THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 20, 1996 TAG: 9609190023
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 31 lines
I was floored and sickened when I began to read the front page of The Virginian-Pilot on Sunday, Sept. 8 (``Brotherhood of the gun runners''). I first noticed the photograph of the gun with pictures of young black men under it; then I began to read the article. To my dismay, the words Norfolk State University stuck out like a sore thumb. When I saw that the band was involved, I was even more disheartened.
I graduated from NSU in 1994 and was a member of the nationally renowned Marching Spartan Legion Band for three years. Needless to say, I am a devoted Spartan for life and am extremely proud of my affiliation with the university. I have recently resumed my studies there. Constantly, I hear negative comments from people about the school. And believe me, the media keep adding fuel to the fire.
Norfolk State is an awesome establishment with so much to be proud of. The accomplishments and achievements outweigh any of the negative publicity, but what do people always talk about and remember?
I am furious with these young men for disgracing themselves, their families and the university. However, did it have to take 2 1/2 pages in the papers to get the point across? Did we need pictures of all of the young men with their grade-point averages, instruments played and number of children? I must add also that only the GPAs below 2.0 were noted. What was the point? The names and sentences would have been appropriate.
FELECIA A. OLIVER
Virginia Beach, Sept. 10, 1996 by CNB