Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

THE INTELLECTUALS |i Darian Nwankwo |i Senior/Computer Science Major 11 Decatur, GA L SR: What does it mean to be an intellectual? BDN: To be an intellectual means to always ft be questioning. It means to never take any- Hthing given as is, but to question, challenge Hand research for yourself. N SR: What things do you do to grow and chal- Hlenge your intellectual capabilities? p DN: I am an extremist—an all in or all out Nkind of person. I give my all to growing and ■ challenging my intellect. I always have a p journal and a book with me so that I can [iread and journal my thoughts and things I ■ learn. Also, at one point--for a period of nine I months--! would take a cold shower every ■day. I also have practiced 24-hour fasting I sometimes. These practices come from the I stoic philosophy of “intentional discomfort" land have helped me to maintain and chal lenge my intellectual growth. Additionally, I ■ try to exercise for one hour daily, because ■ exercise correlates with stimulating mental ■ capabilities. HSR: How have you overcome self-doubt re- fa garding your intellect? DN: I didn’t originally plan to attend college, jj I was going to enlist in the Marines, but my M father encouraged me to attend Morehouse. ■ While I have been at Morehouse, my profes- jjsors have helped me to overcome self-doubt Hby reassuring me of my intelligence. Profes sors like Dr. Cooper of the Mathematics de- apartment, Doctors Howard, Gosha, Dennis Hand Johnson of Computer Science and Dr. IkColes of the Leadership Center are just some ■of the many professors who have mentored I me and helped me along the way, Hi SR: What have you done to create balance ■ between academics and social activities? TDN: For a time, I was partying during school ■days and had to step back because I re- [italized that balance was missing. I began ire-prioritizing my time between academics *and social activities to make sure I placed a my studies first. pSR: What are your post-graduate aspira- Stions? 9 DN: I plan to go into a Ph.D program with ■ a focus on the advancement of science in ■ areas of artificial intelligence and research. pH want to teach at an R1 (highest research ■ activity) university and eventually return to fa teach at Morehouse College. Darius D. Johnson Senior/English Major Mobile, AL SR: What does it mean to be an intellectual? DJ: An intellectual is someone aware of what’s taking place around him or her. An intellectual is a problem solver, who recog nizes the issues around them, identifies the source of the issue and proposes solutions. SR: What things do you do to grow and chal lenge your intellectual capabilities? DJ: First, I interact with people of diverse backgrounds (religious, cultural, political) because it allows me to see how others think. Second, I read various texts, such as African-American literature or political non-fiction, and this enables me to see how others convey ideas differently and the writ ten critiques they offer on certain topics. Third, I place myself in spaces that make me uncomfortable and around people whom I do not know. In these spaces, I try to create simple dialogue, so I can learn from those I am speaking with. SR: How have you overcome self-doubt re garding your intellect? DJ: I use different methods. I speak with my friends about the doubt I am facing—like if I am intimidated by a specific class—and they will often hype me up, but they always keep it real. I also remind myself what got me to where I am. My whole life has been adversity, so if I got through the adversities in my past, I know I can overcome self doubt. SR: What have you done to create balance between academics and social activities? DJ: School always comes first; however, I don’t allow school to overrule everything. I allocate my time to put class work first—typ ically doing my class work in the morning or right after class—and when I am not doing class work, I am hanging out with friends, or participating in co-curriculars and extra-cur- riculars. SR: What are your post-graduate aspira tions? DJ: I plan to attend Fordham University School of Law in the fall and eventually become a federal judge. Although I cannot choose a concentration until my second year of law school, my interests include international human rights, litigation and prosecution. I desire to educate the Black community about the legal field, represent marginalized groups globally and make the law fairer for everyone. Derrick Parker Senior/Political Science Major Kansas City, MO SR: What does it mean to be an intellectual? DP: It means to constantly question the world around you and look for solutions to the problems you observe. SR: What things do you do to grow and chal lenge your intellectual capabilities? DP: I read often. I also talk to people who I admire and are more intelligent than me. I also place myself in uncomfortable envi ronments around those who think differently than I do. As well, I listen to a variety of speakers, and one of my favorite speakers is former president Barack Obama. SR: How have you overcome self-doubt re garding your intellect? DP: I reassure myself that I belong in the spaces I am in. Also, I remind myself that no matter where I come from, I can make a difference. SR: What have done to create balance be tween academics and social activities? DP: Balance is important. Elevation requires separation, so I create personal time for my self to reflect. I also hang with friends and my line brothers. Academically, identifying goals and the opportunities I have help to keep me focused. SR: What are your post-graduate aspira tions? (cont. page 46) DP: Attending Harvard Law School and mov ing back home to become involved in poli tics. Jordan Mulkey English Major Miami, FL SR: What does it mean to be an intellectual? JM: Having a critical disposition towards everything. It means ridding oneself of im maturity and the things society has told you to accept. Being an intellectual means the refusal and interrogation of everything. SR: What things do you do to grow and chal lenge your intellectual capabilities? JM: I read. One of the books I have read multiple times is “The Fire Next Time”—it is quietly chilling, prophetic and examines