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Clark Atlanta University Panther
April 16, 1991
Beta Psi Educates
Women In AUC
By AYODEJI GRIFFIN
Contributing Writer
Although the new organization on Clark Atlanta University's
campus, the Beta Psi Business Club, is soliciting membership, they are
more interested in quality than quantity.
"We are looking for quality black women who are active in both
campus and community activities," said Keysha Vaughn, the president
and charterer of this organization which is a college component of The
National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women.
Beta Psi is an undergraduate business club open to female business
majors and minors. The criteria include having and maintaining a grade
point average of 2.5 or more. This organizations was officially
chartered on Oct. 12, 1990 on CAU’s campus.
According to the president, the business club was organized to
provide opportunities for black college women to develop leadership
roles and responsibilities in the area of business administration.
The activities and programs are still in the planning stages, but Beta
Psi will begin conducting seminars and activities next fall. Students
can look forward to guest speakers who will be invited to the Atlanta
University Center to discuss the importance of communications skills
and networking in the business world and corporate America.
The club is geared toward the interests and needs of women.
According to Miss Vaughn, Beta Psi club is not trying to discriminate
against men in the Atlanta University Center. "We are not trying to
exclude men," she said, "We are just trying to focus on key issues that
concern and effect women in corporate America.
One of the most pressing issues is sexism she pointed out.
Miss Vaughn added that she is not interested in limiting membership
to students at Clark Atlanta University.
"I am a firm believer in unity in the Atlanta University Center," she
said. "I don't want to exclude any talented women from Morris Brown or
Spelman College. I am looking for a diverse student group, one with
which to share and exchange ideas. I don't want to eliminate any
females because we are all going to be working together in corporate
America someday.”
Miss Vaughn, 20, is a junior at CAU majoring in Business
Administration and Marketing. She decided to start a business
organization for women because there was not a business organization
in the Atlanta University Center geared toward the special concerns of
women.
"After deciding to charter the business organization, I developed the
constitution, colors, shield and other requirements that were needed to
organize the club," said Miss Vaughn.
In order to make Beta Psi a prosperous business organization, Miss
Vaughn is assisted by vice president Rebecca Powell, treasurer Crystal
Herrod and secretary Audra Johnson — all sophomore business majors
at CAU.
In addition to president and charterer of Beta Psi Business Club,
Miss Vaughn is a member of CAU’s Honors Program, Phi Beta Lambda
Business Society, Who's Who Among Students in American
Universities and Colleges, Inroads Kansas City Chapter, Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a volunteer for the Frederick Douglass Tutorial
Program.
Parking Woes Continue
By SHARESE SHIELDS
Contributing Writer
Since many students have a hard time parking near campus during
school hours, Clark Atlanta University is working on ways to expand
student parking. For some students and local residents parking is a
daily frustration.
Neysa Foy, a student, said, "It sometimes takes me fifteen minutes
to park and walk to class."
Students often park in staff and faculty parking lots, in front of
driveways, beside stop signs, and in other restricted areas. Melissa
Fields, a student who has received parking tickets for parking in such
restricted areas, said, "Officers should be more sensitive when ticketing
students' cars. It's hard sometimes not to park in front of a fire hydrant
when I've been searching for almost ten minutes for a parking spot, and
I'm already late for class."
Local residents are also unhappy with the parking problem. One
person on Milton Street explained that he has a problem with the
students partially parking in front of his driveway. Another resident
felt that if the school provided more parking for the students, then
there would probably be less traffic in the neighborhoods.
According to A. D. Moddelmog, development consultant, CAU is
discussing fundraisers to help build more parking areas.
However, Dr. Gloria James, executive assistant to CAU’s
president, Dr. Thomas W. Cole Jr., said, "We often try to encourage
students to use public transportation; and in the future we may not
allow freshmen to have cars on campus."
Currently,there are three parking lots between Parsons Street and
Fair Street accessible to students. However, Moddelmog said that there
will be approximately 90 spaces available to students by Bumstead and
Ware Halls, two of CAU's new undergraduate dormitories, in the near
future. According to the director of administrative services, Roy
Bolton, deck parking is another possibility CAU is considering.
When asked how he would feel about having a large deck parking area
for CAU students, Sydney Lewis-Picard, a student, answered, "There is
no question that Clark needs to provide its' students with better parking
facilities. However, it (deck parking) would probably be dangerous
unless students start to drive more carefully."
By QUINTON WATSON
Contributing Writer
Ask any physics major about
the recent changes in the
department and they are liable to
talk for hours. But who could
blame them?
Since Clark consolidated with
Atlanta University, the
department has increased its
number of professors from eight
to 14, with 11 having African
decent. It also has eight
researchers on faculty working
on private and federal owned
grants.
"The professors offer an
exemplary background of
academic, corporate and research
experience," said Vincent Harris,
a junior physics major.
Added junior Domenica
Boswell, "The professors seem
to be more concise and versatile
in their teaching than in the
past."
At the head of the changes has
been department chairman Dr.
Charles Brown. Dr. Brown,
currently on loan from the AT&T
Bell Laboratories, coordinates
the academic component of the
dual degree engineering program
and teaches three physics
classes.
"Dr. Brown has been a very
inspirational guide," said Karl H.
Kennedy, a sophomore physics
major. "There have been times
when I wanted to give up because
the classes were getting harder,
but every time I would go to him
for advice. If it weren't for him, I
wouldn't be in school today."
Harris said, "I think that Clark
is fortunate to have someone of
Dr. Brown's caliber on the
faculty. He's definitely one of
the premier physicists in the
country."
Students have also become
more involved in department-led
organizations. Last November,
five students attended the
National Physical Society
meeting held at the Decatur, Ga.
Hilton. In February, seven
students traveled to Hampton
University to participate in the
National Society of Black
Physicists Student Conference.
Last Friday, the Physics Club
also tested rocket engines on the
yard.
The department has also lured
the services of noted physicists.
Dr. Fuad Muhammad and Dr.
Ronald Mickens. Muhammad
Arid Mickens were instrumental
in the founding of the National
Conference of Black Physics
Students and the National
Society of Black Physicists.
"Dr. Muhammad's efforts to
structure a program of study
which is both motivationally
challenging to the student as
well .as academically
informative, should be
applauded," Harris said.
The department's goal of
having the top physics program
at a historically Black college
appears to be within reach.
Already students from Georgia
Tech, Emory and Georgia State
come to Clark for physics
tutoring. There is also one the
possibility that students may be
allowed to attain doctorate
degrees as early as by 1994.
"It's a challenge pulling
together and focusing the
energies of the department
toward being the best," Dr.
Brown said. "But we're fortunate
in that we are positioned to meet
the challenge and are ready and
working hard to see this goal
through."
Giovanni Raps To Students
By GORDON MCKINNEY
Contributing Writer
At the Morehouse College Martin Luther
King chapel, renowned poet and author, Nikki
Giovanni, said, "the violence has got to stop.
In 1991 we have learned that something has to
change. If things like this continue to keep
happening, all White people will become suspects.
Not only are Whites suspects but Blacks are as well.
The way we kill each other you would think there is
a surplus somewhere," she added.
In addition, Giovanni indicated that Blacks owe
their community. She said, "We need go back into
the community and talk to the kids that live in these
areas. Making life easier for the next person, is our
obligation.”
She mentioned that part of the problem is
children's failure to read. Giovanni said that
students don't read as much as they should. She
continued, "It seems that African American people
only read when they go to prison.
As an example she stated, " I believe it would
have been better if Malcolm X received his
education in the AUC rather than in prison."
She also expressed her ideas about police
brutality to the audience. She said that the police
need to be killed. Giovanni's hostilities towards the
Los Angeles police department was sparked by the
incident concerning Rodney King, the African
American motorist that was brutalized by numerous
police officers last month.
"Black men should be afraid to walk the street
over there," Giovanni said. She also stated that if
King was an animal and was beaten like that, the
animal rights activists would have been protesting
furiously.
"I feel that Darryl Gates should be forced to
resign as the police chief of Los Angeles. He isn't
doing anything to make up for his atrocities. Gates
hasn't even fired the police officers that took part ir
this hostile act," she said.
Giovanni added, " What does Mr. Gates plan to do
to help the situation Erase the tapes."
Giovanni captivated the audience as she
concluded the lecture by reading her four favorite
poems. They were: " Nikki Rosa" , "Cotton Candy
on a Rainy Day", "My House", and " Ego Tripping."
(From left to right) Curtis Chambers, Dual Degree PhuysicsIEngineering Student at Ga. Tech., Dr. Charles S. Brown, Chairof
Physics Dept., Terry MYERS < Graduate Physics student at CAU who has just completed his thesis defense for his Masters
Physics Dept. Changes