COMMENTARY
University’s Mace Has No Place
I was appalled at the
2001 Fall Convocation to
see the “Teacher of the
Year”, Dr. Peter L. Valenti
carrying an object that is
described as a war club and
a symbol of authority. The
Fall Convocation Program
description of the
University Mace read,
“Originally, the mace was
modeled after war clubs
carried into battle by 12‘''
century officers. Today it is
used as a symbol of
authority”. This sends
mixed messages regarding
“authority”. Presently the
University Mace continues
to be displayed and
marched in academic
processions. This is not an
accurate representation of
Fayetteville State
University.
Furth|^ore, during the
12* centH^when the war
club was used, the social
economic, and political
system tJgfcxisted was
termed l^Balism. It
included three distinct
classes of people comprised
of nobles, serfs and slaves.
The word “slave” was used
to identify the Slavs. Slavs
and Moslems were used as
slaves throughout Medieval
Europe. I’m extremely
perplexed on the inception
of the University Mace
because it symbolizes
dominance and power to
control someone.
On March 11, 2002,1
had a conference with
Chancellor McLeod and
presented my views and
ideas. He was unaware of
the implications of what the
University Mace
represented. A promise was
made that he would
investigate and reply back
to me. I understand that
issues are not settled
overnight. However, the
Chancellor is departing
within the next few months
and I would be
disappointed if the issue of
the University Mace fell to
the wayside.
After thirty years of
military service, I retired as
a Command Sergeant
Major. I understand the
horrors of war and the
mindset of bad people.
People in power at times
abuse their authority while
causing suffering and pain
to innocent people. I’ve
participated in military
operations with the
Vietnamese, Cambodians,
Panamanians, Iraqis,
Croatians, Muslims, Serbs,
and Kosovarians. From
these operations, I learned
that people in power would
abuse their authority. I
have visited the death
camps in Germany, walked
the battlefields of
Normandy, and visited the
gravesites of my fellow
comrades in Europe. In
war people die for either
defending their views, or
freeing other people from
oppression.
After reca^y viewing
the “Jim Ci^^Laws” on
UNC Television, I have a
better understanding of the
mental andd|^sical
suffering thnj^ople
endured in the South
because of the color of their
skin. It was then I gained a
deep sense of pride and
belonging to Fayetteville
State University. The seven
visionaries of 1867, that
founded Howard School
was a prelude to Dr. Martin
Luther King’s peaceful
approach to segregation
and dehumanization. Along
with the several names
changes, to include three
relocations before it became
known as Fayetteville State
University, significant
people from the Black
Community and previous
Chancellors contributed to
the growth and expansion
of the University, while
enhancing the institution’s
image. This mode of
thinking attracted people of
different cultures to attend
this institution. In 1963,
Fayetteville State hired
teachers from China, India,
and to include its first white
teacher. The
aforementioned was
accomplished without the
use of a war club, but rather
with the mind, while
exercising free will,
courage, and creativity.
Therefore, I propose that
the University Mace is
retired and not marched in a
procession comprising of
intellectuals. In its place,
adopt a prism with the
University Seal, and borne
by the Chief Marshal in the
academic processions.
Each side of the prism
would represent the
existence of Fayetteville
State University for the
19‘\ 20*, and2P‘
Centuries. The base would
represent the seven
visionaries while the apex
would represent the
Chancellor that oversees all.
The white light that refracts
through the prism would
represent all cultures. My
idea of a prism originated in
my astronomy class during
the Spring Semester of
2002, in the L;^^ Science
Building at FajJPeville
State University. This is a
tioie representation of
Fayetteville St^^
University.
Respectfully,
John A. Sampson, Jr.
Bronco Freshman Feels Right at Home
By Akeshia Hudson
Staff Writer
We’ve come a long way
from our first day of
kindergarten. For years, we
have always talked and
dreamed about “college
life.” The dream has
finally come true.
We are finally adults,
away from mom and dad,
and most of all getting a
higher education. Packing
bags and loading boxes
were only a taste of what
was soon to come. On
August 17, 2002, the real
journey began.
For many of us, this was
the first time really being
away from home. With that
in mind, I think it’s pretty
safe to say that it was a
huge step. As I venture
back to first arriving here at
FSU, “confusion is the
first word that comes to
mind. Payments, long lines,
and bad directions were
only the beginning of our
major transition.
Although some of our
freshmen days here have
been slightly turbulent, I
must say that the Bronco
family has extended a very
waiTn welcome to the class
of 2006.1 can recall seeing
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many new faces and
looking up at the campus
buildings and getting a
warm feeling. It was like I
had finally found my niche.
“This is where I need to
be,” I told myself
Instantly, FSU was my
home away from home. I
have always assumed that
upper-classmen were going
to look down on us
freshmen, but this was not
the case. “I’m no more than
you. I’m no less than you.
I’m a student here just like
you,” said my Orientation
Leader, Lakiva Clark. That
may not have been a lot to
some, but I have realized
that it is those little things
in life that make a world of
difference. A smile can
sometimes make the
difference between a cloudy
day and a sunny day.
I’ve always been told
that my college experience
would be some of the best
years of my life, and so far,
this seems to hold true.
Some days have been better
than others, but I have
learned that this is simply
the cycle of life. It has
always been my personal
opinion and I’ve learned
through experience that life
is, as the song goes, “what
you make it.”
There are those who sit
around and await
opportunity and we have all
be guilty of this at one
point. My problem is that
some people are not just
sitting; they’re sleeping!
Opportunities are right in
front of us and we must not
refuse to open our eyes and
take charge.
Unlike high school, no
one is going to point out
what’s in our best interests.
The time has come for us to
act on our own desires. It
would be inhumane for us ,
not to interact and learn
from our fellow Broncos..
However, we must always
establish our own identities.
It was always cool in
high school to do what
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