Newspapers / Winston-Salem State University Student … / April 21, 2008, edition 1 / Page 3
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April 21, 2008 The News Argus Campus News f C. ■■■-_*■.*.* 'i -.j it w iUX .’%*’»> ii ,» Photo by Garrett Garms Construction of Foundation Heights, WSSU’s newest dormitory was completed after the beginning of the fall semester leaving many students bunking in local hotel rooms. Please excuse the mess, heavy construction hits WSSU campus Alonzo Turner Contributing reporter Winston-Salem State has been digging itself into a hole lately. The image of the university has been tainted and made dirty by unappealing figures throughout the campus. Furthermore, these occur rences are starting to make headlines in the news. When an individ ual visits the campus, he or she cannot help but notice construction and new developments on the horizon. Bulldozers cranes and dump trucks are becoming part of the "norm" on campus. WSSU is one of the most rapidly growing institu tions in the UNC System. This became especially noticeable when enroll ment doubled over a five- year period. At the begin ning of the 2007-08 school year, over 5,800 students enrolled. Consequently, the rapidly growing enrollment has led to expansion in other fac tions of the university. In order to accommodate such growth, the univer sity continues to construct new facilities, including residence halls and class room buildings. Over the last two years, WSSU has constructed two residence halls: Gleason-Hairston Terrace (2006) and Foundation Heights (2007). In addi tion the university is cur rently renovating the his toric Brown Hall, which is scheduled to be ready in August for the 2008-09 school year. Melody Pierce, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, provided insight on the housing situation for the upcoming school year. "We've always had a great need for housing, we've always had more students needing housing than we were able to accommodate," she said. "However, through con struction, accommodations for housing will change." "With Brown coming back next year, we will have 2,300-plus beds on campus, which is an increase from the 2,000- plus beds that are on cam pus this year," she said. Pierce also noted that Brown Hall will have a fresh look with new bath rooms, new walls and an elevator. The renovation of Brown Hall and the Pit area, con struction of the new Nursing Building and plans for the Student Union (scheduled for the 2009-10 school years) are reflections of the ongoing changes at WSSU. vySSU choir singing centerstage Brittani Parker Contributing reporter The Winston-Salem State University Choir is accus tomed to being front and center. The University Choir was the first student organization on campus, back in 1892. Their recent performances have included appearances with the Winston-Salem Symphony and the Dvorak Symphony in Prague, Czech Republic. The choir program has achieved wide recognition from traveling the Northeast and Midwest on a 10-city tour. The choir had one of its largest performances yet on Sunday, April 20, when the singers performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. The last performance of the semester will be at 9:45 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at LJVM Coliseum for Spring Commencement Erica Mack, a sophomore, has been involved in choir and the Burke Singers for two years. "Choir enables me to travel, see new places, meet other musicians and develop life-long friend ships," she said. This school year the choir performed at coronation. REAVES, from page 1 Founder's Day, Scholar's Day and at Baptist Hospital. Auditions are held between fall and spring semester. The choir is more active in the spring semester, especially during the time of their Spring Tour. Joshua Lockhart, a mem ber of the University Choir and University Men, has been singing for years. Lockhart is also a spring 2007 inductee into the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity. "Anybody can sing, but being in choir helps you to have discipline to sing vari ous styles well," he said. Lockhart and Mack encourage others to join the choir program. "If you have a love for singing or a love for per forming, then choir is the best way to express it," Lockhart said. Choir director D'Walla Burke said that performing recently with the Winston- Salem Symphony was a "door opener" for the pro gram. Burke is the first African-American female to have a conducting debut through the Carnegie Hall Series. WSSU offers four choral Finding rewards in volunteering Marcus Cunningham Contributing reporter Photo by Garrett Garms The University Choir performs across the nation. organizations, which include University Choir, University Men, University Women, and the Burke Singers. In order to be a member of the University Choir you must audition. The Burke Singers, hand selected by the choir direc tor, is an elite group of women who sing spirituals about prejudices and injus Argus: How is the tran sition into division I pro gressing? Reaves; It is a chal lenge, but the transition is going well. There has been more cost than we anticipated. Our goal is not to have the students paying the majority of the bill through the athletics fee. We have to focus on raising more money. Argus: Most influential person in your career? Reaves: A number of people have helped me along the way. I would say my wife and John Jack Jarden, professor at my graduate school in Ohio. And I would have to say Ruth J. Simmons at Brown University, the first African-American president in the Ivy League. Argus: What is your vision for WSSU gradu ates? Reaves: To prepare them to be competitive in this global economy and workplace. The most important is to make sure they are pre pared to enter the work place. Argus: On a lighter note. Who is your favorite author? Reaves: Walter Mosley. My favorite book by him is "Devil in a Blue Dress." Argus: What do you miss about your home town Cleveland, Ohio? Reaves: Well, I don't miss Cleveland. However, I miss my family and friends that are still there. Argus: Being from Cleveland, what is your favorite sports team? tices of all groups of soci ety. "HBCUs are the sanctu ary for African-American composers and arrangers," Burke said. "University Choir sings several selec tions composed during the ; times of slavery. They help to reinforce our heritage and legacy." Reaves: I'm a really big baseball fan. I pull for the New York Yankees. I've been pulling for them since I was a little kid growing up in Cleveland. I go to spring training every year, although I had to cut it short this year because of my new job as chancellor. Argus: The thing you're most looking forward to at your installment? Reaves: Seeing old friends. There will be friends that go back some 30 years in addition to my family. And also getting my speech over with. Volunteerism is often overlooked, not only at Winston- Salem State but also in the neighboring community. However, the rewards of volunteer activities can last a lifetime. On March 20, Winston-Salem State was selected to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, an award given by the Corporation for National and Community Service in recognition of commendable com munity service efforts and service to underprivileged youth. During their time at WSSU, students must complete 15 hours of community service. For many, volunteer service does not stop after graduation. They discover a priceless satisfaction from knowing that they helped others, "Volunteering produces true rewards, not just acco lades," said Arthur Hardin, WSSU coordinator of commu nity service for the last four years. "There is a feeling of personal reward from seeing that young boy or girl that you once mentored reach their dreams and become every thing you knew they were capable of becoming," he said. Rontray Beatty, a junior who once served as a volunteer coach for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Crystal Coast Basketball Team, said that mentors are important. "Sometimes knowing where you come from can help you figure out where you want to go," he said. Hardin said that while many students and staff do vol unteer in their communities, there is always more that can be done. "We can do more than what we're doing right now," Hardin said. "Too often, community service can be seen as a Herculean effort when in reality, it does not have to be." Students or faculty looking for a way to give back can find information at co.forsyth.nc.us/. Or, visit the Career Services office in the Thompson Center. Give US a piece of your mind. Really, let us have it! □ Read and submit news stories n Leave comments about recent stories □ Answer polls about issues that affect your life Join the team! WWW, thenewsargus. com
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