The Compass Friday, April 30^1999 0
New Generation Ministries iVlembers Attend Leadersiiip Conference in Georgia
By Blair Todd
Special to The Compass
On March 25, 12 members and an
advisor of New Generation Campus
Ministries, set off to enhance their
spiritual growth in the Lord by
attending the second annual "Violent
Take it by Force" College Students and
Leaders Conference at New Birth
Missionary Church in Decatur,
Georgia.
The conference began with a
motivating message from New Birth
Missionary's college minister. The
opening evening concluded with a live
concert performance by Fred
Hammond & Radical for Christ.
Mr. Hammond and his group put on
an inspiring performance, during
which the audience became motivated
gave praise to God. Mr. Hammond
made us think and cry, especially
when he talked about Jesus's
crucifixion. It was not hard for us to
imagine the amoimt of pain, torment,
and suffering Jesus endured so we
could be saved and live prosperous
lives. To many, that's what real love is.
Commuter Center Helps
Students Be Part of Campus Life
By Marty Jacobi
Assistant Editor
About half of Elizabeth City State
University's students don't live on
campus, but instead, are commuting
back and forth from home to school.
Unlike resident students, these com
muter students don't have the option
of taking a break at the dorm or stop
ping at their rooms to trade books for
class.
Where can they go to relax between
classes, and do they have the same
access privileges on-campus as resi
dent students? The answers can be
found at the student Commuter
Center, a place that about eight years
ago was designed mainly for non-resi-
dent students.
Since last October, Willa Lamb has
been serving as the interim coordina
tor for commuter students to help
acclimate them to campus life. She said
she can spot who the commuter stud
ents are because they look bored.
"We're trying to bridge that gap
where people stop thinking, go to
class, then go home," she said. Instead,
commuter students have access to all
the buildings on campus, including the
cafeteria in Bedell Hall and the com
muter center.
The commuter center offers a lotmge
area where students can relax, watch
TV, socialize with others and switch
books for classes. There are 75 lockers
available for student use. Students can
also use the bowling alley within the
same building.
Ms. Lamb's first year as coordinator
has been focused on mailing informa
tion about the commuter center to
students, helping them discover activi
ties to participate in and conducting a
survey to find out what commuter
students want from their school.
besides a good education.
These surveys are just beginning to
be looked at and will be analyzed over
the sunamer. The goal is to institute
some of the ideas that are most desired
by the students. Some of these con
cerns are already being addressed by
Ms. Lamb and Paul Bryant, the assis
tant Dean of Student Life.
"Many students would very much
like to have computers over here in the
commuter center," Mr. Bryant said. So,
at least 10 computers are planned to be
installed in the center by the Fall.
Students have also suggested they
would like to form some clubs, such as
folf and tennis clubs. In the past, they
ave been encouraged to get involved
in intramural sports activities, like ten
nis, softball, basketball and also the
chess club.
"If you don't join a commuter group,
join another group," Ms. Lamb said.
"All groups are open to all students."
Thomas Blevins, a technical education
student and conunuter student agreed
that joining a group on campus ini
tiates a bond with imiversity life.
"Part of getting that degree is feeling
like you are a part of the University,'
he said. "You need that connection
with a group."
The commuter center's goal is not
simply to offer organized activities, but
to provide information about them.
"We're hoping to turn this more into
an information station, with pamphlets
and answers to many of the students'
questions," Mr. Bryant said. In turn,
students can assist their commuter
center by voicing their ideas and
concerns.
"We're excited to meet their needs,"
said Mr. Bryant, "and encourage them
to get involved by letting us know the
kinds of activities they'd like to have."
When The Long Race Is Run
When the long race is run
And all the tasks are done
Men find that peace depends
Not on the goals attained
Or the high fortunes gained.
But on good friends.
Laughter and song and mirth
And the rich joys of earth
No mortal here attend,
Unless with him each day
‘Neath sunny skies or gray
Walks a true friend.
Pride pomp and power of place
Lack that consoling grace
Which soothes and mends
Heartache and sorrow’s pain,
Who weeps shall smile again
If he has friends.
Though on a golden throne.
He, who must dwell alone.
Time sadly spends,
All that makes life complete.
All that makes memories sweet,
Comes from our friends.
—James S.
Watson
ms
Jesus dying on the cross for our sins is
something we should never take for
granted.
The conference also featured many
other speakers who challenged those
in attendance to find their purpose in
Ufe. We all have been put on this
college campus for a reason, and it is
time for us to find out what it is. We
are, and should be, happiest when we
are fulfilling His purpose. We also
learned that being "in Christ" is the
most amazing and beneficial way to
go in a world that is getting crazier by
the minute. But God has the answer to
this craziness, his son Jesus Christ.
Going to this conference really
challenged me and all who attended to
do more for God. It also pushed me to
be "more real."
University to Hold McNair
Scholars Program for Fifth Year
By Shekeria Smith
Staff Writer
Elizabeth City State University wiU
hold its 1999 McNair Scholars
Research Program from June 1 - July
16 on the ECSU campus.
Students participating in the
program wiU be conducting research
with an ECSU faculty mentor in one of
the following areas: computer science,
industrial technology, mathematics,
science and psychology. A series of
workshops, symposiums, lectures,
GRE institutes, as well as field trips,
will also be held.
The program has been offered on the
ECSU campus since 1995.
Approximately 20 students participate
each summer.
The MSURP will receive on-campus
housing, a stipend corisisting of $2,800.
Meals and university e-mail accounts
will be paid by the Ronald E. McNair
Post Baccalaureate Achievement
Program.
Dr. Cheryl J. Lewis, Director of TRIO
Programs, five federally funded
programs in operation on the ECSU
campus, says students who meet the
program's criteria and who have a
behavioral science-related major are
eligible to participate.
"Anything dealing with a behavioral
science is considered to be math and
science related," Dr. Lewis said.
Students can also earn academic
credit. Dr. Lewis says.
"During the summer there is one
course that students can take to earn
credit hours toward graduation."
The Ronald E. McNair Post
Baccalaureate Achievement Program
was named in honor of the renown
laser physicist and astronaut whose
life tragically ended in the 1986
accident of the Space Shuttle
Challenger on which McNair was a
crew member.
Dr. McNair was a 1971 graduate of
North Carolina Agricultural and
Technical University. He received his
Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology in 1976 at the age of 26.
Prior to his death. Congress
provided funding for the program in
his name to encourage under
represented groups such as minorities
and women in achieving graduate
school opportunities in particular
doctoral studies such as science and
math.
The TRIO programs provide direct
services to low -income and first
generation college students.
Pamela Clanton, a jimior computer
science major attending ECSU,
participated in the MSURP during the
summer of 1998.
"The program was both exciting and
informative. After the program was
over, I felt better educated in my major
and was able to think about more
career choices after graduation,"
Clanton says.
To be eligible for the MSURP
students must be U.S. citizens, or a
permanent resident, a sophomore,
junior or senior enrolled at ECSU, and
a first generation college student with
a demonstrated financial need. They
must be an ethnic minority.
Students must also be in good
academic standing and have at least a
GPA of 2.75 or better.
SOPHOMORES
continued from page 4
changing its name. According to the
Chancellor, the idea to change ECSU
to The University of North Carolina at
Elizabeth City was brought to his
attention at an alumni meeting in
Raleigh some time ago. Despite the
numerous rumors that have surfaced,
he says that there is no move afoot to
change the University's name.
Responding to questions about the
nagging issue of student enrollment
and what ECSU offers to its students
in addition to its academic fare, the
Chancellor said, "We need more
students at ESCU.
As for what the university has to
offer outside of academics, students
said they were not pleased. In a
survey taken by students a few years
ago, the university did poorly.
For most people on the campus,
having and showing school pride is
another topic that draws intense
debate.
Chaka Ruffin, a junior from Wilson,
NC, said she believes that being
proud of ones school starts from
within and that in order for pride to
develop among students, faculty and
the school's extended family it has to
first be displayed.
"I think it's a matter of pride," she
said. "What you get out of it is what
you put into it."
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