Newspapers / Elizabeth City State University … / March 29, 1994, edition 1 / Page 3
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The Compass Tuesday, March 29, 1994 3 Letters A Leaking Ship Locker room fuss was 'bad timing' If the expression "loose lips sink ships" is true then the Viking ship has sprung some big leaks. Misinterpreted words by the captain of our ship. Chancellor Jimmy Jenkins, have kept ECSU at the center of controversy—from alleged "racist" remarks at a family meeting to a disparaging pep talk in the locker room. ECSU's suspension of ex basketball player Maurice Barnett for heated words uttered after a painful loss makes us wonder if Dr. Jenkins has forgotten the damage misunderstandings can cause. It wasn't long ago that the Chancellor was apologizing for his own misinterpreted words. Now recent events make us wonder if his administration is more concerned with demonstrating its power than with fairness and mercy, when dealing with those who have fallen into disfavor. Recently a personnel review committee of the UNC-system Board of Governors overturned the firing of ECSU professor Dr. Carol Kerr on procedural grounds, saying that her rights were violated and that she didn't receive a fair hearing. While there may have been extenuating circumstances to the administration's failure to give Dr. Kerr a fair hearing, events like these raise a troubling question: Are ECSU administrators sending out warning signals to the university family that anyone challenging or questioning their authority will be issued a plane ticket home? This is exactly what happened to Barnett following his run-in with the Chancellor.Is this leadership we're witnessing or is it an abuse of power? After administrators were accused of creating a racist environment, students and faculty united to defend Dr. Jenkins against a biased local press; however, we reserved the right to criticize our administrators because this is our home. We commend the Chancellor for allowing Barnett to be reinstated; however, there is no reason why Dr. Jenkins could not have met personally with Barnett in an effort to resolve their grievances like mature adults. Like family. We should solve our problems within the family with maturity and professionalism, instead of allowing them to become public dramas. Our university should not become publically defined by personal grievances and mis understandings. This only adds grist to the mill of those who do not have our best interests at heart. The Compass would like to commend ECSU students for standing together in the midst of controversy and for their overwhelming display of Viking spirit. We would also like to congratulate the Viking basketball team for playing vigorously throughout the season. And, finally, we encourage all students to vote in the upcoming SGA election. Choose candidates who will truly represent the students and, at the same time, work effectively with administrators. We need a whole lot of understanding to make up for lost time. To the editor: The Maurice Barnett controversy raises questions about an athlete's right to privacy immediately before and after a contest and whether or not an athlete should be held accountable for things said in the heat of the moment. Should there be a time when athletes are protected from outside influences, including university chancellors and the press? In professional athletics the media and other people are prohibited from entering the dressing room of teams for a certain amount of time after games so that athletes can gather themselves and their thoughts for questions. For an athlete the locker room is his sanctuary, his safe haven, the place where he makes the transition from athlete to regular person and vice versa. This is a mental process as well as physical. In many cases an The B.M.S. I am a college student I be "the new generation of slaves" pursuing degrees forming avenues to esculate a 3.01 possess but I guess I don't get enthused the job market has digressed I reflect on the realm of stewards who molded the clay into a shape of verticality. So the torch is now given as a bwn but the sublime is to"spark a new flame" and be true to a path spoken first by the mother. Look Ma, first semester, 18 hours and I'm bringing home all A's, curricular activities extra-in tense will be elminated, if declines appear in grades. I am a covert nerd but my appearance infracts so the slack I'll catch for the real is unheard, "And it's a must" to alternate one's dream then disapprove of in crowds which athlete celebrates his triumph for a great victory or vents his frustration for a bad loss. This the one place where an athlete is surrounded by the people who understand and share the same feelings with him at that moment. This type of situation is not peculiar to our campus. Two years ago Deon Sanders, a baseball player for the Atlanta Braves, threw buckets of ice water on a television reporter because of comments the reporter had made earlier about him. Last year a college football player got into an altercation with a visitor in the team's locker room after the person made a comment about the game which they had just lost. There is no question that Maurice was wrong for his statements to Chancellor Jenkins, but wasn't this just a case of bad timing by the Chancellor? Reginald Worlds Factor collectively, are made firm. I treasure the females I crystallize my role with endless chat I watch for the star to shine and subdue (And that is ECSU...) I germinate into a model for kids innovating facts so their acts corresponds with God's will Or deconstruct the vine that cuts off the source to comprehend Grapes are ineffective so they peel in time the aspirations will get revealing My love of fame, prominence or black peoples healing What about my friends now, the disguise runs deep, associate pals the position and we'll stay cool Now I will not empathize dilemmas are created so desires to unite can be justified And on the scales I pray that my good exceeds my sins for imbalance involves death from which there's no escape The Compass Editors: Lavenia Dameron News Reginald Worlds Sports Tarsha White Entertainment Advertising IManager Gloria Alexander Consuiting Editor Craig Avondo Graphics Consultant Diane Patterson Business Manager Gloria Alexander Production iUlanager Paula Armstrong Photographers: Gloria Alexander, Craig Avondo, Melanie Harrington, Jamie Jordan, Jody Riddick, James Riley, Jr., Reginald Worlds Staff writers: Gloria Alexander, Dawn Bradsher, Bmce Copeland, Kysha Gary, Lynetta Jordan, Scott Lawrence, Carlos McCormick, Michelle Meketi, James Riley, Jr., Tarik Scott, Tarsha White. The Compass is published by Elizabeth City State University under the direction of the Department of Language, Literature and Communication, Dr. Linda Florence Callahan, chair, and Mr. Stephen March, faculty advisor. The Compass welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be sent to ECSU Box 815, Elizabeth City, NC 27909. All letters must be signed and include the writer's address and telephone number. They may be edited for length, clarity, and taste, as well as accuracy and ^grammar. Because of limited space, not alMetters^an^e^published^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ) . • ' • ^‘■ '«■ 'lit f. Eric Walton Elizabeth Qty State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate degrees. Twenty-two hundred copies of this publication were printed at 45 cents per copy.
Elizabeth City State University Student Newspaper
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March 29, 1994, edition 1
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