The Compass
Elizabeth City State University’s award-winning student newspaper
Vol. 64, No. 2
March 26, 2001
Circulation 2,200
Preparing Leaders for the New Millenium?
Maria Phelps
Contributor
Many Elizabeth City State Univer
sity students are looking into their fu
tures and are questioning if they are
really being prepared for their lives in
the new millennium. The question they
ask is whether or not they are receiv
ing the top notch education they are
paying for, and if their preparation here
at ECSU will prepare them for the
world of work.
Like those at neighboring campuses.
Some of the G.R. Little Library’s resources are oid and outdated.
Photo by inger Parlter
ECSU students recognize that one of
the keys to becoming effective learners
is the instruction delivered to them by
the professors in the classroom, some
thing that some students feel is not
happening. Dr. Albert L. Walker, Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs, is the
person directly responsible for almost
all aspects of students academic life.
"You're given the foundation you need
here in order to be successful," said
Walker.
But what happens when a student
claims that he or she is not being chal
lenged in the classroom or being taught
things that will be relevant in the near
future? According to Walker, there are
a number of things occurring that pre
pare ECSU students for the new mil
lennium. He said that ECSU, like many
universities, start freshman and
sophomores in general education
courses that give them basic skills
like communication skills and n\usic
appreciation. By the time the students
reach their Junior and Senior year.
Walker said, they should be doing
specific training in their major which
includes. Internships, student teach
ing, student observations and re
search that they can apply in real life
situations. Some students also par
ticipate in exit assessments and in
terviews designed to show what they
have learned. When one looks at the
way the learning process is laid out
it seems as if students should be able
to complete their four years
smoothly.
continued on page 11
Asbestos Scare in Johnson Hall
Heather Malone
cammymalone@hotinail.com
There is a gaping hole in the wall of a
Johnson Hall storage room. While at
tempting to install new computer wir
ing for all of the classrooms and of
fices, Telemedia Communications Inc.,
a Georgia based company, detected as
bestos while tearing down the walls
and ceiling.
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral used
for fireproofing and electrical insula
tion. If asbestos particles are small
enough and are ingested, the mineral
can cause damage to the lungs. An
amount of one percent or more of the
mineral requires caution according to
the State Department of Environmen
tal and Natural Resources. In the case
of Johnson Hall, the content detected
was about 3 percent.
Mr. Gregory Magee, Director of Fa
cilities Management, said he is 100 per
cent sure the students, faculty and staff
will not be affected to the asbestos re
moval in Johnson Hall because pre
cautions were taken to ensure that ev
eryone is safe. After the asbestos was
detected, the room was isolated by plac
ing an absorbent sheet of plastic over
the hole. A big fan with a filter was
brought into the enclosed area to clean
the air. When the air was tested and
found to be safe, the plastic was taken
down, discarded appropriately and the
room reopened.
Because many of the University's
buildings will be worked on in the next
few years, a study was done on all of
the older buildings. The majority of
the buildings had materials that con
tained asbestos. The mineral was found
in floor tiles, pipe insulation and wall
insulation, all of which are harmless
forms unless these materials are ground
into dust and thrown into the air and
ingested.
Magee maintains that there is no as
bestos threat in Johnson HaU. "We don't
by any means treat it casually, but we
take care of it properly; so I don't see it
as a major problem," he said. Magee
also said that in addition to Telemedia's
construction crew and abatement con
tractors, the people who performed the
air cleaning procedure, an independent
testing company was hired as well to
double-check the safety of the air.
Construction in Johnson Hall re
sumed during spring break to remove
parts of the ceiling containing the as
bestos and install new wiring.
Construction crew worling on wiring in Johnson Hall where asbestos
was detected.
Photo courtesy of Mr. Bartlett