by choice or by consequence
March 1995
/
By Vadrin Colvin and Natasha Etienne
Can you tell Faptteville State Uni
versity is a historically black college
by walking through the campus? I
can’t. As a second semester freshman,
1 find no signs of pride in the histori
cally Black foundation of this school.
Unlike other historically Black univer
sities, I see no statues of our heroes
and sheroes. I don’t see Malcolm,
Martin, Medgar, Maya, or Angela
along the pathways of the campus. I
see no documented speeches of the
great orators, ministers, and authors
showcased in any building, other than
the library (maybe). The list of noted
Black engineers, mathematicians, and
scientists are endless. So why haven’t
I read about their achievements on the
walls of SBE or Lyons Science build
ings? I see no banners displayed that
represent any of the hundreds of na
tions in Africa and the Caribbean.
Shouldn’t we know what the flags rep
resent-considering we do call our
selves African-Americans?
Instead, we have faded pictures of
Avon flowers plastered on the walls
of the ISA reading lounge. My ques
tion is what do those pictures have to
do with the humanities? I would per
sonally donate the covers of my Es
sence, Ebony, and YSB magazines to
bring that room alive with a little color.
The lack of enthusiasm and school
pride that some students have in FSU
has to be addressed as well. We, the
staff of the Bronco’s Voice, had
planned to dedicate this issue to the
Black Woman in celebration of Black
History Month. We asked (practically
begged) the university community to
submit poems, drawings, essays, any
thing that they wanted to see in this
edition. And what did we get? Abso
lutely nothing, except the poems we
Friends for Life
usually receive. Are we here by choice
or by consequence?
Don’t get me wrong, I have lacka
daisical days myself, but this campus
has been sleepwalking since my first
semester here. I hear the complaints. I
hear the “we don’t have this” and the
“we don’t have that” from students and
professors alike. Can we blame the
problem on the lackluster performance
of a sports team? I don’t think so. FSU
fails at promoting Black education on
a whole scale. African-American His
tory is not honored as part of the core
curriculum. The African diaspora is
not offered as a class. One of the pur
poses of a Black college is to further
educate the students on their past, a
past that has not been accurately de
picted. The Black college should up
lift, instill a sense of knowledge and
pride in not only the American part of
us, but the African part as well. Hav
ing visited the campuses of other his
torically Black colleges such as NC
A&T, JCSU, Bennett, and Morgan, I
know the feeling of a warm, cultural
atmosphere that nurtures and respects
the achievements of African people.
Greek organizations are not as
“hype” here as they are on other cam
puses, and let’s be real: that is one rea
son many of us choose to attend a
Black college. Skimming through the
FSU catalog as a prospective student,
I wondered if the university had Black
fraternities and sororities at all.
We can no longer sit back and com
plain about the things we don’t like.
It’s time to make your presences
known and speak up. Only then can
changes be made. So unless you’re
ready to do something about the things
you don’t like, Shut Up!
by Cherie' Hinton
As I entered college for the first time, I had many fears and anxieties. Just a
few were the fears of not fitting in, of being away from home, and concerns
about making new friends. Fortunately, I was able to overcome most of my
fears with the help of three wonderful, young ladies... Tasheba Dukes, Tenesia
Kollock, and Dameka Watson. Many obstacles faced us because of our inexpe
rience and naivety in is- sues
•"anging from registra-
the men of F.S.U..
ever, with the help of
the strong bond that de-
between us, we over-
obstacles. Many nights
laughed and joked to-
Dut later we found that
closer because of the
shed. We now appreci-
tears because they have
l^to the women we are
Pictured here are four of
®st friends you will ever , ii that Vhere are
this campus. We stand proud and proclaim to any
still some “sood eirls” left There are some women who deserve a man s re
spect because these women respect themselves. Tether we
ciples and together we will set an example for other young ladies as they
low in our footsteps.
I love you girls!
Cherie‘ Hinton
From left to right: Cherie ’ Hinton, Dameka
Watson, Tenesia Kollock, Tahsheba Dukes
sues
tion to
H o w -
God and
veloped
came the
w e
gether,
we grew
tears
ate those
shaped us
today,
the clos-
find on
“School: I think I should stay in school because I
want to get an education and learn to get a job. I
want to get my own house and learn for myself.”
Rosetta Harris, First Grade, Maiy McAuthur Elem
School
Bronco Pride
By Deitric Davis
The other day a question was raised about the identity of Fayetteville State
University. However, a majority of the conversation was about how FSU will
be represented in the future. Are we talking about 10, 15, or 20 years down the
line? If you haven’t noticed, the future is only a day away!
Okay. Pop quiz! Who is that makes up the various student organizations,
who puts on the atheletic uniforms, who marches and plays at the games and
who is it that goes to the student center to see how the rest of the student body
is living - People with School Pride. What about the rest of you who go to class
and then call it a day?
I understand that we all have our own “calling” in life. But just because you
don’t have the gift of atheleticism, political savy, or you have decided to retire
from your musical career.
To those men and women who chose to represent F.S.U. to their utmost
ability, we salute you and wish you continued success. These individuals have
rearranged their lives because they believe in what they do, they enjoy the
challenges, and they like what they do! They do this by choice. Do we not owe
it to ourselves and to them to show more support?
An identity is achieved and maintained through pride -something this par
ticular campus is lacking! You can hear “Aggie Pride” louder than A & T’s
band The Sound Machine at halftime shows. “Eagle Pride” can be found way
beyond the confines of North Carolina Centrals “Nest”.
“Bronco Pride?” I was at a basketball game, and it was in the closing mo
ments of the half. The Broncos were coming down the court attempting to win
the game. For a brief moment it looked as if they had stumbled. At that instant
I yelled my rally call “Bronco Pride” to the team! (I felt it was the thing to do.)
’ So why did people turn to look at me as if I had fallen and bumped my head and
offer a barage of obscenites as a cushion?
Around this campus, most of us exhibit more pride for our former high
school as opposed to the school we now attend. Let’s face it people, we are at
Fayetteville State University, a school that is as rich with its own history as
other schools. Your time here is going to follow you for the rest of your life by
means of memories shared with your classmates, transcripts, and finally your
diploma, -these are the best years of your lives
Do we let these times pass us by like A gentle summer breeze. No! Grab
hold of the years because one day, your memories will be all that you have. We
are all here to obtain a degree or two. We do not spend all of out time in class or
doing homework in the library because I’ve looked for you in there. Surprise!
And we do not spend the rest of our time at work; there is an occasional day or
two off.
When it’s time to have fun, let’s do it toghter with a capital “F” and a style
that is all our own. We may not have all the resources that other schools have
but does that mean we still can’t have fun? If variety is the “Flava that you
savour,” make the powers that be move. The feeling from the Faculty is that,
“If you’re happy. Hey, We’ve done our job!” They will work no harder than
they are pushed.
Now once we get this variety, we must do the things necessary to keep the
trust that has been bestowed upon us. In essence, “once you’ve got it, take care
of it!” I issue these challenges:
1. On campus students; make the off campus students aware of the activites
and make them want to get involved to see what they have been missing.
2. Commuters; You represent 3/4 of the student population. If you leave cam
pus faster that it took you to get here, then you’re cheating yourself
3. Upper Classmen: Show the under classmen how it’s done so that one day
the may carry on the torch.
4. Under Classmen: Let the upper classmen know that you are here and you’re
not the ones to be slept on.
5. Administrators, Faculty, Staff and Alumni: Make us want to carry on the
Legacy!
If you don’t have a clue, here’s what you need to do. First of all, respect
yourself and those around you. Secondly, take care of buisness in a responsible
manner. Finally have pride in your abilities and within yourself (it was your
decision to attend Fayetteville State).
The past has been written and recorded, what about the future? Go into the
future with pride. Bronco Pride. We are the only ones who can do it.