Hinds Community College, a Mississippi Community College, is the largest community college in the state of Mississippi, serving more than 10700 credit ...
African-Americans and Hispanics have been oppressed in America many different ways. This one really brings out the true colors that prejudice has "no color."
On his first day of work in 2005 at a beverage warehouse in west suburban Northlake, Germaine Benson said he immediately felt tension between black and Hispanic workers.
But by 2007, conditions had grown much uglier as Hispanic supervisors repeatedly subjected black employees to racial insults such as "donkey," "monkey" and the n-word, said Benson, who is African-American.
This week Benson and six other current or former employees of the Dr Pepper Snapple warehouse filed a federal lawsuit that alleges systematic discrimination took place for more than two years before management took meaningful action.
The seven workers are seeking more than $1 million each in damages. Most of them joined the company in 2007.
In addition to the taunts, the workers allege that racially offensive graffiti was written across their lockers twice this year. The company painted over the hate-filled language on both occasions.
"I felt like it was kind of setting us back 100 years," said Archie Hayes, one of three plaintiffs who said they were fired this year after complaining about the hostile work environment.
Hayes and another plaintiff have since been hired back.
Toward the end of their shifts, Hayes said, the supervisors would often follow the black workers, calling them names and holding wooden sticks meant to stab plastic debris littering the warehouse floor.
Not if anyone knows better, Blacks and Hispanics should know better after all our ancestors have been through.
First let me say, Happy New Year to all the readers.
..........and now.
Now since 2009 is over thank god, I am looking forward to 2010. I have some questions that will linger into the upcoming year. I hope I can be able to remember this December 31, 2010. Here are the questions and predictions.
In Mississippi, will the three HBCUs merge?
Prediction: No, but if Haley end up getting his way for the budget cutting, alumni from Alcorn, Valley, and MUW will have a fight on their hands.
With the 2010 election coming up, will Democrats lose the majority for the House and/or the Senate switch?
Prediction: A good question but if the jobs do not start showing up between March and August, The Republican party will have a solid shot because of the stimulus and the south verison of “The New Confederacy.” (AKA The solid Republican’s State)
Who is going to be hot in 2010?
Preidction: This will either be a known actress that had bad luck and a sports figure may be on the rise that is not LeBron or Kobe.
Will TV become boring?
Prediction: A couple of cable network will do fine, but on the other hand reality television is dropping the tube to be boring.
Will there be someone that will try a successful terror plot?
Yesterday and This morning I kept reading and hearing this “Lonely Black Woman in America” post (which I have read almost 100,000 times in 9 years). I can tell you that it really is starting to irk me. As much as I want to say that BW can date outside cause you know the saying “Light is Right.” Black women failed to realize that there are differences in success and happiness. I want to be like forget this, but now I might as well since I have been hearing about this since 2001 I heard this yesterday on ABC , I might as well put my two cents in this. I really care less, my parents have been married for over 35 years, and my sisters have been married for respectively 15 and 25 years. This is just how I look at how they have dealt with this situation.
Unless it is the Bible, your way toward love DOES NOT come in a book.
I had to tell the Queen this when we first started dating. She was reading that Steve Harvey book and was telling Steve Harvey said this and he said that. One of our disagreements was about trust and I remember flat out telling her “You can’t get that from a book.” When Black Women turn to these books and articles talking about how men can love you, It reminds me of that Billy Bob Thornton quote from the movie “School for Scoundrels” when talking to the guys who were too nice.
How many of you have self-help books? Okay, that's your first problem. You can't help yourself, because your *self* sucks!
I know that sounds harsh, but get the picture. You have to learn before you can find anything. That is like taking a class on Calculus when you don’t know basic math or driving a standard shift Ferrari when you never drove a car, let alone a stick, at all. I just felt that Steve Harvey book was the most BS any woman can get. The reason is that all men, just like women are different. You might encounter this top notch athlete, successful businessman, street preacher, and a guy from the “Big Bang Theory” all in one month and you can never say that all four have the same MO. You have to learn from your mistakes in order to find the person that is compatible to you. A wise lady always told me “In order to find the root, you have to shed the stems.” That means to be married, you have to find your strength and weakness in you and also what can your mate do to “complete you.” Yeah I know, sound so Jerry MacGuire-ish.
Quit Stereotyping
Most successful black women have this in common with almost every species in the universe. They tend to stereotype black men. Well I would like to explain but Dave Chappelle can explain it way better. Roll Tape!
Enough said, but there are “Man Rules.” You will have to consult with your neighborly intelligent male figure in your life.
Talk to people who have been married for years……not months or never been.
A famous thing I tell people is that when you having car trouble, you talk to a person who deal with cars, when you deal with education in your major, you talk to somebody that has graduated in your major, and when you talk about marriage, you talk to people who has been married for decades. When black women really figure that out, they will win the battle in relationships. Black women tends to talk to their friends (married for just months or never) about finding the man that will best suit you. If cannot find a couple like that or that’s the problem, consult with God and he will not lead you astray.
Sometimes you settle when you don’t think you are.
I know people are said in their minds “Huh,” but peep the scenario. Some single black women say that they are settling not to settle, but love is not a settlement. If you are dating just brothers and think a second that in your unrealistic standard of life that you like somebody that is 100% compatible, you are really in for a rude awaking. Single black women are always the first to say “I am not perfect.” But always expect perfection. What do you expect, for this guy come, do, and say the right thing at all cost. Look, from experience it is not the way it happens. So expand your horizons. Black men do not mind because we have been that way.
Shopping decreases you values. Investing increase your value.
There is an old saying I go by when me and my friend have our guy talk. It goes like this:
“When it comes to life, I like to invest. Shopping is for comers and goers.”
I treated my love life like the stock market. There is shopping, which black women do, but that is called “weeding out what can be a long-term deal.” After I found that stock that fits me, I invest. Now after the investment, it is up to me to work the value of the stock. Sometimes the stock went up and other times it went down. The point is I wanted to be consistent and that is a good thing. Black women have to learn that not all men that look good may not and guy that are not good can be better.
In closing, I really think Black women are the strongest women on earth. Brothers (Well, at least some) and other males do to because you all know how to hold it down. I hope each woman can find somebody because like Usher said “Nobody wants to be alone.”
Now I had to look up the word cynical in the dictionary and check what I think it is.
Here is a dictionary version:
based on or reflecting a belief that human conduct is motivated primarily by self-interest
Here is my version:
Channeling the Negro’s Inter-Cerebrum At Logic
So I am guess these two are somewhat dead-on.
When you see any post that deals with “The C.Y.N.I.C.A.L side of” This is a view I am expressing . Whether you like it or not is your choice. I am just telling it like how I see it.
My man PrimalXL is at it again with another beat shout-out. I am going to have to send you the link to this cat. I hope this guy gets signed with a major label and start beating these half-way producers with a 2x4.
Before I tap into this post, I like to listen to a song from The Boys Choir of Harlem.
Now since I heard that sweet song, I am now wondering “What will you be remembered by?” The Boys Choir of Harlem will forever be linked to singing at the White House for every president from LBJ to good ole W. except who….
Barack Obama.
They will be linked as the young performers with world class voices from different parts of the roughest NYC streets that can light up the world but what……..
They were link to a sexual accusation about a counselor and the director turned a blind eye to the issue.
They will be link for getting a National Medal of Arts by President Clinton and many politicians thought it would even outlast its founder but what happened……..
Seven deadly sins later and you will find what you built for kids to have hope for is destroyed forever.
Now I should know that when you build your house in stones, it is solid, but if a powerful disaster strikes and you never found a plan to fix the crack just in case, it can be destroyed as quick as it can be fixed. (ie: Hurricane Katrina).Losing the Boys Choir of Harlem is like losing a family member. You want them to be forever but you know that forever will go away. So a toast to the Boys Choir of Harlem, you will be forever missed.
So I’m driving with my cousin Jad tonight. And well we are driving behind this woman who makes a decision. She pulls over, there is a sheriff near her, and tells the sheriff that Jad and I have been harassing her the whole car ride. That we have been honking at her. This made me stop and think. People value this "freedom of speech" right? If we value it so much why do we constantly abuse it? The government takes away rights at certain times and well that is how it is but now that I think... they may have their reasons. People blatantly lie every day and we get upset when we believe the government doesn't take the people seriously? As an Arab I have had the "freedom of speech" used on me many times. Day in and day out it seems that because I’m Arab I have to be plotting to blow something up. One day someone told that to me and I asked... why did you just say that? Their response. "It's freedom of speech." This phrase echoes through the halls of the capitol building and should be reiterated through sea to shining sea. But people seem to now have forgotten what it has really meant. I have heard many people say mean things just because they are "exercising" their freedom of speech and it is just getting old. Coming from a family that has not been raised here, the freedom of speech is never a thing we have taken for granted. But coming from many people that have always lived here? It has become a joke. So I challenge all of you, whoever may read this blog, to stop using that phrase unless it is to express grievances against the government. The freedom was never intended to harass people, to accept the idea of lying, or to impede on the beliefs/ heritage of anyone. As a country our freedom of speech is something we must hold on, something to be proud of. Not a freedom to be abused.
In December 11th news, a Pennsylvania judge cleared four former Pittsburgh-area high school students of harassment for wearing T-shirts with the words "Not Guilty" to school. The background story was that David Hood of Penn Hills High School argued with a girl about prom expenses. That girl then filed a harassment charge against Hood. Leonard Hromyak, the judge in the case, stated he would dismiss the case provided that Hood stayed out of trouble for 60 days. Hood got into trouble the next day when he, his twin brother, and two friends wore shirts with “Not Guilty” messages on them. As a result all four students were suspended by school officials, and found guilty of harassment by Hromyak. In addition, Hood wasn’t allowed to attend prom or graduate. The judge’s mishandling of his duties and responsibilities to the First Amendment is almost laughable, if it weren’t for the fact that four students were seriously screwed over, so to say. First off, I’m not an expert on how the lower courts work or even the details of our justice system for the matter. Nonetheless, I think it’s strange that the judge included a “clause” for dismissal of the harassment charge—namely that Hood had to “stay out of trouble for 60 days.” Maybe I’m just ignorant of how things work, but if the harassment charge isn’t legitimate, it should be addressed impartial of Hood’s other independent actions. It goes without saying that even with the “don’t-get-in-trouble” clause in place; he should’ve never gotten in trouble for exercising his freedom of speech. Wearing a shirt that says “Not guilty” would be just as illegal as wearing a shirt with a Nike slogan, or a shirt saying “I like free food.” In other words, the judge totally got it wrong. There have been complaints of “Islam is of the Devil” shirts worn to school before, and in such cases the defendants were protected under the Freedom of Speech. Keep in mind that we’re talking about the slandering of an entire religion here. In Hood’s case his worst crime was apparently stating his belief that he was innocent. How is that any different or any more illegal than if he said out loud to his friends, “I’m not guilty”? Fortunately, the students won an appeal on December 9th, and their convictions were overturned. This is a well-deserved redemption for four kids who had their First Amendment rights completely ignored and had to suffer for it.
Two writers for “The Breeze” student publication were charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct, and non-compliance at Hillside Hall, an on-campus dormitory of James Madison University , by the Office of Judicial Affairs. The writers simply wanted to interview some students about a story that had been going around involving a “peeping Tom”. It is their right to pursue this information within legal boundaries The two journalists simply went to the residence hall to talk to students about the “peeping Tom” incident that had occurred recently. The journalists followed the necessary guidelines so that they would be allowed into the hall and could continue their investigation within the required rules of the university residence hall manual. One of the interviewers questioned the students outside of the hall, and then requested that they accompany her inside. Later, a resident advisor asked the reporter to leave. The interviewer then brought in her partner, and eventually a resident they were familiar with to clear up any misunderstandings, but the residence hall director still threatened to call the police. This is a very blatant disregard for freedom of the press. The student journalists behaved within the rules and boundaries set by the Resident Advisors of the dormitory. The RAs had no right to threaten the students with a police call. The reporters were not doing anything wrong and they were following the rules of the residency hall manual. The RA had no reason to crack down on the students for conducting interviews. The RA was attempting to censor the journalists to prevent the dormitory from looking bad, so they sought to scare the students away with an unjustified threat of incarceration. This is a major violation of the first amendment and the right to freedom of the press.
McPherson High School’s staff at The High Life in Kansas wrote an article about two pregnant teenagers at the school. The newspaper’s advisor, Todd Brittingham, cut the story from the second issue of The High Life. He assumed that he had the right to remove articles that he felt were too controversial. The issue came out with a blank center spread that was initially meant for the story about the two girls.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Wentling produced a statement to be published in the third issue explaining the blank spread and emphasizing the rights of student journalists. “I respect the administration’s decision to withdraw the content of the page from the newspaper, however…a free student press is essential to maintaining a healthy democracy…we have an obligation to serve as a voice for the student body” said Wentling.
The High Life wanted to produce an article that dealt with issues regarding their student body. They gave a voice to two teenage girls who were going through something very difficult and very personal. This was not an easy thing to talk about, read about, or write about. If the press only covered sugar-coated truths, the world would be a very dark and ignorant place.
Brittingham is an example of the kind of authority figure that has the power to take control of the press without any questions being asked. High school journalists are faced with this issue everyday. Unlike independent papers, the school newspaper will always be in the shadow of the administration. It is the staff’s responsibility to not allow this to be a hindrance.
In order for a high school newspaper to be successful, the students involved need to be in control of their own rights. It is crucial that they do not lose their voice. The representation of the student body is very important and the opportunity to give a voice to any group of people should never be wasted.
The principle of Chattooga High School in Summerville Georgia, had ordered four pages to be cut out of the 2009 yearbook, because there were photographs of shirtless males playing basketball that he said were inappropriate.
When I first read this I was thinking did they really pull four pages out of a yearbook because some guys didn’t have shirts on??
“She looked at (the book), saw the pictures, brought it to my attention and removed them,” Lenderman said, speaking on behalf of the adviser. “They did not represent the way we want our school portrayed, and the way the community values itself. If it was my son or daughter, it would not be something I would want in there. This is a course for the students.”
The photos of the men were part of a “summer activities” spread for the student life section. It was routinely hard to get the photos; they need to be taken over the summer when school is not in session. The student that took these was able to take pictures of his classmates playing basketball in a church gym. “I was with them playing basketball,” Barker said. “I had the camera with me so I just started taking pictures.”
I would have done the same thing if I was at an open gym for gymnastics and had my camera I would start taking photos to.
Barker who took the photos was upset so he decided to ask why they removed the photos. The new yearbook advisor told him that in one of the photos a male student was smiling and holding a cell phone and dollar bills, which had drug-related implications.
The page removal caused a number of complaints; the yearbook staff got a number of e-mails from angry students. It wasn’t the yearbook’s fault that the photos got pulled, so the student’s shouldn’t be upset with them.
“Everyone who’s seen them says there is nothing offensive here,” Perry said. “If you look back at all the yearbooks over the years, we’ve always had shirtless boys in them. And this year’s book also had some pictures from the chorus musical, and there were some shirtless boys in that play, and their pictures were in the yearbook.” Perry scanned all four of the missing photos of the book and posted them on his Facebook account for his students to see.
I think the whole thing was really dumb. I do not get how shirtless guys holding a cell phone and dollar bills would implicate drugs in any way. If they didn’t want shirtless males in the yearbook maybe they should have said something before hand, so they would know not to take shirtless photos. I think if they let the musical have a photo with a shirtless guy they should let some guy’s hanging out in the summer playing basketball. It would be just like if the yearbook staff took photos of the school basketball team practicing, or if they got photos of the gym class when they did a swimming lesson. I think it was a poorly made choice, especially for the photographer. He worked hard trying to get photos during the summer so that hey students at the school will have a nice yearbook. I think this is a terrible thing that happened and they should try and avoid it next time, maybe have better communication with the yearbook staff because they are the ones doing all the work. Lindsay McKnight
I have held out against Tiger Woods for 2 weeks because I like Tiger the golfer just like how I like Jordan the basketball player and Barry Bonds the baseball player. The media did a number on Tiger and his infidelities. So I wanted to go all Chris Crocker on these BS media and a shout out to Ed the Sports Fan. I saw what Mark Reily said about Tiger.
And Jim Rome said................
Well, I have to agree with Jim Rome on some of that. I just wonder if the media will let up on Tiger, but that is like wondering if the war on drugs will end. I mean he is a role model, but I am glad I had Charles Barkley during my time because his infidelity is not an issue to me and it should not be with all these kids that look up to Tiger. In a world where parents should be role models and not advising their children to be someone else, Tiger indiscretions are a mere fact that he is human. That is not people want to hear. If parent want there children to be like the Tiger we saw from 1996 to 2008, well get a robot or something and feed your child oil and write an application for him to be perfect because in life, No one is perfect nor untouchable. So for the media to disclose and make Tiger to be a monster in 3 weeks when they were sucking his balls praising him for a decade and some change is just something he will have to get back. So with that being said, in my dream world, this how I want to Tiger to come back.
Tiger Woods with most likely divorce his Swedish wife and end up engaged with a black woman named……….well let’s just call her LaDonna G., a doctor that grew up in Columbia, South Carolina that is a high prominent person in the Tampa after they found out they had something in common at an Orlando Magic game. Tiger come back in full force, wearing the basic black with nike emblem being gray polo shirt (like the Oakland Raiders of old). He not only breaks Jack Nicklaus record but shattering it to where golfer will have to work extra hard to get a sniff of it. Tiger start looking even more arrogant to his golf buddy peers, pairing up with Jesper Parnevik in a first round. After he shooting like 10 birdies, 2 eagles, and 6 pars; he look at Jesper and does a D-X chop like Triple H in wrestling shakes his hand with grace and tell him “good game.” He will go on to the golf Hall of Fame and tributes one to his late father.
………………………..But that is my dream. It is good to dream.
About two months ago, a student at Stow-Munroe Falls High School, Ohio committed suicide. The student newspaper, The Stowhion was planning on printing an obituary and a photo of the student, as well as a letter sent from the student’s mother to the other students. Doesn’t sound like a very complicated situation; after all it’s a simple routine that newspapers do all the time. However, a few days before printing, it suddenly seemed necessary to the school principal (who had been okay with this at first) that the obituary and photo be removed from the newspaper. She did not oppose to the letter from the mother, but insisted that the other elements will not be published. The Stowhion’s advisor then contacted staff members and students to ask if they had anything else they’d like to include in the paper about the victim. Less than 30 minutes later, Schure objected to this too, sending out a letter saying, “We are not doing this”. She said, “I understand that it’s censorship and I’m OK with that.” This made no sense to the newspaper editor-in-chief, who said that in 2005, the newspaper ran two pages on student suicides with no pressure from the administration, and that The Stowhion has been a public forum for years. This case is one of many where journalists have been censored and silenced without justified reasons. The principal might argue otherwise, but I think she simply didn’t know what to do and decided the safe way to go would be to forbid the paper to publish the obituary, the photo, and anything other people would send. The principal was probably afraid because suicides are a touchy subject, so she disregarded the fact that it could bee seen as disrespectful not to run the obituary and the photo. Whatever her thought process was, this is not an acceptable explanation as to why she so blatantly restricted the newspaper from activating its freedom of press. Even if the principal had reasons to justify the censorship, she lacked the decency to communicate with the newspaper staff and explain her position. Administrators and adults in general sometimes don’t show the right respect for young journalists. A newspaper is one of the few, if not the only place in a high school where teenagers cooperate in a work environment very similar to having a real job, which requires maturity and dedication and comprises of many responsibilities. The principal at Stow-Munroe Falls failed to recognize this and treated the students as kids instead of adults, causing anger and confusion. Although the students might have disagreed with the principal, providing an explanation was the least she could do. Communication is essential in any matter concerning Freedom of Press rights and can eliminate hostility that will only create more conflicts in the future. Often conflicts associated with freedom of the press, especially at the high school level, are the result of fear of bad reputation and miscommunication. When a sensitive subject comes up, authorities sometimes panic because they don’t know how to deal with it. The most important thing in that situation is communication.
A news channel reported one night last week that Danvers High School parents were all called because students were using the word “meep” and the school wanted to ban the word because they believed it was used in vulgar content.
“It has nothing to do with the word,” Principal Thomas Murray said. “It has to do with the conduct of the students. We wouldn’t just ban a word just to ban a word.”
Murray didn’t continue to say what content the student were using it in but he did say that the kids weren’t using the word to harass or bully other students. He justified the reason for calling the parents as “were an attempt to stop some sort of “disruption” being planned on Facebook.” This Facebook “disruption” never actually occurred though.
The word “Meep” is a sound that Beaker uses on The Muppet Show. It’s not a bad word, its not a vulgar term, so why ban it?
This is the first question I asked myself and the only reason I can think of is that they do it because they can.
When you give someone the power of a principal or a “top dog” then sometimes they get a big head and think they can do what they want. Banning the word “Meep” takes away the student freedom of speech. They should have the right to say “Meep” when ever they want.
DHS newspaper interviews Sophomore Melanie Crane referring to what “Meep” means and she states “No one really knows.”
“Meep” is defined in the Urban Dictionary as “the most versatile word in the English language, or in fact any language” so why ban it?
It really frustrates me when authority takes away minors rights because at this point in our life we just have to take it and accept what they’re saying because we are minors, but I think something need to change and we should be able to always be able to fight back for ourselves. Clearly that’s not always the case.
Illinois—Students of Lincolnshire’s Stevenson High School were restricted from printing their November 20th issue. Stevenson’s administration prevented distribution of the issue due to three articles they deemed not “fit to print.” Three articles, one on drug use, one on teen pregnancy, and one on shoplifting were forbidden from being included in the November issue of The Statesman.
“This is nothing but a power game of administrators trying to ‘show the kids whose boss’,” said Frank LoMonte, executive director of the Student Press Law Center.
Pamela Selman, editor-in-chief of The Statesman, said that if she were to allow a prior review of the paper to the administration, they would require her name who her anonymous sources were. Selman granted anonymity to sources in the article about drug abuse to encourage students to speak up about what was going on around them.
Stevenson High School’s administration is jeopardizing student’s first amendment rights. By preventing the publication of an issue, the administration is stripping students of their right to free speech. This is clearly a breach of our nation’s most important rights.
“It’s truly sad that Stevenson High School is run by people who operate under the principle of ‘what’s the worst thing we can do to our students and get away with it under the law,’ rather than what’s best for the student’s education,” said LoMonte.
The school claims to have not denied the publication of the issue on the grounds of damaging their reputation. If not for this reason, then why would the school be so intent on cancelling the issue? It is clear that Stevenson High School’s administration was intent on barring distribution of The Statesman due to concerns over how the public would receive the articles within.
The right to free speech is always in effect. It is a right that is unconditional. It is a crime that Stevenson’s administration is attempting to thwart the rights of students to freely speak their mind.
Will Phillips, is a fifth grader at West Fork Elementary in Washington County, Ark. Phillips is a perfectly intelligent kid having successfully skipped a grade, even more so, he has a clear outlook on his future and wants to be a lawyer.
With all this in mind, Phillips decided not to conform to what the many students of his school do: the pledge of allegiance. He stood for his rights and chose not to stand for the pledge of allegiance. Instead of blindly reciting the pledge, he firmly believes that there isn't "currently justice and liberty for all." He spoke of this in regards to the lack of rights for gays and lesbians.
As a consequence of Phillips' decision, he was punished by his teacher, and was forced to engage in a parent-teacher conference. The dispute eventually escalated into a court case, challenging his right to not stand for the pledge of the allegiance.
So what's there to say about all of this? Does Phillips have the right to choose not to stand for the pledge? The answer is simple, and the answer is yes. He has bound by the constitution in that he is to have his own beliefs and opinions. While the United States does not currently offer rights to gays and lesbians, he is exempt from such complications as he himself isn't gay.
I find that, furthermore, on a more stretched basis, viewing humanity as itself: we as humans are entitled the right to not conform to a practice so long as it does not inflict deliberate harm one another. Also, we as people are entitled to our own opinion. Phillips' actions have run parallel precisely to his "natural-born" right, and as a consequence Phillips has not committed any wrong-doing in his decision to not conform to the pledge of allegiance.
Speaking strictly in constitutional terms, Phillips has not committed any sort of crime either. He simply utilized his rights defined solely by the constitution.He expressed his own opinion, stood for what he believed in, and he didn’t create any harm in doing so either.
The sum of all this leads to one clear, simple conclusion: There is no reason Phillips should have been penalized for his actions (or rather inaction in this case), as he clearly expressed and utilized his rights as a free human being.
Facebook is a social networking tool where you can find friends, meet friends, and make cool connections. I can be used in a right for such things as making major connections inside and outside your local region, finding people you never knew had something in common with you, and keeping updates on how people are doing in your life. In a nutshell facebook can be used in so many ways to express yourself.
But in Amanda Tatro situation, her expressing is going to cost her banishment in a university and maybe charges against her.
“The University of Minnesota mortuary science student was upset and angry after breaking up with her boyfriend, and told her Facebook friends that she was "looking forward to Monday's embalming therapy. ... Give me room, lots of aggression to be taken out with a trocar [a sharp surgical instrument used in embalming]."
Now she's banned from campus because three instructors in the mortuary science program felt threatened after being made aware of her Facebook posts, prompting a police investigation.
According to the police report, Amanda Tatro, 29, followed her first posting with one that read: "I still want to stab a certain someone in the throat with a trocar though. Hmmm ... perhaps I will spend the evening updating my 'Death List #5' and making friends with the crematory guy. I do know the code ..."
"Death List #5" is a reference to the movie "Kill Bill."
When Tatro got to class Monday, she was patted down and questioned by University of Minnesota police.
The instructors had shared their concerns with police, with one saying that she "did not feel comfortable having [the student] in the lab due to the remarks on Facebook," according to the police report.
Tatro told police that the posts were "just me venting," she said. "I got dumped, which is never a nice thing. I was bitter and really angry about it. For whatever reason, this professor took it personally."
Police are not filing charges and consider the matter closed, U spokesman Daniel Wolter said by e-mail.
Privacy law prevents the U from commenting on the specifics of Tatro's case, but Wolter said that "in a case such as this, the case is typically referred to our Office for Student Conduct and Academic Integrity, which will interview the student, review evidence and make some kind of finding."
It's hardly the first time a posting on the popular social media site has led to police being alerted. Nationwide, more dire threats have led to charges.”
Some people just never learn that social networking sites can’t make you (unless you are Souljah Boi) but it can damn sure break you. The moral of the story is this
“Unless you are anonymous, a superb hacker, and good at covering your tracks (i.e Tiger (sorry, that one slipped)); never put your feelings on Facebook if they are ill will and people can see them.
In yet another blatant disregard of the First Amendment by a school administration, staff members of the Stevenson High School student newspaper Statesmen were forced to publish an issue composed of only administration-approved content.
The issue originated when Editor-in-Chief Pamela Selmon submitted for prior review a front-page article discussing the school's substance-abuse contracts. Because the number of student leaders who had broken the contract of no-drugs-or-alcohol appeared to have greatly increased, the topic had been deemed newsworthy. However, it would also be a topic that students would be reluctant to speak about. Thus, the reporter and editor granted their sources anonymity.
The school administration refused to allow the publication of the story, unless the sources were named. When the staff members chose to remove the article and distribute the issue with a blank front page, the administrative review board refused to allow the issue to print with the blank space, and also censored two other stories in the newspaper covering teen pregnancy and shoplifting. In protest, the staff requested to remove their bylines from the published stories and to include an editor's note explaining the circumstances under which the article was published. Both requests were denied. These students are now being represented by Chicago attorney Gabriel Fuentes through the SPLC's volunteer attorney referral network.
It seems ridiculous that the First Amendment, which states that "Congress shall make no laws...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press," is only applicable in the real word and not in schools. The experiences that we have in high school supposed to prepare us for the real world. And in the real world, in the United States, a journalist has a right to cover newsworthy stories without fear of censorship or persecution from the government.
Shouldn't this right apply to the journalists of Stevenson High School, as well?
The school administration failed to do its job: to promote education and to act for the general welfare of the students. The staff of the newspaper had every right to publish the article, and the student body had every right to know the information that went into the paper.
Instead, the administration overlooked its students' rights, deeming that a higher priority would be to protect the school reputation by pulling the issue. But by choosing to do so, the administration only managed to bring more negative attention to itself and to Stevenson High School than could ever have been placed upon them, had the issue been published.
What, really, is the point of censorship? What does it accomplish? What does it show?
Only one answer can be found to these questions: that narrow-minded school administrators are willing to blatantly ignore the freedom of speech and press for its students.
There was much suspicion regarding the incident of Tiger Woods. At 2:25 a.m. Woods crashed into a fire hydrant and a tree. What dragged out this issue for so long is the fact that Woods or his wife, Elin Woods, would not give officers any information. Another reason why this dilemma couldn’t be dropped is because he is a celebrity; one that does not have a bad record. Because of this, investigators want to find the juicy information behind this even more. Before the definite news came out that Woods had an affair, reporters brainstormed different scenarios of what might have happened. They used the clues, such as the impact of the car to the tree and fire hydrant, to put together a possible story of what went on early that morning. One idea that was conjured up was that Woods backed up and hit a tree to try to escape from his wife who was attacking him (maybe with a golf club) because she was mad at him. Reporters can only investigate this case to a certain extent. Because he is a celebrity, reporters tend to keep the incident on high radar, maybe higher than is needed. At the same time, Woods would not share any information at first. He has his right to say nothing to reporters. At the same time, he has to face the fact that information will get out. This is because reporters have a right to look into the disagreement Woods and his wife had. These two forces battling each other, one to keep information from getting out, and the other, trying to get as much information as possible, bring about issues of freedom of speech and freedom of press. The reporters must keep their boundaries and Woods needs to accept that information will get out.
Today I was driving and unfortunately I had to skip Mike and Mike because of the static and the wind. So I turn to one of my R&B Station which plays the same song every 10 min (you know what I am talking about). It may me wonder the following thought:
How come good artist have crappy music and the most slept on is their best?
The case-in-point scenario goes to R&B artist Kelis. I am sure everybody knew Kelis now as the mother to Nas’s child and also the woman to want a big lump sum of Nas money for child support. I don’t know why after her third album Tasty, she went off on the deep end. Kelis is one of maybe two artists I can recall that that should have stayed the way she was. The other is Whitney circa 96’ (Waiting to Exhale) was her last time she sounded good. Kelis first album and collab with Ol Dirty Bastard was pure genius, plus she was the front woman of StarTrax (see Pharrell and Chad aka The Neptunes). She had a debut that revolutionized the broken and batter woman with “Caught Out There,” and a sensual slow jam with “Get Along With You.” The notary was not just because of her song, but her style. She was a “Mona Lisa in Motion” which is rare because so many R&B women at that time were and still is like robots; same tune, same dance, just different name. Her second album “Wanderland” to some in the U.S. was not really hot here in the U.S. but let me assure you that this album is by far number one in “The most Under-rated Album of All-Time,” bar none. She didn’t fit in with the Beyonces’, the MJB, or the Myas’ at that time. I mean from “Young, Fresh, and New” which can be a jingle if you want to get a product out there for the teens, to “Scared Money” which is seductive with words that are intriguing, to “Lil Suzie” which artist type flow differ and is uniquely visible into the cerebrum. The Neptunes, whether they know it or not, had an album that really is going to stick with children for generations to come. Have you ever heard “Star Wars?” This is a hidden track, but if you listen real good, pure subluminal messaging for the kids.
Now when came out with “Tasty”, Kelis went 180 and thought oh well I can use Nas instead of Clipse in “Popular Thug” (I think Clipse version is the best), or collaborated with big time artist like Andre 3000 and Enrique Iglesias was okay. But now many people felt how she changed her style was not her. “Kelis Was Here” may have produced some hits, but as an artist she just really tanked.
Kelis needs to know that the “Mona Lisa in Motion,” is still there. She has to bring it out of her.
Do you Think Kelis need to channel her 1997-2002 style back?
“Congress shall make no law respecting…the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government…”
– First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America
All the other rights listed in this famous clause are separated by semicolons, or at least by the word “or,” designating them as separate entities worth protecting.
This could have contributed to the confusion in the early nineteenth century. While various branches of the government were still figuring out what the Constitution and its expanding Bill of Rights meant in practical application, the wording of the first amendment in regards to the right of assembly was questioned.
Were the rights of assembly and petition separate? Or was assembly only guaranteed if it came about in the course of petitioning? The former was ultimately decided upon by the Supreme Court and various lesser courts of the nation. Today citizens of the United States understand (or they should) that they have the right to assemble as they please, so long as they do so peaceably. It’s surprising how truly basic this right to assemble is. It goes hand in hand with religious freedom; the right to practice a belief would be futile for many if they didn’t also have the right to commune with others of the same beliefs.
More commonly, we think of the right to assemble in terms of strikes and protests. Both are essential ways of protecting other freedoms: think labor unions.
Especially in the decades before webcams and online chatting were invented, the significance of the right to assemble together can not be understated. Even today, the ability to talk face to face with another supporter of a cause can boost morale and inspire reformers in a way that technological communication can not.
The right to assemble is the right to unite in a common cause. It is an incredibly easy right to take for granted, but it is a right that can not long be forgotten.
I know how politicans are before and after the position has come and gone. I have seen some former politicians stay in the limlight only to be professors, teachers, lawyers, and other highly leadership role-type jobs, and just relax and slip a nice warm lemonade into the sunset doing their favorite hobby. Personally, they just like to stay out the lime-light after politics.
……Not Former Congressman Chip Pickering!
This guy went to a soccer game and went off on a soccer coach.
“Hester says his team of 10 to 12 year olds had just wrapped up a game Sunday afternoon at Liberty Park's soccer fields.
He says he was in his SUV when former Congressman Chip Pickering, whose son plays for the opposing team, approached.
"He proceeds to start yelling at me for saying something to his child. I told him I don't know who your child is, asked him to get out of my car," said Hester.
According to Hester, Pickering became irate and dragged him by the legs from the SUV. After undergoing neck surgery five weeks ago, Hester feared the scuffle would create further damage.
"I had one hand on my neck, trying to protect my brace and the other hand pushing him away, just keeping him away from my face because I didn't want him taking a shot to my head," said Hester.
Pickering's story couldn't be more different. He says coach Hester "verbally abused and physically intimidated" his son. When he went to confront the coach Pickering says Hester came after him.
Pickering described the altercation in a statement, "The coach then opened his door, removed his seatbelt and exited his vehicle, attacking and assaulting me, and I was forced to defend myself by restraining him." ”
I have a hunch about this. I could say something like when your kids see your parents get divorce in an ugly manner can be the reason for the kid crying to his dad. That could have an effect of being overly-emotional, but I really don’t know who story to believe. Both men are believable, but why would Chip Pickering who stoop to a level of a disgruntle jack-donkey I would never know. He’s already having his ex-wife suing his mistress. He does not need another situation that will put him in the news. He is still a public figure whether he like it on now and that make him look less civilize. Maybe he should make amends, get that man a beer, and talk it over.
I know I talked about Chris Martin as a teacher telling that young man off, but let reverse the role because Dalton Sherman really told the teachers what they need to do. Show this to teachers who do not think they can make a difference.
I was doing a daily tenure in and out today when I hit a snag post. I had to questioned this:
“When do young R&B singers start to talk about the older R&B singers who have paved a style for them to come up on?”
This is what Trey Songz did to Mr. Pied Piper AKA Mr. Pee-on-you AKA R. Kelly and Aaron Hall. Here is what Trey Songz said about Kells.
....here is the song,
……..and here is his clarification,
Okay here is R. Kelly response.
Alright, now listening to both sides of the story; I am agreeing with R. Kelly on both sides. As much bad as he have done (the peeing incident on the young girl, the interview talking about has young teens on your team (not as a mentoring)), he did paved the way for R&B singers to express themselves from the 90s and beyond. I’m mean here is a kid (can’t call him a young man because he doesn’t deserve that title after that rant) telling a grown man what he need to do. I don’t know who Trey Songz is but as singer, his game either needs to step up on his next album or those words are going to come back to haunt him. I think Trey is good talent but leave the fan stuff for us to worry about. You might have the U.S. still listening to “Successful,” but everybody in the world will always remember “I Believe I Can Fly.”
So Note to Trey: “R&B singers can’t be rappers unless you can back it up.”
Around 10:45 PM CST Monday night, the following things were happening in the South:
Some drunk redneck and a black guy were doing the back bump during happy hour in Mississippi
Some Bama guy and Auburn guy forgot all about the Iron Bowl game and was hi-fiving each other like the Walter Payton-Fridge Hi five in eastern Alabama.
Some guy from the Metarie and some other guy from the 9th ward are second line dancing, doing the ratchet, and jiggalating off the song “Jigga Juice” at Bourbon Street
The reason why is because the New Orleans Saints is 11-0 and that is a rarity. Maybe because Greg Williams is mad because he got shafted for the heir apparent to Joe Gibbs for Snyder’s boy Jim Zorn. P.S. Skins, you’re next.
Maybe because Drew Brees was shafted by San Diego for Phillip Rivers.
Maybe it is just how the Saints felt shafted after Hurricane Katrina.
Whatever it was, we thank them, because everybody in the Miss-Lou-Ala region are doing the jig over the Saints being still undefeated. I like that they have a high-potent offense and still a stingy defense. I am so getting me a Saints hoodie after years of futility.
Before I go, That Drew Brees’ pregame is just as hype as Ray Lewis. Check it out.
I know I make fun of or get mad at people during my WTF Moment, but VY is classic in Nashville since coming off the bench.
I feel sorry for Matt Leinart when playing against Vince Young. He is still getting gassed-face for the USC- Texas game, and then there is this from Sunday.
Okay, I have heard some rants and raves in Mississippi in years, but this one tips the cake. I remember AverageBro talking about Obama does not care for our HBCUs, but I also see he is not the only one. Check this out from a “somewhat” 2012 presidential nominee Haley Barbour, Governor of Mississippi.
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour says the state should consider merging some of its universities to save money.
Barbour, in announcing his budget recommendations Monday, said Mississippi University for Women should merge with nearby Mississippi State University and that Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State be merged into Jackson State.
Barbour said none of the campuses would close.
The Democratic chairman of the House Universities and Colleges Committee, Rep. Kelvin Buck, opposes the Republican governor's proposal. Buck says Mississippi would hurt its own economic future by limiting higher education.
Barbour's consolidation proposal is part of his suggested budget for the fiscal year that begins next July 1.
I mean talking about killing the HBCU and women’s college, he is planning on giving African-American and Women College the lethal injection. Oh and chopping the public school from 108 to 100. It seems like this guy do not care about Mississippi. Each College has a rich tradition and a legacy that is a combined over 300 years. Alcorn State University represents the Southwest part of Mississippi, MUW is a rich tradition for Mississippi women just like Spellman for African American women and other women's colleges, and Mississippi Valley State is the Mecca of the Delta when it comes to institutions of higher learning. It comes to a factor that Politicians from Mississippi do not care about education, nor jobs, or expanding the state. They just want to make it a rest haven for just being poor. Yes, I am talking about every Mississippi politician from the U.S. Senators, the U.S. Representatives, State Senators, and the State Representatives. Mississippi neighboring states Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee, are not even touching their public institution because that is what makes a better head for education and tradition. But for Mississippi, it is vice-versa. The rich gets rich and the poor will never have a shot at making it.
I am going to stay tuned. This is going to turn ugly in post-racial America.
Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Season Feasting, and go tell your family too.
