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Vol. XXXI No. An ATLANTA UNIVERSITY CENTER Institution OCTOBER 4, 1979 Dean McClure Resigns By Michael H. Cottman Panther News Editor Wesley L. McClure, Clark’s former Dean of Faculty and Instruction, said earlier last week he plans to resign from his administrative position due to “personal reasons.” McClure who took on his ad ministrative responsibilities in Aug. 1978, vacated his post September 30. McClure said one of his many concerns surrounding his resignation, was the way in which “Clark’s ad ministration handles managerial affairs.” The faculty sees itself as a separate entity,” McGHure said. “It’s hard to make progress with so many diverse strengths.” McClure said despite problems in the present ad ministration, the entire Clark College staff should be commended. “I don’t know of any other college where the faculty is this competent,” McClure said. McClure also suggested that in any organization where there is personal interaction, problems are bound to arise. McClure, who performed the same administrative duties at Lane College prior to coming to Clark, said although Clark’s administration “is not as ad vanced as I had anticipated,” black colleges as a whole have their share of errors. Although McClure said his 14 month experience at Clark “will be hard to forget,” he said he has “no remorese ” concern ing his resignation, adding “I feel I made the right decision.” McClure said in order to complete a full day of ad ministrative responsibilities, he was forced to work 12 to 16 hours a day. He said the “intense pres sures” of day-to-day activities also played a major role in his decision to resign. “I was taking my job home with me, and I was not spen ding an adequate amount of time with my family,” he con See Related Story - Pg, 3 Dean McClure displays school spirit. (Photo by Gwinn) tinued. “But I guess I brought most of that upon myself. A job had to be done.” McClure said he attempted to make Clark’s faculty stronger, while moving students and faculty members together in an effort to get them both to strive to reach a common goal. ‘The dean’s office must con tain integrity, character and compassion,” he said. “Itmust also be a place where students can talk. I feel I have ac complished these goals.” McClure suggested “the community” does not fully understand the purpose of his job. “The dean’s office is the most important position at the college,” he said. “Clark College has a lot of competent instructors,’’ McClure said. “But the at mosphere needs to be cultivated. It takes practice.” McClure labeled his primary reason for resigning as a “Need to deal with higher education.” “It’s not the money,” McClure said. “I want to be effective in the management of black colleges on another level,” McClure said, referring to an outside consulting pos tion. Although McClure would not elaborate on his next job assignment, he did say however, “the amount of job offers I have been receiving have been tremendous.” McClure praised his .successor Dr. Winfred Harris who will relieve McClure of his post Oct. 1. McClure, who said he has tremendous respect for Harris, added “I feel confident he will do a fine job.” Harris, who is presently chairman of the Biology department, said he is looking forward to a “new kind of challenge,” adding he is honored to be selected to as sume greater responsibilities. Harris has been a member of the Clark College family since 1958, and has served as the department head for six years. Clark College President, Dr. Elias Blake Jr., said he “tried to encourage McClure to stay on, but the dean had made his decision.” Blake said McClure performed his duties “very well” during his academic year at Clark. “We had a good working relationship, Blake said. “His resignation came as a shock to me, and this will be a loss to Clark. I do feel however, that Dr. Harris will do a fine job.” Registration Still A Hassle By Angela Esannason Panther Staff Writer The enrollment figure at Clark College skyrocketed, so Clark has more students enrolled than ever before. Since Clark College’s foun ding in 1869, there has never been so many students enrolled in the institution until this semester. Some 2,031 students registered at Clark and the figure was 181 more than was anticipated ac cording to some ad ministrative officials. Although this may seem as a great achievement in Clark’s history, the high enrollment figure helped cause many of the institution’s registration problems. Additional instructors were hired to alleviate some of the overload that was placed on many faculty instructors, especially for the freshmen and sophomore courses. Some four full time and sixteen part- time instructors were hired, ac cording to Dean Wesley McClure, Former Associate Dean. Another problem was the in sufficient amount of classroom chairs available and the relocating of classes in rooms that were not being used, McClure said. The problem, he said, was ironed out by the first week of school. “Just the matter of working with so many students in the time that we did it was a monumental achievement on the staff,” McClure said. Other problems encountered during registration could have been prevented if all the students had pre-registered, filled out a financial aid ap plication and followed through with it, said many of the ad ministrative officials. “Students must learn to take care of their obligations if the registration process is suppose to work,” said Nathaniel Williams, Director of Business Affairs. Some of the stations during the process became backed up, especially the fee assessment station, said Roy Bolton, Director of Personnel. Bolton said, “Nothing is wrong with the process, but we need to be prepared to make sure the process will work right.” ; “We don’t need computers. The problem is money,” Bolton said. He added that if the students have the money, there will be no problems ‘ The students do not foot the entire bill at this institution,” Williams said. He said that the students pay only 78 percent of the unrestricted education and general budget which “in cludes student tuition and fees,” and that figure is not for the total budget,” he said. “The students pay 78 percent of the$6,759,000 education and general budget, but the total budget for this year is $9,720,000,” Williams said. He added that the other 22 percent not paid by the students, the president “has to beg for.” This includes gifts, grants, foundations, and money from the alumni, he said. Why the unanticipated enrollment figure? According to Williams, more students were able to get more money because more federal monies were made easier. Dean McClure’s explanation for the high enrollment was that students are electing to come to black institutions instead of junior colleges and white college and universities because of identity. McClure added that students have more faith in black college to give them a good education, and the black colleges in turn provide a wider curriculum. Dr. Gloria Scott, vice- president of Clark along with Dean McClure said that Clark t continued on page 3