PAGE 4 The News Argus March 1989
Poetess Nikki Giovanni visits
WSSU during Black History IVIonth
Photo by Thomas
From left are EuGenia Williamson, Dawn Culmer, Janet O'dell, Mary Watts
and Cathy Edwards.
Non-traditional students ore
now boarding on WSSU's campus
By EuGenia Williamson
STAFF WRITER
The idea of older students boarding
on college campuses is not unusual.
They are becoming more and more
involved with college life.
Why are older students flocking to
the lifestyles of the "traditional" college
students? We have no answers toward
these suspicions but we can take an
inside look at some special people.
Mary Watts is a 46-year-old student
who resides in Moore Hall. Watts decid
ed to reside on campus because "it was
much more economical than living off-
campus."
"I didn’t come here expecting to
become a part of their peer groups
because my interests aren't theirs and
their interests aren't mine," she
explained.
Even though she had some prob
lems in the beginning, everything has
smoothed out since then. Overall, she
said that she's enjoying herself and that
she gets along with the girls just fine.
Some students admire the courage
and assertiveness of these non-tradition
al students. While other students feel
that their desire to return to school and
earn a degree is the greatest decision
they could ever make.
"They don't shy away from me,"
said Cathy Edwards, a 32-year-old stu
dent who resides in Colson Hall.
Edwards said that the girls treat her like
HAVE A SAFE
SPRING BREAK!
By Shandra Cammack
STAFF WRITER
Students, faculty, and members
of the community gathered in the
Lecture Room of the Hall-Patterson
Building to hear Ms. Nikki Giovanni
on February 15, 1989. There weren't
enough chairs to seat the excited
crowd, but that didn't stop them
because they found space on the
floor and lined up on the available
wall space.
Giovanni is known across the
naion for her numerous books,
records, films, performances and
professional activities. She didn't
speak only of her accomplishments,
but she spoke of how young black
people can make positive things
happen. She couldn't stress enough
the importance of blacks having
togetherness, discipline, creativity
and following dreams.
Jokingly, however serious, she
entertained people with some of her
philosophies of life and spoke about
black women's accomplishments
and what else they (women) could
accomplish if only given the chance.
"But if black women are not given
the chance, take it and don't wait!"
she urged.
Nikki Giovanni ended her
speech by reading a few of her well-
known poems, including "Ego Trip
ping" which received a rousing ova
tion from the audience. She then
opened the floor for an enlightened
forum and answered several ques
tions posed by members of the audi
ence. A reception at the Selma
Burke Art Gallery was held immedi
ately after the presentation.
another member of the gang. They go
out on the town together and they study
together all the time. Edwards is the
president of Colson Hall and she feels
the residents chose her because she is a
dedicated and responsible individual.
Her choice to live in the residence hal)
was a last-minute preparation. Sht
would like to live off-campus one day
but she's satisfied with her living
arrangements for now.
On the other hand, students feel
deprived of their freedom. Since the
older students are like mother figures,
the students feel that they are going
through the same things they did when
they were at home. With an older stu
dent in the residence hall, one is always
at a limit, stated a sophomore. She said
that she's always having to look out for
the older student in case her actions get
out of hand. Lastly, she stated that one
must always respect one's elders.
Janet O'dell, a middle-aged student
who also lives in Colson Hall feels great
about living in the residence hall and
having easy access to classes. She is a
full-time school bus driver for Winston-
Salem Forsyth County Schools and
loves being surrounded by younger stu
dents. When asked about how the
younger students accept her, she stated,
"A lot of them accept me, but then
again, no one is accepted everywhere."
She concluded by saying that we're just
"supemice people."
w
WSNC Program Director Steven Maddox
Photo by Thomas
WSNC-FM lias new program director
By EuGenia Williamson
STAFF WRITER
WSNC-FM is a non-commercial
radio station on the campus of WSSU
with the frequency of 90.5. WSNC-
FM offers students a forum for educa
tional growth and on-the-job training.
Each semester the radio station
selects a new program director. The pro
gram director for Spring '89 is Stephen
"Steady Steve" Maddox. Maddox is a
21-year-old junior from Akron, Ohio,
majoring in psychology with a minor in
mass communications.
When he was a freshman, Mad
dox was the studio engineer, later on
he accepted an on-air shift. Since his
sophomore year, he has served as the
co-production manager. Maddox is
also an armouncer at the station.
"The music we play and the pro
motions that we do make the black
community more conscious of what
our full potential is," said Maddox. He
and his staff are working toward
becoming more involved in the black
community.
"Steady Steve" says that the staff is
crazy, but they're fantastic and a lot of
fun to work with. "Without them the
station wouldn't be what it is today."
Maddox concluded by noting that
because he is the production manager,
he doesn't want his staff members to
feel that he's trying to run things. I
just want them to feel that I'm helping
out."