Welcome Freshmenl
Vol. XXXIII, No. 1
25, ;?e.
An Atlanta University Center Institution
Clergymen Oppose Fare Increase
BY ANGELA C. ESANNASON
Panther News Editor
A group of clergymen
representing 100 churches in
Atlanta raised their voices in
outrage against MARTA's
proposed 100 percent fare in
creasesaying the increase might
spark violent outbreaks similar to
the ones in Miami.
"Help us save Atlanta so it
would not become another
Miami,” said Rev. Ralph D.
The MARTA Board of Direc
tors has raised the regular transit
fare from 25 cents to 50 cents,
effective July 26, 1980. At the
same time, in an effort to provide
relief to low-income patrons, the
Board introduced a $4 weekly
TransCard while raising the price
of the monthly TransCard from
$10 to $17.
Like the monthly pass, the new
weekly TransCard is valid for
unlimited number of rides dur
ing the week of issue (Sunday
through Saturday). The card will
be on sale every Thursday and
Friday at the Authority’s RideS-
tore in downtown Atlanta.
Abernathy, president emeritus
of the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference.
Abernathy, who spoke on behalf
of the clergymen, said people
are tired of being denied of their
"god given” constitutional
rights.
"MARTA was created with a
mandate to provide affordable
public transportation,”
Abernathy said. “And it has a
public and a moral responsibility
According to a 197Vt MARTA
ridership survey, 50.3 percent of
MARTA riders make more than
eight transit trips a week.
Another 6.6 percent make
between seven and eight trips
per week, while 11.6 of the
regular riders make more than
ten trips.
According to the same study,
TransCard users averaged 48.5
trips per month, while single fare
paying passengers averaged 33
trips per month. This is
equivalent to 11.2tripsperweek
for TransCard users and 7.6 trips
see MARTA, page
to insure that the mandate is
carried out.”
The MARTA board approved
raising the fare from the once 25
cents to the current 50 cents. It
was proposed to take effect July
1, but the city of the Atlanta filed
suit in federal court to block the
increase. Fulton County later
joined the suit.
“Public transportation for the
poor is not a luxury,” said
Abernathy. "It is a bare necessity
for those who can afford neither
automobiles nor the gasoline to
run them.”
Abernathy said then that there
should not be any fare increase
at all. He added that as citizens
receive larger incomes only then
Freshman
Over 500 freshmen are
expected to arrive at Clark
College during Freshmen Orien
tation Week. Under the theme,
“Beginning New Horizons,” ac
tivities are scheduled for August
24 - September 3, 1980.
Coordinated by the Office of
Student Affairs, the Freshmen
Orientation Program focuses
should the fare be increased.
"The elderly poor who are on
fixed incomes are in double
jeopardy," he said. "Rising in
flation has already put a severe
burden on them, and they have
no hope of increased income to
compensate for MARTA’s fare
increase."
MARTA officials had said the
fare increase was needed to
avoid a deficit in the fiscal year
1981 operating budget of about
$104 million and to maintain
present services levels. MARTA
ended fiscal year 1980 on June 30
with nearly a $4 million deficit.
According to a budget sum
mary presented, the effects of in
flation mostly on wages and the
direct attention on the traditions
and rituals of Clark College. New
students are helped to adjust to
college life before registration
through a series of informal lec
tures, get-acquainted activities,
and tests.
Mary Agnes Ware, associate
Dean of Student Affairs, said the
orientation committee and
members of the Freshmen Guide
Corps are anxiously awaiting the
arrival of the new Clarkites.
“It is with a sense of pride and
excitement and devotion that
the faculty, administration, staff,
and students of Clark prepare for
the arrival of many knowledge
seeking freshmen,” said Mrs.
Ware. “We hope that attending
Clark College will be an unique
experience for our new students,
since most of them will be leav
ing home for the first time.”
“The Clark College Family,
and particularly the freshmen
Guides, will help new students
make the necessary adjustments
to college life. Smooth tran
sitions, however, depends mos
tly upon personal attitudes and
vigorous determination.”
Mrs. Ware added that the
freshmen year is probably the
most crucial in a student's
college career. "For this reason,
we strongly urge all Freshmen to
take advantage of the new
services offered at Clark.”
A program with a variety of ac
cost of diesel fuel and repair
parts and supplies for buses and
rail cars led to the proposed fare
increase.
Although MARTA Board
Chairman Dan Pattillo said
MARTA would either have to go
with a 50 cent fare or reduce
service by 10 percent, lay off 250
employees and eliminate a
dozen or more bus routes, black
leaders and community activists
suggested that MARTA charge
for parking and for advertising
on buses, pay cuts and reduced
benefits for top-level MARTA
executives, financial getting help
from the state government and
see Abernathy, page 2
tivities has been planned for
Freshmen Orientation Week.
Activities will include ad
visement, testing, and regis
tration for new students. For a
full list of activities, see schedu le.
Sunday, August 24,1980
8 a.m. - Residence Halls Open
11 a.m. - Worship Services -
Davage Auditorium
1:30 p.m. - Incept Assembly -
Parent's Awareness Forum.
Vivian Wilson - Henderson
Center
Monday, August 25, 1980
8:30 a.m. - Testing - Davage
Auditorium
4:00 p.m. - Freshmen Class
Meeting - Davage Auditorium
8:00 p.m. - Alumni Social -
Vivian Wilson, Henderson
Center
Tuesday, August 26, 1980
8:30 a.m. - Testing - Davage
Auditorium
2:00 p.m. - Freshmen Class
Meeting - Davage Auditorium
5:00 - Get Acquainted Dinner
7:00 - Awareness Forum (Rap
Session) - Davage Auditorium
Wednesday, August 27, 1980
8:30 a.m. - Academic Program
- Dean Betty McNair; Pre-
Alumni Assembly - Mrs. Juanita
Eber; Work Study - Mrs.
Shedricka Miller; Business Af
fairs - Mr. Nathaniel Williams;
Security Seminar - A.U.C. Public
see freshman page 7
National Forensics winners Yolanda White and Monty Ross are Clarkites that prove that Clark
College is full of talent. (Photo by Ly Bensons) see page 10
MARTA Raises Fare
To Fifty Cents
Expected This Week
