Howard University Digital Howard @ Howard University The iH lltop: 2000 - 2010 The iH lltop Digital Archive 4-12-2002 The iH lltop 4-12-2002 Hilltop Staff Follow this and additional works at: https://dh.howard.edu/hilltop_0010 Recommended Citation Staff, Hilltop, "The iH lltop 4-12-2002" (2002). The Hilltop: 2000 - 2010. 67. https://dh.howard.edu/hilltop_0010/67 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the The iH lltop Digital Archive at Digital Howard @ Howard University. It has been accepted for inclusion in The iH lltop: 2000 - 2010 by an authorized administrator of Digital Howard @ Howard University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. • The Student Voice of Howard University • VOLUME 85, NO. 50 FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2002 • • emem er1n r1nce ection • HUSA Organizes Mem~rial To Commemorate ate S lll Slain Student's Birthday By JENNIFER CUMMINGS a ance Hilltop Staff Writer rince Jones would have celebrated Candidates, Administrators his 27th birthday March 30. Howev­ er, the Howard student, who tragical­ Favor Another Spring Election ly killed in Sept. 2000 by a Prince George's County Police officer, in what family, students, the NAACP and Amnesty , 'ltl International say was a blatant case of racial pro­ 3 candidates. The percentage gained filing. By KERRY-ANN HAMILTON by each slate is generally not true Lawyers for Jones' family are currently pursu­ Hilltop Staff Writer representative of the voting popula­ ing criminal charges against the officer, Carlton tion, so I ~!ways encourage election Jones, who fired sixteen bullets from his gun Sep­ The uncertainty surrounding the chairs to factor in a run-off election tember 1,2000, killing this son of Howard. date of a fourth HUSA election is in their budget." "It is your refusal to accept the nature of Prince's the subject of stark debate amongst Watkins prefers another spring death, that we greatly appreciate. You have a student gove1nment and adminis­ election because of the implications resolve to make change," said mother Dr. Mabel trators who have pushed to finalize of waiting until the fall. "When we Jones after speaking to the University communi­ the race for a new leader as soon as wait until the fall, there is no HUSA ty at a memorial service for Jones last Friday on possible. government in place and there will the steps of Douglass Hall. , The HUSA Policy Board met yes­ be grave consequences if there is a Speaking to students and concerned communi­ terday to discuss step towards elect­ strict interpretation of the constitu­ ty leaders, Jones commended the collaborative ing a HUSA administration for the tion in regard to holding an election efforts of the University to keep her son's mem­ 2002-2003 academic year. A deci• by the second Wednesday in April. ory and this injustice in the forefront. sion was not reached before Hilltop There have been obstacles and "You have been one of the most dedicated group press time Wednesday, however the flaws, but students should not suf­ of people to keep this matter alive," said Jones. fate of student government is still to fer," Watkins said. The Jones case became a national issue, draw­ be determined. If an election is not held until the ing attention to the issue of racial profiling. The policy board's April 4th ruling fall, the HUSA administration will Last year following the tragic incident, then announced that a University scholarship will be not potentially get a staff and bud­ HUSA President Sellano Simmons, led more than declared a need for a 51 percent vic­ instituted in her son's name. Jones' family and its tory in Monday's election in order get approved until the end of Sep­ 150 students to the steps of the Department of Jus­ lawyers are also backing legislation that will tember. This will affect all organi­ tice in proiest of police brutality and the Prince to be duly elected. According to require the use of non-lethal ammunition in the results, the Legacy slate, who zations on campus who receive an George's County Police Department's classifica­ firearms of police officers in order to prevent allocation from the HUSA budget. tion of the shooting as a "justifiable homicide. gained more votes would have another tragedy. needed approxilnately 626 votes in The Awakening Slate remains Records from U.S. District Court in Washing­ "Prince was well-read, well-traveled and well on determined to continue the battle to ton show Cpl. Carlton Jones testified in deposi­ order the meet the required per­ his way to being well-educated. He was the epit­ centage. the end, but like the Legacy slate tions and other court proceedings that his mind has ome of charisma and charm," said his mother. they are aware of the implications of gone blank about the September 2000 shooting of Acting Dean of Student Life and A federal judge has granted attorneys for the Activities Belinda Watkins, who having an election in the fall semes­ Prince Jones, Jr., 25. farr1iiy pern1is$ion to conduct a psychiatric eval­ ter. Such action from students prompted then U.S. serves as pri1nary advisor to the co­ uation of the officer. Prince Georges County has chairs of the Election Committee, "Based on our platform we had Assistant Attorney General Bill Lann Lee to meet appealed the decision. No trial date has been set specific things we wanted to address with Howard students and administrators in a pri~ maintains this election process is for the lawsuit. unprecedented in her 27 years at the during the summer and President vate three-hour forum to discuss police miscon­ Court records also show that Carlton Jones was and VP president, such as making duct, brutality, and racial profiling. This year, University. recently summoned to full-time duty in the U.S. "'In the past for a run-off election, provisions to form a constitutional HUSA sponsored a celebratory vigil in memory Military reserves and was no longer in the Wash­ Prince Jones a simple majority was required to committee to reexamine the consti­ of Prince and other victims of racial profiling and ington area. win," she said. "In the General Elec­ tution, make provision for an com­ police brutality. March 30, 1975-September 1, 2000 The Associated Press contributed to this report. tions, the 51 percent rule was prehensive off-campus housing During the memorial, Jones' mother also enforced because there are usually guide from our website, planning Please See Elections, AS Going Once, Twice HUSA Stages Auction to • Show Slavery Connection emor potlight • The evening took a turn when sophomore Hakim By ASHLEY TRAYNUM tianson came out wearing chains and a loincloth. Contributing Writer The room went black and a scene from the movie ROOTS played in the background. Some students What was supposed to be a typical student auc­ hooted and hollered at the sight of the bare clothed tion turned into an opportunity to discuss the his­ Hasan, while others were taken aback by the turn­ tory of auctioning slaves and its presence in ing events. ' today's society. Stefanie Brown, HUSA President, ca1ne to cen­ The Howard University S.tudent Association ter stage to inform the audience the action had been Photo By Melanie Nesbitt (HUSA) delivered an "Auction to Remember" in staged to reveal how auctions endorse slave auc­ HUSA Vice President Alex Dixon participated in the the Blackbum ballroom Wednesday. The evening tions and this event was a platform for discussion. much debated auction. started out with students socializing, enjoying the Hakim Hansan stated, "I think it is a paradox that music played by the DJ. and anticipating the "new we go to an HBCU and we have auctions. If Goldie Patrick, sophomore Theatre Arts major and different" auction. HUSA would have advertised a meeting the same began the heated discussion by challenging stu­ Students were bought on stage and sold to the people that always come would have attended." dents to be more conscious. Blackburn Direc­ Judging A Book by It's highest bidder. Auctionees, mostly affiliates of Approximately half of the audience left the filled tor, Ms. McCloud and Brittney Cooper both con­ Howard University Student Association, all went to capacity room before the discussion could tinued the dialogue with remarks on the daily for above $20. begin. One of those who left, James Blanton, a Pages, Not Cover manipulation of Howard Students by media. They With exceptions Jay Cooper, host of Teen Sum­ junior history major stated, "I don't appreciate charged for the deeper understanding and growth mit who sold for $310 and Alex Dixon, HUSA what HUSA did. They should have come at stu­ that needs to be made in each student. istration, but I wasn't openly vice-president sold for a high $1300---so the audi­ dents correct. The issue is very relevant, but they The discussion did not revolve around the issue BY MAKEBRA ANDERSON embraced." ence was led to believe. should have addressed the issue without lying." Please See Auction,A3 Hilltop Staff W1iter Hawthrone drew praise from the audience after reciting a thought­ oseph Hawthorne entered provoking poem chronicling his The Cherry Blossoms are here. the 2000 Mr. and Ms. reign as Mr. Howard at the 2001 JHoward pageant with the pageant. The poem also gave new desire to help students and reach ammunition to his critics who said It's that time of the year again out to the community. But it was the recital was an inappropriate his long hair and casual style of representation of the University. and the flowers have started to dress, uncharacteristic of past pageant winners, which perpetu­ "I won two pageants, but who's grow.