Newspaper Page Text
Vol.l, No.1
August-September Issue
Telling It Like It Is!'
Fewer Students Attending Black Colleges ....
Morris Brown Enrollment 1068
by Laura Green
Black colleges are finding
themselves in a period where
they are facing declining
enrollments and decreasing en
dowments, this is also true of the
Atlanta University Center. As of
September 19, Morris Brown
College reported to have an
enrollment of 1068 students
according to Mr. Edulie Walker,
Vice President of Fiscal Affairs.
This is a decrease from last year’s
enrollment of 1341 students
according to- Mrs. Lucille
Williams, the college registrar.
Walker also stated several
reasons for students not retur
ning. These include: students
not meeting financial obligations
from previous school years.
Some students did not maintain
the required grade point average
to continue receiving financial
aid, and others did not have the
financial resources to enroll this
semester.
When asked if he thought
whether student enrollment
would increase, Walker said yes,
The New First Family of Morris Brown (L to R) Melanie 21, Calvert
19, Mr. & Mrs. Calvert Smith, and Natombi 14.
Freshman Orientation
Tradition Continues
by Louisa McCullough
The 1984-85 Academic School
Year opened with a tradition that
has taken place for many years —
Freshman Orientation. Though
not many of MBC’s new
freshman knew exactly what
orientation consisted of, it was
found to be an experience that
will always be remembered.
Freshman Orientation began
with the introduction of the
Administrators, faculty, and
members of the Morris Brown
staff. Though the president was
not able to attend the opening of
Orientation, there was a recep
tion for him on Sunday, August,
19.
Monday morning, the
freshmen were greeted by Atlan
ta's Mayor, Andrew Young. His
speech gave many freshmen a
positive outlook on the future
along with a few words of advice.
Little did many freshmen
know that orientation meant the
struggle of being reformed into a
true brownite. Becoming a
brownite was introduced to the
freshmen by singing the Alma-
Mater every night until they
achieved the goal of learning it.
Another part of becoming a
brownite was, as our Vice-
President of the Student Govern
ment Anquinette Daniels told us,
was to wear the traditional
beanie.
Each freshman and each new
student of Morris Brown was to
wear the beanie and wear it in a
certain way - one inch over the
eyebrow with no hair showing
on the forehead. To many, this
was a gruesome and tedious task
but many enjoyed wearing the
beanie and' didn’t leave home
without itl
To take away from the burden
of being freshman, or to add
more fun and excitement, many
highlights and extra activities
were put on fora bit of night-life.
Continued on page 6
because the college plans to
work on improving its image, put
additional stress on academics
and mobilize additional
resources for recruitment. He
also said the college is working
on improving the internal
problems of the faculty, ad
ministration a'nd student body to
help in the retention of students.
"If we, the college family,
develop more pride in the
school it will, play a major role in
attracting more students,” said
Walker.
However, declining enroll
ment is not only a problem at
Morris Brown. According to the
registrar at Spelman College, the
enrollment figure of 1064
students is a slight decrease from
last fall’s 1643. Morehouse
College reports their enrollment
to be 2300 students. Atlanta
University also reports * a
decrease in enrollment from last
years 1065 to 1015,
Clark College reported they
were not at liberty to release
enrollment information, but
Clark College President, Elias
Blake, stated that enrollment was
just under 2200 students during
his address at Clark’s convoca-
The Search Stops..**
Smith Becomes 13th
President Of Morris Brown
by Michael Phillips
The Morris Brown College is
hoping 13 will be a lucky number
as they welcome Dr. Calvert H.
Smith as the new president of the
103 years old institution. He
replaces former President, Dr.
Robert Threatt and is the 13th
president in the college’s history.
Smith assumed the presidency
on August 1. Prior to that, he was
Vice Provost for Planning and
Program Review for the Univer
sity of Cincinnati where he had
been since 1971. He was also an
Associate Professor and Head of
the Department of U rban Affairs.
A graduate of Winston Salem
State College, North Caroljna,
Smith brings a black college
background and an understan
ding of the problems facing most
of the institutions — shrinking
endowments and declining
enrollments.
He described his brief stay as a
"learning experience in many
respects" as he identified the
major strengths and weaknesses
of Morris Brown.
"It’s been an extremely busy
time. I’ve have to adjust to the
school and meet with the com
munity,” he said.
Smith said he feels one of the
strengths of the college is “a
dedicated cadre of staff
members who are truly in
terested in Morris Brown and a
dedicated alumni.”
He has found an impressive
student body which strikes him
as “determined and not satisfied
with second best." There has also
been a warm reception for him
outside the institution. “I’ve
found strong support for the
college in the business com
munity.”
He also recognizes the schools
weaknesses, "There are some
unmet expectations of students
and frustrations among the staff
that manifests itself in attitudinal
problems.” Smith says one of his
priorities is improving the quality
of campus services and student
life, especially in the towers.
"Top quality must be our expec
tation, all that we do must be
geared toward a top quality
standard," stressed Smith. The
new president further
acknowledges a much needed
change in attitudes at Morris
Brown, particularly among staff
members, "There is a lax attitude
among some personnel and it
reflects in how they do their
jobs.”
As he assumes the presidency
it is not in the most ideal of
circumstances that Smith finds
Morris Brown College. As most
black colleges, Morris Brown is
facing difficult times financially,
but he isconfidentthatwith help
the institution can overcome its
debts. “I can’t bring Morris
Brown out of anything, said
Smith. I can work with a group of
people to bring that about. In
1984 some hard decisions have to
be made about what we are
going to be and to whom," he
added.
College presidents also have
the difficult job of bringing
money to their institutions. This
is particularly difficult in the case
of black colleges today, but
Smith says that his job is easier
because of the 5 million dollar
fund drive that has been in
stituted by the college family
prior to his arrival. He has also
brought in a planning process
that involves faculty, alumni, and
the broader community which
includes 12 major goals to
benefit the college. The plan is a
3-7 year project "to ensure the
college's academic future and its
financial viability,” according to
the new president.
Howevei he does
acknowledge there are still peo
ple and potential doners who
question the need for black
colleges, “There are always
questions in light of the issue of
desegregation. It’s not a great
problem but it’s an issue. There's
always that question in the minds
of people — black and white.”
Continued on page 6
