Vol. 42, Issue 10
ethodist College, Fayetteville, NC
www.methodist.edu/studentmedia
Thursday, February 5,2004
a
Established 196
Spring Convocation hails Black History Month
I
LIZ RUTLEDGE
Staff Writer
Top: One Spirit, the selective MC
vocal ensemble, performs Moses
Hogan’s “l”m Gonna Sing Til the
Spirit Moves in My Heart,” a song
written in 1995, eight years before
the influential composer's untimely
passing in 2003.
Right: Standing behind the Methodist
College seal in Reeves Auditorium,
Dr. Terri Moore Brown speaks about
diversity. Dr. Brown is the chair of
the Department of Social Work and
an MC graduate herself.
*
Monday’s Convocation cer
emony was a welcome-back to
students for the new semester, but the
stress lay mostly on the beginning of
Black History month. After chaplain
Rev. Wells gave the invocation,
Methodist’s president Dr. Hendricks
opened with a brief speech. He gave a
nod to the progress American blacks
have made in the years since the civil
rights movement, an evolution that he
witnessed firsthand in the South.
MC’s vocal ensemble One Spirit
performed “I’m Gonna Sing ‘Til the
Spirit Moves in My Heart,” a tradi
tional spiritual composed by the late
Moses Hogan. The addition of the
talented black musician’s piece helped
to reinforce the pervading theme of the
afternoon.
After the spirit was sufficiently
moved, SGA president Danielle Smith
introduced guest speaker Dr. Terri
Moore Brown, Methodist College
alumnus and chair of the Department of
Social Work.
Dr. Brown’s speech was multi
faceted as well as multi-cultural. She
gave a little bit of a history lecture,
discussing the work of several promi
nent African Americans such as
Marcus Garvey, Coretta Scott King,
W.E.B. Du Bois, and George Wash
ington Carver. Her words stressed
education and activism, and she urged
college students to read up and get
involved in social issues, repeating the
old saying that those who don’t leam
their history are doomed to repeat it.
She said that Black History Month isn’t
just about history, but stated more that
“... it challenges us, black and white,
to understand, appreciate, and remem
ber the black experience in America.”
Brown’s social interests were not
restricted to her own race. She empha
sized the vastness of America’s multi
cultural society and encouraged
everyone to leave their racial bound
aries and boxes behind and leam more
about others; that through education
and immersion can come understanding
Rev. Wells called out the bene
diction and waved the students back
out to their diverse country to make of
it what they would.
Learn to release positive energy with the Art of Tranquility
LAURA PHILLIPS
Staff Writer
As college students, we often
struggle on a daily basis with high
amounts of stress and anxiety. Tired
and exhausted at the end of the day, it
seems that many go to sleep only to
await the same routine of stress and
anxiety all over again.
Noticing the needs of students
and athletes at Methodist College,
Darlene Hopkins, our own physiologi
cal psychotherapist and the director of
student counseling, has opted to teach
a free non-credit course titled “The Art
ofTranquility.”
The main purpose of the course
is to teach students life enhancement
techniques through the practice of mind
management.According to Hopkins,
learning mind management techniques,
specifically how to focus your mind and
energy, will help diminish anxiety to
wards positive energy.
Many of these techniques are
practiced through yoga, meditation and
learning self-confidence.Hopkins first
noticed the need to start this course
while counseling students.
The needs ranged from students
dealing with high stress, test anxiety,
drug problems, and even athletes de
siring to enhance their performance on
the field.
Being a yoga practitioner for over
10 years, Hopkins decided to combine
yoga and sports psychology into her
class to meet the needs of all the stu
dents.
“Whether to benefit yourself, or
enhance your performance, this class
is for anyone interested in how to use
vour mind oroductivelv.” said Hookins.
The class, which is offered every
Tuesday at 3:30 to 4:30 in Trustees
room 315, is a trial run that will only
continue based on the demands of the
students. All equipment is provided for
the class; students need only to bring a
desire to leam and to open their mind.
Although the class has been in
progress for a few weeks now, any
one can still show up to enroll and ben
efit from the practice of mind manage
ment.
To reserve a space or to find out
more information on this class, contact
Darlene Hookins at 630-7150.