The Compass Wednesday, October 26, 1994 7
ECSU Student dies of heart attack
By Carlos McCoimick
Roderick Gary, a junior criininal justice
majoratECSU,iedSept. 15in Albemarle
Hospital after suffering a heart attack in
Williams Hall Gym. He was 20 years old.
Many ECSU students were shocked
and saddened when they learned of
Gary's death.
“\ can't believe his death because I had
just seen him earlier that day walking
around campus," said Walter Gatlin, a
senior from Greenville, N.C.
Two busloads of ECSU students at
tended Gary's funeral, at Weldon High
School in Weldon, N.C. Gary, a Weldon
native, was a 1992 graduate of Weldon
High. The University Gospel Choir also
attended and performed.
At the service, several sjjeakers eulo
gized Gary and mourned his passing.
"He's gone, but he is now an alumnus
of ECSU," said ECSU Chancellor Dr.
Jimmy Jenkins. "He will always be a part
of the University family."
ECSU students said they were touched
Fkolo by Broderick Gary
by Jenkins' presence at the funeral.
"That was a real nice gesture for our
chancellor to attend the funeral," said
Chris McCullough.
Other speakers praising Gary included
Qemson Williamson, former principal of
WeldonHigh,andtheRev.JohnnieSmith,
‘‘He's gone...
hut he will always be a
part of the University
Family.''
Drjimmyjenkins
pastor of First Baptist Church in Weldon.
Following the service, several ECSU
students praised Gary and said they
would miss his presence in their lives.
"He was an outgoing person who liked
to play games," said Tammie Rivers, a
junior from Weldon. "He was a person
fun to be around."
Jason Bowser, a junior from
Murfreesboro, said Gary was "cool with
everybody and I felt real hurt when I
found out he had died. To this day, 1 still
don't feel like he's gone."
Some students said Gary's death made
them thirJc more deeply about their own
lives.
"When I found out about his death, it
made me stop and think awhile about
life," said Michael Lytle, a junior. "Why
would He take the life of a good person
like Roderick?"
Roderick, a member of the Romeo So
cial club, received the Kappa Alpha Psi
Scholarship for Outstanding Young Man
of the year. At ECSU, he worked in the
Chancellor's office.
Roderick is survived by his parents,
Shirley Gary and David Singleton;his
sister,Tashima Gary; maternal grandpar
ents Dora Gary and Casper Gary,Sr; five
aunts, Louise Williams,Kale Davis,Sonia
Singleton,Ella Barham and Doris Wells;
and an uncle, Casper Gary Jr.
Hardees shuts down on campus;
officials quiet on McDonald’s rumor
‘7 enjoyed Hardees but I prefer McDonalds
when ifs time for me to get my grub.''
Taburicia Stewart
Senior
By Latisha Edwards
ECSU students with a har\kering for a
Big Deluxe or a chocolate shake were
disappointed after they returned to cam
pus to see the University Center space
that had housed Hardees' empty and
abandoned.
"I felt Hardees was a nice addition to
the campus," said sophomore Tracy
Puryear. "Because it gave us an option
other than eating in the caf. The caf hours
are crazy, and if you are hungry after six
p.m., then you are out of luck."
Hardees closed May 13 just before
graduation, according to Renaldo
Windom, who managed the restaurant
on campus.
'Tt was a surprise to me," he said. "I
had planned to come back this semester
and mai\age the store again." Renaldo
said he had notreceived hislastpaycheck
and he is "very upset with" the owner,
Michael Shaw. Renaldo said he has been
unable to locate Shaw and that he is plan
ning to fileacomplaint with "The Dqwt-
ment of Labor."
Shaw, however, said all pf his employ
ees at Hardees had been paid.
"Everyone has been compensated for
their hours worked," he said.
Renaldo saidhedidn'tunderstand why
Hardees closed.
'TinaiKially, the store on campus was
doing well," he said. "We were never
over in hours or labor, and we were in the
plus every month."
Shaw said he feels that Hardees was a
success, but could have been more suc
cessful had therebeen more support from
the campus.
"If the campus was laiger, the store
would have beenmoresuccessful," Shaw
said. "The corporation frowned upon it
and would rather work with larger cam
puses."
Roger McLean, Vice Chancellor for
Business and Finance, said he could not
disclose "the internal reason" of why
Hardees closed on campus.
Shaw also declined to discuss why
Hardees' closed.
"I can't legally discuss these matters,"
he said. "Everything is in the court sys-
tem.Hardees' restaurant,aswellasECSU,
was an unfortunate victim in the situa
tion."
McLean refused to comment on a ru
mor that McDonalds will open a restau
rant on campus.
"Right now I am in negotiations with
the appropriate people," McLean said. "1
assure the student body that in the next
few weeks there will be some kind of food
service in operation on campus that will
meet the students' needs."
Why was Hardees was chosen for the
campus?
"That decision was based on discus
sions with various students on campus,"
said McLean. "And there seemed to be a
general interest in Hardees."
McLean said there was a major trend
oncollegecampuses to havebrand named
food services, and he wanted ECSU to be
a part of that trend.
McLean said the new Automated Teller
Machine at the commuter center is an
other part of the effort to make the cam
pus more convenient for students.
"Even though we are a small institu
tion, we are doing things in a big way,"
McLean said.
Several students said th^ would wel
come McDonalds on campus.
"I enjoyed Hardees but I prefer
McDonalds when it's time for me to get
my grub on," said Taburica Stewart, a
senior. Commuting freshmen Jo Eiler,
Jamie Miller, Myra Blow welcome
McDonalds or any other food service to
campus. They say if they leave campus
for limch it's hard to find a parking space
when they return.
"An on-campus facility will be great,"
said Eiler. "We're definitely looking for
ward to it."