Students: HU professors did not stress civic virtue this election year

By Shemar Woods

Just a year ago, the first Tuesday in November created chaos around Hampton University’s campus.

For this year’s election, the buzz has fizzled out tremendously. Many students roam the campus unaware that Nov. 3 was Election Day.

“I didn’t even realize there was an election,” said Norbert Jones, a senior finance major from Long Island, N.Y. “People aren’t campaigning like they were last year to get the word out, which I think has had a significant impact.”

There has been a fair share of coverage during this year’s election campaign, but students from all over the country who attend HU share a common lack of interest.

Students say they “are not from Virginia,” or they “don’t know the candidates platform,” or “two years isn’t long enough to make a change.”

The low priority can be applied to Hampton University professors.

This year, no was little to no evidence of exemptions given to students who wanted to make a trip over to the polls to cast their poll, a complete reversal from 2008, when there was an unwritten rule that classes would be canceled on the Tuesday of the historical election.

“The teachers didn’t stress the importance of voting this year in classes,” said Edmund Dunn, a senior business major from Chicago.

The election teachers did not stress and students overlooked was between Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds. President Barack Obama came down to Hampton Roads last week to speak at Old Dominion University on behalf of Deeds, who eventually lost the election Tuesday night.

McDonnell’s big win was surprising yet easy. He collected 59 percent of the vote. The win also broke an eight-year streak, where Democrats had won the last two races for governor.

“I don’t see how his election will really affect us over the next two years,” said Jones. “Yes, the party in control has changed, but two years is not a very long term.”

The writer is a junior at Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications.

Hampton U. students vote, or not

By Kelli Esquilin

The Monday before Election Day should be normally buzzing with people wondering and asking, “Are you voting tomorrow?”

That was not the case with many Hampton students. When asked, “Are you voting tomorrow,” many students said “no.”

“Is that tomorrow?” asked George Johnson III, an Interdisciplinary Education major from Hampton. He said since he had not gone to any informational hearings about the candidates or sought out their platforms on his own, he would not be voting Tuesday.

“I don’t want to vote aimlessly,” said Johnson, “I am a Democrat, but I won’t vote for the candidate based on his political party alone.”

Another Virginia native, Eric Marshall II, a graduate physics major from Virginia Beach, said that he is voting Tuesday.

“As Americans we are given a right to vote from birth,” Marshall said. “If you are given the chance to vote on something where the outcome would directly affect you, you should be adamant about it.”

It seemed as if only the people who lived in the area cared about who was governing it and what the outcome of the vote might be. However, Hampton University has students from all over the United States, some of whom are registered to vote in the state of Virginia.

Robert Kearney IV, sociology major from Philadelphia, said that even though he is registered to vote in Virginia, he will not be voting Tuesday. “I only registered to vote in Virginia so that my presidential vote would count for this state,” Kearney explained.

“I’m not voting because I don’t live here, so I don’t want to vote to affect those who have to live with my choice.”

That’s the way many out-of-state Hampton students feel about voting in a state they don’t expect to be in for very long.

On the other hand, “if students don’t vote – in their home state or in Virginia – they should not have the right to complain,” said Marshall after being asked why he was voting.

The writer is a junior at Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications.

Off-year election cooled some HU students’ voter interest

By Stephanie M. Smith

Last November, Hampton University students joined thousands of other college students in flooding the polls to cast votes for now Barack Obama, who is now President.

As an HBCU, it was no surprise that students took full interest in playing a role in the election of the United States’ first African-American president. Even a number of nonresident students went as far as changing their residences to Virginia in order to cast Democratic votes in that state.

On Tuesday, the election for Virginia Governor will be held but many students fail to have the same interest and/or zeal that was shown last year in the presidential elections.

“No, I’m not a VA [Virginia] resident,” said Bryant Pagan, a Hampton University senior and resident of Maryland.

For many students like Pagan, not being a resident of Virginia was enough reason for them not to take interest in the elections regardless of temporarily being in the state because of school.

For other students, they still hold on to some interest in casting their vote and letting their voice be heard, but either have not made effort to be aware of the election or do not see a need to change their residence to vote in these elections.

“I didn’t vote last year and I’d like to vote this year, but I don’t really know the candidates and what they are about and plus I don’t have a ride to the polls,” said Devon Williams, a junior from Maryland. He does not plan on putting forth extra effort to find a ride to the polls, so this year Williams will just sit this election out.

“No, I did not vote [last year] because I’m not a resident of the state,” said Jamar Johnson, a junior, from Connecticut. “If I did vote [this year] I’d vote for Deeds even though I’m not a Republican.”

[Republican Bob McDonnell Tuesday night defeated Democrat Creigh Deeds by a 59-41 percent margin.]

Despite the wishy-washy interest in the elections by most students, many who are Virginia residents feel a strong need to vote.

“I intend on voting tomorrow because I’m grown and I need to take part in the happenings of my society,” said Stacy Culler, a junior from Hampton.

“And yes I voted last year.”

It is unlikely that the polls be crowded Tuesday with students, but some may take time to vote because of their concern for their adopted Hampton University community.

The elections Tuesday will be reserved for those who have a deeper interest in government rather than just seeking to elect the first black president.

The writer is a junior at Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications.

‘It’s finally my turn,’ says Hampton U. senior

By Chelsea Boone

Ever since she attended opening convocation her freshman year Tara Haskins has thought about the day that she would get to put on her cap and gown and march in, just as those students did. 

That day is drawing near.

On Sunday, Sept. 28, at Ogden Hall on the campus of Hampton University, the Class of 2010 seniors will take part in opening convocation. 

This is a Hampton tradition that allows the seniors to acknowledge their hard work that got them to the point they are at now, and to celebrate graduation that is now only months away.

Haskins described the anticipated day as bittersweet.

“Convocation means that I’m actually a senior and I’m about to leave Hampton University,” Haskins said.

Although opening convocation does mean the beginning of the end, Haskins has positive feelings about the upcoming ceremony.

“I’m excited. You look forward to opening convocation when you’re a freshman and you have to watch it. It’s finally my turn.”

Haskins said her years at Hampton have allowed her to grow as a person and build long lasting-friendships with people that she may not have met otherwise.

“I’ve made so many friends here. It’s going to be sad to leave them all.”

Haskins of Virginia Beach will be spending this occasion with family and friends who have supported her throughout her Hampton career.

“My mother, father, sister and brother are all coming to support me.  I’ll also be amongst my friends who I’ve known since freshman year, and some since high school. We’ve been through a lot together and now we’re graduating college together. I’ll be sitting with them; it will probably get emotional”

Haskins’ roommates and friends Rhonni Hill and Simone Martin will be at the ceremony as well.  Hill, like Haskins, is a senior at Hampton and will be a part of the ceremony. 

“I’m really excited,” said Hill. “Opening convocation means a lot. It means you’re almost at the finish line.  I’m just thankful that I get to share this experience with my closest friends, like Tara.”

Martin, a former Hamptonian who now attends Old Dominion University, will be there for the support of her two friends.

“I’m proud of Tara,” said Martin. “I’m kind of sad that I won’t be in the ceremony with her since we started at Hampton together, but I’ll be watching her and my other friends from the stands and taking pictures when it’s over.

With opening convocation being the beginning of the end for many students, Haskins has given serious thought to her life after Hampton.

“I haven’t completely decided what I’m going to do after graduation but I know I’m either doing the Teach for America program or going to graduate school to get my masters in urban education,” Haskins said.  “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher so now is my chance to finally be able to do that.  Plus, there is a great need for teachers all over the country and I can help fulfill that need.”

With the recognition that her days at Hampton are limited, Haskins is doing her best to treasure the remainder of her college days.

“I’m looking forward to the rest of the school year,” said Haskins.  “Senior year is supposed to be your best college year, and I want to cherish every bit of mine.”

ROTC changed Hampton U. senior’s social status

By Alyssa Alford      

“I’m ready to go.” Michael Turner said. “[The morning of Convocation] I’m going to wake up and eat Raisin Bran.”

Turner, who will be a participant in a milestone event on Sunday, had not picked up his required graduation cap and gown.

Turner, a print journalism major from Virginia Beach will be participating in Hampton University’s Opening Convocation. The event, held on Sunday Sept. 27 in Ogden Hall, inducts senior class students as the 2010 graduating class.          

Despite the lack of enthusiasm, Turner said he does appreciate his experience at school. It was an anticipated journey.

Turner chose Hampton University because of its importance to his life.

“My family has history here,” explained the graduating student. “My sister and parents graduated from here. My father taught here.”

The first year on Hampton University’s campus presented obstacles to Turner. He did not know what to expect at the university. In addition to his anxieties towards impressing his family and tackling a college curriculum, the freshman had to adjust to the social life different from high school.

“I didn’t enjoy my freshman year,” Turner said. “I feared not fitting in and enjoying myself.”

Initially, Turner he did not feel at home at his “Home by the Sea.” It was not until he enrolled in the campus Reserve Officers Training Core during his freshman year that he started to feel as though he belonged.

ROTC is a program that trains students for the military service while they are in school. After graduation, they must honor their commitment of serving in respected fields.

Both of Turner’s parents were ROTC cadets. Family legacy and the desire to find companionship drew the young scholar to enter the program’s Army division.

“I wanted to feel like part of something bigger, Turner said. “[ROTC] It’s like a frat without the title.”

Joining ROTC has drastically changed his social status and gave him confidence to pursue other students for friendship.

Tiffany Tompkins is one of Turner’s good friends and fellow ROTC Army member. Tompkins knows her favorite memory of her and her friend off the top of her head: When they took a trip together to the local McDonald’s.

“We stayed there for hours and talked about bodily functions and the birds and the bees,” the senior business major from Newport News recalled. This simple trip to a fast-food restaurant made plain that Turner had evolved into a self-assured young man who could bring entertainment to any situation.

Jessica Wilkins, a senior psychology major from Seoul, Korea, also met Turner through ROTC. For them, though, the road to friendship was bumpy and the duo often pushed each other off course.

“We didn’t see eye to eye when in uniform,” Wilkins said. “But he doesn’t hold that [against] you. He’s a good guy.” When asked about Turner as a student, she laughed and said, “ He is intelligent. But his punctuality is nowhere near his intelligence.”

Transitioning from being an unpopular freshman to a social butterfly preparing to graduate is one of the most important chapters in Turner’s life, almost more than the prospect of Convocation.

 “I feel a lot more comfortable,” he said. “I understand people [now]. I appreciate different lifestyles more than before.”

Sept. 27 is the official first day of acknowledgement that students are graduating seniors.

Leaving the university, Turner admitted that he will miss being in an environment that shows his fellow African-Americans succeeding and holding important positions in society.

But will Turner miss Hampton University?

“No,” he said, “I’m ready to go.”

 

Real reason why some HU student-athletes miss convocation

John Silvanus Wilson, executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, was the keynote speaker at Sunday’s 67th annual Opening Convocation. 

Former Hampton University football star Wakeem Goode won’t be at the Convocation Center to hear Wilson’s speech. 

“I didn’t even know (Opening Convocation) was this weekend,” said Goode, who spent his last year of athletic eligibility during the 2008 football season, but needed an extra year to finish his 144-hour health and physical education bachelor’s curriculum.

“The only thing I’m worried about,” he said, “is walking across the stage in May, when my mom comes down.”

Goode is an example of why many athletes do not attend Opening Convocation, either because they are unaware of the community-wide event or because there is just too much on their plate these days to add another appointment. 

But what about those professionals who leave the classroom for the pros before graduation year even arrive? Penn State transfer Chris Baker arrived at Hampton University the spring before the 2008 season and by spring 2009, he left school before his senior year to enter the NFL Draft.

“Attending Opening Convocation never really crossed my mind,” said Baker. 

Former football coach Jerry Holmes, who was unavailable for comment, told the Daily Press in January, “From my experience, I think he needed another year to develop,” ultimately allowing the Denver Bronco the opportunity to attend the official school year kick-off. 

For Goode, it is not that education took a backseat to the football program during the fifth-year senior’s tenure at Hampton University. Actually, his accomplishments on the field stole from his many highlights in the classroom. After Goode’s senior season, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference second team linebacker compiled a team-high 111 tackles and three sacks, while holding over a 3.0 GPA in his academics. 

“I was a student in the classroom, but I was also a student of the game,” Goode said. “During some semesters, I wasn’t taking as many credits in order to balance both (activities) and still be successful.”

Goode’s decision to skip Opening Convocation this Sunday draws back on his desire to finish school and move on to the next level, wherever that may be. Although the 2009 NFL Draft served as his class’ draft year, opportunities still exist with teams like the Atlanta Falcons and the Detroit Lions, thanks to his agents. If the NFL closes its’ doors, Goode considers joining the Canadian Football League (CFL). 

But, let’s say football doesn’t pan out into a career. The Cleveland native is in the midst of partnering his grassroots travel agency with another company in the next two months.

Goode, expected to graduate in May 2010, has plenty of options.

“Goode was one of the brightest players I’ve seen come through the program,” football coach Donovan Rose said. “He studies hard during film sessions and in the classroom.” 

Sure, keynoter Wilson will provide some encouraging words to those seniors looking to survive one last year in college. 

But it appears Goode doesn’t need to hear the speech. 

He has plenty of self-motivation.

Only 1 in 5 at Hampton Univ. registered for emergency text-message alerts, officials say

By KATHRYN De SHIELDS

A press conference was held in at 4 p.m. Sunday to address the multiple shooting that occurred that morning on Hampton University’s campus. Three men, including the shooter, a former student, were wounded at 1 a.m. at Harkness Hall, said Hampton Police.

President William R. Harvey spoke to the media in the football meeting room of Armstrong Stadium. The student body was invited to attend, but an overflow crowd could not accommodate the number of students who showed up. The overflow of students was directed into a different room in Armstrong Stadium where they would be briefed later.

Many students were upset that the HU administration didn’t hold the conference in a larger place where everyone would have room to attend.

“I knew it was going to happen,” said Kyle Winfield, a junior theatre major. “Logically, it would be better for this to be held in Convocation where there would be room for students to attend and ask questions.”

It was announced at 4:30 p.m. that Barbara Inman, vice president of student affairs, would address the students in the Student Center Theatre. Patricia Easley, a senior finance major, said

“I believe this (press conference) should have been held at a bigger venue. Students are scared, students are concerned, and students need to know what is going on.
“This school owes its students an honest explanation. There are too many conflicting stories and the explanation the school has given us is vague and generic. It isn’t comforting at all.”

Students were also concerned about the emergency notification system that was used to alert them about the shooting via text messages and e-mails.

Alexandria Willis, a senior communicative sciences and disorders major, said she was not notified at all about what was going on. “The Harbors [off-campus apartments] was full of police and nobody stopped me or my friend to tell us there was a shooting and not to go back to campus,” she said. “We walked right into it.”

Overflow crowd
As students crowded into the Student Center Theatre, every seat was taken. Chairs placed in the aisle ways were filled. Many people stood in any free space that was available. There was still not enough room for everyone.

While people waited for the Armstrong Stadium press conference to end, two students took the initiative and addressed the student body.

Easley and Jasmine Williams stood at the podium and asked the students to participate in a moment of silence for the victims of the shooting. Soon afterward, the conference was moved to the Student Center atrium.

Donell Woodson, a freshman computer science major, said that he couldn’t go back to his room in Harkness Hall after coming back to campus from a party.

“I didn’t know where I was going to stay or what I was going to do for myself. I was standing outside for three hours before someone was able to come on campus and get me.”

Inman and Harvey entered the student center at 5 p.m. to address the crowd. Inman went over the events of what occurred during the shooting and what measures were taken then opened the floor to questions.

Many questions dealt with the emergency notification system.

Inman said that less than 20 percent of the campus was signed up despite the administration urging students and faculty to do so. The text message and e-mail system was installed in response to the Virginia Tech campus massacre of April 2007.

However, those who did sign up stated that they did not receive text messages Sunday.
“I did not receive a text message at all even though I was signed up for it,” said Easley. Some students said that they did receive the text message three hours after the shooting occurred.

“We need to make sure we have the facts before we send out information,” Inman said in response to a question about the delay of the notifications. “We don’t want to send out false information.”

Inman stressed throughout the forum that the university will be “revisiting security procedures” and that people who haven’t signed up for the emergency notification system need to do so immediately.

Student suggestions
Students offered suggestions to HU faculty in attendance about how to improve security measures, and observations on the failings of the current measures in usage.
For example, broken ID-activated dormitory locks to the front doors, front gate police officers not taking down the proper information for drivers without decals, and rectifying evacuation and notification procedures were addressed.

Although Inman stressed that these measures were always in effect, many students disagreed that they were not.

“Listen to us,” said a male student to Inman. “You’re telling us that these things should be happening, but we’re telling you that they are not.”

Student suggestions were written down by attending administration officials.

Harvey stressed a need for unity on campus during the tragic time and that everything possible was being done to ensure student safety.

“It is not us against them,” said Harvey, “it is we in this together. We are a family.”
Another Hampton University forum is scheduled 5 p.m. Monday at Ogden Hall.

The writer is a junior at the Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications.

From Red to Blue

By JARED COUNCIL
In September 2007, when Moses Wilson III entered his junior year at Hampton University, he didn’t anticipate helping U.S Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., become America’s first African-American president-elect.
The then 20-year-old class president also didn’t foresee that his efforts in one of the most historically red states, Virginia, would be enough to turn it blue. The last time Virginia voted Democratic, Moses III wasn’t even an idea. His father, Moses II, was only 19.
Yet, as Obama won primary after primary, Wilson went from supporter to Students for Barack Obama state coordinator in a matter of months, helping lead the cause to mobilize voters in the traditionally red state.
This year, according to data from The New York Times, Virginia voted 52.7 percent blue—a 7.1-point change from 2004 when Democrat John Kerry received 45.5 percent of its popular vote. Only two of the nine “red-turned-blue” states won by Obama this year had a higher percentage change from last election.

Wilson credits the millions of volunteers, staff workers and supporters who worked and voted to help Obama win Virginia. But as SfBO state coordinator, several of his colleagues say he was at the helm of a ship that caused Virginia to change.

Stubborn Virginia
Although Virginia turned blue this year, it is still fundamentally red. Of its 134 counties, U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., won 86 of them (64 percent). In 31 of these, McCain won more than 60 percent of the popular vote.

But the Obama supporters weren’t absent on Nov. 4, and their presence rendered McCain’s numbers ineffective. Although Obama only won 48 counties, he won them by an average of 61 percent. (In Petersburg County, Obama won 89 percent of the votes.) McCain won his 86 counties by an average of only 58.3 percent, according to New York Times data.

Since it’s not about the counties won but about the total number of votes, Obama emerged victorious with more votes in fewer counties.

Moses’ Role
From July 2007 until 6:59:59 p.m. on Nov. 4, Wilson said he put 100 percent of what he could into the campaign. Early in the campaign, a majority of his work was outside of Virginia.

From November 2007 to last January, Wilson went to South Carolina some seven times to campaign for Obama. “He did a lot,” said Reynolds Graves, 20, a former Hampton student who went on a few of these trips. “He drove down there, organized rides, delegated duties, canvassed and just worked hard to help [Obama] win that state.”

Obama did win that state—and he did so at a critical time: U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., had just won two straight victories and was gaining momentum in the primary race.
Although the victory was commanding (Obama had 55 percent of the vote; Clinton had 27 percent, according to poll results), at first it seemed unlikely that a black person running for president would win in a state where the Confederate flag still waved.

It wasn’t a surprise to South Carolinians, however, many of whom made up their mind weeks before the primary. An Edison/Mitofsky/AP exit poll found that 68 percent of voters knew who they where going to vote for at least two weeks before the primary.

When Moses returned from spending his Christmas break in South Carolina, a job was waiting for him. Rashad Drakeford, then the Virginia state coordinator for SfBO, was promoted to deputy national field director and he wanted Wilson to fill the void. Wilson, formerly Hampton University coordinator, immediately took the position.

“I knew I wanted him [for the campaign],” said Drakeford, “and I didn’t consider anyone but him.”

As the new state coordinator of Virginia, Wilson was in charge of all (more than 30) high school and college chapters of SfBO, including schools such as the University of Virginia, the College of William & Mary and Old Dominion University. His tasks included communicating and delegating what the national campaign office wanted done; helping chapter leaders organize their offices; and getting campaign supplies to wherever they were needed.

On several occasions, Wilson even mediated disputes over power struggles within the organization; and Ed Reed, colleague and Hampton University coordinator of SfBO, said he was effective.

His high status didn’t exclude him from the tasks of the typical staff worker or volunteer. During the weekend leading up to the election, staff members at the Hampton campaign office recall him staying up past midnight entering data, creating packages and formulating what needed to be done in the upcoming days. On that Monday going into Election Day, past midnight for Wilson was 4 a.m.

Later that day at 6:30 p.m., Victoria McCullough, the regional director for the national Obama campaign, walked into the Hampton campaign office and said that of all the counties in Virginia, Hampton was not doing as well as it should have been. At that moment, Moses left the office and began doing a last minute “get-out-to-vote” effort up until the polls closed at 7 p.m.

Whether McCullough’s statement was true or not, Hampton voted 69.2 to 30.2 percent for Obama. With another 0.8 percentage points, Hampton would have been the eighth voting district to vote 70 percent or more for Obama. In 2004, Kerry had three voting districts that did so.

After the Victory
When Barack Obama was officially announced as the next president of the United States, Wilson recalled feeling a “historical high” and an “achievement high” simultaneously. “It was the best feeling of my life,” Wilson said. “It was the most natural high I’ll never get again.” He said it lasted for three days.

His friends said it lasted a week.

Wilson said he is now trying to make the transition back to the college life, most of which was put on the backburner during the campaign. “I have a different perspective of life,” said Wilson about his campaign experience. “Now I’m just trying to get back to being a student.”

The Obama transition team has not made contact with Wilson. No other offers have been made either, so Wilson intends to continue with his plans as usual. He is currently applying to law schools around the country. Wilson is fervent about a possibility of studying law in London.
“It was definitely an uphill battle,” said Reed, speaking of the effort to turn Virginia blue. “But Obama knew that a big [new-voter] turnout would favor him; and in many respects, Moses was a significant factor in mobilizing that turnout.”

The writer is a junior at Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications