NAACP applauds school's stance against
campus racism after Halloween party
BALTIMORE - Kweisi Mfume, president and CEO of
the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People (NAACP), on Nov. 8 applauded the swift and deci
sive reaction by the president of Auburn University
(Auburn. Ala.) to suspend two fraternities involved in racist
behavior at a recent Halloween party.
miume saiu, AuDurn president
William Walker's decision to sus
pend both fraternities, Beta Theta Pi
and Delta Sigma Phi. and to initiate
a complete investigation of the inci
ilehts. is a needed first step in let
ting black and white students know
that racism is unacceptable and
should not b^lolerated." Mfume
said that after fte investigation, the
fraternities and' individuals should
be held accountable and there
should be appropriate punishment.
The decision by Delta Sigma
Phi authorities to suspend two of its
members involved in (he incident and to make an apology to
black students also should be commended. Mfume said.
"This action shows that officials in this fraternity understand
the seriousness of this misbehavior," Mfume said. "Unfortu
nately, the silence by the Beta Theta Pi fraternity speaks vol
umes about their misunderstanding of the graveness of this
situation."
Mfume said, "Racial progress is not just the total elimi
nation of racist acts, hut the willingness of people in posi
tions of power to condemn and take action to stop them."
At a party on Halloween, members of the two fraternities
dressed up in Ku Klux Klan robes and blackface, including
one with a noose around his neck. A professional photogra
pher took pictures of the party and distributed them on his
Web site. A black fraternity. Omega Psi Phi. copied the pic
tures and contacted the administration.
Mfume said. "Perhaps the saddest aspect of this entire
episode is that while only a few students wore racially offen
sive costumes at the party, other students stood around with
out objecting and apparently were not even afraid to have
their photographs taken. It reminds me of pictures of cheer
ing lynch mobs."
1950s law banning cross burning is
overturned by the state Supreme Court
The Virginia Supreme Court recently ruled that the 1952
statute banning cross burning was a violation of the First
Amendment right to free expression, overturning both the
statute and the convictions of three men charged with two
1988 incidents of the act. Its decision was 4-3.
Judge Leroy R. Hassell Sr., the court's lone black justice,
was joined by two others in the following minority opinion:
"The First Amendment does not permit a person to burn a
cross in a manner that intentionally places another person in
fear of bodily harm."
Judge Donald W. Lemons wrote the following for the
majority of the court: "Under our system of government,
people have the right to use symbols to communicate. They
may patriotically wave the flag or burn it in protest; they
may reverently worship'the cross or burn it as an expression
of bigotry."
Mfume
Catcher, a Clinton appointee, says he
won't seek reappointment to post
NEW YORK - In the political
pandemonium of anthrax, bioterror
ism and the unending aftermath of
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. U.S.
Surgeon General David Satcher sig
naled he would not seek reappoint
ment when his term expires next
year. His term will end Feb. 13,
2002 and he says he doesn't plan to
stay.
Satcher. 60. who previously
held the post of director of the Cen
ters for Disease Control and Pre
vention, lists among the highest
ranking blacks in the Bush administration - a short list that
includes Secretary of State Colin Powell. Education Secre
tary Rod Paige and National Security Adviser Condoleezza
Rice.
President Clinton nominated Satcher to the post of U.S.
surgeon general in 1998. The ensuing Senate confirmation,
though ultimately successful, was bitterly opposed by a con
servative faction led by then-Sgn. John Ashcroft. who is now
U.S. attorney general and ranking member of the newly
formed Homeland Security Council.
In the face of new public health dangers posed by domes
tic terrorism, Satcher has gained increased visibility while
undertaking his own role to combat terrorism as the nation's
top doctor. Two weeks ago. at the outset of the postal
anthrax scare. Satcher acknowledged on the NBC "Today"
show that the government was wrong not to act more quick
ly to protect postal workers at the District of Columbia's
Brentwood Road postal facility, where two workers died and
two others fell ill from inhalation anthrax.
Satcher admitted government officials and medical
experts did not realize anthra* spores in unopened envelopes
could endanger U.S. postal workers who engaged in sorting
and delivery processes. v
Satcher
The Chronicle
has new e-mail
addresses
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Chronicle should now be
sent to the newspaper's
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m. To communicate with
The Chronicle's manag
ing editor, T. Kevin Walk
er, e-mail him at kwalk
er@wschronicle.com.
Students form human American flag
Photo by Courtney Gaillard
Hall-Woodward students raise their human flag in honor of Veterans Day.
BY COURTNEY GAILLARD
THE CHRONICLE
Hall-Woodward Elementary
School in Winston-Salem cele
brated Veterans Day early this
year on Friday, Nov. 9, with a
special human flag ceremony.
Dressed in the colors of the Amer
ican flag, about 520 students lined
the front field honoring veterans
who served in foreign wars.
Principal Rose Stowe wel
comed veterans from VFW Post
1143 as special guests for the cer
emony. Dale Hicks and Dale
Baker, officers from the U.S.
Army Reserve in High Point,
were also in attendance with two
anned vehicles for the students to
view. "I thought it was a great
idea," said Baker, whose wife
works at Hall-Woodward, "1 was
' very impressed with the kids and
was more than happy to come
out."
Faculty member Sandra
Mclntyre sang "America the
Beautiful" just before student
council representatives from the
fourth and fifth grades led the
school in the Pledge of Alle
giance. The students then unrav
eled long strips of red, white and
blue paper, lifting them to the sky
to the delight and cheers of
onlookers. The human flag was
flying.
Third-grade teacher Peggy
Cunningham is the brain behind
the human flag idea and was
thrilled with the ceremony, partic
ularly because the students prac
ticed just one time before Friday's
event. "I knew the kids could do
it! They practiced once and with
out the paper," said Cunningham,
who is new to the Hall-Woodward
faculty this year. "I heard the idea
to do a human flag in the past and
thought it would be really neat for
the students."
Cunningham said this was not
only a special way to honor veter
ans but also a good opportunity
for teachers to combine current
curriculum with observing the
holiday. "Many of the teachers
here were able to incorporate
math with the different shapes
used in the flag. It was also a way
to teach colors to the younger stu
dents and a great way for the
entire student body to work
together on something." Cunning
ham said.
Donald Hampton, assistant
principal at Hall-Woodward, was
thankful the weather was good for
the Veteran's Day ceremony and
was very proud of the teamwork
exhibited by the students. Hamp
ton feels the students learned
"valuable lessons" by coming
together to honor and remember
veterans across the country.
The students prepared for the
Veterans Day celebration by writ
ing to members of VFW Post
1143 and contributing $1 each to
the children of Afghanistan relief
fund. According to Principal
Stowe, students at Hall-Wood
ward have been busily working on
a number of patriotic activities in
class such as researching family
members who served in foreign
wars. Stowe also said this is "the
first activity like this where the
whole student body participated in
such a patriotic activity."
Students and faculty members
brought in photos of relatives who
serve in the armed forces and cre
ated a tribute bulletin board in the
lobby of the school titled "We the
People." Dot McClamrock, an LD
class teacher's assistant, included
a photo of her late father and six
uncles, all of whom served in
World War II.
Those in attendance, ranging
from veterans and parents to a few
members of the media, were given
small American flags made of
popsicle sticks by Hall-Wood
ward students. Indeed, it was a
very unique way to celebrate vet
erans who serve our country so
well.
Governor increases security in state
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
RALEIGH - Gov. Mike
Easley last week signed into
law a Dill
that
appropri
a t e s
immedi
ate fund
ing to
f urther
address
t h e
state's
most
urgent
sccuuiy nccus ueyonu ine
steps that have already been
taken since Sept. 11.
Easley asked the General
Assembly to expedite a meas
ure giving him the authority to
address additional security
needs now. without waiting 90
days for anticipated federal
funds.
"We have a responsibility
to take care of our own peo
ple," Easley said during a
signing ceremony at the N.C.
Capitol. "This is not a partisan
issue. This is a North Carolina
issue, and I want to thank the
members of the General
Assembly for moving this bill
through so quickly."
House Bill 1471 was spon
sored by Representatives
Pavid Redwine. Ruth Easter
ling, Pete Oldham and Gregg
Thompson, and was led in the
Senate by Sen. Howard Lee.
The bill provides $1.9 million
in additional funds to the
state's Division of Emergency
Management. The bill author
izes the governor to use up to
$30 million of the $157 min
ion rainy-day fund to further
enhance the ability of the
state's terrorism task force to
improve emergency response
and preparedness efforts.
"Our task force was work
ing long before Sept. 11 to
implement a first-rate security
program for North Carolina,"
Easley said.
After the attacks, the task
force made a request to the
governor for $13.5 million to
address immediate needs in
public health, technology,
agriculture, law enforcement
Snd emergency training, pre
paredness and response.
"I want to assure all citi
zens that North Carolina has
made their safety our number
one priority, "Easley said. "We
are prepared to take any step
necessary to protect our peo
ple."
At Easley's direction.
National Guard troops remain
on alert throughout the state
and cpntinue providing securi
ty at the state's 12 commercial
airports. The governor has also
directed the State Highway
Patrol to increase its presence
around nuclear power plants
and at government complexes
across the state.
North Carolina remains in
constant communication with
the Office of Homeland Secu
rity and other states, exchang
ing the most updated informa
tion on security issues and
potential threats. State leaders
are prepared to communicate
vital information to the public
at a moment's notice if need
ed.
I
Easley
The Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by
Ernest H. Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is
published every Thursday by Winston-Salem Chronicle
Publishing Co., Inc., 617 N. Liberty Street, Winston
Salem, NC 27101. Periodicals postage paid at Win
ston-Salem, N.C. Annual subscription price is $30.72.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
The Chronicle, P.O. Box 1636
Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1636
INDEX
OPINION A6
SPORTS B1
RELIGION B4
CLASSIFIEDS B8
HEALTH C3
ENTERTAINMENT C7
CALENDAR C9
NOTICE MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED FIRMS
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is seeking minority and women-owned firms
(M/WBE) to bid on upcoming highway projects throughout the State. The Locations of the projects are:
o >
t! <D
ts ? ~ ?
ou 3 3 a
o 0 0 >
a: on h
8.1352601 Durham Widening, Grading, Drainage.
Paving & Structures.
8.8059062 Durham Widening, Grading, Drainage,
Paving & Culverts.
8.1442901 Cumberland Grading. Drainage, Paving &
Structure.
8.1494102 Guilford Grading, Drainage, Paving &
Structure. .
7.4771656 Alamance, Milling, Resurfacing & Pavement
ETC Orange Markings.
8.2672603 Mecklenburg Grading, Drainage. Paving &
Structure.
9.8109823 Cabarrus. ITS (Intelligent Transportation
Mecklenburg System).
8.1710904 Ashe Widening, Grading. Drainage,
Paving & Culverts.
8.1822501 Iredell Grading. Drainage. Paving &
Structure..
7.8011309 Cleveland Resurfacing & Pavement Mark
ETC ings
7.8221307 Iredell Milling. Resurfacing & Pavement
ETC Markings.
8.1942902 Haywood Widening. Grading, Drainage.
Paving & Culverts.
c ? GOALS BY
~ o .2 PERCENT
TO 'Z ?=.
o t; oi UJ
o ? c cd m m
_j 5 UJ Q s S
10.837 MI English 9%
1.810 MI English MMfe 5%
0.252 MI English 5%
4.961 Ml English 9%
37.960 MI English 1%~
I 246 MI English 9%
13.500 Ml English 0%
4.388 Ml English 6%
0.265 MI English 9%
26.280 Ml English 74*~
13.410 MI English 7%~
3.540 KM Metric 9%
*** MONDAY, November 19,2001 6 PM ? MIDNIGHT ***
North Raleigh Hilton ? 3415 Wake Forest Road - Raleigh. N.C.
LETTING DATE: November 20, 2001
Prime contractors will be available to receive quotes for truck
ing, sub-contracting and materials. M/WBE's needing more
information and/or technical assistance may come to Room
522 to meet with representatives from the Bennington Corp.,
NCDOT's Supportive Services Provider. (919)832-6027
NCDOT Office of Civil Rights & Business Development 1 ?800*522-0453
Certification of highway contracting firms: Richard Chrisawn
Certification of supply/service/engineering firms: Robert Mathes
Comments or concerns: Delano Rackard: Director