Higher Learning

Fight! Fight! Fight!

Before we begin...

Settle down. I got a question I want to ask you all.

How many people came here to change the world?

How many people came here to learn how to make a lot of money?

Hey, we got an outreach program here where we really tap into the community.

What's the point?

Hey, listen, my friends. You are the few, the proud, the next...

incoming freshman class to Columbus University.

Unyielding pursuit of academic excellence...

one university stands out amongst the rest:

Columbus University.

- What's up, Malik? - What's up, dog?

- Your mama got you some school gear. - Your mama let me use her credit card.

- Yeah, all right. - We'll see you.

Malik, what's wrong with you?

What?

This.

Why you always trying to showboat? How come you're not dressed?

My stomach was giving me trouble.

You think because you're a superstar rookie you don't have to work?

I got guys on this field who'll clean your clock in five seconds.

Who?

Get off my field.

It's like that?

That's how you made it.

Dig.

Dig.

Little off today, baby, huh?

- Hi. - Hi.

- I'm Kristen. - Monet.

We're roommates, huh?

Yep. I like this side of the room, but I guess you got here first.

Yeah, I guess I did.

So, where are you from?

- Orange County. - Orange County, huh?

- Is that near Compton? - No.

- You're not from around here, are you? - No.

It's near Disneyland.

You live near Disneyland?

- Must be nice. - It has its moments.

Yeah!

Go!

This is crazy.

Come on, girls, let's go.

I am getting my own apartment next semester.

These dorms are for children. I hate them. God.

- Do you want to room with me? - Hell, yeah. My room's like this big.

What about you? Want to get an apartment together?

- I can't afford it. - No sweat. Get your parents to pay.

- They can't. - Why not?

My dad got laid off from McDonnell Douglas last year.

The IRS audited him. My parents could barely afford to send me here.

- But you are here. - I'm here and I'm happy.

My roommate's a Mexican, I bet she got a scholarship.

Shut up. Well, here we are.

All right, come here, darling.

Drink! Drink! Drink!

- Theta Kappa! - Hey, Chad.

Well, well, what do we got here? New recruits for our Little Sister rush?

No, no. Actually, I don't know about that.

- Ladies, this is Chad. - Hi, Chad.

- Hey. - And this is Nicole, okay?

And this is Claudia, right?

- And this is, uh... - Kristen.

Kristen. I'm sorry. They're freshmen.

How do we become Little Sisters?

They probably make you drink beer out of condoms and wet your T-shirt.

Beer out of a condom... That's a new one. Write that down.

- I will. - No, we don't do that here.

But I'll tell you this. There's nobody on this campus who parties like we do!

Yo!

Man, governments ain't running things no more.

Financial institutions, they controlling the whole thing.

You ever hear of the World Bank or the IMF? No, huh?

Y'all probably don't even have checking accounts.

But y'all got them credit cards, huh?

Buy stuff out your means and wonder why you still a slave.

Y'all better recognize, I'm telling you.

Dude, when are you gonna clear everyone out? Classes start tomorrow.

- It's over when it's over, dude. - "Dude."

I can't take this no more.

- Yo, man, watch my shoes. - You got a problem, man?

Security.

Security.

Look at this.

- What's up, kid? - They're playing their music, man.

Who?

These guys. I'm not trying to narc, but tomorrow's the first day of class.

I got physics in the morning. It's like friggin' Soul Train up there.

You're here to study, not to party. Head home and hit those books.

Glad you had a good time. Come again on the weekend.

Good night. Okay.

People are trying to sleep. Give them a little respect, huh?

You don't hear that down the hall?

You ain't sweating them because they're playing that hillbilly shit, right?

No, no. Because I dig rock 'n' roll.

Then roll your fat ass down the hall then.

That's that old bullshit.

Hey!

- Why are you walking alone? - I don't know.

It's not safe to walk around campus by yourself at night.

I just left the Row 'cause my friends were drinking and acting crazy.

I just went my own way.

Some friends.

Yeah.

Look at all these pretty blue lights.

You don't know what they're for, do you?

No. Decoration?

No, it's the blue-light system.

See, there's a phone at the end of every block.

That way you can call security in case someone tries to grab you.

You're gonna have to be careful out here.

Come on.

I just got here. Have you met anybody yet?

Yeah, I just met somebody.

My name's Taryn.

- Junior. - Kristen. Freshman.

Fresh-woman?

Yeah, I could tell.

Well, my first class is at 8:00.

- So... - Where's your dorm?

It's right here. Holland Hall. Real close.

- Thanks. - Sure. Oh, wait.

Here.

Students for a Non-Sexist Society.

We have meetings Wednesdays if you want to come by.

Okay. Thanks.

Oh, man.

Oh, man, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were here.

- It's time for us to talk. - About what?

About your side of the room.

What's wrong with it?

Look at it, man. It's filthy, it's funky, it's stinking, man.

- What you do on that side affects me. - All right, I'll try.

Let's take a trip around the world.

Look there, under the statue. You see them people?

That's Disneyland.

And there's Chinatown.

And over there, that's south of the border.

And this right here is the black hole because we're black folks.

So, you Fudge, huh? I heard about you.

- What'd you hear about me? - I heard you were a super-duper senior.

Been here six years and still haven't graduated.

- She trying to play you out. - Why is that?

Because I done already learned the game, fresh fish.

Is that right, old trout?

Yo.

Y'all some trained Negroes.

Soon as you hear a bell, y'all go running.

Welcome to the real world.

Or, as it states in your schedule of courses, Political Science 101.

I am your instructor. My name is Professor Maurice Phipps.

Today I am going to give you your first lesson in politics. Are you ready?

Now, I shall need one volunteer.

Anyone?

No wonder this nation is falling behind the rest of the world.

No one in this class seems to have any initiative.

You, brave soul, come forward.

- And what is your name, my good man? - Malik Williams, Professor Phipps, sir.

Malik Williams. Mr. Williams, would you be kind enough...

to read the names with the asterisks beside them?

Those persons whose names are called, please stand.

All right. " Marvin Anthony, Wendy Arrington, Tanya Arroyo...

Chris Barlow, Skye Blue, Jennifer Bryant...

Pamela Burris, Eric Cannon, Kristen Connor, Judith Dantzig...

Patsy Ewing, Mark Katz...

Malik Williams." What?

Thank you, Mr. Williams. You have served your purpose.

What's that list for, dog?

Those persons whose names were called and whom are standing...

the university instructed me that your financial bill hasn't been paid.

Leave and settle your debts. You may not return until you have done so.

There are no handouts in the free world...

and, appropriately, none in my course. Thank you and good day.

Shit.

Professor Phipps, I need this class for my major. You know?

Young lady, calm yourself and go to the financial aid office.

Go.

What about me?

Don't you have some business to attend to?

Yeah, but I thought I just showed initiative.

That don't count for nothing, brother?

Mr. Williams, I do not appreciate, nor will I tolerate...

people who try to brown nose in my course.

Now go to the financial aid office or appeal to the athletic department.

I ain't no dumb athlete.

That remains to be seen.

Right. I hope that all of you...

Yo, dog, take good notes. I'm gonna need to borrow them.

Now that the bureaucratic nonsense is out of the way, we'll get to...

the business of real politics.

Are you sure? I mean, I don't understand this.

Never leave home without it.

Looks like we got a problem with your fee bill.

Like what?

It says you got a partial athletic scholarship. Better talk to your coach.

Partial? That's a mistake. I'm a full-scholarship student.

I can't help that. That's what it shows.

- You sure your computer ain't broke? - I'm sorry, honey. I can't help you.