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Campus Echo
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013
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SGA student senators speak their minds
llogically speaking ...
Eagle card fees need rethinking
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Money count trumps calorie count
Wi-fi woes lead to study trouble
BY WESLEY MCLEOD
BY CHELSEA GRAYS
BY SABREE BURBAGE
SGA JUNIOR CLASS SENATOR
SGA SOPHOMORE CLASS SENATOR
SGA JUNIOR CLASS SENATOR
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t is a downright shame that students are required to put a minimum payment of $20 at the Eagle Card Office in order to wash clothes and get items out of the vending machines. Upon my arrival at N. C. Central University in the fall of 2010 students were allowed to place as much money on their Eagle card as they desired. Students were just required to walk into the Lee Biology Building and fill out a simple form prior to paying the amount of money they wanted to place on their eagle card. Recently when attempting to place money on my Eagle card I was abrasively told by an employee at the office that, “you must pay a minimum of $20 in order to place money on your Eagle card.” I was completely enraged by the lady’s attitude and by the sudden change of policy without any proper type of notification. She then added that “the $20 minimum has
here is no doubt that Americans suffer from diseases and illnesses. However, particularly African Americans suffer from diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and depression. According to the U.S. Office of Minority Health, african-american women have the highest rates of being overweight or obese compared to other groups. According to WebMD, nearly 42 percent of black men and more than 45 percent of black women age 20 and older have high blood pressure. While attending a historically black college the health issue within the african-american culture should be acknowledged and addressed. N. C. Central University ignores the health issues within the culture for money. The issues are continuously looked over when implementing food sources such as Pizza Hut and World of Wings.
nsanity is sometimes defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. That being said, time and time again valuable resources are taken away from students, whether inadvertently or not, and they are still being held to high academic standards. Wouldn’t you say that’s insane? It’s as if administration is taking personal offense to our academic achievement and fighting back by swatting away each and every attempt to earn As and Bs, and dare I say it, graduate on time and with an esteemed grade point average. This predicament has come to fruition in many different forms. Most recently it was shortened library hours — which has been corrected. But this time, it’s Wi-Fi. At this time it is almost taboo to study in your own room, not because you don’t want to,
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Eight SGA representatives point out issues they see on campus
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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013
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Parking problems and cafeteria complaints BY BROOKE BELLAMY SGA JUNIOR CLASS SENATOR
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he biggest grievance you will hear from a commuting student at N. C. Central University is the lack of parking availability. Parking is an inconvenience because of the time it takes to find a space near the University. What determines how close of a spot you will get depends on how early you arrive to campus. Also, I think it is safe to assume that it is unrealistic to think that students would be willing to dish out $500 for a parking permit when they do not live on campus. One of my favorite things about the adventures in parking on NCCU’s campus is the always exciting walk from your car to campus. I always look forward to being greeted by the friendly and possibly rabid neighborhood dogs. Such lovely animals. And to my surprise they are almost never on a leash.
Why would you keep your Boxer, Rottweiler or Pitbull on a leash anyway? Are they not commonly known to be relatively small and meek creatures? Parking off campus ... not for the faint of heart. In the near future NCCU should offer more parking instead of wasting money on unnecessary new signs with our name on it. And if parking permits were actually reasonably priced they would most assuredly stand to benefit from the business that commuter students have to offer. The Cafeteria While this is my first year living off campus, I have been hearing the same complaints about the dining experience in the W.G. Pearson Cafeteria. I have always felt that more attractive healthy options should be offered to students that are trying not to pack on the freshman, sophomore or junior fifteen pounds. After all, on a rainy day
Junior Brooke Bellamy wants some changes in the parking and cafeteria situations at NCCU. MATT PHILLIPS/Echo editor-in-chief
when the temperature is below freezing, who is real-
ly looking forward to a nice … cold ... salad?
Ain’t no home here
Library lacks big selection
Dorm crisis needs to be avoided next year
Junior Marcus Mundy says it’s imperative next year’s housing situation is handled better. MATT PHILLIPS/Echo editor-in-chief
BY MARCUS MUNDY SGA JUNIOR CLASS SENATOR
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llogically speaking, it makes perfect sense for one to do everything in their power to ensure that their transition from high school to college is as smooth as possible, but still have their efforts go in vain. Even more so, as a prospective student, it’s unethical and immoral to hold an institution of high-
er learning to standards by which they have set. That’s like showing up on time to class and expecting your teacher to teach something. Who does that? As much as I would like to humor this distorted sense of reality, it is a travesty that an institution such as N. C. Central University that thrives off its motto of ‘truth and service,’ would allow itself to be put in a situation in which its prospective and returning
students are put at a disadvantage. Accountability at NCCU is something that is dwindling ever so quickly. It’s all a race to see who can point the next finger fastest. I say all of this in reference to what was headlined as “The Housing Crisis of 2012.” What better way to bring in the 2012-13 academic year than by telling some of your students that essen-
When asked about the quality of the food in W. G.
tially “you are assigned to room XYZ in … yeah we can’t accommodate you so good luck finding housing else where?” From a student perspective it’s upsetting when you put your trust into an institution to ensure that you have someplace to live and they fail to do their job. As if our academic, social and personal lives weren’t enough. Figuring out where one will stay at the last minute is just the icing on the cake. From the outside looking in it reflects that NCCU just reeks of incompetence. The number of rooms available to students should have been one of the first criteria looked at before students were accepted into the institution. To have had something like this happen looks bad for the University. NCCU accepts students from all over the globe. How do you explain something like this to someone or their family? For example, if a student who was coming to NCCU as a freshman from New Jersey found out that they had no housing once they got here, how do you explain something like this? Especially to someone who has done everything on his or her end. Now don’t get me wrong. Housing being full is under-
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Freshman Olivia Robinson says NCCU should have more books. MATT PHILLIPS/Echo editor-in-chief
BY OLIVIA ROBINSON SGA FRESHMAN CLASS SENATOR
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s an honors student at N. C. Central University, obtaining exceptional grades is very important to me. This requires spending a lot of time in the library and checking out the required texts assigned by my professors. When I go to the library expecting to check out a book and it isn’t there, it is
Burbage CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 but because you can’t. In a time where students are expected to retrieve all assignments, study materials and course information off of internet programs such as Blackboard, it is absurd to deny students optimal access to the internet. Sure, we could all flock to the library, but it is ludicrous to think that during peak study hours there could possibly be enough computers with internet and printer access to accommodate students, given the disruption from using their personal laptops. I guess we could also try lugging around 20 foot Ethernet cords everywhere we go, plugging them into newly erected “Ethernet
posts,” but who is going to facilitate this blatantly backwards advance in technology? In a last ditch effort I guess setting up an efficient and ever-present campus wide Wi-Fi network could possibly work, but nah, that’s probably too logical to be feasible. Then again, what do I know? I’m just an undergraduate student living on campus who studies on a daily basis in an attempt to maintain that A/B grade point average that is demanded of me. I’m sure that somehow the current state of things all makes sense, well, illogically speaking.
Pearson Cafeteria, psychology and Spanish senior Casi Johnson is said, “It’s nasty and we need healthier options.” Recreation management senior Iimani McKnight chimed in, “Not just healthier options, but more options. University of North Carolina at Charlotte has an amazing cafeteria and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has multiple cafeterias.” Our cafeteria could certainly have more attractive options for the growing vegetarian and vegan population on our campus as well. Some alternatives that I would suggest are spinach wraps and entrees and desserts made with soy or almond milk. I am sure that if our chefs pay attention to the direction that health foods are going in we will be well on our way to accommodating the individuals on this campus that choose to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Junior Sabree Burbage wants more reliable wireless internet. MATT PHILLIPS/Echo editor-in-chief
very frustrating. Even though the Interlibrary Loan System is supposed to help me with this predicament, it is not always reliable. Recently I had an English paper due and I needed to have at least two print sources. I requested two books that our library didn’t have and five days before my paper was due I received an
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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013
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Crime up, help down
Robinson CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
BY RENEE NATSON SGA JUNIOR CLASS SENATOR
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onsidering the incessant recent crime alerts on campus one would think that the N.C. Central University Police Department would begin to tighten security to ensure the safety of students. This is not the case. One would think that campus police would be ready and willing to escort a 20-year-old african-american female walking alone from the bottom lot of the Mary Townes Science Building to Eagle Landing Residence Hall in the late hours of the night. Again this is not the case. The approximate time that would elapse in completing this task would be a three minute car ride. This doesn’t seem too difficult. The police officer told the african-american female that she would have to walk back because he had to “finish his patrol,” which consisted of sitting at the bottom of the parking lot and waiting until something . The student walked back alone. The officer not only gambled the student’s safety and security, but he did it with no remorse. If something would have happened to that student what would the officer’s excuse be? Something illogical — I’m sure.
Junior Renee Natson says it’s important students feel safe on campus. MATT PHILLIPS/Echo editor-in-chief
McLeod
Mundy
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 standable. It happens. But what is the justification for not notifying students well in advance about this issue? As a proud Eagle I want my institution to be portrayed in the best light at all times. And the fact of the matter is that because
of this issue NCCU became the target of scrutiny by various news stations all across the state. This type of publicity isn’t what’s best for NCCU. Given that as many as 500 new and returning students were affected by the housing crisis
email stating that my request had been cancelled. I ended up having to call the schools from which I requested the books to see the reason why my request had been cancelled. They told me it was because another student had checked out the same book I needed and that they have priority over students from neighboring schools. After hearing this I was very discouraged and all the while I was thinking this shouldn’t be the case. It shouldn’t be that we as a school who, “seeks to encourage intellectual productivity …” as stated in the University mission, don’t have the proper means to provide a larger selection of books in our library for the educational and recreational use of the students. How can we encourage this if we don’t supply our students with the proper tools they need to become more “intellectually productive”? Instead of having to borrow from the neighboring schools around us, we should try to increase our own inventory of books. The library has become more of a quiet place with computers and bookshelves rather than a library because of the absence of BOOKS. Something needs to be done about this soon. I’m sure there is some way we can squeeze BOOKS for students to LEARN into a budget, somehow. This situation is ridiculous.
because of what was portrayed as a “mistake” or an “overlooked issue” really emphasizes the need for change. Accountability is something that needs to be reinstated in various ways at NCCU, but hey, then again what would I know? I’m only speaking illogically.
Grays
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The lack of healthy food choices at NCCU exist because NCCU prioritizes money over africanamerican student health. After speaking with students who commonly eat at World of Wings I discovered a six-piece chicken-strip meal is most frequently ordered. While reviewing the World of Wings Web site I found that the six-piece chicken-strips are a total of 780 calories, not including the drink and fries. I went on to discover french fries are a total of 520 calories. Therefore, in total that is 1,300 calories for one meal, still without including a drink or dipping
sauce. Not to mention that The Big Easy burger that is also commonly ordered is a total of 1,699 calories minus the fries, drink and excess dipping sauce. According to WebMD women from ages 19-30 are supposed to consume 2000 calories daily and men 19-30 2,400 calories daily. When searching for healthier choices I personally decided to order a salad. However, there was extreme disappointment because of the overload of grease from the chicken which made the venture pointless. It has been difficult for me to
comprehend why an HBCU would implement these food services that are hindering African Americans as a culture. While speaking with an on campus advisor it was explained the world is not focused on the well-being of individuals, let alone African Americans. The focus is money. Whatever makes money will be supplied. I understood the concept, but for NCCU to hinder its own people in order to make a profit is sickening. NCCU is not taking proper precautions to ensure a healthy lifestyle.
Junior Wesley Mcleod says Eagle Card fees are a rip-o off. MATT PHILLIPS/Echo editor-in-chief
always been instituted and students were never allowed to put a lesser amount on their Eagle card.”. I distinctly remember putting $5 on my eagle card for laundry my freshman year. Therefore, I really did not appreciate this employee’s incompetence and lack of knowledge regarding the logistics of her job and her inability to properly support her claim with logical and factual evidence instead of a fabricated personal statement. However, the lady did tell me that students were allowed to place money on their Eagle card online without any restrictions or minimums. Nevertheless, the employee then proceeded to give me a flyer detailing the information on how to distribute money on my Eagle card for laundry and vending purposes. I basically ran to Chidley Hall
from the Lee Biology Building in order to log on to the Web site just to find out that the minimum for the website is $5 and the amount payable is based on $5 increments. At this point I did not even care because it was imperative that I washed clothes. However, when using the online method I quickly found out about the $1.50 processing fee which is deducted every time there is a transaction. I was outraged because this meant I would have to pay ten dollars, just for them to take $1.50 out of that total. Thereby meaning I could only wash $8.50 worth of laundry, instead of being able to utilize the full $10 amount when using quarters. There really needs to be some type of change soon because I firmly believe that NCCU’s eagle card system is illogical.
Sophomore Chelsea Grays says healthy food choices could be more abundant on campus. MATT PHILLIPS/Echo editor-in-chief
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Campus Echo WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013
Excellence in Journalism Awards 2013 National HBCU Student News Media Conference Freedom Forum Diversity Institute Nashville,Tenn. Once again news media professionals from around the USA have given the NCCU Campus Echo the most overall awards at the National HBCU Student News Media Conference. 1st ~ Best Student Newspaper, Bi-Weekly Production 1st ~ Best Online Multimedia Package, Matt Phillips, “Election Central. 1st ~ Best Photo Story, Chi Brown, “The walls are talking” 2nd ~ Best Photo Story, Matt Phillips, “The Wasteland: A Durham dystopia” •2nd ~ Best Online Video, Campus Echo staff • 2nd ~ Best Design (Broadsheet), Campus Echo staff • 2nd ~ Headline Writing, Aaron Saunders
• 3rd ~ Best Overall Online Site, Campus Echo •3rd ~ Best Investigative or In-Depth Stories, Matt Phillips & Emily Pakes, “The battle for America, a four-part series” • 3rd ~ Best Sports News or Game Story, Jerome Brown Jr., “Not quite there yet” • 3rd ~ Best Editorial Cartoon, Bobby Faison, “School days with Timmy” • Honorable Mention, Investigative or InDepth Stories, Jonathan Alexander, “Jones, Coleman indicted”
Monique Lewis, staff reporter; Jade Jackson, staff reporter; Jamar Negron, staff reporter; Alexandria Sampson, A&E editor; Matt Phillips, editor-in-chief; Jonathan Alexander; assistant and sport editor
The Campus Echo picks up a few awards. Again. 2012 - HBCU Excellence in Journalism Awards 1st - Design, Broadsheet Category (non-weekly; Editors Ashley Griffin and Aaron Saunders) 1st - Arts & Entertainment Criticism (Jerome Brown Jr.) 1st - Headline Writer (Aaron Saunders) 1st - Online Audio Story ("As you like it," Chi Brown, Matt Phillips, Aaron Saunders) 2nd - Individual Page Design (Aaron Saunders) 2nd - Sports Game Story ("Eagles Cook Wildcats," Jerome Brown Jr.) 3rd - Student Newspaper (Bi-Weekly Category) 3rd- Sports Feature Story ("Where have all the brothers gone," Jonathan Alexander) Honorable Mention - In-Depth News Story ("CLA dean search draws fire," Ashley Griffin) Honorable Mention - Opinions Writing (Zevandah Barnes) Honorable Mention - News Coverage (Staff) Honorable Mention - Online (Staff and David Fitts Jr) 2011 - NC College Media Association 2nd - News Writing, Chriss Hess & Carlton Koonce Honorable Mention - Feature Writing, Carlton Koonce Honorable Mention - Feature Writing, Chi Brown Honorable Mention - Sports Writing, Aaron Saunders 2011 - American Scholastic Press Association 1st – Overall Student Newspaper 1st - Outstanding Story (Non-School Related) "Yard Sale at Union Independent," Carlton Koonce 2011 - HBCU Excellence in Journalism Awards 1st – Design, Broadsheet Category 1st – Online Video Story ~ James Hines "Hair to Stay" 1st – Individual Page Design ~ Ashley Griffin 1st – Individual Photograph ~ Chi Brown 1st – Headline Writer ~ Aaron Saunders 1st – Sports Game Story ~ Aaron Saunders “Eagles Stumble in Boone" 2nd – Informational Graphic/News Illustration ~ Steven Brown 2nd – Sports News Story ~ Jonathan Alexander "Eagles scratch Seattle" 2nd – Investigation or In-Depth Reporting ~ Echo staff 2nd – News Coverage ~ Echo staff 2nd – Online Site ~ David Fitts and Echo staff 2nd – Individual Page Design ~ Carlton Koonce 2nd – Online Video Reporting ~ Echo staff 3rd – Online Multimedia Package ~ Echo staff 3rd – Best Student Newspaper 3rd – Spot News Story ~ Jonathan Alexander "Democratic Party stalwart speaks at Lyceum" Honorable Mention - Photo Essay ~
April Simon "Harvest of Dignity" 2010 - Society of Professional Journalists - Mark of Excellence 1st – All-Around Student newspaper 3rd – Feature Photography "Monday Night Jazz," Chi Brown 3rd – Editorial Writing, Ashley Griffin 2010 ~ HBCU Excellence in Journalism Awards 1st – Student Newspaper 1st – Online Site 1st – Headline Writer, Geoffrey Cooper 1st – Editorial Cartoon, Brandon Murphy 1st – Individual Page Design, Carlton Koonce 2nd – Design-Broadsheet ~ Carlton Koonce 2nd – Design-Broadsheet or Tabloid, Geoffrey Cooper 2nd – Online Multimedia Package 2nd – Editorial/Opinion Section Honorable Mention - Best Photo Story – “Recyclery,” Chi Brown 2009 - HBCU Excellence in Journalism Awards 1st - Headline Writer, Shelbia Brown 1st - Photo Story - Nighttime in Durham, Kenice Mobley 1st - Photo Story - Hillside High's Artists, Ray Tyler 2nd - Newspaper Design 3nd - A&E Criticism, Chasity Richardson 3rd - Investigative Story, Tubas MIA, Geoffrey Cooper 2008 - HBCU Excellence in Journalism Awards 1st - Overall Student Newspaper Editors Rony Camille and Shelbia Brown) 1st -Best Features A&E Section (Joanna Hernandez and Brooke Sellars) 1st - Overall Sports Coverage (Larisha Stone and Quentin Gardner) 1st - Sports Game Story (Quentin Gardner) 1st - Sports Feature (unidentified by judge) 2nd - Special Section (“Some of Our Teachers,” Rony Camille, Travis Ruffin, Shelbia Brown, Natalia Farrer, Geoffrey Cooper, Gabriana Clay-White) 2nd - Feature Story (“It’s a Family in the Shop,” Kenali Battle) 2nd - Use of Photography (Staff Photographers) 2nd - Sports Story (“NCCU Trounces FSU,” Quentin Gardner) 3rd -Best Individual Page Design (“Denita Smith: An Immeasurable Loss,” Rony Camille) 3rd - Feature Writing (“If Colors Could Talk,” Kristiana Bennett) 3rd - Editorial/Opinion Section (Kai Christopher) 3rd - Sports Story (“Thanks for the Memories, CIAA,” Shatoya Cantrell) Honorable Mention - Overall News Coverage (Rony Camille, Shelbia Brown and staff) Honorable Mention - Feature Story (“Cerebral Palsy Slows Body, Not Soul,” Denique Prout)
2007 - HBCU Excellence in Journalism Awards 1st - Use of Photography 1st - Design Broadsheet 1st - News Illustration 1st - Individual Page Design 2nd - Online 2nd - Student Newspaper Nonweekly 2nd - Editorial Cartoon (Brandon Murphy) 2nd - Spot News Story 2nd - Special Section/Theme Edition 2nd - Individual Photography (Roderick Heath) 3rd - Signed Commentary and Column Writing 3rd - Sports Photography (Roderick Heath) 3rd - Features/ A&E Section 2006 - HBCU Excellence in Journalism Awards 1st - Best Overall Newspaper 1st Design - Staff award 1st - Use of Photography 1st - Special Section - Election preview (Rony Camille) 1st - Overall Sports Coverage (Sasha Vann) 1st - Headline (Carla Aaron-Lopez) 1st - Individual Page Design Katrina Brings Misery (Carla AaronLopez) 2nd - News Coverage - SGA Elections (Staff) 2nd - Editorial cartoon - Bush Steals Votes (Kalen Davis) 2nd -Best Feature/A&E Section 3rd - Editorial Cartoon - Crossing Fayetteville Street (Brandon Murphy) Honorable Mention - Signed Commentary (Carla Aaron-Lopez) Honorable Mention - Arts and Entertainment Criticism (Carla Aaron-Lopez) Honorable Mention - Sports Photograph - Roderick Heath Honorable Mention - Feature Writing - Julius Jones Honorable Mention - Online Newspaper - Tiffany Kelly, Erica Horne 2005 - Mark of Excellence Award Society of Professional Journalists Region 2 1st - All Around Online Newspaper 2nd - Non-Daily Newspaper (weekly or monthly) 3rd - General Column WritingLovemore Masakadza 3rd - Online spot news "Ammons to replace vice chancellor,” Lovemore Masakadza 2005 - HBCU Excellence in Journalism Awards 1st - General Excellence Award (Overall), Campus Echo staff 1st - Best News Coverage, Campus Echo Staff 1st - Spot News Story, Lovemore Masakadza,"NCCU students give views on debate" 1st - News Story, Lovemore Masakadza, "Stompin' out HIV" 1st - Photography 1st - Individual Photo, Aaron Daye, "Sound Machine" 1st - Feature/AE Page Design, Aaron
Daye, “Sound Machine Feature” 1st - Individual Sports Page Design, Sheena Johnson, “Aggie-Eagle Classic” 2nd - Editorial Cartoon, Kalen Davis, "Undercover Bush stealing votes again" 2nd - Best Feature Story, Ihuoma Ezeh, "Single moms work hard" 3rd - Front Page Design Honorable Mention - Investigative Series, Lovemore Masakadza, "Provost/Tenure process" Honorable Mention - News Story, Lovemore Masakadza, "Tenure process reveals kinks" 2004 - Society of Professional Journalists - Mark of Excellence Award, Region Two 1st - All-Around Online Student Newspaper 2nd - All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper 2003 - Society of Professional Journalists - Mark of Excellence Award, Region Two 1st - All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper 1st - Feature Photography, Rashaun Rucker for "Dog Days" 2nd - All-Around Online Student Newspaper 2nd - Feature Photography, Mike Feimster for "Postcards from Harlem" 3rd - In-Depth Reporting, Terra Abrams and Dalia Davies for "Crying Murder" Honorable Mention - Feature Writing, Cedric Bowers for "What's in a Word?" Honorable Mention - Sports Photography, Mike Feimster 2003 - HBCU Excellence in Journalism Awards 1st - News Story, Terra Abrams & Dalia Davies for "Crying Murder" 1st - Sports Photograph, Mike Feimster 1st - Layout and Design, Campus Echo staff 2nd - General Excellence - Overall Paper, Campus Echo staff 2nd - On-Line Newspaper, Campus Echo 2nd - News Photograph, Rashaun Rucker 2nd - Cartoon, Remy Yearwood for Campus Life 9/5/02 3rd - Sports Column, Mike Williams 3rd - News Photograph, Rashaun Rucker 3rd - Sports Photograph, Rashaun Rucker 3rd - Feature Photography, Rashaun Rucker 2002 - Society of Professional Journalists - Mark of Excellence Award, Region Two 2nd - Overall Non-Daily Student Newspaper 2002 - HBCU Excellence in Journalism Awards 1st - Best Newspaper - Biweekly, Campus Echo staff 1st - Online Edition, Jennie Alibasic 1st - News Coverage, Campus Echo staff 1st - Overall Photography, Rashaun Rucker
1st - Photograph, Rashaun Rucker 1st - Layout & Design, Campus Echo staff 2nd - Feature, Cedric Bowers for "What's in a word?" 2nd - Sports Coverage, Mike Williams 2001 - HBCU Excellence in Journalism Awards 1st - News Coverage, Campus Echo staff 1st - Online Edition, Jennie Alibasic 1st - Photography, Rashaun Rucker & Mike Feimster 1st - Sports Coverage, Ed Boyce editor 2nd - News Story, Ed Boyce for "Votes to decide fate of schools" 2nd - Feature Story, Maria Beaudoin for "NCCU offers training for the visually impaired" 2nd - Individual Photo, Rashaun Rucker for "MLK's Eternal Flame" 2nd - Sports Story, Ed Boyce for "Pippen runs through adversity" 3rd - Individual Graphic Design, Remy Yearwood for graphic designed for student survey "Politics" Honorable Mention - In-Depth Reporting, for "Student Survey: A Four-Part Series" by Rainah Simmons, LaToya Goolsby. Honorable Mention - News Story, Danny Hooley for "The Long Goodby" Honorable Mention - Design and Layout, Danny Hooley, Ed Boyce, Mike Williams, Rainah Simmons, Jennie Alibasic, and Phonte Coleman Honorable Mention - Commentary, Jennie Alibasic for "Presumed innocence for whom?” Honorable Mention - Overall Grahics, Remy Yearwood. 2000 - HBCU Excellence in Journalism Awards 1st - Best Newspaper, Echo staff 1st - Online Edition, Jennie Alibasic 2nd - Sports Coverage, Ed Boyce & Mike Williams 2nd - Photography, Rashaun Rucker 3rd - Spot News Story, Phonte Coleman for "Dr. Al Clark dies" 3rd - Feature Story, Christine Newman for "Daycare has personal touch" 2nd - Design/Layout, Danny Hooley & Ed Boyce Honorable Mention - Spot Reporting, Danny Hooley for "Shooting near NCCU" 1999 - HBCU Excellence in Journalism Awards 1st - Spot News Coverage, Campus Echo staff 1st - Spot News Story, Mari McNeil for "Food service" 1st - Photography, Paul Phipps 2nd - Photograph, Paul Phipps 3rd - Sports Story, Ed Boyce for "Harper brings" 3rd - Spot News Story, Richard Dunlop for "Housekeepers" 3rd - Spot News Story, Richard Dunlop for "Housekeepers" Honorable Mention - Spot News Story, Dinky Kearney for "Lawsuits" Honorable Mention - Spot News, Kim Ross for "Housing dilemma"