Monroe brings
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Kirtl t it
The News Argus
www.thenewsargus.com
Winston-Salem State University’s Student Newspaper
l\/larcli 3, 2008
Cross at your own risk: Student hit on MLK
Stephanie Douthit
NEWS EDITOR
On Monday Feb. 18
Leah Poole, a soph
omore at Winston-
Salem State, was struck by
a car while crossing
Martin Luther King Jr.
Drive. Poole was crossing
the busy street in the
crosswalk when she was
permitted to cross by a car
slowing at the stoplight.
According to WSSU Police
Captain Marcus Sutton,
Poole was then struck by a
car, driven by Darryl
McCrae, who was in the
left lane heading in the
direction of Bowman Gray
Stadium.
In the past few years,
these types of incidents
have occurred frequently
as construction of dorms
and other buildings have
gone up along with enroll
ment, leading to an
increase of foot traffic on
MLK.
....."I.think that because our
campus is an open campus
and Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. is such a busy street,
and I don't see anything
getting safer," said senior
Dianna Sanders. "The
only solution I see is
building a pedestrian
bridge."
Steps have been taken to
improve the safety of stu
dents, but many people
are questioning whether
enough is being done.
WSSU campus police
have undergone extensive
radar training to combat
the speeding problems on
and around campus. In
addition, the WSSU
National Alumni
Association have sug
gested that the university
work with the city of
Winston-Salem, that main
tain MLK, to lower the
speed limit through the
portion of the street in
which the school is
located.
Attempts such have
been made in the.gast, but
with little success.
Photo by Grant Fulton
Students cross Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. to get to their dorms and classes.
The WSSU campus
police often assist the
Winston-Salem police with
incidents on MLK, but it is
Tesponsibility of
the city police to maintain
the safety of the busy
street.
McCrae, driver of the car
involved in the accident,
was cViarged Fet». 2.0 with
driving with a revoked
license and failure to leave
information after the acci
dent.
Poole suffered no seri-
o\is injuries and is recover
ing at home.
Safety Alerts
When Winston-
Salem State
University consid
ers a safety issue
that would pose an
ongoing threat to
students, employ
ees and members
of the Winston-
Salem State
University commu
nity, “Safety
iVlessages” are
posted. If you have
safety concerns
contact the
Department of
Public Safety.
Report any concern
to 750-2900, in
an emergency
750-2911, while
off campus 911.
SGA sends letter to Reaves
By Terri Day
Staff Reporter
Lunar eclipses, like the one seen
three years.
Photos courtesy of
Feb. 20 occur only once every two to
On Feb. 11, Winston-Salem
State Student Government
Associahon President Robert
Stephens sent Chancellor
Donald L. Reaves a letter listing
requests of the student body
towards his office.
The letter, which was written
by the SGA and signed by
Stephens, took aim at a seven
issues involving Reaves. The
note addressed several areas
where student leaders felt
slighted by Reaves. Students
who attended a Feb. 20 Student
Body Forum were given a copy
of the letter, which was also for
warded to University of North
Carolina President Irskine
Bowles, as well as former
WSSU Chancellor Dr. Flarold
Martin.
"We wanted to make the
chancellor aware, and put it in
print," Stephens said.
Points of the letter included
remaining true as an HBCU, his
visibility on campus, admission
standards and increased stu
dent athletic fee.
"The Student Government
Association stands united with
the studerit body in opposition
to the full increase you recom
mended for the 2008-09 Athletic
Fee."
Vice President of Internal
Affairs Harold Respass said this
was not the first time the SGA
addressed its' concerns to
Reaves.
"We'd met with the chancel
lor at his house last semester,
and we addressed a few of our
concerns, mainly visibility; even
at basketball games, he's very
isolated," he said.
At the meeting, several stu
dents expressed opinions about
the chancellor's lack of visibil
ity. Some think that he hasn't
felt truly welcomed. Stanley
Johnson suggested a way to
help Reaves feel more welcome.
"Every organization should
construct a letter, welcoming
[Reaves], saying we haven't
seen you much, but we'd like to
see you, you're a part of the
family now."
Senior Class President Haven
Powell shared that sentiment.
"I did feel this letter was nec
essary," said Powell. "But I do
think that as students we do
need to understand that he is a
person, he just got here, and
things do take time," she said.
On Feb. 22, Reaves responded
to the letter.
"1 am always interested in
understanding the perspectives
of our students," he said. "1
take their views very seriously.
Hopefully, through communica
tion, we can resolve the issues
addressed in the letter."
Reaves will meet with the
SGA today. Stephens is opti
mistic about the meeting.
"Hopefully the Chancellor
will respond positively," he
said. "Because it's important
that he corresponds with the
students."
Photo courtesy of Garrett Garms
Spike Lee autographs a pair of Nike Air Jordan Ill’s while on his
visit to WSSU. Lee directed Nike ads that made the shoes popular.
Spike Lee
comes to
WSSU
By Steven J. Gaither
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
On Feb. 26, legendary director
Spike Lee spoke to a full house at
K.R. Williams Auditorium on the
campus of Winston-Salem State.
Lee served as the keynote
speaker for Black Men For
Change's 5th Annual Black Male
Symposium.
A jet-lagged Lee talked to stu
dents and audience members
about several topics, ranging from
the upcoming presidential election
to the inspiration behind his career
and his films.
Lee urged students to pursue
their passion and not to choose a
major because of what their par
ents want them to do.
"Parents kill more dreams than
anybody," Lee told the audience.
"I get down on my knees every
night and thank God 'cause I have
a job that I love."
Lee also cautioned the audience
to be aware of the effect that the
media has on people's lives. Lee
told the young women in the audi
ence that listening to derogatory
music just because they like the
beat is inexcusable.
"We have to start holding our
artists more accountable," he said.
"You have to start listening to
lyrics."
Lee also discussed several of his
films, including 1988's "School
Daze." Lee said the film draws
heavily off his experiences from
his years at Morehouse, a histori
cally black university in Atlanta.
"That film was my four years at
Morehouse crammed into a home
coming weekend," he said.
Lee was a third-generation
Morehouse student. He had his
college hiition paid for by his
grandmother, a retired school
teacher who saved up her Social
Security checks to put him
through school.
Lee managed to keep his compo
sure as a belligerent audience
member interrupted him while
trying to ask a question prior to
the designated Q &A session. After
campus police quieted the man,
Lee allowed him to ask the first
question:
"Why don't more black people
of your caliber hire black people?"
"1 can't think of another black
person in cinema who has hired as
many black people in front of and
behind the camera as I have," Lee
said.
Several students who attended
the event said they came away
inspired by Lee's speech.
"He was very inspirational and
gave me alot of insight on the
issues throughout the black com
munity," said senior Alexia
Whitley.
Sophomore ShaRanda Royster
also found Lee's speech riveting.
"I was very impressed and
inspired by Spike Lee," she said.
-SUADONNA Boyd CONTRIHUTfiD TO 11 IIS
REPORT.