WSSU students work with kids on
By Anthony Nelson
ARGUS REPORTER
Students at Winston-Salem
State University were part of
Celebrate Home and Hood, a live
performance and film production
from at-risk youth.
Kerwin Graham, Zack "TJ"
James, Derek Monk and Darryl
"D-Mack" Smith helped mentor
eight inner-city kids who wrote
and acted in the production.
"It is important to allow the
youth to express their concerns.
This show not only gave them
that opportunity, but it gave
them the access to networks so
that they can get prepared early
if they want to do this type of
work," said Graham, a mass
communications major.
Tonya Sheffield, a WSSU grad
uate, was part of the initial plan
ning process and co-directed the
performance that was held for
three days this summer at the
Southeastern Center for
Contemporary Art. Sheffield,
along with Lynn Rhoades, a local
minister and teacher at Wake
Forest University, and Nathan
Ross Freeman, a local playwright
and screenwriter, all contributed
to the production.
"I had done a television pro
gram called Scenario working
with young people, teaching
them television production.
Rhoades and Freeman had
worked with young people in
theatre, so we decided to mix
film with theatre," said Sheffield.
Rhoades has done work with
the Strategic Approach to
Community Safety, the forerun
ner of the Center for Community
Safety, to address safety issues in
the communities.
She said, "It occurred to me
that we needed to hear the voices
of the youth who were being
addressed. What better way than
to engage youth through video,
rap, poetry and music."
The show contained footage of
the kids in their homes, where
they recorded their thoughts.
Poems and raps added person
al touches to the youth's con
cerns. They spoke on issues rang
ing from better school supplies to
equal opportunity to be heard
and understood.
Graham said, "Seeing the kids
environment changed my percep
tion, because I'm from Hickory. It
gave me insight on what they are
experiencing growing up."
The four WSSU students were
among 13 college students from
the area who participated.
Graham, James, Monk and
production
Smith instructed students in their
area of interest. Graham and
James, a mass communications
major, collaborated on filming
and editing the project.
Graham was responsible for
arranging all the music. Each
mentor spent five hours a day
during the summer working on
the project. They were responsi
ble for taking the kids home, and
listening and talking with the
kids. Monk, also a WSSU alum
na, implemented the art and cre
ative design and assisted Smith
with webpage development.
Smith, a senior mass communi
cation major, coordinated the
Internet for the students. He
showed each youth how to create
Web pages and use their e-mail.
The Web site, www.geocities.
com/youngvisionaries, served as
means of advertising.
MISS WSSU,
from page 7
to become a pediatrician.
Although she sees that
she will have a lot more to
learn, she values the
opportunities to use the
knowledge she has to act
as a tutor and role model
for her peers.
"Ro" said, "I just love to
be able to share what I've
learned with other peo
ple."
When Patrick is not
helping others on an indi-
MR. RAM,
from page 7
future. I think that most
of the males on campus
think day to day," said
Ruffin. "I think we suffer
from looking at the small
picture rather then the big
picture."
As for what he wants to
accomplish as Mr. Ram,
Ruffin's said there are
several goals he would
like accomplish.
He said school spirit is
another big concern and
that he has noticed a
decline in spirit over the
past two years. This is
something that he would
like to see turned around.
"The newer heads,
freshmen, sophomores
tend to go with the flow.
If they see that the same
people they see every day,
are not doing something.
Because John boy doesn't
go to an event, doesn't
mean that it's not going to
vidual basis, she is able to
reach others through
organizations on campus.
She is a member of the
Honors Program, HCOP,
Project Strengthen, the
Peer Educator Club, and
Northern Connections.
She also serves as a direc
tor and treasurer for the
Inspirational Voices of
Winston-Salem State
University gospel choir, a
stage-hand for the Moziq
Modeling Troupe, and a
Ram Ambassador.
be a good event."
"You have got to get
away from the norm."
He added, "You should
be able to go to an event
that is not only entertain
ing, but you should be
able to get some growth
out of it. I think we
should set our tone to
what you want to do and
not what everyone else
wants to do."
Ruffin said there are
many student organiza
tions around WSSU that
could be a great allies in
raising the level of spirit.
"These fraternities and
sororities can really grab
the attention of the young
kids who are coming in."
When asked if he had
anything in mind for
what he will do during
his Hme as Mr. Ram,
Ruffin said that he is look
ing to bring several
speakers to the campus in
the spring.
As a student leader,
Patrick continuously
works with the Student
Government Association
and the class councils. She
has held the positions of
SGA Treasurer and Junior
Class president among
others.
But as she spoke of her
title as Miss WSSU, she
said, "Not only is it an
honor to me, but it is a
privilege for me to repre
sent my school on such a
level."
Patrick has a desire to
show students the leader
ship opportunities that
have been available to her
while creating others so
that they will develop a
commitment to service
before they depart from
WSSU.
"It's our job, it's our
responsibility to serve our
community, as well as our
institution while we're
here, "Ro" added.
During her reign, she
plans to focus on commu
nity service, improving
school spirit, and mend
ing the communication
gaps that exist between
students and faculty.
She wants students to
feel confident that the fac
ulty and administration
are actively concerned
with their education both
inside and outside of the
classroom. Thus, encour
aging them to have a
growing level of pride for
WSSU and a desire to
continue giving back to
the community, and the
institution.
Patrick plans to take the
university to another level
by promoting a philoso
phy of noncomplacency.
SWINK,
from page 7
Swink first became actively involved
with student government in 2001 when
she served as administrative assistant.
Now, Swink has many things she
wants to improve on campus. She wants
to help students find with school spirit
and get involvement.
"Gaining the respect back from the
students is an important part of this
year In the last few years respect has
been lacking because the students feel
that if there is nothing to do on the
weekends, then they'll just go home,"
said Swink.
"We have had great student participa
tion so far, and of course there's not
going to be anything to do if there's
nobody to do it with. I just hope that
the students are a little more accepting
of our ideas, and keep an open mind to
new things cause there's a lot of things
we still want and will do," said Swink.
Setting goals, playing an active roll in
the administration and leadership
responsibilities defines what an SGA
president does.
"Kristie is a natural bom leader, and
although she knows it, she remains
humble. God blessed her with the social
skills and ability to lead any body of
people for any purpose, positively," said
Mamie Madden, Swink's best friend
since junior high school.
Swink is a Southern belle. This
Decatur, Ga., native loves to listen to her
favorite rap group, Outkast; hang with
her Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters
and be an active mass communications
major Her concentration is public rela
tions and advertising.
"I really didn't know Kristie when I
first got to WSSU, but now that I have
gotten to know her she really is a won
derful friend and soror The students
looked up to her before she became SGA
president and will continue to do so now
that she is," said Stephanie Price Swink's
Delta Sigma Theta sorority sister
However, Swink did not run for presi
dent to win a popularity contest.
"Rurming for president was no way of
a winning a popularity contest. This
came from the love I have for the stu
dents and the support that they feel and
care about on the campus of WSSU. Not
forgetting that I am a student makes it
even clear on how we feel as a student
body," Swink said.