STAFF EDITORIALSTAFF EDITORIALSTAFF EDITORIALSTAFF EDITORIALSTAFF EDITORIAL

HE HORNET

RIBUNETLet there be no illusions about the difficulty of forming this kind of a national community.It's tough, difficult, not easy. But a spirit of harmony will survive in America only if each of

us remembers that we share a common destiny.

I N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EHORIZONSHORIZONSHORIZONSHORIZONSHORIZONS

Christie defends

lowering NJ flags

University News A2Horizons B1Viewpoints C1Hornet Living D1Sports E1

THIS WEEK’S ISSUE

HE HORNET

Barbara Jordan

The official student newspaper of Alabama State UniversityVOL. 52, ISSUE 8 FEB. 18, 2012

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Gov.

Chris Christie on Wednesday

strongly defended his decision to

have flags lowered to half-staff on

Saturday for Whitney Houston,

saying he rejects criticism that she

“forfeited the good things that she

did” be ... READ MORE

PAGE B1

Black women have played a myriadof critical roles in the making of ournation. Their labor and leadership,their motherhood and patriotism,and their intellect and artisticexpression have all enriched boththe black community and the nationat large. Black women have been thecore of organized black life, but theiraccomplishments have oftenescaped the gaze of the public andhence their history is too littleknown. Write an essay to share thelife story of a little known blackwoman that has made a differencein her community and is worthy tobe included in the annals of blackwomen in culture and history.

BLACKHISTORYMONTH

ESSAY CONTEST

RIBUNET

The number of words for theessay is 500 and the deadlinefor submission is Feb. 24 at 7

p.m. The essay must besubmitted by e-mail and

regular mail. Thee-mail address is

thehornettribuneinfo@gmail.comand the regular mail addressis The Hornet Tribune, ASU,

915 South Jackson Street,Montgomery, Ala. 36104. The

winner will have his/heressay and photo published in

the March 3, 2012 issue ofThe Hornet Tribune.

Albany State University 3.0Alcorn State University 3.0Mississippi Valley State 3.0Alabama State University 2.8Tuskegee University 2.8Jackson State University 2.8Florida A & M University 2.8Prairie View A & M 2.8Univ. Arkansas Pine Bluff 2.8Alabama A & M University 2.75Alabama State University 2.7Texas Southern University 2.5Southern University 2.5

The identity of the black

woman was questioned, analyzed

and discussed as students and

members of the faculty filled Room

202 of G. W. Trenholm Hall on Feb

13.

Instructor Robert White, JD,

educated and informed his audi-

ence on the topic, beginning with

by Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana Edwardsby Kieyana EdwardsEXECUTIVE EDITOR

kiedwards2012@gmail.com

White addresses

the identity of

the black woman

SGA will rank number 10SGA will rank number 10SGA will rank number 10SGA will rank number 10SGA will rank number 10

A federal jury comprised of

four men and four women awarded

former Alabama State University

employees Cynthia Williams,

Jacqueline Weatherly and Lydia

Burkhalter $1 million dollars plus

on Feb. 17.

The award is the results of a

by Desire K. Kafundaby Desire K. Kafundaby Desire K. Kafundaby Desire K. Kafundaby Desire K. KafundaSTAFF CORRESPONDENTdkafunda2012@gmail.com

Federal jury awards former employees $1 million plusFederal jury awards former employees $1 million plusFederal jury awards former employees $1 million plusFederal jury awards former employees $1 million plusFederal jury awards former employees $1 million plus

If Amendment One passes, ASU’s SGA will rank third

from the bottom for qualifying academic requirement

by Sharanna Polkby Sharanna Polkby Sharanna Polkby Sharanna Polkby Sharanna PolkEDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR

spolk2012@gmail.com

suit filed against Alabama State

University in March 2010. The

former employees are being com-

pensated for emotional pain, men-

tal anguish, back pay for Williams

and Burkhalter, who were termi-

nated, and lost leave time for

Weatherly.

The lawsuit resulted in the jury

finding that Lavonette Bartley, who

was working at that time as the as-

sociate director of marketing and

communications, created a racially

hostile environment for all three

plaintiffs.

In a letter to the ASU commu-

nity, President William Harris said,

“University counsel and leadership

will continue to defend the policies,

procedures and actions of the Uni-

versity and our employees.”

He went on to address the is-

HISTORICALLY BLACK

COLLEGES AND

UNIVERSITIES

QUALIFYING GRADE

POINT AVERAGES FOR

SGA PRESIDENT AND

VICE PRESIDENT

The Alabama State University

Student Government Association

Executive and Legislative branches

introduced an amendment to

change the qualifying grade point

averages of students who are seek-

ing the offices of the president and

vice president.

The student body is scheduled

to vote on this amendment on Feb.

24.

A polling of 11 other random

HBCUs in the southern region re-

vealed that the passage of this

amendment would place ASU’s

SGA at number 10 and third from

the bottom of the list for qualify-

ing grade point averages.

Student Affairs personnel at

Jackson State University said the

grade point averages for SGA offi-

cials must be in “good standing”

but it should also be above the av-

erage student’s grade point aver-

age.

JSU’s Coordinator of Student

Environment Kimberly Franklin

does not hesitate when she talks

about students having higher grade

point average.

See RANKSRANKSRANKSRANKSRANKS on page A2A2A2A2A2

A lively production of the

play, “Crowns,” by Regina Tay-

lor, ran Feb. 15-18 at the Leila

Barlow Theatre’s main stage of-

fering a view of the importance

of hats.

Yes, hats.

The play opened with five

women posing in closets wearing

silk nightgowns and cotton slip-

pers and continued to treat the au-

dience with good church music,

dramatics, and pain.

The story tells about simple

church hats that weren’t so simple

after all.

“Hats are a sign of status. A hat

is intriguing. It’s flirtatious. Hats

represent a lot of sacrifices. And

every hat is not for everyone,” the

women explained, some boasting

a collection of over 200.

Crowns, directed by Prof.

Wendy R. Coleman, PhD, is the

play that reminds you of your

grandmother and great aunt who

got up early in the morning, “To

make breakfast and dinner—be-

cause she liked dinner to be ready

when we got out of church.” Af-

ter that dinner, getting dressed

was almost a ritual. It reminds

you of those women with the big,

small, sequined, and feathered

hats.

Crowns was a colorful fash-

ion show that mixed fashion with

religion. It wasted no time expos-

ing those who came to church for

CROWNS

See AWARDSAWARDSAWARDSAWARDSAWARDS on page A2A2A2A2A2

Simple church hats that weren’t so simple after all

SPORTSSPORTSSPORTSSPORTSSPORTS

PAGE D2

MONTGOMERY, Ala., - The

Alabama State University

women’s basketballers were look-

ing to relieve some frustration af-

ter losing three consecutive games.

They took their frustration out on

an Alcorn State University women

Braves team that just could not

match up, ...

Hornet women

demolish Alcorn

All students who areinterested in pursuing a

career as a talk show hostor interested in hosting aweekly talk show, please

send a letter of interest to:Executive Editor, The

Hornet Tribune, AlabamaState University, 915 South

Jackson Street,Montgomery, AL 36104Please indicate what

qualifications and skills youwould bring to the positionas well as why you want tobecome a talk show host.

See ADDRESSESADDRESSESADDRESSESADDRESSESADDRESSES on page A2A2A2A2A2

See CROWNSCROWNSCROWNSCROWNSCROWNS on page A2A2A2A2A2

The world of work is becom-

ing more competitive, and as stu-

dents, there has never been a more

pivotal and critical time for us to

strive for excellence.

Two weeks ago, The Hornet

Tribune staff differed in opinion

with the Student Government As-

sociation president regarding an

amendment designed to lower the

qualifying grade point averages for

students seeking the offices of the

SGA president and vice president.

The amendment would lower the

grade point average from 2.8 to a

2.7.

Despite being termed as igno-

rant and amatuers, the staff stands

firm on its convictions that lower-

ing the qualifying standards is not

beneficial for the student body, and

that it places students lower on the

rungs of the ladder to success.

The staff’s feelings were rein-

forced after contacting 11 other his-

torically black institutions of

higher learning and finding that 10

of them require a higher standard;

and many of those 10 institutions

want to increase the qualifying

grade point averages.

And while there are numerous

examples of students throughout

the years who entered the univer-

sity with some academic deficien-

cies and are now academic success

stories further emphasizes the fact

that one must lead academically

before he/she can lead politically.

Since this is an academic in-

stitution, where scholarship is fore-

most, then allow the next leaders

The Hornet Tribune will never accept mediocrityto “lead” in that area.

The Hornet Tribune addresses

pertinent issues of the student body

each week and it is never silent.

Through the weekly production of

articles and editorials, the staff pre-

sents an award-winning product

that promotes awareness and

thought-provoking ideas and issues

to the students.

Students who apply to write for

The Hornet Tribune are not apply-

ing for leadership positions. They

are using it as a laboratory to

sharpen their skills or make a dif-

ference on the campus. Since The

Hornet Tribune exists for student

expression, a grade point average

requirement cannot be placed on a

First Amendment right. However,

the editorial leaders who create the

vision, manage, edit and lead the

writers are honor students.

This staff will work with the

SGA and any other entity to make

this university a better place by

continuously striving for excel-

lence and not accepting mediocrity.

Photo by TyRonn Spriggs/Staff Photographer

Pictured above is a scene during a church service that emphasized the importance of hats for black women

who attended church. The play was directed by Wendy Coleman, PhD, and written by Reginal Taylor.

by Sharanna Polkby Sharanna Polkby Sharanna Polkby Sharanna Polkby Sharanna PolkEDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR

spolk2012@gmail.com

The Official Student Newspaper of Alabama State University

88th Year of Publication

Editorial LeadershipThe Hornet Tribune Editorial Leadership Team is the decision-making body for TheHornet Tribune operations and policies. The Hornet Tribune Editorial Leadership Teammeets weekly at 3:30 p.m. on Sundays. Unscheduled meetings may also be called bythe faculty/staff adviser or executive editor if special problems or issues arise.

Editorial BoardThe Hornet Tribune Editorial Board determines the content of The Hornet Tribune. AllEditorial Board members will vote on issues such as editorial policy-making decisionsor editorial procedures when the need arises. A majority vote determines the decision.The faculty adviser will not vote, but may disagree and make suggestions or comments.Concerning the publication of controversial issues, the Editorial Board will discuss andvote on the approach to be taken. A majority vote will be the deciding factor. Theadviser may veto the decision, but the Board may overrule with a unanimous vote. TheBoard meets every Sunday at 5 p.m.

General PolicyThe Hornet Tribune is a 12-16-page newspaper produced by The Hornet Tribune staff.The entire student body, the primary audience of readers, receives the newspaper freeof charge to encourage readership and to ensure the showcasing of our journalisticwork. Our secondary audience includes faculty, local community and other collegiatenewspaper staffs throughout the country.

The newspaper attempts to inform and entertain its audience in a broad, fair and accuratemanner on all subjects that affect readers. The medium seeks also to provide a forumfor the opinion of students, the staff of The Hornet Tribune and the faculty to encouragean exchange of ideas and opinions on issues of prominence to the readers.

While the staff will allow constructive criticism of any part of The Hornet Tribune afterpublication, final authority for content of The Hornet Tribune rests solely in the hands ofthe staff, with the executive editor making the final decision.

Letters PolicyThe Hornet Tribune encourages letters as they constitute a constructive avenue forstudent opinion, but the writer must sign the letter to be considered for publication. Dueto space limitations, not all letters can be published, and the Editorial Board reservesthe right to edit all letters for appropriate placement in the newspaper as long as themeaning and intention of the letter remains clear and unchanged.

Although the staff writes the majority of the articles appearing on the paper, guestcommentaries and stories may be included if the staff feels it enhances coverage of aunique topic. Trivia such as gossip columns, song dedications and student best/worstwill be avoided due to the narrow audience they serve and the probability of libelousmaterial.

No material, opinionated or otherwise, will be printed which is libelous, irresponsible,advocates an illegal activity or which the chief editor and/or the adviser deems in poortaste.

Editorial PolicySeveral editorials will appear regularly in each issue. Stands taken in the main editorialwill represent the opinions of the staff and will not be bylined. All other articles receivea byline. Other opinion pieces, including those differing with the editorial, will be handledthrough cross-point columns, editor’s columns, feature columns, letters-to-the editor,exchange columns, student opinion photo forums and entertainment reviews.

Corrections and Clarifications PolicyIf the staff discovers, from any source, that a mistake bypassed the editors, acorrection of major errors will be printed upon request in the next issue in the sectionin which the mistake appeared.

Obituary PolicyShould a student or faculty member die any time during the current coverage period,the staff will treat the death in a tasteful, respectful manner. An obituary, with theindividual’s name, school activities, date of birth, date and manner of death (if appropriate)and any other pertinent information, shall appear in the news section. No mug shot willbe used. This sensitive treatment will provide an adequate remembrance of the individualfor those closely associated, while not overemphasizing it for other readers.

PAGE A2 The Hornet Tribune UNIVERSITY NEWS

CONTACT US

PHONE: (334) 229-4273 FAX: (334) 229-4165

ADDRESS: The Hornet Tribune,Alabama State University,

915 South Jackson Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104

OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

HE HORNET

RIBUNETHE HORNET

Feb. 12-18, 2012

why black women were so

important to his audience.

“I understand that the

spectrum of ASU woman-

hood is broader than the Af-

rican American perspective,

but typically and historically,

Alabama State University

has served African Ameri-

cans, and in particular Afri-

can American women, who

make up a specific popula-

tion,” White said.

Coming from an

Afrocentric angle, White

talked about origins.

“When it’s time to talk

about the African experience

and the African roots, I think

it’s safe to say that Africa is

the best place to start,” White

said. “There is enough infor-

mation for us to build a pro-

file of the African woman

and get some feedback from

others who have observed

her and given feedback on

her.”

He stirred the audience

by asking a series of ques-

tions.

“Is their role appreci-

ated? Because if they don’t

see themselves playing a role

and they don’t see their role

as being appreciated at home,

how do you think they’re

going to feel when they go

to school?” White asked.

“Are they going to feel ap-

preciated, or are they going

to feel their contribution is

appreciated? If black wom-

anhood is looked at nega-

tively in the home, how is it

looked at in the university en-

vironment?”

White reminded his au-

dience about the necessity of

finding a historical perspec-

tive from which to build. He

also mentioned the five ele-

ments of self-knowledge; ori-

gin, meaning, morality, and

destiny.

“What if you come from

a school system that did not

teach you African American

history? White questioned.

“The only place you’re going

to probably start is slavery

because a lot of times for a

lot of people, that’s what’s

been taught either directly or

indirectly where African

American history begins. But

it begins long before that.”

White wants to make ad-

justments in the curriculum

because, to him, it is essen-

tial for black students to be

required to take courses that

specialize in the origin of the

African Americans.

Sophomore biology/pre-

health major Deandre Ward

enjoyed the lecture.

“Even though I came in

the middle of the conversa-

tion, I thought it was very

moving because, as black

students, we really need to

listen to that, Ward said. “A

lot of us do take this coming

to school for granted. “We

don’t really appreciate what

we do. Some of us do come

to class and just sit in the

back and text all day, so I

think what he said about

black students is true be-

cause a lot of black students

don’t really take college se-

riously.”

Sophomore communica-

tions major Charlie Long

liked it as well.

“Dr. White was really

speaking a lot of knowl-

edge,” Long said. “He was

trying to inform us on how

we should better ourselves

and take our school pride and

change for the better. He

wants us to be at the highest

state and have higher stan-

dards. I like how he was talk-

ing about black women; it

was really good. He had my

attention at the beginning

and the whole time. I feel

like it was a good speech and

it was on point.”

Sophomore early child-

hood education major Jes-

sica Williams agreed.

“Dr. White is actually

my humanities teacher this

semester,” Williams said. “I

love his conversations. With

the speech he did today, he

enlightened us about actually

caring about the school and

the way we carry ourselves.

He gave us a lot to think

about. How can we be a

model ASU women and look

for a mater? How you carry

yourself is the person you at-

tract. He kept my attention

and I think he kept a lot of

people’s attention, which he

always does, even in class.”

Brazil native and junior

rehabilitation services major

Fernanda Silva got a differ-

ent outlook.

“I’m from a country

where we don’t have that

much difference between

black and white, so I think it

was really interesting that

Americans know different

cultures that people can live

equally everywhere they go.”

Silva said. “We don’t have

different schools, and I think

it’s really cool that black

Americans know that they

can be whatever they want.

Not just be a rapper, or foot-

ball player or basketball

player. They can change the

world like any other person,

and I think the kids here

should be more serious. So,

after they realize how far

they can go, they can work

better.”

Addresses: Addresses: Addresses: Addresses: Addresses: “When it’s time to talk about the African experience and ...”Continued from page A1

Awards:Awards:Awards:Awards:Awards: “After asking to be moved to another department, and ...”Continued from page A1

sue saying, “strong policies

and procedures [are] in place

to ensure that our community

is open, welcoming and non-

discriminatory.”

However, Williams al-

leged that while working in

the same office as Executive

Vice President John Knight,

who was special assistant to

Harris at the time, she was

constantly sexually harassed

by Bartley.

According to the Mont-

gomery Advertiser, Williams

said she complained to

Knight who reportedly said

he would not “walk around

on eggshells in his own of-

fice.”

This was documented in

a letter bearing the stamp of

Knights office, which he tes-

tified in court was “a ficti-

tious document.” The egg-

shells remark pertained to not

wanting lawsuits filed with

the federal Equal Employ-

ment Opportunity Commis-

sion.

While the jury did not

rule in favor of William’s

sexual harassment claims,

they did rule in favor of

Burkhalter’s.

After asking to be

moved to another depart-

ment, and warned against fil-

ing an EEOC complaint,

Williams says she was fired.

The Montgomery Ad-

vertiser reports that Knight

previously described the

lawsuit as “baseless.” After

the verdict, Ken Mullinax,

public information officer for

the university also reported

that the allegations were

baseless, although the uni-

versity thanked the jury for

their “civil duties.”

Alabama State, disap-

pointed with the verdict,

plans to review the next best

steps forward, which in-

cludes appeal options.

“To be any member of

the SGA your GPA must be

2.8 or above,” she gushed,

trying to close any debate.

Franklin said that the current

president Matthew Thomson

was not available for com-

ment, but Franklin wanted to

be as clear as possible about

the grade point average re-

quirement.

Mississippi Valley State

University SGA members

have a different view about

the grade point average re-

quirement.

“It is a 3.0 GPA or

higher,” said Sasha Harris a

non-executive SGA member.

Harris added that the grade

point average requirement of

3.0 or higher is only for ex-

ecutive branch members.

Legislative or judicial branch

members requirements are

not as high.

Prairie View A&M Uni-

versity is one of many that

requires a 2.8 grade point av-

erage to remain as Student

Government Association

president and vice president.

Kenneth West, a Prairie View

SGA senator talks about an

old tradition to explain their

choice.

“It has been in effect for

a years,” he said, defending

what appeared to be a sacred

requirement. “When you are

not an executive your GPA

requirement as a member of

PVAMU Student Govern-

ment Association is more

flexible.”

Zakiyyah Willis is the

PVAMU SGA executive sec-

retary. She revealed that 2.5

is the grade point average re-

quired to be a a part of their

Student Government Asso-

ciation judicial and legisla-

tive branches.

Tuskegee University of-

ficials share the same view.

The required grade point av-

erage for all students leaders

is 2.8. The required grade

point average must be met

not only by the SGA presi-

dent and vice president but

also by any student who

wants to be part of a mem-

bership.

Director of Student Life

Joe Brown remembers the

rules in details.

“University administra-

tion requires our top students’

grade point averages to be

higher or better than a C av-

erage,” he said, trying to sim-

plify it.

At Albany State Univer-

sity, the SGA president

Clarence Washington is also

in favor of higher standards

for students leaders.

“When it comes to our

student leaders we try to

keep our GPAs up,” Wash-

ington said. “Being the lead-

ers we want our students to

maintain a good GPA. He

also revealed that the quali-

fying grade point average for

the president and the vice

president of Albany State

University is 3.0. “When

you’re in charge you must

maintain a 2.8 GPA… It’s

what it takes to be a great

leader in this university.”

There is a big difference

between the required grade

point average of an SGA ex-

ecutive and non-executive

members at the University of

Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

“It’s 2.8 for any execu-

tive member,” said Marques

Carter the UAPB SGA elec-

tion board president. “If you

are not executive it’s 2.0.”

Texas Southern Univer-

sity, was one of the two uni-

versities that required a

lower grade point average for

the two top spots. The SGA

President Shekira Dennis

speaks easily on the subject.

According to Dennis, a stu-

dent needs only a 2.5 grade

to be the president of her Stu-

dent Government Associa-

tion. It is also written that he

or she needs to “maintain at

least a 2.50 GPA during his/

her tenure.”

Southern University also

requires the SGA president

and vice president to have a

2.5 GPA or higher. The SGA

could not be reached for

comment.

At Alabama A&M Uni-

versity in Huntsville the GPA

requirement for the

exexcutive branch is cur-

rently a 2.75, but the current

GPA has been the subject of

the local news.

In 2009 the current presi-

dent of the student body,

Tavis Richardson, wanted to

raise the current 2.75 grade

point average for students

who wanted to join a greek

organization. He picked up

supporters among the

university’s board of trustees,

university’s officials and

mostly A&M students.

Ranks:Ranks:Ranks:Ranks:Ranks: “To be any member of the SGA your GPA must be 2.8 or above ...”

the wrong reasons and

judged others based on their

wardrobe. It also spared no

feelings when it called out

those who could afford, “A

new hat every week,” but

could not pay their tithes.

“When I get dressed for

church, I am going to see the

King, so I must look my

best,” explained one woman

putting an emphasis on must.

The audience did not

hold back their laughter as

roars came from all sides of

the theatre, but it was a

struggle to hold back the

tears.

There were songs that

could have made you cry as

well as remember your own

pain, as you witnessed the

women of Crowns surviving

the deaths of husbands, fa-

thers and brothers.

Crowns is centered on a

young girl trying to find her-

self after she lost her best

friend who was also her old-

est brother. After being sent

to live with her grandmother,

she tries to find a way to feel

the way the women at church

feel when they are catching

the holy ghost and scream-

ing, as well as bouncing,

around the church.

Finally, she comes to

terms with the fact that in her

own way, she has found God.

It didn’t have to be in a bois-

terous church hat, or shouts

and dances.

When the lights went

off, the audience stood to ap-

plaud the actors onstage.

Crowns appeared before

a packed theatre and did a

wonderful job of stirring up

those Sunday rituals you may

have shared with your elders.

If you did not, the show

makes you wish you had as

the audience nods, chuckles

and every once in a while of-

fers their “Mm hmm’s.” s

Continued from page A1

Crowns:Crowns:Crowns:Crowns:Crowns: “When I get dressed for church, I am going to see the King ...”Continued from page A1

PROPOSED SGAPROPOSED SGAPROPOSED SGAPROPOSED SGAPROPOSED SGAAMENDMENTSAMENDMENTSAMENDMENTSAMENDMENTSAMENDMENTS

Dear Students:

It is our proposal that all executive branch members of yourStudent Government Association be obligated to uphold thesame academic standards of a 2.7 cumulative grade pointaverage.

We believe in equal opportunity

Provided below is the proposed amendment

Section 3 Academic Qualifications

A. All candidates for office, whether elected or appointed,must have and maintain a cumulative grade pointaverage as stipulated for the office.

B. Minimum cumulative grade point averages for officeswill be as follows:President 2.8Executive Vice President 2.8Executive Treasurer 2.6Executive Secretary 2.6

AMENDMENT ONE

Section 3 Academic Qualifications

A. All candidates for office, whether elected or appointed,must have and maintain a cumulative grade pointaverage as stipulated for the office.

B. Minimum cumulative grade point averages for officeswill be as follows:President 2.7Executive Vice President 2.7Executive Treasurer 2.7Executive Secretary 2.7

Part #2

“appealed through the AP and VP for Student Services to theUniversity President.”

AMENDMENT TWO

“appealed to the AP and VP for Student Services VOTE ON FEB. 24

B1

Feb. 11, 2012

ORIZONSCONTACT US: Horizons Editor/ththorizons@gmail.com (334) 229-4273

HRIBUNETHE HORNETHE HORNET

BLocal NewsState News

National NewsInternational News

Christie defends loweringChristie defends loweringChristie defends loweringChristie defends loweringChristie defends loweringflags for Whitney Houstonflags for Whitney Houstonflags for Whitney Houstonflags for Whitney Houstonflags for Whitney Houston

See GATHERGATHERGATHERGATHERGATHER on page B2B2B2B2B2

See HEARSHEARSHEARSHEARSHEARS on page B2B2B2B2B2

See SEEK on page B2

See DEFENDSDEFENDSDEFENDSDEFENDSDEFENDS on page B2B2B2B2B2

Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday strongly defended his decision to have flags lowered to half-staff for Whitney Houston. (AP)

See SUBMITS on page B2

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— Through music, scripture

and song, Don Cornelius was

remembered Thursday as the

man who elevated black cul-

ture and entertainment with

his “Soul Train,” demolish-

ing barriers of race and cul-

ture, and changing the

nation’s history.

Hundreds of family,

friends, entertainers, sports

figures and even some

former “Soul Train” dancers

gathered to honor Cornelius’

legacy and recall their recol-

Family, friends gather to honor Don Corneliuslections of the baritone-

voiced host and entrepreneur.

The nearly three-hour me-

morial service featured

plenty of laughter and music,

including a rousing perfor-

mance of “Love’s In Need of

Love” by Stevie Wonder.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson

delivered a eulogy that cen-

tered on how Cornelius’ cre-

ation created a platform for

black music and culture that

hadn’t been seen on televi-

sion when “Soul Train” de-

buted in 1970.

“Don, we say thanks for

being conductor of the ‘Soul

Train’ and laying the tracks,”

Jackson said. “We thank you

because we needed you so

badly and you helped us so

much.”

Several speakers noted

that Cornelius didn’t just

give a platform to perform-

ers such as Wonder, Aretha

Franklin and the Jackson 5,

but he also gave opportuni-

ties to black cameramen and

demonstrated that television

programming aimed at black

audiences was viable.

At several points during

the service, photos of

Cornelius on the show’s set

were displayed for the gath-

ering, which ended with clips

of the popular host dancing

and delivering his signature

sign-off, “Love, Peace and

Soul!!!”

Smokey Robinson joked

that Cornelius would often

ask guests questions that

veered away from their mu-

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) —

Gov. Chris Christie on

Wednesday strongly de-

fended his decision to have

flags lowered to half-staff on

Saturday for Whitney Hous-

ton, saying he rejects criti-

cism that she “forfeited the

good things that she did” be-

cause of her struggles with

substance abuse.

“What I would say to

everybody is, ‘There but for

the grace of God go I,’” he

said.

The Republican gover-

nor said his office has been

receiving emails and other

messages disparaging Hous-

ton and attacking his decision

to have flags flown at half-

staff at state government

buildings Saturday, the day

of her funeral in the Newark

church where she sang in the

choir as a child.

Twitter was abuzz

Wednesday with reaction to

the decision by Christie,

whose home is in Mendham,

a wealthy town where Hous-

ton also had lived.

In online postings, there

were two main arguments

against the honor for the “I

Will Always Love You”

singer, who died over the

weekend in California at age

48: One was that it should be

reserved for members of the

military, first responders and

elected officials. The other

was that it’s wrong to honor

a drug addict.

Heather Clause, a Rich-

mond, Va.-based blogger

who writes about teen moms

and was tweeting critical

comments, said in a tele-

phone interview that she was

appalled by the planned flag-

lowering.

“It’s just such a bad ex-

ample for people,” she said.

Clause, 23, said the de-

cision was like saying if

someone sings well, drug use

doesn’t matter and “you can

still be an idol.”

Rebecca Eppelmann, a

newspaper copy editor in

upstate New York, also

tweeted her disgust at the

Houston honor, then dis-

cussed her views.

“It should be for major

events,” she said. “It’s hor-

rible that she passed away.

It’s not something that should

warrant this.”

The governor said he

was not saying that Houston,

who was born in Newark and

was raised in nearby East

Orange, is a role model. In-

stead, he said, Houston de-

serves the honor because of

her huge cultural impact and

as “a daughter of New Jer-

sey.”

“I am disturbed by

people who believe that be-

cause her ultimate demise —

and we don’t know what is

the cause of her death yet —

but because of her history of

substance abuse that some-

how she’s forfeited the good

things that she did in her

life,” said the governor dur-

ing a briefing in northern

New Jersey. “I just reject that

on a human level.”

The cause of Houston’s

SAN FRANCISCO

(AP) — Backers of affirma-

tive action asked a federal

appeals court Monday to

overturn California’s 15-

year-old ban on considering

race in public college admis-

sions, citing a steep drop in

black, Latino and Native

American students at the

state’s elite campuses.

A three-judge panel of

the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of

Appeal heard arguments in

the latest legal challenge to

Proposition 209, the land-

mark voter initiative that

barred racial, ethnic and gen-

der preferences in public

education, employment and

contracting.

The affirmative action

ban has withstood multiple

challenges since voters ap-

proved it in 1996, but advo-

cates say their campaign to

overturn it has been bolstered

by recent court decisions, as

well as support from Gov.

Jerry Brown.

Court hears challenge toCourt hears challenge toCourt hears challenge toCourt hears challenge toCourt hears challenge toAffirmative Action banAffirmative Action banAffirmative Action banAffirmative Action banAffirmative Action ban

Christina Cornelius, granddaughter of Don Cornelius, wipes

her tears while reading a statement Thursday. (AP)

TALLAHASSEE (AP)

Florida A&M University

took two major steps this

week in an attempt to elimi-

nate a hazing epidemic that

has left one student dead,

injured some and brought

arrests and expulsion from

school for others.

On Tuesday afternoon,

university officials con-

firmed for

BlackAmericaweb.com that

the institution submitted its

anti-hazing plan and other

documents to the Florida

Board of Governors. On

Thursday, during a full

meeting of the university’s

Board of Trustees, a

$50,000 research initiative

on the nature and extent of

campus hazing was

launched, and a seven-

member independent com-

Dozens of minority stu-

dents backing the plaintiffs

filled the courtroom for the

hour-long hearing, when the

justices questioned whether

they should tamper with a

1997 ruling in which the

same appellate court upheld

Proposition 209.

Attorneys for the plain-

tiffs said affirmative action is

needed to increase racial di-

versity at the University of

California’s most prestigious

campuses and professional

schools. Data shows that

UC’s efforts to enroll diverse

student populations without

considering race have failed,

they argued.

“What you see before

you is a new form of sepa-

rate and unequal going on

right before our eyes,” plain-

tiffs’ attorney George Wash-

ington told the three male

justices.

Ralph Kasarda, who is

FAMU submits

anti-hazing plan,

forms committeemittee was announced that

will study hazing at the col-

lege and make recommen-

dations.

FAMU, named recently

by U.S. News and World

Report among the top 15

most popular national uni-

versities, has been in the

spotlight recently, not be-

cause of its academics and

research, but because of its

culture of hazing.

Robert Champion Jr.,

one of six drum majors in

the college’s famed March-

ing 100 Band, died in No-

vember 2011 following an

alleged hazing incident in

Orlando, Florida hours af-

ter the band put on a stellar

show at the Florida Classic

football game. The Orange

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— Investigators worked

Sunday to piece together

what killed Whitney Houston

as the music industry’s big-

gest names gathered for a

Grammy Awards show that

at times felt as much like a

memorial as a celebration.

Coroner’s officials say

they will not release any in-

formation on an autopsy per-

formed Sunday at the request

of police detectives investi-

gating the singer’s death. The

singer was found in the bath-

tub of her room at the

Beverly Hilton Hotel, but

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed

Winter declined to say any-

thing more about the room’s

condition or any evidence

investigators recovered.

He said there were no

Investigators seek answers to Houston’s death

obvious signs of trauma on

Houston’s body, but that of-

ficials were not ruling out

any causes of death until they

have toxicology results,

which will take weeks to ob-

tain.

Beverly Hills Police Lt.

Mark Rosen said that his

agency may release more

details Monday about

Houston’s death, but it will

depend on whether detec-

tives feel comfortable releas-

ing any information.

A member of Houston’s

entourage found the 48-year-

old singer unresponsive in

her hotel room at the Beverly

Hilton Hotel on Saturday,

just hours before she was

supposed to appear at a pre-

Grammy gala.

Rosen said there were no

indications of foul play when

Houston was found by a

member of her entourage.

Paramedics worked to revive

Houston, but were unsuc-

cessful and the singer was

pronounced dead shortly be-

fore 4 p.m. He said he could

not comment on the condi-

tion of Houston’s room or

where she had been found.

Meanwhile, Houston’s

In this 2011 photo, Whitney Houston and her daughter, Bobbi

Kristina, are shown at the pre-Grammy Awards party. (AP)

FAMU President Dr. James Ammons has been under

increased pressure to eradicate the culture of hazing at the

institution.

Feb. 12-18, 2012PAGE B2 The Hornet Tribune HORIZONS

GatherGatherGatherGatherGather: : : : : “I’m really happy to be here because Don was my brother ...”Continued from page B1

SeekSeekSeekSeekSeek: : : : : “At this time, we ask for privacy, especially for my daughter ...”Continued from page B1

HearsHearsHearsHearsHears: : : : : “As a state-serving institution, the university should reflect the ...”Continued from page B1

Continued from page B1

SubmitsSubmitsSubmitsSubmitsSubmits: : : : : “As academiciansacross this country engage ...”

DefendsDefendsDefendsDefendsDefends: : : : : “She never forgotwhere she came from ...”Continued from page B1

sic, such as what they were

driving and when they’d last

eaten at a particular restau-

rant.

“I’m really happy to be

here because Don was my

brother and I am celebrating

his life,” a smiling Robinson

said. “I don’t what the rest of

you are doing.”

Remaining upbeat,

Robinson told the crowd,

“He started a platform for

black people that before that

time had not been seen. It had

been heard, but it had not

been seen.”

“Soul Train” was broad-

cast nationally from 1971 to

2006 and became one of

television’s longest running

syndicated shows. He gave

up hosting duties in 1993.

Pastor Donnie

McClurkin, who led the ser-

vice, noted that his mother

didn’t allow her children to

listen to popular music. But

when she went grocery shop-

ping on Saturdays, he and his

siblings caught up on all the

latest dance moves and mu-

sic by watching “Soul Train.”

Cornelius was born in

September 1936 in Chicago,

served as a Marine in Korea

and worked various jobs be-

fore getting into broadcasting

in the mid-1960s.

He was inducted into the

Broadcasting and Cable Hall

of Fame in 1995 and has a

star on the Hollywood Walk

of Fame, but his greatest

legacy was the impact of his

show, which not only

brought black culture, but

also black advertisers to na-

tionwide audiences. His

show came long before there

were any networks devoted

to television programming

for black audiences, or black

actors in prominent roles on

network shows — key cul-

tural barriers that Cornelius

helped break down.

Cornelius’ granddaugh-

ter Christina said that to the

world, her grandfather was a

visionary and trailblazer.

“He was all those things.

But to me he was just

grandpa,” she said, breaking

down. “My smooth voiced,

loving grandpa.”

Several speakers, includ-

ing Cornelius’ son Tony,

spoke of continuing

Cornelius’ legacy.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson

recalled meeting Cornelius in

the early 1980s after he

started playing with the Los

Angeles Lakers.

“Shoot, I come around

the corner and I see that big

‘fro, I already knew who it

was,” Johnson said as the

crowd laughed, “but I was

scared because I always

wanted to meet him.”

On Thursday, Johnson

said he was committed to

helping keep the “Soul

Train” going.

“Tony, it’s our job to

keep the legacy going,”

Johnson said. “The brand

that your father has created

will last a lifetime.”

Several speakers also of-

fered condolences to the

family of Whitney Houston,

who appeared on Cornelius’

show and died unexpectedly

Saturday at age 48.

Wonder mused that

Cornelius would be pleased

to have Houston join him and

other musicians in heaven.

“I can only hope we con-

tinue to keep this man’s life

and legacy alive,” Wonder

said.

Cornelius, 75, died Feb.

1 from a self-inflicted gun-

shot wound, and Jackson

urged people not to judge

him. “We reveal our suc-

cesses to the world but we

conceal our pain,” he said.

Rather, Jackson said, the

public and those who knew

Cornelius well should re-

member what Cornelius built

with “Soul Train” and what

it meant to the world.

“It brought joy. It

brought pride. It brought tal-

ent. It brought hope. It

brought opportunity. It

blazed trails,” he said. “Tell

them what you know, not

what you imagine.”

death at a Beverly Hills ho-

tel has not been determined,

and the results of toxicol-

ogy tests are pending. In-

vestigators found several

bottles of prescription

medication in the hotel

room where she died Satur-

day, but authorities said

they weren’t an unusually

large number.

Christie said some

people were being critical

“without the facts,” accus-

ing him of treating Houston

better than fallen soldiers.

The governor noted he

has ordered flags flown at

half-staff for all 31 fallen

New Jersey soldiers and ev-

ery fallen police officer dur-

ing his time in office.

He also ordered flags

lowered last year for

Clarence Clemons, the

saxophonist for Bruce

Springsteen’s E Street

Band.

In Newark, residents

were irritated to hear of

criticism of the governor’s

decision to honor Houston,

who acknowledged her

drug abuse in interviews.

Resident Anna

Simpson was out Wednes-

day at New Hope Baptist

Church, where Houston’s

funeral will be held, to pay

her respects on her way

home from her airport job.

“She never forgot

where she came from,”

Simpson said. “She was

real. We would see her and

be like, ‘She’s one of ours,’

and she always made us

proud, no matter what hap-

pened.”

After Houston became

famous she continued to

make regular trips to the

public school she attended

in East Orange and to which

her family has directed do-

nations be sent in lieu of

flowers.

Simpson said she ad-

mires Christie for honoring

Houston because “if it were

Bruce Springsteen or Jon

Bon Jovi, nobody would bat

an eye.”

“I don’t agree with a lot

of things that he does, but I

admire him for that,” she

said. “Whoever don’t agree,

they will get over it.”

Associated Press writer

Geoff Mulvihill in

Haddonfield, N.J., contrib-

uted to this report.

defending Proposition 209,

told the justices that the San

Francisco-based appellate

court was correct when it

upheld the affirmative-action

ban. He called the current

challenge “redundant and

baseless.”

“Proposition 209 guar-

antees everyone’s right to be

treated fairly and not be dis-

criminated against based on

skin color or gender,” said

Kasarda, an attorney for the

Pacific Legal Foundation,

which represented the spon-

sors of the 1996 ballot mea-

sure.

The complaint was filed

in January 2010 by several

dozen minority students and

advocacy groups who say the

ban violates the civil rights

of black, Latino and Native

American students. Those

groups make up about half of

California’s high school

graduates, but much smaller

percentages at UC’s most

competitive campuses.

For example, at UC Ber-

keley, the current freshmen

class of California residents

is roughly 1 percent Native

American, 3.5 percent black,

15 percent Latino, 30 percent

white and 48 percent Asian,

according to UC data.

“As a state-serving insti-

tution, the university should

reflect the demographics of

California, and right now it

doesn’t,” said Magali Flores,

20, a third-year Latina stu-

dent majoring in ethnic stud-

ies at UC Berkeley. “Prop.

209 wants to pretend that

race isn’t real.”

The court agreed to hear

the case after U.S. District

Judge Samuel Conti dis-

missed the lawsuit in Decem-

ber 2010. The California Su-

preme Court has twice ruled

that Proposition 209 is con-

stitutional.

Advocates say justices

need to reconsider in light of

recent court rulings on the

issue.

In 2003, the U.S. Su-

preme Court ruled the Uni-

versity of Michigan Law

School could consider race in

admissions decisions to pro-

mote campus diversity.

Last year, a three-judge

panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit

Court of Appeals overturned

Michigan’s affirmative ac-

tion ban. The full appellate

court has agreed to recon-

sider the case.

Brown joined the plain-

tiffs in arguing the affirma-

tive action ban is unconsti-

tutional.

daughter was transported by

ambulance to a Los Angeles

hospital Sunday morning and

later released. A source close

to the family who did not

want to speak given the sen-

sitivity of the matter said she

was treated and released for

stress and anxiety. Bobbi

Kristina Brown, 18, who is

Houston’s daughter from her

marriage to singer Bobby

Brown, had accompanied her

mother to several pre-

Grammy Awards events last

week.

“At this time, we ask for

privacy, especially for my

daughter, Bobbi Kristina,”

Bobby Brown wrote in a

statement released about an

hour after she was trans-

ported from the hotel. “I ap-

preciate all of the condo-

lences that have been di-

rected towards my family

and I at this most difficult

time.”

Houston had been ex-

pected to perform at the pre-

awards gala Saturday night

thrown by music impresario

Clive Davis, her longtime

mentor.

Davis went ahead with

his annual party and concert,

which were held at the same

hotel where Houston’s body

was found — and where it

remained for most of Satur-

day night. He dedicated the

evening to her and asked for

a moment of silence.

Houston had been at re-

hearsals for the Davis concert

on Thursday, coaching sing-

ers Brandy and Monica, ac-

cording to a person who was

at the event but was not au-

thorized to speak publicly

about it.

The person said Houston

looked disheveled, was

sweating profusely and li-

quor and cigarettes could be

smelled on her breath. It was

the latest of countless stories

about the decline of a

uniquely gifted and beautiful

artist, once the golden girl of

the music industry.

The Rev. Al Sharpton

remembered Houston while

preaching Sunday morning

at the Second Baptist Church

in Los Angeles.

“Yes, she had an out-

standing range,” he said.

“Yes, she could hit notes no

one else could reach. But

what made her different was

she was born and bred in the

bosom of the black church.”

A sensation from her

very first album, she was one

of the world’s best-selling

artists from the mid-1980s to

the late 1990s. She awed mil-

lions with soaring, but disci-

plined vocals rooted in gos-

pel and polished for the

masses, a bridge between the

earthy passion of her god-

mother, Aretha Franklin, and

the bouncy pop of her cousin,

Dionne Warwick.

Her success carried her

beyond music to movies,

where she became a rare

black actress with box office

appeal, starring in such hits

as “The Bodyguard” and

“Waiting to Exhale.” Bishop

T.D. Jakes, a Texas minister

and producer on Houston’s

final film project, a re-make

of the 1970s release

“Sparkle,” said he saw no

signs she was having any

substance issues. He said

Houston was a complete pro-

fessional and moved the cast

and crew to tears two months

ago when she sang the gos-

pel hymn “Her Eyes on the

Sparrow” for a scene shot in

Detroit.

“There was no evidence

in working with her on

‘Sparkle’ that there was any

struggle in her life,” Jakes

said Sunday. “She just left a

deep impression on every-

body.”

She had the perfect voice

and the perfect image: gor-

geous, but wholesome;

grounded, but fun-loving.

And she influenced a genera-

tion of younger singers, from

Christina Aguilera to Mariah

Carey, who when she first

came out, sounded so much

like Houston that many

couldn’t tell the difference.

But by the end of her ca-

reer, Houston had become a

stunning and heartbreaking

cautionary tale. Her album

sales plummeted and the hits

stopped coming; her once

serene image was shattered

by a wild demeanor and bi-

zarre public appearances.

County Medical Examiner

has ruled Champion’s

death a homicide. Though

several people who were

on a band bus the night

Champion allegedly went

through the ritual of

“Crossing the C Bus,” no

charges have been filed.

The Orange County Sher-

iff Department said the

case remains under inves-

tigation.

In addition to

Champion’s death, at least

two other hazing incidents

were reported in 2010, with

one even requiring hospi-

talization for student Bria

Hunter, who also was a

member of the Marching

100.

FAMU President Dr.

James Ammons has been

under increased pressure to

eradicate the culture of haz-

ing at the institution, which

is among the largest public

historically black universi-

ties in the nation.

The research initiative,

the president said, will help

get the faculty involved in

finding solutions while also

positioning FAMU to be

part of the national discus-

sion on hazing.

“Hazing is one issue

that many colleges and uni-

versities face, yet it pre-

sents a serious challenge to

uncover and address as a

hidden culture, shrouded in

secrecy,” Ammons said.

The FAMU Anti-Haz-

ing Research Initiative will

offer small grants for fac-

ulty to conduct collabora-

tive research across disci-

plines to study the nature

and extent of hazing behav-

iors among campus organi-

zations and groups.

FAMU public safety

officials have said 22 haz-

ing incidents have been re-

ported over the past three

years. Some of those in-

volved subgroups within

the Marching 100, and at

least involved a band fra-

ternity. And hazing on the

FAMU campus in Tallahas-

see is not limited to the

band or Greek letter orga-

nizations. On a website

started by a FAMU alum-

nus to address hazing, stu-

dents and alums reported

hazing in several groups -

even a modeling team.

School officials say the

research initiative will

tackle four key areas, in-

cluding developing a basic

understanding of hazing

behaviors, developing al-

ternatives to hazing, elimi-

nating the fear of retribu-

tion and identifying effec-

tive education training.

“As academicians

across this country engage

in research in this area, we

want to ensure that FAMU

is represented in a very sig-

nificant way among these

scholars,” said Ammons.

“We view this as seed

money for faculty to be in-

volved into the greater pool

of resources available to

address this issue.”

The committee to

study hazing, also an-

nounced on Thursday, will

function independently

from the research initiative,

but its goal is similar,

Ammons said: To help

eradicate the culture of

hazing at FAMU.

Former U.S. District

Judge Stephen C.

Robinson of New York will

head the committee an-

nounced by the Board of

Trustees. Robinson will be

joined by Dr. Naim Akbar,

clinical psychologist and

former president of the

National Association of

Black Psychologists; Dr.

Elizabeth Allan, professor,

University of Maine and

co-director of the National

Collaborative for Hazing

Research and Prevention;

Dr. Michael V. Bowie, ex-

ecutive director of the

Florida Fund for Minority

Teachers and former na-

tional president of the Na-

tional Pan-Hellenic Coun-

cil; David Brewer, former

vice admiral of the United

States Navy and superin-

tendent of the Los Angeles

Unified School District;

Dr. Mary Madden, profes-

sor, University of Maine

and co-director of the Na-

tional Collaborative for

Hazing Research and Pre-

vention, and David

Starnes, band director and

professor of Music at West-

ern Carolina University.

—-Associated Press

contributed to this report.

Shanta Driver, a lawyer with the Coalition to Defend Affirmative

Action, addresses the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. (AP)

Don Cornelius, creator of the long running show “Soul Train”

thanked his supporters at the Soul Train Music Awards in 2009.

Bobbi Kristina and Bobby Brown share a father-daughter

moment in 2011.

C C1

RIBUNET

Feb 18, 2012

IEWPOINTSCONTACT US: Viewpoints Editor/viewpoints@gmail.com (334) 229-4273

HE HORNETHE HORNET

VColumnsEditorials

Editorial CartoonsHornet Expressions

H O R N E T E X P R E S S I O N SH O R N E T E X P R E S S I O N SH O R N E T E X P R E S S I O N SH O R N E T E X P R E S S I O N SH O R N E T E X P R E S S I O N SDo believe it is wise for the SGA to lower the grade point averages for the offices

of the president and vice president?

Anika Taylor

Junior

Communication

Chris LaPoint

First Year

Recording Industry

Amanda Price

First Year

History

TJ Walker

First Year

Recording Industry

Tony Leary

Senior

Management

“By lowering the GPA,

it basically lowers the stan-

dards of what the leader of

a President should be.

Leaders should hold a high

standard because they are

being looked upon.”

“What’s the purpose in

lowering the GPA? Alabama

State University is known for

excellence and creating great

leaders worldwide, so

lowering the GPA doesn’t

have a good look on the

University as a whole.”

“... Students with a GPA

below a 3.0 that would make

great leaders, could not run

because of the GPA require-

ment ... At the same time,

lowering it would be looked

upon as a joke. Students

would feel that anybody

could run for the two posi-

tions ...”

“Don’t lower the GPA. If

you want to be in an organi-

zation, you should WORK

FOR IT. The students that do

work hard enough for the re-

quired GPA shouldn’t have to

compete with students that

do enough just to get by.

There should not be an ad-

vantage to those that don’t

put in effort.”

“I favor against because

it will raise the competition.

This isn’t an easy position.

With the bar being low, the

proper and needed leader-

ship will be missed. You

have to compete for it.

There’s no room for compe-

tition. No position value.”

“All they did was make

the standard the same for

the entire executive board.

... because that is the mini-

mum grade point average

doesn’t mean that the

people who run or the

people who win will have

that GPA. The GPA is sim-

ply a requirement for those

who desire to run.”

Karen Caldwell

Junior

Rehab Services

A while back, when

ABC’s Diane Sawyer asked

Whitney Houston what she

wanted 10 years from now,

the pop diva rattled off a list

of simple desires.

“Retired ... sitting down

... seeing my daughter grow

up ... grandchildren,” Hous-

ton said, smiling with that

perfect, piano-key smile of

hers.

No wishes to be in

anyone’s Hall of Fame. No

wishes for another Grammy.

She just wanted to be

Whitney, the woman.

Hearing that interview

saddens me even more about

her death.

I guess it’s because

Houston was a woman

blessed with gifts that fill the

dreams of everyday women;

dreams of being beautiful,

talented and adored by mil-

lions. Yet, it was that talent -

and all the complexities that

go along with it - that got in

Houston wanted to be

Whitney, the womanthe way of her living to ful-

fill common dreams that are,

for many of us, a given.

And we’ll always be left

to wonder what might have

been.

Beverly Hills police say

that Houston, whose body

was found in a Beverly Hills

hotel room this past week-

end, was “underwater and

unconscious” in the bathtub.

The 48-year-old had battled

a drug addiction for many

years, and prescription drug

bottles were in the room.

So far, though, there’s no

evidence of foul play, and the

cause of Houston’s death has

yet to be determined.

But regardless of how

she died, to many women

like me, women who had

seen her grow from girlish

singer in the video “I Wanna

Dance With Somebody

(Who Loves Me)” to sultry

actress in the movie, “Wait-

ing to Exhale,” the loss still

stings.

I didn’t expect for her to

go out like that. I still be-

lieved there was a lot of

magic left in Houston,

enough magic to propel her

past the addictions that had

hobbled her life and career. I

wanted to see her use her tal-

ent to beat down her demons.

And whenever Houston

did retire, I wanted to see her

end her career with an excla-

mation point. Instead, her life

ended as a somber footnote.

It’s pointless to blame

anyone for the destructive

choices that Houston made in

her life. I just wish that there

was a way to take that same

comfort and enjoyment that

her gifts brought to people

like me and turn it back on

her so that she could draw the

same comfort and fulfillment

from it.

So much so that she

wouldn’t feel the need to use

drugs, or so much so that she

could find the strength to

shun them.

I just wish I knew of a

way that Houston could have

used that same power that

kept us spellbound over her

voice to control the things

that hobbled her life.

And I wish that maybe

one of her gospel songs, or

her early hit, “The Greatest

Love of All,” could have

saved her in the way that they

likely inspired others to save

themselves.

I guess that in the end,

Houston, for all her superhu-

man talent and beauty, was

all too human. Her interview

with Sawyer tells us that -

that at the end of the day, she

wanted what many other

women want: To see their

children grow up, to have

grandchildren, to be able to

marvel over the circle of life

that they had a hand in creat-

ing.

When Houston is laid to

rest in her native New Jersey,

everyone will be struggling

to remember her life, not her

death. I’ll be struggling to do

that too, to remember the

beauty and talent that she

brought to the world.

I’ll also be mourning that

Houston’s extraordinary life

ended way before she got a

chance to see her ordinary,

10-year plan become real.

Newt Gingrich is des-

perate for material for his

campaign-turned-comedy

show these days. So much

so that he has resorted to re-

cycling Dick Cheney’s old

lines.

Back in 2004. the vice-

president, playing to

American fears that were

still raw from the Sept. 11,

2001 terrorist attacks, said

that if voters chose Demo-

cratic presidential nominee

John Kerry over his boss,

George W. Bush, they were

risking their lives.

“If we make the wrong

choice, then the danger is

that we’ll get hit again –

that we’ll be hit in a way

that will be devastating

from the standpoint of the

United States,” Cheney

said.

Sadly, fear worked

then. But last year, Osama

bin Laden – the face that in-

spired all that fear and the

mastermind behind those

attacks – was killed.

Under the leadership of

President Obama, the FBI’s

most-wanted terrorist was

tracked down at his hide-

away in Pakistan and killed

during a gun battle with

Navy SEALs. The

president’s handling of the

Libyan conflict – a multi-

lateral approach that ulti-

mately led to the collapse

of the oppressive

Moammar Gaddafi govern-

ment – has been widely

deemed as a success.

And, according to

Gallup, Obama’s approval

rating on national defense

now stands at 53 percent.

So, when I heard what

Gingrich told a crowd at

Oral Roberts University re-

cently, I wondered if he

thought he was at The

Improv.

He said that under

Obama, there was “a real

threat of an American city

being wiped out.” He said

that Obama “is the most

dangerous president in

American history” and that

defeating him was “in fact,

a duty of national security.”

Yet, while Gingrich’s

failure to grasp facts and his

reuse of Cheney’s 2004

fear-mongering lines is

laughable, what’s sad is that

some people – although I’m

betting very few – might ac-

tually be scared by that stu-

pidity.

And they’ll be scared if

Gingrich is able to play to

their anxieties about Obama

- about his childhood in In-

donesia, about his black-

ness, about whether he

might really be a Muslim

and might be predisposed to

go too easy on brown-

skinned people who remind

them of the Sept. 11 terror-

ists.

It’s funny to watch how

GOP contenders like

Gingrich can’t seem to cam-

paign against the president

without trying to tap into

such fears. Gingrich

thought he had something,

in fact, with the “food stamp

president” thing.

He repeatedly used the

racially-charged label to im-

ply that Obama was more

interested in making people

depend on food stamps in-

stead of helping them get

jobs.

The facts, however, dis-

pute that; while a record

number of Americans now

get food stamps, it’s be-

cause the economic down-

turn, which began during

the last months of the Bush

administration, pushed pov-

erty levels up. It isn’t be-

cause Obama is making it

easier for people to get on

the dole.

But now unemploy-

ment is at 8.3 percent.

That’s still high, but down

from the 10 percent levels

of two years ago. The Dow

broke 13,000 yesterday, a

level it hadn’t reached since

the banking crisis hit in

2008. And General Motors

posted a $7.6 billion profit

by Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya WeathersbeeGUEST COLUMNIST

thehornettribune2012@gmail.com

Gingrich’s new Obama

attack worthy of laughs

See ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK on page C2C2C2C2C2

by Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya Weathersbeeby Tonya WeathersbeeGUEST COLUMNIST

thehornettribune2012@gmail.com

Whitney Houston listens intently as ABC’s Diane Sawyer rattles off questions about her relationship with Bobby Brown.

Feb. 12-18, 2012PAGE C2 The Hornet Tribune VIEWPOINTS

HE HORNET

RIBUNETHE HORNET

Alabama State University915 South Jackson Street

Montgomery, Alabama 36104PHONE: (334) 229-4273 FAX: (334) 229-4165

www.thehornettribune.com

2011-12 EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

Executive Editor Kieyana Edwards

Editorial Managing Editor Sharanna Polk

Visual Media Managing Editor Christopher Logan

Social Media Managing Editor Rose Todd

Graphic and Design Managing Editor Willie Todd

Digital Media Managing Editor Phillip Davis

Chief Business and Finance Manager Justin Johnson

Public Affairs Manager Shericka Wilson

General Manager Kenneth Dean, MS

Executive Editor Kieyana Edwards

Editorial Managing Editor Sharanna Polk

Sports Editor Abraham Chopin

Staff Correspondent LaShaunda Glass

Staff Correspondent Desire K. Kafunda

Staff Correspondent Carisma Mitchell

Staff Correspondent Brianna Roberts

Staff Correspondent David Stephens

Staff Correspondent Kianna T. Hodo

Staff Correspondent Malcolm T. Banks

Staff Correspondent Chania M. Mitchell

Staff Correspondent Jasmin S. Wells

Staff Correspondent Natasha E. Harris

University Beat Manager Joseph Batiste

Writing Coach Gita Smith, MA

Faculty Adviser L. Simone Byrd, PhD

“think, think, think”

“Sometimes the truth hurts”

KIEYANA EDWARDS

SHARANNA POLK

2011-12 EDITORIAL BOARD

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, orprohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to

petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The Hornet Tribune is news, not public relations

2011-12 ADVERTISING, CIRCULATIONSAND MARKETING STAFF

Circulations Manager Kenecia Streeter

Office Assistant Raeven Wilkerson

Office Assistant Deja Barlow

Leadership requires good presidential decorum

The Hornet Tribune is the official student newspaper of Alabama State

University and is printed once weekly on Fridays. The opinions of The

Hornet Tribune editorial board do not necessarily reflect the opinions of

the university and serve as expressions of fact and opinions of interest.

Letters to the editor may be submitted. Limit letters to 300 hundred

words. They may be edited for space and will be edited for grammar and

spelling. Letters and columns containing libelous and malicious

statements will not be published. For identification purpose, all letters

must include the writer’s full name address and telephone number. Once

submitted, all letters and columns become the property of

The Hornet Tribune.

HOW TO WRITE USHOW TO WRITE USHOW TO WRITE USHOW TO WRITE USHOW TO WRITE US

It’s hard to find people who

know what it means to be a genu-

ine leader. They aren’t born, made

by wearing a title, or created over-

night. Being a leader in the 21st cen-

tury requires class, grace, and poise

in the face of ignorance and stupid-

ity. At least those seem to be the

necessary attributes for President

Barrack Obama on a daily basis.

As of today, Obama has been

publicly disrespected, vilified and

insulted more than any other presi-

dent in American history. Despite

being the only President to be re-

fused by Congress after requesting

a date for an address, and having a

member of Congress call him a liar

on live television during a State of

the Union Address, Obama has kept

a sophisticated attitude throughout.

He even remained poised when

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer was pho-

tographed pointing her fingers in

the president’s face (later saying

that she “felt a little threatened.”)

It is speculated that this rude

behavior stems from the fact that

Obama is referred to as the first

“black” president. If this is the case

that means black leaders of this

generation have some large steps

to follow when it comes to main-

taining their integrity in the face of

controversy or when serving as

public officials.

Being a public official is a sac-

rifice that requires a certain display

of character, charisma, intellect,

and most important, integrity.

Alabama State University Stu-

dent Government Association

President Travis Smith is a prime

example of a black public official

who has a role to fill that mimics

the responsibilities of President

Obama because of the position that

he campaigned for during spring

2011. He serves as the representa-

tive of the entire student body of

ASU, including members of the

free press.

On February 14, Smith posted

negative tweets under his personal

profile about The Hornet Tribune

and a member of its staff that ques-

tioned the standards, credibility,

and quality of the newspaper. The

actions he displayed were

embarassing to the university as

well as the student body, even

though they were tweeted on his

personal page.

I call it an embarrassment be-

cause Smith is a leader of the stu-

dent body 24 hours a day. If some-

one from the public read the tweets,

they would begin asking questions

immediately.

Imagine if President Obama

took the same action Smith took

against the USA Today or the Wall

Street Journal because he did not

like what was written or the man-

ner in which it was written.

He would be labeled as “an

embarassment” and further penal-

ized in the media. There would not

be one newspaper, news program,

or radio station that would not pub-

licly criticize the president, and

Smith’s case is hardly different.

As a leader, especially a black

leader, Smith is responsible for set-

ting an example for his peers, and

when he does not adequately do

this, he has to be held accountable

for his choices. The newspaper is

here to be the voice of reason for

students when events occur on

campus that affects them. Whether

he agrees or disagrees, there is a

certain decorum that he must keep.

The comments tweeted onto

cyberspace cannot be taken back.

They are forever disbursed into the

internet and shared with thousands

of viewers. Several students and

alumni alike are questioning his ac-

tions.

By choosing to use these an-

tics to express his frustration and

anger over a staff editorial placed

him and the SGA in a negative

light. By taking such impulsive

actions to personally express his

emotions, Smith reveals sloppiness

within the student government.

In fact, the articles he found un-

appealing were further proven to

have made a valid point. If the in-

formation had not been true then it

would have been easy for Smith to

properly address the issue.

Smith feels so confident in his

behavior that he even refused an

apologize for his libelous and defa-

matory actions. He said that he

didn’t feel that he should.

Having to write this column is

a disappointment to me because I

am a student leader who has to

question Smith’s character, judg-

ment, integrity and ability to lead

the student body because of an im-

mature action he chose to take. I

would hate for him to graduate

thinking that it is professional and

proper decorum to go on a nega-

tive tangent about an organization

that he represents. There is no way

I could do that and feel that I have

properly done my job as executive

editor.

A leader is in the public eye 24

hours a day. I am the executive

editor all day, every day. A leader

cannot separate his personal life

from his professional life. It comes

with the territory.

Even when a leader feels mis-

treated, it’s all right to give an apol-

ogy for behavior that causes mis-

representation. Being a leader is

having to make the decision to set

aside how you feel, so you can de-

cide a better plan of action that ben-

efits your organization. We are a

representation of our ethnicity no

matter what we do and where we

are. Mr. Smith: Are you going to

stand tall like President Obama or

lower your level by pointing your

finger like Gov. Brewer?

News is defined as anything

out of the ordinary and public rela-

tions is the promotion of goodwill.

The ASU Today is a public re-

lations magazine that is designed

by the university and written by

university employees.

It promotes goodwill for the

university because it reports all of

the great things that are happening

at the university and all of its ac-

complishments.

That is the role of the ASU To-

day.

However, The Hornet Tribune

is a newspaper that publishes cam-

pus news, local, state and national

news, features, opinions and sports.

The Hornet Tribune deals with

facts and reality. We do not place

spins on our stories. We present

the facts, background and reaction

or responses to the facts. That is

why not all of the articles printed

in it are perceived as positive.

If someone’s house is engulfed

in flames, it is reported as a fire.

That would not be a positive story

to most people, but it is the facts

and reality and it must be reported.

Anyone who turns on the news

at 5 or 6 p.m. will not see public

relations. The news anchors will

report crime stories, international

conflicts, budget problems, unem-

ployment and etc.

The Hornet Tribune reflects the

stories that are really going on, in

the way that they are transpiring.

There are a number of things

that could be improved on the cam-

pus, so, realistically, student report-

ers/writers have opinions, as do all

students, with the difference being

that a reporter/writer can express

his or hers in a public forum that

comes out in the form of press.

However, the students who do

not write for The Hornet Tribune

are not limited. They can always

write letters to the editor that will

be published. We are open to stu-

dents participating in a paper that

is mainly produced because of

them.

Alabama State University is

not a perfect campus. If that were

the case, then we would not see stu-

dents leaving for various reasons.

With that being said, it is impor-

tant that the The Hornet Tribune

serves its student body and com-

munity well by adressing issues so

that we can make people more

aware of the issues and impact be-

fore it is too late - and hopefully

influence positive change.

Mentioning the shortcomings

of any university is part of a long

tradition at campus newspapers ev-

erywhere. Some have complained

that the Hornet Tribune is not a

“positive” newspaper. This univer-

sity isn’t always filled with posi-

tivity.

As editorial managing editor, I

do not feel the paper’s role is to be

a public relations sheet designed to

hide the university’s discrepancies;

or let my fellow classmates remain

ignorant of the things going on right

under their noses.

We write what students bring

to our attention (lack of wi-fi, rude

behavior, crimes that go unsolved,

lost transcripts and financial aid

forms, last-minute tuition hikes).

I want them to smell the issues

with such ferocity that it smacks

them in their faces. I want them to

know that some officials of this uni-

versity are talking in circles right

above their heads, avoiding every

question that really matters and

using irrelevant dialogue.

At the same time, when good

news occurs, and it does on a

weekly basis, we report it with the

same enthusiasm. We encourage

students, staff and faculty to let us

know what is going on in their re-

spective areas or organizations, but

they rarely do.

I have learned that you do not

get rewarded for doing what you

are supposed to do. But it seems

that so many people have yet to get

that lesson. You do not get a pat

on the back for doing your job, but

if you don’t do what you are sup-

posed to, the person you are serv-

ing is going to get upset. The only

people reading this editorial and

cringing at this moment are the

ones who know they are perform-

ing their duties insufficiently.

So understand and respect the

fact that this newspaper is an en-

tity that voices issues that matter

most.

We don’t do it to be malicious.

We do it because we care.

MISSION STATEMENTServing Alabama State University students, faculty and staff through

clear, truthful and fair reporting is the duty of The Hornet Tribune staff. We

understand that words are powerful: They can help people but also destroy

lives. Thereby, we will be careful and responsible when using our First

Amendment freedom.

Being one of the best college newspapers in Alabama, The Hornet Tri-

bune aims to keep excelling in informing the Alabama State University

community. Through our reporting, we shall ensure that the public’s busi-

ness is conducted in public. We shall also give our readers the tools to make

judgments on current issues.

We will report and comment on any issue of legitimate public interest

such as controversies and scandals. These, however, will not be the only

news. We shall also cover improvements and achievements. Our stories

shall picture our university fully, fairly and accurately. They shall also re-

flect the diversity of our campus community.

Because pictures are just as essential to our newspaper as the written

material, they shall be treated as such. They shall help us tell a story (or

even tell the story). Like our reporting, they shall be true, fair and accurate.

Because The Hornet Tribune is a weekly paper, we may not have the

chance to break a story in print even though we will try to provide a fresh

angle to tell that story. Our Web site, however, will be the channel to present

breaking news as it happens. We aim to be the first to tell our readers about

issues that affect them while still being truthful, fair and accurate. The same

ethical conduct valid for our print version shall be applied for our Web site.

We shall be fearless when writing editorials, especially when exposing

and criticizing wrongdoings. Editorials shall serve to not only criticize

wrongdoings but also endorse candidates and praise achievements. They

shall always be based on true and accurate information.

The personal agenda or bias of our staff members shall never dictate

our news reports or editorial decisions. Even though advertising is vital for

us, it shall never influence our news. We will give our advertisers special

attention and treat them kindly. We understand that people do business with

people, not with other businesses. We shall always remember, however,

that we will never sell our independence or our integrity.

Being a student-managed publication, The Hornet Tribune gives an

opportunity for students regardless of their major to learn and apply jour-

nalism skills. We also honor our readers’ First Amendment rights by pub-

lishing their opinion even if they want to criticize us. To keep improving

and excelling, we need to humbly accept criticism.

last year – the highest in its 103-

year-history.

Things are still slow, but look-

ing up.

Now Gingrich, whose cam-

paign is flailing, is finding that the

stereotypes he’s been slinging at

Obama are losing their sticking

power. So, he figures that if he can’t

scare people by making them think

that Obama is going to let the

economy deteriorate until more

people have to depend on assis-

tance, and, by extension, the

government he leads, he’ll scare

them by saying that if Obama is

reelected, they risk being blown up

by terrorists.

He’s hoping that there are

enough people out there who will

put their prejudices above reality,

that they’ll see Obama’s handling

of bin Laden as a matter of luck,

not skill, and that if this black presi-

dent wins a second term, he might

not be as lucky.

Fear. It’s all that Gingrich has.

That – and jokes.

Attack:Attack:Attack:Attack:Attack: “He’s hoping that there areenough people out there who will put ...”Continued from page C1

D E1

Feb. 18, 2012

PORTSSCONTACT US: Sports Editor/sports@gmail.com (334) 229-4273

Men’s BasketballWomen’s Basketball

TrackBaseball

RIBUNETHE HORNETHE HORNET

by Alan Pettwayby Alan Pettwayby Alan Pettwayby Alan Pettwayby Alan PettwaySTAFF CORRESPONDENT

apettway2012@gmail.com

Montgomery hopes to one day qualifyMontgomery hopes to one day qualifyMontgomery hopes to one day qualifyMontgomery hopes to one day qualifyMontgomery hopes to one day qualifyfor Professional Golfers’ Association tourfor Professional Golfers’ Association tourfor Professional Golfers’ Association tourfor Professional Golfers’ Association tourfor Professional Golfers’ Association tour

Hornets take out frustration on Lady BravesHornets take out frustration on Lady BravesHornets take out frustration on Lady BravesHornets take out frustration on Lady BravesHornets take out frustration on Lady Braves

MONTGOMERY, Ala., - The

Alabama State University women’s

basketballers were looking to re-

lieve some frustration after losing

three consecutive games. They

took their frustration out on an

Alcorn State University women

Braves team that just could not

match up, beating them 62-57 in

the Dunn-Oliver Acadome on Feb.

18.

The Braves won the opening

tip but could not convert that, and

neither could the Hornets once they

had their first possession. Neither

team could get a basket for several

minutes, committing multiple turn-

overs. Each team had 24 on the

night. It was not until Hornet guard

Jasmine Quinn fouled Braves

guard Kiara Ruffin (20 points) that

the one team got on the board.

Ruffin split the pair to make the

score 1-0 with 16:25 left in the first

half.

Hornet guard Durriya Sheilds

was fouled on her way to the bas-

ket, and she hit both free-throws to

give the Hornets their first lead, 2-

1 with 16:17 left.

The teams played very aggres-

sively in the first half — the Hor-

nets more so collecting four per-

sonal fouls in the first five minutes.

Braves forward Breanna

Whitfield scored the first field goal

of the game with 15:10 left, after

she put up a shot in the lane giving

the Braves a one point lead 3-2.

Brave forward Tiffany Stuart (18

points) scored an easy lay-in to in-

crease the Brave lead to three, but

Hornet guards Danielle Gazaway

and Kierra Paige (8 points) ran the

floor as Paige finished with a lay-

up to make the score 5-4 with 12:47

left.

A free-throw from Gazaway

tied the teams at five with 12:02

left; however Shield changed that

when she gave the Hornets the lead

by hitting a jumper. The lead was

short-lived, though, as Stuart an-

swered right back with a jumper of

her own, tying the game again at

seven-all 10:16 left.

No more jump shots, just hole

in ones.

This is the mindset that senior

John Montgomery, an Alabama

State University golf player had to

transition from.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh,

Pa., Montgomery became serious

about golf at an early age.

“When I won my first golf

tournament at the age of 8,” Mont-

gomery said. That is when I be-

came serious. He began playing

golf at the age of 7.

“My parents play a huge part

in my golf life,” Montgomery said.

“They support me 100 percent. My

dad is my mentor, my coach and

everything I need to get to the next

level.”

Montgomery’s mother is al-

ways there for him with love and

support, after talking extensively

about his father.

Montgomery elaborated on

why he selected ASU.

“I chose ASU because when I

met the coach and the team for the

first time they made me feel like

this was a place where I could grow

and develop my skills,” Montgom-

ery said. He went on to say that he

seen ASU as an island of opportu-

nities. “ASU has all the resources

I need to make it to the next level,”

Montgomery said.

Montgomery believes the uni-

versity is moving in the right di-

rection. He is just sadden that he

will not be at ASU when it is fin-

ished.

“I think the Vision 2020 plan

will help the golf team with recruit-

ing, because we will have a beau-

tiful school to show off when pros-

pects come to visit,” said Mont-

gomery.

Montgomery spoke about be-

ing interested in playing golf on the

professional level upon graduation.

“I plan to play on the Emerald

Coast pro golf tour to start out, and

then work my way to the PGA

tour,” said Montgomery.

Montgomery went on to speak

about wanting to coach at ASU in

the future.

“I would want to give back,”

said Montgomery.

Tiger Woods, happens to be

one of Montgomery’s favorite

golfers and Callaway’s clubs are

his favorite clubs to use.

“I can’t beat Tiger Woods

now, but I believe that once I es-

tablish myself and get some ex-

perience, there wouldn’t be any-

body I can’t beat,” said Mont-

gomery.

Montgomery is not just a

golfer. He said basketball is his

first love, and that he played bas-

ketball until the 10th grade.

Most athletes have a favor-

ite style or match up they like to

play. When asked what is his fa-

vorite match to play he stated that

“Match Play” is his favorite be-

cause it’s like one on one. Mont-

gomery said “I always play

“Match Play” well.”

Montgomery is an all-around

athlete who is striving to excel on

the major league level in golf. Be

on the lookout for Montgomery

on a PGA tour in the future.

MONTGOMERY, Ala.,- The

Alcorn State University Braves

men’s basketball team suffered “a

basket attack” when the Alabama

State University Hornets dunked

them, 78-63, at the Dunn- Oliver

Acadome on Feb 18.

Hornets guard Tramaine Butler

(10 points) stole the ball from

Braves guard Twann Oakley (8

points) then dished it to Hornet for-

ward Ivory White (11 points) who

shot a wide open three-pointer from

the wing, followed by an assist

from White to Hornet forward

Philip Crawford (27 points) who

completed the play with a two

handed dunk, making the score 5-

0 with 18:19 left in the half.

Hornets continued to dominate

the game with a lay-up from guard

Stephawn Brown (5 points). Butler

attempted a three but was fouled

at the top of the key. As a result he

hit two of the three free-throws giv-

ing the Hornets a 9-0 run.

Braves forward KeDorian

Sullivan answered with a lay-up

over White. Crawford was then

fouled, hitting one of his free-

throws to make the score 10-2 with

15:05 left.

Oakley hit an uncontested

three-pointer. White hit a three-

pointer on the other end over

Sullivan, making the score 13-5

with 12:45 left.

Oakley’s two consecutive

plays added four points to the

Braves score; a spin move over

Crawford then stole the ball and

dished it to Braves forward

Martevious Sanders (12 points)

who completed the two-point play,

making the score 17-9 with 10:53

left.

Hornets guard Jeff

Middlebrooks (5 points) inbounded

the ball to White who hit a three-

pointer from the wing. Crawford

also added five points including a

lay-up to the Hornets score mak-

ing it 24-14 with 7:20 left.

Sanders drove past White and

created a two-point play, followed

by a long-range jumper at the top

of the key.

Butler was fouled going up for

a lay-up but was not able to convert

it into a three-point play.

Braves forward Ian Francis (14

points) stole the ball and jammed

it into the basket, making the score

30-24 with 4:07 left. Braves for-

ward Devon Francis (5 points) also

by Abraham Chopinby Abraham Chopinby Abraham Chopinby Abraham Chopinby Abraham ChopinSPORTS EDITOR

achopin2012@gmail.com

by LaShaunda Glassby LaShaunda Glassby LaShaunda Glassby LaShaunda Glassby LaShaunda GlassSTAFF CORRESPONDENT

lglass2012@gmail.com

Hornet too much forHornet too much forHornet too much forHornet too much forHornet too much forAlcorn State BravesAlcorn State BravesAlcorn State BravesAlcorn State BravesAlcorn State Braves

See TAKE TAKE TAKE TAKE TAKE on page D2D2D2D2D2

See MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH on page D2D2D2D2D2 Tramaine Butler takes a shot during action between Alabama State

University and Alcorn State University in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

Photo courtesy David Campbell/ASU

Quentori Alford is fouled by Alcorn’s Sharnika Breedlove during action between Alabama State University and

Alcorn State University in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome, February 18, 2012.

Alabama State University Hornet golf player John Montgomery is poised

to lead the Hornet golf team to a Southwestern Athletic Conference

championship.

Feb. 12-18, 2012PAGE D2 The Hornet Tribune SPORTS

February 13Black History Month Contact Program

Speaker: Dr. Robert White, “Building the Character ofASU’s Black Woman”

4 p.m.Trenholm Hall, Room 202

Sponsor: Department of Humanities

February 14-29Student Art Contest

More details TBATullibody Hall

February 15 -18Play: "Crowns"

7 p.m.Leila Barlow Theater

Sponsor: Department of Theatre Arts

February 16Forum: Women Activists

7 p.m.Thelma Glass Auditorium

Sponsor: Pi Sigma Alpha National Political ScienceSociety

February 19Black History Month Choir Concert

3 p.m.First Baptist Church, 347 N. Ripley St.

Sponsor: Black History Month Committee, Dept. ofMusic

Black History Month Film Festival6 p.m.

Film: SkinSponsors: Black History Month Committee, Delta Sigma

Theta Sorority, C.J. Dunn Tower

February 20Black History Month Festival,

“Celebrating the Diaspora”5:30 p.m.

ASU Fine Arts ComplexSponsor: Visual and Performing Arts, Black History

Month Committee

February 21Black History Month Quiz

Details TBA11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Sponsors: Black History Month Committee, Departmentof History and Political Science, Student Activities

February 21, 2012Forum: “Black Women and Hair”

7 p.m.Life Science Building

Sponsor: Black History Month Committee,ASU Women Residence Hall

February 22Black History Month Book Club Discussion

“A Closer Look at “The Help”: Who Speaks for the BlackWoman?

NoonNational Center for the Study of Civil Rights and

African- American CultureSponsors: Black History Month Committee, The National

Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African-American Culture

Tribute to Black Women in History7 p.m., Life Science Auditorium

Sponsor: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity

February 23Ida B. Wells Lecture

Speaker: Kirsten BarnesTopic: “Mary Ann Carey, Pioneer African-American

Newspaper Editor and Champion of Women’s Rights,”11 a.m.

John L. Buskey AuditoriumSponsor: Department of Communications

Tribute to Gwendolyn Brooks: African-American Poet7 p.m.

Life Science BuildingSponsor: Department of Languages and Literatures

February 25Judah Fest 15

7 p.m.True Divine Baptist Church

Sponsor: Tribe of Judah

February 26Black History Month Committee Church Service

3 p.m.Details TBA

Sponsor: Black History Month Committee

Black History Month Film Festival7 p.m.

Film: “Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100Years”

John L. Buskey AuditoriumSponsor: Black History Month Committee, Zeta Phi Beta

Sorority Inc.

February 27Black Women’s Empowerment Forum

7 p.m.TBA

February 28Black History Month Speech Contest

11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.John L. Buskey Auditorium

Sponsor: Department of Communications

February 29Tribute to Black Elders and Ancestors

6 p.m.ASU Library

Sponsor: Black History Month Committee

2012 Black HistoryMonth Schedule

See TENSIONSTENSIONSTENSIONSTENSIONSTENSIONS on page B2B2B2B2B2

Bowling is serious at

Alabama State University.

The Hornet women’s bowl-

ing team is now 10-4 overall

and 6-0 in the Southwestern

Athletic Conference in the

Eastern Division.

The bowling team has

caught fire and anyone who

faces them should be pre-

pared. It all started on the Jan

20. during the SWAC West

Round-up in Baton Rouge,

La. The Hornets went 2-2

that day beating Grambling

State University and Missis-

sippi Valley State University.

And while they were .500 in

that tournament they placed

third in pin fall with 4,268.

That was just the begin-

ning though. The Hornets al-

lowed for that to propel them

to a 4-1 record the following

day on Jan 21., beating GSU

again along with Prairie-

View Agricultural and Me-

chanical University, Texas

Southern University and

beating Jackson State Uni-

versity, who had beat them

the day before. The came in

third place again and re-

corded a pin fall of 8,551.

The Hornets just recently

returned from Jackson,

Miss., after beating Alabama

Agricultural and Mechanical

University and MVSU and

losing to PVAMU and TSU.

The events leading up to

this point have put the Hor-

nets in a good spot in the con-

ference play at third. The

team will travel to Birming-

ham, Ala. on Feb. 24-26 for

the Holiday Classic.

Ruffin hit two free-

throws, and that seemed to

get her warmed up because

on the next play she came

down and hit a three-

pointer to make the score

12-7 with 8:10 left. The

Braves had taken a six point

something to do with the

Hornets scoring. They had

22 turnovers in the first half

to match their number of

points; luckily for them, the

Braves had 20 turnovers to

match their number of

points.

The second half started

and Hornet center Millicent

Jones scored the first

bucket to make the Hornet

lead four; 24-20 with 19:20

left in the game. Then with

just one second on the shot

clock Paige threw up a

three-pointer and scored to

make the score 27-22 with

17:57 left.

Braves guard Tierro

Frost hit two free-throws,

but Hornet forward Ashley

Jones hit a baseline jumper

to make the score 31-26.

Whitfield hit a three-pointer

to make the score 32-29 with

14:38 left.

Two lay-ups and two

free-throws from Stuart gave

the Braves the lead 35-34

with 13:40 left. With 12:00

left Stuart hit two free-

throws, Alford answered on

the other end but Ruffin hit

another three-pointer to

make the score 42-40, Braves

ahead.

With 9:36 left Millicent

Jones hit two free-throws to

make the score 44-42 Braves

lead. Gazaway pulled up and

hit a three-pointer to make

the score 47-46 and give the

Hornets the lead with 8:22

left.

Alford secured a re-

bound and then went back up

strong to increase the Hornet

lead to three; 49-46 with 6:54

left. Alford scored two con-

secutive lay-ups to make the

score 53-48.

Henderson followed

with a three-pointer to

make the score 56-50 and

Ashley Jones hit spin and

laid the ball up over a

Braves defender. However,

Stuart answered back to

keep the Braves in the

game. With 3:33 left the

Hornets up 58-53.

Stuart scored to cut the

Hornet lead to one with

1:31 left in the game and

Paige put a desperate shot

attempt but was fouled. She

split the pair and that would

be enough as the Hornets

went on to win.

Jackson said, “Q

(Quentori Alford) was out,

and she is our best defender

so we put her back in the

game. She rebounded well

for us, and that took away

second and third chances.”

“We played as a team,”

Alford said. “We used the

skip pass to get open and

then we sped up the game

and were not patient. But

we had to regroup and re-

member to play as a team.”

Continued from page D1

followed up with an uncon-

tested three-pointer, mak-

ing the 32-29 with 2:15 left.

Next came a series of

fouls that by both teams.

Crawford went up for a lay-

up and was fouled but

wasn’t able to create the

three-point play. Devon

Francis ended the half with

a lay-up making the score

35-29.

The Braves started the

second half with a foul on

Crawford; he hit both free-

throws. Middlebrooks stole

the ball and dished it off to

Butler who was fouled by

Sanders. He made one of

two free-throws, making

the score 38-31 with 18:22

left.

White stole the ball,

passed it to Brown who was

unable to complete the

play; White grabbed the re-

bound and scored. The

score was 43-38 with 14:45

left.

Hornets guard Ryan

Watts entered the game off

the bench, scoring a career

high 19 points, Watts started

off with seven straight

points; including a three-

pointer at the top of the key,

making the score 52-42 with

11:10 left.

Oakley hit a three-

pointer over Hornet defender

Brown. But Middlebrooks

had a nice inside look pass

to Crawford underneath the

basket which made the score

54-47 with 8:52 left.

The Braves used good

ball movement around the

court to add four more points

to their score, including a

three from Braves guard Ken

McDonald (10 points) over

White, making the score 58-

51 with 7:05 left.

Watts had two uncon-

tested three-pointers from the

wing followed by a mid-

range jumper over Oakely,

making the score 69-57 with

2:43 left.

Crawford scored on a

lay-up from underneath the

basket but Sanders quickly

answered with a three-

pointer.

McDonald hit the last

jumper for the Braves, but

it was not enough for them

to win the game. Crawford

entered his career high 27

points by adding a dunk to

end the game at 78-63.

After the game Watts

said “we got a good feel at

home, we know our court.

We played pretty good of-

fensively but better defen-

sively. We played good

down the stretch; some-

thing we haven’t been able

to the last five games.”

Head Coach Lewis

Jackson stated “Crawford

did a great job of attacking

the basket; he played a

complete game. As for

Watts, we needed him to

give us a lift from the

bench and he did just that.”

Take: Take: Take: Take: Take: “We played as a team. We used the ...”

Continued from page D1

Much:Much:Much:Much:Much: “We got a good feel at home, we ...”

M O N T G O M E RY,

Ala., - Alabama State Uni-

versity Hornets softball

team lost their first home

game against University of

Nebraska Omaha Maver-

icks softball team, 4-12, at

the Barbara Williams Soft-

ball Complex on Feb 17.

Hornet pitcher

Amanda Garcia started the

first inning as she walked

Maverick outfielder Lind-

say Redding. Maverick

infielder Tonya Peterson

was also able to advance to

first base, which sent

Redding to third base.

Redding ran across the

home plate when Maverick

catcher Lauren Larson hit

a single up the middle;

Peterson advanced to sec-

ond.

Mavericks pitcher

Dana Elsasser struck out

Hornet utility player

Brehanna Rodrigues. Hor-

net infielder Sosefina

Toilolo was able to make a

hit to second base but was

not able to make it across

first base before being

touched out, followed by a

hit by Hornet catcher

Courtney Crossley was

also forced out at second.

The Mavericks ended

the first inning with three

runs, two hits, one error

and one left on base. The

score was 0-3, Mavericks.

During the second inning

the Mavericks were able to

score get eight runs off and

eight hits including a grand

slam home-run from

catcher Amber Lutmer

sending Redding, Peterson,

ABRAHAM CHOPIN

Hornets

strike

Larson and herself across

home plate. Garcia was un-

able to find her rhythm as she

sent seven batters across the

home plate. The Mavericks

had 0 errors, and three on

base with the score 0-11.

Hornet outfielder

Meagan Dixon was walked

to first base but Hornet in-

fielder Kim Ross was not so

lucky as she was caught at

first after Dixon took second.

Hornet infielder Mercedes

Fraizer made the crowd go

wild as she hit a ball to out-

field sending Dixon home

and herself at second. The

Hornets finished the second

inning with one run, one hit,

zero errors and one on base

to make the score 1-11.

Hornet pitcher Bailey

Patt comes into the game giv-

ing Garcia a break; at the

beginning of the third inning.

Lutmer made a hit, but was

out at first. Maverick out-

fielder Katelyn Hinton hit the

ball right into the hands of

Hornet infielder Yvette

Ducoing giving the Hornets

their second out. Maverick

infielder Emma Wright was

able to make it to first base,

but shortly after Maverick

infielder Molly Negrete was

out at first. Mavericks ended

the inning with no runs, one

hit, no errors, and one left on

base.

Hornet utility player

Ayesha Famble bunted the

ball and was able to make it

second, Toilolo excited the

crowed when she brought

Famble home after stealing

third base with a hit to right

field, and sending herself to

second. Toilolo stole third

base followed by a hit from

Dixon who made it to first

base and sending Toilolo

home. Ross hit a grounder

to third base and was able

to make it to first. The Hor-

nets ended the inning with

two runs, one hit, two er-

rors and on base, making

the score 3-11.

Eeman went to first

base on a walk. Lynch was

able to reach first base but

Eeman was tagged out on

the way to second.

Redding was lined out at

first base and Lynch was

out at second base. The

Mavericks finished the

fourth inning with zero

runs, zero hits, zero errors

and zero on base.

At the bottom of the

fourth inning, Fraizer

bunted the ball but it was

not enough to make it to

first. The Mavericks

quickly finished the fourth

inning with an unsuccess-

ful grounder from Wright.

Elsasser struck out

Ducoing, and the Hornets

finished the fourth inning

with zero runs, zero hits,

zero errors and zero on

base.

In the fifth inning both

teams sent one player

across home plate, ending

the game.

After the game

Rodrigues said, “we as a

team put up a good effort

but it wasn’t enough to pull

off a win. We just have to

get over our home crowd

shyness.”

Hornets lose game opener

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