Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Feb. 6, 1997, edition 1 / Page 24
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;8B York/tKIje Cfjarlotte ^O£!t/Rowan REGIONAL THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1997 Attorney fights Bar suspension By Brian Powe FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST SALISBURY - An African American attorney in Salisbury is fighting to keep his license from being suspended. Gerald E. Rush, a prominent Afirican American figure in the Salisbury community, was sus- Student charged in arson By Brian Powe FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST SALISBURY - A white Catawba College student has been charged with burning a black church in eastern N.C. Matthew Neal Blackburn is being held without bail for con spiring to maliciously damage and destroy St. James AME Zion Church last summer. The 18-year-old Blackburn was also accused of using an incendiary device during a crime of violence and malicious destruction of a building by fire. Blackburn, a Catawba soccer player, is the first of the four white men who will be charged in connection with the fire. Authorities say that Blackburn and the three other men, poured gasoline around the foundations of St. James, and then threw firebombs made of beer bottles, gasoline and paper towels. St. James AME Zion Church recorded approximately $60,000 in damages. According to officials, the cin der block walls of the church kept the blaze fi*om destroying the sanctuary, but the heat melt ed the upholstery on the pews and scorched the floor complete- ly- Rev. Jean M. Anderson, pastor of St. James, gave an appeal to see the culprits before they are dealt with in the justice system. “I would like to talk to whoever burned my church,” Anderson said. “I want to try to and under stand their motives for doing this. I’d Ike to ask them why. I can’t understand what would be in anybody’s mind to make them destroy a church.” Although Anderson feels that Blackburn and his entourage should be placed on trial for their actions, she realizes that the situation has probably taken its toll on the perpetrators and their families. “I feel that they should be brought to justice, but they have their mothers, and I’m sure this is taking its toll,” Anderson said. “I’m sime their mother’s hearts are broken.” Juanita Bouser, a Catawba College spokesperson, said that agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, 'Ibbacco and Firearms arrested Blackburn last week. Bouser claimed that college officials have already dropped Blackburn from Catawba’s soc cer team and said that it may not be the only suspension that he receives. “If he is found guilty, he’s See ARSON on page 9B pended by the North Carolina State Bar’s Disciplinary Commisssion for inappropriate sexual behavior. The decision could cause him to lose his license for up to three years if he does not seek psychiactric help. According to the commission’s order, unless a psychiatrist says he does not suffer from any con dition creating a predisposition predatory sexual behavior. Rush may be without his license for 36 months. The commission said that Rush improperly touched a client and made some inappro priate sexual remarks to Priscilla Chamber Brown during a session in 1992. Rush denies the charges. He plans to submit an appeal against the commission’s order to the N.C. Court of Appeals. If Rush receives psychiatric help and has no federal or state violations on his record after the six-month active suspension, he will be allowed to re-apply for his license and have the remainder PHOTOS/AARONITA BELTON The Calendar Dance, one of the most-anticipated social events In Rock Hill through the 1970s, makes Its return to the campus of Clinton Junior College Feb. 15. Dance makes a comeback By Gwen Daniels FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST ROCK HILL - Rock Hill is getting a blast fium the past that many hope will bring back the community spirit blacks shared in the ‘60s and 70s. Clinton Junior College will mark the return of the “Calendar Dance” Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. in the Martin Gymnasium as part of the school’s homecoming weekend and Black Histoiy Month. For those too young to remember, the Calendar Dance was one of the hottest social events of the year for Rock Hill’s African American community. 'The event was an opportunity for Clinton stu dents, faculty, alumni and the community to dress to impress and mingle. Cheryl McCullough, Clinton’s director of admission development, said the dance initially began as a fundraiser at which civic groups and churches decorat ed 12 tables rep resenting each month of the year. The motivation for bringing back the dance, McCuUou^ said, is to bridge the gap between Clinton and the community and strengthen com munity imity and spirit. “I was looking for something that would bring the community back together with the enthusiasm it used to have,” she said. “What I hope is that it wiU catch on and we’ll begin to rebuild the tra dition.” Clinton is located in the heart of an older established black neighborhood in Rock Hill. McCullough hopes the local residents and alumni wil join the effort to resurrect the dance. “Clinton has been here for 102 years and has a lot of her itage and history,” she said. “And this is adding to what’s already there.” Henrietta Wilkes not only has ties to the school, she also lives in the communify sur rounding Clinton. She was a librarian and teacher there for more than 25 years. TOlkes recalls the excitement and fanfare of the Calendar Dance as she explains what drew the most attention back then. “The decorated tables were the most outstanding part,” Wilkes said. “There was a variety of decorations and centerpieces, which one time featured a manger scene on a December table.” Wilkes said participants also displayed food represen tative of the month they spon sored. For example, the November table may have See CALENDAR on page 9B of the suspension lifted. The commission’s order was mailed to Rush on Jan. 24, giv ing him 30 days to turn in his membership card and license to the North Carolina State Bar. Rush said last week that he does not need any psychiatric help. “I obviously deny that I have any psychiatric or any other emotional imbalances or illness es,” he said. “Never has there been any suggestion. I have a good monogamous relationship with my wife. There is no basis for a suggestion of that nature.” Reports say that during the day of the alleged criminal activ- See ATTORNEY on page 9B Foundation grant goes to 1887 building By Brian Powe FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST SALISBURY - The NationsBank Foundation recently donated $250,000 to Livingstone College to help fund a new Student Life Center on the campus in Salisbury. Coined as the largest monetary gift ever given to the historical ly black college, Livingstone College President Burnette Joiner expressed his appreciation for the gift. “I am extremely pleased to accept this gift on behalf of the College, and I also would like to thank President Laura Foxx of the NationsBank Foundation for this significant contribution.” The new Student Life Center will be placed in the historic Ballard Hall on the Livingstone campus once restoration to the building is completed. “I also want to praise our 'Trustee and Bishop, Dr. George Battle for his leadership in making this possible,” Joiner. “Bishop Battle, like NationsBank, continues to demonstrate the highest level of commitment in support of education, and particularly to his his torically black colleges and universities.” In an effort to improve student life on the 116-year-old campus, officials at Livingstone hope that this gift is the jump start the project needs. Laura Foxx, NationsBank Foundation president, said the chari ty respects Livingstone and the AME Zion Church, so it tries to support the institution whenever possible. “We hope that this early major gift will significantly enhance the college’s efforts,” Foxx said, “in attracting additional corporate support.” Battle, a Livingstone graduate, said the renovation of Ballard Hall is more significant than people think. Ballard was the second See BUILDING on page 9B Nubian Festival gears up for its fourth year By Herbert L. White THE CHARLOTTE POST Salisbury’s Nubian Festival and Pageant has come a long way since its beginning four years ago. Originally planned as a showcase for black history and a busi ness opportunity for vendors, the event has grown into an antici pated event in the African American community. That popularity is what organizers hope to build on Feb. 22 at the Salisbury Civic Center. ‘The first one, we took the idea from the Black Expo in Charlotte,” said Louis Jeffries, president of the Rowan Area Minority Business Association, the event’s sponsor. “People were trying to come in through the doors before we could open. “We try to coordinate it with Black History Month if possible. Basically, we want to expose businesses to the public and let them know where they are.” The festival will be divided into phases, with the Vendor Market, which is free and open to the public. It will start at 9 a.m. and will show off local talent and busines.ses. Vendors can reserve space for $40 until Feb. 15, when it increases to $45. There will also be a talent showcase, which is free to individuals or groups who want to participate. “We plan to have entertainment and vendors, service and mer chandise vendors,” Jeffries said, adding that more than half of the See FESTIVAL on page 9B Livingstone program helps high school kids prep for college By Carol Meeks FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST SALISBURY - A Livingstone College program is helping high school students make the early leap to college. LEAP is the Livingstone Early Admissions Program. It is designed for high school juniors and seniors who are interested in taking college courses while they are still in secondary school. The program provides the opportunity for qualified students to take courses on a part-time basis and later these students may apply their credit toward a col lege degree at Livingstone or another college or university. The program allows students who have a B average to apply. 'They may take up to seven hours per semester in English, mathematics, biology, or social sciences. Each student who applies to become LEAP students must have met certain high school prerequisites and must have the approval of the principal, at least one counselor, and one or more teachers. Prior to actual enrollment at the col lege, an applying student must be 16 years of age or older, and must have completed a mini mum of eight units, which include English 9 and 10, Algebra I and Algebra II or geometry, and must be cur rently enrolled in high school and be making satisfactory progress toward graduation. LEAP students must comply with the policies of the college that relate to application, enrollment, registration, attendance, grading and behavior as do traditional stu dents. LEAP students may take day, evening or weekend class es. The course content will be the same as that for regular college students, and the length of the semester or mini session will coincide with the See LEAP on page 9B
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