North Carolina A&T State University IHE REGISTER www.ncatregister. com VOLUME 78, NO. 22 Thursday, April 8, 2004 COPYRIGHT© 2004 Group says James Earl Jones to speak at awareness A&T's spring commencement From a press release acclaim on incubated a generation of future black is key N.C. A&T both stage and stars in Jean Genet's "The Blacks." Award-winning actor James Earl screen. He is In 1959, he became affiliated with By Najla Lisa Norwood Jones will be the keynote speaker for known to mil- the New York Shakespeare Festival Register Contibutor N.C. A&T's Annual Spring lions by his where he portrayed such characters as Othello and In the 1960s The Student Health Advisory Commencement. deep voice as King Lear. earned Daniel Blum's Theater Council (SHAC) is an organization The ceremony will be held Saturday, Darth Vader in he World Award as Most Promising that looks at health issues from a May 8, in the Greensboro Coliseum. the "Star Wars" on a Rain student They serve as The lineup will begin at 8 a.m. and the film series, Personality in "Moon perspective. for his link between the processional for all participants at 8:30 He began his Shawl," and garnered Obies the connecting James "Clandestine the students and N.C. A&T's a.m. More than 1,000 students will career in the performances in on Earl Jones "Othello." Sebastian Health Center, receive degrees theater in the Morning Line," "Baal" and with the historic company that Last year the staff of the health Jones' acting career has won him 1950's Please see JONES, Page 2 center, along with some con- cerned students, helped to make SHAC an official student organi- students A&T zation A&T This organization is composed of students from different majors who have an interest in health education, care and prevention. explore sign language graduates They meet regularly on Monday nights to voice opinions of A&T's community. honored Both Sharon Moye and Janet Lattimore, of Sebastian Health By Chad Roberts Center, agree that the Student Staff Writer Health Advisory Council encour- Vernell Hilda ages students to actively partici- Stallings, Pinnix- Bethea all pate in designing programs on Ragland and Elvin were campus recently recognized as Lattimore describes the organi- Distinguished Alumni at the 29th zation as "a student group that is National Conference on Blacks in Education. The confer- helping to not only educate them- Higher selves on health issues, but their ence was sponsored by the peers as well," she said. National Association for Equal One of the programs sponsored Opportunity in Higher Education. this semester by the council was Stallings, Pinnix- the First Annual Women's Ragland and Conference on Jan. 24. The theme Bethea are all of this program was "I Am a A&T graduates. BRIGHT Woman." BRIGHT Bethea played stood for Beautiful, Respectful, football for A&T Honored and for four years. Intelligent, Gifted, Sharonda Eggleton/Photo editor Talented. After he graduat- learning sign Lakisa Ballard developed the Students at N.C. A&T now have the option of ed in 1968 he idea for the conference last year language, the newest language course to be offered. Here, went on to play Hilda Pinnix- junior systems foot- during her term as president of Elexter Benston, a graphic communication professional Ragland the SHAC. major, converses with Avril Smart, junior, psychology major. ball for the Houston Oilers for 16 years. The conference was a day-long By Tia Bracey tal factors which foster the message Bethea was recently inducted into event that was free to all A&T Register Contributor and conducts him or herself in a National Football Hall and Bennett College female stu- professional ethical manner. the League With his index finger touching of Fame. Bethea currently works dents and staff. Sessions covered "I've been signing all of my life," between his neck and his chest and for the Anheuser Busch govern- topics on diet and exercise, drug in motion says Brandon pulling away one upward ment affairs division in Houston, and alcohol abuse, self esteem, on his face Curtis He is a CODA, child of deaf and a smile Texas sexual assault, domestic violence, adults; therefore his first language Brandon greets the class, "What's Pinnix-Ragland received her building healthy relationships and up?" was sign language. In Brandon's Musical selections and bachelor's degree in accounting religion. With no words only teachings he often refers to growing spoken, from A&T and went on to get her educational material were also up as a hearing child with deaf par- expressions, movements and hand- master's degree from Duke incorporated into the conference. ents. He shares with the class that shapes, Brandon uses sign language addition to "Many of the topics for the con- the oldest child he held a lot University. In serving to communicate. A nationally certi- being the N.C. A&T Foundation ference were picked because A&T of responsibility growing up. on fied interpreter, Brandon teaches Board, Pinnix-Ragland is a mem- students had mentioned an inter- He talks about enduring stress at a SPCH 258-01, American Sign ber of the N.C. Board of est in them," Ballard said. young age because wherever his Language at A&T. Community Colleges and is the Members of several sororities on went, he had to go along According to www.aslinfo.com, an parents African-American Advisory campus gave assistance through- also. "When it was time to purchase interpreter is a bilingual-bicultural Council Chair for N.C State out the program. Funding through cars, our insurance or when professional who interprets while house, University being sensitive to the environmen- Please see HEALTH,Page 3 Please see SIGN, Page 3 Please see GRADUATES, Page 3 INDEX Aggies finish third in softball News 2-3 E-Vibes 6 invitational Opinion 4-5 Sports 10-11 Page 7 2 Campus News April 8, 2004 NEWS BRIEFS Asheville man wants JONES Continuedfrom page 1 U.S. hit kills In the 1970s Jones appeared in respect for the South numerous film and television projects. 40 in Fallujah It was during this era that his voice became linked with "Star Wars." In FALLUJAH, Iraq - U.S. Marines in a By Cheryl Farkas African countries made a fortune off of fierce battle for this Sunni Muslim Register Contributor the trade of their own people," he said. 1989, he co-starred with Kevin "Field of stronghold fired rockets that hit a An well-dressed, distin- As a still quietness filled the room, the Costner in the classic intelligent, "The Hunt for mosque compound filled with worship- guished, elder gentieman of African- release of guilt and anger seemed to Dreams," and in 1990, Red with Sean Connery and pers Wednesday, and witnesses said as American descent with a mission in his clear the air and open the room to unity. October," Alec Baldwin. many as 40 people were killed. Shiite- eyes and holding a Confederate flag "Do you think for a second that God Some of his other film credits inspired violence spread to key cides in stood on a street corner and captivated didn't have a plan when the black man include the Beloved Country," Iraq. an audience of people that wanted to was dropped right in the middle of the "Cry "Grim Prairie Tales," "Convicts" and The fighting in Fallujah and neighbor- know more, Bible Belt country? Whites taught has narrated ing Ramadi, where commanders con- H.K. Edgerton blacks about religion. Which God "Scorcher." Jones or more theatrical, firmed 12 Marines were killed late stood on the cor- would we be worshiping without them, appeared in than 200 television roles. Tuesday, was part of an intensified ner of Dillion right now? Muslim, and Muslims prac- film and created the uprising involving both Sunni and Street and Main tice slavery today, but no one wants to In 1991, Jones dynamic character of Gabriel Shiites that now stretched from Kirkuk Street talk about that," Edgerton said. impassioned Bird, an ex-police officer in the highly in the north to the far south. It was the Jamestown, "The war wasn't just about freeing acclaimed weekly heaviest fighting since Baghdad fell a proudly holding a slaves, there were slaves in the North Lorimar/ABC "Gabriel's Fire." The series was year ago this week. confederate flag who got whipped too. The Constitution series, about an officer who as passers by is what started the Civil War, taxes and ex-police spent not slavery. We were fight- 20 years in prison for killing his part- Convicted waved and www.slrc-csa.org states-rights, 9/11 beeped their ing for liberty. There were black men in ner and returned to the streets of H.K Edgerton Chicago as an investigative reporter. suspect released horns in respect. our Southern armies, both free and He was awaiting an evening appoint- slaves, fighting to defend their country Since then, Jones has made guest HAMBURG, Germany The only appearance on numerous television - ment at the JamestownLibrary as a key from an invasion. They deserve our person convicted in the Sept. 11 attacks speaker. A car full of teenage girls respect; the forgotten veterans," shows including "Stargate SG-1," was freed by a court Wednesday, "Homicide: Life on the pend- drove by. "See you tonight at 7:30 sis- Edgerton said. "Frasier," the outcome on "Will & ing of his retrial ter," he said. "We wouldn't miss it, "My ultimate goal is to seek repara- Streets," "The Simpsons," charges of aiding the Hamburg al- Wohoo!" As the girls drove off beeping tions for all Southerners, which has Grace" and "Everwood." Qaida cell that included three of the their horn.