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Black : Black studies holding own, director says By Roni Bea Kayne While Afro-American studies at many universities have been attracting less money and fewer students, USC's program has remained stable, according to director Willie Harriford. "We started small, and we stayed small. We never grew, but we never losi anything," he said. I I (IV I I I Ul U >iliV.1 MIL | >1 VJgl till I IU1> Will} taken cuts when all university departments had to, hut he believes the department's budget can't be reduced any more without abolishing the profit am entirely. AM) OF I UK 2.500 to 3,(XX) minority students on campus, Harrilord said about 10 percent have taken Alro-American studies courses at least once. The College Press Service reported thai the nation's largest AfroAmirrican studies nrourani at Ohio State University, is "under seige." Programs at other schools are being eliminated or merged, according to Mary Rhodes Hoover, head of black studies at California State University at I ong Beach. She told CPS that black student drop-out rates and admissions test biases against minorities are to blame lor decreased enrollment Established in 1971 as part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the USC' program explores lite histor>, culture and concerns of black Americans. COLUMBIA SPORTS CAR ??? ?B? 6500 MONTICELLQ RO/l 754-5 ^?%?ftjer i mwmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmKmmmmmmmm ! Homecoti Wednesc a Russell | fill interested s 4 iH students (?u "Wh ARK A distinct group, basically Americans of African descent. Our problems are different than encountered among other Americans. We ;?re nrohahlv llie Irironsi orrtim tn conic here under duress. Everyone else came to find a beuer life; wc came to find a worse," Harriford said. Most students involved in the program use il as a minor or cognate, he said. About 300 students take the courses, and one to three students each year graduate with a degree from the department. l ive core courses are offered, and classes in other departments may be taken to supplement the 36 hours need ed for a bachelor's degree, he said. "We generally recommend several courses within the department of humanities, l or example, we accept the black literature course, which deals GARAGE I | CAROL n m A Preen.incv testing ' I Abortion Counsel! I m3 O J 1 All methods ol bi p i k VI). Herpes testin 5 j I * P.t[) test .ind othc IflAA * * contacts strict I i 2009 Hamf E5S8MES || :N Foi to discuss nine uueer Son ia^f on II it 5:00 p.n nouse ko tudents are encoi f* 4 ;M ??itM on white pr y with the Harlem Renaissance, and courses such as African studies." THK PROGRAM traces the history uin..L r t n\ . ~ .u ui uiav.w niuwi Kciin iiinii i u I v iu uic present. Other major topics include the religion, psychology and civil rights of blacks in America and particularly in South Carolina, he said. "Our history makes us a separate group. SVc came to the 'land of freedom and opportunity,' yet wc have a different mind-set. We take the same history and yet perceive this country through different eyes." Harriford said he thinks AfroAmerican classes are useful aids in learning about a third of America's population. He said, "If you are going to work with or leach these people, it seems logical to learn about them." JNA WOMEN'S ] CLINIC bv urine or blood C ing jikI Scrvicc* with Irce medication* I rih control Pill. HID. Diaphragm available * g and treatment k r female problem* j j Iv confidential, we care about you f >ton St., Columbia, S.C. A 803-256-0128 \\ J RUM i Program 17. 1985 1. om 304 uraged to attend | campuses USC minority groups attend Ga. conference By Russell Benjamin and Derek Walker Students representing six major minority student groups at ^ USC learned how to "hang in there" on predominantly white campuses during a conference at Georgia State University. Retention of minorities, black ogani/ations and relation snips mm improve mam muuciii me uii whiic lampusL's were the confcrcncc's main topics discusscd by eight professional, educational and civil rights leaders, including Atlanta mayor Andrew Young and Corctta Scott King, widow of civil rights activist Martin l.uther King, Jr. BUT THK EMPHASIS was on how to keep black students on predominantly white campuses after they have enrolled. "(Retention) is not only letting them through the door; it is A keeping the students in school once they get there. I guess it is hard for white people to understand the pressures on a black student. The options arc very limited if you can't make it in school," USC engineering sophomore Sam Clyburn said. Retention involves having black faculty members and good student support groups, Texas attorney Patricia Russcll>,%M >1... .......t,....... She said lor a black student to spend four years at a university or college with few or no black faculty members forces the student to live in an "intellectual vacuum." Harvard Professor Charles Willie said during the conference, "Diversity makes a school greater. Many black colleges and universities have one-forth to one-third white faculty llll'IMIJl'l Wlimdl II1UM WlllltUIHHMMdIIIIUI **41 y llll >cllIIL* I V/l black faculty members." BLACK ORGANIZATIONS and programs are also important in keeping black students on mostly white campuses, he said. McC'loud agreed, saying, "Schools must have blackorientcd programs to give black students a complete experience." Some schools think that one or two black events are enough to make minority students feel comfortable, she said, but that isn't enough. "There is only so much Twisted Sister and The Who that see coping, page / "" | Earn Extra Money j Urgently needed - people of all blood types to help in medical research by helping with our whole blood or plasma program Also anyone with mononucleosis ? you can earn up to S50.00 per week for only 3 or 4 hours of your time For more information please call j or come by 254-6537 or 254-7089 Serologicals of Columbia. Inc. 2719 Middleburfi Or. Columbia. S.C. 29204 * LATEST STYLES ^ ^ I 5VVinn B 1 ^ if PRICE I ] JEWELRY WAREHOUSE^ I 1 i Gamecock Headquarters 601 S. Main Across from Honeycombs M "" r 1^^ vx ] will start its I training classes !i Thursday, April 25. 1 y ?ieeunK? art' neiu j \\ every Thursday Night 1 al M:<)^ 'n r<H,m 302 I <l^e ^u86e" h?uw?I All interested persons are invito! to attend. 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