u The U2 1 072n^ 5 -afolT 2710L W "T^" "^KT -rrr ?*C , ^1 If '? ^ WINSTON SALEM NC 27101-2705 JF K H M ? j . Vol. XXXV No. 30 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. THURSDAY, March 26, 2009 fc * ? Local boxer wins major title in Atlanta -See Page BIO Film by talented artist to be screened ?See Page A12 J 75 cents -aW Ypbfi/ students ^ ^ ? < Jfjar/ do some^caTow?!^,.^^ ? SardC"^est j. f0n-S^e> \N?^? i v WSSU becomes gay-friendlier Board of Trustees includes LGBT community in non-discrimination policy WSSU lnufc B The new I measure^ means that f everyone [' on the WSSU campus is protected from dis crimina - h tion. BY LAYLA FARMER THE CHRONICLE The Winston-Salem State University Board of Trustees has voted to include sexual orienta tion among the pro tected groups of indi viduals in university policies. The unanimous vote took place last Friday. WSSU became one of the last institu tions in the UNC sys lem to pass such a measure. Designating sexual orienta tion as a protected class allows members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay. bisexual and transgender) Hughes community to be free from dis crimination based on their sexu ality. "It was a matter of dignity and resneft " said Board Chair Nigel Alston. "Everyone deserves that, and to a degree, that's what the aetion of approving the policy did." It is an important step in the university's j history, says WSSU's Equal Employment Opportunity Officer Edward Hanes Jr. "This was a very good thing for the university," stated See WSSU on A4 Students find outlet in poetry slams BY LAYLA FARMER THE CHRONICLE Fourteen students took to the stage at Carver High School Tuesday, gunning for a cash prize and the chance to become the school-wide poetry slam champion. Armed only with words and the wisdom of their short, yet varied existences, the final ists wooed their peers with tales of love and loss, of sad ness. heartache, abuse and of finding one's voice in the crowd and overcoming obstacles. The students that surged into the auditorium to wit ness it all were every bit as energized as their counter parts on stage. Whoops and screams of encouragement peppered each poet's rendi tion. It was a surreal experi ence for Senior A.J. Banner, who entered the contest at the behest of his teacher. "I've kind of always been into poetry at least since the seventh grade." Banner said. Though he says he has shared his work with friends and family members, per forming before a large group was a new experience for Banner. "It feels great," he said at the outset of the final compe tition. the third round the school has held this year. "I love it; 1 wouldn't trade it for the world." Fellow finalist Alexes Johnson couldn't contain her excitement either. Ph