since 1960 of, by, and for the Wesleyan community.'
NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE, ROCKY MOUNT. NORTH CAROLINA 27804
February 5, 2'007
‘UNC-Rocky Mount’
Elicits Mixed Reactions
Among NCWC Students
I that I
i rttnr
By Jessica D. Jones
and Jessica Bowen
Decree Staff Writers
Although the possible transition
joni NC Wesleyan to UNC-Rocky
Mount has generated widespread
Bmunity support, Wesleyan students
essed mixed reactions to the proposal
under consideration.
j ' Many area residents see the move
* as a boon to the local economy. Rocky
Pount Mayor Fred Tumage said the
; •^sition would be a “major resource
can help benefit the community, by
itting it back on its economical feet.”
A six-member review commit-
comprised of university presidents,
aimiversity administrator and a Raleigh
tomey—has visited campus and met
with the faculty, staff and administra
tion. It is preparing a report that will be
^viewed by Erskine Bowles, president of
the UNC system, and his administration.
The study group is expected to complete
its report in March.
If the review committee recom-
pendation is favorable, Bowles would
ten make his own recommendation to
the state Legislature, which would need to
■pprove the move. Along the way, the NC
^esleyan Board of Trustees would need
to endorse the plan as well.
Some observers believe that the
iview committee will endorse the pro-
isal, but that the state Legislature may
.. When he spoke during Wesleyan’s
Founders’ Day ceremonies, former
istee J. Phil Carlton predicted that if
the Wesleyan proposal is approved, other
[orth Carolina college towns would
SGA Treasurer,
Secretary Elected
By Decree Staff
Two students have been elected to
vacancies in the treasurer and secretary
)sitions of the NCWC Student Government
isociation
Sophomore William Boyd was elected
iasurer, while freshman Courtney Brown is
f the new secretary. The new officers succeed
lAmher Huggins and Amber Long, who
Mgned in the fall. Vice President Martin Hill
had been serving as interim treasurer
! A Greensboro native, Boyd said he had
jexpected a more “seasoned” student leader to
|nin for treasurer, but when SGA entered Janu-
I aiy without a replacement, he decided to run.
He garnered the necessary 50 signatures to
place himself on the ballot and ran unopposed.
The Nash Hall resident has set three
goals for his term in office. He hopes to:
* heighten transparency in SGA and its
ffealings with the college administration
• increase student involvement in SGA,
‘More would happen at a faster rate,” he
commented,
foster an improved sense of com
munity among SGA members. “If we all work
together, we can get more done,” he said,
Boyd has been in SGA since his fresh-
"isn year, A joint theatre and justice studies
Mjor, he has been active in campus theatrical
productions as a Wesleyan Player, He is a
wmber of the Black Student Association
®SA) and the hitemational Club.
Among her many duties as SGA secre-
will take roll at meetings, record
e niinutes, handle SGA correspondence and
publicize meetings and SGA-sponsored events.
Brown is a point guard on the NCWC
*Men s basketbdl team. She is active in the
Wl chapter of the Fellowship of Christian
Athletes and serves as secretary of the NCWC
unematography Club.
An Asheboro native, Brown is majoring
P^®'»uising and exercise science. She
''sides on campus in Edgecombe Hall,
«
clamor for comparable treatment from the
state. Members of the review committee
posed a similar question during a meeting
with Wesleyan faculty in January: What
sets North Carohna Wesleyan and Rocky
Mount apart from other communities?
If Wesleyan were to become part
of the UNC system, it is expected that
it would take three to seven years for
the college to be absorbed into the state
university system. It would need to
construct new buildings on campus, as
student enrollment would rise to more
than 2000, more than double the current
number of students in traditional day
programs. Among the UNC campuses,
smaller schools include UNC Asheville,
with around 3,000 students; and UNC
Pembroke, with almost 6,000.
According to reports in The Rocky
Mount Telegram, tuition costs would drop
as a result of NCWC becoming part of
the UNC system. Among current UNC
universities, UNC-Chapel Hill charges
the highest tuition and fees. According to
the UNC-Chapel Hill website, for North
Carolina residents the cost is $4,875.82
and out-of-state students pay $19,523.82,
which is still lower than NC Wesleyan’s
current costs.
There is considerable community
backing for a transition to UNC-Rocky
Mount, as evidenced by the capac
ity crowd that attended a rally in the
Minges Auditorium of the Dunn Center in
November. Diana Bell, a bank teller in at
tendance, stated “it is good that Wesleyan
might become part UNC, because it will
mean a richer economy for the city of
Rocky Mount.”
Many students favor the possible
transition to UNC-RM. Like many Rocky
Mount residents. Senior Richard Williams
believes the move would help the city’s
economy. “Although I am leaving next
May, I think it is good,” he said. “It wiH
bring in more students and tuition will go
down. It should be a technical school,
because with it will come more students
as well as more jobs for the folks in
Rocky Mount.”
Some students see in the proposal
a chance to change faculty and staff.
Sophomore Mike Davis believes that
“joining the UNC school system would
mean better faculty and staff.” Students
such as sophomore Jessica Daniel
hope the change would bring increased di
versity. “Wesleyan might become a more
diverse atmosphere as far as teachers are
concerned,” she said.
Some students expressed optimism
about the future of campus programs.
Junior Kevin Murphy suggested “if 8,000
attend NCWC, then students can expect
more variety in on-campus programs,”
Davis added that “with the rise of GPA’s,
students can expect a larger selection of
Fraternities and Sororities within Greek
Life,” noting that “having a larger Greek
Life would bring about more events and
more programs and provide more outlets
for students.”
Although some students anticipate
more diverse faculty and an improvement
in on-campus programs, others are not so
optimistic about the transition. Freshman
Erica Whitfield said “I have mixed
feehngs about becoming part of the UNC
school system. I came to NC Wesleyan
for the small teacher-to-student ratio. For
this school to become a part of the UNC
see UNC-RM on pg.2
Greek organizations conducted a recent Saturday morning clean-up the NCWC campus. Participants
included, from back left, Martin Hill, Greek Council Advisor Jasmin Spain, Krystal Mitchell, Shelly King,
and, front, Donterio Perkins, Kyla Mitchell, and Earl Randall. Hill, Perkins and Randall represented Phi Beta
Sigma. Decree Staff Photo.
It’s Time for Resolutions...or Not
By Hannah Smith
Decree Senior Staff Writer
It’s that time of year when many
Americans aspire to change their lives for
the better. Many NC Wesleyan stadents
and faculty plan to make changes in their
daily lives. The most common resolution
is to get in shape.
Professor Gene Heavner, of the
music department, stated that his resolu
tion was to “exercise more and get in
shape.” He said that he plans on working
with the exercise science majors and a
personal trainer in order to accomplish
this resolution,
Matthew Brooks, a sophomore, said
that his resolution was to “be healthy.”
Junior Paige CoUins is working towards
quitting smoking.
Dr. Lisa Kirby, assistant professor
of EngUsh, stated that she would like to
exercise more and eat more healthful
foods. She added that she would like to be
more organized, a goal that many teachers
and students alike would love to achieve.
Losing weight and getting in shape
seem to be popular objectives, but many
students resolve to do better in school.
Sophomore Bryan Butler stated that his
resolution is to be “back as a college
student by next semester.”
Dr. Erica Kosal, of the biology
department, stated that she would like
to make more time for her family in the
upcoming year. She noted that both she
and her husband have very busy jobs, but
now that there is a baby in the family they
have resolved to make time for family.
Many Americans struggle with hectic
schedules and the idea of spending more
time with family members is another
popular resolution.
Ahsha Wilson is one of many
among the NC Wesleyan community who
has stopped making resolutions. “I used
to make resolutions, but always forgot
them,” she said.
Sophomore Amanda Landi and
senior Shannon McGinnis consider
resolutions a bad idea, McGinnis explain
ing that we tend to use resolutions to
procrastinate. Rather than waiting until
New Year’s Day to begin, say, an exercise
program or other self-improvement
projects, McGinnis said that she believes
“You should just do it” now.
So why do we make resolutions?
Many Americans fail to follow through
with their resolutions and get disillusioned
and stop making them all together.
Sophomore Eric Smith said Americans
“make resolutions because they want
New VP of Development
Appointed by College
North Carohna Wesleyan College
has named Malcolm W. Woodall as
vice president of development, effective
December 1. A seasoned
fundraising professional,
Woodall has experience in
all phases of advancement
work at both private and
public institutions.
Most recently he
served as vice president
for advancement at
Lewis University near
Chicago. Other prior
positions include work at
Loyola University in New MalcolmW.
Orleans, where he was
vice president for instimtional advance
ment, and at East Carolina University,
where he was associate vice chancellor
for institutional advancement from 1995
to 2000.
Woodall earned his bachelor’s
degree in English literature
at Point Park University in
Pittsburgh and later served
Point Park as vice president
for instimtional advancement.
He earned his masters of
public management degree at
Carnegie Mellon University
and also served there in several
key development positions,
including as director of corpo
rate and foundation relations
Woodall and international affairs.
He and his wife, Lois,
make their home in Rocky Mount.
(Courtesy of NCWC Public Relations)
to believe they can make a change and
accomplish something they put their mind
to. If they can make this change, then they
get satisfaction.”
Another reason many continue to
make resolutions is that when we set goals
for ourselves we are more likely to follow
through with them than if the thought is
only lingering in the back of our minds.
One problem is that we tend to set
unrealistic goals for ourselves. We should
always set short-term goals and reward
ourselves when we’ve reached them.
As for myself, I have just about given
up on New Year’s resolutions. But I do
wish luck to members of the NC Wesleyan
community who have set goals for the
year. Persevere. If you keep pushing, those
resolutions might be met one day!
Students Honor
Memory of King
By Kimberly Garrett
Decree Staff Writer
NC Wesleyan students and faculty
took part in the recent “Unity March” that
marked the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. and a famous speech he delivered
in Rocky Mount.
The event was held on the morning
of January 15, the ML King Holiday.
Participants marched the mile from MLK
Park to Booker T. Washington school
gym. According to the Rocky Mount
Telegram, it was at the gym that King
gave a version of his “I Have a Dream”
speech on November 27,1962.
During the festivities, a state histori
cal street marker was unveiled in honor
of King’s speech at the gym. A ceremony
included the dedication of a plaque and a
performance by the NCWC Gospel Choir.
Clyde Peele, a sophomore, was
there to honor Dr. King. He said that he
admired civil rights leader because of his
considerable accomplishments and sac
rifices. Peele added, “If it wasn’t for Dr.
King, basketball wouldn’t be the same,
and I wouldn’t be here at Wesleyan.”
Lakisha Daniels, a sophomore in the
Adult Degree Program at NC Wesleyan,
agreed that if it was not for Dr. King, she
would not be at Wesleyan either. “I love
see KING pg.2