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.