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The News Argus
www.thenewsargus.com
Norris
named
police
chief
By Crystal Bullock
Argus Reporter
Photo courtesy of Winston-Salem
Police Department
Pat Norris is the city’s first
African-American police cfiief
Winston-Salem State University
March 2004
Miss WSSU Mi
Miss CIAA title
By Lisa R. Boone
Argus News Editor
Although WSSU was not victorious iii the
CIAA basketball competition, the students and
faculty of WSSU were well represented in differ
ent aspects of the tournament. Mignon
TurneroMiss WSSU 2003-2004, a graduating
senior, double major, varsity cheerleader, volun
teer tutor, WSSU Campus Pal, member of the
SGA, and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
Inc.owas crowed Ihe first Miss CIAA on
Saturday, February 28, 2004.
The 85th annual CIAA celebration inaugu
rated this new competition in which each of the
twelve historically black colleges and universities
in the CIAA athletic conference competed for the
title of Miss CIAA. The participants in the con
test already represented their colleges and univer
sities as campus queens.
The participants included: Ms. Alayanna
Browning of Bowie State University, Ms.
Cleantha Samuel of Elizabeth City State
University, Ms. LaSherri Draughon of
Fayetteville State University. Ms. Kenya Starks
of Johnson C. Smith University, Ms. Brandy
Mack of Livingstone College, Ms. Christal Evans
of North Carolina Central University, Ms. Jaclyn
Guess of St. Augustineis College, Ms. Shatima
Seward of Shaw University, Ms. SaraEdith
Elizabeth Williams of St. Paulis College, Ms.
Nisheka Handy of Virginia State University, Ms.
Andrea Conway of Virginia Union University,
and last but certainly not least, Ms. Mignon
Turner of Winston-Salem State University.
The CIAA website, www.ciaa2004.com. gave
an outline of the criteria that the aspirants were
judged by. They were Judged by the amount of
online votes they had from the community, their
See TURNER, Page 2
Photo courtesy of Media Relations
Turner plans to pursue a
master’s in international rela
tions.
When Pat Norris was a girl growing up in Winston-Salem in
the segregated 1950s and ’60s, her grandmother taught her to
obey the law and trust
the police.
It is advice that
Norris took to heart, and
advice that she reflected
upon when sworn in last
month as Winston-
Salem’s new police
chief. Norris, 49, is the
first African-American
woman to hold this top
position.
“My grandmother
always taught us to obey
the law, to be able to call
upon the police officers
for help and to be able to
trust the police,” Norris
said, during a telephone
interview. She added
that one of her goals as
police chief will be to
instill within the general
public the kind of faith
and trustfulness that her
grandmother possessed.
“I see improving
relationships with the
people of the community, whether perceived or not,” she said.
“I feel all citizens should have the right to talk to officials
without fear or apprehension.”
Norris’ appointment comes less than a month after the
release of Darryl Hunt, who served 18 years in prison for a
crime he did not commit. Hunt’s case divided many people in
the city along racial lines .
Norris said one of her priorities is to hold community meet
ings, where city residents will have an opportunity to discuss
the case and its effect on race relations in the city and appropri
ate behavior for police officers.
“Checks and balances are already in place,” Norris said. “We
train officers and hold them accountable for inappropriate
behavior.
“Other officers who witness unruly behavior according to the
standard division investigation are not obligated to notify a
chain of command,” Norris said.
There are programs and procedures in place to tackle these
issues, Norris said. For example. The Forsyth County Police
Department has a national accredited program that incorporates
rules and proper procedures for officers to attain against such
public action. The North Standard Division Investigation
encourages citizens to contact officials with complaints through
an open ear policy. A citizens’ review board is provided for offi
cers and high ranking officials to view all alleged complaints
against an officer. Norris describes her job as rewarding and
challenging.
“It’s a challenge to work with the public but the greatest
challenge is working with yourself.
“Don’t limit your possibilities and accept the unknown
because it will open doors to opportunities you had no idea will
be available to you.”
Argus photo by Nicole Ferguson
Campus Police officer Norris Gullick monitors tlie security camera system in the campus police station.
See more about campus security in the Chancellor’s column on page 3.
Students express security concerns
By Nicole Ferguson
Editor-in-Chief
Nicole Young, a senior nursing major,
says she is becoming more and more con
cerned with her safety as she has to walk
further north down Martin Luther King, Jr.
drive to reach her clas,ses in the nursing
building. She says motorists aren’t mind
ful of pedestrians and evening walks alone
can be frightening because the nursing
facility is not close in proximity to the
main campus.
The number of students attending
Winston-Salem State University has
exceeded all expectations. Today more
thanS.OOO students walked the campus.
The growth in student population, cou
pled with a plethora of new building
construction, has lead to increased aware
ness of security on campus. Faculty, staff,
students and parents of students at WSSU
are all in agreement that campus security
is a major issue, especially in light of the
arrest last fall of an alleged murderer in a
residence hall.
Brcaching of Security
"The worst problem we have is stu
dents’ breaching of security in the resi
dence halls,” Linda Inman, director of
housing and residence life, said.
Chief Willie Bell echoes Inman. “The
kids just don't understand not only are
they putting themselves in danger, but they
are breaching security for their classmates,
also
former WSSU student accused of murder
in Virginia was residing with his girlfriend
in Rams Commons while police searched
for him. Once police were led to Merrill’s
girlfriend’s apartment in Building 2. resi
dents became more and more concerned
with their safety.
Bell says that because of the nature of
Rams Commons’ independent living, it
was easier for such an incident to occur.
Linda Inman, Director of Housing and
Residence Life oversees housing matters
for all residence halls except the pri
vately-owned and operated Rams
Commons community. She says security
issues are heavily taken into considera
tion. As a result, all residence halls are
In September 2(M)3, Jeremy Murrell, a See SECURITY, Page 2
WSSU plans $35 million dollar Capital Campaign
By Janell J. Lewis
ARGUS Managing Editor
A capital campaign to raise $35 million for
Winston-Salem State University is off to a good
start with $7.4 million in commitments from area
banks, alumni and numerous other contributors.
Michelle Cooke, executive director of the
University Foundations and chair of the campaign
committee, described the capital campaign, which
began two years ago, as in "the quiet stage,"
meaning that the university will not go public with
the campaign until it has raised at least halt of the
$35 TTiillion. Cooke added that the university
expects to reach the halfway mark by the end of
the year.
Arthur Affeck, vice chancellor for University
Advancement , said a primary reason for the cam
paign is to raise funds to support student scholar
ships.
"We’ve been having a real success," said
Affleck. Specifically, he said that the university
already has received a $1 million pledge from
Wachovia, another $350.(XX) from BB&T and still
another $2(X),000 from Bank of America. Of the $ 1
million pledged by Wachovia, $3(X),(KX) will go to
the School of Business and Eiconomics and $7(X),(XX)
to the School of Eklucation. Bank of America has
donated all of its pledge to the School of Eiducation.
“People feel really g(X)d about the university."
Affleck said.
“We're on pace.”
Chancellor Harold L. Martin, Sr said monies
raised during the campaign will also go toward
faculty and staff development, financial aid, infor
mation resources, the Honors Program, the campus
radio station (WSNC), international programs and
athletics, among other programs.
Ultimately, the goal is to help Winston-Salem
State University become “a premier regional insti
tution," Martin said.