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The Panther
February 2, 1979
Editor Apologizes
For Delay
By A. Lineve Wead
Panther Editor
For the record I am going to mention the reason why many
students left home for the holidays last semester without a copy
of the Panther in their hands. My co-editor, Suleiman Abdul-
Azeez wrote an editorial that was considered “controversial”
and “un bias” by the administration at Clark College.
Therefore, I would like to apologize for not presenting to many
deserving students a copy of the fifth issue of the Panther for
first semester 1978.
I know that I promised many students, especially those who
are neophytes from Greek organizations, that they would have a
school paper before the holidays. However, because of the
lateness of the paper arriving on campus (Dec. 18,1978), many of
us, including myself were gone.
By now I am sure that many of you have received a late copy
and for those who did not, please ask your friends to share it with
you. I believe it was the best paper the staff put out for the
semester.
The Panther is a student publication. We operate under the
guidelines established by our advisors and administration as
well. Since we are a private institution supported in portion by
the United Methodist Church, we do not accept liquor and cigaret
advertisements. We do not accept manuscripts that are not con
forming to our style, either in content or manner. We do, however,
have the right to allow our staff the right to free speech in their
stories and editorials. Then why, you ask, did President Blake
run his editorial viewpoint under Azeez’s editorial, attracting
more attention to that editorial than was needed? Because our
president must answer any questions about “controversial” is
sues that affect Clark in any way.
I am in no way condeming what was written by President
Blake, because that was his opinion. I am not condeming what
was written by Azeez, because it was his opinion. I am, however,
questioning the fact that as a student writing for a student
publication, why wasn’t Azeez entitled to his opinion?
Aforementioned, I am once again apologizing to the student
body, faculty and staff as well, for your not receiving our last
publication last semester. Thank you to those who held me ac
countable by raising questions why; this tells me that the Pan
ther was missed, and that means that our staff could not be do
ing that bad of a job.
Remember in the future to always raise questions about sub
jects as they affect your collegiate life. We are here to be put on
the firing line if you think that someone is trying to put someth
ing over on you.
THE UNITED WAY.
The Panther is published twice monthly by the
students at Clark College.
Editor Ann. L. Wead
News Editor Marcia Jones
Feature Editor Denise Green
Sports Editor Charles Anderson
Photography Editor Tyraun Patterson
Business Manager Jack Jenkins
Staff Artists .Linda Dyson
Felton Fedrick
Faculty Advisors Denise Johnson
Osker Spicer
All articles, poetry, photographs and other con
tributions to the newspaper may be dropped off at
our offices in Thayer Hall.
Address all correspondence to: PANTHER
Newspaper, Box 154, Clark College, Atlanta, Ga.
30314.
For The
Record . . .
Since February is Black His
tory Month, the Panther is
looking forward to covering
every event Clark is spon
soring in this behalf. We hope
each student will spend some
time remembering the past of
our black leaders by participat
ing in some way with an
organization or individual in
bringing this historic month
for black people to a celebrated
reality.
* * *
Clark College has
participated in the birthday
celebration of our late leader,
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Our president, Dr. Elias Blake,
Jr. was an integral part of the
celebration and awarded
Stevie Wonder with a much
deserved citation for his
musical leadership in this
country.
Students have marched with
the King family, and some of
us marched with the Southern
Christian Leadership
Conference (SCLC) in their
People’s March the day before
King’s birthday.
Once again this is a fine
example of the involvement
that our family here at Clark
College continues to exemplify
in the local community.
An Article of Comment
Stirs More Comment
By Michael H. Cottman
In reference to President Blake’s rebuttal in the last edition of
the Clark College Panther, pertaining to some of the problems
with the Panther, it appeared to me that only the surface was
scratched, to a problem that lies much deeper.
Dr. Blake’s overall statement concentrated on one student’s
editorial, charging him with producing information based on an
inadequate investigation. In this particular situation the content
of his editorial was reviewed, and then submitted to Dr. Blake
for further investigation.
The problem, as it turns out, was an obvious personal conflict
between the student and one Clark administrative unit.
President Blake made it quite clear that any piece of material
that is considered “unsatisfactory,” wil be reviewed, or omitted
from the Panther.
The Panther, said to be a student newspaper, is designed to
present newsworthy information to the student body.
Being that the Panther is a student paper, it should be con
trolled by the students, which also includes managing the
content of the Panther.
If you haven’t guessed by now, the key word here is censorship.
Even though the prior editorial was written out of personal
outrage, and all of the facts were not presented, the fact still
remains that the content of the student’s work was inspected
before being printed.
Prior to taking the job with Panther, I was under the as
sumption that a student newspaper is a paper produced and con
trolled by the students.
It is very discouraging to members of the Panther staff to find
that the “student newspaper” is in fact a misconception, and
that we are not the only ones who proofread our work.
President Blake’s point concerning the content of the prior
editorial was completely understood, but I cannot condone cen
sorship when used as a technique to get to the facts.
President Blake commented on journalistic procedures by say
ing “students are not allowed to stand outside of normal res
ponsibilities for the quality of their work.”
Do these responsibilities mean that students are NOT
ALLOWED to voice their opinions concerning issues of
significance?
For the record, I would like to add that an editorial (as
For the record, I would like to add that an editorial (as seen in a
current Clark College text) is “an article of comment, by an in
dividual who injects his own personal opinions into news copy. It
is also a serious stand taken by the writer, and can be based
solely on personal opinions.”
Singing ‘We Shall Overcome’ are (left to right) Mrs. Maynard Jackson and Mayor
Jackson; Coretta Scott King, U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young and Alveda King;
sister of Dr. King. (Photo by Jerome Gwinn)
High School band pays tribute to Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. (PHOTO BY Jerome
Gwinn)