Howard University - Bison Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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Commencement Takes New Direction A noticeable change at the onset of the 70's was manifested at Howard University's commencement exercises. The Reverend lesse Jackson, a disciple ot black unity and nationhood, was the guest speaker Many members of the graduating class were clad in multicolored African dresses and dashikis instead of the traditional caps and gowns. jackson said that students who wished they were amending white universities; taculty members who want to be at Ivy League schools and administrators that are worried about Congress are perpetuating a problem at Howard. White universities are in trouble; black schools need not be. Our ends should be different; our means should be different, just as our origin is different, he continued. rhe past efforts of Howard students to make the University a black university relevant to the community dominated the four years the class of 70 spent here. I he graduates were urged not to use their degrees as union cards to keep a ' gig'' but as tools to help build the black nation. I hope that when we leave this place somebody will know that 15,000 young, educated, black minds have been turned loose on this society, Jackson told the students. They will say that something new, something good, something beautiful has taken place. 24 • Ika r C.r.Khiat «.• she Ii-.hJs student . Jni] trddition.il .id)

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Pre-Opening Workshop Below Clay While, Harold Reddick, Col Williams and Vice President Anderson | «irti ipate in workshop. Right Olive laylor of the History Department gives her views ai the workshop Representatives from the Administration, faculty, student body, and non-teaching personnel were called on by President lames Cheek in a Pre-opening Workshop to help formulate a firm sense of direction aims and goals for the University. Three questions were applied at the workshop: Where are we? Where are we going? and How do we get there? Issues discussed that will concern Howard in the seventies were: Howard's role; its responsibility as a black university; its structure and philosophy; curriculum change; financing a black university; its practical output to the community; elimination ol racism at the University; the need tor syngerism; sf etial problems; graduate education and finally management and administration. Resolutions from each workshop were presented tor discussion at a plenary session. Above Workshop representatives takes a coffee break Right Vice President Stanton reads problems to be discussed to workshop representatives 26