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  • Thank You, Andre
     Grace Elizabeth Hackney | Staff Writer The fashion community has taken a hit in these past few months. The unexpected death of Virgil Abloh in November and Andre Leon Talley in January have left many creatives, especially Black creatives, in the fashion industry…
  • The Men Who Stand On Trial 
    Sydney McCall | Staff Writer A nearly all-white jury convicted three men of the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man killed in Georgia on Feb. 23, 2021, after three men chased and killed him.  The verdict came days after the not-guilty…
  • A Penny for Your Pleasure, a Dollar for Your Smile
    Alfred Johnson | Staff Writer As Christmas gets closer, many of us find ourselves scrambling to get the perfect gift, if not for our family and friends, then for ourselves too. There is an incredible amount of pressure surrounding the search.  We’re all…

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  • The Knight’s in Shining Blue and White
    HU Basketball Players Read and Talk to the Little Knights of Barron Elementary School By O’Shay Jelks | Staff Writer Hampton basketball player Marquis Godwin reads to a class of children at Barron Elementary School. Photo approved by Hampton City Schools. By O’Shay…
  • It’s Time: The NBA is Back
    Wynton Jackson | Script Staff Writer After yet another tumultuous offseason full of drama and blockbuster trades, the National Basketball Association is back. The NBA’s 76th season kicked off on October 18 and, in only a week, has provided a multitude of engaging…
  • Deshaun Watson and the NFL’s Stance on Sexual Assault
    Wynton Jackson | Staff Writer In a move that shocked the sports realm, Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee filed a lawsuit against Houston Texans superstar quarterback Deshaun Watson on March 16, 2021.  Buzbee alleged that Watson had assaulted four former massage therapists, according to…

Vice President Kamala Harris Gives a Message To HBCU Students: “We Are Requiring You To Lead”

By Morgan Norris

Washington, D.C. – As a select group of HBCU student journalists sat in the White House briefing room on Feb. 23 not knowing what to expect, the Vice President of the United States and Senior Advisor for Public Engagement gave them one mission: lead. 

Keisha Lance Bottoms (left) and Vice President Kamala Harris (right) speak with over 40 HBCU students from around the country. Photo courtesy of Erica Lowe / White House Director of African American Media

The press briefing covered student-led topics such as underfunding, racial inequality, climate change, mental health, and the appreciation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). However, the dominant theme throughout was leadership.

“We are requiring you to lead,” said Vice President Kamala Harris, a prominent Howard University alumna. “We are counting on you to help us educate our world about who we are as Americans.”

Before Vice president Harris’ appearance, Keisha Lance Bottoms directed a riveting conversation guided by student questions. A true leader in the White House, Bottoms was the first mayor in Atlanta to serve in all branches of the city’s local government: city council member, county judge, and mayor. Addressing the controversy over Florida’s African American studies, Bottoms credited Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) for her leadership skills when she was a student journalism major. 

“I had a professor, Emma Dawson, who exposed me to Zora Neale Hurston, and she taught a seminar on Toni Morrison,” Bottoms said. “All of these things had just enriched me. When I see what’s happening in Florida, it’s frightening. It’s disheartening. It makes me angry.”

The former mayor of Atlanta explained that the Biden-Harris administration’s historic $6 billion investment can only do so much without interfering with the state level. Student journalists were encouraged to be a leader in monitoring local politics. 

“So just a reminder of why elections matter, not just when it’s time to go and vote for the president but when it’s time to vote for your elected officials,” said Bottoms. “All the funding in the world, quite frankly, cannot stop what the governor is doing, and what he is doing is disgraceful.”

Despite the constant fight to protect HBCUs, the FAMU alum highlighted the collaborative work being done to combat historic underfunding.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Keisha Lance Bottoms (center) are photographed with HBCU students following the press briefing. Morgan Norris (left) is pictured in the front row. Photo courtesy of Erica Lowe / White House Director of African American Media

“There’s a great committee led by Tony Allen, President of Delaware State,” said Bottoms cheerfully. “They are getting exposure to where the resources are and how funding can be accessed.”

Hampton University’s Scripps Howard School of Journalism & Communications was represented by myself, a second-year journalism major, accompanied by Dean Julia A. Wilson. Hampton’s visit to the White House confirmed Wilson’s confidence and faith in the leadership of her student journalists. 

“Seeing little things Morgan did like making sure she’s sitting in the front row with our Vice President talking directly to her and being the first to stand on the White House podium for photos spoke volumes,” said Wilson. “Our students are ready to participate. Ready to lead.”

Vice President Harris mentioned that the Divine Nine was foreign to the White House even though both Harris and Bottoms are active and vocal members. The Divine Nine, also referred to as The National Pan-Hellenic Council, houses nine Black Greek-letter organizations.

“When I first took the stage as a nominee to be Vice President, I talked about my family,” said Harris. Within her list of families, she mentioned her Divine Nine family. “There were people looking at each other, ‘What’s Divine Nine?’ and I thought to myself, ‘You’re about to find out.’” 

A FAMU student from the same former chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated as Keisha Lance Bottoms appreciated the two political leaders being vocal about the organizations’ leadership. 

“I know what it feels like to have our Divine Nine culture not be understood,” said junior journalist Kyla Hubbard. “It felt extremely good to be seen and heard as a member of Delta Sigma Theta by some of the top leaders in the world that share the same experiences as me.”

The vice president not only emphasized leadership but advised the HBCU student journalists to tell stories that maintain humanity in a world that often forgets to do so. 

“I would encourage you as journalists to remind all of us to see people in their true selves,” said Harris, a California native. “We should always require our leaders, in particular, to see people in the full relief of who they are.”

HBCU students listen to Vice President Kamala Harris speak during the press briefing. Photo courtesy of Erica Lowe / White House Director of African American Media

Although the Biden administration is credited with making progress with Black universities, the two prominent HBCU alumni stressed the need for leadership from budding journalists in working toward a better future. 

“We’re going to need you to help us articulate why we need to put resources into the things we just discussed,” said Vice President Harris, who has created legislation to preserve HBCUs. “We need you to lead and help us see what’s coming.”

Students felt empowered seeing their nation’s vice president and senior advisor for public engagement, both ardent HBCU allies, show interest in and excitement for their futures. They received assurance that their voices matter.

“When Keisha Lance Bottoms said that this is the coolest thing she’s done since being in the White House, I knew we were finally getting the representation we needed,” said Marcus Speakman, a junior representing Miles College. “They’re counting on us to lead.”

Anime: A Fad for Some, a lifestyle for others

Chance Williams | Script Staff Writer

If you were to grab random people off of the street and ask them for their opinion on anime, you’d likely receive a plethora of mixed opinions. 

For those who don’t know, anime, as defined by Oxford Languages, is a style of Japanese film and television animation, typically aimed at adults as well as children. 

Although anime has been something that many people have encountered over the years, it has become more mainstream than ever in recent times. This is evident in the current number of Crunchyroll subscribers. Crunchyroll is an American distribution and publishing company with a focus on the anime market, as defined by Business Insider. 

In Sept. 2012, Crunchyroll had 100,000 paid subscribers, meaning 100,000 people were paying to experience premium benefits on the platform. Crunchyroll’s active subscriber count first cracked one million in Feb. 2017. Since then, that number has increased by one million every year to now sit at five million as of Aug. 2021, according to Statista.com.

The ongoing pandemic has given people who were once unbeknownst to anime, a new genre of media to consume. 

“Especially with the times… COVID… people have been stuck in the house. I feel like it’s a way to escape reality… something that’s fictional,” Tamir Jean-Charles, junior at Hampton University said.  

“I feel as though [anime] is more accessible. With how social media and how the internet is… more people are becoming exposed to it,” Bryan Henry, junior at Hampton University said. 

Tracing back to social media, and technology in general, applications such as Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube allow anime content to travel to millions of people with the click of a button. 

Perhaps the most well-known example of this can be seen by taking a look at Youtube channels like RDCWorld1. RDCWorld1 is a collective of YouTube comedy content creators with over six million subscribers. In a video they posted over seven years ago, titled “When People Take Anime Too Far” the group played on common misconceptions about people who watch anime and added their own comedic spin. The youtube video now sits at over 24 million views. This feat was rivaled a year later, when the group released a sequel, titled “When People Take Anime Too Far Far Part Two” which sits at over 23 million views.

Speaking of these misconceptions, many who grew up watching anime have shared negative feelings toward the newfound craze.

“We all know how people thought about anime when we were kids. It was kind of weird and stuff like that. I feel for people that stuck with it and actually watched it as kids can get kind of mad because now you feel like it’s a personality trait. It is getting more popular which is good for anime, but I feel like people are jumping on a wave that they were [joking] on,” Jean-Charles said.

Jean-Charles went on to speak more about content creators.

“RDCWorld… they’re big on anime. Before they really got into pop culture, meeting Drake and the “Druskis” of the world, they were anime YouTubers. I was really into RDCWorld and guys like Lenarr.” 

Henry, agreeing with Jean-Charles’ comments, spoke more about the communities that these creators have made. 

“In social media, there are always certain communities. There was going to be an anime community… and people were joining. It was bound to happen.”

Speaking of community, perhaps the most frequently occurring way of influencing people to watch anime is through word of mouth.

The Knight’s in Shining Blue and White

HU Basketball Players Read and Talk to the Little Knights of Barron Elementary School

By O’Shay Jelks | Staff Writer

Hampton basketball player Marquis Godwin reads to a class of children at Barron Elementary School. Photo approved by Hampton City Schools. By O’Shay Jelks

The old proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” was demonstrated vividly at Barron Elementary School when Hampton University’s basketball team entered the classrooms to read and inspire the youth, just before Halloween.

Five of the team’s players participated in the event along with two coaches: Marquis Godwin, Russell Dean, Daniel Banister, Kyrese Mullen, Coach Hamilton and Coach Saunders.

The principal of the school, Karen Johnson, said the overall goal was to show the students what happens when you put in hard work.

“I heard the HU basketball team continuously say to put hard work in, to stay focused and to work together over and over again with the kids,” said Johnson. “That really was the goal. I wanted them to see what they could be.”

Among the basketball players was a former student of Barron Elementary, Marquis Godwin, who caught the little Knight’s attention with his own piece of armor.

Walking down the halls as Black Panther, Godwin showed that this village created a family.

“Putting on the Black Panther costume represented togetherness, family and perseverance,” said Godwin. “I am a hometown kid of the Hampton community and having the privilege of playing collegiate basketball at Hampton University is a major blessing. This is the first of many community involvements that I will be doing, and I can’t wait to bring joy and happiness to my city.”

Along with Godwin, the other players had the little Knights actively engaged while they read and shared wise words. One class, in particular, was immersed in the conversations.

Walking into Ms. Spinelle’s first grade class, Daniel Banister, was greeted with open arms. 

“I’m a big fan of you and Lebron  James,” said Syenn, a first grade student.

After reading James’ book on how to play basketball, Banister proposed a question.

“Do you guys know what collaboration means,” asked Banister.

“I know, I know,” the first graders exclaimed as they raised their hands.

“Collaboration means working together,” one of the first graders said.

Heart-warmed by the response, Banister smiled and continued to tell the students the importance of collaborating with one’s team.

“Collaboration is going to bring everything I just told you guys together, and that’s what’s going to help you succeed,” said Banister. “When you bring perseverance, teamwork and working with others together, it will help you be successful in all areas of your life.”

Moving from room to room, the players ended the day with a good old-fashioned basketball game with the little Knights and left the school knowing they made their mark. Principal Johnson said the event was phenomenal and that the players were wonderful with the kids. 

“They were able to communicate to them the important things: teamwork, hard work, perseverance, tolerance, and they also read stories and who doesn’t love that,” saidJohnson.

After the inspirational event, Johnson left her little Knights a piece of her own advice.

“Go out and be the amazing people we already know you are.”

Timbaland, Pusha T, Trey Songz, and More Come Out to Celebrate Portsmouth Legend, Missy Elliott

By Aaliyah Pollard and Jordyn Isaacs | Staff Writers

Missy Elliott talks to reporters after Portsmouth’s street dedication ceremony. By Ayan Harris

The Hampton Roads’ city of Portsmouth, Virginia recently honored their most revered local legend. Grammy Award-winning recording artist Missy Elliott returned to her hometown to celebrate the city’s decision to rename a vital street after her namesake.

Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott made her triumphant return to her alma mater, Manor High School, to celebrate Portsmouth’s decision to rename a portion of McLean Street to Missy Elliott Boulevard and to be presented with a key to the city.

A Portsmouth media release explained the city’s reasoning for the renaming

“Missy’s trailblazing career is a testament that when you dream big, anything is possible,” Portsmouth City Manager Tonya Chapman said. “We’re proud of Missy’s accomplishments and so thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate her right here in her hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia.”

Hampton University’s Marching Force performs at Missy Elliott Boulevard street dedication ceremony. By Ayan Harris

In a robust public pep rally, Elliott was welcomed back to the city with a parade featuring local college and high school marching bands including Hampton University’s Marching Force and Norfolk State’s Spartan “Legion” Marching Band.

Following the event, Elliott took to social media to thank the city. 

“When you go down Missy Elliott Boulevard make ‘sho’ you drive slow and say beep beep who got the key to the jeep. I want to say big up to all the bands who came out to show major love in VA, y’all showed out.”

The renowned artist was joined by her family, close friends, the mayor of Portsmouth and the Governor of Virginia. Portsmouth residents cheered as stars like Timbaland and Pusha T emerged to share their appreciation for their dear friend.

Portsmouth mayor, Shannon Glover, presents Missy Elliott with the key to the city during the Missy Elliott Boulevard street dedication ceremony. By Ayan Harris

Manor High School invited students, faculty, the community, as well as those close to Elliott, to join in honoring the legendary artist on their football field. Hampton University’s Marching Force joined the fleet of bands that performed at the ceremony, kicking off the event with high energy. 

Following the performances, Missy Elliott was formally introduced as her friends gave their own speeches describing their relationship with the artist. 

All of the day’s festivities led up to the main event during which Missy Elliott was presented with the key to the city of Portsmouth. However, the surprises did not end there as Virginia’s Governor Glenn Youngkin declared Oct. 17 Missy Elliott Day.

R&B artist, Trey Songz greets guests at Missy Elliott Boulevard street dedication ceremony. By Ayan Harris

People of various backgrounds and positions within the community attended the event. Hampton University’s President Darrell K. Williams came out to support Missy Elliott following her request to have Hampton’s Marching Force perform.

Hampton University President, Darrell K. Williams, speaks with Script Writers Jordyn Isaacs and Aaliyah Pollard. By Ayan Harris

President Williams described Elliott as an inspiration that “exemplifies the standard of excellence” that Hampton University prides itself on. 

Drink Up! Starbucks Opens Hampton University Store Just in Time for Homecoming

By Morgan Vincent | Script Staff Writer

Hampton University President, Darrell K. Williams, joins Starbucks executives to drink to the new Starbucks store. By Christian Thomas

The smell of coffee and baked goods will be wafting throughout Hampton University now that Starbucks Coffee Co. has held the official grand opening for their new location on Oct. 20. The grand opening for Starbucks kicked off Hampton’s Homecoming Weekend.

The new store is a result of over two years of planning with Starbucks, Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams said. Starbucks’ goal in opening the new Hampton Roads location is to partner a world-class university with a world-class corporation and take both organizations to the next level.

Hampton University’s Marching Force performs during Starbucks’ Grand Opening Ceremony. By Christian Thomas

Hampton University’s Marching Force opened the ceremony with one of their signature performances before President Williams enthusiastically spoke about HU’s partnership with Starbucks. 

“We’ve been waiting on this for two and a half years, and we’re excited about this corporate partnership with Starbucks,” President Williams said. “It will provide so many opportunities for both our university and Starbucks. We have a chance to be the lead for how they work with HBCUs and other colleges.”

The community of Hampton comes together to celebrate the opening of Hampton University’s new Starbucks store. By Christian Thomas

The creation of this new Starbucks location is especially significant due to the fact that it is the first location equipped with a drive through on an HBCU campus and that Starbucks pays Hampton University for occupying the space.

President Williams has expressed confidence that Starbucks’ latest move will help deliver the “#1 student experience” he has promised thus far and provide revenue for Hampton University, as well as internships and permanent job opportunities.

President Williams later gave thanks to those who contributed to developing the new Starbucks location, such as Hampton’s City Council and Doretha Spells, the Vice President for Hampton University Business Affairs and Treasurer. 

Vice Mayor Jimmy Gray expressed gratitude for Starbucks opening another corporate store in the Hampton community and said that  having a Starbucks on HU’s campus will offer many opportunities to students.  

“Having this store in this location is extremely important for what we’re trying to accomplish here: making Hampton a great place to live, work and raise a family,” Gray said.

Following Gray’s speech, the Starbucks Leadership Team gave their remarks. The leadership team includes Lance Sharpe, the Store Manager; Lucious McDaniel III, the Vice President of Regional Operations; and AJ Jones II, the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs.

“I had a great opportunity presented to me at my alma mater, and I wouldn’t go anywhere else,” said Sharpe. 

Sharpe, a 2020 graduate of Hampton University, voiced his opinion on Starbucks’ impact on the HU community. 

“I think corporate representation is great,” Sharpe said. “Building a relationship with Hampton, knowing they got a Fortune 500 company in their backyard and having all the support in the world is a unique part of our community.”

McDaniel expressed his thoughts on the partnership between HU and Starbucks.

“Today is the beginning of not only a wonderful relationship between these two great entities but it’s part of the journey,” McDaniel said. “Today’s wonderful students are on ambitious, individualized journeys, and we will be part of that.”

Jones spoke about the decision for Starbucks to partner with Hampton University. 

“No matter where we are in the world, we are always going to pursue where there is excellence,” Jones said. “This is not about some idea of bringing the company and community together and having a nice show out. This is about the pursuit of excellence and what we can be together as an excellent partnership.”

Most importantly, students are also delighted at the opening of the University’s Starbucks location. Student Government Association’s President Tabius Wilson, Jr. was happy to welcome Starbucks to our home by the sea. 

“Having the space to connect, collaborate and enjoy coffee will inspire the students of this illustrious institution in ways we can only imagine for years to come,” Wilson said. “This moment furthers our standard of excellence here at Hampton and allows us to walk into the next era of Hampton University,” said Wilson. 

HU student Lauren Cyrus, a second-year political science major, shared her feeling about HU Starbucks. 

“I think it’s a great opportunity, especially for students who need jobs,” Cyrus said. “It will also give students a place to study and chill out off-campus that’s still near, where we can work and go back and forth to classes on time.”  

Hampton University student Jessica Walton, a senior finance major,  conveyed her thoughts about the new Starbucks. 

“I think it’s an excellent idea,” she said. “I think it will bring in a lot of revenue for the university, of course, but I think the students will appreciate it because there are study areas, and everyone likes Starbucks. I think it’s pretty cool and a nice innovation, in my opinion.”

It’s Time: The NBA is Back

Wynton Jackson | Script Staff Writer

After yet another tumultuous offseason full of drama and blockbuster trades, the National Basketball Association is back. The NBA’s 76th season kicked off on October 18 and, in only a week, has provided a multitude of engaging storylines.

For some teams, the opening week has been rough.

As of October 26, the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and Brooklyn Nets have a combined record of 4-14.

Of those four teams, the Lakers and the Nets are the most disappointing. 

L.A. is stuck. Between Russell Westbrook’s albatross contract, Anthony Davis’ frail body, and the ticking clock of LeBron James’ career, the Lakers are under extreme pressure to make a move.

Since last season’s trade deadline, Laker fans have been pleading for a Westbrook trade. Everything he does is the opposite of what the Lakers need: he can’t shoot, he makes poor decisions with the ball, and he is totally uninterested on defense.

Raymond Beasley, Hampton University sophomore and California native, is among the many fans disgusted with the lackluster play.

“The Lakers are a rough watch,” Beasley said. “With or without Westbrook, they continue to struggle shooting the basketball and can’t withstand constant scoring droughts in games.”

The offense could not be worse. L.A is shooting 41.6 percent from the floor and 22 percent from deep. They rank 29th in points scored per game and last in offensive rating (points scored per 100 positions), according to basketball-reference.com.

There are some avenues to improve, though not many. 

“The Lakers need to make a trade for depth and shooting,” Beasley said. “A package of Buddy Hield and Myles Turner are on the market. The [Charlotte] Hornets are also rumored to give up proven vets including Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, or Kelly Oubre.”

While the Lakers are struggling to score, the Nets can’t stop anyone else from scoring.

The other team in New York ranks 29th in defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) and are 25th in total opponent points allowed per game. In just four games, the Nets have allowed opponents to score over 130 points twice.

Despite the trade for Ben Simmons, Royce O’Neale, and their free agent signings, the Nets did not fix any of the issues they had last year. Even with Kyrie Irving back, Durant is forced to shoulder much of the offensive load. His constant usage last year resulted in a knee injury, causing the star to miss over a month.

While Simmons hasn’t looked great, it is his first time playing professional basketball since the 2021 playoffs against Atlanta. The Nets will need his length, size, and versatility on defense if they hope to get back on track.

Meanwhile, Miami and Philadelphia’s situations are not as concerning.

Due to the departure of PJ Tucker, Miami Heat have spent the beginning of the season trying to find a new starting lineup. So far, they have settled on fourth year forward Caleb Martin. 

After a rough start, including a one game suspension, Martin found his groove in the Heat’s most recent game against the scorching hot Portland Trailblazers. Martin poured in 16 points, 8 rebounds, and shot 7-8 from the floor, including two three-pointers. 

Donovin Cooper, HU sophomore and Heat fan, is not as convinced in Martin’s role. 

“Martin is coming into his own, but we’re still trying to figure out the power forward spot. We can’t run small ball every game, especially as we get closer to the playoffs and play guys like Giannis [Antetokounmpo].”

Martin may be the starter now, but the Heat also have their eyes on a reunion with Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder. Before the season started, Crowder demanded a trade from the Suns. While a deal has yet to be completed, Miami has been in talks to acquire the forward who helped them reach the NBA Finals in the Bubble.

The Heat’s lack of activity in the offseason is also a reason for their lineup issues. The rumors of landing Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell ultimately resulted in re-signing veteran Udonis Haslem, making this his 20th season with the team. An admirable signing, but it certainly is not moving the needle closer to a championship.

The Philadelphia 76ers were anything but lazy in the offseason. After a humiliating playoff defeat to the Heat, the Sixers spent their summer re-signing James Harden to an extension, poaching PJ Tucker from Miami, and using the remaining cap space to increase the roster depth.

All that activity has led to a 1-4 record.

The slow start, including a loss to San Antonio Spurs (who are trying to lose), has resulted in calls for the organization to fire head coach Doc Rivers. Rivers was reportedly interested in being the Lakers’ new head coach before they hired Darvin Ham.

The Sixers’ problems are not all on Rivers. Joel Embiid has looked out of shape to start the season, though he suffered from plantar fasciitis, a severe foot injury, over the summer. 

Though he and  Harden are filling the stat sheet, the 76ers defense has torpedoed due to Embiid’s lack of mobility. Given more time, however, Philly will likely return to a title contending team. The Sixers are simply too deep and talented to continue losing games.

On a more positive note, the 2022 rookie class looks outstanding. 

Paolo Banchero, the number one overall pick, is averaging 24 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists for the Orlando Magic. His 27-point debut was the highest scoring outing by a rookie since Allen Iverson in 1996. He has scored at least 20 points in his first five games, and recorded a double-double in his second game against Atlanta.

Continuing his Summer League success is Keegan Murray, the fourth overall pick from Iowa. In his first two games, the new Sacramento Kings forward has averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and is shooting 43.8 percent from three.

Less predictable was the emergence of Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin who, like Banchero, is solidifying his case as one of the best young scorers in the league. The former Arizona guard is averaging 22.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2 assists, and is also shooting 43 percent from deep.

It is important to note that it has only been one of 19 weeks of NBA basketball. Some teams are underperforming, while some are punching above their weight (Portland, Utah, Washington). For those worrying about a poor record, relax. And for those excited about a hot start, remember that last year, the 10-3 Washington Wizards finished at 35-47.

The Most Highly Anticipated Homecoming Has Returned! HUHC168 Elevation Concert

Taylor Hawkins | Script Staff Writer

Hampton University’s annual homecoming concert has returned after three years on Oct. 20 in the Convocation Center. This event welcomed both students and non-students. This was a major event for Hampton University, as well as the Hampton Roads area.

For this year’s concert, artists Yung Bleu, Capella Gray, Iniko, and opener Sid Wells performed their biggest hits to amp up the crowd. Throughout Homecoming week students were lined up at the ticket booth in the student center waiting to get tickets.

The Onyx 12 class was the last class at Hampton University to experience an in-person concert and are excited to celebrate one last homecoming before graduation.

“It feels good to have the concert back and it gives me a chance to go out and enjoy my last homecoming and be with my peers because we don’t get to do that often,” said Jontaya Moore, senior journalism major, psychology minor.

Due to COVID-19 capacity regulations and vaccination requirements, the homecoming concert for 2020 and 2021 was unable to happen according to Calvin Harris, assistant director of student activities. 

“I think the concert coming back is a return to normalcy. I think homecoming is a positive week and it’s full of good energy and good vibes so having the concert coming back is just adding back into that,” said Noah Hogan, senior journalism major with an area of emphasis in cinema studies.

This year’s concert was hard to plan but with the help of the administration, the student leadership program, the student government association, and the student survey that was sent out, the office of student activities were able to accomplish what every student has been waiting for according to Harris.

“A lot of artists were not traveling at the time, so this year it was most important that the concert returned and it was a great success in being able to pull this off. A lot of artists’ prices were very high and many of them had already committed to other events this year that might have been postponed from last year so they were already under some type of retainer or contract so we were very limited from when our university decided to move forward with what was out there,” said Harris.

It was challenging working with the artists’ schedules since it is festival season and also trying to guarantee certain artists that uphold the Hampton University brand was a challenge according to Harris.

Harris believes that this concert was much needed for the student body because it is a chance for students, especially freshmen who are getting off of curfew to let loose for the first time.

“The concert is always that kickoff moment of homecoming. Here at Hampton University we kind of start off homecoming week very formally, so it’s a great way to enter the homecoming weekend,” Harris said.

Administration and students have had some of their best homecoming experiences at the concert and plan to create many more.

“The concert that sticks out the most is when we had Lil Uzi Vert because he was a well-known artist that people wanted to see. The energy around the concert was really, really high and we had people coming from other schools to come to our homecoming which we don’t see all the time,” said Hogan.

With success in planning this year’s HUHC168 Elevation concert, the student activity office is looking forward to what is in store for Springfest 2023.

All American: Homecoming

Sydney McCall | Staff Writer

Image Courtesy of WarnerBros.

All American: Homecoming held a panel on February 23 with members of the cast, Geffri Hightower and Peyton Alex Smith, two of the main characters on the show. Nkechi Okoro, the show’s producer was also present.

All American: Homecoming is a spin off of the popular show, All American. 

A major highlight of the panel was the announcement of the Warner Bros. TV Group scholarship. The scholarship, “All American: 

Homecoming scholarship will award $100,000 in grants to 10 students pursuing degrees at historically black colleges throughout the United States. 

The scholarship is a partnership with the NAACP. Students at HBCUs can begin applying in March. 

The panel consisted of questions from HBCU students across the nation. 

The spin-off is set at a HBCU named Bringston University. Hightower and Smith said to expect to see black excellence as a way of life throughout the series. 

Geffri Hightower said that she hopes the show gives viewers a positive outlook on HBCUs as she is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University.

Geffri, who plays Simone, shared that she only knew about some of the popular HBCUs growing up such as Morehouse and Spelman. She expressed that she had some of the best moments of her life at Clark.

Due to her experience, she hopes that young adults explore the many options of black universities so that they too, can enjoy the experience of being surrounded by black 

excellence. 

Peyton explained how he feels that the show is his way of participating in the Black Lives Matter movement. While he did not participate in many protests or campaigns, this show was his way of giving back. 

“This show is my protest for the Black Community,” he said. 

The original All American show features problems teenagers face in everyday society including sexuality, addiction, mental health, and relationship issues. The cast said to expect more of that this season, with a specific focus on navigating through a relationship while in college. 

They also spoke about how easy it was to work with each other on set. Specifically, Geffri shared how beautiful it was to work with a group of people that share similar histories, vernacular and struggles. 

The show airs every Monday at 9 P.M. EST on CW.

Deshaun Watson and the NFL’s Stance on Sexual Assault

Wynton Jackson | Staff Writer

Photo Credit: KA Sports Photos (Flickr)


In a move that shocked the sports realm, Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee filed a lawsuit against Houston Texans superstar quarterback Deshaun Watson on March 16, 2021.  Buzbee alleged that Watson had assaulted four former massage therapists, according to Buzbee’s Instagram page. By April 5, that number grew to 22 separate civil lawsuits with claims of sexual misconduct, indecent exposure, and sexual assault. 

A year later, on March 11, NFL Insider Adam Schefter broke the news that Watson would not face criminal charges. The announcement caused a cascade of support and disappointment across social media and sports talk shows. 

In a USA Today article on Watson’s situation, Kenneth Williams, a law professor, stated that the lack of indictment “simply means that the prosecutor and grand jury did not believe there was sufficient evidence to move forward.” After hearing this statement, some believed that Watson should be exonerated and allowed to return to the field of play. Others, however, pointed out that in cases involving sexual assault, an overwhelming amount of them do not result in conviction or incarceration. 

After the initial report about Watson not facing criminal charges, a race to acquire the quarterback quickly ensued. Before the first accusation last year, the Texans’ quarterback had requested a trade after years of losing and mismanagement. The Houston organization decided to hold off on trading him this season due to the legal situation. 

Of the teams vying for the star player, the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints finished as his top choices. Due to a no-trade clause, Watson could pick his destination. Though he initially declined the Browns, Watson made a stunning turnaround and agreed to a five-year, $230 million offer to go to Cleveland, according to Adam Schefter. 

Deals in the National Football League are usually structured so that a player is guaranteed a certain amount of money upfront, but they have to earn the other portion of it. For example, superstar wide receiver Davante Adams signed a five-year, $141.25 million contract with the Raiders, but only the first $67.5 million is guaranteed. 

Watson’s contract is so interesting because all of the money is guaranteed. Although he is not the highest-paid player in NFL history, his contract has the most guaranteed money in the league’s history. 

The Browns also structured his contract to receive a $45 million signing bonus, but in the first year of his deal, his base salary is only $1 million. This way, should Watson get suspended by the NFL, he loses much less money for the games missed. 

Daylight Savings Bill

Amarah Ennis | Staff Writer

Students across campus—and the country—woke up on March 13 to find that they had lost an hour of precious sleep. The thief in question? Daylight Savings Time.

It’s a popularly disliked ritual: only 25% of people want to keep switching clocks biannually, according to a 2021 survey by the Associated Press. But Americans pushed their clocks forward into Daylight Savings Time (DST) that Sunday or, if they were awake at 2 a.m, watched as their phones and laptops automatically did so.

The switch seems purposeless now, but the reason daylight saving time was introduced and made law in 1918 was to help people make better use of their sunlight hours and decrease energy consumption, according to National Geographic. Moving the clock forward an hour ensures that people can be up and out of the house for longer after classes or work shifts.

Whether you’re a DST lover or hater, listen up: thanks to a bill unanimously passed in the Senate, Americans may never move their clocks back again. However, a sunshine-filled year may not be the future we want to live in.

The bill is called the Sunshine Protection Act and was introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and co-sponsored by Democrats and Republicans.

According to an official press release from Rubio’s staff, the bill “reflects the Florida legislature’s 2018 enactment of year-round DST” and the similar legislation of 15 other states (not including Virginia). These states can’t adhere to year-round DST without the federal government’s approval, so the Sunshine Protection Act has to be passed for those state laws to take effect. If the bill does pass, though, it won’t just be those states; everyone will set their clocks forward and never go back.

Rubio has been promoting the bill on Twitter with the hashtag #LocktheClock, hoping to prevent springing forward or falling back and expand the eight-month DST period to the entire year.

“We don’t have to keep doing this stupidity anymore. Why we would enshrine this in our laws and keep it for so long is beyond me,” he said on March 15 on the Senate floor.

In theory, students should be celebrating this bill. Even during the cold fall and winter months, they’ll still have plenty of daylight for hanging out with friends or walking across the pedestrian bridge behind campus to eat at a local restaurant.

Some bill supporters have even touted the health benefits of staying in DST.

“When we do this jumping back and forth, heart attacks go up. Strokes go up. Traffic accidents go up. Even seasonal depression goes up,” said Sen. Cory Booker, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, on his Tik Tok account. “This is about our well-being.”

It’s true that the switching of the clocks back and forth has been studied and generally agreed upon to cause problems with cardiovascular health and even increase the risk of cancer. However, as a sleep expert told the Boston Globe, DST is not the time zone to which we should commit.

“In their zeal to prevent the annual switch, the Senate has unfortunately chosen the wrong time to stabilize onto,” said Dr. Charles Czeisler, chief of the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “What the Senate passed yesterday would require all Americans to start their work and school an hour earlier than they usually do, and that’s particularly difficult to do in the winter, when the sun is rising later.”

A 2018 study from scientists in the European Union, published in the Springer Internal and Emergency Medicine journal, found that this problem with getting up while it’s dark has more to do with the human body than with laziness. 

The body runs on a circadian rhythm—defined by the National Institute of Health as an internal 24-hour clock that affects digestive, hormonal, and sleep systems. This rhythm is mainly controlled by light and resets with sunrise light. If students wake up and are meant to be out of bed, learning and working while the sun is still below the horizon for another hour or more, it could have severe consequences for their academic performance and mental health.

Peggy Peebles, the coordinator of clinical experiences for Hampton’s Education Department, said that the bill most negatively affects elementary school students, who need the hours of daylight the most.

“The research shows that [elementary school] kids learn better in the morning, and function better in the morning. Middle and high school kids work better in the mid-morning, like around 10 or 11 [a.m.],” she said. “I think that we need to focus more on the elementary kids … if you establish a strong foundation, whatever happens in middle and high school academically will be okay.”

That’s elementary school, but would it be better for college students to have more sunlight in the mornings or the evenings? Peebles said it didn’t make a difference for Hampton’s students’ class attendance.

“Doesn’t matter whether it’s morning or afternoon,” she said, “they still don’t do it!”

It’s important to note that America has already tried yearlong DST. The government attempted twice to adhere to permanent daylight saving: once before WWII and in the 1970s, as the solution to an ongoing energy crisis. In the experiment under Nixon, the federal government planned to make daylight saving time permanent for two years.

As the New York Times reported in 1974, the approval rating for this law was nearly 80% when it was introduced and passed. However, that percentage dropped to almost 40% only three months later. People hated permanent daylight saving time. 

The public perceived an increase in traffic accidents due to the morning darkness, and parents didn’t like sending their children out when the sun hadn’t risen yet. Some schools even delayed start times until the sun had come up, eliminating the supposed after-school benefits of permanent DST while maintaining all sleep-related issues. Not even a year passed before standard time was reinstated, and Americans were back to switching their clocks forwards and backward twice a year.

The Sunshine Protection Bill is currently stalling in the house. According to The Hill, many House representatives want to table this issue to work on the war in Ukraine. Others are hearing the complaints from their voters and beginning to doubt the benefits touted by the bill’s Senate support.

“I’ve been hearing a lot about this from my constituents recently, because we’re in Seattle and it is so dark,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, “and so if we make daylight saving permanent, it’s gonna be dark until nine o’clock in the morning.”

Another House representative, John Yarmuth of Kentucky, said that the longer the bill idles in the house, the less likely it is to be passed—not that that’s a bad thing.

“Now what will happen is you’ll get all of this outpouring of studies and people say, ‘Yeah, we agree you shouldn’t change twice a year, but what is it, standard time or daylight time?’ And then you get the farm bureaus and the parents associations,” he said. “It’ll get more controversial the longer it goes.”

Peggy Peebles agreed with much of the public opinion on Twitter that it will be difficult to definitively choose a one-time zone.

“It’s like you’ve got to give up something one way or the other,” she said. “It’s a catch-22.”

Until Congress can come to a consensus, either way, we’ll have to keep making the switch—so enjoy your extra daylight hour now, and look forward to getting your extra hour of rest back on November 4.