March 23 Issue

THE WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY

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Celebrating Women’s Empowerment Month

argus

monday

march 23

2015

Vol. 53, Issue 9

Argus sits down with 2 SGA candidates No extra ‘more than just a newspaper’

Tea Time with the News Argus

The News Argus staff recently interviewed two SGA candidates running for attorney general for the 2014-15 academic year: Mona Zahir and Quiani Harris. Zahir is rising sophomore political science major and Harris is a rising junior political science major. Voting is schedule for April 1. The interview was recorded in the RAM TV studio and was posted on thenewsargus.com website. From left: Brandi McIver, Argus staffer; Zahir and Harris candidates; and Lewis A. Miller, Argus staffer

Withdraw, but no more than 4 Matt Parmesano Sports Editor @mparmesano112

Caution students: do not go past four withdrawals.

In 2013, the UNC System Board of Governors met with the Faculty Assembly and amended the Fostering Undergraduate Student Success policies. Colleges and universities were told to adopt the policies by the fall 2014 semester.

Among the amendments is a new policy which limits undergraduate students to four withdrawals during their collegiate careers. WSSU, like many other colleges and universities in the UNC System, did not have a specific number of courses a student was permitted withdraw from.

A student is permitted to withdraw from a course after the drop-add period has ended and receive a “W” on his or her transcript. A “W” does not negatively or positively affect a student’s GPA. “The Faculty Assembly came together and looked at student retention and student success and found that there was an excessive number of course withdraws across the system,” said Tracey Ford, UNC assistant vice president for academic and student success.

“They wanted to decrease those course withdrawals, so they recommended taps on the number of courses students could withdraw from,” she said.

“In addition to that, there was a need to increase graduation rates and decrease the time to graduation and the number of students that ended up in the tuition surcharge because of all the course withdrawals. Overall, the impetus was to increase student success and decrease time to graduation.”

Carolyn Berry, associate provost, was instrumental in the

changes made to ensure WSSU’s policies are consistent with the Fostering Undergraduate Student Success policies.

“When the Board of Governors gives you something like this [policy], they pretty much tell you to implement it on your campus,” Berry said.

“We have policies for all these things, so it was really just a matter of amending our policies.”

To make sure WSSU students do not withdraw from more than four courses, the University removed the option students had to withdraw from courses online. Now students are required to meet with an academic adviser or counselor and discuss whether to withdraw from a course.

Provost Brenda Allen said, “The policies brought more standardization across the system in terms of what schools were doing.”

“From campus to campus, we noticed students were having very different experiences in regard to policies that were fundamental to every school. Some schools’ policies were totally rigid, and some were overly flexible. So it was an opportunity to actually try to bring some standardization so that we didn’t differ on those things.”

Allen also said the policies will help students on financial aid.

“In some policies, if you’re paying your own way, you can repeat courses as much as you want,” Allen said.

“The policies will allow you, especially if you can pay for it, but federal laws on financial aid will only allow for the pay of a certain number of repeats,” she said.

WITHDRAWS continued on Page 3

pay for MA Lewis Miller 2nd Take Team Member @lmiller111

It’s not surprising that the N.C. law that eliminated the 10-15 percent supplemental pay incentive for teachers obtaining master’s degrees has support for and against it. I don’t like this lead!

The N.C. General Assembly passed the bill in 2013, and the law went into effect beginning with the 2014-15 school year.

Teachers with master’s degrees were grandfathered in, according to pulse.ncpolicywatch.org.

Winston-Salem State offers three graduate degree programs in education: Master of Education in Elementary Education; Master of Arts in the Teaching of English as a Second Language and Applied Linguistics; and Master of Arts in Teaching.

Since the law has been in place, enrollment in WinstonSalem State’s graduate program decreased minimally; 19 students were enrolled in the master’s program in 2013, and 18 students were enrolled in 2014.

Associate Professor Ludovic M. Kovalik teaches graduate courses in the English as a Second Language and Applied Linguistics program.

“The law is not entirely fair,” Kovalik said.

“In all walks of life, we normally acknowledge special achievements carried out by people; in my mind, earning a master’s degree does fall with in within that category of special achievements. So it would be normal for that achievement to in one way or another be recognized,” he said.

Kovalik said that in the past, teachers with an MA were awarded funds for monetary recognition. “They used to have small monetary incentives, no big deal but a few hundred dollars, two maybe three hundred dollars a month, for having an M license,” where the term ‘M license’ stands for an advanced, master’s level teaching license.

“It’s not about going to school for another two or three years,” he said. “It’s about earning a whole amount of extra knowledge.”

Kovalik said he is not certain about the future of WSSU’s master’s programs.

TEACHERS

continued on Page 3

Page 2

The News Argus

Opinion

Monday, February 23, 2015

www.thenewsargus.com

51% of the population but...

Pat yourselves on the back ladies. We are the leading ladies.

• The percentage of degrees earned by females remained between approximately 60 and 62 percent for associate’s degrees and between 57 and 58 percent for bachelor’s degrees • Black females earned 68 percent of associate’s degrees, 66 percent of bachelor’s degrees, 71 percent of master’s degrees, and 65 percent of all doctor’s degrees awarded Katrina Robinson to Black students. Hispanic females earned Editor-in-Chief 62 percent of associate’s degrees, 61 percent of bachelor’s degrees, 64 percent of mas@krobinson110 ter’s degrees, and 55 percent of all doctor’s degrees awarded to Hispanic students.

• Sixty-six percent of the world’s work falls on women’s shoulders, yet women earn only 10 percent of the world’s income.

• Full-time working women earn just 77 cents for every dollar a man earns.

• The campus sexual assault study estimated between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 college women experience completed or attempted rape during their college years Sorry to disappoint if you thought I was going to present a phenomenal list of how women have overcome.

Truth is I wanted to. But it’s impossible to ignore all the negative statistics that are glaring us in the face.

I am a feminist. Not a man-hater. Not a chest pounding, picketsign protestor.

That’s what I have to define myself as of now in 2015. I’m a feminist because I recognize the discrepancies that are presented to women.

Discrepancies that would produce an unequal platform when women broach society.

So I guess only a feminist would be upset that 13-year-old Mo’ne Davis, the first girl to win and pitch a shutout in Little League World Series, is referred to as a “slut” on Twitter.

I guess only a feminist could care less if she asked for mercy on behalf of the perpetrator of the tweet after he was kicked of his Bloomsburg University baseball team. (Although to punish him violated the first amendment, but that’s a different story altogether.) He was still sexist.

Only a feminist could be annoyed that the concentration is off of her record and on her “class and elegance.”

I’m going to tell you, as a hum — excuse me, feminist, I could care less about none of it: the education, the wages.

My only concern is the perception of the female population now versus 65 years ago -- it hasn’t altered a bit.

If the statistics say anything, it’s that the degree is not enough.

We as women have done our part. But we can’t move forward alone.

Argus Letter Policy

As a matter of policy, The News Argus will publish corrections for errors in facts.

The corrections will be made as soon as possible after the error has been brought to the attention of The News Argus at

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Why don’t we all put on the feminist badge.

The News Argus is a student publication of Winston-Salem State University. The News Argus encourages written comments to the editor and guest columns, but some rules apply: q A signature, address and phone number must accompany all letters. Letters should be double-spaced and no more than 250 words. q Letters will be verified by The News Argus by a phone call prior to publication. If The News Argus is unable to contact the writer of a letter, the letter will be held until contact is made. Letters intended as advertising will not be published. q The News Argus does not publish “form letters”or letters sent to multiple newspapers outside the Triad unless the issue discussed in the letter is of importance to the WSSU community. q The News Argus reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for clarity, length and libel. The News Argus will edit letters that are grossly inaccurate or cross the boundaries of good taste. q The News Argus allows readers to reply to someone’s response to any earlier letter only once. q Guest columns may be no more than 400 words. The News Argus will accept endorsements of candidates, but only one per writer per candidate. The letter may challenge a candidate’s record, but no intensely personal attacks will be printed. The News Argus permits candidates to write letters to the editor to specifically respond to another letter.

Photos and Interviews by Argus Staff

WSSU students, faculty and staff are selected randomly to answer a provocative question from The News Argus.

Comments do not represent the opinions of the Argus staff. To see and listen to the complete responses visit www.thenewsargus.com.

AQUARIAN GREENBURG JUSTICE STUDIES BRONX, N.Y. Megan Good because I’ve been in love with her since the movie “Friday.”

Women face inequality in and outside of the workplace. Despite many strides activist have made, women are still fighting for equal representation. There are not enough women represented on the U.S. currency: coins and dollars.

This issue’s Campus Crew asks...

What woman’s profile would you want on a $200 bill?

JOHNATHAN HILL FINANCE WINSTON-SALEM Oprah Winfrey, she started with nothing. And she also donated so much time and money in helping and giving back to all those that need it.

JOVANAH GRAHAM BUSINESS MANAG. FAYETTEVILLE Wilma Rudolph as far as her athletics for women, she was a great representation for black women during her time.

NOVIAN GRAVES POLITICAL SCIENCE GREENSBORO My mother, she made huge strides to push education and helping everyone.

ASHLEY PAULDO PSYCHOLOGY DEBLIN, G.A. Corretta Scott King, even though her husband was big in the civil rights, she had her own problems that she fought for.

Page 3

The News Argus

News & Feature

TEACHERS

Monday, March 23, 2015

continued from Page 1

“If I were an oracle, I would know; I am not one.

It is my hope, however, that our university will not eliminate the master’s programs in education,” Kovalik said.

“The law is not entirely fair,” said Ludovic M. Kovalik, an associate professor Kovalik teaches graduate courses in the English as a Second Language and Applied Linguistics program “In all walks of life, we normally acknowledge special achievements carried out by people; in my mind, earning a master’s degree does fall with in within that category of special achievements. So it would be normal for that achievement to in one way or another be recognized,” he said.

Kovalik said that in the past, teachers with master’s degrees were awarded monetary recognition “They used to have small monetary incentives, no big deal but a few hundred dollars, two maybe three hundred dollars a month, for having an M license.”

[M license’ stands for an advanced, master’s level teaching license.]

“It’s not about going to school for another two or three years,” he said. “It’s about earning a whole amount of extra knowledge.”

WITHDRAWS

continued from Page 1

Kimberly A. Bowie, the principal at Trinity Elementary School in the Randolph County School System said she has not seen a change in the number of eligible candidates applying for vacant positions in her school.

“I continue to receive numerous resumes for current positions posted on our system website. The staff members who were pursuing their master’s degree completed their course work by the required date in order to receive the increase in pay,” she said.

“At this moment, I have no staff members who are seeking their masters in education. Is this a direct result of the cut in supplemental pay? I can’t say at this point.”

Bowie said she hopes the supplemental pay cut will be reversed.

“We are in education, and our teachers are the role models for our students. I believe we have to support their continued education to encourage our students to continue their education past high school. I have faith that the state will recognize that when teachers return to school to obtain an advanced degree that it does directly impact the quality of instruction that occurs in the classroom on a daily basis.”

Terrell Williams said the law is “unfair.” Williams

“There was a lot of conversation as we looked at the policies about making sure students on financial aid wouldn’t be disadvantaged.”

Private colleges and universities in North Carolina have their own policies on issues such as course withdrawal, which means students at these schools may not have a limit on the number of courses they can withdrawal from. UNC System’s policies are also different from other states’ system policies.

Berry and Allen said the course withdrawal policy potentially could give students at private institutions or institutions in states -- without a limit on course withdrawals -- an advantage over students within the UNC System.

Berry said students in other state systems or at private colleges and universities have more opportunities to withdraw from a course, retake the course and receive a higher grade. She said this is unfair to students in the UNC System because they likely will have to keep their first grade.

Allen said, “There is a sentiment among some people that students use withdrawals to avoid bad grades or as a way to not be responsible.”

“But those of us who work with students know that withdrawals help not only in cases where a student becomes ill or has a death in the family, but sometimes -- especially for young people -- they just find themselves over their heads late in the semester and need a little help.

To some degree, the course withdrawal policy doesn’t take into consideration that the majority of the population we serve is young people, and it’s not very forgiving of that.”

(Read more at thenewsargus.com)

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is a senior major from Raleigh who is a middle grades education major.

“If we [students] go to school extra time, we should get paid for our efforts,” he said. Williams said that law will discourage people from working on a master’s.

“If I go to get a master’s, it would be in area outside of teaching or education. Something with a more lucrative salary,” he said.

Ronunda Claiborne agrees with Williams.

“The master’s [supplemental pay] cut was not beneficial, and when teachers try to go above and beyond and try to become masters in their craft, they should be rewarded and that’s a perk that should have stayed,” said Claiborne, instruction coordinator and education liaison at O’Kelly Library.

“Winston-Salem State has been known for being a provider of education for teachers, and teachers aren’t going to choose to get that extra education if they aren’t going to see any benefits from it,” she said.

Kovalik said he is not certain about the future of WSSU’s master’s programs.

“If I were an oracle, I would know; I am not one.

It is my hope, however, that our university will not eliminate the master’s programs in education.”

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Sports Page 4

The News Argus

Monday, February 23, 2015

www.thenewsargus.com

Webster ‘stepped up’ to the plate seven RBIs, a homerun and a .500 slugging percentage, which is second highest on the team (stats through March 20).

Demetrius Dillard 2nd Take Team Member

Rashad Webster The Winston-Salem State baseball team is 18-6 overall and 3-1 [as of March 20] in conference as it looks to win its fifth straight CIAA championship.

Fifth-year Head Coach Kevin Ritsche, who also serves as an assistant professor of exercise physiology, brought baseball back to WSSU in 2010. Ritsche said good pitching has been the greatest contributing factor to the Rams’ success this season.

The baseball team’s success can also be attributed to Ritsche’s scientific expertise.

“We use physiology in all of our techniques,” Ritsche said.

Someone else who’s contributed to the continued success of the Rams is Rashad Webster, a sophomore infielder, who has been chosen by Ritsche as this issue’s recipient of the Coach’s Game Ball.

Ritsche said Webster has stepped up in place of some key injured players the Rams have lost over the past few weeks. Ritsche called Webster “one of the hardest working kids we’ve ever had in the program,” adding that Webster is “a good, quality person to be around.”

Webster, an exercise science major from Charlotte, has improved tremendously from his freshman season and continues to improve, according to Ritsche. So far this season, he has

Argus: When did you begin playing baseball?

Webster: I began playing baseball (tee-ball) at about the age of 3, and it went uphill from there.

Argus: Describe your experience thus far with WSSU baseball.

Webster: I really like it; we have a lot of great guys on the team who are positive and keep you uplifted. There’s just great camaraderie on the team, and everyone pushes one another.

Argus: Who’s your favorite MLB player?

Webster: I’d probably have to say Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder).

He’s an African-American baseball player, and you don’t see too many of those at the top level.

He plays the game the right way and succeeds at a high level.

Argus: What challenge(s) did you encounter upon entering the WSSU baseball program and how did you overcome them?

Webster: Coming in as a freshman, I had a fear of how well I’d compete with skilled upperclassmen on the team. I learned not to idolize certain people and to be myself.

Argus: What do you think separates baseball from every other sport?

Webster: It’s a different level of athleticism. I feel like we have the same capabilities of a football or basketball player, but bring one of them on the baseball field and see how well they do.

Argus: What do you hope to achieve this season?

Photo courtesy www.wssurams.com

Rashad Webster Webster: I just want to win a regional title with my teammates. It’s not about personal achievements with me. I’m focused on contributing the best way I can so we can win regionals and the [Division II] World Series.

Argus: What are your plans after leaving WSSU? Webster: I want to graduate with my degree in exercise science, try to get into a graduate school program and get a master’s and doctorate in physical therapy -- of course, that’s if baseball doesn’t work.