Newspaper Page Text
The Clark Atlanta University
<aP A N T H E
Volume IV Number III Atlanta, GA November 19, 1992
Students boycott campus bookstore
Shelby Dungee
Staff Writer
Amidst a group of pick
eting students carrying
signs reading “Student
Power” and “Who is Re
ceiving Our Money?” Clark
Atlanta University’s (CAU)
Grass Roots Coalition
urged students to boycott
the campus bookstore on
last Friday.
“If you don’t stand up
for your rights, who will?”
said T.W. Williams, a se
nior Grass Roots member
through his bullhorn. The
students want a black-
owned bookstore onCAU’s
campus.
“We are supposed to be
the black college mecca
and we are letting white
people run our bookstore,”
said John Collier, CAU
junior.
The issue became more
relevant as CAU junior
Thomas Randolph III,
Students protest in front of the campus bookstore.
opened his own bookstore
less than a block away
from the already existing
campus bookstore.
According to many of the
picketers the administra
tion, which was unavail
able for comment, has
been very uncooperative
with Randolph.
“The administration has
told the department heads
not to give Thomas the
book listings,” said Yvonne
Rich, one of the participat
ing students.
“The time has come for
students to hold adminis
tration responsible for the
things they neglect to do,"
said Jayme Bradford, CAU
senior Grass Roots member.
Many students were in
favor of the coalition’s
Photo By Danni Conner
cause, however some did
cross the picket line. One
store employee said that
approximately 30 people
had come into the store
since the protest started,
which was around 11:30
a.m. However, normally
over 100 people would
have entered the store by
that time.
Store employees were
dismayed by the picket
lines. “I don’t really un
derstand what is going on
outside,” said James
Simon, the campus
bookstore’s manager.
“They haven’t talked to me
about anything. Theyjust
appeared.”
The Grass Roots Coali
tion, a new organization
on campus, feels that its
grievances are outlined
clearly.
‘The students should
not use the bookstore un
til it is managed by a black
entity. This is not anti
white. It is simply pro-
self,” said Williams.
The bookstore, is not the
only thing on the coalition's
agenda. Other problems
they plan to address are
Atlanta University Center’s
shuttle service, financial
aid and allocation of stu
dent fees. “If we don’t stand
up now, then when?” Will
iams asked.
Clinton names
former Clark
College Trustee
transition leader
By Nathaniel K. Tutt III
Morehouse Correspondent
President-elect, Bill
Clinton, has chosen an
African American and
former Clark College
Trustee for 18 years to lead
his Transition team.
Vernon Jordan, a former
Atlanta Housing project
resident, was annouced
Friday as the Chairman of
the Transition Board. The
Transition Board is used
to choose the president’s
cabinet officials.
The President-elect,
wants the cabinet chosen
before Congress recon
venes on Jan. 5. 1992.
Jordan’s goal is to have
the board chosen and ap
proved by Congress so the
President-elect can begin
working right after the
Presidential inauguration.
Jordan said, “The eco
nomic cluster will be of a
high priority.”
Some students say the
choice of an African Ameri
can has added to their feel
ings of hope that have de
veloped since the defeat of
George Bush on Election
Day.
Atlanta University Cen
ter student Tara Hamilton
said,”I was real happy
when Bush lost but I didn't
know what to think about
Clinton. I never heard him
mention black people in
the election. I feel better
about Clinton since he
hired a black man to
choose his cabinet.”
Jordan held a highly vis
ible post as the director of
Vernon Jordan
the Urban League (a civil
rights organization) from
1972 until the early 80s.
The prominent law firm
of Akim, Gump, Hauer and
Feld hired Jordan as an
attorney in 1982, in which
he is still affiliated.
Jordan was also Executive
Director of the United Negro
College Fund and has worked
with many other companies.
Mayor Sharon Pratt Dixon
of Washington D. C. said,
"Clinton is taking steps in
the right direction.” Jordan
also helped with her may-
oral campaign.
Jordan was first hired to
help in the Vice Presidential
running mate search.
Warren Christopher, direc
tor of Rodney King's investi
gation was also hired to aid
the board.