The News Argus
www.thenewsargus.com
Winston-Salem State University’s Student Newspaper
Feb. 25, 2008
CHUCK D: ‘You
betta be a nerd with it ’
Stephanie Douthit
Grant Fulton
ARGUS STAFF
Chuck D., founding
member of rap group
Public Enemy, spoke
to Winston-Salem State fac
ulty and students, members
of the community, and fans
as part of Black History
Month celebrations on Feb.
12 in Dillard Auditorium.
When the crowd rose and
applauded his arrival.
Chuck D., born Carlton
Douglass Ridenhour,
returned the favor and
clapped for the audience
members. With a small
turnout of approximately 60
people, the atmosphere was
relaxed and intimate.
During his speech. Chuck
D. discussed the importance
of education.
"We're living in a country
that's not giving a lot of
props to intelligence," he
said.
He also mentioned that
the media focuses mainly
on trivial things, like fash
ion and gossip, and neglects
more pressing issues.
He also addressed the
representation of well-
educated individuals in the
media.
"Collegians are not well-
represented," he said.
Later, he explained his
fondness for speaking at
HBCUs. "1 am able to speak
differently because the
black student body is faced
with different circum
stances in the real world,
and they are faced with
three times as many obsta
cles," Chuck D. said.
"These facts make the lec
ture more meaningful," he
added.
In addition. Chuck D.
stressed the most important
benefit of attending col
lege-gaining quality edu
cation. "College is a portal
to the rest of the planet," he
said.
While on the subject of
college majors. Chuck D.
said that students must
know their chosen field
thoroughly. "You 'betta' be
a nerd with it," he said.
The message seemed to
resonate with Jason Lewis,
a recent WSSU graduate.
"He [Chuck D.] is a true
example of how being per
sistent in hip-hop should
never negate your thorough
understanding of popular
culture today, in terms of
black history and defini
tion," he said.
Other audience members
also seemed to enjoy listen
ing to Chuck D.
"He related well to the
audience using today's
entertainment as it relates
to our past but relevant his
tory," said Ebony Pullen.
The program was sched
uled to last from 7 to 9 p.m.
However, many people in
attendance did not leave
until well after 11 p.m.
Chuck D. also talked
about hip-hop, and its influ
ence in the community as
well as the world. He told
the audience that the his
tory of rap captivates popu
lar culture and will forever
remain a part of American
history.
"Hold on to your history.
It is taught, but it is not
repeated," he said.
-Jarrian Jackson contributed
TO THIS REPORT
Photo by Grant Fulton
Hip-Hop legend and activist Chuck D. spoke at Winston-Salem State on Feb. 12.
BEFORE: Old Glory shows its’ wear and tear on a gloomy
winter day.
AFTER: The Stars and Stripes fly high after being replaced
from the circle at the main entrance to WSSU.
$$%*&()*_($%#@&^*!!!!! @##@* ^%*#!
Crude language doesn’t cut it on campus
Grant Fulton
PHOTO EDITOR
What's with the Profanity?
When using profanity around
campus, do students ever stop
and wonder if their words are
affecting the others around
them? Is it unprofessional to
curse around a college campus,
even though there are no parents
telling students what is right and
wrong?
"I feel that cursing is not a
great thing to do at any time, but
I especially hate it when ladies
curse a lot because I feel that it's
not very lady like and that is a
turnoff for me," said freshmen
Eric Walker.
Junior Cornelius Hector feels
that cursing on campus is dis
ruptive.
"It bothers me when I see peo
ple just going around campus
just cussing and for no reason
whatsoever, but I cannot judge
them because I curse also," he
said.
Students cannot be sure who is
listening to them when they use
profanity. Those listening could
be a teacher or they could be
someone significant; such as a
future employer.
Some students say they feel
that cursing is a form of express
ing themselves, and in order to
get a point across they have to
curse at someone to listen or
understand.
"1 don't think it [cursing] is
necessary, and we all need to
learn how to control our emo
tions and to use other vocabu
lary other than using profanity.
It is not professional to use pro-
w w
fanity in the workplace, and it's
something that people who curse
need to work on beforeOe enter
ing the workplace," said Spanish
Professor Tika Hood-Owens.
A recent poll on thenewsar-
gus.com revealed that over 64
percent surveyed felt that pro
fanity on campus was offensive
and inappropriate. 24 percent
said that profanity does not
Graphic courtesy of MCT Wire Service
offend them and 14 percent said
that it didn't matter, one way or
the other.
"I really don't see any objec
tion through profanity, but if
anything, it should not be used
in the classroom just for profes
sional reasons. It's used in the
real world, so I don't think there
should be a penalty for using it,"
said senior Trey Artis.
Photos by Grant Fulton