The All State

Yes, because people tend to check these social sites more than e-mail and this improves speed of communication.”

Megan Witty, freshman radiology technology major

To some extent, yes, but I also feel like these sites inhibit our communication with others. Instant messages are very different in comparison to real conversations with

peers.“

Zach Inman, sophomore biology major

Facebook allows people to contact each other after years of separation and keep in touch easily with people they already know. It’s very organized and personalized and

easily accessible.”

Olivia Ware, freshman psychology major

Facebook is useful for communicating with many people at once. Preferably, I only communicate with people I know using Facebook. The likelihood of someone

falsifying their information and remaining anonymous over the Internet is a very real possibility.”

Will Cothron, sophomore history major

Yes and no. They add immediacy, but make communication less formal and I feel like they cater to our generation. We are being raised to expect immediate

gratification.”

Victoria Buckner, freshman education major

I believe the ability to instantly communicate allows for people to get to know their fellow humans better and faster, thus allowing for more time for talking and

interaction.”

Geordan Goldtrap, junior english major

It improves communication by the simple fact that it’s faster. The world and society can send a message in seconds. It’s a great way to communicate.

Improving the way we interact is a different story. It makes us not able to have long conversations because of texting. We get used to talking to people through

electronics and when we are faced with a person we tend to be different. This affects people getting jobs because people are not used to confrontation and they cannot

handle conversations.”

James Eichel, sophomore history major

I chose radiology because I want to help people. I’ve had injuries in the past and I know what it’s like to go through that. I want to help others.”

Hallie McFall, sophomore radiology tech major

I had an economics teacher at the community college I went to. As a senior in high school he was my economics teacher. I took him and failed the class and didn’t think anything about it. In community college it was the one class that I connected with the most.”

Daniel Newton, junior business  major

I won’t say that I really have a major influence. I just like to talk and work with people. I’m a people person so that’s why I chose communication as my major.”

Leila Thompson, sophomore communication major

To choose physics, a lot of it just came from the faculty of the physics department here.”

Drew Kerr, junior physics major

I’ve always been into history. When I was five-years-old I read my sister’s eight grade history book before she did. I’ve always wanted to be a professor and educate people and teach them that history can be fun.”

Gene Blanchard, senior history major

want to be an engineer because I’m creative and I’m also good at math. So, put the two together and build some buildings.”

John Ohrt, freshman engineering technology major

The main thing that helped me pick the major I wanted to do was that I took a graphic design class because it was open and I had a lot of fun with it.”

Sydnee Allen, freshman graphic design major

My mother is my influence because she’s been in the medical field. She’s a surgical technician and I want to be an anesthesiologist.”

Latizhia Waters, sophomore pre-med major

Henderson Hill III, director of the African-American Center

HIV/AIDS remains a crisis in Black communities throughout the U.S. The continued severity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Black communities cannot be underestimated. Our challenge in 2011 is to stem the tide and save the lives of Black people locally, regionally, nationally and internationally!

For 11 years now, Feb. 7 has been designated as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). NBHAAD is a national HIV testing and treatment community mobilization initiative designed to encourage Blacks across the U.S. and Territorial Areas to get educated, get tested, get treated, and get involved with HIV/AIDS, as it continues to devastate Black communities. Currently, NBHAAD is directed, planned and organized by a group known as the Strategic Leadership Council who partners with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to mobilize communities and address specific issues in regards to local epidemics and best practices that will influence the course of HIV in Black communities across the country. Healthy Black Communities, Inc. serves as the NBHAAD 2011 Annual Chairperson and the organization responsible for coordinating communications, material development and dissemination, and brand management.

Public figures such as Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, Tony Dungy, Idris Elba, Kimberly Elise, Lance Gross, Hill Harper, Taraji P. Henson, Tom Joyner, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Ludacris, Master P, Tangi Miller, Patrik-Ian Polk, General Colin Powell, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Gloria Reuben, Romeo, Rev. Edwin Sanders, Tavis Smiley and Congresswoman Maxine Waters have all contributed their advocacy as spokespersons to this effort.

For 2011, we are mobilizing communities to be the voice and face. The theme for 2011 is “It takes a village to fight HIV/AIDS!” with the hopes that we challenge the mindset that Black people are disposable. We are asking Blacks all over to become the voice for change by submitting a mini-video through the website that is centered on one or all four of the objectives of NBHAAD — education, testing, involvement, and/or treatment. All people, regardless of lifestyle or HIV status, can and should get involved with spreading the HIV/AIDS message to their families and communities.

The APSU Wilbur N. Daniel African-American Cultural Center, in conjunction with Nashville CARES, will be providing FREE HIV/AIDS testing to all APSU students from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 7, 2011, in the AACC. There will be FREE food for those who get tested, as well as an opportunity to enter a drawing for a prize.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2011: Get educated! Get tested! Get involved! Get treated! For more information on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, log onto

I do have class on Wednesday, but luckily I have Thanksgiving at home, which is only 20 minutes away. Normally, I would be going to Mississippi, but because of work, I actually have to stay here for Thanksgiving.”
Nakita Meeks, junior public relations major

It really doesn’t affect me that much. The only problem I had with it was that my grandmother has to travel here to pick me up. But since I do have a late class, a class that’s around the afternoon, she pretty much has to pick me up at a later time and it does kind of conflict with it somewhat because I really can’t afford to miss any of my class.”
George Edwards, junior computer science major

It’s very, very stupid to have class on Wednesday because students won’t show up to class. I guarantee it.”
Eunwoo Lee, freshman undecided

Having classes on Wednesday just takes away from family time because I have to travel all the way back to Maryland, which is sixteen hours away. If I only had classes on Monday and Tuesday then I would have more time to travel home and spend time with family.”
Kirstian Caulley, sophomore special education major

I don’t get to go home as soon to see my dad. He just got back from Colorado; he’s in the military. I just have to wait until after my class on Wednesday to get to go and see him.”
Kasey Panczer, sophomore business major

I would assume so; it’s personal safety. I mean, especially how many people they have getting raped around campus or on campus. It’s not like people are spraying each other for fun.”
Gabe Hermes, sophomore international business major

I guess. Every woman and man deserves a line of protection. Pepper spraying is not as lethal as any other thing. So, I guess it should be [allowed].”
Jesse Newman, freshman biology major

Yes, because if someone is trying to attack you, you have something to defend yourself with.”
Rebecca Brown, freshman education major

I definitely think so, as self-defense. If someone is getting attacked, pepper spray [the attacker].”
Camille Dao, freshman pre-med/biology major

I do, because we had a rape incident, right? But if that person had pepper spray, she wouldn’t have [been attacked].”
Dajon Porter, freshman biology major

Definitely. I think it’s ridiculous that we are not allowed to because I am not trying to get raped. I need to have a way to defend myself.”
Kelsey Stevens, freshman art education major

I think marijuana should be legalized because alcohol and cigarettes are legal so why not marijuana? It does less to you and it’s never killed anybody. It makes you relax in a way alcohol and cigarettes don’t.”
Stephanie Martin, alumni

No, I don’t. It’s being pushed for all the wrong reasons. I’ve read into a lot of the material and there are reasons to support it, but none of the good reasons are what are being thrown out there.”
Daniel Johnson, freshman music major

Yeah and no. Yes because it won’t be a problem, people won’t keep going to jail. No, because they’ll put taxes and it will have no value to it.”
Rodney Jackson, freshman electrical engineering major

Yes, because it would give the states taxation and better income. If people are just going to do it, let them do it. You get more money by taxing them and it’s better for society.”
Anthony Stabile, freshman business major

No, I don’t think marijuana should be legalized because it messes with the mind and it’s just pointless.”
Sarah Williams, freshman biology major

I don’t think so just because there would be a high likelihood of people under the influence driving.”
Diane Jackson, sophomore English major