1
SEPTEMBER 2018 Vol. 94Benedict College
TIGER NEWS
By Doreen Goodwin
Thanks to a succession of blockbuster movies,
superheroes have leapt from the pages of comic books
to become a mainstay of American life. In response
to changing audience demographics and attitudes,
Hollywood has combed through the Marvel and DC
universes and identied heroes and stories that resonate
in today’s political climate. Enter Luke Cage. A gritty,
Black, super human street ghter who seeks justice
for the everyman.
In the Netix series, Luke Cage was transformed into
a bulletproof superhuman during a secret government
experiment. After hiding his powers and avoiding the
public spotlight, Cage reluctantly took on the mantle
of defender. His days and nights are spent ghting
corruption in Harlem and defending people who have
fallen through the cracks and have nowhere else to
turn for help. In reality, Mike Colter, the actor who plays
him, began his journey intostardom as a student at
Benedict College. During a recent trip to Columbia for
a guest appearance at Soda City Comic Con, Colter
spent some time on campus speaking with theatre and
mass communication majors.
Before becoming the muscle-bound action hero,
Colter appeared in the Clint Eastwood directed movie,
Million Dollar Baby, where he portrayed boxer Big Willie
Little. He also made guest appearances on several
popular TV shows including, Law & order: Trial By Jury,
The Good Wife , ER and The Parkers.
The former Benedict Tiger appeared relaxed and
comfortable in his former college digs while answering
questions and sharing how he became a leading man.
Colter, a St. Mathew’s native, attended Benedict for
a year and a half but ultimately decided to transfer to
the University of South Carolina because BC did not
offer a degree in theatre. After graduating from USC,
he earned a Masters in Fine Arts degree in acting from
Rutgers University.
“I was here some twenty odd years ago; I’m just
like you guys. I was sitting on the other side of the
desk thinking about the things you’re thinking about
like what are my next steps?” asked Colter. During the
hourlong session, the students appeared to relish the
opportunity to question an actor of Colter’s status and
recognition and were clearly hoping to acquire a road
map to emulate the actor’s success. “I encourage you
guys to realize that if you can imagine it, it can happen,”
said Colter. Obtaining a theater degree was the rst
step he laid out in his plan for success. “I gured that
if I could get myself a degree, that would give me the
opportunity to get in front of agents at some point; I
needed to get representation,” he said.
Even after he acquired an agent, success didn’t
happen overnight. “I worked in a restaurant until I was
Luke Cage ‘Marvels’
during recent
campus visit
2
32 years old. I was ready to
call it quits; not because I
wasn’t working but because
I wasn’t doing it exactly
at the level I wanted,”
he said. While working
at the restaurant, Colter
recounted that customers
would often recognize him
from one of his TV or movie
roles and wonder why he
was working there. The
answer was simple, he
worked at the restaurant
to pay his bills.
Colter used this story as
insight into his philosophy
of being grounded and self-
reliant. He said he chose
to continue working at
the restaurant to prevent
falling behind on his bills
while waiting on residual
checks. He encouraged
students to live within their
means when pursuing their
dreams and cautioned
them from buying into the
“fake it until you make it”
lifestyle of buying items
you can’t afford in order
to impress others.
Colter has come a
long way from his humble
beginnings as the youngest
of ve children from a town
with dirt roads -- roads,
that Colter said were only
paved seven years ago.
By his own account,
he came from nowhere,
but through sheer
determination and focus,
Colter is making history
and joining the pantheon
of film super heroes
entertaining a world hungry
for champions.
When senior Carey
Corley asked the question
that many in the room
where thinking, “How did
you get out?,” Colter’s
answer encapsulated his
earlier messages of being
focused, dedicated and
passionate. “You have to
be hungry.” “I had to do
this because I couldn’t think
of anything else I could do
with my life. If there were
two other things I was
interested in, I might have
done one of those things.”
Words spoken like a true
hero.
Students
prepare for
senior defense
By Lenard White
Benedict seniors have
many reasons to celebrate
the start of the school year.
They have successfully
completed three academic
years and are eyeing
the finish line signaling
graduation. There is just
one more hurdle to clear;
the senior defense.
Before any student can
graduate from Benedict
College, they must
complete a research study,
then defend it in front of
students and faculty
members in a presentation
setting. This year, senior
defenses are scheduled to
begin November 14.
The process of creating
a research study and
defending it has been a
part of senior capstone
projects since Benedict
College was founded. Dr.
Alex Gorelik, an associate
professor of mass
communications, has
been assisting students
to prepare their senior
defenses for the past nine
years. “We want people to
begin as early as possible.
It gives them time to see
other students’ defenses
before giving their own; it’s
the best way to prepare,”
Gorelik said.
There is no magic
answer to assist students
in choosing their research
topics. Whatever subject
they select, it is important
to consider that students
will live with the project for
almost two years. Gorelick
has two pieces of advice
for underclassmen: do not
wait too long to choose a
senior defense topic and
be sure to attend senior
defense presentations.
“Finding and talking
with people who are as
passionate about the
same area as you are is
a great way to get inspired
about topics you’d like to
research,” he said.
Anthony Allen II, a
graduating senior offered
advice to those who will
defend in the future. “Know
your topic and stay on
topic and on the main
focus of your study,” he
said. Anthony also urged
students to stay in contact
with the members of the
committee who will be
the ones evaluating their
research projects.
Past senior defense
topics have ranged from
designing magazines, to
photography, to medicine
and to data journalism.
Regardless of the topic,
the foundation of the
senior defense must rest
on a solid foundation of
scientific method and
research. According to Dr.
Gorelik, the skills acquired
in preparation for senior
defense will make students
more competitive in today’s
job market and assist them
in nding good positions
after graduation.
Mike Colter with mass communications students
3
NEWS
By Anthony Allen II
Have you ever wondered
what the oldest building
on campus is? Take a
moment to think. Well, if
you guessed Morgan Hall
then you are absolutely
right. Morgan Hall was built
in 1895 and served as the
college presidents’ primary
residence until 1965.
A building that is 153
years old and still in use will
almost certainly be in need
of some major repairs.
That is why Benedict
College applied for and
was awarded a $500,000
government grant to
make the necessary
improvements.
The National Park
Services U.S. Department
of the Interior has awarded
8.6 million dollars in grant
funding to support projects
that preserve signicant
historic structures on the
campuses of 18 Historically
Black Colleges (HBCUs).
Benedict College was one
out of the 18 HBCUs that
received grants.
According to Dr.
Walletta Johnson,
assistant director of Title
III Sponsored Programs/
Foundation Rlations, this
was a competitive grant
that Benedict College
entered in against nearly
100 HBCU’s around the
country.
The planned upgrades
include xing the wheel
chair lifts; improving
the drainage system
to prevent basement
ooding; installing central
air conditioning; new
oors, and updating the
elevators. Dr. Johnson
said the restoration project
should take about one and
a half years to complete.
Oldest
campus
building
awarded
$500,000
grant
TIG
E
R N
E
WS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
RODERICK HAYNES JR.
NEWS EDITOR
ALEXIS ADAMS
FEATURES EDITOR
DEMARQUAVOUS DANIELS
SPORTS EDITOR
JUSTIN BROWN
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
ANTHONY ALLEN II
SHAKEEMA ASHFORD
JEROME BOATENG
SHAMARIUS BOLTON
DASHAWN HIETT
KIYOSHIA JONES
KHAYREYAH PARRISH
DANISHA SHANNON
LENARD WHITE
STAFF WRITERS
4
By Jerome Boateng
White T-shirt, black shorts, and an alarm clock set for
5:30 a.m. These are the requirements for every freshman
who hopes to become a member of the Benedict College
Band of Distinction, otherwise known as the BCBOD.
Putting on their uniforms and performing in the rst
football game of the season signies the end of a long
road that began on the rst day these freshmen stepped
on campus. The three freshmen featured in this story
traveled different paths to accomplish one single goal,
become a member of the BCBOD.
The BCBOD is a family in many ways. Band members
work together, play together, often eat together, and
live together as a family. For freshman baritone player,
Janelle Carter, family has always been a motivating
factor in her life. Carter was born in Louisiana. However
at the age of ve, she and her family were forced to leave
their home after the devastating effects of Hurricane
Katrina. Her mother was only 22 years old at the time
with two children. Hurricane Katrina separated them
from their extended family and they had limited options
available to them. Eventually the family relocated to
Atlanta, Georgia. After Katrina, her family members
would go out of their way to try to be together before
every major storm.
Always fond of music as a child, Carter played multiple
instruments in elementary school. In sixth grade, she
would join her school’s band and play baritone horn.
“I didn’t understand how deeply rooted my family was
in music, until I got to high school,” said Carter. Once
she entered high school, Carter discovered that two
of her uncles were close friends with members of the
popular bands New Orleans Rebirth Brass Band and
Hot 8 Brass Band. Her father also played bass drum
for Southern University. Her family became her biggest
supporters. “They started supporting me extra hard.
They would tell me, ‘You better be the best!’”
Tuba player, Francisco Lopez was born in Mexico.
When his father obtained his work visa, his family moved
to America in search for a better life. They eventually
settled in Virginia. Francisco was not much of a talker
for most of his teenage years, but joining the band in
his sophomore year of high school changed all of that.
“I was very quiet my rst two years of high school. I
didn’t start opening up to people until I joined the band,”
said Francisco. His reason for joining the band was
very unique. “To be honest, there was a girl I liked in
band, so I just kind of joined to be with her.” Although
the relationship did not last, his love for music would
endure.
After only participating in band for three years,
Francisco Lopez went from being a quiet kid from a
foreign country to become one of BCBOD’S nest tuba
players.
Snare drummer, Jonathan Mceachin, was born and
raised in North Charleston, SC. Mceachin remembers
North Charleston High School as a dangerous place.
“People had guns; people were selling weed; people
shooting up the school; ghts every week,” he said.
Amidst all the violence and distractions, Mceachin
saw the light at the end of the tunnel. “I had to keep
my head down, stay after school and get my grades
up,” he said.
Mceachin made the decision to participate in
extracurricular activities to keep himself out of trouble. In
seventh grade, after watching his high school’s drumline
perform, he was so impressed he decided to join his
middle school’s marching band. After only one year with
the middle school band, he was asked to join the high
school’s drumline. He was still attending middle school
during that time. Mceachin played in the band until his
sophomore year in high school, then decided to join the
football team. Mceachen would become captain of the
varsity team in his junior and senior years. Although he
received several offers to play football at the collegiate
level, he declined those offers to pursue his passion.
A band of brothers
and sisters
ARTS & CULTURE
5
“I got offers to play football
at the collegiate level, but
I love band. I don’t see
myself doing anything else
but band,” said Mceachin.
Each of these three
individuals had to work
extremely hard to get to
Benedict College and join
the BCBOBD. There are
many more challenges
awaiting them, however
Carter, Lopez and
Mceachin, through their
actions and words, have
demonstrated that they
are ready for whatever the
future brings.
By Shakeema Ashford
Imagine this, Beyoncé
and Jay-Z are bringing
their historic, On The
Road (OTR II) concert
to Columbia. The city
is elated. Now imagine
that you are a member of
Benedict College’s band
and cannot attend the
concert due to a scheduled
band practice conict. After
all, football season has
begun and the band is to
football like Beyoncé is to
Jay-Z, so what are you
going to do?
Band members at
Benedict College were
faced with this decision.
Some daring students
purchased concert tickets
earlier in the year during
pre-sale. Others made
the ultimate decision to
forgo the concert and
not risk missing band
practice. Little did they
know, there was no reason
to fret. Benedict College
President, Dr. Roslyn Artis,
had made plans of her own.
She demonstrated her
admiration for the marching
band by canceling band
practice and providing
OTR tickets to the first
70 band members who
showed-up to claim
them. Senior, Chardia
Curtis, a dancer with the
Band of Distinction Sweet
Sensations, was one of the
lucky band members who
received a ticket to the
concert. Curtis could not
believe her good luck when
she exclaimed, “Wow, I’m
going to see Beyoncé! My
rst ever real concert and
it’s Beyoncé!”
Marching
band gets
rare break
to attend
concert
By Roderick Haynes Jr.
The Showcase of
Majors took place Tuesday,
September 11, 2018 and
was held in the Benjamin
F. Payton Learning
Resources Center. An
annual event designed
to help students better
appreciate and understand
their chosen majors, the
Showcase of Majors is the
brainchild of Vice President
of Academic Affairs, Dr.
“Showcase
of Majors”
connects
careers to
majors
Janeen Witty.
During the event,
students visited between
various information
stations showcasing
materials on the different
majors offered at Benedict
College and the careers
associated with them. The
event was organized by
Sophomore Advisor, Dr.
Malqueen Richardson.
While the Showcase was
open to all students, there
was a particular focus
on sophomores. “The
Showcase of Majors was
designed primarily for the
sophomore class to keep
them engaged within their
major and to understand
their majors as it relates
to their career,” said Dr.
Richardson.
Attendees were offered
tutorials on how to log into
software programs such
as Purple Briefcase for
career information and
MyFoundationsLab for
writing and math courses.
Information on how to
nd internships was also
provided.
ARTS & CULTURE
Band of brothers cont’d
6
By Alexis Adams
The Carters came to
Columbia. Beyoncé and
Jay-Z, known as the hip-
hop duo, The Carters,
brought their On the Run
Tour II concert to Columbia,
SC on Tuesday, August 21,
2018, at Williams-Brice
Stadium.
Normally with an event
featuring stars of the
magnitude of Beyoncé and
Jay-Z, you would expect
the show to be sold-out
within a couple of hours,
but that was not the case.
A week before the
concert, the stadium was
not sold out and there
were still plenty of tickets
available. From a high of
$2,676 for oor seats on
the online ticket service
StubHub, the ticket price
dropped to as low as $35
on TicketMaster the day
of the show. The reduced
prices spurred a ticket
buying frenzy hours before
the show began.
Benedict College
President, Dr. Roslyn Artis,
took advantage of the lower
prices and purchased
tickets for BC students.
The tickets were available
for pick-up from the Ofce
of Student Activities on the
day of the concert. Senior
Amber Gillard said even
though the free tickets
were distributed at the
last minute, it was still an
amazing gift. Dr. Artis, who
also attended the concert,
said that she could not wait
for the show to start and
that she was happy to be
able to give the students
tickets to the concert.
Free tickets enable
students to attend
the Carters concert
Dr. Artis(C)with Amber
Gillard(L) and Alexis
Adams(R) students
ARTS & CULTURE
Homecoming 2018 Events
October 18-21
• e Athletic Banquet Hall of Fame
Induction Banquet
• Breakfast with Benedict’s Finest
• BCNAA Brick Dedication
• Class Reunion Meetings
• Alumni Career Day Showcase
• Half Century Club Meeting
• Annual Alumni Leadership Awards and
State of the College Luncheon
• BC Family Reunion Block Party
• Annual Alumni Masquerade Gala
• President’s Breakfast
• Homecoming Parade
• Alumni Tailgating
• BC Tigers Homecoming Game
• Tiger Jam LIVE
• Benedict College Worship Service
7
By Justin Brown
This Year’s 17th Annual
Palmetto City Classic
football game was held
Sunday, September 23,
at the Charlie Johnson
stadium. This talk of the
town match was played
between South Carolina’s
own Benedict College
Tigers and Fort Valley
State University hailing
from Fort Valley, GA. This
was a highly anticipated
game. Not only because
it was the Palmetto City
Classic but because for
the past few seasons
Benedict College and Fort
Valley have brewed a well-
known rivalry. This game
was anticipated to be the
SIAC’s game of the week.
Jumping right into the
action, Benedict came
straight out of the gate
putting on a show, scoring
its rst two possessions.
Led by senior Quarterback,
Domonique Harris, who put
up some pretty impressive
numbers. Domonique went
16/22 with 247 passing
yards and four touchdowns
to add to that. “Just getting
into a steady groove is what
this offense has to do to
continue with our success
in this conference,” said
Harris. When asked about
the three fumbles and
interception, he didn’t hold
back the blame, “It’s 100%
my fault, everything runs
through me so good, bad,
and even ugly, I have to do
better for the good of the
team,” he said.
The Benedict Tiger
defense had yet another
great performance.
Holding the Fort Valley
Wildcats to just 246
yards of total offense.
Middle Linebacker, Amari
Andrews, had 11 total
tackles, two tackles for loss
and a pass break up. His
performance won him the
Palmetto City Classic MVP
Award. These two men are
this week’s top performers
and they helped put up the
big “W” over Fort Valley
State University. Final
score Benedict 28 Fort
Valley 20.
“Classic”
victory
over Fort
Valley State
SPORTS
NBA Players
Association
Expands
HBCU Support
with Apparel
Donation to
SIAC
The National Basketball
Players Association
(NBPA) Foundation has
announced a signicant
donation to the Southern
Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference (SIAC) to
provide new Nike uniforms
and apparel for the men’s
and women’s basketball
teams of all SIAC member
colleges and universities.
“On behalf of the
NBPA, we are honored to
make this gift in support
of the men’s and women’s
basketball teams of the
SIAC,” said Sherrie Deans,
Executive Director of the
NBPA Foundation. “The
schools that make up the
SIAC along with all of the
other HBCU’s have made
important contributions to
the game of basketball and
to our membership. Making
this gift acknowledges that
history and strengthens
our bond going forward.”
“We are extremely
grateful to the NBPA
Foundation and their
Executive Director Sherrie
Deans for their support of
our men and women’s
basketball programs,”
said Gregory Moore,
Commissioner of the
SIAC. “Over past couple
years, I doubt that any
other NCAA conference
have provided more
coaching and professional
development opportunities
to both current and former
NBA players alike than
has the SIAC and our
member school presidents.
Advancing access and
opportunity represent core
components of the mission
and purpose of all of our
SIAC member institutions.
This partnership with the
NBPA and its Foundation
and the resulting
opportunities that our
schools have accorded
these former players is in
direct alignment with that
important mission.”
Anderson, was recently
named the head basketball
coach at Fisk University
whose student-athletes
also participated in the
NBPA HBCU Top 50 Camp
this past summer. In only
its second year, the camp
attracted NBA scouts and
player personnel staff from
teams such as the Chicago
Bulls, the New York Knicks,
the Cleveland Cavaliers
and the Milwaukee Bucks.