CAMPDS NEWS
Cffidleli^itingceremony
Fall Convocation held
Photo by Richard UdnUre
Freshman Carla Austin proudly displays her candle during Fall Convocation. Austin and other first year students lit their candles as a
■ symbol of entrance into the Viking family, September 17 in Moore Hall.
By Fedora Smith
ECSU held its Annual Fall Convo
cation and Freshmen Candlelighting
Ceremonies Sunday, September 17,
at 6:30 p.m. in Moore Hall Audito
rium.
The guest speaker was Dr. William
Griffin, president of Roanoke Bible
College. Griffin spoke on *e impor
tance of “taking responsibility for
one’s own actions,” and he warned
students to avoid companions who
would corrupt their morals.
Griffin listed five keys to success
in college life, “Blame no one but
yourself, choose to aim high, choose
attitudes carefully, look for the best in
all situations, and choose to volun
teer.”
Following Griffin’s speech, ECSU
Chancellor Dr. Jimmy Jenkins called
this year’s freshmen class “the cream
of the crop of 1989,” and said that
anything worth having is worth sacri
fice.
“Make the right decisions even if
they are tough,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins also advised the freshmen
to “walk and get your sheepskin so
that you can say you were best pre
pared to take on leadership, change
the nation, and take on the life and
pursuit of happiness.”
Other speakers included Dr. Helen
Caldwell, Vice Chancellor for Aca
demic Affairs, Karen Richardson,
President of the Student Government
Association, and Gail Hall, Miss
ECSU.
Caldwell, who led the students into
the ceremony, said, “From this day on
you will not be truly rich until the
knowledge evolves solely from your
heads.”
Hall helped light the first candle
for the candlelighting ceremony, and
they were then passed among the stu
dents until all were lighted.
The Reverend John Trotman, Uni
versity minister, led the students in
prayer, and the University Choir per
formed “In Bright Mansions Above.”
Griffin is a native of Hyde County,
where he was raised in the Scranton
Christian Church. He entered Roanoke
Bible College in 1958, and began
ministering at WestPark, Portsmouth,
Va. the following fall. He also served
a seven-year ministry and Lowland,
N.C., and an eight-year ministry in
Fairfield, N.C.
At Roanoke B ible Col lege, Griffin
taught, and served as dean of men,
dean of students and bookstore man
ager prior to having been named presi
dent. He and his wife, Patricia, have
two children.
Photo by Richsrd Mclnliro
New chief 'feels at home' at ECSU
By Beverly Johnson
“Once you join this University,
you become a family member!” said
CJeorgeT. Mountain, the new Chief of
I^olice at Elizabeth City State Univer
sity.
^ Mountain, who was appointed to
llJSposition May 23rd, 1989, said he is
extremely pleased with the Univer-
s%, adding “there is a good opportu-
i^y to develop a quality police de-
p^irtment on campus.”
Mountain is an experienced law
enforcement officer, having worked
eight and a half years out of the N.C^.
Highway Patrol Station in Elizabeth
City. He attended UNC-Chapel Hill
for one year.
Although Mountain said he feels
\|i2J'e are minor problems on campus
strch as fights and parking violations,
he named the major problem on cam
pus to be the drug situation.
“We are aware of the drug problem
oa campus and measures are being
taken to combat this along with the
vandalism of the drink and snack
mSchines which is also occurring quite
fKquently,” Mountain said.
Mountain said he feels one of his
rgpjor goals at ECSU is to have “a well
trained, well-equipped, and alert po
lice deparunenL” He also plans to
develop a dispatch system for secu
rity.
■i> “It is extremely important for stu
dents and faculty to have trained offi
cers to be the best they can be once a
situation arises,” Mountain said.
Four of the eight full-time officers
“There needs to
be more constructive
activities...aside from
the dances, there is little
else for students to do
on the weekend.”
George T. Mountain
are currently receiving special train
ing in such areas as: Officer Survival
Schools in Nags Head, NC; Criminal
Justice Training Academy, Salem,
NC; and law enforcement courses at
the College of the Albermarle.
Mountain praised the contributions
of work-study and intern students to
the deparunent. “They release the full
time police officers from answering
the phones so they can do police work.”
Mountain said he would like for
students to have a greater choice of
things to do outside of class.
“There needs to be more construc
tive activities for students to do in the
community as well as on campus,” he
said. “Aside from the dances, there is
little else for students to do on the
weekend.”
Several ECSU students said Moun
tain has already had a good impact on
the campus.
“I feel Mr. Mountain is making a
positive effort to improve the campus
environment,” said Darryl Brown, a
senior majoring in English.
“I think Mr. Mountain is doing a
fine job,” said Kenneth Bazemore, a
senior education major.” I am really
impressed in the way he has im
plemented the foot patrol on campus.
This means the campus police are
visible not only in the car, but also on
foot.”
Although Mountain does not plan
to change the current rules and regu
lations, hepointed outmotorists should
be aware of the increases in traffic and
parking violation fines. For example,
anyone parking in any “Handicapped”
Zone without displaying an official
recognized “Handicap” license plate
will be fined $50.00 as compared to
$25.00 last year. This comes as a
result of a new state law. And motor
ists caught parking in “No Parking
Any Time” zones will be fined$25.00.
A copy of the new campus parking
and traffic regulations book is avail
able from the Thomas-Jenkins build
ing. The book lists the complete traf
fic violations and fines violators must
pay.
Although he has only been on the
job a few months, the new chief said
he already “feels at home” at Eliza
beth City State University.
In his spare time he enjoys fishing
and hunting locally and in Hertford
County. He also enjoys racquetball
and jogging.
Mountain and his wife, Deborah,
have two daughters: Heather, 6 and
Ashley, 18 months.
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QcOnVERSE
New Chief of Security George T. Mountain (second from the right) discusses Homecoming security priorities
with Assistant Vice-Chancellor of Business, A.C. Robinson and officers Willie White and Sam Beamon.
Mountain served eight years as a state trooper before accepting his current position here at ESCU.
Ms. White
is Miss
NAACP
Miss NAACP
Sonya White was chosen “Miss
NAACP” in the First Annual Miss
ECSU Chapter of the National Asso
ciation for the Advancement of Col
ored People Contest, September 29th
in a ceremony held at the ECSU Little
Theater.
White, a senior accounting major,
was selected on the basis of her fund
raising efforts, said Ursula McMil-
lion, President of the local chapter.
“Sonya truly exemplified the char
acteristics that are the essence of
NAACP,” said McMillion. “Hard
work, dedication, creative ideas, pride
and dignity.”
White said being selected as “Miss
NAACP” was a “real inspiration. It’s
a real honor to have the opportunity to
represent the one organization blacks
can look to in a time of tribulation, and
know that they have a friend within.”
White admitted she “didn’t expect
to win.”
I feel great,” she said. “Winning
was an inspiration because I’ve al
ways been a doubter, and this showed
me that you can do what you set your
mind to do.”
White, a Columbia native, will
represent the NAACP in the commu
nity, at churches and other functions,
said McMillion. “She will make ap
pearances and speak on behalf of our
chapter.”
Other contestants were Larona
Johnson, first runner up, Toneisha
Williams, second runner up, Maureen
Beamon, third runner-up, and Vanessa
Bamer, fourth runner up.
Edward E. Carter, Mayor of Green
ville, spoke during the ceremony,
whose theme was “The blacker the
college, the sweeter the knowledge.”
His message was that now we can
do anything we want to do,” said
White. “Even though we are treated
Photo by Richard Mclntire
hklvvt ae ECSU NAACP, has a special place in Viking
history as the University’s first queen of the civil rights group.
like second class citizens, we aren’t
really. We can make our dreams come
true.”
Carter said he had started out in life
dirtpoor, ’but had emerged as mayor
of Greenville, the largest city in North
Carolina with a black mayor.
Wilshanda Sirmans was the mis
tress of ceremonies, and Shari Carter
introduced the speaker.
Guests were welcomed by Roger
McLean, Vice Chancellor for Bus
iness and Finance and Dr. Leon While,
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs,
and Ms. Felecia Brown.
The ECSU Gospel Choir per
formed three selections. Carol Brown
was the soloist on “My Anchor Holds.”
Money raised by the contestants
will send a representative to the state
convention, and “send someone to
coronation,” McMillion said.