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Thursday, January 30, 2025
Culture

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It’s 2017 and the amount that kids have to pay to attend colleges are beyond out of control. One book could cost a student $100-$300. The average cost of tuition at a private college in the United States in 2016/2017 was approximately $33,480; $9,650 for a student at a public college within their resident state, and $24,930 for a child attending an out-of-state public college – we won’t even get into the debate of how this debt will affect students in years to come; let’s save that conversation for another day.

Today the students of Spelman and Morehouse are taking a stand in a fight to help their fellow students. These young men and women are taking part in a hunger strike to speak out against the unfair policies at their college. Students have been trying to help out other students who are suffering from hunger. The idea is to transfer funds, or use their swipes, from their meal plans to other classmates who cannot afford to buy meals. Apparently, Aramark wants to fine students who are sharing their food swipes with other hungry kids.

You all remember, think back in the day when you were in college. If you were at USC like I was, you purchased a meal plan – well, your parents purchased a meal plan. You had a specific amount allocated for breakfast, lunch and dinner; the funds were all held on your student I.D. card. Sometimes you used it, sometimes you didn’t. If you didn’t use all of it, you may have purchased a snack for your home girl or got some extra fries for your homeboy – not a big deal, right? We all did it! Well Aramark and Spelman want to punish kids for sharing their meal swipes. Some of these kids are choosing to allocate their entire meal for another student who may not have access to a meal plan. You would think this is a good thing, but since it takes money out of the pockets of big businesses and colleges, or course it’s a problem.

In an interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Joi Stewart, a sophomore at Spelman told the local paper that approximately “1500 students on campus are at risk of being food insecure.” Joi went on to explain, “I’m okay with foregoing a meal so that my Spelman sister who hasn’t eaten in two days can eat.” Let’s make this clear — NO ONE SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR SHARING THEIR FOOD WITH HUNGRY PEOPLE!

Aramark is the company that provides many schools around the country with these university food plans and food. ** (Aramark is also the same company that provides food to over 500 correctional facilities in the U.S. – They have been accused of providing inmates with expired food and food that contains maggots).

Since a few dozen students started this hunger strike, they have gained momentum and national attention. Aramark has said that college officials will need to come to them if they are needing these types of changes in meal plans; the company said it is possible to create a program where students can donate funds to other students.

This story has many of us simply pissed off. The average cost to attend Spelman in 2016/2017 is $46,000 regardless of their residency – this is for ONE year! Why would a student who is forced to pay this exorbitant fee for education be at school starving – not eating for days at at time? This doesn’t even make sense. These schools have become low-key corporations focused on their bottom line, and not the well-being of their customers aka students.

No student should be attending school and allowed to go days without being able to eat. No student should be punished for trying to help another student. Education is important, but the system is BROKEN. Also, this is not the time to start a debate about HBCU vs PWI because student athletes at Charleston Southern University have also protested regarding the lack of food on campus. This is not a black university/white university problem, this is a systematic issue where businesses/colleges have no problem collecting fees for books, classes and made-up costs, but don’t care enough to assure that these children get a decent meal three times a day.

As grown as a college kid may behave, they are still kids; they are broke – and these colleges and universities should be held to a higher standard. Many will ask, “where are their parents” not even realizing that many of these students are on their own, many don’t have a place to go for Thanksgiving or Christmas. But let’s remember, many of these kids can’t even attend a class without making sure that their $46,000 fees have been applied – so if a school has no problem collecting $46,000 from a kid, then they should have no problem making sure that kid eats – everyday.

#WhyWeStrike

Syllabus Magazine

Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion

http://www.syllabusmagazine.com

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For too long hip-hop has been in love with a stripper. It’s been decades that hip-hop didn’t love these hoes. It’s been far too long that hip-hop never chased a bitch. It appears as if we are finally entering into an era where hip-hop isn’t afraid of talking about real love. Of course we’ve had rappers like Common, who’s made plenty of hip-hop music expressing his love and appreciation for women, but rappers like Common were few and far for most of the hip-hop era.

However, now it seems like love is in the air; and not only love, but commitment; which was never a common theme in hip-hop. Today, there seems to be a meeting of the minds when it comes to couples, marriage and love. With stories like Remy and Papoose, a man that waited six years for his wife to return home from prison. To Keyshia Ka’Oir and Gucci Mane, a woman who also waited for her man to return home from behind bars; and not only did she wait but she took a bag, flipped it, and tumbled it. 444 was one of the biggest albums of 2017, and it was Jay Z’s declaration to Beyonce of how he almost lost her, and the mistakes he made as a man. Now, we have Offset and Cardi B, hip-hop’s young prince and princess, who recently displayed their love for each other when Offset proposed to Cardi B in front of thousands at a recent concert.

At one point we thought that Reverend Run was the only happily married man in the genre, but we have now reached an era where rappers are not ashamed to say they’re in love. Rappers seem to be basking in the joy of having one woman and declaring themselves as a one-woman-man. Hip-Hoppers seem to be enjoying having that beautiful woman they can show off by their side. And I say, “bout time”!

It’s about time that the genre grows up! Now don’t get me wrong, we are always going to have the misogynistic lyrical content that has plagued the hip-hop genre for generations. We are always going to have those men who swear that machismo means not giving a f*ck about a girl, but let’s celebrate the A-list rappers who are not ashamed to show love; not ashamed to commit themselves to that one woman. So has hip hop evolved? Have we reached a point where hip hop has finally matured? Well, we can’t celebrate just yet. I don’t believe that long gone are the days when women are believed to be useful for nothing else besides being the objects of sexual desires of a male hip-hop star. But, let’s celebrate these wins; let’s celebrate that some of the biggest rap stars of this current era are men who are successful, in love, and not afraid to let the world know.

For too long the disrespect of women in the hip-hop culture has influenced an entire generation of young men. While our generation has bopped to being “in love with a stripper” and “women ain shit but hoes and tricks”, its high time that women are placed on a pedestal – especially since, black women have been some of the biggest supporters of the hip-hop genre. With the help of artists like Jay-Z and 2 Chainz, there’s a chance to influence a new generation of hip-hop fans about the regard for women. For this, I say we should be happy that hip-hop is maturing as rappers have matured, and as the industry matures. I mean Jay-Z was the guy that said he had, “99 problems but a bitch ain’t one” back in 2003. Obviously from the sounds of the 444 album, his problems with Beyonce were placed on center stage for the world to see, and it was a beautiful thing. (I’m not saying Beyonce’s a bitch, but you know what I mean). We are now at a point where women are actually being celebrated. They’re calling black women Queens, they’re being called wives. There are even conversations now questioning whether or not the black woman is God? Now although I may not agree with all of this, I appreciate the fact that there are some men who want to put us on the level of God – even though we ain’t quite there.

So let’s enjoy seeing Chance the Rapper spend time with the mother of his child and their daughter. Let’s celebrate J Cole and his college sweetheart, and the fact that they’re still together. Instead of being so bitter when we see Kendrick Lamar and his high-school sweetheart, let’s share the story of how she not only sang the background vocals on a few of his songs, but how she has supported his dream since they were children! Let’s share these stories, let’s celebrate the real love and hip-hop.

Syllabus Magazine

Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion

http://www.syllabusmagazine.com

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Instagram user Terrance Sims (@simsstrong) posted a music video telling everyone to go and check out his students’ first music video. These young ladies are rapping about education and positivity in their debut track titled, “Excellence First”- and they got bars for days! If you thought First Day Out was hot, then you’re gonna love this fire! Check it out below!

Syllabus Magazine

Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion

http://www.syllabusmagazine.com

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Ariel Financial Literacy Event 031215

This is the type of elementary school that many of us today only wished we could have attended. A Chicago grade school is making headlines because of their special curriculum. Ariel Community Academy on the South Side of Chicago was founded more than 20 years ago by John Rogers, founder and CEO of Ariel Investments and Arne Duncan, US Secretary of Education. Doctors, Lawyers, Entrepreneurs, and Investment Brokers were all raised and graduated from this Chicago school.

This school teaches students about stocks, while they are in kindergarten, while also introducing them to financial literacy. According to Rogers:

“I tell people all the time that the best way to learn about investing is the way my father taught me, he gave me real money to invest in real stocks. That’s the heart of what makes our program work. It’s not a game.”

Here’s how the program works:

Kindergarten through 2nd Grade

Children learn the basics of Financial Literacy, diving into economics and personal finance. At this age, kids are taught about saving money and spending; they are also taught about wants verses needs. Principal Coleman goes on to explain how her kids begin to learn about the concept of finance,“They get an understanding that money comes from somewhere. You can earn it through talent or effort. Some people think and some people work with their hands.”

In kindergarten, students start with $20,000 contributed by Ariel ($10,000 per class for that grade level). During these early years, the portfolio is managed by Ariel &Nuveen Investments.

3rd Grade

At the 3rd grade level, kids will begin to learn about stocks, bonds and and their curriculum.

4th Grade

At the 4th grade level, students learn about portfolios, picking stocks and managing stocks, entrepreneurship and creating business plans.

5th Grade

During 5th grade, students continue to learn what they started in the 4th grade.

6th Grade

By 6th grade, the students are now involved in the decision-making process of what happens within their portfolios that are being managed by Ariel & Nuveen Investments. By 6th grade, you are allowed to be on the Junior Board of Directors (comprised of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders) who decide how to invest the money until graduation.

7th Grade

In 7th grade, students are still continuing to be hands on with their investments, picking up where they left off in 6th gade

8th Grade

By 8th grade, their portfolio should have grown; the $20,000 they started off with provided by Ariel, goes to the following year’s Kindergartners and the process begins all over again. Any profit left over from the investment is divided; half goes back to the school and the other half goes to that year’s graduating class.

The average profit by a student’s 8th grade averages around $12,500. They have seen profits as high as $32,000! This is all – if a student uses their profit to open a college saving account, Ariel will match it with $500 gift toward their savings.

One student named Victoria started Ariel in the 6th grade, by 8th grade she was the Head of the Investment Committee, she explained in an interview:

“The moment I set foot in Ariel and saw that I could be a portfolio manager, that’s immediately where I wanted to go in life, I wanted to be in money management.”

Victoria went on to attend High School on a full scholarship, went to Babson College in Boston, and today she works at Ariel in institutional sales.

Rogers’ dream he had 20 years ago has blossomed and he gives wise advise to those trying to teach their kids about financial literacy:

“Sometimes financial literacy is all about keeping credit card debt low and how to manage a mortgage. All that is important. But in this day and age, you have to be a financial expert to prepare yourself for retirement. Pensions plans have been replaced by defined contribution plans (401(k) or 403(b)). Stock market knowledge is more important in this country than ever before. We need to keep up.”

Syllabus Magazine

Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion

http://www.syllabusmagazine.com

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Here’s what we know regarding the terror attack in Mogadishu. As of this morning, 277 people have been killed, and the death toll continues to rise. 300 people have been injured and remain in hospitals and hundreds are still missing. Two car bombs exploded on Saturday in the capital city of Somalia; this attack marks the the worst massacre in Somalia’s modern history.

2000 people took to the streets on yesterday protesting the government, demanding they do a better job of taking care and protecting citizens. So far, no group has come forward to take responsibility for this massacre. The office of the President has issued three days of mourning for those who have been killed.

The two car bombs damaged buildings, turning them into piles of rubble; the Embassy was also damaged. Videos on social media showed huge clouds of smoke rising from the sites of the blasts. Michael Keating, a representative of the UN’s secretary-general for Somalia, condemned the perpetrators who caused this kind of death and destruction.


Somalia, a nation who has a history of issues and problems, not only has to deal with the current circumstances of safety and terror, but this nation has been dealing with decades of droughts and starvation. They are still dealing with a severe drought and 3.1 million citizens are threatened with famine, violence, and a lack of food.

Meanwhile, people on social media are outraged at the lack of coverage on this terror attack. Many are wondering why more emphasis isn’t being spent on bringing attention to the plight in Somalia, similar to the coverage in Paris and the U.S.

We hope to have more details as to how you can help victims in Somalia.

Syllabus Magazine

Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion

http://www.syllabusmagazine.com
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