August 1, 2007 - Texas Southern University

Vol. 60, No.1 August 31 2007 

Labor Day Classic has a new twist 

By Arthur Monroe, Jr. 

Editor-in-Chief 

For the last 23 years 

Prairie View A&M University 

and Texas Southern University 

have competed in the 

Labor Day Classic, the second 

oldest football classic 

west of the Mississippi. Each 

Labor Day weekend which 

this year falls on Saturday, 

Sept. 1, students, alumni, 

friends, and family of both 

schools gather in downtown 

Houston to compete for the 

Alexander Durley – William 

Nicks Trophy, which TSU 

has won 18 times. 

“Many of the alumni 

from both schools live in the 

Houston vicinity. In fact, 81 

percent of TSU alumni live 

here in the Houston area,” 

said Shannon Broussard, director 

of Student Activities 

and Special Events at TSU. 

He said that the closeness 

of the two schools creates a 



Aug. 27 not only marked 

the first week of school for 

Texas Southern University 

students, it was also the second 

day of trial for former 

university president Priscilla 

Slade, who is accused of allegedly 

misappropriating 

university funds. 

Many students spent 

most of the week focusing 

on getting into school and 

preparing for the Labor Day 

Classic Weekend, putting the 

woes of the former president 

out of their minds. 

“I’m not really concerned 

about the trial. I’m 

more focused on getting my 

books for my classes and 

staying on top of my reading 

assignments,” Blake Green, 

School of Business Graduate 

Student Association president. 

Green, who is a graduate 

student in the School of 

Business, said that he was 

however concerned about the 

Community Leaders in 

TSU’s Corner... See pg 8 

Band plays at half time during the 2006 Labor Day Classic. (Photo by Earlie Hudnall) 

great rivalry. Both schools 

are among the largest Historically 

Black Colleges and 

Universities in the world and 

are within 40 miles of each 

other. 

“PV is an awesome team, 

recent order from the Southern 

Association of Colleges 

and Schools (SACS) for the 

university to provide audits 

and rehabilitation plans before 

October 11. However, 

university vice president for 

External Relations and Marketing, 

Kimberly Williams 

said that students should not 

be concerned about this request. 

“It’s customary, when- 

however, I’m really looking 

forward to taking home the 

victory trophy for the 23rd 

Classic. Having participated 

in the last three years as a 

cheerleader, this one will 

be the most memorable. Go 

ever universities have gone 

through issues as we have 

gone over the last year that 

they do a check up,” Williams 

said. “They are basically 

asking for a status report 

about what’s going on.” 

She said that the last time 

that SACS heard anything 

about TSU, Governor Perry 

was going to put the university 

under conservatorship, 

which would have been in 

Tigers!” said Isis Alliniece, 

Miss Texas Southern University 

2007-2008. 

This year’s battle will 

be accented with the long 

awaited innaugural pre-game 

battle of the bands and step- 

TSU students focus on future as Slade trial starts 

Dr. Priscilla Slade pauses after announcing that the university had received a contribution from DaimlerChrylser. 

(Photo by Earlie Hudnall) 

direct violation of their rules. 

Since then the Governor has 

put a new board over the university, 

we have reappointed 

our interim president and the 

university has a presidential 

search underway. 

“Their questions were 

more about governance… so 

many of the issues that they 

have had or are concerned 

about are basically resolved,” 

said Williams. 

show between the Ocean 

of Soul from TSU and the 

Marching Storm from Prairie 

View and Greek organizations 

from both campuses. 

Broussard said that both 

schools have tried for years 

to create a battle of the bands 

between the two schools, but 

because the Labor Day Classic 

is always when schools 

starts, it has been very difficult 

to implement. 

“I am really proud of 

the new administration of 

SGA for taking the ‘bull by 

the horns’… and getting this 

thing done,” said Broussard. 

The event will take place 

on the campus of Texas 

Southern on Friday, Aug. 

31st at 7:00 p.m. in the H&PE 

Arena and is sponsored by 

97.9 The BOX, who will also 

be providing the host for the 

event, in the person of radio 

personality J-Mac. Ticket 

prices are $10 pre-sale, $15 

(SEE CLASSIC PAGE 5) 

She also added that the 

school is currently fully accredited, 

and that in addition 

many of the schools 

programs have both regional 

and national accreditation as 

well. 

“Despite what’s going 

on outside of the university, 


will keep going and remain 

strong. Although there is no 

definite line we can draw to 

separate ourselves from Dr. 

Slade and her issues… we 

just want to move forward 

from this and continue to 

shine,” said Student Government 

Association president 

Jasmine Pope, a senior in 

the Barbara Jordan-Mickey 

Leland School of Public Affairs. 

Even as the university 

moves forward it is still being 

tied to the former employees 

who are on trial. 

Earlier this summer former 

TSU chief financial officer, 

Quintin Wiggins, was 

found guilty on one count of 

misapplication of fiduciary 

property valuing over 

SEE SLADE PAGE 15 

History of the 

Tiger Walk...See CENTER SPREAD

2 

The HERALD | Vol. 60, No.1 | AUGUST 31, 2007 

EDITORIAL | OPINION 

By Arthur Monroe Jr. 

Welcome Back Tigerland. 

My name is Arthur 

Monroe, Jr. and I am the 

2007-2008 Editor of the Texas 

Southern University Herald. 

The Herald is the university’s 

student-ran newspaper 

that serves as an objective 

source of information and a 

vehicle for TSU students to 

express their opinions. 

We are approaching 

the start of a new academic 

school year, and we are doing 

so with a new adminis- 

EDITORIAL SUITE 

Editor in Chief 

Arthur Monroe Jr. 

Managing Editor 

Sherrell Martin 

Staff Writers 

Benna Sayyed 

Victoria Lewis 

Frank Cooper 

Natalie Baker 

Linze Green 

Ramaunti Moseley 

Claudette Johnson 

Contributing Writers 

Carroll G. Robinson 

Yolanda Braxton 

James Hollins 

Natia Simon 

Christopher Gatson 

Tiffany Mull 

Kae Shakir 

Photographers 

Earlie Hudnall 

Terrance Coburn 

Graphic Design 

Ron “DJ Riskk” Meyers II 

Marc Newsome 

Richelle N. Jones 

Chelsea Harris 

Advisors 

Serbino Sandifer-Walker 

Peter Thornton 

Publications Manager 

Alice Rogers 

The TSU Herald is published by the students 

of Texas Southern University. Opinions 

expressed are those of the writer and do not 

necessarily reflect those of the administration. 

The newspaper is printed semi-monthly 

except during holidays and examination 

periods. The Herald invites letters, commentaries, 

or articles on any topic. Each must be 

typewritten and include writer’s name and 

a contact phone number. The TSU Herald 

reserves the right to edit and not publish any 

submission. 

(c) All Rights Reserved 2007 TSU Office of 

Student Publications. 

Herald welcomes students back 

tration, a new Board of Regents, 

and over a thousand 

new students. We also have a 

new staff of students that are 

dedicated to ensuring that 

our friends, classmates, and 

alumni are reading and sharing 

the news that affects our 

school. 

This year marks the 

Diamond Anniversary of 

our illustrious university. 

Throughout the past 60 years 

our university has endured 

many changes, trials, and 

tribulations, and the good 

and bad the Herald has ridden 

along side the university 

delivering the truth in every 

situation to the students and 

giving them the opportunity 

to express their thoughts and 

opinions. The Newsroom this 

year is devoted to continuing 

the tradition of “Writing 

Through Adversity.” 

This year we are striving 

to increase the visibility 

and quality of our newspaper 

by first committing to consistently 

publishing timely 

By Sherrell Martin 

Herald Staff 

Can you imagine loosing 

all your worldly possession, 

friends, and all that you 

call home in a matter of minutes? 

When Hurricane Katrina 

pillaged the Gulf Coast area 

on August 29, 2005, approximately 

500,000 people lived 

in New Orleans. 

Now two years later, 

half the population has returned 

in spite of the city’s 

uncertain future while the 

other half finds a haven in 

being away from home. 

Two years later and still 

many New Orleanians, remain 

broken by the flood. 

When Hurricane Katrina 

slammed into New Orleans 

news in our publication on 

schedule. Secondly, we want 

to increase access to our stories 

through our university 

website and our Facebook. 

com account. We will also 

stream our news through the 

web as well. 

Finally, we want to become 

more reader responsible. 

Periodically throughout 

the school year we will produce 

polls and surveys to understand 

what you the reader 

wants to read in your publication. 

This information will 

be compiled and reviewed by 

our team and we will make 

adjustments as needed. 

In addition, we invite 

you to write us and let us 

know about your questions, 

concerns, and expectations. 

We are open to the advice 

and needs of our constituency. 

Throughout the year 

you can reach us in the newsroom 

which is located in the 

Sterling Student Life Center 

in Room 221 at TSU. 

it exposed one of America’s 

cultural icons with her pants 

down. In the city of Mardi 

Gras, the French Quarter festival, 

the internationally attended 

Jazz festival, Voodoo, 

Cajun and Creole cuisine, no 

one ever thought a hurricane 

would actually come through 

and destroy it all. 

Within minutes the hurricane 

hit and a few hours later, 

much of the Crescent City 

became flood damaged, having 

their homes turned inside 

out, and everything tainted, 

even lives. 

Unfortunately, because 

hurricanes are known to bypass 

New Orleans at the very 

last minute, more than half 

of the city decided to stay 

and endure the storm believing 

that they were well able 

to handle the consequences. 

Survivors of Hurricane 

Katrina have relocated to 

several states around the 

country with the majority living 

in Houston and Atlanta. 

They initially left New 

Orleans or were forced out, 

believing that they would 

quickly return to the city 

that they called home. Sadly 

enough, many families 

are now suffering from depression 

and post-traumatic 

Dear TSU, 

Can you imagine losing all your worldly possessions? 

stress syndrome, living cut 

off from their communities 

and the comfort they knew 

all too well. 

There is a sense of family, 

love, and heritage that 

New Orleans has and it is 

hard to explain to the outside 

world. It is quite common to 

hear that many New Orleanians 

are born, reared, raise a 

family, and die in the same 

ward (community). 

They take pride in their 

food, dance style, music, and 

splash of French culture. All 

they really wanted was to go 

back home to the things that 

were common to every New 

Orleanian, like hot sausage 

po boys, snow balls, smiles 

in the neighborhood, and 

friends that they’ve had all 

their lives. 

There is a definite need 

to nurse back to health the 

citizens of New Orleans, but 

how long will the process 

take, it has been two years 

already? 

Reports have stated that 

those stricken by poverty endured 

the storm because they 

had no means of evacuating, 

but what has gone unreported 

is that many stayed because 

New Orleans is home, 

and no one really wanted to 

leave. 

After America saw the 

inconceivable pictures of 

Americans surviving immediately 

after the hurricane 

hit, tens of thousands were 

rescued and removed from 

what they called home. If 

you ask someone from New 

Orleans what makes the city 

so special, they would most 

likely begin to smile and say 

‘Baby, it’s the people, the 

food, and just knowing that 

no matter where you are, 

you can say “Hey bae, how 

ya momma and dem?,”and 

they’ll reply, “They alright”. 

New Orleanians have 

a unique sense of home and 

family that makes any detachment 

unbearable for 

most, so how do we heal? 

Sherrell Martin is a native 

New Orleanian and Psychology 

student in the Graduate 

program here at TSU. 

The HERALD | Vol. 60, No.1 | AUGUST 31, 2007 3 

As we celebrate 60 years of “Excellence in Achievement,” we welcome you to 

Texas Southern University. 

On behalf of the administration, faculty and staff, we wish you a successful 

and productive year. 

Welcome to the Tiger family! 

J. Timothy Boddie, Jr. 

Interim President, Texas Southern University 

Welcome TSU Students!

4 


On Campus 

UPC, working their tails off for TSYOU Pan prepares to serve student body 

By Tiffany Mull 

UPC Secretary 

It is 12:00 noon on the 

campus of Texas Southern 

University and you hear a 

loud commotion on the tiger 

walk. The D.J (C-Styles) 

is blasting the latest songs 

by Lil Wayne and Beyonce. 

Everyone is dancing and 

conversing with friends as 

C-Styles screams over the 

mic, “This is brought to you 

by the University Program 

Council (U.P.C)!” 

U.P.C. is the official programming 

arm of the Sterling 

Student Life Center! We 

coordinate, plan, schedule, 

and present activities and programs 

to entertain and inform 

the TSU family. We are a student-run 

organization with membership open 

to all full-time and part-time students. 

So join, have fun, present your ideas, 

and come ready to work! Annual 

events such as our Comedy Nights, 

Mixers, Casino Nights, and Fun Bus 

trips prove to always be successful 

and entertaining. 

Though UPC is known for having 

D.Js’on the yard, they do so much 

more. Projects such as the Prom Dress 

and Can Food Drives and performances 

for local public schools have benefited 

the community. The Spiritual 

Awareness Committee has sponsored 

forums and religious performances. 

The Forum II committee of UPC has 

Dr. Cherry Ross Gooden 

is an “outstanding educator” 

with a name and face never 

to be forgotten. 

A 1964 graduate of Texas 

Southern University, she 

earned her B.S. in Elementary 

Education and later earned 

her Master’s in Elementary 

Education with a concentration 

in Reading from TSU. 

She later went on to earn her 

Doctorate of Education Degree 

in Educational Leadership 

and Cultural Studies, 

with a program emphasis 

in Multicultural Education, 

from the University of Hous- 

brought national and international 

speakers such as Cornel West, Jawanza 

Kunjufu and Fox Rich. Trips to 

the Ensemble Theatre, and movie 

premieres are also regular events on 

the UPC schedule. The University 

Program Council this year is focusing 

on increasing school spirit and would 

love for all students to sign up to make 

every year better than the last. 

With different committees such 

as Cinema, which hosts movie nights 

on and off-campus and Social Recreation, 

which hosts larger events like 

our Mardi Gras Mambo and talent 

shows, U.P.C. continues to be true to 

its slogan - “We Work Our Tails 

Off For You!!! 

Gooden is rooted in TSU 

By Natia Simon 

Contributing Writer 

Chris Gaston, Past President of the Pan and NaTosha Edwards, President of the UPC pause to take a picture. 

ton. 

Gooden is a dedicated and 

committed teacher with more 

than 40 years of teaching experience 

at both the elementary 

and university levels. 

She has been a consultant 

for various school districts in 

the state of Texas as well as 

throughout the nation. 

Gooden currently serves 

as an Associate Professor 

and Interim Chair of the Department 

of Curriculum & 

Instruction in the College of 

Education 

A TSU treasure, Gooden 

is a true Tiger in every sense 

of the word, giving back 

relentlessly by dedicating 

her expertise and touching 

countless lives at TSU. An 

“astounding orator”, Gooden 

has spoken in many capacities 

on and off campus. 

She is often invited to 

speak at many universities 

due to her extensive background 

in multicultural studies, 

noting her as an authority 

in multicultural citizenship. 

Her style is captivating and 

always thought provoking. 

She is a familiar face in the 

Fairchild building with her 

eye catching manicure and 

signature haircut as the former 

director of the GUAC 

program, current chairperson 

of the Second Mile Sophomore 

Retention Program. 

Both programs are dedicated 

in strengthening the overall 

success of a young students 

most critical years in college. 

For many years she has 

been an intricate part of the 

“Dream Team” for the Miss 


Pageant as well as a diligent 

chaperone for many reigning 

queens during their tenure. 

Gooden is a member of 

many professional organizations 

including National Association 

for Multicultural 

Education (where she is also 

a founding member), Texas 

Association of Black Personnel 

in Higher Education, International 

Reading Association, 

Concerned Educators 

of Black Children and the 

National Alliance of Black 

School Educators where she 

serves as Chair-Elect of the 

Higher Education Commission. 

She has also been active 

in community organizations 

such as Jack and Jill of 

America, National Women of 

Achievement, Alpha Kappa 

Alpha Sorority, Inc, and 

Black Americans. 

By Chris Gaston 

SGA External Vice President 

The purpose of the Pan Hellenic 

Council (The Pan) is not only to ensure 

the existence and enhancement of 

its member organizations, but serve 

as an asset to student life on Texas 

Southern University’s campus. 

In addition, it is responsible 

for implementing and engaging 

programs/activities that the NPHC 

and its member organization 

endorse. 

The Pan will not only sponsor 

social activities to encourage 

stronger bonds between member 

organizations and the students of 

Texas Southern University, but 

Hotline blazes on 

By Natalie Baker 


If any Texas Southern 

University student wants to 

break into the music business 

but lacks the skills to 

rhyme, hold a note, or play 

an instrument, then Hotline 

is here to help. 

Hotline is an internship 

program that gives students 

a tangible meaning of its 

motto: “There is more to the 

music business than being a 

rapper,” by providing interns 

with the opportunity to experience 

what it is like to work 

behind the scenes of the music 

industry. 

“There are different careers 

in the music business 

that kids don’t know about,” 

said Shannon Henderson, 

Hotline’s program community 

volunteer. 

The different careers that 

Hotline interns get hands-on 

experience with are primarily 

marketing and promotions, 

two fields that Henderson is 

no stranger to. 

After leaving Howard 

University and helping 

launch P. Diddy’s Bad Boy 

record label, Henderson 

came to Houston, started 

her own promotions company 

that eventually led to 

engage in community 

endeavors endorsed by 

the NPHC and member 

organizations such as 

volunteering for communitybased 

organizations, 

sponsoring educational 

seminars, or issuing 

scholarships. 

The Pan is composed 

of members from each 

undergraduate chapter of the 

organizations affiliated with 

NHPC. They include the 

following: Alpha Phi Alpha 

Fraternity Inc., Alpha Kappa 

Alpha Sorority Inc., Kappa 

Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., 

Omega Psi Phi., Delta Sigma 

Theta Sorority Inc., Phi Beta 

Sigma Fraternity Inc., Zeta 

Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Sigma 

Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., and Iota 

Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. 

These organizations are bound 

to comply with the constitution, 

bylaws and resolutions set by the 

Pan and the NPHC as long as 

they are not counter to the rules, 

regulations, or executive orders of 

Texas Southern University or those 

of their respective organizations. 

The National Pan Hellenic 

Council has and will continue to 

serve as mentors and leaders for the 

Texas Southern University student 

body. 

the creation of the Hotline 

internship, the 27th program 

added to TSU’s Center On 

The Family program. 

“Hotline was created because 

I got three to five calls 

a day from people asking 

‘can you listen to my demo?’ 

That sparked an interest to 

provide information to college 

kids about how to break 

into the music business because 

hip hop is so prevalent 

in our culture, and I felt that 

there was a need to educate 

college students so that we 

can help them carve out their 

paths,” Henderson said. 

Each semester, Hotline 

interns put together some type 

of product that gives back to 

the Center On The Family. 

One product that the interns 

have put together includes 

a series of nursery rhymes 

called T.O.T.S: “Teaching 

Others To Succeed.” The interns 

choose nursery rhymes 

that they remix by urbanizing 

them. The interns create the 

art work, choose the nursery 

rhymes, and decide who they 

want to work with because 

“it is entirely intern driven, 

Henderson said; “I just carve 

out the path.” 

“Hotline has provided 

me with a priceless opportu- 

(SEE HOTLINE PAGE 15) 

TSU students participate in study abroad program 

By James Hollins 


In this age of globalization, 

a close understanding 

of foreign cultures is both a 

significant educational benefit 

and an inspiring personal 

experience. Study abroad 

programs across the world 

have dedicated themselves 

to providing college students 

with the opportunity to discover 

and embrace a culture 

different from their own. 

This fall, 12 TSU students 

will be embarking on 

a journey that will serve not 

as only an extension to their 

studies, but will impact their 

lives in a major way that is 

sure to have lasting benefits. 

By studying abroad, these 

students will be able to continue 

their education uninterrupted. 

Many of the students who 

will study abroad said they 

chose countries in which they 

had strong cultural interest 

and curiosity. Felix Rainey, a 

sophomore political science 

major, said this would allow 

him to get a true sense of different 

cultures. 

“You can’t rely on the 

media to tell us what we 

should think and know about 

the world. This will be my 

opportunity to obtain global 

competence and widen my 

appreciation for other cultures,” 

Rainey said. 

Felix Rainey is just one 

of the twelve TSU students 

who will travel to various 

countries such as Jordan, 

Spain, Thailand, Kenya and 

France. 

Because studying abroad 

Fu t u r e t i g e r s g e t a h e a d s t a r t 

By Victoria Lewis 


The Upward Bound Program 

is a federally funded educational 

outreach program, 

located on Texas Southern 

University’s campus, to help 

high school students move 

into a post secondary educational 

experience with ease. 

This program prepares 

students academically and 

socially for the challenges of 

post secondary education. It 

is comprised of three components, 

The Academic Year, 

The Summer and The Bridge 

Program. 

During the Academic 

Year students meet every Saturday 

during the school year 

from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

In this session the students 

focus on tutoring, counseling 

and test taking skills. Several 

field trips are also included 

for cultural enrichment. 

The summer session is 

a six week residential intensive 

academic and personal 

development program. This 

program focuses on mathematical 

skills, career awareness 

and social development 

skills. To help students 

achieve in developing these 

skills, there are activities that 

include academic classes, 

special interest classes, cul- 

Top: Students pose in front of King Phillip IV in Plaza Mayor in Madrid. 

Below: Students stand on top of Alcazar of Segovia. 

(Pictures provided by Laci Broussard.) 

tural activities, recreational 

sports and out-of-town field 

trips. 

The Bridge Program 

gives graduates a chance to 

stay in a college residential 

environment and enroll during 

the summer in classes, 

earning up to six college 

credits here at Texas Southern 

University. Credits 

earned can be transferred to 

any post secondary educational 

institution, giving the 

student a head start on their 

higher education. 

Upward Bound has 

six target schools that include 

Barbara Jordan, Forest 

Brook, Kashmere, M.B. 

Smiley, Ross Shaw Sterling, 

and Phillis Wheatley. In order 

for the student to be considered 

for the program they 

must either be a potential first 

generation college student, 

or have an economic need 

established by the Department 

of Education income 

guidelines. 

“This program is very 

important to me,” Boutte 

said, “It gives me an opportunity 

to be a mentor, father 

figure, and a big brother to 

the students who need it.” 

Boutte has been a part of 

the program for three years 

and enjoys seeing the kids 

learn from the faculty, each 

other, and themselves. 

“For most kids, it helps 

them out socially, and it 

takes them out of their comfort 

zone. They end up coming 

out of their shell”, Boutte 

explained. 

Bobby Ray Williams 

works in the Math and Science 

section of Upward 

Bound. He is a Tutor Counselor 

for the students who 

participate in this part of the 

program. 

“I enjoy the program because 

it allows students to 

get ahead in their classes and 

it gives them a chance to see 

that there are still positive 

role models in the world”, 

Williams shared. 

The students have to stay 

in the dorm rooms located on 

TSU campus, as well as the 

leaders of the program. 

“It gives the students 

and the leaders a chance to 

join, and build strong lasting 

relationships”, Williams 

said. 

The Upward Bound 

Program has been criticized 

because it only reaches out 

to certain target schools, and 

not to all the schools on the 

Houston area. 

According to Boutte, the 

program targets families in 

the low income and poverty 

areas. 


has proven to be advantageous 

to students who 

work in ethnically and 

culturally diverse settings, 

the U.S. House of Representatives 

unanimously 

passed a bill that would 

start the Senator Paul Simon 

Study Abroad Foundation. 

It is the goal of the 

foundation to make studying 

abroad much more 

affordable and accessible 

for students. 

Studying abroad is 

open to all students and 

a time of furthering your 

studies outside the United 

States allows you to forge 

lasting international relationships, 

recognize and 

welcome cultural differences 

and help in changing 

stereotypes that stagnate 

the development of 

your academic and personal 

growth. 

“It is critically important 

for TSU students 

to prepare themselves to be 

global citizens. Opportunities 

to live and study in another 

country and to get to 

know another culture provide 

the best way to obtain this 

preparation,” said Dr. Gregory 

Maddox, Associate Dean 

of the Graduate School. 

BATTLE 

(Continued from page 1) 

at the door, and $25 for 

VIP seating. 

“Tickets will be made 

available at both University 

bookstores, and the funds 

from all ticket sales will 

go towards the purchase of 

new uniforms and equipment 

for both bands,” said 

Freemon Walker, Comptroller 

for the TSU Student 

Government Association. 

Another addition to 

this year’s line-up is the 

first annual “Football Fusion 

– Uniting to Save 

Lives” community blood 

drive with the American 

Red Cross in conjunction 

with the 23rd Annual Labor 

Day Classic Weekend. 

The university that collects 

the most units for this 

3 day blood drive will be 

presented with a trophy for 

their achievement. All presenting 

donors will receive 

a special commemorative 

T-shirt and all donors will 

also be entered into various 

drawings including one (1) 

round trip Southwest Airline 

ticket. 

The “Football Fusion” 

blood drives will be held 

from August 29 to August 

31 at both campuses. Volunteers 

can sign up online 

On Campus 

“You can’t rely on the 

media to tell us what 

we should think and 

know about the world. 

This will be my opportunity 

to obtain global 

competence and widen 

my appreciation for 

other cultures...” 

-Felix Rainey 

Study Abroad 

participants and 

destinations 

Lazarus Blount – Kenya 

Laci Broussard – Spain 

Drew Browne – Thailand 

Ashley Davis – Chile 

Kirby Green – Spain 

April Hayes – Chile 

Erline Maingot – Cyprus 

Shannon McGautha – Paris 

Felix Rainey – Jordan 

Julian Rodriguez – Thailand 

Tayla Thomas – Brazil 

Carey Woodard – Kenya 

at www.givelife.org using 

Passcode “prairieview” to 

sign up for a Prairie View 

drive or Passcode “texassouthern” 

to sign up for 


drives or visit one of the 

universities’ Health Centers 

for more information 

on how they can save up to 

3 lives with their donation. 

“We’re looking forward 

to hosting and winning 

all the events next 

weekend. We have put a 

lot of hard work into making 

sure that these events 

are a success,” said Chris 

Gaston, Vice President for 

Internal Affairs. 

“From the special 

events side, we’re just 

pleased as punch that SGA 

wants to do this event, and 

are excited that there has 

already been a tremendous 

response to it,” said Broussard. 

The game will be 

played on Saturday, September 

1, at the Reliant 

Stadium. Tickets will be 

available on Ticketmaster, 

in the Follet Bookstore, 

and at the Stadium. 

“I won’t miss the game 

for the world. You know 

that I’m going to be there,” 

said Paul Johnson, freshman, 

from Tennessee.

6 


This Summer 

Denkins speaks to the summer class of 2007 

Dr. Denkins poses with President Boddie and Provost Wilson. (Photo by Earlie Hudnall) 


Staff Writer 

As the university approached 

the dawn of its 60th 

Anniversary, the last class of 

the 59th academic school 

year of Texas Southern University 

crossed the stage to 

become alumni of the historic 

university. On August 11, 

TSU hosted another graduation 

with over 200 graduates 

from various fields of study. 

As the building filled 

with love ones from near 

and far, rushing in to find 

a seat close enough to take 

pictures and e-mail them to 

those who could not make 

the graduation, the ceremony 

began with words from the 



It was time for a change 

after the explosion of 2006, 

when alleged misappropriation 

of funds threaten to 

crumble Texas Southern University 

(TSU); a leader had 

to emerge from the rubble. 

It was the students of TSU 

who rose to the occasion and 

stood up for their university, 

their future alma mater. The 

appointed and elected officials 

of the Student Government 

Association have led 

the charge against the political 

and financial adversity 

they faced. 

The former administration 

of leaders created the 

battle cry “No More Bull 

S.H.I.T.”; that is to say, “No 

More Stealing of Student 

Funds, No More Hidden 

Agendas, No More Ignorance 

of the Issues, and No 

More Tainted Leadership.” 

This moniker was coined 

renowned Thomas Freeman, 

Distinguished Professor of 

Forensics here at TSU. 

“Let us glory in the 

strength of the day and the 

beauty to come” was heard 

rumbling through the Health 

and Physical Education 

Building as the graduating 

class made its journey from 

candidate to graduate. 

Cheers echoed and loud jeers 

rang as flashing cameras 

seized the moment of the day. 

The graduating class was 

greeted with love and pride 

from family and friends who 

shared in the graduates’ happiness 

of accomplishment. 

“It’s always good to see 

black men doing something 

positive”, said Brian Cham- 

Don’t reign over my school: 

Students stand up for change at Texas Southern 

TSU standing on the steps of the Capital (Austin,) (Photo By: Terrance 

Coburn) 

just as the Board of Regents 

voted 8-1 to terminate Dr. 

Priscilla Slade, who is currently 

on trial for misusing 

university funds 

After their inauguration 

that past summer, the Student 

Government, under the 

leadership of President Clare 

Bailey, a graduate student in 

the Jesse H. Jones School 

of Business, had to battle a 

number of rumors dealing 

bers, friend of two of the 

graduates, “I’m just here to 

show my support”. 

The commencement 

speaker was Pamela Denkins, 

Ph.D., Human Resource Program, 

NASA/JSC, and three 

time TSU graduate. 

Denkins has received a 

Bachelor of Science in Physics; 

a Masters of Science in 

Mathematics; and a Ph.D. 

in Environmental Toxicology 

all from Texas Southern 

University. Her professional 

honors include the NASA 

Exceptional Achievement 

Medal; Johnson Space Shuttle 

Center Graduate Fellow; 

NASA Group Achievement 

Award, several letters for 

outstanding performances, 

with their TSU, the most important 

of which had been 

the ensued threat of merging 

the university into one of the 

Texas university systems, 

being placed under conservatorship 

or more devastatingly 

closure of the university. 

At the end of 2006, rumors 

began circulating that 

Texas Southern and the Texas 

Youth Commission, another 

major institution under 

and Outstanding TSU Alumnus 

to name a few. 

Denkins provoked the 

graduating class by enlightening 

them with these words, 

“we have a duty to our own”, 

which evoked the audience 

and the graduating class into 

a round of applause. She reminded 

them to never forget 

their roots and “all those that 

watered the path along the 

way”. 

She went on to promote 

pride in self and community, 

informing the graduates that 

although life was filled with 

countless challenges, TSU 

had equipped them to overcome. 

This sentiment was 

overwhelmingly accepted 

with a loud and almost fa- 

political and financial scrutiny, 

could both possibly be 

subject to conservatorship. 

Unlike TSU, the Texas State 

Senate voted to put the TYC 

under conservatorship in 

March of 07. Many felt that 

this was a move to soften the 

blow, when the idea would 

try to be forced upon the 

TSU community. 

Webster defines conservatorship 

as a person, official 

or institution appointed by a 

court to take over and manage 

the estate of an incompetent. 

Conservatorship would 

have put the university in 

direct violation of the accreditation 

standards set by 

the Southern Association of 

Colleges and Schools. 

This violation would have 

resulted in a cessation of financial 

aid to the students of 

TSU, almost 90 percent of 

which receive financial aid 

to pay for tuition to the university. 

In January 2007, Gov. 

Rick Perry created an 11member 

Blue Ribbon advisory 

committee to help turn 

around the financially trou- 

natic roar from the audience 

and graduating class. 

Dr. Denkins effortlessly 

encouraged the graduating 

class to “visualize success”. 

She explained that it was of 

the utmost importance that 

one sees himself successful 

“for many years I have seen 

myself at this podium speaking 

at a TSU graduation”. 

As the graduates crossed 

the stage to accept their degrees, 

the audience once 

again jubilantly stood to their 

feet, shouting out the names 

of the graduates while capturing 

the memorable experience 

with video and digital 

cameras. 

The graduation ended 

with as much love as it began. 

The audience stood with 

beaming pride and ridiculous 

smiles, as the summer graduates 

strolled out of the Health 

Building, no longer candidates, 

but graduates. 

Although it was extremely 

hot and no one really had 

a parking spot that permitted 

a comfortable walk afterwards, 

it really didn’t matter. 

The graduates, family, and 

friends, all lived in the moment 

of ‘a job well done’. 

“I spent the entire time 

trying to hold back tears”, 

said a teary eyed Udoka C. 

Ugbala, graduate with a 

Bachelor of Science, in Human 

Services and Consumer 

Sciences, Child and Family 

Development, “I was in my 

own world during the ceremony 

and I just want to hold 

on to it”. 

bled university. The committee 

was tasked with the 

responsibility of creating a 

long-range plan for the university. 

Before revealing its conclusions, 

the panel held a forum 

at TSU to receive input 

from the TSU community on 

recommendations to be considered 

for inclusion in the 

report. The flames of the forum 

were fueled by the comments 

that conservatorship 

could possibly be inevitable 

for the university. The forum 

sparked a Student Government 

initiative to learn about 

the affects that the recommendations 

would have on 

their university. The Student 

Government sponsored buses 

to transport students from 

TSU to Austin, where they 

met with legislators to discuss 

the issues. 

The plan which was released 

in late March, included 

5 key recommendations 

for TSU: 

1. That it remain an independent 

institution with the 

strictest financial oversight. 

SEE CONSERVATORSHIP page 15) 

By: Claudette Johnson 

Staff Writer 

On Sunday, July 29, 

2007, Miss Black Harris 

County USA Pernilla Higgins, 

and Miss Black Houston 

USA Linze Green, both 

students at Texas Southern 

University, participated in 

the Miss Black Texas USA 

Pageant, which was hosted 

at the University of Houston 

University Center. 

Although Higgins and 

Green did not win the title, 

they both made a very good 

showing. Not only was Higgins 

a top 5 finalist, she also 

was named 1st runner-up to 

Miss Black Houston. Higgins, 

a graduate student in 

the Masters of Public Administration 

program in 

the Barbara Jordan Mickey 

Leland School of Public 

Affairs, also won the evening 

gown competition, 

was named Miss Hospitality 

and received 1st runners 

up for the Director’s Award 

for Fundraising. Green, a senior 

Communications major, 

also received accolades, being 

named Miss Photogenic. 

Both ladies received Congressional 

Commendations 

from Congresswoman Sheila 

Jackson Lee. 

“It was definitely a wonderful 

experience. It was a 

By Benna Sayyed 

Staff Writer 

Congressman Al Green 

(TX-09) participated in a 

joint House-Senate conference 

late July which enabled 

him to play a major role in 

procuring a National Transportation 

Security Center of 

Excellence for Texas Southern 

University. 

TSU now belongs to a 

small proportion of institutions 

that have access to a 

pool of funds of approximately 

$72 million that will 

be distributed in shares of 

$18 million per year over 

the next four years. The 

congressman cannot immediately 

distinguish the exact 

amount TSU will receive, 

but he said the university 

will indeed receive a portion 

to fund the NTSCE. 

As part of the 9-11 commission 

bill, under the authorization 

of Congress, the 

Homeland Security Centers 

of Excellence assemble leading 

experts and researchers 

to work on multidisciplinary 

research and education projects 

to develop homeland 

security solutions. The centers 

are individually led by 

different experience for me 

because all the girls in the 

pageant were very supportive 

and were very genuine 

in uplifting each other.” said 

Higgins, former Motion at 

TSU. 

The participants were 

judged and scored based on 

five different categories: Preliminary 

Interview, Fitness, 

Impromptu Speaking, and 

Talent. The participants were 

scored as followed: 35% Interview 

(during the preliminary 

competition), 15% Fitness, 

30% Talent (during the 

preliminary competition), 

20% Evening Gown, and 

35% Impromptu Question 

(for the finalists on the pageant 

night). The winner of 

the Miss Texas USA crown 

received a $3,000 scholarship 

and “A Royal Journey Back 

to [Her] Roots” in the West 

African country of Gambia, 

where she will compete for 

the prestigious “2007 Miss 

Black USA”. 

At the end of the night, 

Kalaiah Vaughn and Jordan 

Franklin were crowned Miss 

Black Texas USA 2007 and 

Miss Black Teen Texas USA 

2007 respectively. 

“Miss Black Texas USA 

Kalaiah Vaughn will now 

travel to Gambia, Africa,” 

said Miss Black Texas USA 

director, Candace Dismuke, 

select universities that team 

up with partners from other 

institutions, agencies, think 

tanks, laboratories, and the 

private sector. 

The NTSCE at TSU 

will manage a research and 

education enterprise and 

promote the development 

or provision of professional 

security training. This will 

include the training of transportation 

professionals and 

“to compete in Miss Black 

USA 2008. Both queens received 

a prize package with 

gifts from Tiffany & Co., 

Origins, Travis Cal and 

Fashionably Loud, High Society 

Boutique, Ideal Smiles 

Dental Services, and much 

more.” 

Dismuke is an English 

professor at TSU, and has 

had an extensive career in 

the pageantry circuit. Dismuke 

her career in pageantry 

at age 12 in Dallas, Texas as 

the first Miss Teen Savvy for 

Northeast Texas. She trained 

professionally with Mrs. 

USA 1992, Deborah Williams. 

At an early age, she 

was afforded the opportunity 

to explore pageantry in all 

of its diverse forms, going 

on to win the titles of Miss 

Black Teen Collin County, 

Miss Black Teen Texas, Miss 

Black and Gold Eta Mu, and 

Miss Juneteenth for the state 

of Texas. 

“I wasn’t disappointed in 

the results of the pageant. I 

thought it was a great experience,” 

said Green. “All of 

the girls had lots of leadership 

and character, so I was 

happy for the young lady 

who won.” 

Crystal Hadnott, also a 

graduate student in the Barbara 

Jordan Mickey Leland 

School of Public Affairs, ma- 

employees. 

“This NTSCE will allow 

TSU to harness expertise 

and knowledge, create 

jobs, and serve as a beacon 

for the development of transportation 

security solutions,” 

said Congressman Green, an 

alumnus of TSU and graduate 

of the Thurgood Marshall 

School of Law. 

“I am sure that there 

were many other institutions 


joring in Public Administration, 

was also in attendance. 

Hadnott served as Miss Black 

Houston 2006. 

Other contestants competing 

for this prestigious 

title included, Miss Black 

Alief USA LaTika Young, 

Miss Black Arlington USA 

that could have been considered, 

but I know what Texas 

Southern is capable of, I 

know what it’s done, I know 

what it can do, and I am honored 

to put it in a position to 

be among the elite universities 

in this country.” 

According to Green, only 

six universities were selected 

to be a part of this elite class, 

TSU being number one on 

the list. 

This Summer 

Queens at TSU vie for Miss Black Texas title 

Green and Higgins pose for a picture after the pageant. Photo By Claudette 

Johnson. 

Ashley Thomas, Miss Black 

College Station USA Allyson 

Buckner, Miss Black 

Dallas USA ChrisSharrah 

Willis, Miss Black South 

Texas Kalaiah Vaughn, and 

Miss Black Southeast Texas 

USA Myi Watson. 

Congressman secures Center of Excellence for TSU 

Congressman Green announces the development of New Center. 

As a member of the 

Homeland Security Committee, 

Green said he was fortunate 

enough to be one of 44 

persons to serve on the conference 

committee that was 

responsible for the reconciliation 

of both the House and 

Senate versions of the 9-11 

commission bill. 

While on the conference 

committee he was very active 

in the debates between 

the House and the Senate. 

During the debates, Green 

worked very closely with 

Homeland Security Committee 

Chairman Bennie 

Thompson to get TSU to become 

a NTSCE. They were 

able to get the House conference 

report passed on Jul. 27, 

and the Senate conference 

report passed on Jul. 26. 

Green is very appreciative 

of Thompson’s willingness 

to collaborate and help 

establish TSU as a prominent 

institution in the U.S. He said 

that it could not have been 

done without the chairman. 

“This NTSCE will serve 

to enhance transportation security 

for the Houston Metropolitan 

Area, the State of 

Texas, and across this great 

nation,” said Green.

8 


This Summer 

Ward tells youth to “Create your own identity” 

Camp participants pause for a group photo. 


Staff Writer 

Athlete, role model, and 

Christian, Charlie Ward once 

again selflessly gave back to 

young aspiring athletes. 

“It’s easy to give when 

you did not grow up with 

excess”, stated Ward. Now 

that Ward does have the 

‘excess’, he feels that it is 

his responsibility to give to 

those in need. This summer 

the aWard Foundation, established 

in 2001 by Charlie 

and his wife Tonja, hosted 

the Charlie Ward Basketball 

Camp for boys and girls 

here on TSU’s campus. The 

camps were held on July 22 

thru July 26 for the girls and 

July 29 thru August 2, 2007 

for the boys. 

Both camps entered their 

11th year of continuation with 

the unchanged purpose of 

seeking to strengthen hearts 

of young people through 

character building programs 

which enhance athletic, artistic 

and academic skills and 

provoke spiritual and physical 

well being. 

Ward modestly acknowledges 

his thanks for 

being able to do the things 

he does for young athletes, 

“God placed me here to be 

an instrument for him and I 

get to represent Jesus Christ 

through what I do”. 

Although the camps do 

charge a monetary fee, many 

of the campers are recipients 

of financial assistance 

through The aWard Foundation. 

As a former Heisman 

Trophy winner at Florida 

State University, and a former 

NBA player, Ward finds 

reassurance in providing 

young athletes with options 

for their future. 

Growing up with parents 

that were both educators, 

Ward commends them for 

instilling the importance of 

education and Christ. He was 

taught at an early age that 

education worked best when 

Christ was included, and it is 

that guidance that he gives at 

his camps each year. 

Ward encourages the 

campers to go beyond just a 

high school diploma; he informs 

them that “extra education” 

is essential in today’s 

society. 

Ward is a firm believer 

that success off the court is 

just as important as success 

on it, and he conveys that 

to the campers by teaching 

spiritual and personal character 

building values while 

improving their raw talent 

and determination. One of 

his most important lessons to 

the campers is for them to remain 

true to their identity. 

When asked to explain, 

Marvin E. Dawson, the camp 

coordinator stated,” Charlie 

wants the kids to be comfortable 

with who they are and 

not to be afraid to dream, 

even if it seems impossible”. 

It is the belief of Ward 

that if the kids put God first, 

set goals, and put in the work 

necessary to attain those 

goals, anything is possible. 

“Education is essential”, 

says Dawson, “we preach 

God and education because 

we want the kids to be successful 

and we want to minister 

to the body, mind, and 

spirit at the same time”. 

The unique aspect of 

combining a developmental 

basketball program with a 

Former NBA athlete hosts food drive on campus 


Staff Writer 

Former NBA basketball 

player and college football 

star Charlie Ward embraced 

the Third Ward community 

with his well-known charitable 

touch Aug. 3, as he 

hosted a Feed The Children 

(FTC) food drive on campus. 

Under the sweltering 

mid-day sun, Ward joined 

hands with other FTC 

volunteers and members of 

the TSU chapters of Omega 

Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and 

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity 

Inc. in Lot C to deliver the 

goods to those in need. 

Ward, who is considered 

by many to be one of the 

NBA’s finest role models 

due to his extensive work 

as a humanitarian, went out 

into the community prior 

to the event and distributed 

800 food tickets in neighborhoods 

such as the Cuney 

Homes. The ticket recipients 

then came to Lot C between 

11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to exchange 

their tickets for FTC 

charity boxes that contained 

perishable food items, toilet- 

Charlie Ward and students from TSU pass out boxes of food to members in the community. 

ries, and packs of juice. 

Ward said his inspiration 

behind leading the event 

was the opportunity to bless 

people with some of the 

good fortune he has received 

through relationships he has 

built with the NBA an other 

associations. 

“Our goal is to help 

people regardless of race, 

color, creed, or need,” said 

Ward. 

“What I get out of it is a 

reward in heaven one day,” 

he said, smiling jubilantly. 

Phillip Merchant, a 

TSU senior and member of 

Omega Psi Phi said that his 

organization’s role in the 

food drive was to assist the 

recipients by unloading the 

boxes from the two large 

FTC trucks and helping 

transport the boxes to their 

vehicles. He also mentioned 

that one of his fraternity’s 

key efforts is to serve the 

community in any way possible, 

and taking part in the 

event was a chance to fulfill 

its personal obligation. 

“It’s a wonderful feeling 

just to come out and actually 

see the pure appreciation in 

a lot of people’s faces, just 

the look in the parent’s faces 

knowing that they will be 

able to give their children 

maybe even a better meal 

than they had the night before,” 

said Merchant. 

traditional Christian camp, 

allows The Charlie Ward 

Basketball Camp to grasp attention 

from all others. 

“God has created us to be 

a people of high standards, 

great character, with ethical 

morals and values. There 

comes a time when we must 

challenge ourselves to reach 

a new level spiritually. God 

has given us a unique platform 

‘basketball’ to teach 

about His standards for our 

lives. We want young people 

to grow spiritually and experience 

positive influences,” 

said Ward. 

It provides an exceptional 

instructional program 

for all athletic abilities by 

teaching the fundamentals of 

shooting, dribbling, rebounding, 

passing, and defending 

the ball, while giving them 

an opportunity to develop a 

personal relationships with 

some of the nation’s top basketball 

coaches. 

The adventurous nature 

of teens is also met through 

the camp’s Adventure Center, 

where rock climbing is 

taught and team trust is built 

for some and improved upon 

for others. 

Finally, the spirit is fed 

through group bible studies 

which teach moral life lessons 

and gives basic directions 

for building a personal 

relationship with Christ. 

Ward, who is also a 

member of Omega Psi Phi, 

had previously invited the 

TSU chapter to take part in 

the food drive. 

Courtney Lindsay, a 

TSU senior and member of 

Kappa Alpha Psi, said that 

when the Houston Food 

Bank extended its invitation 

to his organization, the guys 

were ready to support. The 

Kappas had worked with the 

Houston Food Bank in the 

past so contacts were still 

strong. 

“It feels good to give 

the disadvantaged something 

because they’re not 

blessed with the same things 

that people with money are 

blessed with.” 

One recipient, Vincent Hopkins 

left the lot sweating and 

smiling, arms full of boxes, 

praising Ward. 

“We’re going through 

hard times right now, we’re 

currently unemployed, we 

have family, and this is the 

best way to feed the family,” 

said Hopkins. 

“I thank Charlie Ward 

from the bottom of my 

heart, he made a lot of people 

feel grateful and words 

can’t explain because it really 

means a whole a lot.” 

By Sherrelll Martin 

Staff Writer 

“You Can’t 

LEAD the 

people if you 

don’t LOVE 

the people. You 

can’t SAVE the 

people if you 

don’t SERVE 

the people.” 

– Dr. Cornel West 

“Young people are 

sleepwalking in bling 

bling and g strings”, 

believes Dr. Cornel 

West, Princeton University 

Professor; and 

unfortunately Dr. West 

has a valid point. To 

eliminate that fact, or 

opinion, depending on 

who you ask, nearly 200 

students representing 

22 states participated in 

this year’s Tavis Smiley 

Foundation’s Leadership 

Institute, Awake and 

Alert, August 2-6, 2007, 

on the campus of Texas 

Southern University. 

The students were 

chosen upon their scholastic 

achievement, a letter 

of recommendation, 

leadership and community 

service and an essay. 

Since its beginning, 

the Leadership Institute 

has mentored more than 

3,000 young ingenious 

minds ages 13-18 years 

old. 

For many, when 

hearing the name Tavis 

Smiley, one automatically 

thinks of his many 

highly esteemed media 

creations. He has his 

PBS nightly talk show, 

Tavis Smiley, the radio 

show, Tavis Smiley 

Show, which is heard by 

listeners every weekend, 

his social and political 

commentary heard on 

the Tom Joyner Morning 

Show, and his annual 

symposium, State of the 

Black Union. With all 

that he is continually 

doing, Smiley stills find 

time to give back 

to the community 

he loves. 

“Learn. Love. 

Save. Serve”, 

derived from a 

conversation Smiley 

had with the 

“smartest Black 

man in America”, 

West, became this 

year’s theme and 

life lesson. 

“If you love 

somebody, you sacrifice,” 

said West. 

The purpose of 

the Institute is to 

prepare youth to 

meet the challenges 

in their communities 

by training 

them with life 

skills. 

“Assign yourself”, 

said Smiley, “if you take 

time to follow the need, 

you will see that there 

is always something to 

do”. 

It was this thought, 

and many like it, which 

created a desire inside 

the young people to 

learn those, trademark 

skills common to the 

most efficient inventive 

leaders. Leadership participants 

were encouraged 

to apply all that 

was learned and mandated 

to create a triumphant 

life for themselves and 

the community around 

them. They were provoked 

to apply the three 

C’s to their lives; Courage, 

Conviction, and 

Commitment. 

They were told to 

have the Courage to 

stand boldly and share 

the things they believe, 

have the Conviction to 

believe when no one 

else does, and stay Com- 

mitted no matter the 

consequences. The influences 

of this life lesson 

took its first breathe 

when participants 

learned to evaluate and 

utilize their strengths 

and weaknesses, exam 

strategies to lead and 

lead well, produced 

said strategies by gathering 

and scrutinizing 

data, set goals and plan 

of achievement, built 

networks through means 

of communication, 

studied legislation and 

public policy and how 

they affect them, and 

then were challenged to 

apply all upon returning 


You cant LEAD the people if you don’t LOVE the people. You cant SAVE the people if you don’t SERVE the people. 

home. Lead. Love. Save. 

Serve. 

The students were 

permitted to set the 

atmosphere during the 

summation of the week 

long experience with 

first viewing an excerpt 

from an upcoming 

documentary about the 

Leadership Institute featuring 

Coble Beavers of 

Houston; Kareem Guess 

of Ambler, 

PA.; George 

Kilpatrick of 

Syracuse, NY 

and Meisha 

Reneau of 

Inglewood, 

CA, four of 

the student 

delegates. 

On Friday, 

August 3 

the students 

participated 

in a Teen 

Town Hall 

and invited 

the renowned 

Dr. Cornel 

West, along 

with, Dr. Eddie 

Glaude, 

Associate 

Professor of Religion 

at Princeton University, 

Phil Wilson, Executive 

Director of Blacks AIDS 

Institute, Ada Edwards, 

Houston City Council 

Member, Crystal Holmes, 

Research Assistant 

for Black Youth Project 

and teens Chloe Griffin 

of Houston, TX and 

Kayla Lane of Wilmington. 

DE. The question 

was posed by Tavis Smiley, 

“What is the depth 

of your love for your 

people?” and one can 

only imagine the earnest 

reaction of the panelists. 

The general feeling was 

This Summer 

the same, ‘we must love 

everybody, some more 

than others’. 

Saturday’s event 

consisted of a night 

of entertainment. The 

students were encouraged 

to participate in a 

talent show that allowed 

them to showcase their 

talents; be it singing, 

dancing, spoken word, 

or prose recitation. 

A closing banquet 

and awards ceremony 

celebrated the achievements 

of the students 

on Sunday evening with 

presenter and distinguished 

inspirational 

speaker and author, 

Iyanla Vanzant. 

While many of the 

students entered the 

Institute with a fervent 

longing for a blueprint 

for the life ahead, most 

left empowered with 

the sense that they can 

change the future. 

“My eyes are opening,” 

said Ezekiel Phillips, 

“I see what they 

(Dr. West) mean by if 

you love a people, you 

must serve the people.” 

Several of the students 

voiced an aspiration 

to get home and 

lead the nation. 

“I’m bringing LIFE 

(an HIV Project that 

promotes testing of 

teens) home to my community”, 

expressed Kara 

Caldwell of Columbus, 

OH. 

When we asked 

one the Youth Advisory 

Council member, Natalia 

Bailey, to sum up the 

week long event and her 

tenure with the council, 

she graciously replied, 

“We are one”.

10 


By Yolanda Braxton 


THE ALMOST FORGOTTEN 40 YEAR HISTORY OF 

Texas SouthernUniversity 

(TSU) 

has a deeply 

rooted 

history in the struggle 

for equality. March 4, 

1960 students from 

TSU organized and led 

the City’s first sit-in 

protest at a Weingarten 

Grocery Store lunch 

counter. This protest introduced 

a new aspect 

in the struggle for equal 

rights in Houston. 

By the end of March, 

TSU students organized the Progressive 

Youth Association (PYA) with 

the main purpose of providing direction 

and strategies for protests. 

These students led sit-in demonstrations 

not only in their community, 

but in major stores located in 

Downtown Houston which included 

Foleys, Grants, Kress, Walgreens, 

and Woolworths. 

On September 1, 1960 a part of 

the battle was won for the Black community 

when nine major businesses 

desegregated their lunch counters. 

Wheeler Street, one of the main 

arteries of Black Houston was constantly 

filled with heavy traffic which 

flowed straight through the campus 

of TSU. 

As white drivers would drive 

through, they would yell out racial 

slurs, threats, and throw objects at 

the Black students. 

There were also a number of students 

that were hit by cars because 

of the massive flow of traffic. Racial 

injustices continually increased, and 

on May 16, 1967 TSU students stood 

up and demonstrated to the City of 

Houston that ‘enough was enough’. 

It was then that Wheeler Street 

was filled with more than three hundred 

people singing and chanting for 

change. This demonstration turned 

out to be the largest single African 

American protest in the history of 

the city. 

Racial tensions accelerated as over 

30 police vehicles, canine squads, 

helmeted police officers with riot 

guns and teargas, and paddy wagons 

were displayed to the demonstrators. 

A shot was fired and the riot began 

with hundreds of police officers 

rushing the campus retaliating with 

gunfire. 

THE TIGERWALK: BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW 

Believing that the gunshot came 

from Lanier Hall, the male dormitory, 

the police gave no opportunities 

to the students that were not apart of 

the riot to vacate. Instead, the police 

chose to surround the dorm and fire 

shot after shot indiscriminately. 

A number of police bullets pummeled 

through the windows and 

walls of Lanier Hall. A rookie police 

officer, Louis Kuba was shot between 

the eyes and when the word 

reached the other officers the gunfire 

increased. 

As the police entered the dormitory 

they forcibly used bolts from their 

shotguns and sharp edges of their 

axes to destroy students’ rooms. 

In an article by the Houston Post 

(12/1/67), William Glaze, President 

of the Sophomore Class said, “One 

of the policemen hit my roommate 

with the butt of a rifle and another 

policeman hit me in the chin with 

the butt of a rifle and I was bitten by 

three police dogs. I saw three other 

students in the dorm bitten by police 

dogs and about twenty others hit 

with rifle butts or clubs. Some of the 

students had cuts on their scalps and 

faces and four were seriously hurt.” 

Walter Fontenot, President 

of the Student Honor Society also 

said, “Two policemen barged into 

the room and dragged me out of my 

room, my head hit against a bed post 

and my roommate was treated in the 

same fashion. They told us not to do 

anything or we would get our heads 

blown off. There were police on each 

level of the stairway who hit students 

“One of the policemen hit my roommate 

with the butt of a rifle and another 

policeman hit me in the chin with the 

butt of a rifle and I was bitten by three 

police dogs. ...Some of the students had 

cuts on their scalps and faces and four 

were seriously hurt.” 

-William Glaze, Sophomore Class President 

(12/1/1967) 

with clubs and gun butts as they went 

down the stairs. I saw five or six students 

hit and I was hit.” 

It was also reported that the policemen 

trampled upon Mrs. Harbert, 

the Lanier Hall Dormitory Matron 

and ransacked her room and personal 

possessions. 

Another student told the Houston 

Post, “Until now, I didn’t know what 

police brutality was. They hit us with 

billy clubs, pistol butts, rifles—whatever 

they had in their hands, they hit 

us with it.” 

Students were dragged naked 

and half naked out into the street 

and forced to lie face down on the 

cold wet ground with guns 

pointed at their backs. 

Female students were 

forced to lie face down in 

the dirt and submit to being 

searched by white male 

police officers before they 

were transported to jail. 

Four Hundred Eighty 

Nine students were arrested 

and five leaders known as 

the “TSU Five”, Trazawell 

Franklin Jr., Douglas Wayne 

Waller, John Parker, Floyd 

H. Nichols, and Charles 

Freeman were charged with 

the murder of Police Officer 

Kuba. 

Cleve McDowell, a 

law student and President 

of the Student Bar Association told 

the Houston Post (11/30/67), “The 

Houston Police Department was unnecessarily 

brutal to the point of being 

vindictive while falsely arresting 

hundreds of students without placing 

charges against them.” 

Charles Freeman was the only 

one out of the five to stand trial which 

was held in Victoria, Texas due to all 

of the intense publicity in Houston, 

Texas. 

His trial ended in a mistrial and 

in November of 1970, a judge dismissed 

all charges against all five 

students because the bullet that killed 

Officer Kuba was one from his very 

own colleagues. 

Charles Freeman, one of the TSU 

Five, went from being accused of 

murder to a lawyer who is dedicated 

to representing accused criminals of 

felonies and misdemeanors in Harris 

County Courts. 

As a result of this demonstration 

Wheeler Street was then transformed 

into the “Tiger Walk”; a historic and 

symbolic landmark that serves as the 

symbol for struggle and the core of 

school spirit at Texas Southern University. 

So the very next time you walk, 

sit, or converse on the Tiger Walk, 

take a moment to appreciate those 

students that laid their lives on the 

line for a struggle from which you 

now reap the benefits. 

TSU students have always taken 

a stand and created ways to make 

their voices heard, it is now your turn 

to continue the legacy. 

The baton has been passed, you 

must embrace the struggle and continue 

to lead and organize for equal 

rights. 

Hallway aftermath of HPD’s manic raid of Lanier Dormitory. 

()Houston Post. 

Police entered the dormitory forcibly using bolts from their shotguns and 

sharp edges of their axes to destroy students’ rooms. Houston Post. 

Student assemble on the Plaza to protest. Houston Post. 

“Two policemen barged into the room and dragged me out of 

my room, my head hit against a bed post and my roommate 

was treated in the same fashion. They told us not to do anything 

or we would get our heads blown off. There were police 

on each level of the stairway who hit students with clubs 

and gun butts as they went down the stairs. I saw five or six 

students hit and I was hit.” 

-Walter Fontenot, President of a Student Honor Society (12/1/1967) 


Girl looks through window of Lanier East Dormitory. Bullet holes made by police 

who charged the building in the 35-minute rampage. Houston Post. 

Students are forced to lay prostrate while rampant police officers storm the dorms in 

search of riot participants. Houston Post. 

This is TSYOU 

history…deeply 

rooted in the 

struggle for 

equality.

12 

Politics 


Black Houston politicians fight for TSU 

Rep. Sylvester Turner speaks with TSU students (Photo By: Terrance Coburn) 


Staff Writer 

Around a dozen black 

Houston politicians have increased 

their assistance to 

Texas Southern University in 

various ways throughout the 

past year in order to guide 

the university in a positive 

direction. 

After former TSU President 

Priscilla Slade was fired 

from her position for allegedly 

misappropriating university 

funds, the university 

was forced to fight for its 

independence which became 

threatened by Gov. Rick 

Perry’s recommendation to 

place the school under con- 

servatorship. 

Much of the contentment 

that the TSU community experienced 

toward the end of 

last April when the governor 

cancelled his call for a conservator 

can be attributed 

to Houston legislators such 

as U.S. Reps. Al Green and 

Sheila Jackson Lee, and State 

Rep. Garnet Coleman. 

“My hope is that TSU 

will be stable and I think my 

job is to make sure that TSU 

is there for students who 

may not be as prepared for 

college or maybe woke up 

one day and said I think I’ll 

go to college,” said Coleman 

who represents District 147, 

which includes TSU. 

IN OUR CORNER 

Congressman 

Al Green 

On January 4, 2007 U.S. Representative 

Al Green took the oath of office to serve the 

people of Texas’ 9th Congressional District 

and began his second term in the United 

States House of Representatives. As a veteran 

civil rights advocate, he has dedicated 

his life to fighting for those in society whose 

voices, too often, are not heard. Congressman 

Green’s chief legislative priority for the 110th Congress is creating a 

Federal Living Wage. As the Democratic Whip for Region 6 and one of the 

newest members of the Committee on Homeland Security, Green is dedicated 

to increasing U.S. port and border security and reducing chemical, biological, 

radiological and nuclear threats. 

Senator 

Rodney Ellis 

Rodney Ellis is currently serving in his 

sixth term in the Texas Senate from Houston. 

During his sixteen year tenure in the Texas 

Senate, the Senator has earned praise as a 

legislative leader on economic development, 

education, civil rights, tax cuts, criminal 

justice and workforce development issues. 

Senator Ellis has passed over 400 pieces of 

legislation. One of his most notable legislative accomplishments includes 

passage of the $650 million TEXAS Grants Program. This program has provided 

free college tuition to over 137,000 students and continues to contribute 

to a more skilled and competitive Texas workforce. 

In 1999, Senator Ellis passed a tax relief bill that created the 3-day sales tax 

holiday, which saved taxpayers over $1.7 billion. 

Coleman also hopes 

that others who can attend 

the college of their choice 

choose TSU because of its 

history and excellence. In the 

past he has helped TSU by 

making sure that emergency 

appropriation was endowed 

for the school and securing 

continuations of the Office 

of Civil Rights (OCR) Fund 

that provides funding for the 

Barbara Jordan Mickey Leland 

School of Public Affairs 

and some of the programs in 

the College of Pharmacy and 

Health Sciences. 

Coleman is currently 

working with Sen. Rodney 

Ellis to pass legislation to address 

fiscal and administrative 

issues at TSU which will 

grant $38.6 million to the 

school. If obtained, the money 

will be divided as follows: 

$25 million in academic development 

initiative funds 

and $13.6 million to pay for 

deferred maintenance costs, 

emergency repairs, and outstanding 

expenses. 

“I’d like to see TSU remain 

independent, strong, 

and preserved for future generations, 

and that’s what I’ll 

continue to work on,” said 

Coleman. 

Last April the legislative 

effort to combat conservatorship 

over TSU reached its 

apex when Rep. Jackson Lee 

and Rep. Al Green collabo- 

rated in leading 41 members 

of the Congressional Black 

Caucus in their opposition of 

the governor’s conservatorship 

proposal. In addition to 

the letter from the CBC Jackson 

Lee wrote a letter to the 

U.S. Department of Education 

inducing Sec. Margaret 

Spellings to intervene in the 

matter. 

In her letter she indicated 

how conservatorship of 

an HBCU would be an outstanding 

federal civil rights 

violation imposing “undue 

burdens on black students.” 

The congresswoman also 

rallied members of the Congressional 

Texas Delegation 

in her effort to keep TSU independent. 

Congressman Green, 

who earned his Juris Doctorate 

at TSU’s Thurgood 

Marshall School of Law, 

has most recently helped the 

university by voting to make 

college more affordable as 

part of the Student College 

Relief Act of 2007. He also 

remains an active alumnus 

of the Thurgood Marshall 

School of Law and an active 

supporter of the KTSU 90.9 

radio station. 

Houston City Council 

Member Jarvis Johnson, 

who received a Bachelor’s 

Degree in Speech Communications 

from TSU in 1997, 

likes to think of himself as a 

Representative 

Sheila Jackson-Lee 

The 109th Session of the United States 

Congress marks the 6th term served by 

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. She represents 

the Eighteenth Congressional District 

of Houston, Texas and sits on three Congressional 

Committees. Currently, in the 

109th Congress, Rep. Jackson Lee serves 

in the House Committees on the Judiciary, 

Science, and Homeland Security – a Committee that was made permanent in 

January 2005 by Congress. In the Committee on the Judiciary, she sits as the 

Ranking Democrat of its Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, 

and Claims – the only female Ranking Democrat in the Committee. 


Garnet Coleman 

good steward to the University 

and strives to render his 

aid in return for everything it 

has done for him. 

“Everywhere I go I carry 

Texas Southern in my heart 

and certainly carry it in my 

wallet; I make sure that we 

give money and I make sure 

that we always talk about 

all of the great things about 

TSU,” said Johnson. 

According to Johnson, 

the financial support that a 

school receives is what gives 

it its longevity and its opportunity 

of growth. 

“I hope that through 

the giving of dollars we will 

continue to do this, to build 

a solid endowment, so that 

we can start to not concern 

ourselves with where we’re 

going financially but where 

we’re going educationally 

and culturally,” said Johnson. 

Besides providing monetary 

support, the councilman 

said he would like to advocate 

more as a vocal cheerleader 

for TSU. 

Other black Houston 

community leaders who have 

fought for TSU over the past 

year include: Ada Edwards, 

Sylvester Turner, Borris 

Miles, Robert Mohammed, 

Ron Green, and El Franco 

Lee. 

Rep. Coleman has served the people of 

District 147 in the Texas House of Representatives 

continuously since 1991. Rep. 

Coleman is known through out the state of 

Texas as a diligent leader, and a spokesman 

for health care, economic development, 

and education. Representative Coleman’s 

legislative efforts have been recognized in 

numerous ways including being named to the prestigious Texas Monthly Ten 

Best Legislators List on two occasions. Most recently he received the 2005 

Reintegration Award presented by Eli Lilly, a national award given in acknowledgment 

of efforts to increase services and decrease the stigma associated 

with mental illness. biological, radiological and nuclear threats. 

IN OUR CORNER 

By Carroll G. Robinson 

Whether you like it or 

not the way America works 

is based primarily on who 

votes, and who the voters 

elect to serve in public office. 

America is not perfect, 

but its been made better by 

those who have persisted in 

their participation regardless 

of the obstacles and threats. 

They did not let frustration 

stand in their way. It’s not 

good enough to say that your 

vote doesn’t count, that some 

people aren’t playing fair, 

that they aren’t playing by 

the rules and that they will 

try to steal an election. As 

sad as it is, these are not new 

problems. What if Charles 

Hamilton Houston and Thur- 


Sylvester Turner 

Representative Turner has served as an 

adjunct professor at the Thurgood Marshall 

School of Law, and as a seminar lecturer at the 

South Texas College of Law and the University 

of Houston Law School’s Continuing Legal 

Education Programs. He is committed to 

several civic and educational causes and has 

been involved with organizations such as the 

United Negro College Fund, the Acres Home Citizens Chamber of Commerce, 

the Coalition for School Improvement and the Board of the American 

Cancer Society. 

Turner began his service in the Legislature in 1988 and ran for Mayor of 

Houston in 1991, and again in 2002 

Councilman 

Ron Green 

Ronald C. Green, a native Houstonian and 

active community partner, was first elected to 

the City Council, At-Large Position Four, on 

December 6, 2003 and re-elected on November 

8, 2005, with 100% of the vote. Council Member 

Green serves as Chairman of the City’s 

Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee which 

oversees all fiscal matters and initiatives to improve 

management and efficiency of City service delivery. Green is very 

Green is very involved in the community and his profession. He is a member 

of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Thurgood Marshall School of Law Alumni Association, 

Government Finance Officers Association, National Association of 

Bond Lawyers, Houston Lawyers Association and Leadership Houston. 

Councilman 

Jarvis Johnson 

Mr. Johnson works tirelessly to improve 

the life, education and community of Fifth 

Ward. He has planned and executed several 

projects such as: Christmas Comes to Fifth 

Ward, School Supplies and Uniform Drive. 

He has received many awards since he has 

embarked on the challenge of developing 

and molding young minds into becoming 

great people. Councilmember Johnson received his formal education at the 

Chinquapin School. Upon graduating from high school he enrolled at Texas 

Southern University majoring in Communications. While attending Texas 

Southern University at the age of 22, Jarvis was called upon to carry on the 

vision of the late Rev. Robert L. Handy, the founder of Phoenix Outreach 

Youth Center (POYC) as Executive Director. 

Did they die in vain? Do you care? 

good Marshall had given up 

because of the separate and 

unequal treatment of African-Americans 

in public policy 

and our nation’s courts 

of law? Where would we be 

today? 

Where would we be if 

those who advocated for 

abolition had sat quietly by 

and said nothing nor did 

anything to support what 

they believed? Generally, 

younger American’s don’t 

vote and their issues and 

concerns are overlooked, ignored, 

neglected and considered 

as afterthoughts. If you 

want to make a difference 

and exercise power in America, 

you need to register to 

vote, learn about the political 

process, and become in- 

Men may not get 

all they pay for 

in this world; but 

they must certainly 

pay for all 

they get.” 

Frederick Douglass, 

1857 

formed about the substance 

of public policy issues at the 

city, county, state, national 

and international levels, and 

VOTE. When you vote, you 

should be an informed voter 

of conscience. After you vote 

you have to remain vigilant 



Borris Miles 

and diligent in holding your 

elected officials accountable. 

You can’t just vote and forget 

about “it” until the next 

election. 

Elected officials work 

for you, you don’t work for 

them. As an employer, it is 

your responsibility to hold 

your employees accountable 

regardless of which political 

party they belong to. 

If you want your issues 

to be taken seriously, your 

concerns addressed and 

problems solved in a manner 

acceptable to you, you 

must talk to all elected officials, 

support those who 

support your agenda, and 

oppose those who ignore or 

oppose your agenda at the 

ballot box. This course of 

action requires you to have 

an agenda that is more than 

Commissioner 

El Franco Lee 

just generalized platitudes. 

Without a substantive agenda, 

you have nothing to use 

as a standard against which 

to measure the performance 

of the elected officials who 

represent you. People have 

died to ensure that you have 

the right to vote. Did they die 

in vain? Do you care enough 

to not just make money for 

yourself but to help make 

America better for you and 

everyone else? 

I hope you do. 

Politics 

Borris L. Miles, a candidate for Houston’s 

State Representative District 146, is a lifelong 

resident of the district who grew up in Sunnyside. 

A former law enforcement officer, Borris 

is a successful entrepreneur and businessman, 

leaving a promising corporate career to 

launch his own insurance agency. He started 

his one-man operation in his garage apartment, 

and today his company - Borris L. Miles Insurance - writes more than $12 

million dollars in insurance premiums annually. Borris’ office is located in 

Houston’s Third Ward on Almeda, where he purchased and renovated two 

city blocks and provides professional lease space to seven other businesses 

and their employees. 

Commissioner El Franco Lee, is a native 

Houstonian, reared in Houston’s Kashmere 

Gardens Addition and a graduate 

of Phillis Wheatley Senior High School. 

Commissioner Lee continued his education 

at Texas Southern University (TSU), 

where he received a Bachelor of Science 

degree from the School of Technology; 

completed related course work and postgraduate studies at the TSU School 

of Public Affairs, and at the University of Houston. Commissioner Lee began 

his political career in 1979 when he was elected Texas State Representative 

for District 142 where he served for five years. Commissioner Lee was elected 

and sworn in as the first African American Harris County Commissioner, 

where he is currently serving his sixth term 

Councilwoman 

Ada Edwards 

Councilwoman Edwards is a humanitarian 

who fights for the rights of all people, a City 

Council Member, a spiritual leader, a pillar in 

the community, a talented speaker, a successful 

entrepreneur, a nurturer of all those who 

cross her path, and a devoted mother of five 

and grandmother of eleven. She was elected in 

2001, 2003 and again in 2005 to Houston City 

Council District D to represent the district she calls home. Councilwoman 

Edwards chairs Housing and Community Development, the State of Emergency 

HIV/AIDS Task Force and the Flooding and Drainage Issues Committee. 

She also serves on six other committees of City Council. 

13 

Carroll G. Robinson 

Assistant Professor and 

Associate Dean of External 

Affairs, 

Barbara Jordan – Mickey 

Leland School of Public Affairs

14 


Arts and Entertainment 

Music is equal to the sun 

By Tracee Charles 


“Music is equal to the 

Sun. When the sun rises, 

the notes are healing 

birds flying across the 

sky. When the sun sets, 

the melody is heard. 

Writing is equal to the 

wind. Every word written 

expresses the identity 

of the breeze.” 

-Melanie Wilson, poet 

Houston’s very own creative 

artists are in the making 

at Texas Southern University. 

These young women truly 

exemplify the rich quality of 

artists that Houston holds. 

Arelia Johnson, Crystal Williams, 

and Melanie Wilson 

ar considered by some as our 

21st century Harlem Renaissance 

artists. 

Crystal Williams, also 

known as ‘Chrystale’, is a 

Houstonian on the poetry 

scene. Williams is a proud 

TSU Alumni and a member 

of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority 

Inc. She is currently 

devoting herself full time to 

completing two books entitled 

“A Thin Line Between 

the Divine Nine” and “Memoirs 

of A Poet” and recording 

a poetry CD “Poetic Xpres- 

Arelia Johnson and LeKrystal Simon 

sions by Chrystale.” 

“I have been writing 

for almost 14 years. My 

first poem was published in 

1995,” stated Williams. 

She began writing seriously 

in middle school after 

a 7th grade instructor felt as 

if one of her poems written 

for an assignment was plagiarized. 

This only motivated her 

to continue writing. Some of 

her personal influences that 

gave her that artistic push 

to write were the works of 

James Baldwin and Maya 

Angelou. 

“Texas Southern University 

merely groomed me into 

the woman that I am today,” 

stated Williams. “Most of my 

recent poetry was inspired by 

campus love and life.” 

Williams felt like she 

went through a metamorphosis 

as an artist. “I had to force 

myself to work hard at poetry, 

to dig deeper within myself 

and to write with more 

passion and commitment,” 

stated Williams. 

She feels like poetry has 

moved her into heights unknown. 

Fans can contact or learn 

more about her at poetrybychrystale@yahoo.com 

for 

poetry events or to perform 

at social events. 

Another Houstonian, 

single mother, poet, writer, 

singer, actress and student 

of religion, philosophy, psychology 

and politics is Arelia 

Johnson. 

She has been writing 

since 1991. Spike Lee’s movie 

“X” was her driving motivation. 

Her first publication 

as a poet was in 1996; her 

eight grade English teacher 

entered her into a contest. 

She has been writing short 

stories and poetry and performing 

on stage since the 

second grade. 

Johnson feels like a 

product of the big band, be 

bop era; her influences range 

from June Jordan, Art Blakie, 

Langston Hughes, Conrad 

Johnson to Miles Davis and 

Phyllis Hyman. Johnson has 

always been a person that 

likes to read. She loves the 

writing of Langston Hughes. 

“I can remember reading 

his short stories over and 

over until I had them memorized,” 

she stated. 

Some of her other influences 

are Dr. Thomas Freeman 

(one of the great orators 

of our generation), Angel Palacios 

(a revolutionary poet 

and artist), and her daughter 

is the primary motivator to 

push her to go beyond good 

and strive towards all things 

that are great, and growing 

up in the south end of Houston. 

“I am a young mother 

feeling my way through this 

thing called LIFE”, she said 

beeming with a smile. 

She is doing her very 

best through her art to maintain, 

combat and overcome 

her obstacles. 

“I am a person who 

is walking in excellence and 

too determine to stop until I 

get there,” she stated. 

Johnson’s experience 

at Texas Southern University 

has been a period of evolution 

and revelation. “I came 

Crystal Williams 

Melanie Wilson 

into the community searching 

for my identity, listening 

for my voice, looking for my 

light. 

“Thankfully, I have been 

surrounded by angels and 

taught the greatest lessons 

about life, living, and service.” 

She says she would 

not trade TSU for all the 

money in the world. 

” I am a proud TIGER,” 

she stated! 

“Growing as an artist is 

a funny thing. You do not see 

the changes but others no- 

TSU alumnus, staff exhibits artwork 

Mark Newsome 


Staff Writer 

He is the graphics creator 

of many Texas Southern 

publications such as various 

university brochures, flyers 

for Homecoming, the College 

of Pharmacy & Health 

Sciences’ newsletter, and the 

management report for the 

presidential office. 

Other products of his 

work visible around the university 

include the artwork 

on the campus shuttles, the 

welcome flyers that hang in 

the yard, and the enormous 

inflatable tiger that is displayed 

in the Plaza during 

Homecoming week. 

During his two years at 

Morehouse College and his 

time spent at TSU as a student, 

Mark Newsome used 

painting to express his creativity 

until he got into computers. 

Although he was a talented 

painter, he soon realized 

that his career as an 

artist was moving more into 

digital art. 

Newsome, 37, graduated 

from TSU in 1993 majoring 

in English and minoring 

in Telecommunications. He 

is currently employed by 

the university as a graphic 

designer. Even though he 

works mainly as a digital artist, 

he is now becoming more 

involved with photography 

and videography. 

Growing up, Newsome 

would look at things that 

appealed to him and be convinced 

that he could emulate 

what he saw. Some of his 

artistic influences have been 

Angelbert Metoyer, a contemporary 

successful young 

artist, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, 

the deceased Brooklyn 

painter who Newsome feels 

ultimately personified the 

1980’s art scene, with its fusion 

of youth culture, money, 

publicity, lavishness, and 

self-destruction. 

Newsome also referred 

to himself as a huge fan of 

the late John Biggers, the 

internationally renowned 

muralist and educator who 

played a major role in the 

establishment of the art program 

at TSU in 1949. 

In 1957, Biggers became 

one of the first black American 

artists to visit Africa, 

where the art and culture 

profoundly influenced his 

work. 

Fifty years later, Newsome 

joined the same line 

of black American artists 

who have journeyed to their 

motherland, when he took 

part in an Ethiopian tour last 

December and early January. 

He said that throughout 

his 12-day trip in Ethiopia 

he became deeply inspired 

by its energy and took some 

excellent photos. 

“A lot of times we just 

kind of look at ourselves as 

like ‘well we’re just here in 

America,’ and we just listen 

to rap music, and that’s it, 

that’s the extent of our culture,” 

said Newsome. 

“It’s always a good practice 

to go to the continent or 

the area of the planet where 

DNA comes from and see the 

great thing that you’ve come 

from.” 

Newsome described 

Ethiopia as a rich nation that 

never really underwent colonization, 

enabling much of 

its culture and traditions to 

remain intact. 

The results of his trip 

can be found in his photography 

which is currently being 

shown as part of the Future 

Perfect Two exhibition in the 

T Room gallery at the Midtown 

Arts Center. The exhibit 

will run until August 25. 

As a growing artist, 

Newsome has gotten great 

satisfaction from the feedback 

he gets from people 

who view his work; it is what 

keeps him going. 

“What fuels an artist is 

the interaction between the 

people looking at what you 

did, hearing what they have 

to say about it, seeing your 

work inspire thought and dialogue,” 

said Newsome. 

What Newsome enjoys 

the most about being an artist 

is the creative process, the 

action of conceiving something 

in one’s mind and then 

giving shape to it. He plans to 

return to Ethiopia and also do 

some photography in Egypt. 

He hopes to receive grants 

that will enable him to travel 

to other countries to practice 

his photographic artistry and 

expand internationally. 

“ 

It’s always a 

good practice to go 

to the continent or 

the area of the planet 

where your DNA 

comes from and see 

the great thing that 

you’ve come from. ” 

- Marc Newsome 

MUSIC 


tice.” 

She criticizes her self 

constructively and stays diligent 

and faithful to her life’s 

work. 

Johnson performs for 

special occasions, motivational 

seminars, weddings, 

funerals. 

Johnson can be contacted 

at www.myspace.com/ 

thapoeticsoulchild or you 

can email her at progekrevolution@yahoo.com 

for more 

booking information. 

Twenty-nine-year-old 

Melanie Wilson is a jazz 

singer, songwriter, poet, and 

playwright. She worked on 

the campus of Texas Southern 

University from 2003 to 

2006 as sign language interpreter 

where her career as a 

poet also began. 

“I am a poet, but I am 

venturing out to the world of 

jazz,” said Wilson. Wilson 

developed an interest in writing 

at the young age of ten. In 

2004, she self published two 

poetry books entitled “Rose 

CONSERVATORSHIP 


2. That university should be 

given a new direction and a 

different character; starting 

with the Board of Regents. 

3. That the university should 

be placed under strict financial 

oversight by the State 

Auditor for the foreseeable 

future and should provide 

quarterly financial reports to 

the Board of Regents, Governor’s 

Office and Legislative 

Audit Committee. 

4. That the reconstituted 

Board of Regents should 

work with the TSU administration 

and the Higher Education 

Coordinating Board to 

establish a new mission for 

the university. 

That the Texas Legislature 

should provide emergency 

funding to TSU for 

expenses through Fiscal Year 

2007. 

Communication has been 

the key to the success of the 

students in combating these 

problems. Current and past 

members of Student Government 

have created online 

mass mailing distribution 

tools, using both e-mail and 

Facebook, one of the fastest 

growing online communication 

tools for students and 

businesspersons alike. Facebook 

also provides tools for 

students to create forums to 

discuss issues that concern 

them. The Student Government 

also held a number of 

forums with students, administration, 

and community 

leaders to fully discuss the 

issues with which that they 

Window the Realistic Shadow” 

and “Olivine Wine the 

5th Peridot Gem”. Her third 

book of poetry “Cycle of Alteration” 

was released earlier 

this month. “Now as a solo 

artist the love for jazz/poetry 

is a part of my universe.” 

Wilson is ready to surprise 

everyone with her new 

jazz single. She displayed 

three successful sold out 

productions. “Acceptance 

Shadow” is a play, which addresses 

the issue of racism 

between people of the same 

race. “Inside of Intimidation 

vs. Intimidations” the second 

play focused on the fear 

of communication between 

male and female. 

The third play “Foggy, 

the cause and effects of 

drug use” focused on the use 

and sale of drugs in the youth 

community. Wilson’s fourth 

play “Submission, Adultery, 

Disease’ showcased earlier 

this month. Fans can contact 

and learn more about Melanie 

Wilson at www.myspace. 

com/page8577. 

were faced. 

On Thursday April 19, 

the Student Government 

hosted a press conference to 

send a united message that the 

student body of Texas Southern 

University was taking an 

official stand in response to 

Governor Rick Perry’s recommendation 

for conservatorship 

at TSU. Members of 

the Faculty, the Community, 

and Student Body rallied together 

demanding, “No Conservatorship, 

No Conservatorship!” 

This was followed up 

by another Student Government 

trip to Austin on April 

27. The students took about 

three buses to Austin to let 

the Governor know in person 

that they opposed the decision 

to move the university 

under conservatorship. The 

students went to the offices 

of the Governor and other 

legislators to engage in discussions 

about the importance 

keeping TSU an independent 

university. 

The cries of the students 

and community have been 

heard by the Governor Perry 

who appointed a five-member 

Board of Regents to oversee 

the university’s affairs, days 

before the May graduation 

at TSU. His failure to do so 

would have meant that the 

university diplomas would 

have not been conferred for 

the graduates. On Tuesday, 

May 22, the newly installed 

regents voted to extend the 

contract of General J. Timothy 

Boddie Jr. as interim 

president of Texas Southern 

University. 

HOTLINE 



Arts and Entertainment 

Miss TSU visits the Queen of Dance 

This summer Isis Alliniece, Miss Texas Southern University, was invited to sit 

in on one of the classes of the Debbie Allen Institute, which was hosted by Stage 

Presence at the Wortham Center in downtown Houston. The institute trained 

young performers from ages 7 to 21 in: ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, African and 

modern/Dunham dance disciplines. 

Sunshine Anderson and Next wait to sign autographs at the 2006 TSU Homecoming. 

nity, and I can’t explain how 

exciting and rewarding it is 

to work behind the scenes 

and make big things happen 

that people really enjoy,” 

said Marci Fuller, Hotline’s 

supervisor, who was once an 

intern. 

The interns also had 

the opportunity to dabble in 

sports marketing when they 

handled the marketing and 

promotions for the celebrity 

basketball game between 

Bad Boy and Rap-a-Lot record 

labels. 

Since Hotlines inception 

in 2004, it has had approximately 

300 interns. Hotline 

interns are required to fulfill 

at least six hours a week and 

must maintain a 2.5 GPA. 

“The music business is 

definitely a hands-on industry 

and to learn it, is to experience 

it, and Hotline provides 

students with experience that 

they need to decide what it is 

that they would like to do,” 

Henderson said. 

SLADE 


$200,000 and was sentenced 

to 10 years in prison 

Dr. Slade’s trial started 

on August 24 with testimony 

from Department of Housing 

and Urban Development 

Secretary Alphonso Jackson. 

Secretary Jackson served on 

TSU’s Board of Regents, 

when Slade was hired to 

serve as President of the university 

in 1999. 

In his testimony, Jackson 

discussed Slade’s efforts 

in working with the state and 

the board to strengthen the 

university, which at the time 

was under threat of losing its 

independence. 

Testimonies continued 

this week with testimony 

from another former Board 

of Regents Chairperson, 

Williard Jackson, along with 

Slade’s former assistant Billy 

Burnett, who had worked 30 

years under TSU presidents. 

Testimony was also given 

by the drapery designer who 

designed the drapes for Dr. 

Slade’s home, which were 

paid for using the universities 

tax-exemption code. 

Gilbert Moreno salesman 

for Robert’s Carpets 

and Fine Floors added to testimony 

about Slade’s spending 

of the university funds to 

purchase items for her house. 

A. Martin Wickliff Jr., who 

was elected chairman of the 

Board of Regents in 2000 

was also called to testify 

about Slade’s tenure. 

Justin R. Jordan and Oliver 

J. Brown, both students 

at Texas Southern, who 

mounted a campaign to fire 

Slade, also took the stand to 

testify in the case. 

Jurors were released 

early on Friday, due to the 

Labor Day Weekend. The 

trial will resume on Tuesday 

morning. 

Also Friday, the First 

Texas Court of Appeals denied 

Slade’s appeal of her 

termination by the Board of 

Regents. Slade claimed the 

board fired her without due 

process and a hearing.

16 


This Summer 

Football team gets new grills 

By Claudette Johnson 

Staff Writer 

Dr. Cleverick “C.D.” 

Johnson DDS, a double TSU 

alum, donated his services to 

his alma mater in an unusual 

way. 

Dr. Johnson and Dr. Sheila 

H. Koh DDS , both of the 

University of Texas-Houston 

Health Science Center Dental 

Branch, and her son Jason 

Koh, a student in the Howard 

University College of Dentistry 

in Washington DC, visited 

the TSU football team 

to fit and provide the quarterbacks 

and wide receivers 

with mouth guards. 

TSU head athletic trainer 

John “Doc” Harvey said that 

he really appreciates everything 

that the doctors are do- 

Tigers basketball coach is abruptly fired 

Coach Courtney surveys the team 

from the sideline 

By Frank Cooper 


Coach Ronnie Courtney’s 

six year tenure as the 

Tigers basketball coach 

ended abruptly this summer 

due to the lack of progress 

his basketball team showed 

the past couple of seasons. 

Among the running for the 

position is Hall of Famer and 

Houston Rocket great, Calvin 

Murphy. The termination 

of coach Courtney was a surprise 

to very few people and 

many felt that this should 

have been taken care of a 

long time ago. 

Courtney would have 

been entering his sixth season 

as the head general of the 

Tigers; yet many questioned 

and speculated whether 

bringing him back for another 

season would be in the 

ing for the team. “We are low 

on funds and this is a really 

big help.” 

“We should all support 

the greatest school in 

the country... while 

we are at the university 

and once we have 

graduated and proceed 

throughout life.” 

-Dr C.D. Johnson 

Dr. Johnson earned his 

bachelor’s and master’s degrees 

in the Texas Southern 

University Department of 

Biology. He and Dr. Koh are 

currently associate professors 

at the University of Texas-Houston 

Health Science 

Center Dental Branch . 

best interest for the Tiger Nation. 

The program ultimately 

decided that it was time to go 

another direction and to have 

a fresh new start; a start that 

didn’t include Ronnie Courtney. 

Coach Courtney’s first 

two seasons as head coach 

looked promising and appeared 

to be something to 

build on, putting up a respectable 

33-27 record (22- 

14) in conference play. However, 

after a fast start to his 

collegiate coaching resume, 

things took a downward spiral. 

The past three seasons, 

the Tigers have finished in 

the bottom half of the SWAC 

conference, posting a lackluster 

33-54 (24-30) in conference 

play. 

There hasn’t been a valid 

explanation or reason to why 

the Tigers fell from early 

SWAC favorites in Courtney’s 

first years as coach, 

to the laughing stock of the 

conference, but the program 

hopes to relinquish this dilemma 

with the hire of a high 

caliber coach. 

The Athletic Deptartment 

was in a similar situation 

a year ago when they 

had a golden opportunity to 

hire Cynthia Cooper as the 

new women’s head basketball 

coach. It later declined, 

sticking with Claude Cummings. 

That decision translated 

into a 5-22 season 

(3-15) in conference play. 

Cooper signed as the head 

A mouth guard is a vital 

piece of equipment for 

the safety of athletes. Mouth 

guards protect an athlete’s 

teeth from being dislodged 

from the jaw, which can 

lead to numerous problem: 

speech impediments, trouble 

chewing food, swallowing 

the dislodged tooth, and (in 

rare cases) infection of the 

extraction site. These mouth 

guards are the same as those 

used by the Houston Texans 

and other professional football 

teams. 

Dr. Johnson said, “We 

should all support the greatest 

school in the country, both 

while we are at the university 

and once we have graduated 

and proceed throughout 

life.” 

coach of the Prairie View 

A&M University Panthers 

Women’s Basketball team, 

leading them to their first 

SWAC championship ever. 

Many feel that the Tigers 

cannot afford to squander another 

key decision concern- 

ing their program, the result 

of which could lead to another 

disappointing season. 

The Texas Southern Athletic 

Department has an opportunity 

to make a change 

in a major way, and with a 

good decision, it can either 

make the program or set it 

back for some years. But 

with the lack of success the 

basketball team has endured 

the past couple of years, is 

that a chance it is willing to 

take? 

 

Buy textbooks 

Dr. Johnson and Dr. Koh fit members of the football team for their new 

mouth guards for this upcoming season. 

Get football tix 

Check out the student body, 

if you know what I mean :-) 

Visit www.one.org and begin 

changing the world 

TIP: To join ONE now, 

text ‘ONE’ to 62523 

Fall Sports Schedule

18 The HERALD | Vol. 60, No.1 | AUGUST 31, 2007 


En Espangol 

Por Arthur Monroe Jr. 

Bienvenidos a la tierra 

de los tigres. Me llamo Arthur 

Monroe, Jr., y soy el 

2007-2008 Redactor del 

periódico Texas Southern 

University Herald. El Heraldo 

es el periódico corrido por 

estudiantes de la universidad 

que sirve como una fuente 

objetiva de información y un 

vehículo para estudiantes de 

TSU para expresar sus opiniones. 

Nosotros nos acercamos 

el comienzo de un nuevo año 

escolar académico emocionante, 

y hacemos así con una 

nueva administración, una 

nueva Tabla de Regentes, y 

de más de mil nuevos estudiantes. 

Tenemos también 

un nuevo personal sobresaliente 

de estudiantes que son 

dedicados a asegurar que 

nuestros amigos, los compañeros 

de clase, y los alumnos 

leen y comparten las noticias 

que afecta nuestra escuela. 

Este año marca el Aniversario 

de Diamante de nuestra 

universidad ilustre. A través 

de los pasados 60 años, nuestra 

universidad ha aguantado 

muchos cambios, los ensayos, 

y las tribulaciones. Por 

el bueno, el malo y muy feo, 

el Heraldo ha cabalgado por 

tomar partido en la universidad, 

entregando la verdad en 

cada situación, y en dar a los 

estudiantes que la oportunidad 

de expresar sus pensamientos 

y las opiniones. La 

Sala de redacción que este 

año es dedicado a continuar 

la tradición de “Escribiendo 

Por la Adversidad”. 

Este año que nosotros 

nos esforzamos por aumentar 

la visibilidad y la calidad de 

nuestro periódico por cometer 

primero a publicar coherentemente 

las noticias oportunas 

en nuestra publicación 

al día. En segundo lugar, 

nosotros queremos aumentar 

el acceso a nuestras historias 

por nuestro sitio web de la 

universidad y nuestra cuenta 

de Facebook.com; correremos 

también nuestras noticias 

por la telaraña también. 

Finalmente, queremos 

llegar a ser más lector responsable. 

Periódicamente, 

a través del año escolar, 

nosotros produciremos los 

sondeos y las inspecciones 

para entender lo que quiere 

leer en su publicación. Esta 

información será compilada 

y será revisada por nuestro 

equipo y nosotros haremos 

los ajustes como necesitado. 

Además, nosotros le 

invitamos a escribirnos y 

permitir que nosotros sepamos 

sus preguntas, preocupaciones, 

y las esperanzas. 

Estamos abiertos al consejo 

y necesidades de nuestro 

distrito electoral. A través 

del año que usted nos puede 

alcanzar en la sala de redacción, 

localizado en el Sterling 

Student Life Center en 

el Espacio 221 en TSU en 

713.313.6849. 

Queridos estidiantes de TSU, 

Muchisimas gracias por las bondadaosos de cuidado 

y pensamientos que uds. nos mandaron. Las mensajes 

nos han elevado nuestros espitius y nos han ayudado 

en los dias osuros alrededor de este evento tragico. 

Sus pensamientos nos dan memoria tan caro la belleza 

y hechos bondadosos en el mundo que nos dan la 

fuerza oara oasar en adelante. 

Nosatros esperamos que uds. mantengas de memoria la 

familia de Virginia Tech en us pensaminetos y peticiones 

mientras empezamos a revocarnas de esta tragedia. 

como apreciamos hondamente todas los mensajes, 

nosatros nos sentimos que no podomas responderles 

individualmente a los miles de tarfetas castars y otraos 

espresiones de sipartia y ayeida por favor, asegurense 

que estamos muy humildes y agradecidos por este 

fuente de cuidado y asegrancias que ha provisto. 

Otra vez, nos quedamos muy agradecidos por sus 

pensamientos y les mandamas neusta esperanza por la 

paz. 

Sinceramente, 

Charles W. Steger 

Presidente 

Bienvenidos a las estudiantes de TSU! 

Mientras celebramons con excelencia por sesenta anos, les damas 

bienvenidos a Texas Southern University. 

La administracion, la facultad, y otro presonal, esperan que tengan un 

ario escolar productivo y sobree saliente. 

Beinvenido a la familia del Tigre. 

J. Timothy Boddie, Jr. 

Interim President, Texas Southern University 

En Espangol 

La Hermandad Femenina de las Gammas se lleva la Plataforma 

Por Arthur Monroe 

Para muchos estudiantes 

que no clasifican a sí mismo 

como afro americano, 

asistiendo una universidad 

históricamente afro americana, 

tal como Texas Southern 

University, puede tener 

dificultad a encontrar su 

lugar en una fraternidad o la 

hermandad femenina históricamente 

afro americana. 

Sin embargo, hay un oasis 

para señoritas en la nacional 

multicultural hermandad 

femenina de Sigma Lambda 

Gamma (ΣΛΓ), de mujeres 

que se esfuerza por ser la 

organización primera a proporcionar 

un mecanismo de 

autorización a todas mujeres 

a pesar de la carrera o etnia. 

“Nosotros no tenemos 

ningún prejuicio ni las preferencias 

para nuestro inicia. 

Usted puede ser afro americano, 

indio, hispano, o de cualquier 

otra cultura, tan solo 

que sean mujeres con distinción 

y determinadas para 

ser parte de nuestra organización,” 

dijo Leslie Clemente, 

presidente de capítulo. 

Fundado en la Universidad 

de Iowa en el 9 de abril 

de 1990, empezó como medios 

a proporcionar apoyo 

académico y social a Latinas. 

Cinco Latinas fundó la 

hermandad femenina al crear 

su propia hermandad bajo el 

lema “Cultura es Orgullo, 

By Arthur Monroe 


For many students 

who do not classify themselves 

as African-American, 

attending a historically 

black university such as 


and finding their place in 

a historically black fraternity 

or sorority may seem 

difficult. 

However, there is an 

oasis for young ladies in 

the national multicultural 

women’s sorority Sigma 

Lambda Gamma (ΣΛΓ), 

which strives to be the 

premier organization in 

providing a mechanism 

of empowerment to all 

women regardless of race 

or ethnicity. 

“We don’t have any 

prejudices or preferences 

for our initiates. You can 

be Black, Indian, Hispanic, 

or of any background, 

as long as you’re a driven 

Initiates of the Beta Line of the Rho Gamma Chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma. 

Orgullo es Éxito.” Estas mujeres 

tomaron los colores de 

Rosa estridente y Majestuoso 

Púrpura y crearon la red que 

ha ensanchado a casi 3000 

“Mujeres de Distinción” por 

todo el país. 

El Capitulo de TSU fue 

fundado por un grupo de 

nueve mujeres bajo la apariencia 

de una organización 

estudiantil, Las Mujeres 

Unidas Nacionalmente 

como Hermanas (Ladies 

United Nationally as Sisters: 

L.U.N.A.S.), en Marzo del 

2005, con el propósito de 

traer a ΣΛΓ a TSU. En Mayo 

woman of distinction you 

can be apart of our organization,” 

said Leslie Clemente, 

chapter president. 

Founded on the campus 

of the University of 

Iowa on April 9, 1990, it 

began as a means to provide 

academic and social 

support to Latinas. 

Five Latinas founded 

the sorority to create their 

own sisterhood under the 

motto “Culture is Pride, 

Pride is Success.” These 

women took on the colors 

of shocking pink and 

majestic purple and created 

the network that has 

expanded to nearly 3000 

“Women of Distinction” 

nationwide. 

This past March the 

ladies of the Rho Gamma 

chapter helped schedule 

a carwash for the valedictorian 

of Reagan High 

School because he was in 

a comma after suffering an 

aneurysm. 

10, 2005, la organización recibió 

categoría de Colonia, y 

entonces empezó el proceso 

de adquirir la posición del 

Capítulo por la hermandad 

femenina. 

En Marzo 3, 2007, a las 

5:07 p.m., el Capitulo Rho 

Gamma de la Hermandad 

Femenina Nacional Sigma 

Lambda Gamma, S.a. fue 

oficialmente reconocido en 

Texas Southern Univeristy, 

bajo los cinco principios 

de la hermandad femenina: 

Académico, el Trabajo comunitario, 

el Conocimiento 

Cultural, las Moralejas y la 

“We raised $4,000 that 

day to donate to his family 

for support,” said Clemente. 

The TSU chapter was 

founded by a group of nine 

women under the guise of 

a student organization, the 

Ladies United Nationally 

as Sisters (L.U.N.A.S), in 

March 2005, with the purpose 

of bringing ΣΛΓ to 

TSU. 

On May 10, 2005, the 

organization received Colony 

status, and then began 

the process of acquiring 

Chapter status through the 

sorority. 

On March 3, 2007, at 

5:07 p.m., the Rho Gamma 

Chapter of Sigma Lambda 

Gamma National Sorority 

Inc. was officially recognized 

at Texas Southern 

University, under the 

sorority’s five principles: 

Academics, Community 

Service, Cultural Awareness, 

Morals and Ethics, 

Moralidad, y la Interacción 

Social. 

Durante su existencia 

breve, el capítulo ha trabajado 

activamente decretar 

su plataforma aquí en 

TSU. Uno de las iniciativas 

filantrópicas principales del 

capítulo ha sido su foco en el 

conocimiento del cáncer de 

mama a través de la escuela 

y la comunidad. 

“Trabajamos cogidos 

de la mano con nuestra exalumna 

de nuestro capítulo en 

proyectos diferentes,” indicó 

Clemente. Este marzo pasado 

nosotros ayudamos el horario 

The ladies of Gamma take the stage 

and Social Interaction. 

During its brief existence, 

the chapter has actively 

worked to enact its 

platform here at TSU. One 

of the chapter’s main philanthropic 

initiatives has 

been its focus on breast 

cancer awareness throughout 

the school and the 

community. 

“We work hand in hand 

with our alumni chapter 

on our different projects,” 

stated Clemente. “This 

summer we teamed up to 

provide free mammogram 

screenings to the community.” 

Being a sister in ΣΛΓ 

has really helped Clemente 

achieve her goals as a 

student. She says that her 

sisters were there for her 

even before she became a 

member of the organization. 

“When I first met the 

girls, I wasn’t really interested 

in being the sorority. 

un lavado de coche para el 

valedictoriano del Instituto 

de Reagan porque él estuvo 

en una coma después de sufrir 

un neurisma. Levantamos 

$4.000 ese día para donar a 

su familia para el apoyo. 

Ser una hermana de ΣΛΓ 

ha ayudado realmente a Clemente 

logra sus metas como 

un estudiante. Ella dice que 

sus hermanas estuvieron allí 

para ella aún antes de llegar 

a ser una miembra de la organización. 

“Cuando encontré primero 

a las chicas, yo no estaba 

interesada realmente en es la 

hermandad femenina. Pero 

cuando comencé ha conocerlas 

mejor, ellas llegaron a ser 

un gran sistema de apoyo 

para mí. Cuándo yo las llamaba 

ellas estuvieron allí para 

mí, y…... Supe que yo podría 

depender de ellas,” dijo Clemente. 

Hoy, la hermandad femenina 

es la hermandad 

femenina mas grande con 

base Latina en la nación, con 

capítulos y capítulos exalumnas 

esparcidos a través 

del país. Los estudiantes interesados 

en encontrar mas 

información puede visitar la 

organización en la pagina de 

Myspace en www.myspace. 

com/tsucolony o pueden 

mandar un correo electrónico 

ha Clemente en lekili84@ 

gmail.com. 

But as I got to know them 

better, they became a great 

support system for me. 

When I called them they 

were there for me, and…... 

I knew that I could depend 

on them,” said Clemente. 

Today, the sorority is 

the largest Latina-based 

sorority in the nation, with 

chapters and alumnae 

chapters spread throughout 

the country. Students 

interested in finding more 

information about the organization 

can visit the 

organization’s MySpace 

page at www.myspace. 

com/tsucolony or they can 

e-mail Clemente at lekili84@gmail.com.

© 2007 Unity Bank Texas

August 1, 2007 - Texas Southern University

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