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.”

Christian Thomas | Staff Writer

Hampton University is often known for extending its help to those in need. Two years ago, during the natural disaster Hurricane Dorian, Dr. Harvey announced that Hampton would be offering those affected free room, board and tuition. Now in 2022, with the conflict between the Ukrainian and Russian governments, the university has once again offered aid, leaving current students feeling neglected. 

This kind gesture has been recognized by Hamptonians both on and off-campus as an unnecessary ploy for good publicity. Many of the students feel that their needs have been brushed aside and ignored while the administration is very quick to extend their hand overseas. 

After interviewing a handful of students, the consensus has been that no one is truly in agreement with this decision. 

“More people are deserving of what is being extended to these students who are not just in the Hampton Roads area, but right here on our very campus.” 

One student stated, “It’s almost as if these students were intentionally overlooked for a larger publicity stunt.” 

Another issue being brought up by the student body is that the money we already have is not properly allocated to giving students better opportunities and resources on campus. 

According to Google, tuition at Hampton is on average $31k, and this is after aid. A majority of students here pay close to if not full tuition. This means a large portion of the student body is not seeing where their money is going. 

Ari, a sophomore currently attending Hampton studying liberal studies, said there are a lot of places on campus that currently need attention.

“There are a million different ways the money being donated to Ukrainian students could be utilized on campus. The dorms are moldy, the bathrooms are often left unclean, many things are outdated from the buildings to the official Hampton website. Many resources that were advertised to incoming students are no longer available and a lot of us feel misled to come here for something that’s not even here anymore,”  she said.

Most people came to Hampton because of the numerous esteemed programs that are offered here. Unfortunately, due to COVID many resources have become unavailable and many staff members have left. 

Some departments haven’t been thriving the way that they used to. Those who currently attend the university would greatly benefit from the rebuilding of these programs. 

Hamptonians feel neglected by the administration because it has become apparent that the two main concerns of the school are its reputation and enrollment rates. 

“Hampton seems to be more concerned about its public image than actually making the changes necessary to truly ensure that the school’s reputation is not tarnished and the enrollment rates don’t plummet,”  said a student who wished to be left anonymous.  

As we find out more about the struggles being had by those attempting to flee from these unsafe conditions, there appears to be a pattern of racial discrimination in Ukraine and neighboring nations. Videos have surfaced showing Black students being refused refuge. In one instance, a little girl was forced off of a train so that a white passenger could board and flee to safety. 

Being that Hampton is an HBCU, Hamptonians feel it is not right to offer scholarships to people who quite possibly could be prejudiced against Black students. 

While it is recognized that both the African students who were displaced and native Ukrainians have been extended this opportunity, it remains true that the money could be better spent on current students and the enhancement of on-campus resources. 

Overall, many students are unhappy with the decision. After all, they feel Hampton should be working towards making campus life a better experience for those already enrolled instead of trying to fill the campus with students who are subsequently going to be unhappy because they aren’t getting what they were promised. 

Aaliyah Pollard | Staff Writer

Hampton University’s African Student Association teamed up with Campus+ to host a Red Table Talk on red flags in relationships and different types on March 21.

The African Student Association gives students opportunities to share their societal perspectives as first-generation Americans, while Campus+ is dedicated to motivating and uplifting plus-size women. 

The two organizations hosted this event to start an open conversation about red flags in relationships and navigating relationships as young adults of various backgrounds. 

Before getting into the actual discussions, attendees were taught the definitions of terms that would appear during them. While the term “red flag” is widely used, the hosts ensured that the participants knew that a red flag is a warning or sign that a person is problematic and even dangerous at times. 

One red flag that’s commonly associated with relationships is gaslighting. Gaslighting occurs when someone opens up to their partner about an event or action that made them upset, and in response their partner makes them feel delusional about their feelings by making it seem as though the event never happened. 

Almost all the attendees were familiar with the term but had various definitions of it, demonstrating the diverse ways in which the red flag can present itself. A few participants had associated gaslighting with someone dismissing and hyperbolizing their partner’s reactions to something they did, while others associated the concept with manipulating someone’s memory. For example, pretending they didn’t do something that they did, especially when their partner explicitly remembers that action. 

Lauryn Bass, president of Campus+ and a graduating senior journalism major from Atlanta, GA argued that to recognize and adequately respond to a red flag, “you definitely have to know yourself.” 

In agreement, one participant stressed the importance of believing in people when they tell you who they are. This revelation is rarely verbal, so it’s essential to be aware of the red flag when it presents itself. Participants were then able to discuss their experiences with red flags in relationships and share advice on how to identify them and move forward. 

The following prompt asked participants to state their love languages if they knew them. According to The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman, the five love languages are acts of service, quality time, words of affirmation, gift-giving, and physical touch. 

This sparked the discussion of how different upbringings can affect one’s love language because normally, how one receives and gives love to their family and other loved ones is what establishes their love language. Furthermore, when their partner doesn’t share that love language, they can get frustrated and second-guess their partner’s feelings about them. Therefore, it’s essential to be aware of the different love languages as one is of their own.

The last topic discussed was committed relationships and “sneaky links.” Participants compared their experiences with one or both types of relationships. A few preferred the perks that come with being in a committed relationship and how that preference goes along with their faith and upbringing. When it came to their perspective on sex, these participants felt that it was a practice that should occur with their partner in a committed relationship. On the other hand, some participants expressed the importance of going through a stage of having casual, safe sex to know what you want from your future partner sexually and long-term. 

Campus+ and the ASA plan to host another Red Table Talk, so students will have another opportunity to attend. The event is a safe space, so students are free to discuss their experiences and concerns as minorities. Establishing the discussion as a safe space allowed all the participants to learn about different experiences with relationships and how everyone’s backgrounds affect their view of them. 

Best explained by Gibson Mashua, President of ASA, the Red Table Talk allowed students of various backgrounds to discuss “personal expectations in relationships, how [they] view certain social issues, and what may or may not be considered ‘ok’ depending on where you are from.” 

Christian Thomas | Staff Writer

Hampton University’s annual film festival is back for its 6th year, and this year, the festival promises to bring big names to campus. Hampton students will have the opportunity to explore the world of film with campus activities such as film screenings, student showcases, discussions and talent spotlights, starting April 6.

Notable industry names, such as Emmy award-winning actor Keith David, award-winning documentary filmmaker Roy T. Anderson, and relative newcomer MeKai Curtis, will be in attendance to discuss their recent works. 

This year’s theme is “Crossing Generations of Black Film Brilliance,” and films like African Redemption and Tell Them We’re Rising will act as the festival’s focus. Power Book III: Raising Kanan’s lead actor Mekai Curtis will join the celebration Wednesday, April 6, to discuss his successes as a young actor in Hollywood. 

Students interested can spend the day watching the films such as Tell Them We’re Rising, Juice and Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and then engage in the discussions. 

Thursday, April 7, will feature the films Fast Color, The Delivery Boy, African Redemption, along with a student film showcase. African Redemption director Roy T. Anderson will also discuss the importance of Marcus Garvey with the film’s narrator Keith David. 

Before directing films like African Redemption, Roy T. Anderson spent most of his career as a stuntman for notable actors such as Denzel Washington, Will Smith, and Jamie Foxx. The risky lifestyle has allowed him to pursue a career behind the camera as a director. 

Legendary actor Keith David has given audiences over four decades of films earning him three Emmy awards. Acting in over 300 roles throughout his career, David has starred in movies such as Dead Presidents, ATL and Barbershop. 

Finally, MeKai Curtis plays the lead character, Kanan Stark, in the popular Starz show Power Book III: Raising Kanan. Although his career has just begun to blossom, Curtis has already acted in numerous roles for Disney.

Professor Brarailty “Rel” Dowdell, Assistant Professor of English and Film Studies and Coordinator of the Mellon Center Hampton University Film Festival, said the visiting talent for this year’s festival could learn a lot from each other.

“Each one has had a different trajectory to success as an African-American in the most competitive of industries. Many would have not had the fortitude to embark on each one of these standout individuals’ respective journeys,” he said. “In many ways, each can learn from the other. That makes what makes the film and television industries so noteworthy.” 

Professor Dowdell said that this year’s festival will be different from previous years because it will “embody[] such unprecedented access to some of Hollywood’s most experienced and barrier-breaking stars from our culture.” 

 Professor Dowdell hopes students will have a lot to take away from this festival.

“The sky’s the limit and beyond,” he said. “I am grateful that my many years of Hollywood experience and subsequent success have enabled me to establish bonds with such notable entertainers to be able to bring them in person to the illustrious Hampton University. 

The festival will occur on April 6 and 7 in the Student Center theater during the day and the Student Center Ballroom in the evening.

Christian Thomas | Staff Writer

Something in the Water will not be returning to the area anytime soon. The famous spring music festival turned Virginia Beach staple is canceled until further notice. The decision follows several challenges plaguing the festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

From postponing to cancellations, the final straw was when festival creator, Pharrell Williams’ cousin, Donovan Lynch, was shot and killed by Virginia Beach police officers last year. The Grammy award-winning artist expressed his disappointments with the city in a letter to Virginia Beach City Manager Patrick Duhaney, saying the city has been “run by toxic energy.” 

The festival was a campus favorite in its first year, and it hosted acts like Missy Elliot, Migos, Pusha T, J. Balvin and Anderson .Paak. For upperclassmen, the event served as an exciting conclusion for their earlier college years. 

Christina Buie, a graduating senior and sociology major, said she remembers how huge it was her first year of college.

“I remember when it happened during my freshman year and it was crazy, the traffic to Virginia Beach was all the way down to Newport News,” Buie said. “And I saw on many people’s Instagram stories all of the big-time artists there like Lil Uzi.” 

Buie said she thinks the festival’s departure is such a loss for the area.

“Something in the Water was one of the highlights of my freshman year, even though I didn’t go,” she said. “It was right on the beach, which is a unique concert experience that I wanted to experience. Hopefully, wherever they go next, it can still achieve that type of experience though it will be hard.”

The four-day festival hosted several activities during its run, including a film screening, TRAP Karaoke and a pop-up church service. The festival from three years ago has yet to be replicated. 

Mayor Duhaney said that the festival brought Virginia Beach and the surrounding areas $24 million with media coverage totaling $41 million, and its cancellation is a huge economic loss for the city. 

As of now, it is unknown what’s next for Something in the Water. 

Aaliyah Pollard | Staff Writer

Hampton University’s freshman council hosted a group clean-up in the Student Center on March 9 as part of freshman week. Originally, the cleanup was supposed to be held behind the cafeteria bridge but was moved to the Student Center due to the weather. 

Attendees were tasked with cleaning the closet near the stage in the Student Center. 

People put themselves in groups according to the task that they took on. One group focused on moving the largest bins and decorations out of the closet for more floor space. The bins contained old decorations for Christmas, balls, NSO week, and other occasions celebrated on campus. The next group organized and cleaned the bins that the previous group carried out, while the last group focused on discarding the trash and items beyond repair from the containers.

Event organizers Harlem Morton and Holland Bodner said they created the cleanup as an opportunity for freshmen to start collecting required service hours and understand the overall importance of doing community service. 

“This is giving [students] an opportunity to earn some community service hours and do good for the student center and the school overall,” said Morton, a first-year computer science major from Laurel, Maryland. 

To ensure that the closet was clean before 7 p.m., when try-outs for another program would start in the area that we were moving things from the closet to, everyone worked as swiftly as possible and created plans that would make them reach the goal as a team. The closet was filled with bins of decorations for various occasions, as well as extra supplies that could be used to decorate the Student Center for events and holidays. People quickly created makeshift assembly lines to move heavy items out of the space. Others started organizing the items in bins outside the closet. The last group focused on trashing things and swept at the end.  

At the start of the event, the participants were unsure if they would be able to fix the state of the closet because of how packed the closet was. The containers were packed with items, large decorations almost completely blocked people from entering the closet, and there was a significant amount of broken items and trash. Though getting community service hours was the main incentive for attending the clean-up, the participants started to realize how cleaning the closet would be helpful for event planners in the future. The work that they were doing now, would help others in the future find the proper decorations without having to dig through broken objects and trash.  Therefore, with the purpose of making things easier for future students, the students were able to understand the meaning behind the event more than before and the goal was met almost half an hour before the deadline. That meaning being the importance of prioritizing the needs of your community by keeping it clean and as healthy as possible. 

“While it was a bit challenging trying it to figure out where everything goes, it was fun to feel the energy around between the students,” said Holland Bodner, a first-year journalism major from Raleigh, North Carolina.

Christian Thomas | Script Photojournalist

Hampton University resumed in-person learning on Jan. 10, after starting the spring semester remotely two weeks prior due to the pandemic and new Omicron variant.

In an email sent to students in early January, Hampton shared its plans to start the second semester virtually due to the Omicron variant. This followed a string of mid-break announcements informing students of mandatory COVID-19 booster vaccines and a change to the on-campus COVID-19 testing site. 

These changes were made to ensure that Hampton University remains COVID-19 free. However, some wonder if Hampton is prepared for the Omicron variant with all of these preparations.

Upon return, students had mixed opinions on how the university handled returning students.

Ayan Harris, a first-year Journalism major, believes Hampton’s decision to go online the first two weeks was a good idea. However, Raymond Beasley, a first-year journalism major, thought Hampton’s decision was rather sudden and unorganized.

“I feel like Hampton’s response wasn’t all the way complete. Almost no one knew what to do,” he said. “I’m pretty sure I could speak for anyone who attends Hampton and the student’s parents when I say we were all confused a bit and frustrated with the specific guidelines while classes in person were being delayed.”

Beasley says he even had to switch his flights coming back to school because of the last-minute changes.

The Omicron variant threw another curveball into what was already a confusing situation. With this new variant’s higher rate of transmission coupled with the previous variant still looming, administration has had its hands full when it comes to tackling this situation. 

Dr. Penn-Marshall, the Vice President of Research at Hampton University, is one of the many administrators monitoring the Omicron variant. She says she knows Hampton is prepared. 

“I can say that we are prepared because I have the pleasure of working with dedicated staff, who are members of my team, who in addition to their normal duties are committed to ensuring that the entire HU community is tested monthly,” she said. “I reviewed the positivity reports and while the Omicron variant caused a bit of a spike when our HU family members initially returned from the holiday break, the number of persons who tested positive is still extremely low.”

Dr. Penn-Marshall said because of a donation from the Thermo Fisher Scientific JUST Project and our molecular laboratory manager, Hampton now can provide PCR testing for staff and students to prevent a campus-wide outbreak. 

Dr. Penn-Marshall added that mass testing would not be possible without the faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students who help volunteer. She also thanks the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dominion Energy, and the university for providing financial support.

“COVID-19 testing is expensive. The Hampton University community once again demonstrates their character by sharing their time, energy and talents, and I am grateful,” she said.

Throughout the pandemic, Hampton University has remained one of the few places in Virginia to contain the spread of COVID-19. And to keep it that way, Hampton continues to encourage its students to wear their masks and to remain socially distanced.

Morgan Harris | Staff Writer

The Hampton University Marching Force strided through New York City on Thanksgiving in the Macy’s Day Parade on Nov. 25. Out of 100 applicants, The Marching Force was selected as the only HBCU to perform in the parade this year. 

The parade invited the band to participate in 2020, but the pandemic postponed their performance. Many band students were disappointed to learn that their trip to New York would be canceled but appreciated the safety protocol. 

“It was something we all saw coming,” said Ace Evans, a junior Music Education major from High Point, North Carolina. “Granted, it would have been a good way to end the season but I’m glad that we were safe. I’m glad [Macy’s Parade Staff] valued safety over entertainment.” 

With performances in Connecticut, other New York high schools and a pep rally in Central Park, the Marching Force made sure to leave their mark on New York City. The band’s initiative for the high school stops is to keep students interested in the arts. 

“Us going to high schools is very beneficial to the arts because we are presenting an experience that students wouldn’t get anywhere else,” said Evans. “We are creating a learning opportunity for students to see that it’s possible to go to school through music.”

With a theme of a “Celebration of Family” influenced by the pandemic, the band prepared endlessly for their 90 seconds of fame since band camp. 

“It showed how serious the performance was, which made me appreciate the opportunity we were given by being selected by Macy’s, especially being the only HBCU,” said Evans. 

Numerous celebrities, including Hampton alum DJ Envy, former 106 & Park Host A.J. Calloway and Whoopi Goldberg, showed their support for The Marching Force. 

“I just want to say good luck and have a great time marching,” said Goldberg. 

Other notable alumni, including WAVY-TV 10’s Anita Blanton, showed their support on social media. 

Starting at 77th Street and marching down for 2.5 miles, the band hit the Macy’s Herald Square a little after 10 A.M. and put on nothing short of a phenomenal performance for their television fame. 

Playing hits like “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge and “Workin’ Day and Night” by Michael Jackson, the band paid tribute to essential workers who toiled tirelessly during the pandemic. 

This isn’t the first time the band has made headlines and performed for thousands. 

In 2020, the band traveled to Rome, Italy, and participated in the country’s New Year’s Day parade, performing for the pope in Vatican City. In 2019, the drumline performed in Pasadena, California in the Tournament of Roses Day Parade. 

Christian Thomas | Script Photojournalist

Hampton University’s Student Government Association hosted a virtual Young Alumni Panel on Dec. 1 for students interested in becoming active within the school’s many leadership positions. 

Throughout the session, held on Zoom, the panelists discussed the many ins and outs of student government, methods for balancing both leadership responsibilities and academics, as well as detailing ways their experience within student government has benefitted them within their career field.

The panel was made up of four recently graduated Hampton Alumni who served in a wide range of leadership positions throughout their years at Hampton.

The panelists, Jordan Mckinney (‘18-’19 Class President), Kendall James (‘16-’18 SGA Director of Finance), Kendall Yelverton (‘19-’20 Executive Assistant) and Taylor Lee (‘17-’18 Director of Special Projects), shared the many experiences, skills and memories they gained while attending the school.

“The panel was targeted towards current SGA members, prospective SGA members and anybody interested in how SGA works,” said Lanece Carpenter, a third-year pre-law, sports management major, leadership minor.

Carpenter hopes the session helps students learn how to apply what they learn at Hampton into the real world and for students to get a chance to connect with some of the school’s most influential alumni.