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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER
OF CHOWAN COLLEGE
mAis
FEBRUARY 1991 VOLUME 19, NUMBER 2
War in Middle East affects campus
Weathering a desert storm
By Ricky Gibson
Thomas Paine could not have
said it any better when he coined
the phrase, “These are the times
that try men’s souls.” So very true
are those words which apply to the
current world crisis in the Persian
Gulf and Saudi Arabia.
On the frontline near the Iraqi/
Kuwaiti and Saudi borders, the
tensions and realities of war are at
hand. Here in the United States,
Americans arc showing their sup
port as well as their disapproval
toward the troops in Operation
Desert Storm in various ways.
Betterstill, students here at Oiowan
College have taken part in activi
ties ranging from acandlelight vigil
to the signing of a “Support the
Troops” board in Lakeside Stu
dent Center.
Other supportive activities in
volve a letter of support signed by
over400 students, faculty and staff,
a candle placed in the window on
the third floor of the Columns
building, a prayer vigil led by
campus minister, KeUy B rame, and
some students have even submit
ted their personal feelings and
opinions on the war in the Persian
Gulf to the Smoke Signals staff.
Here are the responses:
To the Editor:
I am twenty years old and never
imagined in my wil4^t dream$
that my generation would live to
see a war. I am not happy about the
war, but 1 am proud to be am
American. I support our troops one
hundred percent. I wish and pray
for the troops and especially PFC
PaulJ. Albert for a safe return back
home.
Tina Saunders, Sophomore
To the Editor:
The war is devastating to me as
well as others who think about this
time of crisis. If one has not thought
about the war they should stop and
think and realize just what is hap
pening and has happened already.
There are thousands of our Ameri
can troops representing our coun
try for peace with Iraq and their
leader, Saddam Hussein. Saddam
doesn’t care about freedom and
peace as long as he has his money
and power to do as he so desires.
He will try to do anything possible
to win the war over our nation.
Even though the war has been going
on for some time now, think about
the troops who are fighting for the
freedom and free will of Amer
ica—the home of free.
These troops are very coura
geous and brave people fighting in
a dangerous and deadly war. Our
troops are Americans and I know
they will make it because God is by
their side every step of the way.
The POW’s that have been cap
tured are treated like animals. They
are forced to do things by the Iraquis
command. It is really something
bad to think about those POW’s
being beaten and brutally punished
all because of Saddam’s will over
wanting power and money. These
POW’s are suffering every day
because they can’t be free. They
have to be tough and strong indi
viduals and think to themselves
that freedom will come sooner.
Power and money can’t buy
love, support, and freedom. We
should support the troops anyway
possible and let them know that
America is behind them 100%. I
hope the war ends soon so our
American soldiers can see the
happiness and freedom that will
hopefully come for the sake of our
nation surrounding us today.
Sheila Glover, Freshman
To the Editor:
Official Statement of Muslim
Students’Association:
In view of the alarming state of
affairs and potentially devastating
military confrontation for the mil
lions of lives at risk, and with re
gard to the complex scenario this
presents to Muslims and non-
Muslims in the world, the NA
TIONAL MSA OF THE US AND
CANADA emphasizes the follow
ing:
Islam, fundamentally and by its
very definition, is committed to
universal peace and therefore
stands unequivocally against all
and every aggression, including
the forc^ annexation of lands.
While we recognize that the colo-
1IIBK!
Students sign canvas of concerns for Middle East Crisis located in Lakeside Student Center.
nial powers drew the borders which
now divide the Arab and Muslim
World to serve the colonial inter
ests, and we hold dear to our hearts
the dream of Arab and Islamic unity
and call upon all Muslims to strive
toward achieving such grand goals,
we do not agree with the method
adopted by Saddam Hussein in this
regard. We feel true unity can only
come about through the free choice
of peoples and not through aggres
sion and force.
The peoples of Kuwait, Iraq and
Student tribute honors King
By Krystal McDowell
Marks H^ Auditorium was the
location of a well-deserved and
long overdue tribute to Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. The presentation
was sponsored by the African
American Student Asociation and
led by its president, Jemuel
Johnson. Johnson opened the trib
ute with a brief and informing
history of the life of Dr. King.
Many students were more than
happy to speak on behalf of a great
le^er like Martin Luther King.
Jason Andrea, a guest speaker,
justified his participation by stat
ing, “because so much needs to be
done about racial relations,” “I’m
just proud!” was the reply from
Willie Hairston.
The evening ended with an
unexpected but truthful message
from sophomore Sean Dottery.
This tritnite to Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. was a first here at Chowaa
Hopefully, this will be the start of
many more annual celebrations
honoring Dr. King.
Students joined Kelly Brame, campus minister (right) in a moving
tribute to Martin Luther King in recognition of his birthday.
Spring semester brings new Residence Directors
By Amy Mannarino
The new semester has brought
on a series of new changes for
Chowan. As with all change, the
new resident assistants have been
met with some resistance while the
students contemplate how the new
staff members will affect their lives.
Perhaps the students will find the
following article to be helpful in
easing their minds for the follow
ing information should clear up
suspicions that the new R.D.’s
majored in concentration camp
management.
The women’s campus has re
ceived three new staff members.
Mrs. Diana K. Freshour is Belk’s
new full-time R.D. She and her
husband, Patrick, a former Ma
rine, came to Chowan from Flor
ida where Mrs. Freshour gradu
ated from the University of Central
Florida with a B.S. in finance.
Previously, she attended Meredith
College. They made the transfer to
Chowan because Mr. Freshour
wished to attend the college, but
now Diana, who has managed a
computer company and been an
associate producer for a Florida
news station, believes that she
belongs working in a college envi
ronment. After she pursues her
master’s degree, she wishes to
continue her career in student
development.
Mrs. Inez Gibbs, with husband,
Leon, is Jenkins’ new R.D. She has
over 30 years experience in the
educational system, she also has
business and real-estate experience.
She has a B.A. fi'om Fisk Univer
sity, an M.S. from North Carolina
A & T University, and has done
further studies at Qiapel Hill at the
University of N.C. Her future plans
involve managing her son, Tony’s
recording and stage career.
The third new R.D. on the
women’s campus is Ms. Loueen
Leonard. She’s the new Assistant
R.D. in Jenkins. We wish to give
Loueen a special welcome because
she is a Chowan alumna. She says
she “is delighted to be back at
Chowan”. When asked the big,
“Why?”, she replied, “this place
grows on you.”
Switching to the other side of
campus, we have five new mem
bers of the R.D. staff. Terry Bar-
low, Simons’ newR.D., is married
to Leslie Bariow, a registered nurse.
Mr. Bariow was previously a
teacher in Alaska. He attended
Southeastem Seminary and was a
hospital chaplain. He likes woric-
ing with college students and
wishes to continue in a college-
related career. Daniel Butler,
Mixon’s new R.D., is a native of
Richmond, Virginia. He’s done
extensive traveling in southern
Africa and Latin America. Both
Mr. Barlow and Mr. Butler are
interested in the history of Mur
freesboro. David Maas is Parker’s
new A.R.D. He received a B.S. in
physical education at Appalachian
State University and remained there
for two years to assist in coaching
their wrestling team. Larry Meeks,
Parker’s newest R.D., should be a
familiar face to some of you. He
previously worked in the athletic
department at Chowan. He is also
a former Marine who served in
Vietnam. It is debatable whether
Mrs. Melissa Goff, Durm’s R.D.
should be called new. Her hus
band, Steve, was Duim’s R.D.
during the fall semester. One detail
which is not so familiar is their six-
week old daughter, Megan. How
does she do it?
Well, that’s the rundown. I think
it’s safe to say that the new R.D. ’s
are people too. They are all nice
and not the least bit militant. I hope
that this article will lead readers, if
any, to enlightenment. PEACE.
The 1991 edition of IV/w’jW/io
Among Students in American Jun
ior Colleges wiU include the names
of 29 students from Chowan Col
lege who have been selected as
national outstanding campus lead
ers.
They join an elite group from
more than 1,400 institutions of
higher learning in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia and several
foreign nations.
Outstanding students have been
honored in this annual directory
siiKe it was first published in 1934.
Students named this year from
Chowan College and their
hometowns,are: Kenneth Akers,
Raleigh, N.C.; Christopher
Aycock, Seaford, Va.; Susan
Bailey, Bluemont, Va.; Lisa Bunce,
Steffer, Forida; Michael Chrissie,
the other countries affected by the
crisis are innocent of the illegiti
mate and unwise actions of the
governments of the region and thus
have our full sympathy. The
peoples of all the states in the re
gion especially the Kuwaits are
known for their generosity and
support for their brethren all over
the world. We thus stand strongly
against depriving the Kuwait and
Iraqi peoples of food and medicine
as a means to redress the brutal
actions of Saddam Hussein.
The Muslim Students’ Associa
tion in accordance with its firm
belief in the above principles hopes
that all parties will exercise re
straint and commit themselves to
resolving this dispute through
measures ending the conditions that
precipitated the confrontation. We
further hope that all the parties will
reflect on the immediate and far-
reaching devastation which war
would cause on life as is and life to
come and will seek a peaceful reso
lution of the crisis.
Candlelight vigil
supports troops
29 students named to
Who’s Who in junior colleges
Sanford, N.C.; Benny Telford
Copeland, Suffolk, Va.; Allison
Crouch, Noriina, N.C.; Stacey
Curry, Va.; Dennis Dunlow,
Colerain, N.C.; John Falls, Ear-
leysville, Va.; Julie Godwin,
Ahoskie, N.C.; Tyrone Goins,
Chapel Hill,N.C.; Susan Harmon,
Ahoskie, N.C.; Andrea Hines,
Hillsborough, N.C.; Yoko Kato,
Japan; Graham Komegy, Warsaw,
N.C.; Elizabeth McCarthy, Qin-
ton, CT; Jill Overton, Ahoskie,
N.C.; Christopher Pitt, Hopewell,
Va.; Gary Robinson, Aurora, N.C.;
Gregory Rollins, King George, Va.;
Kelvin Sprangley, Whitakers,
N.C.; Reginald Taylor, Prince
George, Va.; Frederick Vinson,
Murfreesboro, N.C.; Joyce Wil
liams, Hopewell, Va.; Queen Es
ther Williams, Greenville, N.C.
By Krystal McDowell
The Susan Kerr Gazebo, under
a star-filled sky, was the perfect
setting for a candlelight service
held on February 5 in honor of our
troops in the Middle East.
Students, faculty, and residents
of Murfreesboro attended the
thirty-minute program. In spite of
a chill in the night-air, there was a
certain warmth in the atmosphere
as the families and friends of
numerous service personnel held
candles in support of their effort.
They prayed for a quick and safe
return of our troops.
The program was led by Jemuel
Johnson, sophomore, and president
of the African-American Student
Associatioa Prayer was led by
Reverend Thomas Caulkins, pas
tor of Murfreesboro Baptist
Church. The program was com
pleted by a brief inspirational
speech by Dr. Ken Craig and a
song by freshman Tonya Watson.
Following are excerpts from Dr.
Craig’s Speech:
I’m surethat you’ve noticed that
we now have a new vocabulary:
words like scud alert, tomahawks,
and patriot missiles have become
part of our everyday speech. Many
in our land had never heard of
Saddam Hussein until just a few
months ago. And how many of us
knew that Riyadh was the capital
of Saudi Arabia—until we started
watching the news coming out of
that city night after night?
Along with these new words
and new information we notice a
whole new range of feelings: anger
at aggression; maybe some of us
are fnistrated by the screening of
news which is filtered more than it
was during Viemam; we react with
horror at the pain which we see; we
fear the kind of pain which we
know is there but aren’t able to see;
and for some of us—most of all—
there is the despair which comes
from being separated from those
whom we love.
There is something different
about the war this time. Saddam
watches CNN, and we do, too, to
see an interview with Saddam. We
also watch and see computer tech
nology being used as it never has
been used before. This time war
feels, if only for a moment, like a
sophisticate Nintendo game.
The taking of land, that single
act which most nations are guilty
of, and the response in war in—to
put it simply—not the way God’s
children are supposed to act. When
civilians, and women and men in
unifomi die, God takes no sides,
for his children are suffering and
dying.
Perhaps some of you have heard
the stories about napalm which was
dropped during the Vietnam war.
As some of the soldiers on the
ground watched the planes in the
distance drop napalm on small
villages, the men jumped with
excitement and joy because they
had scored a victory. Later, the
same soldiers had the responsibil
ity of going into the villages to
assess the damage. It was then that
their shouts of joy quickly turned
to free flowing tears as they saw
what napalm does to little chil
dren, to women, and to men. War is
notNintendo. War leaves us numb,
and causes us to shed our tears.
But even in this time of pain,
loneliness, and crisis, it is not a
time of hopelessness. Just as these
candles give us light on this dark
night, so too, the Prince of Peace
gives us hope.
Tonight we have gathered to
support our troops - and we cer
tainly should. We’ve also gathered
to support ourselves for many of us
are separated from our family and
friends. But maybe tonight we can
also find some comfort. It is this
God who gives us both comfort
and hope tonight that war and pain
will not be the last word.