Volume 55 Issue 3

Continued Special Edition: NSU History

Interested in greek life?

See page 5

The voice of the Spartan community

Vol. 55, No. 3

02.27.08

Former NSU Professor Made Historical Mark in Civil Rights Era

Thomas Wilson / The Spartan Echo

Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research is named after NSU’s first female President and first woman to serve as the chief executive officer of a four-year, state supported university in Virginia.

First Class Building Named for First Female President

By Jaedda Armstrong Editor-in-Chief Norfolk State University’s Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research, which opened in April 2007, is a state owned, six-story, approximately 128,000 square-foot structure.

This building is the gateway to the upcoming RISE campus, and it is the operating place for graduate level education and research. It is also the future home of new science and technology buildings.

Named after Marie V. McDemmond , the university’s first female and third president, the building is a recent addition to the campus. McDemmond is the first woman to serve as the chief executive officer of a four-year, state supported university in Virginia.

Prior to becoming president of NSU on July 1, 1997, McDemmond served as vice-president for finance for Florida Atlantic University and its seven campuses.

McDemmond received her doctorate in higher education administration and finance from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. During her eight year tenure, she eliminated a $6.5 million budget deficit.

“It’s a great building named after a great former president,” said Marcia Long, a 2002 NSU graduate. “She did a lot for the university during her tenure and she deserved to have that state of the art building named after her.”

McDemmond also helped increase fundraising in the community, and introduced a marketing campaign to improve the image of NSU. In a major agreement with Tidewater Community College, she developed a PASSport program for students not meeting admittance requirements at NSU. This program helped the university raise admission standards and improved graduation rates.

McDemmond resigned in 2005 due to health reasons. The building is the first phase to the upcoming Rise Campus.

“The Rise Campus is the beginning of a new NSU,” said Greg Moore, a computer science major at NSU. “Pretty soon there will be a lot of resources on campus geared towards research and technology.”

“

A casual observer of the atmosphere on NSU’s campus would be right to assume that the impacts of Jones’ contributions are still felt.

”

Photo Illustration Bryon Summers /Spartan Echo

By Lerone Graham Managing Editor When past influential black figures are brought up in conversations, it’s likely that many of the same names surface.

Though these individuals certainly earned immortality through their contributions to society, one would be remised not to mention some of the lesser known participants in the struggle for equality-- especially those that helped change the face of education in an entire nation.

M. Boyd Jones, a Virginia Beach native and former Norfolk State University professor passed away in January of a cardiovascular disease. He was 98 years old.

In 1951, Jones was the principal at Robert R. Moton High School in Farmville, Va. Students at the all-black school staged a protest against segregation that year-- a protest that cost Jones his job. He did not know that they were

planning a school walkout that morning, although later, after he lost his job and after Prince

“I didn’t know who he was until after he died. It should be more known that someone who taught here has done so much.”

Megan Bailey

desegregate, he admitted that he wasn’t surprised by his students’ audacity.

Dr. Jones told The Washington Post in 1999 that he had been “training them for four years” to stand up for their rights. “We taught them to become dissatisfied with mediocrity, with hand-medowns,” he said.

Though he lost his job, it wasn’t a total loss. It started the spark which set the fire that is See Jones Page 3

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02.27.08 The voice of the Spartan community

The Welfare of Spartan Pride

By Joshua J. Houston Copy Editor

Editor-In-chief Jaedda Armstrong

Managing editor Lerone Graham

student life editor Tiana Stephenson

news editor Jasmine McKeiver

sports editor John Nichols

Behold the green and gold!

As a freshman, you immediatly learn the Norfolk State University school motto.

The theme behind any school motto is to promote camaraderies, unity, and school spirit amongst students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

But as the semesters move along, it seems as if school spirit is escaping the masses.

While NSU offers a plethora of educational forums and opportunities for its students, student participation is purely staggering. The number of flyers that are approved in Office of Student Activities or Office of Residential Life and Housing compared to the number of students that actually attend the program is baffling. Sororities and fraternities seem to have the largest turnout in people attending programs, but what about other organizations? Why do events have to promote some related topic on sex or racism for students to attend?

Colleges should be a balance of social and educational events,

but are we more concerned with going to the block party behind Gills Gym than a forum on graduate schools? Or a seminar on available scholarships for students? Something else to think about, do we essentially care about the governorship of our school? Last semester, the faculty and staff outnumbered students attending the General Assembly meeting in Brown Theatre, yet students complained about the cafeteria, parking, residence hall issues and so forth, but the majority did not attend the meeting. The Student Government Association was terrific in conveying our issues to the administration, but how about individuals’ responsibility of having a voice. With students having to compete for financial aid, and tuition rates going up annually, we should be rising, we should be participating and be knowledgeable in the strategies of the administration.

At Morgan State University in Baltimore, an article was published in their yearbook about a protest given by their students when the state of Maryland cut their funding for

a new library to be built on their campus. Their president cancelled classes, and students staged sit-ins and marched around the statehouse in protest.

At Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., the Black Students’ Association sponsored an anti-racism campaign when a surge of hate mail was sent to their black students and a student’s car was vandalized with racist slur. The campaign drew nearly all of the students and some professors to start a petition for a new dean of Multicultural Affairs and increased staff diversity.

In institutions where we are taught about prominent blacks such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Frederick Douglass, or Mary McLeod Bethune, why are we not taking a stand? Is this a dream deferred where the people who have sacrificed for us to be educated are no longer truly appreciated?

Are we a generation more concerned with the latest fashion or music video than their own political voice or intellectualism?

Go figure.

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02.27.08 The voice of the Spartan community

Jones

Influential Leader Paved the Way for NSU’s Education Department

From page 1

Brown vs. Board of Education, the lawsuit that led to the desegregation of schools.

A casual observer of the atmosphere on NSU’s campus can see the impact of Jones’ legacy. Though it is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), it is not uncommon to see students and faculty of all ethnicities perusing the campus.

This atmosphere shows that blacks now attend HBCU’s by choice, not just because they aren’t allowed to attend the same school as whites.

“I think that there should have been a memorial for him after he passed. He definitely should have been honored,” said Elisa Sylver, a sophomore at NSU. During his tenure at NSU, Jones taught math, and eventually ended up leading the department. Faculty that Jones encountered also spoke highly of him.

Sandra DeLoatch, dean of the School of Science and Technology told The VirginianPilot that Jones was a “wonderful Former NSU mentor.” professor M. “He hired Boyd Jones, me as a young passed away inexperienced in January of a cardiocollege graduate, vascular He took a disease. He chance on me,” was 98.

DeLoatch said.

“We’re going to miss him terribly.”

Megan Bailey, a junior at NSU feels that more students should be aware of his contributions.

“I didn’t know who he was until after he died. It should be more known that someone who taught here has done so much,” Bailey said.

Jones is also remembered by his fellow members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. “Dr. M. Boyd Jones was a counselor, mentor, fraternity brother, co-worker, and friend to me. His teaching and leadership provided guidance and direction to all who knew him,” said Charles Pleasants, a member of the fraternity and NSU retiree.

Though he may not be mentioned in textbooks as a well-known civil rights activist, those that remember Jones acknowledge him as a man of high importance.

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nsu history

Thomas Wilson / The Spartan Echo

The first contest played in Dick Price Stadium drew a record 34,000 fans, as Norfolk State played Virginia State.

Stadium named for former record breaking NSU coach

By Marques Gilliam Spartan Echo To some it’s just a stadium that Norfolk State University’s football calls home during the regular season. For others, it’s a place they come to and watch the Spartans take on some of the best teams in the MEAC. The stadium is called Dick Price, but many people don’t know how that name came about.

The stadium was named after former NSU football coach William “Dick” Price. Price claims the record for the most wins as a head coach in NSU history. He coached from 1974-1983 and compiled a record of 61-42-4 over 10 seasons. His teams finished .500 or better in eight of his 10 years at the helm of the program. To this day, 53 of his former players went into the ranks of professional football.

Besides coaching football, he also coached the men’s track team to the NCAA Division II national championships in 1973 and 1974. He was also named the NCAA Division II Track Coach of the Year. In 1975, he was the first recipient of the Virginia Beach Sports Club’s “Director’s Award”, an honor only given to a sports personality in the Hampton Roads area who demonstrates integrity and a profound character. He was named “Sports Figure of the

Decade” and was honored by the Virginian-Pilot sports writing staff in 1979.

In 1989, Price became the athletic director of NSU. In that same year he was his NCAA Division II colleagues deemed him CIAA Athletic Director of the Year. In 1997, he was an

“When you’re on the field, you feel as if the world is yours and that’s a feeling you can’t take away.”

William Barnville

Inaugural Inductee of the Hampton Roads AfricanAmerican Sports Hall of Fame and was named Sportsman of the Year of the Norfolk Sports Club. In 2001, he was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Two years later, he was inducted into the Norfolk State University’s Athletics Foundation Sports Hall of Fame.

The stadium itself was built in 1997. It has a seating capacity of 30,000

and it is recognized as one of the largest sports and entertainment venues in Hampton Roads. It is also one of the largest Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as I-AA) football stadiums in terms of capacity. The stadium was constructed at a cost of $12.2 million. The stadium has a brick façade, a natural grass surface, an all-weather eight-lane rubberized track, a two-story press box and concession arenas located throughout the stadium’s ground level.

William Barnville, a member of NSU’s Spartan Legion marching band, said he loves the feeling that rushes through him when he marches in the stadium.

“When you’re on the field, you feel as if the world is yours and that’s a feeling you can’t take away,” he said.

In 2003, Viacom Outdoor Sports Marketing constructed a $400,000 Opto Tect LED video display board at the east end of the stadium to shoe crowd and field actions shots, pre-recorded messages, and live satellite feeds for Norfolk State’s televised games.

The first contest played in Dick Price Stadium drew a record 34,000 fans, as Norfolk State played Virginia State in 1997 at the annual Labor Day Classic.

Thomas Wilson / The Spartan Echo

The Bozeman building, fully constructed in 1963, was named after Herman Hollis Bozeman.

By Johnathan Copeland Spartan Echo Out of all of the buildings on Norfolk State University’s campus, the Bozeman Education Building is perhaps the most overlooked building on campus; even though it is passed by students’ everyday as they walk pass the Student Union Building. Being one of the smaller buildings on campus, the Bozeman building is usually off the radar for students who aren’t studying education.

However, its history, and the man that the building is named after, should not be ignored.

The Bozeman building, fully constructed in 1963, was named after Herman Hollis Bozeman. He was born on July 8, 1914 in Benson, Ala. Bozeman received his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Union University and his master’s and doctorate degree in education from the University of Michigan.

Bozeman continued to build his reputation in the nation for his contributions to education. Bozeman worked in many Virginia school systems before becoming chairman of the Division of Teacher Education at the Norfolk division of Virginia State College in 1958.

Under Bozeman’s direction, the school made great progress. NSU, then Norfolk State College, gained national recognition when a cooperative teacher education program was formed called the New Canaan Project. This project was created to research common teaching problems at cultural levels.

From this study it was concluded that it is easier to advance towards affluence, rather than to scale down to poverty.

“Wow. If it wasn’t for his accomplishments here, I probably wouldn’t be at NSU studying education,” said Carlia Branch, a sophomore at NSU. Bozeman was described as a strong leader who cared for his students, as well as his wife and two children.

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Nsu history

02.27.08 The voice of the Spartan community

Admin building bears name of NSU’s second President

By Sheriese Wilkins Spartan Echo Harrison B. Wilson’s major purpose as an educator was based upon a unique American vision, “To take students where they are and show them what they can be.”

Wilson became the second president of Norfolk State University in July of 1975. Pleased with a legacy that helped the school evolve into one of the largest historically black universities in Virginia, Wilson has had a number of accomplishments. During his 22-year tenure, he led the school to university status, expanded enrollment, and added 12 new buildings on the campus including a

performing arts center, five dormitories, and an administration building that would bear his name.

The budget and program offerings of NSU expanded as well, elevating its standing among the state’s list of colleges and universities. This is the tradition in which Wilson has dedicated his life.

Wilson was born in Amsterdam, N.Y. and he was the son of a housewife and a brick layer. He moved South after leaving the Navy in 1946 to attend Kentucky State University. After leaving Kentucky, he attended graduate school at Indiana University. He was later hired as a basketball coach at Jackson State University.

Wilson earned his master’s and doctorate degrees at Indiana University.

Wilson was voted “Male Most Likely to Succeed” by his senior class at Kentucky State University where he earned his bachelor’s degree. Wilson was a successful college professor, administrator and coach at Jackson State University.

In 1984, the Harrison B. Wilson Hall which now serves as the university’s administration building was completed.

This hall now houses all the administrative functions of the university, including human resources, Office of Admissions, Office of Student Affairs, and Office of the President.

Thomas Wilson / The Spartan Echo

Wilson helped in making Norfolk State University one of the largest historically black colleges in Virginia.

Gym named after first NSU basketball coach

By Jessica S. Mitchell Entertainment Editor

Norfolk: 624-9224 Virginia Beach: 473-8116 Hampton: 826-2079 www.ppsev.org

Joseph Echols Memorial Hall is a 7,000-seat multipurpose arena in Norfolk, Va. built in 1982. It is best known as the heart of Norfolk State University’s Spartan basketball team, primary athletics facility, and the home for the school’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps since the first day it opened. It is the second largest arena in capacity among Mid-Eastern Thomas Wilson / The Spartan Echo Athletic Conference teams. Joseph Echols held various positions in the Athletics Department at NSU. The Englewood N.J, native Joseph G. Echols was always a multi-sport standout Ronda Berard, NSU Tournament. As a member of at both St.Cecelia High women’s track coach never the board of directors of the School and Virginia State met Joseph Echols, but she Norfolk Sports Club, he was University. Before he began knew his vision. chairman of the Track and to teach, he had a professional “Echols wanted a multiField Committee. He served baseball career with the purpose gym where men and variously in the National Newark Eagles. women can play games and Football League as talent After pursuing his career classes are taught. His vision scouts, observer of officials, on the field, Echols served is now a reality.” and consultant. He also went in the Air Force, where he Echols initiated the on a six week tour in Africa ranked First Lieutenant. field work program with the as clinician and referee In 1955, Echols Norfolk Recreation Bureau of basketball for the State was employed as head for Physical Education Department. of the physical education and Recreation majors.

In April 1975, he was department, head football He initiated the baseball elected president of the coach, and director of movement, and became the International Association of athletics, an instructor to the first baseball head coach approved Basketball Officials Norfolk Division of Virginia at NSU. Echols served as and became a member of State College and Norfolk a chairman of the CIAA the board of directors and State University.

Baseball Coaches and inducted into the Basketball In 1960, the college Official Committees and as Hall of Fame. began to offer the bachelor’s commissioner of officials for Echols accomplished degree in physical education the Hampton Roads Board of tremendous activities towards which allowed students to Officials. physical education. pursue careers in this field. It He worked in the He dedicated his life was Echols who led varsity development of such athletics more than 20 years to the sports in baseball, track and programs such as Norfolk advancement of athletics, field, wrestling, swimming, State Relays and the Norfolk health and physical education tennis and golf.

State Holiday Basketball at NSU.

nsu history

02.27.08 The voice of the Spartan community

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The Emergence of Unity and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity completed the list of member organizations in 1997.

These organizations were founded by black lack Greek Letter Organizations men and women who were college educated and (BGLOs) have been around since the overcame adversity in the era and places that they beginning of the twentieth century, and were all founded. students, faculty and alumni continue to believe In 1961, Lyman Beecher Brooks, the president there’s a place for them on college campuses and of the university at the time, invited “The Great in the community.

Eight”, (Iota Phi Theta was not founded at the time), Justine Green, a senior journalism major and a to become an element of Norfolk State University’s member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., student life. believes that BGLOs are important to history.

In 1962, “The Great Eight” were all chartered at “BGLOs are important to history and NSU’s NSU. history because they were founded at a time when Iota Phi Theta was chartered at Norfolk State blacks were not considered people. They were College in 1968 to make them the fourth chapter of founded in the midst of segregation,” says Green.

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated in the world.

“It’s not about the organization; it is about the Since these fraternities and sororities were founders and what they wanted for people and the chartered at Norfolk State, they have been black community.” uplifting the purpose and the foundation of why The Divine Nine -- fraternities and sororities that their founding members started their respected are part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council -organizations. include the following: Odunayo Oluwole, a sophomore journalism Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. (1906); Alpha Kappa major and a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Alpha, Inc. (1908); Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, believes that groups are important Inc. (1911); Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc history.

(1911); Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (1913); The group is “important to history because Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. (1914); Zeta many contributions that were made in the AfricanPhi Beta Sorority, Inc.(1920); Sigma Gamma American community were done by Greeks, not Rho Sorority, Inc. (1922); and Iota Phi Theta just by anyone.”

Fraternity, Inc. (1963) are united along with The Divine Nine’s purpose is to uplift the black complete the council. community and to be of service.

Five of the nine Black Greek Letter Markeith Royster, a NSU alum and a member Organizations were founded at Howard of Iota Phi Theta, said community involvement is University. important.

Alpha Phi Alpha was founded on the campus “When I attended NSU, Iota Phi Theta held of Cornell University, Kappa Alpha Psi was a talent showcase to show people that Norfolk founded at Indiana University, Sigma Gamma State isn’t just a party school, that NSU has real Rho was founded at Butler University, and Iota talent,” said Royster. “We also had a petition Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Morgan and took 35 students on a bus to Washington State University.

D.C. for a march against AIDS. We conducted On May 10, 1930, on the campus of Howard evening services on campus every third Sunday University, the National Pan-Hellenic Council with a guest preacher called the Spiritual was formed as a permanent organization with the Empowerment Service.” following charter members: Omega Psi Phi and Jamaal Ali Richardson, a NSU alum Kappa Alpha Psi fraternities, and Alpha Kappa and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha says the Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta Phi Beta organizations have made a difference on sororities. campus.

In 1931, Alpha Phi Alpha and Phi Beta Sigma fraternities joined the council. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. joined in 1937

B

Photos by Thomas Wilson The Spartan Echo

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nsu history

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02.27.08 The voice of the Spartan community

Well-known Wilder Center Named for First Black Governor of Virginia

By Dóréal Quarles Spartan Echo

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Norfolk State University’s L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center was named after Virginia’s first black governor, Lawrence Wilder.

The center seats 1,800 people and hosts events such as conferences, theatrical productions, forums, and lectures.

Upon entering the center, guests are greeted with a large staircase and spiral chandelier before entering the large atrium with balcony seating. There are conference rooms and offices for gatherings and discussions.

Lawrence Douglas Wilder was named after abolitionist Frederick Douglas and poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. Born on January 17, 1931 in Richmond, Va., Wilder contributed to many of Virginia’s historical achievements.

These include winning the Bronze Star while serving in the Army during the Korean War and obtaining a degree in

Thomas Wilson / The Spartan Echo

The L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center cost more than $9 million to build and finally opened in 1996.

chemistry from Virginia Union University. After obtaining a law degree from Howard University and passing the bar exam, Wilder started his own law firm.

Later, he entered the world

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of politics and became the first black state senator in Virginia since the Reconstruction period.

He spent 10 years in the General Assembly before being elected to lieutenant governor in 1985.

Five years later, Wilder became Virginia’s sixty-sixth governor, and the first black governor in history.

He was known to be great at balancing the state budget.

The L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center cost more than $9 million to build and finally opened in 1996.

In addition to Norfolk State, Wilder has buildings named in his honor at Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Union University, and Hampton University. In 2005, he began serving as the first directly elected mayor of Richmond, Va. where he remains today.

Joyce Coker, general manager of the Douglas Wilder Center, remembers when Wilder visited the campus years back.

“Mr. Wilder came for the dedication of the building and he was impressed. He commented on the cleanliness of the building.”

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