Newspaper Page Text
WEEKLY OUTLOOK
Sep. 12 - 20,2007 j
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Voi. LXWII, Issi i 2
THE MARWON TIGER
Morehouse Coi.iiti:, Atlanta, GA
I’mi. Organ oi Student Expression Since 1925
Si i v n \im r 17 - IS. 2007
14-7 Maroon Tiger Victory
Morehouse
Mourns a Tragic
Loss
Micah Richardson
Contributing Writer
xad 10@yahoo. com
O n Sept. 7, 2007 friends and family
mourned the loss of Morehouse student
David Rodell Boyd II. Atlanta University
Center students, administrators, faculty and
guests entered King Chapel to recognize
and honor the life of Boyd.
As guests arrived to the service, a picture
of Boyd smiling was displayed upon a high
screen.
Boyd died in a tragic car accident on
Sunday, July 22, 2007. “While driving
his 1999 Suburban, his car hit a guardrail
just north of Fite Road in Memphis, TN,”
reported the Shelby County Deputies.
Friends and classmates paid tribute to
Boyd through song and oratory. Ashlei
William’s pure soprano voice filled the
comers of King Chapel with an amazingly
acapella rendition of “That’s What Friends
Are For.” Later, Brandon Myers solo “I
Won’t Complain” stirred the hearts of many
with his strong spiritual tone.
Sophomore Board of Trustee Adam
McFarland commented, “It is very crucial
that as a Morehouse community, we come
together and pay our respects to our brother.
I am very proud that my sophomore class
has a council that coordinated such a well-
planned and sincere service of love. It takes
a lot of heart.”
Indeed, the impact of David’s life on
his Morehouse community was greatly
expressed by speakers. Reverend Lee Norris,
Boyd’s former mathematics professor,
remembered David as “Very cosmopolitan,
charismatic, and a people person Yes,
David found the key to success.”
When David first walked into his Pre-
“Morehouse Mourns ” continued on page 2 ►
The Inside Track
News
Atlanta Dress Code Possibly in
the Works
New laws in Atlanta may redefine indecent
exposure. Debated on whether Atlanta
should pass a law to control the city’s
fashion awaits outcome. Maroon Tiger stafif
writer Cherise Lesesne tells the story.
Page 2
Features
Six feet deep: The “N-Word”
The “N-word” debate continues. This sum
mer the NAACP held a burial for the racial
epithet during their convention in Detroit.
Some contend that that burial was neces
sary, while others disagree. As of recent,
comedian Eddie Griffin was forced to end
a show after repeatedly the word. Join Ma
roon Tiger staff Lauren Harper and Michelle
D. Anderson for more.
Page 5
Opinions
Franklin's Makeover
Tired of having people tell you how to dress?
So is Donovan Ramsey as he discusses
President Franklin’s nigh-draconian rules
on sagging pants and the essence of personal
choice.
Page 6
News
Redemption from Fort Valley
Heartbreak
The Fighting Maroon Tiger Football team
began last week in limbo.This past Saturday
the journey brought Tiger-Town to Jackson,
TN to do battle with the Dragons of Lane
College. S.M. Ridley-Thomas reports.
Page 8
CONTENTS
News
News
Features
Opinions
Arts, Etc.
Sports
Jena Six: Events in Small Louisiana
Town Spark Widespread Racial Tensions
Matthew Landon J. Smith
Contributing Writer
msmith26(^students more house, edu
Chad Sanders
News Editor
Csander 1 @students. more house edu
T he small mining town of Jena,
Louisiana has gained national attention
as the case of six black youths charged with
second degree battery and conspiracy in the
alleged beating of a white student. Initially
the six youths were charged with second
degree attempted murder and conspiracy,
both of which carries a maximum sentence
of 30 years in prison.
The events began in September of
last year when a black student sat under
the “white tree” in the school yard of Jena
High School, generally a lounging area for
only white students. The next day three
nooses were found hanging from the tree.
After an investigation by the school, three
white students were found responsible
for the incident and the schools principle
recommended that the three white boys be
expelled.
The principle’s recommendation was
overturned by the school Superintendent
who punished the three students in question
with a three day, in-school suspension.
This sparked outrage in the black student
body and black community. The next day,
The hanging of a noose at
a small, Louisiana high
school and the ensuing
actions has spread racial
tensions like wildfire.
- -V A--
Imagh: i#ttp://tim esonline.typepad.com
members of the school’s football team held
a silent protest under the “white tree”.
Immediately, action was taken by the
school. The police and District Attorney
Reed Walters, were called. An assembly was
held and students were sent to the school’s
gymnasium-whites on one side and blacks
on the other. The DA gave a stem talk to
the students and informed them that school
officials wanted everyone to stay calm or
face major consequences.
“I can be your best friend or worst
enemy,” said Walters. His next few words,
although unintentionally, added fuel to the
fire. According to several black students in
“Jena Six” con tin, on page 4 ►
Morehouse receives $500,000 for Asian
and Middle Eastern Studies Program
Brandon E. Lawrence
Editor-in-Chief
Blawrence09 f a) / gmail. com
T he Morehouse College Department of
Modem Foreign Languages will have
to make room for another addition as the
department recently received a $500,000
grant to start an Asian and Middle Eastern
Studies Program.
The Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Program (AMES), with collaboration from
the Andrew Young Center for International
Affairs and the Department of Political
Science, will aim to strengthen students’
Chinese and Arabic-speaking capacity
“We have had students travel to
London, Equador, Spain, Africa,
and China, to name a few. Tltis
increase in students studying
abroad shows our students’ desires
to attend a global college,”
while enhancing their global competence,
critical thinking, and international
leadership development. “This program
really aligns itself with Dr. Franklin’s
vision for developing our students’ global
competence,” said Anthony Pinder,
Morehouse is now ecstatic to offer its Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Program
Imagi : N. Chase Gowens
Executive Director of the Andrew' Young
Center.
By participating in AMES, students
will be able to establish a Chinese Minor
at Morehouse College, which will require
a total of 18 credits, or six courses. The
Minor will emphasize active vocabulary
learning and the development of effective
Chinese language communication. The
program is projected to be ready for the
spring 2008 semester.
The global competence of Morehouse
College students has recently spiked with
Controversy at
King Chapel
Kevin Mallory
Contributing Writer
kmall89@yahoo com
C 4 Tesus can’t save you.” Students stormed
J out of King Chapel in flocks in shock
and disbelief on Sunday, September 2, in
reaction to these stirring words.
Many students flooded the halls of the
Chapel outraged by Dr. Charles S. Finch
III, M.D., former Director of International
Programs at the Morehouse School of
Medicine, and his edgy sermon. The sermon
initially discussed Africa and its culture
and the belief that pain and suffering were
the keys to learning. Ancient Egyptians,
explained Dr. Finch, who were some of
the most intelligent Africans, instructed the
Greeks in mathematics and astronomy, a fact
often neglected by history. According to Dr.
Finch, blacks, today, could not imagine the
pain and suffering of our ancestors as they
were shipped over the Atlantic.
Dr. Finch also spoke of women with
paper bags placed over their heads and
inbreeding as women and sons laid with one
another, a situation that coined the phrase
mother p****. After these statements, Dr.
Finch was quoted as saying, “Yes, I am
trying to shock you; I am trying to shock the
hell out of you.” After that statement, people
proceeded to exit King Chapel. The ensuing
remarks warranted even greater exodus as
Dr. Finch expressed to the crowd that Jesus
could not save and that only an individual
can provide his or her own salvation and
liberation and thus, must save themselves.
Spelman College students voiced
their opinions on the service on a basis of
anonymity. “I felt that the guest speaker was
teaching and not preaching. His statements
were inappropriate for a church service and
had no biblical relevance.”
Other students shared their opinons
on the sensitive subject under the same
anonymous backing. “As a Christian
woman I feel as though first of all this is
a non-denominational religious facility; I
truly believe that his comments on Jesus
were inappropriate towards Christianity,
which to me, represents a culture and
religion. ‘Jesus cannot save you; only man
can save himself and liberate himself.’ That
was the statement in which I had to walk
out due to the fact that this [statement]
utterly disrespected my religious beliefs,”
the students continued. “With this I guess
“Controversy in ChapeI ” continued on page 4 ►
fit 4
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over 150 students studying abroad during
the 2006-2007 school year, including this
past summer. Morehouse averaged 100
student participants prior. “We have had
students travel to London, Equador, Spain,
Africa, and China, to name a few,” Pinder
stated. “This increase in students studying
abroad shows our students’ desires to attend
a global college,” the Director added.
The increase also shows the necessity
and early effectiveness of the Andrew Young
Center for International Affairs, which has
"Morehouse Studies Program ” continued on page 4 ►
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