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CLARK PANTHER, APRIL, 1950
PACHE THREE
The Great
Divide
By
JESSE GIBSON
Seniors In A Student Government •
Quandary Didn’t Work - - Cooper
About this time of year most A
At a recent inter-racial conference held at Berea College, Berea, Ken
tucky, the delegates penetrated that psychological barrier that makes for
inhibition on the part of members of each group when it comes to socializ
ing with each other. Apparently everyone at the conference was having a
joyous time. The mixed group ate, played, slept, and worked together, and
there was no sign of racial resentment or discrimination on the part of any
member or members of either group. As the days passed the degree of
esprit de corps grew. During the sessions members made honest confes
sions. They attempted to see the other fellow’s point of view, and resolved
to try to make racial relations better to the best of their abilities.
On the last day of the conference the feeling of oneness was practi
cally at its highest peak. Then came the GREAT DIVIDE. The members
of each group then had to return to their respective roles that society had
defined for them. At the train station the delegates shook hands, but
avoided looking into each other’s eyes. Some perhaps wondered whether
or not the meeting had been in vain.
Perhaps these inter-racial conferences are helping to alleviate the
friction between the various racial groups. It was expressed by some dele
gates that they really did not know that their everyday activities, ideas,
desires and problems were very similar to the group on the other side of
the fence. Some went so far as to say that this practice of discrimination
was folly, and wondered how Christians could ever be so narrow-minded.
Then on the other hand, they would admit that they were victims of stereo
types, traditions, and propaganda. The average white delegate seemed to
think that he should take the lead in a crusade for the elimination of racial
discrimination. The average colored delegate seems to feel that there are
many prejudiced Negroes and that he should do his utmost to aid in pre
paring them to the point where their reasoning will be as unbiased as
possible.
Many resolutions are made at these conferences, but when parting
time comes there is always the-question of whether or not the meeting will
accomplish any good.
Atty. Belford V. Lawson
Speaks On “Education
For Citzenship"
By FRED ROSS
Before our conscientious student body, Attorney Belford
V. Lawson, President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.,
delivered a powerful and magnetic message. The annual pro
grams of Alpha Phi Capter were brought to a climax with
a stunning and electrifying message. Mr. Lawson is not only
national president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., but
also an attorney at law in our Nation’s Capitol. The programs
were centered around “Education for Citizenship.”
Attorney Lawson made a striking uphold the principles for which we
About this time of year most
Clark seniors exist in an atmos
phere of frustration, struggle and
indecision. They are afraid that
they cannot pass the comprehensive
examination or that they will not
pass in the freshman course that
they must take now because they
ducked it in their freshman year.
Then they are afraid that once they
have left behind these hallowed
halls that have sheltered them from
the hardships of the outside world,
they will not succeed in their cho
sen vocation or profession. For in
this world ruled by the maxim
“each man for himself,” they will
be handicapped in their struggle
for survival by ignorance, preju
dice, hatred, mental inertia and
stupidity.
There is an uneasy feeling that
over a period of four years they
have not completely changed from
frustrated freshmen to competent
individuals who can take what
life has to offer in stride—be it
good or bad. For out there all they
will have as their asset will be a
disproportionately large braincase
well filled with grey matter, intel
lectual processes, application of ru
dimentary logic, mixed with occa
sional flashes of genius, which they
must bring into play at a moment’s
notice.
If bets could be placed upon the
ultimate achievements of these ha
rassed seniors the odds would be
stacked heavily against them. To
hear them’talk about their dark fu
ture one would think that they have
not the solid stuff that life requires
of a man to keep him out of the rut
of mere existence. But I would
place my bet upon these seniors be
cause here at Clark they learned
at least one important fact and that
is that their worst and most signifi
cant enemy will be the person’s
self. And the mere recognition of
this fact will help to pull him
through a clutch.
—J. N. Eberhardt.
By HENRY COOPER
It would be interesting to read
the Alumni column of the Panther
in about 1970. I have often won
dered what part the present Clark-
ites would be playing in American
political life. Sometimes I even
wonder if they will be playing a
part. But a critic can grow just as
weary of pointing out faults as peo
ple can become resentful of criti
cism.
Today, after nine months of ex
perimentation in Student Govern
ment, if we look at the results there
can be but one conclusion—it didn’t
work! If we look at the situation
analytically, however, there can be
no cause for shock or alarm. It
could not have been otherwise un
der the circumstances. Let us look
at the facts together:
In the first place, one of the pri
mary objectives of student govern
ment is to mediate in student-fac
ulty relations. If there can be no
mediation in such relations, then
one of the main objectives in the
program is eliminated. Another ba
sic reason for an organization of
this sort is to encourage initiative
and self expression. If for any rea
son this end cannot be accom
plished, another objective is elimi
nated. After elimination, the pro
gram becomes so circumscribed
that it leaves only enough activity
to give the thinking student a feel
ing of contempt that it should be
called “self government.”
One of the main concepts of dem
ocracy is regard for , the dignity
of the individual, and reciprocally,
the individual’s responsibility to
constituted authority*. It is a posi
tive attitude, and it is logical. Here
we falter. On the one hand is an in
different student community. Noth
ing REALLY makes a difference;
and to think of anything involving
any degree of maturity is absolute
ly boring and useless. Unfortu
nately, this is the attitude of the
overwhelming majority.
On the other hand, most of the
regulations governing students car
ry a negative presupposition, it
would appear. It seems that the
student is always the defendant,
and he is always wrong until he
can establish that he is right. Per
sonnel officials handle every minor
detail of irregularity by law—writ
ten or unwritten. Action is prompt,
and there is no recourse. In most
cases it is not the action that makes
the difference but the procedure.
Perhaps the motive behind this
method is a strong anxiety for the
students to be their best at all
times. But is there not another
side? How independent will these
students be after leaving the influ
ence of such watchful supervision?
Most Clark students have come
from backgrounds where it has
meant very little, if anything, to
them what local government was.
Perhaps this also accounts in part
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Forty Second Generation
Clarkite Enrolled
challenge to the faculty and student
body. In his deliverance, he pointed
out that the students were the best
“seeds” to blossom. “You must be
planted in fertile soil” added At
torney Lawson. “For if you are'
planted in desolate sand, you will
become withered.” His challenge
was: “Are you prepared to live?”
We must accept no less than equali
ty of opportunity.
Attorney Lawson pointed out "the
significance in fraternities and so
rorities joining in the fight for full
citizenship instead of restricting
their activities to campus achieve
ment.
In these perilous times we must
be laborers for humanity instead
of confining our lives to being
strictly mercenary. But go into the
world and join in those fights
which we find ourselves a part of.
Men have died for great causes;
these men must not be forgotten.
The efforts they have made should
give ius corn-age. Attorney Lawson
mentioned Ghandhi, whose last
words were, “Life is not worth
living in the midst of hate and
injustice.” Dr. Charles Drew could
have been a millionaire, but turned
his back on riches to serve man
kind.
Mr. Jacob Henderson launched
the series of programs with a dy
namic address on “Education and
the Vote.” He pointed out the sig
nificance of the vote and the power
it carries. He informed the students
of the importance of the balance
of power, and stated how important
it is to use wisely the vote and to
fight.
One of the consequences of pre
sent education is that this nebulous
concept of liberty has become a
grave obstacle to what is called a
liberal education for all people.
Democracy can be satisfied with
nothing less than a system of edu
cation which consists of a distinc
tive way of life. There has never
been a time in the history of our
country when education has had a
comparable opportunity to justify
our true faith in liberty and de
mocracy as straight road to peace
on earth and good will among all
peoples.
Dean Hamilton
Attends Conference
On April 3, 1950, Dean C. R.
Hamilton left the campus to attend
a conference of the National Asso
ciation of Personnel Deans of Men
and Women and Advisors of Boys
and Girls in Negro Institutions.
The conference was held from April
5th through April 8th at Southern
University, Scotlandsville, Louisi
ana. Its purpose was to discuss
trends in personnel work. The theme
of the conference was “Current
Trends and Needs in Guidance.”
Personnel directors from leading
Negro colleges and high schools
were present. Among the outstand
ing speakers at the conference were
Dr. Ina Bolton and George D. Kel-
say, formerly a professor at More
house College.
Southern University received the
group with southern hospitality.
Hampton Sets
Up New
Program
Hampton, Va. (I.P.)—Students
who enter Hampton Institute as
freshmen in the fall of 1950 will
share a common first year of gen
eral education before deciding their
field of specialization, and will
spend their senior year—or most of
it—off campus in a college-super
vised internship program.
Under the internship for senior
students in all divisions, the college
will be extending to its logical con
clusion—that of “block field work”
—its present experiment of intern
ships for shorter periods in the
trades, in nurse education, and in
some instances in teacher training
and other departments. Near the
end of the senior year students on
internship will return to the cam
pus for final summaries of work,
for comprehensive examinations,
and for graduation.
The main outlines of the instruc
tional organization of Hampton, as
contrasted to the present one, call
for the setting up of two divisions
-—the Lower, or General Education
Division, and the Upper Division,
which would be professional or vo
cational in content.
In the common first year program,
all students would receive general
education in the following Depart
ments: Communications (written
and spoken English and foreign lan
guage), Natural Sciences and Math
ematics, Social Sciences, Music and
Fine Arts, Health and Physical Ed
ucation, and required R. O. T. C.
courses.
By DAUGHTRY THOMAS
It all started back in 1869 when
the Freedmen’s Society of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, now
known as the Board of Education
-for Negroes, founded Clark Uni
versity.
The first location was at White
hall and McDaniel Streets. During
the first years, Bishop Gilbert Ha
ven secured a tract of land of be
tween 400 and 500 acres of the
south side of the city to which the
University was moved in 1872. A
large portion of the funds for the
University was contributed by Mrs.
Augusta Clark Cole, the daughter
of Bishop D. W. Clark, who died in
1872. It was, therefore, decided to
name the new institution Clark
University.
Clark University was changed to
Clark College in 1940. The College
was moved in 1941 from its old site
in the southeast section of the city
to Chestnut Street just opposite
the Administration Building and
the Library of Atlanta University.
This was possible in the main be
cause of several gifts and dona
tions. For this cause the General
Education Board gave the sum of
$750,000, the Rosenwald Founda
tion $100,000, and Mrs. Henry Pfeif
fer of New York City $400,000.
The present unit of buildings is
composed of dormitories for men
and women, each housing over one
hundred students, a student union
and social building with a cafeteria
dining room and general social
rooms, and a large Administratiin
and classroom building.
The dormitories for men and
women have been named Henry
Pfeiffer Hall and Annie Merner
Hall respectively, after the late Mr.
Henry Pfeiffer and his wife, Mrs.
Annie Merner Pfeiffer. Recently a
new dormitory has been built for
women. This building which is mod
ern and unique in all respects has
been named Merrill J. Holmes Hall,
named for Doctor Merrill J.
V
Student Of
The Month
By Marie Young
The Panther Staff takes pride
in presenting to the Clark College
Family, Miss Emma L. Johnson.
Because she was chosen student ol
the month because of her high acli-
ber scholarship and pleasing per
sonality, the staff feels justified in
selecting her as a worthy and es
teemed “Student of the Month.”
jssssssssiMiss Johnson
is a native of
West point, Ga.
H a v in g distin
guished herself
in high school
gs valedictorian,
—’—»* she received two
scholarships to Clark. Here she has
maintained an excellent scholastic
record, receiving all A’s during the
past semester.
She is an Alpha Kappa Soror, a
member of the Y. W. C. A., a
member of the Home Economics
Club, and an officer and active
participant of the church school.
Although active in extra-curric
ula activities, Emma also finds time
for a hobby; she likes to collect and
test new recipes.
We feel that Emma is tops, how
about you?
Holmes, president of Illinois Wes
leyan University, Bloomington, Il
linois. This dormitory was dedicated
during an impressive ceremony on
the eighty-first Founder’s Day ex
ercises—Wednesday afternoon, Feb
ruary 22, 1950.
We who are here now at Clark
cannot overlook the fact that at
present there are forty or more stu
dents whose parents are graduates
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