A panel workshop Wednesday aimed to help African-American students study more successfully.

Panel members included BROTHERS president Karega Harris, vice president Lonny Pollard, treasurer Frank Rodgers and black NIU advisers.

Van Amos, Center for Black Studies program coordinator, began by telling a story about his experiences in college. “I partied too much and ended up flunking out,” he said.

He advised students to take a different path, set a schedule that’s right for them and stick to it.

To illustrate his idea, Amos offered a breakdown of the 168 hours in a week. For some students, at least 56 hours are spent sleeping, 15 are spent in class, 30 should be spent studying & and even if they factor in a job, they still are left with at least 48 hours a week to themselves.

Amos referred to Adam Robinson’s book “What Smart Students Know,” which says smart students combine studying and fun.

LaJuana Williams, assistant director and area coordinator for Student Housing and Dining Services, discussed test preparation and study habits.

“Genius is 99 percent work and 1 percent brain,” she said. “Every genius known worked hard.”

Williams suggested studying with another student who needs help — thereby inspiring both students to do better.

Harris said the discussions were necessary because many African-American students are either on or just getting off academic probation.

Willard Draper, director of residential life, cites the phone book as the key to being successful at NIU.

“If you read it properly, it can help you keep in touch with the people that have the answers to your questions,” Draper said.

Vada Southern, assistant to the College of Education dean, also teaches SIR, a course on college success strategies. She said students on academic probation lack discipline and don’t give studying their undivided attention.

“Students have cellular phones, pagers, phones in the room and television,” Southern said. “The minute one of those starts ringing, students put their books down and lose valuable study time.”

NAACP president Jeremiah Bundy, an Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity member, said college is a hustle.

“Study sections are especially helpful if you don’t know anyone in the group. You are less likely to talk off-subject,” Bundy said.

Harris believes the panel was helpful because many African-American students are struggling academically.

“Rather than blame the professors, you have to look within yourself,” Harris said. “Perhaps you aren’t doing everything you could be doing to get good grades.”