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THE CAMPUS ECHO
Issue 3
North Carolina Central University
November 20,1991
Ex-Black Panther Says Blacks
Are Guilty of Self-Oppression
Tuition Increases
Possible in Future
by Paula McDonald
In a speech given to about SO
students Friday, Conner civil rights
leader. H. R£?) Brown, currently
known as Jamil Al-Amin, accuses
blacks of oppressing themselves.
“We are oppressed based on the
weaknesses within ourselves,” said
Al-Amin. “It is our own fault.”
For him, blacks mistakenly look
to other groups and governing
bodies to define themselves.
To complicate this problem, said
Al-Amin, blacks have become im
mersed with the idea that the Con
stitution is their key to winning the
struggle. “In dealing with African
Americans, the Constitution en
slaves us rather than it liberates,”
he said. In his opinion, these docu
ments do not recognize blacks as
human beings and it is a myth for
blacks to think they have power
through voting for instance, be
cause the electoral college, not the
people, control that aspect of “free
dom.”
Furthermore, he said the aims of
black people are misdirected be
cause they are still looking to
wards the sixties for their guid
ance. “We have become trapped
in a time warp when we think
aboutthe Civil lights movement,”
he said.
Also, Al-Amin, an ex-black pan
ther, maintains that it is important
not to use “blackness” as a popular
fad. ‘To be Black is necessary, but
not sufficient,” he said. Wearing
tee shirts promoting black pride
does not necessarily make a per-,
son black because “blackness” is a
state of mind that can only be
achieved through knowledge.
Former Civil Rights Leader Jamil Al-Amin(H Rc^ Brown)
Moreover, color should not be
fte focus of the struggle because it
is negative. Instead, a common
cause amongst all of humankind
should have precedence. “Color
will be used against you at some
point,” he said.
Another important element we
allmustpossess is spirituality said
Al-Amin. “Have spirituality be
cause itis yourguidance,”he said.
“The change must come within
yourself before you can change
your surroundings.” /
Formerly known as H. Rap
Brown, Al-Amin emerged along
with Stokley Carmichael in 1966
as a determined advocate for black
power. Brown was the chairman
of the Student National Coordi
nating Committee. He also cre
ated the Peoples Medical Center
and the People’s Sewing Center
in Brooklyn.
In cormection with a hold-up.
Brown was arrested in 1972 and
while in prison he converted to the
religion of Islam, and took the
name of Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin.
He is currently serving as an imam
in Qharge of mosques in several
states.
Al-Amin anJeared courtesy of
the North Carolina Center for
Black History,
by Yolanda Alexander
Over the last five years there has
been a dramatic increase in tuition
fees for students atNorth Carolina
Central University, and accord
ing to a university official, only
time will tell if further increases
will follow.
“At the present time it isn’t pre
dictable,” said Ralph Fermell, di
rector of cash management. “At
the conclusion of this year we
will know if there will be long
term increases.”
In 1988-89, in-state, students
paid $944.76, and during the
1989-90 year that figure rose to
$1,044.00. Also out-of-state, stu
dents paid $4,444.76 in 1988-89
and $5,416.00 for the following
year for a 10.5 percent increase.
Likewise, in 1990-91 the tuition
was $1,120.50 for in-state and
$5,562.00 for out-of-state for an
other irrorease of seven percent.
Forthe 1991-92school yearthose
figures rose once again to
$1,262.00 for in-state and $6,316
for the out-of-state population
which is a 12.5 percent increase
for a total of 30 percent for the
past five years.
These increases are decided
upon by the state legislature each
year, based on the amount of
revenues they receive. Asaresult,
all monies collected for tuition
are'channeled back to the state. In
turn, the state gives the institution
tqjpropriations (budgeted money
for that year) plus the amount
paid in tuition.
This year the ^propriations are
$35,225,949 and NCCU is ex
pected to pay $7,672,988 in tu
ition and fees to the state. This is
expectedtopay $27,552,961 plus
the amount paid in tuition back to
the school, totaling the original
budgeted amount. Every dollar
NCCU does not collect, it does
not receive. If the state revenues
fall, the £q)propriations decrease.
Although NCCU’s budgeting
office could not be reached for the
affirmation of the following sta
tistics, Fennell unofficially esti
mates that 85 percent of this money
pays the salaries of the faculty and
staff, 10 percent for the supplies
and equipment, and five percent
for utilities. The students do not
benefit directly from these in
creases, but it does allow for more
money in the state budget and the
hiring of more instructors.
“The state is experiencing the
same problems as the federal gov
ernment,” said Fennell. ‘This
translates to less revenue and pos
sible increases, but once again,
it’s too early to tell.”
Few Students Meet In-State Residency Requirements
by Johnnie Whitehead
Only 10 percent of out-of-state
students qualify for in-state resi
dency because they have no
knowledge of the requirements set
forth by the residency manual, said
a university official.
“Most of these students do not
take the time to go to the reserve
section of the library and read the
residency manual,” said James
Pierce, university registrar. “They
may glimpse and see 12 months
and automatically think they
qualify.”
In order to be classified as in-
Financial Troubles
Responsible for
High Dropout Rate
by Johnnie Whitehead
Financial difficulty is the most important reason why many students
drop-out of North Carolina Central University, according to the Office
of Research, Evaluation and Planning (OREP).
“The population NCCU serves are largely financial aid recipients,”
said Myron Dunston, director of institutional studies. “These people are
more likely to woik to supplement their education.”
Dunston said that NCCU has older, non-traditional students who tend
to have families. As a result, he said, these students carmot take many
hours, which prolongs their graduation.
Inaddition,. Dunstonmade it clear that traditinnally black institution.^
nationwide have this same ixroblem—not just NCCU.
Recent statistics show that NCCU has a low graduation rate and a high
drop-out rate. “We have to put these numbers into context, said
Dumton. “They don’t necessarily mean that students are failing. We
must look at them from a socioeconomic standpoint and incorporate all
of the variables.”
From 1983 to 1989,anaverageof25percent of freshman students that
enrolled each year did not re-enroll the following year. Just over 29
percent of upper class transfers failed to re-enroll, as did 34 percent of
under class transfers, 37.5 percent of master’s enrollees, and 23 percent
of the law students.
From 1983 to 1986, the average Scholastic Aptitude Test score was
681. The graduation rate for first-time freshmen after four years was
11.5 percent and 25 percent after five years.
Ofthe999new freshmen in 1989,221 did not return, a withdrawal rate
of 22 percent Of the 224 under class transfers, 37 percent did not return
in the fall of 1990. Of the 138 new master’s degree students, 31 percent
withdrew. Of the 143 law students, 24 percent withdrew.
In a 1989 study of why students did not re-enroll or continue their
education, 41.9 percent gave as a major factor that “financial aid
received was inadequate”; 37.2 percent checked “tuition and fees more
than I could afford” as a major reason; and for 29.5 percent, not
receiving financial aid was a major factor.
A consistent trend is that financial factors are the most important
reasons why students do not re-enroll. In 1988,27 percent said aid was
inadequate. In 1989,42 percent said likewise.
state, astudentmust come to North
Carolina for the purpose of estab
lishing residency, said Pierce. “If
a person comes only for an educa
tion he is not considered a resi
dent.”
According to Pierce, just because
a student lives off-campus, he or
she is not eligible for residency
based on that criteria alone. “The
manual is 50 pages long and they
must meet all of these require
ments,” he said.
State law cleariy states that if one
is interested in becoming a resi
dent, that person must acquire a
drivers’ license within 30 days.
“Some students fill out the £q)pli-
cation and have just changed Jheir
license to in-state a week before,”
said Pierce. “The 12 months start
from the date of that license.”
Also, if parents still claim a stu
dent as a dependent in another
state, residency wiUnotbe granted.
The main requirements are that
students must work, pay taxes,
register to vote, have a North
Carolina drivers’ license, reside in
North Carolina for at least 12
months with the purpose of estab
lishing residency.
Student Dies After Drinking Contest
GAINESVILLE, Fla.(CPS)- For Larry K. Wooten, 21, a drinking
challenge from his roommates proved fatal.
The University of Florida student died Nov. 5 after drinking 23 shots
of alcohol, authorities said.
Wooten and his three roommates were at a local bar. The Mill, when
Wooten’s roommates challenged him'to break a drinking record.
Wooten downed 23 shots of various kinds of alcohol in one hour,
Gainesville police said. The bar was offering a two-for-one special.
Wooten’s roommates took him home shortly after he finished his
last shot. He later started vomiting and passed out. An ambulance was
called and he was taken to tiro hospital about 2:15 a.m, Wooten was
pronounced dead at 3:45 a.m.
Wooten’s blood alcohol level was not immediately known, but
police say blood alcohol levels that prove fatal are usually about .40.
lire Alachua County Sheriffs Department is investigating the
overdose since it occurred at a bar located outside the city limits.
Charges of Foul Play at Stepshow Denied
by Johnnie Whitehead
A North Carolina Central Uni
versity administrator denies ac
cusations of foul play in the
judging of the homecoming
stepshow.
Roger Bryant, associate vice
chancellor for student affairs, said
that the three judges were not
affiliated with any of the Greek
organizations. “The Pan-Hellenic
Council wanted no students, ad
ministrators or staff,” he said.
“There is a step show committee
on the council that recommended
the procedures.”
In the 1991 Homecoming
Stepshow, the Alpha Kappa Al
pha Inc., sorors won a close de
cision over the sorors of Delta
Sigma Theta. Also, the brothers
of Alpha Phi Alpha walked away
with the crown but many students
and viewers disagreed with the
decision of the judges.
Although the consensus opinion
of the students appear to te that
the judging was “unfair,” Bryant
disagrees. “The audience supports
certain people such as the Deltas
because they are a popular orga
nization,” he said. “It doesn’t
matter if they’re good or bad.”
Bryant also maintains that he
did verify the judges scoresheets.
In addition, he denies rumors that
the same judges have been used
the past five years. “We never had
the same judges,” he said. “The
council selects them.”
It was recommended to let the
audience decide the winners by
applause. However, Bryant said
the Greeks rejected this proposal.
The categories in which the par
ticipants were judged on: a^roar-
ance, originality, synchronicity,
voice clarity, crowd appeal and
continued on page 4
Remember When: An Aerial View of A Growing NCCU in 1958