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November 30, 1984/The Maroon Tiger/Page 14A
Watch These Students
By Carol Wilson
Special to The Maroon Tiger
Two images of campus life
have dominated the media this
fall: One portrays college
students as serious-minded
political conservatives, dressed
in natty pinstripes, and firmly
entrenched in the Reagan camp.
The'other depicts them as beer
craving fools, rioting for the right
to party to excess, angrily op
posing anyone who expects
them to behave as adults.
It’s not surprising that the
student rioters have been un
iversally panned, by the national
and campus media. But there’s
also an undertone to which
implies that it’s merely a reflec
tion of growing selfishness and
materialism.
Though contradictory, both of
these images are grounded in
truth. Yes, today’s active young
politicians seem more interested
in corporate profits and a strong
defense than in rallying
for peace, love, and universal
happiness. And yes, distur
bances, at Illinois State U., Pur
due, Kansas State, and
Morehouse College, among
other schools, have given ad
ministrators everywhere reason
for concern.
These two images can even be
seen as different sides of the
same coin — or should I say the
same dollar bill. It’s well
documented that today’s college
student enters school knowing
that jobs are tight, facing intense
pressure to succeed, and craving
the high-priced lifestyle our
consumer society so actively
promotes.
Perhpas those students heavily
involved in the GOP cause are
more hopeful about the years
ahead. They believe in what
Reaganomics has accomplished
thus far, and in the brighter
future President Reagan promis
ed in his campaign. And they are
willing to work for that future.
The rioters, whose “protests”
often start out as parties, don’t
seem to share that hope. The
future they see doesn’t merit
sacrificing the here and now,
especially their right to get
drunk. Is it coincidental that
many of the student riots have
occurred in the industrial
Midwest, an area particularly
hard hit by the recession, and
one which hasn’t felt many of
Reaganomics’ benefits?
But if both these viewpoints
come in for criticism, is there apy
way a college student can win?
One has to wonder. Several
college administrators have
spoken out this fall, blasting
students for not taking a greater
interest in the threat of nuclear
war. Yet the most publicized
protests a long that line — the
now-famous “cyanide pill”
referenda at Brown and
Colorado State — have been
criticized as being too defeatist.
If ever there was a time for
adminstrators, especially those
in student services, to speak out
about the good things happen
ing on campus, this is it. I realize I
may be setting this publication
up for criticism on that score, for
we don’t back away from cover
ing negative stories. But we also
talk a lot about whatstudentsare
doing for others. And they’re
doing a lot.
Young people are still active as
volunteers, they are increasingly
involved in making decisions on
campus, and in such efforts as
peer advising. While the much-
publicized few are in drunken
riots, many under-publicized
efforts are under way in Greek
organizations and elsewhere to
curb student drinking.
It’s impossible to control what
the media, including The
Maroon Tiger, will cover. The
negative always seems to be
more newsworthy. But at the rate
things are going, a good word
will be so rare, it just might rate
headlines.
Eaves Sets New Goals
By Emanuel D. McGirt
Staff Writer
Every Tuesday during
Freshman Orientation, the
Freshman Class has a guest
speaker. Some of the speakers
are all right, some are good, and
some are exceptional. A.
Reginald Eaves is one of those
exceptions.
Eaves stated “It’s amazing what
Morehouse does to men. You
the freshman class carry the
torch of history and the memory
of the past leaders of this great
institution. Then he talked about
the success of the Vintage Class
of ’56, of which he was a
member.
Furthermore, Eaves exclaimed
that his heart is heavy, for his
concern is great for the future
generations of Black Youth. He
said "the Morehouse Class of ’88
can and must be successful.
Black people have a short term
memory; in 1976 America had its
Bicenntennial, and in 1984, we
are still not first class citizens.
Too many Black Americans are
complacent. In 1984, the white
media is trying to brainwash
Eaves
Blacks to stay home. They say
Reagan is going to landslide
Mondale but the brainwash is
not accurate. They still don’t
know whether he is leading by
12% of by 23%. Besides no Blacks
have been polled. In 1984 we
(Blacks) are not abused physical
ly; we are abused psychological
ly. The Government and the
media don’t talk about the Jews,
and they don’t condemn Israel.
But Israel is one of the strongest
supporters of South Africa.”
Eaves went on “History shows
us Paul Robeson, one of the
greatest orators of all time, an all
American athlete, a singer, and
an actor. He was a well-rounded
man. Robeson had invitations ot
sing in front of white audiences.
HE refused to sing in these
segregated places. The Govern
ment labeled him a Communist.
We believed what the white
press said about Paul Robeson.
Robeson stood up for what he
believed in: he died a man. Look
at Malcolm X, he came along and
told us to be proud of our
heritage, and to be strong black
men and women. The white
India In Transition
By Charles Carpenter
Political Affairs Editor
On Wednesday November 7,
1984 at 9:08 am Indira Gandhi,
Prime Minister of India was shot
and killed by two body guards;
members of the Sikh religious
group. In the ensuing struggle
with the remaining security
forces one of the assassins was
killed and the otherwas critically
wounded.
The attack was seen as retribu
tion for the raid ordered on the
Sikh holy place, the Golden
Temple, by Mrs. Gandhi months
earlier.
Almost prophetically, in a
speech delivered to a large
crowd the day before her death
she said that, “If I die tomorrow
every drop of my blood will
invigorate the nation.”
World reaction was consen
sual: shock, sadness, and con
cern over the future of this
turbulent country. In
Washington President Reagan
expressed his “shock, revulsion
and grief over the brutal
assassination.” In Britain Prime
Minister Margaret Thatcher af
firmed that “India has been
robbed of a leader of incom
parable courage, vision and
humanity.” Pope John Paul II
said her death caused “universal
horror and dismay.” General
Secretary Konstantin Chernenko
called Mrs. Gandhi “a fiery ,
fighter for peace.”
The assassination touched off j
days of rioting and attacks by the
Hindu and Muslim majority
against the Sikh minority. By the
end of the week the death toll
had reached 1,000 in Delhi alone.
The country's leadership was
passed quickly to Mrs. Gandhi’s '
sole surviving son, 40 year-old
Rajiv. The new head of state is a
holder of a mechanical
.
engineering degree from Cam
bridge University and formerly a
commercial pilot for India’s t
national airline. Rajiv was not his •
mother’s first choice. His
younger brother Singay was
being groomed in earnest for the
position, but was killed in a flying
accident in 1980.
There has been concern ex
pressed over the inexperienced
Rajiv's ability to weave together
the social, cultural, religious
patchwork that is India. It is no
doubt a monumental task that
awaits him, nor is there doubt
that this fractuous country’s
future depends upon how well
he is able to accomplish it. Yet
there is hope in the recollection
that Mrs. Gandhi too was said to
be inexperienced when she took
the reins and her son too may
prove wrong the doubters.
media branded him. Malcolm X
died a man.” Eaves continued
“You are designed by God. You
are unique, there is no one who
is totally like you. Whatever you
want to do you can do it. After
four years at “The House” you
will be cometing with men from
all over the world. Morehouse
Men must excel."
Eaves, a Fulton County Com
missioner was interrupted with
applause several times and
received two standing ovations.
He concluded by saying “What
not appears impossible, one day
soon will be possible. One of you
in this auditorium may very well
be the President of the United
States. One of you a Morehouse
Man will be President of the
United States.
By Kevin Moses
In 1973 a group of young
media activists founded the
National Black Media Coalition
(a Civil Rights Organization)
based on the need of a fulltime
advocate or watchdog of the
communications industry.
This group first convened in
Washington, D.C. in 1973 where
it formed a committee and
selected officers. The officers at
the time were Jim McCuller,
Chairman; Kujeteli Kweli,
Secretary; and Pluria Marshall,
Treasurer. Under McCuller’s
A Civil Rights Organization That Works
leadership the NBMC did exten
sive research into the com
munications industry. Shortly
after, the NBMC approached the
Federal Communication Com
mission with a 62 point petition
(of its findings) outlining
demands and requirements that
would give blacks and other
minorities real access to all
media functions (whether it be in
front of the camera/microphone
or behind the scene in a
decision-making role). McCuller
continued his two year stint as
Chairman trying to maximize
employment opportunities for
blacks and other minorities in
this industry.
During the NBMC’s 1975 cam
paign the former Treasurer
Pluria Marshall was elected
Chairman of the energetic Civil
Rights organization. With
Marshall in charge, the NBMC
has assisted the FCC and Con
gress in the governing of the
communications industry. In
1977 the NBMC became in
volved in minority ownership
efforts with other public interest
organizations, while working
with the FCC to initiate the
agency’s Tax Certificate and
Distress Sales policies. These
policies will increase minority
ownership, while allowing com
munications outlets that hire
blacks and other minorities tax
benefits.
In addition, the NBMC has
been instrumental in negotiating
24 corporate agreements that
would improve black and other
minority employment, training
and promotion. These corporate
agreements have helped NBMC
raise over $461,000 for black
colleges and universities. The
money raised was used for
scholarships and improving
communication facilities at these
schools. Among the recipients
were Clark College, Texas
Southern University and Howard
University.
The students of black higher
educational institutions has
always been of prime impor
tance to NBMC. It hasagressively
sought internships and on the
job training for students in
terested in pursuing careers in
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