TENTORIAN
VOLUME XXXII ISSUE EIGHT
The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
stentorian@ncssm.edu
APRIL 2012
President Obama speaks at UNC
By: Molly Bruce
“Please join me in
welcoming the President
of the United States,” said
Dominique Garland, a senior
at UNC Chapel Hill studying
education. And with that, the
8,000 people in Carmichael
Arena erupted in applause.
President Barack Obama’s
visit to North Carolina was
made in an effort to send a
message to Congress.
This coming summer, if
Congress does not take action,'
interest rates on federal student
loans are set to double, and this
price hike is one many college
students and their families
cannot afford to pay.
t As Garland said, speaking
from personal knowledge about
her own loans and the loans of
her younger sister, soon-to-be a
Obama speaks to UNC sAtdents_
_ Courtesy of the Washington Post
HOPE and Africa Fest celebrate
African American culture
By: Jay Buchanan
Africa Fest, held March 24,
2012, featured a variety of acts
pertaining to past and current
African and African American
society and heritage.
Letita Mason, Director of
Admissions at NCSSM, says
on the history of HOPE and
Africa Fest, “Leading Youth
Through Education (LYTE)
started Africa Fest in an effort to
educate NCSSM students on the
positive cultural influences and
role models of African descent
through the United States and
the state of North Carolina.”
HOPE is NCSSM’s African
American culture group.
Mason, who served as
sponsor to LYTE as well as
its predecessor the Harambee
Club, now leads the African
American Studies seminar on
campus. “The seminar was only
offered in third trimester; too
late to hold class participants
responsible for seminar credit
- they partieipated out of their
own commitment and passion
for their cultural heritage,” says
Mason
“HOPE provides us with
a chance to connect with other
people who understand our
culture and experiences,”
says junior Tatiana Miller,
HOPE member and Afnca Fest
participant.
Ravyn Njagu, senior,
serves as the current president
of HOPE, and Christina Stone
serves as the Chairwoman for
Africa Fest.
Njagu says, “Africa Fest
was a great success this year. It
would not have been successful
without the collaborative effort
of everyone that who contributed
to the production. All the hard
work and dedication is what
made the show amazing!”
Africa Fest featured a
number of dance routines, a
video testimonial series for
the African Studies course,
and an intertwined plotline
which followed two young
women whose plane tickets
were switched.
“It’s a lot of work,” says
Mattie Gaddy, Multicultural
Admissions Counselor and
current HOPE and Afnca Fest
sponsor. She continues, “But it
is good work.”
Gaddy worked behind the
scenes throughout rehearsal and
performance of the Africa Fest
production, helping keep order
and complete managerial tasks.
“The best part of Africa
Fest is watching the students
evolve,” says Gaddy. “They
go from small and nervous in
the beginning to a great show
in the end.”
freshman at UNC Chapel Hill,
“If interest rates were to double,
that would mean that many
students who would love to
and who deserve to take part in
extracurricular activities would
have to work or live at home
instead of having the college
experience.”
Obama reiterated, “Five
years ago. Congress cut the
rate on federal student loans
in half That was a good thing
to do. But on July 1st — that’s
a little over two months from
now — that rate cut expires.
And if Congress does nothing,
the interest rates on those loans
will double overnight.”
During his speech, Obama
hit on the political ramifications
of many of Washington’s
policies towards student tuition
standards. However, Obama
also made clear his opinions
about the importance of earning
a degree beyond a high-school
diploma, regardless of the cost.
“Higher education is the single
most important investment you
can make in your future.”
Later that evening, Obama
appeared on “Late Night-With
Jimmy Fallon”, broadcasting
the special show from UNO’s
Memorial Hall. Late Night
also featured special guest Dave
Matthews.
However, this policy
speech was more than just an
attempt to raise awareness about
the financial issues plaguing
many college students and their
families. While North Carolina
went blue for the 2008 elections,
which put Obama in office.
North Carolina the second
time around is considered a
swing state, and young adults
will be important again in the
presidential election of 2012.
March of the Flags at Latin America Fest 2012
Courtesy of Caroline deSaussure