Newspapers / The Carolina Times (Durham, … / May 18, 1985, edition 1 / Page 4
Part of The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
4-THE CAROLINA TIMES-SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1985 International Festival Offers Fun And Color By Jocelyn Daniels The brightly colored flags hung over the heads of the ap proximately 300 people in the North Carolina Central University Student Union. Before, them Linda McGloin danced her way down to the floor while perfectly balancing a lighted candle on the top of her head. The audience applauded ap preciatively this graceful display of skill and that of eight other Paraiso Dancers. The “Dance of the Lights” which, according to Ms. McGloin, symbolizes an ex pression of joy, was one of several presentations during the International Festival held at NCCU on April 18. Presented for the past four years, the festival has grown from a backyard get-together to a full-scale community event displaying fine regalia. “It’s just a strange thing how much this festival has grown,” said Dr. Eugene Eaves, who along with his wife organized the first festival. “It started in our back yard,” he .explained, “by in viting friends from different parts of the world. “Everyone brought a covered dish and we ate together,” he continued. “We . even painted signs on card board to show country representation. We just had a. good time sharing among each other. Each year, more and more people have become in volved, so we decided to ex pand it and move ti to Central so that even more people could share the experience. “The festival,” he added, “is designed to acquaint the community with the beauty of the world. It’s not based on political sanctions or any of that. It’s just a friendly way to get together and show how much alike we are.” Nevertheless, each of the presentations portrayed characteristics of its specific culture. Among this year’s program participants were Brother Yusuf and Hayes Samir, the Sullivan Dance School, the Prescott Ensemble, Rafiq Bandukwala, accompanied by Romesh Mathur and The Lit tle German Band Dancers. “I love to do it,” said Rhesa Versola, one of the Paraiso Dancers. “I have been dancing a long time. But it was just last year that we officially.organiz- A GROUP OF DANCERS entertain the crowd at the recent Inter national Festival. The Festival is sponsored each year by the NCCU Center for International Studies. (Photo by Mayfield) ed, gave ourselves a name and started performing more. “It’s a way to be enterpris ing and act as an ambassador for my country, to bring the Philippino and island spirit to many different people.” From all indications, the participants’ mission was ac complished. “It’s really nice,” said Rosalind McCormick, a NCCU junior English major from Charlotte. “The dif ferent things (songs, dances, displays) are what make it so interesting. This is my first time coming and I’ll probably come again next year. Festival hostess Gwendolyn Bell did everything to ensure that end. “As hostess,” she explain ed, “my job is to make sure that the guests are comfor table, give assistance, direc tions, and just help make sure the festival goes on as plann ed. “The reaction to this year’s festival,” Ms. Bell asserted, “has been very good, very suc cessful.” Ms. Bell explained that suc cess is measured in several ways — by the number of par- ticipattjs, the attendance of the general public, and the com ments of the guests. Aseelah Rashid, first-time festival goer, decided to attend at the personal invitation of Ms. Bell. “I came because 1 am in terested in different people and customs,” Ms. Rashid said. “And I found what I came for.” The Y.E. Smith second grade teacher’s assistant ex tended the spirit of the festival ■ by dressing in a white crinkled gauze pantsuit designed from a pattern from India. The loose fittting garment was ac cented by a matching African head wrap, dangling earrings, a wooden necklace and a 'multi-colored Kenya bag. “I’ve learned what we all know,” Ms. Rashid pointed out, “that no matter what your culture, religioj have to come togeth# what we need to be j grow to understanj other.” ' The only thing nbssi, the festival, Ms. Raj], ed, was her children “I definitely wiUcj, year,” she vowed, “jj them. Children need) early not to judge bee differences. We as have too much in COB] Dr. Eaves, found, festival and NCCU and director of the ( International Studies ed that the festival is of the events that pro ternational understar camaraderie. “We are all in ti together he said. > heed to know how ws total picture of that i Eaves emphasized only be accomplished such events as the tional Festival when and caring take place “It’s like a pie,” i fered as an analogy, of looking at ourselv, one slice, we need together and learn hi in the whole pie.” Three Teams Comprise Triang Trophy’s Commitment To Softl (Continued From Page 3) OFF iu I HE RACES ■ right center field. ■ A Triangle Trophy player takes off to first base after hitting a sharp single to (Photo by Mayfield) Dr. Eaves Tries To Bring A Giobai Picture To Students (Continued From Front) start thinking globally. The ma jor issues confronting the world today such as trade relations, the allocation and conservation of resources, population, 'energy, poverty, inflation, etc.', will all require international solutions. Finding solutions to the con cerns mentioned, is a challenge Eaves is ready to tackle. Already plans are being made for several trips abroad. Students are scheduled to travel to South America to study art and Spanish, to Greece to study history and France to study French and cultural civilization. It’s the type program that Eaves not only strongly ad vocates, but has, himself, taken advantage of. o, Eaves’ longtime interest in in ternational studies has been demonstrated by earning a ijiaster’s degree in French and a doctorate in Romance Languages. He was a Fulbright Scholar and spent six years in France stu dying the language and the coun try. His tenure at NCCU as a French professor, administrator, director of ^he Honors Program, director of the Graduate and Pro fessional Opportunity Program and professor of Modern Language, have all widened his global interests. His determination to enhance international studies and understanding is not only seen through his professional life, but also through his personal life. With his wife, Quincey, to whom he gives all the credit, the Eaves have been sponsoring an International Festival for the past four years to promote better communication and understan ding among people of all na tionalities. / The event, which began in 1981 in the back of their home with fun, food and fellowship, has now grown into a well-attended and well-organized yearly event held on the campus of NCCU. For Mrs. Eaves, who shies away from any public recognition of her successful achievements in this area, and Eaves, it’s a labor of love that brings people together and promotes sharing and caring. That same interest is promoted when Eaves steps into the pink ’ Honors Building on the hill at NCCU, which also houses CIS. CIS, which is funded through foundations, donations and federal grants, promotes five ma jor objectives: 1. To strengthen and expand the international dimensions of the university campus; 2. To expand and strengthen the university’s present programs and services to its international student enrollment and to in crease the number of interna tional students enrolled at the university; 3. To provide for increased faculty involvement in the design of new and revised curricular programming which will lead to the formation of minor cluster concentrations in international studies; 4. To foster renewed interest at the university in the international development of the community, state and region; and 5. To support and participate in cooperative and academic pro grams beyond the university. Future program expansion in cludes residencies by diplomats and international scholars and student exchange programs. Already on schedule for the fall of 1985, NCCU will welcome to its campus His Excellency, Dr. Clovis Maksoud, Ambassador of the United Arab League to the United Nations. “To some people,” Eaves said, “the program may seefn fiale in comparison to a major discipline, but we have to start somewhere. ‘'When all is said and done,” he added, “we are a part of the world, not just standing alone, but part of the sum total and we need to find out how and where we fit into the world.” No doubt, the Nohh Carolina Central University Center for In ternational Studies under the directioil of Dr. Eaves, has made an excellent beginning. must agree to and sign a list of 18 rules that govern the organiza tion. Violation of these rules means being put off the team. “Fortunately,” Alston said, “I’ve not had to make an exam ple of anyone. I don’t think we will have to.” In many ways, the Triangle Trophy teams reflect Alston’s outlook and perspective on life. In other words, he runs the teams like he runs himself. Determination, dedication and just sheer guts form the cor nerstone of Alston’s life in everything he does. For example, Alston came to Durham from Pittsboro in 1958 to play baseball with the defunct Durham Rams, an all-black American team that was part of the old “Negro” League. But baseball began dying in Durham during the early Ws, and in I960, Alston, prompted by his longtime friend and fellow ballplayer, David Parker, switched to soft- ball. He started with the old White Rock Church fast pitch team. At about this same time, Alston, who has been with Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill for 18 years, starting off as a dishwasher and working his way to a research assistant in the im munology department, decided it was time to fulfill his lifelong dream of being in business. “I researched 22 businesses, looking into what the marketplace needed and what op portunity existed forme,” Alston said. “I settled on the trophy center because Durham did not have one, and because softball was then almost as big as it is now.” Thus was Triangle Trophy launched. About 1972, Alston, Parker and some other players formed a slow pitch softball team, spon sored by B&G Grill. Then, accor ding to Alston, Modified Pitch softball came to Durham. About half of the B&G team wanted to switch to modified pitch. About half wanted to stick with slow pitch. Alston took the slow pitch aggregation and formed Triangle Trophy’s first softball team. Five of today’s players on the men’s team were among the original Triangle Trophy softball players. They are: David Parker, who once played and coached, but now just coaches; Albert “AB” Allen, a hardhitting first baseman; James (Manto an outfielder; Gerald catcher and pitcher, anc “That’s another om keys,” Alston explain! have a nucleus of leada has been with the team years. You can’t besuo anything without the rigi ship.” So in 1970, Alston lai business. In 1974, he lam softball team to helpadv business. In 1977, Alston laun bus service. “We had a tournai Greensboro,” he ei “and we left Durham team spread out over 12: ly four of the cars goi game. Triangle Trophy game. I promised mys whenever I got to the gi team would be there, tot So Alston bought a bu Now, three buses lata another lucrative busincs “So I guess you cansa my family, my business a ball,” Alston conceded.' all been a lot of fun ai fitable, too. What more' ask?” In 1979, foreign investors owned less than one percent of American farmland. An estimated 700 million persons till the soil In China. SAVE TIME • MONEY • ENERG' 10 Ride The Bus Lakewood/ South Square Route 10 Lakewood/South Square links the Lakewood area, Duke Street Center, YM- CA, Hope Valley, Lakewood Shopping Center and South Square Mali to Downtown. Points of Interest Hope Valley South Square Mall Lakewood YMCA Lakewood Shopping Center Duke Street Center BUS INFORMATION 688-4887 DUKE POWER COMPANY TRANSn SERVICE
The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 18, 1985, edition 1
4
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75