TSU’s New Nurses

Every semester hundreds of applicants apply to the nursing program at TSU. It is one of TSU’s most selective programs and students such as Jalyn Burr claim there are very challenging tests people need to take to be accepted into the program. Jalyn Burr said in an interview on why she wanted to be a nurse that, “I’ve always wanted to be a labor delivery nurse, I think it’s so exciting, just to bring a new life into the world!”

The nursing program offers associates, bachelors and masters degrees in nursing. One masters of nursing student, Dawn Booth, encouraged people during an interview to get into the nursing program if you, “Genuinely care about people and want to fulfill your roll as a good citizen.” She went on to say that getting into the program was very challenging yet she is glad she did it.

The nursing school will not let applicants like Jalyn Burr know their test results until early May. She said in an interview, “It’s like we’re at a stand still, we can’t register or anything until we know.” She went on to say that this is her passion in life and she is very confident that she will be accepted into the program.

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From SEC to SGA

On Friday April 12th, TSU President Glenda Glover announced the Student Government Association winners in TSU’s amphitheater. Amongst those winners was Devonte Johnson who received more votes than his opponent candidate Missmollie Thomas. After the announcements Devonte Johnson began walking amongst the crowd, thanking them for their support. In an interview, the TSU SGA President-elect said, “TSU has definitely molded me for the better.” He went on to say he decided to continue coming to TSU ,and not transfer, because of the support he receives from his peers.

One of his peers ,Demetrik Lewis, recalled a story with Devonte Johnson in an interview, saying, “we didn’t have a ride to get to Louisville, but he didn’t give up… he found a way.” Another peer of the President-elect, who is also in Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity inc. said in an interview that, “he’s been in the follower role and he knows what that takes, now he’s in a leadership roll, and I believe he knows what it takes to lead.

Devonte Johnson, if he passes post certification, will serve as student government association president during the next school year beginning in the fall. He says he will use his influence with his peers to help him lead.

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TSU is Seeing Stars

As of last year students, who come to Tennessee State University now have an option to minor in astronomy. A department that was responsible for finding one of the first 15 neighboring solar systems in our galaxy back in 1999. Since this option has become available, students have begun to take advantage of this minor. One in particular is Avonte Harris, a TSU sophomore. In an interview, he claimed he decided to minor in astronomy because, “he’s always been fascinated by the stars.” He went on to say that he always used to watch the discovery channel when he was at home.

Avonte is one of many students that hope to work with TSU’s astronomer Gregory Henry, who helps analyze the findings of TSU’s space telescopes located in Southern Arizona. Henry was part of the team that found one of the first 15 neighboring solar systems in our galaxy, and is happy to work with students interested in astronomy. And though the U.S. government has set up a satellite system since TSU’s discovery in 1999 that has been finding solar systems by the hundreds, astronomers still consider it a landmark discovery.

Because of this reason, TSU is now considering making astronomy available to students as a major. Avonte Harris is one of the several students taking astronomy classes that hopes this study becomes a major. He claims that it is, “pretty cool to go to a school that made a landmark discovery in astronomy”, and hopes to continue his studies of the stars whether it be as a major or a minor.

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Spring Break Fitness

Spring Break is right around the corner, and TSU’s wellness center is filling up with people trying to get beach ready. TSU wellness center staff say that on any given day around three weeks before spring break, the gym could have anywhere from 300 to 400 visitors. After spring break they say that number drops down below 100. Gordon-Darnell Peppers says he began training for spring break a month before he leaves for Florida, and that he is trying to get his body right for spring and summer.

However, other gym participants like Devan Phillips say they have been training all year. He claims fitness is one of the most important things in his life and in an interview he claimed Spring Break is just a time to, “show what you’ve been working on all year long”. He went on to say that he has been looking forward to his trip to Panama City Beach Florida all year, as he went last year and had a great time.

Not only does Devan Phillips train himself, he also trains other students in the wellness center by giving them certain exercises and helping time them during workouts. He claims lack of fitness is a real issue in the U.S. and cited an article that said people 15 and up have been dying from obesity. He says that keeping fit and training people is his way of giving back to his community, as he does not charge his clients.

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Meant to be a Mentor

Divine Nine fraternity and sorority weeks started this past Sunday the 17th. Phi Beta Sigma fraternity incorporated is the first organization to host the fraternity weeks and during this week they have several events planned such as the Loose Juice party etc. Yet one event they have planned, many people may have not heard about.

Several members of the Sigmas will be going to Preston Taylor ministries to help the after school latch key children with their school work. At around 4 pm seven members of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity waited in front of the Preston Taylor ministries building for the students to arrive from school. When they arrived the Sigmas began helping them with their homework, read to them, and even played some football with them.

Sigma member Brandon Haskins said in an interview, “We just want to have fun make them smile.” He went on to say that he is giving back to the children as a Sigma because he received help from Sigma fraternity members when he was a child. At around 7 pm that day the latchkey program was over, and the Sigmas even helped walk the kids home. Sigma fraternity president Justin Causey said in an interview that the reason they do this is because they “just want to give back to the and give them a positive example as college students.”

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Fighting in School

This past semester a Tennessee State University student started participating in a sport that maybe unprecedented at Tennessee State University. Mixed Martial artist Irvin Jones has gone 2-1 in his first three Mixed Martial Arts contests. He now wants to help his coaches start an MMA team through the school before he graduates in December.

Inspiration Fitness, the gym where they train, is located next to the campus apartments and is in walking distance to all campus residents. The gym offers TSU students a discount on the gym fee bringing the price down to $65 a month. Gym coach Ricko Frierson who is looking to start a TSU team said in an interview, ” I don’t know if students don’t know about the gym, or maybe there a little scared.”

The gym trains week nights at 7 and is open to all local residents as well as TSU students. Inspiration Fitness staff also help coach their athletes in other combat sports such as Judo, boxing, kick boxing, and jiu jitsu along with Mixed Martial Arts. However they want their serious competitors to be willing to compete in all of the sports they coach.

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Payne’s Play

Every week day, from 6 pm to 9 pm, 11 amateur actors that attend Tennessee State University practice for a play directed by TSU theater professor Marc Payne. The play they are practicing for is Langston Hughes Simply Heavenly. The play is for first time performers at TSU only.

In an interview Marc Payne stressed the importance of these first time performers plays by saying, “This is how we recruit new students into our program.” He went on to say that they make sure to have a first time performers play every year for students to get their foot in the door of the theater department and go on to acting in other plays.

During practices Mr. Payne doles out advice to the beginning actors from his own experiences in theater. He claimed that a lot of times with first time performer plays you have to not only direct, but also teach acting. He went on to say that with this play in particular he did not have to do that as much because a lot of these students had performed in other venues, just not at TSU.

As a man with ambitions in theater himself, he says he enjoys the job of working with young people and sharing his knowledge of acting. He aspires to go on to be an actor in Broadway plays in New York City. Yet, he says this job helps him get there by keeping him sharp in the theater department while also allowing him to provide a stable environment for his son who is 13 years old. Yet he went on to say that once his son is in college and established, he plans to pursue his ultimate goals.

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TSU’s New President

On Tuesday November 27th at around 2pm, during a conference call it became official, Glenda Glover is TSU’s new president. The selection committee included Governor Bill Haslam who had nothing but good things to say about the newly appointed President. He said later in an interview, “I think Mrs. Glover will be a crucial piece in the puzzle of moving Tennessee State University forward.”

Glenda Glover is a 1974 graduate of Tennessee State University with a degree in mathematics. In her campaign she stressed the importance of Improving alumni relations. The other three finalists all were very student focused in their campaigns. The committee claimed they had a hard time choosing who to pick out of the four, as they said all were well qualified.

Dr. Glover accepted the job with excitement over the phone during the teleconference. While accepting she claimed, “I am excited to return to my alma mater Tennessee State University.” She is set to begin on January 2nd of next year.

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TSU’s Perception of the Election

The night of the presidential election had the student center lounge area and forum packed with students eagerly awaiting the results. Every time it was announced that president Barack Obama had won a significant amount of electoral votes, the crowd erupted in applause. The DJ was in the lounge area while students danced to new and old music. The forum had the election coverage on a theater sized monitor, and student’s in the hundreds were all in attendance.

After the results the crowd in the lounge area erupted in applause, cheering, and dancing. Student’s began to chant Obama, and seemed to be extremely overjoyed at his victory. Tennessee State University freshman Ashton Williams said in an interview, “I’m pumped about it, I mean I got to vote, I feel like I’m apart of this.” Another student, Amber Sanders, is happy because she claims Obama’s healthcare plan now has a better chance of staying implemented as law. She claims this may have not been the case if Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney won, because he said he would act to repeal Obamacare. Amber is part time in the military and also works a part time job. She has voted in the last three elections.

After the announcement of President Obama’s victory, TSU students marched to Fisk in celebration. Amber Sanders was one of the students who did not march to Fisk, but stayed behind to finish some school work. She said in an interview that, “I’m elated to have lived through a lifetime where I could see that a African American can become president.” She went on to say that it gives her a sense of hope and pride to be an American who is black.

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A TSU Halloween

One week away from Halloween Tennessee State University students are throwing events for the holiday. The main event that happens on Halloween day is the Scarecase talent show that happens in the Poag Auditorium in the Humanities building on campus. Another festivity happening the weekend before the holiday is the Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity’s haunted house. This will be held in the basement of the performing arts center.

The Scarecase in Humanities begins at 7 pm and there will be a costume contest held during the show. Directly after both male and female winners are announced in the costume contest there will be a scavenger hunt. Audience members of the Scarecase will meet in the student center and be selected for teams. The winning team in the hunt will receive a prize.

Phi MU Alpha’s haunted house will be held the Saturday and Sunday before Halloween day, which is on Wednesday. Tickets are only four dollars with the proceeds going to several charities including TSU’s Tiger Pantry. Fraternity member and organizer of the haunted house, Dustin Hines, said in an interview that , ” Three different random groups of four people each were falling out after the sampling of the haunted house.”

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