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OCTOBER 21, 2009
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VOLUME 101, ISSUE 4 919 530 7116/CAMPUSECHO@NCCU.EDU WWW.CAMPUSECHO.COM
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A&E
Q&A
VOICE
52-7 (at last)
Book explores politics of hair, Afrocentricity and why women should embrace their natural beauty
Echo has a tête à tête with Mayor Bill Bell as he seeks his fifth term
More stories written for the the Northeast Central Durham VOICE by NCCU students.
Touchdown! Andrew Johnson’s catch puts the Eagles in the stratosphere
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Campus Echo HOMECOMING 2009 I NCCU CELEBRATES ITS 100th BIRTHDAY
In this 1994 painting, almunus Ernie Barnes captures the jubilation and spirit of an N.C. Central University homecoming. As part of NCCU’s homecoming and centennial celebration, his art will be on display in the University art museum beginning Friday, Oct. 30. Barnes, who died last April at the age of 70, has bequeathed his art and books to NCCU. “Homecoming” ~ Courtesy Ernie Barnes Estate
BARNES’ ART ON CENTERSTAGE BY CARLTON KOONCE/ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF he art of alumnus Ernie Barnes will be a centerpiece of N.C. Central University’s homecoming and centennial celebration.
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Centennial News
His art, which he called neoMannerist in style, has been described as unequaled in the world of mod-
ern art. Throughout his artistic career, Barnes focused on African-American culture and the world of sports. In his obituary — Barnes died
last April — the New York Times described his work as “kinetic and often vividly bright.” The Los Angeles Times
Pneumonia and complications from H1N1 suspected as cause of death ECHO STAFF REPORTERS
N. C. Central University is mourning the loss of adjunct English and mass communication instructor Frederick “Freddie” Jones, 66, who died of pneumonia and suspected H1N1 complications early Sunday morning at an unnamed local hospital. Jones’ wife, Olivia, is the assistant director of NCCU’s office of international affairs.
Collie Fulford, associate English and mass communication professor, expressed condolences to the family. “It was a privilege to have known him,” she said. Fulford said she first met Jones at the department’s fall gathering of new faculty. “He was dignified and composed,” she said. “His deep, kind voice is something to remember. We will miss him a lot.” Leslie Frost, adjunct associate professor of English and mass communication described Jones as “a
deeply good man, a fine scholar, and a committed teacher.” Frost worked with Jones at St. Augustine’s College for over two years where he was the English department head for eight years. “I got to know him well because we were a small department and Freddie’s office door was always open because he was always there,” she said. Jones earned his Ph.D. from the University of Leeds in Great Britain. He had also taught at universi-
ties in Sierra Leone and Germany. Before coming to NCCU he was department of humanities chair and the assistant dean of the college of arts and sciences at Shaw University. Jones’ longtime scholarly interest was linguistics. In 2004 he was awarded a faculty research grant from the National Endowment of Humanities for a project entitled “The Tradition and Commerce of African Speech, Music and Movement.” A grief counseling ses-
sion is scheduled at the Old Student Health Building, room 217 today at 3 p.m. Counselors will be available to speak to students during his scheduled classes. No date is set for his funeral. Arrangements are being handled by the Lea Funeral Home in Raleigh. “He was really someone special,” said Frost. “I don’t feel like I’ve found words big enough and deep enough to describe him. I know I’ll never forget him.”
Echoes of NCCU, Durham history As centennial appproaches 1945 alumna shares her memories of University’s past BY CARLTON KOONCE ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jean “Kissie” McKissick McNeill reminisces with the Campus Echo ASHLEY GRIFFIN/Echo staff photographer
Try to imagine N. C. Central University and Durham on a June spring day about 65 years ago. World War II is in its last days, Durham is considered the Black Wall Street and the North Carolina College for Negroes is holding its 20th commencement. The school’s motto: “I serve.” It’s 1945 and Mary Jean McKissick McNeill, known
then as “Kissie,” is graduating. McNeill, now 84, was one of 102 in Centennial News her graduating class. McNeill had served the 1944-45 academic year as the editor of the Campus Echo. “John Hope Franklin taught Negro history,” said McNeill, a resident of Durham who retired here after teaching for much of
More Ernie Barnes . . .10 Homecoming events . .2
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Sudden illness claims English prof BY BRIANA AGUILLAR & ERICA SMITH
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her adult life in Washington, D.C. at Eastern and Anacostia High School. “He taught history from slavery to freedom. Like the name of the book,” she said. “I made an A in it and I loved it.” If you’ve ever wondered where the name for the Farrison-Newton Communication Building came from, McNeill has the answer.
n See MCNEILL Page 2
‘sha TAW kwa’ NCCU’s inspired name BY DIVINE MUNYENGETERWA ECHO STAFF REPORTER
When you read that N.C. Central University was instituted in 1910 as the National Religious Training S c h o o l Chautauqua, you’ve got to ask yourself: Centennial News “What exactly does this ‘Chautauqua’ refer to?” “It translates into ‘meeting place,’” said Terry Huff, coordinator of University dimensions of learning. The idea behind the Chautauqua summer-camp movement, which was rooted in Christian instruction and popular education, was to bring culture, lectures, plays, music and education to rural and small town America. At their peak year in 1924, Chautauquas appeared in about 10,000 communities and served about 45 million citizens. The Chautauquas, which
n See CHAUTAUQUA Page 2