January 28, 1963
Needed A: New Geography Course Robert Epler
During the past decade, Africa has achieved a major portion in
the international community. The great period of colonial disso
lution —beginning at the end of World War II and continuing today
brought independent status to an almost unbelievable number of
African nations. Before 1950, only four independent nations existed
in Africa: Egypt, Ethiopia, Liberia, and the Union of South Africa.
Since then, twenty-nine newly independent nations have emerged.
As these nations attract more attenion and importance, the need
for a revised geographic vocabulary increases. The easy method
of prefacing a place name with “British” or “French” has been
largely dissipated. In its place a new set of names has evolved.
Since the political geography of Africa never received more than
passing attention in our educational system, the transition from
colonial to independent status with its name changes has been doubly
confusing to many Americans.
In 1951, the United Kingdom of Libya, the first of the new
nations, was created from the former Italian holdings in North
Africa. Five years later, Tunisia and Morocco gained independence
from France and the Republic of Sudan replaced the Anglo-Egyptian
condominium. Great Britain’s colonial grip loosened in 1957 with
the independence of Ghana, formerly the Gold Coast and British
Togoland.
With the establishment of the Fifth French Republic in 1958,
the French Community was also formed. Complete independence,
republic status within the Community, and continued colonial status
within the Community, and continued colonial status were the altern
atives given the vast French holdings in Africa. Within two years,
fifteen new nations came out of this plan. In order of creation they
were: Guinea, Cameroon, Togo. Malagasy Republic (Madagascar),
Dahomey, Niger, Upper Volta, Ivory Coast, Chad, Central African
Belles-Lettres
Fills Vacancies
At the first Belles-Lettres Soci
ety meeting of this term, the fol
lowing officials were elected to re
place those who left for the main
campus: Secretary, Mary O’Don
nell; Publicity chairman, James
Scarcella; and Treasurer, Anthony
Molinari.
The progress of the Historical
pamphlet that various committees
were working on was discussed.
Plans also were continued to have
informational cards concerning
the Hazleton Campus printed.
Preparations are also being
made for the two annual Reading
Festivals which the Belles-Lettres
Society sponsors each Spring.
Discussion, concerning the two
Reading Festivals held annually at
the Hazleton Campus, consumed
part of the meeting. The High
School Reading Festival, held for
the purpose of allowing area high
school students to display their
skill in dramatic and poetic read
ing, will award trophies to the
winners.
The second Reading Festival is
limited to Hazleton Campus stu
dents only. The winner will be
awarded an expense paid two day
trip to the Main Campus, where
he will enter the General Reading
Festival.
(WRITTEN ESPECIALLY FOR THE COLLEGIAN)
BELLES LETTRES OFFICERS—Left to right: Richard Groich, public relations secretary; James
Scarcella, public relations chairman; Anthony Molinari, treasurer; John Rosenstock, president; Gregg
Smith, vice president; Robert Haas, fine arts chairman; Mary O’Donnell, secretary.
LIST OF GIFT BOOKS AVAILABLE AT HIGH ACRES LIBRARY
Rev. Frederick B. Crane:
Patrick, G. T. Introduction to
Philosophy.
Wilson, R. D.—A Hebrew Gram
mar for Beginners.
Robert, H. M.—Robert’s Rules of
Order.
FRUMKIN BROS.
21 Famous Brands
21 W. Broad St. Hazleton, Pa.
HIGH ACRES COLLEGIAN
Republic of Congo, Gabon, Senegal, Mali, and Mauritania. The
Algerian question, which involved problems differing from the rest
of French Africa, was finallyresolved by independence in 1962.
The Belgian Congo achieved independence in 1960 and soon
became a major international problem. Even its name caused trouble!
The ex-French Congo took Republic of Congo as its name, so the
ex-Belgian Congo decided on Republic of the Congo. To distinguish
the two more easily, the practice of following the country name with
itts capital has been widely accepted: Congo (Brazzaville) for the
Republic of Congo and Congo (Leopoldville 1 for the Republic of
the Congo. The apparent failure of secessionist moveements in the
provinces of Kasai and Katanga n J : < ves cartographers of having
to locate two more nations in :h ’ ( ongr. Basin.
Still other nations have been formed. The Somali Republic
combined the Italian trusteeship of Somalia with British Somaliland
in 1960. The British colonies of Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Tanganyika,
and Uganda gained independence over the past three years. The
Belgian trusteeship of Ruanda-Urundi became the Republic of
Rwanda and the Kingdom of Burundi last summer. An additional
complication is involved with the latter. A single inhabitant of
Burundi is a Murundi, while several inhabitants are Barundi! How
ever, this is an improvement over Munyarunda and Banyaruanda,
the singular and plural for inhabitants of the old trusteeship.
With large areas still under the colonial administration of
Great Britain, France, Portugal, and Spain, the end of new African
nations has not yet been reached. These new nations supply us with
many challenges, not the least of which is the changing political
geography. The Department of State has had to reorganize its
Bureau of African Affairs several times to keep up with the changes.
How well have you been able to keep up with them?
Jones, O. G.— Parlimentary Proce
dure ar a glance.
Allport, F.H.—Social Psychology.
Ball, F. K.—The Elements of
Greek.
Colson, F. H. A First Greek
Reader—Stories and Legends.
COLUMBIA
RECORD STORE
The Finest of Record
Selections In The Area
DOWNTOWN Hazleton
Arey, L. B.—Developmental Anat
omy.
Tapper, T.—First and Second Year
Harmony 2 vol.
Smith, F. M. Essays and
Studies: prose selections for col
lege reading.
Compliments
DAIR Y L E A
Page Three