The Broncos' Voice
OF Fayetteville State University
STUDENTS COME FIRST AT FSU
[Story courtesy of the Fayetteville Observer-Times] The new chan
cellor of FSU wants faculty and staff to put students first. Dr. Willis
McLeod stressed the importance of publications at the first official fac
ulty and staff assembly, held in Seabrook Auditorium. Dr. McLeod
also advised the faculty not to mistake his laid-back ways for weak
ness. “Sometimes people mistake and equate humility with weakness,”
he told the audience, signaling the start of a new "check your ego at the
door" attitude. The chancellor later spoke at a faculty-only meeting in
Shaw Auditorium. "Our primary customers are our students. I don’t
care who you are. If you don’t put students first, then we’re going to have
a problem,” McLeod said. The chancellor also said that faculty members
shouldn’t think that he’s unaware of the political games that take place on
university campuses simply because he hasn’t worked at a university. “I’m
a product of higher education. I’ve seen the games people play. I’ve seen
them and I disdain them,” McLeod said. The chancellor said his job is to
remove obstacles so that the people who work at the university can better
serve students. “The pomp and circumstance of this job is what I like the
least."
Above: FSU 1995 winter commencement Valedictorian Kathy Davis gets cap
adjustment from Salutatorian Joyce Freeman. Kathy's degree in Elementary
Education while Joyce majored in Accounting.
Left: Chancellor Willis B. McLeod (left) and FSU winter commencement
speaker, Dr. Talbert Shaw, lead the academic procession recently at Capel
Arena. (Photos courtesy of John B. Henderson)
FORMER FSU HEAD PASSES ON
Dr. Rudoloph Jones, fifth president
of Fayetteville State College (1956-
1969), which eventually changed to
Fayetteville State University, died at
his home at the age of 85 after a long
illness.on Decenber 15..
He was buried on December 23 at
Rockfish Cemetery in Fayetteville.
In response to his death, Dr. Wil
lis McLeod, who was student body
president during Dr. Jones’ tenure,
said he felt a sense of personal loss.
“I considered him a friend, a men
tor and a tremendous role model. I
feel a very deep personal loss with the death of Dr. Jones."
"Dr. Jones presided over Fayetteville State College during a time
of great social change. A lot of progress was made for African-Ameri
cans as well as the institution during the period in the which he pre
sided,” McLeod stated.
A native of Winston, N.C. in Hertford County, Dr. Jones received
his undergraduate degree from Shaw University, Raleigh, N.C., where
he was valedictorian and recieved his master’s and doctorate decrees .
in Economics from Catholic JJniverfiity of y\mcrican in W'ushington^ '
D.C.
During his administration, the curriculum was expanded to include
majors in secondary education and programs leading to degrees out
side the teaching field. In 1963, the name of the school was changed
to Fayetteville State College. Also, during his leadership, six addi
tions were made to the physical plant to accommodate a rapidly ex
panding enrollment.
Fayetteville State University, in 1972, dedicated and named the
Rudolph Jones Student Center in his honor. Dr. Jones was active in
community affairs and professional organizations. He was active in
College Heights Presbyterian Church and was a veteran of World
War II.
OVER 300 GRADUATE IN DECEMBER
bv John B. Henderson
History was made on December 19,1995 when the school’s new chan
cellor, Dr. Willis McLeod, became the first chief administrator and gradu
ate of Fayetteville State University to dispense diplomas signed by an alum
nus. The students became the first class in the 128-year history of the
institution to accept a diploma signed by a graduate. Dr. McLeod was a
graduated in 1965.
Over 300 degrees were conferred by the new chancellor. Some 2,000
family members, friends, staff and faculty members witnessed the event in
the newly named Capel Arena in the Health, Physical Education and Rec
reation Building on campu&
Students with highest honors were Kathy S. Davis, Valedictorian and
Joyce R. Freeman, Salutatorian.
Davis gradual^ Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in
Elementary Education firom the School of Education. Freeman finished
Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the
School of Business and Economics. Both live in Fayetteville.
Dr. Willis B. McLeod, FSU chancellor, presided at the event. The fea
tured speaker for the occasion. Dr. Talbert O. Shaw, President of Shaw Uni
versity in Raleigh, N.C., was introduced by the Chancellor.
A member of the Board of Governors, Williams T. Brown, brought
greetings firom the University of North Carolina. Leonard Hedgepeth, chair
man of the FSU Board of Trustees, delivered greetings from the University of
North Carolina. From the students, SGA President Wayne Hodges gave
greetings.
The keynote speaker. Dr. Shaw, exhorted the graduates to help stamp out
racism and attitudes toward racism.
“It’s a moral imperative,” stated Dr. Shaw, “Don’t forget the bridges that
wrought you over. Fayetteville State is one of those bridges.”
Of the 316 students receiving diplomas, sixty-one received master’s and sev-
enty-seven graduated with honors.