Argus News Editor
Although WSSU was not victorious in the CIAA basketball competition, the students and faculty of WSSU were well represented in different aspects of the tournament. Mignon TurnerMiss WSSU 2003-2004, a graduating senior, double major, varsity cheerleader, volunteer tutor, WSSU Campus Pal, member of the SGA, and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.was crowed the first Miss CIAA on Saturday, February 28, 2004. The 85th annual CIAA celebration inaugurated this new competition in which each of the twelve historically black colleges and universities in the CIAA athletic conference competed for the title of Miss CIAA. The participants in the contest already represented their colleges and universities as campus queens. The participants included: Ms. Alayanna Browning of Bowie State University, Ms. Cleantha Samuel of Elizabeth City State University, Ms. LaSherri Draughon of Fayetteville State University, Ms. Kenya Starks of Johnson C. Smith University, Ms. Brandy Mack of Livingstone College, Ms. Christal Evans of North Carolina Central University, Ms. Jaclyn Guess of St. Augustines College, Ms. Shatima Seward of Shaw University, Ms. SaraEdith Elizabeth Williams of St. Pauls College, Ms. Nisheka Handy of Virginia State University, Ms. Andrea Conway of Virginia Union University, and last but certainly not least, Ms. Mignon Turner of Winston-Salem State University.The CIAA website, www.ciaa2004.com, gave an outline of the criteria that the aspirants were judged by. They were judged by the amount of online votes they had from the community, their academic excellence in the classroom as well as in school activities, and by an essay about how their attendance at a CIAA school has affected their lives. their writing skills were evaluated. Students felt that the conference queen should uphold the standards of HBCU’s as well as being given the title because of the previously stated criterion. Junior Mass Communications major Russell Clemons said, “I think the CIAA queen should have knowledge of what she is representing. She should not just have the title, she should be intelligent, and have duties to better the schools that she represents.”The week before the results of the competition were announced, Turner said that she was proud to represent WSSU in the competition and that she felt this was a great opportunity to be an ambassador for WSSU. “I think that the CIAA wants to encourage others to become aware of each of the campus queens in the community. This competition is an opportunity to enhance the responsibilities of the queens and their roles in their perspective schools. Each queen is an ambassador for her university. This gives an opportunity to represent among other schools. The competition is more of a friendly competition. The community and students vote for the winner, which gives each contestant an equal opportunity. I am really excited to be a participant,” Turner said. Students felt that the CIAA’s decision to add the contest to the merriment was a wise one. Junior Therapeutic Recreation major Ebony Fowler said, “The pageant was something different that enhanced the CIAA celebration.” Senior Therapeutic Recreation major Alecisha Smith felt similarly. She stated, “I think that all of the HBCU queens competing for one title was a very good idea. Those who are in charge of the CIAA should have thought of this sooner.”