Hampton U. alumni leader to give Founder’s Day address

By Keeli Howard           

Founder’s Day at Hampton University is an annual tradition amongst Hampton students and alumni alike.

On Sunday, Jan. 29 the annual Hampton University Founder’s Day ceremony will take place in Ogden Hall.

Joan McMillan Wickham, president of the National Hampton Alumni Association, will deliver this year’s keynote address.

As an educator and administrator for 34 years, Wickham’s achievements include the Daughters of Good Citizen Award, National appointee to the Education Foundation of Zeta Phi Beta, and Outstanding 20-year Alumnus Award.

“Joan Wickham is a passionate person,” said Yuri Milligan, director of University Relations, “and Hamptonian many times over.  She has a bachelor’s and two masters from Hampton and is now pursuing a Ph.D, and more importantly, she cares about the university and the students.”

Wickham has traveled around the country to teach academics and music. Her work has expanded her travels outside the country, educating third graders in Ludwigsburg, Germany.

Students around campus promise to eagerly attend Founder’s Day this year.

Sophomore Kevin Boston, a political science major from Chesapeake, Va. said, “I am attending Founder’s Day because I believe it is significant to know the bases of your school.”

Julian Carrington, a Business Management senior from Mclean, Va. said, “It’s important to know where our university comes from in the past and where we are going in the future, as a third-generation Hamptonian and a graduating senior, I’m moving on to bigger things and this ceremony is a great day to pay tribute to where I came from.”

Founder Gen. Samuel Chapman Armstrong will be acknowledged during Sunday’s commemorative wreath placing ceremony at his gravesite. 

Armstrong created a place for African-Americans to receive education and fundamentally to apply education to everyday lives to become well-rounded individuals.

“Armstrong would be exceedingly pleased of what Hampton University has become today,” Milligan said, “ he laid a great foundation in wanting to train teachers and classmen for the African-American community to go out and help others and teach others, and keep the tradition alive.”

This year, Founders Day will carry on the traditions that Hampton University continues to expound upon. From Armstrong to President William R. Harvey, this university strives to keep this home by the seas a standard of excellence.

The writer is a student at the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications

Antebellum-era president has 21st century grandkids

By Victoria Davis and Alexis Brown with Heather Robinson

John Tyler, who was the 10^th U.S. president in the 1840, has grandchildren alive today reported the Huffington Post Thursday. 

A Tyler son, Lyon Gardiner Tyler, born in 1853, fathered two children of his own, reported online site Sherwood Forest .  In 1924, Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr. was born; followed by Harrison Ruffin Tyler in 1928. Having fathered 15 children throughout the course of his life [1790-1862], Tyler has grandchildren living well into the 21^st century.

Put into perspective, Tyler was 63 years old when Lyon Gardiner Tyler was born in 1853. 

The next oldest president with a living grandchild is James Garfield, and he was president 40 years after Tyler.

Born and raised in Charles City County, Va,. Tyler graduated from the College of William and Mary, where he studied law.  After graduating, he worked for a law firm in Richmond.  

As a 21 year-old-man, Tyler earned a seat on the Virginia House of Delegates, which led to his position in the U.S. House of Representatives. Tyler’s political platform was based on the ideals and principles of a Southern planter, and his fight for a more equal America led to his resignation when President Andrew Jackson came into office. 

Tyler served as U.S. president from 1841 to 1845.

He was the first chief executive to ever marry while in office.

The writers are students at the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications

Fighting education injustice; a Hampton U. forum

By Imari Williams

To many parents, teachers, and students, education is a top priority and it is natural to be concerned about the educational system.

Hampton University hosted a town hall meeting to discuss the topic “Fighting Educational Injustice” on Jan. 25 in Hampton University’s Student Center Ballroom. The town hall meeting was sponsored by the Bernard Center for Women, Politics and Policy, and National School Choice Week, Jan. 22-28. National School Choice week presents an opportunity every January, to raise awareness for effective education options for all children. 

Students were eager to attend the discussion in hopes of hearing the solutions for inequality in education. Jakari Taylor, a junior broadcast journalism major said, “I think it is important because we have a 2012 election coming up and is also important because schools in lower-income communities don’t receive enough funds, which result in cutbacks and protest.”

Yuri Milligan, director of University Relations, said that school choice is a hot topic in the media and that all political issues right now will play a role in the 2012 election and education will definitely make a difference.

The discussion focused on finding the best educational environments for children and supporting a variety of school choice options – from encouraging increased access to public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, virtual schools, private schools, and homeschooling.

Alexa Jones, a freshman fine arts major, said the program was very interesting and raised several valid points about education, which are often overlooked.  

The event encouraged unity among educators, parents, and students to work together to try to improve the educational system.  

A panel discussion was moderated by MSNBC political analyst Michelle D. Bernard, CEO of the Bernard Center and member of Hampton’s board of trustees. The panelists were Derrell Bradford, from the Better Education for Kids, Inc.; Shawn McCollough, from the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence; and, Stephen A. Smith, host and Commentator for ESPN.

The Bernard Center for Women, Politics and Public Policy is a research and educational institution —a think tank—whose mission is to fundamentally change the terms of the nation’s most critical domestic, and foreign policy debates and challenge the American public, policymakers, and the media.

Milligan believes parents should make the best choice for their children—whether that be public, private, or homeschooling — because each child is unique and has different needs.

Tuskegee Airmen heroism recognized in Hampton Roads

By Da’Reinn M. Stevens

HAMPTON, Va. – More than 60 years after a group of courageous black men fought pivotal World War II battles, the story of the Tuskegee Airmen has hit the big screen, Hollywood style.

On Jan. 20, Cinebistro at the Peninsula Town Center along with the Tidewater chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen and NASA, all partnered for the premier of “Red Tails.” Many students, senior citizens, and military personal attended the event to support the members in attendance.

The ceremony began with the singing of the National Anthem by Retired Master Sgt. Ezra Hill, followed by brief introductions.

Hampton Roads is home to four of the original airmen – two, including Hill, were present.

After the opening ceremony, people filed into the theater to view the film before its official release in the afternoon. Everyone was ready to experience what those very men went through based on “Star Wars” director George Lucas’ Hollywood treatment.

The movie began with a 1925 U.S. Army War College study concluding blacks were “mentally inferior” to other American soldiers in wars. The quote took all viewers back to a time of segregation in the United States.

The year was 1944, the place was Italy and the enemies were the Nazis.

Throughout the film, you could hear the Tuskegee Airmen when Col. A.J. Bullard, played by actor Terrance Howard, would stand up to the brass in support of his men.

“The film was amazing because it displayed how hard Negro airmen had to fight through countless adversities just to be treated equally” said Sean Moore, a Hampton University aviation student.

Following the movie, Tidewater chapter President T.J. Spann hosted a question- and answer- session with Tuskegee Airmen Grant Williams and MSG Hill. Although neither man was a pilot – they served in support units – they still played important parts in the war.

“It was very hard for Americans to accept black pilots,” said Williams, “and that didn’t change until the war was over.” Williams also said the movie did a good job of showing the friendship and partnership among the men.

At the end of the session, the men let the audience know that there were 18 women who served as nurses during the war and are too part of the Tuskegee Airmen.

While the women weren’t depicted in the film, they still held a special place in the airmen’s hearts.

The writer is a student at the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications

A Hampton U. celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.

By Janiece Peterson

In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Hampton University put together a series of events to pay respect to him and his legacy.

The morning started off with a march throughout the campus and ended with a ceremony, which was sponsored by the Hampton University National Pan-Hellenic Council and campus Student Activities Office.

Nearly 200 students, professors, and Hampton locals came out to celebrate King’s Legacy. “This march is a way to commemorate all that Dr. King has done, not only for the African-American Community, but for the entire country,” said Eyden Thomas, Miss Hampton

During the march, individuals came together and held hands. They held up signs and sung the Negro National Anthem that was led by the Phi Mu Alpha fraternity.

“While marching, it gave me a feel of what it would have been like if I was there marching right beside Dr. King,” said Sedra Gibbs, a sophomore communicative sciences and disorders major.

The march ended at 11:30 a.m. The ceremony began shortly after at Ogden Hall. It included musical selections, poetry, and a guest speaker.

The guest speaker was Brandon Jones, a youth development director for Newport News Public Schools.

He spoke about four different aspects that individuals should incorporate into their everyday lives in order to honor King’s legacy: where find your passion, value time and experience, dream with action, and be a leader.

Jones said, “Dr. King believed in something bigger than himself. It is important that we do the same.”

As the ceremony came to a close, individuals were asked to stand and hold hands as they sung “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Through the events taken place at Hampton University, the 26^th anniversary of the Martin Luther King holiday, affects many individuals and their lives.

“Today is a day to recognize and honor the life of Dr. King and his legacy, as well as, his vision for this whole nation. We must all become the change that we want to see. If we are to go forward, we must first go back,” said Isaiah Stewart, a junior political science major.

The events held at Hampton reminded many of what King did.

Said retired veteran Coleman Dessaso Jr, “Today was a wonderful observance for a man that needs to be recognized for his sacrifices and desires for a better world.”

The writer is a student in the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications

Celebrating the legacy of King at Hampton U.

By Meagan P. Downing

Students, faculty, and members of the community gathered Monday on the grounds of Hampton University to commemorate the 26^th celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday. This annual celebration honors the life and legacy of the activist and leader. And it invokes individuals to further commit and better understand the necessity of serving their communities and fulfilling King’s dream.  

Participants began the day’s festivities by engaging in a march, which started at the historical landmark Emancipation Oak and culminated with a ceremony at Ogden Hall. 

The celebratory events were sponsored by the Hampton University Pan-Hellenic Council and the campus Student Activities Office. Students representing various organizations participated in the event. Members from the various student organizations displayed signs during the march.

Anzell Harrell, assistant director of student activities, said, “During this occasion, we will be recapturing the revolutionary memory and movement of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I hope that [the students] will understand the meaning of the struggle and fight of African-Americans to get to this point where we are.” 

The ceremony began with a prayer from Bresean Jenkins, the assistant chaplain, and greetings from Eyden Thomas, Miss Hampton University 2011-2012.   

Several students participated throughout the ceremony rendering musical selections and addressing the audience with expressions about King.

Junior Class President Isaiah Stewart challenged the audience to examine their character throughout the year to “produce the change they want to see.”

The keynote speaker was Brandon Jones, the Youth Development Director for Newport News Public Schools. He discussed the importance of being a leader and following Dr. King’s example of “believing in something bigger than you.”  

Bridgette Friend, a member of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple, described the ceremony as excellent: “It brought back a lot of memories.” Friend hopes the college students were inspired by the messages they heard.

Before leaving Odgen Hall, Rev. Dr. Jerome A. Barber told the audience to tell their neighbor “dreams still come true.” After sharing that message, the audience joined hands to sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

“I count it a privilege to be celebrating this holiday,” said freshman pre-pharmacy major Erin Coney. “In high school, I have always regarded this day, but it was just another day off. But this year I am at an HBCU and I consider it an honor to celebrate this day with other African- Americans 

The writer is a student in the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications

Civil rights icon Belafonte a tough critic of JFK, and now Obama

By Wayne Dawkins

 

During a town hall-style interview with Charlie Rose last week in New York, Harry Belafonte was on point in his criticisms of President Barack Obama.

 

Why don’t you [and Cornel West] cut me some slack? the president allegedly said to Belafonte.

The iconic entertainer/social activist answered, what made you think we didn’t?

 

Belafonte is a staunch, old soldier of the political left. He recalled when Martin Luther King Jr. was jailed days before the 1960 presidential election. Republican candidate Richard Nixon was a known commodity to the black community and then, about a third of black America identified as Republican. Jackie Robinson, our great hero then, was a Republican elder.

 

Democrat John F. Kennedy meanwhile was a wild card, but he offered to get King out of jail.

Belafonte told Rose that the Kennedy’s assumed there would be a quid pro quo, a King endorsement for the Kennedy family relief. MLK stayed neutral however and did not endose JFK. The Kennedy’s were peeved said Belafonte, but he praised King for sacrificing, staying principled and not cheapening a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.

 

Belafonte’s King anecdote connects to West’s and his critiques of Obama. Yes, the president has tough rows to hoe — a fragile but recovering economy, suffering citizens and hostile GOP opposition — but he cannot assume free rides from subdivided Black America, which has suffered disproportionately.

 

Yet Obama should get credit for this: When he ‘s hammered on the left, he does not lash out at progressive and leftist critics. So far he has sucked up the hits and stayed silent.

Time will tell if the president can stay that patient through 2012.

 

By the way, Happy New Year. I wish readers much success and happiness.

 

The writer is an assistant professor at the Scripps Howard School of JAC and a contributor to politicsincolor.com

 

http://www.charlierose.com/guest/view/2454                Harry Belafonte interview

http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/Civil-Rights-Movement.aspx           JFK and MLK

http://mypolitikal.com/2011/06/15/the-black-split-with-the-republican-party-from-ebonys-perspective/

Eat, play, work: Hampton U. students’ good life in Cannes

By Louis Washington

College students apply by the dozens every year for Creative Minds in Cannes program. The Cannes Film Festival in France is arguably the world’s most prominent film fest.

A number of Hampton University students have made the trip to participate in the festivities.

Three years ago Robert Ford, founder of the Creative Minds in Cannes program, visited Hampton University to speak with students as part of an event set up by Eleanor Earl, English professor and cinema studies program coordinator.

Last year, the Daily Press of Newport News-Hampton ran an article about the students from 2010 who traveled to participate in the Cannes Film fest. They included Jennifer Ibe, a 2011 graduate and print journalism major. Ibe found out about the program while she was in a fashion design class. Ford spoke to her class. She applied at the beginning of the semester and accepted by Thanksgiving. She was among 70 student worldwide chosen to participate in “Creative Minds in Cannes,” where she got to do hands-on film and public relations work at the festival.

“I worked with a PR company, Rogers & Cowan that is based out of L.A.,” said Ibe. “I helped do PR work for the film titled ‘Moomins in 3D.’ Some of my duties were to do media kits, attend press events, edit and wrote bios for some of the actors and I also handled the press for actress Helena Mattsson, who starred in ‘Iron Man 2.’”

Last summer, 12 Hampton U. students participated in Cannes, which was the highest number yet. There were 30 students from across the USA. They seemed to be in good company because there were also 3,959 companies in attendance. Each student was assigned to work with a company to work in a challenging public relations type of environment with the film company clients. Duties of the students in attendance included participating in workshops and film screenings.

Among the students to participate were Derek Garlington, senior broadcast journalism major, and Imani Carter, senior English major. They also had opportunities to plan parties, network and gain knowledge about the public relations aspect of the film industry.

“I interned with a company called the Film Stage,” said Carter, “They are an online company that produces movie reviews and interviews with actors/actresses and directors. While I was there I was able to write a movie review that was published on their site, and I transcribed interviews that were done with major actors and directors of some of the movies that were premiered.”

Garlington, who also worked with Rogers & Cowan as a returning intern, said he had one of the best summers of his life with the Creative Minds in Cannes program: “The experience was absolutely breathtaking. I felt like a real intern running around and delivering invitations for one of the biggest parties in Cannes. Organizing press releases, handling talent, making them feel comfortable, doing research and more running around.

“The best way I can explain it is I felt like a real useful intern.”

Garlington was there for two weeks but he received a taste of the good life and had a brush with a few celebrities and important people in the music and film industry.

“My biggest wow moment was getting invited to a party with Kanye [West] and Pharrell [Williams] on their yacht,” he said. “That moment was so surreal but the moment that topped it all off was having a drink with Miss America 2010. I didn’t realize it was her until halfway through our conversation. And she was so down to earth and cool.”

A trip to participate in the Cannes Film Festival is estimated to cost a student approximately $3,500. There were sponsorships and scholarships available for some students to obtain. The program did not discriminate against students based on their academic majors.

“The program offered me financial aid, but that was only $100 or so off the total price,” said Carter, “so I basically had to pay out of pocket, besides for a few people who gave me money in support of the cause.”

Although this program is not a typical full summer internship – normally six weeks or 150 work hours – the competitiveness and challenge of it should make a great resume booster for all those who participate.

The exciting summers that those adolescents experienced should certainly spark more interest for the program around the Hampton University campus as well as other colleges and universities.

“The program does not spoon feed you at all,” Carter said, “so you would have to go there knowing what you want to do, what you want to see, and who you want to talk to. I would definitely recommend the program to students who are into film and journalism and public relations.”

Every year the number of students who go increase. Next summer should be no different. This program is a great opportunity for students at Hampton to study abroad and gain experience in public relations and film and also boost their resumes.

Said Garlington,” Every day I’d find a new, cool location or event and think, I really didn’t even get to experience that to the fullest because there are so many things to do.

“My advice is do not sleep; it’s for the weak. You can sleep when you get home. I probably slept four hours on average and loved every single moment of it.”

The writer is a student at the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications

Skin game: Campus research institute is open and operating

By Alysia Sims                                                                                  

The Skin of Color Research Institute has been on the campus of Hampton University since August 2010.  For some students it is just a nice building on Tyler Street where people are rarely seen.  However, for the employees that work there, it is where they do daily research to improve and understand diseases that occur on the skins of people of color.

Two dermatologists, David McDaniel and Valerie Harvey, both professors at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, first suggested the idea of the Hampton University Skin of Color Research Institute (HUSCRI) to President William R. Harvey, reported Brandy Centolanza in thehealthjournal.com.

Centolanza reported that McDaniel and Harvey explained to President Harvey that black skin was very different for other than just the pigment.  They told him about the lack of knowledge and research regarding diseases and other issues that affect black people and other people with skin of color.

Walking into the Skin of Color Research Institute on any normal day, it may seem like no one works there.  The front lobby and the hallways were empty and it is extremely quiet.  Open any of the research room doors and the initial assumption is proven wrong.  About seven researchers are there for eight to 10 hours daily, working to come up with answers to skin disorders in people of color.

Valerie Harvey said, “There are not any new major developments.  We are still in the early stages of our research focusing on three main areas.”

The Skin of Color Research Institute uses its resources to develop therapies and identify disparities in diseases affecting people with skin of color, according to the HUSCRI website.  Their main focus is on three disorders:

• Keloids, benign growths that occur as a result of trauma or injury to the skin. They can occur in anyone, but they appear to affect individuals of African, Hispanic, and Asian descent.  They can occur from acne, burns, ear piercing, surgical cuts and traumatic wounds;
• Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA) a form of scarring alopecia, a scalp and hair loss disorder.  According to Lopresti et al. Skinandaging.com it was first noticed in African-Americans in the 1950s and was thought to be a result of reoccurring burning of the scalp through the petroleum in a person’s hair when using a hot comb from the stove. Later it was found that it affected men and women that did not use these styling techniques.  Now researchers believe that contributing factors to this alopecia may include styling techniques such as relaxers, tight braids, heavy extensions and certain oils;
• The third area they are researching is Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation, darkening of the skin that results after an underlying skin condition has healed or after injury to the skin has occurred.  Some skin conditions include eczema, acne, and psoriasis.   

Harvey enjoys what she does as a dermatologist.  She likes seeing patients and really likes the research aspect of it all.  She said, “I enjoy making discoveries that can help improve skin conditions.  I feel the research we are doing is positive and exciting, hopefully we come up with findings and answers for some skin disorders.”

The Skin of Color Research Institute also allows undergraduate and graduate students to get involved in the research.  Ivory Patterson, a senior chemistry major from Milwaukee, interned there this summer, and still does research there as credit hours for a class.

Patterson made the first move by going to the research institute to see if they offered internships.  She got a chance to interview and her participation took off after that.

 Patterson is treated like every other researcher in the building going through the normal steps of preparation and sterilization before working in the lab.  During her internship she shadowed researchers and sometimes did her own experiments.

Patterson did research on pigment disorders and worked with Hexatoxylin and eosin, a popular staining method scientists use to study skin and tissue cells.

Patterson says that getting a chance to research in the Skin of Color Research Institute is a rewarding experience.  She said the most rewarding part was getting a chance to go to the annual Skin Symposium that the Skin of Color Research Institute has been holding once a year since 2010. 

Said Patterson, “It was great being in the presence of and meeting world-renowned doctors, researchers and physicians.”

The writer is a student at the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications

Crime prevention at Hampton U. means guard the gadgets

By Alyssa E. Judd

Crime lurks behind every corner of the world.

To ensure the safety of students at universities and colleges, an act was created. The Jeanne Clery Act prevents people from believing prestigious, private universities are immune to crime.

Gated entrances, decal checks, and routine patrolling do not eliminate all problems. For the past three years at Hampton University, the number of aggravated assaults has almost doubled. Meanwhile, larceny decreased by 14 percent and burglary cases was down by 21 percent.

The number of on campus assaults increased from six to 11. The chance of being injured is high. Aggravated assaults are usually a shooting or stabbing, but any injury that breaks a person’s skin falls into the category.

“If I was to punch you in the nose and it broke it would be considered aggravated assault,” explained Sergeant Darrin Flythe of the campus police. “In court, it would be reduced to assault and battery.”

That was not the only bit of information the university sergeant was able to give. He released Hampton’s top three hotspots for larceny: The cafeteria, the student center, and Bemis Hall.

Bemis is the home of Hampton’s architecture majors. The students practically live in the building with the amount of projects they tackle, but now it’s apparent the one thing they do not do in Bemis is eat.

When architecture majors work on projects and get hungry they haven’t been known to shut down their computers and take them along on their food journey. Campus police said many students leave their laptops sitting in the building as they walk across campus to the cafeteria. When they come back to resume their work on their laptops, they are gone without a trace.

The largest crime numbers on campus are burglary and larceny. The 2010 data reported 36 burglary and 86 larceny cases. Burglary has decreased from 46 burglaries and 100 larcenies in 2008.

Both are similar in meaning, but are different in the way someone’s belongings are taken.

For example Burglary is when someone goes into another person’s dorm room and steals an iPhone. Larceny is the act of taking items permanently from a company or person without consent. It can be seen as someone leaving their iPhone on the table and walking away to talk with friends across the room; then another person comes up to take the iPhone.

Some students luck out and get their belongings back, but in most cases items never return. “I’ve seen people’s books stolen in the cafeteria,” said Daryell Walker, a junior. “People are careless and treat things worth a lot of money as if they bought it from the dollar store.”

“We call that a life lesson learned in the real world, because you left something out or left something, walked away from it, and someone else came behind and took it,” said Flythe the sergeant. “It’s also larceny, stealing property not belonging to you. It’s also something that person did to themselves and need to prevent.”

There have been cases where people were able to get their items back. One woman’s iTouch was stolen when she left her dorm room unlocked. Luckily, she registered it with the Academic Technology Mall [ATM] in Harvey Library. The tech workers were able to trace the Internet system down to two rooms.

For people who register their iTouch, iPad, iPhone with the ATM offers a tracking service in case of larceny or burglary.

The writer is a student at the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications