Pembroke State University - Indianhead Yearbook (Pembroke, NC)

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W. Carey Odom graduated from PSU in 1966. He remembered. The thought of going to college was tough enough but to get to school and find out that you are part of the largest freshman class in the history of the school, and your dormitory is the living quarters of visiting basketball players in the gym . . - was hard to handle. Pillow fights and even a couple of fist fights were bound to happen. Can you imagine 20 to 30 freshmen required to keep one huge room clean, with never any privacy and abso- lutely no security at all? You just trusted every- body. Mr. Odom estimated that in 1962-63 there were maybe 15% Native Americans. 85% Whites, and several Blacks. He added. The small size of Pembroke made for a closer relationship with both professors and students; I knew most of the students on campus by first name. There were differences and similarities be- tween the social atmosphere of PSU during the early sixties and the atmosphere today. Mr. Odom recalled. There were few places to go after classes. but he remembered the Tee Pee. the school refreshment center as absolutely fantastic . . . Mountain Dew was the drink. Nabs were the food, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons ' Big Girls Don ' t Cry was the song to play on the juke box. It wasn ' t unusual for me to walk over at two a.m. to get a drink when studying for a big test the next day. I never heard of marijuana, but I did have a few boot- legged beers once in a while. Campus life on non-sporting weekends was almost nonexistent. Everyone went home and many like myself had weekend jobs to earn spending money for the next week. Mr. Odom. a history and political science major, credited PSU with his successful career. After spending over 15 years in the Finance De- partment and later, time as an assistant bill su- pervisor, he is now the City Treasurer for the City of Charlotte, N.C. He is responsible for a $300 million investment portfolio and a $300 million plus debt management program. He reit- erated. Without my college background, this would never have happened; the opportunity just woul d not have been there. PROFILE S ALUMNI Our Cultural Past We valued a rich heritage. P. ' embroke, North Carolina, has provided us with a wealth of cultural integrity. Na- tive Americans that have inhabit- ed this region for centuries plant- ed the seeds of inspiration for our school during a time of racial un- rest in the nation. We were creat- ed as a direct response to the gen- eral issue of equal rights for all people. Remnants from this era could be viewed in PSU ' s Native American Resource Center locat- ed in Old Main, a museum housing many antiquated artifacts, such as the remains of a canoe that once glided down the Lumber Riv- er a thousand years ago. The deep roots of our school grow right along with those of our mag- nificent crepe myrtles and pine trees. The cultural significance of PSU has not diminished. We have enjoyed an ethnic variety unlike many of our contemporary institu- tions. The school has served as an avenue of advancement for many of Robeson County ' s tri-racial population. Many regional tradi- tions remain visible today. Local customs such as the annual Pow Wow have been integrated into school activities. The Givens Per- forming Arts Center has been util- ized by local groups and events such as the LRDA and the Miss Lumbee pageant. Many descen- dants of PSU ' s founding fathers have shared their traditions as members of the faculty and stu- dent body. All associates of the university have helped to regen- erate this common Perspective Point, from where our triumphs appear in tints and shades. Housed In Old Main, these dolls portray our past through delicate art. 10 Purview

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Ronelte Sutton cools off at the ZTA watermelon party outside ofBelk Hall. oims OT uiversiiy Each student was unique I he student body of PSU re- « mained the Point of the Matter n 1986-87, and they were concerned about their future. There was a renewed interest in education among some students as a career. Others followed na- tional trends by concentrating on highly specialized fields of study. Our Pre-Med curriculum, Com- puter Science studies, and Broad- casting program met the needs of these students. Whether these students would elect to remain in the local area or venture into others, Pembroke State was confi- dent of the educated men and women it produced. Considering the many points of origin of the student body of PSU over the years, we realized that we were in a class apart from many schools. Naturally, for many years, the student body was comprised of Native Americans. Eventually, the school became an interest of other races as well, and it opened its doors to many of Robeson County ' s tri-racial popu- lation. Gradually, individuals from other areas became interested in PSU. The 1987 Alumni Directory lists former students from 38 states. Establishing an even broader base, students from Aus- tralia, Hong Kong, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Scandinavia, Korea and other areas have passed through our doors and contributed to the diverse ethnic background of our institution. Just as important are the points of destination of many alumni and alumnae. Many local graduates took the learning that PSU gave them and returned it to their community. Many former students took their education to work for them in metropolitan ar- eas. In this way, PSU has proved its competitive viability in many areas of the country. Purview 9

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Native American ancestors from a cold region learned to walk in snow shoes, as can be seen in this photograph on display in Old Main. Lumbee Princess Wanda Whitmore displays Native American ceremonial wear on the porch of Old Main. Models bring back memories. The Native American Re- source Center holds many reminders of Lumbee history, like this old tobacco barn. Purview 1 1