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TlMES Black Americans for Democracy

Volume No. 2 , Fayetteville, Ark. October 11, 1976

New Assistant Dean Seamon Thompson, a former

Department of Public Safety in-vestigator, is now serving as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.

At the past B.A.D. meeting where Thompson spoke, he stated that his "main concern" was academic problems concerning minority students, noting that teachers cannot be recalled because of the grades he "may choose to give."

Another concern was minority adjustment to the UofA at Fayetteville, a predominately

Seamon Thompson

Razorback Beauties Chosen

After a week of interviews and waiting, two black women were named as 1976 Razorback Beauties. The two beauties are Cindy Carroll, representing Reid Hall and Karen Simmons, representing Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Five other blacks reached the semi-finals. They are: Michelle Davis, representing the RAZORBACK, Lucille Jackson, representing Razorback Hall, Sharon Norwood, representing BAD, Judy Wilson, representing Alpha Phi Alpha, and Isabella Wofford, representing Hum-phrey's Hall.

The beauties will be featured in a picture essay in the 1977 RAZORBACK.

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white University and the largest college in the state of Arkansas. Stating that adjustment to the college is a problem that causes many students to have bad grades. Minorities also have to make an adjustment to a limited social life and seeing few blacks faces on campus. Thompson stated that "not until 1963 did blacks come as freshmen and graduate as seniors."

Citing that he "cannot do anything if minority students give him the chance to fail," Thompson encourages "students to come to him if he has problems." "I will try to help if feasibly possible."

While serving as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, he will be responsible for minority students' academic progress while at the University and follow-up studies when the students graduate.

Thompson is originally from little Rock and obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree here at the University. He has completed 69 hours of law courses and is presently enrolled in the Public Administration Master's Program at the University.

Black Law Prof. Leaves George F. Knox, Jr. left the

University of Arkansas Law School October 1 to presume his new position as City Attorney for Miami, Florida. Knox was the first black law professor here at the University and is the first black City Attorney for Miami. He had previously served as Assistant City Attorney in Miami, Florida.

Though Knox said that the Fayetteville Law school was "much more than he expected and it was a good experience," he felt that the position as City Attorney was "an excellent opportunity that could not be turned down."

One of Knox's accomplishments as the first black law professor was to set up the Symposium of Black Attorneys which is to be an annual Law School event. He feels there is a great need for more black law professors and students. Stating that the University has "dedicated itself to a Minority Admissions Program to allow as many black law students as possible, there is a great need for funds for tutorial services to keep those students there once they are admitted to law school. Lack of these services is one of the causes of a high black drop-out rate in law school.

If any B.A.D. members are interested in joining any of the following committees come to the B.A.D office in the Arkansas Student Union between the hours of nine to five daily or contact the chairman of the following committees: 1 )Project Contact—(tutorial services for students in the Fayetteville community) Paula Whitford-Chairman 521-2720 2) Recreation Committee— Darryl Lunon 521-7211 3)Black Awareness Week— Debra Holliman 575-5034 4) Talent Show—(which is a part of Black Awareness Week) Linda Johnson, 575-5092 5) Intramurals—Hugh Watson, 575-3683

New KUAF Disc Jockey

If you turn your radio dial to 88.9 FM on Friday nights between 7 and 10 o'clock, there should be a familiar voice belonging to Dale Hamilton, dee-jay for the soul music show at KUAF.

The soul music show is part of a new format for KUAF which already had rock, classical, jazz, and folk music shows.

Hamilton, an electrical engineering major from Nashville, Arkansas, had previously worked as assistant to the Engineer at KUAF, had been approached several times by the manager of KUAF about being the dee-jay for the soul music show. Dale does the show as a volunteer.

He would like to get more feedback from his listeners con-cerning the show. If enough people show interest the show could possibly be extended.

Register to Vote!

Black Dancing Razorback

It all started about three years ago in Charleston, Arkansas when Mary Williams became the dan-cing mascot for the Charleston Tigers. Unknown to her at the time she was seen performing at a Fort Smith game by one of the assistant coaches for the Razorbacks. He was so impressed by her per-formance that he approached her with an offer of an Athletic Scholarship to the UofA as the Dancing Razorback. After careful consideration Mary accepted, and this began her career as the Dancing Razorback.

Mary Williams is a freshman majoring in Psychology, in ad-dition to her studies she devotes a lot of her time in preparing for each performance. Every Monday Ms. Williams picks up her music for the next game and works out her routine. She is affiliated with the Marching Razorbacks and spends a great deal of time practicing with the band. She has always enjoyed dancing. During this interview Mary revealed to me the feelings she gains from a performance: "I feel the en thusiasm that is generated through out the crowd while dancing and I would just like to express my appreciation to the Razorback fans."

His office is located at the Arkansas Union in the Division of Student Affairs.

UofA Black Cheerleaders

There have been four blacks chosen as cheerleaders for the University this school year. Cheerleader tryouts were held because of the controversy that arose due to the lack of blacks on the cheerleading squad at the UofA.

Dionne Harold, a freshman from Brinkley, Arkansas and Billy Lewis, a sophomore from Atkins, Arkansas were chosen as regular squad members and Kim Nichols from Jacksonville and Lynn Harris from Little Rock were chosen as alternates. Kim Nichols and Dionne Harold both had been cheerleaders at their high schools.

The try-outs, which took place last Thursday, were judged by three black judges, Dr. George Knox, former black law professor, Gail Gant, a civil engineering major from Augusta, and Bobby Simmons, a lab technician at the V.A. hospital. The try-outs were coordinated by Linda Jackson, who works as Program Advisor for the University.

New Federal Law Goes After Absentee Fathers

There will a new most wanted list, made up completely of fathers who have abandoned their families, leaving them to turn to public aid for support.

Backed by federal money and a new federal law, state and federal welfare agencies, and their staff of investigators, are launching a drive to track down fathers of welfare recipients to recover a projected one billion dollars.

Under the new federal law, which comes under the Social Security Act, fathers who are found will be investigated to determine whether they are really able to support their families. If so, they must begin some form of financial support.

Butz Resigns Earl Butz, the opinionated

Secretary of Agriculture resigned under pressure from his colleagues because of racial slurs quoted by the magazines "Rolling Stones" and "New Times." Butz referred to Blacks as "coloreds" and described in a derogatory manner what he considered to be their sexual, dress, and bathroom behavior. Butz resigned last Monday.

In giving his resignation Butz tearfully stated that what he said was not really his opinion of blacks and that he was sorry and would not want to hurt the Ford ad-ministration.

President Ford, who did not want to have he and Butz seen on the platform at the same time, waited about thirty minutes after Butz left the platform to walk on stage and accept Butz's resignation. Stating, that Butz's resignation was a "big loss" and that he was a "good, decent man."

Every since Butz's remarks have been made public, there had been calls for Butz's resignation. Among those calling for Butz's resignation were Jimmy Carter, the Democratic presidential candidate, who said that Butz's remarks were evidence of his insensitivity to people and a danger to President Ford's chances for election and Senator Edward Brooke, a Republican and the only Black member of the Senate who called Butz's remarks vulgar and offensive stated that "no man who harbors such thoughts is fit to serve the cabinet of the President of the United States."

Page 2 BAD Times October 11, 1976

Black History Maker Salute

Duke Ellington

The Black History Maker salute is designed to serve as an introduction to some of the accomplishments of Black Americans. The people that are saluted are an integral part of America which would be a different and poorer place without them, In the field of music our salute goes to Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington.

Duke Ellington, born in 1899 and died in 1974, was an American jazz composer, orchestra leader, and pianist, who created the single most durable body of original jazz com-positions and shaped the most distinctive and resourceful large jazz orchestra.

Ellington was from Washington, D.C. He was the son of a butler, who later was an Navy blueprint maker. He began to study piano at the age of six. He also had a pronounced talent in the Graphic Arts and after graduating from High School, was awarded a scholarship to Pratt Institute, a technological school in Brooklyn, New York. But Ellington chose music, and by 1918 he was a successful band leader in Washington. He was un-successful in his first efforts in moving his base of operations to New York City, but in 1923 he formed an orchestra there and gradually established himself. His popularity became in-ternational. He died in New York City on May 24,1974.

Ellington considered his music both as a personal chronicle and continuation and reaffirmation of the musical heritage of the American Negro. In 1965, when the Pulitzer advisory board rejected the suggestion that a special citation be given to him, Ellington's response was characteristically urbane and ironic: "Fate," the 66 year old composer said, "doesn't want me to be too famous too young."

P o e t r y C o r n e r

RIGHT ON, FOR THE DARKNESS

Right on Right on, for the Darkness

Right on for the dark sky, for the cloud that shades your eyes Without the darkness there could be no light

no such thing as day and night So right on,

Right on, for the Darkness Right on for the people you meet

for the common brother on the street just like you and me

through the darkness he'll eventually see

the oneness of you and me The Darkness,

I can feel it inside rising, falling like the tides

On my soul the Darkness rides But the light will free me soon

and my soul will reach high noon So. . . .

So Right on Right on for the Darkness

for. . for the Darkness. . . . the Darkness

Darkness Darkness

Darkness

BAD Officers

BAD officers for the 1976-77 school year are:

Terry Lee President

Solomon Lusby Vice President

Wanda Marshal Secretary

Brenda Mitchell Assistant Secretary

Jo Evelyn George Treasurer

Debra Lewis Parliamentarian

At the last B.A.D. meeting, much concern was expressed over the article in another campus newspaper concerning black cheerleaders at the University. In the publication, it was stated that the black players on the UofA athletic teams "expressed a desire for black cheerleaders and the athletic department thought the black athletes deserved equal representation," which is just putting it lightly. What is true is that the black football players went to Coach Broyles stating that they would not play in any games if there were no black cheerleaders. Broyles surprised, complied with a "little nudge" from the President of the University, Dr. Bishop. There was never a time when the Athletic Department felt that the black athletes deserved equal representation before they were forced to feel it.

Now with the black athletes putting so much on the line for us to have black cheerleaders, it is up to US to support those poeple that make it. There should not be any laughing when you see those cheerleaders that you wanted so badly doing the Hog Call. There was a time when doing the Hog Call was not too cool, but now with more than 30 black players on the Razorback team, it wouldn't be too "white" of us to do it. —Cassandra Smith

School has been going on for well over a month now. Most of you have had at least one test in each of your classes. By now you should know your teachers and have an idea of how well you will do in a class or how well you will have to do to pass a particular course.

If some of you are having problems with a course do not panic, go immediately and set up a conference between you and your teacher, to let him or her know you are having a problem. For those of you in Special Services, the same applies to you, but by being in Special Services you do have free tutorial services available to you.

Sometimes you may be in a class that is actually too much for you at the time. It might be a hard reading course that you are taking

along with three other reading courses. You might need to take this class when your load is light. If so, it might be best for you to drop the course. It is nothing to be ashamed of. It is better to drop a course than to flunk a course. This is a reminder to let you know that the last day to drop a course without receiving a WP or WF is October 13. For those of you who do not know, WP is withdrawing a course when you have a passing grade (D or above) and WF is withdrawing a course that you are failing. It is best to drop a course while you have at least a passing grade. After October 13, you will receive either a WP or WF on your transcript when you drop a course. The last day to drop a course is December 3.

Poems by Lonnie Green

U of A

DREAMS Life for a dreamer is never what it seems

and I am a man of many dreams day dreams, night dreams

dreams that expand the present into an infinity of mock realities

I find in dreaming pleasure pure pleasure. . . . absence of pain

But I realize through some part of the mind that with the passing of time

dreams at best can only a paper dragon be And I must face reality Oh, but dreams and I

will always be dreams and I

The paper dragon and the butterfly

Editorial Policy

As Editor of the Black Americans for Democracy News, I feel it is necessary to explain the editorial policy of the newspaper. But first, the B.A.D. News Staff would like to welcome all of you sisters and brothers (newcomers as well as old timers) to the Univ. of Ark. campus.

In our efforts to keep our readers informed on the hap-penings that directly affect the Blacks on the UofA campus, we intend to be neither racially discriminatory nor radically oriented. However, there are occasions in which we do and must address ourselves to often controversial issues of Black and minority interest. So if your toes are stepped on in the process, pardon us!

We must request that all articles be submitted to the B.A.D. office in the Union, Room 503, by the deadline in order to be considered for that month's publication.

How to Succeed in College

October 11, 1976 BAD Times Page 3

We Apologize The staff of the B.A.D. Times would like to offer its apologies to Ben Cowins for leaving his picture out of the group of Arkansas Razor-backs whose pictures were in the last issue of the B.A.D. Times.

Curtis Townsend, Southwest Conference Player of the Week for Outstanding defensive player in the Oklahoma State game.

Hog Vacation

The Razorbacks are enjoying two weeks of open dates. It will give those players who are hurt time to heal and give those players who are well a time to rest awhile, even though the e will be regular practice sessions. After the vacation, the Razorbacks will open with a game against Houston on Oc-tober 23rd at Houston.

Houston, the surprise of the season, are number one in the Southwest Conference, so far, with a 2-0 record and a good aerial attack, led by quar-terback Donny Davis from Dallas. They also have a good defense.

It should be an interesting game to watch.

Southwest Conference Standings (by rankings)

1) Houston 2-0

tied Texas Tech 1-0

for Arkansas 1-0 2nd Texas 1-0

tied SMU 1-1 for 3rd

Baylor 1-1 for 3rd Rice 1-1

4) Texas A&M 0-2 5) TCU 0-3

B.A.D. TIMES STAFF EDITOR Cassandra Smith

ASSOC EDITOR Bridgitti Coleman WRITERS Tina Nunnely, Anita Elliot

SPORTS EDITOR Valerie Warren ARTIST Beverly Angles

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Lynn Harris

SPORTS Together Offense — When?

by Valerie Warren

Arkansas' offense is potentially great, but has not shown the consistency of the past Razor-backs. Even though the offense is loaded with speed, power, and ability it hasn't jelled together yet. Their ground game has not been good in comparison with the Hogs of '75. Their aerial attack is less to be mentioned.

The offense hasn't been much to look at in the season openers. Arkansas just doesn't seem to be executing well, or putting points on the board. The offense has only scored 52 points this year. (As of the Tulsa-Arkansas game) When in comparison to last years Hogs, whom were averaging 25 points a game. Even though the offense is young, we feel it will soon come around. There is a possibility that they might be better than last year's team.

Ben Cowins, who has averaged 120-130 yards a game, is leading carrier in the first three games in the Southwest Conference. Cowins

•Johnnie Meadors

•Curtis Townsend

•Harvey Hampton

•William Hampton

•Dennis Winston

•Patrick Martin

is a hard runner, and has good speed, and great ability to break tackles.

Jerry Eckwood, starter from last year has come back from a knee operation in the spring. He has shown on some plays his form from last year. It shows he may not be like the Jerry Eckwood we know, but, he is coming back. Eck-wood scored Arkansas' only touch-down in the Oklahoma State game.

Michael Forrest, who played a lot as a freshman, and even took over last year when Ike Forte and Jerry Eckwood got hurt, has not seen much action this year.

Leotis Harris, right guard is the "anchor" for the offensive line. He has shown potential to be an all Southwest Conference guard.

Charles Clay, tight end, has been doing an outstanding job. All we can say about Arkansas' defense is that they are "GREAT!"

Arkansas defensive members are as follows:

•Howard Sampson

•Vaughn Lusby

•Jimmy Walker

•Bruce Mitchell

•Larry White

•Elijah Davis

Football Schedule Sept. 11 Utah State .Little Rock7:30 pm Sept. 18 Oklahoma State Little Rock 7:30 pm Sept. 25 Tulsa Fayetteville 2:00 pm Oct. 2 *Texas Christian Fayetteville 2:00 pm Oct. 23 *Houston .Houston (Rice Stadium)7:30 pm Oct. 30 *Rice (Homecoming) Fayetteville 2:00 pm Nov. 6 *Baylor Waco 2:00 pm Nov. 13 *Texas A&M (TV) Little Rock3:20 pm Nov. 20 *Southern Methodist Shreveport 7:30 pm Nov. 27 *Texas Tech Little Rock 1:30 pm Dec. 4 *Texas (TV) Austin 8:05 pm

*Southwest Conference games TV-American Broadcasting Company televised game

Ben Cowins, leading rusher in the Southwest Conference for Arkansas in the first three games.

TIMES Black Americans for Democracy

Page 4 BAD Times October 11, 1976

greeks Editor's Note: This article is a reproduction from the October, 1976 issue of Ebony. It

was the feeling of the staff of the B.A.D. Times and other University Students that this article was worthy of reprint for those students who may not have read this article otherwise.

SPEAKING OUT Lillian P. Benbow

It's Time To Stop The Dance' IT IS time for black sororities and fraternities to stop dancing,

pool their monies, and buy what they are dancing in! Dancing is joyous and exhilarating, but as a programmed event

by fraternal groups, it has become a chore, a bore and a waste. Plus, there is a world waiting to be created with the money.

There is an annual ritual in which black fraternal organizations engage, which is the single most successful and highly supported event of any program year—"The Dance." More money goes into black fraternal dances than is directed into any annual program or project, scholarships included.

Of the approximate 3,000 chapters comprising the eight black college fraternities and sororities, safely 1,000 have highly stylized annual dances. It is the one occasion of the program calendar in which there is always full participation by the membership. It is the only event which requires no sales pitch from the leadership; in fact, a chapter president courts disaster if he or she dares to suggest a year's agenda void of "The Dance." It has become un-touchable and institutionalized, with many worthwhile projects its victims. There is absolutely no "sweat or bother" involved in the collection of substantial sums of money to underwrite "the years most elegant . . ." The procedure is simple; an announce-ment is placed in the chapter newsletter which includes the dead-line for receipt of assessments. Second mailings are never neces-sary.

Now, social scientists no doubt have ready answers as to why dancing has remained over the years the idol god of worship for black organizations, superseding all other program matters. How-ever, as a hard-headed practical matter, it would appear that in this day and time the wisdom of putting the monies used for dances into more serious and permanent enterprises would be elementary. Funds realized from moratoriums on the annual dance for just one year could actually save numerous black businesses that fail annually, could feed thousands of pot-bellied babies who die each year, and could purchase some of that real estate that is being subsidized through rental fees and food costs for a four-hour fantasy.

As an estimate, the costs per dance per chapter for the eight black Greek-letter groups would average roughly $1,500, equal-ling $1,500,000 for 1,000 chapters. The average number of mem-bers participating per chapter would be approximately 50, for a rough total of 50,000 participating members. With today's prices, it staggers the imagination to place a price tag on 25,000 new formal gowns, to say nothing about accessories and the replacing of out-dated or worn-out tuxedos.

The picture can be multiplied many times, since most black professional organizations also sponsor annual dances. When the figures are tallied, it is not difficult to see where this annual col-lective budget would place "The Dance" among the yearly income ratings of black businesses. Even in those instances where dances are sponsored as "benefits," the funds realized from the event simply reflect and are limited to the financial input of the mem-bership (there are a few notable exceptions). And, since expenses usually exceed profits from such events, the major beneficiaries turn out to be the white owners and concessionaires who rent and service the facilities.

In considering benefits to be derived, it is noteworthy that, con-trary to the country club-play-business syndrome which operates as a matter of course in white society where business deals and job arrangements are made over drinks, the benefits accruing from

attendance at these annual affairs reside mostly in the cut of a gown, the age of a tux' and one's ability to retain adequate equi-librium over the four-hour endurance course. One has only to scrutinize the mass expression of loneliness at the end of "The Dance" to see that there exists a common feeling of unfulfillment, of emptiness, pervading the mood of the departing revelers which no amount of light-hearted chatter can erase—the only full things being black stomachs and white pockets. Yes, when the sad end comes, everybody knows that another year and another bag full of money have gone down the drain.

BLACK fraternal groups have narcoticized themselves into be-lieving that "a good time can be had by all" only on the dance

floor. The extent of this self-anesthetization can be measured by the intense degree to which organizations defend the practice. Criticize any other program activity, but respect the sacredness of "The Dance!" The members cry in pained unison, "We work hard and deserve some fun during the year; and besides, we have to extend courtesies to our friends and supporters!" "Friends and supporters" are usually the inter memberships of the eight groups —simply exchanging dances.

It is interesting that the black leadership of this country never proposes to black fraternal groups that they place a moratorium on the annual dance and earmark the combined revenue for a na-tional black cause. It is certainly a systematized and ready source of revenue which requires no more than re-directing into what-ever area the collective leadership would decide. No doubt the groups would respond under minimal persuasion, because much of the dance psychosis centers on what each group perceives to be expected of it by its peer groups. A collective moratorium for a purpose would no doubt receive widespread support if a sense of cooperative mission could be generated around a defined and mutual socio-economic concern.

The eight black sororities and fraternities alone represent more than 500,000 professionally trained men and women endowed with tremendous skills and resources. Each organization has a history of laudatory achievements in public service. It is time-high time—these groups take a collective vow of abstinence from the giving of the annual dance and use the money and the energy in the interest of the more serious needs of black people. And it is even more timely that responsible black leadership demand that black professionals cease this annual pampering of themselves— stop this dutiful use of money as a sacrificial offering on the altar of white profits, which affords no returns.

Black fraternal organizations can no longer validate the routine dissipation of huge sums of money by citing their numerous pub-lic service contributions. There are no contributions significant enough to justify such colossal waste so long as there exist such great needs within the black community. Paramount is the need to support black businesses and black causes, and to build black institutions. We can maximize our ability to do so by throwing off the yoke of "The Dance."

Lillian P. Benbow is immediate past president and a member of the executive board of the 60,000-member Delta Sigma Theta sorority. A Detroit resident, she is director of the Housing Program of the Michi-gan Civil Rights Commission.

"Speaking Out" is an EBONY feature in which selected individuals express their per-sonal views. The views are not necessarily those of the editors of EBONY.