Newspaper Page Text
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Dorm Life
Proves to
be a
Challenge
Amiri Lampley- 7
Staff Writer
Simply speaking, everyone
knows that computers are extremely im
portant to have in college. With emails,
papers, online computer class soft
ware, and much more, both social and
academic aspects of our lives are inter
twined in “cyberspace”. What would we
do without our precious internet? The
thought is quite frightening. Life without
the internet almost sounds impossible
to many, but for several students, it is
a reality. One Georgia State University
student was one of those students in col
lege without a computer. She expressed
in an interview about how inconvenient
it was. The more she spoke about the
specific struggles of not having a com
puter, the more it became apparent that
it is almost impossible to function effec
tively without one in college. She in fact
failed a class that she enjoyed quite a bit
mainly because of all the missed emails,
online course notifications, and assign
ment changes that were updated on a
weekly, and sometimes daily basis. Al
though there are computer resources for
many college students to use, they are
often limited because of how physically
distant they may be from our homes.
Another student at Spelman
expressed her fretful experience when
the charger for her computer broke and
she had no computer for two weeks. She
said in an interview, “I never knew how
much I depended on my computer. I
could barely go one day without it, let
alone two weeks.” She expressed how tir
ing it was to wake up early, get dressed,
and go to the computer lab just to check
her email and the class websites. Many
of the teachers post things online via
WebCT and the course management
site, MylTLab, rather frequently. There is
an assumption that everyone has con
stant access to computers with internet.
Other than the mere lack of access to the
internet, there are also compatibility is
sues with several Mac users and some of
the online course management software
such as MylTLab.
We are evidently in a riff be
tween total dependency on technol
ogy and maintaining the traditional
classroom setting. Despite all the issues
that come with the dependencies on
internetandcomputers, many Spelman
students concluded that a few practices
that may help cushion this transition for
those who lack full computer-internet
access. For one, sometimes using paper
is not so bad. Handouts are great ways of
assuring that assignments are kept in the
minds of students as they flip through
their notebooks and see hard copies of
assignments and instructions. Announc
ing definite assignments in class or the
use of a final paper syllabus, without
continuous tweaks online could definite
ly benefit the student who does not have
full computer access. This is not to say
that computer dependency is completely
wrong. The reality is that for whatever
circumstances, whether it is financial
obligations or computer dysfunctions,
not every student has complete access to
a computer with internet. Soon, we may
have campus rental computers or even
a T.V. channel that allows us to access
classroom information with a few button
presses on the remote. However, now it
may just help to sacrifice a few trees for
the sake of the students.
Braxton Family Values
Traci Braxton:
Third sister to the Braxton clan, talented
songwriter and singer Traci is always looking to
help others. She is constantly working on new
projects and opportunities for others. She has
contributed most of her adult life to social work
for children with disabilities. She decided to start
her family young so now she searches for her
rightful place in the entertainment industry. This
season we follow Traci’s life as she currently lives
in Maryland with her husband, Kevin and her
son, Kevin Jr. she hopes to one day make it back
on stage. Intrigued by her interactions with her
sisters and her family ,the audience rates her as
the most relaxed out of the sisters.
Tony Braxton:
Born October 7th Toni Braxton the old
est of the Braxton sisters, is considered one of the ;
most successful. Toni spent much of her child
hood with her sisters watching Soul Train and
listening to music. Inspired by Stevie Wonder
and Chaka Khan she soon discovered her singing j
talents as a member of the church choir.
With 6 Grammy’s under her belt and selling over
60 million albums and singles, she is quite ex
periences in the album. Toni has starred in two
“Disney” Broadway hit shows, “Beauty and the
Beast” and “Aida.”
In the show we are introduced to her
life as she manages to continue her music ca
reer, mothering two beautiful boys as well as the
spokesperson for “Autism Speaks.”
Evelyn Braxton:
Evelyn Braxton is the mother of all of the
sisters. Evelyn soon became a full-time mother,
pastor, and the children’s singing coach. She took
great pride in her talented children; each Sunday
she along with her children would sing in the
“family” church choir. Unknowingly she soon
became manager to her daughters, who decided
to further their singing career. This season we
will follow Evelyn as she works to improve her
organization “God Can Heal the Heart,” which is
a self-empowering mentorship that helps encour- i
age, motivate and support other men and women I
who have been through personal trauma.
Evelyn also has 11 grandchildren, who she!
adores and enjoys spending time with.
" and Spelman
Tristin Travis
Staff Writer
Towanda Braxton:
Also a part of “The Braxtons” Towan
da Braxton is the fourth Braxton sister. Once
an aspiring actress,Towanda studied music
education at Bowie State University as a
proud a member of Zeta Phi Beta.
Towanda played the role as Lorelle in the off
Broadway play “Dreamgirls.” But soon de
cided to follow her other passion for singing.
In the show we are able to see her journey as
an aspiring Actress and hopeful writer, as she
also works closely with her sister Toni Braxton
in her business affairs and singing background.
Trina Braxton:
Trina Braxton, 5th child to her mother
Evelyn also featured in the series is a talented
singer and Actress. Known for her role in Tyler
Perry’s play “Meet the Browns”. Rina started
singing as a pre- teen with her sisters in their
group “The Braxtons”.She soon discovered a
love for songwriting and modeling. Today she
resides in Suwanee Georgia with her husband
(Gabe) and two sons Caleb(13) and Eric(17).
In the mist of the show we see Trina juggling
her busy schedule as a mother, wife, and online
college student with her career as singer and
inspiring actress. Now that Trina’s children are
grown-up she enjoys her “me time” partaking in
the nightlife scene.
We learn to admire Trina as we watch
her journey of reaching her ultimate goals of
finding success in her marriage and family rela
tionships, to be a great parent and to be content
with her career.
Tamar Braxton:
Tamar, the youngest sister is quite
outspoken and passionate for the spotlight.
Tamar started singing background for her
sister, Toni, at age 11. She was also a member
of the sisters’ group, “The Braxtons.”
As early as 3 years old Tamar knew
that she wanted to be center stage; this de
veloped into a need to be a super-star singer
in her own right. Tamar is determined not to
live in her big sister and husband’s shadow.
She strives to make a mark as a stand-alone
artist and independent woman.
Despite the portrayal of her singing
career on the show, Tamar did indeed re
lease a solo album in 2000 via Dream works
Records. It was commercially unsuccessful,
however.
Last Wednesday Cast from Braxton Family
Values visited Spelman College for a view
ing of their premiere of their new season
of “Braxton Family Values. Tamar, Trina,
Towanda, and Traci made there way to Upper
Manley during homecoming week to answer
questions and speak on the episode. The show
features the fashionable, flamboyant Braxton
Sisters living their lives in Atlanta, and Los
Angeles. The show follows the sisters through
their lives as they face different obstacles
within and out of their immediate family.
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