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WOLVERINE OBSERVER
January, 1967
WOLVERINE
OBSERVER
An Expression of Student Opinion
Editor
Syble Avery
Associate Editor
John Turner
Society Editor
Rosa Christian
News Editor
Nathaniel Sheppard, Jr.
Cartoonist
Patric Martin
Feature Writers
Alice Henderson, Julius Stiggers,
Typhenia Jackson, Jarrett Thom
as, and Timothy Solomon
Photographer
Don Graham
Roving Reporter
John Gilbert
Sports
... Clarence Ogletree and
Minder Rucker
Advertisement Manager
Tillman Ward
Typists
. Nathaniel Sheppard, Daisy Duncan,
Alice Henderson, Rosa Christian,
Julius Stiggers, Perry Wheat, and
Charlotte Beasley
Adviser
Ann Harrison
Oops,
We
Goofed!
by Syble Avery
Did you vote or did you go fishing during the November elec
tion thinking that Lester Maddox didn’t have a chance?
Lester Maddox, the uneducated man with the ax handle phi
losophy took his oath as Governor of Georgia on January 9. In
credible, isn’t it?
What will Georgia be like in the next four years? Will we
progress at all? These questions have already been asked by
prominent Negro leaders in Georgia and some of them feel that
the answer to the latter question is no! They feel that if any kind
of move is made under Maddox's administration, it will be a
move backwards.
In his message to the General Assembly on January 10,
Maddox said, and I quote. “It is my aim to unite all Georgians in
a common bond so together we can achieve even greater heights.”
Coming from Maddox, I personally believe that this statement can
be translated into something like this IT IS MY AIM TO UNITE
ALL WHITE GEORGIANS IN A COMMON BOND APART
FROM THE BLACK GEORGIANS SO TOGETHER WE CAN
PREVENT THEM FROM GAINING POLITICAL POWER
AND ROB THEM OF THE POWER WHICH THEY NOW
POSSESS.
We know that Maddox’s powers, as Governor, are limited.
But the power that he does possess, if used in the wrong way, can
set Georgia back a century.
As a result of this political embarrassment, I hope that we
will not take future elections for granted. Maybe next time we
will get out and exercise the most wonderful right anyone can
possess, the right to vote.
The Disunited Family
by Newton Williams
After reading a small portion of Morris Brown’s history,
I firmly believe that much commendation should be given to her
for the wonderful job which has been done thus far. I also believe
that there is much greatness to be achieved and will be achieved.
One of the most frequently used phrases on our campus in
“The Morris Brown Family.” This usage seems adequate from
a theoretical viewpoint, but practically, greatly misused—because
in the midst of this “so-called” family tie, is present the strikingly
social problem of disunity. In my opinion, the chief causes of
this disunity are: the domniation and the egocentric goals of the
“Greeks”, the impotence of the Pan-Hellenic Council and the loss
of control of the Student Government over the student body.
It would occur to me that owing to the fact that the Student
Body is dominated by the “Greek” Organizations, that they would
at least unite their efforts—working to a common end, thus con
tributing to the betterment of Morris Brown. But instead, what do
we see? We see each “Greek” Organization engaging in “strict”
competition to be on top. Naturally, there is nothing wrong with
competition—it helps, without a doubt, to produce quality; but
when competition begins to include elements of bitterness, snob
bishness, jealousy, each is beginning to become, by far, more
destructive than constructive, and therefore tends to defeat its
good purpose.
One of the chief words of the Greek enthusiast is “brother
hood.” This word is very much weak if it does not extend love,
peace and unity to those with whom it comes in contact, especially
to fellow Greeks of another chapter, or what have we. Without
a projection of love, peace and unity, brotherhood becomes the
analogy of a “nut without a kernel,” empty and futile. On the
other hand, “brotherhood,” functioning with the above named
ingredients, can be the greatest stepping stone to social advance
ment.
The nominally existing Pan-Hellenic Council’s function is to
act as coordinator for the several Greek Organizations on our
campus. It is supposed to aid in the unification of their efforts in
building a better environment for our campus. This council,
because of its impotence, has failed, therefore each “Greek Or
ganization” is free to function as it pleases, each, along with its
adherents, moving in diverse directions, apparently with no com
mon rendezvous.
So far, mention has been made of the divided Greeks and
their impotent Pan-Hellenic Council. What of the non-Greek
students? Who is their “godfather”? The student government might
have been if it were given the opportunity.
The student government ought to be given a chance to be, not
only the “godfather” for the non-Greeks, but the mediator between
administration and student body in student affairs and coordinator
for all campus organizations.
The student government can only be what we make of it. The
present status of our student government is very much a pathetic
one. It is a mockery to the true sense of the word. The phrase,
student government, means a small body of students elected from
among the entire student body to direct the affairs of the students,
that is, as is allowed by the Administration.
It was Abraham Lincoln who said, “a house divided against
itself cannot stand.” A family that is divided is not much of
a family. I am positive that it is not your desire to see the “Morris
Brown Family” remain divided or fall into social ditches.
Therefore let us re-examine our motives, and our goals, and
review our impotent Pan-Hellenic Council, thus promoting unity
among the beloved “Greeks”; and last but not least, give to the
student government the support, control and dignity it deserves.
Here I am again positive that instead of seeing Morris Brown
in segments of a family, we will truthfully and proudly see a united
student body advancing under a dynamic student government.
One Hundred and Four Years of Strife
by John Turner
On January 1. 1967, we celebrated the one hundred and fourth
anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Xhis proclamation,
issued in 1863 by President Lincoln, declared that slaves were free
in the states then in rebellion against the United States. It was not
until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 that all
slaves were considered free. Although slavery was prohibited, it
has taken the Negro one hundred and four years to realize at
least partial freedom and equality.
In 1883 the “new citizens” found themselves discriminated
against in the celebrated Civil Rights Cases. In 1896. the Negro
found himsel fconfronted with Jim Crow legislation under the
Supreme Court decision of Plessy v. Ferguson. At the end of the
nineteenth century the Negro found himself under a rigid caste
system which had been formed even before his liberation and
enforced by the 1896 Supreme Court decision.
As we look back we can see that the Negro has made tre
mendous steps in the area of civil rights and achieving his true
freedom. The Negro, through the use of the ballot and pressure
groups, has had many bills concerning civil rights passed through
the federal government. He has also won many victories in the
Supreme Court.
I think that the Negro should be inspired to work harder in
his efforts on this anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.
No Parking
He Who Has An
Incentive for Knowledge
by Tillman Ward
Several driving students and
faculty members were greeted
after their return from the holi
days with signs saying “No
Parking Anytime” and a curbing
painted yellow for a complete
block. Now they have to drive
an extra block to park. Last
year some students received
parking tickets which cost about
five dollars ($5.00). Then men
from the traffic engineering de
partment took the signs down
and now they are back.
Well some interested persons
would like to know if there is
a valid reason for this.
Ignorance reacts like a de
structive disease, which if not
treated will spread and spread
until it has devoured the whole
body. The ignorant individual
has not discovered within him
self that spark which he may
one day turn into a blaze. Bene
ficial curiosity is not a char
acteristic of the ignorant indi
vidual; therefore he finds him
self in constant darkness.
We must try to creat within
ourselves a sincere and earnest
desire for knowledge, so that we
may turn this spark into a blaze.
Cynthia L. Rose
We should be inspired to work harder because as we can plainly
see we have arrived at our present standard of living only after
one hundred and four years of hard work.
Still after one hundred and four years the battle has not been
won. We must fight on for we will surely overcome our difficulties
as we have done in the past.
Destructive Powers
In Today's Society
by John Turner
We are now living in a fast
moving age. The world in which
we live is dominated and revo
lutionized by many types of
power. We have horsepower,
atomic power, “White Power”,
and “Black Power”. Some of
these powers serve as a boon to
mankind while others aren’t so
beneficiary and are very danger
ous to man. “Black Power” and
“White Power” both advocate
ruin and destruction. To better
understand them let us look at
them briefly.
“White Power” is supported
by George Rockwell, the head
of the American Nazi Party.
Rockwell has a program called
“Social Sanity” in which he
would consign most Jews to the
gas chamber, send Negroes to
Africa, shunt white women back
to the kitchen, straight-jacket
the U.S. economy, and regulate
the morals for all Americans. Is
this power which teaches hate
and evil good for anyone? I say
no and that the American Nazi
Party and “White Power” should
be done away with.
Even though the Negro has
been impressed under the yoke
of segregation and subjected to
inhuman treatment for all of
these years, I don’t believe that
violence which “Black Power”
advocates is the way to achieve
our ultimate freedom. The fol
lowers of “Black Power” are
helping to destroy their cause
with their own militant actions.
Stokely Carmichael, the origina
tor of “Black Power”, is harm
ing his people more than help
ing them. Every time Carmich
ael instigates a riot in a Negro
neighborhood, the Negroes liv
ing there are hurt most. After
all, whose houses are getting tear
gassed and burned and who is
getting beaten and thrown into
jail. “Black Power” like “White
Power” should either be done
away with or changed to take
on more peaceful concepts. As
a substitute and remedy I have
two other powers that could be
used.
The first is “Brain Power.”
People should use their brains
to think before they are com
mitted to irrational acts. Minor
ity groups should concentrate
their efforts to improving the
minds of their people through
education. The brain is man’s
greatest asset. With it he has
solved many problems. I believe
that man could overcome all of
his problems if he would just
try to reason and use his brain.
The second and most im
portant power of all is “Godly
Power.” This power rules the
universe. It advocates brotherly
love and peace between all men.
As Dr. C. D. Pettaway of Lit
tle Rock. Ark., has stated “be
fore you declare where you
stand (on civil rights issues) . . .
find out where God stands.
Where God stands is a good
place for you to stand.”
In conclusion, I believe that
man should use all of the powers
which will bring about good and
peace in the world to their
fullest extent and destroy or
modify the bad ones. Without
love, peace, and harmony, man
cannot exist on earth.