’.IVES
Congratulations
to the
1975 FSU
Graduates
FSy
WOICE
VOLUME 29 NUMBER 17
APRIL 30, 1975
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C
Summer
School
Starts
May 27
RECORD 400 STUDENTS
TO GRADUATE MAY 11
FAYETTEVILLE -- Approximately 400 Fayetteville State University students are expected to
graduate Sunday, May 11, in the 98th Annual Bacculaureate Commencement Exercises at the
Cumberland County Memorial Arena (located on Highway 301 South) in Fayetteville.
The speaker for the occasion is Dr. Elias Blake, President, Institute for Services to Education
(ISE), Washington, D.C.
The Commencement Exercise will begin at 2:30 p.m. and Fayetteville State University Chan
cellor Charles “A” Lyons, Jr., will preside and introduce the speaker.
The speaker is a native of Georgia and has been president of the Washington, D.C., based non
profit corporation which is involved in research and program development work related to blacks in
higher education.
Dr. Blake is a graduate of Paine College, Augusta, Georgia, and received the M.A. Degree from
Howard University, Washington, D.C., in the field of education.
He is a recipient of the Ph.D. degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois.
Professionally, Dr. Blake is affiliated as a member, D.C. Board of Higher Education; Member,
Board of Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; Member, Board of Directors,
CHANGE MAGAine; Member, Board of Visitors, George Mason University; and Member, Board
of Advocates, Meharry Medical School, NashviUe, Tennessee.
He is married and the father of two children.
Thought for the Month
THE BEST WAY TO FORGET YOUR OWN PROBLEM IS TO HELP SOMEONE SOLVE HIS.”
READY FOR GRADUATION AT FSU - Lovely Esther
McKeithan, a native of Fayetteville, N.C. and prospective 1975
graduate of Fayetteville State University (NO is all set for the
big day. Fayetteville State University Commencement Exercises
will be held Sunday, May 11, 1975, at the Cumberland County
Auditorium in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
(FSU Photo by John B. Henderson)
FSU STtTDEI\TS PROTEST TLITIOX II^CREASE
by Sheryl Alexander
The day of April 22,1975, proved a day of significance in more ways than one, at FSU. It began
with the Honors and Awards Day Ceremony. This is a traditional ceremony in which those who have
excelled academically throughout the year are honored.
The Honors and Awards Day ended at 12:00 noon, and Tommy Mitchell, President of Student
Governmient Association, asked students to remain for a rally. The rally was in opposition to the
possible increase in tuition for next semester at FSU and approximately 300 students attended.
Mitchell said in effect that there had been a meeting of the 16-member university institutic in
Greenville, N.C. These institutions readily agreed to boycott classes, with the exception of Pem
broke. “We told Pembroke that they either go our way or trailway/’ He said that the increase in
tuition would be for the sake of making us poorer while the rich get richer.
Robert Wilson, an FSU junior, took the platform after Mitchell. He reported that ninety per cent
of our students are on some type of financial aid and that a decline in students would mean a decline
in instructors. This would ultimately cut back some of the areas now open because there would be no
instructors to keep these fields open.
Arthur Winfield, an out-of-state student at FSU, talked about student involvement. He spoke of
various ways that students could become involved, among them writing letters, reading the
newspapers and voting. In closing his speech, Wilson told students, “Remember where you came
from.”
Gilbert Owens, President-Elect of the Student Government Association, said that the state
legislature wants to get rid of black universities. There was great response in agreement from the
crowd. Owens continued: “If you reporters can’t say anything good about FSU, don’t say anything at
all. ” There was another uproar from the crowd. He went on to add that this tuition is not only going to
hurt us, but it is going to hurt our brothers and sisters coming after us as well.
Thomas Stewart, editor of the ’75 Fayettevillian Yearbook, said, “The white man had, time and
time again, tried to get over, and it’s time for us to get together and stop him . . . Studente are
apathetic to anything except partying.” He stated that we must let Raleigh know that FSU will not
stand for an increase in tuition.
Greg Edmonds, Vice-President-Elect of the SGA, said that private institutions have segregated
themselves from us and now we are paying to keep them in school. He pointed out that it is not the
administration that is cheating us but the people in Raleigh. “Let’s put the blame where it belongs.”
Edmonds lead the crowd in the slogan, “we are somebody” and in singing “We Shall Overcome.”
Sean Best, an FSU student, stepped on the platform after Edmonds and ridiculed everything the
former speakers had said. He said that Fayetteville State University realized when it first began that
there could be an increase in tuition. He also said that the students who attended the rally did not
know what they were there for and that the best way to solve the problem was not to stand there
protesting, but to take their views to Raleigh.
Students were angered by this viewpoint and there was an uproar from the crowd. Tommy
Mitchell simmered them down, and Gregory Edmonds said that Best’s speech would not spoil what
they had originally set out to accomplish.
Gilbert Owens announced that he would meet with the 16 UNC-member institutions and discuss
further strategy. Owens then asked students to march with him to the dormitories and classrooms
protesting the tuition increase as well as the students who refused to boycott classes for that day.
32 Nominated for
Who’s Who
FAYETTEVILLE - Thirty-two Fayetteville State University
students were recently nominated to Who’s Who Among Students
in American Universities and Colleges.
The students are Patricia A. Bullock, junior; Mary S. Carter,
senior; Robert L. Doherty, senior; Gregory L. Edmonds, junior;
Amy S. Haigler, junior; Patricia A. Henry, senior; Teresa A.
Herring, junior; Virgie M. Jordan, Sandra F. Knight, senior;
Rochella C. Marable, senior; William H. McDougal, senior;
Michele S. Mclver, junior; James R. PcPherson, senior; Tommy
Mitchell, senior; Willarease Montgomery, senior; Gwendolyn C.
Mott, senior; Gilbert Owens, junior; Carl S. Person, junior; Lula
F. Powell, senior; Dorcas D. Robinson, senior; Felix C. Sawyer,
senior; Lynette B. Shoffner, junior; Thomas L. Stewart, senior;
Julian E. Swittenberg, senior; Gail M. Threet, senior; Arbie
Turner, Jr., senior; Justine Vance, senior; Kenneth W. Vinson,
senior; Thelma L. Webb, junior; Peggie D. Williamson, senior;
Arthur Winfield, Jr., senior; and Carrie S. Woods, junior.
SMILING FACES: Chancellor Charles “A” Lyons, Jr.,
(right) of Fayetteville State University (N.C.) greets guest
speaker Dr. Joffre T. Whisenton of Atlanta, Georgia, at FSU’s
18th Annual Honors and Awards Day Program on the campus
recently.
(FSU Photo by John B. Henderson)