For the Wizards whose playoff hopes are absent to say the least, have certainly picked an interesting time to show out.

After third-year point guard John Wall returned on Jan. 12, the Wizards have a 23-20 record, starting from the bottom of the Eastern Conference to a tie for 10th in the standings.

The Wizards had lost 28 of their 32 games seemingly one of the worst starts in N.B.A. history. The Wall-less Wizards began the season very distraught this was owed to a combination of a feeble offense and a disinterested defense.

Second-year coach Randy Wittman has transformed the Wizards from being space filler on teams schedule to a force to be reckoned with.

Wall is critical to Washington’s road to redemption. In 41 games, he has produced in every way all across the board. Whether it was scoring (17.6 points on 44 percent shooting, including an encouraging 31 percent from 3-point range), passing the rock (7.6 assists per game, and an assist percentage of 45 percent), or his overall efficiency (his 20.5 player efficiency rating is sixth among active starting point guards), Wall no matter what he does has a knack for silencing his critics.

Keep in mind it was only three years ago, after his amazing freshman season at Kentucky, Wall arrived in the N.B.A. with everyone having big expectations for him. The Wizards picked John Wall first overall in the N.B.A. draft. Wall had speed, quickness and vision, but he was also too raw at times. His jumper was inconsistent, and turnovers were at a time his best friend.

Since bouncing back from his knee injury Wall has shown his dominance and the Wizards have reasserted themselves as up-and-comers in the East. This dramatic turnaround is utterly impressive for a number of reasons, let us not slight Washington’s defense in any way the Wizards have put the rest of the league on notice. The Wizards are third in defensive efficiency (98.6), fourth in opponent field-goal percentage (43.3 percent), second in opponent 3-point percentage (33.1 percent) and second in defensive rebounding percentage (75.6 percent).

It may take a few more years and more draft day talent before the Wizards are on an elite level. With just four playoff appearances and one trip out of the first round since 1989, that day can’t seem to come soon enough for the Wizards.

With all the heart The Wizards and Wall play with a positive change may be in the near future.

Five nights later after winning the Atlantic Sun tournament to make the NCAA tournament in just their second year of eligibility, Florida Gulf Coast a No. 15 seed on Selection Sunday added to Georgetown’s recent history of March misery with a 78-68 opening-round upset.

Unlike last year’s shocking wins by No. 15 seeds Lehigh and Norfolk State, this game was not a nail biter that came down to the final possession. Florida Gulf Coast went into halftime with a two point lead and in the 2^nd half never let the Hoyas get closer than four points down the stretch.

The historic upset by Florida Gulf Coast is what fuels the phrase March Madness.

They weren’t intimidated facing a Georgetown team that has won plenty Big East titles and features a future lottery pick in its frontcourt. They stood their ground and went blow for blow with the Hoyas, but when Georgetown committed a series of hard frustration fouls it was Florida Gulf Coast that kept its cool and went to work on the Georgetown Hoyas. It got downright embarrassing for the Hoyas as FGCU had the guts to throw a transition lob pass to for a high-flying alley-oop jam with two minutes left and Georgetown only being down by seven.

Georgetown’s lost hurts many brackets all over but its March Madness folks and upsets common.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Bowie State Bulldogs (16-13 overall) win their second championship defeating Livingstone College 85-74  , entering the tournament as the No. 4 Northern Division seed with the last title that was won in 2003 by The Bulldogs exactly 10 years ago.

With the victory, the Bulldogs received the conference’s automatic bid in the NCAA Division II Tournament. The top eight teams in the region will advance to the tournament.

The Livingstone Blue Bears missed out on winning their first championship after winning their first Southern Division title. Livingstone came in as a top ranked seed but hard work beats talent any day. The Blue Bears were looking to win it all at the CIAA tourney but in not doing so they can blame Senior Byron Westmorland (the tournament MVP) and The Bowie State Bulldogs for that.

The Bulldogs’ Westmorland started a late run which helped solidify the title for the Bulldogs. Down by two (53-51) with 14:42 left, the Bulldogs outscored the Blue Bears 34-21.

The Bulldogs however did have a bit of opposition from junior Mark Thomas as the Bulldogs overcame his outstanding effort. Thomas of the Blue Bears, a talented guard scored a career-high 34 points before he fouled out late in the game. Thomas was the only player for the Blue Bears who kept Livingstone in the game by scoring 18 points in the second half. But even his effort was not enough as the Bulldogs were determined to walk out CIAA Champions; the Bulldogs outscored the Blue Bears 42-33 in the second half.

Most people who oppose The Bowie State Bulldogs believe that the Bulldogs are one dimensional that is not the case at all. Not at all is the Bowie State Bulldogs one dimensional. That one dimensional belief was put to rest as Westmorland got support from his inside players. Junior forward Carlos Smith scored 11 points and seven rebounds and senior forward Najee White contributed 10 points. Senior forward Dameatric Scott had seven rebounds and five assists. Senior guard Bryan Wilson also helped out on the boards, grabbing six to go along with eight points. The inside play by the Bulldogs was spot on as 46 points were scored in the paint and 16 second-chance points.

The big men for Bowie State greatly impacted the contest from the start by limiting the Blue Bears to one shot and getting inside with ease for easy baskets. A dunk by Carlos Smith off a missed layup lifted the Bulldogs to an early 15-7 lead.
No matter how the game is examined one detail that cannot be left out is that the Bulldogs played as a team from beginning to end with every player from Bowie State contributing in a very important way.

Congratulations to the Bowie State University Men’s Basketball Team, the 2013 CIAA Champions they have brought pride to Bowie State University and are true examples that “It doesn’t matter how you start, but how you finish.”

It is that time of year again! The 2013 SGA election cycle is swiftly approaching and the application process has been officially opened up to the campus community. You may pick up an application from the student life office located in the Wisemen student center. All applications must be turned in by March 8, 2013 at the close of business (5pm) back into the student life office. Below I will detail the offices and the qualifications to run for the respective offices.

SGA President & Vice President

Qualifications:

1. The President and Vice President will be elected by plurality vote among the undergraduate student body.

2. Persons seeking the offices of the president and vice president of the SGA will have a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or better and will have no student code of conduct violation(s) or violation of Bowie State University Housing Policies and Procedures on record at the time of application for office. At the time of application, persons seeking the office of President or Vice President must have acquired forty-five (45) credit hours*. Both candidates must be in good standing with the university as stated in the student handbook, must be a full time student, and must have attended Bowie State University for at least one year, and must not have been absent from the University during the semester which immediately precedes elections.
- The SGA President & Vice- President must run together as a team

Mr. Bowie State University & Ms. Bowie State University

1. Mr. and Miss Bowie will be elected by plurality vote among the undergraduate student body.

2. The candidates for Miss Bowie and Mr. Bowie must have a 2.7 cumulative grade point average, and must have obtained at least forty-five (45) credit hours from Bowie State University at the time of filing an application*, and must have no student code of conduct violations or violation of Bowie State University Housing Policies and Procedures on record at the time of application.

3. The candidates for Miss Bowie and Mr. Bowie are subject to the same election procedures as all other SGA elected officials.

4. The candidates for Miss Bowie State University must be female and the candidates for Mr. Bowie State University must be male.

- Only the top two candidates to place at the Mister & Miss Bowie Pageant will placed on the ballot for the election.

Student Activities Coordinator (CAB Chair)

1. The Student Activities Coordinator will be elected by plurality vote of the student body during SGA elections held in April.

2. The person seeking the office of Student Activities Coordinator must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or better, must have acquired at least forty-five (45) BSU credits and must have no student code of conduct violations or violation of Bowie State University Housing Policies and Procedures on record at the time of application.

3. The Student Activities Coordinator will assume and maintain full responsibility from the day after commencement to the day of the following comme
* The forty-five (45) credit hours are required for all students seeking to hold SGA positions. However, for transfer students the amount of BSU credits needed is thirty (30). Once transfer students have acquired thirty (30) BSU credits, they may run for a SGA position, assuming that they have transferred in at least fifteen (15) credits from their prior institution.
Executive Member – At- Large

1. The Executive Member at Large will be elected by plurality vote during SGA elections held in the month of April.

2. Persons seeking the office of Executive Member at Large must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or better, must have acquired at least forty-five (45) BSU credits* and must have no student code of conduct violations or violation of Bowie State University Housing Policies and Procedures on record at the time of application.

3. The Executive Member at Large will assume and maintain full responsibility from the day after commencement to the day of the following commencement.

Solicitor General

1. The Solicitor General will be elected by plurality vote of the student body.

2. Persons seeking the office of Solicitor General must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.7 or better, must have acquired at least forty-five (45) BSU credits* and must have no student code of conduct violations on record or violation of Bowie State University Housing Policies and Procedures at the time of application.

3. The Solicitor General will assume and maintain full responsibility of office from the day after commencement to the day of the following commencement.

Class Presidents/Vice-Presidents & Class Kings/Queens

1. Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Class officers shall be elected during the month of April, along with SGA officers.

2. Freshmen Class elections shall be held during the Fall Semester no later than the third Wednesday after

3. Classes officially commence and shall be conducted by a committee appointed by the Vice President with Executive Branch approval.

4. Candidates for all class offices are subject to the same application and election regulations and election procedures as SGA elected officials.

5. Candidates for class offices must have at least a 2.5 GPA.

6. Candidates will gain approval to run for a class office only if their acquired credits and currently enrolled credits total the amount needed for that respective class (i.e. 30 – Sophomore, 60 – Junior, 90 – Senior).

7. Candidates who wish to hold the office of Class President must have a vice-presidential running mate. The same GPA and credit requirement will exist for Vice President Candidates as well.

This is the first article in the series of articles on what it takes to run for office for Bowie State University SGA. Eugene Craig is the Executive Director of The Bulldog Collegian and a Senior Contributor. Eugene is also a owner of other blogs and a big supporter of the Kustom Kozzies Movement.

Robert Guerrero seems to have confidence like no other seeing that he has wasted no time trying to get under Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s skin.

The challenger Robert Guerrero took his trash talk to Twitter looking to provoke the unbeaten Mayweather.

What can really be said about Guerrero’s trash talk via Twitter besides “Bravery and Stupidity go hand in hand” Talking trash is not really the best idea when your opponent is Floyd Mayweather who’s  43-0 record just screams, he’s got more than enough experience to make light work of the American welterweight.

Guerrero should be the underdog when the two boxers face off in Las Vegas on May 4 but with Mayweather having the bad boy image like always fans may cling to Mayweather’s opponent, hoping to see him face defeat.

On May 4^th this will be Mayweather’s first fight since going to jail for domestic abuse, so he may be a little rusty. His last fight will have come almost a year ago in which Mayweather won a unanimous decision against Miguel Cotto on May 5, 2012.

Any fight involving Mayweather is always hyped up by the fans and media generally, in this case as always the talking is left to the champion, where his mouth moves almost as fast as his arsenal of punches.

Up to date the only trash talking that has taken place was from Robert Guerrero; most likely Mayweather will make his rebuttal very soon.

Guerrero may be a top-ranked welterweight, but he does not carry the star power of some of Mayweather’s previous opponents.

Fans that are waiting for the most anticipated super fight between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao may have to settle for the matchup of Mayweather and Guerrero on May 4^th as Robert Guerrero tries to call Mayweather out in hopes of presenting himself as a major threat.

1.       Insecurity

Insecurity in a relationship leads to nothing but drama and many days of unhappiness. Insecurity in a relationship can often time lead to jealousy, which is very difficult to deal with because it puts you in an awkward position. You then begin competing with your partner instead of building each other up. It destroys relationships and makes even the smallest matters worse. When an individual is insecure there may be reasons behind that so find ways to bring up why such feelings of insecurity exist and communicate to your partner in order to find ways to cure these insecurities. Yet and still don’t force the communication be patient and allow things in your relationship to take place naturally. Don’t allow your own insecurities or your partners to ruin the relationship. Relax be yourself, never think too much about what is going to happen later on in your relationship enjoy each and every day but do so one day at a time. Allow your relationship to develop into one where things are so relaxed and comfortable that no insecurities even matter or develop. Never should you force a thing in your relationship if things are meant to be it will happen, so be yourself and do not allow insecurities sabotage your relationship.

2.       Trust Issues

Trust is a key factor in any meaningful relationship. With no trust just about every day of your relationship would be very upsetting. Trust in a relationship is a major, being unable to trust can destroy any possible future that a relationship may have had. Most trust issues come from previous relationships with an ex-boyfriend, ex-girlfriend, or even possibly a personal experience in life. Just know that if you want a relationship to make any progress and to grow into something real the rule is simple “No trust, no relationship”.

3.       Social Networks

We all love to tweet, post statuses on Facebook, snap pictures for Instagram, etc. But we find it that in regards to being in a relationship it is best to do so alone. So why don’t relationships and social networks mix? Social networks can wreak havoc when real-life relationships become involved. When real-life relationships become involved with social networks issues come about dealing with full disclosure of a relationship. In which it is let known to others who your partner is and what is going on in your relationship, making virtually everything in your relationship public. Having all your business out in public especially when it deals with your relationship is something that not all people necessarily can tolerate. Equally important the past may catch up with you by old boyfriends or girlfriends attempting to reconnect. Any interaction with an old flame can potentially tempt you, distract, distance, and damage your current relationship. It is best to just stay away from social networks if you’re in a serious relationship that you truly want to last.

4.       Jealousy

Most cases when someone is jealous in a relationship it is usually a sign of being insecure, which is also a relationship killer. When jealousy settles inside of someone they may engage in plenty jealous acts from being defensive, crying, being in denial, etc. Jealousy most commonly is a reaction to having little communication in a relationship, jealous behavior is seen as a way of by passing the communication that should take place in a relation Say for instance if I am jealous I will start questioning you, checking your phone, emails, any social networks you’re a part of,voice-mails, and on top of all that ask you a million questions; I will turn into a detective, all of which your partner may do if he or she is jealous. With each and every action saying loud and clear “I don’t trust you”. Jealousy runs relationships straight into the ground. If you honestly give your significant other no reason to be jealous and they just so happen to be jealous, just a heads up that relationship will not get far.

5.       Lack of Communication

A great key in all relationships is communication both verbal and non verbal. Communication in a relationship is of high importance due to the fact that it exchanges information in the form of ideas, wants, desires, feelings, and much more. Everything in a relationship should be communicated, stopped communication is unhealthy for relationships and now relationships that once were as great as taking a breath of fresh air stop breathing. When topics are avoided or never discussed it slows or completely stops the growth in a relationship ultimately causing it to suffer or just die out. Think of communication as a human body when things are flowing right the body is healthy. But when things stop flowing or are blocked a disease or illness comes about. The point here is to keep the relationship healthy, alive, and well in your relationship you must keep the communication flowing.

6.       Assumptions

So quick to assume! Why do we make assumptions? In relationships when assumptions are made it only leads to our perception of situations being way off causing us to see what we want to see and hear what we want to hear, never seeing things for what they truly are. Assumptions can come in two forms, first the assuming of knowing our partners know what we think and want and second assuming our partner may be unfaithful. Never assume a thing please know that your partner is not a mind reader and with continued growth he or she will learn how their partner thinks, assumptions will not be made because that growth will allow you to learn more about your partner each day. Only if you want your relationship to go on the decline please don’t be so quick to assume.

7.       Outsiders

Simply put your relationship is between you and your partner no one else. All communication, feelings, secrets and so on should be between you and your partner and no one else.

*7 is the number of Completion.

Friday, Feb. 22 — at Washington, DC (ESPN2) IBF light welterweight title: Lamont Peterson vs. Kendall Holt

Saturday, Feb. 23 — at Detroit, MI (Showtime)
IBF light middleweight title: Cornelius Bundrage vs. Ishe Smith J’Leon Love vs. Derrick Findley

Saturday, Feb. 23 — at Huntington, NY (NBC Sports Network)
Vyacheslav Glazkov vs. Malik Scott
Chris Algieri vs. Jose Peralta Alejo

Saturday, March 2 — at Las Vegas, NV (Showtime)
Vacant WBA World lightweight title: Richard Abril vs. Sharif Bogere
Gary Russell Jr. vs. Vyacheslav Gusev

Saturday, March 9 — at Brooklyn, NY (Showtime)
IBF light heavyweight title: Bernard Hopkins vs. Tavoris Cloud
Keith Thurman vs. Jan Zaveck

Saturday, March 9 — at Costa Mesa, CA (HBO)
IBF super featherweight title: Juan Carlos Salgado vs. Argenis Mendez
Chris Arreola vs. Bermane Stiverne

Saturday, March 16 — at Carson, CA (HBO)
WBO welterweight title: Timothy Bradley vs. Ruslan Provodnikov
Jessie Vargas vs. Wale Omotoso

Saturday, March 30 — at Las Vegas, NV (HBO)
Interim WBO light welterweight title: Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado
WBA light welterweight title: Khabib Allakhverdiev vs. Breidis Prescott

Saturday, April 6 — at TBA
IBF/WBO heavyweight title: Wladimir Klitschko vs. TBA

Saturday, April 13 — at New York, NY (HBO)
WBA/WBO super bantamweight title: Nonito Donaire vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux

Saturday, April 27 — at Buenos Aires, Argentian (HBO)
WBC middleweight title: Sergio Martinez vs. Martin Murray

Saturday, April 27 — at Brooklyn, NY (Showtime)
WBC/WBA light welterweight title: Danny Garcia vs. Zab JudahWBA welterweight title: Paul Malignaggi vs. TBA
WBO middleweight title: Peter Quillin vs. Fernando Guerrero
Dmitriy Salita vs. Hector Camacho Jr. Daniel Jacobs vs. Billy Lyell

Saturday, April 27 — at Las Vegas, NV (HB)
WBA/WBO super bantamweight title: Nonito Donaire vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux

Saturday, May 4 — at Las Vegas, NV (HBO-PPV)
WBC welterweight title: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Robert Guerrero
WBC/WBA light middleweight title: Saul Alvarez vs. Austin Trout

Saturday, May 25 — at Montreal, Canada
WBC light heavyweight title: Chad Dawson vs. Jean Pascal

Saturday, May 25 — at London, United Kingdom
WBA super middleweight title: Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers  defensive end Da’Quan Bowers was arrested at a New York airport on February 18^th, 2013 because of a handgun that was found in his luggage.

Bowers was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and bond was posted at $10,000. Tampa Bay Buccaneers team officials said Tuesday “they won’t comment until they have all the facts.”

Reported by the authorities, Bowers was arrested at LaGuardia Airport as he was about to board a U.S. Airways flight to Raleigh, N.C. The weapon was found during a search of his carry-on bag. Da’Quan Bowers has yet to make and comments in reference to this event. Efforts to reach his attorney were unsuccessful.

Bowers played college football for Clemson and was selected by the Buccaneers in the 2011 NFL draft.

In retrospect former New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress who was brought up on the same charge was arrested after he accidentally shot himself in a nightclub in 2008. He then eventually served time in prison.

The Black Race has been ridiculed and discriminated against, in the past, for many generations. Common noticed civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Harriet Tubman gave their life’s goal to fight those actions. Dr. King once preached a sermon against discrimination around the world. Little did people know he was speaking not only of discrimination of the races against African Americans, but about the discrimination inside of the race. In the years of those civil activists, the discrimination was more of light skinned persons to dark skins. Today the latest discrimination seems to be more cultural and between the continental boundaries.

Common belief says the mother land of Africa can relate to the trend of discrimination and hate among ourselves. In the latter days of Africa, slave trade to the Americas was a few of the best ways for goods to be passed on. The trade processors would choose only the biggest and the strongest Africans to trade for food and weapons. This brought about several different feelings about African pride. Tribe Chiefs were, in a way, forced to plot against their tribes and to choose who and what needed to be traded,

In America, however, the former rulers of this land would judge Blacks by their skin color and the like. Skin color became more of a way to determine who was better than the other. The light skinned people were house slaves and the dark field slaves. Then a black family would grow up expecting the lightest of the siblings to make it further in life. By tone of skin discrimination was born.

It is the year 2013 and still to this day discrimination inside the race exists. Discrimination is more directed towards the places in which a person lives and how they look act and live their daily life. Bowie State has two buildings named after those civil rights activists and in such ways, built the expectation that we should not discriminate due to the color of one’s skin or by the places one comes from. One of Bowie State’s core values is diversity so why discriminate and treat anyone different for that diversity. We all make up Bowie State University so let’s be Bowie State together.

This lab provides you with a ten minute load up screen of which takes several different programs that are rarely used EVER! Frustration builds. Sorry to say this, but, the library is not hot downstairs right now because of the central heating system. Students and guests are fed-up with the keep up of the computer labs or the lack-there-of. After a ten minute load up you go to receive your files. Let us not even begin with the internet problems (just give that another 15-20 minutes). You finally get to a point where you are ready to print.

Take a deep breath. You have made it through one of the most stressful times of your college career. Or have you? You go to print the papers you have gotten and it does not come out of the printer.

If I had a nickel every time… must it be said? It’s clear what needs to be done. Yes we are the oldest HBCU but with that being said we should also be updated with our technology. We can’t just build a mega computer in the CLT building and expect the rest of the computers to run fast. Yes I said mega computer, of which has done not one thing to help the technology or communication departments.

When will Bowie State University realize the assets they have on campus? Thousands of students today have already been trained to handle computer upgrading and widespread technology advances. It is time for the University to rise and understand that they are teaching the future and what better way to grow then letting students take charge and build. However if you would like the 45 minute to an hour upset period between arriving at the lab and printing then be my guest. The privilege is yours.