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P10 Mnmh 7 1994
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Religion on Campus: How Students Rate Faith
By Stacy Adams
Features Assistant
For many students weekend
plans may include a party or
two, but what about Sunday
morning?
While away from school, stu
dents tend to explore their new
independence in many ways. In
most cases, overbearing parents
are out of the picture and stu
dents are free to make their own
decisions. For some this may
mean no more music lessons or
sport practices. For others, this
may mean a new Sunday morn
ing routine that includes sleeping
in. Since students are away from
home, the church scene does not
appeal to them much any more,
or does it?
According to Roderick
Taylor, a junior at Morehouse,
and a Rudd resident at the
Catholic Center in Atlanta
University Center Complex
located on James P. Brawley,
“When you’re at school it’s on
you (to go to church)”
Taylor, who also serves as the
Newman Club president, which
isaffiliated with the Catholic
Center, said that in many cases
when students leave the structure
of home life, they tend to stray
away from religious activities. “I
think it’s an on going struggle to
get students,” he said.
According to Taylor, many
times students often get caught
up in college life but later return
to their religious backgrounds,
“You have to put your spiritual
life first,” he said.
William Dash, a Morehouse
sophomore from Baltimore, who
frequents the Catholic Center,
said he did not attend worship
services when he first came to
school because of the excitement
of being on his own.
However, Dash said a strong
religious upbringing has drawn
him back to his beliefs. “I make
it a point to get to church,” he
said.
Connie Washington, a junior
at Clark Atlanta University, said
that she too experienced a period
in which she did not attend wor
ship services while at school. “I
just didn’t have any interest any
more,” she said.
According to Washington,
who was very active in her
hometown church, for about two
months she had no desire to
wake up or get dressed for
Sunday services. “While I was
at home, I was obligated to go to
church, but since I got here I was
on my own free will and chose
not to go to church,” she said .
Washington said she did not
feel pressured by her parents but
said that they did have a certain
amount of control in her actions.
Rev. Paul Easley, CAU’s chap
lain, said that despite the stu
dents who choose not to partici
pate in religious activities, CAU
has the highest chapel atten
dance rate in the AUC.
Wasington said that she even
tually returned to attending
church regularly because, “I
realized that going to church is
like a hospital, like
food for your soul.. It helps
you through the week,” said
Washington.
Rev. Easley said that although
it does not force any beliefs on
students, CAU’s university min
istry tries to motivate them to
attend worship services particu
larly because it is a religiously-
based institution. “We’re respon
sible to strengthen their religious
life,” he said.
The reverend also said he
believes students who are not
usually seen on Sunday morn
ings “just oversleep.”
Washington said she has also
noticed most students do not
attend religious services. “I can
count the ones on one hand from
the dorm who go to church,” she
said. Washington said that she
does not understand why more
students do not attend church. “I
feel everyone should give refer
ence to God, whether it’s wor
ship or praise,” she said.
Taylor agreed that many stu
dents do not attend religious
events on campus or throughout
the city because of their time pri
orities. He said that some stu
dents are not spiritually active at
school because they are ashamed
of what they are doing socially
while they are there. He said of
the Catholic Center, “We try and
show how you can still have fun
and enjoy campus life and have
a Christian attitude.”
According to Taylor, the
Catholic Center offers a more
Afrocentric style of Catholicism.
He spoke of the stereotypes sur
rounding most Catholic churches
as being too structured and sex
ist. “This is a place for every
one,” he said.
The Catholic Center, under
the direction of Rev. Edward
Branch, is opened to students,
faculty and staff in the AUC of
any religious background.
Opened since 1991, the center
offers a library, chapel and other
facilities for use by its visitors.
According to Taylor through
regularly scheduled forums,
Bible studies, and other activi
ties, the Catholic Center tries to
“serve as parents to show why
you need to be spiritually filled.”
Taylor said, “Church is another
support system.”
Book Review:
The Playboy Interviews
By Warren Woodberry Jr.
Staff Writer
The Playboy Interviews, published by
Ballantine Books, is a collection of some of
the most intriguing interviews in Playboy
Magazine, from 1962-1992, by the late
Alex Haley, world-renowned author of
Roots.
The Playboy Interviews edited with an
introduction by Murray Fisher, offers some
insight into the minds of 10 contemporary
men, such as jazz musician Miles Davis,
talk show host Johnny Carson,Civil Rights
Activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and
Melvin Belli.
Haley reveals some of his subject's hid
den thoughts their unique ideas.
For example in a 1965 interview, Dr.
King said, “I’d be the first to say that some
historical victories have been won by vio
lence; the U.S. Revolution is certainly one
of the foremost. But the Negro Revolution is
certainly one of the foremost. But Negro
Revolution is seeking integration, not inde
pendence.”
While racial boundaries were being
reshaped in America’s history, many feared
the violence of militant Muslim Leader
Malcolm X, who at one point believed in
separate nations for blacks and whites. “Are
you contradicting yourself by denouncing
white supremacy while praising its practi
tioners since you admit that you share their
goal of separation?” Haley questions in his
interview.
“The fact that I prefer the candor of the
Southern segregationist to the hypocrisy of
the Northern intergrationists doesn’t alter
the basic immorality of white supremacy. A
devil is still a devil whether he wears a bed
sheet or a Brooks Brothers suit,” Malcolm
responded in the controversial interview.
One of the most challenging interviews
for Haley, was with Commander George
Lincoln Rockwell, self-proclaimed fuehrer
of the American Nazi Party, at his personal
headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. “I see
you’re a black interviewer. It ‘s nothing
personal, but I want you to understand that I
don’t mix with your kind,” commented the
outspoken leader.
Due to daily death threats on his life,
Rockwell trusted no one, and kept a pistol
by his side while Haley conducted his inter
view. The commander recognized blacks
and Jews with negative stereotypes.
Remaining very professional, Haley chal
lenged Rockwell on the important issues
facing the country.
“The Playboy Interviews also includes a
brief summary of how Roots launched
Haley into the world spotlight, and the
hearts of many loving fans.
In an interview with Murray Fisher, his
former editor at Playboy magazine, Haley
describes how all the success had changed
his life, and how at times he wished it never
happened.
“Alex’s literary legacy is not a large
oneitwo books and a sheaf of magazine arti
cles. But what a legacy it was. The inter
views he conducted for Playboy are among
the finest ever published since he inaugurat
ed that feature three decades ago; a few of
them are historic. And his books are likely
to endure among the most important ever
published in America,” Fisher said.
The Playboy Interviews is easy reading
that allows you to look back into the lives of
men who questioned our existence and gave
reasons to our being here. Yet, in all,
Haley’s interviews conveyed the true nature
of these ten men.
/
Your Weekly Prognosis
By Corey Cavalier
Columnist
A strong shout out to whatever percentage of you Clark Atlanta
University students listen to rap music. I’m a transfer student from
Morris-Brown who loves rap music and am privileged to write a col
umn dedicated to the subject. Here’s what to expect from Your week
ly Prognosis.
The main focus will be to keep you up on what’s going on in the
crazy world of rap music. I realize that we’re in Atlanta which
(besides Kriss-Kross and Illegal) doesn’t have a rap scene. Back in
New York and California you can’t help but to know what’s going on
in rap music.
This column is basically for all of you who don’t know what’s hap
pening in the world of rap and would like to know.
I’ll also be covering the rap/hip-hop scene that exists in the Atlanta
University Center and write about it. There is a ridiculous amount of
raw rap talent in these four schools. The possibilities are endless and
any ideas are more than welcome.
I’ll tell it like it is. Who’s good in rap is always open to debate
depending on what coast or what part of the nation you’re from. I
won’t be able to please everyone but I’ll try to cover the issues straight
up .
This is your column so if you would like to offer some suggestions
or you or someone you know is making waves in rap music, call 880-
8077 or write to
Corey Cavalier
The Rap Prognosis
240 J.P. Brawley Dr.
Box 329
Atlanta, Ga. 30314
Or call:
404-880-8077