Vol. 62, No. 1
SEPTEMBER 28,2000
Circulation 2,200
Bond Proposal Provides $46 Million
by Stacy Brock
Editor
A $3.1 billion higher education bond
referendum was approved by the Gen
eral Assembly of North Carolina. The
bond proposal provides millions of
dollars for each of North Carolina's
fifty-eight community colleges and
millions of dollars for each of the state's
sixteen universities - including Eliza
beth City State University whose por
tion is $46 million.
"ECSU's portion of the bond refer
endum will allow us to construct some
key new facilities and modernize ag
ing facilities in a significant compre
hensive way/' said Chancellor Mickey
Bumim.
In November, North Carolina resi
dents and students of the state's col
lege system who claim North Carolina
as their place of residence will have
the opportimity to vote for or against
the referendum. If the referendum does
well on the November 2000 ballot,
ECSU will undergo a major facelift.
Classrooms, laboratories and buildings
will be upgraded and modernized.
Dormitories such as Doles Residence
Hall, which was erected in 1956,
Wamack Residence Hall, which was
erected in 1969 and Mitchell Lewis,
erected in 1987, will undergo compre
hensive modernization. Plumbing and
electrical systems will be renovated,
interior surfaces and bathrooms will
be renovated, wipidows will be replaced
and air conditioning will be added
throughout the buildings.
New additions to the campus will
also include a Residence Hall for 200
students, which will rejuvenate Symera
Hall and provide additional beds to
help accommodate the growing num
ber of ECSU students; a Student Cen
ter, which will include meeting, study,
conference and recreation spaces for
students; and modifications to Bedell
Hall cafeteria, Ridley University Cen
ter, the University Bookstore and the
Commuter Center. The functions of the
buildings will be integrated in the new
student center along with a softball
field that will be displaced by the build
ing, and an additional chiller capacity,
which will be installed in the central
chiller plant. The Physical Education
Facility, another proposed addition to
the campus, will provide improved
playing fields, classrooms, locker
rooms and bathrooms and will be ad
jacent to outdoor facilities, allowing
class sections to combine classroom in
struction with outdoor training. The
resulting facility will support com
mencement, intramural sports and in
tercollegiate athletics.
ECSU, along with other campuses in
I
I
Symera Hall is one building targeted for renovation as part of the
proposed bond referendum. -Photo by Maria PhCps
the UNC system has quotas that it must
meet as far as enrollment is concerned,
which is one of the reasons why the
bond referendum is very significant.
Though the bond referendum, if
passed, will not be used for schoiar-
ships, and will be used solely for the
purpose of renovating and building
new buildings. Director of Admissions,
Ms. Bridget Goldman, feels that the
bond will help ECSU meet its enroll
ment target of 3,000 students by 2008.
"Because the bond is designed to bet
ter residence halls and other buildings
on campus, it will enhance the whole
idea of coming to ECSU," said
Goldman.
The bond referendum has been en
dorsed by education, government and
business leaders throughout North
Carolina, and will be paid off by the
state.
SGA “Destiny 2000” (from left): Zack Hawkins, Albert Walker III, Felicia
Taylor, Waquita Lane, Keisha Ferguson, Tremaine Roberts, James Polk
and Shaleka Eley.
—Photo courtesy of Pamela Tolson
by James Polk II
Stajf Writer
Elizabeth City State University has
long since produced effective leaders
and successful citizens. At the brirJc of
this new millennium, there exists on
campus a new student voice, with tra
ditional values and the motivation of
change. This voice is known as "Des
tiny 2000."
The members of this unique core of
individuals come from a number of
diverse backgrounds. However, they
all have a common goal, the promo
tion and advocacy of academic excel
lence and social needs of the students
at Elizabeth City State University.
Under the leadership of Student
Government Assn. President, Albert R.
Walker III, Destiny 2000 anticipates a
year of new innovative ideas, coopera
tive administrative relationships, mass
participation of the student body and
inevitable change.
Zack Hawkins brings his experience
as an underclassman to Destiny 2000. As
vice-president, he envisions a disciplined,
productive student legislature with lib
eral, objective members. Comprised of
class officers and appointed persons, the
legislature is responsible for uphold
ing the statutes of the ECSU student
government constitution. Before Des
tiny 2000 this year are possible amend
ments and proposals seeking their re
view. Vice President Hawkins places
See DESTINY, pg. 4