Newspaper Page Text
NEWS
Professor’s method
helps count the
uncounted in census
■» KATE DOUGLAS
The Red * Buck
BILLARD
The namelet*. numberless
and uncounted American popu
lation soon may change who
gets elected to Congress, as a
result of one University profes
sor's work
Every 10
years. the
Census
Bureau tries
to track
down every
single
American,
but there's
always an
uncounted
portion of the
population
Because
the census
determines how Congressional
districts are drawn, accurately
counting the population could
alter future election results
Statisticians Uke University
professor Lynne Blllard have
developed a scientific method to
estimate those uncounted
"The statisticians at the
Census Bureau did a lot of
research and came up with a
statistically and scientifically
sound way of compensating for
the numbers that are missed."
Blllard said
She defends the use of a com
plicated method based on sam
pllng — carefully selecting a por
tion of the whole to determine
total population.
Blllard became Involved In
the census debate In 1996 when
she was president of the
American Statistical
Association
At the time. Congress
declared that the 2000 census
shouldn't rely on sampling,
because some scientists didn't
even believe In It
‘I knew that wasn't true,"
BUlard said. “There's no statis
tics without sampling '
So Blllard set out to create
her "blue-ribbon panel" of top
statisticians to create a report
on sampling and send It to
Congress
Their results showed, "sam
pling Is valid, and you can get
more accurate results more
cheaply." BUlard said
But the Supreme Court will
make the Anal decision on
whether sampling will be used
In the next census
In the past, both Republicans
and Democrats have opposed
sampling for different reasons.
Because the undercount
tends to be "low-income and
minorities," Republicans are
afraid counting these people will
change the distribution cf
power, said Charles Bullock,
professor of political science
"Putting In a few more seats
In areas that are likely to vote
Democrat — that could tip the
balance In Congress." Bullock
said.
Another point In the debate
over the census Is the constitu
tionality of sampling
"The Constitution itself calls
for an enumeration. " Bullock
said
"Using estimation techniques
would not be an enumeration."
he said
Blllard said the opposition to
using sampling in the census
doesn't make sense.
The Census Bureau already
uses sampling to conduct some {
of Its research.
"They're always doing sam- |
pies and surveys every day of j
the year, every year," Blllard j
said
"They’re very good at it. They j
do It all the time." she said.
TH^tD^aJlucii^MoNDAY^srTtMiE^aS^ggl^J
O’Looney reflects on 8 years as mayor
By ANDREW DoMILLO
Tm Rid a Buck
These are the moments that she hates.
“I hate Interviews,” Owen O'Looney says
with a sigh. “There are too many people who
feel Uke they need something In (font of them
telling them whgt to say. I don't Uke feeling as
If I need a script In front of me."
As Athens-Clarke mayor, O'Looney has
been working without a script for the past
eight years.
That script wiU come to a close Nov. 3
when O’Looney steps down as mayor, accept
ing the head post with the Department of
FamUy and ChUdren Services.
Those who know O'Looney said her per-
sonaUty as a self-proclaimed fighter for citi
zens has left a mark on the mayor’s office.
"8he Is Just a Joy to work with," said
Commissioner Cardee KUpatrick, who will fin
ish out O'Looney’s term after she steps down
In November. "She approaches everything
with this unique enthusiasm."
Elected In 1991, O'Looney broke two his
torical barriers for Athens She was the first
official to reign over the newly formed govern
ment under the unification of Athens and
Clarke County She also was the first woman
to serve as mayor
"Before I decided to run for mayor. I made
about 200 calls out to people to fee! what the
situation was." O’Looney said. “As I caUed. I
was appalled at number of people who
thought a woman couldn't win and who didn't
think any change was necessary"
With the help of a motley mix of support
ers, - including local business owners and
members of RE M , O'Looney said she set
out to prove them wrong.
Bertls Downs, a local attorney who repre
sents R.E.M., said the band’s members were
enthusiastic about O'Looney’s campaign
"She’s stood for active citizen participation
and an aggressive Improvement In the quaUty
of life," Downs said.
University officials have credited O’Looney
with fostering better relations between the
University and A-C government.
"During the Olympics, she was the one
who facUltated much of the cooperation
between us." said University spokesman Tom
Jackson.
O'Looney described the 1996 Olympic
games as a "turning point" for the city and for
her relationship with the University
“We had a great relationship with the city
of Athens, and she's had a good deal to do
with that," said University President Michael
Adams. ''I’ve enjoyed having the chance to
A Gwen O'Looney, the first official to
reign over the newly formed Athens-
Clarke County government.
work with her."
O'Looney 's resume reveals a list of accom
plishments that have taken her from Vietnam
to Washington. Even though she said she's
pleased with the Job she's done as mayor.
O'Looney said she thinks she has some unfin
ished business.
“I haven't achieved everything that I want
ed to do.” she said. “But if I did then I have
had some inadequate goals."
Hunter-Gault returns to speak on social problems
By JESSICA RINCK
The Red * Black
It was January 1961. An angry
mob gathered — screaming
Insults, carrying a white sheet
scrawled with racial slurs, hurl
ing bricks and rocks at Myers
Hall. The fury was aimed at the
dorm room of Charlayne Hunter-
Oault. because of the color of her
skin
She was the first black woman
to enroll at the University.
On that violent evening, police
responded by pelting the crowd
with tear gas. Hunter-Gault, in
tears, was whisked away under
police escort.
Today, in more peaceful times,
Hunter-Gault returns to campus
as a University alumna and well-
known journalist to deliver the
Walter Barnard Hill Lecture.
Hunter-Gault's speech will
center on how universi
ties can become
involved in society's
problems. Before the
lecture, she will hold
court at a public recep
tion, where students
and faculty will have a
chance to meet her.
This is Hunter-
Gault's first appear
ance at the University
since 1992, when she
spoke with the late
Hamilton Holmes at
the Holmes-Hunter Lecture. The
lecture was delivered by the Rev
Jesse Jackson, to honor Holmes
and Hunter-Gault as the first
two African-American students
to enroll at the University and
receive baccalaureate degrees.
After graduation, Hunter-
Gault devoted 10 years to writing
for The New York Times.
Afterward, she Joined
PBS' MacNeil-Lehrer
NewsHour and Is now a
correspondent in Africa
for National Public
Radio.
She also wrote her
memoirs in a book titled
"In My Place." In it. she
remembers the details of
her integration into the
University.
In 1961, when Federal
Court Judge William A.
Bootle ordered the
University to admit the two
black students, chaos erupted
That same night, an estimated
150 students gathered at the
arch to hang an effigy of
Hamilton Holmes.
More than 500 students lined
the University track field to
watch numerous cross burnings.
Two days later, more than 1.000
students paraded through the
streets of Athens in an angry
protest.
The Jan. 10. 1961, edition of
The Red & Black headlined in
bold letters, "Negro Students
Prepare For Wednesday Classes."
The article went on to report, “It
appeared that all attempts to
avoid integration of the nation's
oldest state chartered institution
went out the window for a long
drop when the two Negroes
arrived here from Atlanta.”
Today University students will
have the opportunity to hear
from the woman who weathered
the brunt of the storm.
Hunter-Gault's lecture begins
at 10:30 a.m. in Mahler
Auditorium of the Georgia
Center for Continuing
Education. The public reception
begins at 9:30 a m. in the Hill
Atrium outside the auditorium.
HUNTER-
GAULT
Speaker: Work on marriage, not divorce
By JONATHAN ROY
The Red a Black
Sex, pregnancy, childbirth and divorce —
where does it go from there?
In a formal discussion in the Tate
Student Center Reception Hall on Friday
afternoon, two prominent speakers in the
field of family relations and developmental
psychology discussed the effect divorce has
on children
The talk titled, "Should parents stay
together for the good of their children," fea
tured Robert Emery (University of Vlrginiai
and Paul Amato (University of Nebraska),
who gave hour-long presentations on their
theories relating to the topic
Emery started the discussion by immedi
ately answering the question of the moment.
"Should parents stay together for the
good of their children? No. Never. And yes,
more often," Emery said.
He said the first answer is easy and the
second is more complicated.
"Parents need to take more responsibili
ty,” Emery said
His focus on responsibility led to a discus
sion on the issue of parents staying together.
He said parents stay together for econom
ic reasons as well as for the kids’ sake.
Emery also said the rate of divorce has
increased not Just since 1965, but since 1865.
“Don't make divorces hard — enhance
your marriage instead," Emery said.
Rob Bagiey. a doctoral student In child
and family development, agreed.
"There is a lot of things they can do to
make a mediocre marriage Into a good mar
riage," Bagiey said "They could go to mar
riage enrichment or go learn communication
skills."
The discussion was sponsored by the
Institute for Behavioral Research and a host
of other University departments.
“I'm really glad to see these guys here,
A Robert Emery, from the University of Virginia, explains why parents should
work on marriages.
because they're leaders In this field," said
Shannon Dorsey, a doctoral student in clini
cal psychology
Amato continued the discussion with a
speech laced with psychological jargon.
He said we shouldn't look at whether
divorce in general is good or bad, but under
what conditions a divorce Is positive for the
children.
Amato said 60 percent of divorces are
harmful for the children.
"I think most parents believe in the right
thing." Amato said. “Parents (during the
divorce boom of the 1970s) were acting in a
way that they thought would benefit them
selves and the children," Amato said.
Emery said divorce has a lasting effect on
older people, including college students.
“Divorce is hard at any age," Emery said.
“Even when you’re grown with your parents
splitting up, you're going to be preoccupied,
distressed, and not performing as well"
Judiciary panel expels
student on drug charges
By MARK ANTHONY THOMAS
The Red a Black
A University senior was found
guilty of drug possession and
expelled by a student judiciary
panel.
Raymond Brakebill, a senior
from Marietta, was unanimously
found guilty of violating
University policies prohibiting
possession of drugs and
making them available
to others.
On Jan. 12, Athens-
Clarke police searched
his Oconee Street apart
ment and found six plas
tic bags containing mari
juana, valued at more
than $3,000, according to
judiciary officials.
"The quantity of mar
ijuana found in your pos
session and the manner
in which it was packaged
leads us to conclude that this
activity is of a severe nature and
detrimental to the University
community.” the Judiciary panel
wrote to Brakebill after its Sept. 4
hearing.
Officials noted his "blatant dis
regard for the laws of this state,
the University conduct regula
tions and the school’s mission."
In addition, BrakeblU's
demeanor at the Sept. 4 hearing
suggested to the panel that he
didn't take the issue seriously,
Judiciary panelists said.
BrakeblU's violations were
linked to the arrest of Shawn
David Swantner, his roommate
and former University student.
Swantner was arrested in
January after the Clarke County
Drug Task Force raided their
apartment.
Officers said they found
Swantner in possession of
cocaine, marijuana and the "date
rape drug" Rohypnol.
BrakebUl was arrest
ed and charged with
felony possession of
marijuana on Jan. 15 in
connection with the
bust and was later
released on $10,000
bond.
Even though the two
lived in an apartment, it
was still within 500
yards of the University,
which is considered a
violation of University
poUcies, according to a Board of
Regents rule.
BrakebUl failed to comply with
the administrative policies of the
University and violated state and
federal laws, according to the rul
ing
“This type of behavior is
extremely detrimental to the
development and maintenance of
an educational environment,”
according to the panel's written
decision.
BrakebUl is appealing the deci
sion.
BRAKEBILL
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