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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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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.
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‘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
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2009 HOMECOMING EVENTS For more event information go to www.nccu.edu/homecoming Friday, Oct. 23 Centennial Comedy Show 7 pm - McDougald-McLendon
Saturday, Oct. 24 Eagle Jam & Pre-Dawn Dance 10 pm - Walker Complex
Sunday, Oct. 25 Coronation 6 pm - B.N. Duke Auditorium
Monday, Oct. 26 Choir Ball 8 pm - B.N. Duke Auditorium
Tuesday, Oct. 27 Tye Tribbett Gospel Concert 7 pm - McDougald-McLendon
Wednesday, Oct. 28 Faculty & Staff Variety Show 7 pm - B.N. Duke Auditorium
Thursday, Oct. 29 SGA Fashion Show 8 pm - B.N. Duke Auditorium
Friday, Oct. 30 Golden Eagles Induction 9 am - McDougald-McLendon
Golden Eagles Luncheon 12 pm - Sheraton Imperial Hotel
Golf Tournament 12 pm - Hillandale Country Club
Class Reunion Registrations 2 pm - Class Headquaters
Mock Funeral & Cook-Out 2 pm - Ruffin Hall Amphitheatre
Ernie Barnes Tribute 3 pm -Art Museum
Class Reunion Banquet 6 pm - Sheraton Imperial Hotel
Pan-Hellenic Step Show 8 pm - McDougald-McLendon
Saturday, Oct. 31 Homecoming Parade 9 am - Fayetteville Street
Homecoming Game 1:30 am - O’Kelly- Riddick Stadium
Dance Show 7 pm - B.N. Duke Auditorium
Alumni Dance 8 pm - Sheraton Imperial Hotel
Sunday, Nov. 1 Gospel Concert 4 pm - B.N. Duke Auditorium
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MCNEILL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 She studied under Pauline Newton, the chair of the speech department and W. E. Farrison, the chair of the English department. “I would study the dictionary for Pauline Newton’s class,” said McNeill shaking her head. “They were my teachers, but became my co-workers.” A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., McNeill grew up in Asheville and relocated to Durham to attend James Shepard’s North Carolina College for Negroes. She received a bachelor’s degree in English and library sciences. McNeill’s grandfathers were ministers and in those days, every student was required to attend vespers, sermons or prayers on Sundays. She also sang in the choir at B. N. Duke Auditorium. “There were Sunday school classes in the administration hall that were well attended,” said McNeill. “Not many attended the Holy Cross Church. There were not many black Catholics in the South back then.” McNeill’s dormitory was the original Chidley Hall, now Rush Hall, located off of Fayetteville Street at the campus main entrance. At the time, tuition, room and board ran in the hundreds, not thousands of dollars. The largest scholarship available from the University was for $500. McNeill said the school had many inspiring speakers and visitors, including ministers, actresses and actors. The Roosevelts were one of these visitors. . “The biggest story I reported was the death of Roosevelt,” said McNeill. “It was sad.” President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in April 1945. He held office for four terms and had seen America through the Great Depression and much of World War II. According to McNeill, most men were serving in the war and very few men were seen on campus. “Sororities and frats had little things going on like service projects and good deeds,” she said. McNeill described NCCU founder James E. Shepard as “straight laced and no nonsense.” She said he was forced to be cautious as the leader of a state-supported black college. “Dr. Shepard didn’t want to rock the boat,” she said. “He was stern but fair
,and I admired him greatly,” she said. As editor of the Campus Echo, McNeill said her biggest worry was printing something that would offend Shepard. “It wasn’t fear, just respect,” said McNeill. “Young people respected their elders then.” Then, each issue of the Campus Echo was about four pages The adviser, Isador Oglesby, was a business teacher. McNeill said about 20 students worked on the Campus Echo, but usually about 10 helped during production nights. “We didn’t have a large budget, but Dr. Shepard wanted to promote the paper,” she said. “If we published once a month, we were doing okay.” Shepard approached her about working at NCCU just before she graduated. “He said, ‘Ms. McKissick, you’ve done well here. Come back for your master’s and we’ll give you a job.’ ” And this is exactly what she did. She earned her master’s degree in English in 1954 and taught English and speech for about 10 years while living on Rosewood Street and raising a family. After teaching at NCCU, McNeill moved to Washington, D.C., where she taught high school. While McNeill was teaching in the 1950s ,NCCU was called N.C. College at Durham. Durham’s black society and economy was flourishing. “Anyone who was anyone in black society came to Durham in those days,” she said. “There were so many negro entrepreneurs operating businesses in town, then —— the Mechanics and Farmers Bank, movie theatres, we had everything we needed.” McNeill also witnessed and supported the first stirring of the Civil Rights Movement. “It was a different time and place,” she said. “NCCU students would meet secretly with Duke
and UNC students to discuss plans for the movement.” McNeill said that the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. met with her brother, Floyd McKissick, about training people for sit-ins and preparing them in case they were jailed. “They taught people how to stay passive, take blows and trained them to deal with abuse,” she said. “There were no baseball bats. You went in with just the good Lord on one shoulder and an angel on the other.” McNeill also lent her support to students organizing the historic June 23, 1957 Royal Ice Cream Parlor sit-in Durham. This sit-in was the first of several historic sit-ins that occurred in North Carolina. The parlor, once located at the corner of Roxboro and Dowd streets had a side door on Dowd Street that had a separate window to serve blacks, while the main entrance on Roxboro Street was used by whites. The sit-in, organized to defy Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation, was led by Rev. Douglas Moore, who went on to become the first North Carolina delegate to Southern Christian Leadership Council. Moore is credited with helping to convince Martin Luther King, Jr. to adopt a non-confrontational policy to American apartheid. The parlor is now home to Union Independence School, a tuition free, fully endowed private elementary school serving Northeast Central Durham. McNeill, a selfdescribed Obama fanatic, said she wants young people to “know their history” and “be ambitious.” “Have value and respect for all the efforts our forefathers put forth to put us where we are today,” she said. She said too many young people place athletics above higher goals. “Times change, conditions change, people change. Do what’s demanded for the times.”
Calling all Real Eagles Just 18 percent of faculty, staff on monthly deduction plan BY AMARACHI ANAKARAONYE ECHO STAFF REPORTER
“Real Eagles Give Back,” says the logo of the N.C. Central University Foundation. And the foundation sees the NCCU’s centennial celebration as an opportunity to find a few more real Eagles. As part of its centennial initiative the foundation is turning to faculty and staff with an automatic payroll deduction plan entitled “Make it Maroon.” “The centennial evokes strong emotions in anyone associated with NCCU, we will turn 100 only once,” said Douglas Yopp, director of Annual Giving. “We hope to use this most important year in our history to educate everyone about the need to support NCCU and to let them know how they can
go about doing so.” The economic downturn has hit the state and universiCentennial News its ties hard. State funding to NCCU has been reduced by 10 percent. Contributions to the “Make it Maroon” campaign are used to fund merit and need-based scholarships, to attract and retain top faculty, to help with college readiness programs, and to renew and beautify the campus. Currently, 257 NCCU employees out of more than 1,600, make monthly contributions. Last fiscal year 300 faculty and staff contributed more than $130,000. Total participation was 18 percent. “I think the economy last year had a lot to do with the low participation percent-
age,” said Ainsley Owens, president of the Greensboro chapter of N.C. Central University’s Alumni Association, Inc. The goal of fiscal year 2010, is to have 50 percent of NCCU’s employees enrolled in “Make it Maroon.” The Shepard Society is another initiative within “Make it Maroon.” It recognizes donors during the current fiscal year, regardless of the amount they give. The Student Campaign educates students on the importance of supporting the University. Alumni are the largest group of contributing supporters. “In an effort to prepare our next generation of alumni, we need to educate them on why NCCU needs their support while they are attending,” said Yopp.
“Many students are receiving some financial assistance, and approximately 95 percent of students qualify for assistance,” said Yopp. “If our students learn now that this assistance is provided by alumni, like they will one day become, hopefully they will make a small gift now and also give back after they graduate.” To increase donor participation and show appreciation to current donors, “Make it Maroon” has partnered with NCCU Dining/Sodexho to offer donors a coupon for a free Freshens smoothie. “Some people may not give because they think they have to give a certain amount. We encourage everyone to donate at a level that is comfortable with them,” said Yopp. “The amount is negotiable, hopefully the act will not be.”
Campus alert system up and running at three campus locations JERRY ROGERS/Echo staff photographer
BY ASHLEY GADSDEN ECHO STAFF REPORTER
With the successful test of N.C. Central University’s new emergency alert warning system last Thursday, students can now feel a little safer on campus. The alert system, purchased from Federal Signal for about $100,000, is part of a comprehensive campus emergency notification plan. “Federal Signal’s comprehensive alerting and notification capabilities offer leading educational institutions a powerful way to quickly communicate across campus communities,” writes John Von Thaden in a company press release. Von Thaden is Federal Signal’s director of alerting and notification systems. There are three 40-feettall metal sirens located at strategic locations across campus. “It is one of the best systems in the world and is used by the federal government,” said NCCU security guard Lonnie Williams. The system is designed to alert people not plugged into other notification methods, such as e-mail and text messaging. It will be used in lifethreatening situations like shootings, biological hazards, or tornado sightings. The system was purchased this fall from Federal Signal after about two years of discussing and planning. Its speakers are designed to deliver highintensity warning signals over a large area, and it is activated by radio frequency. It operates on batteries
charged by solar panels. In addition, the alert system provides the capability to operate as a loud speaker. The siren can be activated from the police station or by a portable remote system and will be followed by a recorded message indicating direct action. “The siren is long enough and is loud enough for people to hear. It will sound approximately three times,” said Williams. About 100 colleges and universities use alerting systems from Federal Signal. Some students like the idea of the siren system. “I feel the emergency siren is a great addition to the campus’ aim to better protect students,” said English junior Megan Pearson. But Pearson worries that the equipment will not function properly in an emergency. “Hopefully, this system will prove to be sufficient,” she added. Other students are more cynical: “I believe the system was a waste of funds,” said criminal justice sophomore Adrian Mitchell. Williams said that students, staff and faculty should seek shelter in a secure area if they hear the siren and call NCCU’s public information line, monitor NCCU.edu, or tune in to local media for updates and instruction. Once emergency officials decide the threat is over, a second siren and an all-clear message will sound directing the campus to resume normal activities.
CHAUTAUQUA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 originated in Chautauqua, New York, would often set up tents beside lakes or in groves. Former president Theodore Roosevelt, described the Chautauqua movement as “the most American thing in America.” According to historians, the Chautauqua movement should be seen in the context of the late 19th century populism and its concern for the common man and disdain for political corruption. The first Chautauqua was a Sunday school assembly to train Sunday school teachers in western New York in 1874. Over the years, the Chautauquas became less centered on religion. “The earliest classes included upholstery, salesmanship and printing,” said Huff.
According to Huff, industrial courses were later added that included skills like cement work and the school of dyeing. “Once the Circuits were established, there was nothing during their heyday that evoked the excitement and promise of summer more than the coming of the brown tent,” writes Chautauqua chronicler Charlotte Canning. An 1891 Chautauqua program promised to give “the college outlook on life.” While the Chautauquas were oriented to whites, some travelling assemblies included African-American gospel singers, giving whites a rare opportunity to witness black culture. The Chautauqua circuit died out during the Great Depression, with a few of the assemblies remaining until the mid-1940s.
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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009
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One too many Binge drinking, a national problem BY KIERRA MOORE ECHO STAFF REPORTER
As homecoming approaches students have begin to prepare themselves for the festivities by deciding whether to go to the game, the comedy show, or the step show. But for some the most important decision to make: What’s going to be my drink of choice? But sometimes that one drink leads to another and then another and another. And that’s called binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as drinking with the primary intention of becoming intoxicated quickly. According to experts binge drinking can begin as early as age 13 and tends to increase during adolescence, peaking while in college. It is an issue that affects colleges and universities across the United States. Each year 1,700 college students between the ages of 18-24 die from alcohol related injuries, especially motor vehicle crashes, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Although N.C Central has enforced a dry campus policy, students are still subject to the influence of alcohol. According to Louis Velez, assistant vice chancellor and dean of student affairs, he has had an unusual number of alco-
Each year 1,700 college students between the ages of 18-24 die from alcohol related injuries, especially motor vehicle crashes. NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM
hol related cases this September. “Most of the cases are freshman and females,” said Velez, who added he believes that students drink for “peer pressure and peer pleasure.” It’s NCCU policy that students that have to go to the dean for alcohol related issues are required to meet with a student health counselor. While NCCU strictly enforces its dry campus rule, students of legal age residing in the Millennium Hotel are allowed to drink at the bar. “It’s stupid,” said mass communication junior Christinia Elkins. “The Millennium is considered to be a part of campus, but yet we can still go to the bar.” Thirty four percent of colleges and universities across the U.S. have a zero tolerance alcohol policy. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health concluded that young adults between the ages of 18-22 enrolled full time in college were more likely to use alcohol and to binge drink than their peers not
enrolled full time in college. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism concluded that 2.1 million students between the ages of 18-24 drove under the influence of alcohol last year, not only putting themselves in danger but also the lives of innocent bystanders. In all, 747 college presidents have implemented some form of alcohol education at their schools focusing efforts on highrisk groups, according to The Center for Science in the Public Interest. But some NCCU students don’t seem to worry about excessive drinking. Some say that they consume alcohol to get ready for parties. “I drink to loosen up and have more fun,” said Elkins. “I usually drink about six shots and three beers to get ready for a party.” And some students don’t seem to appreciate the risk that they are taking. “There’s a risk in everything you do,” said Shannon Simmons, business administration and mass communication sophomore. “If it’s my time to go, then it’s my time to go.”
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Pajamas poop the party BY CHRIS HESS ECHO STAFF REPORTER
Asmar McGlone, a sports management junior, was recently stopped by campus police for his choice of attire. McGlone, who said he was running late for class and was dressed in pajamas, said he was walking down Lawson Street when a campus police officer told him “you can’t wear pajama pants.” McGlone said the officer explained the “dress code” to him and sent him on his way. On Oct. 10th McGlone posted his opinion of the matter on the EOL Eagle’s Nest unleashing a flood of opinions, both pro and con. Later McGlone decided to write about his experience on the “Eagle Status” online campus social networking site with a post “Unfair clothing issue at NCCU.” “Is it fair that I can’t wear pajama pants but women can wear anything and I do mean anything?” McGlone wrote. “Things are getting just a little too serious,” said McGlone. “School is home, and I am here more than home.” The argument over the pajamas touched many nerves of pro-pajama and anti-pajama students. “People make pre-judgments on the way you look,” said Briana Aguilar, mass communication senior. “This is a place of business. We have people that come on campus that could provide you with so many opportunities.” “If a student, during the poorest of times in 1944, can come to class with one jacket and one pair of pants and still adhere to the school's dress policy, I am sure in 2009, we as students can have pride in ourselves and come to class
with class and decency,” wrote brobin25. The dress-code issue is not new. In 2 0 0 1 , A n g e l a Asmar Terry, then McGlone the vice chancellor for student affairs, issued a list of dress code standards for students. In it she discouraged doo-rags and see-thru mesh shirts. According to a 2001 Campus Echo story Terry was informed by a University attorney that enforcing a dress code would be a violation of individual freedom and would only be legal at a private institution.
And that’s exactly what’s happening at Morehouse College, which established an “appropriate attire policy” in early October. The policy is based on the university president’s conceptualization of the “Renaissance man” and was shaped in partnership with the school’s Student Government Association. But the policy is not suppored by all Morehouse students. “We have obviously strayed away from the core values fought for by our ancestors to be free,” said Morehouse sophomore Michael Leonard. N.C. Central University Cpt. A. J. Carter said he had no comment on the situation. “We do not enforce house rules,” he said.
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Los Primos supermarket vital to community Road work threatened store’s future, but petition saved it BY CARA OXENDINE NCCU STAFF REPORTER/DURHAM VOICE
A grocery store in Northeast Central Durham offers unique customer services and a community focus. Los Primos supermarket is the only grocery store in NECD, a 302-block area about two miles from N.C. Central University that is home to Durham’s most troubled and impoverished neighborhoods. The supermarket has six aisles, two registers, and about 50 parking spaces. It is the one source of nutritional food in the area, but sits at a busy intersection, which discourages pedestrians. And riding the bus is not always an option for low-income residents. “If they call me to pick them up, I will do that,” said Miguel Collado, owner of Los Primos. “For the most part, people will come to the store, do their shopping, and they know that we provide free transportation to take them back home.” “Riding the bus can be difficult, depending on what you’re getting and how many bags you have,” said Nellie Royster, a local resident. Collado, originally from the Dominican Republic, moved to the United States in 1975. He lived in New York and Las Vegas before settling in Durham in 2002 to
start the store with his brother. “I’ve worked grocery stores before in NY, not as big as this, more like Bodegas,” said Collado. Los Primos just celebrated its seventh anniversary and offers many ethnic foods for the Hispanic community, as well as traditional groceries. “You’ve got to offer something in order to get something. You give some and you get some. You cannot always think of yourself, you have to also think of other people,” said Collado. They give customers who spend over $75 a free soda, and they also cash checks free of charge for customers spending 10 percent of it in the store. The supermarket was almost demolished last year because of a widening project proposed by the N.C. Department of Transportation on Alston Avenue. Collado put forth a petition of 3,000 signatures to stop it, proving the stores economic and health importance to the community. “We feed this whole neighborhood,” said Collado, “[and] the existence of this building and the widening of the road will not coexist.” He said the worst case scenario would be losing the building. If the store is demolished, the NCDOT is required by law to grant them some form of relief, such as replacing or
relocating the store. Collado said there are no empty spaces to move to that would still serve the NECD community. He said the NCDOT has submitted a new plan that primarily uses the other side of the road, towards the Durham Rescue Mission, but it would still cut into his lot. In response to the widening issue, he compares his business to a full-grown tree, and its growth stages. “The only things that don’t move when they’re grown are trees. When a tree is little you can pull it out, take the stump, and replace it. When it grows up, you have to kill it because you cannot move it.” While residents benefit from this local, healthy food option, some with cars appreciate having other choices. Local resident Harold Smith lives three blocks from Los Primos but prefers the atmosphere and cleanliness of the Lowe’s Food at Wellon’s Village. “Their [Los Primos] meat department doesn’t quite measure up to what I think it should,” said Smith. Although they have a lot to choose from, he questions the freshness. Collado explained the building was in bad condition when he bought it and that they started with absolutely nothing. “If I had to shop at this place the way it was, I would-
Los Primos is the only grocery store within walking distance for NECD residents and is the one source of healthy food in the area. CARA OXENDINE/NECD Community Voice
n’t have gone.” He said the previous owner never cared for the place and that he only cared about making money. Unlike this, Collado says he helps the community by providing refreshments for activities held by local
Old building with bright future Holton Center offers variety of continuing education courses
The newly-opened Holton Resource and Career Center is a beacon of hope and opportunity for the community. KANISHA MADISON/NECD Community Voice
BY KANISHA MADISON NCCU STAFF REPORTER/DURHAM VOICE
From the outside it may
look like an old building, but when one enters, many new opportunities await. The historic building which once housed a middle
school opened Aug. 18 under a new name: Holton Career and Resource Center. The center will offer continuing education courses including barbering, construction trades, small engine repair, landscape construction and turf grass management, visualization and modeling (using computers to analyze data), computer engineering, and small business and entrepreneurship. The programs are an extension of the regular high school programs which means students come from their high school to the center for elective classes. “Things have been going unbelievably well since our grand opening,” says Gloria Woods-Weeks, principal. “Students are enjoying the programs that they are in.” Woods-Weeks was the assistant principal of East Chapel Hill High School before coming to Holton. Although the center is currently enrolling students and many courses will begin once they have 10 students, some classes including basic mechanical repair,
carpentry and scientific visualization have already begun. Other classes, such as the CISCO I Networking Academy, will start in January. In this course, students will gain hands-on experience while actually working with a CISCO technician and earn CISCO career certifications. A parent-student information session on Cisco I Networking Academy is being held on Sept. 28 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Holton auditorium. “We are aggressively recruiting,” said WoodsWeeks who hopes that more students will begin to realize what type of opportunities await inside the center. The Holton Center also houses a Duke Wellness Clinic which is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Durham Parks and Recreation has a recreation center in another part of the building. Many in the community are excited to see the old, abandoned building used for something that is worth bragging about.
churches, Centro Hispano and other organizations. “We make a living out of working very hard here, and yes there are negatives but there are more positives,” said Collado. He said the crime, drug, and unemployment prob-
The news stories on this page are written by N.C. Central University students in Lisa Paulin’s advanced reporting course, and by Campus Echo staff reporters. The stories were first published with stories written by Jock Lauterer’s community journalism students at UNC-Chapel Hill. They are published alongside stories written by middle and high school students in an online community newspaper, the Northeast Central Durham VOICE. More VOICE stories from NCCU students are available at www.campusecho.com. The VOICE – which can be seen in its entirety at http://durhamvoice.org – is the product of collaboration between the UNCChapel Hill’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication and NCCU’s Department of English and Mass Communication. The project’s many supporters include other UNCChapel Hill programs and
lems are being overshadowed by the “reconstruction projects and beautiful homes” being built in NECD. “There’s a lot of positive things going on, and one of the positive things is right here,” said Collado, at Los Primos.
departments, Durham city government and community organizations, and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. A full accounting of the “good souls” behind the Northeast Central Durham VOICE is provided in Jock Lauterer’s acknowledgm e n t s . Lauterer is director of the Carolina Commu-nity Media Project in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UNCChapel Hill and the VOICE’s co-adviser. Two NCCU courses, advanced reporting and public issues reporting, will gradually become service learning courses in connection with the VOICE as NCCU mass communication majors begin to mentor Durham youth to become full-fledged VOICE reporters. We hope you enjoy learning more about Northeast Central Durham through these stories. If you are interested in participating in this project, contact Lisa Paulin at lpaulin@nccu.edu.
See the Northeast Central Durham VOICE online at
http://durhamvoice.org
Home Screening for Bacterial Vaginosis to Prevent STDs (The BRAVO Study)
Dr. Sheila Allison
• general gynecology • abnormal PAPs • emergency contraception • hormone imbalance • bioidentical hormones • in office procedure • menstrual irregularities
In office procedure for sterilization and heavy periods. 6216 Fayetteville Road, Suite 105 Durham, N.C. 27713 919.405.7000 Fax: 919.405.7006
Nationwide research study with approved medication to see if more frequent testing and treatment for bacterial vaginosis, a vaginal infection that is not an STD, will help to reduce the chances of women getting gonorrhea and chlamydia. After the initial visit, swabs are collected at home and mailed, every 2 months for a year. Qualifications: female, ages 18-25, no vaginal symptoms at time of first visit, and other criteria. Testing & treatment at no cost, compensation will be provided. Please call: UNC Clinical Research Staff in DURHAM Karen Lau, FNP: (919) 560-7849 or Adriane Osborne, FNP: (919) 560-7850
Q&A
Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009
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Durham’s Mayor Bell up for a fifth term On Monday, Sept. 14, Durham’s mayor William V. Bell sat down with Campus Echo staff reporter Jabari Blackmon to discuss issues that his administration is pursuing: national politics, the healthcare debate and his vision for Durham. Mayor Bell, a graduate of Howard University and an engineer by trade, first came to Durham in 1968 to work for IBM Corporation. He first ran for public office in 1972, winning a seat on the Durham Board of County Commissioners. Bell served from 1972 to 1994, then from 1996 to 1998. In 2001 Bell was elected as mayor and has been reelected ever since. Bell shared his thoughts on the Presidential Election, the issues currently on his desk as mayor and his thoughts about the future.
Echo:
What are some of the initiatives your administration is doing to improve the public education experience for the city’s students?
Bell:
We have a leadership group which consists of the Chairman of the Durham Public School Board, the Superintendent of the school system, the Chair of the Durham County Commissioners, the County Manager the City manager and the Mayor. At these meetings we try to discuss common issues between the three bodies, and we talk about how we can make facilities more available through the school system, and other issues. One item that came of out one such meeting was the current Holton Middle School project. The school system was able to put the building up for sale because they had a surplus of property. We asked why not convert that school into an educational facility and parks and recreation facility? So we did, and we also involved Duke University to put a health clinic there.
Echo:
As the housing market continues its low ascent, what will your administration do to address this issue?
Bell:
Several things, for example we have a Department of Housing and we have sponsored programs to help people understand the mortgage market: how they can refinance, and how they might be able to avoid foreclosures. We held one these events over on Central’s campus where we brought together potential homeowners, bankers and mortgage lenders to talk about how we can deal with this housing issue. Additionally, what we’ve done in the city, since homeownership is very important to us and since we would like to see more homeownership, is we’ve tried to address the market by going out for the first time and building 40 single family condominium homes for sale that are affordable at market rate. We did that in Northeast Central Durham on a street called Barnes Avenue, which has now been renamed East Way Village. I was able to get the Council to buy two blocks of those houses. They were drug infested, absentee homeowners, and only had tenants in about three or four of those houses were current on their rent. We demolished them and built new houses. The development is complete now and there are only three units left unsold in that area.
Echo:
How are you working with Durham Police to address the issue of crime? faces?
Bell:
Chief Jose Lopez says that he’s fortunate to have a good core police force and he was able to reestablish the HEAT Team – which borrows from what used to be the gang unit, to focus on various hot spots within the community. One of the procedures I put in
MITCHELL WEBSON/Echo staff photographer
Bell, a Howard University graduate, moved to Durham in 1968 to work for IBM. He was elected Durham mayor in 2001 and is now running for his fifth term.
place was getting the police department to give the city council regular updates on crime statistics during work sessions. I believe that the sooner you know about an issue, the better you can respond to it. So now we’re tracking crime statistics on a monthly basis. Another issue that I championed involved the “revolving door” issue for repeat offenders due to low bail amounts. The police said that within twenty four hours of arresting someone for a violent [crime], they’d be back out on the street on bail. So I set up a meeting with the city manager and the chief district court judge to focus on people accused of criminal acts involving a gun and what kind of bail they had to pay to get out of jail. When we checked, some were as low at $30,000 — which simply means they had to pay $3,000 or 10 percent to a bail bondsman and they can get out. After looking at that, we changed the whole system of reviewing bail. The result was raising the bail for suspects accused of gun violence to $250,000.
Echo: Concerning the healthcare debate, where do you stand on the issue and what has your administration done to help those without healthcare in the city? Bell:
I’ve always supported the need for healthcare reform. I was able to get the city council to pass a resolution supporting the Obama administration’s healthcare plan. There is an organization called the National Conference of Black Mayors and also an organization called the US Conference of Mayors that I am involved with on the healthcare issue. The staff at the National Conference of Black Mayors was recently at The White House discussing the healthcare issue. The White House knew that the Durham City Council had adopted this resolution and they suggested that the conference push for a similar task to get their cities to adopt resolutions. The National Conference of Black Mayors had asked me if I would chair the committee on healthcare reform. I assumed that responsibility and we’ve gotten over 200 mayors to support that effort. The US Conference of Mayors asked me work with them as well. Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco is the chair of that taskforce and we regularly have conference calls to talk about strategy and progress nationwide.
Echo:
In 2008 the Durham Performing Arts Center opened in downtown Durham. What other projects like DPAC can Durham citizens expect? How do you view the development of the city?
Bell:
Aside from just redeveloping downtown Durham, I have just as strong an interest in redeveloping our inner city neighborhoods. I am a firm believer that if you have strong neighborhoods, you will have a strong city. We have identified three primary inner city neighborhoods that we’re directing a lot of our energies: Northeast Central Durham, the Rolling Hills Southside Community and over on the West End. We’ve tried to deal with the crime issue by targeting a portion of Northeast Central Durham called the Bull’s Eye and we’ve had great success there. The crime rate in the area is lower from when we started. The response from residents is much different. That is part of the vision I have, that we revitalize our neighborhoods.
Echo:
What are your thoughts on the transit line between Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill?
Bell:
I’m very hopeful. I’m on the board of the Triangle Transit Authority so I can appreciate the progress we’ve had. Special legislation that the North Carolina state legislature just passed now allows counties in the Triangle area to introduce a referendum for voters to increase the sales tax by half a cent to raise money for transit. I’m hopeful that citizens will vote for it and if it does happen, it allows us to move toward having a light rail system. Even if today it passed, it’s probably almost 15 years before you’d actually see system. What we hoped to do by November 2010 is to develop a plan to educate the voting public about the referendum. However, the referendum is in the hands of the county commissioners of each of those counties, the cities have no say in creating it. They have to put that referendum on the ballot. Theoretically the referendum could pass in one county and others. I had some trepidation about that because if Durham develops a plan, and the other counties don’t, it’s like having a light rail to nowhere.
Echo
On November 4, 2008, America elected Barack Obama as it’s first African American to hold the highest office in the land. As a prominent African American elected official what impact did that have on you?
Bell:
Well first of all he endorsed me when I was running for reelection in 2007, which was one of the toughest elections for me since first ran, so obviously I had personal feelings about it. Before that, I really didn’t know President Obama. When he came to Durham initially, a group of us met with him privately at N.C. Mutual Life. That
was my first introduction to him. At that time, I wasn’t in a position to endorse anyone. I worked with John Edwards in the Kerry Campaign; they had a function at my house. When I ran for mayor in 2001, President Clinton made recorded calls for me. After the meeting at N.C. Mutual, I began to learn more about him. When he came to N.C. Central, his aids contacted me wondering if I would introduce him at the rally. They also had concerns about whether I would make an endorsement. I said I’d consider it and I asked if Senator Obama would consider my endorsement. As a result we endorsed each other. Since then I’ve seen him several times. Every time he was in Durham I had an opportunity to meet with him. When his wife Michelle was at the American Tobacco Campus, I met with her. I was at the Democratic Convention and when he was last in Raleigh speaking about the healthcare issue, his office contacted me to help. The young lady that introduced him in Raleigh was able to participate because she had a cupcake business and I recommended her on a list of small businesses that I had given to The White House. Right now, I’m in the process of reading Dreams from My Father. I wish I would’ve read it before, because it would’ve made even more of an impression on me about what he’s about. The first time I heard about Barack was from a classmate in Chicago from Howard when he wanted to run for US Senate. From reading that book, there are a lot of young African Americans who can relate to his story. It gave me an appreciation for what he’s doing. I was at the White House recently — he had invited 60 mayors from around the country to talk about the stimulus program. When I was sitting in the east room when a voice — which sounded like it was coming from high heaven — announced the President of the United States, and he came in, and then I realized what had taken place. An African-American was standing there as the leader of the free world; then it really hit me. I hope that he has served as a model for what is attainable for other young people .
Echo Have you considered running for higher office? Bell:
No, never. I don’t have an interest in it. If someone had told me that in ’68 when I came to work for IBM that I would have an interest in politics, I would’ve run them out of here. I had come to make my career. I just happened to be the president of my neighborhood association and we had a zoning matter. As president, I was the one to go down and argue the issue before
the Durham County Commissioners. We ultimately lost, but in losing I got a greater understanding of how local government affects us on a daily basis. So I said ‘if I can’t beat them, maybe I’ll join them’. I had only been here for four years when I decided to run, but I focused on it as a personal goal and won. I wouldn’t consider higher office though. My interest has always been that if I need some help from Raleigh or Washington, I just want to be able to call somebody and get a return phone call.
Echo What would your ideal Durham look like in 20 years? Bell:
That’s hard to say because the unfortunate thing in running for office is that there is no guarantee that you’re going to be there. We just had a meeting at one of our work sessions with the city manager and he’s talking about developing a strategic plan. One of the questions I raised to him was whether that’s the administration’s strategic plan or the city council’s strategic plan and he said it was intended to be the city council’s strategic plan. The reason I asked is because I wanted to know what level of involvement we were going to have in putting it together. The other thing I asked was how long it would take. He said five to ten years. The reason that’s important to me is because as the mayor, I’m really only elected for two years whereas the council is elected for four. Then there is an opportunity for some continuity – hopefully someone will be there to see that plan carried out. In developing a strategy plan you talk about your vision for the community. My hope for Durham is that we’ll become a city that operates at the highest level of efficiency in carrying out the core responsibilities that the city is responsible for. I also hope that we’ll be able to provide an environment where all people feel secure; whether they are in the richest or poorest neighborhood. I hope we’ll be a city that is attractive for people to want to come here to live and work. I hope we’re a place that has good healthcare for all by working with the hospitals and school systems. I hope we have good quality jobs. I hope that we are a city with a higher graduation rate. I hope we can be proud of our city and all the things it has to offer.
Editor’s note: The transcript of this interview has been edited slightly to adjust for features that occur naturally in conversation, such as wordiness and repetition.
Beyond NCCU
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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009
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Swine flu may hit 1/3 of all Americans BY JOHN FAUBER MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL (MCT)
BETHESDA, Md. — H1N1 swine flu likely will be the dominate flu strain this year, outcompeting seasonal flu and infecting as many as onethird of Americans, according to Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert. “This is a virus that spreads absolutely as efficiently as a virus can spread,” Fauci said in a meeting Thursday with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and other reporters. The good news is that while the virus spreads easily, it produces mild disease in most people, said Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. So far,
the death rate has been less than 0.1 percent, he said. In estimating that onethird of the population may get infected with H1N1 swine flu, Fauci said that in a typical year seasonal flu infects 5 percent to 20 percent of Americans. On Friday, officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this year’s flu season has started much earlier than usual with H1N1 cases in all 50 states and being widespread in 21 states. Nearly twice as many people are showing up at clinics than in a typical flu season, said Daniel Jernigan, deputy director of the CDC’s flu division. “It’s a very strange thing to see that amount of
influenza this time of year,” he said. That raises the possibility that significant numbers of people may be exposed to the virus before the vaccine is available. The federal government has ordered 195 million doses, including the first 3.4 million doses that will be delivered the first week of October. Most of those doses will be nasal spray vaccine, not the injectable type. The nasal spray can be used in people aged 2 to 49, but it is not supposed to be used in some of the high risk groups who should be among the first vaccinated against H1N1, including pregnant women, those younger than 2, and people
with a medical condition that place them at higher risk for complications from the flu. After the initial 3.4 million doses as many as 20 million doses will be delivered each week into December to nearly 90,000 sites such as clinics and schools. Recent tests indicate that one dose will be effective in people over the age of 10, although those under 10 may need two doses. People who already have been infected by the virus, including those who got it in the spring, likely will have substantial immunity, but they need to know if they had confirmed H1N1 flu, officials said. Also, anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu are proving
to be effective in treating people infected with H1N1 swine flu, Jernigan said. Jernigan said children and young adults are being hit the hardest by H1N1 swine flu and that is likely to continue as it becomes the dominate flu strain circulating this fall and winter. “We will have some hospitalizations and some deaths,” he said. He said he expects to see a growing number of infections now that children are back in school. At the same time, there have been relatively few cases in older people, who are usually among the hardest hit. That’s because they likely have some immunity from exposure to similar flu strains in years past, Fauci
said. “It’s exactly the opposite of what you see with seasonal flu,” he said. Fauci said pandemic flus such as H1NI tend to push out seasonal flu strains. “If we get deluged with H1N1 flu, there is a good chance it will crowd out seasonal flu,” he said. Still, health officials encouraged people to get a seasonal flu shot as well the H1N1 vaccine. Fauci said H1N1 swine flu likely had been circulating in pigs for up to 10 years before jumping to people. He noted that most of the more than 300 infectious diseases in humans in recent decades originated in animals.
Astronomers to explore the cosmic Dark Ages Radio telescopes will peer into the period about 13 billion years ago when stars lit up BY ROBERT S. BOYD MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS (MCT)
WASHINGTON — No place seems safe from the prying eyes of inquisitive astronomers. They’ve traced the evolution of the universe back to the “Big Bang,” the theoretical birth of the cosmos 13.7 billion years ago, but there’s still a long stretch of time — about 800 million years — that’s been hidden from view. Astronomers call it the Dark Ages, and now they’re building huge new radio telescopes with thousands of detectors that they hope will let them peer back into the period, when the first stars and galaxies began turning on their lights. If they succeed, it will be an unprecedented, threedimensional look at a previously unknown swath of the cosmic history. Some astronomers compare the venture to Galileo’s first crude telescope. “We are taking the same step that Galileo made when he introduced the optical telescope,” said Lee Rickard, an astrophysicist at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, in an e-mail. Colin Lonsdale, an astronomer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Haystack Observatory in Westford, Mass., said the new detectors would provide “the first view of the cosmic Dark Ages and early structure formation in the universe.” For this voyage into deep time, astronomers are using radio telescopes because radio waves — which are much longer and slower than light waves are — can pass through cosmic dust clouds that optical telescopes can’t penetrate. Furthermore, radio waves coming from such enormous distances are stretched, or
“redshifted,” toward the red end of the electromagnetic spectrum, where optical telescopes can’t observe them. Because far-off radio signals are so faint, and so easily confused with background interference, only the largest telescopes can even hope to do the job. At least three major projects are under construction in the U.S., Europe and Australia. Even more ambitious ones are proposed, possibly including a telescope on the dark side of the moon. The big three are: • The Long Wavelength Array (LWA), which will consist of about 13,000 spindly antennas in the desert west of Socorro, N.M. The first 256 detectors arrived on site last week, and the completion date for the system is 2010. The LWA is sponsored by the University of New Mexico, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Naval Research Laboratory and others. • The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) will have 8,192 antennas in the western Australia outback, an area of low population and modest radio interference. (It’s also known as the Mileura Widefield Array because it’s near the Mileura Station.) “The race is on to get it all done in 2010,” MIT’s Lonsdale said. The MWA is sponsored by MIT, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Air Force and the Australian Research Council. • The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) will consist of about 5,000 antennas stretching across northern Europe from a center in Holland. It’s supposed to be finished in 2011. LOFAR will detect “the first sources of light in the universe, the first stars and accreting black holes,” said radio astronomer Rob
This illustration shows how astronomers believe the universe developed from the "Big Bang" 13.7 billion years ago to today. They know very little about the Dark Ages from 380,000 to about 800 million years after the Big Bang, but are trying to find out. NASA/WMAP SCIENCE TEAM/MCT
Fender, a member of the LOFAR team from the University of Southampton, England. “These will be vital clues to the formation of galaxies and clusters, the building blocks of the universe today.” This array’s prime sponsor is ASTRON, the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy. Astronomers in England, France, Germany, Poland and Sweden are also involved. These big new radio telescopes will be looking for faint radio waves from the
time the universe was 380,000 to roughly a billion years old — the Dark Ages. Astronomers aren’t sure when that epoch ended. The signals are coming from ancient hydrogen, which can be detected by a special line in the electromagnetic spectrum. Tiny variations in the hydrogen line indicate regions of slightly higher or lower density in the early universe. Over time, gravity accelerated the growth of these clumps, which became the
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seeds of the first generation of stars and galaxies. Astronomers aren’t sure whether their new machines will be able to detect luminous objects as they were forming during the Dark Ages, or only at the end of that epoch. Lonsdale, the MWA investigator, said the Australian telescope should be able to collect signals with usable information “during, but not before” the epoch at the end of the Dark Ages. “It will take a bigger array, perhaps on the moon, to see
hydrogen from before,” he said in an e-mail. Rickard, the LWA executive director at the University of New Mexico, said that his project would be searching for hydrogen signals “from the Dark Ages.” He cautioned, however, that success will be very difficult because “the brightness variation we are talking about is very small” and will be obscured by “very bright emission from our own galaxy,” the Milky Way. “We won’t know until we try,” Rickard said.
Beyond NCCU
Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009
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Morehouse dress code surprises BY ASHLEI WILLIAMS BLACK COLLEGE WIRE
In early October, Morehouse College administration enacted its new “Appropriate Attire Policy.” Based on President Franklin’s conceptualization on the Renaissance Man, specifically his expectation of the “well-dressed” man of Morehouse, the policy sets a campus-wide standard for students' attire. The policy outlines 11 expectations pertaining to what students should not wear while on campus. Instead of requiring certain articles of clothing, as a typical dress code would, the policy details those articles of clothing deemed unacceptable for students. They include “sagging” pants, women’s clothing and headwear. The policy will be distributed to students electronically through Tigernet and the school website. The policy will also be outlined in the student handbook and discussed in Crown Forums for students. While some students disagree with the policy, others agree with the purpose behind it. “I would say that about 95 percent of the students on this campus feel that appearance matters to them,” said Dr. William Bynum, Vice-President of the Office of Student Services. “We are not trying to isolate anyone that falls under a category, you can just look at it like it’s one out of eleven things being addressed.” Dr. Bynum explained that students began voicing concerns to administration about attire on campus this semester. In turn administration partnered with the SGA to work with the student body on an attire policy. Some students feel that the anticipated policy lacks proper planning and investigation. Safe Space, a gay/straight alliance student campus organization, has been vocal about the issue. Co-president Michael Edwards said, “Creating this policy was easy and quick. But the energy and effort put into something determines the greater result.” Some students feel that the policy will not cater to the modern man of Morehouse. Sophomore Morehouse student Michael Leonard said, “I understand that the dress code may represent the great leaders of our community from our past who helped change our world through conforming and appearing mainstream with a suit and tie. But let’s not forget about the Spike Lee’s of Morehouse, who are continuing to make great strides through unconventional methods.” Many students question exactly what it means for the Morehouse Man to be “welldressed.” Does he wear the suit and tie? Does he wear the high-end designer fashions? Or is he of moderate dress, simple and refined? “The perception of the ‘well-dressed’ man may not be shared by everyone that attends the college,” Leonard explained, “Students should take this pillar, do the necessary work, and apply it to their lives as they see fit.” Edwards said, “The concept of being well-dressed is a concept of interpretation.” He added, “The five ‘wells’ are character supplements. To build the complete character we should be working on all of them instead of focusing on just one.” Those students that view attire as a form of selfexpression find the policy to be a violation of personal freedoms. “The very opposite of
“This policy will help to set a standard for college students that many other places do not meet, and Morehouse will lead in that.” DR. WILLIAM BYNUM VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES
change is uniformity; freedom of expression lives at the root of individuality,” Leonard stated. “We have obviously strayed away from the core values fought for by our ancestors to be free, and have instead opted to conform to the very standards that have crippled us and our society; the very standards that continue to deem us unworthy,” he added. Some students feel that the standardization of appearance required by the policy will have adverse effects. With attire stipulations students could begin to resort to rebellious forms of self-expression. “Outward appearance assists with how you carry yourself, but either way you cannot change someone’s mindset,” Edwards explained. Administration hopes that the policy will promote leadership and allow students to become easily recognizable, a factor they believe will indirectly assist with campus safety through student identification. “We see men of Morehouse as leaders and we feel that should be seen in appearance,” Dr. Bynum explained. “This policy will help to set a standard for college students that many other places do not meet, and Morehouse will lead in that.”
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Iraqis say they want U.S. investment, strategic support BY ROY GUTMAN MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS (MCT)
BASRA, Iraq — The tourist ship “Peace” was at anchor in the Shatt al-Arab waterway but southern Iraq’s business leaders were eager to explore new waters when Christopher Hill, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, took the podium Thursday and urged them to project positive energy instead of complaining about all the things that are wrong with Iraq. After declaring Hill an honorary citizen of Basra, the center of southern Iraq’s oil wealth and home to its major port, Hatim alMachari, the owner of several publications, went on to welcome the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of his country. “We feel proud that America and the multi-national forces have freed our country from the Saddam (Hussein) regime,” he said. Three months after U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq’s cities and started packing their bags, violence is down dramatically in Iraq, and the U.S. seems to be returning to a role familiar from postwar Western Europe _ that of supporter, protector and mentor. Iraqi military and civilian officials talk about the United States as a strategic partner in a dangerous neighborhood, the facilitator of future business investments, even the solver of problems in the provinces and the dysfunctional central government. Ehsan Abdul Jabbar, the head of a local government investment council in Basra, told the crowd of 50 aboard the “Peace” the Americans are staying “to lead Iraq to the place where it can develop, to reach with Iraq the edge of safety.” It was the first trip to
U.S. ambassador Christopher Hill visits a U.S. military installation at Um Qasr, Iraq. ROY GUTMAN/MCT
Iraq’s second-largest city for Hill, a veteran diplomat with experience in Eastern Europe and Korea, since he assumed his post in late April. Hill came to Basra to deliver the “tough love” message that Iraqis must start taking over the management of their own affairs, but his own takeaway was the country’s enormous problems could be solved if Iraqis learn to manage their affairs. His visit took place on the eve of a U.S.-sponsored conference in Washington that’s expected to attract hundreds of U.S. and foreign investors, as well as some 200 Iraqi businessmen in a delegation led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The top ranking-military officer in Basra, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Jawad Hwaidi, in a separate meeting, expressed gratitude for the hearts-and-minds projects that U.S. forces and civil
affairs experts are undertaking and asked the U.S. to help defend Shiite Muslimruled Iraq in the face of hostile Sunni-ruled countries. “Neighboring countries in the area will not like to see a strong and secure Iraq,” he told Hill, singling out Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria by name. Hill responded diplomatically that some
of Iraq’s neighbors “dislike us even more than they dislike you,” a reference to Iran, but added: “Others have respect for us, and I think we can do something to help you,” a reference to the Sunni neighbors. As for the U.S. military presence, “as long as your people want us here, we will be here,” Hill said.
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Saturday, Oct. 24 9 a.m - 1 pm Alfonso Elder Student Union To register call 919.530.6380
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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009
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NCCU WRITING STUDIO You wouldn’t wait until the night before to practice for the big game ... Walk-ins welcome, appointments prefered Monday, Tuesday & Thursday from 9 am - 5 pm Wednesday 9 am - 6 pm Friday 10 am - 2 pm Room 339 ~ Farrison-Newton Communications Building 530-7554 writingstudio@nccu.edu
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Health Careers Center N.C. Central University
Career Ser vices Events
521 Nelson Street Durham, NC 27707 Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm 919 530-7128
Find out more about our 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.
Charles E. McClinton, Ph.D., Director Alfreda D. Evans, Student Services Coordinator
For more than 35 years NCCU’s Health Careers Center staff has been developing pre-health professional students into viable candidates for health and medical careers by providing: • Advocacy • Counseling • Enrichment Activities • Health Career Network Access • Health Career Recruitment • Information • Internships & Shadowing Experiences • Standardized Test Prep Workshops • Other services and activities
Getting Plugged Into Career Services November 12, 2009* Interviewing November 3, 2009* EPA Mock Interview Day at EPA November, 2009* * Information sessions are held in the Alfonso Elder Student Union .
Internships October 22, 2009* November 5, 2009* For assistance with your resume, please visit our office. And visit our newly released web site. Just Google “career services + NCCU”.
Our Mission To assist students in identifying, articulating and leveraging their strengths, skills and interests into meaningful work experiences that satisfy their career goals.
University Career Services William Jones Bldg, Lower Level Check us out on the web!
Phone: 919-530-6337 Email: nccucareerservices@nccu.edu http://web.nccu.edu/careerservices/index.php
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A&E
Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009
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PERManent decision Author explores the debate surrounding natural hair BY ERICA MCRAE
BY KANISHA MADISON
ECHO A&E ASSISTANT EDITOR
With much controversy over what’s good hair and bad hair, the African American community’s ongoing debate has reached an all-time high with media headlines and an array of movies and published novels. In Chris Rock’s new film, “Good Hair,” he explores the way hairstyles impact the activities, sexual relationships, and self-esteem of the black community. Prompted by his daughter asking him, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” Rock interviews haircare professionals, beauty and barbershop patrons, as well as celebrities including Ice-T, Nia Long, Paul Mooney, Raven Symoné, Dr. Maya Angelou, Salt n Pepa, Eve and Reverend Al Sharpton, in search of an approach to answering his daughter’s question. This past August, the Huffington Post published an article written my Tameka Raymond (Usher’s Ex) entitled, “She’s Pretty For A Dark-Skinned Girl.” This post was a spin-off from Aisha Curry, the author of “She’s Pretty for a Black Girl.” Her inspiration to write this novel came after repetitious statements from individuals complimenting her on her beauty. “One day about five years ago, I was absolutely tired of being told that I was pretty for a black girl,” she explained. “I started asking my friends if they had heard this statement before, and as time went on, I realized how prevalent the issue was.” The topic of urban beauty and society’s perception attractiveness has played a major role in the lives of women. Hair is a controversial subject and obviously a huge part of many African Americans self image. In fact, according to Target Market News, a black marketing publication, African Americans spend more on black hair care products than on annual medical exams or college tuition. But a growing issue with many critics is although over $6 billion a year is spent on hair care products most African American communities benefit very little from it. Urban anthropologist
The browns are in town ... Don’t be hatin’ ECHO STAF REPORTER
Novel addresses societies perception of attractiveness in African American women. BRUCE DEPYSSLER/Echo Staff Photographer
Author Lori Johnson takes deep look into the politics of natural hair. COURTESY
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Lori Johnson is slated to release her novel entitled, “A Natural Woman” in November. The novel addresses colorism, the politics of hair, and the righteousness of Afrocentricity. In “Natural Woman,” a young anthropology professor’s infatuation with the man who cuts and styles her hair sends her world spinning out of control. The novel contains a hint
LORI JOHNSON
of mystery and a touch of the paranormal. Lonnice Brittenum Bonner, author of “Good Hair: For Colored Girls Who’ve Considered Weaves When the Chemicals Became Too Ruff and Nice Dreads” comments: “This is a juicy read with sexual intrigue, dish and a smart, chocolate-skinned heroine with coily, napptural hair that men can’t seem to keep their hands out of.”
When asked about the title of the novel, Johnson states, “It’s a nod to Aretha Franklin’s 1967 cover of a song bearing the same name and, to some extent, the sentiments expressed within that song. On the other hand, my intent was to cast a spotlight on the story’s protagonist, Dr. Aliesha Eaton, African American woman who elects to wear her hair in its natural state rather than alter it via the use of chemical relaxers, straight irons, or hot combs.” Some of you may ask what the definition of a “natural woman” is. Johnson explains that a pure woman, whether black, white, Latino, or Asian, recognizes and fully embraces all that she has to offer physically, spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually. A woman also has to feel comfortable enough with whom she is to define beauty for herself and who doesn’t allow anyone to make her feel bad or less-than, just because of her choices. Indeed, “A Natural Woman” is a humorous and entertaining mystery that many women of color and race can find intriguing and insightful. With its Southern charm and hilarious take on relationships, this book is a must-read!
“Good-bye chocolate people.” Those were the last words that Stewie Griffin said to Cleveland Brown before Brown left the Kanisha TBS Madison animated comedy “Family Guy” to start his own show. The arrival of this show was anticipated by many. To give you a brief idea of what this show is about, Cleveland Brown is the neighbor of the Griffins, the family of Family Guy. Brown divorces his wife and gets custody of his son Cleveland, Jr. Brown tells everyone he is going to play in a minor league baseball team in California but ends up going to Stoolbend, Va. While in Virginia he runs into his old high school sweetheart, Donna. Donna and he get married and he takes on the role of step-father to her to domineering kids, Ralo and Roberta. Many laughed at Ralo’s line that Ralo in the series premiere: “I know y’all ain’t leaving without making these beds up.” I guess Ralo is supposed to have a Stewie-like personality but with a little
urban mixed in. Whoever created the character of Ralo did the right thing. This character totally fits in with the show and you would think a kid is voicing him. The show is voiced by celebrities who are new to Seth MacFarlane’s genre of cartoon comedies. These include Sanaa Lathan, the voice of Donna, and Reagan Gomez-Preston, the voice of Roberta. I think everyone was waiting for an opportunity to compare “Family Guy” to “The Cleveland Show.” While “Family Guy” has seniority over Cleveland’s show because it has jokes that everyone remembers, Brown’s show’s premiere was full of moments that had viwers bursting into tears laughing. I thought it was just me but most of the campus is talking about this new show. It’s as if someone is actually saying the things that you wish you could say out loud, but you are scared to because it might be too random. “The Cleveland Show” doesn’t quite poke fun at the suburban family, but it does make things that some may think of as serious more comedic. I will be waiting every Sunday night at 8:30 p.m. on FOX for a new episode. You can just relax and take thirty minutes out of your day for a ton of laughs that you surely will enjoy.
Cleveland exits from Family Guy for spin’off. COURTESY
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FOX ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION
Powerful punch Gospel singer brings music and a message BY SIEGFRIED LEYH ECHO STAFF WRITER
Each year, the NCCU lyceum committee successfully innovates an entertaining way of reaching the student body and Alumni. Simultaneously, the lyceum events captivate and showcases achieved entertainers for NCCU’s Homecoming events. In the past, the lyceum events have brought out dynamic performers and motivational speakers. With guests such as Russell Simmons, rapper T.I., Tom Joyner, Ricky Smiley and Hill Harper, this campus is always live. This year is no different. NCCU Lyceum series, along with SGA, & SAB, Presents the Homecoming Gospel Explosion Concert featuring Tye Tribbett and the Greater Anointing. Some say when Tye Tribbett performs it won’t be your grandmother’s gospel. Tribbett and the
members of the Greater Anointing, the family choir, have been called the acrobats of gospel, playing a mix of pop, rock, hip-hop, jazz, and inspirational music. Tribbett is a native of Camden, N. J., where his father was a minister and his mother was a choir director. According to the Grammy-nominated gospel artist, songwriter, producer, director, and singer, he was aware of a higher calling and that a path had been chosen for him. In 1996, Tye founded a gospel choir, Greater Anointing (G.A.), consisting of a group of family and friends whose hearts were set simply on praising the Creator through the gift of great music. Tye knew from the beginning they’d tapped into something real and glorious. “That first rehearsal blew my mind,” he says. “The musician-
ship, the quality of the voices and the spirit of the choir, the character of everybody ... I knew that this was it. I knew that this is what I was supposed to be doing.” Tye broke onto the pop gospel music scene in 1998 when the animated film, The Prince of Egypt won an Oscar. The “DreamWorks” soundtrack released an inspirational album, which featured four cuts by Tribbett and the Greater Anointing—Most High Interlude, Parts 1, 2 and 3, and Let Go, Let God. “I love the Lord and above all, I just want everybody to realize how much better it is to do things God’s way,” says Tribbett in his online biography found at tyetribbett.com. The group is popular with young people as well as older fans because of the high energy and fervor of the performances. Tribbett has toured and
performed with Jill Scott, Elton John, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and the late Luther Vandross. This will be Tribbett’s first visit to NCCU, but not his first visit to NC. Back in 2007 he visited Greenville for a performance. The show received rave reviews. Students are looking forward to this event. “My mother and I are such fans of his music,” said Alisha Miller, nursing senior. This Centennial Lyceum program will take place Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 7 p.m., at the McDougaldMcLendon Gymnasium. For those outside the campus community, general admission is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For additional event information, call: (919) 5305170 or visit: <www.nccu.edu/homecoming>.
Tribbett and G.A. choir set to perform at homecoming gospel explosion concert. COURTESY
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NCCU PUBLIC RELATIONS
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Our own Ernie Barnes N
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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009
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“I traded my cleats for canvas, my bruises for brushes.”
“Sugar Shack” (1976) ~ Courtesy Ernie Barnes Estate
described his sports paintings as “haunting portraits of agility, strength, and the emotional cost of fierce competition.” A notable feature of his art is that his characters often have their eyes closed. “We don’t see each other. We are blind to each other’s humanity,” he often said. The painting to the left, “Sugar Shack,” was his most famous painting; it was used for Marvin Gaye’s 1976 album “I Want You.” Barnes said inspiration for the painting came from the memory as a child of not being allowed to attend a dance. Barnes was the behind-thescenes artist of Jimmy Walker’s character, J.J. on the 1970s TV series ,“Good Times,” and his work appeared on the closing credits of the show. Barnes was born in Durham on July 15, 1938. His mother was a domestic worker, and his father a clerk with a Durham tobacco firm. His mother, Fannie Mae, encouraged him to express himself artistically. As a child, Barnes was timid and overweight. He would try to escape bullies, but after taking up weight lifting in high school, he slimmed down and became captain of the football team. He attended NCCU, then called N.C. College of Durham, on a football scholarship and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1960 as an offensive lineman. He went on to play for several professional teams over the next five years. Throughout his pro football career, Barnes sketched his teammates, which earned the nickname “Big Rembrandt” from his teammates. After a stint as the AFL’s official artist, he traded his “cleats for canvas” in 1965. He then struck a deal with the owner of the New York Jets, who payed him to start his art career full-time. Barnes was the official sports artist for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and was dubbed “America’s Best Painter of Sports” by the American Sports Art Museum. His art work has been commissioned by high-profile clients including the NBA, Kanye West, Harry Belafonte and Charlton Heston.
“Porch Ladies” (1976) ~ Courtesy Ernie Barnes Estate “Fastbreak” (1987) ~ Courtesy Ernie Barnes Estate
“In Remembrance” (2001) ~ Courtesy Ernie Barnes Estate
“Aspirations” (1976) ~ Courtesy Ernie Barnes Estate
Sports
Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009
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At long last, it’s a win NCCU TROUNCE NAIA’S 20TH RANKED TEAM 52-7 BY AARON SAUNDERS ECHO SPORTS EDITOR
Saturday afternoon at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium the N.C. Central University offense was clicking on all cylinders as they rolled up a season high 52 points to defeat 20th ranked NAIA opponent Central Methodist University 52-7. “I was really pleased with the way we played, hopefully it’s the start of something good,” said head coach Mose Rison. Central Methodist came in 5-1 while the Eagles had a disappointing 0-6 record albeit against a very competitive schedule. “You cannot compare the caliber of teams we’ve played, but we still beat a great team today,” said Rison. NCCU racked up a season high in total yards with 361 led by sophomore quarterback Michael Johnson who completed 10-15 passes and amassed 218 yards and 2 touchdowns. “It was a great feeling out there, we were firing on all cylinders,” said Michael Johnson. Johnson’s two TD passes came on long distance shots to the end zone, one a 49 yarder to freshman wide receiver Geovonie Irvine and the other a 59 yarder to sophomore Andrew Johnson. “I don’t care who’s checking him. I will throw to him one on one, he is a highlight reel waiting to happen,” Johnson said of Irvine. Eagle wide receiver Andrew Johnson had a career day catching 5 passes for 106 yards and 1 touchdown.
NCCU cornerback David Ingram lowers the boom on CMU wide receiver Ryan Sherman. JERRY ROGERS /ECHO
“I have been gaining more playing time as the season has progressed,” said Andrew Johnson. “Today I got my chance with Will being injured to get the ball a little more.” The Eagles chewed up the clock on the ground with a steady running game provid-
ed by junior running back Tim Shankle who grinded his way to 93 yards and 2 touchdowns on 26 carries. “Shank was really good today. I mean nobody works harder than that guy in practice,” said Michael Johnson. “He really is a hard worker.” The Eagles also scored two
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
special teams touchdowns, one a blocked punt returned to pay dirt by freshmen cornerback Malik Cromartie and the other a 47 yard return by freshmen running back Arthur Gorforth. “Today we did all the things that we thought we could do. Time was just
right,” said Rison. NCCU defense had perhaps its best game yet as they held the CMU offense to just 93 yards of total offense, forced 4 interceptions and only let the other Eagles cross the 50-yard line in the first half. “I felt like we came out
pretty well and set the tone for the game,” said junior linebacker Calvin Hillie. This is the Eagles’ byeweek before they play Central State University at the Oct. 31 Homecoming game. “Our new goal for the season is to go 5 for 5,” said Johnson.
Eagles seeking eagles (and birdies) NCCU’s golf team strives to continue impressive streak BY
ASHLEY GRIFFIN
ECHO SPORTS REPORTER
N.C. Central University maintains a secret when it comes to sports. Eagle fans may be disappointed by football and basketball records, but one of the highest ranked sports team is NCCU’s golf team. Many students may not know about the golf program. It was started back in the 1970s under coach Harry Edmonds, but stopped soon after for unknown reasons. The program was brought back in 2000 and now is coached by Paul Perry. Coach Perry is a N.C. Central alumnus and former football player. Former athletic director Bill Hayes and Perry used to golf with one another. Hayes asked him to coach the program because Hayes had to attend to family matters. “At first I was unsure about coaching the program, but overall I knew it was a grand opportunity to give back,” said Perry. “Golf is a great teaching sport: it teaches you how to work under stress, work on your own and requires a lot of mental toughness,”
said Perry. The golf team is made of seven members who come from all over the world to play golf. “I love this program. I get along great with all the guys,” said Mexico native Juan Sanchez, a sociology senior. The golf team plays a split season, with about five matches in the fall and five matches in the spring against teams from all over the East coast and numerous teams from the MEAC conference. So far they have played two matches and placed in the top ten at the Manor Intercollegiate. Two formal practices are held weekly at Hillandale Golf Course, but the players practice everyday on their own. “Although practices are two days a week, my guys are hitting everyday,” said Perry. When not practicing the team hits the weightroom twice a week. “We focus on strength and conditioning,” said Perry. “Their workout consist of core strengthening and cardio.” The team’s top players are senior Juan Sanchez whose average score for the season is 77.5, sophomore Braden Cox who has aver-
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NCCU’s golf team Ronald Royster, Kempton Mandeville,Ormond Shaw, Branden Cox, Juan Sanchez, Gavin Thompson and Karim Corringham Courtesy NCCU Athletics
aged 79.5, and Karim Corringham who has averaged 77.5. Last spring the team placed in seven out of 11 events. Coming in first place at the Winston-Salem Invitational and finishing tied for
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Opinions
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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009
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Wrong is never right ook at the people around you. Look at who you hang around, even at people in your family. Then look at yourself. What has become a priority to people of our generation? Ersula “Let’s get McRaewasted. Let’s get laid. Let’s curse. Jerkens Let’s ignore the ‘lames.’ Let’s disrespect people in authority. Let’s make a fool of ourselves on reality television for the chance at 15 minutes. Let’s just do us!” Why is it so popular to be wrong? What makes a young man put more emphasis on having swag than having an education? What makes a young lady not want to be chaste anymore and share herself with any man who’ll spend out on her a couple of times? Why is it popular to flip out
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...we could care less about the next man’s welfare. It’s all about us, and later for the rest ... Why is it so popular to be wrong?
on somebody rather than walk away and avoid a violent confrontation? Why is it popular to trash another person who you may not like? Why is it popular to flaunt your wealth in the faces of those who have less? We listen and like music that sends the message that it’s OK to play with someone’s feelings by cheating on them. We watch videos that feature women dressed scandalously, and then go out and want to imitate that same vulgar attire. Why? I cannot count how many times I’ve walked into my class building where males and females alike won’t even look back to see if the door
slammed on me. What makes people not care enough to hold a door for someone — a simple and inconvenient task that makes a big difference. When the elevator is broken, (English majors y'all feel me) what makes a young man walk right by me struggling up three flights with a loaded stroller. Maybe if I was dressed in something that stuck to every curve and crevice I would get some attention and assistance? My point is that we could care less about the next man’s welfare. It’s all about us, and later for the rest. But we should be more sympathetic to the
needs of others. That’s what the concept of community is: communal unity. Until we realize this, young men will continue to let their gentlemanly obligations slide and ladies will continue to accept this and adjust their morals to the situation. And that’s how the wrong thing becomes popular and then, as time goes by, the norm. Do yourself and everyone else a favor. The next time you see the opportunity to help some else, do it! It provides assistance to one in need and also helps you by developing your character, which, by the way, goes a lot farther than how much swag you think you have or how sexy you think you look. I urge every reader to take more pride in setting an example for those in the community who look up to you, because they’ll be up next and what will we have taught them?
Gimme some space CCU is the focal point for thousands of determined and ambitious people trying to strengthen their chances for a better life. A major percentage of these students live on campus, well and good, but for the sizable number that commute every day to and from the Jay University as Bundu part of their graduation plan, there is an issue, and it is the bane of this elaborate plan . The constant NASCAR circling to locate parking space on and around campus that is in proximity to their classes and various departments is as much of a headache as it is a time waster, not to mention its effect on one’s “psyched up classroom mode.” On any given day at NCCU, a brief interview with students living off campus and driving
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to school will elicit the same agonized response, “there’s just not enough parking space available to us, compounded when you do not have a decal permit.” The University recently unveiled a grandiose and timely plan to alleviate this problem; the construction of a 750 square foot multilevel parking deck scheduled to be completed before or by May 18, 2010. Yet I wonder, till 2010, how many thousands of dollars will students pay to the City of Durham in parking violation fees? My neighbors are kind, and have given me unrestricted access to their streets, lanes and even their front lawns to aid my quest for education, and for that I salute them. Yet the ticket man lurks, hovering just out of sight, an unnoticed shadow, ready to serve me a $50 snack if I stay one minute longer than the period his boss has authorized me to use the side of the road for parking..
I am the motoring student who has to contend with fueling my vehicle, staying within speed limits while driving from home, and trying to concentrate in class without depressing visions of the thin orange envelope being slid under the windshield wiper of my car. I desire to attend classes on time, not out of breath running from some distant parking spot where the safety of my possessions are in jeopardy. And I deserve the dignity of walking back to my car in calm after classes, contemplating my lectures and not frantically racing in a hurried half walkrun hour after hour, hoping against hope I have not been served the dreaded orange snack in my absence. I need a break. I feel the university should step in, maybe work out a temporary understanding with the city authority to give me a bit more space to maneuver. It would be immensely beneficial for all students, who will not have to endure con-
stant interruptions during lectures from other students who have missed out on the first quarter of the class because they were out there trying to “park right.” As winter approaches, few students will enjoy walking long distances in the cold to and from their vehicles in an attempt to stay “on point” in class. It would be an immeasurably kind gesture to increase the permitted parking period on some of these roads, so that I can go back and forth from classes without apprehension on what awaits me when I return to my vehicle. There must be a way around this problem, and although a solution is in sight, there must be interim relief until NCCU controlled parking space becomes a reality. I imagine every student who experiences these troubles will agree that it is imperative that the school administration assists students ... till May 2010.
drawing by Rashaun Rucker
Question:
Where do you see NCCU in the next 100 years?
“I see the campus expanding and being able to offer more to the students here at NCCU. Also providing students with the proper necessities that it takes to have a successful college career.” —Latasha Roddick
“I see new buildings, more people coming here, a bigger gym, and a new stadium. ” —LaQuan Barnes
“I definitely see NCCU being number one on the top HBCU list .” —Oluwaseun Ogunnoiki
– Sound Off by Uyi Idahor
N ORTH C AROLINA C ENTRAL U NIVERSITY
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