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PANTHER NOVEMBER* 1977 EDITOR'S MAILBOX Homecoming Concerns Dear Editor, I would like to express my concern about the SGA’s lack of concern during the Homeromino activities. The Concerned Students of Leadership party promised a lot of things during their cam paign. One of the major promises involved homecoming. We were told they would work hand in hand with Miss Clark to ensure a better coronation. Instead, the Coronation started an hour and a half late, the SGA president, who is a Religion and Philosophy major, allowed this long delay for the college minister before he decided to say a prayer. The sound system was ineffective, the stage was not up to par, and the spotlight was taken off Miss Gark immediately after she was crowned. Promise numoer iwo was 10 have a popular group whose music we could all party to. We go 1 a popular group, at least one we had all heard of, but we couldn't party. I think its a real shame to have payed several 'housand dollars to hear one song-not that the group only played one song, bu' only one 'hat impressed the s'udents. Then 'here was the Red and Black Affair. The SGA provided a jazz band for our enjoyment. The only problem was students wanted to dance and couldn't because the music was inap propriate. The final disaster spon sored by the SGA was the parade. Besides 'he many gaps, Miss Clark’s floa’ was not prepared un'il after the parade s'ar'ed. Wi'h such fast prepara’ion, Miss Clark’s float happened'o be one of'.he most unprepared floats in the parade. Homecoming is an event 'ha' 'ne s'udent body, as well as ’he adminis'ra’ion look forward 'o. I would 'hink that 'he SGA would make a special effort to make sure 'ha' everything is organized and a' its best. This is ■he 'ime of year when the Alumni re’urn, 'he President of 'he college may bring in special gues's, and many students invi'e 'heir parents to the college. The manner in which Homecoming is carried out reflects the school. If this is not a time for the SGA, the students, and the student advisors to be con cerned, then 1 think we need to readjust our values. Concerned Student Greeks Lose Meaning, MY VIEW / Thomas Torrence Spirit of Founders Around this time of year, one of the most interesting happenings in the Atlanta University Center is pledging. Pledging is the different procedures that individuals go through in their quest for what many consider “the ultimate.” Although many students go through the motion of pledging, 'hey rarely realize the true, original meaning of the words fraternity and sorority. These students forget that the founders and original members of the various fraternities and sororities founded them for a specific purpose. The most important purpose was to unite Black people. They founded them so Black people could have a common bond. However, today’s sororities and fraternities seem to have lost the true meaning. There is a rivalry between the different greek organizations. For example, one fraternity member doesn’t befriend another fraternity member because he is a member of a different fraternity. He only wants to hang with “his kind.” This kind of attitude tends to seperate rather than unite Black brothers. Many individuals become members of Greek organizations in order 'o become popular. Many have the idea that people in Greek organizations are the “in crowd”. This idea is totally distorted. One should undertake this en deavor with the earnest desire of becoming a member of a sis'erhood or brotherhood. Also, the Greek organizations around the Atlanta University Center need to spend more time doing community oriented projects rather than social entertainment. The fraternity-sorority systems needs to go back and reevaluate the true meaning of what they stand for. G Bqkke (*>qse SGA President’s Message Last week a group of students asked me a question about apa'hy. As president, what are you doing about the apathy on this campus? My answer to this question (a relevant question of the 'imes) was not an immediate one because apathy is a very difficult problem to deal with. Webs'er defines apathy as a lack of feelings or emotion and lack of interest or concern. Apathy affects not only this campus, but college campuses throughout the nation. Apathy is also a national problem 'hat effects our jobs, political system, the military, school and in general our way of life. So how does one deal with apathy on a campus the size of Clark College? This year the Student Government Association has adop'ed a new policy of “Putting the students back in the SGA.” How can we do 'his? By giving students a part in the decision making process of the SGA, encouraging student participation in ac'ivi'ies and by creating programs for students based on their concerns. Las' week the Clark College family observed its annual Homecoming activi'ies. The theme was “Save The Black Colleges". The SGA for the first time in its history sponsored a week of ac 'ivi'ies (OCT. 9-5th) with the student body in mind. The activities ranged from a Gospel show to aGreek stepout. We also spent one day of 'hat week honoring Black leaders. Bu' some of the complaints from the student body were that we had too many activities or we scheduled activities at the wrong time. The SGA scheduled activities at the times we felt convenient to the en'ire s'udent body. But what about school spirit? We go to a game bu' won’ 1 cheer, we go to an assembly but won't clap, we join organiza'ions but won’t participate, we have many abilities that could help Clark College but won’t apply these abilities. There is no administrator or SGA official who can generate school spirit; it must come from each student on the campus. No one can make you participate in school activities (Homecoming, football games, assemblies etc., you must have the motivation, drive, and concern along with school pride to want to take an active role in campus activities. 1 challenge each and every Clark College student to examine himself and what Clark means to him, to determine whether the apathy that exists lies within you. Maddix D. Moore III >• SGA’S Awards Show Simple, Dignified WE HAVE COME TOO FAR, WE CAN’T STOP NOW, WE MUST EXCEL MIMartin Luther King These inspiring words by the late civil rights leader set the tone for 'he 1st Annual PUSH For Excellence Awards ceremony held recently at Davage Auditorium on the Clark College campus. Six Blacks-five men and one woman-were honored by the Clark Student Government Association for their achievements in the fields of business, sports, civil rights and communications during a brief and low key ceremony that lacked the phony hype and hoopla of many o'her ceremonies. Monica Kaufman, anchorwoman for Atlanta’s WSB; Bill Lucas, Vice President of Personnel for the Atlanta Braves; Leonidas Epps, Clark College basketball coach; Jesse Jackson, the noted civil rights leader; Jesse Hill, a prominent Atlanta businessman; and Hank Aaron, the all-time major league baseball homerun hitter were recognized by the SGA for their contributions in the respective fields. “They have demonstrated what black people are about,” said Maddix D. Moore, the Clark SGA president. “They have demon s'rated 'heir excellence. They have given positive images for black children.” Moore, his voice growing more intense as he spoke, noted that each of the recipients “bring positive and respectful images to blacks.” Although only two of the honorees were able to attend (Kaufman and Epps), the ceremony was not without its bright moments. Anna Brown, a music major from Gark, aroused the sparse crowd of about 150 with her spirited rendition of “The Greatest,” 'heme song from the movie of the same name. She sang so well that Bob Hope, a public relation executive from the Atlanta Braves jokingly announced that he was going to award her with the “Bob Hope Award For Music.” Hope, accepting awards for Lucas and Aaron, who could not attend because of prior committments, drew chuckles from the crowd with his sharp but playful barbs at the Braves and his boss, eccentric millionaire owner Ted Turner. But Hope did become serious long enough to praise Lucas, one of the few blacks to hold an executive position in professional sports. “Bill’s a brilliant man,” Hope said. “He’s done a fine job.” Hope also praised Miss Kaufman for her work in com- munications. Miss Kaufman, the first black and first woman an- chorperson in Atlanta, was not only recognized by the SGA for her work in broadcasting, but for her civic work also. Miss Kaufman is a tutor at the Atlanta Reading Academy, and when accepting the award, urged students to volunteer their time to help tutor some’of the academy students. The presentation of the award to Epps took longer than any of 'he others par y because of a long introduction by a young male presenter who stuttered through most of the introduction, and partly because of the minute and a half standing ovation Epps received. Obviously moved by the gesture, Epps said, “I’m humble 1 shall always cherish the award.” Hill, president of Atlanta Life Insurance Co. and head of the A'lan'a Chamber of Commerce and Jackspn, head of ^Operation Push were,altip unable to attend because of prior engag’emenrs, but Jackson sent Modre a telegram thanking the SGA for the award and promised <o return to Clark at a later date to receive the award. “For the amount of money this thing cost,” joked Moore, “He’s go' to be here.” Clark College President Elias Blake, observing the far less than capaci'y crowd, chided the missing students for their apathy and 'old s'uden's in the audience to “Tell them (the missing students) wha' 'hey missed.” Blake also urged the audience to “Keep on keeping on.” The ceremony was not like the Emmy or Academy Awards shows. No, there were no long speeches, no recipients thanking everybody from their grandmothers to their dogcatchers. Just a simple and dignified gathering honoring six special people, who as Moore put it, "If for no other purpose, because they are somebody." &0WWW0HWeWBgBS8fS8S&fm. o ops We regret the error in the October Panther which misspelled Earl Milloy’s name and incorrectly identified Channel 36, with which Milloy ^SSSSSSSSSSMSWWSSiSJSWi works as a newscaster. Channel 36’s correct call letters are- WATL and Milloy can be heard each Saturday at 6:45 p.m. ~>;v 'oo