WWW.VIAKOON I l(,l K.OKG V'OI . I \\\. ISSI I 02 THE MAROON TIGER Moki .house Coi i.i gi .Atlanta, GA Widni.sdav .Si.pi embi r 14, 2005 Tin Organ oi Sit deni Expression Since 1925 The Inside Track HAZING AT NSO 2005 Relief at 2 Rapping with Songz > o the Pump Combining an infectious hip hop atti­ tude with savvy style, artist Trey Songz o X Brandon E. Lawrence is quickly emerging as rap’s next big o thing. During the “Back to School X Drivers can breathe a relatively Tour” Trey Songz lit up Morehouse’s > Forbes Arena with an eclectic perfor­ *XJ short breath of relief, as gas prices have mance that pushed the boundaries of slowly declined. The repair of three dramatic flair and street-soul. Edward out of eight oil refineries, an increase in Johnson and Deon Embry recently sat gasoline imports, and the improvement down with Songz for an in-depth inter­ of needed gasoline supplies, will con­ view. tinue to reduce the national gas price average. Page 7 Over the past year, American driv­ ers have become more aware of the steady growth in gas prices. Aware­ A Look into the Culture ness has reached a record high as gas prices have spiked to $3.04 nationally for regular unleaded gasoline due to the of West Africa unfortunate destruction of Hurricane Katrina. Zora Neale-Hurston, Jamaica Kincaid, and Ralph Ellison are oft revered as the stalwart figures in the African American literary tradition. But where do Wole Soyinka, Buchi Emecheta, and Chinua Achebe fit into our canon? The post­ colonial West African novel addresses issues of racial interaction, wholly ap­ plicable to the African American social Jermaine House experience. Dr. Michael Janis explains Every August, New Student Ori­ ized speeches and concluding with I remember there were other events in an exclusive interview. entation (NSO) formally introduces freshman exiting the chapel through where freshman actually started fight­ incoming freshman to the rigors and a chanting gauntlet of upperclassman. Page 2 ing with the NSO staff.” expectations of Morehouse College, The gauntlet-portion of the ceremony This year “Welcome to the House” challenging them through a variety of has been characterized as highly in­ began just as it had begun every pre­ forums, lectures and activities designed tense, as upperclassmen shout at and vious year: students were treated to Image: www.vltraspin.com.au The Political Science to transform them into the next Men of sometimes come in physical contact a well-prepared and well-rehearsed The prices for crude oil have de­ Morehouse. The mission of NSO has with exiting freshman. Students often ceremony then were asked to exit the creased by over $6 since reaching an Corner been to instill a tradition of excellence have mixed feelings about this por­ chapel. Unfortunately, the similarities all-time high of $70.85 per barrel. and achievement in new students that tion of NSO with some feeling that the ended there. At the end of the program Locally, Georgia Gov. Sonny Per­ The formulation *of the Iraq Constitu­ carries each through his matriculation gauntlet represents a necessary “rite of NSO staff members were seen shouting due enacted an emergency state tax tion has hit a sudden impasse after the at the college. passage” into the college and others be­ and shoving freshman students. Fur­ suspension on gasoline prices through Aug. 15 deadline. After negotiations Traditionally, upperclassmen have lieving that the ritual straddles the line thermore, a parent openly complained September. This tax cut was passed to stalled due to key disagreements be­ participated as liaisons, participating between ceremony and hazing. to college administrators that the activ­ provide some sense of relief for Geor­ tween the Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds in ceremonies and acting as representa­ One upperclassmen student related ities outside were contradictory to the gia drivers while the remaining oil re­ all three sides are struggling to reestab­ tives to guide young students. Howev­ to The Maroon Tiger, “when I experi­ events inside the Chapel. fineries are being repaired. Gas prices lish order in what could be a drawn out er, NSO 2005 was marred by scandal, enced that ritual my freshman year, it As a result, on the morning of Aug. will continue to decline, but it will process. Jason Townsend-Rogers sat as reported incidences of hazing at the really got me excited and proud to be a 17, Dean Darden called an emergency require a great deal of patience from down with Dr. Abraham Davis to get “Welcome to the House” ceremony led part of this institution.” meeting with the NSO staff and imme­ consumers. his opinion on these developments. to the eventual firing of the majority of However, an anonymous senior diately suspended staff members who the 89 NSO staff members. mentioned, “It really went overboard exhibited poor conduct. Page 5 The “Welcome to the House” cere­ when I went through it. Upperclass­ “NSO is a program that involves mony has always been a staple of NSO, men were pushing me and screaming at the family of Morehouse faculty, opening with performances and ritual­ me. That’s not why I came to college. The Relief Debate continued on page 4 The harrowing aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has left Americans wondering The Death of the what more could have been done to Student Senate Undergoes avert much of the tragedy and devasta­ Black Couple tion. As it stands, the Katrina disaster has been a divisive force, splitting the I cannot count the number of con­ opinions of Americans down the mid­ Major Facelift versations that I have with women dle, with one side supporting President Jahi Wise wondering where all the good men Bush’s response and others vehemently have gone. It leaves me wondering if opposing the commander-in-chief’s ac­ SGA Vice-President Rueben Bur­ senators to talk to, five in their class I have to don a clown suit and dance tions. Nicholas Sneed and Akilah Bacy members, all of that is thinking of the ney III opened the new year enforc­ and six at large.” a jig to be noticed. Many of the edu­ square ofif on this hot-button issue. past,” stated Burney. “The spirit of the ing the past-neglected constitutional Despite the positive restructuring Senate will be truly ethical and fair this cated men that I know are wondering if amendment that has drastically restruc­ of the Senate, there are still many hur­ year.” these women searching for good men Page 6 are walking around with blinders on. tured the student Senate and raised se­ dles to be cleared before things can run Another intense controversial issue rious questions about the course of the smoothly, or rather run at all. Accord­ is the process of appropriations. The If there are both men and women who are available and educated, why do we Maroon Tigers campus largest legislative body. ing to the new bylaws of the Senate, the appropriations committee reviews and The Amendment- passed and rati­ Senate must have a working body of 28 makes decisions on budgeting propos­ continue to overlook one another? a Formidable Opponent fied last spring— was the first drafted members to function. So how are these als that are received by the Student Sen­ Many women feel that men are by former SGA Vice-President Chris­ senators selected? One word: elections. ate. It will now fall to the organizations intimidated by their education, status, and salary. Many African American The Fighting Maroon Tigers contin­ topher E. Lee, in an attempt to move The fall election season is slated to be­ themselves to approach the Appropria­ women no longer need to rely on a man ued their torrid pace through the first the student Senate away from its status gin at the end of this month. This late tions Committee for funds. This creates to provide for them financially. It is true the season, prancing into rival Fort as simply a “the place to get money." start will cause a newly formed Senate a myriad of questions regarding con­ that women have made great strides Valley State with high hopes. Unfor­ Lee proposed six amendment changes, to just begin operations during Home­ flicts of interest between senators and academically and professionally. Many tunately, despite a strong performance the last of which effecting the senate. coming, the busiest portion of the year. organizations with which many elected men, however, are not negatively af­ by a Maroon Tiger offense that domi­ The “new” Senate now is composed of Students are also questioning the senators may be affiliated. The Consti­ fected by women’s advancement. I nated the time of possession and yards 26 senatorial seats: twenty seats will be new construction of the Senate. For­ tution of the Student Body explicitly have come across many brothers who gained, the Tigers could not hold off held by class members —five members mer Secretary of the Senate, Nathaniel prohibits any executive officers of one feel that women feel that their success the persistent Wildcats, falling 24-17 from each class- the remaining six will Simpson, has reservations concerning organization from serving as an officer makes them somehow better than the on Sept 3. Ken Julian has more on the sit in the at-large seats. Moreover, the its functionality. “This is a very noble in any other campus organizations (e.g. men in their lives. Many women seem Tiger’s close loss. new constitution deems elected presi­ idea, but in reality, not workable,” the Senate). If a conflict of interest oc­ dents “non-voting” members of the stated Simpson in a recent interview.