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7V-75-
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Campus Echo
Checking The Problem
Out(WAFR)
WAFR off the air? That is
correct. WAFR with Mr. Robert
Spruill is one of the few
Blacked owned radio stations
in the country and has gone off
the air due to a lack of funds.
Started in 1970, WAFR. a
non-commercial, uncensored
radio station, has provided the
community with many services
which cost over $18,000 a year.
Such services have included
religious programming, news
on the community level.
Muhammad Speaks, and the
Children s Program.
The Children s Program
sponsored by WAFR received
the highest program award in
the nation. This program dealt
with teaching Black children
their history. They took
children s songs, poems, and
nursery rhymes and allowed
the children to make
something from them. This
permitted the children to relate
with their African heritage. This
program was commented on in
an article in Negro Education
Magazine.
WAFR also previously taught
communication skills to
students from NCCU.
So what has happened to a
station that fvas served the
Vol 1, No VIII North Carolina Central Univeristy Durham, N.C.
Robert Ouko
“Abandoned” by NCCU
By Jacqueline Marshall
"I have been happy here and
I have been getting along well
with the students ' is what
Robert Ouko says as he speaks
of his concern about his
suspension.
As Ouko discusses his
relationship with Jermundson
as it began, the track star says
Jermundson was a friend
before he became coach.
Robert says when he was in
Africa, he had nothing to do
with white people. I did not
know black and white and that
white is supposed to be
superior.' Fie and Jermundson
discussed this idea
occasionally and even at times
exchanged gifts. Also, the
coach taught Ouko about
nigger talk " which was to
mean talking and meaning
nothing. In their many
discussions, Jermundson also
told Ouko that blacks are
disorganized and could not run
athletic programs. Still.
Robert considered him a
friend.
What happened after
Jermundson became track
coach? Fie wanted to make
the program business — like
with new rules. " One rule was
in running two races, no player
could participate in the second
race unless he had run in race
one. A second rule was that all
used books must be returned
before one was allowed to get
new ones. Robert is
supposedly on a scholarship
and he has not received books
yet. Fie has even written to the
Embassy in Washington trying
to get money. Robert can not
get money from home. Fie is
10.000 miles from home. Fie
does not have money to pay his
rent. Fie is not welcomed in the
cafeteria. Where can he go?
There was an indoor track
meet at Greensboro.
Jermundson told Ouko to run
two races. When Robert told
the coach that he (Robert) was
not physically in shape to run
two races, but he would run
one, Jermundson told Ouko
that if he did not run two races.
Robert would be dismissed
from the team.
When Ouko went to
Jermundson s office to find out
why he was not to run that
night, he noticed a change in
the relationship they once
shared. Upon Robert s entering
the office. Jermundson asked.
"What do you want, can I help
you?' Ouko thought this
strange since they were
friends. Although Jermundson
told Ouko he was not to run.
Ouko did run the one-mile
relay. Robert attributed the
change in Jermundson's
attitude to "his wanting power
and publicity. Fie once said he
would be glad to say he worked
with great athletes. Fie wants to
see his name as coaching the
track team at NCCU. Fie is
power hungry. I may be
wrong."
Ouko was getting money for
living expenses, one hundred
dollars a month for food and
rent. The morning he went to
Jermundson s office to pick up
his money, he was told there
was no money because Robert
refused to run two races: he
had been dropped from the
team. When Ouko asked him if
there had been a hearing, the
coach said he was the track
coach and he had taken the
action. Jermundson then
called him a black bitch and
said, go back to Africa where
you re from it you are not
satisfied. He also said get
your black hands away from
community so well? Previously
funds come from the
government, private
contributions, and the
community. But now funds
shall have to come from the
community. The Health.
Education, and Welfare gave
WAFR an award for equipment,
but hot enough to cover
operating expenses. The
objective of WAFR is to
continue broadcasting with the
support of NCCU and the
community.
Therefore. WAFR has a drive
going to raise the money here
on NCCU's campus and in the
community. They are involved
April 25,1975
In a fifteen-day plan (April
10-25) involving all the
dormitories and organizations
who are working to raise
money for the cause. The
administration of NCCU has
also endorsed and approved
this drive, along with some
financial commitments.
Mr. Spruill, the president of
WAFR, said the Kappa Alpha
Psi fraternity and the Omega
Psi Phi fraternity have been
particularly responsive to the
drive. Many of the dormitories
and organizations are also
sponsoring activities from car
washes to dances in order to
help this worthy cause.
Students Recognized in
Awards Day
Over one hundred students
were honored at the twenty-six
annual Awards Day program on
the first Friday of this month.
Dr. Leonard H. Robinson
presided over the occasion.
Attorney James E. Ferguson,
II was guest speaker. He is an
alumnus of the University and a
member of the law firm of
Chambers. Ferguson, banning
and Stein of Charlotte, North
Carolina. The touring choir
presented two selections for
the audience's pleasure.
The Chancellor's Award to
the senior with the highest
cumulative average was
presented to two young ladies.
Joan E. Parks and Theresa L.
Little, both having a
3.8-average. The C. Ruth
Edwards Memorial Award to
the most outstanding senior
music major was presented to
Paula D. Harrell. Memorial
Awards were presented to the
families of Gregory Bradsher,
Hollis Hawes, and Alan
Johnson. Awards were
presented to the outstanding
students by each department.
Recipents of awards were
honored with a luncheon
immediately following the
program in H.G. Pearson
Cafeteria.
Forty-eight seniors were
acknovHedged as Who's Who
Among Students in American
Colleges and Universities, Also
fourteen juniors received
honorable mentions. Delta
Sigma Theta and Alpha Phi
Alpha carried away the cups to
the sorority and fraternity
having the highest average
over two semesters.
Recipents of awards were
honored with a luncheon
immediately following the
program in H.G. Pearson
Cafeteria.
In Africa. Robert is trained to
be a gentleman, so Robert
simply asked the coach why he
called him the name.
Jermundson added that he
would deny saying everything
and asked Ouko what are you
going to do? " Robert decided
that he would not leave the
office until he had a witness to
the incident. Robert called the
security officers and they
suggested that he file a
complaint to the
"Administration because no
physical violence occurred.
He requested and received a
conference with Chancellor
Whiting the following
Wednesday at 12:00. Robert
simply wanted to sit down and
discuss the matter. It seemed
that his views on the matter
were being disregarded. When
he arrived at the Chancellor's
office. Chancellor Whiting was
not alone. The Undergraduate
Dean. Mr. Simmons. Coach
Jermundson and Dr. Young
were among the people there.
Ouko had requested a private
conference. Ouko did not know
what to say. He was not
contacted of any hearing
although they said It was one.
Ouko had no one there to
represent him and he said. Do
what you want. Robert
listened as the Chancellor said
he was satisfied with what the
coach did. Chancellor Whiting
also informed Robert he had
been dropped from the team.
Ouko said the Chancellor also
told him that he had come to
school here to study and return
home, not to cause problems.
Debra Swann was not there
Ouko said there was a lack of
student body participation in
decisions He was not
represented by anyone on Ins
Robert Ouko
side. Debra Swann, president
of the student body, was to
contact Robert later, but she
had not done so. Robert feels
"if she is to represent the
people, she should take up the
matter. She has not gotten in
touch with me yet. " Robert also
thinks the Administration here
does not consider the students
to be anybody. Robert can not
understand how the
Chancellor made the decision
without talking to Dr. Walker,
This is not the first time
problems have occurred.
Sometimes the athletes never
get books because by the time
the process of acquisition is
completed, the books have
been sold from the Union Book
Store. Also, the track members
are frequently in class for three
days and on the track the rest
of the week. No arrangements
.f- ■ \ide with the professors
toi 1 -fs After returning to
cijs- the athletes have to
SCr HJ': ii
The reasons for the
money-cut were given as
inadequate funds, and Robert's
refusal to run. Whatever the
reasons. Robert does not
consider himself dismissed
from the team until a hearing is
held. He is very proud of the
NCCU track team. "The
members have worked hard
and we have not lost any big
races. Ouko has agreed to run
if his two demands are met. He
wants the books and money
which were cut. and a public
apology from Jermundson
whereby the coach admits a
misunderstanding.
Ouko does not want to be
singled out as an African
causing problems in America.
"I probably did mistakes too:
maybe I should have run two
races. I've wanted a
consultation to solve the
problem: what else can I do? If
you don't make it better for me.
then for those coming in after
me.