Newspapers / Elizabeth City State University … / Dec. 1, 1986, edition 1 / Page 2
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The Compass - page 2 EDITORIAL Childish students treated lile children Some students are like the pro verbial “rotten apples in the bar rel.” They are part of the statistics and that is the only significant fact about them. These rotten apples sign up for classes that they have no in tention of attending. They rent and sometimes buy books that they have no intention of reading. They obtain library cards they have no intention of ever using. They have made up their minds that they will never be stimulated by the process of learn ing. Every year these students are ad mitted to this university and other institutions. This raises several questions: “Why are these immature stu dents allowed to attend an institution where educational growth is to be fostered?” “What effect will they have upon those students that are serious about their academics?” “Isn’t it obvious to someone that such students have not reached a level of maturity that is necessary for success either in college or fol lowing college?” This year, new policies concern ing the behavior of ECSU students have been enacted in an effort to control the actions of a few imma ture students. First let us mention two of these new policies. (1) Any student found guilty of misconduct (breaking line, leaving trays on cafeteria tables, and other disorderly conduct) in the schools cafeteria will be subject to penalty. (2) With regard to vandalism, stu dents are being encouraged to report guilty students. But if a college campus is the place for mature young adults that are of good moral standards, then why are there policies like these to “control” students? Students that have problems con trolling their behavior, respecting rules and regulations, and interact ing with others do not belong on a college campus. They are harmful to both the university and its students. They hinder the process of learning. New policies may help to deter the problems caused by the miscon duct of some students and a new em phasis on admission standards may help to weed out some of the “rotten apples.” However, the real responsi bility lies with each student. When will students realize that their education is not to be taken lightly? When will they become aware of the fact that the college campus is not one big “party scene”? Students, and administrators, need to be alert to the problem and search together for solutions. Pro careers elusive Proposition 48 has burst the dreams of many aspir ing athletes as the college sports season has seen nu merous freshmen athletes declared ineligible. Close to 550 football and basket ball players will sit out this year because they did not qualify under the newly imposed NCAA academic standards known as Prop osition 48. More than 70 percent of those ineligible are black. The problem, however, does not begin in college, it begins in high school, or before. Dreams of a possible college or pro career are nutured even before the teen years. And to this end, the student’s academ ics are sometimes ne glected. Coaches, parents and even the school sys tems place more emphasis on physical development than on academics. (In one county school system in Southeast N.C., a stu dent must past 8th grade P.E. before being pro moted to the senior high school, but the student can fail English and still be promoted.) So the young athlete “prepares” for stardom often at the expense of his “book learning.” But stardom never comes for most, and the young athletes are ill- prepared for making a liv ing off the court or field. The gamble is a big one, and black athletes, looking for an out from their envi ronments, are especially vulnerable. By Minor Wiggins Staff Writer Consider these statis tics. Of the 1.5 million high school athletes, only 50,000 will play college ball. Of the 50,000 college players each year, only 150 will make the NBA or NFL. As a matter of fact, only one out of 30 high school athletes will even play in college and only 2 out of 100 will get schol arships. The odds are actually better for a college black athlete to become a doctor or lawyer than a pro ath lete. (By the way, only 14 percent of black college athletes graduate in four years, and 31 percent graduate in six years.) Where does Proposition 48 fit into all this? It has drawn attention to the stu- dent-athlete, to college programs, and has even placed in question the role of college athletics. The rule has been called dis- crimminatory against the black athlete. But that’s not the point here. The point here is, athletes should set realistic goals. Athletes should not re strict themslves to the pot of gold at the end of the basketball court or foot ball field. Athletes should be pre pared to deal with life af ter the cheering has stopped. The Compass Co-Editors Pam Brown Steve Smith Associate Editor Robin Sawyer Sports Editor Fred Lassiter Assistant Sports Editor Minor Wiggins Photographers Kevin Cox Richard McIntyre Ron Townsend Reporters Lavette Washington Deborah Carr Lynne Chapman C.C. Rhodes Warren Hicks Production Steve Smith Faculty Lane Hudson Dr. Anne Henderson The Compass has been published by ECSU students since 1959 under the Department of Language, Liter ature, and Communication; Dr. Anne Henderson, Chairperson. Questions and comments should be sent to The Compass, P.O. Box 815, Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, N.C. 27909. mm COLLEGE PRESS SERVICE —. 'VMQ's FUSS? sait'mm mkt& m'm. wsutwmu Urgent! I’m Mad! I’m mad. Not because the President may have violated laws with the Iran arms deal. No, it goes much deeper than that. It goes to the very root of my existence. Yes, I’m talking about the invasion of my free time. Here’s what I have to look forward to in the months ahead. Monday morning: The lead stories on all three morning news shows are about the Iran arms deal. Tuesday evening: The lead stories on all three evening news programs are about the Iran arms deal. Thursday evening: I’m watching “Hill Street Blues” and I’m just about to find out if Joyce is going to leave Fu- rillo ***URGENT! We have late breaking news concern ing the Iran arms deal. Friday afternoon: I’m lis tening to the radio, just as my favorite song is announced *** URGENT! We have late breaking news concerning the Iran arms deal. When the party’s over If you think a party is not a party unless you drink something alcoholic, make sure the party is at your home. If it isn’t, ar range for a non-drinker to drive you home. If you are driving and want to drink, limit yourself to one or two drinks and have the last one at least an hour before you plan to leave. Even if you are sober, drive slowly and carefully and be on guard for some other driver who may not be. If you are a host or host ess, stop serving alcohol at least one hour before you expect your party to end. Don’t let intoxicated guests drive themselves home-find a sober guest to drive them; call a taxi; or drive them yourself. If all else fails-have them spend the night. Don’t leave alcoholic beverages out or in unlock- edcupboards where a small child can reach them. You may think the taste of alcohol is only enough to get a child slightly tipsy, but in fact some children die from ac cidental alcohol poisoning. Saturday morning: I’m watching “Pound Puppies” and Cooler is about to rescue a cute puppy from the clutches of an evil dog abuser *** URGENT! We have late breaking news concerning the Iran arms deal. By Steve Smith Co-Editor Saturday afternoon: My fa vorite college football team, The Miami Hurricanes, down by 6 with two minutes left, are driving the ball against Penn State. A score would give them the national championship *** URGENT! We have late breaking news concerning the Iran arms deal. Sunday evening: I’m watching “All The Presi dent’s Men” and John Dean is spilling his guts *** UR GENT! We have late break ing news concerning the Iran arms deal. This is why I’m mad, I don’t want to know about the Iran arms sales. I only care about Former ECSU Profes sor Dies T.L. Lawrence Hsu, retired Assistant Pro fessor of English, passed away in Can ton, China on Novem ber 14, 1986. Hsu had been a faculty mem ber in the Department of Modern Languages for several years. He later chaired the En glish Department of a Taiwan university. ECSU Student Killed Darin Cole, ECSU junior, and a native of Petersburg, Va., died November 8, 1986, from injuries sus tained in a car acci dent. He was a mem ber of the football team. Lambda Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fra ternity, Inc. and the Honors program. my world, my TV progra® and the things that dirficllj affect my pocketbook. Letle Poindexter’s of the world sign. Let our leaders do their jobs. We don’t need to know what’s going on in Iran; or anywhere else in the world. l don’t want to know about starving people in Ethiopia; executed nuns in Ceirtra America; acid rain in Nortl Carolina’s Blue Ridge Moun tains; human rights viola tions in Russia; hostages k ing tortured in Iran; or I possibility of nuclear holt caust. If it isn’t in my bad yard I don’t care about it. I’m tired of the news mei not respecting my conste tional right to wallow in igt ranee and apathy about ni tional and internationa issues. That’s why we havt world leaders. It’s their jobi to worry about these things- so I don’t have to. If it isn'tit my backyard I don’t give a damn. I hope that when this is ai over, Congress will pass a constitutional amendment forbidding the interruption of my private world. Dear readers, We would like to hear from you. Let us knoyi what you think of the pa per. If you think we should do something differentlj, tell us. Any comments on what you think the paper should include are wel come. The Compass is for the students and we won’t know how to better serve you without your feed back. Letters to the editor are also welcomed. If ■ jou have a concern do sopie^ thing about it, write us Just remember, that your letter must be signed and we do reserve the right to edit all material. Send your stories, let ters, comments or ideas to: The Compass, PO. Box 815, Elizabeth City State University, Eliza beth City, NC 27909. The Editors
Elizabeth City State University Student Newspaper
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Dec. 1, 1986, edition 1
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