Speaking For Ourselves
The Voice
Volume 39 Number 4
Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina
April 16, 1985
I
C’
A Historical Reality
Chancellor Presents FSU Seal—A/r. Joseph E. Burgess (right). Vice President, Human Resources,
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, New York, receives the Fayetteville State University's
official seal from Chancellor Charles “A "Lyons, Jr. for exhibiting outstanding leadership and excellence
in chairing the 1985 Youth Motivational Task Force held recently on the campus. Approximately eight
consultants from business and other areas visited the FS U campusfor a two-day conference with students
regarding employment opportunities and related areas. (FSU Photo - John B. Henderson) See story,
page 2.
By Michael Gaddy
This year The Voice
dedicates this edition to the
seven men who envisioned the
need for educating black
children.
The seven men were Thomas
Lomax, Robert Simmons,
Andrew J. Chesnutt, David
Bryant, Nelson Carter, George
Grainger, and Matthew N.
Leavy. It was these men who, in
1867, purchased a lot on
Gillespie Street in Fayetteville
and started the Howard
School, which was named in
honor of General 0.0.
Howard, who provided funds
for its construction.
As stated in our University
catalog, “Fayetteville State
University had its genesis in the
Howard School.” By an act of
the North Carolina General
Assembly, the school became a
chartered institution. Thus, its
name was changed to the State
Colored Normal School.
The dream of the seven men
has become a reality. These
men were dedicated to an idea
of educating children, devoted
to a conscious effort to develop
mature, and dynamic
individuals, and concerned
with seeking out and
strengthening the potentialities
of leadership and professional
skill.
In retrospect, they were
dedicated to the concept of
instilling in the young and old a
continuing desire to learn; thus,
understanding and enriching
life. Their vision is now a reality
in the name of Fayetteville
State University.
Thanks, to these men we are
receiving an education once
denied to our forefathers.
Dr. Johnson Speaks At FSU Founders Day Program
Fayetteville State University
held its Annual Founders Day
Program, Sunday, April 14,
1985 at 2:00 p.m. in the J.W.
Seabrook Auditorium.
The speaker for the event
was Dr. Joseph Benjamin
Johnson, president of
Grambling State University,
Grambling, Louisiana.
Dr. Johnson, only the third
president in the 81-year history
of Grambling State University,
can be considered one of the
unique heads of an institution
of higher education in
America.
He assumed the presidency
of Grambling State on July 1,
1977, a time at when the
University was facing a most
critical period in its history.
The challenges were academic,
fiscal, legal and institutional
image all combined into one.
Dr. Johnson, a native of New
Orleans, Louisiana earned his
Bachelor's degree at Grambling
and was able to bring a unique
perspective to the North
Louisiana institution. In the
short period of seven years, he
has been able to bring to his
Alma Mater a new dimension
of progress and achievement.
Dr. Johnson was on hand to
help Fayetteville State
University celebrate its 118th
year. Founded in 1867 as the
Howard School, FSU is a
multi-campus university with
its main campus located on
Murchison Road.
By a legislative act in 1877,
the North Carolina General
Assembly provided for the
establishment of a Normal
School for the education of
Negro teachers. The Howard
School was chosen as the most
promising because of its
success record during the
previous ten years.
Throughout its early history,
the original purpose of the
school had been its chief
function - the training of
elementary school teachers.
Later, both the name and the
purpose of the institution were
changed to meet the
educational needs of students
desiring careers other than
teaching. In 1969, the
institution acquired its present
name and by legislative act, on
July 1, 1972, Fayetteville State
University became a consti
tuent institution of The
University of North Carolina.
It is the objective of the Board
of Governors that Fayetteville
State move toward becoming a
Comprehensive University I
beginning with the 1985-87
planning period.
Driver: First Woman SGA President
By Michael Gaddy
Louise Driver was elected
Student Government president
and Dianna Cooper was named
Miss Fayetteville State
University (FSU) in the recent
student election held March 26-
27.
The election marked the first
time students elected a woman
as Student Government
president at the 118-year-old
institution.
Driver, a junior from Bertie
County, North Carolina, and a
biology/chemistry major,
defeated Teresa Lennon and
Martin Rainer for the top
student-elected post. Driver
succeeds Mr. Curtis Jefferson
as president.
Cooper, a junior from
Naismith, South Carolina, and
a math major defeated
Kimberly Jeffries, Ruth King,
and Patrena Sawyer for her
title as Miss FSU.
Eugene Johnson, a junior
from Fayetteville, North
Carolina, was elected vice-
president of the Student
Government Association
(SGA).
Michelle Ballard, a junior
from Leland, North Carolina,
an office administration major,
was elected Miss Rudolph
Jones Student Center.
Kevin Evans, a junior from
Smithfield, Virginia, and a
business administration major,
was elected business manager
of the SGA.
What's Inside
The Voice
University News 2
Did You Know 3
Editorials 4
Health Fair Information 5
Sports 6&8
Summer Session Schedule 7