The News Argus, December 2002
soiree for writer Zora Neale Hurston
Harlem Night
Friends of the Library sponsors
"You can read my writing, but
you can't read my mind."
In honor of a Harlem Renaissance
and the writer who spoke these
words, Winston- Salem State
University's Friends of the Library
hosted an evening of music and
food at its annual fund-raiser,
1 larlem Night, on Nov. 8 in WSSU's
Anderson Center.
An evening with Zora Neale
Hurston: A Soiree, was the theme
for this year's Harlem Night 2002.
The annual event raises money for
the C.G. O'Kelly Library.
While patrons ate dinner, from
which proceeds were made for the
library, Hurston's life was present
ed in a short film production creat
ed by the North Carolina School of
the Arts. The McNeill Banquet Hall
was decorated in blue and white,
the colors of Hurston's sorority,
Zeta Phi Beta, Inc.
"The atmosphere was ecstatic.
People were eager to be taken back
to their roots with Zora Neale
Hurston's forklore," said Aaron
Hudson, a senior mass communica
tions major.
The event kicked off during the
silent and live auctions, which pro
vided the primary means of
fundraising. CDs, gift packs, wall
hangings, paintings and auto
graphed works by African-
American writers such as Maya
Angelou were some of the items
that were auctioned. Proceeds from
Nicole Ferguson, Katie Gore,
Stephanie Price, Darryl Smith,
Shameaka Williams, Shonda Davis,
Daysha Lynei Williams-Scruggs
and Camillia Conley all contributed
to these stories.
the auction will be used to buy
books for the library.
After the live auction, a produc
tion by musician and WSSU
instructor Lorenzo Meachum and
the students in his Oral
Interpretation Literature class,
brought to life the legacy of
Hurston.
"We started putting the produc
tion together by picking out lines
and stories. The script was a mix of
old fashioned writing and gospel,"
said Meachum.
Meachum, who has been involved
with the Friends of the Library
fundraiser since 1993, said the event
was crucial to the library.
"I think the central and pivotal
place on a college campus is the
library. It's a central resource," said
Meachum.
Another member of the Ram fam
ily, Coach C.E. "Bighouse" Gaines,
said he's aware of the importance of
fundraising for the library.
"I was on the Senior Services
Board for the Friends of the Library.
These people have to raise a lot of
money," said Gaines. " I think it is a
very good program and it is here
for a very good reason."
Supporters of the fundraising
event included WSSU students, fac
ulty and members of the Winston-
Salem community.
According to some first time sup
porters, Friends of the Library is an
organization they plan on support
ing.
"I was very impressed. I'll come
again," said Lynwood Turner.
Turner and his wife, Leah, were
guests of Dr. Joyce Williams-Green,
associate provost for information
resources.
Turner was especially adamant
about the support of the library for
one particular reason.
"The fact that it's a predominately
African-American university is
great. Any hme you can come out
and support those institutions, it's a
good thing to do."
The goals of this year's event
included raising funds to sponsor
the "Developing Twenty-first
Century Research Scholars'
Program," buying books and media
for new and expanding instruction
al programs, and to make the
library compliant with the
American Disabilities Act standards
by buying technology for physically
challenged students. The event
raised more than $7,000.
Friends of the Library has already
begun planning next year's fund
raiser, whose theme will be focus
on Lorraine Hansberry.
FINLAND,
from page 9
Class lectures, however,
were spent assessing the
different models that rep
resented how a company
could go global or
transnational.
"The best part [about
taking classes in Finland]
was having professors
who were international
businessmen," said Towns.
As far as living arrange
ments went. Towns
described his quarters as a
"living community"
because although students
made up the majority of
the tenants, families lived
there as well.
As a whole, Tt^wns said
he enjoyed his experience
so much because Finland
was a very laidback place
where he learned how
Europeans felt about
Americans.
He added that their
government, "takes care
of its people. There's 0
percent homelessness, stu
dents are paid to attend
school and most of all, the
people aren't driven by
capitalism."
Towns advised business
and economic majors to
study abroad because, in
his opinion, everything is
global these days.
"Keep up with financial
news, read [the Wall Street
Journal in particular] and
live globally," said Towns.
He admitted that he is
trying to hitch a ride on
the "global train" as well
because if students do not
start focusing their atten
tion beyond the classroom
and even America, they
will be left behind.
"Over there," he said.
"The people spoke many
different languages like
Russian, Norwegian,
German and even Spanish
and French."
These are the same peo
ple who Towns predicts
will take over the world
business market if
American students do not
step up for the challenge.
As for Towns, he looks
forward to having a suc
cessful career in account
ing and "enjoying life."
ANGELOU,
from page 9
official message from the
office of Gov. Mike Easley
repeatedly emphasized
that we were "fortunate to
have a treasure in
Winston-Salem such as
Maya Angelou."
As Angelou entered the
stage, everyone on stage
soon exited, leaving the
entire stage to Angelou.
She began her message
with the singing of a
negro slave song influ
enced by the book of
Genesis.
"I am so excited,"
Angelou said in her signa
ture rich, deep voice. "I
can hardly stand it.
"To be at WSSU, to be
honored by my communi
ty by my neighbors ... .1
chose Winston-Salem as
home, and Winston-Salem
chose me."
Between performing the
poetry of Paul Lawrence
Dunbar, Langston
Hughes, Toni Morrison
and other great poets, she
brought to life personal
anecdotes of her seventy
four years of life. Angelou
delivered a message
described as "inspira
tional" by one student.
"You need to know
someone was there before
you, called out their name
before you, and was lone
ly before you," she said.
"And you need to know
that same person before
you survived and thrived
with passion, with pride,
and dared to laugh."
Angelou ended her
delivery by discouraging
the practice of prejudice.
"My darlings, my sisters
and brothers, I thank you
for all you've done to
encourage this honor for
me.
"I represent the African-
American, the WTiite
American, the Asian
American, the Spanish
speaking, the Native
American, the gay, the
straight, the pretty, the
plain. It is my intention to
represent all. Thank you
for coming willingly and
loving me."
After Angelou's speech.
Raising money to buy
books and equipment for
Winston-Salem State
University’s C. G. O’Kelly
Library is always an
important task for Dr. Mae
L. Rodney and the
Friends of the Library.
Rodney, the director of
Library Services, along
with library staff and
alumni, organized Friends
of the Library (FOL) to
generate support for the
library. FOL has been
sponsoring an annual
benefit for the library
since 1985. So far, the
group has raised money
to get WSSU computers
connected to the Internet,
books, record players and
a television for the library.
Extra support for the
library’s programs is
needed because the
state’s budget could not
be relied upon to build a
quality research collec
tion.
Private funding helps
the library buy what it
needs because during the
past 10 years, the state’s
general higher education
fund decreased from
15.25 percent to 10 per
cent.
Proceeds from each
fundraising event will go
toward a variety of pro
jects and an expansion of
the library’s collections.
Martin, Miss WSSU
Rolanda Patrick and Mr.
Ram Corey Ruffin pre
sented the poet with gifts.
A standing ovation lasted
for several minutes.
WSSU gladly welcomed
Angelou, but several stu
dents were dismayed that
this was Angelou's first
appearance in such a long
time at WSSU.
"I thought it was a great
message," said Ruffin.
"But for her to be right
here in Winston-Salem
was like a slap in the face.
"Don't get me wrong,
she deserved her day. I
just think this shouldn't
have been the first time
she made an appearance
in my five years here."
Safari Jeffries, a junior
mass communications
major, agreed. He said he
appreciated the message
despite his feelings con
cerning the timeliness or
lack of her visit.
Dr. Maya Angelou Day
will be a recognized holi
day in Winston Salem
every Nov. 6.