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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 .