THE PEN—MAY. 1967
THE PEN STAFF
EDITOR-IN CHIEF
Danny Scarborough
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Ruby Demesme, Curtis Kellon. Palmerro Brito,
Robert Monroe, Reginald Elliott
REPORTERS
Douglas Pieper, Willie Elder, William Canon,
Bertha Herndon, Phyllis Marshall
BUSINESS MANAGER
Robert Williams
Just A Matter of Time!
ToUrotioi:
Essence Of
Democracy
By Reginald Elliott
Toleration is the essence of democracy. Tolerant of dif
ferent views at home, a democrat is inclined to acknowledge
that his truth might not be the truth for other people. Used
to compromises as the heart of domestic politics, he as
sumes that all foreign peoples can be persuaded by rational
arguments, that compromise is superior to an unyielding
struggle. His mood is not militant. Moreover, a democratic
state, unlike a Communist one, cannot possess an official
doctrine of ideological beliefs and hence cannot propagan
dise them to foreign populations. The very ideas of using
force to spread democratic ways of life contradicts the
democratic principle of voluntary acceptance. The Com
munist, intolerant of domestic differences of opinion, takes
the same view of foreign peoples whom he wants to trans
form in his own image. He believes that he holds absolute
truth concerning the meaning of history and the nature of
social relations and that he jxjssesses an infallible formula
for human happiness. Unrestrained by doubt or skepticism,
he is zealous in his endeavors to impart his ideological truth
to other people. He is a missionary by definition.
Whatever the reasons for the defensive posture of the
West, they do not prejudge its future policies. The two
world wars proved that a democratic society, if fully aware
of the challenge, is able to mobilize its resources and to
make the necessary sacrifices. The projection of defensive
uttitudes into a distant future can be entirely mistaken.
Thir error cost the Third Reich its existence and reserved
for the Communist powers a surprise in Korea, where the
American military reaction in 1950 was not expected. A
democratic power would commit a no less serious error if
it believed that it would always have time to make up
to external threats.
Negro Colleges
By Ruby Demesme
Recent studies have shown that Negro Colleges rank
lowest in the nation when compared to other institutions
of higher learning. Even though this is a true fact, there
are many factors to be considered before an opinion can
be justifiably formulated.
The Negro Colleges came into existence mainly because
the White society had shut its doors to Negro education-
seekers. The White man felt that the Negro was not “good”
enough to associate with his race. Therefore, to show that
he was not a thoughtless monster, he contributed money
to some of the Negro leaders to aid in the construction of
a Negro institution.
In its primitive years. The Negro College had no real
identity. All policies and action were patterned around
those of the White man. This occurred simply because the
Negro had never been allowed to develop a society of his
own.
The Negro College had a difficult start and this diffi
culty has been an essence every since. It has encountered
financial problems because of its tendency to limit its as
sociations with private institutions and its dependence on
endowments.
Instructors find teaching to be a difficult task because
they have many other duties to perform that are not re
lated to their subject matter. In most cases, the instructor
not only teaches his major course, but any other course
which happens to be related to that field. He must also
serve on numerous committees which limits the time he
has to spend on organizing work for his class.
The Negro College has another problem: “it is too gen
erous.” Studies show that many Negroes who are enrolled
in college are not capable of producing acceptable work.
White Colleges only accept those Negroes with high po
tentials and have high ratings on College Entrance Tests.
Negro Institutions feel obligated to the Negro youth. They
will accept anyone who applies because they do not like
to refuse any interested students.
Tests, when administered on the standardized level, show
that Negro Colleges are at the bottom of the scale. I feel
that this is prevalent because many Negroes have not been
exposed to these types of tests. In most cases, the Negro’s
background has limited his knowledge of cultural expec
tations.
Viet Nam Formula
By Douglass Pieper
There is not the slightest distinction between the
United States’ capitalistic war in Vietnam and any other.
historical example of aggression. President Johnson, as the
chief executive of capitalism’s executive committee, the
State, is carrying out in practice what the Prussian mili
tary theorist. General Karl von Clausewitz, said war was—
”... an act of violence for the purpose of compelling the
adversary to fulfill our will.”
The act of violence, the Prussian also said, is one of
organized terror.
The latest escalations of United States aggression in
the North Vietnam are in line with the Clausewitz formula.
Following the March 21, 1967 release of correspondence
between President Johnson and President Ho Chi Minh
of North Vietnam, it was made known (see March 23, 1967
“Pf»w York Times") that the United States reply to the re-
jectioo of the United States "truce” terms was "more of the
same”: that is, more escalation of the war, more organized
terror. The conclusion of the United States and South Viet
nam officials (including President Johnson) at the March
Guam conference was "that the only way to end the war
is to try to break the will and spirit of North Vietnam."
Hence, the April 21, 1967, raids on Haiphong, with
their discounted slaughter of civilians in residential areas,
and the subsequent follow-ups to this escalation. An anony-
nrous “senior American official” was quoted by the April
21, 1967 N»w York Times as saying the air strike at Hai
phong was a “tremendously important intensification—es
calation, if you will,—of the air war.” And in mealymouth-
ed and pious-sounding statements, the excuse was again
offered that the intensification of the war, with its danger
of ipreading the war, was intended to bring North Vietnam
to tte "peace table.”
But North \Tietnam is clearly on the record as being
determined that it will not submit to United States’ use
View On Viet Nam
BY BERTHA ALMA HERNDON
“Man, you know I’m an A-
merican, a black American. But
I don’t enjoy the “freedoms”
of America. Sure, my kid goes
to school with the “other” guys’
kids. But is she free from fear?
Man, her life, liberty and pur
suit of happiness aren’t worth
a hill of beans. And dig this,
my kid hadn’t been in the house
a hot second after she came In
from the first day In school
when some sort of bomb rocked
the whole house, shattering e-
very window.
I find that I’m not much bet
ter off. I went into one of those
Integrated restaurants the other
day. I was clean, new suit,
dark tie, forty dollar shoes -
the works. I ordered a steak
dinner. When the waiter came
and threw it on the table and
It splashed all over my suit.
It was as cold as the atmosphere
Sure, I was the only one Inte
grating the place at the time
but my money wasn’t counter
feit. Well, I’ll tell you, I walk
ed out, without paying a cent.
‘‘You wonder why I brought
all this up. Well, I said that
to say this: You want my o-
plnlon about the Viet Nam slt-
A Repugnant
Thought
BY MILDRED GLAZE
Today some senior look for
ward to graduation with arid
eyes but misty hearts because
they fear the Idea of being mis
fits In the competitive world.
Four years of college life have
sheltered this fear. Now they
are being thrust upon the seats
on the merry-go-round of life.
They feel that they were mis
named by parents, misguided by
counselors, misinformed by
professors and are now about
to be misplaced in a society
where they will be misunder
stood mostly by themselves.
To these graduates, patience,
humility, forbearence, fortitude
and preservance are fractional
part.s they must possess for
success.
There Is no ctrystal ball with
the answers to success. All of
the short cuts have been by
passed by the time of gradua
tion. There is no one to make
decisions for them. No one to
give them the second chance.
These are the hard cold facts
of life. These are the facts
makitig up the diet which these
graduates will have to digest.
Repugnant thought? Maybe
but, it’s true and these grad
uates will have to face up to It.
Why Fight
In Viet Nam
BY PALMEIRA BRITO
Why must people say we have
an obligation to help under
privileged countries get a
chance from communistic 1-
deas? In order to save Viet
Nam from communistic Ideas,
it takes many United States sol
diers to fight.
How does a student or just
a young man between nineteen
and thirty years of age face
up to such an obligation? For
some it means sacrificing their
college life for awhile; for
others, marriage will have to
wait, while others will never
return to fulfill any liberties
of life. We can guess how a
soldier feels when he has a
gun in his hand, and he Is
told to kill. We can only feel
our own way about Viet Nam.
My opinion Is that we should
fight for our country since we
are American citizens. There
should be no belief that any
one Is separated from this ob
ligation. It has been said that
the Jewish, Japanese and the
Negro races have been the worse
treated, but this Is in the past
and the new generation should
forget the past to improve the
present. They should, in other
words, work together with all
races to fight a common enemy.
I believe that to save the United
States belief In democracy, we
have to help. I hate too, to
see young men die at active
duty. I hurts me to see maimed
bodies. But I feel that those
that fight are the backbone to
make this country stronger and
more powerful. We can not show
fearness or cowardlclsm, for
modern technology is so ad
vanced that the world can be
destroyed In an Instant.
Making a survey, I found out
INK WELL ”
Dear Fellow Falcons:
As President of the Student
Body for the ensuing year, I am
faced with the task of listening
to, and acting upon the demands,
problems, and grievances of
you, the students of St. Aug
ustine’s College. 1 am proud to
say, I accept this challenge and
feel fully prepared to meet It.
As your public servant, I
know your problems are many.
In dealing with your problems,
ask yourselves these questions:
Does this problem resilly exist?
How will solving this problem
benefit me, and anyone else
concerned? Finally, In what
ways can I, as a student help
to solve it? After turning this
over in your mind, go to your
Student Council to see what can
be done.
Let us move into the second
century of our school’s history
determined to uplift our Student
Council, our school, ourselves.
By wholeheartedly supporting
our Student Council, we can
Iron out many of our academic
and social “wrinkles.” My
Vice-President, Mr. Curtis
March, along with the rest of
the officers plan to strive for
better organization. I plan to
strive for YOU, the Student
Body. Keep In mind that the
Student Council will only be as
strong as the students who sup
port It.
Good luck In all your personal
endeavors, and best wishes for
a fruitful academic year.
Yours truly,
Eugene C. Thomas
President-elect of the
Student Body
* * *
Dear Fellow Students:
I deeply sense the great ob
ligations ofthe position of Mem-
ber-at-Large to which I have
how potential soldiers feel about
being drafted and Viet Nam.
“1 don’t think anyone wants
to be drafted to fight in Viet
Nam. If I am called, I will
try to procure a legal way out
in order to remain In college.
I will only cooperate with the
draft If It seems all my ef
forts are In vain. I am not
treated with complete equality,
but I will fight to defend what
little I have.!”
“Due to my social status,
I usually wouldn’t have choice
In deciding whether or not I
would be drafted and sent to
Viet Nam. Since conscription
has come to be a sort of grow
ing up as a male American citi
zen it really is a person’s
civic duty. My only regret about
fighting In Viet Nam would be
the fact that I would not know
really what I was fighting for.”
“The United States is In'such
a bad state of affairs domes
tically, and by this I do mean
between Negores and whites,
that I consider the Viet Nam
war Mr, Charlie’s War. Lack
of Patriotism? Not Really! The
Black Man is In such a depres
sed and sad state of affairs In
this country that I feel as a
Black Man I cannot give my life
to a country where I know my
children will not be 100% free.
been elected and I shall re
gard It a duty and privilege to
advance your concerns, your
Ideas, and your thoughts with
the greatest vigor I possess.
With the cooperation and sup
port of the student body I shall
devote myself toward the at
tainment of your objectives.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Qulntard Taylor
♦ * *
REPRINTED FROM THE RA
LEIGH NEWS AND OBSERVER,
April 27, 1967
To The Editor:
Congressman's James Gard
ner’s Friday attack upon Mar
tin Luther King served to show
us his true color - illy white.
First he lumped together for
criticism Dr. King, Stokley
Carmichael, Adam Clayton Po
well, “and people like them”
(all Negroes, all right-handed
men?), as though all of them
think and act In the same way.
Such a crude attempt at set
ting guilt by association surely
Is more damaging to the ac
cuser than to the victim. We
have learned a little since Mc
Carthy.
Next Mr. Gardner called Dr.
King a traitor for his oppos
ition to the Vietnamese war.
Does Mr. Gardner also consider
as traitors Senators Kennedy,
Mansfield, Fulbrlght, Greunlng,
Hatfield, McGovern, Church and
twenty others? Why is he silent
about his colleagues in the
House?
Does he lack the courage or
audacity toattackthethousands,
perhaps millions, of white poli
ticians, educators and profes
sional figures who oppose the
war? Does he think that only
Negroes can be traitors? Or
does he Indulge In name-calling
only against Negroes?
By Mr. Gardner’s own logic,
he is one of the most blatant
traitors In the country, for he
Is a vehement opponent of the
government’s war on poverty -
the only war the government has
openly declared and the only
one Congress has passed Into
law.
Finally Mr. Gardner said he
agreed with Senator Strom
Thurmond’s statement that Dr.
King Is “an agitator aiding and
abetting the Communists.” A-
galn the attempt at guilt by
association works two ways. By
associating himself with obvi
ous untruths uttered by a no
torious racist, Mr.Gariier de
clares his own position.
Mr. Gardner seems to be la
boring under the misapprehen
sion that his constituents are
all white, prosperous, middle-
class businessmen. He is cer
tainly wrong. He also seems to
think that his constituents are
open to the appeals of bigotry
and demogogery. One can only
hope he is wrong there, too.
John A. Sekora
DISASTER
(CONTINUED FROM P. 1)
them. This usually creates a moral prob.em for the student
who is looking for somethin* besides “that piece of paper”
and a “gxxjd time.”
Few Negro colleges have the courage nor can they aiford
the financial strain to send home those s.udents who are not
really college material and are not ready to adjust to collese
life
The only advantages the true student gets from attending
a predominate,y Negro coUege is chat he may excel at his own
pact and study under the auspices of an accredited institute
no matter how far down on the academic scale. If he really
wants to reach great heights he can assert himself overcoming
academic, cultural and intekectual malnu.rltion to create
a scholastic oasis.
ST. AUG.-COLBY ELECTIONS
of organized terror to compel it to submit to policy. It is a
sign of capitalism’s decadence that even the “doves” among
United States politicians, newspapers, etc., thought that
President Ho Chi Minh was wrong, both in practice and
in principle, in refusing to submit to terror. The North
Vietnam reply to President Johnson’s peace-or-terror offer
was in part:
“Vietnam is thousands of miles away from the 0nlted
States. The Vietnamese people have never done any harm
to the United States. But, contrary to the pledges made by
its representative at the 1954 Geneva Conference, the
United States government has ceaselessly intervened in
Vietnam. In South Vietnam, half a million United States
and satellite troops have resorted to the most inhuman
weapons and the most barbarous me.hods of warfare,
such as napalm, toxic chemicals and gases, to massacre
our comparlots, destroy crops and raze villages to the
ground . ..
"In your message, you appanently deplored the suffer
ings and destructiotvs in Vietnam. May I ask you: who
has perpetuated these monstrous crimes? It is the Unlied
S;at^ and satellite troops. The United States government
Is entirely responsible for the extremely serious situation
in Vietnam."
It is, indeed, the agents of United States capitalism
who want to control the vast resources of Southeast Asia.
(CONTINUED FROM P. 1)
Ifled almost wholly by nu
merical terms Instead of as
individuals. We know that we
are In the changing period of
our lives and that we really
do not rebel any more than
the past generation, except
that oiu' deviations reach the
public eye more rapidly.
All the students from north
and south are holding hands
together; and we are saying,
"if we must carry such heavy
burdens on our shoulders, we
should have the responsibility
and treatment of adults.”
Personally, I found the stu-
dent-teacher relationship at
Colby to be more friendly.
Both students and teachers
oould converse openly and
freely outside of the class
room. There are literally none
of these relationships on my
campus. It was also interest
ing to note the interrelation
of exchange students both na
tionally and internationally.
This in Itself Is a first hand
education and Illustrates the
great need for understanding
throughout the world. I truly
believe that there should be
more Integration and exchan
ging of students on the whole.
The exchange will never be
forgotten for it has been an
experience of great wealth. It
has been an exchange of
Ideas, an exchange of educa
tional patterns, and an ex
change of more and better
understanding, which is the
key to a lasting and fruitful
world.
The exchange has been
worthwhile and I only wish
that the time could have been
extended.
utation. All this is part of the
reason why I’m against sending
Negroes there. It’s part of
the reason why I’m against the
war.”
Our freedom here - our true
freedom is not reality. Oh, It’s
In the law in words but not in
practice, not in attitudes. Yet,
the draft knows no color or
maybe it does. Negroes make
up about ten percent of the
population but the percentage of
Negroes drafted in comparision
to whites is well over one of
every ten persons. Why? Is it
because there is some sort of
conspiracy to draft Negroes,
send them to the fronts to fight,
and have as many as possible
killed off In the name of de
mocracy? Is it because more
Negroes can’t afford the price
of a college education (and this
is no crime) that they are taken
The Student
Chapter
(CONTINUED FROM P. 1)
of the Junior Class, and a
member of the Alpha Phi Al
pha fraternity. Mr. Thomas
hopes to attend graduate
school and looks toward a ca
reer as a business executive.
Elected to the office of vice-
president was (Curtis March.
Mr. March halls from Colum
bia, South Carolina and la al
so a Senior-to-be. He is ma
joring In history and govern
ment and is presently a mem
ber of the varsity basketball
team. Mr. March is a member
of the Social Science Club and
a member of the Alpha Phi
Alpha fraternity. Mr March
aspires to be a high school
history teacher.
Qulntard Taylor was elect
ed member-at-large to the
student council. Mr, Taylor is
a native of Brownsville. Tenn.
and will be a Junior next year.
He is majoring in history and
government and hopes to
continue his career In the
field of politics. Qulntard is
a member of the Social Sci
ence Club and an active mem
ber of Alpha Phi Alpha Fra
ternity.
GREEN THUMB
(CONTINUED FROM P. 1)
tlons are asked to offer sug-
ges'lons concerning the im-
provem.ent of the project. Be
low are recent accomplish
ments of the "Order of the
Green Thumb.”
1. Ten Greek Junipers have
been planted at the main en
trance off Oakwood Avenue.
2. Holly and Greek Juniper
have been planted on the
BY SY SMITH
Colleagues, lend me your
ears. The majority, if not all
of us, know something about the
NAACP. Knowing something a-
bout it is not enough! All of
us benefit, vicariously or other
wise, from the efforts of the
NAACP. The fruits may be
recent or of antiquated charac
ter. Your children’s children
will benefit.
There’s a reorganized chap
ter of the NAACP on our cam
pus. W recently participated in
a State Convention and college
district affair at which we met
with other schools’ NAACP
members. We often hear from
the National Executive Office
receiving legal data, informa
tion, instructions and general
news.
Our organization on campus
Is still in its growing stage.
We need you to help us grow.
The membership fee is one dol
lar per year. Dues are twenty-
five cents per month. The dues
go into our treasury. We use
the money to support and to
finance socials.
From an overall viewpoint,
I think this is a wholesome
organization and I enjoy working
with it. I believe organizations
of this type should prevail, but
that they not ultimately be need
ed if the parsimonious minds
would reciprocate their func
tioning.
So then, let’s build our chap
ter, perpetuate the rapidity with
which we’ve striven, and con
tinue to exemplify those moral
Intellectual and benevolent qua
lities that have enabled us to
progress so far.
Yes, let’s know more than
just..something about it.
Fom Accuracy
To Deficiency
BY HELEN BULLOCK
Words have always been the
most Important factor In con
versation and communication.
Whether the communication Is
over radio or television. It does
not matter whether the comm
unication is local or Interna
tional.
The way a message is con
veyed has a great deal to do
with the language of a given
country or state. However,
this Is true in a given section
of a state also.
In the southern section of the
United States one will find a
variety of languages. One single
words is pronounced three or
four different ways.
It has been stated that lan
guage is one of the greatest
bearer in communication. Lan
guage is certainly a bearer in
Education. Perhaps in language
spoken in the southern section.
Is accurate enough for the im
migrants to the southern sec
tion. And perhaps it is accurate
enough for permanent residents.
For the emigrants of these sec
tions this speech is not suffi
cient. Especially, for the young
college students. His goal is
partially defeated before he has
begtm to fulfill it. He can’t
possibly reach nor use his abi
lities to their highest degree
with this language bearer.
The young college student
finds college difficult because
of the English. He finds that in
school correct English is us
ed. It is difficult for him to
adjust and comprehend his col
lege lessons because he finds
It difficult to adjust and master
the new language. It is ex
tremely difficult to avoid speak
ing the language one has spok
en and heard his entire life.
Naturally, the colleges are
trying to make accommodations
and provisions for the college
student who Is having trouble
with English. Regardless of
these provisions it will take
time and a great deal of con
centrated efforts to overcome
the problems of the young stu-
Northslde of Hunter building.
3. Convector Holly now line*
the walk leading to Baker
Hall.
4. The (3hapel has been
“framed” by Azaleas and Chi
nese Holly.
5. In honor of JessAnne, the
Robinson's baby, a line of
blooming Azalea has been
planted on the president’*
lawn.
away from their homes, fam
ilies and jobs to fight the white
man’s war? Is it fair to re
quire Negroes to fight for the
freedom of other people when
Negroes haven’t enjoyed free
dom themselves?
The army demands troc^s.
These troops that are being
shuffled about are men, not
objects. Young boys are taken
away from their families and
friends to fight and, yes, to
die for a land, a cause that is
alien to them. And what is this
cause? Is it to keep communism
out? Is it to put democracy In?
To prove the strength of the
U. S.? Does anyone know any
more just what the U. S. is
doing there aside for the fact
that they realize that they are
wrong but refuse to back down
and stop l>elng Involved?
Lastly, I ask you Patrick
Nugent and you George Hamil
ton, why aren’t you out there
fighting for your government?
You are so close to it. It means
so much to you. The President
means so much to you. Why
won’t you offer him a helping
hand? Why won’t you enlist?
Why won’t he draft you? This
Is your fight.
Hats Off
To Omegas
BY POKTU JAMISON
The Kappa Epsilon Chapter
of the Omega Psl Phi Frater
nity presented Its annual Cotil
lion, Thursday, May 4, 1967 at
8 p. m., featuring the fabulous
“Embers.”
The seml-formal affair was
held In the Emery Health and
Fine Arts Building, which was
transformed Into an Omega Pa
radise.
The Omega Cotillion began
with the presentation of the
representatives from the four
sororities on campus. Alpha
Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma The-
ta. Sigma Gamma Rho, and Zeta
Phi Beta.
After the presentation and the
singing of the Omega’s hymn,
the Embers blasted out some of
the latest hits Including “I Dig
You Baby,” “Groovln,”
“Temptations” hits and their
own releases.
The Omega Cotillion Is some
thing the students look forward
to each spring and Is enjoyed
by everyone.
The Dynamic
Tent
BY HOYIE E. UTLEY
It has often been said that
“Women will wear anything.”
As fashions make their entrance
into women’s wardrobes, one
might very well be convinced
that this statement Is true.
The tent dress Is the latest
fashion that’s out for women.
We like the tent because It
flatters any kind of figure —
the figure that has it and the
figure that has it not. It is
loose, lovely and comfortable.
It Is made of any kind of de
sign from African to Oriental.
As a general thing, all wo
men love tents, but some hesi
tate to wear them because they
resemble another special de
signed fashion — the materni
ty dress.
If the tent stays in long e-
nough, all women will soon have
one. For no woman wants to
be called a “square.” But in
the tent, one can hardly tell if
she’s round, square, or defi
cient.
News From
Gamma XI
BY PORTIA JAMISON
The Gamma XI Chapter of
the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorori
ty, Inc., initiated twenty-three
members into the Ivy Leaf Club
recently.
The following girls were ini
tiated; Dorothy J. Barksdale,
sophomore; Barbara A. Berry,
sophomore; Mary A. Crandell,
freshman; Wllhelmlna E. Crlp-
pen, freshman; Linda R. Free
man, freshman; DellndaC, Har
ris, sophomore; Dorothy R,
Hinton, sophomore; Linda L.
House, sophomore; Maola V,
Jones, sophomore; Sondra M.
Jones, freshman; Jacqueline P.
McQuUlar, senior; Bettye J
Mitchell, sophomore; SondraL.
Small, freshman; Sandra San
ders, junior; Barbara A. Scott,
junior; Cynthia E. Smith, fresh
man; Ann M. Sutphin, freshman;
Bertha L. Teele, sophomore;
Robbie J. Thomas, freshman;
Carolyn D. Webb, freshman;
Jo Ann Williams, freshman; Jo
an L. Wood, freshman; and
Gwendolyn M. Wright, fresh
man.
We are very proud to have
them as a part of Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, with high hopes
that they will become sorors
in the fall of 1967.
With an able Dean of Pled
gees, Soror Shelia Stocker, we
are sure that our line will be a
great success.
dents regarding English.
In the time the young student
will grasp the language. How
ever, one must remember the
southern language was a naoii.
And habits are difficult to
break. Everytlme one visits
the southern section he will be
exposed to the old Language.
One’s goal Is pushed slightly
backward. One must struggle to
avoid using the old language e-
ven thot^gh he is constantly ex
posed to it.