The Student Union Advisory Board along with Aggies Against AIDS held A&T's own World AIDS Day on December 1.
World AIDS Day is an annual event that is held to raise awareness of the HIV virus and to support those who are living with it. Many students showed up to get tested, mostly female, because they wanted to know where they stood. Some even had to be turned away because of the time restrictions.
I decided to get tested for HIV/AIDS because I also felt it was important for me to know my status. Everyone should know where they stand because the spread of the virus is so high among African-Americans and symptoms can be dormant for extended periods of time.
Students and military personnel alike are still in shock and disarray over finding out that a U.S. Army Major allegedly shot and killed 13 soldiers, while wounding several others at Fort Hood Army base in Texas.
Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a military psychologist, has been charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder. The Pentagon has launched a full scale investigation of the incident. Many Americans have family members in the military, and any one of them could have been a victim of the November 5 crime. There are many unanswered questions that people have, and the incident was a hot topic on the minds of people on Veterans Day in Greenboro. Members of the U.S. military are angry. “I think he’s a coward because he worked for the enemy and killed our servicemen and women because he was mad that we were sending more troops to Iraq," said Brennden Colbert, an Airman First Class in the U.S. Air Force from East Hartford, Conn. during a phone interview. "I’m also mad at the U.S. government because I don’t think a Middle Eastern native should be allowed to be involved in the Iraq war without a background check. I’m highly disappointed because now we have to watch our backs in our own backyard." The anger continues to be a problem because now people are starting to question whether or not this could have been prevented. They are also beginning to put into question how much attention is paid to our own country, rather than the ones we are fighting. “I feel that the military police should be more aware of their own backyard and that they should realize that things can happen here. Sometimes the enemy can wear the American flag on their right arm just like we do,” said Colbert. “It was a tragic event, and the man responsible should be punished to the highest extent of the law,” said U.S. Army Private Lavon Colvin, an A&T alumni from Greensboro.
"It's not even Afghanistan and we are dying over here in the United States. I have not lost faith in the military, I just think that we should have better tactics when it comes to protecting our men and women," said Pertenia Haynes, a sophomore special education major at North Carolina A&T.
Despite the tragedy, Colbert says he still has a duty to perform. On Veterans Day 2009, Colbert reflected on that duty.
"No, I don't feel any different about the military. Integrity first. Service before self, and excellence in all we do are the core values of the U.S. Air Force. However, these values go along with all components of the military. Anything that happens to us is just as much a learning experience for us as it is for civilians. When everything else fails, we don't," said Colbert.
They will still continue to fight for what they believe in, and protect this country as best as they can.
The Aggies of North Carolina A&T State University looked forward to beating the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at Saturday's homecoming football game. Unfortunately, the victory was taken from us with a final score of 31-13 in favor of the Wildcats.
The entire school was excited and ready for the win at the pep rally on Monday evening. The football team even guaranteed A&T the win with promising eyes and believing hearts. The game on Saturday came to be the Aggies sixth straight loss for homecoming. So what went wrong?
I spoke with Justin Ferrell, a sophomore defensive back starting player, majoring in business management. He felt that the game could have been won if it wasn't for the players and their lack of motivation.
"The coaches put us in position to win the game, but us as players failed to execute the game plan," said Ferrell.
1. How did you manage football and having fun this homecoming?
A: Having fun was not on my mind during the week of the game. I stayed focused and motivated because I wanted our team to be victorious. Then if by chance we would have won, we could have had all the fun we wanted.
2. What was your favorite memory?
A: Even though we lost, my favorite memory was seeing all the Aggie Pride displayed and support shown throughout the week..
3. What do you look forward to for next homecoming?
A: Next homecoming I look forward to us winning the game and sending our seniors out with a more defining moment.
4. How do you feel about the game overall?
A: We played horrible all game. There was no sense of urgency and it didn't seem as if anyone was motivated. The coaches put us in position to win the game, but us as players failed to execute the game plan.
5. What did you do when you weren't on the field?
A: When I wasn't on the field, in which I played majority of the game, I tried to keep my head up and stay motivated and continue to believe that we were going to win the game.
For most of the freshmen at North Carolina A&T State University, this will be their first ever Aggie Homecoming. They don't really know what to expect, but most are excited about the many festivities that the week will be filled with.
A&T raises the bar each year with the various events it hosts. Some of these events include the pep rally, the game against Bethune-Cookman University, the Divine Nine step show, and the comedy show.
I interviewed Patrick Malichi, a freshman graphic communications major from Bennettsville, S.C. This will not be the first homecoming he's attended, but it will be his first one as an Aggie.
"I know that this homecoming is the best homecoming ever!", said Malichi.
1. What have you heard about homecoming?
A: I've heard/know that this homecoming is the best homecoming ever! I've been a few times before. I've also heard that there were some problems with the concert but I still don't officially know the snags going on with that.
2. Were any of your family members Aggies?
A: Both of my parents as well as two of my adult cousins are Aggie Alumi.
3. What events do you plan to attend?
A: I went to the Gospel Show last night and I plan on attending the comedy show, pep rally, fashion show, step show, and concert. Of course I will be at the game!
4. What are you most excited about?
A: I am most excited about the step show and concert.
5. How will you balance getting work done and having fun?
A: To balance my work and fun I'm taking care of homework during the breaks in my day between classes and for a little while after the events depending on what time it's over. Some of my professors are being gracious and lightening the load a little for us.
6. What will you do at night?
A: At night I will be attending the events. I may go to clubs on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
North Carolina A&T State University is hosting the second annual Congo Week events in support of raising awareness and speaking out against the massacres and rapes of the Congolese people.
Starting on October 18, and going until October 24, Congo Week is designed to open students’ minds about the underpublicized crisis in the Congo. Lumo, a documentary about the hardships of recovery for a young woman in the Congo who was one of the lucky rape survivors, will be shown on Wednesday, October 21. The showing will be in the New Classroom Building auditorium at 7:30 p.m.
There will also be a Breaking the Silence Poetry Night on Thursday, October 22. This night will feature some of A&T’s own poetic rebels, Josephus Thompson III and Kahlil Almustafa. This event will be held in Stallings Ballroom, at 7:00 p.m.
Named by the United Nations as the deadliest conflict in the world since World War II, the War on the Congo has claimed almost 6 million lives since its start back in 1996. Women and children are being raped, mutilated, and killed on a daily basis. The mineral coltan, which is found in everything from cell phones to refrigerators, is the cause of exploitation of the Congolese people. This war is desperately calling out for media coverage, awareness, and worldwide support.
“The same forces exploiting people in the Congo are the same forces exploiting people here. In Europe where anywhere near 6 million people were killed, you saw planes flying to stop the Holocaust and Adolf Hitler. Six million black folks dying in Africa can’t even make it on CNN”, said Kambale Musavuli.
What most people don’t know is that Congo Week actually started at A&T last year.
“What you should note is that due to the advocacy of students at A&T, people worldwide today are speaking out about the Congo. We have 150 campuses worldwide in 32 countries participating in Congo Week. Congo Week started at A&T, and because of that I know things can happen. But still, there is more work that can be done”, said Musavuli, a senior
Musavuli also has a personal connection to the War in the Congo.
“Now me being a Congolese, knowing that my brothers and sisters are over there hurts, and actually I found out a month ago that one of my uncles was killed. Those are people I know; those are family member, teachers, and brothers. So for me its personal that’s why I make it my mission to tell every A&T student I meet about my country and share with them how they can help”, he said.
Most A&T students don’t believe that there is enough awareness on campus, or worldwide.
“No, I don’t feel there’s enough awareness. I feel there needs to be more. I think we focus too much on Americans. Instead of being just national citizens we need to be global citizens. I think we can be more aware as Americans and more aware as Aggies”, said Syene Jasmin, a senior Journalism and Mass Communications major.
Though it may seem there is no personal connection to the War in the Congo for most people, there are others who feel it is a part of who we are as a people.
“The struggle in the Congo is the same struggle here in the US. Truth be told, there is no example in the world where the value of lives of black people have been devalued like they have in the Congo. If you were outraged about the nooses hanging in New Orleans, then you should be outraged about the Congo. So speaking up about the conflict in the Congo is also speaking up about the value of your own life”, said Musavuli.
Sitting down at the front of the New Classroom Building auditorium, Verdell Russell, wearing a cocoa brown polo, medium wash jeans, and brown Nike sneakers, holds the microphone to his mouth and prepares to make his first cut. His back is facing the audience and he plays it cool though he has no idea how the crowd will react to what he is about to say.
All the males in the room are seated also, while the females are standing, waiting to see if the fit they description of what Russell likes in a woman. “If you have on, or have ever owned a pair of Sperry’s; please sit down,” Russell says. All the females wearing Sperry's, waterproof boating shoes, quietly take their seats while murmuring about the hostility behind the type of shoes they choose to wear.
As another series of cuts are made, only three women remain standing. These women have the chance to win a date with Russell, if he so chooses. As the women head from their seats towards the front of the room, Russell prepares his deciding question. “If I were sick, how would you take care of me?” is what will determine who the lucky lady is. The women take a few seconds to gather their thoughts, and after they give their answers, Russell chooses lady number 3. She slowly strides up to him, and as he turns around to face her, he laughs as he realizes that she is none other than his close friend, Nandy Lino.
“As a dater, it was an interesting experience. I was a little nervous before going up there but as I sat down and started with my questions, the nervousness wore off. I was real surprised when I found out the last person standing was actually a good friend of mine,” says Verdell Russell, a senior journalism and mass communications major from Brooklyn, N. Y.
The NY/NJ Connection, a hometown student organization boasting over 100 members, held an event called “Singled Out”, named after the once-popular MTV dating game show. Over 150 students gathered in the NCB auditorium on Thursday night as daters asked members of the opposite sex in the audience questions regarding what they looked for in an ideal date, all while joking and laughing.
Dating can be a hassle, and this event showed that even if you do go and find someone who meets all of your standards, they might end up being someone you never expected. Being open-minded, and giving people chances are the keys to finding dates that can amount to lasting relationships.
"NY/NJ wanted to get its name out there in a fun and entertaining way," says Russell. The group wanted to be able to give students a chance to interact in an enjoyable way without being in the classroom.
“Basically we just wanted something fun that would get NY/NJ out there and had Aggies meeting each other. It was free and we wanted everyone to have a good time, probably not get together, but laugh and have fun,” said Danielle Howell, senior journalism and mass communications major and president of NY/NJ Connection.
All of the responses to the event were positive.
“I would definitely go again, maybe even participate,” said Katrice Monroe, a sophomore accounting major from Goldsboro, N. C.
“It was mad live. For those who didn’t come, you missed out,” said Michele Delgado, a freshman member of the NY/NY Connection organization from Hartford, Conn.
NY/NJ Connection wanted the students to realize that their hometown organization was not only working to benefit the members, but all of the A&T student body. “Singled Out” was the first means by which they hope to gain favor with the students.
“NY/NJ is always looking for feedback so if anybody has any feedback please just let us know because we’re out here to make sure everybody has a good time. Not just people from NY, NJ, CT, or DE, but everybody. I hope that when we have something else they remember “Singled Out” and they decide to continue to follow us throughout the school year,” said Howell.
