The News Argus
www.thenewsargus.com
Winston-Saiem State University’s Student Newspaper
Feb. 5, 2007
John Edwards, 2008 presidential
candidate, visits Winston-Salem
Erin C. Perkins
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
"It is important for the
president to lead and to
have a vision," John
Edwards, presidential hope
ful, lawyer and former U.S.
senator said at Wake Forest
University Jan. 29 during
WFU School of Law's
"Conservation With" series,
which took place in Wait
Chapel.
Moderator Miles Foy and
Edwards sat at front of the
chapel, facing the audience
as Edwards discussed
details about his run for
presidency and conversed
about his family and person
al life.
During the "conversa
tion," Edwards was candid
and direct about the respon
sibilities of the upcoming
president and about his
views on current issues such
as the war in Iraq.
According to Edwards, the
biggest concern for the new
president is to "re-establish
leadership."
"In the first 100 days the
president should travel the
world. The world needs to
see the American president
as a good, honorable per
son," Edwards explained.
He also added that
"America does not just toler
ate diversity, it embraces it."
Edwards admitted that he
voted for war on Iraq
because at the time he
thought there were weapons
of mass destruction there.
However, Edwards now
admits, "I was wrong. I take
responsibility for that ...
But I do not take responsi
bility for the management of
the war Bush, Cheney and
Rumsfeld are the culprits
there."
When asked if global
warming is a problem,
Edwards humorously
responded: "The last person
who figured out [that] glob
al warming is a problem is
in the Oval Office now."
Photos by Sharrod Patterson
ABOVE: Edwards spoke at Wait Chiapel on the campus of Wake Forest
University.
BELOW: Edwards discussed politics, the war in Iraq, and his family and
personal life while in Winston-Salem.
Photo by Sharrod Patterson
WSSU alumnus Stephen A. Smith returned to encour
age Mass Communication students.
Quite Frankly ...
Smith keeps it real
Erin C. Perkins
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
"The hardest working man in sports show business,"
Stephen A. Smith dropped by his alma mater, Winston-
Salem State University, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, to give a
booster shot of passion for students aspiring to be success
ful media professionals.
"I speak from the heart; I try to be as real as possible,"
said Smith, a sports journalist and radio-TV personality, as
he spoke to an audience of eager-eared students and faculty
in a lecture room of R.J. Reynolds Center,
And that's exactly what the popular host of "Quite
Frankly with Stephen A. Smith," which airs on ESPN,
accomplished. During the Mass Communications Club
presentation. Smith (Class of '92) shared his past experi
ences and advice to students who happen to be "sitting in
the same room and chairs" as Smith did nearly a decade
and a half earlier.
After announcing the cancellation of his show. Smith went
on to share his first lesson about entering the world of pro
fessionalism: "Everything you have learned will be chal
lenged."
According to Smith, his show did not receive the ratings
that many had anticipated. Despite the setback. Smith
proudly proclaims, "1 am a black man."
"My stuff is straight. 1 am still living lovely, very lovely,"
Smith added. He also shared some of his insights as well as
lessons learned from personal reflections. "Nobody can stop
you, but you," Smith proclaimed.
"You know why I am confident?" Smith asked as his eyes
scanned the audience. "I study other people's weaknesses. 1
knew something ... in my heart I was winner. If you are not
being somebody, why are you here?"
Before Smith acquired national acclaim with his ESPN hit
show, he covered a variety of sports for the Winston-Salem
Journal, the Greensboro News and Record, the New York
Daily News, CNN / SI and Fox Sports. In 2000, he covered
boxing and basketball for the Inquirer during the Summer
Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. He has also provided
color commentary for BET Coverage of the CIAA Basketball
Tournament.
First Demont P. Cox Oratorical Contest selects winning speakers
Tiphane Deas four participants in the con- separate members of the
MANAGING EDITOR "vVe're just too much in black community — with the
Yet another intellectual a mental state of crisis to real- experience of having a cousin
challenge recently presented 'ze it." murdered in Greensboro in
itself to the Rams of Winston- Along with Oxendine, jun- November 2006.
Salem State University. ior Sokhna Diouf, sophomore "The same hate that was
On Tuesday, Jan. 23, the Leslie Hollis, and junior once shown to us is now
Beta Iota chapter of Alpha Joshua Blackwell each pre- being shown by ourselves,"
Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. pared oratorical pieces to he said,
held the first Demont P. Cox explain their standpoints on Hollis took the angle that.
Oratorical Contest in the R. J. the status of their community, although discrimination
Reynolds Building, with the using quotes from motiva- exists and does its best to bog
goal of identifying "problems tional figures and even exam- down African-Americans,
or special topics of interest pies from personal influences. "We are, as we always have
within society and determin- The time limit for each orato- been, in a state of opportuni-
ing how [they] relates to the ry, which was to be "logical" ty." She listed her own grand-
African-American and "correct in form and con- mother among those whose
Commimity." tent," was between four and perseverance proved that fact
This year's topic was "The a half minutes and seven and in the face of greatest opposi-
African-American: Existing in a half minutes. Judges evalu- tion.
a State of Crisis or ated each contestant on crite- Diouf used her speech as a
Opportunity." ria including speech develop- platform on which to address
"I chose both [a state of cri- ment, voice, delivery and Ian- the importance of educating,
sis and opportunity] because guage usage. mentoring and supporting
I thirJc we're in a parallel imi- Blackwell personalized his black youth in the communi-
verse where opportunity is speech — "The Destruction ty through the school system
all around us," said junior of Separation," which empha- and through the lives of those
Alece Oxendine, one of the sized factors that mortally in the community.
The contest is named in
honor of Demont Cox, a
recently deceased member of
Alpha Phi Alpha.
"Bro. Cox gave thought
lessly of himself to constantly
develop the lives of others
around him and believed that
education was the means to
achieving your success," said
Kasseem Smith, oratorical
chairman for the contest.
After 10 minutes of deliber
ation and score-tallying fol
lowing the presentations,
Hollis was awarded the
grand prize, and Blackwell
was named first runner-up.
The grand prize was a
stipend of $200, and the first
runner-up received a $50
book stipend. Each partici
pant received a congratulato
ry plaque to recognize his or Sharrod Patterson
her contribution to a success- Leslie Hollis is the winner of the first Demont P. Cox
ful first-ever Demont P Cox Oratorical Contest, which took place in the R.J.
Oratorical Contest. Reynolds Building.