The New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) knows funny. In an effort to promote the NYILFF this week–July 27 to Aug. 1– a series of videos were released. The videos pay homage to those who have supported independent Latino film makers when resources were limited. The NYILFF strives to celebrate the independent Latino film community and will come to a close this weekend. Read more for details on two free panels being offered today in the city.

SATURDAY, JULY 31
HBO PRESENTS “ART OF THE SHORT”
12 – 2:00 PM @ Industry Lounge
Explore the key elements of creating a compelling narrative short – one that showcases a unique style, talent, and point of view – in an intimate workshop hosted by HBO development executives.

“RETHINKING FILM DISTRIBUTION: DOING IT YOURSELF”
2:30 – 4:30 PM @ Industry Lounge
This panel offers an in-depth examination of how to realign your marketing and distribution strategies to capitalize on the new independent distribution landscape, including digital marketing tools, synchronous online/theatrical releases, Video On Demand (V.O.D.) and limited ‘do it yourself’ theatrical runs.

Source: Kiss My Black Ads | NYILF

Photo courtesy of Kareem Black

WORDS BY REDONAH ANDERSON

Kareem Black can never predict the outcome of his day. On his desk is a list of clients who want him to shoot photos for their upcoming albums. The phone rings and on the other line is Verizon’s advertising staff asking him to shoot their Super Bowl advertisements. He does this every year. After accepting, the celebrity photographer continues to spend the day booking more shoots in his New York City office. He caps his night off with some bar hopping in Manhattan.

Black is living the life, but his success did not come easy. After receiving a scholarship to the School of Visual Arts in New York City, Black began shooting images of people in the local community, which led to his big break working for popular Japanese publication Warp Japan magazine. Black’s go-get-em attitude has rewarded him a widespread résumé featuring notable clients including Sports Illustrated, MTV, Spike Lee, Clinton Portis and Venus Williams.

Now as a successful photographer, Black loves the business and competition of the industry. By engaging in personal pow-wows and bonding before a shoot, Black is able to produce images that better cater to his client’s desires and keeps Black in their pool of personal contacts. A good sport on and off the scene, Black continues to be the shinning gem that will light up the photography industry.

25 Magazine: How was life like for you growing up?

Kareem Black: Life was good. I was born in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I had great parents. My mother is a doctor and my dad is a professor teaching political science. One of the things I liked was that I never felt constrained or restricted because we were not always financially stable. I never felt like we were struggling.

Before my mom was a doctor, she was a secretary who worked to put herself through medical school when I was in middle and high school. I get most of my motivation and inspiration from my parents. It’s very amazing that they instilled that “anything is possible” mindset.

25: What inspired you to pursue a career in photography?

Black: I’ve always been an artist. I started out drawing comics and elevated to paintings, particularly oil paintings. I would have models come and pose in front of me while I paint them.  But, because of the conflicting schedules and my lack of patience, I then moved on to taking pictures of the models and creating a painting from the picture. This is how I got into the desire of taking photos. I began to like the interactions that I shared with the models. From there I went to SVA [School of Visual Arts] in 1996 on scholarship and wanted to become a photographer, particularly for music and entertainment.

25: How do you plan the type of photo you want to take when shooting a particular celebrity? Is it based of their personality, profession, etc?

Black: Each shoot has different aspects and goals. My vision comes from the connections that me and the subject have. It is based on the level of trust that the subject has in my work and to know that I will make them look like royalty. Also, it depends on the theme of the shoot. For example, for the “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” photo shoot, there was a 1950’s theme, so we incorporated the 1950’s clothing, make-up, and the props related to that decade.

Photo courtest of Kareem Black

25: What do you enjoy capturing about a person when shooting?

Black: I love to capture pictures of faces. I love every detail of a person; every freckle, every mole, every line and every eyelash. A person’s face is a big part of the story that describes who one is.

25: How would you describe your style of photography?

Black: My style comes from the places where I’ve traveled. I love variety. That kind of gives me inspiration to keep my work new and fresh. I hate taking the same picture twice. It’s like having a desk job where you expect to do the same thing every day. I hate that. So I always experiment and explore new things and places. Also, I love to take pictures with humor and I’m currently into taking black and white photos because I think it’s beautiful.

25: What does a “top class” picture consist of?

Black: Well, I believe that a top class picture is at the eye of the beholder. You know what I mean? It’s all based on a person’s artistic style. Different people like different things. What does an image mean to you? Is it a picture of some kind of historical significance or is it more of a documentary that can capture an incredible moment?

25: What inspires you as an artist?

Black: Everything inspires me! I am fortunate to live in a place like New York that is full of wonderful friends who are artist and can arouse his creativity, which most of my ideas are formed. Additionally, competition inspires me to work harder on my craft. Whether it’s from other photographers or friendly rivalry (Whoever gets the photo shoot/client that we all were trying to get, the loser buys dinner).  Traveling is another inspiration for me. I enjoy seeing things I’ve never seen and going to places I’ve never been. Witnessing different cultures and people of different nationalities are amazing. This is what inspires me to create images and helps me to provide a unique vision.

Photo courtest of Kareem Black

25: What photographer do you idolize?

Black: Wow. I idolize many photographers. I love the work of Brooke Nipar and my ex-girlfriend Emily Shur, who is an amazing photographer and one of the people I admire as an artist. Also I love painters, Philip Corey and Phil Cotton.

25: What celebrity would you dream of working with in the future?

Black: Leonard Nimoy and Lindsay Lohan! I really want to shoot them both but for different reasons. Actually, shooting the two of them together would be amazing, now that I think about it!

25: What do you like to do in your downtime?

Black: I’m a big nerd. I love “Star Trek” and chess. I try to play chess every day and I’ve seen and/or own every episode of “Star Trek” and all its spin offs-except “Star Trek Voyager” of course because Voyager sucks! Other then that I love to drink. Is that wrong?

25:  Hey to each, his own. What advice would you give to someone wanting to or considering becoming a professional photographer that would help them in this regard?

Black: You know that reminds me of what my professors at SVA would say to me, “shoot what you love.” You have to a have a passion for what image you are capturing. I was going to be a fashion photographer but I didn’t like or did not know anything about fashion. So, I went to music.

Also, one would have to move into a hub; meaning go to a place like New York, Tokyo, London and Los Angeles, where you can prove your talents and where networking opportunities and chances of success are at its highest. Fish where the fish are. Also, one has to be open to everything and willing to learn. One should never be afraid to embrace their abilities, explore and try new things. I had a shoot for Nascar then after I began watching Nascar and became a huge fan. That probably never would have happened if I didn’t shoot them.

For more on Kareem Black, visit www.KareemBlack.com.

MTV Alexa Chung Times SQ Billboard from kareem black on Vimeo.

Photo courtesy of Blek Le Rat

25 Magazine interviews Paris street art pioneer, Blek Le Rat.

WORDS BY AMANDA KOGER

Blek Le Rek is one of the most unrecognized names to anyone outside of the art world. This 20th century visionary who got his desire from studying New York City graffiti artists has now transformed the simple love of tagging Paris streets into a full-blown movement. Prophesied as the “godfather of stencil art,” Le Rat has altered the image of graffiti in Europe into an art form. Studying painting and architecture in Paris during the 1980s Le Rat soon realized that he wanted to bring a bigger message of social and political issues to his audience, which makes this Frenchman in a league of his own. With over two decades of putting in work with his stencil in hand, the man behind a movement still has no intentions of slowing down.

Le Rek isn’t just some fly by night graffiti artist; one who comes then disappears before the paint dries. No, Blek has been drawing for years. Some could say for the love of the art but if they ask the artist he would simply say because of the freedom. Blek has given inspiration to many from Shepard Fairley to Oseas Duarte and Bansky. So with no ending insight Le Rek will continue to put the pencil to the wall.

25 Magazine: Your real name is Xavier so where did Blek Le Rat come from?

Blek Le Rat: It comes from a comic book for kids named “Blek Le Roc” that we used to swap with other kids in the 60′s. I changed “Le roc” with “Le rat” because I used to love to paint rats when I started to make graffiti art in 1981. There is also in the word ” rat” its anagram “art”; I loved the coincidence between the two words.

25: Can you describe the creative process behind your work?

BLR: The process depends the image that I make. Sometimes it takes a long time when I am researching through all my documentations and books; sometimes it takes only few minutes. I can also imagine in my mind a new image for any reasons and I sketch the image with a pencil on a paper. I can also work with a photo that I have taken with a camera or found on the Internet. I usually rework the image with my computer and then I draw it on a large piece of paper or cardboard and then I cut it to make the stencil.

25: You are described as the “godfather of stencil art,” do you try to live up to this title or do you simply draw what you feel?

BLR: The British artist, Pure Evil called me first few years ago the “godfather of stencil art.” I did not take this title by my own [sic] and I can say that I draw what I feel.

25: Your artwork is based out of Paris but you have stated that you were first inspired by NYC graffiti. Have you ever wanted to make a transition to the states?

BLR: I love the states since my youth (my first trip to NYC was in 1971) and since I have worked in the states as NYC, Miami, San Francisco, LA, I have also done some works in the desert of Arizona and New Mexico [sic]. It is one of my dreams to live in the States but unfortunately I am too old now to move over there.

25: Why do you choose stencil as your medium?

BLR: I have chosen stencil because I did not want to copy the American artists who were making beautiful pieces. I thought that the architecture and the environment in my city in Paris was totally different than in NYC. I thought that an image done with stencil would have been better integrated in French architecture and space than an American piece but it is only my humble opinion and I think that some American pieces done in Paris are really great and beautiful. But it is not my cup of tea considering my own work.

25: Do you think that graffiti has become more of a respected art form than when you first started?

BLR: Yes I do, it is more respected now by the new generation of people who grew up with street art as an expression of art. Although, I would say not enough well respected to become a legal art. It is still everywhere in the world an illegal act and I can have a lot of troubles if I am caught in making my art. There is still a huge contradiction between a certain respect coming from the art market and the fact that this art is completely illegal in the eyes of the people in power in every country in the world.

25: How do you define “street art?”

BLR: “Street art is a beautiful art.”

25: After completing each piece what message are you trying to leave behind?

BLR: It depends on the piece. Sometimes it is a political or a social message, sometimes it is a tribute to someone or another time it is just a joke.

25: You describe a rat as a “free animal,” do feel your work is a medium for personal freedom?

BLR: Absolutely, YES I feel free to work, as I want. This is the great strength of graffiti art and may be that’s one of the reasons this expression is still illegal because it is not controlled and it is impossible to control the message of people working as a street artist. We can do what we want in the streets the best and the worst can be said in the streets. This may be why so many people are scared of graffiti art. They do not admit that someone else can be free to say to the others things that they do not want to hear…

25: Why was it important to you to do the Florence Augends pieces?

BLR: I think it was important because street art should also be a vector of communication between an important event in the life of a country or a society and the people. Florence Aubenas was a French journalist kidnapped in Iraq. She was working for an important newspaper in France and expected her own newspaper nobody cared of her at the beginning of her kidnapping [sic]. When I decided to do something to inform the people I started to paste many posters around the important French media area. Thinking that the other journalists would write something about her kidnapping and that was exactly what happened. Few weeks after my first post, all the magazines newspaper, radios and television took the relay. This experience taught me that street art could be a very important relay to inform people of a message [sic].

25: Any last words?

BLR: Graffiti art started in 1969 in Philadelphia and 40 years later this art is still in its full development.

By Kendra Desrosiers

It’s 10:30 p.m. at the first-ever green inaugural ball on Saturday at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. and the gleam of the open bar and heavy hors d’ oeuvres is starting to lose its edge. Some brave partygoers try to refuel on eco-energy drinks but cringe after their first sip. To their dismay, the Steaz Organic Energy drinks taste very—organic. Dozens of 20 and 30-somethings make their way to the front of the stage and the sustainable soiree prepares for a change in pace. The entertainment has arrived and after some intoxicated guests mistake all the black members of the stage crew for headliner Wyclef Jean, they are finally introduced to the hip-pop opening act, Just.Live.

“Back in the day, if you wasn’t cool, if you wasn’t with it, we’d say ‘man that dude is green’,” said ‘Rock-n-roll,’ one half of the Minneapolis college duo, after performing a couple of their MySpace hits. “Now, the only way to be cool, the only way to be with it, is to be green.”

For college youth, being labeled a “tree hugger” is no longer a euphemism for a crazed environmental hippie. Instead, greening their campus has become the new preferred extracurricular activity and Generation Y, those born in the ‘80s and ‘90s, has taken a lead role in fighting the climate crisis.

It’s been nearly half a century since the last student movement but unlike their “Summer of Love” predecessors, Gen Y students have taken a more direct approach to environmental activism. They’ve traded street theater for lobbying and flower power for voter registration and now that they have gained momentum from their unprecedented voter turn-out in the 2008 elections, they are refocusing their energy on going green.

According to the Energy Action Coalition, in 2007, more than 6,000 students attended Power Shift, the largest youth conference on the environment. By the 2008 presidential election, at least 300,000 students at more than 300 campuses had pledged to vote for clean energy and green jobs via the Power Vote initiative and turned the heads of Congress.

“Students are certainly poised to use the momentum gathered during election season to catalyze massive environmental progress in 2009 and beyond,” says Sharon Smith, programs director of the Earth Island Institute, a non-profit organization that supports start-up environmental projects. Smith says banning new coal-fired power plants and investment in clean energy will be issues at the forefront. “The momentum is just beginning. Students will be at the helm of this ecological u-turn.”

According to Aaron French, a sophomore at St. Mary’s College in Maryland and member of a Sierra Student Coalition national committee, a network of green grassroots leaders, the climate crisis encompasses issues such as healthcare, the economy and the war on terror; so protecting the environment will be the next youth movement.

“I think they’re all connected,” French says. “I think it’s what gives the movement a really strong national message. Global warming is connected to the economy. We can revitalize our economy by providing five million new green jobs that can’t be outsourced and build our infrastructure in the U.S. It’s related to foreign wars. Some people might say the war in Iraq is all about oil, and oil is pretty related to climate change.”

French, a member of the school’s Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC), helped SEAC rank St. Mary’s College at No. 2 for getting out the green vote, according to the Energy Action Coalition’s “Power Vote Top Ten List.” He attributes an enthusiastic administration as the key to their success. Like the SEAC, other campus organizations have convinced their administrations to take significant steps toward greening their campus like Environmental Conservation Organization (ECO) of Louisiana State University.

“We’ve successfully helped the university close campus roads during work hours so that it’s now a ‘walking campus,’” says Rachel Guillory, a senior at LSU and national campaign liaison for ECO. “We also petitioned to establish a Campus Committee for Sustainability and a sustainability coordinator at our school and [they were successfully established] last spring.”

While some universities have demonstrated openness to sustainability, others such as Howard University received an F on their green report card issued by Sustainable Endowments Institute, a non-profit organization focused on sustainability in higher education, in 2008; And supply friction to student groups pushing for an eco-friendly campus.

“There is too much bureaucracy at Howard University in the administration. It will be its downfall,” says Nykeeba Brown, a sophomore at Howard and the programs director of the Engineers Without Borders’ environment initiative E=MC2. Brown also says the administration agreed to place recycling bins across campus but reneged on their promise.

Kari Fulton, a Howard grad and national campus campaign coordinator for the Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative, has been actively working with Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Fulton says she is excited about the progress of students at Howard University in regards to student mobilization initiatives such as E=MC2, but disappointed in the administration’s response. “But I know that with more attention, more push, it will happen because I think it’s the destiny of our school, to be the strongest black and green school,” Fulton says.

Fulton, Guillory and French all serve on steering and sub-committees for Power Shift 2009. Fulton says their goal is to use the momentum of Power Shift 2007 and the Power Vote Campaign to fuel the green movement by strategically scheduling the conference during the first 100 days of President Barack Obama’s term.

“Power Shift 2009 is a wakeup call to the nation,” says Tommaso Boggia, Climate Advocacy Associate for Campus Progress. “Power Shift is going to shape the direction and tell the nation and say ‘Hey we’re still here we didn’t just go vote and now go on to our facebook and MySpace. We’re here and we’re using facebook and MySpace, our generation’s tools to organize and make change happen the way we demand it to happen.’”

Power Shift 2009 is expected to draw more than 10,000 students, nearly twice as many attendees as 2007, Feb. 27- March 2nd. The conference’s agenda includes everything from the need for clean and renewable energy to finding solutions to the economic downturn through the creation of five million green jobs. On March 2, the largest environmental lobbying day, attendees will push for green legislation by lobbying their respective members of Congress.

To Fulton, the green movement ultimately is about the accountability of the new administration and Congress. “Those problems are not going to get fixed by themselves and only a squeaky wheel will get oiled,” she says.

For more information on Power Shift 2009 visit: www.powershift09.org

The race for the White House has finished its course. With more than 300 electoral votes, Barack Obama will be the first African-American president of the United States.

In 2007, a confident Obama told attendees at Howard University’s Opening Convocation that when he’s president he would change that nation. Now a reality, Obama has a lot of work ahead of him.

In his 15-minute victory speech, Obama told supporters that there are “challenges that tomorrow will bring.” Obama spoke not of the joy of the moment, but delivered a speech of the reality to come.

With wife Michelle Obama and children at his side, Obama vowed to “be honest” in communicating challenges as he spoke to supporters at Grant Park in Chicago.

“There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as president,” Obama said. “But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation.”

During his 21-month campaign, the former Illinois senator rallied around the need for change. More than 52.7 million popular votes symbolize that many voters had a similar desire for a shift in the nation’s politics.

His GOP opponents’ claims of Obama’s lack of experience and “suspicious” ties couldn’t thwart Obama’s popularity with voters. By 9 p.m. unofficial results from state board of elections showed McCain lagging by nearly 100 electoral votes.

In the end, McCain’s traditional campaign tactics were no match for Obama’s technology-driven campaign and abundant donations. Obama said the campaign manager, David Plouffe, was the “unsung hero… who built the best — the best political campaign… in the history of the United States of America.”

Early Returns Favor Obama

Obama dominated the north-eastern states; winning West Virginia to Maine. But for key swing states like Virginia and Florida, the results teetered between blue and red until Obama took a clear two-point percentage lead in both states at 10:00 p.m.

Even as Obama inched closer to the presidency, McCain didn’t concede. But west coast polling results prompted McCain to call Obama and congratulate him. The outcome was clear — even the remaining battleground states wouldn’t boost McCain’s electoral votes.

“The American people have spoken,” McCain said to his supporters in Phoenix. “And they have spoken clearly.”

Obama pleaded to McCain voters to unite in a bipartisan approach to heal the nation.

“I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too,” he said.

McCain agreed: “These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.”

Americans Vote for Change

The road to change is far from over. Once inaugurated on Jan 20, Obama will enter his first term as the 44th president of a nation overflowing with economic and financial turmoil.

“There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they’ll make the mortgage or pay their doctors’ bills or save enough for their child’s college education,” Obama said. “There’s new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.”

He continued: “The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.”

At the close of his campaign Obama returned to the slogan it all started with — “Yes We Can.”

“America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do,” he said. “This is our time … to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.”

The race for the White House has finished its course. With more than 300 electoral votes, Barack Obama will be first African-American president of the United States. Click the headline to read the story.

Okay so it’s Friday night, Saturday Morning, or a Wednesday afternoon. Whatever the day, whatever the time, whatever the season– you’re bored. There’s nothing on TV, the mall is closed for repairs. You’re tired of movies, tired of reading, and tired of Facebook . If you’re one of those people that live for the moment, you’d call up your friends with a great idea, the best idea; to go on a road trip, you call up your girls with a great idea—the best idea.

Before the top cities traveled to by college students are revealed, you must first be prepared for the open road.

Few college students own anything bigger than a small SUV, so space is limited. You can bring a tote bag, and a purse or for the guys a small duffle bag. Think light layers! A long sleeve tee, a regular tee shirt, maybe a tank top, wife beater or two, pair of shorts, and jeans, . Swim suit. Extra undies. A, brush and a rubber band. Flip flops, flats or sneakers. If it’s winter bring a few sweaters, a pair of jeans, those cute boots you love and a hat! Less is more.

Never forget to load up on the munchies. Stop at a convenience store and load up on chips, sodas, waters, gum, cookies, skittles, and lots of chocolate!

Don’t forget the music. Get some girl power music. Spice Girls, boy bands, Corinne Bailey Rae, Destiny’s Child, TLC, oldies, rock, R&B, whatever gets you and your gang singing at the top of your lungs, grinning, and dancing– bring it!

Don’t forget sunglasses and cell phones, plus multiple cameras!!

Now that you’re packed and ready, here are the top cities traveled to by college students in the US:

San Francisco is the capital of diversity in the US. While staying in San Fran, visit many of the free museums in the city like the Chinese Cultural Center Museum. Then go for a walk in the Botanical Gardens; following dinner and margaritas at the famous Tony’s. Finally, hit the dance floor at DNA Lounge or even Elbo Room. No matter what you enjoy: art, nightclubs, jazz, techno, museums, or hiking, San Francisco has it.

Here are a couple sites to guide you to your road trip destination: http://sanfrancisco.about.com/

http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/

http://www.sfgov.org/

Nothing beats a trip to the Big Easy for Jazz Fest in June. Not only does New Orleans have history and culture, they also have one of the biggest annual music festivals. Jazz Fest is a six-day celebration of the heritage of New Orleans at the Fairgrounds Race Track. Everything from Jazz to Zydeco to Country, Blues, Pop, Gospel or New Orleans Funk is playing on multiple stages simultaneously. Stay in one of the historic hotels in the French Quarter where you can indulge in improv jazz musicians while drinking some Café DuMónde. After a day at the Jazz Fest, hit Bourbon Street and enjoy their famous green-grenade drinks. Don’t forget to satisfy your hunger at Brennan’s or Muriel’s on Jackson Square.

Follow these sites and plan the trip of the summer:

http://goneworleans.about.com/

http://www.neworleansonline.com/

http://www.neworleans.com/

Ever been to Washington? Not DC, the state. Washington State has beautiful scenery all throughout the states. A fun and scenic route to travel is to drive from Everett to Ellensburg. From the shores of Puget Sound, take US Route 2 east and upward into the Cascade Mountains. Looming to your right is a 10, 541-foot-high Glacier Peak. At only 135 miles, your journey allows time to explore one of the frequent hiking trails, the Bavarian charms of Leavenworth. Ending in Ellensburg, which is a cool college town, enjoy the pretty streets and rock climbing. And if your still wanting a city life experience, drive another 2 hours to the “Emerald City”—Seattle! While in Seattle, visit the Seattle Center, Woodland Park Zoo, and Pike Place Market.

Go to these links to plan an adventurous, outdoor road trip:

http://www.cityofseattle.net/html/visitor/

http://www.visitseattle.org/

http://www.seattle.net/

http://www.ci.ellensburg.wa.us/

http://www.everettwa.org/

While there are many, many more cites for you and your girls to visit: Miami, Austin, New York, Boston, and even Washington, DC. Where ever you decide to go, make sure you plan ahead, invite people who you love to have fun with, and make the trip as memorable as possible!

Image: Blue Design Solutions

*Only the candidates available for interview were included in the cheat sheet and photo shoot

HUSA President & Vice President Candidates

Nicholas Owen & Kellen Moore

HUSA President & Vice President
Slogan
Taking it back: Changing the reality of Howard’s future
Platform in a Few Words
Taking ownership in what is yours, Howard University
What are the issues?

• No unity or effective communication between the student body & HUSA
• Student leader accountability
• Faculty/Administrators/Staff accountability
• Decentralized student advocacy leaders
• Students don’t understand HUSA structure
• Going green
• Wireless on campus
• Affordability
• International and Caribbean student disconnect with Howard University

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• I Get Money Initiative (financial aid)
• Reestablish united student assembly

Previous Experience/Political Accomplishments
Nicholas Owen: President of School of Communications Student Council , Chairman of Hilltop Policy Board

Kellen Moore: HUSA Student Advocacy Chair, UGSA Rep, COAS Freshman Class President 06-07

Christopher Caldwell & Kimberly Jones

HUSA President & Vice President
Slogan
Fighting for your future, fighting for your legacy, fighting for Howard
Platform in a Few Words

• Increasing the quality of living for students
• More student body and student leader dialogue
• More community involvement
• Supporting student endeavors

What are the issues?

• Poor communication between the student body and the university
• Lack of representation for students facing expulsion or administrative problems

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• Interactive Chat room
• Student Government Internship Program
• Into The Streets Community Service Project
• Howard Newell Memorial Scholarship Program
• Student Rights Attorney

Previous Experience/Political Accomplishments
Christopher Caldwell: Deputy Director of Student Organizations for HUSA, UGSA Rep, Minister of External Affairs for Gentlemen’s Scholar’s Program

Kimberly Jones: Miss School of Business 06-07, Co-Chair of Campus Pals Fundraising Committee

Abimbola George & Tiffany Bright

HUSA President & Vice President

Slogan

“Breakthrough; Innovation on the horizon”

Platform in a few words

What are the issues?

• Howard is not a wireless campus
• Lack of regard for environment
• Communication between organizations
• Safety
• Shuttle Service

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• Establish a commission on student rights that will have each University administration post a student bill of rights in each academic building
• Hold a student government fair during Freshman Orientation Week so student council members and organizations can greet students.
• Want to advocate Howard becoming a wireless campus
• Work with residence life and the DC government to place “Recycling Stations” in every dormitory and academic building
• Establishing communications systems and policies that allow all student organizations to work together.
• Work closely with the school Police Department to ensure safety on the campus
• Establishing a commission with the office of Parking and Shuttle services to and student leaders to address shuttle services and provide upgrades.
• Keep it Real or Sound off forums: Solicit the opinions and views of the student body.

Previous Experience/Political Accomplishments?
Abimbola: Former HUSA Volunteer, Director of College of Arts and Sciences Student Council, and President of College of Arts and Sciences.
Tiffany Bright: Former HUSA Volunteer, Former HUSA Office Assistant, Volunteer Coordinator, HUSA Executive Secretary, and Director of Administration

Darrion Woods & Stefan Thompson

HUSA President & Vice President

Slogan
“The New Deal: Recovery Relief Reform.”
Platform in a few words

“When we say relief, we say relief to students because so many students have a negative stigma about HUSA, that we just collect checks and waste money. Recovery is bringing HUSA back to the position that it should be, and the position that we once lost. Reform is that we have to change a lot of things about the HUSA government, such as the structure and flow.”
What are the issues?

• Inconvenience of the HUSA Office for students
• Academic Integrity
• Lax organizational funding
• Housing

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• Extending HUSA office hours to be more convenient for students.
• Make sure certain organizations receive their funding on time
• Increase the Howard male population
• Off Campus Public Relations Act: to help students scout off campus housing
• Make sure teachers get their book adoptions in on-time to lessen the price of textbooks at the Bookstore.
• Howard Man Legacy Act: To personally recruit young men to come out to Howard University.
• Better academic integrity
• Promotion of Scholarships and Internships
• Open forums for students to speak out
• Inspection of student services
• Can promise that everything besides the Off-Campus Housing can happen in the spring

Previous Experience/Political Accomplishments?

Darrion: HUSA Student Services Coordinator, was Promoted to Special Assistant to the HUSA President, and President of The Towers

Stefan: Slowe Hall President, Member of the Commission of Student Affairs, Member of the Residence Hall Ad Hall Committee, Member of Man of Strength

Undergraduate Trustee Candidates

Edward Williams

Undergrad Trustee
Slogan
Validation: Removing the hold off of Howard’s future
Platform in a Few Words
Increasing dialogue with students in order to better bridge the gap between the Board of Trustees and the student body
What are the issues?

• Finding a new president
• Maintenance and modernization of campus
• Lack of students involved in research projects

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• Undergraduate Trustee Report
• Reestablish Undergraduate Trustee Committee
• Undergraduate Trustee Website

Previous Experience/Political Accomplishments
Mr. School of Busines

CPNAS Candidates

Ashley Chanel Jones

Vice President

Slogan

APPEAL; Aspiring to Promote Professionalism, Energy, Activity and Leadership

Platform in a few words

• Professionalism: A lot of the students said they weren’t prepared from the undergraduate environment to the professional environment
• Energy: Pumping up our school
• Activity: I want to bring back involvement in our school, we currently have internal problems and I feel that we need to confront them head on, specifically in our nursing department
• Leadership: the energy and activity are going to open up more opportunity for students to get involved

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• Graduate school forum much like the College of Arts and Sciences

Previous Experience

UGSA Rep for CPNAS, Chairwoman of Finance Committee, Community Service Director

COAS Candidates

Bryan Smart & Ashley Williams

President and Vice President

Slogan

“Stronger: Strengthening the College of Arts and Sciences through academics, advocacy, accountability, and community advancement.”

What are the issues?

• Do not have proper counseling of advising
• The structure of the COAS
• Organizational Funding

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• Host fairs and forums with post graduation initiatives for Students to strengthen their knowledge of life after Howard
• Mentor/Mentee Program
• Work with the Dean of COAS to make him more student accessible
• Department chair town hall meetings
• Bridge the gap between COAS organizations and students
• A Day in the life of a College Arts and Sciences Student: Have high school students shadow current students to get a feel for the Howard experience.
• Student Appreciation Days
• Have fun! Have a gala in the spring and field day

Previous Experience:

Bryan Smart: UGSA Grievance Director

Nnamdi Anozie & Imoni Hampton

President & Vice President COAS
Slogan
Building Blocks: Establishing the foundation for the flagship of the future.
Platform in a Few Words

• Building upon what is already established and preparing for the future
• Career Development, Accountability, Student Life and Council Visibility

What are the issues?

• Lack of connection between Fine Arts and Arts & Sciences
• Aesthetics of the classroom
• Relations between student body and faculty
• Community outreach
• What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?
• Score cards to grade faculty
• Reestablish ambassadors and reps of Fine Arts/division committees
• Bison Inspire – (high school outreach/tutoring initiative)

Previous Experience/Political Accomplishments
Imoni: Mentor-Mentee Coordinator

Nnamdi: UGSA PR Director/UGSA Rep and Mr. COAS 07-08

School of Education Candidates

Keisha Blount & Jenelle Diljohn

School of Education Executive President & Vice President

Slogan

“Step Up; Sustaining tradition through enthusiasm and progression while uplifting the population.”

Platform in a few words

• Promote our history
• Learn more about our history, because a lot of it was lost.
• Get our students excited about our student council through public relations
• Trying to put on some events that will be helpful and informative

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• Promote and learn more about the school’s history
• Get students more excited about student council through Public Relations
• State of The Black Student: A program designed to cover different issues concerning education majors, human development majors, and blacks in general.

School of Business Candidates

Asia Smith and Travis Sherman

President and Vice President

Slogan

“Back to the Basics”

Platform in a few words

• Loyalty to our students
• Benefiting our students
• Giving them the opportunity to reach out to the community

What are the issues?

• Academic integrity

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• Want to advise banquets and talk to students on a regular basis
• Plan on working with the organizations that already have tutorial sessions, and help them by using counter resources, publicizing the event, pulling professors in, and making sure that students understand the consequences of cheating.
• Plan on creating a scholarship program for a member of the freshman, sophomore, and junior class.
• Seniors will receive a cash prize through a competition at the end of the year.
• Plan on having a gala where alumni, students, and faculty come in support of the school of business
• Reaching Out: A year-long mentorship program with high schools where they put on workshops once a month

Previous Experience:
Asia: Team leader, Associate Advisor to the Executive Board

Travis: Sophomore class president for the School of Business

Calvin Simmons & Korene Jones

Executive President of The School of Business Student Council

Slogan

“Firm, focusing on students, improving communication, reaching out and moving forward.”

Platform in a few words

• Create an environment of excellence for the school of business.
• Improve student advocacy
• Improve communication amongst students and administrators
• Move forward and have a positive impact on the new students of the school of business as well as the D.C. community

What are the issues?

• Reaccreditation, which has recently caused a downturn in our academic integrity
• Open up lines of communication between the administrators and the students

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• D.C. Literacy Initiative: A program that donates up to 1500 books to a D.C. public school to improve its library

Previous Experience

Student Rights Coordinator for The Howard University Student Association, and Events Committee Chairman for The Undergraduate Student Council.

SCOM Candidates

Andrew Jones

Executive President of The School of Communications

Slogan

“Rise: Resounding inspiration of Students in Excellence.”

Platform in a few words

• Increasing the academic prestige
• Increasing the prestige and the pride that the students in the school of communications have for themselves and in their own school

What are the issues?

• Increasing the relationship between students and alumni
• Increasing accountability of the Student Council
• Increasing the communication amongst students

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• College fair for local D.C. High Schools to inspire a collegiate level of thinking, and help make them feel more welcome and involved with the Howard Community
• Mid-Atlantic Pre-Law Conference
• AIDS Week

Previous Experience: School of Communications Student Council

Kimberly Williams

UGSA representative for the School of Communications

Platform in a few words

“I don’t have a platform. I feel that if you do your job then everything else will come. I don’t think everything has to have a slogan, everything has to have a name just do your job, do what’s right and everything will follow through.”

What are the issues?

• Feel people don’t understand the purpose of UGSA, which is to bring all the schools and classes together

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• Wants to make a program that can bring current Howard students with former Howard students to network
• Wants to bridge the overall gap between Howard Students

Previous experience/Political Accomplishments: School of Communications Vice President, UGSA Representative for School of Communications.

Edward Hill & Dorien Archie

UGSA Representative for The College of Arts and Sciences & School of Communications

Platform in a few words

“Unity, building on a rich legacy for a successful future.”

What are the issues?

• Implementing new interactive programs for incoming freshman
• Bridging the division between some of the undergraduate students within the different college and schools.
• Trying to reach out to students letting them know what the mission of Howard University is, what their obligations are when they graduate as a student at Howard University
• Increase student advocacy

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• More interactive programs for freshman focusing more so on education; for example resume building and essay writing.

Previous Experience: Sophomore class representative for the College of Arts and Sciences

Nicole Austin

UGSA Representative for the School of Communications

Slogan

“No more empty promises and creating false hope”

Platform in a few words

• Want to implement programs to bring all the schools together
• Trying to fix the lack of communication within the school

What are the issues?

• Lack of communication between the schools
• Lack of programs for transfer students

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• A program for transfer students similar to those made for incoming freshman.

Ashley Tannehill

UGSA Representative for the School of Communications

Slogan

“I am L.E.G.E.N.D.”

Platform in a few words:

• Listening to Students
• Enriching our Bond
• Giving Back to Students
• Exploring New Possibilities
• Nurturing the Current UGSA
• Discovering Potential

What are the issues?

• Feels state of UGSA isn’t very focused on legislation; wants to put the focus back on students through programming and to increase communication
• Improve publicity of the general assembly meetings
• Increase communication with the students
• Higher levels of student awareness and student participation

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• Faculty & Staff Appreciation Banquet: An awards ceremony that would acknowledge outstanding faculty and staff followed by a networking reception to insure mutual relationships.
• Taste & Talk: A more informal type of Town Hall meeting with food so students will feel more comfortable discussing the issues.

CEACS Student Council Candidates

Rhett James

College of Engineering, Architecture & Computer Sciences Executive Student Association Representative

Platform in a few words:

“Synergy: Working together resulting in something greater than individual effects of capabilities.”

What are the issues?

• Construction
• Lack of resources

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• Wants to continue the community outreach program-go out to certain high schools and encourage them to pursue higher education.
• Having more trips for the Architecture majors.

Lucky Adike

College of Engineer, Architecture and COmputer Sciences Executive President

Slogan

“Illumination”

Platform in a few words:

• Bring everyone together as a whole
• Communal Learning

What are the issues?

• Division in the Student Body

What specific policies, programs, etc do you plan to implement?

• Consolidation of freshman retention
• Create a virtual library in which students can exchange books
• Want to give back to the D.C. community by using members of the school to help improve the D.C. math scores.
• Want everyone to work together; communal learning.
• Interdepartmental teams
• CEACS Honors program
• Easily Accessible alumni database

Previous Experience:

CEAS Student Council, Programs Committee, and Assistant Administrator in one of the computer labs.

Fatman Scoop and wife Shanda Talk Sex.

By Aisha Johnson

Fatman Scoop and his wife Shanda don’t bullshit. Watching these two discuss sex and relationships is like sitting in the living room and talking to your friends: it’s real, and relatable. Scoop and Shanda give raw and uncut advice from the comfort of their own home to the public, and are causing quite a buzz on the web. What could possibly set them apart from other advice shows? Their candidness and lack of concern for what may be considered too racy. Look at their most recent episode titled, “How to Eat Out.” Scoop begins by declaring himself as the certified ‘Pussy-ologist’ and takes the audience on a visual tutorial through the powerful act of cunnilingus. Talk about uncut.

Their show doesn’t only deal with the racy side of sex. With experience as an HIV/AIDS awareness counselor and caseworker, Shanda makes it her duty to enforce safe sex, but in a way that appeals to the general public. “All people are getting are statistics and why you should be tested,” says Shanda. “To people that’s scary, that doesn’t make me want to go and get a test when I hear that there are so many women that have it. It’s just a way of addressing and opening up the subject matter, and it’s gotta be in a way that young people can relate.”

College students are tired of being lectured, and what Scoop and Shanda don’t do is preach. “First of all, all that preaching crap means nothing!” exclaims Scoop. “I’m not going to listen to someone who preaches to me. People who are preaching to me are just like me anyway so I can’t take what they’re saying.” The difference between Man and Wife and the high school nurse lecturing your freshman health class is the way they approach each subject. Shanda feels that young people need to be listened to, rather than drilled with repetitive information. They answer the questions, and let their knowledge and experience speak for itself. College students love to talk about sex, and furthermore have sex-it is only natural that these two make it the main focus of their show. “A lot of college [students] are coming into their sexuality at that age. Although a lot of [students] won’t admit it, a lot of [students] are just coming into that freedom about being a young woman or man and what that means,” shares Shanda.

Scoop’s in-your-face personality and Shanda’s sweet spirit ultimately balance one another out, while providing fresh and much needed entertainment. Scoop originally had a radio show in mind, however after sitting down one night and talking to Shanda he realized this was exactly the co-host he was looking for. So he decided to put a new spin on things and take it to the bedroom. Scoop explains that, “It was a situation where I was looking for someone to do a sex and relationship show on the radio with. I had gone through a lot of tapes, and I was trying to audition people. I wound up just talking to Shanda in bed one night and realizing that this was actually the person that made the most sense, because I already had chemistry with ‘em, and I didn’t have to pay ‘em!” From watching these two in their series it’s not hard to imagine them having a truly genuine and loving relationship. Though Shanda claims that Scoop gets himself in trouble with her every day, she couldn’t help but be drawn to his all over the place personality, and according to Scoop, “She was there when I was broke! I didn’t have no money! We were eating cucumbers and tomatoes for dinner!”

This couple’s days of struggle are starting to ease since the show is scheduled to air on MTV this summer. Don’t think that’ll change the content any, they’ve been fighting to make sure it’s done the way they want it, and the way it’s always been-raw and unabashed. What makes the show is how down to earth it is. Scoop and Shanda make sure to keep that realness intact, and according to Scoop, “I think it’s going to increase the viewers. People got keen eyes-they can see bullshit a mile away.”

Fat Man Scoop is currently holding a college competition with Eventful Inc. to win a “LIVE TAPING” of the hit show ManandWife.tv. To have Fat Man Scoop come to your school go to http://www.eventful.com/manandwife and demand it!!