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Page 2 Founder’s Day Speaker Praises MBC by Annette Collins The treasurer of the African Methodist Episcopal Church said, once in awhile in the life of all institutions, as in a person, it is good for us to look back over the land from which we came so that we might have a better insight as to where we are going. Dr. Joseph McKinney, speak ing at Morris Brown College’s 105 Founder's Day Convocation on March 12, told a crowd of approximately 500 students, alumni, faculty, staff and visitors in the John H. Lewis gymnasium, “Morris Broan College has con tributed much to this nation and to the leadership of the Atlanta community." The Founders Day convoca tion is an annual event at Morris Brown, during which the college reflects on its founding fathers and principles. The birth of Morris Brown College was an outgrowth of the spirit of Richard Allen, stated McKinney. "Through (Richard Allen's) idea of self-help, the birth of Morris Brown was among the early attempts of Negroes in America to make themselves articulate." McKinney continued by giv ing a brief biography of Bishop Morris Brown, one of the founders for which the college is named. The speaker said Bishop Morris Brown was born in Charleston, South Carolina. Morris Brown organized an A.M.E. church in Charleston with a membership of 1500 persons. McKinney said, in 1822, when Denmark Vessey led a slave uprising in Charleston, the authorities in that city deemed it wise to surpress all assemblies of free coloreds and slaves, thus forcing Morris Brown to move to Philadelphia. "While in Philadelphia, he began to associate with Richard Allen," said McKinney, "Then he was asked to extend African Methodism to the states that had free slaves. He was then elected a Bishop in the A.M.E. church." McKinney pressed the fact that the greatness of Morris Brown and others has paved a smoother road for future generations. "Morris Brown was a man possessed with the same philosophy as Stewart Wiley and Bishop Wesley John Gaines. These great men made a great contribution to our society." "So it is these simple ideas of these men that made the difference of where we are today," he added. "Greatness in this world is created by a single thought, an emotion inside a man," said McKinney, "everything we see today made by past generations was before its appearance, a thought in the mind of a great person. A single thought built the pyramids and caused the ringing of the Liberty Bell,” he added. Reflecting on the single thought that brought about the A.M.E. church’s desire to educate Negroes, McKinney said, "The African Methodist Epsicopal Church has been responsible for educating a large portion of the Black community throughout this country. After' the Civil War, the A.ty.E. church was responsible for ’beginning more than 32 centers of learning. Many of these centers resulted in colleges. Today we have seven colleges remaining." Stressing relevance of Black colleges nowadays, McKinney said, "We are today educating many persons that would not be able to enroll in other in stitutions." Giving the statistical data of the 1985 Fourth Avenue annual report of minorities in higher education, he said the report stated, “Both private and Black institutions are responsible for producing a substantial number of students in the nation receiving degrees in technical and non-traditional fields and 50 percent of the degrees in engineering, mathematics, com puter science, physical science, biological science and 30 per cent of the first professional degrees." There is a need for Black colleges in this society, said McKinney. Black colleges must survive and continue to provide leaders for fhe commyguty and nation. The speaker said educa tion is a chief instrument for racial progress and equality. "We must prepare our students to get the best education possible. To not educate students," he add ed, "would lead to a form of self inflicted genocide.” "A wise man approaches with a torch to light up the path of mankind and to light up his own destiny. We must be a beacon of hope for our people." Touching on the recent con troversy of educating Black athletes at universities, McKinney commented, "If a man is seven feet tall and can play basketball he looks over Morris Brown and runs to the University of Georgia. The Un iversity of Georgia is a prime example of this lack of concern. The large universities use them for their financial resources and no concern for their education and this is a dangerous threat to our society." In concluding his speech, McKinney petitioned black schools to go out and market their schools to black students. "There are more schools recruiting black students," he said, "between 1870-1954 very few blacks had any other option but the black colleges." "In order for black schools to compete they must be about the business of education, trying to raise financial resources, trying to make our schools look better and make our students proud of their surroundings. Let’s make our school not just black schools but good schools," he said. McKinney cautioned that the future cannot be a repetition of the past. “As the social and economic conditions change to meet another agenda so must our agenda. We must be con cerned with more than educa tion. Our deeds must lead to an ever expanding future. We must do our part now to build up our schools. Blacks before us sacrific ed, blacks now must do the same. They did what they could in their time and place,a nd we Founders’ Day Gifts Exceed $32,000 Pre-Alumni Council Members Elected to National Offices by Annette Collins Vice-President for Finance, Mr. Charles Moore reported over $32,000 in contributions were submitted at the Founder's Day Convocation, Mr. Moore said even though the school has received these generous gifts and a recent $750,000 grant from the institution still is not finan cially secure. The combined efforts of departmental and student organizations help build the final figure. "I think the funding efforts put forth by the students were encouraging," said Moore. Awards were given out to the groups that contributed the highest amount of money to Founder's Day. Receiving a plaque for firsti place was the International students, who raised $805. Se cond and third place awards were secured by Cochran Towers with a contribution of $605 and Borders Towers trailed closely with a report of $600. The President's office cap tured the first place award among the departmental groups with $9170. Followed by Alumni Affairs who raised $6430 and the Music Department reported $3000 attribution. The keynote speaker for the event was the treasurer of the African Methodist Episcopal church, Dr. John McKinney. Other speakers representing the A.M.E. church were Bishop Fredrick H. Talbot, bishop of the sixth episcopal district and Rev. McKinney Young, pastor of Big Bethel A.M.E. and a 1966 graduate of Morris Brown. Speaking on behalf of Mayor Young was Ms. Beverly Harvard, Atlanta’s Deputy Chief of Police, and a 1972 graduate of Morris Brown. Clark College's president Elias Blake brought greetings from the Atlanta University Center. Dr. Norris Hogan, 1959 gradnate of MBC, and president of the National Alumni Associa tion also brought greetings. by Karon Ammons Four members of the Morris Brown Alumni and Pre-Alumni Councils, respectively, landed national offices at the 40th Annual Conference of the Un ited Negro College Fund (UNCF) National Alumni and Pre-Alumni Councils, according to Mrs. Eloise Burwell, director of AlDm- ni Affairs. The Conference was held Feb. 6 through Feb. 9 in Miami, Fla. Mrs. Burwell was elected National Alumni Council Presir dent; Steven Reid, senior, was voted National Pre-Alumni Council President; Joseph Mc Mahon, sophomore, was ap pointed Central Regional Direc tor and Michael Aikens, sophomore, was appointed Parliamentarian according to McMahon. The Conference capped off a year of fund raising toward the goal of $500,000 to be distributed to the 43 black colleges across the United States supported by UNCF funds. must do what we can in our time and place. Morris Brown, chart your course, weigh the cost, organize your team and put hope in your everyday action and the future can be in your hands." Dr. Joseph McKinney is an active member of Ward Memorial A.M.E. church in Washington, D.C. As treasurer, he disburses the Educational Institutions Fund under the guidance of the General Con ference and the General Board. The keynote speaker was an honor graduate of North Carolina A&T University with a major in electrical engineering, physics and mathematics. Currently, he holds membership in the Board of Directors for Kittrell College Job Corps Center, the Board of Trustees of the Interdenominational Theological Center, the Gover ning Boards of the World Coun cil of Churches, the National Council of Churches, and the World Methodist Conference. "Unfortunately, we fell short of our goal by raising $460,000, but our goal for the upcoming year remains at $500,000," said McMahon. While the Councils did not raise the funds they hoped to, the conference was still an enjoyable and informative event McMahon says. "The Conference sparked many new and very good ideas that will help our school in the coming year," he said. “It is a wonderful occasion, mixing business with pleasure. There were very important meetings and workshops and many good speakers highlighted luncheons and dinners." McMahon said that the Con ference was attended by representatives from each of the UNCF supported schools. Brow- nites that travelled to the Con ference are: Roosevelt Hudson, Student Government Associa tion president: Sylvia Black, Miss Pre-Alumni 1986-87; Kenna Gar ner, junior; Bill Barnett, freshman; Charles Banks, sophomore; Sandra Rendon, junior. Students from the other AU Center schools were also in attendance.