Newspaper Page Text
THE ORGAN OF STUDENT EXPRESSION
VOLUME XXLVIII, No. 9 MOREHOUSE COLLEGE, ATLANTA, GEORGIA APRIL, 1967
EDITOR’S DESK
For the past
two years we
have had do-
nothing Student
Government As
sociations. The
fault lies in the
fact that we, as
voting members
of the student
body, have put
sorry men into
office.
We often
Harold J. Farris vote for a man
Editor because he is a
member of this or that fraternity or this
or that power group. What we do not real
ize is that we should put the best men in
office that we can possibly elect.
When David Satcher was president
of the S.G.A., we had a do-something
S.G.A. The three-day study period was
initiated; the ground was broken for the
honor system; students participated in
the sit-in demonstrations downtown; and
ground was broken for the abolishment
of chapel. Mr. Satcher got things moving
the way that they should.
He was followed into the top office
by Paul Walker in 1963—1964. David
Walker followed Paul Walker in 1964—
1965. These two men carried out many
of the programs that Mr. Satcher did not
complete. They were somewhat not as
effective as Satcher, but they did make
some progress toward making Morehouse
a better school.
In 1965—1966, things got worse.
For all practical reasons, we had no
leadership, no S.G.A. We brought this
upon ourselves for electing this type of
leadership. We voted for our emotions,
rather than for good leadership.
This year, I had the opportunity to
serve on a terrible administration. This
one was so poorly administered that we
stopped having meetings last November!
So far, nothing constructive has been
done.
To decide not to decide is a de
cision. Therefore, I can say that a de
cision was made in 1966 — 1967. Of
course high-sounding speeches were
made. Promises were made, but the fact
of the matter is that nothing was done
to keep us moving at Satcher’s pace — or
at any real pace, for that matter.
The Social and Cultural Affairs
Committee showed much promise the
first semester, but it was let down by
the S.G.A. The S.G.A. did not move in
to straighten out the course of this
energetic organization.
The problem of what to do about
the unused meal tickets was unsettled
again. Nothing was said about the fact
that guys must keep their coats on
through Sunday dinner. In general, noth
ing was done.
This year, the S.G.A. had a chance
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 2-COLUMN 1)
ELECTIONS NEARING
It is now time for us to elect another
ineffectual student government. Candi
dates will again attack our infirmary, the
food in the cafeteria and the administra
tion; and we will be in another one of
our gaseous elections.
We will once again see the signs clutter
ing up our beautiful campus announcing
the coming of a “Black Jesus” with a
plan in his hand, false sincerety, empty
promises, etc.
We will overwhelmingly put the wrong
man into office as true Georgians will
do. In 1967-1968, we will wonder why we
did it.
This time vote for the man, whether you
like him or not, but put the best men into
the offices contested.
We have a chance to get Morehouse
moving again. Let us take that chance.
Let us put a group of men with ideas into
the responsible positions and end the
foot-dragging that we have had in the
past two years.
The cho ice is up to us!
WHERE IS THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT?
The purpose of this brief attack is to
level charges against the Morehouse
College Student Government. Where is it?
What has it been doing to process the
many complaints and problems of the
student body — for example, the problem
of the draft. Has this student government
written a letter of protest to the Johnson
Administration concerning the change of
draft requirements in the middle of a war?
What about the problem of heat in the
units? Has this student government drawn
up petitions to the college administration
on these problems?
The function of a student government
is threefold. First, it is to organize social
activities for the student body when other
channels of social gatherings have been
closed off. This, the present student
body has been trying to do. Secondly, it
seeks to offer a board of governance for
the distribution of student funds and the
airing of the grievances concerning the
problems of student government, such
problems as allocation of resources and
conference funds on the one hand, and
the problems of electing officials and
Maroon and White girls on the other.
But in the main, the function of a student
government is to give a joint, united voice
to the students in their battle with the
administration. And so I again ask the
question: during the cold wave, during
the overcrowded dorm conditions, during
the lack of study hall space, where is
student government?
Now, whose fault is this? Let me be
clear: my accusation is against the student
government and not against any particular
student, though all have been guilty. But
it is the problem of leadership. Without a
strong, concerned leader, there is no
power. Now, let’s look at this straight:
what is wrong with presidential leader
ship? The main problem is that the pres
ident is chosen from the Senior Class.
Seniors are rarely good presidents, be
cause they are afraid of not graduating.
They are afraid of adminstrative press
ures at the most critical point in their
lives. Most of all, they are too busy to
see to the business of the students. Why
not choose the president from the Junior
Class? This means that the president
would be chosen from the present Sopho
more Class (they would be juniors next
year).
Now what would be the advantages?
First, they would still have some of the
bold spirit of their freshman-sophomore
days. Secondly, as juniors, class-loads
will not be so pressuring and therefore
more time can be devoted to student govern
ment business. Most of all, the juniors,
moreso than the seniors, are closer to the
spirit of the college. Indeed, the junior
year is the most productive one for a
college student. For when a student be
comes a senior, he is really a pre-graduate;
his sights are beyond the school; he is
already passing away.
Thus, I accuse the leadership of neglect
ing the student’s business. But it is not
their fault: it is the fault of their status
as seniors. If the business of the student
body is to be done, let it be done by
the juniors.
And so I again ask the question: on the
issues of student problems — with the
dining hall, with the business office,
with the English Department, with the
administration, WHERE IS THE STUDENT
BODY GOVERNMENT?
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE: MYTH OR REALITY
By Charles Jackson, Jr.
In high schools all over the country
students sing the ballad of Morehouse
College, the pride of the South, builder
of men, the stream from which flows to
morrow’s leaders. There is no doubt that
this beloved institution is a legend, a
glowing ember in the fire of fame. The
song that the high schools sing goes
something like this: “For the best in
education, go to Morehouse, son, go to
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