'Tis the Season For Black Nativity

Every year, the talented students of North Carolina A&T’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts give us their rendition of Black Nativity.

Black Nativity, a play written by Langston Hughes, depicts the birth of Christ and the first Christmas featuring an all black cast.

Entering into its twenty sixth season, it has been both a fall tradition and favorite amongst the students. From its heart racing dances, to its toe-tapping songs and hymns, this play offers non-stop excitement and wonder for everyone.

“It’s such a great play, said Alyson Frink, a junior at A&T. I remember my first time seeing it with my friends and how we when it was over, we danced all the way back to our dorms”.

Black Nativity opens in Harrison Auditorium the first week in December. The show goes from Thursday to Saturday at 8 p.m. and has a special showing on Sunday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. With so many showings, there’s certainly no reason anyone wishing to see the play should miss it.

The timing of the play is also well placed at the end of the fall semester, and the weekend before finals week. “It’s a great way to shake off the semester slums and get you ready for the stress that is finals week”, says Essence Adams. Essence is a junior, majoring in sports medicine.

“After watching the play, I always come back to the room dancing and humming, said Adams. This wouldn’t be a problem accept my roommate is usually studying for her finals.

Black Nativity, is a great way to bring in the holiday season. Whether it’s your first time or you sixth, it's a play that students can and will enjoy again and again.

Just ask Aryn Collins, a sophomore at A&T who has been enjoining the play since she first became a student. “I go to see this play twice every year and it never gets old for me”.

Aggies Jump, Bounce, and Move to Relieve Stress of Finals Week

On Thursday, A&T held one of its two final gym jams of the semester in Moore Gymnasium.

With finals week approaching fast, students are now under a lot of stress to do well. So before the exams begin students were encourged to come out and "bounce" their stress away.

Inside the gym, four seperate moon bounces were set up, giving students a variety of ways to unwind and go bonkers.

"It was big, colorful, and very original, said Taylor Collins. I've been to quite a few gym jams since i've been here, but never to one like this". Collins is a senior majoring in computer science.

When you first enter into the gym, you're greeted by some of the students and asked to sign in. Once signed, you have four different moon bounces to choose from.

The first is a giant volleyball bounce where up to, but not recommended, ten students on each side can battle it out in the most extreme and unstable game of volleyball ever.

Ashley Covington, a junior majoring in Business Management, spent most of her time in the extreme volleyball cage. "It's like being in a insane asylum, Covington says jokingly. Studing for these finals can make even the best of us go crazy and in here you can really unwind and let yourself go."

The next was a lazer tag bounce and If you thought hunting down your oppontents was hard enough, wait till you try it while you're all bouncing.

The dodgeball bounce was a favorite by Makeda Kirby, a junior majoring in computer science who found it hard to leave this play pen. "Just making it through the semester can hard enough between your social and academic life, said Kirby. And studing for exams is a different kind of hard all together. So what better way to relieve your frustration than a few hours in an inflatable bouncing room whacking balls at each other".

Finally, you could have the chance to show your inner american gladiator in the pillar knock-off ring. Two opponents face each other on top of a pillar in a fight to see who's top dog.

The gym jam was a huge success. Even if you didn't try all of the attractions, there was still fun to be had. The Dj kept the students jumping and moving with upbeat tunes. And an unexpected battle between The Couture modeling troop and some talented A&T students had people screaming for more.

All and all, students left relaxed, energized and ready to take on the world. Not a bad way to end the week and shake some of the stress of finals to come.

Four Seasons Mall, The Centre of Black Friday Madness

It's four in the morning, on any other night this home would be silent, but not this time. The sound of bustling about for keys, newspapers, and coats is heard. The door to the garage opens and with a quick turn of the key the car starts up and heads out to the mall. Black Friday, has come at last.


Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is one of the most anticipated days of the year and has become even more popular than some holidays. That's because no other day has more to offer Americans than Black Friday.

This is the only day where businesses open their stores extra early, some as early as midnite, and drop their prices unbelievably low to attact customers.


Customers line up outside of stores as early as 3 a.m. and some even camped out in their cars in order to catch "early bird" specials and door buster deals.


Kevin Coberly, a 22 year-old employee at Moe's Southwest Grill in Greensboro, spent his moring shopping for a digital camera and scooters for his girfriend and two nieces. He smiles as he recalled his adventure.

"I was up at 3:00 a.m, he said. I spent four hours at one store. The first hour I spent waiting outside in the cold. and the next three hours were spent finding the gift and waiting in line".


Though every store in the Triad experienced the non-stop rush of customers, no store had as big a turnout than the Four Seasons Mall in Greensboro. Every where you looked there were hundreds of bustling customers, eagerly searching for the best deals on clothes, jewlery, electronics, and various accessories.



The Four Seasons Mall, opened it's doors to customers at 4 a.m. and didn't close it's doors till a little past 10 p.m. During which time, hundreds of shoppers hunted for sales and door buster deals.


Black Friday is the day most people do all or most of their shopping for the holidays. This is also the day when stores get the most business. And if you think this day was big for customers, then you can imagine how serious it was for those working in the stores.



Tiffany Davis, a store managers at American Eagle located in the Four Seasons Mall, was one such person.


"It's kind of exciting to see so many people out this early just to shop, said Davis. Excitng, but scary, because you know that all these people will soon be flooding your store".



And with so many stores to choose from, it's almost impossible to know where to start first.
LaRonda Puryear, a black friday shopper, gave some excellent advice. "The easiest thing to do is to start from the bottom and work your way up".



The Four Seasons Mall, with its three stories of various stores and sales booths offered non-stop consumer consumption and excitement. One could easily spend their whole day just perusing, as most did. One shopper and his family said they had been at the mall since it 10 a.m. and had only made it to the second floor.

Students From the International Program Give Aggies A Real "Taste of China"

On Wednesday, November 18, the students from the International Program put together a small presentation to showcase the Chinese culture. The event was called Taste of China.

The objectives of the International Program encompass all disciplines in the University and includes: academic exchange programs for students and faculty; study abroad; managing agreements with overseas institutions; working with faculty to develop new international programs; Global Studies Certificate Program; and global awareness activities through various cultural and educational activities throughout the year to create a campus-wide global perspective.

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NC A&T's S.A.U.B Students Host Night of Food, Culture, and Fun

Wednesday night, the Student Advisory Union Board (SAUB) organization held an event for the students to showcase different cultures and their foods. The event was a huge success. The cultures displayed at the event included: China, Japan, Mexico, Italy and Jamaica.

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Alumni Reflect On A&T Homecoming

A&T Homecoming 2009, like so many before it, was one to remember. And they just keep getting better.

From campus events like the step and comdey show to tailgaiting before the football game, there's never is a dull moment. Though all the students enjoy homecoming, no one loves or appreciates it more than the alumni.

Ashlyn Worthy, an alumni of North Carolina A&T, is one of hundreds of alumni who came out to revisit the excitment of homecoming. In an interview with her, we talked about How this years homecoming campared to the ones held when she was a freshman and how she feels when she cames home.

1. How does it feel to be back at A&T?

Well I haven't been gone that long, so some things do feel the same. However, looking back on my time spent at A&T and seeing all the new people and faces brings back a lot of great memories.

2. What has been your favorite event(s) for homecoming?

I'd have to say the football game and the step show. I can't remember a time when we actually won our homecoming game, but i there was still a lot of "aggie pride".

3. What do you remember most about your first homecoming?

Everything! The football game, which we lost i think, the step show, comedy show and of course experiencing my first college party. I was a real "aggie maniac" back then. There were so many things going on and being freshman I wanted to do and see it all.

4. How do you feel when you you see the new, upcoming members of AKA?

It almost brings a tear to my eye. I remember it was after the homecoming step show that I decided I wanted to be an AKA. That, and the fact that most of the women in my family already were, so the decision was already made. I feel proud and hope they take full advantage of the opportunities they will have. It's such a great experience though. I love all my line sisters and still keep in touch with them.

5. Will you be attending next year's homecoming?

Of course I will. Homecoming isn't an event, it's a lifestyle, and it's something you can't live without.

SoundSlide 2

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Sound Slide 1

My Slide Show

A sample project we're working on in class.

Hope you enjoy this mini story about a man named Waldo.

Young Alumni Reflects On The Greatest Homecoming On Earth

Homecoming, a time of great fun and excitement for students, facualty and guest.

Every year, North Carolina A&T tries to bring new flare and excitment for its homecoming. A&T is known for it's laugh out loud comedy shows, it's heart pounding step shows and its edge of your seat football games, but has it always been that way.

In an interview with LaRonda Puryear, a North Carolina A&T Alumni, she talked about Homecoming and the experiences she had their as a student.

1.What was your favorite homecoming event?

The Comedy show and game were always my favorites

2.How has homecoming changed since you were there?

No freedom on campus, the streets used to be filled with cars and people till the wee hours of the night.

3.Where the concerts as lively as they are now?

The concerts were more lively my freshman and sophomore year because there were more artists from Atlanta. I love Atlanta, so I guess that's why I enjoyed these concerts a lot more and thought they were more lively.

4.What were your fondest memories about homecoming?

Everyone coming to have a good time

5.When you visit the school do you feel or see the same amount of “Aggie Pride” there from

when you were in school?

Nope

6.Why do you think A&T students don’t have as much pride as those before them?

I disagree with the notion that A&T students don't have as much pride as those before them. I feel that Aggie Pride is alive and well. As an undergrad I participated in a lot of campus organizations and every time we had to travel to a conference or represent our school we'd exude pride in everything we did. Sometimes we didn't even have to say what school we were from, everyone could tell just by the way we carried ourselves. On a personal level, I have always had Aggie Pride and I LOVE A&T so much. There's not a day that goes by that I don't have something on that deals with A&T, whether it be a hoodie, a pen, my car, etc.

7.Do you think homecoming is still a way to strengthen the bonds between students and their
school, or has it become too commercial?

I do believe that homecoming is still a way to strengthen the bonds between students and their school. I don't think that homecoming has become too commercial. Homecoming is exactly what it says, coming home. You come home to reminisce and to reconnect to a place and to people that you may not have seen in a while. I feel that homecoming activities just enhance this and not necessarily defines it. You make your own homecoming what it is.

The Spokesman For Change Gains Nobel Prize

In his first ten months in office, President Barack Obama has faced a wide range of challenges and obsticles. Just a weeks ago, his efforts paid off as he was announced the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Obama wasn't selected for the things he had accomplished, but rather for his vision and dream that inspired the entire world at the beginning of his presidency.

"For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman," the committee said, explaining its decision.

Obama told reporters that he did not view the award as a recognition of his own accomplishments. But rather as an affirmation of American leadership. He then stated that he would accept the award as a "call to action".

Shortely after his acceptance speech, he made plans to donate the roughly $1.4 million award to charity. In further statements by the committee, they added, "Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people so much hope for a better future."

As President, Obama has created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has stimulated both disarmament and arms control negotiations and the U.S. is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the huge challenges the world is confronting, thanks to the seemingly tireless efforts of it's President.

Ask About Me

My name is Evan Summerville. I'm a junior, majoring in electronic media. Born, but not raised in Charlotte, North Carolina.

I'm an aspiring actor and cartoonist. Theater and art are huge pieces of my life. I've been doing both since i was little.

I've got an older sibling who's probably my greatest inspiration. This is my life so far, anything else you'd like to know hit me up.

Q & A Interview With Donna Bradby

North Carolina A&T's Department of Visual and Performing Arts continues to astound it's school each year with breath-taking performances.

The Department of Visual and Performing Arts comprises the Programs of Music, Theatre, Visual Arts and a Dance concentration.

Through an ongoing collaborative process, the Department develops and sustains the artistic and cultural environment of the university and the community.

The department prepares students both academically and artistically through the implementation of interdisciplinary studies for leadership roles in a diverse society.


Recently, I interviewd Director of Marketing and Publicity, Donna Bradby to get a small look into the world of theatre.


Q: How long have you been involved with theater?
A: I've personally been involved since a child, but i've been at A&T for four years acting as the
Director of Marketing and Publicity. I'm an alumni of the program.

Q: Did You perform when you were in school?
A: Yes, when i first came here i was a tech concentration and then i moved over to acting.

Q: Which do you like better, acting or tech?
A: Acting, but now i'm an arts manager, so I like arts managament better than anything.

Q: What all does your job include?

A: I do marketing and publicity for the department of vision/performing arts. We have a music

program, a dance concentration, theatre and visual arts. So I do marketing and publicity for

all four areas.

Q: What does it take to market a play?

A: Publicity and marketing for an arts event, other than visual arts, is very different because it's

nothing you can put your hands on. Take for example, if I was selling caps. You know what a

cap is, my cap is a little different from your cap, but theatre and dance is an experience. So

i'm selling an experience.

Q: How do you decide what plays to perform?
A: We have lots of goals. Our students, as they are going through the four-year program, have to
to have done a comedy, a straight play, a classical play, a childrens piece, a musical etc. They
have to have gone through the genre of theatre; even if they weren't in the play they have to
had worked on it.

Q: What's the number one rule for people looking to pursue a career in theater?
A: In the words of one of our professors, "you don't call the theatre, the theatre calls
you". You've gotta be dedicated. You have to love the work. And if you want to major in
theatre. We're an academically driven program and we're a performance program. You could
have a rehersal at ten 0'clock at night and we'd still expect you to turn in your ten page paper
in the morning.


Donna B. Bradby


North Carolina A&T State University


(336) 334-7852, Ext. 6020


NCB, rm.