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THE MBC WOLVERINE VOL. 61, NO. 1 TELLING IT LIKE IT IS OCTOBER 1986 Freshman Class Largest on Campus by Louisa McCullough Morris Brown College receiv ed one of its largest freshman classes in years, according to William Vickers of the Ad missions Office. The freshman enrollment for this academic year is roughly 600 students. The sophomore, junior and senior class students total about 700. This is an increase of 236 students from the 1,064 registered two years ago, Vickers said. The availability of housing was considered when students were admitted, Vickers said. “It’s not our problem. It’s a numbers game to get as many students as possible,” he said. In past years, Vickers said, enrollment has been decreasing. “One of the chief reasons (for decreased enrollment) is that Morris Brown used to allow students to register without any money being paid," he said. But the future looks as promis ing, as the freshman class is large. “I see enrollment getting better. There is no reason why it wouldn’t,” Vickers said. “There are the pluses and minuses, but I feel we have and are getting a better quality of students.” Vickers said that for many years Morris Brown has had an open door policy in admitting new students. This means nearly everyone who applies can be admitted. However, if a student begins to fail he is placed on probation with the threat of being expelled if his average does not increase. Vickers said this policy can be detrimental, "Letting anyone in causes academics to falter. Pride is lost. But when you have some type of criteria, you get a feeling of accomplishment." To boost enrollment, the Ad missions Office attempts to ex pose students to Morris Brown by visiting schools in other states, primarily in Michigan, Penn sylvania, Maryland, Illinois, Mis souri, Florida and New York. Organizations that strongly recruit students are the alumni chapters, Greek organizations, civic groups and promotional organizations, such as the band and choir. Colonel Fletcher speaks with freshmen. Colonel Fletcher is responsible for the large freshman class this year. Black Becomes Blue Angel Upperclassmen Upset Over Lack of Housing by Robert James Fedd, Jr. The newest member of the U.S. Navy’s precision flight demonstration team in Pen sacola, Fla. is Lt. Cmdr. Donnie Cochran. Cochran is the first Black American to become part of the team and will take the number three position. Cochran, a Pelham, Ga. native, was selected for the team last September. For Cochran, being the first black aviator on the team is not a major accomplishment but a goal he set for himself early in his naval career. "I think being the first black Blue Angel on the team is somewhat of an accomplish ment, but the loyalty and dedica tion that come along with the designation means a lot more,” said Cochran. "The requirements for selec tion to the team are the same for everyone,” commented Cochran. Cochran, a graduate of Savan nah State College, Savannah, Ga., received a bachelors degree in Civil Engineering and was awarded his commission to En sign from the Navy Reserve OfficerTraining Program in 1976. Upon completion of basic flight school and advanced jet training in Kingsville, Texas, Cochran was designated a naval By Karon Ammons One distraught upperclass female laments "It’s not fair." A freshman girl says, "I don’t want upperclassmen’s housing, because the same thing could happen to me next year.” These students were ex pressing their concerns about the lack of housing situation on Morris Brown College’s campus. Frustration was in the air as some freshmen girls moved into Sarah Allen Quadrangle, while others expressed dread for being assigned Cochran Towers. On the flip side, upperclass females were being turned away at the door for not having housing contracts signed or having them signed after the cut off date. Some students missed out on housing because they returned after August 25. But several students said they returned according to the registration schedules. These schedules re quired students to register on certain days according to the first letter of their last names. President Calvert Smith recognized the housing problem, and explained the roots of its origin. “It’s a school policy that all freshmen must stay on campus if they don’t live in the city,” he said. He added that with increased enrollment, this policy edged out upperclassmen who, otherwise, may have been granted housing. He said students were allowed to move into dormitories without hous ing contracts in the past and some students expected the same treatment this year. Maintaining a sizeable enroll ment is important to the college now, he said. "We are not at the point where we can put limits on enrollment.” Without adequate enrollment, the college could face closure. Low enrollment two years ago, caused the dismissal of several instructors and major courses. The large freshman class was expected, but Smith admits the school was slack on informing upperclassmen. "We didn’t communicate with the students that housing would be a premium,” Smith said, "that was an institutional problem. Continued on Page 5 Continued on Page 5