10 The Voice, For Students, By Students . 1 October 06, 2010 □ www.fsuvoice.conn
Why did you use a camera?
And other ‘crazy, stupid’ things
Editor’s Note: Charnell Har
ris, The Voice Features Editor,
expresses her feelings on current
events, pop culture, and the gen
eral drama of our generation.
Some days I really just
want to turn off th^ tele
vision and radio. I don’t
want to look through the
newspaper or magazines.
Why? You might ask.
Well the answer is sometimes I
don’t want to know about all the
ridiculous, crazy and stupid things
people are doing today.
SENSELESS VIOLENCE
On the Nancy Grace weekend
segment on CNN, they showed
a clip of a nurse at a retirement
home who was supposed to be
caring for a 91-year -old woman.
She was beating her, literally. The
incident, caught on tape, showed
the nurse slapping and slamming
the frail elderly woman around on
the chair and in the bed. And I’m
not talking little taps on the hand,
but a full out slap in the face. The
“caregiver” was pulling her hair
and pushing her around the room.
I mean the woman caimot defend
herself and she has Alzheimer’s
disease. If that was my grandma.
CHARNELL
HARRIS
SAY WHAT?!
well let me just be glad that it
isn’t, because it would this would
be a totally different story. But all
I want to know is why? That nurse
did not have to slap her and throw
her around the way she did. That
was just uncalled for. On
a good note however, the
nurse, is being charged
with aggravated assault
and neglect.
BAD PARENTING
What about the woman in Ohio
who was arrested for videotaping
her 2-year-old daughter smoking
marijuana? Really? All the “Live
Above-the Influence” commercials
must have gotten to her so she de
cided to make one of her own star
ring her toddler. The video shows
the little girl watching TV and
smoking like a pro! All while her
mother is heard laughing it up in
the background.
One, why would you give your
child, yet alone a toddler, marijua
na? Two, why would you video
tape it on a cell phone? For those
of you who are not aware, this is
the information age. If you put
it on a computer or a cell phone
there is always a chance that you
are not the only one who will see
it. She tried to delete it off of her
phone before the cops got to her.
But I am positive that I do not
even need to tell you that it did not
work. She is now being charged
with child endangerment, corrupt
ing others with drugs, and tamper
ing with evidence. All the counts
add up to 11 years in prison if con
victed.
SMOKING ON THE JOB
If you worked at a factory build
ing cars, what would jou do dur
ing your lunch break? Eat or take
a nap perhaps? What about having
an alcoholic beverage and smok
ing what appears to be illegal
drugs, then getting caught by a TV
reporter with a camera? Well, that
is what happened to a few work
ers at the Chrysler Jefferson North
Plant in Detroit. They were fol
lowed and filmed knocking back
alcohol and smoking what does
not look like cigarettes. They are
now “suspended indefinitely”
without pay and will be under
investigation. How are they sup
posed to pay for lunch now?
And last but not least, how
about Bishop Eddie Long? I’m not
sure I want to go there.
For information on tine Incidents
mentioned, visit www.cnn.com.
The Driver s Seat
Hello readers! I am Shakia
Campbell and I .am a 36-year-old
FSU mass communication major
here at Fayetteville State Univer
sity. As I move about my day on
campus, interacting with, my fellow
students; I feel compelled to share
with you a little bit of me, in hopes
I can possibly inspire at least one
person who may need a word of
encouragement.
As I remember the days
when dreams were just
dreams and there was noth
ing to motivate me for me,
I’m inspired. There was
once a time when I lived
a life for everyone around
me but not for myself. I lost con
trol, letting everyone else in my
driver’s seat, steering me in the
wrong direction and ultimately for
getting who I was. I felt as though
my only mission in life was to take
care of those around me. Others’
happiness was more important
than my own.. .or so I thought. My
life had fallen to pieces. I had lost
control of whom I was and steered
away from what I was destined to
do.
In October 2009 I fell into a
coma and was hospitalized for
months. During that time I defi
nitely didn’t have control. I lied
there not being able to communi
cate or do what I wanted. Dreams
upon dreams played out in my
SHAKIA
CAMPBELL
INSPIRATION OF
THE WEEK
head. Good and bad ones but I was
in a coma and did not know it. My
life was dangling, with three chil
dren left in the wings, not know
ing if I was to ever return to them.
But a couple of months later God
spared me and I awakened from
the Coma. I was given a second
chance in life. At that time I was
still unable to speak because I
was intamated, however,
I promised myself if I
could just return to a part
of me. I’d live for myself
There are many times
within our lives we face
adversities challenging
who we are. No matter
which avenue we decide to drive
through these adversities, if we
arm ourselves with the right ve
hicle our journey can be the most
fulfilling and positive experience,
an experience we can use as a tool
to help someone else.
We must always keep in mind
our travels are what we make of it.
It is not the road less travelled but
the road leading us to our destina
tion. The adversities we go through
are not what set us apart from ev
eryone else. How we handle the
adversities we go through is
what sets us apart from every
one else. Keep your eyes on
the road, hands on the steering
wheel, your eyes on your desti
nation, and you will arrive. .
NIGERIA from page 5
in the community imable to afford health in
surance and whose employers do not offer
health insurance.
The Care Clinic is staffed primarily by vol
unteers, from the medical professionals on
staff to receptionists and assistants. The asso
ciation called for volunteers to help at every
level.
NCA expressed its appreciation for its
members and acknowledged those members,
patrons, sponsors, donors and guests in the
community who actively supported the asso
ciation and the local community.
NCA president Dr. Don A. Okhomina ac
knowledged appreciation to FSU students,
alumni and Faculty for their support and pa
tronage.
Special guest speaker, FSU Chancellor
James Anderson expressed his desire and to
ensure FSU students “do not allow their de
grees out weigh who they are.”
He passionately articulated his mission to
“globalize students” assure they are “armed
to the teeth in their discipline, to be able to
achieve and compete with everyone, EVERY
ONE!”
In every speech you felt the powerful emo
tions behind the words. Dinner was filled with
people milling about, laughter and lots of pic
tures.
The cultural dance evolved into a mixture
of guests and dancers. FSU students, alumni,
faculty and staff joined the celebration and
danced the night away. The night ended with
more dancing, and acknowledgements.
“Help our youth the truth to know, in love
and honesty to grow, and living just and true,
great lofty heights attain” This is the ending to
Nigeria’s national anthem.
Its meaning was expressed in every speech
from Chancellor Anderson’s vow to ensure
FSU students understand what is going on
the world to NCA President Dr. Okhomina’s
expressed appreciation of community support
and to members milling about gracious and
welcoming.
Voice photo by Leland Walker
HEARD ON CAMPUS
Members of the Fayetteville State University Choir perform during Convoca
tion at Capel Arena recently.