Black freshmen brought new energy and enthusiasm to
Chapel Hill last fall, turning out In record numbers to Pre-
Photo by Otvld R. Squlrti
Orientation ’V8 and boasting the most consistent attendance
of any class to General Body meetings.
How You feel about the BSM
By ALLEN JOHNSON
BSM Chairperson
Most of thit, page deals with what the
Central Committee perceives as its high
and low points.
In a fall-aemester telephone survey,
however, the Central Committee sought to
gauge the pulse of a more objective,
detached reflective mirror—the General
Body.
Results were mixed, although most
persons interviewed appeared to support
the organization and what it stands for.
"As a whole, the BSM has served as a
source of unity for all blacks and created a
cultural background that we are ac
customed to,” said one respondent. “But
large mistakes of some leaders have made
the BSM seem poorly planned and
unorganized.”
Other positive \ statements were
similarlv tempered bv “buts."
*‘Bi>M is a nice organization, but I don’t
get anything out of it,” said another
student.
Those who responded most positively
about the BSM cited its programming at
one major reason. “The BSM has spon
sored a lot of activities this year that have
been a success,” said one individual. “It
should keep up the good work and involve
the students more.”
When asked what specific complaints
they have concerning the BSM, some in
terviewees contended that the
organization is not accessible to all
students and fosters a racist philosophy.
“Unless a person works directly with the
BSM as an officer, he is not really in
formed,” said one. "The Central Com
mittee has too much power and doesn’t
informnts constituents of what is going on.
Contrary to popular belief, volunteers
aren't readily accepted.”
"You need to have a more open at
mosphere,” said another. "You should
change your name if you aren’t a racist
group.”
A third student felt that the Black Pre-
Orientation program, cosponsored by the
BSM and the office of Special Programs
should be revised or done away with
altogether.
"The BSM should either stop sponsoring
Black Pre-Orientation or change its
system,” he said. “They tend to scare the
freshmen away by telling how hard it is”.
On the whole, however, the respondents
felt that the BSM has made significant
strides this year, although much room
remains for improvement.
"I think the BSM has improved since
last year,” said one interviewee who
epitomized the sentiments of most. “It has
managed to get more blacks involved with
the program offered. I think they need to
get even more people involved.”
"puWlglty antH>r iiweiww. i ——™ ■
The Soul Train Dlsctf was a stone gas! It
was the result of a winning combination of
a brilliant idea, early planning and
publicity, creative workers. National
Achievement students, sterling talent and
a widespread interest in jamming. Soul
Train was the work of a great many people
and the range of input should be striven for
again.
Accent! Lacked snap, crackle and pop.
The talent was excellent, despite ;1k
irritations of bad technical equipment.
The black masses were elsewhere that
night, however.
If I could redo this one, I would highlight
the publicity around the event.
The Choir, Opeyo Dancers, and Ebony
Readers, each performed last semester to
varying sizes of audiences. I hope that they
will include in this semester’s schedule
workshops and-or classes that are open to
non^nembers. This would be one way to
spread our resources and encourage more
participation on different levels.
The Onyx Theatre has been slow in
starting and I wonder at times if I should
have pushed it more to get it underway.
For this semester, I look forward to the
return of the Soul Train Disco, a tour of the
cultural groups over spring break and a
black arts festival the last week of March.
I also expect about the same amount of
satisfaction and frustration.
Greg Pennington
Photo by James Parker
Cultural Coordinator Pennington: the
success of “Soul Train” due to “a
briUiaflt klea, planning, creative
workers and sterling talent.”
anrf ir key ^jeaker, a coipfe of art
exhibits by senior art ma]oi», F.«lwapel
Ingram and Noble Swain, a “club-nite”
with brown-bagging and for the cold
months a movie or two.
Since it is evident that a lot (rf work is to
precede these endeavors, the Upendo
Board is soliciting help and ideas from the
student community.
If interested stop by the Upendo Lounge
Information Desk or contact Kurt Garrett;
BSM office hours Monday through Friday,
12-2:00 in Suite B of the Carolina Union;
the office phone is 933-8345; Kirt’s home
(^one is 942-8840.
Upendo Lounge operates during the
following hours: Monday through Thur
sday, 1-11 p.m.; Friday 1-7 p.m. and
Saturday, 2-7 p.m.
Special Projects
The Special Projects Committee has
involved itself in numerous dimensions of
black student life. The “Ebony Spotlight”
radio program was begun in the early fall
on a campus station WXYC. In addition,
the Special Projects committee was active
in the planning and implementation of
“The Dating Game,” the “Soul Train
Disco” and “Accent!” club night.
Plans for the spring incluuden a black
student-faculty directory and a series of
fund-raisers.
Rochelle Riley
Prc-O, Achievement programs a success
Photo bv 0«vjd R Squirts
Kooi and the Gang's female backuos were called snmpfWng sweet the debt
that the spring concert plunged BSM into, however, was a bitter pill to swallow.
On-Campus Coordinator
Last semester, the On-Campus Coordinating Committee, along with the Office of
Student Affairs and Undergraduate Admissions, implemented Black Pre-OnentaUon
(Aug. 1&-19) and the National Achievement Weekend (Nov. 9-11). Both programs went
well with only minor problems in housing during National Achievement.
My other responsibilities, not designated under the On-Campus Coordinating Com
mittee, included work on the “Vintage ’78” summer night club, the design and
distribution of membership cards, service as temporary elections board chairperson and
help with the December "Accent!” BSM night club-talent show.
Pam Dockery
James Action Committee j , r-
My accomplishments as James representative and head of the James Action com
mittee include: 1) a get to know you-night 2) the appointment of a J.A.C. representative
to sit in on James Senate meetings 3) membership recruitment in the dorm 4) the
provement of Black Ink distribution 5) “Secret Friends Week (Dea 4-8) and 6) a fund
raising dance (Dec. 8).
This semester promises to be even more successful as the J.A.C. will become more
involved with the James Senate in providing activities for black and white students. Al^
we will work to increase dissemination of information concerning meeting times and
places and other pertinent facts.
Finally, my big ambition for second semester is to get more men involved m the J. A.C.
Roscoe McClain
Morrison Action Committee .
Morrison Action Committee officers include myself as chairperson, Vice-Chairperson
Robert Mitchell, Secretary Kathryn Pointer and Treasurer LaWanda Price.
We have organized M.A.C. into units according to floors, the selection of floor officers
who are in charge of relaying information to the constituents on each floor, bi-weekly
meetings and the assignment of each officer to head a committee.
Plans include the completion of a dorm directory and more programming. We had a
first-semester fund-raiser planned but time conflicts with other activities soon killed
this.
Sheldren Hardison
F^hrlnghaus Action Committee
In Ehringhaus this year, the BSM representauves have performed the basic duties:
delivering Black Inks, conducting publicity campaigns and soliciting new members.
When we took office, we were hoping to get more people involved b^use Ehringlwus
has a reputaUon of being indifferent. Not only have we tried to cover Ehnnghaus but we
are reaching out to Central Campus (Avery, Teague, and Parker) as wen.
Freshman Representative
As one ot the F reshman Representauves, I feel that 1 have adequately carried out the
duties expected of my position on the Central CcHnmittee. I have gone through an ex
tensive learning process, which was necessary but restrained my performance because
of my lack of knowledge about the BSM and the Central Committee. As a freshman
representative and BSM member I have done the following:
1) Supported BSM-sponsored activities
2) Worked with the Morrison Action Committee
3) Contacted fellow freshmen through the dorm representatives
4) Made myself available to my constituents
At the present, I am currently planning a freshman meeting. 1 feel this is necessai y,
since my constituents have not made the effort to drop by the BSM office or my room to
consult with me or give us their complaints or ideas. If I am to represent my constituents
completely and fairly, I must have their input.
John R. Slade, Jr.
CC disappoints reader
To the Editor:
TO ALL CENTRAL COMMITTEE
MEMBERS:
On Monday night, November 20, 1978,
the Ebony Readers had their fall per
formance in Great Hall. Unfortunately,
there were only a few people there at the
performance, which was surprising and
ridiculous. After all, the Ebony Readers
are a cxiltural group rf the Blade Student
Movement.
All year long, I’ve been hearing com
ments and reading letters asking Blacks to
support the Black Student Movement, yet
this appears to be a prime example of the
■ BSM not even supporting itself. It cei^
tainly gave us no support. As the gover
ning council for the Black Student
Movement, if you do not support BSM
functions, how can you have the gall to
expect others to.
I, myself, will praise the Ebony Readeps
and say that their performance was good
and the work that went into the per
formance was evident, although it was
noticed only by a small handful of people.
If this is an example of what is to be ex
pected of the Central Committee: "Do as
we say, and not as we do in terms of
support of the activities of the cultural
grou|>s, as well as other areas, then I, for
one, am extremely disappointed!!
Beverly A. Wells
Director, The Ebony Readers
/