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Thursday, November 14, 2013

HealthSee what happened at Healthy Howard!

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Sail OutJhene Aiko’s latest EP reviewed.

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Senior DayRecapping the senior football players’ final home game

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INSIDE INDEX

The Student Voice of Howard University est. 1924

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Vol. 97 No.22

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Photo by Rachel Cumberbatch, Photo Editor

ASB Prepares for Another Year of Service

CAMPUS...................... p.2

LIFE & STYLE................ p.6

SPORTS...................... p.12

OPINIONS..................p.15

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THE HILLTOP | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER, 14 2013

POLICE BRUTALITY EVENT ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO KNOW THEIR RIGHTS

Robyn HutsonContributing Writer

Citizens are told to respect the law and those who enforce it, but how can one respect an officer who doesn’t even respect the law? The harsh reality is that police brutality does exist and is especially prevalent in communities of color. The Howard chapter of the NAACP decided to address this problem in a panel entitled “Police Brutality: Know Your Rights”, which took place Tuesday at 7 P.M. in the Blackburn Forum. The panelists included Attorney Patrice Sulton and representatives from Howard University’s Department of Public Safety, such as Lieutenant White, Sergeant Jones, and Officer King. There has been recent de-bate on stop and frisk laws, mass in-carceration, and unreasonable acts of violence in the media. Because of this, the topic of police brutal-ity is one that every college student should be informed about. It is no secret that some police target African Americans. According to Attorney Sulton, African Americans are eight times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession in Washington, D.C. Taylor Davis, a junior Nursing major, serves as the president of

the NAACP and is very passionate about the treatment of blacks in American society. “There has always been a history of negative interactions with African Americans and police officers and we as students need to know what our rights are,” said Davis. Davis believes that there is a strong rift between Howard Uni-versity students and other African-America residents of D.C. that should not be in place, as we are all at risk. “I think as college students we kind of think we’re separate from the issue. We’re at Howard…so we think that we are seen as somehow different from our coun-terparts who are in Southeast [or] the hood. The fact of the matter is that’s not the case. We are all of African descent. We are all in the same boat when it comes to racial oppression.” Officer King certainly proved Davis’ statement to be true. He revealed that he was just pulled over on his way to church last Sun-day. Apparently his car and appear-ance matched that of another man who allegedly committed a crime earlier that day. In this case, his title, service to the community, or where he was going- did not matter.

Even though he hadn’t committed a crime, King said he left both hands on the steering wheel and calmly asked the officer if he could reach into his pocket for his badge. While innocent people can be put in uncomfortable situations, Lieutenant White strongly advised students to “comply with every-thing” if they are ever approached by policemen. Some students were puzzled by this statement and wondered how one is to comply in a situation where they feel mistreated. The officers explained that there are other ways to address the situation and instructed students to get the officer’s badge number and immedi-ately file a complaint. But what is the reason behind the brutality? The panelists made it clear that not every police officer is racist and many of them try their best to be fair to those of all races and descents. However, there are some that fall through the cracks. Sergeant Jones said it was a “lack of training.” Officer King added, “It has to start in the election process…We have way too many people patrolling our com-munity that are afraid of us.” At the end of the panel, students were able to ask questions about common misunderstandings of the law- including whether you

The Hilltop Newspaper

Glynn Hill Editor-in-Chief

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Indigo SilvaMultimedia Editor

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Keneisha DeasMetro EditorMaya Cade

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Quantrel HedrickCopy Chief

Alexis GrantCopy Editor

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Tasia Hawkins Staff Writer

Jourdan HenryStaff Writer

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Erin Van Dunk Staff Writer

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Precious Osagie-EreseStaff Writer

Nile KendallStaff WriterSteven Hall

ColumnistMarc Rivers

Columnist

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are able to deny a search, what to do in sticky situations, and what excessive force truly is. Diara Wilson, a sopho-more Psychology major, felt the panel discussion was necessary. “I felt today’s event was very educa-tional. African American’s definitely need to know their rights to make sure they’re not taken advantage of.” Attorney Sulton also urged Howard students to take advantage of the opportunities they have in Washington, D.C. to combat unfair laws. “Get creative about it,” Sulton said. “I encourage you who are better with social media and videotaping things on your cell phones to figure out a way that everyone can access information about these officers in a public way and that way they’ll be some com-munity accountability instead of just having to rely on the depart-ment to [self-regulate].” This discussion not only gave students a better understand-ing about the laws: they were also encouraged to legally challenge the laws they deem unfair. The panel seemed to help students under-stand that they don’t have to just be victims when it comes to police brutality. They have a voice and should use it.


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Campus . Emmy Victor, Campus Editor [email protected]

HUSA’s Healthy Howard Day Gets Bison in Shape

Kennedi FullerContributing Writer

As college students, the importance of healthy living is often forgotten. With the exception of student athletes, most college students aren’t getting the proper amount of exercise or eating a well-balanced diet. Many are unin-formed about what it really means to be healthy. So last Tuesday, the Howard University Student As-sociation launched the first Healthy Howard Day to address this dispar-ity.

The event was held in the Blackburn Ballroom. With the help of many other campus organiza-tions and local businesses, the pro-gram’s sole purpose was to increase the awareness of student wellness through healthy food, workshops, info sessions, and work out sessions at no cost. Dozens of students came to support this new event on How-ard’s campus.

Healthy Howard Day participants included: HU Student Health Center, Campus Safety First Project, Urban Life Training, The National Center for Victims of

Crime, Off Road Indoor Cycling Fitness Studio, HU Pink, Mary’s Center, Nike Women’s, HerbaLife, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Phi Delta Epsilon Fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Each of the businesses and organiza-tions brought forth a unique health aspect to students. “I’ve always wanted to have a health fair that would actu-ally benefit the students. It was my goal for each student to leave Health Day feeling healthier. As college students this is one of the last chances that we’ll have to build and create healthy habits,” said Valerie Previl, senior, Clini-cal Laboratory Science major who serves as the Healthy Howard Day Coordinator, as well as the Assistant Director of Health and Wellness.

It is often hard for the av-erage college student to find healthy food to eat on campus. Healthy Howard Day provided students an alternative to poor eating habits by having delicious and nutri-tious catered food from Sankofa, which is conveniently located in the

“I know that I will continue to live out Alva Clare Powell’s legacy throughout my entire life,” said Clingman, who is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta. “When the presentation was being made, I felt spiritually connected to Alva Powell. I admire her tenacity to keep striving to serve even when she was sick.”

Clingman studies advertising and theater arts, aspires to change the perception of African Americans in the entertainment industry. “How-ard University has changed my outlook on the African-American race and has taught me to take pride in who I am,” she said. “I have learned to value my self-worth and I thank Howard.”

Clingman attended Princeton High School in Cincinnati. She will be receiving $2,200 in scholarship money.

WASHINGTON (November 4, 2013) – Howard University junior and Cincinnati-native Kiah Cling-man was named the first-ever Alva Powell Scholarship recipient in October displaying academic excellence, community service and leadership skills.

“This scholarship not only repre-sents a financial award,” Clingman said. “It represents a phenomenal woman and a sisterhood with the courage to remember her legacy.”

The late Alva Powell, originally born in Savannah, Ga., and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Inc., attended Howard University in the 1980s. To remember Powell’s lega-cy, a scholarship fund was named in her honor to reward extraordinary women whose qualities and actions empower others and make a differ-ence in the community.

Junior Awarded First-Ever Alva Powell Scholarship

Debra OsemwegieUniversity News Service

lower level of Blackburn next to the Punch Out. Not only was this health fair informational, there was also a fitness segment where Howard Alumni and personal trainers, Babatunde Falohun and Darren Jones, offered some easy yet efficient exercises that can be done within the small space of your dorm room. As the music played, Falohun and Jones coached the students through a mini workout routine consisting of high knees, jumping jacks, squats, push-ups and bear crawls.

“I learned more than I ex-pected. I initially came for the free food, but actually ended up gaining valuable knowledge that I can use for the rest of my life. Healthy Howard Day was a successful event that I would like to see implemented every year on campus,” said David Bullock, a junior Accounting major from Anchorage, Alaska.

Renee CoxContributing Writer

Jazz Ensemble Creates Harmony with a Legend

On Thursday November 7th the Howard University Jazz Ensemble held a concert to pay special tribute to jazz in Philadelphia. The concert took place at the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel and it drew in audience members of all ages, enthusiastic to see what this year’s show had to offer.

Since its establishment by Fred Irby, III, in 1975, the Jazz Ensemble has been known for assembling talented students and renowned artists to-gether for the purpose of creating a great musical showcase. This year’s concert included performances by Howard’s very own Afro Blue and the Jazz Ensemble band, which was joined by legendary saxophon-ist Sonny Fortune. Other notable musicians who have played with the Ensemble in the past include Wynton Marsalis, Greg Osby, and John Legend.

“Performing with a jazz legend always brings out the best of you,” said Joe Wilson, one of the Jazz Ensemble’s pianists, when speaking about the concert.

“Performing with Sonny Fortune was amazing and I hope to play with him again someday. We celebrate his legacy and influence in the development of the Phila-delphia Jazz scene, as well as his contribution in the evolution of the

development of the modern jazz saxophone style.”

Along with Fortune, The Phila-delphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts , Reppard Stone, and Bobby Watson were recognized at the concert for being recipients of the Benny Golson Jazz Master Award. The Award was created in 1996 to honor the legacy of notable Alumnus and honorary jazz artist Benny Golson. Past recipients are artists and organizations like Cecil Bridgewater, T.S. Monk, and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. In the end, the concert was a great success and that was indeed some-thing to be celebrated because for the Jazz Ensemble, preparing for the show was no easy feat. “In Ensemble rehearsal, we play each song about 5 times so that playing it becomes as natural as breathing.” said Wilson.

He also spoke about his personal performance at the concert and the presentation of the group as a whole.

“I think the Jazz Band always does well. We challenge each other through our playing and even if we don’t sound too great, which almost never happens, we still encour-age each other to do better. While I think I did pretty well, there’s always room for improvement. A musician never stops working,” said Wilson.

ers, Big Sisters and For the Love of Children in Washington.

“I felt humbled and excited about winning the award,” Holloman said. “I am always look-ing for motivation to keep making progress in my professional career, and Howard has prepared me by teaching me the importance of diversity and advocating for minori-ties and women in the communica-

Howard University public relations junior Stephanie Hollo-man recently became the first How-ard student to win the Ofield Dukes Multicultural Student Award. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to students in a journalism or public relations program or enrolled in courses preparing for a career in public affairs.

The Public Relations Soci-ety of America (PRSA) Foundation, Prudential Financial and global public relations firm Weber Shand-wick created the Ofield Dukes Scholarship in honor of Dukes, a prominent, civil rights-era public relations executive who served as a Howard professor for more than 25 years.

Holloman, a native of Philadelphia, maintains a 4.0 grade point average and plans to attend law school after graduating from Howard. She attended Methacton High School in Eagleville, Penn. She also volunteers with Big Broth-

First Howard Student to Receive Ofield Dukes Scholarship

Shakaria BucksonUniversity News Service

tions field.”

As a master public rela-tions strategist, Dukes helped facili-tate the launch of Howard Univer-sity’s School of Communications in 1971. He also led the development of its public relations curriculum and worked as an adjunct professor for 25 years.

He served as a mentor to legions of African American and other students. Dukes was also a founding member of the Congres-sional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) and a member of its board for 14 years. He was a strong sup-porter of the CBCF internship program and a staunch advocate for young professionals of color.

The PRSA Foundation created the Ofield Dukes Multicul-tural Student Award for minor-ity students who demonstrate the strong commitment to service and social responsibility that Dukes personified.

Above: Stephanie Holloman

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DC City Council Urges Snyder to Change

Redskins’ Name

Shannen Hill Staff Writer

Native American leaders and the D.C. City Council are currently campaigning to change the name of the NFL football team, The Wash-ington Redskins.

Council Member, David Grosso, first proposed a name change in May. Almost the entire council agreed that “Redskins” is not an appropriate name for a modern-day football team.

“Native Americans throughout the country consider the term ‘Redskin’ a racially derogatory slur akin to the ‘N-word’ among African-Americans or the ‘W-word’ among Latinos,” Grosso said in an interview.

During a vote held on Nov. 5, 10 out of the 13 council members voted “yes” on a measure to change the name of the team. With two of the council members absent during the vote and one neutral vote, there were no votes against the measure.

There are many supporters of the name-change, including President Obama, members of Congress from both parties and former D.C. mayor Marion Barry.

“I love the Redskins,” Barry told NBC Washington. “I was push-ing for them [Sunday], but this is too serious. Snyder ought to be ashamed of himself.”

Daniel Snyder, who bought the Washington Redskins in 1999, has refused to change the name because he says that it holds history. He has been very adamant about keeping the name and even told USA Today that he will never change the name.

“After 81 years, the team name

‘Redskins’ continues to hold memo-ries and meaning of where we came from, who we are, and who we want to be in the years to come,” Snyder said in an open letter to the team’s fans.

Some of the memories, however, hold a plethora of racial issues as-sociated with the team. It was the last NFL team to integrate and the team’s fight song used to say “fight for old Dixie,” which is referring to the Confederate States of America. While the team has been called the Redskins for the past 81 years, the name-change is a way that the team can move away from its history of racism.

“I don’t know whether our at-tachment to a particular name should override the real legitimate concerns that people have about these things,” Obama said in the interview.

While there are many supporters of the name-change, Snyder is the only one who can make the deci-sion. The measure has no official authority over the team, which does not operate in the city, seeing as they play in the FedEx Field in Maryland. Another obstacle is that the fans and city residents haven’t caused uproar about the name and continue to support the team.

The city saw a name-change in 1995 as the Washington Bullets name was changed to the Washing-ton Wizards on account of the ex-cessive violence in the District at the time. However, the owner was on board with the name-change, unlike Snyder. Through the obstacles, name-change advocates continue to fight for their cause.

Metro Keneisha Deas, Metro Editor [email protected] . FLOTUS Launches New Education

Initiative at Local High SchoolAllyson CarpenterContributing Writer

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- First Lady Michelle Obama visited sophomore students at Bell Multi-cultural High School on Tuesday to discuss the value of a college education. White House officials say that the First Lady’s trip to the local high school marks the launch of her new education initiative that seeks to make higher education more at-tainable for all American students.

The initiative is a part of President Obama’s North Star Goal, which aims to produce the highest propor-tion of college graduates than any other country in theWorld. After her remarks, Mrs. Obama joined BET personality, Jeff

Johnson and Secretary of Education, Arne Dun-can for a panel-styled discussion where they took questions from the students and shared personal stories from their times as students.

Obama, a Princeton and Harvard graduate, recalled a time when many discouraged her from even applying to Princeton while she was in high school. “Some of my teach-ers straight up told me that I was setting my sights too high. They told me I was never going to get into a school like Princeton,’’ said the First Lady Obama. That message really resonated with 16-year-old sopho-more Saba Amare. “I found her remarks really inspiring. She really gave us great advice, like how to balance our time between extracur-

ricular activities and schoolwork and how to overcome adversity.” Amare says that she wants to follow in the First Lady’s footsteps and study law at Harvard University.

While the Obamas are both work-ing with the Secretary of Educa-tion, Arne Duncan, to give more underprivileged students access to higher education, the Frist Lady reminded students that they too could play an important role in their education.

“No matter what the president does, no matter what your teachers and principals do, or whatever is going on in your home or neighborhood, the person with the biggest impact on your education is you,” said the First Lady. via Flickr.com, Pappa91

NAACP Asks Governor To Halt Foreclosures

Janelle BerryContributing Writer

Want to be Caught in Style on Instagram, hashtag:

#Hilltop, #HTstyle

Prince George’s County branch of the NAACP is holding a Town Hall meeting this upcom-ing Saturday in order to discuss the amount of complaints received about foreclosures on homes.

According to the Con-sumer Financial Protection Bureau, Maryland has been ranked second in the nation in mortgage com-plaint. Prince George’s NAACP has found it necessary to ask Governor Martin O’Malley for an executive order for a halt on foreclosures.

“Many abuses of the foreclosure process have come to the attention of the Prince George’s County NAACP,” said Bob Ross, the president of Prince George’s NAACP.

“We can no longer ignore the fact that we need a moratorium in Maryland to stop the recent ava-lanche of foreclosures being rained down on homeowners.”

Carmen Johnson, the housing chairwoman of the NAACP State Conference, received these complaints as well since the NAACP State Conference has

decided to join in the effort.

“I receive phone calls and emails from homeowners in crisis; I talk to other chairs in Maryland to hear their issues; I speak to law firms, banks, and the attorney general to file complaints,” said Johnson, explaining her duties as the Housing Chair.

“We have taken notice that this is going on all over Mary-land. ”She described the situation as an epidemic on illegal foreclosures, and explained that the NAACP State Conference joined in the ef-fort to become a third-party trustee.

“We want to become a third-party trustee so that we can monitor what the homeowners and banks are doing,” Johnson said.

However, with all of the monitoring she is doing by keep-ing contact with law firms, banks, and attorney general Douglas Gansler, they are already acting as a third-party trustee. “The banks do not have proof of the proper assignments because there are no records,” Johnson said.

“There is no one monitor-ing the whole process. When you contact the attorney

General, all of his reports come from the banks, and they have no reports from the homeowners.”

“Politicians need to know that the people affected by these foreclosures are more than just numbers on the balance sheets of the banks; they are their con-stituents,” Ross said. Some of their other concerns include the constitu-ents who make up the majority of these illegal practices. Banks such as Bank of America, Sun Trust and Wells Fargo have been the center of lawsuits for discrimination against African Americans and Hispanics in the past two or three years.

“Blacks and Hispanics were still receiving loans, but in comparison, Caucasians received better mortgage loans,” Johnson said.

“It’s not just about them though; a lot of these homeowners can afford their homes, but have been advised wrong. They were just being denied that chance.” “We just want the governor to see that clearly, we have a problem here,” said Johnson. The Town Hall Meet-ing is open to the general public on Nov. 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Jericho City of Praise located on 8601 Jericho City Drive.

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Life&Style Maya Cade, L&S Editor [email protected] . Action Bronson: Blue Chips 2

Briahnna BrownContributing Writer

Somewhere between an Italian mobster, a drug kingpin, and a ‘70s pimp, you’ll fi nd Action Bronson: a fl ushing, Queens MC who has been slowly making waves in the Hip-Hop universe with his raw, Wu-Tang Clan-style New York rhymes. With his newest release “Blue Chips 2,” Bronson shows off his versatility and his lyricism while continuing to showcase the personality that his fans fell in love with.

Bronson teamed up with producer, Party Supplies, just like he did on this mixtape’s predecessor, 2012’s “Blue Chips.” The series is named after a 1994 basketball fi lm starring Shaquille O’Neal. On the fi rst track, “Silverado,” Bronson sets the tone for his mobster-style dealings in the underground: “Let me begin baby, my name is Bronsoliño / All

I see is C-notes, silk shirts at the casino.” In other tracks like “The Don’s Cheek” and “It Concerns Me,” the mafi a “Don” that Bronson portrays is incredibly convincing.

Throughout this release, Bronson raps over beats that many would never rhyme over. In “Pepe Lopez” he raps over the 1958 Latin-rock song “Tequila” by The Champs. Bronson even effortlessly rhymes over fi ve different beats in “Con-temporary Man”: “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel (1986), “Sussudio” by Phil Collins (1985), “Jack and Diane” by John Mellencamp (1982), “Another Day in Paradise” by Phil Collins (1989), and “I Wonder if I Take You Home” by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam and Full Force (1985). It takes a true MC to have the ability to easily rhyme over ‘80s rock songs and still maintain his own style.

In “Blue Chips 2” Action Bronson

sets himself apart from many other rappers with his raw talent that eas-ily works together with out of the ordinary beats, thanks to producer Party Supplies. He really turns fi rst-time listeners into fans throughout the mixtape and especially with tracks like “Rolling Thunder,” where the listener gets a glimpse at Bronson’s humorously arrogant personality: “My past life I was a Rabbi / Now I live the fast life / Drugs on standby in the circle by the campfi re / Telling stories of yes-teryear / Pull out the pocket mirror just to check my hair / Hit it with the comb again / The rap Dennis the Menace with Dennis Rodman in Venice inventive.” You can listen for yourself and you will become a fan too. Tweet us @thehilltop and let us know your opinions about the mixtape!

Sail Out to Sell Out?

The dreamy sound of Jhené Aiko has the potential to take you to a wonderland of melodic tunes. Her new album, “Sail Out,” is mak-ing a huge impact on the world of music today. The soulful and smooth sound of Jhené is like none other. Her fans have been anticipat-ing “Sail Out” since the day it was announced. The seven track album features artists such as Kendrick La-mar, Childish Gambino, Ab-Soul, and Vince Staples. The EP is short and sweet at its fi nest.

Jhené Aiko’s voice has power and distinction. Her ability to create her own sound and the talent of her singing and songwriting skills are qualities of a potential star. She manages to depict both her happy and sorrow situations in her songs. The Japanese, Black, and Native American singer was born in Los Angeles, California. In 2012 she signed with Def Jam records. Her voice has been recognized as a secret weapon in various hit songs from Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, J. Cole, Wale and most recently, Drake. The exposure from working with well-known artists has given Jhené the confi dence and motiva-tion to begin working on her own album.

Not many people know who Jhené Aiko is or her story that she tells, but with the release of her new album, she changes that. Since being on tour with Drake, she has acquired new fans and listeners based off of her featured vocals on Drake’s “From Time.” Jhené released her mixtape “Sail-ing Souls” two years ago, which featured various artists including

Miguel, Kanye West, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar.

“Stay Ready (What A Life)” featur-ing hip-hop’s very own Kendrick Lamar marks the duo’s second collaboration. Jhené featured on “Growing Apart (To Get Closer)” which made an appearance on both Jhené’s “Sailing Souls” and Kend-rick’s “Overly Dedicated.” While remaining true to herself and her own R&B sound, Jhené offers a diverse alternative for those in need of a new soulful resonance. Being a single mother at 25 accompanied by the recent loss of her brother to cancer last year, Jhené doesn’t come pre-packaged or artifi cial. Creating a story for her fans and listeners opens the doors to her personal life and gives people something they can relate to. Her honest vocals have a way of spicing and jazzing up a song.

“Sailing Souls” defi nitely painted a picture for those listening to the seven-track album. Jhené Aiko is able to express her feelings through her music and hopes that her fans understand and appreci-ate the openness of the album. Both lyrics and production of the EP are both well-constructed and put together. “Sail Out” is a true success for Jhené Aiko’s career after working with some of the biggest names throughout all of 2013; her journey is fi nally beginning. “Sail Out” couldn’t have come at a better time, it shows quality over quantity. What are your thoughts on the new release from Jhené Aiko? Send your responses, critiques, and favorite songs to my twitter, @SignedY-ourHomie.

Siniyah SmithStaff Writer

The Best Man BrandMarc Rivers

Contributing WriterMany critics and pop-culture columnists have considered 2013 a banner year for African-American fi lms, with the acclaimed, Oscar poised slave drama “12 Years a Slave” as the appropriate capper. For countless black moviegoers, however, the real fi lm to put a lovely bow on the year is “The Best Man Holiday,” the eagerly anticipated sequel to the surprise 1999 hit “The Best Man.” The fi lm is set nearly fi fteen years later. Relationships have been established, such as the one between the meek Julian (Har-rold Perrineau) and former stripper Candice (Regina Hall), while others, like the friendship between strug-gling novelist Harper (Taye Diggs) and football superstar Lance (Mor-ris Chestnut), have faded. For most moviegoers, much of the delight of this fi lm will be from seeing how these characters have changed and developed since we last attended that emotional wedding in the fi rst fi lm. But if it is a pleasant surprise that these characters would make it back to the big screen after all these years, for writer and director Mal-colm D. Lee, it was simply a matter of time and circumstance.

“I had always thought I would revis-it these characters maybe ten years later or so,” Mr. Lee detailed, but he also admitted that, beyond the sentimental and creative reasons for making a sequel, it was also a mat-ter of staying active. “I needed to work again… I had been trying to get a couple things off the ground; nothing was really making any

traction…there’s all this talk about branding, and I was like, why can’t I get anything off the ground? And then I said, well, what’s my brand? My brand is I am most noted for doing ‘The Best Man.’” From there, he said it was a matter of getting all the actors together again in a room, pitching a story that would interest them, see how it felt, and go from there. For Mr. Lee, it was a chance not only to return to characters he knew and cherished, but to also acknowledge the ways that he as a fi lmmaker has changed along with his characters. When asked on the difference between the director he was in 1999 and the director he is now, his an-swers touched on fi lm making and his personal life as well. “My worldview has developed. I was single then. The things that concerned me on the fi rst movie… I can put them in better perspective,”

He noted the ways in which his increased wisdom and experience has allowed him to be both rigor-ous and malleable in his approach, giving his actors greater leeway while also being demanding about what he wants. On his craft, Lee was proud of the progress that he’s made in his career.

“I’ve gotten better at everything,” he asserted, “how to shoot, what to shoot, framing, comedic timing. There’s a number of things I’ve improved upon, and I’m still trying to improve upon.” Indeed, moviegoers will see clearly his more accomplished abilities on screen. He juggles multiple story

lines and characters and alternates between zany comedy and moving, emotional beats, delivering a grati-fying entertainment that will have you laughing through your tears. “The Best Man Holiday’s” lighthearted charms stand out this season, usually reserved for sober, grave movies that hunt for awards. As a black centered fi lm, it also deviates from dramatic historical works like “12 Years a Slave” and “The Butler,” which deal with the struggles of the past. One of the real satisfying aspects of Mr. Lee’s fi lm is that the issues affl icting the characters are not specifi c only to African-Americans. They’re uni-versal, applicable to people of any race. It is in a way a perfect exam-ple of where movies of this type can go in the market, when the African-American experience can become the American experience. On this banner year in black fi lms and “The Best Man Holiday’s” place among them, Lee was enthusiastic:

“I think it’s been fantastic,” he exclaimed. “All the movies are different [and] I think we fi t in in a great way… There’s room for everybody. Let us keep making quality movies. I hope that it contin-ues.” Judging from the success of the other fi lms mentioned and the feverish anticipation generated from Mr. Lee’s fi lm, the chances aren’t too bad. “The Best Man Holiday” opens this Friday and, chances are, moviegoers will fi nd it a rewarding early Christmas present.

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The holiday season is on its way and the Hospital is starting its annual holiday food drive. Departments are being asked to consider sponsoring a turkey basket with all the trimmings. You may request a collection box to donate canned goods and other non-perishables. To participate, contact the Department of Community Services at 202-865-1375 or contact Cynthia Livingston at [email protected] or 202-865-4238. Monetary donations to help purchase turkeys and other staples are also being accepted. Individual turkey donations will be accepted Monday, Nov. 25 and until noon Tuesday, Nov. 26. Baskets will be distributed on Nov. 26.

via Flickr.com, Pics of AB

Yo Gotti Speaks on “I Am”Maya Cade and

Quantrel HendrickLife & Style Editor

and Copy Chief

With his second major studio album, “I Am”, approaching its re-lease date, North Memphis rapper Yo Gotti has generated major buzz for his upcoming release. Yo Gotti has been in the rap game since ‘96 and recently signed a contract with L.A. Ried (Epic Records) in partnership with his record label Cocaine Muzik Group (CMG). The partnership with Reid has brought in a new range of support and powerhouse names to “I Am” such as Young Jeezy, J. Cole, T.I., and Shy Gizzly to name a few. Yo Gotti describes the name “I Am” as a mantra for his life and that this release will have something for everybody. “I Am” is expected to hit stores November 19.

The Hilltop: Dealing with record label problems for your previous album “Live from the Kitchen”, did you run into any like situations with “I Am”?

Yo Gotti: This actual album didn’t take a long time. I struck a deal with L.A. Ried in March or April and the album is coming out in November, it’s been pretty quick. My album before this was a long process, and I definitely learned from that. I think it was a bad working relationship with my previous label. I learned things from dealing with them to make sure that “I Am” didn’t take a long time. The process wouldn’t get pushed back this time.

The Hilltop:

As far as advice to aspiring rap-pers... Would you advise the inde-pendent route, seeing as you started CMG yourself or would you advise a record label?

Yo Gotti: It depends on what your goals are. At the end of the day to me, inde-pendent labels are a strong founda-tion. You can make a lot of money on an independent label. But on the same token, if you want to reach certain platforms you may have to go into business with a major record label. I think you just have to keep an ‘independent mindset’ whether you’re with an independent or not. You have to wake up and think ‘I’m willing to invest in myself ’ and you’ll be good.

The Hilltop: You built CMG yourself from ground to top. Now you have jew-elry, cars, and all this. How do you still stay hungry for more even when you appear to have everything?

Yo Gotti: It’s what your goal is. Jewelry and cars mean nothing to me. It’s the type of sh*t anyone can get. You can get it, you can lose it, and you can get it again. That isn’t the em-bodiment of my success and what I’m doing. As a rapper, I want to be the best. I want to be the best there ever was. The money, the jewelry, and the cars that’s just the perks that come along with it.

The Hilltop: Where do you see hip-hop moving in the next couple of years?

Yo Gotti: I think Hip-Hop will be here for-ever. I think it has phases it moves through. You had Lil’ Jon with the crunk music and then back to more rhythmic music. I think concious music is kind of what’s winning at the top right now. I think every couple of years it changes. That trap music is hot, I’ve been studying some of it lately. So I can under-stand it fully before I play with it in

my music.

The Hilltop: There is a pattern of rappers, when they get big, they switch their whole sound from ‘hood music’ to just club music? How do you personally stay true to who you are?

Yo Gotti: I think it’s a mixture of both, ‘hood music’ and club music. To me, my music is both. Some consider it ‘hood’, some consider it club. When you go to the club you can hear 5-10 Gotti songs in that club a night. We have the energy. It all comes down to energy and tempo cause the subject can be a ‘hood’ song or it can be a conscious song it all depends on the tempo.

The Hilltop: What importance does the mantra “I Am” mean to you?

Yo Gotti: I Am was something I actually started saying in songs as ad libs and I started thinking about what it means to me. I am the struggle, I am success, I am the streets, I am Memphis, I am a father.

The Hilltop: Where do you see CMG in ten years from now? Is it going to expand?

Yo Gotti: I’m actually shooting an indepen-dent movie after my album drops then I’m going to invest in the mov-ie. I’m going to put up my money and my ideas. Just like how it was when I came into the music indus-try on an independent level. We’re

looking to get into some filmwork. As far as CMG goes, we’re just try-ing to build up the label. We billed a few artists, and with this partnership with Epic Records we are able to put out a lot more albums.

The Hilltop: What exactly can people expect from the album?

Yo Gotti: If you been a Gotti fan, if you been with me, the subject matter is still the same. I just found a better way to tell my story. It’s the only story I could tell. I just found a better way to show more growth in it with picking production and with col-laborations. The way I picked my singles “Act Right”, “King Shit”, and “Cold Blood”, I’ve done that strategically to show people the range of my album. I could’ve put out the typical Yo Gotti records but instead I went with “I Am” because it was a totally different sound, then I went with “King” because it’s a totally different sound, then I put out the song with Meek to show you how it originally was, then I dropped the hit with Cole to show you the serious tone record. I done all this strategically to show you the exact range and growth of what we’re doing.

There’s something in this album for everybody. Album wise, it’s supposed to be exciting. To me, the excitement comes from what you can’t expect. If you can predict it, you probably not gonna be excited. I want you to be like ‘oh’, ‘huh’, ‘what’ and ‘I wonder what’s next?!’, that was the whole strategy behind it.


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How do I protect my business information or intellectual property?

What form of intellectual property protection is available for my work?

How can I prove copyright infringement?

Want Answers to these questions and others . . ?

Join Us in the SOC CERRC class to hear Greg Barnes answer questions about intellectual property.

Friday, Nov. 15, from 10-11:30 a.m. ROOM 213 CBP

Gregory Alan Barnes currently serves as General Counsel for the Digital Media Association (“DiMA”). DiMA is a nationally

recognized trade association that represents the interests of several digital music and video service providers on a wide

range of issues, including matters pertaining to copyright licensing, competition, privacy, the taxation of digital media, and

broadband deployment.

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT PROTECTING

YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

He Said... She Said...No Shave November

Scruff is sexy. That rugged, manly display of facial hair is attractive for the fi rst few weeks of November. The Rick Ross look some of you guys are sporting by week 3? Not so much. There’s a big difference between looking devilishly unkempt and Wolverine. And I personally fi nd it unfair that while men are allowed to lose the razor for a month and be comfort-able in their natural state, we women are still responsible for being hairless from the neck down. Shaving is a taxing process and if men are given a pass for the month of November, why shouldn’t we? I can only imagine their horror if we were to go a whole month without touching any of the hair on our bodies. I’m pretty sure “No Shave November” would become “No One Gets Laid November.” I digress. The point is, No Shave No-vember should not be a month solely for men, and unshaven legs aren’t the most horrifi c sight ever to be seen.

But let us not forget that part of the spirit of the month is actually aware-ness. “Movember” was created to raise awareness about prostate cancer through the growth of mustaches. So, as this second week of November is coming to a close, sport your beards and mustaches with pride (you too ladies) and support the cause. Just know that in a few weeks, you’re going to look really silly doing it.

It’s No Shave November, which is a month used to generate prostate can-cer awareness by not grooming or cutting your hair; a luxury that many cancer victims don’t have. See I rock the beard all year, so it’s always No Shave November for me. What’s interesting however, is that women usu-ally partake in No Shave November as well, which is equally dope to me. I usually have an unpopular opinion, especially when it comes to women and body hair.

Why? Because I can be caught proclaiming “Long Live the Bush!” from the highest peak of any major city at any time. I’m a guy that appreciates a moderate amount of body hair on a woman, specifi cally in the lower regions. Not because I’m a creep, but because I don’t believe body hair makes a woman less feminine. I actually think that hair is a sign of femi-ninity. Hair is natural and it doesn’t hurt anyone. There is this general misconception that femininity must be soft and caring, which it is -- but femininity is also strong. And I believe pubic hair is a strong, mature ac-cessory.

In all honesty, it’s equally offensive for me to say, “keep” or “cut” your hair because it’s your body and prerogative. However, I can say that there are men that appreciate your participation in No Shave November and theSUNK is one of them.

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Caught In StylePhotos by Sydnee Monday, Staff Photographer

Name: Uloma OgbonnayaHometown: Houston, TXClassifi cation: Sophomore

Major: Finance

Style Inspiration: @marnixmarni on Instagram - celebrity stylist for Kelly

Rowland and Lala Vasquez.

Name: Marvin GoodlyHometown: Orangeburg, SCClassifi cation: FreshmanMajor: Political Science

Style Inspiration: I get to travel a lot, so it’s what I see from different

cultural backgrounds.

Name: Ariana MeltonHometown: Los Angeles, CA

Classifi cation: JuniorMajor: Music Therapy

Style Inspiration: Solange, Lisa Bonet

howardstyle.com

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Interested in becoming a Photographer for

The Hilltop???

Email Photo Editor, Rachel Cumberbatch, at

[email protected]

Want to be Caught in Style on Instagram, hashtag:

#Hilltop, #HTstyle

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Sports Khari Arnold, Sports Editor [email protected] . McGhee, Allen-Wright

Receive Honors

Greg McGhee and Deonta Allen-Wright have been named Mid-East-ern Athletic Conference Offensive Player and Offensive Lineman of the Week, respectively for their ef-forts in Howard University’s 42-14 win over Savannah State this past Saturday.

A 6-3, 208-pound junior from Pittsburgh, PA, McGhee rushed for a career-high 148 yards on 14 carries and two TDs while also completing 26 of 37 passes for 326 yards and another two TDs en route to a career-high 474 yards of total offense.

Allen-Wright, 6-5, 305-pound redshirt sophomore from Midloth-ian, VA, graded out at 98 per-cent on all blocking assignments,

recorded six pancake blocks and allowed no sacks as the Howard offense rolled up 505 yards of total offense.

McGhee was also named the College Football Madness MEAC Offensive Player of the Week.

Cameron Alston and Anthony Philyaw were cited for honor-able mention. A 6-0, 190-pound redshirt junior safety from North Augusta, SC, Alston fi nished with seven tackles and a fumble recov-ery and Philyaw, a 6-1, 210-pound freshman from Los Angeles, CA, rushed for 53 yards and two TDs, giving him a MEAC high of nine on the season.

The Bison took the fi eld at Greene Stadium last Saturday for the last time this year, and for 20 seniors, the last time of their college careers. The team did not disappoint the masses of family, friends and fans who came to support the senior Bi-son as Howard (4-6, 3-4 in MEAC) defeated Savannah State (1-10, 0-7) in a 42-14 victory.

“It was bittersweet. I wanted to go win—I knew today was my last [home] game,” said senior defensive back Ademola Olatunji. “It was mixed emotions.”

The game didn’t start off in Howard’s favor as the fi rst quarter was scoreless for the Bison. After a big opening kick return, quarter-back Greg McGhee fumbled the ball on just the second play of the drive, which resulted in a 72-yard touchdown drive led by Savannah State backup quarterback Leon Prunty. The freshman was forced to make the start after senior Antonio Bostick—MEAC’s leading passer—was suspended from the game due to “team violations.”

After two missed fi eld goal attempts from less than 30 yards out, the Bi-son found themselves down 7-0 with just under ten minutes left to play in the fi rst half.

“We got off to a slow start,” said Howard interim head coach Ray-ford Petty. “We turned the ball over on the second or third play of the game, and their offense came on the fi eld and did a good job of moving the ball down the fi eld.”

In addition to the early turnover,

Howard’s running attack struggled early. After the season-ending injury to the original starter, junior Aquanius Freeman, sophomore William Parker also sat out for the second straight week with two ankle injuries. Freshman Anthony Philyaw suffered an injury last week against Delaware State, but played in spite of it.

“Philyaw gutted it out,” Petty said. “He had a sore knee he hurt against Delaware State last week, but he stayed in the game. He’s a tough guy, but as you can see he’s not the same guy he was two weeks ago.”

After the early struggle, McGhee stayed the course and struck fast with a 39-yard bullet to senior receiver Matthew Colvin, who fi nished with seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. The com-pletion was followed by an 18-yard touchdown run by Philyaw, which fi nally put Howard on the board.

McGhee then took advantage of two abysmal punts from Savannah State, which allowed Howard to start both drives in Tiger territory. First, McGhee took the offense 48 yards down the fi eld in seven plays, ending it with a six-yard touchdown completion to Colvin. Then, with 3:49 left to play in the half, McGhee rushed for 26 yards, and ended that drive with a three-yard touchdown run from Philyaw, allowing Howard to go into halftime ahead 20-7.

Savannah State attempted to get something going early in the second half after completing a 42-yard pass down the left sideline on their opening possession, but the Howard defense made a big stop on fourth down on their own 23 yard line. On

Seniors Win Last Career Home Game

Nile KendallStaff Writer

the change of possession, McGhee rushed for a 53-yard touchdown and converted on the two-point conversion pass to Colvin, extend-ing the lead 28-7.

McGee fi nished with a career-high 148 yards on 14 carries and two TDs while also completing 26 of his 37 passes for 326 yards.

“With all three of our running backs down, it’s great that Greg is the dual threat that he is,” Petty said. “He’s a real threat when he pulls the ball down and runs with it, and even more of a threat when we start running design runs for him.”

Late in the third, the Bison lost focus and aided Savannah State by committing four penalties on plays that would have ended the Tigers’ drive, allowing them to go 92 yards down the fi eld for a touchdown. McGhee quickly responded with his second rushing touchdown on the day, dismissing any glimmer of hope for a Savannah State come-back.

In the fourth quarter, McGhee added another touchdown pass to his day, this time to junior Richard Aiyegoro to ice the game. McGhee’s career high 474 total yards places him third all-time in school history in one game. He says the key to his success has been continuing to take it one day at a time.

“I just stay humble and come to work everyday just like everyone else in the world, “ McGhee said. “I have to keep pushing, and never get comfortable. That’s one think I always tell myself, and it’s gotten me this far.”

Photos courtesy of Howard Sports Information

Via hubison.com

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Only 3 Issues Left For the Semester!

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Men’s BasketballGame: Howard vs. HarvardDate: Fri. Nov. 15 – 7:00 PMLocation: Boston, Mass.

Cross CountryMeet: NCAA Regional Championship Date: Fri. Nov. 15 – TBALocation: Bethlehem, Pa.

Women’s Volleyball Match: MEAC Volleyball Championship Date: Fri. Nov. 15 – TBALocation: Baltimore, Md.

FootballGame: Howard vs. Texas Southern Date: Sat. Nov. 16 – 3:00 PMLocation: Houston, Texas

Upcoming GamesMen’s Swimming and DivingMeet: Howard vs. Mary WashingtonDate: Sat. Nov. 16 – 1:00 PMLocation: Washington D.C.

Women’s Swimming and DivingMeet: Howard vs. Mary WashingtonDate: Sat. Nov. 16 – 1:00 PMLocation: Washington D.C.

Women’s BasketballGame: Howard vs. NJIT Date: Sun. Nov. 17 – 2:00 PMLocation: Washington D.C.

Redshirt freshman Te’Shya Heslip scored 17 of her game-high 27 points in the second half as the Howard University women’s bas-ketball team defeated Jackson State University, 83-63, to claim its fi rst win of the 2013-14 campaign.

The triumph evens the Lady Bison’s record at 1-1 while the Tigers fall to 0-2 on the season after tonight’s loss.

New Howard head coach Tennille Adams earned her fi rst win at How-ard and her fi rst career victory as a head coach with the triumph.

“It’s a tremendous feeling right

Lady Bison Take Home Opener Over Jackson State

Photo courtesy of Yusuf Abdullah

Via hubison.com now,” Coach Adams said when asked about getting career win No. 1. “Our team did a fantastic job of bouncing back from the Virginia Tech loss. The team came out with a lot of effort & energy and our staff did a great job of making the necessary adjustments to prepare us for Jackson State.”

Heslip was impressive in her fi rst career start, going 6-for-10 from the fi eld, converting on a pair of three-pointers, and knocking down all but one of her 14 free throw attempts. Her 27 points were the most since former Lady Bison player Saadia Doyle poured in 27 points against North Carolina A&T in the 2013 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference semifi nals on March 15. She also

added six rebounds and four assists to her stat line on the night.

“I think Te’Shya could be one of the best point guards in the country if she puts her mind to it,” said Adams.

“She’s still a freshman, playing wise, so there are still some things she has to work on to develop and grow, but she can be really good over the next four years.”

Howard opened the game with a fast-break connection from senior Shavonne Duckett to Heslip. JSU responded with a pair of free throws and through the fi rst nine-plus minutes, both teams found themselves knotted at 14-14 with

11:23 to go in the fi rst half.

The Lady Bison would nearly double the Tigers’ scoring output (29-15) for the rest of the period as Howard took a 43-29 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Over the fi rst 12:32 of the second half, Howard would hold a narrow 22-18 scoring edge, which increased their lead to 18 points, 65-47 with 6:55 left.

Jackson State would make one fi nal push, using a 15-5 run to cut HU’s lead to 70-62 with 2:48 remaining. Fortunately, Howard stemmed the tide with a 13-1 surge of its own (including going 10-of-13 from the line) to close the game.

True freshman Jasmine Hill hit four three pointers and scored 13 points while redshirt senior Cabria Johnson added 10 points. Sopho-more Victoria Gonzalez scored eight points and had a team-high three blocks and freshman Aaliyah Wilson logged team highs of seven rebounds and fi ve assists to go along with seven points.

Junior guard Alisa Ross led Jackson State with 13 points.

Howard will return to Burr Gym-nasium for its next game, a 2:00 pm matchup with the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Sunday, November 17.

Coach Tennille Adams secured her fi rst home win at the Burr with the JSU victory.

A revamped men’s basketball team is off to a 2-0 start after tipping the season off last weekend in Burr Gymnasium. The Bison defeated Washington College 69-52 last Friday and routed Gwynedd Mercy University 83-66 on the following Sunday afternoon.

Howard has not won the fi rst two games of the season in over a decade, and with 10 new precocious freshman, more wins hope to follow over the next four years.

Freshman James Daniel scored a game-high 28 points in his col-

Get Your Shades: Bright Future for Bison Basketball Khari ArnoldSports Editor

legiate debut against Washington College, shooting 6-10 from beyond the arc while adding seven rebounds and three steals. After a 16-point performance against Gwynedd Mercy, Daniel’s fi rst two games as a Howard Bison led him to receiving MEAC Rookie of the Week honors. Daniel, who’s a Hampton, Va. native, ended his weekend debut with an average of 22.0 points on 9-of-17 shooting from 3-point range (.529), along with 4.0 boards and 1.5 steals.

“My teammates found me. We had a great team defensive effort and just played hard,” said Daniel.

Also located in the young backcourt

of freshmen is Largo, Md. native Keon Hill. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound guard played two minutes in the game against Washington Col-lege, but became a key factor to the Bison offense against Gwynedd Mercy, scoring 22 points on 7-10 shooting from outside.

“Friday, I did not play as much so I talked to the coaches and they said just be ready,” said Hill. “I had to make the best of the opportunity. When I came in, I just had to make shots.”

The youth in the frontcourt was also reliant for the Bison as fresh-man Marcel Boyd ended the week-end with 17 points and 16 rebounds

while redshirt sophomore Oliver Ellison contributed heavily on the defensive end, recording a total of six blocks.

The two-game weekend also showed promise for the only return-ing starter on the team, Prince Okoroh. The junior forward, who’s considered a leader for the Bison, averaged 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 4.0 steals and 2.0 assists.

“[Okoroh] plays with such passion. He pushes these guys to be great in everything they do as far as effort and energy,” said fourth-year head coach Kevin Nickelberry. “These guys have been doing a great job of

following him.”

Okoroh and the copious amount of new faces in the program are contributing to a drastic change in the future of men’s basketball for Howard. The atmosphere is replete with energy and a positive stance as the culture is currently in the process of changing.

“This is the year we had been wait-ing for. We knew this year we would be able to change the culture of the program,” said Nickelberry. “I’m excited about the 10 new players we have and the players that are show-ing interest in the program right now because of our style of play.”

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Call for Proposals from the 2013 - 2014 IFAC Committee

Howard University Students,

Do you have a great idea for a project that could benefit other How-ard University students? If you do, then the IFAC Committee invites you to submit proposals for possible funding. Individual or group

submissions are welcome.

Guidelines

Recommended length of proposals is 1 -3 typewritten pages and will include an overview of the project and the breakdown of costs. (Sup-plemental materials such as graphs, charts, footnotes, photographs, etc. will not be included in the page count.) Selection of winners will be based heavily upon the potential for enhancing student life and the feasibility for implementation during the spring 2014 semester.

Proposals must be submitted online to [email protected]. Please include name, ID, and email address on all pages. The deadline for submissions is midnight, November 19th. The committee will notify all candidates of funding decisions. For questions or concerns, call 202-806-2100.


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Opinions Cameron Clarkson , Opinions Editor [email protected] . The Second Ground Rule of

Intellectual Work: Read and WriteDr. Gregory Carr

Howard University Professor

“Cherish study, avoid the dance/so you’ll become an excellent official.Do not yearn after outdoor pleasures, hunting and fishing; shun boomerang throwing and the chase.Write diligently by day; recite at night. Let your friends be the papyrus roll and the scribal palette. Such work is sweeter than wine. Indeed writing, for one who knows it, is far better thanall other professions, pleasanter than bread and beer, more delightful than clothes and perfumed ointments,more precious than a legacy in Kemet [Egypt] than a tomb in the West”--Neb-Maa-Re Nakht, Royal Scribe, 20th Kemetic Dynasty [c.1100 bce]

The first attempts at indirect human communication across time and space gave birth to techniques for “inscribing mean-ing.” From cave art to Netflix, from papyri to iPad apps and from the Per Medjat [“House of Books, “or library] to Google Books, all mem-bers of the human family have ex-perimented with ever more efficient ways to store and convey experi-ence, emotion, discovery, imagina-tion and instruction among contem-poraries, between generations and well past physical death. During the current (and rapidly receding) Age of European Ascendancy, crip-pling or shaping oppressed groups’ abilities to access, narrate and contribute to human knowledge—the self-determining use of literacy (reading and writing)—became a signature tool of oppression.

Humans have more access to information now than ever before. “Multitasking” learners switch between Facebook, Twitter, texts and studying in a perpetual and seamless integration of digital, multimedia, pop culture and com-puter literacies. Closer examina-tion, however, seems to indicate a diminished ability to make and sustain connections between writ-ten, visual, spoken and non-verbal texts as a first step toward contem-plating larger questions of social, economic, political and cultural meaning. Many learners who have the basic ability to read and write do not consider that they are fre-quently “aliterates,” meaning that they choose not to use that ability to do more than access information for task completion purposes. How do learners from groups that continue to suffer deep and structural op-pression engender renewed passion for the slow development of critical literacy, both as an indispensable tool for individual development and as a key to imagining and creating new human social possibilities?

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Bison AbroadMorocco

This past week I traveled to Spain and France during my fall break. Because of Morocco’s close proxim-ity to Europe, I was able to find affordable flights and hotels. Yet, after spending a week in a culture similar to America’s, I experienced reversed culture shock. Yes, I diag-nosed myself.

Spending three consecutive months in a country where women are covered from head to toe, public display of affection is strictly pro-hibited and majority of the popula-tion aren’t aware of happy hour, made Europeans seem like they let everything hang out. Spain was the introduction.

I arrived in the country around 8 p.m. expecting everyone to be in their homes preparing for dinner. Wrong, very wrong. Everyone and their moms’, not exaggerating, were outside. People were drink-ing openly in the streets, girls were wearing short skirts and couples were kissing. Typical behavior in America was becoming way too much for little old me.

My friend, who is studying in

Granada, wanted to show us the night-life in the city. Needless to say, I can’t remember anything that happened that night except for excellent food and stumbling into the hotel room at 4 a.m.; typical behavior, yet I was shocked the next morning. While walking to the bus for our drive to Cordoba, at 8 a.m., I ran into a couple of friends from the night before who were just heading home; Typical, yet shocking.

Paris leveled the playing field. Aside from the excessive PDA, I was able to enjoy all of the tourist attrac-tions the city offered. The people were friendly, the food was amaz-ing and at night the city glowed. It was amazing. Luckily, similar to Morocco, you can smoke anywhere, literally. With a strong hatred for cigarettes I’m surprised I wasn’t shocked by that.

Needless to say, Morocco is definite-ly taking a toll on me. I’m curious to see the impressions the culture will have on me once I return to my American ways.

Bisalamah

Disa RobbContributing Writer

The second Ground Rule of Intel-lectual Work, “Read and Write,” emerged over years of active observation, dialogue and curricu-lum development with students who have never been invited to acquire deep command of complex written texts, especially those that provide information on Africa and Africana. Many of our students—no different than other students in American society, regardless of educational background or family place of origin—do not really consider Africa and its Diaspora as heir or active contributor to the best of human achievement and possibility. If they have been introduced to this idea, it is almost exclusively in pass-ing, rhetorical and/or supplemental fashion. This causes students of all backgrounds to fail to see the “rel-evance” of such considerations for their individual life goals in a society that still reserves uncritical praise for the icons, shrines, totems and intellectual genealogies of White-ness, with occasional peripheral celebration of exotic folk accessories from non-European cultures, then even rarely African.

Realizing that active participation in learning is the best technique for ensuring the slow development of mastery, we set out to reduce the learning process to its most basic, indispensable and practicable act: to read and write. The first Ground Rule of Intellectual Work, “Being Present,” requires the learner to see themselves and their intellectual work at the center of long arcs and cycles of historical memory and vision. Fortified by this sense of ex-tended and included self, the second ground rule provides a roadmap for maintaining and developing the possibilities in present-grounded awareness by making it largely dependent on self-sustainable acts of reading and writing.

The acts of reading and writing, like sporting or musical practice and every other act requiring physical effort, slows social time and at once expands and accelerates focused thinking. The challenge of decoding thoughts becomes the individual’s central focus during the act of reading and, when paired with writing, can nurture an inscribed improvisational dialogue between reader and writer, across time and space. Reading in groups—an an-cient practice grounded in trust (in self, co-learners and teachers) and expectation (that sustained practice will yield positive results and lasting respect)—is a particularly effec-tive process for engendering what Ngugi wa Thiong’o might call acts of “translation and recovery” of

historical memory.

Sharing one’s thoughts in these settings reveals the improvisatory brilliance that emerges from acts of deep reading. Reducing thoughts to print after such group work in a setting where the reader/writer is the only one “present” becomes the self-sustaining completion of the cycle of intellectual work. Borrow-ing language from the “Jazz” idiom, we may also refer to group/indi-vidual acts of “reading and writing” as acts of “repeating” (reading/listening/absorbing the writer’s/musician’s/inscriber’s thoughts) and “improvising/composing” (trading thoughts with the inscriber, one’s co-learners/players and, ultimately, one’s self, in written form).” As the Egyptians would say, one’s col-leagues become the papyrus roll and the scribal palette, the record and the responsive audience.

The fuel for cementing the effec-tiveness of Ground Rule #2 is the careful selection of textual materi-als that explore the complexity of Africa across time and space. In Philadelphia Freedom Schools and in the College of Arts and Sciences Freshman Seminar Initiative, we established a standard of selecting the most content-rich scholarly texts on Africa and the African Diaspora and developing student capacity to read, dialogue and write about the texts, collectively and individually. Initial learner unease invariably reveals some of the challenges of contemporary aliteracy and varying levels of literacy. Also ever-present is the potentially crippling impact of unregulated technology, as many learners, like zombies staring into the death rays of hand-held devices and glowing laptops, display an initial inclination to atomize texts as fodder fit for search engine-generat-ed answers.

Technology has always impacted the process of decod-ing and encoding texts. Moving image literacy—an attention-span shortening innovation of recent technology—threatens to displace quiet introspection even further. Intervention requires patience, high expectations, engagement and real-time feedback. What emerges from such work is the recovering possibilities of literacy re-linked to the long-arc of Africana intellectual work, an orientation to excellence that eschews mediocrity, becomes a life-long pursuit, and the self-correcting impulse to absorb text, repeat and improvise. Such work—for those who know it—is sweeter than wine.


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