Dayah Barnes: Marching To The Beat of Her Own Drum

A female drummer? Quiet unless she knows you? A North Carolina native? This could only be none other than Miss Dayah Barnes herself. Let's start with a few basics shall we? She loves the colors pink and Blue, she loves the occasional crab legs, and she likes Prince.Although she gives off the quiet reserved type vibes,  this 23 year old senior Mass Communications major from Fayetteville has many interesting things that sets her apart from many. 

Dayah has a knack for playing the drums. She was a member of the South Carolina State University Marching 101 drum line. She is also apart of The Bongo Brothers which is associated with the band. After a long journey with the band, she decided to leave due to conflicts. Aside from band activities, Barnes loves to travel, create memos, and create vlogs. She is also a "cute shoe" fanatic. If a shoe is cute, then best believe she will more than likely get it. 

"I love the environment here and the family feel" said Barnes when talking about SCSU. "I wanted to come here because I've been in North Carolina all my life." Being a writer is something near and dear to Barnes's heart thus her majoring in Journalism. Her blog globetrotti showcases some of her work. After graduation, she plans to go work for the FBI. 

Avery Daniels: A man focusing on HIStory

From his hometown of Orangeburg S.C., A tuba player for the South Carolina State University Marching 101 band, to the Miller F. Whitaker library as the archivist what isn't there interesting about Avery Daniels? Daniels has a lot he has accomplished under his belt and wasn't afraid to share it.

Let's flashback a few years back shall we? Daniels graduated from Orangeburg-Wilkinson High-school back in 1996. He continued his studies at SCSU. While at college he always wanted to be a member of the Marching 101. "I never played an instrument" He had his eyes on the tuba and seeked help from his friends in  band that played the flute. He played the tuba from 2003-2006. He also joined the band Fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi

After graduating from State, he worked an the band's equipment manager. He also served in the United State Marine Corps.


At 40 years old, Daniels is currently the Head of Archives at the library on the campus of SCSU. He is the forth person that has held this position. He has always been interested in History. He did his internship at the State Archives in Columbia S.C. He gained his Masters in Library Science from The University of South Carolina. He was offered a job at Alabama A & M University, but turned it down so he can be close to home her in South Carolina.

(Daniels in his office in Archives)

Thomas E. Miller

A hall on the campus of South Carolina State University named after him? An educator, lawyer and politician? It has to be none other the Thomas Ezekiel Miller. Born June 17th, 1849 in Ferrebeeville, S.C. Miller was born too an unmarried white couple, but rumor has it that he was raised by a black couple in Charleston. His light skin complexion caused speculation about whether or not he was black or white. He could have passed for a white person, but he identified himself as black. He attended South Carolina College (now know was University of South Carolina) and graduated in 1875.

(Thomas E. Miller)

Fast forward years later, Miller was an active politician as served as a member of the republican party as he represented Beaufort in the South Carolina house and then the senate from 1847 to 1882. He praised rural black southerners for their progress they had made since the emancipation. He condemned southern white Democrats for their undemocratic efforts to deny black men the suffrage. "It is not the fear of Negro supremacy in the south that causes southern election officers to suppresses the Negro vote, but it is the fear of the rule of majority regardless of race." 

Fast forward to September 30th, 1896, Miller who was the first President of Colored Normal Industrial, Agricultural, and Mechanical College of South Carolina, and his his 11 faculty members welcomed students to the school. The 8-acres campus and 11-acre farm was home to the first students.Today known as South Carolina State University  it was a primary and secondary vocational training school modeled on Hampton and Tuskegee. Miller was the longest serving President of SCSU from 1911-1937.

(Old hall located on Normal Industrial, Agricultural, and Mechanical College of South Carolina)

A building located on SCSU campus is called Miller Hall. This building is named after Thomas E. Miller. It was built in 1938 in his honor. Miller Hall is one of the 1st buildings that wasn't named after board members making it distinct. It has also been stated that Miller Hall was built by students. 

(Old picture of Miller Hall)

Miller Hall: Then and Now

Across from the student center stands a building that is old and abandoned. Many SC State students walk past it everyday and even relax in front of it. Want to know what building i'm referring to? It's Miller Hall. This distinguished hall has rich history lurking beyond its aged walls.

Originally built in 1938, this building was named after the first president Thomas E. Miller (pictured Below) of South Carolina State University which was formerly named Colored Normal Mechanical and Industrial College. This dorm was intended for male junior and seniors, but later changed to all female. "Miller hall was one of the 1st buildings that wasn't named after board members" says Avery Daniels the archivist of Miller F. Whitaker library at SCSU. The most recent use of Miller hall was back in 2006-2007 when students resided in it for band camp. 

(Thomas E. Miller)

Present day, Miller Hall from the outside still looks good, but the inside tells a different story. We had a chance to go look inside Miller with my class, and we got an eye full. The walls were peeling, old chairs were scattered throughout the floors, and old keys to the rooms were all laid out.  

This building looks like it has major code violations and has been left abandoned to hold old furniture that can be seen in current dorms on campus now. It would be nice to see Miller Hall restored and used as a dorm again, but for now, it's just an old building on campus that students walk by everyday to observe.

Have a look at a few pictures I captured while inside Miller Hall.