HUMAN RIGHTS - North Carolina A&T State University

A&T TODAYNorth Carolina Agricultural and Technical State UniversityVolume 4, Number 2, Spring 2001ChancellorJames Carmichael RenickVice Chancellor for Development and University RelationsDavid W. HoardAssociate Vice Chancellor for DevelopmentGerald T. WashingtonAssistant Vice Chancellor for University RelationsMable Springfield ScottEditorSandra M. BrownContributing WritersTamara Hill, Tevis Kirkling, Nettie Collins Rowland ’72 ,Mable Springfield Scott, Richard L. WilliamsPhotographerCharles E. WatkinsDesignRobbins Creative Services, Inc.TABLE OF CONTENTSFEATURESJazz Festival Blows Into the PiedmontBY SANDRA M. BROWN, TEVIS KIRKLINGAND RICHARD L. WILLIAMSBoard of TrusteesRalph Shelton, ChairDr. Gerald Truesdale,SecretaryCarl C. Ashby IIIR. Steve BowdenCarole BruceDr. Howard ChubbsHenry IsaacsonNikkita MitchellDr. Charles McQuearyDr. Velma SpeightMichael SuggsJohn Wooten2The CabinetChancellorDr. James CarmichaelRenickVice Chancellor forAcademic AffairsDr. Carolyn W. MeyersVice Chancellor forBusiness and Finance(Interim)Paula JeffriesVice Chancellor forDevelopment andUniversity RelationsDavid W. HoardDeansCollege of Arts andSciencesDr. Phillip CareyCollege of EngineeringDr. Joseph MonroeSchool of Agriculture andEnvironmental and AlliedSciencesDr. Alton ThompsonVice Chancellor forResearch and SponsoredProgramsDr. Earnestine PsalmondsVice Chancellor forStudent Affairs (Interim)Dr. Roselle L. WilsonExecutive Assistant to theChancellorDr. Colleen P. GrotskySpecial Assistant to theChancellor for LegalCounsel (Interim)Lesley RenwrickSchool of Business andEconomicsDr. Quiester CraigSchool of EducationDr. Leila VickersSchool of Graduate Studies(Interim)Dr. Kenneth MurraySchool of Nursing (Interim)Dr. Patricia Price-LeaNational Alumni OfficersNational President Immediate Past PresidentJohn A. Petty ’70 Lillie Robbins ’66First Vice President Mideast Regional DirectorJames B. Graham ’73 Rev. Irvin Moore ’72Second Vice President Midwest Regional DirectorJessie W. Barnes ’68 William Moses ’88TreasurerNortheast Regional DirectorTeresa M. Davis ’89 Glenda Gooch ’69SecretarySoutheast Regional DirectorHelen Butler-Duncan ’73 Hosea Butler ’58ParliamentarianWestern Regional DirectorEugene Preston Jr. ’57 Chuck Burch Jr. ’82HistorianLouise Murrill-Graves ’73Alumnus ReceivesUniversity’s HumanRights MedalBY SANDRA M. BROWN6A&T TODAY (USPS 895-380)Published quarterly by the N.C. A&T State University Divisionof Development and University Relations, 1601 East MarketStreet, Greensboro, N.C. 27411. Phone: (336) 334-7582; Fax:(336) 334-7094. Periodicals Postage Paid at Greensboro, N.C.All editorial correspondence should be directed to Sandra M.Brown at the address above or email, smbrown@ncat.edu.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Office of AlumniAffairs, North Carolina A&T State University, 1606 Salem Street,Greensboro, N.C. 27411. Phone: (336) 334-7583.North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University iscommitted to equality of educational opportunity and does notdiscriminate against applicants, students, or employees based onrace, color, national origin, religion, gender, age or disability.Moreover, N.C. A&T is open to people of all races and activelyseeks to promote racial integration by recruiting and enrolling alarge number of white students.DEPARTMENTS12 CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS14 ALUMNI NEWS16 CAMPUS BRIEFS22 RESEARCH24 MIXED BAGA&T TODAY/SPRING 2001

S p r i n g 2 0 0 1A&T TODAYUniversity RelationsGets New HomeBY MABLE SPRINGFIELD SCOTT1019MovingAhead —A&T BeginsShort-rangePlanningProcessBY SANDRA M. BROWNStudents Get First-HandExperience with CampusConstruction ProjectBY NETTIE COLLINS ROWLAND20OTHER ARTICLES5 BOARD CHAIRMAN DIES5 WHAT’S NEW? AGGIE ACCESS ONLINE9 FAMILY WEEKEND –FUN AND INFORMATIVE12 WATSON MURAL SHOWS AGGIE PRIDE14 AGGIE CRUISE SAILING IN JUNE15 SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS TOOFFER M.S.MA&T TODAY/WINTER 2000 1

Jazz FestivalColtrane, Garrett, Cornelious and FreelonHeadline First Piedmont Jazz FestivalBY SANDRA M. BROWN, TEVIS KIRKLINGAND RICHARD L. WILLIAMSRavi ColtraneKenny GarrettNnenna FreelonArtist Profileson Page 6North Carolina Agricultural andTechnical State Universityproudly announces the premiereof Piedmont Jazz Festival,April 4-8.N.C. A&T joined forces with area artscouncils, businesses, educators and city officialsto bring some of the foremost jazz artists toGreensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem forthe Triad’s first jazz festival.National headliners for the festival aresaxophonists Ravi Coltrane and Kenny Garrett,and vocalists Eve Cornelious and GrammynomineeNnenna Freelon.Music lovers will have five days of events tochoose from, including the sensational sounds ofthe before-mentioned national artists and localtalent such as Ebonique, Sankofa, Chris Morrelland high school and college bands.Events will be held in venues across theTriad. Audiences will have an opportunity toenjoy outdoor performances in downtownGreensboro, at Oak Hollow Park in High Pointand at Winston-Salem’s Sawtooth Center forVisual Arts.During the day, performers and some musiceducators will participate in panel discussions. Atnight, headlining acts will give performances inthe three cities. Late-night parties and othersocial events will follow most eveningperformances.Piedmont Jazz Festival is the brainchild ofN.C. A&T Chancellor James C. Renick, a jazzenthusiast himself.“While I conceived the idea, this festival is areality because of the people in Greensboro,High Point and Winston-Salem,” Renick said.“These groups and individuals have beenworking since September to bring this tofruition.“We are grateful for their volunteer efforts,and we are grateful for the festival sponsors.”Major sponsors of the festival include Cityof Greensboro, United Arts Council ofGreensboro, High Point Area Arts Council, ArtsCouncil of Winston-Salem, the Convention andVisitors Bureau in each of the three cities, andarea businesses, colleges and universities.The grand hope of festival organizers is thatthe event eventually will draw a nationalfollowing.“For nearly a century, jazz has influencedmany genres and generations around the world,”Renick said. “Our intention is to make thePiedmont Jazz Festival as successful as those inother Southern cities, such as New Orleans,Atlanta, Hampton (Va.) and Jacksonville (Fla.).”Renick also said that in addition toentertainment, the festival is a way to educate themasses about this art form, which has its roots inAmerica.Alan Waufle, executive director of the HighPoint Area Arts Council, said that the Triad is alogical choice for a jazz festival because of thelegacy of the great John Coltrane, who grew upin High Point and attended the former WilliamPenn High School.“This festival, in part, will serve as a tributeto High Point’s own John Coltrane. Wecontacted his son Ravi, and he was veryenthusiastic about performing at this festival.”John Santuccio, president of theGreensboro United Arts Council, said: “This willbe an exciting event that promises to have a greatfuture here in the Piedmont.”For additional information on 2001Piedmont Jazz Festival, call Ryan Z. Maltese at(336) 334-7600, Richard L. Williams, (336)784-9985, or visit the Web site atwww.piedmontjazzfest.com.2 A&T TODAY/SPRING 2001

As the Name Implies – Ravi ColtraneWords Can’t Expressthe Magic of Kenny GarrettSaxophonist Ravi Coltrane always knewhis place in the world.“As a child, I never had any pretenseabout who I was or what I was doing,” saidColtrane. “Nor did I when I decided to pick upthe saxophone. I fell in love with music and Iknew I wanted to be a part of it in some way,in any way.”Coltrane is the second son of musicians John and Alice Coltrane, born Aug. 6,1965, in New York. Yes, John Coltrane, the great, late saxophonist who workedwith legendary musicians Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington andThelonious Monk. And yes, Alice MacLeod Coltrane, one of few female jazzinstrumentalists (harp and piano) of the 1960s and 70s.“Though I have no actual memory of my father, who passed away in July of1967, the sound of all kinds of music are a part of my earliest memories,” RaviColtane reminisced. “(My mother) played my father’s records often there inaddition to recordings of Igor Stravinsky’s music and other classical composers. Ofcourse, the music of James Brown, The Jackson 5 and others could also be heardnot far away.”Ravi Coltrane played clarinet in his junior high school band. On his 16thbirthday, his mother gave him a soprano sax and he began playing it immediately.It was not until his 20s that Ravi Coltrane wanted a deeper understanding of hisfather’s history and began to listen more seriously to his music. While his primarygoal was to learn something about the man who was his father, Ravi Coltrane hadan epiphany. For the first time in his life he truly connected with the music.“There was a calling in the sound of it that I had never heard before.”Ravi Coltrane studied jazz and saxophone at the California Institute of the Arts. Itwas there that he first experienced comparisons to his father.“I spent most of my time practicing, listening and letting people know that I wasthere to learn and nothing else. That I had picked up my instrument generally forthe same reasons they had picked up theirs. By the end of the year, people beganto relate to me as Ravi.”Ravi Coltrane’s professional music career began in the early 1990s when hespent two years on the road with the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine. Coltrane creditsJones with allowing him to grow because he probably was “not prepared” to playwith the group at that point in his life.Moving Pictures (RCA Victor Records), Coltrane’s first album with him as thelead musician, was released in 1998. From the Round Box (RCA Victor Records)was released last year.Since his late teens, saxophonist KennyGarrett has been living the kind of lifemost musicians only fantasize about.He has been a sideman for legends likeMiles Davis, Art Blakely, Freddie Hubbardand Woody Shaw, and he has performedwith The Duke Ellington Orchestra.Emerging in the mid-1980s as one of thejazz world’s most exciting and eclectic newsolo artists, Garrett’s albums have earnedhim worldwide recognition, four-star reviews and top spots on reader polls andRolling Stone’s “hot list.”Known for years for his adventurous playing and improvisations, Garrettcame into his own as a composer with his 1997 Grammy-nominated Songbook(Warner Bros. Records). Garrett’s next project, Simply Said (Warner Bros.Records, 1999), further reflected his growth as a songwriter, keepingmemorable melodies as the focus while exploring new exotic, rhythmicpossibilities within the jazz framework.The 40-something Detroit native was a sax player almost by birthright, withhis tenor sax father exposing him to jazz almost immediately.“Jazz was definitely all around for as long as I can remember, and I got intoCharlie Parker and John Coltrane in high school,” he says, “but my hometownhad a lot of other great music to enjoy, too, like gospel and funk. I even studiedclassical when I took sax lessons from Bill Wiggins.”Planning to go to college in 1978, Garrett was presented with an invitation tojoin The Duke Ellington Orchestra, which was led by Duke’s son Mercer. Heplayed with the group for over three years before moving to New York andworking with The Mel Lewis Orchestra and Dannie Richmond’s quintet.Garrett released his first solo effort in the mid-1980s, Introducing KennyGarrett on Criss Cross Records.In 1985, Garrett performed and recorded with Art Blakey. A year later,Miles Davis chose Garrett to play alto, tour and record with him on four WarnerBros. albums.Garrett was named “Hot Jazz Artist” by Rolling Stone in August 1996. By theend of ’96, he topped the DownBeat reader’s poll as “Alto Saxist of the Year,” anupset that unseated jazz elder Phil Woods, who had dominated the altocategory since 1975.After nearly two decades of playing with some of the genre’s most renownedmusicians, Garrett remains a favorite among jazz enthusiasts.Freelon puts Heart and Soul in VocalsThree-time Grammy nominee Nnenna Freelon clearly recalls the moment whenher passion for music took firm root. She was seven, and she sang “AmazingGrace,” her first solo performance in Cambridge, Mass.“I remember being petrified, … but when I saw the smiles, and heard theclapping and ‘Amens!’ I said, ‘I want more of that!’”Since then, Freelon has moved on to bigger and better things.Freelon graduated from Simmons College, raised a family of three and had acareer in health services before embarking on a career in music. She has workedwith Billy Taylor, Ellis Marsalis, George Butler, Dianne Reeves, Ray Charles, AlJarreau and T.S. Monk’s Tentet, among others. And, she has won France’srenowned Academie du Jazz Billie Holiday Award, the Eubie Blake Award, two “Ladyof Soul” Soul Train nominations as well as significant critical acclaim. She has beencompared to Sarah Vaughan, and it even has been said by the Queen of Soul, ArethaFranklin, that Freelon makes “very hip music.”Her two previous Concord releases – Maiden Voyage (1998) and her debut,Shaking Free (1996) – both earned Grammynominations. Shaking Free also held a top spoton Billboard’s jazz charts.Freelon released her sixth album as a leadvocalist last year, Soulcall (Columbia). Theproject is imprinted with jazz traditions, gospelinfluences and pop favorites.Soulcall was Freelon’s debut as a producer.“It’s a challenge to split your brain into tworoles, artist and producer,” she says. “But I wanted to look at the music in a verypersonal way … from a spiritual side, using songs as the vehicle.”Last December, Freelon made her motion picture debut in Paramount Pictures’“What Women Want,” starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt.“I play myself!” she enthuses. “The characters aren’t sure they’re in love, but I fixall that. They fall in love while I’m singing.”4 A&T TODAY/SPRING 2001

Board Chairman DiesAlex Spears leaves legacy of community serviceBY SANDRA M. BROWN AND TAMARA HILLDr. Alexander W. “Alex” Spears III,chairman of the North CarolinaAgricultural and Technical StateUniversity Board of Trustees, died Jan. 29.He was 68.Spears succeeded Dr.Howard Chubbs as chairman ofthe board in September 2000.A board member since 1990, heonce served as secretary and vicechairman. He also participatedin other activities on campusincluding the N.C. A&TUniversity Foundation Inc.Board of Directors.A native of the smallfarming and coal-mining townof Grindstone, Pa., Spears grewup the son of a country doctor.He received his bachelor’sdegree from Allegheny Collegeand his Ph.D. in chemistry from the StateUniversity of New York-Buffalo.Spears worked his way up the ranks atLorillard Tobacco Co. from researchassistant to chairman and CEO. He retiredDr. Alexander Spearsas CEO in 1999 after 40 years with theFortune 500 company. Last year he retiredas chairman.Spears was well known in Greensborofor his community service and commitmentto social justice. He servedas chairman of theGreensboro Chamber ofCommerce Board ofDirectors (1997) and theUnited Way of GreaterGreensboro Campaign(1999).He also served on theboards of YMCA, UnitedWay, Triad AirportAuthority, GreensboroNational Bank, Triad GirlScouts, National Conferencefor Communityand Justice (NCCJ),and Greensboro Historical Museum. In1999, Spears and his wife Shirleywere recipients of one of Greensboro’s topcivic honors, the NCCJ BrotherhoodCitation Award.During an interview last fall, Spearssaid that he was excited about his newresponsibilities as chairman and that hewas pleased to be able to dedicate moretime to the needs and goals of the boardupon his retirement from Lorillard. Healso said that seeing A&T grow in numberand prosperity is what has kept himdedicated to the historical universitythrough the years.“The future is bright for A&T,” hesaid. “A&T grows in stature year after yearand is capable of competing very vigorouslywith other universities locally andnationally.“School bonds remove the pressure ofhaving to raise money and now professorsand instructors will be able to concentrateon teaching and research through the use ofthe new facilities that are soon to come.”Spears enjoyed spending time with hisfamily, golfing and snow skiing. He issurvived by his wife, Shirley Pierce Spears, ason, a stepdaughter, a stepson, fourgrandchildren, a sister and a brother. ■Tamara Hill is a senior at N.C. A&T.What’s New? Aggie Access Online!The North Carolina Agriculturaland Technical State UniversityOffice of the Registrar is providinga new Web service for students and facultycalled Aggie Access Online.Aggie Access Online allows students toregister for courses online; view their ownacademic record, e-mail address, account summary,holds and class schedule; view and update address changesand review financial aid information.Faculty members are able to view class records, access to studentacademic progress reports and view advisee transcripts online.For more details, visit www.ncat.edu/~registra/webfor.html.A&T TODAY/SPRING 20015

Alumnus Receives University’s FirstHuman RightsMedalLewis A.Brandon IIIrecognized forhis influenceBY SANDRA M. BROWNOn Feb. 1, members of the campusand local community celebratedthe 41st anniversary of the dayfour North Carolina Agriculturaland Technical State Universityfreshmen requested service at the segregatedlunch counter of F.W. Woolworth in downtownGreensboro. As a bonus, those attending theevent witnessed the inaugural presentation of theUniversity’s Medal for Human Rights.In 1960, Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair Jr.),Franklin Eugene McCain, Joseph Alfred McNeiland the late David Richmond Jr. – theGreensboro Four – led a group of students to the“Five and Dime” and took a stand for justice bysitting down at the lunch counter, then refusingto leave until they were served. Their bold moveinitiated a wave of similar sit-ins by collegestudents across the South.Each year, as the story of the GreensboroFour is recounted, the name Lewis A. BrandonIII emerges. Brandon, a 1963 graduate of A&T,is credited with being a civil rights activist andbehind-the-scenes organizer of similarLewis A. Brandon IIImovements for justice. This year, he was placedin the spotlight for his endeavors to correct socialinjustices by being named the first recipient ofthe N.C. A&T Medal for Human Rights.A&T Chancellor James C. Renick createdthe award to honor those individual whosecourageous actions are a reflection of theextraordinary action against social injustice thatwas demonstrated by Khazan (Blair), McCain,McNeil and Richmond. The Class of 1962 –whose members were sophomores at the time ofthe sit-in – sponsored the first award.Brandon became aware of social injusticeswhile growing up in segregated Asheville, N.C.,in the 1940s and 50s. He experienced racialprejudice in education, sports and civic activities.While matriculating at A&T, Brandon wasconsidered an agent for justice among his peers,including classmate Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.,The MedalN.C. A&T Chancellor James C. Renickannounced plans for the Human RightsMedal at the 40th anniversary celebrationof the Greensboro Sit-in Movement, Feb. 1, 2000.This annual, international award will bepresented to an individual whose courageousactions are a reflection of the extraordinary actionagainst social injustice that was demonstrated byDr. Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair Jr.), Dr. FranklinEugene McCain Sr., Dr. Joseph Alfred McNeil andthe late Dr. David Richmond Jr.“The struggle for human rights is not over, andI believe the award is a wonderful opportunity forthis university to honor our distinguished alumniand those who continue their movement,” Renicksaid. “The legacy of our fourheroes showed the true potentialand appeal of nonviolence. It wastheir protest that became themodel and inspiration for later civilrights, anti-war and women’sliberation movements.”Charles E. Watkins, a senior artmajor at N.C. A&T, designed theHuman Rights Medal that will bepresented to each awardee. The design featuresThe Greensboro Four as they appeared asfreshmen, a dove with an olive branch in itsmouth on a countertop, four stools and a torch, allencircled by the name of the university.Senior art major Charles E. Watkins (farleft) watches as Chancellor James C. Renickand Trustee Ralph Shelton unveil Watkins’design of the Human Rights Medal.6 A&T TODAY/SPRING 2001

who credits Brandon with encouraging him to get involved in thestruggle for civil rights. Brandon was very involved with the StudentExecutive Committee for Justice, a group that coordinated the sit-inmovement after the Feb. 1, 1960, attempt to integrate Woolworth’sdining area. Later, he would hold memberships in local chapters ofCORE (Congress of Racial Equality) and NAACP (NationalAssociation for the Advancement of Colored People).Through the years, Brandon has remained the quiet but forcefulinfluence behind many causes.While presenting the award, Renick said that Brandon isdeserving of the honor because he is “the foot soldier, the strategist.”“Lewis did not allow history to immobilize him,” Renickoffered. “When we make choices, our character speaks loudly, … andhe embodies the real spirit of leadership.”During his remarks at the February One celebration, Brandontold students that his generation did not eradicate all of the social illsand that the current generation of college students is needed tocontinue to fight for what is right. ■The Greensboro FourLewis A. Brandon IIIPersonal:Born June 22, 1939, in Asheville, N.C., to the late Lewis A.(Jr.) and Obereta Garrett Brandon; siblings are Donald(Greensboro, N.C.), Kenneth (Greensboro, N.C.) and Bertha(New York City)Education:Stephens-Lee High School, Asheville, N.C.,1957; B.S.,biology, N.C. A&T State University, 1963; M.S.,education/biology, N.C. A&T State University, 1968Current Employment:Science teacher, Guilford County Schools, N.C. (1992-)Professional Memberships:Smith High School PTSA; North Carolina Association ofEducators-Guilford County; National Education AssociationCurrent Community Involvement:Greensboro Branch-NAACP; Black Child DevelopmentInstitute of Greensboro; Piedmont Land Conservancy(founding member); The Land Trust for Central NorthCarolina; North Carolina Board for Licensing of Geologists;Uplift, Inc. (board); Beloved Community Center (board);Guilford Soil and Water Conservation District Board ofSupervisorsAwards and Honors:Man of the Year, Greensboro NAACP (1974); PresidentialAssociation Award and Service Award, Greensboro SeniorClub, National Association of Negro Business and ProfessionalWomen’s Club (1980 and 2000, respectively); One CommunityAward, February One Society (1985); Sit-in Participant Award,Sit-in Movement, Inc. (1996); 10-Year Service Award, NorthCarolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts(1996); Men of Distinction, African American Atelier, Inc.(2000); Human Rights Medal, North Carolina Agricultural andTechnical State University (2001)A&T TODAY/SPRING 2001Dr. Franklin E. McCainrepresents The GreensboroFour at the 41stanniversary celebration ofthe sit-in. McCain said thatlearning that LewisBrandon was chosen as therecipient of the first HumanRights Medal “really mademy morning.”Jibreel Khazan (Ezell Blair Jr.) is a native of Greensboro, N.C.,where he graduated from Dudley High School. He earned a B.S.degree in sociology from A&T in 1963.Currently, Khazan is an evaluator for the CETA program in New Bedford,Mass. He also has worked with the AFL/CIO Trade Council (Boston),Opportunities Industrialization Center and Rodman Job Corps Center.Khazan is married to the former Lorraine France George of New Bedford,Mass. They have three children.Franklin Eugene McCain was born in Union County, N.C. He grew up inWashington, D.C., and graduated from Eastern High School. At A&T, heearned a B.S. in chemistry and biology in 1964.McCain worked as a chemist for Celenese Corporation in Charlotte from1965 until his retirement. He also served as group leader in the marketingtechnical department.McCain is married to the former Betty Davis. They have three sons.Joseph Alfred McNeil is a native of Wilmington, N.C., where hegraduated from Williston Senior High School. He earned a degree inengineering physics from A&T in 1963.McNeil served in the U.S. Air Force and attained the rank of captain andmajor general in the Air Force Reserves. He has worked as a computersalesman, commercial banker and aviation safety inspector.McNeill is married to the former Ina Brown. They have five children.The late David Leinail Richmond was born in Greensboro, N.C. Hegraduated from Dudley High School.While enrolled at A&T, Richmond majored in business administrationand accounting. Upon leaving the university, he became a counselorcoordinatorfor the CETA program in Greensboro – a position that allowedhim to assist disadvantaged youth and adults. Richmond died inGreensboro Dec. 7, 1990. He is survived by two children.7

N.C. A&T HomecomingHousing BureauHomecoming 2001is October 12-14Rooms are going fast, so MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW!Please complete the reservation form below, include a $125 deposit and mail to:Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau317 South Greene StreetGreensboro, NC 27401-2615• For suite reservations for the headquarters hotel ONLY, call:Tricia MontegueSheraton Four Seasons Hotel(336) 292-9161.• For additional housing information, contact:Harriet DavisN.C. A&T Director of Special Projects(336) 334-7125Accommodations and RatesHotel Name Single Double SuiteOccupancy OccupancyAmeriSuites $ 99.00 $ 99.00 -Best Western Deep River $ 99.00 $ 99.00 -Best Western Windsor Suites $ 95.00 $ 95.00 -Biltmore Greensboro Hotel $ 100.00 $ 100.00 -Candlewood Suites Hotel $ 79.00 - -Comfort Suites-Suites $ 119.00 $ 119.00 -Courtyard - Greensboro $ 109.00 $ 109.00 -Days Inn - Airport - $ 85.00 -Days Inn - Four Seasons $75.00 $86.00 -Drury Inn & Suites $ 89.99 $ 99.99++ $ 125.99Embassy Suites Hotel $ 159.00 $ 159.00 -Fairfield Inn - Greensboro $ 89.00 $ 89.00 -Grandover Resort $175.00 175.00 -Hampton Inn - Airport $ 84.00 $ 84.00 -Hampton Inn - Four Seasons $ 99.00 $ 99.00 -Hilton Greensboro $ 110.00 $ 120.00 -Holiday Inn - Airport $ 85.00 $ 85.00 -Holiday Inn Express $ 99.00 $ 99.00 -Homewood Suites Hotel $ 139.00 $ 139.00 -Howard Johnson - East - $ 75.00 -LaQuinta Inn & Suites - I-40 $ 99.00 - -Marriott - Greensboro - High Point $ 109.00 $ 109.00 -Microtel Inn Greensboro $ 65.00 $ 75.00 -O’Henry Hotel $144.00 $144.00 -Park Lane Hotel at Four Seasons $ 111.00 $ 111.00 $ 150.00Radisson Hotel Greensboro $ 89.00 $ 89.00 -Ramada Inn - Airport $ 66.00 $ 70.00 -Sheraton Greensboro Hotel $ 125.00 $ 125.00 -at Four SeasonsSuper 8 Motel - Coliseum $ 100.00 $ 100.00 -Super 8 Motel - I-85 $ 69.88xx $ 79.88 -* Rates appear in U.S. dollars. Rates do not include 12% tax.++ King size not double xx No single king sizeNorth Carolina Agricultural and Technical State UniversityHomecoming 2001 Hotel Reservation Request FormPlease read the following information beforecompleting the form.All room reservations MUST BE RECEIVED no laterthan August 31, 2001.Reservations will be accepted by MAIL ONLY.Reservations will not be accepted by telephone,fax or email.ONE reservation per form please. Occupants donot send duplicate form.Rooms are assigned on a first come, first servedbasis.Rate does not include tax. Applicable tax is 12%.ALL changes, special requests and cancellationsmust be made directly with the assigned hotelupon receipt of confirmation.Mail completed reservation form(s) to:A&T Homecoming Housing BureauGreensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau317 South Greene StreetGreensboro, NC 27401-2615Please PRINT or TYPEName ____________________________________________________________________________________________________First MI LastAddress ___________________________________________________________________________________________________City _______________________________________________________ State ______________ ZIP _________________________County ____________________________________________________________________________________________________Home Phone (_________) ____________________________ Home Phone (_________) _____________________________________Room Occupants _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________HOTEL PREFERENCES – Rooms are assigned on a first come, first served basis. If your hotel choices are not available, you will be assignedthe next available hotel.In the space below, indicate by number your hotel choices, e.g., #1, first choice.1. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________2. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________3. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________Arrival Date __________________________________________ Departure Date __________________________________________Room Type ____________________________________________________________ Smoking _________ Non-smoking _________Physical Challenges __________________________________________________________________________________________Bill my credit card:Amex _____ MasterCard _____ Visa _____ Discover _____ Diners Club _____Card Number __________________________________________________Expiration _____________________________________________________Cardholder’s Name___________________________________________________________________________________________Cardholder’s Signature_________________________________________________________________________________________Check enclosed payable to A&T Homecoming Housing Bureau:$ ________________________ Check # ___________________________

Family WeekendFun and InformativeFamilies, it’s not too late to make plans to bea part of A&T’s first Family Weekend,April 6-8.The Office of Alumni Affairs is planning aweekend of events that will be inviting andinteresting to family members of studentsenrolled at theUniversity. Onehighlight of theweekend will be thefirst Piedmont JazzFestival, April 4-8.Plans includedinner theater anda talent show onFriday evening;an outdoor galaand cookout onSaturday afternoon; messages from ChancellorJames C. Renick, the Office of Admissions, theStudent Government Association and theNational Alumni Association; campus tours;performances by campus groups such as thechoir, cheerleaders and band; and worship serviceand brunch on Sunday.The registration fee is $40 per adult, $10per child and free for A&T students with a validUniversity I.D. To register, complete theregistration form below and send it to:Dr. Joanne C. MorganOffice of Alumni AffairsN.C. A&T State University1601 Salem StreetGreensboro, NC 27411The form may be faxed to (336) 334-7165when paying by credit card.For more information about FamilyWeekend, call the Office of Alumni Affairs at(336) 334-7583. For information aboutPiedmont Jazz Festival, visit the Web site atwww.piedmontjazzfest.com. ■North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Family WeekendApril 6-8, 2001Registration FormRegistration Fee: $40 per adult $10 per child N.C. A&T students free with I.D.Adult Name (1) _______________________________________________________________ # Children Attending __________Adult Name (2) _______________________________________________________________Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________________Phone (_______) ________________________________ E-mail ____________________________________________________Check # _________________________________Credit Card (check one) ____ MasterCard ____ Discover ____ VISA ____ American ExpressAccount Number ___________________________________ Expiration Date (MM/YY) ______________Make check payable to: N.C. A&T SU Office of Alumni Affairs. Send check and registration form to: Dr. Joanne C. Morgan,Office of Alumni Affairs, N.C. A&T State University, 1606 Salem St., Greensboro, NC 27411. FAX credit card registration to(336) 334-7165. Phone (336) 334-7583.A&T TODAY/SPRING 20019

University RelationsGetsNewHomeDr. Carolyn S. Turner in front of Garrett House in 1986.The building was the first on campus to be heated bysolar energy. (Photo by Dr. Sheila Whitley)BY MABLE SPRINGFIELD SCOTTThe university relations office hasfound a new home in the oldGarrett House. Formerly housed inDowdy Administration Building,the university relations team isproviding a new chapter in the history of thequaint structure that is located in the heart ofcampus at 400 Nocho Street.Built in 1939, the two-story, 1,900-squarefoot brick structure is a Georgian-style cottagewith white shutters and an “Aggie” blue door.According to a 1939 Bulletin of theAgricultural and Technical College of NorthCarolina, Garrett House “was named in honor ofMrs. Florence Garrett, who was among the firstwomen students to attend the college, and whobequeathed her small estate to the College as abeginning of an endowment.” She was a memberof the Class of 1902.Garrett House became the home economicspractice house and represented part of theexpansive campus construction program in 1939when Graham Hall, Harrison Auditorium,Holland Hall, Mattye Reed African HeritageCenter, music annex and student newspaperstructures were built.When the late President F.D. Blufordappointed Dr. William E. Reed as dean of theSchool of Agriculture in 1949, Reed’scompensation included a monetary salary andlodging at Garrett House.“My husband had just finished working inthe Foreign Service in Liberia when Dr. Blufordinvited us to A&T,” Mattye Reed recalls. TheReeds and the oldest of their three children livedin the house for six months.“We were crowded at Garrett Housebecause my family lived upstairs and two homeeconomic teachers lived downstairs,” Dr. Reedsaid. “There was no kitchen so we ate in thedining hall.”In 1950, the Reed family moved to the newpoultry plant residence on A&T’s 567-acre farm.For most of its life, Garrett House has beenknown as the “practice cottage” for homeeconomics students. Celessie Avery Collins-Caldwell ’55 lived there to gain practicalexperience in home economics.“We were assigned jobs by our teacher tolearn different skills,” Caldwell said. “We had tocook, plan, do housekeeping and act as hostesses.“I will never forget Garrett House because itwas like running your own home. It was fun butyou had to be responsible.”Dr. Albert W. Spruill wrote in The HistoricTour of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical10 A&T TODAY/SPRING 2001

State University that Garrett House providedlaboratory experiences in homemaking, and thatthe house was the first building on campus tohave solar heating. This unique project brought(then) Gov. James B. Hunt and state officials toGarrett House for the official ribbon cutting anddedication ceremony.A 1980 news story in The Greensboro Recordreports that “the house contains practical waysthe average home owner can save moneythrough alternate methods of heating.”The Solar House Demonstration Projectwas developed by a grant from the NorthCarolina Energy Institute. A&T’s homeeconomics and mechanical engineeringdepartments were co-sponsors. Faculty membersincluded Drs. Yogi Goswami, David Klett,Harold Mazyck and Carolyn S. Turner.School of Agriculture and Environmentaland Allied Sciences professor Dr. DonaldMcDowell and his wife Eugenia participatedin the project. Eugenia remembers howstudent researchers tested energy efficiency on adaily basis.“We loved Garrett House,” she said. “It waswinter and cold outside, but we could sit on theporch because it was warm from the solar heat.”“It was so comfortable we looked forward tocoming home every evening,” she said.Dr. Rosa Purcell ’70, chair of humanenvironment and family services, experiencedGarrett House as an undergraduate homeeconomics major and as a faculty member.As a student, Purcelllived in the house for sixweeks putting principles intopractice.“As a faculty member, Ilearned ways to conserveenergy and save money.”Dr. Carolyn S. Turner,associate professor in theSchool of Agriculture andEnvironmental and AlliedSciences, was a leader in theresidential energy use studiesat Garrett House. She alsoserved as investigator/coinvestigatoron four grants Dr. Rosa Purcellthat totaled over a halfmillion dollars.Turner said that the Garrett House researchwas a highly visible project.“Visitors could relate to solar energy andwere intrigued to see it in actual use in aresidence,” said Turner. “They were interested inthe technology and data acquisition system inthe house, which was a precursor to smart housesnow on the market.”According to her, “The initial $20,000research effort led to subsequent funded studiesusing the house and opened an avenue forcollaborative, interdisciplinary research oncampus that continues today.”Turner has continued to complete energyresearch and related studies since 1978, totalingover $4 million. The Garrett House studiespaved the way for her continued involvementin energy research that currently includesa manufactured housing research efforton campus.From 1978 until 1990, Garrett Houseserved as an applied science laboratory to studyresidential energy use. Next, thehouse became a music lab and,eventually, a music storage facility.In the past few months sincethe university relations staff movedin, the facility has received a newbreath of life as mediaprofessionals, students, faculty,staff and alumni frequent thehomey cottage. Right in themiddle of Aggieland, GarrettHouse offers the staff a close-upview of campus life. ■Special thanks for GarrettHouse renovation support from AndyPerkins, Jerry Staples, RitaMorehead, Cary Burnett, Lisa Lewis, HaroldSeegers, Carl Brower, Waymond Blackmon, ToddJohnson, Millicent Hopkins, Joseph Daughtry,Tommy Ellis, Paula Jeffries and their staffs.Thanks to John Pryor and Lucent Technologiesfor tables, chairs and file cabinets.L-r: Mattye Reed,Dr. Conchita Ndegeand Dr. WilliamE. ReedCelessie Avery Collins-CaldwellA&T TODAY/SPRING 200111

Watson Mural Shows ‘Aggie Pride’Renowned African American artist Ernest Watson is painting amural in the new addition to Memorial Student Union.The mural is on a 9-1/2 x 32-foot wall located in the lobbyof the new facility.The theme that was chosen would work best in the location. Firsthe created a painting on canvas of various campus activities. Thatoriginal painting – named “Aggie Pride” – took approximately 100hours to complete.Now those images are being transformed to the wall. Heanticipates completing the mural in March.“The Memorial Union mural is a depiction of campus activities atNorth Carolina A&T State University,” Watson said. “I use a slightlyexaggerated style that I think gives a sense of movement andexcitement to my work.“The Blue and Gold Marching Machine, with its high steppin’style, ties in what is essentially two paintings. The Student Unionside of the mural brings together the different schools, cultures andstudent organizations, while the athletics side depicts two of themajor sports. Both sides speak to the pride Aggies have in theirUniversity.”A native of Shelby, N.C., now residing in Greensboro, Watson has been drawingand painting since childhood. He has a commercial art degree from CentralPiedmont College in Charlotte. He once worked as a draftsman, a job he found tootechnical for the creative mind, and it led to his career in fine art.“Drawing and painting, it’s a natural part of me. It’s very satisfying for me todo exactly what I believe I was put here to do.”Watson is best known for his depictions of African Americans at socialgatherings such as church (“Mountain View” and “Gospel Travelers”) andnightclubs (“Night Life at the Studio” and “Jazz from the Cellar”), and in urbansettings (“Piedmont Court” and “Bus Stop”).“My intent is to paint pictures of social and economic diversities amongpeople,” Watson says. “I think art should reflect a sense of who we are ashuman beings.”Campus HighlightsMLK Observance• “BET Tonight” host Tavis Smiley challenges A&T students to be the nextgeneration of pioneers during the annual Martin Luther King Jr.observance, Jan. 19.“What kind of legacy are you going to leave?” Smiley asked the standing roomcrowd. “Too many of us are living just because instead of for a cause.”Wilkins Stamp• The Greensboro, N.C., unveiling of the Roy Wilkins Black Heritage Series Commemorative Stamp washeld at N.C. A&T on Jan. 26. Officials representing the United States Postal Service and localgovernment, including Greensboro Postmaster Enola C. Mixon, Greensboro District Manager RonaldM. Campbell, Guilford County Commissioner and N.C. State NAACP President Melvin “Skip”Alston, and Greensboro Mayor Pro Tem Yvonne J. Johnson, were among the participants.Wilkins (1901-1981) was a civil rights pioneer who joined the National Association for theAdvancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1931 as assistant executive secretary and later served asexecutive secretary for 22 years (1955-1977). Wilkins is the 24th stamp in the Black Heritage series.12 A&T TODAY/SPRING 2001

Ernest Watson’s“Aggie Pride” Print for SaleBeginning in mid-April, 3,000 limitededition prints of the original paintingartist Ernest Watson created for amural in the new student union addition willbe available for purchase through the N.C.A&T University Foundation. Theapproximate size of “Aggie Pride” is 14”x 40”.The first 1,500 prints will be offered at apre-published price of $150 each until sold;the next 500 at $200 each until sold; the next500 at $250 each until sold; and the last 500at $300 each until sold.For information about ordering prints,visit the N.C. A&T University FoundationWeb site at www.ncat.edu/~atfound, or call(336) 256-0380.Community Service• A&T student Billicia C. Hines (left) andinstructor Sandrea Williamson spend theMartin Luther King Jr. holiday volunteering inthe pediatric unit at Moses Cone MemorialHospital. Hines’ clown costume is a hit!• Seventy-six individualsgave blood to theAmerican Red Cross at ablood drive sponsored byAlpha Phi OmegaNational Coed ServiceFraternity and othercampus organizations,Feb. 1 in MemorialStudent Union.A&T TODAY/SPRING 200113

Alumni News’40 Derick G.S. Davis, professor emeritus at theUniversity of North Carolina-Wilmington, was one oftwo persons inducted into the North Carolina Recreationand Park Society Hall of Fame last November. He wasselected for professionalism and contributions made topromote recreation and parks at the local, state andnational levels. The Society is comprised of more than2,400 members representing recreation and parkprofessionals, educators and students.’60 LaFrance Kleckley Muldrow, M.S.W., wasselected as the 2000 Maryland Welfare to Work SBAAssociate of the Year. The award is given to an individualwho has made outstanding contributions to the nationalWelfare to Work initiative. The U.S. Small BusinessAdministration, Baltimore District Office, honoredMuldrow at its 16th annual awards breakfast heldMay 14, 2000.’68 Sarah B. Reid is celebrating30 years at First CitizensBank in Charlotte, where she isassistant vice president and financialservices manager of East TownMarket Branch.’72 Rev. Irvin “Irv” Moore Jr., a native ofBurlington, N.C., recently accepted a chaplaincy positionat Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati.Moore is assigned to the pediatric and cardiac care unitsof the hospital, which ranks thirdamong children’s hospitals. Beforejoining the pastoral care staff atChildren’s, he worked as a clinicalchaplain at Duke University MedicalCenter (Durham, N.C.) and as staffchaplain at Pitt County MemorialHospital (Greenville, N.C.). Healso served as an associate ministerat Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church(Durham). Moore holds a M.Div. from SoutheasternBaptist Theological Seminary and an M.S.W. fromWashington University.’81 Randall S. Malachi, principal at Bennettsville(S.C.) Middle School and trained assessor, was one of sixassessors chosen to conduct an assessment center forschool administrators for four days in Bermuda. TheSouth Carolina State Dept. of Education hasapproximately 40 education officials trained to serve asassessors.’96 Anthony Gilmore of Fayetteville, N.C., hasbeen awarded a Commonwealth Fellowship, which isawarded to outstanding minority students by the VirginiaCouncil of Education. Gilmore is pursuing an M.B.A. atVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Priorto enrolling in graduate school, Gilmore was a recoveryengineer for Westvaco, a large paper manufacturer.Ultimately, he plans to start his own consulting firmoffering advice in financial investment.Aggie Cruise Sailing in June —There’s still time to sign up!The Office of Alumni Affairs is sponsoring the perfect cruise excursion just for you.Join the Aggies when they sail to Cozumel, Mexico, June 4-8, 2001.Leaving from Miami, Carnival’s Fascination will sail to Key West where Aggies will have a fewhours to enjoy the gorgeous, laid back feel of this popular Florida city. From there the ship willset sail for Playa del Carmen, Mexico, where Mayan ruins await. Then it’s on to Cozumel.Included in the itinerary is one morning of chapter development workshops designed to assistalumni leaders with membership, motivation and monetary issues.Cruise prices range from $527.25 to $653, including a 5% discount for alumni members.Alumni/Non-alumniInside Lower Level $527.25/555Inside Higher Level $557.65/587Oceanview Lower Level $589/620Oceanview Higher Level $620.35/653If you have not signed up already, total payment is due by 10 a.m. April 6.The cruise is open to all Aggies: faculty, staff, students, parents and friends. For more detailsor to express an interest in the cruise, call the Office of Alumni Affairs at (336) 334-7583.14 A&T TODAY/SPRING 2001

School of Business andEconomics to offer M.S.M.The University of North CarolinaBoard of Governors has approvedthe Master of Science inManagement (M.S.M.) degree program inthe North Carolina Agricultural andTechnical State University School ofBusiness and Economics.“We are extremely gratified by theconfidence and support of the Board ofGovernors,” said Dr. Quiester Craig, dean.“The program is consistent with the missionof the School of Business, which emphasizesoverall high quality, continuousimprovement, and the educational andprofessional development of our students,alumni, faculty, community and otherstakeholders.”The M.S.M. degree program follows aparadigm of management education inwhich management and technology areblended together to provide the relevanceand quality expected of graduatemanagement education in a rapidly changingand highly technical global environment. Animportant mission of the program is toprovide curriculum concentrations that buildeffective business and technological linkagesthat enhance managerial decision making incompetitive markets.The program includes concentrationsin transportation and business logistics andmanagement information systems (MIS).Both programs will provide integrativecourses that respond to expanding e-commerce business initiatives.The transportation and businesslogistics concentration addresses the need forprofessional knowledge and skills relating toeffective supply chain management, safetystandards in transport systems, andprocurement and distribution in a globalmarketplace. The MIS concentration willDr. Quiester Craig, Business School Deanprovide grounded theoretical study in thedevelopment of creative business solutionsthrough the management and application ofinformation systems. Students will gain highlevel technical skills and valuable knowledgeof the global impact of information systemson people and organizations.New Parking Lot OpensAribbon-cutting ceremony was held Feb. 5for the new Obermeyer Parking Lot. Thelot is located on the corner of Laurel andObermeyer streets.The 400-car parking area stands in theheart of campus. The lot has a pedestrian mallwalkway, which is accessible from Market andBluford streets. In addition, the lot has a staircaseand a disability ramp to the lower plaza betweenHolland and Curtis residence halls.The parking area provides pedestrians access toacademic and residential facilities on the south sideof campus. A decorative masonry and wrought ironwall separates the lot from residential buildings.Andrew Perkins Jr., interim assistant vicechancellor for facilities and university engineer said,“This new parking area is very important to ourcampus because it helps to remedy the shortage ofparking areas for students. It also provides a centralaccess point for all activities for both the north andsouth sides of campus.”Participants in the ceremony included Dr. James C. Renick, chancellor; RalphShelton, vice chair, N.C. A&T Board of Trustees; Nikkita Mitchell, president, StudentGovernment Association; and Dr. Velma Speight, representative from the NationalAlumni Association.Students, university employees, alumni andfriends gather for the official opening ofObermeyer Parking Lot, which features enoughparking spaces for 400 cars and pedestrian accessto the north and south sides of campus.A&T TODAY/SPRING 200115

Campus BriefsStudentsTamara Hill, PhedraKee and Labrisha King,three public relations seniors,participated inKetchum Boot Camp inAtlanta, Feb. 16-17. Thecamp is a professionaldevelopment programfor public relations studentsattending historicallyblack colleges and Tamara Hilluniversities. Students are selected based ontheir portfolio, resume,letter of reference andcover letter. Ketchum isthe No. 1 public relationsfirm in the Southeastand No. 6 in theworld.Eighty-eight A&Tstudents were selectedfor the 2001 edition ofPhedra Kee Who’s Who Among Studentsin American Universitiesand Colleges based on their academicachievement, serviceto the community,leadership in extracurricularactivities andpotential for continuedsuccess. They joinan elite group of studentsfrom more than2,300 institutions ofhigher learningaround the world. Labrisha KingIncluded this yearare: Khaleelah J. Ali, Courtney L. Amos,Christopher D. Ashford, Zubaidah P. Bassett,Shedrick B. Bessent, Joyce Black,Bryant Blackmoore, Lisa Athenia Britt,Nicole Brockington, Dina K. Brown, PamelaBuster and Ebony Byarse.Patrice D. Cagle, Thasya Campbell, AshleyD. Cannon, Crystal Cason, AngelaCheek, Yolanda Renee Chisolm, ClarenceL. Clayton, Eulois Cleckley, Dondrae J.Coble, Kimberly L. Cole, Andrea L.Coley, Candice L. Coletrane andLatrice Collins.Jennifer Dashiell, Dorie A. Davis, MaraDavis, Kimberly Dean, Kimberley Dixon,Dexter L. Eatmon, Christi Nicole Ellison,Karen Galloway, Wesley J. Garrison, CherieGreene, Gowon L. Goode, Shameka Hairston,Crystal Harris, Travis L. Hill, KristyHoward and Mario D. Ingram.Riza Crystal Jenkins, Raushannah N.Johnson, Quintina Daniell Jones,Selena D. Judon, William Lash, Franklin E.Leaven Jr., April Lynette Lemons, BryanLightfoot, Haile K. Lindsay, AntonetteLockett, Lanise Long, Nicholas S. Luke,Tina Magee and Jibri Mayo.Illia K. McClain, Sandra McFarland,Nikkita Mitchell, Teketa L. Mitchell, TravisGerod Monroe, Diletta Mouzon, JessicaPike, Rachelle Redmond, Chrystal D. Regan,Jamercina Sallena Reives, ReneeReynolds and Andrea Temple Robinson.Ileka Scruggs, Brandi Nicole Sharpe,Adrienne Sheppard, Cindee Yarnell Smith,Chameeka N. Smith, Binata N. Speaks,Daryl A. Speaks, Sharell M. Spruill, Nikki S.Thompson, Renata Uzzell and April L.Valentine.Quinnlyn M. Watkins, Nicole L.Watlington, Nakeisha Watson, Tikela JaneeWeldon, Stanford T. Wiley III, IvyMichelle Williams, Je’Milla L. Willoughby,Shana L. Wilson, Anya Winfield and KerishaR. Wright.The Waste Management Institute of N.C.A&T awarded certificates to 26 students atthe end of the fall 2000 semester. The certificaterepresents the successful completion oftraining in environmental and waste managementissues. The certificate complementsthe undergraduate degree.Nykia T. Barnes, Princeley Dorfeuille,Torri Y. Smith, Chastity K. Warren, ChesterK. Warren, Marcia E. Moore, Rashida D.Colbert, Balla S. Keita, Pamela J. Porter,Jake K. Austin, William C. Manning, SammieL. Rogers III, Khareem E. Almo, KarreemHogan, Lamonte’ D. Smith, PetrinaD. Kidd, Fonya M. Long, LeVar P. Maxwell,Alexseil S. Parker, Yinka T. Ayankoya, AnthonyO. Okeke, Marissa L. Ferguson,James L. Jeffries Jr., Sandra F. McFarland,Ordaryll L. Puryear and Christopher D.Mundle received certificates.A&T’s race team placed third overall inthe Australian Formula Society of AutomotiveEngineers competition, which was hostedby the Society of Automotive Engineers(SAE) Australian Division at the Ford provinggrounds outside Geelong, Victoria. Participatingteam members, all mechanical engineeringmajors, were Joshua Dawson, TerranceElder, Dax Gerringer, ChristopherPotter, Dennis Simmerly, John Steelmanand Derrek Wilson. Dr. David Klett, professorof mechanical engineering and team advisor,accompanied the students.Formula SAE is a design competitionsponsored by SAE to foster interest amongengineering students in the field of automotiveengineering. Students must design andbuild a formula-style racecar that must passa rigorous safety inspection beforebeing judged on cost and designquality. Points are awarded for thesestatic categories as well as for the dynamicevents that include acceleration, skid padtesting, autocrossing and a 22-kilometer endurancerace.Faculty & StaffDr. Chi Anyansi-Archibong visited Nigerialast semester at therequest of SIFE Global,the global arm of Studentsin Free Enterprise(SIFE). Anyansi-Archibongorganized andconducted leadershipworkshops for 11 universitiesplanning to establishthe SIFE pro-Dr. Chi Anyansi-Archibonggram. Anyansi-Archibong is the Samuel WaltonFellow for Free Enterprise and the facultyadvisor for N.C. A&T SIFE. She also serves asregional director and is a national coordinatorfor SIFE Global.Dr. William Amponsah, director of theInternational Trade Center, presented an invitedpaper, “Globalization and Poverty:Lessons from the Theory and Practice of FoodSecurity,” during the joint annual meetingsof the Allied Social Science Association lastmonth in New Orleans. The paper was coauthoredwith Carlton Davis (University ofFlorida) and Clive Thomas (University ofGuyana).An article by Dr. Basil G. Coley, professorof economics, appears in San Joaquin AgriculturalLaw Review (Volume 10, No. 1). “EconomicFactors Associated with the Growthand Development of Agricultural Cooperatives,”examines various economic theorieson which cooperatives are based and theirgrowth and development from the Rochdalepioneers to the new generation cooperativesof today. The article also explores their rolesin our economic system and the implicationsof various Federal laws on their successes.Critical Thinking inYoung Children, a bookwritten by Dr. JaneDavis-Seaver, graduatecoordinator for elementaryeducation, appearsin Mellen Studies in Education(Vol. 50), which ispublished by EdwinMellen Press.Dr. Marihelen Glass,a biotechnologist in thedepartment of natural resourcesand environmental design, traveledto Accra, Ghana, recently as part of the StrategicAlliance for Biotechnology Research inAfrican Development (SABRAD) to participatein a workshop to help sub-Saharan Africa takeadvantage of developments in agriculturaltechnology. The workshop theme was “EnablingBiotechnology for African Agriculture,”and representatives from the United States’17 historically black land-grant institutionspresented information on biotechnology effortsin their states.Dr. Maury Granger,assistant professor ofeconomics and transportationlogistics, hasco-authored a paper thatappears in the October2000 edition of SouthernEconomic Journal (Vol. 67,No. 2), “Economic FacultyResearch at TeachingInstitutions: Are HistoricallyBlack CollegesDifferent?”Dr. JaneDavis-SeaverDr. MauryGrangerDr. David M. Johnson, associate professorof sociology, is serving his fifth year as editor-in-chiefof Southern Anthropologist, theofficial newsletter of the Southern AnthropologicalSociety. Johnson is a past president ofthe Society.16 A&T TODAY/SPRING 2001

Dr. Cathy Kea, associate professor of specialeducation, She presented two researchpapers at the 2000 Symposium on Culturallyand Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners:“Follow-Up Study of Special EducationGraduates Attending Traditional White Institutionsfor Master’s Degrees” and “A Studyof African-American Student Teachers’ Beliefsand Skills Relative to Multicultural Competence.”The symposium was held in Albuquerque,N.M., Oct. 11-13.Kea also conducted training on“Achieving Better Results for Children/Youthwith Challenging Behaviorsthrough the Use of Functional Assessmentand Behavioral Planning: A CurriculumFocus” for special educators and area/regional district administrators Oct. 19-20in Dallas, Texas. The Institute for Behavioraland Learning Differences sponsored theactivity.Dr. David Klett, professorof mechanical engineering,has receivedthe Society for AutomotiveEngineers (SAE) FacultyAdvisor Award. Klettwill be honored at the2001 SAE InternationalCongress and Expositionin March.Dr. Rita T. Lamb, directorof The Center forDr. David KlettStudent Success (TCSS), along with Carliss J.Lee and Lee A. Morgan, academic counselors/lecturers,attended the 24 th NationalConference of the National Academic AdvisingAssociation (NACADA), held at the DisneyCoronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Oct.5-8. The conference theme was “Advising inthe 21 st Century: Tradition, Innovation, andVision.”Dr. Beryl McEwen, chair of the departmentof business education, was namedNorth Carolina Business Education AssociationOutstanding Administrator of the Yearfor 2000.Dr. Peter V. Meyers, professor of historyand interim director of the University HonorsProgram, was elected parliamentarian of theNational Association of African AmericanHonors Program during the organization’sannual meeting last fall.Last semester, Dr. Celestine A. Ntuen visitedKorea at the invitation of the Korean ErgonomicSociety. During the visit he presenteda keynote speech, “Human-Centered Designof Information Technology Products,” atthe Society’s annual conference, and he presentedseminars to Korean OccupationalSafety and Health Administration (KOSHA)and Chonbuk National University engineeringfaculty and students. Ntuen is a professorof industrial and systems engineering. Hisexpertise is in cognitive engineering withapplications to simulation and informationprocessing.Drs. C.W. Raczkowski, G.B. Reddy andManuel R. Reyes from the department ofnatural resources and environmental designattended and presented three papers at theDr. Kunigal N.ShivakumarInternational Symposium on Soil Erosion Researchfor the 21 st Century held in Honolulu,Jan. 3-5. The titles of the presentations were:“Surface Losses of N, P and Herbicides froma Long Term Tillage Study at North CarolinaA&T State University”; “Crop Response, SoilLoss and Runoff Results from a Long TermTillage Study at North Carolina A&T StateUniversity”; and “Comparing GLEAMSNitrogen Predictions with Results from aLong Term Tillage Study at North CarolinaA&T State University.” The papers, co-authoredby the project’s principal investigatorDr. Godfrey A. Gayle, were published in theProceedings of the Soil Erosion Research Symposium.All authors are faculty in the departmentof natural resources and environmentaldesign.In addition, Reddy presented a session atthe International Conference on Soil Erosionheld in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last October.His presentation was entitled “Nitrogen,Phosphorus and Atrazine Losses from Conventionaland No-Tillage Systems in MaizeFields.” In November, Reddy presented“Treatment of Swine Wastewater in ConstructedWetlands” at the Seventh InternationalConference on Wetlands Systems forWater Pollution at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.Dr. Jagannathan “Jag” Sankar, directorand principal investigator of the National ScienceFoundation Center for Advanced Materialsand Smart Structures (CAMSS) at N.C.A&T, participated in the All India ManufacturingTechnology, Design and Research Conferenceheld in December at the Indian Instituteof Technology in Madras. Sankar was oneof four special international invitees that presentedkeynote lectures.Drs. Ellen Smoak and RobertWilliamson, faculty in the School of Agriculturaland Environmental and Allied Science,presented “A Cultural and Ecological SaladBowl” at the annual conference of the NorthAmerican Association for Environmental Education,which was held at South Padre Island,Texas. Their session was based on Down-to-Earth, an education curriculum they createdfor limited resource youth ages 9-12.Dr. Kunigal N.Shivakumar, a researchprofessor in the departmentof mechanical engineeringand interim directorof A&T’s Centerfor Composite MaterialsResearch, has beennamed an associate editorfor the American Instituteof Aeronautics andAstronautics Journal. Hewill serve a three-yearterm, during which he will review submissionsto the journal and communicate withboth the journal and its contributors.Dr. Carmen E. Tillery has been nameddirector of housing. Tillery has 13 years of experiencein higher education administration.She most recently served as assistant dean ofstudent development and dean of the upperclasscampus at Duke University. She onceserved as associate directorof housing and residencelife at N.C. A&T,and she has related experienceat Purdue University,Iowa State University,University of Illinois-Chicagoand SyracuseUniversity. Tilleryhas a B.S. in businessadministration fromNorthern Illinois Universityand an M.S. and a Ph.D. in higher educationstudent personnel from Iowa StateUniversity.Dr. Shih-Liang “Sid” Wang, associateprofessor of mechanical engineering, gave afour-hour tutorial workshop entitled “MotionSimulation of Machines and Mechanisms UsingWorking Model in 2D and 3D” at theASME 2000 Design Conference last Septemberin Baltimore. His workshop attractedparticipants from Japan,Korea, South Africa,Netherlands and theUnited States.A professional engineer,Wang is an expertin computer-aided design,machine design,robotics, and automation.Last August,McGraw-Hill publishedWang’s multimediacourseware, MechanismSimulation in a Multimedia Environment,which is included in a CD bundled withthe textbook Design of Machinery, 2ndedition New Media Version by Robert Norton.The textbook is published in four languagesand currently is used in more than 100schools worldwide.Dr. Roselle L. Wilson is serving asinterim vice chancellor for student affairs.She replaces Dr. Sullivan Welborne, whoretired last semester.Wilson was vicepresident for studentaffairs for RutgersUniversity’s threeDr. Roselle L.WilsonDr. Carmen E.TilleryDr. Sjih-Liang“Sid” Wangcampuses in Camden,Newark and NewBrunswick, N.J., untilher retirement. Prior toRutgers, Wilson wasassistant to the vicepresident for studentaffairs and services andcoordinator for multicultural trainingand development at Michigan StateUniversity-East Lansing, where she was alsoan adjunct assistant professor. She onceserved as assistant to the vice president forstudent services at the University ofMichigan-Ann Arbor and director of minorityaffairs and counselor at Eastern MichiganUniversity.Wilson received her B.S. and M.A. fromMichigan State University and her Ph.D.from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.She is originally from Winston-Salem. ■A&T TODAY/SPRING 200117

Research• “Laboratory Facility for the Control of Load-Carrying Equipment,” a project led by Dr.Marwan Bikdash, department of electricalengineering, has earned a $150,000 awardfrom the U.S. Dept. of Defense Office ofNaval Research. The funds will be usedto establish a laboratory for testing thetask management, safe operation andmotion control of load-carrying equipment,such as ship cranes and small, autonomousmobile robots conducting difficult tasks inhostile environments.• Dr. Clinton B. Lee, department of electricalengineering, is leading a project thataddresses and attempts to resolve issuesrelated to the use of oxide heterostructureswith a barium strontium titanate (BST) layerin high-density dynamic random accessmemory (DRAM) and logic devices. Theproject, “Microstructure PropertyCorrelationships in Oxide CeramicHeterostructures,” has received $166,621 incontinuation funding from the U.S. Dept. ofEnergy in Chicago.• The National Science Foundation (NSF) hasawarded a five-year information technologyresearch grant worth more than $7 million to10 investigators at North CarolinaAgricultural and Technical State University,the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill,Duke University and Stanford University. Theproposal is to develop new computationaltechniques and paradigms for representing,sorting, searching, simulating, analyzingand visualizing biological structures.Dr. Solomon Bililign, an associateprofessor in the department of physics atN.C. A&T, is a co-investigator of thecollaboration entitled “ComputationalGeometry for Structural Biology andBioinformatics.” A&T’s portion of thegrant as a sub-contractor is about $520,000for five years.The interdisciplinary research, whichinvolves computer science, molecularbiology, biochemistry and physics, isexpected to shed light on some importantunsolved biological puzzles such asprediction of protein structure, simulationof protein folding and analysis of ligandto protein docking - processes that link formto function.• Three mechanical engineering professors atN.C. A&T, a physics professor from theUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro,and eight A&T students are developingbiomimetic structural materials for aircraftthat can continuously monitor their ownhealth and functional integrity.A&T researchers include Drs. MannurSundaresan, Anindya Ghoshal and MarkSchulz of the Intelligent Structures andMechanisms Laboratory in the mechanicalengineering department and students DerkeHughes, William Martin, David Turrentine,Ken Waldon, Jeremy Harrison, NazarElwasila, Crystal Bailey and David Blood.Dr. Promod Pratap is the UNCG biophysicsprofessor. Bruce Swanson and FernandoGen-Kuong of Endevco Corporation, asensor manufacturer in San JuanCapistrano, Calif., are building electroniccomponents that mimic the functions of thehuman nerve cell.The bionic structures being developed willbe capable of sensing, locating andquantifying pain as damage to the structurethrough a distributed neural system thatfunctions similar to the human sense of touch.Funding is being provided by the AirForce Office of Scientific Research (forequipment) and by research grants from theArmy Research Office, Sandia NationalLaboratories and the Penn State UniversityRotorcraft Center of Excellence. The work isalso supported by the NASA Center forAerospace Research at A&T, which isdirected by Dr. Frederick Ferguson, and theNSF Center for Advanced Materials andSmart Structures at A&T, which is directedby Dr. Jagannathan Sankar. ■18 A&T TODAY/SPRING 2001

Moving AheadA&T BeginsShort-rangePlanningProcessBY SANDRA M. BROWNChancellor James C.Renick reveals FUTURESPlan at a campus-widemeeting in January. Hesaid that now is the timeto capture theopportunities to build onour rich tradition andcurrent momentum.A&T TODAY/SPRING 2001Over the next three to five years,students, faculty, staff,administrators, alumni and theexternal community will playan integral and active role inplanning the future of North CarolinaAgricultural and Technical State University.At a campus-wide meeting held in January,Chancellor James C. Renick announcedFUTURES, the university’s planning initiative,and how it will be implemented.“During the past decade, the competitionin higher education for high quality students,public support and private resources hasintensified,” Renick said. “We have positionedNorth Carolina A&T State University so that itis appropriately competitive. It is now time tomove beyond positioning and developinstitutional foresight that will form the core ofa proactive planning process.”Institutional activity at N.C. A&T hasbeen centered on five themes Renickintroduced during his first days on campus: (1)the interactive university,(2) student success, (3)resource diversification andexpansion, (4) informationtechnology and (5)globalization. While theuniversity has successfullyintegrated those themes,last week Renick said thatit is time to implement aprocess that will allow theuniversity to create ashared vision for the yearsahead.“The future belongsto those institutions thathave foresight, energy,creativity, wisdom and thecourage to understand thatdestiny is not a matter ofchance, but a matter of choice and the will toachieve,” Renick said. “… Now is the time tocapture the opportunities to build on our richtradition and current momentum.”The first phase began with theorganization of a FUTURES Planning andResource Council. A diverse group of 23individuals from the campus and communityhave been selected to serve.Representatives from campus include: Dr.Quiester Craig, dean, School of Business andEconomics; Dr. Colleen Grotsky, executiveassistant to the chancellor; Rodney Harrigan,associate vice chancellor, academicaffairs/technology and telecommunication/CIO; and David Hoard, vice chancellor fordevelopment and university relations.Dr. Pamela Hunter, chair, faculty senate;Paula Jeffries, interim vice chancellor, businessand finance; Dr. Olenda Johnson, assistantprofessor, management; Albertina McGirt,president, staff senate; Dr. Carolyn Meyers, vicechancellor, academic affairs; Dr. Peter Meyers,interim director, honors program; and NikkitaMitchell, president, student governmentassociation.Dr. Samuel Moseley, associate professor,political science; Dr. Earnestine Psalmonds, vicechancellor, research; Lesley Renwrick, specialassistant to the chancellor, legal affairs; Dr.Sanjiv Sarin, professor, industrial engineering;Dr. Godfrey Uzochukwu, professor, naturalresources and environmental design/director,Waste Management Institute; Dr. Willie Willis,professor, animal science; and Dr. RoselleWilson, interim vice chancellor, student affairs.Dr. Grace McWhorter, ACE Fellow, also hasbeen appointed to the council.From the community are Mona Edwards,deputy city manager, Greensboro; Obrie Smith,chair, N.C. A&T University Foundation; Dr.Velma Speight, N.C. A&T Board of Trustees;and Dennis Stearns, certified financial planner.The primary purpose of the council is toadvise the Chancellor and provide institutionwidethinking that will drive the strategicvisioning process. Council members – togetherwith various appointed teams comprised ofcampus colleagues, students, alumni andmembers of the community – will considerfuture challenges and opportunities.Town hall meetings will be held in Marchand April to test and refine scenarios developedby the Planning and Resource Council andappointed teams. The results will be presentedat a FUTURES retreat at the end of Aprilwhere participants will make final revisions,identify possible barriers to achievement anddesign specific operational goals with timelines,rationales and actions needed to minimize oreliminate barriers to success. Implementationof the goals will follow.“High levels of participation and datadrivenconversations will be the basis of thisprocess, and I am confident that our efforts willresult in a plan of constant, purposefulinnovation to ensure that North CarolinaAgricultural and Technical State Universitymeets the challenges of the future,” Renickconcluded.For information about the FUTURESproject at A&T, visit the Web site atwww.ncat.edu/futures/. ■19

Students GetFirst-Hand Experiencewith Campus Construction ProjectBY NETTIE COLLINS ROWLAND ’72Architectural design studentsat N.C. A&T are involvedin the construction of thenewest residence facility oncampus. Pictured (l-r):Keisha Turner, CourtneyYancey, Dr. Peter Rojeski(instructor), Derek Solomon,Rick Stokes (MaxamConstruction), JenniferSuitt, Jamese Sharpe, JessicaPike, Tim Friday, LeilaSimaan, Malveata Johnson,Katonda Rainey, ErinOwens, Tyrone Smith andSouksavan Saengsourichan.Agroup of engineeringand technologystudents at A&T arenot just reading intheir textbooks aboutbuilding and designing facilities,they are actually observing theconstruction of a brand newprivatized housing unit on campus.The co-ed residence hall (thatis actually two buildings) is beingbuilt to help alleviate overcrowdedhousing conditions at the universityis being financed by the NorthCarolina A&T UniversityFoundation, under the leadership ofObrie Smith.The Hollis and Miller Groupof Overland Park, Kan., designedthe 804-bed facility. MaxamConstruction Company is thebuilder, and the developer isStudent Suites of Blue Springs, Mo.Student Suites, a privatedeveloper, works exclusively onuniversity and college campuses.They have built facilities for BartonCommunity College, BarclayCollege and Neosho CommunityCollege.“This housing facility is thefirst of its kind for us,” said RickStokes, project manager forMaxam. “It truly represents thecutting edge of technology.”The 200,000-square footbuilding with private and semiprivatesuites is being designedbased on the results of focus groupsessions with students.Private suites have fourbedrooms with a commonliving area and twobathrooms. Semi-privatesuites are moreconventional with twobedrooms and a bath withtwo showers. Four studentswill share the suites.The rooms have awardrobe, shelves andvanity. They are equippedwith data cable that is tiedinto the university’snetwork. They also haveInternet access and cabletelevision.The facility has alaundry room, commonarea for students to gather on eachfloor and vending machines.Security cameras are located oneach floor, and a security monitor islocated in the residence director’soffice.Getting A&T studentsinvolved in the housing project wasthe idea of Andy Perkins, universityengineer and interim vicechancellor for facilities. When askedabout the housing unit by Stokesand his team, Perkins suggested thatthey involve architecturalengineering and technologystudents. The constructioncompany agreed.Several days a week, junior andseniors dressed in blue, red andwhite hard hats can be seem walkingaround the construction siteobserving the 100+ constructioncrew work to complete the firstbuilding, which is scheduled to befinished by Aug. 15.The students browse throughthe site while listening to theirteachers and construction assistantstalk about the structure. They(students) ask questions about thefloor and ceiling trusses, walls,materials, structural cost, concreteand other pertinent informationabout the construction and designof the facility.“We come to the site to studyhow the construction process isdone,” said Jake Holmes II, a juniorarchitectural engineering majorwho is enrolled in ArchitecturalDesign II. The objective of thecourse is to familiarize studentswith the design process frompreliminary conceptual studiesthrough the production ofconstruction.Holmes added, “At the site, weget to see the actual process andhow things go up. Then we take theinformation back to the classroomand talk about it.”Holmes’ classmate AnthonyPatterson said that taking theDesign II course this semester is agreat experience for him and hisfellow classmates.“We get to see what we arestudying in class,” Patterson said.“We are not designing blindly.When sitting around brainstormingabout what we want our designs tolook like, we have an actual idea.”Patterson and his classmatesvisit the construction site every twoweeks and they meet in the MaxamConstruction office, which is athree-room trailer located on thepremises. In the classroom, theyreview floor plans and designs withtheir teacher, Stokes and his team.Seeing the facility go up is very20 A&T TODAY/SPRING 2001

Taylor Galleryfeaturing Folk ArtistClementine Hunterthrough MayStudents study the site andreceive updates from sitepersonnel on a weekly basis.exciting to Patterson.“When we first came tothe site, one of the dormsonly had footings and aconcrete slab,” Patterson said.“It is amazing to see thequickness and speed at whichthe dorm has been erected.”As part of their class assignment,the students are designing a twobedroomhouse for GreensboroHabitat for Humanity. Anotherassignment later in the semester will beto design a dormitory.Robert Powell, an assistantprofessor in the College ofEngineering, is very excited about hisstudents participating in the project.“In the field of architecture andengineering there is a lot of emphasison the design aspects but there are alot of complaints in our professionabout students not knowing about thereal world. So we are hoping that whenthey start practicing in the professionthey will have some familiarity withit,” said Powell, who has been apracticing architect for 15 years.Powell teaches the ArchitecturalDesign II and senior projects classes.In the senior project course,students are taught how to prepare afinal set of discipline-specificconstruction documents, includingengineering calculations, productiondrawings and specifications. Thestudents discuss contracts, ethics andconstruction administration as theyrelate to the project.Carlos Callender, a seniorarchitectural engineering major who isA&T TODAY/SPRING 2001taking the senior project course said,“This class allows me to see everythingthat goes into a project. I get to testmy knowledge. It also allows me tobring everything I have learned overthe years together. It is geared towardreal world theory.”Senior Jennifer Suitt feelsprivileged to take the course.“It put points behind what youare learning in the classroom,” shesaid.Lewis Waller, a lecturer in theSchool of Technology, teaches theconstruction management advanceengineering course.“I never had the opportunity towork on a project of this magnitude,”Waller said. “These students arefortunate to actually see a project fromthe beginning stages to the endingstages.”The students say it is great to beinvolved in a project that is makinghistory for the university.David Hoard, vice chancellor fordevelopment and university relationsand executive director of the N.C.A&T University Foundation, iscoordinator of the housing project.Assisting Hoard is JacquelineMcMillan, business manager for theFoundation. ■Saturday Night by Clementine HunterAn exhibition of oil paintings and otheritems painted by African American folkartist Clementine Hunter (c. 1886-1988)can be viewed in the Mattye Reed AfricanHeritage Center through May 15.Hunter was born on a large Louisiana cottonplantation called Hidden Hill, which is believedto be the setting for Harriet Beecher Stowe’sUncle Tom’s Cabin. At age 14 or 15, Huntermoved to Melrose Plantation, where she spentmost of her life.Self-taught as an artist, Hunter did not beginpainting until she was in her mid-50s. Sheproduced more than 5,000 works of art. Some ofher themes were church scenes, picking cotton,flowers, Saturday nights and wash day.Illiterate, Hunter made her mark by copyingthe initials of Melrose Plantation owner CarmelitaHenry, making the “C” backward to avoidconfusion. Hunter received an honorary doctoratedegree from Northwestern University. Her workscan be found in the High Museum (Atlanta),Dallas Art Museum, Fisk University Museum,Northwestern University and the Historic AfricanHouse of Melrose Plantation in Louisiana.For more information about the exhibition,call Dr. Conchita Ndege, director of the MattyeReed African Heritage Center, or VandornHinnant, curator, at (336) 334-3209. ■21

Aggie SportsBY DONAL O. WARE AND LANIER K. LONGSara Lee Donates $24,000 to AthleticsSara Lee Sock Company of HighPoint, N.C., has given the athleticsdepartment at North CarolinaAgricultural and Technical StateUniversity a donation of $24,000 fornew football team uniforms for thefootball team.The $24,000 is the largest donationthat Sara Lee Sock Company has givento any outside organization. Thecompany has been involved with Aggieathletics and head football coach BillHayes for about five years.“The reason we are getting involvedis because we have a liking for CoachHayes and the athletics department,”said Fred Johnson, vice president ofhuman resources. “When you getinvolved with Coach Hayes you getinvolved with A&T.”There were also other reasons forthe involvement.“(A&T) is a local school and wehave local attachments,” said BobHoots, director of employee relations.“A lot of our employees graduated fromA&T and are in very prominentpositions.”The N.C. A&T football teamfinished with a record of 8-3, 6-2 in theMid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Forhead football coach Bill Hayes, the giftis a dream come true.“This is Christmas for me and ourteam,” Hayes said. “Sometimes it ishard to find support for a smallprogram. We have been in the top 20 inthe nation since meeting Sara Lee. Icannot really describe my true feelings.”Dr. Alfonso Scandrett, athleticsdirector, also has been looking forwardto something like this for a long time.“One of the things we are trying todo is make inroads in the localcommunity,” said Scandrett. “Thisaffords us the chance to get involvedwith a local company with a nationwidereputation.”Sara Lee Sock Company is part ofSara Lee Branded Apparel. The brandBill Hayes, Head Football Coachof socks manufactured and sold by SaraLee Sock Company includes Hanes,Hanes Her Way, Champion and JustMy Size. The company has about 1,000employees in the Carolinas. ■Jermichael Watts Qualifies for NCAA Indoor ChampionshipsN.C. A&T track and field starJermichael Watts has qualifiedfor the NCAA (NationalCollegiate Athletic Association) IndoorChampionships, which will be heldMarch 8-10 at the University ofArkansas. His qualifying hump jump of7’2” occurred at the Dec. 8 NewportNews Invitational in Lynchburg, Va.“Being that (Jermichael) is only5’9” tall, his natural ability to jump thathigh is amazing, and I believe he is oneof the most talented track athletes everto come to A&T,” said men’s track headcoach Roy “Space” Thompson.“Last year his jump was one of thetop 10 jumps in the country,”Thompson added. “After qualifying forthe NCAAs again this year, his goal is seton qualifying for nationals. The sad partfor the Aggies is that Jermichael is aJermichael Wattssenior. He is a great athlete and a greatperson.”A native of Claremont, N.C.,Watts jumped 7’4” last year to qualifyfor the NCAA Outdoor Championshipsheld at Duke University.“I think that since I qualified thisyear I should do better than I did lastyear,” said Watts who also qualified forthe NCAA Outdoor Championshipsbut did not make it past the preliminaryround.“The weight program that Coachhas me on has improved my jumpingability. I hope by the end of indoorseason I can qualify for the worldchampionship team.”A jump of 7’2” is needed to qualifyfor the NCAA Championships.Keep up with Watts’ progress atwww.ncat.edu/~athletics. ■22 A&T TODAY/SPRING 2001

Student Athletes Make the GradeForty-five student athletes at N.C. A&T are winnersof the 2000-01 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference(MEAC) Commissioner’s All-Academic Award.On Feb. 5, MEAC Commissioner Charles S. Harrisannounced that 424 student athletes enrolled in MEACmemberinstitutions had earned a cumulative gradepoint average of 3.0 or better. A&T tied for third mostathletes on the list.“The large number of student athletes being honoredproves that our member institutions have set a highstandard of excellence in their academic programs,” Harrissaid. “I would like to take this opportunity to applaud thestudent-athletes, coaches and administrators for all of theirhard work and dedication.”A&T’s athletes who received the honor are listedbelow.Baseball: Terrance Blackmon and Eric Phillips.Basketball (Men’s): Landon Beckwith, Jafar Taalib and Abraham Traore.Basketball (Women’s): Stephanie Moss and Rekha Patterson.Bowling (Women’s): Shayla King and Sharita Lea.Football: Ian Alestock, Derek Becton, Demario Chavis, Frederick Freeman, Kwa King, MontrailPittman, Stan Wiley and Marsay Winder.Softball: Macy Henderson, April Lemons, Michelle Thompson and Crystal Womble.Swimming (Women’s): Brooke Myatt, Jessica Pike and Diane Rogers.Tennis (Men’s): Kennedy Cheruiyot and Peter Harris.Tennis (Women’s): Laytoya Alston, Crystal Carmon and Tonetta Landis.Track (Men’s): Al-Aakhir Grimes, Seneca Rogers, John Twitty, Wayne Welsh and Charles Shoffner.Track (Women’s): Brena Cooper, Jennifer Dashiell, Angela Dale, Danielle Fowler, Crystal Harris,Chrystal Lee and Shay McLaughlin.Volleyball: Ebony Byarse, Gina Renzaglia, Shayla Stevenson and Danesha Taylor.Bowling Team Ranked in Top 15A&T’s women’s bowling team wasranked 15th in the country inthe CollegeBowling.com powerrankings on Jan. 28.The Lady Aggies was ranked 23rdgoing into the Sunshine Classic held inTallahassee, Fla., Jan. 12-14. They wonthe Classic beating Florida and FloridaState, teams that ranked in the top 15.“I am extremely exited and proudof the accomplishments of the youngladies as we strive to be a national powerin collegiate bowling,” said head coachAdam Chaskin.The team hosts the YoungAmerican Bowling Alliance (YABA)Championships in Greensboro, March17-18. To qualify for the IntercollegiateBowling Championships (IBC), April17-22 in Grand Rapids, Mich., theLady Aggies must finish in the top fourof the IBC Sectional Qualifier that willbe held in Downington, Pa., March 23-25.After winning the MEACChampionships in 1999, the LadyAggies finished 2nd to the University ofMaryland-Eastern Shore in the 2000MEAC Championships.Four Lady Aggie bowlers have thetop 250 intercollegiate averages in thecountry: freshman Audrey McIntyre,ranked 150 (183 avg.); senior CrystalBailey, ranked 166 (173 avg.);sophomore Courtney Stith, ranked 201(178 avg.); and freshman Misty Young,ranked 214 (173 avg.). ■A&T TODAY/SPRING 200123

Mixed BagAaron P. TitusNot so random thoughts aboutWeb-based homeworkBY AARON P. TITUS, PH.D. (titus@ncat.edu)As the Web gained popularity during the early1990s, educators very soon envisioned thepotential of using the Web to assign, collect andgrade homework, quizzes and tests. Today, Web-basedhomework systems are readily available.As teachers, we should not ask ourselves, “Can weuse Web-based homework systems?” Instead we shouldask, “Should we use Web-based homework systems?”Every technological tool should be evaluated for itseffectiveness and subsequently adopted, discarded ormodified and reevaluated accordingly. To help youdecide whether Web-based homework may be effectivefor your students, I offer my evaluation of Web-basedhomework systems.When evaluating the pros and cons of a tool, it isimportant to realize it is only a tool that can be usedeffectively or ineffectively. When discussing theeffectiveness of a tool, the context in which the tool isused must be defined.For example, discussing the effectiveness of ahammer is useless without discussing the effectivenessof a hammer when nailing nails, removing nails,screwing a screw, etc. As important as the context is thedescription of how the tool is used in that context, suchas the good ways and bad ways to use a hammer in thecontext of hammering nails.Asking whether a teacher should use a Web-basedhomework system is like asking if teachers should allowstudents to use a calculator. Calculators do not, in andof themselves, create students who cannot solve aproblem algebraically. Likewise, they do not equipstudents with the knowledge to solve difficult problems.Wise teachers must know how to use calculatorseffectively in order to maximize student learning.Similarly, as teachers we must know, or perhapsdiscover, effective ways to use Web-based homework.So how is effectiveness measured?In my opinion, the most important criterion isstudent learning. If a tool does not help students learn,teachers must evaluate how the tool is used andwhether the tool should be used at all. If a hammerdoes not drive a nail into a board, then perhaps thehammer is being used in an ineffective way or maybe itis not suited to the task.Here are some advantages and disadvantages ofusing Web-based homework, as measured by studentlearning. These are theoretical in the sense that I knowof no studies that I can reference.oAdvantages for Students1. Increased time on task. A very real constraint inteaching is that grades and feedback often motivatestudents. With Web-based homework, morehomework can be assigned and graded therebymotivating most students to spend more time ontask. Thus, learning should increase if theassignments and level of difficulty are appropriate.2. Multimedia-focused questions. Homeworkquestions via computer can include dynamic visualssuch as animation and video. Research in physicseducation shows that interacting with animationchanges how students answer some physicsquestions. We believe that these questions moreclosely simulate a laboratory “hands-on” learningexperience than typical textbook questions.3. Teachers’ time on task. If teachers are saving timeby not manually grading all homework problems,then they can spend more time working withchallenged students, writing innovative problemsfor homework, designing new materials for lecturesand grading projects or essays. Web-basedhomework can save teachers’ time, but moreimportantly, it helps them to redistribute their timein order to be more effective.4. New active-learning strategies. Just-in-time teaching(JiTT) by Gregor Novak, Evelyn Patterson, AndyGavrin and Wolfgang Christian, discusses anapproach that requires using the Web to collectstudent responses before coming to class. Thelecture is then based on those responses, which areincorporated into lecture. This promotes activelearning in the classroom and encourages studentsto come to class prepared to discuss the material.5. Immediate feedback. By far, the feature studentslike most is immediate feedback. They no longerwait days to receive their score on a homeworkassignment. But rather, they might have the optionof immediate feedback or the possibility ofresubmission, as determined by the teacher and thecontext in which the Web-based homework systemis being used. Additionally, you can allow studentsto resubmit missed questions, thereby encouragingmastery learning. Immediate feedback is essential tothis process.24 A&T TODAY/SPRING 2001

Disadvantages for Students1. Students might not get detailed feedback. That is, usually(without significant programming) students do not find outexactly where they went wrong in a problem. Simply, theirfinal answers are graded. A good solution is for the teacher tocollect answers to many questions on-line, and ask studentsto submit their work on paper. The teacher can then chooseone question to grade by hand and to give detailed feedbackto the student.2. Technical errors may occur. For example, one evening thecampus network went down, which caused some frustrationfor those submitting homework at the last minute. Anotherissue is that students need access to a networked computer.(The access issue has decreased significantly here at A&Tsince 1998, and it will probably be a non-issue five years fromnow.) For some students, technology may get in the way oflearning simply due to a “hatred” of using computers. Yet, Isee using computers as a benefit for these students. We live ina technological society and learning to use computers is vitalto their education.There also are advantages and disadvantages for teachers.Time previously allotted for grading can now be spent oncommunicating with students, as mentioned above. The amountof time saved depends on many factors. If teachers write theirown questions, the time saved from grading is instead spent onwriting questions. In the long run (approximately two semesters),questions are reused and the time spent authoring questions isrecovered.As with any technology, there is an initial learning curve. Forexample, to use WebAssign, teachers must learn, at a minimum,how to create a class, upload a class roster, create assignments anddownload grades. A database of thousands of questions isavailable; however, that is something else to learn. All Web-basedhomework systems share these features, so teachers must learnthese things on whichever system is used.Which homework system should you use?First, understand that there is a difference between a coursemanagement system and a homework system. Coursemanagement tools – such as WebCT and BlackBoard – are usedto organize course content, chat rooms, on-line office hours(again, via chat), bulletin boards and homework. Although theyhave homework collection features, they are not as full-featured asthose offered by WebAssign or other quality homework systems.I recommend using a homework system over a coursemanagement system if collecting homework is the sole goal.When offering distance education courses on-line such as witheCollege, use both a course management system and a homeworksystem. Both can be used effectively together without competing.Course management systems do what homework systems do not,and homework systems are better at distributing and collectinghomework than course management systems.Second, consider whether you want to manage the server andsoftware yourself. If so, you can install many quality free versions,such as WWWAssign. (But understand that you will have tomanage all of the headaches yourself.) Even versions that are notfree, such as QuestionMark, require significant computerknowledge and experience. Those who choose this option shouldhave significant time, experience, knowledge and interest in thisoption.Otherwise, choose a service such as WebAssign. Its staff keepsthe servers running 24-7, and they also offer technical support andcontent (questions) so users have the option of writing or notwriting their own questions. When something goes wrong, supportis readily available. In addition, colleagues from various institutionsuse the same database of questions, so questions can be shared.Third, consider the features of the system and what it will beused for. For example, if you plan to give numerical problems,you definitely want the system to randomize numbers in theproblems so that students working together share how to do theproblem and not just the final answer. If mathematics is used inyour discipline, you want to be able to grade functions, so thatexpressions like (x 2 -1) and (x+1)*(x-1) will be gradedequivalently. If you frequently use essay questions or collect filessuch as programs or word or excel documents, then you want tobe able to easily grade the work and assign a grade and commentto the student. Does the system store questions so that they areeasily retrievable? If not, then reusing questions can be difficult.That is why a searchable database backend is so useful.However, for searchability, a classification system should be inplace. The most attractive feature to teachers so far has beenorganizing questions based on the textbook chapters. If you writeyour own questions, then you should classify the problemsappropriately to make searching easier.Last, consider price. Free systems are great but support andlong-term improvement of the software may be lacking. Look forprograms that offer technical support, fast servers, questions fromall major textbooks and a constantly improving product.WebAssign is the most full-featured homework system available.If you would like to use it with your course or want ideas, pleasecontact me at titus@ncat.edu. To use a course managementsystem, you may contact the Center for Learning Technologies,(336) 334-7857. ■A&T TODAY/SPRING 200125

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