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Black athletes give views on BSM
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By BERNADINE WARD
F’eatures Editor
Freshman Cathy Alston, in the
October 20 edition of Black Ink, ex
pressed concern over Black athletic
participation, or lack thereof, in the
BSM; Ms. Alston isn’t the only one
who feels this way.
To hear some tell it, Black athletes
are totally out of touch with the
organization and the Black com
munity in general. However, these
Todd: BSM important and necessary
sportsmen and women quite naturally
have their side of the story. So, here it
is.
Full back Kenny Mack feels that
the criticism leveled at Black athletes
is true. Explaining why he said “The
main reason we don’t support it
(BSM) is because of a lack of time.
We re always practicing, and when
we don’t, we have a game. The only
time you see us is at a dance that thge
BSM, or a fraternity or sorority
sponsors.
“As far as attending protests, if
something were to occur there,
sportswriters are always writing
"The small number of students
who attend BSM meetings shows
that there are many more
nonathletes who don’t attend”
something bad about you. I don’t
mean attending a rally is bad, but if
something were to happen like a fight,
it would be stretched. Athletes are
easy to identify as a group. You can
pin them to anything.”
On the other hand. Mack believes
that pointing to athletes is wrong
because "a lot of other Blacks don’t
support the BSM; you need to find
their reasons too.” He added that
because athletes don't physically
attend BSM meetings, does not mean
they don't support the organization in
principal.
Rod Broadway attributes his small
anipynt o/ parJic^p3fion in. BSIV]^,
r .fupt;tions.
strucfure.
“I support the BSM” the senior
defensive tackle said, “as far as
attending programs by the dancers
and choir and parties too. As far as
attending demonstrations and
meetings, we hardly know anything
about what’s going on with BSM. The
only things we really know are what
we read and it’s hard to even get a
paper.
“There’s been a lot of criticism
because we really don’t have time
and when we do, nobody tells us
anything. Since we don’t have
anytime, we’re not going out looking
for it.’’
Broadway, a senior from Oakboro,
entered the University when all
Blacks were automatically members
of the BSM. Later, when interviews
were required for membership, he did
not go through one, and so con
sequently is not an official member.
He too, was worried that if athletes
attended a protest, “it would be blown
out of proportion.” He conceded that
he would march if it concerned
something he believed in, regardless
of the pressures he might be under.
Nonetheless, of the 12 athletes in
terviewed, only three had ever
participated in a BSM march or
confrontation with the ad
ministration. Wayne Tucker and
Carey Casey abstained from par
ticipating, not because they were
concerned about repercussions from
the press or officials, but for entirely
different reasons.
Tucker a wingback on the football
squad, and an “outstanding quarter-
mile prpspect” in track, believes
there are “other and better methods”
the BSM could use to express its
position.
Casey said he could “support
marches as long as they weren’t
violent. I’m gonna stand up for
something I believe is God-led. I don’t
move on motives of what needs to be
done for Blacks. I move on motives of
what needs to be done for all people in
general so we can be brothers and
sisters in Christ.”
None of the demonstrations within
the past three years have been
violent, and with one exception (the
David Duke affair in ’75) all inside
protests have been silent.
Casey was to have played football
last year, but an injury caused him to
miss most of the season.
The native Virginian expressed this
sentiment several times “vocally I’m
110 percent behind it, but I don’t have
time. If they really need me, I would
be willing to help as long as it is for
justice.”
He admits that his experience with
the Black student organization at the
Oklahoma junior college from which
he transferred prejudiced him toward
the BSM. Several Black students did
not want whites to join the group, and
Casey felt the BSM at Carolina might
have the same policy.
When asked about his contact with
the BSM Phil Ford answered “I
haven’t been involved with the BSM
or any political organization on
campus. Once you get involved with
politics it goes on and on, it’s nothing
you can just stop.
‘Tve been asked by guys running
for congress to help support them.
But by being an athlete at a school
like this that requires a lot of hard
work, I don't think I'll have that much
time.”
Clarifying this. Ford said “The
BSM isn’t political but once you get
involved, you have to keep becoming
involved and I don't think it would be
fair to the BSM or fair to me if I
wouldn't be able to give my whole to
,t(;ie BSM qr. Any P^th^r.grgijp.”
, Besides,tKaypH^.^otNaw.Y^fij; t^^e'
photographed by Sports Illustrated
and making commercials, the
Olympic gold metallist says he at
tends cultural activities sponsored by
the BSM. Coach Dean Smith, he
added, “really encourages us to
become involved with campus af
fairs.”
Eight of the athletes interviewed
complain about what they perceived
as the lack of available information
on the BSM.
Junie Chatman, senior player on
UNC’s tennis team, was no exception.
He suggested that general body and
nonentertainment functions weren’t
as publicized as social activities.
“Blacks need,” in his opinion “an
organization to let others know how
they feel about particular matters.”
He said he knew very little about the
internal structure of the BSM, but
admitted that people inquire about
what they are really interested in.
“It’s a matter of what you really
want,” he stated.
The athletic greatness of the in
dividuals discussed, will undoubtedly
be remembered for many years after
their departiu-e. So too were
basketball greats Charlie Scott and
Bill Chamberlain.
Scott and Chamberlain graduated
1970 and ’72 respectively, but not
without voicing and displaying
support for the BSM to the UNC ad
ministration.
Junie Chatman on Scott and
Chamberlain: “It was com
mendable on their part as long as
they weren’t coerced.”
A list of 23 demands were
presented to the administration
December 11, 1969, by the BSM.
According to the Observer Carolinas
News Service, “The demands in
cluded more active recruitment of
Black freshmen, establishment of an
Afro-American Studies department,
and the firing of two university of
ficials.” Another demand was that
(IHiancellor Sitterson “officially
recognize the BSM as representing
the 255 Black students on campus.”
Scott was quoted as saying that he
attended a meeting hoping to “help
bridge a communications gap bet
ween Black students and the ad
ministration.”
Chamberlain said, “I feel that if
I’m going to represent the university
on the basketball court, they (the
administration) should represent me
and my Black brothers.”
In addition, the two athletes joined
then BSM chairperson Preston E.
Dobbins and three other BSM officials
in a conference with Sitterson.
Certainly Chamberlain and Scott
had to practice and attend to
scholastic matters. Scott was the
First Black scholarship athlete on.
UNC’s campus. A member of the
Grail, Scott worked with Upward
Bound (a tutoring service) and with a
summer program for underprivileged
children. Both athletes were married.
Responding to Scott and Cham
berlain’s experiences with the BSM,
shot put and discus thrower Rosie
Riddick stated “Scott and Cham
berlain were influential people, and
influential people can make a dif
ference, depending on who’s in the
position at the time. But I don’t think
it’s fair to single out athletes. The
small number of students who attend
BSM meetings shows that there are
many more nonathletes who don’t
attend,”
"I think,'' said Junie Chatman, “it
was commendable on their part as
,.^l{)}ig,-^s theyhweren.’t. cperce^i,. But
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