Newspapers / Elizabeth City State University … / April 29, 1988, edition 1 / Page 7
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April 29, 1988 The Compass Page 7 ECSU’s Rev. Charles Foster: ‘Government to serve people’ By Dwayne Collins ‘I have always ded icated myself to be ing a servant of man, and a servant of God,” said the Rev. Charles Foster. Foster, Program Director for ECSU’s University Center, is a candidate for the N.C. House of Representatives for the District 1, which includes Pasquotank County. He will compete with three other candidates in the May 3rd Democratic primary. “I want the opportunity to serve the people in the General Assembly,” said Foster. “This is what government is all about- serving people.” ; If elected, Foster pledged to serve his district by increasing appropriations for highways, ed ucation, and other public pro- 'jects. “The General Assembly is a ery important body,” said Fos- ir, “because they do the busi- less for the state. The local pa irs have been telling how this lection of North Carolina has !H receiving the lowest appro- (riations from the legislature. IVhether it’s highways or schools, we always end up at the lowest evel.” Foster said that Charlotte and he Piedmont “have always got ten a little more than their fair share of the pie. I began to ana lyze why we were getting the crumbs, so co speak. The answer is, they have been sending the most qualified persons to the General Assembly. Those rep resentatives have been able to go in with their data and statistics, and express themselves. “You get back from the (Gen eral Assembly based on the qual ity of persons representing you. If you are not well-represented, appropriations aren’t going to be go^.” Foster would set two goals as a legislator: “to become the best representative this district has ever had, and to give agressive leadership in the General Assem bly. At all times, I want to make sure I’ve done my work, and got ten my data together to make my presentations to the General As sembly.” High on Foster’s list of priori ties, is his commitment to im proving the educational opportu nities available to North Carolina citizens. “This is one reason why I de cided to run for this office,” said Foster. “I’ve taught in high school for eight years. I’ve taught business and taught government. I know what it takes to bring about educational im provements.” Foster hopes to reduce class sizes, especially in elementary schools. “The smaller the class. the more attention students will receive. There should be a tea- cher-student ratio of 1:21. This, in turn, will help students under stand the skills needed.” Foster believes ECSU students should be involved in the political process. “If students use their votes, they could make a real difference in this community,” he said. “In this one school year there have been more students registered than in the past ten years put to gether. ECSU can make a differ ence. They can become a power ful force in the community. Students have the power; they must use it effectively.” Foster said his ideas of service were rooted in his early life. “Al though we didn’t have the material things, we had love, and we were taught to love God, to serve God, and to respect all peo ple.” Foster has been married for 33 years, and he and his wife have seven children. Four have com pleted college, two are enrolled in college, “and the seventh will en ter college this fall.” Foster has received the Presi dential Citation, two Purple Hearts, as well as numerous civic awards. He has a masters degree in guidance counselling from Vir ginia State and a master of divin ity from Virginia Union Theologi cal Seminary. He is presently working toward his doctorate of education at Vir ginia Tech. “I want the opportunity to serve the people in the General Assembly. This is what government is all about — serving people. ” Rev. Charles Foster Photos by Richard Mclntire w Hezekiah Cooper (left), Dr. Robert Thorne, and Rev. Charles Foster display their solidarity at ECSU. The three ECSU employees are candidate in the May 3rd elec tions. Photo t>y Leamon Pearce ECSU Style Versatile Cooper runs on experience By Jeanne Leigh H ezekiah Cooper definitely lives by the philosophy, “Variety is the spice of life. ‘‘I want to make sure that the citi zens have represen tation in Pasquo tank County. ” Hezekiah Cooper Hezekiah Cooper (with walkie-talkie) is seeking re-election to the Pasquo tank County Board of Ed ucation. Cooper, Direc tor of ECSU’s Physical Plant, is pictured with Glendell Moore, Jimmy Turner, and Joe Taylor. Cooper, acting director of ECSU’s Physical Plant, has had so many diverse jobs and experiences, it’s a wonder he can remem ber all of them. He’s been an Air Force seargant, a hospital orderly, a math teacher, a football coach, a counsellor to emotionally disturbed teenagers, and an adminstrator-among other things. And he’s still found time to be a devoted husband and father. Cooper, a candidate for re-election to the Pasquotank County Board of Education, says he’s running on “experience, dedication and responsibility.” The soft-spoken native of Elizabeth City says he believes more people should become involved in the political process. “It’s a heritage, a right,” said Cooper. “It’s your individual right to vote for your choice in America. The individual has the choice to express his or her opinions about a candidate for officer in our society.” If re-elected. Cooper hopes to reduce class sizes, especially in elementary schools. “The smaller the class, the more attention students will receive. There should be a teacher student ratio of 1:21. This, in turn, will help students understand the skills needed. Cooper said he would also like to see an alternative school estab lished in Pasquotank County, which would be concerned with pre venting teenage pregnancies, and reversing the “tremendous dropout rate” of students in the county. Cooper said he will work to get parents more involved in the educational process. “I want to make sure that the citizens have representation in Pasquotank County.” Cooper said his duties as a member of the school board do not interfere with his job as Physical Plant Director, since “most of the meetings are held at night.” Cooper is a 1959 graduate of ECSU, where he became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He has also studied at Lane College, N.C. State, Albany State, Appalachian State, East Carolina Uni versity, and Pitt Technical Institute. He also attended schools in the U.S. Air Force. A former teacher and coach at C.S. Brown High School, in Win- ton, N.C., Cooper has also counselled emotionally disturbed teen age boys and girls at St. Christopher’s School in Pobbs Ferry, New York. Cooper is married to the former Janet Smith of Murfreesboro, N.C. The couple has two sons, Hector, a senior at UNC, and Javon, a freshmen at A & T. The Coopers are active members of Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church. Cooper is also active in a number of organizations, including the NAACP, the American Society of Safety Engineers, the National Education Association, the North Carolina Teachers Association, and the Elk Lodge. with ECSU^s own! c
Elizabeth City State University Student Newspaper
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April 29, 1988, edition 1
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