Nubian Message

National statistics suggest that 490 NC State women could be a victim of rape or attempted rape each academic school year. Alarming statistics like this one are the momentum behind organizations like The Movement. Many students haven’t been formally introduced to this new organization run in conjunction with the Women’s Center. During the spring of 2008, program advisor, Juliette Grimmett, began the course that serves as a pre-requisite for The Movement and is the foundation for training the members of this influential organization. Juliette Grimmett has been with the Women’s Center since the spring of 2007 and is the visionary behind organization. It consists of students from a variety of backgrounds, and ages and is both male and female. Since her arrival, the Women’s Center has seen a tremendous increase in the number of reported rape and assault cases from nine in a school year on average to about 70 reports.

The Minority Association of Premedical Students (MAPS), Mi Familia, and Lambda Pi Chi Sorority Inc. provided an opportunity for students to learn about ways to prevent HIV for National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) last Wednesday in Witherspoon Student Center. The event offered on-site HIV testing as well as a wealth of educational information about HIV transmission, prevention and testing.

On October 3 at 7 p.m. , doors opened at Reynolds coliseum for the pack howl pep rally and concert featuring the NCSU cheerleaders, Fusion, NCSU Dance Team, NCSU Band, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the hype N.E.R.D, and the cool, collected lyricist from Chicago, Common. This was a very entertaining and fun event from beginning to end! All of the performances from our school sports teams and organizations served to pump up the audience before the headliners rocked the stage. The Cheerleaders gave an amazing performance full of stunts, chants, and amazing tumbling that really brought on the cheers from the crowd. The Dance team and The Band also joined the cheerleaders on the coliseum floor to add more volume to the excitement. Fusion blazed the floor with their very enticing dance performance and intricate dance moves that added extra flame to the cheers that roared through the coliseum.

Women Empowering Society Together (W.E.S.T.), 100 Black Men of America, Helping Youth Prepare to Excel (H.Y.P.E.), and Alpha Nu Omega, Inc. hosted an event titled “Black in America,” in Fox Hall.The program focused on analyzing the progression of African Americans in society and the problems facing young black people, specifically students. The program began with a showing of one of the segments from CNN’s well-known series, “Black in America,” a documentary by journalist Soledad O’Brien. The piece focused on African American students and told the struggles they face in the public school system. Statistical studies show that of the 25 percent of American students who drop out of high school yearly, 50 percent of them are African American. The documentary explored this issue and told the stories of some of those who are striving to fulfill their dreams and overcoming the everyday battles they face due to their race and economic conditions.

One in four. That is the number of Americans who hold a four year college degree from an accredited university. Even with the seeming plurality of educational institutions in the United States, about twenty eight percent of Americans have a bachelor’s degree or higher, the rate is lower for African Americans, with eighteen percent of African Americans adults over 25 having a bachelor’s degree or higher.

On October 10th, a movie known as, “The Express”, will bring new information to the light that most have never known. “Who is the first African-American Heisman Trophy winner?” The answer to this question is Ernie Davis from Syracuse University. Numerous men have won this honor, and many will for many years to come. In order to know why such honor is placed on Davis, you must know the Heisman Trophy history itself.

In recent months Americans have had to endure inflation of prices in the cost of food, a slumping housing market, and a severe price gauging from the gas pump. Everyone has been affected, but news articles and broadcasts would later reveal, students have been greatly affected by this increase, especially those living off campus and commuting back and forth to their classes. This doesn’t just include students that desire to live off campus but even the middle aged students who either returned to school after the start of their families or those wishing to complete their degree after financial hardship or earning valuable work experience. In any case, these gas prices have taken extra money from the pockets of students and put it into the gas tank instead.

Last Wednesday marked the launch for Hispanic Heritage month, with an art exhibit in the African American Cultural Center featuring guest, José Galvez, a Publisher Prize winner for his amazing photography of the Latino experience within the U.S. Each year, the Latino organizations host a multitude of programs throughout the month to showcase their culture through song, dance, food and other cultural elements, as they continue to evolve within the NC State community.