Newspaper Page Text
www.themaroontiger.com
November 10 - 16,2010
NEWS
Iconic Poet Nikki Giovanni Speaks to
Morehouse Community About New Book
Noted poet Nikki Giovanni visited Morehouse on November 4th to
sign autographs and read excerpts of her work.
THE MAROON TIGER
Nkttlas Ati* ’12
Editor-in-Chief
nickbaziz@yahoo.com
MANAGEMENT
GettxNft 'll
Managing Editor
gerren.gaynor@gmail.com
k«fe<rV TaV’kvr tt "12
Chief Layout Editor
jefferydtaylo r@gm ail.com
femingtosi Jadfcsw* '12
Photography Editor
c. remington.j@gmail.com
Tfemnoe GampfeHl '1 1
Chief Copy Editor
tlcampbell89@gmail.com
Victoria Plummer SC ' 11
Associate Copy Editor
vplummer@spelman. edu
EDITORS
Kevin Maltery '11
Campus News Editor
foil Dantete It '12
World & Local Editor
Dannieka Wiggins SC T3
Associate World & Local Editor
Sescily Coney SC T 1
Business & Tech Editor
R^naWl Williams '12
Associate Bussiness & Tech Editor
Elizabeth Sawyer SC T 1
Features Editor
Sierra Stokes SC T 3
Associate Features Editor
fWvdl Andmeo '13
Opinions Editor
Karen Bullock SC ’11
Associate Opinions Editor
%@neer Greene 'll
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Taxtar Williams '12
Associate A&E Editor
leiwdan Shepard '12
Sports Editor
Otnartte Wttfara IV '12
Associate Sports Editor
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Spence* QreeneT l
Public Relations Director
sgreene.sawy@gmail.com
MULTIMEDIA
OTtowe* Huff Rwone '12
Webmaster
okoyeahb@gmail.com
Cart Ringgold '11
New Media Director
carl, ringgold@gmail.com
Kenkv Hargett '12
Tiger TV Producer
kenleyhargett@gmail.com
Sierra Stokes
Associate Features Editor
semai I Npel man,
edu
L egendary poet Nikki
Giovanni visited the
Ray Charles Performance
Arts Center on Morehouse’s
campus last Thursday to
discuss her new book “100
Best African-American Po
ems.” The book is an an
thology of over 200 poems
by Black writers.
During the event Giovan
ni, who currently serves as
a professor of creative writ
ing at Virginia Tech Uni
versity, broached the top
ics of hip-hop and politics.
Giovanni was very candid
in her comments, but Spel-
man sophomore Brianna
Holland was appreciative of
Giovanni’s candor.
“Nikki Giovanni has an
attitude that is about always
keeping it real,” Holland
said. “She says however she
feels, no matter the audi
ence and/or location and 1
admire that honesty.”
One of the more provoca
tive comments involved the
late rappers, Tupac Shakur
and The Notorious B.I.G.
In her statement, Giovanni
claimed that the rappers
were not killed in a feud,
but rather, by the federal
government in an attempt to
create turmoil in the Black
community.
In keeping with the theme
of hip-hop, the award win
ning poet stated her belief
that hip-hop is indeed po
etry. “While some people
may not think of hip-hop as
poetry, it fits the definition
because it uses cadence and
creativity to capture the hu
man experience,” Giovanni
said.
Giovanni, a graduate of
Fisk University and mother
of Thomas Watson Giovan
ni, a Morehouse alumnus,
also spoke about President
Barack Obama and her dis
appointment with his lack
of pro-activity. She felt that
legislative bills should have
been passed while the gov
ernment was in his favor
and that the health care bill
was not fair.
“If the health care bill is
going to allow Viagra for
men, then why does is not
allow abortions for women,
which is what that Viagra
is causing the need for?”
Giovanni asked.
Giovanni also critiqued
the United States’ foreign
policy, reminding the audi
ence of the country’s xeno
phobic behaviors.
“The Ku-Klux-Klan is
what 1 call terrorist,”
Giovanni explained.
“America cannot be upset
when a foreign country de
cides to bomb us every now
and then... they are just
getting us for what we do to
them.”
Giovanni opened up about
the inspiration for some of
her books, including “Bi
cycles: Love Poems.” The
book was written while her
mother was dying. She did
not want her mother to see
her sadness, so she decided
to write love poems to lift
her spirit and better her
mood. It was after writing
these poems that Giovanni
began to exercise, updated
her wardrobe, and gained an
overall better outlook on
life.
“Love is like a bicycle, it
requires trust and balance.”
Brandon Thomas, a soph
omore at Morehouse en
joyed the event and felt that
Giovanni’s presentation en
couraged him to think.
“Nikki Giovanni spoke
true words during the
event,” Thomas said. "I
feel her perception on some
issues enlightened me and
made me really think about
the world I am living in.”
Students
petition for
OBAMA at
graduation
4 continued from front page
President Obama and the class
of 2011, and he thinks that an
address from Obama would
do wonders for the graduates’
psyche.
“Obama should speak at
graduation because his election
year was the first time that most
of the class of 2011 could vote,”
Stephens said. “His election
speaks to the power of young
people, particularly Blacks, in
making a change.
“I feel that a speech from
Obama would encourage More
house Men to achieve their
dreams despite racial barriers
and other obstacles.”
Ringgold, a native of Balti
more, hopes that all students, es
pecially juniors and seniors, par
ticipate in the effort. He believes
that there is power in numbers
and that the Morehouse student
must be united for this cam
paign to be successful.
“This is not something that I
am trying to do on my own,”
Ringgold explained. “What is
really going to make it or break
it is if people get on board. An
idea is nothing if you do not
have people who believe in it
and want to see it through.
“The more people who coop
erate. the better chance we have.
I don't want President Obama to
come just for me; I want him to
come for Morehouse.”
Has Chivers Lane Dining Hall Fallen
Asunder? An Investigative Series
ADVISER
Ron Thomas
A Morehouse student is served by a worker in Chivers/Lane Dining Hall. The hall commonly known
as ‘The Caf has fallen under heavy scrutiny in recent times, but has made many new changes to
improve its ratings.
Spencer Greene
Public Relations Director
.com
A fter countless student complaints
and concerns, Chivers Lane caf
eteria has been taking steps to improv
ing its customer service. But there are
still concerns from students who feel
immediate, yet simple measures could
be taken.
“In addition to what Dr. Franklin
has proposed, we have monthly meet
ings with our employees [where we]
discuss everything from safety, cus
tomer service, [and] food handling;
we take what Dr. Franklin is doing
and apply it to our staff.” Pierson is
referring to Franklin bringing the
Ritz-Carlton hotel chain to help im
prove customer service at Morehouse.
“I appreciate the strides the manage
ment is doing to be creative but some
times a simple, well-prepared classic
meal works better than something ex
perimental,” said junior Lance Dixon.
Like most students, Dixon sees the
progress of the management, but feels
better tools to creating a pleasant din
ing experience are being looked over.
Many students complain about the
inconsistencies of food stations. Ac
cording to reports from students, some
food services are consistently better
than others, while others struggle with
issues such as running out of food ear
lier than expected.
“The breakfast main food line is
usually consistent and I wish lunch
and dinner could follow that trend,”
said Dixon.
Other students feel the main prob
lem is the attitude of the workers. One
student expressed
some of the servers
are rude while serv
ing. He believes the
improvements in cus
tomer service have
been very slight.
A Sodexo worker
shared her views, say
ing that the service
toward students might
change if the manage
ment treated the work
ers better. Early in the
semester, talks of a
strike among Sodexo
workers filled the air.
Students were un
aware of the strife be
tween the workers and
management and how
it affected the service
students received.
The biggest con
cern for students with
the cafeteria is the
system in which cards
are swiped. Numer
ous students try to
sneak into Chivers
because they do not
have or can’t afford a meal plan. One
student explained how he gave his
card to a friend who hadn’t eaten all
day and had no money for a meal. The
student wasn’t using his credit for that
day, but was shocked when he was
sent to student conduct for “theft.” He
explained that the worker at the front
entrance of the cafeteria was rude
and uncompassionate for his friend’s
situation. He didn’t understand how it
was theft if the meal was pre-paid for.
“It is Morehouse policy that stu
dents are not allowed to transfer their
meal plans to another student,” said
Pierson. “The meal plan, as it’s stated
at Morehouse, and pretty much ev
ery college in the country, your meal
plans are non-transferrable.”
According to Pierson, the person
who is registered must be the only
person eating from that meal plan. He
compares Chivers to restaurants such
as Golden Corral, where you can en
joy an all-you-can-eat meal, but can’t
take food out.
“By taking food out, you're going
around the system because you have
students who don't have a meal plan.”
The Chivers Lane staff has made
many additions to the structure of the
cafeteria, including suggestion boxes
that allow students to give their input
on what can be improved. Students
are encouraged to voice their opinion
so that Chivers can correct its flaws
and give students a better overall din
ing experience.
Recycle The Maroon Tiger