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Clark Atlanta University Panther
November 9, 1990
Editorials
How Safe Are We?
By NANNETTE L. WILSON
Editorial Page Editor
With the increase of crime on campuses all over across the
nation, students, faculty, staff, parents and administrators are
all becoming more concerned about the safety of the students.
In the past, CAU has been stricken with incidences of
muggings, molestations, and the like. In response, the
administration has brought on board a new security force —
SIMS Security.
Although the new security company has only been on
campus for a couple of months, many students familiar with
crime in the Atlanta University Center have already expressed
positive observations. Because the new guards have a more
professional demeanor, students say they feel safer.
Despite the overall positive first impression the new security
has made, some of the security guards are still falling short of
monitoring campus activites, and as a result some of the .
students are not as protected against the horrors of society as
they should be.
Last year, CAU students were suffering because the security
company, Confidential, fell short on its’ responsibilities as far
as providing quality security service. Far too long,
Confidential and some college officials, had given only lip
service to the challenge of security to our college students, while
campus violence continued to climb.
The newspaper headlines have warned us all of the
dangerous road down which college campus security was
headed.
“College security Lag In Actual Secure-i-ty” and “Campus
Security In College: Poor Student On-Campus Life” are just a
couple of the ‘highlights’ from recent years.
But it didn’t and still doesn’t stop there.
Sadly, as we venture into the 1990-91 school year, keeping in
mind that SIMS Security has not been here that long, it seems
like little has changed. One can’t help but be frightened about
the future of our security.
A li Needs S wiftKick
By NANNETTE WILSON
Editorial Page Editor
Sahahrazad Ali, author of the controversial book, “The
Blackman’s Guide to the Black Woman,” is a frustrated
woman. Her disrespect for the African American family is a
direct cause and reflection of the destruction of her own life.
Ms. Ali, 41, an African American Muslim and founder of
Civilized Publications, believes that the African American
woman is out of control and it is time she faced up to reality.
My question to her and, better yet, my question to the
general public is how is Ms. Ali veiwed? Is she a woman that
needs a swift kick in the pants? Does her husband, with whom
she shares 12 children, often soundly slap her in the mouth?
I believe that this female is suffering from a severe loss of
memeory. In her book, she says the African American woman,
by nature is loose and careless about her man and family.
PANTHER
November 9, 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
News Editor Tonya Latimer
Editorial Page Editor Nannette L. Wilson
Sports Editor Anthony George III
Photo Editor Rodney Mathews
We welcome our readers’ views in the form of letters to the
editor or guest editorials. The Panther office is located in the
Communication Arts Center, room 120. 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 880-8309. The staff
meets Tuesdays at 11 a.m. in room 120 of the
Communication Arts Center.
There Bush Goes Again!
By NANNETTE L. WILSON
Editorial Page Editor
It is ironic that President Bush vetoed the Civil
Rights Bill of 1990 about the same time Clark
Atlanta University was preparing to celebrate
the 30th anniversary of the Civil Rights
Movement.
One thing this shows is how insensitive
President Bush is to civil rights. Another thing
this shows is how important civil rights are to
African Americans.
Perhaps Ann Richards was right. When the
now governor-elect of Texas spoke at the
Democratic National Convention in Atlanta,
she said Bush couldn’t help himself because he
was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Bush
should have listened more carefully to African
Americans, women, Hispanics and Asians who
know what it’s like to suffer discrimination.
H is veto was a substitute for the real thing. He
apparently intended to cover his backside rather
than assure workers of protection against
discrimination.
After he vetoed the bill Bush said, “I deeply
regret having to take this action with respect to a
bill bearing such a title, especially since it
contains certain provisions that I strongly
endorse.”
Who does he think he’s fooling? Bush has now
become the first modern President to veto such a
civil rights bill. He has become a much accented
extension in the game of racial injustice. As a
result, the President’s legislation would forbid
the use of affirmative active plans, making it
almost impossible to establish appropriately
broad redress where there has been broad
discrimination.
The African Americans he put in office will
bear the most serious scars of discrimination in
the workplace. Theirs are the voices of despair.
Did the President think of how many African
Americans he has sent to the Persian Gulf to die
for someone else’s civil rights before he vetoed
the Civil Rights Bill? No. He was probably too
busy licking his silver spoon.
The President’s veto, the highly publicized
racial unrest now at a local high school, the
increase in the number of Ku Klux Klan rallies
throughout the South, and many other things
are all signals that we have a long road ahead of
us. But in the end we will prevail!
When Clark Atlanta University proudly
celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Civil
Rights Movement this weekend, it will focus
more on how we should work harder to sweep
over the staunch racists like Bush.
Look Out For Your Own Safety
By NANNETTE L. WILSON
Editorial Page Editor
One college recently reported that during a
safety meeting on the second floor of a five-story
dorm, 50 percent of the women attending the
meeting left their dorm rooms unlocked. At at
time when we are complaining about not having
enough security, we cannot afford to be careless-..
To take action for your own safety, here are
some steps recommended by security pros:
— Keep your dorm or apartment windows
and doors locked at all times.
— Make sure door and window locks are
strong and functional.
— Immediately report the presence of anyone
who looks suspicious.
— Be aware of your suroundings
— If available, don’t hesitate to use campus
emergency phones when necessary.
— When walking at night, walk with at least
one friend; groups are better.
— Don’t hesitate to use the campus escort
service, if available.
— Don’t abuse drugs or alcohol; both have
been associated to campus crime problems.
