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Volume II Number XVI
Atlanta, Georgia
September 25 1991
Cole Looks at Future I induction makes history
By Tonya Latimer
News Editor
By Sheryl Kennedy
Editor-in-Chief
The consolidation of Atlanta
University and Clark College was a
step that has brought much
prosperity, but Dr.Thomas W. Cole
Jr. , president of Clark Atlanta
University, said that there are still
more changes to come.
'The glass is only half full," he
said. "The quality of the service can
be improved, the way the buildings
look, the quality of academics. All
these are issues that still need to be
worked on to fill the glass to the
rim."
Dr. Cole said that improving the
quality of the university in every
aspect is not his only concern. He
said that not having enough hours
in the day to accomplish each task
is one of his daily hurdles, but not
having enough time to spend with
students is one of his greatest
challenges.
"Having time to interact with
students is something my schedule
does not always permit," he said. "I
miss not being able to share visions
with the students about the mission
of the university and what should be
added to enhance the quality of the
institution. There input is valuable
and necessary."
Dr. Cole said the university is still
making adjustments to the
registration process, improving
housing and adding additional
parking. He said things are seldom
what they appear to be and he
encourages students who have
complaints with these areas to offer
obtainable suggestions.
"What students and parents don’t
realize is that they need to document
run-ins and remember names," he
said. "I want to listen to make things
better, but I can't do so when a
student complains and then I ask
who did it and they say "some lady
in financial aid."
Last semester Dr. Cole said that he
was able to combat the problem of
not having enough time to spend
with each student by setting up
informal meetings once a month
with representation of commuter
students to graduate students. Dr.
Cole said he hopes to get the same,
type of meetings started this year to
deal with campus issues in a
personal manner.
Dr. Thomas W. Cole Jr., President of CAU
’’his year the housing
problem was attacked by the
completion of Beckwith Dormitory
which facilitates graduate and
undergraduate students, and the
renovation of Bumstead/Ware
Dormitory which houses graduate
and undergraduate females. Along
with these facilities, parking lots
were paved adjacent to the building
to help solve the parking problem.
Dr. Cole said the next
alternative would be a parking
garage, but he said that would be an
expensive venture for the university
and the student body.
"Most universities have
parking garages, but they come with
a semester fee of $30 or more," said
Dr. Cole. "However, if that's what the
student body wants we can work
toward that goal."
Dr. Cole said that he believes
in the student body and has been
accused of being pro-students. He
said that he has received letters and
heard comments from faculty
members about his pro-student
attitude.
"The student body's voice is
the most powerful voice on campus
and I don’t think the students
realize it," said Dr. Cole.
He said that he made a
commitment to make CAU the best
university in the country and that
has been his sense of motivation.
On the drawing board for
campus expansion is a student
union building, humanities
building, another academic building
and an additional dormitory
depending on student enrollment.
Among the various campus
issues he is trying to attack, there is
Continued on page 3
On Thursday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m., nearly 800 students
were inducted into the Clark Atlanta University family
through a service centered around the theme, "The African
American Tradition: Meeting the Challenges.”
Although the induction ceremony was a tradition at
Clark College and one that was continued after the
consolidation of the two parent institutions, this induction
ceremony made history.
According to Dr. Thomas W. Cole Jr., president of
CAU, this marked the first time that the activity was held
outside, as opposed to Davage Auditorium. He added that
this was the largest number of students ever to participate in
an induction ceremony at the university.
Eric Morgan, chairman of the Orientation Guide
Corp, reminded the students that they will only experience
"one block party, one orientation week and one induction
ceremony." He said that all of these things, including fully
planned days of seminars, are designed to introduce them to
college life at CAU.
Furthermore, Dr. Larry Earvin, associate provost
and dean of students, reiterated the importance of
orientation week. He said that this week is full of "fun-
filled" evenings such as block parties, skating parties and
luaus. "However, starting Wednesday, Aug. 28 your evenings
will be spent at Robert Woodruff Library," said Dr. Earvin.
'You are blessed and also burdened," said Dr. Cole.
"Because you must carry on for those who are not blessed."
He challenged the students to remember three things
that will ensure them to stay focused and on target: "1) who
sent you here 2) who is not here and 3) why you are here."
He emphasized that "if they remember their
mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, guardians, and all of the
other persons who believed in them enough to borrow,
mortgage, scrape and pinch to get them to CAU, they will
stay focused.”
"You must work twice as hard because you are not
here for yourself. You are here for others as well," added Dr.
Cole. He said that those others are those less fortunate.
Pamela Malone, graduate president of SGA,
challenged the listeners to "never find themselves idle or
apathetic." In addition, she challenged them to demand,
request and discover their proper place in the CAU family.
"Failure to accept or fulfill these challenges must
declare you a betrayal of your people and your education,"
said Ms. Malone.
According to Ramona Houston, undergraduate
president of SGA, for every 100 African American women J
Continued on page 3
THE
INSIDER
Malcolm X
...page 4
Clarence Thomas
...page 5
SGA Highlights
...page 8
Entertainment
...page 9
CAU Whips MBC
...page 10
Vickerstaff Named Coach
...page 12
WELCOME NEW STUDENTS