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Articles

Here you can find an archive of all of my articles. I have been writing and publishing articles in the Campus Echo Newspaper since October 2023.

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

NCCU announces plans to improve housing - Campus Echo Online

NCCU announced plans Monday afternoon to improve on-campus housing following last week’s protest.
In an emailed statement to the student body from the Division of Student Affairs, NCCU plans to implement six short and long-term action steps.
Residential Life will conduct room-by-room inspections to address maintenance issues and pest control, according to the statement. These inspections are expected to continue indefinitely and will be conducted twice a semester.
The statement also said that ad...
Triangle Tribune •

Jada's Men's Accessories continues growth in its fifth year

Jada's Men's Accessories in Durham.
While small businesses struggled to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic, James Abram and Wendy McManus-Abram decided to open a business. Now, what started as a side hustle selling ties out of the trunk of their car for nearly two decades has turned into a flourishing business.
The brick and mortar off Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard painted in a bright blue is the business’ fourth home in the last five years. They quickly outgrew their previous spaces. “We...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

Student led project seeks to improve housing conditions - Campus Echo Online

Alena Dockery has grown frustrated with the conditions in her residence hall. After hearing frequent complaints about subpar housing conditions from her peers, Dockery decided to act towards improvements.
In February, Dockery created “The NCCU Quality of Life Project,” a project seeking to improve housing conditions by presenting documented issues to N.C. Central University’s administration.
“I want to make sure that we can document the issues that we’re having and then also create a clear path...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

NC State Representative and Senator talk civic engagement at NCCU - Campus Echo Online

N.C. Central University’s Political Science Club hosted N.C. State Rep. Zack Hawkins and N.C. State Sen. Natalie Murdock on campus to engage with students on Monday evening.
The event, “How to Stay Civically Engaged After the Election,” offered a Socratic seminar for students to speak openly about their concerns with the current political climate.
Hawkins, Murdock and about 15 students discussed the removal of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies in the federal government and private busines...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

Chancellor Dixon reflects on first semester, looks ahead - Campus Echo Online

Chancellor Karrie Dixon didn’t wake up one day and decide to become a chancellor. But once she made the decision to pursue the role, she made sure that she would become “the best chancellor [she] could be.”
Dixon, former chancellor at Elizabeth City State University, started at N.C. Central University in July following Chancellor Johnson O. Akinleye’s retirement after his 7-year tenure. That makes Dixon the second permanent female chancellor of NCCU after Debra Saunders-White, who died from canc...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

TikTok ban up in the air - Campus Echo Online

TikTok, the popular social media app, made a less than 24 hour return after being banned in the United States late on the night of Jan. 18.
The app has been up and running for several days despite legislation banning the app. The bill, which required that the Chinese parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, be sold to a company in the United States, passed in the House with a 352-65 vote and the Senate with a 79-18 vote. It was then signed by President Joe Biden. The Supreme Court unanimously upheld...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

New presidential term begins - Campus Echo Online

President Donald Trump was officially sworn into office as the 47th president of the United States at 12:02 p.m. on Monday, making him only the second president to serve in two non-consecutive terms. His inauguration also historically fell on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, happening only on President Bill Clinton’s Inauguration Day.
“Today is Martin Luther King Day and his honor—this will be a great honor—but in his honor, we will strive together to make his dream a reality. We will make this dream...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

Student led project seeks to improve housing conditions - Campus Echo Online

Alena Dockery has grown frustrated with the conditions in her residence hall. After hearing frequent complaints about subpar housing conditions from her peers, Dockery decided to act towards improvements.
In February, Dockery created “The NCCU Quality of Life Project,” a project seeking to improve housing conditions by presenting documented issues to N.C. Central University’s administration.
“I want to make sure that we can document the issues that we’re having and then also create a clear path...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

When students faced voting barrier, one pushed for change - Campus Echo Online

When senior political science student Alexis Staten realized that her faded student ID photo was unrecognizable, she feared that she wouldn’t be able to vote in the 2024 presidential election. So, she sparked an initiative to replace students’ Eagle Cards for free, saving students from voting provisionally at the polls.
As an out-of-state student, Staten would not have been able to use her New Jersey driver’s license to vote unless she registered to vote in Durham County 90 days before Election...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

NCCU students anxiously awaited election results at watch party - Campus Echo Online

Hundreds of N.C. Central University students waited in anticipation for the presidential election results in the New Student Center lobby Tuesday night.
“I just wanted to come out and watch history unfold in real life,” said sophomore sports medicine major Gabrielle Beale.
The lobby overflowed with students, leading students to bring in outdoor seating and pushing students to watch and socialize in the game room, on the stairs, in the upstairs lobby, and down nearby hallways.
Cheering erupted up...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

Students don't seem intimidated by incidents of voting interference

Leading up to Election Day, some N.C. Central University students said that they intended to vote, despite recent incidents of voter interference around the country.
There appears to be no cases of interference or intimidation in North Carolina. However, several states across the country have each faced incidents since early voting began.
Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State, has been outspoken in her efforts to assure voters that this election will be secure.
“There’s no upside to disrup...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

Poll: Nearly 85% of NCCU students plan to vote - Campus Echo Online

In a swing state like North Carolina, students could cast the deciding vote to determine the results of the presidential election. But, some N.C. Central University students have no plans to vote.
According to an anonymous poll conducted by the Campus Echo in September and October, 93.4% of students are registered to vote, yet only 84.8% plan on voting.
“No matter who we vote for, the economy is still going to decline. I don’t feel like any real change has occurred,” said one student anonymously...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

VP Harris’ husband and sister campaign in the Research Triangle - Campus Echo Online

Doug Emhoff, Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband, and sister, Maya Harris, rallied voters in the Research Triangle just days after vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz’s visit on Thursday.
Emhoff and Harris made their first stop at the Raleigh home of Senah Andrews, who ran for the N.C. House in 2018, to speak at a canvass launch. The two were introduced by several speakers, including Andrews, N.C. Rep. Allison Dahle, and U.S. Rep. Wylie Nickel.
“The path to...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

Democrats show Durham more attention in final weeks of campaign - Campus Echo Online

This late in a presidential race, candidates have had ample time to explain their goals for the nation.
So when Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz visited Durham on Thursday, his speech didn’t offer any new proposals.
Walz joined former President Bill Clinton and N.C. Central University senior Devin Freeman for a rally at the Community Family Life & Recreation Center at Lyon Park, just minutes west of NCCU.
Their remarks were received with cheers and laughter by the hundreds who fille...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

Leading House Democrat visits Harris-Walz volunteers in Raleigh - Campus Echo Online

The second highest ranking U.S. House Democrat joined a colleague from Wake County on Monday in downtown Raleigh to thank phone bank volunteers for the Harris-Walz campaign.
Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), the House minority whip, and Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), who represents most of Wake County, were passionate in encouraging the volunteers.
“We are most grateful to all of you. The volunteers are here because this is how we win the future of this country. This is how we keep democracy,” Clark...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

Vance-Walz vice presidential debate offers new live fact-checking - Campus Echo Online

Viewers had no shortage of access to the facts during the vice-presidential debate between Sen. J.D. Vance and Gov. Tim Walz last night through CBS’s live fact-checking.
If unsure about the veracity of the candidates’ claims, viewers had the option to access live fact-checking information on cbsnews.com or by scanning a QR code during the debate.
“The idea is to give people that second-screen experience … The audience can get the takeaway they need in a responsible and smart way,” Claudia Milne,...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

N.C. politicians, Gov. Wes Moore promote Democratic ticket, encourage Durham’s Black men to vote - Campus Echo Online

North Carolina politicians and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore visited Durham Sunday to promote Vice President Harris’ plan to help Black Americans and small businesses.
“She’s the only candidate that’s fighting for us,” N.C. Rep. Zack Hawkins told a crowd of about 70 at Jada’s Men’s Accessories, a family-owned clothing store just blocks from NCCU. Hawkins represents NCCU in the N.C. House.
The campaign event echoed the Harris-Walz campaign’s plan to support small businesses and increase Americans’ weal...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

Durham County Board of Elections Chair encourages youth voting, faith in elections - Campus Echo Online

While Dawn Baxton, Durham County Board of Elections Chair, expects fair and safe elections in Durham County this presidential election, she hopes that the youth vote will increase over its 2020 election rate.
“Every time you have an opportunity to vote on issues that affect your life, you need to do it. It’s just that simple,” said Baxton, who has served as a board member since 2011 and as the chair since 2021.
According to the Durham County Board of Elections website, youth voting was only 13.0...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu •

Enthusiastic students gather to watch Harris-Trump debate - Campus Echo Online

More than 200 N.C. Central University students filled the New Student Center lobby on Sept. 10 to watch what could be the only presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The crowd was enthusiastic, reacting to candidates to comments with laughter or expressions of surprise. Students weren’t afraid to take sides during the debate.
“[The turnout] was more than originally expected because our club is notoriously small,” NCCU Political Science Club pr...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University •

Davis and Poore to lead SGA administration for 2024-2025 - Campus Echo Online

The votes are in: Next academic year’s Student Government Association President will be Emmanuel Davis and Vice President, Ayanna Poore.
For the Royal Court, Mr. NCCU will be represented by Ryan Atwater, Jr. and Miss NCCU will be represented by Karleigh N’diyae. Voting ran on April 1-2. Davis, Atwater and N’Diyae all ran for their positions unopposed.
Although not everyone could win a SGA position, one winner was the outstanding creativity displayed by students in their campaigns, which ran on s...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University •

NCCU’s congresswoman tells students about persistence, change - Campus Echo Online

U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee told a gathering of N.C. Central University students that as she was growing up in Orange County, she was always jealous of Durham because of the progress Black people were making here during the Civil Rights Movement.
Foushee, who is unopposed in next Tuesday’s Democratic primary as she runs for a second term as NCCU’s congresswoman, said that although change was made in her city, any change was led by students.  She encouraged NCCU students to do the same.
Being a cha...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University •

Mitchell-Walthour makes her mark as an expert in Brazilian racial politics - Campus Echo Online

While growing up in Kannapolis, N.C., Gladys Mitchell-Walthour became interested in Latin America because of her curiosity about the growing number of Latino immigrants moving into her town.
“I would meet people that were my complexion, or darker, speaking Spanish and I thought, ‘Wow this is interesting’,” Walthour said.
She later earned an undergraduate degree in political science and African and African-American studies from Duke University, a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Universi...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University •

Advocate dissects Brazilian racism - Campus Echo Online

According to Reneta Souza, Brazil shares something profound with the United States: a long and persistent history of racism.
Souza, a State Deputy for Rio de Janeiro, spoke to a group of around 25 students, faculty, and guests from Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill at an event held this past Thursday in the N.C. Carolina University School of Law. She has approximately 140,000 people within her jurisdiction.
Souza gave her presentation, “Race, Racism, and Racial Violence in Brazil,” in Portugue...
Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University •

Eagles SOAR to the polls ahead of Nov. 7 Durham election - Campus Echo Online

About 100 people – mostly N.C. Central University students – attended an Student Government Association event, SOAR to the Polls, last Thursday.
“People say that we are the future, but in order to be that future we have to work in the present,” said Marcus Spates, a business administration junior and the SGA’s Director of Political Action. Spates played a key role planning SOAR to the Polls. His job was to pull in student and outside organizations and to make sure that the SGA had a united under...