East Carolinian

Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Ashley Yarber

In 2008, 20 interviews of ECU alumni took place in order for the University Archives to conduct "First in the Family; An Oral History of First-Generation Graduates of East Carolina University." As graduates from 1932 to 2005 were brought together to tell their life stories, more than 100 students, alumni, family and guests gathered in Joyner Library last Thursday to congratulate them.

Four interviewers questioned the alumni about their past experiences at ECU and the difficulties they encountered being first generation college students. Questions about their home lives, family background and how college has impacted their lives were common questions throughout the interviews.

Keynote speaker, Rev. Mac Legerton, presented the interviewers and alumni throughout the night.

"I love doing and reading interviews and people telling their own stories," said Legerton. "I think that people should tell about their life story because you will learn so much about yourself by doing so."

Legerton then introduced the interviewers, and they each had six minutes to tell about their conducted interviews.

"I noticed things that helped transition from home and high school was early work experience," said the first interviewer, Joyce Newman. "One former student's grandmother told him that he was not to go to college, that only rich people went to school and now says his grandmother considers college the greatest thing ever."

Cultural anthropologist, Joanne Phipps did the second set of interviews. Her themes during her interviews were coping mechanisms, choice for coming to ECU and whether they lived on campus or not.

"Throughout my interview I noticed that most of the graduates chose ECU because it was close to home and four out of five came with friends," said Phipps.

All of the students Phipps interviewed were involved in some sort of extracurricular activity, which many said kept them from becoming homesick. One alum stated she was the Pee Dee mascot for a while, and she could act crazy and no one ever knew who she was.

The third interviewer was Donald Lennon. Lennon indicated that when the interviewees applied to ECU, they knew little to nothing about the university.

"Once the students arrived, many of them became very close to administration and professors," said Lennon.

"Many of them also become class officers, dorm hall monitors, RA's, fraternity presidents and part of many clubs and activities. All of the graduates loved ECU and are still loyal today."

Legerton wrapped up the presentations by thanking the interviewers for coming and sharing their stories, and allowed the alumni to take approximately two minutes each to talk about their background and life at ECU.

"I am a Pirate all the way through," said honoree Mark Meltzer. "It has meant so much to me; this university has saved my life."

James Mauldin, a 2005 graduate said, "Now the people that didn't want me to go to college are poking at my nieces and nephews to make sure they go."

Kacy Guill, head university archivist and records manager concluded the presentation by showing the audience the Web site that keeps the historical records and pictures of ECU alumni.

To view the historical records, pictures and the actual interviews, visit media.lib.ecu.edu/firstgeneration.



This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.

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