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Clark Atlanta University Panther
August 24, 1990
Editorials
Iraq: Have Things Really Changed?
By STEPHANIE L. WALKER
Staff Writer
Once upon a time in the land of old, before time was born,
existed the land known as Mesopotamia. A land which the
beautiful classical work Scheherzade from the thousand and one
nights were composed.
Part of that land area today is known as the Middle East, and
one of its capitals is Bagdad, Iraq. Those beautiful stories told by
Scheharazade for a thousand and one nights, did not include: oil,
national interest, western influence, nor did they include: Exxon,
British Petroleum and Royal Dutch Shell.
There had yet to be invented racism, colonalism and zionism.
How did we come this far? This area of the world has been fought
over since the fourth millennium B.C. Its contributions to
civilizations are immeasurable.
But today oil is king. The multinational oil companies backed
by western media, would have you believe the oil region is theirs to
do with as they choose. That it’s to their national interest and
would effect their standard of living.
What of Arab’s standard of living? That nations such as Iraq
has no national interest. The world community, and rightly so,
condems the invasion and occupation of another sovereign
country.
What of the British invasion of the Falkland, France, Chad,
United States, Panama and Grenada? What about the Israeli’s
invasion of Lebanon and the 21-year occupation of Gaza and
parts of Jordan?
No territory boundaries in the Middle East was drawn up by
countries in the area in Black Africa. It was the western powers
who decided on borders with no consideration of religion, culture,
ethnic or historical differences. Even the term Middle East is
modern. This application described the British military command
set up in Egypt in anticipation of World War II. This entire region
has been raped of its national resources deprived of its
determination and divided by outside western countries.
Would the United States allow an outsider to control its food
prices? Japan’s electronic prices? Germany’s car prices? And
France’s perfume prices? But western countries believe they have
the moral right to control Arab oil prices. Its force, naked military
force, which gives the West that right.
Mao Ze-dong wrote: all political power comes of the barrel of a
gun; Lenin spoke of everything that’s economic is political;
Churchill said, “I did not become Prime Minister to see the
destruction of the empire.” Busch said, “We are going to maintain
the status quo.”
It is no longer East against West, communism versus
capitalism, but the rich nations against the poor southern nations.
Have things really changed?
Welcome, New Students
Clark Atlanta U niversity was created by the 1989 consolidation
of Clark College and Atlanta University. It is one of only two
private historically Black Universities in the nation, offering
courses from the freshman year to doctoral level degrees.
Enrolling some 3,200 students, the University is one of six
institutions comprising the Atlanta University Center, the largest
consortium of historically Black institutions of higher learning in
the world. WELCOME TO ONE EXCEPTIONAL
UNIVERSITY.
PANTHER
August 24, 1990
The c rticles on the editorial page are the opinions of the
writers. They are not necessarily the opinions of the student
body, faculty, staff or administration.
Editor-in-Chief Paulette V. Walker
Editorial Page Editor Nannette L. Wilson
Sports Editor Pierce W. Huff
Staff Writers Jay me L. Bradford
Stephanie L. Walker
We welcome our readers ’ views in the form of letters to the
editor or guest editorials. The Panther office is located in the
Communications Arts Center, room 122. The business
office is in Trevor Arnett Hall. Address all correspondence
to the Panther Newspaper, Clark A tlanta University, James
P. Brawley Drive at Fair Street, S.W., P. O. Box 329,
A tlanta, Ga. 30314. The telephone number is 880-8295. The
staff meets Tuesdays at 11 a.m. in room 120 of the
Communications Arts Center.
Let’s Move
By Nannette L. Wilson
Editorial Page Editor
As we move to a new century, we must set our
goals on becoming a ‘world-class university’ that
will reflect the heritage of its two mother
institutions — Clark College and Atlanta
University.
It is time that the administration, faculty, staff
and student body lock arms to develop a
coalition of Clark Atlanta University
supporters. We must become positive in our
conversation with each other. We must become
positive in our conversation with people outside
the community. We must become a community
committed to upholding and keeping high, the
CAU heritage and commitment to excellence.
It behooves the administration, faculty and
staff to view students as clients to whom they are
committed. When students and clients feel a
Where Is
By PAULETTE V. WALKER
Editor-in-Chief
We’ve got the spirit! (clap, clap) Yeh, yeh,
we’ve got the spirit! (clap, clap) Yeh, yeh! What,
what, what, ?
That’s exactly what 1 want to know — WHAT
do you mean we’ve got the spirit? This popular
Clark Atlanta University chant implies that
Clarkites have an unstoppable spirit that shows
in our attitude, demeanor and attendance at
school sponsored activities, specifically sports. If
this is the case, then CAU must have only a third
of the students it boasts, because only a third of
our numbers show up to support our various
teams. You can find the other two-thirds
hanging out at other schools in the Atlanta
University Center, bad-talking our teams. It’s no
wonder why some of our sports teams are not
doing very well. Can they be blamed? I think not.
My high school track coach once told me that
the formula for victory was effort and
motivation, both were equally important.
Although motivation can come from within,
part of the responsibility lies with the fans and
supporters. Where are we, Clarkites, when our
teams need us?
The CAU football players have been toiling
and sweating since the first of August preparing
for what they say will be a dynamite season.
To ‘World-Class’
sense of support it will serve to enhance their
desire to achieve. It will also create a sense of
oneness’ within the university community.
One common indication of how a university is
perceived is by the desire of its students and
people outside of the university to wear their
T-shirts and other paraphanelia. One method
which may be used to create a sense of ownership
for the university is to institute periodic,
informal ‘step-talks.’ These talks could be held
on the steps of Thayer Hall, for instance, the
Woodruff Library or other areas which have a
lot of student traffic. These would give the
president and other officials a chance to conduct
questions and answer periods with students.
Now that our two mother institutions have
been consolidated and CAU has been accredited
by SACS, we can become the ‘world-class
university’ if we all cooperate.
That CAU Spirit?
They will be playing their first game against
Morris Brown College Sept. 3. This game has
been anticipated with mixed emotions. The
football team is excited; as usual, they are
entering the season with bright and optimistic
attitudes. Their adrenalin is flowing, their spirits
are high, their expectations even higher. But
nothing dampens enthusiasm quicker than a
cold slap in the face of pessimism and apathy —
in the past, that’s what Clarkites have given
them.
You ask for reasons why we should support
the football team when their past record has not
been one to brag about? Let me give you one —
Pride. There must have been something that
attracted you to Clark Atlanta University,
something that you felt you would want to be a
part of. This “something” must have instilled a
sense of pride since your matriculation at CAU.
Pride, the fundamental reason to support CAU
in anything and everything it does. Pride in your
heritage, Pride in your classmates, Pride in your
accomplishments here and Pride in your teams.
If there is nothing at CAU that causes you to
hold your head a little higher, perhaps you
should consider attending another institution.
For the few, the proud, the REAL Clarkites,
let’s show our team — football, basketball,
track, etc. — that we are behind them 100
percent. I’ll see you at the game.
