Three students fall victim to two separate campus

Rev. Joseph Lowery’s 88th birthday event
NAACP chapter strikes gold
p. 3
Morehouse hosts a star-studded celebration in
Reconstructing dress
p. 6
A&E Review: Atlanta Opera
p.7
honor of Rev. Lowery, beloved civil rights leader. p. 2
The Organ of Student Expression Since 1925
The
MAROON TIGER
Morehouse College • Atlanta, GA October 14 - 20, 2009
Three students fall victim to two
separate campus area robberies
Staff Writer
carlringgold@gmail.com
A
Morehouse
student,
whose identity is yet to
be released, was robbed at
gunpoint while walking home
from Woodruff Library around
1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
The wound sustained was
not fatal and the student was
treated at nearby Grady Memorial Hospital before being
released late Tuesday morning.
The student was walking
by himself when he was attacked. Police said the perpetrator pulled a gun and forced
the student face down on the
ground. The gunman then
proceeded to take the student’s laptop, cell phone and
book bag.
Before the robber could
leave, police said the student
tried to defend himself and
take back his belongings. The
student jumped and grabbed
the attacker and that’s when
the student was shot in the
arm. Nearby neighbors heard
Vanguard Leadership
Group encourages
divestment
Maroon Tiger staff photo/Eric Ross
Carl Ringgold
Late Tuesday night, students scurry up James P. Brawley Drive from Woodruff Library. There have
been considerably less students seen gathering outdoors at late hours.
the gunshots and called 911.
This event has resulted in
some consideration from the
Atlanta Police department
to put more officers in the
neighborhoods surrounding
the AUC.
Atlanta Police Department
Chief Richard Pennington
said, “Uniformed officers will
patrol some of the city’s college campuses.”
This announcement came
after not only the Morehouse
attack, but also from similar
attacks that occurred with
two Georgia Tech students.
Pennington said that four uniformed officers would start
patrolling the Atlanta University Center in light of the recent violent events.
(continued on page 3)
Suspect arrested in Jasmine Lynn
murder case; held without bond
Staff Writer
leroyrodnee@yahoo.com
A
ccording to newstribune.
com, Atlanta Police Department arrested 21-year-old
Devonni M. Benton on Tuesday Oct. 6 in connection to the
shooting and killing of Spelman
College sophomore Jasmine
Lynn.
The arrest came at 11:30 a.m.
and Benton has been charged
with murder and aggravated assault at Fulton County Jail.
Benton has been the prime
suspect in the case since its
early stages, but the police
were unable to develop a case
against him after interrogating
several eyewitness.
Benton, a student himself,
was arrested at ITT Technical
Institute, where he is enrolled
in classes and working on an
associate’s degree. Atlanta Police do not believe he is affiliated with any gangs within the
city nor have they found cause
to assume that Lynn was Benton’s intended target.
“It makes me so angry he
was going to his classes just
like nothing had happened. My
baby can’t go to her classes and
he was going on wit his
life,” Lynn’s
grandmother,
Carolyn Williams
said
Tuesday after
hearing about
the arrest.
Although,
at the time of
the arrest Atlanta police
were unsure
if Benton had
an arrest record, the Atlanta Journal
Constitution
has reported Devonni Manuel Benton, a 21-year-old student at
that this is not the ITT Technical Institute, was arrested in connecBenton’s first tion with killing of Jasmine Lynn.
visit to Fulton
Lynn being hit by a stray bulCounty Jail.
In April 2006, then 18-year- let. Ballistic evidence suggests
old Benton was charged with Benton recklessly fired all
carrying a concealed weapon six shots during the dispute at
and again in March 2009, in the corner of Mitchell St. and
Statesboro, on charges of sale James P. Brawley Drive.
Lynn was the first in her famand possession of marijuana.
The most recent arrest, ac- ily to ever attend college and
cording to Lieutenant Keith earned a 3.8 grade point averMeadows, was an altercation age as a freshman.
“The death of Jasmine Lynn
on Clark Atlanta University, inwill
always be a sad and tragic
volving members of its student
body and Benton resulting in loss to Spelman, and we are glad
Stock photo
Rodney Mitchell
www.themaroontiger.com
to see a break in the case occur,”
Spelman vice president of student affairs Sherry Turner stated.
“We look forward to the district attorney pursuing the case
vigorously.”
Brittany Curtis, a sophomore
at Spelman College, shares
Turner’s sentiments, but acknowledges the capture of Benton as a bittersweet moment.
“I just hope he is remorseful
if he did commit the crime and
it’s sad because he is only 21,”
Curtis said.
“My prayers go out to her
family and his family.”
Lynn’s mother, Constance
Franklin, was relieved that an
arrest was made, but echoed
the sentiments of Curtis stating,
“I feel for him, he was trying
to do something with his life.
But I lost my baby, too. It’s a
double tragedy.”
On Wednesday Oct. 7, a
judge ordered Benton to be
held without bond. After last
Wednesday’s hearing, Benton
‘s attorney Jackie Patterson insisted his client is innocent.
“We can’t wait to see the day
that a jury says, ‘we find the
defendant not guilty.’ Patterson
said. Benton is scheduled to return to court next Wednesday.
Recycle The Maroon Tiger
Nicolas Aziz
Campus News Editor
nicolasbrierreaziz@yahoo.com
W
nuclear weapon build up,
Haynes feels that these are
certainly not happenings that
Morehouse College would
like to contribute to.
“It is horrifying to conceive
that Morehouse College may
be funding weapons and machinery to aid in the murder
of a nation,” Haynes said.
Morehouse SGA is eager
about their partnership with
the Vanguard Leadership
Group. SGA President Adam
McFarland said there was no
hesitation to become involved
when he and his administration became aware of the issue.
“The Vanguard Leadership
Group is an extremely positive group of individuals in
the Atlanta University Center,” McFarland said. “When
I was approached with the
idea…there was no question what [the] SGA’s stance
should be.”
McFarland added that Men
of Morehouse must become
involved with issues of this
magnitude if they wish to become true “renaissance men.”
“President Franklin always
talks about Morehouse Men
being ‘renaissance men’ with
a social conscious,” McFarland said. “[Therefore] we as
students at Morehouse can’t
become leaders on the global
scene if we [do not become]
aware of these [types of] issues.”
In addition to Morehouse
SGA, the Vanguard Leadership group has gotten support
from other on-campus organizations including the Morehouse Business Association,
the Morehouse Chapter of the
NAACP, and SEED (Students
Endeavoring for Enlightened
Environmental Decisions).
Cheioke Moore, President
of the Morehouse Business
Association, also feels that
this is an issue of great magnitude.
“We (The Morehouse Business Association) chose to
support [the initiative] because the persecution of innocent people anywhere is a
huge concern,” Moore said.
“The MBA, like most organizations, has a concern for human life.”
The Vanguard Divestment
Initiative will encourage
Morehouse to research and
determine whether the school
has investments with any
companies that do business
with Sudan and Iran. Some
of these companies include
hen an institution
prides itself on breeding outstanding and socially
conscious
African-American males, it would only be
ironic if that same institution
was contributing to the death
of black males in a foreign
country. Morehouse College
could potentially have investments in 19 different energy
companies that do business
with Sudan and Iran. While
many in the Morehouse community are not yet aware of
these potential investments,
one student group is attempting to bring this issue to the
attention of Morehouse students and administration.
The Vanguard Leadership
Group is an AUC wide organization that “seeks to expand
the paradigm and consequently enrich the lives of a new
generation of African-American leaders.” The group is
currently partnering with the
Morehouse Student Government Association on an initiative that will aim to, according to senior Michael Haynes,
“inform the Atlanta University Center about the urgency of
the dangerous threat of Iran,
the atrocities taking place in
Sudan, and [the divestment]
of any money [that] Morehouse may have invested in
companies that do business
with Iran and/or Sudan.”
Haynes is the President
of the Vanguard Leadership
Group. He feels that it is important for Morehouse to step
to the forefront of this issue.
“It is imperative for us to do
what we can to make a statement to the outside world that
we will not close our eyes to
wrongdoing,” Haynes said.
Chantel Morant, a senior
Public Relations Management major at Clark Atlanta
University, is the Vice President of the Vanguard Leadership Group. She feels that
Morehouse College’s reputation of action with civil rights
issues made Morehouse SGA
the perfect partner for the initiative.
“Morehouse has always
produced distinguished leaders who unselfishly lead with
a conscientious worldview,”
Morant said.
“Organizing
movements of justice is second
nature to Men of Morehouse.”
As Sudan suffers from the
daily deaths of citizens, and
Iran continues to threaten the
safety of the world with their (continued on page 3)
News
THE
October 14 - 20, 2009
- II -
TheMaroon
Maroon
Tiger
The
Tiger
MAROON TIGER
Vol. LXXXIV, Pages I - VIII
George W. Williams, IV
Editor-In-Chief
Management
Kody Melancon
Managing Editor
Lauren Harper
Associate Managing Editor
Jeffery Taylor, II
Chief Layout Editor
Krista DeSouza
Chief Copy Editor
Carl Ringgold
New Media Director
Operations
Xavier Ifill
Finance Director
Joshua Brown
Advertising Manager
Alimou Bah
Webmaster
O’koyea Huff-Boone
Associate Webmaster
Reginauld Williams
Public Relations (PR) Director
Sescily Coney
Associate PR Director
Keiran Blanks
Distribution Manager
Editors
Nicolas Aziz
News Editor
Kevin Mallory
Associate News Editor
Spencer Greene
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Patrick Boateng
Associate A&E Editor
Ashlei Williams
Features Editor
Chrishelle Griffin
Associate Features Editor
Gerren K. Gaynor
Opinions Editor
Andrew Dyer Jr.
Associate Opinions Editor
Jon Bradley
Sports Editor
Jourdan Shepard
Associate Sports Editor
Photography
Eric Ross
Maroon Tiger Photo Editor
Timothy Johnson
Maroon Tiger Photo Editor
Adviser
Ron Thomas
Director, Morehouse Journalism and
Sports Program
Sponsoring Organizations
Morehouse College Journalism and Sports
Program
Morehouse College Office of
Communications
830 Westview Drive, SW • Box 40 • Atlanta, GA 30314
thing. Until the night of the part because most of the other sation with her and we would
show, I realized how big this participants had a background both laugh and clown.”
Managing Editor
kjmelanc@hotmail.com
event was and how impor- in theatre.
Edwards explained that
tant my role became in telling
“I told her [Guy] that I was a working with Guy was the
Lowery’s story. That night, Computer Science/Mathemat- most memorable part of the
cake with three tiers
the event became much big- ics double major,” Edwards event. He stated that contrary
and the numbers 88 was
ger than who I am and who said. “She asked me ‘how did to what he read about Guy bein the middle of the stage as
the school is even. I realized you get into the production’ fore he found out that she was
civil rights leaders, actors,
that this was going to touch a and I told her that Mr. Green a very creative person with a
actresses and public officials
lot of people.”
asked me.”
beautiful spirit.
sung the Stevie Wonder verCulmer added that the exEdwards explained that
Surprisingly, Edwards adsion of happy birthday to Dr.
perience itself and learning Guy was shocked that he mitted that he never knew
Joseph E. Lowery. But along
with the group were men of
Morehouse who had various
roles in this celebration.
This past Sunday, Lowery’s
life was celebrated through a
theatrical production that mirrored his journey as a freedom fighter, preacher, father,
husband and advocator. Hundreds of people assembled in
the Martin Luther King Jr.
International Chapel to be a
part of the ceremony and to
wish the man of the hour a
happy birthday. Some of the
re-enactments featured men
of Morehouse and Morehouse
Men.
Sophomore Jason Culmer
played the role of a state
trooper during a re-enactment
of a protest in 1978. The (l-r) Rev. Jesse Jackson, President Robert Franklin, Actor Samuel L. Jackson, Rev. Joseph Lowery and
scene depicted Lowery’s pro- his wife Evelyn Lowery sing “We Shall Overcome” at the end of the celebration.
test against the arrest of Tommie Lee Hines, a mentally
about Lowery’s life story was involved in the produc- that Guy was a part of “A Difretarded Black man accused
made him quite humble.
tion without a theatre back- ferent World” until he started
of raping three white women,
Sophomore Bryant Ed- ground. But Guy shocked all working with her.
when state troopers blocked
wards was a protester in the of the participants when she
Besides the few men of
them from walking onto the
last scene. Edwards was in assigned him one of the few Morehouse who participatsteps of the governor’s manthe scene that was direct- speaking parts.
ed in the celebration, there
sion.
ed by Jasmine Guy who is
“I think it was my personal- were two Morehouse Men
“Initially I didn’t appreciate
well known for being a cast ity that got me the lines,” Ed- who was in the production.
the weight of my role because
member of “A Different wards said. “Guy and I had Samuel L. Jackson hosted
we did not have speaking
World.”
a positive vibe since the first the event while Fonzworth
parts,” Culmer said. “When
Edwards, who minors in day of practice. While every- Bentley appeared in a scene
we went to practice, we got
dance, thought he would be one would come in and just entitled “I am Joseph E.
dressed but never said anythe last to have a speaking sit, I would strike up a conver- Lowery.”
Kody J. Melancon
A
Maroon Tiger staff photo/George W. Williams IV
Editor-in-Chief
Lowery celebrates 88th birthday
Students raise issue of modern divestment
(continued from front page)
Essar Oil (India), Bow Valley
Energy Ltd. (Canada), and
Royal Dutch Shell (Spain).
Domonique James, a senior International Studies
and Spanish double major at
Spelman College, is a member for the Vanguard Leadership Group. She says that if
Morehouse finds investments
in any of the 19 companies
which do business with Iran
and Sudan, the Vanguard
Leadership Group will simply
encourage the institution to
invest these funds elsewhere.
“[If investments in any of
these companies are found],
we would like Dr. Franklin
and the board of trustees to
take the necessary steps to di-
vest from Iran and Sudan, and
reinvest the money with companies that are more aligned
with the values and traditions of Morehouse College,”
James said.
The Vanguard Leadership
Group is currently attempting to arrange meetings with
several members of the Morehouse administration to bring
awareness to this issue.
“We are currently in the
process of requesting a meeting with Dr. Franklin and other necessary administrative
personnel in order to educate
them about this issue,” James
said. “We’re looking forward
to what will be a dynamic discussion.”
Spelman College goes pink thanks to Victoria’s Secret
Elizabeth Sawyer
Staff Writer
edsaw4@yahoo.com
T
he Spelman bookstore
is every Spelmanites
one-stop shop for school
paraphernalia. Shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants and even
blankets can be found resting on shelves and grandly
displayed throughout the
store. But recently, another
store has stepped up to give
Spelman a run for its money:
Victoria’s Secret.
After entering a contest on
the Tom Joyner Radio Show,
Spelman College was finally
chosen to join the many other schools that have received
Victoria Secret PINK lines.
Students have been lobbying the company and voting
in contests for the past year
in order to receive this honor
and in the summer of 2009,
this dream became a reality.
Victoria’s Secret was
founded in 1977 by Roy Raymond, a Stanford School of
Business alumnus. Raymond
was tired of being perpetually embarrassed about buying lingerie for his wife in
department stores. The original intent of the store was
to make the lingerie buying
process more comfortable
for men and over the past 32
years, Victoria’s Secret has
grown into the most lucrative
and arguably most popular
lingerie seller worldwide.
In 2006, Victoria’s Secret launched the sub-brand
PINK. This division of Victoria’s Secret specializes
in loungewear and comfort
clothing – the emphasis in
their attire is “cute” rather
than “sexy”. PINK offers a
wide variety of sweat pants,
hoodies, underwear, bras and
clothing
In 2008, Victoria’s Secret
PINK launched a collegiate
line in which certain colleges
were chosen to have their emblem placed on various PINK
items. The collection focuses
solely on loungewear. Sweatshirts, sweatpants and t-shirts
are printed for the various
schools and sold on the “Collegiate Collection” site and
in Victoria’s Secret stores.
Over time, more schools
were added including five
HBCU’s: Hampton University, Howard University, North
Carolina A&T University,
Florida A&M University and
Southern University. As one
of the few all female HBCUs, one would think that
Spelman would be one of the
first schools chosen for the
Collegiate Collection, but
that was not the case.
After a year’s effort with
no avail, Spelman students
made a very passionate appeal to Victoria’s Secret. The
campaign was led by the
newly appointed Spelman
PINK representatives Danielle Tidline, Myia Elliott and
Sukie Osborne.
After reading Spelman’s
letter, the CEO of PINK,
Richard Dent replied personally and informed Spelman
students that the company
had partnered with the Tom
Joyner Foundation to hold
a “Don’t See Your HBCU?”
Recycle The Maroon Tiger
contest. The contest allowed
Spelman students and alumnae to vote for their school to
be included in the Collegiate
Collection.
The Tom Joyner Foundation has partnered with Victoria’s Secret and The Limited
Company to provide scholarships for students at HBUC’s
that are part of the PINK Collegiate Collection. The companies donated $100,000 to
help eight students continue
at the aforementioned PINK
schools continue their educations.
In the spring of 2009, it was
announced that Spelman won
the “Don’t See Your HBCU?”
contest and would join the
PINK Collegiate Collection
family. Earlier this month,
the Spelman PINK clothes
were released in the Victoria’s Secret stores in Atlantic
Station and Lenox Mall and
will be added to the website
before the holiday season. It
is also rumored that Spelman
will allow the PINK items to
be sold in the bookstore.
Through this entire process, Spelman students exemplified the morals and values that are bestowed upon
them every day at their institution. Through passion, desire, goal-orientation and extreme dedication, women of
Spelman were able to achieve
their purpose. Although it
may seem like a small or inconsequential victory to the
outside world, Spelman’s
victory in this arena proves
the power and influence that
can come from sisterhood.
October 14 - 20, 2009
- III -
The Maroon Tiger
News
NAACP Morehouse Chapter Strikes
Gold at State Convention
for outstanding education
achievement, most spirited, and chapter of the year
awards.
Other college chapters in
attendance were Spelman
College, Southern Polytechnic State University,
and Fort Valley State University.
The highlight of the convention for Morehouse was
the re-election of youth
and college state president, which came down to
a twofold face-off between
Morehouse students, senior
Jordan Casson and junior
Justin Bryant.
Casson who served as
state president for two consecutive years was contending for his second term,
but was defeated by Bryant
who received 20 out of 26
delegates.
Delegates, which are represented by youth and college chapters, vote on officers, resolutions, policies,
amendments, and all other
Gerren K. Gaynor
Opinions Editor
gerren.gaynor@gmail.com
T
his past weekend, the
NAACP Georgia Conference celebrated their
67th state convention in
Warner Robins, GA. The
Morehouse chapter solidly
represented as the largest
college branch, gaining
back its strong reputation
within the NAACP collegiate chapters.
The annual event, which
honors both adult and youth
branches for their outstanding achievements in civil
rights and leadership, honored Morehouse juniors M.
Louis Deas, II with the outstanding leadership award,
and membership chairman
Tshepo Moashaliba, for the
chapter’s highest membership in the state of Georgia.
The Morehouse chapter was also nominated
decisions pertaining to the
Georgia state conference
of the NAACP.
Another decision customarily determined by delegates is where the NAACP
national convention is held
each year.
The 2009 national convention was held this summer in New York City,
where the NAACP hosted
their centennial celebration.
NAACP board of directors chairman and Morehouse alumnus Julian Bond
‘71, was honored with the
Spin Garn Award, previously awarded to famed
Morehouse alumni Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. ‘48,
and Dr. Mordecai Wyatt
Johnson ’11, the first Black
president at Howard University.
Bryant, who now serves
a dual presidency as both
state conference and Morehouse chapter president,
received the outstanding
presidential award for his
involvement in raising
funds to pay off the chapter’s state and national
debt.
“The presidential award
is a reflection of the chapter’s strength. I have to
show recognition to my executive committee for their
continuous support and
dedication,” said Bryant.
While Bryant is content
with the success of the
chapter thus far, he is determined to bring back that
same prominence here on
campus.
In reference to the recent accomplishments of
the Morehouse chapter and
alumni within the NAACP
for their commitment Bryant proudly asserted, “It
returns the prestige of our
college and illustrates our
reemergence on the national, regional and state scene
as a strong chapter.”
FOR THE RECORD
In the issue printed October 7 – October 13, 2009, the article “Morehouse employee fired for homophobic comments,” it was inaccurately reported that Sandra Bradley was terminated by the college. An administrator in the college’s Office of Communications informed
The Maroon Tiger that Ms. Bradley was forced to resign.
In the issue printed October 7 – October 13, 2009, the article “Beauty over Brains,” Raynette Karisma was incorrectly quoted. The statement, “However, when the majority of the winners are light skinned with long hair, there is a problem,” was solely the opinion of the
writer, Calvin Monroe.
In the issue printed October 7 – October 13, 2009, the article “To divest or not to divest,” listed a wrong email for the author, contributing
writer Richard Fulton. Fulton’s email is rlfulton518@gmail.com
Students react to back-toback robberies
(continued from front page)
In addition to the Tuesday night attack, a similar
attack occurred on Fair
Street where two students
were forced to the ground
and robbed.
This has sparked outrage
among the student body.
Student leaders within the
Student Government Association responded by convening an emergency Senate meeting Tuesday. In the
meeting safety issues were
addressed and the student
leaders chose to take a proactive approach.
“We are demanding that
[campus officials] step up,”
said Melvin Colbert, SGA
Vice President. “We are
demanding APD and Morehouse step up.”
The SGA has planned
a town hall meeting this
Thursday at 11:00 a.m. during the time usually designated for Crown Forum.
Through the meeting, SGA
hopes to have the presence
of Morehouse Police Chief
Vernon Worthy, Chief Pennington and Morehouse
President Robert Franklin.
During the meeting student leaders will attempt to
stress the great importance
A New Generation of Leaders
Young Leaders for Social Change
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Agenda
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Recycle The Maroon Tiger
of an increased presence by
both Morehouse campus
security and city police.
Colbert says they will also
try to hold Pennington to
his promise for an increase
in APD patrol in the AUC.
“After Jasmine Lynn’s
death, APD only patrolled
for a little while or so.”
Colbert added.
“We need our campuses
and surrounding neighborhoods patrolled 24/7 because we can not lose anymore students.”
Colbert believes that
President Franklin’s soonto-be-launched “No Excuses Campaign,” where
students will go into surrounding neighborhoods
and get to know the college’s neighbors, will have
a positive impact on public
safety.
“I met a woman who lived
not far from campus and
she told me she had never
seen a Morehouse man. We
have to get into the community.” Colbert said.
With the sudden uptick
of violence in the AUC, the
pressure has been put on
both the college’s administration and city officials to
ensure students’ safety.
TheMaroon
Maroon
Tiger
The
Tiger
Features
October 14 - 20, 2009
- IV -
Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize: New Company to
Does he deserve it?
Provide $10,000
to Aspiring
Entrepreneurs
M
Jaymie White
Economics Club Contributing Writer
jaymie.white88@gmail.com
As “The Economist” stated, “Mr. Obama’s aspirations may be laudable, but
he has several tough years
ahead. The Nobel committee
evidently wants to encourage him, but it might have
been wiser to hold judg-
ment until he has achieved
more.”
Yet still, this is a great time
for the Obama family and
administration as congratulations are in order for the
president’s receiving of such
a prestigious award.
Ashlei Williams
Stock photo
artin Luther King Jr.,
Ralph Bunche, Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama,
Mother Theresa, Amnesty International, and now Barack
Obama have at least one thing
in common: They are all Nobel Peace Prize winners. But
is this award too soon for the
nine-month serving president?
According to 1983 Nobel
Peace Laureate Polish President, Lech Walesa, of the online publication politico.com,
apparently it is.
“So soon? Too early. He has
no contribution so far,” Walesa said.
Other candidates for the
Nobel Peace Prize included
Zimbabwe’s reformist prime
minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, Colombian Senator
and peace advocate Piedad
Cordoba, Afghan women’s
rights activist Sima Samar
and a small number of Chinese dissident leaders. The
Nobel Peace Prize is usually
awarded to individuals with
years, sometimes decades, of
hard work towards a certain
agenda. The nominations for
this year’s Nobel Peace Prize
were due February 1, 2009,
just 12 days after Obama
took office.
“The first thing you have to
understand is that President
Obama didn’t win the Nobel
Peace Prize solely for his past
efforts,” Brian Terrell, a junior
at Morehouse College, said.
“This is for his past, present,
and future agenda. When he
was sworn in, a large portion
of the world did not agree
with American politics. Now,
Obama is successfully changing that,” Terrell added.
With Obama’s win, comes a
new age of responsibilities.
“This is a great moment in
American history,” Lamide
Adeeosun, vice president of
the Morehouse Economics
club, said.
Obama said that he viewed
the award less as recognition
for past efforts but more as
“a call to action.” The president seeks to push his agenda
forward including universal
healthcare and an end to the
two wars in Afghanistan and
Iraq.
Unfortunately, this win
does not negate the fact that
unemployment has just increased to 9.9 percent and the
economy is still ravaged by
bank and family business failures. Neither does it close the
torture center Guantanamo
Bay, which President Obama
promised months ago, nor
does it produce anything of
substance from meetings with
Iran, Cuba, or Russia.
M
orehouse College is
gearing up for homecoming week, which begins
Sunday Oct. 18. It has been
confirmed that hip-hop recording artist Lupe Fiasco
will be the headliner of the
Morehouse Hip Hop Concert on Wednesday Oct. 21 at
Forbes Arena.
“Lupe was the representative choice; it was a decision
that represented the entire
student body,” said Warren
Chancellor, co-chairman of
CASA (Campus Alliance for
Student Activities).
Students were given a
choice of who they wanted
to see perform at homecoming via surveys through www.
morehousecasa.com and the
CASA Facebook group this
past summer.
Kevin Booker, who serves
as an advisor to CASA, thinks
that Lupe Fiasco was a great
choice because of his ability
to reach a variety of audiences and positive messages.
“Lupe was a natural fit,”
said Booker, the Interim Director of Student Life. “He is
an artist that reflects the values
of Morehouse College with
his positive message and nonviolent and non-vulgar style.
Lupe is a universal artist who
all students, staff and administration can appreciate.”
Naturally, with a decision of
this magnitude, there is bound
to be criticism, but Chancellor realizes that is part of the
territory.
“Your job is to please as
many people as possible, but
it’s impossible to please everyone. A select few have
made comments saying that
they’re not impressed, but I
believed we picked whom the
majority of students wanted
to see.”
Atlanta rapper B.O.B. will
also perform at the concert,
and students who believe
they have musical talent will
have an opportunity to open
for Lupe Fiasco by winning
a contest at the upcoming
“Hump Wednesday.”
Chancellor admitted that
the budget constraints made
it more difficult to plan for
this year’s homecoming, but
budget cuts aside, Chancellor
expects the students to greatly
enjoy the experience.
“For $20 the student body
will see an amazing show
given by a phenomenal hip
hop artist. We really tried to
make this as cheap as possible
for the fans, and the students
can expect an economically
friendly homecoming.”
Chancellor states that maybe the most important aspect
of this year’s homecoming is
that homecoming will be returned to the students.
“We’re really trying to give
Stock photo
Associate Campus News Editor
kevincmallory@gmail.com
“P
laces like Morehouse
are currently housing
the Black Bill Gates or next
Bob Johnson,” Luke Riggins,
Head of Business Development for CASHFLOW, said
about recruiting young entrepreneurs at HBCUs.
CASHFLOW is a multimedia website and social network for urban entrepreneurs.
Founded by Magnus Greaves,
founder of Double Down Media, with the help of Luke
Riggins, creator of “Rich and
Famous” magazine, the company targets professionals of
the urban market.
“Magnus and I have been
pulling together CASHFLOW
for nearly two years, waiting
to unveil this long awaited
dream to give back to those
less fortunate,” Riggins said.
CASHFLOW was recently
in Atlanta for the 2009 BET
Hip-Hop Awards to support
a diverse range of lifestyle
Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Thorbjoern Jagland, events geared towards the urholds a picture of President Barack Obama in Oslo, Norway, after the ban market. While in town,
the company promoted its
announcement of Obama as winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize
new brand initiative.
Under
the
initiative,
CASHFLOW will give away
$10,000 every week to a deserving entrepreneur, beginning at the end of October.
CASHFLOW
encourages
young people, high school to
college age level, to register
at www.thecashflow.com and
submit business concepts to
receive funding.
CASHFLOW seeks individuals, usually minorities
and women, with good ideas
that are lacking the resources,
tools and financing necessary
to put their ideas into action.
Some of the tools that CASHFLOW offers include their
CASH Map, an informational
tool that provides entrepre-
Homecoming organizers look to strike a
different tone with hip-hop concert artist choice
Kevin Mallory
Features Editor
awilli66@scmail.spelman.edu
neurs with information on
places available to assist them
in different areas, and their
CASH 50 List, a networking
tool that serves as a directory
of fellow entrepreneurs.
Also, as a part of the
CASHFLOW website, scheduled to officially launch in
February 2010, there will be
a social community where
entrepreneurs can exchange
ideas through virtual and live
learning opportunities including events, conferences and
supplemental guides.
“I am no craftsman, but one
thing I do know is no matter
what you are doing in life,
you better have the right tools
in place to accomplish your
goal.” Riggins explained.
“Our purpose is to provide
young entrepreneurs with all
the tools they need to be successful no matter what neighborhood or block you come
from.”
CASHFLOW
operates
through components similar
to a consulting group. The site
helps aspiring entrepreneurs
create, execute and facilitate
businesses. CASHFLOW offers a mentoring program to
provide firsthand knowledge
and insight to clients. Outside
of consulting work, CASHFLOW also operates under
components similar to a foundation as they invest money
to assist entrepreneurs with
starting their businesses.
To attract younger entrepreneurs, the company is currently in the process of launching
a college outreach program
that will focus on HBCUs.
“Morehouse is a real company favorite with such worthy history and Alumni,” Riggins explained. “The youth
are the future and CASHFLOW is ready and willing to
help them lead the way.”
Visit www.thecashflow.com
for more information.
THE MAROON TIGER
The Organ of Student Expression Since 1925
Lupe Fiasco, the 2009 Morehouse/Spelman Homecoming hip-hop
concert artist.
homecoming back to the students. The V.I.P. seating for
events like the fashion show
will be given back to the students; CASA and the SGAs of
both Morehouse and Spelman
have opted to give up their
V.I.P. seating.”
Booker hopes that the students can appreciate the work
that has gone into planning
this year’s homecoming.
“Not just looking at the
concert, but with the entire
homecoming, students and
staff have been working tirelessly since June [in planning
this homecoming]. I sincerely
hope that students appreciate
the work of student leaders
and performers and that this
will be a memorable result for
all who participate.
“Lots of time went into this,
and we want homecoming to
be a student-friendly event.”
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www.themaroontiger.com
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-V-
October 14 - 2-, 2009
Opinions
Not just a Morehouse employee
Daniel Edwards
Contributing Writer
edd_kmt_1789@msn.com
I
n recent days there has
been a lot of speculation into the actions of
the Morehouse employee
who made inappropriate
comments while in a professional setting. When I
found out the identity of
the faculty member I was
shocked and appalled at the
situation because it was not
reflective of her character
as a whole, nor was it a reflection of her general conduct and representation of
Morehouse College.
Even more, when I read
her comments I did not interpret them as homophobic in nature. That was not
the thesis of her opinion
regarding the photograph
that motivated her words.
At the beginning of the
fall semester Southern
Voice contacted me regarding President Franklin’s
speech last April. I did not
have all the information
I felt I needed to give an
appropriate interview so I
went to the third floor of
Gloster Hall to schedule a
meeting with the president
to talk with him regarding
any upcoming policies the
institution would be working on.
That is when I met Ms.
Sandra Bradley for the first
time. Ms. Bradley’s customer service was the archetype of what President
Franklin and the population of Morehouse want in
an interaction between staff
and the student body, especially in Gloster Hall. She
went above
and beyond
her call of
duty to help
me
represent Morehouse
and
Safe Space
in the best
and most accurate way
possible.
Aside from
her professional help,
she was a
great
person to talk
to
about
anything because
she
exercised respect, dignity,
and empathy in every interaction. The welfare of the
students whom she interacts with is, and has always
been, her highest concern.
Regarding the recent
situation resulting in her
termination, because the
action was presented in an
extremely public manner,
the consequences for said
action had to be extreme
as well. President Frank-
lin had to balance an unfair
equation. President Franklin did his job as head of
the institution and he had
no other choice.
However, if this issue was
not made so public I truly
believe Ms. Bradley would
have been reprimanded, but
she would
still
be
employed
at Morehouse. I
also do not
believe
she should
have been
fired but
given the
nature of
the situation,
I
think outside entities would
not have
accepted
anything
less.
Ms. Bradley is an amazing woman who still deserves the utmost respect.
She should not be remembered for the consequences
of a comment anyone could
hear by simply walking
into a salon in any black
community in America.
Her comments were inappropriate in a professional
setting, but they were also
stereotypical and common
of any casual conversa-
Where is the line
drawn between
what “constituents” want and
what could ultimately be best
for keeping the
college running
smoothly?
tion between heterosexual
black women and warrant
a deeper conversation, not
necessarily a harsh punishment because the world is
watching, yet again.
An example was made
of Ms. Bradley. We need
to ask ourselves why were
the motivations behind the
decision to terminate Ms.
Bradley poignant enough
for her to deserve such severe punishment.
The actions taken by
President Franklin definitely set a precedent of
zero-tolerance for the staff
at Morehouse College, but
there are many other standards that need to be set
and upheld at our institution. The difference in enforcement seems to lie in
how much awareness those
operating outside of the
institution (media, general
public) have concerning
the problems the institution
has.
Where is the line drawn
between what “constituents” (removed from the
daily processes of the college) want and what could
ultimately be best for keeping the college running
smoothly? Ms. Bradley did
not do her job well; she did
her job exceptionally well,
which is the standard the
entire Morehouse College
community is held to.
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Recycle The Maroon Tiger
The Maroon Tiger
Opinions
Do you rhythm and blues?
Calvin Monroe
Contributing Writer
calvinmonroe2009@yahoo.com
W
hile the Morehouse/
Spelman Homecoming
each year is highly anticipated, the hip-hop concert is sadly more widely attended than
its R&B counterpart. Has our
generation lost its fervor for
R&B music?
One thing is for sure, R&B
definitely breaks up the monotony of today’s hip-hop.
There are so many crunk artists and club bangers that it
can give you a headache. We
should not forget that R&B
is the same music that got us
through the best and worst
times in our lives. From breakups to first loves, this genre of
music will permanently be in
our life’s soundtrack.
“I actually have not listened to R&B in a while.”
Morehouse student Kevin
James admits that he has been
caught up with listening to
hip-hop morning, noon and
night. “I listen to the radio
sometimes, but mostly on my
iPod is rap.”
Like most young African
Americans, James is forgetting the other side of the Black
music experience. It’s OK to
have crunk music, trap music
and club music, but what about
sweet music? The kind of music that makes you remember
a special evening with your
tenderoni, or the kind that got
you back with your girl when
she broke up with you. Even
the Fresh Prince said, “It’s
a little bit outta control, it’s
cool to dance, but what about
the groove that soothes that
moves romance.”
Before this generation forgets about R&B we must take
a trip down memory lane. Remember the sweet sounds of
Aaliyah and Dru Hill? R&B
taps into a part of the soul that
hip-hop can never touch. Let
us now clarify that we are not
only talking about love songs,
but also themed songs like R.
Kelly’s “Ignition”’, Raheem
DeVaughn’s “Customer, ”
and we cannot forget about
Erykah Badu’s “Apple Tree.”
Sandy Green, a Spelman junior, says R&B is her favorite
type of music. “Beyonce’s
double-disc album was hot!
She had the typical Beyonce
style on one, and her alter ego
Sasha Fierce on the other. It
fits us women of today. We
want to love, but we also want
to have fun, too.”
Have you ever had to tell
October 14 -20, 2009
- VI -
someone to take a chill pill?
Well, when it comes to hiphop, that expression is what
we all need to do from time to
time. With the hype effect of
rap music, it seems as if it has
taken over people and changed
the way they act. However,
when you listen to a timeless
R&B song in solitude, there is
a calming sensation that one
experiences, a mini escape
from one’s troubles.
If you don’t know which
CD to purchase there is a
plethora of new artists and
some returning artists who
are reclaiming their place in
the music industry. Maxwell
is back on the music scene,
Chrisette Michele’s ‘’Epiphany’’ album is still making
noise, not to mention R. Kelly’s new album, which will be
released this month.
This generation must not get
too caught up with the hype
of hip-hop. If we do, R&B’s
prominence will slowly fade
away. Like most parents, I
would like to tell my future
children, “You don’t know
nothin’ about this here.” I
cannot do that if the craze for
hip-hop continues while R&B
seeps through the cracks of
the music industry.
I got my brother’s back
Appearance is everything
Gerren K. Gaynor
Opinions Editor
gerren.gaynor@gmail.com
W
ithout question, Morehouse is comprised of
some of the best dressed African-American undergraduate
males in the nation – as if being the best at everything else
wasn’t enough.
Custom fitted suits, vintage cut slacks, skinny ties,
high-end quality shoes, you
name it, and it can be found
right here on this old redclayed campus, oftentimes
seemingly a runway in disguise.
But then there are the interlopers who radically stand
against the most sacred of
the college’s five pillars:
well-dressed.
Nowhere in our institutional almanac is it stated
that proper dress protocol
requires a bow tie and penny
loafers. However, some of
our brothers fail to realize
that the world is looking at
us to lead by example, and
that starts with physical appearance.
If brothers are wearing
do-rags and trousers so far
beneath their waist that it’s
practically touching the
earth’s soil, it critically dis-
torts the distinguishable reputation we hold as trendsetters in the collegiate realm.
No one wants to visit a
Black Ivy League with the
impression that it breeds a
distinctive clan of sophisticatedly clothed men, and
instead witness the same
drug-selling, gang-banging
exterior that can easily be
found in any predominately
Black urban city.
What separates a man of
Morehouse from his counterparts is not only his intellect and speech, but the way
in which he presents himself
through his dress.
When a Morehouse brother makes the rash decision
to take the thug approach,
it greatly harms Morehouse
as a marketable brand used
to further the excellence that
was established 142 years
ago.
Brothers, while Morehouse is your home and you
should feel free to dress in
whatever manner you see fit,
it is also a dress rehearsal for
the real world.
Believe it or not, recruiters, influential leaders and
onlookers alike come to
Morehouse for reasons far
more than photo ops with
the King statue.
They come here for hope.
Hope that one day their
young Black sons will not
have to work twice as hard
only to be two steps behind.
Hope that Black America’s
image is no longer tarnished
by violence, drugs, and
harmful stereotypes.
They come here for us.
Where else in the world can
you find the greatest thinkers, most courageous and
sharpest dressers in the nation? The Morehouse mystique isn’t all about intellect.
Our appearance is just as
critical.
Simple things such as taking off your hat in a building,
pulling up your pants, and
putting a smile on your face
are just some of the many
ways Morehouse can continue its excellence in breeding
the premier undergraduate
Black males in America and
beyond.
If you truly have your
brother’s back, you will become more conscious of the
image, as a man of Morehouse, you project to the
world. Because if one of us
stains the image of Morehouse, we are all affected. It
only takes one.
Reconstructing dress
Tony Gayles Jr.
Contributing Writer
anthony.gayles@gmail.com
T
The Exclusionary Rule for gay students
Carl Ringgold
New Media Director
carlringgold@gmail.com
G
iven the recent firing of
former Morehouse employee Sandra Bradley for arguably spreading hateful antigay rhetoric through a college
endorsed email, I ask myself
the question, “Does the inclusion of gays exclude the opinion of everyone else?”
Morehouse has tried its
hardest to have gay and
straight students coexist.
President Franklin has expressed the need to have men
and women of all sexual preferences come together peacefully. A domino effect has
started across the nation with
more and more gay advocate
groups fighting for the civil
rights of gays (marriage, jobs,
etc.) across the nation.
It seems that with the issues
surrounding gays being so
prominent, nothing bad can
be said about them. It’s as if
the gay community wishes
to be included in all of the
benefits society has to offer,
but excluded from the public
scrutiny that is sure to come
with it. This does not mean
non homosexuals should go
around bashing gays. It simply means that people are
entitled to their opinions no
matter how favorable or unfavorable they may be.
I wonder what it would be
like if every white person
who wrote hate messages
about Dr. King during the
civil rights era was fired? Although I do not agree with
any of Bradley’s statements
and how they relate to the gay
or Black community, the bigger issue here seems to be the
exclusionary rule society has
given gays because they are
too scared to offend or anger
the LGBT community.
If every mistreated group of
people was privileged to the
kind of token treatment gays
receive, most of our civil issues would be non-existent.
If every incompetent teacher
in our public school systems,
racists at all levels of society,
or opponents to health care
were fired, we would have no
civil rights issues.
I recall watching CNN one
afternoon in which nearly an
hour of airtime had been allocated to the topic of “Gays
are upset with President
Obama.” In a nation where
most people are struggling
to make ends meet and at an
institution where there are far
more pressing issues, the conversation regarding gays vs.
straights needs to end.
Though I applaud administration for taking a stand and
sending a very strong message, I wonder how this will
compromise the free expression we have always been accustomed to at Morehouse. By
all means what Bradley said
was hateful and without question warranted disciplinary
action. But, will this create a
situation in which those who
have issues with gays or any
other group scared to speak
out against them? Will this
issue form a country where
everyone who feels they are
being mistreated begins cries
about it?
Will I watch CNN next week
and read “Poor People are upset with President Obama” or
“Under compensated Black
children upset with President
Obama”? I don’t think I will.
We live in a world where
differences are plentiful and
the understanding of those differences is seemingly scarce.
If we are going to embrace the
issue of sexual preference and
how it relates to Morehouse
College, we must do so with
fairness and understanding
not with the notion that the
respectful opinions of others
cannot be expressed.
his month, Morehouse
College
administration will institute a policy
that seeks to define what
constitutes “appropriate attire” for students; an effort
to regulate the image of the
College and protect the reputation alumni have spent
142 years building. We
are proud of the legacy of
Morehouse men who have
successfully endeavored to
“redefine the world.” What
is troubling about this legislation, however, is the clear
bias against members of
our community who choose
not to conform to traditionally masculine standards of
dress.
Clothing is meant to
serve two purposes: functionality and expression.
When it is cold outside,
we wear layers. When exercising, we wear athletic
gear. We wear shoes to protect our feet. We vary the
kinds of clothes we wear
for optimal comfort in different environments. But,
the designer labels, athletic
brands and shoemakers we
choose are personal expressions that we treasure. In
casual spaces, Morehouse
students value their Ralph
Lauren polos, Solbiato
Sport lanyards, and Sperry
Top-Sider deck shoes.
Morehouse College, as a
private institution, reserves
the right to dictate to its students what it considers “ap-
Recycle The Maroon Tiger
propriate attire.” However,
in reading the “Appropriate
Attire Policy,” I ask myself
“why are the specific forms
of clothing and expression
mentioned in the policy inappropriate?”
A respected colleague of
mine argued that the dress
policy will eliminate “two
extremes”; one being baggy pants and do-rags often
worn by the stereotypical
hyper-masculine thug, and
the opposite, “women’s
garb” worn by the too-feminine sissy.
I agree that neither of
these extremes is acceptable in the corporate boardroom. I also concur with the
belief in Morehouse College’s obligation to prepare
its students to know what is
appropriate to wear in different situations. However,
the restrictions outlined in
this policy extend beyond
the King International
Chapel and classrooms in
the Leadership Center; the
casual spaces on campus
where students expect near
absolute freedom in their
dress, are being targeted as
well.
Why? I believe the roots
of this issue reach deeper
than professionalism.
Standards of male and female dress are not based on
any physiological differences between the sexes;
a penis does not require
that men wear pants with
separate leg holes. Cultural constructs developed
over time have shaped the
way we fill our wardrobes.
These traditions are based
on a single kind of masculinity.
“Within the dominant
culture, the masculinity
that defines white, middle
class, early middle-aged,
heterosexual men is the
masculinity that sets the
standards for other men,”
states sociologist Michael
S. Kimmel. This kind of
“hegemonic masculinity”
seeks to suppress and delegitimize “women, nonwhite
men, nonnative-born men,
[and] homosexual men.”
Morehouse College has
an opportunity, as the leader in the higher education
of progressive men, to affirm that it is committed to
embracing every kind of
man. This institution is internationally renowned because it has produced a diverse assembly of pioneers,
not a homogenous group
stagnant within the status
quo. We must refrain from
blindly following traditions, because we remember that traditions have not
always served us well. We
are aware of the societal
constructs that continue to
plague our nation (e.g. racism, sexism, classism, etc.).
We have the ability and obligation to deconstruct and
reconstruct this one, too.
As an institution built
upon a foundation of academic excellence, let us
look to scholarship to guide
us as we search for solutions to this challenge.
The Maroon Tiger
- VII -
October 14 - 20, 2009
Arts & Entertainment
Artist Spotlight: DJ Blackhouse”
Currensy: The “hot spitta”
Carl Ringgold
Taylor Williams
New Media Director
carlringgold@gmail.com
W
It took a long
time for me to
learn what I was
doing, but it
came from networking
with
people already
in the industry
and having a
passion for good
music.
promising the story music
should tell,” Orange said.
The influence for Orange
is both rooted in his childhood love and in his desire
to have a positive influence
on the college.
“I want to keep developing mix tapes that keep
good music going. I wont
be here next year to make
use of the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center so I’m
just doing my part.”
The mix-tape itself is
very well composed. It in-
20
?
?
questions
Judge Ratchett
Motivational speaker
babyrunon@iheartmorehouse.com
?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
?
?
Was she really crying after she lost?
Did she think she would win just because she’s
pageant legacy?
Was she not OWT enough for the bruhz?
Will you ride a SGA sponsored bus again?
Is that all they could afford after CASA took all
that money?
Why was the Queen of Soul using a disposable
camera?
And wasn’t that a whole lot of shade when she
showed up in a cheap looking muumuu?
Are you mAd you Placed third?
So are you the most prestigious and most selec
tive chapter of all the black fraternities?
Then why didn’t you win chapter of the year in
the spring?
Will next week be a FAMILY affair?
What’s up with TigerTV?
Is he feelinG overWhelmed?
Did a near assault by the Vipers scare her into the
arms of the head DAWG in charge?
Should he be leading our Mock Trial team?
Has he even won that $1 Million suit against
Grinnell yet?
Shouldn’t he focus on one case at a time?
Did they actually AttemPt to recruit you?
Doesn’t he know that no matter how long he
delays graduating, that he’ll never be SGA
President?
Transfer? Delayed graduation? Doesn’t his story
sound very familiar?
?
?
?
?
?
corporates popular hip-hop
songs from artists such as
Kid Cudi, Lil’ Wayne and
Gucci Mane. Some of the
tracks are blended with
old school beats, which
gives a traditional effect
for some modern artists.
Oranges childhood intention to always incorporate
more than just one fan base
in his music is very apparent with the array of artists
and sounds featured on the
record.
For aspiring DJ’s who
know they have the talent,
but not the resources Orange has proven that it can
be done.
“The internet is a powerful tool. I’ve made so many
connects and I’ve learned
no much just by utilizing
the Internet,” Orange said.
Where many try to start
in a good position, becoming an experienced and reputable DJ is a process that
can take years to complete.
“I used to collect my
lunch money in elementary
school in order to buy cds.
I had a 56k modem at home
that would take an hour to
download one CD. Coming
out of high school I had accumulated over 2000 CD’s.
It took a long time for me
to learn what I was doing,
but it came from networking with people already in
the industry and having a
passion for good music.
Staff Writer
taylor_antonio_williams@yahoo.com
T
A&E editor
mtiger_arts@yahoo.com
F
or anyone looking for an
alternative to his or her
usual Sunday afternoon or
Friday evening, The Atlanta
Opera offers an elegant experience that is quite enjoyable.
The student special, which
offers tickets for the price of
$10.00, allows students to experience the classic combination of music and theater for
an affordable price.
Celebrating it’s 30th year,
The Atlanta Opera has performed various works such
as “Hansel and Gretel,” “Cinderella” and “The Barber of
Seville.” This season, they
open at the Cobb Energy Centre with Donizetti’s “L’elisir
D’amore” which translates,
The Elixir of Love.
This 19th century, Italian
opera is a romantic comedy
of a common villager who is
in love with a woman who
he feels is out of his league.
Nemorino, the villager is
turned down by his dream
girl, Adina for another man.
She advises him to look after
his sick uncle, rather than try
to win her love. Instead he
buys a “potion” from a swindler claiming to have an elixir
of love that can make Adina
fall for him. Although the
world and Spitta continued
to gain more attention. When
most artists gain this type of
exposure they stop, but Currensy had no plans on stopping anytime soon.
He soon released “How
Fly,” a mixtape with Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa,
where they both displayed
how gifted they were.
With all his hard work, Currensy has made a name for
himself in this dog-eat-dog
hip-hop world and proved his
worth. Currensy recently released an album entitled “Jet
Files” which is available for
digital download and plans on
releasing a mixtape later this
year with Don Cannon entitled “Smokey Robinson,” and
another album entitled “The
Grand Scheme of Things,”
which will be released early
2010.
he hip-hop world is filled
with so many artists,
some mainstream and some
underground; many of the underground artists today don’t
get the deserved shine that
they are entitled to, one being New Orleans native, Currensy.
Currensy signed with Lil’
Wayne’s Young Money Ent.
Label back in 2005 and soon released his debut single “Where
Da Cash At,” which featured
Lil Wayne and Remy Ma. His
career looked promising, but
after many delays to his album,
Currensy decided to part ways
with the label.
After this split he released
a mixtape entitled Independence Day. Currensy began
to show that he could survive
in the game on his own and
deserved to be looked at as a
force in the hip-hop world.
After the release of Independence Day, Currensy began
release a mixtape every month
with all new music, one being
arguably better than the last.
He continued this for seven
months, showing that he had
a work ethic that was second
to none. In his fourth monthly
installment entitled “Fear and
Loathing in New Orleans” he
says, “I did more in four months
than some did in four years.”
The releasing of these mix- Rapper Currensy, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana.
A&E review:
Atlanta Opera
Spencer Greene
tapes drew Spitta, as he often
refers to himself, national attention, most notably from
XXL, a popular hip-hop magazine. He was named one of the
top 10 freshmen of 2009. Others included in this were Wale,
Kid Cudi and Asher Roth who
have all went on to sign deals
with major labels, two of them
releasing albums in 2009.
This was definitely a highlight
in the rapper’s young career. He
had been on the cover of a premier hip-hop magazine and had
the hip-hop world going crazy,
all wondering whom the young
rapper was going to sign with.
Currensy decided to take a different route, the independent one.
He soon released his debut
album cleverly named “This
Ain’t No Mixtape” which was
released digitally on Amalgam Digital. The album created a lot of buzz in the hip-hop
Boutique review:
Ken Barber
elixir is nothing but a bottle Miriah Codes
of wine, Nemorino believes Contributing Writer
Adina will fall in love with mcodes@scmail.spelman.edu
him in one day. Shockingly,
orehouse men have
Adina leaves the man she is to
become known for
marry and does end up falling
their
preppy
styles. Many
for Nemorino.
The witty libretto and lyri- of them can be seen wearcal arias are some of the rea- ing cardigans and Polo’s
sons The Elixir of Love hasn’t with loafers or Sperry’s at
left the opera stage since it’s any given time. As mainopening in 1832. Many parts stream fashion moves toleft the entire audience in ward the mysterious and the
eclectic, these distinguished
laughter.
With 30 years of behind gentlemen are running out
them, The Atlanta Opera has of places to shop.
Ken Barber, located on
no plans of stopping anytime
soon. Next season, the At- 1031-A Marietta Street
lanta Opera plans on continu- NW, has come to the resing it’s tradition of presenting cue. It sells clothing to the
amazing works by bringing to more conservative gentlethe Cobb Energy Centre, Mo- man. It is the perfect store
zart’s “The Magic Flute,” and for men to buy wardrobe
essentials in neutral colors.
Verdi’s “Aida.”
With the student special, This swanky, up-scaled
The Atlanta Opera is opening shop carries an assortment
its doors to a younger gen- of suits and blazers and
eration. It’s a chance to step quality everyday menswear
away from the from everyday for reasonable prices. Rehip-hop, r&b and ock music freshingly, crazy prints and
that most students listen to -- skinny jeans are nowhere to
a great way to become more be found.
This store has created a
versed in theater and music.
Also, $10.00 is a steal for haven for crew neck sweattickets that can usually cost ers, vests, classic buttonups and straight-leg denim.
up to $150.00.
For more information on These simple items have
seat reservations and future become so hard to find lost
works visit www.atlantaop- in the high fashion of Lenox
Mall. Ken Barber’s sleek,
era.org.
streamline garments will
still set you apart from the
Recycle The Maroon Tiger
M
Stock photo
ith plenty of music
enthusiasts around
the world, it can be difficult to distinguish yourself from the crowd. “DJ
Blackhouse” also known
as Paul Orange has been a
music enthusiast most of
his life and his urge to be
different always translated
to his taste in music. Paul
sat down with the Maroon
Tiger and went in depth
about his passion for music, the origins of the love
he has for it and his current
mix-tape.
“It all started around third
or fourth grade when I first
started collecting music as
a hobby,” Orange stated.
Orange spoke of growing
up in Washington D.C. and
how music there had taken
on a life of its own.
“Coming from DC, GoGo music was the thing.
The music attracted so
many people because it always had a constant flow.”
Feeding off the identity that Go-Go music had
already created, Orange
chose to utilize the Go-Go
sound so that it reached a
larger audience.
“During my 11th grade
year in high school I decided to chop and screw GoGo music under the name
DJ Blackhouse. I started
chopping and screwing
music more and more and
that’s how I became a DJ.”
From there Orange elevated his experiences and
has influenced some of the
top mix-tape blogs around
including
Metroquarterz
and Idealtaste.
“As a DJ I always wanted
to incorporate the concept
of having nice sampling
in my music without com-
crowd, however. One piece
in particular, a hooded black
jacket with large round buttons, would be the perfect
compliment to almost any
fall look.
In addition to classic,
tasteful apparel Ken Barber provides a cool atmosphere with modern décor
and imaginative displays.
Abstract art hangs from the
walls while turning clothing
racks hang from the ceiling.
A few of their collard shirts
are hung on hangers by
their sleeves. Ties are neatly folded in small wooden
boxes. The Feng Shui in
this boutique is undeniable
and it creates a welcoming
environment for the sophisticated shopper.
Learn more about Ken
Barber at http://kenbarberclothing.com/.
Store Hours:
Tues–Fri 11am to
7pm & Sat 11am
to 6pm
Address:
1031–A Marietta
St NW Atlanta,
GA 30318
The Maroon Tiger
October 14 - 20, 2009
- VIII -
Sports
Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic Recap What to Watch
Jon Bradley
Charlie Williams IV
Sports Editor
bradleyj520@yahoo.com
Morehouse 16 Tuskegee 30
KEY PLAYERS
David Carter
Achille Hendje
Jake Thompson
The True Freshman running back
helped the Tigers with 68 yards on
the ground on only 7 carries
The senior receiver managed three
crucial catches for 50 yards against
the stingy Tuskegee defense.
The shifty athlete caught three
passes out of the backfield, including a 28-yard touchdown in the
second quarter
Morehouse Statistics
!
Rushing
Carter,David
Thompson,Myeric
Thigpen,DaJuan
Green,Christian
Brack,William
Rodriguez,Jamar
Totals...
Passing
Gain
Loss
Net
TD
Lg
Avg.
7
5
1
6
8
2
29
68
7
6
10
31
2
124
2
0
0
5
29
28
64
66
7
6
5
2
-26
60
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
56
2
6
5
15
2
56
9.4
1.4
6.0
0.8
0.2
-13.0
2.
Cmp-Att-Int
Brack,William
Thigpen,DaJuan
Totals...
Receiving
Hart,David
Hendje,Achille
Thompson,Myeric
McFadden,Tyjuan
Green,Christian
Brack,William
Totals...
The Good…
The Tigers of Morehouse was able
to hold the Tigers of Tuskegee to 4 of
17 on third down attempts.
The Bad…
No.
Yet the Tigers still allowed the
Yds
TD
Long
Sack
88
0
88
1
0
1
47
0
47
3
0
3
14-27-2
0-1-0
14-28-2
No.
Yds
TD
Lg
5
3
3
1
1
1
14
-16
50
35
47
5
-33
88
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
19
23
28
47
5
0
47
game to slip away. With 3:52 left in
the fourth quarter, on fourth and 16,
the Tigers conversion was stopped,
giving Tuskegee the ball on the
Morehouse 22 yard line with 3:45
left. Tuskegee scored 2two players
leter.
The Ugly…
The Tigers gave up 207 yards on
the ground and three touchdowns.
Their inability to stop the run proved
to be significant as Tuskegee held on
to the ball for nearly 65 percent of the
game.
Staff Writer
cwmsiv@gmail.com
Saturday, Oct. 17
No. 20 Oklahoma vs. No.
3 Texas - The Red River
Shootout. This yearly
matchup puts the two best
teams in the Big 12 South
against each other. Texas
wants to show that it is a
serious contender for a
national
championship
and not just a cupcake
beater. Oklahoma wants to
salvage its season and stay
undefeated in the Big 12
with the hope of a spot in
the Big 12 Championship
game. Texas’ Colt McCoy
and Oklahoma’s Sam
Bradford should put on
a good ol’ fashioned
shootout. Turn to ABC at
12 p.m.
No. 6 USC at. No. 25
Notre Dame – Another
rivalry
of
traditional
powerhouses. USC comes
in rolling after an early
stumble at Washington,
while Notre Dame comes
in gasping for air after
narrowly escaping with
victories in the last three
weeks. The Fighting Irish
want to assert themselves as
a national power once again
and a contender for a BCS
bowl. The Trojans want
to take care of business as
usual. This one is on NBC
at 3:30 p.m.
No. 4 Virginia Tech
at No. 19 Georgia Tech
– This game will be for
supremacy in the ACC.
Virginia Tech is fresh off a
romp over Boston College
and Georgia Tech outlasted
Florida St. in a shootout.
The Hokies have aspirations
of not just another ACC
championship, but a spot
in the BCS Championship
Game. The Yellow Jackets
want to make a statement
that they are a team to be
reckoned with in the ACC
and nationally. Check out
ESPN 2 at 6 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 18
NY Giants at New
Orleans - A battle of two
of the three undefeated
teams in the NFC. The
Giants come in after totally
embarrassing Oakland in a
44-7 win. The Saints are
coming off their bye week
and are looking to make
another big statement like
they did against the Jets.
This premier matchup is
on FOX at 1 p.m.
Chicago at Atlanta – This
matchup might determine
who will be a serious
contender in the NFC
and who may be a year
away. Atlanta showed its
potential after demolishing
San Francisco, 45-10.
Chicago is coming off its
bye and is riding a three
game winning streak. Turn
to NBC at 8:20 pm.
Monday, Oct. 19
Denver at San Diego –
Most people believed San
Diego would have the better
record in this matchup.
Most people believed San
Diego was the better, more
talented team. However, it
is Denver who comes in as
the league’s surprise team
standing at 5-0. This AFC
West battle takes place at
8:30 on ESPN.
Black College Football Hall of Fame comes to Atlanta
Contributing Writer
fomogun@gmail.com
I
t has been 36 years since
NFL pioneer and Super Bowl XXII MVP Doug
Williams first step foot on
Grambling State University’s campus, leaving his
mark as one of the top quarterbacks in the country. It’s
been 32 years since he finished fourth in voting for
the Heisman Trophy and 31
years since he became the
first quarterback picked in
the first round of the 1978
NFL draft.
As time passes, Williams
remembers his many accomplishments, but he also
remembers the influence attending a Historically Black
College had on his career.
It’s evident by the black and
gold bag he carries with him
that reads Grambling State
Tigers.
“Players and coaches from
Historically Black Colleges
and Universities (HBCUs)
have played a significant role
in the history
viewing the
of college footnominations
ball,” Williams
and choossaid.
“Shack
ing induct(James Harris)
ees.
Wiland I remain
liams
and
committed to
Harris made
preserving this
it clear that
legacy.”
they are not
On Oct. 9
members of
Williams and
the selection
Harris, two of
committee.
the most suc“It’s going
cessful black
to be a tough
quarterbacks
process,”
in NFL histosaid
Harry, announced
ris, an NFL
their establishquarterback
ment of the
from 1969Black College
81 who was
Football Hall Former Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams, left, and former NFL quarterback James Harris announce to
the 1975 Pro
of Fame in a the media about plans of creating a Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Bowl MVP.
press conferWilliams,
ence in Atlanta.
house for the picked, is made up of 10 jourwho
was
The Hall of Fame will hon- Hall of Fame. Morehouse nalists and football execu- the
head coach
at
or eight HBCU players and College, Spelman College, tives: Ernie Accorsi, Charles Morehouse in 1997, said he
coaches considered to be Morris Brown College and Bailey, Gil Brandt, Charles has been looking forward to
the greatest in black college Clark Atlanta University are Garcia, Michael Hurd, Ty the opportunity to showcase
football over the years.
all HBCUs located in At- Miller, Roscoe Nance, Char- HBCU athletes. At MoreWilliams said the proxim- lanta.
lie Neal, Michael Smith and house, Williams made it his
ity of Atlanta to more than
The selection committee, Lloyd Vance. The committee job to help bring out the best
half of the nation’s HBCUs which according to Williams is responsible for determin- in his players. He tried to inis what made Atlanta the and Harris was carefully ing the selection criteria, re- stall in his team that it didn’t
Stock photo
Folasade Omogun
Recycle The Maroon Tiger
matter that they attended an
HBCU, if they worked hard
on the field scouts would
notice them. Williams built
strong relationships with
his players and still keeps
in contact with his former
player, Kalvin Pearson ,who
went on to play in the NFL.
“It was good trying to
build that program up,” Williams said.
After Williams finished his
coaching job at Morehouse
he returned to Grambling as
the head coach and led them
through a successful six seasons before returning to the
NFL as a player personnel
executive for the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers.
The Hall of Fame inductees will be announced in
February 2010 at the Four
Seasons hotel in Atlanta.
Williams said the Hall of
Fame eventually wants to
have a permanent site in Atlanta, but at first will be a
mobile operation located at
different sites in the city.