The News Argus, April 2003
Opinions
^r“& EDITORIALS
disease of the lost generation
Lack of interest, support is
By Maria Singleton
ARGUS FEATURES EDITOR
This month, I decided
to write on a topic that
has bothered me deeply
since the beginning of my
college career at Winston-
Salem State University.
That topic is why we
have we let ourselves
become the lost genera
tion that many adults
speak poorly of today?
It appears that we are
so obsessed with having
fun that we don't care
about our school work or
our communities. I'm
aware that everyone
wants to have fun, but
the thing that many stu
dents have not yet real
ized is that there is a time
and place for everything.
It seems that we have for
gotten that we are first
and foremost attending
the university for educa
tional purposes.
We are content as long
as we are doing enough
work to get by in class.
thinking that "we're
good" as long as we're
passing. Once, 1 actually
heard a student say he'd
rather hang out on the
comer with friends than
go to a class that he or his
parents paid good money
for him to attend.
Something else that 1
have a hard time under
standing is what keeps a
person going back and
forth to the same smoky
club every week? Is it the
prospect of being shot or
trampled or beaten up
over something that
didn't even concern the
majority of the people
there? Or maybe we just
love to dance and party
so much that everything
else can fall by the way
side, including school
and our grades.
Another thing that has
bothered me about stu
dents on this campus is
that we stand for nothing.
1 used to dispute the
accusation by some
adults that we are,
indeed, the lost genera
tion, but it's not a lie; we
are lost. For example, in
last month's edition of
The News Argus, I wrote a
column that dealt with
fines over at Wilson Hall.
It was intended to shed
light on a situation that
maybe the students
weren't aware of, but
apparently they are and
just don't care. I'm sure
that many students
agreed with the column
in private and com
plained about it for a few
minutes, but they overall
remained as complacent.
It's quite sad in my opin
ion.
Mobilizing the students
on this campus for any
"uplifting," nonentertain
ing cause is like trying to
draw blood from a cactus.
For those who do not
believe me, I urge you to
try to form a campus
organization based on
academics, self-actualiza
Campus Voices
Are WSSU students
concerned about the war?
“I don’t think they
have, because it
hasn't hit home
I yet. I think if we
were the ones
that were being
blown up every
five minutes, then
we would talk
about it a lot more.”
“My friends and 1
talk about the war
all the time. Every
I»
time you turn on
IP-
the TV that is
A
■imL'-' ^
what they are
talking about. 1
m
think it is impor
tant for students
to keep informed ...
. They should
talk about it because it is reality.”
Dekel Strobles
Sophomore, computer science
Stacy Whitson
Sophomore, nursing
WSSU students break through
misconceptions about college
“No, because stu-
I dents are tired of
hearing about it
and watching it
on TV. Many stu
dents just simply
I want to live their
lives to the fullest
I and try not to
stress themselves out about the
war.”
Brandi Little
Junior, mass communications
“No, I think many
students are con
cerned about
other things
in there everyday
lives. Some peo
ple that I have
j talked to about
I the war seemed
unconcerned and didn’t really have
much to say about it ”
Reginald White I
Sophomore, sociology
HCOP 8-week summer
By Stephanie Price
ARGUS REPORTER
In high school there are
plenty of myths concern
ing college life.
Teen-agers are ready to
break free and explore
the world of college free
dom. But what is it really
like? Here are a few stu
dent opinions on some of
the biggest misconcep
tions of college and what
the reality of it all is.
"Historically Black
Colleges and Universities
aren't equal or they don't
compare with standard
universities such as
Chapel Hill or Wake
Forest University.
HBCU's are just as good
as 'other' schools if not
better. Any university is
what you make it," said
Phil Javies, a sophomore
elementary education/
psychology major.
"One of the biggest
misconceptions 1 can
think of is that when you
graduate you are guaran
teed a job. It doesn't even
work like that," said
Corey Ruffin, a senior
mass communications
major. "You aren't guar
anteed anything."
"Everyone is here for
the same reason. For
example, everyone is here
to get an education,
where there are people
who truly have different
purposes to be here
besides getting an educa-
“I believe that
one of the biggest
misconceptions
that many
younger students
believe is that col
lege is very hard
and almost
impossible to
actually achieve.”
— Aries Richardson,
senior
tion. Some come for the
wrong reasons, like their
parents told them they
had to go, they just want
ed to get away, or even
worse just for social pur
poses," said Kevin Green,
a senior biology/chem
istry major.
"Teachers always said
in high school that your
professors will not help
you, so you better get
used to it. You will be on
your own and have to
learn on your own. That
is far from the truth.
Professors are very help
ful, and its much more
open than high school.
I'm glad they were
lying," said SGA
President Kristie Swink.
"When you are
younger, people tell you
that college is a big party
and that all you do is go
out. You have to work
hard, maintaining your
grades, and etc. They say
it's like a big party, but
it's definitely not like that
for me," said Alesha
Lackey, a senior mass
communications major.
"I believe that one of the
biggest misconceptions
that many younger stu
dents believe is that col
lege is very hard and
almost impossible to
actually achieve," said
Aries Richardson. "You
can achieve anything you
put your mind to it, you
just have to work hard."
"College is the greatest
four years of your life,"
said Willie Cumbo, a
WSSU graduate and staff
member. "Partying, doing
things your not supposed
to, having fun, etc. It's a
good four years, but not
the greatest."
College has a lot to
offer, and it is a lot of fun,
but there are some myths
being told or misrepre
sented out in society giv
ing others the wrong
image of "higher educa
tion." Many students
work hard, get profes
sors' help, don't find
their soul mates in col
lege like so many people
believe, and come to get
their education and find
their purpose on this
Earth, instead of the
wrong impressions that
are being given.
tion or the like and see
what kind of turnout you
get. Or better yet, ask
someone who has tried or
has organized such a
group and see what they
have to say about it.
No one seems to realize
that one student can be
crushed and silenced, but
the multitude can have a
voice. Apparently, there is
no multitude at the uni
versity, therefore, if there
is no backing of the stu
dent body at the universi
ty, I will not put my neck
on the line for people
who do not care. We will
sit around and complain
nonstop about the univer
sity doing this or not
doing that, but complain
is all we'll do. Also, there
are monthly activities and
lectures for the students
to enjoy, but the seats are
usually empty or hardly
filled at all. We take
advantage of hardly any
thing related to acade
mics or scholarships or
even the pursuit of some
thing other than what
will entertain us for the
time being. The excuse
that I've heard the most,
and that I find the most
hard to believe is "I
didn't see the sign."
We don't miss those
club advertisements
though. Likewise, if a stu
dent really wants to
know what's happening
on-campus, he can
always check the postings
in the Thompson Center
or visit the SGA office.
Also, we have a newspa
per in which we are able
to voice our concerns or
opinions about the uni
versity, yet we hardly
pick it up. Both the SGA
office and the newspaper
are there for us so why
aren't we using them?
If Malcolm X, W.E.B.
DuBois, Dr. King and a
host of other great black
leaders were alive today,
could we honestly say
that we've tried our best
to be the students that we
know we could be?
Could we look these men
in the eye, leaders who
devoted and, in some
instances, gave their lives
so that we might have a
better future, and say that
we haven't forgotten their
message? I'm unsure as
to why we have become
so lax and uncaring about
the world around us, but
I would like to assert that
we are living at a time in
which the clock will be
turned back on us if we
don't become more aware
of what's going on
around us. If we stand for
nothing while in college,
we'll stand for nothing if
and when we graduate.
We are the future of our
people (supposedly the
cream of the crop), but if
we do not get involved in
more than clubs, gossip,
the latest fashions, etc.,
we will become the detri
ment of our race instead
of the hope of it.
HCOP 8-week summer
facilitate entry program
May 28 — July 23
The Health Careers Opportunity Program is sponsor
ing the annual Facilitate Entry Program on the campus
of WSSU and would like for you to be a participant.
Facilitate Entry is an extensive 8-week summer enrich
ment program for 30 junior and senior minority and dis
advantaged students. Participants must be currently
majoring in biology, chemistry, psychology or therapeutic
recreation. We will also accept second semester sopho
mores, juniors and seniors who are majoring in occupa
tional therapy or clinical laboratory science.
The purpose of the program is to introduce students
to rigorous classroom instruction in physics, anatomy
and physiology and quantitative skills as well as motiva
tional sessions. These courses are sure to benefit you in
your undergraduate and professional career pursuits.
Full participation in all activities is mandatory in order
to receive the $2,240 stipend. The stipend will be award
ed at the end of the 8 weeks.
•Rooms will be available for $15/day at
Rams Commons
•Rooms, meals and transportation are your
responsibility
For an application or further information, please come
by 116 Coltrane Hall or call Bianca Williams at 750-
2654.
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