Barak Obama Speaks In Greensboro
By Denecia Scott
Contributing Writer
The Greensboro Coliseum was o site of inspira
tion and hope as Barack Obama spoke on March
26th, 2008. It was as if a wave of clarity and as
surance for the future of America enveloped the
crowd, because of anxiety to see Barack Obama.
Students from neighboring colleges throughout
Greensboro were in attendance including the Uni
versity of North Carolina at Greensboro, Bennett
College, Greensboro College, and North Carolina
A&T State University. However, the crowd consist
ed of more than just students: The people ranged in
all ages, size, colors, and genders. One supporter
joked that, "There is more diversity in this room than
on most college campuses."
"This is history in the making,"proclaimed one
guard as we entered. The Stage was set with three
rows of fans sitting behind the podium and directly
below the Campaign Slogan. Obama Slogan for
"Change you can believe in" proudly hung between
the American and North Carolinian Flags.
The event began promptly at 1 pm, as the des
ignated time approached. Pastor Cardas Brown of
New Life Baptist Church (Greensboro, NC), gave a
heart felt invocation for the well being of all pres
ent, Senator Obama, and his campaign.
The silence of the masses was soon replaced
with "amen's" as Pastor Brown ended his prayer.
After the final amen, Sharon wheeler came forward
to lead the pledge of allegiance. Afterwards, the
"Yes We Can" chant began to ripple through the
building, as supporters anxiously waited for Obama
to appear.
After that, Aaron McCain, the Field Organizer
for Greensboro informed everyone how to get in
volved with the North Carolina Campaign. "Text
62262 with your name, number and email address,
and we will help you stay involved." Her message
had an obvious impact on the supporters, as the
anxiety mounted even more than before. The rest
lessness was apparent by the cheers, spurts of clap
ping, random screams, and chants of "Oh-ba-mo".
This method of having supporters' text to the cam
paign headquarters has been instrumental in the
Obama Campaigns success. Deborah Hawkins was
cheered on stage as she came forward to introduce
Senator Obama.
After endorsing his campaign for having "strong
commitment to family values", and for being "the
only Candidate with judgment and leadership to
oppose the Iraq war", she welcomed Obama to the
stage. Then came the moment we all had been wait
ing for, Obama walked across the stage waving at
his supporters that had rallied for him and shaking
hands with those on stage.
Barack began his speech by thanking all present
for their attendance, as well as thanking Hawkins
and the other speakers. Senator Obama reminded
the people that the event was a town hall meeting
and supporters would be allowed to ask him ques
tions at the end. The momentum in the crowd was so
vivacious, he had to repeatedly stop to allow for the
cheering and applause that seemed inevitable after
each proclamation he made. His Speech went into
every aspect of his platform for candidacy, includ
ing his reason for starting, his campaign 15 months
earlier.
Obama claimed the reason he ran was to ad
dress the issue Dr. King called fierce urgency of
man, "There is such thing as beginning too late, we
can not afford to wait to fix schools, to bring back
jobs and wages to America, to end the war in Iraq,
and to receive healthcare." The crowd seems to
respond the most to his reference to his plans for
making College Affordable. Obama provided that,
if elected, he would, "give 4,000 to each college
student, every year." Not a loan for $4,000 but an
investment into the future, as he proclaimed. All that
would be required would be community service on
the part of the student. " We invest in young people,
and they will invest in America. " After touching
on his future foreign policy he assured the crowd.
"I intend to fight for
you as president of
the United States of
America."
As Obama be
gan to take ques
tions he addressed
the issue of poverty
in America, college
tuition, immigration,
religious views, el
derly health care,
and energy. The
most controversial
question asked came
from a student who attended a conservative religious
school. Responding to a question from a supporter
about Jesus Christ and his administration, Obama
stated "I believe in a gospel of not just words, bul
deeds. You should treat everyone with dignity and
respect that's inherent of them being children ol
God." He explained how his environmental plat
form was based on "being a good steward of the
earth." Then he asserted that, "you don't have to
have faith to have morals", using his own mother as
an example of a moral person who did not believe
in the same decrees as he did. But every one has
the right to freedom of religion."
Obama concluded by asking all present to visil
his website with any questions or donations. In clos
ing he stated, "I am reminded every day of my life
if not by events than by my wife, that I am not a
perfect man, so I will not be a perfect president. Bul
if you vote for me I will tell you what I think, what I
stand for, I will be honest and listen to you. "
Tell The Voice what you think! What do you think
of Obama? All comments, concerns, and discussion
can be posted on the blog at www.fsuvoice.com.
Denecia Scott is a contributing writer for The
Voice, and a student at the North Carolina Agri
cultural & Technical State University in Greensboro,
North Carolina.
FSU: It’s Time For Some Big Changes
By Matthew WjTine
Contributing Writer
Throughout my years at Fayetteville State Uni
versity, I've been a part of the Student Government
Association, Vision-Student Leadership, Bronco Men,
and other organizations. One of the largest prob
lems all of these organizations faces each semester
is the lack of student involvement and attendance at
student organization meeting and functions.
One of the major reasons for such poor involve
ment is simply the lack of communication at FSU. As
a Resident Assistant at Hockley Honors Hall, many
of my residents inform me that they would be more
than glad to attend programs and become active in
different organizations, but they do not hear about
the events ahead of time.
For many years, there has been so much talk of
trying to bridge the communication gap between
the organizations and students, but little has been
done to solve the problem. There is a famous quote
that says "if you do the same thing and expect a dif
ferent result, you ore setting yourself up for failure."
That is exactly what has been happening here at
FSU for far too long.
I feel that one of the ways this problem can be
solved is for the Student Center installs on intercom
system, which can be used to advertise organiza
tional events and programs at FSU on a daily basis.
This will ensure that the majority of the campus will
be informed of the activities going on. Also, I be
lieve another way that will help bridge the commu
nication gap is for the Department of Residence Life
to become more connected with the organizations
on campus and promote programs to the Residence
Halls, since that is where the bulk of the students
are.
Also, being a member of "The Mighty Pi Chap
ter" of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., I believe that
the PAN-Hellenic Council as a whole should col
laborate more with the SGA, SAC, and other clubs
and organizations with their activities to draw more
students. In fact, when the PAN had the Football
Gome several weeks ago I was amazed at the hun
dreds of people at FSU who showed up to the event
to just stand and watch the game even after it was
moved from the Football Field to the Bond Practice
Field next to Bronco Hall.
Thus, it is evident to me that the students need
to see us, the Greeks, collaborating more with other
clubs and organizations. Not only do we need to
collaborate and be more visible to the students, but
us as Greeks need to become more unified and pro
mote a more positive image on campus.
It saddens me to think of what Greek life has
become at FSU. Visiting other college campuses
where I see strong Greek involvement on campus
and where there is true unity, the overall campus
is full of life. Right now I feel that our campus life
is on life support and we can bring it back if the
Greeks con set aside our differences and live out
the principles of organizations that are founders es
tablished.
To all the people of FSU, it is a time for a
change. It's time that we make a step forward and
not two steps back. Whether or not I am elected
SGA President this year I will do everything in my
power while I am here as undergraduate to restore
our campus to its former glory. Those of you who
are leaders, lead by example and those of you who
are followers, follow someone who has a sense of
direction. The time is now!
Pg. 10 VOICE April 9, 2008