A Giving Thanksgiving

The standard American tradition labels the Thanksgiving holiday as a time to be thankfull and most importantly feast! Families come together from all over the world to embrace and fellowship over a nice home cooked meal.This on going tradition is also celebrated by mother of four, age 48, Shanita Williams. She makes sure she enjoys the time with her family, but at the top of her holiday list every year, she contributes to the Hosea Feed the Hungry Foundation, in Atlanta,Ga.
This Foundation has been around since its founding in 1971, Hosea Feed The Hungry and Homeless Food (HFTH), a Christian international aid organization. They distributed more than $3.0 billion in food, clothing, medical, educational, toiletries, furniture and cleaning supplies to 16 Georgia counties, three states and to the Philippines, the Ivory Coast and Uganda. The organization maintains an average administrative overhead of 14 percent -- ensuring the poor receive 86 percent of all donations.

The meals are prepared by hundreds of volunteers, including Shinita, on Memorial dr., at the Dekalb County jail.Volunteers began working and preparing food at six until midnight. There were over one-thousand turkeys cooked, as well as ham, vegetables, and stuffing. Shinita arrived at the jail house around 5:45 am with her oldest daughter,17, Meshia. Shenita says,"It means more to me every year knowing that I have helped feed at least three families during the holiday."

Times are getting harder and harder every year, and the economy is slowly declining, leaving more people homeless and jobless. I make sure I do my part and give back, because they once gave to me."
Shanita has been volunteering for the foundation for over eight years. Williams was not always behind the counter serving the food, she was once in the line recieving the dinners for 20 years. She grew up in the streets of Atlanta with her father, she was bouncing from home to home with little to no education." I looked forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas because all the shelters would give out good dinners, but sometimes the lines were so long, I could not get a plate," says Williams. Williams is one of the few lucky ones who takes advantage of an opportunity and is able to get her life back on track and gain stability.

"I enjoy doing this, and when all of my kids are old enoungh they will join me and volunteer also. Because if you dont have a home for the holidays atleast you can have a good hot meal," smiles Shinita. She is one of the thousands that are sincere and want to give a helping hand, and the homless and jobless are very fortunate to have these people in the world. You can volunteer every holiday by visiting, http://http//www.hoseafeedthehungry.com/

History of HBCU has little Impact on Students

The History of NorthCarolina A&T ‘s Greensboro four significance is rarely recognized by students. On February 1, 1960 four African American students – Ezell A. Blair Jr. , David Richmond, Joseph McNeil, and Franklin McCain – from at the time Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina, a historically black college. The students sat at a segregated lunch counter in the Greensboro, North Carolina, Woolworth's store. This lunch counter only had chairs/stools for whites, while blacks had to stand and eat. Although they were refused service, they were allowed to stay at the counter. The four students were aware that Woolworth’s would not serve blacks at their lunch counter but they sat down anyway, engaging themselves in a plan they had been discussing for a month prior to the sit-in. This started a large peaceful protest and sit in involving many students, parents, and community activists.

This event is being commemorated in January through February 1, 2010. Many students around campus are unaware of the upcoming Aggie sit-in, and even more disappointing, they know nothing about the Greensboro four.
Freshman Charmaine Jensin was asked “if she will she be attending the Aggie sit-in next semester in memory of the Greensboro four?”, and she replied with a confused look asking “ What is that for, and What does the Greensboro four mean?” I thought to myself, did they not teach the new students about the history during orientation? Many people do say that you should always know the history behind any institution that you attend, because it is important and you contribute to the history of the school. Senior Janealle Watts expresses his thoughts about the upcoming sit-in “I am thinking about going , but only because my friend is in SGA. It is not a big deal to me, I know that I should care about it, but I just don’t.”

How can A&T students appreciate their school without appreciating the history behind it? It is clear that many students know little about the Greensboro four, and care even less about their amazing, peaceful and brave struggle for civil rights. Next semester this will be A&T’s 47th sit-in anniversary, hopefully this event will inspire students to want to learn more about the actual sit-in, and also inspire them to appreciate their history of North Carolina A&T.

http://chantelle.webng.com/

You will not rain on my parade

On October 31 the weather in greensboro, North Carolina was alittle down and rainy, however the life of homecoming was as high as ever. It drizzled on that saturday of North Carolina A&T homecoming but that did not stop the thousands of students, parents, families , and especially the alumni. The most important part of the homecoming day aside from the football game, is the tailgating participation, which was a great turnout. Despite the drizzling weather the tailgators flooded in taking up spaces anywhere availible.

Tailgator of five years Jeff Byrg, explains how every year no matter rain or shine and if they win or loose the football game, he and his friends will be there faithfully cooking out. " I travel all the way from Atlanta, Georgia each year for this homecoming, and I am satisfied every time. Tailgating is what people expect, I always give out free food for anyone who walks by and I cook fom 9a.m until alittle after the football game is over."

Jeff was not the only tailgator to agree that his attendance would be promised rain or shine, and because of faithfull tailgators like him, it makes the aggie homecoming even better each year.

During the day before and after the game Jesse jackson was found taking a bite or two, and enjoying the tailgating meal.

Terrance J from the BET show 106&Park was also there enjoying the friday evening tailgating.

For years to come to help keep homecoming alive the tailgators must continue to support and attend the homecoming weekend and keep A&T 's aggie pride alive. To be apart of othe NC A&T alumni activicties follw the link to http://http//www.ncat.edu/~alumni/

Homecoming this year for North CArolina A&T University falls on October 31, yes the weekend of halloween. And who better to get homecoming popping off better than the Greeks. All of the sororities and fraternities will take over the campus with their colors and pride of their organizations.
A&T student Brittny Reddick is a part of the sorority chapter of Delta Sigma Theta inc., and explains how excited she is for this homecoming this year. " The girls and I have repainted our plot, we have got it looking really nice, many of the organizations put in hard work to clean up, repaint, and decorate their plots to prepare for homecoming." The student body counts on the sororities and fraternities to have their stuff together by promoting parties, having cookouts, and just keeping the campus live. There will be a stepshow on friday october 30, and all of the campus greek organizations will be involved and there will be a select few greeks from other schools to join the stepshow. "Im trying my best to balnce school, my social life, and the all night step show practices! It gets stressfull but I know it will all be worth it, when everybody is cheering because we have the best step routine in the show." Jason Mathews, a memeber of Kappa Alpha Si fratenity is estatic because "His boys are back on the yard." Everyone is awaiting there perfomance, better yet just an appearance from the Kappa's is going to make the show so much better. The fraternity has been suspended since 2005 and have been granted the priveledge to come back on the yard this year. Mathews was asked about how this homecoming will be different for him this year from the past three. He takes a deep breath and smiles, " Its going to be off the chain! I am a senior now and it feels like I have been under wrap or hiding out for so long. For me to be able to make our first appearance during homecoming is just awesome, after all, this is the greatest homecoming on earth." The greek fraternities put in numerous hours for step practice sometimes during the day, and others into the late hours of the night, leaving students with very little time to sleep. Other obligations have been put on hold, so that the organizations can come to gether and do community service activities for homecoming and promote students to support them.
Brittany and Jason both come together and agree that homecoming week is the most stressfull week during all of your greek experience, from the public service deeds, to the attending all the clubs to promote the parties, but in the end its all worth it. Brittany adds "After all it is the greatest homecoming on earth, so why not do it greek style!"

Blind man still works at age 74


"What does me being blind have to do with getting a job again, if any worries it should be my old age,” chuckled Mr. Statezum. As I sat and observed him at times during the conversation I would forget that he was even blind. In his home lived his wife and son Jean along with his sons three kids. For the whole hour or so I was there he did not ask them to bring him anything or do anything for him. He did it himself.

Everyone knows Charlie Statezum has been a hardworking man all his life and now that the economy is getting worse he has decided to come out of retirement and go back into the work force. He wants his wife along with himself to make it through their old age without having to struggle, if push comes to shove.
Charlie is respected by many he is known as a great father to the neighborhood and a hard working man, despite his disability.
"I want to work until I die, there is no need for me to sit around the house and be idol, and just grow old, I have been working 52years of my life, i catch the transit system alone when my wife cant come, I basically know my way all around Atlanta, Georgia. I have been blind since I was 23.” Charlie has been employed at many different companies, but brail machines were given for Charlie to complete his work on. Charlie has raised three kids who are now grown and have their own families. Every summer all 13 of his grandkids come to stay with him for two weeks and he shares his life stories an motivates them to keep moving on, no matter what difficulties they face. Mr.Statezum expresses that it has been a struggle to find a job, until he realized that the blind convention he attends every year should definitely be able to help him out. During these blind conventions the sponsors distribute the latest gadgets that help the blind, and also broadcast career opportunities for all ages.Charlie’s family supports him in everyway and encourages him to work. “People make excuses everyday as to why they cant get a job, and blah blah! But I am blind that is the biggest excuse in the world! I can not see anything, and yet I still push on as if everyone is blind, and there is nothing in the world to see, only feel, smell, and hear.”Despite the old age and handicap of being blind Charlie percieves the world as his own, and will take on every opportunity and until it is actually time for him to throw in the towel.

Club safety on a Halloween homecoming leaves doubts in student minds

This Halloween Greensboro, North Carolina will be hosting one of the largest and best Hbcu home comings ever. Students, parents, and alumni will be coming in town from all over to partake in this unforgetable event. http://http//www.ncat.edu/~newsinfo/homecoming/2009/
There will be functions all week to attend, but the main function the students wait and really prepare for, is the after party at the clubs. Many of Greensboro’s clubs will be live that weekend but everyone is trying to get to one club, Music City.
Music city located on Boeing drive is expected to reach its maximum capacity of 1,800 people that weekend. Music city is a large club facility with the square footage of 3,400; it’s an old ware house that has been transformed into a genuine club scene since the late 1990’s. The average price for club entry on the occasional weekends and weekdays vary from $5 to $10, however admission prices over the years during homecoming time have been a minimum of $20 for entry. Since Halloween night is known to be a night of tricks and treats, the clubs must prepare and take precautions for whatever violent and unruly acts that occur.
Around homecoming students tend to let their guards down as far as safety, but this also seems to be the time of year when a lot of students get into trouble. Fights and verbal altercations usually occur more often during this time, because students are consuming large amounts of alcohol. The most common place for altercations to arise is in nightclubs.
“I thought about going to Music City for homecoming, but I think a fight is going to break out”, says sophomore Hope Fletcher. Hope is not the only student concerned with her safety at the club, there have been recent incidents, including assaults that put doubts in many students minds about going. Club owner Marcus Glavsby tries to ease student’s minds by expressing the actions that will be taken by the club to promote tighter security. “The lines will be heavily monitored; each person will be searched from head to toe including females, because we usually just let them walk through, but not this time.”
It is also said that if found with any type of weapons at the door, they will be immediately discarded and you will be asked to leave. After continuing the conversation, in a calm and relaxed tone Marcus says, “I know that we can not control verbal and physical fights that break out, but when and if they do, my security staff is very well prepared to act and remove all people associated with the confrontation.” The security staff for the whole week from October 28 through the 31rst, will be at the least 30 men on duty. Marcus does not expect the behavior of the club to be very unruly because he knows that everyone just wants to have a goodtime and get their monies worth. Brittany Lockswelsh says excitedly “I have been going every year since I have been here, and yes I have paid at the least $35 to get in on those nights, but I always enjoy myself and a few fight have broke out, but the security guards quickly eliminate the problem…….and I go rite back to partying! Nothing is going to stop me from going.”

North Carolina A&T could not have picked a better night for homecoming to fall on, all the students should just prepare themselves and be cautious of their surroundings at all times.The school has prepared a saftey precaution list for on campus activities, but is still useful if you are off campus also at http://http//www.ncat.edu/~newsinfo/announcements/safety.html

WE ARE SISTERS ON AND OFF THE FIELD

North Carolina A&T senior expresses her feelings about spending her last year in college with her younger sister. The Statham sisters have a two year age differnce, but share the athletic talent of playing softball at the collegic level. After being at differnt schools for over two years now, Channings younger sister Chantelle decides to transfer from Alabama A&M University and join her for her last year of college softball.

Q&A

Chantelle Statham: How are you expecting this year to be different from your past years now that your sister is your teammate?

Channing: Its not going to be a big change, but at the same time it will. Ill be looking after her just like I used to because she is not just my teammate, she is my little sister. It will be great having each others support at every game.I wont have to call her anymore and tell her what happened, because she will be there!

Chantelle Satham:Do you think you had an impact on your sisters decision to transfer to A&T?

Channing: Yes, and No. My sister has a mind of her own, however i did tell her constantly about how A&T is one of the best HBCU's ever! I would tell her about all the better things we had to offer at A&T, academically and athletically.I may have given her that feeling of support, but she knows its nothing like actually having your sister there with you.

Chantelle Statham: Do you and Chantelle spend as much time together as you thought you would?

Channing: Absolutely. We are closer than before. We have to see eachother everyday at practice and at least twice during the week she comes to stay the night with me. We have "sister time" every thursday, thats when i take her out to eat and we sit and chat about everything thats been going on!

Chantelle Statham:Are you expecting your sister to be in the line up with you during the games this season?

Channing: Maybe. Thats a hard question because she has two seniors that play both of her positions in the infield, but she so dedicated, so I wouldnt be suprised if she found another position that would put her in the starting line up. I know its possible.

Chantelle Staham: Do you think your sister regrets her decision to transfer universities?

Channing Statham: No. Not one bit. She expresses how glad she is to be here all the time , and just enjoys all the great things A&T has to offer. If she likes it ilove it. Now we both have that "AGGIE PRIDE"!

Q & A

Success for Aggie Football is coming slowly but surely

Editors Note: The North Carolina A&T State University football team is off to a great start and are doing everything in their power to stay focused on and off the field.

Aggie fans want to see exactly what the team has in store for the remainder of the season, because they have started out their season better than they have in the past four years. What makes this year different?

There is a new head coach that maybe contributing to the teams beggining success, but Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers Coach Micheal Morand helps to put this seasons attributes into perpsective.




Chantelle Statham:What are Your expectations for the team with the remainder of the season?

Coach Morand: "Its really for us to just get better everyday in practice, so that we dont have to think during the game just react.And those are the little things that will get us through"


Chantelle Statham:What makes you put your trust in your freshman so much this year?

Coach Morand: "Its not so much that they are freshman, classification does not matter as much.They posess great talent, the young ones like Larry Raper and Mike Mayhew, have great spees that is well needed, and they can most importantly get the job done."

Chantelle Statham:How are you keeping your seniors in line and preparing them for life after football?

Coach Morand: This sport not only teaches athleticism,but dicipline, timeliness, and how to work with others and this is allways a key to the workforce."

Chantelle Statham:Who is the teams biggest competetor?

Coach Morand: Every team is. Each week we face someone new and they become our biggest competetor, we take it game by game and week by week."

Chantelle Statham: What is the hardest task for you as acoach with your players?

Coach Morand: Making sure they are coachable, and make sure they are taking in the information that we are teaching them and retaining it everyday."


"We are growing everyday on and off the field"-Micheal Morand-
Check out the Aggie Football link for more information on season records and statistics.

about me

I am a Sophomore from Stone mountain ,Ga. I am also a student athlete majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication. I have played softball all my life ,thirteen years to be exact.Last year I attended Alabama A&M University in HUntsville, Alabama for my freshman year. I transfered to North Carolina A&T for the 2009 fall semester and will finish the rest of my school terms here.
I come from a pretty large family and have great family values instilled in me.I am very passionate about kids and animals, but as for myself I love to be in the spotlight all the time.Anything else you want to find out about me, you should just Google me.