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The Maroon Tiger Work

A MILLION MEN MARCH FOR UNITY ... MOREHOUSE STANDS BY

By SAEED AHMED

It was the largest gathering of African-Americans ever -- a powerful demonstration of Black America's immense political and economic strength.

But while black males all across the county vowed for greater responsibility toward family and community, at Morehouse -- the nation's only all-black, all-male institution -- the powers-that-be apparently had a different goal in mind: to make October 16, 1995, seem like just another day of business as usual.

How else can one explain the administration's decision to let classes meet as usual on that day, or the refusal of certain professors to reschedule major examinations? Why is it that some instructors gave unannounced quizzes, and others rewarded attendance with extra credit on a day they knew student turnout in classes would be low?

Whatever its reasons, the way Morehouse handled the situation made it apparent the College was trying its utmost to keep participation of its students at the March to a minimum.

Of course, this does not come as a surprise to anyone. Ours is an institution which has a long and ignominious record of shying away from controversial stances.

While the rest of the country protested the Rodney King verdict, Morehouse urged its students to focus on the upcoming semester finals instead.

When Dr. Henry Foster's nomination was being debated, Morehouse opted not to support him publicly -- even though he was one of its own.

And when the college paper remained censored for a year, neither faculty nor the administration volunteered to take up the fight for our right to speak.

Thus, it is hardly news to any that Morehouse would now decide not to express solidarity with the rest of Black America, but instead, maintain its customary cowardly silence.

But why shackle our activism?

The administration and the faculty can remain as insensitive as they want to the problems that plague our communities, but why stifle our desire for change? Why force us to cancel our March plans through noncooperation in class and examination rescheduling? Why make those of us who commute to school go against one of the March's intended goals -- to not pump money into white businesses? Why prevent us, by not letting out classes despite poor attendance, from partaking in the SGA-sponsored Million Man March forums?

And why penalize those students who did converge on Washington Mall with pop quizzes and missed extra credits?

Part of the success of the Civil Rights movement was the activism and zeal demonstrated by students. Their dream of doing away with the injustice and the inequities of the time served as the catalyst in setting up the right social climate for change. Given that, and the fact that academia is still the only environment where free thinking is encouraged and allowed, why then is Morehouse now trying to contain our moral and intellectual enrichment, and enslave our conscience?

Surely, the inequities and the injustice African Americans faced in the 60s did not die out, but that is what Morehouse would have us believe. It seems that as far as Morehouse is concerned, racism is dead and activism is passe'.

Maybe that is why the school sends out memorandums to the faculty asking them to encourage students and, if need be, cancel classes for the September 22 Career Fair, and yet pretend to be completely oblivious to the most talked about gathering of black men ever.

The issue at the center of it all is, of course, money.

It is no secret that white corporations and donors wield a disproportionate influence on the affairs of Morehouse. According to some estimates, over half of the college's revenues come from such sources. And Farrakhan's racist, sexist and anti-Semitic tirades certainly do not go down well in these circles.

Since these elements cannot (and in some cases, will not) separate the message from the messenger, far be it for Morehouse to do it for them. All Morehouse craves is their continued adulation, and in order to keep them satisfied, it will stroke them however they want to be stroked.

If, in the process, the college has to compromise all the values, beliefs and ideologies that make a black school unique and necessary, so be it.

If the Million Man March has taught us anything, it is that we, as a people, can unite. As students, it is time for us to do so now. Simply because Morehouse practices a policy of apathy, there is no reason for us to follow suit. Let us demand that we be given the right to espouse and practice whatever ideology we believe in, however contradictory it may be to the college's, without fear of penalty.

Secondly, given the spending power of blacks (almost a billion dollars on any given day), it is time for us to rid the college of these power-wielding external influences by urging the alumni in our families and cities to contribute to their alma mater. As it stands, only 27 percent of Morehouse's alumni donate money to the college. If the other 73 percent start, we will still be a long way from being completely autonomous, but it will be a noble start nonetheless.

With the Million Man March behind us, and Homecoming -- the premiere alumni event -- on the way, now is a good time for students, past and present, to reflect on the lessons of the March, and put them to the test.

If a change is to come at Morehouse, it is quite obvious that we need to be the ones to initiate it.