6 The Compass Friday, November 3, 1995 Travelins: Ambassadors... ECSU students attend ‘Million Man March' by Tamika Spruill About 100 ECSU students traveled to Washington DC on Oct. 16 to par ticipate in the "Million Man March." Organizers of the Million Man March say it was designed to uplift African- American men, to encourage them to create better economic opportunities for themselves, to become more politi cally active, and to encourage them to stand strong against negative stereo types. The march was also designed to provide a forum for black men to atone for past wrongs. Shaunell McMillan and Thaxton Tay lor were among the ECSU students who attended the event. Both students said they were concerned with the problems that black men are facing in America, and that they wanted to show their concern by participating in the march. "I felt it was important for me to be a part of something positive that would contribute to the upliftment of black men in America," said McMillan, a sophomore history major. "I went because the march would show a positive aspect of black men that American society doesn't portray," said Taylor, a sophomore business ma jor. McMillan said what touched him most about the Million Man March most was that the fact that "black men were able to overlook their differences in religion and political beliefs in order to do something positive for the ben efit of all." Taylor said the march demonstrated that "we (black men) can come together in an organized fashion without vio lence and hostility towards each other." Taylor said he was impressed by the sense of unity, pride and brotherhood among the men who attended the Mil lion Man March. Both students gained a new outlook after their experience. "The love and uiuty that I felt at the march gave me a sense of hope for the future of Black males in America," said McMillan. Taylor said the march gave him a stronger sense of security in the future. "The march showed that we can send a strong message when we all stand IT PAYS $$ $ $ $ to advertise in The Compsss together," he added. On Sept. 26, ECSU's senior honor class focused on the march during a forum in Johnson Hall entitled "The Million Man March: A Step Back ward?" The forum allowed ECSU stu dents to learn about the march's goals and objectives. "The march will be a day of atone ment for black men," said Kenneth X, a panelist and North Carolina A & T student. "The march is going to show that black men are ready to take on the responsibility as head of the household and (to assume the responsibility) of being strong black men." Kenneth X also addressed the com plaint that the march's organizers wanted women to stay home and not be involved. "The march is not meant to exclude women," he said, "but to tell women that we black men are ready to take some of the responsibility from their shoulders. It is a day that we are ask- Class Of k m Freshman demonstrate their camaraderie during “Une-up” for Fall Convocation Assembly. Photo by Jamie Jordan ing their forgiveness for the wrongs we have committed against them." Several other ECSU students at the forum declared their support for the march. SGA Treasurer Toney Black said he was going to the march "to be part of the unity." Added Black: "The march is going to show that there are strong black men dedicated to something else besides the stereotjqjical killings and drugs." The Million Man March was con ceived of by Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan and former NAACP Executive Director Benjamin Chavis. Fine Arts Building postponed until ’97 by NaKeisha S. Sylver ECSU's new mass commurvications and fine arts building, which was origi nally scheduled to be completed by July 1,1995, will not be completed un til the summer of 1997. Funding for the building was in cluded in a $740 nrullion bond referen dum, which N.C. voters passed in No vember, 1993. ECSU received $6,432,600 for the building, to be con structed on the 38 acres the University purchased on Weeksville Road in 1993. ECSU officials planned to house broadcast studios, teaching facilities, and a large auditorium in the new fine arts building. "The process of building a new build ing is not as simple as just having the money appropriated and breaking ground," said Attorney William T. Davis, Vice Chairman of ECSU's Board of Trustees. After the University received the funds Davis said they had to advertise for bids from architects. Charlotte ar chitect Harvey Gant, who designed the Marion Thorpe Administration build ing, submitted the selected bid. Plans for the building have to be sub mitted for approval from the state, Davis explained. "The State Properties Division has to approve aU plans for state entities." Since the referendum was passed, construction costs have increased at least 35 percent above the original ap propriation, according to Mr. Roger McLean, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance. "The bond referendum flooded the construction market with new money," said Davis. "Contractors no longer have as much incentive to make their prices competitive because there is more work available for everyone. It's simply a matter of supply and demand." "The process of building a new building is not as simple as having the money appropriated and breaking ground." — William T. Davis The new estimated cost for the build ing is "about $9 million," according to McLean. "The only way to get the rest of the money would be to petition the state, which we wiU not do," he said. Instead, the building design will be scaled down to accommodate the ex isting budget. "The building will not be as elabo rate a structure as it was originally de signed to be," said Davis. "We still plan to make the building as functional as possible, however, so that it will serve the needs of the University." A committee is working on the revi sion of the building's architectural de sign. The plans must be approved by members of the Campus Property Conunittee and Property and Finance Committee, according to Davis. Although ECSU officials did not break ground for the building, the Uni versity did begin work on a brick wall, which officials say will enhance the beauty of the fine arts building and the campus overall. The wall is being con structed in front of the administration building and along the site of the pro posed new fine arts building on Weeks ville Road. The wall, which McLean estimates will cost "about $200,000," is not being built with funds related to the fine arts building, he said. The funds are part of a line item state appropriation desig nated for landscaping. Though there has been controversy surrounding the construction of the wall, McLean says that the wall is be ing built solely for aesthetic purposes and that it will complement the new fine arts building. "The purpose of the wall is not to keep people out," he said, "but rather to give the campus a more collegiate look." The drama program and music de partment wUl be housed in the new fine arts building, according to McLean, along with the television station.