CeCe Winans
rocked the campus
with gospel flavor
Page 5
Ram-TV 19 is a
learning lab for
broadcast students
Page 6
Political Science
major Alan Brown
named Mr. Ram
Page 9
The News Argus
Winston-Salem State University
www.thenewsargus.com
October 2003
Students give mixed reviews of trip to Finland
Nicole Ferguson
Argus Editor-in-Chief
The accounts of racial ten
sions during a study-abroad
trip to Finland by two Winston-
Salem State University students
are being disputed by other
students and the program
director.
This summer five WSSU stu
dents participated in the MIRT
research program in Helsinki,
Finland. Junior molecular biol
ogy majors Tiffanie Adams and
Alethea Barrino said they expe
rienced name calling and undo
physical contact as a result of
racial tensions in the country.
Adams said that because of the
negative social climate, she was
put in Finland jail for three
days on the accusation of steal
ing equipment from her
research site.
Although the students agreed
with each other that the study
abroad experience was worth
while, they weren't all on one
accord when it came to saying
that negative experiences arose
from racially charged attitudes.
Camille Stanley studied hyper
tension at the BioMedicom cen
ter in Helsinki. The 21-year-old
chemistry major from Charlotte
said that the study abroad
experience provided her with
unique opportunities.
"I feel like I learned a lot of
stuff that I wouldn't have had
the opportunity to leam in the
U.S.," said Stanley. "Overall I
wouldn't mind going back."
Part of the reason she would
travel to Finland again is
because of the atmosphere.
"The people were very
friendly and open. Of course
See FINLAND, Page 2
Photo courtesy of Tiffanie Adams
WSSU juniors Alethea Barrino and Tiffanie Adams say ihey-
experienced negative treatment in Finland this summer
because of the racial tensions in the area.
AD
OSED
loai mm m
Argus photo by Janelt J. Lewis
Vargrave Street has been blocked off since the beginning of the fall semester, causing students, visitors and
administration to find alternate routes.
Construction is still going strong
By Janell J. Levt^is
Argus News Editor
At the thought of construction,
one of the first words that haunt
one's mind is inconvenience, and
although in many instances this is
the case, the end product is nearly
always a sight of better quality and
beautification.
In the last edition of the News
Argus, a brief overview was given
of the next two phases of construc
tion that will be taking place on the
main campus. Phase I, which is
taking place in the spirit of cam
pus, is affecting nearly everyone —
every student, faculty, administra
tor, and even visitor. The heart of
campus has been gutted out in
hopes of unifying the campus with
a pedestrian mall and clock tower.
This phase is also intended to cre
ate a picturesque image of the
campus.
Phase II, on the other hand is,
more or less, only affecting those
rams or visitors whose classes are
housed in the Hall Patterson and
R. J. Reynolds buildings. Beginning
in January of 2004, the parking lot
dividing the two buildings will be
non-existent, as well as the lot
attached to Hall Patterson.
Jorge Quintal, director of facili
ties management, assures those
who are concerned that it will be
an inconvenience, but it is definite
ly only for a temporary basis.
"We will close this parking lot for
about six months, until about June.
The parking lot won't be removed,
but it will be closed, during con
struction. There will be no way to
get in (those doing construction) if
the lot remains there."
The two aforementioned parking
lots hold a fairly large amount of
spaces and the question of where
those who park there will be
moved has risen.
Chief Willie Bell said that he and
Quintal are working together to
find a solution to the faculty park
ing issue, but that's going to be a
tough matter.
See TRAFFIC, Page 2
Support
WSSU after
graduation
By Alyson Staton
Argus reporter
The spirit of service is what the Pre-Alumni
Council believes in, and this year as they plan
to inform students about the importance of
supporting Winston-Salem State University ■
even after graduation. ;
The council is developing some plans for the
school year that will give the student body
ideas of how they can participate and contin
ue to give back to WSSU.
Formally known as the Student Alumni
Relationship Association (SARA), the council
is an extension of the Alumni Council and is
designed to suggest ideas to students of how
they can give back to WSSU once they have
graduated.
"Our purpose is to further foster the spirit of
service," said Mrs. Cheryl Pollard-Bums,
advisor for the Pre-Alumni Council. "The
organization is dedicated to enhancing service
on the student level."
Ashley Blacktree, a junior molecular biology
major, is the president of the organization. She
said that by having student support WSSU
through financial contributions, the students
would be contributing to their education.
Junior accounting major, Candice Brown, is
vice-president. She said that it is important for
students to get used to giving back to their
education.
"It is essential to the advancement of the
University," Brown said.
The members of the Pre-Alumni Council said
that supporting the school is a way of having a
voice and helping to evoke change on campus.
In the past, the Pre-Alumni council has been
involved in community service and college
recruitment. This year they are planning to kick
off the 1892 Funds Campaign. This campaign
will involve organizations on campus by ask
ing them to donate money to the school. The
money raised through the campaign will pro
vide scholarships for students.
Latinos may decide course of '04 presidential
By Jay Root
Knight Ripper Newspapers (KRT)
AUSTIN, Texas
When Republican George W. Bush
blew into Del Rio, Texas, on a cam
paign swing in 1998, his use of
Spanish and his ability to connect
with Latinos made a believer out of
Javier Martinez.
He voted to give the Republican
another term as Texas governor and
then to send him to Washington two
years later. But Martinez, 55, a Del Rio
businessman and host of a local radio
talk show, won't be voting for Bush
again.
"He does speak a little Spanish. He's
very good at connecting with the
Hispanic community. That was the
reason we kind of believed in him,"
Martinez said. "I think he's probably
trying, but he's not connecting any
more."
Martinez's misgivings, and those of
voters like him, could spell trouble for
Republicans' efforts to. gain a larger
share of the increasingly important
Hispanic vote, not only in Texas but
across the nation.
Amid persistent unemployment,
uncertainty in Iraq and a racially
explosive debate on congressional
redistricting unfolding in the Texas
Capitol, many Hispanic activists and
See LATINOS, Page 2