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AUC Student Personifies Positive Image
By S. N. Brown
Staff Writer
Spelman College Senior Kristi Merriweather was chosen
as one of Glamour magazine's Top 10 College
Students. Photo by Mario Herring
“I am the master of my
fate. I am the captain of my
soul” is the philosophy that
governs the life of Spelman
College student Kristi
Merriweather.
Merriweather was deaf
ened by spinal meningitis at
the age of two. As an active
advocate for hearing-
impaired youth, she began a
tutorial program because she
felt there was an urgent need.
A senior psychology
major at Spelman,
Merriweather was chosen as
one of Glamour Magazine’s
Top Ten College Women for
1993. Merriweather said, “It
feels very good, as one
would if she had accom
plished something she
thought was unbelievable to
be accomplished.”
She also serves as the
board chairperson for the
Atlanta Chapter of Black
CAU Student To Get The Hook Up'
Deaf Advocates, and is Miss
Black Deaf America.
While her activities for
gaining exposure for the hear
ing-impaired may keep her
busy, she maintains a 3.85
GPA and is the treasurer of the
Spelman Mortar Board Senior
Honor Society.
Merriweather admits that
she never thought being select
ed would be that big of a deal.
However, her parents were
ecstatic and flyers have seen
posted on many faculty mem
bers’ doors in the psychology
department at Spelman. She
says she cannot walk on cam
pus without other students
telling her congratulations or
“you go, girl.”
Last year, she served as the
First Attendant in the Miss
Maroon & White court, at
Morehouse College. She con
tends that the experience was
like a dream come true for her
and she enjoyed all of the fun
and glamour. Merriweather
maintains that the queens in
the Atlanta University Center
are not vain and frilly. She
said these queens have brains,
guts, poise and personality.
Merriweather is seeking a
Doctorate degree in clinical or
social psychology.
She plans to work in
Atlanta as a psychologist while
continuing to be an active
advocate for the
hearing-impaired. She also
plans to write a book and
aspires to establish a private
practice and to travel interna-
* tionally.
Are You Considering Professional School?
HARVARD UNIVERSITY’S
JOHN F. KENNEDY
SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT
By Carliss Bradford
Editorial Assistant
Clark Atlanta
University junior
Michael Wells has the
The Hookup.
He is the owner of The
Hook Up, a store open
ing in December that
will carry a variety of
beepers. The 22-year-
old business manage
ment and marketing
major from Los Angeles
said this is a dream come
true. “I feel that I’m giv
ing back to my commu
nity by starting a busi
ness in the heart of the
Atlanta University
Center,” Wells said.
After transferring from
Long Beach State
University to CAU,
Wells said he realized
that the AUC would be
the best place to start a
black-owned business.
Wells said he decided to
go into the beeper busi
ness because of the
pager’s popularity and it
is one of the best forms
of communication today.
He also believes it is the
wave of the future.
The CAU student said he
faced many obstacles, partic
ularly financially, when start
ing the business. After mak
ing an agreement, with Eric
Perdue the owner of IKO, a
local T-shirt shop, to start
selling beepers, Wells was
able to sucessfully launch his
own business. He has been
receiving help from private
investors.
“In order to be successful
in business you must sacri
fice. You may have to put
off that funky ride (car) you
really want. Your priorities
have to be in order. You
have to realize that what you
don’t have now, you will
eventually have and more,”
Wells said.
Darrick Ryan Harris, 21, a
fashion design and business
management major at CAU,
works with Wells in IKO’s.
“I’ve known Michael for
only three weeks, but I feel
he’s focused. He will be suc
cessful,” Harris said.
Wells will share his busi
ness with Harris, who is a
logo and air-brush designer,
so that Harris may sell his cre
ative designs. Like Wells,
Harris plans to eventually own
a T-shirt shop.
Wells plans to expand his
beeper business to South
Dekalb and Greenboro. He
also plans to open a new auto
accessories store in the AUC
called Hittin Switches.
If these two businesses do
not succeed to the degree Wells
would like, he contend that he
can always fall back on enter
tainment management, his third
venture. The 22-year-old
wants to eventually own his
own entertainment company
called, “Major Entertainment”
and have his own record label
called Major Records.
“Don’t let the thought of not
having money stop you, have
faith, it will work out. Black
people will help you such as
private investors. Then when
you get yours you have to show
your appreciation by putting
back into the black community
and helping other black entre
preneurs get started with their
business and keep the cycle
going. You’ll never know until
you try,” Wells said.
is looking for future leaders in Public Affairs. We offer
a 2-year Master's program in Public Policy, with
concentrations offered in:
• Criminal Justice
• Energy & Environmental Policy
• Government & Business
• Health Policy
• Housing & Community Development
• Human Services, Labor & Education
• International Affairs & Security
• International Development
• International Trade & Finance
• Press & Politics
• Science & Technology
• Transportation
• Urban Economic Development
Interested? Then come meet with the Kennedy School
Representative who will visit your campus on:
DATE: Tuesday, November 9 ,1993
TIME: 10:00 am group session
LOCATION: Please contact the Student Counseling/
Career Office for this information.
ALL STUDENTS, ALL YEARS, ALL MAJORS WELCOME!