DATE: Friday, April 11, 1997                TAG: 9704110600

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY PHILLIP PURYEAR, CORRESPONDENT 

DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                    LENGTH:  107 lines

PRINCIPLED BEAUTY QUEEN GIVES UP TITLE FORMER MISS ECSU OBJECTS TO 2 RULES, BOTH OF WHICH SHE MEETS.

Ask any student at Elizabeth City State University about 21-year-old mathametics major Kimberly Jones, and you'll hear just about every attribute wanted in a college beauty queen.

Attractive. Articulate. Amiable. She seems to know everybody on campus by name and to greet them with a wave and smile.

At times the Robersonville senior is inaccessible because of a calendar filled with social and other obligations, such as tutoring students at Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church. As Jones puts it, ``My hand is in a little bit of everything.''

Jones has also been described as principled, which may be the reason that the one thing she's missing as a college queen is the crown she was awarded last November.

Last week Jones resigned as Miss ECSU 1996-97 and explained her actions in a letter of resignation given to only five people, including her runner-up, Synetheia Newby, and Chancellor Mickey L. Burnim.

``I find it offensive that any pageant or place of higher learning would condone a criterion that determines a female's inability to be a `positive' representative because she has a child,'' wrote Jones, who is single and has no children.

Only one other Miss ECSU is known to have resigned, and that's because she got married.

``We respect Jones' decision to resign due to personal problems,'' said Michael Marshall, vice president of the Student Government Association.

The SGA has backed the school administration's position that only women who have not had children can compete for Miss ECSU, based on tradition and national pageant rules.

While Jones is without child, she says that she's not perfect and could be in the same situation as the potential candidates who complained to her about the provision preventing single mothers from running for the pageant title.

``Telling a single mother she can't is like telling her that she's not worthy to represent her school,'' Jones said. ``These people pay their tuition, they keep up their academics - and take care of their kids. Why can't they run?''

She said a National African-American Collegiate Pageant rule that women with children can't run is as absurd as telling her that she can't run because of her diabetes.

``We set limitations on people because of superficial reasons. Instead of just looking at people to determine if they can do a job, let them show you by doing the job.

``If people feel that a single mother can be a positive role model for the school, then she should be allowed to run. Give the people what they want.''

The primary reason Jones ran for Miss ECSU, she said, was so she ``could be closer to the people I needed to be in touch with to effect change.''

The people she needed to be in touch with for this situation were officials in the ECSU Student Affairs Office who are responsible for the decree, Jones said.

According to Jones, she had a series of meetings with officials, and they gave her the reasons behind the decision, even though the reasons weren't in the school handbook.

Jones was told by Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Victor Bibbins that the traditional interpretation of pageant rules was that Miss ECSU should be without child, according to a statement released by Student Affairs.

Bibbins said no Miss ECSU nominee or candidate to date has had a child or been married.

However, Jones countered with both rationale and research, noting the increasing number of nontraditional students at the university.

In spite of Jones' efforts, Student Affairs officials pointed to the fact a Miss ECSU with child couldn't run in the national Miss Collegiate African-American Pageant, an opportunity for the school to earn recognition, scholarships and awards.

``SGA doesn't exclude single mothers,'' said Marshall. ``But we stand behind the national rules and regulations of the pageants that our queen will represent us in.

``We would hate for a young lady with a child to be excluded from being an ambassador on the national level as far as pageants and other pageant-related activities.''

Countered Jones: ``Miss ECSU has no voting power; she isn't making any big decision affecting the student body.'' She then listed Miss ECSU's responsibilities, including reading a poem at the Christmas Tree Lighting.

``SGA has all the voting power, but they aren't subjected to the same scrutiny and invasion of privacy. This is about as bad as making these ladies wear a scarlet letter.''

Jones' successor, Synetheia Newby, said she is honored to take on the rest of the reign as Miss ECSU and possibly participate in the national pageant.

``I hope to continue the school's tradition of excellence and uphold the ideals of Miss ECSU,'' said Newby, a native of Hampton majoring in criminal justice. ``I hope to serve as a role model to peers and young people in the community.

``It's unfornuate that Kim felt she had to resign, but I'm glad to be able to step up to the position.''

She added, ``I do believe that young ladies with children can represent the school, but I'm looking at the big picture. They wouldn't be able to represent the school in other pageants.

``We all have rules and regulations that we have to live by that sometimes seem unfair.''

Jones said she realizes the opportunities missed by stepping down - including a trip to the national pagaent.

``By stepping down, I was able to hold on to something more important,'' said Jones, a future teacher. ``My peace of mind - that is more precious than anything else.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

DREW C. WILSON/The Virginian-Pilot

Kimberly Jones says she finds it offensive that campus

representatives to national organizations and events must be

unmarried and childless.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu