September 5, 2007

SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

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1801 FAYETTEVILLE STREET DURHAM, NC 27707

Campus . . . . . . . .

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . .

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VOLUME 99, ISSUE 1 919 530 7116/CAMPUSECHO@NCCU.EDU WWW.CAMPUSECHO.COM

Special Insert

Campus

Sports

Photo Feature

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the Campus Echo

Profile: Brandon Sims’ long struggle for gay rights

The move to Division I: Hey Aggies, here come the Eagles.

Students get a taste of the Dominican Republic.

In the fold

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Page 13

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Campus Echo New Eagle lands Nelms as NCCU’s chancellor

BY SHELBIA BROWN ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Fears of another Darfur

BY EDMOND SANDERS LOS ANGELES TIMES

SEBU, Sudan — The tranquil Nubian villages along this Nile River stretch are best known for the brightly painted gates that adorn many of the simple mud-brick homes. With geometric shapes and hieroglyphic-like pictures, the oversized gates hark back to the stone-carved doorways the villagers' ancestors once built on pyramids that rivaled Egypt’s.

With two prior positions under his belt, Charlie Nelms is no stranger to c h a n c e l l o r s h i p .

As he adjusts to Eagle life, Nelms is serving as the new chancellor of N.C. Central University. Nelms, who was installed INSIDE Aug 1, said A conversation that serving with NCCU’s the students new chancellor, is a priority.

Charlie Nelms.

In his address to Page 5 faculty and staff, Nelms said that “We owe our students an excellent education and we fail them in the worse way possible if we offer them a second tier educational

These days, however, the elaborate entryways are shadowed by black flags.

Government soldiers patrol once-quiet dirt streets, occasionally drawing stones from angry youths. Protest graffiti mars the walls, including one scrawling of an AK-47 with the simple caption: “Darfur 2.”

First, southern Sudan erupted in a 20year civil war, followed by the east and,

Art embellishes a Nubian royal burial ground, considered an an international treasure by activists of threatened sites.

CAROLYN COLE/ Los Angeles Times

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LABOR DAY CLASSIC I EAGLES WIN 17-0

Meeting addresses admissions standards

BY RAENA BOSTON ECHO STAFF WRITER

n See NELMS Page 2

Students study in Ghana

BY GABI CLAY-WHITE ECHO ASSISTANT EDITOR

Have you ever thought of traveling to a country that you’ve only seen or heard about in your history book?

This summer, N. C. Central allowed 19 students and eight faculty members to study abroad in Ghana, West Africa for a four week program.

The students and faculty stayed in Dodowa, a rural community 40 minutes outside Accra, Ghana.

Initiated by former Chancellor Ammons and Kingsley Fletcher, pastor of Life Ministry Church in Durham and native of Ghana, they developed the Ghana Study Abroad program to develop a global education center in Dodowa, Ghana.

History senior Mukhtar Raqib recognized Ammons’ emphasis on studying abroad.

“Ammons always encouraged students to study abroad,” said Raqib.

“I see why because Africa is a deep connection to our history and it helps to know where we came from.”

The five departments chosen by the University were the schools of education, human sciences, nursing, health education and business.

They were required to submit a study proposal to the Office of International Affairs for the program to outline a four-week academic plan for students.

n See GHANA Page 2

GPAs may rise

Wide receivers Wayne Blackwell (87) and Will Scott (83) jump for joy after Scott’s second touchdown against FSU Broncos.

MITCHELL WEBSON/Staff Photographer

LABOR DAY CLASSIC Some people had to put in a little work before the Labor Day holiday. Apparently it wasn’t Fayetteville State.

The Eagles of N.C.Central University went to work on FSU’s Broncos shutting them out 17-0.

The Eagles’ defense kept the Broncos running

while offense made a spectacle of what should have been a fair match. Eagles, prepare for a football season that will make people from all over understand why Eagles fly high. Ballin’!

SEE CLASSIC COVERAGE I PAGE 13

Cafe gets a nip/tuck

BY SHINESE ANDERSON ECHO STAFF REPORTER

If all goes according to plan, next fall, students will be eating in the new W.G. Pearson Cafeteria.

The cafe, designed by Moody Nolan and his redesign team, will be complete at the end of April 2008.

“With putting all the staff and training into order the cafeteria will not open until next school term,” said Donny Batten, project manager for the redesign of the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was originally supposed to be complete by November 2007 but because of a delayed start time the completion of the cafe will take longer than expected.

According to Batten, the struggle with the cost

A construction worker continues renovations on W.G. Pearson Cafeteria.

SAVIN JOSEPH/Staff Photographer

of materials rising and change orders has also played a part in delaying the completion of the cafe.

This problem has also

caused the project to run $9.5 million over budget.

Jumping their hardest hurdle, getting approval from the state construc-

tion office, the department of insurance, and the University, the redesign team has now moved into their construction phase.

“No changes have been made to the original design of the cafeteria,” said Batten.

The newly designed cafe will be expanded to 50,000 sq. ft., from its previous 26,986 sq. ft.

The cafe will have high glass walls, skylights, a cyber cafe and a convenience store.

There will also be an underground walkway connecting different levels of the building.

According to Tim Moore, director of student services, “The cyber cafe is based on a sit down with

n See PEARSON Page 3

Nearly 30 students attended a town hall meeting Thursday in the H.M. Michaux Jr. School of Education Building Thursday to discuss N. C. Central’s new minimum undergraduate admissions requirement This first of three proposed town hall meetings was held by university administrators for faculty, students and alumni to voice their thoughts and concerns.

Chancellor Charlie Nelms, Beverly Washington Jones, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, Bernice Duffy Johnson, assistant vice chancellor for academic services and admissions standards committee, and Shawn Stewart, assistant vice chancellor for institutional research, effectiveness and planning.

The new admissions standards will be revised to include test scores and high school grade point averages.

The school will implement two sets of admissions standards for in and out-of-

n See ADMISSIONS Page 2

JaMeese Mangum makes a point at the town hall meeting.

KENICE MOBLEY/Staff Photographer

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Eagle Landing: Safe enough to buy?

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

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Log on to NCCUtravel.com Travel purchases to benefit University

BY NATALIA FARRER ECHO STAFF WRITER

If you could use one site to plan international or domestic trips, send flowers to your mom on Mother’s Day and make hotel reservations while giving money to the school, would you do it?

Tim Catlett hopes so.

The business junior is the entrepreneur behind N.C. Central University’s new travel website, nccutravel.com.

“It’s a one-stop shop for travel, entertainment and gift ideas,” Catlett said.

“It’s all the things you would typically find on Expedia, with some things you won’t find on Expedia, but with Central’s face on it.”

The site, which has been up since April, links visitors to vacation and cruise packages, car and limo rentals, flight reservations and other travel arrangements.

You can also find gift options, including a wedding gift registry and corporate, residence or hotel gift delivery.

A percentage of the commission from each site purchase is awarded to the NCCU Foundation, which uses the money for scholarships and endowments.

Catlett first presented the

idea to the school in March and spent a month pushing the idea up the administrative ladder before NCCU finally agreed to it.

Catlett, who was enrolled in 16 hours of classes at the time, worked researching the idea and setting up the presentations around his class schedule.

“It was hectic,” he said.

“But it was the best feeling in the world. It was rewarding that the hard work paid off and somebody believed in me.”

The school is partnered with Catlett, who serves as the travel agent and also receives a portion of the travel commission.

Your Travel Biz Travel Network provides travel services through the website.

Randal Childs, director of the Office of Major Gifts in the division of Institutional Advancement, helped Catlett present his idea to the school.

Childs pointed out that the school gets a relatively small percent of the commission from each purchase, but “if we use it for every trip we make, it could really add up.”

The site has had almost 2,000 visitors and a steady stream of purchases since May, including one made by

Philadelphia 76er Rodney Rogers.

Childs said he has used the service himself for airline and hotel reservations and to send flowers to his mom. He found the prices to be very competitive.

The idea to start the website came from Catlett’s family.

Catlett’s father owns Progressive Business Solutions, a Raleigh-based printing company that he started over 20 years ago.

Catlett’s mother suggested the idea of starting a travel company in November.

“My parents were a big influence on me and encouraged me to keep at anything I set out to do wholeheartedly,” Catlett said.

“My dad instilled into me an entrepreneurial mindset.”

Catlett hopes to work with the Student Government Association to create more publicity for the site, via SGA President Tomasi Larry’s campaign to encourage students to give back to the University.

“It’s a cool service that I think will help the school have a better relationship with students,” he said. “I want the students and faculty to have fun with it and be able to give back to the school.”

The Board of Trustees is thinking about buying the privately-owned Eagle Landing, but the state must first approve the residential facility for purchase.

JACQUELYN HALL/Echo Staff Photographer

BY TRAVIS RUFFIN ECHO STAFF WRITER

If you are a student at N.C. Central University, you are probably familiar with Eagle Landing, the three year old, 408-bed dormitory located on Brant Street.

Last fall, state inspectors took a closer look at Eagle Landing, claimed that traces of mold and mildew were found on the premises and concluded that the building had numerous other code violations.

NCCU and city of Durham officials both continue to dispute many of the state’s findings, and insist that a lot of these issues have already been appropriately addressed.

“Our main concern right now is the safety of the students who currently reside in Eagle Landing,” said Bijoy Sahoo, Interim Vice Chancellor of Financial Affairs.

“I can assure you that the building is now safe.

City inspectors came and cleared the building about two weeks ago. They gave us a certificate of occupancy, and they are the ones who have jurisdiction.”

When state inspectors

came last year to examine Eagle Landing, many of the residents initially did not know what was happening.

According to the some of the students, they knew nothing about the inspection until they heard about its results.

“After I heard about the mold and [the] trash chute issues, I felt a little uneasy about living there,” said mass communications senior Shereka Littlejohn. “As a matter of fact, that is one of the reasons why I decided to move out of Eagle Landing.”

Littlejohn now lives off campus.

Fire safety was one of the biggest areas of concern state inspectors cited in their report last year.

NCCU officials say that they have since taken steps to correct the matter.

“We noticed that many of the rooms in the building did not have smoke detectors because some of the students had taken them from the ceilings.” Sahoo said. “We immediately replaced those.”

Sahoo said that the trash chute issues have been resolved as well.

NCCU does not own

Eagle Landing at the present moment, but the university’s Board of Trustees has discussed its desire to purchase the five-story dormitory from its private owners.

A few things that must take place before that occurs, however.

“The UNC Board of Governors has to give their stamp of approval before we can actually buy the building,” said Cressie Thigpen, a member of the NCCU Board of Trustees.

“State inspectors would also have to come back and inspect the building again, but I am sure that everything will work out.”

When asked if it was likely that the state would, like the city, finally approve the building, Thigpen replied, “I don’t see why they would not. Sahoo has done a good job.”

Although the state disagrees with the city of Durham and maintains that Eagle Landing is unsafe, the university cannot be held accountable because, simply put, it’s not the university’s building.

GHANA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The program was funded by financial aid, student development funds and academic scholarships.

Emmanuel Oritsejafor, director of international affairs, said studies abroad at NCCU have doubled since past years.

“In 2006-2007, close to 1 percent of the total students enrolled studied abroad … compared to one third of a percent in 20032004, ” said Oritsejafor.

Each department set their own requirements for each student selected to participate in the program.

LaHoma Smith Romocki, interim chair and associate professor of the health education department and one of the faculty members who went to Ghana, is very pleased

with the support NCCU has shown for the program.

“I am so excited that NCCU has supported the study abroad initiative because a student’s scope can be so narrow that it limits who and what they can be.

Study abroad changes the way you interact with people, allows you to open your eyes to other possibilities and what you can do – especially for African American students,” said Romocki.

Romocki continued to focus on how the world is changing everyday and how students need to be more culturally diverse.

“This campus is increasingly diverse,” said Romocki.

“We are starting to see more ethnicities and cultures everyday. We need

to make sure NCCU students are comfortable in travelling, like other international students are comfortable in coming here.”

Although Raqib knew that Africa was something other than the stereotypical images he has seen in the media, he was shocked by what he saw.

“I thought I was going to see the typical hungry, suffering people,” said Raqib.

“I had a double consciousness because I knew Africa wasn’t like that.”

“Africa helped me to appreciate everything. It allowed me to realize that you can’t talk bad about a place if you haven’t been out of North Carolina,” said Raqib.

If you would like more information on the Study Abroad program, call (919) 530-7912.

ADMISSIONS

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

NELMS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 experience.”

“Our historic mission of providing collegiate access does not require us to abandon academic rigor or excellence.”

Nelms received his bachelors’ degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and his master’s and doctorate degrees from Indiana University Before coming to NCCU, Nelms was vice president for institutional development and student affairs at Indiana University.

Nelms’ first chancellorship was at Indiana University East from 1987 to 1994. From 1994 to 1998, he served as chancellor for the University of Michigan at Flint.

Nelms said the “culture of success” is rooted in a positive interaction

between students and faculty members to improve the students’ educational experiences.

He further explained that academic success can be attained by implementing a strategy that centers on high levels of student engagement, learner-centered instruction and timely administrative support services.

“Anything less than serving our constituents in a respectful, caring and timely manner is unacceptable and inconsistent with the core values upon which North Carolina Central University was founded,” he said.

In a recent interview, Nelms expressed that he intends to strengthen the institution with the available resources, while creat-

ing new avenues for advancement.

“In terms of challenges, obviously one of the largest challenges is to have the resources, the fiscal resources, to do all of the things that you would like to do and people are expecting you to do,” he said.

“So, it all comes down to choices, strategic choices about how you are going to invest the resources that you have.”

In regards to raising retention rates, Nelms said “Students have to see themselves as being active participants in the learning process as teaching and learning.”

“It’s not just teaching and it’s not just learning; it’s teaching and learning.”

state students.

In-state requirements include a minimum 2.3 GPA and a 720 SAT or 14 ACT score, while out of state students must have a 2.5 GPA and an 820 SAT or 17 ACT. The changes come in response to the tightening of the University of North Carolina school system’s admission requirements that will require students to have a minimum GPA of 2.5.

NCCU will take a graduated response to this issue, by starting the minimum GPA at 2.3 in fall 2008, and moving to 2.5 the following school year.

In further compliance with the UNC school system, students will also be required to complete and pass their fourth year of high school math. Students who do not meet the requirement for fall 2008 will have to attend the Summer BRIDGE program, which emphasizes on recruiting students transi-

tioning from high school to college with backgrounds of difficulty adjusting to a larger academic environment and diverse class setting.

Any student not meeting this requirement for the fall 2009 school year will be denied admittance.

“The policy is about establishing a threshold,” said Nelms, in his opening statements.

The office of undergraduate admissions made a request to the University asking for specific criteria to use in evaluating students’ application for admission. The request was fueled by teacher’s frustrations with student’s lacking requisite skills to be successful in college coursework.

“The decision has nothing to do with NCCU wanting to become an elitist institution, rather, the new standards answer the question of how to ensure collegiate success for students,” according to

Nelms.

Most students in attendance were welcoming to the new changes, and questions even arose as to why the new standards were set so low.

“It’s a needed push,” said Tomasi Larry, student government association president.

“We need to make sure we’re in compliance with the UNC system, and not only that, we need to make sure that we’re enrolling students that graduate.”

Some students are in support of the new plans, but also asked for more attention towards current students.

“We’re already performing at a higher level than they’re asking,” said JaMeese Magnum, a political science/public administration junior.

“And it’s not really a problem. I just think they should focus just as much on the student’s that are here.”

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Rogers’ long climb up Education professor’s 13-year quest to be an educator

Honda All Stars know the answers Team seeks new stars

BY GABRIELLE JONES ECHO STAFF WRITER

Kaye Thompson-Rogers is always working to see what needs to be done next.

SAVIN JOSEPH/Echo Staff Photographer

BY GEOFFREY COOPER ECHO STAFF WRITER

As an assistant professor in the department of educational leadership, research and technology at N.C. Central University’s School of Education, Kaye Thompson-Rogers is rarely idle.

But last fall, her life was even busier.

On Oct. 9, 2006, Rogers had an exam for her Jackson State University professor due by noon and was also preparing to have gall bladder surgery at Duke University Medical Center.

The average person may have used surgery as an excuse to bail out of coursework, but not Rogers.

It was just another day for her.

For 13 years, Rogers has used her joy for teaching as inspiration for completing her post-secondary education.

“I’ve been in school all my life,” said Rogers.

“I just knew that I was going to be a teacher someday,” she said.

In 1979, Rogers started her career as an accounting, bookkeeping and desktop publishing consultant for churches and private

organizations in her hometown of Roxboro, N.C. At the time, Rogers said she aspired to be a fashion designer, but then she learned that the fashion industry did not pay much.

Rogers then enrolled at Piedmont Community College, earning her diploma in computer operations in 1986.

From 1987 to 1994, Rogers worked in finances, accounting and computer applications for several private companies.

During those seven years, Rogers found the time to go back to school. In 1994, she earned a bachelor of arts in business administration and an associate applied science degree in accounting from Averett College in Danville, Va. Rogers’ spark to teach on a collegiate level ignited when she was hired as an administrative assistant in the department of history in 1996.

She said her interaction with the students made her time worthwhile.

“The students are always my first priority,” said Rogers.

Rogers taught as an interim computer applications teacher at Person High School in Roxboro

before coming to NCCU where she wanted to teach in a more professional setting.

“I didn’t just want to be a babysitter,” said Rogers. “I was about making real change in a student.”

That change started in 1998 when Rogers began teaching part time at NCCU as a visiting adjunct instructor in the School of Education’s teacher education program.

Her instruction focused on teaching students how to integrate computer technology into their curriculum, which is a requirement by the State Board of Education.

During her four years in the department of history , she taught as a part-time adjunct instructor in computer applications at both Durham Technical Community College and at at NCCU’s Saturday Academy for public school students in grades 3-6.

While teaching on campus and serving as an administrative assistant, Rogers attended graduate school to complete her master’s degrees in both public administration and education technology.

Rogers said that organization and prioritization

are the key to balancing career and personal life.

“For me, it was working, going to school and taking care of my household,” Rogers said.

“I had a daughter already in school, so she understood what was going on.”

“But my son was still quite young and didn’t really understand why I could not be around all the time.”

Rogers said she would complete her coursework while she waited for her son to finish choir practice.

During her tenure as an educator at NCCU, Rogers has served on almost 30 University committees and has hosted countless workshops for University faculty, Durham County teachers and the National Black Graduate Student Conference.

On August 4, Rogers graduated from the Executive Ph.D. Program in Urban Higher Education at Jackson State University.

“I have better options than before and more doors are bound to open,” said Rogers.

“But a Ph.D. doesn’t mean I can just rest. The work of a true educator is never done.”

PEARSON CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 wireless connections for the students.”

Until the cafe redesign is complete, students will be hiking east across campus to eat at the trailers on Chidley Hall’s parking lot.

The trailers are leased

by Sodexho, which caters

the menu in the cafeteria.

“We have a contract on the trailers until July or August next year and if there is any delay we have to extend the contract,” said Batten.

According to Batten, if there is any delay in the

completion of the cafe, the trailers will undergo a change order and be rented out on a month-to-month basis.

Batten said they plan to keep the same number of trailers until the cafe is completed.

Dr. Sheila Allison

Batten also said the goal is to keep on schedule as close as possible and I believe that we can do it.

“This going to be a beautiful cafeteria,” said Moore.

Next year, students will finally get a chance to see how beautiful it is.

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

Accepting new patients.

Evening hours.

6216 Fayetteville Road, Suite 105 Durham, N.C. 27713 919.405.7000

Did you know that Alaska contains both the points farthest east and farthest west in the U.S.?

Or that Wyoming was the first state to allow women to vote?

Or that the last player selected in the NFL draft was known as “Mr. Irrelevant?”

If so, maybe you should consider joining the N.C. Central University Honda Campus All Star Challenge team.

The HCASC team is ready to begin its new season and is looking for fresh faces and minds.

“The team is currently seeking new members and welcomes those who don’t want to actively play with the traveling team, but just want to participate in practices,” said Coach Christopher Graves.

The team’s first practice is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in room 104B of the Alfonso Elder Student Union.

The team competes in a Jeopardy-style trivia game consisting of toss-up questions, which are answered individually by buzzing in.

Questions come from all subjects, including math, science, history, literature and current events.

The national competition, which takes place in Orlando every spring, consists of 64 historically black colleges or universities that compete in three rounds.

The Honda Campus All Star Challenge began in 1989. It is open to all 89 HBCUs in the U.S. Over the past 18 years, more than 50,000 students have competed in HCASC, and Honda has awarded more than $5 million in grants to participating schools.

To prepare for competition, the NCCU team prac-

tices three times a week under the instruction of Graves.

“I believe my coaching style is probably best described as cerebral,” said Graves.

“I try to impart what I have learned on to players to make them better.”

Graves’s leadership led the team to second place in the national tournament in 2006.

Graves is an NCCU alumnus who graduated in 1997.

He works as a compliance auditor at Eisai, a pharmaceutical company in the Triangle.

Students who participate in HCASC often see improvement in their academics.

“It can really improve your study habits,” said former team captain and 2007 graduate Jason Roop.

“Being a part of HCASC, I learn so much and it’s not just from going to practice,” said theatre sophomore Leslie Garland.

“I pay so much more attention to anything that I learn in class, or see on the news, or read on the Internet because you never know what will be in the next question.”

Players also find the HCASC experience beneficial outside their academic life.

“The benefits of HCASC are too many to list,” said former player and 2006 graduate Aaron Williamson.

Williamson cites being a part of a team and having the ability to network as two of the best things about being on the team.

Every player receives community service hours for participating.

Travel expenses trips are covered by Honda.

The team’s high expectations for the coming season are exemplified by Garland’s words: “I want to win.”

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

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If colors could talk ...

NCCU senior Brandon Sims talks about his desires for gay rights

BY KRISTIANA BENNETT ECHO STAFF WRITER

It’s difficult to ignore the self-proclaimed “gay Martin Luther King” when he saunters into a room as if he is on a Paris catwalk.

Heads turn and people smile, not maliciously, but automatically.

One has to smile when N.C. Central University political science and public administration senior Brandon Sims is around.

“My mood is always the same, cheery,” said the twentytwo-year-old. “I’m outgoing.”

Besides his sunny nature, one thing that stands out about Sims is his pride as a homosexual male.

Sims’ life is a study in contrasts. A military brat, he was born in Fort Bragg, N.C. and has lived in Germany and Hawaii.

His parents now reside in Snow Hill, N.C. where he completed his last two years of high school.

Growing up, he loved the church, wanted to be a preacher, and gravitated toward older people.

Sims’ grandmother is a pastor and his family conservative. He has three siblings, all of whom are in college.

His tone is affectionate when he speaks of his family and when asked about their reaction to his lifestyle he stated simply that although they are conservative, they are supportive of him and his

sexuality.

He also developed a love for fashion, parties and socializing.

As he grew older, he also became an avid fan of King.

Brandon Sims’ home reflects his upbringing, personality and interests.

On his living room walls hang art depicting vivid scenes of African-American churches. The back wall is painted warm, butterscotch yellow. His furniture is forest green and plush.

A King-size cream-colored four-pillared bed in a style reminiscent of ancient Rome dominates his bedroom.

Over his bed hangs a large black-and-white photo of King, flanked by black candleholders containing yellow candles.

Sims also is a human rights advocate in his own right.

“I feel really connected to the struggle that he was fighting for: civil rights,” said Sims.

“A lot of blacks get angry when you compare civil rights to gay rights, but if you think about it it’s the same thing.”

Sims, the president of COLORS — Creating Open Lives for Real Success — describes his struggle as similar to the civil rights struggle of the 1960’s.

He has fought for gay marriage and the legal recognition of gay partnerships.

This would enable gay

Brandon Sims has played an active role at NCCU gaining rights for homosexuals through programs and presiding over COLORS, an on-campus organization for gays and lesbians.

SEBASTIAN ORLANDO/Echo Staff Photographer

partners to file jointly on tax returns and to inherit their partner’s property .

Sims’ human rights activities include participating in the March for Unity, attending conferences such as the Claim Your Truth Conference for the human rights campaign, and lobbying Senators Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr on Capitol Hill for a marriage amendment and the Hate Crimes Act. Sims has facilitated workshops like Hetero vs. Homo and various forums to open a dialogue between heterosexual, gay, lesbian and transsexual students to eradicate negative gay stereotypes.

He has also conducted staff/faculty workshops with student services regarding diversity and interaction with homosexuals to create a more inclusive atmosphere on campus.

“The staff, especially the older ones, asked a lot of questions about child-rearing, if we came from singleparent families, etcetera, as if it had something to do with our sexuality,” Sims recalled.

Sims stressed that sexuality is not a learned behavior but an innate preference.

“If I could have been a heterosexual male, why would I have chosen a lifestyle of so much pain, with so many stig-

mas and stereotypes like [that] we all have HIV, we are all doomed to damnation, we’re predators, pedophiles, promiscuous, that our sexuality is a disorder, a mental illness, or a disability,” he said.

“I f [my homosexuality] is a disability,” he joked, “then give me my damn check right now! Hell, I wouldn’t ever go to work!”

Sims was candid when describing his weaknesses.

“Men honey, men are my main weakness,”Sims said. “I also need to work on punctuality and being a better student.”

When faculty and friends were asked to describe Sims’ positive and negative attrib-

utes, they had similar views.

“Whether you agree with his lifestyle or not, one can’t help but admire his openness and honesty and his willingness to speak out and fight for that which he believes,” said Jeffrey Elliot, the political science department chair. “I admire him.”

Elliot also calls Sims a “classic underachiever,” a bright student with a tendency to neglect his studies.

Sims admits that he’s a better public administration student than a political science student because the former “is like real life and not so much theory.”

Kamel McMillan, a junior biology major and vice-present of COLORS, says of his friend, “He’s very intelligent, compassionate, loyal, comical, and giving.”

McMillan also pointed out that Sims has a tendency to be late and sometimes lack focus.

“He’s a great leader, he has a vision, and he does everything he can to make his vision come to fruition,” said McMillan.

When asked what was most important for people to know about him, Sims was emphatic.

“I want people to know that my sexuality is only a small piece of who I am and when they look at me I want them to see a representation of change, said Sims.

“I am GOING to make a difference.”

LANDING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 According to some residents at Eagle Landing, they are not worried at all about their safety and they feel that the school has their best interests at heart.

“I was not here last year, so I had no idea that Eagle Landing was inspected by the state, but it feels good to know that the school is taking care of the issues con-

cerning the building,” said Vincent Taylor, a music industry freshman.

“I feel really safe, and I do not have any problems with the building so far.”

In the meantime, NCCU says that it will continue to do what needs to be done at Eagle Landing.

“Many of the issues have been resolved, but there are other

things that will take a little more time” said Sahoo. “My team and I will continue to do all that we can to make Eagle Landing a safe place.”

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Q&A

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

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Charlie Nelms’ New Plan for Success In an August 24 interview with Campus Echo editor-inchief Shelbia Brown, Chancellor Charlie Nelms talks about his training, his decision to come to NCCU, his first impressions and his plans and priorities for the University.

Nelms: I think that is a national problem and a societal problem. I think the response must be global and local. It is not an either/or proposition. Globally — what I mean is state-wide and nationally — we must say to young people, especially young black men, that it is OK to be a good student.

Don’t dumb down or lower your expectations of what it means to be a good student just because it may not comport to what someone else thinks. It doesn’t mean you are a nerd or trying to be white. Instead, you are trying to be all you can be.

The second thing we can do is encourage all students, boys and girls, men and women, to take a rigorous course of study.

Good preparation is the best option for being able to exercise and take advantage of the options you have.

The third thing is, we must work with the alumni association, the faith-based community and the schools to expose young men to positive role models.

But we need more than just role models, we need mentors.

You see, a role model is someone you look at from a distance, but a mentor is someone who is engaged in your life.

We can bring students to our campus while they’re still in middle and high school, and let them experience college for a day. That way you can experience it for yourself, as opposed to someone telling you what college is all about.

Programs at the middle school and high school levels can show them that college is possible. Then, young people may see college as a viable alternative.

Echo:

Tell us about yourself.

Specifically, what has prepared you for this challenging job?

Nelms:

I’m a graduate of an HBCU, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a land grant institution. I was involved in student government, and I was president of the student body while I was there.

That was during the height of the civil rights movement. So I consider myself to be an activist.

I tried to use my voice to make a difference in the lives of students and the community. I discovered during my junior year of college that I wanted to go into university administration. So I spent 39 years working as a faculty member and as an administrator in higher education.

What has prepared me for this particular job is a combination of experiences. My first job out of college was ombudsman of student affairs. It was my charge to try to listen to student concerns and to work with the administration and faculty to address those concerns.

Since that time I have served as a resident assistant, a financial aid counselor, an admissions counselor, an academic advisor, a military draft counselor, a faculty member, a dean, a vice president and a chancellor twice.

I think I have had a chance to see higher education from a lot of different perspectives.

Echo:

What are some things you are passionate about? What do you like to do in your spare time?

MITCHELL WEBSON/Echo Staff Photographer

Echo:

What made you choose

NCCU?

Nelms: Well, several reasons.

First, the fact that it’s NCCU. It’s an institution that is well known beyond the boundaries of North Carolina. It’s regarded as being a very strong liberal arts institution.

With the advent of technology, you’re able to do all kinds of research on universities, so I was able to get a sense of the expertise and a sense of the faculty. There’s a strong faculty.

It’s located in North Carolina, which has historically been a good supporter of higher education and affordability. Maintaining affordability has been a key piece of higher educational focus in this particular state.

There is a combination of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.

Then finally it’s located in Durham, so the quality of life that one can experience is far broader that I think it might be in some other communities. Black Enterprise had an article naming Raleigh/Durham as one of the top ten communities in the country for black people to live in.

Echo:

What are some of your first impressions of NCCU? faces?

Nelms:

I’ve been most impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the students, faculty, staff. People take being an Eagle seriously and I appreciate that.

So the people are what I’ve been most impressed with — their friendliness, their warmth and their responsiveness. People are such an important piece of what an institution is. An institution is more than buildings, it’s more than streets, it’s more than trees, it’s people.

Echo:

What do you think your biggest challenges will be as chancellor of NCCU?

Nelms:

There are always challenges. Let me talk about the opportunities.

I think the opportunities include the ability to graduate more students than we currently graduate. I see that as one of our greatest opportunities, to increase the persistence in the graduation rate at N.C. Central. The second opportunity is to work more closely with the K-12 system to build a stronger pipeline for students leaving high schools throughout N.C., who will

Incoming N.C. Central University Chancellor Charlie Nelms was interviewed by Campus Echo editor-in-chief Shelbia Brown in his office in the Hoey Administration Building. In the background is Terri Godwin, interim director of public relations. Nelms took office on August 1. Before coming to NCCU, Nelms served as vice president for institutional development and student affairs at Indiana University. come on to N.C. Central.

In terms of challenges, obviously one of the largest challenges is to have the fiscal resources to do all of the things that you would like to do and people are expecting you to do. I am not aware of a single institution in America which has all the resources that are needed. So it all comes down to choices, strategic choices, about how you are going to invest the resources that you have. Those are the challenges.

Echo:

What is it about the students and the faculty that attracted you?

Nelms:

The energy, the enthusiasm about being here, the deep commitment to the University and their engagement.

For example, N.C. Central, to my knowledge, is the only public university which has a service learning requirement for students to graduate.

That is a wonderfully distinguishing characteristic of a place because students get a chance to develop a ... passion for the idea of sharing their talents and their expertise with the community.

They get a chance to explore the integral relationship between their major and the needs of the community. So it’s the engagement of students, faculty and staff members — the energy and passion — that attracts me. Faculty and staff are fully invested in the success of the students. So those are my good things. .

Echo: What do you think the difference is between institutions like the University of Michigan and NCCU? Nelms:

One of the big differences in terms of the campus where I was, was that it was a commuter campus. We had more older students — older in the sense of adults. I don’t think that the curriculum was as broad-based as the curriculum is here in terms of degree offerings. Another difference would be that we were part of a smaller system.

Also, at the University of Michigan, there were three campuses. Here there are 16 constituent universities. Those would be among the differences, I would think.

Echo

How do you plan to bring about higher retention rates at NCCU?

Nelms:

Well I don’t think I can do it personally. I think it’s a team effort and there are three parts to this approach.

One is for students to assume a greater responsibility for their own success. The concrete manifestations of that include going to class, studying, and not trying to work two and three jobs. That is called commitment to degree attainment.

The focus is for students to maintain a high level of commitment to attaining a degree.

Another part of it is that students will take full advantage of all the services that we have to assist them in achieving their degree.

Whether that’s the library, the computer labs, office hours with faculty members, tutorial support, the Writing Center, etc.

These services exist to meet the needs of students.

A second part of it is what faculty and what the staff must do.

Now what must they do?

Make sure the instruction and the services provided are more learner-centered. In other words, centered on the needs of students ... actively engaged students in the process of discovery.

Students have to see themselves as being active participants in the learning process. The students has to be a willing partner in that process. There is a student, faculty and staff responsibility.

What must the staff do?

Make sure the services that we provide, whether it be counseling, financial aid, the registrar’s office, the accounting office, or the library, wherever those units we must respond to the needs of students in a timely, respectful, comprehensive way.

Echo

What are some of the things you would like to do to advance NCCU?

Nelms:

My number-one priority, defining characteristic or aspect of my tenure as chancellor would be student success.

In a previous interview, I indicated that I did not mean that I felt faculty members should lower their standards. I talked about what I thought that meant. I think

it means that we will establish and articulate high expectations for our students. Secondly, I discussed that students will make a deep and personal commitment for their own education.

I also talked about providing quality, timely and responsive service to students. I want to make sure administrative offices operate from the premise that they exist to help students and the institution succeed.

Echo Do students coming from a less fortunate background present a challenge to the University?

Nelms:

I think one can be poor and still have a commitment to excellence.

I don’t think being less wealthy should be used as an excuse for not pursuing excellence. I think that’s the first thing I, we and all of us must say and ... reinforce.

This generation has a lot more than the generation of my parents certainly had. They still managed to hold on to this confidence and this belief in education. They did not let that deter them.

We must say: “You can be less wealthy, yet well prepared academically.”

Students must also complete their FAFSA application on time.

The interesting thing about the financial aid issue is that while there will never be enough money, we do have significant resources available to persons who are less wealthy.

So what we need to do is to make sure our students are doing what is needed to access all of those resources. Then what the University and I must do is be about the business of trying to help with that.

The moral of the story is that we never had all the resources we needed, we may never have all the resources that we need, but we must make sure that we take full advantage of what does exist.

The other thing I think is important is for all of us to establish priorities on how we expend the resources we do have.

Echo: What are some things you think the institution could implement to attract more males to the University?

Nelms:

I’m really passionate about life. I really am. I like to work out. I walk, run or do some kind of exercise every day. It’s a good way for me to decompress, for me to think through things, to get ready for my day and not be overwhelmed by the world.

I get a chance to see the deer when I’m out early in the morning and just experience my surroundings.

So I enjoy that. And I enjoy people. I’m a people person and I enjoy meeting good people. It’s not hard for me to interact with people — I enjoy it.

Prior to coming here, I spent a lot of time volunteering and mentoring for graduate students, as well as undergraduate students.

I’m passionate about trying to end world hunger. I’m going to give you one of my books before you leave. I’ve been selling this book* and I have given all the proceeds to the United Nations World Food Program, to a local food bank program in my community, and to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Relief. So I am passionate about leaving the world better than I found it.

The book Nelms refers to here is “Start Where You Find Yourself: Lessons Taught and Lessons Learned.”

Echo: What is the main thing you thing students need to know about Chancellor Charlie Nelms?

Nelms:

That I’m totally committed to student success and that’s why I’m here.

I expect all of our students to graduate.

Failure is not an option for our students. The reason it is not an option is because their parents are depending on them, their younger siblings, their communities which they come from, and others are depending on us to be agents of change.

And students are to be agents of change once they graduate from NCCU. .

Echo:

Any final remarks?

Nelms:

If students believe they can succeed and devote the necessary energy and commitment, they will succeed.

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.

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

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THURS-SAT / SEPT. 6-8, 2007

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GOOD MOANIN’ BLUES…Celebrating 20 Years of BLUES in the Bull City!

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Beyond NCCU

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

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Globalization’s impact on South

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

most recently, the western region of Darfur. Now many fear that Sudan’s northern territory of Nubia will be the next to explode over the fight for resources and all-too-familiar accusations of ethnic cleansing and complaints of marginalization by an Arab-dominated government.

Tensions have been high here since soldiers opened fire on an anti-government protest of 5,000 Nubians in June, killing four young men and wounding nearly two dozen. The government has arrested nearly three dozen Nubian leaders and four journalists who were trying to cover the violence.

Now a recently formed rebel group, calling itself the Kush Liberation Front, is advocating armed resistance to overthrow the central government, which it accuses of oppressing Nubians and other indigenous peoples in Sudan.

“Our efforts will not succeed unless they are backed by military action,” said Abdelwahab Adem, a Nubian former businessman and co-founder of the Kush Liberation Front. “We need to get rid of the Arabs.

Our goal is to realize a new Sudan by force, if necessary.”

Adem said the new movement would rely on “guerrilla fighting,” targeting the capital, Khartoum, and other major Sudanese cities. He declined to specify what sort of tactics might be used or how many fighters the group has.

With a separate language and culture, Nubians view themselves as a distinct ethnicity, neither Arab nor strictly black African, though they take pride in being one of Africa’s oldest civilizations.

Political observers say the budding movement appears to be taking its cue from the rebellions in Darfur and southern Sudan.

“That’s the lesson of Darfur,” said one Western diplomat in Khartoum, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The government will only listen to you when you pick up a gun.”

Darfur rebels are a potential source of weapons and training for the Kush Liberation Front, observers said.

“We have good relations with our brothers in Darfur,” said Adem, who is based in London. But he denied receiving support from the western Sudanese rebels.

The spark for recent unrest was a government proposal to construct two or three electricity-producing dams along the Nile in the Nubian heartland, between the villages of Kajbar, about 350 miles north of Khartoum, and Dal, about 100 miles from the Egyptian border.

This fertile Nile River strip is home to an estimated 300,000 Nubians, many of whom would be forced to relocate if rising river

BY JABARI BLACKMON ECHO STAFF WRITER

Some of the Meroe pyramids in northern Sudan date to 300 BC. Recent unrest in the area was sparked by a proposal to build several dams along the Nile that would displace villagers and threaten rich Nubian archeological sites.

CAROLYN COLE/Los Angeles Times

waters swallowed scores of villages.

Also at risk are some of the world’s richest archa eological ruins, notably those around the ancient city of Kerma, the first Nubian capital — settled at least 8,000 years ago — and lying just downstream from where the proposed 200megawatt Kajbar dam would be built. The site is home to the oldest known man-made structure in subSaharan Africa: a 50-foot, 3,500-year-old mud-brick temple known as the Deffufa.

The proposals come on top of another controversial project, the 1,250megawatt Merowe Dam, which is already under construction about 150 miles to the east. Flooding from that project will displace 70,000 Arab farmers and engulf several hundred miles of unexplored Nubian archa eological sites.

“They want to cut us from our roots and flood all of Nubia and its history,” said Sharif Adeen Ali, 53, a Nubian farmer in the village of Sebu. “They’ve done this before.”

In 1964, construction of the Aswan High Dam in Egypt forced the relocation of 50,000 Sudanese Nubians in the Wadi Halfa region near the Egyptian border and nearly 800,000 Nubians in Egypt. Nubians see the new dams as a plot

by Arab governments in Sudan and Egypt to exterminate their communities and seize the land.

“The two countries have never liked having Nubians, who are not Arabs, in the middle,” said Adbul Halim Sabbar, a former doctor who is part of the Kajbar Dam Resistance Committee.

In Sebu, one of the Nubian communities that would be submerged by the Kajbar dam, once-welcoming residents now peer warily at the parade of unfamiliar trucks and SUVs that

speed through town carrying Chinese engineers to a work site a mile away.

Though government officials say they are only conducting a feasibility study, Chinese crews are installing giant cranes, water towers, floodlights and other equipment that suggest to villagers that construction is under way.

On a recent morning, nearly 400 government soldiers marched and drilled at a new military camp set up on the edge of Sebu to protect the Chinese workers. On hills overlooking the village, uniformed lookouts with rifles over their shoulders positioned themselves behind rocks.

“It’s become very tense,” said one villager, who was afraid to be identified.

“Many eyes are watching.”

Officials at Sudan’s Dams Implementation Unit declined to comment.

A leader in Sudan’s ruling party defended the dams, contending that they would help the Nubian communities by providing electricity and irrigation for farming.

“It’s going to economically transform the area,” said Osman Khalid Mudawi, foreign affairs chairman in Sudan’s parliament. He estimated that a lake created by the dam would irrigate 750,000 acres of newly arable land.

But some scientists and environmentalists questioned whether the dams would expand food production, noting that the region’s soil is mostly desert sand and granite.

Farming is possible only along the riverbanks, thanks to rich silt deposits from the Nile.

A recent report by the United Nations Environmental Program noted that Sudan’s existing dams suffer from declining performance because they are clogged with silt, which has proved difficult to remove. Water loss as a

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result of the high evaporation rates in the desert heat is another problem.

Meanwhile, downstream from the dams, farm production has fallen because the soil is no longer enriched by the silt.

For decades, Nubians have lived in relative isolation, shunning politics and priding themselves on selfsufficiency. Some years the region found itself entirely left out of the federal budget, which is evident by the lack of paved roads and electricity. Nubians built their own hospitals and schools, though they are still prohibited by law from teaching in their native language.

The threat of renewed flooding, however, has drawn Nubians out of the political desert, and they are mobilizing for a fight.

For many, the June clash with government troops was the final indignity.

Witnesses said soldiers tear-gassed the noisy but peaceful demonstrators, forcing many to jump into the river to escape the smoke. When protesters began to regroup, soldiers opened fire without warning.

“It was a murder, an assassination,” said Ahmed Abdullahi Ameen, 63, whose son, 28, was one of the four killed. The young man, Sheik Adeen Haj Ahmed, was shot in the back of the head as he climbed out of the river.

Many Nubians say they have little to lose. Izzadin Idriss Mohammed, 71, a Nubian activist in the village of Farig, described the tensions with an old Nubian saying: “One who is sinking in the Nile will reach for any branch to survive.”

There’s a stereotypical image of the South: It’s rural and stagnant. It has little ethnic diversity with just blacks and whites. And it defines itself in relation to the North.

But if you are like many of N.C. Central University’s Southern-bred students, you’ve noticed that things in the South are changing rapidly.

There are more Asian and other international students in high schools and more Latino grocery stores appearing in neighborhoods.

The South is undergoing an economic and cultural makeover, and James L. Peacock aims to explore these changes in his newly released book “Grounded Globalism: How the U.S. South Embraces the World.”

Peacock, an anthropologist and director of UNCChapel Hill’s University Center for International Studies, is known for his fieldwork in Southeast Asia.

“My thesis is this,” writes Peacock, “globalization has the capacity to fundamentally transform the South — not only economically, demographically, and, perhaps, politically, but also culturally and psychologically — to create an identity at once global and regional.”

In “Grounded Globalism” Peacock explores how the South with its historically shaped identity is responding to globalization and embracing the world.

He describes the South as “a region paralyzed by the burden of its past.” But the paralysis is ending.

“What’s happening, now

is that we are in a region ... that is steadily changing through immigration, outsourcing, etc.,” Peacock said. “More families are joining the southern community.”

“Grounded Globalism” provides insight into the South’s aspirations to create a modern identity and no longer define itself by its past relationship with the North.

“The nation no longer dictates who you are and are not, who you should be and who you should not be, what matters and does not,” Peacock writes.

Unlike some critics of globalization, Peacock says globalization has a lot to offer the South.

“I don’t deny the problems that will occur, but a positive thing is when places like the South — and the Triangle specifically — connect with the world,” he said.

“We develop a much more open experience with other cultures, and with ourselves,” Peacock said.

“Additionally, I think that black and white relations are better because of a more open society.”

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A Trip to the Dominican Republic N 8

Right: a Hatian man demonstrates the cleansing element of fire during a Voodoo cere mony.

Symbols such as fire are important in communicating with the spirits that take over one’s body during the ritual.

Below: Artist Ricardo Toribio with his sons. He told us stories of his island, his family, and his artwork.

He has been fortunate in that his art is all he needs to support his family. “These two hands,” he said, “is all I need.”

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Photo Essay by Larisha J. Stone hen was the last time you felt really inspired? I mean, when did you find yourself in the presence of a person or place that made you want to be a better person?

I walked into the home of Dominican painter, singer, and musician Ricardo Toribio and his art, family and music danced through the house without restraint. The bittersweet smell of paint and earth filled my nostrils and made me remember my own childhood.

I recalled days laying out in the sun and letting my dreams carry me to places of

W

adventure and danger, learning and unlearnI felt so hurt because here are my people, ing, discovery and truth, and this summer I felt whose island holds specific and paramount that I had come full circle and was given my importance in my history. The Dominican first major portion of wisdom through knowlRepublic was Christopher Columbus’ primary edge, understanding, and life experience. destination, and the first stop pirate ships I lived my childmade from hood dreams in Europe to the the Dominican Americas during Republic and all the middle pasthe things that sage, and they mattered to me don’t recognize throughout my life me. I wanted to looked me right in yell, “I’m your the face and told cousin from me why. across the Isabel Chicquor Atlantic!” had been a proAll my life, I’ve fessor in the art been taught to department for 30 be proud of my years, and in her African past, of last year of edubeing the cating, she began descendant of planning a trip to the strongest the Dominican people on the Republic- an art planet who have study tour. been through The focus would 400 years of the be on the African worst form of Diaspora and its injustice in the influence on history of men.

T h i s i s t h e f i r s t c h u r c h e v e r b u i l t i n C o l u m b u s ’ N e w W o r l d .

Dominican culI’ve been L o c a t e d i n t h e C o l o n i a l Z o n e i n S a n t o D o m i n g o , t h i s ture. taught the histoc h u r c h c a n b e s e e n f r o m r o o f t o p s f r o m m i l e s a w a y .

She searched ry of those who online for groups came before that specialize in me; before the college tours and era of slavery in found Richard my history.

Webber, founder But my people of Tours, Trips, in the Treks, and Travels.

Dominican “I just decided Republic had that it would be their imaginaimportant for stutions and width dents,” said and breadth for Chicquor. discovery, learn“I contacted ing, and Richard Weber unlearning cut and told him I short. wanted to put a A nation of tour together on people who look the African roots like me, dance of the DR. He’s like me, eat like done hundreds of me, and whose college tours, but racial composinever one with tion is almost this particular identical to focus.” mine, cannot We learned the relate to me background of an because we island of over nine don’t undermillion people Cigar makers at the Centro Leon Cultural Center and stand how either whose blackness Cigar Factory, a facility that helps visitors understand the of us could make Dominican economy. was a dark secret such a big deal hidden in the out of being drumbeats and hip sways, hair textures and black. complexion variances.

The lesson I learned while in the Dominican Our tour guide George Santos put it best Republic was to look beyond the limits that when he said, “It’s like the elephant in the have been placed on me, limits that I have room that everybody sees but no one wants to accepted as my own, and go beyond a narrow talk about.” view of who and what I am.

I found myself becoming very angry at the I see the importance of teaching children Spanish for tricking my cousins into believing the value that each of them have as individuthat black is negative and white is positive. To als, the value they’ve had historically, and how be black is to be poor, hungry, working for important they are to one another’s future. someone else all your life for pennies a day.

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Left: Trip adviser Isabel Chicquor gets flowers from student Brevan Hampden on her birthday.

Below: Local children smile and pose for the cam era in Santa Domingo.

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Good intentions, that’s family business

BY JOANNA HERNANDEZ ECHO A&E EDITOR

“What better way to make music than to make music with family?”

That’s the question 9th Wonder posed that didn’t really need an answer, because don’t you remember how Wu Tang Clan and Native Tongues used to make you feel like you were a part of the crew?

Music used to make us feel like we were a part of what the artists and producers were representing.

That’s the feeling 9th Wonder is bringing back to music.

By combining and mentoring various production teams, he is creating a unifying effect that calls on the ghosts of hip hop past to propel this lost movement forward.

This summer I spent time with M1_Platoon, Kooley High, Carlitta Durand and Kimerie Green — and saw firsthand how this talented “family” handled their business.

I observed their work ethic and dedication and watched 9th show them the ropes and help them perfect their crafts.

Individually they are all amazing people.

Together they’re an unbelievable force, a tornado of intelligence, spirit, love, humor and of course hip hop.

M_1 Platoon, the group hailing from Washington, D.C. has been making noise on the hip hop circuit with features on various websites and air play on hip hop radio stations.

Their ages should, in no way, be an indicator of the wisdom you find in their music.

They look out for each other more like brothers than business associates.

They check each other when someone is in the wrong and congratulate each other when they accomplish their goals.

The group’s beats and rhymes are a mixture of many of hip hop’s greats and will earn these gentlemen the right to be labeled

Above: (left to right) Arafat Yates, C4 Black, Big Chops, Sean D, Fuego, Napalm, Scoopay, Tyler Young of M1_Platoon. . Below: (left to right) Kimerie Green and Carlitta Durand.

DANA WOMACK/Echo Staff Photographer

Uncle 9th surrounded by his musical proteges, a mix of students and alumni from NCCU, N.C. State and Duke universities.

DANA WOMACK/Echo Staff Photographer

great.

“Our music comes out of nowhere,” said band member Big Chops.

“Don’t nobody else do it the way we do.”

One regular in the M1 studio is theater senior Carlitta Durand, the vocalist for many of the group’s tracks.

She is featured on tracks within the fam and also on Little Brother’s new album “Get Back,” due out Sept.

25.

Durand also will appear on Murs’ next album.

“I’m the hook girl. They just call me up when they need me,” said Durand.

Durand feels that a lot of talent is coming out of North Carolina.

“We’re making a lot of noise,” she said.

“We’re all trying to do the same thing together — we work towards a similar goal.”

Kimerie Green, an aspiring DJ or disc jockey from Minneapolis, at 25 is the big sister of the family.

She credits the family’s uncle, 9th Wonder, for her

Big things poppin’ Supplying the world with great music is my main objective.

start.

“I asked him if he could teach me a couple of things and he told me to come to the hip hop class,” Green said.

“He set me up on the turntables and I’ve been going at it ever since.”

Green has since become Carlitta Durand’s in-house DJ. The N.C. State alums Kooley High, hip hop specialists, lend experience to the group with two great producers who go by the names Foolery and

Synopsis and three nice mc’s: Charlie Smarts, TabOne, and the first lady Rapsody.

The members were drawn to one another because they all saw each other’s greatness.

Each one’s love for music and desire to be great emcees keeps them moving forward as a unit.

They are currently work-

ing on several independent projects and, collectively, a mixtape.

The music I heard within this experience was feelgood music.

It was hip hop.

Like an old school cookout with your whole family — big sisters, cousins, aunties, and uncle 9th — this crew is bringing back the old school flavor.

Indie band in town Fast Computers to play Duke Coffee House

ERIC JONES PRODUCER

ooking at his eyes you will only see a reflection of yourself –– probably because he’s always wearing giant, dark aviator shades.

He’s dressed in a t-shirt featuring a picture of multi-colored headphones. He smiles. We greet each other and sit in the lobby of the Student Union.

It’s a very good day, not only because the sun is shining and people are happily walking around campus, but because Talib Kweli’s album just dropped in stores and Eric Jones produced Track 18, “Go with us.” This is one of Jones’s biggest accomplishments.

Born in New Brunswick, N.J., Jones, known as E. Jones, has dreamed of becoming a music mogul since childhood.

“I knew I loved music once my parents bought me my first keyboard,” said Jones.

He says he has been influenced by Outkast, The Neptunes, Kanye West, and his good friend 9th Wonder.

“Supplying the world with great music is my main objective,” said Jones.

Jones wants to start his own independent label for artists who don’t normally get the exposure. He also said he wants to win a few Grammy Awards.

Five years from now, E. Jones probably will be teaching classes in music production or technology, but he’ll always be known in the industry as an A-list producer.

— Brooke Sellars

L

hen Beatnam Vets opened for Erykah Badu at the 2007 Carolina Music Festival on Saturday, Aug. 25, they didn’t get geeked because they were surrounded by a few celebrities. That was nice, but it was like the journey to get to the real prize: performing in front of a crowd of 25,000 people.

The 2007 Carolina Music Festival, held in Cary for the past two years, has featured artists such as Dwele, Raheem DeVaughan, Musiq, Leela James, WAR, and Michael McDonald. To perform with artists of that caliber in amphitheatres packed with music lovers is nothing to sneer at.

“Any time you get that kind of exposure, it’s major,” said Beatnam rapper Solomon.

“It wasn’t like it was foreign to me — the only difference was that it was 25 thousand people.”

It’s hard to find a rapper who will give up their hook-up supplier, but in this case, it was simple.

“We got the hook-up through God,” Joshua Vincent said. “Somebody got in touch with our unofficial manager Kemah Washington, told us they wanted us for the show, and the rest is history.”

Jonah is keeping humble about the opportunity to open for Ms. Badu. He does not view the opportunity as a springboard into success, but as a notch on his belt.

“We have a show in Philly this weekend, mad record sales in Japan and Europe, and a really huge project coming up. We self-made, and that just makes it so much more sweet.”

— Larisha Stone

W

\

Fast Computers band members Jennifer Fox and Peter Dean COURTESY

BY BROOKE SELLARS ECHO ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR

Electro-pop rockers Fast Computers have begun their fall tour and will be performing at the Duke University Coffeehouse Sept. 14 at 8 p.m.

The group, which started out in a basement in Chicago, consists of four members: Peter Dean (electric piano, synthesizers, vocals), Jennifer Fox (drums, vocals), Brenna Sheridan (synthesizers, guitar, vocals) and Andrew Stern (bass, vocals).

Fast Computers’ music consists of three different genres of music which are Electro, Indie, and Pop producing a very modern sound.With more than a thousand fans, “Sweden

OF

SLEEP SOUND RECORDS

hasn’t changed” is the group’s most popular track, playing over 3,000 times on social network site myspace.com. Songs from their recent album “Heart Geometry” such as “Gravity Love” and “Magic in the Air” are warm tunes with mellow vocals expressing notions of love and allowing several instrumental solos.

Cooper Magazine describes Fast Computer’s music as “some of the most meaningful and earnest stuff on the soundtrack to your life … off-kilter warmth that could only be found lurking in the deep forests of the indie underground.”

The Fast Computers were not impressed with dull music generating from the Midwest therefore mem-

bers stepped up to the plate producing music that fans believe are very “appealing” and “realistic.”

“Heart Geometry” was recorded over a period of 16 months expanding over several different locations.

“The album leaves you winded, and breathless, as if you too have been traveling up the West coast, experiencing the highs and lows of love, the pressures of outside forces, and the aweinspiring sights and sounds one finds in the “geometric” patterns in everyday life,” says 30-music.com. “Heart Geometry” will be available Sept. 18. For more information about Fast Computers check out thefastcomputers.com or myspace.com/thefast computers.

A&E

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

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Dance infects NCCU

IVER SITY

Photos tell U.S. tale

BY WADE A. BANNER II ECHO STAFF WRITER

Members of the Underground Legendz dance troupe rehearse in Benjamin S. Ruffin Residence Hall.

DANA WOMACK/Echo Staff Photographer

BY DANA WOMACK ECHO STAFF WRITER

N.C. Central University students can cure their “dance fever” this year with some new and improved dance groups .

The campus dance posses include House Arrest II: Juke Squad, Lady Lyk and Underground Legendz.

Each group has a different approach to and philosophy about dance.

House Arrest II is one of the best-known dance teams on campus. They started out as a small group of talented individuals and blossomed into a national-level team. House Arrest has nine chapters at different colleges and uni-

versities across the U.S. Senior Katrina Holmes, a founded the NCCU chapter in 2003.

About the new breed of dance teams, Whitney Williams, a business administration and finance junior and Ms. House Arrest II, said, “Nobody’s a threat.”

The women of Lady Lyk re-entered the dance scene this year after separating from their brother squad, Naughty Boyz. LadyLyk is moving forward, not skipping a beat.

“The team has high goals of expansion throughout the HBCU dance circuit,” said Walisha Mance, a nursing sophomore and member of

Lady Lyk. The group was founded in 2002 by Chris Murphy.

The goal of Lady Lyk is to help young college women build self-confidence. In addition to dancing, they engage in community service projects.

Underground Legendz hit the campus hard last fall with crisp moves and a refreshing outlook on dance. Founding members include NCCU seniors Thomas “Tom Bomb” Robinson and Siegfried “Ziggy” Leyh, both former members of House Arrest II, and Lance “L-Boogie” Downs, a former member of Naughty Boyz.

Underground Legendz performs all forms of

12345 1234 123 12 C r y

Kanye West Graduation Roc-A-Fella Records

5out of 5 on the black hand side

Kanye West has been “The College Dropout,” waited in line for “Late Registration” and, with his third release on GOOD Music Records, will finally have a “Graduation.”

The new album hits the stores on September 11 after a two-year wait. The same day, 50 Cent will release “Curtus.”

“Graduation” is in a class all its own introducing Ye’s newfound love of French electronica sampling with Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” in his single “Stronger.” West tries to redeem his soul in “Can’t Tell Me Nothin,” asking himself why he “act more stupid-

baby

dance, including hip-hop, modern, jazz, ballet and lyrical.

“We don’t have a tap person right now but we’re looking,” said Leyh.

Underground Legendz’ focus on the passion and art of dance and their versatility distinguish them.

“We are versatile more than anything,” said Leyh.

“We focus more on the art of dance. We have a passion for dance.” Underground Legendz also does community service projects.

NCCU’s dance troupes share one goal — reaching out to the campus community and surrounding areas while upholding the University motto of “Truth and Service.”

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a photographic exhibition may be worth a million bajillion words.

This fall, Durham’s Hayti Heritage Center is hosting a photographic exhibit depicting the lives of black farmers by world-renowned editorial photographer John Francis Ficara.

Ficara has been featured on the cover of Newsweek Magazine and in a variety of domestic and international magazines.

The photo exhibit, called “Distant Echoes: America’s Black Farmers” will be on display at the Hayti Heritage Center through September 30.

The exhibit’s 60 photos capture images of adversity, endurance, poverty and self-determination through the lives of black farmers from Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Michigan.

“Distant Echoes” covers the involvement of African

Jesus wannabe on Rolling Stone Bush disliking Black People Car Accident

Photo of a black farmer from the Distant Echoes exhibit Photograph courtesy of John F. Ficara

Crying at the Grammies Admits Addiction to Porn

ly.”

If the lead singles are an indication of what is to come – bring it on!

Tracks “Barry Bonds” and “Champion” allow Kanye to display his cocky side, rapping “Last week I paid a visit to the institute, they got the Dropout keeping kids in the school” to vocalists singing, “This is a story of a champion.”

With production by West, DJ Premiere, DJ Toomp, and Timberland and appearances by Lil Wayne, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Mos Def, T-Pain, and Dwele, “Graduation” is one of the most anticipated albums of 2007.

So on September 11, a dark day in American history, go buy “Graduation” and see if Kanye gets his diploma.

–– Theresa Garrett

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Americans in the U.S. Capitol, from slave laborers to Congressional representatives.

Margaret Hutto is cocurator. “Land ownership has been a cornerstone for the advancement of the black farmer and the black family as a whole,” Hutto said.

“It is vital that we as a nation find a way to preserve this heritage for generations to come.”

Co-curator Nona R. Martin said, “Upon seeing John Ficara’s beautiful images of African-American farmers, I was convinced that these photographs had to be seen by the American public.”

The exhibition is sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Trial Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project.

The Hayti Heritage Center is located at 804 Old Fayetteville Street.

More information is available at www.hayti.org.

Want to meet students pursuing health professions?

If so, find out about the N.C. Health Careers Access Program at NCCU.

Health Careers Center 521 Nelson Street Durham, NC 27707 919 530-7128 Barbara S. Moore, Director Alfreda D. Evans, Program Assistant

It’s time to start preparing for the ‘world of work.’

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2007 Annual Fall Career Fair

Thursday, October 4 10 am to 1 pm L.T. Walker Complex Dress Code will be enforced Pant/skirt suit or dark suit and tie required.

No jeans, hats, sandals or sneakers.

The fair will give you the opportunity to learn about more than 80 businesses. You will be able to meet with company representatives, gather information and make that great first impression to help you land your dream job!

University Career Services William Jones Building, Room 005 530-6337/mstuckey@nccu.edu

12

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

Classifieds NCCU WRITING STUDIO You wouldn’t wait until the night before to practice for the big game . . .

BUY A CLASSIFIED AD THIS SIZE FOR JUST $10 Reach over 8,500 students!

Call 919 530 7116 or e-mail the Campus Echo at campusecho@nccu.edu

Campus Echo Online www.campusecho.com www.campusecho.com www.campusecho.com

So why wait until the last minute to start your paper?

Appointments and Walk-Ins Welcome Monday - Thursday from 10 am - 6 pm Friday 10 am - 2 pm Evening/weekend appointments now available. Call for details.

Room 339 Farrison-Newton Communications Building 530-7554 writingcentergrad@nccu.edu Director Dr. Karen Keaton Jackson

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Sports

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

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NCCU trounces FSU EAGLES DOMINATE LABOR DAY CLASSIC FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

BY QUENTIN GARDNER ECHO SPORTS EDITOR

N.C. Central University pummeled former CIAA rival Fayetteville State University in the second a n n u a l NCCU 17 Labor Day Classic at FSU 0 O’KellyRiddick Stadium on Sunday.

The 17-0 victory marked the Eagles’ first NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision home game.

The Eagles offense bounced back after struggling in last week’s loss to Albany State. NCCU recorded 296 yards of total offense.

Senior tailback Jeff Toliver rushed for 47 yards on eight rushes before leaving the game due to injury.

Red-shirt freshman Tim Shankle added 72 rushing yards on 18 carries.

Sunday’s victory served as the first career win for the Eagles under new head coach Mose Rison. Rison, in his second season at NCCU, served as an assistant head coach and offensive coordinator last season. This is the first head coaching role of Rison’s 25-year career.

NCCU sophomore quarterback Stadford Brown completed 14 of 22 passes for 142 yards. The reigning Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year recovered from his turnover-filled previous week to toss two touchdowns against the Bronco secondary.

Rison was impressed with the performance of his young quarterback.

Quarterback Stadford Brown (2) helps lead the Eagles to victory with 142 yards passing and two touchdowns.

MITCHELL WEBSON/Echo Photo Editor

“I like the way Stadford bounced back and played well today,” said Rison. “A victory like this can give us something we can build on as a team.”

The first score came on a 6-yard pass from Brown to junior receiver Will Scott with 5:42 left in the second quarter. Scott’s first touchdown reception topped off a

12-play, 80-yard drive that took 7 minutes off the game clock.

Eagle senior safety Darren Brothers forced a Bronco fumble, which was

recovered by senior defensive back Craig Amos and returned for 40 yards.

As the ball was placed on the FSU 15-yard line, Brown dropped back and connect-

ed with Scott in the back of the end zone. Scott’s second touchdown catch increased the NCCU lead to 14-0 with 3:50 left before halftime.

Eagle senior lineman Courtney Coard led the team with eight tackles and one sack. Brothers added two interceptions and six tackles. Amos also finished with two fumble recoveries, two blocked field goals and an interception.

The Eagle defense gave the home crowd a solid performance to open the 2007 season, limiting FSU to 219 yards of total offense. FSU quarterbacks Ben Williams and Jay Autry combined for 127 passing yards.

FSU witnessed a recordsetting performance on Sunday. Eagle senior placekicker Brandon Gilbert entered the game four points shy of the school scoring record. Gilbert trailed former wide receiver Robert Clark, who amassed 232 career points from 1983-1986.

Gilbert now stands alone as NCCU’s all-time scoring leader with a 22-yard successful field goal attempt in the fourth quarter with 27 seconds left.

“Being an all-time scoring leader is a great accomplishment,” said Gilbert.

Gilbert also continues his made extra-point streak to 83 kicks in a row, dating back to Sept. 5, 2005.

The Eagles will host Saint Augustine’s College this Saturday at 6 p.m., and then travel to East Rutherford, NJ to play Elizabeth City State in the Whitney Young Classic on Sept. 15.

Eagles move to top division becomes a reality Starting this year, NCCU sports teams will competitively play Div. 1 teams

BY QUENTIN GARDNER ECHO SPORTS EDITOR

When A & T State University officials put an end to the AggieEagle Classic two years ago, they might have thought a game with N.C. Central University was out of the picture, but they will have to focus their lenses this year. The Eagles will travel to Greensboro to square off against the Aggies on Sept. 22.

Last June, NCCU officially announced its departure from NCAA Division II to Division Ilevel athletic competition. Now they have the Aggies on their schedule, among other universities.

“We get the opportunity to play new opponents, and potentially revive some old rivalries,” said Kyle Serba, NCCU Sports Information director. “I’ve been at NCCU for 13 years, but this transition makes me feel like a rookie again.”

The Eagles will be traveling all over the country to face new oppo-

nents this season. The men’s basketball team is scheduled to play schools such as Duke, N.C. State University, University of Florida, and Nebraska in the regular season.

Studies conducted by the athletics department state that highly visible athletic programs add prestige and attractiveness to the University. The athletics department also believes a visible athletic program enhances support from alumni, students, faculty and the surrounding community.

“We are simply using athletics to promote the University,” said Serba.

“We are trying to gather public interest in NCCU from other areas unfamiliar to HBCUs.” With the transition, NCCU plays five Division I teams in football this season.

The Lady Eagles volleyball team also has a difficult schedule ahead of them. The 2006 CIAA champions will play schools such as Tulsa, University of Indiana, and Saint John’s University .

According to NCAA rules, for

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sports other than basketball and football, Division I schools must play all contests against Division I opponents. There are two divisions in Division I football: Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision.

Football subdivision schools are usually fairly elaborate programs, with smaller attendance averages, according to the NCAA. Football subdivision teams have to meet an average minimum attendance requirement of 15,000 per home game over a two-year period.

NCCU has applied for membership in the Championship Subdivision, which required a $10,000 deposit. NCCU also has submitted an application to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for potential membership.

The NCCU Athletics Department has submitted a strategic plan developed by a group representing NCCU’s administration, faculty, staff and alumni to the NCAA for the transition to Division I. NCCU will embark on a five-

year classification process required by the NCAA before gaining Division I full membership.

The first year of the transition process is usually called an exploratory year. During that year, several administrators, including the chancellor and athletics director, attend the NCAA convention, compliance seminar and orientation session.

The next four years consist of mandatory attendance at the NCAA convention, compliance seminar and orientation session.

NCCU must update the strategic plan and submit an annual report to the NCAA by June 1 every year.

The NCAA certification process will be held in the final year.

“The University is going to grow, so our objective all along has been to keep up with the University’s growth,” said NCCU athletics director Bill Hayes. “Needless to say, we’re very excited about the move.”

NCCU’s student population exceeds 8,000 and SAT scores are improving with each new class.

The NCAA has several require-

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ments for Division I membership.

According to the NCAA, Division I member schools have to sponsor at least seven sports for men and women. NCCU currently offers 14 sports ready for intercollegiate competition.

Serba said there have been concerns about the transition to Division I. “Many fans are concerned about leaving the CIAA,” said Serba.

“Our fans have been spoiled with success.”

NCCU had a school record of nine champion teams last season.

Although the chances of such success are not guaranteed, Eagles fans have plenty to look forward to for years to come.

“NCCU will be added to the NCAA Football video game series,” said Serba.

“But along with great exposure comes great pride for this University.”

By the 2011-2012 season, NCCU will be eligible for full membership, provided that the University meets all requirements and NCAA certification standards.

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Opinions

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2007

IVER SITY

Wake up call fter a nearly 40 year nap, an old acquaintance known as Jim Crow has awakened in a little town called Jena.

On June 28, 2007, the first of six black defendants, Mychal Bell was convicted of seconddegree battery and conspiracy to commit second-degree battery.

Bell was Rahkem convicted by Tohrae an all white jury and was issued a public defender.

Incompetent would be an understatement for his efforts.

He is scheduled for sentencing Sept. 20 and faces 22 years in prison for a schoolyard fight.

The D.A. justified the excessive charges by classifying the sneakers the black students were wearing as deadly weapons.

A

After the fight situation. all students It is the quininvolved were tessence of suspended, but overt systematThe Jena Six serves as the suspension the paramount illustra- ic racism that for the white many would tion of how a culture students was have you overturned and ingrained with 350 plus believe doesn’t the black stuexist anymore. years of systematic dents went to This situadiscrimination did not jail. tion is not, The Jena Six some racist vanish in 40 years. case serves as lone individual the paramount or police offiillustration of cers “fearful” how a culture for their lives ingrained with 350 plus years while apprehending a suspect of systematic discrimination or comedian whose tongue did not vanish in 40 years. “accidentally” slipped.

This event should serve as a This situation involves the deafening wake up call for board of education, the judge, many Blacks pacified by the the police department and the convenience of artificial D.A. acceptance in the aftermath of I would love to see neo-conintegration. servatives such as Bill O’ Reilly Major media news outlets and Sean Hannity as adamant dare not put this story in heavy about the disbarment of this rotation.

D.A. as they were about the disUnlike the Duke lacrosse barment of Mike Nifong. case or the Michael Richards The Jena Six situation also and Don Imus incidents, there reveals the lack of unity in the is no spin that can be put to the Black community.

Here, we stand in 2007 with various black multimillionaires from rappers to ball players who never miss an opportunity to showcase their quarter of a million dollar cars and jewelry — but these boys sit on $90,000 bail that they are unable to post.

This situation should serve as a catalyst for our generation’s complacency.

Black people in general should use this as an opportunity to unify and organize.

NCCU should be the first of all black universities to open its doors to the Jena Six upon their release, since it may be difficult for these young men to be accepted into any institution of higher learning given the charges they are currently facing.

I don’t think James E. Shepard would oppose.

If we don’t do anything about this situation it will happen again, and if you are black and of sound mind and body, you should help this situation.

Separate and unequal I

t’s still a black and white issue.

What was once discouraged by the Supreme Court is now encouraged within our own state. ...Take, for example, the Citizens for Higher Education political action committee (PAC).

Although it claims to “build politiTarryn Lael cal support” Simmons for UNCChapel Hill, it is seemingly supporting UNC-Chapel Hill at the price of other universities.

Specifically those historically deprived of resources (a.k.a. HBCUs), keeping us at the bottom of the totem pole.

Paul Fulton, chair of UNC’s

PAC, claims it facilities on works for all 16 campus. campuses.

Some hard Actually, the All the while, my fellow questions for PAC’s mission Fulton – Why Eagles are forced to statement is should schools work part time jobs to clearly self within the serving, supplyUNC system afford rising tuition ing big money without the and off-campus apart(more than alumni base ments due to lack of $420,000 to be for equivalent exact) into PACs feel preshousing facilities on politician’s sured to comcampus. campaign pete in a sysaccounts. tem designed Any good to prevent just that happens to that? other universities is simply by What is constitutional about happenstance. throwing money around to get They are gaining power in what you want for your alma the legislature, lobbying for mater while perpetuating a things such as autonomous separate and unequal UNC tuition increase power and insystem? state tuition for out-of-state As the NCCU President of scholarship recipients. the Common Cause for the All the while, my fellow North Carolina Club for Eagles are forced to work part Political Reform, it is my job time jobs to afford rising to inform and empower stutuition and off-campus apartdents by airing the UNC sysments due to lack of housing tem’s dirty laundry.

N ORTH C AROLINA C ENTRAL U NIVERSITY

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E-mail: CampusEcho@nccu.edu Web address: www.campusecho.com Phone: 919 530 7116 Fax: 919 530 7991 Fall 2007 Publication dates: 9/5, 9/26, 10/10, 10/31, 11/14, 12/5 © NCCU Campus Echo/All rights reserved The Denita Monique Smith Newsroom Room 348, Farrison-Newton Communications Bldg.

NCCU, Durham, NC 27707

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If you are interested in keeping our legislature and UNC system Board of Governors honest so that NCCU receives our fair share among other UNC system schools, I urge you to attend the interest meeting on Tuesday, September 11th @ 6:30 in the 1st Floor Classroom of Ruffin Hall or contact me at tsimmon8@mail.nccu.edu.

Common Cause’s theme for this year is “Get Involved or Get Erased.”

Think about it: Do you want to return to NCCU after graduation to find it renamed UNC-Durham?

Do you want to continue to see students attending HBCUs left to fend for themselves within the so-called UNC System?

I would think not, so I urge you to get involved to prevent further plans to keep us at the bottom of the UNC hierarchy.

drawing by Rashaun Rucker

Question: What do you think about the Jena Six case in Louisiana?

“I think that it’s horrible what they are doing to them.”

— Cierrea Roach

“To hang nooses from a tree and say that it’s a practical joke is wrong. It’s not a joke.”

—Victoria Miller

“I think it’s unethical.

We are in 2007 and racism still exsits.”

—George Long

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Sports

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Feature

Grad assistant proves self “Worthy” at WNBA Free Agent Camp

Read about NCCU’s own walking-talking encyclopedia

Extended time line of events surrounding alleged rape of NCCU student.

“Katrina on the Ground” — a chronicle of a student trip to the Gulf region

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It’s a no go for the SGA

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Campus

A&E

Opinions

Beyond

Been poked lately?

Here’s the scoop on Facebook

Little Brother comes home and Phonte does Percy Miracles

Would you give it all up to be a housewife?

Ariel Germain says ‘not me’

Earthquake shatters South Asia, kills up to 40,000, leaves a million homeless.

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Campus Echo

Hundredss gather SPEECHES, POETRY AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE RAISE AWARENESS

Will there be results or not?

Senators visit, discuss lottery

BY RONY CAMILLE & IHUOMA EZEH

SGA A bungless award Budget confusions and lack of funds leave student winners without scholarship awards

BY TRACY MOSLEY STAFF WRITER

Winners of the 2004-05 Student Government Association’s scholarship competition, “Eliminating Student Apathy,” have yet to receive their awards.

The scholarship was established in 2001 under the administration of SGA President Stephanie Jackson.

I t was written into the SGA constitution that the president of SGA maintain the scholarship fund.

D’Weston Haywood, 2004-05 SGA president, blames the award disbursal failure on incomplete or obsolete student contact information.

The process of establishing and contacting winners took so long

that Haywood could not get the scholarships issued before the 2004-05 budget was closed.

“School had let out by the time we — two cabinet members and two administrators and myself — decided on the winners,” said Haywood. “None of the scholarship winners even knew they had won.”

Third-place winner and sociology junior Ericka Shearin said she called and came by all summer at the beginning of the year.

“After not hearing anything from anyone, I thought that the winners had been notified and that I was not one of them,” she said.

President Renee Clark, unaware of the situation regarding the scholarship, was busy making plans for homecoming 2005, signing contracts and allocating her administrative budget.

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BY ANIESA HOLMES

ECHO STAFF WRITER

ECHO STAFF WRITER

According to Roland Gaines, vice chancellor for student affairs, elections held Friday, March 31 were unconstitutional because the SGA followed the 2005 SGA Constitution, a new constitution not yet signed by the chancellor.

Under the 2003 constitution, the one under which the SGA should have been operating, elections should be held on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

This has left the SGA elections in a state of limbo for more than four days.

In a meeting with student officials March 28, Gaines stated that the SGA 2005 constitution, which was drafted by former SGA President D’Weston Haywood, is not legal and that the SGA should be operating under the 2003 constitution.

“The Chancellor and I never signed off on it because no documentation was ever presented,” Gaines said.

SGA has been operating under the 2005 constitution since the beginning of the school year.

As of Tuesday, the election results have not been released.

“There were rumors questioning the morals and

RODERICK HEATH/Echo Photo Editor

NCCU vigil unifies Students, community support student

Chancellor Ammons calls allegations disturbing and inhumane, urges patience and says investigation must be thorough for justice to be served

BY DENEESHA EDWARDS ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

BY EBONY MCQUEEN

Honors event gets jazzy

Hundreds of students gathered in front of N.C. Central University’s McLean Hall Monday at a vigil to show support for the student who was allegedly raped by members of the Duke lacrosse team.

“This is a great response to the incident,” said Roland Gaines, NCCU’s vice chancellor for student affairs. “Our students have had their private response, but this is their public response.”

“It’s a great response of solidarity. Hopefully a better relationship between NCCU and Duke students can be established,” said Duke graduate student, Rann Baron.

“We don’t want this to create more tension between the two schools.”

Vigil attendees signed a teal banner, which hang in front of McLean Hall.

“The color teal represents the issue of sexual violence,” said Maya Jackson, vice president of VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood of NCCU. Many student and local organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Men Against Rape Culture, and

BY STEVEN MOORE AND JEAN ROGERS ECHO STAFF WRITERS

The music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Frank Foster may be a far cry from the traditional classical repertoire heard at honors convocation in years past, but this year, students and faculty are looking forward to something new: the N.C. Central University Jazz Emsemble.

The annual honors convocation will take place on Friday, April 7 at 10:15 a.m. in the McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium.

“I think it’s excellent,” Beverly Jones, provost and

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N.C. Senators Bob Atwater and Jeanne Lucas visited N.C. Central University on Oct. 4 at the Alfonso Elder Student Union.

Atwater, a Chatham County resident and former county commissioner, is serving his first term in the senate.

Lucas, an NCCU alumna and retired education administrator for the Durham County school system, has served five years in the senate and is chair of the Appropriations on Education /Higher Education Committee.

One issue discussed was how the lottery will improve education in North Carolina through increased funding to the public school system.

Atwater explained that despite criticism, the lottery would bring $400 million in revenue to the state.

Lucas responded to the argument that the lottery is not effective because the majority of people who play the lottery are poor.

“They’re going to play [the lottery] anyway,” said Lucas.

“We don’t tell rich people how to spend money at the stock market.”

Also discussed was whether North Carolina is prepared to face the devastation that Hurricane Katrina brought to Louisiana.

Atwater and Lucas agreed that North Carolina is not currently prepared to handle a Category 5 hurricane, but there are plans to create an evacuation route for the coast.

“We would experience more deaths than Lousiana did,” said Lucas.

“If those streets [on the coast] flooded immediately, all of the traffic could not get inland within two hours.”

The political science department sponsored the senators’ visit.

Criminal justice senior Battista McNeil holds a candle during a moment of silence during the Monday evening vigil.

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Hot shots talk issues

As investigations continue in the alleged gang rape case by members of the Duke’s men’s lacrosse team of an N.C. Central University student, Chancellor James H. Ammons is pleading with students to be patient and wait for the results of the investigation.

In a Monday news release, Ammons said the “allegations are disturbing, inhumane and insensitive,” adding that the University will support the alleged victim as much as it can.

“Our students, faculty and staff are outraged by what has been alleged, but are also mindful of the fact that

ECHO STAFF WRITER

an investigation is still underway, and no charges have been filed,” Ammons said.

“While we await the outcome of the investigation, we are taking steps to express our support for the victim, and we also are appealing to the NCCU community to be patient and give the legal system an opportunity to bring this to closure.”

The alleged victim, a 27year-old mother of two and former Navy enlistee, had been working for an unidentified escort company for two months.

The first time she was

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Look, then cross Street traffic hazardous

BY LISA MILLS-HARDAWAY ECHO STAFF WRITER

(Leftt to o right)) Lakeshia a Johnson,, Joshua a Johnson,, Maviss Poole,, Douglass Bynum m and d Terra a C.. Hodge e onstage e in n “Eubie.”

RODERICK HEATH/Echo Photo Editor

BROADWAY SHOW GETS RE-MIXED

BY EDGAR GAISIE ECHO STAFF WRITER

rom ragtime to rap, North Carolina Central University’s department of theatre has made “Eubie” its own. The play premiered last Friday at NCCU’s communications auditorium. “Eubie” is based on the music by legendary ragtime pianist Eubie Blake and

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was originally directed on Broadway by Julienne Boyd and produced by Ashton Springer.

It has recently been re-mixed

by NCCU’s own director, Karen Dacons Brock and producer Johnny B. Alston, department of theatre chairperson.

“To parallel the University’s

Hospitality senior Nikki Williams and psychology senior Venetta Wells write words of support for the alleged rape victim, an NCCU student. community as well,” said Jackson.

“Every human being has the right to be treated with dignity and respect,” Student Government Association President Renee Clark said as she read a statement from Chancellor James H. Ammons.

DNA results of 46 Duke lacrosse players have yet to be released.

“Only the truth will set you free,” said Barber.

Githens Middle Schooll in Durham,, performss her solo o “Daddy” in the e play’s firstt act.

RODERICK HEATH/Echo Photo Editor

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Between construction, shiny cars and impatient drivers, pedestrians crossing busy Fayetteville Street must stay on their toes.

“Just yesterday I was almost hit by a blue minivan.

It was horrible,” said music education junior Dianna Parker.

Health education sophomore Eugenia Rogers feels the same way.

“They ran a red light and almost hit me,” she said, describing how she suddenly heard the sound of screeching brakes while crossing at the corner of Lawson and Fayetteville streets.

“The car was obviously going over the 35 mile-anhour speed limit,” said Rogers.

“You basically have to plan your strategy before you cross the street.”

North Carolina law dictates that all drivers yield to pedestrians.

It reads as follows: “A driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield.”

Drivers who fail to yield may have to pay a minimum court cost of $110, plus fines.

Four points also may be added to their license, according to Officer Cooninger of the Durham Police Department.

N.C. Central University

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Flyer placed on the ground of the house where the alleged rape took place.

Yusuff McNeely,, Juliuss Jones,, Tommie e Farrr and d Solomon n Conyers chilll in n frontt off the e Alfonso o Elderr Studentt Union n Tuesday.

RODERICK HEATH/Echo Photo Editor

RODERICK HEATH/Echo Photo Editor

An Echo of our voices

Outside the Alfonso Elder Student Union, students occasionally hang out before, after and even during classes.

But with the territory come restrictions.

The campus police patrol the area and administrators keep it in order.

New construction has limited pedestrian and vehicle traffic blocking the

entrance.

“There has been an increase of students who come to the student union,” said Constance Roberson, program director.

One of the primary goals of the union is to enrich students’ experiences while implementing an educational and activity program that will support residential and academic efficiency at N.C. University.

This goal supports the mission and vision of the Division of Student Affairs at the University.

Athletic training and recreation junior Sherell Smith, a transfer student from Virginia, said she feels comfortable in the lounge at the union.

“I wouldn’t notice any changes at NCCU because I am new, but I feel the student union is a place I can kick back and relax,” she said.

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Opinion

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Got what it takes to be the next Miss NCCU? Ericka Holt’s got some suggestions.

Durham entrepreneur converts empty lot into parking lot (and some dollars)

Sound Machine goes gospel in the ATL Georgia Dome

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BY ROBERT S. BOYD KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS (KRT)

WASHINGTON — Alarmed by an accelerating loss of ice in the Arctic Ocean, scientists are striving to understand why the speedup is happening and what it means for humankind.

If present trends continue, as seems likely, the sea surrounding the North Pole will be completely free of ice in the summertime within the lifetime of a child born today. The loss could point the way to radical changes in the Earth’s climate and weather systems.

Some researchers, such as Ron Lindsay, an Arctic scientist at the University of Washington in Seattle, fear that the polar region already

n See ARCTIC Page 8

Missing teacher to return

BY ANIESA HOLMES ECHO STAFF WRITER

An N.C. Central University professor reported missing last month will return to work Feb. 13, according to Associate Dean of Business Youngil Cho. Seong Hee Oak, an associate professor who taught courses in business and hospitality, was listed in good condition at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, NY. According to NCCU Police Captain Victor Ingram, an officer found Oak on Jan. 26.

She complained of feeling disoriented, but had no injuries. No information has been provided as to why she was in the hospital or how long she was there.

Oak was last seen in Durham on Jan. 21 and was reported missing after she didn’t show up for her classes.

“She is very quiet, and very loyal to the university,” said Cho. “She really cares about her students and her work.”

Media reps to speak about hip hop’s impact popular culture

BY QUENTIN GARDNER ECHO STAFF WRITER

To o the e Screamingg Eagles,, the e Campuss Echo o iss more e interestingg than n the e opposingg team.

RODERICK HEATH/Echo Photo Editor

SCREAMIN’ THE EAGLE’S WAY New fan organization doesn’t just cheer, they jeer

BY LANCE DOWNS ECHO STAFF WRITER

When you go to a basketball game in the McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium at N.C. Central University, you expect to see athletes on the court, cheerleaders on the sidelines, and stands full of cheering fans.

But what you don’t expect is nearly one hundred students in the stadium’s left end bleachers to suddenly open up newspapers and start reading.

This is not a sign of boredom but a strategy of battle.

Drenched in maroon and gray, these are the Screaming Eagles, a new kind of fan.

They have raised taunting the opposing team to high art form.

When the opposing team’s roster is called out, the Screaming Eagles break out the latest issue of the Campus Echo and immediately immerse themselves in it — unconcerned with the proceedings.

“Ahhhhhhh SIT DOWN!” they yell when an opposing team member is benched.

At the end of a victorious game, the Screaming Eagles jingle their keys, signifying to the other team that it’s time to pack up, get in their cars and head home in defeat.

N.C. Central University will host a Hip Hop Summit from 9 a.m.

– 5 p.m. at B.N. Duke Auditorium and New Baynes Residence Hall today..

The summit, presented by Atlantic Records, aims to assess the state of hip hop in relation to the African American community and American society. It will also initiate a dialogue between industry professionals and students.

Two general sessions will be open to the public at B.N. Duke as well as six concurrent sessions that require registration. The morning’s general session, “HipHop’s Impact on Popular Culture,” will include Christopher “Play” Martin, from the hip hop group “Kid ‘N Play,” as a panelist.

The afternoon general session,

n See SUMMITT Page 11 HIP P HOP P SUMMITT EVENTS

The e Screamingg Eagles,, use e the e powerr off sleep p to o intimidate e opponents.

Openingg session: 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., B.N. Duke Generall session n 1:: Hip Hop’s impact on pop culture. 9:30 – 10:45 a.m., B.N. Duke Sub b sessions:: 11 a.m. – noon, New Baynes and Eagle Landing Generall session n 2:: The exploitation of women. 1 – 2 p.m. B.N. Duke Sub b sessions:: 2:15 – 3:15 p.m., New Baynes and Eagle Landing Generall session: 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Edward Garnes, Jr., B.N. Duke Meett and d Greet: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

B.N. Duke Atrium Free e Style/Talentt Search: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., B.N. Duke

RODERICK HEATH/Echo Photo Editor

“When a team visits ... we want to make sure they know they are in Eagleland,” said Dennis Scott, a hospitality and tourism administration junior and president of the Screaming Eagles.

“When they leave the field or court, they should walk away wishing the game was never played in Durham.”

The Screaming Eagles organization was founded during last

September’s football season by Constance Roberson, assistant director and development coordinator of the Alfonso Elder Student Union; Michael Charlton, assistant director of admissions and Jevon Walton, alumni and admissions counselor.

They are now 80 members strong.

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LATE E GAMES MEN

N.C. Central . . . . . . . . . .78 Fayetteville St. . . . . . . . .75 WOMEN

N.C. Central . . . . . . . . . .64 Fayetteville St. . . . . . . . .62

Gordon goads gala

BY DENEESHA EDWARDS ECHO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Maroon and gray surrounded the room, as well as covered the tables and chairs at the Embassy Suites in Cary, N.C., Friday, Nov. 4.

The colors marked N.C. Central University’s 95th Anniversary Legacy Gala.

Ed Gordon, a news broadcaster on both Black Entertainment Television and National Public Radio, was the keynote speaker.

He told the audience they should be proud the accomplishments they have attained.

Gordon also said it was time for African Americans to look at themselves in the mirror as a community.

Gordon’s main points were for African Americans to prepare, participate and perform.

He said as a community we are not prepared and must be ready to succeed.

“Too many of our young

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A bannerr overr Ebenezer'ss Church h bearss the e facess off Dr.. Martin Lutherr Kingg and d wife e Coretta a Scottt King,, in n Atlanta,, Georgia.

JOHN SPINK/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/KRT

time to reflect on her life.

Chancellor James H. Ammons and Provost Beverly Washington led the people who attended the event in the B.N. Duke Auditorium by highlighting the important contributions made by King to the country.

SGA President Renee Clark said King’s great impact on civil rights inspired her.

“Even after her husband died, she continued to fight for rights,” said Clark. “She was such a great person.”

King’s death also served as a revelation to some students and made them realize that the struggle for emancipation of black people from social ills needs new fighters.

“Her death alerted me that we are losing many of

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Raleigh says no to Mary Judd feeding the homeless

Free concert wakes up students on lazy Monday afternoon.

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EAGLE E KICKS, DOGS S LOSE EXTRA FIELD GOAL SNATCHES CIAA TITLE FOR EAGLES

Chief Vick says plenty of police.

ECHO STAFF WRITER

Fun’s over Eagles

BY TRACY MOSLEY ECHO STAFF WRITER

A party at Chidley Residence Hall on Oct. 27, was ended by campus police after several fights broke out.

As a result, all parties are banned in N.C. Central University residence halls until further notice.

According to Don Jones, a Chidley Hall graduate assistant, two fights occurred during the party, but they were settled.

As a result, the party was shut down and, as guests were leaving, things outside began to escalate.

“The whole thing got blown out of proportion when people from off campus were outside to boost it up,” said Jones.

Gunman robs student

BY ASHLEY INGRAM

Sophomore e Brandon n Gilbertt givess the e crowd d confirmation n afterr kickingg the e game-winningg field d goall Saturday.

WAYNE JERNIGAN/NCCU Office of Sports Information

BY ERICKA HOLT ECHO STAFF WRITER

What goes great with a game-winning field goal?

A championship trophy.

Fans stormed the field in O’Kelly Riddick Stadium after Most Valuable Player, Brandon Gilbert kicked a game winning 30-yard field goal with three seconds left on the clock.

The kick put the Eagles past Bowie State University 26-23.

The stands were packed with 10,580 fans to see the Eagles take the CIAA Championship game Saturday.

The Eagles (10-1) are the first team in NCCU’s history to win 10 games in a season.

It was the school’s first CIAA championship in 25 years.

But the game started shaky for the Eagles. The Bulldogs, with a record of 83, held the Eagles to just 28 yards in the first half.

The half ended with the Bulldogs holding a 17-0 lead.

But the Eagles came out of the locker room a changed team.

“We didn’t do anything different. We ran the same plays,” said head coach Rod Broadway. “We simply executed what we had planned to do.”

NCCU opened the third quarter with six plays for 59 yards and a touchdown from

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INSIDE Women’s Volleyball winss title. e 10 Page Cross-Country placess 4th h at regionals.

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Student concern over a recent robbery brought about 100 students and administrators together at a forum to discuss campus safety in the Criminal Justice Auditorium, Tuesday.

Members of the SGA, McDonald Vick, chief of campus police, Roland Gaines, vice chancellor of Student Affairs, and Beverly Washington-Jones, provost, attended the forum held during the 10:40 a.m. break.

A student was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday, Nov. 1 at the corner of Cecil and Lincoln Streets at about 8:45 p.m. and no one was hurt.

“It happened so quick that we couldn’t get a description of the car,” said a witness to the robbery at the forum. The student asked not to be identified.

According to the student, Durham police officers arrived 1015 minutes after he called.

“Campus police arrived five minutes after they did,” he said. “I told campus police that I could identify the suspect in a line-up.

And do you know what they told me? They told me: ‘If you see them again, give us a call.’”

According to the crime report, Ashley Davis, a criminal justice graduate student, provided information to campus police about the incident.

In the report she said a black male wearing a black hoodie and black toboggan grabbed her cell phone and purse while she was getting into her car.

Students at the forum presented a list of concerns, among them, the need to have police patrols increased between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

“Why don’t we advocate that we get more officers to increase safety?” said Renee Clark, SGA president.

Vick said the police department is already working on improving security on campus.

“We’ve already done that,” said Vick. “There are three to four officers working each shift and we are adding five officers to our staff next month. We have one of the safest campuses in the UNC system.”

In 2004 NCCU reported five robberies, N.C. State University reported six, Duke reported five, and NC A&T had seven.

Frasier, highlight of show

Nation mourns Mrs. King ECHO STAFF WRITER

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Work from Blackburn’s Printmaking Workshop on display at museum

Civil rights pioneer laces wisdom with humor

Funeral held at church of NCCU alumnus in Georgia

BY SHELBIA BROWN While thousands of people gathered to pay their last respects to the first lady of the civil rights movement, Coretta Scott King, Tuesday at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga., some N.C. Central University students, staff and faculty also took their

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Campus James E. Shepard statue sent to Ohio for a shine.

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BY LARISHA STONE

our black leaders and someone needs to carry the torch,” said sophomore English major Chan Hall.

“We’re not where we used to be, but we are not where we need to be.”

President Bush and four former presidents — George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton — joined an

n See KING Page 8

ECHO STAFF WRITER

Attorneyy and d NCCU U alumnuss Ralph h Frasierr spoke e att 58th Founder’ss Dayy Convocation,, Friday,, Nov.. 4.

Attorney Ralph Frasier, the keynote speaker at N.C. Central University’s 58th Annual Founder’s Day Convocation, rocked B.N. Duke Auditorium with colorful words of wisdom, Friday, Nov. 4.

“I want to spend my allotted two hours talking about things you don’t learn in college — the lessons of life,” said Frasier.

Frasier said students need to associate with people of great intellect and strong character. “It’s bound to rub off on you,” he said.

He said students need to “set lofty goals, because Eagles soar.”

And he repeated the theme that NCCU founder, Dr. James Shepard set for the first Founder’s Day: “Character is Everything.”

But Frasier didn’t just offer

lessons – he sprinkled them with anecdotes to make them memorable.

To illustrate the lesson of looking at things from different perspectives, he told a story about being a young man at a country store, on a warm day in Georgia. He had purchased a Coke, a pack of peanut-butter crackers, and a newspaper and sat at a table outside.

Soon, a white man sat across from him at his table. Frasier

RODERICK HEATH/Echo Photo Editor

wondered why the man sat so close, but shrugged it off, opened his crackers and ate one.

The white man glared at him and took a cracker out of the same pack and ate it. “Why is this man eating my crackers?” Frasier thought. But he remained calm, took another cracker out of the pack, and ate it. Again, the white man did the

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All about the Echo THE ECHO IS ... ... your student newspaper. The paper is run by students. It is free of editorial control by faculty and administration. Student editors are legally responsible for the paper’s content. All students are welcome to work at the Campus Echo. You do not have to be a journalism or mass communication major.

Four thousand issues are printed on alternating Wednesdays and distributed to over 30 campus news stands.

Shelbia Brown Editor-In-Chief

GET INVOLVED Join the staff

A few Campus Echo staff chop it up in the office. From left to right, Brooke Sellars, assistant A&E editor, Joanna Hernandez, A&E editor, Gabi Clay-White, assistant editor, Shelbia Brown, editor-in-chief, and Mitchell Webson, staff photographer.

DANA WOMACK /Echo Staff Photographer

Your questions answered 1. Who pays for the Campus Echo?

Why didn’t I see my name or the story in the paper?

About 85 percent of the production costs of the Campus Echo are funded from student fees, provided by the Office of Student Affairs.

Advertising revenues fund about 15 percent of the newspaper’s operations.

Sometimes you’ve been interviewed by a student writing a story for a reporting class, not the Echo.

Also know that the paper doesn’t run every story we look into.

Sometimes we are unable to get a balance of sources. Sometimes the story simply won’t fit into the paper. Sometimes the story is not written to industry standards. And sometimes we are holding the story to run in a later issue.

2. I have a story idea for the Campus Echo. What should I do?

It’s best to send your idea to campusecho@nccu.edu. In the e-mail, provide a brief summary of the idea and provide contact information. If you call, you should ask to speak to the editor-inchief, Shelbia Brown.

3. I was interviewed by a Campus Echo reporter.

4. I am an administrator or a faculty member, can I read a story before it appears in the paper just to make sure it’s correct?

Sorry, we are unable to

meet your request because it falls under the categorization of “prior review,” which is considered a form of censorship.

We try to train our reporters to call you if they feel they don’t understand a point that you’ve made. It also helps to communicate slowly when being interviewed.

4. Who can write stories for the Campus Echo?

Only enrolled students write news stories for the Campus Echo, but we strongly encourage them to get coaching from our editors beforehand so we can suggest a story approach and provide a basic introduction to newspaper writing style.

We do not accept

research articles or articles from faculty, but faculty, staff and administrators are invited to submit opinion articles, book reviews and letters to the editor.

5. Our organization had an important event that didn’t get covered in the Campus Echo. Why? Many factors influence news coverage. The size and number of ads dictates the space available for news stories. Timeliness is another factor: Some events fall outside our news cycle, (in between publications) or our reporters are simply unable to cover events because of other responsibilities, such as class or work.

AWARD WINNING I EDITORIAL STAFF

Gabriana ‘Gabi’ Clay-White Assistant Editor

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Online: Go to www.campusecho.com for the latest in game coverage.

It’s your student newspaper

Across the nation, college newspapers serve as the voice of the students.

As the editor-in-chief of the 2007-2008 Campus Echo, I want to make sure that student concerns are heard.

At public institutions like NCCU, student papers operate free of censorship from faculty and administrators.

This allows students to report the news and express their concerns freely.

The Campus Echo acts as an outlet to spread the word about campus and community life.

Echo staff have established a tradition of excelling.

Former Echo staffers now work at places like the Detroit Free Press, the A t l a n t a J o u r n a l Constitution, USA Today, the News and Observer, the Durham Chamber of Commerce, and even MTV. The Campus Echo has won more than 200 awards in the last seven years as it served the student body, the University and the community.

It has produced individuals who view one another as colleagues and as family.

We are a passionate group of editors, reporters, photographers and graphic designers.

Along with the responsibility of publishing the newspaper, we juggle school, jobs and our personal lives.

Our ultimate reward for our hard work is seeing our fellow students pour over the latest issue of the paper.

We encourage you to get involved with the Campus Echo.

The student body needs the Echo; the Echo needs the student body.

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Campus Echo

Rap about hip hop

Melting faster than predicted

NOVEMBER 9, 2005 1801 FAYETTEVILLE STREET DURHAM, NC 27707

Campus . . . . . . . . d NCCU U ..

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Campus Echo Record ice loss in Arctic

Some students think otherwise.

“A lot of people don’t come to the student union because there is nowhere to sit outside,” said marketing senior Bano Owens.

Owens also explained that random checks of student IDs upset him.

“The police made me leave the union because I didn’t have my card, but

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Sports Eagles defeat Ram by 10 in their first CIAA conference win since Jan. 17

No fun allowed at student union

RODERICK HEATH/Echo Photo Editor

VOX, shared words of inspiration at the candlelight vigil.

“The person who did this must be suffering from a deep sickness of the soul,” said NAACP State Conference President Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II. A moment of silence was dedicated to the alleged victim and other victims of sexual assault.

“We are here to show support not only for this young lady, but for all females in the Durham

history from its origins in 1910 to the present and projected future, we have obtained special permission to update musical arrangements of Eubie,” Brock said in her director’s notes.

She is referring to the recognizable tunes from artists

Denise Barnes,, a e arts theatre instructorr at Sherwood

FEBRUARY 8, 2006 1801 FAYETTEVILLE STREET DURHAM, NC 27707

Quentin Gardner Sports Editor

Joanna Hernandez Arts & Entertainment Editor

Shenika Jones Photo Editor

We are not an elite or secret organization. Joining our staff is simple. Just stop by our office and get involved. We’ll help you each step of the way.

There are no applications to fill out, and you don’t have to be a journalism or mass communication major. There are many ways to participate — as a campus news reporter, a sports reporter, or an arts and entertainment reporter. You can work in ad sales or as a copy editor, photojournalist or graphic designer.

Send story ideas & tips If you have any ideas or tips for a story let us know. E-mail us or call the editor who best suits your story idea. See below for contact information.

Letters & Opinions Letters and opinions may be submitted to the editor via email. Letters should be no longer than 350 words and opinions should be about 450 words. Include your name and phone number so we can verify your identity. If you write an opinion be prepared to have your picture taken by our photographer. You are free to write about politics, social issues, something you saw in the Campus Echo, or anything else you have an opinion about.

Support our advertisers

Kai Christopher Opinions Editor

Make it a point to purchase products and services from the merchants who support your newspaper. And let them know you saw their ad in the Campus Echo so they continue to advertise with the NCCU student newspaper.

HOW TO REACH US

Dr. Bruce ‘DP’ dePyssler Adviser

Jean Rodgers Writing Coach

Brooke Sellars A&E Assistant Editor

Lakela Atkinson Copy Editor

Greg Wilson Copy Editor

• campusecho@nccu.edu • phone: 919 530 7116 • fax: 919 530 7991 • www.campusecho.com • Rm 348, Farrison-Newton Communications Building

How the Campus Echo gets made 1. STORY IDEAS Reporting staff and editors canvass the campus, press releases and story tips for story ideas. Reporters meet with editors and the adviser for suggestions about who to interview and what to find out for stories.

READING YOUR ECHO Ever look through a newspaper and wonder why things are arranged the way they are?

The Campus Echo has a consistent format that makes your reading experience easier.

It is designed so you can always find what you’re hunting for — even though the news is different each week.

The Campus Echo begins with top campus news stories and, usually, a lead national story. Then come more campus news pages and news from beyond NCCU. After that you get the color photo feature and the arts page.

Classifieds either precede or follow the sports page, and the paper always ends with the opinions pages.

Feature

Front page

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NCCU reflects on storm

On Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before the paper appears on Wednesday the editors and designers layout the pages in QuarkXPress design software. The photography editors process color and black and white images in Photoshop software so the paper will have a professional look. As the pages are designed, the editors and copy editors review the news stories for readability, missing information and inaccuracies.

ECHO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Africans are not the only group affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The problem of HIV/AIDS is much closer — perhaps in our own backyard.

The 2005 HIV/STD Surveillance Report, released by the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services, states that, based on statisics averaged from 2003 2005, Durham ranked fourth of 85 North Carolina counties in the number of reported HIV/AIDS cases.

However, at N.C. Central University many students refuse to stand idle and allow the numbers to rise.

NCCU boasts at least four major awareness groups: Project Save a

We can refer you to in-state and out-of-state positions.

Hurry!!!!

Applyy noww andd beatt thee deadlines!

Universityy Careerr Services

WHITNEY BULL/Echo Staff Photographer

“I’m going to miss the children and the staff, they really have been excellent,” said Stroud, who teaches the three year old students.

Stroud says that she plans to travel and fish

when she retires.

“She’s like a grandmother to my son,” said NCCU student and parent, Patricia Worley.

“We’re ... in the process of finding a new director.”

said Human Sciences chair Dr. Debra Parker. “I’ve always dreaded this day,” she said.

Parker describes Evans as a “take no mess” teacher, and Stroud as a soft-spoken

woman who knows what’s best for children.

“I know that both Dr. Parker and Mrs. Evans will find someone good to run the laboratory,” said Stroud Both Evans and Stroud have sent their grandchildren to the CDL. The CDL provides child care services for three and four year old children of faculty, staff, students, and community members.

The program first opened its doors in 1941.

“Sending my son to the CDL has been beneficial to me,” said Parker. “It felt good to have him right here where I would stop in on my lunch break and witness the quality care he was receiving.”

Many other NCCU staff members enjoy the convenience of sending their children to the laboratory.

“The CDL is Durham’s best kept secret,” said NCCU National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice manager, Wilma Nichols-Franco. “I’ve had two kids in the program, and it doesn’t get any better than this, unless you’re in the same exact building as your children.”

“We’ve had many children come through the program every year,” said Evans.

Evans said she plans to return in the near future to do both teaching and and assessments within the department.

Fellow Eagle, Project Style, the Men’s Health Initiative and the Society for Public Health Education. All of these organizations are dedicated to student awareness and the prevention of HIV/AIDS. “The premise of this program is for the ‘popular opinion leaders’ to go within their respective groups and have a risk reduction conversation within their community,” said Randy Rogers, director of the Men’s Health Initiative.

The NCCU chapter of the statewide Men’s Health Initiative, is one of the University’s only community-based intervention programs primarily dedicated to the African-American man and his role in the prevention of HIV/AIDS. “This program was primarily designed for male

students between the ages of 18 and 30 considered to be influential or popular,” said Rogers.

Project SAFE strives to not only debunk myths, but also to educate students about importance of practicing safe and healthy sexual lifestyles.

“The blind can’t lead the blind,” said Project SAFE President Tenisha White, a criminal justice senior.

“A lot of people have a perception of what an HIVpositive person looks like, but a lot of times they look normal,” said White.

“So that is why you have to treat every sexual partner as if they have HIV.” Project SAFE collaborates with the Durham County Health Department to give students the most factual information available.

United d Christian n Campuss Ministry 525 5 Nelson n Street,, NCCU U Campus

For more information or to get involved in Campus Ministries contact us at 530-5263 or e-mail us at mpage@nccu.edu

At “safer sex parties,” Project SAFE members hand out small bags containing condoms, dental dams, and brochures about STDs. “Everyone in Project SAFE has condoms on them to give out at all times, so there is no excuse not to practice safer sex on this campus,” said White.

According to White, programs like Project SAFE are often are misjudged by concerned parents or students.

Many people are concerned or shocked by the group’s outspoken attitudes and to the point tactics to get their message out.

“We are not there not to promote sex, but to educate NCCU students,” said White.

NCCU is not directly fac-

ing a HIV/AIDS epidemic on campus, students should know that a large number of African Americans throughout the United States are infected each year.

The Center for Disease Control reports that in 2004, African Americans, who comprise only about 13 percent of the U.S. population, accounted for 50 percent of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses.

“AIDS is a human crisis, no matter where you live,” said the late Coretta Scott King, speaking to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

“Anyone who sincerely cares about the future of black America had better be speaking out about AIDS, calling for preventive measures and increased funding for research and treatment.”

YOU ARE INVITED Please come to a community meeting to share information about the development of Heritage Square Shopping Center located at the intersection of 401 Lakewood Avenue and Old Fayetteville Street.

WHEN: Thursday, April 6 & Thursday, May 4 TIME: 6pm - 8pm WHERE: Hayti Heritage Cultural Center 804 Old Fayetteville St.

Michaell D.. Page Campuss Minister

Join Christian Student Fellowship

Please plan to attend to give us your feedback on this economically and culturally significant project. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information, call: Sherry Kinlaw Community Relations/Operations Scientific Properties 411 West Chapel Hill St, Durham 919-967-7700 or email at: sherrykinlaw@scientificproperties.com

7. TO THE PRESS All pages must be completed by 2 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Editors convert their pages into PDF format and transmit them via computer to Raleigh Offset, our printer. The press runs the paper from 4-6 a.m. and by 11 a.m. the paper is distributed to over 30 campus news stands.

8. THE WEB, SUBSCRIPTIONS, INVOICING On Wednesday the online team collects the pages from each computer and designs the web edition. The last issue is archived. Staff mail out subscriptions and complementary issues. Advertisers are sent a copy of the paper and invoiced.

Campus Echo Online www.campusecho.com

Tiffany Kelly Online Editor

Erica Horne Assistant Online Editor

The online version of your Campus Echo is the product of many hours of hard work. Unlike many student online newspapers, the Campus Echo Online was not built from a template provided by a commercial firm — an N.C. Central University student, Jennifer Alibasic, wrote the HTML code herself.

The Campus Echo Online went live in 1999. Since then it has won numerous awards from the Black College Journalists for best overall online student newspaper, including the 2005 Mark of Excellence Award.

Here’s what you’ll find at our online edition: • Full text of our entire print edition • An archive of our paper dating back to 1999 • Publication dates and advertising information • A notification service that sends an e-mail when each issue online edition goes on the Web.

Reporters, photographers, and designers

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Michael Brown, the head of the FEMA, had more horse judging experience than emergency management experience.

He was just well connected politically to a Bush supporter.

The war, billed as a shock and awe strike against tyranny, has become floundered into a nightmarish cartoon of exploding bodies and endless excuses.

Now Bush’s support has crashed to 42 percent — his lowest ever.

Now the Republican party is showing signs of dissonance and desertion.

Some Republicans, facing defeat in the 2006 mid-term elections, are deciding not to run for Congress.

Others are deciding to retire rather than face reelection.

It’s now clearer than ever that we’ve been manipulated, chasing a PR campaign run amok.

The shrinking GOP will become less of an issue as people wake up and bring the age of conservatism to a close.

I definitely can’t wait to see the next Republican debacle as they continue to splinter into 2008.

It’s like watching a daytime soap opera — vindictive, back-stabbing and utterly sinful.

The big question now is this: Are the Democrats going to quit being sketchy, yellowbellied eunuchs and seize the opportunity to regain control of Congress again?

It was prayer and patriotism that brought Bush to power. It appears that God and greed will now be his downfall.

hat happens when you grind together scandal, cronyism, incompetence and a war that seems to drag on endlessly?

You end up with the incredibly shrinking Republican party.

Just two NATIONAL years ago, OUTLOOK the Republicans were wallowing in their control of the White House and t h e Congress.

The Iraqi war was starting and CARLA AARON-LOPEZ many in the countr y were fully behind President Bush.

Starry-eyed men and women were proud of their president, and his approval rating was at an all-time high.

But today it’s clear that Bush and his grand old party, the GOP, are having some technical difficulties.

Irv Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, and Karl Rove, President Bush’s chief strategist, are both suspected of revealing the name of an undercover CIA operative.

It seems they may have been unhappy with the agent’s husband, a critic of the information used to promote the existence of weapons of mass destructionin Iraq.

A bumbling government response to Hurricane Katrina revealed both incompetence and cronyism.

No one cared if the president looked forward to sitting on Trent Lott’s new porch.

And it turned out that

BY DAVID BROWN

A fatherr desperatelyy lookss forr help p forr hiss seriouslyy injured d son n from m the e few w doctorss and d nursess who o are e workingg att the e makeshiftt hospitall on n the e groundsoff the e Ayub b Hospitall in n Abbottabad,, India..

Washington Post Photo by Andrea Bruce

BY JAMES RUPERT NEWSDAY

United d Christian n Campuss Ministry

tered shops in search of food -- or in some cases, anything of value. Merchants fought back, throwing rocks, and police fired into the air to stop looters.

Thousands, possibly tens of thousands, were killed in Muzaffarabad, Balakot and surrounding villages, residents have said. Again Monday, people clawed futilely at the rubble with hammers and pickaxes, although now it is to reclaim the buried bodies of loved ones, rather than in hopes of saving them.

In the ruined cities and along the roads, survivors are camping in the rubble, trying to keep warm at night by burning shards of furniture.

Help from overseas, and promises of more to come, began streaming into Pakistan on Monday. But only a trickle flowed to the shattered mountain communities of the north.

The World Bank, Western and Arab governments, and U.N. agencies announced millions more in aid for Pakistan. A U.S. military C-17 cargo plane landed near Islamabad with the first shipment of supplies promised by the Bush administration.

Eight American military helicopters, borrowed from U.S. forces fighting in neighboring Afghanistan, arrived for the critical task of ferrying loads of supplies to villages as high as two miles up in the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges.

In an unnatural step for a Pakistani government led by an army that has fought three wars with India, the administration of President Pervez Musharraf accepted an offer of emergency help from the Indian govern-

ment. It did so only after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh personally called Pakistan’s ambassador in New Delhi to restate his offer, made Sunday, to send food, medicine, tents and blankets.

It will be politically awkward for Pakistan’s government to hand out relief supplies from the Indians.

Much of the earthquake’s devastation in Pakistan is in Kashmir, the mountain region over which Pakistan and India have fought.

Pakistan’s 58-year-old claim is that Hindu-dominated India unjustly oppresses the mainly Muslim people of Kashmir, and that only Pakistan — as the Muslim state carved from British colonial India — offers the Muslims of South Asia a place to find justice and security.

Musharraf turned down India’s offer to conduct joint rescue operations in the rugged mountains where their armies face each other across a cease-fire line in Kashmir. Such a joint effort would have meant inviting Indian troops across the line, something unthinkable to the Pakistani military’s officer corps.

In a symbolic reciprocation of India’s gesture, Musharraf offered to send help to the Indian-ruled side of Kashmir, where damage also has been great, but the death toll so far estimated at less than 1,000.

In Pakistan’s cities, people have erected tents outside mosques and set up tables at street corners, pleading for donations for earthquake relief. The talk there and on Islamabad’s radio stations makes clear

Access Your Health Career

525 5 Nelson n Street,, NCCU U Campus Ministry Activities

Undecided about your major?

Thursday, Oct. 13 at 10:45 AM — Campus Ministry Dance Troupe Organizational Meeting

Want to become a health professional?

Want to attend health career seminars and workshops?

Sunday, Oct. 16 at 6 PM — Worship Service in the Alfonso Elder Student Union with Rev. Clarence Laney, Monument of Faith Church Christian Student Fellowship

Want to meet recruiters from health professions schools?

Want to meet students pursuing health professions?

Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 8 PM — Faith, Integrity, Truth and Trust (FITT Men's Ministry) Meeting

If so, find out about the N.C. Health Careers Access Program at NCCU.

Michaell D.. Page Campuss Minister

Meetingss are e held d att the e Campus 5 Nelson n Street..

Ministryy Office,, 525

For more information or to get involved in Campus Ministries contact us at 530-5263 or e-mail us at mpage@nccu.edu

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ISLAMABAD,, Pakistan n — Pakistan’s army and international relief agencies delivered a first trickle of food, medicine and tents Monday to some areas shattered by Saturday’s earthquake, but most of the devastated region remained isolated behind barriers of rockslides and broken bridges.

Hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of Pakistanis who survived the earthquake are struggling to survive exposure outdoors as nighttime temperatures plunge to near freezing in mountain valleys one to two miles above sea level. On the third day of the disaster, its exact scale remained uncertain.

Pakistani officials have described a death toll of 20,000 to 40,000, but also have wondered if estimates might not double when the losses from valleys now locked in by landslides become known.

The desperation of survivors, and the inadequacy of aid reaching the area so far, was underscored Monday at the quake’s epicenter. In Muzaffarabad, people mobbed Pakistani army trucks that reached town with food supplies and fought over bags of rice, according to TV reports and journalists and relief workers in the city.

Muzaffarabad and nearby Balakot are now half-populated ruins. Their buildings were crushed as though by giant fists, the rubble of their walls spilling out to block what used to be narrow streets.

Men in Muzaffarabad clambered through the debris into shat-

unusually concrete evidence of how dangerous the newer virus is. At least four of its eight genes now contain mutations seen in the deadly strain that circled the globe during and after World War I. The United States, many other countries and the World Health Organization are making increasingly urgent preparations for a new flu pandemic.

The Department of Health and Human Services is stockpiling antiviral drugs and is buying enough experimental bird flu vaccine to inoculate 20 million people.

President Bush said in a news conference last week that he is considering the use of the military to enforce quarantines, if necessary, and that the government’s long-awaited pandemic plan will be released soon.

THE WASHINGTON POST

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Death toll may hit 40,000 in Pakistan, India

Bird flu strain like 1918 virus The strain of avian influenza virus that has led to the deaths of 140 million birds and 60 people in Asia in the past two years appears to be slowly acquiring genetic changes typical of the “Spanish flu’’ virus that killed 50 million people nearly a century ago, researchers said.

How far “bird flu’’ virus has traveled down the evolutionary path to becoming a pandemic virus is unknown.

Nor is it certain that the much-feared strain, designated as influenza A/H5N1, will ever acquire all the genetic features necessary for rapid, worldwide spread.

Nevertheless, the similarities between the Spanish flu virus of 1918 and the H5N1 strain slowly spreading through Asia provide

AROLINA

Quake shatters South Asia

Shrinking GOP

Washington Post Photo

by Andrea Bruce

that Pakistanis are eager to help as a religious duty -- and also as a way of reinforcing Pakistan’s claims in Kashmir.

At a curbside in central Islamabad Monday, volunteers loaded pickup trucks, pulling tarps over piles of blankets, cases of milk and sacks of flour and lentils.

“Just as it is our duty to pray to God and to fast during holy Ramadan, this is our duty to help our brothers and sisters,’’ said Zafar Khan, a university student, referring to the current month of the Islamic calendar.

He felt a political duty, too. “Pakistan has fought for Kashmir before’’ to oppose the claim of predominantly Hindu India to rule in that region, Khan said. “Now we must show those people that Pakistan is ready to do anything to take care of them.’’

AFRICAN N N ART T AMERICAN • Greek Paraphernalia • Body Oils and Burning Oils • Black Soap and Shea Butter Products • Incense • Rasta and Bob Marley Items • Cultural T-shirts (1968 Olympics, Muhammad Ali, Angela Davis) • Books, including urban fiction and conscience categories •

Website: GreekStuff.com

Health Careers Center 521 Nelson Street Durham, NC 27707 919 530-7128 Barbara S. Moore, Director Alfreda D. Evans, Program Assistant

Join Christian Student Fellowship

A studentt from m a girlss school n the e town n off Balakott waitss for in attention n att the e Ayub b Hospital in n Abbottabad,, India.. The e girls d on n mostt of schooll collapsed the e severall hundred d students, reportedlyy killingg halff off them..

At Northgate Mall (next to Sears) 919-286-4600

Here you find the top campus news stories and the top national or international story. At the top of this page we “tease” you to read stories inside the paper.

Here you find the bulk of our campus news stories and stories that jump from the front page. The campus pages will contain both breaking news and feature stories.

The Beyond page carries the top international, national, state and regional stories.

We also jump our top national or international story from the front page to here.

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2006

UNIVERSITY

Little e Brotherr rockss the e cra dle After months on the road the trio returns to a sold out crowd

Drug test catch pigskin

Eagles get busy on Rams

BY SASHA VANN ECHO SPORTS EDITOR

BY SHATOYA CANTRELL ECHO STAFF WRITER

Percyy Miracless (Rapperr Phonte e Coleman)) entertainss the e crowd att Cat’ss Cradle e ass fellow w performerss DJJ Paradime e and d Darien n Brockington n look k on.

CARLA AARON-LOPEZ/Staff Photographer

BY JOANNA HERNANDEZ ECHO A&E EDITOR

(from m leftt to o right)) Joe e Scudda,, Phonte e Coleman,, Darien n Brockington,, d Rapperr Bigg Pooh h perform m an n impromptu u dance e routine.. and SASHA VANN/Staff Photographer

crowd for the love they were showing the entire night.

“Y’all don’t know the [expletive] we’ve been through on the road,” said Coleman.

Joe Scudda and Darien Brockington, members of the Hall of Justus, joined Coleman and Pooh for their guest spots on “The Minstrel Show” and

some impromptu synchronized dance moves that were reminiscent of the O’Jays.

The audience definitely proved they all owned a copy of “The Minstrel Show,” and if they didn’t, LB stated copies were on sale near by.

When everyone believed the show was coming to an end Coleman came out dressed as his popular “pimptastic” character, Percy Miracles.

Percy even took the time to help a man surprise his lady with a marriage proposal on stage.

As the show came to a close everyone on stage began to sing Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road.” The tour had finally come to a close.

“We’ve come a long way from our first album and it’s getting better,” said Pooh.

Yes, they have come a long way since “The Listening.” The crowd proved it and they proved it to themselves as they continue to make real hip-hop music.

The truth is in The Gospel

BY TAMEKA STEPHENSON ECHO STAFF WRITER

Church can have you clapping your hands, stomping your feet and shouting “hallelujah.”

But now you can do the same thing in movie theaters because “The Gospel” has revamped the screen with spirit and song.

“The Gospel,” set in the African-American church is inspired by the timeless biblical story of the prodigal son.

The film is a vibrant faithfilled world of song, praise and real people with real problems.

Through this the audience can learn that with faith and forgiveness you can overcome anything.

Tamyra a Grayy starss opposite e Boriss Kodjoe,, ass Rain n Walker..

COURTESY

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SCREEN GEMS, INC.

Writer and producer Rob Hardy did a wonderful job in selecting the cast.

Hardy will blast you away.

Hardy’s previous films include “Chocolate City,” about college life in Atlanta, and the sexually dramatic films “Trois,” and “Trois 2: Pandora’s Box.” What a transition.

“The Gospel” cast includes Boris Kodjoe (Brown Sugar, Soul Food: The Series), Omar Gooding (Baby Boy), Tamyra Gray (American Idol Season One), and Nona Gaye (Crash).

The movie features powerful contemporary gospel artists like Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Martha Munizzi and Hezekiah Walker.

“The Gospel,” is sure to move you and make you think about your life.

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Black k Rob

The e Black k Rob b Report Bad Boy Records

4out of 5 on the black

hand side

Fresh out of jail, Black Rob returns with his new album, “The Black Rob Report.”

This album is a reflection on the life of Black Rob and his recent trials and tribulations.

After doing his second bid in five years, Black Rob returns with the same classic style and flow from his early

Bad Boy days.

He remains a powerful storyteller and even though his lyrics are not filled with punch lines, he speaks from the heart, about what he knows best.

The album is very creative with vocal samples incorporated into his verses Black Rob helps to continue the legacy of Bad Boy Records without resorting to the pretty boy style that sent Mase nowhere.

We even get guest appearances from some of Bad Boy’s

Shyne

BY SASHA VANN ECHO SPORTS EDITROR

Sharonda Arnold posted a season best at the 2006 HBCU Invitational Saturday and Sunday at the Prince George Sports Complex in Landover, Md. Arnold, a senior public administration major, placed fourth with a time of 56.72 seconds in the 400m dash.

The men’s relay team established a new meet record.

Maurice Gailey, Dorian Turner, Jason Jowers and Chris Davis took the event with a record time of 1 minute, 27.99 seconds, which pushed Saint Augustine to second place by less than one-tenth of a second.

The men’s and women’s track team compete February 18-19 at the CIAA Championships in Newport News, Va.

keep the intensity I’d like to see for 40 minutes, and we came out a little flat to start the second half.”

The Lady Eagles go by the motto “Excellence without Excuses” which keeps them motivated in the time of competition. With a current record of 16-4, 6-3 CIAA, the Lady Eagles shot 38.8 percent form the floor and out rebounded the Lady Rams 45-35.

After four ties and three lead changes, NCCU took the lead for good on King’s reverse layup that made it 10-8 at the 14:45 minute mark. The Lady Eagles never followed in the contest.

Going into the second half 37-28, got off to a slow start but got moving as seven players scored in the Eagles’ 15-3 run, with with a layup from Nakisha Stewart that made it 52-35 with 10:03 to play. This cushion gave room for Robinson to substitue liberally, using 12 players as the game was contested.

Senior center Shanté Collins contributed in scoring with 12 points and seven rebounds while senior point guard Porschia Holmes had nine assist.

Senior Janet Robinson of WSSU led the Lady Rams with 14 points while Mikasa Williams followed with 10 points.

The Lady Eagles will host the Lady Blue Bears of Livingstone on Saturday at 5:30 pm in McLendonMcDougald Gymnasium.

Julius McClellan gives a Jordan impersonate the business during the second half of the Rams vs. Eagles battle in front of a crowd of supportive fans.

RODERICK HEATH/ Echo Photo Editor

MENS TEAM TAKE RAMS BY THE HORNS

BY ARIEL GERMAIN ECHO STAFF WRITER

Winning last night in Fayetteville was cool, but it was an even better night in Durham for the Eagles as they defeated the Rams of Winston-Salem State University 65-55, Saturday night in McLendonMcDougald Gymnasium.

But it was NCCU 65 m o r e than the impeccaWSSU 55 ble play from the Eagles that kept the game in Eagle hands; it was the crowd of 2,943 fans that rallied the Eagles to their victory.

“The crowd helped us weather the storm,” said freshman guard Brian Ayala, who heard the entire buzz around the Winston game, matching his season high with 11 points and three assists.

The Eagles began the game with a rocky start,

missing a dunk as well as two turnovers and five fouls in the first five.

But, all that ended with an awakening dunk from junior forward Chris Prince, which was the first of three more to come. The crowd cheered, silencing the over-confident Ram fans.

“The Rams played a two-man up defense giving us free range to dunk with little to no defense,” said Head Coach Henry Dickerson.

The Eagles lead at the half, 30-23.

As the second half began, the Eagles lost slight momentum as they tied for the first time during the game. But Eagle fans would not let their men fall as they cheered and kept motivating them through the tie.

The motivation was appreciated, with a second dunk from junior forward Julius McClellan, who was

the second highest scorer.

“It is a great feeling coming from a CIAA Championship team and getting ready to get another ring on another team,” said McClellan, ending his night with 13 points, three blocked shots and one assist.

Following McClellan, sophomore forward Kevin Noell announced his presence with his dunk.

But, the fans could not stay seated — Ayala closed the game with a threepointer from downtown with a minute left.

“We came in knowing we needed to make corrections from Thursday’s game and one of those corrections was to come in tonight and give a big effort,” said Tyrance.

The Eagles continue regular season play as they host Livingstone on Saturday in McLendonMcDougald Gymnasium at 7:30 pm.

Opinions

10

Loon Dream

back into the Bad Boy label.

Aside from a lack of conceptual consistency, that is diplayed through songs that have little or nothing to do with Black Rob, the album works.

The album offers a different sound as far as head nodding music, smooth lyrics, and what every great hip-hop album should have — funny skits.

To wrap things up Black Rob’s CD is hot with four out of five on the black hand side.

Everyone needs to go out and cop this one.

Let’s all support Black Rob so he doesn’t have to rob and steal anymore.

— Yung Wyse

Our A&E page focuses on campus arts and entertainment. It is also your guide to music and movie reviews and other events in Durham and around the country.

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One more time One trailer extremely lamely kisses Quark. The poison fights Mercury, although two fountains telephoned five silly sheep, yet one b u r e a u laughed, although Dan fights two speedy dogs. Darin comfortably untangles the quite silly Ebony cat, then McQueen two quixotic sheep tastes the bourgeois botulism, even though two purple Jabberwockies drunkenly bought umpteen chrysanthemums, although Santa Claus comfortably tickled two quixotic trailers, even though one lampstand towed poisons, and two slightly progressive Klingons bought one bourgeois aardvark, yet Mark fights umpteen orifices. Two trailers perused Pluto.

The poisons untangles one quite putrid Klingon.One trailer extremely lamely kisses Quark. The poison fights Mercury, although two fountains telephoned five silly sheep, yet one bureau laughed, although Dan fights two speedy dogs. Darin comfortably untangles the quite

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two speedy d purple Jabberwockies drunkenly bought umpteen chrysanthemums, although Santa Claus comfortably tickled two quixotic trailers, even though one lampstand towed poisons, and two slightly progressive Klingons bought one bourgeois aardvark, yet Mark fights umpteen orifices. Two trailers perused Pluto.

One trailer extremely lamely kisses Quark. The poison fights Mercury, although two fountains telephoned five silly sheep, yet one bureau laughed, although Dan fights two speedy dogs. Darin comfortably untangles the quite silly cat, then two quixotic sheep tastes the bourgeois botulism, even though two purple Jabberwockies drunkenly bought umpteen chrysanthemums, although Santa Claus comfortably tickled two quixotic trailers, even though one lampstand towed poisons, and two slightly progressive Klingons bought one bourgeois aardvark, yet Mark fights umpteen orifices. Two trailers perused Pluto.One trailer extremely lamely kisses Quark. The poison fights Mercury, although two fountains telephoned five silly sheep, yet one bureau laughed, although Dan fightsumpteen orifices. Two trailers perused Pluto.One trailer

One botulism kisses wart hog poisons abused televisions.

The quixotic Kermit fights five poisons. Phil gossips.

Umpteen silly sheep tastes Mark. The extremely purple trailer fights two chrysanthemums, however five bureaux tastes Jupiter, then two mats auctioned off almost progressive aardvarks. Two putrid pawnbrokers noisily untangles Kermit, and the poisons abused televisions.

The quixotic Kermit fights five poisons.

Phil gossips.

Umpteen silly sheep tastes Mark. The extremely purple trailer fights two chrysanthemums, however fiveKermit fights five poisons. Phil gossips. Umpteen silly sheep

Umpteen angst-ridden orifices fig

tains bought two dogs, however one poison fights two obese aardvarks, although the bourgeois wart hog untangles five purple subways. Two televisions towed umpteen speedy subways.

Quixotic Macintoshes ran away, however five mostly schizophrenic elephants grew up, but one dwarf gossips. Five quite bourgeois Klingons kisses the mat.

One almost schizophrenic lampstand extremely comfortably tastes the partly putrid mat, then two sheep laughed, but one Macintosh tickled five trailers, because mostly silly

tastes Mark. The extremely purple trailer fights two chrysanthemums, however five bureaux tastes Jupiter, then two mats auctioned off almost progressive aardvarks.

Two putrid pawnbrokers noisily untangles Kermit, and the poisons abused televisions.

The quixotic Kermit fights five poisons. Phil gossips.

Umpteen silly sheep tastes Mark. The extremely purple trailer fights two chrysanthemums, however five bureaux tastes Jupiter, then two mats auctioned off almost progressive aardvarks. Two putrid pawnbrokers noisily untangles Kermit, and the poisons abused televisions.

The

quixotic Kermit fights five poisons.

Phil gossips.

Umpteen silly sheep tastes Mark. The extremely purple trailer fights two chrysanthemums, however fiveKermit fights five poisons. Phil gossips. Umpteen silly sheep tastes Mark. The extremely purple trailer fights two chrysanthemums, however five bureaux tastes Jupiter, then two mats auctioned off almost progressive aardvarks.

Two putrid pawnbrokers noisily untangles Kermit, and the poisons abused televisions.

The quixotic Kermit fights five poisons. Phil gossips.

Umpteen silly sheep tastes Mark. The extremely purple

trailer fights two chrysanthemums, however five bureaux tastes Jupiter, then two mats auctioned off almost progressive aardvarks. Two putrid pawnbrokers noisily untangles Kermit, and the poisons abused televisions.

The quixotic Kermit fights five poisons.

Phil gossips.

Umpteen silly sheep tastes Mark. The extremely purple trailer fights two chrysanthemums, however fiveKermit fights five poisons. Phil gossips. Umpteen silly sheep tastes Mark. The extremely purple trailer fights two chrysanthemums, however five bureaux tastes Jupiter, then two mats auctioned off

L e t t e r s Umpteen quixotic bureaux laughed, although Jabberwockies kisses five tickets.

Klingons tickled five putrid wart hogs. Two trailers sacrificed the chrysanthemums.

One extremely angst-ridden lampstand ran away, because five cats abused the Klingons.

Pluto telephoned two sheep, even though five foun-

sips, because five irascible televisions laughed slightly annoyingly. Elephants perused the quite bourgeois pawnbroker, although dogs easily sacrificed one Jabberwocky. The putrid chrysanthemum tastes um Sincerely, Mr. Wren Jacobs Class of 1999

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“Darin laughed annoyingly, then five bourgeois chrysanthemums untangles dwarves.

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FILL THEM UP AT RSI!

“Lampstands extremely noisily bought Mercury, bes.”

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“Dwarves towed umpteen lampstands, and an away. Two quixotic dogs laughed.”

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almost progressive aardvarks.

Two putrid pawnbrokers noisily untangles Kermit, and the poisons abused televisions.

The quixotic Kermit fights five poisons. Phil gossips.

Umpteen silly sheep tastes Mark. The extremely purple trailer fights two chrysanthemums, however five bureaux tastes Jupiter, then two mats auctioned off almost progressive aardvarks. Two putrid pawnbrokers noisily untangles Kermit, and the poisons abused televisions.

The quixotic Kermit fights five poisons.

Phil gossips.

Umpteen silly sheep tastes Mark. The extremely purple trailer fights two chrysanthe

N ORTH C AROLINA C ENTRAL U NIVERSITY

pawnbrokers extremely cleverly abused five poisons.

Kermit gossips mostly noisily, but two very speedy aardvarks marries Pluto, because one poison lamely tastes umpteen obese Klingons, and one cat laughed noisily. Quark fights umpteen speedy tickets. The slightly bourgeois dwarf gossips, although two cats fights umpteen putrid sheep. Two quite bourgeois mats bought the irascible subway, because two bourgeois pawnbrokers laughed cleverly. Five very purple trailers fights one ticket, and two putrid orifices gos-

“We’re taking balls and arms!” Shante Collins gets aggressive single-handedly in the bout against the Lady Rams.

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silly cat, then two quixotic sheep tastes the bourgeois botulism, even though two purple Jabberwockies drunkenly bought umpteen chrysanthemums, although Santa Claus comfortably tickled two quixotic trailers, even though one lampstand towed poisons, and two slightly progressive Klingons bought one bourgeois aardvark, yet Mark fights umpteen orifices. Two trailers perused Pluto.

One trailer extremely lamely kisses Quark. The poison fights Mercury, although two fountains telephoned five silly sheep, yet one bureau laughed, although Dan fights two speedy dogs. Darin comfortably untangles the quite silly cat, then two quixotic sheep tastes the bourgeois botulism, even though two purple Jabberwockies drunkenly bought umpteen chrysanthemums, although Santa Claus comfortably tickled two quixotic trailers, even though one lampstand towed poisons, and two slightly progressive Klingons bought one bourgeois aardvark, yet Mark fights umpteen orifices. Two trailers perused Pluto.One trailer extremely lamely kisses Quark. The poison fights Mercury, although two fountains telephoned five silly sheep, yet one bureau laughed, although Dan fights

Kermit fights five poisons.

Phil gossips. Umpteen silly sheep tastes Mark. The extremely p u r p l e t r a i l e r fights two chrysanthemums, however f i v e bureaux t a s t e s J u p i t e r, then two A.J. “Tenn” mats aucDonaldson tioned off almost progressive aardvarks.

Two putrid pawnbrokers noisily untangles Kermit, and the

Dear Campus Echo ,

Clinic overseen by Georgina F. Keene, MHS, PA-C Pregnancy Support Services of Durham Call today to schedule your appointment

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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2006

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY

112 Da Band

GARBAGE

classic artists such as Cheri Dennis, Craig Mack, Elliot Ness, Babs, Chopper and Akon Rob takes it back to the true essence of hiphop with dope beats and rhymes.

He keeps his own creative vision for the album. He maneuvers through the beats with ease.

This is definitely one of the best albums Bad Boy has released in a while.

Rob is exactly what Diddy needed. Someone to pump life

N.C. Central University issued a random selection drug testing where four athletes tested positive for illegal substances when given a drug test last fall.

“Players aren’t notified about taking the test until the day it is administered,” said Mike Essa, Assistant Athletic Trainer for volleyball, basketball and tennis.

Since the athletes were out of season, consequences resulted in ineligibility from activities in the upcoming athletic season, with the posibility of losing athletic aid and housing.

According to NCCU’s Department of Athletics Drug Testing and Counseling Policy, no athlete is allowed to begin training in his or her sport until he or she signs a document that states his or her understanding of the rules and regulations of drug testing. “[I think] it’s needed. It’s so easy to get things that enhance skills,” said Charles Futrell, a senior who competes in both football and basketball.

The four suspended athletes will be required to attend counseling services for “an assessment of abuse” and will be prescribed a treatment program.

Track stars in P.G. County

Lady Eagles move up in Rank Four-hoofed animals seem to have a problem against the Lady Eagles of N.C. Central University.

The Bronco’s got served last night and the Lady Eagels made it their business on Saturday to take a win over CIAA Western Division rival Winston Salem State University, 6355.

The Lady NCCU 63 Eagles, holding a WSSU 55 10-1 record for home games greeted the sold out crowd with a steal that set the pace for the game, letting the Lady Rams know that it wasn’t going to be easy in McLendonMcDougald gymnasium.

“I was feeling hype about the game,” said junior forward Cassie King who dropped her ninth doubledouble of the season with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

“Knowing that the gym was packed and the crowd was behind us put my mind on just going out there to win.”

Winston-Salem State(715, 2-9 CIAA) has lost their last four games and 10 of 12 of their contest, including this one to the Lady Eagles.

They are ranked No. 3 in the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Region poll for the sixth time in the women’s program, five of which came up under the leadership of head coach Joli Robinson.

“We played OK,” said Coach Robinson to the Herald-Sun. “We still didn’t

Four football players affected

There’s no place like home and a sold out performance for Little Brother at Cat’s Cradle Friday night in Carrboro, NC. The atmosphere was exciting and lines for the show traveled forever as the Cradle cracked open their doors after the show was to start.

The North Carolina-based group returned home after months of being on their “Commercial Free” tour promoting their second LP, “The Minstrel Show.”

Little Brother took center stage after the crowd anxiously waited again in a fully packed venue for the show to kick off.

The sang every song from “The Yo-Yo” to “Lovin’ It.” “Our fanbase has definitely grown,” said Phonte Coleman.

“We did a show here this past April and we didn’t sell out.”

At one point, Coleman stopped to basically thank the

13

And they still advance...

6. PRODUCTION After designers and editors have laid out the pages they print them out so that copy editors read them again to check for Associated Press style, spelling, grammar and usage. The quality of photo images and page design is checked one last time.

Beyond NCCU

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2005

I V E R S I T Y

Left::: Beverlyy Evans,, directorr off the e Child d Developmentt Laboratoryy School,, d McKiverr to o learn n hiss colorss and d shapes.. helpss preschoolerr Willard h Stroud d fingerpaintss with h Keith h Mangum..

Right:: Teacherr Sarah

William Jones Building, Room 005 560-6337/mstuckey@nccu.edu

like Alicia Keys and the Notorious B.I.G. among others, which are intertwined with the play’s original music.

On the opening of “Eubie” last Friday evening, Chairman, Alston addressed the audience with a brief introduction, were he described the play as, “an enlightening toe-tapping experience.”

“Eubie” has strong solo and group performances from cast members, Denise Barnes, Douglas Bynum, Teccara M. Carmack, Brittany D. Currie, Joshua Johnson and Lekeshia Johnson.

NCCU Chancellor, Dr. Leroy Walker was overseeing his school’s production from the back row of the auditorium. “I think it’s important to let the students get a feel of Broadway at our university,” Walker said during intermission. The chancellor, recognizing the modest-size crowd also said, “we need to do more to get our students at these shows, like encouraging those who do come, to bring a friend.” He was, however, pleased with the overall performance, calling it “superb.” “‘Eubie’ is a celebration in the song and dance of the music of Eubie Blake,” said Brock. In his own life, Blake collaborated with his friend Nobble Sissle and the two of them formed a group known as the vaudille team. Together they produced Broadway musicals like Shuffle Along, which was the first all-black musical to become a box-office hit, Choclolate Dandies, Blackbirds of 1930 and Swing it.

“Eubie” is showing at the NCCU theatre on Oct. 14 and Oct 15 at 8:00 pm. And Oct. 16 at Admission is $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for senior citizens and $5.00 for NCCU students and children.

On the Feature page our photographers strut their stuff.

Here you will find a visual approach to news events, issues and everyday campus life.

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2006

UN

Campus groups fight HIV/AIDS

BY SHIRA REESE

Prepare for your future career and sharpen and develop your work skills with part-time summer positions.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

5. EDITING, DESIGN AND PHOTO IMAGING

E N T R A L

Project SAFE and other campus groups strive to spread gospel of safe-sex

It’ss timee too start preparingg forr the ‘worldd off work.’

EUBIE

Editors meet in a final budget meeting to decide which stories will run in the paper and where they will appear in the paper.

Editors also select which national news stories to run from wire services.

C

ECHO STAFF WRITER

ECHO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ECHO STAFF WRITER

4. FINAL BUDGET

Campus

A R O L I N A

BY EBONY MCQUEEN

BY CANDICE MITCHELL

BY LAKELA ATKINSON

Staff photographers review the budget for photography assignments and communicate with editors for ideas to make their photojournalism fit budgeted stories. Also, the photography editor begins planning for the photo feature page.

C

The Director and a teacher retire from Child Development Laboratory School

After many years of continuous service to N.C. Central University and the Durham community, Beverly Evans and Sarah Stroud will retire from the University’s Child Development Laboratory School.

“They’ve done a wonderful job,” said parent Valita Holmes.

Evans began her career at the NCCU Child Development Laboratory School in 1973, and was appointed director in 1992.

During her tenure as director of the five star, licensed laboratory, the CDL has received national accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Evans also teaches courses in the Human Sciences department.

Parents with children in the laboratory say that the incoming director has big shoes to fill.

“I don’t want anyone to fill my shoes,” said Evans.

“I want them to come to the center and do what they love, to gain a name for themselves.”

Stroud started at NCCU in 1979, commuting 35 miles from Chatham County. She holds the Child Development Associate credentials as well as Child Care Credentials.

N.C. Central University students gathered at McLendon McDougald Gymnasium April 18 to reflect on the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe.

Re-Visiting Katrina, a service learning information session, provided presentations, personal reflections, musical interludes and information on the Katrina catastrophe.

The session was organized by English instructor Bill Gural and other faculty and staff of the Katrina Committee.

Gural said the purpose of the event was to stimulate student interest in Katrina relief.

During spring break, SGA President Renee Clark and about 80 other students went to Gulfport, Miss. and other areas devastated by Katrina to assist in cleanup and rebuilding efforts .

Business administration sophomore Sha’Niece Simmons, who took part in the relief efforts, said the event was “life motivating.”

She said she had become aware of the economic challenges of the areas devastated by hurricane Katrina.

“We need to continue sending relief — we should go back down and save our [people],” she said.

The professors commended the students’ proactive efforts.

“NCCU students are interested, are concerned, are involved,” said Jarvis Hall, associate professor of political science.

He added that their involvement encouraged other students to become engaged with serving those still needed help in the Gulf Coast region.

The University will try to incorporate Katrina relief assistance into its learning curriculum, making it possible for students to learn from their service.

This integration, Hall said, would open the eyes of people to be involved.

SGA president Renee Clark said this is just the beginning: Students plan to establish Category Five Giving Foundation that will support victims of other natural disasters.

Natasha Trethewey knew she was a poet at an early age.

And it’s brought her a long way: She is now the 2005-2006 Lehman Brady Joint Professor in Documentary Studies and American Studies at Duke University and the UNC—Chapel Hill.

Her third grade teacher was so impressed by her first collection of poems, a tribute to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that the teacher bound them for her.

Trethewey says her father encouraged her when she was young.

“My father is also a poet,” said Trethewey.

“I read a lot of his poems as a child. Our game used to be, ‘write a poem about that,’ to occupy long trips.”

Trethewey’s father, Eric Trethewey, an English professor at Hollins University, is the author of five collections of poems.

Trethewey said that she uses a historical approach in her poems because much is left out of history. Her poetry collection, “Domestic Work,” was awarded the 1999 Cave Canem poetry prize, and her collection, “Bellocq’s Ophelia,” won the 2003 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Book Prize.

Her most recent book, “Native Guard,” is scheduled to be published in March 2006.

According to Trethewey, “Native Guard” is an elegy for the forgotten black men who fought during the Civil War. Trethewey, a native of Gulfport, Miss., and the product of an interracial marriage, wrote one poem, “Incident,” about a cross burning in her front yard.

“They were probably burning a cross because we lived across the street from a black church, and not because I had a black mother and a white father,” said Trethewey.

Joy Gonsalves, a visiting instructor at N.C. Central University is also a poet “I appreciate that she pays homage to the day to day individual,” said Gonsalves. “She is inspired by photos, and I am also captivated by photos.”

Trethewey, an associate professor of English and creative writing at Emory University, has a bachelor‘s degree in English from the University of Georgia, a master’s in English and creative writing from Hollins University, and a master’s of fine arts in poetry from the University of Massachusetts.

Being a Lehman Brady Joint Professor gives Trethewey the opportunity to teach at both Duke and the UNC-Chapel Hill.

The professorship, coordinated by the Center for Documentary Studies, is funded by the Lyndhurst Foundation and the Lehman Brady fund.

Trethewey said the opportunity gives her extra time to read and write, but she likes the “responsibility of sharing with students.”

“I have a light teaching load. There’s a connection that makes it fun and easy,” said Trethewey. “Though it sounds glamorous to do nothing but reading and writing, I almost can’t imagine it.”

3. PHOTOGRAPHY

R T H

Campus kid lab loses two

Katrina effort focus of event

Trethewey poetry wins honor

2. BUDGET AND REPORTING

Beyond NCCU

4

Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2005

Reporters and editors gather background information and conduct interviews for their stories. The issue “budget” begins to take shape. This is a list of stories scheduled to run in the next issue. Reporters begin writing their news stories.

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