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Hunt tours NC Central
The governor’s visit yielded promises to help pass a bond to alleviate some of the school’s woes.

By Christine Newman
Echo staff writer

Hunt saw these water pipes in offices at the Lee Biology Building. He muttered that the smell of them made him ‘queasy.’ Photo: Curlyn Smith

Governor Jim Hunt’s March 24 visit to N.C. Central University’s campus was an apparent eye-opener for him. Hunt stepped off a helicopter that landed on NCCU’s track field and touring some campus buildings--including some that are badly deteriorated.

Hunt then convened with faculty, staff, administrators, and friends of NCCU in the Hubbard-Totten Chemistry Building. After hearing appeals from representatives of the NCCU community, Hunt responded to what he had seen.

In his speech, Hunt talked about the school’s need for money to make overdue repairs and renovations.

"What we have to develop now is a plan to get it done," said Hunt.

"I want to work with [the legislature] and help them to find a way to get it done. I want us to do it with the magnitude that we have to have."

Governor Jim Hunt speaks to faculty, staff, students and administrators at the Hubbard-Totten Chemistry Building during his March 24 visit to NCCU. Photo: Curlyn Smith

Hunt also heard remarks from faculty members who work in the Lee Biology, Robinson Science and the Hubbard-Totten Chemistry Buildings, which are all in disrepair.

The legislative committee’s tour was one in a series of campus visits to observe construction and renovation needs at the UNC system’s 16 campuses and the state’s community colleges.

Recommendations will be forwarded to the legislature when it convenes this summer, according to the March 13 News and Observer.

During the tour, Biology Department Chair Sandra White explained that assistant professor Amal-Abu Shakra uses an office in the Lee Biology Building for lab space because the building has limited facilities.

Without air conditioning some rooms often exceed 90 degrees in the spring and summer. In the same building asbestos and dust accumulate inside of the ceilings.

Chancellor Julius Chambers said he looks forward to working with Hunt to try to encourage the legislature to pass the $3 billion bond issue for NCCU, and the entire UNC system.

"We have a lot of needs on campus, but our faculty and administrators agreed that we would try to focus on the science complex, which would replace the three buildings we looked at today," said Chambers.

The board of trustees is seeking $39 million for a new science complex. According to Special Assistant to the Chancellor General George Walls, the money will also be used for the demolition of the old Hillside High School.

"For years we’ve been asked to do more for less and have done that, now it’s overtime for us to have the very best."

"My biggest problem," said chemistry department chair Wendell Wilkerson, "is that this is a chemistry building where we work with toxic substances ... and we don’t have a good system that works."

"As a result of that we have to curtail some of our teaching. When we do that we cheat our students and we do not prepare them for the state of the art methods for performing graduate professionals."

Money is needed for class supplies and equipment, for salaries to maintain and develop good faculty, according to Dr. Julia Aucoin, faculty senate chair.

"These are all of our needs and we don’t want to apologize to our students anymore for where they’re going to school, where we work, and what our conditions are," said Aucoin.

"We want to be able to have them praise their environment and feel very very proud of their degree when it comes from North Carolina Central," said Aucoin. "They come here with the expectation of getting the best and they deserve the best."

Chambers added: "In order to do a good job teaching you have got to have a faculty. And in order to attract some students you have a facility."

Hunt said he shared the speakers’ concerns about the state of NCCU facilities.

"These facilities are not adequate and it is not right to have them for students who are living and learning. And teachers have got to teach," he said.

"If we have got to get the people of North Carolina with the big bond issue, I want to tell you that we can pass it. I really believe we can pass it."

Hunt said North Carolina has a healthy economy and can afford to do it. He said he believes the people out there want to do the right thing.

"I wanted to come and to see and to listen and to learn," said Hunt.

"We should do what is needed here because it’s right, be- cause the students deserve it ... because the faculty deserve it."