4 The Compass Friday, April 17, 1998
New SGA president
says victory proves
power of persistance
by Tiffany Newell
Tears streamed down the cheeks of
Peter Eley, candidate for SGA Presi
dent, when Nathanial Issacs, 1997-1998
Vice President annoxmced his name as
the newly elected 1998-1999 SGA Presi
dent during the SGA Gala on April 3.
"I was surprised to a certain extent
but very pleased," said Eley. "I gave it
my best shot and I ended up winning."
According to Eley, he strived for the
office of presidency since the eighth
grade. Eley ran for president three other
times—in middle school, high school
and during his freshman year at ECSU.
"I felt it was in my heart," said Eley.
" It was my destiny to become presi
dent. If something's in your heart then
you should go after it."
Eley said his victory confirms his be
lief that "if you fail at something try,
try again, because I am a living ex
ample of where persistance will get
you."
According to Eley, the individual has
a great deal of control over his or her
destiny. As an example he cites a quote
by Charles Swindell, "I am convinced
that life is ten percent of what happens
to me, and 90 percent of how I react to
it."
"Attitudes determines your alti
tude," said Eley. "Most things that hap
pen are a result of the way you react to
them."
Eley's hobbies include "giving back
to the community, mentoring and play
ing video games." He is a member of
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Eley credits his father with being his
primary role model.
"He taught me everything I know
and brought me from childhood to
manhood."
His celebrity role model is Malcolm
X," because "he admitted his mistakes
to the world and lost his life trying to
correct them."
As SGA President, Eley plans to boost
"Viking Pride" and student unity and
maintain a high level of academic
achievement among students. He plans
to assign more conmiittees whose del
egates will represent each class more
effectively.
Eley feels that his greatest challenge
is in restructuring SGA and getting
Homecoming "off to a great start."
A native of Henderson, and a rising
jimior,. Eley is a mathematics major
with a minor in English. He plans to be
an administrator of a large company,
he said, adding that, "Ultimately I want
to be a chancellor of a large school."
Eley gave high praises to Tamara
McCray, 1997-1998 SGA president for
her ability to meet the challenges of
her office.
"Tamara did a good job," said Eley.
"She came into a bad situation. A lot of
people didn't give her credit. SGA was
already in shambles."
Eley hopes that the SGA will be more
structured under his leadership. By set
ting up more committees he hopes stu
dent involvement will increase.
Although his cabinet consists of aU
women, Eley feels comfortable.
"Women listen better and eire more
cooperative," he said.
Franklin Scott, Jr. photo
Peter Eley, a Henderson native, is a math major who plans to one day be chancellor of
a large University. As the new president of the SGA, Eley plans to improve "Viking
pride" and student unity.
Students discuss Macing incident at forum
to ‘ease tensions’ with campus police
by Garry Walton
ECSU students aired several griev
ances against the Campus Police De
partment during a forum held March
17 in Johnson Hall.
Complaints included the number of
tickets given to students, the use of
Mace against them and the cdleged fail-
lare of campus police to respond quickly
enough to grievances.
The forum, "Campus Police, Here To
Protect and Serve...But When Is Force
Necessary?" was orgariized by Kappa
Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
The forum was designed to aUow
students and campus police the op
portunity "to get acquainted with each
other," according to moderator Charles
Gatling. "This forum is not designed
to attack campus police or the stu
dents," said Gatling. "It is meant to
ease the tension between the two, and
try to come up with suggestions and
solutions to problems."
One student eisked about a recent
incident during which officers arrest
ing a student sprayed Mace that af
fected some bystanders to the incident.
In responding to that question. Cam
pus Police Chief George Mountain in
vited the student to visit his office to
discuss the incident.
"My door is always open to the stu
dents at this University," said Moun
tain. "If you would just come by my
office and file a report I will be more
than willing to look into the situation."
Keyworma Everetts asked what steps
she needed to take to make sure that a
complaint to campus police would be
tciken care of.
"If you file a complaint with me then
I make sure I get back to you as
soon as I can," responded Motmteiin.
"But if you come in with a complaint I
can almost assure you that it will get
my full attention."
Mountain again reiterated his offer
for students who had questioris about
the Macing incident to visit his office.
"What we have now is a lot of hear
say," he said. "It's just your word
against theirs. If you just come down
to my office (we can) have a more in-
depth discussion."
Trey Peele complained about receiv
ing a ticket for parking in a designated
parking zone.
"If you nm a stop sign, it's ten dol
lars," said Peele. "A speeding ticket is
$15. How can you justify giving me a
$20 ticket for a no-parking zone?"
Officer Sam Beamon responded by
sajdng, "As police officers we do not
set the fees for fines."
Ronel Brewer said that as a junior on
(See FORUM, Page 12)