Newspapers / North Carolina Central University … / Oct. 24, 1991, edition 1 / Page 1
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■ THE CAMPUS ECHO Issue 1 North Carolina Central University October 24,1991 An Exclusive Interview Chancellor T^ronza Richmond Reveals Thoughts oh NCCU and His Tenure by Johnnie Whitehead Arriving at North Carolina Cen tral University from Howard University on July 1, 1977, President Richmond first served for nine years as dean of the School of Business. On July 6,1986, he was named chancellor of the uni versity, a post in which he has served with distinction since that time. He has recently announced his resignation Echo: How do you assess the recent controversy concerning financial mismanagement on the campus. ? Who is at fault? Richmond: Most of the situa tions have been misrepresented. The press labeled the athletic scholarships issue as financial mismanagement Technically, this is so, but we must keep this issue in perspective. There are two parties at fault concerning the student-athlete scholarships. The students did not file for aid in a timely fashion and tite university did not do everything to make sure the student did what was necessary. The media coverage of this was a facade that led people to believe the entire administration was corrupt when in fact it was only con cerning this one department. Echo: Do you agree with Trastee David Stith’s about there being a “conspiracy” to dis mantle historically black institu tions in this state? Richmond: There is a national concern and Stith is in his way voicing what we have seen in so many states-, a desolution of historically black colleges. West Virginia State College, Bluefield College, Kentucky State and Lincoln University are no longer black institutions. Tennessee State is under mandate to be 50/ 50. This is an important issue that needs to be addressed and Stith may have rightfully called this issue into question. Echo: What is your opinion of the Board of Tmstees? Richmond: This is very com plex question to answer because the UNC system has a 32- member Board of Governors that has the majority of the power. They give and delegate authority to the trustees who merely serve in an advisory capacity. The only time the trustees have a major role is in selecting a chancellor. Therefore, toeir effectiveness is hard to assess because it really depends on how effective the governors are. Echo: Is the Board of Gover nors in touch with NCCU? Richmond: Yes. No question about it. Even though &e university system is complex and multi-faceted, from a policymaking role, they have secured the necessary resources to mn this university. Echo: Has C.D. Spangler, the University of North Carolina system president, been effective" Richmond: He has been very good. Spangler brings a differ ent perspective because he is a businessman and higher educa tion is nothing but business. He has been very supportive of NCCU, and successfully manag ing 16 different campuses is proof of his ability. We have one of the top three systems in the country. Echo: What is your opinion of Bert Collins, the new chairman of the Board of Trustees? Richmond: He is one of the best things that has happened to NCCU in a long time. He is qualified, highly respected throughout this state and he will do a lot of good things for this university. Echo: Has the pressure from the media or the university had anything to do with your resig nation? Search Is On for New Chancellor by Sha’Ronn Payne A search committee, composed of representatives from the Board ofTrastees, the faculty, the student body and the alumni, is being formed to select a new chancellor. D.G. Martin, secretary of the university (system), said since the committee is in its early stages it is difficult to be specific about the facts. “The requirements and cri teria for chancellor differs on all campuses because they do not necessarily have the same needs,” he said. “That’s why there isn’t any rule or law set forth by the system.” The process is a very lengthy one in which the Board of Trustees recommends two potential candi dates to University of North Carolina system President C.D. Spangler. He then chooses one and recommends that person to the Board of Governors of the system and if they concur a new chancellor is selected. However, if not, Spangler has the tmstees conduct another search until there is a confirmation. Tire final deci sion is ultimately made by the Board of Governors. Candidates find out about open ings through advertisements that are usually placed in the Chronicle of Higher Education and other newspapers. Next, those interested submit their resumes to the search committee. According to Martin, “Through my experience,” he said, “the search process is between six months and a year. Everyone has a hand in the process.” Richmond: I came into this job for five years and that ended this past June 30th. There are some things we need to do in infra- stmcture building and develop ing the capacity to change the culture of this campus. The position needs sprinters and not long-distance rurmers because immediate action is necessary. This was a decision that I made,but it would be naive of me to deny the that negative publicity didn’t have some influence. Echo: How do you grade your performance during your five year tenure? Richmond: There have been far more positives than negatives. Last year the college board released a report that said out of 3900 uni versities across this nation, NCCU ranked 9th in terms of institution of choice amongst African- American high i^hool gradu ates. The Gonhan report on un dergraduate programs found of North Carolina’s 11 historically black colleges, NCCU ranked 1 st, and of the overall 44 in the state, NCCU ranked 4th. We are in the top quMter. This institution is the leader in North Carolina for Afri can-American students that go on to earn a Ph. D. I’m smiling from ear to ear. Echo: What is your biggest dis appointment? Richmond: The misunderstand ing concerning financial misman agement and athletic scholarships. The media has misrepresented this issue grossly. Students have con tempt for the administration and Chancellor Richmond's five and a half year reign ends when he resigns December 31 Music Program Cut some have joined with the media in this lynching. This is very sad but true. Anytime anyone (the me dia) can convince the students that this university does not have their best interests at heart, something, is drastically wrong. Students are we’ire::hetu . ^ Echo: Can you envision the mo ment ycu leave this office for the last time on December 31? Will there be any regrets? Richmond: There are mixed emotions concerning any change. I can’t say how I will feel. Any feelings or reflections will prob ably occur in January or Febmary when I have time to think. Right now. I’m satisfied with what we have been able to do. It is now time to pass the baton. If you stay too long I believe personal con siderations come to the forefront, andthat’snogood. Theuniversity and its students is most important. By Johnnie Whitehead North Carolina Centri University’s Academic Planning Commit tee is recommending the discontinuation of the master’s liberal arts program in music. M^rskey Bwmim, vice chrjncdlor for academic affairs, said only one ofthe two master’s programs was recommended, not both. “The committee decided we should keep the master’s in music education program and eliminate the liberal arts one,” he said. The reallocatioh of funds is a significant reason for the proposed cut said Bumim. “By eliminating certain programs the university could save money which could strengthen other programs.” A special memorandum was sent by Raymond Dawson, vice presi dent for academic affairs for the University of North Carolina system general administration, for the planning committee to review data of “low productivity” programs. The criteria for classifying a program “low productivity” is as follows: • conferred fewer than 10 degrees over past 10 years • conferred fewer than two degrees over last two years • conferred no degrees in 1990-91 • few or no students enrolled The programs recommended for discontinuation by Dawson’s of fice at the bachelor’s level were physics, music, Spanish, and philoso phy. At the master’s level, French, business economics, paiks and recreation management and music were candidates for discontinuation. SGA President Faces Tough Challenges by Dezmona MizeUe Student Government Associa tion President Ericka Johnson de fends her motives for calling off the march to the administration buLldingin September and believes she can improve student activi ties. Johnson’s first semester as president has so far been fidl of controversy and press coverage because of incidents such as the Chancellor’s resignation and the Qarence Brown issue. Students planned a march to the administration building to voice their complaints. Johnson, a 20-year-old political science ma jor from Bronx, N.Y., maintains that her primary reason for at tempting to cancel the march was to negate the threat of receiving more negative press coverage. “I did not mean to hurt anyone’s feelings or step on anyone’s toes,” Ms. Johnson said, “but I have to be concerned for the welfare of the entire university.” A list of demands and concerns were brought to the Board of Tmstees by Johnson on the 16th, 17th and 18th of September. The board is in turn addressing these issues one at a time, beginning with the issues of parking and se curity. ‘Things are being woiked on,” she said. “We are trying to improve the most serious needs firet.” Also, Johnson stresses to the students that there needs to be unity and effective communica tion with the administration. Pro- SGA Pres. Ericka Johnson stands firmly on her decisions **Things are being worked on. We are try ing to improve the most seri ous needs first.'' tests such as the rally will only ■ divide the university and give the press more ammunition. “The I»ess is destroying us,” she said. “We need to come togetlier. In deciding to mn for president of the SGA Johnson felt that she could create a better social envi ronment and upgrade campus life. Her projected methods for imple menting these ideas wouldinclude better planning between commit tees, administrative awareness of student needs and an SGA itewsboard to keep students in formed about current and future activities.
North Carolina Central University Student Newspaper
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Oct. 24, 1991, edition 1
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