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volume lXXXiii, no. 18
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SERVING THE AGGIE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 80 YEARS
Symposium brings students to A&t marcus Thompson Senior Reporter
KElciE mccraE
Opinions Editor
N o r t h Carolina A&T State University Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. appointed Judy Nazirah rashid Rashid as interim vice chancellor for Student Affairs to replace Vice Chancellor Sullivan A. Welborne Jr., who is retiring Feb. 5, according to a university press release. Effective Monday, Feb. 8, Rashid will serve on the Chancellor’s Senior Cabinet and lead the Division of Student Affairs. The national search for a permanent replacement is nearing its completion. “Dr. Sullivan Welborne has been an excellent role model, mentor and leader in the Division of Student Affairs,” Marin said. “He is well respected and loved by our university family and the Triad community for his years of dedicated service to young people.” “We are quite fortunate to have an experienced student affairs professional like Dr. Judy Rashid to step in and provide a smooth transition,” said Martin. Currently Rashid is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs–Dean of Students, and is a 1974 graduate from A&T. Rashid has been involved in education for the last 36 years as a former teacher, school principal, residence hall administrator, Memorial Student Union program director, and negotiation and conflict resolution teacher. She is a senior student affairs officer with the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA) and a member of the N.C. Bar Association (Dispute Resolution Section), the Association for the Study of Higher Education, College Student Educators International (ACPA), People to People International, and the Association for Conflict Resolution. She has received many recognitions including the 2006 Educator of the Year Award by the Greensboro Commission on the Status of Women; Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers for 2004 and 2005; the 2002 Carolina Peacemaker’s Greensboro 100 List of movers, Shakers, and Makers; and the Outstanding Administrator of the Year for N.C. A&T in 1998. Welborne is leaving after working over 38 years at A&T. In 1984, he became assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, and in 1989 he was appointed vice chancellor for student affairs until his retirement in 2001. See rashiD on Page 2
half a cEnTury laTEr Photo by KEnnETh hawKins •The A&T ReGISTeR
riBBon cuTTing As a crowd looked on, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, International civil Rights center & Museum Musem co-founder and Guilford county commission chairman Melvin “Skip” Alston, A&T Four member Joseph Mcneil, Gov. Bev perdue, museum co-founder and state Rep. earl Jones and A&T Four member Jibreel Khazan (formerly ezell Blair Jr.) cut the ribbon Monday at the museum’s grand opening.
See MoRe phoToS on pAGeS 4 & 5
ARE yoU
african amErican?
DExTEr r. mullins & KElciE mccraE The A&T Register
A
t 6 p.m tonight in Harrison Auditorium, senior public relations major Kanetra Washington will present “Are You African American?” a program that aims to open the minds of North Carolina A&T students in regards to racial identity. The program will feature spoken word from Mr. & Miss A&T, the E. Gwynn Dancers, Washington’s documentary on her trip to Malawi, and a special presentation by the National Pan Hellenic Council.
“This program is not to question whether you are African American or not,” said Washington. “It is to question your role in society and ask if you embrace your culture.” Washington went to Malawi last summer to study abroad, and was one of only two undergraduates of the four students to attend. She was teaching children while in Africa, and became inspired to produce this program based on her experience. Washington would have between 80-100 students in her class at a time. The documentary highlights her experiences; the way the
media portrays the African people, family and cultural life, as well as reasons for polygamy. “The one thing I want students to take with them from this is appreciation for resources that we have, and the portrayal of people in African countries,” Washington said. Washington says that her travel experience has forever changed her life. Dr. Eleanor Gwynn, creator of the E. Gwynn Dance Company, takes students out of the country every year to experience different cultures. “People who have travelled understand,” Gwynn said. “But
we need to do more, professors need to actually take their students out of the country and be with them so they can reflect with someone who is trained. I think African American identity has a long way to go.” Gwynn thinks that the program will help students broaden their minds, and the dance company will be performing an African dance to help draw emphasis to the understanding of identity. The program is free of charge, and C.A.S.E. hours will be offered to students who attend.
ONLINE
theYARD
theWORD
theSCORE
theSCENE
Jesse JaCkson sPeaks out
Panel disCusses the movement
the movement is diFFerent
Cruising in the meaC
mississiPPi mourning
The Register got exclusive video footage of Rev. Jackson and his thoughts, only online.
Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Ed Gordon, Steven A. Smith, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. are just a few people who came to the town hall.
Editor in Chief Dexter Mullins talks about how “Generation Next” is not leaving the movement, but redefining it.
“The Emmett Till Play” highlights the struggle and some of the earliest days of the civil rights movement.
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The Lady Aggies win their eighth straight victory, making them a force to be reckoned with in the MEAC.
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Wednesday
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF NORTH CAROLINA A&T
CamPus notebook
Rashid to fill the V.C. position for interim period
February 3, 2010
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Scholars from across the country convened to honor one of A&T’s most celebrated alumni from Jan. 27 to Jan. 29 for the 24th annual Ronald E. McNair Commemorative Celebration and Ninth National Research Symposium. Dr. Ronald E. McNair, who was a North Carolina A&T State University alumnus and the second Black astronaut, died in the Challenger disaster on Jan. 28, 1986. Since 1986 A&T has paid tribute to McNair annually on January 28. About 7 to 9 years ago, it was decided by the university to have something more substantive to honor Dr. McNair, so the celebration was turned into a national symposium. Each year, nationally recognized scholars are invited to speak, in addition to tributes and salutes from faculty members and McNair’s friends and family. Participants never had a dull moment over the course of the three-day celebration. On the first day, participants engaged in conference workshops before being serenaded with a jazz reception in Stallings Ballroom. On the second day, visitors engaged in a panel discussion, consisting of primarily graduate students, followed shortly with a commemorative celebration luncheon. Participants also made the traditional march from the Memorial Student Union to McNair Hall as a tribute and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity gave their own special song tribute. For the final day, both undergraduate students and faculty members gave oral and poster presentations in Merrick Hall and in the Exhibit Hall of the Memorial Student Union, respectively. A “networking lunch” and a graduate recruitment fair were also held for guests, faculty, and students. Graduate studies were especially emphasized for the McNair Program, a multidisciplinary program which focuses on student research, preparation for grad school, and obtaining a doctorate degree. On the final night of the three-day event, the entire celebration culminated with an awards banquet and a dance in Stallings. The McNair Program, started in 1992, has 170 active programs across the nation and up to 28 students are selected each year for each program. It is a year-round program, where students are able to do research at various venues across the country, even over the course of the summer. Through the program students get acquainted with graduate See mcnair on Page 2
WEATHER
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Wednesday
49° Low: 25° High:
thursday: Cloudy | High 47° Friday: Rain | High 37°