North Carolina Central University / page two
November 14, 1990
Commentary
Gender is not the issue for female sports reporters Barry S criticism is unfair
By Jessica Johnson
Another controversial issue has
evolved in the world of sports. No,
it’s not about raising salaries for tlie
already overpaid NFL football play
ers or the ethics of drug testing. It’s
a question of whether women sports
reporters should be allowed into
male locker rooms.
“All reporters should be able to
report the news,” said NCCU head
football coach Hank Lattimore.” A
female reporter is not different from
a male reporter in terms of gathering
news.”
“Constitutionally, women have the
same rights as men to be reporters,”
said NCCU head basketball coach
Michael Bernard. “It’s not unnatu
ral for women to report on athletic
events. A woman should have the
same opportunities and privileges
as a man.”
While Bernard and Lattimore have
leasOTiable views concerning women
covering male dominated sports,
some men feel that the woman’s
place is not in the locker room, even
if it’s her job. Victor Kiam, owner
of the New England Patriots, de-
faided Patriot tight end Zeke Mowatt
for his alleged sexual harassment of
Boston Herald reporter Lisa Olson.
Kiam blamed the paper for “daring”
to assign a woman to cover football.
Sam Wyche, head coach of the
Cincinnati Bengals, refused to admit
a female reporter to his team’s locker
room, violating NFL rules.
Granted, the locker room is not the
most suitable place for a woman. A
room full of men meandering back
and forth nude and using language
that would make their mothers weak
at the knees is probably not the fa
vorite pastime of any female jour
nalist. But, the locker room is the
only place where the most accurate
quotes and reactions are given after
the game. Therefore, the question
should not be whether women should
be allowed in the locker room, but
how to make it more appropriate for
them.
The problem could be solved if all
NFL teams had a certain area sec
tioned off for all reporters. Report
ing objectives could be met and the
privacy of players would not be
violated. An athlete with a towel on
is probably just as uncomfortable
taking to a male reporter. Lattimore
opposes reporters rushing into the
locker room after a game without
The Campus Echo
Editor-In-Chief, Jessica Johnson
Associate Editor, Laureece Woodson
Business Manager, Albirda F. Jackson
Features Editor, Treva Murphy
Sports Editor, Corey Horton
Campus Editor, Kimberly Thornton
Art Director, Celeste Bean
Chief Photographer, Otha Swepson
Staff Writers, Vanessa R. Abernathy, Llaakytitedide Adkins,
John Alford, Roderick G. Freeman, Sereion Humphrey,
Michael E. Laidlaw, Kim Manning, Kim Payton, Terri
Rowland, Tawana Sects,
Jessica Johnson
Editor-in Chief
giving players some time to get settled.
“Players want to relax after a game,”
commented Lattimore. “Their privacy
is invaded when they are not ready to
give interviews.”
Also, with the issue of women, the
professionalism of athletes and coaches
is imperative. Mowatt’s alleged ac
tions seemed more typical of an im
mature college athlete, and discrimi
nation, as used by Wyche,should not
be tolerated.
Chauvinism no longer has a place in
sports. Whether men like it or not,
female sports reporters are here to
stay. Coaches and athletes must re
move thier biased feelings and not
only open the locker room to women,
but also unlock their minds as well.
By Vanessa R. Abernathy
Staff Writer
Marion Barry, mayor of Washington, D.C. was inteiviewed on the “Phil
Donahue Show,” Wednesday, Oct. 31, which was shown at the University
of the District of Columbia. The spectator audience was about 70 percent
black and 30 percent white respectively.
First of all, notice must be given to how often B arry has been asked to appear
on television programs since the scandal. Before such time, he received little,
if any, positive media coverage.
There were a few particulars within this broadcast that really annoyed me.
For example, the blacks were so quick to desert Barry; yet, they did not
question other white officials who were suspects of political or criminal
offenses.
Secondly, the whites said, “This is not a racial issue.” However, they are
usually the first to defend this idea, whether it has been claimed or not. How
many times in American history have we seen whites abandon a corrupt white
official?
Many people spoke of the corruption in Washington, D.C., inferring that
Mayor Barry condoned malicious activity in the city. However, not once did
they mention that the homeless literally live in the “honorable” president’s
backyard. Neither did they mention the drug deals that go on just blocks from
the White House. The entire situation is tired and sick to me. Citizens will
not speak out against the Reagans, Norths, Bushes, or the Nixons of
America’s political history; instead, they will run this black man through the
mill for being caught. B arry’s having been caught is the basic difference be
tween he and the others. Also, he admitted his wrong doing. The man is
hum an and capableof “personal” mistakes. The important thing is thathe did
not abuse his political position or authority while in office. His crime was
personal, and it must deal with as such.
No man has the right to judge B arry. His judgement will come from God and
his conscience. For those of you who say, “He has let the black kids down,”
give the black youth of D.C. more credit than that. They are not strangers to
reality. What he has done for them is to appear human, having made a mis
take and gone on with his life.
NCCU students snubbed at Pre-Dawn Dance
Youth of Today
By Beverly Knox
The Youth of Today are straying away.
As I watch T.V. I can easily see,
the youth of today are declining to be.
The drugs, guns, killing and so much destruction,
are hindering good causes to function.
When it gets so bad you can't stand little ones out of sight,
the fear begins to creep slowly into light.
You just have to pray that they have the sense to stay away.
I wish there were ways to help them understand,
but it is hard with the devil ruling much of the land.
Many friends I've known have gone on to that great cloud in the sky,
I guess we need to ask ourselves if we're living a lie.
The sign of the times are be-ginning to show,
if we will last longer I wouldn't know.
So, to the Youth of Today I just want to say,
I hope the end of your future is far, far away. ‘ ’
By Llaakyitedide Adkins
Staff Writer
Ponder this: all of NCCU’s fine
women spending hours upon hours
in the beauty salon or Kido Jones’
room trying to look good for the
elecuifying Homecoming Pre-Dawn
Dance. On the other hand, think
about all of NCCU’s fine men spend
ing hours waiting to get the “fly”
hair cut to accompany their jungle
shirts and baggy jeans for this most
unforgettable night on this campus.
The only thing that matters to an
NCCU student is getting to the pre
dawn dance and partying all night
long; but, what if you can’t get in,
then what?
This actually happened to many
NCCU students who bought tickets
in advance for the pre-dawn dance
this year. Occurrences such as this
contribute to some students’ beliefs
that our Homecoming didn’t have
the special outcome that it had in
the past. What are the causes for
such feelings? Is Homecoming start
ing to lose its status as an occasion
to look forward to? What can be
done?
Homecoming began with a se
ries of activities that had tremen
dous turn-outs. The choir ball, fash
ion show, movies. Blizzard of the
Bucks OTd t{ie step show were ac-
ftivities that indeed “pumped-up”
the student body for the pre
dawn dance, football game and
concert festivities. However, the
pre-dawn dance was a disaster.
NCCU students weren’t even
allowed to enter the dance. This
occurred because too many stu
dents from other colleges, high
schools and people who are
too old to even feel the desire
to party with clean-cut Eagles
were admitted. People shouldn’t
be able to walk on our campus
and take over. Workers at the
door should stop allowing out
siders in and start thinking about
the people whom pre-dawn is
actually supposed to be for.
High school students often
come on campus to perpertate
being adults. I am happy that
these individuals have the de
sire to become college students
before their time; but, let’s face
the facts, they often violate
campus rules. For these rea
sons, they shouldn’t be allowed
to campus affairs.
Admitting outsiders to the
dance raises another question.
What happens to student activ
ity funds of those who weren’t
allowed to enter the dance?
Many can’t understand the logic
behind the ticket booth not
wanting to refund students’
money. Individuals are aware
that it was just $ 1, but it’s the prin
ciple of the issue. If a ticket is
bought in advance, then it should
guarantee that a student enters the
function. If the student can’t get in
due to uncontrollable circum
stances, then a refund should be
given immediately.
Also, when outsiders come on
campus, it makes NCCU students
vulnerable. For example, a NCCU
student was beaten with a bat as
he walked from McDougald Gym
to Chidley Hall. His face was swol
len badly and he suffered numer
ous cuts. All ofthe problems with
Homecoming revolved around too
much outside influence. Dean
Bryant said, “If people can’t en
joy the fruit we already have, we
need to limit our activities to only
our 5,500 students.”
I agree with this statement How
ever, sometimes the administra
tion doesn’t realize that limita
tions they set on activities aren’t
always in the best interests of the
students; indeed, they often pe
nalize students. My suggestion is
that some of these bad occurrences
be taken under careful considera
tion, and after reviewing the pros
and the cons, hopefully we can
look for not just a better Home
coming but also an improved
atmoshpere at the institution as
well..