Newspapers / Black Ink (Black Student … / Aug. 18, 1981, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
BLACK INK The essence of freedom is understanding m. Volume 14 Number 1 BLACK STUDENT MOVEMENT OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER University of North Carolina, Chapel FHil August 18, 1981 Desegregation accord draws mixed reaction (Photo by Chapel Hill Newspaper) UNC-Chapel Hill... 10.6 percent black by 1986 Local opinions vary JOHN HINTON Editor The UNC desegregation settlement with the U.S. Department of Education and approved by a U.S. District Court judge has triggered a mixed reaction statewide. "The integrity of the University has been maintained," said William C. Friday, UNC President. He said UNC system officials are ready to under take the implementation, and "we do so with the full confidence that it will succeed." U.S. District Court Judge Franklin T. Dup ree, Jr. signed the consent decree ending a n-year-old dispute between the UNC 16- campus system and federal government. Dupree wrote in a eight-page memorandum that the consent was "fair reasonable and adequate and it should be given a chance to work." Joesph L. Rauh Jr., an attorney for the NAACP Legal and Education Fund called the approval a travesty of federal judicial proce dure. He said the defense fund would take action to have the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia declare U.S. Educa tion secretary Terrel H. Bell's bargaining ac tions illegal. The defense fund in 1970 filed the original suit against the government, claiming the HEW was not fulfilling its responsibility in desegregating public universities in southern including North Carolina. Dypi«eHas jurisdiction over the decree until Dec. 31, 1988, but the terms of the agreement would expire Dec. 31,1986. The UNC board will control the 16 campuses and will submit an annual report on the progress of the desegregation to Dupree and to office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Justice Department. Dupree ruled in June 1979 that the federal government could withhold about $100 mil lion from UNC until administrative hearings were completed in Washington. Board chairman John R. Jordan said once the plan is carried out, it will mean better educational opportunities for blacks and whites. "I feel that this is an instance in which everyone won." Jordan said "The state of North Carolina won. UNC won and the young men and women attending institutions of higher education — regardless of race — won." Richard Dawson, UNC vice president of academic affairs, said the University had a difficult job ahead of them. "We've got a very demanding set of commitments and obligations to meet in this decree. Now we can turn our energies and imagination into doing that." The settlement, approved by the board this June, outlines the establishment of 29 graduate and undergraduate programs at UNC's five predominately black schools and set desegregation goals for the 16 campuses. Presidents of Student Government Asso ciations of the five traditionally black institu tions expressed dissatisfaction with the set tlement. Steven Kirk, SGA president of North Caro lina A&T State University, said that he opposed the academic and capital improve ment features of the plan. "I think every administrator and student ought to insure equal opportunity and access to equality for everyone in higher educa tion," he said. "This plan does not insure anything." The plan stipulates an increase in black enrollment at traditionally white universities from the current 7.4 percent to 10.6 by the 1986-87 academic year. Also, an increase of white enrollment at traditionally black uni versities from the present 11.3 percent to 15 percent by the same time. "I have no specific problem with an in- creaseof white students on A&T's campus," Kirk said. "However, along with an increase of white students at A&T, we should not be forced to neglect or discontinue the mission of black institutions. The mission is to give blacks who are discriminated against a chance to receive a quality education." Curtis Massey, SGA president of North (Continued on page 3) CHUCK WALLINCTON Staff Writer Students expressed skepticism, but UNC officials voiced satisfaction about the imple mentation of the consent decree approved by the UNC Board of Governors this sum mer, according to staff reports. The settlement reached between UNC and the federal government was signed by U.S. District Court Judge Franklin T. Dup ree, ending an 11-year-old battle between the UNC school system and the U.S Depart ment of Education (formerly the U.S. De partment of Health, Education and Welfare). Brian Richardson, a junior from Chapel Hill, said that he did not feel that anything positive would result from it unless "they (the board) are pressed to the wall." Lorre Bonner, freshman from Rowland said the settlement was made because Presi dent Ronald Reagan did not want to deal with the desegregation issue. Bonner said that President Reagan was "tired" of the ongoing dispute between the two groups and that he saw these estabi ished guidelines as a means of putting an end to the entire disagreement. She added she thought that implementing the settlement would not be successful and that "UNC will be back in court in five years." Pam Payne, a graduate student fom Char lotte, said that North Carolina was a "target area". The UNC 16-campus system will have to comply with federal regulations or the funds will be withdrawn, but "the effects won't be as good because the North Caroli na system isn't concentrated like Georgia's, but spread out along many campuses," Payne said. "This type of settlement will not be in the best interest of the university system." Regina Newell, a sophomore from Greensboro, said the schools should be given the money and allowed to do with it what they wanted instead of being told how to use it. "The universities would have a better chance at achieving equality," she said. "The direct action through the individual schools is most essential to their progress." Lyle Rushing, a junior from Mineral Springs, said that the goal of achieving total desegregation is a problem the board cannot (Continued on page 4) Freshman enrollment increases despite aid cuts Harold Wallace Ramona Brown Staff Writer Black freshman enrollment is expected to increase at UNC despite the projected finan cial aid cuts, black administrators said. "We project that approximately 425 black freshmen will attend UNC this year," Harold G. Wallace, vice chancellor for University affairs, said. This year, 1039 applications were received from black prospects, 200 more than in 1980. Our black freshmen enrollment will de pend upon financial aid they receive, Her bert Davis, assistant director of Undergradu ate Admissions, said. UNC should lose ab out $665,000 of financial aid, Eleanor Mor ris, director of the Student Aid Office said. Hayden B. Renwick, Associate Dean of the College Arts and Sciences said that there would be at least 500 black freshmen at Carolina this year. Renwick said black fresh man enrollment for the 1980-81 years was 365. "Black enrollment at UNC has improved considerably over the last three years," Ren wick said in the Durham Morning Herald. He said the increased enrollment was due to placing more importance on the admittance of black students and better recruitment techniques — spending more time in the (Continued on page 3) Hayden B. Renwick
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 18, 1981, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75