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THE REV. Morris Brown of Philadelphia
Second Bishop Of The African Methodist Episcopal Church
Of The United States.
STUDENT ENROLLMENT
DECREASES IN AUC
PRES.SMITH TELLS STUDENTS
Changes Ahead For Morris Brown
by Lousia McCullough
February 25, 1985 marked a
first for many MBC students,
especially Freshman. For the first
time of the 1984-85 school year
there was a meeting for the
student body. To the surprise of
many there was a great show of
interest in the meeting (espeical-
ly among the men of the cam-
pus).
Many came to see what
changes were taking place and
others came to be well informed
about the mis-information cir
culating on campus. Still others
came to voice their opinions
about many of the proposed
changes taking place and find
out what can be done to change
the problems of the school.
Though many came for various
reasons, the president ap
proached the meeting very
differently. President Smith
opened the discussion but
limited it only to the proposed
academic changes, to clarify
what is being done with the
academic program.
He began by telling the stu
dent body about the directives
given to him by the Board of
Trustees which is called a man
date. Morris Brown has a budget
that needs to be balanced.
Money has been borrowed from
the school's endowment and it’s
almost gone. Through the years
Morris Brown has grossed 1.4
million dollars in expenses that
exceeds its income. An ad
ditional problem arises when, in
this past year, enrollment has
dropped from 1800 students to
1000. So here is where the money
problem begins.
To help correct this. President
Smith has decided upon many
changes. “For the time being the
college will discontinue offering
some course work,” he said.
Many do not especially agree
with this idea, but, as the Presi
dent stated, “I’ve got a mandate
to do what I feel is right for the
institution at this time."
No, the President is not saying
that he is going to eliminate
majors. What is being eliminated
are those departments which
cover the instruction given to
students in their major. Many
students are not only worried
about having to take their major
classes in the other AUC in
stitutions but are worried about
those instructors and professors
that not only teach well but bring
a sense of pride to the school.
The President says he is worried
about the faculty that has to be
let-go from the institution. He
also said that he himself does not
have a contract!
To further explain such
academic changes Smith went
on to say, "The number of majors
(in each department) dictates
what we are doing." !f there are
not enough majors, that is where
the cuts will be. Smith spoke of
Emory University and the Un
iversity of Cincinatti where they
have cut out whole schools
simply because the number of
degrees given a year dictated the
need for closure.
While everyone pondered the
changes and cuts that would be
made President Smith went on to
tell those in attendance the
courses of study that will be
strengthened. They were Educa
tion, the Sciences, HRIM,
Business Administration, Nur
sing, Computer Sciences, and
Criminal Justice.
In essence, Smith said that the
school was going to cut back.
Though we had some
eliminations those areas that had
no change as far as elimination
was concerned, were going to be
strengthened. As President
Smith said, "They're going to be
top quality."
This Student Body meeting
was more like a briefing, a
limited discussion of the changes
that were to be made.
At the close of the meeting
administrators who take part in
determining campus and college
life made comments. They were,
Mrs. O’Neal; Dean of Student
Affairs, Dt. Charles Greene;
Associate Dean of Student Af
fairs, and Dr. Gloria Anderson;
Dean of Academic Affairs. The
Student Government President,
David Kinchen said the final
remarks and closed by saying,
"The primary reason for having
this meeting was to give you (the
students) first hand information
and let you hear it from Dr.
Smith and other administrators
here."
Some of the upper level
courses in the following
programs will be temporarily
suspended:
Art
Business Education
’Education (Psychology)
English
Foreign Language (French &
Spanish)
Georgraphy
History
Home Economics
Music
Philosophy
Physical Education
’Education majors will be cer
tified through the State ap
proved individual certification
process.
by Hedren H. Johnson
President Reagan, now serving
his second term in office, has
several ideas in mind on how to
decrease the national debt. One
area under the cutting edge will
be financial aid for college
students. What does this mean to
the typical Morris Brown College
student? To find that out, the
Observer interviewed Irene B.
Jones, Director of Student Finan
cial Aid for the college.
WO: WITH REAGAN IN OF
FICE AGAIN, WILL THERE BE
ANY FURTHER CUTS IN FINAN
CIAL AID?
FOR
by Laura Green
Morris Brown College is again
finding itself facing a declining
enrollment for the second
semester of the 1984-85 school
year.
According to Ms. Corrine
Taylor, Manager of Student
Services the enrollment for the
second semester is 1044 which is
a decrease from last semester’s
enrollment of 1068.
"We atways\ have a large
enrollment the first semester of
each school year and a decrease
the second semester,” said Ms.
Taylor.
Ms. Taylor said with the
changes being made under the
present administration more
students will be attracted to
come to Morris Brown.
"We are now seeing students
on an appointment basis. Deal
ing with students or one to one
makes it more private. We dis
cuss all charges and payments
and put everything in writing.
Students seem to be more
positive." Ms. Taylor said.
Ms. Taylor said things are
looking better for Morris Brown
including the problems of at
titudes with students and the
Administration.
"Working with students on a
Jones: So far, I know about two
proposed changes for this fiscal
year /1985-86/. He /Reagan/
plans to put a cutoff of $32,500 on
the amount of money a student's
parents can make in order to be
eligible for the National Student
Direct Loan.
WO; SO, IF A STUDENT’S
PARENTS MAKE OVER THAT
AMOUNT, THEN THAT STU
DENT WONT BE ABLE TO
RECEIVE A LOAN?
Jones: That's correct. The
other proposed change is in the
total amount of federal financial
aid a student can receive. They
/Reagan’s Administration/ are
1985
more personal basis helps to ease
some of the problems with
attitudes,” said Ms. Taylor.
When asked about the
changes within the Business
Office Ms, Taylor said the
Business Office is now the
Finance Office with Mr. Charles
W. Moore as Vice President of
Finance.
"With everyone working
together, Morris Brown is
building into a better institution.
Also with the many changes
being made students and the
staff have a positive outlook
toward the future,” Ms. Taylor
said.
However, declining enroll
ment is not only a problem at
Morris Brown. According to the
registrars at Atlanta University,
their enrollment is 1017 for the
second semester. This is also true
at Spelman which had an enroll
ment of 1602 students the first
semester to a decrease this
semester of 1,568. Morehouse
College had a rather large enroll
ment of 2,300 students the first
semester to a decrease this
semester of 1,976. Clark College
registrars said they are not at
liberty to release enrollment
figures.
talking about putting a cap of
$4,000 on the total amount of
federal financial aid a student
can get. That would be disastrous
for Morris Brown.
WO: A LOT OF STUDENTS
HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING
ABOUT AN ATTITUDE
PROBLEM WITH YOUR OFFICE.
COULD YOU TELL ME WHY
THEY MIGHT GET THAT FEEL
ING?
Jones: I have been accused of
having a bad attitude. But, I see
myself in perspective, and I don't
think I have an attitude problem.
I think that most of the com-
(Continued, pg. 6)
FINANCIAL AID DIRECTOR SAYS
REAGAN POLICIES WILL HURT STUDENTS