Homecoming:
What Happened?
By Terry Dunning,
Editor-In-Chief
This year, being my fourth and last
Homecoming, I think maybe I expected to
go out with a bang. Instead I got no
Homecoming show and not many activities
to attend. What is happening to Homecom
ing? Is the spirit just not there that used ot
be? My freshman and sophmore years were
so much fun that I guess they spoiled me for
my last 2 years. Winston-Salem State had
groups like the SOS Band, Change, Star-
point, Frankie Beverly and Maze Cameo,
and other class acts. Now the entertainment
is not as good. As a matter of fact, we
haven’t had a show to speak of.
I personally feel that there needs to be an
uplifting of campus enthusiasm. This year
the entire attitude about Homecoming was
not up to what it should have been. Can you
believe that some people actually went
home? Other students were saying that they
were going to Homecoming at other
school’s! Now look, this just is not right. I
think that Homecoming should be a time
when Alumni & friends should be able to
come back to their schools and have a nice
time. This year the entertainment we were
supposed to have (we didn’t) were people
that many alumni said they had never
heard of. I would hate to have to go through
another four years of Homecomings like
these, so not just for my sake, lets get some
key people (no names mentioned) to get on
the ball and stop making excuses. I mean
after all, after one Homecoming, you have a
whole year before another one and we
haven’t had a show in 3 years so I know we
have some money saved up. I tell you all
what, we should here Stevie Wonder next
year just to make up for the past. (And
Earth, Wind and Fire).
On Black-On-Black Crime
By Edgar Simon, Jr.
We as blacks have too long entertained
the notion that the high rate of crime that
blacks commit against each other is a result
of our disdain for each other.
My efforts in sorting out and interpreting
the available statistics regarding race of of
fender by race of victim of major violent
crimes reveals that Black Americans are
responsible for approximately 53.2 percent
are committed by youths under 18 years of
age. Furthermore, it is revealed that most
crimes committed by black people are
against other blacks.
Now, a scant perusal of the statistics
would stop here. However, this only scrat
ches the surface of what can be realized if
one was to diligently srutinize and compare
the figures.
Whether with or without intent, the
available statistics, as interpreted by the
various research entities, is myopic - tends
to cloud the issue. A more indepth study
shows that if a white person was to commit
criminal homicidal, the odds are 8 to 1 that
the person murdered would be white. On the
other hand, if a black person was to commit
the same act. he odds are 11 to 1 that the vic
tim would be black. So, what this, in
essence, tells us is that both races victimize
members of their respective races more
frequently than they do members of the op
posite race. And, ad you can gather from
the figures, the margin is not considerable.
This should serve to allay the longstanding
myth that blacks, unlike other races, select
members of their own race to vicitmize.
Furthermore, in none of the major crime
categories have I found the case of whites
victimizing blacks to a greater extent than
they do whites, however, in both armed and
unarmed robbery categories, it is found that
blacks victimize whites at a rate 8 percent
higher than they do members of the black
race. Obviously, this is due to economics -
whites tend to be in possession of more of
what another person might want.
Nonetheless, the subject is crime and rob
bery is one of the major crime categories.
The foregone dealt with the rate at which
members of the black and white races vic
timized members of their respective races
compared to the rate at which the respec
tive races were victimizing members of the
opposite race. Now let’s take a look at the
frequency issue. This takes us back to the
aforementioned fact that blacks are respon
sible for approximately 53.2 percent of all
violent crimes int he United States. This is a
result of rage due to the prolonged oppres
sion, deprivation and abuse experienced by
Black Americans which fuels frustration,
desperation, hostilities and, hence, crime
activity. The additional ingrediant of hav
ing the courts practice more leniency
toward that individual who violates the
rights of a black than they do that individual
who does same of a white helps explain that
3 percent higher propensity of blacks to
commit homocide involving blacks than
whites, as revealed above.
Subject any race of people to such
abominations and note the results. There
clearly is no mystery to the statistics.
Eventhough whites are offending whites
at a comparable percentage rate as blacks
are offending blacks, blacks experience the
greater loss because blacks commit of
fenses more frequently due to the rage
brought on by their plight, which means
that more blacks than whites die as a result.
The rationale behind the fact that a
member of a given race who commits an of
fense is much more likely to victimize a
member of his/her race is that we still live,
to a great extent, in a racially segregated
society. It is much more conven' it to
unleash one’s anger in one’s own
neighborhood than it is to drive across wn.
Consider, also the fact that there is r....re
social contact between members of a given
race than there is to be found between
members of the opposite races.
Consequently, the rationale behind the
statistics is not that blacks concertedly seek
out other blacks to kill or otherwise offend.
I’ve been told on numerous occasions that
education is invaluable and most precious.
However, the question is, where is it obtain
ed? Both students and instructors agree
that education is lost but no one seems to
know where or how to find it.
It is my understanding that the foundation
for higher learning should have been ob
tained prior to entering college. I contend
that far too many times this has not been the
case, and this tragedy is not necessarily the
fault of the student.
Often I’ve overheard conversations in
which instructors criticize their students
academic performance. Ask yourselves are
students learning under your instruction?
Most instructors have a vision of the
perfect student dancing in their heads. Good
students are not found they are made.
I believe each student can be exceptional
with the help and guidance of a conscien
tious instructor. Holding a students’ hand
isn’t necessary but encouragement.
Mislead of threats of failure, is vital.
Those instructors who are not interested
in education or educating should not be in
the class room. If yor interest lie elsewhere,
go elsewhere for the sake of those students
who have a desire to learn.
Every instructor is an artist, and every
student an unfinished work of art. Instruc
tors do have a choice, either they can get a
hammer and chisel and create a master
piece, or they can drape a cloth over the stu
dent and let their brilliance go unnoticed,
C.A.L.
Dear Students, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni:
The Search Committee for the Chancellor
of Winston-Salem State University has been
organized and we have begun our work.
Winston-Salem State University is at a
milestone in its development and our work
will be extremely important as we prepare
to recommend to President Friday two or
three candidates for this position.
The Committee recognizes that you, the
university family, will be most affected by
this decision. Hence, we are appealing to
each of you to share with us your concerns
and recommendations. We value your input
and we encourage you to express your feel
ings as we begin to deliberate.
There are some criteria that would be
considered standard, i.e., educational
background, proven experience as an ad
ministrator, commitment to higher educa
tion, etc. There are other, more subjective
criteria, which might be even more helpful
in determining the right person for the job.
We invite your candid suggestions and
assure you such comments will be shared
only with the Committee in strictest con
fidence.
We would especially appreciate receiving
the names of pwtential candidates you might
suggest for the leadership position.
Please submit your written comments to
my attention at Winston-Salem State
University, Post Office Box 13(X)5, Winston-
Salem, NC 27110. If you would prefer to
discuss your views with me by telephone,
please advise me of a number where you
can be contacted.
This is one of the most significant
assignments the Board of Trustees will
undertake and I sincerely appreciate your
assistance. I pledge to you we will work
hard to ensure that the next Chancellor is
one we can work with cooperatively as we
move ahead into the next century.
Sincerely yours.
John W. Davis, Chairman
"1
News Argus Staff
Winston-Salem Stale University
Winston-Salem, N.C. 27102
Terry Dunnings Editor-In-Chief
Angela Corbitt Managing Editor
Cheryle Lide Sports Editor
Arthur Johnson Entertainment Editor
Dojer James, Jr Layout Editor
Kenneth Raymond Assistant Sports Editor
Victor Coffey Reporter
Ann Hawkins Reporter
Angela Miller Reporter
Angela Boone Reporter
Robert Lassiter Reporter
Carl Willis Reporter
Lynell Winston Reporter
Robert Toran Reporter
Tujuanna Evans Business Manager
Wayne Richardson Advertising f:ditor
Joyce Standfield .Reporter
Dr. Valerie Saddler Advisor