Newspapers / Black Ink (Black Student … / Feb. 1, 1977, edition 1 / Page 14
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14 BLACK INK February 1, 1977 HEM/POINT Annum 77; A game of ‘what if’ There was once an ambitious . being an expert sportswriter. He’ had'learned all tfie nuances of the trade-bombarding his readers with Howard Cosellish alliteration, 0 pr tne sitting in the press box coolly and calmly even though he more than once had the urge to exclaim, “Dammit, did you see the move that brother made! ” and making outlandish predictions which no one paid much attention to anyway. Well, now the young fellow is an editor (because everyone else on, the staff graduated) and he has discoverea a new journalistic pastime-the game of What If?” TTie game’s rules simply require that the player use the same wild imagination which spawned his sports predictions and come up with ideas which he rather presumptuously thinks will improve the Black community. He even more presumptuously decided to fill an entire editorial page with the stuff-then rather numbly praved that someone would read it. The game is played as follows: What if someone somewhere on this campus who is interested in music and radio-electronics attempted to revamp the now- defunct “Black Sounds” radio program? With most of our listening pleasure being confined to AM stations which set with the sun, our personal record collections which, even in Chapel Hill, can become prohibitively expensive to update, and WQDR which staunchly believes that Black music consists of Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind, and Fire, we definitely need sounds more personally tailored to our taste. Possible outlets for broadcast include campus stations WXYC and WCAR. What if the Black Student Movement sponsored a carnival in the spring, the proceeds of which would go to the BSM treasury and to buy groceries for needy families in the area? These folks are not hungry only during Thanksgiving and Christmas, you know. Besides, such a fund-raiser would furnish welcome What if a group of young ladies on campus would sponsor a Miss Black Teenage Chapel Hill pageant for high school Chapel Hill ladies ... and what if Carolina and schools like A and I and Central sponsored an exchange program ... and what about a summer Black Ink? Think about it. entertainment for a campus comrnunity which has had to rely on Upendo parties like a thirsty man in a desert would rely- on a puddle of water. What if the BSM added ex officio representatives from the Black student populace of Chapel Hill High School? Such an arrangement would enable the students on each campus to provide input and aid on various projects and would certainly enhance campus-community relations. And, whether you wish to believe it or not, Mr. Skeptic, many of those high scnool students are more mature than you think they are. What if Blacks on campus held an awards banquet to annually honor those members of the campus community who have made outstanding achievement or contributions? Individuals who have been positive forces in Chapel Hill should be recognized for what they’ve done. The awards could be named in honor of students, faculty, and members of the community who have contributed in the past such as Valerie Batts, Algenon Marbley, Charles Scott, ana Karen Dacons. What if somebody truly listened to Prof. J.L. Greene’s suggestion and attempted to produce a musical adaptation of Jean Toomer’s literary masterwork. Cane? There’s talent all over the place if we’d only use it in a positive, tangible manner. Editors note: I warned you that this would be a presumptuous (maybe obnoxious is a better word) column. So I guess I’d better warn you at this point that you ain’t read nothing yet. What if Black Ink published issues during the summer sessions? With the large number of Black students who usually enroll during the summer, an organ of communication is certainly needed. A summer Ink, moreover, could serve as a training ground (in a less hectic environment than the regular school year offers) for persons interested in working on the publication. What if more Black graduate students would become involved in the BSM? They could provide experience and talent where they are so urgently needed and give a voice to one element of the Black populace which has been chronically stricken with political laryngitis. And, no Mr. Skeptic. I do not believe the old line that Black graduate students are too Dusy to become involved. The BSM rarely meets more than twice a month. What if the BSM, Carolina Indian Circle (CIC), and African Fellows Residing in the Chapel Hill Area (AFRICA) met en masse in a general body meeting? It’s high time these three entities united forces not merely in word but in action as well, perhaps through a joint project. This joint project could, in fact, be the previously mentioned spring carnival. Speaking of unity, whatever happened to SUBSSO, the coalition of Black fraternal organizations which has been conspicuously dormant this year? Fraternities and sororities have recently been involved in excellent individual service projects but through a coalition like SUBSSO, they could pool their resources by working together. “Now y’all claim to be high on brotherhood and sisternooa,” says Mr. Skeptic, “now how about being BLACK brothers and sisters and putting petty bickering aside for a moment?” What if Carolina and schools like Central and A&T sponsored an exchange program? Through such a program Blacks who attend predominantly Black schools could obtain a first-hand glimpse of life on a predominantly white campus and vice versa. The better understanding which would hopefully arise from the exchange could also solidify ties between campuses. What if more Black journalism students would work for Black Ink? Many of you complain (like some of the graduate students) that you don’t have time. Well, some of the zoology, accounting, RTVMP, English, and biology majors who currently work on the paper are probably twice as busy as many of you. Those are strong words but they’re true. . . ironically true. What if Black students on campus held a book co-op this spring? The ideal site for the co-op would be Upendo and the ideal sponsoring organizations would be BSM and SUBSSO. If properly supported, the co-op could be very beneficial—especially to our pocketoooks. Hoir about off those tirrd, hypocritival posteriors and running for BSM offices yourselies? What if a group of young ladies on campus would sponsor a Miss Black Teenage Chapel Hill pageant for high school Chapel Hill ladies? The pageant would afford an excellent opportunity for the younger ladies to learn the intricacies of poise ana etiquette from tne older ones. There can, in addition, never^ too many positive models. What if more persons ran for BSM offices this time around? Now, many of you are quite prone to sit back and let one and yes, even zero canmdates run for certain positions, then complain aoout what the Central Committee is and is not doing. How about getting off those tired, hypocritical posteriors and running for something yourselves? What if somebody would please read this editorial and please steal some of these ideas?
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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Feb. 1, 1977, edition 1
14
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