Newspapers / The compass. / April 16, 2007, edition 1 / Page 3
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The Compass 3 ANZELL HARRELL - THE HARDEST WORKING MAN IN ECSU Show business By Keisha Hill Editor-at-large After getting past the constant revolving door of students, contracts and ringing phones, one can find the glue that holds the Student Life depart ment together. Anzell Harrell wears many hats being the director of the Student Union and Stu dent Life, but neither gets as much publicity and student interest as ECSU’s homecom- I ing and the infamous Viking Fest. As ECSU prepares for this year’s Viking Fest with multi-platinum artist T.L headlining the festivities, Har rell is working hard to make sure things run as smoothly as possi ble to make the event a success. “You’re constantly in preparation, because it’s always something, some one or some other issue,” Harrell said. On a daily basis, Harrell oversees various campus clubs and organizations, but the ECSU alumnus has been the wizard behind the curtain coordi nating and organizing the annual Viking Fest event for the past seven years. From booking artists to coordinating sound and lights, Harrell knows that everything must be in sync by show time. “It’s typical back and forth with management, and getting them to sign and return contracts is one problem that rises,” Harrell said. “Another problem is a lot of artists in recent years, there has been an increase in complaints about the combination bill of the concert and step show. Some people wish to have the option of picking which show they attend, but Harrell says that the current program is not set to change anytime soon because it is not cost ef- do not want to stay here because we do not have the proper accommoda tions.” Harrell has to make sure his A-list celebrities get start treatment en route to Elizabeth City fi-om the Hampton Roads area. A displeased artist may translate into an equally discontented audience due to a lackluster per- , formance, which could possibly decrease partici pation at the next year’s festivities. fective. “Until we can get 2,500 — 3,000 people to fill the Vaughn Center for a con cert it’s not economically sound to do that,” Harrell said. At times Harrell’s desk overflows with students’ ideas of what they think are feasible things to do. Whether it’s the notion that ECSU can bring in a megastar like Beyonce with Jay Z making a cameo, it’s Harrell’s job to curtail tnose dreams to help “shape and mold them into a finished prod uct.” “The Student Life depart ment has a great deal of responsibility for coming up with ideas and special events to keep the inter est of the students that so many people only from pon,” Harrell admits. |Though he is the man in he driver’s seat, Harrell lis extremely modest and shares credit not only ith his staff but students las well. •uring a moment of quiet ef^ection in the midst of [chaos, Harrell divulges is true love like a proud [father. “Working with the students. I wouldn’t trade lit for the world. To see their growth from fresh men to sophomores all the way to seniors, and seeing them leam how this all works.” Asked what was next after Viking Fest, Harrell without hesitation said, “Homecoming.” Un doubtedly, the mini-ver sion of New York’s Times Square during New Year’s will keep on as Harrell and his staff continues to bring the students events that they want.
April 16, 2007, edition 1
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