The News Argus, March 2003
Opinions
EDITORI ALS
Women: Find your identity,
be proud of who you are
By Ashley Dinelle Jones
ARGUS REPORTER
As I walk from class to class
going through my day, 1 can't help
but notice something and being
disturbed about it. In the days of
bling, bling, we have several
female students that have yet to
gain their own identity. It is like a
broken record seeing female stu
dent after female student wearing
the same thing as the next one that
I will see. Don't you get tired of
the same old thing?
Maybe it is just me, maybe I am
seeing things, but every time 1 turn
around 1 see a young lady with the
same top, same skirt not appropri
ate for the winter season, and the
same boots as the girl walking
right up behind her. I have even
seen some cliques have a theme
going with their clothes when they
are going to places as relaxed as
the Ram Shack. What really gets
me are those girls that are in
denial by wearing size 2 pants
when they are definitely bigger
than that.
There is nothing wrong with us
thick girls, but erase the thought
that everything looks good on us.
Never lose touch with reality and
your real size.
Ladies, that is not as cute as you
think it appears to be. Don't be
afraid to wear sweat pants every
now and then, especially during
finals. You can still get a "man" if
you don't wear makeup to class
one day Third and most impor
tantly, you don't have to have your
hair and nails done everyday. If
you try keeping your real nails
clipped and short, that potential
boyfriend might notice. You (and
this message especially goes out to
the freshmen ladies) might find
that you will not always have
enough money to get your hair
done. Trust me, that is OK. You
can still make it to class and do
well at the end of the semester.
Find your identity and learn to
do your own thing sometimes.
This will only make you stronger
in the end and allow you to really
grow. Once you accomplish that,
you are on your way to becoming
a better person.
GENDER,
from page 3
out, hinders some, but makes oth
ers stronger. For goodness sakes, a
female can't even dress nice (taste
ful, not trashy) without being at
risk of rape or name-calling, and
being told the incident is at the
fault of her own.
Please don't get me wrong,
though, I am not in any way say
ing that the man, and more impor
tantly, the black man, does not
experience many hardships and
downfalls. The message I'm trying
to get across is that no man will
ever come close to knowing the
pain and controversy that the
woman goes through day in and
day out. Likewise, no woman will
ever know what the male goes
through. My point is, that in my
eyes, the being that we all know as
the beautiful Nubian female, has
much more than men, society, or
even other women on her shoul
ders- she basically carries the
world on them.
Women don't know the absolute
power they have over a man.
Almost everything a man owns or
wants is because of a female.
They want the best clothes, cars,
and the most money for what? A
woman. Once women realize the
power in exercising their integrity
and not jumping on every man
that hops their way with the Jay-Z
mentality, then the woman will
begin to grow in society, and in
the world.
Though often ridiculed, black
leaders continue anti-war stance
By Maria Singleton
ARGUS FEATURES EDITOR
We are now three years into the new mil
lennium and as the country nears war
with Iraq, black leadership is taking a
sharp blow.
Figures in particular who are coming
under fire from others, blacks included,
are: the Revs. Jesse Jackson and A1
Sharpton, and Louis Farrakhan. All three
men condemn the war against Iraq and are
being called the new "Axis of Evil" by
people such as Timothy Rollins, editor-in-
chief and publisher of The American
Partisan.
Another outspoken opponent of the trio
is the Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, the black
founder and president of B.O.N.D., the
Brotherhood Organization of a New
Destiny. He says, "For them to attack
America, President Bush, and black con
servatives in such a mean spirited manner
is wicked." He feels this way about
Farrakhan because of a quote he made
while visiting Iraq about praying that the
country came out victorious against the
United States.
In regards to Jackson, Peterson was
offended when the leader called Bush
"unliterate" and said that he and Attorney
General John Ashcroft were "the most
threatening combination in our lifetime."
Although equally opposed to the war as
Jackson and Farrahan, Sharpton is also
ridiculed because of his position on race
relations in America. He once said, "When
the issue of racism comes up in this coun
try, white folks will tell blacks to get over
it. Slavery is over ... Slavery isn't the only
thing America had to repair. One hundred
years of black people being treated less
than a person is part of that whole para
digm, is something America must repair."
Sharpton also says America will not be a
place that stands united until the issue of
race is solved. As far as the war is con
cerned, at a rally late last year, he accused
Bush of taking the country to war "over
the interests of those business tycoons who
put you in the White House."
Although often criticized, the leaders
The Rev. Al Sharpton
KRT photo
refuse to disappear from the eyes of
America. Farrakhan recently spoke at the
University of Illinois at Chicago Pavilion
in what may have been his last public
speech before America goes to war with
Iraq. At one point in his speech he asked
black rappers and entertainers to encour
age black youth through positive and
inspiring lyrics in their songs, which
would inspire "proper thinking" and
"proper actions."
Jackson is presently denouncing
President Bush for appointing Miguel
Estrada to the District of Columbia Circuit
Courts of Appeals.
"What Clarence Thomas symbolized to
African-Americans in 1991, Miguel
Estrada means to the Latino community in
2003. Both are culturally confused, benefi
ciaries of affirmative action, opposed to
affirmative action, have been placed on a
political fast track for judgeship, and have
transparently shallow records as jurists,"
said Jackson.
Lastly, Sharpton is making plans to bid
for presidency in the election of 2004. "I
am running for president to finally put the
issues concerning most Americans on to
the front burner," he said. "I'm qualified,
probably more qualified than any other
person who is expected to be on the
Democratic ticket for 2004, because I actu
ally have a following, and I speak for the
people."
Let's just hope that he and every other
black leader aiming to uplift the communi
ty will do just that.
ALUMNI,
from page 3
my advice, because had I
known then what I know
now, landing a job may
not have been so hard.
For those seniors who
are about to walk in May,
be strong, very strong,
especially the ones who
do not have a job lined
up.
Remember: Looking for
a job IS a full-time job!
At least five days a
week for eight hours a
day, do nothing but job
seek, and set up appoint
ments and interviews.
Between now and
whenever you plan to
work, you need to make
as many connections as
possible.
If you haven't had an
internship, go ahead and
get one lined up. Yes,
even after you graduate.
Try to do part-time
work that has to do with
your field of interest.
Many employers won't
care that you have a
degree. All it shows is
that you or someone paid
money to an institution
for you to attend.
Experience is key; that's
what they really look for.
Please pray a lot. That's
all I did when I came
back home from Poynter.
I just knew that having
Poynter on my resume
had me set.
But I was sadly mistak
en, and I found myself
looking for a job for three
months; five months if
you count from when I
graduated.
And talking about God,
the money I made from
Poynter was going to run
out in October 2001,
which meant my car pay
ment was getting behind,
and my Discover Card
even more behind.
But I prayed, and drove
to interviews, prayed
some more, drove to
more interviews.
After coming up short
every time ,I became
deeply depressed. Then
the Post called me and
said they wanted to offer
me a position.
Needless to say, that
happened right before my
next car payment was
due.
For those under senior
status, work as many
internships as you can.
Do one every summer if
you have to.
I know college is fun,
very fun, but don't major
in it.
The whole purpose of
college is to get the train
ing for the career you
want.
That's it. You're there to
secure yourself a job
when you graduate. And
to do that, you have got
to work your butt off.
What you put into col
lege is what you get out
of it.
Bug the heck out of
your mentors. Ask ques
tions and get as much
advice as you can.
That's what they are
there for and are paid to
do.
While everyone else is
more focused on what
they're gonna wear to the
club, being the most pop
ular, best dressed, or
deciding what "organiza
tion" to join, you can be
making the decisions that
"really" matter, like
whose 401 (k) plan you'll
be choosing when you
land that job.
I'm not suggesting you
become a hermit and not
have fun. Yes, definitely
have fun, but, again,
don't major in it.
Start working on your
resume now, and get it
posted on job Web sites
such as Hotjobs or
FlipDog.com. Start
arranging your intern
ships now.
Know where you want
to work?
Begin contacting the
companies and arranging
for a tour or a meeting
with the managers so you
can get your name in the
door.
Also, open a savings
account and save as
much money as you can.
Don't blow your money
on the things you know
you really don't need.
Saving now will provide
some cushion in your
time of need.
As we all know, the
economy is bad, and with
us being on the brink of
war, companies will go
on hiring freezes. I sug
gest you make your con
nections fast and get the
most training possible.
No matter if you're just
getting to State, or about
to leave State, it's never
too soon or late to plan
your future.
So good luck, be strong
and please remember to
pray. It's tough out there,
but there's no burden
your higher being can't
handle.
Do you know successful
alumni? Tell us about them
by e-mail, newzargus®
yahoo.com, or call us at
750-2327.
Campus Voices
What could nightclubs do
to prevent injuries or deaths?!
They should
have metal detec-
I tors and also
have more
I women security
guards. Women
usually don’t get
I searched in night
clubs compared
I to clubs in Atlanta and New York.
Tia Milltiouse I
Junior, psychology
“They should stop
letting so many
people in the club
over capacity and
they should repair
the ceilings and
floors. One time
when I was at the
club, a piece of
I the ceiling fell on the dance floor.”
Janelle Baker I
Sophomore, mass communications
They could make
I the bouncers
police officers
instead of just
[ plain security
guards. ”
“More careful and
through searches
for both male and
female and know
ing the capacity of
the nightclub.”
Joe Fennell
Junior, engineering
Phil Javies
Junior, elementary education