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Special to The Famuan History is made at UF as Brittney Newby is admitted to the M.D. Ph.D program. Opinions |5 Wednesday Lifestyles Tuesday Keenan Doanes The Famuan Protesters voice their opinions on the Capitol Steps demanding justice in Egypt. Lifestyles | 6 Today LaGretta Johnson The Famuan Students and fellow staff bid farewell to Adriene Wright. C HRISTOPHER Q UINN II S TAFF W RITER EGYPT 4 According to the Black College Communication Association M ARCUS J OSEPH S TAFF W RITER W RIGHT 4TRANSCRIPT
It was a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon as protesters assembled on the Capitol Lawn carrying handwritten signs
reading, “Freedom in Egypt” and “We Support Egypt.”
Local residents and organizations held a solidarity rally to express their support for freedom in Cairo.
Anti-government protests, demanding economic and political changes, began in
Egypt on Jan. 25. Since then, tens of thousands of people
are fi lling the streets of Cairo and other cities and have called for President Hosni Mubarak to resign after 30 years in power.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” a famous quote by Martin Luther King, Jr., helps to defi ne one of the many reasons why American protesters are voicing their opinions.
“It should affect us all as Americans because it is what a truly American concept is about putting in a democracy,” said Alla Hadi, an Egyptian-American attending Florida State, whose family, and friends that are worried about what is going on in Egypt.
“We have to voice our support.”President Obama has issued a plea for
Less than two motnhs after being named president of Florida Memorial Universtiy, Henry Lewis III has picked up Director of Development Adriene Wright as one of his vice presidents.
Wright has been the Director of Development of University Affairs at FAMU for over three years. As of Feb. 11, she will be taking her skills to Florida Memorial University as the vice president of institutional advancement.
Wright is an alumnus of FAMU and said that it has been great being able to work at where she started.
“FAMU is where I got my start, so for me to have come back to support the mission of this institution is a wonderful feeling,” Wright said. “I have learned so much from my time here and I will take all that I have
gained with me.”During her tenure at FAMU,
Wright has made her presence known in a quiet but effective way. Her colleagues have expressed their feelings about
Florida A&M alumna Brittney Newby has made history at the University of Florida.
Newby recently became the fi rst African-American female to be admitted into UF’s M.D.-Ph.D program.
Newby, an Atlanta native, graduated summa cum laude in the spring of 2009 from FAMU with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She was offi cially accepted into UF’s prestigious program Jan. 18.
“It is very humbling,” said Newby.
“I can’t help but to think of all of the people that have paved the way. Without them, I wouldn’t even have the opportunity to
partake in this prestigious program.
Newby said her family helps her keep that balance and have been very emotionally instrumental.
“My family is extremely proud of me and they continue to support me. Especially my mother, she has been that support I needed because applying can be very emotional,” said Newby.
The University of Florida’s M.D.-Ph.D program was created in 1967. Each year, the program only admits eight students. The students’ tuition is paid for in full with the help of personal mentors and all students receive a $25,000 per
Marshall J. Taggart, Jr. will assist the Tallahassee Regional Airport in reaching new heights as the city’s assistant aviation director.
Appointed to the executive position in the city’s aviation department on Feb. 1, Taggart said he’s eager for his career to take fl ight with in Tallahassee.
“I feel that is a tremendous opportunity to engage with employees in the airport industry,” said Taggart.
Before coming to the capital city, Taggart served as the senior concession manager for the Hartsfi eld-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. He graduated from Clark Atlanta University bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a master’s degree in Public Administration in 1992 and 1997.
“When I got my master’s degree I had a concentration in Public Finance Management and Urban Administration. It was an opportunity to understand how to run major public sector agencies and what it takes to fund those agencies,” Taggart said.
According to City of
Opinions
Opinions |5
Lifestyles Editor Clarece Polke writes about proper female attire when going about daily activities.
Lifestyles | 6
Lifestyles
FAMU Alumnus Darrick McGhee is preaching to more than 100 people at Bible Based Church.
W E A T H E R
66
www.TheFamuanOnline.com VOL. 112 ISSUE 22Monday, February 7, 2011
THE STUDENT VOICE OF FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY
“The Number 1 HBCU Newspaper”According to the Black College
Communication Association
EGYPT 4
AVIATION 3
Director takes to the skiesCECILIA AIKEN
STAFF WRITER
MARCUS JOSEPH
STAFF WRITER
CHRISTOPHER QUINN IISTAFF WRITER
NI’TAVIA JOHNSON
STAFF WRITER
WRIGHT 4
ALUMNA 4
Tally rallies for Egypt
Alum breaks barriers in University of Florida program
Lewis taps peer for VP post
Wednesday
62 45
Today
61 32
Tuesday
57 32
Keenan Doanes The FamuanProtesters voice their opinions on the Capitol Steps demanding justice in Egypt.
Special to The FamuanMarshall J. Taggart
LaGretta Johnson The FamuanStudents and fellow staff bid farewell to Adriene Wright.
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda’s top opposition leader says he may lead protests similar to those that have rocked Egypt if this month’s presidential vote is rigged. Kizza Besigye says he will ask people to take to the streets instead of pressing fraud charges as he did after the 2006 poll.
President Yoweri Museveni who has been Uganda’s president since 1986, is widely expected to win the Feb. 18 poll.
NEWS BRIEFS
INTERNATIONAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
AP Photo Ronald Kabuubi
Special to The FamuanHistory is made at UF as Brittney Newby is admitted to the M.D.
Ph.D program.
The Famuan2 Calendar TheFamuanOnline.comMonday, February 7, [email protected]
Events and Announcements
Dream Community Service Organization will be having a General Body Meeting on Feb. 8, 2011 at 8 p.m. in BL Perry Rm.303. Please contact Meriel Joseph-President for more info at 561-460-7106.
ASP/SNPHA in conjunction with Phi Lambda Sigma Leadership Society will be hosting an HIV/AIDS health seminar on Feb. 9 from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Auditorium in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science. Contact Veronese castor via email [email protected] for more information.
CFO and the Florida A&M chapter of the NAACP
Call (850) 599- 3159 for ad inquiry
TheF
am
ua
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nli
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co
mwill host a financial literacy workshop Tuesday, Feb. 8 in B.L. Perry room 300 at 7:30pm. This event will help provide insight regarding the basic concepts
of finance and fiscal responsibility. This event should prove to be a very edifying experience. Please plan to attend. For more information contact Matthew G. Holte or Jennifer Metayer at [email protected].
To place an announcement in the Calendar, e-mail your submission to [email protected] at least two days prior to the desired publishing issue. All submissions must include the student organization along with information in paragraph format to include “who, what, when and where.” A contact number to be published with the announcement, indicate so in your e-mailed submission and provide an alternate method for readers to obtain more information. If you do not follow the paragraph format then your submission will not be able to be published.
For corrections please email [email protected].
Corrections
AnnouncementsBartenders Wanted!!!$250/day potential. No experience necessary.Training provided age 18+ okay.Call (800) 965-6520 ext. 189
Employment
The Florida Center for the Performing Arts’ board of directors has decided to revisit the 2005 recommendation to construct for a new performing arts center.
Because of the downturn in the economy, the board has asked the Connecticut-based consulting fi rm it is working with to come up with a more fi nancially feasible suggestion.
In 2004, Theater Projects Consultants was hired to do a study for the Performing Arts Committee of Tallahassee to determine the best type of performing arts center for the Big Bend area.
Jean Frey, campaign executive director and member of the board of directors for the Florida Center for the Performing Arts, said the plan needed to be revisited after the economic downturn – as well as concerns voiced by citizens and public offi cials.
The new plan is expected cut capital and operating costs such as decreasing the seat count, square footage, and number of venues. Despite cuts, the performing arts center would still meet the needs of the community.
“It would have a lot of positive effects in Tallahassee. There is a real need for another venue for the performing arts in the community,” said Frey.
Tallahassee relies heavily on colleges, schools and churches for venues that are not always suitable or available.
Keith Oliver, 22, a theatre performance student at Florida A&M, believes a performing arts center would add a new creative atmosphere for Tallahassee and would create more opportunities for
students interested in the arts.“Bringing a performing arts center
to the community of Tallahassee would provide a variety of different opportunities for students pursuing a profession in that area,” said Oliver.
The performing arts center would also provide educational benefi ts and programs for residents of all ages, in addition to yielding economic growth for the community.
Valencia Matthews, board member for the Florida Center for Performing Arts and Education, explained the experience of seeing performances in the appropriate venue is quite different from an inappropriate setting such as the Civic Center.
“Tallahassee is a culturally rich
community that should have a place for the local artist to perform, also people just don’t realize the economic impact that the arts has on the community,” said Matthews. “here is always an economic impact the arts will have on the community, a positive one.”
Projections are that the $113 million facility recommended by TPC in 2005 would generate $14 million in new sales and revenue each year.
“There are three main benefi ts that come from bringing the center to Tallahassee: economic, education and entertainment, as well as enhancing the quality of life in the region,” said Frey.
Less than a month after taking offi ce, the verdict is out in the court of public opinion on Rick Scott’s job as governor.
A Feb. 2 Quinnipiac University Poll revealed that 22 percent of the 1,160 registered voters polled are unhappy with the job Scott is doing, while 35 percent approve.
But the poll revealed fi gures even more important than those displaying dissatisfaction with Scott.
A large number of participants still do not know where to place the rogue billionaire who claimed the gubernatorial race last November with 49 percent of the vote. Forty three percent were
undecided on the governing abilities of Scott.
Despite the results of the poll, Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute says most Floridians believe it is, “too soon to tell.”
Scott’s approval rating pales in comparison to his predecessor Charlie Crist, who enjoyed a 70 percent approval during his fi rst four weeks.
Nonetheless, Scott seemed indifferent to the results of the poll in a press conference last Wednesday in the Governor’s Mansion.
“I haven’t seen it,” the governor responded to a reporter asking about the poll.
Aside from shellacking by news media
amid the release of the poll results, Brown believes Scott has plenty of time to make the best of his tenure in Tallahassee.
“Governors who tackle things up front, you know, may be better off,” said Brown.
Scott’s most divisive campaign promises have now become partisan issues for the governor.
Forty six percent of pollsters disagree with reducing the state’s workforce by 5 percent.
Sixty four percent agree public sector workers should contribute to their own pension, as do those in the private sector.
Tallahassee Aviation Department Press Release, Taggart negotiated concession contracts to earn over $40 million in revenue for the City of Atlanta.
Taggart’s hard work, dedication, and innovation in 2009 earned Hartsfi eld-Jackson the title of Best Concession Management Team from Airport Revenue News magazine.
In addition, Taggart supervised over 55,000-square-feet of new retail including food and beverage, news, gift, and business space as the director of concessions for Chicago’s Midway International Airport. Taggart’s directions lead to Chicago Midway Airport to receive the name of “Best Mid-Airport” in 2005.
Although Taggart’s new position means big changes at Tallahassee Regional, many residents don’t know the implications of those changes.
Chauncey Holton, 36, unemployed Tallahassee native was unaware of the appointment, but hopes that it will garner improvements at the airport.
“From the little bit of time I have spent at the airport I would say it needs better parking, better waiting areas, and more shops or stores,” said Holton.
Robert Hogan agrees with Holton and added to wish list of airport amenities.
“They need shorter lines, bigger airlines, and better airfare,” said Hogan, a resident of the city’s Southside.
Taggart and his colleagues already have plans in place for the physical and commercial expansion of the airport.
“We want our airport to become a calling card to our city by establishing sense of place, modernization, creating economic development, and improving passenger satisfaction,” said Taggart.
He highlighted some of the ways he wants to improve the Tallahassee Regional Airport. They include: increased advertising for the airport; incentives for travelers of the airport; and attracting local retail businesses to the facility.
“There are two ways I want to introduce new products and services for the traveling public in Tallahassee’s airport. The fi rst way is through advertising, cool new concepts like spas, create specialty retail and introduce locally based food and beverage locations at our airport.”
The passenger terminal at Tallahassee Regional was built in 1989 and after few renovations, the facility is aesthetically unappealing. Taggart plans to change that as well.
The second is economic development inside and outside the airport. “We want to modernize the airport. Right now it is not modern, it is very dated. We are trying to bring it into the 21st century.”
� e Famuan � [email protected]
Metro News 3Monday, February 7, 2011
CECILIA AIKEN
ERICA BURNETT
JASON LAWRENCE
Gov. Rick Scott, who describes himself as “Florida’s Chief Economic Development Offi cer,” is taking control of his position and sparking controversy in the process.
With the stroke of a pen, Scott ordered all state agencies to freeze all rulemaking and new regulations.
And as a result, some state contracts are being approved and others put on hold as Scott and the Offi ce of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform work to reduce the state’s overall budget.
Shortly after his inauguration, Scott announced that he would be examining every state rule and regulation before
it could move forward, during which time he placed a three-month freeze on all state contracts, with an emphasis on state transporation projects.
“The freeze is a good thing because the way times are fi nancially. They should be looking at things and what needs to be changed,” said Thomas McCall, a Tallahassee resident.
The freeze affects at least $400 million in transportation projects across Florida, and several other projects being undertaken by state agencies, according to documents released by the Offi ce of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform.
The offi ce was created under Executive Order No. 11-01, just moments after Scott’s inaugural address on Jan. 4.
“In order to reduce the regulatory burden on the citizens of Florida, to determine whether existing rules and regulations remain justifi ed and necessary, and to determine whether such existing rules and regulations are duplicative or unnecessarily burdensome, each agency under the direction of the Govemor shall submit to the Offi ce, within 90 days of the date of this Order, and annually thereafter, a comprehensive review of existing rules and regulations, with recommendations as to whether any mles and regulations should be modifi ed or eliminated,” the month-old exeutive order reads.
Although the freeze does not directly affect any ongoing transportation projects in Tallahassee, there are other pending state funds that could affect some local programs.
The Gadsden County School District’s share of federal Race to the Top funds are pending, along with those of several other school districts that are yet to be approved by the Offi ce of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform.
Scott has been placed under major pressure due to the impact that this decision has on the jobs dependent on state funds.
“I know many unemployed people waiting for call backs. I voted for Governor Scott to make the best decisions for job creation within the state of Florida but I really don’t understand why the freeze is necessary,” said Tallahassee resident Alecia Collins.
“It seems like a drastic decision to me.”Florida’s unemployment rate is 12
percent according to latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A large portion of the 1,108,308 Floridians without jobs are blue-collar workers in the construction sector.
“I guess it will be another three months before they receive a call back and it’s somewhat disappointing,” said Collins.
It is feared that Scott’s plan to “justify every tax dollar spent,” will elongate unemployment for many with the time Scott’s administration spends reviewing the several hundred contracts.
By April 4, each state agency is expected to submit a comprehensive review of its existing rules and regulations, with recommendations as to whether any rules and regulations should be modifi ed or eliminated.
Those agencies must then identify and pursue the repeal or amendment of all rules and regulations identifi ed as duplicative, unnecessarily burdensome, or no longer necessary.
State agencies also must identify any legislative mandates that require the agency to promulgate or continue to impose rules that the agency believes negatively impact business and job creation or retention in the state.
Over a four-month period, Jan. 4- April 4, no state agency is allowed to impose any new rules or regulations without apporval from the Offi ce of Fiscal Accountability and regulatory Reform.
To date, there are 252 Florida Department of Transportation contracts, supplements and time extension projects awaiting execution.
COURTNEY BLEDSOE
STAFF WRITER
Florida Gov. Rick Scott, center, talks about streamlining government as part of his budget proposal while his wife, Ann, left, listens on Monday, Jan. 31,
2011 in The Villages, Fla. (AP Photo/Brendan Farrington)
Jasmine Mitchell The FamuanThe Florida Performing Arts Center was originally supposed to be erected along with the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center in 1981.
Regulations, contracts iced
Florida Center is back on the table
Rick Scott tested, Floridians disapprove
COURTNEY BLEDSOE
ERICA BURNETT
STAFF WRITER
JASON LAWRENCE
METRO NEWS EDITOR
AVIATION
To see a full lists of all state contracts being apporved or place on hold, along with all requests for rulemaking authorization, visit thefamuanonline.com
In light of the catastrophic events occurring in Egypt, Anneka Preston’s visit to FAMU could not have come at a better time.
Serving as an admissions counselor to the American University of Cairo, she has an inside look at the happenings in Egypt.
“This is a really incredible testament to democracy,” said Preston, “because in Egypt there is no right to assemble and the freedom of speech is very much limited.”
Chaos has ridden the city of Cairo, Egypt, since Jan. 25 and is not showing any signs of slowing down.
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest the reign of President Hosni Mubarak, who has led the country for over 30 years.
With the unemployment rate climbing and poverty running rampant, the citizens of Egypt are making their concerns known.
Preston stated that this seemed to be a “middle class protest” and that “they are coming from a place of privilege knowing that
they have these rights are not being able to express them.”
Joseph Jones, the interim assistant vice president of the offi ce of International Education and Development feels similarly about the events.
“The population of Cairo is so great and a large percentage of it is young people. They are educated. They go to school, get their degree and then what? That’s a large part of what is going on,” said Jones.
But others have quite opposing views to the demonstrations taking place.
An Egyptian-American woman, referred to as G.W., sees things differently.
“This does not make any sense,” said G.W. “Yes there is the problem of unemployment in my country, but every country has that problem! Something deeper is going on.”
G.W. said that this sudden uproar in Egypt was not of the Egyptian people’s own doing.
“It is said that outsiders are trying to take over our land and make the whole country Islamic. It’s a mystery,” G.W. said.
At the center of this mystery is the Muslim Brotherhood, an underground political party that has a strong following in
Egypt. The organization of men is aiming to take Middle Eastern countries back to traditional Islamic values and reclaim their land from what they see as liberal, westernized ruling.
It is still early in the battle, but President Barack Obama is making his opinion on the matter known.
“He (President Mubarak) needs to listen to what is being voiced by the Egyptian people
and make a judgment about a pathway forward that is orderly but that is meaningful and serious.”
G.W. does not see the president as the problem in her country at all.
“Would people be killing each other, stealing things, burning down buildings, over unemployment or over our president? I do not believe so. I just feel like the devil now
lives there.” Whether or not the protests are
solely in retaliation to the living and freedom conditions in Egypt or the Muslim Brotherhood is attempting to overthrow the government is unknown.
“Time will tell,” said Preston. “No one knows the future of Egypt at this moment.”
her over the time that they have gotten to know her. Carmen Cummings, the executive director of Alumni Affairs, said that over the time that she has known Wright that she was a “quiet light.”
“She’s so humble, and has humility. She is the same in triumph as she is in controversy,” said Cummings. “It is great when you fi nd that colleague that you can share the bond that we have. We have a sisterhood, and by that I mean she is encouraging and we have similar faith and beliefs.”
Henry Lewis, president of Florida Memorial University, is the person who decided to bring Wright into his team. He said that her skill set makes her the ideal
person to do the job that she is given.“Dr. Wright has the experience to lead
the Offi ce of Institutional Advancement and to manage our capital campaign,” Wright said.
The capital campaign for the university is to raise money, and is set to start very soon. Lewis said that Wright’s past work makes her capable to build relationships with other organizations.
“She has people skills with companies and Corporations. I think she can develop the rapport. She’ll be able to bridge that gap between the donor and the university,” said Lewis.
In addition, it is not just her ability to get the job done that makes Wright’s colleagues gravitate to her. According to her assistant Angie Wiggins, Wright is someone who is an example of a great
leader and a loyal person.“When I think of Dr. Wright three
words come to mind: integrity, excellence and fairness,” said Wiggins. “She leads by example, and her passion for her alma mater shines through in her interactions with internal and external donors. She will be greatly missed.”
Wiggins also said that as a director, Wright had no problem giving advice but she also wanted the input of her employees.
Wright will be starting her fi rst day at Florida Memorial on February 21.
She says will always have “Rattler Pride.”
year stipend. Lekan Latinwo, chair of FAMU’s
Department of Biology, James Adams, co-chair, and Letina Banks, pre-health advisor, met with the director of the U F’s M.D.-Ph.D program, Stephen Hsu and his assistant, Skip Harris, in hopes of increasing UF’s admission of more minority students into their program.
“When I read Brittney’s personal statement, I told her she would be our fi rst student to enter into the M.D.-Ph.D program at the University of Florida due to her extensive research experience,” said Banks. “We started working together to make sure this happened.”
Banks is very optimistic that Newby will only be the fi rst of many to enter into the prestigious program. The partnership fostered between FAMU and UF has enabled them to become closer to Hsu’s goal of diversifying the program.
“After the initial interview with Ms. Newby, I knew she would be perfect. We had been watching her for a couple of years now,” said Hsu. “Letina has been very instrumental in this process.”
Hsu raved about how much the students and facility made a great impression on him when he visited FAMU last year. He looks forward to keeping the pipeline with university open in order to successful recruit other intelligent and highly qualifi ed minorities.
“The campus was very quiet and the students walked with a purpose. The students here at UF are very loud and believe education is a right not a privilege. The students at FAMU knew that it was privilege and took my being there very seriously and it was very humbling,” said Hsu. “The students here understand how much sacrifi ce it takes.”
Hsu said every student should have that attitude about education. The partnership between FAMU and UF will help foster more diversity into the program. Newby says because of her foundation and support at FAMU she is able to humbly walk into this program prepared and confi dent.
“After my tour of the program I loved it and knew it was where I need to be. The same feeling I had when entering FAMU I had when entering this program,” said Newby.
After graduation, Newby hopes to work as a pediatric physician.
On Friday, the student activities committee met for several hours trying to narrow down the number of candidates.
The committee has met four times so far and is in the process of reviewing resumes.
According to Kirby, the process has been going fairly slowly.
“The committee is looking at applications and screening the applications,” said Henry Kirby, dean of students at Florida A&M. “The committee has been meeting fairly regularly. They have sent out notices via FAMU Info to the university community, which presents updates, meetings and the purpose of meetings.”
As director, the candidate will have to work in just about every area on campus and be student oriented.
“This is a very important position on campus,” said Edward M. Willis, associate vice president for student development and chairman of the activities director committee. “We want to make sure we
get the best possible candidate.”The committee consists of 10 volunteer
members, three of whom are students. Each branch of student government appointed a representative to be a part of the committee.
The committee has put together requirements that they are using to measure candidates by. Applicants should have some amount of experience with student affairs and student activities.
“Hopefully within the next few weeks, the committee will have narrowed it down to a list of candidates,” said Kirby.
Robert Carroll, Jr. is the interim student activities director.
Carroll is temporarily replacing Saundra Inge, the former director of student activities who retired las semester.
“I think he has been doing a fantastic job,” said Kirby. “He is not only serving as the interim for student activities but he is also the permanent director for the campus recreation center, which is a lot. Several years ago, he worked as student activities director.”
The committee wants the students to meet the candidates in a general meeting. A session will be set-up to allow the students to have involvement with the candidates.
“Hopefully FAMU students will become involved with this process when we bring the candidates on campus,” said Kirby. “It will give candidates an opportunity to meet the students. We are looking forward to getting feedback from the students.”
Kirby said that he would like the new director to improve the implementation of workshops and seminars held for students on campus.
The next stage of the evaluation will be some type of phone interview with possible candidates.
“We would like to have a permanent director by the end of this semester,” said Willis. “We want to be as inclusive as possible.”
restraint in Egypt and called on Mubarak to take steps to democratize his government and refrain from using violence against his people.
“To the people of Egypt, especially the young ones, I want to be clear: we hear your voices. I have an unyielding belief that you will seize your destiny,” said Obama.
“I think the people of Egypt need to have what most people in the world need an honest government, a government that is not abusive and a government that gives you due process and equality before the law,” said Tom Baxter, who braved the weather to show support.
“If I can do a little bit for justice and peace I’m going to be there.”
Ramsey Sprague, 27, a member of Ride till the End, an organization that rallies and raises awareness for the injustices of people in the United States, wanted to stand in solidarity with the people of Egypt and their calls for Mubarak to step down.
“I’m also calling for the U.S. military to
stop with the aid of their government. Until Mubarak steps down,” said Sprague.
Thousands of supporters in America have gathered in support for reform in Egypt over the last couple of days.
“When you have revolutions like this one that is going on in Egypt, it causes people
all around the world to actually think and engage in their society at a much higher level,” said Sprague.
ALEXANDRIA COLLINS
STAFF WRITER
MARCUS JOSEPH
STAFF WRITER
ALEXANDRIA COLLINS
MARCUS JOSEPH
MARCUS JOSEPH
O� cial speaks about protest
Committee screens job applicants
2 Calender �e Famuan�[email protected] Monday, April 19, 2010
� eFamuan� eFamuanOnline.com
Monday, February 7, [email protected]
School News 4
CHRISTOPHER QUINN [email protected]
WRIGHT
EGYPT ALUMNA
NI’TAVIA JOHNSON
Keenan Doanes The FamuanProtestors stand outside the capitol in hope of freedom and support in Egypt.
Tara Todras-Whitehill Associated PressAn Egyptian boy poses with a sign in front of anti-government protesters in Tahrir Square.
Failure is a natural part of life. R e c o g n i z i n g a n d o v e r c o m i n g failure leads
to success, or at the very least, an avoidance of one particular type of failure.
To fail is to be human. Failure is an opportunity to grow. It is not an opportunity to shut down. To give up is to do something worse than fail. Not even trying borderlines on pathetic.
As Editor in Chief I’ve said The Famuan will do what it can to set a standard of perfection. The road to perfection, sadly, is always riddled with potholes of failure.
Missteps happen. You can miss out on interview opportunities, forget your lines when you’re on live TV, misspell headlines and even misspell your own name.
These are just a couple of my own failures.
The point: to recover from the failures. Put the failures behind you. Remember you’re in a position to succeed only because you were not a failure in the fi rst place. In spite of all the mishaps and random crashes on the road to excellence, you’re still driving, pursuing your ultimate goal.
No one is perfect the fi rst time around. Michael Jordan was told he couldn’t play defense at all before he won Defensive Player of the Year in 1998. Brett Favre wasn’t even given a chance by the Falcons before he become the most loved athlete in Wisconsin.
On a smaller scale, there isn’t a single person on the planet who can play through any game without failing once. And if you think you can, you’re lying. Perfection requires practice, the repeated implementation of a skill, honing said skill until it is sharp enough to cut diamonds.
Tortured metaphors aside, the point I’m trying to make is that no success story is without failures. Take the situation in Egypt for example.
One could argue that President Hosni Mubarak has failed his people. His failure has inspired a nation to come together.
While I’m sure this unity is not for a reason he’d particularly enjoy, Mubarak’s failure will inspire success. Because he has, in the eyes of his people, failed, his people are ready to usher in what they hope will be an era of success.
The point is to not dwell on the failures. The point is always to revel in the success.
As my cashier scanned my groceries, I glanced up from the screen and
looked past her, my eyes suddenly glued on…it.
I took off my glasses and wiped them, convinced that I was hallucinating.
There, in the middle of Wal-Mart, was a young lady fresh from the club, dressed in a fi tted beige mini-dress, chocolate high heels and, heaven help us, a bright purple laced Dooley and Vaughn bonnet snugly placed over her hair.
She sauntered down the main aisle, loudly chatting with her group of friends, seemingly oblivious to the many curious stares she attracted.
After I regained speech and control of my facilities, I picked my lip off the fl oor and
took my groceries to my car.Every time I see a black
woman in public with a bonnet, “do-rag” or wrap cap on her head, I imagine Aunt Jemima rolling over in her grave.
Unlike Aunt Jemima, we have a voice in how we portray ourselves to the world. The minstrel show character turned pancake mix spokeswoman was represented by Nancy Green, a former slave who gained fi nancial independence by bringing Aunt Jemima to life to consumers.
Green traveled around the country to promote the pancake mix with her signature phrase “I’se in town, honey” from 1890 – 1923. In 1989, the Quaker Oats Company changed her physical appearance to less resemble the mammy archetype by making her thinner, placing pearls in her ears and removing her scarf to reveal an attractive natural hairdo.
Finally, after years of hiding
behind an archetype, the real Green, the former slave who used her wits to become wealthy and work as an anti-poverty activist, was seen.
But it was almost half a century after her death. Educated minority students have the opportunity to not only disprove the countless stereotypes forced on them, but to completely re-write those images, especially those of young black women in America.
It’s impossible to do that when we’re determined to thoughtlessly hold on to those basic traditions that don’t maintain the positive aspects of our history.
Don’t get me wrong. Black history is rooted in cultural head adornments of colorful scarves, cloths tied in a chignon or piled high on the crown of the head and lavishly decorated wide-banded church hats. There is nothing culturally uplifting or signifi cant, however, about wearing the knock-off brand bonnets and scarves that we
wear around the house in public because we don’t feel like doing our hair.
We’ve all seen them. On “The Set,” in the fi nancial aid line, sitting behind us in class, in the chair next to us on the Venom and a score of other public places that make us want to bow our heads in shame and bewilderment.
Ever since my “conversion to natural hair care,” I understand more than ever those days when hair decides that it simple will not cooperate. But that is no excuse. There is no excuse for allowing ourselves to get so lazy and complacent in how far we’ve come that we let our physical appearance dictate where we’re going.
So the next time you see a sister rocking her night cap in the middle of the grocery store, please offer her a hair comb or a hug…it’s what Green would have wanted.
EDITORIAL BOARDEDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
Jordan Culver
COPY DESK:
Julian Kemper
OPINIONS EDITOR:
Khristanda Cooper
LIFESTYLES EDITOR:
Clarece Polke
SPORTS EDITOR:
Royal Shepherd
� e Famuan Opinions 5� eFamuanOnline.comMonday, February 7, 2011 [email protected]
JORDAN CULVER
We live, we learn, we fail, we succeedJORDAN CULVER
EDITOR IN CHIEF
EDITOR IN CHIEF:
Jordan Culver
COPY DESK:
Julian Kemper
SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR:
Matthew Richardson
METRO NEWS EDITOR:
Jason Lawrence
OPINIONS EDITOR:
Khristanda Cooper
DEPUTY OPINIONS EDITOR:
Aaron Johnson
LIFESTYLES EDITOR:
Clarece Polke
DEPUTY LIFESTYLES EDITOR:
Tanya Glover
ASSISTANT LIFESTYLES EDITOR:
Ivan Marchena
SPORTS EDITOR:
Royal Shepherd
DEPUTY SPORTS EDITORS:
Cameron Daniels
PHOTOS EDITOR:
Keenan Doanes
DEPUTY PHOTOS EDITOR:
Jasmine Mitchell
VISUAL EDITOR:
Jeffrey Morris
GRAPHICS EDITOR:
Kenya Mawusi
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR:
D.A. Robin
PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR:
Byron Johnson
PROGRAM ASSISTANT:Valerie McEachin
ADVISER:
Andrew Skerritt
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The Famuan, an Associated Collegiate Press 2003 Pacemaker Finalist, is published Monday, Wednesday and online only on Friday during the fall and spring semesters. The opinions do not refl ect the administration, faculty, or staff of the University. The editorials are the expressed opinions of the staff and columnists. The Famuan is funded
partially by activities and services fees.
THE F UFor the past few weeks
Egypt has been in the middle of a crisis.
People have been killed and injured in loots and riots because the Egyptian people are fed up with their government.
They want President Hosni Mubarak gone to put it plain and simply. So much so that they have been chanting things such as “We are not getting tired at all, freedom can’t be obtained for free, Down with Mubarak, down with the tyrant.”
For a better understanding here is a little background information on Mubarak. He was appointed president of Egypt in October of 1981
following the assassination of his predecessor Anwar Sadat. Making him Egypt’s longest president.
But the Egyptian people are not tired of him for this reason.
Under Mubarak there has been numerous reason why he may seem tyrannical, for instance under the “state of emergency” law the government has the right to imprison individuals for any period of time, and for virtually no reason, essentially keeping them in prisons without trials for any period.
Now, for most of us non-Egyptians we are sitting by on the side line watching all this
unfold from our couches via TV, newspaper, and online.
And there are even those wondering “why does this matter to me? I’m not affected by this,” making the crisis in Egypt on level with Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding.
But truthfully this does matter to us as Americans, why? Because there are American citizens in Egypt who are being caught up in Egypt’s fi ght for freedom from “the tyrant.”
And mostly because we are always in other country’s business.
Plus when a country is in the middle of a crisis, whether political or not, it becomes
our problem too apparently.Yeah, Mubarak has decided
not to run for president again. But that is not all they want. They want him to in a sense “hang” – we use that term loosely- himself and disappear forever from the eyes of the Egyptian people, state, and government.
One really can’t do much but hope and pray that the Egyptian people succeed in getting what they want, without any more violence.
Khristanda Cooper for the Editorial Board.
Egypt’s crisis: still ongoing
Fight the foolishness with a hair combCLARECE POLKE
LIFESTYLES EDITOR
Nate Beeler, The Washingtonn ExaminerIn honor of the Super Bowl and all its festivities, we present...The Cheerleaders. Enjoy.
CLARECE POLKE
This is the fi rst of a three-part series on
the importance of planting more trees on campus. Check out the photogallery for this
editorial at thefamuanonline.
Do you wear hair bonnets to class, in public?A) Yes, all the time. B) Sometimes. C) Nope.
POLITICAL CARTOON
Opinions writer needed. For more information visit The Famuan office or
Graphic by Jeffrey Morris
An 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper was taped to the ticket booth window in Tucker Hall with big, bold letters splayed across it, stating: Tickets are sold out.
Change it Up II: The Look of Love, a FAMU Essential Theatre Production, had a packed house opening night on Friday.
“Originally we thought the turnout was going to be small, but when we realized that the show was sold out, we were very happy,” said 21-year-old Victoria Wilson, cast member and junior theater performance student from Tallahassee.
For attendees who bought their tickets in advance and made it into the tiny studio in room 119, Change it Up II was one of the highlights of the semester.
“I loved the show,” said Keith Oliver, 22, a senior theater performance student from Miami. “It was the perfect mix of everything and it actually touched on every area of love.”
The show was conceived and produced by Kimberly K.
Harding and directed by Marci J. Stringer, Change it Up II.
“Change It Up” opened with the sound of a live band playing, and spoken word by faculty member O.S. Lamar about unconditional and eternal love, with the reading of the scripture 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
Students Farah Bercy, La ‘Tevin Ellis, Hannah Greer and Anastasia Mosby accompanied her with the famous quote, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”
The cast’s multi-layered takes on love left some audience members with a change of heart about Valentine’s Day, including second-year physical therapy student Leigh Cooper, 22, from Miami.
“I really loved the show,” Cooper said. “It caused me to feel good about Valentine’s Day again, because I was anti-Valentine’s Day. In fact, I had just purchased a shirt from the mall that reads “I hate Valentine’s Day.”
Cast member Anquilla Dennard, 25, a fourth-year
theater performance student from Belle Glade, Fla., received a standing ovation after her “Love or Lust” duo with actor David Barrow Wiley.
“Being on stage was electrifying, and I fed off of the energy of the audience,” said Dennard.
The show consisted of more than just poetic words, but included dancers, rappers and vocalists such as Carmita
McCall, Jessica Dickey and Glenn Hutchinson, Jr.
“I am so proud of my cast,” said stage manager Eboni Johnson, a 21-year-old fourth-year theater education student from Pensacola. “It’s like I had this really-proud-mommy-moment after the program.”
� e Famuan � eFamuanOnline.comMonday, February 7, 2011 [email protected]
During Black History Month, the So Green Network presents a community fi lm festival titled, “Visions of Sustainability.” The Festival will sponsor a series of movies designed to enhance awareness about environmental issues and sustainability for people of African decent. The network will partner with different organizations on campus to present 16 movies. These movies will be shown leading up to the So Green Network’s Conference on campus on February 18 and 19.
Last Friday, the So Green Network and the FAMU Caribbean Student Association presented “Jamaica for Sale.”
Jamaica for Sale gave the audience a glance of how tourism has negatively affected the country. The fi lm showed how the construction of resorts and condominiums has caused signifi cant water pollution, and brought a variety of fi sh to the brink of extinction.
“I think this was an important movie people of Caribbean descent need to realize that there are a lot of things going on back home,” said Derrick St. Firmin, 20, a third-year occupational therapy student from Brooklyn, N.Y., and president of the Caribbean Student Association.
The movie also highlighted the economic gap that has widened among its population. As Jamaica’s commercial areas continue to grow, its rural areas continue to deteriorate.
“After watching the movie, I was so mad and angry,” said Kashief Moody, 22, a senior engineering student from Washington, DC. “I couldn’t understand how this happened. Jamaicans barely have access to public beaches. Somehow most of Jamaica over time has become privatized. It’s just not right. The movie was a real eye opener.
“All of these movies focus on environmental issues as they relate to people of African descent,” said Kwasi Densu, a FAMU political science professor.
On Tuesday, So Green Network will show the movie “Fresh at the Aakhet Center”.
Lifestyles 6
Darrick McGhee, an alumnus of Florida A&M University, is the director of governmental relations at the Florida Department of Education and can be normally found in his offi ce.
However, every Sunday morning, he is at 920 E. Lafayette St. preaching to his congregation at Bible Based Church.
McGhee, raised in Los Angeles, become the fi rst member in his father’s family to attend college.
“Growing up in Los Angeles for a young kid was challenging because you had to be selective about the colors you wore,” McGhee said. “You had to be mindful of the neighborhoods you entered and exited. I’ll tell you this. I’d never go back and raise my family there.”
McGhee admits his intent when he arrived in Tallahassee in August of 1996 was to pursue a degree in political science.
“I arrived here with no family,” McGhee said. “All I had was an acceptance letter from FAMU.”
Regardless of McGhee’s Christian upbringing, he was sometimes distracted academically and spiritually.
“Being away from home, there were possibilities,” McGhee said. “To be frank, there were girls everywhere and students with the same intentions I had. But with me chasing girls, I was still at church almost every Sunday.”
McGhee stayed in the Paddyfote Housing Complex, he said church vans lined up on Sunday mornings like taxis in New York.
“My freshman year, I got on the fi rst church van that said Baptist and it took me to Bethel Baptist Church,” McGhee said. “But that wasn’t where I wanted to be.”
McGhee ended up at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church where he attended until January 2010.
“What kept me at Tabernacle was the college students, that they fed you after church and that all the girls were going to Tabernacle,” McGhee said.
It wasn’t until 1999, however, that McGhee said he fi nally answered his call
to serve and became a licensed minister. “I was leading both the collegiate and
youth bible studies at Tabernacle. But fi ve years ago, one Sunday in the pulpit, the Lord delivered unto me Bible Based Church,” McGhee said. “I was under the assumption that God was just telling me he wanted his church to go back to being bible-based. I had no idea that this was
going to be the name of the church God was going to launch for me.”
McGhee then began the diffi cult task of transition for his family, building up a church from nothing. His family had only ever known his home church, of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. Bible Based Church was fi nally launched Aug. 8, 2010.
“When we fi rst launched, I was only sure of three members: my wife and my two kids,” McGhee said. Now, he ministers to more than 100 people every Sunday. “We were worshiping in a hotel conference room, but we had to relocate because we surpassed the allotted fi re code amount.”
His congregation consists of those who “have never been to church, never had a church home, and have experience church abuse and some family members,” McGhee said. “We have a multi-generational congregation. We have a lot of youth, several collegiate and older members that attend.”
Bible Based church has a marriage ministry for married and engaged couples, “Bless the Blessed,” which is an outreach ministry, a worshiping arts ministry and several others.
Bible Based Church is quietly making itself known throughout the community. With outreach initiatives and a focus on youth education, Pastor McGhee has taken on an awesome task to shine a light in Tallahassee.
“I believe God places members where they’re supposed to be,” McGhee said. “We are continuing to grow. We’ve been in existence for six months, the Lord is blessing us.”
The city of Tallahassee has added a new frozen yogurt shop to the dessert population just this past October. Located within the Publix shopping plaza off of Blair Stone Road, Nuberri Frozen Yogurt is very new, yet has already built a loyal customer base.
Mary Jo Ferros, 62, a retail associate from Tallahassee, has been visiting Nuberri at least once a week since the store’s opening.
“I come here when I get regular ice cream cravings. Ferros said. “I try to bring as many friends and family with me whenever I visit.”
Nuberri Frozen Yogurt is strictly self-serving, with over 30 different fl avors of frozen yogurts such as, banana
pudding, passion fruit and pink lemonade. Customers are able to choose from over 50 toppings and seven sauces, including marshmallows, b r o k e n c h o c o l a t e chip cookies, c h o c o l a t e fudge, and fresh fruits like kiwi.
“Even though we have a wide variety of yogurt fl avors and toppings, we try to satisfy each customer with providing a tasty snack that is also healthy,” Mike Resnick, 20, shift manager at Nuberri, said. “Every yogurt fl avor is made from
natural ingredients. Also, since customers create
their own frozen yogurt bowls, they have the
option of controlling their own
proportions.” M i c h e l l e Young, 43, a FAMU
g r a d u a t e n u r s i n g
student from Tallahassee said,
“Before Nuberri, whenever I would
want to get frozen yogurt I would
usually visit similar stores like TCBY and
Yoga Berry. Now I come here more often.”Nuberri charges 45
cents for every ounce that the completed bowl weighs. Nuberri also sells already prepared containers of frozen yogurts ready to take home for $6.99 each.
“Typically a customer usually spends anywhere from $4 to $6 depending on the amount of frozen yogurt and toppings that the customer selects,” Resnick said.
Despite common comparisons between Nuberri and Fuzions frozen yogurt shops, Resnick defends Nuberri as the better option.
“Nuberri was named because of the more modern and fresh look appearance,” Resnick said.
Alumnus turns life around
Frozen yogurt shop satisfies healthy cravings
Jamaica sold
KRISTEN EDWARDS
CORRESPONDENT
Britt Lyle The FamuanFAMU grad and Los Angeles native Darrick McGhee is not only the director of governmental relations but also the preacher at Bible Based Church.
KRISTEN EDWARDS
RANATA HUGHES
CAIRA TEMPLE
ELIZABETH MARSHALL
ELIZABETH MARSHALL
CORRESPONDENT
Aria Aaron The FamuanStudents packed Tucker Hall Saturday night as musicians performed to a sold out crowd for “Change It Up”
Packed house for ‘Look of Love’RANATA HUGHES
STAFF WRITER
CAIRA TEMPLE
STAFF WRITER
Graphic by Jeffrey Morris
pudding, passion fruit and pink lemonade. Customers are able to choose from over 50 toppings and seven sauces, including marshmallows, b r o k e n
c h o c o l a t e fudge, and fresh fruits like
“Even though we have a wide variety of yogurt fl avors and toppings, we try to satisfy each customer with providing a tasty snack that is also healthy,” Mike Resnick, 20, shift manager at Nuberri, said. “Every yogurt fl avor is made from
natural ingredients. Also, since customers create
their own frozen yogurt bowls, they have the
option of controlling their own
proportions.” M i c h e l l e Young, 43, a FAMU
g r a d u a t e n u r s i n g
student from Tallahassee said,
“Before Nuberri, whenever I would
want to get frozen yogurt I would
usually visit similar stores like TCBY and
Yoga Berry. Now I come here more often.”Nuberri charges 45
Outside the Capitol building, people gathered to show support for and soli-darity with the anti-government protest-ers in Cairo. For Michel Ibrahim, a pre-med student at Florida A & M University, the Solidarity Rally for Egypt gave him a way to support his family overseas.
Ibrahim was born in Egypt in June of 1990, and moved to the United States when he was 15 years old.
In 2005, Ibrahim and his family moved to the United States to escape the oppressive regime of Hosni Mubarak, president of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Yet after leaving, Ibrahim said he sees Mubarak as an Egyptian hero who was able to bring peace to his nation.
The fact that there have not been any
major wars in the Middle East in the 30 years of Mubarak’s reign is something that he and fellow Egyptians take pride in.
“We have a great deal of respect for him,” Ibrahim said.
The ongoing protests in Egypt have evoked strong emotions for Ibrahim. When the Egyptian government shut down the internet and cell phone ser-vice, Ibrahim was cut off from all contact with his family members, including his grandfather.
“It wasn’t scary because we knew they were going to be okay,” Ibrahim said. “Not being able to talk to my grandpa and my cousins…it was hard.”
Ibrahim said he is optimistic about the outcome of the protest in his homeland, and their success in forcing Mubarak out
of offi ce has given him hope. The inter-net, he said, gives youth the power to make a widespread change.
A strong believer in democracy, Ibra-him is excited about a free election in Egypt where anyone can run.
“Democracy always wins,” he said.The violence and destruction that
ensued during the protests as the pro-Mubarak protesters rushed the crowd made Ibrahim realize how serious and potentially volatile the protests can be.
“When you see a big mall in Cairo and Alexandria, it’s sad,” Ibrahim said. “I went to those malls. It is like watch-ing the Tallahassee Mall burning to the ground, you know?”
The recent violence that erupted made him feel a sense of urgency in sending the revolutionaries home, he said.
“The rest of the president’s resignation will come in time. We don’t want Egypt turned into a military state,” Ibrahim said.
Despite the emotional twists and turns Ibrahim has endured within the past week, he said he feels the government is moving in a positive new direction.
Ibrahim said he is particularly thank-ful for demonstrators supporting a cause that is important to him and his family.
2 Calender �e Famuan�[email protected] Monday, April 19, 2010
� e Famuan � [email protected]
Lifestyles 7Monday, February 7, 2011
For student, protest hits home
JORGE RODRIGUEZ
JORGE RODRIGUEZSTAFF WRITER
For a photo spread from the Solidarity Rally for Egypt outside the Capitol, visit www.
thefamuanonline.com.
FAMU Lady Rattlers Bowling Team fi nished in third after taking on a three-day bowling tournament this past week-end at Seminole Bowl.
“I didn’t expect us to fi nish in third, but I was happy to see that we were in the top three,” senior captain, Jazmin Bing-ham said.
The Lady Rattlers started the first day of the tournament in first place. Having a number of strikes to help them take the lead, the Lady Rattler’s spirits were high.
“To be a Rattler, you have to strike it out,” is one of the many motivational chants the Lady Rattlers use when bowl-
ing strike after strike during a match.“We were our biggest challenge,” said
senior co-captain Ashley Melson, when asked what her biggest concerns were. “It’s good to know that we’re on top, but we can’t get comfortable or we’ll end up slipping.”
Various organizations came out and showed support. Something Melson says could only be positive for the team.
“It was great to see the support from the student body. It defi nitely helped our energy,” she said.
Day 2 was more challenging for the team. They took on the Lady Panthers of Prairie View A&M University. PVAMU would win matches four (201-189) and fi ve (178-171) to take a 3-1 lead.
“Because we had a lot of missed spares, it made it a little more diffi cult to stay
ahead of the game,” Bingham said.Later on that same day, the Lady Rat-
tlers would cut the Lady Panthers lead to 3-2 as they won game six (180-160) to force a seventh game. PVAMU would win the deciding seventh game 157-145 for the 4-2 win.
“It was a constant battle, but the sup-port and energy from the team kept us strong,” Bingham said.
Dayna Galganski, from Sam Houston State, won tournament Most Valuable Player honors. Jazmin Bingham was the only Rattler to make the all-tour-nament team.
The Florida A&M baseball team has been working hard on the little things that make a baseball teams succeed.
“I want the guys to focus in on the fundamentals,” said interim coach Brett Richardson. “The little things like hustling on and off the fi eld, communicating when there is a fl y ball or a bunted ball. If we take care of the little thing hopefully they wont become big things.”
Richardson has a different way of conveying the message to his team.
“If you guys ever become homeowners and little things start to happen to your house, don’t take care of them,” Richardson tells his team after practice. “Eventually, you’re going to have one big mess on your hands.”
Overall, Coach Richardson said, “Practice has been going well.”
Faced with a challenging start, the Florida A&M men’s tennis team experience another humbling 5-2 defeat to Tulane University on Saturday afternoon in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“This season the team has been matched up with some competitive contenders who have giving us a great challenge,” said coach Carl Goodman. “These challenges have given us an opportunity to learn, to grow and to build our craft.”
The Rattler’s premature season has consisted of being away on the road matching up with other top teams around the country.
The next time the tennis team will take the court will be a home outing. The only one of the spring season.
Both the men and women’s tennis teams will be hostin Mercer on Feb.12th at 2 p.m.
� e Famuan� eFamuanOnline.com
Monday, February 7, [email protected]
Sports 8
Women falterThe No. 2 offense in the Mid-
Eastern Athletic Conference went up against the Morgan State University Lady Bears (13-8, 7-2 in the MEAC) and failed to click the way it usually does, falling in overtime, 63-54.
The game highlighted an issue for the Lady Rattlers: The team struggles when it has to look outside its two main scorers for production.
The MEAC’s leading scorer, Tameka McKelton, only scored two points in the fi rst half, 10 for the game, and the the Lady Rattlers had to rely on their inside game for production. The switch in strategy left the team cold in the fi rst half and struggling to come back in the second.
Mckelton and senior guard Antonia Bennett, the No. 3 leading scorer in the MEAC, combined for 22 points against the Lady Bears, well below their combined season average of 33.4 points per game.
“We didn’t have a guard that wanted to step up and take the pressure off of those two,” said head coach LeDawn Gibson. “(Jasmin) Grice got hit in the nose and then we just lost her and then we put Christian Rateree out there to shoot but she wouldn’t shoot it either. I don’t know where their mind was honestly.”
Gibson said the guards weren’t moving enough in the fi rst half for the bigs to get them the ball anyway.
“I think we were just too stagnant,” she said. “We weren’t cutting. We weren’t moving.”
The team struggled to fi nd a consistent outside threat without big points from its two leading scorers.
Gibson said the team came out of the gate fl at. The Lady Rattlers put together an offense in the second half thanks to production from bigs Qiana Donald (15 points) and Shekeira Copeland (eight points).
“That’s how it should be,” Bennett said. “It shouldn’t just be two dominant scorers. Hit the open person. We need more than two scorers anyway.”
The team also struggled from the free throw line. Down 51-50 with 2.5 seconds left, Bennett split a pair of free throws, sending a game she could have won into overtime.
“When (Bennett) got fouled I just knew she was going to win it,” Gibson said. “She missed the fi rst one and then just took us into overtime. I was excited she made the second one but she could have sealed it and she didn’t.”
Bennett’s missed free throw was one of nine the Lady Rattlers missed.
“We just couldn’t put the ball in,” Donald said. “No excuses. Now we just have to go and practice and practice more free throws, get more shots up.”
McKelton has turned in just one performance with at least 20 points and his only led the team in scoring twice in the last seven games.
JORDAN CULVEREDITOR IN CHIEF
JORDAN CULVER
Keenan Doanes The FamuanAntonia Bennett made one of two free throws with 2.5 seconds left to send the game into overtime.
FAMU pulls another fast oneMen putting all MEAC contenders on upset alert
The Florida A&M men’s basketball team fought to the fi nish of Saturday night’s game, beating the Morgan State Bears 63-59.
Junior forward Yannick Crowder scored a team high 15 points, coming off the bench. Guards Brandon Hosley and Reggie Lewis were the only other Rattlers to score in double fi gures. Crowder also had all four of the team’s blocked shots against the Bears.
“I felt like I had to be aggressive against their bigs,” Crowder said. “They have a lot of size and I wanted to make them work.”
Senior forward Larry Jackson added 9 points to the victory on 50 percent shooting. Head Coach Eugene Harris was pleased with Jackson’s performance, but was more impressed with his leadership.
“He provides leadership as a senior, and that’s important,” Harris said. “It’s not the words they say, it’s the action on the court.”
Jackson managed a team high 11 rebounds. He said the team wants to be able to continue this type of success away from home.
“It feels good to win in front of the home crowd,” Jackson said. “Hopefully, we can start winning some games on the road also. As long as we continue to protect home court we should be good.”
The Rattlers have an 8-1 record on its home court and have fi ve remaining home games this season.
“Home court advantage means a lot in any conference,” Harris said. “What can make us really tough is if we can get our students and the city of Tallahassee to come out and watch us play.”
The fi rst half of the game remaining neck in neck, but the 2nd half was when the Rattlers began to gain momentum; shooting 61.9 percent, while Morgan State shot almost half that at 33.3 percent.
“Offense fi lls the stands but defense wins championships,” Crowder said. “To beat the best you have to play defense.”
Morgan State was the top
seed in the Mid- Eastern Athletic Conference before Saturday’s loss. The Rattlers are 2-3 against the top three teams in the MEAC.
Morgan State had the size advantage over FAMU. The Bears used it’s size to have 7 more rebounds than the Rattlers.
Coach Harris is optimistic about the rest of the season and says their motto is “We’re going to defend until the end.”
The Rattlers play Coppin State at home on Wednesday, February 7.
TIANA POITIER
CHRISTOPHER JACKSON
TIANA POITIER
CORRESPONDENT
CHRISTOPHER JACKSON
CORRESPONDENT
Bowling team lands in third place in Classic over weekend
Keenan Doanes The FamuanAmin Stevens drives to the basket during a 63-59 victory
File Photo The Famuan
Florida A&M long jumper Leon Hunt, a native of the Virgin Islands, broke the country’s national long jump record.
Saturday, at the nisawonger invitational in johnson city, Tenn. Hunt jumped 25.4 meter.
Vaughn Walwyn held the record almost 9 years before Hunt’s record setting performance.
Hunt is held in high regards by his team and his coaches. The most common adjectives used to describe him are quiet and hard working.
The Famuan sports staff took the time to talk to Hunt and discover some of the monumental changes that helped him achieve this feat.
From his move at the age of 10, to his decision to transfer to Florida A&M, Hunt explains how his life has landed him here.
More information on Hunt and his achievement can be found in Wednesday’s issue.
Track and Field
Baseball