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
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