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Noa4*iofit OrfuindM
PAID
Elicabcih City, N.C.
Penit No. 9
VOLUME 35 NUMBER 1
Published by Elizabeth City State University for students and alumni
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.
Mayor Ford Visits ECSU
OCTOBER, 1973
“The hell with Watergate
when we have people in this
country who are literally
starving, need better housing,
and our little children need
better education,” Johnny
Ford, Black Mayor of Tuske-
gee, Alabama said as. he
addressed the Moore Hall
Auditorium audience, at Eliza
beth City State University
Sunday, September 9, 1973.
Mayor Ford was welcomed to
the University by Chancellor
Marion D. Thorpe and to the
City by Mayor John Bell.
Mayor Ford told the students
that politics is the game to be
played and as blacks we must
play it well.
Ford elaborated on the
situation in which decisions will
be made and funds spent on
local levels, and expressed the
need to elect blacks and
sensitive whites to “the
decision-making positions.”
He warned that “Our black
communities and minority
communities in this country are
going to be left out, because in
most instances we do not have
adequate ' and equal repre
sentation in the decision-mak
ing process at the local level.”
As co-chairman of the
National Committee for a
Two-Party System, along with
Floyd McKissick, Ford indicat
ed that the purpose was to
“bring together black Republi
cans and those whites who are
concerned about the common
problems facing blacks and
poor people in this country.”
Ford also stated, “We don't
have time to get hung up on
whether I am a Democrat or a
Republican.”
Because of his pragmatic
Dr. Thorpe Elected To
ECS Policy Group
Dr. Marion D. Thorpe,
Chancellor, Elizabeth City
State University, has been
elected to the Steering Com
mittee of the Education
Commission of the States
(ECS). The election represents
an elevation for Dr. Thorpe,
since he was first appointed to
the Commission, in 1969.
As a member of the ECS
policy-making body. Dr.
Thorpe will be closely involved
in the search for answers to
many of the crises confronting
education today, according to
Wendell H. Pierce, ECS
Executive Director.
ECS, founded in 1966 as a
non-profit organization, repre
sents a coalition of governors,
legislators and educators who
work toward improving educa
tion at all levels, pre-school
through post-secondary. The
Commission is supported by 45
states and two territories in its
efforts to tackle many issues
that affect education, through
inter-state cooperation.
In Memory Of John Spencer
John Spencer was bom Jaly
20, 1949 in Ransomville, North
Carolina to John and Juanita
Spencer. The religious aspects
of his life began at an early age;
in which he became a member
of Holly Grove Disciple Church,
Belhaven, North Carolina.
John attended school in
Belhaven and was considered
an outstanding student from
the first to the twelveth grade.
Because of his academic
achievement he received a
two-year scholarship to Eliza
beth City State University.
He always had a thirst for
knowledge and continued his
studies at Elizabeth City State
University for two years, after
which he entered the Job Corps
for one year. He returned to
“Viking Land", became a
ranking student among Who’s
Who in American Colleges and
Universities, and graduated
with Honors. He received his
Bachelor of Science degree in
Social Science. He served
several years on The Compass
Staff and became a member of
Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity in
which he held the office of
secretary for one year.
John taught a half semester
at Elizabeth City Junior High
School in Elizabeth City, North
Caroltna and one year at
Chocran Junior High School in
Glen Bumie, Maryland where
he was residing when death
occurred.
To those who knew him, he
was considered a friendly
individual, speaking no harm to
anyone. He was always willing
to lend a “helping hand”.
philosophy, a firm belief that
politics is business, Ford cited
the dividends of his political
strategy where in his city and
Macon County received “ap
proximately $60 million a year
in federal resources,” the
highest federal support per
capita of any county in the
country.
This program was sponsored
by the Student Government
Association with president
Edna Hathaway presiding. It
provided some practical insight
into political campaign strate
gies, the kind of planning and
organization that won for Ford
the support of whites and the
“grass-roots elements.” The
speaker pointed out the impact
of student involvement in his
campaign, and of the resources
at Tuskegee Institute.
Because of the vast changes
that are taking place in
Tuskegee, marked by expan
sive physical, social, economic
and educational developments.
Mayor Ford expressed the firm
belief that “the South jS/'the
new frontier in this country.”
Mayor Johnny Ford
A Salute To ECSU’s Future
JOHN I. SPENCER
by Alma Jenkins'
A'gTand salute to the class of
’77, of Elizabeth City State
University! According to the
Office of Admissions, there are
app; • ■ ately 300 students
enrolled in that class. These
students are from all sections of
North Carolina, predominantly
the northeastern section, and
from up and down the Atlantic
Seaboard. They accepted the
sacrifice and challenge which a
college education affords and
these young people responded
to that challenge at ECSU.
They further guarantee the
existence of ECSU.
August 19-26 was observed
as being Freshman Week.
Beginning Sunday, from 10:00
a.m. - 4:00 p.m., student
personnel registration was held
in the University Center. The
day progressed with a recep
tion for parents and students,
after having assembled in
Moore Hall for words of
welcome.
The days following were
busy days as registration got
under way. It was academics all
the way, as ECSU’s future
pledged their minds as they
had their hearts to the cause,
the pursuit of education.
Classes began, but there was
the question of books. The key
was to get there twice as early
as the ne.xt guy, or it was
‘going to the end of the line
for books. Nevertheless, with
the patient labors of our
bookstore manager and some
student assistants, everyone
was serviced as soon as
possible.
The chairmen of the various
departments were contacted
and asked about their freshmen
enrollment. The Social Sciences
Department reports 68, Biology
11, Music 16, Health and
Physical Education 52, Art 10;
where are the others. Business
Department, may be?
As for the class of ’77, What
were their individual reasons
for becoming Vikings? What
were their first impression?
What are their goals? Well,
these questions were asked in a
random survey of members of
this class for the Compass.
Questions:
A. Why did you come to ECSU?
B. What was your first
impression?
C. What are your goals? (not
asked in all cases)
Answers ranged from:
A. “It was closer to home and
financially better; One day
when the high school seniors
and parents could come, 1
was impressed.”
B. “Positive”
TO
A. “1 heard a lot about it and 1
guess my brothers and
sisters had something to do
with it (they came here)...
and I thought it was a pretty
good school”
B. “I liked it.”
TO
A. “In a black school I feel that
I can get more of a
background as well as go on,
under less pressures than I
have encountered previously
elsewhere.”
B. "Neutral”
C. “Nursing”
TO
A. “Because I was suppose to
get a full Football Scholar
ship”
B. “Positive”
C. “To teach Black History in a
style it’s never been taught
before.”
TO
A. “To get far away from home
and meet new friends.”
S. “Negative”
TO
A. “Because 1 was convinced
by a couple of friends to
come here.”
B. “Figured that I would like
it.”
C. “Business Administration”
TO
A. “To get a good start in
Business”
B. “Positive”
C. “Go to law school”
Many had similar reasons for
coming, most had favorable
first impressions, and as for
goals, ECSU welcomes the
future teachers, administrat
ors, doctors, lawyers, therap
ists and other pre-professionals
among the class of ’77. As the
new Vikings strive to make a
dream a reality, what about
you?