PAGE 2
THE COMPASS
SEPTEMBER 26, 1969
Freshman Talent Show
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, LILLIAN RIGGS
RIGHT OR WRONG OBJECTIVES
YOUR AFFILIATION WITH A BLACK
MOVEMENT
With the many Afro-
American organizations
springing up over the na
tion, all advocating racial
pride, integrity and unity,
in what manner do we
choose one to which we
dedicate ourselves? Or
do we choose to even ac
cept the proposals of any
of them? Although all of
these Black associations
have basically the same
objective of working for
the betterment of the Ne
groes, we can’t agree
with the means by which
they all profess to do this.
By what means do we ex
amine these groups in de
termining which one or
ones we might devote our
selves? The distinguish
ing characteristics of
these Black associations
range from those who ad
vocate non-violence, to
those who advocate vio
lence.
As we are made aware
of the specific objectives
of the various Black
groups, I am inclined to
believe that we choose
those which have present
ed proposals which appeal
to us. We don’t choose
those which seem to have
the majority of the Black
followers merely for the
sake of unity. So what, if
the Black association to
which we belong have only
a small number, are we
wrong because we have
chosen to belong to it.
My feelings are that no
matter what we endeavor
to do, even if our feelings
are in contrast to the ma
jority, we stick to them.
It is the strong indivi
duals who can think crit
ically for themselves and
who are not easily led
in a direction which they
do not wish to take.
To correlate this to
making a choice as to
what Black movement
we devote ourselves, I
feel that basically we are
all our own judge and
we work for what we be
lieve is right, just and
fair. We don’t join any
group merely for the sake
of Black unity, be it’s ob
jectives wrong or right.
We view its proposals
subjectively and objec
tively and choose that one
which is for right, whe
ther we are in the mi
nority or not.
WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY
CENTER
We of the Univer
sity center extend to you
a sincere welcome to the
University family and to
your Student Center, We
like to think of the Union
as the University’s "liv
ing room” where acti
vities are much like
those which occur in the
same room at our indi
vidual homes. It is a fam
ily retreat which is here
to provide academic,so-
ALFRED CARTER
Pres.. Student Union
cial, cultural, and rec
reational (not necessar
ily in that order) outlets
for individuals alone or
with groups. The Union
is what you make it and
with your ideas, your par
ticipation and your sup
port, it can and will be
true to its purpose. There
is always need of more
persons (active) on our
various committees, we
request that you make
known to us your mterest
and desire to become af
filiated with your chosen
committee. Not only may
you approach those of the
Union Staff and Program-
m ing Organization (elect
ed officers) concerning
the Union but we also are
available for questions or
aid to you in any aca
demic or other problems
which might arise and you
seek the aid of a student.
We would like to see you
succeed in your college
pursuits and stand ready
to help in any way pos
sible, Again I say greet
ings and welcome to the
Viking family.
Is Smashed
Moore Hall Auditorium
was the scene of the An
nual Freshmen Talent
Show for the year 1969-
70. As the auditorium fill
ed to its total seating
capacity with students on
the floor and standing,
the upperclass audience
anxiously awaited the
performance of the new
addition of Elizabeth City
State University, the
class of 1973,
The program started
promptly at 8 o’clock
commencing with a poem
by Miss Gail Turner,
which was interrupted
with booing from the over
excited audience. The
program continued on
rough edges with inter
mittent booing from the
audience. The members
of the audience began to
formulate ideas about the
outcome of the program
introspectively. Then it
happened noises of all
kinds, from all direc
tions made their way to
the stage. This embarras
sed the performers. Dr.
Marion D. Thorpe, Pres
ident of the University
spoke with the audience
concerning their conduct.
After Joseph Bryant sang
“I Believe” serenading
the audience with lovely
music, Mr. Jimmy Sut
ton, newly elected Pres
ident of the Student Body
spoke with the audience.
He suggested that those
individuals not respect
ful enough to at least lis
ten to the performers,
to quietly leave the audi
torium so that others
could. The program ter
minated under a more
conducive atmosphere.
The program was di
rected by Miss Evelyn A,
Johnson who is professor
of Music and also Di
rector of ECSU’s out
standing choir.
Orris Clark, Freshman
Industrial Arts major
from Ahoskie acted as
Master of Ceremonies.
The program was con
sisted of poems, groups
singing, dances, etectera.
The following states were
represented by students
performing on the talent
show: New York, Wash
ington, D.C., Virginia,
and North Carolina, The
latter half of the pro
gram was highlighted by
black beauty, elegance
and charm as lovely Miss
India Harris of Washing
ton, D.C. led a selected
group of lovely black
Freshmen women into the
portrayal of the lovely
fashions worn by today’s
Black women.
It is evident that the
reactions of the Upper
classmen of this Univer
sity to the Freshmen Tal
ent Program presents a
vague and unproud image
of the backbone of the
University and the stu
dents. It is a fact that
University students
would have more guts
about them to even want
to be in the presence of
such an audience as the
one on September 5.
Shame and forgiveness
ring endlessly in the
hearts of many of the
students of this institu
tion. We regret that the
Freshmen Class had it
so hard. I want you to
know that as a whole we
care about you because
you are a part of us. We
know that during the Bas
ketball, Football and
Wrestling season that we
will want to hear you
cheering for ECSU and
not booing. No matter how
good or bad our team
plays your cheers count.
I want you to know that
the few students that em-
barassed or ridiculed you
didn’t have any idea of
what was happening. As
a former Freshman I was
bored, but the fact of
black people performing
amist an atmosphere of
black power should make
any black man proud and
if it doesn’t, he is not
black.
The opinion of the
majority is that the pro
gram was very well per
formed under the existing
circumstances at that
time. The audience was
rude, unthoughtful and in
considerate. The general
presumption of the per
formers was that the aud
ience wanted to make the
situation as unpleasant as
possible, A minority of
the Upperclassmen made
the entire student body
look obnoxious. Many of
the freshmen students
misconstrued the concept
established by the minor
ity. At one point a group
of students began sing
ing “We are the mighty
Vikings and don't give
a hoot about the Fresh
men”. It is my personal
belief that this group of
students was not cogni
zant, at this time that the
Freshmen are also Vik
ings of ECSU and soon
to be just as mighty as
we.
The overall opinion of
the Freshm en, from what
I gathered, was that the
Upperclassmen didn’t
want the program in the
first place. One young
lady stated quote “It was
only stupid, here we put
on a program for the Up
perclassmen of this Uni
versity and what do they
care. That’s just the thing
they don’t care. We want
ed to please them, so
that they would accept
us more gracious as Vik
ings. Robert Ward
»I
VELMAR ROUNTREE,
WGA PRESIDENT
WHAT DOES
IT COST
We can wear Afros, we
can shout Black Power,
we can wear dashikis,
but if we fail to get some
of that black dignity in
our hearts we might as
well “hang it all up”.
In other words, the wear
ing of African dress does
not mean that we will
gain respect from others
for it. And as Blacks we
had better realize this.
Don’t misunderstand me.
I think that wearing dress
■ that supposedly distin
guishes the black man’s
pride is alright. But are
these symbols (hair
styles, dress, jewelry,
and the like) merely worn
because they have become
the fad?
Respect is cheap, it
costs absolutely nothing.
But to gain a little we
must give a little. As a
student at Elizabeth City
State University, I be
come concerned when a
student shows disrespect
to another student. As
Black men and women,
we must first of all ex
hibit some respect among
ourselves to acquire the
respect of others. If we
don’t respect each other,
then what can we ask in the
way of respect from those
who are not of our Black
race.
I’ve seen a few isolat
ed incidents here that
were pure examples of
things we say we’re sick
and tired of seeing dis
played among our people.
These things are disre
spect, rudeness and just
(Continued on page 4)
THE COMPASS
For Students and Alumni
Published by
State University Newspaper Staff
Elizabedi City, N. C.
Members: Columbia Scholastic Press Association
Editor-In-Chief Lillian Riggs
Associate Editor Denvel Sutton
Managing Editor ..., Eugene Spellman
Sports Editor Walter Winborne
Feature Editor Roy Farmer
Exchange Editor .....Gwenae Johnson
Secretary Velmar Rountree
Treasurer Deloris Owens
Typists
Ka-Esbia Phillips
Izilia Felton
Staff Writers Margaret Gregory,
Velmar Rountree
Photographers William Briggs,
Delton P/oyd,and
Javon B>-others