What are club owners doing to protect their patrons? Page 8 Frustrations mount on both sides as towing incidences increase Page 5 US % Reggae artist Wayne Wonder uiajini! aoBiier makes his U.S. debut album Page 9 The News Argus Winston-Salem State University E-mail: newzargus@yahoo.com March 2003 Who By Nicole Ferguson ARGUS MANAGING EDITOR You've seen him. He's the man who sets up a table under the Thompson Center breeze- way that's a one-stop cen ter for all your dorm room entertainment needs. Music and movies by the likes of 50 Cent, R. Kelly, Deliver Us From Eva — you name it, he's got it, and it seems as if lately this man has students at Winston-Salem State University asking, "What's the point in buy ing a movie ticket when I can get a DVD of a movie that has just been released, watch it when ever I want to, and only pay $10?" Bootlegging is illegal, . and it has people, espe cially black artists, on all levels of the music indus try extremely upset. According to federal statute, individuals will “It costs him $75 a day [to vend], so evi dently he’s doing well and giving the students what they want.” — Norman Williams of the Office of Auxiliary Services be criminalized for the unauthorized manufac turing, distribution or trafficking of sound recordings and music videos of "live" musical performances. Former President Bill Clinton signed the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, also known as GATT, in December 1994. That's when the federal Argus photo by Nicole Ferguson Items bought from this WSSU vendor Include CDs from artists including Jay-Z and R. Kelly and movies such as Deliver Us From Eva, which is still in theaters. anti-bootleg statute was created. Until then, only state statutes could pro tect artists' rights against copyright infringement. But the man who has received permission to sell bootleg materials on WSSU's campus sees nothing wrong with what he's doing. "Yeah, it's a con," said the man, who refused to give his name at the time of the interview. "I'm sure I am affecting the artists somehow, but they get cheated out of their money all the time by the deals they sign. "I take the risk to come out here and sell the product. It's a risk 'cause anyway you look at it, it's illegal." Illegal, yes. A risk, yes. “I take the risk to come out here and sell the prod uct. It’s a risk, ’cause anyway you look at it, it’s illegal.” — Vendor’s comments on his activities on WSSU’s campus because the vendor could be arrested under federal and state laws if city police officers were to come on campus and find him selling bootleg prod ucts. In fact, the vendor is in violation of U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq. Title 18 U.S.C., Section 2319 and Section 2319A), Trafficking Counterfeit Labels (Title 18 U.S.C., Section 2318), and the Anti-Bootleg Statute (Section 2319A). But according to cam pus policeman Lt. Marcus Sutton, the vendor's pres ence on campus hasn't been viewed as harmful or wrong in the universi ty's or the city's eyes. "As long as it's cleared by Auxiliary Services, as far as 1 know, he's fine," said Sutton. "1 haven't seen city officers do any thing about it. I never thought to research it because the city doesn't do anything when they see these guys selling this in the city." In response to the ven dor's comment on taking a risk to sell on campus, Sutton said, "If he made a statement like that, then maybe this is something we need to look into." See VEND, Page 2 MLK gets new name for a while By Ashley Dinelle Jones ARGUS REPORTER fKiiamimmmmmmmm ;The Golden Mltei ' L--r. k-vm' Have you seen the new signs that have been posted along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive at several intersections within the past few weeks? They are brown signs with the words "The Golden Mile" written on them. In a proclamation given by Mayor Allen Joines on Feb. 17, MLK serves as a vital corridor through the African- American community by connecting academic, cul tural, financial, medical, commercial and spiritual uses. The Golden Mile des ignates the roadway between the Downtown Health Plaza and the light at the main entrance of Winston-Salem State University. Stan Polanis, the city's director of transportation, said, "It is in honor of Black History Month, and it recognizes the contributions made by African-Americans." Vivian Burke, a city councilwoman and mayor pro tem pore, said the idea for the mile was one that she has encouraged. She said the signs came at the request of Dr. Serenus T. Churn of Mount Zion Baptist Church. "It [the mile] continues to hold up the legacy of Winston- Salem," Burke said. As to why the signs had been placed up after Black History Month had ended, Burke said, "It takes time for the proclamation to be passed and the signs to be made." But as for the man behind the idea, he became inspired by the many black services and institutions along the mile. He took the proposal to Councilwoman Joycelyn Johnson of the East Ward, who further pushed the idea. He believes that the mile represents the good things nes tled in the heart of the black community. "At the head of the mile lies great opportunity for stu dents to reach their potential. At the foot lies the physical opportunities, and in the middle lie the spiritual as well as other needs," Churn said. He added that with so much attention placed on the neg ative events in East Winston, it is imperative to have a shin ing spot in the community. And for East Winston, that spot lies on The Golden Mile. WSSU freshman Nick Murchison beat the odds as he recovers from transplant surgery Heart Strong By Lisa Boone ARGUS REPORTER Although Nicholas Murchison has been through so much over the past couple years, his atti tude is still a positive one. Murchison, 18, of Sanford, who's known as Nick, is a freshman. He recently under went heart transplant surgery at UNC-Chapel Hill hospital. Murchison said he had not been feeling well for quite some time. "I was having leg cramps, and I couldn't walk long dis tances. I went to the doctor, and they said that I had strep throat. I was given some med ication and sent home," said Murchison. Nevertheless, the tiredness, pain and fevers persisted. During his senior year of high school, Murchison collapsed in class. It was at this time he dis covered he had a hereditary disease, congestive heart fail ure. Many of his preceding male relatives had been diag nosed with this disease. Those who came before him had a different ending to their stories. Murchison, along with the support of his mother and close family, decided to go to college despite his condition. Many had concerns and were reluctant to see him go, but he was determined not to let his circumstances hinder his deci sion to go to school. As he went through his first semester of college, everything seemed all right. Despite a few trips to the hospital, he still continued on as if nothing was wrong. Just as he was beginning his second semester, he got a phone call from his mother. This phone call was not an ordinary one, his mother told him the news that he had been waiting to hear for so long. He had received the donor heart that he had been patient ly waiting for. That same night he went to the hospital in Chapel Hill. After all of the technicalities were finished, he went into surgery. The transplant went well, but Murchison was weak. A week after the surgery was per formed, he was walking around the hospital. The doc tors told the family that he was recovering much quicker than most patients. The next week, Murchison was discharged from the hospital. "It was a miracle, Nick's receiving a heart and every thing's going well. 1 thank God for this blessing, and I appreci ate all of the love, prayers and thought that was given to our family," said Mrs. Murchison. Murchison, who is also a member of Winston-Salem State University's gospel choir. Inspirational Voices, had loads of support from his fellow choir members after the choir participated in a benefit in November at Friendship Baptist Church in Fayetteville to provide financial support for medical expenses after learning of his plight. Murchison had been on a wait ing list for a heart transplant for over a year. Just recently, the doctors let Nick know that he could return to his daily routine. "With my new heart, I am ready to take on whatever life brings," Murchison said. 4

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