News

Political Science Profs React to Trump’s Profane Comments About Other Countries

March 2, 2018 Elizaveta Ivanova Leave a comment

On Thursday, January 12, The Washington Post broke the news that President Trump made derogatory comments (which The Voice has decided not to print due to their profanity) about El Salvador, Haiti and some African countries while negotiating a bipartisan immigration deal. The derogatory words shocked public all over the world. But what did the President Trump mean by saying that?

We asked the professors of Political Science of Fayetteville State University Dr. Kofi Johnson and Dr. Ngozi Kamalu to express their points of view on this ambiguous issue.

The Voice: What do you think about this issue?

Dr. Kofi Johnson: I think my perspective on this situation is not conventional to a lot of people, but as someone from Africa I think he is honest. He wants African leaders to clean up their countries. Some people may say Mr. Trump is derogatory, but I look at it from another angle. If somebody gives me a chocolate that contains poison, and he says: “I am giving you this chocolate, it contains poison. If you want to eat it, eat it.”- I like such a person. But if a person gives me a chocolate knowing that it is poisonous, without telling me that it is poisonous – that is the type of person I don’t like. I believe that Donald Trump has been honest to tell African leaders that they cannot continue like this, they should keep their countries good to reduce migration to other countries. Even if they do, they will probably go there only for vacations, but not for a living. As Trump said, people from Norway didn’t migrate because they have beautiful country with good lifestyle that every country wants to imitate.

V: Do you think that by saying that Mr. Trump encourages these countries to develop themselves, so that they become better places for living?

KJ: Yes, that is the way I look at it. I don’t look at it negatively. These countries do not prosper because the leaders are corrupt there. That is the reason why people are running away from Africa to come and settle in a place where their talents are not recognized.

V: Donald Trump is known to use impolite expressions, so some people believe that it was said in a fit of frustration. They consider it as a way of showing his concern about the future of the United States. What do you think about it?

KJ: I believe he said those words because of frustration and he doesn’t know how to convey this message to the African leaders. Trump was elected to make America great, to do good for America. Trump wasn’t elected to bear the burdens of other countries. He was elected to make sure that unemployment is reduced in his country, to make sure that the Americans are living better lives. He wasn’t elected to go out to make the world beautiful for everyone; he wants to make the world good for America, that’s what he is preaching. To me, there are only few people that like him. No matter what he says, even if he gives millions to third-world countries, they will still hate him. Trump doesn’t have this kind of charisma to be liked by people because he tells what he thinks about everything. He isn’t diplomatic. He doesn’t laugh and smile so that you can love him, he just wants to have the work done. He believes he knows what he wants, he focuses on what he wants for Americans, and he doesn’t focus on what he wants for the world. It is America first.

The Voice: First of all, I would like to ask you if you have heard about Donald Trump’s comments about El Salvador, Haiti and some African countries regarding bipartisan immigration deal?

Dr. Ngozi Kamalu: Yes, I have heard about Donald Trump’s comments about El Salvador, Haiti and some African countries. We need Haitians in America because: they need special protection as victims of January 2010 earthquake; Haitian farmers participate and provide needed labor and workforce in H-2A and H-2B federal guest working program; Haitian citizens in the U.S. provide critical skills as doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, and architects in American service delivery establishments; and employed Haitian immigrants pay taxes.

NK: I think Donald Trump made these derogatory statements not out of frustration or mistake but in a calculating manner. He is known to exhibit racist tendencies. For examples, the President said after the August 2017 White supremacist demonstration in Charlottesville Virginia: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence, on many sides”. By so doing he not only equated the White supremacists with counter and anti-discrimination agitators but condemned any actions and reactions against white supremacy.

V: As a specialist of political science, how do you think, how will this incident affect the relationships between United States and other countries?

NK: Donald Trump’s utterances and policies will damage U.S. relations with other countries, particularly those in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, who view their countries, cultures and citizens insulted. Furthermore, such countries would believe that Trump policies would make their citizens in America vulnerable as well as victims of discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity and nationality.

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Arts and Culture, News

A Year In Rewind for Hip Hop

March 2, 2018 Ja'Shawn Steward-Johnson Leave a comment

It seems that with every passing year it gets harder and harder for the Grammys (and everyone else) to ignore the genre of hip hop and rap. For years, the genre had to claw for respect from the Grammy voters. Who could forget the controversy of 2014 of Macklemore winning Grammys over Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, and Jay Z?

Hip Hop/Rap has faced a lot of criticism over the years, some of which is fair. 2017 was no different as hip hop/rap continues to evolve with the times. Despite everything, it is clear rap is not going anywhere anytime soon. So without further ado, here are the biggest storylines out of the genre of hip hop of the year:

1. RAP MOST CONSUMED GENRE: According to Nielsen Stats, hip hop/R&B music surpassed rock/pop music as the most consumed genre of music in the U.S. in 2017. Hip hop/R&B was streamed more than the genres of rock and pop combined this year. According to Billboard, Kendrick Lamar’s critically acclaimed “DAMN.” was the top album of 2017. 5 of the top 10 albums by Billboard were either rap or R&B with albums, with The Weeknd, Drake, Post Malone, and the Migos claiming top spots. Today’s rappers are the trendsetters, tastemakers, and the rock stars of the 21st century. Rappers like the Migos, Drake, and Cardi B function doubly as rappers and pop stars with their
worldwide appeal. As rapper Lil Uzi Vert asserts, “I’m not a rapper, I’m a rock star.”

2. YEAR OF THE MUMBLE RAP: The biggest storyline was the rise of “mumble rap.” The sub-genre refers to the lack of lyricism that some rappers today have. So-called mumble rappers such as Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yatchy, Playboi Carti, and Lil Pump have made their place known among the Billboards Hot 100 and have amassed large fanbases.
The most famous example of mumble rap is Lil Pump’s “Gucci Gang,” that is peaked at #3 on the Billboard’s Hot 100 while rapping the phrase “Gucci Gang” nearly 50 times in the two minute song.

3. OLD VS. NEW: Mumble rap has been legitimized by most of the younger generation who have embraced the catchy tunes, much to the chagrin of the older generation of fans and artists. However, mumble rap was not all 2017 had to offer, music-wise. 2017 should also be noted for the return of adult contemporary hip hop. Projects from A
Tribe Called Quest, Eminem, and Run The Jewels were just a few good albums catering to the older demographic of hip-hop. The biggest album in the adult contemporary hip hop genre, however, belongs to Jay Z. Dealing with grown-man topics such as infidelity, financial literacy, and personal growth, Jay Z’s album 4:44 might just be the unofficial Black man’s guide to Black excellence.

4. WOMEN OF RAP: Not to be outdone, female rappers have rose to the forefront of the genre. Cardi B has been making history left and right after the success of her single, Bodak Yellow, which earned two Grammy nominations. North Carolina artist Rapsody earned a Grammy nomination for her album Laila’s Wisdom. And alas, the diss song Shether, lit the music community ablaze, as well as the beef between Remy Ma and Nicki Minaj.

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Author urges FSU audience to search for Hidden Figures

March 2, 2018 Areanna Nixon Leave a comment

Fayetteville State University welcomed Margot Lee Shetterly, author of the New York Times best-seller Hidden Figures, which was adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film, as part of the Chancellor’s Speaker series
on Tuesday, February 6.

Guests arrived as early as 2 hours ahead of the event’s start.

Among these was a retired pediatrician named Deborah Chapman, who secured her seat an hour early. “I’m a scientist!” she said, explaining her interest in Margot Shetterly’s work. “I would not even know about these
women if it weren’t for this author. And I’m sure it’s just the tip of the iceberg. These women, they are not the only hidden figures in our history.”

And Deborah Chapman’s sentiments, like many guests, foreshadowed the theme Shetterley’s discourse.

“This is wonderful, that these women did what they did at the time they did it. I mean, how can you not be inspired by them?” Chapman said.

Shetterly began her discourse describing the many childhood inspirations which prompted her to delve into the story that is Hidden Figures.

Speaking of her mother, Shetterly shared, “She nurtured my love of the written word.”

“My father, who worked as a research scientist at NASA Langley in Hampton, Virginia (where Hidden Figures takes place), he pushed me into math and science classes,” she said.

Shetterly went on to take inspiration from both of these influences although she ultimately chose a career in investment banking.

“If someone had told me that someday I’d be making my living as a writer, and not just as a writer, but a writer of history, I would have said to that person: you are out of your darn mind,” she shared.

She was unaware as a child that the everyday people who at the time seemed “normal” would turn out to be significant figures in history.

“It never occurred to me growing up that Black people could not be scientists because the veryfirst scientist that I knew was a Black man and the first Black man that I knew was a scientist. We lived in a community where many people worked for NASA, including the women I write about in my book.”

Shetterly’s childhood reality was what she considers to be “abnormal,” in the sense that she saw Black persons and women working diligently in STEM fields despite the prejudices and racial climate of the ‘60s – ‘80s.

“It’s simply a matter of fact for me that Black women, that all women for that matter could be scientists or engineers or mathematicians,” she explained.

Shetterly went to expound on the idea that she, at the time, did not understand the significance of the work being done by her father or of the four women she writes about in Hidden Figures.

“I knew Katherine Johnson growing up, but I knew her as one of the people that my mother saw on the weekends at her sorority meetings or somebody who worked with my father. I did not know her at that time as the mathematician who wrote the trajectory equation for John Glenn’s 1962 orbital space flight,” Shetterly said.

In discussing the powerful influence of her writing, Shetterly shared that many of her audiences meet the story of Hidden Figures with a wide spectrum of reactions: sometimes joy, confusion, and even anger. Readers so often ask Shetterly: “Why haven’t I heard this story before?”

“The more time I have spent trying to answer that question, the more that I come to believe there is another, much more important question that we should be asking ourselves when it comes to stories like Hidden Figures, and that question is: What else have we missed?” Shetterly responded.

And as response to this question, Shetterly emphasized the importance in finding and telling these stories that somehow go untold. Not only did Shetterly urge the audience to seek out hidden truths, but also to view history
through a holistic lens.

“We tend to see Black history or women’s history to be somehow removed from Ameri- can history. Hidden Figures is a Black story and it’s a Virginian story. It’s a women’s story. And it’s a mathematician’s story. Because of those things. Not in spite of them. Because of those things, it is most fundamentally, an American story.”

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Arts and Culture, News

Seussical Excites With Whimsy and Fun

March 2, 2018 Je'Lesa Jefferson Leave a comment

It’s a Seussical musical for ages young and old.

Get your tickets now or else they’ll be sold.

For if they are sold, don’t you worry or fret.

You can see it soon, I bet.

The Seussical will be here from February 1-25 of this year.

You might be wondering what in the world is a Seussical? We’ll, it is a musical put on by the
Cape Fear Regional Theater.

In act one, we are transported into the world of Seuss. The lights dim, and the stage lights shine. Here we meet the adorable Jojo (played by Ally Ivey) as he discovers a mysterious red and white stripped hat in the center of the floor. Attached to that hat we find an overzealous Cat in the Hat (played by Ben Franklin). The Cat in the Hat, tries to get Jojo to explore the wonders of thought with a song entitled: “Oh, the Things You Can Think.”

The Cat in the Hat and Jojo take the audience on an adventure where we meet the colorful characters of Seuss such as Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Mayzie La Bird, the Sour Kangaroo, and many more. Watch as Horton (played by Paul Urriolaz ), a determined elephant, strives to save the Planet of Who, which is the smallest planet on a flick of dust. Horton must battle his own loneliness and ridicule from most of the all the other animals except Gertrude McFuzz (played by Tess Deflyer), who is madly in love with him but goes unnoticed. Act one is filled with singing, dancing, laughter, and acrobatics.

Act two continues Horton’s colorful story, as he stumbles upon Mayzie La Bird (played by Tiffany Renee Thompson) and her egg. The fun continues through a Seussian menagerie of meetings, mishaps, and momentum. You will want to be in the audience at the end when the egg hatches in this play full of fun and surprises. Watch the play this
February and find out what those surprises are.

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News, Sports

Spring Sports Preview

March 2, 2018 Ja'Shawn Steward-Johnson Leave a comment

The Fayetteville State University sports teams did relatively well in the fall, earning two championship appearances and one championship title. In the fall, the Broncos’ football team rode a late five-game win streak to the CIAA Championship and the Broncos’ volleyball squad go 21-10, including 13-3 in the conference. The Fayetteville State Women’s Cross Country team won their first-ever CIAA Women’s Cross-Country championship. Head coach Inez Turner won Coach of the Year and freshman Aleena Cruz was named Athlete of the Year.

For the spring semester, Fayetteville State hopes to build on the standard set by the football, volleyball, and the cross country squads and win even more championships. More than six-plus sports programs of Fayetteville State will take their respective fields and courts. Here is an overview of the spring semester Broncos’ sports programs:

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: The Broncos are on a very impressive eight-game winning streak led by leading scorer Shantel Bennett, who averages 11.4 points a game on 50% shooting. She has been aided by preseason All-CIAA player Yakima Clifton. Clifton is chipping in 10.4 points per game and a team-leading 6.2 rebounds per game. As a collective, the Broncos have really upped their play in conference contests and they have a very good chance of going deep in the CIAA tournament. The Broncos are 12-9 overall and 7-5 in conference games, which is good for first in the Southern division.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: The Broncos men’s basketball team are 7-16 overall and 4-8 in the conference. The men have been reeling and with just a few games left in the season, these Broncos are running out of time to gel before the CIAA Tournament. Despite the team’s struggle, the Broncos’ Josh Bryant has been outstanding, averaging 16 points a game and 4.5 rebounds per game.

BOWLING: Last year, the Fayetteville State women bowling team went 54-8. This year, the Broncos’ women bowling team has yet to lose and is arguably the best sports program Fayetteville State has. Before the season, the CIAA predicted these Broncos to win the CIAA Championship and named five FSU players to the preseason All-CIAA team– Brittany Worthy, Savannah Starling, Veronica Colon-Santiago, Paige Brayboy, and Lola Neal. A December poll by the National Tenpin Coaches Association ranked the Broncos 21st in the sport of NCAA bowling.

SOFTBALL: With the season just getting started, the Broncos have already played series against Benedict and crosstown rivals Methodist University. Next Friday (Feb 23rd), the Broncos will be back home in Lamon St. Park to play Claflin. These Broncos, led by 2017 first team All-CIAA catcher Shi-Cara Goins are looking to build on their 2017 campaign, in which FSU went 23-17 and 13-3 in the conference before losing in the second round of the CIAA Championship. There are also four other Broncos that earned either second team all-conference or all-rookie honors on this year’s squad: 1B HaLee Knowles, outfielder Maggie Smith, and outfielder Rachel Rodriguez.

TENNIS: Sunday (Feb 11th), the tennis season kicked off for the Broncos against Salem University. Feb. 24th, Fayetteville State will play their second match of the season against Methodist. The squad hopes to be better than last season’s 3-11 campaign while returning only one player from last year.

GOLF: March 11th, the Fayetteville State golf program returns to the green courses in the VSU Trojans Spring Classic. Previously in October, the Broncos placed 6th in the Emory Fall Classic and placed 7th in the VSU Fall Trojans Classic. The Spring Classic will serve as a warmup to the CIAA Northern Divisional Championship twelve days later.

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News

Mathematics & Computer Science Makes Changes for Your Success

March 2, 2018 Krystal Nelms Leave a comment

There are few changes in the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science at Fayetteville State University impacting many mathematics courses.

First, the software MathXL is now a part of student tuition available Spring 2018 at Fayetteville State University. Prior to the spring 2018 semester, students were paying out of pocket for it.

Dr. Radoslav Nickolov, department chair, stated: “That this was needed.”

A lot of students couldn’t purchase their software on time due to lack of funds. By the time students did get funds to purchase the software, their first test was coming up and any homework due prior to that test was not completed.

Dr. Nickolov stated: “[The way it used to be] made it hard for the students. It was a process that had to take place, with the university, textbook publisher, and bookstore working together to make this happen. The product is better, cheaper, and available through Canvas first day of class to students now.”

Second, the Smarthinking online tutoring is now available as a learning aid through MathXL as well. While
Smarthinking has been available on Canvas for some time, it can now be accessed from within Math XL study
plans and homework assignments.

Dr. Nickolov stated: “You put your problem in and the online tutor can see exactly what problem you’re working on.” He also stated, “Hopefully students will be more successful having the software at the beginning of the semester along with Smarthinking.”

Dr. Nickolov has been with Fayetteville State University for 13 years and enjoys seeing students succeed. He noted some other programs and policies students can take advantage of for more success.

First, he encourages students to use the Math Support Center. The center offers free drop-in tutoring for students enrolled in math courses at FSU. The center also includes a computer lab and has graphing calculators available for loan. It is located in 216-C Helen T. Chick Building.

Second, he said that “it is very important that every student takes advantage of the extension grade contract.” An extension grade contract may be assigned in lieu of a final grade of a D or F. Instead, if they do get a D or an F, it would be “EX-D” or as “EX-F,” and is not calculated into the students grade point average, but it will remain on the student’s transcripts. Some see it as a grade insurance policy. To be eligible for the extension grade, this contract
can only be used the first time a student takes the course at FSU. It also requires at least 10 hours of academic
support services, and the student needs to complete all requirements for the course. The instructor will
certify the student’s completion of the course material and a representative with academic support services will
verify academic support requirements are met. The students that receive the extension grade are required to re-enroll the following next semester to complete the course. If the student does not re-enroll in the course, the
extension grade will revert to a D or F and will be counted in the student’s grade point average.

“It must be done no later than the fifth week or no later than the second week of an eight-week term. Even if
the student feels that they are going to be okay and pass. It can’t hurt, only help,” he said.

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News

FSU ranked number seven among HBCUs

March 2, 2018 Ja'Shawn Steward-Johnson Leave a comment

According to bestcolleges.com, Fayetteville State University is ranked as the #7 historically black college (HBCU) of 2018. Factors such as affordability, student support, academic standards, and outcomes were used to determine the best HBCUs across the country.

With Fayetteville State’s in-state tuition at $2,743 and room and board tallying $6,445, North Carolina is one of the most affordable schools in North Carolina and among the HBCUs, causing bestcolleges.com to give FSU two dollar signs out of five (with one dollar sign being the lowest). FSU’s affordability makes up for the fact that Fayetteville
State’s graduation rate is a lowly 32% which undoubtedly drags down the university’s ranking to #7. Another factor that helps mitigate FSU’s graduation rate is the university’s support for the military and pro-
grams tailored for military personnel.

Despite being ranked behind North Carolina A&T State University and Winston-Salem State University on the HBCU list, Fayetteville State produces the most African-American graduates in the state of North Carolina. Compared to the other two North Carolina HBCUs, Fayetteville State is cheaper, but A&T’s and Winston-Salem State’s graduation rates outpaces Fayetteville State.

In related news, two FSU online degree programs have been recognized and ranked by U.S. News and World Report. The Criminal Justice program ranked #49 nationwide and the Master of Business Administration Program was ranked #109. FSU’s Criminal Justice program was the only HBCU criminal justice program to be ranked in the top 50, and it is also only one of two programs in North Carolina to be ranked in the top 50. Meanwhile, the MBA program is one of five North Carolina programs ranked in the top 150 and the only HBCU.

Last August, nursejournal.org ranked FSU’s nursing program as the second-best nursing program in the Eastern region and best in the North Carolina school system. FSU’s program was only a fraction of a
hair (.17 points) behind the top-ranked Eastern regional program.

Celebrating their 150th anniversary, Fayetteville State was originally part of the Howard School system. In 1867, seven black men laid the foundation for Fayetteville State by buying the plot that would become FSU for $136.

Across the United States, there are more than 100 HBCUs, ranging from public and private, and 2-year and 4-year schools. HBCUs were established during a time of legal segregation with the purpose of offering high-quality (generally affordable) education to African-American students. HBCUs. The term was created in 1965 when the Higher Education Act was amended.

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Arts and Culture, News

Bronco TV wants you to TUNE IN to Channel 4.3

March 2, 2018 Keyona Smith Leave a comment

A growing number of Broncos have expressed interest in knowing how much they can create within the walls of the Telecommunications Building. With both a valued advisor Mrs. Calhoun and one of our great media professors, Professor Berry having recently taken on new journeys away from our campus, some students were frightened at the
thought of not having a place to allow their tech savvy imagination to run free.

The Communication, Languages, and Cultures department chair, Dr. Todd Frobish has welcomed creative individuals who possess work ethic and commitment with open arms to the campus TV station. One by one, students curious of what was being curated behind the doors of the studio with the ‘ON AIR’ light on wandered in. Dr. Frobish explained that he was recording a show and to jump right into the mix of things if you were, in fact, interested.

The more involved students became with equipment and all the bells and whistles within the control room, their interest peaked. An organization was reborn. And what better time than the year in which the university celebrates 150 years of academic excellence?

Together, Dr. Frobish and Dr. Alanna Miller, faculty advisor to student newspaper The Voice, rounded interested students to create and produce something special and memorable for returning Broncos of
the 150th Homecoming Parade.

With student ideas brewing about how to produce and create more and perfect their craft, the introduction of more stories and content was invited. Dr. Frobish has asked students of the organization to not only learn TV roles but to produce them alongside his productions of Geek Talk and Bronco Exchange, which featured Chancellor Anderson
and new Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin in the recent past.

Managers of Bronco TV Studio are bringing to the mix two different shows in the spring: Your Health in 15 and Attitude Check. Both shows are created by students for students and are scheduled to air on our closed-circuit campus television, throughout the City of Fayetteville on FAYTV and Bronco TV’s YouTube channel. Bronco TV wishes to create for ourselves and students and ask that our Bronco family tune in to support!

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Arts and Culture, News

Black Panther Month

March 2, 2018 Stephanie Lewis Leave a comment

Black Panther, the next entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is set to be released in theaters on February 16.

Chadwick Boseman stars as the titular character reprising his role from 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. Marvel fans have been waiting for a theatrical release for the hero since the character debuted in a 1966 Fantastic Four comic book, with talks to create the film since 1992.

Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Black Panther was the first Black mainstream superhero, arriving before Black characters such as Luke Cage, Falcon and John Stewart as a version of the Green Lantern. Stan Lee was inspired to create the hero after he came across a pulp adventure hero who had an actual black panther as his helper.

Many thought that the name came from the actual Black Panther Party, the African American revolutionary party, founded in 1966, so the writers briefly changed the character’s name to Black Leopard before changing it back. Among his numerous powers and abilities are enhanced speed, stamina and healing, similar to X-Men’s Wolverine.

Black Panther is being released in the middle of Black History Month, and features an all-star predominantly Black cast including Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker, along with some up and coming actors such as Lupita Nyong’o, Michael B. Jordan and Daniel Kaluuya. Box office sales are estimated to reach 150 million on its opening weekend, according to Indie Wire. Tickets are selling out fast, so if you haven’t already purchased your tickets, you should do it sooner rather than later.

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News

The Battle Over Voting Maps

March 2, 2018 Dominque Elliott Leave a comment

Senators John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., are advocating for new standards to protect against partisan gerrymandering by encouraging the U. S. Supreme Court to determine a new national standard for the constitutionality of gerrymandering.

Gerrymandering is the redrawing of electoral districts to favor the party in power. Gerrymandering has been around for over 200 years, according to The Atlantic. It comes from the constitutional decree that every ten years a census should be conducted to determine how many representatives are needed for each state. Gerrymandering fully came into fruition when Governor Elbridge Gerry redrew a district line in the shape of a salamander on the Massachusetts’s map in 1810 in a way that it diluted his opponents districts, and made it easier to win. The name Gerry and Salamander came together to form the new term “gerrymander.”

Gerrymandering allows certain particular districts to have partisan political advantage during elections. It leads to certain parties and party members having reliable job security that isn’t based on their platform and political reputation. Because of this, there have been many arguments about gerrymandering being unconstitutional on the basis that it forgoes democratic values that our nation holds so dear.

“The Court can clean up a cause of America’s crisis in confidence in our democracy, protect our elections from wildly partisan ‘bulk’ gerrymandering, and return control of our elections to the people,” McCain and Whitehouse said in a joint statement, as reported by Time. “We hope the Court will.”

This is not the first time the biased drawing of state districts has been seen as an issue. In 1986, the Supreme Court adopted a standard to assess redistricting done on the basis of race- something which violated the 14th amendment, according to the Brookings Institution. They did not have a standard for assessing partisan bias in the redrawing of districts, something which may have increased largely over the past decades.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case Gill vs. Whitford in the coming months, where Democrats in Wisconsin accused Republicans of gerrymandering the electoral districts. State cases have to go through the district courts, then three federal judges, then the appeal goes to the Supreme Court.

Federal judges declared North Carolina has to redraw its congressional district maps on the basis that it was unconstitutional because Republicans may have had orchestrated the map for better political gain. However, on February 9, a split Supreme Court decided to put a hold on the newly introduced remedial maps for Wake County and Mecklenburg County, meaning that in the upcoming 2018 election, their current partisan mapping may still be intact- granting a possible win for Republicans.

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