t BLACK INK October 19, 1976
Richardson: Blacks have a purpose here
Says BSM has right to protest
’ ^ ■ s
I
Billy Richardson concerning Upcndo situation: “Moving Servomation downstairs has
its advantages, but not at this cost.”
by CAROL WILLIS
Staff Writer
“Blacks hold a vital purpose on campus,
here is work to be done here and any
ack student that wants to get involved
lould come. The campus needs their
elp.” So spoke Student Body President
iilly Richardson in a recent interview
nth Black Ink. The candidness of this
tatement and the earnest effort made
)ward greater Black participation in
tudent Government seem strange coming
om Suite C. It is rare that any white
udent of such position cares or dares to
>eak so frankly about Black potiential in
udent government but Richardson wants
be an exception.
‘The Administration made a big
listake in not consulting the BSM,”
Cichardson answered when asked about
le changing of Upendo lounge into a
nack bar. “Moving Servomation down-
tairs has its advantages, but not at this
jst,” he said. Richardson says that he
*ls that the Upendo is necessary for
lack students, and that if for any reason it
done away with, the idea of the Upendo
lould be continued. “If it is done away
ith, the Blacks should help reinitiate it—
ot whites.” He explained that since
ack; and whites come from basically
“gregated communities, the drastic
lange from living in a Black community
joining the campus community is
emendous. He said any effort by whites
produce a new Upendo-like setting may
resented by some Blacks and therefore
e Black community should be respon-
ole for maintaining it.
Richardson went on to say that he felt
ri BSM was right in voicing their
ssatisfaction with the Upendo situation
' that meeting with the Space Com-
;ee is the best possible solution for now.
He feels that the BSM’s “annual” march
on South Building would be a mistake and
should only be used as a last resort.
“Working with South Building on a one
to one basis is better,” he said. He
suggests that we concentrate on obtaining
a space upstairs in Chase.
While campaigning for President,
Richardson said that he felt students do
not get a fair shake on campus and that he
intended to do something about this. What
has he done? A committee, the Housing
Advisory Board, consisting of 4 students
and 5 faculty or staff members has been
formed. At present a Transportation and
Parking Board is being set up to consist of
4 students and 4 faculty or staff members.
Attendance at all staff-faculty meetings
where students can attend is stressed.
“Trying to initiate programs rather than
reacting to the Administration’s programs
is important.”
Since his election, Richardson has tried
actively to recruitBlacks on his staff. “It is
more than just appointments. I hope that
attitudes have changed. I want to help
Blacks develop their potential in student
government to work with us, not just for
us.” Some of the Blacks recently ap
pointed by Richardson are:
Marshal Reid—Atlantic Coast Con
ference Ticket Chairman
Vivian Rhone—Union Activities Board
of Directors
Gwen Bullock—Reorientation
Andromeda Monroe—Top Advisor,
Supreme Court Social Justice
Byron Horton—CGC
Mike Dixon—delegate for North
Carolina Assoc, of Student Government
Roland Staten—Conference Planning
Committee
Phyllis Pickett—Housing Advisory
Board
Gordon Cureton—Top consultant on
CGC, Speaker pro tempore of CGC
Terry Stinson and Denzil Day-
Environmental Awareness
Many blacks serve on the Human Rights
Relationship Committee.
Richardson stressed that there were
many people who are woriung hard and
are doing a good job. He made a
tremendous effort to remember
everybody. “Everybody is important I
would hate to leave anyone out,”
Richardson said.
3onya Stone keynote speaker
Conference on Black studies meets in Charlotte
A year ago the North Carolina Con-
rence of Bladi Studies (NCCBS) met to
tablish a statewide organization to
‘velop guidelines for Black studies on the
inior high, senior high, and college levels,
nis year at its second annual meeting
eld in Charlotte on October 9, Dr. Sonja
•tone, director of Afro-American Studies
t UNC-Chapel Hill will be a keynote
)eaker.
This year, like last year, the NCCBS will
a organizing, structuring, strengthening,
nd developing their influence throughout
le state. Their immediate goal is “to
ssess the state of Black studies in North
'arolina and to find out just where Black
tudies are offered and what kinds of
roblems program coordinators and
■achers of Black studies are facing,” said
Is. Stone, who is also the NCCBS con-
■rence governor for the Piedmont area.
Ms. Stone said once this goal has been
thieved, NCCBS hopes to be in a position
j make suggestions to school systems,
niversities, and community groups as to
ow to develop a strong Black studies’
rogram throughout the state. Although,
le organization is new, NCCBS members
jpe that within one to two years, they will
ave established a comprehensive
jrriculum guide for Black studies’
achers of all the different divisions of
udy, from arts to sciences.
A lot of credit for the development of
CCBS is attributed to the Blac’; students
■cause of their contributions on every
/el of organization. “We wouldn’t have a
ack Student Movement were it not for
e Black student. They are clearly the
inders of the organization," said Ms.
rT!
r
f #
stone.
In addition to Ms. Stone Black students
who are members of NCCBS are just as
enthusiastic about the organization.
Queenie Mackey, a senior journalism
major who has been involved with NCCBS
for the past year said, “The program is
promoting uniformity in Black studies in
North Carolina which gives Blacks a
better understanding and knowledge of
their heritage.”
The Black student’s role in NCCBS can
be to contribute skills, resources, ideas,
and “to go in with an open mind and you
figure out how to help NCCBS reach their
goals whether through moral support,
money contributions, or experiences,”
said Ms. Mackey. Ms. Mackey also said
and
staff photo by Phil Geddie
NCCBS helps in job placement
recruitment into universities.
NCCBS wants members from the Black
student body without regard to majors.
The concerns of Black studies cut across
everybody’s major whether science or
social science, what we’re about is
building a better Black community,” said
Ms. Stone.