The Broncos
NOVEMBER 1993
ISSUE #2. 1993-94
fS]^ ARCHIVE
Presidential Appointment for Chancellor
by Kathleen Barron
■‘By the authority vested in me as
President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, in
order to advance the development of hu
man potential, to strengthen the capacity
of historically Black colleges and univer
sities to provide quality education, and to
increase opportunities to participate in
and benefit from Federal programs, it is
hereby ordered as follows”...
On Monday, November 1, 1993
Chancellor Hackley was in the nation’s
Capitol meeting with the President, Vice
President, members of Congress, and rep
resentatives of historically Black Col
leges and Universities. The occasion was
the signing of an executive order for
Presidential appointment of members to
an advisory board that would include
representatives of historically Black col
leges and universities (HBCUs), busi
ness and financial institutions, private
foundations, secondary education, and
other institutions of higher education. Presi
dent Clinton greeted the audience and ac
knowledged the contribution HBCU’s had
made as beacons of hope and opportunity
for Americans “for whom no hope existed”.
‘The executive order I sign today and
all the education initiatives that Secretary
Riley discussed have to do with
change-preserving educational institutions
and insuring that every young person in this
country who wants to get a college educa
tion has the opportunity to do it. And
finding new ways to get young people into
college and training programs and to help
them succeed once they're there.”
Througli the White House Initiative,
the Board of Advisors is to determine how
HBCU’s can utilize the resources and expe
rience of the private sector to achieve greater
financial security. President Clinton asked
“my long-time friend, the former Chancel
lor of the University of Arkansas at Pine
Bluff, Vic Hackley, nowat Fayetteville State
University, to serve as the chair.”
Having an opportunity personally to
interview Chancellor Hackley on his new
appointment, I asked his perspective on his
new duties. He said this advisory board
was the highest level advisory body di
rectly related to the issues raised at HCBU ’ s
and will focus on “Any issues the President
needs to know that will help all govern
ment agencies to work with in improving
them. The order was signed for all agen
cies actively to generate help to make
participants competitive in getting fund
ing, such as advising in the procedures for
writing grants.”
I asked the Chancellor how this ap
pointment and honor would help the stu
dent population at Fayetteville State. He
answered by pointing out that the reason
he was chosen was the concentration on
the excellence of education both at Pine
Bluff and Fayetteville State. Chancellor
Hackley’s being on the Board will insure
that Fayetteville State students and the
Fayetteville State family will have their
voices heard.
A final question was whether there
would be any student involvement in de
termining the goals and objectives of the
Board. Chancellor Hackley saidthere would
be more meetings like the luncheon for
commuters to find out the needs of the
students and to discuss any barriers to the
educational process, such as issues related
to childcare or tutoring.
Chancellor Hackley has demonstrated
his concern about and dedication to elimi
nating barriers by initiating and support
ing programs designed to allowyouth of all
ages to have an equal chance in making
something of their lives. He is involved
with mentorship programs for students
ranging from elementary school levels,
such as the one at Second Baptist church,
to the MASK Program (Males Achieving
Success through Knowledge) on the uni
versity level.
As F*resident Clinton ended his speech
on Monday, he said our nation was “squan-
(Continued on Page 3)
Chuck Davis’ African-American Dance Ensemble
By Roger A. Harris
The Man
On November 2,1993 FSU and com
munity were privileged to be the audience
for one of the most eagerly anticipated
events of this year: Chuck Davis’ Afri
can-American Dance Ensemble. Before
that evening’s performance, I was able to sit
down and chat with Mr Davis. As I entered
the room, Mr Davis rose from his ironing,
stretching to the full of his 6’6" frame. He
greeted me with a warm smile and fatherly
embrace that immediately put meat ease. In
talking, he revealed that as a child, growing
up in an all-black community was a major
influence in his life. Its emphasis on re
INSIDE:
Club News
Student Achievements
Calendar of Events
And columns by Earl J. Moniz and
Lishan Harrison
spect, pride, and education established the
moral foundation and spiritual conviction
needed to weather the arduous journey
from Raleigh, North Carolina, to New
York City, where his professional career
began, blossoming into what has become
the African-American Dance Ensemble.
Mr Davis coined the term
“edutainment” (educational entertainment)
to describe his ensemble’s approach to
performing. In this approach,there is a
more communal connection and spiritual
exchange of emotion and energy between
the ensemble and its audience. Their goal
is to awaken and inspire all people (par
ticularly African-Americans) to embrace,
love, and understand an all-to-often for
gotten or misunderstood culture. Mr Davis
reflected that “in the 60’s, it was “fashion
able” to be Black.” Few went beyond the
superficial aspects of attire, language, or
attitude togainatrue understandingofand
appreciation for their African heritage.
African-America’s current social dilemma
is nothing more than a reflection of the
lack of connection of a people to their
heritage and culture. The roots of his
upbringing are the foundation of his en
semble and serve as a flagship of hope for
a people desperately reaching for solid
ground.
The Performance
As the house lights in the theater were
turned down. Chuck Davis stood center-
stage, spotlight-cool. His massive 6’6"
presence commanded the audience’s at
tention, his resonant baritone greeti ng them
with the warmth and love that is truly him.
“Everyone, look around you and see what
Africa has brought together. Now, as in
Africa, arise and greet seven people you do
not know.” And as he spoke, the audience
drank his words, hypnoticly beckoning his
call, slowly driflingfrom the grey sameness
of their everyday lives and ways into the
vibrant, powerful, and beautiful world that
is the African-American Dance Ensemble
experience.
The power of the drum, the grace and
beauty of the dancers, and the electric
warmth of love rolled through the audi
ence like the Holy Ghost through a sancti
fied congregation. A spirit of truth, joy,
and family descended on the room like an
invisible blanket, warming those bit by the
(Continued on Page 3)
!*“