Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / March 12, 1969, edition 1 / Page 2
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p Page 2, The Carolina Journal, 1969 Pressure Is on SGA Journal Endorses It Gets To You (Continued on Page 8) “Yes, I Know. You’re Revolting... 99 By Walt Sherrill We have currently arrived at a point of crisis in student government at UNC-C, but we are not unlike any other school in the nation that has experienced internal unrest and division. We have come to the point at which we must pause and evaluate the entire scope of our SGA. The Student Legislature, executive offices, and Student Court are under pressure. Thus far we have all responded rather badly to this pressure. We have taken the attidue that problems, if they are ignored, will go away on their own accord. This is not so. The Academic Affairs Committee has finally begun to respond to student demands for a course evaluation program. This is a good mark for student participation, but it stands almost alone in the spectrum of activities that have recently occurred on our campus. A group of students and non-students recently chose to ignore regulations that were passed by their Legislature - our Legislature - maintaining that they could not relate to the law-making body. If they cannot relate to the Legislature, then they must attempt to bring about a metamorphosis in that body that will be easier to relate to. But they cannot be allowed to ignore rules and regulations that are binding on the remainder of the student body. The rules of the Publicity Committee of SGA govern the placement, nature, and sponsorship of all student publicity that is to be in any way attached to a structure on campus. We all have to structure our publicity in such a way as to conform to these regulations. If we break a rule, our publicity is removed by the Publicity Committee. If we by force or threat of force, prevent the committee members from performing their functions, then we should expect to be held to account for our violation. As things stand now, we need not expect any such thing. “Look! They’re taking the flag down again.” “Maybe we ought to get them their own flag-pole...” “Separate but equal, of course.” “Of course.” “What’s the accurate range of a spear, then?” “Will you quit trying to be funny and listen! You might miss something worth hearing!” “Now who’s being funny?” caught us by surprise. “Maybe they just want some publicity.” “Could be-they have their own newsman.” “Is he one of them?” “Depends who he’s talking to.” “What’s with those crazy black berets?” “Oh, the guys wearing them are militants, and they’re wearing uniforms to assert their individuality.” “When 1 was in uniform 1 felt like anything but an individual.” “What’s happening now?” “They’re executing plan V.” “Hell-they were just on plan C a while ago!" “Tilings are moving fast, baby.” “If the black flag means Anarchy, and the red flag means Revolution, what does a red arm-band mean?” “A communist died?” “Don't stand too close to the inicrophone-you might hurt your ears." “You’re right-it IS pretty loud.” “Wait til they turn it on.” “I’m gonna get me a White beret!” “Yeah, but yours won’t have any stars on it.” “Whatcha gotta do to get those stars?” “Buy ’em.” “Think we should salute him if he comes our way?” The validity of any form of government pivots on its being able to enforce its laws, yet we can’t back ours up. The student-organized court system, it seems, is powerless to back up the Legislature. If some changes are not made soon, then we can all just throw in the towel. Student Government has no function if its bills are passed only to afford some people an object to defy. If we continue to turn our backs on this problem, not only will it not go away, but it will reduce our efforts to meaninglessness. With election time close at hand, student government is wide open. The time will soon come when the protestors who have been loudest all year will have an opportunity to alter the personnel that they presently “can’t relate to.” Will there be hotly contested races for all SGA offices, or willthe lack of REAL concern that has made itself evident in this week’s Union elections prove to be prevalent? We’ll soon see. “1 got a great idea! Wliy don’t we take down that black flag and run up a white one-then invite J. Robert Jones on campus to give us inspiration...” “Great! And we could hold a memorial service for that poor taxi driver who was murdered by that mob during the riots, and call in all the news-media to keep the ceremony simple and meaningful!” “Wait a minute-1 don’t know about that white flag. Somebody might misinterpret it.” “So what?” “We gotta be careful about our image—Pride is the word nowadays, you know.” “Well, how about a bunch of posters instead? Maybe some saying ‘No Vietnamese ever called Me HHonky!’?” “Wliat are they doing in the admin building?” “They’re going to take it over.” “1 hope they burn all the records!” “Grades that bad?” “How long do you think they can hold it?” “About 15 minutes if they lock themselves in the Men’s Room.” ‘‘You trying to say something?” “Look! There’s the guy who says Black is Beautiful...” “He's married to a white gurl." “Huh? Boy-he’s gonna have some explaining to do one of these days." “Maybe he can get a divorce before the Revolution.” “Or maybe just shoot her-1 bet that’s what Stokely'd do.” “That’s what Stokely'd say do-and that’s a lot different from what he actually does." “You mean Stokely’s a paper tiger?” “I had a different metaphor in mind." “Let leave. I'm bored." “That wouldn't be fair. If Duke can have a riot, I think we deserve one too!” “That’s the trouble with the world today-gotta keep up witli the Joneses. What ever happened to originality?” “He says that Blacks aren’t welcome in the Student Union." “He oughta know-he was Union Chairman last year.” “Oh-by the way-who’s the new Miss UNC-C” “Did you see all those Highway Patrol cars parked down the road behind that gas station?” “Yeah. And all the S.B.l. men on campus...” “And the county police too.” “Boy those militants sure “You know - I still want a white beret.” “Let’s go home.” ‘Til go if you’ll count cadence while I march.” ‘‘Look, you can be militanl-but don’t expect me to play your silly games. “What do you mean Games! This is serious.” “Right. Come on home and I’ll let you play with my little brother’s pop gun.” “Does he have stars on his beret?” Tokens for Us There is only one contested race in the Union Program Board elections that are taking place this week: Miss Carolyn Bobbitt vs. Mr. Steve Rayborn for Vice-Chairman of the Union. Mr. Rayborn, who has served the Union as a sub-committee chairman and who invested a great deal of time in the organization of the “Oldiest But Goodies Film Festival” that was such a flop, is an able candidate. THE JOURNAL, however, feels that he does not come up to the standard of competition set for this race by Miss Bobbitt. Carolyn has worked hard all year as Chairman of the Union Fine Arts Committee and has gained the good working knowledge of the inner workings of the Program Board that is essential for a chairman. Her desire to work for the students andher focus on diversity are convincing enough to qualify her as the best candidate. “What are you laughing at? This is supposed to be a serious confronatation!” “Look-do 1 tell you when to laugh?” “Well, at least laugh discretly. Lend a little dignity to the occasion!” “1 will-but what about those clows?” “Any of them got guns?” “1 don’t think so.” By Tim Britton Gotten any wooden nickles lately? I’ll bet your bag is full of tokens though. What is the purpose of these “tokens”, and where do they come from? A congressman re-visited his residence of 48 years. This astute, keenly aware elected official found starvation, unbelievable hunger. His institutionalized action was to send a token....free food stamps for the poor in two counties a family had to have four or more children, and a comhined monthly income of Ics), than $40.00. They only problem solved was the politician’s aching conscience. Whether or not one agrees with THE JOURNAL’S endorsement of Miss Bobbitt, we urge each student who really “gives a damn” to vote in this week’s election. There are a lot of rough roads that must be traveled and perilous bridges that must be crossed before a publication can finally be printed and placed in the hands of its readers. We know. Many sleepless nights and restless days must be endured before one begins to see his thoughts and beliefs take shape in black and white. One wonders, “Is it all worth the pain and trouble?” When all this work goes for naught, when the “establishment” tries to put you down for saying what you believe, it gets mighty easy to answer in the negative, to decide that it’s not worth the trouble. Several students at East Mecklenburg High School have recently become acutely aware of the anguish that results when freedom of expression is denied. Their principal has denied these students the right to sell “Inquisition” on their campus. Rats were discovered in large numbers in llie gliettoes of Harlem. A baby had to be almost eaten alive before anybody knew Harlem was infested with rats. Harlemites got their wooden nickles, their tokens. Six studies were made at the taxpayers expense, and three years later, the first extermination program began. Picked up your welfare or i unemployment check lately? Chances are, the token is accepted j with joy. Think twice baby. You j just got another token to keep you off of the streets, to keep you from rocking the boat. The institution perpetuates itself. Tokenism isn’t hard to And. The power structure effectively uses it as a tool to maintain the status-quo, to temporarily smother the fires of rebellion, the coals of discontent. The fat cat sits in his plush new car, goes to church, puts his crisp new dollar bill in the collection plate, and leaves with a clear conscience. He’s given his share. The black students at U.N.C.-C. got their tokens last week. It reminds me of a song: “Yes, No, Maybe So”. We all get our tokens every semester, when we pick up our grades that our professor’s have been so nice to “give” us. “If you don’t like it. that’s too bad”. America has been out with the power structure. We’ve been getting our token good night kiss. Soon, we’re going to take a big bite.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Student Newspaper
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March 12, 1969, edition 1
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