The Decree
since 1960 “of, by, andfor the Wesleyan community. ”
February 23,2017
NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE, ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 27804
BHM: Students Reflect on Historic Obama Presidency
With “Black History Month” in mind, black man was president,” he said, noting adults so much, but I found myself cry- ginalized people, he overcame racism that President Obama "maintained good
Decree staffers conducted an informal
survey of African-American, and African,
students to elicit their reflections on
Barack Obama's eight years as president.
“To have an African-American in the
White House was a blessing,” said Beverly
Anaele. “It showed that Americans can see
past the false perception of skin color and
the stereotypes that come with it."
Many students felt inspired by
Obama's election and his performance
in office. He was seen as a trail blazer.
"It meant a lot to me because it showed
it's possible to have an African-Ameri
can as president.” Cy Andrews said. “It
can be done. It really encouraged me. It
was a very big deal.”
Justin Brown agreed that President
Obama became a strong role model. “It
gave the African-American commu
nity a drive,” he said, and a sense that
“anything is achievable."
James Parrish said Obama’s election
filled him with excitement. “It made me
think that I could be anything I wanted
to be and I could one day tell my kids a
Manning Twins Exemplify ‘Student Athlete’
Brittany and Tiffany Manning enter
their final season as members of the
softball team and exemplars of what it
means to be a Wesleyan student-athlete.
Identical twins, the Portsmouth, Virginia
natives play side by side in the Bishops
infield, room together, take the same
classes and even share a major, criminal
justice. After graduation, both hope to work
in law enforcement. Brittany wants to work
in probation/parole or the court system; a
computer information systems minor. Tif
fany said her “dream job" is to serve with
the state bureau of investigation or FBI.
The two began playing on travel teams
at age 12 after beginning with T-ball seven
years earlier. For the Bishops, Brittany
Manning (.403 batting average, 23 RBIs
in 2016) plays shortstop, while Tiffany
(13 RBIs) is the starter at third base.
Long-time coach John Brackett praised
the two sisters for their contributions to
the program. “They've been an absolute
joy to coach," said Brackett, claiming he
could tell the two apart within days of their
arrival. "Both Brittany and Tiffany have
such great personalities. They always have
a smile on their face. Not only are they
talented softball players, but they’re two of
the best students on the team.”
Second-baseman Peyton Hyler
described “Brit” and "Tiff' as fine team-
mates and outstanding leaders. “They’re
always the first ones to pick each other
up,” she said. “They’re great role models
to the underclassmen. Our friendship will
always hold a special place in my heart.”
The Decree conducted an interview with
the Manning twins prior to the season:
Q. Who was bom first and is that sister
more mature and worthy of additional respect?
Brittany: Tiffany was bom first. I guess
I would say that she's a little more mature
than I am. She acts like she’s way older than
me when she's really only two minutes older.
Tiffany: We were two minutes apart so
I always tease Brittany about being older
than her. Both of us are mature, but my
mom told us that when we were younger,
I was more of the dominant twin and Brit
tany was more of the follower. I feel like
in some respects that's still tree today.
Q. What was the toughest age for you
two, as twin sisters?
Brittany: I don't think there was an
age that was really tough, but she may
think a little differently.
Tiffany: The toughest age was probably
when we were six. In school we were always
put in the same classes, but in first grade they
put us in different ones. Brittany cried every
day until they put us in the same class again.
Q. Of the two of you, who is your
mother’s favorite?
Brittany: Tiffany is definitely my
mom's favorite because they act very
similar. I'm more of my dad's favorite.
Tiffany: My mom always says she
doesn't have a favorite because she loves
both of us the same, but I would say that I'm
that the president was quite inspiring.
"Obama could have said walk to the moon
and I would've been the first in line.”
“Hope” was a word used by Olivia
Smith in reflecting on the meaning of
Obama's election. "Having a minority in
office brought us closer to a more diverse
government,” she said. “For my family and
me. Obama gave us hope that we have a
voice and a chance to make it to the top.”
Antonia Bunch was in fifth grade
when Obama won his first term in
2008. She called it an unforgettable
experience. “I was just starting to
understand the history being made," she
said. “It was refreshing to see someone
whose skin is the same color as mine
accomplish something so spectacular.”
Sainabou Jallow described a similar
experience. She spent election day
2008, surrounded by family, at an
aunt’s house in the West African nation
of Gambia. “We stayed up all night
to watch it live on TV,” she recalled.
“When he won, everyone was crying.
I wasn’t quite sure why it affected the
closer to my mom and Brittany is closer with
my dad. I think I'm closer with my mom
because we’re very similar to each other.
Q. In what specific ways has having a
twin sister helped you in softball?
Brittany: It’s definitely helped us
because we could always practice at home
together. Tiffany used to be a pitcher back
when we were kids (by the way, she hated
it) and we used to go to an empty field by
our house and I would catch her. That was
until the time she threw a really bad pitch
and hit me in the leg. I never caught for her
again after that. It also helps that we play
right beside each other at shortstop and third
base. She knows my range and I know hers,
so we play really well beside each other.
Tiffany: It's helped in many ways. I
know no matter what I do or how I play that
she’ll always support me. She’s always my
#1 fan and I’m hers as well. It's also pretty
cool that our positions are right beside each
other. We can just look at each other and
know what the other one’s thinking.
Q. What’s your sister’s most annoying habit?
Brittany: It’s when she takes a joke
too seriously and then gets mad at me.
We don't talk to each other for a good 10
minutes and after that we're fine.
Tiffany: Sometimes she snores when she
sleeps and it's pretty annoying. And some
times without even knowing it, we’ll put
on the same T-shirt or same colored shirt
and we have to play rock-paper-scissors to
decide who is going to change.
Q. Who drives when you travel back
and forth to Virginia?
Brittany: Tiffany always drives when we
travel because I feel like I suck at driving.
She likes to joke on me about it all the time.
Tiffany: I drive everywhere, all the time.
It's because she doesn't like to drive. One time
when she was younger, she hit the gas instead
of the brake, so our parents prefer that I drive.
Q. Try to think of a specific incident
when another person assumed that,
because you look like your sister, that you
must be like her in other ways.
Brittany: Sometimes people assume
that just because Tiffany and I are twins
that we have the same taste in music, style,
and things like that when we really don’t.
We have two totally different personalities.
Tiffany: At first everybody always
assumes we're alike because we’re twins.
We do like most of the same things, but
our personalities are completely different.
I can't think of a specific incident but
ing too. Through the eight years of his
presidency—two of which I spent as an
international student in the U.S.—I’ve
realized exactly why it was important."
Obama's history-making presidency
was not lost on Veon Byrd. “We’ve come
a long way since segregation and slavery,”
he said. “Now we've had an African-
American president for two terms."
Brandon Leake was grateful to live
at the time of the first African-American
president. In thinking about the past
eight years, he paid tribute to African-
American figures like Dr. Martin Luther
King who helped blaze the trail.
Of Obama's presidency. J.C. Free
man said, "It made me proud to see a
difference in the United States.”
Keilah Alston said, “What it meant
to me is that it’s possible for blacks to
have power in a system meant for us to
‘stay in our place.’”
Sidney McCall said that Obama was a
transformational figure whose influence
extended beyond American borders.
"Coming from a race of historically mar-
usually everyone thinks we’re alike until
they really get to know us.
Q. Tell us the best story of mistaken
identity.
Brittany: One time we were at the mall
shopping and Tiffany checked out before
I did. When I was finally ready to check
out, I walked up to the register and the
cashier had the most confused look on her
face. Tiffany walked up behind me and
the woman finally realized that we were
twins. She thought that I was Tiff and that
she had gone and changed clothes and was
checking out again. It was pretty funny.
Tiffany: During softball games,
anytime someone gets to third base, they
always ask if we’re twins. They say that
everyone in the dugout tries to figure out
if we are or not.
Q. What do you like most about your sister?
Brittany: I love a lot of things about
Tiffany, but if I had to pick one thing,
it would be her personality. She's my
best friend and she's such a great person,
inside and out. She would do anything for
the people that she loves and that's what I
admire most about her.
Tiffany: I can't really choose just one
thing because I love her so much, but I
guess if I had to it would be the fact that
she’s my best friend and she's always
there for me. It's very comforting knowing
that I will always have her by my side.
Bishops Fall in First Round to Peace
Ferrum, Va.—William Peace avenged
a recent loss to the women's basketball team,
eliminating the 4th-seeded Bishops from the
USA South Tourney, 66-60, on February 18.
The Bishops shot just 29.7 percent
from the field, eight percentage points
lower than during their late-season surge.
KeChae Parker led the team with 15
points: senior Alexis Fitzgerald scored 11
in the final game of her Wesleyan career.
Tyler Mercer. Susannah Sykes aid
Makayla Ray led the Pacers, all scoring in
double figures. Ray was a force inside, making
six of seven field goals and scoring 16 points.
Before the game. Coach Artina Trader had
uiged her team to play tough against Ray, a
freshman, who made 8 of 10 shots in an earlier
matchup. "We talked about forcing her into
more situations where she has to shoot from
outside, instead of getting layups,” Trader said.
The first-round defeat was only Wesleyan’s
second loss in its last seven games .The team
and prejudice to rise above the hatred
and become one of the most memorable
individuals in world history," she said.
Like McCall, Jerome Little remarked
on the adversity Obama faced during
his time in office. “He had to deal with
a lot of critics, mainly because of his
race,” Little said. “But he continued to
stay focused and determined.”
Wliile acknowledging the history made
by President Obama, some respondents
noted that considerable work remains
for achieving equality and harmony. "It
(Obama's presidency) meant that America
is not how it used to be decades ago,”
Jaylon Johnson said. “But even though an
African-American was in office, it doesn’t
mean racism is gone."
Most interviewees praised Obama’s
record of achievement. Many cited the
Affordable Care Act, aka “Obama Care,”
as his signature achievement. Others noted
the draw-down in troops in Afghanistan
and Iraq, the killing of Osama bin Laden,
and improvements to the economy after
he inherited a national recession.
“As president, you have to take on
all the dirty work left by the previous
president,” said Smith. “Obama came
at a time of recession and left us with
a lower unemployment rate and more
consumer confidence."
Bunch appreciated the decrease in
the jobless rate that coincided with
Obama’s tenure. "He lowered the
unemployment rate, which affected my
family tremendously,” she said.
Besides citing a decrease in the
unemployment rate and other accom
plishments, Ishmail Harris pointed out
Cost of NC Wesleyan
Education Nears $40K
NC Wesleyan will raise its tuition to
just under $30,000 a year, the college's
Board of Trustees has decided.
That and other hikes will mean a total
annual bill that approaches $40,000 for
the 2017-18 school year.
Here’s a breakdown of the increases
provided by Jason Edwards, vice presi
dent of finance:
• Tuition: a 2.6 percent rise to $29,750.
• Room: 2.2 percent to $4,650 for a
double room and $5,650 for a single.
• Meals: 1.9 percent to $5,400.
Adding in the student activities fee of
$150, the total cost will come to $39,950
for students who five on campus in a double
room and eat their meals in the dining hall.
Edwards said the increases were needed
due to inflation, rises in interest rates and
insurance costs, as well as higher costs
associated with improvements around
campus, as the college's enrollment contin
ues to climb. A current initiative involves
extensive roof repair and replacement. The
college will continue to add new full-time
faculty, but Edwards said revenue from
higher enrollment will pay for that expense.
Among other projects under way are:
finished 13-13 overall and 8-6 in the conference.
Besides improved shooting—36 to
38 percent field goal percentage—Trader
credited tighter defense for her team’s
success in February. “We changed defenses
the second time we played a conference
team.” she explained. “We’re a ‘man to
man' team, but in the second matchups,
we often ran a 1-2-2 press to slow down
the other offense as well as a 2-3 zone, and
teams weren't prepared for it. Zone defense
forces teams into taking jump shots. So we
had to rebound and allow only one shot.”
The Bishops earned the fourth seed with
a thrilling victory, 80-76, over William Peace
in Raleigh on February 12. In that game,
NCWC’s deep bench wore down the Pacers,
as the Bishops exploded for 35 points in the
fourth quarter to erase an eight-point deficit.
“Our depth enabled us to play a few
different lineups based on what we needed
at a particular time," Trader said. “To finish
relations with other countries.”
In her survey, McCall listed all the
aforementioned accomplishments and
enumerated others. “While no individu
al's perfect,” she said, “I think President
Obama’s two terms were successful. Not
only did he bring America to the table on
climate change, he legalized same-sex
marriage, pardoned individuals who had
received life sentences, regulated big
banks and made countless agreements
around the world.”
Among the criticisms leveled against
the Obama administration, Jallow
called attention to the high number of
deportations that occurred during the
president’s two terms.
Though a fan of Obama, Parrish was
critical of the 44th president's efforts
in trying to help African-Americans. “I
feel he didn't do enough for the black
community. When all the murders of
innocent black men took place, Obama
rarely spoke out about them," Parrish
said, expressing particular dissatisfac
tion with the response to killings in
inner-city Chicago. Obama’s hometown.
McCall concurred that there were
"hiccups” along the way, but feels that
the president was calm and unifying in
response to crisis. “People still lost their
jobs, young African-Americans were
racially profiled, shootings took place,
and soldiers died, but in every dark mo
ment the president brought us together.”
(This story was reported by
Jessica Brown, Diamond Fogg, Sydney
Jackson, Johnathan Pickier, Maty
Reynolds, Santanlia Scoggins, Quinn
Tobias, and Toni Tutt.)
• The construction of Eli Residence Hall.
• Renovations/upgrades to residence
hall bathrooms. “At this point we have
renovated all of the older residence
hall bathrooms on campus with the
exception of Collins Hall,” Edwards
said. "We plan to renovate the Collins
Hall bathrooms this summer.”
• Technology upgrades to classrooms and
the career services center.
• Improvements to walkways. “Our goal
is to provide safer travels while members
of the Wesleyan community navigate
around campus,” Edwards explained.
• Enhanced lighting. "This is a high prior
ity,” Edwards said. “We've been converting
light fixtures to LED throughout campus. In
the last two years we've converted all
exterior light poles, the gymnasium fight
ing, classroom lighting, residence hall room
lights, lighting in the library, and several
other smaller areas around campus. We
plan to continue investing in lighting
improvements and eventually all lights will
be converted to LEDs.”
• Strengthened security through additional
personnel as well as security cameras and
911 towers.
the game at William Peace, we had four
guards and a post-in. The plan was to go
with a quicker lineup and see if we could
negate their post play. With our deep lineup,
we were fresher at the end of the game.”
Wesleyan players were clutch at the
foul line, making 17 of 22 shots, as two
Pacer starters fouled out and a third played
the waning moments with four fouls.
Along with teammate KeChae Parker, Timyra Staton
(above) was named a second-team all-conference
performer after leading the Bishop to a fourth-place
seeding in USA South basketball tourney, si photo