Q&A with Chancellor Robinson Annual fair showscases study abroad Dysheada Reid Editor-in-Chief @dreid112
Chancellor Elwood L. Robinson is eight months into his profession as a first-time chancellor at Winston-Salem State. Robinson started in January, the middle of the academic year. While maintaining a busy lifestyle he still continues to keep his constituents updated on social media. The Argus interviewed him to discuss his plans for the University and to get a insight for his transition so far. Argus: How has your time been here so far? Robinson: It been a whirlwind and a tremendous learning curve for me not having been chancellor before. So I’m trying to get the ins and outs of a system this large. So, It’s been great. I’ve also had a chance to talk to the community. Argus: You have been here since January. What are your top three priorities for the 2015-2016 academic year? Robinson: One [priority] is to get a sense of how it’s like to be here in the fall. Even though I’ve been here for eight
months, I have not experienced going through a fall semester. The other[priotity] is I am coming in on a strategic plan which ends in 2015. So our top priority for the next four months is completing the next strategic plan for the next five to seven years. We started in the summer and we are looking at the next phase now. We certainly will have a great deal of student participation. Argus: Typically, when chancellors enter a university they bring their own team of administrators, but so far you have kept the Reaves administration. Do you plan to make any changes? Robinson: I think it’s all about style, leadership and perspective. I don’t know if that’s the case where you come in and bring your own team. I think I’m having a hard time understanding exactly what that means, but I think it means you go to an organization and you see how its has been functioning.
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WSSU-Dominos deal ‘on order’ for next semester
Desrick Rhooms Reporter @drhooms112
Starting next semester, students will be able to use their Ram Cards to purchase food from Domino’s at 450 Knollwood Street in Winston-Salem. Donald Pearsall, the assistant vice chancellor for business services at Winston-Salem State, said students can place orders over the phone with their Banner ID numbers or swipe their Ram Cards in the store. The agreement is aimed to benefit Domino’s for additional revenue, the students for additional food options and convenience, and the University for commission earned from student sales. Sonya Glanton, Domino’s manager on, said she expects their machine to accept Ram Cards next semester. Students should be notified via email when they can begin ordering Students who use the ser
vice will have a special menu. The menu items have not been decided yet. “Partnering with Domino’s was a no brainer because Domino’s has been a partner for a while,” Pearsall said. The University will receive a commission for every order placed with a Ram Card. The funds will go toward student scholarships and athletic programs. Pearsall said the contract has not been finalized but will be a permanent agreement that will extend past this academic year. Wake Forest has apartnered with Domino’s for about three years. Sarah Barkley, marketing manager for Aramark at WFU, said students can call or order online using and have Domino’s delivered. She said Dominos has partnered with Wake Forest Dining program for about three years now.
Photo credit by Nigel Peterson
The study abroad fair was held on [what date and time]. The fair showcased information for many potential students that will study abroad in differing countries. Danisha Wiggins (left), senior [what major] explains and answers questions of fellow rams about the program.
WSSU to play in Viking Class for 1st time Demetrius Dilliard Reporter @ddillard112 Vibrant, jubilant and exhilarating are a few words that describe the Down East Viking Football Classic, an event in which the WinstonSalem State football team will participate in for the first time at 4 p.m. Sept. 26. Elizabeth City State has hosted the Classic since it began in 1998, when the Vikings faced Fayetteville State. This year’s matchup will be the 18th annual Classic. Each year, the event
draws more than 10,000 fans to the Rocky Mount Sports Complex in Rocky Mount, N.C. In 1997, Edward McLean, former ECSU athletic director, and Claudie Mackey, an ECSU faculty member, proposed the idea of the Classic to Charles Penny, the ECSU Board of Trustees Chairman at the time. “We see [the Classic] as a great opportunity to showcase our community,” said Penny, who now serves as the first Black city manager of Rocky Mount. “The event also gives a
chance for folks to come into our community and enjoy CIAA football and fellowship.” Penny said he is excited for the large following WSSU brings and looks forward to everyone commuting from Winston-Salem enjoying what Rocky Mount has to offer. Second-year head football coach Kienus Boulware said this year’s game will be his fifth time coaching in the Classic and his first with WSSU.
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opinion Page 2
The News Argus
Monday, September, 14 2015
www.thenewsargus.com
Welcome Back Ram Family
Welcome back, Ram Family! We are just getting into the school year. I am excited to be back in spite of the long lines, mediocre cafeteria food and rising tuition, I still have immense pride for Winston-Salem State. This University has provided me with countless opportunities to empower myself and the people around me. I have worked with The News Argus for three years, and in that time I have taken on several positions. I started as Campus Crew reporter, and slowly took on more responsibilities as I learned more about the world of journalism. Working with The News Argus has inspired me to not be afraid to seek and speak the truth. I do not lace my words with sugar. I promise to deliver the truth, unbridled: uncensored and always balanced. We are the mechanics. It is my staff and my duty to open the hood of this
University to see if the machine is as well-oiled as it appears. Have no doubts. Whether the information is bad or good, my staff will collect the facts and report to the public through print and online. Help us take our social media presence to the next level by following us on Instagram and Twitter @ thenewsargus. Hit that “like” button on our Facebook page and don’t forget to friend us. Comment or share your favorite Argus Articles and tag us. We welcome everyone to our meetings 5 to 5:30 p.m. every Monday in 107 Old Nursing.
As a matter of policy, The News Argus will publish corrections for errors in facts. The corrections will be made as soon as possible after the error has been brought to the attention of The News Argus at
thenewsargus@gmail.com
Dysheada Reid Editor-in-Chief Matt Parmesano Sports Editor Sheridan Watkins Marketing/Sales Manager Chelsey Wiggins Multimedia Manager
Tiara Benett - Reporter Nicholas Carter - Reporter Demetrius Dillard - Reporter Shadonna Gorham - Reporter
Dr. Lona Cobb Faculty Advisor Photos and Interviews by Argus Staff
The News Argus staff randomly selects WSSU students, faculty and staff to respond to provocative questions about current issues or concerns -- on and off campus. Respondents’ comments do not represent the opinions of the Argus staff. To hear the respondents’ entire responses, visit www.thenewsargus.com
SABRINA VANN THERAPUTIC RECREATION SALISBURY The salad bar is nice. It adds flavor to the caf, but at the same time it took away from the seating space
TORI NICJKENS PSYCOLOGY MARYLAND No, they wasted money on a salad bar that should have gone to better food. It also makes the seating arrangements in the café horrible. It was a bad idea.
Recently, the caf has been rearranged. A salad, deli, and dessert bar was built in the middle of the sitting area to reduce traffic inside the kitchen area. This issue’s Campus Crew asks…
Do you think the arrangement of the caf was necessary?
PRESTON ROSS MGMT. NFORMATION SYS.. FAYETVILLE No, it’s really crowed because they took away seats. They should have put it in the globe area of the caf because there were no seats there to
JAYLON HERBIN POLITICAL SCIENCE WINSTON-SALEM Yes, we needed a new look in the caf. The new salad bar gave the café a fresh look
TORI HILLARD MIDDLE GRADE ED. WILSON No, the new salad bar should have been in the globe section of the caf. It takes up too much space in the middle of the café, and eliminates space.
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The News Argus
News & Features
Monday September 14, 2015
At 9 a.m. in DJR Aramark Food services, an unknown person purchased food with counterfeit money. A female employee said they found two counterfeited $20 and cannot remember the time the purchase was made and what register was used. The case is closed. Thursday, Sept. 3 Harassment At noon in DJR, a male freshman campaign contestant was disqualified because during his speech he said, “What are those?” to another male contestant. He said that question is a joke to ask the authenticity of someone’s shoes. After he made the statement, he was told the contestant had a prosthetic leg. After he apologized to the student, he said students were making rude comments about him. When he returned to his room, several unknown students knocked on his door and threatened to fight him. Friday, Sept. 4 Disorderly Conduct At 12:55 p.m. in the Thompson Center, the building
coordinator reported to Campus Police that three males were were flirting and touching female students to convince them to swipe them into Kennedy Dinning Hall. The building coordinator approached them and asked for their Ram Cards, but only one male had it. He asked them to leave the building. The males were not arrested because when Campus Police arrived, they were not there. Saturday, Sept. 5 Violation of Controlled Substance Act At 8:20 a.m., Campus Police responded to possible drug activity. One male student was in the room and was asked to if there was any illegal substance in the room. He said, “I’m going to keep it 100. I do have a scale and a small bag of marijuana in that red suitcase.” He was sent to Student Conduct. The case is closed. Sunday, Sept. 6 Harassment At 8:18 p.m. in Rams Commons a female student told Campus Police that students have been approaching her about a video of her performing a sex act with a male student.
www.thenewsargus.com
CHANCELLOR continued from Page 1
The Campus Incident Report is a summary of the up-to-date incidents that affect the Winston-Salem State campus and community. Incidents can lead to News Argus news stories. Thursday, Sept. 3rd Counterfeiting
She and her friend have approached him several times to retreive the video, but he said, “I’m not going to be that messy, but just know I have a video of her having sex with someone else.” She said it started last year when she broke up with the male’s friend. He then started to ask her out, but she rejected him several times. On Sept. 9, the male student went to Campus Police and said he knew about the video because his friend showed him last year. Tuesday, Sept. 8 Communicating Threats At 10 a.m. in Rams Commons Building 4, a male student said his suitemate threatened him because he was stealing his food. He told him he has his own food and does not touch his belongings. The next day, he was accused again, his suitemate said, “If you take my food again, you are going to wind up in the backseat of my car.” A witness heard the threat. The case was sent to Student Conduct. Source: Winston-Salem State Department of Police and Public Safety
When I got here the metrics of WSSU was outstanding across the board. The University was solid. So what that tells you is you’ve had a team that did some good things. We’ve brought in some new hires here and there. As a philosophy, you do want to give people a chance to see how they work with you. I don’t think you can do that in three or six months. Argus: WSSU has lost more than $35 million in state funds over the past five years because of budget cuts. In an article published in the Chronicle, you said it was important to find ways to compensate for the loss of funds. Name two ways you have done this. Robinson: I think in any operation like WSSU, revenues come from many different sources. Probably about 58 percent of our dollars come from the state. The rest come from other resources. There has also been a reduction of
students we serve. We went from 6,200 students to about 5,100. You expect that along with the reduction of students you would need less staff and less resources. What has been happening across the country in terms of state supporting in higher education is dwindling tremendously. I feel we are in a good spot. To read the full interview, visit www.thenewsargus.com
Compiled by Sheridan Watkins
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Page 4 The News Argus gus.com
Sports
Monday, September 14, 2015
‘Bloom’ in the back’field’ one of the leaders.” Bloomfield, a 6-foot-2-inch, 252pound defensive end, made the 2014 CIAA all-conference second-team and received 2015 preseason CIAA all-conference honors. The Rams lost their season-opener to UNC-Pembroke Sept. 3, but Boulware said Bloomfield played well and that he expects a lot of quarterback sacks from him this season. Bloomfield, a senior exercise physiology major from Jacksonville, N.C., also excels in the classroom. He made the Dean’s List the past four semesters.
Photo courtesy of wssurams.com
Michael Bloomfield By Demetrius Dillard Reporter ddillard112@rams.wssu.edu
Winston-Salem State football player Michael Bloomfield is this issue’s recipient of the Coach’s Game Ball. “He has a relentless motor,” head coach Kienus Boulware said. “And he’s been in the system now longer than anybody else on the defensive line, so he has a strong knowledge of the game, and he’s
Argus: When did you begin playing football? Bloomfield: I began playing in the eighth grade. I grew an interest in learning how to play the sport when I was watching NFL stars Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, both defensive ends for the Indianapolis Colts. Argus: Why did you choose WSSU? Bloomfield: I chose to come to WSSU because they offered me a full scholarship to play football. Plus, my other two offers from UNC Pembroke and NC Central fell through. Argus: Describe the greatest
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“It’s an electrifying atmosphere,” Boulware said. “It’s full of tailgating, and there’s probably just as many people outside the gate that will be in the stands.” In regards to what it means for WSSU to be involved in such a thrilling atmosphere for the first time, Boulware said, “It’s no different from any other game for us.” Boulware sees the Classic as an opportunity for WSSU football to advertise its brand to the city of Rocky Mount. “We might even be able to land some future students to the University,” Boulware said. WSSU athletic director Tonia Walker said, “We’re always looking to paint the city and the stadium red wherever we go.” Boulware, Walker and Chancellor Elwood Robinson attended a press conference in August at the Rocky Mount City Hall, accompanied by WSSU alumni. Walker said there is a “friendly rivalry” between the Rams, the Vikings, the coaches and even the chancellors. She anticipates being a part of the Classic and said it will greatly benefit the athletic department, along with the WSSU community. The Classic is more than a football game; it’s a series of events for the community from Sept. 23 to Sept. 26, including a golf challenge, college and regional bands and a variety of social activities.
highlight of your career thus far. Bloomfield: The greatest highlight of my career took place against Shippensburg University in the first round of the playoffs. Shippensburg was trying to make a comeback late in the fourth quarter. It was third down and long, and I got the game-winning sack that ended Shippensburg’s drive and sealed the victory for us. Argus: Who do you attribute your success to? Bloomfield: I give my success to the Lord. I always tell myself that the Lord gave me the strength, speed and ability to play the game of football, and all I’ve done is use what he gave. Argus: What is your ultimate career goal? Bloomfield: To try my shot at the NFL, hoping to play for a team that runs a predominantly four-man defensive line. Argus: What impact do you wish to leave on the football program and the WSSU community? Bloomfield: The impact I want to leave at WSSU is another NFL jersey to be hung at the field house alongside defensive end [William] Hayes of the St. Louis Rams.
Super Bowl champion joins WSSU coaching staff By Matt Parmesano S ports E ditor @mattparmwsj Former NFL player Chip Vaughn has a Super Bowl ring. He’s now after more hardware, hoping to help lead the Winston-Salem State football team to CIAA titles and Division II national championships. Vaughn is entering his first season as safeties coach. He joined the Rams coaching staff in July as part of the NFL Players Association Coaching Internship program but has since been hired full time. Vaughn is one of three current WSSU coaches with NFL playing experience, including wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator Thabiti Davis and running backs coach Natrone Means. The 29-year-old Fairfax, Va. native played safety at Wake Forest, where he earned First-Team All-ACC honors as a senior in 2008, before being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2009 draft. Vaughn received a ring from the Saints’ 2010 Super Bowl run despite suffering an injury in the preseason that forced him to miss the season. He went on to play two more seasons in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers. The NFLPA Coaching Intern-
Photo courtesy of wssurams.com
Chip Vaughn
ship was implemented in 2011 as part of the NFL collective bargaining agreement. The program, built in collaboration with the American Football Coaches Association, is designed to help former players transition into other fields of work. Vaughn was given his pick of any Division II, Division III or National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics school. He said WSSU was an easy choice. “Being a Wake guy, I’m familiar with the town and everything,” Vaughn said. “And Winston-Salem State has had a great football program the last four to five years; Coach [Boulware] and his staff have done a fantastic job. All of these things made me feel like this would be a great fit for me.” Vaughn joins a staff led by secondyear head coach Kienus Boulware,
whose passion is also defense. The Rams went 9-2 in Boulware’s first season at the helm in 2014, losing in the CIAA championship game. WSSU was ranked No. 20 in Division II in the 2015 American Football Coaches Association Preseason Poll after finishing last season No. 24. “It’s been great working with Coach Boulware,” Vaughn said. “Anytime you can get around different defensive schemes that have been successful, it just expands your whole game more. Coming here has made my knowledge of the game grow.” Boulware said Vaughn has been a great addition to the staff. “He’s played safety at the highest level, so he’s brought great knowledge of the position,” Boulware said. “I’ve been here for six years, and we’ve been doing things one particular way defensively. To have Coach Vaughn come in and for him to tell us, ‘Hey, this is what we used to do,’ it’s just brought a different perspective to the game.” Boulware’s appreciation for Vaughn was shown in a huge way after just three weeks, when Vaughn, who was still an intern at the time, was offered a job coaching outside linebackers at Catawba College. When Vaughn informed Boulware of the offer and told him he intended to accept, Boulware and
WSSU matched Catawba’s offer, which persuaded Vaughn to stay. The WSSU job isn’t Vaughn’s first experience as a coach. He served as the secondary coach at Furr High School in Houston, Texas in 2014. Vaughn said he is looking forward to his career as a coach, but he knows he has a lot to learn. “My plan right now is just to learn everything I can,” Vaughn said. “Even though I played, the coaching aspect is a lot different. In coaching, you have to be able to explain schemes and techniques. I’m not going to say I’d be opposed to being a head coach someday, but right now I’m just focused on growing as a coach.” One thing that will help Vaughn is his experience as a player, especially the fact he played in the NFL. Vaughn said he feels like that will help him gain the respect of his players. “When I was a player, I responded better to a coach that had actually done it,” Vaughn said. “It didn’t even have to be that he played in the pros. As long as he strapped it up and knew what it feels like out there on the field. There’s a different perspective from a guy that played football and a guy that never played. From a player’s perspective, there’s a stronger bond there.”