Volume XXI, Number 6 Wesleyan community:
RTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA
3 March 2006
'-Mr^
FOOD
27804
NC Wesleyan Community
‘Breaks’ in All Directions
NCWC Phi Beta Sigma brothers and other volunteers participated in the 2nd AnnTal''sieep-”
out for the Homeless event, held February 10-11 at the Hartness Center patio. Hoping to raise
the public's awareness of homelessness, the participants endured temperatures that dipped
into the 20s while sleeping in cardboard boxes. During the event, the fraternity collected
donations for the Rocky Mount Homeless Shelter. Seen here (l-r): Michael Davis, William
Crocker-Jones, Donterio Perkins and Elmore Bryant
Gi^ Closing Proposal Receives
a^Iixed Reaction on Campus
By Shannon Williams
iD^cree Editor
, > Students and staff have voiced their opinion
on a cost-cutting proposal concerning the reloca
tion of the grill, and many oppose the idea. Dean
of Students Peter Phaiah presented the proposal
to the student body at a recent meeting.
The grill, a popular eatery among North
Carolina Wesleyan College’s students, is
l^ated in the Hartness Student Center. It
tjvides an alternative selection for those who
oose not to eat in the cafeteria, or are unable
to dine there due to class, work, or practices.
The administration has said that the grill
is losing considerable money in its current
location, due to energy costs and other
overhead expenses. The new proposal calls for
the college to move the grill to the Hardee’s
Building and house it within the cafeteria. The
grill would keep its normal hours of operation
and serve the identical menu it now offers in
the Hartness Center location.
Although the initial proposal suggested
that the college turn the former grill into a
study area, equipped with computers, other
ideas have emerged for the space. Under one
plan, the college would expand the recreation
area, adding pool tables as well as vending
machines that allow use of a debit card.
Dean Phaiah said he is interested in get
ting student feedback on the proposal before
giving it the green light.
Freshman Damian Hopkins agreed that
the proposal would conserve more energy, sav
ing the college money, which is the ultimate
goal of the relocation.
Senior Kristin Hurd agrees with the idea •
as well. “As long as the same stuff is available,
like the food and televisions,” she said.
Since the grill will be moved to the
cafeteria, junior Jenna Gollub thinks the idea is
okay, if a couple of changes occur. “I think the
grill should offer breakfast foods too,” she said.
But many students disagree with the
l^posal. Senior Andrea Williams said that if
the Hartness Center puts computers in the grill
location, it would require “as much energy. So
it’s a waste.” She thinks the grill should im-
pove the quality of the food. “More students
would spend more money at the grill.”
Senior Chidi Diouma seconds Williams’s
suggestion that the college should focus on im
proving the food offerings. Instead of trying to
conserve energy and save money by relocating
the grill, he suggests, “The school should allow
popular restaurants to operate on campus.” He
said that such an arrangement would bring in
more money.
Junior Kevin Murphy said that although
the idea may conserve energy and save money,
it may cause other problems. “I think it would
cause problems, such as bookstore workers
and cafe employees complaining about trash
that students may leave in the cafe and the
hallway leading to the area where the grill
would be,” he said. He added, “There will be
no place to sit and lounge, like we have in the
Hartness.” See "Grill" on page 2
Two More Students
Punished Following
Dormitory Fracas
By Shannon Williams
Decree Editor
The college has disciplined two female
students as a resuh of the events that occurred
over the Martin Luther King Jr. hohday weekend.
The students, freshmen and residents
of Edgecombe Hall, were given community
service, along with a number of other punish
ments, said Dean of Students Peter Phaiah, who
declined to provide details about the punish
ment. Phaiah added that although there were
other female students involved in the incident,
“there was not enough evidence on the other
girls to charge them.”
Seven freshman males were expelled
immediately following the January 15 incident.
During the incident, the males released firecrackers
into Edgecombe Hall three times. The women
retaliated by entering Petteway Hall and damag
ing furniture and other community property,
sources have reported.
Phaiah noted that NCWC’s community
standards board, which consists of three faculty,
two staff, and two students, reviewed the
incidents and decided on the proper punishment
for all parties involved.
Students and parents have complained
that the differences in the punishments were a
result of gender discrimination, and even racial
discrimination. Jliaiah stated, “The men were
expelled, because if you compare the violations,
the acts the men committed were considered
life-safety issues.”
Update: USA South Conference
Men’s Basketball Semi-Finals
Christopher Newport; %
NC Wesleyan: 77
By Christine Werfelman
Decree Senior Staff Writer
During spring break week, NC Wesleyan
students and faculty will scatter in many direc
tions, from the Vermont ski slopes, to Miami’s
warm, glamorous South Beach.
Whether students and faculty return home,
vacation with friends and family, or remain in
Rocky Mount to work—at perhaps a slower
pace—the week provides a nice break to relax
and prepare for the last two months of school.
NCWC Resident Director Paul Seeley is
offering a Spring Break road trip to the Blue
Ridge Mountains of North Georgia from March
3rd through March 7th. He has reserved two vans
to shuttle the students.
‘The drive takes six hours but the scenic
route is half the fun!” Seeley said. “It’s fun and
educational, beats sitting at home bored or sitting
around getting drank.”
On the trip, students will tour museums,
state parks, as well the Chattooga River, the
location for the movie “Deliverance.” The
cost, $110 per student, will cover transportation,
lodging, entrance to activities and some meals.
“As a Resident Director, one of my duties is to
provide programs to the students that are of an
educational nature,” Seeley said. “Thinking of
education in the broader experiential sense, I’ve
concluded that NCWC students may benefit
from a road trip.”
A second alternative spring break has
been organized by Chaplain Barry Dram. He is
leading a work team from the NCWC commu
nity to help with repairs in the Gulf Coast area
devastated last summer by Hurricane Katrina.
He noted that he has obtained funding to offset
travel expenses. “For students, the expense will
be minimal,” said Rev. Dram, who suggests that
interested students, staff and faculty contact him
for additional information at ext. 5192.
For many NCWC students, Florida is
a popular choice. Rachel Perelli and Ashley
Franklin are heading to Miami together this year.
“I can’t wait to lie on the beach and get a tan,”
Perelli said. Franklin added, “I can’t wait to hit
all the hot spots and go clubbing and forget about
school for a week.” Shaima Elsedoudi will fly to
Miami and meet up with her friends.
Amber Huggins is headed to Florida but
she’ll vacation in The Keys. “I can’t wait to soak
in the sun,” she said. ‘This will be my first week
off from school and work in a long time, so I’m
very excited to just take it easy.”
NCWC students aren’t the only ones off.
Faculty and staff members will be enjoying
the break as well. Dr. Robert Everton, assistant
professor of marketing, will visit his family
and grandchildren, Noah and Emma, in Jupiter,
Florida. “I’m looking forward to seeing my fam
ily,” Everton stated. While in Florida, Dr. Everton
plans to take in action at the Florida Marlins and
St. Louis Cardinals spring training camps and
add to his collection of player autographs.
Native Floridian Sidney Pairish, an assistant
professor of chemistry, will spend the first part
of the break in Jacksonville, visiting with friends
from the University of Florida graduate school.
Then he intends to gather with hometown friends
as well as his parents and sister who live in
Orlando, home of Disney World. “We’ll spend
time at the beach and enjoy the Florida weather,”
Dr. Pairish said. “I’m looking forward to having
a few days to relax and enjoy spring.”
Faculty secretary Marie Edwards is plan
ning to take a craise in the Western Caribbean,
visiting Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay,
among other sunny spots. She will make the trip
with her sister-in-law. Sue Edwards, her fi^quent
traveling companicm since the deaths of their
husbands, twin brothers.
“Sue and 1 look forward to craising,” Ed
wards said, “as we only have to unpack once, and
we get to enjoy various shows, excellent meals,
and activities on the ship without having to worry
about parking and traffic. It’s very relaxing.”
While many want to “catch some rays” and
get as close to the beaches as possible, some
students prefer an entirely different climate.
Rebecca Sherrod is taking a Crip to the North
Carolina mountains with her friends from home.
Jeff Johnson is traveling to Vermont this year. “I
never get the opportunity to ski and snowboard,”
he said, “so I’m looking forward to that this break.”
Many student-athletes will remain at school
while practicing and playing games. The NCWC
baseball and softball teams have games during
the break. The baseball team will enjoy a trip to
Arizona the following week.
For some, there is no rest. Kelvin Clark,
president of the Student Government Association,
and Kristin Hurd, SGA secretary, are among the
students who will remain in the area to work.
Step Show Cancellation
Angers NCWC Students
By Decree Staff
Students have questioned the abrapt cancel
lation of a Step Show that NC Wesleyan would
have hosted Febraary 24 for college groups
along the East Coast.
The show, organized by NCWC Greek
organizations, was to draw groups from as far
away as Florida A&M and Virginia Common
wealth, as well as local schools such as Wake
Forest and North Carolina State.
“Wesleyan lost a lot of face and cred
ibility with fraternities and sororities,” said SGA
President Kelvin Clark, who discussed the issue
at the recent NCWC Board of Trastees meeting.
A step show, a choreographed performance
by African-American Greek organizations,
incorporates precise movement, rhythmic hand
claps and chants to showcase each group’s talent
and uniqueness.
The NCWC event was to cost more than
$6,000, with primary funds from SGA and Greek
Council. The organizers sought additional funds
from the college. Other money would have come
from registration fees and admissions.
Students said that the administration
canceled the event because of the high cost
and questions over possible safety problems.
Organizers called the safety concerns unjusti
fied. “We’re not Bloods or Crips,” said Lacey
Maloney, an organizer and a brother of Alpha Phi
Alpha. “We’re organizations about community
service and scholarship.”
But the administration’s version of events
is different. Vice President Vann Newkirk said
that the students canceled the event after the
administration encouraged the organizers to
scale back and lower the costs. Dr. Newkiric said
that a smaller event with college groups from
around the state would have been preferable.
Dr. Newkiric added the administration
raised questions over the size and strength of the
security detail that the organizers had planned to
employ, noting that the step show would have
attracted crowds fh)m Rocky Mount and the
surrounding area, in addition to students from
NC Wesleyan and the competing schools.
Clark said a successful step show would
have lifted the spirits around campus. He was
asked if he thought the disagreement with
the administration was due to the incidents in
NCWC dormitories that resulted in the expulsion
of seven students. “If anything,” he said, “the
Petteway incident should have been an incentive
to do the program, not to cancel it.”
(This article was based on the reporting of Jessica D.
Jones, with assistance from Jessica Bowen)