The editor
speaks...
"In which the editor appears from nowhere, places himself on your tender
mercies, and then disappears forevermore - unless ye seek him out."
After having toyed with addressing you with a somber, egomanical statement
like "I am your new editor and will be producing the Journal for you for the
next year, etc. etc.", I thought that I would suggest some ways that you can use
YOUR paper to your best advantage. Granted, these avenues have always been
open to you, but very few have taken advantage of them in the past. And as you
probably well know, any person or organization is only as good as its inputs. We
welcome any and all input, good or bad, scatological or praiseworthy, written or
verbal (no violence please, our staff members are so vital and few you might
knock out a whole page.)
Well, here they are, in no particular order at all:
letters - Letters can be about anything at all and generally fall into two
categories. The printable and unprintable. We can tell the printable ones from the
unprintable ones because the unprintable ones ask us not to print them. Both
kinds are valuable. With the first we fill up space and get your views before the
University community and, with the second, we get your opinion on some aspect
of something that for some reason you don't want publicized. It would be greatly
appreciated if you would sign your name so perhaps we could get together and
discuss the matter. If you request. The Journal will hold your name in the
strictest confidence. The main thing is we want to know how you feel about
what's happening - with us or anything.
EDITORIAL RESPONSES. - If we write an editorial or article that just makes
your blood boil or even something you agree with, let us know. Writing this kind
of thing is good for the soul, releases tensions, and could_ perhaps accomplish
something. You write it, we'll read it - and print it if you don't tell us not to.
CALENDAR - Items for the calendar include group meetings, events, activities,
movies, orgies and the like. They should include all pertinent information. All
impertinent information, we reserve the right to edit, rearrange and make
comprehensible if it's not already. Keep 'em short and sweet.
CLASSIFIEDS - It is of perpetual amazement to me that as I stroll around
campus I see things tacked on bulletin boards all over. The usual patter seems to
be to make up a bunch of them on 3 x 5 index cards and stick them everywhere.
If somewhere in this process you would give one to us we would run it
space permitting, in your paper- which, by the way, is read by more than 5,000
people very week. Maybe you don't think it's worth it - I do.
LEADS FOR STORIES - If you think there's something we should be writing
about and we aren't, why don't you tell us about it? We'll either change our ways
or tell you why.
JOIN THE STAFF - If you're interested, we'll put you to work. Drop by the
Journal office in B-4 in the University Center. If no one's there, leave your phone
number and we'll give you a call. There's not much time left this year but there s
always next year.
That's about all. The rest is up to you.
The
black
and
cable
' by don keaton
Black people must come to see the
broadcasting airwaves as property of
the people and realize that the media
has the potential to shape their vision
of themselves and the world. Blacks
were denied the opportunity to
participate as policy niakers in
over-the-air broadcasting. There is now
an opportunity for participation in the
direction of the communications
network of the future. I'm refering to
cable television.
Cable television is growing in
importance to manpower and
economic development all over the
world. It can provide two-way visual
communications, public services,
computer hook-ups, program branks of
video tapes. Cable television could well
become complementary to and
competitive with commercial
broadcasting. It is time that
community needs, not corporate
interests, determine the direction of
the communications network.
The implications for the black and
poor communities are clear. It is
imperative that blacks assure their
legitimate perrogatives in this new and
exploding medium.
The Federal Communications
Commission first exercised jurisdiction
over Cable television (CATV) in 1962,
establishing final rules in 1965 for
those systems which received signals by
microwave. Originally developed for
improved reception in mountain areas,
CATV quickly spread to urban regions.
Broadcasters, telephone companies,
theater owners became aroused by
CATV's challenge. The FCC then
established rules which restricted
CATV from entering into top markets.
This stoped it potential.
Recently the FCC has proposed
rules governing CATV which might
open up its great economic potential.
It is even considering banning
broadcast station owners from owning
the cables in their areas. Recently the
Commission issued new policy
statements which opened the door to
future CATV. A flood of cable
operators and new competitors have
been rushing city and local
t.Y.
governments in pursuit of franchises to
build CATV networks. The future is
clear; The telecommunications
industry is expanding rapidily. This
means jobs and business opportunities
will be created.
At present, about 2500 CATV
systems are operating in the U.S.
serving 6 percent of the population. By
1980, 85 percent of TV reception in
the United States will be by cable
based on a report by the Quantum
pages of opinion
UNCC
Opinions of the Journal are
expressed on its editorial pages
and all unsigned editorials are
the majority opinion of the
Editorial Board. Letter and
columns represent only the
opinions of the individual
writers. Opposing views
may be printed by
contacting the
Editor.
Science Corporation. Jobs will bo
created for black film makers,
producers, directors, etc. Jobs
connected with installation,
manufacturing, and repair.
Minorities must not allow to slide,
either through oversight or neglect, this
unique opportunity to influence and
own CATV systems. CATV is destined
to dominate the communications
network of the cities. However,
minorities and local CATV owners are
not the only special interest groups
aware of the potential. Broadcasters
and telephone companies as well as
some of America's largest industrial
complexes are well aware.
Thirty seven percent of the
ownership of CATV is already in TV or
broadcasting interests. Minorities must
be prepared to deal with, and to
outdeal the competition; to assert their
right to a fair share of ownership
within the community.
It was to achieve this end — black
ownership of cable TV within the
nations major cities, that BEST (Black
Efforts for Soul in Television) was
formed. William D. Wright, the
national coordinator for BEST state in
Black Business Digest that
responsiveness, diversity and
accessibility are absent from
over-the-air conmercial broadcasting,
but must be present in Cable television.
This is only possible if CATV is
locally-operated; if existing media
(radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, and
telephone companies) do not own or
operate Cable TV; if the cost of buying
air time is low and available to all,
regardless of political beliefs. It is
important that the community »ntrol
the decision making process in the
determination of programming and
ownership.
The time has come for the Black
community to reap the benefits of this
industry of the future.
-t
The process takes
by Iloyd rose and
With all the "new" grading projxjsals in the air, one can't help but wonder
what is going through the heads of the people who are making them up. Are they
trying to devise something that is more punitive than the present system? It
apF>ears in all the proposals advanced heretofore that this is the case. When the
actual grade policy is lightened, the requirements to stay in school are tightened.
The framers of these proposals seem to be agreed that the present system is
inzKiequate - the question is how to change it so that it is equitable and amenable
both to students and to faculty. In other words - a compromise.
With any grading system certainly there are drawbacks, however the existing
system can be made responsive with just two simple changes :
1) The institution of a system of F deletion. This means that if you took a
course and failed it you could take it again and if you passed the F would be
deleted and the grade you made the second time would be substituted.
2) The implementation of unlimited withdrawals from courses whether you are
passing of failing up until the week before exams. In other words, unlimited
drops.
3) The maintanance of the present system of quality point ratio to credit
hours.
It is not the purpose of education to confine and constrict - even
punish-students for not making "satisfactory" program. If a student is dedicated
enough to deep taking courses he has failed under this system, before he flunks
out of school then he is demonstrating "satisfactory" progress. Since the same
quality point ratio to credit hours would remain in effect, a student would be
placed on academic probation or suspended just the same as under the present
system unless he, on his own initiative, retook the courses that he had failed,
thereby demonstrating the required proficiency in the subject. This would take
place without the student's record being clouded with the stigma of an F in a
its
toll
course in which he later made a better grade.
The punitive aspects of the present system would be erased with a system of
unlimited drops. Since a student signs up of a course, should he not be the one
whodec ides when he should leave it? Most of us know when we are no longer
benefitmg from a course (especially when we're failing it). One of the worse
feelings in the whole of our college experience is to be caught in a course in which
we are no longer interested, but can't leave because of failing grades. In some
instances, there is no possible way to pass and there is no way out. This is
tantamount to being forced to fail.
There are perhaps as many reasons to abolish the bad aspects of the present
system as there are to keep the good ones. If we have to measure progress, why
not do it ih a way that is least harmful to the people who are involved. Sure, there
will be abuses in a system of this kind, just as there are abuses under the system
that is now in existence. But, if changes are to be made, let's make them for the
better-not for the worst.
page four/the journal/april 18, 1972