"Over grievances, blacks, Caldwell meet," November 2, 1973

This November 2, 1973 Technician article discussed the November 1 meeting between the Society of Afro-American Culture and NC State administrators. During the meeting, African American students discussed their desire to use the university Print Shop as a cultural center.

Don Bell, president of the Society of Afro-American Culture (SAAC) and members of the SAAC met for over an hour with Caldwell, Banks Talley, Dean of Student Affairs, Dean of Student Development, John Poole, and J.D. Wright, Vice Chancellor of Finance and Business.

Caldwell Suggested to Bell during the liason meeting that Terry (T.C.) Carroll, student body president, also remain for the discussion afterwards. Bell replied that “I’d prefer that T.C. not remain here.”

When contacted afterwards, Bell had “no comment” to make concerning the meeting, and gave no indication of what was discussed.

Poole said that “the black students made a forceful presentation to the Chancellor.

“They specifically requested use of the University Print Shop when it is closed as a space for a black culture center similar to what the Ghetto is now. They asked,” continued Poole, “that the Administration look into the problems surrounding the possible conjunction of Pan African Week and All Campus Weekend that has been suggested by the Union Board of Directors. They also asked that something be done about WKNC-FM and the lack of soul programming and that the University employ more blacks.”

Poole indicated that the Administration could not make a decision now about possible uses for the Print Shop and “we tried to explain that.

“We assured them that we would intensify our efforts to get soul programming on WKNC, and that we would work with the University Student Center concerning Pan African Week,” Poole ended.

Talley said, “If Don Bell and Ralph Robinson and the SAAC leadership would just settle down a little bit and talk with us and try to work these things out, they can all be worked out reasonably well.”

Concerning SAAC’s request of the print shop after the King Building is destroyed, Talley noted that there were other student groups affected by the closing as well. “SAAC is not the only student group affected,” he said. “We’re going to try to work out something as best we can for all of them.”

Talley commented that he had met with black students several times before on these same matters.

On the question of a black counselor, Talley said, “The SAAC group asked me earlier this fall about a black counselor and I wrote back that we didn’t have any vacant positions in the counseling center now, but for the next vacant position we have, I’m committed to employing a black counselor.A black advising program is also in existence, and there are five black staffers in student affairs now indicated Talley. “I’ve demonstrated that I’ve hired five black professional staff members, and when I get another vacancy in counseling, I’ll hire a black counselor,” said Talley. “But we can’t do that until we get a vacancy, and I’m not going to fire anybody.”

Don Soloman, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and advisor to WKNC, said, “There should be more soul on WKNC, but in order to have soul on WKNC, there must be someone interested and willing to do the programming.

“No black student has talked to be about this, nor have they complained to the Publication Board (of which WKNC is a member) so that the Pub Board can clear up the problem,” he added.

“Don Byrnes should make it clear that he encourages such programming if anyone wants to do it,” Solomon ended.

“I’ve already talked to Don Bell,” said Byrnes, “about the soul programming, and as I understand it, he’s getting together a group of black students to do it. As far as I’m concerned, the case is closed.”

Byrnes said that he had met with black students two weeks ago. In that meeting he indicated he would train black students himself to allow for soul programming.

Concerning the combination of Pan African Week and All Campus Weekend, Bell, in a recent interview, said that Pan African is a “serious political and cultural event for black culture that needs to be planned and run by black students.”

Bell could not forsee under the present conditions that Pan African Week and All Campus could be planned together.

Wilbert Johnson, Assistant Program Director, called for an “open meeting of the minds. Both sides deserve consideration.”

Brenda Harrison, president of the Student Center, said, “I would not ban them from one of my Board of Chairmen meetings when they were being discussed, and I am upset that I was not asked to remain while my All Campus-Pan African proposal was being discussed.

“I guess maybe it’s my fault that I didn’t take time to consider the other side, but the thing that gets me is that we never said that’s what we were going to do. It was one of the many ideas,” she added.

“I really didn’t think they needed to bring everybody to the meeting to say this sort of thing. I think we’re already committed to doing something about it, and there isn’t any point for everybody to get excited about,” said Talley.

“All we’ve got to do it sit down and have a little bit of rational conversation about it and try to work something out,” he concluded.