the
news
argus
WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY
WWW.THENEWSARGUS.COM
MONDAY
NOV 17
2014
Vol.53, Issue 5
Myriad story angles abound, as Rams denied three-peat dress and dignity were on full display,” There was justifiable tenIt also mentioned that sion during the CIAA WSSU players were “whoopChampionship loss; Virginia ing, chanting, and barking” State broke the Rams CIAA and that their actions were winning streak with a score “suitable for a middle school of 21-17 Nov. 15. assembly.” The Rams were denied a “We have no comment on conference three-peat and what Virginia State chose will not participate in the to put on their social media Division II national play- page,” said Kevin Manns, offs for the first time since WSSU’s assistant athletic 2010, effectively ending the director of media relations. Winston-Salem State careers “This is the same school of 29 Ram seniors. that jumped someone in the And there was just as much bathroom to get out of a chaos present off the field. loss,” said Jamal Haizlip, a The teams’ match-up was senior interdisciplinary studhighly anticipated after they ies major Haizlip is a tight were robbed of the chance to end for the Rams. “We expect meet last year. them to be ghetto.” Nov. 15, 2013 quarterback Haizlip said [VSU] were on Rudy Johnson was assaulted their best behavior because allegedly by of what hapVSU footpened last ball play“ We are ver y year. ers during Thomas proud of t he the annual Reed said CIAA banaccomplishthey have quet in the no comment ments of our Anderson about the Center at team, a nd t he press release. WSSU. season we had. ” Reed is the Though director of Johnson — Kevin Manns university reported at relations at assistant athletic director of least five VSU. media relations players “It was assaulted a hard him, only fought game one player, a between two well-disciplined running back Lamont Darnell and well coached championBritt, 22, of Portsmouth, Va. ship football teams. The fans was arrested and charged and alumni of VSU and WSSU with assault and inflicting both showed great support to serious injury. their respective schools. We According to the Winston- are all fortunate to have been Salem Journal, Britt pled guilty a part of such a great game,” to simple assault and was said Latrell Scott, VSU’s head sentenced to 45 days in jail, football coach. suspended for a semester and Reed said it was an excelput on probation for a year. lent event for both the CIAA The court imposed the con- and HBCU football. dition that Britt complete or "Hats off to our team, be in the process of complet- although both teams fought a ing his education. hard game,” Reed said. Britt apologized to Johnson “It was a clean game. The in court. coaches should be comAccording to the University mended. Both teams played Herald, Britt was suspended well.” from VSU for one semester. The Rams are not going to Despite the sensitivity sur- the playoffs. rounding last year’s incident, “We are not going to the “offensive” Instagram pic- playoffs this year because tures featuring Johnson’s bat- simply, we were not selected,” tered face circulated before Manns said. the teams met for the cham“Our previous winning pionship Nov. 15. streak [31 consecutive games] In addition, a press has nothing to do with the release was posted on VSU's selection to the playoffs.” Facebook criticizing the Ram players’ behavior during Nov. 14 banquet. According CIAA CHAMPIONSHIP to the post, VSU’s “class, continued on Page 3 argus staff report
BOT vice chair challenges chancellor search process Katrina Q. Robinson Editor-in-chief @krobinson110
Winston-Salem State’s new chancellor, Elwood L. Robinson, will assume his duties in January. However, the overall chancellor selection process has been somewhat controversial. Winston-Salem State Board of Trustees Vice Chair Victor Johnson has been firing accusations against Chair Debra Miller. During a recent interview with The News Argus, Johnson said Miller had violated the WSSU BOT bylaws because she selected members for the chancellor search committee and did not have the Board’s permission. Johnson said Miller had conducted two “illegal” Board meetings. He said the meetings did not have quorum. According to Section 2 of the Board’s bylaws, a Board quorum consists of a majority of Board members in office and is required for conducting business.
According to the document Johnson provided to the Argus, six out of 13 Board members were present at a meeting in Charlotte, Aug. 8-9. At that meeting was Bryant Bell, Student Government Association president for the 2013-2014 academic year. Bell graduated spring 2014. The new SGA president and current Board member, Olivia Sedwick, did not attend the meeting in Charlotte. “You must have at least seven [of 13] trustees from the Board to make it a quorum and she [Miller] had six. She tried to use the guy from last year [Bell] as the seventh,” Johnson said. A WSSU source told the Argus that Bell was on the BOT at the time the search was conducted, and he had the right to vote. The names of the three finalist for the chancellor position -- Virginia Hardy, Harry Williams and Robinson -- were released to the Winston-Salem Journal on Aug. 23. According to a Nov. 7 story published in the WSJ, the
Board of Governors recommended Johnson be dismissed from the BOT because he released the names of the three finalist, thereby breaching the confidentiality agreement. Johnson said he was accused of releasing the three names because Miller “…got hot at me because I told her before we put these names out there, we have to have another meeting...” He said in a written statement to media, ”I am being victimized because I wanted Board Chair Debra Miller to follow the WSSU bylaws: ‘In the event of a vacancy in the chancellorship, the Board of Trustees shall establish a search committee composed of representatives of the Board of Trustees, the faculty, the student body and the alumni.’” Subash Shah, retired political science professor and former WSSU faculty senate chair, sent an email in May to the president of UNC Systems, Tom Ross.
C H A N C E L L O R SEARCH continued on Page 3
Page 2
The News Argus
opinion
Monday, November 17, 2014
www.thenewsargus.com
Your welcome VSU
The 21-17 loss of the CIIA Championship Game Nov. 17 was and is a frustration for all of us, and I’m sure it was extremely tough defeat for those 29 seniors who will not be returning next fall to play. But at the risk of sounding cliché, and possibly arrogant, our guys won much more that a ring couldn’t even suffice. We became Katrina Q. Robinson the face of the CIAA. Editor-in-chief @krobinson110 According to a Nov. 16 “press release” posted on Virginia State’s Facebook page “…I could not be more proud of our #VSU Trojan team. Their class, dress and dignity were on full display as opposed to… well let’s just say, whooping, chants, barking and other strange noises are more suitable to a middle school assembly than a collegiate awards banquet… No matter the outcome, Coach Scott has a team of WINNERS!” To the writer of that press release, I applaud you. You did your job by making it known that your VSU football players finally did what they were actually supposed to do — know their place. A position they [yes they] forgot last year during the championship banquet fall 2013. Visit www.uTube.com/ watch?V=0Pof4z3i4YM The Ram football players “whooping, chants and barking” aren’t childish, but leave it up to VSU to say so. It’s the nature of competition. Not indulging them doesn’t classify them as winners; it just means that this year the players were able to have some self-control. Discounting the insensitive Instagram featuring the “bruised” face of starting QB Roddy Johnson – after he was attacked by VSU players during last season’s infamous banquet I’ll give credit to VSU. Visit www.uTube. com/watch?V=0Pof4z3i4YM It was an impressive game. And VSU fans and players should really thank the Rams. VSU’s football players seized opportunities throughout the game and conquered a powerhouse Ram team -- that throughout this season has trampled its CIAA competition. Since 2010, the game wasn’t just about the championship or even making it to the playoffs, it was about taking down the Rams. And thank you VSU, for becoming something the Winston-Salem State Rams football team hasn’t seen in a long time from this conference: Competition.
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
MONTRELL DAVIS MARKETING WHITSETT,N.C.
Who are we to judge? Everyone needs a second chance. Also, if they are good at what they do, then why not hire them?
IMANI PINKNEY HEALTH CARE MANAG. HENDERSON, N.C. It depends on the seriousness of the crime. That way the students won’t be in any kind of danger. A serious crime would be like rape, and they shouldn’t be hired.
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The News Argus, the official student newspaper of Winston-Salem State University, is produced in conjunction with two classes in the Communication and Media Studies Department. Any full-time WSSU student is eligible to join the staff or become a contributor. The Argus is published and circulated twice monthly on Mondays during the fall and spring semesters. The Argus is not published during holidays or University breaks. The News Argus online (www.thenewsargus.com) is updated regularly throughout the fall and spring semester. The newspaper is not published during the summer sessions.
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A lot people in today’s job market have criminal records; some have committed serious crimes, while others have committed minor offenses. A few have not committed any crime at all; they were found not guilty of the charge for which they were arrested or are victims of identity theft. This issue’s Campus Crew ask...
Should WSSU disqualify a job applicant who has any type of criminal record?
KALON ANTHONY ELEMENTARY ED. ATLANTA
It all depends. In an interview, see if what happened in their past is a reoccurring event. If they are hired, they should be placed on a grace period.
NICHOLOS PATTERSON JUSTICE STUDIES WINSTON-SALEM I feel as though someone’s background shouldn’t determine their future. People with small misdemeanors should be hired.
SCHALYLA BOWERS BIOLOGY FAYETVILLE No, it really depends on the person. If there are people working here that do have backgrounds, you would never know because you may never see them and they’re not going to just tell you.
Page 3
The News Argus
News & Features Monday November 17, 2014
WSSU siblings establish non-profit for at-risk groups
Photo courtesy of Brittany and Joel Ward
Hoops 4 Lyfe participants gather around during a basketball game. Jaquel Horne Reporter @jhorne111
Two Winston-Salem State students, a sister and brother, have created a non-profit organization, “Hoops 4 LYFE”-- Low-income Youth and Families Everywhere. Founders Brittany Ward, 28, and Joel Ward, 27, started the Hoops 4 LYFE organization in 2011. The acronym stands for Low-income Youth and Families Everywhere. Both students are pursuing a master’s of art degrees in teaching and plans to graduate next spring. The organization provides mentors, hosts fundraisers, advises parents and encourages healthy living. Hoops 4 LYFE also offers a summer camp basketball program. “A lot of people say they don’t have the resources so we bring the resources to them,” Brittany said. “We inform them of services provided by social services, churches and local people willing to help out. That way they don’t have excuse.” Brittany, a former substitute teacher for Quality Education
Institute, said she recruits children everywhere she goes. She said her inspiration for Hoops 4 LYFE grew from her involvement with the Communities in Schools program. Hoops 4 LYFE targets students in grades K-12 attending Title I schools. A Title I schools is federally funded school where lowincome students risk academic failure. “All we knew [growing up] was basketball,”Joel said. Their parents and other members of the family played basketball. “It [basketball] kept us out of trouble.” In October, Hoops 4 LYFE hosted a Breast Cancer Awareness Basketball Tournament in honor of Tony Byrd, a friend whose mother died from the disease. Five teams played in the tournament and a team was eliminated each round. A trophy was given to the No.1 team. Both Byrd and Joel were members of the winning team. “Everyone wanted to come out and support me in honoring my mother. We were balling for a cause,” Byrd said.
“We want to let people know we support them.” All the players that came out for the event are friends of one another and grew up together playing different sporting events. Some of the participants have their own organizations as well. “We’re all a big family,” Joel said. “It’s not about the competition; it’s about doing something for a cause.” The profits for the event will be donated to WSSU alumna, India Myers, who is battling breast cancer. Hoops 4 LYFE is planning to surprise her with its gift donation. “She’s an alumni and a friend of mine,” Brittany said. “I wanted to help her with her bills because she is already battling cancer and doesn’t need another fight. The whole point was to find someone in need, so I feel like we’re making a difference.” Hoops 4 LYFE has plans to donate for Thanksgiving, a toy drive and other events. The organization can be contacted on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/Hoops4LYFE.
CHANCELLOR SEARCH continued from Page 1
In his email, Shah discussed his concerns about the quality of the three finalists and how a new chancellor would begin at the start of spring semester, midway through the academic year. Shah also discussed Miller’s decision to exclude SGA president, Sedwick, from voting. “Does the UNC General Administration want our next chancellor to be someone who is willing to leave his/her current university in the lurch to take a higher level, more appealing job?” Shah said. Ross said, “for the right opportunity, WSSU will see provosts who are willing to leave for a chancellor’s position mid-year.” Shah said, “The composition of the search committee, including substantive student representation, is key to a successful search. There does not seem to be any reason the search committee could not include two student
representatives, both the outgoing and newly elected SGA presidents.” Ross said he understood Miller’s decision. Miller said that the bylaws of the Board permit her to choose members of special committees. “We followed the bylaws of the University and of the UNC Systems when it came to the search,” she said. “I think they {bylaws] speak for themselves. If there’s something wrong, I don’t want to break the rules.” Miller said there is nothing in the bylaws that backup Johnson’s accusations . A WSSU source said Sedwick wasn’t sworn in as a BOT member until Sept. 19, passed the deadline to submit the candidates’ names to the Board of Governors. According to the bylaws, special committees may be created by the Board or the chairperson of the Board to perform
www.thenewsargus.com
CIAA CHAMPIONSHIP continued from Page 1 To be selected for playoffs, the Rams had to rank top six in the CIAA. “Unfortunately with the loss to VSU we were knocked out of the top six,” Manns said. The Rams went 1,500 days undefeated in the CIAA and were Southern Division champions for four consecutive seasons. Manns said Coach Boulware, his staff and players, worked extremely hard this season and finished with a 9-2 record. “We are very proud of the accomplishments of our team, and the season we had,” Manns said. “We are positive that we will regroup, recruit hard and be back in position next season for another run at the CIAA title and NCAA playoffs.” Three Rams’ football players were removed from the roster. The Argus was able to identify two of them, Takhare Donalson and Sidney Lawson. “They were removed from the roster because of a violation of team rules at the head coach’s discretion,” Manns said. “Other than that, we have no other comment on this.”
This photo of quarterback Rudy Johnson was posted on Instagram before the CIAA Championship game Nov. 14. Johnson had been assaulted November 2013 by a VSU football player.
specific functions not requiring the continuous existence of a committee. The size, function, and procedures of special committees shall be determined either by majority vote of the Board or by the chairperson of the Board. “The search committee was a special committee,” Miller said. Johnson said the committee was created to stack the odds against other prospective candidates, particularly Provost Brenda Allen. “The ones like Allen have moved this campus forward,” he said. “When you have those people who aren’t in [WSSU] finance or athletics and such, they don’t give a d#@+% about Allen.” Johnson said that he doesn’t understand why representatives from the Board of Governors, Ann Lemmons and Joan McNeil, would disregard Miller’s “violations.” He said. “These two white women
got Debra running around doing the wrong thing. They [Board of Governors] don’t like for Black people to stand up. I’m a stand up n#@%. I ain’t no house n#@%.” Johnson said that when he spoke up about what he thought were violations, a target on his back. Shah said during a telephone interview with the Argus he was shocked to hear about the leak of the finalist’s names. Shah said he signed the same confidentiality contract as did Johnson.. “I have been there [WSSU] for 34 years, and not once has there been a leak during a search,” Shah said. On Dec. 5, the Board will announce rather Johnson will be dismissed. If the Board releases Johnson, he will be the first BOT member in WSSU history to be dismissed. “I’m going to fight this all the way,” Johnson said.
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