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Clark Atlanta University Panther
August 31, 1990
Editorials
Why Are They After Barry?
By STEPHANIE L. WALKER
Staff Writer
Washington Mayor Marion Barry’s trial is now history. The
trial left many questions unanswered. Will there be another
trial? Will Washington D.C. heal? Will the nation heal? After
an emotional laden lOweek long trial on drug and perjury
charges, Barry asked the people of Washington for forgiveness.
“If our city is to heal, we must forget about this,’’he said in an
emotional half hour speech. “Let go! Let go! I call on the
United States Government tojoin in this healing. Just as I must
examine its conduct, the United States Government must
examine its conduct, so Americans must not live in fear that
their rights are being trampled.” Barry concluded.
The nation’s capital as well as the citizens all over the
country, have been divided over Barry’s case. The jury found
Barry guilty of possession of cocaine a misdemeanor and was
unable to track a consensus on the remaining 12 charges in the
indictment, three of them felonies.
But the larger questions are: Should we question so closely
the private lives of our elected officials with such a large
microscope? Should those officials be the perfect Ossie &
Harriet, Father Knows Best types? Can anyone run for office
and have their life scrutinzed to the finest detail?
History tells us that George Washington was known to have
enjoyed the pleasures of certain African American slave
women with or without Martha’s knowledge. What of Thomas
Jefferson’s affair with a mulatto slave Sally Hemmings who
bore him five children. Catherine, Empiress of Russia, enjoyed
the pleasures of her palace guards. Henry VIII died of syphilis.
Queen Elizabeth was anything but a virgin queen.
Recent history would tell that Franklin D. Roosevelt,
Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B.
Johnson had lenghthy affairs with women other than their
wives while in office.
Then there’s Watergate, Irangate, HUD, S&L’s, male
prostitution on Capitol Hill, free plane trips and silent
partnerships, etc. The Justice Department would go broke
setting up stings on our elected officials everytime sex was
offered, cocaine was offered, or illegal money was exchanged.
History will judge whether this republic is honest or corrupt
in selecting its political officials.
There was a man who didn’t smoke, drink, womanize, eat
meat, worked hard, was gracious with women and was adored
by children. He was known affectionately as “Uncle” his name,
Adolph Hitler.
Thank You, Dr. Cole
By CYDNEY WILLIAMS
Managing Editor
Our dedicated Panther staff has worked hard to produce two
superb issues this semester. The hours have been long because
we have only three operational terminals and we are working
with outdated equipment. According to President Cole, we will
be getting new equipment. We can tbcn assure you a better
newspaper. Thank you, Dr. Cole.
PANTHER
August 31, 1990
The articles 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
Managing Editor Cydney L. Williams
Editorial Page Editor Nannette L. Wilson
Lifestyle Editor Vanessa Crocket
Sports Editor Pierce W. Huff
Photo Editor Rodney Mathews
Staff Writer Stephanie 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 Atlanta University, James
P. Brawley Drive at Fair Street, S. W., P. O. Box 329,
Atlanta, Ga. 30314. The telephone number is 880-8295. The
staff meets Tuesdays at 11 a.m. in room 120 of the
Communications Arts Center.
Are We Moving Backwards?
By NANNETTE L. WILSON
Editorial Page Editor
Are we moving backwards? Why was the
registration process decentralized this year? It’s
simpler to have all the departments represented
in the gym like it’s always been.
In the midst of Clark Atlanta University’s
progress and strides toward becoming a
“world-class” institution, is the seemingly
unsolvable problem of “registration hassle.” On
paper, the registration process seems air-tight:
pre-registration with counselling, confirmation
by mail, computerized class selection, drop-add
with faculty appoval, a built-in override system,
on-line financial aid and business office compute
system. But still there is hassle after hassle,
delays to class attendance and numerous
complaints among the student body.
The most commonly heard explainations for
the breakdown in the system is, “the computers
are down,” “yes, your paperwork has been
completed, but your grant has not been
apporved yet,” or “we did not approve your
scholarship because you signed your name only
four times and missed the fifth blank.” Is it any
wonder that the registration procedures leave
the freshmen in complete frustration,
bewilderment, and disenchantment. To add to
the overall frustrating situation is the unsettling
effect all of this has on the parents, most of
whom live long distances from Atlanta, and are
made to feel helpless in their efforts to assist their
children. Obviously, this is no way for a
freshman or transfer student to begin a college
career and for the university to win the trust and
respect of parents.
For the most part, students understand and
respect the need for some of the long lines. They
appreciate the need to check students’academic
and financial standing. Their feelings of
frustration and anxiety are caused by the
disregard and lack of concern some staff and
personnel show for students’ individual
circumstances. Students do not expect the
administration and staff to work miracles or to
give preferential treatment; however, they do
expect to be treated with courtesy and respect.
Please, do not take these comments as a
general condemnation of the CAU administra
tion and staff. There are a few administrators
and staff members who are committed to a
smooth and hassle-free registration. In fact, our
president. Dr. Thomas Cole, has offered and
made himself available for student input on any
matters of concern.
Here are some tips that might be helpful in,
easing the hassle associated with the new, yett
still-hassling registration. These tips may also be.
used in minimizing the negative comments of'
students:
— Permit students who have pre-registerd to
make schedule adjustments during the summer
months.
- Set up separate divisions in the Financial
Aid Office to handle academic scholarships,
athletic scholarships, student loans and federal
grants. Provide students with hourly updates on
the status of grant applications. Updates could
be given on the university television monitors by
using social security numbers to identify
students.
— Set up a parents’ hotline manned by well
informed and sensitive staff members.
— Encourage staff to develop a greater sense
of caring and compassion for students, ‘their
clients.’
Say No To
Virginia Beach
By PAULETTE V. WALKER
Editor-in-Chief
As the Labor Day weekend approaches, many
students find themselves facing the decision of
what to do for that last “summer fling.” As in the
past, many will opt for the popular Labor Day
hot spot, Virginia Beach.
Merchants of the beachfront hotels and shops
have long disliked the large assembly of African
American students. Students themselves have
often complained of not receiving the welcome
receptions that their White counterparts receive
when they engulf Daytona Beach and Fort
Lauderdale. But despite these facts, Virginia
Beach has been the place to be during the Labor
Day weekend for the past five years.
In 1989, 100,000 of our “talented tenth”
gathered at Virginia Beach for a good time. The
celebration quickly turned into an angry melee
that frighteningly resembled the police brutality
that occurred a generation ago when young
Blacks in the South were beaten because they
sought to sit at a five-and-dime lunch counter
with Whites.
One incident involved a group of Greeks
assembled to step on Atlantic Avenue. Police in
armored trucks announced to the crowd that
they “represented an unlawful assembly” and
should disperse immediately. As if the students
did not understand English, an officer threw a
smoke bomb into the crowd of students.
Many other incidents occurred. P,eports say
that nearly 200 students were jailed and 400
received citations for various offenses.
In January, a commission that investigated
the Virginia Beach incident concluded that race
was a factor — this was already suspected, but
now it is official. Often in the past, African
Americans have received mixed messages from
Whites, but at Virginia Beach, the message is
crystal clear: “Blacks — Stay Away!"
Virginia Beach city officials have been
planning for months now, preparing for
GreekFest 90’. They have many activities and
parties scheduled and they plan to be in complete
control of every event — insuring that each is
heavily patrolled by police.
If you are looking forward to wearing I.D.
bracelets in order to enter your hotel rooms;
personal police escorts to city-sponsored
activities; plastic smiles on the faces of
merchants that say “Yes”, but mean “Hell no!”;
if you enjoy giving your money to a city that has
shunned your very existence in this nation ... by
all means, go to Virginia Beach. You will have
the time of your life.
But think about it, and then do the right thing.
Say no to Virginia Beach.
