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WOLVERIN OBSERVER March, 1968 -Page 2 WOLVERINE OBSERVER Editor-In Chief .Nathaniel Sheppard Society Editor.. Circulation Editor-Business Patsy E. Bell Manager .Don Graham Feature Writers Yolanda Lofton Austine Parker Typists .Daisy Duncan Patricia Jones Advisor .Dr. B.J. Farmer From The Editor’s Desk Grades.... To Heck With Them Nathaniel Sheppard Are grades really needed? In my opinion grades are an atrocious materialistic goal for which many students frantically strive just to be able to say that they re ceived a good grade from one or maybe all of their instructors. Some work just as frantically to meet the minimum requirements of our rigid graded classrooms. Many students, because of economic and other factors that inhibit learning, are unable to make the mini mum grade required to pass. These are then rewarded grades that give them very poor self concepts and label them as failures. Namely, failing grades. These students are frustrated even more by having to repeat courses. There is one alternative, however; at this point the student can drop out of school and into the labor market. The only thing is that here he receives even more frustration for he finds that he is not qualified for a decent paying job. The gifted student, on the other hand is forced to stay in class that moer than likely moves at a pace far lower than he is capable of keep ing up with. He is also forced to slow his pace to that of his fellow classmates. Once again. . . frustration. A seemingly logical and practical solution to these problems is the non-graded classroom. In doing re search on the non-graded classroom you will find that it is unlike the graded classroom in that a year’s work in the non-graded classroom you will find that is unlike the graded classroom in that a year’s work in the non- graded one may mean much more or much less than a year of progress in a subject area. This is dependent on the student, of course. It is realized that a student may spurt ahead in one course and lag behind in ano ther. The adequacy of the students progress is deter mined by comparing his achievements with his ability. Slow progress is provided for by allowing the student more time for given amounts of work. This would minimize “failures.” Rapid progress is provided for by encouraging bright studentsto move ahead without regard to grades. The non-graded classroom is also flexible in that it allows for easier implementation of curriculum improvements. Several studies indicate that the non-graded schools are more effective than graded schools in raising and maintianing self-esteem in stu dents. Of course the non-graded classrooms will require change on the part of instructors, and in the materials (textbooks, etc.) used. Instructors must re-examine their functions to effectively teach. Books designed for grade levels can no longer be used. Books must be linked to levels rather than grade. The whole busi ness of change is probably the main setback in institu ting the non-graded classroom situations. This re quires more work on the part of the administration and instructors. Of course this wouldn’t be a problem here at Morris Brown, ould it? Who knows, maybe we’ll be trying it some day. An Appeal For The Protection Of American College Students Black Student Alliance — YOLANDA LOFTON— TO; The President of the United States , the United States Attorney General, the State Governors, and the State and Local Police Officials FROM; The Presidents of the Atlanta University Center The invasions of college campuses by various police powers in the United States is a trend which can nc longer be continued without CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Let’s Look Collegiate Patsy Bell Hi everybody, This year’s fashions, the new look for ‘68, is called the “Return of the Thirities” and is really a big turn in comparison with the fashions of ‘67. This year girls, fashion de signers are making us look more romantic and much more feminine. The change this is from head to toe. Young ladies I’m sure you’ve been glanc ing through magazines, newspapers and have been observing the store manne quins and have really gotten an idea as to the thing for this year. With the hair, all of you who have been putting a lot of time and energy on hair straighters, curl free, and soft styles, can hang it up because the straight, curl free hair is out and the curls are in. This baby doll look is designed to give us a more feminine look. This look is not to be worn in a tight frizzy style but a more loose and bouncy look. If it is preferred, most of you can wear this style and really compli ment yourself with it. The dresses for this year has really changed. The tent, sack, shirt and mi cro-mini dresses are gone. This year we’re showing our waistlines and the fas hions are designed with some type belt or band to accent the waist. The neck lines are coming down and the ruffles are very popu lar this year. Young men, I’m sorry to say, but the hemlines are coming down. The change isn’t really that much in the length but in stead of moving up a little higher, they’re coming down a little. Esquire ma gazine says, “it isn’t very feminine to show to much, because then there is noth ing left to question.” The colors for this year are also a big change. Last year, the Psychodelic colors were the thing. The bright greens, loud yellows and shocking pinks were really in, but this year the colors are much softer and we’re using more fe minine looking colors such as soft yellows, baby blues and pale pink. So all of you who did all of the com plaining about not being able to wear a certain dress CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 The Black Student Alli ance proclaimed Febru ary 19 thru 24 as “Mal- com X Week”, and on Wed nesday, February 21, 1968 (the date of Malcolm X’s assassination) there was a program in commemo ration of him at Clark Col lege. The Black Student Alli ance is made up of students from Clark, Morehouse and Spelman. Each campus has its own Black American Group. Spelman’s is the “Sisters in Blackness”; Clark’s is “Persons Ready -in-Defense-of-Ebony; and Morehouse’s is the “Black Consciousness Move ment”. All of these organi zations merged to form the Black Student Alliance. In a brief interview with James Mays, president of the BSA, he told this writ er that the purpose of this organization is to bring about a proudness of being black, to concern stu dents with the Black Cul tural Revolution, and to acquire ‘Black Unity and Pride’ in the A. U. Center. Mr. Mays feels that the students of Morris Brown College are too apathetic. He bases his opinion on the CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Apathy Lake School Spirit StudeHT and image government Student Mewspap^R Student body STUDEHT APATHY Nathaniel Sheppard Damn the business office ... the faculty ... the John Birch Society. Phrases such as these are often made by many of us but when it comes down to doing something about the things we object to, everybody seems to think it’s the job of the Editor of the school paper to air their gripes or dissent- ion. True enough the school paper is the proper channel through which you can known your grievences or things you might even want to give praise to, but it is the job of the individual to write and submit his feelings about an issue or situation. If you think that your complaint is one of importance it should be worth your taking a few minutes to write it down. And for those of you who like to write fiery or radi cal papers, if you believe in what you say and can defend it you shouldn’t be afraid to sign your name on the paper. Many of you complain to me about the infrequency of the paper. I’m frequently asked why the paper doesn’t come out more often. I usually reply, “We need more writers. Can I count on you giving me an article or two each month?” The student usually says, “I don’t have time, ” “I just can make it with all of the work my instructors give me.” I think the situation can be summed up by twisting the phrase, "Every body wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die” around to read “Everybody wants a newspaper but nobody wants to white.” Nobody seems to realize all if takes to publish a paper. The time, the amount of material needed, the proofreading, the layout of paper, the amount of typing involved, the lambasting received for an article that doesn’t meet good, jour nalism standards. These and many more things go into making up a paper. Unless there is more student support the paper is doomed, and so are your means of airing your veiws. The Wolverine Observer welcomes all articles, but we reserve the right to edit or not publish any articles that are slanderous or tend to cause defamation of character or in other ways fails to come up to the literary standards expected of a college newspaper.