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Clark Atlanta University Panther
December 4, 1990
Editorials
A UC To Gain From Olympics
By NANNETTE L. WILSON
Editorial Page Editor
With Atlanta hosting the XXIV Olympics, there will be
many positive changes and improvements for the city’s people.
Educational institutions at all levels will benefit from the
special motivation the Olympics will give students. Academic
achievement will be tied to athletic achievement, both of which
require dedication to excellence.
Planning for the Olympics has given Atlanta reason to take
pride. The Atlanta Organizing Committee has shown what
cooperation can do. The city has been given a much-needed
“shot in the arm” to tackle the problems of drugs,
Black-on-Black crime, homelessness, racism, illiteracy and
unemployment.
Pride will cause everyone to work harder to solve these
problems. With the eyes of the world on Atlanta, the city
cannot afford to risk embarrassment.
The business community, which stands to reap a huge profit,
will take the lead in finding and funding ways to cure the city of
its problems. This means additional corporate support for
school facilities, academic and athletic programs.
Local governments have the largest stake in the venture.
Vested interests and political lines will be set aside so people in
Atlanta and surrounding areas can come together and join
forces for the common good.
Why Are We In The Gulf?
By NANNETTE L. WILSON
Editorial Page Editor
President George Bush’s doubling of U.S. troops into Saudi
desert was merely another executive “shot in the foot.”
In America the legislature is supposed to declare war. Also
Congress should be called into session to debate a resolution to
declare war to give the president some equivalent authority to
use force, if he deems it necessary. Therefore, Bush’s actions
were clearly evident of a “too many chiefs but not enough
Indians” operation.
Congress has a legitimate and essential role to play in the
affair.
Many of us, 1 am sure, especially many mothers whose sons
and daughters have been called of to the Middle East, are
resisting the idea of declaring war with Iraq on the grounds
that it is premature to vote for something that seems to be so
hypothetical.
You just don’t send 400,000 American soldiers in the
Arabian desert for such cloudy defensive purposes. The
rationale is unclear.
Therefore, it is understood to be a useless deployment. Bush
needs to wake up and withdraw the troops from Saudi Arabia.
There is no war, only a delay in cooperation between the two
kids at play. Bush and Saddam Hussein.
Indeed, there is something crazy about this kid. Bush, to be
willing to allow his own to fight and possibly die in the sands of
Arabia. But he insists that he is “more committed than ever” to
ending Iraq’s occupation of the Kuwait oil kingdom. And he
continues his intense lobbying campaign for tougher
international action including approval of the option of force
to drive Iraq out of Kuwait.
PANTHER
December 4, 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 Derwin Ross
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. 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.
It's Almost The End Of The Semester
Time To Talk To Your Instructors!
Well, Jones, I’m sorry to hear that you had so many
problems this semster — two grandparents, three
cousins and an uncle to die — but according to my
records, you have not passed a quiz, you failed the
mid-term and you only turned in one assignment.
Now, you have given me forms to excuse you for being
' absent three times for being sick and four times
because you were out of town with the football team.
And that is in addition to the times you were away for
the funerals. Still I see you had time to pledge a
fraternity this semster. So, what makes you think you
deserve a passing grade?
A Time For Reflections
By PAULETTE V. WALKER
Editor-in-Chief
Indeed it has been a semester of highs and lows
for Atlanta and the Atlanta University Center.
We have seen friends shipped off to a cruel desert
to fight for a “kinder, gentler nation” — with a
virile supply of oil, of course, — while President
Bush has stayed on the fertile soil of America,
vetoing the Civil Rights Bill.
We have seen a “homeboy” from Atlanta win
the heavyweight boxing championship, while
two of our classmates were killed — one in a
driving accident and one in yet another senseless
act of Black on Black crime.
We have seen the Atlanta media praise the
Atlanta Olympic Committe for a job well done,
while they infiltrated our forces to perpetuate the
myth that Black colleges are aging and useless
institutions.
We have seen things happen, and heard things
coming . . . but what have we done? Evander
Holyfield spent much of his childhood in the
arms of caring people at a local boys club. It was
to them, he once said, that I owe my survival in
this cruel world. How many of our men have
made their way to the boys club, in between their
mad dashes to watch “In Living Color,” of
course, to provide a lonely Black boy with
encouragement, self-esteem and pride?
President Bush vetoed a civil rights bill that
would have done a lot to ensure that Blacks
continued to have and “equal opportunity” in
the work force. Some students complained,
some snorted indifferently, others just didn't
care. Unfortunately, the latter was the
predominate group.
Nearly a dozen of our own friends,
roommates, sorority sisters and fraternity
brothers have been called to join the thousands
of African Americans in Saudi Arabia, fighting
so that Bush can keep the oil supply in the White
House hefty. Are we too ignorant to see Vietnam
happening all over again?
Sadly, one of our brightest was shot down
senselessly in an aborted robbery attempt.
Students were afraid, saddened, shocked. But
most of all we were outraged. We immediately
blamed security, administration — anybody but
ourselves. We shouted to the president. “How
many more have to die?” Well, I ask you, Clark
Atlanta University, how many more must die —
on or near our campus, or in Saudi Arabia —
before we wake up?
Ironically, we have just celebrated the 30th
anniversary of student activism in the Atlanta
University Center during the Civil Rights
Movement. I am deeply saddened that my
generation has done nothing that we can be
noted for 30 years from now other than
perpetuate AIDS cases, drug use and disrespect
for one another.
What will you do differently in 1991? What
will your resolutions be? To study harder, work
longer, sing louder, dance funkier?
How many of us will resolve to care more,
listen more and DO more? Let’s make this
holiday season a time of reflection. Let’s resolve
to be hell raisers in a positive sense. Let’s resolve
not to lie dormant while bills are being passed
that will affect us once we step foot of campus;
let’s resolve to air our greivances with the
administration instead of muttering them under
our breath; let’s resolve not wait for another
tragedy to put our feet down.
