The News Argus, May 2002
NEWS
NBA analyst: A career is something you love
By Nicole Ferguson
ARGUS NEWS EDITOR
A very blunt and inspir
ing NBA analyst and
sports columnist, Stephen
A. Smith, spoke to the stu
dents of Winston Salem
State University on April
10.
The 1992 WSSU gradu
ate spoke to students from
the heart, rather than from
a written speech.
"The odds are against
us," said Smith of oppor
tunities for blacks.
"If you don't have the
persistence and the tenaci
ty, you won't get what
you want."
Smith stressed the
importance of loving what
you do as a professional.
"A job is something you
do to pay the bills," said
Smith.
"A career is what you
choose to do and pay the
bills."
Smith spoke fondly
about his days at WSSU
under professor of
Marilyn Roseboro, and as
a player under the infa
mous Coach C.E. Gaines.
Due to tendinitis and a
cracked knee. Smith, a
New York native, was
unable to continue play
ing basketball for the uni
versity. This was when he
realized he had to make
some decisions about his
future, and found journal
ism to be his forte.
"It doesn't stop here; it
just begins here, " said
Smith of the college expe
rience. He feels students
don't take full advantage
of their educational
opportunities.
"It's not the university's
fault. It's not the adminis
trator's fault, and it's not
the professor's fault," said
Smith. "It's about you and
life. It's about vision."
Smith is an NBA colum
nist and Philadelphia
76ers beat writer at the
Philadelphia Inquirer. He
has recently joined
CNN/SI as an NBA ana
lyst.
Patrick named Miss WSSU
By Claresa Simmons
ARGUS REPORTER
After the April 9 elections,
Rolanda "Ro" Patrick posted a
note to the student body in which
she thanked them for voting her
Miss Winston-Salem State
University for 2002-2003.
The showcase, held in K.R.
Williams Auditorium, gave each
contestants a chance to gain stu
dent votes before the elections.
With a theme of "A Woman's
World," the showcase featured
Patrick, a molecular biology
major and chemistry minor,
Tracie Alston, a mass communica
tions major and drama minor,
and Christy Nixon, an accounting
and MIS major and the reigning
junior class queen.
The showcase opened with a
performance by A.R.T, also
known as the Association of
Rhythmic Talent, featuring each
contestant in creative-wear out
fits.
Patrick wore an outfit that was
both traditionally African and
stylish to introduce herself as the
first contestant.
She said the divisions and
pleats in her outfit represented
"the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit," and "the struggles that
each woman encounters daily."
Alston wore an outfit with
striking colors and an elaborate
denim jacket with a spray-painted
design to show her creativity.
Nixon chose simplicity in color
and style in boot-cut pants and a
long jacket.
The question and answer por
tion of the showcase allowed each
contestant to share her views
about specific issues plaguing the
university, as well as society as a
whole.
Patrick was able to expound on
ways to increase the level of pride
and student involvement while
Alston was asked to speak about
community involvement.
In contrast, Nixon addressed
the self-esteem as a major prob
lem facing African-American
youth.
"[Better] self-esteem will pro
duce better teenagers and proud
adults," she said.
As the showcase proceeded, the
contestants were able to commu
nicate with the audience in their
own unique way by using their
talents.
Dressed as Dorothy from "The
Wiz," Patrick sang her own rendi
tion of Regina Bell's "When I
Think of Home."
Patrick defined a queen as a
"state of mind." She also said
Miss WSSU should be a pure rep
resentation of the school and have
sincerity.
With a long list of accomplish
ments in academics and extracur
ricular activities, she simply said,
"[I am] dedicated to service."
When asked to comment on her
performance in the showcase,
Patrick said with confidence,
"After the prayer, I knew every
thing would be alright."
SGA Officers 2002-2003
Kristie N. Swink, President
Marques Johnson, Vice
President of Internal Affairs
Antoine James, Vice President
of External Affairs
Dontae McDowell, Executive
Secretary
Safari M. Jeffries, Treasurer
Frankee Bullock, Secretary of
Judicial Affairs
Rolanda P atrick, Miss WSSU
Senior class
Marcus Huitt, President
Amina Harris, Vice President
Diedre Boyd, Treasurer
Sherrie Harvin, Class Queen
Portia Gamer, Sr. Class Reps.
Junior class
Christen Long, President
Shaundrelle Watson, VP
Regina White Jr., Class Rep.
Sophomore class
Nicole Ferguson. Class Queen
Quiana Lubin, Class Rep.
Leadership seminar encourages students to 'think critically, learn eagerly'
By Delores Gullick
ARGUS REPORTER
"Learning to lead anywhere
you want to make a difference,"
was the theme of the Winston-
Salem State Student Leadership
Institute 2002, held at the
Radisson Hotel in High Point
from April 5 to 7.
The Leadership Institute 2002
was structured so that students
would be empowered through
dissemination of information by
seminar facilitators. Chancellor
Harold Martin, who sponsored
the event, welcomed participants
to "participate fully, think critical
ly and leam eagerly."
The keynote speaker for
Friday's evening dinner was the
Honorable Loretta Biggs. Biggs is
a justice on the North Carolina
Court of Appeals. She said, "You
should devote your life to ser
vice, and not just to be served.
You must be willing to take risk
and follow your calling."
"Leadership does not just hap
pen, work on it, and nurture it."
Hector McEachern, chief diver
sity officer at Wachovia, spoke
during the first session.
He noted the importance of
knowing where you are going
and sending the correct message.
On Saturday morning, Derek
Young, a motivational speaker
and executive director of 100
Black Men of Tennessee, assisted
the group in clarifying means of
achieving goals and encouraged
them to make the most of their
college experience. He is also
president and CEO of Young
Motivation. Young said, "one
must begin with the mind and
know your objectives."
Students were often divided
into groups to work on various
situations which might be
encountered in the work place.
The students were divided into
groups for a final group exam
called goal based Scenario II. In a
managerial manner, they had to
analyze and produce the answer
to a question issued to them.
Saturday ended with The Jackie
Wilson Story at K.R. Williams
Auditorium.