Blacks'Academic By T o m H i l d e b r a n d t a n c h o r Assistant Editor
of the b l a c k s t u d e n t s f o r t h e m selves. T h e a s p i r a t i o n " t o prep a r e myself to r e t u r n h o m e to h e l p m y b l a c k b r o t h e r s a n d sist e r s " is a c o m m o n o n e a m o n g the b l a c k s , a n d this m a k e s s t u d y a worthwhile occupation.
T h e a c a d e m i c w o r l d of the b l a c k s t u d e n t at H o p e C o l l e g e is a n e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t k i n d of p l a c e t h a n its w h i t e c o u n t e r p a r t . T H E D I F F E R E N C E lies in t h e p r e s s u r e s t h a t o p e r a t e in e a c h of the two w o r l d s — p r e s s u r e to s t u d y a n d p r e s s u r e n o t to s t u d y . T h e b l a c k s at H o p e n o t e t h a t s o m e of the s a m e p r e s s u r e s a r e p r e s e n t in b o t h w o r l d s , b u t t h a t v a r i a t i o n s in i n t e n s i t y c r e a t e p e c u l i a r problems a n d a peculiar situation f o r the b l a c k s . P e r h a p s the g r e a t e s t i n c e n t i v e to s t u d y is the g o a l set b y m a n y
O t h e r s r e g a r d a c a d e m i c excellence a s b e n e f i c i a l to t h e i m a g e of the b l a c k s t u d e n t s at H o p e , a n d therefore as s o m e t h i n g for w h i c h to strive. " W h e n y o u ' r e the o n l y b l a c k s t u d e n t in a c l a s s , " o n e b l a c k girl s a i d , " y o u feel t h a t y o u h a v e to d o well. You c o n c e i v e of y o u r s e l f a s c a r r y i n g the i m a g e of the w h o l e r a c e on y o u r s h o u l ders."
World Is Different T H E S O C I A L L I F E of the College a n d the c o m m u n i t y , w h i c h t h e s e s t u d e n t s see a s e s p e c i a l l y limited for b l a c k s , a l s o c o n t r i b u t e s to s t u d y . A few b l a c k s s a i d t h a t they "hit the b o o k s because there w a s n o t h i n g else to d o . " D i s s a t i s f a c t i o n with s o c i a l a n d o t h e r f a c e t s of H o p e C o l l e g e life a l s o i n f l u e n c e s b l a c k a s well a s w h i t e s t u d e n t s to get g o o d g r a d e s s o t h a t t h e y c a n t r a n s f e r to a n o t h e r college. On the o t h e r h a n d , m a n y b l a c k s e x p r e s s the o p i n i o n that b e i n g a b l a c k s t u d e n t at a p r e d o m i n a n t ly w h i t e i n s t i t u t i o n c r e a t e s s i t u a t i o n s which inhibit h i g h a c a d e m i c achievement.
Place'
S O M E OF T H E S E arise from the b a c k g r o u n d s of the s t u d e n t s themselves. A n u m b e r are g r a d u ates of h i g h s c h o o l s w h i c h offer p o o r p r e p a r a t i o n to d o c o l l e g e w o r k , a n d a d m i n i s t r a t o r s a n d ins t r u c t o r s r e p o r t t h a t s o m e of t h e s e students simply cannot compete with s t u d e n t s f r o m better h i g h schools. At p r e s e n t , the C o l l e g e p r o v i d e s a r e a d i n g a n d w r i t i n g clinic f o r s t u d e n t s with p r o b l e m s in t h e s e a r e a s . In a d d i t i o n , a p r o g r a m of counseling by faculty wives h a s b e e n set u p f o r s t u d e n t s of a n y r a c e with p o o r a c a d e m i c b a c k g r o u nds. R e a c t i o n t o these p r o g r a m s b y b l a c k s t u d e n t s h a s been m i x e d . S o m e feel t h a t the f a c u l t y w i v e s h a v e d o n e a g r e a t d e a l to h e l p overcome problems; others are not so enthusiastic. Most, howe v e r , a r e w a r y of s e e k i n g h e l p in the clinics b e c a u s e " t h e y tend to i n t e n s i f y the f e e l i n g of i n f e r i o r i t y which m a n y b l a c k s h a v e . " A N O T H E R P R O B L E M is the a t t i t u d e t o w a r d e d u c a t i o n itself. M a n y o b s e r v e that ideas a n d education a r e not h i g h l y v a l u e d b y people of low s o c i o - e c o n o m i c status, which includes a g o o d n u m b e r of A m e r i c a n b l a c k s , a n d
t h a t m o t i v a t i o n t o s t u d y is n o t p a r t of the m a k e - u p of s o m e b l a c k students. S o m e d o u b t w h e t h e r this c a n be c h a n g e d w h e n t h e s t u d e n t s is at c o l l e g e a g e . T h e y feel t h a t m o r e e m p h a s i s s h o u l d be p l a c e d o n t e a c h i n g the v a l u e of e d u c a t i o n at the e l e m e n t a r y a n d s e c o n d a r y levels, a n d p o i n t to the P h i l a d e l p h i a p r o g r a m a s a s t e p in the d i r e c t i o n in w h i c h the C o l l e g e m u s t g o if it is to r a i s e the e d u c a t i o n a l level of b l a c k A m e r i c a n s . Moreover, s o m e black students say t h a t " w e h a v e b e e n discriminated a g a i n s t so l o n g that we a r e n o t s u r e t h a t g e t t i n g g o o d g r a d e s will d o u s a n y g o o d w h e n we g r a d u a t e . S t u d y m a y h a v e n o real m e a n i n g f o r the b l a c k . " M O S T B L A C K S at H o p e s e e m to feel t h a t " p r o b l e m s w h i c h e v e r y e n t e r i n g f r e s h m a n h a s t e n d to hit the black student h a r d e r . " Adjustm e n t to c o l l e g e life is a l w a y s disr u p t i v e , b u t t r y i n g to a d j u s t to a white college a n d a white comm u n i t y is m u c h m o r e difficult, t h e y feel, a n d t h i s h i n d e r s a c a demic progress. Related to this is the p r o b l e m of b u i l d i n g a n a d e q u a t e self(Continued on page 7)
Trustee Exec Committee Delays Voorhees Plans By G e o r g e A r w a d y anchor Editor
81st A N N I V E R S A R Y -
Biology
18
Hope College, Holland, Michigan 49423
M a r c h 7, 1969
Takes Lead
Students Get Department Vote By J a n D / u r i n a a n c h o r Reporter The biology department h a s given students a voice and a vote in d e p a r t m e n t a l m e e t i n g s , a n d t h e t h e a t r e d e p a r t m e n t is f o r m u l a t i n g a similar plan for student repres e n t a t i o n to g o i n t o effect in t h e fall. The chemistry department h a s instituted a student a d v i s o r y g r o u p without voting powers. T H E AIM OF faculty m e m b e r s in these d e p a r t m e n t s is to effect better s t u d e n t - f a c u l t y c o m m u n i c a tion b y a l l o w i n g elected s t u d e n t s representatives to voice their o p i n i o n s a l o n g with f a c u l t y m e m bers. Dean for Academic Affairs Morrette R i d e r s u g g e s t e d at a meeting of d e p a r t m e n t c h a i r m e n a few m o n t h s a g o t h a t " s t u d e n t rep r e s e n t a t i o n in d e p a r t m e n t a l staff m e e t i n g s m i g h t be a g o o d t h i n g . " D E A N R I D E R N O T E D that such representation "must be a n o p t i o n a l t h i n g " t a k e n on the initiat i v e of the i n d i v i d u a l d e p a r t m e n t s a n d " c a n o n l y be e n c o u r a g e d b y the A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . " T h e D e a n s a i d t h a t he d o e s not f a v o r m a k i n g student representation a f o r m a l college policy. T h e b i o l o g y d e p a r t m e n t a l staff meetings are attended by seniors J a c k W a b e r a n d Wendell H y i n k , and sophomore Carol Ludwick, selected b y the H o n o r s B i o l o g y C l u b , the Pre-Med C l u b a n d the B i o l o g y 15 c l a s s r e s p e c t i v e l y . T h e s t u d e n t s c a n v o t e o n all p o l i c y decisions. " T H E S T U D E N T S H A V E the p o w e r to initiate i d e a s a n d v o t e on such matters as curriculum w h i c h w o u l d affect the e n t i r e coll e g e , " s a i d Dr. N o r m a n N o r t o n , c h a i r m a n of the b i o l o g y d e p a r t m e n t . " W h e n we m a k e a decision, the s t u d e n t s k n o w the r e a s o n b e h i n d t h a t d e c i s i o n , " he a d d e d . Dr. N o r t o n n o t e d that the n e w ly-adopted college committee
s t r u c t u r e " m a k e s the d e p a r t m e n t a b a s i c c o m m i t t e e , " a n d this m e a n t in the c a s e of his d e p a r t m e n t t h a t s t u d e n t s w e r e "left o u t of a p o l i c y - m a k i n g g r o u p t h a t makes decisions involving both biology and non-biology majors." D R . N O R T O N S A I D t h a t the b i o l o g y staff h a s f o u n d s t u d e n t suggestions and opinions " v e r y h e l p f u l b e c a u s e s t u d e n t s h a v e ins i g h t s w h i c h we d o n ' t h a v e . " Miss L u d w i c k , o n e of the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , s a i d t h a t the new arr a n g e m e n t is a " g o o d t h i n g , " b u t s a i d s h e felt t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d be "better c o m m u n i c a t i o n between the s t u d e n t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a n d b i o l o g y s t u d e n t s in o r d e r to m a k e the p r o g r a m a s u c c e s s . " T h e t h e a t r e d e p a r t m e n t is pres e n t l y w o r k i n g on a n " e q u i t a b l e p l a n that w o u l d i n v o l v e t h r e e o r f o u r student-elected s t u d e n t s in determining d e p a r t m e n t a l policy a n d aid in the selection of p l a y s , " a c c o r d i n g to D o n a l d F i n n , ins t r u c t o r in t h e a t r e . STUDENTS I N V O L V E D in theatre activity a n d theatre m a j o r s will be eligible to s e r v e in this c a p a c i t y , a c c o r d i n g to Mr. F i n n , a n d the p l a n will g o i n t o effect in S e p t e m b e r . Dr. E u g e n e Jekel, c h a i r m a n of the c h e m i s t r y d e p a r t m e n t , s a i d that f o u r students representing each class presently c o m p o s e a s t u d e n t a d v i s o r y g r o u p to the chemistry department. Senior Charles Bibart, j u n i o r Matt Mescher, s o p h o m o r e M a r k V a n Dort a n d f r e s h m a n D o u g N e l s o n w e r e selected b y the C h e m istry Club, s o p h o m o r e o r g a n i c c h e m i s t r y c l a s s a n d the l e c t u r e section of the g e n e r a l c h e m i s t r y class. T H E S E S T U D E N T S serve as a s o u n d i n g b o a r d for student i d e a s a n d criticism r e g a r d i n g the c h e m i s t r y d e p a r t m e n t . T h e s e students d o not vote on d e p a r t m e n tal p o l i c y .
" T h e a d v i s o r y g r o u p is o n e g o o d w a y of letting the f a c u l t y know what the s t u d e n t s a r e t h i n k i n g a n d w h a t they w a n t c h a n g e d , " said Mescher. THE STUDENT advisory g r o u p h a s met o n c e this s e m e s ter a n d Dr. .lekel n o t e d t h a t " s t u d e n t c o m m e n t s p e r t a i n e d to all a s p e c t s of H o p e C o l l e g e . " ' T h i s should h a v e been d o n e y e a r s a g o , " Dr. J e k e l a d d e d .
T h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e of the B o a r d of T r u s t e e s met M o n d a y a n d d e c i d e d that it needed a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n b e f o r e deciding the f u t u r e of V o o r h e e s H a l l a n d o t h e r q u e s t i o n s related to the Master Plan. T H E E X E C U T I V E Committee is t e n t a t i v e l y s c h e d u l e d to meet a g a i n on M a r c h 2 4 at which t i m e some decisions concerning Voorhees a n d o t h e r p r o b l e m s a r e expected. A statement prepared by B o a r d S e c r e t a r y W i l l a r d Wichers s a i d that "the e m e r g e n c y c a u s e d by the e v a c u a t i o n of V o o r h e e s H a l l r e q u i r e s a n i n - d e p t h s t u d y of s p a c e r e q u i r e m e n t s for h o u s i n g , f a c u l t y offices a n d c l a s s r o o m s . P r e s u m a b l y s o m e p r i o r i t i e s will, of necessity, be r e e v a l u a t e d a s a r e s u l t of the new c o n d i t i o n s . " D E A N F O R A C A D E M I C Af f a i r s M o r r e t t e Rider, w h o a t t e n d e d m o s t of t h e m e e t i n g , s a i d t h a t "there were a million and one possibilities d i s c u s s e d " but that " n o t h i n g h a s d e f i n i t e l y been decided." The Dean commented that e v e r y o n e at the m e e t i n g w a s g i v e n
a research a s s i g n m e n t and noted that " t h e y ' v e got s o m e l e g w o r k to d o . " The Executive Committee exam i n e d the e n r o l l m e n t p r o j e c t s f o r next y e a r a n d r e v i e w e d d e p a r t m e n t a l needs a n d r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s . Mr. W i c h e r s ' s t a t e m e n t s a i d t h a t " t h e p i n c h o n h o u s i n g acc o m m o d a t i o n s r e s u l t i n g f r o m rel o c a t i n g V o o r h e e s r e s i d e n t s will d e f i n i t e l y b e a r on the b r o a d spect r u m of p l a n s a n d m a y r e q u i r e budgetary revisions." T H E C O M M I T T E E a l s o disc u s s e d p l a n s f o r the DeWilt Cult u r a l C e n t e r , the m u s i c b u i l d i n g a d d i t i o n a n d the p r o p o s e d science facility. Mr. W i c h e r s ' s t a t e m e n t s a i d t h a t the a r c h i t e c t s ' p l a n s for the S C S C " a r e n e a r i n g c o m p l e t i o n a n d it is a n t i c i p a t e d t h e y will be s u b m i t t e d to the B o a r d d u r i n g M a r c h . " A c c o r d i n g to the s t a t e m e n t , a s t u d y is u n d e r w a y to s o l v e the most pressing department space n e e d s , p a r t i c u l a r l y for a r t a n d geology. T H E E X E C U T I V E Committee a l s o r e q u e s t e d D e a n of S t u d e n t s R o b e r t De Y o u n g to u n d e r t a k e a long-range study on the c h a r a c t e r and requirements for s t u d e n t h o u s i n g in the f u t u r e .
Wants No Advisor
NDLChallengesCollege By G e o r g e A r w a d y a n c h o r Editor T h e N e w D e m o c r a t i c Left, ina c t i v e until r e c e n t l y , h a s reactiv a t e d a n d is s e e k i n g to b e r e c o g nized a s a c a m p u s o r g a n i z a t i o n without o b t a i n i n g a faculty adv i s o r o r r e g i s t e r i n g its c o n s t i t u t i o n a n d b y - l a w s with the College. DANIEL G E O R G E S , acting c h a i r m a n of the N D L , s a i d t h a t he h a d t a l k e d to Mr. R a u w e r d i n k . " W e a l r e a d y h a v e been told b y h i m that t h e r e is n o r o o m f o r int e r p r e t a t i o n of the p o l i c y a n d we c a n n o t be a c c e p t e d w i t h o u t a faculty a d v i s o r and without adheri n g to the r u l e s . " T h e E x t r a c u r r i c u l a r Activities C o m m i t t e e is u n d e r the j u r i s d i c t i o n of the C a m p u s Life B o a r d , to w h i c h the N D L c o u l d a p p e a l a n EAC decision. G e o r g e s s a i d t h a t the N D L objected to all six c l a u s e s of the policy r e g a r d i n g s t u d e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s , d r a w n u p b y the S t u d e n t Life C o m m i t t e e of the o l d c o m mittee s t r u c t u r e . T H E POLICY REQUIRESthat a n o r g a n i z a t i o n s h o u l d h a v e at l e a s t a d o z e n m e m b e r s . It a l s o states that an o r g a n i z a t i o n " c a n
be s a n c t i o n e d o n l y if its s t a t e d a i m s a n d p u r p o s e s c o i n c i d e with t h o s e of the c o l l e g e . " T H E N D L ' S D E S I R E is in c o n flict with s t a t e d c o l l e g e p o l i c y , a n d t h r e e m e m b e r s of the N D L met with the E x t r a c u r r i c u l a r Activities C o m m i t t e e this m o r n i n g to s t a t e their o b j e c t i o n s to the c o l l e g e policy a n d r e q u e s t t h a t a n e x c e p t i o n be m a d e in t h e c a s e of t h e i r o r g a n i zation. S t u d e n t Activities C o o r d i n a t o r Phil R a u w e r d i n k , c h a i r m a n of the c o m m i t t e e w h i c h will h e a r the N D L o b j e c t i o n s , s a i d t h a t he did n o t c a r e to c o m m e n t o n the m a t ter until the c o m m i t t e e h a d met. The policy defines those a i m s by q u o t i n g two p a s s a g e s f r o m a Hope College profile report. Among other s t a t e m e n t s , the p o l i c y n o t e s t h a t " T h e H o p e Experience should lead to the s t r e n g t h e n i n g of b a s i c a t t i t u d e s : reverence t o w a r d God as revealed in J e s u s C h r i s t ; respect f o r t h e d i g n i t y a n d u n i q u e n e s s of o n e ' s fellows a n d active c o n c e r n for their highest welfare. . . " T H E P O L I C Y R E Q U I R E S that every organization "must h a v e a faculty advisor, whose responsibility it is to g u i d e a n d s u p e r v i s e
Policy
the a c t i v i t i e s of t h a t o r g a n i zation." T h e c a m p u s o r g a n i z a t i o n , und e r the p r e s e n t p o l i c y , " m u s t obs e r v e the a i m s , r u l e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s of the c o l l e g e , a n d b e h a v e in a r e s p o n s i b l e f a s h i o n . . . " Org a n i z a t i o n s m a y be d i s s o l v e d f o r i n f r a c t i o n s u n d e r the p o l i c y . T H E P O L I C Y SAYS that o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d their activities " a r e o p e n to c o n s t a n t r e v i e w " by a college committee a n d " m u s t r e - r e g i s t e r with the S t u d e n t Activities Office e a c h y e a r . " G e o r g e s s a i d h i s o b j e c t i o n s to the p o l i c y c e n t e r e d a r o u n d its denial of civil r i g h t s , which he s a y s c o n s t i t u t e a " m o r a l l a w " to w h i c h the s c h o o l s h o u l d be b o u n d e v e n if civil a n t i - d i s c r i m i n a t o r y l a w s a r e n o t a p p l i c a b l e to t h e i n t e r n a l p o l i c y of the s c h o o l . " A student o r g a n i z a t i o n s h o u l d b e a b l e to o p e r a t e w h e t h e r o r n o t it a g r e e s with t h e s t a t e d p o s i t i o n of the C o l l e g e , " G e o r g e s s a i d . GEORGES, ALONG WITH NDL members Mary Thompson a n d Jed G r e e n , d r e w u p a p o i n t b y - p o i n t s t a t e m e n t of d i s a g r e e m e n t with the p r e s e n t p o l i c y . T h e i r s t a t e m e n t h a d n o t yet b e e n a p (Continued on page 6)