THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, October 4, 1995             TAG: 9510040129
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A11  EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: Denise Watson -   
        
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   63 lines

AROUND TOWN

FROM PRAYER TO CHEERS

``NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO! WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU DOING????!!!!!''

Some 250 students erupted as a school administrator breezed into the Mills E. Godwin Student Center at Norfolk State University where the students were jostling for a patch of floor, couch, or a wall to get a view of the room's television screen.

Three minutes before the O.J. hour was about to strike, the instructor pushed the power button. A sea of startled eyes stared at 40 inches of blackness.

``Cut the T.V. back on!,'' one student shouted.

``You're not going to get folks to be quiet, you're going to get a riot in here!''

The instructor clicked the television on then rested her hand on its wooden cabinet.

``You have to keep the noise down,'' she said.

``We'll be quiet,'' one student said, ``When the moment arrives.''

The instructor cut the set back off as a warning, then cut it on again. She reached behind the cabinet and pulled the plug. A student crawled behind her and plugged it in.

The instructor left in defeat.

``Pray for O.J.'' said one student

``Shhhh, it's getting ready to start.''

``Our Father. . . ''

``Shhhh.''

``We ask that you. . . ''

``Shut up.''

``Look down on brother O.J.. . .

``SHUT UP. . . !!!''

Judge Ito stepped to the bench.

``Oh, my God. . . ,'' someone whispered.

The 250 heads moved closer, snuggling around the hazy glow of the television set.

``This is it.''

``Shh.''

Another crowd formed in the student union's hallway, their eyes fixed on a T.V. suspended from the wall. In the silence, the students could hear the scratching of the envelope as it was opened.

There were no more shut ups. No shushs.

``Not guilty.''

If the instructor thought it was loud before... ILLUSTRATION: Photos

MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/Staff

Norfolk State students react to the not-guilty verdict.

Gloria Jones

KEYWORDS: O.J. SIMPSON VERDICT REACTION by CNB