BLACK STUDENT MOVEMENT OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER
BLACK
INK
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Vol. 7, No. 2 December 1975
Diggs steps
down
for unity
Carney assumes
BSM leadership
By Allen Johnson
Sports Editor
Following the tendering of his
resignation by BSM Chairperson
D. Lester Diggs, Gloria Lavern
Carney, a senior political science
major from Rocky Mount and
former vice-chairperson of the
BSM, has assumed the executive
position.
The resignation of Diggs marks
the first such occurrence in the
history of the BSM. And, the
election of Carney to replace him
makes the first time in the BSM
history that a woman has been
chosen to fill the leadership post.
Carney was confirmed as
chairperson by a majority vote of
the General Body during a
November 24 meeting.
"The task of chairman is a
difficult one in itself," said Carney
following her election, “but it has
been made more difficult by the
administrative confrontations
with the Campus Governing
Council.”
Carney has previously served
as a participant in the North
Carolina Black Studies
Conference, a member of the
BSM Ebony Readers, and has
formerly served as chairperson of
the BSM Social Committee. As a
North Carolina Fellow, Carney
also served a summer internship
with the Black Appalachian
Commission in Atlanta in 1974.
She eventually plans to either
attend law school (after which
she hopes to work with juvenile
crime) or obtain her master's
degree in public administration.
The response to Carney's
election has been extremely
favorable.
"1 think Gloria is a very capable
leader, " said CGC representative
Sheri Parks, "and what she has to
offer will be very good for the
BSM."
"Gloria has always been a
strong figure in the BSM
throughout the year, noted
Central Committee inemuer
Tonya Widemon, "so her
transition from vice-chairperson
to chairperson will be very
Gloria Carney
smooth. I think the Central
Committee has been receptive to
her ideas, and 1 think we re all
willing, very willing to work with
her."
By Vanessa Gallman
News Editor
■~As chairman, I have served the Black
Student Movement in good faith, trust
and dedication. These will remain with
the organization, not m spite of my
resignation, but because of it."
This statement, made by former BSM
chairman Lester Diggs, was part of his
resignation submitted before and
accepted by the BSM general body
Monday, November 24th.
Diggs gave the reason for the
resignation as differences between
himself and the BSM Central Committee
over "administrative procedure and
constitutional interpretation. Such
differences, particularly concerning the
Oct. 31 Muhammad Ali visit that caused
the last BSM fund freeze, have "given
roots to ill-will and diminishing faith" in
his administration, Diggs said.
"My resignation will unify the general
body in one way or another," Diggs said,
"if the general body votes against my
resignation, I will take that as a vote of
confidence."
By accepting his resignation, the
general body was unified, at least in their
opposition of him, Diggs explained.
However, Diggs does not see the
opposition as justified.
Being chairman, Diggs explained, he
accepted ultimate responsibility for BSM
actions but felt it unfair that he was
denied the power to make some decisions
without first going before the Central
Committee. Without his power, Diggs
saw himself as a
.chairperson and in
scapegoat."
Diggs, however, would not elaborate
on particular instances in which he was
used as a scapegoat nor on the instances
that may have caused differences
between him and the Central Committee
€
"figurehead
essence, a
Lester Diggs
other than making reference to the Ali
visit and the accompanying fund freeze.
BSM funds were frozen Nov. 3rd by
Student Body Treasurer Graham Bullard
and Campus Governing Council Finance
Committee Chairman Bill Strickland
when it was learned that cash from
advance ticket sales had been spent
before the money was processed through
Student Activities Fund. This was a
violation of Student Treasury Laws. The
funds were released Nov. 18th citing poor
communication between BSM officials
and Student Government as the cause.
The acceptance of Diggs' resignation
led to the general body's acceptance of
Gloria Carney, Diggs' vice chairman, as
the new BSM chairperson. Election for
vice-chairman will be held at the
beginning of the spring semester.
Miss BSM—not a libber'
By Marva York
Joyce Lloyd, elected Miss BSM 1975-
76, represents the largest unified
predominately Black organization on a
predominately white campus. As the new
Miss BSM, she plans to make herself
accessible to all functions, receptions and
activities involving the BSM. Lloyd said
she strives to be available to the students
on an individual basis as well as to the
organization whenever her services are
t.
Miss BSM, Joyce Uoyd, said she was surprised, but happy to be elected
hostess for 1975-76.
needed.
"I couldn't believe that I had won when
I heard my name called," Lloyd said, "I
was happy, very happy. I thought some of
the other contestants had more student
contact than 1 did so I just couldn’t believe
1 had won.
"Every Black woman should get an
education, culturally and intellectually,
and try to use this learning to do
something for her people, " Lloyd said.
Outspoken on the role of today's Black
woman in America, she said, "I feel a
Black woman should be devoted to her
family. " She is anti-women's liberation.
"I don t want to fight a war, women
should not be in such harsh area
situations. But when it comes to jobs,
women should be hired on an equal
basis,” she said.
Lloyd is a junior business
administration major from Durham. She
is coordinator of the Opeyo Dancers, a
member of the BSM Cultural Committee,
a modern dance company and the BSM
sp>ecial projects committee. She aspires
to become co-owner of a business
enterprise, "Lord & Lord," with an uncle.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
get some rest for
A HAPPY NEW YEAR