Newspapers / Elizabeth City State University … / Dec. 1, 1983, edition 1 / Page 3
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(HotntiaBB page 0 ‘Neil Behind the desks... by Jeanne Rutledge Freshman Features ^•TT Mr. Eugene O’Neil photo by R. J. Walker Inside the seemingly quiet, laid back Mr. Eugene O’Neil, one may find a live bomb ticking away a multitude of talents. His office is "a mini-gallery in Itself. Photographs and paintings decorate the room, giving the instant impression of a very talented person. “Currently I am curator of the Art Gallery, advisor to General Studies, high school basketball official, and a member on several committees.” Most students, however, at ECSU know him best as either the football coach or head tennis coach. O’Neil has been an instructor at ECSU for ten years. “Teaching at ECSU, I think I am getting an opportunity that many others with, my sackground may not get. Because it is such a small in stitution you can utilize all of your talents here. I think one of the reasons I do that is because 1 care about.the institution where I work; I want to try to do everything that 1 possibly can to lelp make it a better place for everyone. I spend a lot of time around here doing what I can.” Born in, “a little place in North Carolina called Concord (about 18 miles North of Charlotte),” he comes from “just a plain old everyday family.” Being one of six children, he feels his family is supportive and proud of him. Upon graduating from Logan High School in Concord, he went to North Carolina A&T. “When I first started out, I majored in Engineering, but also played football. Engineering just did’nt go along with football and I ^Iso had a very strong love for jart at the time, so I decided to change my major. A difficult thing to do...art and athletics, but somehow I managed.” After working for a year as a designer in a textile mill, O’Neil idecided to go back to college. He earned his MSA degree at the University of North Carolina. “As far as athletics are con cerned, I got started with Coach Caldwell, in 1975. Since I had a background in football, I asked Coach Caldwell if I could come out and give him a hand. Basically that is how I got started coaching,” O’Neil said. When asked about this year’s football season, O’Neil said; “A philosophy of mine is; you play like you practice, and our biggest culprit this year was the class schedule. I’m very much for the students going to class. That is their number one objective; to go to class and to get their education. When you have over half of your team leaving at 4 or 5 p.m. each and every day, you justdon’t have your players there to work with...this caused many problems...the players had classes around that block of time...if you don’t practice you don’t get better and that was it.” The lack of financial support has also held the football team back,"...in trying to improve, you’re going to have to spend money. I think we have worked under the same budget for a number of years and, if you’re going to improve, that also will have to improve.” O’Neil added, “I feel that we have very dedicated staff members, who try to deal with the obstacles that, they have, in order -to make things better.” O’Neil would like the football team to think of him as a knowledgeable, honest and dependable person, “one that will be there whenever they need me.” As for team spirit and students supporting the football team, O’Neil said, “there is never really enough support, especially when your down. Every time you’re not having your best season, you see all sorts of negatives and I think that is one of the times you need the most support...like we were this season. I think I put myself out on a line earlier in the season, when I said we would probably' finish with an 8-2 season. I really felt that optimistic about the team, but things just didn’t go that way and as a result we finished 3-7. But often times thai is the case. When your down, you don’t get enough support to build you back up...we all just need to come together and build...make it grow.” As head tennis coach, O’Neil said, “we have matches on a home and away basis...we have been somewhat successful...we are around the 500 mark...we hold ouV own.” He also added, “I’m very thankful that we have a very good local tennis program in the high schools, beca^ise this is where I get many of the tennis athletes on our team.” “As far as photography is concerned, we did not have a photography course on campus. I worked very close at the time with Mr. Ellis Smith. Smitty and I worked to develop a proposal to offer a photography class, which was in working with the In dustrial Arts Department. About four years ago, we received some additional funds. With those fimds we decided to set up a photography lab. Everything was housed in the library.” Who Is Mr. Big??? by Lawrence A . Wright Have you ever been walking, during the day, and heard a name constantly repeated, well, it’s no one else but Darren Enoch. Enoch is a junior, from Burlington, NC., majoring in Early Childhood Education. Enoch was given that nan'e by a group of his peers when entered ECSU in the fall of ’81. Enoch can always be noticed. It seems to me that he walks like he is eight feet tall when his actual height is only 5’4”. He is often seen carrying his brief case with him. Enoch is involved in various campus activities such as Chairman of the University Center, Assistant Chaplain of U.C.R.F., and a member of the University Choir and Gospel Choir. It can truly be said that a person’s talents can’t be measured by his height. Lifestyles... by Lawrence A. Wright There are many different ways of life here in our menagerie of college students. As a result, student life at ECSU in corporates a collection of tones from lifestyles of many ideas and beliefs. Touching every college aspect, whether academic, social or community oriented, there is a special hue of diverseness achieved. For example, Homecoming Concerts, dorm life, and many other cultural activities. Away from home students influence and become influence creating a variety of social moves and values. Through individual beacons of light shines a single ray which has opened the eyes of those unable to see that the best at ECSU is better than the best of all the rest. O’Neil also teaches, “Black Art, Painting, Print-Making and Art Appreciation.” As an art instructor O’Neil said,“I try not to let them be prejudiced before they know anything about art. People think that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but often they see something and say,‘I don’t like it,’...I want them to -flave an open mind on everything that is done and to develop the necessary skills to analyze the various works... before making judgements.” Married, with two young sons, Coach O’Neil is not often found just taking it easy. When asked, if you had one free day or week to do anything you wanted, how would it be spent, he replied,“that is a toughie. I often think about that myself. I think I \^ould just like to get away and go some place quiet to just be to myself and leave my camera behind.” For personal goals, O’Neil responded,“often I just set short term goals and try to reach those, and then just take the next step as it comes.” In conclusion,-O’Neil issued a challange to students and staff: “Do whatever it takes to make the enviornment you work in a better place. If we have everyone working in accord, then ECSU would be the same as any other school that is supposed to be prestigious. Because we are a small University, we need to work as a close-knit group to be efficient. As soon as we can realize that objective, then we can go forward. I just wish everyone would realize that objective. I guess that is just coming from someone who cares.” by Lawrence A. Wright Camille Moore- A freshman from Orlando, Florida. Moore said she is really enjoying her freshman year, regardless what the upper classmen say. She said your freshmen is your best year, so why listen to another student who doesn’t know any better. Moore shows her Viking spirit by being a member of the Viking Pep Club and the University Choir. Connie Sutton a freshman from Walstonburg, NC plans to major in Criminal Justice. She enjoys campus life, but admits that your respon sibilities are your own, since you are not under your parents supervision. This helps you become an in dependant person. Connie feels that living on campus is ultimately very rewarding. Kevin Long- A freshman from Charlotte said being a freshmen isn’t bad. It’s the idea of looking up and paying attention to what’s happening around you instead of' what’s below you. Ldng. said freshmen have a hard time for example, they are already nervous when they arrive , then I they have to take orders from upper classmen to find out| anything. Long shows his Viking spirit by being a member of the Marching Viking Band. Stacey Gray I enjoy doing things on my own. Being in this position has taught me to be a much reson- sible person but it is also reassuring to know I can go to my family and friends for sup port or advice. Tecia Murrell Being on your own takes a lot of self control and adjustment of priorities. It is easy to get bogged-down with extra ac tivities so Ihat you spread yourself too thin. V. Elonia Spencer, a freshman from Manteo, NC plans to pursue a major in Special Education. She is very en thused about being a student at ECSU. Elonia finds campus life exciting; she states that there are various changes involved in not living at home. Classes are harder to contend with, harder than they were in high school. The strongest point Elonia stresses is that you have to mature a lot to adjust to a college enviroment. She also hopes to join a sorority and the choir. Elonia wants to make her stay at ECSU worthwhile. James Thompson I was greatly surprised by how much there was to learn, how much I didn’t even know I could know. Another surprise was the welcome I felt from teachers and | others students. MERRY A Visit From A Concerned Person by Ricky Wilkins X-MAS from Lawrence A. Wright Hanno Smith from Telephone Operations GTE Corporations, a graduate of Michigan State University, received his degree in Humanities and has done work toward other degrees. He serves now as a staff specialist for the GTE Corporation. He visited Mr. Dandeson Panda’s Business classes at ECSU. He lectured about his company and the Black Executive Program. He recommends to the students of this University to seek em ployment with his company or any other company that may have some promising offers in which an employee may move up on. Mr. Smith related matters of the business world to things that are being taught in many Business classes. Smith en couraged all students to learn and take advantage of the courses being offered. Mr. Smith’s job deals with pricing. He also has worked as First Service Administator and Product Manager. Smith has previously been employed with Western Electric, General Motors, and IBM Cor poration. He has even had his own business. Smith also served seven years in the Marine Corps. Mr. Smith hopes that by coming to ECSU, the students will take his lectures seriously and excell in life. A New Addition by RJ Walker Have you recently toured the second floor of the library and taken notice of a beautiful ad dition to the reference depart- ment? No, it’s not a new book and photo by R.J. Walker g jjgyj, ^ard catalog, but a new Evelyn Gamer addition to the Ubrary staff. Ms. Evelyn Gamer is the new Assistant Reference Librarian. Her main duty is to aid students with any problems they may encounter in the library. Ms. Garner is a 1980 graduate of Elizabeth City State University. While attending ECSU Garner majored in Elementary Education. After graduating Gamer attended North Carolina Central University where she received a MLS in Library Science. Ms. Garner feels that students should become better aquainted with the entire library system. When asked how cooperative students were Garner replied, “students are very cooperative, but they must realize that we are here to help them and can’t do all the work for them. Most students don’t use the library as frequently as they should. Most come when they have a very important assignment, then they’re stuck with being un familiar with the proper procedures of the library. Students should take they studies more seriously than they do.” With a gleeful smile and sparkling eyes Gamer says, “students should all try to be leaders for others, and should take advantage of the activities on campus.” Gamer also feels that ECSU is a great institution and says she’s really proud to have attended school here and now have the opportunity to be employed here. As I stared in amazement at the beautiful being before me I asked, do you have any advice you would like to extend to the students? She replied, “I feel every student here should be proud to have the opportunity to attend a fine institution like ECSU. When I returned here I was astonished at all the changes that have taken place here. Especially the new additions to the university like Roebuck Stadium and the Graduate Center. The campus has changed tremendously, I think the new changes give the campus a very sophisticated look.” Ms. Garner would like to wish all of you good luck in you future endeavors. *
Elizabeth City State University Student Newspaper
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Dec. 1, 1983, edition 1
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