Newspapers / Black Ink (Black Student … / April 7, 1980, edition 1 / Page 7
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PAGE? FEATURES Dobbins adds Black music to WXYC through ‘’“‘Downbeat” X * L’Tanya Mathis Staff Writer Black music lovers . . . listened to WXYC (FM * 89.9) lately? If you haven’t, you’ve been missing a special treat. “What’s the treat” you ask? — only a chance to hear one of our own host his own radio show! Affectionately known as “O.D.”, by fellow Hinton James residents, Orlan do Dobbins, of Garner, makes it his business to see that area party-goers are effectively moved and grooved before sliding to that Friday night jam. His show, appropriately entitled “Downbeat,” airs from 8-11 p.m. every Friday. Dobbins prefers to call what he plays “party music”, though it is actually a mixture of several types of popular Black music. “We try to avoid using the term disco, because it has bad connotations for some people,” he said. Dobbins, a senior RTVMP major, said getting the job was simply a case of being in the right place at the right time. “A representative from the sta tion visited my radio productions class one day, and we got on his case about the fact that WXYC didn’t have a show which featured black music. He asked me to come to the station, and things just went from there,” Dobbins said. He has been with WX YC for almost two years. His show last year aired from mid night to 3 a.m. on Mondays and featured jazz and listening music. Students called in dedications and re quests during the broadcast. Said Dobbins, “I’m gonna have to think hard about requests this time. It was a nice personal touch, but they (re quests) tended to make the show deviate from its normal flow.” Already a certified disc jockey, Dobbins had no problem becoming ac climated to his new position. He at tained certification after taking a test given by the Federal Communica tions Commission. “But now most in dividual stations give their own ex ams,” he said. He also plays for 1 6 Dobbins listens to new music for his show James dorm parties occasionally. Dobbins feels that being a DJ is a personal outlet, “I think radio plays a vital role in the community, because it reaches so many people. Since I’m basically a shy person, it’s a good way for me to express my feelings and ideas.” The radio broadcasting field is an expanding job market in North Carolina "... more so than in the past. Leaders in radio and television have the idea that they need minorities for a good public image. They’ve finally come to realize that Blacks do have a meaningful place in society,” he said. “I like WDUR (AM * 1490, Durham) the best; I just like the way they run. I’d like to model my show after them, but of course my show is only 3 hours long. WQMG (FM * 97, Greensboro) has lost some of its clout, mainly because of taking on too much of an AM format. As far as campus radio stations go, WSHA (FM * 88, Raleigh) from Shaw University is just tremen dous. They’re particularly well organized and that makes everything run smoothly. “If you’re serious, you should be willing to make many sacrifices. It’s not a very hard profession, it’s just very time consuming, and it involves a lot of flexibility, especially when it comes to knowing how to deal with people,” he said. •f.’ J- I «,U(. 1 % % i* tv Culture differences keep frats from integrating LAWRENCE TURNER St*H Writer Why are fraternities at UNC not more racially integrated with white and Black members? Former Interfraternity Council Presi dent Tim Lucido said the biggest reason is the difference in culture between Blacks and whites. Especially in the South, Blacks and whites mix less and they have dif ferent interests and ideas of what to expect in a fraternity, he said. IFC President John Blumberg stated three reasons. One is that a Black would probably feel uncomfortable being the on ly Black person In a fraternity and would prefer a fraternity with a number of Black memtiers. Second he said, “I think the number of Blacks joining fraternities is small, even the number joining Black fraternities.” Blacks are less Interested in fraternities, he added, and thirdly be said COUPON GOOD AT BOTH LOCATIONS 2 FOR 1 PIZZA Buy one oriQinol thin crust pizza, get another of equal voiue FREE! 208 W Fronklin-942 5149 Offer expires 15 501 Bypass—929 0289 April 30 there is an elemoit of discrimination.” President of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, George White said that while he has been a member of the fraternity for three years there has yet to be a Black or minority to attempt rush. “He’d be given every consideration,” White said. But to be admitted that person must be approved by each member of the fraternity. A president of a predominately white fraternity who asked not to be identified in accordance with a charter policy and stressing that he could only speak for himself, said some of the members favor Blacks to join but from a majority stand point most would not. “To be serious, socially it would be difficult,” he said, the fraternity has never had a mixer with a Black sorority. “I think it’s going to be a long time before a majority is open enough,” to ac cept a Black member into the fraternity the president said. Decisions are approved by the majority in each matter, he said, and a fraternity is a private organization too. Some whites have joined predominately Black fraternities in this region, Wayne Davis, president of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity said, but no white person has at tempted to join one at UNC. 30 fraternities exist on campus of which only two have Black and white members. One of them is St. Anthony Hall fraterni ty, which is also the only coed fraternity, has two active (still attending school) male Black members. The other fraternity, Chi Psi has five ac tive Black members. y.'yyyyyyyyyyyyyjyyyyjvyyyyyy Each person had a different reason for joining Chi Psi. Junior Rodney Phillips said, “it’s a place where I can have a good time — and not worry about anything.” His statement summed up possibly everyone else’s reason. “A type of brotherly friendship that I couldn’t get in campus friendships, or the dorm,” Junior Charlie Allen said attached him to the fraternity. Another issue was hazing which some fraternities allow as a reason for not possibly joining another. Freshman Rodney Rice said he did not want to put himseU through physical torture associated with pledging a Black fraterni ty and he said his partners did not want that either. The pledge period each went through to join the fraternity was described as being without any difficult incidents and by some as fun. As members, they are completely ac cepted in the fraternity by the others, “I think the guys had accepted me for leader ship,” Phillips said, who among other duties has been chosen as a big brother by pledgees for the past five semesters. Adopting to living with a fraternity in which most of the members are white leaves a person the same as before, sophomore Tim Taylor said. Changing, or conforming to white society has not hap pened to him, Taylor said. Acceptance by different groups of the public as a member of a mostly white Greek letter fraternity does bring different reactions however. “The white students take it alright . . . they don’t turn me off as quickly,” sophomore John Goodwin said. However, some of his Black friends he said behave otherwise, “They say they look at me dif ferently,” he said. Allen said, “I do have a hard time associating with whites outside Chi Psi and 1 go out of my way to avoid them.” He said he has friends in Black sororities, but few in Black fraternities. “I have the feeling many people in Black fraternities consider me a Tom,” he said. Relations between Black and white fraternities could be fine, Lucido said, but there is “not a lot of association,” between the two, so it is questionable. The IFC now has an Office of Minority Affairs to get Black and white Fraternities to interact, IFC president Blumberg said. A couple of differences which separate the two are Black fraternities are more ser vice orientated and they do not have a physical house to live in as the white fraternities. To have more racially integrated frater nities cultural barriers have to be over come, Lucido said, and prejudice over come on both sides. “Sc^e fraternities won’t change,” be said, to accept someone different or not rich enough. However, Lucido agrei^ with Blumberg who said that attitudes are changing. “I think it will definitely change as social modes change; it will change ... as pre judice decreases.” If Blacks will increase in white fraternities Blumberg said, he does not know how mimy Blacks would want to Join predominately white frater nities.
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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April 7, 1980, edition 1
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