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November 16,1990 Clark Atlanta University Panther Page 2 CAU Celebrates Activism By ANGELA GRA VELY Contributing Writer Rev. Jesse L. Jackson urged African Americans to restore a sense of perseverence, dignity and humanity in themselves in order to further the (Civil Rights) Movement. He made the comments Sunday at a memorial service that was part of Clark Atlanta University’s salute to the 30th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement. There was also a symposium and banquet as part of the celebration which was held in conjunction with other Atlanta University Center schools. The two-day event recognized and honored former student activists of Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University), Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, the Interdenominational Theological Center and Spelman College. “History is a continuum .. .There must not be a broken step of rythm as we continue into the next generation,” said Rev. Jackson, president and founder of the National Rainbow Coalition at Sisters Chapel at Spelman College. He reminded the audience that the students of the 60s had a sense of perseverence, dignity, and humanity in their lives and we must recreate that part of history. ‘it’s about holding on,” he said, “...being involved in a movement with one purpose to enforce change through perseverence.” “Dignity. Hold yourself in high esteem,” Rev. Jackson exclaimed. “It is non-negotiable. The students in the Movement held strong to their dignity, over dollars and degrees,” he added. ‘They marched, sat-in and boycotted with dignity.” “In today’s society ethnic pride is not enough; there must be ethical pride,” that guides us. A sense of humanity is an ingredient missing in today’s society, Rev. Jackson said. “We are killing each other — 400 killings in D.C. since January,” he continued. Rev. Jackson also commented on the killing of a Clark Atlanta University student the night before saying it was a lack of humanity and impartiality. Rev. Jackson said the way to recall that sense of humanity is through God. “We must honor God ... If we don’t respect the creator we will not respect the creatures.” He also said there are similarities in the changes since the 1960s: “There’s a new scheme operating now that’s eating away our movement. It’s a kind of racial manipulation where you transform victims into the victimizers and make them objects of fear . . . you transform peace fighters into scarecrows.” People such as Julian Bond and Dr. king were portrayed as the victimizers because they protested the Vietnam War.” Other reflections during the memorial service came from Rev. Austin Ford, director Emmaus House, Atlanta; Dr Albert E. Manley, president emeritus, Spelman College; Charlayne Hunter-Gault, national correspondent “MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour,” New York City; and Lonnie King Jr., assistant to the President, Coppin State College, Baltimore. King who is also chairperson of the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights (COAHR) said, “You have to force people to make change . . . those with power will not give it up voluntarily.” “You young people need to visit the Atlanta Journal and Constitution like I did, in the 60s and voice your concerns,” he added. The Civil Rights symposium was dedicated to telling the real story of the students of the AUC in the 60s and explored areas , of special interest associated with the (AUC) Movement. During a workshop on “We Will Tell the Story” Charles Black, a Morehouse College honoree, explained: “We were just students who came here to learn and our parents thought the same way, until they saw us in the paper. It changed all of our lives and the city.” Rev. Joseph Boone, director of the P.J. Woods Center for Social Justice, the stated that the Movement involved a cross section of people. It engaged students, community leaders and business people to negotiate with the city of Atlanta and no one did it alone. Rev. Boone also encouraged students not to wait until they have a mass troop of people to do anything. “It takes a few committed people to start a move,” he said. “There is a natural tendency to romantize the movement in the AUC,” said Johnny E. Parham Jr. (Morehouse College) Regional Vice President of the United Negro College Fund, during a workshop “Somebody’s Calling My Name” that addressed leadership issues. “We were really a generation without a cause,” Parham said. “It was perhaps the most spontaneous and rapid thing that happened — we were trying to keep up.” Parham made that statement in direct relation to concerns of Students Voice Security Concerns TONYA SMITH Contributing nruer In the wake of Sunday’s shooting death of Clark Atlanta University freshman Duane Goodman, students at the University have expressed their concerns about safety and improvements on the campus. Angela Chivers, a freshman, said, “There should be more police officers to patrol this particular area. Clark is an open campus and as students we are faced with a high level of danger.” Ceakou Howell, a senior, explained, “I do not think our safety is a priority to the school officials. The administration has the attitude that the problem is so insurmountable that they seem to hold their hands up as if to say ‘What can we do?’ ” Ms. Howell admits that it is sad for such a drastic incident to occur before action is taken. She also concluded that school officials need to make an assessment of what students need for better security on different properties that make up the campus. The University students have asked administration to honor three general requests: a more active police force, better lighting around the E.L. Simon Courts and more publicity and awareness about the hours and days of the shuttle buses that are intended for the students. Some students felt differently about making the campus more secure. Kimberly R. Hill, a junior, said, “Even though we are in a high crime area, students need to take more precautions and familiarize themselves with their surroundings. Ms. Hill felt that the campus security company cannot be blammed totally. “It is a sad reflection on our society that a person who represents the future was killed senselessly,” said Glenn Simmons, a senior at Morehouse College. Simmons believes that the problem does not rest with security improvements. “The root of the whole thing is correcting the base, where the problem originates.' The breakdown in the familty structure and drugs are contributing factors,” added Simmons. In a sense, JoAnn Johnson, secretary in the Division of Communication Arts, shares the same feelings as Simmons. “Three young men lives are down the drain. A student has been killed for no reason and the two young men that committed the crime will be imprisoned for life. There is already a shortage of Black men. The parents of these children are suffering deeply.” Ms. Johnson commented that the school should exercise more responsibility with the students. “I feel that administration needs to back to the old rules. For instance, signing in and out of dormitories was a must,” she added. School Mourns Goodman's Death TOYIA G. NASH Contributing Writer Every seat in the memorial service in Davage Auditorium Tuesday was filled as several mourners came together to celebrate the life of Duane Alan Goodman, a Clark Atlanta University student who was shot to death in an attempted robbery. Family and friends stood up to tell what a great person Goodman was. The aunt of the victim, Viola Goodman, said, “Duane was a very nice person. He was a Christian. I do know that.” She added that he was the type of person you would get close to and the kind of child that every mother would want. Ms. Goodman not only spoke about her nephew, she also educated the students on the importance of religion. She said,“If you don’t have a God in your life, you need to get one because He is the only one who will save you.” She said that although Goodman will be missed, she knows he is with God. Other family members such as Goodman’s first-cousin spoke. Shaking and speaking through tears he said, “We were like brothers and he never did anything to anyone and never got into trouble in school. Why did it have to happen to him? It’s not fair. It’s not right.” After asking to see the person who last saw Goodman alive, the girl he was visiting the night of the incident, and asking the police chief if everything was still on his cousin’s body when he was found, he rested his head on the podium. Many students were heard crying as recounts of the accident were told. “I had the awful experience of having to respond to this untimely death, to see one of our children needlessly struck down. At that moment, I made a decision for myself and my department. We will solve this murder. I have taken personal charge," said Atlanta Police Chief Eldrin Bell. He continued that the Atlanta police will work with CAU to provide a safer campus. A representative from Morris Brown College said, “While there are streets, fences and denominations that separate us, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.” She stated that we should be there for each other and that although they are a few blocks away, they all feel the same loss. Many of the students who attended the memorial were from different institutions in the Atlanta University Center. Every person who spoke of Goodman had the same theme, including his friend who said, “Duane was a good person. I know his soul will dwell in the heavens of the Lord.” The president of CAU, Dr. Thomas Cole, said the campus is outraged, bitter and sad. He said that violence is everywhere and fast approaching the campus. “He fell victim to the number one killer of African Americans males — homicide by another African American. He was 19 years old with the rest of his life before him. I think the poem “My Creed”, by Edgar A. Guest captures Goodman’s philosophy,"said Dr. Cole. The chapel choir, Inpira- tional Voices of Faith, filled the auditorium with their voices, the selection was “Let Sundrops Now Fall On Me,” and a salute was paid in Goodman’s honor by the Army ROTC as “All Is Nigh was played. The service ended with prayer by Rev. Paul Easley, university chaplain. Goodman, who was a member of Friendship Baptist Church, is survived by his parents Rev. Roosevelt and Mary Goodman, three sisters, and one brother, Goodman was the youngest child. student being labeled as apathetic in the AUC today. “Don’t think there is a disillusionment with college students,” Parham said. Its not just the students — apathy is among the leaders as well, said John O. Boone, deputy chief executive officer of B.D. & O Associates, Inc. Rev. Bernard Lee (Morris Brown College) chaplain at the Medium Security Facility in Lorton, Va commented, “We have become so sophisticated and consumed with ourselves that we down play our history.” He also said leaders and students should examine their roles in society and not point the blame at one another. Other issuses covered during the symposium were political, legal and criminal justice, women, education and economics. The Civil Rights Salute Banquet hosted by Monica Kaufman, Channel 2 news anchor, presented awards to community leaders, college presidents and college students of the AUC movement at the Georgia World Congress Center. The evening consisted of dinner, a video presentation and music from the Morris Brown College Concert Choir, Spelman College Jazz Ensemble and CAU Jazz Orchestra.