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Winston-Salem Gkeensboko High Point vol. xxiv no. 51
The Chronicle
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Freshman sees college as challenge
This is the first m a series of stories about
NLC Agricultural and Technical University
freshman Brian Grant. The Chronicle will follow
Brian Grant through his first year at the histor
ically black college. Stories about how Brian
handks the challenges facing first year students
will appear periodically.
By DAMON PORD
ryrarmr
Toothpaste? Check.
Bed linen? Check.
Shoes, fridge, clean underwear?
Check, check, check.
One by one Brian Grant went down the list
making sure he had everything he needed
before getting on Interstate 40 in Hickory and
heading east to Greensboro.
Grant, 18, was oae of thotisands of fresh
man who arrived on the campus of N.C. Agri
cultural and Technical State University to
begin their quest for a degree by the year 2002.
He says he's not the least bit intimidated by
his new surroundings
"I'm not nervous because (God) put me
here," Grant said. "It's just time to start over.
You've got to reestablish your name, ItH be
hard, but everything will work out.
* "1 usually don't have a problem motivating
myself. I got my priorities straight. That and
I'm not worried about what pet^le think. If I
don't fit in, that's fine."
With the help of his mother, father; Clinton
and younger brother Andre, Grant moved
boxes and clothes in the tiny room that be win
call "home" for the next year.
"You're full of anxiety when you have the
first one leaving the nest," his mom, Diane
Grant, said. "Brian has always been responsi
ble: I know hell be an right because he has
God as the center of his life:
"I just want him to get a rounded educa
tion and to be content socially. He's going to
See Freshman ?i A10
Community Voices
Monday night President Bill Clinton addressed
Americans after testifying earlier in the day before
grand jury that he had a relationship with Monica
Lewinsky that was "not appropriate." Depending
on what evidence independent counsel Kenneth
; Starr is able to produce, Clinton may face lego!
action. We asked area residents what should hap
pen to the President now.
Donald Blum
"The whole thing
needs to be dropped The
investigation has been
tampered with on both
sides of the issue. Let the
President take care of
his job. There are bigger
issues other than some
one cheating on their
wife. It's serious."
A*-. ..' .
Syr?fa Bakmr
"I think President.
Clinton should be left
alone. He gave his con
fession and now it's all
over with."
Alexandra funehmt
"I think President
Clinton should remain in
office because he was
still doing his job during
the controversy."
Brannon Hat tar
"The man is only
human, he admitted it,
it's over, with, let's put it
behind us and let's get
this country moving in
the right direction."
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"President Clinton
should be put out of
office and locked away."
Reprieve
Photo by Bruce Chapman
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Mayor says he'll vote
to save historic cemetery
KEVIN WALKER
THE CHRONICLE ;
Although a re-vote on the" much hyped proposal to
expand New Evergreen Cemetery was postponed Monday
night until Sept. 8, the Mayor and members of the Board
of Aldermen virtually assured concerned citizens that the
proposal will pass.
"I know that four of us are going to keep our votes, and
the mayor has said that he's with the vote for expansion,"
Alderman Vivian Burke announced to a group of about 30
expansion supporters.
The proposal was slated for consideration by the board
on Monday, but Alderman Robert. Northington was out of
town and requested that the vote be postponed.
Despite Northington's absence, supporters of the
expansion crowded the board's meeting room, anxious to
speak on the issue; a situation that didn't sit well with
Alderman Vernon Robinson.
"There was ample time to let the citizens know that this
matter was requested not to be considered...Nothing would
have been hurt by delaying this (matter)," Robinson said.
Supporters, however, were allowed to speak and many ?
reiterated the emotional and historical attachments that
many African Americans have for New Evergreen.
"This is our heritage; our loved ones are buried there,"
? " J *? '!
See Ivwgrun on A9
Lawyers
debate
death
Prosecutors seek
death for skinhead
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER - A self-proclaimed
skinhead accused of murdering an
African immigrant contends that
prosecutors do not have enough
evidence to warrant seeking the
death penalty.
Nathan Thill, 20, it charged
with first-degree murder in the
Nov. 18 slaying of Oumar Dia, who
was gunned down at a downtown
bus stop. He tftso faces an attempt
ed-murder charge in the shooting
.of Jeannie Vanvelkinburgh, who
was shot and paralyzed after she
tried to come to Dia's aid.
Prosecutors are seeking the
death penalty because they said
Thill attempted to rob Dia. The
commission of robbery during a v
homicide is one of 11 "aggravating
factors" that allows prosecutors to
pursue the death penalty.
Thill's lawyers argued Monday
that a theft charge should be
dropped because a policewoman
who seized and inventoried Dia's
clothing and personal items failed
to record that she had seized the
wallet.
Officers testified at Thill's pre
liminary hearing that no wallet was
found at the scene. Vanvelkinburgh
told police that she thought Thill
or co-defendant Jeremiah Barnum
removed something from Dia that
could have been a wallet, according *
to testimony.
Prosecutors refused to discuss
details concerning the wallet.
"We're satisfied there were no
improprieties on the part of police
or prosecutors, and when the mat-'
ter is heard in court that will be
shown," Denver Assistant District
Attorney Chuck Lepley said."
Public defender Sharlene
Reynolds asked Denver District
Court Judge Federico Alvarez to
dismiss the murder and theft
v
See Denver on A10
Rallies hope to galvanize black youth I
By PAUL SHEPARD
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - Two "Million Youth" events,
organized by diverse segments of the civil rights move
ment for the Labor Day weekend, promise to teach
black youth about the power of activism.
The Million Youth Movement, backed by a coali
tion of civil rights advocates including the NAACP,
the Nation of Islam and Jesse Jackson's
Rainbow/Push Coalition, is scheduled Sept. 4-7 in
Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the Million Youth March is set Sept. 5
in Harlem. Its chief organizers include former Nation
of Islam spokesman and activist Khalid Abdul
Muhammad.
New York activist the Rev. A1 Sharpton also has
reportedly gotten involved.
The events' leaders say holding the events on the
same day shouldn't pose a problem, despite their sim
ilar names, goals and attempts to appeal to minority
youth. The idea grew out of the 1995 Million Man
March in Washington, organized by Nation of Islam
leader Louis Farrakhan to persuade black men be
responsible husbands, fathers and members of black
society.
But some, like NAACP board chairman Julian
Bond, who has endorsed the Atlanta gathering, see
the timing of the events as troubling.
"It's problematic because it appears to be headed
towards a test of wills. Who will draw the biggest
crowd?" Bond said. "It may not reflect who is really
reaching the young people, but we will all be looking
if 10,000 show up at one march and one million show
up at the other."
The Atlanta group represents a more mainstream
view of civil rights leadership.
The New York march's agenda includes demands
for release of political prisoners, reparations for
descendants of slaves and "unity and love among our
youth and people."
Differing philosophies over how best to elevate the
black community reflect an old split within America's
black leadership.
At the turn of the century, Booker T. Washington
A
See March on A9
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