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The News Argus
www.thenewsargus.com
Winston-Salem State University’s Student Newspaper
October 2005
Trey Songz finishes Cingular tour at WSSU
By Lisa R. Boone
ARGUS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Screeches, screams and squeals erupt
ed from a dim Whitaker Gymnasium
Sept. 24, as 20-year-old recording artist
Trey Songz walked onstage.
The R&B singer from Petersburg, Va.,
captivated students. His performance at
WSSU marked the end of his Cingular
Wireless Historic Black Colleges and
Universities "Back to School" tour. The
22-campus tour began at Grambling
State University in Grambling,
Louisiana.
Identical tw'ins Amber and Ashley
Neal were among the dozens of students
who attended the concert, and Songz
picked the two to join him onstage.
"The concert was excellent," Amber
Neal, a junior nursing student, said. "I
was surprised when he picked my sister
and then I got to go onstage with her. It
was one of the best experiences of my
life. I was going to leave because he took
so long, but my friend made us stay
because she is infatuated with him. I am
glad I didn't leave."
Ashley Neal echoed her sentiment. "I
was just amazed that he picked me. I
didn't really like him at first. I went
because he is a celebrity who came to
our school, but now I thir\k he's my hus
band," said the junior mass communica
tions major jokingly.
Born Tremaine Neverson on Nov. 28,
1984, Songz lived a regular life with
a love for music. By 15, Trey had entered
and won 20 talent shows. Upon
graduation from Petersburg High
School, Trey moved to New Jersey after
meeting his producer, Troy Taylor. After
being signed to Atlantic Records for two
years. Trey's debut album "I Gotta Make
It" was released July 26.
The WSSU concert was part of a
special night of entertainment presented
by the Campus Activities Board. It fea
tured student performers, comedian
Michael Blackson, along with Songz.
Students also danced to music by
Tommy G Mixx.
Lisa Boone, editor-in-chief of The News
Argus, caught up with Songz before the per
formance. To read her interview with the
man called the "Prince of Virginia," turn to
page 5.
Photo by Garrett Garms
R&B singer
Trey Songz
from
Petersburg, Va.,
captivated
WSSU students
at the end of
his Cingular
Wireless
Historic Black
Colleges and
Universities
“Back to
School” tour.
Photo by G9/rett Garms
The alumni work closely with
Chancellor Martin and the school to
provide opportunities for students.
Alumni’s generosity
benefits students
By Larry Williams
ARGUS REPORTER
When senior Tina Foster graduates,
she expects to remain an active alum
nus, giving not only her time but
money.
"It's important to give back so that
the future students have what I
enjoyed," the 23-year-old said.
Many current students profess to feel
the same way that Foster does. But after
graduation, students often get busy
with their new lives and forget about
the need to give back.
Winston-Salem State University ranks
first among historically black colleges
in the state when in comes to alumni
giving, with almost 10 percent of alum-
^ni contributing financially, to the uni
versity. At nearby North Carolina
Agricultural & Technical University,
alumni giving is 8.9 percent, and it's 2.3
See ALUMNI, page 2
WSSU alumni accepts position as senior
communications manager at Dell plant
By Lisa R. Boone
Argus Editor-in-chief
When Dell, the world's largest personal
computer maker, offered WSSU alumni .
and former mass communications
instructor Dorma Oldham the position of
senior communications manager, she
couldn't refuse and in large part because
of what she describes as the company's
commitment to a quality workplace and
diversity.
North Carolina is banking on Dell to
boost the state's economy by employing
hundreds of others like Oldham.
Specifically, Dell has projected that it will
hire 1,500 employees within five years,
and it moved a step closer to fulfilling
that projected goal on Wednesday, Oct. 5
when it officially opened its newest and
largest plant in Winston-Salem — a
750,000 square-foot manufacturing facili
ty in the city's Alliance Science &
Technology Park on Temple School Road.
"[My experience at Dell] has been
incredible," Oldham said. "I was at Duke
Hospital as head of communications for
almost eight years and Dell presented
such an attractive package in terms of
their commitment to diversity, their com
mitment to a quality workplace that it
was something that I decided that I could
leave my former employment for to take
a chance at Dell..."
On hand for the grand opening was
Dell Inc. chairman Michael Dell and Gov.
Mike Easley, who, along with other state
officials, lured Dell to the state with $318
million in grants and tax breaks.
"If you are computer illiterate or road
kill on the information high
way, dlon't blaiiiti me and
don't blame Dell," Easley
said. "You've got an opportu
nity. This facility will create
1.500 good-paying jobs for
1.500 hard-working North
Carolina families. This $100
million investment is exactly .
what they need.
"I want to tell you, Michael
Dell, that you have picked up
the morale of this region 110
percent and we appreciate
Dell being here," Easley
added.
The new facility will pro
duce Dell's build-to-order
desktop computers. Michael
Dell presented Easley with
one of the first computers
assembled.
Thurmond Woodard, vice
president of Global Diversity
and chief ethics officer, came
to WSSU in June to speak
with students about opportu
nities at Dell and technology
at WSSU.
"I was very pleased to
spend some time with my long
time friend. Chancellor Harold
L. Martin, and his faculty and
to learn and see how they have
used technology in the educating of stu
dents at Winston-Salem State University,
said Woodard.
At a media luncheon held the day
before the Dell grand opening, Richard
V
Photo by Garrett Garms
Donna Oldham, WSSU grad and former communi
cations instructor, is senior communications
manager at the new Dell facility.
Komn, the company's program director,
talked of plans for Dell to form a partner
ship with WSSU.
"If you look at where our current cites
See DELL, page 2
Photo Garrett Garms
The Burke Singers performed an original piece dedicated to
victims of the recent hurricanes.
ARGUS INDEX
October Edition
August Wilson dies
Page 2
What will Harriet Miers do
for Bush’s legacy?
Page 4
Credit cards risky WSSU’s own Dr.
business for Forrest-Carter
students 3 debuts novel 5
The Burke Singers
dedicate original
song to the victims
of Hurricane Katrina
By Erin Perkins
ARGUS NEWS EDITOR
While most of the nation watched helpless
ly as New Orleans and the Gulf Coast
region drowned in rolling waters let loose
by Hurricane Katrina, two student singers
at Winston-Salem Sta,te University found
a way to cope with the sorrow that the
televised images stirred in their souls.
They transformed their grief into words
and set it to music.
"How could the
wealthiest country
in the world leave its
own citizens to die?
When the towers
came down, you were
there the next day.
And it took you five
days to make your way
to me. Had we been
wealthy and middle-
class white people,
would I be singing this
song."
Shameia Gardin, a jun
ior music business major,
got the idea for the song
soon after TV images brought home the
plight of hurricane victims. Gardin devel
oped the tune and then recruited her friend,
LaShonda Davis, who wrote the lyrics for
"Cries of Katrina."
Both are Burke Singers, a female a cappella
group whose members are in the university
choir. The Burke Singers gave a debut
See BURKE, page 2