63.11 spartan echo

Vol. 63, Issue 11 04.08.16

Spartan Echo Exclusive: Interview with President Moore on tuition, fees, and costs

by Shareen Nicholson and Tiana Allen

In an exclusive inter-view with the Spartan Echo on Monday, March 28, President and CEO Eddie N. Moore, Jr. dis-cussed the increases in tuition and fees for the upcoming school year. On Mar. 18, the Norfolk State University Board of Visitors voted to set tuition and fees for the 2016-17 academic year. The board approved a $156-dollar increase in tuition and a $216-dollar increase in mandatory fees for resident under-graduate students. The total tuition and fees for in-state undergraduate students will be $8,738 dollars. The tuition for graduate students in-

creased to $846 dollars, and mandatory fees in-creased $216 dollars. The state supplies just more than half of the funding for Norfolk State and the university has to make up the rest. Presi-dent Moore emphasized that NSU is not trying to make up lost ground from previous in-state tuition freezes imposed by the Commonwealth; they are just taking care of bills. The increase in tuition will primarily be used to comply with a state-man-dated raise that will affect full-time faculty and staff. It will also be used to help maintain several buildings on campus, including the student center, student services

building, and nursing and general education building. Earlier this semester, the BOV decided to move forward with a decision that will make it man-datory for all freshman students to reside on campus, excluding those who stay within a cer-tain radius from campus. According to President Moore, the increases to room and board will help generate revenue to help aid upcoming renova-tions and improvements that are scheduled for the residence halls. “Unfortunately, not all of those are above ground, or behind doors. So, while everyone may not see $9 million dollars’ worth of improvement,

Photo from Norfolk State University.

Cast of “A Different World” is coming to NSU The cast of the 90’s hit television show “A Differ-ent World” will be com-ing to Norfolk State’s L. Douglas Wilder Perform-ing Arts Center on Satur-day Apr. 16, 2016. They are coming to discuss the importance of higher education and the value of Historically Black Col-leges and Universities. This event will be the first time the cast has ever vis-ited a college campus. This event will be

by Shareen Nicholson sponsored by SunTrust Bank and is titled, “It IS A Different World: Col-lege Changes EVERY-THING!” The event will benefit ACCESS College Foundation and Norfolk State’s Honors College. They will connect themes from the show to real-life situations in what will be entertaining and educa-tional dialogue. A Different World has been cited as being a defining reason as to why many African American

college students decided to attend a historically Black college or univer-sity. The event will feature actors Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne), Jasmine Guy (Whitley), Cree Sum-mer (Freddie), Charnele Brown (Kim) and Darryl Bell (Ron). This event will also serve to recruit prospective students. NSU will also offer guidance through the college application

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

some of it is replacing boilers and pipes and things that are behind closed doors or behind walls,” said Moore. NSU was one of the

first institutions in the Commonwealth to set its tuition and fees; however, NSU expects to remain one of the most afford-

spartan news 04.08.16

Interview with President Moorecontinued from frontable four-year public institutions in the Com-monwealth of Virginia. In addition, Norfolk State will continue its flat-rate tuition policy. President Moore hopes that the increase in tuition will strongly encourage students to take 18 credit hours per semester. “We need all the stu-dents to understand that financial aid only covers five years of their educa-tion. Both the federal and the state financial aid end at five years. I do appreci-ate that my predecessor put the 15-to-Finish flat rate in,” Moore said. “But I think students should take full advantage of the eighteen hours and, if they aren’t doing well in a course, then they could consider letting it go...and they’ll still have the fifteen.” President Moore also encourages anyone who is financially struggling with a GPA of a 3.0 or above to look into the Presidential Achieve-ment Award, which has generated a lot of positive

feedback since he began the program. The primary reason in this early decision to increase tuition and fees was to increase enroll-ment. “The sooner we can get out your award letters, the sooner you’ll make the decision on whether you’re coming back to NSU,” Moore said. “We wanted to set fees ear-ly….Our goal is to get our award letters out as soon as possible, so students and prospective freshmen would know what they were awarded. We still expect to be extremely competitive in terms of total cost of the institu-tion.” In fact, the university is anticipating an increase in enrollment, perhaps even a dramatic one. “We are way ahead on applications. We are way ahead on acceptances, and we’re hoping that we can actually increase our yield,” Moore said. As well as increases to in-state undergraduate students, graduate stu-dents will also face an

increase in tuition and fees. With these increases, President Moore still expects NSU’s graduate programs to be among the most affordable in the region. That’s because certain programs are receiving research grants, which offer stipends to graduate students who participate in these pro-grams. The state has also increased graduate finan-cial aid as well. This will be the third year in a row that out-of state students will not face an increase. While schools can charge out-of-state students what-ever amount they choose, President Moore felt that out-of-state students were shouldering too much of the financial burden when he came into office and he’s been trying to level that burden out. He also feels this will help in recruitment of out-of-state students, who could be a larger piece of the enrollment pie in the future. The increase in tuition and fees will generate some operating capital,

It’s not just a fest, this is tradition by Tyeka M. Bailey

It is almost that time of the year where NSU’s amazing Spartans can participate and be a part of Norfolk State’s upcom-ing festivities. Spartan Fest is near and everyone is excited. There will be many events held, but the ma-jority of our fellow Spar-tans are over the edge about NSU’s concert. They are anticipating the headlining artist. Norfolk State’s Spartan Fest is so popular that people even

buy new outfits for that week. People are marking off their calendars and counting down the days to Spartan Fest. Spartan Fest is during the second week of April, it will be here before you know it. “At this Spartan Fest, I plan to see a lot of compe-tition and a lot of enthusi-asm in all of the students and faculty members,” said NSU junior Tristan Butler. For seniors, Spartans Fest is bitter sweet. This will be the last fest they’ll

be able to go to before graduation, but he food and live entertainment will cheer them up. Spartan Fest has always been a tradition at Nor-folk State University. The bonds and memories that are created could and usually last a lifetime. The motivational speech-es never fail to inspire and the comedy shows will never leave you with a dull moment. Between school work and the on and off nice weather, Spartans are looking forward to enjoy-

ing a week filled with laughs, hugs, dancing and maybe even a little tears. This year’s Spartan Fest is expected to be a great and memorable one. Graduating seniors will always look back and remember the good times at Norfolk State Univer-sity. They’ll remember the smell of the smoke from the grill, the sound of the drums, the smiles and support from faculty and fellow Spartans. Most importantly, they’ll take with them never ending memories.

“At this Spartan Fest, I plan to see

a lot of compe-tition and a lot of enthusiasm

in all of the stu-dents and fac-

ulty members,” said NSU junior Tristan Butler.


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but there are other finan-cial obligations. “It will generate operating capi-tal, but it will probably all go to addressing existing costs,” Moore said. President Moore is trying to keep the costs away from students and more on alumni and friends of the University, like corporations. In his 25 years working at higher education insti-tutions, President Moore has grown to accept that the state only takes responsibility for bare necessities of a university: “the meat and potatoes” he said. Everything else is left in the hands of the university and the par-ents. Unfortunately, less than 12 percent of alumni make contributions to Norfolk State. “Alumni need to place Norfolk State in their budgets. If we’re raising just under 3 million a year with 11 percent con-tribution, what would we raise if we could get that to 55 percent or 77 per-cent? We just need to do a better job of reminding our alumni and friends of

the current sacrifices our students are making,” Moore said. “We’ve made appeals to our alumni, faculty, and staff to make contri-butions through invest-ment or giving to the university. The financial aid at NSU we would like to see increased. Last year, we were able to do a Presidential Achieve-ment Award that was just based on academic GPA; if it was above 3.0, you received an award. We’re hoping that we can find the private lending to continue that,” Moore said. One idea that President Moore is considering is raising ticket prices for games and events in order to lighten the bur-den on current students, whose attendance at events is already paid for through their fees. Moore said increased student participation at those events could help justify such an increase on non-students through basic supply-and-demand.

spartan news04.08.16

LiveSafe App helps safety measures on campus

LiveSafe empowers students to help keep themselves and their campus safe by enhancing communication. Photo from www.facebook.com/LiveSafeApp.

by Tyeka Bailey

With temperatures ris-ing it is important that students remain aware of what’s going on around them. Students need to remain well informed with what’s happening on campus as it relates to campus safety. With Nor-folk State being an “open-campus,” that means that anyone can walk onto the campus at anytime. The residence halls on campus provide policies and guidelines to facili-tate an atmosphere con-ducive to the safety and welfare of all residents. When going out at night, students should always walk in groups and make sure they are traveling in well lit areas. For those who choose to walk

alone, make sure that someone is aware of your location at all times. The Norfolk State Uni-versity Police Department offers programs to stu-dents, faculty and staff to discuss a variety of topics that promote safety mea-sures such as informa-tion on critical safety and security measures. It is encouraged that anyone who sees any suspicious activity reports it to the University Police Depart-ment as soon as possible. Mobile technology has become the new way to communicate, and the NSU police department understands that. Norfolk State has partnered with LiveSafe, a safety applica-tion where students can receive and share safety

information directly with campus police through their mobile device. Users can also initiate Safewalk, a tracking fea-ture that lets police and followers know where a student is located—at the user’s discretion—if they walk to class or attend sporting events in the evening. SafeWalkers can simultaneously chat with one another to maintain constant contact. The stu-dents can also use the ap-plication off-campus. The students can anonymous-ly report disturbances, suspicious activity, theft and more serious crimes directly from their mobile device. Norfolk State is the first HBCU to utilize the LiveSafe app.

Our President’s ScheduleWednesday, April 13, 2-5 p.m.

Student Office Hours(Student Center room 331)

Friday, April 15, 2-5 p.m.Faculty & Staff Office Hours(Student Center room 331)

Wednesday, April 27, 2-5 p.m.Student Office Hours

(Student Center room 331)

HOW TO REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT TO MEET WITH THE PRESIDENT

Appointments to meet with President Moore can be requested by completing the APPOINTMENT REQUEST FORM 2015-2016 form at https://www.surveymon-key.com/s/ BLH9CZY. Identify at least two (2) dates and times at least three (3) business days in ad-vance of your preferred date and time. The request will be forwarded to the President’s Office for review and scheduling. Reason-able efforts to provide a con-firmation of the appointment date/time or an alternate with-in 48 hours of the request will be made.

Student Office Hours: Current students can request a 30-minute appointment with the President in his satellite office at the Student Center.

Faculty and Staff Office Hours: Current employees can request a 30-minute appointment with the President in his satellite office at the Student Center.

Cast of “A Different

World”

process, the ability to meet with NSU faculty and students, participate in a registration fair, and tour NSU’s campus. The registration and campus tour is free and open to the public and will begin

at 9 a.m. The cost is $15 for stu-dents and $20 for adults. To purchase tickets, visit http://nsuspartan-stickets.universitytickets.com and click “Special Events Tickets”. For more information about the event contact Marissa

continued from frontNihill at Norfolk State University at 757-823-8323. For information on group ticket sales, contact ACCESS College Founda-tion at 757-962-6113 or [email protected].


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spartan entertainment 04.08.16

Is cable T.V. dying among young audiences? by Aegious Perkins

For almost the past six years, On Demand services for Fios, Cox, and several other cable companies used to be the main source for some-one to catch up on their favorite television shows. Following up after that was the DVR box that allowed viewers to record shows so they’d be avail-able to watch at a later time. Currently, there are new streaming services that have taken over in many households. Netflix, as well as Hulu and other stream-ing services, have been around for a while, but just recently have become popular with many peo-ple. Many people have

changed their focus from spending larger amount of money on cable boxes, to paying a small month-ly fee to watch shows with little to no commer-cial breaks as many times as they want. Many find these servic-es to be a more practical way to stay current with their television viewing. The younger demograph-ic seemed to have ad-opted streaming services first, but now households all over have made the choice to “cut the cable cords” and stream. Be-sides smartphones and laptops, there are other streaming devices such as Roku, Fire Sticks, and Apple T.V. that all pro-vide numerous movies

and current television shows for viewing. For newly indepen-dent students and frugal adults alike, steaming services are proving to be the way to go for shows and movies. Instead of paying almost 200 dollars for hundreds of channels you may not even watch, it seems more sensible to many to pay only about ten dollars a month to see endless movies and tele-vision shows with limited commercial breaks. Not only have these apps been provided for viewers, but networks such as HBO, STARZ, and ShowTime have started to participate in streaming their services.

NSU Theatre Company presents one act play series

The 2016 One Act Play Festival will be held Apr. 18-21 at 7pm. Photo from www.facebook.com/nsutheatre.

Norfolk State’s The-atre is presenting to the students and local com-munity a series of one act plays. They will take place in the course of three days beginning on April 18 and continue through April 21. The series is a group of shows that the students in the directing classes are pre-senting. There are 14 Norfolk State student directors who are working toward putting their own works together and presenting them to the public with

16 shows. Acting is not limited just to NSU stu-dents, so there will be people who are a part of the community sharing their skills with Norfolk State University. Not only are the one act plays giving students an opportunity to create something fresh and new for the student body, it is also giving talented locals a chance to show off what they can do as they exer-cise their talent. “It will be fun, but scary,” said Bria Daniels The students are more

than elated to put their skills to the test and on display for the public. For most of them, this will be their first time putting to-gether an entire piece. All throughout the semester, students have been work-ing hard to balance work-ing in the theatre’s plays and coming up with ideas for their personal show, as well as maintaining high scholastic grade point averages. The one act plays are free, open to the public, and a great opportunity.

Want to join the Echo?

Any major going into any field can work for the Echo and build a portfolio of their writing, photogra-phy, and/or graphic design work.

Just come to one of our staff meetings on any Tues-day or Thursday of the aca-demic semester at 12:30 p.m. in room 344 of the Student Center. Introduce yourself and get involved!

It’s not too late!

More and more millenials are yanking out the cord from Cox, Comcast and other cable providers in favor of Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services. Photo by Tyra Whitney.


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spartan entertainment04.08.16

Netflix reboots 90s sitcom “Full House”

by Aegious Perkins After all the rumors and memes circulating the internet, many Full House fans wishes came

true. On Feb 26, 2016, Netflix premiered a spin off of the 90’s hit T.V. show “Full House.” The new show titled “Fuller

House,” has received mixed reviews since its premire. The show begins twen-ty years after the end of Full House, with Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) get-ting ready to move out of the family home, but then deciding to ultimately leave the house to D.J. (Candice Cameron Bure). D.J. is a widowed mother of three boys, who is left to raise her sons on her own. Creator Jeff Franklin, was sure to incorporate the nostalgic emotion by bringing in actors Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie Tan-ner), and Andrea Barber (Kimmy Gibler). On the pilot, almost every character from the old show had returned. This episode provided view-

After 21 years, the highly anticipated spin off was met with great reviews, and has been approved for a second season” Photo from www.facebook.com/fullerhouse.

Spartanfest 2016: The return of the fashion show by Shareen Nicholson

Spartanfest is around the corner and, the most talked about event this year, is the return of the “Spartanfest Fash-ion Show.” The Student Government Association hasn’t hosted a fashion show since homecom-ing 2012. For those who remember that show, it quickly reached capacity. It is easily one of the most talked about campus events to this day. The Student Govern-ment Association is bring-ing back the fashion show on Thursday, Apr. 14. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 7:00 p.m. Early arrival is suggested. “The last time there was a fashion show I was a freshman, and now I’m about to graduate, so I’m

super excited. It’s excit-ing to see regular people you see on campus ev-eryday up on that stage modeling and slaying! I can’t wait,” said senior psychology major Desiree Thompson. Auditions were held for several weeks at the beginning of the semes-ter, allowing all students who were interested to come out and audition. There was a call for stu-dent models, designers, and make up artists. The show will feature origi-nal designs from current NSU students, alumni, and designers from throughout the Hampton Roads area. Like many of the other events, this one brings out the pride in the Spar-tans of Norfolk State University. The participa-

tion of students, faculty, and staff is encouraged to help bring out the spirit of this event. “I love fashion shows because they give you a chance to unapologetical-ly express yourself. You need confidence to be able to go walk in front of hundreds and stand tall and strong. I prepared for this two months in advance by practicing my walk and monitoring my weight loss, because I wanted to look my best. It was always a dream of mine to be in a fashion show as a model because I haven’t always had confidence in my body. Now that I do, it feels so good to be accomplish-ing a goal that I’ve had for years,” said senior psychology major Jordan Woodard.

In collaboration with the Student Government As-sociation, this year’s show is being directed by Devon Jackson and Mike Ricks. Both are alumni of the uni-versity, and were the masterminds behind the fashion show in 2012. “We’re just grateful for the opportunity, and we just want to bring something to the school that they’ve never seen before. This is an opportunity to allow students to break out of their shell and step outside of their comfort zone,” said Jackson and Ricks.

In collaboration with the Student Government Asso-ciation, this year’s show is being directed by Devon Jackson and Mike Ricks. Photo by Simeon Nimely.


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ers with background stories on what everyone had been doing for the last twenty years. The pilot episode featured old catch phrases, and awkward looks into the camera with references toward the old show. While watching the show, it may be hard to wrap your mind around the youngest characters of “Full House” being older and experiencing the more mature aspects of life. The creaters did a wonderful job at keeping the old school feel, but still able to keep up with the modern shows such as “Black-ish”, “Fresh Off the Boat” and “Mod-ern Family.” All of these shows showcase family values, life lessons and

most of all funny and memorable punch lines. All of the characters return to the show ex-cept the Olsen twins who played Michelle Tanner. However, the writers did a great job capturing the essence of their character without them. Considering that “Full House” was such a big show towards the end of the 80’s and straight into the 90’s, the decision to premiere the show on Netflix was a great idea. The show did so well that on Mar. 2, 2016, the show was picked up for a second season. All in all, ‘Fuller House’ is a great watch. It brings to viewers a sense of nos-talgia, of years passed.

spartan lifestyle 04.08.16

The Finals Guide: 101

by Meleah Holmes

You can get more final exam study tips at the Social U. http://thesocialu101.com/10-study-tips-for-final-exams/

It’s almost time for finals! Some of the most hectic times of your undergrad career. Hec-tic, because you’ll have to pass all of your finals and complete all of end of semester work, before you can enjoy your break. Either way the time will pass and you will have

to take your final exams. You’ll either be able to start your summer with excitement or you’ll be bummed about not doing too hot on your exams. We don’t want anyone to start their summer bummed out, so below are some tips that will guide you in the right direction to get a super

sunny start to your sum-mer! Tip #1: DO NOT Pro-crastinate Procrastination is a common denominator amongst college aged students. Procrastination is what also gets in the way of success for many of us. If you start to study and compile the informa-tion that will be on your final, weeks before finals week, then you’ll already be ahead of the game! The key to success in col-lege is to always do more than your professor asks of you. Go above and beyond to get that A.Tip #2: Go meet with your professors Set up an appointment with each of your profes-sors individually. This meeting gives you the op-portunity to look at your current grades and make sure that everything is correct. Professors are hu-

mans too, and they make mistakes. Keep all of your work throughout the year so that you have proof of your grades if your professor ever forgets to put an assignment grade in the grade book. Dur-ing this meeting you may also have an opportunity to inquire about extra credit opportunities. Tip #3: Get to know your professors Creating a relation-ship with your professor though out the year could help your grade and per-formance in the class. No one likes going to a class where they don’t like or agree with their profes-sor. Getting to know your professors gives you the opportunity to see their perspective and under-stand their teaching style. Professors are chalk full of knowledge. Make sure your professors know who you are so that

you’re not just another face in the class room. Tip #4: Study Studying is not an easy task for everyone. There are many methods you can use to study. Flash cards, games, and study guides are just a few ways you can get the job done. Whatever method that you use, just make sure that you take the time out to study. Study-ing could be the differ-ence between an almost passing grade and a pass-ing grade.Tip #5: Don’t quit When the going gets tough, do not give up. It takes hard work and dedication to get to where you want to be, so don’t let hard times determine your future. Get your work complete as soon as your receive it and then look over your materi-als for that course. Work smart, not hard.

The Grad School Guide: 101 by Meleah Holmes Preparing for gradu-ate school can be a very stressful time for any graduating senior. In the midst of trying to prepare for graduate school you are now also faced with grad school application fees, entry test, financial aid ( if applicable) and a plethora of other task that you must complete, all while trying to main-tain a high enough GPA to get into your school of choice. Yes, applying to graduate school can be stressful indeed, but only if you allow it to be. Mak-ing the decision to attend graduate school means

that you are embarking on yet another journey to further your knowledge and hopefully land your dream career. Stress could be a huge road block in any situation, but these tips will for sure make the process of applying to graduate school a lot easier:Tip # 1: Research! One of the biggest and most important tips to follow when applying to graduate school is to do your research. Make sure that the schools you are applying to definitely offer what you want to study in full! The descrip-tion of the degree you are

looking to obtain should include everything you are looking to gain form your grad school experi-ence. Look at all require-ments, deadlines, hous-ing arrangements, traffic, weather, and even the crime rate in the area of your prospective school. Don’t leave anything to chance when applying, research it all!Tip #2: Do not procrasti-nate Procrastination is one of the biggest obstacles that college students face. Waiting until the last minute to apply to Graduate school could

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Students can go to http://www.gre.org and find out more about taking the Graduate Record Examination test, get a test prep, or even practice taking the test. Photo from GRE.org.


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spartan lifestyle04.08.16

Can tattoos affect your employment?

by Tiana K. Allen Tattoos have become increasingly popular over the years, with many peo-ple getting one as young as sixteen. According to a recent study done by the Pew Research Center found that nearly 40 per-cent of people between the ages of 18 and 29 have at least one tattoo. Stud-ies have shown that over half of people who are in their twenties have a tattoo and that number is steadily rising. The question many students want to know is,

“How do these jobs affect employment?” In a survey done by CareerBuilder.com, 31 percent of hiring manag-ers said that visible tat-toos can have a negative impact on their decision to hire someone. Many may think that hiring policies against body art is discriminatory. It’s not. Companies do have a right to implement dress codes, and they can choose to implement a code against tattoos. According to Sal-ary.com, 76 percent of

The size of a tattoo can turn employers away if it is visible. Photo by Tyra Whitney.

people with tattoos, feel as though it hurts their chances of getting a job. 39 percent of employ-ers say employees with tattoos reflect poorly on their employers. Majority of the indi-viduals who make hiring decisions are between the ages of 45-to-70-year-old crowd. For many people within this age range they believe that tattoos are associated with negative actions. According to a Harris poll, 32 percent of adults without tattoos believe that those with tattoos are likely to do something deviant. For those without tat-toos, consider the risks to your future career if you do decide to get one. If you decide to get one, make sure its done in a place that can be covered up for work. If you al-ready have one, consider a company’s dress code before choosing to apply. Never go into an inter-view with your tattoos

showing. Tattoos, especially visible ones, have been proven to make employ-ers give job applicants the side eye or even turn them down for a position. However, the popularity of tattoos has grown to the point that they have gone from a sign of a gang, biker, or delinquent indicator to a form of self-expression. This ideology is evident through employers now finding themselves more accepting of employees with tattoos. According to STAPAW, only 4% of tat-tooed or pierced people say that they have actual-ly faced discrimination in their current job. In fact, the government is known for having the most le-nient tattoo policies. Although the workforce has made progress with accepting tattoos, there is still a way to go before it may be fully accepted for all employers. Millennials are known for being the

Grad School Guide continued from page 6

potentially place you on a waiting list, or make it so that you have to wait an additional semester to apply .When applying to graduate school there are deadlines that you must meet. Make sure that you are aware of all the dates when applications and fees are due. If there is a checklist available on your prospective schools website, including dates and requirements, print it out and follow it strictly!Tip #3: Do not spread yourself thin senior year! Senior year is the year

that everyone wants to ensure their resume is looking up to par for prospective gradu-ate schools. However this does not mean you should try to take on ev-ery task and opportunity that is presented. Some-times it is okay to say no. It is better to do a few things well, than to do many things subpar.Tip #4: Stay organized Everyone has a different definition of what orga-nization is to them, so in your own way please try to stay organized. Don’t just go to the store and

buy a divider or two and never use them. Actually map out task for yourself to complete. Keep all of your grad school infor-mation in one binder/notebook so that you know where everything is when it’s time to use it. Keeping your room and environment clean can also be a huge asset to your sanity while going through this time. A clean space will make your life appear to be less clut-tered, which in essence will aid in keeping your mind focused on the task at hand.

E D I T O R S

Tip #5: Remain focused When the going gets tough, remind yourself of all the reasons you de-cided to attend graduate school in the first place. The process will not be a cake walk but with disci-pline and diligence you will reach the finish line! There will be days when you may not feel like you want to move forward in the process but noth-ing in life worth having comes easy. As long as you remain focused and keep your eyes on your end goal, you will be suc-cessful.

Shareen NicholsonEditor-in-Chief

Mahogany WaldonOnline/Managing Editor

Tyeka BaileyNews Editor

Meleah HolmesLifestyle Editor

Aegious PerkinsLifestyle Editor

Tyra WhitneyMultimedia Editor

Sarah JeffersonDeputy Graphic

Design/Layout Editor


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spartan sports 04.08.16

Spartan Football determined to rebuild by Jaquan Anderson Norfolk State Universi-ty’s football team has had their share of losses in the past couple seasons. Fin-ishing with a record of 4 – 4 two years in a row has left a need for redemption in the program. Latrell Scott is serving his sec-ond year as the program’s head coach. New coaches, graduating seniors, and new schemes characterize NSU’s football team as a “building program.” A newly released oppo-nent schedule has NSU’s

football team training more vigorously than ever before in this 2016 off season. The Spartans prepare to take on a new year without former defensive stand out Dion King and graduating offensive lineman Mike Phillips. New addi-tions to the team include coaches such as Defensive coordinator Matt Dawson and Freshman Quarter-back Tyree Gilvis Wilson. There will also be the return of a few players who were injured in the

The Spartans practice 15 times from March through April, culminating with the annual Green & Gold Game on Saturday, April 16 at 3:30 p.m. at Dick Price Stadium. Like last year, the Green & Gold Game will be played in an offense vs. defense format using a modified scoring system to award points to the de-fense for turnovers gained, sacks, punts forced, etc. Admission is free. Photo from NSUSpartans.com.

NSU Bowling Team offers up surprising season for Spartan fans

by Jessica Toliver Starting off the spring season, competing at the Lady Bulldog Classic at Bowie State, Norfolk State sophomore Briana Gardner was named the MEAC Bowler of the Week. Gardner rolled a 289 on the first day of the match against Virginia State. She topped the pre-

vious school’s best of 280 set by Sheila-Marie Smith on Jan. 24, 2009. The No. 20 Spartans went 8-5 at the tourna-ment that was hosted by Bowie State at the AMF Lanes in Laurel, Mary-land. It also marked the second time this year an NSU bowler received the weekly MEAC award af-

ter freshman Alexa Rodri-guez earned the distinc-tion in late October. In the February poll of 2016, the Norfolk State bowling team ranked 18th in the National Ten-pin Coaches Association top 25 poll. Norfolk State was also one of five teams from the MEAC that had a spot in the poll, which moved to a top-25 rank-ing this year after previ-ously naming just the top-20 teams. In February, Senior Car-rie Hickey of the Spartans was named the MEAC Bowler of the Week. The native of Palm Harbor, Florida rolled a career-high 277 and finished as the MVP of the two-day Trojan Classic hosted by Virginia State. Hickey had the highest pinfall total of all players, tal-lying a score of 1,052 in five games, four of them official. Hickey became the third different Spartan

Senior Carrie Hickey closed out her career by be-ing named to the All-Tournament Team. Photo from NSUSpartans.com.

bowler to win the award after freshman Alexa Ro-driguez and sophomore Briana Gardner. The No. 18 Norfolk State bowling team began the quest for a MEAC title on Mar.26 with the qualifying round of the 2016 MEAC Champion-ship at the AMF Lanes in Chesapeake. NSU advanced to the finals at last year’s cham-pionship, its second ever title match appearance. The Spartans held a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series before UMES ral-lied to win the last four games for a 4-3 win and the championship trophy. Ending the season, for the second year in a row, the Spartans were unable to come away with the win in the championship match as the No. 6 seed. DSU, the No. 1 seed, won its first title since 2010 after finishing with a 9-0 record at this year’s tour-

nament. Senior Carrie Hickey and freshman Alexa Ro-driguez were named to the all-tournament team. Rodriguez had the high-est individual average on Friday of the qualifying round. “The season started out looking good,” said Mrs. Wright-Harrison, the coach of the women’s bowling team. “We ended up losing two of our play-ers that were recruited at the beginning of the year, so we only had 5 instead of 7 players. On that note, the injuries held us back, but we still managed to make it to the champion-ship and that was a great accomplishment for our team.” NSU will return its other four regular-lineup players for next season and add an undetermined number of newcomers.


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previous season. Agility and weight training has begun al-ready for the Spartans under the supervision of strength and conditioning Coach Chris Neff. Spring results and performance will determine the front line of the Spartans this upcoming season. Head Coach Latrell Scott is known for win-ning records in his past few coaching roles and looks to win his first MEAC division champi-onship this year.

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