Newspapers / Black Ink (Black Student … / March 25, 1991, edition 1 / Page 11
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted everyone to ignore race, yet the sad fact of the matter is that as long as others do not, I cannot. By Melvin Davis Contributor After one semester at Caro lina, I find myself overwhelmed by the past achievements and tre mendous potential of this Univer sity and its constituents. Nonethe less, I am also quite perturbed by the plethora of social and eco nomic problems that reflect the plight of both the state and the nation. Our university is besieged by financial turmoil that will topple it from among the nationally ranked colleges and universities. Librar ies close early, magazine subscrip tions are cancelled and fewer sec tions of classes are offered. In high school, condoms woe used merely to prevent pregnancy; here they prevent disease and death. It goes without saying that I have experi enced a lot in college. I have been presented with homosexuality head-on without any orientation ex’ introductory course. But aside from the fmancial difficulties at UNC-Chapel Hill and the adjustment from high school to college, I was most unprepared for, and am most awestruck by, the racial tension that permeates one of the most liberal (or so I thought) campuses in the nation. From the stCTeotypi cal statues in firont of Davis Li-* brary to the defacement of the posters of Harvey Gantt and Mal colm X, racism at UNC has shown no signs of subsiding. I am not naive or ignorant by any stretch of the imagination, but I had never experienced overt racism before. Sure, I had been followed around in clothing stores because the merchants were afraid ate Library, I looked up to find the words “Niggers, go home” scrawled on a study carrel. I me ticulously scratched outthe phrase with my pencil, but was forced to ponder what had just transpired. I am bothered by the fact that people have animosity towards me be- Endsights that because I am black I was going to try to steal something. I knew that people existed who hated me simply because of my skin color. Never had I been called a “damn nigger” until last fall. The initial shock gave way to the revelation that I was no longer in my cozy and isolated niche of Kinston, North Carolina. The real world had finally swarmed upon me. Before, I thought that being called a racially derogatory name was something that happened to others, but would never happen to me—not because I am better than anyone else, but because it had never surfaced. I am now faced with some, but by no means all, or most, students and professors who use race unfairly as the deciding factor in value judgments. Admin istrators call such acts isolated incidents,” but I am afraid that it is not the case. Also, while my roommate and I were smdying in the UndCTgradu- cause I am an African-Amoican or because they do not undo^tand me, but even more so, the notion that my race is inferior because of any ignorant and asinine reason brings out deep feelings of ethnic pride and an even deeper animos ity. I cannot understand why some whites harbor anger in their hearts when it is they who imprisoned and are still imprisoning African- Americans and other minorities. It appears to me that we should hole the grudge, but we want peace, change, prosperity and, most impc«lantly,opporUinity. Because of the lack of understanding of divCTse races and cultures and their differences, racial problems will not disappear overnight, but maybe people will begin to think more and use less rhetoric in addressing them. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted everyone to ignore race, yet the sad fact of the matter is that as long as others do not, I cannot. Express yourself about issues that concern contribute. Drop articles by Suite 108-D Student phanPiHili NC27514 CB# 5210, Student Union, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Want To Be A Service Learning Coordinator? apples fcltowtog people to plan kwnmg cxperknoes tii gcrvicc Wouldn’t it be great to get $20,000a year to stay in Chapel Hill and hang out with highly motivated students, work closely with faculty on innovative curriculum ideas, and strengthen students' relation with and commitment to their community. The student body wants to pay someM»e to do all this and more. Students voted on February 12th to create a fiiU-time Service- Learning Cowdinatwposition. Ifyou are selected for the position, you will play a crucial role in establishing the new a.p.p.i.e.s. (allowing people to plan learning experiences in service) Program at UNC. You would work with students and the Center for Te^hing and Learning to niake service-learning an important part of UNC’s undergraduate curriculum. You wouW serve as a “brokCT" between service and acadonics by working with service agencies and with individual faculty members. You would be the first Service-Learning Coordinator and thus define the positicMi and aeate a legacy of Service-Learning Coor- dinatcK^ in the future. No previous service-learning experience or knowledgeof thea.p.p.l.e.s. Program is necessary. Weare looking for a pCTSon who has a passion and ccMnmitment to service, the mo tivation to do quality work, and the ability to work effectively with lots of different people. The minimum QualificaticHis are: a Bachelor’s Degree, previous experience with community SCTvice, good oral and written communication skills, and flexibility with evening and weekend responsibilities. On Friday, March 21, ap plications wCTe made available at the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) in room 316 of Wilson Lilwary, Carolina Union information desk. Career Planning and Placement (211 Hanes Hall), and the Campus Y. Applications will be due at CTL no later than4;00pm, Monday April 15. Fear further information,call Tony Deifell or Mike Steiner at 966-1289."Tony Deifell Think Black Ink! Black Ink invites all students inter ested in working as staff next year to an informational meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Rm. 226 of the Student Union. TODAY!! Black Ink March 25, 1991
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 25, 1991, edition 1
11
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