^promote telecommunications Robeson County
Vol. 1, No. 1 May, 1982
The Call of the
Whippoorwill
Once the land rang with laughter,
branches hung, full of fruit.
Fresh berries dripped with dew,
and rivers ran fresh
with fish to feed our people.
The sound of the Whippoorwill
was heard.
Nature was one with the red man.
Now who listens
. to the voices of the night?
And who understands
the call of the Whippoorwill?
The footprints of our fathers
are lost in the sands forever.
The Mother mourns
the sons taken from her.
The Father no longer
browns their snin.
The red man draws within himself
and groans.
Mother. Father, your sons
have not forgotten.
But we can do no more
than strike at the wind.
Linda James
Media Class
Invades
Drama Site
Professor Matt Morrison's CMA 210
Mass Communications class at Pembroke
State University, recently invaded the
"Strike at the Wind!" drama site for an
end-of-the-semesterbash. They unwound
in a day of album cover picture posing,
tonsil-strainin' folk-singing, and some
gallus-bustin' porch romping.
Morrison said, "Two thirds of the class
had never attended a performance of
"Strike at the Wind!" or seen the
amphitheater. I wanted them to get the !eel
of this place."
Carnell Locklear, general manager and
stellar performer as Boss Strong, and Willie
Lowery, composer and musical director oT
the outdoor drama, graciously hosted the
occasion.
Lowery and Morrison demonstrated than
an Indian and an Irishman could
harmonize, as they sang "Knoxville Girl
and Country Roads".
Members of the class who participated in
the outing were: Kaarina Nuortie -
photographer. Petri Rekola, Jay Sellers,
Cheryl Bullard, Marcia Gouge, David
Grimes - the Elvis look-alike, Linda James,
Dorothy Liles - her fried chicken was so bad
that it walked away. Edward McClendon,
Kim Bright - she thought Rhoda Lowrie
wore Izod shirts. Bob McNeil and Cindy
Kinlaw - who stood guard over a bowl of
potato salad locked inside her Capri.
!h I. i t.il /
Whippoorwitl is published twice a year to
inform the public of the growth of
telecommunications at PembroKe State
University. Direct correspondence to Box
74. PSU. PembroKe. N.C 28372.
Editors: Matt Morrison
Corliss Hayes
Photographer. Kaarina Nuortie
Telecommunications at Pembroke State University
People Keep asking me, How are you coming along on this TV station?" The first
thing to remember is that we are a studio, not a station. At the present time, we would be
operating under guidelines which permit us to supply broadcast entities, such as cable
system, with programs for redistribution without the necessity of a license.
Present plans call for us to transmit our signal to Red Springs via a microwave
transmitter, where the signal will be modulated (changed to another frequency), and
rebroadcast to Joneslntercable subscribers via their microwave-cable system. There are
several viable options we are considering for the University to provide programs to other
cable systems
We thank John Robinson, of the Pembroke Community Workshop, who has worked
effectively with us on this project, from its first conception through the current negotiations.
Here is what has happened so far:
1. On December 11, 1981, the U.S. Dept. of Commerce awarded Pembroke State
University a construction grant for public television facilities. The total project cost is
$201,308.00, which includes stipulated local match funding for $55,479.00. The grant
was awarded as part of the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program to ensure
greater participation in public television by minorities and women.
2. On January 22,1982, C.D. Martin, station-manager of WECT-TV 6 in Wilmington,
NC presented PSU a television equipment gift valued at $105,933.00. This included a
completely equipped 1974 Open Road mobile van, two Norelco color studio camera
systems, and much more.
3. On February 10, 1982,1 submitted our schedule of procurement and proposal to
our PTFP (Public Telecommunications Facilities Program) project office that the
WECT-TV 6 gift meet the local matching requirement. After several follow-up telephone
calls, we have yet to secure a written response from Washington. At this time, the office of
U.S. Senator Jesse Helms is making inquiry on our behalf. This bureaucratic snail pacing
proves to be very frustrating. We cannot move to buy lacking studio equipment until we
get a reply from Washington.
4. We are pleased that Jackie Jacobs was appointed as Program and Resource
Director of the PSU television project. The Lumbee Regional Development Association,
in cooperation with the University, is funding the position. Jackie s office is Room 229, Old
Main, 521-4214, ext. 408. I salute the visjon and wisdom of Kenneth R. Maynor, executive
director of LRDA, who works with ancf-supports the PSU telecommunications project.
5. Radio may be the real sleeper. On Friday, April 16, PSU filied with the Federal
Communications Commission an application for a construction permit for a new AM
broadcast station. The proposed station will seek authority to operate on a frequency o;
940KHz.with the oower of10,000 kilowatts Director of jnstitutionalAdvancement,Richard
C. Pisano, coordinator of the application process, said, "If the FCC approves our
application, we will be able to provide radio production experience for our mass media
students, quality noncommericial programming, and optimum access and coverage in a
sunrise to sunset operation. Our signal would extend to a radius of 45 miles "
Our next move is to employ a TV studio director. This person and I will work together
this fall in teaching CMA 316, a course in radio and television production. The course will
include basic theory and practice of studio operations in radio and television, with
laboratory experience in the use of control boards, records, cameras, switching and
editing equipment, microphones and related equipment.
Through private sector funding, a DUI (driving under the influence) film will be
completed. Helen Robinson, of the Scotland County Mental Health Center is
co-producer. Much of the filming is tentatively set for September, 1982.
Aim at the stars and you'll hit something higher than a haystack. Granted, it will take
more than a good aim to finish the first phase of growth of telecommunications at PSU. It
will require sound support from the University of North Carolina system, the Pembroke
township and surrounding communities, and a fair dose of enthusiasm from those directly
involved.
Straight ahead!
-MM