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VOLUME 101, ISSUE 7

1-4 5 6-7 8 9 10 11 12

Campus

Sports

Opinions

Durham’s Finest

Campus remembers political science professor, Jeffery M. Elliot a long-time mentor to students

A NCCU athlete exudes talent on and off the field

Chi asks if receiving government aid makes a person truly independent

Local public school student artwork on display in NCCU’s museum

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Campus Echo Quake hits home

HAITI’S APOCALYPSE Water, food and medical care finally arriving to a shattered city

Haiti has local ties to NCCU

BY JAMESE SLADE ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Two first-generation Haitian Americans with ties to N.C. Central University are struggling to come to grips with the scope of the tragedy.

Haiti is a poor country; more than 50 percent of its citizens live on less than one dollar a day.

Rony Camille is an NCCU alumnus who graduated in 2007. Camille first heard that an earthquake had struck Port-auPrince on Jan. 12 while at work at his job as media program director for Tyngsborough, Mass.

“It was horrible. My mom is one of 10 kids and I have very few immediate family members here in the U.S. and the rest live in Haiti,” he said.

“We have been trying to call but to no avail,” he said last

An elderly man walks through the rubble of the collapsed National Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday Jan. 17.

Destruction grips Haiti five days after an earthquake rattled the country.

PATRICK FARRELL/Miami Herald (MCT)

BY JOE MOZINGO AND KEN ELLINGWOOD LOS ANGELES TIMES (MCT)

Former Campus Echo editor-in-chief Rony Camille Echo file photo

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Port-au-Prince, Haiti — Thousands more Marines and airborne troops joined the struggle to provide desperate earthquake survivors with food and water on Monday, while Haitian offi-

cials sought to move people to the provinces to relieve pressure on the relief effort.

Four ships carrying 2,200 Marines anchored off the coast and started ferrying supplies and personnel to Haiti's capital. A total of 1,100 troops of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division had

arrived in Port-au-Prince by late Monday, about a third of total deployment planned.

Troops are airlifting emergency supplies and the injured, providing logistical support, managing the Port-au-Prince airport and standing by to help provide security amid scattered

reports of looting and gunfire in the capital.

The Haitian government mobilized as well as it could to remove the dead, clear debris and move survivors. On the road west out of Port-au-Prince, public buses were filled with people and luggage heading to the provinces.

The government, weak in the best of circumstances, was trying to function from a yard outside a police station near the airport. Many government buildings in the center of the city, including the national palace, the parliament,

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Exile and trial of the Campus Echo A 1973 federal appeals court reinstated student paper after a two-year hiatus

BY ASHLEY ROQUE ECHO STAFF REPORTER

The September 1971 memo from then-Chancellor Albert N. Whiting was clear enough: “I am here announcing that all funds Centennial News for the publication of the Campus Echo have been temporarily suspended …”

The chancellor’s memo

threatened to permanently suspend University sponsorship of the Campus Echo unless a consensus could be reached with the Campus Echo editor regarding “standard journalistic criteria.”

Another University-sponsored edition of the Campus Echo would not appear until the fall of 1973. During the intervening two years, the matter was tried first in district courts and then in federal appeals courts.

When the dust finally set-

tled, the Campus Echo’s editor-in-chief, Johnnie Edward “Jae” Joyner, and SGA president Harvey White were the victors in one of the nation’s landmark cases in student press law.

The case, officially titled Joyner v. Whiting, ruled that the University had violated the First Amendment by cutting funding for the Campus Echo.

In a 3-1 ruling, the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond overturned the

Headline of the Sept. 16, 1971 Campus Echo that began the exile.

Courtesy of NCCU Archives

lower court’s ruling in favor of Whiting with the following:

“We

reverse

[the

lower

court’s decision] because the president’s irrevocable withdrawal of financial support from the Echo and the court’s decree reinforcing this action abridge the freedom of the press in violation of the First Amendment.”

Joyner, recalling the verdict, said his first reaction was relief.

“I just sat down in the stairwell and cried,” he said.

Since the verdict, Joyner v.

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Finding the finest

BY DIANE VARNIE ECHO STAFF REPORTER

“Picture Postcard,” by Mark Srippp, Grade 11, Jordan High School.

The blinding flash of cameras on Jan. 11 might have left the random bystander mistaking the event for a photo shoot.

On that night, the N.C. Central University Art Museum hosted a reception for the premiere of "Durham's Finest."

The exhibit showcases student artwork from all Durham Public Schools.

"Durham's Finest" is the

only district-wide art show that displays the talent and artistic development of 240 students, ranging from kindergarten through high school.

Four two-dimensional and three-dimensional art pieces were chosen to represent each of the district's schools.

The opening reception was a proud moment for families and a confidencebooster for the artists.

The event provided a rare occasion for some students

to see their artwork in a real museum setting.

"When a student gets the opportunity to display their artwork, it allows their selfesteem to be built and also allows them to see that their creativity has a voice," said Artrianna Garth, an art teacher at Bethesda Elementary School.

"When they go into art class, it gives them a chance to get away from the book work and [they] are able to

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010

IVERSITY

Professor Elliot memorialized Poli-sci chair served NCCU for 28 years

BY DANITA WILLIAMS ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Like his favorite flower, the calla lily, Dr. Jeffrey M. Elliot was hardy and strong.

Elliot chaired N.C. Central University’s political science department for just under five years. He died Dec. 12 at the age of 62.

A memorial service was held Dec. 17 for Elliot in the H.M. Michaux, Jr. School of Education Auditorium.

Elliot grew up in Los Angeles with his parents Gene and Harriet and a sister, Janine.

A specialist in American politics and civil rights, Elliot wrote and edited more than 150 books and 550 articles, reviews and interviews.

His work appears in more than 250 publications worldwide, and he was nominated for more than 125 scholarly and journalistic awards.

As a freelance journalist, Eliott interviewed dozens of world leaders, including former U.S. President William J. Clinton, Cuban President Fidel Castro, South African Nobel Prize-winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, writer Maya Angelou, and myriad other newsmakers, political leaders and wellknown figures in the arts, sports and entertainment.

“At a young age, Jeffrey knew what he wanted to do,” said his sister, Janine Pariser.

“While other kids were collecting stamps and baseball cards, Jeff was collecting letters from senators,” Pariser said. “He would file them all in a row in this file cabinet and forbid me to touch them as if they were gold.”

Several years ago, Elliot brought his parents to Durham to live closer to him.

His mother, who now lives in a nursing home, suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.

Jeffrey M. Elliot, former chair of the department of political science, in his office. He died on Dec. 12 at the age of 62.

Photo courtesy of Rolin Mainuddin

His father, Gene Elliot, described Elliot as a “prolific writer” and “skilled orator.”

“He would go around collecting all the paraphernalia of public officials,” said Gene Elliot.

“He even became friends with the officials. He travelled to Cuba with Rep. Mervyn Dymally and was able to interview Fidel Castro.”

Gene Elliot recalled walking through Brightleaf Square in Durham with his wife and his son when a former student of Jeff ’s approached.

“He wanted to let Jeff know that it was only through his guidance, insistence and help that he had established his own business and is now president of the company,” Gene Elliot said.

“The student stated he had been meaning to call or write, but felt it was by coincidence that they ran into one another on that day so he could let Jeff know how much he had helped him.”

“All Jeff ever talked about was politics, Barack Obama, the University and how to improve conditions at the school for his students,” said his father. “He loved teaching, and he loved his students very much.”

Elliot refused to allow NCCU students to limit themselves. He was known to push them to reach beyond their horizons.

“He was so many things to so many people,” said Ansel Brown, assistant professor of political science.

“With all that he accomplished in his life and career, what made him so wonderful was not what he accomplished for himself, but for others,” said Brown.

“What made Dr. Elliot such a great teacher is that he was also a great student.

You could always learn from him about the issues, but more importantly, talk with him about life,” said Brown.

Brown said that Elliot would drive him to a restau-

rant to eat African, Jamaican, Indian or other cuisine found in Durham, and force him to eat it.

“What made him so special was how much he cared about people,” said Brown.

“Anybody can memorize and recite a scholarly theory from a piece of paper, but it takes an incredible human being who could touch the lives of other humans.”

Known as a sophisticated conversationalist, Elliot discussed world travels, luxury cars, his collection of artifacts and cultural items, and his favorite dining spots with students and faculty.

Margaret James, his close friend and an administrative assistant in the political science department recalled his art collection.

“Some Asian pieces, American Indian, baseballs, a pair of gloves autographed

by Mohammed Ali, various crystals, beautiful vases of all kinds, but his biggest collection was African art,” said

James.

James said that Elliot — who was Jewish — had a deep love of gospel music.

During the memorial service Freddie Parker, professor of history and vice chancellor for academic affairs, sang “A Change Is Gonna Come.”

NCCU political science junior Veatasha Dorsey remembered the political science department’s writing and computer lab’s grand opening.

“For a man who has achieved so much in his life, and spoken with celebrities, to watch him literally sob over eight computers and cubicles struck me,” Dorsey said.

“It encompasses what his life was like, and who he truly was,” she said. “I remember telling him that I was extremely touched, and he said to me ‘just appreciate it.’”

According to Emmanuel Oritsejafor, political science professor and director of

international affairs, one of Elliot’s last charges to his fall 2009 graduating students was “to be drum majors for justice.”

Throughout his life, Elliot was known to participate in marches supporting civil rights and justice.

Jarvis Hall, associate professor of political science, said he remembered Elliot pointing out during a drive through Durham one day that “when you can drive through any town and see the difference between the white neighborhood and the black neighborhood, then injustice is still there.”

At Elliot’s funeral, his father said he could not believe the love he saw poured out from those who cared for his son.

“It doesn’t matter what color people are,” said a tearful Gene Elliot. “Jeff ’s every single thought was for you [students] to benefit and improve yourselves to go on to do bigger and better things.”

Rabbi Lucy Dinner, who officiated at the funeral, quoted Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, “to everything there is a season; a time to every purpose under the heaven; a time to be born and a time to die.”

Dinner said politics and education were Elliot’s loves.

“With his college degrees and within his heart, he held the desire not only to be educated himself, but to encourage and help others to get their own education,” she said.

Gene Elliot, moved by the presence of students and faculty at his son’s funeral, said his son’s whole life was about diversity.

“His thoughts every day were about the school and how to improve conditions for you all. The whole conversation with Jeff was always school and the students.”

Gaining ground, bagging pounds College campuses struggle to promote healthy eating habits among students

BY CHI BROWN ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Students often hear about the “Freshman 15” before entering college.

The term refers to the idea that they are likely to gain about 15 pounds during their freshman year.

According to a study by Nicole Mihalopoulos, Peggy Auinger, and Jonathan Klein of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Utah and the University of Rochester, the “Freshman 15” only partially reflects reality.

Their findings suggest that although the freshmen in the study did gain weight at a rate that was 5.5 times higher than that of the general population, the average amount of weight gained was only 2.7 pounds per student.

“The eating habits that we see at N.C. Central University are habits that students have developed prior to attending NCCU,” said Terri Lawson assistant to the director of business auxiliary services and a committee member of NCCU’s Employee Wellness Committee.

“We are doing some things

to promote health, wellness and physical education with the support of chancellor Charlie Nelms, but it’s still an issue that needs to be addressed by students and student leadership in regards to sharing the responsibility and rallying students together.”

According to Lawson, students who have only a few moments between classes may be tempted by the candy and chips that make up most of the choices in the vending machines that are in almost every campus building.

NCCU students are made aware of health issues early

in Health 1531, a mandatory course that stresses wellness.

While Pearson Cafeteria offer some healthy options, including a vegetarian menu, students are not always willing to take these options.

Najah Sharrieff-Al-Bey, a music industry junior who has taken her health seriously since she was a kid, only occasionally indulges in the food served in the new cafeteria.

“I am a lot more conscious about how I eat, because it’s not just about how you look, it’s about how you feel when you wake up in the morning,”

said Sharrieff-Al-Bey, who was critical of the all-youcan-eat buffet line at Pearson Cafeteria.

“I was a fan of the turkey burgers, which they rarely ever had,” she said.

“The international section has a lot of different dishes that incorporate vegetables, and I like that, but they would also have beef or pork in them and I do not eat beef or pork so I would not be able to eat there.”

Poor nutrition and obesity is not just a problem at NCCU. Colleges across the country are struggling to convince

students to make the right dietary choices, but other concerns, such as alcohol and drug use, often overshadow programs that address healthy eating.

According to an article published for pubmedcentral.gov, “Concern about student behaviors related to alcohol, drugs, and sexuality overshadows the need to emphasize the mundane but important habits of eating healthfully and exercising regularly,” said Phillip B Sparling, a professor of applied physiology at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

University funding would be cut from the paper, he wrote that the September 16 issue of the Campus Echo didn’t meet “standard journalistic criteria” and that it didn’t “represent fairly the full spectrum of views on this campus.” He said that Joyner’s article was full of “racial divisiveness and antagonism.”

Whiting, who had been advised by North Carolina’s attorney general that the University could lose federal funding, stated that Joyner was promoting segregation and that he violated equal protection guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

“The point that I wish to make,” wrote Whiting in the memorandum, “is that as a State-Supported Institution especially, but also in terms of what is morally and legally right, this institution is not a ‘Black University’ and does

not intend to become one.”

In a recent interview, Whiting said, “The schools were already integrated when Joyner became the editor. Joyner was violating the law by not allowing white students to write for the Echo.”

Immediately after Whiting cut funding, students begin picketing in front of his home.

Whiting’s decision to cut funding was backed by the UNC Board of Governors.

The case became a showdown between free speech, protected by the First Amendment and equal rights – in this case for whites – protected by the Fourteenth Amendment and the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Twice in U.S. history, the Supreme Court has declared it unconstitutional to censor publication: in 1931 (Near v.

Minnesota) and in 1971 (New York Times Co v. United

ECHO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The Campus Echo was reinstated in 1973 after Joyner v. Whiting ASHLEY ROQUE/Echo Staff Photographer

Whiting has been repeatedly cited, according to Mike Hiestand, an attorney and legal consultant for the Student Press Law Center, which is dedicated to protecting the free speech of students.

“Any sort of case involving college press laws definitely has Joyner v. Whiting as support for the defense of college student's freedom of

speech," said Hiestand.

The trouble began with the September 16, 1971 issue of the Campus Echo. The front-page banner headline read: IS NCCU STILL A BLACK SCHOOL [sic]. The headline to the top story read: LOOK AND YOU SHALL SEE. No byline is given to the writer of the article –— which reads more like an

editorial than a news story — but court documents indicate that the story was written by then-editor-in-chief Jae Joyner.

In the article, Joyner expresses his concern that too many white students are attending NCCU. “There is a rapidly growing white population on our campus,” he writes. “Black students on this campus have never made it clear to those people that we are indeed separate from them … and wish to remain so ... and until we assume the role of a strong, proud people we will continue to be co-opted.”

White students, he writes, are getting “special privileges” and “don’t have to stand in long registration lines.” And now, he writes, whites are “teaching us.

“Our institutions are being taken away from us,” writes Joyner, who supports his case with a quote from civil rights

activist H. Rap Brown: “‘I do what I must out of the love for my people. My will is to fight.

Resistance is not enough.

Aggression is the order of the day.’ ” Page two of the edition includes this announcem e n t : “AT T E N T I O N : Beginning next issue The Campus Echo will not run white advertising.”

The edition’s Afro-centricism is highlighted by the Campus Echo nameplate, on which the words “Campus” and “Echo” are separated with an image of Africa and the word “KoKayi.”

The article ends with: “Now will you tell me, whose institution is NCCU? Theirs?

Or Ours?”

Elsewhere, Joyner had announced that only black students would be allowed to work at the Campus Echo.

Chancellor Albert Whiting’s response was swift.

In a memo announcing that

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Mama Rosa says ‘g’bye’ A University staple heads into retirement

Get counted Census 2010 around the corner

BY ASHLEY GRIFFIN ECHO ASSISTANT EDITOR

“Mama Rosa” Cannady reminisces on good times at NCCU’s cafeteria. She worked on campus for 16 years.

ASHLEY GRIFFIN/Echo Staff Photographer

BY AMARACHI ANAKARAONYE ECHO STAFF REPORTER

Rosa Cannady, better known to N.C. Central University as “Mama Rosa,” exemplified truth and service in her 16-year career in food services.

She strove to uphold and maintain the quality of food served to students, faculty and administration through dedication and diligence.

“Mama Rosa was a very caring person and her goal was to make everybody feel like a somebody,” said Gracie Rogers, Service Manager for NCCU Dining Services.

“I didn’t come here by free will,” said Cannady.

“God sent me here

because he knew I loved making people, especially young people, happy.”

In 1993, Cannady started at NCCU as deli supervisor of the old W.G. Pearson cafeteria.

After construction of the new cafeteria in 2009, Cannady was appointed supervisor of food services.

“If that food wasn’t right, I wouldn’t serve it to those kids,” said Cannady.

“I always looked at those kids as my babies and I woke up every day looking forward to seeing them.”

Cannady, originally from Maryland, is the mother of 10 children.

Prior to working at NCCU, she ran a daycare for 21 years in Baltimore.

She also worked in a retirement home there for 10 years.

Cannady said during that her 16 years at NCCU, the biggest on-campus change she witnessed was the reconstruction of the W.G. Pearson cafeteria.

She said that while she realized how the new cafeteria offered the patrons of NCCU more space and comfort, she felt a loss of unity within its vast spaces.

“The old cafeteria was small but its tightness caused the staff and students to have more love and respect for each other,” she said.

Mama Rosa retired at the end of last semester.

“Mrs. Rosa has been

great to NCCU’s dining services, and a caring mentor for its students,” said Timothy Moore, director of Auxiliaries and Business Services.

“She left with an audience behind her and she will be truly missed,” said Rogers.

Mama Rosa leaves NCCU’s students with this lasting advice of encouragement after a lifetime filled with supporting the aspirations of others: “I look forward to seeing the great things you brilliant young people accomplish,” she said.

“You can do anything you want if you stay focused and have faith in what you do.”

You see the “Census 2010” signs. We hear how significant it is. But many are still in the dark about the Census 2010 project.

The census has been conducted every 10 years since 1790 and is required by the United States Constitution to collect basic information about citizens.

Some of the information may include age, gender and race. The census also gathers a general count of the U.S. population.

Recently, N.C. Central University’s NAACP chapter teamed up with the Adopt a Neighborhood program to educate and inform Durham residents of the importance of being counted.

“A lot of people are scared to do the census for various reasons,” said Nicholas Edward, history secondary education junior and state youth and college division president. “When people don’t fill out their census, it leads to underfunding.”

According to the 2000 census count, there was an undercount of about 2 percent for African Americans, or about 750,000 people.

“When you have undercounts, it affects the community more than you think,” said Jelani Brown, history education junior and vicepresident of NCCU’s NAACP chapter. “We hope to make the residents aware of the census and dispel some of their fears.”

The group plans to post flyers and hold programs at local community centers to encourage community involvement. Members also hope to get more student volunteers. Volunteers will receive community service hours.

“The more residents that fill out their census information, the more it helps determine how much money the community gets and that makes the difference between getting better roads and schools,” said Brown.

Those wishing to volunteer should contact nccu.naacp@gmail.com for more information.

NCCU’s NAACP chapter vice-president Jelani Brown.

ASHLEY GRIFFIN/Echo Staff Photographer

ECHO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 States).

In Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, a case where high school students were forbidden to wear black armbands with peace symbols, the courts ruled that the First Amendment applied to public schools as long as the speech did not disrupt of school operations.

According to the Tinker standard, public universities cannot take away funding just because the material is controversial or because administrators don’t like what is being said.

But Joyner and Harvey White did not win everything.

The courts held that Whiting had the right to refute Joyner’s black-only policies, a position Joyner had already conceded earlier with a statement that white students

could work at the Campus Echo and that white companies that employed on an equal opportunity basis could advertise with the paper.

Acording to David Pollitt, the Chapel Hill civil rights attorney who represented the Campus Echo in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the case must be understood in light of the late 1960s and the early 1970s.

These were the years of Malcom X, the Jackson State killings, the Black Panther Party and the Vietnam War. “The general atmosphere of those years was troublesome,” said Pollitt, who explained that Joyner’s position reflected the atmosphere of revolution and turbulence.

“To combat the racism of the time, there grew a sense of black militancy with the black power movement to

fight the racism, and Joyner was just part of those times,” said Pollitt.

In a recent interview, White, the SGA president who joined Joyner in the case, explained that with integration, many people felt that HBCUs would lose their heritage and would be unable to provide the support African Americans needed.

“Because the chancellor did not include students in making this decision, we felt that it should not be the president’s prerogative to permanently cut the funding,” said White.

White said students tried to keep an off-campus version of Campus Echo going when the funding was cut.

“To raise funds, we put on a dance, had house parties, and we gave money out of our

own pockets,” he said.

“There were even a few professors who helped support us financially.”

According to Tom Evans, an English professor who came to the University in 1969, the Durham Morning Herald, which later merged into the Herald Sun, helped fund some of the off-campus publications.

In a recent interview, Joyner said his decision to take on the University created a lot of personal difficulties and that now, he is simply “tired” of having the issue brought up.

He explained that while there was support from many student leaders, many students saw his decision to take the University to court as “radical.”

Many students complained that Joyner was

doing more harm than good.

“People who I thought were friends walked away when the situation got tough,” Joyner said.

“I lost a lot of friends for standing up for the Echo.”

After graduating, Joyner went on to teach in several public elementary and middle schools in North Carolina.

He now teaches at an alternative school in Petersburg, Va. Joyner and his wife have raised three children.

Harvey White went on to earn a Ph.D. in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a dean of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Southern University in Louisiana and now teaches public affairs and international develop-

ment at the University of Pittsburgh.

Before coming to NCCU, Whiting was the dean of faculty at Morgan State University. Whiting worked at NCCU for 16 years. He served as president from 1967-1972 and chancellor from 1972-1982. During his tenure as chancellor, North Carolina College became N.C. Central University.

Whiting helped launch the University’s School of Business.

Evans recalled that years after the landmark case, he saw Joyner and Whiting at a reception at the NCCU Art Museum.

“The commotion had settled,” he said.

“Joyner was in a threepiece suit and not his army fatigues. Joyner and Whiting were civil and respectful.”

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IVERSITY

Fighting violence

Crunked studying

Grant to raise domestic violence awareness

Mixing drugs and studying can be deadly

BY ERNEST JONES ECHO STAFF REPORTER

The NCCU Women’s Center has been awarded a $300,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Justice to increase awareness and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault.

The center’s proposal is called HBCU HAVEN, an acronym for Helpers and Advocates for Violence Ending Now. The women’s center was established in 2007 under the leadership of Chimi Boyd-Keyes, the center’s current director.

“The center works along with the Durham Crisis Response Center, NCCU Department of Residential Life and [the City of] Durham to support the needs of NCCU students who encounter sexual assault, domestic violence as well as any student who encounters issues with alcohol use,” said Boyd-Keyes.

Boyd-Keyes said she danced around her house for 30 minutes when she heard that the grant request had been funded.

HBCU HAVEN has three components.

The first is HAVEN ally training.

This will consist of training NCCU faculty, staff and students to become informed allies to students who have been affected by sexual and relationship violence.

The second is an SADV (Sexual and Domestic Violence) consortium.

This will consist of revising and distributing crisis

response protocol and training for law enforcement, student judicial boards and the Office of the Dean of Students.

The third piece is the parent-education program, in which parents will be trained to empower their children to be active bystanders when witnessing gendered violence.

According to 2008 NCCU Campus Police report, there were 90 calls related to domestic violence and threats of domestic violence.

These included 29 calls for communicated threats, 23 calls for actual physical assault, two calls for sexual assault, 11 calls for domestic disputes and violence, and 25 harassment phone calls.

“According to a national study on domestic violence, only 5 percent of assaults ever get reported,” said Boyd-Keyes.

“According to national college student surveys, 25 percent of students will be a survivor of a sexual or domestic violence situation during their college years.”

Boyd-Keyes said students need to know that sexual and domestic violence is everyone’s problem and that help is available.

The women’s center is located on the first floor of the Student Services Building in Suite 120.

The center can be reached at (919) 530-6811, or via e-mail at womenscenter@nccu.edu. The center’s internal address is www.nccu.edu/womenscenter.

BY BRIAN MOULTON

AREA RESOURCES

ECHO STAFF REPORTER|

NCCU n Women's Center (919) 530-6811 womenscenter@nccu.edu Advocacy, crisis intervention, risk reduction and prevention education.

Support to LGBT community.

n Counseling Center (919) 530-7646 www.nccu.edu/counseling Crisis intervention, individual and group counseling.

n Student Health (919) 530-6317 Medical care and sexually transmitted disease prevention.

n Campus Police 911 or (919) 530-6106 Transportation to and from the emergency room. Investigates and participates in appropriate legal or judicial action.

n Dean of Students Office (919) 530-6311 dos@nccu.edu Advocacy and crisis intervention.

Advises options and assists in filing complaints with the Student Judicial System.

n Dept.of Residential Life (919) 530-6227 Seek RA or GA as first line of contact.

Durham n Durham Crisis Response Center Crisis Line: (919) 403-6562 www.durhamcrisisresponse.org Free services to victims of domestic and sexual violence, including case management and support groups.

n Duke Hospital Emergency (919) 684-2413 n Durham Regional Hospital Emergency (919) 470-4000 (919) 470-5345 n Durham Police Dept.

911

The phrase, “drug abuse” tends to conjure images of wild parties, police actions and tragic overdoses.

Activities few people associate with drug abuse are studying and trips to the library.

However, an emerging trend in pharmaceutical abuse among teens and young adults to help boost their grades and improve their studying is using prescription drugs like Ritalin, Adderall, and Dexedrine in a non-medically prescribed manner.

In the past, a pot of coffee or a six-pack of Jolt Cola was all students needed to pull an all-night study session.

But with unemployment figures at a national alltime high, today’s students face a much more competitive environment.

They are not only expected to get into a good school, but to perform well and excel.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, alcohol and tobacco use are down among students, but non-medical use of prescription drugs is up.

A recent NIDA study conducted at an undisclosed mid-Atlantic university showed that 169 of 1,253 students, or 13 percent, had used drugs for non-medical purposes.

Excuses for illicit usage ranged from needing help to focus for studying to getting high and partying.

Most students reported

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“I have a prescription for Adderall and other students constantly ask me to sell them a few. If I sold all 90 each month I could make close to $400.”

TIM STECKER DURHAM TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOPHOMORE

they had received the drugs from friends for free or had purchased them illegally.

Some students even abused their own prescriptions or sold them to their friends.

A quick search on Google returned hundreds of results on how to fake symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder to obtain a prescription for one or more drugs.

“I have a prescription for Adderall and other students constantly ask me to sell them a few,” said Tim Stecker, an undeclared sophomore at Durham Technical Community College.

“If I sold all 90 each month, I could make close to $400,” Stecker said.

Adderall is popular among students, but worrisome to policy makers, as it is an amphetamine and has a high potential for dependence and abuse and functions as a potential gateway for additional drug usage.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that college students who non-medically used Adderall were three times more likely to use marijuana and eight times more likely to use cocaine or prescription tranquilizers.

“I was diagnosed with ADD and anxiety when I was still in middle school,” said Elon University philosophy senior Eric Kimball.

“At college I don’t let anyone know I take Adderall — I don’t want them bugging me for pills,” said Kimball.

“I also take Klonopin for my anxiety issues and I can’t count how many times pills have been stolen from me.”

Students place themselves at risk any time they take a drug that is not prescribed specifically for them.

Potentially life threatening adverse reactions or dangerous drug interactions can cause serious harm.

Even over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen, taken in abusive quantities, can cause liver damage.

Students risk lifelong addiction problems with Adderall dependency.

“If I don’t take my medicine I can’t concentrate for the life of me,” said N.C. State University sports management senior April Casey.

“Staying healthy mentally is the key to a good life.”

Mental health is important to achieving academic success.

N.C. Central Student Health and Counseling Service offers a wide variety of options, from stress management to treating depression.

Student Health also offers an on-campus alcohol and drug education and prevention group called Healthy Choices.

Interested students may contact Jody Grandy at 919530-7646 for more information.

Those who witness or experience a suspected drug overdose should contact 911 emergency services immediately.

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Beyond NCCU

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010

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Health Ministry, Foreign Ministry and the Port-auPrince city hall, were destroyed.

Looters pilfered a wholesale food market on the main Grand Rue downtown Monday afternoon. U.N. and Haitian police tried to stop them, to no avail.

“The population was throwing stones at us to stop us from preventing the looting,” said Gabriel Diallo, a U.N. officer from Guinea.

“They said we can’t stop them from looting the food because they were hungry.”

The looters then burned down the store, sending a black cloud into the air that added one more dystopic element to the scene.

As the police stood by a block away, two gunshots rang out from the main street.

At an industrial park near the airport, U.N. riot police pushed back onlookers as U.S. helicopters landed, presumably with supplies.

The 82nd Airborne carried out its first air drop of food and water in Port-auPrince.

A C-17 cargo plane dropped 40 skids of water and packaged military meals a secured drop zone in the city, said Maj. Brian Fickel, a spokesman for the division at Fort Bragg, N.C. The food and water were wrapped in canvas and attached to parachutes for the drop. The delivery had to be made away from crowds to avoid injuries, Fickel said.

The skids contained 14,000 gallons of bottled water and 15,000 meals.

Navy helicopters thrummed over the city, but the troops’ presence on the ground so far has been limited. On Sunday, the Navy stopped doing food drops from helicopters due to the chaos it was creating with no security on the ground.

In the neighboring suburb of Carrefour on Monday, people gathered in a field

where the Navy had done four food drops over the weekend. At 2 p.m. a helicopter circled and then left.

One man said the crowd mobbed the helicopters each time they landed, forcing the Navy crew to dump the boxes of bottled water and military rations from the air.

“People started fighting.

They are pulling machetes on each other,” he said.

“Some of them got some.

Some didn’t.”

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proposed adding 3,500 more U.N. peacekeepers and police to maintain order and protect deliveries of emergency aid.

Ban, who visited Haiti on Sunday, asked the Security Council to approve sending 1,500 more police officers and 2,000 peacekeeping troops to supplement the current contingent of about 9,000 personnel. At least 46 U.N. staff members are known to have died in last Tuesday’s 7.0 quake, which killed tens of thousands of people and perhaps hundreds of thousands.

U.S. troops will not take on a policing role, and security will remain the primary responsibility of the U.N., Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told reporters during a flight to India. But he added that U.S. forces distributing aid have the ability to defend themselves and others.

“Anywhere we deploy out troops they have the authority and right to defend themselves,” Gates said.

“They also have the right to defend innocent Haitians and other members of the international community if they see something happening.”

European Union bodies and member states have offered more than $400 million in relief and recovery aid. The Obama administration has already pledged $100 million in U.S. emergency aid.

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A UN pickup truck pushes through a crowd of hungry quake victims who are rushing the back of a WFP truck (off-camera left) as the World Food Program distributes high-protein bars in Petionville, Haiti, Sunday, Jan. 17.

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Friday. After finding out that a cousin had died in a collapsed building, Camille decided to fly to Haiti to check on other family members.

“I am prepping myself mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Seeing my family will bring a lot of relief,” he said.

Mass communication junior Natasha Gordon was also in the dark about her family in Haiti.

“We couldn’t get in contact with any family until this past Friday,” she said.

“It was also about the orphans we are responsible for,” she said, explaining that her parent operate two orphanages that care for 45 children.

“Thankfully there weren’t any casualties.” Gordon said one orphanage had minor damages, but the other is “completely gone.”

Gordon, who plans to fly to Haiti next month, said it’s important for students to help.

“My goal is to start fundraising as soon as possible,” she said.

Gordon is working with Duke University’s Haitian Student Association and with NCCU’s student organizations to get support for Haiti.

The Student Government

My biggest fear is the aftermath. This country has gone through a lot. This is worse than 911, Katrina and the tsunami.

RONY CAMILLE NCCU ALUMNUS AND FORMER CAMPUS ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Association has called an emergency council meeting for January 22 to bring presidents of all campus organizations together to come up with ideas on how to help Haiti.

Camille returned from Haiti yesterday with news that his aunt had died, but that the rest of his family survived. He described the situation as “really bad.”

Camille chose not to listen to warnings and took the bus from the Dominican Republic into Haiti.

“I was scared. At one point I lost it. I thought we were going to die,” he said, referring to when he crossed into Haiti. He said the roads were so bad that the bus was about to tip into a lake.

“People are sleeping on the streets in tents.”

Prices have been raised on food and other resources, according to Camille.

Exchanging Dominican pesos for the Haitian gourde was “twice the amount as usual. Many buildings are gone,” he said.

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“My biggest fear is the aftermath. This country has gone through a lot. This is worse than 911, Katrina and the tsunami.”

“This is a country that doesn’t have infrastructure.

There is no food or water,” he said.

On a more positive note, Camille said, “They are in high spirits ... and people are being civilized.”

Gordon also stressed the country’s inadequate infrastructure. “It’s hard to get around to help people,” she said.

“It’s hard to assess what is going on. If you are trapped under a cement block and there is an aftershock, the destruction continues to get worse.”

Her biggest fear is the number of bodies and where they are going to be buried.

“The clean water supply will be infected by the amount of bodies,” she said.

Both Gordon and Camille are proud of the way Americans have responded to the Haitian disaster.

“This is one of the things I love about America. Most Americans do not let culture and races divide us,” said Gordon.

“It’s amazing,” said Camille. “People spread the word really fast. People are being so kind and caring, but there is more that needs to be done. More! More! More! needs to be done.”

Both Gordon and Camille are confident that Haiti will make it through this latest hardship.

“This country has gone through a lot -- hurricanes, wars, and now an earthquake,” said Camille, who described Haiti as a country of survivors.

“Haiti has overcome so much … we are survivors,” said Gordon.

“On Haiti’s flag it says ‘L’Union Fait la Force” or “In unity there is strength.”

This is building a sense of unity and any time we come together we are unstoppable,” she said.

Recent United Nation projections estimate that the death toll may reach 200,000. Currently, more than one million Haitians are homeless.

Gordon’s non-profit, Harmony of the Divine Light, can be reached at (754) 2050580 or (954) 559-2170, or by e-mail at hodlc@aol.com.

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Kids’ art graces NCCU’s museum WE 6

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"Miami Nights" by Karen Diaz, Grade 8, Chewning Middle School (Honorable Mention).

Top left: "Hiccups" by Betsy Morris, Grade 12, Southern High School. Top right: “Untitled,” by Jacob Streilein, Grade 12, Riverside High School. Lower left: "Mary" (Mary J. Blige) by Katheryn Alavarado, Grade 8, Lowe's Grove Middle.

Lower right: "In a Dream" by Judith Mendez, Grade 12, Durham School of the Arts.

FINEST CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

TEXT BY DIANA VARNIE PHOTOS OF ART BY BRANDI MEYERS

excel and show whatever they're feeling, whatever they think.”

Most of the chosen art pieces were class projects assigned by instructors.

“It was what we were doing in class,” said Lindsey Reeves, a 13-year-old eighthgrader at Carrington Middle School.

“Our teacher took our pictures, and we sketched it out.”

Reeves’ piece is a drawing titled “SelfPortrait.”

“At first it was an assignment from my art teacher, but then he nominated mine,” said Ayanna Webster, an 11-year-old fifthgrader at Pearsontown Elementary School.

“I was actually surprised when he told me that it would be here,” Webster said.

“I was like, wow, I never thought I could do something so great.”

Other artwork required years of planning, but the time and patience paid off.

Left: “City of Souls” by Genesis Henderson, Grade 12, Hillside High School (Honorable Mention). Right: "Back in the 1960s" by Caitlin Rutherford, Grade 5, Mangum Elementary School (Honorable Mention).

Genesis Henderson, a 19-year-old senior at Hillside High School, is one of four artists who received blue ribbons.

Henderson won for “City of Lost Souls.”

“This is a piece that has been in my head for about the last five years now,” explained Henderson.

“I’ve always tried to express it, but my skill in my drawing wasn’t where I needed it to be for others to really see my vision.”

“City of Lost Souls” carries a influential message.

“This is a futuristic city with just about no one living in it,” said Henderson.

“I tried to implement this by showing a empty street in the lower left.

“This city is only inhabited by souls who have no purpose and have lost their way, and wander the city in a huge spiral over the city.”

Henderson's work gained so much attention, he was offered $50 for “City of Lost Souls” to be displayed in the art museum as property of NCCU.

But Henderson declined the offer.

“That piece is the second painting I have ever done,” said Henderson.

“I couldn't just give away something special that reminded me of how much God has blessed me with so much talent.”

High school won't be the end of higher learning for Henderson.

“I plan on going to a four-year college on a track scholarship while majoring in fine art and animation,” said Henderson.

“When I leave college, I would like to go to an art institute to perfect my craft in animation and probably other mediums.

While I’m there, I would also like to intern for companies like Cartoon Network, Pixar, and DreamWorks.”

“Durham's Finest” will run until Jan. 29.

The NCCU Art Museum's is open: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The museum is closed Saturdays, Mondays and University holidays.

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9th Dukes it out After fighting for NCCU position, Wonder moves on 12345 1234 123 12

Modern Day Lauper Blondie GaGa in Training Attempted Madonna

T R A S H

Devo-one hit wonder

Ke$ha Animal RCA Records

out of on the 4 5 black hand side

Grammy-Award-winning producer 9th Wonder began teaching hip hop at Duke University this spring.

Courtesy of Tru Skool Corp

BY ERICA MCRAE ECHO STAFF WRITER

Holding the world at his artistic fingertips, GrammyAward-winning super producer 9th Wonder is known for crafting beats to romance monstrous bars.

His smooth and soulful production style often relies on samples from artists such as Al Green and Curtis Mayfield.

If he can't reach you sonically he most certainly will teach you what strength, soul and love sounds like.

9th Wonder marks his territory by teaching and melodically painting pictures through his music.

Wonder, whose real name is Patrick Douthit, is a perfect example of the adage “never judge a book by its

cover.”He believes that it takes a village to raise a child; that’s why he felt that it was his duty to educate and enlighten the youth as well as his generation.

After his road to success and fame, there was one more duty he had to achieve: utilizing hip hop as a tool to educate.

Douthit served as an artist-in-residence at N. C. Central University, teaching “Hip Hop in Context” for three years. As a graduate of NCCU, his insight on music influenced others in pursuit of the industry.

Instantly, he became a mentor to many students, providing them with an outlet on campus to make music.

Not many could brag that their university had an

actual recording studio on campus, but students of NCCU had ultimate bragging rights. Wonder allowed even those who were not aspiring artists to come kick it at the studio during lunch or between classes.

According to mass communication senior Jamese Slade, “It was so cool to be able to meet many talented students on campus by hanging at the studio.

Sometimes, I would even see celebrities stop through to record some music. It brought energy to campus life, as well as the city of Durham.”

The current recession brought changes for universities and institutions.

When NCCU declared budget cuts, Douthit was one of the many let go, despite

petitioning by students to keep him at the University.

Instead, Douthit landed a great opportunity teaching an African American studies course at Duke University titled “Soul Sampling.”

“This course focuses on soul music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, the neighborhoods it came out of and where was the influence for this song to come out of,” he said.

Douthit will assist Professor Mark Anthony Neal as they examine songs from the Civil Rights era and the Black Power Movement.

Wonder will now share his wonderland with new students who share his ambitions and thirst for knowledge.

Ke$ha’s debut album “Animal” is something like a beast itself.

She releases malicious vocals throughout each song, with fresh beats from start to finish.

A cowriter of all the material on the album, Ke$ha’s personality is reflected through her lyrics, which are electric and bold.

The debut single “Tik Tok” promotes non-stop partying, comparing it to continuous “ticking” on a clock.

She is considered a modern-day Madonna by some, with a twist of the classic blonde Valley girl who’s down to earth.

With classic hip-hop influences, the electro-pop

sound of the album brings back the sounds of the Beastie Boys and Salt-nPepa.

Ke$ha’s lyrical and musical content can be compared to Katy Perry and Lady GaGa. Each song stays in the circle of the party life.

Subject matter includes getting “wasted,” relationships, and having a good time.

The lyrics of “Take It Off ” pertain to the aftereffect of nonstop “animal” fun.

She goes through the night sending drunk text messages in her “gold Trans-Am”while toting a “water bottle full of whiskey.”

“Dinosaur” takes the listener back to a “Sixteen Candles” scenario with a real ’80s baby vibe.

Overall, Ke$ha is bound to truly represent the party life.

Like Cindy Lauper, Ke$ha makes tunes that expresses a girls favorite pastime ... simply having fun.

— Belinda Dunn

Say somethin,’ baby

BY OMARI HESTER ECHO STAFF WRITER

Calling out the lyrically inclined, NCCU’s Poetz started the new semester with a debut poetry slam, “YO! SPEAK” last Wednesday evening.

The lower level of the cafeteria quickly filled up with poets, singers, and rappers all looking to express themselves orally.

Under dimmed lights and lit candles, neo-soul tunes filled the room, creating a coffee house ambiance.

“The purpose for this event was to redirect the young thinker to some real writing that acquires a conscious thought,” said N. C. Central University’s Poetz President Candess Carter, a mass communication junior.

“It’s also used to promote confidence within expressive speaking,”Carter added.

Some may have just learned about the organization, but NCCU Poetz isn’t new to campus. In fact, it

was established in the spring of 2008.

“We’ve been trying to get regular open mic events on campus for a while,” said group vice-president Jasmine Carpenter, a criminal justice junior.

“NCCU used to do them often and the students loved it, but then the tradition died.”

As the night continued, attendees caught a glimpse of each participant’s life through pieces about domestic abuse, spirituality, sexuality, poverty and more.

Speakers even rapped about music conspiracies and ways to success.

In his song “Heard ’Em Say,” Nigel Hood, a history junior and aspiring hip-hop artist, shared his thoughts on how he wanted to control the sound and message of his music.

NCCU students were not the only attendees.

“I heard about the event on Facebook,” said Jonathan Jones, a

UNC-Chapel Hill management and society senior.

Jones is also a vocalist and guitarist.

“Any time I have the opportunity to sing and play, I’m there,” he said.

Tasha Jones, a professional spoken word artist, also moved the crowd, bringing them to their feet, chanting “say that” and “you betta’ go ’head”along with the poet.

Jones, an Indiana native, left her five-year career as an English teacher to pursue her dream as a spoken word artist.

One attendee suggested that with the number of performers and talent under the roof, “YO! SPEAK” should be a monthly event.

“This year I’m trying to build awareness of the spoken word and help bring a voice to those who were once scared to speak about something they cared about,” said Carter.

“We are going to do many events and learn at the same time.”

Poet Tasha Jones engages crowd at Yo! Speak event.

JES’NEKA JONES/Echo Staff Photographer

Senior writes, directs film “The Watchmen” to explore domestic violence

BY CARLTON KOONCE ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Come out and join us at Regal Brier Creek Cinemas for a day of fun & festivities Saturday, January 23rd from 12-4 PM

Looking for a film that is packed with action, suspense and romance but also carries a strong message?

Well N. C. Central University has its own resident director/producer grinding away in the studio to fill the bill.

Mass communication junior Demetrius Phillips, known as Dede, is filming a drama that delves into the violence that can spring from sticky romantic relationships.

“The Watchmen” tells the story of Lisa Roberts, a young, naïve woman in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend. Roberts is played by Ashay Ross, a theatre junior.

After witnessing a bank robbery, she is followed home by Ricky Johnson, a member of the Watchmen “stick-up” crew. The Watchmen are a mafia-like, secret male organization whose members hire themselves out for criminal activities.

Ricky, played by theatre senior Corwin Evans, eventually finds Lisa’s boyfriend abusing her and intervenes.

Ricky falls in love with Lisa and teaches her what qualities to look for in a man. Meanwhile, he continuously battles her violent ex-boyfriend.

“The overall message is to stay focused and don’t get caught up in the temptations of the world,” said Evans.

Evans said he wants to work in film after graduation. He has been talking to producer Tyler Perry’s people about work.

Evans called his work in “The Watchmen” “a great experience” and said he has high hopes that the film will benefit everyone.

Phillips had specific qualities in mind when she held the film’s casting call. “I looked for stage presence, voice projection, as well as individuals I thought could best fit into the character’s role I was looking for,” she said.

“Dede’s a great writer and director,” said Evans. “She’s open to input

and I see a bright future for her.”

Phillips, originally from Charlotte, is writing a book of poetry and working to get it published. She also writes music, short stories, and plays in addition to rapping and making instrumentals.

“I came to NCCU because we have a variety of programs offered that I was interested in such as music, graphic design, business, and law,” said Phillips. She decided to major in mass communication because “it was the best field to help make me become well-rounded.”

Phillips plans to attend a film school or a film apprenticeship program after graduation.

Phillips completed a documentary on pregnancy at NCCU last year. She expects to be done with “The Watchmen” by January 2011. A trailer is now posted on YouTube.

Phillips is already planning her next production. “On the next film I’m working on I cover racism, prejudice, stereotypes and karma,” she said.

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010

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That’s right. Shoot us an e-mail from any NCCU.edu e-mail address and we’ll post your classified online for two weeks.

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A 2” x 2” classified box in the print edition costs just $10 for anyone.

UNC Law Symposium to Examine Law and Development Policy CHAPEL HILL – The North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation will explore the future of law and development at its annual symposium on Friday, January 29.

Scholars from around the country will join nationally recognized experts from the University of North Carolina and RTI International to discuss the connections between law and economics, the changing nature of international development, and implications for the Obama Administration’s foreign policy.

For additional information or to register, vIsit http://studentorgs.law.unc.edu/ncilj/symposium.

WHAT: North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation Symposium: “A Changing of the Guard: The Future of Law and Development under Obama” WHEN: Friday, January 29, 2010, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Kenan Center, University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill

Sports

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY JANUARY 20, 2010

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Lady Eagles soar to victory NCCU ROLLS PAST SAVANNAH STATE 50-46

BY AARON SAUNDERS ECHO SPORTS EDITOR

McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium was the scene of a dream game for the N.C. Central University Lady Eagles basketball team as they eked out a close one with a 50-46 victory over the Tigers of Savannah State.

In front of former and current Eagles on MLK’s b’day, the Lady Eagles jumped out to an early lead on the Tigers with a barrage of turnovers and fast break buckets.

“We were attacking the SSU defense by driving and kicking out for buckets,” said freshman guard Joanna Miller.

The Tigers struggled to break through the Lady Eagles impenetrable press defense that forced Savannah State to shoot only 19 percent from the floor in the first half, while the Lady Eagles shot over 50 percent.

Both teams finished the game shooting less than 40 percent.

The great rebounding of NCCU forwards junior Latoya Bennett and freshman J’mia Pollock, who had 10 and 14 rebounds respectively, was a great game changer.

Pollock was an intimidating force in the middle as she added four blocks and made it difficult for SSU post players to make shots the entire game.

The Eagles took an impressive 12 point lead into halftime with a score of 3422, despite the Tigers winning the second chance points battle 13-7.

NCCU guard Joanna Miller goes up for the strong basket over forward Alisha Nelson.

MITCHELL WEBSON/ECHO

In the second half, the Lady Eagles came out pressing and pushing the ball up and down the court led by the scoring duo of sophomore guard Blaire Houston and freshman guard Joanna Miller.

Both guards scored a game high 15 points.

The Eagles at one point took a 16 point lead after a 19-4 run, only to have the Tigers slowly chip away at the lead to come within four points led by junior guard Courtney Long.

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Long shot 5-20 from the field and finished with 13 points.

The Lady Eagles regained their composure and finished off the Tigers by knocking down crucial foul shots.

“We took a lot of bad shots

in the second half but we kept our heads and never stopped playing hard,” said Miller.

The win marked the Lady Eagles fourth in a row and 6th win of the season taking their record to 6-11.

“It feels great to be on a

winning streak after having all of these close games this season,” said Miller.

Miller also added that she feels that her freshman season is going well and that she is happy to be a part of team that is making a change.

Brains meet brawn NCCU student athlete is named academic all-star

BY AARON SAUNDERS ECHO SPORTS EDITOR

NCCU defensive tackle Teryl White shines on the field ... and off it.

Many times, athletes are labeled as not the most intelligent people in the classroom.

However, one N.C. Central University student athlete is knocking down those stereotypes.

NCCU football junior defensive tackle Teryl White, from Winston Salem, N.C., was recently named to the 12th annual Football Championship Subdivision Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star team.

White, was a key contributor to the NCCU football team this past season as he amassed 59 tackles with 11 of those being for losses, while maintaining a 3.62 G.P.A. “On a scale of 1 to 10, it’s probably a 7, the biggest struggle is how tired you get with focusing on football and school work,” White said of how hard it is to balance school and football.

White is no stranger to on and off the field accomplishments, as he was selected by Phil Steele as a pre-season First Team AllIndependent member, as well as being voted to the CoSida/ESPN

My teammates support me, but sometimes they make jokes about it. They might say little things like congratulations brainiac.

TERYL WHITE EAGLE JUNIOR DEFENSIVE TACKLE

the Magazine Academic AllDistrict team.

White commented about his teammates reaction to his academic standing off the football field.

“My teammates support me, but sometimes they make jokes about it,” said White.

“They might say little things like congratulations brainiac,” he said.

White, who is a business management and administration major, is very focused on his three phases of college; academics, athletics and social life.

“A lot of times I sacrifice social life for academics and athletics, but football kind of helps you with socializing because you have teammates who become your friends,” said White.

This year, White was also the

only student from a Historically Black College to make the 55 member team.

“School is school no matter where you go, you get the same education at NCCU that you get anywhere else and my degree will be just as good as one from any other school,” said White.

He was also selected as president of the University’s studentathlete advisory committee and has performed an internship with an agency that helps Latinos who have been victims of crimes.

To be successful in college academics and sports White recommends this: “Believing in yourself is the most important thing, managing your time and being honest with yourself about your faults, lastly make a plan and implement it.,” he said.

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Opinions

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010

IVER SITY

We’re all dependent t’s not unfamiliar for a man to hear a woman bragging about her “independence.”

But she may do so while also requiring that her potential mate be independent himself.

But is she truly independent?

And what is independence?

Independence is simply being able to do for oneself without having to depend on another for livelihood or Chioke subsistence.

Brown In one instance I met a young woman who was extremely anxious to leave the nest.

She wanted to be “independent” — or so she said.

As she saw it, living with her mother was keeping her from this goal.

She had a child and didn’t feel it was right to still be living under her mother’s roof.

So she decided to go to her local social security office and get the government to fund a new living situation.

Now that she has “her own place,” she feels free enough to go on challenging men to go out and get their own.

I

... women who accuse men (or vice versa) of being dependent are probably not so independent themselves.

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. In many instances, men cannot reap the same benefits that women can from the government in regards to housing.

Even if this were possible for men, you could never consider it to be true independence.

By leaving her mother and getting government aid, this young lady had simply switched the terms of her dependency.

One example in trends that seem to plague young Americans is their dependence on outside sources of food.

Eating out every night instead of cooking your own meals isn’t truly living independently either.

Furthermore, the music that has influenced many of these individuals to sing songs praising their so-called independence has helped keep many of its listeners trying to keep up with the Joneses.

Seeing these artists in fancy clothes chanting a tune of independence while they sell you a

smorgasbord of products that will eventually have you deep in debt is not helping to strengthen anyone’s independence.

It also could be argued that people depend on these artists to tell us what’s in fashion.

Individuals who do not own a home outright are dependent on banks to help them pay for their housing.

Renters depend on a landlord to give them an affordable rate to live under a roof that they do not own.

Is this true independence?

No. To be clear, every person in America is dependent on someone else for something.

Here at NCCU we depend on financial aid, the school cafeteria, our professors and sometimes even our fellow students.

Granted, people should do all in their power not to be a hindrance or leech to the people around them.

It is to be commended when you are able to do for yourself, but it is no crime to be depend-

ent on others.

Men and women who choose to stay at home should not be frowned upon.

In countries such as Italy and Spain, many adults have chosen to live in the same house as their parents.

The reason for this is simply money and convenience.

In today’s economy, I expect to see more of this kind of behavior in the U.S. Will people launch attacks on men and women who want to live at home and assist their poor old single parents who would be all alone if it were not for their children?

Would these same individuals, in their old age, want to live alone if there were another option?

Is it wrong for people to stay home and save their money until they has finished school and gotten their own career or married?

The truth is that women who accuse men (or vice versa) of being dependent are probably not so independent themselves.

Their constant complaining about the opposite sex not being independent could and should, in many instances, be looked at as hypocritical.

Equal all around hat’s the difference between a woman and a man? In today’s society, nothing is really that different.

I try my hardest to look at everyone as an equal, but with so much discrimination going on, that’s pretty hard to do.

Women today face a lot.

Women do not Desmond make as much Webb money as males do and they seem to give up a lot for their careers.

Many successful women are not married or even dating.

They are very career-driven and don’t find much time for a relationship.

If they are in a relationship or married, it usually doesn’t last because they neglect everything and treat their

W

careers like they are number one.

I’m not saying that this is their fault, but it’s society’s for making females feel that they have to work extra hard to prove themselves.

Women who hold authority or positions of leadership can easily be labeled “bitches” for doing the same things men do.

Another major challenge that women face today is being labeled bad mothers for having a career or placing their children in day care.

When I think of day care I see a place where children can go to enjoy themselves and be around other children their age. I feel they get a jump start on learning how to socialize and become comfortable with others.

Believe it or not, some women would call that bad parenting. They feel as if you should be with your child every single minute of every day. They look at day care as a

N ORTH C AROLINA C ENTRAL U NIVERSITY

Campus Echo

place where you can just leave your kids to find time for yourself.

When I was 15, my cousin gave birth for the first time.

She always complained about how she didn’t have time for herself and how much her life has changed.

When her daughter was old enough to be placed in day care, she signed her up. A week later, a group started standing outside the day care with signs saying things like, “If you didn’t want kids why did you have them?” and, “How are you bonding with your children if they are not with you?”

I always wondered why they felt so strongly about it and why they felt they had to do that.

But some women believe that a woman’s place is in the home.

I grew up with a working mother and father, and I bonded with my mother at an early age.

I know some of the things that women went through just to be treated equal and to be looked at as more than a housewife and a mother, so I find it hard to believe that there are still women who think that a woman’s place is only in the house.

I don’t think like that at all.

In fact, I treat women equal in every way!

I’m not saying that I’m not a gentleman or I don’t have manners, but I feel like this: if you want to be treated like an equal, then it should be with everything and not selective things.

When I go out with a woman, I don’t always pay.

I sometimes ask, are you going to get this?

I have been called names for doing this, but if you want to be treated equal you have to start somewhere!

It’s like this: you’re either going to be treated equal or not. You choose.

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Question:

Do you think juniors and seniors should have to live off campus next year?

“It should be an option for juniors and mandatory for seniors. Seniors should feel obligated to experience the outside of campus and prepare for the real world.”

— Quante Manuel

“As a rising senior, I’m very disturbed about this situation. I believe the majority of students would have made the decision to move off campus. So therefore I feel that upperclassmen should have been given an option instead of a demand.”

— Samantha Kennedy “I believe that they should have the option to stay on campus if they desire to, because everyone is not fortunate to stay off campus.”

— Tierra Burns – Sound Off by Uyi Idahor