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In these many designs, I used an local hip hop brand Troop ‘96. As the background, I used the University of Memphis football team as they beat UCLA this past season. is gave the text a bit more of a pop of the screen and an active background rather than a plan simple colored background. As the facebook cover, I used a triple worded theme making the words seem like they were coming o the screen. For the snapchat lter. i used just a simple double oval and white words with green overlay to help the words show.

Say Yes to Marijuana

Over the course of the years, Marijuana in Memphis has seen many changes from the decriminalization of the leaf to the House of Representatives approved a bill that would block the decriminalization laws that were approved in Nashville and Memphis.

This was due to the inconsistency with penalties in the state statues having to deal with drug control. Yet, the law was not even made for over a year till the legislation made an adjustment to block it.

With the legislation making that move many Memphian felt like the move was planned in since the beginning of the law beginning decriminalized. I sat down to talk to London Page, who’s a Cannabis activist ,to talk about the recent changes of the law and how she and many others felt when they heard the news

When you heard that the Memphis council decriminalized Marijuana, how was your feelings towards the council and what did you make of it?

London Page: I didn’t understand it at first but I knew they were trying to make a change in the community and the city. I felt like it was the start of something that the city would take advantage of in a good way. I thought the council was thinking about the decision before they had announced because they knew it would be a huge up-roar about it.

Did you expect for the law to be blocked by House of Representatives especially within a year of the law being enforced?

It was too good to be true, like I said earlier I didn’t understand it but it seemed to good to be true. A Memphis law with a small fine for any weed or marijuana less than an ounce sounds a little bit too right so the House had to make sure they fix that adjustment to the law. The timing was a bit weird because you could’ve gave the state some more time to adjust to the new law but I think they didn’t want to change that law in the first place.

With the House approving this bill, do you think they will ever go back to the ordinance that was passed a year ago?

I think they will change the bill in due time, but it will not be anytime soon because they don’t want to be placed in a bad position with the law. The house doesn’t like drugs led alone marijuana. The image of marijuana makes them feel some type of way. It will be back maybe in three or four years but it will not be this year or next year.

How do you feel about other states legalizing marijuana?

It’s amazing and very great for our country because marijuana isn’t something that would hurt the community. The House of Representatives in Tennessee thinks that the community would be affected in a negative way, but what these other states do is that they realize that this is a plant that harm absolutely no one at all. The states that legalized marijuana have made great changes to their city as a whole and that something I guess Tennessee doesn’t want to do.

Do you think TN will ever legalize marijuana?

No but maybe when I’m long gone because Tennessee doesn’t even want to decriminalize weed at all so legalizing it would be a miracle because they don’t want deal with the so-called backfire from that action if it happened. If it did become legal the state would be moving in the right direction to make this an great state and it would give us more residents from outside the state as well.

Do you think the House made a bad decision?

Of course, This was a move made based off just the image of marijuana being close to legal and they didn’t like that or want that. It’s crazy that they would think that but like I said before I was too good to be true and that something the House need to change as soon as possible and they did. They never liked marijuana from the first place, that’s why many people feel like it was just a setup to block that law.

Draper Remembers 1960s

During the 1960s, the civil rights movement started to develop national attention due to their non-violent protesting influenced by Martin Luther King Jr. and many more activist along the way. King, however, was the face of the civil rights movement during that time as he fought for African American’s right, which caused tension between them and whites.

            During the 1968, King visited Memphis as Sanitation Workers began to strike against the Memphis Department of Public Works demanding recognition from their companies, better wage, and better safety. King led a citywide march for the work stoppage and the demonstration of their American right.

  However, that march was ruined by cops using water hose, and dogs that would attack those who were March alongside Martin Luther King Jr. Due to that, Southern Christian Leader Conference leaders committed to their unity and nonviolent protest, King returned for another March, which would be schedule for April 5. Unfortunately, April 4^th, King would be assassinated as he stepped out of his Lorraine Motel to join his peers for dinner.

Higher Calling

With the Memphis Tigers playing their best football in the programs history, Coach Mike Norvell has become one of the hottest names on the potential market in college football.

Norvell’s Tigers started the season with three straight wins including an upset vs. #23 ranked UCLA at the time. After an embarrassing 13-40 loss to UCF, the Tigers stormed back to win six straight games, which included wins over conference powerhouses Navy and Houston, which was enough to give Memphis a spot in the Top 25.

“Anytime you have success people nationally, are going to talk about what you’re doing,” Norvell said in a news conference last Monday.

The Tigers are currently ranked number 17^th in the country with their last regular season game against East Carolina Saturday. Last week, The Tigers won the American West division by defeating SMU 66-45 clinching their first conference championship berth in programs history.

However, With Coach Norvell having such a great season, it is very common for rumors of a new coaching jobs for other coaches who are succeeding at up and coming programs especially when the powerhouse programs like Baylor, Arkansas, Florida, and Tennessee are having losing season and firing their Head Coaches.

 

“People are talk about Top 25 and things like that and those are positive things, I sure don’t want to see the other side of things,” said Norvell.

Norvell came to Memphis as a first time head coach in the beginning of 2016 winning eight games setting the record for number of wins by a first year coach in the program. Currently, Norvell is 16-6 with only two losses to out of conference teams. Players appreciate Norvell’s efforts.

“He’s a great coach,” said Redshirt Freshman Cornerback Jacobi Francis. ‘He came with a plan and we’re making it happen every week.” ‘He’s turning the program around and making sure we remain focus on the task at hand and that’s winning the game.”

If Norvell leaves, he would not be the first time Memphis has seen their coach move on to another program. Virginia Tech Head Coach Justin Fuente left Memphis after three seasons. Which in the 2015 season, the Tigers started 8-0 with an upsetting victory over ranked Ole Miss and finished the season at 9-3.

Daily Helmsman Sports Reporter Abigail Warren said the fallout from Fuente’s departure never happened.

“When Fuente left everyone thought things would be awful but Memphis is projected to have their best season this year so teams want him just as much,” Warren said.

Warren said money is one reason Norvell may leave.

“If he stay, he’d build a dynasty, but Memphis doesn’t have the money that big SEC school have to offer him so there a big potential chance he could leave.”

Jacobi Francis runs down the field during kickoff during the Tulsa game.

Mike Norvell and Jacobi Francis celebrate victory over UCLA. (Photo by Aossicated Press)

Human Of Memphis

“My views on the police are that everyone deserves to be treated equally no one can be treated differently than the rest based off skin color or wealth it’s not fair. For the most part, there are police officers out there that do there job but there are some taking advantage of their power and position. Every police officer should know the difference between right and wrong, whose bad and whose not. It’s simply, but some make it very hard and complex.”- Jacob Grissom

“My stands on the police are very common because I’ve been in situations where my skin tone has played a very big factor in my encounters with the police. The police are here to protect and make sure everyone is treated equal rather than just letting some be able to do things that other simply cannot do. We have to make our police system stronger as a whole simply because we need to be protected, all races not just one race. That’s not right…At all.” -Sheldon Brown

“My perception of the police is very crazy because I’ve had good situation with the police and I’ve had very bad situations with the police. I don’t understand why some police officers think it’s okay to treat one like they’re just a negative to this earth when they’ve just went over the speeding limit by two MPH. Some men and women in blue do the right thing and treat every indivual with respect but there are that other side of police that are ready and willing to be evil.”- Brooke Robble

“My experiences with the police have been very weird honestly because sometimes my skin color has almost gotten me in bad places and that’s simply wrong. I respect the police and what they do but there is no way treating people of the opposite skin tone differently when they haven’t even broken the law and to murder them it’s crazy and out of control. When I seen my peers be treated the way they were it was crazy to be around and see with my own eyes but that how the system is and it’s not right.”

“The police have always been odd to me because of the things I’ve seen my friends go through with them everyday. How they respond to certain calls, when they beat another person when that person is clearly on the ground surrendering. It’s insane to see and their needs to be a change immediately. Once that change happens the world will become better people would be alive rather than dying or ending up severely injured.” -Clentis Jennings

“The police make it hard for us to have peace sometimes because with their actions it divides us into two and it shouldn’t be that way. With the US being as crazy as it is now, you would think the police would try to make sure everyone would be treated the same regardless of political views or class but it’s kind of the complete opposite. When that flips and becomes the other way around the world will definitely be a better place.” – Arthur Maulet

A Festival Filled with Love

 

For Brandy Richardson a day full of headache, exhaustion, and hard work paid off as she and many others set up hundreds of booths during the 29^th annual Cooper Young Festival.

“It was simply amazing, from the food to the customers to the art and music I loved everything about it,” said Richardson, a local artist who makes numerous pieces of art for Helen B Designs.

“It took a lot of work getting here from the painting to simply setting up the booth. I was extremely exhausted and my head was throbbing but in the end it was all worth it. I had an amazing time.”

During this day, many Memphians and people across the country gather on the street of Cooper St. and Young Ave. for the Cooper Young Festival. For almost 30 years, the Festival has served as one of the most attended Festivals in Memphis bringing over thousands of people along with music, and art by variety of people from across the world.

“This year, we expect more than 130,000 people. It’s remarkable how the festival has grown,” said Tamara Cook, executive director of the Cooper-Young Business Association

The Festival started with 25 vendor but has now stretched to 435 vendors according to Cook.

One of those vendors was Brandy Richardson, who’s a creator for Helen B. Designs, which has a range of artwork from paintings to serving trays. After only two years of work, her paintings have opened up doors she never imagined.

Richardson finished the festival reaching not only a personal goal but also her sales goal, gaining customers left and right.

One customer, Joshua Lee, 21, was one of Richardson’s customers who, attends the event every year. He likes the atmosphere and great things on sale.

“I love this time of the year,” Lee said. There’s great food, great art, and great people all on one street.”

During the festival Lee shops at numerous vendors, however something about Richardson’s work struck his eye.

“The coloring on her artwork was so unique and different I had to buy something from her booth. It was too creative,” said Lee.

Braendon Prude, another customer at Richardson’s booth who has never been to the festival before but heard about the event in class at the University of Memphis.

“It was very weird,” Prude said

“I never seen so much stuff on one street like that before so when I started shopping I was a kid with a bowl of candy,” said Prude.

Malorie Wheeler sitting at her Bawdy Bar Booth at the Cooper-Young Festival

Brandy Richardson, 25, standing at her first booth at The Cooper Young Festival.

Live Tweeting (Women’s National Basketball Championship)

• Coming off one of the biggest upsets in College Women’s basketball, Mississippi State had their hands full facing No.1 seed and conference champion South Carolina losing 55-67 for the National Championship on April 2, 2017.
   🎌@calinooga
  This will be the first time since 2008 an SEC team has won a women’s national championship #MJ3150

  

  🎌@calinooga

  Both teams will be looking to claim their first women NCAA title as tipoff starts in less than a minute #MJ3150

   This was the first national title game for both teams so the first quarter wa

  full of fouls and missed shots. However, South Carolina started to get to the line after Mississippi State took an early lead. The Gamecocks shot eight of their 22 free throws in the first quarter making all eight and finsihing the game making 17 out of the 22 at the charity line. The first quarter ended with the Game cocks leading 18-14.

  

  🎌@calinooga

  South Carolina is getting the line early taking shooting six free throws already. #MJ3150

  

  🎌@calinooga

  tit for tat game so far as South Carolina shoot another pair of free throw making the score 18-14 at the end of the first quarter #MJ3150
  The second quarter nothing changed for South Carolina as they continued to get to the free throw and play strong defense on the other end. As for the Bulldogs, the ball seemed to be hard to get in the basketball for majority of team especially for  junior point guard Morgan William. William didn’t score until seven minutes into the second quarter.
   This was just one of the Bulldogs’ problems as the Gamecocks started to get player in foul trouble causing Mississippi State to put in some players early than expected.
  On the other hand, South Carolina and starting forward Aja Wilson started to pick up the pace and push the lead from four to ten with free throws and shots around the rim. The Gamecocks closed the half up 36-26.

  

  🎌@calinooga

  South Carolina has taken ten free throws going 8-10 at the free throw line and shooting 50% from the field #MJ3150

  

  🎌@calinooga

  MSST already has two starters with two fouls #MJ3150

  

  🎌@calinooga

  Williams finally scores her first two points making the game 16-23 in the second quarter with 6:49 to go. #MJ3150

  

  🎌@calinooga

  Aja Wilson is playing very efficiently right now going 3-3 from the field blocking one shot and grabbing two steals. #MJ3150

  

  🎌@calinooga

  South Carolina keeps a comfortable lead at the half leading 36-26 #MJ3150
   Coming out of half time the Gamecocks began to start looking like a team who’s won a title before as they turned at ten point lead into a 14 point lead quickly. However, Mississippi State began to show a little bit of life after begin down almost 15 pints midway in the third quarter.  The Bulldogs’ could only cut the lead to four but the Gamecocks finished the third quarter up 52-44.
  
  🎌@calinooga

  South Carolina is starting to put there foot on the petal as the score increases 42-28 #MJ3150

  

  🎌@calinooga

  Aja Wilson and Co. have dominated the boards beating the bulldogs in rebounds 14-24. #MJ3150

  

  🎌@calinooga

  MSST brings the lead to within nine #MJ3150

  

  🎌@calinooga

  MSST is now down five as Morgan William starts to play like her usual self #MJ3150
   The fourth quarter seemed to be South Carolina’s best quarter of the entire game as they began to take the game into their own hands ending the game on a 12-2 run. Although, the Bulldogs started to put points on the board it simply wasn’t enough as Aja Wilson took over the game on both ends of the court. Wilson finished the game with 23 points and 10 rebounds, but didn’t really show dominance until the fourth quarter. Along with Wilson, Allisha Gray also finished the game with a double double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Gamecocks claimed their first national championship in women’s basketball but this was only the beginning for Coach Dawn Staley as she also was named the Head Coach for the USA Women’s Basketball team months before the tourney.

   

  On the other side, the Bulldogs’ will always be remembered as they were the only team to beat UCONN ending their streak at 111 wins. This wasn’t the main goal for their season but no one expected them to be in the national championship. Mississippi State knocked off two No.1 seeds , Baylor and UCONN, but couldn’t beat the third No.1 seed. This loss put Head Coach Vic Shaefer at an 0-9 record versus South Carolina.

  

  🎌@calinooga

  Aja Wilson is starting to dominate scoring two straight buckets. She now has 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks. TIMEOUT MSST #MJ3150

  #MJ3150

  

  🎌@calinooga

  Aja Wilson now has a double-double with 10 rebounds and 23 points#MJ3150

  

  🎌@calinooga

  Emotions are at a all time high for the Gamecocks as this is the first title for their program #MJ3150

   

  

  🎌@calinooga

  “We faced so much adversity” – Aja Wilson #MJ3150

  

  🎌@calinooga

  Final score: MSST 55-67 SCAR #MJ3150

Since the Calipari’s Departure, University of Memphis basketball program has seen little NBA success

 

By Seametrus Battle

November 23, 2016

The Memphis men’s basketball program has produced 16 NBA players since 2000, which is less than some of the top schools in the country but still far more than most Division 1 basketball schools.

But just one of those players came out in past seven years since the departure of head coach John Calipari in 2009, leaving some to wonder whether the U of M is ever going to again be a pipeline to the NBA.

“No one wants to play for a program that put no one in the NBA and loses games,” said Trent Young, 21, Memphis. “We need to start producing better players before we become a school that rarely have great NBA prospects.”

“It seems like after Will Barton we hit a wall and stop having first or second round caliber players come through the program” said Young.

The only player in the NBA who played for the Tigers in the past seven years is Will Barton, who is now a member of the Denver Nuggets.

Compared to the top five schools with the most alumni in the NBA, Memphis trails the fifth school (North Carolina) by a total of nine players currently in the NBA. Those top five school are Kentucky (39 players, currently 26), Duke (31 players, currently 20), Kansas (29, currently 15), UCLA (28 players, currently 13), and North Carolina (26 players, currently 13). However since former head Coach Josh Pastner took over the program hasn’t been in the same conversation as those top teams.

 

With players like Penny Hardaway and Lorenzen Wright seeing great success entering the league in 1994, and 1995; many would think that the following their years that there would be the same or better player to come through the program.

Especially with John Calipari as Head Coach bringing in elite talent like Derrick Rose Chris Douglas Roberts, and Joey Dorsey. It was just that until Coach John Calipari left for the University of Kentucky since then it has been the complete opposite as there has been no University of Memphis basketball players drafted since Will Barton in 2012 leaving a four year streak of no Memphis player drafted. In those four years, Kentucky has had 13 players drafted, Duke having 10 players drafted.

John Calipari brought elite talent and NBA caliber players to Memphis. One of those players was Derrick Rose won the 2010-2011 NBA Most valuable player, injuries and inconsistent play has pushed him out of the conversation and even moved him to another franchise. Another player was Tyreke Evans who’s currently playing for the New Orleans Pelicans entering his seventh year in the NBA. Evans has had a decent career winning the 2010 Rookie of the Year award. Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans were the last two Calipari recruited players that would attended the University of Memphis.

“It kind of sucks to see that there absolutely no University of Memphis basketball player with a ring” said 20-year-old U of M student, and Memphian Patrick Smith.

“Memphis players do so well in college then it’s like they get to the NBA and forget how to play basketball,” Smith said. Patrick Smith is currently a junior, but has been following the Tigers since the ninth grade.

“I know soon there will be someone that will put Memphis on the map as far as alumni but right now it’s not looking to good.” Smith said.

Will Barton is the only player out of the three that was recruit by Coach Pastner. Barton is entering his fourth year in the NBA playing for the Denver Nuggets at age 25.

Barton has made a smooth transition in the NBA but he is the last Memphis player to make a roster and remain on it which was in 2012. After Barton, Chris Crawford, and DJ Stephens are the only former University of Memphis players that seen the NBA preseason.

Stephens is the most recent to be released from the Memphis Grizzles following domestic assault charges.

“I think the beginning of the Pastner era was fine. He recruited at a high level, but the last two season it really fell off and that did a lot of damage to the program,” said Sportswriter Chip Williams.

Austin Nicholas, who was a student athlete at the University of Virginia, was one of the top big men in collegiate basketball and the one of the best NBA prospect in college. Withc oaching mishaps and a year of no tournament, Nichols transferred to Virginia and recently kicked off the team. Followed after him was another NBA prospect Nick King a left- handed wingman who could also get down low whose now playing for the University of Alabama

In the past year there has been several of Josh Pastner era players who attempt to get into to the NBA, but failed. Joe Jackson, Geron Johnson, Shaq Goodwin, Chris Crawford, Adonis Thomas, and D. J Stephens have all tried out or made the NBA roster for a small second but ended up in the free agent pool and looking for a shot in the league.

However, Memphis has made changes to the basketball program hiring veteran coach Tubby Smith. Although he isn’t the strongest recruiter Smith brings great coaching skills and a lot of defense to the program.

“I think Tubby Smith will stabilize the program. The biggest hurdles he has is recruiting but there is an enormous amount of talent coming through Memphis.” said Williams

Tubby Smith was the Head Coach of the 1998 University of Kentucky team who finished the season National Champions. Smith is also one of the two coaches who has led five different teams to a NCAA tourney. The future look extremely bright for the University of Memphis but only time can tell where the program will go.

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Students’ thoughts on Police

Seametrus Battle

October 26, 2016

Tigers Blows Ten Point Lead In Saturday’s Thriller

Seametrus Battle

The Memphis Tigers lost 61-60 Temple at the FedEx Forum Feb. 7 in a game where the Tigers lead by 10 points in the second half only to be undone by a big run from the Owls.

Despite Shaq Goodwin’s 23 rebounds and Keren Johnson go-ahead layup with nine seconds; the Tigers just seemed to just not get back on defense as Josh Brown hit an off- the glass jumper to put the Owls up with 2.4 seconds left.

“We just handed them the game,” backup Power Forward Calvin Godfrey said, who finished with two points three rebounds, and a block. “I don’t know what happened to us on the last play it happened so fast.”

It was clear the Tigers gave up the game shooting only 22 for 58 from the field.

Nick King once starting Guard but entered as a reserve said. “Its crazy cause going into the second half it seemed like it was in the bag and we could keep playing and coasting but I guess not”.

From starting the game off on a 15-6 run to starting the second half on a 2-10 run by Temple, The Tigers got too comfortable with the lead according to some fans, King and Godfrey. Now it has them in the sixth spot in the conference standings with that loss. If the Tigers would have won, there would have been a four way tie for third place between Temple, Cincinnati, Connecticut, and Memphis.

Austin Nichols went down with an ankle injury which will put him out for two weeks. The injury occurred with six minutes on the clock. “Nichols would’ve made the ending different I think,” Godfrey said. Nichols was the leading scorer of the game with 17 points and also eight rebounds. The arena was in silence as he was moved off the court.

“We’ve to step it up before March if we want to be in,” King said.

The next game is Feb. 10 at East Carolina University, and the next home game is at 9 p.m. Feb. 20 at the FedEx Forum against Connecticut.