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THIS WEEK’S ISSUE MONTGOMERY, Ala., The Alabama State University women’s Hornet team made it look easy when they routed the South- ern University women’s Jaguars at home, Feb. 20. Hornet guard Danielle Gazaway, who had 13 points, started ... READ MORE In the three months since Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion Jr. died following an alleged hazing inci- dent in Orlando, Fla., investigators say they have interviewed 35 people. ... READ MORE THE HORNET TRIBUNE
Citation preview
HE HORNET
RIBUNETHE HORNET
Martin Luther King Jr.
The official student newspaper of Alabama State UniversityVOL. 52, ISSUE 9 FEB. 25, 2012
I N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D ESPORTSSPORTSSPORTSSPORTSSPORTS
Hornet defense
stops Lady Jags
UNIVERSITY NEWS A2HORIZONS B1VIEWPOINTS C1SPORTS D1
THIS WEEK’S ISSUE
MONTGOMERY, Ala., The
Alabama State University
women’s Hornet team made it look
easy when they routed the South-
ern University women’s Jaguars at
home, Feb. 20.
Hornet guard Danielle
Gazaway, who had 13 points,
started ... READ MORE
PAGE D1
See SPEAKSPEAKSPEAKSPEAKSPEAK on page A2A2A2A2A2
HORIZONSHORIZONSHORIZONSHORIZONSHORIZONS
PAGE B1
In the three months since
Florida A&M University drum
major Robert Champion Jr. died
following an alleged hazing inci-
dent in Orlando, Fla., investigators
say they have interviewed 35
people. ... READ MORE
Probe into drum
major’s death
continues
HORIZONSHORIZONSHORIZONSHORIZONSHORIZONS
PAGEB1
WINDERMERE, Fla. (AP) —
Reveling in his sporting element,
President Barack Obama waded
into the oversized embrace of some
of the biggest names in profes-
sional basketball Thursday, raising
money from current and former
NBA greats ... READ MORE
Obama raises
cash with NBA
celebrities
by Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana EdwardsEXECUTIVE EDITOR
SGA VP RESIGNSSGA VP RESIGNSSGA VP RESIGNSSGA VP RESIGNSSGA VP RESIGNS
Mary Ann Shadd Cary is not
a household name, not like Rosa
Parks or Harriet Tubman. But her
story is compelling, nevertheless,
and needed to be told during
Black History Month, which fo-
cused on women.
Alabama State University
Yearbook Coordinator Kirsten
Barnes researched Cary while in
college and became inspired by
her. Barnes spoke at the Ida B.
Wells Lecture Series on Feb. 23,
to share the story of North
America’s first black female
newspaper publisher and lawyer.
According to Barnes, Cary
was a free black woman living in
Delaware in 1823 who lived next
door to slave owners.
“She only lived 69 years, but
in the 69 years that she lived, she
was the first newspaper publisher,”
Barnes said. “She was the first
black female to vote in a national
election, and she was the second
black female to graduate from
Harvard University Law School.”
Barnes said what fascinated
her most about Cary was that she
was able to start a pretty success-
ful, large, internationally circulated
paper long before there was any
journalism education or journal-
ism training.
Barnes described Cary’s
childhood education.
“Growing up, throughout her
childhood, she would see her par-
ents risking their lives to hide and
to transport slaves out of Dela-
ware, into Philadelphia, and New
Bill Valdez, principal deputy
and acting director of the Office of
Economic Impact and Diversity at
the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE), will deliver a keynote ad-
dress during ASU’s national His-
Dept. of Energy Administrator to speak at HBCU Conference
torically Black Colleges and Uni-
versities (HBCU) conference.
A 17-year DOE veteran,
Valdez plays a pivotal role in set-
ting the trategic direction for the
Department’s diversity, minority
education, civil rights and small
business initiatives and activities.
He also helps develop corpo-
rate funding strategies for minor-
ity institutions and addresses the
growing need for a diverse, tal-
ented workforce in science-related
fields through workforce develop-
ment initiatives, internships,
traineeships, fellowships and other
partnership activities.
Valdez will address the confer-
ence on Wednesday, March 7.
This is the second year ASU
has hosted the conference and the
second year that Data Solutions &
Technology Incorporated (DST)
has coordinated the event.
Tammi Thomas, vice president
for strategic management at DST,
said conference participants will
gain valuable information from
by Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana EdwardsEXECUTIVE EDITOR
STAFF REPORTSTAFF REPORTSTAFF REPORTSTAFF REPORTSTAFF REPORTTHE HORNET TRIBUNE
McCall is replaced by Laffitte, no special election planned
Barnes uses the life of blackBarnes uses the life of blackBarnes uses the life of blackBarnes uses the life of blackBarnes uses the life of blackpioneer journalist to inspirepioneer journalist to inspirepioneer journalist to inspirepioneer journalist to inspirepioneer journalist to inspire
See RESIGNSRESIGNSRESIGNSRESIGNSRESIGNS on page A2A2A2A2A2
See INSPIREINSPIREINSPIREINSPIREINSPIRE on page A2A2A2A2A2
“Whatever you do, strive to do it so well that no man living and no mandead and no man yet to be born could do it any better.”
Student Government Associa-
tion Vice President Dorien McCall
resigned from his office on Feb. 14.
And while many students are
surprised by the news of his resig-
nation, McCall does not hesitate to
provide clarity.
“I have a lot of personal issues
that I’ve been dealing with and I
just felt like I needed to resign to
help resolve those issues,” McCall
said. “They’re ongoing issues
since I first took office. ... It was
personal stress and personal issues,
things like that ...”
According to the SGA Consti-
tution, all executive branch mem-
bers must
remain in
good aca-
d e m i c
(maintain a
2.7 GPA), fi-
n a n c i a l
(must not
owe the uni-
versity), and
social stand-
ing (must not violate any student
policies) with the university in or-
der to maintain their positions.
McCall’s duties as vice presi-
dent included assuming powers
and duties of the President upon the
President’s absence, co-signing
vouchers for expenditures when the
SGA president or treasurer is un-
able to fulfill that obligation, assist
President in general policy and ad-
ministration of Executive Branch,
assist in preparation of the SGA
annual budget.
Since resigning, McCall has
also lightened his load by decreas-
ing or ending participation in other
organizations.
“I am no longer a Golden Am-
bassador and the only position I
hold in Alpha Phi Alpha is the di-
rector of educational activities
where the only thing I have to do
now is to do events that correlate
to our national programs like a
voter registration drive. I might be
asked to put on one of those or a
health forum.
He continued.
“In Alpha Kappa Psi Profes-
sional Business Fraternity I am no
longer the professional committee
chairman. I stepped down from that
as well. I am just the warden. The
only thing the warden does is con-
trol the chapter meetings. So I am
not as heavily involved like I was
because of my personal issues that
I’ve been going through.”
According to the SGA Consti-
tution, the SGA vice president re-
ceives a benefit package of tuition,
Students baffled
by the lack of
publicity about
VP’s resignation
by Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana EdwardsEXECUTIVE EDITOR
Almost two weeks after the
Student Government Association
Vice President Dorien McCall re-
signed his office, students who at-
tend Alabama State University are
stunned by the lack of publicity and
lack of press that this resignation
has garnered.
Some students believe the SGA
should have informed students
about the resignation.
Senior Terrell Williamson, a
computer information systems
major, believes the SGA should
have informed the students.
“I feel they should have told us
about the vice president, why we
have a new one, what was the rea-
son we have a new one?”
Williamson said. “I mean at the
end of the day I feel they should
have told us ... To me, it’s almost
like us getting a new President of
the United States and nobody not
knowing. ”
Junior marketing major Ed-
ward Travis, agrees.
“I feel like they are not in-
forming us as students enough to
let us know who is holding what
chair,” Travis said. “That’s how I
feel. I mean, it’s been like that for
a long time.”
Sophomore biology major
Corey Tatum would have liked to
be informed.
“I feel like I should be more
involved or I should have known
at least that we have a new vice
president,” Tatum said.
Sharanna Polk, editorial man-
aging editor for The Hornet Tri-
bune, explained why the press
failed to inform the students.
“We did not know,” Polk said.
“How could we have known when
Photo by Christopher Logan/Visual Media Managing Editor
Publisher of the Black Belt Connection and Yearbook Coordinator Kirsten Barnes recounts the pioneering
spirit of Mary Ann Shadd Cary, one of the first black female journalists and lawyers to affect change in the U. S.
See BAFFLEDBAFFLEDBAFFLEDBAFFLEDBAFFLED on page A2A2A2A2A2
Photo by Christopher Logan/Visual Media Managing Editor
Students, faculty and friends listen intently during the Ida B. Wells Lecture.
as Barnes explains various facets of Mary Ann Shadd Cary’s life.
Dorien McCall
The Official Student Newspaper of Alabama State University
88th Year of Publication
Editorial LeadershipThe Hornet Tribune Editorial Leadership Team is the decision-making body for TheHornet Tribune operations and policies. The Hornet Tribune Editorial Leadership Teammeets weekly at 3:30 p.m. on Sundays. Unscheduled meetings may also be called bythe faculty/staff adviser or executive editor if special problems or issues arise.
Editorial BoardThe Hornet Tribune Editorial Board determines the content of The Hornet Tribune. AllEditorial Board members will vote on issues such as editorial policy-making decisionsor editorial procedures when the need arises. A majority vote determines the decision.The faculty adviser will not vote, but may disagree and make suggestions or comments.Concerning the publication of controversial issues, the Editorial Board will discuss andvote on the approach to be taken. A majority vote will be the deciding factor. Theadviser may veto the decision, but the Board may overrule with a unanimous vote. TheBoard meets every Sunday at 5 p.m.
General PolicyThe Hornet Tribune is a 12-16-page newspaper produced by The Hornet Tribune staff.The entire student body, the primary audience of readers, receives the newspaper freeof charge to encourage readership and to ensure the showcasing of our journalisticwork. Our secondary audience includes faculty, local community and other collegiatenewspaper staffs throughout the country.
The newspaper attempts to inform and entertain its audience in a broad, fair and accuratemanner on all subjects that affect readers. The medium seeks also to provide a forumfor the opinion of students, the staff of The Hornet Tribune and the faculty to encouragean exchange of ideas and opinions on issues of prominence to the readers.
While the staff will allow constructive criticism of any part of The Hornet Tribune afterpublication, final authority for content of The Hornet Tribune rests solely in the hands ofthe staff, with the chief editor making the final decision.
Letters PolicyThe Hornet Tribune encourages letters as they constitute a constructive avenue forstudent opinion, but the writer must sign the letter to be considered for publication. Dueto space limitations, not all letters can be published, and the Editorial Board reservesthe right to edit all letters for appropriate placement in the newspaper as long as themeaning and intention of the letter remains clear and unchanged.
Although the staff writes the majority of the articles appearing on the paper, guestcommentaries and stories may be included if the staff feels it enhances coverage of aunique topic. Trivia such as gossip columns, song dedications and student best/worstwill be avoided due to the narrow audience they serve and the probability of libelousmaterial.
No material, opinionated or otherwise, will be printed which is libelous, irresponsible,advocates an illegal activity or which the chief editor and/or the adviser deems in poortaste.
Editorial PolicySeveral editorials will appear regularly in each issue. Stands taken in the main editorialwill represent the opinions of the staff and will not be bylined. All other articles receivea byline. Other opinion pieces, including those differing with the editorial, will be handledthrough cross-point columns, editor’s columns, feature columns, letters-to-the editor,exchange columns, student opinion photo forums and entertainment reviews.
Corrections and Clarifications PolicyIf the staff discovers, from any source, that a mistake bypassed the editors, acorrection of major errors will be printed upon request in the next issue in the sectionin which the mistake appeared.
Obituary PolicyShould a student or faculty member die any time during the current coverage period,the staff will treat the death in a tasteful, respectful manner. An obituary, with theindividual’s name, school activities, date of birth, date and manner of death (if appropriate)and any other pertinent information, shall appear in the news section. No mug shot willbe used. This sensitive treatment will provide an adequate remembrance of the individualfor those closely associated, while not overemphasizing it for other readers.
Feb. 19-25, 2012PAGE A2 The Hornet Tribune UNIVERSITY NEWS
CONTACT US
PHONE: (334) 229-4273 FAX: (334) 229-4165
ADDRESS: The Hornet Tribune,Alabama State University,
915 South Jackson Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104
OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
HE HORNET
RIBUNETHE HORNET
Valdez’s wealth of experi-
ence.
“Mr. Valdez has exten-
sive expertise in workforce
development, budget plan-
ning and diversity. We are
very excited that he is par-
ticipating in the HBCU con-
ference,” Thomas said.
This year’s conference
theme is “Entrepreneurship:
Transforming Education,
Government and Industry.”
Participants from fed-
eral, state and local agen-
cies, corporations, small
businesses, nonprofit orga-
nizations, colleges and the
public are expected to at-
tend the conference.
To register for the sec-
ond annual HBCU Confer-
ence or for additional infor-
mation, visit the conference
website at www.asu-
hbcu.org or watch for up-
dates on Twitter and
Facebook.
SpeakSpeakSpeakSpeakSpeak: : : : : “Mr. Valdez has expertisein workforce development, ...”Continued from A1
housing, board, and custom-
arily a 20-hour work con-
tract.
According to McCall he
did receive the benefit pack-
age, and he does not have to
reimburse the university.
To fill the vacancy, SGA
President Travis Smith ap-
pointed Sen. Aijah Laffitte
who had previously served as
senate pro tempore.
McCall reinforced that
Laffitte was chosen by order
of succession. The order of
succession that McCall ref-
erenced is in Article IV, Sec-
tion 9.
“Travis did not just go
and pick a random person,”
McCall said. “He (Laffitte)
was actually next in line from
the way the government is set
up. He was the Senate Pro
Tempore and being that he
was the Senate Pro Tempore
of the Senate, he was next in
line to the vice presidency in
the order of succession that’s
outlined in the Senate by-
laws. I’m sure some people
thought Travis appointed him
because of him being in Al-
pha Kappa Psi or him being
an Alpha line brother, but it
had nothing to do with that,
it was because he was the
next person in line in the or-
der of succession.”
SGA Adviser Stanley
Giles believes Lafitte is a
good choice.
“I think he shows some
promise,” Giles said. “He
has definitely been active in
the Senate. He shows some
leadership qualities. Mr.
Smith felt that he was right
for the job. I just expect him
to hold the ship steady until
the semester ends to ensure
the accountability of sena-
tors.”
McCall agreed.
“I’m pretty comfortable
with it (Lafitte’s selection)
because of his experience in
the Senate,” McCall said.
“The vice president’s main
job is to supervise the sen-
ate. As we all know accord-
ing to our pursuance of or-
der, the only thing the vice
president pretty much can do
in chambers is run the meet-
ing and A.J., being active in
the Senate, I think for the last
two or three years, he pretty
much knows how it’s sup-
posed to go. He is very well
versed in Robert’s Rules of
Order. He has fostered many
bills in the Senate this year
and last year. So I feel very
comfortable with him and his
abilities to run the Senate and
to represent the school as the
vice president. He’ll do a
pretty good job.”
SGA President Travis
Smith refused to comment on
the situation.
Resigns: Resigns: Resigns: Resigns: Resigns: “Travis did not just go and pick a random person. He was ...”Continued from page A1
InspireInspireInspireInspireInspire: : : : : “Her papers and Frederick Douglass’ papers were the only ...”
York, and on to Canada,”
Barnes said. “Although Mary
Ann had not been to school,
as of age 10 she could al-
ready read and write. So it
like she was being home-
schooled.
Barnes continued.
“Later, when the family
moved to Pennsylvania,
Mary Ann attended a board-
ing school for six years,”
Barnes said, “but, it seems
like it was equivalent to high
school and maybe a little col-
lege, because at the age of 16,
Mary Ann Shadd Cary re-
turned to Delaware and
started her own school for
Negro children.”
Cary’s father, a shoe-
maker who traveled through-
out the U.S., was a conduc-
tor of the Underground Rail-
road.
Barnes emphasized that
Cary believed, even in her
late 20s, that there would
never be equality in America
because the taint of slavery
would be so strong. Cary ad-
vocated that people, espe-
cially slaves, should leave
the United States and go to
Canada.
In 1851, Cary went to
Canada and in 1852 she pub-
lished a 40-page pamphlet
that told black people every-
thing they needed to know
about moving to Canada.
The pamphlet included
laws so that according to
Barnes, “people would see
that it was illegal to have
slaves in Canada.”
She talked about climate,
jobs, and areas where people
were needed, and even what
type of plants were being
grown there.”
She published a book
called “Voice from Harper’s
Ferry.”
“Her papers and
Frederick Douglass’ papers
were the only venues that
black people had to tell what
they thought about slavery
and why it should end…”
Barnes said. “They were do-
ing this because the people
that were pro-slavery were
romanticizing slavery and
making it seem normal. So
they felt that they had to be
graphic, they had to tell the
truth.”
When Cary went to
Canada she saw some things
she didn’t agree with.
Blacks lived in refugee
reservations. She did not
agree with any type of segre-
gation. She didn’t think that
the free slaves who stayed
together in Canada should
stay in a pack because they
didn’t know anything about
what other people knew
which made them easily
taken advantage of. She
wanted them to immediately
integrate.
“She was ahead of her
time,” Barnes said. She al-
ready knew things that we are
still struggling with today.”
Cary began writing for a
newspaper, and after observ-
ing inner problems of theft,
manipulation, and beatings
by blacks on blacks, she then
decided to create her own
newspaper.
That’s when she decided
to start the “Provincial Free-
man.”
Barnes, who started her
own publication, the Black
Belt Connection, took inspi-
ration from Cary’s example.
“I said to myself,
‘Kirsten, if Mary Ann Shadd
Cary could do this and make
a way in 1853 with no for-
mal education, then you can
do it.’”
Cary went to law school
and graduated at the age of
60. She then focused her en-
ergy on Women’s Rights. In
1893 she became ill and died
a few months short of her
70th birthday.
“Journalism is not about
necessarily becoming rich,”
Barnes said. “It’s about
fighting for truth, you know,
being on the right side, let-
ting other voices be told.
Mary Ann Shadd Cary saw
a void, and she wanted to fill
it with stories. History
teaches us a lot about who
we are, and I just encourage
young students to be life-
long learners like Mary Ann
Shadd Cary. I am embarking
on a new educational ven-
ture, and I am excited about
learning, I am excited about
finding out about great
people who were before me,
like Mary Ann Shadd Cary.”
Students had positive re-
actions to Barnes’ lecture.
Recording technology
major and sophomore
Shaundrea Mason felt the
message was uplifting.
“I thought it was really
empowering to learn about
people that I really didn’t
know anything about,” Ma-
son said. “She seemed to be
passionate about what she
was talking about and I re-
ally enjoyed listening to her
speak … I thought she (Cary)
was a strong African Ameri-
can woman. I enjoyed learn-
ing that she was really an in-
dependent woman, like she
ended up going to Canada by
herself. That doesn’t really
happen these days. It’s like a
woman can’t really go any-
where without a man with-
out feeling afraid, so I
thought that it was really
cool.”
First-year student Justin
Mitchell enjoyed it as well.
“I thought it was a good
presentation, and it really
reached out to people who
aspire to be journalists and
want go into things like this
and public relations,” he said.
Junior Aiquetta
Castleberry, a communica-
tions major, wants her peers
to take something from the
experience.
“I think it was very nice
and interesting,” Castleberry
said. “ More individuals
should want to broaden their
horizons and work harder for
the younger generation.”
Continued from page A1
no tells us anything. Our
job is to tell the students, but
when no one will speak to
us, what can we do? Since
a newsletter did come out,
it would seem to me that
they (SGA) would mention
that vital aspect, because by
that time, we had heard the
rumors, but we were not
sure as to whether they were
true or not.
She continued.
“It was not until I cov-
ered the senate meeting on
BaffledBaffledBaffledBaffledBaffled: : : : : “It was not until I coveredthe senate meeting on Feb. 22 ...”Continued from A1
Black women and their
respective hairstyles gener-
ated a number of views from
both faculty and students
during a “Black Women and
Hair” forum held Feb. 22 in
the Life Sciences Audito-
rium.
The forum panel in-
cluded Gladys Lyles-Gray,
PhD, and Brenda Marshall,
PhD, both professors of so-
ciology at Alabama State
University. Local beauticians
Maryann Snap and Erica
Bufford also shared some of
their expertise on the subject
of black hair.
Gray spoke about 1970s-
era black activist and educa-
tor Angela Davis and how
her full Afro hairstyle was a
political statement; she com-
pared it to today’s hairstyles
which are more of a fashion
statement or trend.
“We have a generation of
black women who can’t
swim because they don’t
want to get their hair wet,”
she said.
Gray used her class as a
small focus group. She asked
them if they had, or are cur-
rently having, any problems
with their hair. Though an-
swers varied, there was a re-
curring theme of nappy hair
being “bad hair.” A number
of the students had desired
longer hair when they were
children. Gray even had a
student say that she changed
her hair every 10 days to re-
flect her love of change.
Marshall added that there
seemed to be a stigma about
certain hairstyles.
“Many people feared
dreadlocks because of their
associations with the
Rastafarian culture,”
Marshall said.
As a sociologist, he
added that society exerts
control that affects the way
some women wear their hair.
The social control has be-
come so apparent that even
President Barack Obama’s
daughter Maliya was criti-
cized for wearing her hair in
a twist while on vacation in
Hawaii. Critics said that “she
was not fit to represent the
country.”
Marshall emphasized the
many things that influence
the way some women wear
their hair. Goods and ser-
vices, accessibility, transpor-
tation and money are all de-
ciding factors when deter-
mining hairstyles. Hairstyl-
ist from the community were
also called upon to comment
on black hair.
Snap, a Montgomery/At-
lanta beautician offered one
piece of advice to dispel ste-
reotypes in the black com-
munity.
“Good hair is healthy
hair, no matter kinky, straight
or curly,” Snap said.
Bufford added that to
keep your hair up, it’s going
to cost. “You’re going to
spend money whether you
have natural or chemically
treated hair.”
First-year student Toya
Carter enjoyed the show.
“The forum was ex-
tremely informative,” Carter
said, “and gave a deep look
into black hair from the per-
spective of history and cul-
ture.”
Panel discusses black women and hairstylesby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwards
EXECUTIVE [email protected]
Feb. 22 that I knew some-
thing had changed because
someone else was presiding
over the meeting and there
was no mention of
McCall’s absence.”
Transferring sopho-
more and computer infor-
mation system major
Cornelius Warmack sur-
prised by the resignation.
“I’m shocked, because
I used to see him every time
I go into the SGA building
so what happened?”
Warmack said.
The Hornet Tribune is the official student newspaper of Alabama State
University and is printed once weekly on Fridays. The opinions of The Hornet
Tribune editorial board do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the university
and serve as expressions of fact and opinions of interest. Letters to the editor
may be submitted. Limit letters to 300 hundred words. They may be edited for
space and will be edited for grammar and spelling. Letters and columns
containing libelous and malicious statements will not be published. For
identification purpose, all letters must include the writer’s full name address
and telephone number. Once submitted, all letters and columns become the
property of The Hornet Tribune.
CORRECTIONSThe Hornet Tribune Staff sincerely apologizes to Carisma “Billy” Mitchell for the
errors that were made in last week’s edition.
The article in the Sports section, titled “Hornet too much for Alcorn State Braves” should have
been titled, “Hornets too much for Alcorn State Braves”. Credit for reporting and writing the
article was given to LaShaunda Glass. Instead, credit should have been given to
Carisma “Billy” Mitchell.
The article in the Sports section, titled “Hornets lose game opener” was not credited for the
reporting and writing. Credit for reporting and writing the article should have been given to
Carisma “Billy” Mitchell.
B1
Feb. 25, 2012
ORIZONSCONTACT US: Horizons Editor/[email protected] (334) 229-4273
HRIBUNETHE HORNETHE HORNET
BLocal NewsState News
National NewsInternational News
TALLAHASSEE (AP)
In the three months since
Florida A&M University
drum major Robert Cham-
pion Jr. died following an al-
leged hazing incident in Or-
lando, Florida, investigators
say they have interviewed 35
people. Still no charges have
been filed, and no arrests
have been made.
Champion, one of six
drum majors for FAMU’s
famed Marching 100 band,
died following his participa-
tion in a ritual on a bus called
“Crossing the C Bus.” Some
who were on the bus have
also indicated that Champion
may have been involved in
another ritual called “Hot
Seat.”
In response to a request
for information from
BlackAmericaWeb.com, a
spokeswoman for the Orange
County Sheriff Department
maintained that the case still
WHITE PLAINS, NEW
YORK (AP) The son of a re-
tired corrections officer and
Marine Corps veteran has
signaled his intention to sue
the White Plains (N.Y.) De-
partment of Public Safety, al-
leging two white police of-
ficers committed a hate
crime during an emergency
response call that resulted in
NEWARK (AP)
Through the prism of a
stately red brick Newark
church on Saturday, celeb-
rities stood with plain folk
as united spirits soared and
collective tears fell while
they – and the world – said
goodbye to Whitney Hous-
ton.
The highly anticipated
and thoroughly intimate fu-
neral started with the foot-
stomping harmonies of the
New Hope Baptist Church
and New Jersey mass
choirs and continued non-
stop with words and song
of praise and faith for
nearly four hours.
“We’re here today,
hearts broken,” said the
Rev. Joseph Carter, New
Hope Baptist pastor, as he
opened the service. “Yet with
God’s strength, we celebrate
the life of Whitney Houston
today.”
And the masses came to
celebrate it.
Fans sojourned to the
site, some from around the
corner, others from across the
country, while others still
traveled from other parts of
the globe to say farewell.
They, like the immense clus-
ter of media assigned to
cover the story, were kept
contained by a police-en-
forced perimeter. A pool
camera fed the footage from
inside.
Most watched from afar
Son to sue police after man killed in his home
Whitney Houston hasWhitney Houston hasWhitney Houston hasWhitney Houston hasWhitney Houston hasfour-hour homegoingfour-hour homegoingfour-hour homegoingfour-hour homegoingfour-hour homegoing
Probe into FAMU drum
major’s death continues
as attendees pulled up to
Houston’s childhood church
at 106 Sussex Avenue to pay
their final respects to the
woman that was family and
friend to many.
The luminaries were nu-
merous, from music royalty
such as Stevie Wonder and
mega-producer L.A. Reid to
TV mogul Oprah Winfrey to
Hollywood icon Kevin
Costner and politicians such
as New Jersey Gov. Chris
Christie and Newark Mayor
Cory Booker.
Mary J. Blige and
Mariah Carey also were
among the many spotted
leaving limos and slipping
into the church. Clive Davis,
former head of the now-de-
funct Arista Records and
Houston’s “industry fa-
ther,” also was there and
among the speakers.
But nestled firmly in
the 1,500-capacity service
were the men, women and
children who knew and
loved Houston since she
was “Nippy,” gospel legend
Cissy Houston’s baby girl.
Dionne Warwick and
Houston’s sister-in-law,
Pat, represented the family
during the day.
Not surprisingly, music
rose to the rafters through-
out the afternoon, from the
cream-and-white clad mass
choir to the teeming list of
HUNTSVILLE, Ala-
bama — Alabama A&M
University President Dr. An-
drew Hugine may soon get a
contract extension despite
efforts by students Friday to
undermine his standing at the
school.
The board of trustees at
Friday’s meeting announced
intentions to start negotia-
tions with Hugine after get-
ting a rating of “more than
satisfactory” from the trust-
ees’ presidential review com-
mittee.
Earlier in the meeting,
however, Student Govern-
ment Association President
Andrew Foster said he had a
petition from students ex-
pressing “no confidence” in
the A&M administration.
Foster spoke for more than
20 minutes about issues and
AAMU President Hugine may receive contract extension
concerns he had about the
school, touching off a ten-
sion-packed discussion that
lasted more than an hour.
Despite those issues,
however, the board of trust-
ees confirmed its confidence
in Hugine by initiating talks
to extend his contract that
doesn’t expire for more than
a year.
“The significance of
what that is, is to deliver the
message to our stakeholder
community that this board is
lockstep behind this admin-
istration,” said Odysseus
Lanier, president pro tem of
the board of trustees. “We
feel like this administration
can take us into the future.”
Alabama A&M has en-
dured a nearly year-long in-
quiry by its accrediting
agency, the Southern Asso-
ciation of Colleges and
Schools, under Hugine’s
watch as well as worsening
conditions for state funding.
Hugine was hired in June
2009 and his contract, worth
almost $400,000 annually,
expires in June 2013.
“I’m quite pleased,”
Hugine said. “I think in the
period we’ve been here, with
the team we’ve assembled,
we’ve done a tremendous
job. There have been chal-
lenges but we have success-
fully met those challenges.”
Hugine’s tenure at Ala-
bama A&M has the potential
to be among the longest in
recent school history. As-
suming additional years be-
yond the current four-year
contract, Hugine could be the
second-longest serving presi-
dent at A&M since 1984
when Richard Morrison
completed a 22-year term.
Since then, John Gibson
has the longest tenure —
serving from 1996-2005.
“We need to have stabil-
ity at this institution,” Lanier
said. “Stability sends a sig-
nificant message to the stake-
holders of the community
that we’re not going to be
flipping presidents like folks
flip houses. We’re not going
to do that.
“We’re recognizing what
he has done in some turbu-
lent times and now that this
turbulence is subsiding, giv-
ing him the opportunity to
is active and said detectives
are being thorough.
“Detectives are being as
thorough in their work as
they possibly can in order to
charge and successfully
reach a conviction for those
responsible for the death of
Mr. Champion,” Ginette
Rodriguez told
BlackAmericaWeb.com.
Investigators have been
interviewing people who
Delighted Obama raises
cash with NBA celebritiesWINDERMERE, Fla.
(AP) — Reveling in his
sporting element, President
Barack Obama waded into
the oversize embrace of
some of the biggest names in
professional basketball
Thursday, raising money
from current and former
NBA greats and an intimate
group of supporters drawn to
this weekend’s All-Star game
in nearby Orlando.
Obama indulged his
NBA habit at the home of
Dallas Mavericks guard
Vince Carter where about 70
guests gathered for a
$30,000-a-person fundraiser.
Among those invited were
former L.A. Lakers star
Earvin “Magic” Johnson,
former Miami Heat star
Alonzo Mourning and Chris
Paul of the Los Angeles Clip-
pers.
Mark Cuban, the Maver-
icks’ owner, and Obama em-
braced warmly as the presi-
dent entered.
The group gathered in
Carter’s gymnasium, with
the scoreboard showing 2012
on the clock and the score
tied at 44, Obama being the
44th president.
“It’s a nice gym,” Obama
observed, understatedly.
“Vince said he left the other
side open in case I wanted to
get in a dunk contest with
him. I told him I didn’t bring
my sneakers, so not tonight.”
Obama thanked NBA
his father’s death.
Kenneth Chamberlain
Sr., 68, was shot to death on
Nov. 19, after police re-
sponded to a medical alert at
Chamberlain’s home. Cham-
berlain, who had a heart con-
dition, apparently acciden-
tally pressed the device in his
sleep, authorities said.
Chamberlain, a 20-year
veteran of the Westchester
County Department of Cor-
rections, refused to let offic-
ers enter his apartment, ex-
plaining the call had been
triggered accidentally
His son told
BlackAmericaWeb.com that
LifeAid Medical Alert Ser-
vices, the company that is-
sues the medical device, con-
firmed to police that the call
was a mistake, but officers
insisted on being admitted
into the apartment.
The exchange was cap-
tured by an audio recording
on the medical device, as
well as a video camera on a
police taser gun used on
See RAISESRAISESRAISESRAISESRAISES on page B2B2B2B2B2
See WHITNEY WHITNEY WHITNEY WHITNEY WHITNEY on page B2B2B2B2B2
See DEATHDEATHDEATHDEATHDEATH on page B2B2B2B2B2
See RECEIVE RECEIVE RECEIVE RECEIVE RECEIVE on page B2B2B2B2B2
See KILLEDKILLEDKILLEDKILLEDKILLED on page B2B2B2B2B2
REPRINTED FROM THEREPRINTED FROM THEREPRINTED FROM THEREPRINTED FROM THEREPRINTED FROM THEHUNTSVILLE TIMESHUNTSVILLE TIMESHUNTSVILLE TIMESHUNTSVILLE TIMESHUNTSVILLE TIMES
SGA President Andrew Foster explains each of his complaints
to the AAMU Board of Trustees during the Feb. 24 meeting.
AAMU President Andrew Hugine listens carefully as SGA
President Andrew Foster explains the “no confidence” vote.
Robert Champion
Six men carry Whitney Houston’s gold-toned casket onto their shoulders as they carry her from the church, as her own
voice serenaded from the speakers, declaring “I Will Always Love You” during her Funeral on Feb. 25.
President Barack Obama was embraced by some of the biggest
names in professional basketball, raising money from current
and former NBA greats for his upcoming campaign.
Feb. 19-25, 2012PAGE B2 The Hornet Tribune HORIZONS
WASHINGTON (AP)
— Long-term unemployed
workers in states with per-
sisting high joblessness soon
would no longer be able to
count on unemployment ben-
efit checks for up to 99 weeks
under legislation before Con-
gress.
Under this week’s com-
promise for extending a So-
cial Security tax cut through
the rest of 2012, federal un-
employment benefits for
people who have been out of
work more than six months
are being scaled back.
If Congress passes the
bill and President Barack
Obama signs it into law, the
current maximum 99 weeks
of benefits will gradually fall
to 73 weeks by September.
For people in all but about a
dozen of the highest unem-
ployment states, the benefits
will be cut off after 63 weeks.
Democrats had hoped to
keep the number as close as
possible to 99 weeks, argu-
ing that the benefits are criti-
cal for those struggling to
make ends meet and provide
a boost to the economy. Re-
publicans wanted to reduce
the maximum time span for
benefits to 59 weeks, saying
too many people don’t seri-
ously look for a job until the
government checks quit
coming.
The agreement would let
both parties claim victory:
Democrats say they pre-
served the program for an-
other year, while Republi-
cans claim they won major
concessions by scaling back
the program.
About 43 percent of the
nation’s nearly 13 million
unemployed have been with-
out work for more than six
months, double the rate of
any other economic down-
turn since the Great Depres-
sion. If Congress had not
reached a deal to reauthorize
the program, about a million
people would have lost ben-
efits next month.
“It’s far from perfect, but
it seems to be a responsible
approach to the current prob-
lem of long-term unemploy-
ment,” said George
Wentworth, an attorney with
the National Employment
Law Project, a worker advo-
cacy group that supports
long-term benefits.
It was not immediately
clear how many people
might lose out on benefits
later this year under the new
plan. Currently, 22 states are
eligible for 93-plus weeks of
unemployment insurance;
just 18 get the full maximum
of 99 weeks. The average
unemployed worker receives
less than $300 a week in ben-
efits.
Wentworth said the
gradual decrease would help
cushion the blow for those
relying on the benefits.
The plan would extend
the current 99-week maxi-
mum through May for states
with the highest unemploy-
ment rates. Benefits would
drop to 79 weeks in June and
to 73 weeks in September.
Unless Congress extends the
federal benefits again, people
losing their jobs after July 1
will get only 26 weeks.
“This agreement is a step
in the right direction,” said
James Sherk, a policy analyst
at the conservative Heritage
Deal scales back maximum jobless benefitsFoundation. “However, two
years of benefits was exces-
sive when passed and a year-
and-a-half of benefits in an
improving labor market is
still excessive.”
The program was al-
ready winding down anyway.
Under the current formula,
the maximum coverage pe-
riod would have fallen to 79
weeks in October.
The job market has been
steadily improving and fewer
people are filing for the ben-
efits. On Thursday, the Labor
Department reported that the
number of people seeking
unemployment benefits last
week was the lowest it’s been
in four years.
The new law will allow
states to make benefit appli-
cants take drug tests if they
lost their job because they
failed a drug test or are ap-
plying for a job that requires
one. Republicans dropped an
effort to let states require all
applicants to take a drug test,
or require applicants without
a high school diplomas to
pursue a GED certificate.
were said to have been on the
bus prior to Champion’s
death or those with knowl-
edge of the incidents leading
to the death of the 26-year-
old music education major.
The case is taking longer
to wrap up because of the
different elements involved,
Rodriguez said, adding that
six detectives have worked
on the case so far.
“Each case is unique,
and this particular case in-
volves a lot of leg work and
research due to the amount
of people involved,”
Rodriguez said.
Once the investigation is
complete, detectives can ei-
ther arrest the person or
people determined to be re-
sponsible for the death or
turn the information over to
the State Attorney’s Office.
“More than likely, they will
turn it over to the state attor-
ney,” Rodriguez said.
Champion’s death re-
sulted in a formal reprimand
for FAMU President James
Ammons, the suspension of
the college’s longtime band
director, at least one lawsuit
and the threat of other legal
action.
The university’s Board
of Trustees recently ap-
pointed an anti-hazing task
force, and it has suspended
the activities of all extracur-
ricular campus organizations
this spring. That means there
will be no spring pledge lines
for Greek letter organiza-
tions, and membership intake
is also shut down for other
non-academic groups, uni-
versity officials have said.
National attention has
been focused on FAMU, and
some have used it as an ex-
ample of the culture of haz-
ing found on college cam-
puses across the country,
where students literally sac-
rifice their bodies to be ac-
cepted in cliques and clubs.
Champion had openly
resisted hazing and even en-
couraged others to do the
same, according to reports.
His family’s lawyer, Chris
Chestnut, has told
BlackAmericaWeb.com that
he is not certain why Cham-
pion was on the bus parked
outside of a hotel, following
the Florida Classic Football
game.
Chestnut has filed a law-
suit against the company that
owned the bus where the in-
cident involving Champion
took place.
“The bus company has
some liability here,”” Chest-
nut told
BlackAmericaWeb.com in
an earlier interview. “That
bus was on, and the air con-
ditioning was running at the
time. Someone had to know
what was going on.”
Chestnut said he has
used his own team of inves-
tigators to gather facts in the
case.
Ray Land, the owner of
Fabulous Coach Lines, said
his staff did everything to get
help once they were notified
there was a problem. Land
told the Associated Press in
December that the bus’ driver
was helping students unload
their instruments when
Champion collapsed.
Chestnut has also filed a
notice of a planned lawsuit
against FAMU. In Florida, a
notice of a pending lawsuit
must be filed six months in
advance of filing a suit
against a public entity, he
said.
The lawyer has said the
family will proceed with le-
gal action against the univer-
sity.
DeathDeathDeathDeathDeath: : : : : “More than likely, they will turn it over to the state attorney ...”
KilledKilledKilledKilledKilled: : : : : “They were responding toa medical emergency. My ...”
Chamberlain.
Kenneth Chamberlain
Jr. said that based on the
audio and videotapes he has
heard and seen, police were
overly aggressive when they
could have simply left the
scene once it was confirmed
the call for assistance was in
error.
“They were responding
to a medical emergency. My
father didn’t commit a
crime,” the younger Cham-
berlain said.
The officers, however,
“chose to taunt him,
knocked the door down.
They gave him no direc-
tions, no orders, and you see
them shoot him with the
taser, and you hear one of
them say, ‘Hit it again; hit it
again,’ then something like
‘Turn it off.’”
Chamberlain said police
were verbally abusive,
cussing at his father and us-
ing a racial epithet while de-
manding access.
The police department
initially said that at one
stage of the confrontation,
the elder Chamberlain stuck
a knife through a crack in
the door at the officers, and
that once police broke down
the door to get into the apart-
ment, they shot the man in
self-defense.
“At one point, you do
see something coming out
of a crack in the door, but
you cannot determine what
it is, but the door was closed
at the time, then it was
cracked,” Kenneth Cham-
berlain Jr. said, describing
the sequence of events on
the video.
The police department
has released no further
statements in the case.
“I was just lucky to
have a third party, which
was LifeAid, which (po-
lice) didn’t know was re-
cording,” Chamberlain
said.
Last week, attorneys
for Chamberlain filed a no-
tice of claim declaring his
intention to sue the depart-
ment for the wrongful death
of his father. The city has
30 days to respond to the
notice and attempt to settle
the matter. If no agreement
is reached within 30 days,
a lawsuit may then be filed.
Further, details of the
case go to a grand jury next
month and could return
with criminal indictments
against the police officers.
Chamberlain said that
in the meantime, a rally and
news conference is sched-
uled for Saturday, March 10
regarding the case.
“I’m sure it’s not going
to move as fast because it’s
a police officer, and they are
going to dot all their Is and
cross all my Ts,” Chamber-
lain said. “I don’t take any-
thing for granted.”
loved ones who lined up to
share final thoughts about the
woman whose voice was
considered one of the most
definitive of her generation,
perhaps of the last century.
They pointed out the ap-
propriateness of the venue,
hailing Houston’s roots and
unwavering commitment to
her faith, amid her highest
highs and lowest lows.
“Nothing separated her
from the love of God,” film-
maker Tyler Perry insisted.
“No matter how far she went
in the stratosphere, nothing
separated her. It was that
same grace that carried her
home. So, say whatever you
want. God was for her, and
she is resting, singing with
the angels.”
Gospel greats Donnie
McClurkin and Kim Burrell
made sure no eyes were dry
as they sang.
For all who approached
the microphone, grief was a
familiar cloak, but then so
too were moments of levity
that came from reflections on
the influence Houston had on
their lives.
“In my little fantasy
world, I had a little crush on
Whitney, okay?” Stevie
Wonder said, eliciting laugh-
ter.
Then he grew more seri-
ous.
“I give praise to God for
allowing me to be living life
at the same time as Whitney,”
said Wonder. “I just had so
much respect for her love of
music.”
So much so that he recast
the lyrics of his “Ribbon in
the Sky” and created a bio-
graphical tribute within the
same melody.
“What God gives is
never a coincidence, and
much more than some hap-
penstance,” Wonder sang.
“No more, Whitney, do you
have to cry. You will always
be a ribbon in the sky. That
angel in God’s choir of love.”
And when he broke into
“Love’s in Need of Love To-
day,” people born well before
and well after the 1976 clas-
sic joined the choir as an ex-
tended back-up section.
His wasn’t the only ref-
erence to Houston as an an-
gel. Dabbing away tears as
she sat at the piano, Alicia
Keys spoke about Houston
freely giving to younger art-
ists such as herself, Brandy,
Monica and Jordin Sparks,
among the many who looked
to her as a mentor and an in-
spiration.
“She made us feel strong
and capable and loved,”
Keys said. “She’s an angel to
us. She’s been an angel to us.
And she has just been a beau-
tiful human being.”
R. Kelly wobbled as he
approached the pulpit, and
under the alternately watch-
ful and encouraging eyes of
Bishop T.D. Jakes and Rev.
Marvin Winans, he warbled
a rendition of “I Look to
You,” the 2009 song he wrote
and one of Houston’s last
charted hits.
Several members of the
Winans family took alternate
turns at the mic. They re-
membered Houston’s will-
ingness to help their careers,
financially and musically.
She even took a background
singer’s slot for them, even
as a superstar with awards
amassed, millions of albums
sold and hits charted.
From a teary BeBe
Winans who relied on his sis-
ter, CeCe, to keep him steady
to Carvin Winans lending his
falsetto to “Tomorrow,” they
stood in solidarity with their
longtime family friends, the
Houstons.
Marvin Winans, who of-
ficiated Houston’s marriage,
had the title of eulogist. But
he preached a sermon more
than he offered a eulogy, as
his references to Houston
were few, but his call to those
watching to prioritize their
relationship with God was
prominent.
Indeed, the funeral re-
flected the deep, Christian
messaging of the black
church and was broadcast
unfiltered on several cable
networks, commercial-free -
including Fox News Chan-
nel.
By shunning earlier
plans to honor her daughter
at the Prudential Center and
instead bringing the service
to New Hope Baptist, Marvin
Winans told Cissy Houston,
“You brought the world to
church today.”
Aretha Franklin,
Houston’s godmother, did
not appear as originally ex-
pected, citing illness.
Houston’s ex-husband, R&B
singer Bobby Brown, whom
many fans blamed for her
downfall, left the service
moments after it started.
Rumors flew instanta-
neously, but Brown released
a statement saying that he
and his children had been
asked to move three times by
security. Then, he also al-
leged, while inside, he was
prevented from approaching
Bobbi Kristina, the lone child
from his marriage to Hous-
ton. She sat in the front pews
with her grandmother and
other members of the Hous-
ton clan.
Rather than raise a
ruckus, he rolled.
“I doubt Whitney would
have wanted this to occur,”
Brown said in his statement.
“I will continue to pay my
respects to my ex-wife the
best way I know how.”
“It’s the unexplainable
burden that comes with
fame,” Kevin Costner, co-
star in “The Bodyguard”
said. “Call it doubt. Call it
fear. I’ve had mine. I know
the famous in the room have
had theirs.”
“Now there is a lady in
heaven making God himself
wonder how He created
something so perfect,” he
said, beginning to choke up.
“So off you go, Whitney. Off
you go. Escorted by an army
of angels to your heavenly
father. And when you sing
before Him, don’t worry.
You’ll be good enough.”
Good enough to have
strong men hoist her gold-
toned casket onto their shoul-
ders and carry her from the
church, as her own voice ser-
enaded from the speakers,
declaring “I Will Always
Love You.”
WhitneyWhitneyWhitneyWhitneyWhitney: : : : : “In my little fantasy world, I had a little crush on Whitney, ...”
demonstrate to the stake-
holders of this community
where he can take this uni-
versity and bring it back to
where it needs to be.”
The momentous day
for Hugine, however, en-
dured harsh comments
from the SGA president
who called on Hugine to
cut the pay of his cabinet
members while subjecting
them to background checks
and do immediate renova-
tions to campus dorms.
“We can talk about all
the problems all day,” said
Foster, a non-voting mem-
ber of the trustees by vir-
tue of being SGA president.
“Students want change.
Students want results.”
Hugine responded to
issues raised by Foster
point by point, providing
explanation on some topics
such as paying moving ex-
penses of some cabinet
members as well as defend-
ing steps taken on campus
to combat the highest crime
rate on any state college
campus.
Hugine also said that
graduating seniors voted
91-79 on Thursday in favor
of moving graduation cer-
emonies from Louis Crews
Stadium to two ceremonies
in Elmore Gym in response
to another complaint raised
by Foster.
Trustees also chided
Foster not for raising the
issues, but for taking them
to the full board without
first discussing them with
Hugine. Foster said he had
not talked with Hugine
about these issues.
Foster also did not
show for the board’s com-
mittee meetings two weeks
ago when he was on the
agenda to address the stu-
dent affairs committee.
“There are protocols to
go through before you go
nuclear,” Lanier told Fos-
ter.
ReceiveReceiveReceiveReceiveReceive: : : : : “There are protcols to gothrough before you go nuclear ...”
Commissioner David Stern,
also in attendance, for re-
solving the basketball lock-
out that delayed the start of
the basketball season.
“I don’t know what I
would be doing with myself
if I at least didn’t have some
basketball games around,”
Obama said.
The fundraiser capped
a day hauling in campaign
cash, taunting Republicans
and pushing his energy
policy in the face of rising
gasoline prices.
Obama, appearing in a
state he carried in 2008 and
one he may need to win
again to hold the White
House, cast Republicans as
protectors of the wealthy,
telling supporters at a
fundraiser that the GOP
hopefuls seeking his job
would leave everyone else
to fend for themselves. His
comments came after he
had assailed Republicans
earlier in the day for offer-
ing what he described as
flawed and dishonest plans
to lower gasoline prices.
“I’m here to tell them
they are wrong about
America,” Obama said.
“Because in America we
understand — yes, we’re
rugged individuals. Yes, we
don’t expect a handout. But
we also understand we are
greater together than we are
on our own.”
The president head-
lined three campaign
fundraisers in Florida, a tra-
ditional political battle-
ground that could be key to
his re-election hopes.
Last week, Obama took
a three-day West Coast trip
and raised about $8 million
in eight campaign events.
Before his fundraising
blitz, Obama spoke to a
campaign-like crowd at the
University of Miami to de-
fend his energy policy in
the midst of spiking gaso-
line prices.
RaisesRaisesRaisesRaisesRaises: : : : : “I don’t know what I wouldbe doing with myself if I at least ...”
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RIBUNET
Feb. 25, 2012
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“Yes. When people en-
ter college they leave their
households and enter the
world of adulthood ... In that
case, they should be treated
as such with no limitations
such as those of ASU’s visi-
tation policy. Students who
attend college are old enough
to handle responsibilities and
be held accountable for their
own actions.”
“Yes, only if they have a
definite plan of monitoring
all of this traffic and activity
that would take place. If a
working system is put in
place, then it should be al-
lowed to the entire campus.
However, if the plan fails,
then in-room visitation
should be discontinued until
a fool-proof plan is devel-
oped.”
“I do not feel that in-
room visitation is a luxury
that should be in the forefront
of everyone’s minds. There
are more important things to
debate.”
“No. Students should
not have in-room visitation.
Whatever you can do in the
room, you should be able to
do in the lobby. Certain stu-
dents may not be mature
enough to handle the in-room
visitation.”
“As college students and
young adults, in-room visi-
tation shouldn’t be a prob-
lem. That’s why people
sneak around when it comes
to visitation. If we were
given the opportunity, we
would prove ‘them’ wrong.
There is nothing wrong with
being in the same bedroom
as the opposite sex.”
Jalesa King
First Year
Accounting
“Yes, because the new
facilities are the only ones
receiving this opportunity
and privilege at this time.
The entire campus should be
given this opportunity. If it
doesn’t work out then the
administration can say it’s
not going to work and cut in-
room visitation out.”
Driving through the streets of
Detroit one hot summer evening in
1973, I was abruptly pulled over by
two white police officers – one with
his hand on his pistol - who ordered
me out of my mother’s brand-new
Monte Carlo and forced me to stand
silently on the sidewalk.
Years earlier, my father had
warned me about a special Detroit
police unit called STRESS, for
Stop the Robberies and Enjoy Safe
Streets, an all-white division of
heavy-handed cops that patrolled
the pavements of Detroit looking
for black men to harass and, in
some cases, kill.
If I was ever pulled over by
police, my father said firmly, never
reach into the glove compartment
for my car insurance card unless I
told the officer what I was doing.
He feared I could be shot by ra-
cially-insensitive cops who thought
I may be reaching for a gun.
So there I was, standing ner-
vously on the curb, while nosey
neighbors peered through their
blinds watching as I was being
frisked and interrogated.
I could barely hear the dis-
patcher on the police radio describ-
ing the assailant who had just
robbed a liquor store. The police
officers who were harassing me
quickly determined that I was not
the black suspect they were look-
ing for, and, with no apology or
explanation, they sped off and dis-
appeared into the night.
I thought back to that unsettling
moment 39 years ago after reading
a report this week by the Center for
Constitutional Rights summarizing
stop-and-frisk statistics for 2011 by
the New York City Police Depart-
ment.
The troubling numbers reflect
the highest yearly total stops to date
– 684,330 – with no meaningful
change in huge racial disparities.
This total is 14 percent higher than
the number of stops in 2010, and it
represents a more than 600 percent
increase since 2002, the year the
NYPD began keeping stop-and-
frisk figures.
Consider this: Eighty-seven
percent of those stopped in 2011
were African-American or Latino,
and nine out of 10 persons stopped
were not arrested, nor did they even
receive tickets or citations.
According to the Center for
Constitutional Rights, the data sup-
ports eight years of previous sta-
tistics that showed that “race is the
main factor determining NYPD
stops.”
Most stops occur in black and
Latino neighborhoods and, in all
neighborhoods, blacks and Hispan-
ics are significantly more likely to
be stopped than whites, officials
with Center for Constitutional
Rights said.
“Even when there are honest
misunderstandings, the fact that
blacks and Hispanics are picked up
more frequently, and often-time for
no cause, casts suspicion even
when there is good cause,” Presi-
dent Barack Obama said in a 2009
speech. “That’s why I think the
more that we’re working with lo-
cal law enforcement to improve
policing techniques so that we’re
eliminating potential bias, the safer
everybody’s going to be.”
Obama seems genuinely con-
cerned, but the fact remains that
racial profiling is a prevalent – and
disturbing - part of our society, and
frankly, the attitudes of racially-in-
sensitive law enforcement officers
will never be changed through
speeches, even if the speech comes
from the president.
Civil rights activists say that for
many children of color in New
York City, being stopped by the
police on their way home from
school has become a normal
afterschool activity, an unfortunate,
modern-day rite of passage.
In 1973, Detroit’s STRESS
unit was investigated, called
shameful and disbanded by then-
Mayor Coleman Young, but not
before STRESS was associated
with the senseless deaths of black
civilians. STRESS had been con-
nected to the deaths of eight black
people in its first four months of
Will racial harassment by police ever end?by Michael Cottmanby Michael Cottmanby Michael Cottmanby Michael Cottmanby Michael Cottman
GUEST [email protected]
Now is the time for good leaders to stand up
If you are a great advocate
for change, possess leadership
abilities, understand the true
meaning of leadership and can
serve as a positive mentor for the
student body, then stand up and
take your position as a candidate
for the Student Government As-
sociation and Miss Alabama State
University.
The time to make a decision
that will dictate the quality of stu-
dent life at Alabama State Univer-
sity for the next year has come,
and we have got to make a stand
for change.
The elections are around the
corner, and it is time for students
to use their power to choose lead-
ers who will represent them with
21st century leadership both in-
side and outside Alabama State
University.
For years, students have been
complaining about different situ-
ations to their friends, to the staff
or faculty, but rarely to the admin-
istration.
I emphasize this point be-
cause, as a student, I know that
we sometimes allow biased views
to influence our decision-making.
Over the past few years, stu-
dents made critical decisions
about their future based upon popu-
larity and affiliation instead of char-
acter, past work record, and lead-
ership qualities.
In 2012, we cannot continue to
make the disastrous decision of
voting for our friends or line broth-
ers and sisters just because we think
they are cool or like hanging out
with them.
Our choices should not be mea-
sured by the most likeable charac-
teristics or the person in the best
clothing; it is about electing the per-
son who will work the hardest to
ensure that students are placed first
on the pedestal of priority at ASU.
It is time to look at each candi-
date thoroughly and examine what
skill sets they actually bring to the
position in terms of character, in-
telligence, leadership and most
important, vision.
Though you may have partied
with them or relied on them during
tough times, ask yourself some
valuable questions. Are they really
suited to lead students, manage
funds or make decisions regarding
the quality of student life on and
off the campus?
Every position that is about to
be filled requires time, sacrifice, in-
telligence and dedication to the stu-
dents.
These are very important char-
acteristics to keep in mind because
for the past three years, there have
been some officials elected who
made numerous promises to the
student body and they failed to
keep them.
Many of these individuals be-
came so involved with joining fra-
ternities and other organizations on
campus, that they forgot that they
SWORE to the student body that
they would uphold their elected
offices and fulfill their obligations
as stated in the constitution.
There is nothing wrong with an
elected officer becoming a mem-
ber of a fraternity, sorority or a pro-
fessional organization. But when
a benefit package of tuition, room,
board and a 20-Hour contract are
paid to elected officials to perform
the duties of that office (to the tune
of $28,000 a year at ASU), that
person’s first duty should be to the
office that he is holding and ensure
that all of his responsibilities have
been handled.
That has not been the case on
this campus for years. And I am
sure that everyone reading this col-
umn will agree. We have paid the
benefit package and received very
little in return.
To keep this from ever reoccur-
ring again, it is necessary that we
elect the individuals who will go
“above and beyond” to get their job
done.
There will be some individu-
als running this year who have
served in other administrations.
There are some questions that
should be asked by the students be-
fore taking the final vote.
Where were these people when
tuition was increased during the
2010-11 year? Where were these
people when the student fees in-
creased by $430 in one semester?
Where were these people when the
elevators stopped for months in
McGehee Hall, Bessie Estell Hall
and Dunn Tower?
Will these individuals truly be
able to say that they left a legacy
this year that new leaders will be
able to build upon in the future?
People who can only truthfully
tell you that they fulfilled their con-
stitutional duties and that is all they
have accomplished are not the ones
we need to place in office. We need
proactive people who will not only
complete their constitutional du-
ties, but who will also transcend
SGA as well, because we live in a
time of change.
Understand that once a year,
students are given the power and
responsibility to make a difference
through the election process. We
should be so comfortable with these
people representing us that we
would have no reason to question
whether or not we could have done
it better ourselves.
Even if you are a student who
normally does not care about what
or how things happen in the SGA
or Miss ASU, take the time to in-
vest something, this year, into
this university that serves for
your benefit as well as students
who are coming in the future.
These student institutions
were created to open new doors
and allow for an enormous room
for growth; so use them wisely.
I am a strong advocate for
having real leaders in SGA, be-
cause like my peers, I want to see
my university prosper into being
more student-oriented.
I have written editorials and
articles with the intentions of af-
fecting change for our students.
I wanted to show how powerful
the pen can be than the mouth;
because as people, we speak
things into action every day, but
without the reinforcement of fact
from text, what we speak be-
comes rumor or a theory.
No more second guessing.
Vote for the people who will IM-
PROVE THE QUALITY OF
STUDENT LIFE.
Students who are leaders,
step up and take a plunge in the
name of order and contentment
within the student body. If you
have decided not to run and there
are no good candidates to choose
from. What’s next?
More of the same. NOTH-
ING.
by Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana EdwardsEXECUTIVE EDITOR
See POLICEPOLICEPOLICEPOLICEPOLICE on page C2C2C2C2C2
Feb. 19-25, 2012PAGE C2 The Hornet Tribune VIEWPOINTS
HE HORNET
RIBUNETHE HORNET
Alabama State University915 South Jackson Street
Montgomery, Alabama 36104PHONE: (334) 229-4273 FAX: (334) 229-4165
www.thehornettribune.com
2011-12 EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP TEAM
Executive Editor Kieyana Edwards
Editorial Managing Editor Sharanna Polk
Visual Media Managing Editor Christopher Logan
Social Media Managing Editor Rose Todd
Graphic and Design Managing Editor Willie Todd
Digital Media Managing Editor Vacant
Chief Business and Finance Manager Justin Johnson
Public Affairs Manager Shericka Wilson
General Manager Kenneth Dean, MS
Executive Editor Kieyana Edwards
Editorial Managing Editor Sharanna Polk
Sports Editor Abraham Chopin
Staff Correspondent Malcolm T. Banks
Staff Correspondent LaShaunda Glass
Staff Correspondent Natasha Harris
Staff Correspondent Kiana Hodo
Staff Correspondent Desire K. Kafunda
Staff Correspondent Carisma Mitchell
Staff Correspondent Chania Mitchell
Staff Correspondent Alan Pettway
Staff Correspondent Brianna Roberts
Staff Correspondent David Stephens
Staff Correspondent Jasmine Wells
University Beat Manager Joseph Batiste
Writing Coach Gita Smith, MA
Faculty Adviser L. Simone Byrd, PhD
“think, think, think”
“Sometimes the truth hurts”
SHARANNA POLK
2011-12 EDITORIAL BOARD
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, orprohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Lasting friendship is a two-way street
2011-12 ADVERTISING, CIRCULATIONSAND MARKETING STAFF
Circulations Manager Kenecia Streeter
Circulations Assistant Raven Wilkerson
Clerk Typist Deja Barlow
Telemarketer Tantina Dawson
MISSION STATEMENTServing Alabama State University students, faculty and staff through
clear, truthful and fair reporting is the duty of The Hornet Tribune staff. We
understand that words are powerful: They can help people but also destroy
lives. Thereby, we will be careful and responsible when using our First
Amendment freedom.
Being one of the best college newspapers in Alabama, The Hornet Tri-
bune aims to keep excelling in informing the Alabama State University
community. Through our reporting, we shall ensure that the public’s busi-
ness is conducted in public. We shall also give our readers the tools to make
judgments on current issues.
We will report and comment on any issue of legitimate public interest
such as controversies and scandals. These, however, will not be the only
news. We shall also cover improvements and achievements. Our stories
shall picture our university fully, fairly and accurately. They shall also re-
flect the diversity of our campus community.
Because pictures are just as essential to our newspaper as the written
material, they shall be treated as such. They shall help us tell a story (or
even tell the story). Like our reporting, they shall be true, fair and accurate.
Because The Hornet Tribune is a weekly paper, we may not have the
chance to break a story in print even though we will try to provide a fresh
angle to tell that story. Our Web site, however, will be the channel to present
breaking news as it happens. We aim to be the first to tell our readers about
issues that affect them while still being truthful, fair and accurate. The same
ethical conduct valid for our print version shall be applied for our Web site.
We shall be fearless when writing editorials, especially when exposing
and criticizing wrongdoings. Editorials shall serve to not only criticize
wrongdoings but also endorse candidates and praise achievements. They
shall always be based on true and accurate information.
The personal agenda or bias of our staff members shall never dictate
our news reports or editorial decisions. Even though advertising is vital for
us, it shall never influence our news. We will give our advertisers special
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people, not with other businesses. We shall always remember, however,
that we will never sell our independence or our integrity.
Being a student-managed publication, The Hornet Tribune gives an
opportunity for students regardless of their major to learn and apply jour-
nalism skills. We also honor our readers’ First Amendment rights by pub-
lishing their opinion even if they want to criticize us. To keep improving
and excelling, we need to humbly accept criticism.
The Hornet Tribune is the official student newspaper of Alabama
State University and is printed once weekly on Fridays. The
opinions of The Hornet Tribune editorial board do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the university and serve as expressions of
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Letters and columns containing libelous and malicious
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property of The Hornet Tribune.
LETTER POLICYLETTER POLICYLETTER POLICYLETTER POLICYLETTER POLICY
KIEYANA EDWARDS
Sometimes we are sent angels,
and we do not even know it. At
times, there is somebody watching
us without our knowledge. We are
oblivious to their goodness. They
are gifts, and we need to appreci-
ate them.
If somebody does something
for you, do not let it go unnoticed.
Thank them, not only in words, but
by returning the favor.
When people bend their backs
for you, and go out of their way, do
not be unappreciative. The fastest
way to lose a good friend is to be
unappreciatoive, while being too
needy, without ever having any-
thing to offer.
Know who your friends are,
and what love really is. When you
make the differentiation, do not put
off those who are really there for
you, for the people who will leave
you hanging.
If someone continues to back
stab you, and put everything before
you, there is a problem. If you tell
them about it, and things don’t
change, then the problem is one that
should be deleted. You cannot keep
people around you who are not ben-
efiting you. If you find yourself al-
ways being unhappy, used, and
unstable with certain people, they
are acquaintances who should not
be given the title of “friend.”
The term used by rapper Two
Chains puts it simply when he says,
“Sometimes you have to cut off
your fingers to save your hand.”
Bad apples spoil bunches.
Do not believe everything
people say. If actions do not coin-
cide with words, it is time to de-
cide what you are willing to accept.
Someone saying they will do some-
thing, and then not doing it, and
then having the chance to do it
again, is the fault of the person al-
lowing it. You can’t blame that per-
son for taking the opportunity that
you gave twice. You are the reason
you’re being taken advantage of.
The golden rule is still golden.
Treat others how you want to be
treated. Do not ignore someone’s
call and expect them to answer for
you. Do not ask for things that you
are not willing to give, and if some-
body loans you something, have the
decency to return it in a timely fash-
ion.
Do not allow yourself to be
mistreated, and do not settle for less
than you know you deserve. If
somebody tries to put you down,
realize that they are not good for
you. Being called out of your name
is not acceptable, because your par-
ents did not name you anything but
the name on your birth certificate.
If you find yourself more un-
happy than happy, it is time to
change your situation. I am not say-
ing let everyone go, because some
people don’t realize what they are
doing, until you bring it to their at-
tention. I am also not saying give
repeated chances for repeated mis-
takes. Find your line, and be un-
willing to cross it. Find out what
you really want from the people
who claim to love you, and be
strong enough to let them go if they
can’t give it to you.
It is not a matter of being self-
ish or uncompromising, but one of
knowing what you want, how to get
it, and being unwilling to set your
happiness aside for someone else’s
bliss. At the end of the day you are
all you have.
People will leave you, some-
time on their own accord, some-
times because of unforeseen cir-
cumstances. It is not true that you
“need” people. You need love and
you need happiness, but nobody
gives you that. You find it for your-
self, and you share it with the per-
son who deserves it.
Pay attention to those people.
Do not manipulate them or take
their kindness for weakness. They
just may be your angel, and you
don’t even know it. My grand-
mother gave me a visor clip that
reads: Don’t drive faster than your
angel can fly. I take this and think
that maybe the driving isn’t always
behind the wheel. Maybe if I slow
down, it’ll allow my angel to take
better care of me. Maybe I am
wrong, but I know that I have let
good friends slip out of my grasp,
because I did not appreciate them.
I have also had people lose me be-
cause they were not good or true to
me.
Friendship is a two way street,
and with any two way street, traf-
fic on one side can cause a jam.
Life after college is often re-
lated to the choices and actions
taken while in college.
College is a place where we not
only decide to grow within our fo-
cused disciplines, but we also have
to grow as people. We have to take
that journey to understand what
makes us an individual and how
that realization affects our dreams
or aspirations.
The word “network” is con-
stantly thrown around in college
but I’m not sure if everyone knows
what that means. It goes beyond
connecting with people who are
already in your chosen profession.
It also extends to creating healthy,
lifelong relationships with your
peers that you may need in the fu-
ture.
I stress the meaning of network
because students often have prob-
lems with straying from the norm
and getting out of strict grouping.
It is very apparent because you tend
to see the same groups of people
gathering to meet their same peers
at lunch, on the yard, and off cam-
pus. There is nothing wrong with
doing this, but if you constantly
abide by this idea every day, then
you are limiting your networking
arena.
We can get so caught up in our
lives and habits that we forget that
ANYBODY can be successful.
From the guy you walked by every
day and did not speak to, to the
people you alienated because you
did not like their affiliation.
Success could be a guaranteed
achievement in their future and you
should never rule that out.
Because someone is a part of a
different group or organization
does not mean that they are all bad.
That person could still have the
motivation and drive to get out and
make a difference. At the end of the
day, that is a major part of what a
college student is really about. It’s
about building relationships that
are strong enough to withstand dis-
agreements and differences be-
cause we understand that it’s fine
to agree to disagree.
It is a prominent case on our
campus to get so wound up and
dedicated to an organization or
cause that we allow ourselves to
take it more personal than profes-
sional.
Instead of allowing whatever
discontent that has arisen from the
job to stay in the work place, we
carry it around and develop distaste
for people. That’s not how the
“world of work” operates, and we
should set ourselves to that same
standard because it is a definite
advantage. To master being able to
work in a tough environment that
is filled with controversy while
maintaining a good attitude is a feat
that will get you prepared for any
job. It is unnecessary to carry
around the extra burden of emo-
tional baggage from work.
There are going to be times
when people spread rumors and
share stories about someone you
have to meet and greet. When this
happens, it is good to treat them as
if you have not heard anything and
get to know that individual for
yourself because a rumor is called
a rumor for a reason.
Whether it is true or not, you
would not like it if someone were
to make you feel uncomfortable
about something they heard when
they know nothing about you. Act-
ing on preconceived notions can
close other prosperous opportuni-
ties. In addition, you never know
if someone has learned from a mis-
take and is trying to move forward.
I may hold the executive edi-
tor position of The Hornet Tribune
at this moment, but I know that this
is not my whole life. I understand
that this is a part of a huge step-
ping stone I am taking to better
myself. I am already planning to
take the GRE exam, looking at
other colleges and jobs because I
know that there is a life after col-
lege and I want to be ready for it.
Yes I do love the friends and skills
that I have attained while filling my
duties as editor, but because I un-
derstand that this is a temporary
state that I will not remain in, I
have to do what is necessary to
reach my dreams and make a dif-
ference. I have friends all around
in Student Orientation Services,
Student Government Association,
Phi Beta Lambda, and International
Student Association. I know these
people because despite things they
have heard or thought, they have
kept me as a contact for the person
I am.
We all have come here for simi-
lar reasons, so enjoy meeting
people with the like-minded goals
that are attempting to do something
important with their life. Feed off
of their motivation to stay focused
on school and support them in their
endeavors.
Remember that all those times
you may have unprofessionally
“snapped” on someone or alienated
someone from a group of people
because of differences could mean
a life after college with more time
and fewer open opportunities. One
man can make great change but a
group stands stronger and is more
efficient. So, don’t cut yourself
short by taking it too personal, keep
your range of success wide through
the shoulders of people that are
willing to keep you steady.
Instead of personal, let’s be professional
operation and 18 people in its first
14 months.
Black kids in my neighborhood
called STRESS the Big Four be-
cause four white cops would rou-
tinely ride in patrol cars destined
to harass young black men like my-
self and perfecting the art of racial
profiling.
Last month, while I was back
in Detroit for a funeral, I drove the
streets where I once walked home
from school in the 1970s. Often
times, the Big Four would pull up
next to us, roll down their windows
and someone would shout this rhe-
torical question: “Where you boys
going?”
“Just walking home,” we’d say,
without making eye contact with
the bullies wearing badges.
I was angry then, and I’m still
infuriated about racial profiling to-
day. But now I’m left wondering if
this constant practice of bigotry by
police will ever end.
Continued from page C1
Police: Police: Police: Police: Police: “Just walking home,” we say...”
D D1
Feb. 25, 2012
PORTSSCONTACT US: Sports Editor/[email protected] (334) 229-4273
Men’s BasketballWomen’s Basketball
TrackBaseball
RIBUNETHE HORNETHE HORNET
Jaguars beat Hornets in Acadome
Hornet defense tames SU Lady JaguarsHornet defense tames SU Lady JaguarsHornet defense tames SU Lady JaguarsHornet defense tames SU Lady JaguarsHornet defense tames SU Lady Jaguars
Photo by Christopher Logan/Visual Media Managing Editor
Hornet guard Erica Henderson and a Jaguar defender go up for a rebound. Coached by Freda Freeman-Jackson, the Hornets
defeated the Southern University Jaguars easily in front of hundreds of Hornet fans in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
MONTGOMERY, Ala.,
The Alabama State Univer-
sity Hornet womens basket-
ball team made it look easy
when they routed the South-
ern University Lady Jaguars
at home on Feb. 20.
Hornet guard Danielle
Gazaway, who had 13 points,
started the game off with a
three-pointer. Hornet for-
ward Quentori Alford (8 re-
bounds) picked up where
Gazaway stopped the last
game, as she spun to the bas-
ket and scored on a lay-in to
make the score 5-0 with
17:46 left.
Hornet center Millicent
Jones (10 points) scored an
easy basket off an inbound
pass, but Jaguar forward
Jamie Floyd (13 points) an-
swered back with a tough
shot in the lane to put her
team on the board, 9-2 with
16:15 left. Jones went to the
basket again to score but,
Floyd again answered to
make the score 13-4 with
13:47 left.
Hornet guard Jasmine
Quinn added to the Hornet
lead when she hit two free-
throws to make the score 17-
4 and give the Hornets a
comfortable lead with 12:22
left. Hornet forward Ashley
Jones stole the ball and raced
down the court. She hit the
lay-up and hit the extra free-
throw attempt after being
fouled. However Jaguar cen-
ter Laneisha Stephens scored
on the way back down to
make the score 20-6 with
10:46 left.
With 8:21 minutes left,
Jaguar forward Lechell Rush
hit two free-throws then Jag-
uar guard Essence Hopkins
drove through the lane and
hit a lay-in to make the score
20-10. Hopkins stole the ball
and crossed her way to an
easy lay-in to make the score
21-13 with 5:04 left.
Hopkins split a pair of
free-throws and then a turn-
over from Hornet guard
Kierra Paige allowed for an
easy lay-in for Floyd. How-
ever, Hornet guard Erica
Henderson hit two free-
throws to end the half with
the Hornets up 11 points, 27-
16.
The second half started
with two free throws by
Gazaway to make the score
29-16 with 18:32 left in the
game. Rush hit a lay-in to
make the score 33-18 with
16:14 left.
Gazaway raced to the
rim and scored to make it 35-
18.
Hornet forward RoTasha
Windom scored a lay-up but
then fouled Jaguar guard
Kendra Coleman who hit
both free-throws to make the
score 44-26 with 8:53 left.
Jaguar forward Jessica Tho-
mas hit a three-pointer but
Gazaway answered back on
the other end with a lay-up
to make the score 46-31 with
6:25 left.
Jaguar guard Adrian
Sanders hit a three-pointer to
cut the lead to 14 with 4:52
left, 48-34. Floyd hit a three-
pointer to make the score 48-
36 with 1:46. Windom hit a
shot in the lane and Sanders
took and made a three-
pointer from the top of the
key but it wouldn’t be
enough to make a comeback.
“We held them to 16
points in the first half,” said
Freda Freeman-Jackson.
They (Jaguars) started get-
ting physical, and I told the
girls to weather the stand.”
MONTGOMERY, Ala.,-
The Alabama State Univer-
sity Hornet men’s basketball
team fell short against the
Southern University Jaguar
men’s basketball team by
just two points in a tight
home game on Feb 20. The
55-53 score resulted from a
hard Jaguar push in the final
two minutes of play.
The Hornets started out
well when guard Tramaine
Butler (18 points) stole the
ball from Jaguar guard
Derick Beltran (22 points),
and made a three-pointer
over Jaguar guard Cameron
Monroe (5 points) on the
wing, making the score 3-0
with 19:17 left in the half.
Butler was fouled by
Beltran and hit two free-
throws to make the score 5-
0 with 14:36 left.
Beltran answered with a
lay-up, followed by an un-
contested three-pointer tying
the game at 5-5 with 12:50
left. The Jaguars took the
lead when center Madut Bol
hit a long-range jumper over
Hornets forward Philip
Crawford (7 points) making
the score 5-7 with 12:08 left.
Hornet forward Ivory
White (5 points) stole the
ball then dished it to
Crawford who completed the
Hornet guard Ryan
Watts stole the ball from
Monroe but missed the
shot. Brown grabbed the
rebound and quickly
scored, bringing the game
to 29-23 at the half.
In the beginning of the
second half, White fouled
Doggett, sending him to
the free-throw line. Beltran
followed with a mid-range
jumper bringing the score
to 30-26. Butler answered
with an uncontested three-
pointer from the wing, fol-
lowed by another three-
pointer from Watts at the
top of the key, making the
score 36-30 with 15:05
left.
Jaguars guard Micheal
Celestin (5 points) hit a
close-range jumper which
made the score 36-32 in
the Hornets’ favor.
Crawford got into
trouble as he committed
his fourth foul against
Doggett going to the bas-
ket; Doggett split the pair
of free-throws making the
score 38-33 with 10:56
left.
The Jags closed in on
the Hornets when they
made three consecutive
plays including a block
from Doggett, a lay-up by
Jaguar guard Thomas
Marshall, and Beltran –
play with a lay-up. Beltran
passed the ball to Jaguars
forward Quinton Doggett
(18 points) who scored, mak-
ing the score 9-11 with 10:05
left.
Butler passed the ball to
Crawford who was fouled
going up for a lay-up; he hit
both of his free- throws. But-
ler recorded his 1,000th ca-
reer point when he hit a mid-
range jumper over a defend-
ing Beltran. This gave the
lead back to the Hornets, 13-
11 with 8:47 left.
Crawford fouled
Doggett going to the basket,
which gave him two free-
throw opportunities. Doggett
hit both making the score 24-
22 with 4:20 left.
Hornet forward Phillip Crawford attempts a jump shop in the
second half against a Southern University Jaguar defender.
Hornet guard Ivory White goes up for an uncontested lay-up
during the matchup between the Hornets and the SU Jaguars.
by Abraham Chopinby Abraham Chopinby Abraham Chopinby Abraham Chopinby Abraham ChopinSPORTS EDITOR
by Carisma “Billy” Mitchellby Carisma “Billy” Mitchellby Carisma “Billy” Mitchellby Carisma “Billy” Mitchellby Carisma “Billy” MitchellSTAFF [email protected]
See BEATBEATBEATBEATBEAT on page D2D2D2D2D2
Photo by Christopher Logan/Visual Media Managing Editor
Photo by Christopher Logan/Visual Media Managing Editor
Feb. 19-25, 2012PAGE D2 The Hornet Tribune SPORTS
MONTGOMERY, Ala.,
- Alabama State University
Hornets softball team lost
their first home game against
University of Nebraska
Omaha Mavericks softball
team, 4-12, at the Barbara
Williams Softball Complex
on Feb 17.
Hornet pitcher Amanda
Garcia started the game with
a walk to Maverick outfielder
Lindsay Redding. Maverick
infielder Tonya Peterson hit
a single that allowed
Redding to advance to third.
Redding scored on a single
up the middle by Maverick
catcher Lauren Larson and
Peterson advanced to second.
Mavericks pitcher Dana
Elsasser struck out Hornet
utility player Brehanna
Rodrigues to start the bottom
half of the first inning. Hor-
net infielder Sosefina Toilolo
and catcher Courtney
Crossley grounded out to
second base consecutively to
end the inning.
At the end of the first in-
ning the Mavericks were
“Micheal Jordan is my
favorite player because of
the things he accomplished
on and off the court; he has
his own business and he is
determined,” said Tramaine
Butler, a criminal justice-
major at Alabama State
University.
Butler is from Detroit,
Mich., and began his par-
ticipation in sports at a
young age.
According to Butler,
his parents were with him
every step of the way, not
just athletically, but aca-
demically as well.
“My parents were al-
ways supportive of me
playing basketball,” Butler
said. “However, my mother
and father have always
been on me about my
grades and school.”
Butler recounted how
he became interested in the
sport of basketball.
“When I was six I be-
came interested in sports,
mainly basketball,” Butler
said. “My older brother
was always on my head
about basketball.”
Butler attended
McKenzie High School,
where he not only played
basketball but ran cross-
country too. He was nomi-
nated for the All-American
basketball team and he also
played at an All-American
camp.
“My most memorable
moment of playing in high
school was when LeBron
James and R. Austin came
and watched us play against
O.J. Mayo and Billy
Walker,” Butler said.
Butler started at Ala-
bama State University in
the fall of 2008.
“I chose Alabama
State University because a
close teacher of mine in
high school went here and
he convinced me that it was
a good school,” Butler said.
“I didn’t get a scholarship
to come here; I walked on
as a freshman and later got
a scholarship. I like being
here, it’s different from
what I am used to back
home in Detroit. The way
the campus is becoming is
going to bring a lot of new
opportunities for current
and prospective students.”
Butler looked back on
his basketball career at
ASU.
“My most memorable
moment from my college
career had to be my fresh-
men year when I played in
the championship game
and won,” he said. “I was
glad I got the chance to ex-
perience it.”
Butler is very excited
about the new plans for
ASU.
“The Vision 20/20 pro-
gram is bringing a lot of
new attention and more
people are coming here,”
Butler said. “it has really
changed the school; I
would like to see all the
transformations when they
are done.”
After Butler graduates
he plans on going to the
NBA.
“It really doesn’t mat-
ter what team I play for; as
long as I make it I will be
happy.” Butler said. “Also
I plan to coach basketball
when my career is over,
and when I am well more
experienced.”
leading 3-0 off a walk, two
hits, and an error.
Garcia was unable to
find her rhythm in second
inning as she allowed eight
Mavericks to score off eight
hits. Included in the second
inning rally was a grand slam
by Mavericks catcher Amber
Lutmer.
Hornet outfielder
Meagan Dixon lead off the
inning with a walk but Hor-
net infielder Kim Ross was
not so lucky as she was
thrown out at first after
Dixon took second. Hornet
infielder Mercedes Fraizer
made the crowd go wild as
she hit a screamer to the out-
field sending Dixon home
and herself to second. The
Hornets finished the second
inning with one run, one hit,
no errors and one left on base
to make the score 1-11.
Hornet pitcher Bailey
Patt comes into the game to
relieve Garcia in the third
inning. Lutmer grounded out
to start the inning. Maverick
outfielder Katelyn Hinton hit
the ball right into the hands
of Hornet infielder Yvette
Ducoing giving the Hornets
their second out. Maverick
infielder Emma Wright was
able to make it to first base,
but shortly after Maverick
infielder Molly Negrete
grounded out to first to end
the inning. Mavericks ended
the inning with no runs, one
hit, no errors, and one left on
base.
Hornet utility player
Ayesha Famble had a suc-
cessful bunt and was able to
make it to second, Toilolo
excited the crowed when she
brought Famble home after
stealing third base with a hit
to right field, and sending
herself to second. Toilolo
stole third base followed by
a hit from Dixon who made
it to first base and sending
Toilolo home. Ross hit a
grounder to third base and
was able to make it to first.
The Hornets ended the in-
ning with two runs, one hit,
two errors and one left on
base, making the score 3-11.
Eeman went to first base
on a walk. Lynch was able to
reach first base but Eeman
was tagged out on the way to
second. Redding lined out to
first base and Lynch was out
at second base. The Maver-
icks finished the fourth in-
ning with no runs, no hits, no
errors and none left on base.
At the bottom of the
fourth inning, Fraizer bunted
but was not able to reach
first. The Mavericks quickly
finished the fourth inning
with an unsuccessful
grounder from Wright.
Elsasser struck out Ducoing,
and the Hornets finished the
fourth inning with no runs,
no hits, no errors and none
left on base.
In the fifth inning both
teams scored once, ending
the game.
The following day the
Hornets and Mavericks went
head to head again, this time
with different results. The
Hornets beat the Mavericks
4-0 at the Barbara Williams
Softball Complex during the
last day of the invitational.
After the game
Rodrigues stated “we as a
team”
Head Coach Telma Hall
said “although it wasn’t the
outcome we wanted, it was
exciting to open up at home,
it was very important to us
that the field was completed
for our first home game.”
who stole the ball and made
the lay-in and the free-
throw shot.
Hornet guard Jeff
Middlebrooks (8 points)
grabbed an offensive re-
bound and quickly laid the
ball up, followed by an un-
contested three-pointer
from Butler making the
score 44-35 with 6:25 left.
Beltran hit a three-
pointer over Watts.
Celestin also hit a three at
the top of the key, followed
by a reverse lay-up by
Doggett tying the game 46-
46 2:16 left.
The Jags turned on the
afterburners to grab the
lead when Beltran hit a
close-range jumper.
Crawford fouled out when
he fouled Doggett under-
neath the basket; he hit one
of the two free-throws,
making the score 49-46
with 1:07 left.
Butler hit a lay-up, fol-
lowed by another lay-up
from White but it would not
be enough as the Jaguars
went on to win.
Butler was the 27th Ala-
bama State University
men’s basketball player to
reach 1,000 career points.
After the game Butler
said, “Once I hit my thou-
sandth point I felt good , but
it didn’t matter in the end.
The team just started relax-
ing when we were up. Now
it feels pointless.”
Head Coach Lewis
Jackson said, “Defensively
we did enough to put our-
selves into the game; we
had second chance oppor-
tunities but didn’t take
them. Offensively we
slowed down; Phil got into
foul trouble and took our
presence out of the
middle.”
Continued from page D1
Beat: Beat: Beat: Beat: Beat: “Once I hit my thousandthpoint I felt good, but it didn’t ...”
by Abraham Chopinby Abraham Chopinby Abraham Chopinby Abraham Chopinby Abraham ChopinSPORTS EDITOR
Butler hopes to play in
the professional ranks
Hornets lose season openerby Carisma ‘Billy” Mitchellby Carisma ‘Billy” Mitchellby Carisma ‘Billy” Mitchellby Carisma ‘Billy” Mitchellby Carisma ‘Billy” MitchellSTAFF [email protected]
George H. AndrewsSTUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD
GUIDELINES FOR 2011-121. Participation in University Activities
2. At least a 2.5 overall grade point average3. Volunteer work on/off campus4. Must be at least a sophomore5. Must have good citizenship.
THE AWARDThe award will consist of a plaque and a scholarship that
may be applied to tuition, fees, books, etc.
THE DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS ISTUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
THE NOMINATION FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THEOFFICE OF STUDENTS AFFAIRS, 108 MCGEHEE HALL.
Photography by Christopher Logan/Visual Media Managiing Editor
Tremaine Butler displays his photo as seniors on the 2011-
12 basketball team are recognized during senior night.