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Friday, March 3,1989
THE OPINION PAGE
THE COMPASS
Editor Robin Sawyer
Managing Photographer Richard Mclntire
Production Manager Craig Avondo
Advertising Manager Donna Gregory
Photographers Richard Mclntire
David Joyner
Leanfion Pearce
Graphics Consultant Diane Patterson
Staff Artist Kevin Cruz
Staff Writers Chad Allen ,
Nicholas Allen, Karen Blanchard, Virginia Blount, Uchenna Bulliner, Darryl Brown,
Lynne Chapman, Dwayne Collins, Lisa Gregory, Joy Innis, Beverly Johnson,
Eric Jones, Florencestine Jones, Pacquin McClain, Travis Manuel, Richard Mclntire,
Becky Overton, Sylvia Purvis, Miracle Perry, Johnny Reid, Kimberiy Robinson, Mike
Stone.
and Cheryl White.
Sports Writers Mark Morris
Mike Stone
Chad Allen
Editorial Assistants Samantha Epps
Eric Jones
The Compass is published by Elizabeth City State University students
under the direction of the Department of Language, Literature, andCommu-
ntation. Dr. Anne Henderson, Chairperson, and Mr Stephen March, faculty
advisor.
The
Textbook
Dilemma
We would be the first to say that Elizabeth City State
University is a campus on the move.
Not only is ECSU attracting higher quality
students, the school is also dramatically ex
panding its facilities—witness the new science complex—and
working aggressively to improve its curriculum. Word of the
positive changes taking place at ECSU is, indeed, spreading
over the state. And we haye many, many reasons to feel that
“The pride is back.”
Despite these successes, the campus textbook shortage has
cast a shadow over many students’ experiences at ECSU.
Without books, students fall behind in their courses; without
books, students feel fhjstrated and angry; without books,
students lose interest in their courses. And, ultimately, they
begin to lose faith in the University itself.
Students need textbooks if they are to leam effectively. And
the University must provide students with textbooks in a
:timely manner. To do less—even with the goal of saving the
school money—is to fail to provide students with a quality
education.
A new committee will hopefully address, and solve, this
vexing problem, beginning next semester. In the meantime,
we urge faculty members to show understanding and compas
sion for those students who have made repeated trips to the
bookstore seeking books for their classes, only to find empty
shelves.
. Students should not be tested on material they do not have
access to. We agree with Dr. Caldwell’s call for “ingenuity”
on the part of teachers and extra work from students. Until
much needed books arrive, textbook chapters can be copied
and circulated among students. And instructors can make
certain that students are only tested on what has been covered
in class.
This will call for cooperation, patience, and extra effort on
the part of students and faculty; there is no reason why an
interim solution can’t be worked out.
We do not mean to point an accusing finger at any one
individual or group for this problem, which seems to arise as
much from ineffective communication and poor organization
as anything. We are truly a family here at ECSU, and, as
everyone knows, no family is without its problems.
But the textbook shortage is a problem that must be solved.
Eddie Oakley
AFRICA
The gold Is the wealth in the continent
of Africa. Green is the unity we must
show as a people. Red Is the blood that
has been shed. And for those reasons
we, as African-Americans, are a
combination of these three elements.
Talk of ECSU:
Vslhat do African Pendants represent
and is it important to be called African-
American and vQhy?
Chukuhdi Salisbury
Seattle, Wash.
“They represent that I’m aware of my
heritage, and that I want to be affiliated
with the movemwt. Its not that
Important to me to be called African-
American, because I’m Amerlcari and
just happen to be Black. African-
American would mean that my
parentage is of both of those countries,
but my parents are both American.
Curtis "La'-Woo'* Swain
Plymouth, NC
“Yes, we should be called African-
American because the majbrity of our
descendants come from African
nations; The pendants don’t
represent ahything, it's in a person's
heart.”
Wylia Slade
Queens, NY
“ I feel African pendants represent
where we have come from and where
we're going. I feel that we should be
called African-American because that
is a name we have chosen for
ourselves. The white man gave us
the name *B1_ACK’ . Therefore, we
should be called African-American.
The Aslan-American Is not Called
yellow, the Native American is not
called Red. So why should we be
called black?”
■LETTERS'
Beware of guys seeking one night stands
To the editor
Every year during freshmen orien
tation and the early part of the fall
semester freshmen girls are always
caught in the complex with a guy or
going to a guy’s room. Most of the
time it is at night. Most freshmen girls
have never experienced a chance to be
with a guy all night and if this is their
first chance then they will take advan
tage of it.
Now if there was a warning to
freshmen girls during freshmen ori
entation stating that some guys are
only into one night stands and don’t
believe some of them when they say,
“you will be my one and only as long
ECSU freshmen seek
a drug-free society
as we are together.” They are only
telling you that to be nice and not
because it’s true.
Every two weeks there should be
at least three room checks at one a.m.
and all freshmen should be told they
have to leave. That would scare them
of getting caught because they will
not know when a person’s room will
be checked.
Parties in the complex after dances
should stop because alcohol is badly
abused. Too many under age people
are getting drunk for the first time and
their parents did not send them to
school for that Girls get drunk and
pass out in a guy’s room and after the
party some guys will take advantage
of that person. Other girls get involved
in the party and their dorm closes and
the girl “if she is a freshman” would
be scared. Most guys would tell the
girl that she has to give up some ass to
sleep in the same bed. Most girls would
feel they have no other choice.
Now there are too many girls get
ting caught up in these situations and
something n^s to be done.
Tony Thigpen
To the editor
In our world today, drugs and alco
hol play a dangerous role. The effects
of drugs on one person can lead to
harm for others. A drunk driver or a
drug addict can cause harm whether
he is behind the wheel of a car, or on
the streets robbing a store for a fix.
This is a word problem that will need
to be address^ until the abuse has
ceased.
In order to support the pleas of
“J ust Say No” and “Stop Drug Abuse,”
the freshman class of the Honors
Program has put together a campaign
against alcohol and drug abuse.
Through this campaign, the students
of ECSU about long and short term
dangers of drugs and alcohol. The
principal theme for this campaign is,
STOP THE USE; KILL DRUG
ABUSE! To publicize the campaign,
the Honors Program freshman put up
posters and flyers, as well as reserv
ing a spot on the campus radio station,
WRVS. In March they plan to have
a seminar featuring guest speakers on
the subject of alcohol and dnigs. Also,
in cooperation with the Honors Pro
gram sophomores, there will be ar
ticles appearing in the Honors Pro
gram Newsletter concerning drugs and
alcohol.
The freshmen plan to get their
views expressed to the fullest extent.
They want each and every student to
be aware of the dangers of alcohol and
drugs. These freshmen are committed
to fostering a drug-free society.
Cathy Thomas
'Just say no' to sex
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To the editor
I read with interest the article titled
“Students Say ‘No’ toFreeCondoms.”
Students that say no to free con
doms should also say no to casual and
recreational sex. Students, we need to
review our school catalogs to make
sure that sex is not listed as a competi
tive sport. There are no rewards for
foolish decisions about not protect
ing your body, your life and your
future.
If students must treat sex like a
game then by all means try some of
the following defensive moves when
your resistance will fail;
(1) Run, don’t walk, to get free
condoms
(2) Girls, don’t be shy about pro
tection before he scores for your af
fection
(3) Young men, protect your fu
tures, protect your life-use condoms
or she could be your wife
(4) She’s not your wife but could
have your child-please protect your
self from things are wild
Knowing when to say no is part of
becoming responsible adults. Saying
yes could make you popular, preg
nant, infected or dead.
Let us make the right decision to
get protection against infection. Please
use your head or you could wind up
dead.
Anne Riddick
ECSU Junior
SGA failed to do job
j
To the editor
I read the article about the SGA
spending too much money on a band.
I am disturbed with seemingly poor
planning and definite lack of budget
ary skills exhibited by our SGA offi
cers.
The authority to spend money in
the students’ best interests rests on the
shoulders of the SGA president. This
person was elected and expected to
perform the duties of the office to the
best of his ability. This art was not his
best
All the activities planned will not
interest all of the students all the time.
Based on previous participation or
lack of it, the SGA officers should
know what to expect from the stu
dents. A maximum amount of money
should be budgeted for activities such
as this one. Students funds can go
toward other positive activities such
as charity on campus, SGA scholar
ships and providing some educational
trips for students. Having a dance is
fine but spending all the students
money to pay for it was a very irre
sponsible move to make.
Being an SGA officer is not an
easy job and making mistakes such as
this one will not make the job any
easier for those who will follow in
their footsteps.
To Mr. Williams, SGA V.P., you
were not speaking for the entire Stu-'
dent Government Association on this
issue. The Student Government As'
sociation is not made up only of olfi'
cers. Each registered student that paid
a student activity fee is a member of
the Student Government Association.'
The SGA officers are elected by the
students they represent and these offi
cers have a very serious responsibility
to serve these students.
Anne Riddick
ECSU Junior
I Ji J welcomes letters to the editor,
l^^ust be signed, and relevant to Issues
students - on a national, state,
NflfiL ^ Letters may be edited for
to rIv 90od taste. Please send letters
iJnh/or^tw Compass, Elizabeth City State
pSomSoh^SnHan.