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By Katina Constant
Contributing Writer
l^amona Houston has many
things in store for the students at Clark
Atlanta University this school year.
The 22-year-old student from
Brownwood, Texas was elected
undergraduate president for CAU’s Student
Government Association for the 1991-92
school year.
Houston had one answer for why
she decided to run for undergraduate SGA
president. "I consider myself in love with
my institution," she said. "I feel that my
institution has done a lot for me. It has
helped me develop into a better person."
Aside from her love for CAU, Ms.
Houston said that she has many good ideas
for CAU. "I have the passion to make a
positive difference."
Among the many things she enjoys
about the university, the location also
plays a major role in her admiration of the
school. "Being a part of one of the
institutions in the Atlanta University
Center and being in Atlanta - the Mecca of
African Americans - is great. Politicians,
entertainers, activists and the who's who of
Black America stop at the schools in the
AUC while visiting Atlanta," said Ms.
Houston.
f She also likes the school's
uniqueness. Ms. Houston added that the
school's newly built foundation aspires her
to assist in anyway possible to make it one
of the best institutions. There are
three things that she is not pleased with
and would like to change. She is not
pleased with the amount of apathy existing
among the students. She added that many
By Chandra R. Thomas
Contributing Writer
f^/eet Pamela Malone, CAU's 1991-
92 Student Government Association
Graduate President.
As an African and African-
American studies major with a
concentration in literature and native of
East St. Louis. Illinois, Pamela Malone
exemplifies the focus, determination, depth
and dedication of an efficacious and potent
leader. When not partaking in her
presidential duties, she's involved in such
church activities as directing the choir,
teaching Sunday school and other church
organizations.
"My main objective is to organize
SGA to serve as a liaison between the
student body and the administration," she
said "The way to improve SGA is to open the
lines of communication by holding regular
meetings on regular times and days. I al$o
plan to incorporate the use of suggestion
boxes so that students will feel free to take
an active role in the decision making
process of their school."
Ms. Malone said she sought the
position of president because she saw the
need to "eliminate student apathy and the
desire to instill student responsibility.
'The goal of my campaign was to instill the
importance of values and taking steps to
solve the problems of CAU."
Her campaign slogan challenged
students to "Deprogram to Reprogram." The
function of of SGA is to solve problems of
security, housing and financial aid. Also to
promote student activities .
Ms. Malone said that her election
victory was not a matter of being more
Clark Atlanta University Panther
November 13, 1991
students are not concerned about the school or the
community. "Black people have not made it until all
have made it", she said. The undergraduate
president also believes that students have a strong
voice, but most do not use it to guide the institution.
'The AUC exists so that we can use each others
resources." She feels that there are too many limited
resources to be fighting amongst each other whether it
be on the administrative level, or the student level.
One solution she offers to the problem is"we need
brotherhood and sisterhood and we need to come
together not as the AUC, but as a people."
Even though her schedule is busy, she still
finds time to be active in the community. Three years
ago she and her sister unofficially adopted four
children.
She still remains in contact with the
children and even brought them home with
her one summer to Texas. She also formed
a dance troupe entitled "Making a
Difference," made up of girls from the
community.
Houston has many plans for the
undergraduate class during the school year.
She wants to promote pride in the
institution with pep rallies before every
home game. Homecoming was organized by
many participants and she feels good about
the students' involvement.
There are also several things in the
making such as an AUC week in March,
getting renowned speakers to speak at the
institution, promoting the athletic clubs,
and an AUC formal ball in February with a
guest jazz artist.
"There's a need for support from the
student body concerning members." She
talked to Dr. Alfred Wyatt and David Byrd,
the director and assistant director of the
marching band, about ways of promoting
the band and improving enrollment. There
is also a CAU day in the making. For the
AUC, she plans to have a religious service
once a month along with forums.
President Thomas W. Cole Jr. has
also been active with the SGA. Houston
meets with the President on a bi-weekly
basis. "When we have a President that's
sympathetic toward the needs of the
students, that's positive,” she added. There
has also been a SGA meeting with the
student body eveiy other Tuesday at 8:00
p.m.
Overall, she has many plans in the
making for the upcoming school year
which includes more activities and more
input from students. "This institution
exists for the students and our power is in
numbers," she said.
Pamela Malone
qualified. "Had my opponent won, they (the
students) would have gotten a good candidate," she
added. However, she accredits her winning to her
exemplary leadership skills at her undergraduate
institution, Marmouth College. There, she headed
several committees and organized a Martin Luther
King festival, among other accomplishments.
"Very stressful, rewarding, exciting, and intense,"
declared Pamela when asked to describe the
experiences she has encountered during her term. "I
see students become involved, they ask 'what can I
do?' and it's truly rewarding. "
She said much of the power of SGA behind the
relentless efforts of the other SGA members.
Although she said that her
undergraduate counterpart, Ramona
Houston, is a joy to work with, very
dedicated, creative and extremely student
oriented, she admits that it is often difficult
to act as co-presidents. She said it would be
easier to have one president. However,
there's no doubt that both of their missions
are to better this institution.
She also urges students to "Read!
Know your university's policies. The only
way this university can become one is
through the power of the students. This
power can be achieved through a strong
mind. Read works by African American
writers like Malinga Karenga, Na-in
Arbarkber, Nsanti Keto, and Dr. Hare."
Of all the forces in her life, Ms.
Malone says God has greatly influenced her
life. "At he age of 13 I made a personal
commitment to serve Christ and to do his
will. "
Although she believes that AUC
unity is possible, she said, "It will remain
intangible if we continue to believe in elite,
middle and lower class divisions. The lack
of unity stems from administration,
students, preconceived ideas and acquired
notions.
She challenges the student body to "take
an afrocentric approach and be aware that
it has nothing to do with hair or clothes. It
deals with loving unconditionally. "When
you love unconditionally you'll put yourself
on the line. You will act and react in
certain ways. See that you are blessed with
the opportunity to attend a a
predominantly African-American
institution," she said.
" *]Jw only way this university
can become one, is through the
power of the students."
-‘Famela Makm
Ramona Houston