April 29, 1988
The Compass
Page 3
Ridley named new President
in FounderDay Ceremony
■Emeritus
March 3
By Robin Pincus
“I can’t think of any experi
ence that is as poignant for me as
this moment,” said Chancellor
Dr. Jimmy Jenkins. “I just want
to say, ‘Thanks for the mem
ories.’”
Jenkins’ comments came dur
ing the convocation ceremony for
Walter Nathaniel Ridley, who
was installed as ECSU’s fifth
President-Emeritus on March 3.
The ceremony took place during
the University’s annual Found
er’s Day program.
“The drama has unfolded,”
said Jerkins, who recalled that
he and his wife Faleese were stu
dents at ECSU when Ridley was
president of the institution.
I believe God’s purposes are being achieved
through us. On these beliefs I am anchored. ”
Walter Nathaniel Ridley
“We’ve come full circle. Not even
in my wildest dreams did I imag
ine I would stand here as chan
cellor, to have the honor and priv
ilege of this moment.”
Ridley, the first Black to earn a
doctorate from a southern Uni-
versity, served as president of
i
Mrs. Bessie Moore Wesley pauses in Oak Grove Ceme
tery, where the ECSU family and friends laid wreaths
on the graves of the University’s Founding Fathers.
ECSU. Mrs. Wesley is the daughter of Peter W. Moore,
president of ECSU from 1891 to 1928. photo by Matthew coates
ECSU from 1958-1968. During his
administration, ECSU advanced
from a small, black teacher’s col
lege into an interracial insitution
offering a rich diversity of career
majors, and fully accredited by
the Southern Association of Col
leges and Schools.
“I came back to take a test,”
Ridley quipped, during the cere
mony. The audience laughed and
applauded.
“I believe God’s purposes are
being achieved through us,” Rid
ley told the ECSU family. “On
these beliefs I am anchored. I
pledge that I wUl do all that is
within my power to promote the
welfare of ECSU.”
Levin Culpepper, Chairman of
ECSU’s Board of Directors, de
scribed Ridley as “one of the
country’s most distinguished
scholars and gentlemen,” during
the Greetings section of the cere
mony.
Ridley’s installation was the
highlight of ECSU’s 97th Found
er’s Day Observance, which hon
ors the University’s founders.
Many relatives of the founders
were in the audience
Dr. Bishop Patterson explained
the significance of Founder’s
Day in a speech during the Greet
ings section of the program:
“We have seen the visions and
dreams of our founders continue
to unfold. They were men of
thought and action, who lit the
torch and cleared the way for us.
They were great builders, not of
temples, but of men and
women.”
Chancellor Jenkins also spoke
on the significance of Founder’s
Day:
“We are gathered here today to
nurture our roots,” said Jenkins,
“so we will be able to stand
strong, and face the trials and
tribulations, the wind and rain.
“We recognize that education
is not just reading, writing and
arithmitic, but learning to under
stand all facets of life, discover
ing the truth so that we might be
liberated.”
Malcom Corrin, President of
the Interracial Council of Busi
ness Opportunities, was guest
speaker for the event.
Corrin voiced concern for black
males, adding that because of
problems associated with drugs,
and a high drop-out rate, “some
people say the black male is an
endangered species. But I want
to say to the male student, you
have to be stand and be counted.
There’s a lot of strength in the
black race. Stand up for your
families, be creative, go into
business, and be shining exam
ples.”
Citing examples of black suc
cesses in business and politics,
Corrin declared, “Yes, there is
hope. People have faith in those
who can produce.”
The Founder’s Day program
also featured performances by
the ECSU Choir, and the Univer
sity Concert Band. Ms. Rachel
Gragson was organist for the pro
gram.
Following the ceremony, the
ECSU family participated in a
pilgrimaage to Oak Grove Ceme
tery, to place wreaths on the
graves of ECSU’s founding fa
thers.
Counseling services
assist EGSU students
By Nancy Porter
“You don’t have to wait until
something goes wrong to see a
counselor,” says Dr. Leon
White. “Share the good things
that are happening to you on
campus.”
White is understandably
proud of the counseling serv
ices available to students here
on campus. The services are
only one of many activities
White administers as ECSU’s
Director of Student Affairs.
The counseling services are
provided by Student Services,
and are responsible for New
Student Orientation, the Com
muter Student Program
(VANS), Sattehte Course, In
dependent and Group Refer
ral, ECSU Ambassadors and
University testing.
“Freshmen orientation is a
two-day period that is filled
with activity,” said White.
During that time students are
given placement tests and are
oriented to campus life.”
Counselors for New Student
Orientation are Dr. Olive Wil
son, Ms. Donna Davis and Ms.
Brenda Creecy.
White explained that the
members of ECSU’s com
muter program (VANS) have
regular meetings and send out
newsletters informing com
muter students of events hap
pening on campus.
“Some of these students are
screened and serve as mentors
to help with freshmen testing,
and orienting new students to
the campus,” White said.
“They are part of a support
group called ‘Big Brother/Big
Sister.’ It makes life easier for
the new student if the student
has someone helping him or
her on campus.”
Student members of the
Commuter Club meet with new
students and answer any ques
tions they have about cam
pus,” said (]!ynthia Ruiz, presi
dent of the Commuter Club,
and a member of the Big
Brother/ Big Sister group.
“Counseling has been very in
strumental in my success on
campus.”
Donna Davis is counselor for
the Commuter Club.
ECSU’s Ambassadors pro
gram is aimed at extending
ECSU’s influence in the com
munity. Student members of
this program conduct outreach
activities in the public schools-
-including helping students
with preparing for the SAT
tests.
The Sattelite Program is
now on hold until it can be lo
cated in a facility. However
this program promises much
benefit to ECSU students.
Under this program, a coun
selor is assigned to a dorm,
and will be there once a week
during posted hours. This will
benefit the student who may be
reluctant to go to Student Serv
ices.
“About 30% of the students
use the counselling service,”
said Dr. Olive White. She
added that counseling is pro
vided for academic, social,
and personal problems.
Student Services offers coun
selling in Independent and
Group Referrel. The program
wiU also counsel in^viduals
with drug abuse problems,
and, if necessary, arrange ap
pointments at other facilities,
should the person need additio
nal help.
Counseling is also responsi
ble for administering National
and University tests, including
the Graduate Record Exam,
the National Teacher’s Exam,
The Scholastic Aptitude Test,
and the Graduate Manage
ment Admissions Test.
Whatever the need, counsel
ing services will meet it-in-
cluding advising students who
may be consdering leaving
school.
“Sometimes they can pre
vent a student from withdraw
ing from college,” said Dr.
Wilson. “The student needs to
know someone cares.”
YOU may be eligible for a
Minority
Presence
Grant
ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY
Office of Admissions
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
APPLICATION FOR
M1 NOR 1TY
PRESENCE
GRANT
NOTE: Please print, using pen.
Please complete all sections and
furnish al1
requ i red
substantiating documents.
1. Name
Last
Fi rst
Middle
2.. Permanent
„ .,. Number
Ma111ng
Address
Street
Apartment Number
City
State
Zip Code
Are you a resident of N.C.? ^Yes
Telephone Number: ( )
Ethnic Group
No
If yes, how long?
7. Sex:
5. Social Security Number
8, Birthdate:
STUDENT INFORMATION
ndicate semester for which funds are sought:
Fall 19 Spring Summer School
c: Semester hours planned
b. Proposed Major:
d. Classification:
Incoming Freshman
Transfer Student
10.
Marital Status: a. ^Single
a. Number of Dependents: : Ages
c. Spouse's Name:
Continuing Student
Readmit Student
Living with parents Married Divorced
11 .
12.
13.
d. Address (if different):
Have you received monies previously from Minority Presence Grant Awards $
Have you completed the (FAF) Financial Aid Form and mailed it to College Scholarship
Services, Princeton, N.J.?
I hereby affirm that all information supplied in this application is complete and
accurate. I understand that withholding or giving false information will make me
ineligible to be considered for the Minority Presence Grant while attending this
i nst i tut I on.
S i gnature
Date
BELOW FOR ADMISSIONS USE ONLY
Date Application Received Recommended by
Date form sent to Financial Aid Office
Bring this
application
to the
ECSU
Admissions
Office
131 Tiioppe ilaU
or caii
335-3305
to see
if you qualify.
i