North Carolina Now; North Carolina Now Episode from 04/29/1996

Ier It's Monday April 29. Tonight bringing a major theatrical production to this day in North Carolina now. Good evening everyone I'm reading it right. Welcome this start a new week of North Carolina now on tonight's program. We'll explore the controversy surrounding efforts to recruit more whites to historically black

universities. Also tonight you'll meet a world renowned primatologist Jane Goodall. And we'll take you backstage of Jesus Christ Superstar as Maria Lundberg shows us the time and energy that goes into bringing a major theatrical production to this stage. And now to our first story in the last 20 years the University of North Carolina system has made major efforts to improve the ethnic diversity of its 16 schools. But a new generation of challenges is again raising questions about minority presence on campus and who is a minority. Producers Anthony Scott and Lou Sean the Munroe took a look at the debate taking place on the campus of North Carolina Central University and bring us the story. They're rated by Christina Copeland. For years North Carolina Central University has been running this advertisement in its alumni brochures in at the University calls on graduates to submit the names and addresses of any white students for possible recruitment to the school. It is the wording of the ad that has raised the ire of some students at Central

who say they would be less upset if the ad called for recruiting Hispanics and other ethnic groups as well. I think that students are opposed to having any major all out efforts let's get white students let's get white students. The word white in the advertisement is mandated by the University of North Carolina General Administration. As a result of a federal civil rights lawsuit in the 1970s traditionally white universities in the UN system agreed to actively recruit black students and traditionally black universities agreed to advertise for white students. North Carolina Central University is director of alumni Affairs says the advertisement is nothing new. I was personally responsible for getting getting that into at least seven or eight previous edition of the alumni bulletin. Once again keeping up with the mandate of the consent decree that verbiage. It was part of the mandate that came about as part of the consent decree. It had to be used

that way. The word white was we were instructed to use that word as opposed to minority or some other race or ethnic group. In March of this year one student a freshman circulated a petition opposing the objective of white recruitment in favor of advocating the education and empowerment of African-Americans. Although the petition has not been formally submitted to the university his actions stirred a great deal of interest. We just had elections on campus that that was a major part of everybody's platform everyone wants to know what you're going to do and what these students were going to do to address the issue of minority presence. And the overriding voice that was coming out was that. We want things to stay the way they are. The way things are right now at Central there are 5500 undergraduate and graduate students. Fourteen point eight percent are white. A figure that comes very close to meeting the 15 percent sought by U.N. see General Administration. But the

university faces a problem of low enrollment overall. This year's freshman class numbers five hundred fifty three. Two hundred less than last year fewer students means hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost money that give central added incentive to recruit white students as well as African-Americans. But it frustrates some black students. It has struck a chord in students. Partially it relates to the students perception of inadequate financial support for this institution from the state and the perception is that we are inadequately funded and perhaps we're diverting too much to minority present students or white students. So it ties into some legitimate concerns about levels of support at the institution. Melissa Packard is a white senior who wrote an article for the school newspaper echo describing the minority presence Grant she received to attend classes. She says she understands why some black students are concerned. I think Central has a very strong

black racial identity. I think for many students at Central that's extremely important. Students are concerned about losing that that family feeling that when that you get with a predominantly black institution I think there's a lot of fear in a way just because they they might be afraid or we might be afraid that we'll lose you know that sense of belonging that the of organized family I guess. I think that that be behind the angry were or behind the frustration. There's a little bit of fear along with a sense of belonging. There may also be an increased sense of accomplishment for some students. There is evidence to suggest that some African-Americans thrive academically in predominantly black schools. This is the first time that I've ever been on Merv's and black culture

and I hears people say so many times you know why are you going to blacks vote when you get out. You're going to have to deal with the real world you're going to have to deal with you know Americans are to Caucasians in the workplace everything. And I ask them it's a value bet. We do that on a daily basis I've done it all my life planning to learn how to live with with my own stay and I need to learn how to appreciate my own people. I think that the administration is genuinely concerned about the schools welfare and keeping the family feeling here but until you know there's somebody that's reassuring the students look you know we realize that the predominantly black institution has a place in America and we're not trying to prove it when that's when students will stop feeling like they're under attack. Students and administrators have been attending a series of town meetings on campus to discuss the issue and to try to find some common ground.

I am not worried a great deal about this university. Evolution is heard in six years in the making and what we have to do is to continue to do what we have done historically which is to support and affirm African-American students. But we think we can do that as well as to support and to invite others to the campus. Latino students white students and an add to the culture and diversity and not necessary take away from the African-American culture. And see Central's Chancellor Julius chambers recently said that the state's public campuses are obligated to promote racial diversity and that recruiting minorities at the state schools is the right and the moral thing to do. Coming up my conversation with world renowned primatologist Jane Goodall. But first Michel Louis has a summary of the events making news around our state. Mitch thanks Marina. Good evening everyone. The commissioner of the Division of Motor Vehicles is stepping down. Alexander Killen's resigned from his post today following a

report of a private audit which was highly critical of Killen's his management style and use of state employees. The audit also says the DMV is overrun with political patronage. It also recommends that the commissioner position be eliminated. The final report of the audit is due May. The former owner of The Little Rascals daycare center was indicted today on eight new counts of sexually abusing children. Robert Kelly Jr. was indicted by a chill when County grand jury on three counts of first degree sexual abuse each of which carries a life sentence and five other charges. The allegations involve a girl who was 9 years old in 1987. Kelly was convicted of molesting children at the daycare center. He and his wife operated in Eaton in the late 1980s. But that conviction was overturned last year. None of the new charges is related to the previous case. U.S. Representative Charlie Rose is missed a number of House votes since announcing he won't seek re-election in the fall. Records show that since the announcement in February rose has missed half of the 20

votes on major legislation in the House of Representatives. Rose has the lowest attendance rate of North Carolina's 12 congressional representatives. Commercial and recreational fishermen are setting aside their differences over fishing regulations to help protect the state's waters. A coalition of 10 fishing and conservation groups called fisherman speak out for clean rivers is presenting a plan to clean up the rivers in the eastern part of the state. The plan includes strengthening regulations of livestock and educating the public on the importance of clean rivers. The group also plans to began a letter writing campaign coinciding with the start of the General Assembly next month. Now for a look at tomorrow's weather. Temperatures will range in the mid to high 60s west of the triad and into the mountains while the eastern half of the state will have highs in the mid 70s. The rains will move in tomorrow across all areas of the state with a high probability of thunderstorms throughout the day. In business news the American movers conference has taken a household moving as a measure of North Carolina's popularity among people relocating. The

conference says almost two thirds of those moving in or out of North Carolina were heading for home somewhere within the Tar Heel State. According to the group only Oregon saw a heavier flow. New York City had the highest percentage of people moving out. And now for a look at what happened on Wall Street today. The good Primate Center marked its 30th anniversary with special ceremonies held this past Saturday.

The highlight of the festivities was a talk given by Jane Goodall the primatologist best known for her work with chimpanzees in Africa. I had the opportunity to sit down with MS Goodall to speak with her about her concerns over endangered primate species and the implications for all of us. You must get an awful lot of requests for your time. What was it about this invitation to come here to the center that made it made you want to come with me. It's going to be the same through here breeding programs or does it have to be done because saving the

whole idea. And that's why this is not as good as it's one. But you know to allow them to disappear even trying to get some of this rain forest Limas I'm not against this for this country. You rather quickly get the non-human animals but that's what I'd like to ask you about because the person sitting here in North Carolina you are going to see are seldom going to see a primate in its natural environment.

They're going to see it in a zoo. Say what does it mean overall. Human Right because. As I say we allow wilderness areas to be destroyed. It really is the beginning of the end of everything and it means that if you think Africa remaining forests are being lost by companies within the company and offers large amounts of money to buy the government they dance for people living with one thing to catch up a little bit. The standard of living was good. And

so this is how the last of the forests have been right where buying as as tropical would we we do have a road. I mean we really are involved in destroying them. You must be very frustrated you've spent your entire adult life working in this arena but we seem to be losing the battle. Well I think there is a solution. So I have a great deal and of course there are different problems around the world and one is the loss of the natural habitat one is pollution. One is tremendous growth of human populations and there are indeed environmentalists who say no it's too late. We can't do anything about this now. We're on a trend towards total destruction. My three areas of hope one is our incredible problem solving abilities are we really have done things which 100 years ago people would have said that science fiction you know go to the impossible and.

The good news is that we've finally begun to understand the really our problems around the world and the really our problem is not just some crazy environmentalists making a whacking. It's serious. And so industry already is beginning to try and do things in a more environmentally friendly way. And my secondary of hope lies in the young people because as I travel around the world which I do all the time these young people have so much energy and so did it and it's often through going to be their world when I am dead and what we have to do is give them courage give them hope give them confidence in themselves empower them. And so we have this program Roots and Shoots for young people around the world and it's all about making the world around you a better place. And so if you sitting in North America and you see a program that you've started which is perhaps giving back some trees or recycle something and you know that kids in Tanzania doing the same thing you are in communication with

them suddenly that comes through. And finally my third area of hope is in you know as I travel. And I meet such incredible people. So it's a tremendous inspiration from the power of the human spirit. What we can do is give back to the children I noticed a wonderful reporter that you had with them when you were having your talk and I was really quite amazed with the very intelligent questions that many of them asked. Do you find that the children seem to be much more aware than maybe some adults do. Absolutely and that you know you come straight back. This is why I do have hope. And it isn't all gloomy. The kids are beginning to really understand the problems and think it through and they're learning things about the environment now at school which we didn't even know the word when I was in school. And so it's very very encouraging I've always loved working with children and that's why I believe that the development of Roots and Shoots is probably a long

with a long term to study will be a major contribution if there was one message that you wanted to give to the people that are going to be watching this interview. The one message I think would be if it's to a young person particularly if you have a dream of something that you would really like to do with your life. I want to be the message that my mother always used to give to me wisdom and that is that if you really want to do something that if you work hard enough and if you take advantage of opportunities and if you never give up you will find a way and let all of us remember that each single one of us has a role to play in this life and each single one of us makes a difference during every single day we make a difference as we interact with the people. The animals and the environment around us. It's up to us. It's going to thank you very much appreciate you taking the time to sit down. Have you

been. There's always been a certain glamour and excitement connected with live theatre productions and for the past 13 years theatre goers in our state have been treated to Broadway quality musicals. Thanks to the North Carolina theater and Raleigh jesus christ superstar is currently running at the theater and produce a real long bird has been backstage with the cast and crew during the past few weeks and tonight she shows us how a major production like this comes together.

It's audition day when singers and dancers come from all over the area hoping to snag a role in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. Many regional people are cast in huge production but as an equity theatre most leading roles are performed by professional actors. This blend of amateurs and professionals isn't the only thing that makes the North Carolina theatre unique in the southeast production supervisor William Jones says it takes about a year to plan a show. Find directors lighting and sound designers sets and costumes. Then two weeks before the show opens the race against the clock begins. We load in I think starts Sunday morning and we have rehearsal with the cast Wednesday afternoon. Well so we have like two and a half days. To get everything in and get it working which is an A and unusually short amount of time for a person production North Carolina theater productions are costly. Running between 250 and $300000 per show. This set has

been trucked in from Texas and designers program an elaborate computerized system for lights and special effects at the same time. More than 250 costumes are ready in the costume shop this is your under a robe and will over dress on Ben's wardrobe supervisor Pamela Sanders fits each of the thirty seven cast members with several outfits to be worn during the show. Then stitchers have less than two weeks to make the necessary alterations to each one. Meanwhile in the rehearsal hall the cast members get ready to practice some of the numbers. We're pursing eight hours a day. They have about a week and a half to perfect this demanding musical. Two days later there's not much glamour but lots of hard work as the cast and orchestra crowd into a basement room a mere nine hours of total rehearsal time all together. This is

musical director McRae Hardy's 50th show with the North Carolina theater and with only three days left until opening night. Every minute is precious. I sort of feel like the heartbeat of the show. So once I get into actually conducting the show and I think that's probably being a little egotistical because so many people working but I feel like everything sort of revolves around the tempos and that sort of thing and I feel like I help tie it all together. This production is a special one for Michael because Tante who stars as Jesus in 1986 he performed the same part in this theater was 10 years ago it was my first lead role and I was incredibly nervous. And it just touched so many people. It was amazing what that show did to the community and we vowed that we would do it again somehow and it took this long. I love the theater here I love the people in Raleigh Raleigh has become the second home for me. It's really the only place I would travel out of town to do a show now. But I will always come here.

This show also has a special significance for Ray Walker. He got his first professional role in the chorus of the 1986 production of superstar. This time starring as Judas the production values of the show has produced here are immense. They are higher than some Broadway shows. It's always a first rate cast first rate first rate production team. And it's it's becoming more and more more well-known as one of the outstanding you know regional theatres of America. Broadway veteran Denise Connelly agrees. This is her production with the North Carolina theater. You know the lighting is going to be good the costumes are going to be good and the sound is going to be good. The director the quids the choreographer everyone involved there are high quality people and that's always made me want to come back. That and the North Carolina audiences. They're great. I've never done a show here where the audiences really didn't appreciate the show and the performers.

It's nice it's a nice feeling well-prepared So now it's time to bring it all together. You know it was you.

YA YA YA. I'm like professional touring companies the people who put on the North Carolina theater productions are residents of our state who are dedicated to bringing top quality musicals to North Carolinians. Jesus Christ Superstar will be performed tomorrow night through Friday at 8 p.m. and then this Saturday at 2 and then again on Sunday from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. to purchase tickets you can call 9 1 9 8 3 1 6 0

6 0 0 or 1 800 2 2 7 4 6 9. Tickets are also available by calling your local Ticketmaster outlet. Well before we head out here tonight a quick congratulations to pass along. American mothers Inc held its national convention this weekend in Lincoln Nebraska and honored a woman from Durham. Lisa Valle Phillips was named mother of young children of the Year by that organization. Congratulations. PHILLIPS That's all we have time for tonight have a great evening. We'll see you back here tomorrow for another edition of North Carolina now. Good night. Thank you.