Page 2 THE BLACK INK April, 1974
An emotional challenge
Seniors talk about years at UNC
Mae Israel
News Editor
The four year experience at
Carolina has meant a lot of
different things to the Black
seniors. Some have become
disillusioned with the higher
educational system and others
have grown in their awareness of
themselves as individuals and as
Blacks.
During a recent survey, many of
the seniors indicated that Carolina
has been a challenge, not only
academically but emotionally as
well.
“1 have more questions about
myself now than when 1 came
here.” said Collin Rustin,
psychology major from Asheville.
“At times I feel depressed because 1
do have a lot more questions, but 1
feel that I have grown a lot.
Carolina has exposed me to a lot of
new ideas.”
Collin said that his experiences
have made him into an abstract
thinker. He feels a lot closer to
universal thought.
“Being Black on a
predominantly white campus
causes a person to go into deep
psychological conflict." Rustin
said. He explained that this conflict
varies according to the personality
of the individual.
“Coming to Carolina has helped
me when it comes to handling
white people.” said Johnny
Johnson, business administration
major from Fayetteville. “There is
no wav to escape them. Now that 1
have lived with them. I feel prouder
to be Black. My Black identity has
been enhanced.
“My years here have been nice
but rough." he explained. “As far
as academics and social life are
concerned. I’ve been lucky."
Johnson feels that his
experiences here have prepared
him to deal with whites after
graduation. “Reality is existing
with the white man,” he said.
For Diane Bellamy, trying to
Congratulations to the following Black students and faculty
members who were tapped recently by the three highest honor societies
on campus.
Order of the Grail
Order of The Golden Fleece
Order of the Grail
Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Valkyry
Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Valkyry
Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Valkyry
Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Valkyry
Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Grail
Order of the Grail
Order of the Old Well
Order of the Grail
Order of Old Well
Order of the Grail
Order of the Old Well
Algenon Marbley
Willie H. Mebane
Marcus Williams
Pamela Williamson
Maebelle McClendon
1 Janice Mills
Dr. James Brewer
I Emma Pullen
Elliot Stephenson
I Karen Dacons
[H. Bently Rendwick
I Leonard Lee
I Milton Gunn
I Charles Waddel
j Raynard Harrison
Collin Rustin
become truly involved in the music
department has been an important
experience. Bellamy, a voice major
from Winston-Salem, said that the
music department does not
respond to the needs of Black
majors. She said that Ms. Martha
Flowers, a music mstructor who
came to Carolina this year, has
helped her a lot.
“If a Black plans to major in
music, he has to be sure that this is
what he really wants,” Bellamy
explained. “If he is not sure, he will
be discouraged.”
“Blacks should take advantage
of the opportunities that Carolina
has to offer,” said Jessica Marshall,
geography major from
Greensboro. “This is probably
where 1 failed since 1 have been
here.”
Marshall explained that her
experiences at Carolina have made
her more aware of the separatist
nature of society She is
encouraged, she said, because she
can see that people are beginning to
work together.
Some of the seniors offered
advice to the underclassmen. “Get
involved,” said Rustin. “If you are
not in a professional program, get
involved with a group that will be
more than social.”
Johnson suggests that students
really work hard during their first
two years at Carolina. “We also
need more interpersonal
interaction,” he said.
As an afterthought about his
college days, Johnson said, “White
man, 1 know you, but you don’t
know shit about me.”
Members of the Black Ink staff wish to congratulate graduating
seniors, especially seniors on the staff. They are Linda Williams,
Journalism; Janice Mills, Political Science; Pam Williamson,
English; and Sterling Swann, Political Science.
William (Joe) Knight
Competition has changed
our perspective—Jones
by Newbern Jones
Quite a few little things in our
lives can be small mirrors of larger
happenings that make us what we
are and what we will be. I
constantly think of the effect my
four years at UNC has had upon
me and other seniors and what
effect if any, it will have on those
coming after me.
A few days ago, while making
my daily sKfp by the Student Union
to get and “enjoy” a cup of coffee, 1
took a seat over on the side where
Blacks usually meet to converse
and play cards.
I usually sit alone because 1 don’t
play cards and most of the time my
closer friends don’t come to the
Union. Well as I sat there, I began
to wonder why all the Black people
on this campus aren’t as close as
they were a few years ago when I
first got here. I thought of how
something had changed me and a
lot of other seniors from the types
of people we were in high school to
what we are now.
I thought of the educational
process here that is supposed to
out of their experience at UNC. No
make us analytical and perceptive
had done to make many of us stuck
up, inconsiderate and snobbish.
Competition has forced us, or at
least made us think that we must
act a certain way to get anywhere in
our new integrated society. And
unfortunately it’s true. At the same
time that we push to do well here,
we destroy ourselves. We say that
we want to go through UNC, get
out and help other Blacks who
have not had the opportunity we
are supposedly getting now. By the
time many of us complete our
studies, we have developed
different ideas, all because of the
competitive nature of this part of
our new society.
Don’t get me wrong,
competition had a useful purpose
but when we get caught up in
ourselves, our dreams of making a
lot of money and getting into
positions of power then we are
losing a lot of what we are and
should want to become.
Students coming up now must
decide what they are going to get
Black student here must get the
idea that he is better than any other
Black student elsewhere even
though that is what we are drilled
to believe. Every student will have
to be selective in what he or she
takes into his head. Remember that
even though professors and
advisors tell you things that you
initially reject, those things become
a part of you and determine the
way you think.
To those who have years
remaining at UNC, become
educated and not just instructed as
so many who have graduated
before you have done. Above all,
rememter that everyone must seek
information from a variety of
sources to do this. Don’t just go
where you are instructed to go for
your knowledge but to a diversity
of sources to draw your own
conclusions and make yourselves
the types of individuals who will be
useful to everyone and not just the
law, graduate and medical schools
and companies who will recruit
you at the end of your four years to
serve their purposes.
111
Johnny Johnson