PAGE 4 — THE DECREE — APRIL 12,1991 Policy on minority scholarships reversed Amid congressional hearings and a student lawsuit that claimed schools discriminate against white people, the U.S. Department of Education came full circle to its view of minor ity scholarships on March 20. Now it is okay again for cam- Waitresses, masons, steel workers, cleaning women, housewives, mill workers, busi ness executives ... all working to make a living and coming to gether to make a dramatic state ment. North Carolina Wesleyan increase in (Continued from Front Page) should go towards the improve ment of science departments.” Other students are concerned with Student Life and believe money should be spent in this area. David Brooks says, “TTie dorms need to be equipped with central air conditioning and secu rity needs to be improved. There have been too many parking lot incidents, and there doesn’t seem like there is an end to the break- ins and vandalism.” To many students, tuition seems to be extremely too high. But as Faulkner points out, Wesleyan is in line with other colleges and has the second low est tuition increase (5.05 per cent) when compared to 28 other senior institutions.” Students, such as Brooks and Allen, have no problems with the increase, but say the Finan cial Aid Office could do more to help ease the cost of their educa tion. “Only so much financial aid is allotted to each student, and to find other resources to pay for a college education is many times difficult,” says Allen. Faulkner says that “the in crease in tuition should not af fect student enrollment. Students are conscious of the cost and for all the services at the cost in which the students are receiving will be more of a plus than a de terminant.” Brooks agrees with Faulkner, adding, “As long as students know why there is an lncrea§Q,>,,{. puses to have special scholar ships set aside for minority stu dents. In one of his first acts as U.S. Secretary of Education, Lamar Alexander advised schools to ignore all changes made in the department’s policy on race-ex- College’s Performing and Visual Arts Department will present the musical “Working” on April 11- 13 and April 18-20 at 8 p.m. in Coltrane Theatre. “Working” is as diverse a piece as the job situations it pre sents. Through the play, real life student enrollment will not be affected.” Overall, the 1991-92 tuition increase is needed if Wesleyan is to compete with other colleges, officials say. To offer the finest services and the nicest accom modations, money is needed. Wesleyan draws diverse students (Continued from Front Page) N.C. Wesleyan is also aim ing to incorporate more students from various ethnic backgrounds and nationalities among its stu dent body. This year there were 10 applications from interna tional students from Japan, Ma laysia, India, Canada, Kenya, China, and Britain. Among these, three students have been accepted. The applications of the other seven are still being pro cessed. Student Life and the students are already preparing activities for the incoming freshmen. There will be a orientation July 12-14. There will be academic advising and tests will be held to place students in the^ various classes during the first semester. Other activities during orien tation include discussions on various aspects of college life and workshops for both students and their parents. There will be another orienta tion Aug. 24-25 for international students and other incoming freshmen who will not be able |o atfgnJlhe'(trsCbrie.‘;'l J elusive scholarships before he took office March 18. But just a day after Alexander approved race-based scholarships, a group of students filed suit to force public campuses to stop offering them. The controversy has been brewing since December, when a department official sent a memo noting that “minority-only” scholarships in effect discrimi nated against white people and could cost schools their federal funding. Since then the Education De partment — which oversees most federal coUege programs — has issued a series of clarifica tions. The clarifications, however, have confused the issue of what the department considers discrim inatory, many campus aid offi cials say. At a March 20 press confer ence in Washington, D.C., Alexander promised to end the confusion, adding a committee will review the policy over the next six months. “Colleges and universities should keep doing whatever they’re doing,” Alexander said. “Wcttk with us to develop a pol icy. Then we’ll have a policy, and well work with them to help thein make any adjustments at that time.” Yet six months is too long serve as a positive stimulation and “if a child learns to love books when little, he will love books all his life.” Beck said that last year alone the Center gave out 3,0(X) books. , 10% Discount I w/College I.D. Expires Oct. 1, •24-Hour Resident ' Manager I ‘Fenced-In Compound I ‘Paved I ‘Lighted for seven white students who sued the department March 21 to try to force it to bar tax-sup ported colleges from awarding minority scholarships. The six students are from the universities of California at Los Angeles, Iowa, Virginia, Texas, and Southern California and Mercy and Macalester colleges. Their lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court by the conserva tive Washington Legal Foundation on the students’ be half, said minority scholarships violate the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which bars awarding finan cial aid “based solely on the race of the recipient” The students are upset that Alexander reversed the decision announced by Assistant Sec retary of Education for Civil Rights Michael L, Williams on Dec. 4. In a letter to Fiesta Bowl offi cials in Arizona, Williams warned that the “minority-only” scholarships offered by the two schools participating in the Fiesta Bowl violated the Civil Rights Act Todd Waters, Kory Webster, and Anne Yates. The performance is free to the public. Special All Night Theatre fes tivities will be featured after the play April 27. The community is invited to participate in these festivities with acts or readings. For more information, call Vaughn Schutz at 977-7171. There is an ongoing need for children’s books at the Child Health Care Center. Those who would like to donate several books may deposit them in the Education Department 1811 Sunset Avenue i Rocky Mount, N.C. 27802 i (919)977-2955 j SELF-STORAGE I Musical focuses on *Working^ Childrens' By JAY QUIGLEY The Student North Carolina Association of Educators at North Carolina Wesleyan Col lege recently collected and dona ted 80 children’s books to the Edgecombe County CMd Health Care Service, The Child Health Care Center is located in Tarboro and serves 200 children per week. Children range in age from birth to five years old. The children who visit the Clinic receive a book at the end of the appointment. Rebecca Beck, director of the ;:i; i)rogiam^.-.6ay*j'that«the' »boefes • characters explain their occupa tions as they sing, converse, and dance on stage and in the audi ence. The cast, directed by Vaughn Schutz, includes Sara Schutz, Anne Yates, Ron Bennett, Teena Gupton, Kristi Larson, Peter Tuerk, Stew Crank, Tommy Shaw, Michelle Cahoon, Tom Cowan, Carol Gay, Diana Floyd, Jim Slakie, Alyssa Cooper, and Gene Gilliken. Music director is Dr. Maria Manzo. Alan Felton, Todd Wat ers, Sara Schutz, Anne Yates, John Pemell, MJ. Weller, and Sam Bell form the stage crew. The Wesleyan cast is joined by community perfwmers Joni Arp, Sonya ThMTington, Tammy Hill, Siovhan MacManus, and Kara Pittman. The play was adapted by Stephen Schwartz from Stud Terkel’s book. The wide range of music presented includes selec tions by James Taylor, Mary Rogers, Stephen Schwartz, and others. In addition to the typical Broadway-musical style of mu sic, this play features jazz, rock, folk funk, soul, and even a hint of classical. Tickets are $3 for students, $5 for adults. books donated to center Wesleyan announces fall tuition Acting students to present Shakespeare play April 25-27 The North Carolina Wesleyan College Shakespearean Acting class will present “A Midsum mer Night’s Dream” April 25-27 at 8 p.m. in Coltrane Theatre. The cast of upper-level course students include Sam Bell, Stew Crank, Alan Felton, Diana Floyd, Teena Gupton, Kristi Larson, Tom Livers, John Per- iiell. Dawn Porch, Sara Schutz, r'

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