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(USPS 091-380)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1987
TELEPHONE (919) 682-2913
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1987 Legislature Reveals Politics
Versus Civil Rights Split
By Milton Jordan
[Al.EKiH — The 1987
jjtal Assembly that recently
opleted one of the longest ses-
,s on record made history on
eral levels.
(as the largest contingent of
(jean American representatives
l(— and the largest number
yricah American legislators
liting legislative committees -
An Analysis
fliis session also had the
jfst number of freshman
islators, as well as the largest
uber of Republican represen-
ivts.
one of the potentially most
(oric facts about the 1987
jtral Assembly went largely
noticed.
Ibis was the subtle, but signifi-
11 shift in the relationships bet-
African American
islators and several of the
traditional civil rights
tiers.
Iwo examples clearly indicate
shift.
la one instance, the African
letican Legislative Caucus
itled quietly behind the scenes
jet long time Democratic Par-
ind civil rights leader E.B.
tier off the Board of Cover
ts of the N.C. University
ISejust felt that E.B. had ldst'
effectiveness,” explained one
slaior who discussed the
lind-the-scenes maneuvering
If on the condition that he not
identified. “We were not
ised with the voice that he
jjected on the Board of Gover-
So we felt it was time for a
v voice.”
That new voice is J.J. Johnson
Fairmont, a former state
islator.
Several factors in how Turner,
«se term on the Board of
ivetnors had expired, was
[laced makes this a significant
».
Historically, African
lericans charged with working
in the interest of African
American people, took their
direction and marching orders
from civil rights leaders. Never
would a group of elected officials
have taken such a unilateral ac
tion on their own.
In addition, for many years,
long time civil rights leaders were
untouchable. They could not be
publicly evaluated, criticized or
removed.
Turner’s removal shows that
that relationship has changed.
A similar shift in the relation
ship was revealed during
legislative debate over a bill in
troduced and shepherded
through the general assembly by
H.M. (Mickey) Michaux
(D-Durham). Michaux’s bill
completely rewrites how Superior
Court judges are nominated for
statewide election, and makes it
possible for as many as ten new
African American Superior
Court judge candidates to be on
the next ballot.
Michaux’s efforts in the
General Assembly were in direct
response to two suits filed against
the state’s method of electing
superior court judges. One of the
suits was filed by the N.C.
NAACP Conference of State
Branches, headed by Kelly Alex
ander, Jr. of Charlotte.
Alexander, a long time civil
rights leader, whose father was
the principal NAACP leader in
the state for more than five
decades, would have traditionally
carried virtually unquestioned
clout.
Historically, it would have
been unthinkable for a legislator
to introduce a bill designed to cir
cumvent efforts plotted by civil
rights leaders, especially state and
national NAACP leaders.
Michaux explains the un
characteristic move simply.
“I feel that we have more con-
(Continued On Page 3)
North Carolina Central University ’Vice Chancellor Robert S. Poole, left, and Chancellor Tyronza R. Rich
mond, right, welcomed Tony Brown to Durham and NCCU recently. Casting is underway for the veteran
journalist’s first feature film, “The White Girl,” to be shot at NCCU and in Durham during September.
Some 200 NCCU students, faculty, and staff are expected to appear as extras in the anti-drug film.
NCCU Opens Facing New Challenges, Opportunities
By Milton Jordan
North Carolina Central
University opened its 1987-88
academic year this week with one
of its largest freshman classes, its
traditional housing problems, a
new chancellor finishing his first
year as head of the university,
and new challenges in positioning
the historically African American
institution.
An Analysis
In addition, university officials
begin final preparation for an ex
haustive self-study that is critical
to the university having its ac
creditation renewed two years
from now.
As part of a new marketing ef
fort, the university is also setting
itself to recognize the 20th an
niversary of its touring choir
which occurs two years from
now, as does the 50th anniversary
of the NCCU School of Law.
On the downside, university
officials are also trying quietly to
make sure that student fraternal
activities don’t create a hazing in
cident similar to one that resulted
in four students being seriously
injured last year.
And so, many university of
ficials agree that the 1987-88
academic year is pivotal, a year
that will set this school’s direc
tion for several more years.
A part of that direction is to
strengthen the university’s inter
nal structure.
“One of the first objectives I
had when I became chancellor
was to develop a strong ad
ministrative team,” explained
Dr. Tyronza Richmond. “We
have put that team together.”
Two new members of that
team include Dr. Mickey Burnim,
vice chancellor for academic af
fairs; and vice chancellor for
financial affairs. In the process
of building a new management
team, Dr. Richmond aiso named
two other new vice chancellors
and two new deans during his
first year as chancellor.
Another aspect of building the
university’s internal structure, ac
cording to Dr. Richmond, is to
improve the level and quality of
research done by the faculty. Dr.
Richmond says NCCU’s faculty
should concentrate its efforts on
local and regional issues.
A good example is the recent
Kellogg Foundation Fellowship
won by Dr. Clarence Brown,
NCCU’s director of Public Ad
ministration Program. He will
study mass transportation
systems in several cities in this
country, as well as abroad, in
search of a clue as to how the
Triangle area might best ap
proach its own transnortatirm
problems.
Another part of that faculty
development effort included the
recent announcement of 16 facul
ty members recognized as
outstanding teachers and
scholars.
Dr. Burnim announced the
names of eight faculty members
recognized as outstanding
scholars and eight recognized as
outstanding teachers during the
opening session of a two-day
faculty institute on campus last
week.
(Continued On Page 3)
Dr. Lenora Fulani
Says Democracy Needs
A New Chance
‘Star
Wars’
SEATTLE — A Boeing 767 reportedly modified for use in President Reagan’s “Star Wars’' strogram sits
on the tarmac at Boeing Field in Seattie awaiting its first flight test. The piane wiii fieid a hugh optical, beat
detecting sensor Inside a raised cupola that is designed to detect missile warheads. The sensor, about the size
of a car, travels on a rail inside the'cupola and reportedly can detect the heat of a human body 1,000 miles
away. (UPI Photo)
By Milton Jordan
Dr. Lenora Fulani says she has
three basic reasons for wanting to
be on the 1988 Presidential ballot
as an independent candidate.
They are:
* An independent candidate
with a progressive message will
attract votes from people who are
not currently participating in
democracy.
* As a candidate, her platform
would help broaden the scope oi
the presidential debate, beyond
trade issues and the deficit.
* If, as an independent can
didate, she got at least one
million votes, it would establish
the viability of a third party in
this country,
“There are many people out
there today in America who are
far more progressive than either
of the two parties,” she said dur
ing a recent interview in Durham.
“But many of those people simp
ly aren’t participating in the pro
cess because they don’t see
anyone out there who represents
them and their thinking. My can
didacy offers them an
alternative.”
Dr. Fulani, who holds a doc
torate degree in developmental
psychology and is director of the
Community Clinics of the In
stitute for Social Therapy and
Research in New York, is also an
executive board member of the
New Alliance Party.
Fulani, 37, is leading a cam
paign to have an independent
candidate on the 1988 presiden
tial ballot, but she is fighting an
uphill battle. To have such a can
didate on the national ballot,
Fulani and her New Alliance Par
ty must get 750,000 signatures of
registered voters throughout the
50 states on petitions calling for
such a candidacy.
“In order to get the valid
signatures we neeu, ’ she explain
ed, "we will really need to collect
about 1.5 million signatures.”
Fulani, who is the only African
American woman to run for
Governor of New York State,
DR. FULANI
was in North Carolina recently,
visiting several cities to give im
petus to the petition drive. Dur
ing her interview, she discussed
some of the obstacles the drive
faces in the state, particularly in
Durham.
“The mall owners here have
refused to allow our workers to
collect signatures on their mall
property,” she said, “and the
N.C. Supreme Court has upheld
their right to keep us off. This
simply means that the bloc of
wealthy folks in this state who are
afraid of the message we bring
are really determining who can
participate in democracy in
North Carolina, and the level of
'that participation.”
But Fulani, who made front
page headlines during her 1986
candidacy for governor in New
York by refusing to repudiate
Nation of Islam leader Louis Far-
rakhan, said this and other
obstacles won’t stop the NAP.
“Many people on the street,
some of whom don’t necessarily
agree with our positions, are sign
ing our petition because they say
that, we deserve to be heard.”
In North Carolina, the New
Alliance Party has to collect
50,000 valid voter signatures',
which means the group of
vgluatSP£S_will have to get about
(Continued On Page 2)