State

are able to work towards master of science degree. A. and T. also maintains a Summer School •the oldest in point of service of any Negro college in the country. Ihrir An Kflicient Faculty Crosby Hall, the oldest building now on the campus. It was named for Dr. J. O. Crosby, lirst president of A. & T. A. & T. College Since 189:1. when l In* college fir*l opened if* floors ft» students, it Inis (lone u splendid work and Inis provided educational facilities for more than 8.000 graduates. Another attraction of the college is its high-caliber faculty. For. as Dr. Bluford explains: “Without good teachers, a student is lost. Good teachers inspire; poor teach¬ ers discourage.'' Among the faculty are a liberal sprinkling of professors holding doctorate degrees. Their academic backgrounds include such universi¬ ties as Harvard. Columbia. Chicago. Michigan, and Yale. Two of the professors hold foreign degrees. Dr. Akiki K. Nyabongo. professor of social science, and a former Rhodes scholar, holds his doctorate degree from Oxford University. Prof. W. N. Rice. Jr., professor of language, received his degree from the University of Toulouse in France. Many of the teachers are A. and T. alumni, a fact to which Dr. Bluford points with pride. “There has always been a shortage of Negro teachers. We are glad our students are filling part of the gap.” he explained. Agricultural and Techni¬ cal College at Greensboro, second largest Negro college in this country, is an outstanding example of the growing awareness North Carolina has for the educa¬ tional welfare of its Negro citizens. The state s interest in education for Negroes was evidenced last January when the state advisory budget committee recommended that $5,689,596 be appropriated to the college for |>ermanent improve¬ ments. It also urged that $3,166,794 l»e allotted for operating expenses for the next two years. Part of the funds would go for the completion of new dormitories and classroom buildings. "When the building program is completed A. and T. will have one cf the finest college plants in the South." Dr. F. I). Bluford. college president explained. Among llic Leaders Today. A. and T. is considered one of the top-notch Negro col¬ leges in the United States, ranking alongside Howard. Fisk and Tuske- gce. Its high standing is reflected by the fact that the school attracts students from nearly every state in the union, and from far-distant Puerto Rico and Cuba. The bulk of the present student body, however, is composed of North Carolinians. And of the ap¬ proximately 3.000 men and women enrolled at the college. Guilford County accounts for the greatest share, followed by Forsyth and Mecklenburg counties. The main attraction the college offers is intensive training in agricultural and technical courses. In the technical division, students learn such practical vocations as wood-working, upholstering, brick¬ laying. cabinet-making, concrete work, automobile mechanics, and other skills. In the field of agriculture, such courses as soil management, animal husbandry, soil conservation, and farm and forage crops are offered. As part of the agricultural program, the college operates four farms, a piggery, several poultry and dairy barns, and a fruit-tree orchard. Other popular courses at the college are education, engineering, and the liberal arts. For advanced study, the college maintains a graduate division, where students A I-arge ROTC A. and T. also boasts the finest and largest Negro ROTC unit in the country. Under the command of Major Edward C. Johnson, a veteran of World War II and graduate of the general staff school, the unit has consistently been awarded the Army Department’s "superior" rating. Each year, outstanding ROTC students at the college compete for regular commissions in the Army. Last year, three were chosen. Col¬ lege officials hope that eventually an engineer unit will be established to qualify Negroes for commission in the army engineers corps. Besides the military. A. and T. excels in the sports world. Its foot¬ ball teams, coached by William Bell, a former all-state guard at Ohio State, have crackerjack ratings. In 1948. the team was chosen to play in the Vulcan Bowl, the Negro Rose Bowl. And in 1943, the team went to the Flower Bowl. In addition to the academic and athletic fields, students at A. and T. follow the normal pattern of campus life. In line of extracurric¬ ular activities, the college has its fraternities, sororities, band, debat¬ ing teams, choral and Little THE STATE. April 30. 1949 IO