villains. People who act calm and do as officers ask make for a one sided ar-gument if police use exces-sive force.In the aftermath of cases involving police brutality, the Norfolk

State police department and Norfolk City police want to inform the Spartan community that not all police should be labeled as villains. Photo by Tykhari Coles

411.14.14Spartan SportS


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It has been reported that certain Seattle Seahawk players do not consider quarterback Russell Wil-son “black enough,” so it begs to ask the question: what exactly is “black enough”?This isn’t the first exam-

ple of something like this happening, especially in sports. Just last season, Miami Dolphin locker room rifts between Jon-athan Martin and Richie Incognito spilled into the public limelight. Martin, who is African-Ameri-can, left the team after it

What exactly is “black enough”?Jason Gill

was reported that he was continuously bullied—some of the bullying in-volving racial acts—by Incognito, who is white. Martin, who is Stanford educated and displays a high level of intellect, not only received little to no support from oth-er teammates, but was ostracized in the locker room because some con-sidered Incognito “more of a brother” than Mar-tin.These are just two ex-

amples that show that the African-American

community—particular-ly those with this mind-set—needs to grow up. Why treat people of your own race in a way you would consider racist if someone of another race aimed it toward you? This isn’t the case for

all African-Americans, but many feel as though educated African-Amer-icans who speak proper-ly are either not “black enough,” or consider them “acting white.”Little do many Afri-

can-Americans know that when they spew

such ridiculous state-ments, they are actually putting the white race on a pedestal, while degrad-ing their own race. What they are pretty much saying is that intellect, intelligence and prop-er speech belong only to the white race. What they’re saying is if you strive to be successful, you are “selling out” to your own race.There are so many

things wrong with this type of thinking; it only encourages downward deterioration rather than

upward growth.One could also question

whether or not the Af-rican-American race is ready to embrace success and the accolades that come along with it. Is the race ready to have a great number of individuals who are intellectual, ed-ucated, well-spoken and able to mingle or asso-ciate themselves among any other race, as well as they can with their own?“Street cred” should

never be the priority over success, but there are still too many people that have this mentality. Do they feel this way be-cause of what their peers would think, and not what they actually feel?It is debatable whether

or not this can be blamed on racism and the racial inequality in our society. One thing is for sure: African-Americans have the power to change this. There needs to be less finger pointing and more looking in the mirror.Guys like Russell Wil-

son or Jonathan Mar-tin should be celebrat-ed and not ostracized in NFL locker rooms and society. African-Amer-ican parents need to en-courage their children to adopt people like them as role models. A change in perception will ultimate-ly become a change in reality, and it starts in-side the home and works its way into the culture.

Football: 11/15 vs. North Carolina Central University11/22 @ South Carolina State Uni-versity

Men’s Basketball: 11/14 vs. Pfeiffer University11/16 @ University of Virginia11/19 vs. Boston University11/22 vs. Texas Southern

Women’s Basketball: 11/14 vs. Morehead State University11/18 @ Virginia Tech University11/20 @ Radford University11/23 vs. Hofstra University

Spartan Sports

511.14.14 Spartan SportS


In early October, Norfolk State University’s (NSU) Athletics Director, Marty L. Miller, announced the return of the historic La-bor Day Classic football games, where the Spar-tans will once again com-pete in two battles against CIAA rivals Elizabeth City State Vikings (ECSU) and the Virginia State Trojans (VSU).“I am excited to be able

to finalize arrangements to bring the Labor Day Classic back. It is one of our most festive weekends aside from homecoming,” said Miller.

NSU vs. VSU, Labor Day Classic scheduled to Return in 2016Kazahna Joyce

The long time rivalry be-tween the Spartans and the Trojans dates back to 1991, when NSU played VSU in the Labor Day Classic for the first time after gaining independence as an institu-tion from Virginia State in 1969.Much like the Battle of

the Bay football game played between NSU and Hampton University, the Labor Day Classic game became a tradition for NSU and VSU’s football teams, bands and fans. While in the CIAA, the

competition between the two teams was in VSU’s

favor. The Spartans then decided to part ways with the CIAA in 1996 and join the MEAC. NSU made the transition to a division-one program fairly well, gain-ing an edge over the Tro-jans. The most recent games between the two resulted in blowout wins for the Spartans, including the 37-3 win over VSU in 2011.NSU will also be compet-

ing against ECSU, whom they haven’t played since 1996, NSU’s last season in the CIAA.An average of 22,021 fans

attended the NSU vs. VSU

game in the past five meet-ings. Last season, NSU was only able to generate an av-erage attendance of 8,174 fans at home; now do you see why the return of the Labor Day Classic is such a big deal?“It hit me hard when a fan

made a statement to me about not knowing what else they were going to do Labor Day weekend af-ter the Labor Day Classic games had been cancelled,” said Miller.The Labor Day Classic

had been a part of the Spar-tan’s schedule every year from 1991-2009, and then

appeared on the schedule again from 2011-2012. Unfortunately, NCAA Bylaws prevented the Labor Day Classic from taking place the past two years. NCAA DII Bylaw 17.9.3

states, “A member institu-tion shall not play its first contest with outside com-petition before the Thurs-day preceding Sept. 6.”NSU football is sched-

uled to reunite with CIAA rivals on the gridiron Sept. 3, 2016 (ECSU), Sept. 2, 2017 and again on Sept. 1, 2018 (VSU).

Her team missed her dearly last season after posting a 12-16 record overall with a first round exit in the MEAC tour-nament. However, Ai-vah Parham’s return to the court just may propel the Lady Spartans into contention for the 2015 MEAC Championship.After tallying 34 points

and 12 rebounds against Morgan State toward the end of her junior season, she gave Spartan fans a flash of what was to be a stellar 2014 campaign. However, a torn right achilles tendon spelled disaster for the Balti-more native, forcing her to redshirt.Although she was un-

able to play, Parham contributed to the team in other ways. In practic-es and games she served as another leader on the

Parham poised for comeback seasonReginald Thomas

sideline and in the locker room, she helped to sus-tain team morale. “I can’t wait to be on the

floor with her. That’s my right hand man,” said se-nior guard Ebony Brown. Being the team’s cheer-

leader and assistant coach, Parham was able to strengthen bonds with her teammates, which helps team chemistry on and off the floor.With the departure of

the Lady Spartans’ all-time leading rebounder and last year’s second leading scorer Rachel Gordon, Parham can help solidify the front court. Her length and athleti-cism coupled with her knack for scoring and rebounding makes her a great addition to a team that loves to play an up-tempo brand of basket-ball.

Although it was tough, the time spent studying the game can help im-prove her 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds-per-game averages. “I expect us to win the

MEAC and anything short of that would be a failure, said Parham, whose senior leadership will be invaluable to this year’s relatively young team. She and last year’s leading scorer Rae Corbo provide a viable one-two punch. Parham had a strong

showing at this year’s Spartan Madness event, showing no signs of in-jury. She emerged from the tunnel during play-er introductions don-ning a smile symbolic of her pride and triumph through adversity. Her return to the hardwood is a testament to her dedi-

cation, perserverance, and love for the game.

Lady Spartan Aivah Parham practices for what she hopes to be her comeback season. Photo by Reginald Thomas

611.14.14Spartan LifeStyLe


SPARTAN ECHO | Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23504 | NEWSROOM: 757.823.8200 E-Mail: [email protected]

For many Spartans, intern-ships and volunteering are a big part of the college expe-rience. Whether it’s on cam-pus under the supervision of a department head, with a large company, or a local non-profit organization, in-ternships and volunteer op-portunities are available for all Norfolk State University students.“I’m currently doing vol-

unteer work at the Norfolk Stanhope House with a [mentoring] program called K.I.P. Care. [It is] for kids with incarcerated parents, ranging from elementa-ry school, to high school. I enjoy working with the kids; they look forward to us coming, helping them with their homework and just simply talking to them,” sophomore pre-nursing ma-jor Shantaysa Rias said.For some, interning or

Note to all Spartans: get out and volunteer, internRaisa Roxas

volunteering can be a ca-reer-affirming experience that motivates students in their educational journey. Internships and volunteer work can also open doors to exclusive opportunities for hard working students.“[I interned with the Envi-

ronmental Protection Agen-cy where we] analyzed dif-ferent water areas. [We went] up in a helicopter, dropped a tube down into the ocean and gathered water samples from different bodies of wa-ter. I actually got to go on the helicopter ride,” alumna and current biology professor Dr. Tonia Hermon said.Some internships may last a

summer, semester or a year. A highly sought-after op-portunity is finding a paid internship, which allows stu-dents to earn money while working under the direction of many knowledgeable ca-

reer professionals.“I was a ‘fish’s intern’ that

worked as an aquarist assis-tant at the Virginia Aquari-um. I also photographed and video recorded around the aquarium. Although it was unpaid, I enjoyed the expe-rience of an unfamiliar, but friendly working environ-ment,” senior biology major Terry Jernigan said.Some students are simply

unaware of the opportunities available to them. The best way to get an internship or volunteering opportunity is to be diligent in the search for the perfect experience. Using resources and speak-ing with the department heads is important in finding the right working opportuni-ty.“I’m interning in the sociol-

ogy department under Dr. Brisgone and Dr. Perkins. I run errands and [work on]

other related projects. I’m also a teacher’s assistant for my professor’s social sci-ence classes. I really enjoy it because of the field experi-ence and things I learn from my supervisors,” junior so-ciology major Terrion Smith said.Internships and volunteer-

ing provide many benefits

for both the organization and the student. For more information on

internships and volunteer opportunities offered by the university and how to apply for them, visit www.nsu.edu and search the Career Ser-vices homepage. You can also reach out to your de-partment head or advisor.

Interning and volunteering helps students explore the world of work in a profes-sional setting, clarify career objectives, develop a professional network, enhance their marketability, and gain relevant hands-on experience. Photo by Tykhari Coles

Many believe that holiday shopping is one of the best things about the season, oth-er than spending time with family and eating delicious

Be smart and safe while holiday shoppingMalaun House

foods. The day after Thanks-giving, Black Friday, is nor-mally when a lot of people begin their holiday shopping. “My family and I go out ev-

ery Black Friday and it is so much fun because we go to all the malls and stores and just shop until we can’t stay awake anymore,” freshman music major Anya Tisdale said. Some shoppers believe

that Black Friday is only a scam to get people to come out and spend their money. Many places have sales and discounts; however, the only items that seem to be marked down tremendously are elec-tronics. Places like Walmart, Target and Best Buy are usually flooded with people camping outside in line wait-ing for the doors to open. “Last year was my first year

going out after Thanksgiv-ing and it was ridiculous. I saw adults fighting over televisions and game sys-tems, people getting arrested for shoplifting and workers getting trampled after cut-ting back the caution tape that blocked certain aisles,” sophomore mass communi-cation major Jorden Alexan-der said. Must buys for this season

seem to be electronics such as the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. A lot of young people like to keep up with the lat-est electronics just as much as they like to keep up with the latest fashion. “This holiday I want clothes

and shoes more than any-thing. I already got the new iPhone when it came out in September. I know this sea-son leather is really in and layering your clothes too, so I want lots of blazers and jackets,” junior elementary education major Patricia Ne-blett said. While shopping or walk-

ing to the parking lot, many people are either robbed or attacked because they are not paying attention to their surroundings. When shop-ping during the holidays, always remain aware of all surroundings; shop smart and carefully.With Thanksgiving around the corner, Spartans will start their

holiday shopping soon after. Photo by Tykhari Coles

e d i t o r S

Jason GillEditor-in-Chief

DanielleKirshOnline/Managing Editor

Tykhari ColesMulti-mediaEditor

TrentonFouche’Entertain-ment Editor

MalaunHouseLifestyle Editor

711.14.14 Spartan LifeStyLe


Antonio GarlandNews Editor

It’s not too late to get involved with the Echo!

We meet every Tuesday and Thursday in room 344 at 12:30

pm. ALL majors welcome.

Kallie GouldGraphic Design/Layout Editor

Religion has and likely will always be a very con-troversial topic on college campuses across the nation. Many students have their own religion or belief system pri-or to attending college. The only question is: how many students actually remain con-

Spiritual wellness may be controversial on campusMalaun House

scious of their beliefs in the midst of college chaos and diversity?

“I could say that it is not easy being on a campus where the common practice is Christianity, but I’ve gone my whole life through schools and jobs where that was the case, so I am basically used to it. I think that no matter a person’s religion, whether it is majority or not, you should hold tight to your beliefs and not let anyone make you feel ashamed of it because it’s not what they practice,” senior early childhood education major Cleopatra El said.

Many universities offer different clubs and organiza-tions that support students’ spiritual and religious beliefs. There is also a Greek frater-nity named Alpha Nu Omega that was founded for those of

the Christian faith, and an-other non-Greek organization named Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship.

“I’m a Christian and I be-lieve in the Bible, but certain things are questionable...It is just a constant battle between my Christian self and my worldly self and I’m always trying to figure out where I truly stand with my religion,” junior English major Roshad McPherson said.

Though there is not many other organizations on cam-pus that focus on other re-ligions, students are always welcome to research informa-tion on how to start their own religious groups. The process of becoming an independent student organization may be strenuous, but it can allow students to incorporate their own ideas into actual groups

that can make a difference on campus.

“I wouldn’t mind starting a group for Muslims. I was not raised to practice the Muslim faith, but as I started to learn about it, I became interested...it would be cool if everyone with a common interest could come together for more than just Christianity,” sophomore biology major Andre Rober-son said.

Many people believe that being religious is the only method of obtaining spiritual wellness; however, some use meditation, prayer, dance, exercise or even writing in a journal for spiritual and per-sonal growth. There are many methods to practicing spiritual wellness on campus; students just have to find what best fits their personalities and beliefs.

With the different religions that students hold, there are a few fellowship organizations they can join or they can maintain their religious background from home. Photo by Tykhari Coles

NSU back on track, a letter from President MooreDear University Faculty, Staff

and Alumni, Earlier in the year during the

State of the University Address, I outlined several strategies that Norfolk State University must implement to forge onward as a quality institution of higher learning. I explicitly stated that everything we do at this institu-tion must be student-centered and geared toward the upward trajectory of this great institu-tion. As such, I am providing you with an update on where the University stands on our fi-nancial reporting requirements and fiscal stability. I am very pleased to report

that Norfolk State University has completed its financial au-dits for fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013. We also expect to have the fiscal year 2014 audit

completed by mid-December. This is a critical milestone for the University—especially when you reflect on the head-lines in news reports one year ago regarding our inability to complete financial audits on time and NSU being placed on warning by the regional accred-itor as a result. In 14 months, we have become current in our financial reporting require-ments and by Jan. 1, 2015, the University will have completed its fiscal year 2014 audit at least 5 months in advance. While this accomplishment is wor-thy of celebration, there is still much work to be done. We will continue on the path of having current financial statements and audits so that completion of fi-nancial audits are the norm. With regard to ensuring the

fiscal stability of the institution, we have produced a balanced budget, instituted a financial monitoring system, and signifi-cantly increased our fundraising efforts. In the past 14 months, a comprehensive budgeting pro-cess was implemented with the necessary staff training and op-portunities for providing input by all of our stakeholders. The financial staff and I conduct regular analysis of the budget to search for increased efficien-cies and ways to better serve our primary clients—the students. We have updated our policies and procedures and contin-ue to assess our performance. The University has raised more than $3.3 million in our I AM NSU campaign and expects to receive additional investments by year’s end. I am grateful for

your participation in this year’s campaign and ask for your con-tinued financial support.The upcoming months are

critical to our success as a Uni-versity. Our progress will be evaluated by the regional ac-creditor and if there are remain-ing items to address, we will do so. Irrespective of the outcome, Norfolk State University has made significant progress over the past 14 months and we will continue to work diligent-ly to ensure the success of this institution. I ask that you help us by sharing the wonderful things happening at Norfolk State University with others and encourage your friends and family to become a part of the Spartan family. Forging Onward, Eddie N. Moore, Jr. Interim President and CEO

811.14.14Spartan entertainment


Provocative and witty, “Dear White People” is a satirical independent film from director Justin Simien that covers the subject of race in America’s perceived “post-racial” society.

The film takes place at the fictional Ivy League institu-tion of Winchester Univer-sity through the perspective of four African-American students, Sam White (Tessa Thompson), an assertive ra-

Dear White People a satirical film on race in AmericaChantelle Polite

dio DJ and extroverted rad-ical, Lionel Higgins (Tyler James Williams), an aspiring journalist who happens to be gay, Troy Fairbanks (Brandon P. Bell), the son of the Dean of Student Affairs and Colan-drea Conners (Teyonah Par-ris), a fiery, high maintenance diva from Chicago.

Simien’s impression of America’s “post-racial” so-ciety can easily be compared to that of director Spike Lee’s

early 90’s films and his ap-proach on bringing aware-ness to racial issues between white and minority cultures. Simien portrays this through the film’s sparkling dialogue, for which he won the Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

The film gets its title from the radio show Sam White hosts titled “Dear White Peo-ple.” The movie immediately displays its satire as White states over the radio, “Dear white people, the amount of black friends required to not seem racist has just been

raised to two. Sorry, your weed man Tyrone doesn’t count,” continuing on about other black and white para-doxes, such as the touching of a black person’s hair by a white person in utter fascina-tion being unacceptable.

“Dear White People” is in no way a perfect film; how-ever, it does an excellent job of portraying privileged youth in a college setting. Although the topic at hand is literal rac-ism, each student is portrayed to be working toward a relat-able goal: fitting in.

Each character in the film has their own independent

goals when it comes to finding themselves, but come togeth-er richly to ignite the flame that is Simien’s voice on ra-cial issues. Tessa Thompson’s character of Sam White por-trays this through her char-acters radical behavior and wordy dialogue each time she gives a lengthy, opinionated conversation.

As an independent film, “Dear White People” certain-ly had its flaws, but for a film that modernizes the portrayal of social issues of America’s youth, it certainly is a must-see film.

NSU Theater kicked off its fall season with an im-pressive showing. Paying homage to a legendary icon, “A Special Musical Trib-ute to Whitney Houston” gave fans of the late singer a chance to relive her lega-cy. Performing some of her biggest hits throughout her illustrious career, the show’s star, Desire’ Gaston, gave a remarkable performance.“It was really good. I can

honestly say I didn’t expect it to be such a great perfor-mance,” said junior sociolo-gy major Kevin Ealey. “I’m glad I went.”The show, directed by Dr.

Stockard, brought life into a program that had been deeply impacted by the sud-den death of its previous director, Dr. Murray. After completing his fifth year as an associate professor at Alabama State University, Stockard made the move to NSU to replace Murray.“I made a visit to Norfolk

NSU Theater pays tribute to Whitney HoustonTrenton Fouche’

NSU pays tribute to Whitney Houston. Photo from www.insta-gram.com/nsutheatre

State before I considered coming and when I got here, I enjoyed the campus,” said Stockard. “I saw potential to build a stronger theater pro-gram.” Senior nursing major Cora-

sha Dent, who played Whit-ney Houston’s mother in the tribute, expressed her plea-sure with the show and the theater’s program.“I was very excited,” said

Dent. “When I made the de-cision to get involved with

NSU Theater in fall 2011, it was one of the best colle-giate decisions I ever made. Whitney was great, we all did well.” “A Special Tribute to Whit-

ney Houston” is the first of many exciting shows set for the fall 2014 and spring 2015 seasons. NSU also plans to premiere its renditions of “A Raisin in the Sun,” “For Colored Girls” and “Dream-girls.”

“Gone Girl” is art and en-tertainment, a thriller and an issue, and a spookily assured audience picture. It is also a film that shifts emphasis and perspective so many times that you may feel as though you’re watching five short movies laced together, each transforming into the next.At first, “Gone Girl” seems

to tell the story of a man who might or might not have killed someone and is so closed off and alien-ating that even people who believe in his innocence can’t help but wonder. His name is Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck). He’s a college professor and a blocked writer. His unhappy wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) dis-appears one day, prompting local cops to open a missing person’s case that becomes a murder investigation af-ter three days pass without word from her.Amy and Nick seemed

like a happy couple, but were things ever really all that sunny? If they weren’t, which spouse was the main

source of bitterness? Can we trust what Nick tells the homicide detectives (Kim Dickens and Patrick Fugit) who investigate Amy’s case? Can we trust what Amy tells us, via her diary? Are they both lying? The film raises these questions and others, and the movie answers near-ly all of them, frequently in boldface, all-caps sentences that end with shouting.In my opinion, “Gone

Girl” is the best film of the year so far. It is complex, it is creepy, it is ironic and it is some of Fincher’s best work. His film tells the nightmare story of Nick and Amy Dunne, a fairy-tale couple whose marriage has soured into a thickened stew of resentment, hostility and possibly murder. This movie balanced beautiful writing, breathless pacing and set up plot twists that landed with a sucker punch. Anyone who loved “Gone Girl” the book will walk out of “Gone Girl” the movie with a sick grin on his or her face. It is a “must see” film.

Gone Girl: Best film of the year…so far

Briana Stanley

62.5 spartan echo

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