Newspaper Page Text
October 16, 1978
Page 2
Vote on Amendments
Carefully
By Suleiman Abdul-Azeez
' PANTHER Co-Editor
Georgia voters will have 36 different proposed amendments
on which to vote “yes” or “no” Nov. 7. The amendments cover
a wide range of topics, from changing certain voting and elec
tion procedures, to revamping retirement systems to granting
more powers to counties and municipalities.
Among the proposed amendments are several which
deserve especially careful consideration before casting a
“yea” or “nay” vote. These amendments, if approved, w'ould
mandate changes which affect all Georgians, some favorably,
others adversely. Isolation of a few of the most important
proposed amendments will serve to enlighten Georgians on
how they might most effectively use their precious votes.
Proposed Amendment #4 would change the term of office for
members of the Georgia General Assembly from two-year to
four-year terms effective with the November elections. One of
the most effective restraints that Georgians have on their
legistlators is the fact that the latter must run for election
again every two years. Four years is an awfully long time to
have to wait to oust an ineffective legislator who does not res
pond to constituent needs. The peoples’ right to exercise con
trol over their politicians every two years should be main
tained. The proposed amendment deserves a “nay,” at least
this time around.
Proposed Amendment #9 would allow the General Assem
bly to authorize any court in the state to increase the amount
of fines for criminal and traffic offenses and to use the ad
ditional funds to train state and local law enforcement officers
and prosecuting officials. Translated directly, this
amendment means that black people, who represent only 25%
of Georgia’s population but 60% of its prison population,
would be charged more in fines so that more guards can be
hired to keep them confined. Black people in Georgia have
enough of a problem getting a fair shake in the courts. It will
take every black “no” and a lot of sympathetic white “no”
votes to defeat this outrageous proposal.
Proposed Amendment #22 would authorize the General
Assembly to provide by law for a health insurance plan for
retired public school teachers. Certainly any teacher who
makes it through the public school system all the way to
retirement today ought to be able to rely upon a decent health
insurance program. Teachers generally are a dedicated lot.
They brave the classrooms daily for less money than the
contemporary non-professional makes and more hassles than
should be confronted in the schools. Health insurance at
retirement is something for which teachers ought to get your
“yes” vote.
It is instructive to note that the days when voting took a
mere 15 minutes of your lunch hour are long gone. Besides the
ever-extending fields of candidates for office the ballot in
Georgians in most states requires the voter to make decisions
about 10’s of proposed amendments. With the increased
number of these amendments, many of which become law
with voter approval, the role of the voter-as-legislator has
been established in state political systems.
A preview of the proposed amendments is the best
preparation for voting effectively. Otherwise, a hasty “yes”
or “no” when faced with so many proposed amendments may
be cause for political grief later. Georgians must vote as wisely
on the proposed amendments as they do in electing their of
ficials. Only in this way can Georgians maintain control of
their political process.
The PANTHER is published twice monthly by the
students at Clark College.
Editors Suleiman Abdul-Azeez
Ann L. Wead
News Editor Marcia Jones
Feature Editor Denise Green
Sports Editor Charles Anderson
Photography Editor Tyraun Patterson
Business Manager Jack Jenkins
Faculty Advisors Denise Johnson
Osker Spicer
All articles, poetry, photographs and other con
tributions to the newspaper may be dropped off at our of
fices in Thayer Hall.
Address all correspondence to: PANTHER Newspaper,
Box 154 Clark College, Atlanta, Ga. 30314.
The Panther
College Minister
Informs Students
From the Desk of the
College Minister (The Rev.
Willaim T. Henderson, III)
Worship Services
Sunday Worship Services
are held in the Lower Lounge
of Kresge Hall on the second
and fourth Sundays at 9:30
a.m. Music for these services is
provided by the Clark College
Gospel Singers. All students
are urged to attend.
Daily Meditation Services
are held Monday through Fri
day from 11:30 a.m. until noon
in the Prayer Room (Bowen
Chapel) located on the first
floor of Holmes Hall.
On Monday evenings from 7
p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Bible Study
sessions are held in the lower
lounge of Merner Hall. These
sessions are co-sponsored by
the College Minister’s Office
and the Inter-Varsity Chris
tian Fellowship.
Each Wednesday morning
from 8 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. (dur
ing the breakfast hour)
Meditation Services are held.
These services are jointly
sponsored by the S.G.A. Office
(Religious Life Division) and
the College Minister’s Office.
Students, faculty and staff are
urged to attend and participate
in making these services
successful.
Students Contemplating
the Ministry
Many students feel that the
ministry is a field that only en
courages the pulpit (parish) or
the college campus. This is not
a true assessment at all. The
ministry covers a wide range
of areas: public relations,
teaching, broadcasting,
writing, child care programs,
nursing, medicine, music,
statistics, etc.
With these and other things
in mind the Rev. William
Henderson, college minister
for Clark, would like to meet
with any person who is con
sidering the ministry as a
vocation on October 25, at 3
p.m. in the counseling center
conference room located in the
basement of Holmes Hall.
The International Student
Organization
The International Students
Organization (ISO) is a vital
part of the Clark campus and
the international students
should feel a part of the
institution.
On Wednesdays at noon the
ISO meets in the counseling
center conference room located
in the basement of Holmes
Hall and all international
students are urged to attend
these meetings in order to find
out what is going on around
the campus.
The following services are
provided by the ISO: 1)
counseling; 2) adjustment
seminars; 3) financial support
information; 4) programs and
activities; and 4) worship op
portunities.
Coronation Coordinator
Deserves Thanks
By A. Lineve Wead
PANTHER Co-Editor
When someone dedicates his whole summer and the first
portion of this semester to one cause, he deserves a round of
applause. His name: Monty Ross.
Ross is the most gifted student that I have come in contact
with at Clark. Night after night since September 23, Ross has
spent over four hours per night, not counting the hours per
day, preparing the queens and kings for their tasks in the
coronation.
The Clark College Coronation for 1978, “On the Wings of A
Dove/The Black Man, The Black Woman,” will not only be a
tribute to Miss Clark College, but for those staff members
under the direction of Ross who have prepared the queens and
kings for their “night to shine.”
This will be the best coronation that the Clark College
Family will ever see.
Ross has not received the necessary support of the faculty
and students, yet, when everyone fills the gym this week, he
will want to see a dynamite production.
As a queen in this production, I have observed Ross’ style
and his way of getting across to the people what he needs and
wants done. He is willing to tolerate numerous attitudes to
produce this coronation, and he does so with a nonchalance
that makes him unique.
We thank Ross for working with us because we appreciate
all that he has done. When you sit in the Vivian Wilson
Henderson Gym on Friday, October 20, and observe the show,
it will be evident that a lot of work has gone into this produc
tion, and it will be evident that Ross put forth most of the ef
fort.
Walk up to him after the show and tell him how much you
appreciate his work. It will not make him any more confident
than he is about his production, but it is nice to show your ap
preciation to someone who is so serious about this royal event.
Guest Editorial:
Homecoming Theme
Emphasizes Unity
By Floyd Donald
SGA President
“VINTAGE ’78: A SALUTE TO UNITY” is the homecom
ing theme. Homecoming is a joyous time of the year.
Homecoming is a family affair. Families work, play and as
sist one another in their struggles. This year the Clark College
Familiy and the Morris Brown College Family will work, plav
and assist one another during the homecoming week
scheduled October 15-21, 1978.
When I first met MBC/SGA President Norman Harrington,
we both agreed the date of homecoming would be changed.
Examining the records, AUC schools had never scheduled
homecoming the very same week. Perhaps this could be our
chance to close the gap between the intitutions and perhaps
this could serve as an example for other schools to follow.
Athletic Director, and retired basketball coach, Leonidas
Epps and MBC Athletic Director Charles Hardnett were
instrumental in providing both SGA’s with alternatives for
homecoming. By planning homec oming week at the same
time, both organizations could pool their resources and
provide more programs and events.
Promoters have had field days with their riduculous pac
kage deals for concerts. Hotels and auditoriums increase their
rates when institutions try their best at soliciting rooms to ac
commodate their student bodies. With the two schools pulling
together we have been able to close better deals that will not
affect second semester budgeting.
We have been working and planning several joint activities
since last June. The activities will involve community leaders,
students, faculty, staff activities and alumni. These events are
in no way to spite any of the other institutions in the AUC. 11 is
believed that if unity is to ever occur in the AUC, it must begin
on the student level. Students are the life and blood of the
institution. More importantly we are the future of our race and
the leaders of tomorrow. Space will not allow me to list all of
the activities, but thanks to the PANTHER a schedule can be
found in this publication. On behalf of the officers and
members of the SGA/CC, I urge you to involve yourself in the
activities during Homecoming.