Newspapers / Winston-Salem State University Student … / Sept. 1, 2005, edition 1 / Page 3
Part of Winston-Salem State University Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
September 2005 3 Campus News New state-of-the-art residence facility eases demand for on-campus housing By Erin Perkins ARGUS FEPORTER Christina Davis, a 19-year-old nursing stu dent, couldn't be happier with her double suite in Gleason-Hairston Terrace, the university's newest residence hall. "It's better than what I expected," she said, smiling. WSSU's newest hall contains 84 apartments, 27 two-bedroom suites, 17 one-bedroom suites and two apartments for resident managers. Each bedroom is wired for cable TV, high speed Internet and voice data. Additionally, there's a fitness center, student lounge, with large screen TV, computer lab, and kitchen and study areas. As the student population at WSSU grows, so does the demand for on-campus housing. Enrollment has increased 72 percent since 2000, and enrollment this fall increased by nearly 7 percent. Although Davis loves the spaciousness of her suite. Amber Girty a 20-year-old psychology major differs. She would have preferred larger living rooms, especially given that "everyone brings a friend over." Gleason-Hairston Terrace is located on Martin Luther King Jt Drive between Wilson Hall and the Albert H. Anderson Conference Center. The residence hall is named after Dr. Eliza Atkins Gleason, daughter of WSSU founder Simon Green Atkins, and Rufus and Mary Hairston, WSSU alumni whose estate contributed more than $1 million to the univer sity. Davis said she likes the location of the new residence facility because it's close to the main campus. Girty, on the other hand, said there are too many hills between the main campus and the new dormitory But Girty added that she is satisfied with the cost of her new space. And, the kitchen is "worth every penny," she said, adding that "it has plenty of cabinet space." I ■ Photo courtesy of Media Relations Gleason-Hairston Terrace, the new $17.6 million residence hall located on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive houses 408 stu dents. The prices are as follows, one-bed single, $2,275; two-bed double suite, $2,200; three-bed handicapped, $2,017; and four-bed apts, $2,017. Students say transition from two-year school not that had By Larry Williams Argus reporter Among the mix of return ing students, incoming freshman and accelerated- learning students, there is another group at Winston- Salem State University: Transfer students. Stephanie Feggins, a 20- year-old resident of the city, is one of them Feggins attended Forsyth Technical Community College before enrolling at WSSU. She said she chose the university because it's close to her home and it offers her major The adjustment from two- year college to four-year university has not been as difficult as she envisioned. "It's not that it's harder," she said, "but you have to be more focused." The percentage of stu dents who attend commu nity colleges in North Carolina is higher than that of students who attend four-year universities, and the numbers are growing. There are 16 public four- year institutions in North Carolina, serving about 39% of undergraduate stu dents in the state. By com parison, there are 58 public community colleges, serv ing about 43 percent, according to a 2000 report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. Students chose communi ty colleges for a number of reasons, but one of the main ones is price. In 2001- 02, in-state tuition and mandatory fees at public four-year institutions aver aged $2,433 annually, and in-state tuition for full-time students at community col leges averaged $1,021. Just as one example, Guildford Technical Community College in Jamestown costs $632 per semester for an in-state stu dent studying full-time. Compare that figure to Winston Salem State University where an in state, full-time student pays $1,402.50. Besides lower costs, there are other reasons stu dents chose to attend a com munity college before trans ferring to a four-year university Many believe that the small class sizes offered by community col leges allow them to better develop their academic skills, while also allowing them to enter a four-year university as a junior. North Carolina's popula tion is expected to grow by 13 percent in the first decade of this century, but the projection for growth in the school-age population is closer to 20 percent, the National Center for Public Policy reported. As such, the state has placed a priority on increasing the percentage of residents who attend college. So to meet the anticipated enrollment demand, the state is under taking initiatives that include strengthening com munity college transfers to public universities. Transfer student Rebecca Morgan, 21, of Colfax came from Guild ford Technical Community College. The 21-year-old said her biggest problem has been one that is shared by all students at WSSU - finding parking. "It's really bad ." Largest ever freshman class getting used to college life By Dreama Williams Argus reporter Leah Rawlings is 17, and at least six hours by car from home in Maryland. When the freshmen arrived on campus, she admits that she was homesick. But that didn't last long. She's made friends, gets along with her roommate and likes living in Moore Hall. The only thing she wishes for now is time to explore the city—get a "feel" for it, she said. Rawlings belongs to the largest freshmen class to enter the halls of Winston-Salem State University They number more than 900. A business administra tion major, Rawlings said "col lege isn't as hard as everybody made it seem... it's all in what you make it." She said she chose Winston Salem State because, of the schools that accepted her, it was the closest to home. "I got accept ed into Alabama A& M, but it was too far away from home." After making her first trip back home, Rawlings said she quickly got over her feelings of homesick ness. In fact, she said she missed her friends here. Already, she is a board merriber of the fine arts committee and the National Association of Black Accountants. When she gradu ates, she'll become the first of her four siblings to do so. Her goal is to be an accountant. Although Rawlings has not found university life too difficult, many students do and drop out. Reasons vary. The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Education Trust has set up an interactive Web site that allows users to examine graduation rates at 1,400 colleges and universities around the country. The online tool, found at www.collegeresults.org, also allows users to see how its graduation rates compare with similar institutions that serve similar student populations, and Photo by Garrett Garms Freshman business adminis tration major Leah Rawlings has adjusted to college life by balancing extra-curricular activ ities and study time. examine graduation rates by stu dents' race, ethnicity and gender. The graduation rate at WSSU, for example, is 47. 6 percent, while at South Carolina State University, it's 48.6 percent. At North Carolina Central University, it's 48.77 percent, and at Elizabeth City State University, 50.5 percent. The Education Trust plans to regularly update College Results Online with the latest federal and 'State graduation data. Wendell Bradsher is another 17- year-old freshman accounting major. A native of Roxboro, he is also getting used to campus life, and said "no, never that" when asked if he had felt homesick. When asked why he is an accounting major, he said that he didn't know, he just likes math. He said he had visited the campus several times before enrolling, attending events with his aunt, a Ram graduate. He added that he likes everything about college life, including Brown Hall, although he described it as "a little hot, but we deal with." His most difficult day so far was the first day of class when he was trying to find all of his class es. But Brad sher said that the upperclassmen helped him out when he asked for directions. Here are 10 Do's and Don'ts for freshmen: Do avoid accumulating cred it cards and credit card debt. Do learn to balance a check book or keep records of ATM withdrawals. Don't stop looking for schol arships. Do talk to your professors, stop by during office hours. Don't skip classes, even though you might be tempted. Do visit your academic coun selors Do your laundry during non peak hours. Do separate colors. Do eat healthy, and stay way from too much caffeine and sodas. Do call home - often.
Winston-Salem State University Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 1, 2005, edition 1
3
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75