The Compass Monday, December 14,1998
Editorial
Telephone Numbers You-^
Should Know
Are We Being Prepared
For The Next Milennium?
By Artelia Covington
Editor
In the case of the impending im
peachment of President William J.
Clinton, the American people are forced
to not only take a look at themselves
but also at the leaders they select for
themselves.
What President Clinton has done is
not an old thing, adultery has been a
household term for years, centuries
even. But the fact of the matter is that
he could not cover it as well, as his
forefathers.
What does this mean?
Does this mean that We the People,
who are entitled to inalienable rights
and such are also entitled to the inti
mate details of the President's sex life?
I don't think so.
We have become too comfortable
with knowing too much; sometimes,
and more often than not, knowing too
much is not a good thing. Do we gain
or profit anything from knowing how
the President handles his personal af
fairs, or is it just a thing that we want
to know just for the sake of knowing?
We must force ovirselves to look at
the big picture. President Clinton's im
pending impeachment is not due in
part to his sexual misconduct or even
his poor leadership. It is simply a po
litical issue.
Congress has been riding his back
and pulling his coattails ever since he
took his oath, as if to say: as soon as
you foul up we wiU be waiting.
This type of thing is not usually un
settling, for there are always people
who mean to do you harm, but when it
begins at the Executive level of things
then it becomes an issue and that is
why we all need to worry.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt in my
mind. President Clinton has certainly
proven himself as a man throughout
all of this. For instance, there have been
several affairs, whether they be sexual
or otherwise, to occur in the Oval Of
fice.
But CUnton is actually confessing to
his mistakes, his crime, in front of the
American people.
I think that this takes great gaU and
character. Clinton is bearing his heart
and soul before God and America, and
the least we can do is give him a fair
shake. After all, it was the American
people who decided together that he
was worthy of the presidency, not once
but twice.
So at the advent of an uproar we
and hide behind untruths, but men do
just the opposite, they come to the front
and bear it all, regardless of how in
competent and vmworthy they might
seem.
Ironically, it was Benjamin Franklin,
one of our nation's Founding Fathers,
who said "Honesty is the best policy."
So now what?
Where do we go from here and what
do we do once we get there?
Well, my fellow Americans, that is a
question that only you can answer for
yourself. And in so doing here is a bit
of caution:before you come to a final
conclusion take some time to evaluate
yourself and, if, after that you discover
that you are worth your salt then by aU
means cast the first stone.
By Artelia Covington
Editor
This particular question arose out of
a conversation that I had with a dear
friend of nvine. We constantly boimce
ideas and concepts off of each other, so
this was no different; it was however,
something that was of great importance
to me. It got me so upset that I almost
lost my cool and lashed out.
The question: are we really being pre
pared for the challenges and tasks that
face us after graduation?
When I first arrived here that was all
that I heard: ECSU Preparing Leaders
for the Next Millennium, I mean it was
everywhere, at basketball games, at
football games, at various functions
aroimd campus, you could not escape
it.
Granted, I think that Chancellor
Bximim has our best interest at heart,
but are we reaUy prepared as young
aspiring college students to handle the
rigorous and daunting tasks that the
workforce present?
I believe strongly that he has tried
and continues to work hard improve
our education so that when we go out
and apply for those top notch schools
and go on those high level job inter
views that we will have taken full ad
vantage of the resources offered here
at the University.
There are a number of resources of
fered on this campus designed to en
sure that we receive the best possible.
There are also some changes that I
have seen on campus, for instance the
new Fine Arts building that is supposed
to be completed before the next mil-
lermium, and then there is the ever
growing list of majors offered here, and
then let's not forget the fact that in the
near future we wiU also have a master's
program in the works. Well, then,
maybe we are somewhat unknowingly
really being prepared for the next mil-
leimium and maybe my argument is
falling on deaf ears.
I must say with passion and convic
tion, however that the following is a
list of things that I think we cannot
allow to happen: let our student "lead
ers" leave with degree in one hand but
still little concept of how to interview
for that high level job; allow our "lead
ers" to venture out into the work force
without solid preparation in order to
take standardized tests and pass them;
allow our "leaders" leave this institu
tion without making sure they know
how to crank out a good resume' and
cover letter; and allow social events
take precedence over academics.
So, ECSU, we have to make sure that
we use each and every avenue avail
able to us in every department and
each and every person's expertise in
order to make sure that things like I've
said above don't happen.
This is not an editorial geared at
pointing out each and every fault that
we have here at ECSU: I am sure that
even Harvard has its weak points.
But if we are expected to go out and
compete for the high level positions of
the next millennium then we have to
make sure that we have been given the
firmest foimdation that ECSU has to
offer upon which to stand.
So, I am posing this challenge to each
and every professional ECSU employs:
accept the task put before you and meet
it!
Make sure that at the end of each
day you can say with a smile that you
have helped another student under
stand Chaucer or the Pythagorean theo
rem. In other words don't just be satis
fied with the humdrum, exhibit
excellence and expect to get nothing
less from your colleagues and students.
After all, if we are truly preparing lead
ers for the next millennium, then
shouldn't we make siore that we look
just as good on the inside as we do on
the outside? ^ Q Q O
Let's start today. ^ O o J
The Compass
Editor Artelia Covington
Assistant Editor Monique Boyce
Editor at Large Marti Jacobi
Sports Editor Jermayne King
Copy Editor Jacquie Casey
Features Editor Ronel Brewer
Photographers Michael Lampart, Roshawn Lucas, Jamie Powell
Staff. A1 Randolph, Xavier Wise, Maria Phelps, Meya Humphries
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