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W.EDITORIAL( JAND OPINIONJ PAGE -d f Wo Cannot Know Whin Wo Am Qolng IV Wl Don't Know Whom Wo'vo Boon... So fittingly we honor pur Pioneer Fathers i AS I 1 SEEITj by Brace Barton PEMBROKE IS HOME OF PEMBROKE STATE UNIVERSITY Pembroke is the econo mic and spiritual capitol of the legendary Lumbee Indian community--and it is also home of Pembroke State University. And PSU Chan cellor Paul Given s has prob lems with those two facts. But he can't escape reality. The name is Pembroke State University, not Lumberton University...or some other, as Givens see it, more melodious sounding place. Too, Pem broke State University's founders were Indians of Robeson County, and no one else. One cannot know where he (or she) is going if they do not know where they have been. The university's future is wedded to its past. And anyone who attempts to deny that fact is playing a fool's game. The school was initially begun to educate Indians because non Indians did not want us to go to school with them. And we Indians pro nounce it "Pern-brook" as the Elizabethans used to say it. I just wish university officials would quit casting aspersions on the name of our town, face reality andput their energies and talents into improving the quality of the school, buttress up the pitiful school spirit, and become part of the community fully by develop ing a teaching school, deal resolutely with the housing situation, and happily support Pembroke. We Indians ain't going anywhere, and neither is the school. Count me as one of those opposed to changing the name of the school again, it is time to quit this silly name game mess and get on with the task of building a quality regional university that all of us can be proud of. Changing the name will not improve the quality of the school; chang ing the name of the school will not improve attendance at sporting events; nor encour age recalcitrant faculty mem bers and administrators to live in and support the town that hosts Jhe place where they make their decent liv ings. Only a resolute determi nation to improve the quality of life can do that, and that includes Pembroke--a good and decent place to live and work and play. The fact that an Indian made the motion to change the name of the school does not make it acceptable to the majority of us. We know it is subtle racism asserting itself., and Indians forgetting their noble heritage. It is simply, as I see it, another case of an Indian being used to do a non Indian's bidding. Count me out! And where is Pembroke State University located? Why Pembroke of course. And Pembroke is where it will stay. Always. EDITORIALS... JAMBS A. HUNT CASE RAISES OUESTIONS M Springs-Hake County H ant pleaded gaBty to luck less Irhlai but week la naniillia with an aRagsd high-speed ckue la Jnly. Feu other charge* la cen aectlea with the toddent wen Bebeeea County District Judge Charles G. McLean (toed Heat S100 sad ordered him to ea good behavior for two yetoal Hunt said he pleaded guilty ea the advice at his attorney "to get It eat of court aad get It oat at the news." "This was Jest the easiest way oat," Haat said. "Most anybody could get a speedtog ticket, and that's what this amounts to." The charges grew oat of an incident last July 30 daring which a sheriff's deputy al legedly chased Haat at speeds up to 100 mile* an how for a period of 20 to 25 mhmtes. Deputy Mitchell Norrls has alleged that at about 11 a.m. he saw Hunt in a car that was speeding along Rural Road 1754, abotit three miles north of Rennert. Norrls said he followed the car several miles Into Hoke County until he loot sight of It at an Intersection about two miles east of Fort Bragg. Norrls said he recog nized Hunt as the driver. In addition to the reckless driving charge, Hunt had been cited for speeding In excess of 100 mph In a 55 mph zone, failure to stop for a blue light and siren, a stop sign violation, and driving left of center. But there's more to It than this. A state trooper, AJ. Benson missed a court ap pearance as a potential wit ness in the case and said he failed to show up because his truck broke down. His ab sence caused at least one postponement in the case. On Wednesday (the day following his missed appearance] Bea son testified In the Robe sonlan, telling a reporter that "He (Hunt] thinks 1 am going to Re for him, bat I'm not had thought that-Booaoa Twa questions raatla.' What la God's mm waa a V*J rhsrtng a Hake that ShullTa Deputy Norria waa aver laalaaa ta say the least. Aad what waa a atata shkTof^tkiOgs ta a newspaper reporter the aext day? It makes yea waadar! amply chastised. It wll be latereatlng ta aac If tha aherlff'a depaty [tha aae chaahig can late Hoke Coun ty] aad the atate troaper (tha oae teatifying ia tha news paper] will be reprimanded by their aaperlon. It aeeaia to aa that none of the participants tn thla petty meaa baa any thing to be proad of, especial ly the law enforcement peo ple. They onght ta kaow better. JOSH BROOKS TRIBUTE DAY We coaaead Joah Brooks Tribute Day to all our readers, and encourage eve ryone to come out to Pate Stadium [on the Scotland High Campuaj in Lauiinburg and honor the memory of little Joah Brooks by helping others to live. The big day ia Saturday, November 3, with varloua activities, including a cele brity auction, and an ap pearance by Country Music Star Razzy Bailey, beginning at 10 a.m. with a parade In downtown Lauiinburg. [See details elsewhere in thla is sue.) Little Josh Brooks was the brave little boy who died after a liver transplant earlier this year. His name and memory denotes bravery and dignity. And the sponsoring organization, the Joah Brooks Living Memorial Transplant Association, Is his living testimony. JOIN US 1. The Team 2. The Record 3. The Ability ? ?< win J^TLIV^BS Panting * IlAVING with ^?M*j Ibatjg+Z GIVENS GTV1N' INDIANS THE SHAFT Well, folk! Danged if it don't look like - Indians have been manipulated and used against their fellow Indians once again in order for certain white folk to get what they want. It's sad. But true! I'm referring to the 13-member Pembroke State University Board of Trustees voting unanimously Friday to endorse changing the name of the school. 1 believe 5 of the 13 Board members are Indians. I believe it has been Chancellor Paul Givens' pet project every since taking over the reins six years ago to change the name of PSU to the University of North Carolina at ?Pembroke. "Croatan Normal School," the forerunner of Pembroke State University, began in 1887 with a $500 appropriation from the General Assembly. You see, because of the Consti tutional Revision of 1835, Indians of Robeson and adjoining counties were officially recog nized as "Free Persons of Color." Their rights were disenfranchised. Our ancestors lost the right to vote. Were not allowed to bear arms without a special court permit. And, possibly worst of all. no monies were appropriated for schools to educate the Indians. Our ancestors suffered 50 years of imposed ignorance. That's why the Indian camp was excited in 1887 when the "Croatan Normal School" was made possible by the $500 appropriation. But, there was one stipulation in the legislation; local Indians would have to furnish the building in which the all-Indian school would be housed. As usual, my ancestors responded to the challenge. Local Indians donated time, labor and materials and the dream of a school for Indians became a reality.$ However, true to the character of white folk who stole the Indians' land, an intense campaign was undertaken almost immedi ately after the school began for local whites to take over the school. The school underwent a long list of name changes. Each name change took the school one step further away from its rich and noble Indian roots. A CONDENSED BACKWARDS GLANCE In 1911 the school's name was changed to the "Indian Normal School of Robeson County." Thirty years later, in 1941, it was changed to "Pembroke State College for Indians." In 1949, the "for Indians" was dropped and the name was shortened to "Pembroke State College." For twenty years following renaming the school to "Pembroke State College" 1 feel ? that an intense campaign was undertaken 'to de-Indianize the school. Then, in 1969, "Pembroke State College" received university status and became "Pembroke State University." This was the beginning of the whitewashing of the once all-Indian school, as far as I'm concerned. Then, alas, in 1972, "Pembroke State University" became a part of the 16 member "University of N.C. System." And this sealed the school's doom. Practically all traces of lndian-ness began to disappear from the campus. A liberal coat of white was applied to the whole university. And, as far as I'm concerned, since Paul Givens took over as Chancellor of the University 6 years ago, the white-washing of the institution has become almost complete. You see. the way I see it, a number of white folk-and a smidgeon of pitifully misinformed Indians (many of whom don't live around here)--seem to think that one final red stain remains to tarnish the white image of Pembroke State University. That stain, as far as I'm concerned, is being associated with the Town of Pembroke. You see, Pembroke is the heart of the Indian community around these parts and is the fastest-growing town in Robeson County. The more Pembroke pro gresses, the more attention is drawn to the smidgeon of Indian-ness that remains at Pembroke State University. Folk can say what they please. But 1 feel that this is the whole heart of the matter as far as the name change is concerned. It appears a handful of folk seem to have trouble differentiating between the word "Pembroke" and the word "In dian." They equate one word with the other. When they think of Pembroke, they auto matically think of Indian. Or, when they think of Indian, they automatically think of Pembroke. I feel that this is why Chancellor Givens and cohorts want to take the "Pembroke" from in front of "Pembroke State University" and put it behind the university, making the name "THE UNI VERSITY OF N.C. at Pembroke." Not "PEMBROKE State University." Heckl It appears to me that the whole university would like to put its rich Indian past as far behind it as humanly possible. So, symbolically, Givens and folk seem to be sending us cloudy and contaminated smoke signals. Symbolically, they are telling us they want the University to become as far removed from its rich Indian past and roots as possible. Not because they are mean-spirited people. Heavens, no! It's a matter of good business sense to them, I believe. You see, over 59% of the enrollment at PSU is white. It makes good business sense to cater to the millions of white folk in the state. Afterall, only 24% of the PSU enrollment is Indian. And there are only some 60.000 Indians in the whole state. The onlv danger to this is that far too often while looking forward to the future, if one fails to occasionally glance backwards at where he came front, his character and integrity suffers. Such, I feel, is the case with Pembroke State University. Now, 1 ask you- Will you join me in turning a deat ear to the strange smoke signals emanating from the University? We can do this by calling our legislators and voicing our opposition to the name change. You see. if the UNC Board of Governors recommends the name change, when it meets in November, to the leegislature, as I'm sure it will, the cause will be all-but lost. Or will you become complacent and whitewashed like the Indian members of the PSU Board seemed to do when they went along with Givens? I personally do not gscfibe to these folks' seemingly sad and erroneous delusion that minorities need to be led around like puppets on a string. Heck! 1 dare say, if Indians of Robeson and elsewhere don't wise up. we run the risk of hanging ourselves with the same string folk have been using for centuries to manipulate us around with. That string, my friends, is ourselves. Think about it! For the record, here is a list of the Indian members of the PSU Board of Trustees: James Hammonds, Albert Hammonds, Bur lin Lowrv, Ira Pate Lowry and Grady Oxendine. As far as I'm concerned, the action of the Indian members of the PSU Board of Trustees voting to recommend the name change ads credence to the old saying: "One rotten apple spoils the barrel." It's sad. But it's true. Indeed, we are our own worst enemy. We'll talk later, folk. Exercise Freedom, Vote Tuesday BE SURE AND VOTE ON TUESDAY The election Tuesday will not be complete and aa mean ingful aa It ought to be unleaa yon vote. Your vote doe* count, make no; doubt about It. And, of course, vote for who you want to. The trick ster*, pollsters, and Idealogl c?l sere amen have had thefc say. It Is oar tara bow. Tuesday, November 6, is an Important day for ail of us. Exercise yoar freedom. Vote! Or. Sherwood Hinaon. Jr. LUMBERTON CHIROPRACTIC CENTER > 4904 Fay*tt?vill? Rd. IN SALEM SQUARE THE NEWEST PROFESSIONAL PARR. HEADACHES? There Really Is An Answer tfs Chiropractic PM Care p ? ? Lumber-ton Chiropractic Center EMERGENCY NUMBER 73E-73M 4904 Fayftttftvllle Rd. SALEM SQUARE 73>-3t00
The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
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