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Clark Atlanta University PANTHER Volume II Number VII Atlanta, Georgia November 9, 1990 Rev. Jesse Jackson will be one of several speakers at a memorial service paying tribute to the late Atlanta University Center student activists and community leaders of the early 60s. Former State Senator Julian Bond will speak at a civil rights symposium. ELECTION HIGHLIGHTS Zell Miller — Governor Pierre Howard — Lt. Governor Mable Thomas — State Legislator for the District 31 which covers the Atlanta University Center John Lewis — U.S. Congressman for District 5, which covers the Atlanta University Center Dr. Carson Lee, CAU professor, lost his bid for the City Council seat in District 10 University To Salute Civil Rights By ANGELA GRAVELY Contributing Writer Supporters are expected to come to Atlanta from all over the country, even as far away as Paris, France, to participate in the 30th Anniversary Salute to the Atlanta University Center Civil Rights Movement this weekend. Clark Atlanta University will sponsor the two-day event which will recognize and honor former student activists of Clark College and Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University), Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, the Interdenominational Theological Center and Spelman College. The anniversary salute will be a center-wide event honoring former students of the Atlanta University Sit-In Movement. In the early 60s, student leaders played primary roles in the Atlanta Student Movement which led to the desegregation of public accommodations in Atlanta. The many community leaders that came to the students’ aid will also be honored. In 1960, under the leadership of Lonnie King, a Morehouse student, 45 students gathered and wrote, “An Appeal For Human Rights.” The appeal began: “We, the students of the six affiliated institutions forming the Atlanta University Center — Clark, Morehouse, Morris Brown, and Spelman Colleges, Atlanta University, and the Interdenominational Theological Center — have joined hearts, minds, and bodies in the cause of gaining those rights which are inherently ours as members of the human race and as citizens of these United States ...” “An Appeal For Human Rights,” appeared in the March 16, 1960 issue of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution and it led to the desegregation of public accommodations in Atlanta. The 30th Anniversary Salute will be devoted to speaker presentations, workshops, an awards banquet and a memorial service. It also will be a reunion of sorts for the former student and community leaders. Activities to look forward to include an AUC Civil Rights Exhibit in the Virginia Lacy Jones Movement Archives (AUC Library); an African American Art Exhibit in Trevor Arnett Hall on the campus of Clark Atlanta University; and an essay contest open to Atlanta University Center students. Some of the major events include a Civil Rights Symposium, 8:30 a.m. Saturday in Haven Warren on the campus of Clark Atlanta University; a 30th Anniversay Salute Banquet Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Georgia World Congress Center; and a memorial service Sunday at 3 p.m. in Sisters Chapel at Spelman College. Honorary hosts of the 30th Anniversary Salute Banquet will include Gov. Joe Frank Harris, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Attorney General Michael J. Bowers, Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, U.S. Congressman John Lewis, Fulton County Commission Chairman Michael J. Lomax, Coretta Scott King, Dr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Lowery, Ronald Brown, Dr. Kenneth Clark, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Vernon Jordan, Dr. Hamilton Holmes and the Atlanta University Center schools and presidents. Proceeds from the banquet will go to the Clarence and Dorothy Sims Coleman Scholarship Fund of the School of Social Work. According to Clark Atlanta University First Lady Brenda Cole, it is high time that the forces behind the movement were recognized and honored. “People have heard about it and read about it, but never before have they had the opportunity to witness first hand the group of supporters behind the successful movement. Never before have the supporters and leaders been honored collectively,” said Ms. Cole, the brainchild behind this event and an assistant attorney general for the State of Georgia. Ms. Cole was a freshman at Spelman College when the student movement began in 1959. “This should be quite a celebration for Atlanta, but particularly the Atlanta University Center,” she said. Jury Convicts Former Staff Member A former Clark Atlanta University staff member and her son were found guilty of embezzling $107,712.50 worth of grants which funds law enforcement research for the instution. Joann Smith, former director of Atlanta University’s Public Service Component, which is a part of the Criminal Justice Institute, was convicted on 30 counts in federal court last week. Her son, Havier, was found guilty of 27 out of 28 counts. Prosecutors said they falsified 25 invoices certifying that consultants, who were actually friends and family members, had performed government research, according to testimony. Smith’s girlfriend and her mother were two of the fake consultants, according to published reports. They cashed several checks and gave the money back to him. A semi-literate, ailing uncle in Detroit also received some of the money, according to court records. Two checks for $2,000 were made out to him and the second check paid for his funeral service. The two were prosecuted under a new law covering the misuse of federal grants. Assistant U.S. Attorney, Martin J. Weinstein, said that their case was very important because it involved people who claim to be protectors of law enforcement, but steal governement funds. At the scheduled sentencing, Jan. 15, Ms. Smith faces up to 165 years in prison and a $500,000 fine and restitution of the embezzled money. Her son faces up to 145 years in prison, as well as the other penalties. The defense said that Smith, a third-year criminology major at Morris Brown College, performed the work but made a “dumb mistake” by issuing the invoices to others. He added that if he had put his name on them, it would have gotten his mother in trouble with officials who oversaw the grants. Ms. Smith, who irpnically started the Criminal Justice histitue in 1980 by Continued On Page 2