Rider University - Shadow Yearbook (Lawrenceville, NJ)

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Void Filled, And Then Some, By Association Cf Black Collegians by Henry J. Lee, A.B. C. Kiamu of PoliticalAffairs The Association of Black Collegians was formed and organized in 1968 to fill an empty void. That empty void was physical in that previous to 1968 there was an ex- treme absence of Afro-American students. The Black students who were in attendance lacked positive emo- tional supports, having nothing Black to belong to and not quite fitting into established white associations and institutions. Rider College, like many private educational in- stitutions, sought applicants from the tuition-paying white middle class, admitting only the most exceptional Black students and limiting their recruitment efforts to a select chosen few. The decade of the 1960's saw Ri- der College relocate its educational facilities. The dec- ade of the 1960's also produced a massive awakening of a national Black conscious. Black men and women, mostly young but some old, across America were vis- ualizing the myths in practice, witnessing America's hid- eous double standards, and becoming involved in ori- entations of Black pride and unity. Here at Rider that awakening reached its head when in the fall semester of 1968 twenty Black students decided to fill some empty voids. Miss Annette Goode was elected the first president of the ABC. Within that first year, Black students strained to establish a productive organization and build strong ties with one another. Philosophically ABC was orga- nized to bring Afro-American students into a concentric body, to promote a common identity among Black stu- dents, and to foster co-operation among Black students at Rider and Black communities wherever they may be. Black students were thrilled by the slogan Black Power. To a people without powers, the capability of determining their own destiny and making decisions that effect their lives, Black Power carried the con- notation of removing the enormous yoke of oppression evident in the lives of Black people throughout America. ln the decade of the 1960's Black people were organ- izing and the year 1968 afforded Rider College the first real opportunity for Black students to organize and find emotional and physical comfort through Black unity. Until 1968 Black students could be counted on one hand. September 1968 saw Black student enrollment in- creased to its highest level, thanks to state and federal funds generated through the Great Society. The gov- ernment made funds available for equal educational op- portunities, and Rider responded by getting its feet wet with ten students. With a Black organization at Rider there was no fur- ther compulsory need for white associations. Associa- tions with white people became, perhaps for the first time, based on voluntary wants, needs and desires. Some Black students chose the companionship of white students, and these friendships still exist at this writing. These same Black students, however, have maintained their allegiance to Black aspirations and movement in support of these aspirations. On the other hand, the 140 majority of Black students have rejected white society, its goals, institutions, values, and attitudes. The degra- dation of slavery, the hypocrisy of enfranchisement, two world wars fought abroad under the banner of free- dom yet quasi-slavery at home, Korea and Black loyality rewarded by second class citizenship, and the ugly Viet- nam War have been history lessons that tell the vast numbers of Black youth that America is an alien envi- ronment. Worse than alien, America has been hostile to Black people. Viewed as both alien and hostile, most Black students at Rider have turned off every aspect of white society. These students cannot forget the repul- sive lessons of Afro-American history. Black youth and students, particularly at Rider College, find comfort in one another at the discomfort of many whites. When Blacks have on occasion organized, many whites have felt threatened. Racism is as American as apple pie. It is taught in homes and schools, and prac- ticed in every phase of life in America. Enlightened Black youth realize the inferiority of Black people inher- ent in a philosophy of racism and unite to eradicate these myths. At Rider Blacks have banded together united in order to overcome a repressive white society. The school year 1969-1970 saw Rider Blacks make their boldest efforts in asserting Black Power. Black power was aimed toward making Black life at Rider liv- able if not comfortable. Lenis Rountree led ABC and Black students toward the attainment of more fruitful academic, social and cultural programs. Eric Pierce was elected to the SGA, and Romona Morris held the ABC

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Joanne Dyjack She talks to you, she listens to you, she guides you. She's a friend to you. Her name is Joanne Dyjack and she's the Resident Su- pervisor of Lincoln B dormitory. Joanne's duties basically consist of counseling the girls in the dorm and she frowns upon disciplinary action as part of herjob. I enjoy my job, Joanne commented. I do not have much contact with many students, but I have a good relationship with the girls in the dorm. We can sit down and be friends. We talk about problems and go out to- gether. It's a casual reIationship. Joanne had experience like this while she attended American University in Washington, D.C., I was super- visor on my floor for three years. Joanne is in the process of going full time for her mas- ter's degree in guidance and counseling. She'Il receive it this June. After that, she has no definite plans but would like to counsel, preferably on the college level. Among Joanne's hobbies, travel and politics are two other favorites. She's traveled throughout the United States, Europe and South America. I want to do it again when I get the chance, she states. Her interest in politics comes from two sources-her father and American University. Her father has been interested in government for years and has even run on the Republican ticket. During this time Joanne was at American, I love Washington. I spend a lot of time there. I want to live there eventually. She worked on Hubert Humphrey's bid for the Presi- dency in '68. I spent almost a year working on Hum- phrey's campaign, Joanne says, IVIy father was run- ning at the same time on the Republican ticket. A very active student at American, Joanne was co-edi- tor of the yearbook, served on class councils and was Vice-President of the A.W.S. She also spent most of her time doing research. My professors were political fig- ures. I was involved in campaign work for congressmen and senators. I still do research for some congressmen, Joanne said proudly. While this was happening, Joanne grew interested in Latin American issues. While an undergraduate, she served on a committee to help Latin America. Maybe some day l'II put Latin America and counseling together. I don't know. Although the future is doubtful for her, Joanne is sure the present is right at Rider, her second school. Rider has always been my second school. It was no big change to come here. Both my parents graduated from Rider. My father was president ofthe Alumni Association here. Joanne has definitely grown up with Rider, because of her father. When she was offered the job, she knew she wanted it. I remember going through the mud with Goodner Gill to see the Alumni Gym, then in the process of being built, right after Rider purchased the land. Joanne has come a long way since then. So has Rider. af? 139

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Qu, .. 1. i1 n I s -' -- . J-nu. -.y Y V - - ll,-L .- '- '- Y ' - r T' - H H11 -2' 3 LV. '-,.-'se' tl 1'-' J .. ,M .. --n at-large seat in the Senate. The RLF, also organized in 1968, provided a good ally in ABC's efforts toward get- ting 13 proposals designed to eliminate racism imple- mented. One Black professor in a faculty of over 150 is a racist practice. One and one-halt per cent Black en- rollment at Rider, when the city of Trenton has a Black population ratio of 60 per cent is also racist. Until the appointment of Forest Pritchett as Financial Aid Officer, Rider had a racist lack of administrators. The College still has a deficiency of Black staff that can easily be termed racist. Late 1969 witnessed Philip Krajewski's resignation from the Director of the Equal Opportunities Program at the request of the ABC. ABC made that request in order to secure a Black director, one more sensitive to Black student needs. ABC was to be crucial in the recruitment and all phases of the selection process for the new di- rector. ABC had the ugly task of fighting the appoint- ment of Lt. Col. Douglass Hall because of his quali- fications, which ABC felt lacking for the sensitive post, and President Elliot's disregard for Black student parti- cipation in selecting an EOP director. ABC vs. Douglass Hall-Black students fighting a Black administrator at the prompting of the president. Black students fought the appointment of Col. Hall into the summer of 1970 when the Board of Trustees at Rider ruled that Mr. Hall would be appointed subject to two six month reviews. At this writing Black students at Rider consider the Col. Hall appointment open and will hold a review of his activities as director of the EOP program. April 4, 1968 Martin Luther King, Jr. was assasinated in Memphis, Tenn. Prior to and at his death, many young militants were receiving his message with open ears and hearts. Martin Luther King was a revolutionary