Holloway:
Drugs and alcohol, big-time athletic programs, and other current issues are in the headlines about many college and university students. But tonight, I want you to meet Katilla Everett, who is student body president at North Carolina Central University. I'm Jay Holloway, join us next on Black Issues Forum.

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Holloway:
Good evening and welcome to Black Issues Forum, I'm Jay Holloway, your host. Tonight, our guest is a young woman who is in tune with what college students are thinking and what service projects they're working on. Our college profile of achievement if Katilla Everett. She's a senior with a mission at NCCU, North Carolina Central University. Welcome, Katilla.

Everett:
Thank you, good evening.

Holloway:
You're student government president there.

Everett:
Yes.

Holloway:
I guess that's a pretty awesome responsibility. What are some of the issues? That means you probably know a lot of what's going on in the minds of students at Central particularly, but probably pretty in tune with what's going on in the minds of college students in general. What's on their minds these days?

Everett:
Right now, since it's federal, we're thinking about reauthorization, and how exactly the funds that are allocated to higher education will be distributed this year. Some other issues, tuition increase, especially things happening in North Carolina with the increase in tuition that was retroactive. We also have a big concern about student apathy, and how exactly do we motivate ourselves and keep the spirit alive, like that old Eagle spirit or just different spirits, period. Because

Holloway:
So you're saying, in this teaser I talked about all these other things, the athletic programs, and the drugs and the alcohol, there are quite a few students-would you say many or most are concerned about these issues, the apathy, the federal reauthorization in funding, all those are real concerns of college students today?

Everett:
They are real concerns. I think what will continue not to happen, and people don't see, is that there is a group, and there's a group of students who do organize around these issues on every college campus. It may not be the majority of the students, but there are-I mean, they represent the whole world. We don't have the majority of people in America running to the polls to vote, so you can't expect that to happen even in college. But you do have a minority group that do come aro

Holloway:
Speaking of this Generation X that you termed, and many have heard that terminology. How do you define the Generation X? Are you a part of that generation?

Everett:
I think we all feel part of the generation. I think we notice that when you don't understand, you just label it. I mean, you just put it there. And it's okay to do that, but if it comes with a lack of understanding, we don't get anywhere. But I think Generation X or being a part of Generation X is that we're unknown, but we're definitely destined to do something great. I think the chemistry, and even the trend lately, when I look at other college campuses, the student leadership

Holloway:
You raised a lot of issues there. Before we move into the leadership, and the power, and the technology, which are all issues that I know you're ready to discuss, what do you say to the older viewer out there that just doesn't understand-you said taking the time to understand-and lets the rap music and the baggy pants get in the way? Does that get in the way to you of understanding your colleagues?

Everett:
It doesn't get in the way for me to understanding my colleagues, because people are individuals. You should expect that. It's the same way, I guess, like in the 60's and 70's when the Afros came out. It was just what was in then. And it's also a part of expressing yourself. I think the intergenerational component that's missing in activism and student government, and even in government, is essential because we continue to just polarize ourselves, and we don't understand what we

Holloway:
You're probably heard this from your parents' generation, that the rap music and the baggy pants just get in the way. Do you think people, whether it's black or white, even other generations, associate somehow the rap music and the baggy pants or the attire with intelligence? Do you think people do that?

Everett:
No. No way intelligence.

Holloway:
But do you think people do that subconsciously?

Everett:
Yeah, sometimes. Subconsciously.

Holloway:
What would you say to them?

Everett:
That it's not true. I think that it doesn't matter what you wear, it doesn't matter what you listen to. It matters what you have in your mind and what you're willing to say, and what you stand for. Because I think even with the brothers and the sisters and other people who wear the baggy pants and wear the big shirts and the tems up to your kneecaps or everything else-it's not about their appearance, it's what they have intellectually. Because I have the best conversations in thes important.

Holloway:
In this series this year, we've been talking a lot about race relations. And John Hope Franklin who's resident of your home area right now where Central is, and a former faculty person there, is heading up the commission, the President's Initiative on Race. What have you and your colleagues at a historically black college like Central talked about in terms of race relations, and is there a discussion on your campus about that?

Everett:
There is discussion on campus about race relations, because number one, with a university, even though it is historically black, we do have like a 13 to 18% minority population.

Holloway:
Which in this case is white, or non-black.

Everett:
Non-black, but predominately white. So with that, we're trying to understand and trying to figure out, how can we be sensitive? And how can we encourage those students and our students to come together and discuss these issues? Because I think historically, I mean, we've always overlooked it. And even though we have great commissions, it really starts with one-on-ones, and it really starts with students speaking with students, and people speaking with people. So right now we're

Holloway:
What about externally. You're in the same city where Duke University is. Do you have any interaction between Central students and the Duke students?

Everett:
We do. Actually, I'm a senior this year, and my freshman year there was a mayor's advisory council between Duke and NCCU. And the advisory council tried to bridge the gap between NCCU and the greater Durham area and Duke University. And students from Duke and NC Central, we came together, we sat on the board, and we discussed the issues concerning things like the transportation system, lights, and concerning different issues on both campuses. And we saw how even though we may be

Holloway:
You taught?

Everett:
I taught a class.

Holloway:
As a student at Central?

Everett:
As a student at Central.

Holloway:
Well, go ahead.

Everett:
Actually, I wrote a proposal for a grant through the Breakaway Connections, and it's an alternative spring break program where during spring break, students go to Atlanta-we went to Atlanta and we actually protested against the Olympics because of displacement of homeless people, and also just different issues of how monies were not really going to be generated for the city of Atlanta, but for other areas. As well as, students from NCCU and Duke, they met once a week and they taught but it's like a transitional home for homeless people called the Phoenix House. And two years ago we raised $2,000 for that project. And it was a great chance for students from both universities to come together, and we also had a party together at the shelter. So it was trying to connect every area and every aspect.

Holloway:
It sounds like the homeless initiative is something that is personal to you, I guess, and professional. Is that something that you are, you mentioned it twice.

Everett:
Right. I have a big concern because I think what students and even people fail to realize is that homeless people are people, as well as a lot of people right now with money situations, we're one paycheck away from being homeless. And if we can understand that they're not just alcoholics, and they're not just mentally retarded or mentally ill but they're people, and that because they lack a support system in which many of us in higher education and in the profession world have, if

Holloway:
Are your colleagues in the UNC system and other HBCU institutions as concerned about these issues are you are, you think?

Everett:
Yes, they are. What we do, we meet once a month . . .

Holloway:
"We" is . . . ?

Everett:
"We" is the University of North Carolina Association of Student Governments. And with the university, UNCASG, we meet and we discuss these issues, and we try to strategize what exactly are we going to do, and how can we motive other students as well as ourselves to actually make change. We may have to go to the Legislature, go to Raleigh; we may have to do letter writing campaigns, but we're willing to do that. And we also meet with Ms. Molly Broad, the new president of the UNC sy

Holloway:
You're dealing with some heavy issues there.

Everett:
Yes, we are.

Holloway:
Well let me say, is it safe to say that persons watching this program across our state, they're probably near one of our 16 campuses, that persons that are active in the community that have some of the same issues that you have, can approach the campus through the student government about partnering? Are you partnering with community organizations?

Everett:
Definitely, definitely. I mean, they're there. And there's one thing that I hope, and I know this from what I'm working with at NC Central, is that the community and the campus should be one. There is a community campus, NC Central is a community itself. And Durham, quote unquote, is a community itself. But we're a part of the same community, so there should be some type of roadway or some type of bridge in which they can connect. And it Administration can't do it, then essentia

Holloway:
Well let's move now to the other two points you talked about of power and leadership. You mentioned we have a woman president of the university system, we have a woman president of North Carolina Central student government. This is an era now when women are taking leadership roles. How do you feel about leadership in general and women in leadership?

Everett:
Leadership in general; I really feel that leadership is beautiful, and even when I think about leadership I think about power, and not about power that corrupts absolutely but the power of love and the power of compassion and the power of people. And I think that it's essential for true leaders to understand that it's not about what can you gain fully, but what are you willing to give? And it's about training. If we can't train ourselves, and for me if student government is not tr

Holloway:
Has gender played a role in others willing to accept your leadership?

Everett:
It has, in some ways. In some ways it hasn't. But I think that's just common, and you can't separate it. Some people may say because you are a strong black woman, or you're a strong woman period, and you assume a leadership position that you're gonna feel more compassion and more passion for this, that, and the other, but it's not true, because what I do, I do because I love and because I care about people, and I care about the process. And I think men as well, they care, but I t

Holloway:
Well let's move to the heart of that. Where, who was your mentor, who is your mentor, and where did you get this sense of leadership and compassion and drive to achieve and the understanding of issues as you have?

Everett:
I think-I have a lot of mentors, actually. My family, my great-grandmother, my grandmother and my mother, I'm the fourth generation female in my household. And I have an older brother who attends A&T, and when I was younger, when I was in high school, I actually was able to go to A&T and be involved in his meetings-I was just sitting there, and would try to understand what they were talking about when they were fighting to have a Black History program or Black History on a black co

Holloway:
Incidentally, I know the people in Green Level will appreciate you saying, Green Level and clarifying that, not just saying Burlington. And that raises a question that somehow, some people tend to think that you need to be in an urban area to have access to this, but you just outlined beautifully all the things you were able to do coming from a rural area, pretty much, and parlaying that right on in to Durham and the student government president. But what would you say, you said not necessarily give any advice to these younger, but what would you give to younger high school students and middle school students about the whole idea of achievement and power and leadership?

Everett:
I guess, one of my favorite mentors, Karen Thompson, she always says "To thine own self be true," and if you can be true to yourself and understand-even if you don't understand, but be honest and try to feel and try to-and don't get caught up into the hype or get caught up into the peer pressure, but figure out what you want and then go for it. That's the best thing you ever can do. It doesn't matter if you're talented or gifted, it doesn't matter if you're Burlington or Greensboro, Durham, Charlotte, anywhere. You can do what you want to do if you allow yourself to do it. And that's I think, when we allow ourselves to just let things happen and to try to understand why they happen, not to question it completely, but question it some and analyze it, but move on. That's essential to life. And to me, that's been my guiding principle, and I try to be true to myself and to the other people. And then if it happens it happens, if it doesn't, then okay, it wasn't meant to be, and life goes on.

Holloway:
Well, that could move to another area. What about spirituality in your life? What role does that play in your life?

Everett:
It plays a big part. I think for me, you have to have a foundation, and my foundation is spirituality, it may be God, but not truly into like, all types of religions. But having an understanding, as well as being surrounded by a circle of people who also are spiritually inclined and also understand themselves and think it has a purpose in life. And that's always been my foundation. I've been blessed always being surrounded by people, even though some people come in and out of you

Holloway:
Well, when you think about that job, let's move to the future now. What does the future hold for Katilla Everett?

Everett:
The future holds graduation in May from NC Central University. And probably for a year I want to study abroad, I think I want to be in Ghana for the summer, I'm going to be in London for the actual fall, and during that time to work on my LSAT and GRE scores because I haven't taken the tests. I need to give myself a time to calm down because it's been very intense for four years. Then come back to NC Central and finish up my certification in Education. And then go to grad school,

Holloway:
Wonderful.

Everett:
So eventually I think Congress or President or something of that nature.

Holloway:
All right. Well you seem to have things all together, you've got it planned out, that's one of the things that I've heard. I don't know, I guess it's a positive criticism of this generation that many people have it planned out. And best wishes to you on that.

Everett:
Thank you.

Holloway:
Let's talk about technology now. You mentioned that earlier. With the advent and the popularity ever increasing of the Internet, computers, how important is that in your life right now?

Everett:
They're very important. Computers are very important period, and they should be important in everyone's life. The sad thing is that computers aren't accessible for everyone, and we know this, and I definitely know this at NC Central. We do have an increase in computers, but the accessibility for people off campus and the accessibility for people generally, and even in the different communities, minority communities, it's sad. And even in education, because they're not getting the

Holloway:
How do we resolve this accessibility issue, that Haves and the Have-Nots? Do you have any thoughts?

Everett:
I think there's many different ways we can solve it. I think one way, because when you look at the 16 universities in the UNC system, that their place in the midst of communities, and even though we say we have an open-door policy, we need to make sure those doors are definitely open and bridge that, and bring the community in because those Have-Nots are the ones the jobs that many of us are taking, realistically, as well as the space that we're taking. So we need to bridge that, a

Holloway:
We have just a little over a minute left. Anything specific you'd like to say to the North Carolina audience in general that we haven't covered? Now's your opportunity.

Everett:
I just want to tell to the North Carolina area, thank you. Thank you for helping me, to train me, to help me be what I am, as well as the guidance from the staff and administrators from North Carolina Central University to the Chancellor to Dr. Terry, Ms. Davis and Dr. Bryan and Dean Deck, and the list can go on and on. But because, and even my family because they've trusted me and allowed me to just do what I want to do and make mistakes and recognize my mistakes, but still give m

Holloway:
Well that's a wonderful statement, really, to conclude on, because everyone deserves that. And are you a project of -not a project but a product of our public school system, too, in North Carolina?

Everett:
Yes, I am.

Holloway:
So you're really thanking the North Carolina citizenry for your public school and your higher education as well, and we certainly hope they'll take your advice and provide this kind of encouragement to others. Katilla, thank you so much for taking the time to be with us. Best wishes to you and your future.

Everett:
All right.

Holloway:
All righty. And we want to thank you for watching our program tonight. And we invite you to watch Black Issues Forum every Friday night at 11:00 on UNC-TV. Please contact us with your comments. Our telephone number is 919-549-7167. You may fax us at 919-549-7168, or e-mail us at bif@unctv.org, or visit us on the World Wide Web at www.unctv.org/bif. You'll find information past episodes and additional information on issues of concern to African-Americans. Join us next week for

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