Page 6
Black Ink
November 28,1983
Discouragement, a UNC reality
by Joy Thompson
Staff Writer
George, a UNC student sits alone
at his desk with his head in his
hands. "I'm miserable here," he
despairs. "I want to go home."
Although George is an imaginery
student, he is going through a very
real stage that most UNC students
have or will have experienced — dis
couragement and disillusionment.
"I got really discouraged at the
beginning of my freshman semes
ter," sophomore Christi Seal admits.
"I flunked my first math test and I
got a C on my physics test and I
needed those courses for my
major."
Sophomore Stephanie Jackson
was most discouraged by the imper
sonality of UNC. "My high school of
fered family like environment, but
now I don't know anybody any
more," Jackson said. "Though
you're in the crowd, you're still
lonely."
Academic problems and school
impersonality are only two of the
reasons UNC students, especially
freshmen, become discouraged. "I
think the toughest part of college
(for freshmen) is first semester
because there are so many things to
get used to," Vice Chancellor and
Dean of Student Affairs Donald A.
Boulton said. UNC is a big change
from most high schools. Here it is
much larger, the academic competi
tion is much stiffer and greater
responsibilites such as taking care of
meals, paying bills, etc.) are placed
on the student. "All these things hit
you in your face in your first five or
six weeks of school," Boulton said.
These are the major factors that
cause student discouragement.
Serious discouragement causes
some students to withdraw from
school. Timothy R. Stanford of the
Department of I nstititutional
Research describes the freshman's
first experience at UNC as a "culture
shock". In reference to the "1978
Non-Returning Students Survey"
Stanford said, "The biggest group
that we, the university lose each
year are freshmen. Sophomores
usually leave because they have
problems with their major or the
I
i
lb
Juggy’s
Hair
Design
111 N. Merritt Mill Rd.
Chapel Hill, NC 942-3119
Precise Perm
regular price $40.00
discount price $32.00
save $8.00
Cut
regular price $10.00
discount price $8.00
save $2.00
Touch Up
(other relaxers)
regular price $28.00
discount price $22.40
save $5.60
Curly Look
regular price $60.00
discount price $48.00
save $12.00
Shampoo & !
Blow Dry \
(all conditioners are free) {
regular price $14.00 |
discount price $11.20 j
i I
Must request discount hairdresser.
Must bring this coupon.
Discount good through Dec. 5
If it’s your hair,
we care!
school they want to enter. Juniors
and seniors usually leave because
they want a break," he said. Per
sonal problems, such as, family
deaths and changes in financial
status, and in some cases university
problems, such as, teachers, cur
riculum also discourage students
and cause them to withdraw.
According to 1978 survey, black
students withdraw for the same
reasons white students do; however,
more black students are forced to
leave because of academic in
eligibility than white students.
"Being a minority will not make
you discouraged," Boulton said, "It is
what you do with being a minority."
Dean Renwick said, "The reason
why black students (are forced to)
withdraw ... is not because they are
stupid or dumb, it is because they
don't make academics their first
priority." Too much time spent with
sororities, fraternities, and activities .
with the Black Student Movement
can hurt the black student
academically, he said.
"You are coming to college to get
a college degree," Renwick said.
"What else besides academics can
be your first priority?"
Renwick and Boulton emphasize
the importance of seeking help
whenever a student is discouraged.
"If you are down, lonely, and
depressed, don't continue to talk to
yourself," Boulton said. "Go out and
keep looking until you find some
one to listen to you. You don't get
any answers from yourself."
Students should not be ashamed
to talk to professors, attend tutorial
sessions, consult grade advisors,
resident advisors and other
counselors. All students experience
some form of discouragement at
least once during their college stay.
Many times students become
discouraged when they don't eat
right or get enough rest especially
during exam time, so staying healthy
can also prevent or lessen the
degree of discouragement.
Student discouragement is nor
mal and students can make the most
of their educational experience at
UNC enjoy it if they really make the
effort to get the help they need
when they become discouraged. H
Help available to students
for academic adjustment
by
Denise Moultrie
Adjusting to the academic system
at UNC is difficult for most fresh
man— particularly the black fresh
men. Many of whom have never ven
tured into situations requiring them
to be independent. The demands of
academics, the pressure to develop
a social life, and the unwillingness
or inability to set priorities make it
difficult for them to survive
academically at UNC.
However, if a student truly desires
to survive, help is available. Dean
Joyce Clayton, Assistant Dean of the
General College, says that there are
aids for students in academic trou
ble. She says that the "Academic
Monitoring System is designed to
detect very early the students who
are having academic trouble." In
this program, each professor with
freshmen students, completes a
form "identifying students with
below "C" work." This process takes
place after the 6-week Drop-Add
period.
Another program offered is the
Tutorial Program held in Eringhaus
Dorm, Hinton-James Dorm, Pea
body and Morrison Dorm. At these
sessions, minority advisors help
black "freshmen in academic adjust
ment here at Carolina." Dean
Clayton also points out the fact that
the Minority advisors not only tutor,
but they also counsel students.
Grandison F. Wells, a minority ad
visor/tutor says, "I feel that I can
help incoming minority freshmen to
adjust to the academic life at Caro
lina. I can also share with them the
experiences that I had as a fresh
man. I feel that advice from another
student helps more than it would
from a staff or faculty member. Ad
vice from one's peers is better."
Dean Clayton also gives her opin
ion of the Reading Program offered
in Phillips Annex. She says that "the
Reading Program can be helpful to
any and everyone. I see no reason
why anyone would not want to read
better."
Other programs which may be
helpful to minority students are "the
writing labs offered through the
English Department, the tutorial
programs offered by the depart
ments of Math and Chemistry and
any other study labs and sessions of
fered independently by other de
partments. The habit of talking to
one's instructors is also helpful,"
said Clayton.
Clayton points out that "none of
these programs are mandatory, but
they are available to those who
want to participate. However, many
students we know, who are in need
of this type of aid, do not par
ticipate."
"We feel that we have good work
able, programs and we must let stu
dents know that it is acceptable to
take advantage of these programs if
they need to. While we do not feel
t^at students take advantage of
these programs, we think that the
lack of participation is because they
let insecurity stand in the way,"
Clayton said. ■