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2 Leaders of Tomorrow! OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1996 MBC Wolverine OBSERVER
EDITORIALS
Get involved
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give us a production of a
scrimmage? If the students
paid a student activity fee,
why are we subject to pay for
concerts held on campus?
Why not cut out the student
activity fee altogether?
How can we elevate our
people if we cannot bring
someone who can “kick some
knowledge” to the student
population? I know I would
be very interested in hearing
Ramona Africa speak about
the M.O.VE. bombing and
Mumia Abu-Jamal. If the
Student Government
Association can bring some
rap artists to Morris Brown,
why not bring someone who
will actually leave a
memorable impression on us.
Why are some of our
instructors having major
problems with those on
Capitol Hill about getting
paid. If the instructors were
to strike, I would probably be
on the picket line with them.
James Potter III
Business Manager
Those close to the Wolverine
Observer say it is all about
politics, I disagree!
For some, it has become a
way of life to be subservient.
I pray that I never become so
comfortable with my current
status and accept those
conditions with which I can
change for the better.
Perhaps that is what has
happened with the black race.
Sometimes I think if we were
on a plantation, so many of
our brothers and sisters
would sell their soul not to
get involved or to shake up
the status quo.
Oftentimes, I feel as if I
am a frustrated parent with a
troubled child. Why can’t we
update our computers in the
computer lab, complete the
construction of the new
cyberlab in time for the new
semester, afford enough
copiers for all departments,
pay our instructors the
money they richly deserve,
upgrade our dorm’s for our
future leaders, provide a staff
for our Director of Student
Activities, so that he may
properly oversee Student
Activities, Campus
Organization, Recreation,
Intra-murals, and Student
Publications departments?
What incentives can I
provide to those who are
interested in becoming part
of the Wolverine Observer
staff? What incentive will
keep me on staff? These
questions must be seriously
looked at and prayerfully, a
solution will benefit us all.
Constantly, I am asked
when the next issue will be
out; issues will be released
twice a month. My challenge
to some and they very well
know who they are, that if
they think the Observer is
not being released fast
enough, then I invite them
to a meeting every
Wednesday at 7 pm, which
are held in the Student
Publications office, located in
the lower level of Hickman
Student Center.
So that you may have a
better understanding of what
takes place in the assembly of
a newspaper, let me share
with you that process. I hold
the office of editor, typist,
reporter, contributor of
poetry, and one-time business
manager. Many times people
have told me that they have a
story for the Wolverine
Observer, but somehow it
never reaches my desk??? Or
how about people telling me
that they have a great story,
but I have to go to them to
get it???
We have a serious
problem- a lack of participa
tion. Students are paying a
student activity fee and they
Carvel G. Bennett
Director of Student Activities
are not getting involved. If
anything is wrong with the
content of the paper or the
lack of some serious hard
news that will affect us all, the
few writers we have and I
take the blame. We have
preached, begged, and pleaded
for those who are capable to
please take notice and bring
us their talents.
We have approached those
in the Communications
Department to have their
students contribute
practically anything of
interest so that we can all be
exposed to the untapped
Spurgeon Dennis Jr.
Coordinator, Recreation & Intra-murals
talent at Morris Brown
College. Or am I one of the
few students at MBC capable
and caring enough to write
articles for our student
publication? I realize that
this editorial will ruffle some
feathers, and that is okay
because I can hold my own
when I write or speak about
the truth.
Please do not view this
editorial as a scathing attack
but as encouragement for the
Communications Department
to step in and have some of
their best writers make
contributions.
It has become difficult to
assign stories because there is
not a writing or investigative
staff in place. Stories such as
racism within the black
community, homosexuality,
politics, entertainment,
sports, religion, outstanding
students and administration
leaders who help others and
everything that is relevant to
the betterment of black
The Morris Brown Wolverine OBSERVER
is published bi-monthly by Morris Brown College, 643 Martin
L. King Jr., Dr., N.W., Atlanta, GA 30314 - 4140, (404) 220-0312,
Fax: (404) 220-0393. All contents are Copyright 1996, Morris
Brown College Wolverine OBSERVER. All rights reserved. The
opinions expressed by editors and contributing writers are not
necessarily those of the Morris Brown College or it's Board of
Trustees. The students of MBC Wolverine OBSERVER have the
right and responsibility to report news of student interest, and
to editorialize on issues of student relevance.
The Morris Brown College Wolverine OBSERVER
newspaper is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or
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and must be typewritten double spaced, and contain the
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Deadline for articles or announcements is two weeks prior
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p.m. during the week of publication. DISTRIBUTION: Free in
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Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or
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people are not being covered.
There is enough space in the
paper over the next several
months to cover these
important issues and more
in depth.
Once the stories are
written, they are edited for
content, corrections, and then
typed. Since we do not have
computers, which is an issue
in itself, this has not
hindered us from producing a
paper we are proud to have
our name associated with. I
have utilized my best friend’s
computer, which now sits in
my home full-time. I haye
enlisted the aud of a friend
who attends Georgia State
University. I have gone to my
best friend’s job to type ‘til
late at night.
Tamara V. Birdsong
Alumnus
After accomplishing the
aforementioned tasks, I have
a meeting with Mr. Bennett,
the Wolverine Observer’s
advisor/managing editor, Mr.
James Potter III, our adverti
sing manager; Spurgeon
Dennis Jr., photographer;
and Bates & Bates Identity
Development, off campus
advisor. We discuss story
positioning (Campus News,
Barbara Buckley Washington
Director of College Relations
Politics; Inside & Out,
Entertainment, etc.), identify
people in photos not
identified by the contributor
- (all photos have captions
when possible.) We also
discuss contacting adverti
sers and keeping in touch
with present ones. If what
has been described is not
true Brownite dedication,
then I may be in trouble.
Finally, I am glad that we
have someone to accept the
position as business manager,
Clarence W. Williamson
Director of Alumni Affairs
a responsibility assigned to
James Potter III because I
was faced with stressing
myself over getting the
printer paid on time. Mr.
Bennett has always said we
must have patience because
having our newspaper back
again, and with such quality,
takes time for others to get
use to. I feel the inefficiency
of the Finance Department
could alleviate a great deal of
our problems by helping us
stay on track just by cutting
a check to our printer.
Jill R. Triplett
Director
Office of Institutional Research and
Planning/Title III
Mam
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Curtis Askew
Comptroller
When we work as a
business team we all reap
the benefits.
Also, I want to bring to
the forefront the support the
Observer has received from
the leadership: Mr. Carvel
Bennett, Advisor; Spurgeon
Dennis, Jr., Photographer,
Tamara V Birdsong,
Alumnus; Sergeant Dennis