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Vol. 45 No. 5
Elizabeth City, N C.
February
Osculation 1,500
12 Pages
"in recognition of his
contributions to man
Haley VisiU ECSU
“We have a mandate to
help others to do their best.’
Alex Haley, renowned author
of “Roots,” spoke to a mass of
fans in Williams Hall gym
nasium last Wednesday night. In
addition to applause, Haley was
presented with several honors.
Levin Culpepper, chairman of
the Board of Trustees at ECSU,
presented Haley with an
honorary degree of Humane
Letters. This certificate was the
first honorary diploma given
from ECSU. Thus, Haley was
created an honorary doctor “in
recognition of his contributions
to Man,” according to Culpep
per. The diploma was presented
on behalf of the ECSU academic
and administrative councils.
Haley was also presented a
plaque on behalf of the G.R.
Little Library.
Haley’s Lyceum appearance
was more than just an
engagement. Alex Haley came
home to his Alma Mater.
Reminiscing of his younger
days, Haley recalls not being a
distinguished student at ECSU.
When he was a student at ECSU,
it was a time of “teen-age trials,
complete with all the un
certainties and insecurities of
that age.” Several times Haley’s
teachers reported to his parents
that Alex was a “daydreamer” .
Haley regards his return to
ECSU as notalgic.
Mrs. Faleese Jenkins said,
“I’m totally excited and honored
about Haley being here. He is as
nice as can be, and I wish only
that everyone could get to know
him better. I feel that ECSU is
proud and honored to have had
Alex Haley on this campus, both
as a student and as an honored
guest.
by Mike Moore
V '•’I
■V: "S.- ' -
m
photo by R.J. Walker
Alex Haley remembers that he
began writing when stationed
aboard a ship in the South
Pacific.
“The critical time for my
writing occurred after being out
to sea for six weeks. The crew
was granted leave at 6 p.m. for
Brisbane, Australia. Some of my
crewmates knew that I could
write letters well, sol wrote let
ters for them to give to their
girls.”
The letters were so well liked
by the girls that all Haley did
afterleave was write letters.
“They even began to pay me for
the letters I wrote.”
Haley’s first commercial
writing assignment was for the
Reader’s Digest .
His next writing assignment
was a 6,000 word interview for
Playboy magazine. Haley did the
interview in an innovative style,
which later became the in
terview format for Playboy. Half
of the interview was in story
form; the other 3,000 words were
questions and answers.
Haley s advice
to aspiring writers
First, “Learn to compete.”
Have confidence in yoursel
and in your works. If you havel
any doubts of your abilities,!
“Stand in front of a full-lengthi
mirror and examine yourself.l
You are the first person you mustl
convince that your work has|
merit.”
Commenting on how he ol
tained his writing ability, Haleyl
says, “The challenge of makingl
words come to life makes mel
write. (Then), I read, write,I
analyze my writing, and rewrite)
the work again.”
Remember, the biggest
potential for your success b|
belief in yourself.
Miss NC1983
Deneen Graham
Deneen Graham, Miss North
Carolina 1983, will perform on
campus Wednesday, Feb. 15.
Miss Graham , the first black
to hold this title, hails from North
Wilkesboro. She is an ac
complished dancer, with serious
concentration in jazz, modern
character dance, mime and
voice.
Miss Graham is a Junior
pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts
Degree at the North Carolina
School of the Arts. In addition to
having danced with the North
Carolina School of the Arts and
the N.C. Dance Theater, she has
studied with Hans Brenna of the
Royal Danish Ballet; Mimi Paul
of the New York City Ballet, and
several others.
Miss Graham’s performance is
presented free to the public by
the Lake Gaston Area Chapter of
the Links, Inc. with the support
of the ECSU Student Govern
ment Association. The Links,
Inc. is a national organization
with 188 chapters and over 5,300
women members. Local mem
bers are Dr. Helen M. Caldwell
and Mrs. Lula Thorpe.
The Links are committed to
educational, cultural and civic
responsibility and par-
ticipation.Under this banner, the
N.C. members of the Links, Inc.
have been presenting Miss N.C.
1983 across the state as a role
model, especially for youth.
The performance will be in
Moore Hall auditorium at 3:00.
The public is invited to attend.
Government
for
Education
by R. J. Walker
“The future begins with a good
education,” Governor Jim Hunt
told a group of Student Govern
ment Association presidents and
campus newspaper editors.
The Governor and cabinet
members met with North
Carolina student leaders from
colleges and universities
throughout the state at the
Governor’s mansion located in
Raleigh.
Renee Anderson, SGA
president, and R.J. Walker,
Editor of the COMPASS, were
the students representing
Elizabeth City State University.
The meeting began with Hunt
addressing various issues of
today’s colleges and universities.
Major topics of discussion were
education, merit pay for
teachers, unemployment and the
economy. It was also mentioned
that a good, healthy enviroment
aids a student in obtaining a well
rounded education.
Afterwards a reception was
held, time was alloted for
students to discuss in-depth con
cerns with top state officials.
Earlier, Anderson and Walker j
attended a meeting at North
Carolina State University, which
was composed of Student I
Government members from the |
16 constituents of the University
of North Carolina.
“TAe future
begins
with a
good education.
During this meeting at NCSU
the constitution of the University I
of North Carolina Association of |
Student Government (UNCASG)
was amended, and the By-laws
were examined. Both Anderson
and Walker experienced a very
hectic day; but with the I
knowledge gained, it was
well worth it.
Students ’ Chancellor
Leads the Way f f /
page 3
Ma Bell Dies
Bearing Octuplets
page 5
Astrology Comer
page?