Black Ink I
March 7,1990
Page 6
D
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L u m s d e n
B S M Ele(
Vote, Vet ^
Last year in the Black Student Presidential elections only 72 votes were
cast to decide the winner. Considering this, imagine just how many blacks
voted for student body president, or even for president of the United States
in the most recent elections,
Looking back on American history, blacks have only recently been
allowed to vote and to enter the University of North Carolina at Chapel H ill,
yet we have already forgetlen the pains and the stmggles of our predeces
sors. Many people have died and many have sweat blood in order to give
blacks the right to vote.
We must use our right to vote to make our voice on this campus and
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I fee! that I amqualii icd in tv-1hr Black
Student Movement President because I
possess the diverse leadership skills that
the Black Student Movement needs.
Perhaps I haven’t held every position
that there is to be held on the Central
Committee, however, 1 have been recog
nized as a leader on this campus.
We all know that holding a position
doesn't necessarily mean that one has
lead. I am prepared to devote all my
energy and effort to fulfilling the goal of
making the BSM the support group for
African-Americans on this campus. If
there is to be change in the BSM, we must
expand upon the successes of the past
year and create successes of our own.
This will take a Central Committee that
has solid credentials as leaders, a Central
Committee that is appointed by the
General Body.
1 cannot stress the importance of proven
leadership when it comes to developing
and accomplishing an agenda. In order
to implement a set of goals one cannot
simply work alone. We need a BSM Presi
dent who has lead a staff of people, has
worked with group dynamics, and knows
how to involve others in the decision
making process. I have lead a staff of 25-
30 people, I have set goals and accom
plished them. In the Office of Minority
and Women's Affairs, I have put together
a comprehensive packet to be presented
to the Chancellor that will present a solid
argument that the adm inistration has been
ineffective on producing a Nativc-Aiucri-
can professor and inaeasing the amount
of African-American professors. I have
helped continue the development of a
recruitment program ( Tarheel Target)
with the Office of University Affairs and
two hard working staff members who
have taken up leadership. 1 have written
legislation and advised Student Congress
members on legislation that affccted the
African American community. 1 have
meant with administrators, not just in a
committee structure but one-on-one to
challenge them on African-American
concerns,
I am cognizant of the issues, I don’t
aspire to lofty goals that I cannot accom
plish and have not shown the leadership
ability to fulfill, I have realistic, concrete
plans for the BSM, In voting for me, one
is making a vote for substance,
I plan to increase the amount of Afri-
can-/\merican professors by instituting
my Faculty Recruitment Plan, I am pres
ently organizing the process to change
the Office of Student Counseling to the
Minority Affairs Department, I am in
volved in efforts to make courses on the
ethnic makeup of this country a manda
tory requirement. If elected, 1 would
support the Retention Programs on this
campus at the same level that we support
the Recru itment Programs and make sure
that they are equally funded. I will in
crease through network ing, the amount
of African-zVmericans involved in other
organizations to insure that our voice is
heard and cannot be ignored. I will
sponsor monthly dinners with African-
American professors to develop the
support group and mentor network that
we need I will increase the funding for
Sub-G roups (Gospel Choir, Ebony Read
ers) by making sure that their dues di
rectly benefit themand develop fundrais
ers to help alleviate some of their costs. I
will be an accessible BS.M President, I will
hold bi-monthly Chase or Pit sits so that
I may keep in tune with the voice of the
African-American community. The,seare
just some of my platform issues,
I invite those of you who are becoming
members around election time, to think
twice about the vole you make, I invite
those of you who became members at
the beginning of the year to examine
what you are looking for in the BS.M, Are
you going to vote for the status quo or are
you going to vote for a change? I have
gained the leadership skills that we need
and am eager to give them back to the
community. As a rising junior, I am
dedicated and possess the time to do
what you want and provide what you
need. On March 8th, Please vote for
Dana Lumsden and Put the Movement
Back in Motion.
Dana Lumsden is a sophomore Political
Science/ English major from Boston,
Massachusetts.
Dana Lumsden (left) and Sabrina Evans Crighl) discuss Ihcir plalfofms at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Candidates Forum on .Monday