Spring 2010 The Official Newsletter of Hampton University Volume 16 Issue 2 Word of Honor Honors College Great Debate By Lyndsey Brightful On April 2, 2010, Erin Lawler, was a very re­ Shavia Westmoreland, Willie warding experi­ Wilson and Lyndsey Brightful ence. During the traveled to New Haven, Con­ stay, the stu­ necticut to participate in the dents enjoyed Second Annual Great Debate at the Yale cam­ Yale University. pus, meeting Hampton University de­ Nate Parker, and bated Columbia University on socializing with two issues, the first resolve was other students the U.S. government should from Yale Uni­ place a cap of 36% on interest versity, Colum­ From left to right: Willie Wilson, Shavia Westmoreland, charged by Payday Lenders and bia University, Erin Lawler, Lyndsey Brightful other financial institutions and and Howard the second resolve was the U.S. University. “The hospitality opportunity to compete and those Government should create jobs of the Yale students and the who traveled with the team for to enhance the economy. Connecticut NAACP was their overwhelming support. The four Honors Col­ amazing,” says Lyndsey. The lege debaters all agreed that it team thanks Dr. Davy for the

W.E.B. Du Bois Conference Mr. and Ms. Honors College By Brittany Adams Requirements The Honors College Student Association The 2010 W.E.B. Du Bois Conference opened Manual, under Article IV Section 3, states “Mr. and up with over 200 people in attendance. The theme for Ms. Honors College shall be selected each year in a this year’s event was " American Legacy: Building a manner proposed by the Board and approved by the Bridge to Success." Once the students arrived we had body.” them construct a bridge for an ice breaker and a con­ test. The students were so creative with their models This year in order to run for Mr. or Ms. that the judging was quit difficult. Honors College, the applicants had to submit a pro­ Throughout the day, the students attended posal of a program or project that Honors College workshops prepared just for them to help them in could embrace and implement. taking the next step within their academic careers. After the workshops, all members of the conference The new Mr. and Ms. Honors College are Timo­ assembled in the student ballroom and ended the con­ thy McCall and Lyndsey Brightful. ference with a talent show, oratorical contest, and es­ say contest. In the end, this was another successful conference. P a g e 2 W o r d o f H o n or V o lu m e 1 6 I s su e 2 Getting Your Point Across by Jason Sherer While the seminar, Getting Your cause my partner and I did a won­ especially today with important Point Across (argumentation and derful job and represented Hamp­ issues such as healthcare debate) this semester was filled ton University very well. This reform, we have to understand with many teachable moments, experience allowed me to apply that there isn’t just one way or my most memorable experience the tools and techniques that have one side to an issue. There are was outside the classroom. In enhanced my debating ability. always different perspectives March, Devin Farmer and I had and views that we have to at the opportunity to represent least acknowledge. Our knowl­ Hampton University in debate at edge of other perspectives will Mary Washington University in enhance our ability to make Fredericksburg, VA. The resolve well informed decisions and to of the debate was “National stan­ discuss topics intelligently. dardized test, i.e. SAT and ACT, Secondly, this experience should not be used as a require­ Devin Farmer Dr. Davy Jason Sherer showed me that the true point of ment for admission into Univer­ a debate is to bring awareness to sity.” As a whole, this opportunity an issue and prompt discussion. This experience was taught me two important things. The more an issue is discussed, unique because the topic was very First, one needs to have the ability the more likely change is to relevant. At the debate, there were to look at an issue from different occur. members of the Mary Washing­ perspectives. In preparing for the Overall, the debate at ton University admissions staff debate, my partner and I had to Mary Washington was a suc­ who were currently dealing with look at both sides of the issue in cess. I am grateful for the the dilemma of requiring or not order to develop our argument opportunity and thankful for the requiring standardized test for ad­ and find points to weaken our lessons learned. mission. It was memorable be­ opponents’ argument. In life,

Inside this issue: Congratulations HCASC on a Successful Season

Getting Your Point Across 2 “Competition this year was harder, but we still played our best; as always HCASC was fun and the team met wonderful people,” says Sarah­Anne Orientation 3 Leverette.

From the Director’s Pen 4

“Education” by Jason Moore 5

From Jeffery to Gerard 6

Sharing the Good News 7

Melanie Richards Isaiah Ares­Batko Sara­Anne Leverette, Captain Michael Smithers W o r d o f H o n or V o lu m e 1 6 I s su e 2 P a g e 3 Orientation community service and write next day, the applicants got up early, by Juan Diasgranados thank you­appreciation cards to and worshipped in the University's the campus cafeteria workers and Chapel as a group, then had a fun This year Orientation and Recruit­ housekeepers. After a couple filled Talent show. ment was very successful. Over the hours of service, the applicants The induction went well, also. Par­ course of 3 weekends, we had over went as a group to support the 40 freshman and sophomore appli­ ents, faculty, and friends of the HU athletics as the women and applicants gathered in McGrew cants spend time with Honors Col­ men basketball team took on Towers to watch the applicants get lege members to get a better feel of Norfolk State. what Honors College is. pinned by Dr. Davy. The Last weekend concluded The first weekend the applicants got Overall, the Orientation and Re­ with one­on­one scheduling to cruitment committee put together to know each other by playing ice help guide the applicants through another great series. We thank the breaker games. They also heard their matriculation Honors Col­ committee and staff members in the from the Univ. 200 class about inter­ lege. After scheduling, the appli­ Honors College Office. views and resumes. cants had a chance to compete in The following weekend the appli­ a Oratorical, Debate, and Aca­ cants had the opportunity to perform demic Bowl Competition. The

Congratulations

Mavis Baah, one of the 2010 President’s Awards recipients.

Jewel Hilliard Dinah Holland Destiny Hunter Kendra Johnson Danielle Jones Tia Jones LaTonia Kelley Erik Kyser Avian Lain Jennifer Larkin Erin Lawler 2010 New Inductees Kayla Lee On March 19, 2010, 38 2010 HC Inductees Bethany Cobb Saudia McCarley Rhia McKissic students were inducted Brooklyn Cobb Melanie McNutt into Honors College. The Daniel Barnes Lynaia Collins Patrice Boone Winnie Dortch Andrea Osborne theme for the evening Brittany Porter was “Perspective: Up for Erica Boyd Monique Ducksworth Kamisha Boyd­Gamble Alexis Glears Bria Robinson the Challenge.“ The Ashley Carter Crystal Glinton Shavia Westmoreland guest speaker was Carlos Marci Carter Lawrence Harley III Kayla Williams Smith, an 03’ Honors Lauren Clark Jessica Harris Stephanie Wilson College graduate. Willie Wilson P a g e 4 N e w s let te r T it le V o lu m e 1 , I s s ue 1 From the Director’s Pen Honors College Cleans Up the Block It’s final examina­ “experienced” bridge At every opportu­ By Pamela Champ tion and report card players from the nity, Honors College This semester the Career and time, not just for stu­ community. The students line up to Service Committee hosted 4 dents but for our emotions in that ses­ share “the good Adopt­A­Spot clean­up activities. programs as well. sion ran the gamut news.” They have Volunteers helped clean the Of course, you know from pride to humil­ received internships, community by that Honors College ity. One student re­ job offers, accep­ picking up is a program. The marked, “My grand­ tance for graduate trash and cigarette butts exam report should mother has her study, and fellow­ along side the measure how well friends waiting to ships. Do we need designated we are addressing play with me when I to do more? Yes, King Street and meeting objec­ get home.” indeed. We will location. tives, specifically the Are we continuing to double our efforts to Overall, 8 objective of enhanc­ have valuable out­of develop a culture hours were well spent to help ensure the City ing the regular uni­ ­class experiences? where our students of Hampton remains beautiful and versity experience. You bet! The debate will compete for and free of litter. Are we continuing to experiences with succeed in receiving have diverse semi­ Mary Washington prestigious national nars that provide University, Norfolk and international useful exposure and State University, and scholarships. Aware broaden perspective? Columbia were out­ of the maxim “You Indeed; along with standing. The trip to can’t win it if you NEW MEMBERS OF THE the traditional offer­ Yale was fantastic. are not in it,” our HC STUDENT thrust will be to have ings, there were “If Honors College EXECUTIVE BOARD seminars such as “If does nothing else for everybody in the They Come in the me,” reported a stu­ game. The ballots are in and the votes Morning,” dent to her class­ A+, yes, that’s still have been counted. This year’s “Negotiating at an mates in UNV 200, our grade – class will be represented on the Uneven Table,” “the trip to Yale was Academic board by Kamisha Boyd­ “Getting Ready for enough.” Honors Gamble, Lawrence Harley III, Life,” “Let’s Talk College students’ Personal Brittany Porter, and Willie Opera,”“Transitions preparation and Wilson. for Young Ladies,” implementation of Learning and “Corporate service and outreach Games: Bridge.” projects, such as The Useful The final session for Du Bois Invitational the corporate games Honors Conference, Service. seminar involved Diamonds and Pearls Honors College stu­ and Boys to Men, dents playing and continue to earn high competing with praise. N e w s let te r T it le V o lu m e 1 , I s s ue 1 P a g e 5 “Education” 2010 Special Benefactor By Jason Moore Scholarship Award Concentration is penetration of education The winner of the 2010 Special But I’m a patient, it heals me like medication Benefactor Scholarship award is Sydnee Mack. Sydnee will be Words and thoughts are just translations bringing Tee It Up, Inc., a Of movements in your mind, I call it transportation nonprofit golf mentorship But these thoughts can kill with a new formation organization, to Sydney, Australia. She will be partnering Now you find yourself apart of demoralization up with SIFE, an Desperation becomes your new motivation international student Nervous with a purpose, can’t stop perspiration organization, to Too much speculation, like the U.S. nation bring golf and mentorship to Speeding through life like I’m stuck in acceleration the underprivileged youth of My soul and my goals are under segregation Australia. My mind divorced my heart, call it a separation But the emancipation of this new delegation Is not working out, like an unsolved equation Information is the invasion of an ignorant occasion Cause I’m working for my masters like I’m on a plantation Have a Safe My problems may increase like multiplication But I can make them disappear like prestidigitation and It’s not your presence, it’s your presentation Wonderful That’s how you avoid mind manipulation Like a butterfly, I’m a transformation Summer For reaching for the stars, I can touch constellations And I’m always open­minded like a brain operation Honors Forget about what you see, I am Education. College students. P a g e 6 N e w s let te r T it le V o lu m e 1 , I s s ue 1

From Jeffrey to Gerard by Jeffrey Eugene

This semester and spring Auditioning for the musi­ men voguing, and watching a few semester of my sophomore year I cal was an experience in itself. I video clips of gay men on televi­ acted in the musical­ A Love to auditioned originally as a gang sion (i.e. Will and Grace and Call My Own. I played the char­ member and was not even aware sketches of In Living Color) the acter, Gerard. My character was of the character Gerard. Hoping to prototype of Gerard was created. very interesting. He was a flam­ be casted as a gang member, I Each night at rehearsal, I added boyantly gay bartender that pro­ was casted in the ensemble and something new to make the direc­ vided comic relief in the musical. wanted to not do the musical at all tor laugh by adding lines, jokes, A Love to Call My Own is because I had no speaking lines. and dances. She and the cast ate it a story about a young girl, Mia, Encouraged to stay, I gave it a try up! While it seemed natural on who wants to pursue a musical and liked the script and decided to stage, I had some apprehensions career with her two best friends. stick it out because I never knew about my role and about being Unknown by her mother, Lil Sis, what may come out of it. The convincingly gay. Nevertheless, I her father, Junior, is her manager very next rehearsal, I was asked had fun with it. and the owner of a club call Jun­ to read for Gerard by the director, I hail my performance in ior’s. While Junior is managing Dr. Ward. I willingly did it and A Love to Call My Own as my she then told me how Gerard is Mia’s group, MTJ, Mia’s boy­ most memorable college experi­ gay. Reluctantly and nervously, I friend, Hector, is managing her ences. Because of my experience, started to “spice” Gerard up. group as well. The story is a I encourage anyone at Hampton whirlwind about love lost and The process in creating University to pursue their passion love found again as Mia and Hec­ Gerard stared off rocky. I began for acting. If you want to act, then tor go through their relationship to pay attention to how some ho­ do it. The doors are open to you. issues, as Mia’s mother seeks to mosexual men walked and their All I knew was I wanted to do a rekindle her relationship with Mia mannerisms. I received much ad­ play in college, I never would all while Junior tries to win back vice from a couple of girls in the have imagined acting in one of Lil Sis after their damaged mar­ play on how gay men think. They the most memorable roles in the riage. Gerard brings comedy to told me that gay men think that musical. this love story as he is Junior’s they can be more feminine than “voice of reason” and jovial bar­ women. Adopting this advice, tender at Junior’s club. watching YouTube videos of gay

First Fridays by Christiana Betts and Kenney Barton This semester has been a success­ 27 we will host our last event of the Our committee members were ful one. In February, we hosted a semester, the annual end­of­the­ fantastic! They were fun and First Friday Social that celebrated year Fun Night. Games will include faithful group members. Addi­ the Honors College's involvement all of the great "throwbacks" from tionally, we thank Mrs. McLean, in the upcoming debate at Yale. our childhoods. who was always ready to help at a We thought it fitting to view the The chairs of this committee would moment's notice. film "The Great Debaters." In indeed be remiss if we did not ac­ All the best this summer and March, we planned a trip to the knowledge those who have helped beyond. Air and Space Center. On April us make this committee successful. N e w s let te r T it le V o lu m e 1 , I s s ue 1 P a g e 7

Sharing the Good News by Isaiah Ares-Batko

Dr. Davy needs no intro­ Although I did about what organization about Napoleon’s tri­ duction, and her methods not think twice about I would work with, and umph in Italy, the hero are known to everyone, accepting the opportu­ where. At one point in lets out a passionate cry­ so let it suffice to say nity, I did give careful the interview I had to “Vittoria!” I replied via that when she offered me consideration to the ap­ stop myself from saying e­mail that I would an opportunity I did not plication’s statement of “proletariat” and I gladly accept, and consider it, I just took it. purpose and the short stopped short of citing thanked the selection The Southern Education essay which acted as Kropotkin’s Conquest of committee for this Foundation (SEF) was gate keepers to the inter­ Bread when describing opportunity. I then looking for students con­ view and selection proc­ my interest in improving called my Mother on the cerned with social justice ess. I researched, out­ education for the poor way to Dr. Davy’s of­ to participate in an eight lined and drafted and and minorities of the fice. Dr. Davy was week Summer Leader­ revised my application, South. After all, there’s elated about my selec­ ship Institute. The pro­ then asked Professor advocating and then tion, and it is only natu­ gram offered a chance to Duncan to edit it. The there’s agitating, and I ral because of her maxim perform research on edu­ final product was sub­ felt I had stepped too “I let my product speak cation policy and prac­ mitted at the last possible close to that line. for me.” As a product of tice in Southern schools, minute with the encour­ A week later I the Honor’s College pro­ through non profit advo­ agement and help of Dr. received the e­mail. gram, I want to take this cacy groups connected to Davy. A few weeks later “Congratulations!” was opportunity to speak for SEF. It also included I received a phone call the first thing I saw. I her by succeeding in my that Holy Grail of under­ from SEF to schedule a remembered the second task ahead and promot­ graduate summer intern­ telephone interview. Af­ act of Puccini’s Tosca ing the well being of the ships, a $3,000 stipend ter the interview I hon­ which I had seen last wider community. and defrayment of travel estly did not know how I year in “Let’s Talk Op­ expenses. fared. I had been vague era.” Upon hearing

My Summer Experience to Come by Jeffery Eugene

This summer, I am fortunate to will conduct for the following versity of Virginia the summer have the opportunity to conduct nine weeks. At the end of my re­ after my freshman year. I decided public health research with the search, I will be required to pre­ that I wanted to gain experience Centers for Disease Control in sent my research. The program in public health research to make Atlanta, GA. The program is will provide me a hands­on ex­ sure that I wanted to pursue a de­ called Project Imhotep. It is a col­ perience in public health and will gree/career in public health. This laborative program between CDC prepare me for a career in public program is the premier program and Morehouse College’s Public health. to fulfill that goal. I anticipate Health Sciences Institute. I am thoroughly excited learning much from this experi­ During the first two weeks about my summer experience. I ence and hope to finalize my deci­ of the program, I will undergo became interested in public health sion to obtain an MD/MPH intensive studying and training to after participating in a medical degree. prepare me for the research that I enrichment program at the Uni­ Anderson, Nitra J. Dougherty, Laisha T. Lee, Tiffany A. Baah, Mavis Fomengia, Valerie F. Leverette, Sarah-Anne Barton, Kenneth E. Greene, Frenesha C. Lewis-White, Gabriella M. Beamer, Sarah E. Hampton, Tiffany E. Moore, Jason B. Betts, Christian P. Harrod, Sherry Robinson, Candice M. Boone, Deborah E. Hayes, Jayrick Q. Stephens, Alisha R. Claud, Brittany J. Jackson, Lauren M. Strozier, Tia S. Clay, Chereena T. Jackson, Saisha T. Sutton, Karen M. Connor, Crystal D. Johnson, Charrelle S. Tucker, Amber J. Darby, Sharise M. Jones, Edwin R. Dickerson, Brittney Kent, Kendall L.

Hampton University 2009­2010 STUDENT EXECUTIVE BOARD Honors College Chair ­ Jade Anderson Box 6174 Hampton, VA 23668 Secretary ­ Melanie Spencer Phone:(757) 727­5076 Retreat – Jade Anderson & Chelsea Sealey Fax (757) 728­6711 Recruitment & Orientation – Juan Diasgranados & Melanie Spencer Email: honors@ Winners’ Circle ­­­ Dwayne Wright & Tiffany Hampton hamptonu.edu Word of Honor – Jessica Moore Du Bois Conference – Anitra Anderson & Brittany Adams Travelers’ Circle – Christiana Betts & Kenneth Barton Career & Service – Pamela Champ, Marcus Thomas, & Charles Todd

Honors College Staff Director: Dr. Freddye Davy Associate Director: Mr. Sabin Duncan Secretary: Mrs. Juanita Sears Coordinator of Activities: Mrs. Caminisa McLean