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Weekender The Paul Green Theatre opens this weekend. For music, movies and other entertainment details, see Weekender supplement in today's DTH. Scattered clouds today with highs in the low to mid 70s. Low tonight in the mid to upper 50s. Chance of rain of near zero percent today and 20 percent tonight. sa-z o v o z Serving the students and the University community since 1893 Volume S, Issue No. Friday, September 29. 1978. Chapel Hill. North Carolina Please call us: 933-0245 (Ml w r i tm f 1 X ' 1 J f L WW., ative son revision Wright widow advises Green EHcn Vright win attend theater opening By MARK SCANDLING Arts Editor Richard and Ellen Wright had been married only 12 days when Native Son, his powerful novel about the demise of a young black boy in Chicago, premiered as a Broadway play in March 1941 at the St. James Theater. Tonight the play will be revived as the premiere performance in the Paul Green Theatre, and Richard Wright's widow (Wright died Nov. 28, 1960) has come from Paris, where she has lived since 1945, to take part in the dedication. ; What she remembers most about the original opening night was the "immensely moved" audience. "Don't forget that this play was, at that time, a very, very unusual departure in terms of theater because the race question had never before been brought to light in such a definite form. "1 believe it hit the audience for the first time in a very specific, very visual way," Mrs. Wright says- She is uncertain if audiences in the 1970s will respond the same way to the play's strong statement about race relations. However, she feels certain the play is not dated and is still relevant. "Even though I don't live here anymore, 1 know enough of America to know that the improvements in race relations have been more in terms of quantity than quality. The race , problem is still here psychologically and economically," Mrs. Wright says. . But 37 years does make a difference, and according to Mrs.-Wright, the passage of time and the improvements in race relations have made it necessary ta revise slightly the play. For the past week, she and Green, who collaborated with Wright in writing the original stage version, have been working to add a new element to the play's ending. In the original version. Bigger Thomas, a poor, uneducated black, inadvertently murders a white girl and is tried, convicted and sentenced to death. According to Mrs. Wright, Bigger faced his demise "seeing no way out and going to his death without even knowing why. "But between the time my husband wrote the book and now, things have changed." says Mrs. Wright. "Black people like Bigger Thomas: poor, uneducated black boys, who had no educational or job opportunities, found outlets in movements like the Black Panthers. They have found a way to f express themselves and to feel self-pride. '"This is something that didn't exist for Bigger," Mrs. Wright says. In light of these changes. Paul Green and Mrs. Wright have decided that "somehow there should be a glimmering, a light a very, very weak light within Bigger, which allows him to say to himself, 'There has to be something more than me.' " And in an assuring tone, she adds. "1 lived with Richard Wright for 20 years and I'm certain that this would have been his normal p; ''gression." Richard and Ellen Wright soent most of their 20 years together living as expatriates in Paris. Mrs. Wright explains how her husband and she made the decision to leave America: s "We always wanted to go to Paris and during the war (World War II) we made a vow that as soon as travel was possible, we would go to France. In fact, we even began learning French so we could immerse ourselves in the French lifestyle." See NATIVE on page 4 TUNC officials urge crackdown against JlMg h -poli ci grades By, GEORGE JETER -Staff Writer Dean Samuel R. Williamson of the UNC College-of Arts and Sciences has instructed officials of the University Department of Political Science to try to lower the grade-point averages of students in political science courses. ' "It's the first time we've ever received a communication like this from the-dean." said . Professor Richard Richardson, chairperson of the political science department. . ' Professor .1 had Beyle, assistant chairman of the department said political science teachers were informed by Williamson in a meeting last week that department grades are too high. "He (Williamson) has not put any specifications on us, but he thinks too many As are being awarded and Bs too," Richardson said. Both Williamson and Associate Dean Frederick Volger, after repeated attempts to reach them, were unavailable for comment. Richardson said he agrees with Williamson. "With some professors and some classes, the grades are too high marginally too bgh," the chairman said. "You are supposed to say a C is an average grade at this University," Richardson said. The grade average in the political science department is about a 3.0 or a B, he said. ' Richardson said the department will not cut grades drastically. "We're not in a red-alert situation. We have to ask ourselves if there are any solutions - besides just a watchfulness. It's erroneous to think there's going to be (grade) deflating;" he said. professors will be University grade readjust grading Political science asked to study regulations and procedures. "An A is supposed to represent true excellence," Richardson said. One probable impetus for tightening up the grades is the new plus-minus grading system, Richardson said. He said he hopes the system would measure grades more accurately than the present one. Richardson and Beyle said other departments in the College of Arts and Sciences have received similar requests to rehaul grades. I kenvick c5iarge refuted; Mnrollment concerns blacks 9 TTJ I raiton say enroiinient Oil 1 ack up 30 percent By EDDIE MARKS Staff Writer ' Black enrollment aF UNC has increased by 30 percent since last year in spite of charges that qualified black applicants are being rejected, Donald Boulton, vice chancellor for student affairs, said Thursday. In an article published Sept. 17, Hayden B. Renwick, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said the University is accepting fewer blacks in spite of an increase in the number of black applicants. Enrollment statistics provided by Renwick show that 427 of 554 black applicants were accepted at UNC in 1974. In 1978, 706 black students applied and 424 were accepted. In a speech to the Alumni Association on Saturday, Chancellor N. Ferebee Taylor said there are more black students at UNC than ever before. "Black enrollment has increased by 30 percent over last years," Taylor said. The difference between Taylor's and Renwick's statements are due to the type of statistics used, Boulton said. "Renwick's figures use a different base than Taylor's," Boulton said. "They're not in conflict because they're both speaking of different things." "There are 10 1 -ways to deal with data. You have to be careful. We're A dealing with four categories here. We have students who write in for an application, students who return a completed application, students who are accepted and say they will come and students who actually show up and enroll." Black enrollment has increased because the percentage of black students who actually enroll after being accepted has risen, Boulton said. "That's a crucial point. You could accept the same number of black students each year but still increase black enrollment by encouraging more of those students to actually come to school here. - "Renwick's figures weaved in and out between different sets of data. He feels that any black student above a certain minimum should be accepted. But if they're accepted that doesn't mean they will enroll," Boulton said. UNC has made an active effort to encourage more black students who are accepted to enroll in the University over the past three years, Boulton said. "We really went after them," he said. "We have a National Achievement Weekend coming up soon where we wii invite some of the '' S3 Hayden Renwick; students up to see the campus1 for themselves. "Before, the problem was that some of the students . who were accepted would not be familiar with the school and they would enroll somewhere else. We hope if they have a chance to see the campus that they'll want to actually enroll here." Actual numerical figures for this year's black enrollment are not yet available, ' Boulton said. Lillian Lehman, UNC registrar said the figures would be released . next month. "We're working hard to increase black enrollment." Boulton said. "I think v that Renwick feels we could increase it even more. But 1 think a 30 percent increase in one year is tremendous." Committee, breaks long tradition; will not endorse any candidates By CAM JOHNSON Staff Writer In an apparent break from its tradition of active election-year campaigning, the conservative Orange Comrhittee plans no organized effort to support candidates in the November election, a spokesman for the group said this week. ; "Our general discussion is that we have such a diversity in views, we would probably do more harm than good by getting involved," said Hillsborough attorney Lucius Cheshire, chairman of the 200-member Orange Committee. , ... -. . . - " i Leaders of the Orange County Democratic Party have speculated that Orange Committee members would lean toward the candidacies of Republican U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, Orange County Commissioner Norm Walker and Frank Frederick, clerk of Orange Superior Court. V; "I strongly suspect there is nothing close to unanimity (among Orange Committee members) in the Senate race," Cheshire said. But like several group members questioned, Cheshire said he supports conservative candidates Helms, Walker and Frederick. "I will do whatever I can to help Mr. Walker and Mr. Frederick, but 1 don't expect them to have any trouble," Cheshire said. "I've known Sen. Helms personally for years, and admired and agreed with his essential philosophy." . ; The Orange Committee was formed in 1975 to preserve the political power of long-time residents of the county, Cheshire said.. ' . ' . -.. ." Cheshire and other conservatives held . the reigns of; government at the courthouse in Hillsborough until liberals- Richard Whitted of Hillsborough and Donald Willhoit of Chapel Hill defeated Orange Committee candidates Charlie Johnston of Chapel Hill and Billy Ray of Cedar Grove in August 1976 Democratic primary election. The Orange Committee raised almost $4,800 from campaign contributors in 1976 to put Ray and Johnston into office, according to records on file with the Orange County Board of Elections. . But unlike the 1976 season, Cheshire said Orange Committee members plan little active campaigning in 1978. "The only political activity the Orange Committee has participated in has been the primary of the county commissioners' race," Cheshire said. . Johnston, a Chapel Hill realtor," said he differs with Cheshire on the question of who should be North Carolina's next U.S. senator. "I think Jesse's a little conservative,", Johnston said. "(Democratic candidate John) Ingram is fighting an uphill battle because of the money pouring in for Helms. "I don't like that aspect of it," Johnston said. Other group members described themselves as H elms stalwarts. Many said they also support Walker and Frederick in the Orange Cpunty races. "1 like both men (Helms and Ingram)," said Carrboro business executive Bruce Riggsbee. "But really, I'm a Helms man. If we lose him, we're losing a great man. "1 like Walker because he's on the conservative side and thinks of the whole county. I'm a little conservative, myself," Riggsbee said. : . : . ,.. coalition plans investigation By THOMAS JESSIMAN Staff Writer refused admission to predominantly white universities throughout the state, Byron Horton, a UNC student and president of the . North Carolina Black Student Coalition, charged at a press conference Thursday. The coalition represents 1 8,000 black students from 14 . public and private colleges and universities in North; Carolina. Horton cited recent remarks by UNC Associate Dean Hayden Renwick that fewer blacks : were admitted to the University in 1978 than were admitted four years earlier, despite a larger pool of qualified black applicants. Less than 7 percent of UNC students are black, while more than one-fourth of , North Carolina's population is black. "Black tokenism is unacceptable," Horton said. He said the coalition is working to combat racial discrimination. The coalition is forming research teams to investigate instances where the U niversity system is disregarding its . commitment to HEW guidelines, Horton said. f Sidewalk suffer Skateboarding may look free and easy, but it is a sport which requires hard work and practice, says sophomore Anna Lewis, shown riding her board near Davie Hall. fill II. He said too little commitment is being made now by predominately white r universities to accept more blacks. r Horton said that " in cases where ? . ; 4is crimination i&suspectedi thecoalition. ' will collect dataf beyond administration ? figures, both released and withheld, to get its own version of the case. V In addition to research teams, the Black Student Coalition has intervened in behalf of the defense in the Bostick v. Byrd case. The case is similar to the Bakke case and involves Lynn Bostick; who has charged the UNC School of Law with reverse discrimination. ' - - Horton said the coalition will publicize the case and its implications by media and the coalition's newspaper. Also, the Black Student Coalition is collecting information and aiding the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples, which represents the defense in the case. Horton said the UNC- law school case is a challenge to affirmative action programs now in use nationwide. "If we can nip it in the bud here, it will not spread in the state or nation," Horton said. ' , The coalition also plans to press for ' ' ,A .... v. r black Studies programs at . all state universities. "These were promised everywhere in the '60s," Horton said. "They failed to materialize at many juntversitiesj and where they daexist, they M't weak and deteriorating. As a result, black students learn little of their own history and culture, and white students know almost nothing about blacks." The coalition is preparing to submit a proposal to the UNC General Administration for funding programs at ' all 16 UNC campuses. Black student groups are being encouraged to go to their administrations for support, he said. A state wide tutorial program is . planned by the coalition to help high school juniors and seniors prepare for the competency test to be instituted in October. "The coalition is the rebirth of a conscious move toward improvement and . stabilization of black affairs," Horton said. "Our role is to support, not dictate, - policies (to each university's black organizations)." "It is time for ; all black people to participate in society, and the survival of our nation depends on our ability to exercise that right." Horton said. ?A . 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Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 29, 1978, edition 1
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