PAGE 2...THE COMPASS...FEBRUARY, 1975
Editorial Comer
Forward Ever Evelyn Johm«n, The Mmte ^man
Backwards Never
In this year of 1975 it causes
one to consider the year of
1776. This was the year of
exuberant partiotism and all
the efforts of America were
bound by a common cause, the
freedom of these United States.
Now in these years so close
to the year 2000 we see
Americans in an entirely new
perspective. They no longer
care about the existence,
support or well being of the
United States but their atten
tion is directed strictly on
themselves. Every man puts
himself first. It is rather
disillusioning to compare the
American of 1776 with that of
todays American. Greed is the
motivation behind todays peo
ple the trend seems to be “to
get over” and to get all one can
for namely “yourself’. This is
the common bond of Americans
now, to beat the system out of
everything possible and con-
cencrated efforts are on
monopolizing as much power as
forcibly possible.
How disheartening it is in a
time that America needs its
citizens the most that they turn
their backs on the country they
have continously fought and
died for in perserving the ideas
for which it stands.
All over America efforts are
being exerted to prepare
projects of salute for the
bicentennial. I advocate a
genuine salute to the history of
this nation this salute would be
that each and every American
re-direct their efforts into
America not to their own selfish
individualism. We, as Blacks
must join the efforts because it
is only now and in the future
can we make in America a place
for ourselves and if we and all
others fail to support and
rejuvenate America, its princi
ples and goals, we will not have
a place in which to perpectuate.
One’s thinking must now be
directed to the good of America
in order to prosper in the
future. If we as Americans
continue to be negligent this
will indeed be our last 2000
years.
Associate Editor
Whenever He Wants To
Who is He?
Who does He think He is?
Where does He get His rights?
He walks in and
He walks out
He comes today
and goes tomorrow
Who does He think He is?
Who does He think I am?
He must compare me
with a door that He
goes in and out
whenever he is ready
What does a door care?
It had no feelings.
He comes in and goes out
whenever he wants to
When I want him to come in
He is not there
So,
Why should I continue to
Let Him in
Whenever He wants to.
Dream Of A Janitor
Each day of my life I walk.
Miles upon miles I walk as
I push my broom and
sweep another’s floor.
I am the collector of another’s filth,
the polisher of another's furniture.
And now my life has made me the
beggar of another’s money.
I am the listener of everyone’s problems,
but not the teller of my own.
I am the bidden to everyone’s command
whether I like it or not.
But every day when my work is almost over,
I let down the blinds, close the curtains,
and cut out the lights in every chamber.
And then I stand there in the midst
of my soul and conceive the beauty of
darkness.
And I listen to the beauty of the
absence of voices, the sweet, vast,
quietness.
Ah how sweet my death shall be.
Anthony Ballad
“All the sounds of the
earth are like music.” That’s
what Oscar Hammerstein II
said. He was a famous man of
music.
The Albemarle has a famous
woman of music, Ms. Evelyn
A. Johnson, music professor at
Elizabeth City SUte University,
who no doubt, agrees with
Hammerstein.
Ms. Johnson has been at
ECSU for more than 40 years
and is planning to retire. She
joined the faculty in 1933 as a
music teacher. She made $70 a
month and received all the
ei\joyment of teaching she
wanted. “In 1933 the school
offered only two years of
training for teachers. The total ■*
enrollment of students, count
ing summer school, extension
classes, training skills, etc. was
a surprising high of 1,219.
It was a rough start for the
woman of music. “When I first
came here there was no music
materials of quality. I could not
find the type of music or level
of music I wanted the students
to use,” she said. College
president at the time, John H.
Bias was interested in the
development of black youth and
he got money for the purchase
of music. “In those days there
were no machines to make
quanities of copies, therefore
each student memorized the
music. The choirs memorized
the compositions and so did I,”
she said.
Elizabeth City State Univer
sity’s choir has been praised
and supported by governors of
North Carolina. Former gover
nor Terry Sanford, when
hearing the chohr was to tour
Europe sent a contribution to
help the choir in its trip. The
choir has toured the U.S. as
well. As years went by, Ms.
Johnson made it more difficult
for students to make the choir.
“I wanted good quality voices
In the choirs I directed,” Ms.
Johnson said.
“I’ve never taught a student
I disliked. I always tried to find
the best quality In each
student,” she said. It’s obvious
students have never disliked
her. V. " V ^ ^
Ms. Johnson has been
honored by her students,
faculty and staff throughout her
career. She has been proclaim
ed, not only as an outstanding
professional, but a warm and
wonderful person.
ECSU did not have a music
major until 1961. She headed
up the department and got it
started in ’61. She then gave up
the position In ’65 to devote
more time to her students and
choir.
A native of Petersburg, Va.,
Ms. Johnson came from a
family which believed in
education. Each member of her
family attended college. Her
mother insisted each member
of the family have piano
lessons. With this as her
background, Ms. Johnson
graduated from Peabody High
School, with honors, and music
awards. She then did under
graduate study at Fisk Univer
sity, where she earned a B.A.
degree In music. She went back
for a fifth year and earned a
diploma In piano and music
theory. She did graduate study
at Columbia University in New
York earning a M.A. In music
and music education. Learning
did not stop here. She studied
at a number of universities. She
attended Buckness, Syracuse,
Columbia and American uni
versities. The renowned Peter
Wllhousky gave Ms. Johnson
private lessons.
Recalling her 40-plus years
with the university, Ms.
Johnson worked with all the
presidents except one. “There
were and are nice qualities in
all the president’s the universi
ty has had,” she said.
A member of many musical
organizations and civic clubs,
some of her honors include:
•the Omega Psi Phi fraterni
ty outstanding achievement
award in the fine arts.
•general alumni association
of ECSU distinguished service
•North Carolina Music edu
cators association award
•Personalities of the South
listing
•gifts and recognition from
students and alumni
It’s been a good life at ECSU
for Ms. Johnson. She says she
lives by these words, “one lives
to be of service to others.”
She has.
Poets Highlights
Hear Ye, Hear Ye
This is a plea to all department chairpersons and to the entire
student body from the Compass staff.
We are in need of your support and cooperation in order to
produce the newspaper. Our issues cannot be in any form of
regularity if we cannot obtain the news and meet the appropriate
deadlines. Therefore, the staff is requesting that all persons
with any information of benefit to other members of this
university submit this news to the Compass. Students are
especially encouraged to submit editorials of any nature and
poems to the Compass.
These articles may be turned in to the editor, any member of
the Compass or the Office of Public Information in Moore hall.
The Compass staff desires to serve you as an information
agency in transmitting the news but we need your help!!!
Thank yon,
Coming Events
March
2
3-7
Poetry Anthology
COLLEGE STUDENT’S POETRY ANTHOLOGY
The NATIONAL POETRY PRESS
announces its
SPRING COMPETITION
The closing date for the submission of manuscripts by College
Students is:
APRIL 10
ANY STUDENT attending either junior or senior college is
eligible to submit his verse. There is no limitation as to form or
theme. Shorter works are preferred by the Board of Judges,
because of space limitations.
Each poem must be TYPED or PRINTED on a separate sheet,
and must bear the NAME and HOME ADDRESS of the student,
and the COLLEGE ADDRESS as well.
MANUSCRIPTS should be sent to the OFFICE OF THE PRESS
NATIONAL POETRY PRESS
3210 Selby Avenue Los Angeles, Calif. 90034
Founder’s Day
Women’s Week
Bloodmobile
9-13 Religious Emphasis Week
16 Vesper [Palm Sunday]
20 Spring Break
••Periodic dances are also scheduled for
March, however they are not indicated because
they are not definite engagements.
One Alone
Alone, alone in a world of stone,
I find no joy in living within myself
Where is found the only sanctuary of love.
I tried to be like all the rest, but now
where once was love is only despair
My heart alone.
My world collapses, the warmth grows cold;
My shoulders drop under life’s weary strain
Which once was borne with selfless grace.
Hear my pleas, understand my cries, for this
Is only living death made supremely read -
My heart alone.
Alone, alone have I, too, become living stone.
Usteq&iMrtfgrs:
d(^ have to wait 20 >€ars
foiHgaa^aestosfffecty6u.
It onl/taHgs 3 secot|^.
In just 3 seconds a cigarette mokes your heart beat faster,
shoots your blood pressure up. replaces oxygen in ycxir blood with
corbon monowde. and leaves cancer cousirTg chemicols
Jo spread tlirough your body
All this happens with every cigarette you smoke
_ As the cigarettes odd up. the damage adds up
Becouse its the cumulative effects of srrokirvg—addirig this
Cigarette to oil the c*gorette$ you ever smoked—
that causes the trouble
Ar*d tell that to your dog, too
us DtP«RTW(NT or (DUCATlQN. ANO WEirAPtC • Tl».t Smc* Co"tti6rt»« •• •