North Carolina A&T State University www. collegepublisher.com/ THE REGISTER atregister VOLUME 76, NO. 9 Monday, Dec. 3, 2001 COPYRIGHT© 2001 SGA meeting marked by infighting By TJ. Moore cited the absence News Editor UNION of Williams and Director of Auxiliary Services Todd eHOHtAL AOVIS Secretary Mia Ross as an example of the took the floor. He discussed Bickering between the Student Johnson organization's current state. the difference between requked and Government Association and a few In regular business, Drumwright gave misceUaneous fees, but most of his members of the Aggie Live Wkes over his monthly report addressing parking presentation was about budget-related matters the renovated overshadowed a issues on campus, minor campus main- Wilkams Cafeteria. heavy agenda for the full Johnson talked body monthly tenance problems, student apathy and about the branded meeting, Nov. 26 in concepts that wiU be the Memorial tuition and fees. in the cafeteria Union Exhibit HaU. in March. From a recent In parking news, Drumwright stated survey, said Tempers flared as the Live Wkes Johnson that the two that students now have two new places favorite were expressed their displeasure that the concepts Burger King and to park. ChanceUor James C. Renick Kentucky Fried Chicken SGA did not aUot funds for the entire and there is a recendy purchased a lot across East possibikty that Krispy Kreme group of 100 go to the Peach State Market Street from the Classic in Adanta. Dowdy Building, Doughnuts could be included. near Parker Brothers restaurant, and also hinted at In defense of the SGA Executive Johnson bringing the Register file photo another lot at the intersection across Deli and Board, President Greg Aggie the food carts back arid Drumwright SGA from the old chanceUors' house. a choice of new meal for the cafe- advised the members of the Live Wires executive board shown plans at a function Drumwright also addressed the fact teria with a few restrictions. to voice their complaints to their liaison earlier this year that many students did not show up at Vice President of Internal Affairs and SGA Vice President of External An unidentified SGA Senate member the meeting and the overall apathy of Wilkam Dudley reported on the contin- Affairs Chester Williams and ask him voiced his concerns about the organiza- the student body and encouraged those uing lobbying for a two-year tuition why the group was not in the budget. tion's budget and its cohesiveness. He in attendance to bring a friend to the freeze and a resolution to restrict credit Drumwright accused Wilkams, who charged that the SGA Executive Board next meeting, scheduled for 28 in card companies on was not present, of not Jan. sokciting the cam- fulfilling his members were just concerned with a McNak Auditorium and he also encour- pus. proper duties as VP of external affaks stipend and not the welfare of the stu- aged that those in attendance to disre- He also reported on the resolution and advised the Live Wkes to look in dents. gard any rumors about the organization. introduced at the SGA Senate's last the student constitution to show the Drumwright asked why should the FinaUy, Drumwright reiterated that the meeting to suspend the stipend of SGA group how to voice a complaint. Senate worry about the execs being 4 percent increase of tuition and fees Treasurer Wanda Hunter under article Wilkams could not be reached at dead paid. Later, the SGA president said that has been approved and he reviewed the six, section B of the student constitu- line for comment. the organization is divided and again figures from last year to this year. Please see SGA, Page 3 Alleged half-million-dollar construction billing scam did not harm university By T.J. Moore David Watford had installed over a half News Editor a million dollars worth of cable and N.C. A&T officials said that a scam to servicing equipment between biU the university for a half-milkon dol- December 1999 and April 2000. lars of work that aUegedly was never In paperwork filed in the Gukford done has not hurt the university or its County Courthouse, the university construction projects. claims that the work in question was "The university did not lose one never done brown penny, not one cent," said The court records also state that Internal Auditing Dkector Reginald Watford was paid nearly $411,000 by Sharonda Eggleton/Register Wade. Capital for his work in university Staff Former A&T telecommunications telecommunications projects. Capital Activist Ed Whitfield expresses his views on how Afghanistan got engineer Melvin A. McLaughlin was Partners then billed the university for its ways from America. charged Nov. 14 with helping a local $547,500, the amount mentioned in 13 contractor falsely obtain more than of Watford's invoices. Gibbs Hall meeting $500,000 from Capital Partners USA, Watford, who was in business as Triad heated as Inc, a Cakfornia-based financial compa- Communications in Waxhaw, was charged Sept. 12 with felony obtaining activist criticizes U.S. invasion The arrest is the conclusion of property by false pretense. Watford is months of By Randy St.Clair America's way of living. The main investigating by the universi- free on a $50,000 bond. Editor-in-Chief point ty council and the State Bureau of The official charges on McLaughlin in his commentary was that America On Nov. 28, the fifth to to Investigation (SBI). are felonies of aiding and abetting meeting dis- should tend its own business and cuss America's War on According to agent Melinda Collins, someone obtaining property by false Terrorism ended leave foreign business alone. in students as this casewas not even in the SBI's orig- pretense in excess of $100,000 and with well as faculty of N.C. In response, SNCC member Bruce A&T proclaiming that the inal jurisdiction. "We became involved one count of conspkacy to obtain LIS invasion Hartford, called Whitfield a Stalinist on Afghanistan wasn't and isn't who is on in this case at request,"• she said. In this property by false pretense in excess of needed. actually the side of those who Ed case, the request was made by the $100,000 Whitfield, community activist for terrorized New York, D.C. and the Beloved Guilford County District Attorney's McLauglin, who likewise has been Community, was the main Pennsylvania. Hartford also accused for the Office. released on bond, resigned from his speaker meeting 'in Gibbs Hall Whitfield of siding with the Takban and uni- room 123. As reported in the News & Record, versity post earker this faU. He started things off with a Osama Bin Laden. he McLaughlin is accused of telling Capital The case is and come commentary wrote to SNCC From that point on Whitfield's ques- pending will to (Student Partners USA Inc. that contractor John trial on Jan. 8, 2002. Non-Violent Coordinating tion to the audience of almost 30 stu- where Committee) he challenged Please see GIBBS, Page 3 INDEX Aggie seeks Aggie basket- fortune in New ball News 2 E-Vibes 6 teams are York modeling off to a rocky Opinion 4 Sports 7-8 scene. start. Page 6 Page 7 2 Campus News December 3, 2001 IN BRIEF Register staff honored A&T receives $3.1 million grant with eight BCCA awards N.C. A&T is the recipient of a Tide III HistoricaUy Black CoUeges and N.C. A&T's student newspaper staff Universities (HBCU) Grant worth recendy garnered top awards in the $3,141,553 from the U.S. Dept. of Black College Communication Education. The funds wiU be used to Association's (BCCA) 2001 Student develop and enhance academic pro- Newspaper Awards competition. grams and support systems The awards were presented during the Funds wiU be used to develop and association's annual meeting at the enhance academic programs and sup- Hilton-Walt Disney World in Orlando, port services in 13 areas of the uni- Fla. versity. Major efforts wiU strengthen Students who work on A&T's coUege the CoUege of Arts and Sciences'by newspaper, the A&T Register, received areas enhancing the of biology, chem- eight awards. The editor is Randy St. istry, mathematics, Engksh, psycholo- Clak and the advisor is Valerie Nieman. gy and criminal justice; develop state- Awards included the foUowing: of-the-art laboratories to teach the Fkst place, Best Commentary, Randy technical-management programs in St. Clair the School of Technology; akow fac- First place, Best Layout ulty/administrative personnel oppor- Second place, Best Bi-Weekly tunities to study toward advanced Newspaper Student journalists were honored in the National Black degrees or attend refresher training; Second place, Best Sports Coverage, College Communication Association newspaper competition. enhance the University Honors Chris Wallace and T.J. Moore, Current staff members show off the awards. FRONT ROW Program; strengthen the teacher edu- Thkd place, Best News Coverage (from left) Chris Wallace, sports editor; Randy St. Clair, edi- cation - program; assist with imple- Thkd place, Best Sports Story, Wilkam tor-in-chief; Tarah Holland, entertainment editor. BACK ROW mentation of the new M.S. degree C. Davis Trina Logan, contributor; Jason Boyd, business manager; program in - Management, and imple- Thkd place, Best Feature Story, Trina T.J. Moore, news editor. NOT PICTURED Reporter Shakinta ment endowed chaks for the Poktical Logan Johnston and photographer Eggleton;- 2000-2001 Science Sharonda Department and the Honorable mention, Best Feature staff members Kariston McPherson, news editor; Mia Academy of Ross, Teaching and Learning. Story, Randy St. Clak. entertainment editor; William C. Davis, contributor.