Newspapers / Fayetteville State University Student … / March 30, 1971, edition 1 / Page 4
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PAGE 4...THE VOICE..JvlARCH 30. 1971 FROM FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER TRUSTEES LISTEN TO FSU CRITICISM Fayetteville Graduate Elected Mayor of Lawnside, New Jersey Even though this little town, located across the river from Philadelphia served as a mecca for fun lovers of nearby towns, seeking wholesome en joyment and relief from a busy daily life and 40 hour week, one did not dream that a graduate of Fayetteville State University would head the city government and show such outstanding leadership. Hilliard Moore, Class of ’47, who journeyed to Fayetteville to complete his education so that he might better serve his native New Jersey is now at the hel.-n of this Negro-controlled town. He takes his place among any mayor in the state, even in the na tion, when it comes to running a city. He is in there fighting for every inch that the citizens are entitled to and is always seeking to make Lawnside a better place in which to live. Lawn- side is definitely a symbol of what the black man and a graduate of Fayetteville State can do, if given the suffrage with which to do it. The Honorable Hillard Moore i^ayor ol Lawnside, N. J. -NOW IS THE TIME --- Strong testimony crit icizing conditions at Fay etteville State University was heard W e dnesday from alumni members, department chairmen,and administrators during three special meetings held by the board of trus tees seeking a solution to the problem. The special meetings in succession began shortly after 10:20 a.m. and lasted nearly six hours. The most critical tes timony came from four members of the National General Alumni Associa tion, led by Nehemiah E. Parker, its president. Parker charged that “a lack of democratic prin ciples and inadequate communications by the faculty, administration, and the trustees have contributed to the state of unrest” at the univer sity which he said “has shocked and embarrass ed us.” He told the trustees that such a situation ‘causes taxpayers and donors to think twice” about contributing to Fayetteville State Uni versity.” Parker said alumni “sincerely hope the board of trustees will remove the cause or causes at our alma mater in order to pvirsue education in a democratic and intellec tual atmosphere.” Mrs. Vivian Diggs, re cording secretary of the national alumni organi zation, said during their investigation the group talked with faculty, stu dents, and community leaders. Mrs. Diggs charged that demands on the fa culty were “intolerable.” She said they had talked to one faculty member who has resigned because she had not been allowed to participate, received no vacation, no raises and got in trouble because of missing a meeting call ed during the Christmas holidaya. Mrs. Diggs also char ged the faculty was “not being treated as profes sionals, not trusted, and not respected.” She also accused the business office of “in efficiency” and said that the university's athletic department is the most “pathetic department in the school.” Alumnus Alexander Barnes told trustees that a “ bad state of inept ness on the part of the trustee board has been steadily creeping up on the institution. ’ “It rests upon your shoulders to furnish the necessary guidelines to insure a democratic ad ministration ,” said Barnes, “that will re spect the rights of facul ty and students, without fear or favor.” Barnes who said his presentation was based on 50 years of loyal de votion to the school told members of the board “it must be the kind of ad ministration that is de signed to make FSU a beacon for conducive learning, devoid of per sonalities, petty politics and autocracy.” Trustees also met with department chairmen who told the board a great deal of confusion exists on campus. One department chairman said “some where along the line we have lost confidence and trust in each other.*’ Department heads told the trustees that a great deal of mistrust andmis- truths had been created on campus. This, they said, was one of the problems to be faced and blamed the mistruths for charges of “incompotent teachers.” At their third meeting trustees met with admin istrators of the university to further gain informa tion in the problems sur facing at the school. A, D. Roscoe, business manager, said a number of changes had been made to clear up problems ex isting in his office. He said a number of requests had been made through the business of fice to prepare “a better organizational chart for the President.” In addi tion, Roscoe answered several charges made by students of inadequacy in the dining hall, high prices at the canteen, an on-campus eating fa cility and other com plaints lodged against his office. Roscoe explained that the business department procedures are in accord with state statues. A comm.'ttee is being set up to review prices at the canteen, said Ros coe, adding that the dining hall has agreed not to raise prices. The Dean of Students, J.C. Jones, told trustees that students were un happy with a limited ca tering service and that the service had issued coupons for three meals a day. He said that they had checked other schools and found that the schools had coupons and a choice of foods. “We told the students that under this system unless they budgeted well they would miss some meals,” he said. After negotiations the students were notified that “we will give you the system but you must suffer the consequences.” W. R. Collins, a trustee said after the explana tions “the students made a terrible indictment. Dr. Lyons, in my mind needs our support. ’ Dr. G. L. Butler, chair man of the trustees, said the board was deeply concerned with the exist ing problem. Butler told each group chat the trustees were cognizant of the fact that the university was in a state of transition from a college to a university. He said “I know we’re going to have growing pains and we can expect problems through the transitions.” “We are deeply con cerned and are seeking solutions,” Butler said, adding that through free and open discussion they hoped to find an amicable solution. (From page 1) Assembly, and tftat they don’t have as much con trol as it may seem. Of course, they eval uate your desires and want to be able to decide whether or not they carry enough weight to go through the General As sembly. However, it pleases me to tell you that the students take their matters straight to the General Assembly. It can be carried around the Board. I met with the chair man of the appropriation committee that decides what we get and how much we get, the chairman of the Board of Higher Edu cation, the chairman of the Budget Commission, the chairman of our Board of Trustees and a host of other senators and re presentatives. 1 do feel that these men are in terested and concerned about FSU. It is our job as students to see that these men not only are interested and concern ed but constantly changing these “timid” conditions. 1 believe they have been kicked to the feelings of the students here and I hope that students will not stop here, but stomp, stomp, and stomp them until these cloudy skies no longer hang low over FSUI FROM FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER LETTER TO THE EDITOR According to an article, “FSU Board rescinds Firing of Dr. Bishop,” which ap peared in your paper March 9, the board of trustees of FSU has rescinded its action firing Dr. D. W. Bishop and has placed him on a status of suspension with full pay. Most likely, the question foremost in the minds of the general public is: Ho'v re liable is the board of trustees of FSU? i'he article stated further that the trustees took this action after their attorney advised them of technical irregularities in the dis charge of Dr. Bishop. The overall administration of this state supported school is entrusted to the trustees. This is indisputably a herculsan task. Nevertheless, those v/ho are interest ed in education, and the welfare of both the faculty and students, feel they are justified in thinking that the trustees possess wis dom integrity and sound judgment. Certainly one would think that this group would be thoroughly familiar with the pro cedures and policies of this school, in cluding those which govern employing and dismissing instructors. Does rescinding the board’s action one month after the “moving finger” has writ ten compensate for the harm that has been done to Dr. Bishop? Quoted from the article, “the regulations also provide for at least 20 days notice of a formal hearing,” Nance said. Itis common knowledge that this kind of policy is appli cable to almost any type of employment. The remaining question is how reliable is the board’s assertion that “immediate harm is threatened to the orderly aca demic processes of FSU if he (Dr. Bishop) is permitted to continue his work and acti vity on the campus.” Can the public anticipate that one month later the trustees will acknowledge public ly that their attorney has advised them that there are "technical irregularities in their reasonsing and that this assertion lacks a basis? Name witheld Upon Request
Fayetteville State University Student Newspaper
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March 30, 1971, edition 1
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