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Page 3 THE PANTHER December 18, 1979 Letters to the Editors: Probate “Madness” Dear Editor, We must say that it fills our soul with anger and our heart with disgust to see Tlie Pan ther stoop so low as to make personal attacks on members of the college community. This letter is in regard to the Dec. 3 issue of The Panther The picture of the gong that was used to announce the probates of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., was replaced with a picture showing the rear end of an Omega man who had the misfortune of splitting his costume. This has caused him much embarrassment and has further disgraced our fraternity. It is hard enough for us to shed the false stereotypical images cast upon us without the unjustified attacks from a paper with a following as large as yours. As an organization we have sponsored many social action programs to benefit the college and com munity as a whole. It is for this reason that we cannot understand why we were singled out to be harrassed and ridiculed. However your staff may have perceived our show, it was basically designed for the enjoyment of the probates and the sheer entertainment of the audience. We feel that it was wrong and unprofessional of your paper to single out and em barrass this young man, and our fraternity. It is with all the sincerity that we can muster, that we ask you publish this letter and demand that you make a public apology. Your paper is a very im portant part of this campus community, please let professionalism be your guide and not personal vindettas. Sincerely yours, Beta Psi Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. TO BETA PSI CHAPTER OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY: The Panther staff received your letter which expressed your displeasure with the Dec. 3rd issue concerning one particular photograph in the Greek show layout, taken by myself, Mr. Tyraun Patterson. The job of a reporting photographer is to cover an as signment in its entirety. With this in mind, we must be as ob jective as photojoumalists should be. There were other highlights of the Omega show that were publicized equally as well. To those who were in attendance at the Greek show, the picture that you speak of in the collage will be remembered as only one part of those highlights. Those who were not present were likely to have viewed the center of the gong as being the “center of a gong.” However, at this point, their attention will probably be recalled to the Dec. 3rd issue only to find out why there has been such a commotion over a matter of seemingly meager importance. In regards to your letter, this is the apology that you re quested. However, I feel the need to clarify that this is not an apology for my layout, but rather an apology for my mis take in judgement that your membership in its entirety would not agree with myself and one of your own brothers that the picture was merely comical, rather than a subject of personal vindetta. Sincerely, Tyraun Patterson Panther Photo Editor Dear Beta Psi Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. As you know, “The Panther” is here to serve the college com munity and not make personal attacks on anyone. For you to take the attitude that you have taken on this matter could very well mean that you did not take the time to think about what you have written. You say you are disgusted and charge us with “stooping so low.” To some people, exhibit ing one’s uncovered body could be degrading and em barrassing. But you feel this was an attribute of your probates. If this is so em barrassing to the young man, we apologize. But if you were really concerned about his feelings, you would have either stopped your probate show or pulled him out of the range of criticism. But instead you choose to acuse us of negligence of his feelings. Your probate was a victim of circumstance and put himself in the eye of the public thus opening himself for public ridicule. We are here to serve the public. As your show was, as you say, "designed for the enjoyment of the probates and the sheer entertainment of the audience,” so is “The Pan ther.” We print what we see. You have charged us falsely, for we meant no such em barrassment. But since we are here to serve you and the com munity, we consent to your re quest for an apology. But can you also say that you apologize for having the wrong im pression? Did you ever try to think of the positive points of “The Panther. ”If you recall, in a previous issue, we commended the Men of Omega for its Rape Prevention Seminar. No letter came from your organization saying that you appreciated our efforts. But the minute something negative comes up, you readily ridicule. So to you, again we apologize for the em barrassment. It was only a pic ture. All of the people who did not attend the probate show probably never would have known who the young man was and what organizations he belonged to. The Editorial Board Dear Editor The Ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Chapter, would like to commend you on the beautiful collage of the 1979 Probate Madness Greek Show printed in the last issue of the Panther Although the collage exem plified a few minor dis- crepencies, its overall appearance was very well developed. Again thanks for printing pictures of the 1979 Probates. We hope you will continue to include Greeks in further is sues of the Panther. Sincerely, The Ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Chapter Nosey Instructor Dear Editors, I would like to bring to your attention something that has bothered me for a long time. I am enrolled in a class where the instructor chooses to focus on campus gossip rather than what his purpose is here for. Recently he has been so engrossed in the greek scene that it is sickening. He also re quires us to attend house parties that he gives for the classes. Not to say anything about his frequent, almost every night visits to the courts, a student dormitory. It seems as though he had a student barred from admission to the courts a while back. I feel that it is not his place to have anyone barred from any place but his premises and his classes. If anything, he should fraternize with his own peers and leave the young generation alone. I would like for you to ad dress an editorial to this matter. Why does Clark allow instructors to carry on in such a matter. I hope that the instructor reads this letter, for it is obvious that he minds everyone’s business but his own. Disturbed AUC Fashion Troupe Dear Editors: I would like to bring your attention to an omission in the article “AUC Troupe Displays Fall/Winter Fashions” in the last edition of THE PAN THER. NINA LYON, WANDA DUNCAN, and TERESA WEST are also members of the AUC Fashion Troupe. They’re excellent models and deserve recognition. I would appreciate your prin ting this letter and/or a correc tion in the next edition of THE PANTHER so your readers will be aware of their con tributions to the show. P. B. Anderson Dear Ms. Anderson: Thank you for writing us to let us know of our mistakes. As you know, some information is left out due to unavailable sources. We apologize to you, Ms. Lyon, Ms. Duncan and Ms. West for our negligence. We are here to serve you the best way we can. Please continue to read the “Panther.” The Editorial Board Credits Incorrect Dear Editor: I am writing regarding the article written by Ms. Bernadette Willard on the construction of the lighting system on Fair Street that appeared in the December 3rd edition of The Clark College Panther, The spirit of the article was good but there were some inac curacies and misquotes that I would like to clear up. Neighborhood Planning Unit “T” was credited with this effort. That is not correct. This is the result of the efforts of the administration of Clark College, The Men of Clark College, and some individuals of which you printed a partial listing. A few of the names omitted were: Dr. James P. Brawley, president Emeritus; Dr. William Stanley, president ofthe Men of Clark; Dr. Carson Lee, Mr. Ralph Long, Dean C.D. Gillespie, Mr. Carter Coleman, and others. I was quoted, “The Fair Street lighting was one of the many but very important pro jects attained by NPU.” The statement was made in the context of a variety of concerns and projects of NPU “T” throughout the area which is composed of seven neighborhoods: Ashview Heights, Atlanta University Center, Harris-Chiles Homes, University-John Hope Homes, Just Us Neighbors, West End and Westview. Fair Street from Northside Drive to Ashby Street comprise a small segment of Unit “T”. The statement was not intended to suggest that Unit “T” did more than list “Fair Street Bottom” as a concern for revitalization and transmitted this to the City of Atlanta Planning Bureau for consideration. Lighting is one aspect of that revitalization. My role has been in volvement as business manager and service as a member of the ‘Task Force” appointed to look at “Fair Street Bottom” to see what could be done to improve itin a variety of ways. When my role at Clark College was changed to Special Assistant to the President, I began to work with NPU “T” and assisted the president in applying pressure on the city of Atlanta to speed up the timelines for getting the lighting phase of “Fair Street Bottom” revitalization ac complished. This entire project has been the collective efforts of many people. It was stated that the purpose of Neighborhood Planning Units is to develop under-developed areas in Metro Atlanta. This is not correct. It should also be noted that Mr. Ware’s first name is Carl. I think Ms. Willard set out to write about “Fair Street Bot tom” in general, and ended up discussing the lighting thereby getting some facts con fused with others. My attempt is to set some of the facts straight and not intended to be critical of Ms. Willard’s efforts. Sincerely yours, William W. Morrell Special Assistant to President College “Heads” Asleep December 12, 1979 Having been a student of Clark for the past three years, I have been dismayed at the poor attitude of our ad ministrators. It seems that they would one day wake up and conduct themselves with some sort of responsibility. As with many of my fellow students the announcement of a new president gave me and other students hope of some effective change, but to my dis may there have only been minor changes. However, the same poor attitudes, and the general treatment of students as children continue. So wake up administrators at Clark and every other institution that continues on this track. The contented studentoftoday will only last for so long and someday in the not so distant future you may wake up to the mob of discontented students you faced only a decade ago. Roger Tyson