Newspapers / Fayetteville State University Student … / Dec. 5, 1997, edition 1 / Page 8
Part of Fayetteville State University Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
The Broncos' Voice December 5,1997 FEATURE STORIES Alysia Wilson, staff writer Living On the Dock of the Bay By Alysia Wilson Many of you reading this article are familiar with the tune, “Sittin’ on the dock of the bay watchin’ the tide roll away. . However, are you familiar with the fact that many Americans not only sit on this same dock, but also live there and watch their dreams, hopes, and aspirations roll away with the tide. It’s sad to think that millions of people in this coun try live in alleys, un der bridges, on side walks, in subway sta tions, and other places that we don’t normally think of as home. This is de pressing to some of us, and oblivous to many others; how ever it is a reality right here in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Why do so many of us choose to ignore these victims of poverty? Do we not know how to help, or do we simply not have not the means by which to do so? How many of you have noticed the elderly black man that goes through all of the trash cans on this campus each day to find cans and plastics for recycling? Can you imag ine searching through trash bags filled with no clue as to its contents? Can you fathom the thought of going through these same bags to fmd food to feed yourself and your fam ily? How would it feel to sleep on the ground in the winter af ter it has rained? After it has snowed? What would the heat from an old rusted trash can feel like, knowing that it is your only means of warmth? The truth is that too many Americans are familiar with all of these sensations and have accepted them as a way of life, whether the victims chose it or not; a single choice that to some extent determines how far we as a society are willing to go in helping people out. In recent years we have been overwhelmed by the cases of persons who pretend to be homeless or in need but really aren’t. One such ex am p 1 e is the bag lady from New York that pushed around a shop-. P i n g cart that contained $250,000. Can we as a society actually help someone that has this kind of money and still lives on street comers in cardboard boxes? Should we help them? An even more important ques tion is why would someone do such a thing? According to Dr. Moultrie, of the Psychology Department here at FSU, many times there is some kind of mental illness or disorder involved. In the situation with the lady from New York, Dr. Moultrie states that she may have been suffer ing from some kind of obssesive-compulsive disor der linked to the money. For psychologists, it is rea sonable to look at the situation of homeless people in America from the standpoint of being more in need of mental help rather than monetary aid, but as American citizens, we view these people as burdens. Are they really as much of a nui sance as we believe them to be, or are ' we angry with our selves for having been wrong in immeadiately think that a person is homeless if he digs through the trash 1 ' t 1 • the past in or carries his belongings judging in a sachel or cart. I^tTo n^? We imme diately think that a person is homeless if he digs through the trash or carries his belong ings in a sachel or cart. There is a certain amount of anger that is aroused within us when we see a man or a woman go ing through our trash cans to make a living, or standing in front of the grocery store beg ging for our coins. Should we feel this way? First and foremost, one must stop to consider the fact that not all people that are liv ing on the streets are pretend ers who are out to rob you blind; instead, that they aren’t there by choice, but rather for a variety of unfor tunate circumstances and mishaps in life. If you come in contact with a person that is begging for your coins, stop to think of all of the possible reasons that they are there: job loss, having no family, mother nature’s de struction, mental illnesses, and worst of all being born into it. On the flip side, let’s take a moment to think about the people that go through the dumpsters to gather aluminum and plastics for the purpose of recycling. They are actually doing a job, maybe not what we commonly think of as be ing a job, but they aren’t beg ging. On the same note, they are helping in the conservation of our planet, Earth. These individuals have no bills to pay, no taxes, no yard work, so the money that they earn is theirs to keep. The elderly man that goes through the trash cans here on the FSU campus told me that he makes $376 a week doing what he does. It’s a dirty job, and to many of you, it’s below you, but would you do it for $376 a week—$1504 a month, tax free? The Million Woman March by Airaina Griffith My name is Airaina Griffith , a junior here at Fayetteville State Univer sity. I was among the twenty-one women that rode the bus from here on campus. I am glad that I had the opportunity to at tend because I got to see a lot. I met almost 200 people from all over the world. I got to hear and see what is going on across the nation. While walking through the chocolate-covered Ben jamin Franklin Highway in Philadelphia, Pennsyl vania, I got hear the fa mous words of Winnie Mandela, Jada Pinkett, Sister Souljah and much more followed by the me lodic voices of Faith Evans and H-Town. It was an experience that I am glad I didn’t miss. New Sculpture Graces the FSU Campus by Scherrie Strayhorn Many students have been looking at and won dering about the new sculpture in frornt of the Honors Residence Hall. The million dollar ques tion was what is it and why is it there? The sculpture is called Unity. Unity is a piece by Israeli native Hanna Jurban. This piec of art was commissioned after a statewide competition. The sculpture is composed of nine sections, two of which.reach eleven feet in height. It is a symbolic representation of the con cept that sucess in life’s endeavors is accomplished through diversity and unity. Unity is designed as a chevron, or open wedge- shape, which is a symbolic gesture of welcome. Women’s Gym Renamed In Honor of FSU Sports Legend FSU Press Release— Fayetteville State University’s Women’s Gymnasium was re cently renamed the Lauraetta J.Taylor Gymnasium during this year’s Homecoming festivities. Wilson native Lauraetta Taylor became a staff member of Fayetteville State University in 1944. She worked diligently while employed at FSU, serv ing as dormitory director, women’s baskettball coach, and a physical education instructor. Building school spirit and comradenie among faculty and students, Taylor was an inspira tion to all who knew her. For several years, Taylor worked as chairman of home coming activities at the insti tution. She is most remem bered as the women’s basket ball coach of Fayetteville State University. Through her many years of leadership, the university es tablished CIAA dominance in Honoree Ms. Lauraetta J. Taylor Photo couriL'sv of'FSU ArchiveSS program competition. In 1975 and 1976, the women’s basket ball teams were runner-ups in the CIAA Tournament. Taylor was recognized as Coach of the Year in 1975 and 1976. She was officially inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame in 1982 for her outstanding leadership ability and contributions to women’s basketball.
Fayetteville State University Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 5, 1997, edition 1
8
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75