BLACK INK
m.
The essence of freedom is understanding
VOLUME^ NUMBER 7 ^
BLACK STUDENT MOVEMENT OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
FEBRUARY 11, 1982
UNC plans festivities
Black History Celebration has roots in Chicago
By RAMONA BROWN
Editor
Denmark Vessey, Sojourner Truth, Henry
FHyland Garnett, Matrin Delaney, Paul Cuf-
fe, and Richard Allen are names not tradi
tionally found in United States history
books. However, these persons are just a
few of the many black Americans who have
contributed to the building of America.
These Americans are recognized in Febru
ary, which isdesigned as national Black His
tory Month.
It is through the concern for the past of
black Americans that Carter C. Woodson
iniated the cefebratlon of black history.
Through his concern Woodson, the Father
of Black History, founded the Association for
the Study of Afro-American Life and History
in Chicago in 1915.
Woodson devised a celebration of the his
tory of blacks as an attempt to involve not
only scholars and educators, but also people
throughout the United States.
Woodson's main objecti\e for iniating
Black History Month was to use the celebra
tion as a vehicle to spread the contributions
of black Americans to the people of the Un
ited States.
Woodson's attempt to stimulate interest in
the history of blacks resulted in the iniation
of Negro History Week in 1915 which later
became Black History Month in 1926.
During the month of February, various
Freshmen score low
By REGINA GASKINS
Staff Writer
Hayden B. Renwick, Associate Dean of
the college of Arts and Sciences, said at the
black freshmen class meeting, Jan. 26 that
half the class had quality point averages be
low 2.0.
Renwick said that out of a class of 453
students, 232 had QPAs below 2.0, which is
approximately 51 percent of the class.
However, thirty-five students have QPAs
of 3.0 or better.
This was a drop from last year's freshman
class, he said who had the best percentage of
students above 2.0 during the past eight
years he has been at the University.
Part of the student's problem was a "re
verse order of priority," he said.
"Students are getting involved with activi
ties that have no grade point value," he said.
"I can't think of anything that would take
priority over academics — not in college."
Bonnie Foust, a freshman journalism ma
jor from Rocky Mount, said she feels there is
a problem when freshmen put high school
and college on the same level.
"Most of the students had good high
school grades when they came to Carolina, "
she said. "High school was easier, and they
think they can spend the same amount of
time studying in college as in high school."
Renwick and some minority advisers said
the low number of students attending tutorial
sessions is another problem with the current
freshmen class.
The tutorial program averages approx
imately 35 students per week, about 8 per
cent of the class, Renwick said; yet approx
imately 106 students have QPAs below 1.5.
Never the less, last year the tutorial prog
ram averaged less than 30 students per
week.
Renwick said, "We've never had enough
students to say whether tutorial helps or
not." But he added he thinks it does.
"The biggest thing with the tutorial prog
ram is the stigma attached to it," he said.
Students would rather risk bad grades than
risk being thought stupid because they go to
the tutorial program, according to some pre
sent at the meeting.
"It's better to let them think you're stupid
than to flunk out, and let them know it,"
Renwick said. "I would be disappointed in
any student who has the nerve to come in my
office, and hasn't been to tutorial."
(continued on page 2)
Inside the Ink
Page 2 Students' reactions vary to State of Union Address
Page Sister's Corner
Page 3 UNC desegregation spans lengthy process
Page 3 BSM appoints new officers, creates new positions
Page Robinson challenges students
activities will take place on the UNC-Ch
campus to commemorate the triumphs of
black Americans, and to instill a continued
appreciation of the Black past.
The fifth annual Martin Luther Kingjr. Lec
ture will be held Feb. 12. This year's speaker
will be Judge A. Leon Higginbotham of the
U.S. Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. Hig
ginbotham, an educator, and lecturer, will
speak on the topic, "Race and the American
Legal Process."
The African-Afro-American studies curri
culum will sponsor lectures during the
months of February and March. On Feb. 1 5,
Benjamin Quarles, author of seven books
and Emeritus professor of History at Morgan
State University, will speak on "The Amer
ican Dream: The Black Interpretation. "
Mary Helen Washington, author of
Black-eyed Susan and Midnight Birds, and
musicologist Eileen Southern, will appear in
March as part of the lecture series.
The Black Student Movement has a tenta
tively scheduled culture attractions such as
Startime Review, which is the equivalent of a
black show.
The African Film Series, sponsored by the
curriculum in African and Afro-American
Studies will continue this semester with its
films on South Africa.
Watson takes position
By DENISE )OYNER
and ADNEATRIA PARKER
Staff Writers
Jan. 1, 1 982, not only marked a new year
but also the day Wende Watson, an Afro-
American Studies major, officially assumed
the position of chairperson of the Black Stu
dent Movement.
Watson took the position after Mark
Canady, former BSM chairperson, resigned
in order to run for Student Body President.
Formerly vice-chairperson of the BSM,
Watson said she feels more accountable for
her actions after assuming her position.
She said she has two goals for the BSM
during her term.
Watson said she would like to seethe BSM
address a larger percentage of the campus in
terms of graduate and professional students,
and see Black Ink come out more regularly.
During the past month Watson began to
make some changes.
"We will be emphasizing the constitution
more now and stressing the importance of
organizational structure as outlined by the
constitution," she said.
Another change will be in the coordina
tion between the chairperson and the Cen
tral Committee.
"I want to clearly outline the duties of the
Central Committee members," Watson said.
I see the members of the BSM Committee as
BSM leaders. I'm not the 'only' leader. I see
myself as the captain."
Now, the BSM now has three executive
assistants instead of only a vice-chairperson.
"That has never been done in BSM history,"
she said.
Watson said she works very closely with
the executive assistants, and is able to share
the responsibilities once excepted of one
person.
Her most important job is "strengthening
the organization of the BSM," she said.
"I really want the Central Committee to
work as a team, instead of the CC members
New chairperson Wende Watson
feeling that they have all the responsibility
on themselves," she said.
Watson said she thought it was important
to have a cultural committee subgroup coor
dinator. She said by leaving the overall re
sponsibility of coordinating activities to the
cultural committee cordinator, the subgroup
coordinator could address more specific
duties. The duties could include making sure
that different subgroup meetings are not
scheduled for the same time, and keeping
abreast of what the subgroups are doing.
The BSM will hold elections in March.
Watson said she has not decided whether
she will run for re-election.
"I am eligible to run, but regardless of
whether I do or not, I plan to be very active in
the BSM.
"Although it keeps me very busy I enjoy it
because I'm participating in something I be
lieve in, and have faith in."