Basketball season
kicks off with the
Harvest Classic
page?
CAM
U
ECHO
EXCELLENCE WITHOUT EXCUSE
Interview with
NCCU hip hop
group, IZM
page 4
Issue 42
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
Durham, NC
November 19,1994
HBO comedian If one HBCU can close, they all
hosts talent show can/ -Miss CAA Maletha Dixon
By Melody C. Gause
Staff Reporter
Music, laughter and drama filled
B.N. Duke Auditorium on Nov. 2
at 7 p.m. The talent show is an
annual event that many students
look forward to and participate in
each year during NCCU’s Home
coming week. Many of the stu
dents seemed very pleased with
the performances.
It was hosted by comedian Carl
Banks who has appeared on BET’s
Comic View and HBO’s Def
Comedy Jam. He performed and
talked about subjects ranging from
the L.A riots to homosexuality.
Following his performance Miss
NCCU, Junelle Gist performed a
monologue entitled “Ms.Pat” by
George Wolf s The Colored Mu
seum . She played the role of a prim
black woman who has been
brainwashed to believe that slavery
is wonderful.
Following her, NCCU student
Melvin Ingram sang “Give Us This
Day” accompanied by SeniorClass
president Roderick Allison play
ing the trumpet. Erica McGray
captured everyones attention with
her rendition of “His Eye is on the
Sparrow”. Next
Alvin “Kool Aid” Robinson, a
junior from Charlotte, NC per
formed a stand up comedy act that
really left many people in tears.
He discussed issues ranging from
problems with Campus Security
to oral sex. Robinson says that he
has seen many comedians on tele
vision that are not talented. “I got
tired of watching everyone else on
TV. that were not funny and I
thought I could be funnier than
them. Hopefully in the future I will
be getting on Def Comedy Jam
after I graduate from NCCU.” The
last two performances were by
See "Talent"
continued on page 5
Mmmm! Mm mm!
Thanksgiving day again!!!
By Catilla Everette
Correspondent
“Set positive goals and begin your path. It does
not matter whatyour goals are, as long as you have
faith, belief, and determination you can achieve
them.” As these words fell from Miss Collegiate
African American's lips, the crowd at B.N. Duke
Auditorium was in awe.
Maletha Dixon visited NCCU's campus
Tuesday, Nov. 15, as part of her campaign as Miss
CAA. She will travel to each of the 117 Histori
cally Black College and University spreading her
aspirations for the plight of her people.
“My message to people, particularly the young,
is for them to grasp their own basic principles and
live by them," said Dixon. "By doing so, people
can accomplish anything without limitations.”
Dixon spoke of the importance that we, as a
Historically Black College, must fight for the
perseverance of all our HBCU’s everywhere. If
one HBCU can be closed, it can and will happen
to all of them.
Dixon then performed an original monologue,
“The Greatest Creation,” stressing the importance
of our female children and older women to see the
beauty they possess.
The Miss CAA Pageant was begun by Frank
Mercado in 1985. Mercado and members of the
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity of the Uni
versity of Miami created the pageant to
showcase and highlight the queens from
Historically Black Colleges and Uni
versities. The pageant is based on
intellectual achievements, not outer
beauty.
The pageant first aired on television
in 1990 nationally with the hopes that it
would help instill self-worth, pride, and
the appreciation of black beauty and
intellect as a role-model for black chil
dren and black people in general.
Dixon attended Jackson State Uni
versity on an academic scholarship and
Charles F. Moore Scholar stipend,
awarded for high academic honors. She
was on the National Dean’s List, listed
in Who’s Who in American Colleges
and Universities, chair of the Student
Advisory Council and a member of Al
pha Kappa Alpha Sorority. In between
touring the HBCUs, Dixon works as an
accountant on Kansas City, MO.
The program ended with presenta
tions from SGA President Tonya Hicks
See "Miss CAA"
Art by James Osier
con’tpg. 2
Academic Support Center offers hints, help on surviving finals
Shelli Carpenter
Staff Reporter
With final exams just around
the comer, students need a place
where they can get quality study
ing done. The North Carolina Cen
tral University Academic Support
Center provides students with an
alternative place to study with ex
perienced tutors in academic ar
eas.
Tutors are available in English,
French, Spanish, biology, math,
history, public administration, and
accounting. Both of the available
counselor-tutors are NCCU
graduates.
The director of the Academic
Support Center, Ann Edmonds,
describes the center as “a conducive
place to study when students are
out of class. The center has an
open-door policy.”
Located in the L.T. Walker
Complex, Room 311, the center is
open Monday through Friday from
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If requested, tutors
are available after hours.
The staff services about 250
students weekly. Sophomore
Domica Thomas said he prefers
going to the center instead of the
library because they provide tutors
and books.
Spanish tutor Felicia Brim said,
“I enjoy tutoring and I like to see
my students making progress. I
don’t mind taking 1 -2 hours out of
each day to tutor.”
Sonya Laws-Scott, the athletics
counselor-tutor, assists athletes and
nursing students. She said, “With
finals approaching, the center has
an excellent work environment, and
computers are also available for
students.”
In addition to extending the
hours beginning Dec. 1, the center
will offer specific programs to
help students prepare for final ex
ams.
James Henderson, the coun
selor-tutor for non-athletes and a
professor in public administration,
gave some hints for studying for
See "Finals"
con'T on pg. 2