Newspapers / Saint Augustine’s University Student … / Oct. 1, 1988, edition 1 / Page 6
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VIEWS ON THE NEWS... October/November 198S-.Tbc Pcn~Pace 6 Teachers and learners By Dr. John Little Special to The Pen At the beginning and ending of each year, I sometimes take stock of what I have gained and what I have given and try to keep the balance about even. Of course, my perspective is highly sub jective which may affect the accuracy of my conclusions. With that qualification, I would like to offer some observations about my experience at St. Aug’s College. This is the beginning of my third year at St. Aug’s. I was hired to teach history, and for the most part, have done that. I came here with a number of anxieties. My personal genetic heritage is Euro pean, not African-at least to my knowledge. Thus, given the racist nature of our society, I wondered how I would be received in a school whose traditional pur pose is to educate students of primarily African lineage. In addition, I had not been responsible for a semester teaching assignment in thirteen years, although I had done con siderable guest lecturing at colleges and universities in several states and had done a great deal of non-academic public speak ing. My concerns, however, were about how well I would teach and be received. And, those concerns caused me to miss a very important point - what I would learn. Fortunately, I have learned a great deal. For the first time in my life, I dealt with black people who were not from the United States. - I was thirlled and still am that St. Augustine’s attracts so many foreign students. My educated guess is that it has the highest per capital number of foreign students of any academic institution with which I have been associated. The rich cultural diversity embodied in the students is one of the best sources of personal educational enrichment that St. Augustine’s offers. I have benefitted considerably from that diversity. When I am open to the lessons the students from these various places of fer, I find that I learn a lot. Like all students, when I am complacent and passive, I miss a rare opportunity to expand my horizons of both people and places. And I also miss the the opportunity for fun. Learning is a serious business, but one school of mental health argues that fun is essential to well being, and fun is defined as learning something new. If one accepts that definition, the student body offers a wonderful source of very con structive fun. Foreign students are not the only source of learning for me. I have discovered a level of human compassion expressed by St. Augustine students that is also rare in my experience. A female student explained that she was absent from class for a few days because her younger brother broke his leg. I questioned her about what good she could do his leg by not attending class. Her reply was that she could do nothing for his leg, but he needed her presence to over come the fear and trauma of his ex perience. I had not anticipated her answer, but knew that she was right in the context of her family situation. I granted her the ex cuse. (I cite this example with certain reservations that every student who wishes to cut class will report a broken leg in his/her immediate family). The point of these thoughts is that I came to teach and stay to learn. There is so much experience available in the people of St. Augustine’s that I have not begun to grasp. The eternal factors of time an inertia constitute part of the reason. A teaching job at St. Aug’s is a great time consumer. To overcome inertia, the other factor in non-learning, requires change in attitude and outlook. Anyone who has ever made a serious ef fort to effect change in his or her life knows the difficulty of that assignment. That br ings me back to the concept that to be a good teacher requires that one be first a good learner. If we at St. Augustine’s - students, facul ty, adminstrators and support staff - can accept the premise that we are all teachers and we are all students, then this college will become a place of genuine learning. My attempt to maintain the balance I mentioned at the outset is to be open to that premise and expand my level of learning. Why do we mark B.C.D. Fraternity helps community Edited By Sal Grant Two weeks after labor day weekend, the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. coo'-dinated and participated in their first annual Kappa Weekend (September 16-18), which was created to boost a cann ed food drive sponsored by their organiza tion for the needy of Wake County. Activities for this weekend consisted of a talent show, combination Kappa step- show/dance was reduced to half price with the donation of a canned good, and the Red and White game was free with a canned good donation. The coordinator, Franklin D. Fields stated, "This food drive was a definite suc cess. The brothers and I really worked hard to put this weekend together, and on the behalf of the active members of the fraternity, I would like to thank the alumni brothers and students that participated in this function.” The Kappas collected a 16-gallon trash can full of a variety of canned goods. The food was donated to Wake County Oppor tunities, Inc. located at 567 E. Hargett St. near the downtown area. This organization is designed to help citizens of Wake County help themselves. Wake Opportunities provides food, clothing, and home weatherization repairs for families which qualify. Wake Opportunities’ Director Dorothy Allen and the Kappas are planning to work together on a few upcoming projects which will better serve the surrounding com munity. By Kenneth Ngarl Pen Staff Writer As a student, you might ask yourself why do you have to celebrate The Black College Black College Day is observed on Oc tober 3rd every year and all black colleges in the United States celebrate it The idea of The Black College Day was brought about by a certain educator Mr Tony Brown. To prove that this annual event was important to black students Mr Brown called all the Black Colleges in the whole country together in Washington D.C and started marking it. This was a positive response, for all col lege students and administrators met there. Since that day The Black College Day has been widely recognized by everyone. Dr. Wiley Davis, the Vice President for Student Affairs at St. Aug’s College, was briefly interviewed by the “Pen” and he highlighted the reason why we should observe this day. He said that Black College Day is design ed to keep the annual event flowing. More to this, it is there to show that blacks have their own valued culture and as such, they have to defend this culture. He also said that day will let the public know tte pure reaUty of the black colleges. He said this celebration will give the students the feeling that they have an ini- portant role to play politically, economically and socially. Finally, he said to mark it will enable the students to have leadership opportunity as far as their future life is concerned. One of the St. Aug’s College students in terviewed by the “Pen” said the reason why he has to observe this day is because he is always proud of his culture. He said he is very lucky to be in such a college, and therefore, he has to honor this day. He said, to celebrate this day will enable all black colleges to come together and thus unite. He also said the event will keep on pro moting the students and the ad ministrators status, and hence show the survival of all the black colleges. Currently, there are about one hundred and four (104) Black Colleges observing this day. The first Black College Day was marked seven years ago. St. Augustine’s College is one of the active colleges in the country in marking this day. The students of St. Augustine’s College nomally marie this day marching to Shaw University, where they demonstrate the event throughout various streets. Jesse and Autumn By Regina M. Ford Guest Writer The hot, sizzling days of summer are over but the cool nights and warm days of autumn have settled upon the campus of St. Augustine’s College. The leaves on the trees are starting to change into toe colorful shades of the fall season. IThis is the season and the year that the presidential candidates come out pun- cning. ^ Yet, chilling is somewhat the attitude people seem to have according to news reports that say many are unaware and unconcerned about this election. There’s not much heat surrounding the iSLues or debate in this campaign. And a change in the tone of the campaign would probably be a welcomed turn of events for thf e who think that the race is too close Just as the season has changed, so can we Cool-out on those negative attitudes that politics IS not important; warm-up to what s happening to your future and how your gMls will be affected by this election ■ and, show-off your colors by voicing vour opinions and follow those who will help ho^! values. There is With autumn came great expectations and optimism to our campus. Cool, warm and corlorful are words that can describe this person who brought with him this ray of hojM; ho^ that our dreams are not lost hope that there can and will be a better tomorrow, a better America; hope that we can make a difference. The Reverend Dr. Jesse Jackson former democratic presidential candidate’ has a cwl temperament, a warm smile and a colorful personality. Altoough he didn’t get the Democrat’^ nomination to be the presidential can didate, Jesse’s theme still is to “K«Jn Hope Alive.” He delivered this theme and a pledae to the community and family of St Aul on the first autumn Wednesday of this year It was 9:10 a.m. when more than 300 peo ple had already gathered in the Emery Gymnasium waiting for Jesse to arrive. Every time a group of five or more entered the gym, heads turned anticipating Jesse’s entrance. Many male students were dressed in business suits and ties and women wore their business wear and heels. It was hard to distinguish the faculty from the students or community guests. Almost everyone was dressed in business attire. Dressed to impress Jesse. Then at 9:35 a.m., a crowd of more than 2,0W stood. Some even jumped to their feet and roared with cheers and applauses as Rev. Jackson entered the gym. Adom^ in his double-breasted gray suit, white shirt, red and blue striped tie, red ^ket handkerchief, dark shoes, big, right and warm smile, he was surrounded by students, SAC administrators and some security men. The cheers and applauses seemed endless. After the playing of the National Anthem y trampet for which there was no American flag displayed, and after the col lege chaplain gave thanks to God for sen ding Jesse as a missionary, Greg Dent, president of the Student Government Msociation, got laughs and applauses rom the audience, even Jesse, for his crack on asking the Bush and Quayle sup porters to step outside. Greg turned to Jesse and told him that he was proud to have him as a role model. of someone who will fight against drugs. He said Jesse was ough. The students whistled and appla^d- , '^®sse maintained his big smile and looked on. The audience stood and applauded even louder than before as Jesse took the P^um and stood beside Greg. He clinched his hand in Greg’s hand and Continued on page j |
Saint Augustine’s University Student Newspaper
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Oct. 1, 1988, edition 1
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