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The Clark Atlanta University Panther
August 31, 1990
PHOTO BY PAULETTE V. WALKER
MICHELLE D. RHODES
Student Activities Director
Guide Corps Spices Up
New Students Orientation
Freshmen Prepare For Elections
By PAULETTE V. WALKER
Editor-in-Chief
Nearly a thousand new
students arrived on the campus
of Clark Atlanta University in
the last week and a half. With
the influx of such a large
number, one might expect to
have seen many of them
wandering around the univer
sity, hopelessly lost.
Not so here at CAU! Thanks
to the CAU Orientation Guide
Corps, the new students had
help on hand when it came to
moving into their rooms,
registering, testing, showing up
at the right place at the right
time, or just company and
support.
The Orientation Guide
Corps, a group of 80 CAU
students, has long been the
source of help and guidance for
new students arriving here
throughout the years.
Any student at CAU can
become a member of the
Orientation Guide Corps, but
there are requirements — and
the competition is fierce.
Applications are accepted
toward the end of each Spring
semester for the following Fall.
Last spring, 210 students
applied, but only 80 were
accepted.
“When choosing orientation
guides, 1 look for students who
are well-rounded academically
and socially, and have
displayed leadership and a
willingness to help others,” said
Michelle Rhodes, the director
of Student Activities at CAU.
Ms. Rhodes organized the
Orientation Guide Corps and
planned the entire week of
freshmen orientation activities.
"The purpose of the Orienta-
tion Guide Corps is to
enlighten, enhance and
motivate the new incoming
students,” said Rhodes. “We
(the Orientation Guide Corps)
are there to aid them in
adapting to life and procedures
at the university.”
This is Ms. Rhodes’ second
year organizing freshman and
transfer student orientation,
and also organizing the force of
the Orientation Guides. As an
alumna of Clark College, Ms.
Rhodes has a unique perspec
tive into the orientation
process. As a freshman, she
benefited from the help of a
guide and for three years, she
offered her services as a guide.
“There have been a few
changes made since 1 was a
guide,” said Ms. Rhodes.
“Most notably is the name; it
used to be called the Freshman
Guide Corps, but when 1 began
organizing it, 1 found that
guides were there for all new
students — transfer as well as
freshmen. So now it is called
the Orientation Guide Corps.”
Some of the other changes
include an extended training
period for the members of the
Orientation Guide Corps.
“This year, the members came
back to campus a week before
the freshmen were to arrive,”
said Rhodes. “During this
week, they went through an
intensive training program that
included various seminars."
The topics of these seminars
ranged from customer service
skills to a refresher course
re-orienting the guides with the
various buildings on the
recently consolidated campus.
The members of the Corps were
also required to become
familiar with the history of
Clark College and Atlanta
University and were frequently
tested on it througout the
training period.
A professional image was
also enforced this year. “We got
uniforms, not to look good, but
as a way of assuring the parents
that we were professional and
there to assist them and their
students, not just to play
around,” said Senita Hunter, a
member of the Orientation
Guide Corps and chairman of
the Corps’program committee.
However, there was some
playing involved. Although the
new students were kept very
busy throughout the week with
testing and registering, they
also had a lot of fun. Some of
the activities included a party
on the yard, an AUC Unity
Block Party, an impromptu
talent showcase — at 3 a.m.,
and a skating party.
“It’s a lot of fun being an
Orientation Guide,” said
Hunter. “But many students
don’t realize the hard work that
is involved and the dedication
that is required.”
Hunter ended her summer
intership in Detroit early, so
that she could participate in the
training program. During
Freshmen Orientation Week,
she put in over 17 hours of
volunteer service a day.
“All of the guides, especially
Michelle(Rhodes) worked very
hard to make this Orientation a
success,” said Hunter.
Bridgette Harris, the student
chairperson of the Orientation
Guide Corp, said her biggest
challenge as chairperson, was
assuring the guides that their
services were both needed,
appreciated, and acknowl
edged by parents and students.
“We (Guides) are an
important part of the new
students' comfortably adapting
to the university,” said Harris.
As a freshmen, Harris herself
was immediatley impressed by
the caring attitudes of the
Guides. “My mother still talks
about how nice and helpful
they were when we arrived.”
Why do they do it — do they
get paid? No. The services
rendered by the Orientation
Guide Corps are strictly
voluntary. For Ms. Rhodes, it
is the personal satisfaction she
gets from helping young
students grow and develop.
The members of the Corps
get varying rewards out of the
experience. “I get a thrill at
seeing students come in totally
disoriented, and then feeling
more and more at home with
our help,” said Mark Tyler, the
1989-90 Student Government
Association president, and a
third-year Orientation Guide.
Although expressed in
different ways, other members
of the Guide Corps share
Tyler's sentiment. They see
their service to new students as
a way of preparing them for
excellence in the future by
greeting them with excellence
today.
By STEPHEN THOMAS
Contributing Writer
Three candidates are vying
for the post of Freshman Class
president. The elections which
will take place Sept. 5, are
being coordinated by Student
Government Association
president Jamyee Pleasant.
The candidates for president
are Terrence Cummings,
Henry Hayes, and Melakia
Jones. Candidates for class vice
president include ZeEster
Browning and Kevin Dobbins.
“I want to uplift the morale
of the student body,” Ms.
Pleasant said. “I'm looking
forward to having joint
participation between students.
Freshmen will work with
graduate students .juniors, and
seniors,” she explained at a
meeting Tuesday. The meeting,
in Thayer Hall’s student
lounge, allowed the students
interested in running for office
to sign up and learn of
responsibilities and rules. A
small group of about 15
attended the meeting.
Angie Chivers and Herbie
Smith are class secretary
hopefuls. Melika Harris, Brian
Kensey, and Kenyatta Rogers
are running for class treasurer.
Higher judiciary candidates are
Janice Barlow, ZeEster
Browning, and Ireyan Clark.
Melakia Jones is currently the
lone candidate for the lower
judiciary post. SGA represen
tative candidates are Jinkowye
Anekwee, Kelli Pack, Mia
Rolle, Stephen Thomas.
Candidates for Miss Freshman
include Vanessa Brooks and
Aida Coleman. Cory Echols
and Henry Hays are candidates
for Mr. Freshman.
“Every office is what the
candidate brings to it. You may
be the treasurer, but that is not
all that you have to be,” said
Ms. Pleasant. ‘‘You are
representing your class, you
must have a good rapport with
your classmates. Officers are
dignitaries for their class. They
must capture the essence of the
class.”
Students can get involved by
contacting the SGA office at
880-8105. Freshmen will have
an opportunity to here their
candidates speak on Sept. 4 at 7
p.m. in Davage Auditorium.
Showtime At CAU
By SONIA WHITE
Staff Writer
How many of you have ever watched “Showtime at the
Apollo?” Well, even if you have not, last Sunday Clarkites gave
their own rendition of this talent extravaganza.
J his impromptu show, held in Davage Auditorium was a
part of the freshman and transfer orientation festivities. It was
a night to remember.
Some of the acts included Candy Smith’s version of Anita
Baker’s “Been So Long,” The Ladies of Delta Sigma Theta —
Vickie Craft, T.J. Huddleston. Shirron Jeffereys and
Charmaine Williams — “Jammin for Sisterhood,’’and a few' of
the freshman chose to imitate their guide directors — “Pfeiffer
Hall Tribute to the Guides.”
CAU spirit was in full effect, which was lead by the
orientation crew. There w'as lots of audience participation,
standing ovations, waving arms and a call and response of
C-A-U repeatedly.
I here were many other events scheduled for orientation,
which included Roller Skating at Sreamin’ Wheels, a trip to Six
Flags Over Georgia and induction dinners.
Michelle Rhodes, director of Student Activities, was in
charge of the orientation.
LABOR DAY CLASSIC!
CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY PANTHERS
versus
MORRIS BROWN WOLVERINES
Herndon Stadium
Monday, September 3
5:30 p.m.
Featuring:
Post-Game Concert with
THE MANHATTANS
and
ATLANTA BLACK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Spectacular FIREWORKS Finale!
Tickets on sale at CA U, Morris Brown,
Blockbusters and PaschaVs