The Compass Friday, December 5, 1997 3
Editorial
Broken promises
Administrative promises are why many of us decided to enroll at
ECSU. Whether it was lab-top computers in our dorm rooms,
scholarships, a fast-food restaurant on the campus or a new television
station--we came to this school hoping that our educational and
recreational needs would be met. Unfortunately, many students have
been disappointed to find that inducements to come here turned out to
constitute false advertisement. These broken promises have been a
factor in student decisions to change majors; take out loans, or—the
saddest result of all—withdraw or transfer from the school.
Many juniors and seniors who had planned to pursue a career in the
media profession had ambitions of "getting their feet wet" in the
world of broadcast media. A key aspect of this dream was the new
television station that recruiters said would be available when they
arrived on campus. That enthusiasm was dampened when students
arrived to discover there was no TV station. Year after year, students
were told that the station would be up and running—year after year ,a
functional station failed to appear.
Many students in the Incentive Scholarship Program came here
believing they had full scholarships to cover all four years' expenses.
Recruiters advised them of the glittering opportunity they would miss
by refusing a scholarship that would let them attend college without
financial worry.
One incentive scholar came here believing her financial status was the
last thing she needed to worry about. Her expectations were dashed
the day before final exams her first semester. When she went to the
registrar's office to see if she needed an exam permit, she was shocked
to discover she owed about $200—which had to be paid that day. Her
efforts to pay off this unexpected debt—with loans and family
assistance—left her feeling resentful and disillusioned.
While some students struggled to pay "hidden" educational expenses
that officials failed to mention, others students eagerly anticipated the
construction of the Fine Arts Building. Once again students were
disappointed. Recruiters told one student that the building would be in
use in the Fall of 1994—one reason why she decided to attend ECSU.
Although the Fine Arts Building now appears to be on track, it will
not help those students interested in drama and theater arts who came
here expecting to benefit from it.
While we do not hold the current administration liable for broken
promises made in the past, we want to emphasize that it's important to
keep the values of honesty and openness in mind when recruiting
students. A straightforward approach to recruitment and advising will
minimize disappointments down the road. If we are to continue
growing and prospering, all students must be treated with candor and
fairness.
Elizabeth City State University is accredited by the Commision on Colleges of
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate de
grees.
The Compass
Editors Angela Burrus, Tiffany Newell
Chief photographer Franklin G. Scott, Jr.
Sports Editor Al Joyner
Copy Editor Samantha Marshall
New Notes Editors Samantha Marshall, Kimberly Hines
Poetry Editor Kimberly Hines
Graphics Consultant Diane Patterson
Staff writers: Chenay Beamon, Kimberly Hines, Frances
Hughes, Troy Lewter, Damon Lynn, Cindy Smith, Dwayne
Pope, Donald Perkins, Gary Walton.
The Compass is published by students in the Department of
Language, Literature & Communication. Stephen March, faculty
advisor; Dr. Velma Brown, Chairperson. Dr. Randall Clack serves as
business manager and provides technical support.
The Compass welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be sent to ECSU Box 815, Elizatieth
City, NO 27909, All letters must be signed and Include the writer's address and telephone num
ber. They may be edited for length, clarity, and taste, as well as accuracy and grammar. Because
of limited space, not all letters can be published. i
’I .-'1 "1^" " ■■■") .'i'"';'i't'j>
UNC-System leader
promises compliance
To The Editor:
For more than 25 years The Univer
sity of North Carolina has worked to
overcome the effects of past racial seg
regation in our public system of higher
education. With consistent and sus
tained efforts we have sought to make
educational opportunities available to
as many citizens as possible, regard
less of race or sex or religion or eco
nomic circumstances or social condi
tions or family background. We have
emphasized that every one of the
University's sixteen constituent insti
tutions is open and available to appli
cants on a nondiscriminatory basis.
The results of those efforts have been
truly remarkable. In the last 25 years,
the university-wide enrollment of black
students increased 114 percent. Mean
while, the enrollment of women in
creased by 115 percent, the enrollment
of Native Americans by 144 percent,
and the proportion of undergraduates
age 25 or older by 47 percent.
In terms of increased racial integra
tion of student populations, black stu
dent presence now approaches 10 per
cent of the ten historically white
institutions, and white student pres
ence is more than 15 percent at the five
historically black institutions.
We are intensely proud of those ac
complishments, which long since dis
pelled any question about the
University's commitment to equal edu
cational opportunity. The affirmative
outreach that has produced these re
sults has been entirely appropriate
morally, legally, and as a matter of
sound public policy.
We do recognize that the legal land
scape within which we are required to
Tired of cold water
To The Editor:
The students living in the New
Women's Residence Hall have con
stantly had problems with no hot wa
ter. I really do not like the fact that we
have to pay an extra $125 to shower in
another dorm.
We understand that the water may
be cold sometimes but not every day
and night. The past week, Mr. Kenneth
Roberts of Housing told the students
that due to the water problems we're
having, Mitchell Lewis and Bias Hall
are free for us to shower. My concern is
that no one wants to walk across cam
pus in the cold to another dorm to take
a shower with a possibility that we
might get sick. It is just an inconve
nience to us.
I believe that the Housing Office
should find a way to satisfy the stu
dents in the New Women's Dorm. Al
though we pay more to stay on cam
pus, we seem to be the only dorm
experiencing these problems.
^ , Shronda Smith , .
Letters
address our objectives is constantly
evolving; although some requirements
are clear, other important questions
await definite resolution by the courts.
As responsible administrators we
must regularly and carefully reassess
our own policies and practices to be
sure that we are in compliance with
established legal mandates. At my re
quest, all our campuses are engaged
now in just such a reassessment. If we
find that any of our practices are le
gally inappropriate, we will change
tiiem. We intend to ensure that our
house is well in order.
The reassessment does not mean that
the University is retreating from or
abandoning its long-standing basic ob>-
jectives of welcoming applicants on a
nondiscriminatory basis and striving
to achieve broadly diverse elements.
The University is committed to using
proper and effective means of sustain
ing and extending those accomplish
ments.
Indeed, if North Carolina is to
achieve its goals of future economic
and social vitality, the University must
reach out to the schools, community
colleges and our citizens to continue
the progress of improved college go
ing rates throughout the state.
We believe that is the right course. It
is also the appropriate course for the
University founded more than two cen
turies ago to extend the benefits of
higher education beyond the ranks of
the privileged.
Molly Corbett Broad, President
The University of North Carolina
System
Poetry
I Caught A Star
i caught a star last night
i had to let it go, 'cause it just
ain't right to try and cage the light
that shines in your eyes
and keeps me warm when
summer dies
then winter comes to provoke my
cries of pain
when loneliness leaves a stain
that can't be washed away in the
rain
it remains forever
can't be faded by harsh weather
only when we're finally together
will it go away
but for now i'll remember
yesterday
when the life force lay
in the palm of my hand
and dream of the day when i can
stand
next to you in the sand
and promise my love for eternity
praying that you won't ever turn
away from me
Freda Garland