Newspaper Page Text
Page 10
Clark Atlanta University Panther
April 29, 1991
Simama Helps Plan Olympics
By PIERCE W. HUFF
Staff writer
Dr. Jabari Simama leans back
and relaxes in a chair in his
office at the Clark Atlanta
University Mass
Communications Center.
Simama, a City Councilman
for Atlanta's Third District, was
recently named to the
Metropolitan Atlanta Olympic
Games Authority (MAOGA) and
has become one of the major
players as the city prepares to
host the 1996 Olympics.
For Simama, time is valuable
and he makes that known right
away. In less than 45 minutes,
he's to meet with people to
oversee the plans of a tribute to
his being named to the MAOGA.
Simama has been a breath of
fresh air to Atlanta politics as
the city watches the ongoing
power struggle between Atlanta
Mayor Maynard Jackson and
Atlanta Committee for the
Olympic Games (ACOG)
President Billy Payne. He has
urged the city's leaders to
convince citizens that they will
pursue means to improve the
quality of living with the same
vigor that they showed going
after the Olympics.
"When the city went for the
Olympics, there was nothing
that could stop it and the people
knew that," Simama said. "Now,
the elected officials have to be
committed to making new
developments and providing new
opportunities."
After Atlanta was awarded the
Olympics last year, Simama
questioned its plans to build an
Olympic Village at Georgia
Tech. He proposed that the city
look at the area near the Georgia
Dome.
"That idea died because as it
relates to the Olympics, the
black leadership is concerned
about trying to be real
cooperative," Simama said. "The
black leadership is afraid to raise
important issues and questions."
As a part of the city's plans for
the '96 Games, improvements
will be made to Morris Brown's
Herndon Stadium and a new
Olympic-size swimming pool
will be built at an undetermined
site in the Atlanta University
Center (AUC). Simama,
however, said that the schools
in the AUC could have gotten
more.
"I think that the universities
hurt themselves by not being
unified enough," Simama said.
"The schools in the AUC were
competing amongst themselves
and when the black community
shows disunity, it gives the
white community an excuse for
ignoring it. I'm still not
convinced that the presidents of
the schools got together and
came up with a unified plan."
Simama has also worked to
ensure that minority businesses
get the 35 percent of business
ventures promised by the ACOG.
"Overall, the ACOG will only
do the minimum to meet its
minority business goals,"
Simama said. "There is a
tendency of people in control to
look out for themselves and we
have to realize that the ACOG is
not a black organization."
Simama's main cause in the
Olympic struggle has been
Atlanta's homeless community.
He suggests that the city provide
housing for the homeless after
the Games by donating the
Olympic housing.
"I think that the homeless
population is a mirror of
society," Simama said. "I want to
see (the city's political leaders)
begin to look at the multifaceted
nature of the homeless problem
and if the Olympics are an excuse
to get started, then let's get
started."
Picard Hopes for Int'l Linkage
By TONYA LATIMER He explained that the center will never reach a
News Editor
Directed by Dr. Shelby Lewis, vice president for
research and sponsored programs, the office of
international programs is responsible for
coordinating and expanding international programs
of Clark Atlanta University.
"It's basically an umbrella for all of the
international activities that take place at the
University", said Dr. Earl Picard, director of
international training programs.
He added that the center is actively developing a
linking relationship with universities over seas so
that the students and faculty of CAU can participate
in student and faculty exchange programs,
collaborative research and joint program
development. "We have written proposals seeking
funding for the linking activity, but have nothing
definite yet. Nevertheless, we expect to go forward
with or without the secured funding", said Dr. Picard.
He added, "We hope to have several linkages with
over seas universities to allow our students to spend
summers over there and for their students to spend
summers over here as part of a regular
collaboration." He said that this will give CAU
visibility and contacts that will ultimately bring
students to the university.
Dr. Picard added that the office of international
programs indirectly serves a recruitment function
for the University to diversify the student body. He
believes this is made possible through
communication. He said, "The students will go
home and tell about their experiences and about the
University and persons from their country will send
their brothers and sisters, sons and daughters and
colleagues to the University."
point where every student can travel abroad at the
university's expense, but in the end it does hope to
give a large number of students the opportunity to
travel to Africa.
"Some responsibility must fall on the student",
said Dr. Picard. He explained how so many
opportunities go unanswered by regressing to the
first time he traveled to Africa. He said that he
merely noticed a sign at his undergraduate
institution and responded. After a long application
process and the fact that he was the only one to
apply, he won the trip to Africa.
Dr. Picard referred to his experience to emphasize
to students how they must avail themselves to
opportunities such as his and search them out. He
added that it helps to be a good student because C
and D students usually aren't considered for such
opportunities.
"There is a lot that needs to be done to expand
funding. We need energetic people with persistence
to make these things possible", said Dr. Picard.
He admitted that when the center promotes CAU,
they promote Atlanta as well. "We know that
Atlanta has the attention of everyone in the world
because of the Olympics and everything.
Everywhere I travel internationally people can
relate in some positive way to Atlanta.”, he said.
"Whereas, people use to come to the United
States to visit Los Angeles, New York and
Washington, more international travelers are now
coming to Atlanta. We let students know that when
they come to CAU, they are coming to Atlanta, tire
most progressive city for African Americans", sail.
Dr. Picard.
Women's Conference
Continued from Page 2
School of Social Work
welcoming the participants and
introducing sponsors and
workshop mediators.
At 12 p.m., Barbara Jones,
Dean of the School of Business
and Economics at Prairie View
University, will conduct a
workshop that discusses the
theoretical framework of women
in the workplace, historical
experiences, the labor market
and forma] barriers that exist for
women. Other seminars will
feature discussions on women in
non-unionized work
environments, the role of race,
class and sex in labor,
perspectives on women and labor
in different economic systems,
family work conflicts,
international case studies of
women in labor unions and
similar organizations and "back
home" action strategies.
Besides the several workshops
that will be conducted by experts
in their fields, there will be site
visits to several public and
private enterprises.
Mary Macy's Restaurant,
Ponce DeLeon Avenue and
Midtown Atlanta will be some of
the areas scheduled to be visited
during the seminar. Universities
in Atlanta and the southeast,
corporations, business
organizations and the New
Orleans Jazz Festival will also be
visited by this foreign
delegation.
This is the first time the
Department of Labor has held a
major women's issues conference
on the campus of a historically
black college or university.
New Task Force Organized
By AYODEJI GRIFFIN
Contributing Writer
Nearly four months after Clark Atlanta University freshmen, Duane
Goodman, was killed during a robbery attempt near the campus, Atlanta
University Center (AUC) officials have created a new student safety
plan.
According to Julian Pless, the Atlanta University Center's Chief of
Police, the new AUC Security Task Force purpose is to police and
protect the college community, interact with the Atlanta Police
Department and all campus police and security forces, and to provide a
safe environment for the students, faculty and staff.
"The task force consists of 15 officers that are post-certified by the
state of Georgia who has the authority to arrest anyone within 500
yards of the AUC, including the University Homes housing project,"
said Pless.
He added that each unit will have strict patrol duties such as car stops
and burglary investigations. "We will not conduct any security duties.
We will just concentrate on street crimes at and around the Atlanta
University Center, " said Pless.
Pless said that the new security task force for its six campuses- CAU,
Morris Brown, Morehouse, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman
and the Interdenominational Theological Center also includes a new
communications network, improved shuttle service and new
intervention programs.
According to Pless, the present campus security communication
systems will be on the same communication wavelength and share a
common radio frequency with the new task force.
He also stated that the new AUC task force will provide four-14
passenger vans that will run every 20 minutes throughout the AUC and
then connecting to the West End and Vine City MARTA stations.
Furthermore, The task force will provide signs to indicate van stops.
The shuttle service, which is scheduled to start in the fall semester, will
run between the hours of 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. The AUC task force will
officially verify all days and time schedules in August.
"We are encouraging students to use the service. It’s going to take a
push from the students to make the shuttle service successful," said
Pless.
According to Pless, the new AUC security task force will continue to
make the campuses a safe environment for all people and give each
institution the opportunity to have a multi-jurisdictional police force
to patrol and police each campus and its surrounding areas.
S.S.S. Students Honored
By JAY ME L. BRADFORD
Contributing Writer
Student Support Services is a trio program on Clark Atlanta
University's campus that serves the needs of students by offering
employment, tutoring, financial aid and personal/career counseling,
and cultural awareness.
Dr. William A. Reed is the director of Student Support Services and
Special Programs. Sylvia B. Little and Priscilla Flowers are the
counselors for the program.
Over 200 students are curently enrolled in the program. This
organization extends support to students who are financially impaired
and/or first generation collegians.
Last Thursday at the Wyndham Hotel, Student Support Services
honored its participants who have attained academic excellence and
been active in the program.
Dr. Melvin R. Webb, the Dean of the School of Education, served as
the keynote speaker. Presently, Dr. Webb has brought over $15
million in grants to the education department.
Webb challenged the students to take their education seriously,
because African Americans are lowly represented in doctorial degrees in
every field.
According to Webb, students will be able to receive their high
school education without ever being taught by African American
instructors.
Senior Blues
Cont inued from Page 3
However, this year at the last minute an additional charge was tacked
on to the original fee of $40, causing seniors to become angered by the
ordeal.
They were also told by word of mouth and through letters sent only to
parents about the decision. Making matters worse, if the fee was not
paid by April 24, a $300 reinstatement charge would be added to the
students' balance and if it was not paid, the senior could not graduate.
Since then Donald K. Murphy, vice president for budget and finance at
CAU, has circulated another memorandum stating that the university has
taken the students concerns and re-evaluted its decision as well as its
obligation to implement Board-approved rates. Through student
pressure the fees were decreased to $55 and the date to pay the fees was
extended to May 1. The letter also says that refunds will be given to any
seniors who paid $75.
After battling administration for fair fees, seniors still look forward
to graduation day. Both Ms. Borrum and Harris along with several
classmates say that they will come back and support the school either
through money or their personal representation.
"I'm confident the school has prepared me if not for my field to deal
with unfair decisions and how to continuously fight until your point is
heard," says Harris. "My senior blues will soon into senior relief after
graduation day." - w* .w.v..'*vv .