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Feb. 4.2008 The Ncws Argus Qptnton/Editorial 3 I Is gaming interfering with schooling? Allen Stith BU\CK COLLEGE WIRE There can't be anything better to do than to come home from class, invite some friends over, break out Vk^ith the sticks and beat somebody in Madden for a quick five dollars or those short-term bragging rights. Some students are so into the video game craze, it interferes v^rith their matric ulation and can yield some negative results. Others feel that video games are very beneficial to a student's edu cation. Playing video games can act as a way for someone to relieve everyday stress. For others, they are a hobby for leisure time. Some are affected by the games because some students would much rather spend time playing video games than going to class or com pleting assignments. With recent video game releases of the highly antici pated Madden 08, and anticipated Halo 3, some students at Morgan State University have spent an extensive amount of time playing games. A few of these students can actually be seen in the back of the game room of the Student Center, spending nearly the whole day on their laptops playing online games. "Video games develop a lack of interest in school," explains nutritional science major Kemi Faturoti, while watching television. "I know this for a fact because a guy at my church cut school and went back home to play video games." This is an arguable opinion, as spend ing too much time playing video games has both pros and cons. Games like the NCAA Football series now require that a created athlete attend simulated class ses sions. Players must main tain an eligible grade point average in order to be used on the football team. Several questions are then given to the gamer which must be answered correctly. The eligible GPA for the created ath lete to play is based on the total number of questions ALLEN answered correctly. If several ques tions are correct, the athlete is allowed to play. However, if several of the questions are wrong, that athlete will have to sit out, hindering their ath letic career due to the lack of play time. It seems as though these games are showing gamers the importance of maintaining good study habits. "You can say video games have both a positive and a negative effect on students," STITH says Morgan State's Antonio Hollowman, while waiting for a class presentation. "I actually think it affects your schooling for the good because it strengthens some one's memory retention," Hollowman adds. "It seems video games are only harm ful when someone allows it to take up much of their time. It helps you with everyday life. For example, if you're a driver, playing games like Midnight Club makes you react quicker to certain driving situations in real life. Also, games like the Ace Combat series are a;tu- ally used for people flying in the military to prepare their hand and eye coordination." For those allowing video games to take over most of their time, try to hmit play ing and leam to work out priorities. Videos games will be there after the school- work is completed. Learn to balance out playing time with work time. Don't be the next person spending all day in the dorm room play ing Halo 3. How far is too far? Terri Day Staff Reporter Like most people. I've been fol lowing the primaries with much interest. And as Democrat, I've watched this race with particular fervor. We've seen candidates promising change, experience, and all the things you hear about with regularity during campaign season. Of course, with campaigning comes mudslinging and that's something that voters have come to expect. However, watching the Democratic primary race is something akin to a Ultimate Fighting Championship rather than a friendly backyard tussle. The frontrunners, Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama seem to have taken the gloves off with dealing with each other. There are some who say this is to be expected, however, it seems to me that such low blows only hurt the party and the country as well. When two people disagree on a topic, nothing gets accom plished by the two going out to the alley to settle the scores. The only way to decide the matter truly is to meet face to face on the issues. That's the only possible way that either side is going to convince the other. This is true for classroom discussions, and presidential front runners. This country has been divided for too long along party lines thanks to the current administra tion, and it vdU only further muck up the problem if the par ties themselves become divided. It's too early in the race to give the Republicans more ammuni tion to take apart the Democratic candidate. Clinton, Obama, and Edwards shouldn't dig all the dirt on their opponents, and leave them defenseless should they win the nomination. On another level all of this negative campaigning has a negative effect on those who are watching the election cover age. If you hear day after day of negative things about your can didate, the other side looks a lot more appealing. I doubt that anyone is thinking of changing their political affilia tion just because of some nega tive ads, but it certainly can't help the primary candidates in keeping polling and fundraising up. Those in the race need to not forget that this is only the first hurdle in a series, and it's cer tainly not even the most chal lenging. There's never going to be a race for government in which one side doesn't illustrate the faults of the other. In every tier of government there are those who think they can do a better job, and want the chance to prove it. However, an overabim- dance of negative campaigning might not only lead to people turning away from their televi sions and radios, but turning away from the polls as well. Relaxed or Natural: Does hair texture still matter? Rebecca Francis Black College Wire Two women are at a professional conference — one is younger and the other is a respected pro fessional established in the field. The younger woman is wearing a black skirt suit, a white blouse, pantyhose and one-inch black pumps with her hair in a bun. The older woman is dressed similarly, but her shoes and skirt are a dark grey, and her hair is also pulled into a tight bun. These women meet and begin to get acquainted. As they talk, the older woman starts to give tips for success. "Dear, you should know that if you want to become successful in this industry, you should consider straightening your hair." Realizing her statement was harsh, she smiled to soften it. The young woman smirked and replied, "Do you suggest that I bleach my skin, too?" The older lady apolo gized and attempted to explain herself. Although both of the women were well-dressed and intelli gent women, their hair made them different. While this anecdote is loosely based on a per sonal experience, scenar ios involving blacks who wear natural hair occur often in the professional and academic worlds. An editor of Glamour Magazine (and fashion guru) resigned after mak ing a presentation at a law firm about appropriate work attire. The first fash ion don'ts on her list were afros, dreadlocks and other natural hairstyles. American Lawyer maga zine reported the com ments and created a national controversy. This frightens me as a black woman who is about to enter the corpo rate world. The Bible says that a woman's hair is her crown and glory. Demanding that I artifi cially change my hair, suggests that my crown is inferior because of some thing superficial like tex ture, length, or color. Dr. Diane Everett an Assistant Activities Director at Jackson State University has often worn her hair in styles contrary to mainstream society. As a teenager, she cut her hair because she was tired of being the "cliched mulatto - long hair and light skin". She didn't want to let her hair define her. Decades later she realizes that her hair now defines her. In 2004, she cut her hair and began wearing an afro. "An African American woman that chooses to wear natural hair stands in the forefront because so many others want to but are fearful," said Everett. Everett presents at many conferences and feels that her hair has never been a big issue. However she's realistic and knows that in some professions straightened hair is preferred. "You can go into any job market with an ethnic hairstyle and it would not cost you a job, as long as you are neat an well mani cured," Everett said. Tori Thompson, a JSU junior is known for her natural hairstyles on cam pus. Thompson's decision to wear natural hair came after only two years of wearing a relaxer. She believes that how you wear your hair is a choice; although she does not straighten her hair, she supports other black women who decide to. There are many mixed messages about this sub ject. At JSU's Career Counseling Center the lit erature provided on proper business attire does not condemn natural hairstyles. However, in most the pictures of pro fessionally dressed peo ple, the women have straightened hair and the men have short fades. Not only black women, but black men also suffer from stereotypes about hairstyles. Men with braids are often thought of as thugs; while dread locks, indicate a Rastafarian lifestyle. Other cultures should stop judg ing black people by just one aspect of our being. Hair is a large part of African-American culture for many good reasons. When someone makes a comment to me about how I wear my hair, they should be aware of the enormity of such a state ment The News Ar^us ‘Always Watching' Is interested in what you are thinking. □ Read and submit news stories □ Leave comments about recent stories □ Answer polls about issues that affect you Join the team! WWW. thenewsargus. com -AND so, FRESIWNT BILL CLINTON m5(3ED HIS FIN(aER AND DECLAREpri DID NOT HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH that WOMAU MISSLEWINSKY f\ m Editorial Policy The News Argus is a student publication of Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem, N.C. The views and opin ions expressed on the Opinion page are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of The News Argus staff or of the fac ulty, staff, students, or administration of the university. We welcome letters to the editor and opinion columns. Letters and columns should not exceed 400 words in length. E-mail your columns and letters to newzargus@yahoo. com. Or, deliver them in person on a CD or DVD at Carolina Hall, Room G005. E-mailed submissions should be sent in MSWord format. With each article or letter, please include your name, major or depart ment, classification. e-mail address and phone number so we may contact you for verifica tion and confirmation. The Neu>s Argus editors reserve the right to edit letters and opin ion columns for length, grammar, clarity, profan ity and style, but not for ideas. Anonymous letters will not be printed. The News Argus The Student Newspaper of Winston-Salem State University Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Steven J. Gaither Sharrod Patterson News Editor Advertising Manager StephaAie Douthit Tecarra Sutton Photo Editor Online Editor Grant Fulton James Cherry Staff Writers Kesha Collins Charlene Wheeler Alexis D'Anjou Larry W. Williams Trygeania Dowell Terri Day Temple Jolly * The News Argus is a weekly newspaper for the students, faculty and staff of WSSU. * Opinions expressed in The News Argus are not necessarily those of the faculty, staff or administration at WSSU. * For advertising information e-mail newzargus @ yahoo.com or call 336-750-2327 www.thenewsargus.com j
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