ARTIST NOTE:
The spirit is one’s roots which holds him or her strongly to someone or something.

As long as these roots are strong that person
> ,will survive no matter what. Thank you.
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To Our Readers:
by Editor Brian Land

At 4 pm December 6 the York College Association held
its initial meeting of the semester. The Association, in case you
haven’t heard, is the group that decides how student activities
fees are spent in the school. Then editor-in-chief Don Johnson
presented the formal Spirit Magazine proposal for this school
year. The Radio Club, Pandora’s Box and the Student
Government were among the many other groups crowded onto
the agenda.

But first, I wish to provide a little background for those
of you who have seen our flyers and wonder exactly what has
been going on. Our magazine received $1000 under the name
of Black Journal last year but failed to produce a single issue.
Under the Association by-laws, this money reverted back into
student activities funds. Since that time, Spirit Magazine has
been labelled a “special interest publication” which “should be
produced on school facilities.” The school facilities, we found
out, was the Gestetner machine, which was purchased over the
summer. As a result, our budget was reduced to $72 for
“operational expenses” like mailing costs and office supplies.
When Spirit Magazine first inquired about this change, we were
told that the Gestetner would produce a perfectly acceptable
product. It could handle not only ourselves but Etz-Chaim and
El Casique besides all the student clubs.

It sounded too good to be true and it was. After some
rather unfortunate experiences (discovering that the Gestetner
machine was operated by a novice who couldn’t get it to
function properly; it wouldn’t print on both sides of the paper
and the sheets looked terrible anyway), Spirit Magazine was
forced to use the university printing service. Because there
were complaints that Spirit Magazine had received favoritism
(2!), received favoritism (?!), our press run was limited to a
mere 500 copies. We had expected at least 1000.

Well, our 500 leaflets disappeared so quickly that Don
was forced to use a XEROXED copy when we went to meet
the Association. One interesting point was brought out at that
first meeting. The Student Government’s request was for more
paper. Is this the kind of planning that goes on at York
College, we have wondered collectively.

I suppose that everyone read Hilary Kalman’s story
(Pandora’s Box December 14) telling how much the
Association had a lot on its mind, many proposals awaiting its
approval, and didn’t act on many of them. That’s where Spirit
fits in, of course, as we were put off until a second meeting on
December 11. We were thus given a second opportunity to
present our case before the body. Our argument stressed the
Gestetner machine folly: Harriet Vines told us about their
“growing pains”. Her point is well-taken, and preferably with a
grain of salt. Apparently, at least one member of the
Association agrees that their policy has done more harm than

good. He disclosed this to us just before the recess.

It has become obvious to us that the problem goes
beyond just getting our fair shair of the pie. Students have
very little input into these Association meetings. They are
hardly publicized and little or no reason is ever given for
favorable or unfavorable decisions. Spirit Magazine is the only
“special interest group publication” on the agenda waging a
campaign of support throughout the school. We would like to
acknowledge the nearly 500 students who signed our petition
and the SEEK Department for giving us a hand, and faculty
members Milton R. Lane of the Afro-American Studies
Department and Dr. Hilda O. Fortune for writing letters of
solidarity.

The Association, which contains student, administration
and faculty tepresentation , has set up a system that pits
students against one another in competition for the same
rotten deal. We find students who will work against each
other’s aims if they feel that someone may come out ahead.
Why not come out openly at the Association meetings and
voice your cpinions? All three “special interest groups
publications” should be on the agenda with their own budget
requests.

Spirit was tabled a second time at the Dec. 11 meeting -
this says something about the decision-making process in York
College. However, truth is on its. way in the form of a major
policy revision that is expected to come from a Jan. 21
session. Students should get involved and find out exactly
what clubs and publications must go through around this
school in order to be funded. Don’t say we didn’t warn you if
Spirit Magazine becomes a ghost.

NEWS FROM THE CITY UNIVERSITY
OF NEW YORK

A program in Afro-American studies leading to a
bachelor’s degree was established Tuesday, November 27th,
1973 by the Board of Higher Education at York College,
City University of New York’s four-year campus in Jamaica,
Queens. The Board also approved a two-year campus in child
care at CUNY’s Kingsborough Community College in
Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn.

The program in Afro-American studies will give
students an understanding of Black history and culture. It
will link the African scene to the Black experience in the
Caribbean, South America and North America. Students will
be advised to take courses in related disciplines, such as
sociology, economics or anthropology, in order to prepare
for jobs in those fields.



NAP
Teddy DuBose

In recent years there has been an even harsher demand
for local government to alleviate the problems of the urban
poor, And, though it is not possible for government to
guarantee the stability, politics just won’t dllow it, the cry
has been for more and more efforts by local government to
deal with the social, economic, racial, and psychological
pressures brought on by,,.racism and unscrupulous
politicians,

During the last year, the State Charter Revision
Commission held numerous public hearing throughout the five
boroughs, As expected, New York City’s citizenry was almost
universally dissatisfied with the quality and consistency of
services delivered by the Department of Sanitation and the
Department of Highways, and numerous other municipal
agencies, Communities were also dissatisfied with the scope of
community involvement in areas of community planning and
development.

The South Jamaica Neighborhood Action Program,
known as NAP, is designed to be a liason between the residents
of Community Planning District 12 and the numerous agencies
which provide municipal services, At NAP, complaints can be
aimed at the officials who are directly responsible for the
services, After a reasonable period of time, the condition is
reviewed to see if the responsible agency remedied the
situation, If there is no positive response by the agency,
pressure can be applied to gain compliance, via the Mayor’s
Office and other elected officials,

The program is designed to allow the community a
greater SHARE in the implementation processes of capital
investments, and the overall area of neighborhood
improvement,

NAP is a resource for the community. Its activities are
not restricted to complaint handling, but also include
information and referral services, Through various committees,
the community SHARES in the responsibility of reviewing and

advising on all programs and budgeting policies. NAP has
resources to help interested people form their own community
organizations, There is also an effort underway to bring
together established groups who have common interests (i.e.
Youth Federation),

Make the South Jamaica Neighborhood Action Program
the first place you go for help with municipal problems,
Telephone Number ....ceeceeecce cece o 1392600
Address «0.000. 6204 South Road, Jamaica, N.Y.
“Mon; thru Briahewie, Ges os ceccterele so 0 PasltltOro pans
Mr, Carl L, Turnquest .. ose eeee cece ee Area Director
Ms, Karen P, Bracy .ecceeeceeee ce » Deputy Director

United States Senate
Washington, D.C.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING,
& URBAN AFFAIRS:
“INTERN, RESEARCH, AND FELLOWS PROGRAM
1973-74”

by Leonard Casso - Community Professional Program

The Intern, Research, and Fellows Program provides
opportunities for participation by a broad range of persons,
College students, both graduate and undergraduate as well as
persons possessing substantive expertise are all provided an
opportunity to take part in the activities of a Senate office.

Internships are primarily for college students, Interns
perform various office duties, These duties include: letter
writing, casework, filing, press work, typing etcetera, In
addition to being exposed to the broad range of office
activities, they may concentrate their efforts within on
particular issue area, Iriterns usually perform their activities on
a full time basis,

Applications are now being taken for the fall, winter,
spring, and summer terms of the 1973-1974 school term,
Financial support cannot be provided to most participants in
the above programs, They usually receive assistance from their
universities, foundations and most participants provide at least
part of their own support, Anyone interested?? If so please
contact:

Senator William Brock
254 Old Senate Building (Office)
Washington, D.C. 20510

or call:
(202) 225-3344 Ask for the office of
the research director: Mr. Harrison Fox PhD,

GOSPEL CHORUS

Congratulations are in order. On November 27th, 1973,
over in the Humanities Building, the celebrities of the day
were the York College Gospel Choir. These young, spirited
voices, under the direction of Mr. Samuel Dixon, performed
with dignity. The audience became deeply involved as the
choir members encouraged them to participate.

The dynamic voice of guest singer, Reverend Charles
Banks, dazzled his listeners with a blaze of down-home lyrics
and soulful music. The choir is planning another recital in the
Spring and it is recommended that you make every effort to
attend. You won’t be sorry you did attend.

Yvonne B. Browne