the famuan: 04-04-2011
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Read The FAMUAN's Print Edition for Monday, April 4, 2011 online.TRANSCRIPT
Florida A&M’s annual event, Be Out Day, is off the calendar for now, according to a recent decision made by the Student Senate.
During to a Student Senate Meeting held in mid-March, a number of senators voted against the “Be Out Day” bill because the funds were not available to pay for the event,
according to reports from the meeting. While a majority of senators voted for the bill, which included a $55,000 budget for the event, fewer than the required two-thirds of the senators voted to pass the bill.
In voting against the legislation, some senators said the cost of hosting the
For some, downtown Tallahassee on a Saturday morning may conjure thoughts of empty tree-lined streets, church spires towering over oak trees greeting the rising sun, and abandoned government buildings.
But for others, Saturday at 9 a.m. means the opening of the Downtown Marketplace, where modern business meets the main street of yester-year.
In its 16th season, the Downtown Marketplace gives residents an alternative shopping option. Vendors selling
everything from fresh-off-the-farm produce to abstract paintings, line the brick pathways of Ponce De Leon Park, a part of the Park Avenue Chain of Parks.
“Many municipalities have small, locally grown produce markets. So, with the help of the Downtown I m p r o v e m e n t Authority, the Downtown Marketplace was formed,” said Allen Thompson, events coordinator for Tallahassee Downtown.
The Marketplace began in 1995 with just nine local farmers selling their crops and a few other vendors. It has since graduated into a mainstay
event for Downtown Tallahassee. Thompson says he expects 54 vendors next Saturday.
“The marketplace has a tremendous impact. It’s like a little ‘main street.’ All of our vendors are independent business-people, who must be licensed and have a sales tax imposed on their products, with the exception of produce vendors,” Thompson said.
Florida does not collect taxes on produce.
“The taxes collected at this event, and others like it, have a significant impact on the local economy. Some of those taxes are discretionary,
which the state of Florida pays back to the city and county,” said Thompson.
It’s not just local vendors that come to the Chain of Parks to reap the benefits of the bustling m a r k e t p l a c e . Business-people from all over the state flock to Tallahassee from March to November, when the Downtown Marketplace is in full swing.
“The Downtown Marketplace is a great way for residents to get to know and see what local businesses are out there,” said vendor
As the countdown to decision day approaches, faculty, staff, and students await the fi nal word from the Board of Trustees on what stays and what goes to battle the merciless budget cuts.
President James Ammons announced March 28 at a campus forum focused on the restructuring that about 200 employees will be laid off at the end of June and 22 academic
programs will be cut as part of a proposal to deal with the current money crunch.
“With the plan that we have developed, we are hoping that this will be at least a two- year plan so we won’t have to come back here next year with this kind of discussion,” Ammons told a somber in a largely empty Al Lawson Center. “But we won’t know until the Legislature fi nishes.”
While faculty asked questions at the forum, since then, many faculty and administrators have been reluctant to comment on the
proposals publicly. Most of them said they did not want to comment on the proposed lay-offs for fear that it may jeopardize their jobs and wanted to wait to hear the fi nal word from the board on Thursday.
During the forum, Ammons promised that the university would have the resources and information for displaced employees who have to fi nd a job during this tough period.
“This has been a very stressful process for
Lifestyles |4
Lifestyles
Tineisha Sulker shares a surprising revelation in her battle against Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
W E A T H E R
66
www.TheFamuanOnline.com Vol. 112 Issue 27Monday, April 4, 2011
THE STUDENT VOICE OF FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY
“The Number 1 HBCU Newspaper”According to the Black College
Communication Association
According to Florida A&M Police Department’s text alert system, shots were fi red near Bragg Stadium on Saturday night.
The suspect vehicle was reported to be an older model silver Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Offi cers were investigating and declined to give anymore information.
LOCAL
NEWS BRIEFS
Sports
Sports | 6
Spring football game showcases new skills and problems for the defending co-MEAC champions.
BE OUT DAY 3
MARKETPLACE 3
RESTRUCTURE 3
Park it in the market
NOMAS conference redefines masculinity
BRANDON BRIDGES STAFF WRITER
Board decision ahead
Wednesday
76 50
Monday
86 61
SOURCE: FAMU PD
Tuesday
69 43
Be Out Day uncertain due to lack of funds
The annual National Organization of Men Against Sexism (NOMAS) conference held at Florida State University sought to help redefine traditional definitions of masculinity.
Held in FSU’s Student Services Building, the three-day event was chartered to raise awareness and help breakdown the social biases of what gender roles should be in society. The 36th annual event drew in hundreds of attendees from around the country to discuss the personal stigmas and social pressures that many men face when trying to fi gure out what masculinity means for them.
The entire conference focused around the theme, “Breaking Out of the Box: Re-Defi ning Masculinity.”
During the conference, participants attended various workshops, ranging from “Power and Positioning in Straight and LGBTQ Relationships” to “A Lack of Consent: Redefi ning Sexual Assault to Young Men.” Guests of the event listened to keynote speakers such as Judge Thomas Hornsby, psychotherapist Moshe Rozdzi and Teen Program Supervisor Chris Ptak of Chicago and many more.
All discussions were geared toward breaking down the stereotype that many men feel they have to live up to.
“The goal of the conference is to eradicate societies views regarding gender roles, and that when and only when these views have been eliminated then we shall have true equality towards all people,” said Nick Savelli, director of Men Advocating Responsible Conduct (MARC).
Surprisingly enough, it has been proven that men are equally subjected to violence in a relationship as are women. Although it may be verbal and
ROSCOE THOMPSON
CORRESPONDENT
NOMAS 3
MATTHEW RICHARDSON
SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR
JASON LAWRENCE
METRO NEWS EDITOR
The Famuan Archive
Kendalyn Staten The FamuanThe Downtown Marketplace offers an alternative weekend shopping option to residents.
TODAY’S ONLINE CONTENT:
“Springtime Tallahassee Street
Scenes,” by Kendalyn Staten
“Restructuring Student Reaction,”
Famuan Staff
“Ain’t Misbehavin Review,” Ashley
Williams
� e Famuan2 Calendar � eFamuanOnline.comMonday, April 4, [email protected]
Events and Announcements
The FAMU Green Coalition is hosting a raffl e, “Tickets to Power Shift,” as an effort to raise funds for travels to Power Shift. The prizes include a 50 dollar restaurant gift card, a webcam, Xbox games, and much more. The raffl e lasts until April 11, 2011. Want a chance to win big? Then come by The School of Journalism and Graphic Communications or contact Shanley McCray for more information at 954-601-6901 or by e-mail at [email protected]
Interested in Law School? If so, the FAMU Pre-Professional Law Offi ce is hosting a Law School Admissions Seminar on April 13, 2011 from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. in the SJGC Lecture Hall. Contact Attorney John Washington at 850-599-3664 for more information.
To place an announcement in the Calendar, e-mail your submission to [email protected] at least two days prior to the desired publishing issue. All submissions must include the student organization
along with information in paragraph format to include “who, what, when and where.” A contact number will be published with the announcement, indicate so in your e-mailed submission and provide an alternate method for readers to obtain more information. If you do not follow the paragraph format then your submission will not be able to be published.
Attention Students! Need storage space for the summer? Reserve Now Great rates-air conditioned or Regular storage-Call now for details.Economy Storage West, 300 West Tharpe Street, 576-6108
Non-smoking female roommate to share 3 br/3 bth condo. Walking distance to FAMU. Share living room, kitchen and utilities. Rent includes cable, internet access & water. Furnished $440. Can be seen upon request. Call Lois at 813-503-6412.
For corrections please email [email protected].
Corrections
Announcements Greater Elizabeth M.B. Church is seeking a full-time pianist with the ability to give vocal parts. Please contact Mother Rosa Robinson at 850-877-4545 for more information.
Bartenders Wanted!!!$250/day potential. No experience necessary.Training provided age 18+ okay.Call 800-965-6520 ext. 189
FT/PT SUMMER SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT AVAILABLE Event Photography Group is Now Hiring. FT/PT summer seasonal positions are available. We are looking for energetic people to assist in our Production, Customer Service, Client Relations and Finance departments. We offer a relaxed atmosphere and fl exible hours. Please contact Theresa Bell at [email protected]. Brief job descriptions and applications are available online at epghire.com.
Classifi eds
APRIL 16
TickeTs On sale MOnday at the civic center Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets and at www.ticketmaster.com or www.tlccc.org
Charge By Phone: 222-0400 or 1-800-322-3602
Quality Education with a personal touchAt TCC, enjoy smaller, more intimate class sizes and bigger savings on tuition while earning credits that easily transfer to FAMU.
Choose from three summer sessions
May 5 – July 16
May 5 – June 16
June 23 – Aug 3
Sign up today for TCC summer classes. www.GoToTCC.com | (850) 201-8555
Tallahassee Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, genetic information, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. Inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies may be directed to:
Equity Officer | 444 Appleyard Drive | Tallahassee, FL 32304-2895 | (850) 201-8510 | [email protected]
2 Calender �e Famuan�[email protected] Monday, April 19, 2010
event was too high. The event was originally scheduled for Saturday (April 9).
“We didn’t want to run out of funds,” said Freshman Senator Cecil Spears of Griffi n, Ga. “We wanted to be able to have enough money for other events and clubs and organizations on campus.”
Be Out Day is an outdoor event that hosts several musical celebrities and various activities for students on campus. Many students were looking forward to the event this year.
“I love going to Be Out Day,” said Valencia Solomon, 21, a senior criminal justice student from Tampa. “I think that by not having it, you are taking away from the students. Be Out Day is one of the biggest events of the year. It’s a fun free activity and gives students an opportunity to relax and have a good time after a long semester.”
Angelo Porter, 21, a senior criminal justice student from Jacksonville, agreed with Solomon.
“Be Out Day is a big deal,” Porter said. “I always enjoy it. It is not only popular to students but many Tallahassee residents embrace it. It is an event that uplifts the university and the community.”
Although Be Out Day is doubtful for this year, there just may be a glimpse of hope for the event. Spears said the
Student Government Association is still searching for alternative ways to pay for it.
“We are still trying to come up with legislation to fund the event,” Spears said. “The executive branch is willing to give $7,000 and Campus Activities is willing to give between $1,000 and $1,500, but we still need help with coming up with more money for the event.”
Sophomore business administration student Raysean Brown, 19, hopes things get back on track so that he may experience the event this year for the fi rst time.
“It’s my freshman year and Be Out Day was one of the events I would constantly hear about before coming to FAMU,” said Brown of Orlando. “I was really looking forward to experiencing it this year, but being that it’s canceled, I guess I’ll have to wait until next year. I’m a little disappointed, but life goes on.”
Amy Odeneal, who founded Dots and Damask Designs last September. “It’s also a great way for us to get our name out there, and drive traffi c to our website,” Odeneal added.
Virginia “Ginger” Hartley, owner of Ginger’s Jams, Jellies and Such, comes to the marketplace once, annually, during Springtime Tallahassee to sell her 120 varieties of jams and jellies. “Each year that I’ve attended I’ve had repeat customers,” said Hartley, a third-year marketplace participant from Oviedo.
Tammy Harrell, also in her third-year at the marketplace,
ventures from De Leon Springs in Volusia County to Tallahassee, solely to sell her “hand-made soaps and such” at the city’s springtime festival. “This is one event that I make a point to come to. It ’s definitely worth the travel and my expense, obviously for the economic reasons,” said Harrell.
Aside from vendors selling food, arts and crafts, and other oddities, live music performances and craftsmen displays can also be found in the Marketplace. In conjunction with the Downtown Marketplace, events are also held in the Chain of Parks. Next Saturday, the Marketplace will
host the 9th annual Haiku at Hai Noon Poetry Contest, in celebration of April being Poetry month.
The Downtown Marketplace is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., every Saturday from March to November.
� eFamuan � [email protected], April 4, 2011
MARKETPLACE
BE OUT DAY
C a r l a Willis is l e a v i n g F l o r i d a A&M to head back to familiar
territory at Ohio. Willis, the vice president
of student relations and the executive director of the FAMU Foundation Inc., is leaving on April 15.
Willis said via email that she has been with FAMU since February 2008. During her three years of employment at the university, she has raised $175,000 for FAMU’s marching band to perform in President Obama’s inaugural parade, raised the alumni participation rate from 2.8 percent to 6.8 percent and completed a compressive campaign feasibility study to launch a $50 million comprehensive campaign for FAMU.
When Willis announced her resignation on March 18, President James Ammons praised her for helping to “reassess our development efforts and position the university for a new comprehensive fundraising campaign.”
“She has achieved several milestones during her career here and will leave us with a solid fundraising operation,” Ammons said in a university press release.
Doug Smith, a graduate assistant for Willis, enjoyed working with her. In a year, they created a friendship and a professional bond.
“We have a good relationship. Carla is a superstar in the fundraising industry,” Smith said. “Through her, I’ve grown professionally and personally. She is a great person to work for.”
Willis has worked more than 17 years in the area of higher-education fundraising according to
an online article. Willis said she lived in
Ohio for 17 years prior to coming to FAMU, and when she received the opportunity to go back to Ohio, she couldn’t pass it up.
“I am leaving because I have accepted a new opportunity with Ohio State University. I will be an assistant vice president of the medical center,” Willis said.
At Ohio State, she will have development m a n a g e m e n t responsibility for several units including heart, neuroscience, transplants, personal and sports medicine.
Willis begins her new job on May 2.
“I have truly enjoyed my professional experience at FAMU,” Willis said.
Carla Willis moves onSHARI KARESH
STAFF WRITER
psychological abuse - abuse is still abuse.
Speaker Chris Ptak discussed the sexual assault and domestic abuse epidemic in society to audience of about 120. He felt it was important to create a new approach when dealing with sexual assault.
Ptak also spoke about the lack of substanative dialogue when telling people about statistics and facts related to sexual and domestic abuse.
“My goal is to present a practical approach to sexual and domestic abuse, that effi ciently teaches our young men about rape,” Ptak said.
His new approach is to give the crowd a personal story, which he feels will have a stronger impact on the young
men. Approximately 75 percent
of sexual assault victims are between the ages of 19-25. The majority of perpetrators are indeed male, with many of the sexual assault programs geared toward a woman’s perspective, according to Ptak. Due to this approach, men statistically feel resistance and alienation.
The entire conference preached acceptance for all people. “This conference has broadened my eyes immensely,” said Tyler Greggs, a third-year engineering student from Tallahassee.
“I feel as though that it’s okay to be different and not be held down by the social ‘requirements’ that are expected of men, to act and behave a certain way, just to
be socially accepted. The key is to be yourself, no matter what anybody else thinks about you.”
The Springtime Tallahassee Parade and street festival gives the community an opportunity to showcase its many talents and unique history.
Springtime Tallahassee was started in 1967 to keep the state capitol in Tallahassee. Every year since, it serves as an annual reminder of everything the community has to offer.
“It is a great representation of the community,” said Karen Ellis, executive director of Springtime Tallahassee. “It is a time for Tallahassee to show what is offered to the community and its citizens.”
The 43rd annual Springtime Tallahassee Parade took place on Saturday and showcased over 100 participants. Each participant represented either a local organization or historic moments in Tallahassee’s history.
The sidewalks were full of spectators as the anxiously awaited the parade. The breezy
weather blew the smell of fried foods and barbecue over the ever-growing crowd.
The parade began at 10:30 a.m. with a precession of motorcycle-riding police offi cers. The Tallahassee Police Department, Leon County Sheriff’s Offi ce and Florida State University Police Department performed a synchronized routine to start off the parade.
After the rest of the emergency response teams came the Grand
Marshal of the parade, Gov. Rick Scott.
There was a mixed response from the crowd. Some spectators booed at the governor waving pink posters reading “Pink Slip Rick,” an organization sponsored by Florida Watch Action aimed at revealing the number of jobs Scott has cut.
In 2009, Top Events USA named Springtime Tallahassee one of the top events in the United States.
NOMAS
ROSCOE THOMPSON
this entire university community and it’s not just going on at FAMU, it’s going on all across America,” Ammons said. “We have an employee assistance program that provides counseling around the clock at no cost to our employees.”
According to administration offi cials, since 2007, Florida A&M has experienced a $35 million reduction to its budget. Now, the university must address the potential 15 percent projected cut, which could result in a $13.3 million reduction for FAMU in fi scal year 2011-12. This reduction will occur in addition to the loss of $7.9 million in stimulus funding.
But Ammons said that with all the cuts over the years and constant talks of lay-offs, none ever took place.
“Over the last four years, with all of the cuts that we have experienced here at the university, we have been able to keep everyone employed,” Ammons said.
But this time may be different as the cuts have been too massive.
“We have information posted on the university website under restructuring that is designed to assist any employees that have been or will be displaced,” Ammons said.
Along with the talks of different cuts to make the university a more effi cient area of learning, many had complaints about what is being cut and what will remain.
Coordinator of Language and Study Abroad Programs Mary Diallo is one of many who had a strong opinion of what is being cut.
Diallo defended the foreign language program as it wasup for elimination.
“Will the Hip-hop Institute be eliminated along with the degree program in foreign language and how does this support our mission?” Diallo quizzed Ammons during the campus forum.
Ammons said that his team looked at enrollments, number of degrees granted, the number of grant dollars that have been
generated by faculty in those departments and they fell into a category of being low-productivity programs.
Diallo later explained that the foreign language department hardly had the tools it needed to adequately teach students in the program.
“Excellence with caring appears all over this restructuring document but in our case, we can’t get the basic tools to teach our classes,” Diallo said. “In the fall of this year, our chair announced that language professors will not be able to have copies made in the copy center because there was not money in the department’s budget. I was incensed especially since the university just announced that the athletic director was going to receive a $120,000 raise.”
RESTRUCTURE
SHARI KARESH
BRANDON BRIDGES
Kendalyn StatenThe FamuanVendors Amy Odeneal and Amanda Porter sell thier products in the Downtown Markeplace.
Spring on paradeJORGE RODRIGUEZ-JIMINEZ
STAFF WRITER
JORGE RODRIGUEZ-JIMINEZ
Kendalyn Staten The FamuanPublix Aprons give cooking exhibition at Springtime Festival.
MATTHEW RICHARDSON
To read the rest of this story,
visit www.the-famuanonline.
com
JASON LAWRENCE
News 3
To veiw the photo gallery from last weekend’s Springtime Tallahassee Parade
and Street Festival, and the Downtown Marketplace, visit thefamuanonline.com.
� eFamuan� eFamuanOnline.com
Monday, April 4, [email protected]
Lifestyles 4
Faith fuels devout studentAbdullah Islami maintains 4.0 and spiritual beliefs
Gina Cherelus The Famuan
Gina Cherelus The Famuan“Ain’t Misbehavin’” is an Essential Theatre production portraying the lives of blacks and their contributions to the golden age of jazz culture.
Gina Cherelus The Famuan
His name means slave or servant of Allah.
19-year-old Abdullah Islami, a second-year pharmacy student from Daytona Beach, Fla., is a devout generational Muslim and follows the Surahs (chapters) of the Qur’an. For Islami, the importance of religion and education began before he entered college, a lesson taught to him from his Albanian parents. Islami graduated from Spruce Creek High School, the number five school in the nation for public education. He also graduated with an International Baccalaureate (IB) degree, a program which he says prepared him for Pharmacy’s rigorous curriculum.
“My dad worked very hard to get us a comfortable life,” Islami said. “He didn’t want me to work labor intensive; he wanted me to get a college education.”
His father thought FAMU was the best choice for school and favored the idea of a smaller school. Islami, however, had four universities in mind, and wrestled with his choices. He eliminated the University of Connecticut, his dream school, Temple University and the University of Florida.
“I liked FAMU because it was smaller, in Florida and had a great pharmacy school,” Islami said.
His life outside of schoolwork is a simple one, spent watching his favorite team, the Orlando Magic, on one of his five basic cable channels. Islami also creates non-interpretational abstract art in his free time. He peruses his dark green Quran laced with a gold geometric border from back to front, memorizing the moral codes of his religion, and prays five times throughout each day to Allah.
“We read from right to left in our religion,” Islami said. “Al-ala, ‘The Most High,’ is my favorite surah to
recite in Arabic, and favorite to read.”Islami said his religion goes beyond
simple recitation and memorization, and requires discipline.
“My religion is a lifestyle, and I enjoy living it,” said Islami. “My morning prayer is at 6:50 a.m., so I wake up at 6 a.m. to recite it.”
He is allowed to pray anywhere, except for the bathroom, because the Muslim faith deems the bathroom an unholy place.
Learning to pray five times was one of the five pillars of the Islam faith that the prophet Muhammad (SWT) issued. Islami also participates in Ramadan, which is the Islamic month of fasting where Muslims offer more prayer to Allah and abstain from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse.
A huge source of Islami’s inspiration comes from his mother, Gonxhe Islami, who was raised a Muslim in Albania.
“In my country, there are eight years of high school,” said Mrs. Islami. “With me coming from Macedonia, I didn’t know English.”
While receiving an education, Islami and his three sisters helped their mother learn the language.
“I mostly learned English from my children, and they corrected me when I didn’t say it right,” said Mrs. Islami. “He has always put education first, and I’m very happy and proud of him.”
Islami said he studies an average of 17 hours per week. Also, his friends and community within the Scholarship Office help him push through FAMU’s rigorous pharmacy program.
“You’re going to need people to help you balance,” said Islami.
Dedra O’Neal, director of the university scholarship office, has gotten to know him within two years.
“At first he would sit and look at people, so he was very shy,” said O’Neal. “The students must come to the office weekly, so this required
him to engage in conversation.”Once Islami started talking, he
didn’t stop. “He would tell me, ‘I speak Arabic,
I’m Muslim, a basketball fan and a soccer fan,’ so he could connect on many levels,” O’Neal said. “He is what makes FAMU what it is.”
Elliott Treadwell, a physics professor at FAMU, has seen how Islami values education.
“In terms of academic performance, he gets excellent grades,” said Treadwell. “He participates in class,
and his religion motivates him in his pursuit of excellence.”
With four more years left of the six-year pharmacy program, Islami works strenuously to obtain his desired Pharm. D degree.
“You have your goals, and you have your priorities,” said Islami. “Try to always accomplish the goals you set for yourself.”
AARON TILLMAN
STAFF WRITER
AARON TILLMAN
Keenan Doanes The FamuanSecond-year pharmacy student, Abdullah Islami, does art in his free time.
It happened on Tuesday, Feb. 15. The clock fl ashed 9:32 p.m. as I grabbed a bite to eat. As I returned to my room, I noticed I had a missed call
on my phone. It was from my doctor.
Wondering what he could have been calling for this late at night, I didn’t feel too positive. The last time he called this late, it was to tell me my treatments had to be tripled. A voice message was left, so hesitantly I dialed and listened, hoping for the best.
“Hey Tineisha. Good news on your pet scan, it’s normal. So that means you can fi nish up your last four treatments, which is four more months. Then we can quit. Good for you,” said Dr. Broseker.
Remission is a word I’ve greatly anticipated since the fi rst day of chemotherapy.
Standing there with my snack in my hand, I dropped it, dropped to my knees and began to thank God for seeing me through this. When I fi nished praying I quickly grabbed my phone again, eyes fi lled with tears of joy, and called my family and friends to tell them the astounding news. I was free.
This past year has been
the hardest so far. Too many times, letting go felt like an option to consider, but this experience has made me a stronger person.
The time spent fi ghting this cancer let me evaluate my life and encouraged me to wake up each day with a purpose. Sitting here at 6:20 a.m. on April 2, the very day after my fi nal chemotherapy treatment, the days I’ve spent sitting in that hospital chair repeatedly play in my mind.
I would try to relax while the IV in my arm pumped poison into my veins, but it
was the most diffi cult
thing to look forward to. Feeling
poison seeping into the lining of my stomach
and murdering every cell, good or bad, in my body, made it hard to remember that it was
all to save my life. Then I realized some of the patients who shared my room only have months to live, when I was fortunate enough to be told that the prognoses for my cancer was very good.
I walked out of the hospital April 1 at 5:39 p.m., head held high and a smile proudly on my face. A tear rolled down my face as I thought of all the people who helped me
through this year, and how grateful I am for them. I will make sure to personally thank every one of them as soon as I am strong enough and back on my feet.
I feel so much joy and satisfaction when someone comes up to me and says they read and loved my articles and they are praying for me. Thank you all because your prayers worked. Please continue to pray for me
and I love you. Time to get
my life back. Life should never be
taken for granted and my promise is to live. Live for today, live for tomorrow and live for all the days
ahead. I am thankful,
I am grateful, and I am loved.
Year-long battle enters remissionJazz production sizzlesTINEISHA SULKER
COLUMNIST
File Photo The Famuan
TINEISHA SULKER
Gina CherelusThe Famuan
For a full re-view from the Essential The-atre’s produc-
tion “Ain’t Misbehavin,’” visit www.thefamuanon-line.com.
For an archive chronicling Tineisha’s battle with Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma throughout this past year, visit www.thefamuanonline.com
As I returned to my room, I noticed I had a missed call
on my phone. It was from
Wondering what he could have been calling for this late at night, I didn’t feel too positive. The last time he called this late, it was to tell me my treatments had to be tripled. A voice message was left, so hesitantly I dialed and listened, hoping for
“Hey Tineisha. Good news on your pet scan, it’s normal. So that means you can fi nish up your last four treatments, which is four more months. Then we can quit. Good for you,” said Dr. Broseker.
Remission is a word I’ve greatly anticipated since the fi rst day of chemotherapy.
Standing there with my snack in my hand, I dropped
a.m. on April 2, the very day after my fi nal chemotherapy treatment, the days I’ve spent sitting in that hospital chair repeatedly play in my mind.
I would try to relax while the IV in my arm pumped poison into my veins, but it
was the most diffi cult
thing to look forward to. Feeling
poison seeping into the lining of my stomach
and murdering every cell, good or bad, in my body, made it hard to remember that it was
all to save my life. Then I realized some of the patients who shared my room only have
they are praying for me. Thank you all because your prayers worked. Please continue to pray for me
and I love you. Time to get
my life back. Life should never be
taken for granted and my promise is to live. Live for today, live for tomorrow and live for all the days
ahead. I am thankful,
I am grateful, and I am loved.
For an archive chronicling Tineisha’s
I come from a long line of Florida A&M graduates. My mom and almost her entire side of the family graduated from FAMU.
Most went on to become grade school teachers
and professors and of course all come back during homecoming to bask in the university’s greatness.
I guess you could say it’s similar to a family reunion—each sharing their love of their alma mater and its motto: Excellence with caring.
However, just like a cousin that hasn’t been seen in while, FAMU has grown and it has changed; some debate that it has changed for the better and some believe it has changed for the worse. Keyword: Change.
FAMU has changed and change is inevitable.
I’ve heard the many stories about FAMU, some horror stories about fi nancial aid and some success stories about the football team’s achievements and FAMU being named school of the year.
Lately, however, with the constant talks of budget cuts, program cuts and lay-offs, a dark period seems to be rising. But as cliché as it may sound, every dark cloud has a silver lining.
It’s scary to hear that so many changes will be made to the university.
This calls for readjustment and for those who are comfortable where they are and the image that FAMU has right now, they don’t want it. From the many interviews and meetings that I
have held and attended as a student journalist, I’ve come to understand that this change has not come abruptly—it was slowly happening before our eyes with each Board of Governors meeting and each Board of Trustees meeting. FAMU is not the only university that is suffering massive chops to its budget.
With each passing year, tuition has risen and more of higher education’s funding has been severed, but as students, we simply don’t see it or just don’t care.
When I was a child, I wanted toys and video games. I didn’t care how I got them. My mom might’ve not bought them for me because she may not have had the money then. I didn’t understand it because the only thing I understood was that I wanted something and not the fact that she had to pay bills.
I apply this example to many of our students because many of us only care about having our classes paid for and a nice, fat net check, but I implore many of us to understand why changes are being made and the cost behind each credit hour.
Fiancial aid, except scholarships and Pell grants, have to be paid back and according to past president forums, half of the university ‘s students use federal money and honestly, that’s your money. But since we don’t have to pay it back right away, tuition increases seem to not be a big deal—as most might say.
But it is a big deal because it’s tacked onto a bigger issue that needs not be taken lightly: restructuring.
At the campus forum held March 28, the key discussion was about the updated plans to make the university a bit more efficient with fewer people,
merging programs or cutting them all together.
Turnout was low - mostly faculty and staff who showed up to defend certain programs, but student input and attendance was low.
However, one student made a strong comment at the forum about how as students, we are the people keeping the university around because we are the customers and as customers, our opinions should matter most.
But I believe as students, some of us fail to become involved in what programs stay and what programs go; if we’re not directly affected by it then we don’t care or we just don’t understand.
At many of the Board of Trustees meetings that I attend, it is sometimes hard to keep up with what is going on because legal terms are tossed around. The information packet is pretty thick and you may need an accounting degree to fi gure it out.
It shows the agenda of things to vote on from how much money is spent on housing improvements and students fees, it sometimes looks like hieroglyphics.
But all it takes to fully understand a process is by asking questions and being assertive to know the future of our university.
Good or bad, change is coming to our university. Despite the big titles that many university and government offi cials carry, students and alumni have a big voice in what stays and what goes.
All it takes it a stance.
EDITORIAL BOARDEDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
Jordan Culver
COPY DESK:
Julian Kemper
OPINIONS EDITOR:
Khristanda Cooper
LIFESTYLES EDITOR:
Clarece Polke
SPORTS EDITOR:
Royal Shepherd
2 Calender �e Famuan�[email protected] Monday, April 19, 2010
� eFamuan Opinions 5� eFamuanOnline.comMonday, April 4, 2011 [email protected]
FAMUAN STAFF
Pro: Restructuring would improve the training of new hires at the university. So, under Ammons’ restructuring proposal this would improve the God-awful customer service FAMUans dread.
Pro: Effi ciency is one of staples of Ammons’ restructuring plan. The combination of certain programs into re-organized colleges and schools could save the school millions of dollars.
Pro: The transformation of the Environmental Sciences Institute in to the School of Environmental Sciences will undoubtedly enhance the university’s mission to produce graduates with math and science-based degrees.
Con: What the proposal is missing is a comprehensive fi ve- or 10-year plan for the struggling Developmental Research School, including turning it into an incubator for the types of graduates the university wishes to matriculate in the future.
Con: With the termination of foreign language as a major, how are we as a university and as students supposed to keep up with other students in a now global work force?
Con: Keeping the Hip Hop Institute, but getting rid of the masters program at the School of Journalism and Graphic Communications. In what way is hip hop more important than grauduate majors? Should we call and ask Common? Don’t worry we’ll wait...
EDITOR IN CHIEF:
Jordan Culver
COPY DESK:
Julian Kemper
DEPUTY COPY DESK:
Fernesha Hurst
SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR:
Matthew Richardson
DEPUTY SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR:
Simone Wright
METRO NEWS EDITOR:
Jason Lawrence
OPINIONS EDITOR:
Khristanda Cooper
DEPUTY OPINIONS EDITOR:
Aaron Johnson
LIFESTYLES EDITOR:
Clarece Polke
DEPUTY LIFESTYLES EDITOR:
Tanya Glover
SPORTS EDITOR:
Royal Shepherd
DEPUTY SPORTS EDITORS:
Cameron Daniels
PHOTO EDITOR:
Keenan Doanes
DEPUTY PHOTO EDITOR:
Jasmine Mitchell
GRAPHICS EDITOR:
Kenya Mawusi
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR:
D.A. Robin
PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR:
Byron Johnson
PROGRAM ASSISTANT:Valerie McEachin
ADVISER:
Andrew Skerritt
FAX
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The Famuan, an Associated Collegiate Press 2003 Pacemaker Finalist, is published Monday, Wednesday and online only on Friday during the fall and spring semesters. The opinions do not refl ect the administration, faculty, or staff of the University. The editorials are the expressed opinions of the staff and columnists. The Famuan is funded
partially by activities and services fees.
THE F UThe restructuring of anything is not an easy task.
Go home and try to restructure a bedroom. Or a living room.
It takes hours of planning, an appropriate amount of vision, people to help move and shape things and the finished product must, above all else, be head and shoulders better than what came before.
Imagine trying to do this at a university of more than 10,000 students with millions of dollars at stake and the future of the biggest and – arguably – best historically black university on the planet.
The scale of this project is enormous and the pressure unimaginable. Florida A&M is going to have to grow in
the face of cuts, layoffs and budget slashes.
The powers that be have to make tough decisions about what stays and what/who needs to go.
These cuts will shape the university and the students who attend it for years. The future is here and the ability to stay competitive in the world market should be first and foremost in the minds of everyone involved in what could change the face of FAMU or ruin it.
Many schools and colleges within the university are breathing steadily at this point.
No one can breathe easy, but a certain level of comfort should be afforded to the larger schools that bring notoriety to Florida A&M. Other programs are
on life support and the debate is about whether or not to pull the plug.
What programs stay and go will be a subject of debate, ridicule and exasperation over the next few weeks. The foreign language program in particular – French and Spanish languages – seems to be getting the short end of the restructuring stick.
It is still a mystery where a hip hop institute is more valuable than foreign languages, regardless of whether or not the classes are still offered.
Changes will happen. Whether or not they are for the best is up for debate. Whether or not this university will remain the face of HBCUs over the next
10 years is up for debate. What is not, and will never be, debatable are the needs of students.
Students will need foreign languages. If they have to go other places to get them, they will. The argument floating around for now is the classes will stay, however the major will go.
What if students want advanced, major-level training in a foreign language? Or what about adding in new languages instead of taking old ones away?
If FAMU can not provide for its students, please believe another university happily will.
Jordan Culver for the editorial board.
Changes come and go: Student needs are forever
Restructuring is what this university needs MATTHEW RICHARDSON
SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR
Kenya Mawusi, The FamuanThis is what is being proposed and voted on in regards to restructuring. We just hope that the few people who stood up
and said something to President Ammons were heard and some of these changes are thrown out.
Whatʼs being done and where
This is the fi rst of a three-part series on
the importance of planting more trees on campus. Check out the photogallery for this
editorial at thefamuanonline.
FAMUAN STAFF
THE FAMUAN
MATTHEW RICHARDSON
Do you agree with some of the reconstructuring proposals?
A) Absoutely! B) I don’t really care. C) Not at all.
� ree pros and three cons concerning restructuring
We all u n d e r s t a n d t h a t restructuring
of the university is needed. So the Famuan staff provided a list of pros and cons. If you have any more pros or cons please feel free to comment on thefamuanonline.com or on twitter @Famuanopinions.
� eFamuan� eFamuanOnline.com
Monday, April 4, [email protected]
Sports 6
NEW COACH BRINGS NEW LIFEFlorida A&M head wrestling coach Reggie Snowden,
24, has brought a new attitude to the program in just his fi rst season.
“As a coach, he is phenomenal,” freshman wrestler O’Dell Jones said. “He has the tools to get us ready and where we need to be to compete at a high level.”
Snowden, a D.C. native who received his bachelor’s degree in public relations from FAMU, was a four-year varsity starter and two-time team captain in high school.
He fi nished his career with a 113-34 record and became the second wrestler at Woodrow Wilson SHS to reach 100 wins. He currently hold’s his high school’s all-time career wins record.
“My senior year, I went 31-3, won a D.C. City Championship and won MVP of the championship tournament,” Snowden said.
Snowden chose not to compete for FAMU while he was an undergraduate for many reasons, mainly because he wanted to have a normal college social life.
“I didn’t realize how much I missed wrestling until I came back after six years away,” Snowden said.
Former FAMU wrestling coach Abdul Sharif was the fi rst to allow Snowden to get back into the sport.
“One day last summer, I saw the team practicing and my pride and passion for the sport wouldn’t let me walk away from it again,” Snowden said. “I came in just to help out under coach Sharif and served as an assistant coach last year. When a law school opportunity presented itself for coach, I stepped up for my team to the head coaching spot.”
Snowden also enjoys being able to impart his knowledge of the game to a new generation of athletes.
“Being coach, I like that I have an audience that has to listen to me,” Snowden said laughing. “I always have something to say or some advice to give on the mat.”
As coach of an up-and-coming wrestling team, Snowden has much that he wants to pass on.
“To me, wrestling is all about being a student of the sport, being comfortable and being confi dent on the
mat,” Snowden said. “I always fi nd myself referring back to techniques, strategies and mentalities that led me to success when I was competing.”
Becoming the head coach of a wrestling team, without much coaching experience, resulted in coach Snowden picking up on a lot of things on the fl y.
“I’ve learned that mental strength is much more powerful than physical,” Snowden said. “It’s much more important to be a positive infl uence in these young men and women’s lives and help them to become better people, than to focus on their records in competition.”
He has set high goals for the wrestling team and feels they are certainly obtainable for his young team.
“Our goal is to qualify everybody we’ve got for nationals. To go and represent our university well,” Snowden said. “And ultimately, just for the program to keep on growing and gaining momentum, to become a powerhouse for years to come.”
Snowden looks forward to helping players learn to have fun with the sport.
“I want the guys to always remember to have fun,” Snowden said. “Just work hard and give 100 percent. If you’re going to give anything at all, that’s the only way to win, and what’s more fun than winning, right?”
MARCUS JOSEPHSTAFF WRITER
MARCUS JOSEPH
Aria Aaron The FamuanCoach Snowden provides hands on coaching and the a love for the sport that he is hoping to pass on.
Spring game shows growthFlorida A&M’s green team used
defense to rout the less expereinced orange team, 40-0, in the annual spring football game.
The Rattler’s green team, which was comprised of starters and the second team, shutdown the orange team, which was composed of third and fourth team players.
The green team scored 40 points in the first half, which came from the defense and an efficient running game.
Running back of the green team, James Owens, racked up 84 yards on 11 carries.
“I am blessed from God, just to get some reps,” Owens said. “It took a lot of energy, but I played through it. I felt I could have done better, but I think I did good. We were following the directions of our coaches and we were doing what we were told to do.”
Austin Trainor was under center for the green team. He was 12 for 21 with 129 yards in the game. Trainor said his confidence in his receivers allowed him to guide the offense effectively.
“I am an aggressive quarterback, but I have a lot of faith in my receivers. I am going to go out there and take shots, so when I get back there and drop back I trust my guys to make the play,” Trainor said. “We have a lot of things we need to work on. Even though we didn’t
score in the second half, we had opportunities to.”
The orange team had the ball for 31:10 and only got three fi rst downs.
After being shut down by the green team in the fi rst half, the orange team found its rhythm on defense as it shut down the green team in the second half.
“We played alright tonight,” Justin Davis, a linebacker on the orange team, said. “The defense only let up and gave up two scores tonight. As
the saying goes, offense wins games but defense wins championships. We have a lot of veteran guys coming back so we will be fine.”
Even with the victory for the green team, Trainor acknowledged the efforts of the orange team and the progress the team still needs to make.
“I’ll tip my hat off to the orange team because they came out in the second half and played great,” Trainor said. “But there are things we need to work on and we had a couple of miscues we need to iron out.”
The game went exactly the way head coach Joe Taylor thought it would.
“If the game went the other way around, I would be concerned,” Taylor said. “In the second half the
orange team started to play with a lot more intensity and heart, but I am always pleased to see the defense playing well because when you’re winning, that means you’re playing great defense.”
The season begins Sept.3 against Fort Valley State in Bragg Stadium.
The Florida A&M baseball team won the weekend series against North Carolina A&T Aggies at Moore-Kittles fi eld.
The Rattlers completed the three-game series 2-1.
The Rattlers fi rst game was a come from behind victory that was launched by the hitting of left fi elder, Tobi Adeyemi.
The Rattlers had costly errors, which proved to be crucial and prevented them from sweeping the Aggies in the second game. They lost 6-2.
The third game of the series, the Rattlers jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as they blew out the Aggies 11-1.
“This was a confi dence booster,” Adeyemi said. “The way we handled them was great. They were slated to be the second best team in the conference, so to beat them was great.”
Adeyemi said the win served notice to all other MEAC competition.
“We are sending a message to the conference that we’re here and we’re going to compete,” Adeyemi said.
Pitching was a huge factor in the fi nal game, as David Duncan struck out 11
batters and pitched a complete game. He said the confi dence gained from this game has him ready for the rest of the season.
“I’m looking forward to conference play. The guys are coming together well, and are playing good defense and pitching well,” Duncan said. “We aren’t doing anything different, we are just busting our butts in practice.”
As the MEAC play starts, the team’s 2-4 record is something its wants to change immediately.
“We’re not good enough to look past any opponent,” head coach Brett Richardson said. “Each and every time we come out, we want to be better than we were the day before.”
The team’s next game will be on the road against Alabama State on Tuesday.
LAMONT WILSON
LAMONT WILSON
LAMONT WILSON
STAFF WRITER
Game 3 blowout nets series for Rattlers
Keenan Doanes The FamuanRunning back James Owens rushed for 84 yards in the Orange and Green game.
Keenan Doanes The FamuanBaseball team won the series 2-1.
The Lady Rattlers outscored North Carolina A&T 32-2 in a two-game series sweep in Durham, N.C.
The team out-hit the Aggies 16-5, in game one, on the way to a 21-1 victory.
The Rattlers got 13 hits in game two, while the Aggies managed only fi ve. The team got the 11-1 victory.
The team’s record is 16-18.
The Rattlers next tournament is the MEAC Challenge beginning on Sunday.
Shepherd Archie III has been the staple of leadership for the team throughout the spring season. He fi nished second individually in their most recent tournament, The FAMU Spring Invitational, with a score of 142.
Freshman Randon Holt has also been a pleseant surprise for the team. He led the second day of the FAMU Spring Invite with a score of 72 and ended the tournament at 149.
The team will look to ride the momentum from their third place fi nish in the Invite to help them in the tournament.
Florida A&M’s track teams participated in the 67th annual Pepsi Relays.
The men were paced by Leon Hunt (23’6” in the long jump) and Shuaib Winters (24:46.38 in the 500m run), both fi nished 11th in their respective events.
The women were placed seventh in the distance medley (12:09.70) and 13th in the 4X200m (1:37.70).
The next event for the teams will be the Bethune-Cookman Invitational on April 9.
LAMONT WILSON
STAFF WRITERS
Softball
Track
Golf