Newspaper Page Text
September/October 1985
The Wolverine Observer
Page 2
“The Editor Speaks"
by Noran L. Moffett
Welcome back and peace be
unto you all! They are alivel Yes,
the freshman class and new
students at Morris Browr
College who exhibited theii
spirit and outspoken expression
during Freshman Orientation
Week bring hope for tomorrow.
It is with this type of spirit and
expression that this column will
be dedicated. Remember you
are indeed a diverse and large
body in this institution.
Therefore, do not let ANYONE
suppress your individual or
collective voices. When that
happens your SPIRIT becomes
decayed. Such has been the case
at our institution.
What happened to the SPIRIT
of MBC? This question has been
asked on several occassions by
several people - that includes
students, faculty and staff. Just
take into consideration the series
of events brought upon and
effecting practically every com
ponent of this institution.
What happens to ones spirit
can be focused on using the
Socratic method.
One of the greatest casualties
of our institution and of our
people was and still is to ask
"Why?” We wait until something
affects us before the classical
Socratic Method is used. Let us
ask - "Why and what is it?”
Why are faculty and staff
members on the edges of their
scholarly seats saying I can't say
anything or are afraid to say
something? This is not healthy
nor can you expect it to change if
scholars and intellects are in
timidated into vocal submission.
What do you expect of students?
Maybe its a matter of reaping
what has been sown - again why,
what is it?
It is intelligent to question the
rationale of a decision made by
the Board of Trustees, the Presi
dent, an administrator or any
member of the Morris Brown
family or chain-of-command. It
is intelligent to voice disagree
ment unless of course, you are
not a person of principal. This is
also true of students who dis
agree with actions of their peers,
because a true friend can accept
disagreement.
There are always a few who
will ... we must begin to anlyze
our convictions and stop talking
low and passing notes under the
table. There have always been
those who confront decisions by
using the Socratic Method.
Such characteristics are evi
dent in the lives of Jesus Christ,
Buddha, Muhammed, Nat
Turner, Elijah Muhammed,
Malcolm X, Martin Luther King
Jr. and Nelson Mandela.
Here at Morris Brown there
was a man whose instruction
exemplified the spirit of those
afore mentioned men.
Who is he? Dr. Charles E. Price,
Associate Professor of Political
Science at Morris Brown
College. Notice that sentence is
"present tense." So, why isn't Dr.
Price here? When he, according
to those who have been ignited
by his SPIRIT, wanted to know
why he is not teaching. Maybe
Dr. Price voiced his opposition to
a decision or pointed out its
error.
Maybe your question is, "can
this happen to me?" Martin
Luther King Jr. once said, “I
would rather die having believed
in something than live..." Dr.
Price is a living example who
stands for something. Black
youth need this type of role
model to enhance their spirit
and cultivate their minds.
Just as Nelson Mandela is a
living example for the black
people of South Africa for stan
ding up for what he believes is
right - so shall Dr. Price be for
students who appreciate his
heroic spirit.
Fifth Annual TAY Club
Gospel Extravaganza
by Henry E. Williams )r.
The Fifth Annual TAY Club
Gospel Extravaganza was held at
the spacious Big Bethel AME
Church on Sunday, September 8,
1985.
Since the^ inception of the 83
present member club, it's
member's have constantly been
dedicated to serving as prime
supporters to the college athletic
program.
The audience consisted of
officials of the school administra
tion, football players and other
volverine fans.
The program opened with the
singing of the M.B.C. victory
song followed by a prayer given
by the Reverend George C.
Moore.
Guest choirs included
Showers of Blessings of the
Cathedral of Faith, The
Templelites of Allen Temple
Church, Shaw Temple Gospel
Choir, St. Phillips Sanctuary
Choir, The Voice of Inspiration
of Big Bethel Church, and T.S.
Clay Gospel Choir.
The highlight of the program
were the performances of offer
tory choirs, which included the
Clayton City Mass Choir and the
Douglas City Mass Choir. Pur-
cival Jones, a soprano, moved
the audience with her rendition
of "God Has Been Good To Me."
Dr. Calvert Smith, president of
M.B.C., ended the program with
closing remarks of thanks and
encouragement to the football
squad. "The attitude that we
carried at the game was of
positive influence, it's not the
point of winning the game, but a
winning attitude will last
longer," Dr. Smith commented.
"I am also very thankful for the
continuous dedication and sup
port that the TAY Club has given.
The organization has for many
years supported the athletic
programs, I’m sure that support
will continue in the years to
come," he replied.
Following the concert there
was a refreshment and snack
reception where M.B.C. football
players were the guest of honor.
Page after page in the concert
program read "To the hottest
team in town," we all know who
that is! No one but the Mighty
Wolverines!
Is Sarah Allen Quad. Secure?
by Teresa Watkins
On the night of August 21,
1985, two break-ins occurred at
Sarah Allen Quadrangle, an all
female residence hall.
A meeting was held in the
cafeteria on August 22, 1985 to
address the concerns of the
young ladies. Reverend Michael
Bouie, Director of Housing,
presided over the meeting. Most
of the suggestions presented by
the young ladies, dealt with
added security and the con
ditions of their rooms.
Later that day Mrs. Malinda
O’Neal, Dean of Student Affairs,
met with the ladies of S.A.Q. to
address topics that she felt
pertinent. She then entertained
questions the ladies were eager
to ask.
One of those ladies, Ms.
Jastone Smith, a burglary victim,
later said, "Dean O’Neal showed
no compassion and evaded most
questions I asked.” Her room
mate, Ms. Lynn Bond, added, "If
the break-ins had not occurred
they (Dean O’Neal and
Reverend Bouie) never would
have tried to remedy already
horrid living conditions.
On August 23,1985 the door to
April Alexander’s apartment had
been jammed; however,
nothing was taken.
No arrests have been made by
campus police at this time.
Think About It!
by Kathy Lightfoot
First of all, I would like to
personally welcome everyone
back especially all the Freshmen
and new students here at Morris
Brown College and wish you all a
great year. I would also like to let
the whole student body know
about the POWER of the
Wolverine Observer.
If there are any grievances you
have about anything or anybody,
let a member on the newspaper
staff know. The paper is your
voice.
There are many people who
wish they could control the
Observer because we live up to
the motto: "Telling It Like It Is."
But you should feel free to let the
Observer know whatever is on
your mind.
There is a matter on which I
would like to voice my opinion
and I'm sure a lot of you would
agree, and that is the attire we
are expected to wear upon
entering the cafeteria. Personal
ly, I think it's ridiculous to have
to dress a certain way just to be
able to enter the cafe. This is our
home away from home and if we
were at our permanent living
residences, we wouldn’t have to
dress up for dinner. Why here?
As long as a person has
covered himself or herself in a
decent manner, there shouldn’t
be any complaints. I'm sure after
the administrators come from
church on Sundays they get
comfortable, which is the way we
would like to dress. Why can't
we?
I'm sure that by now we have
all heard of the display of protest
by about fifteen to twenty
students concerning the code of
dress that took place on Sunday,
September 22. That is another
story. But it is a shame that you
can't eat what you have already
paid for — mind you — because
you have on a sleeveless shirt or
you don’t have on a tie.'There is
no telling what they will come up
with next. We have to stick
together if we are going to
overcome these petty rules.
Respect is another matter I
would like to address. For one
thing, it takes only five seconds
to go to the sink and pour out the
remainings of the beverage you
don't want, rather than throwing
it out the window and haveing it
mess up someone else's window
or spill in on the inside, as has
happened to me and has
happened to others in the
Towers.
The display of manners in the
bathroom is another problem. It
takes at least a split second, if not
a second, to "excuse me" flush
the commode. Then there is a
growing respect not only for
each other but for the school.
Flowers were planted in front
to the towers which added to the
surroundings but some destruc
tive force destroyed the beauty
of the flowers. Papers are strode
all over the front of the towers
when there are two trash cans
sitting outside.
Because of actions like these
we are kept from having
anything.
Having respect or concern for
the person on the phone is
another concern. How can you
be nasty to a person who is on
the phone for an hour talking to
their mother when you stayed on
it for an hour talking to your lady
or male friend. And it is stupid
not to deliver a message es
pecially if it is from that student's
parents. You are being selfish
and childish.
We are young adults in college
and we should act with a little
more maturity than high school
students.
If you don’t respect yourself;
no One is going to respect you.
Now think about it!
Wolverine Observer
Hosts College Church
by Connie Carter
The Morris Brown College
Wolverine Observer Staff spon
sored College Church on
September 8, Mr. Noran Moffet,
the Editor-In-Chief of the
Wolverine Observer extended
an invitation to Mr. Edward
Muhammed, a member of the
Nation of Islam Southeastern
Region, to be the speaker at the
morning service.
Muhammed spoke on the
theme “Time Past and Time
Present." In his message he
conveyed to the students the
realization of understanding the
Bible on a higher level. He also
told the students that we as black
people are the chosen people of
God and only a “FOOL" would
believe otherwise.
Edwards also gave recognition
to Rev. S.H. Colies, the oldest
pastor at Morris Brown College.
The new and old members of
the wolverine staff were asked to
stand and be recognized. Dr.
Calvert H. Smith, President of
MBC, was in attendance. He and
others in attendance were truly
enlightened.
The Staff of the Observer wish
to say to the student body,
support your College Church.
Worship is not a luxury. It is a
necessity.