• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1996-11-21_Vol62_No14_09

(Jtye Western (Earoltnran Campus Life Thursday, November 2119% 9 WCU to HOSt Kwanzaa Celebration HEATHER D. SHEPPARD CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR WCU will celebrate the African-American holiday of Kwanzaa on December 4 in Hoey Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Minister Aurelio D.G. Little of Camden, S.C, will be the guest speaker for the evening. Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Kwanzaa is a derivative of the Swahili word "kwanza," which means "first," and is a part of the phrase "Matunda Ya Kwanza" which means "first fruits." The extra "a" in "Kwanzaa" has been added to distinguish the African- American holiday from the African. A common misconception holds that Kwanzaa is an African holiday. Actually, the holiday is distinctly an African- American celebration, but it does have historical and cultural ties to Africa. The holiday's official celebration begins on December 26 and concludes with the New Year. The symbols used and the principles celebrated during Kwanzaa represent African and African-American tradition and ideals. The days of celebration are symbolic of seven principles: Umoja (Unity) The principle that is symbolic of unity in the family, community, nation, and the African- American race. Kujichagulia (Self- determination) The principle of African- Americans defining themselves, creating themselves, and speaking for themselves rather than being defined, named, created, and spoken for by others. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) The principle of building and maintaining African-American communities. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) The principle that symbolizes the building and maintenance of African-American business and the promotion of entepreneurship. Nia (Purpose) The principle of collective vocation of building and developing communities. Kuumba (Creativity) The principle to leave the community more beautiful and enhanced than when it was inherited. Imani (Faith) The principle that is symbolic of the belief in the African- American race, parents, teachers, leaders, and the righteousness and beauty of the African- American struggle. During the week of Kwanzaa, candles are lighted to symbolize each principle. The candles used in the celebration are red, black, and green. The red is symbolic of the blood of African-American ancestors; black is symbolic of African- Americans' faces and the jobs they must do; and green symbolizes the land, youth and new ideas. The symbolic candles of Kwanzaa are in a special candleholder called a kinara, which is symbolic of African ancestry. A Kwanzaa feast is held on December 31 which consists of food, music, dance, conversation, and ceremony. On January 1, zawadi, which are gifts, are presented to children, who must commit themselves to goodness for the coming year. The African-American celebration of Kwanzaa unites African-American families to celebrate their past accomplishments and commit themselves to greater achievements. WCU's Kwanzaa celebration will be its first. Director of Minority Affairs Brian Bridges sought to bring the program to WCU. Bridges stated, "It is becoming more and more a mainstream celebration among African-Americans, and I want first to educate African-Americans and also the campus at large." Alpha Phi Alpha Returns to WCU HEATHER D. SHEPPARD CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR The Nu Zeta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., has returned to WCU. The chapter was first chartered in 1977 and became inactive in 1992 when its last member graduated. The chapter has four newly initiated members who have revived the chapter. The new members are Jermaine Baxter, Marvin Johnson, Roderick Kelly, and Najarad Ross. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., is an international organization that was founded in 1906 at Cornell University. The fraternity was the first founded for African-American men. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., has many distinguished African-American men in its membership, such as the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Thurgood Marshall, former Supreme Court Justice. The new members are looking forward to reorganizing the chapter. Jermaine Baxter commented that he hopes they live up to their motto: " First of all, servants for all, and we shall transcend all." Marvin Johnson is the chapter's new president. He commented, "I'm looking forward to us getting reorganized. We are all happy to get the chapter reestablished. "We have a lot of work to do. We don't have any definite plane as of yet, but we do plan to do a lot of community service projects next semester." Theatre Groups Present Fences' HEATHER D. SHEPPARD CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR The Black Theater Ensemble (BTE) and the University Players (UP) opened a production of "Fences" on Tuesday, November 19. The Pulitzer- Prize winning play will run in WCU's Hoey Auditorium until Saturday, November 23. "Fences" was written by noted African-American playwright August Wilson, who is the winner of a Tony Award and two Pulitzer Prizes. Frank Rizzo of The Courier-journal describes Wilson's plays: "His plays depict decade-by-decade life of blacks in the 20th century. " "Fences" is the story of former Negro League baseball star Troy Maxson who becomes a garbage man and has to deal with the fences in his life. Maxson never gets the opportu nity to play in the major leagues after the integration of the sport because he has passed his prime. The WCU production of "Fences" is directed by Dr. Stephen Ayers, assistant professor of communication and theatre arts. Joe Monroe, who plays the role of Cory in the production, said of Ayers' direction, "He is doing a great directing job of getting the points that need to be brought out and bringing them out very vividly." The leading role of Troy Maxson is portrayed by Alfred Wiggins, assistant professor of communications and theatre arts. Wiggin has appeared in the television series "Matlock" and "In the Heat of the Night," and was also featured in the film "Nell." The cast also includes Reanea Richburg in the role of Troys wife, Rose, as well as Lafouji Alexander, Shaun Davis, History Department Faculty Adopt Waterrock Knob Trail Western's history department is one of the first participants in the Blue Ridge Parkway's new Adopt-A-Trail program, an effort initiated over the summer using volunteers to help maintain trails adjoining the mountaintop highway. It's similar to the popular N.C. Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway program. Approximately 300 miles of trails run near the ridgeline roadway, ranging in length from less than a quarter mile to more than 15 miles. Funding for trail maintenance has declined dramatically in the past ten years, according to Blue Ridge Parkway officials, and park employees are able to accomplish only 10 percent of the needed repair and maintenance. When the Adopt-A-Trail program began in June, the Parkway faced a trail- repair backlog of 40,000 hours of work—a trend that, if allowed to continue, could result in the closing of some trails, officials say. Looking for a way to address critical needs in the maintenance of trails in the face of an ever-tightening budget, Parkway Superintendent Gary Everhardt issued a call in June for volunteers for the Adopt-A- Trail program, and Western history professors were quick to answer. According to Curtis Wood, head of WCU's history department, "We saw a story in several of tbe local newspapers saying that tbe Blue Ridge Parkway was interested in setting up some volunteer groups to take care of some of the trails, do basic cleanup and maintenance. We began to talk about the idea of helping out on a trail, and we quickly found out there was so much interest among the history faculty that we decided we could put a group together, adopt a trail of our own, maybe even involve Jay Stallworth and Cetera DeGraffenreid. Costume designer is Susan Brown-Strauss; set and lighting are directed by Richard Beam; the assistant director is Chris Hill; and Dale Brady-Wilson is stage manager. Monroe invites everyone to see the production. "Everybody should come and see it because I think it will be a culturally enlightening experience. It will help people understand the plight of the African-American race. A lot of different issues are covered in 'Fences,' and each of the characters deal with them in their own way. You leave the theater knowing that you had a theater experience." "Fences" will play nightly at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for WCU students, $10 for senior citizens, and $12 for adults. For more information or to reserve seats, call 7491. What's Happening on Campus November 22 Tennessee Aquarium Trip sponsored by Last Minute Productions: $ 15 for WCU students and $ 18 for others. For more information, call 7206. November 23 Red Sky will perform at the Baptist Student Union at 8 p.m. November 24 Underground Atlanta and the World of Coca-Cola Trip sponsored by Last Minute Productions: $5 for WCU students and $8 for others. For more information, .contact Continuing Education at 7397. I WCU Inspirational Choir Fall Concert performance at 4 p.m. in the Cullowhee Presbyterian Church. PHOTO BY OPI History faculty members Scon Philyaw, Gael Graham, and Curtis Wood volunteer in the new Adopt-A-Trail Program. some students in the course of the year." Six faculty members took a training and orientation course to learn general trail maintenance procedures, safety precautions, legal responsibilities, and policies for dealing with lawbreakers spotted on Parkway property. The professors — and some of their children — have spent at least one day each month since August working at the Waterrock Knob trail. Duties include litter pickup, revitaliza- tion of trail markers, trimming of vegetation, removal of downed trees, and repair of loose handrails. "One of the main things we've been doing is working with water runoff, cleaning out what they call 'water bars,' which break the flow of water and divert it off the trail," Wood said. The group also has reinforced stone steps leading to the top of the knob, replacing rock and fill material removed by erosion from beneath the steps. The faculty volunteers agree that Waterrock Knob is a favorable assignment. "I think we were real lucky," Wood said. "We were one of the first groups to be trained and assigned a trail. They gave us a list to choose from, and Waterrock Knob was one of them. It's an excellent choice for our group because it's so close to Cullowhee and Sylva. It's just over a half-hour drive up here, and it's also one of the most spectacular trails on this part of the Parkway. So we snapped it up right away." The professors say it's only natural that they donate some of their time and labor to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Scott Philyaw, assistant professor of history, said, "Western doesbave a fairly long connection with, the Parkway, not only through the work we're doing, but several people in the biology department and other science departments have done research up here in natural flora and fauna. "Of course, students, faculty and staff all enjoy the Parkway, just like everyone else in the region," he added. "It's one of the main attractions of this area." Information courtesy of OPI Come Learn About PRSSA and Catamount Communications MELANIE STEELE CONTRIBUTING WRITER WCU's newly chartered chapter of PRSSA has been hard at work this semester. Recently the club's sponsor and two student representatives, Lisa Waugh and Pat Blankinship, went to PRSSA's national conference in St. Louis, Mo., to establish a presence for Western amongst the national organization's many chapters. Pat Blankenship, an officer of PRSSA, said, "Going to the national conference was a real eye-opener. I learned so much and made a lot of new contacts. The things that we learned there were not only beneficial to communications majors or PRSSA members, but anyone entering the work force any time in the near future." Blankinship and Waugh plan to make a presentation to share all that they learned while at the conference in St. Louis. It will take place on Monday, September 25, at 3:30 p.m. in Stillwell, room 111. Following the presentation, there will be a joint meeting of Catamount Communications, a student-run public relations firm, and PRSSA. Everyone is welcome to attend. Waugh said, "I would like people to know that Catamount Communications is a student government-sponsored club. There is no cost to join and it is open to people from all majors. PRSSA is a national organization, and as a result there is a small fee of $38 to become a member. "However, it is an investment in your future. Catamount Communications and PRSSA work and meet in conjunction with each other. We encourage anyone from any field of study to come see what we are all about!" For more information about Catamount Communications and /or PRSSA, contact Dr. Betty Farmer through the communication and theatre arts office at 7491. November 25 AIDS and STDs Awareness Program sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in Scott Blue Lobby at 7 p.m. December 4 Kwanzaa Celebration in Hoey Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Winter Semiformal in Brown Cafeteria at 6 p.m. A free reception and cocktails will be held. A candlelight buffet is $5.25 with a meal card. Decembers Native American Student Association Meeting at 5 p.m. in Forsyth 103. As a member of WCUGA, you'll be able to: •help in student recruitment through activities on and off campus; •meet campus and community leaders at university events; •make contacts with alumni leaders; ♦hone your leadership skills. Deadline for applications is .You will be notified if you are chosen for an interview. For more information, call the Office of Alumni Affairs at 227-733S.

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1996-11-21
  • Date digitized: 2019-12-04
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.5" x 14"
  • Pages: 12 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
  • Western Carolina University -- Periodicals
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1996-11-21_Vol62_No14
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library