Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Atlanta r s i t y Clark U n i The September 24, 1992 Volume IIII Number XV Atlanta, Georgia Student fulfills dream of opening a bookstore Thomas Randolph III stands among books in his bookstore. Photo By Glendon McKinney By Jayme L. Bradford News Editor Thomas Randolph III, a junior finance major at Clark Atlanta Uni versity from Detroit is doing at age 19 what some people have been attempting to do for most of their lives...start a business. On Aug.25, the Bookbag Book store, located in the building next to Stegall’s, officially opened in full competition with the Campus Shop co-owned by CAU and Morris Brown (MBC). “I started planning for it (the book store) approximately a year ago,” which Randolph also said was around the time he began search ing for a building. Randolph gave a survey to stu dents from CAU and MBC in order to see whether or not they would Dionne Lang Staff Writer More than one thousand Atlanta University Center (AUC) students jammed the Clark Atlanta Univer sity (CAU) quadrangle Sept. 17, for a massive voter registration drive headed by Rev. Jesse Jackson. “The hands that once picked cot ton can now pick congressmen and presidents,”Jacksontold the people assembled in front of Trevor Arnett Hall. “Vote for yourself, your des- „tiny." Jackson said the power of unregistered African American vot ers could have tremendous impact on the nation. In Georgia alone, 602,000 potential African Ameri can voters are unregistered. Utilizing the potential of unregistered African American vot ers could have tremendous impact on the nation. In Georgia alone, 602,000 potential African Ameri can voters are unregistered. Utilizing the potential of unregistered African Americans voters would put more African Americans in Congress. “The direct support his efforts. Randolph says that the main reason for him open ing the bookstore is because he knew “we needed one.” For years the Campus Shop’s top white management has been a con troversial issue among students. interest here is to impower the community you are being educated in, said Jackson. He told students that getting political power alone was not enough, but that power and application was. Jackson advised students to par ticipate in local elections rather than registering in their hometowns. He encouraged students to vote where they live. “Home is where you slept the last three nights in a row,” Jackson said. He reminded students of the 27 years Mandela stayed in jail for a voting right that he has still not received. He also reminded them of the "injustice" that he said Rodney King suffered. “Would you have liked to have been a juror on the Rodney King case?” he asked. “Only registered voters can serve as jurors.” Jackson told students that reg istered voters can serve as jurors as well as elect the judges who preside over such cases as Rodney King’s. “You can not walk up to the plate and expect a home run if you drop the bat,” he said. Jackson encouraged AUC stu dents to help put more African “Some kind of effort should go to find some other means of manage ment, preferably African American management when the contract expires,” said Jamal Coleman, un dergraduate co-vice president of the CAU Student Government Associa- Americans in the political forefront of America. He reinforced this point by giving the scores of political races in which small numbers made the difference. “John F. Kennedy beat Richard Nixon by a mere 112,000 votes; Hubert Humphrey lost to Nixon by 500,000 votes," Jackson said. The rally attracted several guests, including Congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney; Georgia State Legisla tor, Able Mable Thomas; SCLC Presi dent, Joseph Lowery; entertainers Bobby Brown and Keith Sweat. The rally was sponsored by the Rainbow Coalition and the Atlanta University Center Student Leader ship Forum. GRADUATES Don't forget to go to the Registrars Office to be measured for your cap and gown Deadline: Dec.4,1992 tion. Despite a slow advertising cam paign, Randolph says that busi ness has been great. “Students have been very receptive. At first it was disheartening seeing long lines at the Campus Shop and three or four students at The Bookbag,” he said. “I think its really nice that he (Randolph) took the initiative to have something of his own,” said Tracy Hobbs, CAU junior and regular Bookbag customer. Hobbs said she also admires that The Bookbag Bookstore is black-owned by an Atlanta University Center student. She said that she supports The Bookbag because the books are cheaper and the service is good. Randolph has even been talking of expanding. “We’re expanding due to the needs of students at other schools. The interest is there from students from Morehouse and Spelman because their bookstore is also white-owned." But by no means has Randolph’s business endeavor been easy. Randolph admits that there have been quite a few problems. “Being so young” Randolph said he has to convince investors that he can “run a business.” He has been able to open and maintain his business without taking out loans. Randolph said he needs informa tion from deans and departments on books and quantities. “If they bring in titles, authors, and pub lishers to me, in a matter of days, we can have the books at lower prices," he said. Another problem has been his “struggle with capitalization”. Randolph said he has also had to deal with CAU’s administration. “Administration has a contract wherein they can’t assist.” The school wasn’t helpful about allow ing the Bookbag to accept book vouchers,"said Randolph. Director of administrative ser vices, Roy Lee Bolton, said the build ing that facilitates the Campus Shop is under lease. “According to con tract, we can not be dealing with other book (distributing) compa nies,” he said. Coleman said that CAU should support its own. “It’s there for stu dents to take advantage of. I do shop there frequently and I encour age other students to do the same. We need to help our young black men,” he said. Bolton said that the school is not against Randolph’s bookstore. “It’s not a matter of endorsing. We just can’t do business.” Jackson pushes voters registration in the AUC at rally.