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Show 13 THE SITUATION much HAS WORSENED Page In a previous issue of the Broad Ax the existing “state of affairs’’ on college campuses was presented. Briefly, the article stated the December 1975 contingencies for success and urged Black students attending colleges to focus their attention on their assumed objectives. That is, Black students were urged to actively pursue their educational goals, to get that degree or much and, simultaneously, to learn as as possible about those things that will most probably be of personal and professional future benefit. This is an important point that is applicable to staff and faculty as well as students. We shall probably not find the exact we as Black people, The any other established institution of higher education for that matter. Nonetheless, there are tools, methods and information available through the university that may be of use in securing or building the desired future. The university can provide facilities, information and exposure, but it is left to the individual to educate him or herself and strive for fulfill- ment. The 1974-75 academic efforts year for Black people at the university can be summed up with one statement, ‘The situation has to solidify otherwise traditional Black will result extermination mentally physically. power interests. in nothing To do less than and spiritually, if not — The time is presence of Black upon us to secure the people at the university by laying a solid foundation for students, staff and faculty yet to come. This foundation must be soundly and accurately laid, with no cracks or misfittings, if we, the students, faculty and staff, as a community, are to move ahead and improve our situation preperation for this on and off campuses. stu- Ax of what dents, faculty or staff alike, are searching for at the predominantly white university, or at Broad elements in size and than ourselves. Yet, we have little choice but to confront that system and dccelerate our by Leonard Woods certification greater In major and long term assault against this foremitable foe we must become organized and start communicating and cooperating at a level never before achieved by Black people at “higher education.’’ One group, faculty or will not students, the university without institutions be long of it staff, survive at the presence and sup- port of the other two groups. We have a difficult task at hand, a task that cannot be accomplished with distrust, strife, inefficiency and waste within our midst. We must scrutinize our ranks and re-evaluate our goals; we must think clearly and avoid distracting, but often enticing, menial side issues; we must renew and reinforce our relationships with worsened!’ Time continues to grow short with our resources, in the form of people, money, and energy, dwindling at an alarming one another by fostering the elements of understanding, tolerance, compassion and sin- rate. The critical period is upon us. We must use the time and resources yet available to us become knowledgeable about the forces interfering with our progress. No resistance has efficiently and effectively, selves in an even ment. less- we find our- less desirable future predica- In other words, the placing of excessive demands on tolerated, resources nor can the occur, without our resources can no longer misdoing by one individual soon causes difficulty for others. This phenomena is far too to be denied. It must be dealt with by us even if not by the campus at large. We "are playing in a game with far-reaching consequences. We had better play well. and for Our continued involvements in the long arduous struggle to improve conditions ourselves inevitable. and those to come later is We are moving against a relentless foe in the form of a self-supporting system, a system that often unjust, and is a system both that insensitive is most ever and certainly for one been another; favorably and finally, we must decided through igno- rance about the opposition. be misuse of those dire consequences for other persons as well as the misuser. The reality of our situation is this, and it shall not change soon; an error, misunderstanding or pervasive cerity we Past experience re-affirms the belief that can place no great credance in remarks, perceptions or criticisms of outsiders concerning our affairs; nor can we allow outsiders to formulate our goals or determine totally the methods for realizing our aspirations. Altruism is a questionable quality and benevolence is most often laced with special interest. We must therefore demanding must look hearted become our own most but constructive critics and we within ourselves for those stout- leaders and supporters with the skills, determination and patience necessary to accomplish those tasks we elect to pursue. Let this 1975-76 academic year be a year of productive thought and action. Editor’s Note: Leonard Woods is the Black Advisor, Center for Ethnic Student Affairs, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. |
