A lawsuit against Marriott filed by an Air Force airman alleges he woke up in his hotel room to be sexually assaulted by another man who snuck into his room. As if that’s not disturbing enough, the suspect has a lengthy record of being a repeat offender.
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How did the cops let him on the loose?
The unnamed plaintiff alleges back in April 2022, he had traveled from Mississippi to Charlotte, NC to complete his training. The suit says he checked into the Marriott located uptown on West Trade Street. Though, when he went to bed, he didn’t realize there was a malfunction with the self-locking door to his room. The latch never properly locked that night, he claims, leaving his room accessible as he slept.
That night was one of 85 times the police were called to the Marriott location over the past three years, per WSOC-TV. That was also only one of Peay’s many offenses.
This is not the first time Peay has been in trouble with the law, as WSOC-TV uncovered six of his mugshots from past arrests. It is unclear when each mugshot was taken and for what crimes, but records showed that he was previously charged with assaulting a campus police officer and ‘going armed to the terror of people.’
In North Carolina, a charge for going armed to the terror of people means that a suspect is armed with an ‘unusual or dangerous’ weapon with intentions of ‘terrorizing others,’ according to Gilles Law. Peay was arrested and charged in January 2023 with forced sex offense, larceny, breaking and entering and first-degree burglary.
He is still awaiting trial for those offenses, according to court records.
The lawsuit claims the hotel should’ve been aware the man’s hotel room door was faulty to ensure his safety and security. The plaintiff demands $160 million in unspecified damages from the hotel.
Marriott has yet to respond to the filing. Peay is currently in jail after being booked in July of 2023, according to Mecklenburg County Jail records.
Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.
2004 was a pivotal year in my life. Arguably, it’s the most significant year of my professional life; on my 25th birthday — June 3, 2004 —I published my first-ever blog post. From that point on, my life and career were never the same. While I maintained a regular day job, complete with a salary, benefits and paid time off, during the latter half of that year I began receiving opportunities to write for websites I’d previously spent most of my downtime reading. One of those spaces was Allhiphop.com, which in 2004, was one of the few hip-hop websites, and thus, a supremely popular online stop for all folks interested in the culture. Put a pin in this.
2004 was also a pretty significant year for indie hip-hop releases. March 23, 2004, is the day that one of the most classic albums in hip-hop was released, MF Doom and Madlib’s “Madvillainy,” but it was also the release date of another notable project: “Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition,” a collaborative album from rapper Murs and (at that time) new-ish on the scene producer, 9th Wonder. 9th Wonder is, of course, the producer of the vaunted North Carolina-based hip-hop group Little Brother. Murs was a rapper from the Los Angeles group, Living Legends, but I knew him from a separate collaborative album with rapper Slug (from the group Atmosphere). Slug and Murs formed a group called Felt and released “Felt: A Tribute to Christina Ricci” in 2002.
In 2004, and coming on the heels of his much-earned celebrity as a producer from Little Brother’s debut album, “The Listening,” and a placement on Jay-Z’s 2003 album, “The Black Album,” I was pretty much willing to listen to anything produced by 9th Wonder. I picked up “Madvillainy” and “Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition” on the same day, and both albums stayed in rotation for the entirety of the year (and years after, if I’m being honest). 9th Wonder’s signature production was amazing, but the thing that really stood out to me was the relatability of Murs, who despite rapping about a city I had yet to visit, and a life I wasn’t familiar with outside of movies centered in Los Angeles, dropped bars that made me feel like I could see and understand his life. I’ve always had a thing for everyman-style rappers; make no mistake, Murs (and rappers like Phonte and Blueprint from Soul Position) were lyricists of the highest order, but their storytelling and lyricism used references and ideas that felt familiar to me.
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Also, Murs has an absolute penchant for storytelling. The song “Walk Like a Man” was so cinematic that I remember thinking that somebody should take that concept and turn it into a short film, which he eventually did. Aside from the storytelling, the song has three parts, and the beat for the second part was one of the greatest beats I’d ever heard, and I still feel that way. 9th Wonder’s ability to craft an emotionally-charged beat perfectly fit Murs’ voice and, well, there’s a reason why this album was so highly rated in 2004. It’s an album full of interesting tales about life in Los Angeles as a rapper whose fanbase didn’t always match the folks whose lives would most relate to the content, something he spoke to directly on the album cut, “And This Is For…”
Because of a connection made through the blogging world, I was given my first opportunity to write a piece for Allhiphop.com in October 2004. And when I got my second chance the next month, that song was on my mindwhen I wrote an article for Allhiphop.com in November 2004. That second piece for the site was my chance to explore a topic on my mind: the way fans of hip-hop complained about everything and how the artists might receive that. The song “And This Is For…” played over and over as I wrote a piece titled “Hip Hop Confusion: And This Is For?” arguing that we as consumers and fans were never happy, and because of that, artists should simply make the music that best suited who they were at that point in life.
A decision I made in that piece further changed my trajectory. I put my email address at the end of it, and I got emails from rappers, managers, agents and people who read the piece and agreed and some wanted to work with me. Obviously the album itself didn’t change my life, but it did inspire my writing. I’ve long admired Murs’ ability to tell a relatable story. While I don’t write rap lyrics, rappers are often my go-to for inspiration because I was raised on and by hip-hop. And the song “And This Is For…” presented ideas I’d also been thinking about. And when I got the opportunity to create art that synthesized my thoughts with the topics, I did so. Is “Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition” a classic hip-hop record? Maybe not, but only because Murs wasn’t then a household name. The album is as good now as it was in 2004.
Murs and 9th Wonder collaborated on future projects and have both succeeded tremendously independently. That first project though, hit me at a time I was looking to find art that spoke to my development as a writer, and this album was one that I still look to as being foundational to my career. It helped me get onto Allhiphop.com and propel my career forward.
Now, I know who this is for.
Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio. He writes very Black things, drinks very brown liquors, and is pretty fly for a light guy. His biggest accomplishment to date coincides with his Blackest accomplishment to date in that he received a phone call from Oprah Winfrey after she read one of his pieces (biggest), but he didn’t answer the phone because the caller ID said: “Unknown” (Blackest).
Make sure you check out the Dear Culture podcast every Thursday on theGrio’s Black Podcast Network, where I’ll be hosting some of the Blackest conversations known to humankind. You might not leave the convo with an afro, but you’ll definitely be looking for your Afro Sheen! Listen to Dear Culture on TheGrio’s app; download it here.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is speaking out against the racists who called him the “DEI mayor” after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed earlier this week. The tragedy happened early Tuesday morning when a cargo ship lost power and crashed into the bridge.
Rep. Barbara Lee Says It’s Unfair To Ban TikTok & Defund UNRWA, A Holistic Approach Needed
There were six people presumed deceased, but the focus for certain conservative social media users—including Utah Rep. Phil Lyman and Florida congressional candidate Anthony Sabatini—was finding a way to blame diversity, equity and inclusion for the catastrophe.
On Wednesday, Scott sat down with MSNBC’s Joy Reid to discuss the online attacks. “I know, and we know, and you know very well that Black men—and young Black men in particular—have been the bogeyman for those who are racist and think that only straight, wealthy white men should have a say in anything,” he stated.
Scott also explained that he didn’t receive a special appointment to his position because of his race—he was literally elected to office. In fact, the 39-year-old politician served on the city council before becoming mayor in 2020. Scott won more than 70 percent of the vote.
“We’ve been the bogeyman for [racists] since the first day they brought us to this country, and what they mean by DEI in my opinion is duly elected incumbent,” he said.
“We know what they want to say, but they don’t have the courage to say the N-word, and the fact that I don’t believe in their untruthful and wrong ideology,” Scott continued.
“And I am very proud of my heritage and who I am and where I come from scares them, because me being at my position means that their way of thinking, their way of life of being comfortable while everyone else suffers is going to be at risk, and they should be afraid because that’s my purpose in life.”
Scott should be focusing on those impacted by the bridge collapse—not defending himself from racist trolls.
Kenan Thompson shared his perspective about the “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” documentary in an interview with Tamron Hall on her show Wednesday.
“It’s a tough subject. It’s tough for me because I can’t really speak on things that I never witnessed,” Thompson said on the talk show, according to Entertainment Weekly. “All these things happened after I left, basically. Dan [Schneider] wasn’t really on ‘Kenan & Kel’ like that. He got a ‘created by’ credit, but it was a different showrunner.”
Kenan Thompson, shown at a Bloomberg event in 2019 in New York, shared his perspective on the “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV” doc in an interview with Tamron Hall. (Photo: Clint Spaulding/Getty Images for Bloomberg)
While there, he also highlighted his new production company, Artists for Artists, and his long-running tenure on “Saturday Night Live,” plus promoted his new memoir, “When I Was Your Age: Life Lessons, Funny Stories & Questionable Parenting Advice From a Professional Clown.”
Thompson began his career as a young actor and comedian on Nickelodeon’s teenage sketch show, “All That.” He then starred in the sitcom “Kenan & Kel” alongside castmate Kel Mitchell. The two eventually became leads in the feature film “Good Burger,” which was also produced by Nickelodeon.
The “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” is a five-part docuseries that exposes the toxic work environment and details the allegations of on-set abuse and mistreatment from children’s TV producer Dan Schneider. Schneider is responsible for producing a variety of Nickelodeon kid shows, including “Drake & Josh,” “iCarly,” “Victorious,” “All That,” “The Amanda Show,” “Kenan & Kel” and many others that aired in the ’90s and early ’00s.
“It’s a good thing that the doc is out, and it’s putting things on display that need to be, stories that need to be told for accountability’s sake,” Thompson told Hall. “But it’s definitely tough to watch because I have fond memories of that place. I have fond memories of my co-stars. To hear that they’ve gone through terrible things like that, it’s really tough.”
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Thompson said that he had not watched the documentary, but he extended his love and support for the victims it features.
“All that negativity kind of started happening outside of our tenure [at Nickelodeon],” he continued. “I wasn’t really aware of a lot of it, but my heart goes out to anyone that’s been victimized or their families.”
“Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” will air a fifth bonus episode, “Breaking the Silence,” on Sunday, April 7, on Investigation Discovery.
During their conversation, Hall mentioned that her team reached out to Nickelodeon for a comment stating that the network was investigating all allegations. Thompson chimed in, urging Nickelodeon to do its due diligence.
“Well, investigate more,” Thompson said. “It’s supposed to be a safe space. It’s supposed to be a safe place for kids. So to hear all that is like, ‘How dare you.’”
A new podcast video series is scheduled to debut on the digital airways thanks to revolutionary cooperation between Modern Health, a leading worldwide workplace mental health platform, and Naomi Osaka’s Emmy Award-nominated media firm, Hana Kuma. Titled “Can’t Wait To Hear From You,” the series promises to delve deep into the psyche of high-achieving individuals, shedding light on their daily connection with their inner voice, pivotal moments shaping their self-expression, and effective mental health strategies used to nurture their identity.
The series boasts two rotating hosts, featuring New York Times bestselling author Luvvie Ajayi Jones and renowned YouTube influencer Franny Arrieta. “I am so excited to be officially launching Can’t Wait to Hear from You,” expressed Naomi Osaka. “It’s such an impactful series where we openly talk about mental health. Since speaking out about my own experiences, I’ve felt so much empowerment in my vulnerability and I’ve received so much love and support from my close circle, my fans, and Modern Health. I want others to feel the same, and I hope this video podcast series will encourage them to have open discussions and feel less shame.”
Alyson Watson, founder & CEO of Modern Health, echoed Osaka’s sentiments, highlighting the ongoing mission to destigmatize mental health. “Mental health as a topic has always faced stigma, and that is something we are on a mission to change,” stated Watson. “By showcasing vulnerable and intimate conversations with high-profile business leaders, sports personalities, actors, and activists, we aim to normalize this topic and underscore the power of aligning your inner voice with your personal purpose.”
The series is scheduled to premiere on Thursday, March 28, on Hana Kuma’s YouTube channel, featuring entrepreneur, author, and former Chief Marketing Officer at Netflix, Bozoma Saint John, as the inaugural guest. Future episodes will welcome a diverse array of guests, including actor and activist Kendrick Sampson, gymnast Katelyn Ohashi, entrepreneur Mike Cherman, founder of Lyons Wines Chris Lyons, and a special edition episode hosted by Osaka featuring the United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy.
This initiative marks a continuation of Modern Health’s partnership with Naomi Osaka. The company has previously launched a series of children’s meditations developed and narrated by the tennis champion, covering important topics such as conquering overwhelming feelings and applying skills like self-compassion. Osaka was also featured in Modern Health’s first-ever Family Huddle series, designed to empower families and caregivers to discuss strategies for building positive mental health habits.
For more information, visit Modern Health to learn more about this groundbreaking endeavor.
Prime Video just dropped the trailer for “Them: The Scare,” and it looks like creator and executive producer Little Marvin has some new tricks up his sleeve.
Pam Grier (left) plays Athena and Deborah Ayorinde (right) stars as Dawn star in “Them: The Scare,” which debuts on Prime Video next month.(Photo courtesy of Amazon Prime)
The first edition, “Them: Covenant,” was met with mixed reviews when it premiered in 2021; the performances from its stars like Deborah Ayorinde and Shahadi Wright Joseph were nothing short of spectacular.
The second installment of the horror anthology series will return to Los Angeles and Ayorinde returns in a lead role. This time, however, we’ve fast-forwarded to 1991, and she’s playing LAPD homicide detective Dawn Reeve, who is assigned to a new case: the gruesome murder of a foster home mother that has left even the most hardened detectives shaken. Navigating a tumultuous time in Los Angeles, a city on the razor’s edge of chaos, Dawn is determined to stop the killer. But as she draws closer to the truth, something ominous and malevolent grips her and her family.
New additions to the cast include Pam Grier as Athena and Grammy-nominated musician and actor Luke James as Edmund Gaines. Joshua J. Williams, Jeremy Bobb, Wayne Knight, Carlito Olivero, Charles Brice, and Iman Shumpert will round out the cast.
In an interview with theGrio in 2021, Little Marvin explained why he took the approach he did, what kind of story he wanted to tell and why the trauma depicted was necessary.
“The show wasn’t interested in coddling or placating anybody. And, by the way, I mean white and Black. It wasn’t interested in doing that. I think a lot of things coddle, and I think there’s a time and a place for that. We weren’t particularly interested in giving you the easy way out because so often in life, we don’t get that easy way out,” he explained.
“We never set out to make a show about trauma, about Black trauma. We set out to make a show with Black folks that centered Black folks, that was complex, that was nuanced, that was emotionally rich,” he continued. “But the show was always about navigating the terror of whiteness. It was not about exploring Black trauma. It was about navigating the terror of whiteness and particularly the terror of white supremacy in this country.”
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The series that featured Ashley Thomas, Allison Pill, and Anika Noni Rose had some folks singing its praises while others were up in arms over the magnitude of brutality inflicted on the show’s Black characters.
According to Little Marvin, the gruesome acts of violence we saw in “Them: Covenant” were intentionally awful because that’s the truth about the era it was exploring.
“I think it’s time we called the Jim Crow South what it has always been: It was a domestic terror regime,” he says. “That’s what it was, plain and simple. We’re talking about a place where lynching was a pastime, a lynching was a sport and a spectacle. This is the history of the country. I don’t think it’s our business as artists to whitewash that history. I think it’s our business as artists, personally speaking, is to bear witness. It’s my job to bear witness.”
“Them: The Scare” will hit Prime Video on April 25.
With mere hours before Bey is set to usher all her U.S. fans into her country era with her forthcoming album “Cowboy Carter,” fans on the other side of the world are already venturing into the new music territory and putting out spoilers as to what we can expect.
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Thanks to listeners in Australia and New Zealand, folks over in the western hemisphere of the world now have a better idea of what Bey’s #YeeHawAgenda will entail. And because we know y’all like spoilers just as much as we do, here’s a rundown of everything we’ve gathered…
Tracklist and Features
On Wednesday, the “Texas Hold’em” singer dropped what many believed to have been the tracklist for her upcoming album. Bey posted a graphic to her official Instagram with no caption (hence why it was initially hard to decipher, but it was later confirmed via multiple outlets.) But what remains to be a mystery is the exact type of mediums these titles are. Essentially, which ones are actual songs and which ones are interludes—and which of these have features on them, if any?
Well thanks to the New Zealand/Australia Beyhive, we now know that artists such as Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Willie Jones, Willie Nelson and Tanner Adell will be featured artists on the song. See their specific songs below:
II MOST WANTED feat. Miley Cyrus
LEVII’S JEANS feat. Post Malone
SPAGHETTII feat. Shaboozey
SMOKE HOUR II feat. Willie Nelson
DOLLY P feat. Dolly Parton
YAYA feat. Willie Jones
BLACKBIIRD feat. Tanner Adell
Brand Engagement/Involvement
Naturally, with anything Bey does, it causes conversation and presents a chance for other people and brands to hop on board and capitalize on the momentum. In the case of “Cowboy Carter,” several brands have already put on their riding boots either in direct connection to the album or inspired actions based off the album. Chief among those brands is Uber, who teased a forthcoming announcement slated to drop on Thursday. The big reveal? 16% (up to $16 off) of Uber rides for those headed to Cowboy Carter listening parties and the like. The promotion likely inspired by Bey’s single “16 Carriages” and runs through 3/28-3/30. However, some fans online were severely underwhelmed with the offering.
“I’m about to download Lift [sic], y’all just pissed me off,” wrote one user.
Aside from the rideshare rodeo, other brands like Levi’s Jeans have momentarily changed the spelling of their iconic brand to pay homage to the track “”Levii’s Jeans.”
Even kids toy brand Strawberry Shortcake has entered her Yee-Haw era.
Screenshot: Instagram/Strawberry Shortcake
Target has also joined in on the Bey’s cowboy hype by selling an exclusive edition of “Cowboy Carter”, which is set to include an additional bonus track, original demo and new artwork and poster. It will go live on Friday once the album has officially been released.
Of course, this won’t be all the goodness that accompanies this album, so stay tuned and keep your eyes peeled!
In an effort to highlight the people who are leading colleges and universities across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to Morris Brown College and did an interview with Syquan Hobes the 2023-2024 Student Government Association president.
The position of SGA president is a highly respected role and there is a special pride that one takes in being elected by their peers to lead. Hobes, who is majoring in Business Organizational Management & Leadership, is from Warner Robins.
We interviewed Syquan Hobes, and talked to him about his position, goals, future and what it means to hold this type of leadership position in 2023-2024.
Read the full interview below.
What is the biggest thing you’ve learned as an SGA president so far?
The biggest thing I have learned as being an SGA President is that balancing responsibilities is very important. Being an SGA President especially at an HBCU is a huge task that will take up most of your time which means you have little opportunity to make sure your on top of your work as a student. It’s a huge honor to hold this position at your school, but you have to make sure you’re prioritizing yourself and things you have to do personally in order to always stay ahead!
What made you decide to attend Morris Brown College for undergrad?
I decided to attend Morris Brown College because of the rich history that follow behind the school. Morris Brown College is a very sacred and phenomenal place to go no matter what career field you decide to choose. From losing our accreditation many years ago to gaining it back 2 years from now shows the great drive and ambition that Morris Brown has that I just had to be apart of! The great administration and awesome alumni is just a plus.
How has Morris Brown College molded you into the person you are today?
Morris Brown College molded me into the person I am today by teaching me how to be a responsible adult and preparing me so well for the real world. Under the great leadership of our President Dr. Kevin James and our Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services Dr. James Allen, they have both did an phenomenal job molding me into a professional and successful, young black educated man!
What specific initiatives have you headed up this year (or are planning) and how do you think they will improve the school and surrounding community?
Some specific initiatives I have been working on or planning to work on includes adding a easy tool for our students to apply to scholarships on a daily basis, making sure our students that stay in student housing away from campus have consistent transportation, and also making sure every student has every tool they need to be successful while at Morris Brown College
How is your SGA administration/school currently working on attending to the mental health of students?
We are currently identifying the issues that most of our students deal with while also creating more opportunities for our students that struggle mentally to feel comfortable with voicing themselves so we are able to help them effectively and efficiently.
What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership to me means responsibility, accountability, direction, and most importantly LEAD! As being a leader, you have to make sure you’re leading your people into the right direction at all times. Also being a leader means you have to practice what you preach. You cannot guide others or tell others how to do things when you’re not doing it yourself.
We now live in a digital world, what do you think schools need to do to represent themselves online in 2023/2024?
In order for schools to represent themselves online it’s very important for school’s to prioritize social media. Social media play a huge role and has a major influence in today’s world. Therefore, incorporating social media with the school’s success and everything else, will benefit in every way possible .
Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black students and college culture?
Watch The Yard gives HBCU’s and Black student the platform to not only highlight the success of our Black students, but also share the amazing stories and legacies that some of us share. Not a lot of media outlets and magazines touch on the success of our Black students and schools so it’s a huge deal that Watch The Yard continues to do what they do because if they don’t who will?
What do you plan on doing after graduation?
After graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I plan on pursuing my Mastor’s in Business Administration while also working for a major cooperation in the Atlanta Area.
We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Syquan Hobes for his work as the SGA president of Morris Brown College.
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Mariah The Scientist, rapper Young Thug’s girlfriend and musician, is at the center of controversy following accusations of a physical altercation with an Instagram model. A video circulating online shows the alleged assault, which occurred at Cavo Lounge in Buckhead, Atlanta.
The footage shows Mariah The Scientist in a conflict with a woman named Cleopatra, eliciting heated debate and interest among followers and viewers. While specifics about the encounter are scant, it has sparked a rush of debate and speculation across multiple internet platforms.
Mariah The Scientist got in a fight last night with rapper Cleotrapa in a club. pic.twitter.com/LwviPL7sSV
Initially, speculation circulated that the brawl was over Young Thug. According to The Neighborhood Talk, Mariah ran into the club and swung at Cleo. According to the outlet sources, Mariah was saying something, but the chaos and music made it difficult to hear. The witness believes Cleo won the battle despite Mariah’s apparent sneak attack.
Even with all the publicity, Mariah The Scientist has not responded to the incident or clarified what happened before the fight. Cleopatra has since limited her Instagram comments due to the attention that incident has garnered over night.
Stay tuned for updates as the story unfolds, and as more information becomes available regarding this developing situation.
In an effort to highlight the people who are leading colleges and universities across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to Alabama State University and did an interview with Landon Hale the 2023-2024 Student Government Association president.
The position of SGA president is a highly respected role and there is a special pride that one takes in being elected by their peers to lead. Hale, who is majoring in Rehabilitation Services, is from Birmingham, AL. He is a proud Spring 2023 initiate of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
We interviewed Landon Hale, and talked to him about his position, goals, future and what it means to hold this type of leadership position in 2023-2024.
Read the full interview below.
What is the biggest thing you’ve learned as an SGA president so far?
The biggest thing I have learned being SGA President is the work of our universities never stops. It is always something going on to be able to further our campuses further, whether it be with our academics, extracurriculars, or facilities. You truly have to remain dedicated for your entire term with the same high enthusiasm considering your student body is relying on you to make a change.
What made you decide to attend Alabama State University for undergrad?
I decided to attend Alabama State University, considering the specific specialized programs my university has.
How has Alabama State University molded you into the person you are today?
Alabama State University has helped mold me into a person I never imagined I would be. Coming to Alabama State University, I was the low-key quiet kid who would rather just be in the back. After about two weeks on campus of freshman year, I was very active and social. This is all due to the family that was created around me during that time. I blame Alabama State University for all of the success that I have achieved thus far in the previous three years all because of the tools and skills they have equipped me with.
What specific initiatives have you headed up this year (or are planning) and how do you think they will improve the school and surrounding community?
One major initiative I led this academic school year was a blanket drive during this past holiday season. This was a friendly competition between us and Tuskegee University SGA where we were able to raise over 1000 blankets to various homeless shelters and nursing homes around the Montgomery River Region. This initiative positively affected our surrounding communities by being able to provide essentials to individuals who may not have what is needed but also reminded them that people do think and care about them. This also caused both universities to get in the holiday spirit and remember we can always be a beacon of light in our communities.
How is your SGA administration/school currently working on attending to the mental health of students?
One of the biggest goals my administration has set forth was working to be able to implement mental health days on our university campus. This mental health day would be randomly selected each semester and classes would go virtually or canceled altogether. To this day, we would like to offer self-care amenities to students such as haircuts, manicures, yoga, massages, and more. Currently, we are still working to utilize this day in the future.
What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership to me is being able to lead in times when you are uncomfortable. Acting with integrity when no one else is watching you is a key component of leadership. The most vital piece of being a leader is being able to lead from the back, meaning making sacrifices to ensure the ones around you are succeeding as well.
We now live in a digital world, what do you think schools need to do to represent themselves online in 2023/2024?
In the digital world, schools have to represent themselves the same way online as they do in person. All of the same resources, classes, and activities now have to be offered virtually and face to ensure students are receiving the same quality of education and experience.
Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black students and college culture?
Watch The Yard is important to black students and college culture because it gives a platform for students to receive news, information, and spotlights within the HBCU community. This is imperative considering it gives one specific area to receive all of the information we may be seeking around our institutions in one location. Watch the Yard, is also something positive that may come across your feed as lot of times, you only receive the drama or negatives of the things that are occurring in the world we live in today.
What do you plan on doing after graduation?
After graduation, I plan on attending medical school and becoming a sports medicine physician. After a couple of years, I plan on opening my practice and mentoring upcoming physicians.
We at Watch The Yard would like to commend Landon Hale for his work as the SGA president of Alabama State University.
Share this on Facebook and help us highlight Landon Hale and Alabama State University.
