Page2 The Compass Elizabeth City State University
Editorials
Ingredients
in
Learning
Whoever said being Editor-in-
chief of a college newspaper
would be an easy job? The fool
who might have uttered this false
comment deserves to be slapped
in the face!
Last year when I served as
Executive Editor, I was second
in command. I was responsible
for taking care of small business
and served as liaison between the
other staff members and the
Editor-in-Chief. This position
was like a long-stemmed rose
which had been stripped of all its
thorns. By being No.2, I really
did not understand what my
predecessor went through. I was
not aware of the many problem?
he encountered while serving a
the Head Editor. Although
assumed that I knew what being
an editor entailed, realistically I
did not know!
Today, I’m Editor-in-Chief and
it’s tough! Often, I find myself
wishing that just for once last
year I could have actually known
what it would be like.
When I took on the position of
Editor, I only dreamed of the
good - but never envisioned the
bad. My hopes for a successful
year without any rough times
were sky-rocketing everywhere.
I was so excited about just being
Editor that all I dreamed of were
wonderful and glamorous
aspects of the job, not realizing
that for all the good there must
rbe some bad. The sun does not
ishine always; the dark clouds
cq^ealso. ,n io.
Without intending irreverence,
I can say that it is somewhat like
being Jesus.
When I took on the position of
Editor-in-Chief I took up a cross.
As the end of the academic year
draws nearer, I feel as though
I’m bearing this heavy cross all
alone up a mountain. There are
criticisms from many, a lack of
funds and supplies and no office
facility - all contributing to my
crown of thorns. Day after day,
the cross gets heavier and
heavier, but determination keeps
me striying to reach the top of
the mountain....
But why am I sharing this
personal testimony with you?
Why am I dragging out all of
these feelings?
Despite the pains, frustrations,
and tribulations, I am thankful
for the experience. Living
through the hardships of being
Editor of The Compass within the
framework of the here and now
at ECSU, has brought me much
knowledge — particularly about
myself, our University, aspects
of life and human nature, and of
course, the newspaper craft.
It has also permitted me to
work closely with many
cooperative individuals. My
advisors have given advice and
support that have been most
valuable and appreciated. My
fellow staff members, through
thick and thin, have allowed me
to perform in the capacity I
should. In return, I have given
them opportunity to function in a
manner suitable for them. More
importantly though, we all have
learned to respect each other for
“who we are” and for “what we
can contribute to the success of
The Compass, ECSU, and the
world.” I have gained
interpersonal relationships with
faculty, staff, and
administrators that enable me to
seek advice or assistance
whenever needed. I have learned
protocol and am learning, with
some difficulty at times, tact.
- Knowledge and learning are
what our society needs more of
Whatever the price, we should be
willing to consume and make a
part of us all that we can that we
see as good and just and positive
through any method necessary
Knowledge is acquired through
learning, often painfully
acquired, and, as has been said
so many times, experience is the
best teacher.
I believe that this experience
has taught me well.
Drunk Driving Penalties Raises Questions
The Compass
AlgieH. Mabry, Jr.
Rick L. Jones
DaVia Purnell
Michael Emmert
Julius Hunter
Rick L. Jones
Kenneth Lanier
Dr. Anne M. Henderson
Mrs. Diana Gardner
Editor-in-Chief
Executive Editor
Associate Editor
Copy Editor
Staff Photographer
Adverting Staff
Senior Advisor
Faculty Advisor
Letters, columns, and articles
published in the Compass reflect
the views of the authors, which
are not necessarily shared by the
rest of the newspaper staff.
In order for us to cover more news
that affects ECSU and the community,
the COMPASS staff encourages its
readers to respond by submitting
"Letters to the Editor."
Submit letters to Miss Robin Beamon
in the Modern Languages
Department of Johnson Hall.
They should be typed, or legibly written.
At the present a person with a
blood alcohol level of O.lmg/1 is
considered legally drunk. In
North Carolin, a person
convicted of drunk driving may
lose his license for six months
and do a number of hours of
community work. This
punishment is not a strong
deterrent. Drunk driving laws
and punishment should be made
stricter throughout the United
States. The deaths and
destruction caused by drunken
drivers, the travesties of leniant
penalties given to the law
breakers, and the success of the
few states who with foresight and
courage made their laws much
stricter, all point to the need for a
nation-wide-revamping to drunk
driving laws, making laws and
penalties much stricter.
Many people say that driving
while intoxicated is a personal
choice, but as a North Carolina
Highway Patrolman said, when
the choice takes the lives of
others, then it is taken from the
hands ofthe individual. Drunk
drivers are the single greatest
cause of deaths between the ages
of 16 and 24.
In the last decade, 250,000
people, equal to the entire
population of Rochester, New
York, were killed by drunk
drivers. This is more than four
times the number of Americans
killed in the Vietnam War. It has
been estimated that 3 Americans
are killed and 80 are injured
every hour of every day by drunk
drivers. One out of every two
Americans will be victimized by
a drunken driver in there
lifetime.
Many complain if there was
more prosecution of drunk
drivers, there would be an
overcrowding of courts and
prisons. “I was more
concerned,’’said state Senator
by Debbie Matthews
Contributing Writer
Curtis Person, authorof stiffer
drunk driving^legislation, “about
the overcrowding of hospitals,
morgues, and cemetaries.”
Presently though, persons
convicted of heinous crimes
while drinking and driving are
still being given shamefully
lenient sentences. A drunk driver
who killed a 15 year-old youth
was sentenced to two years of
probation, fined $200 and lost his
license for sixteen months. The
drunken killer of a four year-old
girl was fined $284 and given a
five day suspended sentence. A
1979 study of St. Louis County
Courts showed that 8 out of 10
drunk driving defendents
received suspended imposition of
sentence. The result is nothing on
record to indicate and alcohol
related offense. Idaho arrested
1800 people for drunk driving
offences, convicted 600 of them,
and jailed 2.
Finally, a few states could take
the death and destruction no
longer. They managed to make
more stringent laws and the laws
worked.Many of the new laws
require prison terms for the first
offense. In Maryland, drunk
driving arrests by state police
have gone up 45 percent and
highway fatalities down almost
20 percent since its law went into
effect. Maine has experienced a
47 percent reduction in^ alcohol
related fatalities. Oregot, which
began its crackdown in 1971, has
enjoyed a highway fatiality drop
of 35 percent since their laws
began. Unfortunately, this is only
3 out of 50 states. What is needed
is a sweeping, nation-wide law
and penalty change.
There is never-ending evidence
in the need of stronger nation
wide drinking and driving laws
and penalties. Says one
spokesperson of RID (Remove
Intoxicated Drivers), “There is
an endless supply of victims.”
CHILD MOLESTING BECOMES WIDESPREAD
by DaVia Purnell
Associate Editor
They strike like thieves in the
night, sometimes never
mentioned and in some cases
free from punishment.
ECSU :
A Blessing
To
Elizabeth City
by Julie Osmon
Staff Writer
Only recently have parents
begun to report crimes of child
molestation. Crime statistics
now indicate that child molesting
has become widespread, like an
uncontrollable rash. The victims
are innocent children, often left
unable to enjoy normal lives.
Parents have traditionally
taught their children to obey
their elders, to be polite and to
mind their manners. Thus,
children are generally afraid to
tell that someone has touched
them in the wrong way. Further,
the molester uses many different
tactics J_o^k^p. children quiet.
Triiey rnay use tKreats: It is a
secret and if you tell, we can’t
‘Eunnrj 0 nui bu ..faoo
play together anymore.”
In many cases, the molester is
someone very close to the family.
The crime may take place right
in the home or even in daycare
centers or schools.
Parents cannot stand guard
over their children 24 hours a day
to protect them from such
persons, but they can talk to their
children and make them more
aware of the possibility of such
situations and what to do should
they occur.
Parents need to tell their
children that no one has the right
to touch or do anything to them
„th a»L„. m alles - them - f«-©4F-
uncomfortable. Parents need to
avoid situations that leave their
children vulnerable to the
potential molester who may even
be a relative.
Parents should keep the lines
of communication open with
their children so that if a child is
molested or threatened with
molestation, he or she can freely
go to the parents or to someone
who can help.
Children must never be left to
suffer the trauma of such
experiences. Parents and other
adults reponsible for children
must alert them to the menace,
instruct them to action they
should take and be available to
onjraedUately-help aay-«Wd who
has been
molester.
victimized py a
Alpha Psi Omega Acts
One of Elizabeth City’s resources is
Elizabeth City State University. Over
the years it has expanded and
developed into an noteworthy
institution of learning.
On Mar. 3, 1891, a bill to establish
this institution was introduced in the
N.C. General Assembly by Hugh
Cale, from Pasquotank County. The
bill was passed and on Jan. 4, 1892,
the State Colored Normal School
began operation. In 1937, the facility
was elevated from a two year to a
four year teachers college and it s
name was officially changed to
Elizabeth City State Teacher’s
College. In 1968, the institution went
about another name change from
“College” to “University.”
Today, Elizabeth City State
University is a baccalaureate co
educational university of liberal arts
and sciences. Many of the older
buildings have been renovated and
several new ones added.
Cultural programs as well as
academic ai® available for students
and commttnity members. Band
concerts, ^choral and drama
presentations are sponsored each
year. New i^ograms are also being
initiated to encourage more local
participation and are designed to
accomindate a growing community.
Many programs are free to the public
while others charge a small fee.
Elizabeth City State Univei'sity is
already an asset to Elizabeth City,
but it could be more. Members of the
community and the University need
to work together to bring about more
community involvement in on-
campus activities. A first step could
be in the area of public relations.
Distribution and promotion of
articles and information about ECSU
and its activities could enhance the
university’s community appeal.
Elizabeth City State University has
great potential in becoming a place
for community involvement and
continuing cultural and educational
stimulation.
The Phi Zeta cast of Alpha Psi
Omega was founded at Elizabeth
City State University in 1971 by
Mr. Bernard Peterson and six
charter members. It became
defunct when the last member
graduated. It was officially
reactivated in the Fall Semester
of ’84 under the guidance of Mr.
Shawn Smith, Mr. Bernard
Peterson, and Kenneth Lanier.
The newly initiated members
include Kenneth Lanier,
Joycelyn Proctor, Irving Brown,
Mary Knighton, Rick Jones,
Richard Forte, John Gibbs, Gary
Savage, Tracey Hoggard, and
Edith Perkins. Faculty
members are Dr. Anne
Henderson, Mrs. Susan
Mahaffey, Dr. Dan Pearce, Mr.
Bernard Peterson, and Mr.
Shawn Smith.
Alpha Psi Omega, a men and
women’s national recognition
society in dramatics was founded
on August 12, 1925, at Fairmount
State College by Dr. Paul F. 0pp.
It was organized for the purpose
of providing a reward for
students distinguishing
themselves in college dramatic
productions. Nationally, the
society provides a wide
fellowship for college directors of
dramatics and students
interested in promoting
dramatic activities.
Each chapter is called a cast,
as the society is distinctly
dramatic in its organization and
ritual. Many casts provide
tuition scholarships for students
who are majoring in speech and
drama. The society boasts of a
flourishing membership of over
80,000.
According to Dr. Susan Cole,
national vice-president of AJpha
Psi Omega, “To me. Alpha Psi
has been a wonderful reward for
those students most dedicated to
theatre, a goal to strive for, and a
privilege and honor when
achieved. I can define Alpha Psi
Omega best by remembering
those students who have been
members — the hardest-
working, most dedicated, most
capable, the best all-around
theatre people.”
SGA
News Update...
The “New Edition” nightclub
is open for all students from
Friday through Sunday, 9:00
p.m. to 1:00 a.m., except when
there is a Home Game.
Admission is free, and a. local
band is featured each weekend.
The SGA is in the process of
organizing a Spring Concei?t. A
committee, formed to discuss the
matter, will meet on February 15,
1985.
The SGA has formed a "Pep
Club.” T-shirts and hats have
been purchased in the school
colors. Contact any SGA
member if you wish to join.
SGA President Timothy Okeke
is a freelance writer for the
Journal and Guide.
From One Week To One Month
Centuries ago, no one would
have thought that a month would
be set aside to laud Black
History. Surely, those like Alex
Haley’s Kunta Kinte would not
have anticipated that, one day,
special tribute would be paid to
the many slaves and others who
were influential in making Black
History what it is today. Not only
did these forefathers contribute
immeasurably to the black race
but they also added significant
chapters to many American
History books.
How did Black History month
begin? Eager to see his race gain
recognition that was past due to
it. Carter G. Woodson set out to
launch what is known today as
“Afro-American History
Month.” In 1926, the first Negrtro
History week was observed.
Today it has expanded from one
wek to one month.
“Prior to 1950, it was a struggle
just trying to celebrate Afro-
American Week for one week
during the year,” said Dr.
Melvin Murphy, a member of the
ECSU Steering Committee For
Black History Observance, and
Chairperson of the Social
Sciences Department.
“People nowadays are aware
of this month-long celebration,”
Murphy added. He is very
pleased with the extension of the
observance. But, he noted prior
to the ’50s blacks could not take
course in Black History simply
because they were not official.
“Today there are many phases
pertaining to Afro-Amferica
culture,” said Murphy. “The
observance is very important for
all races and ethnic groups to
learn more positive things about
the Afro-American.”