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CAMPUS OCTOBER 5, 1992 ] Ellison Crowned Miss BSM 1992-93 By Stormie Forte /n/c Staff Writer On Saturday, Scpiember 26, the Black Student Movement rekindled an event that had. in the past, been a traditional event for the organiza tion. Ebony and Elegance was the theme of the coronation ball for Miss BSM. Michelle Thomas, BSM president, said the event was re vived for several different reasons, among which included celebrating the organization’s twenty-fifth an niversary. According to Thomas, the last Miss BSM coronation ball was held in the fall of 1989, and she felt the time had come to return to some of the organization’s tradi tions. Sheba Lowe served as BSM co ordinator and committee chair for the event. Lowe wanted to plan an activity that was different from Great Hall parlies—she wanted people of African descent to have a semi-formal affair to celebrate their culture. “My goal was food, folks and fun for all those who attended,” Lowe said. Organizers for the event wanted to use as many African-American businesses as possible. Dillard’s Catering and World of Rowers,both of Durham, provided food and deco rations. D. J. Special K and Soul Expression provided music by switching off and performing alter nate sets. The BSM held meetings for all those interested in competing for the Miss BSM crown. The criteria for the contestants was: senior year status, a 2.5 GPA, an election of BSM members, and completion of an interview by the selection com mittee which was made up of two faculty members and five student members. The vote of the BSM general body was the determining factor for the selection of Miss BS M. The general election counted two- thirds and the application/interview counted one third of the final deci sion. There were five contestants m the final round of the pageant: Carol Brown of Winston-Salem, NC; Cassandra Caldwell of Fayetteville, NC; Tywanda Ellis"on of Red Springs, NC; Annice Hood of Weldon, NC and Christa Ray of Roswell, GA. Contestants and BSM officials had mixed emotions about the en tire selection process for the pag eant. Michelle Thomas said the process that the Carolina Athletic Association used to select the Home coming Queen was emulated, due in part to the problems various or- ganiz.ations had with the selection ofcontestants last year. “Having an interview, BSM general body vote, application and using the same weights as CAA was a process that insured all candidates were equally able to represent the BSM in Home coming using CAA criteria.” Tho mas said. Several candidates, as well as Ms. Thomas, felt the process was fair. Annice Hood said, “It was a good selection process because the interview, application, and vote helped to create a balance and elimi nated the chance for a popularity contest.” Cassandra Caldwell said, “The fact that there were several opportunities for the BSM to join the selection committees, the BSM general body vote counted two- thirds for the selection which cuts down on the biases that could be a factor in the interview section.” Caldwell also felt the pre-elec- tion forum was helpful. “Each can didate could address the BSM gen eral body and the general body could ask questions which helped them make their decisions,” she said. Christa Ray believed the process was more representative of the en tire BSM general body. “The vote was the most important part of the selection that was even reflected in the weight of each category,” Ray said. Although there were some posi tive views regarding the selections process, some contestants thought there were a few problems. Carol Brown felt the overall format was fair because of the three selections criteria. Brown said Miss BSM was the “physical representative of pre mises upon which the BSM was founded.” She went to Wilson Li brary prior to entering the contest to do research and found that the first and third presidents of the BSM stated, ‘The Black Student Move ment was formed to give the black students a voice on campus.” Brown said, “The third BSM president said the BSM was formed for two reasons which were to form a refuge, community, and cultural link for black students and to give black students a powerful voice.” The research she did, as well as the theme of the twenty-fifth anniver sary for the BSM, “Giving Black to the Community,” were a few of the motivating factors in her decision to run for Miss BSM. Brown staled, “I felt I gave Black to every organi zation 1 am in and to the campus as a whole.” Tywanda Ellison felt the pro cess should be changed, but was not sure how to change it Sheba Lowe fell the lack of coverage by the Black Ink hindered voter turnout. “Pre-coverage of contestants in the Black Ink would have helped more people make their decisions because many voters did not know anything aboul the contestants,” she said. The make-up of the selection committee was questionable for some students and faculty. Lowe said, “The committee was not hand- picked. Committee members were volunteers, and because she ex pressed a need for help at general body meetings, anyone could have been on the committee.” Tywanda Ellison was crowned Miss BSM and will represent the organization in ihe Homecoming process. As well as maintaining the challenging position of Miss BSM for 1992-1993, Ellison is the social chairperson for her sorority, Theta Pi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., coordinator of the Tarheel Target program, B lack Greek Coun cil representative, and has worked with Summer Bridge and Project Uplift for a number of years. Be yond Homecoming, Ellison would like to use her role as Miss BSM to do more community service projects in the local community. She feels the BSM has the potential to do a lot in the community, and she would like to do more service-oriented projects. One idea Ellison has is to start a recycling program with local minority youth. The title of the program would be “K.E.E.P. America Beautiful: Kids Engaged in Environmental Preservation.” Through volunteers from a variety of campus groups, local youth would begin to recycle and hopefully get their parents in on the act. Ellison says she identifies with those who are less fortunate than a lot of people. “I had a very hard childhood, but I’m here. So obvi ously that proves that we can make it,” she said. The psychology major believes Miss BSM should be a person who is service-oriented, pos sessing endurance. Ellison, who is a member of the Chancellor’s Board on Racial Is sues, says she would use the posi tion to help race relations. “I feel it’s a way of bridging the gap [be tween the black and white commu nities]” she said. Tricia Henry, BSM coordinator said, “It’s nice for younger students to experience past BSM traditions, and it is also good for African- Americans to have functions to show how elegant they are.” First runner- up, Cassandra Caldwell was very happy for Elli son because they share a close friendship. Christa Ray, sec ond runner-up, said, “I had fun, it was a good experience, and I’m glad the tradition was continued. This is something [Black students] can call our own, because it [the coronation ball] represents our cul ture, and I would like to see it con tinue.” Mr. BSM 1992-1993, Chris Miller, reminisced over the history of the coronation ball. “Every ball used to be held in Great Hall and all Black Greeks used to attend each others’ balls for support. People were tight and displayed unity. BAC (Black Awareness Council), this event [coronation ball], the entire year has been unifying. This is a time to put differences aside and be unified. When I first came to Caro lina there was no unity; this is a good way to go out.” Editor's Note: Tiffany Draughn and Rynita Younger also contrib uted to this article. MeTfieta H Chaiifer of Aljj^ha Alphst Sororityi Itic* and The Mil Zeta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fftttemity, Inc. «»rdially Invite you to a Black Fre^litiian/Faciilty Mixer Tuesday, October 13| X992 SiOO pm - 6tS0pm Carolina Umon Room Refreshments i^l be served^
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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Oct. 5, 1992, edition 1
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