PAGE TWO
THE BENNETT BANNER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1981
Desegregation dilemmas
Over the years, Black colleges have had to overcome financial
problems, declining enrollment and scores of other obstacles.
Probably the most recent, and certainly most distressing, is the
Department of Education’s desegregation efforts. “Nutshell”
Magazine recently reported that “Fourteen states—most of them
in Southern and border areas—are currently involved in cases
and now stand in various stages of investigation, litigation or
implementation of Department of Education-approved plans to
correct gross racial and funding imbalances.”
Desegregation proponents cite many attributes of the pro
posal. First, the plan vi^ill foster a more equal racial ratio on
the campuses. By eliminating duplicate programs at nearby
Black and white colleges, desegregation advocates will force a
student to commute to another school to take advantage of a
certain program. When a course in contemporary publishing,
for example, is offered only at UNC-G, Bennett and A&T stu
dents will have to take the course there and, in the process, gain
the advantages of a white college experience. Secondly, it will
equalize federal funding, which has traditionally been greater
at white colleges. With the ratio of Black and white students
more equal, the government would probably give just as much
money to a so-called Black school as a white one. Thirdly, the
plan could lead to the end of “Black” schools.
The rationale is that if the thrust of the proposal is to balance
racial inequalities, a successful enforcement of the program
would lead to schools that were Black-white rather than
predominantly either.
A close scrutiny of the other side of the issue uncovers many
inconsistencies and improbabilities, though. First, of all, by
enforcing a desegregation plan, the government infringes upon
a student’s right to select the college of her or his choice. Often
times a student selects a college because of the advantages it
offers as all-white or all-Black. This plan eliminates that choice
and asks a student to pay for a school that may not be to his
liking.
Secondly, by enacting this program, the government forces
an unrealistic integration. Forcing students to attend the same
school does not guarantee that these students will interact with
each other. There will still be separate sides of the classroom
and cafeteria. An inside look at any university will prove this
point.
Thirdly, desegregation destroys the identity of both schools.
All colleges will begin to have the same kind of population, the
same kind of atmosphere. Black colleges will no longer have the
social, cultural or academic environment they are known for.
Going to school at UNC-G, for instance, will be no different
than going to A&T.
A fourth point to examine is the financial aspect. The deseg
regation plan claims to give more equal funding, but at the
same time it heaps many financial burdens on the institution.
The plan dazzles its supporters with federal funding, but it also
requires that the colleges spend their own money attempting
to change their racial images. The cost of brochures (saying
that a school with 3% minority enrollment is rapidly changing
to a racially balanced institution) falls heavily on the shoulders
of the individual school. The proposition is not only expensive
but extremely tentative and long-range.
The desegregation plan seems to be just another way to the
fight against “separate but equal” schools. Perhaps instead of
scratching the idea of a separate but equal school completely,
government officials should search further for concrete ways to
make schools truly equal. If not, the schools of tomorrow may
end up separate but identical. The proposition might then be
thought of as a device used solely for the purpose of getting rid
of Black schools. Desegregation may well be the federal pencil
which erases the foundation of Black achievement that has
existed for over a century.
The most significant argument for the plan is that it will
enhance the quality of Black institutions. Faculty and students
who once avoided Black schools because of their shortcomings
might, under this plan, be tempted to the schools they once
ignored. The question is, if desegregation becomes a reality,
will there be a Black school to enhance?
(Myra J. George)
“WE’VE
GOT A DATE
NOV. 19 th”
“That’s when the
American Cancer
Society asks every
smoker in America
to give up cigarettes
for a ciay. Give it a
try. You might find
you can quit forever!’
THE GREAT AMERICAN
SMOKEOUT
American Cancer Society
This space contributed by the publisher
i &OT A
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Editor-in-chief Myra George
Associate editor Wanda Edwards
Adviser Michael Gaspeny
Circulation manager Tina Johnson
Business manager Wanda Dick
Cartoonists Norman Barbee
Venus McDowell
Photographers Shelly Coston
Lisa Harris
Reporters
Andrea Burch
Mary Cook
Shelly Coston
Evelyn Glenn
Karen Heck
Tina Johnson
Jennifer Jones
Melinda Lowery
Bonita McClain
Arlene McNeil
Karen Shields
Alice F. Taylor
Tywanna Watkins
Denise Wilder
Letters to tke editor:
“I.D.” irritates student
To the Editor:
One day Betty Bennett and her
roommate Stephanie Student, typ
ical Bennett Belles, thought they’d
be smart and go to church. After
returning from church, they were
feeling really good. They decided
to go straight to dinner. On the
way to the cafeteria, they realized
that they didn’t have their I.D.’s.
B'etty said, “We’d better go
back. You know Rita Rude won’t
let us in without our I.D.’s.”
Said Stephanie, “Today is Sun
day. We just came from church,
maybe she’ll let us in without our
ID.’s.”
Betty said, “I think she takes
some kind of oath. ‘I vow to see
I.D. or die.’ ” The girls approached
the glass doors with hopes that
they would get in the cafeteria
without their I.D.’s,
Rita Rude said, “Ladies, may I
see your I.D. please?” With per
spiration dripping from their fore
heads, Stephanie said, “Miss Rude,
we just came back from church.
We don’t have our I.D.’s with us,”
and Betty cried, “Please, please let
us in to eat.”
Well, a miracle happened and
Miss Rude permitted them to enter
the cafeteria without their I.D.’s.
The line was extremely long.
They stood in the line for almost
an hour. When they finally reached
the trays, the girl in front of Betty
took the last one. There was an
other ten-minute wait. When the
trays finally arrived, Betty turned
to Stephanie and said, “Hey, I
think maybe we’re gonna get
something to eat.”
By the time Betty turned back
around, five girls had “jumped”
her in line. At this point Betty
was very angry, but she kept her
cool.
Stephanie said, “Well, at least
(See Page 3)