January_2_2009 by N.C. Central University Campus Echo

JANUARY 21, 2009

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VOLUME 100, ISSUE 7 919 530 7116/CAMPUSECHO@NCCU.EDU WWW.CAMPUSECHO.COM

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Neighborhood organization wants Rivera house preserved.

NCCU Men’s B-ball nabs two wins for the season after 17-game losing skid

NC’s own Kooley High brings a fresh twist to hip-hop culture.

These kids have skills. Don’t believe it? Just check out their artwork.

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Campus Echo NCCU to sever ties with ‘CC’

INAUGURATION | A VIEW FROM THE CAPITOL

After four years, NCCU lease with Campus Crossings to end May 23

Campus reacts to big day Obama spurs Eagle spirit

BY GEOFFREY COOPER ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

After two years living on campus, criminal justice sophomore Chasidy Ward is more than ready to venture away from the dorm. But when University housing officials told her Campus Crossings was no longer an option, she began to have second thoughts. “There’s going to be a lot of angry people this year,” said Ward. Many continuing students like Ward are confused about the University’s decision last Wednesday to sever its lease with the 564-unit apartment complex managed by Campus Apartments, a company based in Philadelphia. NCCU began its lease with Campus Crossings in 2005 as a temporary solution to the dorm renovations and housing shortage on campus. The contract becomes null and void on May 23. Jennifer Wilder, director of residential life, said the contractual agreement was never supposed to be a long term deal and her department has spent $3 to $4 million annually renting the property.

BY NATALIA N. FARRER STAFF REPORTER

For many Americans, President Barack Obama’s decisive win on Nov. 4 was a signal of hope and of significant changes to come. “It has been the most intense, most involved election for me, and it’s been because of Barack Obama,” said Kevin Rome, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management. Rome referred to when civil rights activist Jesse Jackson campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984. “I was excited, but nowhere near this excited,” said Rome. “This has been important because of the timing and conditions of this country, but also because, with the use of technology, Barack Obama’s people were able to involve a lot of young people and people who are typically not involved in the voting process.”

n See REACTION Page 2 President Barack Obama delivers his inaugural address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. WIN MCNAMEE/Pool (MCT)

World watches with hope Tens of millions spellbound by prospect of black president BY JACK CHANG

Obama revives service

MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

rom Jerusalem to Jakarta and from Nairobi to Moscow, tens of millions around the world watched Barack Obama become president of the United States on Tuesday, feeling a mix of hope that he would bring peace to a war-torn world and doubts about what one man can accomplish.

n See CROSSINGS Page 2

In Kenya, where Obama’s father was born, hundreds of people from all walks of life and ethnic commu-

nities sat in the great court of the University of Nairobi, counting the hours and minutes until the

BY JABARI BLACKMON

INSIDE

ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Full text of President Barack Obama’s inauguration speech. — Pages 6-7 inauguration. When he took the oath, the crowd leapt to its feet, erupting in

n See INAUGURATION Page 5

N.C. Central University freshman Desmera Gatewood stuffed Ziplock bags with sunscreen, toothpaste, energy drinks and other items for American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan on the crowded floor of Robert F. Kennedy Stadium Monday in Washington, D.C.

n See SERVICE Page 5

MLK march ends with show at B.N. Duke “What is your dream?” — Chancellor Charlie Nelms BY SADE THOMPSON ECHO STAFF REPORTER

The morning of January 19 began the celebration of accomplishments by civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and it was a unified moment for the Durham community. This year’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. March, spearheaded by the Durham Martin Luther King Steering Committee and escorted by Durham police, started at the Hayti Heritage Center on Fayetteville Street and ended at the B.N. Duke Auditorium at N.C. Central University. History senior Brian Robinson was excited as he described the march. “I wish more students would have come out,” he added. Durham has a rich civil rights history, such as the sit-in at the

Royal Ice Cream parlor in 1957. As the march came to a halt, community members and students assembled for the celebration. There were performances by The Durham Children’s Choir, The Martin Luther King Youth Choir, and The Martin Luther King Celebration Choir. The guest speaker was the Rev. Dr. Harry L. White, Jr. of Watts Chapel Baptist Church in Raleigh. NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms began his greeting with the poem “Hold Fast to Dreams” by Langston Hughes. He challenged the audience by asking: “What is your dream? What have you done that warrants celebrating? And what will you do between this day and next year that will permit you to celebrate?”

n See MLK Page 2

Durham residents parade down Fayetteville Street to honor the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. MITCHELL WEBSON Echo Staff Photographer

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Ward, who is currently a resident assistant at George Street Apartments, said that she wanted to move into Campus Crossings next year and become an RA there. She said with Campus Crossings no longer being leased through the University, many students will face higher rents to live at Campus Crossings. But in fact, according to Campus Echo calculations, it will in fact cost less to live in Campus Crossings when you rent directly from the apartment complex. Right now, under the NCCU lease agreement, a student living in a threebedroom Campus Crossings apartment pays about $625 per month to live Campus Crossings. A student living in a 2-bedroom apartment pays about $685 per month. In a Jan. 19 letter from the department of residential life, the proposed rent schedule for Campus Crossings lists a three-bedroom/two-bath apartment at $525 and a two-bedroom /two-bath apartment at $650 per month, per person. Students living in Campus Crossings next year will, however have to pay a $25 application fee, a $50 administration fee (covers credit and criminal background) and a $150 security deposit. Additionally, Campus Crossings will offer a free shuttle service next year.

Wilder believes Campus Crossings will remain a popular housing option because many students feel they have outgrown the dorm life. “[Students] want that off-campus, independent, kind of living,” said Wilder. “But we’re going to make sure we provide them the resources to make an informed decision.” Even students who are graduating this semester feel perplexed about the situation. Psychology senior Jamal Fruster said the department of residential life should have given students earlier indications that NCCU would no longer be leasing with Campus Crossings. He said this would have given students more time to figure out an alternative plan. “I feel bad for those who are going to be upperclassmen, trying to get housing next year,” said Fruster. “It really puts them in a bind and makes it stressful for them.” According to Wilder, other projects are underway to provide more oncampus housing. Wilder said the former two-building dormitory Chidley Hall will soon become Chidley Commons, eventually replacing Campus Crossings. The new residential hall will have three parts: Chidley Main, which will be renovated, Chidley North, which will replace the annex, will be demolished and re-built, and a new building, Chidley South. The dormitory will house more than 500 students. Wilder said that she anticipates the dorm’s completion by August 2011. Demolition is scheduled to begin in this summer and actual site work will commence later in the fall.

GEOFFREY COOPER/Echo Staff Photographer

MLK CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 In remembering King and his accomplishments, Durham City Councilman Mike Woodard spoke of “an impact and influence that was never diminished.” Local high school students, NCCU student representatives and non-profit

organizations were awarded scholarships and plaques. A dedication was given to members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in honor of King and to members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in memory of Coretta Scott King.

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Taking service global

L.T. Walker Physical Education Complex -- hundreds packaged food headed for Zimbabwe. SAVIN JOSEPH/Echo Staff Photographer

ast night nearly 200 students from Duke University and N.C. Central University teamed up to prepare meals for people across the Atlantic. The Million Meals Stop Hunger Now

Project, held in the Leroy T. Walker Complex, was organized to prepare meals for schools in Zimbabwe. The project fit well with President Obama’s appeal to service and world unity.

REACTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Middle grades education junior Janay Jones said her first thought was of the election’s impact on her elders. “My 81-year-old grandmother is from South Carolina and lived through Jim Crow laws, the civil rights movement, being sprayed by water hoses because of her skin color,” Jones said. “It is overwhelming to see a black man leading not just black people, but everyone.”

The Dream Realized

Campus Crossings has been home to NCCU upperclassmen since 2005. Currently the apartment complex has 564 units.

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1,000,000 meals

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “Economically, we can not continue this relationship,” said Wilder. Wilder said last semester she recommended to Chancellor Charlie Nelms and members of his administration not to renew the lease for Campus Crossings. After months of trying to weigh different scenarios in terms of students and costs, a decision was made.

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2009

Millions of people around the world viewed Tuesday’s inaugural ceremony as a celebration of unity and democracy and the beginning of a new era—or, as some say, “the end of an error.” “I was happy to be alive and be a witness, proud to be an American,” said Rome, who traveled to Washington, D.C. to witness the inaugural events firsthand. Obama’s inaugural address tempered hope with caution. Obama was unambiguous about the challenges that America faces. “That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood,” Obama said. “Our nation is at war … Our economy is badly weakened … “Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. “Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many … “Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land.” Obama made it clear that there will be no easy or quick solutions to the myriad problems facing the nation. He called for “bold and swift” action in meeting these obstacles head-on. “What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility—a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world,” he said.

“… This is the price and the promise of citizenship.” Jones viewed the inauguration on TV. “I feel like no truer words were ever spoken when Obama said, ‘The time has come to set aside childish things,’” she said. “Other things stood out, but this was like, ‘everyone be a grownup and do what you have to do to get things done.’” Family and consumer science senior Sha’Niece Simmons admires Obama’s candor. “The part of his speech I appreciated was that everything is not going to happen overnight,” Simmons said. “People think he’s going to go in and wave a magic wand, but that’s not going to happen,” she said. “It’s going to take time and it’s going to take effort, whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, or Independent.” Barack and Michelle Obama concluded the historic day at 10 official inaugural balls, highlighted by Beyoncé’s rendition of the Etta James classic “At Last,” played during the couple’s first dance. Party’s Over, Work Begins On President Obama’s first full day in the Oval Office, he immediately got down to business. Obama froze White House all staff members’ salaries over $100,000, began working to close the controversial Guantanamo Bay detention facility, discussed details of the financial recovery package with his economic advisers, and detailed new rules for White House lobbyists, promising a new era of transparency for Americans. Jones said, “Change is the word that’s truly in the air.” Rome also is impressed. “He’s shown that he’s going to be very careful at how money is spent and he’s going to do exactly what he said he would do,” he said. Obama has made push-

ing the economic bailout, withdrawing combat troops from Iraq, and dealing with the crisis in the Middle East among his priorities for his first days in office. The President already has filled most of the major posts in his new administration, with nominations ranging from politicians to leaders in education, from Democrats to Republicans, and from Asian-Americans to Latinos. Sen. Hillary Clinton, Obama’s former opponent for the Democratic presidential nomination, was sworn in Wednesday as the 67th Secretary of State. Rome, commenting on Obama’s Cabinet, said, “He has fashioned himself behind Abraham Lincoln. One of the things Lincoln did was select a Cabinet of leaders that were also his rivals, and he was one of the greatest presidents in our history.” Obama is expected to reverse some of Bush’s more controversial executive orders, such as restrictions on embryonic stem cell research and the “Mexico City policy,” which prohibits U.S. funding of international groups that promote abortion. The president’s first 100 days in the White House have long been the standard used to evaluate that president’s success. How will Obama fare these next three months? “He has a long road in front of him simply because the economy is in such terrible shape, so that he will almost be forced to make that his one and only priority,” said business marketing junior Pattrick Walker. “But yet he must still end the war in Iraq. “Realistically, he is not going to fix everything overnight, but as long as there are concrete plans in place then we will have a blueprint for growth,” said Walker. What can the president do? A president typically pushes his agenda in two ways. He molds and influences

public opinion in support of his ideas and agenda through appearances on television and at press conferences, and through annual and special speeches to the nation and to Congress. The president appeals to Congress by personally lobbying for and against legislation and vetoing bills he opposes. The U.S Constitution grants the president control over the nation’s budget. He can impound funds appropriated by Congress against his wishes. He also can issue executive orders, which can make changes quickly and do not require Congressional approval. (George W. Bush issued 280 in his two terms in office.) The president also has the option of employing his so-called “emergency powers,” which are normally granted by Congress in times of national emergency or war. Even without a declaration of war, the president can order and direct troops. But these presidential powers don’t translate to quick fixes for the nation’s problems, according to Jeffrey Elliot, political science department chair. “People who expect miracles will quickly come to the conclusion that there are no miracles, only practical solutions to complex issues that make significant headway in addressing these problems,” said Elliot. “We should not expect too much too soon.” Elliot said many political realities will determine Obama’s effectiveness. These include the degree of support he gets from Congress and from the American people, the strength of his advisers, and the outcome of U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. “He must consider the cost-benefit analysis of every decision,” said Elliot. “It’s a juggling act. “You have to address as many problems as you can.”

Campus Echo JANUARY 21, 2008

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Campus Echo hosts journalism conference BY ALICIA K. HATCHER

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IVERSITY

Winning awards while saving lives Project Safe fights STDs, HIV with education

ECHO STAFF REPORTER

N.C. Central University’s Campus Echo will play host to about 150 HBCU student journalists from Feb. 12-14 at the 11th Annual National HBCU Student News Media Conference and Job Fair. The three-day conference, an annual project of the Black College Communication Association, will be held at the Durham Marriott Civic Center downtown. “It’s the highlight of the year for all HBCU student journalists,” said associate professor Bruce dePyssler, the coordinator of the conference. Students who attend will have the opportunity to learn from notables in the profession and interact with other HBCU students. Information sessions on subjects including photojournalism, page design, headline writing, and investigative journalism will be conducted by professionals from media outlets including The News & Observer, The Independent Weekly and USA Today. The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at UNCChapel Hill will also be sending a number of jounalism professors to meet with students. Danny Hooley, a Campus Echo editor-in-chief in 19992000, is arranging the workshops and panels with dePyssler. Panels of editors and recruiters will be available to teach students key information, such as how to get the most out of the Job Fair, how to ace the interview,

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2008

BY TOMMIA HAYES ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Student News Media Conference & Job Fair NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY DURHAM, NC ~ FEBRUARY 12-14, 2009

and what information should and should not be included on a resume. According to dePyssler students from about 20 HBCUs are expected to attend the conference. Geoffrey Cooper, Campus Echo editor-in-chief and a senior in mass communications, said he expects to gain a lot from this conference. “I really love these conferences,” he said. “I participated in the last two, at Morgan State and Florida A&M. I still use the tips I got from them.” According to Cooper, one thing students will learn at the conference is that “this profession is not a cake walk. There is a lot of work involved in getting into journalism.” Cooper has had internships with Rocky Mount Telegram, The South Bend Tribune and The News & Observer.

In addition to the workshops at the Marriott, the American Society of Newspaper Editors will sponsor a Career Fair on Feb 14. Around 20 editors from southern newspapers and recruiters from large national newspapers will be interviewing students. Sheena Johnson, director of communications and marketing for the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, is assistant coordinator for the conference. “This event opens the student’s eyes to the industry as a whole,” said Johnson, a Campus Echo reporter and sports editor from 2002-2005. “Not only do you get to meet other students who are facing the same challenges as you, but you meet people you will connect with in the field and make lifelong friendships as well.”

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R E F O U R S

Project Safe is not only saving lives. The HIV/STD outreach project is also winning awards. The N.C. Central University-based program works on campus and across the Triangle in association with the Durham County Health Department to provide prevention information about HIV and STDs. The peer education program began in 2001 with only six student peer educators. All were health education majors, trained in a seminar by Dr. David Jolly, an associate professor in the Department of Public Health Education and former coordinater for the National AIDS and STD hotlines for the Center for Disease Control. Jolly’s seminar focuses on HIV/STD prevention, and communication and outreach skills. This year, the Project Safe project utilizes 30 peer educators. Tanya Bass, a Health Promotion Coordinator in the department, advises the student peer educators alongside Jolly. Peer educators communicate the safe sex message in a variety of ways. They hold seminars with organizations, and in NCCU residential halls. They meet with area high school students. They pass out “prevention bags” on campus, which include condoms, dental dams, and safesex information brochures. Their work hasn’t gone unnoticed. In December, Wilkins was named “Youth Volunteer of the Year” and Jolly won a “Volunteer Appreciation Award” from N.C. State Health Director, Leah Devlin, and N.C. State AIDS Director Evelyn Foust. Jolly said he appreciates the recognition for college students at HBCUs, who have an important role to play in HIV and STD prevention. He also credited Bass with much of the success of the program. “The project would not be where it is now without her,” Jolly said. In 2001, a survey was conducted to assess the need for

Brittany Wilkins, vice president of Project Safe, was named “Youth Volunteer of the Year” by North Carolina health officials. BRIAN LATIMER/Echo Staff Photographer

HIV/STD education at N. C. Central University. More than 300 students enrolled in an introductory health course. The results showed that 80 percent of students were sexually active. Forty-two percent of sexually active students reported using protection half the time or less. The Fall 2007 National College Health Assessment of the American College Health Association reported that 68.6 percent of students overall were sexually active, and that only 35.8 percent used condoms. Nearly as many used birth control pills, and 6.3 percent used nothing. “It does not matter who you are if you’re engaging

yourself in unprotected sex,” said Jolly. “You’re placing yourself at risk for HIV and other STDs, so all sexually active students should be using protection.” Project Safe will offer an information program Feb. 14, and a relationship conference in April to improve communication about HIV and STDs on campus. Next, Project Safe is working on its new MySpace Web site iTESTED, which encourages students to get tested for sexual diseases. Students interested in joining Project Safe, or holding a seminar for their residential halls or orgsanizations may contact David Jolly or Tanya Bass at 530-6664.

DUKE IN GHANA SUMMER 2009 902 Old Fayetteville Street, Suite 201 Phoenix Shopping Center (across from KFC) 910 308 1935

It’s time to start preparing for the ‘world of work. University Career Services is the student’s focal point for career planning. We offer career counseling, part-time job placements, internships, and cooperative education placements in both the private and public sectors. We offer workshops on resume writing, inteviewing, cover letter writing, and stress management. Plus, in our Glaxo Career Library, you’ll find career-related videos, brochures, pamphlets, and magazines, as well as graduate school catalogs and annual reports — all there for you to review. Call for an appointment or drop by to meet with one of our counselors.

University Career Services William Jones Building, Room 005 560-6337

Duke University is offering THREE FULLY FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS to qualified NCCU students for an exciting six-week, twocourse summer study abroad program on culture and life in Ghana. This program will be based at the University of Legon, just outside the capital city of Accra. Program courses: •Africamerican Crosscurrents: Translation and Transmission of Culture •Through Music and Art Between West Africa and America’ •Ghanaian Culture and Politics Application Deadline: Feb. 4, 2009. Program open to freshmen, sophomores and juniors only. For more information, please visit the Duke Study Abroad website: http://studyabroad.duke.edu/home/Programs/ Summer/Duke_in_Ghana. Interested students should contact Olivia Jones at 530-7713 or ojones@nccu.edu or Renee Hoehne at 530-7714 or rhoehne@nccu.edu.

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Campus Echo hosts journalism conference BY ALICIA K. HATCHER

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Winning awards while saving lives Project Safe fights STDs, HIV with education

ECHO STAFF REPORTER

E N T R A L

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2008

BY TOMMIA HAYES ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Student News Media Conference & Job Fair NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY DURHAM, NC ~ FEBRUARY 12-14, 2009 and what information should and should not be included on a resume. According to dePyssler students from about 20 HBCUs are expected to attend the conference. Geoffrey Cooper, Campus Echo editor-in-chief and a senior in mass communications, said he expects to gain a lot from this conference. “I really love these conferences,” he said. “I participated in the last two, at Morgan State and Florida A&M. I still use the tips I got from them.” According to Cooper, one thing students will learn at the conference is that “this profession is not a cake walk. There is a lot of work involved in getting into journalism.” Cooper has had internships with Rocky Mount Telegram, The South Bend Tribune and The News & Observer.

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R E F O U R S

Brittany Wilkins, vice president of Project Safe, was named “Youth Volunteer of the Year” by North Carolina health officials. BRIAN LATIMER/Echo Staff Photographer

DUKE IN GHANA SUMMER 2009 902 Old Fayetteville Street, Suite 201 Phoenix Shopping Center (across from KFC) 910 308 1935

University Career Services William Jones Building, Room 005 560-6337

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2009

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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk down Pennsylvania Avenue as they wave to the crowd on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, in Washington, D.C. TED RICHARDSON/RALEIGH NEWS & OBSERVER (MCT)

“Obama! Odinga!” Both Obama and Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga are descended from Kenya’s Luo tribe. “There are no words to describe how I’m feeling,” said David Osienya, a 24-year-old literature student. Obama “has shown us it is time for us young people to change society after our old politicians here nearly took us to civil war.” A similar scene played out in Jakarta, Indonesia, where Obama lived as a child for four years with his mother. About a thousand excited people crowded into a hotel ballroom in the Indonesian capital to watch the ceremony. Among the most excited was Ati Kitjanto, a former classmate of Obama’s at the Muslim Jalan Besuki school. “We’re very excited that somebody who was in my class and lived in Indonesia has made it this far,” Kitjanto said in a telephone interview. “We feel like some of his personality was molded somehow when he was in Indonesia.” Obama’s message sparked a different reaction in the Middle East, where many Arabs said they didn’t expect much change in a U.S. foreign policy they blamed for the U.S. invasion of Iraq and Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip. Ahmad Abdul-Raheem Mezel, 30, a resident of the Iraqi city of Fallujah, voiced a common view that Obama would do little to improve the lives of everyday Arabs. “I do not think that Obama will bring any good or prosperity to our life since the former administration spent six years promising that without making any of that come true,” Mezel said.

“Maybe he will try, but he won’t be successful, as there are many strong hands behind curtains that control him. He has not become U.S. president without satisfying those hands.” About two dozen black Iraqis in the southeastern town of Basra, however, cheered Obama’s inauguration. “Electing a black president is a victory for mankind and all the poor and unjust people in the world,” said Abdul Hussein. “This moment is a great moment, morally and materially, because this moment challenges all the bad systems that were oppressing humanity.” In the Gaza Strip, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were still digging out of the rubble of Israel’s three-week war on the militant Islamic group Hamas, few shared the rest of the world’s hope for change under President Obama. Israelis in Jerusalem’s bar district appeared more interested in the day’s soccer games than the inauguration, but Yossi Zachs, a 24year-old clothing store owner, stood on the street outside a bar glued to a television screen broadcasting the ceremony. He said he had completely forgotten about the inauguration but was mesmerized by what he saw on the screen. “I passed by and was hypnotized because this is history,” Zachs said. Official Russian media, however, struck a fearful tone about Obama, predicting the state of U.S.-Russian relations would remain shaky for years to come. “In my opinion, Russia does not trust the United States at all now,” read a newspaper opinion piece by

the head of a pro-government research organization. “The experience of the last 20 years has borne a strong and widespread conviction that constructive policy, concessions or support to Washington do not bear any dividends, are pointless and sometimes downright harmful.” Others recognized Obama’s victory as a landmark event that would advance racial equality. A black community center in London’s racially mixed Tottenham neighborhood organized eight hours of events built around Obama’s victory. “If you’re not American today, you wish you were,” said Stephen Brooks, 44, the manager of a program that aims to raise academic and social aspirations of black boys in Britain. “This is phenomenal.” Like others watching the big screen in the theater of the Bernie Grants Arts Center, Brooks acted as if he were attending the inaugural in person. He said the Lord’s Prayer along with the Rev. Rick Warren, belted out verses with Aretha Franklin and even tried singing along with the instrumental arrangement by John Williams. When Obama finished his oath of office with the words “so help me God,” Brooks was on his feet, whooping and cheering as the theater erupted. Diana McKenzie, a 37-year-old nurse from London, said she called in sick at work to attend the events. The crowd booed when President George W. Bush was shown arriving at the inauguration, but McKenzie, sitting in the back row of the theater, offered a backhanded compliment.

“He made it possible,” McKenzie said of Bush. “If he wasn’t so bad, Barack wouldn’t have been (elected).” Bolivians in the Plaza Murillo at the heart of the South American country’s capital La Paz knew what was happening thousands of miles to the north. After all, their country had elected their first indigenous president, Evo Morales, three years ago. Even Indians from rural areas knew that the U.S. was getting its first black president. “He’s not like the other presidents, just like we have our first Indian president,” said Gladys Sanjinez, a mother of two, referring to Morales. Pele Choque, a 44-year-old salesman, said, “Obama shows that we need to give the same options to all people, regardless of color.” However, cell phone vendor Sergio Nina warned that some indigenous Bolivians have become disenchanted with Morales and warned that Obama might not face an easy path. “The United States’ economic problems won’t be solved just because someone has a different color of skin,” Nina said. Tim Johnson in Chengdu, China; Hannah Allam in Cairo; Shashank Bengali in Gaza City; Tyler Bridges in La Paz, Bolivia; and Tom Lasseter in Moscow contributed to this report. Trenton Daniel of The Miami Herald contributed from Baghdad. Also contributing were McClatchy Newspapers special correspondents Cliff Churgin in Jerusalem; Eric Munene in Nairobi, Kenya; Julie Sell in London; Mahdi al Dulaymi in Fallujah, Iraq; and Ali al Basri in Basra, Iraq.

Health Careers Center N.C. Central University 521 Nelson Street Durham, NC 27707 th 35 f Year o e Servic

Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm 919 530-7128 Charles E. McClinton, Ph.D., Director Alfreda D. Evans, Student Services Coordinator

Special Programs • Boston University Early Medical School Selection Program • Clinical Health Summer Program NCCU/Duke University Medical Center • North Carolina Access, Retention and Completion Initiative in the Allied Health Sciences (NC-ARC) Course Number BIOL2030. This course gives students an overview of allied health professions and facilitates acceptance into the School of Allied Health Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

More Opportunities are available. Contact us.

The NCCU Health Careers Center staff celebrates 35 years developing pre-health professional students into viable candidates for health and medical careers by providing:

Dr. Sheila Allison • Advocacy • Counseling • Enrichment Activities • Health Career Network Access • Health Career Recruitment • Information • Internships & Shadowing Experiences • Standardized Test Prep Workshops • Other services and activities

• general gynecology • abnormal PAPs • emergency contraception • pediatric & adolescent gynecology • in office procedure • menstrual irregularities

Gatewood was one of 12,000 volunteers who volunteered at the stadium to memorialize Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. “It’s important for me to volunteer for the troops today as a proud American, to honor Dr. King’s legacy as a proud African American, and to celebrate the inauguration of President-elect Obama,” Gatewood said. On the eve of his historic inauguration, Obama encouraged supporters to join him in a national day of community service to honor Dr. King. Americans participated in 11,000 events nationwide — more than 100 in metropolitan Washington, D.C. alone — as a part of the day of service. Minister Harriett Edmondson, mother of two N.C. Central alumni, was enthusiastic about volunteering. “I’m proud of us as Americans, and I love the fact that we’re so unified, and I know that it’s going to take all of us to continue volunteering and helping one another in order for our newly elected President to succeed,” Edmondson said. The MLK Day of Service, originated by Congress in 1994, was revived this year by Obama as a part of his inauguration festivities. Obama urged Americans to make an “ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of others in their communities, their cities and their country.” At RFK Stadium, volunteers were joined by Michelle Obama, Jill Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in assembling care packages for soldiers currently serving overseas. By mid-afternoon, the volunteers had assembled 60,000 packages. Courtney Bennett, a senior at North Carolina A&T University, joined Gatewood and other students in stuffing packages and writing letters to soldiers in celebration of the inauguration. “I’m here because I believe community service starts with one person, and if I can come out to help, then I feel like others can come and we can make a big difference,” said Bennett. “Our volunteering here at RFK shows that we can all come together,” Gatewood said. “Whether black or white, young or old, Eagles or Aggies, we can all work together,” she said. By the day’s end, a record number of more than 85,000 care packages had been assembled for troops.

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Beyond NCCU

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President Obama’s inaugural speech y fellow citizens, I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition. Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents. So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans. That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries

President Barack Obama waves to the crowd after his inaugural speech at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, January 20, 2009. MICHAEL BRYANT/Philadelphia Inquirer (MCT)

and threaten our planet. These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights. Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span

of time. But know this, America — they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics. We remain a young nation, but in the words of

Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness. In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is

never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the fainthearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards pros-

perity and freedom. For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth. For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction. This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not

n See OBAMA Page 7

Beyond NCCU

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2009

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OBAMA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do. Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage. What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them— that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government. Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good. As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter

President Barack Obama delivers his inaugural address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, January 20, 2009. CHUCH KENNEDY/MCT

Let it be said by our children”s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God”s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations. BARACK OBAMA INAUGURATION SPEECH ~ JANUARY 20, 2009

expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more. Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint. We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation

United Christian Campus Ministry 525 Nelson Street, NCCU Campus Spring Conference on "Choosing Ministry as a Vocation" Students are you experiencing "The CALL"? Have you been called to serve as Pastor, Evangelist, Missionaries, etc. Choosing Ministry as a Vocation? Sign up for our conference by contacting Campus Ministries at 530-5263 or contact Rev. Page at mpage@nccu.edu

Michael D. Page Campus Minister

NCCU Christian Men coming together to share in the Mission. You are invited to FITT (Faith, Intergrity, Truth and Trust) Ministry. Contact Curvy Buford at 530-6380.

Join an exciting ministry of students, meet with Christian Student Fellowship by contacting Campus Ministries for meeting date at 530-6380.

and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hardearned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you. For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dis-

solve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace. To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist. To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For

the world has changed, and we must change with it. As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all. For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway

filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate. Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence— the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny. This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath. So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America’s birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people: “Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive ... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it].” America: In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations. Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.

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Top: Lowes Grove Middle School seventh grader Janiris Gonzales is the artist behind “Tiger Mask,” created for teacher Shawn Smith’s class.

Whitney McDonell’s humorous and colorful ‘The Scandal’ hangs at the N.C. Central University Art Museum exhibit of works by Durham public school students. She is a senior at Riverside High School. Her art teacher is Helen Griffin.

Left: Emily Ferrell’s very intense ‘Steamin’ was created in Kim Page’s eleventh grade art class at Durham School of the Arts.

Tianqi Jin was recognized for ‘Last of the Sunflowers’ (left) and Hyert Kim was honored for ‘Sunflowers with Daisies.’ Both are second graders at Forest View Elementary in art teacher M. Flowers-Schoen’s class.

TEXT BY MIKE DEWEESE-FRANK PHOTOS OF ART BY SAVIN JOSEPH

Nikki St. John’s ‘Picasso's Inspiration’ represents some of Durham’s finest middle school artistry at the exhibit. She is in grade 8 at Chewning and her teacher is James Hensley.

“Durham’s Finest” is on display at the N.C. Central University Art Museum. The current exhibit features the artistic talent of Durham Public School students from grades 1- 12. The NCCU art show “gives students an opportunity to exhibit outside their regular domain,” said Kenneth Rodgers, director of the NCCU Art Museum. “It gives them the

hope and future promise of pursuing art.” For students and their families, there is “nothing more gratifying than seeing their work on the walls,” said Rodgers. In addition to student talent, Rodgers said the exhibit “speaks to the breadth of teachers in Durham Public Schools.” Over 200 pieces make up what Rodgers calls a “far-reaching… comprehensive” exhibit, which has every art expression represented, including: pencil, pastel, watercolor,

sculpture and photography. The annual show started in the late ‘60s, and according to Rodgers, the exhibit has been constant in format during this time. Selection begins in the individual schools, where art teachers choose four works to send to NCCU. All four selections from each of 50 participating schools are exhibited. An individual student from each level -- primary, middle and high school -- is recognized with an award.

For many years, student recognition was the initiative of the late Charles Alcorn, former associate dean for the NCCU School of Education. Alcorn underwrote the cost of purchasing and framing the winning works. The winning works are purchased by the NCCU Art Museum and made available for offices around campus, but there is a long waiting list. 820 people attended the opening on Jan. 11, a record attendance for the 30-year-old

event. This year’s show was “probably one of the more popular exhibits,” said Rodgers. The exhibit will be on display through Jan. 30; it is free and open to the public. Museum hours are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. To arrange a group visit, call 530-6211.

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Durham upgrades New performing arts center provides live entertainment BY JOSHUA P. LEAK

2009: A smashing year for blockbusterers! ast year, everyone felt the effects of the recession. We were forced to cut down on the simplest of pleasures to save every penny. Due to lackluster theatrical releases, many of us would rather make a trip to the local Joshua P. Leak “bootleg” man than to pay for a movie that would be displeasing. Mark my words: This year will be different. It’s safe to say that there will be at least one movie every month guaranteed to make you make your way back to the box office. This month, the biographical “Notorious” will make its way to the B.I.G. screen. Of course, we all know the story of our favorite rapper’s favorite rapper, but this time it’s told from a real-life perspective, as experienced by the actual

ECHO STAFF WRITER

Downtown Durham has been ghostly for some time. For at least the past four years, much work has been done to catalyze the revival of what once used to be the heart of our beloved city. All this time, city officials have been doing research and working with developers to create a world-class performing arts center. In late 2008, the Durham Performing Arts Center made its official debut. The unveiling the center took place without the attention of many locals. “It just came out of nowhere,” says Bryan Datinguinoo, a student at a local barber school downtown. “I was leaving from class and happened to see this huge building that looked as if it didn’t belong anywhere in the area,” he said. The red carpet stretched for yards on Dec. 13, and an outdoor light sculpture lit up the sky for miles away. Durham city officials, citizens, and others from neighboring cities came outfitted in their best, giving the event a Hollywood feel. The building’s glass front combined with unusual lighting fixtures to lend a glow to surrounding blocks. The night was filled with many soulful melodic ballads that brought the crowd together. Raphael Saadiq, former front-man of the multi-platinum R&B group Tony Toni Toné, opened up the show with songs from his latest release ‘The Way I See It,” which was reminiscent of the Motown era. In addition to his new singles, Saadiq performed such timeless hits as “Anniversary,” “Lay Your Head on My Pillow”and “It Never Rains in Southern California.” The multi-platinum G.O.O.D. Music soul sensation John Legend took up where Saadiq left off, performing songs from his latest release, “Evolver.” Legend performed hits like “I Used to Love You” to “Greenlight.”

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DPAC will be home to the biggest and best Broadway shows, superstar concerts, and fun performances for families and young audiences. MIKE DEWEESE-FRANK/Echo Staff Photographer

John Legend headlined the DPAC’s Inaugural Celebration. JOSHUA P. LEAK/Echo Staff Photographer

The Durham Performing Arts Center aims to become the favored venue in the Triangle area for worldclass entertainment.

“I believe The Durham Performing Arts Center is a great addition to the city’s atmosphere,” said English sophomore Megan Pearson.

It will be the home for Broadway shows, superstar concerts, and city-sponsored events . DPAC plans to gain the attention of families and young audiences.with a lineup which includes Broadway shows such as “Rent,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Legally Blonde the Musical,” ‘The Color Purple.” “I haven’t made any ticket purchases as of yet, but I do have intentions on seeing Rickey Smiley, and The Color Purple when it debuts in the Spring.” Also featured will be comedic acts such as Bill Cosby, George Lopez, Cheech and Chong and Rickey Smiley. The Durham Performing Arts Center will present a new wave of events for the citizens of Durham and surrounding counties, and open up more job opportunities as well. Information on The Durham Performing Arts Center can be found at www.dpacnc.com. Ticket information is available at 919-680ARTS(2787).

Scene from ‘Notorious’ a film based on the life of rapper Notorious B.I.G. now in theatres. Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

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Kool documentary drops ECHO STAFF WRITER

It’s an exciting time for hip-hop group Kooley High as they gear up to release a documentary of the journey of the group’s struggle to keep hip-hop alive. Kooley High began in 2005 as a student organization on the campus of N.C. State where the group members attended college. The organization’s mission was to promote positive hip-hop music, working with other students to sponsor student events that featured beat battles, MC battle, and dance-offs. Kooley High is a fivemember group that consists of three MC’s: Tab-One, Rapsody, and Charlie Smarts The producers are Foolery, The Sinopsis. The group also features DJ Ill Digitz. The documentary “One Day: Introducing Kooley High” focuses on the group’s journey to stand up, be heard and change the negative connotations about hip-hop. The musical style of Kooley High combines conventional hip-hop and R&B with an urban twist that can not be put into any one particular genre of music. This summer, Kooley

a good look

Jamie Fox x Intuition

BY JEREMIAH MCNEILL

J Records

out of on the 4 5 black hand side

Raleigh Rap Supergroup Kooley High (From L to R..) Tom Foolery, Charlie Smarts, Rapsody, Tab One, and Synopsis. The group releases its documentary film “One Day” on Jan. 24. COURTESY

High released “Summer Sessions,” a short-play album which included two tracks, “There you go” and “Water,” produced by Grammy-Award winning producer 9th Wonder. The documentary was filmed and directed by Napoleon Wright for Becausseus Films in associ-

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ation with M.E.C.C.A. Records. “The premise of this documentary is to show the love and passion Kooley High has for music,” said Wright. Kooley High also plans to release its first official fulllength album, “The High Life,” in late June of this

year. The film premiere will be held on Saturday, Jan. 24, at Galaxy Theater in the Village Square shopping Center in Cary at 7 p.m. Admission for this event is $5. Information about Kooley High is available at www.kooleyhigh.com.

affiliates of B.I.G. March highlights the highly anticipated debut of “The Watchmen.” This action-adventure flick is based off of a 1980s DC Comics comic series. When it was announced that “The Watchmen” was in production, comic book lovers rejoiced and waited for its controversial release. But the real fun doesn’t start until May, which marks the beginning of the “Summer Movie Season.” The highly anticipated “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” starring Hugh Jackman, will be released May 1. A week later every “Trekkie” will make their way to theaters for the release of “Star Trek,” this time an origin story that takes the viewer to the first meeting of Captain Kirk and Spock. In June, 80s babies will rejoice again for the “Transformers,” sequel, which promises twice the action as before. Also look for “The Fast and the Furious,” “G.I. Joe,” and “The Princess and the Frog,” coming to a theater near you.

The Foxx is back doing it big and I must say this album is a great start to the new year. “Intuition” presents a sampler of contemporary R&B styles from producers including Timbaland, Just Blaze, Butter Beats and Calvo Da Gr8, making this album a great melting pot, with a little something to tingle everybody’s taste buds. Foxx’s identity as a musician isn’t any clearer on “Intuition” than it was on his double platinum debut album, “Unpredictable.” Although this album is more upbeat, Jamie still takes it back to his roots with mellow R&B tunes such as “Weekend Lover,” a song about a romantic rendezvous with a lucky lady.

Ray Unpredictable-album Doug Williams Roast BAIT Rockin’ the baldy And of course Jamie wouldn’t be Jamie if he didn’t channel his inner Ray Charles at least once, which he does in the song “I Don’t Need It.” “Digital Girl,” another from The-Dream and Tricky, takes him into the world of dreamy dance pop and computer age sexuality, on a track featuring Kanye West. “Blame It” (featuring TPain) goes more deeply into techno with heavily processed and staccato vocal edits, using the TPain-tactic over a metalshop clanking beat track from producer Christopher Deep. . And let’s not forget the comical track featuring the king himself, T.I., in “Just Like Me,” a tune in which Jamie meets his match when it comes to running love games. Foxx’s smooth voice is well-suited for radio, and there are enough catchy jams here to make this a radio mainstay at the top of the year, so get ready to hear the Foxx in just about every rotation. — Chasity Richardson

Sports

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2009

Eagles sink first win NCCU NABBED TWO VICTORIES LAST WEEK BY ANIELLE DASILVA ECHO SPORT EDITOR

On Jan. 14 the Eagles of N.C. Central University men’s basketball team defeated the University of Texas Pan American, 77 -71, at the McLendonMcDougald Gymnasium for their first victory of their second year campaign as a Division I NCCU 77 team. NCCU UTPA 71 f r e s h m a n g u a r d Jamar Briscoe led the team with 21 points, 16 of which came in the first half. “When that first victory came, I felt very relieved because I was overwhelmed,” Briscoe said. “However, at the same time I still felt that it was not enough. I want more victories, especially at home, when most of the time we have a very decent crowd.” Briscoe has been the leading scorer for the NCCU basketball team this season, averaging 16.6 points per game. However, in five home games this season, Briscoe has averaged 21.4 points per game, eight points better than when he plays away from McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium. “It is an accomplishment for me as a freshman to be leading the team like that, but all I try to do when I go out there is to play hard, help my teammates and

Freshman Guard Jamar Briscoe

grow as a player,” he said. Sophomore guard Vincent Davis also added 20 points for NCCU’s first victory, including a perfect 3for-3 night from beyond the 3-point arc. “I feel relieved that we got that big weight off our shoulders and finally got our first win,” said Davis. “Now I feel like we know what it takes to get a victory.” Coming off the bench, sophomore guard Michael Glasker had a career high of 14 points, including 11 in the second half , while connecting on 12-of-15 from the charity stripe. Senior Bryan Ayala also contributed with 12 points and five assists. Freshman forward Nick Chasten added 8 points and team-best six rebounds for NCCU. University of Texas Pan American (5-11) was paced by senior forward Emmanuel Jones with team highs of 15 points and eight boards. Sophomore guard Nick Weiermiller added 14 points, seven assists and two steals for the Broncos, but still that was not enough to defeat the Eagles, who played with heart and determination. The week was meant to be great for the NCCU men’s basketball team, who did not stop their winning streak there. On January 16, the Eagles

defeated Central State University 74-68 for their second consecutive win at the McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium as NCCU was hosting its annual BC Powder Classic. Once again the Eagles were led by freshman guard Jamar Briscoe, who had a game-high 21 points. Senior guard Bryan Ayala also contributed with 14 points and nine assists for the Eagle’s victory. Sophomore guard Vincent Davis also added 12 points. Junior forward Joshua Worthy helped the Eagles with eight points and six rebounds. “After our first victory I felt relieved, but I also felt accomplished because we came together as a team and completed a task,” said Worthy. Jamar Briscoe was named the most outstanding player and also made the 2009 BC Powder All-Classic team. “For the rest of the season my goal as a player is to remain consistent and help my team.” “As far as the team I hope we can pull out some more wins and build confidence for our next season,” said Briscoe. The NCCU basketball team will play again this Saturday when they travel to Chicago to face Chicago State

RICH GRAM/Courtesy of NCCU Athletic Dpeartment

Teams ready to excel BY

ANIELLE DASILVA

AND AARON SAUNDERS ECHO SPORTS STAFF

Last season the Eagles were plagued by youth and inexperience at the division I level. This season they will look to improve on a less than stellar campaign last year as they have gained a little more experience and talent In their inaugural season in division I the Eagles finished with a disappointing 6-30 record. All six victories came against former CIAA foes. The Eagles just could not seem to find there groove and get over the hump of winning that first division I game. The team’s leading hitter, Tye Gray (333 1 10), will not return last season. The team has 15 veterans from last year’s team and a host of new players. This season the team will play host to a tougher schedule as they face off against a host of MEAC foes including Delaware State, and rival N.C A&T.

The Eagles will also travel to Raleigh to play N.C State, a team that finished the season ranked as 14th in the nation. They will also get another shot at Duke this year as they lock horns with the Blue Devils in three games. The Eagles will start their season off in Savannah at the annual Savannah State Classic on Feb. 20. The NCCU softball team will look to improve on last season’s record of 3-46 with the help of AllAmerican Sophia Blue, a one woman show last year for the Eagles (482 2 7). Blue will look to improve on those numbers in her senior campaign. The Eagles’ pitching staff, led by junior hurler Kristen Schooler, will also count on the impact newcomers can add in coming season. The Lady Eagles will play 23 home games this season. The Lady Eagles will travel to Charleston for the first game of the season Feb. 6.

Eagles going pro BY

A ARON S AUNDERS

ECHO SPORTS REPORTER

Four former N.C. Central University football players will be taking their game to the next level as they were drafted to a new football league called the United National Gridiron League. Greg Pruitt (04-06), Charles Futrell (03-06), Chris Edwards (05-07), and Tyris Rorie (03-05) were all selected. Running back Greg Pruitt, NCCU’s all-time leading rusher, was selected to play for the Virginia Senators along with his former teammate and two sport All Conference Wide Receiver Charles Futrell. Edwards, who played tight end at NCCU, will play fullback for the Miami Flare in Florida while Tyris Rorie was drafted to play defensive tackle for the Louisiana Beast. The league was founded in 2008 and held its first draft on Jan. 8-9. The players who were drafted come from several former football leagues around the country or NFL practice squads. The first overall pick of the draft was Shane Boyd, a former quarterback of the University of Kentucky, who

was selected by the Georgia Stallions. The United National Gridiron League functions as a minor league system for NFL teams and will fill the void left by the collapse of NFL Europe last summer. “I am using this as an avenue to get to the NFL,” said Futrell. The league will consist of eight teams who will each play an 11 game schedule that will give NFL teams a chance to evaluate some of these players. Every game is like a bowl game, and gives you a chance to show NFL teams what you got,” said Futrell. Players come from all over,, ranging from large division I schools to small division III schools. Also joining the UNGL are several former college stars, including UCLA quarterback Drew Olson, who is second all time in passing yards, and ACC former running backs Tyrone Moss and Micah Andrews, who showed NFL potential while in college. Both Moss and Andrews were plagued by injuries in college. Training camp begins on Jan. 23. The season will kick off on Feb. 8.

Former NCCU wide receiver, Charles Futrell, has been drafted to the United National Gridiron League. MARK AUSTIN/Courtesy of NCCU Athletic Department

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Opinions

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2009

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Letters Duke professor thanks Eagle Samaritans Dear Editor: I am an 80-year-old retired Duke professor. Last November as I was crossing a street in Chapel Hill — it was after a lecture — I took a tumble in the road in front of the Bell Tower. My injuries were not serious, but there was a lot of blood and I needed help. And help came, in the form of four N.C. Central University students. They assisted me to a wall where I could sit, and one of them called an ambulance. Then they all four stayed with me until the ambulance arrived and took me off. It was a cold night ... but they stuck with me. Unfortunately, in my confusion I did not get the names of any of the students. So I am taking this means — through the Campus Echo — of thanking my kind benefactors. You four were Good Samaritans, and I will never forget your generous help. Thank you, kind Eagles! Or should I say, kind Angels! Yours, with deep gratitude, Francis Newton

Preservation group says NCCU neglected Rivera house Dear Editor: After reading the referenced article in your Nov. 5, 2008 issue, I was compelled to reply regarding the condition of 1712 Fayetteville Street.

Your article quotes Mr. Abegunrin as saying that the house was in bad shape when NCCU purchased it in 1997 — and suggests that the university had no responsibility for the upkeep of the home during the decade that it owned the home. However, public records dispute his statement. Mr. Rivera lived in the home until 1996 so we know that the house was habitable at the time he sold it to NCCU. In 1999, the City of Durham performed legally required inspections of all homes and structures on Fayetteville Street from Umstead Street to Nelson Street to certify structures as “contributing” properties as part of the Fayetteville Street Local Historic District. At this time in 1999, 1712 Fayetteville Street was listed as being a “contributing” property on page 21 of the Fayetteville Street Historic Preservation Plan and was also listed as being in “sound” condition on page 27 of the same document. I have attached this document as it serves as an official and legal benchmark of the house’s condition just two years after NCCU purchased it. If the house had not been in suitable condition to be a part of the local historic district, it would never have been rated as “contributing” and would have been omitted from the local district home inventory. Also during the establishment of a local historic district in the City of

Durham, a public hearing was held in August of 2000 so that any property owner might object to having his/her/its property included in the local historic district. NCCU, the owner of the house in 1997, did not object to having the property included in the

Fayetteville Street Local Historic District — that agreement being interpreted as an affirmation of the goals and objectives of the local historic district against the demolition of historic structures. Given those facts, we do feel that the university is guilty of demolition-byneglect as evidenced by the property’s deterioration from being of “sound” condition in 1999 to its condition at the present time. And finally, the State of North Carolina recently designated the house as having statewide historic significance in May 2008. This designation serves as public notification of the historic value of home for the entire state, is a notable achievement and is a protection against demolition of the house. Please visit our website at www.fayettevillestreetgroup.com/fayetteville_stre et_history for more info on the three families who occupied the home since 1912. Sincerely, Denise Hester Fayetteville Street Planning Group

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2009

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A monumental moment s I watched Barack Obama’s inaugural I couldn’t help but notice the throngs of people bombarding the streets as they awaited our future president’s address at the National Mall in Washington D.C. Of course everyone knew the event would bring thousands of Britney onlookers, Rooks but when a reporter from CNN announced that a total of two million people were present, it was official, Barrack Obama’s inauguration was the largest inaugural event in presidential history. I watched closely as television stations and reporters swarmed the audience. Finally, the camera

zoomed in on a woman slinging her microphone from person to person, everyone excited to speak their piece on the event. The reporter held her mic out to a little boy, and asked what he would wish to happen that day out of all dreams. The boy answered right off the bat, explaining that he was there to see Barrack Obama become president and how important it was to him. Even children were in the know! As twelve o’clock hit, it was time for Barrack to take the oath of office. Though chief justice John Roberts stumbled over the lines when reading the Oath I had to give it to Obama for hesitating before reciting after him. For questioning whether his vow would hold as

Even if you were not able to go, everyone was a part of history. Everyone can tell their children and their grandchildren that they lived through an unforgettable period in time.

much weight if he recited it wrong as Roberts did. That showed consideration and intelligence. True concern. I agreed with many of the points he made in his address. He spoke about how America is the most prosperous country, and everyone needs to band together in order to show the world that we are capable of being leaders. He pointed out that it is not about how little or big the government is, but whether it actually works. He spoke on how we need to be willing to help and how people’s

attitudes are what will decide our fate. He said this country needs to lay a new foundation for growth, start creating new jobs. I definitely could agree with that. It won’t be long before my own graduation, and with the economy being so poor, I am a little nervous about the job market. Obama continued, speaking about colleges and universities. My ears perked up at the mention. He said we needed to improve these institutions in order to meet the demand of the new age. I love how Barrack

always thinks of the youth of America. As the cameras flashed out into the audience, I could see how emotional people were getting. Some were even sobbing. It was a monumental moment. So many people watched, not just to see Barrack, but so that they could be a part of history. As one woman said during her brief interview, she came so she could tell her children and her children’s children that she was there, a part of history forever. Even if you were not able to go, everyone was a part of history. No one will ever be able to take it from you. Everyone can tell their children and their grandchildren that they lived through an unforgettable period in time. A change in the world forever.

Responsibility: a mandate n January 20, 2009 at 12:05 p.m. on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Barack Obama placed his hand on the Bible once owned by Abraham Lincoln, and took the oath of office to the Roddrick United Howell States of America. I cannot overstress the significance of this moment. For the past 40 years, the African American community morale has been depleted through the loss of positive leaders. In the early 1950s, you could see the hope and thirst for knowledge in the eyes of so

many young African Americans and a sense of pride in our own culture. Upon the deaths of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and John F. Kennedy, this sense of hope and change that was brought up by these individuals was ripped from the people. During the next 30 years, we tried to build our own community organizations to fight the prejudice and problems we still face in our community. But leaders from those affiliations never gained the same attention or even respect from the world, let alone our own community. This created a rippling division in generations of African Americans: young, old, rich, poor, light skinned

Now that we have a strong political figure in the executive office and I hope the minds of the individuals will become more conscious of the roles they play in our society. We need strong role models in every community, city and state that can connect with the people around us, .

and dark skinned. Without strong leaders in our community we started to focus more on the individual, not on the collective unit. People who did not succeed in life started to piggyback off the success of others in the community. This left more and more individuals content with where they were and the glorifica-

N ORTH C AROLINA C ENTRAL U NIVERSITY

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Letters & Editorials The Echo welcomes letters and editorials. Letters to the editor should be less than 350 words. Editorials should be about 575 words. Include contact information. The Echo reserves the right to edit contributions for clarity, vulgarity, typos and miscellaneous grammatical gaffs. Opinions published in the Echo do not necessarily reflect those of the Echo editorial staff. E-mail: CampusEcho@nccu.edu Web address: www.campusecho.com Phone: 919 530 7116 Fax: 919 530 7991 Spring 2009 Publication dates: 1/21, 2/25, 3/25, 4/8, 4/22 © NCCU Campus Echo/All rights reserved The Denita Monique Smith Newsroom Room 348, Farrison-Newton Communications Bldg. NCCU, Durham, NC 27707

tion of the ’hood. Now that we have a strong political figure in the executive office and I hope the minds of the individuals will become more conscious of the roles they play in our society. We need strong role models in every community, city and state that can connect with the people around us, like Obama connected with the people of the

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world. His inauguration spoke of his upcoming responsibilities. But more importantly, everyone who observed this joyous occasion needs to accept their own responsibilities. For once I believe that the whole community is finally in agreement that we need to pull together and not criticize each other as we fashionably have done before. We are not so far gone from the days of Jim Crow that we cannot feel its grip on our thoughts. Thanks to our new African-American leadership we can stand by each other, black and white, and try to make this world a betterplace.

drawing by Rashaun Rucker

Question:

What is your 2009 new years resolution for NCCU?

“For the administrative staff to be more helpful ... for our student body to be proud and encouraged to help our future Eagles. As Obama said: “We need change.” — Nicole Purvis

“My resolution is to get myself more involved in student organizations. I want to be more active at school.” —Trayon Smith

“For the library to stay open longer or open earlier. They open at 8 a.m. and some people need to print their work before their 8 a.m. classes.” —Brittany Watson