February 1, 2012 by N.C. Central University Campus Echo

FEBRUARY 1, 2011

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VOLUME 103, ISSUE 7 919 530 7116/CAMPUSECHO@NCCU.EDU

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Opinion

State of campus

Jaleel explains origins of black history month and what it means to black people

A&E

Carmelo Montalvo’s SGA address put the emphasis on academics

Sports Men’s basketball team skys by the Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore 77-46.

Have fun, get fit with NCCU’s Zumba class every third Friday of the month

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Campus Echo Romney takes Florida

BY MICHAEL DOYLE & DAVID LIGHTMAN MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

Orlando — Mitt Romney’s victory Tuesday in Florida's presidential primary—the first test of electoral strength in a big, diverse state this year—establishes him firmly as the overwhelming favorite to win the Republican presidential nomination. Several national news organizations projected

Romney as the winner immediately after Florida's polls closed. With 56 percent of the vote counted, Romney had 48 percent, Newt Gingrich had 31 percent, Rick Santorum had 13 percent and Ron Paul had 7 percent. Yet even as the former Massachusetts governor rolled up an apparent double-digit victory in the Sunshine State, he can't claim the prize yet.

He probably is at least five weeks away from becoming the consensus nominee, and perhaps two months or more from collecting the 1,144 convention delegates he needs to lock up victory. His three major rivals vow to wage spirited campaigns in upcoming states, and if conservatives were to rally around a single candidate, Romney could face a prolonged battle that could

weaken him in November's general election. But at the moment, almost everything is breaking his way—and the path forward seems to favor him. The next test comes Saturday in Nevada, which Romney won easily in 2008. The rest of February features caucuses and primaries in Maine, Colorado, Minnesota and Michigan.

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Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivers remarks at Lanco Paint Co., in Orlando, January 27. JOE BURBANK/Orlando Sentinel (MCT)

Programs may face the ax

FORMER NCCU STUDENT ACTIVISTS REMEMBERED

Shrinking state funds force tough decisions BY MATT PHILLIPS ECHO A&E EDITOR

The James E. Shepard Memorial Library will be home to a re-ccreation of the scene where N.C. College students (now NCCU) staged sit-iins in 1960. MORGAN CRUTCHFIELD/Echo staff photographer

n February 1, 1960, just 52 years ago, the Greensboro four — all N.C. A&T University students — started a national movement. One week later, 20 NCCU students, joined by a handful of white Duke University stu-

dents, began the effort to integrate Durham by sitting at the lunch counter of Durham’s F.W. Woolworth & Co. On February 5, a section of the Woolworth lunch counter, which was donated in June 1999, will be rededi-

cated to NCCU. A panel discussion, “Looking Back While Moving Forward,” will be moderated by Andre Vann, coordinator of University Archives, at 3 p.m. in the Shepard Library.

Legislators change priorities. Public funding falls short. Budgets shrink. Students and faculty pay the price. Recommendations proposed by Chancellor Nelms after a recent University-wide academic and fiscal review have placed five N.C. Central University bachelor’s degree programs under the guillotine. According to the proposal — emailed to the University community Jan. 9 — NCCU has lost $50 million in budget cuts in the last four years. “North Carolina Central University, like all UNC campuses — and many universities around the country — finds itself dealing with the vagaries of budget reductions,” writes Nelms in his introduction to the proposal. To help survive the shortfall, the proposal outlines administrative and academic changes that will save an estimated $2 million in the current fiscal year. Bachelor’s programs in sociology, public administration, French, athletic training and art with a concentration in art education are all slated to be phased out at NCCU. NCCU students currently majoring in these disciplines will still be able to finish their degrees. The proposal must still be approved by the NCCU Board of Trustees and eventually by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.

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Starbucks,the W.O.W. factor BY ZEVANDAH BARNESS ECHO OPINIONS EDITOR

N.C. Central University students have two new places to frequent on campus. The book store welcomes a Starbucks to its facilities and the student union now houses the World of Wings. Starbucks is located in Latham’s Café in the upper level of the bookstore while the World of Wings is where KFC used to be. “This decision was made by a core of University Administrators, employees and students in conjunction with Sodexo, our Food Service Provider” said Timothy Moore, Director of

Auxiliaries and Business Services. Shelita Nelson, Area General Manager for Sodexo Campus Services for the past two years, said “These locations provide students with retail restaurants right here on campus.” The Starbucks and World of Wings were both completed over winter break according to Nelson, who has been with the Sodexo for 25 years. “The overall goal is to keep students on campus and by providing retail venues we hope they assist in that effort” said Nelson.

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Durham’s Finest on display Kids’ art sparkles in NCCU’s Art Museum

MATT PHILIPS ECHO A&E EDITOR

In the crowded, bustling N.C. Central University Art Museum Jan. 22, fourth grader Abuk Cham stood beneath her painting “The Exaggerated Tree,” one of 220 selected art works showing in the “Durham’s Finest” art exhibit. Abuk wasn’t looking at her own painting. Instead she gazed at the massive crowd of parents, teachers, students and art lovers feasting their eyes on the vibrant student artwork from 46 schools in the Durham School District. “The art represents a whole spectrum and progression from elementary to high school,” said Mary

INSIDE Photo Gallery: Check out some of the art from “Durham’s Finest.” Pages 6-7 Casey, director of K-12 arts education for the Durham School District. “This is a very, very select showing. Only four students per school,” Casey said. According to Casey, art teachers at every school were asked to select four pieces of work for display. The result is a collection of eclectic pieces that includes mixed-media, sculpture, photography and painting. Special recognition was given to selected individual

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Abuk Cham with her family below her | painting, “The Exaggerated Tree.” AARON SAUNDERS/Echo edi

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Lee gets the call New dean to lead School of Ed

School of Education Dean Wynetta Lee continues to teach. BRITTNEY JENKINS/Echo staff photographer

BY AARON SAUNDERS ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Last semester N.C. Central University began a furious search for someone to lead the School of Education into its future. From the crowded field of qualified candidates rose Wynetta Y. Lee, former dean of education at Grambling State University in Louisiana. Lee, a native of Etowah county Alabama, was selected to take over for retiring former dean Ceceilia Steppe-Jones who held the position for the last 10 years and has been at NCCU for 31 years. The former Grambling dean beat candidates Brian K. Perkins, director of the urban education leadership program at Teachers College of Columbia University, and associate dean of education at the University Alabama Tuscaloosa Brenda Joyce Stalworth. “I think I am predestined to be here,” said Lee. “If heaven brings this on your radar three times maybe you need to pay attention, so I think I was predestined to be at Central at this place and at this time.” It is also an added bonus that Lee, who lived in the area 10 years ago and worked at N.C. State University, can work with

many of her former students who now work at NCCU. “I couldn't believe it when I heard she was going to be here,” said NCCU math instructor and lecturer Richard Townsend, an advisee and student of Lee’s while at N.C. State University. “She is a great person, great motivator and great teacher,” said Townsend. While at N.C. State University, Lee also taught graduate courses to Tia Doxey, NCCU director of student life assessment. “Dr Lee is a visionary leader and she possesses a collaborative spirit,” said Doxey. “She has always been committed to the success of students, faculty and staff.” According to Lee teaching is in her blood — her parents were college educated and both were teachers. “Teaching is a calling and I think people who go into teaching for the money can be a little bit scary,” she said. Lee brings a wealth of knowledge and tons of experience to NCCU. She has worked at Grambling State University, Jackson State University,Dillard University, N.C. State University and the California University system.

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STARBUCKS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 KFC and A & W had been in the student union since June of 2006. According to Moore, students reported that they wanted healthier food. Although students lost two restaurants in the student union, the World of Wings does replace them both.. The World of Wings does not serve hot dogs but it does serve hamburgers on Texas toast. The menu at the World of Wings consist of a number of new items that students were not receiving in the student union before such as soups, cheese sticks, quesadillas, wraps, and salads. Moore said the World of Wings and Starbucks required a capital investment from NCCU and Sodexo and other food concepts could be coming to campus if the budget permits.

NCCU student preparing to order a latte at the new Starbucks in the Latham Cafe. MORGAN CRUTCHFIELD/Echo staff photographer

“ I like the changes,” said Frank Mansaray sociology senior, “in the eating area and the lounge. Now you can actually sit down and eat.”

Students that visit the student union will notice that there are new televisions, tables, and booths in the dining area. This gives the student union more of a restau-

rant appeal. “I like the WOW instead of KFC but I wanted them to keep the A & W,” said exercise sports science sophomore Charles Hogue.

PROGRAMS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The proposal also outlines specific academic restructuring, notably the merging of The College of Science and Technology with The College of Liberal Arts into one college to be called the College of Arts and Sciences. The mass communication program will become a department and a number of other departments and programs will be merged. NCCU administrators scheduled six listening sessions designed to elicit feedback and address concerns from the University community. The Process Speaking about the proposal at a campus listening session on Jan. 23, Debbie Thomas, provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs, addressed key aspects of the proposal. Thomas reinforced the need for cuts. “It was about ensuring that going forward the institution was as strong as possible,” said Thomas. Bernice Duffy Johnson, associate provost and associate vice chancellor, was appointed chairwoman of the program review and restructuring commission, which included 10 NCCU

administrators and academics. In a presentation, Thomas made clear the purpose of the commission: “To conduct a thorough and comprehensive review of all academic programs, paying particular attention to those previously defined as ‘low enrollment and low productivity’ in their effectiveness.” The academic overview was conducted by gathering statistics in 36 categories including enrollment, graduates, student rating of instruction and economic incentive, among others. One category, economic incentive, refers to the projected value provided to the state of North Carolina by graduates, according to Johnson. This category is derived from the UNC Tomorrow document. “The university should contribute to the economy of North Carolina. Do students get jobs in the field? Is there a deliverable that the state of North Carolina can use in its economic development?” asked Johnson. The commission made specific recommendations to Thomas regarding program eliminations. Its recommendations included eliminating the

master’s of science degree in family and consumer sciences, a recommendation that was echoed by the department of human sciences. The proposal does not slate this program for elimination. Additional recommendations were to eliminate bachelor degrees in public administration, French and art with a concentration in teacher education. The commission did not recommend eliminating bachelor degree programs in sociology or athletic training. Instead, the commission suggested realigning sociology and social work into one department and maintaining the bachelor’s degree in athletic training, a recommendation echoed by the athletic training education program. According to the NCCU website the bachelor’s degree in athletic training “was the first of its kind at a historically black college or university.” At the listening session, Thomas said the amended proposal that seeks to eliminate bachelor degrees in sociology and athletic training was formulated under the same guidelines under which the commission oper-

ated, despite the obvious difference in recommendations. “We based our decisions on the same numbers as the commission,” said Thomas. Later, in a statement issued through public relations, Thomas added that “Additional consideration is given at each level of the review process including the impact of the proposed recommendation on accreditation, the availability of human, physical and fiscal resources and our ability to sustain a high-quality competitive program.” Voices SGA President Reggie McCrimmon expressed concern over the effects of UNC-wide budget cuts on students. “Times are changing, but there is nothing more infinitely important than the students,” said McCrimmon. “I definitely want to make sure the students have the opportunity to voice their opinions.” McCrimmon stressed that NCCU must focus on maximizing other sources of revenue before looking at tuition and fees. According to

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STUDY ABROAD Important dates from your Office of International Affairs Welcome back, students! Please come to the Office of International Affairs in Room 103 of the Lee Biology Building to discuss your plans to study abroad. Important information and dates for spring 2012: Monthly study abroad general information session – First Thursday of every month at 10:40 a.m. in Room 202, Lee Biology Building (February 2, March 1,April 5 and May 2) Campus deadline for study abroad through the University of North Carolina Exchange Program (UNCEP) for the fall or academic year – March 1. Contact: Olivia E-M Jones at ojones@nccu.edu Tel. (919) 530 7713

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Wilson joins ASALH exec council BY JEROME BROWN ECHO ASSISTANT EDITOR

Every February marks the celebration of Black History Month, the celebration of the impact of African Americans on American history. N.C. Central University has a current connection amongst the leadership of the organization that founded the celebration in 1926. Carlton Wilson, dean of NCCU’s College of Liberal Arts, was elected to the 18 member executive council of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History organization last fall and officially started his term last month. The council meets three times a year to discuss plans, programs and events, the business of the organization, and advising

College of Liberal Arts Dean Carlton Wilson. BRITTNEY JENKINS/Echo staff photographer

of the executive director and president of the organization. Wilson’s interest in history began in middle school. Shortly thereafter,

in the 10th grade, an English literature teacher introduced him to the work of W.E.B. Du Bois which sparked his interest in learning more about the

achievements of African Americans. “I was intrigued about her passion for him and what he stood for, and in that four week course she taught me a lot about the African-American experience. It stuck with me.” Wilson’s involvement with ASALH dates back to his a freshman year at NCCU. At the same time he had aspirations of a career in federal government, particularly with the U.S. Department of State, however his plans changed slightly. “The more I moved forward, I understood I wanted to receive a Ph.D. and start a career teaching at a university and doing research,” he said. Wilson graduated from NCCU in 1978 with a degree in history. He went

on to receive his advanced degrees in European history and has made the African presence in Europe one of his areas of research. Freddie Parker, NCCU professor of history and also a member of ASALH, supported Wilson’s election to the executive council. “Dr. Wilson has been involved for some 30 years and knows the association very well,” said Parker. “If anybody is qualified to serve as an executive member it is Dr. Wilson.” Wilson describes history as a foundational discipline that can be applied to other fields of learning. “It’s a wonderful thing to be able focus on the past, understanding the present, and even learning a little bit about what the future may hold,” said Wilson.

Entrepreneurship: more than 1% Eagle Empowerment Series lends expertise to the business owners of tomorrow BY ALEXANDRIA SAMPSON ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Got Integrity? The leaders of the Eagle Empowerment Series hope so. Hosted by the School of Law and Student Rights and Responsibilities, the series aspires to give N.C. Central University students access to information they may lack and to help develop student ethics. Previous sessions have covered a broad range of topics such as foreclosure, credit, the criminal justice system and recently, entrepreneurship. “Our hope is to provide information to students,” said NCCU law professor Timothy Pertekin. For the session “Your Rights and Responsibilities as an Entrepreneur,” Peterkin and entrepreneurs A.J. Hudson and Sidney Hargrove broadcast a live webcast to Winston-Salem State and Elizabeth City State universities as well as to students upstairs at the

NCCU Students listen in as entrepreneurs lecture at the Turner Law building. CHI BROWN/Echo photo editor

Turner Law Building. Peterkin, who has his own law office, had an epiphany one day. “I woke up one morning and decided that I wanted to help fathers fight for custody rights over their children,” he said. Despite misconceptions about the role of an entrepreneur, running a business consists of much more than

pointing one’s finger and stating, “You’re fired.” Being a businessperson is about taking risks, being social, and staying updated on the media. “Integrity itself is being overzealous for your client and knowing what you stand for,” said Hudson. Hargrove and Hudson are NCCU alumni. “I’m a firm believer that

your customer comes first … a satisfied customer is a mouthpiece for your business,” said Hudson. Hargrove and Hudson described their career paths. Hargrove’s motive was to gain independence. He started as a programmer for a pharmaceutical company but eventually decided it to work for himself.

His venture was not met without some snags. “I lost out during the dot com boom,” he said. With the rise of networking, Hargrove learned the significance of the media. However, he turned his initial fail into a win. Hargrove is now chief marketing officer of Noodleshare, a free website that provides resources to aspiring entrepreneurs. Hudson, on the other hand, always knew he’d be a business owner — it ran in his family. “My grandfather ran his own business since the age of 19,” he said. Hudson started his own lawn care business at 14 and has since parlayed his talents as a lawyer to starting his own practice, the Hudson Law Office. Hargrove stressed the hard work that goes into creating and maintaining one’s own business. “Having a good idea is not enough. It’s about putting in work.”

SGA state of the campus address SGA vice president Carmelo Montalvo says it’s all about academics Our Chancellor has been talking a lot since his chancellorship started about how he will make a concerted effort to raise not only the intellectual climate on campus, but also the academic merit of NCCU. I thought, I’ve never heard a student speak passionately about academics. I’ve heard them talk about their own individual

academic efforts, but never for everyone, or even address a large number of students about it. This bothered me, and made me think, if students heard it from a student, then maybe they can relate better, rather than an administrator. I’m not here to slap your hands, but I am here to inform you and bring

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awareness to what the chancellor calls the "New Normal.” This year, as SGA, we have taken a different approach to student governance. We have made a concerted effort to redefine the term “student leadership” and what it means to be an advocate for the diverse population of students like

what we have here at our beloved sloping hills and verdant greens. We have striven to be more transparent and help provide great customer service, which in turn would enhance to overall college experience of our fellow Eagles. Advocating for our constituency is our number one priority. Our main tools for

this have been the use of great questions and meaningful programming. As SGA, it is our responsibility to make sure that our fellow students understand the importance behind getting their education. With that being said, it is also our responsibility o

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PROGRAMS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 McCrimmon, three key areas should be examined: saving and re-prioritizing existing funds, increasing grants and contracts and increasing private fundraising. McCrimmon said seeking student feedback is vital and that he would only want to see tuition and fees raised as a last resort. “When the students get the message what is their feedback? I can take that to the Board of Trustees,” said McCrimmon. SGA Vice President Carmelo Montalvo agrees. “I am for the process of reviewing and allocating our resources towards the most effective means,” said Montalvo. But it is not always clear what the most effective choices are and how to justify them. “We should hold steadfast to our foundations in these times of cuts,” said Montalvo. Carla Stoddard, athletic training education program director, issued the following statement: “I am extremely disappointed with the proposal to eliminate the B.S. in athletic training,” said Stoddard. “Although it is not written in stone until the Chancellor proposes it to the UNC Board of Governors and it is approved by them. The athletic training education program administration and its constituents are looking forward to a meeting with Chancellor Nelms and Provost Thomas to discuss this further.” NCCU sociology junior Shawn Trimble started an online petition to gather signatures in support of the bachelor’s program in sociology on Jan. 24. By the weekend the petition had more than 100 signatures. It is possible that those signing the petition may have been led to believe the entire sociology program was slated for elimination, as the petition wording does not specify that only the bachelor’s program is listed in the Chancellor’s proposal. “It is almost like ripping the roots from under the [academic] tree,” said Trimble. “It is a core curriculum. It seems absurd to eliminate the program.” Rosa Anderson, director of the undergraduate program in public administration, said she supports the proposal to eliminate the bachelor’s degree in public administration. “Resources call for adjustment. We want to be a part of the solution,” said Anderson, adding that eliminating the bachelor’s program will not have a negative effect on the master’s program. Anderson said she is concerned about the possible termination of adjunct faculty positions as a result of the proposal.

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CAMPUS ADDRESS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 make sure that our fellow students understand the importance behind getting their education. With that being said, it is also our responsibility to hold each other accountable, from student to student, when concerning our academic merit as a undergraduate constituency. It is my strong belief that we as students have failed to do that thus far. This is demonstrated by some of the staggering statistics that have plagued NCCU over the last decade. With a retention rate of 71 percent and a graduation rate of 51 percent, it is obvious that we need to do some things differently, especially when our neighboring institutions, Duke, Chapel Hill and NC State, all boast a 90 percentile in both those areas. I mentioned earlier the Chancellor and his administration have taken steps to improve the intellectual climate of this University. They have done so partly because as an institution of higher learning, we are no longer funded based on the terms of our enrollment, but on the terms of our performance. This means we are no longer given our funding because of the amount of students we allow in, but by the caliber of students we send out. This basically translates into three things: retention, graduation, and our students’ market value in the workforce. From an administrative standpoint, these changes have been occurring through the establishment of the University College, the Quality Enrichment Program, more scholar programs centered around aca-

demic achievement, and the inception of the 2.0 minimum GPA policy, which states that a student must have at least a 2.0 GPA to stay enrolled at NCCU. Also in conjunction with these changes, NCCU has upgraded the overall profile of the students we are accepting into our doors. In 2007, our average incoming freshman GPA was a 2.74 with an SAT score of 1060. Over the past five years, it has been the stance of our HBCU to improve these things to better promote the intellectual climate on our campus. This year, the average GPA of an incoming freshman is a 3.02 with an average SAT score of 1350 [3 part]. These changes have greatly affected the value and quality of the education that we the students are paying for. It is our right, better yet our responsibility to ensure that our fellow classmates completely understand that their education is the engine for their and our success. Even with all of these institutional advancements, we have come to a point where we are now confronted with the constraints of a generational attitude barrier that was not present in the minority community until our, the Millennial generations, influence became infused with society at large, thus changing the outlook on institutions such as education. It is this fact that continues to hinder us today. What I am saying, NCCU, is that it is the attitudes we foster and allow ourselves to be surrounded by that are holding us back from

SGA Vice President Carmelo Montalvo. AARON SAUNDERS/Echo editor-in-chief

achieving the absolute best in everything, not just education. Consider this: Even after all that the administrational leadership of NCCU has done to change the intellectual climate, we are still faced with huge obstacles to overcome. Last year NCCU reported some very startling statistics related to the academic performance of its undergraduate population. Last year we lost a total of 703 students, predominately from the classes of 2014 and 2013, due to less than poor academic performance. We currently have 519 students who are on the brink of removal from the university on the same grounds. This is just unacceptable. Not addressing this issue on a peer-to-peer basis is no longer an option. You see, Eagle family, I

want us all to understand that we are moving into a new age in the collegiate arena. With seemingly repetitive institutional budget cuts, while on the eve of potentially catastrophic Title III cuts, an increasingly competitive workforce due to scarce resources and with an economy that shows no promise of returning to its once abundant worth anytime soon, we must question our mindsets as college students. We must position ourselves to survive in a world with less resources, and increasing expectations. We must become well acquainted with this NEW NORMAL. As your student body vice president I felt it was my place to personally address my fellow Eagles regarding this matter. Often times we have experienced people who come and talk to us about things they say they believe in, but have no record of it. At this moment I stand before you not as your SGA VP, but as a fellow Eagle, as your friend, your classmate. I stand before you: a junior, with a summa cum laude caliber GPA, and a dream of attending medical school and becoming a physician. I’m not looking out for myself here, I’m concerned about us! I stand before you concerned about our future, and concerned about the future of tomorrow’s Eagles. You see, we have become

complacent. We believe since we are in college, we have arrived, and some of us have the nerve to have a sense of entitlement without demonstrating anything that would suggest such. We must address and destroy this attitude to ensure progress. We must destroy the attitude that allows us to rationalize that C’s and D’s are acceptable. Many of us do this consciously because we are thinking just for ourselves, failing to realize that as a whole, we succeed only because the others around us do. By accepting this attitude, we accept that second best is still the best. We accept that we will be settling for less, and because such, we will receive less, meaning we will reach and help educate less. It is our best interest to understand this simple fact. It is essential we understand this fact. We must rid ourselves of even the memory of such an attitude. I felt it my place to tell you what administration is saying through their actions, which is, as a collective unit, faculty, staff, and most importantly the greater community, are no longer in the business of accepting nor condoning mediocrity, especially academic mediocrity. As I close I would like us to reflect on some things, and remind you to be cognizant of others. One, that the number one reason we came to college

was to graduate. It makes no logical sense for us to come an educational institutional of this caliber and do nothing less. This comes with a time table however. If you don’t graduate within 4 to 5 years, then you are hurting NCCU, not pushing it forward. Two, that our success is dependent on each other. statewide, nationally, and even globally, we speak for each other based on our performance and merit in the workforce and even while we are here in the classroom. We represent this institution, which is my and your home. And finally, to remember the times we are in. In these times of economic hardship, we cannot afford to waste our money and the University’s if we are not here with the intentions of being our best and being the best. W.E.B. Du Bois is greatly regarded for one of his terms, known as the talented tenth. We all fit into this small distinguished group because out of the vast minority community, we have made it to college, and because so we set the standard for our communities. Let’s strive to take our talented tenth, the ones who are here hearing my words, the ones living on and off campus, all of the ones who are attending NCCU, and turn that talented tenth into the talented hundredth. It is our responsibility to ensure the success of ourselves and our Eagle family. With that I leave you with this quote. Albert Einstein once said, “We cannot expect to solve a problem with the same level of consciousness that created it.” We have to be strong and willful change agents so that we can break this cycle of redundancy known as complacency, and do more to be better students and become more in doing so. The future of of great old NCCU is in our hands, and I would have it no other way. We are the Eagles, and we soar high. We are world changers, and I have faith that we will change the culture of this fine institution, and it will happen starting with myself, and you all in the audience.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. Romney now has a different challenge: vanquish his remaining rivals as quickly as possible, so that any doubts about him they raise in voters’ minds can be forgotten. “The longer this goes on, the more difficulty Romney faces,” Sabato said. The primary and caucus season stretches until the end of June. Gingrich, Texas Rep. Paul and former Pennsylvania Sen. Santorum say they’ll battle on. Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond said, “the mediapicked front-runner hasn’t broken 50 percent yet,” citing Romney’s showings in the year’s first three elections. “That leaves a lot of math out there for the conservative side of the party to pick up, which is how we’ll stay competitive in the nomination.”

Fifty delegates were at stake in Florida’s winnertake-all primary. After Tuesday only about 5 percent of the 2,286 convention delegates will have been selected. Many coming contests will award delegates proportionately, meaning that each candidate gets delegates based on his percentage of the vote. Still, Romney has money, local support and organization in each battleground; he had $19 million on hand at the start of January. Gingrich told Bloomberg News last weekend that he was down to $600,000. Paul is thought to have enough organization to compete in the February caucus states, and he’s been campaigning hard in Nevada. But he finished fourth in South Carolina and made virtually no effort in Florida, raising questions about his viability down the road. Santorum abandoned his

Florida effort over the weekend, traveling to the caucus states, hoping to exploit his strong ties to the evangelical Christian community. But he, too, is unable to match Romney’s political infrastructure. The best bet for a strong Romney challenge appears to be March 6, Super Tuesday, when 437 delegates are at stake in 10 states. Gingrich, a former congressman from a Georgia district, probably will bank on doing well in Georgia, Tennessee and Oklahoma, all conservative states that Romney lost last time. Romney can counter with muscle in the Western states that vote that day, as well as Vermont and his home state of Massachusetts. He also has an edge in the race for Virginia’s 49 delegates that day, since Gingrich failed to qualify for the ballot. Only Romney and Paul are on the Old Dominion’s ballot.

Winter bugs offer climate clues BY BILL MCAULIFFE STAR TRIBUNE (MCT)

ZUMBRO FALLS, Minn. — A flying insect that thrives in midwinter might seem like a creature from a frightening fictional Minnesota. But Diamesa mendotae, a cold-hardy but delicate insect also known as a midge, is very real and may provide a measure of how the state’s climate is warming, and what effect that might have. Researchers from the University of Minnesota are working to understand more about the relationship between these unusual freeze-resistant insects and the fish that eat them in streams in the southeastern part of the state. The threeyear project is primarily about brown trout, a popular target for anglers. “We’re thinking that a changing climate and increasing air temperatures will affect water temperatures, and that could reduce (fish) populations,” said entomology professor Len Ferrington, principal investigator on the project. Midges are also at the heart of the study because of their unusual ability to thrive in the winter, when they serve as trout food. When most other insects are idling, with eggs and larvae hidden away from the cold, midges, armed with a sort of internal antifreeze, produce several generations of offspring. Stream anglers, skiers and others who might poke into the deeper recesses of southeastern Minnesota during winter see them flying in clouds above the water or speckling the streamside snow. Jane Mazack, a graduate research assistant in the Water Resources Science program at the U, said Diamesa can remain active down to about 6 degrees below zero, which this winter would be the second-lowest temperature recorded in the Twin Cities. The midges are also high

University of Minnesota researchers catch trout and extract the contents of their stomachs in search of midges on January 19, 2012, at Zumbro Falls, Minnesota. BRIAN PETERSON/Minneappolis Star (MCT)

in calories and nutrients — “like pecan pie” for trout, Ferrington said. But their cold-hardiness is balanced by an intolerance for warmth. An increase of as little as 1.8 degrees in the average water temperature in a stream could wipe out an entire winter reproductive cycle for them, Mazack said. That could mean less food for trout during winter, or at least less nutritious food in the form of other bugs. Most southeastern Minnesota trout streams are fed by groundwater, which emerges at the same temperature as the average temperature of the air above ground. That’s about 48 degrees, which keeps the streams from freezing over and in turn allows insects to hatch, fly about, mate and lay eggs. But Minnesota’s air temperatures have been creeping upward in recent decades, most notably in the winter, and Diamesa stop growing in water that’s 50 degrees. “It’s really a narrow boundary,” Mazack said. Lori Krider, another graduate assistant in the Water

Resources Science program, has found that the water temperature in groundwater-fed streams rises an average of .38 degrees for every 1 degree rise in air temperature. An average air temperature increase of 7.9 degrees by the end of the century, predicted by one Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change model, could produce a stream temperature increase of about 3 degrees, which would be beyond midges’ threshold. That could alter food sources and habitat for trout, the researchers said. Researchers on the project, funded by a $300,000 grant from the Legislature, work in a rugged laboratory. A couple weeks ago, three graduate students and a DNR fisheries specialist waded into Cold Spring Brook, just outside Zumbro Falls, to collect bug samples, then probed the stream with a long-handled, electrically charged device that shocked fish to the surface. As a light snowfall settled in the folds of their bulky clothes, they collected several dozen fish — almost all of them brown trout — and car-

ried them to a portable, heated tent. There, the team weighed and measured each now-anesthetized fish, clipped a fin to mark it, injected a small tracking device under its skin and scraped off some scales that can be used to determine a fish’s age. Mazack then pumped a jet of water into each fish’s mouth and massaged its stomach, forcing out the contents — sometimes a dozen or more relatively intact insects — into a sieve, then sealing them in small plastic envelopes. They then dumped the fish back into the stream. The team will visit 12 streams several times during each of the project’s three years. On return visits, as many as 40 percent of the fish they net might be ones they’ve caught before, giving them opportunities to track fish growth. “It’s been kind of eyeopening to see how much food is in some of these fishes’ stomachs,” said Will French, a conservation biology graduate research assistant. “They’re feeding and growing in the winter — quite a bit, actually.”

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IVER SITY

Liberalism spreading on campuses – survey

ROMNEY Romney won each four years ago, and he’s a strong favorite in each again. Arizona has a primary Feb. 28; Romney lost it in 2008 to John McCain, the state’s senior senator and eventual nominee. This year, McCain is backing Romney. Romney has far more money and organizational strength than any rival. His Florida campaign demonstrated an ability to rebound quickly from a staggering loss 10 days earlier in South Carolina to Gingrich, a former speaker of the House of Representatives. Romney pivoted from running largely against President Barack Obama to some old-fashioned bashing of the enemy before him, Gingrich. It worked. Romney’s strength is no surprise to seasoned analysts. “The Romney nomination has been very likely all along,” said Larry Sabato,

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Walnut Creek, Calif — Already inclined toward liberalism, college freshmen are leaning even farther left on key political issues, a nationwide survey of first-year students has found. An all-time high of 71.3 percent of the new students support same-sex marriage, 6.4 percentage points higher than in 2009, according to the annual survey of more than 200,000 freshmen conducted by UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute. Nearly 43 percent of conservative freshmen said gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry. Opinions on abortion, marijuana legalization, immigration and affirmative action also grew more liberal in 2011, according to data released Wednesday. The 270-school survey — the country’s largest sampling of college students — was first used in 1966. “It’s not so much that liberal students are becoming more liberal,” said Linda DeAngelo, one of the report’s authors. “It’s that students who describe themselves as conservative are becoming more progressive.” A little more than 22 percent of respondents described themselves as conservative or “far right.” About 30 percent said they were liberal or “far left,” while 47.4 percent called themselves “middle of the road.” Despite the apparent liberalization, political advocates hoping to recruit students to their causes need to realize the survey is more reflective of young people’s tolerance on social issues, not enthusiasm, said AngeMarie Hancock, a political science professor at the University of Southern California. “They’re not like ATMs, where you can just withdraw their support,” she said. “You have to cultivate them as voters.” Conservative students in the Bay Area said they weren’t surprised by the shift to the left. In a region

that gave birth to California’s gay-marriage push, political views are not always black and white, students said. “My time is spent more on fiscal issues,” said Mark Luluan, a 24-year-old Cal State East Bay graduate student and chairman of the campus College Republicans chapter. “Over the past four years, we haven’t really dealt with traditional socially conservative issues. Students are more concerned about getting a job after graduation.” The same is true among San Jose State University conservatives, said 19-yearold sophomore Mark Williams, chairman of that school’s College Republicans. “I think the conservatives in our club are not as focused on social issues,” he said. “We’re not really for or against” same-sex marriage. At the University of California, Berkeley, where liberal politics have long been the cultural norm, several students said Wednesday they rarely discuss politics with their peers and they rarely come across students who are outwardly conservative. But being conservative would not earn a Cal student a scarlet letter, said 18-yearold freshman Alex Mangels. “I don’t think being conservative would be a huge problem,” said Mangels, who said he did not yet know how to describe his political beliefs. “They’re not going to hate you for it.” The survey also revealed that alcohol consumption dropped to an all-time low in 2011, with 35.4 percent saying they drank beer as high school seniors. Just less than 58 percent of respondents said they were attending their firstchoice college — the lowest number since 1974 — and more high school students took advanced-placement courses and studied longer than in the past. “I think high school students are stressed about getting into college,” said DeAngelo, of UCLA. “There’s an increased pressure to perform.”

U.S. teen pregnancy rate highest in developed world BY SHARI ROAN LOS ANGELES TIMES (MCT)

Los Angeles — Teen pregnancy rates in the United States have fallen in recent years, but the country still has a higher rate than any other developed country, according to data released Thursday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Battles over how to best prevent teen pregnancy may be to blame for the continued high rate in the United States. Abstinence-only programs are favored in some areas while education and improved access to contraception are supported in others. The most recent controversy stemmed from the federal government's refusal in December to allow emergency contraceptive pills to be sold over-thecounter to girls age 16 and younger. The new data, taken from a survey conducted in 19 states from 2004 to 2008, underscore the problems

with access to contraception and education on how to use contraceptives effectively, the report states. Half of the teen girls age 15 to 19 who became pregnant were not using any method of birth control. Among those, 31 percent said they didn't think they could get pregnant at the time. Pregnancy occurred among 21 percent of the teens who said they were using a highly effective contraceptive, which the study authors said suggests inconsistent use. Almost onequarter of the teens relied on condoms for protection. Thirteen percent said they had trouble getting birth control. Almost one-quarter said their partners did not want them to use contraception while 22 percent said they didn't mind if they got pregnant. About 400,000 American girls age 15 to 19 give birth each year. The report appears in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Durham’s Finest – Kid’s Art Extraordinaire 6

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Photography by Chi Brown Read about Durham’s Finest on the front page.

Cricket by Joshua Sawyer 11th Grade - Durham School of the Arts

Redefining Rockwell: The Watchmaker by Jesus Longinos 5th Grade - George Watts Montessori

Me ... in 50 Minutes by Kristina Alton 12th Grade - Durham School of the Arts

Untitled by Samantha Lewis 12th grade - Riverside High School

Trapped by Brandon Lames 12th Grade - Southern High School Untitled by Joy Montermayer 11th Grade - Jordan High School

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Zumba workout makes fitness fun Fitness program embraces multiple approaches to health

B Y M YAVA M ITCHELL ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Do you like to dance? Do you enjoy learning new moves? Are you trying to get in shape or lose weight? The latin inspired dancefitness program called Zumba is an entertaining option. They are led by Erica Dixon, choreography specialist, Zumba fitness contractor, and director of physical fitness and wellness for N.C. Central University. NCCU Vice Chancellor Kevin Rome attends "Zumba" classes. "I started going to Zumba last year. I was trying to support all of the programs for the department and became a regular. I try to attend two to three times a week and bring my kids when I can. I love it and it works,â&#x20AC;? said Rome. Zumba is a calorie burning cardiovascular exercise that is great for those who want to lose weight or build cardiovascular endurance. It also helps improve blood pressure and reduce stress. Alberto â&#x20AC;&#x153;Betoâ&#x20AC;? Perez began teaching Zumba in 2001 after forgetting to bring his music to one of his aerobics classes. The only music available to him was salsa and merengue tapes that he found in his car. That day marked the first Zumba class in history. There are also many other faculty and staff members referred to by Dixon as the inspirational â&#x20AC;&#x153;Zumba

Erica Dixon, NCCU director of physical fitness and wellness, leads Zumba classes every week in the Leroy T. Walker Complex. MATT PHILLIPS/Echo A&E editor

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I heard the music from Zumba ... I thought I would try it since I like to dance...â&#x20AC;? NCCU SPANISH

FRESHMAN

BRANDEE STURDIVANT

ON ZUMBA

stars," who attend the weekly classes. They include Carolyn Moore, director of the counseling center, Donna Grant, assistant professor of histo-

ry and Janelle Simmons, director of orientation and first year experience. Not only do faculty members enjoy the popular dance-fitness class, but stu-

dents attend as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I heard the music from Zumba while walking from class one day. I thought I would try it since I like to dance, but I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect it

to be so many people,â&#x20AC;? said NCCU Spanish freshman Brandee Sturdivant. Try Zumba Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30 pm and Tuesdays at 7 pm in the L.

T. Walker Physical Education and Recreation Complex. A Zumba fitness party is held every last Friday of each month.

Chic Spring styles on a student budget G

oodbye booties, boots, and coats! Flowers will be blooming when spring break rolls around the cor-

ner. With trips to Miami, D.C., Los Angeles and even Atlanta itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a must that we ladies begin to prepare ourselves fashionably. Spring 2012â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s runway looks were definitely hot, From Cynthia Rowley, Jason Wu, to Nanette Lepore, top designers had several wearable looks to choose from. However, as a college student runway prices are completely out of our budget! Not to be discouraged ladies, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve found

three wearable runway looks as well as the top places to score the look for a reasonable price. Bold Prints: Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve probably seen a couple of ladies walking around campus with the funky blazers, pants or even dresses. EBONY Kudos to them! Bold prints are definitely THORNTON in right now. Supplementing that print with a simple solid color will allow you to pop without being too loud of course.

Finding this look is fairly easy, Forever 21 has tons of different prints and Urban Outfitters is a good place to look as well. Anoraks: Sporty yet still chic! We all have our chill days, but that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be fashionable in the process. Anoraks give that laid back look, while still being every bit of stylish. You can score this look at H&M and even Target. Can you say deal! Peplum Skirts, Dresses, and Shirts: Definitely my favorite look so far, the peplum look insinuates the figure in a flirty, sexy way.

Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a peplum shirt with skinnyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s or a peplum dress; paired with the perfect heels, this look gives you that sexy and sophisticated womanly feel. This look can be found at Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Forever 21, and for our cyber junkies www.lulus.com. With either of these looks youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re bound to make a statement. Even better making a statement without breaking your bank! Who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want a deal like that! Fashionably frugal is what I like to call it. Check with these stores and more and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all bound to find a deal.

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‘Red Tails’ delivers

FINEST CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“It’s about being able to represent yourself. ” S AMANTHA L EWIS RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR

works from the elementary, middle and high school levels. Riverside High School senior Samantha Lewis was recognized for her black and white photograph, “Untitled.” Lewis’s image is a riveting composition that depicts draped strings of florescent lights across a building facade. “I tried to remember everything we learned [in class] and to try to make it aesthetically pleasing,” said Lewis. “It’s about being able to represent yourself.” Fifth grader Jesus Longinos of George Watts Montessori received special recognition for his painting “Redefining Rockwell, The Watchmaker,” as did eighth grader Catriona Schofield of Githens Middle School for her work “Kaleidoscope.” Kenneth Rodgers, director of the NCCU Art Museum, said special recognition works may be purchased by the museum.

Joe “Lightning” Little played by David Oyelowo. PHOTO

B Y J ULIAN M ELTON ECHO STAFF REPORTER

“Red Tails” was directed by Anthony Hemmingway and written by John Ridley and Aaron McGruder; grossing six million dollars on its opening day, this movie is a must-see. Based on true events, the film was financed and produced by George Lucas, the same producer that brought blockbuster series such as “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” to the silver screen. This two hour film is inspired by the legendary 332nd Airborne -- also known as the Tuskegee Airmen who are the first African-American aerial unit of World War II. No expense was spared while constructing the star studded cast which includes Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., Method Man, and Ne-Yo.

COURTESY

LUCASFILM LTD.

The main characters are Marty “Easy” Julian (Nate Parker) the squadron leader, who turns to liquor because he has high expectations placed on him by both the Air Force and his father; Joe “Lightning” Little (David Oyelowo), Easy’s fearless best friend who shoots first and asks questions later and Ray “Ray Gun” Gannon (Tristan Wilds) the youngest and most determined of the infantry who would rather be in the air than on the ground. Last but not least, the entertainer of the crew, Samuel “Joker” George (Elijah Kelley). During World War II, the 332nd was assigned to survey and overlook enemy territories and other odd jobs that kept them from the front lines of war. At that time, African-Americans were thought to be incapable of passing the flight testing required to

become pilots, let alone being able to assist in war aerial fights. While escorting Air Force bombers, the glory of shooting down German fighters proved too tempting to American pilots who left the bombers unprotected to attack. “Operation Shingle” allowed the 332nd to see the front lines of war for the first time by escorting Air Force bombers. The lack of bomber casualties and the success of the 332nd escort proved that the Tuskegee Airmen were more than qualified to fight for their country. This movie incorporates an overlooked part of African-American history and appeals to all audiences. From graphic dog fights, a romance between pilot and civilian and ample drama and suspense, “Red Tails” will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Purchased work will be framed and displayed in buildings on campus. The exhibit was the first time Abuk’s parents had seen their daughter’s school painting. “I was so happy to see the painting for the first time. She has put a lot of work into it,” said Abuk’s father, Emmanuel. Abuk said composing her painting — a vibrant, dream-like tree surrounded by bright colors and intricate designs — was a difficult process that involved hours of work. Knowing that the final product didn’t need to look like a real tree made painting enjoyable for her. “Everybody in my class chose cool colors. I chose warm colors because I wanted to do something different,” said Abuk. “Durham’s Finest” shows at the NCCU Museum of Art until Feb. 22. Admission is free Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Hood picks up the mic New music video is made by fellow NCCU student

B Y I IMANI M C K NIGHT ECHO STAFF REPORTER

If you ask N.C. Central University history junior, Nigel Hood, where he sees himself five years from now he’ll tell you that he expects to be one of the country’s leading artists – one that all people – not only black people, will look to for good music. Hood was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. His parents had a major influence on his musical inspirations. He recalls listening to The Temptations regularly with his father. Hood describes his upbringing as the traditional “suburban family” with a mother, father and two brothers. He says his family always supported his musical interests. Hood has been writing rhymes since he was in 5th grade. His first rhyme? “Cruising down the runway/ I glance behind me with my gun way.” According to Hood it was his first

“Cruising down the runway/ I glance behind me with my gun way.” NIGEL HOOD HIS FIRST RHYME

Nas CD which he got in 9th grade that transformed him as an artist. “Nas helped me understand how to express myself as a rapper,” said Hood. Hood calls himself a “folk rapper”. He explained he uses both Southern and Classical hip hop beats to rap about his life. “I’m inspired by artists such as Bob Dylan, Nas, Pimp C, Jimi Hendrix and Chuck Berry,” he said. Hood’s most recent project was a music video of his song “Bruce Lee”. The video was shot by NCCU’s mass communication junior, Kyle Jeffers. “Kyle is like a brother to me. Shooting with him was cool and fun

because he has a good mind for creativity,” said Hood. Jeffers described his experience working with Hood as amazing. “Nigel has a creative mind and is open to different ideas,” said Jeffers. According to Jeffers the final edit of “Bruce Lee” will be finished in March, but the trailer for the music video is available now on YouTube. Hood expects to eventually reach every inch of the world with his music. “My talent is a rare find,” said Hood. “I plan to not only be a rapper with a deal, but in the long run to make an impact on the direction of American music.”

Nigel Hood has a music video in post-p production. CHI BROWN/Echo photo editor

Theatre piece written, performed by cast B Y C AMERON C LIFTON ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Voice matters when an actress takes the stage. It matters all the more when she is speaking her own words. “Black Mama Monologues” comes to University Theatre Feb. 10. The play is written by cast members — a group of N.C. Central University actresses — and directed by Stephanie “Asabi” Howard, assistant professor in the NCCU Theatre Department. Howard described the play as “universal.” NCCU mass communication sophomore, Moriah Williams, said each cast member wrote two monologues. The cast worked to polish the pieces as a group. Williams wrote her monologue in response to the unpredictability of death. William’s close friend lost her mother at a young age. “I wrote my piece as a dedication to her mother,” said Williams. “Black Mama Monologues” delves into the complexities of womanhood. It is a celebratory production of matriarchy and the joy of motherhood. “It is really uplifting for all mothers. It is a celebra-

The cast members of “Black Mama Monologues” wrote their own parts. PHOTO

tion of motherhood and of being a mother,” said Williams. “Black Mama Monologues” shows at 8

p.m. Feb. 10, 11, 17, 18. It also shows at 2 p.m. Feb. 12, 19. General admission is $10. Student admission is $5.

COURTESY

NCCU THEATRE DEPARTMENT

“It is a celebration of motherhood and of being a mother.” CAST

MEMBER

MORIAH WILLIAMS

ON “BLACK MAMA MONOLOGUES”

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Lady Eagles slip again In a sloppy game Lady Eagles go down 54-46

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Open yet?

Pool may reopen in March J O N AT H A N A L E XA N D E R

ECHO SPORTS EDITOR

Freshman guard Kabrina Truesdale drives in for a lay up. NEKA JONES/Echo photographer

J O N AT H A N A L E XA N D E R

ECHO SPORTS EDITOR

The N.C. Central University Lady Eagles basketball team (2-19) came out flat in both halves, failing to score until 15:06 left in the first and 16:36 left in the second against the Lady Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore (7-12). The Lady Eagles’ zone defense was effective against all except one player. Junior forward Chelsea Sanders imposed her will inside the paint early, scoring a career high 25 points and shooting 71 percent on 10 of 14 shoot-

ing. “The last few minutes of the second half we collapsed on her a little more and tried to make her shoot shots from the outside which is probably something we should have tried earlier in the game,” head coach Joli Robinson said. Freshman Kabrina Truesdale provided a spark off of the bench, scoring eight of the Lady Eagles first nine points helping to keep the score within reach and giving the Lady Eagles a chance early. “I’ll always continue to provide it, because that’s what my team needs. Provide what all I can do

as a teammate to provide for everybody else,” Truesdale said. The Lady Eagles were able to battle back, cutting the margin to five points but 36 turnovers, offensive rebounds by the Lady Hawks, and Sanders helped contribute to the Lady Hawks never relinquishing the lead. Redshirt junior Chasidy Williams was the leading scorer for the Lady Eagles for the 14th time this season with a team high of 17 points on 5 of 9 shooting and was 7 of 10 from the free throw line. Few scoring contributions came from players other than Williams, Truesdale, and senior

Blaire Houston. They combined to score 42 of the teams 46 total points with 17, 15, and 10 points respectively. “We need everyone to score,” said Robinson. “It’s just that players have to have confidence in what they do. “We try to instill the confidence in them but when it’s game-time, a lot of times, I don’t know what happens to them.” Williams sees a lack of focus on defense. “I think our alertness on the court isn’t as good as it should be,” Williams said. “ W e ’ r e having a couple of rotation problems in our defense and it’s killing us.”

For two and a half years, N.C. Central University’s faculty and students have been waiting for the pool that closed in the fall of 2009 to reopen. According to Erica Dixon, director of campus recreation and wellness, that time has almost come. “I just spoke to the project manager on Friday, and he said the pool should be ready in mid-February,” said Dixon. “But you have to get the state back in here to test the chemicals, levels together and any other maintenance. It’s going to take about two weeks to get that done.” The Olympic-sized 50 meter pool, built in 1984, was originally slated to open last semester, then in the spring, but construction issues again delayed its opening. One swimming class was cancelled and two were moved to the Campus Hills recreation center a few miles from campus. The long delay has left some students and faculty puzzled. “It’s a concern of mine because of the high numbers of African-American students who die in drowning accidents, especially in the South,” said Rachelle Gold, associate professor of English. “Even if people are enrolled in aquatics class, it can be a resource for people learning how to swim.” It appears that the problems had a chain reaction..

According to Dixon, when the transformer blew due to a power outage, a small fire erupted in the pool area. When they drained the pool to fix the problem, the antiquated pumps caused a crack in the pool from the water pressure. The first crack in the pool exposed older cracks in the facility. “That exposed some of the damage [from] years of not having it maintained as well as it should have been,” said Dixon. Aquatics Director Thornton D r a p e r, who maintains the pool, was unavailable for comment. However, Virginia Politano, department chair of the physical education and recreation department, said the pool hasn’t been maintained properly from lack of funds. “We have to scrape and scrape to get money for chemicals and things like that. The university doesn’t give us a budget for the pool, and the pool takes a lot of money to maintain,” she said. Politano says that they’re going to run into the same problems in the future. “Since 1995 I’ve been requesting a budget for this pool and no one has paid any attention to me, so there’s not much I can do except request,” Politano said. “So when it’s up again, I’m going to request again from the chancellor to see if we can get a budget for next year to maintain the pool.”

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St. Titus’ Episcopal Church YOUR CHURCH HOME AWAY FROM HOME St. Titus’ Episcopal Church is a vibrant, welcoming, historic, predominately Black parish which through Divine Guidance serves God and community by opening doors, ears, eyes and hearts as we minister to all people. Youth Sunday School ~ Sundays at 10:45 a.m. Sunday Worship Services ~ 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Find our link at the Campus Echo homepage! www.campusecho.com

400 Moline Street ~ Durham, NC 27707 (919) 682-5504 Email ~ st.titus@frontier.com Web ~ st-titus-durham.org

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

Up in the air BY

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Eagles win aerial clash 77-46 Men’s basketball team clobbers UMES

A ARON S AUNDERS

ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

JEROME BROWN JR.

ECHO ASSISTANT EDITOR

I am not a coach; I repeat I am not a coach. I am, however, a sports junkie and I believe that NCCU basketball has a problem, but I can’t quite put my finger on whether it is good or bad. With a 10-11 overall record and 4-4 in the MEAC, Head Coach LeVelle Moton has a critical decision to make — whether or not to red shirt senior 3-point specialist Landon Clement. The Eagles have fared solidly eight Aaron games into the Saunders MEAC schedule, but I can’t help noticing that something is missing. That absent element is the sweet stroke of Clement who broke the NCCU single season 3point record in his first season as an Eagle and has been sidelined with a foot infection since December. I know the theory is win now at all cost, but if my name was LeVelle Moton, I would hold Clement out and advise him to apply for the medical redshirt, to improve my teams chances next year with an even deeper team. Clement has played in nine games and is right at the cutoff for the NCAA’s rule that states “A student-athlete must have competed in at least one contest in the first half of the season, but no more than three contests or 30 percent, whichever is greater (14.2.4). The total number of contests is calculated by the schedule on the first date of competition.” There are two issues that need to be addressed concerning the medical hardship waiver and Clement’s future. First, it is not a guarantee that Clement will be granted the redshirt, which means that this talented young man lost his senior season and opportunity to help his team win a championship. Second, without Clement the Eagles are not the same team and not a serious contender for a MEAC title. This is no indictment on the talented team that has performed well in its first official season in the MEAC, but Clement is the X-factor who opened up the floor for senior forward Dominique Sutton and junior guard Ray Willis. However, if Clement is granted the red-shirt it could go a long way to helping next year’s chances for competing for the MEAC title, but it could also be a hindrance to the growth of sophomore guard Jeremy Ingram who has seen his minutes increase since Clement's absence. Junior guard Ebuka Anyaorah has also seen his role in the offense skyrocket.

The N.C. Central University Eagles have been on the wrong side of many bad shooting nights throughout the season, but Monday they took advantage of a strong start in a blowout of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 77-46. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Eagles after a tough stretch of games against MEAC opponents. The losses included a 20 point defeat at the hands of Coppin State and a game against Delaware State where they missed 14 free throws. Head coach LeVelle Moton encouraged his players to keep their heads up after their second 3-game losing streak of the season. “I told our guys they have nothing to be ashamed about. They just got their welcome to the MEAC. Every team is a quality team.” NCCU raced out to a 13-0 lead after nearly 8 minutes in the first half. Late baskets in the half by Ray Willis and Nick Chasten stretched the Eagles lead to 31. The second half saw the Eagles lead by as much as 33 points despite UMES matching NCCU’s scoring output in the half. Moton was encouraged by his team’s ball security and lack of miscues. “We missed free throws versus Delaware

State and we threw the ball away so if we eliminate those mistakes like we did tonight we can have fun playing the game,” said Moton. Dominique Sutton bounced back from a disappointing performance against Delaware State on Saturday to lead the Eagles with 18 points and 9 rebounds. “Mentally and physically I was ready today, I prepared myself well yesterday for this game,” said Sutton. Previous poor shooting nights against Coppin State and Morgan State led to tough Eagle losses, but Monday was a different story as the Eagles tied their season high with 11 three pointers made, four by junior guard Ray Willis, who finished with 16 points. “The difference tonight was we looked confident in shooting. In previous games we weren’t confident,” said Moton. “We’ve been shooting just because we were open instead of shooting to make the shot.” Emanuel Chapman, the MEAC’s assist leader (6.2 apg) dished out 11 asssits for the Eagles. The Eagles are still without guard Landon Clement who is described as day-to-day with a foot infection. With the win, the Eagles even their MEAC record to 4-4 and 10-11 overall. They head to Tallahassee on Saturday to face FAMU.

Senior Nick Chasten attempts to block a dunk from Maryland Eastern Shore foward. NEKA JONES/Echo photographer

New coach, new attitude Koerner wants to instill a different mindset in his new team BY

T RENTON L ITTLE

ECHO SPORTS REPORTER

Chemistry, determination, and discipline will be the key to a successful season for the N.C. Central University baseball team. In their last 83 games the Eagles have only managed to register 10 wins. New head coach Jim Koerner will have a tough task this season, but is definitely ecstatic about the upcoming season. Koerner is the second head baseball coach named since NCCU reestablished its baseball program in 2006. In his second stint as a head coach on the collegiate level, (he coached Division III Medaille

College for three seasons dating back to 2001). Koener says he wants to create a vision at NCCU. “I’m trying to set a vision, establish goals, make sure the players know we’re serious about the goals, and then hold them accounta b l e , ” Jim Koerner Koerner head coach said. He of baseball was previously an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the University at Buffalo. The players are definite-

ly buying into what Koerner is telling them. Shortly after Koerner accepted the job, he phoned the returning Eagles players. While at home, sophomore outfielder Nate Smith was one who received a phone call from Koerner. “He told me to come ready to work,” Smith said. “Our bond started with that phone call, he doesn’t take any junk from anybody, and he’s here to win.” A recruiting guru at his previous schools, Koerner was able to seize a prize recruit in Outfielder Luis Diaz. Upon his arrival at NCCU. Diaz was the No.13 rated pro prospect in the New York Collegiate

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Baseball league. After many seasons of dismal batting averages and poor pitching for the Eagles, Koerner assures the team will be able to step to the plate and mound with courage. “I think we`re going to swing the bats very well, we have depth that’s going to help promote competition, and I think that’s something this program may have been lacking in the past.” Since Koerner’s arrival he has made it an objective to expel the losing mentality. “Our work ethic has improved tremendously, we have nothing but positive attitudes,” Smith said. “I believe we have done

some great things the last several months to teach, coach, and train these guys in a way that will reap better results thanks to Coach (Jerry) Shank,” Koerner said. “We’ve added some depth to the pitching staff, four or five new pitchers, which will add competition, and give us more options.” Unfortunately, for the Eagles’ they will be missing a key piece of the puzzle in this years’ lineup, their former team leader and leadoff hitter Akeem Hood. Hood who led the team with a .354 batting average and had the highest onbase percentage, reaching base on over 40 percent of his at-bats.

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Opinions

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2012

IVER SITY

What it means to me

lack History Month first and foremost should not be limited to just one month out of the year. As often as possible you should seek to learn more about our contributions to history in this country and around the world. In 1926 Dr. Carter G Jaleel Woodson Hunt launched the initiative “Negro History Week” to bring national attention to African American contributions in American History. It later became“Black History Month”. Dr. Woodson chose this month because it is the birth month of 2 men he considered to be great influences on the black population: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. The purpose of Black History Month began as a way to acknowledge African

The purpose of Black History month began as a way to acknowledge African-American achievement but has been transformed to a repetitive process year after year.

American achievements, but it has been transformed into a repetitive process year after year. Every year students are introduced to the same black historical figures during February such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, and Jackie Robinson. You were lucky if by some miracle you heard about Malcolm X. Consider yourself blessed if you did! This month not only gives us an opportunity to explore the countless contributions we have made to society but also gives us a time to reflect. This time of reflection should remind us how far we

have come as a people and the direction in which we are going. Black history month is a time to reconnect with our past to remember the sacrifices that were made and why they were made. It is a time for us to put aside the differences that have been pointed out to us, and remember the universal struggle that defines us. The struggle gives us the ability to produce work so creative that it is unmatched by any other ethnicity on this planet. These struggles along with our unity are to be embraced as they are our greatest

weapons in our fight for equality. These are invaluable assets. Let us reflect on how mutual up-building and support have benefited us in the past. This year our university’s theme is Women’s History. Black History Month for our sisters should be a reminder of how much they have had to endure to be standing here. Black women have had to struggle against the double oppression of being women and being black. For black women it should also be a reminder of how the importance of their actions today determines how they are viewed tomorrow. Every month should be black history month but in the month when we are “allowed” to be nationally recognized, let’s show out. Let the world see that we are black and we are proud. This is your duty because the leisure that you enjoy today was bought with the blood, sweat, and tears of our brothers and sisters of the past.

Vote no on Amendment 1

o one is surprised that Republicans have used their majority in the General Assembly to try to take away the rights of thousands of North Carolinians. The Republican Party is the party of big business and bigots. Their party houses Islamaphobes, racists, xenophobes, and Brandon greedy capitalists. Hicks In September, the Republican controlled North Carolina General Assembly voted to constitutionally ban same-sex unions. On May 8th this proposed constitutional amendment will appear on the ballot. It will be called Amendment 1. It is imperative that all fair minded North Carolinians vote no on Amendment 1. Many people wonder how the General Assembly found the time to pass this legisla-

North Carolina has consistently opposed every major social justice movement. Our state was a member of the Confederacy, resisted the Civil Rights movement, and created obstacles for workers seeking to form unions.

tion when there are huge inequities affecting the lives of many North Carolinians. In NC, there is a poverty rate of 17 percent. Almost 20 percent of North Carolinians are living in poverty and energy is being put towards institutionalizing hatred. The General Assembly has not proposed any amendment that calls for the end of the state’s poverty. The General Assembly is more concerned about stopping gay people from getting married, than insuring that every North Carolinian earns a living wage. Still, even if poverty was alleviated in NC there would be no justification

for using the state’s constitution as a tool to discriminate against gay and lesbian citizens. Democracies are expected to protect the rights of minorities, not put those rights up for a popular vote. Our General Assembly is controlled by people who do not understand the basic American ideals of justice and equality. They also do not care if they are on the wrong side of history. North Carolina has consistently opposed every major social justice movement. Our state was a member of the Confederacy, resisted the Civil Rights movement, and created

obstacles for workers seeking to form unions. No matter how strong the tide of history, NC finds a way to swim against it. Hopefully on May 8th people from across the state will recognize that this amendment is regressive, and vote no on Amendment 1. Not only does Amendment 1 not address real issues plaguing the state or help to move our state in a more progressive direction, it does not stop gay people from marrying. There is already a state law which prohibits gays and lesbians from marrying. Gay citizens of North Carolina are not even participating in civil unions. There is no practical reason to pass Amendment 1. The only plausible reason for the General Assembly to pass this legislation is so they could further alienate gay and lesbian citizens across the state. The most important reason to vote no on Amendment 1 is because it comes from a place of hate.

drawing by Rashaun Rucker

Question: How do you celebrate Black History Month? “By attending church events and socials that showcase AfricanAmerican heritage. ” — Desmond Alston

“By supporting the programs and social gatherings on campus that gives recognition to not only the past but the present African-American leaders .” — Jessica Speller

“By being at an HBCU and keeping in mind that I am where I am now because someone paved the way for me to get my education .” — Anthony Evans Sound Off By Uyi Idahor

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