The News Argus
www.thenewsargus.com
Winston-Salem State University’s Student Newspaper
Feb. 04, 2008
Chief Bell announces retirement
Media Relations
Willie Bell, Winston-Salem State Director of
public Safety and Qiief of Police, has
announced his retirement, effective June 30.
Bell has served as Director of public safety and
Police Chief at WSSU since 1997. Prior to coming to
WSSU, Bell served as Chief of Police and Director of
public safety for five years at Fayetteville State
University.
Bell's career in law enforcement spans more than
three decades. Twenty- eight of those years have been
on a University of North Carolina campus. He began
his law enforcement career in 1975 as a Durham
County deputy sheriff. In 1980 he joined the
University of North Carolina system as a patrol officer
at Chapel Hill, where he rose to the rank of Captain
over the course of the next 11 years. In 1992 Bell
moved to Fayetteville State University police chief.
Bell spearheaded the Department of Public
Safety's transition to a designated law enforcement
agency, which gave WSSU public safety officers the
same authority and power of arrest capability as other
mimicipal law enforcement agencies. The designation
also broadened their jurisdiction to extend beyond the
boimdaries of the campus.
In addition to his direct law enforcement service.
Bell has been active locally and statewide in other
ways. He has worked as a consultant to the president
of the UNC system, serving in 2004 on the President's
General Administration Task Force on the Safety of the
Campus Community, and in 2007 as a member of the
UNC General Administration's President^ Campus
Safety Task Force.
"Chief Bell has served the UNC and WSSU com-
mimities with distinction, and he will be sorely
missed," said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves.
"He will be missed for his expertise in law enforce
ment, his dedication to WSSU and the broader UNC
Photo courtesy of Garrett Garms
WInston-Satem State Police Chief Will Bell talks to
WXU’s Margret JohnsoJvBelLwillj'.etire this Uune.
community, for his friendship, and for his loyal and
dedicated support of three chancellors, including me."
A national search will be conducted soon to fill
the position.
In focus: Election history in the making?
Tecarra Sutton
AD MANAGER
With the excitement of the presi
dential race sweeping Winston-Salem
State students and faculty alike are
gearing up to cast their votes in
North Carolina's May 6 primary elec
tion.
Democratic frontrunners, Hillary
Clinton, Barack Obama as well as
leading Republican candidates. Mitt
Romney, and John McCain are all
vying their party's presidential nomi
nation.
As the primary draws nearer, it
becomes increasingly important for
people to register to vote, get to the
polls and choose their favorite candi
date.
According to a recent informal poll
done by The News Argus staff, 22
out of the 37 students surveyed
intend to vote in the upcoming pri
mary. Some students seem moti
vated to go to the polls by the possi
bility that a black man could become
a presidential nominee and ulti
mately have a chance to run the
country.
Junior Ebony Ross said she feels
compelled to vote in the primary to
help ensure that Obama becomes
Democratic nominee.
"I want a black president," she
said.
Other students echoed Ross, saying
they want to see Obama in the Oval
Office. "Obama needs to win. It's
time for change, " said Marcus
Burton, a sophomore.
Although many students seem
intrigued by the possibility of having
an African-American president, oth
ers are just as excited by the idea of
having a woman in office. Either
way, Clinton and Obama are both in
the position to make political history
since former NC Senator John
Edwards has dropped from the race.
Jasmine Mack, a sophomore nurs
ing major, was not old enough to
vote in the 2004 primary, but she
Photos courtesy of MCT Wire Service
ABOVE: With primary wins in Iowa and South Carolina, Barack Obama
has chance at becoming the first African-American President in the U.S.
BELOW: Hillary Clinton speaks to supporters at a rally for her presiden
tial campaign. Clinton won the New Hampshire primary.
Ir
plans to have her voice heard in the
primary in May. She cites the caliber
of the presidential candidates as the
reason for her desire to vote this
year.
"The fact that we have such great
candidates [compels me to vote],"
said Mack. "It's wonderful that we
have the opportunity to have our first
woman or black male president."
For more information on how to regis
ter or other voting information, go to:
sboe.state.nc.us/NCSBE/index.html
NC State Board of Elections
pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?o
Id=16738
People for the American Way
lwv.org
League of Women Voters
Band strikes
a cord in ATL
Stephanie Oouthit
Grant Fulton
NEWS EDITOR
PHOTO EDITOR
On Saturday, Jan. 26, the Winston-Salem State marching
band performed in front of over 60,000 people during it's
first-ever performance in the Honda Battle of the Bands in
the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
The Battle of The
Bands is a national,
invitation-only,
showcase for
marching bands at
Historically Black
College and
Universities.
Atlanta. The
WSSU band per
formed in front
of a crowd of
more than
60,000 people.
The invita
tional is the
only national
program to
showcase the J
pageantry,
showmanship,
and musicianship that HBCU
marching bands are known for.WSSU was the
first to perform and and many spectators walked away
impressed. "We may be small, but our sound was great,"
said WSSU freshman Eric Walker.
Other bands present were Shaw University, Virginia
State University, NC Central University, Bethune-Cookman
University, Norfolk State University, Albany State
University, Tuskegee University, Texas Southern
University, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
The Red Sea of Sound, as the band is known, had plenty
of suporters . WSSU students, faculty, alumni, and fellow
supporters packed almost an
I entire section in the
I lower level of the
[Georgia Dome.
"There was great
I fans support, and all
lof the bands were
lexcellent," said Jean
\ Avent, a WSSU
[supporter and
[Shaw University
^alumna.
I loved seeing
[all of the college
1 students per
form after all of
i their hard work
iand practice. I
^ truly enjoyed
•myself, and I
look forward to doing
it all again next year," she said.
Highlights of the invitational not only included the band
showcase, but also performances by entertainers Young Joe
and The Dream. In addition a Old School/New School
competition, which was created to find out which age
group had more pride, kept the crowd on its feet.
Drum major Theodis Chunn said the band appreciated
the fan support.
"We couldn't have done it without seeing our very
own fans," said Chunn. "It was great to see so many fac
ulty, staff, and students in their red shirts to support
what we do. Overall, it was a great experience."
See Band, page 6