The News Argus, May 2003
inions
& EDITORIALS
CAESAR
From the Editor
It's time to make
the choices that
will define us
It dawns on me that this is the last
editorial for this year and the last for
me as editor of The News
Argus. I never wanted to
seem as if I had all the
answers because I've
learned over these past
couple of years that
planning can sometimes
create more of a prob
lem.
What I hope has been
the case for the past two years is that
students have listened and realized
that there are other things out there.
We are competing, and will compete
for the rest of our lives. So why not
play the game with the mind-set that
you have already one.
It is vital that we take responsibility for
what we do in life and leam to con
tribute to the consciousness of the world.
As a person from another country, it
is a wonder that many people come to
America looking for an opportunity
and for a better life. In this experience
there are things that I have learned
which have been positive and negative.
Especially when it comes to the state of
this race many of us are a part of.
It is disheartening to see students
who don't care. However, on the flip
side there is a breed of students who
will no doubt make an indelible contri
bution to this world.
While students have come and gone,
some will eventually settle for what
ever life deals them, and others will go
out and conquer the world.
Some of us share this common goal
of finishing school. But then what?
A job, a house, a few kids.
If that works for you fine. But there is
always work to be done in our commu
nities, in our schools, and the only peo
ple who can do it seem to be for the
moment chillin'.
This generation needs something to
wake us up. Reality is no game, a 9 to 5
job is not a game.
At WSSU we are urged to "depart to
serve." While it may serve as a good
statement for some, we really should
depart to not only serve but rebuild,
ensure, educate and a host of other
things I can name right now.
It's time to step it up. Take that leap
that you fear because you are overly
cautious.
For those who will make it, get your
foot in the door, wiggle it around, but
also make sure that the people you put
your foot out for won't end up break
ing it.
We all have dreams, how many of us
are doing all we can to make those
dreams come true?
We are our best allies.
Essentially, those who live on dreams
and faith alone should realize that edu
cation and advancement is a constant
process in which we must learn some
thing new everyday.
It also hurts me to look out as some
people and see that the door of oppor
tunity is open for them, and they are
only blowing it away.
If there is anything I have learned in
my time is that we can build empires.
We can have whatever we want. We
don't have to answer to anyone.
So what will it be, build an empire, or
work for someone else?
IK/ 14-ELECnON
CAN\PAIGN/
EVILDOER SADMM
CONRONT
PRESSING
to the editor
Dear Editor,
After reading the column in April
2003 addition of The News Argus by
Keith Caesar titled "Black Men Are
Behind the Times," I was inspired to
write my first letter to an editor. I
agree with Caesar. It is past time for
black males to accept their role as
leaders of their household and their
community. It is unfortunate and
unfair to the black woman and the
children for the black man to be
nonexistent but because women are
tired of their predicament they have
begun to do something about it.
Women have begun to speak up for
themselves, their children, and yes
even their men.
Further, women have begun to be
sole breadwinners, housewives, dis
ciplinarians, mother and father.
However, some of these roles are the
responsibility of the man. In fact, the
problem lies in the black man's
unwillingness to accept his proper
role in society. One of the initial
steps to solving this problem is
understanding its sources. The main
sources of this problem are fear, poor
parenting and a lack of personal
preparation.
As a black man, fear has been my
arduous adversary. Furthermore, this
enemy in the person of fear disguis
es its true appearance with masks
that can also be called artificial
escapes from reality for its victims or
virtual reality. To attempt to list '
some of these masks or escapes,
some are staying at home with par
ents, marijuana, using and/or selling
drugs, alcohol, sex, video games,
sports, irrational dreams without a
back up plan, and laziness just to
name some of the more popular
masks. Why not just remove the
mask? To simply remove the mask is
not enough because one must be
ready to face fear before this step is
to be taken. How does one prepare
to face fear? Practice!
"Train up a child in the way he
should go: and when he is old, he
will not depart from it" Proverbs
22:6. This statement is a warning to
parents. Although, this advice is a
blessing to good parents, it can also
become a curse to poor parents. If a
child is taught good habits then the
good habits will generally manifest
in the child's life. The down side of
this statement is, if a child is taught
bad habits the bad habits will most
likely dominate the behavior of the
child.
Yes! Parents play an intricate part
in the prosperity of children.
According to many theorists on child
development, children leam their
roles in society by modeling, and
imitation. Parents or the persons that
replace parents are the most influen
tial models in a child's life. Girls
learn to be women by imitating their
mothers, and boys leam to be men
by imitating their fathers. But there
are very few fathers in the home to
imitate, and even fewer good fathers.
It is no wonder that there are so few
good black men. Nevertheless,
young black men cannot use this as
an excuse. "Excuses are tools for the
incompetent," and the black man is
not incompetent.
There must be some accountability
for one's own plight. Being that man
has a capacity for complex thought,
it seems that if one tmly makes a
conscientious effort to achieve a par
ticular goal or task, then success can
be realized. With understanding this,
it is important that when setting
goals, these goals be well thought
out. After completing the previous
steps, then personal preparation
comes into the equation. The black
man must make a conscientious
effort towards rationally derived
goals, and then personally take
responsibility for the achievement of
these goals.
The sources have been identified;
now what? Well, it is time to pick up
the bat, step to the plate, and start
"winging." Don't worry about strik
ing out; Barry Bonds (pro baseball
player) has three times as many outs
as he has home runs. He is success
ful because he steps to the plate with
confidence. Bonds believe that the
next pitch he hits is a home run; he
has no fear of what the pitcher may
throw at him. Moreover, he has done
a lot of preparing, in the form of
practice in the bull pin, swinging at
hundreds of different types of pitch
es. Bonds does not blame his coach
for not teaching him how to swing
the bat effectively, he knows that it is
now up to him. Fellow black men,
stop wasting your potential and
your talents; if you have no help,
help yourself. Lets prepare ourselves
to successfully take our appropriate
places in our homes and in society,
1 Timothy 5:8 says, "If any provide
not for his own, and specially for
those of his own house, he is worse
than an infidel. Finally, stop claiming
fear; "For God hath not given us the
spirit of fear; but of power, and of
love, and of a sound mind," 2
Timothy 1:7 tell us. As black men,
lets change the titles of articles writ
ten about us from, "Black men are
behind the times," to "Black men,
trailblazers of achievement in every
field of human endeavors."
Regderick Howard, full-time
WSSU staff member
College stepping stone for life, career
By Anthony L. Nelson
SPECIAL TO THE ARGUS
College for many is an experience that
alters the perception of life. For some,
college may simply be the process taken
to get to the next level of their careers.
Although it should be both, young
people entering the world of responsi
bility, academics, and partying often
cross-different paths.
For me, it began as a path that was
somewhat undetermined, but very opti
mistic. However, as I said, one never
knows what his or her destination after
college life will be.
Upon entering school, I had the
notion that college would be, play ball
and study when I want to so that I can
get by. As many people learn though,
ball doesn't last always and that's when
your intellect has to take over.
Possessing a gift can be beneficial yet
also detrimental if not used properly.
As Jigga says, the gift can become the
curse or vice versa. If you don't truly
perfect your gift and use it to its full
potential, then it becomes a hindrance
more than a benefit. I felt compelled to
balance the two, the talent and the
affliction. The true test in college comes
See COLLEGE LIFE,
Page 6
It is important to continually recognize excellence
It gives me great joy to
share time with you once
again as we move tciwards
the close of another exciting
school year.
We have reached numerous
milestones as we persevered
beyond challenges, both fore
seen and unseen.
You are truly exceptional
students and that is clear in
many, many ways. So, for
this edition of the
Chancellor's Comer, allow
me to share my thoughts on
the Student Awards Banquet
and the symbolism repre
sented with the event.
The purpose of the Student
chancellor's
comer
with Dr. Harold L Martin
Awards Banquet is to show
case and commend the vari
ous forms of human endeav
ors that are a part of student
life at WSSU.
Particular note should be
given to the vast number of
students who received
awards. There were over 60
students who received the
award for "Who's Who
Among Students," which is a
national award that serves as
a true centerpiece for mea
suring excellence among stu
dents from various institu
tions. Our university is also
proud to recognize over 100
students who received the
Student Activities Office
"Outstanding Leadership
Award" which is based on
leadership in extra-curricula
activities.
Another leadership forum,
the WSSU Leadership
Institute, selected over 70
students who have demon
strated various forms of lead
ership in both academia and
throughout the campus com
munity. In addition to the
previously stated awards,
you, the students, serve the
greater community of
Winston-Salem as evidenced
by the "Community Service
Award" to approximately 28
students. It is clear that you
are truly making a difference
in the classroom and
throughout the many facets
of WSSU life.
The Student Awards
Banquet is certainly repre
sentative of the realization
that the various facets of life
at our great institution
require a wide-range of orga-
See WAR, Page 6
V