CdilOfidli C C1MIJ
Private Black Colleges, Can Th^y Contini^ To Exist?
..With the spreading of integration
to every facet and sector of our lives,
one institution of this country that is
suffering from jt all is the black
private institutions. The problems
plaguing these institutions are of
great magnitude and seemingly
never ending.
. .Consider, first, the bleak financial
scenario facing such institutions.
Private endowments, sectarian
sponsors, federal funds, alumn, and
students make up the bulk of
revenue for institutions. However,
with black institutions we can elim
inate the majority of student funds.
Those black parents able to afford to
send their children to the better
faciliated, better administered, and
better staffed white institution are
doing so. Thus, the black institution
is left with the unenviable task of
funding the majority of its students
with scholarships and the like. Con
sequently, the student becomes an
expense rather than a revenue,
thereby causing more funds that
have to be raised.
..The alumni of most black institu
tions fail to put a dent in off setting
expenses. For the most part they are
not organized well enough to raise
major sums of money to be effect
: ive. Also, the individuals making up
the alumni are not, in general, in
high enough salary brackets to
make major donations.
. .Federal funding is, of course, like
anything that is governmental
wishy-washy. In inflationary times
like we are currently experiencing,
federal cutbacks can play havoc on
\ federal funds. Furthermore, after
I all the red tape is gone through to
V procure these funds, by the time you
I get them you’ve forgotten why you
I requested them.
* ..So, we are left with private en
dowments and sectarian sponsors,
tworctty reliable sources. Though
tend the university tof their choice.
Obviously, the black university was
not chosen. The best athletes, the
best musicians, the best scientists
ill went 10 the schools ttrar cotltd
offer them more, the white univer
sities. Hence, the predominantly
black universities are left with what
. is left. This picture is made a little
bleaker when one considers that all
universities nationwide had to lower
their standards of admittance dur
ing the post-war period. We are
currently witnessing. What happen
ed was during the sixties when the
draft evades were cramming the
doors of universities trying to be
accepted, the universities went into
an expansions program to accomm
odate the influx of the multitudes.
With the war over, and more im
portantly the draft, the college rush
has been its better days!. Hence,
universities nationwide have more
room than they can fill, therefore
lower standards of admittance. This
means that the black students with
average abilities can go to any
university that he so chooses. Con
sequently, the btack university is
left with the below average student,
who is not motivated to learn. This is
evidenced by achievement test
scores of black students entering
black universities. Hence the black
university is left trying to teach
basic skills instead V developing
higher learning capabilities.
..The staff at predominantly black
institutions is sub par. The reason
for this is probably two-fold; finan
cial and in-house politics. Most insti
tutions’ are welt below the industry
norm for like responsibility. It is for
this reason that talented black in
dividuals go off to industry never to
return to the private educational
scene of black institutions. The few
that do return immediately fin4 that
Ui^r aggressiveness, new ideasWnd
0/VEA\£ YOUR //
POCKETBOOKl/i
Black Community Should Show No Sympathy
When The Two Legged Animals Are Caught
roy LuiLhinr
coLumn
..London, England - The
Times of London (although it
has few. if any, readers in
Boston and thus cannot be
accused of the cheapest form
of journalism.) responding to
what it considers the best
interests of its constituency,
has placed itself and its prest
ige squarely behind the rioting
Boston citizens.
..In the editorial October 11
and in a column of editorial '
comment October 18, the
■U_■ _(_iL.i
be bused half way across town
to another, alien school, where
the standards are in all pro
bability much lower; or .... il
their local school is invaded b>
a crowd of children whose
capacity for learning (through
no fault of their own) is much
less.”
*
..It is true that the standard!
in many cases are “much
lower." That is what the blacli
parents and plaintiff^nthi
TO
BE
EQUAL
|
Ford Asked To Lead On Rights
Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.
..Keeping his promise to maintain an open
Presidency, Gerald Ford recently hosted a White
House meeting of several representatives of
national black organizations.
.. Like similar meetings he’s had with us in the
past, the President seemed interested in our
views and inclined to encourage frank discus
sion. The acid test will come as he puts his stamp
on the new Administration - we will then see if
our concerns will be met by action.
.. The President took criticism over his intrusion
| into the Boston busing controversy, and met with
I strong criticism of domestic anti-inflation polic
ies. Invited by the White Hous'e to prepare a
position paper for the meeting, I brought along a
twentv-one Dage set of recommendations bv the
National Urban League for federal action, and
- the response to that paper may well indicate
, furture Administration policies toward black
citizens.
..The paper dealt with many of the issues
familiar to readers of this column, suggesting a
range of federal actions from immediate creat
ion of a million public service jobs to important
new initiatives in housing, crime, welfare, ed
ucation, and other important areas.
.. But at the head of the list was an appeal to the
President to personally give the moral leader
ship that will assure black Americans of their
full partnership in this nation, and will help to
guide white citizens along a path of cooperation
in our multi-racial society.'
.. Alienation and bitterness are growing these
days, bitter weeds that can be traced to past
neglect and present economic and social condi
tions. Where people had great hemes only a few
years ago, they now are pessimistKyid the very
political institutions of the country^^^^langer
of losing their legitimacy
. .When Lyndon Johns
Congress and proclaim^
■blackpeop* iPodtheir_