n^fie Campus "Ccfio
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February 25,1981
Pass the cool whip, please
Senator William Proxmire gave this month’s "Golden Fleece” award to the
Presidential Inaugural Committee for spending $1.8 million of taxpayer’s
money to supply President Reagan’s guests with 1,120 military .chauffeurs,
aides and escorts. More hidden costs to the taxpayer, in addition to the use
of military personnel, included $1.3 million appropriated to the District of
Columbia for general support; $463,000 to the Joint Congressional In
augural Committee for expenses of the swearing-in ceremony: and
$661,000 to the General Services Administration for office space and fur
nishings.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.
Just last week Reagan asked Congress for budget cuts totaling $41.4
billion next fiscal year as part of an economic package that will include the
largest tax cut in history. After talking ‘‘across the board” cuts since his
campaign harangues, the Reagan motorized machete was gearing up. Hav
ing reached its zenith, the ax was on the downswing.
Not being masochists, but realists, the nation knew something had to
done soon about U.S. overspending and was readying an accomodating
wince and biting of the lip as the blade sliced.
But now, I don’t know. Over $4 million to say a couple of speeches and
dance around for a night? We, who flip a coin over whether to eat or be cold,
are beginning to have our doubts about a president who spends over $4
million to inagurate himself but considers $1.5 million to help supplement
funds for the Atlanta child killer case too accomodating.
The idea of eliminating people and programs who don’t deserve funds is
justifiable. None can deny that “waste” is not exclusive to the sewers. But
how is one to determine who is going to college and who is going to hang out
on the block? Which family is to eat and which is to go hungry? Who is to
have a job and who will hang out on the block with the student who couldn’t
get to school? Is there some omnipotent eye that will look Into hearts and
homes to see who is lying and who realy does have five kids and no job?
If Reagan's budget-cutting program fails to meet the essential test of
fairness and equity or flops altogether, more than just mere politicians will
be affected. We all will get the shaft. In this high stakes gamble that will cost
the economy at least a million jobs, the big guy in the White House should
remember the squalor of the 18th century and Marie Antoinette. When
there is no opportunity for education, jobs or food, people do have a tenden
cy to rise up in revolt and riot.
Mr. President, I hope you’re not telling us to eat cake.
Teresa A. Burke
Lets make a deal
“The road to hell
is paved with ^ood intentions.”
Last week I waited 20 minutes in the cafeteria during the dinner hour for
a fork. I was becoming irritated along with the other students who were
waiting. Finally I said, “It takes them too long to wash silverware.” The
cashier seated at the end of the line replied, “If you would bring back the
silverware you have in your room, we would have more to wash.”
Her point struck home. At that moment I remembered the two knives, one
spoon and a fork I have been meaning to return.
I guess there are a lot of people on campus like me whose intentions are
good but memories are short. What we have failed to realize is that we have
“unintentionally” lifted over 2,400 peices of silverware this year. This stag
gering figure does not include missing trays or wasted napkins.
Well, since I’ve started writing this I feel pretty guilty. First thing tomor
row I’m going to return the silver. Since I have such a short memory, if you
see me on campus, remind me. I’ll be more than happy to do the same for
you.
Winfred Cross
Letters to the Editor
Reagan cutback
While watching Reagen’s announcement concerning his new economic policies, a stab of
fear shot through me when it was mentioned that the BEOG funds are on the hit list after
August.
Do you realize a large majority of our student body depends on these funds to continue
their education?
Without these funds many many students will be unable to complete their education, and
where will NCCU and other small universities go? That’s Right! No where, we will no longer
exist! No students, no university.
Don’t sit idly by and let this happen to our school. Black universities have had an uphill
fight for several years, now's the time we must make a decision and protect this institution
which has mothered us.
Elberta Jenkins
Junior
‘The Campus Tcho
Editor
Teresa A. Burke
Sports Editors
Winston Majette
Office Manager
Marilyn Williams
Entertainment Editor
Brian C. Blount
Associate Editor
Winfred B. Cross
Advertising Manager
Paul L. Anderson
Circulation Manager
Shelley Jackson
Features Editor
Marvin O. Royster
Business Manager
Ronnie Johnson
Chief Typist
Terry Palmer
Wh'ich one will blow up?
Take your pick IU
BY PWA/A/ 4.. C3^.4MAA^
Winner of Union essay contest
Black History; A Role Model For Youth
A role model is defined as, "an expected social behavior of
an individual that serves as the plan from which a finished
work will be produced.” Black History Month serves as a role
model, but only recently has it begun to receive the recogni
tion it deserves. The Afro-American youth has been chosen as
the beneficiary to reap the rewards of such an important
month. Black History month offers to the youth information,
events, projects, seminars, and other activities. Since young
Afro-Americans have constantly been subjected to misinter
pretations from books and other materials, Black History
Month has been designated to fill the void created, and
alleviate those aspects that have depicted the Afro-American
as being of insignificant value. Identification, awareness, and
education are three key concepts that evolve. Black History
Month urges Afro-Americans to take pride in being black,
while subsequently taking an obligation to reach out to inform
those Afro-Americans who would otherwise continue to go
misinformed.
The first role model is evaluation of the black identity to ful
ly understand that Black History month is celebrated for a
piirpose. Essentially black history informs Afro-Americans
where they have come from, where they presently stand, and
where they will ultimately be in the future. Being ignored is a
tragedy in itself, but to take away from the colossal feats and
achievements Afro-Americans have contributed is an unfair
representation. Since accurate records of certain time
periods are so misrepresented and distorted, acquiring all of
the essential facts to bring about a fair representation has all
but become a forgotten practice in regards to Afro-
Americans. Identifying with black history month enhances
this aspect and lays the foundation for social visibility and
assimilation. Even though Afro-Americans are black, the
general trend is to judge by criteria of color rather than
significance of contribution. Western society has the uncanny
tendency to strip Afro-Americans of both materialistic gains
and equality in an attempt to disassociate them from the
American mainstream of life. Afro-Americans have done more
than enough to become visible in this society, but due to un
just accusations, anti-black material, institutions of inequali
ty, and other demeaning literature, Afro-Americans remain in
relative obscurity.
Combating this identity crisis on a one-to-one basis while
simultaneously instituting a true black identity is why Black
History Month plays a significant role in helping to form the
role model for today's youth.
A second role model is being aware of black history.
Awareness involves expanding and exposing the mind to new
resources that will benefit tomorrow’s youth in an advan
tageous manner. Consequently awareness could be symboliz
ed as the fine line separating worthlessness and usefulness.
To this statement I pose the question: Are all Afro-Americans
aware that Afro-Americans who have made significant con
tributions should in essence be regarded as pioneers? Yes,
pioneers in the sense that in every endeavor challenged by
Afro-Americans, a pioneering effort was demonstrated. No,
Afro-Americans were not brought to America to be educators,
professionals, or athletes, but to work the fields as slaves.
From this degrading position Afro-Americans have fought
hard against,-,insurmountable odds to ascend the socio
economic ladder,which continues to make each step harder t©
achieve. The process started well over 200 years agO and still
continues today as Afro-Americans realize they can con
tribute more than just physical labor as an ethnic group. Afro-
Americans are in a precarious position and can expect an ex
tremely slow revelation in reference to the importance of
black history. The American system continues the futile effort
to push Afro-Americans further away from black history in an
attempt to prove its insignificant value. Once again black
history plays an instrumental role in coercing Afro-Americans
to stand up and be accounte for, as being apart of the
populous that is becoming increasingly aware of aspects that
have a bearing on where Afro-Americans stand today.
Black History Month also serves as an educational ex
perience for the Afro-American youth. The experience is a
growing process that urges the Afro-American youth into new
areas and provide for continued social mobility. Afro-
American youth's can add an additional stage to the growth
See ROLE MODEL, page 6
Is anybody going to McDonald’s?
There have been numerous complaints over the meal plan
at the cafeteria here at North Carolina Central University.
Often the cafeteria runs out of spoons, forks, cups and
plates before many students have been served. Even the
choice of food becomes limited and sometimes it runs out en
tirely and the student has to suffer. The rule seems to be, get
there on time or go hungry. And if you’re hungry, where can
you turn to? No where. Saturdays and Sundays are severely
restricted. What’s wrong with establishing late hours on
weekends and givings students a chance to have a late even
ing snack? Now, it is inconvenient if not impossible or
dangerous, for students to go downtown after dark in search
of food. No wheels, long distances, muggers out and potential
rapists lurking about - What's a coed to do?
Another problem could be settled if the administration
would change the old procedure of giving out meal cards, and
let the student use his I.D. card instead. Better yet, give the
student a smaller card that could be punched whenever he
entered the cafeteria. Let’s have a buffet style cafeteria
where one can eat as much as he wants, whenever he wants
it, like they do at UNC-G.
The administration should change its methods, so that
students can eat three meals a day and not be penalized if he
misses one. If we are unable to suggest a good workable plan,
the university ought to propose a better one, after consulta
tion with students who use the cafeteria. After all, students
are paying for their meals. They’re the ones to satisfy not
some procedure. Many students do not have the extra money
to go to Hardee’s, McDonald's or Churches when they get
hungry and find the cafeteria closed, or unappetizing.
Catherine Moses
iw ..Junior
Lack of Communication
There is a great lack of communication between students
and some of our administration and staff members.
I can personally say that the majority of the students here at
North Carolina Central University are poorly informed on
some things that they need to know. It seems we're always
the last to know.
A good example of this is paying your housing deposit for
the next academic school year. The time schedule to pay your
deposit is usually slightly different each year. Whenever a stu
dent goes to pay his or her deposit, the situation is usually,
“Its' too early,” or “We’re not excepting any money now.” If
you return with the same money two or three weeks later, the
reply is usually, “You’re too late”, or “All the rooms have
been taken.” I realize that it may be our responsibility to
check periodically in the Housing Department for informa
tion. But everywhere I look on campus the students are
advertising their different functions. Is it too much to ask for a
little publicity from the Housing Department?
I don’t understand why money cannot be accepted when a
student has it to give. How does a student who receives
money from his parents explain to them that he or she does
not have a room because the money wouldn’t be taken when
you offered it to the proper authorities?
Veronica Monta Cogdell
Sophomore
See LETTERS page 3
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