April 1997 The News Argus - Page 7
FEATURES
W-S Opens New Transportation Center
BY DOUGLAS B. CLARK
Staff Writer
‘This is a very historical day for the
city of Winston-Salem and for its
citizens,” said the Honorable Martha S.
Wood, mayor of the City of Winston-
Salem.
Wood was one of the guest at the
opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting of
Winston-Salem’s Transportation Center.
The new center, located at 100 West
Fifth Street at the comers of Fifth, Trade
& Liberty Streets’ is across the street
from the Millennium Center (The Old
Post Office). The building was built by
Walter Robbs, Callahan & Pierce
Architects, PA of Winston-Salem at a
cost of $5.5 million.
“The building is owned by the City
of Winston-Salem, but it will be
managed by the Winston-Salem Transit
Authority (WSTA),” said David King,
deputy secretary of transportation for the
State of North Carolina.
The building is three-straies high and
covers 22,500 square feet. The building’s
best feature is the Lobby Area which
covers a space of 2,300 square feet.
Transit customers will probably
appreciate the lobby’s shelter after
spending years of standing out in the rain.
snow and heat. A 32,000 ft. canopy
covers the outside terminal. The indoor
waiting area for the riders will be heated
and air-conditioned for the passengers
comfort, while they are waiting for their
busses.
“We told the architects that we
wanted the center to be open and airy.
We did not want it to be an enclosed
shelter due to safety and health reasons
with the fumes of the busses,” said Brent
McKinney, transpxjrtation director for the
city of Winston-Salem. “The center is
not only beautiful-but it will give you a
feeling of being among friends in a warm
and secure environment.”
WSTA customers who depend on
their service had nothing but praise for
the building and were also impressed by
the “Passenger Appreciation Events” that
were scheduled for them.
Thurmond Lee Bailey said he rides “
the bus to go back and forth to see his
doctor quite often.” Bailey added that
he has always been on time going to the
hospital and leaving the hospital.
Many other customers agreed with
Bailey. They said the founders would
be very proud to know that the high
standards they established for the bus
company at its inception are being
The Winston-Salem
upheld in the 90s.
“I have been riding public
transportation all of my life,” said
Teresa Patterson, a Winston-Salem
resident “I was riding the bus when it
was the Safe Bus Company.”
The Safe Bus Company was founded
in 1926, when 21 black jitney owners
contributed $100,000 to start the
company that served the black
Transportation Center
community for almost 50 years before
being bought by WSTA in 1972. The
company’s founders were;
Ralph R. Morgan, E.A. Davis, J.M.
Adams, G.H. Dillahunt, Fred McCall,
C.R. Mosby, G.F. Ragsdale, Wheeler
Thompson, E.T. Miller, Joseph Milller,
I. Boyd Holden and Ambrose Wheeler.
International Students Enjoy Being Rams
Olushola Bolarinwa
F alas hade Bolarinwa
BY DAVID W. FULTON
Staff Writer
At Winston-Salem State University,
six percent of the student body is
comprised of international students
representing several countries. Yearly,
the percentage of international students
has increased.
Two students, Olushola and
Folashade Bolarinwa, who are second
semester freshmen at WSSU, are part of
the six percent. This brother and sister
are from Ondo State, Nigeria in West
Africa. They have been in the U. S. for a
year.
Olushola’s name means “god
provided the money, ” while Folashade’s
name means “use money to get your
royalty.”
Olushola, 19, is an accounting
major, who enjoys traveling, playing
soccer and tennis with his friends.
Folashade, 18, is a political science
major, who enjoys dancing, reading and
basketball.
When, the Bolarinwas came to the
U.S., they had to adjust to American
culture, weather and food. However, now
they both feel comfortable and more at
home.
“I like WSSU for the simple fact that
it recognizes a lot of the African culture
and practices,” said Olushola, when
asked what he liked about WSSU and
why they decided to come to WSSU.
However, he feels he needs to work on
his social life.
“ I came to WSSU because other
schools told me I had to attend a
community college for a year because I
am an international student,” said
Folashade.
WSSU required the Bolarinwas to
meet the requirements fw admission from
high school or from other colleges or
universities as outlined for admission and
to have command of written and spoken
English.
“Universities and colleges are better
in America than in Nigeria because they
are more technologically advanced and
educational sound,” said Folashade.
The Bolarinwas are the son and
daughter of Glinda Moses, a retired
member of the Registrar's Office Staff.